Don’t Leave Before the Benediction

Numbers 6:22–27 NKJV

22 And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 23 “Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, ‘This is the way you shall bless the children of Israel. Say to them: 24 “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 The Lord make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; 26 The Lord lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace.” ’ 27 “So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.”

DON'T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE TEXT CALLS OUR ATTENTION TO AN IMPORTANT FACT, ONE THAT IS RELEVANT TO US TODAY.

FOR WE HAVE GATHERED TOGETHER IN THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP.

AND SINCE WE’VE BEEN HERE WE HAVE HEARD THE PRAYERS.

WE HAVE SANG PRAISES.

WE TESTIFIED OF GOD’S GOODNESS.

WE HAVE GIVEN IN TITHES AND OFFERINGS.

NOW WE ARE ABOUT TO SHARE IN THE WORD.

BUT WOULDN’T IT BE STRANGE AFTER THE SERMON IS ENDED AND WE WOULD STAND AND GO HOME WITHOUT THE BENEDICTION.

WOULDN’T IT BE STRANGE AT THE CLOSE OF THE SINGING, PRAYING, TESTIFYING, THE GIVING, PREACHING AND THERE WAS NO BENEDICTION.

OUR FATHER IS TRYING TO IMPRESS UPON US, THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE BENEDICTION.

HE IS TRYING TO TELL US THAT THERE’S A BLESSING STAYING FOR THE BENEDICTION.

THE BENEDICTION IS NOT JUST A FORMALITY, IT IS NOT A GESTURE OF SHOW OR SHOWMANSHIP, BUT THERE IS A DISTINCT AND UNIQUENESS IN THE BENEDICTION, A BLESSING COMES FROM THE BENEDICTION, AND THAT WE ARE IN FACT BLESSED BY THE BENEDICTION.

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

LETS LOOK AT THIS BENEDICTION. THE WORDS I’VE READ IN YOUR HEARING, WERE THE WORDS OF A BENEDICTION.

IT WAS HERE THAT THE LORD COMES TO MOSES AND INSTRUCTS MOSES TO TELL AARON, TO CALL THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL TOGETHER AND SAY THESE WORDS TO THEM.

THE LORD BLESS THEM AND KEEP THEM, THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEM. AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEM.

THE LORD LIFTS UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEM AND GIVE THEE PEACE.

IN THIS BENEDICTION THERE IS A THREE FOLD PRAYER.

THE FIRST PRAYER IS FOR PROTECTION.

THE SECOND PRAYER IS FOR DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND THE THIRD PRAYER IS FOR PEACE.

LETS LOOK CLOSELY AT THIS BENEDICTION.

THESE WERE THE WORDS OF THE LORD INSTRUCTED TO GIVE MOSES. MOSES IN TURN WAS TO TELL AARON.

NOW THE LORD TOLD MOSES TO TELL AARON, TO BLESS MY PEOPLE,

AARON WAS THE PRIEST, AND THE PRIEST MUST COME, AND THEY HAD TO COME IN THOSE DAYS FROM THE TRIBE OF LEVI, FOR THE TRIBE OF LEVI WAS THE PRIESTLY TRIBE OUT OF WHICH THE LEVITES CAME.

THE BIBLE SAYS THE LORD TELLS MOSES, TELL AARON TO BLESS THE PEOPLE AND HE TOLD AARON BECAUSE AARON WAS A PRIEST, BLESS THE PEOPLE.

THE FIRST PART IN THE BENEDICTION WAS THE PRAYER OF PROTECTION.

LISTEN AT HIM.

MAY THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE.

THAT WAS PROTECTION.

IS THAT RIGHT?

NOTICE HERE THE EMPHASIS THAT IS PUT ON THE LORD.

EVERYONE OF THESE PRAYERS BEGAN WITH THE LORD.

THAT THE LORD’S BLESSING AND KEEPING.

THEN THE LORD MAKES HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE.

AND THIRDLY, THE LORD BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE, AND GIVE THEE PEACE.

IT SEEMS HERE THAT MOSES IS AWARE OF THE PETITION OF THE LORD.

THE LORD IS THE ONE WHO GIVES THE BLESSINGS.

IF YOU WANT TO BE BLESSED, YOU’VE GOT TO COME THROUGH BY WAY OF THE LORD.

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

SO HERE THE LORD TELLS MOSES TO TELL AARON TO BLESS THE PEOPLE.

BLESS THEM LIKE THIS, “THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE.”

NOW DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION.

FOR HE PRONOUNCES THE BENEDICTION IN PRAYING FOR THE LORD TO TAKE CARE OF EACH ONE.

NOW DON’T TURN UP YOUR NOSE, BECAUSE HE WHO PRAYS THIS PRAYER IS PRAYING FOR YOU.

WE’VE BEEN IN THE SANCTUARY, WE’VE BEEN PRAYING AND SINGING AND READING THE SCRIPTURES AND TESTIFYING AND GIVING AND NOW WE ARE ABOUT TO WALK OUT OF THE DOOR AT A DANGEROUS TIME.

WE ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO WORLD THAT IS FILLED WITH DANGER SEEN AND UNSEEN.

WE ARE ABOUT TO LEAVE THE CHURCH AND GO OUT INTO A WORLD WHERE THERE ARE TROUBLES AND STRIFE.

WE ARE ABOUT TO GO INTO A WORLD FILLED WITH ALL TYPES OF HATRED, A WORLD FILLED WITH MALICE AND MEANNESS, DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION.

BECAUSE HE WHO PRAYS THE PRAYER OF BENEDICTION IS PRAYING THESE WORDS; LORD WE HAVE BEEN HERE IN YOUR NAME, WE’RE GETTING READY TO GO BACK OUT IN THIS WORLD WHERE THERE IS DANGER, LORD KEEP US.

THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I THINK I OUGHT TO TELL YOU THAT WE CAN’T KEEP OURSELVES.

I THINK SO MANY TIMES THAT’S WHY MANY OF US END UP WITH THE PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE TRY TO KEEP OURSELVES.

YOU CAN’T KEEP YOURSELF, THE LORD MUST KEEP YOU.

LISTEN AT THE PRAYER THAT HE PRAYED HERE.

THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE.

I CAN’T KEEP YOU AND THAT’S ANOTHER PROBLEM WITH SOME OF US.

WE ARE TRYING TO KEEP OTHER PEOPLE.

WE TRY TO KEEP SOMEBODY ELSE WHEN WE CAN’T KEEP OUR OWN SELVES.

YES, THE LORD KEEPS YOU.

I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT THAT’S MY DAILY PRAYER, LORD KEEP ME.

WHEN I’M SICK, LORD KEEP ME.

WHEN I’M WELL, KEEP ME.

IN MY WEAKNESS, KEEP ME.

N MY STRENGTH, KEEP ME.

KEEP ME IN MY UPS.

KEEP IN MY DOWNS.

KEEP ME IN THE MORNING.

KEEP ME IN THE EVENING.

KEEP ME AT NIGHT.

KEEP IN THE DAYTIME.

KEEP ME ON THE HIGHWAY.

KEEP ME ON THE ROAD.

KEEP ME UP.

KEEP ME FROM FALLING.

THE LORD NEEDS TO BE YOUR GOD. SINCE HE RESCUED US FROM DESTRUCTION, WE OUGHT TO SURRENDER TO HIM AND HE BEING

LORD, WE OUGHT TO MAKE HIM RULER OF OUR LIVES.

HE’S NOT JUST GOD NOW, HE’S THE LIGHT OF MY PATHWAY,

I SURRENDER AND NOW HE’S LORD.

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, HERE THE LORD TELLS MOSES BLESS MY PEOPLE AND TELL AARON TO BLESS THEM ON THIS WISE; THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE.

YES, WE ARE HERE THIS MORNING BECAUSE HE KEPT US THROUGHOUT LAST WEEK.

YOU SEE FOR SOME PEOPLE, EVERYDAY WAS NOT A GOOD DAY.

THEN ON THE OTHER HAND EVERY DAY WASN’T A BAD DAY.

OH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, SOMEBODY HERE KNOWS THAT THE LORD WILL PROTECT YOU.

THAT’S WHAT THE SONGWRITER WAS MEANING WHEN HE SAID, “THROUGH MANY DANGERS TOILS AND SNARES, SOMEBODY WAS KEEPING ME, BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY COME.

SO HE SAID, “IT WAS GRACE THAT BROUGHT ME, SO HE SAYS THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE, YES I NEED THE LORD TO GUIDE ME EVERYDAY AS I TRAVEL ALONG THIS NARROW WAY.”

AND HE GOES ON TO SAY, “I GOT TO HAVE JESUS, FOR I JUST CAN’T MAKE IT BY MYSELF. CAUSED I PRAYED, I PRAYED, I PRAYED AND ASK THE LORD, DON’T LEAVE ME BY MYSELF.

EVERY SECOND, EVERY MINUTE, EVERY HOUR OF THE DAY, EVERY WEEK, EVERY MONTH, THROUGH THE YEARS COME WHAT MAY, I GOT TO HAVE JESUS, FOR I JUST CAN’T MAKE IT BY MYSELF.”

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT.

THE LORD BLESS THEE AND KEEP THEE; A PRAYER OF PROTECTION.

IN THE SECOND PART OF THE BENEDICTION, HE WAS PRAYING ALSO FOR DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

NOW LISTEN COME A LITTLE CLOSER AND LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS’ THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON THEE, AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO THEE.

NOW BROTHER PREACHER WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, THE FACE OF THE LORD?

IT MEANS THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE FACE OF THE LORD DENOTES THE PRESENCE, THE CLOSENESS OF THE LORD, NOW DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE HE WHO ANNOUNCES THE BENEDICTION AND PRAYS THE BENEDICTION IS SAYING LORD THEY ARE ABOUT TO GO OUT, WALK WITH THEM.

LORD THEY ARE ABOUT TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD, DRIVE WITH THEM, LORD GO WITH THEM AND GUIDE THEM SAFELY,

THE FACE HERE DENOTES THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

IT’S NOT JUST ENOUGH TO HAVE THE LORD CLOSE TO ME, I WANT TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF PRESENCE IT IS.

I WANT HIM CLOSE IF HE’S FOR ME. I WANT HIM CLOSE TO ME TO HELP ME.

IN OTHER WORDS WHAT HE’S SAYING HERE AND WHAT HE MEANS IS THAT THE FACE OF THE LORD, HIS PRESENCE FOR US IS HELPFUL.

BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEED THE LORD’S FACE NEAR ME.

I HAVE SOME SITUATIONS TO DEAL WITH.

EACH OF YOU HAVE SOME DILEMMA AND SOMETIME YOU COME TO CHURCH LOOKING FOR PEACE, BECAUSE YOU DON’T HAVE ANY AT HOM….YOU DONT HAVE IT ON JOB….

YOU NEED TO STAY FOR THAT LAST PRAYER.

THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU.

DO YOU HEAR ME THIS MORNING?

LISTEN BECAUSE I SEE A BREAKTHROUGH COMING IN.

THE LORD MAKE HIS FACE TO SHINE UPON YOU.

COME ON AND WALK WITH ME SAINTS, YES, HIS FACE IS A SHINING FACE AND HIS FACE IS A GRACIOUS UNTO US.

BY THE MERE FACT THAT THE LORD IS GRACIOUS TO ME, MAKE ME GRATEFUL.

I’M GRATEFUL BECAUSE THE LORD IS GRACIOUS.

YOU OUGHT TO BE GRATEFUL THIS MORNING BECAUSE THE LORD IS GRACIOUS,.

I MAYBE LIED ON, BUT THE LORD IS SMILING.

DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION BECAUSE YOU NEED THE LORD FOR YOU.

MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

SOMEWHERE IN THIS WORLD, SOMEBODY WANTS TO SEE YOU FALL.

DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE THE MAN WHO PRAYS THE BENEDICTION, IS PRAYING THAT THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS WITH YOU.

HE PRAYS THAT THE LORD WILL WALK ON YOUR SIDE. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I NEED TO FEEL THE LORD WITH ME.

OH, IT’S A WORRISOME JOURNEY WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

YOU DON’T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN, YOU DON’T KNOW WHICH STEP TO TAKE, YOU ARE UNDECIDED, AND YOU’RE SHAKY WHEN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD IS NOT WITH YOU.

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

SO HERE THE SECOND PRAYER IS THE PRAYER OF DIVINE PROVIDENCE.

PRAYER FOR THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD.

THE THIRD PART OF THE PRAYER IS A PRAYER OF PEACE AND MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, PEACE IS WHAT WE ALL WANT.

OH LOVING PEACE, HE CLOSED THE BENEDICTION BY SAYING, “THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE, AND GIVE THEE PEACE.”

I THINK I OUGHT TO TELL YOU THAT WE HAVE MEN AND WE PAY THEM THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO SEEK OUT PEACE.

THERE ARE MEN HIRED BY THE PRESIDENT, TAKING MONEY THAT COULD BE FEEDING THE HUNGRY CHILDREN, SEARCHING FOR PEACE, AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THAT GOD IS THE SOURCE OF PEACE.

GOD IS THE SOURCE OF LASTING PEACE.

IF YOU WANT PEACE IN THE VALLEY, YOU GOT TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE LORD.

CAN I GET A WITNESS?

SO HERE HE CLOSES BY SAYING, “THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON THEE AND GIVE THEE PEACE.”

OH BROTHERS AND SISTERS, I THINK I OUGHT TO TELL YOU THAT PEACE ONLY COMES WHEN THE LORD GIVES IT.

PEACE ONLY COMES WHEN THE LORD ORDAINS IT.

PEACE HEAR MEANS THE ABSENCE OF CONFLICT AND THE ABSENCE OF CONFUSION.

EACE HERE MEANS THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S DIVINE PROTECTION.

IT MEANS THE ASSURANCE OF GOD’S DIVINE PRESENCE.

AND PEACE ONLY COMES WHEN WE GO DOWN IN PRAYER.

WELL, DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE THE MAN THAT STANDS HERE AND RAISES HIS HANDS AND PRAYS THE BENEDICTION PRAYER IS PRAYING FOR YOU TO HAVE PEACE.

OH LOVING PEACE, CONFUSION IS IN OUR HOMES AND WE NEED PEACE.

SOME FOLK ARE RUNNING TO SISTER MARY’S HOUSE.

SOME FOLK ARE RUNNING TO MS. CLEO, BECAUSE THEY CAN’T FIND PEACE IN THEIR HOMES.

EVERYBODY IS CONCERNED ABOUT PEACE.

CAN I GET A WITNESS? BUT LISTEN HERE AT WHAT THE LORD SAYS.

“THE LORD, THE LORD LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE.”

CONCLUSION:

* AS I HURRY ON TO A CLOSE, EVERY SUNDAY MORNING I PRAY FOR THE LORD TO GIVE ME SOME PEACE.

YES, I PRAY EVERY MORNING AS I GET READY TO GO OUT AND START ANOTHER DAYS JOURNEY, FOR PEACE IN EVERY PLACE.

I LOOK UP TOWARD HEAVEN WAY AND TELL THE LORD, “LORD I NEED YOU TO GIVE ME PEACE.”

NOW LOVING PEACE DON’T YOU LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE SOME OF OUR FAMILIES HAVE MEMBERS AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

THERE IS NO PEACE IN OUR HOME.

YOU CAN HARDLY HAVE A FAMILY REUNION WITHOUT CONFUSION GETTING IN THE WAY.

SOME OF US HAVE CONFUSION ON OUR JOBS.

CAN’T FIND PEACE IN THE COMMUNITY.

NEIGHBOR AGAINST NEIGHBOR.

HUSBAND AGAINST WIFE, FATHER AGAINST SON.

MOTHER AGAINST DAUGHTER AND EVEN CONFUSION AMONG OF OUR OWN SELVES.

YES, DON’T YOU LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE SOME CHURCHES ARE NOT EVEN AT PEACE.

THERE’S CONFUSION IN A LOT OF OUR CHURCHES.

SO, DON’T YOU LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE HE WHO PRAYS THE BENEDICTION IS PRAYING FOR PEACE.

DON’T YOU LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION, BECAUSE HE WHO PRAYS THE PRAYER, PRAYS FOR YOUR PROTECTION, AND HE PRAYS FOR THE LORD’S PRESENCE.

I’M GOING HOME WHEN I TELL YOU, I’M REMINDED OF THE DAY WHEN THE LORD SPOKE TO MY SOUL.

I’M REMINDED OF THE DAY WHEN THE LORD SPOKE PEACE TO MY HEART.

IS THERE ANYBODY HERE THAT HAS PEACE WITH THE LORD?

AIN’T GOD ALRIGHT?

WHEN YOU GOT PEACE WITH THE LORD, YOU DON’T HAVE ANY TROUBLE HAVING PEACE WITH YOUR FELLOWMAN.

THE REASON THERE IS SO MUCH CONFUSION IS YOU GOT A LOT OF FOLK THAT HAVEN’T ANY PEACE WITH GOD.

NOW WHEN YOU GOT PEACE WITH GOD YOU CAN WEAR A SMILE.

WHEN YOU GOT PEACE WITH GOD, YOU DON’T SET UP DEAD AND DRY, YOU CAN WEAR A SMILE.

WHEN YOU GOT PEACE WITH GOD, YOU CAN SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR NEIGHBOR.

YOU CAN SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR SISTERS AND SHAKE HANDS WITH YOUR BROTHERS.

SAY GOOD MORNING TO YOUR FRIENDS.

AIN’T GOD ALRIGHT?

I DON’T KNOW HOW YOU FEEL, BUT I FEEL GOOD BECAUSE I HAVE PEACE IN MY SOUL.

I’M NOT WORRIED. OH, LOVING PEACE, I USE TO BE TIMID.

I USE TO WALK FROM PLACE TO PLACE TRYING TO TRYING TO FIND PEACE.

I WAS LOOKING HERE AND THERE.

I WAS LOOKING FOR A WAY TO FIND PEACE, INSTEAD OF FINDING PEACE ON MY OWN, I FOUND THE LORD.

I HEARD JESUS SAY YOU’RE LOOKING FOR A WAY TO FIND PEACE, JESUS SAID, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT. ANY MAN COME TO THE FATHER EXCEPT BY ME.

WHEN I HEARD HIS VOICE, WHEN I HEARD HIS VOICE I SAW THE DOOR.

I HEARD HIM SAY I AM THE DOOR. IF YOU COME ANY OTHER WAY, YOU COME AS A THIEF AND A ROBBER.

I SAY THE DOOR.

I TOOK A STEP TO GO THROUGH THE DOOR.

BUT SATAN LOOKED AT ME AND HE SAID, IF YOU GO TO JESUS SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TALK ABOUT YOU.

IF YOU GO TO JESUS, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO PUT YOU DOWN.

IF YOU GO TO JESUS, SOMEBODY IS GOING TO TRY TO STOP YOU.

I DON’T HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT IT, BUT I DECIDED TO THAT I WAS GOING THROUGH.

I’M GOING ON, I GOING THROUGH.

YES, I’M GOING TO GO ON.

I’VE COME TOO FAR TO TURN AROUND.

I DON’T BELIEVE HE BROUGHT ME THIS FAR TO LEAVE ME.

AIN’T HE ALRIGHT?

I STEPPED OUT.

I STEPPED OUT.

DON’T LEAVE BEFORE THE BENEDICTION.

STEP ON GOD’S WORD.

HE’S ABLE.

HE’S ABLE.

ANYBODY HERE KNOW THAT THE LORD IS ABLE.

SAY YEAH, SAY YEAH. OH YEAH.