There have been many times in the history of the world that God wanted to do or accomplish something, but men were not willing to allow it to be done. Whether by unbelief, or even disobedience the plans of God can be put off or even changed due to our lack of faith and or disobedience. Also on the other hand there are many times when the LORD blessed his people and showed them favor and exalted them due to their obedience and faith. Consider the following scriptures. 

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"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing." Matthew 23:37

This is an example showing that the LORD wanted to gather the children of Jerusalem together, but they were not willing to let that happen. ​

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"If you fully obey the LORD your God and carefully follow all his commands I give you today, the LORD your God will set you on high above all the nations on earth. All these blessings will come upon you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:" Deuteronomy 28:1-2

This is an example of the blessings of the LORD that will come upon those that fully obey the LORD and carefully follow his commands.

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"And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention." Jeremiah 25:4 &

"But you did not listen to me, declares the LORD, and you have aroused my anger with what your hands have made, and you have brought harm to yourselves." Jeremiah 25:7

This is an example of the LORD sending his servants the prophets over and over again but the people of God and their leaders not listening or paying any attention to them. 

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"Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." Exodus 19:5-6

This is an example of the promises of God and of His plans for us. 

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"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession..." 1 Peter 2:9

This is an example of the promises of God and His plans for us being accessible by faith. 

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There are many other examples of this in the Bible. This now then, is one of those times were the LORD our God seeks to bless us and we have a decision to make. We are already facing some "harm" upon ourselves from all the divisions and lack of working together, seeing that the gospel of Jesus Christ is not at the forefront of society anymore as it was just a few decades ago and it is being pushed to the background more and more. Let us stand together and bring the gospel of Jesus Christ back to the forefront of the attention of the city of Jacksonville and beyond! The choice is yours... the choice is ours... what will we decide to do? 

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