Thank you.
You
Well, good morning everyone, welcome to Mountain Baptist Church take your song books and turn to song 185, thank you
Song 185 in your song books will sing my Savior's love and if you would stand
We'll sing song 185
I
Stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene
And
Wonder how we can love me a sinner condemned unclean
How marvelous how
Wonderful and my song shall ever be how
marvelous how
Wonderful is my Savior's love for me
For me it was in the garden
He prayed not my will but thine
He had no tears for his own
Griefs but sweat drops of blood for mine
How
marvelous how
Wonderful and my song shall ever be how
marvelous how
Wonderful is my Savior's love for me
He took my sins and my sorrows
He made them his very own
He bore the burden to Calvary and suffered and died alone
How
marvelous how
Wonderful and my song shall ever be how
Marvelous how
Wonderful is my Savior's love for me
when with the
Ransomed in glory
His face I and last shall see
Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of his love for me
How marvelous how
Wonderful
Song shall ever be how marvelous how
Wonderful is my Savior's love for me
And let's pray heavenly father Lord again, we just want to thank you God for this beautiful day
You've given us to meet in your house and to hear your word preached
I want to thank you God just for the safe travels our pastor Stuckey and his family Lord
I pray Lord that you would just
Bless him fill him with your power and spirit as he brings the message to us this morning
We love you for it's in Jesus name. We ask you everything. Amen. Are you may be seated and
Take your
Mountain Baptist song books, they're gonna be the blue folders and your seats
Mountain Baptist song
Psalms hymns and spiritual song books and turn to song number one
Song number one in your blue folders will sing Psalm 11
Song number one
And the Lord put on my trust I'll say to my soul
flee as a
mountain
Below the wicked bend their bow
They make ready their arrow
upon the
string
that they may
privately shoot at the
Upright and hard if the foundations be destroyed
What can the righteous do?
The Lord is in his holy temple
The Lord's throne is in half his eyes
behold
His eye, let's try the children of man
And the Lord tried the righteous
But the wicked and him that love and violence
his soul
Hey
It's all hey
Upon the wicked
He shall rain snares
fire and brimstone and
And horrible tempest
this shall be
the portion of their come
for the righteous Lord
Love is righteousness
his
Countenance
doth
behold
doth be healed the upright
And the Lord put on my trust
Well good morning and welcome out Baptist Church on this Sunday morning, and so we have a special Sunday because we have a guest preacher
Here this morning pastor Matthew Stuckey, so still getting used to
calling a pastor, but he's a good friend of mine and
Excited to have him in and his family and everything
And excited about the work that he's doing out in the Philippines, and so he's been doing how long have you been out out there?
Five years, that's crazy so five years
Doing a great work out there in the Philippines and obviously he can tell you more about that if he wants to
But he's gonna be preaching both both services today, so he'll be preaching this morning, and then also this afternoon
we will have our
Soul our soul winning
Time at 1 p.m.. This afternoon
And so if you want to go out soul winning gives you a little bit of time to go get some lunch come back
here and
also
we have a
So many times during the week as far as the regional sewing times the Monday one actually we're not gonna have the Monday night
One but as far as the other ones there just be on the church group there if you want to go out
And
the men that lead those up will tell you the times and locations on those and
And also there's a soul winning marathon coming up
This coming weekend so brother Wade
I know is leading up a sewing marathon in Martinsburg and brother for the Gavin out there as well
And so just be in prayer for that or if you can go out to that. That'd be great and so
But yeah, I'm excited for pastor Stuckey to preach for us
We've known each other since
2003 right so 2003 we got saved around the same time
I got saved just a little earlier than him, but then he got saved as soon as like our freshman year in college
And so known him for a long time. We've kind of been on this this Christian journey together
You know from the very beginning as far as soul winning and all that that stuff
And so I have I have the utmost confidence and pastor Stuckey when it comes to
Doctrine when it comes to just being a good Christian and all that
And so, you know as far as him coming up in here preaching I have the utmost confidence
In his sermons and everything and so
So excited about that and again
we're gonna be constantly praying for you and your family out there in the Philippines and so and
Just excited there
Then when it comes to
On the back of the bulletin there. We also have our chapter memory for the month
So we're coming into this the first day of October and so we're in a new chapter. So Psalm 110
Psalm 110. It's not a really super long psalm, but it's got actually a couple of
References or prophecies in there about the Lord Jesus dealing with being the high priest after the order of Melchizedek, but also
That it says that
That the Lord said unto my Lord sit down my right hand till I make down any means thy footstool
so it's a good psalm to have memorized and
And in Proverbs 18 24 is our memory verse for the week a man that hath friends must show himself friendly
And there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. So that is our memory verse for the week and
then birthdays
I didn't get a chance to
Teresa is tomorrow. So
We'll sing happy birthday to her. I always got to pull up like the calendar because I can't do math in my head
I is an engineer but the simple math of like weeks. I just feel like I'm always gonna miss it. So
We have Hannah
Ford right that's coming up on Tuesday and then
Catherine
And then
We have brother Anthony, where are you at? There you are. Oh
Yeah
When's your birthday?
The fourth, okay
And we have we have Ruth on here too, so we'll have to get her next time
It's a lot of October babies
It's like September and October a lot in there. So
So, yeah, we'll sing happy birthday to all these how old are you brother brother Anthony
37 so young
Can't be worse you could be 20 you be 39 like this guy up here, you know, I
Don't turn 39 until next year
It's January but it's next year
When's your birthday
We need to get oh, yeah, we got it we got something to get on here
So so brother Gavin are you 20 20 no longer a teenager
Now
You're it you're ready to go to war, you know, according to the Bible and all that congratulations
So, yeah, we have a lot to sing happy birthday to you so so brother Dave remember all those
The two that are not on the list and everyone else is here
and then
Anniversaries my parents but that that'll be not not yet until the end and month here
and then the pregnancy list being prayer for all the ladies on the pregnancy list Jennifer Alyssa Anastasia and Tabby be in prayer for
Amanda
Spina as far as a recovery there, but also for tiara
Let's go as they just had babies not too long ago. And so
Be in prayer for them
Offering boxes in the back there mother baby rooms for mothers babies only I do want to make an announcement
The the coffee
Counter
Tabby broke it
Where she had she's not
She's hiding. She's not even here. Actually. It's been it's been struggling for a while
And so that drawer is messed up so don't even mess with that but we're gonna get that fixed and everything
But I do want to make an announcement dealing with food and everything in general when it comes to the closet
I don't want anyone in there except for those that are
Adults like and basically
Personnel that would be pulling stuff out to go do stuff if you need something out of there
ask one of us and we'll go get it for you or we'll help you out with that, but
Just too much rummaging through all that stuff and there's stuff in there that's not food
There's stuff that's in there that we just don't want to get misplaced all that stuff
Also, if you take food outside, you need to clean up after yourself the past two Sundays
There's been a bunch of trash just left all over. I
Mean in the in the bushes and all kinds of stuff
Okay
So if you take food outside
You have to clean it up or just not gonna allow it and and we're not gonna allow it in the church building
We're not gonna allow it out there and we're just gonna have to nip it in the butt. I don't want to do that
but if
You know those those that end up cleaning it up are not the ones that did it
and so I know that it's a lot I know there's a lot of kids that bring stuff out there and
Parents you really need to like watch where your kids are taking your food or taking their food so that you know
That it's your kids or whatever and I'm not saying that my kids are innocent in this when it comes to that
But we need to be we need to be watching that and so
It is what it is
And it's just one of those things that that's a privilege that you have that we provide a lot of food and that we have
A lot of that stuff that's here
but if we're gonna if everything is gonna get trashed then we're gonna just cut that all off and so
I'm a little frustrated with it because those that are cleaning it up
Didn't do it and they're always the ones that clean it up
And so I'm not gonna embarrass them because they're the ones that are cleaning up a lot of stuff anyway
But it's just been happening a lot recently. So
So we just need to watch that with our kids and everything
especially outside
inside as well
but outside where it's like it's like a scavenger hunt to find all the trash and
I know that sounds fun
But for the kids they're like, that's cool that's fun it's not okay
But anyway
So all that to say is that that just be be cognizant of that
Be aware that if you take stuff outside and make sure you bring it and throw it in the trash or whatever
And so and then we want to worry about it
I think that's about all I have for announcements again. We're gonna have the sewing time
And we're probably have a lot of soul winners. So probably what we're gonna need to do
We're gonna have to split it up
To where maybe I I I take a group and then brother Dave takes a group and then we try to split off from there
We'll see though because it's getting it's getting a little harder when when we have that many to try to organize them all
But we'll see how that we'll see who all is going soul winning
it's a good problem to have but we just want to make sure that we're
Everybody knows where they're going and we're not all getting confused and all that stuff. So
So yeah
Excited for that should be a good day
We're planning on going into some like college areas and stuff like that up in Morgantown. And so
So if you can be there and go out soloing with us, that'd be great. So
Besides that I think that's about all I have for announcements
He was reading this morning brother Anthony. So brother Anthony's gonna be reading. Is it Exodus chapter 10?
Yeah, Exodus chapter 10 and
And then brother Dave's gonna sing one more song and after the the scripture reading and everything brother
Brother well, he is brother
You are still my brother in Christ
Pastor Matthew stuck. He's gonna come up and preach for us after the scripture reading
All right, take your song books and turn to song 100 183
So
183 in your song books will sing. Oh how I love Jesus
But before we do that, we need to sing happy birthday to a whole slew of people. So we have Teresa
She's gonna be
too awesome Hannah
For awesome
Catherine you don't say your age if you don't want 21. Yeah fifth year in a row
Oh
Eleven
That's a funny all right, awesome awesome Anthony
You already said 37. Yeah, I still remember even though I'm so old
Brother Nate 21 brother Gavin 20. Did I miss anybody?
All y'all stand up
There you go. There you go. Yeah, Gavin you didn't have a choice brother
All right
Hannah you want to stand up
No
All right, we'll sing happy birthday ready. Here we go. Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday to you
Happy birthday
God bless you
Happy birthday to you
Well, happy birthday to all y'all and we will sing song 183
There is a name I love to hear I love to sing it's worth
It sounds like music in my ear the sweetest name on earth. Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh how I love Jesus
Because he first loved me
It tells me of a savior's love who died to set me free
It tells me of his precious blood a
sinner's
perfectly Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh how I love Jesus
Because he first loved me
It tells me what my father
hath and store for every day and
Though I tread a dark sun path, he'll shine all the way. Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh how I love Jesus
Because he first loved me
It tells of one whose loving heart can feel my deepest
Who in each sorrow bears a part that none can bear below
Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh
How I love Jesus
Oh how I love Jesus
Because he first loved me
All right, take your Bibles and turn to Exodus chapter number 10
Exodus chapter number 10 in your Bibles and we'll have brother Anthony read that for us
Exodus chapter 10
The Bible reads in the Lord said unto Moses go in unto Pharaoh
for I have heart in his heart and in the heart of his servants that I might show these my signs before him and
That thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son and of thy son's son
What things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done among them that you may know
How that I am the Lord and Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him
Thus that the Lord God of the Hebrews how long wilt thou refused to humble thyself before me
Let my people go that they may serve me else if thou refused to let my people go behold tomorrow out
Will I bring the locusts into thy coasts and they shall cover the face of the earth and
That one cannot be able to see the earth and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped
Which remaineth unto you from the hail and shall eat every tree which groweth for you out of the field
And they shall fill thy houses and houses of all thy servants and the houses of all the Egyptians
Which neither thy fathers nor thy father's fathers have seen since the day that they were upon the earth unto this day
Since they were upon the earth unto this day
And he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh and Pharaoh's servants said unto him
How long shalt this man be a snare unto us? Let the men go that they may serve the Lord their God
knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed and
Moses and Aaron
Were brought again unto Pharaoh and he said unto them go serve the Lord your God
But who are they that shall go and Moses said we will go with our young and with our old
With our sons and with our daughters with our flocks and with our herds
We will go for we must hold a feast unto the Lord
And he said unto them let the Lord be so with you as I will let you go and your little ones
Look to it for evil is before you not
So go ye go now ye that are men and serve the Lord for that ye did desire and they were driven out from the fair
from Pharaoh's presence
And the Lord said unto Moses stretch out thine hand over the land of Egypt for the locusts that they may come up
Upon the land of Egypt and eat every herb of the land even all that the ale hath left
and Moses stretched forth his rod over the land of Egypt and the Lord brought an east wind upon the land all the day and
All that night and when it was morning the east wind brought the locusts and
The locusts went up over all the land of Egypt and rested in all the coasts of Egypt very grievous were they
Before them there were no such locusts as they neither after them shall be such
For they covered the face of the whole earth
So that the land was darkened and they did eat every herb of the land and all the fruit of the trees
Which the hail had left and they were there remain not any green thing in the trees or in the herbs of the field
Though all the land to be through all the land of Egypt
Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and haste and he said I have sinned against the Lord your God and against you
Now therefore forgive I pray thee my sin only that this once and entreat the Lord your God
That he may take away from me this death only
And he went out from and he went out from Pharaoh and entreated the Lord
And the Lord turned a mighty wind strong west wind
Which took away the locusts and cast them into the Red Sea there remain not one locust in all the coasts of Egypt
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart so that he would not let the children of Israel go
And the Lord said unto Moses stretch out thine hand toward heaven
that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt even darkness which may be felt and
Moses stretched forth his hand toward heaven and there was a thick darkness and all the land of Egypt three days
They saw not one another neither rose any from his place for three days
but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings a
Pharaoh called Moses and said go ye serve the Lord only let your flocks and your herds be stayed
Let your little ones also go with you
And Moses said thou must give us also sacrifices and burnt offerings that we may sacrifice unto the Lord our God
Our cattle also shall go with us. There shall not be in who left be left behind
For
thereof must we take to serve the Lord our God and we know not with what we must serve the Lord until we come dither
But the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart and he would not let them go and Pharaoh said unto that unto him
Get thee get thee from me take heed to thyself
See my face no more for in that day thou seest my face thou shalt die and Moses said thou hast spoken
Well, I will see thy face again. No more. Let's pray dear Lord
Thank you for this morning where we can gather and hear your word preach
I pray Lord should be with Pastor Stuckey this morning help fill in with the Holy Spirit
Help us all to learn this morning in Jesus name. I pray
All right, there we go, all right, well it's it's a pleasure to be here this morning and
As your pastor mentioned the announcements
We've known each other for a very long time
He's actually the only person I know in this room before I was actually saved and so over half our life ago now at this
Point and so I'd say the reason why we became such close friends was simply because of the same faith as he mentioned
He got saved shortly before me and then I got saved shortly after and and who knows whether or not would have become good
Friends, but we went to church together. We went soul winning together
We learned the Word of God together and he's definitely one of my closest friends in the entire world
And honestly, it's always an honor to preach the Word of God, but even more specifically here because I'm from West Virginia
I'm a West Virginian for most of my life and even above that a lot of people in this room
I mean I could mention every single person that I know in this room
I know a lot of people very well people that I really care about and you know
This church means a lot to me even though I'm no longer here
I grew up in Bridgeport, West Virginia, which is is only about 15 minutes down the road
It's not too far from here. And so it's an honor to be here. It's a pleasure
I look forward to talking to many of you after the service and I know there are some people that are here visiting
Today's sermon is a very specific sermon about West Virginia and also this church
The first sermon today is going to be very mean, very harsh, develop some thick skin. The second sermon is going to be more nice
Okay, but anytime the Word of God is preached you can learn from it and be edified
So let's just start here at verse number one
Exodus 10 verse 1 the Bible reads and the Lord said unto Moses go in unto Pharaoh
for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his servants that I might show these my signs before him and
That thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son of thy son's son
what what things I have wrought in Egypt and my signs which I have done among them that he may know how that I
Am the Lord and Moses and Aaron came in unto Pharaoh and said unto him thus saith the Lord God of the Hebrews
How long wilt thou refuse to humble thyself before me let my people go that they may serve me
How else if thou refused to let my people go behold tomorrow
Will I bring the locusts into thy coast and they shall cover the face of the earth that one cannot be able to see
The earth and they shall eat the residue of that which is escaped which remaineth unto you from the hail and shall eat
Every tree which growth for you out of the hail at this point the locusts
They are number eight on the list of the ten plagues of Egypt and the first plague you have is the water turned
To blood I don't even know how a society functions if all of your water supply is turned to blood that alone is going to destroy
a culture
Then you have the frogs the lice the flies the death of the livestock and then you had the hail was number seven and
Then the locusts are going to be number eight now
I want you to understand something when it comes to these ten plagues of
Egypt every single one of these plagues was an attack on one of the false gods of ancient Egypt
Now Egypt was similar in some ways to India where India worships a multiplicity of gods
And I've actually read a large portion of the so-called holy book of ancient Egypt
Which is known as the book of the dead and the entire book is just sorcery
Just casting spells to different gods to help you in the afterlife
They worshipped a multiplicity of gods now the last plague that's going to come is the tenth plague
Which is the death of the firstborn in ancient Egypt the number one god that was really worshipped was who?
Pharaoh and so with the death of the firstborn what it's basically doing is killing the next god of Egypt
Now I mentioned that to you because the statement you're going to see from the servants of Pharaoh are very strong
This was not a culture where you rebuke the Pharaoh. It's not a culture where you rebuke the leader
I don't think in any culture
You should be rebuking the leaders
But even more so there where they worshiped Pharaoh as a god notice what it says here in verse 6 and
They shall fill thy houses in the houses of all thy servants in the houses of all the Egyptians
Which neither thy fathers nor thy father's fathers have seen
since the day that they were upon the earth on to this day and he turned himself and went out from Pharaoh and
Pharaoh's servant said unto him how long shall this man be a snare on to us?
How long shall he be a trap on to us let the men go that they may serve the Lord their God
And they make the statement knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed
What they're basically saying to Pharaoh is at what point are you going to realize our culture is destroyed?
It's like I figured it out with the frogs. I figured it. He figured it out with the lice
She figured it out when all the cows were dropping dead at what point Pharaoh are you going to figure out we're done
We're not going to win our gods are not superior at what point are you going to realize that Egypt is destroyed?
You know that sort of question you you'd like to ask people in the United States in 2023
notice thou not yet that America is destroyed and
Look, this is not a personal attack on the United States or West Virginia because I preach this same sermon a month ago about
The Philippines and I went through all of the sins of the Philippines
But it's a question I'd like to ask people in the United States notice thou not yet that America is destroyed I
Mean I literally the stuff you see in the news
I mean it shocks me every single week and yet it doesn't shock me at all
Just the madness that's taking place every week
I Skype with my parents and they tell me all the things happening in the u.s.
And I'm just like I don't even know what to say
It's like a couple months ago like all the transsexuals were ripping off their clothes on the lawn of the White House
And it was sponsored by our president Joe Biden, and it's like doesn't even surprise me in
2023
And you know one thing that is good about this world becoming wicked is some people are starting to realize
They didn't realize it at the first plague or the second or the third but around the fifth of the sixth they figured it
out I
Remember a lot of people used to think I was very extreme on the LGBT and yet I talked to them today
And they agree with me
It's like at some point
They figured it out now here in West Virginia
It's easy to look at states like California and say man, California is a mess
Look at all the homos that are everywhere look at the homeless epidemic that is ever and trust me. It's there
Walking outside of Verity Baptist Church. There's homeless people all over the place I
Mean the LGBT is obviously everywhere in California
and it's very easy to get prideful when you live in a place like this and say look at the mess of
California or look at DC where over half of pregnancies end in abortion, and you're like what a mess
What a disaster, but my sermon is knowest thou not yet that West Virginia is
Destroyed this is going to be a very very specific
Sermon to West Virginia and look don't develop this prideful attitude
How dare how dare an outsider come in and attack you I've lived most my life in West Virginia
I know what it's like being a West Virginian. My favorite state is West Virginia. I love West Virginia
I've driven here the last you know week
I've actually driven down to Morgantown several times to help out on on
Driving family to medical appointments, and I have a lot of memories that come back from West Virginia
I remember doors. I've knocked streets. We've knocked churches. We went to areas. I visited my friends
I love West Virginia, and I'm not saying West Virginia is a bad state
But don't develop this prideful attitude that California is a mess, but we here are almost heaven
This is not almost heaven
Your home is not, West Virginia
It's not the u.s.. It's not the Philippines not wherever you want to think your home is up in heaven if you're saved I
Just started reading Joshua this morning, and you know what during the days of Joshua
I'd say God's people are closer to God than at any point throughout the entire Bible and at that specific time
You really did want to live in one location because God's people were centralized in one location
Now the modern-day application is not a specific nation
It's not a specific city
It's do you have a local church, and if you have a local church, and you're able to serve God
You should feel blessed and happy
So look if you live here, and you're in West Virginia
God has put you here for a reason, but don't have this attitude. How dare you say anything against, West, Virginia?
Shouldn't preaching be specific about the area you live in
and look if I was preaching in California
and I was preaching against the LGBT if you're not a homo I'm not talking about you and
So as I go through these points here about West Virginia look if you're innocent of them
I'm not preaching about you. I'm preaching about the culture that exists in
West Virginia
Now turning your Bible to Proverbs 6
Proverbs chapter 6
Proverbs 6
I
Want to give you three major points here today and point number one one of the major issues of West
Virginia is wasting time
Wasting time this is a very
Lazy state now once again if you're a hard worker. I'm not talking about you
But this is a lazy state, and I'm going to prove it to you with three different statistics here in
2017
Every year they take a poll to find out how much is the average amount of television watch per person per state in
2017 West Virginia finished first place
four hours 30 minutes and 54 seconds
four and a half hours
second place, Delaware three hours 47 minutes and
9 seconds West Virginia won by over 40 minutes
That's not something you want to win at
That's not something to be proud about the average person in West Virginia in
2017 watched television for more than 40 minutes more than the average person in
Delaware which was number two this is not something where number one's four and a half and number 50 is four hours 27 minutes
Now there's actually quite a bit of diversity and West Virginia easily won. You say wow that's an anomaly well
Let's go to 2021 to more recent statistics
West Virginia first place three hours 57 minutes and 50 seconds second place, Alabama three hours 38 minutes
46 seconds by almost 20 minutes, West Virginia won and
If you look at the statistics for every year, West Virginia doesn't always win, but they're always in the top two
And look if you're watching TV for four and a half hours, you know what that means you're lazy
You're wasting time
Isn't it true we knock these doors, and then people are sitting around doing nothing. Hey, do you have five minutes? Oh, I'm so busy
busy doing what
Four and a half hours and this lazy culture exists in West Virginia and look you
Become like the people around you. It's very easy to adopt the culture because it's what everybody else is doing
Bible says here in Proverbs 6 verse 6 go to the ant thou sluggard
Consider her ways and be wise
Which having no guide overseer or ruler provided for meat in the summer and gathered her food in the harvest
By the way the Bible is very specific when it says her ways
Her food because the worker ants are actually fit female and so the Bible knew long before
Science figured this out, but the Bible says go to the ant you say why has anybody ever seen an ant
Just sitting around doing nothing I
Mean every time you see an ant they're just always moving around
It's like they've had one too many energy drinks every morning or something
They're always moving around and the Bible says hey when you're lazy
You know what I actually created the answer you could look at them and realize hey, you know what I gotta change my life
look when you're sitting around doing nothing on your back porch and
Then you see the ants moving around just get up and do something
That's what the Bible saying go to the ant thou sluggard verse 9 how long with thou sleep
Oh sluggard when wilt thou arise out of thy sleep
Yet a little sleep a little slumber a little folding of the hands asleep
So shall thy poverty come as one that travelth, and I want as an arm and man
You're gonna have the desire of an arm and man an arm and man is someone who has a weapon someone who's willing
To rob to get something because you have nothing why because you're sitting around
doing
Nothing look I grew up with people that were very intelligent people that are losers today
You say why because they're lazy
They sat around doing nothing they became drug addicts in West, Virginia
You say why because they couldn't figure out how to work
They couldn't figure out how to do something turn your Bible to Ephesians 5
Ephesians chapter 5
Now look you can agree with me or disagree in my opinion the biggest problem with the television is not actually the content
In my opinion the biggest problem is just how much time people spend watching it
four and a half hours
How about an hour of Bible reading you still got three and a half hours left?
30 minutes of prayer and memorization you still got three hours left
You can work out for an hour you got two hours left and spend two hours with your family
But no in West, Virginia
What do they do just sit around watching TV for hours upon hours upon hours and look you know?
That's true from knocking doors in West, Virginia
A lot of people are sitting around with absolutely nothing to do their house is a mess
And they don't fix it. They just sit around watch TV for hours and hours and hours
Look, I'm not saying that this problem does not exist in other states also
But when you're number one by a quite a bit in those polls
I mean, it's obviously a major problem here specifically to West, Virginia
Ephesians 5 verse 15 see then that you walk circumspectly not as fools, but as wise
Redeeming the time because the days are evil
Bible says the days are evil and if you cross reference in the Word of God the evil days come upon you in Ecclesiastes 12
speaks about the aging process
Now look I don't think there's anything wrong with turning 39 because I'm turning 39 in less than two weeks
You know I don't appreciate those those jokes insulting right brother Dave, right?
But it's like your time flies by
It's shocking to me. It's like literally over half of my life. I've known your pastor
I'm like where did the time go and then of course here's the thing you don't understand when you're young
Time speeds up as you get older you say brother sucky that doesn't make sense no it doesn't but it's true
It speeds up you young kids hey redeem the time now
Look if you're old enough to read start reading the Word of God now start memorizing the Bible now
You say why there's going to come a day when you're married with a lot of kids
And you don't have the time or the ability to do it as much anymore
Take advantage of the free time now while you have it look. I wish I read the Bible more when I was younger I
Wish I took my life more seriously when I was young growing up
And of course there's nothing wrong with kids running and playing and having fun
But look life's not just a game
Life is serious, and it will fly before your eyes before you realize it. You've only got one life to live
Take advantage of it go to Colossians 4
Colossians chapter 4
I mean you know what people are doing in
West Virginia right now
They're getting ready to watch the NFL all day long
Saturdays about WVU and then Sundays about the NFL
It's like man. You wonder why your wife's so mad at you when you sit around watching football for eight hours a day on the weekends
You come home from work, and what do you do you sit around watching TV?
Drinking a beer and sitting around watching TV. I wonder why your wife's mad at you
I wonder why you're on the brink of a divorce. I can't figure it out
It boggles my mind
People sit around and do nothing and yet. They're so busy
Right in the Philippines when I go so any I'll ask people you know
Do you have just a few minutes just five minutes, and I'll see people playing
What is it mobile legends at least in the Philippines? I think that's the name of the game and and then it's like man
I'm so busy
it's like
busy
Right you're trying to you know increase your thumb muscles or something I mean
For thumb wars. I mean, what are you doing? They're so busy. They can't take five minutes to listen to the Word of God being preached
Bible says in Colossians 4 verse 5
Walk in wisdom toward them that are without
Redeeming the time
Don't waste your time. Take it seriously your life is gonna fly before your eyes. I
Mean it's amazing to me how fast life really moves and look I don't look at it as a depressing thing because I enjoy the
Stage of life I'm at now, and I enjoy my future years going forward, but at any stage of life
You're in take it seriously
Don't waste your time. You're gonna look back and say what did I do with my life?
Go in your Bible to 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3 2nd Thessalonians chapter 3
You
Say brother Saki, that's just one statistic on television, but in other areas West Virginians are very hard workers
Really?
Let me give you recent statistics from August 2022 on the highest percentage of people on welfare per state
Highest percentage of people on welfare number one, New Mexico
21.3%
21.3 more than one out of five people. I wonder why America is losing all of their money
And getting poorer as a country maybe because everyone who's working is taking care of everyone who's lazy
21.3%
2nd, Louisiana 17.3% 3rd West Virginia
17.1% more than one out of six people in this state is on welfare and
Fourth place was Mississippi 14.9%. So you see a big drop-off there 2.2% when you get down to fourth
17.1% of people are
on welfare look
I understand there are certain people that have disabilities and in the Bible there are people that are
Incapable of working but that is not the majority of people on welfare
most people are fully capable of working, but they choose not to and
Oftentimes when they're not capable it's because of their own choices in life that destroyed their health
Well, how dare you say that? Well, look if you're a hard worker, you're not offended by that
If you're a hard worker you're sick of paying for those people to sit around doing nothing and
Literally, they sit around doing nothing all the time and this culture is a major epidemic in West Virginia
Now look, there's plenty of good things about West Virginia
I mean West Virginia has one of the lowest abortion rates in the United States and
Praise God for that. I'm not saying everything about this state is bad
But there is certainly a culture of wasting time and being lazy in West Virginia
What does the Bible say about this second Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 6 now?
We command you brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
That you withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly and not after the tradition which he received of us
Bible speaks about withdrawing
from the brother
That's walking disorderly
The person who's very lazy
For yourselves know how you ought to follow us for we behave not ourselves disorderly among you
Neither did we eat any man's bread for naught
But wrought with labor and travail night and day that we might not be chargeable to any of you
Not because we have not power but to make ourselves an ensample unto you to follow us for even when we are with
You this we commanded you that if any would not work
Neither should eat
What's Paul saying that they should starve to death
People that are unwilling to work. It would be best for them to just starve to death
You say why cuz they'll figure out how to work when they're at the brink of dying. Oh
How dare you say that? Well, that's Paul the Apostle
That's what he said
Neither should eat if you're unwilling to work then you shouldn't eat
Now here's the thing. I understand there's a natural compassion a normal person has inside of them and look in West Virginia
We don't have a major culture of homeless people because it's just simply too cold for large ports of the parts of the year
For I read an article online where it said Hawaii's really struggling with the homeless because people buy a one-way ticket
To be homeless the rest of their life in Hawaii. That's what's going on in the world
But when I was a freshman in college, and I never saw this growing up
I remember somebody asked me for money and I was at the campus at WVU and I felt bad for the person
I was like man
I have so much more than this person and I naturally assume that if somebody's asking for money
They actually need it because to the normal person, you know to beg I am ashamed
Right? I don't want to ask people for money. You want to kind of figure it out your own way, right?
And this person asked me for money. I gave him $20 from my wallet. I had compassion
I felt bad for my game $20. I saw that same person about an hour and a half later after my class
bottle of booze inside his hand
That's my experience
Well, that's only one example
Well, there's another case of WVU where someone was asking for food and I learned my lesson not to give them money to help
Keep the problem going on. I walked back to my apartment ten minutes away
I got a bunch of just small little things of food
I brought it down to that person and then the next day the food was still there
They didn't want food
You said what did they want? They wanted drugs
They wanted alcohol. They wanted cigarettes
They didn't need food you say why because everybody offers food to homeless people they're not at the point of struggling for food
but what they really want usually is drugs and alcohol and cigarettes and things like that and
Here's the thing if you give them money, you're actually keeping the problem going
Now I understand there are people that are really struggling but see this is why you have a local church that helps people out
It's like why don't you ask your church for money? It's like well, I don't go to church
Well, that's problem number one
Start going to church and then you'll have people that know you and they know whether or not your situation is real or not
And it says if any would not work neither should eats if we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly
Working not at all, but are busybodies now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ that with quietness
They work and eat their own bread
And what I found from five years in the ministry is the people that walk disorderly at a church are those that do not work
That's what we found in Sacramento at Verity Baptist
That's what we found in the Philippines the people that I've kicked out of the church in the Philippines
There are people that refuse to work
People that borrowed thousands of dollars from other members at church and keep in mind thousands of dollars in the Philippines is a whole lot of
money
Borrowed I was fully planning to pay it back. Well, yeah until I preach that sermon. I don't think it happened
The people that refuse to work are the people that are problems and this is what the Bible's saying those that are lazy or
Disorderly why because if you have too much free time you get into trouble and look
I know that to be true with myself
If I if I don't have things to do and activities planned and you're just sitting around what ends up happening
You end up wasting time you get to the end of the day I didn't have time to read my Bible
It's like you didn't have anything to do that day, but you end up wasting your time
Think of David in the Bible
Why did he commit adultery? What was the root cause at the time Kings go forth to battle?
Couldn't sleep at night. Why couldn't he sleep? Well the sleep of a laboring man is sweet
But if you're not laboring if you're not working, oh, I can't sleep
right
Turn your Bible
1st Corinthians 6 1st Corinthians 6 1st Corinthians chapter 6
Let me give you a list of the poorest states in the United States
19.58 percent of people in Mississippi are classified as poor that's number one, Louisiana number two, New Mexico number three, West Virginia number four and
those are the top four that were also top four and welfare as well and
It's like well if you start working
You wouldn't be so poor
I mean do something. Oh, I can't find a job. It's so hard in 2023. Are you kidding me?
It's like companies are begging for people to work in 2023. Don't tell me you can't find a job in 2023
There's plenty of work out there if you're willing
you know what's interesting too is the Bible speaks about preaching the gospel to the poor and
You would think that a state like West Virginia would be incredibly receptive to the gospel because it's always been one of the poorest states
But is this the most receptive state to the gospel for those that have gone soul winning in different states?
No, it's not
You say why there's a difference between being poor and being lazy
You know what I thought when I started going so many in the Philippines you go to areas that are squatters areas were basically the
People that live in those houses are gone and people just move into them and you think people are sitting around
They have nothing to do a lot of people get saved, but nope
It's like you have nothing in life going for you, but then you don't want to listen to the gospel
Yeah, just several months ago. I went so winning
It's called the Bajau community, which you probably aren't familiar with that term
but it's a group of people that are basically like vagabonds in different countries in Asia and
Literally, they set up a tent on the side of a hill they have no bathroom no floor
They literally use the bathroom where they're walking. I mean, it's it's it's the poorest area I've ever seen in my life by far
It is the least receptive area. I've ever been to I
mean, I think Sodom and Gomorrah would have been more receptive and
Literally we go to the first door there. It's like one o'clock in the afternoon and
everybody's sleeping
Every single person and then they wake up. There's like eight people living there in a small little tent and then we ask him
They said okay. Yeah, you can tell us and the first question, you know, once we get into it, you know
Have you ever sinned before? Nope?
None of those eight people have ever sinned
It's like look I try not to judge the outward appearance, but when all of you are asleep in the middle of the afternoon
I'm pretty sure laziness is a sin. I'm pretty sure wasting time is a sin, but they said I've never sinned before
I mean it was by far the poorest area I've ever been to there are so many flies and bugs
I got sick for weeks after that and it's like but they were unreceptive to the gospel and look West Virginia is not the most
receptive state to the gospel
It isn't there's other states
You're gonna get more people saved when you zealously soul when you say why because it is a lazy state
A lot of people are sitting around with nothing to do
point number one wasting time
Point number two one of the major sins of West Virginia are vices
Vices are a major sin and problem in West Virginia
Bible says in 1st Corinthians chapter 6 verse 18 flee fornication
Every sin that a man doeth is without the body, but he that committed fornication sent against his own body
What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you?
Which you have of God and you're not your own for you're bought with a price therefore glorify God in your body
And in your spirit which are God's
You know the liberals are obnoxious when they make statements like my body my choice and
Of course is stupid because it's not their body that they're killing
But here's the thing
Your body you don't have a right to do whatever you want with it
Because it belongs to God
Even if that were your body, it's like I'm sorry that body belongs to God
Your body's the temple of the Holy Ghost you don't have a right just to trash your body in any way you want
Because your body belongs to God
But in West Virginia vices have always been a major problem
smoking statistics in 2022 first place, West, Virginia
23.8% and if you grew up in West Virginia, that's not a shock to you because I'm pretty sure they were number one when I
was a kid right
Smoking has always been a major thing
I mean you knock on these doors cigarettes all over the place. Is that not true?
Smoking is a major problem West Virginia first place, West, Virginia
23.8% and then our cousins of the South Kentucky number two
23.6% and look I get the fact this is north-central West, Virginia
I get the fact maybe there's other parts that struggle with this more
But you can't tell me that that this is not a problem here in Fairmont or in the surrounding areas
First place, West, Virginia and
By the way, it was a whole three percent above fourth place, Ohio
Just so the people from Ohio don't get arrogant during the sermon. It's like you made the top four also
How about drinking I
Mean, what's the big mantra from West, Virginia University?
Cheers beers and mountaineers explain to me what living in the mountains has to do with drinking beer. I
Don't understand it. I don't get the correlation look I personally love driving through the mountains
I mean, this is arguably the most beautiful state in the United States, and I believe that
what does drinking beer have to do with the mountains and
You've got beautiful mountains, and then you throw alcohol everywhere. I mean is that a beautiful sight
Cheers beers and mountaineers and
Look when we were in college. I hated going downtown because you go downtown on High Street at nighttime
It's like there's literally human vomit everywhere
It's horrible. I had a classmate in college
He got murdered because he got drunk him and this guy got in a fight somebody threw a snowball and he got stabbed
And what was the cause of that they were both drunk out of their minds?
I mean alcohol is a major major problem is a major vice that is an issue here in West, Virginia
Cheers beers and mountaineers
barstool sports
Each year gives a poll for the top party in drinking schools and almost every year guess what's number one West, Virginia
University my alma mater
Well, how dare you preach against WVU I graduated from WVU also I?
Got saved at WVU so my time wasn't so bad at college, but but here's the thing it is a major issue
I mean I always wondered when I was at WVU
Why don't people just play sports on the weekends do something fun to me?
But people are just getting trashed out of their minds at WVU. That's what they do
Smoking drinking. What does the Bible say about drinking go to Proverbs 31?
Proverbs 31
Proverbs chapter 31
Anyway, what sickening is people from WVU they take pride in the fact they drink more than anybody else
Right I mean, it's known as I Cheers beers and mountaineers
It's like look. I'm not proud of the fact my alma mater is number one on drinking every year
That doesn't make me happy. It's like hey, what's West Virginia known for hey getting drunk and burning couches wow that's great
You really think that I mean because I graduated from WVU you think I like that you think I'm proud of the fact
That my alma mater is just a mess
Getting drunk and burning couches and acting like an idiot and look many people in this room have graduated from WVU
That is the culture at WVU. There's no question about it
Just drinking and drinking and drinking and drinking. It's like why don't you do something with your life rather than destroying your health?
Proverbs 31 verse 4
It is not for kings olimiel. It is not for kings to drink wine nor for Prince's strong drink
Lest they drink and forget the law and pervert the judgment of any of the afflicted
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts
Let him drink and forget his poverty and remember his misery no more
Here this mom is telling her son. You're too good to drink
Let the people that are losers drink let the homeless bums drink away their sorrows
That's what the Bible saying here in Proverbs 31 look what give strong drink on a hymn that is ready to perish
Look people that are drunks. They're ready to perish
They're ready to die. Yeah, let them drink away their life. Let them destroy their life
Wine unto those that be of heavy hearts doesn't the Bible say that drinking alcohol makes you depressed
It fills you full of sorrow. I'm not depressed. I
Enjoy my life
Life's good. I'm happy
I
Would tell people I don't need to drink because you know, I enjoy my life
Why would I want to forget what happens throughout the night?
My life's not bad
Why would I want to just drink away my memories?
You're drinking a poison into your body
But that's what people do. I mean look I don't have statistics in front of me on how many people have died from
You know drunken driving, but I knew people from Bridgeport that died from drunken driving
They crashed and died on the highway
I mean there's flowers on the side of the road
I remember I don't know if they're there now for when they crashed and died on the side of the highway because they were drunk
It's like what are you doing with your life? And here's what I would say as a safe person as a child of God as
kings and priests unto God
You're too good to drink
Let the losers drink
Let them destroy their lives
You're too good to drink I
Mean people it's amazing to me
I see people that are my age from where I grew up and some people
They look like they're old enough to be my father's because they've destroyed their health
I'm being serious about this. I'm like man. They've really aged. They're still in their 30s. Which is still young
Even if they're 38 or 39, right?
But they look so it's like what have you done to your bodies?
But when you drink and do drugs and smoke, I mean they're side effects
Turn your Bible to Ecclesiastes 12 Ecclesiastes chapter 12
I always knew growing up in West Virginia that smoking was a major problem
I mean, you know all the jokes about West Virginia if you've traveled outside, West Virginia
People here from West Virginia all kinds of jokes come up and by the way perceptions exist for a reason
They do I
Know about the drinking at WVU. I
visited a few other colleges before I chose to get WVU because I thought about playing soccer at different colleges and that drinking culture is
there as well at
West Virginia Wesleyan even more so at Alderson Broaddus, but I guess they're not around anymore. So
but it existed at AB college before they closed down recently and
So it's part of West Virginia. Just drink. I mean you live in the most beautiful state in the United States
Go out camping do something and then you just choose to get drunk when you're in the middle of God's creation
It's like what is wrong with people?
I don't get it
But you know one thing I did not know is a major problem in West Virginia is the drug epidemic in
West Virginia, I just found out about this a couple years ago
It shocked me statistics in 2021 of overdose deaths from drugs in West Virginia first place
West Virginia ninety point nine out of one hundred thousand. So one out of a thousand people roughly
overdoses and dies on drugs and
You know, it makes sense to me because I know people that have OD'd on drugs from West Virginia
Second place. So first place West Virginia ninety point nine second place, Tennessee fifty point six
Nearly double
Second place nearly double the amount of overdose deaths from drugs in West Virginia than any other state
This is not something to be proud about
Look, I love West Virginia. Don't take this as an attack
Like how dare you say that you I grew up in West Virginia and because I love West Virginia
I'm preaching the truth about West Virginia
Because what I would love to see is that as a result of this church that this would change over the course of 20 years
But these are major problems in West Virginia first place
I would have guessed it would be New York City and San Francisco LA Chicago Baltimore
West Virginia
There's no big cities in West Virginia, but this drug epidemic is all over, West Virginia
Here's from an article read online in
2016 it says Huntington, West Virginia America's drug death capital
Since then West Virginia has become the face of the opioid epidemic with an overdose death rate ten times the national average
Ten times the national average see it's hard for us to realize this because we're normal people that go to work we go home
At night and we eat dinner with our families. We don't really realize this
but it actually exists in West Virginia as a major major problem and
And it says the narrative being shared about the Mountain State has been bleak
But one year after the CNN headline a West Virginia filmmaker chose to tell a different kind of story about the opioid crisis one of resilience
And hope Elaine McMillan Sheldon directed and co-produced the Academy Award-nominated documentary
Heroin a film focused on three women fiercely dedicated to fighting the opioid crisis in their home community
Actually came across this because her husband was actually a good friend of mine growing up. He grew up in Bridgeport
He played soccer Kern Sheldon
And I remember just seeing that he was a filmmaker and then I looked and he had made films on drugs him and his wife
I was like West Virginia's
The number one state in the United States for drugs. I
Mean it's shocking to me because there's no big cities
But it is number one and it's not even close
90.9
50.6 that is an 80% increase from number two, Tennessee
What are the side effects of the vices in West Virginia, there's a lot of side effects in
2021
West Virginia finished first place of the highest cancer mortality by state at
184.7 out of a hundred thousand now look there's many reasons why people get cancer and I'm not saying it's someone's fault
I know people that have gotten cancer that live very clean lives, but the lifestyle choices you make have side effects and
First place is West Virginia. I get it as I'm preaching through these side effects. I might end up struggling with some of these things
I'm not saying that couldn't happen, but I'm just saying number one, West Virginia. How about coronary heart disease deaths in
2021
West Virginia first place
134.9 per 100,000 I mean first place in smoking
Drinking drugs. Well, it makes sense
Sit first place in watching TV, it makes sense that you're the number one state in dying of heart disease and cancer in these things
I mean there are correlations that exist as a result of this
What does the Bible say about this? Well, Ecclesiastes 12 verse 1
Remember now thy creator in the days of thy youth
While the evil days come not nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say I have no pleasure in them
While the Sun or the light or the moon or the stars be not darkened nor the clouds return after the rain
The Bible speaks about the evil days that come upon you as you get older and look one of the saddest things
You know being in in my 30s is seeing
Relatives of mine that the evil days have really hit them and you see people that are strong
They're very active and then just out of nowhere. They just lose their health
Almost completely. It's a very sad thing to see but it's it's part of life
You see that as your parents and grandparents and aunts and uncles they get older and they start to lose their health
Now here's the thing. Even if you're a lot younger than me and you're a child in this room
Hey in your youth remember your creator
Because even being younger you still see those evil days starting to come where you can't do what you used to do things are a
Lot more difficult and take your life seriously
verse 3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble the handshake and
The strong men shall bow themselves and the grinders cease because they are few and
Those that look out of the windows be darkened people get older and they often have to get a lot go to the dentist a
Lot the out of the windows talking about your eyes people lose their eyesight as they get older
these are side effects as you age and
The doors shall be shut in the streets when the sound of the grinding is low and he shall rise up at the voice
Of the burden all the daughters of music shall be brought low
Also when they should be afraid of that which is high and fear shall be in the way and the almond tree shall flourish and
The grasshopper should be a burden and desire shall fail because man goes to his long home and the mourners go about the streets
Wherever the silver cord be loosed or the golden bull be broken or the pitcher be broken at the fountain or the will broken
At the cistern then shall the dust return to the earth as it was and the spirit shall return on to God who gave
It now look the evil days are going to come upon all of us as we get older
But here's the thing you can lengthen your good life here on Earth by taking care of your body
Think about Caleb in the Bible
85 years old he's like I'm as strong now as when I first started. I mean Moses in the Bible
I mean he's he's walking up mountains in his 80s
he's not a young guy, but he's still strong and
Look obviously the evil days come upon us all and I'm not saying it's your fault if you lose your health what I'm saying is
I want to have a life on Earth where I have my health and I can serve God
I have energy to play with my kids and my grandkids
That's what I want out of life. You say what do you do take care of your body?
Don't smoke
Don't drink. Don't do drugs. Take care of your body
Don't sit around for four and a half hours a day watching television
For any and here's another side effects
Number one state in antidepressant medication, West Virginia
West Virginia
16.4% of people
One out of six people in West Virginia is on
antidepressant medication
Now look, I'm not trying to go too deep in the medical field
I know people have a lot of different opinions
But you cannot tell me that God designed that one out of six people would need
Antidepressants to get by in life. You cannot tell me that is God's intention
You say brother, why are people so depressed in West Virginia?
Well when you sit around watching TV for four and a half hours a day, I
Mean as a guy if you don't work, you're gonna be depressed
You're sitting around drinking that gives you sorrow
You're sitting around doing drugs. Of course. You're gonna be depressed
16.4% of people are an antidepressant medication number one
Number two, Kentucky 15.3% there's our cousins in the south again
Hawaii was 50th at 3.4% so five times as many people in West Virginia as
Hawaii are on antidepressant medication and look it makes sense
If you're sitting around watching TV and smoking and drinking you're gonna be depressed
Now I saw other polls and this is a 2019 poll other polls where Utah was number one
As like that makes perfect sense because if I was a Mormon I'd be depressed too
Right
West Virginia also makes sense because of the fact I mean if you're sitting around doing nothing you're gonna be depressed
Another side effects West Virginia has the lowest life expectancy of any state in the United States
Which that should not be shocking based on them being number one in all these statistics at 72.8
That's what I did in my secular job before I moved to Sacramento, California
Basically worked on mortality rates and life expectancies West Virginia is always at the bottom
They have the the shortest lifespan. It's not the mountains that are causing you to get all this pollution or whatever
It's the lifestyle choices people are making in West, Virginia
Turn your Bible to Philippians chapter 3 Philippians 3
Philippians chapter 3
Now
Look I don't think that anybody that moved to West Virginia from another state is is upset at their choice
I'm sure if you moved here to be a part of this church, you're glad I
Believe this is a great place to live. It's a beautiful state. I mean there's a lot to offer in West, Virginia
I saw last night online
They had a statistic or they had the most beautiful places in the United States to visit number one on the list
I saw was Harpers Ferry. I don't even think that's the most beautiful part of West, Virginia
I think there's a lot of things that are even better, but West Virginia has a lot of beautiful places
I mean honestly to me just driving through the mountains is a very pleasant drive
Just seeing the fall colors this state has a lot to offer it is a beautiful state
But it is also a state that has a lot of problems that exist in the way people are living their lives
There is no question about that
Number one wasting time number two vices lastly number three uneducated
One of the major things of West, Virginia is a very uneducated
Very stupid state compared to other states, and here's the thing
I knew about a lot of these other things when I was a kid
But the one that always bugged me is the fact that West, Virginia is uneducated
You say why because when I would go to soccer tournaments, and they hear you're from West, Virginia
They immediately assume you're an idiot
right
Isn't that true?
They hear you're from West, Virginia. It's like oh, man. Did you marry your cousin ha ha ha?
right
These are the stereotypes of West, Virginia
You know it's true. I mean I've lived in a lot of different states, and they've had a lot of jokes about West, Virginia
Hey, I heard this one about West, Virginia
Then they realized I don't find it funny after like the fifth time and then they stopped the jokes
but
It is true though on average West, Virginia is very uneducated state compared to other states
They did a study based on IQ scores SAT scores and ACT scores
And look I'm not saying these these scores are completely accurate to whether or not how intelligent you are
But as they went through the scores
The dumbest state was West, Virginia
Number one number two Mississippi number three, Louisiana number four, Arkansas
West, Virginia finished in first place
But here's the thing it's not that they're naturally born in West, Virginia dumber than other states
But if you sit around watch TV for four and a half hours a day
Doesn't that make sense?
I'm sorry, but I I don't think watching whatever Jerry Springer is gonna make you smarter
You sit around watch TV all day you're gonna be stupid
You're me dumb and look of course as Bible believe in Christians number one read the Word of God
But even outside of that if you want to watch something what's a documentary that you can actually learn from?
There's a lot of amazing things. I mean I was reading my Bible last night and it talked about the deaf adder
I was like I want to kind of study that out
You know the deaf adder you know about them not having the ability to hear and you can educate and learn about this world
But in West, Virginia, it's like well just beer smoking drugs and sit around watching TV
Bible says in Philippians 3 verse 19
Whose end is destruction whose God is their belly and his glory is in their shame who mind earthly things
You know what the thing is that is annoying about it is a lot of people take this as something they get prideful about
Well, we're not that smart in West, Virginia
Well, I don't know much, but I know the gospel bless God
I'm sorry. That's not a funny joke and
I've heard that joke from the pulpits in Baptist churches in West, Virginia, and I'm thinking it's not funny
I don't want to be linked with being stupid I
Mean I'm pretty sure there's a guy named Daniel in the Bible that was a very educated person at a young age
I don't take glory in my shame
Why would you be happy like wow man? I don't know how to read isn't that awesome
Like like what I think what the Muslims do with Muhammad man. He didn't even know how to read
It's like why are you glorying in that? That's not something to take pride in that your prophet didn't know how to read
But in West, Virginia, this does exist where people take glory in the fact. Well. I'm just a dumb redneck
That's not something to glory about that's not something to be proud about
It's like read learn
Get educated, but it is a cultural thing here in West, Virginia. Turn to Matthew 28
Matthew 28
Matthew chapter 28
Now look don't get offended by what I preach because these things are true
I gave you real statistics and look if you and maybe if you moved here to West, Virginia
Maybe you didn't know all these things, but if you grew up in West, Virginia you knew these things
and
It wasn't something that you're exactly proud about it's like man these stigmas and stereotypes about West, Virginia
It's like all the Hollywood movies making fun of West, Virginia
But these things these stereotypes they do exist for a reason there are real problems in West, Virginia
By the way if you're trying to remember just kind of the organization the sermon wasting time vices uneducated
WVU is the acronym that you can remember from the sermon wasting so I didn't say laziness
Why do you say laziness? Why not? Why do you say wasting time?
Why not laziness because I wanted the WVU acronym to remember wasting time vices uneducated
What's the solution?
Well notice what it says in Matthew chapter 28
What's the solution for West, Virginia and let me say this there?
Let me give you some things that are good about West, Virginia as I said
They are one of the lowest states on abortion rates nearly number one
They're right down there in the bottom couple in the United States, and that's great
This state has one of the lower
LGBT rates that's great
This state is one of the most conservative states by voting now in the United States and look
I'm not Republican or a Democrat, but if you don't realize there's something wrong with Joe Biden
I think he walked into the wrong church this morning
But when I was a kid
This state voted Bill Clinton both elections
It was a very you know
Liberal state on things like abortion and stuff like that and due to everything I have with a coal industry and everything
It's like it kind of turned this state conservative, but that's a good thing
This state is low in abortion low in LGBT. It's more conservative those things are good things
I'm not saying everything's bad about West, Virginia
But but there's this culture and it often ties together with country music where country people that listen to country music
It's all about drinking
It's like they take glory in it say well. We'd never smoke weed
We just get drunk all the time, and it's like all this country music
Just glorifies this stuff, and it's a cultural thing here in West Virginia as well
Matthew 28 verse 18 and
Jesus came and spake unto them saying all power is given out of me in heaven and in earth
Go ye therefore and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Ghost
Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. It commanded you and lo and with you all way even on to the end of the world
Amen, this is known as the Great Commission and
Part of the Great Commission is soul winning
Getting people saved and look any soul winning that we do here at this church. It's great
Yeah, so winning marathon in well Akron or Cleveland last week
And I've got family in Martinsburg, West Virginia, so I'm excited to see it's like man
This church is doing so many marathons like everywhere. That's great
You can go to some of these places. I mean in Martinsburg where people really struggle with this
I mean I was just talking to my sister. She lives in Martinsburg
We're talking about the drug epidemic and she's like yeah, it's a big problem in Martinsburg and
I'm happy that you can talk to people while they're sober
While they're not trashed and you can get people saving praise God for that
But what I want you to understand is getting saved does not fix all your problems
Did you know that a drunk that gets saved is still a drunk?
Did you know that somebody who's lazy that gets saved is still lazy?
Did you know that when somebody gets saved they don't magically just quit watching television?
No, they're still gonna watch for hours and hours and hours
So here's the thing. It's not just getting people saved. You need to get them baptized and
You need to teach them to observe all things and
That's why you need a church like Mountain Baptist Church
Look, I don't take this as man. It's so horrible living here all the things that I've heard
You should take and say hey, you know what? I want to help change the culture here
Look when I visited the Philippines before we moved there
we had our missions trip and there's a 12-hour difference between East Coast and Philippines time in 15 hours with
Sacramento or California and
Philippines and so when we went over there, we're waking up at like 2 in the morning
Right your sleep schedules all over the place. And I remember I woke up at like 3 30 in the morning one day
I went downstairs and there's other people at the mission strip
Just hanging out because we're wide awake and I was like, you know what? I want to develop a burden for the Philippines
And so I just went out for a walk now
Let me say this never go out for a walk in a big city in the Philippines at 3 30 in the morning
You say why because what you're gonna see is a million guys in dresses
Because the Philippines is one of the most perverse cultures in the world
It makes it makes California look like nothing and that's a fact
Guys are wearing dresses everywhere. But you know what? I didn't let that say well, man
I'm not gonna move here because there's all these cross-dresses, you know what I said?
Well, obviously the Philippines needs the preaching of the Word of God to fix their problems
Look God's got you here for a reason and there's a great state to live in
But it's a state with a lot of problems a state where people waste time a state with a lot of vices
Anyone a state with a lot of uneducated people and they don't even really think anything about it because that's what they're used to
They grow up around people that you know, what don't take their education. Seriously, they don't study
They just sit around and watch TV all day. And that is a big problem
You know what you need is a church like Mountain Baptist Church
And so look take it upon yourself to say you know what I want to help change the culture at least in this area
At least in our Jerusalem
Let's change the culture and get people safe and try to get them to come to church and you know what you see?
People completely change once they start coming to church
Look as your pastor said we've known each other for a very long time
Look, we were completely different people 20 years ago. I mean if you met us back then you'd be like these guys became pastors
You say why because everybody needs the preaching of God's Word to change
Everybody needs to hear God's Word. Look at this church you hear some of the greatest preaching in the world
Three times a week
You got these soul winning events to be a part of. You got a great church a great church family
Awesome people at Mountain Baptist Church. I'm not preaching this sermon to make you feel depressed or down or whatever
What I would say is use this as motivation to say you know what I want to help change the culture here in
West Virginia, let's close in word of prayer. Dear Heavenly Father
Thank you for allowing us to be here today and just thank you for this great church and the great people at this church
God ask you to help this sermon be a blessing to people help it motivate people to
Try to get people saved but also bring them to church so they can hear the preaching of God's Word
We pray this in Jesus name. Amen
You
All right, if you would take your song books in turn to song 150
Song
115 your song books will see my faith is found a resting place if you would stand
We'll sing song 150
My faith is found a resting place not
Indivised nor creed. I
trust the
Living one his wounds for me shall bleed. I
need no other
Argument I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me
Enough for me that Jesus saves. This is my fear and doubt a
Sinful soul I come to him. He'll never cast me out
I
Need no other
Argument I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me
My heart is leaning
on the word the
written Word of God
Salvation by my Savior's name
Salvation through his blood. I need no other
Argument I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me
He died for me
my great
Physician heals the sick the lost he came to save
For me is precious blood. He shed for me his life he gave
I
need no other
Argument I need no other plea
It is enough that Jesus died and that he died for me
You're dismissed
You