People will say, I'd rather rule with saving in hell
than be with God in heaven, but saving is not ruling hell.
They will wish to go out, but by that time, it's too late.
But if you are saved and you die, you go to heaven,
you will wish that you will help people in hell,
but it's too late.
You will wish that you will preach the gospel to them,
but it's too late because you are in heaven, right?
So for us,
who are still living on the earth,
it's not too late for us to preach the gospel.
John chapter five, look at verse 24.
Very, very late I say unto you,
be that heareth my word,
and believeeth on him,
that send me hath everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation,
but is, notice, passed from death unto life.
There's nothing wrong with remembering the past.
The Bible says multiple times we need to remember the days of
both, remember all the ways that God has led us throughout all those years.
It can be a great reminder of how great God is.
It can motivate us to do more for God in the future.
But if you are only living in the past, then you are wrong.
What are you doing?
Today, in fact, God rebuked the church in Sardis and God said,
thou hast a name that thou livest and are dead.
So many Christians talk about the heydays of Christianity
in the past, and they were complaining
about what we have right now.
But we can still do great things for God right now, right?
We can remember the past.
It can motivate us.
We can learn from our past victories and failures.
But don't settle.
we can always do more obviously numbers are just numbers right you know numbers
can change on seasons in our lives in the areas but you know what we can learn
from this number is very easy like I said the more hours we spend the more
those we knock more people get saved it's that simple okay
So God has blessed our church tremendously, and we should really praise Him for what He has done,
and we should rejoice in the Lord. But let's also not settle. Okay, Philippians 3, look at verse 12.
The Bible says, not as though I had already attained, either were made perfect, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend, that for which also I am apprehended of Christ, Jesus.
Notice verse number 13.
Brethren, I count on myself to have apprehended.
The word apprehend means attained, achieved.
For getting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth on those things which are before,
I press toward the mark for the price
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
So what Paul is saying that is,
hey, keep running the race, right?
The only time you should stop running the race
is until you die, right?
And when you go to heaven,
you're still gonna be working and praising God forever,
okay, so never stop working, keep running the race.
And many of you may not be used to that many people
guessing, right?
If you've been to some regular Baptist churches,
these members might seem a shock to you, right?
You know, these members might seem to be a shock to you,
but, you know, we should make that the norm.
Don't be surprised on how great God is, okay?
Because these members, 800 salvages in a year
is almost unheard of in most Baptist churches.
Let's just be honest don't let that surprise you drink big right we need to go big okay because this is a soul winning church
You can you can see a clear difference between a church that emphasizes soul winning versus churches that do not right?
The members are drastically different
Right, but let that be the norm. This is a soul winning church
Let's let's do more for God. There are people in heaven who want to help people in hell, but it's too late
They want to give them a drop of water to cool their tongue
because they are tormented in hell,
but there are also people in hell who love to go to heaven,
but it's too late.
Somebody told me this, to us Christians,
the earth is the closest place that we can get to hell,
but to the unsaved, the earth is the closest place
that they can be to heaven.
Luke 16 verse
Verse number 27, the Bible says,
This is the cry of people in hell see people in hell would love
For you to preach the gospel to their loved ones, right?
People in hell would love for you to preach the gospel to their unsaved mom to their unsaved dad to their cousins to their
Brother and to their children because people in hell would love to go to heaven. Hey, they request you
They request you to cry about you to send
for the goodness to their loved ones.
But to us who are still living,
it's not too late to preach the gospel.
So I want you to notice the cries of people in hell.
The cries of hell is,
hey, I have five brethren that he may testify onto them,
lest they also come into this place of torment.
Nobody who goes to hell will wish
that other people will go to hell with them, okay?
Some people will say I'd rather rule with saving in hell than be with God in heaven
But saving is not ruling hell they will wish to go out
But by that time it's too late
But if you are safe and you die you go you go to heaven
You will wish that you will help people in hell, but it's too late
You will wish that you will preach the gospel to them, but it's too late because you are in heaven, right?
So for us who are still living on the earth, it's not too late for us to preach
the gospel.
John chapter five, look at verse 24.
Very, very, I say unto you,
be that heareth my word,
and believe it on him,
that send me half everlasting life,
and shall not come into condemnation,
but is, notice,
pass from death unto life.
There's nothing wrong with remembering the past.
The Bible says multiple times,
we need to remember the days of both,
remember all the ways that God has led us
throughout all those years.
It can be a great reminder of how great God is.
It can motivate us to do more for God in the future.
But if you are only living in the past, then you are wrong.
What are you doing?
Today, in fact, God rebuked the church in Sardis and God said,
thou hast a name that thou livest and are dead.
So many Christians talk about the heydays of Christianity
in the past, and they will complain about what we have right now.
But we can still do great things for God right now, right?
We can remember the past.
It can motivate us.
We can learn from our past victories and failures.
But don't settle.
we can always do more.
Obviously, numbers are just numbers, right?
You know, numbers can change on seasons,
you know, life, in the areas.
But you know, what we can learn from this number
is very easy. Like I said,
the more hours we spend,
the more those we knock,
more people get saved.
It's that simple, okay?
So God has blessed our church tremendously, and we should really praise Him for what He has done, and we should rejoice in the Lord.
But let's also not settle.
Okay, Philippians chapter 3, look at verse number 12.
The Bible says,
Not as though I had already attained either war made perfect, but I follow after if that I may apprehend that for which also I'm apprehended of Christ, Jesus.
Notice verse number 13.
The wiper head means attained, achieved.
Paul was saying that he did not count himself
to have achieved the final state.
But there's one thing I do for getting those things
which are behind and reaching forth
onto those things which are before.
I press toward the mark for the price
of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
So what Paul was saying that is,
hey, keep running the race, right?
The only time you should stop running the race
is until you die, right?
And when you, when you go to heaven, you're still going to be working and praising God
for ever, okay? So, never stop working. Keep running the race.
And uh
Many of you may not be used to
Dominate people just saying right if you've been to some regular Baptist churches these members might seem a shock to you
Right, you know these members might seem to be a shock to you
But you know we should we should make that the norm don't be surprised on how great God is
Okay, because these members
800 salvages in a year is almost unheard of in most Baptist churches
Let us be honest evening. Welcome to Sure Foundation Baptist Church. Please grab a hymnal and turn to number
340 number 340 blessed quietness
Joys are flowing like a river, since a comforter has come.
He abides with us forever, makes a trusting heart his home.
Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what a shore.
in my soul on the stormy sea he speaks peace to me how the billows cease to roll
bringing life and health and gladness all around this heavenly guest banished
on belief and sadness change our way
to rest. Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul. On the stormy sea
he speaks peace to me while the billows cease to roll. Like the rain that falls from heaven,
Ghost is given, coming on us from on high.
Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul.
On the stormy sea, he speaks peace to me,
how the billows cease to roll.
Blessed fruit of righteousness And the streams of life are flowing
In the lonely wilderness Blessed quietness, holy quietness
What assurance in my soul On the stormy sea he speaks peace to me
On the last, what a wonderful salvation where we always see his face.
What a perfect habitation, what a quiet resting place.
Blessed quietness, holy quietness, what assurance in my soul.
the stormy sea, he speaks peace to me, how the billows cease to roll. Amen brother
Give me thy heart, says the Father above, no gift so precious to him as our love.
Softly he whispers wherever thou art.
Gratefully trust me and give me thy heart.
Give me thy heart.
Hear the soft whisper wherever thou art, From this dark world he would draw thee apart.
Speaking so tenderly, give me thy heart, Give me thy heart, says the Savior of men,
Just in me only I'll never depart Have I not died for thee, give me thy heart
Give me thy heart, give me thy heart Hear the soft whisper wherever thou art
says the spirit divine all that thou hast to my keeping resign grace more
abounding is mine to impart make full surrender and give me thy
We're the soft whisper wherever thou art.
From this dark world, he would draw thee apart.
Speaking so tenderly, give me thy heart.
Amen.
Good singing.
This time, evangelist Justin Zhang
will give the announcements.
the angel for teaching us new songs and that's why you know Wednesday night is great to learn about
some new songs and obviously the goal is to sing all the good songs in the hymn. No
ban on to that. So yeah welcome to Shoe Foundation Baptist Church if you need a bulletin please raise
your hand and I'll show we'll bring one to you. I think do we have enough bulletins left? Two more?
So let's look at the verse of the week Psalm 85 verse 10 the Bible says mercy and truth are met together
Righteousness and peace have kissed each other. That's the great verse telling us a balance between
Love and justice and these two things are not count
They are not contradictory, but they can call they can they can both
Exist
So let's flip on the inside page.
We are on YouTube, Facebook, Rumble, and X.
So please give us a follow if you haven't done so.
To stay you know up to date with the announcement and then we have service times on a morning at 11 a.m
Sunday afternoon service at 4 p.m
And once night Bible study at 7 p.m
Tonight we'll be going through the book of Ecclesiastes chapter number five going through this book one chapter a week on Wednesday nights
And then so many time coming up Saturday morning at 10 30 a.m. And Sunday afternoon so many at 1 30 p.m
And then you can see the salvations and last week's
last week's attendance below.
Upcoming events, please be a blessing to the Raleigh family.
Just use the QR code for the baby registry
as well as the wedding registry
and to buy stuff for them, be a blessing to them.
And then Pastor Anderson will be preaching for us
on Friday, September 5th at 7 p.m.
And there will be no Wednesday service.
that week only basically will be moving the one snack service to that Friday night and then
the week after on that Saturday we'll have our fall fellowship. Basically it's a church picnic
at a local park on September 13th. We'll probably meet around 4 p.m. play some games volleyball,
basketball, and then we'll probably have dinner around 5.30. This will be a Pollock style of
picnic. The church will be providing the meat. We'll be grilling the meat burgers and stuff like
that but then you'll be bringing the sides. So I'll probably have the sign-up sheet either this
Please join us for some food, games, and fun, and fellowships.
And then Dr. Phil Stringer from the King James Bible Research
Council will be preaching for us on Sunday, November 30.
He'll be preaching both Sunday services.
So I'm looking forward to that.
And then the Sony Marathon coming up.
The choice Sony Marathon is.
next month so September gonna be a busy month with all the special events so
September 19 to 20 we'll have a Detroit so many marathon I posted the video
about the details on the social media so please check it out for any
logistics we'll have a Friday afternoon so many and then all day Saturday so
many if you are planning on coming please RSVP please email please email the
church
even if you attend here please email the church whether you're gonna attend on
friday or saturday or both if you need any accommodations please
please let me know if i can help i can like help out with the
you know just the travel and just everything with that just let me know
maybe you guys can carpool if you guys want to get just get together
just to save some gas money um and then winter wonderland so many marathons
is december 27th
And we'll have a men's preaching night during the Sunday afternoon service on August 31st.
If you are planning on preaching, please let me know because not all men can preach. There are
certain requirements, so please let me know if you are interested as well as your sermon topic.
If you want to know how to be saved or needs to be baptized,
please see and I'll show myself after the service.
We have the pool kept at 88 degrees,
so nice and warm for you to get baptized.
Please stay faithful in following up with your new converse,
talking to them about baptism,
talking to them about church attendance,
and don't let the recent event distract you
from just doing the first works.
And then let's look at the backside.
You can see the birthdays coming up
for the month of August.
And then we have a place for you to take sermon notes if you are interested.
So with that being said, let's sing one more song and then we'll take up the offering.
Alright, let's sing number 176. Jesus loves the little children.
My wife says her color is not represented in this song, so we like to sing it red brown yellow black and white
You can sing it the way it is in the book if you like
Sing number 176
Jesus loves the little children, all the children of the world.
Red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus loves the little children of the world.
On the second Jesus died for all the children.
Jesus died for all the children, all the children of the world.
Red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in His sight.
Jesus died for all the children of the world.
On the third, Jesus rose for all the children.
Jesus rose for all the children.
All the children of the world.
red, brown, yellow, black, and white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus throws for
all the children of the world. Amen. At this time the ushers could come forward for the
offering. Let's pray for the offering. Heavenly Father, thank you for this evening. You've
given us Lord. I pray that you bless the offering and use it for your honor and glory, Lord.
And bless the gift and the giver. We love you and in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.
We'll be continuing our Bible study in the book of Ecclesiastes. We'll be in chapter 5 this evening
Need a Bible where's your hand and also we'll provide one for you
Ecclesiastes chapter 5
Honor vows made of God
2. Keep thy foot without goers to the house of God, and be more ready to hear than to
give the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not that they do evil.
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty to utter anything before God,
for God is in heaven, and thou upon earth therefore let thy words be few.
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business, and a fool's voice is known by
When thou vows to vow unto God, defer not to pay it, for he hath no pleasure in fools,
pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is that thou shouldest not vow,
than that thou shouldest vow and not pay. Suffer not thy mouth to cause thy flesh to sin,
neither say thou before the angel that it was an error.
Wherefore, should God be angry at thy voice, and destroy the work of thine hands?
For in the multitude of dreams and many words, there are also divers vanities, but fear thou
God.
Thou seest the oppression of the poor, and violent perverting of judgment and justice
in a province, marvel not at the matter, for he that is higher than the highest regarded.
Moreover, the prophet of the earth is for all.
The king himself is served by the field.
He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver, nor he that loveth abundance
with increase.
This is also vanity.
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them.
And what good is there to the owners thereof, saving the beholden of them with their eyes.
Whether he eat little or much, but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep.
There is a sore evil which I have seen under the sun, namely, riches kept for the ones
thereof to their hurt.
But those riches perished by evil travel, and he begateth a son, and there is nothing
in his hand, and he came forth of his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came,
which he may carry away in his hand.
And this also is a sore evil that at all points
as he came, so shall he go.
And what profit hath he that hath labored for the wind.
All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he hath much sorrow and wrath with his sickness.
Behold, that which I have seen, it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink and
to enjoy the good of all his labor that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life,
which God giveth him, for it is his portion, every man also to whom God hath given riches
have given him power to eat thereof and to take his portion and to rejoice in his
labor. This is the gift of God for he shall not much remember the days of his
life because God answered him and the joy of his heart. Brother Christian, could
you pray for the message?
Amen. Now, once in a while, we are going through the book of Ecclesiastes, one chapter a week,
and tonight we'll be in chapter number five, and the title of the sermon tonight is called
of joy. Like I said last week, there are some overlaps of the topics throughout this book
and we'll cover it as it comes up. You know, if the Bible chooses to re-emphasize at same
point and I will re-emphasize it again. So we might talk about some of the same points
and we might give you some new Bible verses or it's going back to some old Bible verses
as well.
before God. Look at verse number one. The Bible says,
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear,
and then to give the sacrifice of fools, for they consider not
that they do evil. So in verse one, the Bible says that we should walk
carefully, especially when we are going to the house of God. Keep our foot, guard our foot,
And what is the house of God in the New Testament? That's the local New Testament church, right?
The Bible says we should work carefully. We should keep our foot, guard our steps
when we go to church, when we go to the house of God, and be more ready to be here
than to give the sacrifice of fools. Now, if you read the next several verses,
the sacrifice of fools is talking about
a multitude of words, okay? So basically it's a contrast between ready to hear, then be hasty to speak.
There's a contrast between speaking versus hearing. The Bible says when we go to church,
when we go to the house of God, we should be more ready to hear than to speak. Some people
They will come to church not to hear things not to hear the word of God being preached not to learn things
But to promote their own stupid doctrines and speak of most of words, right?
Some people will come to church just to educate, just to rip other people off.
But the Bible says that we should be more ready to hear when we go to the house of God.
Frankly, people don't come to church to hear you, right?
People, people, people primarily come to church to hear you're the preacher.
The Bible says in James chapter 1 verse 19,
Wherefore might beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear,
slow to speak, slow to read.
Someone said, you know, God has given us
two years and one mouth for a reason, right?
We should be more ready to hear than to be involved
in a multitude of words, especially when we go
to the house of God.
Now, keep your place in the book of Ecclesiastes.
We'll leave it and come back to you throughout the sermon.
Go forward to Isaiah chapter 58.
Go to Isaiah chapter 58.
That's why you guys need to pay attention at church, right? Ready to hear, right?
Ready to hear the announcement. Ashley, pay attention to the announcement.
You know, don't wait till I've, you know, announced the same thing for several months
and the day before you ask me, what time is it? Okay? Ashley, listen to the
announcement. Be more ready to hear. Ashley, turn to the passage during the
Maybe even take some notes if that will help you apply the points.
Maybe, you know, I saw someone's notes that's very organized, organized by points.
I think it will be really cool after several years.
You can look back to all the bullet points or the sermon notes.
Maybe when you're ready to preach, you can borrow the same points.
Maybe just develop your own sermons.
I think that's very helpful.
Also, ready to hear so you can make applications
Throughout the sermon, make the decisions where you are at, okay?
If I talk about some great application, hey, make that choice right away because we don't
have an altar call, right?
Just make your own application.
Sometimes I may preach on one topic and sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak to you a completely
different thing.
If you have questions about a sermon, feel free to ask me.
Feel free to ask me after the service
and be ready to hear my explanations, okay?
And don't just, don't just, you know,
hide your disagreements.
If you think someone that, if you feel like something
that you need to clarify with me, hey, ask me.
Maybe I can clarify it better.
Maybe, you know, I can, you know,
Explain to you better. Maybe I can't agree to disagree. Maybe I can even see your point, okay?
So feel free to ask me if you have any questions about the sermon
But you should also be ready to hear so you can
so you can be offended during the sermon because because many people don't want to be offended they think that's a you know a
somehow a bad
bad sermon if you are offended but the Bible says that you know we should we
should we should be expected to have our sins be preached on you know Isaiah
58 look at verse number one it's a very famous verse concerning preaching Isaiah
58 verse one the Bible says cry aloud cry aloud spare now live up thy voice
like a trumpet don't miss this and show my people their transgression
Someone will say the preacher should never preach on people's sin
But the Bible says you know a preacher should show his people their
Their transgression the Bible says that I'm supposed to I'm commending to preach against your sins, right?
So, you know, many times when I talk about a certain topic, when I preach against a certain sin,
I have some of you in mind, just to be honest, because the Bible says I should show my people your transgression, right?
By the way, that's where I get the majority of my sermon ideas.
It's from our conversations. It's from, you know, hearing about
what you talk before after church.
That's where I get most of my sermon ideas.
So if you ever wonder, am I preaching against you?
The answer is yes.
Even though I may not be intentionally preaching against you.
But if you ever wonder about that question,
the answer is yes, it's called the Holy Spirit.
Plus, it's my job to show you your sin.
That is literally my job.
So that's why when you come to the house of God,
You need to be more ready to hear, okay?
Go to 1 Timothy chapter 3.
1 Timothy chapter 3.
And the other application is that we need to prepare ourselves before we come to church because the church is the house of God.
That's what the Bible says, we should keep our foot, we should guard our steps.
I don't believe that the Bible is only talking about walking carefully.
alluding to that we should conduct ourselves carefully, right?
We should act ourselves accordingly because when you come to the church, this is the house
of God.
This is the house of the living God.
In fact...
when the Lord showed Moses at the burning bush,
God told him to put off thy shoes from off thy feet
for the place where thou standest is holy ground.
Obviously, this is a different circumstance.
I'm not saying that we should take off our shoes.
In fact, we should wear our shoes.
No shoes, no church service, amen.
So, but the point is,
where the house of God is, this is holy ground, right?
It's where the word of God is preached, right?
It's the place where the truth is preached.
You are in 1 Timothy chapter 3, look at verse 15.
1 Timothy 3 verse 15.
The Bible says, but if I tear very long that thou mayest know how thou artest to behave
thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground
of the truth.
The Bible says we should behave ourselves at the house of God.
That's why I believe what we do or say must be held to an even higher standard at the
house of God.
Don't say or do stupid things.
Don't say things like, you are baptized in the new FB.
That's a stupid phrase, OK?
We should be watching what we say or what we do,
especially concerning the house of God.
That's why that's why I told you most of my summer ideas got from my conversation with you guys
You know, so we should also respect other fellow fellow Christians because this is the house of the living God
We should respect other people right respect me
respect your fellow brothers and
fellow brothers and sisters in Christ also
Be prepared to come to church early. Not just on the dot. Don't be don't be in a rush, right?
To level back to your PCS these chapter chapter number five
Don't stay up late Saturday night
Because because you might have problem waking up on online so many morning. Okay, you know, don't complain about
that you don't complain that you didn't hear the alarm clock
because you went to bed late on a Saturday night.
You know, maybe bathe your children on Saturday night
or early Sunday morning.
Be ready, okay?
Come to church early.
Factor, maybe you should even factor the traffic
and factor all the preparation.
to come to church.
I think you should also pray to God before coming to church that God will teach you about the Bible and God will
Help you with your life and that he will change you because coming to church and just hearing hearing about the preaching
It is a sacred thing, right?
Because that's the house of the living God and we should learn how to behave ourselves. Maybe we have different standards
Maybe you know, we have different different standards at our homes, but when we come to church, hey, let's
Let's you know disregard some of the bass standards and just elevate yourself to an even higher standard, okay?
Look at verse number two
Chapter 5 verse 2, the Bible says,
Be not rash, the word rash means hasty, quick, sudden.
Be not rash with thy mouth, and let not thine heart be hasty
to utter anything before God.
Here's the reason, four, because God is in heaven
and thou upon earth, therefore let thy words be filled.
Especially when we are approaching God and just talking about God, the Bible says we should not be hasty, be quick, be rash with what we say because God is in heaven, right?
Because God is in heaven, knowing that God is higher up, that's why we should be men of few words.
That's what the Bible says.
Now turn the Bible to Isaiah chapter 6.
Go to Isaiah chapter 6.
We need to be careful, you know, how we approach God and talking to God and
Talking about God because God is in heaven. He is up there and we are down here
Okay, therefore let that words be few I
Did I just have to six look at verse number one?
Isaiah 6.1, the Bible says, in the year that King Uzziah died,
I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne,
don't miss this, high and lifted up.
And his train filled the temple.
By the way, the word train here does not
mean Thomas the train, OK?
The word train means it's a robe.
Basically, it symbolized God's glory.
His train filled the temple.
Above it stood the seraphims.
Each one had six wings.
with twain he covered his face and with twain he covered his feet and with twain he did fly and
one cried unto another and said holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts the whole earth is full of
his glory and the post of the door moved at the voice of him that cried and the house was filled
with smoke I mean the smoke is another picture of God's glory then I said when Isaiah realized
Then said I, woe is me, for I am undone.
The word undone means perish, cut off, cease.
When I say I saw the glory of God,
he's like, hey, you know, I'm about to be destroyed
because God is so great, I am undone
because I'm a man of unclean lips.
And I dwell in the midst of the people of unclean lips,
for mine eyes I've seen the king, the Lord of hosts.
When Isaiah saw God as high and lifted up, Isaiah realized that he was not worthy because
he was a man of unclean lips. Perhaps he was saying that he was a man of a multitude of
words that brings evil, right? Because we say stupid things, we talk stupid things, we do stupid
things. Knowing how great God is, we should re-evaluate what we say, what we say to other people,
It's not about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you hear, it's about what you
See if you truly understand how holy and glorious and powerful God is
Maybe maybe you won't say the things that you said to him or about him
Okay, we need to have a high view of God because we all know God is all-knowing, right?
But why don't you act like it? We all know God is all powerful
So why don't you act like it? Right? We should have a high view of God because God is in heaven and we are upon the earth
right? Watch the things that we say. You know what's better? A man with few words. A man with
few words. Like I talked about last Sunday, the Bible says, even a fool when he holdeth his peace
is counted wise. Proverbs 10 verse 9 says this, in the multitude of wars there wanted not sin,
If you are saying a lot of words, there is no lack of sin, you know, but he that refrains
his lips is wise.
That's why we should not talk to God with vain repetitions, right?
You know, let our words be filled.
Hey, be straight to the point.
And that's also why we should not take God's name in vain, right?
We should only invoke God's name when we are talking to God, or when we are talking about God, okay?
Hebrews 12, what's verse number 28? Hebrews 12, verse 28, the Bible says,
receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,
let us have grace whereby we may serve God,
don't miss this, acceptably, with reverence
and godly fear. We should approach God
carefully, you know, how we conduct ourselves in the house of God, how we
talk to God,
and how we talk about God because God is not your homeboy.
God is not your boyfriend. Jesus Christ is not your boyfriend.
We should have a high view of God. We should approach God
and talk to God and come to church with reverence and
godly fear. Because fear is not always a bad thing
because we should fear the Lord. Because He is high and lifted up.
Let's go back to
Ecclesiastes chapter number 5. Look at verse number 3.
The Bible says for a dream come through the multitude of business and the fullest voice is known by
Motitudes of words so nothing wrong with dreams and visions people can have goals
Okay, nothing wrong with that
But you know what's better than just talking about your dreams and visions be busy and work to achieve those goals
Okay, so the Bible is not condemning having dreams having visions
But realizing that, you know, we should focus more on be busy to achieve those things because a dream comes, also comes with the multitude of business, right?
The word business, the first four letters is busy, right?
If you have a goal, hey, be a doer of the world, and not here, so only they're saving
your own selves.
People tend to talk big, they tend to round their mouth, but they don't realize that
dreams comes with business, we need to be busy to actually achieve those dreams, okay?
I want you to find a godly wife.
Well, are you working hard?
Are you godly?
Are you faithful to church?
Are you the person who your future spouse want to marry?
Someone puts it this way, are you the person who you are looking for, looking for, right?
Because we all have goals of who to marry, but if you actually find that person, well
that same person wants you, right?
We should be developing ourselves to a better person.
I want to be a pastor. Are you reading your Bible? Are you serving at your local church?
Are you humble? Okay, don't just talk big things.
Actually, try to achieve those things.
Are you working to accomplish your goals?
Because the point is, church is not a show. The things of God is not a show.
Church is not a hobby, church is not a speech contest, right?
We should prepare our heart, walking fear,
come to hear, not to perform, okay?
Come to hear the word of God,
come to encourage other people,
but don't involve yourself to a motive of worse
that leads to evil.
So as I said, point number one,
could guard your steps before God.
Point number two,
Keep your vows to God.
Keep your vows to God. Look at verse number four.
The Bible says, when thou vowsest the vow unto God, differ not to pay it.
The word differ means to tarry, delay, slack, hinder, differ not to pay it, for he had no
pleasure in fools.
Pay that which thou hast vowed, better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that
thou shouldest vow and not pay.
Listen to my sermon on swear not at all, where I talk about this subject in detail.
But basically, in verse 4 and 5, the Bible is saying that you are a fool if you don't
keep your commitment made to God.
And it will be better if you have never made a commitment, then you say you're gonna do something and not do it.
Okay, because God has no pleasure in fools.
When you tell God that you're gonna do something, you better do it.
The Bible says in the book of...
in Deuteronomy 23 verse number 21, the Bible says,
when thou shalt vow a vow unto the Lord thy God,
thou shalt not slack you pay it, for the Lord thy God
will surely require it of thee, and it will be seen in thee.
So back in the book of Deuteronomy,
the Bible says if you
If you don't pay, or if you simply delay to pay what you have valed, the Bible says God will
require it of thee, God will punish you, and it will be sin in thee. Basically, going back on your words is a sin based on the Bible.
Look at verse number six the Bible says suffer allow don't allow suffer not I'm out to cause thy flesh to sin
Neither say thou before the angel that that that it was an error
wherefore should God be angry at thy voice and
Destroy the work of thine hand
Now, I want to focus the phrase,
neither say thou before the angel, that was an error.
What does that phrase mean?
I believe the angel is the messenger of God.
I believe verse six is talking about that,
you know, if someone who is a messenger of God
and he's witnessing your vow,
don't try to back out your vow by calling it a mistake.
For example, if a pastor,
officiates a wedding don't just later tell the pastor hey you know I'm gonna go
back on my vow okay basically the point is wishing up to see if God or God's
messengers okay don't say before an angel that was an era otherwise God will
be angry at what you say and God will destroy you God will punish you and go
to Matthew chapter 12 go to Matthew chapter 12
Keep a place in the book of Ecclesiastes go to Matthew chapter 12
Here's the thing
What we say
Has consequences not only what we do
Because foolish words foolish vows
Can have serious consequences. Maybe chapter 12 look at verse 31
And it all made it all look at verse 35
Matthew 12 verse number 35, the Bible says a good man out of the good treasure of the heart
bringing forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringing forth evil things
but I sound to you don't miss this that every idle word that man shall speak they shall give
account thereof in the day of judgment for by thy words thou shall be justified and by thy words
thou shall be condemned what we say matters
But I will say, everything we say, it will be judged, okay?
Obviously, for the unsafe, you will be condemned to hell because all have sinned.
And I do believe if you...
If you are safe, God will judge you based on the awards that God is going to give you whether your awards are profitable or whether your awards are actually causing you to sin, causing other people to stumble before God, because what you say matters.
Obviously you can, you know, apply this verse to, you know,
by thy word, thou shalt be justified.
That if you're calling upon the name of the Lord,
you shall be justified, right?
Because that's how we put our faith in Christ.
By thy word, thou shalt be justified.
And go forward to Judges chapter 11, Judges chapter 11.
Many people know that
Judges 11 is a common story about a foolish vow
of this person called
Jephthah. Jephthah made a foolish vow
and he ended up causing the death
of his daughter.
Judges 11, look at verse number 30.
Judges 11, verse 30.
The Bible says
And Jephthah vowed a vow unto the Lord, and said,
If thou shalt with the
If thou shalt, without fail, deliver the children of Ammon into my hands,
then it shall be that whosoever cometh forth of the doors of my house to meet me,
when I return in peace from the children of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord's,
and I will offer it up for a burned offering."
So here, Jeff, actually vowed a foolish vow.
He's basically saying, if God will give him victory,
Come to come, you know out of his house to meet him as a burnt offering. Okay, Jeff that probably
Did not realize that
His family members may actually be the first person first thing to come out to meet him
Because because in his mind, he's probably thinking about maybe a sheep maybe a dog maybe a cat, okay?
So but then look at verse number 34 the Bible says
And and Jeff the came to miss but on to his house and behold his daughter came out to meet him with
Timbrows and with dances and she was his only child beside her. He had neither some no daughter
And it came to pass when he saw her that he rent his clothes and said,
Alas, my daughter thou hast brought me very low, and thou are calm of them that troubled me,
for I have opened my mouth unto the Lord, and I cannot go back.
Okay, so here, Jephthah had two evil choices.
Number one is to fulfill the vow by burning his daughter as a as a as a burnout offering,
a bad choice, right?
But the second choice he had is to go back on his vow unto God.
It's not a bad choice because God will punish you for, you know, breaking the vow.
In this case, yeah, you can argue that he should have chosen the lesser of two evil, which is, I don't know.
Personally, I don't even know what is the lesser of two evil, because many people think it is to spare his daughter,
but to me, breaking it down to guys is still pretty serious.
So again, there's no good choices.
So the moral of the story is, watch what you say.
Words have consequences. Don't involve yourself into a situation where you have to choose the lesser of two evil.
Don't make stupid vows like, I will only marry when I have read the Bible 100 times.
Don't make stupid vows like that because God will punish you.
The Bible says in verse number seven,
for in the multitude of dreams and many words,
there are also diverse vanities but fear thou God.
Here's the thing, religious daydreaming
or just impressive words do not equal obedience
because action speaks louder than empty promises, right?
Don't make all these emotional commitments
that you never intend to keep.
Because God does not forget your promises even if you do right, you know God said God will God will
Require you of your vow God will
Remember your promises you can I forget it all you want, but God will punish you because what you say matters
So I said point number one guard your steps before God point number two
Keep your vows to God point number three
Don't be shocked by corruption.
Look at verse number 8.
The Bible says,
If thou ceased the oppression of the poor
and violent perverting of judgment and justice in a province,
marvel not at the matter for he that is higher than the highest regardless
and there be higher than they.
I think Versailles is pretty relevant because even in the court of justice, sometimes there's
no justice.
People will be perverting judgment, people will be perverting justice, the police won't
do anything, we're living in a corrupt world.
That's full of oppressions and just injustice and violence.
That's why I believe President Trump should, you know, federalize Washington, DC just to kick the Kremlin's out
You know, there's nothing wrong with that, you know
Again, I'm being political again, but the Bible is full of
you know
political views anyway
At the end of 2014
About one
One hundred and twenty three million people they will forcibly displace globally due to violence persecution
and human rights abuses, 123 million people back in 2021, children made up 41% of all
forcibly displayed persons. The richest 1% of the global population captured nearly two-thirds
of the 42 trillion in wealth created since 2020.
We have an estimated 40 to 50 million people live in modern day slavery.
Again, slavery will be a separate servant.
Among all those people, about 24.9 million people are in forced labor.
4.8 million people are sexually exploited.
And 15.4 million people are involved in forced marriages.
And then children make up 38% of all trafficking victims.
Basically, we live in a mess-up world.
Not just this country, okay?
The rest of the world is way worse.
But what's the attitude? Because like we do live in a mess up world when people corrupt justice when there's no
Justice when the world is full of violence. Okay, so what's the art?
What's the attitude look at?
Look at look at verse number eight again if thou cease the oppression of the poor and violent perverting of judgment and justice
and
Justice in a province don't miss this
moral not at a matter don't be
Don't be surprised, don't be shocked.
Here's the reason.
Why is that?
Four, he that is higher than the highest regarded.
Basically, the Bible is saying that God is aware of that.
God knows, God sees it all.
Don't be surprised with all the oppressions,
with all the violences, because God is fully,
God is fully aware of that.
Now, go to chapter number three.
go to Ecclesiastes chapter number three, look at verse number 16.
Chapter 3, verse number 16, the Bible says,
And over I saw, I saw under the sound, the place of judgment,
That wickedness was there, and the place of righteousness, that iniquity was there.
When I think about a place of righteousness, I think about church, right?
And even now we have wickedness within the church.
Because church is supposed to be a place of sanctuary,
church is supposed to be a place of shelter,
child molesters right even when we go to a place of shelter and place of truth we see sin we see
severe wickedness look at verse 11 I said in my heart gosh I'll judge the righteous and the wicked
for there's a time there for every purpose and for every work basically it's the same idea
God is aware of that and when it comes to God's time God will judge the righteous and God will
Now turn to psalm 73 go to psalm 73
psalm 73
Look at verse number three psalm 73 verse three
I may talk about slavery on Sunday
Because I didn't have a different perspective on it anyway psalm 73 look at the verse number three
What was the cause of the civil war really anyway?
Psalm 73 look at verse from the three the Bible says for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked
For there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm
They are not in trouble as the other man neither are they plague like other men. So here we have the condition of you know
I mean, it's a pretty relevant passage because we see the prosperity of the wicked, we see
the prosperity of the foolish, and based on verse number five, they are not in trouble
as other men.
They seem to get by just their daily life with no consequences.
Look at verse number six.
Therefore, pride compassed them about as a chain, violence covered them as a garment,
their eyes stand out with fannies.
You know, that kind of reminds me of King Joon that he was the only fat person in North Korea, right?
Their eyes stand out with fairness and his daughter, but they have more than heart and could wish.
They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They said their mouth against the heaven.
They are the people who have a multitude of words.
of evil, right? They said their mouth against heaven. They are talking, you know, they're
talking bad things about God, about heaven, and their tongue, walking through the earth.
Therefore, his people return hither, and waters of a full cup are run out of them,
and they say, how did God know?
and is their knowledge in the most high?
Behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world.
They increase in riches.
These are the oppressors.
Notice in verse number 11, they were taunting God, right?
How did God know?
And is their knowledge in the most high?
But we just read in the book of Ecclesiastes that the Bible says that God is aware of that, right?
Here we have the wicked, challenging God, you know, challenging God, thinking that they could get away from all these wicked things that they've done.
Jump down to verse number 16.
The Bible says, when I thought to notice it was too painful for me, until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I therein.
Surely thou didst set them in slippery places, thou castest them down into destruction.
How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment they are utterly consumed with terrors as a dream when one awaketh.
So, oh Lord, when thou awakeest, thou shalt despise their image.
So here's the attitude.
Go to the Century of God.
Read the Bible.
Because when we read the Bible, when we pray to God, we can see their end, right?
Because God will punish those people in his time.
Look at verse number 28 the Bible says, but it's good for me to join near to God
I I put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works
So what should we do living in this wicked oppressive in just world?
John I to God have faith in God put your trust in God and know that the wicked have their end
Okay, you know because it's because it's always good for us to join you to God to go to the house of God
Because the vengeance belongs to God. He will repay in his time
Go back to go back to these s these chapter 5 look at verse number 9
The Bible says moreover the prophet of the earth is for all the king himself is served by the field
Now this verse can be a little bit challenging
But I feel like this you know actually fits the context because because I believe this verse is saying that
Both the wise kings and the foolish kings
Can't get can get wealth just like God make the sound to rise on the evil
And on the good and God sends the rain on the just as well as on the injustice
So the Bible says the prophet of the earth is for all, you know rich people can get wealth
Poor people can get wealth, you know, we can all have money, but that is not justified, that person, the king himself is served by the field.
Because since the earth is the Lord's and God does allow people to exist for a reason and God does allow wicked people to prosper
For a reason because the prophet of the earth is for all but at the end of the day
We need to realize that they have their end. Okay, so I do believe
verse number nine does fit the previous verses and just to
And just to present the point that we need to trust in God
So I said point number one
Bargill steps before God point number two keep your vows to God point number three. Don't be shocked
By corruption point number four the vanity of loving money look at verse number 10 the Bible says
He that love of silver shall not be satisfied with silver
Nor he that love of substance with increase. This is also vanity
I mean, I talked about the same point for the past few weeks that the love money is
a bottomless pit.
No matter how rich you are, you will never be satisfied because you always want more.
You may make $1 million and now you want to make $1 billion, okay?
Because a lot of money, the Bible says that you will fall into a temptation and a snare
and into many foolish and hurtful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition.
And I like this analogy given in 1 Timothy chapter number six because if you love money, it's like just like drowning
You'll be sucking for air. You'll be grasping for air. You'll be grasping for more riches. Eventually the end is death
Okay, destruction, perdition
The Lord Jesus Christ said,
for a man's life consists of not
in the abundance of the things which he possesses.
Look at verse number 11, chapter five, verse 11.
When goods increase, they are increased that eat them.
And what good is there to the owners thereof
saving the beholding of them with their eyes?
And basically the Bible is saying that the more you have,
the more mouth you have to feed.
If you own a bigger company, you have to make sure all of your employees can get some fair wages.
More people depend on you, you have to feed more people, right?
When goods increase, they are increased that even.
You'll have more responsibility, right?
Look at verse 12,
So verse 12 gives us a contrast
that if you work an honest job,
if you work hard,
you will go to sleep in peace.
You will sleep well.
You may earn a handful of money,
but you have peace with God.
You are able to go to sleep.
Your sleep will be sweet
But if you are chasing riches if you are oppressed in the poor if you are ripping people off
Then you will not have peace even though you do have the abundance of wealth
That's the contrast here. The sleep of a laboring man is sweet because you're not stealing right?
You are honestly working for a living you shall you shall have rest whether he eat little or much
But the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep
Keep a place in the book of Ecclesiastes, go to Proverbs chapter 10, by the way keep a place in Proverbs as well
because we'll be going back and forth a lot in this section. Proverbs chapter 10, look at verse 22,
Proverbs chapter 10 verse number 22. The Bible says, the blessing of the Lord in maketh rich
Someone's God does bless us with riches and with money
But only the second half of this verse and he God added no sorrow with it
So the Bible says if your riches are given by God you will not be sorrowful
But if you are chasing riches, you will be drowned in sorrow.
You will piece yourself through with many sorrows.
You will not be able to go to sleep.
Because if you are ripping people off,
if you are stealing people's money,
you may be worried about being killed
of the people that you oppress, right?
You will not have peace.
If you're working an honest job,
hey, God will add no sorrow to it.
You will ask to have peace.
That's why we should stop chasing wealth,
start chasing God,
and God will bless you with true riches.
Look at verse, go back to the KC Ashes chapter five.
Keep replacing the book of Proverbs,
go back to the KC Ashes chapter five.
Look at verse number 13.
Any other reason not to chase money
is that riches can often hurt you.
Physical money can actually hurt you.
Look at version number 13.
There's a sore evil, which I've seen under the sun,
namely, riches kept for the owners thereof to their hurts.
Riches and great can ruin people.
And the number one consequence of having too much money
is it will actually prevent people from getting saved, OK?
Actually, go to Luke chapter number 18, Luke chapter number 18.
This is a famous story about the rich young ruler, Luke chapter 18, what kind of verse
number 18?
Luke 18 verse 18, the Bible says, and in a certain rule I ask him saying, good master,
And Jesus said unto him, why callest thou me good?
There is none as good as save one that is God.
By the way, verse 19 actually proves that Jesus Christ is God
because he is good, okay?
So, but also the Bible actually does not...
Let's just keep reading look at the verse number 20 thou know is the commandments do not commit adultery do not kill do not still do not bear false
Witness to honor their father and their mother and he said all these have I kept from my youth up
Okay, now now I personally believe that he was lying because nobody can keep his commandments perfectly
But even if he
did keep those perfectly.
That's another point, okay?
Because Jesus Christ is not preaching
a workspace salvation here,
because Jesus Christ was trying to make him realize
that he is a sinner and that he is lost.
Because this rich young ruler
thought that he is actually good.
But Jesus Christ was simply trying to point out that he is not good, okay?
By the way, that's why before we share the gospel, we have to make people realize that they deserve to go to hell.
Because if you don't believe that you are lost, why didn't you be saved?
You are saved from hell, right?
So that's what Jesus Christ was trying to do, trying to make him realize that he has sinned.
Look at verse 22.
Now when Jesus heard these things he said unto him, yet, like is that one thing, set all that thou hast, and
distributed to the poor, and I shall have
treasure in heaven, and come follow me. And when he heard this, he was very
sorrowful. Here's the reason for he was very rich. That shows that his rich did not come from God because he was sorrowful, right?
He was rich, actually preventing from being saved. He did not want to admit that
He is actually not good that he was he was a sinner look at verse 124 and when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful
He said how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God?
so
The Bible is not saying that rich people cannot be saved, but rich people, it's very hard for them
to be saved because they spend their whole life trusting in uncertain riches, right? Because
salvation is you are fully depending on God to take you to heaven. Now let's go back to Proverbs
chapter 11. Go to Proverbs 11. Continue keeping your place in a book of Proverbs, Proverbs 11,
Proverbs 11, verse number 28, the Bible says he that trusted in his riches shall fall but the righteous shall flourish as a branch
So we can apply this, you know, several different ways that you know a safe and in safe person
If he trusts in his riches, he will fall straight to hell, right without being saved
But a safe person who trusts in riches will also fall spiritually
He will fall from serving God, he will fall from the things of the Lord.
The Bible says in 1 Timothy 6, verse 117, charge them that are rich in this world, that they
be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth
us richly all things to enjoy.
See, God is not one to trust in the riches in this world, but trust in God, who will
give us richly all the things to enjoy, okay?
That is the contrast, because the riches blessed by God does not bring sorrow.
Keep a place in Proverbs.
Go if we're to, go back to Ephesians chapter five.
We will go back and forth between those two books.
Ecclesiastes chapter 5 verse 14, the Bible says,
So I believe verse 14 tells us a story that, you know, investments fail, markets crash,
stock markets crash.
You can spend your whole life making money, investing money, but when something bad happens,
you can lose all the money and then you have nothing to pass down to your children.
Right? Because riches perish by evil travail, and he begat the Son, and there's nothing in his hand.
You have spent your whole life laboring for all these uncertain riches, but when the market crash,
you have nothing, and then you have nothing to pass down.
Go back to Proverbs 27. Go back to Proverbs 27. Look at verse 24. Proverbs 27 verse number 24.
Proverbs 27 verse 24 the Bible says
For riches are not forever and that the crown endure
To to every generation so the Bible says money is not guaranteed
Riches are not forever
Riches money they will perish right they will fly away as an eagle like the Bible says
So does the crown endure to every generation? That's a rhetorical question.
Nobody can guarantee to pass down his crown forever, right?
You know, Israel eventually ceased to be a nation.
Nobody can guarantee that he will pass on this legacy to his children, to his grandchildren, to his great-great-grandchildren,
earthly possessions are not guaranteed.
Things can happen, right?
Nothing is guaranteed.
Go back to the Qisei Ashti, chapter number 5.
Look at verse number 15.
Chapter 5 verse number 15, the Bible says,
As he came forth of his mother's womb,
make it shall he return to go as he came,
and shall take nothing of his labor,
which he may carry away in his hand.
So the Bible says that you cannot take worldly riches with thee to the afterlife
That's the main point. You can labor all you want, but you cannot take the earthly riches to the afterlife
That's why even jokes and naked came out of my mother's womb and they could show I
Return theater right the Lord give and and the Lord take away blessed be the name of the Lord
That's why Paul said that for we brought nothing into this world because when we
Were born of our mother we brought nothing. There's no clothing. There's no riches. There's no food
I we brought nothing into the world and it's certain that we're carrying nothing out
We we can't carry all these things to the afterlife
That's why he said this and and having food and raiment. Let us be there with
content
let's go back to
go back to the case as these chapter 5
Keep a place in the book of Proverbs again, okay go back to the case go back to the case as these
This is the Bible study
Look at verse number 16
Chapter 5 verse 16 the Bible says and this also is a sore evil that in all points as he came
So shall he go and will profit have he that had labored for the wing
So I like the Bible compared someone who's laboring for riches as someone who's laboring for the Wing
Because what are the characteristics of the Wing? The Wing is
Uncontrollable, right? You cannot command it
You know, I guess someone believing some, you know, cloud
Cloud seeding, some Chinese
Wet earth things, but in general you cannot command Wing, okay? That's the whole point
Anyway
Let's skip the conspiracy theory
Wind is also fleeting
Fleeting means wind is here for a moment and then gone, right? Just like riches riches can
Can just be gone
Job seven seven says this old old member that my life is winged
So Job is comparing his life with Wayne because life can just be gone, right?
Life is fleeting. Wayne is also empty that you cannot grab it. They cannot really store it.
It will it will find its way to like leak out, okay? Wayne is also very very
destructive. It can scatter and undo all of your work. That is the same person who's chasing
Riches, you cannot control it and it can't fly away. It can't be gone
Now now let's go back to your Proverbs chapter 11
Proverbs chapter 11
Look at verse 28 Proverbs 11 verse 28
The Bible says in Proverbs 11, verse number 28,
he that trusteth in his riches shall fall,
but the righteous shall flourish as a branch.
He that troubleeth his own house shall,
donesteth inherit the wind,
and the fool shall be servant to the wise of heart.
And then he says,
the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life,
and he that win the souls is wise.
So I believe verse 28, 29, and 30,
these are all connected.
He that trusted in the riches, or the same person who shall inherit the wing,
that who will go away, that who will destroy your life,
but a truly wise person will wing souls to Christ.
Because the souls that you want to Christ can never be taken away, right?
That is eternal versus what is temporal.
So what's the application?
You know, do the first works.
Don't stock in the uncertain riches. You are laboring for the wane, but actually bear the fruit, which is a tree of life.
Go back to the Disaster Chapter 5.
You can lose your place in Proverbs now. Go to the Disaster Chapter 5. Look at verse 11.
The Bible says all his days also he either in darkness and he had much sorrow and wrath
With his sickness you can have all those money, but you are sick
You are in your death bed and then you spend hundreds of hundreds of thousands of dollars curing some incurable diseases
Right because God will recompense your evil in his time
Let me just read to you, James chapter 5 verse 1,
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries
that shall come upon you.
Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten.
Your gold and silver is cankered,
and the rest of them shall be a witness against you,
and shall eat your flesh as it will fire.
Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days.
So I was saying that those people who are chasing riches
they are keeping themselves a bad kind of treasure,
which is God judgments in the last days, okay?
Because a man consumed by riches is often miserable
and sorrowful, but riches blessed by God
will actually bring peace, okay?
So I said point number one.
Guard your steps before God. Point number two, keep your vows to God. Point number three, don't be shocked by corruption. Point number four, the vanity of loving money.
Lastly, point number five, rejoice in what God has given. Rejoice in what God has given.
So prior to this point, everything is kind of miserable, right? But I believe verse number 18 and on ties everything together.
Behold that which I've seen it's good and calmly for one to eat and to drink and to enjoy the good of
enjoy the good of
All his labor that he take it under sound all the days of his life, which God give with him for
For it is his portion
So the best joy in life does not come from wealth
But it comes from recognizing that everything as a gift from God
That that's the point of verse number 18
God wants you to enjoy the good of your own labor because God has given you
earlier in
Chapter 3 the Bible says and also that every man should eat and drink and
Enjoy the good of all his labor. It is the gift of God
Okay, because the Bible in James chapter 1 every good gift and every perfect gift is from above
Okay, whatever we have be thankful
enjoy it, but also recognizing that all of the blessings we have is the gift from God.
Look at verse 19.
The Bible says,
Every man also to whom God has given.
Notice God will give people riches and wealth and have given him power to either of
and to take his portion and to rejoice in his labor.
All of these is, this is the gift of God.
Or, when God gives you riches and wealth and power to eat thereof, when God gives you
the ability to be joyful in what you do, they all are the gift of God.
Even the ability to ...
To enjoy wealth is a gift of God, right? That's what the Bible says. The reason you can enjoy
What you have given by God is a gift of God, you know
Because God this one because God this one that's to enjoy
Anyway joys in our labor God does not want us to live a miserable life
That's why that's why I believe it's good to buy yourself some new clothes and new shoes every once in a while, right?
I mean, it's good to treat yourself good.
I think it's good to go on a trip and spend some money
on some godly entertainments.
I think it's good to take your spouse on a nice date
and spend some extra money.
There's nothing wrong with that, OK?
I mean, it's good to eat some fancy food
at some fancy restaurants.
There's nothing wrong with that.
I think it's good to celebrate birthdays and the anniversaries
it reminds us that life is a gift.
I think it's good to invest in hobbies
that actually refreshes your spirit
as long as your hobby does not ruin your life.
There's nothing wrong with having hobbies.
And I think it's good to upgrade your cars every once in a while just to make life easier and safer
There's nothing wrong with that treat yourself well
But make sure to realize that everything good you have is a blessing from God as a gift from God
Have a thankful spirit. Okay, verse number 20
for because he shall not
much remember the days of his life because God answered him in the joy of his heart.
So the reason that this person does not remember the days of the miseries of his life is
that he rejoices in his labor because God responds to him and gives him joy, right?
That's the whole point, you know. We don't have to live in miseries.
We don't have to live in sorrow.
because God will give us the joy.
God will make us rejoice in our labor if we put God first.
And God blesses the man who gratefully enjoy
life's portions with contentment, with thanksgiving.
So that, you know, he does not treat life as burdens, but simply treat life with a joy in his heart
That's all from God's answer to life's hardship
Because because we may not fully comprehend all of life's vanities and the miseries and the
Violences we may not be rich or famous
But the true rich comes from, you know, God given joy, right?
We can serve God with a calm, content, and a thankful heart.
And that's God's answer to us, right?
It's to have joy.
Go forward to Psalm chapter 4, Psalm chapter 4.
Look at verse number 7.
The Bible is taking Psalm chapter 4, verse number 7.
Thou hast put gladness in my heart,
more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.
See, joy is more important than riches.
Joy is more important than food.
Notice verse number 8.
I will both lay me down in peace.
He will sleep peacefully and sleep for Thou, Lord, only makes me dwell in safety.
See, that's the power of God given joy.
God has put gladness in my heart and that's more important than all the riches.
That's why Apostle Paul said that...
He's that part was instructed both to be full and to be hungry and both to abound and to suffer need
Because because even when we are suffering need even when we are hungry
If we have joy, that's all we need right because God will supply us and God will give us what we need
And we can still lay ourself down in bed and sleep peacefully because God has given us the joy
Look at John chapter go to John chapter number 16 John chapter 16
This will be the last verse that we turn to John chapter number 16
The Bible says in Romans 14 verse number 17 for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink
But righteousness and peace and don't miss this and joy in the Holy Ghost
John 16 verse 24 John 16 verse number 24 the Bible says
Hit or two have he asked nothing in my name ask and he shall receive that your joy may be full
See Jesus
Wants us to live a joy full life a life full of joy and
that joy does not come from earthly riches because
Because what's more important is righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost, right? Treat everything as a gift from God
with Thanksgiving
So what's the point of a sermon? You know ask yourself what kind of life are you actually living?
Because they because a religious life without reverence is vanity
Like we said earlier go to the house of God with a purpose approach God with
with reverence and godly fear and
the life and a wealthy life a rich life without worship is also
Will also bring misery right because you will live in sorrow and regret
for the rest of your life
But a simple life in the fear of the Lord with thankful joy is a blessing from God
Okay, so we should treat or look life with a different perspective
Right treat everything as a blessing from God with thanks gift with thanksgiving and God will give us the joy to enjoy what we do
Let's close in a with a prayer. Thank you look for this simple
but an important chapter.
Lord, I pray that we'll set our eyes on the things
which are above and be thankful for what you've given us.
Lord, I pray that you'll fill us with joy
so we can live our life with a healthy attitude.
But I pray that we'll also approach you
with reverence and godly fear.
But I pray that you'll use us to impact this world.
And I pray this in Jesus' name, amen.
Hey man, thank you, Vance, just Justin Zhang.
We're gonna do a little chorus called the Lord is Good.
I'm gonna read it through
and then we'll sing it through two times.
It goes, the Lord is good, tell it wherever you go.
The Lord is good, tell it that others may know.
Tell of his blessings and tell of his love.
Tell how he's coming from heaven above.
The Lord is good, tell it wherever you go.
All right, we'll sing it through one time
and then we'll do it again.
Tell it wherever you go, the Lord is good.
Tell it that others may know.
Tell of his blessings and tell of his love.
Tell how he's coming from heaven above.
The Lord is good.
Tell it wherever you go.
The Lord is good, tell it wherever you go.
The Lord is good, tell it that others may know.
Tell of His blessings and tell of His love.
Tell how He's coming from heaven above.
and my Christian brother, can you close this water prayer?