Thank you for watching.
Please grab a hymnal and turn to number 225, nor silver nor gold.
Number 225
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption, Nor riches of earth could have saved my poor soul.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation, The death of my Saviour now maketh me whole.
I am redeemed, but not with silver. I am bald.
but not with gold, bought with the price of blood of Jesus, precious price of love untold.
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption,
The guilt on my conscience too heavy had grown,
The blood of the cross is my only foundation,
The depth of my Savior could only atone,
I am redeemed but not with silver,
I am bought but not with gold,
the blood of Jesus precious price of love untold nor silver nor gold have
obtained my redemption the holy commandment forbade me draw near the
blood of the cross is my only foundation the death of my Savior remove it my
fear I am redeemed
but not with silver. I am born but not with gold.
Vaughn with the price of blood of Jesus, precious price of love untold.
Nor silver nor gold hath obtained my redemption, The way into heaven could not thus be bought.
The blood of the cross is my only foundation, The death of my Savior redemption hath wrought.
I am redeemed, but not with silver. I am bought, but not with gold.
Bought with a price, some blood of Jesus.
Precious price of love untold.
Amen.
Christian Gilson, Word of Prayer.
Ordering for Galveston the other day.
Please help us come home to hearts and ears to hear the message.
And please go us to speaker, to increase the word of Galveston.
Just give me a break, man.
Amen.
Just over there on the other page, we have 226.
I've found a friend, number 226.
I've found a friend, oh, such a friend.
He loved me ere I knew him.
He drew me with the chords of love,
and thus he bound me to him.
And round my heart, still closely twine,
those ties switch knock and sever.
forever and forever I found a friend oh such a friend he bled he died to save me
and not alone the gift of life but his own self he gave
my strength my life my all are his and his forever I found a friend oh such a
friend all power to him is given to guard me on my onward course and bring
my faint endeavor. So now to watch, to work, to war, and then to rest forever. I found
a friend, oh such a friend, so kind and true and tender, so wise a counselor and guide,
so well what power my soul can sever shall lie for death or earth or hell no
why am his forever hey man at this time evangelist Justin John will give the
announcements thank you for the angel for teaching us some new song and raise your
hand if you need a bulletin and I'll show we'll bring one to you got a couple
Let's look at the verse of the week Titus chapter 2 verse number 7 the Bible says
In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works in doctrine showing uncrubness gravity
Sincerity again last Sunday a pretty sermon on double standards that Christians need to be sincere people that we need to be consistent
in what we believe
And if you want to look at the inside page, we are on YouTube, Facebook, Rumble, and X, so please give us a follow.
And then we have service time Sunday morning at 11, Sunday afternoon at 4.
And once a night Bible study at 7 p.m. tonight we'll be going through the book of Ecclesiastes, chapter number 7.
So this may or may not be a long sermon.
Since it's since it has 29 versus or something like that. So hopefully I won't keep you guys too long
Tonight and then so many time this Saturday at 10 30 a.m. And and Sunday afternoon so many at 1 30 p.m.
Upcoming events next Friday Friday the 5th September 5th pastor and this will be preaching for us
There will be no service next Wednesday and next week
And next Wednesday only, okay, so we'll move that Wednesday service to next Friday
So do not shop at church next Wednesday
And join us for the fall fellowship at a local park on Saturday, September 13
So you can show up at 4 or 5 30. I mean dinner will be ready at 5 30
But you can shop at 4 to play some games will have volleyball set up
There's a basketball court. You can play other games as well
Please see the Sunup sheet on that front table to note down the dessert side drink item that you want to bring
The church will be supplying the meat and the main like an entree
and Dr. Phil Stringer will be preaching for us on Sunday, November 30th. He'll be preaching both
services, so please invite family, friends to join us.
The choice only marathon is coming up in less than a month, so please let me know if you're planning on coming
see the video for detail about the meeting up for the for the meet-up locations and
This will be a Friday afternoon plus Saturday event
I'll be driving back Saturday afternoon to make it to church on that Sunday
So that's the plan so far and then this coming Sunday during the afternoon service will have a man's preaching night
Please let me know if you are planning on preaching and let me know sermon
titled by Friday, okay, so I can have an idea.
So far, I believe only two people give me the topic.
I know there are more people talk to me about it,
so please let me know if I'm planning on preaching.
And then you can read the rest on your own.
If you flip on the backside, the birthday's coming up.
We have Miss Roeve's birthday on Sunday, so.
Do you prefer, we can sing it to you on Sunday.
Well, since you guys won't be here on Sunday,
we'll sing it right to you right now, today, all right?
Let's sing happy birthday.
Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday.
All right, with that being said, let's sing one more song and then we'll take up the
offering.
All right, this next one should be a familiar one, number 174, my Jesus, I love thee.
my Jesus I love thee I know thou art mine for thee all the follies of sin I
resign my gracious redeemer my sin
is now. I love thee, for we cause thou hast first
lov'd me, and purchase my pardon on Calvary's tree.
me breath and say when the death do lies cold on my brow if ever I love thee my
Jesus is now in mansion
I'll sing with a glittering crown on my brow.
If ever I love thee, my Jesus tis now.
Amen.
If this time the ushers could come forward for the offering.
And Stephen, could you pray for the offering?
Alright, we'll be continuing our Bible study in the book of Ecclesiastes. We'll be in Ecclesiastes chapter 7.
If you need a Bible, raise your hand and I'll sure will provide one for you.
Ecclesiastes chapter 7.
Ecclesiastes chapter 7, the Bible reads,
A good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting.
for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made better.
The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools.
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot sows the laughter of the fool, this also is vanity.
Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart.
Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better
than the proud in spirit.
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger restseth in the bosom of fools.
Say not thou what is to cause that the former days were better than these, for thou dost
not inquire wisely concerning this, wisdom is good with inheritance."
And by it there is profit to them that see the Son, for wisdom is a defense, and money
is a defense.
But the Excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it.
Consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he hath made crooked?
In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider.
God also hath set the one over against the other.
All things have I seen in the days of my vanity.
There is a just man that pericheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that
proloneth his life in his wickedness.
Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise, what shouldest thou destroy thyself.
Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish, what shouldest thou die before thy time.
Take hold of this, yea, also from this, withdraw not thine hand, for he that feareth God shall come forth of the mull.
Wisdom, strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city.
For there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sineth not.
Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest out here thy servant curse thee.
For often times also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise has cursed others.
All this I have proved by wisdom.
I said I will be wise, but it was far from me.
That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out.
I have planned my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things
and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness, and I find more
is snares and nets, and her hands as bands.
Whoso pleases God shall escape from her,
but the sinner shall be taken by her.
Behold, this I have found, sayeth the preacher,
counting one by one to find out the account,
which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not.
One man among a thousand have I found,
but a woman among all those have I found not.
Well, this only have I found that God have made men upright made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions
Brother Wade, could you pray for the message?
Amen. On Wednesday night, we are going through the book of Egliseastes, one chapter a week,
and last week in chapter number six, chapter six shows us the emptiness of riches and life without
God. And now in chapter seven, Solomon is going to give us some practical wisdom, showing us how to
walk wisely in a world full of vanity, sin, and a bunch of uncertainties. And title of the sermon
wisdom from above like I said earlier this might not this might be a long
sermon but I'll have to finish this chapter because I won't be preaching
next Wednesday so I don't want to wait for two weeks to finish this chapter up
so point number one is the lessons of wisdom the lessons of wisdom Solomon
first gave us five lessons on wisdom number one being that a good name is
Reputation is better than how wealthy you are.
Look at verse number one.
The Bible says...
A good name is better than precious ointment and a day of death than a day of one's birth.
When you think about ointment, you know, it's some kind of perfume, but the Bible also says
that's a precious ointment.
So a good name is better than the, you know, the precious possession that you have.
In Proverbs 22 verse 1, the Bible says, a good name is rather to be chosen than great
and loving favor rather than silver and gold.
Here's the reason why, because reputation outlives
your wealth, right?
Because you can be the richest people in the world,
but if you are known to be a liar, a fake,
then your riches mean nothing.
Think about this, do you remember the famous people
by their wealth or by what they have done?
When we think about King James, we don't really think about his riches, right?
We think about the Bible, we think about the legacy that he has left, Thomas Edison.
We don't really think about his wealth, but we think about his inventions, Shakespeare.
We think about his literature.
But we really don't think about, you know, his wealth, Steve Jobs, you know, he's pretty rich
but we, you know, usually think about him as the founder of Apple, about iPhone, and things like that, right?
So we usually remember the famous people, whether they are good or bad, by what they've accomplished and not by their wealth.
And I believe verse one can also mean that a reputation is better than a dead body with the ointment to cover the smell.
because usually, especially back in the ancient time,
they used all the ointment, these kind of anointing oil
to cover the smell of a dead body.
So I think another way to look at this verse is
that you may be able to hide the smell by your wealth,
but you cannot hide a bad reputation, right?
Because the second half of the verse is,
and a day of death, then the day of one's birth.
So so a so so a good name is better than your wealth
But a good name is also then all these cover-ups, right? You can cover up your
You know lies wickedness by your wealth by your by your by your possession
But people will still know
Who you really are and and the day of death is better than
the day of birth why because first and foremost I believe
the day of death
For the believers that means being with the Lord, right?
So in one sense, yeah
The day of death is better than the day of birth now
Keep your place in
Nicholas asked is going forward to Philippians chapter number one go to Philippians chapter number one
Philippians chapter number one
So we should do our best to guard our
But we should also rethink death.
Philippians chapter 1, look at verse 21.
Here's Apostle Paul speaking, Philippians 1, 21.
The Bible says,
For to me to live as Christ and to die is gain.
Paul said he is gaining things when he dies.
Look at verse 22, but if I live in the flesh that this is the fruit of my labor yet watch that what I shall choose
I will not for I'm in a straight betwixt to having a desire to depart and to be with Christ
Which is far better. So Paul said it's better for him to be to die and to be with the Lord
right? Then do him to abide in the flesh. But then he said in verse number 24,
Netflix to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. Even though going to heaven is far better
because Paul, because we don't have to deal with the sinful body of saying of the also the wickedness,
but God puts us on this earth for a reason is to win more people to Christ so more people can
gain what is far better, right? So the whole point is, yeah, for us, for us believers,
The day of physical death is way better because we get to be with the Lord
We get to depart from this wicked world now turn back to turn back to
Nicolese asked each other for seven
At the end of Paul's life
Paul said I'm now ready to be offered because there's laid up for him a crown of righteousness
Right we get you partake the rewards in heaven
In that sense, yeah, heaven is way better.
So the first lesson Solomon taught us is that
a good name is better than riches,
and a day of death is better than the day of birth.
But then in verse number two,
He also gives us a principle that mourning sometimes can teach us more than feasting.
Look at verse number 2.
It is better to go to the house of mourning than go to the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.
So he said it's better to go to your funeral than go into a Christmas party, than go into a birthday party, right?
So, again, the context is under the sun, you know.
This is not saying never go to parties never celebrating your birthdays. In fact, we should rejoice in our labor
We should reflect upon our life
But but sometimes, you know, in fact God wants us to reflect
Especially during some tough times trying time
Turn to Psalm chapter 90 Psalm chapter 90
Psalm chapter 90
I'll start reading from verse number 10 the days of our years are three school
years and ten and if by reason of strength they before school years yet
is their strength labor and sorrow for it is soon cut off and we fly away
Now, we read that verse last week that the average human lifespan is 70 years old and
if you're healthy and God gave you strength, you might live about 80 years ago, maybe even
more.
But look at verse number 11, who knows the power of thine anger even according to thy
fear so is thy wrath.
So what's the context of verse number 11 and 12?
The context is our life is only about 70 and 80 years old.
Knowing that fact, we should ask God to teach us to number our days, right?
Because life is a vapor.
Knowing that we were all going to die after 70, 80 years old,
we should apply our hearts onto wisdom.
And that's what the book of Ecclesiastes is all about, because why is the house of mourning
better than the house of feasting?
Because it will make us realize that we will all die, we will all die physically, right?
The Bible says, for that is the end of all men.
Hebrews 927 and as it and as it's a point of empty man wants to die
But after this the judgment everyone will die
Physically unless Christ comes in our lifetime knowing that life is short knowing that we will only live
7080 maybe even you know last years or more years
You know that should teach us to number our days. We should apply our hearts on to wisdom
also
Going to the house a morning. It will also make us reflect on our lives, right? That's what the Bible says
For that is the end of all men and the living will lay it to his heart
When we go in when we are going to the funeral houses when we are going to some, you know
The hospital it will it will lay it to our heart
And I think it's a good time to
reflect on that
We will all die one day.
And I think we should reflect on that in general because this should make us realize that we
will all meet our maker one day, right?
So the question to ask yourself is, what are you doing with your life right now?
Because when we are going to a funeral, when we are mourning about the death of the loved ones, of friends and families and the relatives,
that should make us realize that we will all die just like that person in the coffin.
So the question is, what are you doing with your life right now?
To your heart that your life on this earth will come to an end right are you heaping up treasures in heaven?
Or are you heaping up treasures on this earth only are you winning people to Christ saving them from the?
Saving them from hell
The tunnel fire in hell. Are you seeking first the kingdom of God letting your life so shine before man?
Because here's the reason why going to the house of mourning is better than going to the house of feasting because because it's a great time of
Reflection right knowing that we will all die. What are you doing with your life right now?
Go go go go back to these go back to a case that's these chapter number seven
Look at version with three
The Bible says
sorrow is better than laughter, for by the sadness of the continents the heart is made better.
So I believe this statement is generally true because sorrow tends to bring reflection, just like funeral,
and empty joy, blind happiness, they tend to blind people, right?
That if you're always living some kind of luxurious lifestyle, money and wealth, that
you get everything you want, you know, that tend to blind you, but sorrow, hard times,
trying times tend to bring reflection.
Proverbs 14-13 says this, even in laughter, the heart is sorrowful, and the end of that
And we as human beings tend to learn the most in light of some tragedies or some tough times, right?
Think about sickness. It's a time of sorrow, but sickness makes us to trust God more.
People are usually the prayer warriors when they are sick and when they are being persecuted.
And during times of persecution and afflictions, we tend to rely on God's strength more.
And during the funerals, it's a time of sorrow, and we tend to reflect on our life.
We tend to reflect upon the fact that we were all going to die.
When we are chased by the Lord, I mean it's not fun, it's a sorrowful time.
But that's the time that makes us grow make it makes us correct ourselves, right?
So Saul is better than laughter. Okay, look at verse number four.
The Bible says the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of
mirth
So if you are wise, you will reflect and learn from those trying times, mourning times, sorrowful times.
But if you are a fool, then you will only indulge yourself with pleasures.
But the Bible is not against having fun, but it's making a point that sometimes we need to take a moment to
Reflect on what we are doing with our life, knowing we will all die one day, and we should
take those tragedies, sickness, and funerals, and persecutions, and the chastisement as
a lesson to learn to grow, okay?
So the first lesson is a good name is better than riches.
Second lesson is mourning teaches more than feasting.
Rebuke is better than flattery.
Look at verse number five.
It's better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the sound of fools.
So it's better for you to be told that you are wrong from a wise person than having a
bunch of people flattering you, right?
Rebuke means to chide, to reprove, to reprehend for a fault, to check by reprove, basically
telling someone that he's wrong, sometimes pretty sharply.
The word flatter means to soothe by praise, to gratify self-love by praise, to please
a person by applause or favorable notice.
Okay?
In terms of preaching, the Bible commands preacher to reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all-round suffering and doctrine.
That's why a good preacher should be able to rebuke people when he's preaching.
Again, not just rebuke, but also encourage the people.
exalt the people, but we need to have a right balance, okay?
And we need to be thankful that, you know, I'm not afraid of...
rebuking you guys because that's literally my job and we should love that we
should embrace heart preaching right because you know heart preaching changes
people's life and heart preaching by like by a definition it's going to make
people uncomfortable but that's my job okay because nobody likes being told
that they are wrong right nobody likes when they are rebuked to the flay to the
Rebuke, we need to be humble and if people leave because they can't handle heart-reaching,
then it's their problem, right?
And we should just do what God has told us to do.
Go to Proverbs 27, Proverbs 27.
Look at verse number five.
The Bible says open rebuke is better than secret love, faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.
If your friends rebuke you,
It's time to let go of your pride, right?
If you happen to disagree with your friends,
at least try to understand where they are coming from.
Okay, don't get so amped up and don't fight back.
You know, at least take a moment to reflect on that.
Hey, is there any truth in that?
Because a true friend will, you know,
will tell you, will warn you.
If they see you entering into the same, right, they will warn you and we need to be humble
people and when someone approaches you with something they may disagree with you, at least
attempt to understand where they are coming from, okay?
And we should try our best again to maintain the unity.
You are in 27, go to Proverbs 28.
Look at verse 23, your Proverbs 28, verse 23, the Bible says,
He that rebuketh a man afterwards shall find more favor than he that flattereth with a tongue.
Even the people that
rebukes you will find more favor because eventually you will you will you will
realize that they are they are for your good right you know if you're humble
then you should take the rebuk if you disagree at least try to understand
where they're coming from
But I do want to make a point that we should not rebuke an elder, right?
You know the Bible says in 1 Timothy 5 1 rebuke not an elder
But in treat him as a father and the younger man as brethren
I do believe you can apply this to pastors, leaders, the spiritual elders.
But I also believe, based on the context, this is talking about a physically elderly person over the age of 60, okay?
Because the contrast is we should treat a younger man as brethren, okay?
So how do we approach...
the elder, whether he's a pastor or some older person, if you think that he is wrong, hey,
just tell him why you believe, what you believe, be gentle, don't rebuke an elder. That's what
the Bible says. I mean, nothing wrong to share with your pastor, your opinion, but don't sharply
Definitely don't, you know, post something online and be passive, aggressively attacking your pastor, okay?
That's a really bad idea. In fact, you'll be kicked out of the church if I find you, if I see you doing that.
Go, go, go back to the TCS, the channel number seven, Ecclesiastes, Ecclesiastes chapter seven.
Definitely not telling a pastor the F word or the B word, you know, that's, that's, that's completely crossing the line.
If we see the Ashes chapter 7, verse number 6, the Bible says,
For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool,
this also is vanity. The sound of the fools,
the laughter of the fools, and the flattery of the fools, are like the
crackling
of thorns under a pot.
I mean, it's loud and flashy, flashy, but they are quickly gone, right?
Because the flatters will just betray you when you don't benefit them anymore.
That's what the Bible says, you know, the flatteries are like the crackling of thorns
under a pot.
I mean, it's flashy, it looks good, feels good, but it's quickly gone, okay?
The Bible says in Psalm 12 verse 3,
the Lord shall cut off all flattering lips
and the town that speak of proud things.
Proverbs 29 verse 5,
a man that flattered his neighbors,
spread a net for his feet.
Even a flattered himself is setting a trap
for himself when he flatters other people
because someone will flatter the flatterer.
Eventually they will both be destroyed.
Look at verse number seven surely oppression make it the wise man math and they gift destroy it the heart
Just like oppression makes us mad
In the same way a gift or or or or rather a bribery corrupts the heart
Corrupts just a judgment to a Bible to
Deuteronomy chapter number 16
We'll have verse number 18. Do now in chapter 16 verse number 18, the Bible says,
Judges and officers shall now make thee in all thy gates, which the Lord thy God gave with thee,
throughout thy tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgment.
Thou shall now rest.
Basically saying that we should not twist judgment, thou shalt not respect persons, don't have a double standards, neither take a gift, for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous, that which is altogether just shall thou follow, that thou mayest live and inherit the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
So concerning the criminal justice system the Bible says the judge is not supposed to take a gift
Obviously nothing wrong with gift giving the principle is bribery right because here this gift blind the eyes of the wise
This gift causes the judge to pervert righteousness
You know so that he might let the guilty go free so that he may alter the judgment by you know by receiving something
extra, okay? We see that all the time, right? I mean, a judge who gets money, accepts the
money under the table to ruin favor of the guilty, rather than, you know, rather than
protecting the innocent. We have all the plea deals. That's to me, that's a massive bribery,
politicians do that all the time, they will take the campaign donation from some big corporations
and then pass laws that benefit those corporations rather than giving the benefits to all the other people.
A pastor may preach softly against sin because wealthy donors might stop giving.
That's a form of bribery, isn't it?
You know a pastor is providing judgment for selecting what he's preaching just so that he can get more money, okay?
So again, a gift that blinds the eyes of the wise
Likewise a friend may not tell you the truth because because he's afraid of losing friendship
A Christian can compromise his testimony because he wants the approval of men than the approval of God.
Again, that's a form of bribery because some of us rather be praised by men,
we rather have something extra from this world than to be approved by God.
I mean, a preacher, like I said, can water down the Word of God just to gain more popularity,
in relation to preach as some other churches, or more financial support.
Again, that's another form of bribery, right?
Wanting to gain more rather than seeking to be approved by God.
And we need to be careful to not let money or stuff
influence our choices, right?
If your sole reason to do certain things
is based off money, that's a bad decision, right?
Obviously money is a factor,
but money should not be the only factor.
For example, you know, getting a job,
you know, if a job wants you to work on Sundays,
you know, you know, that should not be
the decision-making factor, right?
We should value the things of God
over financial well-beings.
So the first wisdom is,
reputation is better than riches.
Number two, morning teaches more than feasting.
Number three, rebuke is better than flattery.
Number four, the end is better than the beginning.
The end is better than the beginning.
Look at verse number eight.
Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 8, the Bible says,
better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof,
and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
So the end is better than the beginning,
but this does not mean that the beginning is not important.
This does not mean the process is not important,
but the focus is, no matter how strong you may have started,
but if you don't finish strong, you have failed, right?
One common application is that we need to serve God and be it in a long haul because the Christian life is a sprint.
No, the Christian life is not a sprint but a marathon, right?
We cannot be burnt out.
When you first got saved, you may be on fire and go soaring every single day.
But after 10 years, you may go weary and then you stop going to church.
You have failed.
It doesn't matter how strong that you have started.
have the rewards of that, but you have failed. You did not finish your race.
You may be reading a Bible every single day, but maybe 20 years down the line,
you decide to chase after riches and forsake the things of God
and stop going to church, you have failed, right?
And we can apply this to other areas in life.
For example, they have made some New Year's resolutions.
You have kept doing that for two months, and then you quit, you have failed, okay?
You know, better is the end of a thing than the beginning. Go to 1st Corinthians chapter 9, 1st Corinthians chapter 9.
But then the Bible says the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
And that's the same concept because patience is better than pride, because it's better
to be consistent in your Christian life than boasting about how great you are, right?
Same thing with, you know, better is the end, I mean it's better to be humble, better to
be consistent and then, you know, rather than boasting about what you have done in the past.
I mean, it's better to go someone in once a week consistently than going someone in five
times a week for a while and then quit altogether, right?
Endurance is more important.
First, quarantine nine, look at verse 24.
First quarantine nine, verse 24.
Obviously, you know, if it goes on any more than once a week, nothing wrong with that,
but we should be in it for the long haul.
First going to 924 says this knowing not that they which run in a race round all but one receive at the price
So round that he may obtain so Paul compares to Christian life with a race, right? He's using earthly
analogy of rounding look at verse number 25
And every man that strives for the mastery is temperate in all things
Now they do it to obtain a crucible crown, but we are incorruptible
I therefore so wrong, not as uncertainly so phytony, not as one that bideth the heir
But I keep under my body and bring it into subjection,
lest that by any means, when I preach to others,
I myself should be a castaway.
Notice when Paul was running the Christian race,
he was constantly bringing his body into subjection.
He was denying the flesh, getting the sins
out of his life, right?
Not just sprinting, but being consistently dying
to himself.
Now go to Hebrews chapter 12, Hebrews chapter 12.
Patience is better than pride.
Consistency is more important.
Hebrews chapter 12 verse number 1.
Hebrews 12 once says this,
wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about
with so great a cloud of witnesses,
let us lay aside every weight and the sin
which doth so easily beset us, notice,
and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
looking unto Jesus, the author and the finisher of our faith,
who for the joy that was set before him,
endured the cross, despised in the shame,
and is set down at the right hand of the throne,
of God. So here in Hebrews 12 1, the Bible says we should run with patience. You know, don't
let yourself be burnt out, right? Endurance. Have the endurance. Have the consistency in your
Christian life. I've heard people saying that the success of a Christian life is not measured in
Anyone can be zealous for a year or two, but true success is seen in
Continuance right in the in the decades of steady obedience to Christ
Go back to go back to these asked each other seven
Think about this some trees will take decades to bear their best fruit
Right because the first batch is usually not the best. You know, I'm the second year third year
I'm the fruit and the quality is getting better and better. Likewise. I believe a Christian life
Proves itself in seeds of trial tribulation growth and the perseverance right the more years that you are faithful
The better you are the more that the better quality of the fruit that you can that you can produce
And that's why we should not be content with a good year of Christian living.
Seek for a good lifetime, right?
Same thing with this church.
Hey, we had a great year and we're about to finish our second year strong, you know?
But don't settle for that. Settle for a lifetime.
Here's the fifth lesson. Don't live in the past. Look at verse number nine.
Ecclesiastes 7 verse 9 the Bible says be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger rested in the bosom of fools
So here the principle is we should not be quick to anger again
the the the context is being like being being being patient and
Don't be hasty
And the anger in and of itself is not a sin
Because the Bible says be angry and sing not right the Bible has he that he that is soon angry dealeth foolishly
the Bible says that
Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment
Nothing wrong with having righteous anger, but just don't you'll let but just don't let your anger affect your daily life
Okay
Neither gave place to the left a neither gave place to the devil and that's in the context of be angry and sing not
Don't you know be so angry and you letting the devil to you know
Time to and doing all these wicked things look at verse number 10
Say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these, for thou does not inquire wisely concerning this?
These are the people who were living in the past.
They were constantly bragging about
the former days, right? They will say Christianity used to be this.
The churches in the 1900s used to preach like this.
First Baptist Church of Hammond used to do this, you know?
Such and such church used to do this.
You know, the Bible says, if you are saying that,
thou does not inquire wisely concerning this,
because we should not be living in the past.
Turn the Bible to Revelation chapter three.
Revelation chapter three.
Look at verse number one.
Revelation 3-1, the Bible says, and unto the church, unto the angel of the church, in Sardis,
right, these things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God and the seven stars,
I know that works, that thou hast the name that thou livest and art dead.
Jesus Christ rebuked the church in Sardis for living in the past.
The Church of Sardis, you know, I think they used to have a soul-winning revival.
They used to have, you know, heart preaching.
But now they are dead.
But they are constantly talking about, you know, the heydays of the past.
So the goal of this church is we should keep doing more right, you know
Don't you know, obviously, there's nothing wrong with comparing to what we've done what we've done in the past
But what's more important is what are we doing right now? You know, obviously your past
Credentials can matter to a point. But what are you doing right now? Okay? Where are the seven churches in Asia Minor?
They're all gone right where where are the Church of Galatia Philippi Ephesus? They are
They are like all gone, you know, but that does not mean they were good churches.
But now, but, you know, somehow these churches were gone, maybe through some bad
leaderships, maybe through some, you know, disasters happening.
But we should strive to, you know, continue.
Again, the principle is endurance, right?
Consistency keeps driving more for God.
Go, go back to at least the last chapter, chapter number seven.
So I said point number one, the lessons of wisdom, point number two, the strength of wisdom over wealth.
The strength of wisdom over wealth.
Look at verse number 11.
The Bible says, Wisdom is good with an inheritance and by it there is profit to them that see the sum.
So wisdom is good, but wisdom with inheritance or wealth can be better, right?
Here's the reason why. Look at verse number 12.
For wisdom is a defense and money is a defense
But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom gives life to them that have it
So both wisdom and money can defend you in terms of security and just
Advantage right but wisdom is still superior because because wisdom leads to life
while money without wisdom cannot lead to life, right?
So verse 11 gives us a balanced perspective,
nothing wrong with inheritance,
but inheritance with wisdom is far better, right?
And both of them can protect you
and money can...
protect you outwardly, right? You can buy a security system,
firearms, you know, hire some bodyguards, right? Money can definitely
protect you, but money can only protect you
outwardly, but wisdom can protect you
inwardly, right? Wisdom is good with
and inheritance. With and with money, it's far better than just, you know,
money alone.
And money without wisdom is just vanity, right?
But wisdom with money can be a great strength. Go to Proverbs chapter 2. Proverbs chapter number 2.
Look at verse number 10. Proverbs chapter 2 verse number 10.
Proverbs 2-10 the Bible says
When wisdom entered into thine heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul
Discretion shall preserve thee
understanding shall keep thee to
Deliberate thee from the way of the evil man from the man that speaketh for over things. So here wisdom will
Protect you wisdom will guard you and the money cannot buy those things right money cannot buy
You know true wisdom from God
And if we know God's wisdom, it will protect you, it will deliver you from evil, it will keep you from sinning.
Go to Proverbs chapter 4. Look at verse number 7. Proverbs chapter 4, verse number 7.
The Bible says wisdom is the principal thing. The word principal means important. Here's the most important thing.
Wisdom is the most important thing. Therefore, get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding.
Exalt her, lift her up, and she shall promote thee, she shall bring thee to honor, when thou dost embrace her, she shall give to thine head an ornament of grace, a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.
If you can only get one thing get wisdom because wisdom is the principle thing far better than
Riches far better than wealth, but wisdom with wealth is even better, right?
Go back to go back to
Nicolese asked the chat chat chat number seven I
Don't use zoning with awarding here in version 12. Let's look at
Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 12 the Bible says for wisdom is a defense and money is a defense
But the ecstasy of knowledge is that wisdom give life to them that have it now
This phrase that wisdom gives life to them to have it
Seems contrary seems contradictory right? How can wisdom give life to the people who already have life? Okay, so
I think you can view this as wisdom giveth life in terms of the practical life and just
how to live a fruitful life as a Christian to those people who already have eternal life
in Christ.
Wisdom giveth life to them that have it, because without salvation you don't even have the
But wisdom does give you how to live an abundant, fruitful life
to those people who have this eternal life
because if you don't even believe in God, the Bible calls you fools, right?
If you deny there's a God, the Bible calls you a fool, so true wisdom begins from salvation, right?
And now we can begin to understand spiritual things.
So I think you can view this verse as, hey, wisdom
give it the principle to live an abundant life to those people
who already have this eternal life.
Wisdom gives life to them that have it.
Or you can view this as, hey, wisdom
gives life to those people who want this life.
Again, I think you can view this in a couple different ways.
But look at verse number 13.
The Bible says consider the work of God for who can make that straight which he had made crooked.
So, I believe the primary context of this verse is to accept what God has done.
Okay, we cannot undo the work of God because if God makes things one way, you know,
Don't question that. Don't, you know, don't complain to that. Like I talked
about last week, Job said in 9, Job 912 says, Behold, he take it away. Who can
hinder him? Who will say unto him what doest thou? So Job was saying that, you
know, God takes away certain things. Nobody can stop it. And we should not
complain, complain to God, you know, about what he has done. Okay. Go to Isaiah
The whole point is, we cannot alter the will of God, and if God has made something crooked
or troubled or difficult, we cannot simply make it straight through the human effort.
I mean if God decides to make the crooked straight, then you know he can absolutely do that, okay?
Some people will like use the this verse to like teach that you know
That if someone is a homo that he will never be straight again, but that's not really the context of this verse, okay?
Look at Isaiah 40 verse number three Isaiah 40 verse number three
Here I believe the crooked simply means you know troubled times difficult times Isaiah 40 verse 3 says this
The voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness. Here's the here's the
Prophecy of John the Baptist
Prepare you the way of the Lord notice make straight in the deserts a highway for our God every valley shall be
exalted
Every mountain and hill shall be made low. Don't miss this and the crooked shall be made straight and
The rough place is playing and the glory of the Lord shall be
Revealed that is Jesus Christ and and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of Lord has spoken it
So what's the context? Only God can make the crooked straight, right?
You know, God can make some crooked or tough situations in your life better.
All you have to do is simply trust in Him, right?
The glory of the Lord shall be revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hey, God can take what the enemy meant for evil and turn it for good.
And God can even take a crooked, wicked sinner and make him whole just like Apostle Paul, right?
God can take the broken pieces to those crooked
situations in your life and make something beautiful out of it if you
Place them in his hand, right? Hey, we cannot make the crooked straight, but God can that's the whole point
you know, consider the work of God for who can make that straight which he had made crooked.
You know, God did that for a reason. Maybe God allowed you to be sick so you can seek him and
then he will make your life straight, right? He will make the tough times, the crooked,
trouble, difficult situations in your life straight. Go back, go back to the book of Ecclesiastes.
So, I believe that's what verse 13 is talking about, you know, not talking about the sodomites because it's not in the context.
Look at verse number 14, chapter 7 verse 14.
The Bible says, in the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider God also had set the one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him.
So, if you are blessed with riches, enjoy them with Thanksgiving, but if tough times
comes in your life, then reflect upon that and trust in God.
That's why Paul said, in whatsoever state I am, there with to be content, okay?
So, God balances the prosperity as well as the adversity because prosperity keeps us thankful
Adversities keep us humble and dependent upon God, right?
So I believe there is a balance on that.
That's why the Bible says God also has set the one over against the other,
because we need both in our life to reflect and to be thankful.
And then he says to the end that man should find nothing after him
So I believe he's saying that man cannot guarantee what will happen in the next minute, right?
We cannot guarantee that because the next minute can be good times can be tough times can be
Prosperity I mean it can be adversity
but we should just trust in God in all times, right?
Man should find nothing after him.
Hey, we cannot guarantee tomorrow,
just trust in God in whatever state that you are at.
So I said point number one, the lessons of wisdom,
point number two, the strength of wisdom over wealth,
point number three, the limits of human righteousness.
The limits of human righteousness.
Look at verse number 15.
About as all things have I seen in the days of my vanity
There's a just man that perishes in his righteousness and there's a wicked man that prolonged his life in his wickedness
So a generally righteous and then and an honest person can still die tragically, right?
Maybe maybe that's through a murder, car crash, sickness, massive school shooting
Like you know just happened at a Catholic school. I think that's pretty sad
But even the righteous, honest person, even some innocent kids, they can die tragically.
Even a just man can perish in his righteousness.
But a wicked person may live a long life and just never seems to be punished on this earth.
But if that person is not saved, we know that person will be burning in hell forever.
So verse 15 just gives us a perspective of tomorrow is not guaranteed.
Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise, why should thou destroy thyself?
So verse 16 may sound a little bit odd, right?
Because isn't being righteous a good thing?
Isn't being wise a good thing?
So why does the Bible say,
Be not righteous over much, and don't make thyself over wise?
But think about it. If you have the righteousness of God, you will never be righteous over much, right?
The only way for you to be righteous over much is for you to be self-righteous
because if you have God's righteousness, you will never be righteous over much, okay? Romans 10, look at verse number one.
Romans 10 1 says this, Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved.
For I bear the record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge.
Notice verse number 3, for they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.
What's the problem of those physical Jews is that they are self righteous
They are trusting in their own righteousness to go to heaven without trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ, right?
Because wars can never save you your own righteousness can never save you so in the same way
You know, we can be saved, but we can be righteous over much in self-righteousness, right, without submitting ourselves to the Word of God, without submitting ourselves to God's righteousness.
And what's a group in the Bible that's known for their self-righteousness?
That's the Pharisees, right? The scribes and the Pharisees.
Because they do things to be seen as men. They appear beautiful outward.
They appear righteous unto men. That's called self-righteous.
They are righteous over much, not in God's righteousness, but in their self-righteousness.
And he said unto them, you are they which just by yourself.
That's been self-righteous before man, but God knoweth your hearts for that which is
highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
His self-righteousness is an abomination in the sight of God because self-righteousness
is men-centered, right?
Think about people who trust in their works to go to heaven. The whole point is on themselves, right?
They're righteous over much in their own righteousness
Go to look chapter chapter 18 low chapter 18
So the characteristics so the characteristics of a self righteous person is is the hour show, right? It's the self exaltation
And it's by keeping the traditions of man rather than keeping God's law.
Proverbs 30 verse 12 says this,
there is a generation that are pure in their own eyes
and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
They are self-righteous, but they are still filled with sins.
Luke 18, verse 9.
Luke 18, 9.
Bible says,
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous and despise others.
That's by definition self-righteousness.
Look at verse number 10.
Two men went up into the temple to pray, the one a Pharisee and the other a publican.
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself.
He's praying with himself.
Okay, that's pretty interesting.
God, I thank Thee that I'm not as other men are, extortioners, unjust.
adulterous, and even as this publican, that's not being very humble. I fast twice in the week,
I give tithe of all that I possess, and the publican, standing afar off, would not lift
up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God, be merciful to me,
a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other,
for everyone that exalted himself shall be a base.
And he that humbled himself shall be exalted, OK?
So the point is, don't be self-righteous.
Don't be so righteous that you are condemning others
while you are doing the same thing.
Like I talked about this past Sunday, OK?
Don't be so prideful.
Don't think you do everything perfectly.
Don't think you are seamlessly perfect.
Nobody is, OK?
But also don't confuse self-righteousness with judging righteous judgment based on the Bible.
Because calling our sin is not being self-righteous as long as I'm not involved in that same sin.
Because people will always equate me preaching heart against sin as me being prideful.
You know, that's two completely different things, okay?
In fact, those who never preach against sin,
as a preacher, they are righteous over much in their own eyes.
Go back to the book of the Egliseastes.
But also, you know, don't be righteous over much in the sense that you are more righteous than God.
You should never judge their lifestyle, more righteous than God, right? They are righteous over much.
Jesus will let go to a bar and be their best buddies, righteous over much.
A loving God will never send anyone to hell, righteous over much.
As long as you believe in God, you will be fine. Again, righteous over much, more loving than Christ, more righteous than God.
Ecclesiastes chapter 7 look at verse number 17 the Bible says be not over much wicked neither be thou foolish
Why should the style die before thy time?
So here the Bible gives us gives us a contrast. Hey, don't be wicked over much
Okay, so what does that mean because being wicked is never okay. So why does he say hey?
Don't be wicked over much.
I think this is talking about people who just abused the mercy and grace of God.
Just because God is merciful and God does not punish you right away, does not give you
license to say more.
Okay?
Let me read to you Romans 5 verse number 20.
But we're saying the bound that grace did much more bound the more you sin
Hey, you know God has got more grace than you have of your sin if you are safe, right?
We're saying the bounded grace did much more about but shall we continue in sin that grace may abound God forbid
Okay, so here we have a balance. Okay, no matter how much you sing if you are safe
Hey, you are covered by the grace of God, right? You're the grace of God is infinite
It doesn't matter how much you sin, but shall we continue sin?
God forbid.
Hey, don't be righteous over much.
Hey, if you have sin and God is merciful to you, don't sin more.
Don't abuse God's grace, right?
Don't abuse God's mercy.
Be not over much wicked.
Need to be thou foolish.
Why shouldest thou die before thy time?
If you abuse God's mercy, then God might put you to sleep, right?
That's what verse 17 is talking about.
Look at verse 18, it is good that thou shouldst take hold of this, yea also from this with
John not thine hand, for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all.
So verse 18 is kind of a summary of the previous verses that it's good for us to take hold and to grasp this truth
This wisdom right to like take hold of this and don't withdraw your hand or just lose your grip on these wisdoms
talk about in this chapter and
If you fear God, you will come out of all the evils and vanities and the miseries, right?
But he that fear God shall come forth of them all
Look at verse 19.
Wisdom strengthens the wise more than ten mighty men which are in a city.
So wisdom is not only more important than wealth, but wisdom is more important than
mere strength.
Think about it in a battle you can win when being outnumbered if you have a good strategy, right?
We have a lot of historic, you know famous battles
That's one when outnumbered because they have a great strategy
Proverbs 21 verse 22 says,
A wise man scaled the city,
that what scale means to climb up
to conquer the city of the mighty
and cast it down the strength of the competence thereof.
Proverbs 24 verse 5,
A wise man is strong,
yea, a man of knowledge increases strength,
because wisdom will bring strength,
but strength without wisdom is vanity.
Just like inheritance, wealth without wisdom is bad, right?
But wisdom with strength is great, okay?
In fact, I think Christianity is the best example of that because...
Christians get wisdom by keeping the word of God and Christians are not the most
populist group in the world and Christians are not the most wealthy or
the strongest people in the world, right? Yeah, to God fearing Christians are the
victors in this world and all Christians will conquer the world and to be with
the Lord Jesus Christ one day.
Because we at least have the wisdom to believe on Christ, right?
We will be the conquerors.
It doesn't matter if we are not the physical, you know,
it doesn't matter if we are not the strongest, you know,
not the, you know, strongest people in the world.
Look at verse number 20.
The Bible says,
for there's not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sineth not.
Here's the gospel in the Old Testament, right?
You know, there's none righteous, no, not one.
So the point is, we all have sinned.
So how does verse 20 fit the context?
Look at the next verse.
The Bible says in verse 21, also take heed.
unto all wars that are spoken, lest out here thy servant curse thee, for often times also
thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise as cursed others."
So what's he saying?
Don't take every single word, every story that you've heard, too hard?
Because if you do, you will find out that the people that's closest to you, your spouse,
your close friend, may have said some nasty things about you.
Right, that's what that's what that's what he's talking about. Okay, and the reason being that is you know
You are not in this thing as well based on verse number 22
Sometimes you have cursed your loved ones as well. Sometimes you have talked behind your friends back
As well. So I think the point that Solomon is getting is that wouldn't you realize that we all have sin, right?
Let's show people some grace. Let's cut people some slack because
Because if we take every single story too hard, we will find out, hey, we may have said some nasty things about each other,
but don't be so quick to judge because you have done the same thing.
So show people some grace because we all have sinned.
So I think that's what verse 21 and 22 is talking about.
So, I say point number one, the lessons of wisdom, point number two, the value of wisdom,
the strength of wisdom over wealth, point number three, the limits of human righteousness.
Lastly, I think that's the last point, point number four, the search for wisdom, the search
for wisdom.
Here's a climax look at verse 23 the Bible says all this have I approved by wisdom
I said I will be wise, but it was far from me that which is far off and exceeding deep who can find it out
So the context again is under the Sun
So Solomon was saying that true wisdom is beyond human effort, okay?
That you cannot find true wisdom in Greek philosophers and college professors, right?
Nobody can find it out that the true wisdom is fall from me and
That's exceeding deep. Okay. Now
Actually, go to first Corinthians heaven to first green to
Romans 11 34 says, for who had known the mind of the Lord, or who had been his counselor?
You know, nobody can really find out the deep things, just the unsearchable wisdom of God completely,
especially by mere human efforts.
But I wanted to notice the context because who wrote the book of Ecclesiastes?
Solomon, right? Solomon said, you know, wisdom is beyond me. Okay, notice that.
Because, because I think that's, that's pretty humbling that Solomon being one of
the wisest people ever lived, admitted that wisdom was far from him. That's
something, isn't it? Look at 1 Corinthians 2 verse number 14, the Bible says
But a natural man that's hung about the NSA
Receive if not the things of the spirit of God for they are foolish foolishness on to him
Neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned, but he that is spiritual
You know in context there's a tongue bow, you know the person who's you know, who's endowed by the
By the spirit but he that is spiritual judges all things yet. He himself is judge of no man
Notice verse from a 16 for who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him
But we have the mind of but we have the mind of Christ
Don't miss this because in Romans Paul said for who had known the mind of the Lord, but then in first Corinthians
He said hey, we have the mind of Christ
so
So what's Paul saying?
Save Christians do have wisdom
In fact, we have the mind of Christ, we know exactly what God thinks, right?
We know exactly what Jesus thinks about certain things, about certain sins, about certain
ideas, because true wisdoms come from the Word of God, right?
True wisdom cannot be obtained by human effort by things under the sound, right?
That's why Solomon was saying that, hey, who can find it out under the sound, but if we
If you are saved, then you do have the mind of Christ.
And that's a powerful statement, right?
Verse 16 is a powerful statement.
Hey, for who has known the mind of the Lord?
Hey, we do, because we are saved.
We have the Spirit of God.
Go back to the book of, at least asked each chapter number seven.
See that that's not pride. That's stating the fact right? That's the Bible
We have the mind of Christ. We know exactly what God wants. We know exactly what God thinks
Look at verse 25
Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 25 the Bible says
I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things
and to know the weakness of folly, even foolishness and madness.
So Solomon went on a quest to search wisdom and folly and the madness and everything,
but then Solomon is going to give us what he has found in the next few verses.
I think that's pretty interesting because the verse only vibe is basically Solomon's quest
And here's what he found, okay, look at verse number 26.
And I find more beard than death, the woman whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands,
whoso pleases God shall escape from her, but a sinner shall be taken by her.
Wow.
That's something, isn't it?
You know, verse 25, just talk about Solomon's quest to search out by wisdom and folly.
And verse 26, here's the grand conclusion.
Some women are better than death.
Okay, now go to 1st King, Chapter 11.
1st King, Chapter 11.
That's why I think Solomon wrote this book later, at the end of his life, because Solomon
has 700 wives and 300 concubines, right?
You know, personally, I think this is the reflection upon all those wives, okay?
First King 11 will have version 1, First King 11 1.
I think I'm doing good on time, maybe, you know, 20 minutes over, but.
1st king 11 once says this but king Solomon loved many strange women these
are the foreign women these are the you know unbelievers if you will strange to
the faith together with the daughter of Pharaoh women of the Moabites
Amodites Edomites Zidonians and and the Hittite of the nations concerning
which the Lord said unto the children of Israel you shall not go into them you
shall they come in unto you for surely they will turn away your heart after
And he had 700 wives, princesses, and 300 concubines, and his wife turned away his heart.
That's the problem, right?
Because they are from those hidden nations that don't believe in God.
Look at verse number five.
for Solomon went after Ashtarov, the goddess of the Zidonians, and after Milcombe, the abomination of the Ammonites, okay?
Again, that's why I believe saved people can commit idolatry. Look at Solomon, okay?
Here's another reason not to assume someone is unsaved too quickly, okay? Look at verse number six, and Solomon did evil.
In the sight of the Lord and went off fully after the Lord as a David his father then then the Solomon build and high plays for
Chimosh
Demond
Demomination of Moab Solomon even build an idol okay look at version 8 and likewise
Did he for all his strange wives which burn incense and sacrifice unto their gods? Okay, so
Solomon has some strange wives that corrupted his heart, that took away his car from serving the one to God.
So Solomon, I believe, he definitely learned from his mistakes, right?
He said those bad women, those strange women, were worse than death, because those women were like snares and nets and bands, okay?
They are meant to trap you and hold you under the bondage of wickedness.
Now go to Proverbs chapter 2.
Proverbs chapter 2, hey, 3 more verses and we'll be done.
Proverbs chapter 2, look at verse number 6.
Proverbs chapter 2, verse number 6.
Proverbs 2, 6 says this,
for the Lord giveth wisdom out of his mouth,
come with knowledge and understanding.
Jump down to verse number 16.
Here's the wisdom, look at verse number 16.
to deliver thee from the strange women, even from the stranger, which flattered with her words."
Again, we talked about flattery earlier, right?
"...which forsakeeth the guide of her youth, and forgeteth the covenant of her God."
So let's break down verse 117.
First everything says, some strange women forsake the guide of her youth.
I believe this can talk about that an unmarried woman who does not listen to her parents, right?
She just forsakes the guide of her youth.
That's why, you know, I believe the dad should have the veto power concerning who his daughter can date or marry, right?
You know, girls, ladies here, you know.
If you are wise, you should listen to your parents about who you can date or who you can marry, right?
Because that is wisdom. We should not forsake the guide of our youth.
But then he said, and forget it, the covenant of her God.
So I believe this can talk about a married woman who commits adultery and just breaks the marital covenant, right?
These are the strange women, you know, whether she's married or she's unmarried.
By the way, don't get involved with a woman who just disobeyed her parents or
Disregards her marital vow, right? These are the strange women based on the Bible. Look at verse number 18
For her house in climate on to death and her path on to the dead now that go on to her return again
Neither take they hold of the path of life
I mean a strange woman can definitely lead to a physical death as well because her husband might find you and kill you right
You know don't play with fire
And a strange woman can also hurt your life as a Christian, okay?
Go to Proverbs chapter 5 verse 1.
Proverbs 5 verse 1.
Actually, let me skip that. Go to Proverbs chapter 7 verse 4.
Proverbs 7-4.
Trying to finish up on time.
Proverbs 7-4 says this.
Say unto wisdom thou art my sister, and call understanding thy king's woman, that they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which
flattered with her words."
Known as flattery is often tied with strange women, right?
Solomon also talked about it, you know, in
earlier,
earlier in the chapter, look at verse number six, for at the window of my house
I looked through my casement and beheld among the simple ones I
I discerned among the youth a young man void of understanding.
Here is a young man, here is a single man, he lacks wisdom, that's why he was attracted
upon this strange woman, look at verse 26, for she has cast down many wounded, yet many
strong men have been slain by her, her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers
Okay, so here again hell can mean destruction hell can mean death okay your life will be destroyed
But also notice that this one strange woman has taken captive multiple strong men, right?
She's probably slept with multiple men.
That's why when you see an adulterous woman, when you see a woman, this obeys her parents,
don't engage with her.
right escape run away from her notice in verse 26 the Bible says hey many strong
men have been slain by her hey don't think that you are so strong don't think
you can withhold the temptation right let him that think of that he stand to
take he let's default right you might think you are strong pay but you are not
strong escape flee fornication flee those horish women
Go to Proverbs 27, Proverbs 27.
The bottom line is, don't sleep with a woman who is not your wife,
and don't marry a woman who is not saved, who is loud and stubborn.
Don't marry a woman with a Jezebel spirit.
Proverbs 27, look at verse number 15.
Proverbs 27 verse 15 says this it continued dropping a very rainy day and a contentious woman are like
You know just like Chinese waterboarding. You don't want that. It's like a slow slow torture eventually
You'll suffocate to death, you know
Her house is the way to hell of the Chinese waterboarding
Let's go back to the book cover the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 7. Let's finish finish this one up
Look at verse 27
Behold, this have I found, says that the preacher can count in one by one to find out the account which he had a soul seeker
But I find out one man among a thousand have I found, but the woman among all those have I now found
So very few men are faithful good men. Okay, so
Psalm 121 says help Lord for the godly men see this
Seeseth for the faithful fail among the children of men. Okay, so Solomon says
A good man is like one out of a thousand, okay?
That might seem to be a small number, but think about it.
I believe most men who come to this church are one of a thousand.
Let me explain, okay?
Yes, some of you are weird and some of you do have some major flaws, okay?
I mean, I get that, okay?
But, but, you know, let's compare the men at this church.
To the man out there in the world, okay? Most men at this church are saved
They read the Bible and and and just go to church on a regular basis, right?
They go so many on a regular basis. They are hard workers and they provide for their
Families if they are married, okay? Have fun finding those attributes out there in the world
even though you will have major flaws right but just compare them to the
average man in the world hey you are one of the thousand maybe one of the 10,000
But don't settle okay, you know strive to be you know more strive to be one of the few okay
So but that's what I'm also says but a woman among all those have I now found
So first he's saying hey hey one one out of a thousand man is good
But but but no woman is good okay among a woman among all those have I now found so I don't think someone was meaning that there was no
Good woman, okay, and I don't believe that's
That's what he's saying. I think this may be him tongue bow
He's experienced with women, especially with his common binds and wives, maybe.
Or I think he was using hyperbole just to make a point that he found even fewer faithful women
in his life because in Proverbs 31, verse 10 says,
Who can find a virtuous woman for her price as far above rubies?
Okay, so good women are definitely out there. You just have to find them.
Okay, so look at verse number 29.
Verse 29,
Lo, this only have I found that God had made man up, but they have sought out many inventions.
So here's the root of all the issues, sin.
Because man's failure is not God's fault, because God wants man to do good.
God has made man up.
desire to know God wants us to serve him but we in our flesh do all no good
thing and we tend to seek out worldly pleasures, vices, riches and so on. Hey
we have sought out many inventions of man but God does want us to serve him
right because you know the root of all the issues is sin so what's the solution
keep your focus on what's on what's above right seek the wisdom that's above
And so what's the point of this chapter wisdom is better than wealth, right?
They must be rooted in God and we should accept and embrace both
Prosperity as well as as well as adversity be contending whatever state you are in and
Reflect upon those trying times, but also don't trust in self-righteousness submit yourself to God's righteousness
Remember, sins, deceitfulness, fear God and flea temptation, flea strong, flea strange
women, flea, you know, hell, symbolic speaking, right?
But most importantly seek the wisdom from above because you do have the mind of Christ if you are saved read the Bible every day
That's close in here with a prayer. Thank you all for this chapter. Thank you for this
Chapter and that's packed with God with wisdom. Well, I pray that we'll apply that in our life
Well, I pray that we will you know, we will not solve
We will not seek many many inventions of man and that we will seek first the kingdom of God and pray this in Jesus name
Amen and thank you, Evangelist Justin Jones.
We're gonna do a little chorus called Christ for me
and I'm gonna read it through
and then as always we're gonna sing it through twice
and it goes Christ for me, yes it's Christ for me.
He's my savior, my Lord and King.
I'm so happy, I shout and sing.
Christ for me, yes it's Christ for me.
Every day as I go my way, it is Christ for me
and watch me on the end of it, all right?
Let's sing it through one time. You may stand because the mind can only comprehend what the
seat can endure. So we'll go ahead and stand.
Christ for me. Yes, it's Christ for me. He's my Savior, my Lord and King. I'm so happy I
Yes it's Christ for me every day as I go my way it is Christ for me all right
let's sing it through one more time. Christ for me yes it's Christ for me
I'm so happy I shout and sing.
Christ for me.
Yes, it's Christ for me.
Every day as I go, my way, it is Christ for me.
Amen.
Brother Matt, can you close the smorgasbord of prayer?