Good morning, welcome to Queensborough Baptist Church. Take a seat if you're still around.
Bring your song books to song 169, Come Thou Fount.
Song 169.
Come thou fount of every blessing,
To my heart to sing thy praise,
Sweet of mercy, ever ceasing,
Also song of loudest praise,
Each piece of heaven and earth is on air,
Sunlight gleaming from above,
Praise the mountain, raise the holly,
Mount the flag, we keep it glowing,
Here I raise my elevation,
In her light I hope I grow,
And I know by my good pleasure,
Safely I'll love by the morn,
He's a sounding wind, a stranger,
Wand'ring from the bowl of God,
He to rescue me from danger,
Interpose his precious blood,
Oh, sweet grace, how great a debtor,
Lately I'm constrained to be,
Let thy goodness light the better,
By my wandering heart to be,
Come to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Come to lead the God I love,
Here's my heart, oh, take it, seal it,
Seal it for thy course above.
Heavenly Father, thank you for helping us all gather here this morning.
I pray you bless this service.
Thank you for helping us have a church with brothers and sisters like-minded.
And I pray that you fill pastor with the Holy Ghost as he preaches.
In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.
Amen.
Amen. Let's turn to the next song.
Song 165.
Oh, worship the King.
Song 165.
165.
Oh, worship the King,
All glorious above,
And gratefully sing his wonderful love,
Our shield and defender,
The ancient of days,
A villain in splendor,
And murdered with praise,
Hotel of his might,
And sing of his praise,
Whose soul is a light,
Whose canopy's face,
His care is a crackling heat,
Thunder clouds form,
And mark his death on the wings of the storm,
Thy bountiful care,
What tongue can recite,
It breathes in the air,
It shines in the light,
It streams from the hills,
In descents to the plain,
And sweetly distills in the dew and the rain,
Hail, children of dust,
And feeble as grail,
In the dew we trust,
Nor finally to fail,
Thy mercy's outender,
Now firm to the end,
Our Maker, defender,
Redeemer and friend.
This time we'll go through our announcements together.
If you don't have a bulletin, slip up your hand,
and we'll get to you with one.
On the inside, we have our service time,
Sunday mornings at 1030,
Sunday nights at 6,
and Wednesday nights at 7 is our Bible study.
This week will be in Psalm 66.
We have the soul-winning times listed there below,
as well as salvations and baptisms.
Across the page is the Bible memory passage,
Isaiah 40, 21 through 31,
just wrapping that up over the next couple weeks.
And then below that, next Sunday morning at 10 a.m.,
we'll have the donuts and coffee before the service
in honor of all the October birthdays.
We do that on the first Sunday of every month.
And then the weekly shuttle to Tucson is back in service.
So that will resume this Thursday, October 1st.
It leaves at 3 30 p.m. sharp
and doesn't get back until 10 or 11 at night.
Dinner is provided.
And then we're taking a break
from the weekly singing classes on Sundays.
Is it still happening tonight, though?
Yeah, it's going to happen tonight,
but then there's going to be a pause on that.
On the back, Pastor and Mrs. Anderson
want to thank everyone who helped us with our recent move.
It was a tremendous blessing to us,
so thank you to those that helped us out with that.
And then the field trip is listed there
for the Wildlife World Zoo Aquarium and Safari Park.
That's going to be coming up on October 26.
You meet at the zoo entrance by 9 30 a.m.
And keep in mind, this is like 45 minutes away.
So make sure that you get there on time.
Please RSVP to Suzanne Forte by Facebook or email.
All ladies and children are invited to join.
Families with over five children,
both parents are welcome to attend.
Late arrivals will not be admitted with our group.
And then below that,
we've got our annual chili cook-off coming up
on Saturday, October 31 from 4 30 to 7 30 p.m.
And chilis have to be entered by 5 o'clock
to make the cutoff to be considered in the contest.
And we will provide the side dishes and the spiced cider.
It's going to end at 7 30
so that we have enough time to clean up
and get everything ready for Sunday
because that is on a Saturday.
That's about it for announcements.
Let's go ahead and sing our next song.
Come lead us.
All right, still our next song.
We're going to do rejoice in the Lord.
It should be in your hymnal.
A little sheet in your hymnal.
Please raise your hand if you don't have one.
Rejoice in the Lord.
God never moves without purpose or plan
When trying, discerning, and holding a man
Give thanks to the Lord
Though your destiny seems hard
In darkness he giveth a song
For your joys in the Lord
He makes no mistakes
He know that the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried and purified
I shall come forth as whole
I could not see through the shadows ahead
So I look at the cross of my Savior instead
I bow to the will of the Master that day
Then his pain and tears went away
For rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistakes
He know that the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried and purified
I shall come forth as whole
Now I can see destiny comes from above
God's faith is his children and purges in love
My Father knows best and I trust in his care
Through purging or through God will bear
For rejoice in the Lord
He makes no mistakes
He know that the end of each path that I take
For when I am tried and purified
I shall come forth as whole
Alright, ready, one more song
Starting to song 153, How Firm a Foundation
Song 153
How firm a foundation he sings of the Lord
His faith for your faith in his excellent Word
What more can he say than to you he has sent
To you who for refuge to Jesus have fled
In every condition and sickness and health
In poverty's veil or abounding it well
And a home in the blood on the land, on the sea
As your days may be near, shall your strength ever be
Laid through fiery trials, your bad faith shall lie
My grace, all sufficient shall be thine supply
Thy faith shall not hurt me, I only desire
Thy cross to consume, and I go to refine
Speaking out to old me, all my people shall prove
My sorrow eternal, my chains of old love
In memory here shall their temples adorn
My lands they shall spill in my bosom before last
The soul that on Jesus' path before he goes
Heart of God, heart of God, he is heard to expose
That soul all hell should endeavor to shed
I'll never, no never, no never forsake
As the plates go around, let's turn in our Bibles to Colossians chapter 3 in the New Testament
the epistle to the Colossians chapter number 3
as we always do, we'll read the entire chapter beginning in verse number 1
follow along silently with brother Nick as he reads, Colossians 3
Colossians chapter 3
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God
Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth
For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God
When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory
Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness which is idolatry
For which things sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience
In which ye also walked some time when ye lived in them
But now ye also put off all these
Anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth
Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds
And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him
Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision
Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all and in all
Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering
Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness
And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body, and be ye thankful
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs
Singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance, for ye serve the Lord Christ
But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done, and there is no respect of persons
Father in heaven, thank you for the church and thank you for the Bible
Thank you for all your blessings upon everybody
Father, I pray that you please bless Pastor Anderson with the fullness and the power of the Holy Ghost as he preaches your word
In Jesus' name I pray, amen
Man, the title of my sermon this morning is Obeying Your Earthly Authority
Obeying Your Earthly Authority
I want to start out and emphasize there beginning in verse number 18 where the Bible reads
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord
Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them
Children, obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord
Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged
Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh
Not with eye service, as men pleasers, but in singleness of heart, fearing God
And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men
So I'm preaching this morning about obeying your earthly authority
And I want to point out right here that we have some instructions here from God to obey some earthly authorities
He tells the wives to submit to their husbands, he tells the children to obey their parents
He tells servants to obey their masters
But I want you to notice something in common with all of these commands
Look at verse number 18
It says, wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord
You see that last part there? And then look at the command to children
Children, obey your parents in all things, verse 20
Look at that last part, for this is well pleasing unto the Lord
Verse 22, servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh
Look at those last two words of the verse, fearing God
So each time he gives this command to obey an earthly authority
He follows it up by saying, look, it's God that's telling you to do this
He's reminding you of the fact that when you obey your earthly authority you're obeying God indirectly
Because God is the one who told you to do that
And God is the one who put that earthly authority in your life that he's telling you to obey
And so you say, why should I obey my husband? Because that is what is fit in the Lord
Well why do I have to obey my parents? Because it's well pleasing unto the Lord
And that should be enough of a reason to obey your parents right there
Because if we love the Lord, if we're saved and Jesus Christ is our Savior
And the Holy Spirit lives inside of us, we should want to do something in return for him
We should want to please him
And the Bible says that if children obey their parents that's well pleasing unto the Lord
You know, why do I need to obey the boss at work?
Because you fear God, that's why
I'm not afraid of him
Okay, but are you afraid of God?
So it's about being fit in the Lord, it's about pleasing the Lord, it's about fearing God
And then it's all summed up in verse 23 when it says
And whatsoever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men
And let me tell you something
As a Christian, how you treat your earthly authority speaks volumes about your relationship with God
Speaks volumes about your walk with God
You know, if we want to diagnose your walk with God
We could look at your attitude, your behavior, your relationship with your earthly authorities in this life
Because God's all the way up in heaven
It's pretty easy sometimes to obey somebody who's in a far distant office
In a company headquarters somewhere, in another state
But then there's your actual supervisor that's right there with you
And you mouth off to him, you don't do what he says, you think you're smarter than him
But I'm sure you're submitting to the CEO of the company over in Delaware or whatever
Folks, the real test is how do you treat your immediate supervisor
How do you treat the authorities in your life
And you say, well you don't understand the authority that I have is not worthy of respect
That's garbage because Christ is worthy of respect and he represents Christ in your life
Now if he's telling you to do something unethical or sinful or immoral
Then obviously we ought to obey God rather than man
We need to follow the higher power in that sense
But here's the thing, if we're talking about a job
And your boss is constantly asking you to do something unethical, immoral or sinful
It's time to just get a new job
And not to just be disrespectful to that authority and look down on that authority
Why? Because that's going to affect your spiritual walk with God
If that's how you start acting toward your authority
If you need to get a new authority, then get a new authority
But do not treat your earthly authority in a way that's disrespectful
Because you are disrespecting God when you do that
And by the way, when Jesus talks about doing good unto other people
And visiting those in prison, giving food to the hungry
And those type of charitable acts, he says
And as much as you've done it unto one of these, the least of my brethren, you've done it unto me
So when it comes to visiting someone in prison, giving someone food when they're hungry
Clothing the naked, helping those
He didn't say do it for those that are worthy
He said do it for the least
And if you do it unto the least of them, you've done it unto me
Well guess what? The same logic applies with authority
He didn't say to only obey your authority when your authority is right
That's not what the Bible says
Only obey them when they are respectable
When you think that they're smarter than you
Is that what the Bible says?
No, the Bible actually says for servants to obey their masters even when they are froward masters
You know what froward means? That verse is not in my notes, but we've got technology
I don't remember exactly where that verse is, but I'm going to find it right now because it's such an important point
Unless somebody just knows where it is right off the top of their head
Okay, look at 1 Peter chapter 2
This wasn't in my notes, but this verse popped into my mind
1 Peter chapter number 2 verse 18
The Bible says in 1 Peter 2 18
Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear
Not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward
So what does the Bible say? Obey the authority that you like
Obey the authority that's good
Obey the authority that's gentle
No, it says obey your masters even if they're froward
Now, here's what a froward person is
You've heard of something that goes to and fro
So you've heard that term fro
I'm not talking about a hairdo, okay?
So going to and fro
Fro being the opposite of to means away
Does everybody understand that?
To and away, to and fro
Froward is someone who is contrarian
It is someone who basically just goes away
If you say up, they say down
You say yes, they say no
You say left, they say right
That is a froward person
Someone who just has a tendency to go the other way
Tendency to disagree
A tendency to argue
That's what the froward person is
And in spiritual context, it's often the one who has a tendency to go away from the commandments of God
To go away from what God wants for them
And so when we see the froward master, this isn't the kind of boss that you want to have
Because no matter how you want to take that word froward
You could take that word froward as a contrarian boss that's constantly telling you to do stuff you don't want to do
Or constantly wanting to go the other way than what you want to go
God says obey
Or if you want to take it as a spiritual condition
That it's a froward boss, meaning a wicked boss
A sinful boss, then you know what?
Obey
As long as he's not making you sin
As long as he's not telling you to do something sinful
He can do what he wants
And you need to obey
And you know what? This kind of preaching is not popular in America in 2020
Because everybody's doing their own thing
And everybody's so independent
But guess what? It's Bible
It's biblical
And a lot of people today are arrogant and prideful and narcissistic
That's why we have the leadership that we have right now in the White House
Because it's a reflection of who we are as Americans
It's exact reflection
Right?
Someone prideful
Someone arrogant
Someone who loves money
Someone who's narcissistic
Someone who's full of himself
Someone who thinks he's always right about everything
Hey, that is a reflection of our culture today
And you know what? We today need to, as Christians, get a biblical mentality toward our authority
And you'll never convince me that you're right with God when you're not right with your parents
You'll never convince me that you're right with God when you're not right with your husband
You're not going to convince me that you're right with God when you're not right with the boss at work
Because it's a reflection of that relationship that you have with God
And whether you like to hear this message or not, you need to hear this message this morning
Go, if you would, to 1 Timothy, chapter number 6
And when you preach sermons like this, you constantly hear from people
Well, you know, what about you? You don't understand my situation
And everybody's just all bent out of shape because their situation, if I only knew, and whatever
Hey, I'm just preaching what the Bible says
You know, you want to go out of here and mouth off to your authority, disrespect your authority, not obey your authority
You know what? That's between you and God, that's your prerogative, go ahead and do that
And if you want to convince yourself that that's a path to God's blessing, then go ahead
But I'm here telling you that you're wrong
Take it or leave it
Look at 1 Timothy, chapter 6, verse 1
Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor
That the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed
And they that have believing masters, let them not despise them because they are brethren
But rather do them service because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit
These things teach and exhort
Of course, Timothy is a pastoral epistle
It's Paul writing to another preacher, Timothy, and he's telling Timothy, this is what you need to preach
You need to preach that servants obey their masters and that those that have believing masters should not despise them because they're brethren
Now why would someone who has a believing master despise him because he's a brother?
I mean, wouldn't you think that if a guy has a boss at work that's a born again Christian
That would make him respect the boss more and like the boss more and obey the boss more
Wouldn't you think so?
I mean, it makes sense, right?
But yet that's not what the Bible is saying
The Bible is saying that there's a tendency for someone to despise their master because he's a brother
And if that tendency didn't exist, then Paul wouldn't be telling Timothy
Hey, this is what you need to be preaching on, Timothy
You need to preach this
Why would he preach something that's not relevant?
I mean, you think I'm just going to spend hours getting up and preaching against sins that no one does?
Preaching against doctrines that no one believes
I'd be wasting my time, wouldn't I?
I mean, 1 Timothy is only six chapters long and Paul is talking to his young protege in the ministry saying preach on this
Preach on the fact that servants should not despise their masters because they're brethren
This is not some straw man that Paul has made up that doesn't exist
It's out there
Why is it out there?
Why would there be a tendency to despise your master because he's a brother?
It seems like the opposite of what reality would be
But I'll tell you exactly why
It's because of the fact that in Christ we're all one in Christ Jesus
There is neither Jew nor Gentile and there is neither bond nor free in Christ
Amen?
In Christ the servant is free from his master
In Christ the master is the Lord's servant
And so we're all on an equal footing at the cross
We're all equal, male, female, Jew, Gentile, bond, free, we're all one in Christ Jesus
So you can see how somebody who has an earthly boss could say
Well, I don't have to obey you, I don't have to listen to you, how dare you boss me?
We're both brethren
We're one in Christ Jesus
Because if you think about the word brethren, what does it imply?
It applies to people that are on the same level, doesn't it?
You know, the Bible says Christ is your master and all ye are brethren
So in that regard we're on equal footing, aren't we?
We don't have a caste system or a class system in the church
We don't have the nobility and the plebes here
We're all one in Christ Jesus
But does that mean that we don't obey our earthly authority?
Does that mean that there's no chain of command in this world?
You can see how some people could get that wrong idea
And they could say, well, you're a brother, I'm a brother
So look, I'm just going to come to work and do my job the way I want to do it
And I'm working hard and I'm doing it as unto Christ
And I only take orders from Jesus Christ himself
You know why you love only taking orders from Jesus Christ himself?
Because Jesus never shows up and chews you out, ever
Who here has been yelled at and chewed out by Jesus?
I never have
In fact, I've never had Jesus stop me in the middle of an activity and say
Excuse me, you need to stop doing that
You need to change that
I've never had that happen
So that's why it's so easy for people to talk about
How they obey God, they obey Christ
Why I'm following Christ
But then it's funny how I can't see you following any of your earthly authorities
I don't see you following your parents
I don't see you following your pastor
I don't see you following the boss at work
I don't see you following your husband
I don't see you following anything or anyone
Except what you want to do and the parts of the Bible that you like
But you're following Christ
Folks, it's easy to say, well, I'll follow Christ
But then despise your earthly authority
When your earthly authority has been given authority by Christ
And you're to treat them as Christ
So when you go to work for your Christian boss
And look, I'm not going to ask for any kind of a raise of hands
But I guarantee you there are people in this auditorium
Who work for other people in this auditorium
I mean there are probably some people
Who work for another member of this exact church
Or I can ask a broader question
I will ask for a raise of hands on this
Who has a boss at work that's a born again Christian of some kind?
Put up your hand if your boss at work is saved
Wait, you work for people who go here?
No, I'm just kidding
Here's the thing
If you have a boss at work that is saved
You should respect them more, not less
Okay, and since that doesn't apply to a lot of people in here
Most people in here seem to work for the heathen
Well then how about this?
Then try this on, okay?
How about if we apply this to the husband and wife?
Would you rather have an unsaved husband or a saved husband?
You'd rather have a saved husband, right?
So you'd think that if somebody has a saved Christian husband
They would just obey him and submit to him with alacrity
And just be ready to be humble and submissive and obedient, right?
And then you'd expect the one who has the unsaved husband to struggle more and whatever
But you know what?
We need to apply this same principle and say
Hey, those that have a believing husband
Don't despise him because you're brother and sister in Christ
Just because you're brother and sister in Christ
And spiritually you're on the same playing field
Guess what?
Your husband has authority over you according to the Bible
The Bible says that the husband is the head of the wife
As Christ the head of the church
The Bible says that the head of the woman is the man
The head of the man is Christ and the head of Christ is God
That's what the Bible says, 1 Corinthians chapter 11
Now is that what our society teaches?
Is that how TV is going to portray the marital relationship?
Is that how the popular movies are going to portray it?
Is that how the music on the radio is going to portray it?
Is that even how most churches today are going to portray it?
The answer is no
They're going to just tell you it's equal, it's equal, it's even
Sure there's equality, but you know what?
There's also equality between me and my boss at work
In Christ, there's also equality between father and son
There's also equality between mother and daughter
But equality does not mean that there isn't any authority
Folks, Jesus is equal to God the Father
Jesus made himself equal with God
He thought it not robbery to be equal with God
But yet Jesus said, I do always those things which please him
I came not to do my own will, but the will of him that sent me
We see Jesus, well that's just when he was on earth, that was just the man Jesus
Folks, there's only one Jesus, and he's the man
So don't sit there and say like, well that's the man Jesus
Well you know what, there's only one Jesus
There's only one Jesus
The man Christ Jesus
Hey, there's one mediator present tense between God and men
The man Christ Jesus
So who's mediating right now?
The man, Christ Jesus
Is that who's mediating right now?
Okay, well what about when Jesus submits himself to the father
And delivers up to the kingdom to the father after the millennial reign?
After Jesus reigns for a thousand years
Then he delivers up the kingdom to the father
Still submitting
The man, Christ Jesus
Still mediating, still submitting
Still obeying the father, but is he equal to the father?
Yeah, is he equal? Amen
Are my wife and I equal?
Amen
But am I in charge?
Or is she in charge? Or are we both in charge?
What does the Bible say?
You know the Bible clearly states
That there is a chain of command
So those that have believing masters
Let them not despise them because they're brethren
But rather do them service
Rather say, you know what?
This is a chance for me to serve my brother in Christ
Here's a chance for me to serve Christ
Because when you serve your brother in Christ
And as much as you've done it unto one of the least of these my brethren
You have done it unto me
So if you serve your brother in Christ, you just served Christ
If you served your sister in Christ, you just served Christ
That's what the Bible says
They are partakers of the benefit
These things teach and exhort
Again, he's telling Timothy preach on this
That's why I'm preaching on it
I want to preach what Paul told Timothy to preach
Go if you would to Titus
Here's Paul's other epistle to a protégé in the ministry
Titus chapter 3
Titus chapter number 3, just a couple pages to the right in your Bible
He's mentoring Timothy, he's mentoring Titus
These are called the Pastoral Epistles
He says in Titus 3.1
Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers
To obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work
Another way of saying put them in mind would be remind them
Remind them, bring this up
Keep this in front of them, put this on their mind
That they would be subject to principalities, powers, obey magistrates
Be ready to every good work
What is a magistrate?
A magistrate is a local authority who decides the law
This would be like a judge or something
Somebody who says, look, this is the verdict
This is the way things are going to be
It's a local official that makes those kind of decisions
And it's saying, hey, obey them, be ready to every good work
Be subject to principalities and powers
Go back one page to Titus 2
Titus chapter 2 verse 4
It says that they may teach the young women to be sober
To love their husbands, to love their children
To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home
Good, obedient to their own husbands
That the word of God be not blaspheme
Same wording as 1 Timothy 6.1
Don't turn there, but I'll remind you
1 Timothy 6.1
Let as many servants as are under the oak count their own masters worthy of all honor
That the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed
Why does the servant need to obey the master?
So that God's word and name will not be blasphemed
So that his doctrine will not be blasphemed
What does it say in Titus 2?
The exact same thing at the end of verse 5
That the word of God be not blasphemed
Intelligent people are going to look at
A rebellious wife that's a Christian
And say, that is not the religion for me
If they see that wickedness
They're going to say whatever she's doing
Whatever belief she has
Something tells me that isn't right
Now you say, well I don't get that Pastor Anderson
Because I think worldly people
Are probably more offended by women submitting their husbands
Than not submitting their husbands
So wouldn't that cause them blasphemy
Folks, that's just because we're living in an insane society
We are in a society that's in decline
We are on the tail end of the American empire
Of an empire of a nation that is culturally, spiritually
And in every other possible way
On a decline
Our country has peaked and is declining
It's happened all throughout history
You can look at the great empires of Babylon
And Greece and Persia, Rome
You can look at the Mongolian empire
The British empire
Hey, this is an empire in decline
We're a culture in decline
All the signs are there
And so because we are a culture in decline
We've moved into just the crazy insanity phase
Like where Nero is just doing all these crazy perverted things
Caligula, wasn't it Caligula
Who he's supposed to name a consul
And he names a horse
He appoints a horse
It'd be like if Trump just appointed an animal
To the supreme court or something
You know it's like, hey you have to appoint a consul
Did I get that right, was it Caligula
Who knows their history
So that's kind of where we're getting
In our country
In our country just to the point where things are starting to get absurd
In our society, just absurd
The feminism has gotten absurd
The sodomy being accepted
The transgender, all this crazy stuff
It's so absurd
And you know what, I look at it and I just say
You know what, just keep going
Because the weirder it gets and the more absurd it gets
The more people are going to listen to Bible preaching
Because eventually it's going to become so absurd
That no normal person is going to think it's okay
And they're going to say, wait a minute
Let's see what Christ has to say
Let's see what the word of God says
So that's why it doesn't get me down
When I see our country just going into total insanity
Because you know what, it's just going to make people
Want to listen to Bible preaching more
And more people are going to get saved
And all things are going to work together for good
To those that love God in the end
And so in any normal society
You've got to remember the Bible's written 2000 years ago
The Bible's written for all ages, for all times, for all nations
So in most times, ages, and places throughout this world
When wives are disobedient to their husband
That's going to cause people to have a bad testimony
That's going to make them blaspheme God
Just because we're living in a society that calls good evil and evil good
And they put sweet for bitter and bitter for sweet
And light for darkness and dark for light
That doesn't mean that that's normal
Or that that's been the historical or geographical norm
Throughout this world, let me tell you something
There are still a lot of places where a wife
Disobeying her husband, being rude and belligerent
Would actually bring shame to the cause of Christ
And probably even in America, deep down
Probably people know that isn't right
No matter what they outwardly say
I think in their gut, when they see a rebellious wife
They're probably thinking, you know what, this isn't godly
If that's what faithful word Baptist church is about
Then count me out
Oh, oh, a rebellious, mouthy wife
Well if that's what so and so the Baptist church is about
Well then count me out
Think about it, do you think somebody could have that kind of a reaction?
They know you, they know that you're a godly Christian
Quote unquote
They know that you're an independent fundamental Baptist
And then they see you acting that way
Is it going to make them want to come to Christ?
Or is it going to make them say, well, blank that
Right, bleep that
You know what that is, that's the name of God
And his doctrine being blasphemed at that point
So the Bible says, and here's the thing
What I'm saying this morning is in the Bible
Look at verse 5, I'm not just coming up with some theory
Here's my theory about how people are going to react
When they see a rebellious worker on the job
Or a rebellious child with their parents
What about a kid who throws himself on the floor in the grocery store
If that's who you knew as the Christian in your life
You know, the fundamental Christian that you know
And you saw that, you'd say, well that doesn't seem to have much to offer
That religion
Can you see someone thinking that?
But this isn't just my theory, it's what the Bible says
Verse 5, to be discreet, chaste, keep us at home
Good, obedient to their own husbands
That the word of God be not blasphemed
Servants need to obey their masters
In 1 Timothy 6-1, that the word of God be not blasphemed
I didn't come up with that
God is saying you act that way
You're going to cause the word of God to get blasphemed
Go if you would to Ephesians chapter 5
Ephesians chapter number 5
Ephesians chapter 5
It's to the left in your Bible there
Ephesians 5 22
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord
For the husband is the head of the wife
Even as Christ is the head of the church
And he is the savior of the body
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ
So let the wives be to their own husbands in everything
Chapter 6 verse 1
Children, obey your parents in the Lord
For this is right
Honor thy father and mother
Which is the first commandment with promise
That it may be well with thee
And thou mayest live long on the earth
And ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath
But bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord
Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters
According to the flesh
With fear and trembling and singleness of your heart
As unto Christ
Not with I service as men pleasers
But as the servants of Christ
Doing the will of God
Grudgingly
Is that what it says?
Doing the will of God and saying, well you know, I don't want to do it
I don't want to do it, but
You know, the pastor was just preaching about how I'm supposed to obey my boss
So I guess I'll just say yes sir and do it
Is that enough?
Is it enough?
Is it enough for you to go to your job every day and do exactly what you're told?
Is that enough?
The Bible says it's not enough
The Bible says you need to do it from the heart
And this is not an isolated scripture
When we started in Colossians 3, he said
Whatsoever you do, in the context of what?
Obeying your parents, obeying your husband, obeying the boss
He said, whatever you do, do it heartily
As unto the Lord
What's the operative root word there?
Heart-ily
Do it heartily
And what does the Bible say here?
It says, with fear and trembling
In singleness of your heart
In verse 5
Do you see that? Singleness of your heart
What does that mean, singleness?
Singleness of your heart
You know what the opposite of singleness is?
Duplicity
Where part of your heart's like, I don't want to do it
I don't think I should have to
Well I think he's wrong
I think this is stupid
I think he's unreasonable
But
God said to do it
Is that singleness of your heart?
That's not singleness
That's a duality
You know the Bible says, hey just have a right attitude
Let that right attitude permeate you
So that through and through
That's what's on your mind
Hey you know what?
I'm thankful for this job
I'm thankful that I have a way to provide
I'm thankful that God gave me this job
I'm thankful that I can earn money in America
And provide and have a comfortable life
And you know what?
I don't care
If the boss does something that I don't agree with
Because it's none of my business
You know what I'm going to do?
I'm just going to with singleness of heart
I'm just going to obey
I'm just going to submit
And you know what?
I'm running scared
Fear and trembling
You say, well I don't think fear really means fear there
How about trembling?
What's that represent?
Running scared
You know what?
You know what we should do at our job?
We should run scared
And who do we fear?
God
What did it say in Colossians 3?
You remember that little phrase?
I'll remind you
You don't have to turn there
But Colossians 3, 22
Servants obey in all things your masters according to the flesh
Not with eye service as men pleasers
But in singleness of heart
Sound familiar?
Singleness of heart
Fearing God
Singleness of heart
Fearing God
What are we comparing that to?
Ephesians 6
It says what?
Fear and trembling
Singleness of heart
Fearing God
Fear and trembling
Singleness of heart
Who are we supposed to be fearing and trembling?
Fear and tremble the boss?
Fear and tremble before God
You need to understand that your attitude toward authority impacts your attitude toward God
And vice versa
This is a two way street
You can have a great attitude toward God
And then you start having a bad attitude toward your earthly authority
Next thing you know you'll start having a bad attitude toward God
Whether you believe that or not
And vice versa
The other way around as well
You start having a better attitude toward your earthly authority
I suspect you'll start having a better walk with God
And a better attitude toward him
Not with eye service as men pleasers
But as the servants of Christ doing the will of God from the heart
With good will doing service as the Lord and not to men
What does good will mean?
What does it mean?
I mean what about when the Christmas cards roll in and what do the Christmas cards say on them?
Peace on earth and good will toward men
What does it mean when the Bible says that God has good will toward men?
It means that God wants you to be blessed
God wants you to do well
God wants you to succeed
God loves you and he wants the best for you
Wants to help you
Isn't that what good will?
I mean if I had good will toward someone
I want good things for that person
Will means want and good means good
I want good things for you
I have good will toward you
Well you know what?
Do you even stop to think about the fact when you go to work
That you're there to make the company succeed
Is that what you think about when you go to work?
Do you go to work and think, you know what?
I have good will toward this company
Or not like, oh man this stupid company
I can't wait until I retire in two years
It's a stupid attitude to have
Have good will toward the company
You know the company that feeds you
The company that puts meat on your table
The company that pays you
You ought to respect that company
You ought to respect
And if you can't respect the company that you work for
Then you need to get a job at a company that you respect
I'm not saying that you have to consider the company perfect
I'm not saying you have to agree with every product they produce
Or everything that they do
Or every policy that they have
But you better respect and say hey
This is the company that I work for
I'm going to support them
I mean think about it
What if I worked for a company
Let's just pick a grocery store
What if I work for a grocery store
And I run around telling people
Don't shop there
Go shop at the competition
Is that right?
Do you think that that would be right?
Or do you think God's just neutral on that
And God's just like well he doesn't care where you shop
He doesn't care what you say
He doesn't care about grocery stores
Well I submit to you
That you have a bad attitude
And that you are disloyal and disrespectful
To the company that has hired you
And you're not right with God
That's what I say
Going around talking trash
About the company that you work for
Is wrong
Okay
You either, look if you don't approve of
Or like or respect things that your company is doing
Then you know what
Then just keep your mouth shut
If you have nothing good to say at all
And try to work on having the right heart
And saying you know what
Let me find the good things that I like about the company
Let me focus on those things
Let me think about those
And look like I said
If it's some godless unethical thing
Then you need to get a different job
But you can't go through life
Taking money from someone
That you stab in the back
And disrespect
And are disloyal to
You know what
It makes you a rotten person
You can talk all you want about bad that companies
I think you're the bad one
I think you're a bad person
Because you work for somebody
And take their money
All while not supporting the company
You're not, you don't have good will toward them
You say well preach the Bible Pastor Anderson
You're just meddling
No I'm preaching the Bible
The Bible says with good will doing service
Are we going to remove those two words
Those words with good will
And just say
Well just do service
Do service
And grin and bear it
No
Do service with good will
With good will
Wanting what's best for them
Wanting their success
Wanting good for them
By the way this kind of sermon
Is why a lot of people
Don't succeed in the business world
It's why they don't succeed at their job
It's why you don't succeed
This is why some people
Just can't seem to
Get out of an entry level type position
Because right now
They're listening to what I'm saying
And thinking
Pastor Anderson doesn't know my situation
Pastor Anderson doesn't know
The seven jobs that I've had
How they were all
Exceptions to what he's preaching
Right now
All of them
All ten of them
Sure
With good will doing service
As to the Lord
And not to men
So you know what I want you to do
I want you to go out tomorrow
And I want you to mow Jesus' lawn
I want you to serve Jesus' food
I want you to build that machinery
That Jesus is going to have installed
I want you to fix Jesus' plumbing
I want you to wire Jesus' electrical
I want you to do service
As unto the Lord and not to men
Hey I bet that'll change
How you do your job
Right?
And you know let me get on the kids
For a minute too
You know kids
You don't have a job do you kids
But you know what you have
Your education
Your school work
You know I hope that you're doing
Some kind of schooling
I hope you're in homeschooled
I believe that that is
The ideal situation
I know some people aren't in that situation
And they go to public school
Or Christian school
Obviously I would strongly
Advise you to homeschool your children
Because of so many wicked things
That are out there
In elementary school
We were just talking about
The sex education
For kindergarteners
And everything
I mean that's right here in Arizona
So you gotta watch out
It's a jungle out there
And I am strongly against that
But here's the thing
Let's just put that aside for a minute
That's not what the sermon's about
You know you're either in Christian school
Or you're in public school
Or you are homeschooled
Right?
Because God forbid you just fool around all day
And can't read or something
And there are some parents
That are raising semi-feral children
That are not
It's called unschooling
I don't believe
I think that that's wrong
That's not the right way
To raise your children
A child left to himself
Will cause his mother shame
And we need to make sure that we teach
And train our children
And so
You know
I'm assuming that virtually
Every child out there
That I'm speaking to
Is doing some kind of schoolwork
Am I right?
You're either homeschooled
Or you're in public school
Or you're in Christian school
Let me explain something to you kids
Are you listening to me kids?
Everybody?
Hey
That's your job
That is your job
And you know what
If you're a slacker at your schoolwork
You're going to be a slacker at your job
It's the same thing
No, no, no
When I go to my job
I'm going to work
It's just that schoolwork's boring
Hey newsflash
Your job's going to be boring
Rarely does anyone have a job
That is fun all the time
I mean who here has a job
That's just always fun
Go ahead and raise your hand
Don't be shy
Couple people
You guys are living the dream
So we got about 4 or 5 people max
3 or 4 people in here
Out of 300
Whose job is fun all the time
Hey you know what
I enjoyed my job
I'm not saying I didn't like my job
When I was doing fire alarms
I liked it
I enjoyed it
But let me tell you something
It was often
Frequently
Extremely boring
I mean going in a hotel
How about going in a hotel
And every single room in the hotel
Has a fire alarm device
That has 2 wires coming in
And 2 wires coming out
And they're all exactly the same
And I have to install
200 of them
And then when I'm done with that
I got to install
200 smoke detectors
And I got to install
Just the same thing
Just cup 2 wires
Just red
Just make sure you put
The reds together
And the blacks together
You know
That's not fun
And you know
Working 12 hour days
Of just doing that same repetitive motion
I mean that's boring
Now the fun part
It was fun
Then after I installed all those
Then it was fun
To fire up the panel
Plug in my laptop
Program the panel
That was fun
And then you know
Troubleshooting
A couple problems
Troubleshooting is fun
It's like solving a puzzle
But let me tell you something
There are going to be huge
I don't care what your job is
You're going to have to do boring stuff
You know
I'd go out and do all the fun
Fire alarm stuff
And then I'd have to do
Stacks of boring paperwork
And I'd have to do long boring drives
Now on I-5 and I-10
Boring
Just driving
The same drive
And it's like
It's just fields
And emptiness
And then
Hey look
There's a giant pile of manure
That's what I've been smelling
For the last 10 minutes
It's not exactly the scenic route
On I-10 and I-5
Those are the two
Very boring freeways
Folks that's life
Life includes
Buckling down
And doing some work
That's boring
And so you kids out there
Who are like
Well I'm a slacker
At my schoolwork
Cause my schoolwork's boring
But when I grow up
You know
I'm going to be
A marine biologist
And I'm going to be
The president
And I'm going to be
A rock star
You know
I'm going to be
A professional athlete
No you're not
You know what you're going to be?
You're going to be
An electrician
You're going to be
A plumber
No no no
I'm going to get
Okay you're going to be
A computer programmer
I wonder if they ever do
Anything boring
Folks I guarantee you
They do some
Mind-numbing coding
Super
And look
I don't care what you go into
It's going to get boring sometimes
It's going to get repetitive
And you know what?
You are a slacker
In your schoolwork
You're not right with God
Because you know what?
Your parents are breathing
Down your neck
Telling you to work
Telling you to do
Anything you don't do it
Why are you disobeying your parents?
Well because I just don't think this matters
Well you know what?
It doesn't matter what you think
It matters what your parents think matters
Because they're the boss
And so we need to get this teaching
Of the word of God
Into our hearts and minds
And you know what the Bible says?
Even a child is known by his doings
Whether his work be pure
And whether it be right
And by the way
If you cheat at your schoolwork
You know what you're going to do when you grow up?
You're going to cheat at your job
You're going to steal from your job
You're going to lie at your job
Why?
Because that's the habit that you're developing
Now look
Obviously I know we can repent from sin
And we can clean up our lives and do better
But I'm just telling you right now
If you're a kid
Now's the time to repent
Today
You've been cheating on your schoolwork
Repent today
Okay
You've been slacking on your jobs
Or how about this
It's not just schoolwork
When you're a kid
You know what else your job is?
Chores
What's your job as a kid?
You don't go to work
Are you just some little noble
Little Lord Fauntleroy
That your parents exist to serve you?
Or do you have work to do?
Hey
If you sweep the floor
Sweep the Lord's floor
If you wash the dishes
Wash the Lord's dishes
If you fold the laundry
Fold the Lord's laundry
You know sometimes
I get laundry folded and put in my drawer
And I look at it
And I can only shake my head
At just how
Just the geometry of it
You know what I mean?
And I'm wondering
Is that how Jesus' shirt would be folded?
If Jesus
If Jesus came and stayed at our house
And folks
This is not just some wild story
Because Jesus lived on this earth for a long time
Jesus lived on this earth for a while
Didn't he?
I mean wasn't Jesus actually physically here
On this earth
For 33 some odd years
And for about three and a half years
He was actively in ministry
Right?
He's preaching the word of God
And you know what the Bible records?
The Bible records him staying at people's houses
People cooking him meals
People taking care of him
Financially meeting his physical needs
Cooking him food
That's what the Bible tells us about
Well think about it
What if that was you?
You go back in time
Jesus is coming over for dinner
Is he gonna be a hungry man in the microwave?
Think about that
Oh Jesus is coming over
Phone it in
Oh Jesus needs his laundry done
Let me explain something to you
Jesus Christ
When he was on this earth
Needed his laundry done
He either had to do it himself
Or somebody had to do it
He wasn't just walking around
Floating around
He lived an actual human existence
He ate
He drank
He slept
He is clothed
He sweated
He bled
The Bible records all this
And you know what?
His clothing needed to be laundered
Okay well
Why don't you fold the clothes
The way you would fold Jesus' clothes
Why don't you cook the food
The way that you would cook
Jesus' food
Why don't you go to work man
And work as if your boss is Jesus
And this is what the Bible expects
Go if you would do Romans chapter 13
I'm almost done
Romans chapter 13
Romans chapter number 13 verse 1
The Bible says
Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers
And what does that mean
Be subject unto the higher powers
This is explaining the concept
That there is a chain of command
There are powers
And then there are powers that are higher than them
There's an echelon of authority in this world
And so we need to be subject unto the higher powers
Sort of like if you're in the military
And I've never been in the military
Who here has been in the military
Put up your head if you've been in the military
Lots of hands
Okay
Well you understand the fact that you might have
An immediate commanding officer
And then you have another commanding officer above him
And then there's another commanding officer
You know then the general is up at the top
Or the admiral or whatever
Now if you were to get two conflicting directives
You know you're gonna obey the higher power
Am I right
If the higher power tells you to do one thing
And the lower power tells you to do something else
And you're at an impasse
You're gonna obey the higher power
Am I right about that
Okay well that is what the Bible's telling us here
So here's the thing
As a child my parents are my authority
God is the higher power
So if my parents tell me
To lie, cheat, steal
I'm not gonna do it
Because I'm obeying the higher power
That's what the Bible's teaching
If the government tells Daniel
Hey you can't pray for 30 days
He's gonna pray anyway
Because he's obeying the higher power
That commands us to pray
Let every soul be subject to the higher powers
For there is no power but of God
The powers that be are ordained of God
Here's what the Bible's saying
Power exists because God is the one who ordained it
So why do children have to obey their parents
Because that's an authority that's ordained by God
God decided that
That power is of God
It's ordained by God
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power
Resisteth the ordinance of God
So would I be accurate to get up and say
Disobeying your parents is disobeying God
Disobeying your husband is disobeying God
Disobeying your boss at work
Disobeying your supervisor is disobeying God
Is that accurate?
Or if you go to school
Disobeying your teacher is disobeying God
You're supposed to obey the teacher
Right? That's the authority
And by the way
How you view them is gonna impact how you view God
Whosoever therefore resisteth the power
Resisteth the ordinance of God
And they that resist
Shall receive themselves damnation
Don't let that word damnation freak you out
It means the same thing as condemnation
It's just an order
It's not saying like you're going to hell
Because you disobeyed your authority
We've all disobeyed our authority
We'd all be going to hell
Because we've all sinned
And come short of the glory of God
Damnation is a stronger word for condemnation
They're used interchangeably in scripture
For rulers are not a terror to good works
But to the evil
Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power
Do that which is good
And thou shalt have praise of the same
The Bible says if you do that which is good
You will have praise
From your earthly authority
But I bet there's a lot of people right now
Who are thinking no I won't
You don't know my situation
Now listen
People who are disrespectful
And disobedient to their authority
This is what they often claim
Well my authority is impossible to please
But you know how many people
Say the same thing about God
Well God's just impossible to please
It's just impossible to please God
It's just impossible to make God happy
You think there are people out there
That have that attitude
All day long
And you know what
That's spoken like every rebellious punk
That has ever existed
My authority is impossible to please
But you know what's funny
I was once a young punk teenager myself
And when I was a young punk teenager
You know what I thought
My parents are impossible to please
That's what I thought
And I remember one time
I even said to my brother
I said if Jesus Christ were living in this home
He would get yelled at by our parents every day
That's what I said to my brother
When I was a teenager
I said if Jesus had grown up in this house
He would be getting chewed out on a daily basis
And you know what
I was wrong
Because guess what
The most liberal period in my life
Was from the time I was around 12 through 16
During those five years
We were in liberal churches
And you know
That was probably my most backslidden condition
And I remember
And you know
That was probably my most backslidden condition
During that time
From like 12 to 16
And that was a time that I had a bad attitude toward my parents
And isn't it interesting
That around my 17th birthday
When I got into an independent fundamental Baptist church
I got soul winning
I got ready with God
I started reading the Bible cover to cover
I started getting serious about things of God
Isn't it interesting
That at that time
I decided you know what
I'm going to start obeying my parents
I'm going to start being more respectful to them
I'm going to help them
I'm going to do housework that I'm not even asked to do
I am going to make things right with my parents
And let me tell you something
It was so easy
Super easy
To just do a few nice things
Obey
Stop arguing
And then it was just like
It was just like
My parents just changed overnight
And it's just like
What can we do for you Steven?
I'm serious
They're just like
What can we do to help you?
Is there anything you need son?
I mean they were just so helpful to me
And they had such a great attitude toward me
And they treated me so well
Look folks
I do not believe that it is a coincidence
That in my life
At the same time
I got right with God
And I got right with my parents at the same time
And I remember before that
I kid you not
If you would have talked to me when I was 13
And I'm not proud of this
I'm just being honest with you
When I was 13, 14, 15, 16
If you would have talked to me
And I would have been honest with you
I can tell you
I was counting down
To my 18th birthday
Cause when I turn 18
I'm moving out on my birthday
That was my mentality
When I was 13, 14, 15, 16
I kid you not
I was literally
Counting down
Like 3 years
5 months
I mean I was just like
I was like
I just gotta hang in there
And I just wanted to be out
I wanted to move out
And I'm sure a lot of you could relate to that feeling
I'm telling you
That is what was going through my teenage brain
And you know what
When I got right with God
When I turned 17
I got right with God
I changed my mentality
And I made the decision
I'm gonna keep living with my parents until I get married
And guess what
My 18th birthday rolled around
And you know what I did
I still live with my parents
18 and a half
Still living with my parents
Why?
Because I decided
You know what
The Bible says that
A man leaves his father and mother
And cleaves unto his wife
And that's what I want
God's perfect will for my life
You know
I want
And you say
Well that's in a perfect world
Well you know what
I wanna walk in the perfect will of God
Any chance I get
And so I decided
You know what
Hey
I wanna be right with God
I need to get right with my parents
And you know what
Getting right with my parents
Is way easier than I thought it would be
Just made a few little changes
Changed my attitude
And by the way
When you have the right attitude
Doing the right things easy
When you have a bad attitude
Doing the right things hard
You get the right att
You know
Some of you are just like
Oh it's just so hard
To obey my parents
Oh it's just so hard
To keep my mouth shut at work
Oh it's just so hard
To go with the flow
Oh it's so hard
To respect these people
You know what
You're
Because you're
You're trying to keep
A wrong heart
And have the right actions
On the outside
And it's hard
But you know
When you actually change
Your attitude
Then the right actions
Just flow
And then you don't
You don't have to work so hard
It's just
It just
Because out of the abundance
Of the heart
The mouth speaketh
So if you got all this
Rancor in your heart
And then you're trying to
Say respectful things
It's like
It's hard
Just hey
Get your heart right
And then you can just let it flow
It's not a coincidence
That when I got right
With my parents
Is when I got right with God
I'm not an isolated incident
That's what the Bible teaches
If you do that which is good
You will have praise of the same
You will have praise of your authority
Okay
Now does that mean that
Authority's never gonna give you a bum deal
I mean look
Let's think about the guy in the Bible
Who had the worst possible boss
Jacob and Laban
Agreed?
The boss nightmare
Okay
Jacob did that which is good
Did he have praise of the same?
Now look
Laban totally ripped him off
But here's the thing
At the end of the day
What did Jacob walk away with?
Enormous wealth
20 years
He retired with enormous wealth
Number one
But did he have praise of Laban?
Well what did Laban say?
Laban said
I have learned by experience
That God has blessed me
Because of you
Is that Jacob getting praise
Of his earthly authority?
Yeah
So we see in scripture
Laban praising Jacob for his work
A bad boss
A froward boss
Still praises the awesome worker
And the awesome worker gets paid
That Bible story's there for a reason
Do that which is good
And thou shalt have praise of the same
And then lastly
I just want to end on this point
In Matthew 22
You don't have to turn there
But you know
Jesus asked
What is the greatest commandment in the law?
And Jesus said unto him
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God
With all thy heart
With all thy soul
With all thy mind
This is the first and great commandment
And the second is like unto it
Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself
On these two commandments
Hang all the law and the prophets
Right?
These two commandments
Love God
Love your neighbor
They all hang on that
Well think about it
The Bible tells that
The ten commandments
Were delivered on two stone tablets
Right?
Two tablets of stone
And I submit to you
That one of those tablets of stone
Had to do with our walk with God
Loving God
And one of those tablets of stone
Had to do with loving our neighbor
Because if you look at the ten commandments
And you just cut them right down the middle
You can see that commandments one through five
Have to do with our relationship with God
And commandments six through ten
Have to do with our relationship with our neighbor
Because what are six through ten?
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet
Aren't those all about your neighbor?
Don't steal
Don't covet
Don't kill
Right?
Don't commit adultery
These are all things that you would do harmfully unto your neighbor
So what about the first five that have to do with God?
Thou shalt have no other gods before me
Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image
Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain
Remember the Sabbath to keep it holy
Pretty obvious that all four of those have to do with our relationship with God, right?
But then what about the fifth one?
Oh, Pastor Anderson's theory is falling apart
Because the fifth one is honor thy father and mother
But I submit to you that that's no exception at all
Because you honoring your father is identical
To you honoring God the Father
Because honoring your father and your mother
Is a reflection of your love for God
If you love your neighbor
Think about it now
And I'm not the one grouping these that way
The New Testament will frequently quote the latter five by themselves
In their own unit
Multiple scriptures quote those
Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul separate out those latter five as one unit
You know where it says
Thou shalt not kill
Thou shalt not commit adultery
Thou shalt not steal
Thou shalt not bear false witness
Thou shalt not covet
Those are put in a group
So God grouped it that way
If I love my neighbor I'm not gonna steal from him
If I love my neighbor I'm not gonna lie about him
If I love my neighbor I'm not gonna kill him
If I love my neighbor I'm not gonna commit adultery with my neighbor's wife
And if I love my neighbor I'm not gonna bear false witness against them
Or covet their goods
I'm not gonna desire their stuff
Because I want them to have that stuff and I'm happy with my stuff
And I love them
Good for them
Okay, well if I love God
I'm not gonna have any other gods before him
If I love God, I'm not gonna make a graven image.
If I love God, I'm not gonna take God's name in vain.
If I love God, I'm gonna remember the Sabbath
to keep it holy in the Old Testament
when that was a thing.
And Jesus Christ is our Sabbath in the New Testament.
But number five, if I love God,
not if I love my neighbor.
If I love God, I'm gonna honor my father and mother
if I love God.
Why, because our earthly father
is the closest representation of God
that we have on this earth.
I mean, we have other relationships
that could represent our relationship with God,
but one of the most perfect illustrations
is your father, right?
Think about it.
God the father, isn't that what he's called?
If you love God, you will honor your father
and your mother, not just your father.
Honor thy father and thy mother if you love God.
Because why?
Because that's your earthly authority.
And the way that you treat your earthly authority
is like a spiritual thermometer
for how you feel about God.
Oh, my earthly authority is impossible to please.
You're probably the same type of person
that sits around thinking that God's impossible to please.
Well, I just don't always agree with what,
I bet you frequently disagree with stuff God says.
I've just, who here has disagreed
with something in the Bible?
I have, I mean, obviously we shouldn't,
but I'm just saying humanly, we read it
and we're like, I don't think that makes sense.
Or I don't think, I don't think that's the right way.
But you know what, if we're smart, we do though,
but we go, but you know what though?
You know, who am I?
He's God, I mean, I was born yesterday.
I don't know.
Well, you know what, that's the kind of attitude,
hey, you know what, okay,
I don't agree with the way the company's making this move,
but you know what though?
Who am I?
Hey, I'm not the boss.
I need to just get on board.
I need to be a team player.
I need to get on the company's program
with Goodwill singing this apart.
Folks, this is an important message this morning.
Maybe not the funnest message
because it hits close to home for a lot of people.
But this is an important message.
I want you to have a good marriage.
I want you to have a right relationship with your parents.
And I want you to succeed at your job.
That's why I'm preaching this to you.
I preach this because I love you
and I'm trying to help you.
And I'm telling you, this is how you're gonna succeed
is by doing these things.
This will change your life, this one thing,
if you put it into practice.
Let's bow our heads and have a word of prayer.
Father, we thank you so much for your word, Lord,
and for all the wisdom that's there.
Lord, just help us to be smart enough
to listen to that wisdom
and to get on board with your program.
Lord, help us not to just obey grudgingly,
but help us to actually submit in our hearts, Lord,
and actually follow what you've taught here.
Because it's pleasing to you, yes,
because it's fit for you, yes,
because we fear you, yes,
but Lord, also just for our own goods.
Lord, we know that your commandments are not grievous
and you've commanded us these things also for our benefit
and so, Lord, help us be wise enough
to take heed under these things.
In Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Amen, let's do one more song in your hymnals.
Song 325, Trust and Obey.
Song number 325.
Song 325.
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way
While we do His good will
He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Not a shadow can rise
Not a cloud in the skies
But His smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt or a fear
Not a sign or a tear
In a life while we trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
Not a burden we bear
Not a sorrow we share
But a toil heed of which we repay
Not a grief or a loss
Not a ground or a cross
But a class if we trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
But we never can prove
The delight of His love
Until all on the altar we lay
For the favor He shows
And the joy He needs shows
Are for them who will trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
And in fellowship sleep
He will sit at His feet
Or will walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do
Where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey
Trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus