If you would, grab a hymnal and turn to hymn number 428.
It came upon the midnight clear.
hymn number 428.
We'll go ahead and start there right on the first.
It came upon the midnight clear.
That glorious song of old,
from angels bending near the earth
to touch their hearts of old.
He saw the earth, goodwill to men
from heaven's old nature's king.
The world in song, but still dismay
to hear the angels sing.
Still through the cold and skies they come
with peaceful wings above
and still their heavenly music flutters
for all the weary world.
Above its sad and lonely weight
they bend a towering wing
and ever o'er it bend old sounds
the blessed angels sing.
And weep, weep, weep by thrashing blood
whose bones are bending by.
It's all a love, a winding way
with painful steps and song.
Look now for glad and golden hours
come swiftly on the wing.
O rest beside the weary road
and hear the angels sing.
For all the days are acing on
by poverty towards old.
When will the ever-serving years
come found the age of gold?
When will the summer of the earth
its ancient splendors flee
and the whole world give back the song
which now the angels sing.
Open with a word of prayer.
Dear Father, thank you for this opportunity
that we have to sing about our Savior's birth.
Thank you for the great blessing of your Son, Jesus,
that you sent to this earth.
To be the sacrifice for us, let us celebrate
His birth at this time in our singing.
And I pray that you would incline your ear
towards us, Lord, in Jesus' name I pray.
Amen.
For our next hymn, if you would,
turn in your hymnals to hymn number 430.
While shepherds watch their flocks,
hymn number 430.
hymn number 430 will go ahead
and start their rite on the first.
While shepherds watch their flocks
by night all seated on the ground.
The angel of power came down
when glory shone around
when glory shone around.
We are not set before mighty dread
that sees their troubled mind,
but tidings of great joy I bring
to you and all mankind,
to you and all mankind.
To end David's boundless reign
is born of David's mind.
The Savior, who is Christ the Lord,
and this shall be the sign,
and this shall be the sign.
The heavy pain to bear shall fight
to make you display.
Only we wrapped his loving rest
and did a manger lay,
and did a manger lay.
All glory be to God on high
and to the earth be peace.
The goodwill it's more from hand to hand
be hidden never cease.
Be hidden never cease.
Alright, thank you all for being here this evening.
Welcome to Anchor Baptist Church.
I don't know about you,
I'm glad we're finally singing some Christmas songs.
Some of the best songs in the hymnals,
I'm really excited about the remainder of this month.
On the front is our Bible memory passage
of the week, Hebrews chapter 6, verse 17.
Keep working hard on that chapter.
On the inside is our service times
listed Sunday morning at 10.30,
Sunday evening at 4.30,
and Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock p.m.
All of our soul winning times are listed there,
and of course they all meet here
at the church building.
Nursing home ministry schedule is listed there,
as well as our year to date church statistics.
Make sure when you go soul winning,
you report those numbers
either to that email address there
or the signal group is fine.
That seems to be working well.
Please be in prayer for Miss Whitney Reed
for her pregnancy.
And really for all the Reed family,
I heard that they're a little sick,
so John's still staying strong.
Pray for him too.
And the remainder of his family.
Upcoming events, Christmas caroling
is coming up soon, December 9th at 6.30 p.m.
Really excited for that.
December 20th is the ladies' Christmas party
here at the church.
And there's a little description on the bottom there.
It says the ladies of Anchor Baptist Church
are invited to the annual ladies' Christmas party.
Dinner will be served at 7 o'clock p.m.
on December 20th.
And I think Italian is what we're going to be catering.
So it's going to be good.
There will be some Christmas themed activities
and also a gift exchange.
If you'd like to participate in that,
please bring a gift valued at around 25.
I say around 25 because with inflation
you could have a little bit of leeway there.
But just around $25.
Don't come with an iPhone or something, alright?
Just 25-ish dollars.
And for that, it's going to be nurselings only.
So guys, please do watch the kiddos that evening.
Take one for the team.
You can do it.
You will live.
I promise it'll be okay.
Let the ladies have a fun night.
Well, actually, let me see.
I missed a few events here.
December 21st is our soul-winning Christmas push
on the Saturday soul-winning time.
And on the 31st is going to be our midweek service for that week.
So don't come to church on January 1st.
You'll be the only person here.
And you'll be locked out.
But do yours, Eve.
There will be a men's preaching night
and a time of fellowship and food.
And that starts at 7 o'clock p.m.
like our normal services.
So men, you want to preach,
wear a shirt and tie, I should say,
and sign up on the sign-up sheet in the back.
And you'd have an opportunity to preach.
And on the back is our prayer list.
If you have any prayer requests,
please make sure to email me that.
I'd be happy to add that for you.
And at this time, let's go ahead and go to the Lord
in prayer as a church family.
Lord, thank you for the opportunity
to be in church this evening to hear your word preached
and to sing of the wonderful birth of Jesus Christ.
I pray for all of our brothers
that are on a missions trip in Jamaica right now.
Even one of our own members, Lord,
pray that you would just keep them all safe
and help them to get tons and tons
of people saved over there.
I pray that there would just be a fire lit
of the gospel of Jesus Christ in that country
and that even after the American soul winners are gone,
that the people that are saved there
would get fired up to continue
preaching the gospel in that country.
And I just pray that you would bless
Faith Board Baptist Church
for their heart from missions
and Pastor Anderson.
And I just pray that you would give us
here in Oklahoma City more laborers, Lord,
that we can be faithful to our vineyard here
and Lord willing someday to grow
and preach the gospel in other countries as well, Lord.
I just pray that you bless all of our faithful soul winners.
I pray that you bless Brother Moses from Germany.
He's been fleeing some persecution.
I just pray that you bless him, help him to be strong.
And I pray that you bless him financially
in all of his endeavors here in the United States.
I pray for Brother James Perry for his back to heal
for Brother Cameron's mother Barbara
and her heart would be softened to the gospel
and her body healed completely from the cancer.
Also, we pray for the health of our members
who've been asking for prayer for cancer
or friends with cancer to please bless
the health of our church, Lord,
that you would be merciful to us
and enable us to be healthy to serve you
at our best capacity
and help us just to be patient
as we wait on your answers, Lord.
I also pray for Miss Whitney, for her brother Cole,
that he would have a heart that wants to know the truth
and that he would get many opportunities
to hear the truth, Lord,
and same thing for Brother Zach's family members,
his mother and brother,
and really for all of our family members
around this Christmas season,
that they would just be thinking
and pondering of Christ and salvation in Heaven
and we would have a heart to reach people
during this time,
help us during the holidays,
not to only focus on ourselves
but to focus on giving to others.
We love you, Lord, in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
All right, that's going to be it for our announcements.
Let's go ahead and go to our third song.
All right, for our next song,
if you would, grab the handout that was passed around.
Romans chapter number 10.
Romans chapter number 10 in the handout.
We'll go ahead and start there right at the beginning.
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth
the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart
that God hath raised him from the dead,
thou shalt be saved
for with the hard men believe in unto righteousness
and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
for the scripture saying
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
whosoever shall call
whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved
for there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek
the same Lord over all is rich to all that call upon him
for the scripture saying
whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed
whosoever shall call
for whosoever shall call upon
the name of the Lord shall be saved
Good singing as the offering plates are being passed around
turn if you would in your bibles to first Samuel chapter number 16
first Samuel chapter number 16
Good evening, tonight we are in first Samuel chapter number 15
and the Bible reads
and the Lord said unto Samuel how long wilt thou mourn for Saul
seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel
fill thine horn with oil and go
I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite
for I have provided me a king among his sons
and Samuel said how can I go
if Saul hear it he will kill me
and the Lord said taken heifer with thee
and say I am come to sacrifice to the Lord
and call Jesse to the sacrifice
and I will show thee what thou shalt do
and thou shalt anoint me him whom I name unto thee
and Samuel did that which the Lord spake
and came to Bethlehem
and the elders of the town trembled at his coming
and said comeest thou peaceably
and he said peaceably
I am come to sacrifice unto the Lord
sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice
and he sanctified Jesse and his sons
and called them to the sacrifice
and it came to pass when they were come
that he looked on a lie up
and said surely the Lord's anointed is before him
but the Lord said unto Samuel
look not on his countenance
nor on the height of his stature
because I have refused him
for man looketh on the outward appearance
but the Lord looketh on the heart
and Jesse called Abinadab
and made him pass before Samuel
and he said neither hath the Lord chosen this
then Jesse made
Shama to pass by
and he said neither hath the Lord chosen this
again Jesse made
seven of his sons to pass before Samuel
and Samuel said to Jesse
the Lord hath not chosen these
and Samuel said unto Jesse
are here all thy children
and he said there remaineth yet the youngest
and behold he keepeth the sheep
and Samuel said unto Jesse
send and fetch him for we will not
sit down till he come hither
and he said and he sent
and brought him in and now he was
ready and with all of a beautiful
countenance and goodly to look to
and the Lord said arise anoint him
for this is he
then Samuel took the horn of
oil and anointed him in the midst
of his brethren and the spirit of the
Lord came upon David
from that day forward so Samuel
rose up and went to Rama
but the spirit of the Lord departed
from Saul and an evil spirit
from the Lord troubled him
and Saul's servants said unto
him behold now an evil spirit from
God trouble with thee
let our Lord now command thy
servants which are before thee
to seek out a man who is a cunning
player on a harp and it shall come to pass
when the evil spirit from God is upon
thee that he shall play with his hand
and now shall be well
and Saul said unto
his servants provide me now a man
that can play well and bring him to me
then answered one of the servants and said
behold I have seen a son of Jesse
the Bethlehemite that is
cunning and playing and a mighty
valiant man and a man of war
and prudent in matters and a
comely person and the Lord is with him
wherefore
Saul sent messengers unto
Jesse and said send me David thy son
which is with the sheep
and Jesse took an ass
laden with bread and a bottle of wine
and a kid and sent them by David his
son unto Saul and
David came to Saul and stood before him
and he loved him greatly and became
his armor bearer
and Samuel sent to Jesse
saying let David I pray thee stand before me
for he hath found favor in my sight and it came to pass
when the evil spirit from
God was upon Saul that David took
in harp and played with his hand
so Saul was refreshed and it was well
and the evil spirit deported from him
let's bow our heads for word of prayer
Father in heaven we thank you for this day in our new church
and we just ask that you fill past roles with the Holy Spirit
and help us to learn from your word
and help us to all make home safely
after this.
Amen alright we are in first Samuel 16
about halfway through the book this evening
and the Bible starts off here
in verse 1 the Bible says
and the Lord said unto Samuel
how long wilt thou mourn for Saul
seeing I have rejected
him from reigning over Israel
fill thine horn with oil
and go I will send thee to Jesse
the Bethlehemite for I have provided
me a king among
his sons.
So this is a very unique point
in the life of Samuel
at least from what's revealed to us in the Bible
because Samuel is actually one of the characters
where the Bible paints the most positively.
I mean you got a few people like that
in the Bible for example Daniel
the Bible doesn't really give us
negative things about Daniel
and Samuel is kind of very similar to that
but this is just one of the only things
where God kind of gives him
not even really a rebuke here
it's just more of a question
more of kind of a reproof
and so this is something that
Samuel is doing that God is not 100%
pleased with what is it
and Samuel is mourning
a little too long
for Saul. Now on one hand
it would be kind of weird if
Samuel just had no emotion
no feeling whatsoever
over the fact that his friend
Saul is now being rejected by God
I mean it's natural and it's normal to have
a little bit of emotion towards that
and even in our lives sometimes we'll see people
stop serving God
sometimes we'll even see people
going the way of Saul and just going down
a really dark path, a really bad path
and it's natural at first
to go through a little bit of a
mourning phase with that
and even when someone turns out to be
really bad
if you and your heart were convinced
throughout that whole relationship that they were good
that they were your friend there's going to be a little bit
of mourning in that situation
and if you ever experienced that
I don't want you to think that that in and of itself is wrong
but there comes a point though
in every relationship
in every Christian's life
where if you have to separate from someone
you have to always pick
God's opinion about a person
over your feelings
because you could have times where you're like
man I just really love that person
I had a great relationship with them
I thought they were my friend
but if your friend is Saul
and if your friend is now getting rejected by God
you need to back up God's opinion
you need to stand with the Lord
what's a good example of this
if you were kicked out of church
I mean when someone's kicked out of church
yeah you probably were their friend
because they were in this church
you probably did like them
you probably had fellowship with them
but if they're in violation
of God's word
if they're in violation of the Bible's standards
for church membership
if you just continually feel bad
about that person leaving
and feel sorry for that person getting kicked out
what you're starting to do
you're not saying it
you're saying God you're being too harsh
God why are you so strict
and here Samuel is just
mourning constantly over Saul being rejected
but Samuel's a man of God
he needs to get up and stand behind God's judgment
and you know he did that with his mouth
he delivered the message to Saul
telling him hey God's basically rejected you
God's gonna find someone better than you
but his heart still a little bit wasn't
fully on board with that message
and hey at least he's saying what God told him to say
he still wants his heart to be in line
with God's opinion
go to 1st Corinthians 4
1st Corinthians 4
you know also it's a good reminder to us
not to be too wrapped up
in a singular individual
you know it's good for us to have respect
for men of God
it's good for us to honor them
it's good for the church to obey the pastor
all that is great
I would never speak against the authority
or anything like that
even more highly than you ought to
look at 1st Corinthians 4 verse 6
it says in these things brethren
I have in a figure transferred to myself
and to apollos for your sakes
that you might learn in us notice
not to think of men above
that which is written
that no one of you be puffed up
for one against another
it's not like there's
any man out there that's infallible
it's not like there's any man out there
that can't go down the path
that Saul is going down
because guess what Saul is saved
Saul is a saved man
and all of us as saved people
you know what we have the Holy Spirit
but we also have the flesh
and you don't want to just put all of your trust
all of your confidence in one singular man
to where if they go the way of Saul
all of a sudden now you're just quitting
serving God and quitting church
and sometimes you see people
where either a man of God
will actually fail
or do something horrible
like you see a pastor commit adultery
or pastors getting arrested for all these crimes
and then you'll see a bunch of people
quit serving God because of that
so they were reading their Bible
when they respected this person
when they liked this person
they were going soul winning
they were going to church
but as soon as that person steps down
or is no longer respectable in their eyes
all of a sudden now they quit serving God
and it's like here's the thing
was your heart put into Saul
or was your heart put into God
because I'll tell you what
every church I've ever been to
and look I've been to some great churches
I've been to some churches with who I think
are some of the best pastors on this planet
literally
but I tell you what at all of the churches that I went to
if the pastor would have quit
if the pastor would have failed
I would have kept serving God
I would have kept reading the Bible
I would have kept praying and soul winning
I'm not here for a man
and while we need, yes, preaching
on respect of authority
we also need preaching on you just loving God
without any man involved whatsoever
and you don't want to just sit here
and mourn after Saul
go to 1 Corinthians chapter 11
1 Corinthians chapter 11
look at verse 1
the Bible says
be followers of me
even as I also am
of Christ
follow men
as they follow Christ
and guess what?
if a man is following Christ
follow him
follow his lead
obey the authority
but when someone is no longer following Christ
maybe at times
if you're going to a bad church
and your pastor stops following Christ
there's nothing wrong with moving and going to a better church
it would be weird to just sit in church
and just mourn over your pastor
following God
this pastor is not preaching good sermons
this pastor is not leading the church well
it's like okay how long are you going to mourn for Saul
why don't you just follow someone that is following Christ then
because the Bible says
as he's following Paul
you should follow
go to 1 Peter chapter 2
it also makes me think about
how sometimes Christians
will really want to hold on to something
that God doesn't want them to hold on to anymore
let me show you an example of that
1 Peter 2 verse 7
the Bible says unto you therefore which believe
now who's that?
that's the saved, that's us
he is precious, that's Jesus
but unto them which be disobedient
the stone which the builders disallowed
the same is made the head of the corner
and a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense
even to them which stumble at the word
being disobedient
where and to also they were appointed
but ye are a chosen generation
a royal priesthood
and holy nation
a peculiar people
that ye should show forth the praises
of him who have called you out of darkness
into his marvelous light
which in time past were not a people
but are now the people of God
which had not obtained mercy
but now have obtained mercy
you know what this makes me think of
the story of Saul in general
it makes me think of replacement theology
why because
was Saul chosen by God
yes he was
is he now rejected by God
yes he is
and today people want to hang on to the idea
of the Old Testament nation
of Israel and so many Christians
of so many fundamental Baptist
they just want to hang on to this idea
that the Jews, the physical Jews
are still God's chosen people
that they're the chosen nation
that they're the royal priesthood
but the Bible here says what
that we are the chosen generation
you know hey old IFB
it's time to let go of the Jews
it's time to let go of Israel
it's time to wake up and realize
that they've rejected God
it's time to realize that they're not
following the commandments
they didn't believe in Christ
and it's like look at Saul
oh he's wearing a crown
must mean that he's the king in God's eyes
nope God rejected him
and these Jews they could stand up
and they could look religious
with the flatteries on their foreheads
they could do all this religious mumbo-jumbo
and look special but guess what
the curse of God is actually on those people
they've actually rejected God
and look if God's rejected them
why are we embracing them
why are we accepting
their false fake religion
and the fake nation that is
Israel go to Romans chapter 9
Romans chapter 9
you know this is something
that Baptist just need to let go of
how long are you gonna mourn over the Jews
look it's been
thousands of years since they've rejected Christ
it's time to just
move on from them
and maybe focus on I don't know
someone like David man after God's on heart
someone that actually believes the Lord
someone that actually trusts the Lord
look at Romans 9 30 says
what shall we say then
that the Gentiles which followed
not after righteousness
have attained to righteousness
which is of faith
why is it that the Gentiles today
made up of all nations
but believers in Christ are the ones that
found righteousness are the ones that are
special today in God's eyes it's through
faith the Bible says
verse 31 but Israel which followed
after the law of righteousness
have not attained to the law
of righteousness wherefore
because they sought it not
by faith
but as it were by the works of the law
for they stumbled at that stumbling stone
and this is what people will say
often times when they hear
replacement theology they hear you say
hey the Jews aren't God's chosen people anymore
it's believers in Christ
made up of all races you know what they're gonna say
oh that's a racist doctrine
you're anti-Semitic this is what they'll say
you hate Jews
you hate people from that part of the world
but hold on a second verse 32
saying wherefore
why is it that Israel didn't
attain to righteousness is it because
of their blood is it because
of their lineage no it says because
they sought it not by faith
and guess what at any time
someone living in Israel could decide
to actually seek God by faith and
find Jesus Christ and believe in him and
they would be chosen again but don't
misunderstand and don't get this weird idea
this weird racist idea
that oh we preach
against Jews because we don't like
their physical features and we don't like
their blood type and we don't like
their culture though their culture is bad
okay that's not the reason
why we don't like them the reason why we
don't like rabbis and all these
Jewish leaders is because they teach a
false religion that sends
people to hell okay
don't get this stupid worldly idea
that we're rejecting them because
of their race because let me tell you something
Adolf Hitler actually was a racist
I know the new life begins into all the
dumbest conspiracies imaginable
like Adolf Hitler is saved
not saying most people believe that but I've heard that kind of garbage
or you know I wonder if Adolf
Hitler actually was a racist or if that's a lie of the
Jews okay I actually
read his writings
where he made fun of Christians
for being against Jews because
of their religion and he's saying like
Christians need to realize
that we need to stop fighting over religion
it doesn't matter if they're Jew or Catholic
what really matters is their tainted
blood their tainted
blood and sometimes
you even hear young guys
you hear Gen Z dudes saying
stupid stuff like that and they're not
even joking around just making a funny joke
or something like that like they actually
believe this garbage but look
the reason the Jews didn't
attain to righteousness is not because of their
tainted blood little
Hitler no it's because
they didn't seek it by faith that's the reason
why verse
28 of Romans 2 verse
28 of Romans chapter 2
the Bible says
for he is not a Jew which is one outwardly
neither is that
circumcision which is outward
in the flesh the Bible saying when it comes to
being a Jew it's not about
the flesh anymore it's not about whether or not
you got circumcised it's not whether
about you know whether or not you live in
Israel or whether you live somewhere else
but verse 29 says but he is
a Jew which is one
inwardly and circumcision is that
the heart in the spirit
and not in the letter whose praise is not
of men but of God
see here's the thing how can I be
hateful towards Jews when I
am a Jew
how can I be anti-Semitic when according to the Bible
if I've believed in Jesus Christ
if I have confidence in God
and not in the flesh that I'm the real
Jew that you're the real Jew
so guess what the old Iphone needs to stop
mourning after physical
Israel and just embrace the fact that
they are spiritual Israel now
and just embrace that go back to
1 Samuel chapter 16
1 Samuel 16
so God tells him hey
stop mourning over Saul go anoint
one of the sons of Jesse he's saying let's move on
let's find a king that actually
wants to obey my commandments someone that
actually wants to love and serve me
and say verse number 2 says
and Samuel said how can I go
if Saul hear it he will kill me
and the Lord said take
with me and say I am come
to sacrifice to the Lord
you know it's like even great men
of God like Samuel
can sometimes struggle with
fear can sometimes
struggle between
doing what's right and the
ramifications of something that you do
to where even a godly man like Samuel
is fearing Saul
why God told you to do something
you shouldn't be fearing what man is going to do to you
we should rather fear God
and here's the thing
Samuel just got done
hewing up Agag
I mean think about that Samuel just
literally took a sword
to a human being's body
and just chopped him up into a bunch of
different pieces that same guy is now
afraid right it just goes to
show that as Christians we're not
just always doing what's right
we're just not always on a spiritual
high we're not just always walking
on water with Jesus Christ we have
to go on the new man intentionally
you know we have to be walking in the spirit
to be bold men of God
that are going to take a stand
that are not going to fear what man will do to us
because if we're just walking in the flesh
every single one of us
could fall to the sin of fear
where even a guy like Samuel is starting to
fear Saul when Saul's
doing wickedly Samuel's doing what's right
Saul doesn't have the blessing of God
God isn't listening to Saul anymore
God's still talking to Samuel
Saul should be afraid in this situation
Saul should be afraid
yet actually Samuel's the one that's scared
also we can learn from this that
whenever there is a conflict
between what government is telling us to do
or authority in general
and what God is telling us to do
we are more than safe to be
obeying God rather than men
he's saying hey you know
Saul's not going to be happy
Saul's not going to be pleased with
what you're telling me to do and he's the king
of what he thinks doesn't matter what the government
thinks in this situation because I've told you
to do X, Y, and Z
you know that's how we should live our lives
yes we should respect authority
but whenever authority and God
conflict we always default to the higher power
which is God
verse 3
and call Jesse to the sacrifice
and I will show thee what thou shalt do
and thou shalt anoint unto me
him whom I name unto thee
and Samuel did that which the Lord spake
Bethlehem and the elders of the town
trembled at his coming
and said come as thou
peaceably
you know think about this
Samuel just walks into the town
and the elders you know the rulers
the sheriffs whatever they just
figure out that Samuel's coming
and they're so terrified of Samuel
that they are trembling
I mean you've ever seen someone actually
tremble the only time I think I've ever seen
someone tremble is I saw
someone right after a car accident
and they were in shock
and they were trembling their body was shaking
they had so much fear
of Samuel walking into their town
that they started to tremble
and they asked him this question
come as thou peaceably
and a lot of people would probably look at this story
and say well if you're a Christian
and someone ever has to ask this question
it must mean you're a bad person
must mean that you have a bad spirit
yet pretty much everything we've read so far
is the first Samuel
Samuel has been doing that which is right
Samuel has been preaching right
his attitude has been right for the most part
except what we just read
and yet this town is afraid of him
isn't that interesting
now here's the thing this town shouldn't be
afraid of him because
are they the Amalekites
are they Agad
or are they just with the children of Israel right
I mean see Samuel is going to be a different person
to Agag
but the truth is that
people get to choose
how the man of God treats them
people actually get to choose that
by their own actions
and their own hearts
see there's no reason for the people to be scared of Samuel here
they're not doing wicked hopefully right
I mean if they're not doing anything wicked
if they're not doing anything wrong
why would they be afraid of Samuel
Samuel's on their side
Samuel's on their team
but you want to know why a lot of people are often afraid
of doing what's wrong
go to 1 Corinthians chapter 4
but I want to show you this principle that
in a way
people get to choose how their authorities treat them
no not every time
but
generally speaking
when you have a reasonable authority figure
they are going to treat you oftentimes the way that you deserve to be treated
look at this
1 Corinthians 4 verse 18 says this
now some are puffed up
as though I would not come to you
but I will
that are prideful
that are attacking the Apostle Paul in his leadership
verse 19 says
but I will come to you shortly
if the Lord will
and will know not the speech
of them which are puffed up
but the power
for the kingdom of God is not in word
but in power
what will you
he's saying what do you want
shall I come unto you
you have the decision
you have the choice
what do you want from me
do you want me to come to the churches at Corinth
with love
and that's probably what Paul wants
he wants to come to those people in love
he's interested in preaching the Bible
he's interested in telling them hey let's go on
unto perfection
let's teach you about the deep doctrines of the Bible
or he says do you want me to come to you
with a rod
do I need to be like your father that didn't spank you enough
why because they're doing right
no because they're puffed up
because they're speaking against Paul
because they're lying and railing against him
and being terrible followers
he's saying
you know it's going to go one of two ways here
you can either repent stop being so prideful
stop being so arrogant
and just fall in line and guess what you're going to meet
love but if not
you're going to see the rod
and with Samuel it's like hey
Samuel could either be your best friend or your worst enemy
I mean Samuel's such a loyal friend
that he's mourning over Saul to a fault
you can't say he's not a loving guy
he's a little too loving
but if you're agag
he's going to get a sword
and chop you up to pieces
and this is what we need leaders to do today
we need leaders to
love the righteous
do good unto the righteous
bless their people
but when an agag shows up
when a wicked person shows up
you should be able to flip that switch on a dime
from love
to the rod
you should even be like this as a parent
you know kids
how your parents treat you
you get to choose
because guess what parents how they want to treat their children
with love
this is how parents just naturally want to treat their children
but it's like hey do you want me to come to you
children with love
or with the rod
because if you obey
which is right you know what you're going to get
love
and if you don't you know what you're going to get the rod
which is still love by the way
but it's a different form of love
that people don't really like to receive
and you know this is the exact same way that God treats us too
this is just true in every area of life
go to Psalm 18
Psalm chapter 18
the Bible says in verse 24
according to the cleaness of my hands
in his eyesight
with the merciful
that will show thyself merciful
the Bible is saying hey you want God
to be merciful to you
well guess who he's going to be merciful to
people who are merciful
with an upright man
that will show thyself upright
with the pure that will show thyself pure
and
with the fro-word that will show thyself
fro-word
that will save the afflicted people but will bring
down high looks
I don't know how you can get away from this truth in the Bible
that often times authority
will treat you exactly the way that you
deserve to be treated
and so you often ought to think about this in your life
if you think about why does it seem
like mom and dad are so harsh on me
maybe because you're so disobedient
why is it that I
have such a big time getting along
with my boss at work
why does it seem like he's always breathing down my neck
like a crappy employee
maybe it's because you keep showing up late
maybe it's because you keep complaining
maybe it's because whenever there's a hard task
given to the team you try to run away
from that task as much as possible
maybe it's because you're wasting your boss's time
why does it seem like the pastor's always
getting on to me I don't know
are you going around gossiping in the church
I don't know are you going around spreading false doctrine
I mean there's the things that are going to get your pastor upset
oh man I just feel like
God is always coming down on me
there's a ton of bricks
how much are you sitting against God
how much are you being froward against the Lord
because if you're merciful
if you're upright God's going to deal that way
with you
and so if we could go back in time
and talk to the people of this city
it's like hey why are you tripping over Samuel
are you on God's side or not
I mean if you're on God's side then you need to chill out
it's going to be fine
but yeah be afraid if you're wicked
be afraid of the man of God if you're wicked
was our country a better place
when people actually feared God
when people actually cared what the Bible says
so much so that
when we wrote our laws we actually looked at what the Bible says
and just quoted it
I wonder if our society was better when we feared God
and when we respected pastors
when we respected men of God
in fact if you read
the original state constitutions
of the 13 colonies
almost all of them explicitly banned pastors
from running for political office
and at first you might think well that seems anti-christian
that seems bad
but they explained
they gave commentary saying no no no
we don't want to not let pastors be in
government because we think pastors are bad
we think their office is way more important
than being a senator
we think their office is way more important
than being a president
or a representative
or a judge or anything like that
of course they wanted Christians in those positions
but they literally specifically
said that clergy is not going to hold this office
why because they respected the man of God
now was our country a better place
back then
was our country a place that was more right
with God
was our country a place where there was a higher percentage
of saved people
or now when every Christian is just fair game
to make fun of
and in fact if you're a Christian at work
it almost can hurt your chances of getting jobs
sometimes can hurt your chances of getting promoted
into management at least from a humanistic
perspective why because our country has lost
a lot of respect for God
and for the men of God
go back to 1 Samuel chapter 16
verse 5
this is Samuel's response
verse 5 says and he said
peaceably I'm come to sacrifice unto the Lord
sanctify yourselves and come with me
to the sacrifice
sanctify Jesse and his sons and call them to the sacrifice
he say hey what are you worrying about
I'm coming here to serve God
why don't you come with me
there's no reason
to be afraid
of authority especially godly authority
when you're doing what's right
you know what I've noticed
about people in life that
they've got a long arrest record
they were doing a lot of illegal shady stuff
I mean I remember in high school
playing on the baseball team
and there were some rough dudes on that baseball team
doing some shady stuff
and you know those guys that were constantly breaking law
you know they were terrified of cops
they were terrified of getting pulled over
with alcohol in their vehicle
they were terrified of getting found out
that they were you know fornicating
with a minor when they were 18 or whatever
or worried about
getting found out that they were selling drugs
they were always scared of police
but it's like those of us that weren't breaking the law
we don't start sweating when we get around cops
we don't start getting you know
frantic and anxiety ridden
or anything like that why because
we're not doing anything wrong
I feel a bunch of anxiety when I'm around my boss
because I'm doing the best job that I can
I'm not thinking at every moment
that God is this close to just taking me to heaven
because I'm not just trying to be
the most forward Christian
the most worldly Christian on the planet
I'm actually trying to be pleasing to God
and of course I'm not saying that I stand today
by my own merit I stand by grace
and all of us stand by grace
but there's a difference between someone who's a sinner
saved by grace
striving to do what's right
saved by grace who just doesn't care
just flippantly sinning all the time
he doesn't even care about it doesn't think it's a big deal
verse 6
and he came to pass when they were come
that he looked on Eliab and said
surely the Lord's anointed is before him
so Samuel's about to
you know anoint the next man up here
and
he's convinced that it's going to be Eliab
why because he just looked at him
now this is a bad way to judge leadership
this is a bad way to judge character
look if you're not married
this is a bad way to be your soul
decision on whether or not
you marry a person is how they look
in your eyes because there's plenty
of people that work in Hollywood
that everyone in the world would agree
yeah this person's attractive but yet often
are some of the most scummy people on this planet
there's plenty of actors
and singers and famous people like that
it's a bad idea to just judge
on appearance verse 7
but the Lord said unto Samuel
not on his countenance
or on the height of his stature
because I have refused him
for the Lord seeeth not as man seeeth
for man looketh on the outward appearance
but the Lord looketh on the heart
God says to him
hey Samuel don't look at his face
don't look at how you think
his countenance looks and try to
you know do all this math in your head
of whether or not this person's going to be a good leader
or the height of their stature
I'm thankful for that as a guy that's 5 foot 9
and his stature is not what causes leadership
but he say hey God is looking at the heart
and this is the truth
is that human beings
we tend to over emphasize
the appearance
and when we're thinking about a situation
where we're judging a person
we tend to over emphasize
the appearance now here's the thing
it's not that God doesn't care about your appearance
God does care about your appearance
you know I preached a sermon recently
called look like a Christian
girls have long hair
God wants men to have short hair
God wants women to wear women's clothing
men to wear men's clothing
God wants women to be beautiful of course
but there's people that over emphasize
looks
and they over emphasize the outward appearance of things
go to Exodus 18
Exodus 18
there's a great
list of qualifications
that was proposed by
Jethro Moses' father-in-law to Moses
to help him
pick people to help him
share the burden of leadership verse 21
Bible says moreover thou shalt provide
out of all the people
able men
he says hey when you want to look at
who's right for the job
here's the first thing you should look at
not their race
not their height, not their build
you should look at if they're able
meaning do they have the skills
do they have the ability to do the job
see it would be a weird world that we live in
if leadership was just granted
by looks, by height
and even there
especially like around the 60's and 70's
there was a bunch of studies into
presidents getting elected
to office and they would
pull people on like who do you think is the most attractive
of these two guys
who is the most tall now not every time
was this the case because you know Abe Lincoln won the presidency
and he was a rough looking guy
but often times people just gravitate
towards leaders just because of their
physical appearance not even considering
their ability
boy is that an important thing today
in our world don't you want to go to work
and work for a guy and work with
around guys that have ability
or do you want to just work with a bunch
of charity cases that were just given a job
because people just liked how they looked
you know that'd be a frustrating world to live in
or do you want to just
you know go to a church where the pastor
is just only there for the sole
reason he's there is just for his appearance
that would be weird
or have a president of your country
who's president just because he's
six foot five and tall dark and handsome
that would be stupid
but yet this is our foolish human heart
is that if you're honest with yourself
often times we just immediately judge people
solely by their looks
now
look what else it says it says such as fear god
that's a more important trait right that you actually fear god
men of truth
that would get rid of just about every politician
hating covetousness
by congress you're done
in place such over them
to be rulers of thousands and rulers
of hundreds rulers of fifties
and rulers of tens see god does
care about the appearance god does care
how you look but you know what he cares more
about that you're an able person
that you're a person that fears god
that you're someone that loves truth
that you're someone that hates covetousness
you know if you ever desire to be
any type of leader whatsoever
you should worry more about your heart
matching these characteristics
than just trying to look like a leader
whatever that even means
you know different throughout different cultures and different times
go to Titus chapter one
Titus chapter one
Titus one talks about the qualifications of a bishop
and you're going to see in this list
that you know what's left out of it is what the person looks like
because that doesn't matter
first five for this cause
left idea and creed that thou should have set in order
the things that are wanting
and ordain elders in every city as I had appointed thee
now he's going to give the qualifications
if any be blameless
now this doesn't mean he doesn't have a zit
on his face or on his forehead or something like that
alright that's not what it's talking about
says as the steward or I'm sorry
the husband of one wife
having faithful children not accused
of riot or unruly
for a bishop must be blameless as the steward
of god not self-willed
that's Saul right
not soon angry that's definitely Saul
not given to wine
no striker I mean Saul's trying to kill David
all the time
not given to filthy lucre but a lover of hospitality
a lover of good men
sober just holy temperate
holding fast the faithful word as he had been taught
that he may be able by sound doctrine
both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers
see it's better to follow a person
in life that has character
and integrity and godliness
rather than just gravitating to people
that you just find attractive for whatever reason
and you know
sometimes let's just be honest in this life
there are some people that are more attractive
than others I mean the bible literally talks about that
about people being fair
about people having certain
qualities about them but
if you actually are that person
if god has just blessed you with beauty
or if you're a handsome guy or whatever
you got a bunch of muscle really tall
you should be aware of flatterers
and you should be aware of vain
people that come to you simply
for your looks why because human hearts
what do they do they overemphasize
the outward appearance you know
especially ladies that aren't married
let's be honest every young lady
is attractive okay that's just how the world works
you need to be careful that some guy
isn't just giving you attention
you know because he really
just wants your body he really is just
attracted to you rather than a guy who actually
has character and will love you
and will cherish you and will be a good
husband for you because guess what
every guy is attracted to ladies
that's just how the world works but not every guy
is a suitable man not
every guy is a righteous guy in fact it's rare
a faithful man who could find the bible
says you know it's
the stakes are a lot higher for
a woman getting married than for a man
getting married this is just true okay
because as a man
if you marry a woman
who maybe is not as spiritual
not as jazzed up about the things of God
you're in charge
you get to drag her butt to church
you get to drag her out soul winning
you get to set the rules you're in charge
but when a woman
marries a bad dude
she's in for a rough life oftentimes
it's not to say that things can't be
prayed for and fixed and get better in the future
but I'm just telling you it's very
important for ladies especially
to be picky about their men
and sometimes men
women get upset because
about how women are so picky
it's like let them be picky
I'm for women being picky when it comes to this
because you don't want some dude that just
likes you because of your looks
and then you're stuck with some loser
or some guy that isn't spiritual
no please be picky I want my daughters to grow up
and be very picky
because girls being raised
in an independent fundamental Baptist home
being three to thrive being soul winners
is not something you could just find
in every street corner of this world
yeah be picky ladies
I'm all for it
go to 1 Samuel chapter
16 1 Samuel 16
1 Samuel 16 verse
8 then Jesse
called a benedab and made him pass before
Samuel and he said
neither hath the Lord chosen this
then Jesse made Shama to pass by and he said
neither hath the Lord chosen this
7 of his sons to pass before Samuel
and Samuel said unto Jesse
the Lord hath not chosen these
and Samuel said unto Jesse
are here all thy children
and he said there remaineth yet the youngest
and behold he keepeth the sheep
Samuel said unto Jesse
send and fetch him for we will not sit down
till he come hither
so we have all the brothers of David
just being passed before Samuel
nope he's not it he's not it he's not it
and it finally gets to the point
where Samuel literally has to ask are these all
your sons because God
hasn't chosen any of these people
he's chosen someone else
and what I think this is a picture of
I think that David here is being a picture
of the Lord Jesus Christ
why because David
is kind of being looked over
and not recognized and not appreciated
by his own family
see in the eyes of God
Almighty God God looks down
at David and says that's the man I want
that's the man I honor that's the man that I like
yet all of his family they didn't even think about him
and Samuel had to
literally point blank ask him
is there anyone else
because God hasn't chosen any of these
just goes to show how you know often times
familiarity breeds contempt
and what happened to the Jews who Jesus was
one of let me read for you
you could say there John 110 says he was
in the world and the world was
made by him and the world
knew him not he came unto
his own and his own received
him not but as many as
received him to them gave the power to become
the sons of God even to them that
believe on his name
you know Jesus came into this world
the perfect lamb of God
you know the high priest from heaven
who became us the Bible said
to serve the world
to love the world to suffer for the
world to save the world from
their sins and he came unto his own
and did his own appreciate
him honor him respect him
love him believe in him
know his own actually rejected him
and he came unto his own
the physical nation of Israel and you know what they did
they delivered him up
to the Romans and said
crucify him his blood
be on us and on our children
that's what they did Lord Jesus Christ
and here you know what
what are these guys doing they're just you know hanging out
and Jesse's passing
them before Samuel meanwhile the guy
that's being overlooked you know what he's doing he's keeping
the sheep he's working hard
he's being a good shepherd
right and the Jews
they love to heap unto themselves teachers having
itching ears they want to listen to false
prophets these fake rabbis
but when the good shepherd came
they didn't care about the good shepherd
they didn't think of or consider
the good shepherd right I mean Jesus
wasn't he laid in a lowly manger
was he
given royalty as a baby
I mean think about today
in countries that still have royalty
like England if a baby was born
into a royal family how would that baby
be treated what would that baby's Instagram
page look like I'd be wild
I mean that baby would just be
the most followed thing on Instagram and
tiktok and they'd be wearing all the cute
garments and they'd be pampered and they'd be
given all the toys and everything and then
here's Jesus in a manger
I mean that's insane
to think about but guess what he came to this world
and this world didn't receive him didn't
respect him didn't love him the way that he
deserved
look at verse number 12
verse number 12
and he sent and brought him in
now he this is David was
ruddy and with all of
a beautiful countenance
and goodly to look to
and the Lord said arise anoint him
for this is he
so notice I was talking about how you know the Bible talks about
some people are just objectively attractive
what I think David was the Bible saying that he had
a beautiful countenance
and he was goodly to look to
now Samuel
he saw the first couple of guys
and he thought they were leadership material
they probably weren't beautiful
or goodly to look to they probably just meet
looked mean and rugged and strong
maybe big and muscular
because when we think of a warrior when we think
of a king going out to lead a nation battle
that's what we think of right
and David though he absolutely
was a great warrior
yet the Bible says that he's beautiful
I mean I never think of a man as beautiful
I mean I hope none of you guys ever think that
that never comes into my mind right
but yet the Bible is saying
that he has a beautiful countenance he has a beautiful face
you know ladies don't tell your husbands
they're beautiful they're not going to like it all right
and goodly to look to you could say that though
that's okay
and the Lord said arise anoint him for this is
he go to
song of Solomon chapter 5
and so
what was different about David right
I mean they both had in their categories
some looks going for them
his brothers probably looks really strong
and mighty warriors
and he looks really beautiful
but what's the difference between them
well I think the difference is that David was out keeping
the sheep David was out being
a hard worker and you know
you got guys like the apostle Paul in the New Testament
where you know from the surface
you wouldn't really think that he would be
one of the greatest Christians to ever live
a guy that used to persecute the church
a guy who is accused of
his speech being contemptible
and his bodily presence weak
and you wouldn't look at the apostle Paul and think
man this is the guy that's going to turn the world upside down
this is the guy that's going to plan
all these churches and write most of the New Testament
but you want to know why
maybe God chose him is because the apostle
Paul said I labored more abundantly
than they all
why because God today is looking for people that work hard
not necessarily people that are strongest
biggest best looking
but he's looking for David's that are out
willing to work with the sheep
willing to work in the pastors today
willing to work in the field
now something else interesting about that verse
is the Bible talks about how he's ruddy
now that's not a word that we would normally
use today but the dictionary definition
of ruddy is having a healthy
reddish color or just
red and
people postulate that it might be
the case that
king David was what we would call
a ginger
and I think that's very possible so hey
gingers do have souls
I have to break this to you
gingers do have souls and you shouldn't discriminate
people because they're ginger
not pointing at anyone or anything like that
but they could be great people too
and you know I'm clean shaven but if I grow
out my beard it's actually red so just letting
you know about that but song of Solomon
chapter 5 look what it says verse 10
this is about Solomon it says my beloved
is white and ruddy
the chief is among 10,000
sounds like it kind of ran in the family here
it seems like you know David
and Solomon were probably
very likely redheads so you don't hate on
redheads okay you know there's nothing
wrong with being white I know that's
controversial today being a white person
is like the worst thing you could possibly be
well song of Solomon 510 my
beloved is white and ruddy
and guess what
we're awesome dudes so get over it
alright verse 13 of first Samuel chapter
16 first Samuel 16
and get protested already
verse 13 then Samuel took
the horn of oil and anointed
him in the midst of his brethren
and the spirit of the Lord came upon
David from that day forward
so Samuel rose up and went
to Ramah another
picture of the Lord Jesus
Christ is that I don't think it's a coincidence
that the first chapter where we're
introduced to King David
what does the Bible tell us about him is that he was
a person that was filled with
the spirit of God and of course
we know that Jesus Christ was anointed
with the oil of gladness above
his fellows Jesus Christ was
max filled with the Holy Spirit
at all times and read that
verse again about King David
it says and the spirit
of the Lord came upon David
from that day forward
I mean he just had the spirit of the Lord on him
his whole life that wasn't
the case for every single person in the Old Testament
today we're sealed with
the Holy Spirit of God we have the earnest
of the inheritance the spirit
of God but in the Old Testament
the spirit of the Lord came upon people
to enable them to do great work
or to do some sort of service for God
but yet David special here
because the spirit of God comes upon him
and just from that day forward remains upon him
why because David is a picture
of the Lord Jesus Christ
verse 14 but the spirit of the Lord
notice the contrast
departed from Saul
and an evil spirit from the
Lord troubled him a lot of people get
upset about this verse
in the King James Bible how the Bible says
an evil spirit from who
from the Lord troubled
Saul but here's what you have to understand
is that the word evil often times
in the Bible simply means harmful
hurtful not every time there's times
the word evil does mean what we would use
the term as today meaning bad
wicked right but here
I believe what the Bible saying is that
a hurtful spirit
from the Lord went to trouble
Saul now this is a good reason
to fear God the fact that
God can literally send a spirit
to harm you
to hurt you
Saul is a saved man yet there's a
harmful spirit from the Lord
going against Saul why because the spirit
God had departed from him
look at judges chapter 9 let's look at a few
instances of this in the Bible
now what this is not saying this is not saying
oh Saul lost his salvation
guess what because you can't lose your salvation
right and you're going to see
later in first Samuel
that Saul absolutely was saved
once you're saved you're always saved
that's not just a new testament doctrine
that's an old testament doctrine as well
but the spirit of the Lord
which again did not entwell believers in the old testament
it had departed from
Saul judges 9 verse 23
says then God sent an
evil spirit between a
bimilech and the sons of sheikim
and the men of sheikim dealt treacherously
with a bimilech so God
sending an evil spirit go to first kings
22 first kings chapter
22
first kings
22
the Bible says in verse 23
now therefore behold
the Lord hath put a lying
spirit
in the mouth of all these thy prophets
and the Lord hath spoken evil concerning thee
the Bible here is talking about
how God was allowing
a lying spirit to be
in the mouth of these false prophets
now this is not God sinning
right God doesn't even imagine
evil God has never sin
God never will sin
but you know what God sometimes does
and looks at this world
and he knows some people are going to reject him
some people are going to hate him
you know there's some of the angels that left their first
estate that Jude talks about
that are reserved to everlasting darkness
right and those angels
rejected God and what are they now
they're demons but you know what they're still the
servants of God in the sense
and even the devil himself
is a servant of God
in a sense why because God is
the supreme ruler
and he doesn't even use evil spirits
evil people
to serve his purpose
I mean God doesn't condone of evil
God doesn't condone of lying
but he's saying hey you want to believe lies
you want to hate me you want to hate the word of God
you want to hate the preaching of God's word
well this lying spirit is here
and he wants to go into the mouth of this false prophet
and I'm just going to punish you
by you listening to this liar
and often times you want to know why people
are under the preaching of a bad
is because they're a bad person
why they get deceived by false prophets
because they didn't want to know the truth to begin with
and not all people but sometimes
God does allow things like this to happen
go to Revelation 20
Revelation chapter number 20
Revelation 20
and while you're turning there I mean think about
the book of Job
Satan could only do unto Job
exactly what God allowed him to do
so in a sense God he's still in control of this
Revelation 22
says any laid hold on the dragon
that old serpent which is the devil
and Satan and bound him a thousand years
and cast him into the bottomless pit
and shut him up and set a seal upon him
that he should deceive
the nations no more
so when God locks up the devil
he's no longer allowed to deceive the nations
until
the thousand years should be fulfilled
and after that he must be loosed
for a little season
see God knows that what does the devil do
lie kill and destroy
yet he locks him up for a thousand years
so that he doesn't deceive the nations
but then God allows him out again
why because God is using the devil
as a tool for his purpose
so that he could find all the people that hate God
all the people that don't want to know the truth
and just allow them to be deceived by the devil
I'll prove that to you
go back to 1 Samuel
while you're turning back to 1 Samuel 2 Thessalonians 2.7
and then shall that wicked be revealed
let's talk about the antichrist
whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth
and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming
even him
whose coming is after the working of Satan
with all power and signs
and lying wonders
and with all deceivableness of unrighteousness
in them that perish
because they received not the love of the truth
that they might be saved
and for this cause
there is some strong delusion
that they should believe a lie
that they all might be
damned
who believed not the truth
but had pleasure in unrighteousness
see God's will
is of course
that all men would come unto repentance
and be saved
but here's the thing
if someone's not going to get saved
his will for someone that rejects Jesus Christ
is that they would be damned
because the antichrist wants to lie
the devil wants to lie
and he says hey I'm going to allow them to do all these great
signs and powers and lying wonders
so that we can find out all the people that didn't want to receive
the love of the truth
that they might be saved
but rather they're going to be damned
who had pleasure in unrighteousness
first Samuel chapter number 16
verse 15 says
and Saul's servants said unto him
behold now an evil spirit from God
trouble with thee
thou art not a man who is a cunning player
on an harp and it shall come to pass
when the evil spirit from God is upon thee
that he shall play with his hand
and thou shalt be well
so it's interesting that
the spirit of God's departed from Saul
and basically
this guy wants to give him some quick fix
advice saying you just need to listen
to some music and you'll feel better
but really the problem with Saul
was not that he was not listening to the right type of music
it was the fact that he was doing wickedly in the sight of God
it's the fact that he was sinning
it's like hey get rid of the
get your life better quick scheme
and just get right with God
today people want to come up with all the different
methods
of trying to fix their life
they just think man if I just get more money
my life is going to be fixed
or if I just get this surgery
to make myself look more attractive
I'm just going to be doing great in life
it's like no actually what you need
is to get saved
you need to read the Bible
and what you need is to go to church
and love God and love people
that will actually fix your life
when the spirit of God is upon your life
when God's hand is on your life
that's what's going to fix
your problem
but there is some truth to what this guy is saying though
that music
can change your attitude
can change your spirit
I'll read for you you can stay there
Ephesians 5 18 the Bible says
what's the spirit how?
speaking to yourselves and songs and hymns
and spiritual songs
singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
you know when we sing as a church
I don't know about you
but it moves my spirit
it changes my attitude
it gets me fired up to do something for God
sometimes it just breaks my heart
and just love and offer the Lord
you know we sing these great Christmas songs
and songs like
Oh Holy Night
isn't it?
let me read you some of the lyrics
truly he taught us to love one another
his law is love
and his gospel is peace
amen all of the law of God is love
chains shall he break
for the slave is our brother
and in his name all oppression
shall cease
sweet hymns of joy
in grateful chorus raise we
let all within us
praise his holy name
not Muhammad's name
not Buddha's name
the little baby the Lord Jesus Christ
that's who we're praising
that's who we're singing to
Christ is the Lord
Oh praise his name forever
his power and glory
ever more proclaim
his power and glory ever more proclaim
that's a powerful song
that's a beautiful song
it is well and Lord
haste the day
when our faith shall be sight
the clouds be rolled back as a scroll
the trump shall resound
and the Lord shall descend
even so it is well with my soul
when we see Christ
life's day will soon be over
all storms forever past
will cross the great divide to glory safe at last
will all share the joys of heaven
a harp a home a crown
the tempter will be banished
will lay our burden down
it will be worth it all when we see Jesus
life's trials will seem so small
when we see Christ
one glimpse of his dear face
all sorrow will erase
so bravely run the race till we see Christ
it's hard for me to even read these words
let alone sing them
because they're so powerful
they're so beautiful I could feel my spirit
being moved right now just reading these words
why because Ephesians 5 is telling the truth
that is how you're going to get filled
with the spirit of God
to give you a different spirit
the crap that Americans
love today
because it's not oh holy night
it's not it is well with my soul
it's not when we see Christ
let me read to you the lyrics
of the number one
most popular song in America
it's called Euphoria
now look
I am a sinner
I have a lot of problems
there's a lot that I need to fix about myself
I need God that I did not know any of these songs
on the top 10 list
because these are unbelievably bad
alright you ready
shoo shoo shoo
bbb bbb
yeah I'm out the way
yeah I'm low-key okay
yeah the island right here is remote
okay I ain't thinking about no reaper
and I'm reaping what I sow
okay got a Benjamin and a Jackson
all in my house like I'm Joe
I hate the way you walk I hate the way you talk
I hate the way that you dress
surprised you wanted that feature request
you know that we got some bleep to address
I even hate when you say the word
N but that's just me
just got some bleep
just cringe worthy
it ain't even got to be deep I guess
wow
that is the number one
most popular song in our country
woe unto us
how shameful is that
that this is the best song in America
what does this even mean
shoo shoo shoo
and it's spelled S H O O
what the hell is this
and I know you heard me
I censored myself how bad it is
and you know what people want to talk this is just so funny
to me right
we're bad
Baptists are bad preachers are bad
independent fundamental Baptists are sexist
homophobic
racist
who's really hurting black people today
think about this is it me
that tells black people to stop
fornicating and get married
and have children and work hard
at your job and go to church
or is it this stupid retard
rapper whoever the hell he is
that's destroying your culture
because guess what
there's nothing wrong with the color of your skin
there's no such thing as your tainted blood
but you know what's real is culture
and when you listen to trash like this
you know what's gonna make you trash
you know what's gonna make your neighborhood
ghetto
you know what's gonna make your Walmart parking lot look like
shopping carts everywhere
and drug needles everywhere
and alcohol bottles everywhere
because you're listening to crap like this
it's gonna turn you into a crappy person
why cause the things you listen to change your spirit
it changes
your spirit
here's number two
by the same artist
so painful to even read this
okay it's called not like us
WAP WAP WAP
WAP WAP
DOT
WAP WAP WAP WAP
I'm gonna do my stuff
ain't you tired
trying to start strike a chord
and it's probably a minor
they not like us
there it is
I didn't add any of those
that was what the singer did
I wasn't just repeating that on my own
that's the number two
greatest song in America
wow
what an idiotic nation we're becoming
here's everyone's favorite
whore Taylor Swift
I was supposed to be sent away
but they forgot to come and get me
I was a functioning alcoholic
till nobody noticed my new aesthetic
all of this to say I hope you're okay
but you're the reason
and no one's here to blame
but what about your quiet treason
and for a fortnight there we were forever
run into you sometimes ask about the weather
now you're in my backyard
turned into my good neighbors
your wife waters her flowers
I want to kill her
she's not a psycho ex-girlfriend
or anything like that
just singing about how you know
she's seeing your wife just watering flowers
and she's just fantasizing
about murdering your wife
we wonder why we have so many feminists in our country
that listen to stupid whores
like Taylor Swift
one of the worst artists ever
one of the worst Americans ever
leave our country
you know these stupid
famous people whatever you want to call them
celebrities whatever they keep promising
that every time Donald Trump gets elected
they're going to leave our country
it's like at least the dyke Ellen DeGeneres left
sorry England
that's your punishment from losing the war I guess
but it's like why don't you all just leave
you people like Taylor Swift get out of our country
she has another song called this
but daddy I love him
I just learned these people
only raise you to cage you
oh yeah dads are terrible right
dads only raise daughters
to cage them
Sarah's and Hannah's
in their Sunday best
sounds like she really loves church right
clutching their pearls sighing what a mess
I just learned these people try to save you
because they hate you
God save the most
judgmental creeps
that's what she thinks about you
you that listen to her music
who say they want what's best for me
sanctimoniously performing soliloquies
I'll never see
thinking it could change the beat of my heart
when he touches me
and counteract the chemistry and undo the destiny
you ain't gotta pray for me me and my wild boy
and all of this wild joy
if all you want is great for me
then it's just white noise and it's just my choice
hey guess what I don't think God's
gonna ever change your heart because your
reprobate is gonna burn in hell for all of eternity
you wicked person
she has another sin called guilt or another
song it is a sin her song is a sin
it's called guilty as sin I did not miss
speak there what if I roll
the stone away
I wonder what that's in reference to
what if I roll the stone away
they're gonna crucify me anyway
she's saying
what if I just you know help Jesus
get out of the tomb all these terrible Christians
are still gonna hate me
what if the way you hold me is
actually what's holy
whatever weird
reference to fornication that is
right because obviously the bible condemns fornication
oh but the way he holds her is holy
and it's like well brother
your pastor Oz you see I haven't even gotten used to it either
okay well pastor Oz you know
you're just proving her point
right the Christians are just
so judgmental guess what
not everyone writes songs about how much they hate
God you know they're
they're sinners and I'm one of them
they're sinners all of you are one of them
and guess what I love all of you
but there's a difference between a sinner
that believes in Lord Jesus Christ and a sinner
that says I'm gonna make millions of dollars
and become rich off of teaching
women to hate God
teaching women to hate their husbands
to hate their fathers to hate
men to hate authority
you know what go to hell Taylor Swift
I don't care what anyone thinks about that
oh you're proving her point well guess what
anyone that actually wants to listen to her music
is not someone I'm probably gonna reach anyways
especially if they actually understand the lyrics
that she's saying there
go to James chapter 4
now
in my wisdom
I think I shouldn't even have to prove this
to you from the Bible
because I just read those lyrics and it should have
just been shocking to you right
but you know sometimes our opinions can be wrong
we want to make sure we're proving things with the Bible
how do I know
how do I know for sure that God doesn't want us listening to this crap
that God is not pleased
with this type of music
James 4 4
the adulterers and adulteresses
know ye not that the friendship
of the world
is enmity with God
so ever therefore
will be a friend of the world
is the enemy
of God
you ought to let that verse sink into your heart
and you ought to think about
the things that you watch and the things that you listen to
and the places you go and the events that you attend
and you ought to think
am I doing something right now
am I a friend of the world
do I sing along to Taylor Swift
like she's my little bestie or something
like she's my friend
you are the enemy of God
that's something you should take seriously
you know there's a big difference between
Oh Holy Night
and Taylor Swift
and those other songs I was telling you about
go to Psalm 96
there's hundreds in the verses of the Bible
telling us to sing praises to the Lord
let's just look at a few
Psalm 96 1
sing unto the Lord a new song
sing unto the Lord all the earth
sing unto the Lord bless his name
show forth his salvation from day to day
hey there's nothing wrong
with singing a new song
coming up with new music
coming up with new styles of music
but what matters is the content
that matters a lot
and when your content is sinful
when your content is blasphemous
when your content is worldly
and friends with the world
then it's for sure something God doesn't like
Psalm 136
I will sing unto the Lord
because he has dealt bountifully with me
Psalm 1849
therefore I will give thanks unto the Oh Lord
among the heathen and sing praises
unto thy name
I like the hymn where it says
let my voice, it says something like
always only for my king
let me lift my voice always only
for my king
God wants us to sing praises unto him
Psalm 34 sing unto the Lord
thanks at the remembrance of his holiness
Psalm 332
praise the Lord with harp
sing unto him with the sultry
and an instrument of ten strings
don't get the idea that musical instruments are bad
you don't want to be like the church of Christ
where they go so far in this direction
that they think the piano is sinful
the guitar is sinful
the Bible is literally telling you
to praise God with instruments
the Bible is telling you to do that
how people could walk away from the Bible
with instruments
it baffles the mind
there's nothing wrong with new songs
there's nothing wrong with instruments
there's no such thing as a tune that's just
inherently sinful or anything like that
but let me tell you
the songs that I just listed
those are sinful
and if you have a problem with that
I'm just telling you you are not right with God
whether you want to like me
or agree or disagree
if you listen to that crap
go back to 1 Samuel chapter
16
and I get it, it could be hard
music sometimes is some of the hardest things for people to give up
when they start learning about things like this
music has an addicting
lure to us
but I'm telling you you need to stop listening to stuff like that
verse 17
and Saul said unto his servants, provide me now
a man that could play well
and bring him to me
then answered one of the servants and said, behold I have seen a son of Jesse
the Bethlehemite
that is cunning and playing
and a mighty valiant man
and a man of war and prudent in matters
and a comely person
and the Lord is with him
how would you like to have that testimony said about you?
I mean you could see
why David is a man after God's own heart
you could see why David
was the superstar that he was
wasn't because of his looks
wasn't because of any of those things
but it was because the person that he was
and think about this
you know David didn't have trouble finding
a wife
let's just be honest ok
and if you're having trouble finding a spouse
here's a great thing to focus on
alright check this out
cunning and playing you know what chicks love
chicks love guys that play instruments
I'm just let's just be honest
did ladies like King David or not?
yep and you know what he was cunning
and playing he was good at instruments
and he was a mighty valiant man
I mean he could have done the hundred push up
a day challenge with one hand
easily he'd have no problem
he's a mighty valiant man
and you know what women like
mighty valiant men
men that are strong
men that are bold right
and a man of war
you know your wife might not tell you this
but girls like guys that know how to turn on
the kick you know what
if they have to
girls like guys that actually
you know like how do you use this thing
like you actually know how to use a weapon
you could actually kill someone
that's trying to kill your family
if you had to do that right
he was a man of war
and prudence in matters
he was wise he made good decisions
he had foresight he was a good leader
he had good vision
and a comely person
notice looks are almost one of the last things
and guess what ladies care
some of the least about
if you have all those other things
I guarantee you there will be a line of women
that would like to know you
and it says last thing
and the Lord is
with him
that is very important right there
and honestly that trumps everything else on the list
when God is with you
you're going to see
people have favor with you in life
and God have favor with you in life
verse 19 says this
and Jesse took an ass
laden with bread
and a bottle of wine and a kid
and sent them by David his son unto Saul
and David came to Saul
and stood before him
and he loved him greatly
and he became his armor bear
you know one of the things that the narrator of the bible says
about King Saul is that Saul
loved David
and that's kind of sad to think about
because soon we're going to see
Saul treat David
and you know we have to be careful in life
not to treat the people that we love the most
the worst
because it's not like Saul didn't love him
I mean the narrator is telling us that Saul loved David
yet pretty soon we're going to see that
Saul is trying to literally kill David
almost done here
verse 22 in Saul said
sent to Jesse saying
let David I pray thee stand before me
notice for he hath found favor
in my sight
and it came to pass when the evil spirit
from God was upon Saul
that David took in harp
played with his hand so again the music is changing him
so Saul was refreshed
and was well and the evil spirit
departed from him
so you know the chapter kind of ends
saying that basically
David is pleasing in Saul's sight
David is the one that God chose
and not only is David pleasing in the sight of God
but David is even
pleasing in the eyes of a man
who's sinful, wicked
disobedient, rebellious to God
David finds favor in both
of their eyes
now that is an awesome ability in life
if you could have to find favor
not just with God
not just with your spouse
not just with your brothers in Christ
but maybe even your worldly unsafe boss at work
that could have favor with you
that is a great thing to have
I'm going to read a couple verses we'll be done
Proverbs 22 29 says
seeest thou a man diligent in his business
he shall stand before kings
wasn't that literally true for David
he's a hard worker
he has character
he's out with the sheep
and he's standing now before a king
last verse Psalm 75 verse 6
for promotion cometh neither from the east
nor from the west
nor from the south
but God is the judge
he puteth down one
and seteth up another
you know if you are pleasing to God
and God wants to bless you
there's no Saul that could stand in your way
there's no person who even is
super rebellious and
backslidden and far from God
if God wants to rise you up
if God wants to bless you
he's the author of promotion
and at the end of the day our trust
should not be in ourselves
in our appearance
in any of those things what we should really focus on
is making sure that we're pleasing
in the eyes of God
thank you for this day
thank you for this wonderful chapter in your word
I just prayed that you would
help continue to reveal great truths
of this book to us as we study it
help us to be someone like David
who's a hard worker
and who has great character traits
help us not to focus too much
on the outward appearance of folks
but help us to love people for their heart
and their character
we love you thank you for your son Jesus Christ
in Jesus name and prayer
in Jesus name
all right with that
we'll go ahead and sing one last
song to conclude the service
you would take your
hymnals and turn to hymn number
432
angels from
the realms of glory
In number 432, we'll go ahead and start there right on the first.
Angels from the realms of glory, when you're fight or all the earth, ye who say creation's story, now proclaim Messiah's word.
Come and worship, come and worship, worship, Christ the newborn King, shepherds in the field of fighting,
watching for your fought fine eye, God with Ben is now anxiety, yonder shines through infant mind.
Come and worship, come and worship, worship, Christ the newborn King, sages in your contemplation, brighter visions be afar, seek the great desire of nations,
ye have seen his little star. Come and worship, come and worship, worship, Christ the newborn King, saints before the homes of living,
watching on in hope and fear, silently the Lord is sending, in his temple shall appear. Come and worship, come and worship, worship, Christ the newborn King.