WEBVTT 00:00.160 --> 00:02.160 Meow 00:05.360 --> 00:09.360 Meow 00:24.480 --> 00:15.360 Å 00:15.360 --> 00:17.360 Practice 00:31.360 --> 00:40.320 Skill 01:40.320 --> 02:01.980 Been Sau глаз passou 02:01.980 --> 02:10.980 Alright, good evening everyone. 02:10.980 --> 02:12.540 Welcome to Acre Baptist Church. 02:12.540 --> 02:16.340 This time we're going to sing our first song of the evening. 02:16.340 --> 02:22.300 Go turn your hymnals please to song 66 at Calvary. 02:22.300 --> 02:26.980 Song number 66 at Calvary. 02:26.980 --> 02:28.980 Let's sing it out together nice and loud. 02:28.980 --> 02:31.980 66 at Calvary. 02:56.980 --> 03:04.980 I prayed in grace once free, pardon there was multiplied to me. 03:04.980 --> 03:13.980 There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. 03:13.980 --> 03:18.980 I got hurt at last, my sin I learned. 03:18.980 --> 03:23.980 Then I trembled at the law I'd spurn. 03:23.980 --> 03:32.980 Then all my guilty soul and quarreling turned to Calvary. 03:32.980 --> 03:37.980 Mercy there was great and grace was free. 03:37.980 --> 03:42.980 Pardon there was multiplied to me. 03:42.980 --> 03:51.980 There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. 03:51.980 --> 03:56.980 Oh the love that grew salvation's plan. 03:56.980 --> 04:01.980 Oh the grace that brought it down to man. 04:01.980 --> 04:11.980 Oh the mighty gold that God did stake at Calvary. 04:11.980 --> 04:16.980 Mercy there was great and grace was free. 04:16.980 --> 04:20.980 Pardon there was multiplied to me. 04:20.980 --> 04:30.980 There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. 04:30.980 --> 04:35.980 Now I give to Jesus everything. 04:35.980 --> 04:40.980 Now I gladly own him as my King. 04:40.980 --> 04:50.980 Thou my raptured soul can only sing of Calvary. 04:50.980 --> 04:55.980 Mercy there was great and grace was free. 04:55.980 --> 05:00.980 Pardon there was multiplied to me. 05:00.980 --> 05:09.980 There my burdened soul found liberty at Calvary. 05:09.980 --> 05:10.980 Amen. 05:39.980 --> 05:44.980 Let's get that together to song number 247. 05:44.980 --> 05:48.980 247 together here. 05:48.980 --> 05:53.980 Saved, saved. 05:53.980 --> 05:59.980 Song number 247. 05:59.980 --> 06:00.980 Let's do that together. 06:00.980 --> 06:07.980 Saved, saved. 06:07.980 --> 06:15.980 I found a friend who is all to me. 06:15.980 --> 06:22.980 His love is ever true. 06:22.980 --> 06:29.980 I thought to tell how he lifted me. 06:29.980 --> 06:36.980 And what his grace can do for you. 06:36.980 --> 06:40.980 Saved by his power divine. 06:40.980 --> 06:44.980 Saved through new life divine. 06:44.980 --> 06:48.980 Life now is sweet and my joy is complete. 06:48.980 --> 06:52.980 For I'm saved, saved, saved. 06:53.980 --> 07:01.980 He saves me from every sin and harm. 07:01.980 --> 07:09.980 Secures my soul each day. 07:09.980 --> 07:17.980 I'm leaning strong on his mighty arm. 07:17.980 --> 07:25.980 I know he'll guide me all the way. 07:25.980 --> 07:29.980 Saved by his power divine. 07:29.980 --> 07:33.980 Saved through new life divine. 07:33.980 --> 07:37.980 Life now is sweet and my joy is complete. 07:37.980 --> 07:41.980 For I'm saved, saved, saved. 07:41.980 --> 07:49.980 When poor and needy and all alone. 07:49.980 --> 07:57.980 In love he said to me. 07:57.980 --> 08:05.980 Come unto me and I'll lead you home. 08:05.980 --> 08:13.980 To live with me eternally. 08:13.980 --> 08:17.980 Saved by his power divine. 08:17.980 --> 08:21.980 Saved through new life so blind. 08:21.980 --> 08:25.980 Life now is sweet and my joy is complete. 08:25.980 --> 08:29.980 For I'm saved, saved, saved. 08:35.980 --> 08:39.980 I'm leaning strong on his power divine. 08:39.980 --> 08:43.980 Saved by his power divine. 08:43.980 --> 08:47.980 Saved through new life divine. 08:47.980 --> 08:51.980 Saved through new life divine. 08:51.980 --> 08:55.980 Saved through new life divine. 08:55.980 --> 08:59.980 Saved through new life divine. 08:59.980 --> 09:03.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:03.980 --> 09:07.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:07.980 --> 09:11.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:11.980 --> 09:15.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:15.980 --> 09:19.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:19.980 --> 09:23.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:23.980 --> 09:27.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:27.980 --> 09:31.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:31.980 --> 09:35.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:35.980 --> 09:39.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:39.980 --> 09:43.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:43.980 --> 09:47.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:47.980 --> 09:51.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:51.980 --> 09:55.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:55.980 --> 09:59.980 Saved through new life divine. 09:59.980 --> 10:03.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:03.980 --> 10:07.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:07.980 --> 10:11.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:11.980 --> 10:15.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:15.980 --> 10:19.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:19.980 --> 10:23.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:23.980 --> 10:27.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:27.980 --> 10:31.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:31.980 --> 10:35.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:35.980 --> 10:39.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:39.980 --> 10:43.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:43.980 --> 10:47.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:47.980 --> 10:51.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:51.980 --> 10:55.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:55.980 --> 10:59.980 Saved through new life divine. 10:59.980 --> 11:03.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:03.980 --> 11:07.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:07.980 --> 11:11.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:11.980 --> 11:15.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:15.980 --> 11:19.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:19.980 --> 11:23.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:23.980 --> 11:27.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:27.980 --> 11:31.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:31.980 --> 11:35.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:35.980 --> 11:39.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:39.980 --> 11:43.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:43.980 --> 11:47.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:47.980 --> 11:51.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:51.980 --> 11:55.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:55.980 --> 11:59.980 Saved through new life divine. 11:59.980 --> 12:03.980 Saved through new life divine. 12:03.980 --> 12:07.980 Saved through new life divine. 12:07.980 --> 12:11.980 Saved through new life divine. 12:11.980 --> 12:15.980 Saved through new life divine. 12:15.980 --> 12:19.980 Saved through new life divine. 12:19.980 --> 12:28.980 And thank you so much for just hearing our prayers. Thank you for opening the womb, Miss Jennifer, and blessing Cameron and Jennifer with a child. 12:28.980 --> 12:37.980 I pray that you just help that child to grow and to be healthy and to develop and that you just bless them along their journey of having the first child. 12:37.980 --> 12:43.980 I pray also for my sister-in-law, Reagan, that you bless her baby. That baby would be healthy. 12:43.980 --> 12:49.980 I pray for the Lemon family. I pray for baby Uriah with his heart condition. 12:49.980 --> 12:57.980 I just pray that that child would develop and grow strong and blue so that when he goes into surgery he'll be able to handle it and do well. 12:57.980 --> 13:04.980 I just pray that she would heal that baby's body, heal that baby's heart, and help the Lemon family during this difficult time. 13:04.980 --> 13:12.980 I also want to pray for my wife that she just bless her for her surgery recovery and she would be able to fully heal from that, Lord. 13:12.980 --> 13:20.980 I pray for the Samara family that you help them with the house repairs that they have and just for their moving process here in Oklahoma City. 13:20.980 --> 13:26.980 I pray that you just bless their desire to be in the Holy Church and that you just help them with that whole process. 13:26.980 --> 13:34.980 I also pray for Brother Hall's health as well as for Miss Jennifer's mother, Piper, that she would fully recover from her knee surgery. 13:34.980 --> 13:41.980 That you just help her to be able to sleep and be comfortable and get mobility back in her knee and strength back in her knee, Lord. 13:41.980 --> 13:48.980 I pray for Brother Eric in the Philippines that you keep him healthy and keep him safe and help him keep working hard. 13:48.980 --> 13:54.980 I just pray that the doors of opportunity would stay open for him, that he would continue to reach multitudes for Christ. 13:54.980 --> 14:03.980 I also want to pray for Pastor Stuckey and Soledad and Baptist Church over there in the Philippines, that she would greatly strengthen the work that they're doing over there. 14:03.980 --> 14:09.980 That she would bless Pastor Shelly, or Pastor Stuckey, that is, and help him to continue doing a great job. 14:09.980 --> 14:15.980 I also want to pray for Theodore, for his mother's cancer to be healed, as well as for the Hausberg family. 14:15.980 --> 14:19.980 I pray that you please bless for Miles and Rhea as well, Lord. 14:19.980 --> 14:30.980 And I pray that you bless all of our people who are traveling to the conference this evening, that you just keep them safe if they're still on the road and bring them back to us safely again. 14:30.980 --> 14:32.980 We love you in Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 14:32.980 --> 14:33.980 Amen. 14:33.980 --> 14:39.980 Alright, so we're gonna go to our third song this evening. It's gonna be in your white handouts in your row there. 14:39.980 --> 14:42.980 It is Psalm 149. 14:42.980 --> 14:45.980 Psalm 149. 14:45.980 --> 14:49.980 Just scripture straight from the Bible put to music. 14:49.980 --> 14:54.980 So we're gonna sing together Psalm 149. 15:03.980 --> 15:31.980 Praise be to the Lord, sing to the Lord a new song, And his praise in the congregation of saints, Let his reory joy sing in their pain, Let the children of Zion be joyful in their joy. 15:31.980 --> 15:59.980 Let them praise his name in the days, Let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and heart, For the Lord take his pleasure in his people, He will beautify the world. 15:59.980 --> 16:06.980 He will beautify the meek with salvation. 16:06.980 --> 16:27.980 Let the saints be joyful in glory, Let them sing aloud upon their beds, Let the might-bravings of God be 16:27.980 --> 16:52.980 In their mouth, And the two edges stored in their hands, Two ends in huge vengeance upon the heathen, And punishments upon the people. 16:52.980 --> 17:21.980 To thine there, who with chains and air, Knows with fetters of fire, Two eggs in huge upon them the judgment written, This slaughter have all his saints praised. 17:22.980 --> 17:27.980 Praise be to the Lord. 17:27.980 --> 17:32.980 Alright at this time if you would please turn in your Bibles to Ecclesiastes chapter number 7. 17:32.980 --> 17:35.980 Ecclesiastes chapter number 7. 18:02.980 --> 18:30.980 Ecclesiastes chapter number 7. 18:30.980 --> 18:39.980 A good name is better than precious appointment in the day of death, in the day of one's birth. 18:39.980 --> 18:43.980 It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of feasting. 18:43.980 --> 18:48.980 For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart. 18:48.980 --> 18:54.980 Sorrow is better than laughter, for by the stagness of accountants the heart is better. 18:54.980 --> 19:01.980 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of the fools is in the house of murder. 19:01.980 --> 19:08.980 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 19:08.980 --> 19:13.980 For as the cracking of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. 19:13.980 --> 19:16.980 This also is vanity. 19:16.980 --> 19:22.980 Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart. 19:22.980 --> 19:29.980 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 19:29.980 --> 19:35.980 Do not haste thee and thy spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools. 19:35.980 --> 19:41.980 Say not thou, when is the cause that the former days were better than these? 19:41.980 --> 19:46.980 For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 19:46.980 --> 19:53.980 Wisdom is good with inheritance, but by it there is profit for them that see the sun. 19:53.980 --> 19:57.980 For wisdom is a defense, and money is a defense. 19:57.980 --> 20:07.980 But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom given life to them that have it. 20:07.980 --> 20:13.980 Consider the work of God. Who can make that strength which he hath made good? 20:16.980 --> 20:28.980 Verse 14. 20:28.980 --> 20:37.980 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of diversity consider God also hath set the one over against the other, 20:37.980 --> 20:41.980 to the end that man should do nothing after him. 20:41.980 --> 20:46.980 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity. 20:46.980 --> 20:54.980 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 20:54.980 --> 21:00.980 Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise, why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 21:00.980 --> 21:07.980 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish, why shouldest thou die with my crying? 21:07.980 --> 21:19.980 It is good thou shouldest take hold of this, yea, also from this withdraw not thy hand, for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 21:19.980 --> 21:32.980 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city, for there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good, instead of not. 21:32.980 --> 21:47.980 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee, for oft times also of thine own part knoweth that thou thyself lifelikeest of those others. 21:47.980 --> 21:55.980 All this have I proved by wisdom, I said, I will be wise, but it is far from me. 21:55.980 --> 22:01.980 That which is far off and exceeding thee, who can find it out? 22:01.980 --> 22:14.980 I apply my heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things, to know the wickedness of falling, even of foolishness and madness. 22:14.980 --> 22:31.980 And I find more bitter than death the women whose heart is snares and nets, and her bands as bands, who so please that God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. 22:31.980 --> 22:40.980 Behold, this have I found, sadeth the preacher, counting one by one to find out the account. 22:40.980 --> 22:51.980 Which yet my soul seeketh, that I find not. One man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found. 22:51.980 --> 22:58.980 Behold, this one thing have I found, that I have made them upright, but they have sought out many inventions. 22:58.980 --> 23:04.980 Right? Gracious Lord, thank you for being gathered in your house. Thank you to be here for the preaching of your word. 23:04.980 --> 23:09.980 Great Lord, that you could just help us to focus on preaching and apply it to our lives. 23:09.980 --> 23:13.980 I pray that you could pass your awesome spirit. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 23:14.980 --> 23:19.980 Alright, please ask these, chapter number seven, we're starting verse number one there. 23:19.980 --> 23:27.980 The Bible says a good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth. 23:27.980 --> 23:33.980 So what is the Bible talking about here when it says a good name is better than precious ointment? 23:33.980 --> 23:37.980 Precious ointment could be like a picture of wealth, money, material, good. 23:37.980 --> 23:42.980 And the Bible is saying that it's better to have a good reputation than just to have a lot of money. 23:42.980 --> 23:47.980 Because if you have a lot of money, but you're just kind of a scumbag and you just treat everyone poorly, 23:47.980 --> 23:52.980 you know if you lose all that money, you're kind of just out of luck because you burned all the bridges in your life. 23:52.980 --> 23:57.980 Whereas if you're someone who has a good reputation, even if you don't necessarily have a lot of money, 23:57.980 --> 24:01.980 you have other people to rely on, you have more of a community. 24:01.980 --> 24:05.980 And so it's good for us to have a good reputation, but I will say this, 24:05.980 --> 24:09.980 it does matter who it is that you have a good reputation among. 24:10.980 --> 24:16.980 For example, you know it's important that we as Christians have a good reputation with other Christians. 24:16.980 --> 24:22.980 It's also important that we have a good reputation in the world as far as that the world doesn't dislike you 24:22.980 --> 24:28.980 because like you're a thief or you're a liar or you're being a bad worker on the job. 24:28.980 --> 24:31.980 You know it's not necessarily a bad thing if the world thinks negatively of us, 24:31.980 --> 24:36.980 if the reason to think negatively of us is because of our faith. 24:36.980 --> 24:40.980 Right, so of course, Jesus Christ, everyone acts like, oh you know if Jesus was here today, 24:40.980 --> 24:45.980 he'd just be like this loved and adored figure. Jesus made everyone mad. 24:45.980 --> 24:50.980 I mean Jesus was being, you know, cast out of towns, the Jews wanted to cast him out of their towns, 24:50.980 --> 24:55.980 the Jews were constantly saying, get this guy away from us, the Jews literally killed him. 24:55.980 --> 24:59.980 Alright, so Jesus was not one who was just loved by everyone, 24:59.980 --> 25:03.980 but here's the one thing about the Lord Jesus Christ is that you couldn't look at him and say, 25:03.980 --> 25:08.980 Oh, he was a sinner. Oh, he was a thief. Oh, he was this and that. 25:08.980 --> 25:12.980 No, the reason that he was hated was for his righteousness. 25:12.980 --> 25:16.980 So it's fine if we're hated, it's fine if we have a bad reputation among the world, 25:16.980 --> 25:23.980 as long as it's for our faith in Jesus Christ, not because we're doing shady stuff, being wicked people, stuff like that. 25:23.980 --> 25:26.980 But you know among Christians, we should have a good name. 25:26.980 --> 25:31.980 And notice it says, and the day of death, then the day of one's birth. 25:31.980 --> 25:34.980 Now on the surface, this could kind of seem strange. 25:34.980 --> 25:40.980 It's like, you know, why would the day of someone's death be better than the day of someone's birth? 25:40.980 --> 25:43.980 You know, when someone gives birth, everyone's happy. 25:43.980 --> 25:46.980 That's something that we're celebrating. That's something we're looking forward to. 25:46.980 --> 25:51.980 And you know, when someone dies, what are we? We're normally sad, mourning, upset about that. 25:51.980 --> 25:56.980 But you know, as a Christian, death should be viewed differently than how the world views death. 25:56.980 --> 26:03.980 Because you know, what's great, what's a great testimony as a Christian is if you live your whole life serving God, 26:03.980 --> 26:09.980 pleasing God, and you get to the end of your life and you could say this, that you have finished your race, 26:09.980 --> 26:12.980 that you have finished the work that God has given you to do. 26:12.980 --> 26:18.980 You know, that's actually very commendable because most people in this world do not finish the things that God wants them to do. 26:18.980 --> 26:24.980 Right? I mean, we see people all the time go through little phases of their life where, 26:24.980 --> 26:28.980 oh, maybe in my teenage years, I was really into church. I was really into the Bible. 26:28.980 --> 26:31.980 Oh, I'd go to the youth camps and I really cared about the things of God. 26:31.980 --> 26:34.980 And then they go to college and then they just never go to church again. 26:34.980 --> 26:38.980 Like, are we really going to commend that person just because they went to church for a few years? 26:38.980 --> 26:44.980 You know, I'm sorry, I'm not that impressed. I'm not that impressed by someone as a child being dragged to church by their parents. 26:44.980 --> 26:51.980 I'm not really that impressed, you know, or, oh, I kind of just had this bout of spiritualism when I was in my 30s and I just decided to go to church. 26:51.980 --> 26:58.980 No, you know what impresses me is an old man or an old woman that has served God faithfully their whole life. 26:58.980 --> 27:03.980 Now, here's the thing. There is never a bad time to start serving God. 27:03.980 --> 27:11.980 If, hey, if you're that person where you didn't serve God in your youth, in your teenage years, in your 20s, in your 30s, and you find yourself, here I am, I'm 40 years old. 27:11.980 --> 27:18.980 OK, well, now start serving God. But whatever age you start serving God, you know, don't go, oh, I'm going to serve him. 27:18.980 --> 27:23.980 I'm going to stop. I'm a servant. I'm going to stop. Just get in the things of God and stay there. 27:23.980 --> 27:28.980 Get in church and stay there. Become a soul winner and stay a soul winner. 27:28.980 --> 27:31.980 Don't just go through your life constantly hopping in and out of church. 27:31.980 --> 27:37.980 And then when you actually get to the very end, you can say, hey, I finished my race. I have finished my course. 27:37.980 --> 27:42.980 You know, that actually is commendable seeing the end of something rather than just the beginning. 27:42.980 --> 27:49.980 Look at verse number two. It says it is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting. 27:49.980 --> 27:59.980 Why? It says right there for meaning because that is the end of all men and the living will lay it to his heart. 27:59.980 --> 28:05.980 So, again, your average Joe in this world, if they have to choose, hey, do I want to go to the house of mourning? 28:05.980 --> 28:10.980 Which what could that be like? That could be like a funeral or some sort of solemn occasion. 28:11.980 --> 28:15.980 Would you rather go to the funeral? Would you rather go to the house of mourning or the house of feasting? 28:15.980 --> 28:18.980 Most people are going to say, hey, sign me up for the house of feasting, right? 28:18.980 --> 28:22.980 Sign me up for that Thanksgiving party. Sign me up for going to the party. 28:22.980 --> 28:27.980 But notice how the Bible says that it's better to go to the house of mourning. Why? 28:27.980 --> 28:31.980 Because that is the end of all men. 28:31.980 --> 28:39.980 So when you go to something like a funeral or some sort of solemn occasion, what a wise person does is it should cause them to be introspective. 28:39.980 --> 28:44.980 About their own life and say, wow, I'm going to that same casket someday. 28:44.980 --> 28:48.980 Wow, I'm going to be going into the ground someday as well. 28:48.980 --> 28:57.980 And, you know, the fool just wants to live their life party after party, you know, hook up after hook up, drug fix after drug fix. 28:57.980 --> 29:01.980 But the wise person, you know, wants to lay to heart the fact that, hey, you know what? 29:01.980 --> 29:06.980 I am going to die someday. And if you realize that, if you actually think about that and dwell on that, 29:06.980 --> 29:11.980 it should cause you to ask yourself how you're living now. 29:11.980 --> 29:15.980 You know, you know, I know for a fact that I'm saved because I believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. 29:15.980 --> 29:25.980 You know, the Bible says these things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have everlasting life and that you may believe on the name of the Son of God. 29:25.980 --> 29:29.980 Hey, I know I'm saved not because I'm a good person, but because I've put my faith in Christ. 29:29.980 --> 29:31.980 So I already know that I'm going to heaven someday. 29:31.980 --> 29:37.980 But, you know, there's a question mark as to how I'm going to live my life between now and the time that I'm in heaven. 29:37.980 --> 29:50.980 And I often think about, you know, if I could just fast forward time and be in heaven and look down at my life right now, what would what would the Dylan in heaven be telling the Dylan right here to be doing right now? 29:50.980 --> 29:55.980 That's something that I think about because, you know, the Dylan in heaven would always say, hey, go soul winning more. 29:55.980 --> 30:00.980 Go to church more. Read your Bible more. Pray more. Love your neighbor more. 30:00.980 --> 30:03.980 But, you know, in this world, we just get kind of caught up in the rat race. 30:03.980 --> 30:09.980 We get caught up in the flesh. We get tired. Sometimes we get the feeling like, oh, you know, should I go to church? 30:09.980 --> 30:11.980 I'm pretty tired. But you know what? 30:11.980 --> 30:18.980 If you think about the end of your life, no one's going to get to the end of their life and say, man, I wish I had served God less. 30:18.980 --> 30:23.980 No one gets to the end of their life and says, man, I wish that I loved my neighbor less. 30:23.980 --> 30:27.980 I wish that I loved my family less. I wish that I was more selfish. 30:27.980 --> 30:29.980 No one says that at the end of their life, right? 30:29.980 --> 30:33.980 They're constantly saying like, man, I was so foolish and selfish. 30:33.980 --> 30:37.980 Man, why didn't I have more kids? Man, why didn't I? Why didn't I spend more time with them? 30:37.980 --> 30:39.980 Man, why didn't I reach more people for Christ? 30:39.980 --> 30:45.980 But here's the thing. Let other people's example teach you now to lay these things to your heart. 30:45.980 --> 30:54.980 And now while you're here on this earth, actually live a life that is meaningful, that is, you know, eternal in value. 30:54.980 --> 30:59.980 Look what it says in verse number three. It says sorrow is better than laughter. 30:59.980 --> 31:03.980 Again, that's kind of counterintuitive to how this world thinks. Why? 31:03.980 --> 31:08.980 For by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better. 31:08.980 --> 31:11.980 So the Bible says sorrow is better than laughter. 31:11.980 --> 31:15.980 That's a very extreme thing to say because everyone loves to laugh. 31:15.980 --> 31:21.980 People literally pay money to go to a comedy show where they just pay some guy to make you laugh. 31:21.980 --> 31:24.980 Why? Because, you know, laughter is fun. It makes us feel good. 31:24.980 --> 31:30.980 But, you know, in a certain way, the Bible says that sorrow is actually better than laughter. Why? 31:30.980 --> 31:34.980 For by the by the sadness of the countenance, the heart is made better. 31:34.980 --> 31:39.980 What is this saying? You know, people who actually go through really difficult things, 31:39.980 --> 31:46.980 people who go through very hard times and they allow God to teach them the lessons that God has for them during those times, 31:46.980 --> 31:49.980 it causes them to become a better person. 31:49.980 --> 31:53.980 Whereas have you ever met someone where they really haven't gone through many struggles or issues? 31:53.980 --> 31:57.980 And sometimes it can cause that person to be extremely prideful. 31:57.980 --> 32:03.980 It could cause that person to think like, you know, let's say no one's ever let's say someone's never struggled financially. 32:03.980 --> 32:08.980 Maybe they would just look down on people who struggle financially and think like, oh, you struggle financially. 32:08.980 --> 32:12.980 Well, you must be poor and stupid and lazy. And why don't you just make more money? 32:12.980 --> 32:18.980 But it's like if you actually have gone through some hardship, you could actually have some compassion on people and say, 32:18.980 --> 32:22.980 hey, I've been through a hard time before. God's helped me through that. 32:22.980 --> 32:30.980 But I do want to stress this, though, just because you have gone through hard times does not automatically automatically make you a good person, 32:30.980 --> 32:36.980 though, because there are some people who go through hard times and during those hard times, they lean on the Lord. 32:36.980 --> 32:40.980 They take the lessons that God has given to them. They don't get bitter at God. 32:40.980 --> 32:44.980 They're still thankful to God. And you know what? Those people become better people. 32:44.980 --> 32:53.980 There's other people who go through the exact same challenges, ended up getting bitter and hateful and complaining and just despising God, 32:53.980 --> 32:58.980 despising their life. You know what? Those people are wasting opportunities to become a better person. 32:58.980 --> 33:08.980 Go, if you would, to Psalm 81, Psalm 81. You know, this is how the nation of Israel was big time. 33:08.980 --> 33:12.980 God would send them trials and tribulations to test their faith. 33:12.980 --> 33:17.980 And oftentimes they would just complain, get bitter at God, get bitter at Moses. 33:17.980 --> 33:23.980 And God, as a result, was angry at them. Right. Look what it says in verse number 13 of Psalm 81. 33:23.980 --> 33:29.980 It says, oh, that my people had hearkened unto me and Israel had walked in my ways. 33:29.980 --> 33:32.980 God's like, I wish they would have just listened. 33:32.980 --> 33:39.980 Verse 14, I should soon have subdued their enemies and turned my hand against their adversaries. 33:39.980 --> 33:46.980 The haters of the Lord should have submitted themselves unto him, but their time should have endured forever. 33:46.980 --> 33:53.980 Verse 16, he should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat and with honey out of the rock. 33:53.980 --> 33:59.980 Should I have satisfied thee? He's saying, man, why didn't you people just listen to me? 33:59.980 --> 34:04.980 Why didn't you people just trust in me? Hey, I was going to deliver you of your enemies. 34:04.980 --> 34:09.980 I was going to bless you. I was going to cause your adversaries to flee before you. 34:09.980 --> 34:14.980 And I like how he says this, with honey out of the rock, should I have satisfied thee? 34:14.980 --> 34:21.980 You know, I think that a rock can symbolize or be a picture of, you know, hardship in our life, right? 34:21.980 --> 34:25.980 Something that we have to struggle against or climb over or deal with. 34:25.980 --> 34:30.980 You know, some people, they look at the rock as the rock and they complain about the rock. 34:30.980 --> 34:34.980 Other people realize, hey, there's some honey inside of that rock. 34:34.980 --> 34:41.980 And some people are willing to go through the trials and the tribulations and trust God and wait for that honey out of the rock that God's ready to give you. 34:41.980 --> 34:46.980 Other people, they see the rock, they complain, they cry, they get mad, they get angry, they get bitter. 34:46.980 --> 34:51.980 So, you know, some people, they want to act like, oh, because I've been through hardships, I'm a really great person. 34:51.980 --> 34:54.980 Not necessarily. It's how you handle those hardships. 34:54.980 --> 34:58.980 Because there are people that go through hardships and they just want to be a victim. 34:58.980 --> 35:03.980 They just want to complain. Woe is me. I'm oppressed. I am. I'm disadvantaged. 35:03.980 --> 35:06.980 I've got all these problems. It's like, let me just help you with something. 35:06.980 --> 35:12.980 If you're saved and if God is your father, you're not oppressed and down and downtrodden in your luck. 35:12.980 --> 35:18.980 It's like you're a child of God. OK, you have access to the God of the universe to help you. 35:18.980 --> 35:25.980 And so instead of just getting sad or down in the mouth, why don't you pray to him, trust him, serve him, wait on the Lord? 35:25.980 --> 35:28.980 Go back to Ecclesiastes, chapter number seven. 35:28.980 --> 35:32.980 So, you know, sorrow is better than laughter, the Bible says. 35:32.980 --> 35:43.980 Verse number four, the Bible says the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 35:43.980 --> 35:46.980 So what is a foolish person? It's a stupid person. 35:46.980 --> 35:51.980 It's a person that lacks understanding. And the Bible says that a fool wants to be in the house of mirth. 35:51.980 --> 35:56.980 Right. And when I think of this, just think of your prototypical college frat party. 35:56.980 --> 36:01.980 Right. What are you going to think about? Just laughter, dancing, giggling. 36:01.980 --> 36:05.980 But, you know, the Bible says that that's a foolish person that does those type of things. 36:05.980 --> 36:08.980 Whereas the wise, their heart is in the house of mourning. 36:09.980 --> 36:18.980 Verse number five says it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 36:18.980 --> 36:26.980 So what is rebuke? Rebuke is being told sharply, strongly that you are wrong. 36:26.980 --> 36:36.980 And you know what people need to be told today is when they are wrong, because we live in a society that is so soft and so selfish and just prideful, 36:36.980 --> 36:45.980 where everyone thinks that they know everything. But the Bible says that the wise person hears the rebuke of the wise rather than what? 36:45.980 --> 36:53.980 To hear the song of fools. You know, this is what I feel like a lot of churches are today is just the song of fools. 36:53.980 --> 37:00.980 Where there's not really preaching in the preaching that exists. It's not hard preaching where it's going to correct you and tell you that you're wrong. 37:00.980 --> 37:08.980 They're just going to have some sort of rock band up there with smoke and mirrors, a bunch of girls in miniskirts, swooning and swaying and everything like that. 37:08.980 --> 37:12.980 Just singing the song of fools where what we need today is we need rebuke. 37:12.980 --> 37:17.980 We need to be told that we are wrong because guess what? We are all wrong about things. 37:17.980 --> 37:22.980 We all have the flesh. We all need to wash our brain with the word of God. 37:22.980 --> 37:28.980 Because our ideas, our man's philosophy, man's ideas are not what's best. 37:28.980 --> 37:32.980 It's actually, of course, what the Bible says. Verse number six. 37:32.980 --> 37:38.980 The Bible says, for as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. 37:38.980 --> 37:44.980 This also is vanity. You know, if you've ever started a fire before, use the kindling. 37:44.980 --> 37:50.980 And when you first start it, it's lots of cracking sounds and it just it goes up in a quick fire and it's immediately gone. 37:50.980 --> 37:52.980 Right. It's vain. It's empty. 37:52.980 --> 37:57.980 You're not going to keep a fire being sustained with this kindling that you use to start a fire. 37:57.980 --> 38:03.980 Well, it's like this is the laughter of the fool is that you're actually not going to you're not going to sustain an actual meaningful, 38:03.980 --> 38:10.980 fulfilled life being the fool that's just always chasing the next party, the next laugh, the next good time. 38:10.980 --> 38:16.980 Look, people who seek this kind of stuff, they may outwardly appear happy, but inwardly they are miserable people. 38:17.980 --> 38:22.980 These Hollywood celebrities and these people just obsessed with this party lifestyle. 38:22.980 --> 38:24.980 Look, they are miserable individuals. 38:24.980 --> 38:31.980 This is why you see, you know, drug addiction so high among celebrities and being addicted to alcohol. 38:31.980 --> 38:35.980 And you see all these celebrities constantly going out, committing crimes, robbing things. 38:35.980 --> 38:38.980 It's like you have millions of dollars. Why are you getting caught shoplifting? 38:38.980 --> 38:41.980 Because these people are honestly just miserable on the inside. 38:41.980 --> 38:44.980 It's a vain, empty life. 38:44.980 --> 38:50.980 Verse seven, surely oppression make it the wise man mad and a gift destroyeth the heart. 38:50.980 --> 38:51.980 And then this is what he's saying here. 38:51.980 --> 38:58.980 Verse number eight, better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. 38:58.980 --> 39:03.980 And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 39:03.980 --> 39:06.980 You could help her if you know, if she doesn't know how to close. 39:06.980 --> 39:10.980 It's all good. It happens to all of us. Don't beat yourself up. No worries. 39:10.980 --> 39:12.980 No, you're good. You're good. 39:12.980 --> 39:18.980 But notice what it says there. It says in verse number eight, better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. 39:18.980 --> 39:21.980 And the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 39:21.980 --> 39:26.980 So that's what that whole section is talking about, how the end of a thing is better. 39:26.980 --> 39:28.980 Now I was going to talk about being hasty. 39:28.980 --> 39:37.980 Verse number nine says, be not hasty in my spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 39:37.980 --> 39:42.980 Now, when it comes to anger, there's definitely some unbalanced teaching when it comes to anger. 39:42.980 --> 39:47.980 Notice how this verse does not say never be angry whatsoever. 39:47.980 --> 39:51.980 This verse doesn't say never be mad. Being mad is a sin. 39:51.980 --> 39:55.980 What does it say? Be not hasty in my spirit to be angry. 39:55.980 --> 39:59.980 Right. So people who are just quick to get mad, they're on a hair trigger. 39:59.980 --> 40:03.980 These are foolish people. That's a foolish way to live your life. 40:03.980 --> 40:08.980 You know, someone cuts you off in traffic and you're just so mad you start flipping them off, pull out your gun or whatever. 40:08.980 --> 40:11.980 Road rage. That's a foolish person. 40:11.980 --> 40:16.980 But not all anger is bad because Jesus Christ himself got angry. 40:16.980 --> 40:23.980 The Bible talks about how he went into the temple of God and he saw the Jews doing what they always do, obsessing over money. 40:23.980 --> 40:28.980 Right. They're turning God's house into a house of merchandise, buying and selling in God's house. 40:28.980 --> 40:34.980 Jesus gets so mad, he goes outside and he fashions a whip, of course, with his hands. 40:34.980 --> 40:36.980 He's just like, all right, I'm just going to make this weapon. 40:36.980 --> 40:39.980 You know, he's not getting soon angry. He's not hasty to get angry. 40:39.980 --> 40:41.980 He's very slow to wrath, but he's getting mad. 40:41.980 --> 40:43.980 He's like, all right, I'm going to start building this weapon. 40:43.980 --> 40:47.980 He goes in and he starts literally physically beating people. 40:47.980 --> 40:51.980 And so like this idea of, oh, you need to be more Christlike because you're angry. 40:51.980 --> 40:54.980 It's like, hold on. Being angry at sin is righteous. 40:54.980 --> 40:58.980 Hey, the Bible says, be angry and sin not. 40:58.980 --> 41:03.980 Let not the sun go down upon your wrath so you could be angry and not be sinful. 41:03.980 --> 41:09.980 You know, when Jesus sees God's house being perverted and manipulated, he gets angry about that. 41:09.980 --> 41:12.980 So much so he flips tables and starts beating people. 41:12.980 --> 41:19.980 You know, what we need in America today is less of the churches that just want to sing you the pretty song and give you the nice message. 41:19.980 --> 41:22.980 We need some preachers to get angry about sin again. 41:22.980 --> 41:27.980 We need some preachers to get upset about sin and stop, you know, watering down sin. 41:27.980 --> 41:30.980 Oh, it's a loving relationship. No, no, no. 41:30.980 --> 41:32.980 It's whoredom. Hey, if you're not married, it's not. 41:32.980 --> 41:37.980 Oh, we're just a loving, you know, two consensual adults having a loving relationship. 41:37.980 --> 41:39.980 No, no, no. If you're not married, it's called being a whore. 41:39.980 --> 41:42.980 That's what it is. It's called being a whoremonger. 41:42.980 --> 41:45.980 Oh, you know, I just, you know, had an affair. 41:45.980 --> 41:48.980 I just had an affair. I stepped out on my wife, had an affair. 41:48.980 --> 41:51.980 No, no, no. You're an adulterer is what it is. 41:51.980 --> 41:55.980 Right. Oh, you know, I have a disease called alcoholism. 41:55.980 --> 41:57.980 No, no, no. You're a drunkard. 41:57.980 --> 42:01.980 Oh, you know, what disease do you have to be 21 years old to legally contract? 42:01.980 --> 42:03.980 My friend, it's not a disease. 42:03.980 --> 42:05.980 It's called being a drunkard. 42:05.980 --> 42:10.980 And you know what the Bible says in First Corinthians five that drunkards aren't even allowed in the house of God. 42:10.980 --> 42:13.980 But you're not going to hear that in most churches today because most churches are what? 42:13.980 --> 42:16.980 Singing you the song of fools. 42:16.980 --> 42:19.980 Right. Hey, it's not. Oh, it's an alternative lifestyle. 42:19.980 --> 42:22.980 No, no, no. It's called being a filthy faggot is what it is. 42:22.980 --> 42:31.980 And the Bible says in Leviticus 20 13 that if a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. 42:31.980 --> 42:36.980 They shall surely be put to what death their blood shall be upon them. 42:36.980 --> 42:38.980 That's what the Bible actually says. 42:38.980 --> 42:44.980 You know, we need some preachers today to actually get upset about wickedness in this world and not just be silent on every issue. 42:44.980 --> 42:46.980 Oh, I don't want to offend anyone. 42:46.980 --> 42:48.980 You know what? You need to be corrected. 42:48.980 --> 42:51.980 You need to get your mind right with what the Bible says. 42:51.980 --> 42:53.980 Look at verse number 10. 42:53.980 --> 42:55.980 It says, Say not thou. 42:55.980 --> 42:59.980 What is the cause that the former days were better than these? 42:59.980 --> 43:03.980 For thou dost not inquire wisely concerning this. 43:03.980 --> 43:07.980 So this is something that a foolish person will do is what does a foolish person do? 43:07.980 --> 43:09.980 Someone who's hasty. What do they do? 43:09.980 --> 43:10.980 They get mad quickly. 43:10.980 --> 43:17.980 Here's another foolish mentality that people have is looking back at the past and saying like, oh, why were the why were the past days so much better? 43:17.980 --> 43:18.980 Then they are today. 43:18.980 --> 43:23.980 And you know, our mentality should be that the best time to live is right now. 43:23.980 --> 43:25.980 You know, whatever whatever today is. 43:25.980 --> 43:32.980 And you know what? Next year, Lord willing, if we're all still here on this earth, 2027 will be the best time to be alive because it's the time that we're in. 43:32.980 --> 43:40.980 And, you know, it doesn't make any sense to sit here and lust and covet previous times, especially because times of the past probably aren't as good as you think in your mind. 43:40.980 --> 43:43.980 Anyways, it's like, what do you want to do? 43:44.980 --> 43:51.980 Live in the seventeen hundreds on the frontier of America, fighting the French and the Spanish and the Indians is like you really want to be doing that. 43:51.980 --> 43:54.980 You want to live in the eighteen hundreds during the Civil War. 43:54.980 --> 43:57.980 You want to live during the Great Depression in the nineteen hundreds. 43:57.980 --> 43:59.980 It's like, hey, twenty, twenty six is pretty great. 43:59.980 --> 44:02.980 If you ask me, I'm thankful for the time that we live in. 44:02.980 --> 44:06.980 And also, I think you could apply this to different stages of your life, too. 44:06.980 --> 44:11.980 You know, don't you know, when you hit adulthood, say like, oh, I miss childhood. 44:11.980 --> 44:14.980 No, no, just be an adult and just embrace being an adult. 44:14.980 --> 44:19.980 Hey, when you become old, just embrace becoming old and don't be like, oh, I miss the party days. 44:19.980 --> 44:20.980 I miss being a 20 year old. 44:20.980 --> 44:24.980 You know, it's weird how we have so many grandmas and grandpas today trying to be teenagers. 44:24.980 --> 44:27.980 It's like, just embrace the stage of life you're in. 44:27.980 --> 44:30.980 All right. Just hey, the former days weren't better. 44:30.980 --> 44:33.980 You're not inquiring wisely concerning this. 44:34.980 --> 44:43.980 The Bible says wisdom is good with an inheritance and by it, there is profit to them that see the sun. 44:43.980 --> 44:49.980 So getting an inheritance picture, getting some sort of money, you know, some monetary sum from your parents. 44:49.980 --> 44:53.980 That's good. But, you know, it's better is having wisdom with that inheritance. 44:53.980 --> 44:55.980 That's more profitable. Why? 44:55.980 --> 45:00.980 For wisdom is a defense and money is a defense. 45:00.980 --> 45:06.980 But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 45:06.980 --> 45:13.980 So, of course, everyone would want to get some sort of big monetary sum from their parents or grandparents. 45:13.980 --> 45:18.980 But, you know, that's not going to be as profitable to you as if you got something with wisdom. 45:18.980 --> 45:23.980 Wisdom is what's going to be profitable to direct our lives. 45:23.980 --> 45:28.980 And, of course, the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 45:28.980 --> 45:39.980 So if you want to be a wise person, you need to be seeking that wisdom first from the Lord, reading the Bible, going to church, praying, asking God for wisdom. 45:39.980 --> 45:49.980 It says in verse number 13, it says, consider the work of God for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked. 45:49.980 --> 45:53.980 You know, ask all these LGBT conversion therapy people that same question. 45:53.980 --> 45:55.980 I don't think they'll ever figure it out. 45:55.980 --> 45:59.980 Verse 14 says in the day of prosperity, be joyful. 45:59.980 --> 46:11.980 But in the day of adversity, consider God also have set the one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him. 46:11.980 --> 46:17.980 So, again, this is kind of reminiscent of the first part of the chapter where, hey, laughter, laughter isn't bad in of itself. 46:17.980 --> 46:21.980 Having a good time isn't bad. Hey, in the day of prosperity, rejoice. 46:21.980 --> 46:27.980 Right. If you're prosperous right now, if you have health, if you have finances, you have good relationships. 46:27.980 --> 46:32.980 Look, thank God for being in that time and enjoy those times relish in those times, because you know what? 46:32.980 --> 46:37.980 Those times are not going to last every single thing that we have in this world. 46:37.980 --> 46:39.980 We will eventually lose. Right. 46:39.980 --> 46:42.980 All that we have with us are the things we could take to heaven. 46:42.980 --> 46:45.980 Souls that we win to Christ, the things we do for Christ. 46:45.980 --> 46:50.980 But, you know, it's a sobering thought to think about someday you will lose your family. 46:50.980 --> 46:53.980 Because someday either you're going to die or they're going to die. 46:53.980 --> 46:57.980 Someday you'll lose your job. Someday you'll lose your money. 46:57.980 --> 46:59.980 Someday you'll lose everything that you have. 46:59.980 --> 47:06.980 And so notice in the day of adversity, it says what? Consider God also have set the one over against the other. 47:06.980 --> 47:11.980 Why? To the end that man should find nothing after him. 47:11.980 --> 47:14.980 So in the day of adversity, remind yourself, hey, you know what? 47:14.980 --> 47:19.980 I'm not all powerful. I don't have control, ultimate control of my life. 47:19.980 --> 47:25.980 I'm supposed to consider that, hey, these blessings came from God and hey, these adverse this adversity comes from God. 47:25.980 --> 47:29.980 Let's have the attitude that Job had. The Lord gives. The Lord takes away. 47:29.980 --> 47:31.980 Blessed be the name of the Lord. 47:31.980 --> 47:36.980 Don't be someone that allows adversity to make you despise God. 47:36.980 --> 47:46.980 You know, it's kind of a silly idea that people people will say like, oh, I don't believe in God because there's issues in the world or because there's problems in the world or because there's evil in the world. 47:46.980 --> 47:52.980 But why would that make you not believe in God when the Bible is constantly telling you that there is evil in the world? 47:52.980 --> 47:59.980 You know, be one thing if the Bible told you, hey, life is going to be all sunshine and roses and there's not going to be any problems. 47:59.980 --> 48:06.980 There's not going to be any issues because God know the Bible's constantly saying like, hey, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 48:06.980 --> 48:12.980 In this very chapter, the Bible says for there's not a just man upon the earth that do with good and sin if not. 48:12.980 --> 48:15.980 The Bible's telling you, hey, you're going to be going to the house of mourning. 48:15.980 --> 48:17.980 Hey, you're going to have the day of adversity. 48:17.980 --> 48:22.980 You know, God never promised us this utopia on earth that people act like. 48:22.980 --> 48:25.980 So that should not affect your faith whatsoever. 48:25.980 --> 48:27.980 Look at verse number 15. 48:27.980 --> 48:30.980 He says, now, this is a really important verse. 48:30.980 --> 48:34.980 All things have I seen in the days of my vanity. 48:34.980 --> 48:40.980 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness. 48:40.980 --> 48:46.980 And there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 48:46.980 --> 48:48.980 Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes. 48:48.980 --> 48:51.980 The Bible talks about how he is the wisest man. 48:51.980 --> 48:52.980 He's seen a lot. 48:52.980 --> 48:55.980 He's saying, man, I've seen it all the days of my vanity. 48:55.980 --> 49:03.980 And here is something that I have seen is I have seen the righteous or I've seen a just man perish in his righteousness. 49:03.980 --> 49:09.980 And he's seen a wicked man's life prolonged and him be blessed even though he is a wicked person. 49:09.980 --> 49:16.980 And, you know, you got to realize that just because something bad happens to someone does not mean that they are a bad person. 49:16.980 --> 49:18.980 Does not mean that they're evil. 49:18.980 --> 49:19.980 Does not mean that they're wicked. 49:19.980 --> 49:26.980 You know, that was the mistake that Job's friends made is they said like, wow, something really bad is happening to you. 49:26.980 --> 49:29.980 You lost all your children in one day. 49:29.980 --> 49:31.980 You lost all your finances. 49:31.980 --> 49:32.980 You lost your business. 49:32.980 --> 49:34.980 You lost your health. 49:34.980 --> 49:38.980 Well, you for sure were into something super wicked and evil. 49:38.980 --> 49:39.980 And Solomon saying, you know what? 49:39.980 --> 49:44.980 No, I have seen just people perish in their righteousness. 49:44.980 --> 49:49.980 So, you know, God forbid something ever really bad happened to one of us in this church. 49:49.980 --> 49:53.980 I wouldn't want you to have like a negative attitude like, oh, that person was, you know, living a double life. 49:53.980 --> 49:55.980 That person was really wicked. 49:55.980 --> 49:58.980 No, sometimes bad stuff happens to righteous people. 49:58.980 --> 50:01.980 And of course, it's true that God does punish the wicked as well. 50:01.980 --> 50:05.980 And it's true that God does chastise his children. 50:05.980 --> 50:10.980 So it's like, well, how do we judge if God's angry at us or if stuff just happens? 50:10.980 --> 50:13.980 It's called, are you doing right or are you doing wrong? 50:13.980 --> 50:26.980 It's like if I am in sin, if I know I've done something wrong, if I know that I'm far from God and then something bad happens to me, you know, I would be wise to assume that that was God's chastisement and say, OK, Lord, you got my attention. 50:26.980 --> 50:28.980 What do I need to change in my life? 50:28.980 --> 50:30.980 Let me repent. Let me get right with you. 50:30.980 --> 50:34.980 But you know what? If something really bad happens to us and you know, hey, you know what? 50:34.980 --> 50:36.980 I actually am right with God. 50:36.980 --> 50:38.980 I'm reading my Bible. I'm praying. 50:38.980 --> 50:40.980 I'm going to church. I'm winning souls. 50:40.980 --> 50:41.980 I'm doing what's right. 50:41.980 --> 50:45.980 I'm not involved in some sort of grievous sin and bad stuff happens to you. 50:45.980 --> 50:47.980 You know, you should rejoice that God is trying you. 50:47.980 --> 50:50.980 You should rejoice that you're going through tribulations. 50:50.980 --> 50:52.980 That's what the book of James says. 50:52.980 --> 50:54.980 And, you know, I've been through times like that. 50:54.980 --> 50:56.980 You know, when I worked at St. 50:56.980 --> 51:10.980 Fast Baptist Church and our church is getting sued and our church is getting evicted and our church is getting protested, you know, I never doubted for a second whether or not we were in the right or if this was God's judgment because Pastor Shelley was just preaching the Bible. 51:10.980 --> 51:15.980 And, you know, if you get persecuted for preaching the Bible, that's not God's judgment on you. 51:15.980 --> 51:17.980 That's a trial. That's tribulation. 51:17.980 --> 51:20.980 It's you know, I never lost sleep over that whatsoever. 51:20.980 --> 51:25.980 But there's been other times in my life where God has chastised me and I'm like, oh, that was my fault. 51:25.980 --> 51:27.980 I need to get right with him here. 51:27.980 --> 51:29.980 But look, don't have that attitude towards people. 51:29.980 --> 51:31.980 Oh, something bad happens to them. 51:31.980 --> 51:32.980 They're for sure evil. 51:32.980 --> 51:33.980 Here's the thing. 51:33.980 --> 51:48.980 When someone's doing really, really great things for God or when someone's striving to do really, really big works for God, you got to realize that they are putting a target on themselves and especially soul winners and especially pastors. 51:48.980 --> 51:55.980 OK. And pastors are going to go through all sorts of crazy tribulations and terrible things happening. 51:55.980 --> 52:01.980 And you know, you ought not to just see something bad happen to a pastor and assume that they're bad and they're evil. 52:01.980 --> 52:06.980 You know, it makes me think about how Pastor Jack Hiles, he's preacher of yesteryear. 52:06.980 --> 52:08.980 He died in like 2001. 52:08.980 --> 52:16.980 He built the largest fundamental Baptist church in America, the largest Sunday school in America, one hundreds of thousands of people to Christ. 52:16.980 --> 52:20.980 Trained thousands of pastors, you know, just did this great work for God. 52:20.980 --> 52:27.980 Do you really think that the devil is going to take that type of work just lying down and not have any tribulation, not have any issues? 52:27.980 --> 52:28.980 No. What happened? 52:28.980 --> 52:36.980 Well, his kids end up rebelling against him and saying all sorts of evil against him and leveling false accusations against him. 52:36.980 --> 52:40.980 And you know what a bunch of simple, wicked people do is they just believe that. 52:40.980 --> 52:43.980 Right. You got this idiot Spencer Smith. 52:43.980 --> 52:46.980 Spencer Smith is a wicked piece of trash. 52:46.980 --> 52:49.980 This guy does nothing for the Lord. 52:49.980 --> 52:50.980 He's not running a church. 52:50.980 --> 52:52.980 He's not reaching people for Christ. 52:52.980 --> 52:54.980 He's not ministering to people. 52:54.980 --> 53:03.980 He sits behind a camera and makes podcasts attacking men of God who have been dead for over 25 years. 53:03.980 --> 53:05.980 It's like what a psychopath. 53:05.980 --> 53:11.980 You know, he makes this documentary against Pastor Hiles and, you know, he levels all this like bombings and all that. 53:11.980 --> 53:15.980 And, you know, he levels all this like bombshell smoking gun evidence. 53:15.980 --> 53:19.980 And it's literally him just repeating claims that other people have made. 53:19.980 --> 53:25.980 And he's like, I don't know if any of this is true, but I talked to people who said that they think it's true. 53:25.980 --> 53:38.980 And it's like, doesn't the Bible say against an elder receive not an accusation, but before two or three witnesses, you know, the witnesses, someone who saw something, not someone who just says something. 53:38.980 --> 53:45.980 And it's like what a wicked, evil person to sit here and try to trash a man's ministry has been dead for 25 years. 53:45.980 --> 53:46.980 You know, for what? 53:46.980 --> 53:50.980 Probably for envy, because these guys aren't actually reaching people. 53:50.980 --> 53:52.980 These guys aren't actually making waves. 53:52.980 --> 53:55.980 These guys aren't actually ministering to people's real lives. 53:55.980 --> 53:58.980 So all they could do is attack other people. 53:58.980 --> 54:07.980 You know, it's the same thing with my friend, Pastor Stephen Anderson, where several years ago, several of his kids rebelled against him and leveled all sorts of accusations against him. 54:07.980 --> 54:14.980 And you have a bunch of simple, wicked people that just believe that and say, oh, your kids rebelled against you. 54:14.980 --> 54:16.980 You must be a bad person. 54:16.980 --> 54:18.980 Oh, you go through a tribulation. 54:18.980 --> 54:19.980 You must be evil. 54:19.980 --> 54:20.980 No, no, no. 54:20.980 --> 54:26.980 You must be evil because you must have never read Ecclesiastes chapter number seven that says, hey, I've seen all this under the sun. 54:26.980 --> 54:29.980 I've seen just people perish in their righteousness. 54:29.980 --> 54:33.980 Sometimes you're going to see just people lied about. 54:33.980 --> 54:39.980 And you know, you should just expect that if a pastor is doing great things for God, that they're going to be all sorts of enemies. 54:39.980 --> 54:43.980 I'm talking enemies of reprobates, talking enemies of the world. 54:43.980 --> 54:52.980 I'm talking even enemies that are just backslidden, rotten Christians, because unfortunately in this world, you could be saved and still be pretty rotten person. 54:52.980 --> 54:54.980 They're rotten Christians in this world. 54:54.980 --> 54:56.980 And that's sad. It shouldn't be that way. 54:56.980 --> 54:58.980 But that's just how it is. 54:58.980 --> 55:00.980 Look at verse number 13. 55:00.980 --> 55:04.980 The Bible says, consider the work of God for who can make that. 55:04.980 --> 55:06.980 I'm sorry. I'm in a different verse here. 55:06.980 --> 55:07.980 Let's go to verse number 16. 55:07.980 --> 55:13.980 Bible says, be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise. 55:13.980 --> 55:16.980 Why should thou destroy thyself? 55:16.980 --> 55:19.980 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish. 55:19.980 --> 55:22.980 Why should thou die before thy time? 55:22.980 --> 55:25.980 So it's very important that we have balance in the Christian life. 55:25.980 --> 55:32.980 Some people take this mentality where they almost view anything fun as being sinful. 55:32.980 --> 55:34.980 And some people are just super extreme. 55:34.980 --> 55:36.980 They're just like, we're Christians. 55:36.980 --> 55:37.980 We can't have any fun. 55:37.980 --> 55:39.980 We can't have any relaxation. 55:39.980 --> 55:41.980 Going on vacation is a sin. 55:41.980 --> 55:43.980 The Bible says, be not righteous over much. 55:43.980 --> 55:45.980 We don't want to burn ourselves out. 55:45.980 --> 55:48.980 Hey, we want to work as hard as we can. 55:48.980 --> 55:49.980 And you know what? 55:49.980 --> 55:53.980 I definitely want to err on the side of working super, super, super hard. 55:53.980 --> 55:56.980 And I'd rather burn out serving God than rust out doing nothing. 55:56.980 --> 55:57.980 That's for sure. 55:57.980 --> 56:00.980 But at the same time, we don't want to be righteous over much. 56:00.980 --> 56:01.980 You know, you do. 56:01.980 --> 56:03.980 You work as hard as you want. 56:03.980 --> 56:08.980 But if other people are doing less than you, you don't have to look down on them or think you're better than them or anything like that. 56:08.980 --> 56:11.980 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish. 56:11.980 --> 56:15.980 Why should thou die before thy time? 56:15.980 --> 56:17.980 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this. 56:17.980 --> 56:25.980 Yea, also from this withdrawal, not thine hand, for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 56:25.980 --> 56:30.980 Right. So at the end of the day, we shouldn't focus as much on our circumstances. 56:30.980 --> 56:31.980 Are things going well for us? 56:31.980 --> 56:33.980 Are they not going well for us? 56:33.980 --> 56:37.980 At the end of the day, what we should be focusing on is are we fearing God? 56:37.980 --> 56:43.980 That should be our singular focus for he that fear of God shall come forth of them all. 56:43.980 --> 56:49.980 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 56:49.980 --> 56:54.980 For there's not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not. 56:54.980 --> 56:57.980 Then I really like these next couple of verses here. 56:57.980 --> 57:01.980 It says also, take no heed unto all words that are spoken. 57:01.980 --> 57:12.980 Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee, for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 57:12.980 --> 57:20.980 There's a very important principle that is going to save you a lot of headache in your life and allow you to keep your peace as a person. 57:20.980 --> 57:25.980 Is that you do not have to feel like you have to be the police to right every single wrong. 57:25.980 --> 57:30.980 You do not have to hold everyone's feet to the fire for every single thing they ever say. 57:30.980 --> 57:35.980 You don't have to hold people accountable for every word that ever comes out of their mouth. 57:35.980 --> 57:37.980 Look, that is not the right way to live your life. 57:37.980 --> 57:39.980 We should be gracious towards people. 57:39.980 --> 57:48.980 We should be long-suffering towards people because this idea is saying, hey, don't pay too much attention to everything that everyone is saying. 57:48.980 --> 57:52.980 Because what you might hear is you might hear your own servant curse you. 57:52.980 --> 57:56.980 And what would that make someone feel if you hear your servant curse you? 57:56.980 --> 57:59.980 Anger, betrayal, get upset. 57:59.980 --> 58:03.980 But he wants you to keep the right perspective because notice what he says. 58:03.980 --> 58:13.980 He says, for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 58:13.980 --> 58:19.980 So you hear someone say something stupid, blow off their mouth, say something bad about you. 58:19.980 --> 58:21.980 You don't always have to react. 58:21.980 --> 58:23.980 You don't always have to freak out. 58:23.980 --> 58:25.980 You don't always have to confront. 58:25.980 --> 58:27.980 You don't always have to right every wrong. 58:27.980 --> 58:30.980 Because honestly you should think about, hey, I've said stupid stuff too. 58:30.980 --> 58:33.980 I've blown off my mouth before when I shouldn't have. 58:33.980 --> 58:37.980 Hey, I've said something bad before about another person that I shouldn't have. 58:37.980 --> 58:38.980 I've blown up. 58:38.980 --> 58:40.980 I've gone off the rails before. 58:40.980 --> 58:41.980 And so you know what? 58:41.980 --> 58:43.980 It's like what Jesus taught in Matthew chapter number seven. 58:43.980 --> 58:47.980 With what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. 58:47.980 --> 58:55.980 Now hey, if you want to be the person where I'm just going to hold everyone's feet to the fire for every syllable that ever comes out of their mouth, no matter what, okay. 58:55.980 --> 58:58.980 Well, you better be ready for God to treat you that way. 58:58.980 --> 59:00.980 And you reap what you sow. 59:00.980 --> 59:05.980 If you're that way towards others, you should expect people to be that way towards you. 59:05.980 --> 59:10.980 Now look, obviously there's definitely a clear line where things go too far. 59:10.980 --> 59:13.980 The Bible talks about railing, the sin of railing. 59:13.980 --> 59:15.980 Railers are not allowed in church. 59:15.980 --> 59:18.980 People who just give false accusations against people. 59:18.980 --> 59:21.980 You know, you can't just be like, oh brother, so-and-so is a pedophile. 59:21.980 --> 59:23.980 And just be like, oh, we'll just let that go. 59:23.980 --> 59:27.980 It's like, no, you're going to be kicked out of church if you just bring railing accusations against people. 59:27.980 --> 59:31.980 And railing accusations against someone like that, that's wicked. 59:31.980 --> 59:34.980 But what I'm saying is, hey, we need to be gracious with people. 59:34.980 --> 59:35.980 We need to give people a break. 59:35.980 --> 59:40.980 Hey, be like, oh, when I've had a bad day, I've said stupid stuff too. 59:40.980 --> 59:50.980 This will save you some friendships of not just being this snowflake, this weak person where you hear anything spoken against you and you have to freak out about this. 59:50.980 --> 59:55.980 This will save you some friendships by just being long-suffering and saying like, hey, I've been an idiot before. 59:55.980 --> 59:57.980 Let's allow people to have a bad day. 59:57.980 --> 59:57.980 59:57.980 --> 59:59.980 People are allowed to have a bad day. 59:59.980 --> 01:00:03.980 Now, if it's like, hey, this person's been doing this for a long time, confront that person. 01:00:03.980 --> 01:00:05.980 Obviously, there's a time and place for that. 01:00:05.980 --> 01:00:07.980 But let people live stuff down. 01:00:07.980 --> 01:00:08.980 Let people have bad days. 01:00:08.980 --> 01:00:10.980 You don't always have to right every wrong. 01:00:10.980 --> 01:00:16.980 Then it says in verse number twenty three, all this have I proved by wisdom. 01:00:16.980 --> 01:00:21.980 I said I will be wise, but it was far from me. 01:00:21.980 --> 01:00:29.980 And you know that that's a comforting verse to me knowing that hey, Solomon, who is the wisest man, you know, getting wisdom was hard for him. 01:00:29.980 --> 01:00:31.980 So if it's hard for us, we could be like, all right, we're in good company. 01:00:31.980 --> 01:00:33.980 It was hard for him, too. 01:00:33.980 --> 01:00:39.980 And he says in verse number twenty four, that which is far off and exceeding deep, who could find it out? 01:00:39.980 --> 01:00:42.980 Right. So Solomon saying like, hey, I haven't figured everything out. 01:00:42.980 --> 01:00:44.980 I haven't gotten all the wisdom there is to get. 01:00:44.980 --> 01:00:46.980 I don't have all the answers. 01:00:46.980 --> 01:00:53.980 And let me tell you, that comforts me as a pastor because I feel like sometimes people expect you to know literally every single thing. 01:00:53.980 --> 01:00:56.980 And I'll be honest, I do not know every single thing that's inside of this book. 01:00:56.980 --> 01:00:58.980 And no one does. Right. 01:00:58.980 --> 01:01:02.980 Now, we should strive for that and we should be in our Bibles every single day. 01:01:02.980 --> 01:01:05.980 And notice what he's doing. He's proving wisdom. 01:01:05.980 --> 01:01:07.980 He's saying I will be wise. 01:01:07.980 --> 01:01:08.980 I want to be wise. 01:01:08.980 --> 01:01:10.980 He's seeking after those things. 01:01:10.980 --> 01:01:13.980 But obviously, we're not going to know everything. 01:01:13.980 --> 01:01:15.980 And that's OK. 01:01:15.980 --> 01:01:18.980 Do not feel like you have to know everything to serve God. 01:01:18.980 --> 01:01:20.980 People get this way with soul winning. 01:01:20.980 --> 01:01:24.980 What if I don't know every single objection that someone's going to have out so winning? 01:01:24.980 --> 01:01:26.980 Do you know the gospel? 01:01:26.980 --> 01:01:27.980 Well, then you're good to go. So winning. 01:01:27.980 --> 01:01:29.980 All right. Don't beat yourself up. 01:01:29.980 --> 01:01:31.980 If you don't know everything, that's fine. 01:01:31.980 --> 01:01:44.980 Verse twenty five, I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things and to know the wickedness of folly, even a foolishness and madness. 01:01:44.980 --> 01:01:46.980 So notice Solomon is a very wise man. 01:01:46.980 --> 01:01:49.980 And how did he get there? He's trying to attain wisdom. 01:01:49.980 --> 01:01:51.980 He's seeking wisdom. 01:01:51.980 --> 01:01:53.980 He's applying his heart to wisdom. 01:01:53.980 --> 01:01:55.980 He's going after wisdom. 01:01:55.980 --> 01:02:00.980 It's like whenever you see someone in your life who does know a lot of Bible, they are very wise. 01:02:00.980 --> 01:02:02.980 They got there through desire. 01:02:02.980 --> 01:02:09.980 Right. So it's not like, oh, you know, God just sprinkles down wisdom from heaven, though he can't help us. 01:02:09.980 --> 01:02:10.980 He can assist us. 01:02:10.980 --> 01:02:11.980 We also have to what? 01:02:11.980 --> 01:02:12.980 Seek wisdom. Read the Bible. 01:02:12.980 --> 01:02:14.980 Go to church. Do these things. 01:02:14.980 --> 01:02:17.980 Now he ends it on a very seemingly changing years note here. 01:02:17.980 --> 01:02:19.980 Number twenty six. 01:02:19.980 --> 01:02:21.980 First twenty five is talking about wisdom. 01:02:21.980 --> 01:02:24.980 Verse twenty six is going to say like, here's one of the worst things ever. 01:02:24.980 --> 01:02:27.980 And I find more bitter than death. 01:02:27.980 --> 01:02:32.980 The woman whose heart is snares and nets in her hands as bands. 01:02:32.980 --> 01:02:35.980 Who so pleased if God shatter her heart? 01:02:35.980 --> 01:02:38.980 Is snares and nets in her hands as bands. 01:02:38.980 --> 01:02:42.980 Who so pleased if God shall escape from her? 01:02:42.980 --> 01:02:46.980 But the sinner shall be taken by her. 01:02:46.980 --> 01:02:54.980 Look, some some guys want to read this portion of scripture and just act like the Bible is just anti-woman in general. 01:02:54.980 --> 01:02:57.980 And they'll just like go here to just hate on women or whatever. 01:02:57.980 --> 01:02:58.980 But here's the thing. 01:02:58.980 --> 01:03:01.980 The Bible is not saying, hey, I find more bitter than death. 01:03:01.980 --> 01:03:02.980 Women in general. 01:03:02.980 --> 01:03:03.980 Right. 01:03:03.980 --> 01:03:04.980 Just like women are bad. 01:03:04.980 --> 01:03:05.980 Women are worse than death. 01:03:05.980 --> 01:03:09.980 It's a specific type of woman that he's bringing up here. 01:03:09.980 --> 01:03:11.980 He says, I find more bitter than death. 01:03:11.980 --> 01:03:13.980 The woman whose notice what it says there. 01:03:13.980 --> 01:03:19.980 Whose heart is snares and nets in her hands as bands. 01:03:19.980 --> 01:03:22.980 Who so pleased if God shall escape from her? 01:03:22.980 --> 01:03:26.980 So look, there are types of women out there that are very, very wicked. 01:03:26.980 --> 01:03:27.980 Right. 01:03:27.980 --> 01:03:32.980 I mean, in the book of Proverbs, so many Proverbs in a row is just Solomon. 01:03:32.980 --> 01:03:40.980 Warning his son about the strange woman, the woman who flatters the woman who wears the attire of an harlot. 01:03:40.980 --> 01:03:45.980 And so like, hey, those type of women, you know, guys, stay away from those type of women. 01:03:45.980 --> 01:03:48.980 It's it ends up being what more bitter than death. 01:03:48.980 --> 01:03:56.980 Meaning like some people, if they end up with this type of woman, they literally would rather be dead than be in that relationship. 01:03:56.980 --> 01:03:59.980 See, Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. 01:03:59.980 --> 01:04:00.980 All right. 01:04:00.980 --> 01:04:02.980 That's what I think of when I read this verse. 01:04:02.980 --> 01:04:05.980 It's like it's not saying like, hey, what's more bitter than death is women. 01:04:05.980 --> 01:04:08.980 It's like what's more bitter than death is being married to Amber Heard. 01:04:08.980 --> 01:04:13.980 OK, and those type of women, that would just be like the worst thing ever. 01:04:13.980 --> 01:04:23.980 Then he says, behold, this have I found, say, if the preacher counting one by one to find out the account, which yet my soul seeketh. 01:04:23.980 --> 01:04:25.980 I'm still looking for this, he says. 01:04:25.980 --> 01:04:34.980 But I find not one man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all those have I not found. 01:04:34.980 --> 01:04:41.980 Lo, this only have I found that God have made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. 01:04:41.980 --> 01:04:49.980 Again, you know, be careful with this this verse because the MGTOWS will come out and just be like, you know, there's no good women in this world. 01:04:49.980 --> 01:04:51.980 There's none that exists. 01:04:51.980 --> 01:04:52.980 All women are terrible. 01:04:52.980 --> 01:05:01.980 That is not what this verse is saying, but it is saying that faithful people, wise people, righteous people in general are extremely rare. 01:05:01.980 --> 01:05:05.980 I mean, think about what the Bible says of the virtuous woman in Proverbs 31. 01:05:05.980 --> 01:05:09.980 It says that her price is what far above rubies. 01:05:09.980 --> 01:05:13.980 Why is it that the virtuous woman is so valuable? 01:05:13.980 --> 01:05:15.980 It's because she's rare. 01:05:15.980 --> 01:05:16.980 Right. 01:05:16.980 --> 01:05:21.980 And so he's saying, hey, you know, I look among a thousand and I might find one woman among all those who have I found. 01:05:21.980 --> 01:05:30.980 Find one man who actually is righteous, who actually is wise, who actually is, you know, following a lot of the principles in this chapter. 01:05:30.980 --> 01:05:36.980 And, you know, maybe there's times where even among a thousand, he couldn't even find one woman that fits that bill. 01:05:36.980 --> 01:05:38.980 That doesn't mean, oh, let's discount. 01:05:38.980 --> 01:05:39.980 Let's hate all women. 01:05:39.980 --> 01:05:40.980 Let's not get married. 01:05:40.980 --> 01:05:42.980 Let's not pursue relationships anymore. 01:05:42.980 --> 01:05:48.980 It's like, no, it's just saying that faithful people are rare and we as men are supposed to be the leaders anyways. 01:05:48.980 --> 01:05:56.980 So it's like I feel like a lot of single guys in our movement have this issue where they're they're waiting to find this Proverbs 31 woman. 01:05:56.980 --> 01:06:03.980 And in their mind, they're like, I won't get married until she checks off all the lists on the Proverbs 31 woman. 01:06:03.980 --> 01:06:08.980 But here's what you got to remember is that the Proverbs 31 woman is already married. 01:06:08.980 --> 01:06:17.980 And you know what her you know that what it says in Proverbs 31 in Proverbs 31, the pro the virtuous woman's husband is praised as a virtuous woman. 01:06:17.980 --> 01:06:21.980 He's not being praised as how he is known in the gates. 01:06:21.980 --> 01:06:22.980 Right. 01:06:22.980 --> 01:06:23.980 So like he's a leader. 01:06:23.980 --> 01:06:25.980 He's kind of a man of renown. 01:06:25.980 --> 01:06:33.980 It's like I wonder if the man's leadership has anything to do with the Proverbs 31 woman being a Proverbs 31 woman. 01:06:33.980 --> 01:06:35.980 Absolutely, folks. 01:06:35.980 --> 01:06:43.980 This is why the husband is the head of the wife and why he is supposed to lead his wife and, you know, wash her with the water of the word. 01:06:44.980 --> 01:06:51.980 Is because you know what you have to do is you have to make a Proverbs 31 woman Proverbs 31 women are not just falling out of the sky. 01:06:51.980 --> 01:06:59.980 OK. And so if you're the single guy today and you're looking through this world, all right, among a thousand, I'm going to find one. 01:06:59.980 --> 01:07:04.980 Maybe not like if you're of dating age right now, you're in the dating scene. 01:07:04.980 --> 01:07:08.980 You may not find a Proverbs 31 woman even among a thousand. 01:07:08.980 --> 01:07:11.980 But don't make that stop you from marrying a woman. 01:07:11.980 --> 01:07:12.980 Here's what you should do. 01:07:12.980 --> 01:07:17.980 You should find a girl that saved that she actually love. 01:07:17.980 --> 01:07:24.980 I know that seems like a crazy concept for these single guys is actually like loving her, liking her. 01:07:24.980 --> 01:07:25.980 And you know what you should do? 01:07:25.980 --> 01:07:27.980 You invest into that relationship. 01:07:27.980 --> 01:07:28.980 You're patient with her. 01:07:28.980 --> 01:07:29.980 You love her. 01:07:29.980 --> 01:07:30.980 You lead her. 01:07:30.980 --> 01:07:32.980 You sacrifice for her. 01:07:32.980 --> 01:07:34.980 You take her to church. 01:07:34.980 --> 01:07:35.980 You teach her the Bible. 01:07:35.980 --> 01:07:36.980 Right. 01:07:36.980 --> 01:07:40.980 And then you know what you might find after years of marriage is like, dang, I have a Proverbs 31 woman. 01:07:40.980 --> 01:07:41.980 Hey. 01:07:41.980 --> 01:07:44.980 And then it's like, OK, Solomon among a thousand. 01:07:44.980 --> 01:07:48.980 You couldn't find one, but you must have only been counting the single ladies because it's like my wife is one of them. 01:07:48.980 --> 01:07:49.980 Right. 01:07:49.980 --> 01:07:53.980 And so don't don't get this idea of, oh, all women are bad. 01:07:53.980 --> 01:07:54.980 Women are terrible. 01:07:54.980 --> 01:07:55.980 I hate women. 01:07:55.980 --> 01:07:56.980 No, no, no. 01:07:56.980 --> 01:07:57.980 A virtuous woman. 01:07:57.980 --> 01:07:58.980 Her price is far above rubies. 01:07:58.980 --> 01:07:59.980 But you know what? 01:07:59.980 --> 01:08:03.980 Quite honestly, some of these guys, they think they are this one in the thousand. 01:08:03.980 --> 01:08:04.980 Really not. 01:08:04.980 --> 01:08:07.980 It's like some of these guys, they're looking for the Proverbs 31 woman. 01:08:07.980 --> 01:08:10.980 But it's like, but what do you think of yourself? 01:08:10.980 --> 01:08:12.980 Like you have this super high standard of yourself. 01:08:12.980 --> 01:08:15.980 Like you think you're so awesome and you're so wonderful. 01:08:15.980 --> 01:08:21.980 And you have this standard of women where it's like she's got to be a 10 out of 10 and a fisher of men. 01:08:21.980 --> 01:08:22.980 Praise God. 01:08:22.980 --> 01:08:24.980 It's like, OK, but but is that you, though? 01:08:24.980 --> 01:08:29.980 Like, are you sure you have the right expectations in your life right now? 01:08:29.980 --> 01:08:31.980 Probably not for a lot of people. 01:08:31.980 --> 01:08:33.980 So here's again, I just want to reemphasize this. 01:08:33.980 --> 01:08:36.980 Find a girl that you actually like. 01:08:36.980 --> 01:08:43.980 That you love, that you want to spend time with, that you want to spend your life with, you know, and then build on that relationship from there. 01:08:43.980 --> 01:08:51.980 In closing, verse 29 says, Lo, this only have I found that God have made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions. 01:08:51.980 --> 01:08:57.980 The reason why most men and most women suck is not because of God, right? 01:08:57.980 --> 01:09:03.980 It's not because, oh, God just made women to be unfaithful or God just made men to be unfaithful. 01:09:03.980 --> 01:09:04.980 No, no, no. 01:09:04.980 --> 01:09:07.980 God has made man upright, but it's man. 01:09:07.980 --> 01:09:09.980 His heart has sought out many inventions. 01:09:09.980 --> 01:09:11.980 So I think like what would be the main takeaway? 01:09:11.980 --> 01:09:20.980 What would be the main application for us today as Christians from this chapter is we should seek to be that exception among the rule, right? 01:09:20.980 --> 01:09:23.980 Hey, you should seek to be that one of a thousand. 01:09:23.980 --> 01:09:28.980 Yeah, most of this world, they're going to prefer laughter to the House of Mourning. 01:09:28.980 --> 01:09:32.980 Yeah, they're going to prefer the song of fools to the rebuke of the wise. 01:09:32.980 --> 01:09:37.980 Yeah, most of this world, they're going to look at the old days and say, oh, why were the old days better than these? 01:09:37.980 --> 01:09:41.980 But you know what? We could actually just choose to be the exception to the rule. 01:09:41.980 --> 01:09:43.980 We could actually choose to say, you know what? 01:09:43.980 --> 01:09:45.980 I am going to fear God. You know what? 01:09:45.980 --> 01:09:48.980 I am going to go to the House of Mourning. I am going to lay these things to my heart. 01:09:48.980 --> 01:09:51.980 I am going to say, you know what? I am going to die someday. 01:09:51.980 --> 01:09:53.980 My body is going to be put in the ground someday. 01:09:53.980 --> 01:09:55.980 I am going to be in heaven someday. 01:09:55.980 --> 01:10:01.980 And you know what? When I'm there, do I want to look back at my life and say, wow, I went to a lot of parties? 01:10:01.980 --> 01:10:06.980 Wow, I drank a lot of alcohol. Wow, I was with a bunch of women. 01:10:06.980 --> 01:10:09.980 No one is going to ever be proud of those things. Right. 01:10:09.980 --> 01:10:14.980 People are going to look back at their life and say, like, I wish I would have done more for Christ. 01:10:14.980 --> 01:10:20.980 Man, I wish I would have just listened to the rebuke of the wise rather than the song of fools. 01:10:20.980 --> 01:10:27.980 I wish I would have been around God's people that were going to exhort me to be righteous, not to be a whore, not to be a whoremonger. 01:10:27.980 --> 01:10:31.980 Hey, you know what? Let us seek to be that exception among the rule. Let's pray. 01:10:31.980 --> 01:10:34.980 Lord, thank you for Ecclesiastes, chapter number seven. 01:10:34.980 --> 01:10:39.980 I pray that you would help us to make application in our own lives where we need to, Lord. 01:10:39.980 --> 01:10:42.980 Help us all to accept the rebuke of your word. 01:10:42.980 --> 01:10:48.980 And Lord, help us to live lives that are not seeking fleshly pleasure and carnality. 01:10:48.980 --> 01:10:52.980 Help us to separate ourselves and to live a life dedicated to your service. 01:10:52.980 --> 01:10:58.980 I pray that you would continue to illuminate truths for us in this Bible study through Ecclesiastes. 01:10:58.980 --> 01:11:01.980 And I pray that you bring us home safely this evening. 01:11:01.980 --> 01:11:04.980 We love you very much. And in Jesus name, we pray. Amen. 01:11:04.980 --> 01:11:12.980 All right. For a final song this evening, let's go ahead and all turn to song three hundred and fifteen. 01:11:12.980 --> 01:11:19.980 Let's sing it out together. Nice and loud. Three hundred and fifteen. 01:11:19.980 --> 01:11:24.980 Song three fifteen. Take my life and let it be. 01:11:31.980 --> 01:11:36.980 Take my life and let it be. 01:11:36.980 --> 01:11:42.980 Consecrated Lord to thee. 01:11:42.980 --> 01:11:47.980 Take my hands and let them move. 01:11:47.980 --> 01:11:53.980 At the impulse of thy love. 01:11:53.980 --> 01:11:59.980 At the impulse of thy love. 01:11:59.980 --> 01:12:04.980 Take my feet and let them be. 01:12:04.980 --> 01:12:10.980 Swift and beautiful for thee. 01:12:10.980 --> 01:12:16.980 Take my voice and let me sing. 01:12:16.980 --> 01:12:22.980 Always only for my King. 01:12:22.980 --> 01:12:28.980 Always only for my King. 01:12:28.980 --> 01:12:34.980 Take my silver and my gold. 01:12:34.980 --> 01:12:40.980 Might would I withhold. 01:12:40.980 --> 01:12:46.980 Take my moments and my days. 01:12:46.980 --> 01:12:52.980 Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 01:12:52.980 --> 01:12:58.980 Let them flow in ceaseless praise. 01:12:58.980 --> 01:13:03.980 My will and make it thine. 01:13:03.980 --> 01:13:09.980 It shall be no longer mine. 01:13:09.980 --> 01:13:15.980 Take my heart it is thy known. 01:13:15.980 --> 01:13:21.980 It shall be thy royal throne. 01:13:21.980 --> 01:13:27.980 It shall be thy royal throne. 01:13:27.980 --> 01:13:31.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. 01:13:57.980 --> 01:14:01.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:14:27.980 --> 01:14:31.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:14:57.980 --> 01:15:01.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:15:27.980 --> 01:15:31.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:15:57.980 --> 01:16:01.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:16:27.980 --> 01:16:57.980 Thank you all for coming tonight. God bless. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed 01:16:57.980 --> 01:17:27.980 You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You 01:17:27.980 --> 01:17:34.980 are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are 01:17:34.980 --> 01:17:41.980 dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:17:41.980 --> 01:17:49.980 You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are 01:17:49.980 --> 01:17:56.980 dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. 01:17:56.980 --> 01:18:03.980 You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You 01:18:03.980 --> 01:18:10.980 are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are 01:18:10.980 --> 01:18:18.980 dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are 01:18:18.980 --> 01:18:25.980 dismissed. You are dismissed. You are dismissed. You are 01:18:26.980 --> 01:18:27.980 dismissed. 01:18:27.980 --> 01:18:40.980 footsteps 01:18:40.980 --> 01:18:43.040 you 01:19:10.980 --> 01:19:14.040 you 01:19:40.980 --> 01:19:44.040 you 01:20:10.980 --> 01:20:14.040 you 01:20:40.980 --> 01:20:44.040 you 01:21:10.980 --> 01:21:14.040 you 01:21:40.980 --> 01:21:44.040 you 01:22:10.980 --> 01:22:14.040 you 01:22:40.980 --> 01:22:44.040 you 01:23:10.980 --> 01:23:14.040 you 01:23:40.980 --> 01:23:44.040 you 01:24:10.980 --> 01:24:14.040 you 01:24:40.980 --> 01:24:43.040 you 01:25:10.980 --> 01:25:14.040 you 01:25:40.980 --> 01:25:43.040 you 01:26:10.980 --> 01:26:13.040 you 01:26:40.980 --> 01:26:43.040 you 01:27:10.980 --> 01:27:13.040 you 01:27:40.980 --> 01:27:43.040 you 01:28:10.980 --> 01:28:13.040 you 01:28:40.980 --> 01:28:43.040 you 01:29:10.980 --> 01:29:13.040 you 01:29:40.980 --> 01:29:43.040 you 01:30:10.980 --> 01:30:13.040 you 01:30:40.980 --> 01:30:43.040 you 01:31:10.980 --> 01:31:13.040 you