🎵Music🎵
Hey man welcome to First Works Baptist Church
We're going to get started with song number 410
Faith is a Victory
Song number 410
And if you are able let's all stand together for our first song
Song number 410
Faith is a Victory
We'll see it on that first verse
In camped along the hills of light
See it on that verse
In camped along the hills of light
Ye Swissian soldiers rise
And press the battle
Where the night
Shall bail with glowing skies
Where the night
Shall bail with glowing skies
Against the bow and bales below
Let all our strength be hurled
Faith is a Victory
We know
Overcomes the world
Faith is a Victory
Oh glorious victory
Overcomes the world
His banner
Over us
His love
Our sword
The word of God
Over we tremble
Over the seas of light
With shouts of triumph
Trod
By faith they lie
A whirlwind's breath
Swept on o'er every field
The faith by which
They conquered death
The faith by which
They conquered death
Is still our shining shield
Faith is a Victory
Oh glorious victory
That overcomes the world
On every hand
The foe we find
Drawn up in dread
Array
Let tens of ease
Be let behind
And onward to the fray
Salvation's hand
Salvation's helmet
On each hand
With truth offered
About
The earth shall tremble
Neath or tread
And echo
With a shout
Faith
is a Victory
Faith
is a Victory
Oh
glorious victory
That overcomes the world
To Him
That overcomes the foe
Before the angels
We shall know
His name confessed
In heaven
Then onward from
The hills of light
Our hearts will love
A flame
Will vanquish
All the hosts of night
In Jesus'
Conquering name
Faith
is a Victory
Faith
is a Victory
Oh
glorious victory
That overcomes
the world
Amen. Wonderful scene. Let's start our service
with a word of prayer.
Heavenly Father we thank you so much Lord dear God
that through faith we have the victory Lord God
and through faith we can conquer all things
Lord God through you. And Lord I pray that you
please Lord God just be with us Lord God this
morning. I pray that you please help us
Lord God just to be attentive to the preaching
of your word this morning. I pray that you
please also fill Pastor Mejia with your
with your spirit Lord dear God. I pray that you please
just lead him through the scriptures Lord Heavenly Father.
And I pray Lord God that if there's a visitor here Lord God
that doesn't know the victory that you've
given to us Lord God. I do pray that
they would Lord God listen attentively
Lord God that someone would give them the gospel
at the end of the service and that they would get
saved Lord God today. I pray now that you please just
bless the remainder of our service now in Jesus name Amen
Song number 136
Master the Tempest is Raging
Song number 136
Master
the Tempest is Raging
Song number 136
See it on that verse
Master
the Tempest is Raging
The billows are
tossing high
The sky is o'er shadowed
with blackness
Nor shelter or hell
is thine
Carest thou not that we
perish
Thou canst thou lie asleep
When each moment
so madly is threatening
A grave in the
angry deep
The winds and the waves
shall obey thy will
Peace
be still
Relevant path
of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men
or whatever it be
No water can swallow
the ship where lies
The master of ocean and
earth and skies
They all
shall sweetly obey
my will
Peace be still
They all shall sweetly
obey my will
Peace, peace be still
Master
with anguish of spirit
I bow in my
grave today
By the rays of my
sand on earth
of earth
I'll take thee and save my
grave
And then of anguish
sweep o'er my sinking
soul
And I perish, I perish
dear master
O season and take
control
The winds and the waves
shall obey my will
Peace
be still
Whether the wrath
of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men
or whatever it be
No water can swallow
the ship where lies
The master of ocean and
earth and skies
They all
shall sweetly obey
my will
Peace be still
They all shall sweetly
obey my will
Peace, peace be still
Master
The terror is over
The elements
sweetly rest
Their sun in the
calm light is mirrored
And heaven's within
my breast
Linger, O blessed
Redeemer
Leave me alone
no more
And with joy I shall make
the bliss harbor
And rest on that blissful
shore
The winds and the waves
shall obey my will
Peace
be still
Whether the wrath
of the storm-tossed sea
Or demons or men
or whatever it be
No water can swallow
the ship where lies
The master of ocean and
earth and skies
They all
shall sweetly obey
my will
Peace be still
They all shall sweetly obey
my will
Peace, peace be still
Alright, great
singing. Thank you for being here this morning.
Welcome to First Works Baptist Church.
If you did not get a bulletin, go ahead and raise your hand
and one of the ushers can get one for you.
And by the way, we are going to be singing
song number 363
Song books there. Wonderful words of life
if you want to get that ready.
363. Some important
information there on the bulletin. Of course, we're still
in our fall program. Our Sunday morning
service today is at 1030 Sunday evening, 5
p.m. And then we have our Thursday night Bible
study at 7 o'clock. And we are resuming
this coming Thursday with the book of 2 Samuel.
On the left there, you see
the fall program schedule. Today
we have the fall family photos
and I'll give you some extra announcements
about that in just a bit.
And then next week is the pumpkin Sunday.
And so children will be receiving a
pumpkin on that day. The following
week we have the pie baking contest
and we will make sure we have the rules
to that by Thursday.
So Thursday we'll have the rules regarding
the pie baking contest. And so
keep that in mind. If you look there on the right
actually before we even
go over those announcements, let's just get over
let's just get this over with.
You got a little quarter sheet inside
of your bulletin. Brother Eric,
can you play one of your pieces?
No, that thing that makes people
white faster. No, the other
one. Alright, a little faster
than that, please. Give them some time.
We should have stuck
with the first one.
Isn't that the same one but faster?
Alright, everyone pull out your quarter
sheet there and if you do not
have a pen, go ahead and raise your hand. The ushers have pens
that they can give you so you can write.
We're going to get this over with right now. Put
your first and last name on the
quarter sheet.
So basically no one should be looking at me right now,
okay? If you're looking at me, that means
you're just a really good writer and you're just kind of like
writing. Everyone's head should be down
writing on your quarter sheet. Unless
you did this ahead of time,
that's different. So put your first and last name
Sunday's date.
Did you bring a first, second time
visitor last week?
Put a check mark there for 2000 points.
If you brought a third time visitor
last week,
you put a check there for 1500 points.
Did you attend all three services
last week? That's Sunday morning, Sunday night,
Thursday evening at 1000 points.
Did you go soul winning at least
once this week? 1000 points
right there and then you can put the total
at the bottom. So I'll give you a minute,
about a minute or so. It's not very hard.
A minute or so, it's like an SAT.
If you don't know the answers, just check off one in the box
and don't do that.
You've got to be honest, okay?
Fill this out.
Who needs more time? Anybody need
more time? Geo need more?
You have a question.
Last Sunday's
date, Geo.
I know what student you were
at school.
Any other
funny questions? No, I'm just kidding.
Anybody even need more time?
Anybody need more time?
Okay, the ushers are going to come down and collect
the quarter sheets.
So ushers come on up and
get those sheets from ushers.
Throw that into the offering plate.
No, this does not count as your offering.
Play a little faster, Eric.
Makes the ushers move faster.
There you go.
No, don't do that.
That's
funny. We're supposed to
turn that in.
That's weird.
It looked like a quarter sheet that was supposed to go into the offering plate.
Anybody
need more time filling out their sheet?
Or Melinda?
Okay.
Anybody else
need more time?
Brother Glenn, you can
come up and collect hers.
Okay, let me go over this.
Let's go over the bulletin here. Of course,
we have the Christmas program
practices beginning
today.
Brother Maury has been announcing at 12
and it's not his fault, but we just changed the
time actually. The practice
is actually going to be at 1230
here in the main auditorium.
They're going to be practicing from 1230
to 1. Please make sure
everyone pay attention. Please make sure you clear
out of the auditorium
at 1230.
You can go into the fellowship hall because
the Christmas program
leaders need this so they can start
their practices. Make sure you clear out by
1230. Team leaders, make sure you
dismiss. We're not going to be meeting in the fellowship hall.
We're just going to be gathering there and you can
dismiss your teams thereafter by 1245.
Okay, so just keep that in mind.
And be in prayer over the
Christmas program practices. I know it's going to be great
for December
and we're looking forward to
the finished product. Of course,
today was the fall family photos. You will receive your
pictures next week. So if you want
your photo, you've got to be here next week
and we'll have them printed out for you
next Sunday morning.
And then we have a ladies prayer meeting and cookie
exchange on Saturday, October 29th.
And then Ms. DJ's
baby shower is coming up on Sunday, October
30th. So we have a couple
things going on, of course, and then the fall program
you see there on the left.
No food to drink allowed in the main auditorium except for
water and coffee. Make sure you're not loitering
in the foyer or fellowship hall during the preaching
service. Quiet time is this
afternoon from 3 p.m. to 4
15 throughout the whole building. Make sure you respect that.
And then make sure you silence your
phones during the preaching so as to not be a distraction
during the service. And that is it.
Let's go to sing our next song.
363 Wonderful Words of Life
song number 363
Wonderful Words of Life
sing it on that first verse
Sing them over again
to me
Wonderful words of
life
Let me more of their beauty
see
Wonderful words of life
Words of
life and beauty
Teach me faith
and duty
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
Wonderful words of
life
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Christ
the blessed one gives
to us
Wonderful words of life
Sinnerless
to the loving call
Wonderful words
of life
Also freely
given
Moving us to
heaven
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
of life
Sweetly echo
the gospel call
Wonderful words
of life
Offer pardon and
peace to all
Wonderful words of life
Jesus
only
Savior
Thanked by
forever
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
of life
Beautiful words
Wonderful words
Wonderful words of life
Amen
Wonderful singing
At this time our ushers will be receiving the offering
Please turn your Bibles
to 1 Kings chapter 3
1 Kings chapter 3
2 Kings chapter 3
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
We're at 1 Kings chapter number 3 this morning
1 Kings chapter 3
The Bible reads
Solomon made
affinity with Pharaoh king of Egypt
and took Pharaoh's daughter
and brought her into the city of David
until he made an end of building his own house
and the house of the Lord and the wall of Jerusalem
round about. Only the people sacrificed
in high places because there was no house
built until the name of the Lord until those days
and Solomon loved the Lord
walking in the statutes of David his father
only he sacrificed and burnt incense
in the high places. The king went to
Gibeon to sacrifice there. That was the
great high place. A thousand burnt offerings
did Solomon offer upon that altar
Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon
in a dream by night and God said
ask what I shall give thee
and Solomon said
that was showed unto thy servant David my father
for thy mercy according as he walked before thee
in truth and in righteousness and in uprightness of heart
with thee and I was kept for him this great
kindness that was given him a son to sit on
his throne as it is this day
and now O Lord my God
that was made thy servant king
instead of David my father and I'm
but a little child I know not how to go out or
come in and thy servant
is in the midst of thy great
people which thou has chosen a great
people that cannot be numbered nor counted
for multitude. Give therefore
thy servant an understanding heart to judge
thy people that it may discern between good
and bad for who is able to judge
this thy so great a people
and the speech pleased the Lord that
Solomon had asked this thing
and God said unto him because thou has asked
this thing and has not asked for thyself long life
neither has asked for
has asked riches for thyself nor
has asked the life of thine enemies
but has asked for thyself understanding
to discern judgment behold
I've done according to thy words
lo I've given thee a wise and an
understanding heart so that there is none like
thee before thee neither after thee shall any
arise like unto thee and I've also
given thee that which thou has not asked both riches
and honor so that there shall not be any
among the kings like unto thee all thy days
and if thou wilt walk in my ways
to keep my statutes and my commandments
as thy father David did walk
then I will lengthen thy days
Solomon awoke behold it was a dream
and he came to Jerusalem and stood
before the ark of the covenant of the Lord and offered
up burnt offerings and offered peace offerings
made a feast to all his servants
then came there
two women there were harlots under the king
and stood before him and the woman
and the one woman said oh my
Lord I and this woman dwelled in one house
and I was delivered of a child with her in the house
and came to pass the third day
after that I was delivered that this woman
was delivered also and we were together
and there was no stranger with us in the house
save we too in the house and this
woman's child died in the night because she overlaid
it and she rose at midnight
and took my son from beside me while
thine handmaid slept and laid it in her bosom
and laid her dead child in my bosom
and when I rose in the morning to give my child
suck behold it was dead
but when I considered it in the morning behold
it was not my son which I did bear
and the other woman said nay
but the living is my son and the dead is thy son
and this said no but the
dead is thy son and the living is my son
thus they spake before the king
then said the king
the one sayeth this is my son that liveth
and thy son is the dead
and the other sayeth nay but thy son is the dead
and my son is the living
and the king said bring me a sword
and they brought a sword before the king
and the king said divide the living child in two
and give half to the one and half to the other
then spake the woman
who the living child was under the king
but her bowels yearned upon her son
and she said oh my lord give her the living child
and in no wise slay it
but the other said let it be neither mine
nor thine but divide it
then the king answered and said give her
the living child and in no wise slay it
she is the mother thereof
and all Israel heard of the judgment which the king
had judged and they feared the king
for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him
to do judgment
let's pray dear lord god I would thank you for this day
thank you for our salvation
just everything you blessed us with
I would just ask that you would be with pastor Mihia now
please just strengthen and fill him with your holy spirit
and please just bless the preaching of your word
and please just use it for our edification
and just help us to be better Christians
and in Jesus name we pray amen
Amen
Okay we're in 1 Kings chapter number 3
and look down at your Bibles
at verse number 3 I want to say first and foremost
it's always good to be back home
I like preaching at other churches
especially my friend's churches but
it's just nothing like first works Baptist church
and so I'm happy to be here
I'm happy to see you all
and it's a joy to me
so let's go to chapter 3 here
and verse number 3 it says
and Solomon loved the lord
walking in the statutes of David his father
only he sacrificed and burnt incense
in high places
and the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there
for what was the great high place
a thousand burnt offerings did Solomon
offer upon that altar
in Gibeon the lord appeared to Solomon
in a dream by night
and God said listen to this
ask what I shall give thee
my sermon this morning is ask
what I shall give thee
now here in 1 Kings chapter 3
of course this is the famous passage
of Solomon who's the son of David
he's essentially the one who's taking over
after king David and king David is a great king
did a lot of great exploits
partook in a lot of great wars
and he had in his heart to
want to build the house of the lord
but because his hands were so full of
blood that responsibility
fell upon Solomon his son thereafter
and really Solomon
takes over the kingdom during a
time of prosperity
Solomon hasn't seen any wars
he doesn't necessarily have to fight any
crazy battles we know that his dad
had like a hit list for him
you know at the beginning of his ministry
he's like his dad's like on his deathbed
and his dad goes to Solomon
and basically says hey
I need you to take out these three guys here
okay so Solomon
goes and by the hand of
Benaiah goes and slays these
people who essentially
were against David or
vexed David during his
earthly ministry as the king
there and so he
partakes of that but other than that we don't
really see Solomon fighting any great wars
he's not fighting a lot of
battles he's essentially
inheriting a kingdom
that has already been in peace
prosperity his dad fought
all the wars he fought all the
battles he partook of all those
struggles I mean David was in
the wilderness fleeing from Saul
he's fleeing from Absalom
you know he's slaying all these Philistines
I mean there's a lot of action in David's
life as far as wars and battles
are concerned and
you know Solomon comes
he's a righteous person he loves the Lord
but he hasn't really experienced
any of those battles now
you can look at this two ways
one is you know he's inheriting a kingdom in a time
of peace which is a great thing because
when you have a
kingdom and there's peace
and you don't really have enemies on either
side you can essentially just
operate normally you know what I mean
you can operate normally you can basically
take care of you know
the kingdom and build the kingdom
and do that but
here's the negative
to that okay because he didn't have
any wars or battles he didn't have any
experience and because he doesn't
have any experience he lacks
wisdom you see with
experience comes wisdom
with experience with
trials with tribulations with
difficulties with hardships
with fleeing from the enemies
sorry about this we're you know
you guys hear that click every once in
a while I hear a lot now
I'm really sorry about it we're gonna
glue this together okay just ignore
it if you can for this service but by tonight
it'll be super glued to my tie
okay but
you know he didn't experience all those things
but with you know with battles and wars
comes experience with battles and
wars comes hardships which
produces experience and
hope and you know these things are
good for us as much as we don't like
hardships as much as we don't like tribulations
and trials they actually work
for us you know they make us better people
they make us better Christians
they they give us wisdom
they give us discernment and so
Solomon he's not a bad guy
he loves the Lord he is just
absent he's vacant of wisdom he doesn't
have these particular things
but luckily he loves
the Lord and God knows that
Solomon loves him he
knows that he wants to follow him
he knows he has a righteous heart
that he desires that which is pleasing in the eyes
of the Lord in spite of the fact that he doesn't
have the experience
and so God comes to Solomon
by a dream in the night
and he gives them this he just
tells them he just asks them this or he commands them this
he says ask what I
shall give to thee
now think about that the
God of the universe is coming to you and say
ask whatever you want
I mean can you imagine that
if God just came to you and just said
ask what I shall give unto
thee now that question
in the hands of a wicked person
could be disastrous
right so obviously
he's coming to a righteous person because he knows that
Solomon is going to ask for the right things
and he asks this and
Solomon asks for
that which he is absent of which is
wisdom because he understands
I've inherited a kingdom he says later
on I don't know how to go out or how to
come in I need wisdom to be able to
judge your people I need an
understanding heart to judge your people
and that's what he understands that he needs
the most and of course God
grants him that petition now
this morning I'm going to spend
the majority of the time talking about
the things that he didn't ask for
that God actually highlighted after
he gave him wisdom I'm going to highlight
the things that he didn't ask for and we're going to talk
about that throughout
the sermon now let me say this first and foremost by
way of introduction I want to talk about
the fact that God comes to Solomon in a dream
okay
because throughout the Old Testament
even some in the New Testament you have
prophets and people of God and believers
getting these dreams from God and
God speaking to them and you know
a lot of Christians today will take
stories like that and say
oh okay God still
speaks to us through dreams because
of the fact that he spoke to Solomon by a dream
he spoke to prophets by a dream
therefore if I get a dream
and I think it's from God it must be of
God but let me just say this is that
if you have a dream where
God is speaking to you in your dream
you just ate some really weird stuff
the night before
or you're on drugs
okay or
you're
crazy you just
you got mental issues if you really think
no obviously we're going to have weird dreams
right we're going to have weird dreams
and you might have a dream that like God
comes to you in a dream and
imparts some wisdom onto you
but as soon as you wake up you should say
that was silly obviously that's not from God
because God doesn't speak to us through dreams
today now go with me if you would to
2 Peter chapter number 1
and
I think it's important to talk about
this particular point here even though it has nothing
to do with the sermon because
of the fact that we live in a day and age
where people are just led by their emotions
they're led by their feelings and they're
led by their personal experiences
in matters
of the Bible in matters of
Christianity and you know we
can't be led by those things God gave us
emotions he gives us feelings
and he gives us experiences
but we need to make sure that the word of
God trumps all of those things
you understand that when it comes to
our experience or our testimony
or our dream
or what we think we need to
go over what the Bible says amen
this is annoying me now because I hear it like
a lot and I think telling you about
it makes you pay attention to it more now
you know what I'm going to
turn this off brother
go ahead and turn this one on
Ulysses fixed this
by tonight
I said
that so everyone hears that I just told you that
so if it's not fixed by tonight
you're getting it
alright
now you're in 2 Peter
I'm going to read to you from Hebrews chapter 1
you don't have to turn there it says in verse number 1
God who at sun
dry times and diverse manners
spake in times past and to the fathers by the prophets
hath in these last days
spoken unto us by his son whom he
hath appointed heir of all things by whom
also he made the worlds so according
to the Bible you know God has spoken to
prophets and men of God
through diverse manners through dreams
face to face
by a prophet different
ways so obviously it's biblical to say
that people have received dreams in the Bible
that's a biblical thing we see
Joseph receiving a dream
we know the apostle Paul received a dream
of the Macedonian call these are all
biblical instances however
none of these people had the canonized
Bible with them so it was
necessary for God to
communicate to his people through miraculous
means such as dreams through
a prophet you know a
finger on the wall or whatever in order
to communicate because they didn't have what we have today
so it'd be silly for us to
just have the word of God all 66
books of the Bible and
have a dream and go with the dream
rather than these 66 books
especially if you haven't even read the
66 books that are found in here
you haven't even read the Bible cover to cover
but yet you're going to put more emphasis and authority
on your dream than on the word of God
and so
we're not discounting the fact that
God spoke in different ways
throughout history however now
according to the Bible listen to this we have
a more sure word
of prophecy look at the Bible says
in second Peter chapter 1 verse 16
the apostle
Peter here speaking says for we have not
followed cunningly devised fables
when we made known unto you the power and
coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
but were eyewitnesses of his majesty
for he received from God the father
honor and glory when there
came such a voice to him from the excellent
glory this is my beloved son
in whom I am well pleased so
the apostle Peter is referring to the fact that
there was a time when he was there during Jesus
ministry where God the father
literally spoke to Jesus Christ
in an audible voice where Peter heard it
and he's quoting him right here
we obviously know that this actually happened
we have it written in the word of God
and he's saying you know we heard
this we can testify of this
we were there this
actually happened and he says in
verse 18 and this voice came from
heaven which came from heaven we heard
when we were with him in the holy mount
we have also listen to this
a more sure word of prophecy
were unto you do well
that you take heed as unto a light
that shineth in a dark place
unto the day dawn and the day star
arise in your hearts what is he saying
you know his experience was
legitimate but you know what's more legitimate
than that is the more sure word of prophecy
the word of God what he's saying
is like you should put more authority on the
writings that were given you rather than just
some vocal experience that I've
had in times past okay
and he says in verse 20
knowing this verse
that no prophecy of the scripture
is of any private
interpretation so here's the
danger with putting authority on someone's dream
on someone's experience
on what someone thinks you know
God said to them in a vision or whatever
is that it's a private interpretation
no one else was there
no one else is there it's only you
and only God but hold on a second
the Bible tells us that the more sure word
of prophecy is open for all of us
it's not something of private interpretation
he says in verse 21
for the prophecy came down in old time by the will of man
but holy men of God spake
as they were moved by the Holy Ghost
and so I want to make this point that
you know if you're having dreams
of God if you're having dreams of
Jesus you know you're having
dreams of whatever you know
I'm not saying that if it lines up
with God's word it's not biblical I'm just saying
always go with the Bible on this
and don't promote or push your
dreams on other people and say
well let me tell you the prophecy that God gave them to
me okay we're not
interested we're only interested in the prophecy
of the word of God we're only interested in
what God actually says in his word
and if you want to believe that that's your business
however we have a more
short word of prophecy you know that's a
private interpretation this is an open
interpretation for God's people to read for us
to interpret and for us to know
what God specifically says regarding a matter
and so go back to 1 Kings
if you would chapter 3
so obviously this is a unique
situation with Solomon that he's getting
this dream he doesn't have
the canonized Bible as of yet
you know and so God is speaking to him through
a dream and he gives him
just this this open invitation
to ask for what he wants okay
and
you know this is a pretty amazing
request this is something
pretty amazing for God to do
and let's
talk about a couple things that he didn't ask for
first and foremost okay look at verse 10
it says in verse 10
of course we know that he asks for
understanding harp to lead
his people verse number 10 says
in the speech pleased the Lord
that Solomon had asked
this thing and God said to him
listen to this because
thou has asked this thing
and listen to this and has not asked
for thyself long
life so think
about this you know God comes to Solomon
and he says ask what you
will ask for whatever
ask me for whatever you want and
instead of you know asking for
a long life he asks for wisdom and you know
you think to yourself well wouldn't you want a long
life though like isn't that something
that's reasonable that people would want
if God were to come to any individual in this world
and say what do you want you know a lot of
people would say I want to live forever
or I want a long life
right now here's the
funny thing is that you know God can
give you a long life and in fact the Bible
specifically says that he can give you eternal life
because at the end of the day
folks every human being
in this world wants to
live forever
whether they deny it or not
they say no I'm good with just living
this amount of years and I'm okay
with dying and you know I don't even
believe in God or whatever that's wrong
it's false they know they want to live forever
everyone does
we have it in our hearts that we don't want
to die that we want to live forever
that we want to exist eternally
and you know what God is the only one
who makes that available
you know I'm all for eating healthy
sometimes obviously
you know I'm all for eating the
right foods I'm for the carnivore
diet I'm for eating liver
I'm for just having a
healthy lifestyle you know but here's
the thing a lot of people who practice those things
out in the world they do it because they want to
live a long life but not a long life
that's pleasing unto the Lord
it's not like they want to live a long life so they can preach
the gospel more it's not like they want
to live a long life because they want to spend
the decades of their life serving
Christ and winning souls to Christ
and raising their children for God
and reading the word of God and just have
more time to walk with God
right I mean think about Enoch
the Bible says that Enoch walked with
God and was not for God took him he spent
he invested his life
in walking with God
but how many people
can actually say in this world that
they want to spend the rest of their life just walking
with God just learning
God's word just understanding
who the Lord is right
most people
want to live a long life so they can
fulfill it with their lusts with their desires
with their covetousness
and their greed or
they just want to live a long life even
if they're not an immoral person
just because they just don't want to die
you know a great example
of this is the Liver King
everyone's
heard of the Liver King
I mean this guy is
supposedly super healthy
he's popularized eating liver
and knows to tell diet
which I'm not against that stuff
I think it's great
although there's some stuff that he would eat
I would just stay away from completely
I'm just like you're going a little too far on this
buddy you know what I mean
what I'm saying is he eats everything
from the animal
I'm good
I'm good with that
no I'm good
give me the liver I'll eat a heart
bone marrow
but there's other things he's like that's not necessary
is it really necessary?
and obviously this guy is really jacked
and he's very like
super buff and everything
it's all from eating knows to tell diet
of course don't you dare say
that he was on steroids previous or
currently on steroids
even though he shows symptoms of that
of course
but you know this guy he literally
spends his entire life
his life revolves around
his physical health
his diet
his exercise and the guy's in incredible
shape obviously like he runs with
weights he lifts weights I mean
from the time that he wakes up to the time
he goes to sleep he just dedicates
his life to literally just
living a healthy life now
from a worldly perspective you think well what's the
problem with that? well here's the problem
with that from a biblical perspective
he's going to die and it's all worthless
cause it doesn't matter
how much liver he eats
or testicles he eats
cause that's what he eats
he literally says he goes
why eat vegetables when he can eat testicles I mean
that's what he says
doesn't matter how much spleen he
eats or organs he eats or
bone marrow he eats you know what
eventually he's still going
to die
he can live till he's
like 90
let's say he even lives till he's like 100
that's a drop in the bucket
in comparison to eternity my friends
so he can try to
extend his life beyond
what typical normal human
beings who eat McDonald's do
Taco Bell or Del Talk
or whatever you know
he could extend his life so long but
here's the thing at the end of the day he's still going
to die because no one can stop that
and you know what
there's plenty of people that I would say you know what
they need to pick up on that diet though
they need to like start eating a little healthier
and you know
don't fear the liver okay
you know eat some liver once a week
twice a week or whatever get some bone marrow
eat some red meat amen
get your fats
get all that stuff but here's the
thing the reason we would say that though
is to extend your life
so you can better serve God
so you can have more years on
this earth serving the Lord oh that's a waste
it's a waste to you
because you obviously don't understand the eternal
but to the Christian who understands
that there's something beyond this life
that there's a millennial reign there's a new
heaven a new earth there's something beyond
the realm of what we see physically here
we know that it's an investment
and so we want to spend those 80 years
90 years you know
who knows 100 years if God gives us 100
years serving God
so we can get more people saved
so we can do more for the Lord
that would be the purpose of it my friends
transhumanism is trash
it's not going to work
you know I don't know if it's true or not
they used to say that Walt Disney is like frozen
under Disneyland or whatever
in case they find some technology in the
future that they can revive that dude's in hell
he's not coming out
he's not
coming you know
if that conspiracy is true
let's just pretend for a minute that it's true
that his frozen corpse
is under it's a
small world you know
the little castle or whatever
you know
if they find some technology it's not
going to happen
he's not going to come back he's been dead for a long time
he's in hell today yes
he's in hell and you know what
it's not going to do you any good
there's no technology out there that can ever
extend your life beyond what God says
you can live
you understand?
but here's the thing is that God says
but if you're really one you could just live forever though
but it has to be on his terms
the Bible tells us whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die
now folks
if he says liveth and believeth in me he's saying
at this moment if you believe on Jesus
Christ you will never die
now we obviously know that we're physically
going to die one day so he's obviously
referring to our spirit who will
one day inherit a
physical regenerated
glorified body that will also never
die you understand?
the Bible tells us in John 5 24
turn with me if you would to
Psalm 91
John 5 24 says verily verily I say
unto you he that heareth my word and believeth
on him that sent me hath everlasting
life and shall not come into
condemnation but is passed from death
unto life John 6 40 says
and this is the will of him that sent me
that everyone would seeth the son and believeth
on him may have everlasting
life and I will raise him up at the
last day verse 47 says
verily verily I say unto you he that believeth
on me hath everlasting life
I mean the gift of God is eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord you can live
forever but it's on
God's terms and whatever God's terms
believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shall be saved
okay
but you know there's a lot of people
who want to live forever but they don't want it
on God's terms now do they?
they want it on their own terms they want to repent of their sins
they want to turn from their wicked
ways they want to do
the works they want to get baptized
they want to attend a church they want to do
all these externals to get to
live forever but it doesn't work that way
you have to believe on Christ these
are God's terms this is what he says you have to do to
live forever now obviously
Solomon you know maybe
one of the reasons he didn't ask for a long life is because he was
already saved right
he knew he had eternal life and there's
some people speculate well was Solomon
really saved you know on the latter end he
turned away from God yeah people do that
sometimes did you know that
and look people get this misconception
that because you know you see
him worshipping false gods
that all of a sudden that means that he wasn't saved
folks the reason he's doing that
is not because he had a personal conviction to believe
on those false gods it's because he married
he was unequally yoked together with unbelievers
who worshipped those false gods
so it's like you have a guy
who's like a full blown
you know he's a
Christian he's saved he believes the
word of God but then he marries a Catholic or something
and this Catholic
woman you know she's just more strong
will than her husband or something
and it's just like it's you gotta
come with me twice a month or whatever
to the Catholic church
and you know because he's married to her he's gonna
he goes there and he's afraid of his wife or whatever
you know he goes there and
you know he's like worshipping
in the house of the Catholic church
but it doesn't really mean that he believes that
it's a matter that he's doing it to
please his wife and you know Solomon had
a lot of wives who were like just
not saved
Solomon was saved
he didn't need eternal life because he already had
eternal life and so
obviously maybe that's one of the reasons he didn't ask for it
but look at Psalm 91 verse 14
because verse 14
says because he had set his love upon
me therefore will I deliver him
I will set him on high because he has known
my name he shall call
upon me and I will answer him and I will be
with him in trouble I will deliver him
and honor him with long
life will I satisfy him
and show him my
salvation now look folks if we already
have eternal life our goal should be to
live as long as we possibly can on this earth
you say well why so
that because we understand that which is eternal
and we understand we can do more
but how does that happen by asking God
for just a longer life
and you know what that means you need to make yourself
useful in this world for Christ
right
and don't just well you know I'm already
saved thank God for that but you know
get yourself in church start
serving God learn how to go
soul winning read the word of God
be a blessing to others be
an asset in God's army
and give God a reason
to make you live
a little longer
or he's just like you know I'm not gonna take him home because he's being
so she's being so productive
he's being so productive they're winning souls
to Christ they are
raising a family godly family
they're blessing to the church
they're obviously an asset to the church
to the work of God I'm just gonna extend
his life by 15-20 years why not
you know I don't know about you but that's what I would want
but you know there's so many
Christians out there that are just kind of just
living like whatever
they're not serious about the things of God
and you know what it's not like they're gonna lose their
salvation because you can't lose your salvation
that's heresy it's false doctrine
and you know what if you want to go out there and live like
the world and screw up your life and do that
you go ahead and do that you won't lose
your salvation but God will punish you here on this
earth and he'll make sure that your life
is shortened
if you get involved in sin and all
those things the Bible tells us that whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth and scourgeth every
son whom he receiveth and part of that
scourging sometimes is death
but folks
I don't know about you but I want a long life
I want a long
life to be able to serve God
to win souls to Christ to pastor this church
to raise my children
to love my wife
to you know extend
righteousness to others and teach others
about the Christian life this is what
we want look at Psalm 55
you're in the book of Psalm go to Psalm 55
1 Peter 3 verse 10 says
for he that will love life and see good days
let him refrain his
tongue from evil and his
lips that they speak no guile
let him eschew evil and do good
let him seek peace and
ensue it so the Bible obviously gives us
clear practical instructions on how
we can extend our lives
he tells us there just make sure
one thing you can do is just refrain your tongue from
speaking evil you say well
how does that keep me from like
dying soon well you might say the wrong thing to
the wrong person how about that
that'll shorten
your life real quick
let him eschew evil
and do good well how does that
extend my life well you can basically apply that all
across the board if you hate evil
you're not going to drink alcohol
you're not going to live in fornication
you're not going to live
a wicked life knowing full well
that that is detrimental to your health
not only that but detrimental to your spiritual
life and God can punish you for it
let him seek peace and ensue he's saying
pursue peace pursue righteousness
pursue the things of God
if you want to live longer on this earth
he said well I don't want to live long on this earth
I just want to you know kind of
I'm cool with God just
taking me at whatever time or whatever
you know but I don't think that's a biblical way of thinking
because
life is valuable my friends
I mean we value life
and in fact God wants us to
value our life not so
we can just fulfill it with our desires
and what we want but to invest
it to serve God
understand
Psalm 55 verse 23 look what it says
but thou oh God shall bring
them down into the pit of destruction
listen to this bloody and deceitful
men shall not live out
half their days
but I will trust in thee
that's why a lot of people were involved in violence
and gangs they typically don't live
that long you know
Coolio just recently died
in his 50s
and he made a song called
Gangster's Paradise well he didn't think he was going to see
it till 23
he said why did he live so long
because that's as far as he went in his
gangster life is that
song and then guess what he made money and probably
moved out of the hood
and got away from the violence
got away from all that stuff and you know what it extended
his life just a little longer than that
but at the end of the day bloody and deceitful
men shall not live out half their days
most people who live
a lifestyle like that of violence
and drugs and
fornication and all this
filth typically don't live that long
that's why sodomites don't live long
you know they get AIDS and then they
die
look at
Psalm 21
and by the way Ephesians 6 verse
1 says children
obey your parents in the Lord for this is right
honor thy father and mother
which is the first commandment with promise
that it may be well with thee and thou
mayest live long on
the earth hey
teenagers you know what will help you to live
longer on the earth than any you know
health plan or liver or
exercise or dead lifting is just
obeying your parents
not just in word
not just giving lip service to
obeying your parents actually doing it when you're home
not just saying
amen in the service because you know it's the right thing to
say in the service of obeying
your parents but actually doing it when you're at home
when no one else
is watching but God himself and your parents
you know that'll help you to live long on the earth
look
at Psalm 21 verse 3 for thou
preventest him with blessings of
goodness thou setest the crown of pure gold on his
head he asks life
of thee and thou gavest it him
even length of days forever
and ever
so one thing that Solomon didn't
ask for was a long life but I'm gonna
explain to you at the end of the sermon why he
didn't particularly ask for a long life
you see Solomon is a smart guy
he is a smart guy
you know he didn't have wisdom
per se but he might have possessed a little
bit of wisdom based upon what he's asking
but he didn't ask for a long life
look what else he didn't ask for
go back to 1 Kings chapter 3
and
the point that I was trying to make with these verses
that we're showing is that you know a lot
of people are looking for a long life in the wrong
places
and again it's nothing wrong with eating
healthy and exercising and doing all these
external things but you know what's more important
than that is the spiritual stuff
making sure that you're obeying your parents
making sure that you're reading God's word making sure
that you're serving God that'll extend the life
of a person who's eating McDonald's
more than a person who's not eating McDonald's
and is living a
healthy life but is disobedient to God
you know
the Christian who's just living a complete
unhealthy life and I'm not for
it eating just
trash and filled okay
I'm pretty sure but he's
but he's serving God he's winning souls to Christ
and by the way don't get any ideas with this
okay you're like cool
cheeseburgers all the way and
just like you know
I'm just saying you know it's
more likely that that person God will extend
that person's life longer than the
individual who's eating liver
knows to tell but is just
in complete rebellion to the Lord
because God doesn't take that lightly
now the ideal
situation is that you have both
right that you are
living a healthy lifestyle but you're also
obeying the Lord because the
Bible tells us that we should not
destroy the temple of God because if
we do then God will destroy us
so God is concerned with our physical body
our physical temple he doesn't want us to
to defile it he doesn't want us
to destroy it he doesn't want you putting
alcohol in that temple
he doesn't want you putting marijuana in that temple
he doesn't want you to use that temple to fornicate
and commit all kinds of wicked sins
because if you do he'll destroy you
but the Bible
does give principles on how you can
lengthen your life
but what's the other thing he didn't ask for look at verse
11 it says God said unto him because thou hast asked
this thing and has not asked for thyself
long life oh look at the
second one neither has asked
riches for
thyself now here's
another thing that people typically would ask
for if they had God
or some genie come to them and said
what would you like they would probably
ask for riches
I don't know some of you maybe would ask for riches
as well like just make me a millionaire
just make I remember
I told my friend where we're talking
about this concept years ago
and he said this is the way you're supposed to
do it he said and of course he's
speaking he's being
he's being facetious about it he obviously
doesn't believe that this would happen he
said if there's ever a genie
okay they
would grant me a wish just one wish
he said all these people in the movies they do
it all wrong you know
not the way you do it you know
he goes let me show you how I would do it he told me
he said you you
ask the genie for a
box okay
and this box
automatically has the amount that you need
every time you open it
because every time you open it it's like oh
that's what I need and you pull it out
and I was like that's so hey you know you got a point
there actually yes
hmm
I never thought of it that way he's like yeah
he goes you don't ask for a million dollars
you don't ask to be rich
you don't ask for anything you just
ask for that which is you need at that moment
but then I thought
to myself I was like this guy doesn't even realize
this is actually what the Bible teaches where God
gives us sufficient unto the day
you know what I mean and then
I told him he's like oh yeah God does say that I'm like
come on man
but a lot of people
if they had that opportunity to ask God for anything
they would ask for riches but you know riches destroys
people's lives sometimes
go with me if you went to 1 Timothy chapter number 6
I'm going to read to you from Luke chapter 12
and verse 15 it says and he said unto them
take heed and listen to this
beware of covetousness
for a man's
life consisteth not in the abundance
of the things which he possesses
now let me just say this is that there's certain sins
of course according to 1 Corinthians chapter 5
that are very
blatant that are very observable
if someone is committing fornication
you know it's very grievous
if they're committing if they're railing
if they're committing idolatry
these things are pretty blatant pretty wicked
and people know that they're committing those things
but there's one particular sin
is that people don't seem to recognize when they're committing
and that is covetousness
and you know we'll say
amen to the fornication that's wicked
we'll say amen against the railing
we'll say amen to the drunkenness
but you know what covetousness doesn't get
that much attention sometimes from Christians
because Christians are sometimes guilty of it the most
desiring
something that doesn't belong to you
or that God hasn't meant for you to have
is covetousness
and Jesus said
beware of
covetousness
beware of just desiring possessions
more than is meat
just wanting to be rich
because that can destroy your life
and in fact it'll get you excommunicated
from the church
as much as fornication would
as much as idolatry would
as much as drunkenness would
as much as all of the sins we see in 1 Corinthians 5
God says covetousness is in that list as well
look at 1 Timothy chapter 6
and verse number 6
Jesus says but godliness with contentment
is great gain
for we brought nothing into this world
and it is certain we can carry nothing out
he's just reminding us
you know naked came
you came out, naked shall you return
you came into this world with nothing
and you're going to go back with nothing
you don't even go back with a new
set of clothes because once you die
you don't take any of it with you
he says there in verse 8 having food in
raiment let us therewith be content
now let's just be honest
all of us in here have
more than just food in raiment
right? we have way more
than that what he's saying
here is that if that's all you had
you should just be content
and if you're content with food in raiment
everything else on top of that
is just like a cherry it's like a cherry
on top and
you know what happens when you get more than his
meat when you get more than just
food in raiment you get more than that
it should create a heart of gratitude
in you
not a heart of covetous
where you just want more
he says verse number 9
but they that will
be rich
fall into temptation
and a snare and into many foolish
and hurtful lusts which drown in destruction
and perdition
and let me say this sometimes Christians
can fall right into this
snare right into this trap
you're like well I'm not covetous I don't play the lottery
I don't go to
you know casinos
I don't go play
the lottery or poker
I don't do those things yeah but do you
work extra hours on Sunday when you
could be in church just so you
could get more money for
what?
you know on Sundays you should be in church amen
you're like well how
then how am I going to provide for my household
but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his
righteousness and these things shall be added unto you
or is that the sting
of covetousness
that has embedded itself within your
spiritual being and that's why you don't come to church
on Sunday getting kind of quiet in here amen
they that will be rich
well how about this why don't you go without for a
little bit so that you can be in church
on Sunday
well then how am I going to pay for
you know my Xbox and my
video games and the extra
stuff on my car or whatever
and all these things how about this maybe you just
don't pay for it and just leave that in God's hands
why don't you put God first
how am I going to pay for all these
things that I want well
protect your wanter and you won't want it and then
you can be in church on Sunday
you know ask yourself
is that a want or is that a need
and if it takes you out of
church on Sundays where you're not
in church you're not in God's house you're not
listening to the preaching of God's word you're not
out there so it's taking away from your service
from God you know you might want to ask yourself
have you become covetous
are you lacking faith
in God's provision do you not
realize that God can provide for you
and make up the difference
to that which you're lacking in your life
and let's just be honest
no one is working on Sundays
because they don't have any food on their table
no one
is no one is working
on Sundays because they don't have
food in Raymond
like I just need food in Raymond that doesn't exist in America
and look
you're in a local New Testament church my friends
I know this is getting uncomfortable but I like this point
you're in a local New Testament
church where if you're going without
and it's to the point where you
can't pay your bills or you need a meal
or you need whatever
anybody in this church myself included
would be willing to go out of our way to help
you out
and if you didn't know that you know that now
I volunteer everyone in this church
to help you out
everyone myself included to help you out
if you need a meal
and by the way we're not
we're not trying to enable some lazy person
you understand it's like yeah I need help with my rent
but you're not working or something
you're being a lazy
slothful person you know
you just need to starve enough
to motivate you to go actually
work and go to Pizza Hut
and go to McDonald's
and work a job there and do whatever you can
work those hours I'm talking about
you already have a job you're working
these hours and you're just
like should I take Sundays I have the option
not to take Sundays
but I want this extra
thing because that's typically what it comes down to
and look at the end of the day you can
come up with a good reason
couple Sundays out of the month
just so I can get
this and then I'll be back in church
I'll tithe off of it
well that's not optional you have to tithe
off of everything you make
you're just like you're making this deal
with God or something like that like you know
if I disobey God and I come to church on Sundays
I make more money but I get to tithe
you know it's not the way it works my friends
having food
and raiment be content with that
and you know I've learned if
you put God at first he ends up giving you
exceedingly abundantly above all that you can
ask or think put God first
don't ask for riches
he says there in verse 10 for the love
of money so those who will be rich
have a love of money
for the love of money is the root of
all evil which while some coveted after
they have erred from the faith how do they
erred from the faith? They get out of church
stop reading their Bible
start checking the stocks or whatever
you know
we all know how that went with Bitcoin
everyone saw into Bitcoin
Bitcoin this and Bitcoin that
there goes that
all that
all that time wasted thinking
about Bitcoin
all that time wasted checking your phone
during church to see where it's at
down the toilet
cause that's how all money
is my friends
they
erred from the faith
they pierced themselves through with many
sorrows says verse 11
but thou oh man of God
thou oh woman of God
flee these things and follow
after righteousness, godliness
faith, love
patience, meekness
you say how does that make me any money
it doesn't
it makes you
well pleasing in the eyes of the Lord
and it situates you in a position
where God can show himself
strong on your behalf
don't ask for
riches now let me just say this
is that
sometimes that's the case with people
they have this temptation to work
extra hours which I'm all for
doing overtime working
extra hours as long as
it doesn't intervene
with your church stuff
with spiritual things you understand
make money
get the things that you want
but don't let it interrupt your church
schedule don't let it interrupt your
bible reading don't let it interrupt
your thought life where that's all you think about
so if you have enough discipline
to work extra hours
to make that extra money you better
have enough discipline
to keep your mind on this
to keep your body
in here to keep
your eyes on this
it takes discipline to work hard
it takes more discipline to stay spiritual
while you're making more money
but let me say this you know
sometimes people come from money
you know what I mean by that
some people are just like
they get saved but they're already rich
some people are just ballers
is that an old
word that's the word we used to use
you guys know what a baller is?
raise your hand if you know what a baller is
that means you just
you just got money coming out your ears
you just come
from money
you're kind of already rich
that's what your family was like
or you were just a really smart
business person got your own business
you made a lot of money and you just know
how to handle money you just know how to make money
there's certain people who just know how to make money
honestly by the way
they just know
how to make lots of money they're very good
with finances
they're just smart individuals
or hard working individuals who are like that
there's nothing wrong with that I think God gifted people
certain people with that ability
understand? but look at verse 17
because God hasn't forgotten about you
charge them
verse 17 that are rich in this world
that they be not high minded
so the first thing he says
is like hey those of you who are rich
who came into the Christian life
already rich who already
you know got a lot of money in the bank
you're just a wealthy person don't be proud
don't think you're better than
everyone else in the church because you got more money
or something don't go around flaunting
your money
don't be a high minded person
what he's saying be humble
that they be not high minded
look what it says nor trust
in uncertain riches
what are uncertain riches? Bitcoin
I mean all riches are uncertain but that
for sure
no no one's going to be able to
touch this so the Jews
can't have it it's just like perfect
so people who are already born into money
money's been a part of their life
it's been a part of their parent's life
you know they just come from a
wealthy family maybe they have
just a family business or whatever
they can have the tendency to trust
in those riches
to place their faith in money
because they know what money can do
they know what money can buy
they understand the importance of
money and so they have a tendency
or temptation to trust in
that monetary thing he says there
be not high minded nor trust
in uncertain riches but in the
living God who giveth us
richly all things to enjoy
so there's your permission he said
look enjoy your riches
if God has blessed you with a lot
of finances a lot of money
a lot of possessions enjoy it
see God's not in heaven like
you can't enjoy that stuff what are you doing
what are you doing with that kind of car
what are you doing with that kind of boat or whatever
he says enjoy it but you better
make sure that you're not trusting in those things
and don't pay lip service
to me saying you don't trust it
only God knows if you
trust in that or not
but he says
enjoy it enjoy the food
enjoy the possessions enjoy the vehicle
enjoy your house enjoy those things
because God gives us all these things richly
to enjoy
he says in verse 18 here's your
instructions though that they do good
that they be rich in
their bank account and in their stocks and in their
bitcoin no he says
make sure that they're rich in good works
so as much money as you got
in the bank you better have twice
as much in your spiritual bank
as much money as you're
making here you better be rich in good
works and you know what some Christians
are rich monetarily in this world
but they're poppers in heaven
because they don't do any
works
he says rich in good works
ready to distribute
willing to communicate
what does that mean
be willing to part ways with your money
to be a blessing to someone else
now sometimes God
will let you
keep your money but if you're not a good
steward of that money he'll make you part ways
with it
he'll do something you know I got a letter
today or I didn't get a letter
my wife got it let me just
where's uh I need someone go go to my
office and go get that letter in my desk please
come on hurry up man I was waiting on you
let's go young man
act like you're somebody
walk like you're somebody
I have one desk
in there Gio oh wait you know what
it's not in there it's probably in my wife's bag huh
joke's on you Gio
alright so I don't think I think my wife
has her bag we got a letter in the
mail and it was
for my wife and you open it
there's like a twenty dollar bill in there
and it said Mrs. Mejia
she's like you know
this is for you and and you know
and you think initially this
is like a good letter is that it yeah yeah
I don't want to misquote this person
there you go alright
look at that weird looking dog
where's the money
alright it says dear Mrs. Mejia
I heard your husband on
TikTok
I'm on TikTok
it's clear you are married to a
narcissist and are
in a toxic relationship
the
god of my understanding
told me to
send you some money to help you get away
it's like dude twenty bucks
won't even pay for an Uber
what is twenty bucks gonna do
nowadays that'll get my
wife to like the corner of the street or something
like that it's like won't even get her that far it'll take
her to like Starbucks down the street
I
will pray for your freedom
and liberation in mind body and spirit
but she's already saved she already has liberation
may the divine
feminine rise in you
yours D
and there's like a twenty dollar bill in there
and you know what I said yoink
you know the riches of the unjust are let up
for the righteous
I'm gonna make a video later on
like say hey thank you D this is gonna pay for all my
coffees for the rest of the week
I'm gonna spend that
money
and you know what god
probably you know cause god has a sense of humor
read the bible he has a sense of humor
he probably just like mess with their mind
thinking
that my wife is gonna be like I've been
praying for this twenty dollars
to just leave my husband
this is what I need
you know just to
make her think like she doesn't think and
it came to the church
my wife doesn't work for the church but even
then like even if it came to our house or something
my wife would probably give it to me
I'd take it and still take the twenty dollars
but she sent this to my wife thinking that
like my wife was actually gonna keep this and my wife
was gonna lie to me or something like that
it's like dude I'm taking the twenty dollars
it's mine now
and I take it as a joke from the lord
that this enemy of the lord
the little doggy here
I think this is a portrait
of her right here
she put her portrait on the front of the car
you know this enemy of the lord
just sent me twenty bucks
that's what I take it as you know why because
at the end of the day God can
give to you or he can take it away from you
you know what I'd rather do I'd rather give
unto the lord so he doesn't have to take it from
me
charge them he says
now this person is not rich obviously
if they think it takes
twenty dollars to get away or something
I'm running out of time
you're going back to 1 Kings chapter 3
you guys are messing around too much
the Bible says
in John 6 27 you're going back to 1 Kings
John 6 27 says
you know God is actually into saving money
and I'm not just talking about
like saving it in your bank account I'm literally
talking about like saving your money sending it
ahead he's not against you
making money he's against
you making bad investments
he doesn't want Christians to make
bad investments with the finances they have
with the possessions and riches that he has
blessed them with he wants you to be a good steward
of that invest it in something
that will bring back dividends
that will multiply the riches
so you can be rich in heaven
and so Solomon
he didn't ask for a long life
he didn't ask for riches
look what it goes on to say in verse 11
so the last thing there is that
he didn't ask for the life of his enemies
now what is he talking about specifically
well I don't think he's referring
to literal enemies that he had
because Solomon had no enemies
he's in a time of peace
there's no war there's no battles
in place during this time
I think what he's referring to specifically
is conquest
and the result of conquest
which would be honor, status
so how do you know that?
well look at verse 13 which is
parallel to what he's referring to
he says, and I have also given thee
that which thou hast not asked
both riches and honor
so that there shall not
be any among the kings
like unto thee all thy
days so I believe the parallel
that he's making there is that
the life of his enemies is essentially referring to
the fact that he's going to be honorable amongst
the heathen you understand because of his
conquest because he's taken over
but God says I'll just honor you
and you know Solomon
did no great exploits per se
as far as outside of the kingdom but yet
people outside of the kingdom knew who Solomon
was you have the queen of Sheba
you have many people who came to him
just to hear about the wisdom of Solomon
because God blessed him with honor
okay
now go to Luke 22
if you would go to Luke chapter 22
we'll come back to 1st Kings so hold your place
there
you know and that's something that people want
they want honor, they want to be respected
they want people to admire them
this is something that even Christians want
this is a natural thing that Christians want
but it's not something that you should seek
after per se look what it says
in Luke 22 verse 24
and there was also strife
among them referring to the disciples
which of them should be accounted the greatest
and he said unto them the kings of the
Gentiles exercise lordship over them
and they that exercise authority
upon them are called benefactors
but ye
the disciples shall not be so
but he that is greatest
among you let him be as
the younger and he that is chief
as he that doth serve for whether
is greater he that sitteth
at meet or he that serveth
is not he that sitteth at meet
but I am among you as he
that serveth and what is he implying
Jesus Christ is the greatest
he is the greatest right
and he's saying I'm here
as the greatest but I'm serving
you and he's essentially
saying copy this example
that if you want to be great
if you want honor if you
want to be respected if you want that
admiration be a servant
don't seek to exercise lordship
over individuals seek to serve
them seek to be a blessing to them
and that is God's formula
on being great okay
now go back to
um
go back to first kings and I'm at a
time already so let me finish off with this point here
so he tells them you know you
ask for wisdom you ask for understanding
and because you ask for this
I'm also going to give you you know
I'm going to give you a long life
even though you didn't ask for it
I'm going to give you riches because you didn't ask for it
and I'm going to give you honor even though you didn't
ask for it he
says let's let's start in verse number nine he says
give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge
thy people that I may discern between
good and bad for who is able to judge
this thy so great a
people and speech please the Lord
call him and ask this thing and God
said unto him because I was asked this thing and has not
asked for thyself long life neither has asked riches
for thyself nor has asked the life
of thine enemies but has asked for thyself
understanding to to discern judgment
behold I have done according to thy
words lo I have given thee a
wise and understanding
heart he
says so that there was none like thee before
thee neither after thee
shall any arise like unto thee
now go to Proverbs
this is the last scripture
you say why is Solomon so smart
by asking for this and not asking for
long life riches and honor
well
because I think Solomon understood
if he doesn't ask for
these three but he asks for this one thing
these three
come from this one thing
look what it says in Proverbs 3
in verse
16 referring to wisdom
it says length of days
is in her right hand
and in her left hand
riches and honor
her ways are pleasant
and all her paths
are peace
so you know what you can spend the rest of your life
seeking riches
seeking a long life
seeking honor or you could
just seek the wisdom of God and
then you get wisdom and you get these three
so you know
he wasn't totally absent of wisdom
he had enough to realize
what I should be asking for
is discernment and wisdom
because the natural or should I say
the supernatural byproduct
of getting God's wisdom
is this the problem is Christians go
for the three
separate ones they go for riches
they go for a long life
they go for honor
and they constantly pursue these things
nothing wrong with that but why don't you just
hit two birds or should I say three birds
with one stone get
wisdom and the byproduct
is you'll get a long life you'll get
riches and you'll get honor
that's what happened to Solomon
now in the beginning I said that the title of the sermon
was ask what I shall give
thee and
I've often read that to say ask whatever you
want but what it actually
says ask
what I shall give thee
why does it say that
because God will only
give us what's according to his will
we can only ask for things
that God already intends for us to have
he said well I want
something that God doesn't want me to have
then you need to forget about that
plain and simple
what you should be asking
for is praying according to his will
and the formula is
that if you're praying according
to his will we know that he
hear us and if he hear us
we know that we have the petitions
for which we've asked if
you want a guaranteed answer to prayer
just pray according to his will
listen
to the words ask
what I shall give
thee ask for the
things that God has already intended for you to have
and you know what if you want you to have riches
so be it if you want you to have long life so be it if you
want you to have honor so be it but you know one thing that
he really wants you to have is wisdom
and when you get wisdom
the long life the riches and honor
it's like a cherry on top
but in my experience
he's always able to give us
abundantly above all that we can
ask or think
amen? and so
let's pray Father we thank you so much for your word
we're so thankful for Solomon's example
Lord help us as your people to be wise
and to pursue wisdom
pursue understanding
to cry out for understanding
to cry out for discernment
and to esteem wisdom
to the point where we're willing to do that
we're willing to
while we're alone and spending time with you
in prayer and in the Bible
that we would cry out and say God
give us wisdom give me wisdom give me
discernment help me to
know the difference between good and evil to make good
judgments and give me
this wisdom and search for that wisdom
as for hit treasures
and not focus so much on the
long life not focus so much on riches
and honor but rather focus on
wisdom which the Bible says is the
principle thing therefore get wisdom
and I pray that you bless us as we go on our way
Lord we love you we thank you pray these things in Jesus name
amen
see it on that first verse
it is well
with
my soul
it is
well
with
my soul
it is well
with
my soul
oh satan
should
come
oh child
should come
let
this
blossom show
its control
that
Christ has
begun
and my help
passes
is
shed
is
all
my soul
it is
well
with
my soul
it is
well
it is
well
my soul
my sin
oh the
bliss
of this
glorious
thought
my sin
not in part
but the
whole
is nailed
to the cross
and I
care in
no more
praise the Lord
praise the
Lord
oh my soul
it
is well
with
my
soul
it is
well
it is well
with
my soul
and Lord
praise the
day
when my
faith shall
decide
the clouds
be rolled back
as the
storm
the
sun
and the
war
shall descend
even so
it is
well
with
my soul
it is
well
with
my soul
it
is well
it is well
with
my soul