WEBVTT 05:33.900 --> 05:34.500 you 10:02.500 --> 10:08.000 Alright, welcome to Sher Foundation Baptist Church everybody please find your seats and pick up a hymn book. 10:08.000 --> 10:11.300 First song we're gonna sing is song 203. 10:13.300 --> 10:15.300 203, we're gonna sing it through twice. 10:15.300 --> 10:17.500 Song 203, The Windows of Heaven. 10:19.000 --> 10:21.300 We're gonna sing it twice, on the first. 10:22.200 --> 10:30.700 The windows of heaven are open, the blessings are falling tonight. 10:30.700 --> 10:38.700 There's joy, joy, joy in my heart since Jesus made everything right. 10:38.800 --> 10:43.000 I gave him my old tattered garment. 10:43.000 --> 10:46.720 He gave me a robe of pure white. 10:46.720 --> 10:50.920 I'm feasting on manna from heaven. 10:50.920 --> 10:54.440 And that's why I'm happy tonight. 10:54.440 --> 10:59.360 The windows of heaven are open. 10:59.360 --> 11:03.440 The blessings are falling tonight. 11:03.440 --> 11:06.760 There's joy, joy, joy in my heart. 11:06.800 --> 11:10.800 Since Jesus made everything right. 11:10.800 --> 11:14.800 I gave him my old tattered garment. 11:14.800 --> 11:18.800 He gave me a robe of pure white. 11:18.800 --> 11:22.800 I'm feasting on manna from heaven. 11:22.800 --> 11:26.800 And that's why I'm happy tonight. 11:26.800 --> 11:30.400 Alright, great singing. Brother Matthew, please open us up with a word of prayer. 11:42.900 --> 11:49.300 Amen next song is gonna be song 194 since Jesus came into my heart song 194 in your handbooks 11:50.100 --> 11:53.780 194 on the first 11:54.300 --> 12:02.300 What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought since Jesus came into my heart 12:03.260 --> 12:12.320 I have lied in my soul for which long I have sought since Jesus came into my heart 12:14.100 --> 12:18.680 Since Jesus came into my heart 12:19.940 --> 12:21.940 Since Jesus came in 12:22.300 --> 12:35.180 to my heart. Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll. Since Jesus came into 12:35.180 --> 12:45.380 my heart, I have ceased from my wandering and going astray. Since Jesus came into my 12:45.380 --> 12:50.300 heart, and my sins which are many are all. 12:50.300 --> 12:56.700 wash away since Jesus came into my heart. 12:56.700 --> 13:02.700 Since Jesus came into my heart. 13:02.700 --> 13:07.500 Since Jesus came into my heart. 13:07.500 --> 13:14.300 Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll. 13:14.600 --> 13:20.040 Since Jesus came into my heart 13:20.200 --> 13:29.800 I'm possessed of a hope that is steadfast and sure, since Jesus came into my heart. 13:29.800 --> 13:39.880 And no dark clouds of doubt, now my pathway obscure, since Jesus came into my heart. 13:39.880 --> 13:45.960 Since Jesus came into my heart. 13:45.960 --> 13:48.120 Since Jesus came in- 13:48.200 --> 13:59.660 my heart floods of joy or my soul like the sea billows roll since Jesus came 13:59.660 --> 14:08.620 into my heart there's a light in the valley of death now for me since Jesus 14:08.620 --> 14:12.000 came into my heart 14:12.100 --> 14:22.100 And the gates of the city beyond I can see Since Jesus came into my heart 14:22.100 --> 14:32.600 Since Jesus came into my heart Since Jesus came into my heart 14:32.600 --> 14:39.100 Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll 14:39.100 --> 14:40.100 SIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 14:40.100 --> 14:50.120 Jesus came into my heart I shall go there to dwell in the city I know since 14:50.120 --> 14:54.000 Jesus came into my heart 14:54.100 --> 15:03.880 And I'm happy, so happy as onward I go, Since Jesus came into my heart. 15:03.880 --> 15:14.180 Since Jesus came into my heart. Since Jesus came into my heart. 15:14.180 --> 15:20.980 Floods of joy o'er my soul, like the sea billows roll. 15:21.100 --> 15:26.100 Since Jesus came into my heart. 15:26.860 --> 15:27.700 All right, good singing. 15:27.700 --> 15:29.200 Now we're gonna have some announcements. 15:30.900 --> 15:37.500 Welcome back to Shul Foundation Baptist Church Sunday afternoon service. If you need a bulletin, please raise your hand and we'll get you a bulletin. 15:37.500 --> 15:45.140 The verse of the week is Psalm 145 verse 17. The Lord is righteous in all his ways and holy in all his works. 15:45.140 --> 15:50.880 That's a great reminder. Just doesn't matter what happened in our life. God is always just. And let's look at the inside page. 15:50.880 --> 15:58.860 Please give us a follow on YouTube, Facebook, Rumble and X. We have surveys Sunday morning at the 11th, Sunday afternoon service at 4. 15:58.900 --> 16:01.860 Wednesday we have service at 7 p.m. 16:01.860 --> 16:04.740 This Wednesday we'll be going through Acts chapter 10 16:04.740 --> 16:08.140 talking about the conversion story of Cornelius. 16:09.180 --> 16:11.580 And then we have someone in Saturday morning 16:11.580 --> 16:13.360 and Sunday afternoon. 16:13.360 --> 16:16.660 This afternoon we have, I believe, 14 sun winners 16:16.660 --> 16:19.020 and three salvations, praise the Lord for that. 16:19.820 --> 16:20.660 So. 16:20.900 --> 16:26.900 And you know, of course next Saturday, actually this coming Saturday is our Indie Songwooning Marathon. 16:26.900 --> 16:28.900 That's on July 25th. 16:28.900 --> 16:31.900 So we'll meet here in the morning and then we're gonna go Songwooning. 16:31.900 --> 16:34.900 And then Chipotle will be provided at the Chipotle restaurant. 16:34.900 --> 16:37.900 And then we'll have our afternoon Songwooning session. 16:37.900 --> 16:41.900 So please RSVP because if you don't there will be consequences. 16:41.900 --> 16:47.900 Okay? And I'm not kidding because if you've been to our anniversary, you know, there was consequence. 16:47.900 --> 16:48.900 and then 16:48.900 --> 16:53.400 And you can see the rest of the Sony events on our website. 16:53.400 --> 16:56.040 Also, our fall picnic, our fall fellowship 16:56.040 --> 16:58.760 will be on October 3rd. 16:58.760 --> 17:01.200 So that will be in the afternoon. 17:01.200 --> 17:03.840 So usually people can show up at 4 o'clock, 17:03.840 --> 17:07.040 but then the dinner will take place around 5, 32, 6. 17:07.040 --> 17:12.040 But then there's volleyball, basketball, water, 17:12.040 --> 17:15.720 it's not water slide, but kids water, like splash, 17:15.720 --> 17:16.800 splash, pass. 17:16.800 --> 17:16.900 you 17:16.900 --> 17:19.780 Splash Park, whatever that's called. 17:19.780 --> 17:21.900 And then there are bathrooms. 17:21.900 --> 17:23.340 You know, bathroom is not really an attraction, 17:23.340 --> 17:26.140 but there are bathrooms and pickleball court. 17:26.140 --> 17:28.340 And you know, I mean, it's a pretty decent park. 17:28.340 --> 17:29.820 So please join us. 17:29.820 --> 17:32.220 And if we need me to write you an excuse letter 17:32.220 --> 17:34.620 from your other engagement, please let me know. 17:34.620 --> 17:38.020 If you know, you know. 17:38.020 --> 17:40.420 And then, let's see. 17:41.100 --> 17:43.500 Yeah, let's flip on the backside. 17:43.500 --> 17:46.700 Are there any birthdays coming that's not on the list? 17:46.700 --> 17:49.700 Because I know I missed one last week. 17:49.700 --> 17:50.540 So... 17:52.540 --> 17:53.460 July 14th. 17:54.620 --> 17:56.700 So that's five days ago. 17:57.600 --> 17:59.600 So let's sing happy birthday. 17:59.600 --> 18:01.520 No, no, we will not do that. 18:01.520 --> 18:02.520 It seems it's already late. 18:02.520 --> 18:06.200 Yeah, but if your dates are not on there, 18:06.200 --> 18:10.560 please let me know so I can keep all of your info 18:10.560 --> 18:12.720 in my data bank. 18:12.720 --> 18:14.600 Anyway, let's sing one more song, 18:14.600 --> 18:16.000 and then we'll take out the offering. 18:18.700 --> 18:22.540 Alright, next song is going to be song 185 in your hymn book. 18:22.540 --> 18:26.140 Song 185, My Savior's Love. 18:26.140 --> 18:31.900 Song 185 in your hymn book. 18:31.900 --> 18:34.780 On the 1st. 18:34.780 --> 18:45.020 I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene. 18:45.500 --> 18:56.500 And wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned unclean. 18:56.500 --> 19:07.500 How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be. 19:07.900 --> 19:19.500 How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me. 19:19.500 --> 19:30.300 For me it was at the garden, He prayed not my will but thine. 19:30.500 --> 19:41.500 He had no tears for his own griefs, but sweat drops of blood for mine. 19:41.500 --> 19:52.400 How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be. 19:52.600 --> 20:04.600 How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me. 20:04.600 --> 20:10.120 He took my sins and my sorrows. 20:10.120 --> 20:14.960 He made them His very own. 20:15.400 --> 20:26.680 He bore the bird into Calvary and suffered and died alone. 20:26.680 --> 20:37.000 How marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever be. 20:37.400 --> 20:48.900 How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me! 20:48.900 --> 20:59.400 When with the ransomed in glory, His face I at last shall see! 20:59.700 --> 21:10.700 T'will be my joy through the ages, to sing of his love for me. 21:10.700 --> 21:20.700 How marvelous, how wonderful in my song shall ever be. 21:21.400 --> 21:32.400 How marvelous, how wonderful is my Savior's love for me. 22:26.300 --> 22:29.980 We'll be in Ecclesiastes chapter 7. 22:29.980 --> 22:33.780 Ecclesiastes chapter 7. 22:33.780 --> 22:35.380 If you need a Bible, just raise your hand. 22:35.380 --> 22:36.600 And one will be provided. 22:39.600 --> 22:47.320 Ecclesiastes chapter 7 the Bible reads a good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death than the day of one's birth 22:47.320 --> 22:52.060 It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting 22:52.200 --> 22:56.400 For that is the end of all men and the living will lay it to his heart 22:57.320 --> 23:02.760 Sorrow is better than laughter for by the sadness of the countenance of the heart is made better 23:03.500 --> 23:09.100 The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth. 23:09.660 --> 23:15.340 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 23:15.980 --> 23:20.300 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool. 23:20.860 --> 23:27.820 This also is vanity. Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth the heart. 23:28.300 --> 23:33.660 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof, and the patient in spirit is better 23:33.660 --> 23:35.860 than the proud in spirit. 23:35.860 --> 23:42.700 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosoms of fools. 23:42.700 --> 23:44.260 Say not thou what 23:44.700 --> 23:49.060 the cause that the former days were better than these for thou dost not 23:49.060 --> 23:55.060 acquire wisely concerning this wisdom is good with an inheritance and by it there 23:55.060 --> 24:00.780 is profit to them that see the Sun for wisdom is the defense for wisdom is a 24:00.780 --> 24:06.980 defense and money is a defense but the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom 24:06.980 --> 24:11.940 giveth life to them that have it. Consider the work of God for 24:12.700 --> 24:16.920 Who can make that straight which he hath made crooked? 24:17.800 --> 24:20.580 And the day of prosperity be joyful 24:20.580 --> 24:26.080 But in the day of adversity consider God also hath set the one over there against the other 24:26.460 --> 24:33.600 To the end that man should find nothing after him all things have all things have I seen in 24:34.100 --> 24:36.100 the days of my vanity 24:36.900 --> 24:44.300 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 24:44.300 --> 24:53.100 Be not righteous over much, neither make thyself overwise. Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 24:53.100 --> 25:00.800 Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish. Why shouldest thou die before thy time? 25:01.000 --> 25:07.720 It is good that thou shouldest take hold of this, yea also from this withdrawal not thine hand, 25:08.360 --> 25:12.200 for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 25:12.760 --> 25:17.480 Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city, 25:18.280 --> 25:22.520 for there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not. 25:23.100 --> 25:29.820 Also, take no heed unto all words that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee. 25:29.820 --> 25:39.340 For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 25:39.340 --> 25:41.740 Also this have I proved by wisdom. 25:41.740 --> 25:45.480 I said, I will be wise, but it was far from me. 25:45.480 --> 25:49.060 That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out? 25:50.000 --> 25:57.800 I applied my heart to know and to search in to seek out wisdom and the reason of things 25:57.800 --> 26:03.000 and to know the wickedness of folly even the foolishness and madness. 26:03.000 --> 26:09.760 And I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands 26:09.760 --> 26:10.520 as bands. 26:11.000 --> 26:16.520 Whoso pleaseth, God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by her. 26:16.520 --> 26:25.000 Behold, this I have found, saith the preacher, counting one by one, one by one, to find out 26:25.000 --> 26:32.760 the account, which yet my soul seeketh, but I find not. One man among a thousand have I found, 26:32.760 --> 26:38.440 but a woman among all those have I found not. Have I not found? 26:38.800 --> 26:45.920 Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright, but they have sought out 26:45.920 --> 26:47.240 many inventions." 27:04.500 --> 27:09.860 Okay, good afternoon. So today I'm going to be preaching Ecclesiastes 7. 27:09.860 --> 27:13.860 Title of my sermon is Ecclesiastes 7 House of Mourning. 27:14.200 --> 27:16.840 This is my first expository sermon. 27:16.840 --> 27:19.840 Most sermons I've done in the past were topical, 27:19.840 --> 27:23.340 so I thought I'd take a chance and push myself to do this. 27:23.340 --> 27:25.640 It was also recommended that I push myself to do it, 27:25.640 --> 27:28.840 so it's a pleasure also to be back preaching. 27:28.840 --> 27:30.880 It's been a while I've done men's preaching nights, 27:30.880 --> 27:35.040 so it's great to be back doing hour-long sermons. 27:35.040 --> 27:38.080 So a little bit about Ecclesiastes 7. 27:38.080 --> 27:38.800 Well... 27:39.200 --> 27:44.200 Just to give a little background about King Solomon, King Solomon is the author of Ecclesiastes. 27:44.200 --> 27:53.200 King Solomon was conceived immediately after King David and Bathsheba's first child died. 27:53.200 --> 27:58.200 He's the author of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon. 27:58.200 --> 28:03.200 He's featured in 2 Samuel, 1 Kings, and 2 Chronicles. 28:03.200 --> 28:06.200 I really like this verse about him and 1 Kings. 28:07.200 --> 28:16.320 1 Kings 4, 32, and he spake 3,000 Proverbs and his songs were 1,005. 28:16.320 --> 28:17.320 King Solomon 28:17.900 --> 28:24.160 Is really unique in the sense that he asked the Lord to give him wisdom to judge the people righteously 28:24.540 --> 28:27.900 he didn't ask for abundance and riches or 28:28.820 --> 28:37.460 Victory over his enemies he asked for wisdom to judge the people so because he did that the Lord had great favor upon him and 28:38.180 --> 28:42.400 Blessed him with riches and abundance and the wisdom he asked for 28:43.100 --> 28:47.860 So, you know, his wisdom is really demonstrated in the book of Proverbs and especially here in 28:48.300 --> 28:55.800 Ecclesiastes, but Ecclesiastes is also a bit somber, which is what makes it interesting, 28:55.800 --> 29:03.440 because the way he kind of compares, it seems like sad truths that give wisdom, but also 29:03.440 --> 29:06.840 like people that have mirth and abundance. 29:06.840 --> 29:08.680 So I'll be going into depth about that. 29:08.680 --> 29:14.060 So the first point is, sow in tears, reap in joy. 29:14.060 --> 29:16.220 So in tears, reap in joy, we'll begin in. 29:16.700 --> 29:23.660 Ecclesiastes 7 verse 1, a good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death 29:23.660 --> 29:26.460 than the day of one's birth. 29:26.460 --> 29:31.740 So a good name, what is he speaking of there? 29:31.740 --> 29:36.000 Well a good name compared to precious ointment, I think what he's trying to say is it's like 29:36.000 --> 29:38.360 a contrast of inward values. 29:38.700 --> 29:44.780 Versus external appearances a good name would be like a reputation a good reputation 29:45.300 --> 29:51.260 Versus it seems like the one with a precious ointment has the abundance and earthly joy 29:52.180 --> 29:53.300 so 29:53.500 --> 29:58.500 The good name, the reputation part, makes me think of 1 Timothy 3. 29:58.500 --> 30:00.500 I'll use this as a parallel passage. 30:00.500 --> 30:03.500 This is a true saying, 1 Timothy 3. 30:03.500 --> 30:09.500 This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work. 30:09.500 --> 30:10.500 Now I'll go down to verse 7. 30:10.500 --> 30:15.500 Moreover, he must have a good report of them which are without, 30:15.500 --> 30:18.500 lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil. 30:18.500 --> 30:21.500 So I'd say 1 Timothy 3 there. 30:21.500 --> 30:24.700 is also referring to a good name. 30:24.700 --> 30:27.620 Someone that's gonna seek the office of a bishop 30:27.620 --> 30:30.260 should have a good reputation, a good name. 30:30.260 --> 30:32.900 Not somebody who is like a troublemaker, 30:32.900 --> 30:34.780 I mean like I said, not a brawler. 30:34.780 --> 30:36.780 Not somebody who's known among the community 30:36.780 --> 30:40.220 or to others to be troublesome. 30:41.100 --> 30:43.420 And there it goes on after the pressure. 30:43.420 --> 30:44.260 So on the part it says, 30:44.260 --> 30:48.300 in the day of death, then the day of one's birth. 30:48.300 --> 30:49.000 So. 30:49.400 --> 30:54.400 In death, we go to a better place than when we are born. 30:54.400 --> 30:59.400 I mean, it's obviously a blessing to have children and to be born into this world, 30:59.400 --> 31:06.400 but when we die, obviously we know that we go on to the afterlife if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 31:06.400 --> 31:09.400 which is much better than the experience of this life. 31:09.400 --> 31:12.400 Because of the suffering, we're going to have to endure in the time that we're here. 31:12.400 --> 31:16.400 So the day of death is better than the day of one's birth. 31:16.800 --> 31:22.560 A good passage for that makes me think of 1 Corinthians 2, 9. 31:22.560 --> 31:29.100 But as it is written, I have not seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart 31:29.100 --> 31:34.640 of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 31:34.640 --> 31:38.440 So the day of death is better than the day of one's birth. 31:38.440 --> 31:40.980 Let's move down to Ecclesiastes 7 verse 2. 31:40.980 --> 31:43.980 It is better to go to the house of mourning. 31:44.300 --> 31:48.460 than to go to the house of feasting. 31:48.460 --> 31:52.460 For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart." 31:52.460 --> 31:57.940 So you would think, why is it better to go to the house of mourning than the house of 31:57.940 --> 31:59.600 feasting? 31:59.600 --> 32:04.320 And one thing you see consistently here in Ecclesiastes is it constantly says 32:04.700 --> 32:08.440 you know, one is better than, this is better than. 32:08.440 --> 32:10.440 It consistently says that. 32:10.440 --> 32:12.240 So you would think, I mean, why is it better 32:12.240 --> 32:13.880 to go to the house of mourning? 32:13.880 --> 32:16.120 It kind of paints this theme, the house of mourning. 32:16.120 --> 32:19.780 So I think it's kind of a picture of like a funeral home 32:19.780 --> 32:21.980 because it's talking about like death, you know, 32:21.980 --> 32:23.840 versus the house of feasting. 32:23.840 --> 32:26.920 Better to go to the house of mourning, the house of feasting. 32:26.920 --> 32:27.700 So. 32:28.700 --> 32:34.060 I think what he's trying to say, it's kind of like when someone dies, generally people 32:34.060 --> 32:36.300 reflect deeply. 32:36.300 --> 32:42.060 They think upon their life, maybe the life of the person who passed on. 32:42.060 --> 32:45.980 And the house of feasting, I mean, you've got someone that's just... 32:46.400 --> 32:52.800 It's kind of like, you know, they have all this abundance and decadence and food and just laughter and they're just living it up. 32:52.800 --> 32:57.440 But then the one that's in the house, see, you can't find wisdom in that house. 32:57.440 --> 33:03.600 You see, but you can find wisdom in the house of mourning where yes, there's sorrow, yes, there's suffering and sadness and mourning. 33:03.600 --> 33:06.960 But it makes you reflect. And the reason... 33:07.200 --> 33:11.320 I say that because it teaches us to number our days. 33:11.320 --> 33:17.720 When someone passes on whether they're saved or not, you start to think about how much 33:17.720 --> 33:20.160 longer you may have. 33:20.160 --> 33:25.720 So recently I had a friend who unfortunately passed away of cancer who was saved. 33:25.720 --> 33:28.040 And I spent a lot of time with this person. 33:28.040 --> 33:29.800 He was a great friend of mine. 33:29.800 --> 33:32.800 And it was just really, it was unreal that he passed. 33:33.000 --> 33:41.340 with cancer at age 46, it came about kind of sporadically and it's still unreal to 33:41.340 --> 33:45.540 me that he's gone, but I have the comfort of knowing that he's in heaven because he 33:45.540 --> 33:52.980 believed on the Lord Jesus Christ. So you know using that as an example, his 33:52.980 --> 33:58.260 passing has really taught me to number my days because it's like okay even the 33:58.260 --> 34:00.900 saved can pass on early. 34:01.300 --> 34:04.220 I mean, it's kind of scary, but it's also like, 34:04.220 --> 34:07.220 I know he's in a good place, but it taught me like, 34:07.220 --> 34:10.460 hey, what am I gonna do with the rest of my days? 34:10.460 --> 34:13.280 What am I gonna spend my time on? 34:13.280 --> 34:15.880 What is it that I need to leave undone? 34:15.880 --> 34:18.400 So, better go to the house of mourning 34:18.400 --> 34:21.820 than the house of feasting, for that is the end of all men 34:21.820 --> 34:24.020 and the living will lay it to his heart. 34:24.020 --> 34:27.860 So it makes you commune with the heart, reflect. 34:28.000 --> 34:31.000 And I'd say, you know, number your days. 34:31.000 --> 34:33.000 So let's move on to verse three. 34:33.000 --> 34:36.000 Sorrow is better than laughter, 34:36.000 --> 34:39.000 for by the sadness of the countenance, 34:39.000 --> 34:41.000 the heart is made better. 34:41.000 --> 34:43.000 The heart of the wise... 34:43.000 --> 34:45.000 Well, let's go back, sorry. 34:45.000 --> 34:46.000 Just verse three. 34:47.000 --> 34:54.600 You know, God seems to have favor upon the one with a heavy heart and who has a sadness 34:54.600 --> 34:58.880 upon the countenance, like their face expression, okay? 34:58.880 --> 35:02.640 You can kind of tell when something is heavy on a person's heart. 35:02.640 --> 35:05.240 There's a deep sadness in this person. 35:05.240 --> 35:05.600 Thanks for watching! 35:05.900 --> 35:11.700 with us as Christians, you know, we have a deep sorrow and burden for the lost, right? 35:11.700 --> 35:17.700 I mean, why is this church here? We have a burden for the people of Indianapolis and the state of Indiana. 35:17.700 --> 35:26.500 And, you know, there's times where we see people reject the Lord or they harden their hearts toward the Lord 35:26.500 --> 35:32.200 that are in our families, that are our good friends, that, you know, are really close to us. 35:32.400 --> 35:39.400 Sometimes you see people that walk amongst us and they come out from us and they reveal that they were never of us. 35:39.400 --> 35:43.400 And honestly, it saddens me when I see that. 35:43.400 --> 35:50.400 When I see somebody that was serving, that was passionate about the way it seemed like they were really in it with us, 35:50.400 --> 35:52.400 and then it's revealed that they're a wolf. 35:53.000 --> 36:00.200 Or it's revealed that they had some terrible sin that tore them away from church. 36:00.200 --> 36:02.200 It's sad. 36:02.200 --> 36:07.000 And the Bible's saying here, but sorrow is better than laughter. 36:07.000 --> 36:08.600 Okay, so... 36:09.000 --> 36:15.640 You know laughter, I mean the people that are laughing, I mean they're living it up in the house of mirth and feasting 36:16.120 --> 36:20.120 And they're they're not having any regard for the loss. They're not thinking about loss 36:20.120 --> 36:21.880 I mean they're thinking about themselves, right? 36:21.880 --> 36:27.640 They're trying to take all they can in this life and experience it and have joy every single day 36:27.640 --> 36:30.040 And I mean, of course we all want joy, you know 36:31.000 --> 36:35.280 And this is one of the challenges about Ecclesiastes 7 is it's like, of course we want joy. 36:35.280 --> 36:40.960 I mean, people don't want sorrow, but God is saying that there's more wisdom in those 36:40.960 --> 36:45.440 that experience sorrow because there's more lessons, there's more trials. 36:45.440 --> 36:50.720 Whereas the one who is, you know, the heart of the fool is just like eating, eating up 36:50.720 --> 36:53.800 life, soaking it up, you know, having fun. 36:53.800 --> 36:58.800 So Psalm 126 verse 5, they that so in... 36:59.000 --> 37:05.480 tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall 37:05.480 --> 37:12.440 doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." So God is saying, you 37:12.440 --> 37:18.080 know, the one who sorrows now, who has a burden for the lost, who isn't in the house of mirth 37:18.080 --> 37:22.840 and has all the abundance and just living it up, I mean, those that are sowing, sow 37:22.840 --> 37:26.920 their tears in joy, they're going to reap joy in the afterlife. God is 37:26.920 --> 37:27.000 Thanks for watching! 37:27.000 --> 37:33.280 going to reward us in the afterlife for the works we did for him on this earth. 37:33.280 --> 37:37.200 So the first point was, so in tears, reap in joy. 37:37.200 --> 37:41.260 The second point here is wisdom gives life. 37:41.260 --> 37:42.260 Wisdom gives life. 37:42.260 --> 37:44.320 Ecclesiastes 7 verse 5. 37:44.320 --> 37:47.640 It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise. 37:47.900 --> 37:51.580 then for a man to hear the song of fools. 37:51.580 --> 37:54.480 For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, 37:54.480 --> 37:59.480 so is the laughter of the fool, this also is vanity. 37:59.680 --> 38:03.480 Verse seven, surely oppression maketh a wise man mad 38:03.480 --> 38:06.060 and a gift destroyeth the heart. 38:06.060 --> 38:08.400 So let's go to verse five there. 38:09.300 --> 38:13.580 better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. 38:13.580 --> 38:17.880 I think King Solomon is saying, you know, it's better to take correction. 38:17.880 --> 38:22.380 It's better to have constructive criticism and vers- 38:22.380 --> 38:24.580 you know, just take a little bit of, uh... 38:25.300 --> 38:29.820 You know, sometimes like your father, your parents got to come down on you and they correct 38:29.820 --> 38:33.840 you and it's a little embarrassing, but you know, you're going to be wise after. 38:33.840 --> 38:41.020 It's better to have a good pastor, okay, who is preaching against sin, who's helping you 38:41.020 --> 38:48.300 learn wisdom and knowledge in his word versus, okay, you know, you look at the other kind 38:48.300 --> 38:52.540 of preaching that's out there at many different churches, you know, they're trying to just 38:52.540 --> 38:53.300 flatter you. 38:53.300 --> 38:59.960 And this would be the song of fools. They're flattering you they're buttering you up. You know everything's fine 38:59.960 --> 39:05.660 Just say I can I can do it. You know I can take anything that comes you know 39:05.660 --> 39:11.280 It's like this whole made the words you say manifest like your destiny 39:11.660 --> 39:16.020 Okay, and the thing is like this. I really like this part because it says 39:16.400 --> 39:18.560 then for a man to hear the song of fools. 39:18.560 --> 39:23.160 Now, I've seen pastors apply this to music. 39:23.160 --> 39:25.760 There's a channel out there, 39:25.760 --> 39:27.800 and honestly the guy's not even saved, 39:27.800 --> 39:30.160 but he has some interesting documentaries on, 39:30.160 --> 39:33.400 he'll do these videos on Slipknot 39:33.400 --> 39:36.320 and how wicked they are, if you know that band. 39:36.320 --> 39:37.560 Certain bands that are wicked, 39:37.560 --> 39:39.480 and they'll call it the song of fools. 39:39.480 --> 39:42.800 They'll say CCM is the song of fools. 39:42.800 --> 39:44.400 And you can certainly apply- 39:44.400 --> 39:52.560 that to that. But I think King Solomon's intention here is to kind of paint the ones that are trying 39:52.560 --> 39:55.760 to tickle your ears with flattery, you know? 39:56.600 --> 39:58.440 as the song of fools. 39:58.440 --> 40:00.640 It's like you go to a church like that, 40:00.640 --> 40:02.520 and it's not even really a church. 40:02.520 --> 40:05.320 I mean, they're giving you the same old song and dance, 40:05.320 --> 40:06.140 right? 40:06.140 --> 40:08.560 They're over here just constantly making you feel better, 40:08.560 --> 40:10.400 and they never hit you with anything 40:10.400 --> 40:12.520 that's a little bit bitter to take 40:12.520 --> 40:15.080 that you can soak in and apply to your life. 40:15.080 --> 40:18.600 It's always just like this feel good kind of sermon. 40:18.600 --> 40:20.720 So it's better to hear the rebuke of the wise. 40:20.720 --> 40:23.440 So I mean, thank God for the new IFB movement, 40:23.440 --> 40:24.600 for all the kind of pastors we. 40:24.600 --> 40:28.920 have because I feel that the pastors in the new IFB movement and especially here at Sure 40:28.920 --> 40:32.840 Foundation Baptist, you know, you're going to hear the rebuke of the wise here. 40:33.800 --> 40:36.040 And they're not afraid to speak of that. 40:36.040 --> 40:40.500 I mean, the song of fools is as far as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the 40:40.500 --> 40:42.500 laughter of a fool. 40:42.500 --> 40:47.560 You know, it's kind of like when you have a campfire and there's thorns in there and 40:47.560 --> 40:51.660 like it's crackling underneath a pot that you're cooking, it's like equivalent to the 40:51.660 --> 40:53.420 laughter of a fool. 40:53.420 --> 40:58.720 People that are just buttering you up, flattering you, speaking foolishness to you. 40:59.900 --> 41:02.900 I think church is a great example of that. 41:02.900 --> 41:08.900 Turn to Isaiah 30 verse 8, and I'll read off this other one. 41:08.900 --> 41:10.900 Isaiah 30 verse 8. 41:12.600 --> 41:17.600 A good parallel passage for that would be 2 Timothy 4, 3 through 4. 41:17.600 --> 41:24.120 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but after their own 41:24.120 --> 41:30.600 lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away 41:30.600 --> 41:34.600 their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 41:34.600 --> 41:35.600 I mean, what is this? 41:35.600 --> 41:36.600 It's a song of fools. 41:36.600 --> 41:37.100 how to make it or what to do. 41:38.260 --> 41:37.100 So that's it. 41:38.720 --> 41:37.100 We're going to have a ad 41:39.380 --> 41:37.100 next week. 41:39.880 --> 41:37.100 It's your next after and 41:40.740 --> 41:37.100 what you're going to do and 41:41.380 --> 41:37.100 what you're going to do to 41:41.820 --> 41:37.100 make it in the most 41:37.100 --> 41:41.800 these leaders that are just starving people with the 41:41.800 --> 41:46.000 they're starving people from the truths of God, the word of God 41:46.000 --> 41:50.300 and they're just itching their ears and this church is full of people that just want it 41:50.300 --> 41:54.600 but King Solomon is saying it's better to hear the rebuke of the wise 41:54.600 --> 41:57.300 so in Isaiah 30 there 41:57.900 --> 42:03.500 Now, now go, verse 8, now go write it before them in a table and note it in a book that 42:03.500 --> 42:10.020 it may be for the time to come forever and ever, that this is a rebellious people lying 42:10.020 --> 42:15.820 children, children that will not hear the law of the Lord, which say to the seers, see 42:15.820 --> 42:23.820 not and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us, write things, speak unto us smooth things, 42:23.820 --> 42:25.460 prophesy deceits. 42:25.460 --> 42:25.900 know. 42:25.900 --> 42:27.460 You've heard it preached many times, they're like, 42:27.460 --> 42:31.020 hey, over at that church, they like the smooth preaching. 42:31.020 --> 42:34.700 It says right here, speak unto us smooth things. 42:34.700 --> 42:37.260 They want the song of fools, 42:37.260 --> 42:40.700 but it's better to hear the rebuke of the wise. 42:40.700 --> 42:43.340 Now this next part is in, surely verse seven, 42:43.340 --> 42:44.780 back to Ecclesiastes seven, 42:44.780 --> 42:46.620 if you wanna go ahead and turn back there. 42:46.620 --> 42:48.620 Thanks for watching! 42:52.100 --> 43:00.620 Verse 7, Ecclesiastes 7, surely oppression maketh a wise man mad, and a gift destroyeth 43:00.620 --> 43:01.620 the heart. 43:01.620 --> 43:07.660 So, you know, my opinion, what I think this means is, because I had to really look at 43:07.660 --> 43:10.900 it for a minute, surely oppression maketh a wise man mad. 43:10.900 --> 43:16.860 I think the wise man who hears that kind of preaching or goes to visit that kind of a 43:16.860 --> 43:17.420 a church. 43:18.200 --> 43:21.400 He views it as oppression and it makes him mad. 43:21.400 --> 43:24.540 I mean, how many times have you gone on YouTube 43:24.540 --> 43:26.540 and maybe you looked at Joel Osteen's church 43:26.540 --> 43:27.700 or something like that, 43:27.700 --> 43:30.380 and then you see a guy stand up with a King James Bible. 43:30.380 --> 43:32.380 He's like, this here is the word of God. 43:32.380 --> 43:33.580 This is the truth. 43:33.580 --> 43:35.240 You are preaching heresy. 43:35.240 --> 43:37.380 And then, you know, they get the security guards 43:37.380 --> 43:39.420 and they kick the guy out, you know. 43:39.420 --> 43:42.420 It's like that guy is looking at that kind of preaching, 43:42.420 --> 43:45.520 the Song of Fools, as oppression. 43:45.900 --> 43:49.900 as they are robbing and starving people the word of God 43:49.900 --> 43:52.900 and they're giving them, you know, 43:52.900 --> 43:53.900 giving them gifts. 43:53.900 --> 43:54.900 I mean, how many times you go to a church 43:54.900 --> 43:56.900 and they give you this wonderful gift bag. 43:56.900 --> 43:58.900 And I'm not saying that's like totally the worst thing in the world, 43:58.900 --> 44:01.900 you know, but it kind of like, you know, they preach, 44:01.900 --> 44:03.900 they starve you of the truth, and then after they're like, 44:03.900 --> 44:06.900 hey, here's a gift to top it off, you know. 44:09.000 --> 44:13.960 Surely oppression make of the wise man man a gift destroyed the heart. Okay, let's move on to Ecclesiastes 44:15.960 --> 44:18.900 Verse 8 verse 8 44:24.400 --> 44:30.600 Ecclesiastes 7 verse 8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning 44:30.600 --> 44:36.200 thereof, and the patient spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 44:36.200 --> 44:42.120 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 44:42.120 --> 44:47.260 Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? 44:47.260 --> 44:49.960 For thou dost not inquire wisely. 44:50.300 --> 44:51.660 concerning this. 44:51.660 --> 44:52.900 So this is interesting. 44:52.900 --> 44:55.660 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning of. 44:55.660 --> 44:56.940 I mean, it's kind of compared, 44:56.940 --> 44:58.780 you can compare it with the, you know, 44:58.780 --> 45:01.940 in the day of death than the day of one's birth. 45:01.940 --> 45:04.100 So you would think, like, I mean, 45:04.100 --> 45:07.140 obviously the beginning of something is exciting, right? 45:07.140 --> 45:09.260 You come out the gate and everything's, 45:09.260 --> 45:10.880 whatever it may be, okay? 45:11.740 --> 45:14.020 But it says better is the end. 45:14.020 --> 45:15.020 It's like, how can that be? 45:15.020 --> 45:17.020 Well, sometimes... 45:17.800 --> 45:20.300 you know, something needs to end. 45:20.300 --> 45:22.800 Something may have began well in your life, 45:22.800 --> 45:24.300 some kind of season you're in, 45:24.300 --> 45:27.100 some kind of journey you're on or experience, 45:27.100 --> 45:29.800 and it goes for a while and you enjoy it, 45:29.800 --> 45:30.900 and then it ends. 45:30.900 --> 45:33.100 And you're like, why does it have to end? 45:33.100 --> 45:34.300 I don't want it to end. 45:34.300 --> 45:36.200 Especially if it's something you enjoyed. 45:36.200 --> 45:39.600 But sometimes, you know, I mean, we're all sinners. 45:39.600 --> 45:41.600 Sometimes we enjoy things we shouldn't. 45:42.600 --> 45:48.920 It's better that it's the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. 45:48.920 --> 45:51.120 What would be a good example of this? 45:51.120 --> 45:54.360 Before I go to that, turn to Ecclesiastes 3. 45:54.360 --> 45:57.880 Flip over to Ecclesiastes 3, verse 3. 46:01.300 --> 46:04.300 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof. 46:04.300 --> 46:06.300 So, Ecclesiastes 3 verse 3, 46:06.300 --> 46:08.300 To everything there is a season, 46:08.300 --> 46:11.300 And a time to every purpose under the heaven, 46:11.300 --> 46:13.300 A time to be born, and a time to die, 46:13.300 --> 46:16.300 A time to plant, and a time to pluck up 46:16.300 --> 46:18.000 That which is planted. 46:18.100 --> 46:24.100 A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up. 46:24.100 --> 46:26.860 So you see like the endings that are in this. 46:26.860 --> 46:31.660 You know there's a time to build up, there's a time to break down, a time to weep. 46:32.100 --> 46:34.940 This really applies to House of Mourning, I think. 46:34.940 --> 46:40.260 A time to laugh, a time to mourn, right there, and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones, 46:40.260 --> 46:45.420 and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing, 46:45.420 --> 46:47.660 a time to get, and a time to lose. 46:48.000 --> 46:51.000 and a time to keep and a time to cast away. 46:51.000 --> 46:53.900 So I think Ecclesiastes 7 is telling us, 46:53.900 --> 46:56.400 I mean like right there, there's a time to cast things away, 46:56.400 --> 46:58.680 there's things we have to get out of our lives 46:58.680 --> 47:02.920 that began one way that maybe just needs to end. 47:02.920 --> 47:04.680 I'll give you a perfect example, okay? 47:04.680 --> 47:07.300 Another example is dating. 47:08.540 --> 47:11.240 Is you know, sometimes you meet. 47:11.400 --> 47:15.560 Sometimes you have to meet a few before you meet the right one. 47:15.560 --> 47:21.360 I mean, many of us might have been blessed to have just met that one person and got married, 47:21.360 --> 47:22.360 okay? 47:22.360 --> 47:24.480 But some of us, you know, we have to meet others. 47:24.480 --> 47:25.480 You give it a chance. 47:25.480 --> 47:27.720 You see if they're the right one, okay? 47:27.720 --> 47:32.980 But for the single man in this church, I'll tell you, the best piece of advice I can give 47:32.980 --> 47:37.460 you to apply to your life is, look, it either happens or it doesn't. 47:37.460 --> 47:38.460 If you meet someone. 47:38.900 --> 47:46.340 And it's this back and forth and this drama plays out and this love affair, okay, is probably not going to work out. 47:46.340 --> 47:51.440 Probably the one you're going to marry, it should just come together. It should work out. 47:51.440 --> 47:56.140 I mean, many people here, you know, have a wonderful marriage and it's worked out. 47:56.140 --> 48:00.740 I mean, for example, me and my wife, we met and literally in like three months we got married. 48:00.740 --> 48:01.740 But... 48:01.900 --> 48:05.540 I can, without too much detail, I mean, I can testify that, 48:05.540 --> 48:08.580 you know, there was dating in my past 48:08.580 --> 48:09.700 where it was just like, gosh, 48:09.700 --> 48:11.940 is this just ever gonna work out? 48:11.940 --> 48:15.660 And it was like, hey, better is the end of a thing 48:15.660 --> 48:17.840 than the beginning, because of course it begins, 48:17.840 --> 48:19.940 you have fun, you really enjoy this person, 48:19.940 --> 48:22.500 it's like on cloud, you know, you're in the clouds, 48:22.500 --> 48:24.900 and then it ends, and you're just like, oh man, 48:24.900 --> 48:27.660 you know, and it can be really depressing, but. 48:28.300 --> 48:31.100 You know, it's better as the end of a thing, okay? 48:31.100 --> 48:33.900 God's gonna take the dross out of your life. 48:33.900 --> 48:35.100 If you're a child of God, 48:35.100 --> 48:37.200 he's gonna take the bad people out of your life, 48:37.200 --> 48:39.700 he's gonna take the bad influences out of your life, 48:39.700 --> 48:42.500 and sometimes things just need to come to an end. 48:42.500 --> 48:46.000 If it does, okay, let's apply this here in verse 9, 48:46.000 --> 48:46.800 Ecclesiastes, 48:46.800 --> 48:49.700 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry, 48:49.700 --> 48:53.200 for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. 48:53.200 --> 48:56.200 If something ends, whether it's the example I use, 48:56.300 --> 49:01.100 dating okay or some kind of goal or something in your life if it ends if it doesn't come together 49:01.960 --> 49:08.020 Just think it either happens or it doesn't if you sometimes we pray for things and it just doesn't work out 49:08.280 --> 49:13.660 But you need to have faith in where God's taking you in your life because he knows what's best for you 49:13.660 --> 49:16.400 And sometimes the things that you may really want in your life 49:17.600 --> 49:22.420 Shouldn't come together. Okay, and hopefully later you'll reflect on that and be like man. I 49:23.800 --> 49:26.600 God really had my best in mind. 49:26.600 --> 49:28.920 So I actually thank God that ended, I'm better off. 49:28.920 --> 49:32.400 So don't look back in anger. 49:32.400 --> 49:35.960 Don't live in anger over things that end and don't come together in your life. 49:35.960 --> 49:38.600 Just move forward in faith. 49:38.600 --> 49:42.040 Without faith it's impossible to please God. 49:42.040 --> 49:46.480 Verse 10, say not thou, what is the cause that the former days were better than these? 49:46.480 --> 49:50.480 For thou does not inquire wisely concerning this. 49:50.480 --> 49:50.900 We're out of time. 49:51.100 --> 49:54.140 We have a tendency to look back and say, 49:54.140 --> 49:57.640 hey man, life was just so much better back then. 49:57.640 --> 49:59.560 Life was great. 49:59.560 --> 50:02.740 And these days, man, it just sucks. 50:02.740 --> 50:04.220 Everything's just rough. 50:04.220 --> 50:06.540 Everything's just not fun anymore. 50:06.540 --> 50:10.660 But God says that actually that's not a wise approach. 50:10.660 --> 50:11.500 Okay? 50:11.500 --> 50:12.300 Because... 50:13.500 --> 50:17.720 Sometimes I catch myself doing this, you know, I'm just like man things were so much better in the 90s 50:18.180 --> 50:25.400 You know man the 80s like, you know all the arcade games and the Pizza Hut's and you know 50:25.400 --> 50:32.120 And and look they're bringing the stuff back because like the form like the days right now is not as fun, right? 50:32.120 --> 50:35.820 I mean you can apply that to this. I mean but 50:37.600 --> 50:41.760 The time that you're in you need to be content with and the difficulties you're going through 50:42.640 --> 50:47.040 Especially you know if you're a child of god, okay, god's going to take you through difficulties 50:47.280 --> 50:51.360 He's going to begin things in your life. He's going to end things in your life and it's all there to 50:52.320 --> 50:55.680 You know to bring it, uh, you know to good in the future. So 50:56.960 --> 51:00.900 Let's see. Let's move on to ecclesiastes 7 verse 11 51:02.100 --> 51:08.260 Wisdom is good with an inheritance, and by it there is profit to them that see the sun. 51:08.260 --> 51:10.860 For wisdom is a defense and money is a defense. 51:10.860 --> 51:16.100 But the excellency of knowledge is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it. 51:16.100 --> 51:22.320 So simply, I would just briefly explain with this one, is that wisdom will prolong your 51:22.320 --> 51:23.820 days. 51:23.820 --> 51:26.100 Foolishness will cut your days short. 51:26.600 --> 51:29.520 And that could be in anything. 51:29.520 --> 51:33.800 I mean, foolishness takes the lives of so many people and... 51:34.200 --> 51:39.960 You know wisdom will prolong your days. I mean he says buy it there is profit to them that see the sun that see the next day 51:40.440 --> 51:47.560 You know for wisdom is a defense and money is a defense. Okay. I mean, you know, some people really trust in their riches 51:48.200 --> 51:53.480 But but god says that wisdom, you know is is a defense and the excellency of knowledge 51:53.480 --> 51:58.120 Is that wisdom giveth life to them that have it there's all kinds of people that have money 51:58.520 --> 52:02.200 You know whose lives just get cut short by foolishness, you know, it doesn't 52:02.200 --> 52:05.860 It doesn't matter how much money you have and how rich you are and how much you enjoy 52:05.860 --> 52:13.900 that house of mirth, if you're a fool for too long, your life will likely get cut short. 52:13.900 --> 52:20.160 Verse 13, consider the work of God, for who can make that straight which he hath made 52:20.160 --> 52:21.540 crooked? 52:21.540 --> 52:24.180 Turn to Isaiah 42, 16. 52:27.000 --> 52:35.000 Isaiah 42, 16. So consider the work of God, who can make that straight which he hath made crooked? 52:36.200 --> 52:39.040 God, I mean, it says, which he hath made crooked. 52:39.040 --> 52:42.120 I mean, he can make things crooked, whether that, 52:42.120 --> 52:44.440 you can take that to mean like, you know, okay, 52:44.440 --> 52:48.700 the sinner who's involved in alcohol and smoking 52:48.700 --> 52:50.880 and pot and sin, okay, you know, 52:50.880 --> 52:54.080 he can make your path more crooked, okay? 52:54.080 --> 52:56.440 He can make your walk, he can punish you 52:56.440 --> 52:58.380 and give curses upon you, you know, 52:58.380 --> 53:00.320 but then you look at like, okay, 53:00.320 --> 53:03.480 the one whose path really gets crooked is the reprobate, 53:03.480 --> 53:04.200 okay? 53:04.200 --> 53:07.540 And he can make that path crooked and never change. 53:07.540 --> 53:16.040 But I think, you know, looking at this, you know, consider the work of God for who can 53:16.040 --> 53:18.080 make that straight which he has made crooked. 53:18.080 --> 53:19.080 Well, he can. 53:19.080 --> 53:20.080 See, we... 53:20.080 --> 53:21.600 We... 53:21.700 --> 53:26.660 We can give people the gospel we can give people you know a lot of hope and a lot of prayer 53:26.660 --> 53:31.060 Okay, but we can't make their crooked path straight, but God can okay, so 53:31.620 --> 53:33.600 Isaiah 42 16 53:33.700 --> 53:38.500 And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not. 53:38.500 --> 53:41.620 I will lead them in paths that they have not known. 53:41.620 --> 53:43.820 I will make darkness light before them 53:43.820 --> 53:45.860 and crooked things straight. 53:45.860 --> 53:49.580 These things will I do unto them and not forsake them. 53:49.580 --> 53:51.620 So, you know. 53:52.500 --> 53:57.060 I don't want to be one of those people that like gets up here and like lists all my past sins, okay, 53:57.060 --> 54:02.660 and give you all these details, but you know, I used to smoke, okay, and it's something I really 54:02.660 --> 54:10.100 regret. I was involved in drinking in the past, you know, and I honestly just give the glory to 54:10.100 --> 54:12.340 God that he made that crooked path straight. 54:13.000 --> 54:16.000 If I had it my way, I probably would have kept doing it. 54:16.000 --> 54:18.500 Because, you know, it's an enjoyable thing. 54:18.500 --> 54:21.500 That's why people do it. Because they enjoy it. People love to smoke. 54:21.500 --> 54:24.500 Smoking is very hard to quit. 54:24.500 --> 54:28.500 It's very, very addictive. I mean, they say it's more addictive literally than heroin. 54:28.500 --> 54:32.500 But, you know, it's like God just... 54:32.500 --> 54:36.500 The way I quit smoking was very unique. 54:36.500 --> 54:39.500 And literally the last time I had a cigarette, I thought I was going to have a stroke. 54:40.600 --> 54:45.400 and it scared me so bad that I was too afraid to have another. 54:45.400 --> 54:48.440 I mean, you know how hard it is, like, when you are trying... 54:48.440 --> 54:51.560 Anybody here who used to smoke, okay, you know, 54:51.560 --> 54:55.400 when you're trying to quit and you go a week, you know, I think you're shaking your head. 54:56.700 --> 55:00.820 Brother Jared knows. So you know you're trying to quit and a week goes by and it 55:00.820 --> 55:05.900 starts getting stressful. I'm telling you your body just starts going like oh you 55:05.900 --> 55:10.220 know it just wants it you know. In comparison okay if you let's say you're 55:10.220 --> 55:11.600 addicted to chicken wings. 55:11.700 --> 55:14.540 You got a problem with eating chicken wings, okay? 55:14.540 --> 55:17.440 You know, certain things, like football comes on, baseball, 55:17.440 --> 55:19.640 you're just like, I just gotta get chicken wings. 55:19.640 --> 55:21.440 Like, you know, I can't watch a game without a chicken wing. 55:21.440 --> 55:22.840 And it's like the same with a cigarette, okay? 55:22.840 --> 55:25.340 You can't have a cup of coffee without a cigarette. 55:25.340 --> 55:27.220 You can't drive without, you know, all these things. 55:27.220 --> 55:30.880 So if I had it my way, I mean, really, 55:30.880 --> 55:33.760 I would have probably kept doing it, because I enjoyed it. 55:33.760 --> 55:35.280 But literally, like, there was a day 55:35.280 --> 55:36.720 I thought I was going to have a stroke. 55:37.000 --> 55:38.440 And it was so scary. 55:38.440 --> 55:40.680 I was like, I'm going to die. 55:40.680 --> 55:43.640 And I was too afraid to have another. 55:43.640 --> 55:47.240 And I'll be honest, I just give that to God. 55:47.240 --> 55:48.520 That was not my choice. 55:48.520 --> 55:50.400 I mean, obviously, it's my choice to smoke. 55:50.400 --> 55:52.440 But just an example there. 55:52.440 --> 55:55.040 God can make your crooked path straight. 55:55.040 --> 55:58.280 Wisdom gives life. 55:58.280 --> 56:01.840 So let's go to Ecclesiastes 7, verse 14. 56:08.400 --> 56:13.100 And I'll tell you, smoking, I smoked for like 15 years. 56:13.100 --> 56:16.300 A day like this is very hard for me with this smoke in the air. 56:16.300 --> 56:18.000 You know, it's hard to breathe. 56:18.000 --> 56:23.100 Even though I quit like a while back, I still struggle with shortness of breath. 56:23.100 --> 56:26.200 Something I have to kind of live with. 56:26.200 --> 56:28.600 So verse 14. 56:29.800 --> 56:33.040 In the day of prosperity, be joyful. 56:33.040 --> 56:35.600 But in the day of adversity, consider, 56:35.600 --> 56:38.720 God also has set the one over against the other 56:38.720 --> 56:42.400 to the end that man should find nothing after him. 56:42.400 --> 56:47.120 So, hey, you know, when you have prosperity in this life, 56:47.120 --> 56:50.160 when God provides for you, when things are good, 56:50.160 --> 56:52.160 you're paying the bills, you're not struggling, 56:52.160 --> 56:53.640 you know, you have everything you need. 56:53.640 --> 56:56.840 I mean, you know, be joyful, okay? 56:56.840 --> 56:57.500 But... 56:57.700 --> 56:59.700 There's gonna come a day of adversity. 56:59.700 --> 57:02.700 You know, it's not always going to be like that. 57:02.700 --> 57:06.700 There's gonna be days where, you know, you might struggle with poverty. 57:07.100 --> 57:08.980 And you're like, why am I struggling with poverty? 57:08.980 --> 57:10.900 I feel like I've done everything right, OK? 57:10.900 --> 57:14.220 But I mean, you see it, like the economy is an example, OK? 57:14.220 --> 57:15.500 It goes up and down. 57:15.500 --> 57:16.620 And you struggle. 57:16.620 --> 57:18.940 And you might need help, you know? 57:18.940 --> 57:21.580 There's adversity that comes along that makes things harder. 57:21.580 --> 57:24.060 You have to start cutting things out of your life. 57:24.060 --> 57:28.100 And it's like, hey, be thankful when you have prosperity. 57:28.100 --> 57:28.700 Don't. 57:29.600 --> 57:35.120 Don't abuse it. Don't, you know, take it for granted because it can be taken away. 57:35.120 --> 57:38.880 And there's going to come a day of adversity where there's going to be struggle. I mean, 57:38.880 --> 57:43.600 that's just one example. I could use many to paint that picture, but... 57:46.100 --> 57:51.100 Turn to 1 Timothy verse 6. 57:51.100 --> 57:53.100 1 Timothy verse 6. 57:53.100 --> 58:01.100 God also has set the one over against the other to the end that man should find nothing after him. 58:01.100 --> 58:06.100 So I think this verse is really good parallel to that. 58:06.100 --> 58:08.100 In 1 Timothy 6 it reads, 58:08.100 --> 58:12.900 we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 58:13.400 --> 58:17.680 So it doesn't matter how much prosperity you have, or even how much adversity you have, 58:17.680 --> 58:19.420 you can carry nothing out. 58:19.420 --> 58:22.900 You know, you brought nothing in, you're going to take nothing out. 58:26.700 --> 58:30.860 Verse 15, all things have I seen in the days of my vanity. 58:32.260 --> 58:35.660 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, 58:35.660 --> 58:38.420 and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life 58:38.420 --> 58:40.020 in his wickedness. 58:40.020 --> 58:41.960 You know, we tend to think like, 58:41.960 --> 58:45.340 the wicked for sure will die. 58:45.340 --> 58:49.620 The wicked for sure, they're just not gonna live to be 120, 58:49.620 --> 58:53.060 and the righteous is more likely gonna live between. 58:53.060 --> 58:54.620 But according to this, I mean, 58:56.200 --> 58:59.200 There is a just man that perisheth in his righteousness, 58:59.200 --> 59:04.200 and there is a wicked man that prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 59:04.200 --> 59:10.200 You know, sometimes the righteous one dies young, unexpectedly. 59:10.200 --> 59:12.200 I mean, Stephen was stoned to death. 59:12.200 --> 59:14.200 John the Baptist had his head cut off. 59:14.200 --> 59:16.200 I mean, and they were righteous. 59:16.200 --> 59:18.200 It's like, man, their life had to end that way? 59:18.200 --> 59:22.200 But the wicked prolongeth his life in his wickedness. 59:22.800 --> 59:27.760 King's Song is saying I've seen all these things in the days of my vanity, you know? 59:28.200 --> 59:31.200 And you think about it and you're just like, 59:31.200 --> 59:33.960 how can a guy, you know, I mean, 59:33.960 --> 59:37.120 some of these really wicked billionaire type people 59:37.120 --> 59:38.600 that are running the world, 59:38.600 --> 59:41.800 that have no care for the average common person, 59:41.800 --> 59:43.680 you know, they just have all this, 59:43.680 --> 59:46.440 they're in the house of mirth, they're the foolish, 59:46.440 --> 59:47.980 they don't have the knowledge of God, 59:47.980 --> 59:49.760 why are they living so long? 59:49.760 --> 59:51.680 Why don't they just get cut down? 59:53.640 --> 59:54.400 But see. 59:54.800 --> 59:56.800 God knows and we don't. 59:57.800 --> 59:59.800 I mean, where can you really go with that answer? 59:59.800 --> 01:00:02.800 But what we do know, for sure, is that okay, 01:00:02.800 --> 01:00:06.800 maybe J.D. Rockefeller, maybe George W. Bush, 01:00:06.800 --> 01:00:10.800 and, you know, Biden, and Big Mike, 01:00:10.800 --> 01:00:13.800 you know, maybe they're going to live a long, long time, 01:00:13.800 --> 01:00:15.800 and maybe they're going to have all this abundance on the earth, 01:00:15.800 --> 01:00:19.800 and the righteous man, you know, he's going to be plucked up early. 01:00:20.300 --> 01:00:24.700 But I can tell you this, them people that don't believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, 01:00:24.700 --> 01:00:28.460 you know, all these Freemasons, all these people, all these different religions, 01:00:28.460 --> 01:00:31.660 all these people that hate and deny God, they're going to split hell wide open. 01:00:32.460 --> 01:00:35.580 You see? So it doesn't really matter that they live 120 years. I mean, 01:00:36.700 --> 01:00:40.540 in the face of all eternity and all time, I mean, they're not really living that much 01:00:40.540 --> 01:00:42.140 longer than the righteous who died early. 01:00:43.000 --> 01:00:47.160 It's like the one who died early, yeah, he died on this earth early, but you know, you're 01:00:47.160 --> 01:00:51.080 going to be in eternity with God and you're going to reap the rewards of God. 01:00:51.080 --> 01:00:56.100 I mean, this guy, the wicked, I mean, they're on earth, that's the closest they're going 01:00:56.100 --> 01:00:57.540 to get to anything good. 01:00:57.540 --> 01:01:00.360 And after they die, they're going to be in eternal hell. 01:01:00.360 --> 01:01:01.360 Okay. 01:01:01.360 --> 01:01:06.000 So it's wise, you know, just to consider that, you know, so. 01:01:07.200 --> 01:01:13.520 Verse 16, be not righteous over much, neither make thyself over wise, why shouldest thou 01:01:13.520 --> 01:01:14.520 destroy thyself? 01:01:14.520 --> 01:01:16.240 Turn to Romans 10.3. 01:01:18.700 --> 01:01:20.700 Romans 10 3 01:01:21.780 --> 01:01:26.860 Be not righteous over much I think you know what King Solomon saying there is about self-righteousness 01:01:27.620 --> 01:01:32.100 You know neither make thyself over wise you know you think about Romans 1 01:01:32.380 --> 01:01:37.020 These people who think they're more wise than God and their foolish hearts are darkened 01:01:39.800 --> 01:01:42.800 Why shouldest thou destroy thyself? 01:01:42.800 --> 01:01:45.800 You see, so Romans 10.3, what is that? 01:01:48.800 --> 01:01:50.800 Romans 10.3, you know what? 01:01:50.800 --> 01:01:54.800 I didn't put it in my notes, I have to turn there actually. 01:01:54.800 --> 01:02:01.800 So Romans 10.3 says, why should thou destroy thyself? 01:02:02.700 --> 01:02:09.500 Romans 10 3 for they being ignorant of God's righteousness and going about to establish their own righteousness 01:02:09.860 --> 01:02:13.660 Have not submitted themselves under the righteousness of God 01:02:13.740 --> 01:02:17.420 So, you know those people they have not submitted themselves to this word 01:02:17.460 --> 01:02:21.780 They have not submitted themselves to God's authority and they have their own self righteousness 01:02:23.300 --> 01:02:26.420 And in that, King Solomon is saying they destroy themselves. 01:02:26.420 --> 01:02:32.500 There's people destroying themselves every day, okay, because they've rejected Jesus Christ, okay? 01:02:38.000 --> 01:02:47.040 Verse 17, be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish. 01:02:47.040 --> 01:02:50.560 Why shouldest thou die before thy time? 01:02:50.560 --> 01:02:54.680 Don't abuse God's grace, even if you're a Christian. 01:02:54.680 --> 01:02:56.680 Don't be over much wicked. 01:02:56.680 --> 01:02:57.520 Don't, you know. 01:02:57.900 --> 01:03:05.300 Try to show everybody that you're righteous and you're holy and you're wise, but then 01:03:05.300 --> 01:03:09.780 you're over here doing all this wickedness that nobody knows about. 01:03:09.780 --> 01:03:11.940 Why should a sound die before thy time? 01:03:11.940 --> 01:03:15.780 You think about Ananias and Sapphira in the New Testament. 01:03:15.780 --> 01:03:20.880 They could have gone on and done great works for the Lord, but God cut them down and they 01:03:20.880 --> 01:03:22.060 died before their time. 01:03:25.000 --> 01:03:31.360 Verse 18, it is good that thou shouldest take hold on this, yea also from this withdrawal 01:03:31.360 --> 01:03:36.960 not thy hand, for he that feareth God shall come forth of them all. 01:03:36.960 --> 01:03:39.400 So for example there, you think of King Saul. 01:03:39.400 --> 01:03:44.200 You think, I mean he was put in such a great position as king, we were just reading about 01:03:44.200 --> 01:03:47.720 earlier today, and he disobeyed the Lord. 01:03:47.720 --> 01:03:52.360 He did foolish things, he did not submit to the commandments of the Lord. 01:03:52.360 --> 01:03:52.700 Thank you. 01:03:52.800 --> 01:03:58.960 You know, he died before his time. He died a brutal, dishonorable death, you know. 01:04:00.640 --> 01:04:06.880 Because he was over much wicked and foolish. We think of King David. Even though King David 01:04:06.880 --> 01:04:12.560 committed murder and adultery, I mean he's at least, I mean he was very repentant of that. 01:04:12.560 --> 01:04:16.080 And he was very close to, I mean he was a man after God's own heart. 01:04:16.080 --> 01:04:19.280 And David was much more wise than King Saul. 01:04:20.400 --> 01:04:23.680 For he that feareth God shall come forth of them all." 01:04:23.680 --> 01:04:30.720 Verse 19, wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. 01:04:30.720 --> 01:04:40.960 So you know, you think about this, it's kind of like, you know, wisdom is literally gives you more strength. 01:04:41.900 --> 01:04:43.900 than power does. 01:04:43.900 --> 01:04:48.900 You know, wisdom is a better defender than a city full of soldiers 01:04:48.900 --> 01:04:52.900 with all the battle axes and the swords ready to fight. 01:04:52.900 --> 01:04:55.900 You know, wisdom is a better defense. 01:04:59.600 --> 01:05:07.960 Verse 20, for there is not a just man upon the earth that doeth good and sinneth not. 01:05:07.960 --> 01:05:15.160 So we've used this phrase many times in this verse when we're soul winning, just to prove 01:05:15.160 --> 01:05:17.520 to people that all sin. 01:05:17.520 --> 01:05:19.960 There's not even a just man upon the earth that doeth good. 01:05:19.960 --> 01:05:24.080 There's not even a just person out there that is free of sin, we're all guilty of sin, all 01:05:24.080 --> 01:05:26.720 have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 01:05:27.300 --> 01:05:32.860 So, I feel that it says that first because it really applies to the bottom here, verse 01:05:32.860 --> 01:05:34.980 21 and 22. 01:05:34.980 --> 01:05:36.180 For take no heed. 01:05:39.700 --> 01:05:40.700 Sorry. 01:05:40.700 --> 01:05:41.700 Also, take heed unto... 01:05:41.700 --> 01:05:41.720 Oh my God, I lost my place. 01:05:48.800 --> 01:05:52.720 Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken, 01:05:52.720 --> 01:05:56.560 lest thou hear thy servant curse thee, 01:05:56.560 --> 01:06:00.560 for oft times also thy own heart knoweth 01:06:00.560 --> 01:06:05.280 that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others. 01:06:05.280 --> 01:06:10.040 So the next point here is that even just men sin. 01:06:10.040 --> 01:06:12.640 It's the third point, even just men sin. 01:06:12.900 --> 01:06:15.900 And I meant to actually state that before I did the, 01:06:15.900 --> 01:06:18.460 it's not just man upon earth that do a good and sin not. 01:06:18.460 --> 01:06:21.260 Okay, so even just men sin. 01:06:21.260 --> 01:06:23.620 So what does this part mean? 01:06:23.620 --> 01:06:26.740 You know, take heed, take no heed unto all words 01:06:26.740 --> 01:06:29.900 that are spoken, lest thou hear thy servant curse thee 01:06:29.900 --> 01:06:32.980 for oft times also thy own heart knoweth that thou 01:06:32.980 --> 01:06:35.980 thyself likewise has cursed others. 01:06:35.980 --> 01:06:38.940 So it's basically saying like, like don't. 01:06:39.400 --> 01:06:42.600 Don't take everything to heart that everybody says. 01:06:42.600 --> 01:06:45.200 You know, family members, brothers, sisters, 01:06:45.200 --> 01:06:47.360 they say bad things about each other, 01:06:47.360 --> 01:06:50.500 and then an hour later, they're back to being brother and sister 01:06:50.500 --> 01:06:52.300 and they don't hate each other anymore. 01:06:52.300 --> 01:06:54.200 You know, sometimes you have a good friend, 01:06:54.200 --> 01:06:57.400 you're mad at each other, and maybe they rebuke you. 01:06:57.400 --> 01:06:59.000 You know, you got that wise friend 01:06:59.000 --> 01:07:01.400 who's not afraid to tell you you're wrong, 01:07:01.400 --> 01:07:02.700 and you're being a moron, 01:07:02.700 --> 01:07:05.000 and you're just like, I thought you were my friend, you know? 01:07:05.000 --> 01:07:07.400 And then you have a fight, and then you make... 01:07:07.400 --> 01:07:11.720 up later and it's like just don't take to heart every little thing that someone says 01:07:11.720 --> 01:07:17.000 you know be graceful move on be forgiving because it says you know 01:07:17.900 --> 01:07:26.140 Oftentimes also my own heart knows that thou thyself likewise has cursed others. So, you know you want to judge things 01:07:26.700 --> 01:07:33.400 With an even scale. It's like okay you're judging this person because you know, they they maybe said something bad about you 01:07:33.400 --> 01:07:37.440 Like let's just say like your brother or sister. Okay, but you know that you've done the same 01:07:38.420 --> 01:07:41.060 Likewise, you've done the same thing. So 01:07:42.300 --> 01:07:43.500 You're just as guilty. 01:07:43.500 --> 01:07:47.500 So be forgiving, be graceful, forgive, move on. 01:07:47.500 --> 01:07:51.100 For, let's see, I was about to read that again. 01:07:51.100 --> 01:07:54.700 Verse 23, all this have I proved by wisdom. 01:07:54.700 --> 01:07:57.200 I said, I will be wise. 01:07:57.600 --> 01:08:04.240 But it was far from me, that which is a far off and exceeding deep, who can find out? 01:08:04.240 --> 01:08:09.920 Okay, so all this I proved by wisdom. I said I will be wise. Okay, so he's saying like, you know, 01:08:11.040 --> 01:08:18.800 in my own wisdom, I've literally proved that even though I want to be wise, it's far from me. 01:08:18.800 --> 01:08:22.000 It's like that struggle with the flesh, you know, and the spirit. 01:08:22.000 --> 01:08:25.120 It's like even when I want to be wise, it's far from me. 01:08:25.900 --> 01:08:30.060 I think it means that, but it also, okay, verse 24, 01:08:30.060 --> 01:08:33.100 that which is a far off and exceeding deep, 01:08:33.100 --> 01:08:34.780 who can find out? 01:08:34.780 --> 01:08:36.700 So turn to Job 38, 16. 01:08:39.540 --> 01:08:40.700 Job 38, 16. 01:08:40.700 --> 01:08:42.440 I love this passage. 01:08:50.200 --> 01:08:54.600 This is when God puts Job on the spot. 01:08:54.600 --> 01:08:57.000 It's like, okay, you think you have wisdom and knowledge, 01:08:57.000 --> 01:08:59.400 let me ask you something. 01:08:59.400 --> 01:09:02.600 Job 38 verse 16. 01:09:06.600 --> 01:09:09.320 I think we're all there. Verse 16, 01:09:09.320 --> 01:09:11.720 Has thou entered into the springs of the sea? 01:09:12.440 --> 01:09:15.160 Or has thou walked in the search of the depth? 01:09:16.360 --> 01:09:19.560 Has have the gates of death been opened unto thee? 01:09:21.320 --> 01:09:24.760 Or has thou seen the doors of the shadow of death? 01:09:24.760 --> 01:09:27.320 Has thou perceived the breath of the earth? 01:09:27.320 --> 01:09:30.120 Declare if thou knowest it all. 01:09:32.000 --> 01:09:40.000 King Solomon is saying that which is far off and exceeding deep who can find out these things that God is hitting Job with who can answer 01:09:40.800 --> 01:09:44.560 The wisest man can't answer these questions. I mean, you know 01:09:46.280 --> 01:09:51.280 Has thou perceived the breath of the earth the wisest man has not perceived the threat 01:09:51.800 --> 01:09:56.680 of the earth. Only God has done that. And I believe he's saying that which far off exceeding deep. 01:09:56.680 --> 01:10:02.920 Okay. You know, who can find out? So there's just some things we're just not going to have 01:10:02.920 --> 01:10:09.240 wisdom of. Okay. He says, but I proved by all this. I proved by wisdom. I said, I'll be wise, 01:10:09.240 --> 01:10:14.200 but it was far from me. This kind of wisdom that God is speaking in Job is far from him. 01:10:14.760 --> 01:10:17.000 Can't know it. So it's far, it's far from us too. 01:10:17.600 --> 01:10:21.600 You have to just trust God and walk by faith that he has all the answers. 01:10:21.600 --> 01:10:26.600 And there's too many people that, like we were talking about this morning, in 1 Samuel, 01:10:26.600 --> 01:10:30.600 they're trying to challenge God, they're trying to get just all the answers, 01:10:30.600 --> 01:10:34.600 they're trying to prove God wrong in the Bible, and it's like, 01:10:34.600 --> 01:10:37.600 this wisdom, some of this wisdom is just far from you. 01:10:37.600 --> 01:10:42.600 You can't understand it. And you just need to trust God and have some faith. 01:10:42.600 --> 01:10:45.500 Ecclesiastes 7, verse 25. 01:10:46.800 --> 01:10:49.800 I applied my... 01:10:51.200 --> 01:10:55.800 I applied my heart to know and to search and to seek out wisdom and the reason of things 01:10:55.800 --> 01:10:58.800 and to know the wickedness of folly. 01:10:58.800 --> 01:11:01.800 Even the foolishness and madness. 01:11:01.800 --> 01:11:02.800 So, you know... 01:11:04.400 --> 01:11:09.200 King Solomon is gifted with wisdom, applied his heart to know, to search, seek out wisdom, 01:11:09.200 --> 01:11:14.720 the reason of things, okay, but also to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and 01:11:14.720 --> 01:11:18.800 madness, all things, okay? Foolishness, madness, wickness, I mean, these are all 01:11:19.840 --> 01:11:27.120 part of the human experience, you know, and he says, and I find more bitter than death. 01:11:27.800 --> 01:11:34.800 And if I'm more bitter than death, the woman whose heart is snares in nets and her hands 01:11:34.800 --> 01:11:41.600 as bands, who so pleaseth God shall escape from her, but the sinner shall be taken by 01:11:41.600 --> 01:11:42.600 her." 01:11:42.600 --> 01:11:46.440 You know, if there's anybody that has the right to say that, it's King Solomon. 01:11:46.440 --> 01:11:49.800 He had 700 wives and 300 concubines. 01:11:49.800 --> 01:11:50.800 Okay? 01:11:50.800 --> 01:11:52.640 I mean, that is just crazy. 01:11:53.900 --> 01:11:58.020 700 wives, 300 concubines. 01:11:58.020 --> 01:12:03.020 It's like, that's a thousand, just total, thousand. 01:12:03.340 --> 01:12:06.200 If you spend an hour with each one of them, 01:12:07.220 --> 01:12:08.820 folks, that's a thousand hours. 01:12:09.700 --> 01:12:11.580 That's 42 days. 01:12:11.580 --> 01:12:13.620 That's insane. 01:12:13.620 --> 01:12:14.300 I mean. 01:12:18.100 --> 01:12:20.500 This would be on words and he's saying, 01:12:20.500 --> 01:12:23.540 I find more bitter than death, the woman. 01:12:23.540 --> 01:12:26.460 I mean, obviously he had some experience 01:12:26.460 --> 01:12:29.660 in deceptive women, right? 01:12:29.660 --> 01:12:34.660 Because they've led him to appease them with their gods 01:12:35.860 --> 01:12:37.840 and all their wants and needs 01:12:37.840 --> 01:12:40.380 and then they started bowing to these other gods 01:12:40.380 --> 01:12:45.020 and because of that, God was angry with Solomon. 01:12:45.400 --> 01:12:48.900 You know, I mean, what a thing. 01:12:48.900 --> 01:12:53.640 I mean, Solomon was given all this great wisdom, you know, 01:12:53.640 --> 01:12:56.780 he was literally conceived right after the first child 01:12:56.780 --> 01:12:58.260 of King David died. 01:12:58.260 --> 01:13:00.100 And he built the temple. 01:13:00.100 --> 01:13:04.840 I mean, he was given this, but he appeased those wives. 01:13:04.840 --> 01:13:06.420 He had so many of them. 01:13:06.900 --> 01:13:10.900 You know? I mean, he probably didn't even have time to disagree with a lot of them. I don't know. 01:13:10.900 --> 01:13:15.140 I think what that means is like, yeah, you can put up that grove. Yeah, sure. I gotta move. 01:13:15.140 --> 01:13:19.620 I gotta go to the next town. I got things to do. You know? I don't know. But... 01:13:22.400 --> 01:13:29.840 1 Kings 11, but King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the days of Pharaoh. 01:13:30.200 --> 01:13:40.000 women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, 01:13:40.000 --> 01:13:52.200 You shall not go into them, neither shall they come in unto you, for surely they will turn away your heart after other gods, princesses and three hundred concubines." 01:13:52.200 --> 01:13:57.000 And his wives turned away his heart, you know? 01:13:57.500 --> 01:14:01.900 more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and knits." 01:14:01.900 --> 01:14:06.140 You know, and you can read in Proverbs, I mean, he speaks about the strange woman. 01:14:06.140 --> 01:14:13.420 I mean, he obviously had a lot of knowledge, I mean, to, you know, pass on there in Proverbs. 01:14:15.580 --> 01:14:19.340 So let's go down to Ecclesiastes 7 verse 27. 01:14:23.800 --> 01:14:30.040 Behold this have I found, saith the preacher, counting one by one to find out the account, 01:14:30.040 --> 01:14:37.400 which yet my soul seeketh. But I find not one man among a thousand have I found, 01:14:37.960 --> 01:14:44.760 but a woman among all those have I not found." I mean that's crazy. It's like there's only, 01:14:44.760 --> 01:14:48.200 he's comparing, one man among a thousand have I found. 01:14:50.500 --> 01:14:59.100 It kind of makes me think the verse, you know, broad is the way, you know, the broad path, 01:14:59.100 --> 01:15:03.700 those that are going down the broad path, many are going down the broad path, but few 01:15:03.700 --> 01:15:06.660 are going down the straight and narrow, few. 01:15:06.660 --> 01:15:10.420 He's saying one among a thousand have I found. 01:15:10.420 --> 01:15:14.260 In the grand scheme of things, I mean, you think about our church, okay, and how many 01:15:14.260 --> 01:15:15.060 of us are here. 01:15:15.900 --> 01:15:21.500 I would say this really applies. It's really in all of Indiana. It's like 01:15:22.540 --> 01:15:24.540 we're few 01:15:24.860 --> 01:15:27.060 There's only a few that are 01:15:27.780 --> 01:15:29.100 You know 01:15:29.100 --> 01:15:35.060 Really seeing some deep truths some heart that are willing to come and hear the hard truth 01:15:35.220 --> 01:15:42.100 You know that are willing to hear the pastor the evangelist who's going to preach the Word of God rebuke the wise 01:15:42.900 --> 01:15:46.500 There's only really a few in the grand scheme of the whole population. 01:15:46.500 --> 01:15:49.540 It's not that many. I mean, now there's other churches, okay? 01:15:49.540 --> 01:15:55.380 But I mean, of course, one thing that makes our church special is that we are willing to preach 01:15:56.580 --> 01:16:01.540 the unfiltered truth. I mean, there's churches, yes, of course they preach the truth. I mean, 01:16:01.540 --> 01:16:04.260 don't take us the wrong way, okay? I mean, it's just that, you know... 01:16:06.900 --> 01:16:14.100 Our church, I mean the men of our church, it was, there was a desire there that we just were not getting before. 01:16:14.300 --> 01:16:19.100 You know, there was a desire to hear that kind of preaching, a desire for the pastor 01:16:19.100 --> 01:16:23.940 to get up and preach, you know, the chapters in the Old Testament that make you uncomfortable. 01:16:23.940 --> 01:16:28.260 They're a little bit bitter in the belly, you know, but they're of honey in the mouth. 01:16:28.260 --> 01:16:33.420 And you just don't always get that even in a church with, you know, saved people. 01:16:33.420 --> 01:16:36.260 Sometimes you just get a lot of that smooth preaching. 01:16:36.260 --> 01:16:39.100 Sometimes you get the song of fools even in churches like that. 01:16:39.100 --> 01:16:41.780 So, you know, he's saying... 01:16:44.700 --> 01:16:49.660 My soul seeketh, I mean, a man who'll stand in the gap, a man that'll rise up, I mean, 01:16:49.660 --> 01:16:53.580 one man among a thousand have I found, of all these people, one. 01:16:55.020 --> 01:16:57.980 You know, but a woman among all those have I not found. 01:16:58.860 --> 01:17:03.580 I mean, I didn't even find one among all those, you know, and I think he could say it because, 01:17:03.580 --> 01:17:10.940 like he said, you know, snares and nets. I mean, women that, you know, obviously persuaded him. 01:17:11.600 --> 01:17:14.200 And he appeased them with these gods. 01:17:14.200 --> 01:17:21.200 Among 700 wives and 300 concubines, but a woman among all those have I not found. 01:17:21.200 --> 01:17:28.000 So I'll tell you men, when you find the right woman, when you find the virtuous woman, hold on to it. 01:17:28.000 --> 01:17:29.200 Don't lose it. 01:17:29.200 --> 01:17:31.800 You know, don't mess it up. 01:17:31.800 --> 01:17:34.200 Because it's hard to find a virtuous woman. 01:17:34.200 --> 01:17:34.920 I mean... 01:17:35.500 --> 01:17:38.340 You can look, I mean, you look around, you see, 01:17:38.340 --> 01:17:40.380 I mean, there's women everywhere, 01:17:40.380 --> 01:17:42.380 and you see how they're dressed today, 01:17:42.380 --> 01:17:44.340 you see how they act today, 01:17:44.340 --> 01:17:46.620 you see it in videos on YouTube, I mean, 01:17:46.620 --> 01:17:50.020 you see women acting like men just brawling in subways. 01:17:50.020 --> 01:17:51.900 I just saw a bunch of this, it makes me think of it. 01:17:51.900 --> 01:17:54.660 I just saw like this subway brawl that happened, 01:17:54.660 --> 01:17:59.160 and you're just like, these women just acting outlandish. 01:17:59.160 --> 01:17:59.900 I mean. 01:18:00.400 --> 01:18:04.240 So far from the past, you know, I mean, 01:18:06.000 --> 01:18:08.400 I'm saying like, you know, where we've come to today, 01:18:08.400 --> 01:18:11.280 I mean, the way women used to be, you know, 01:18:11.280 --> 01:18:14.680 in comparison, it's outlandish, it's barbaric. 01:18:14.680 --> 01:18:19.680 Today, it's even harder to find a virtuous woman, you know? 01:18:21.280 --> 01:18:22.560 And Solomon's saying like, 01:18:22.560 --> 01:18:24.640 among all these, I found none. 01:18:24.640 --> 01:18:26.120 So when you find one today, 01:18:26.600 --> 01:18:32.600 Hold on to it, keep it, don't mess it up, love your wives, appreciate your wives, you know? 01:18:32.600 --> 01:18:34.600 It's hard to find a good one. 01:18:37.400 --> 01:18:40.200 Verse 29 is the last one. 01:18:40.200 --> 01:18:45.200 Lo, this only have I found that God hath made man upright, 01:18:45.520 --> 01:18:49.080 but they have sought out many inventions. 01:18:49.080 --> 01:18:50.840 So God has made man upright. 01:18:50.840 --> 01:18:52.860 God has blessed man, 01:18:52.860 --> 01:18:56.000 but they have sought out many inventions. 01:18:58.200 --> 01:19:02.180 Inventions, I mean you could apply that to so much. I mean they've sought out a lot of sin 01:19:02.180 --> 01:19:06.960 They've sought out the wrong things. They haven't sought out God. They're not seeking God 01:19:06.960 --> 01:19:12.000 Okay, but if you take it a little more literally inventions, I mean man has created nuclear bombs 01:19:12.640 --> 01:19:18.200 Right to just destroy people man has created weapons that incinerate people man has created 01:19:18.200 --> 01:19:22.580 You know just so much evil in this world, but in his time. I mean 01:19:23.400 --> 01:19:25.960 He's even saying, those things weren't even invented back then. 01:19:25.960 --> 01:19:30.840 He's saying they sought out many inventions, I mean instruments of evil, whatever it may 01:19:30.840 --> 01:19:35.480 be, you know, many devices, many bad intentions. 01:19:35.480 --> 01:19:39.320 So that's the last verse there in Ecclesiastes. 01:19:39.320 --> 01:19:43.400 So you know, what do we get from this book? 01:19:43.400 --> 01:19:48.400 Well, you know, wisdom giveth life is the point. 01:19:48.400 --> 01:19:48.700 1 01:19:48.800 --> 01:19:52.100 You know, don't walk with fools, okay? 01:19:52.100 --> 01:19:56.400 And, you know, I think the somber tone of this 01:19:56.400 --> 01:20:01.600 is what really... 01:20:01.600 --> 01:20:04.000 I find very interesting in Ecclesiastes, 01:20:04.000 --> 01:20:05.700 because it's pretty somber, you know, 01:20:05.700 --> 01:20:09.400 that literally it's better to go to the house of mourning... 01:20:09.700 --> 01:20:11.060 than the house of mirth. 01:20:11.060 --> 01:20:13.060 It's better to hear the rebuke of the wise, 01:20:13.060 --> 01:20:15.060 you know, to hear the sad truth, 01:20:15.060 --> 01:20:17.060 even if it hurts you, you know, 01:20:17.060 --> 01:20:19.060 than to hear the song of fools. 01:20:19.060 --> 01:20:21.460 There's a great wisdom to be found in that, 01:20:21.460 --> 01:20:24.100 and I'll tell you, you know, many people are just overlooking that. 01:20:24.700 --> 01:20:29.100 They don't want to hear the truth. They're gonna downplay the truth. You try to tell them or something 01:20:29.100 --> 01:20:33.340 and then they just come back at you with a joke. They just come back and they just laugh off your 01:20:33.340 --> 01:20:37.900 wisdom you're trying to give them. I mean you experience it with your family. You try and help 01:20:37.900 --> 01:20:42.940 them. You're trying to preach the word to them. Try to get them saved. Like hey I don't think you 01:20:42.940 --> 01:20:48.300 should be going down this road. I love you. Okay. But then you know people laugh it off. 01:20:48.300 --> 01:20:52.540 You know they laugh that we're even in this church. They laugh. 01:20:52.700 --> 01:20:55.260 that you're going out in this heat, 01:20:55.260 --> 01:20:57.580 with all these doors, taking a Bible with you, 01:20:57.580 --> 01:20:59.580 talking to total strangers in the ghetto, 01:20:59.580 --> 01:21:02.260 and you're taking your children out there, you know? 01:21:03.380 --> 01:21:04.500 And they laugh at us. 01:21:05.420 --> 01:21:07.080 But you know, God's truths, 01:21:07.940 --> 01:21:11.120 sometimes it's a hard pill to swallow, you know? 01:21:11.120 --> 01:21:14.180 But the wise person is the one who's gonna swallow, 01:21:14.180 --> 01:21:16.220 who's the one who's gonna gain the knowledge 01:21:16.220 --> 01:21:17.460 because they do. 01:21:17.460 --> 01:21:20.380 So be wise, don't be a fool. 01:21:20.700 --> 01:21:23.500 Don't, you know, everybody here is saved. 01:21:23.500 --> 01:21:28.500 Don't get into sins that are going to end your life early. 01:21:29.200 --> 01:21:30.800 You know, don't make those mistakes. 01:21:30.800 --> 01:21:34.100 I mean, be used by God, be a vessel for God, 01:21:34.100 --> 01:21:36.200 be an instrument for God, okay? 01:21:36.200 --> 01:21:38.300 You know, so we can go reach the lost, 01:21:38.300 --> 01:21:42.200 so we can get more people saved, more people go to heaven, 01:21:42.200 --> 01:21:46.400 and, you know, just apply that wisdom to our lives. 01:21:47.300 --> 01:21:51.540 bless others with it. So amen. That's the end of the chapter there. I'll just end with prayer. 01:21:52.180 --> 01:21:57.140 Heavenly Father, I just thank you for giving me boldness to go through this sermon. And it's a 01:21:57.140 --> 01:22:02.260 blessing to Edify Sure Foundation Baptist Church, Indianapolis. And I just pray, Lord, that our 01:22:02.260 --> 01:22:08.500 congregation can use this wisdom and apply it to their lives, Lord. And that everybody here would 01:22:08.500 --> 01:22:14.180 continue to walk in the spirit and continue to love you, Lord. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen. 01:22:21.000 --> 01:22:23.000 Alright, man. 01:22:23.000 --> 01:22:27.000 Last song we're gonna sing is song 207. 01:22:27.000 --> 01:22:29.000 207. Only a sinner. 01:22:32.100 --> 01:22:34.100 Song 207 01:22:34.500 --> 01:22:35.500 On the first. 01:22:35.500 --> 01:22:41.500 Not have I gotten, but what I received. 01:22:41.500 --> 01:22:46.500 Grace have bestowed it, since I have believed. 01:22:46.500 --> 01:22:51.500 Boasting excluded, pride I abase. 01:22:51.500 --> 01:22:57.500 I'm only a sinner, saved by grace. 01:22:57.500 --> 01:23:02.500 Only a sinner, saved by grace. 01:23:02.500 --> 01:23:14.620 Only a sinner saved by grace This is my story to God be the glory 01:23:14.620 --> 01:23:25.580 I'm only a sinner saved by grace Once I was foolish and sin ruled my heart 01:23:26.000 --> 01:23:31.500 Causing my footsteps from God to depart. 01:23:31.500 --> 01:23:37.000 Jesus have found me, had be my case. 01:23:37.000 --> 01:23:42.900 And I now am a sinner, saved by grace. 01:23:42.900 --> 01:23:48.340 Only a sinner saved by grace. 01:23:48.340 --> 01:23:53.940 Only a sinner saved by grace. 01:23:53.940 --> 01:23:59.460 This is my story to God be the glory. 01:23:59.460 --> 01:24:05.300 I'm only a sinner saved by grace. 01:24:05.400 --> 01:24:10.740 Tears unavailing, no merit had I. 01:24:10.740 --> 01:24:16.340 Mercy had saved me, or else I must die. 01:24:16.340 --> 01:24:21.740 Sin had alarmed me, fearing God's face. 01:24:21.740 --> 01:24:27.740 But now I'm a sinner, saved by grace. 01:24:27.900 --> 01:24:33.340 Only a sinner saved by grace 01:24:33.600 --> 01:24:39.100 Only a sinner saved by grace. 01:24:39.100 --> 01:24:44.600 This is my story to God, bleed to glory. 01:24:44.600 --> 01:24:50.100 I'm only a sinner saved by grace. 01:24:50.100 --> 01:24:56.100 Suffer a sinner whose heart overflows, 01:24:56.100 --> 01:25:01.600 loving his Savior to tell what he knows. 01:25:01.600 --> 01:25:04.600 wants more to tell it 01:25:04.600 --> 01:25:07.100 would I embrace 01:25:07.100 --> 01:25:10.100 I'm only a sinner 01:25:10.100 --> 01:25:12.600 saved by grace 01:25:13.000 --> 01:25:18.200 Only a sinner saved by grace. 01:25:18.200 --> 01:25:24.200 Only a sinner saved by grace. 01:25:24.200 --> 01:25:29.400 This is my story to God be the glory. 01:25:29.400 --> 01:25:35.400 I'm only a sinner saved by grace. 01:25:35.400 --> 01:25:38.400 Alright, good singing. Let me close out with a word of prayer. 01:25:38.400 --> 01:25:41.000 Do you have any Father, Lord? Thank you for that sermon, Lord. Just please, uh... 01:25:41.000 --> 01:25:48.000 help us to get back home from church and thank you for the preaching of your word in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.