(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.)

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. All right, folks. We're going to go ahead and get started. It is about that time. If you would, grab your hymnals. We'll get started this evening. Our first hymn will be hymn number three, Jesus Paid It All. Hymn number three, Jesus Paid It All. Hymn number three, Jesus Paid It All. Let's sing there on the first. I hear the Savior say, Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Thy strength indeed is small. Child of weakness, watch and pray. Bind in me, thine all in all. Jesus Paid It All. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. Lord now, indeed I find. Thy power and thine alone can change the leper's spots and melt the heart of stone. Jesus Paid It All. Hymn number three, Jesus Paid It All. All to him I owe. Jesus Paid It All. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. For nothing good have I. Whereby thy grace to claim, I owe all to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. I owe wash my garments white in the blood of Calvary's lamb. Jesus Paid It All. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. And where before the throne I stand in him complete. Jesus died my soul to save. My lips shall still repeat. Jesus Paid It All. All to him I owe. Sin had left a crimson stain. He washed it white as snow. Amen. Let's open with a word of prayer. Dear Lord, we just thank you for this day and for all your wonderful blessings, Lord. I just pray that you would be with those souls that were saved this evening and also any that weren't saved, Lord, that they would just have that seed planted and that they would just find it in them to desire and seek after the truth. Lord, I just pray for all of our families this midweek service that are having health issues or otherwise that you would just be with them and bless them, Lord. And I also pray that you would just fill, Brother Dillon, with your spirit this evening and prepare our hearts for the sermon, Lord. And lastly, Lord, I just pray that you would incline your ear to us as we sing out praises unto you, Lord. It's all for you. We love you very much. These things we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, for our next hymn this evening, turn, if you would, to hymn number 14, Kneel at the Cross. Hymn number 14, Kneel at the Cross. Christ will meet you there. Hymn number 14, let's sing there starting on the first. Kneel at the Cross. Christ will meet you there. Come while He waits for you. List to His voice. Leave with Him your care. And begin life anew. Kneel at the Cross. Leave every care. Kneel at the Cross. Jesus will meet you there. Kneel at the Cross. There is room for all who would His glory bear. Bliss there awaits or can there befall those who are anchored there. Kneel at the Cross. Leave every care. Kneel at the Cross. Jesus will meet you there on the third. Kneel at the Cross. Give your idols up. Look on to realms above. Turn not away to life's sparkling cup. Jesus is love. Kneel at the Cross. Leave every care. Kneel at the Cross. Jesus will meet you there. We're gonna go ahead and go through our announcements. If you need a bulletin, go ahead and raise your hand. Brother Brandon's got those, and he can get you one. If you need a bulletin, raise your hand. Brother Brandon has those. Of course, welcome to Pure Words Baptist Church. I don't see any visitors here, but if you need them, if you just have a little bit of lapse in memory, our service times are the first thing you'll come across. We had a soul winning time this evening and actually had three people saved, so Amen. Praise the Lord for that. Is there anything else to report soul winning for earlier this week? That's gonna be Monday through today. Does anyone have any soul winning report Monday through today? All right, with the numbers from Sunday, we had seven, and this is Sunday's bulletin, so with what we have from today and Sunday, that actually brings our total to 307. So we broke 300. The goal's a thousand. So we have a lot of work to do, but Amen for 300 souls that'll never taste hell, because we went out and did the work. That's a good accomplishment, folks. You should really be happy about that. Of course, we have our Bible memory there as well. Romans chapter 8, we're on verse 13. Romans chapter 8 verse 13. Of course, kids, I know for a fact, because I saw brother Nick stock the freezer, there is no shortage of ice cream. So if you can memorize this for next week, I believe this is Sunday, if you can recite this or even verse 14 on Sunday, you can help yourself to the promised land, of ice cream that's there. And for the adults, if you're 18 or over, just be diligent to memorize those verses, as well as Romans 1. The pastor is doing for Pride Month a special for Romans chapter 1, so try to memorize that. Really, all you have to memorize for Romans 1 is the first part, because verses like 20 onward, you probably already know. It's like 22, right? 21. You're like, I know that. You can really get that down. Memorize that first part, and here's the thing, the longer the chapter, the better the prize. Ultimately, the prize is writing the word of God in your heart, and having that. No one can ever take that from you. But just memorize that for your carnal reward, too, because we like those, in the flesh. Obviously, be in prayer for our expecting mothers, Mrs. Carrie Shelley and Ms. Sarah Gomez. Definitely be in prayer for them. The church is definitely growing organically, and that's always a blessing. We have a lot of new children that are here, and look, don't stop praying just because they make it off the list. Once they have that baby, I'm sure they're like, I really need your prayers now. Now is the time to keep praying. So keep that up. Of course, this is the midweek service, and I don't have a printout of people who or a list of people who have requested prayers, but just remember, if you do need prayer, if there's something going on in your life that you need extra prayer for, send that into the church. Email that to brother Nick. I almost said email that to Stead Past Baptist OKC, but that's a different email. Then your stuff is going to go to OKC, which, hey, we'll get them on board, too. Email that to brother Nick. Obviously, prayer is super powerful. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much is what the Bible says. So we want to keep that up. We do have a soul winning marathon coming up in Baytown. That is going to be Saturday, June 26th. Saturday, June 26th. Breakfast and lunch is covered, so we will feed you. I heard this from pastor. We'll feed you if you'll feed people with the gospel. Alright, so come out. It'll be at a place. I actually have the details. I've got this planned out. I've got a lot of apartments, about 30 massive apartment complexes that we can hit. We're going to meet at a place called Roseland Park. It's very close to Brother Sam's house, so they're familiar with the area. It's got bathrooms, like nice bathrooms. So ladies, that's what I know important. My wife was like, you have to pick a place with a bathroom. Alright, so we've got bathrooms. We've got the pavilion. We should be able to meet there, no problem. If anything changes, we'll let you guys know. Once those are more official, we'll have that in writing in the bulletin. We're just nailing down those last little bits of the events. Of course, also, don't forget that there's the Ardmore soul winning marathon in Ardmore. That's going to be on June 13th. So that's 12th, I'm sorry. You're right. 12th is the Saturday. 13th is Sunday. So 12th, Saturday, June 12th, this weekend. If you can make it to Ardmore, I think from here, Ardmore's about 5 hours, 6 hours. I'm not 100% sure. We were looking at it. My wife and I won't be able to make it, unfortunately, but if you can, I know they would really be happy to have your support. The DFW guys, I know a lot of guys from OKC, they're making their way down there. Of course, upcoming, before I get into the October event, we have another upcoming event on June 13th and that is, Brother Ben Naim is going to be preaching for us from DFW. Be in prayer for him and his wife and of course their baby, they're going to make that travel down here. They'll be here on Saturday and I've heard they will be at the game night on Saturday. This Saturday evening at 6pm, we're just having a fellowship game night. Whoever wants to come, it's only $50 head chart, I'm just kidding. Whoever wants to come, it's kind of like a bring your own food or whatever. I'm sure once people get here, someone will run and grab food, probably for whoever wants it. It's just a fun night to build fellowship, to have some fun together and like I said, I've heard that Ben the Baptist is going to be here. Who doesn't want to meet him? He's already been here to preach for you guys, but who doesn't want to have more time with him? He's a great guy. You can really get him riled up. Just bring up a random topic and he's sure to go off on it for a while. We have that in common. Upcoming events, a little in the future, put on your calendar October 6th through the 10th is the Fire Breathing Baptist Fellowship. Now here's the thing, along with Brother Nate, I don't know what the lineup of preachers is going to be, but it's definitely going to be great preachers. I could probably submit to you that Manly Perry is not going to make this one. I'm sorry if you're holding out for that. We just want people that are saved to be preaching probably. That's upcoming. Put that on your calendar. Mark that. Of course, any prayer request, there's the email there PureWordsBaptist at gmail.com There's a space for notes on the back. We are blessed to have Brother Dylan Laws here preaching for us, so just be in prayer for him. He's come a long way down here to preach for us. He's got a long trip after this. Just be in prayer. With that, we're going to go ahead and move on to our next hymn for this evening, which is hymn number 41. Our next hymn this evening, hymn number 41, sweet by and by. There's a land that is fairer than day, number 41, sweet by and by. 41, sweet by and by. Let's sing there on the first. There's a land that is fairer than day. And by faith we can see it afar. For the Father waits over the way to prepare us a dwelling place there. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. We shall sing on that beautiful shore. The melodious songs of the blessed. And our spirit shall sorrow no more. Not aside for the blessing of rest. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. To our bountiful Father above we will offer our tribute of praise for the glorious gift of His love. And the blessings that hallow our days. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. In the sweet by and by we shall meet on that beautiful shore. Amen. Good singing this evening. While the offering plate is coming around if you would turn to Matthew chapter number six. Matthew chapter number six. We'll read that whole chapter as is our custom. Brother Brandon if you'll read for us. Matthew chapter six. Take he that ye do not your alms before men to be seen of them. Otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Therefore when thou doest thine alms do not sound a trumpet before thee as thy hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you that they have their reward but when thou doest alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand is doeth. That thine alms may be in secret and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. And when thou prayest thou shall not be as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you they have their reward but when thou prayest enter into the closet and when thou has shut thy door pray to the Father which is in secret and the Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray use not vain repetitions as the heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them for your Father knoweth what these things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye. Our Father which art in heaven allow be thy name thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven. Give us thus they our daily bread and forgive us our debt as we forgive our debtors. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is thy kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. For if ye forgive men their trespasses your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if ye forgive not men their trespasses neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces and they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you they have the reward. But thou when you when thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face as thou appear not unto men fast but unto the Father which is in secret. And thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Lay not up for thy selves treasures upon earth where the moth and rust doth corrupt and where these break through and steal. But lay up yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth or rust doth corrupt and wherefore these do not break through nor steal. For when ye are treasure for where your treasure is there will your heart also be be also. The light of the body is the eye. If therefore thine eye be single thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness. No man can serve two masters for either he will hate the one and love the other or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Therefore I say to you take no thought for your life. What ye shall eat or what ye shall drink nor yet for your body what ye shall put on. It is not the life more than meat in the body than raiment. Behold the fowls of the air for they sow not neither do they reap nor gather in barns yet your heavenly father feedeth them. Are ye not much more than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto stature? And why take you thought for raiment consider the lilies of the valley how they grow they toil not neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore if God so clothe the grass of the field which is which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more clothe you of ye little faith? Therefore take no thought saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewith shall we be clothe? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your heavenly father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. Therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Is there a word of prayer? We thank you for everyone here. Lord, we thank you for the many blessings that you do for Lord. We just pray that you just feel better dealing with your spirit and help us be patient in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Alright. Well first I want to thank Pastor Shelley as always for giving me the opportunity to preach and it's good to see everyone here. Gonna be back down here in Houston with all of you guys. And tonight we are in Matthew chapter 6. Now Matthew chapter 6 is in the middle of the Lord Jesus Christ's Sermon on the Mount. His Sermon on the Mount goes from chapter 5 to chapter 7. And it's arguably one of the best sermons ever preached. It's definitely better than any sermon any other man has ever preached. And there's just so much great truth in this chapter. And really when you look at the Sermon on the Mount it's really where the rubber meets the road in our Christianity. It's really just real Christianity when you read the Sermon on the Mount. And there's so much great doctrine. And if I had to pick one verse that would sum up the Sermon on the Mount I would say it's Matthew 5 48. If you just look back to one verse before Matthew 6 it says Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. That really is the theme of Matthew of the Sermon on the Mount because he gives us so many admonitions on how to be great Christians. So many great teachings and doctrines that the Lord Jesus Christ gives to us. And so the title of my sermon is What Does a Good Christian Look Like? What Does a Good Christian Look Like? Because that's really what you can get from Matthew chapter 6. He gives us so many great topics. And there's so much material in this sermon to where I can't cover it all. So I would really encourage everyone to read Matthew 5 6 and 7 and get the full thing. But we're just going to cover a few things in Matthew chapter number 6. So number 1 Matthew chapter 6 verse 1 A good Christian strives to please God, not man. A good Christian strives to please God, not man. Look at Matthew 6 1 The Bible says take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them. Otherwise you have no reward of your Father which is in heaven. Now what is alms? According to dictionary.com alms is money, food or other donations given to the poor or needy or anything given as charity. And so Jesus Christ right off the bat in chapter 6 says take heed, be careful that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them. Don't try to go give money to the poor to help out your brother in Christ to do it in front of everyone else so that they can see you do it. So that you can just have glory in front of men. But rather a good Christian is someone that strives to please God, not men. Go to 1 Corinthians chapter number 13. 1 Corinthians chapter number 13 covers the topic of charity. Now if we look at verse number 1 it says though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not charity I am become a sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge and though I have all faith so that I could remove mountains and have not charity I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor and though I give my body to be burned and have not charity it profiteth me nothing. You know this could be one of the scariest verses in the Bible in 1 Corinthians 13 it's talking about all these things that you can do but if you do them for the wrong reasons if you do not have charity in your heart if you're doing them to be seen of men you're nothing. To the point where you could literally give all your goods and you could actually give your body to be burned but when you do it without charity it's nothing. And so that's why Jesus Christ admonishes us to make sure that when we do our alms when we do nice things for our brothers in Christ to make sure that we're not doing it to be seen of men because it's completely vain and pointless when you do it like that. Now look at verse number 4 of 1 Corinthians 13 Charity suffereth long and is kind. Charity envieth not. Charity vaunteth not itself is not puffed up. Doth not behave itself unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil. So notice this one of the aspects of charity is that you're not seeking to lift yourself up when you have a charitable heart. So today in our modern vernacular a lot of times people say, oh I gave money to charity. I'm giving to charity. But the Bible actually says that you could give all your goods and if you don't have charity it's nothing. So it matters how you give. It matters how you give your alms. It matters how you do things for your brothers in Christ. If you don't have charity in your heart then it's completely pointless. But what does a good Christian do? A good Christian strives to please God rather than men. Motives matter. Motives matter to our Lord Jesus Christ. Go back to Matthew chapter number six. Matthew chapter number six. So he tells us not to do things to be seen of men. Verse two. Therefore when thou doest thine alms do not sound a trumpet before thee as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets that they may have glory of men. So during the time of our Lord Jesus Christ there was these hypocrites that would literally when they go to the corners to give someone money they see the homeless person or whatever and they go doo doo doo doo just so everyone can see them. Hey look at me I'm about to give money to the poor. That literally happened. And Jesus is saying hey don't be like these hypocrites that sound a trumpet. So what would that be in our modern times? Because I'm sure there's only one person in here that has a trumpet. And he's using it to glorify God. He's not saying oh look at me. Most of us don't even have a trumpet. But you know what a lot of us can do? We can draw attention to ourselves in other ways, can't we? When we're doing our alms, when we're doing things for our brothers in Christ when you're doing things that are good when you're drawing attention to yourself it completely ruins it. It makes it completely vain. Look at the last part of that verse. He says verily I say unto you they have their reward. See the sad part is that a lot of people even Christians can do all these great things give money to the poor help your brothers in Christ. But when you do it for to be seen of men, Jesus says you have your reward. And so if you want your glory to be of men rather than of God. If you want to look great in the sight of men, you can get that. You can absolutely have that. The only problem is you can't take that with you when you die. That's completely vain. That's completely pointless. And that's why Jesus is giving us these admonitions in Matthew chapter 6. Let's look at Matthew 6 verse 3. But when thou doest thine alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth that thine alms may be in secret and thy father would seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. So what is he saying? He's telling you when he says not to let your right hand know what your left hand is doing it's saying be very discreet. Be very careful not to let everyone know every good work that you're doing because otherwise you're going to be seen of men and you're going to lose your reward in heaven. It's very important that we have the right motives. And then he says thy father which seeth in secret. I think the reason why God is going to reward those that do things to please God rather than men is because it takes faith to believe that God sees you in secret. See a lot of times the reason why people have to do things to be seen of men is because they lack faith. Because they forget, oh yeah God actually does see me. God actually does know my heart. God actually does see every single work that I do. He sees all the good that I do. He sees all the evil that I do. And a lot of times Christians may get this attitude where they want to just be lifted up. They want to be seen of men. Why? Because they're lacking faith that thy father which seeth in secret. He does see you. And guess what? If you do that to be seen of God in secret, the Bible says he'll reward you openly. And isn't that what men want? Isn't that what our human nature wants? Right? And the prideful go about that in a way to directly seek that goal. But it's actually a paradox when you do things the right way. It says do it in secret and I'll actually reward you openly that way. So the prideful aren't going to get what they want anyways. God is going to bless those that do things in secret. And you've got to think you know there's so many different ways that we can serve God. There's so many different ways that the children, the ladies, the men can serve God. And it doesn't matter how menial of a task you think that what you're doing is. God sees what you're doing in secret and if you're doing it for the right heart, he will reward you openly. You know ladies, when your husband gets home, you know that you don't have to tell him every single thing you did that day at home. You know you don't have to tell him, okay I changed diapers today. I cleaned the house today. I fed the kids today. I kept them alive. I homeschooled them. I taught them the Bible. You know I cooked you dinner. Do you know that God just sees all of that work anyways? And you know that if you're just doing that for the Lord that he's going to reward you for that. Hey men when you go to work, do you know you don't have to tell your boss every single thing you did for the company that day? Do you know that you could just be a blessing without telling anyone? You know that you could just put your nose to the grindstone and get to work and do things your boss doesn't even ask you about and do things your boss will never even know about and you could just do that because you're serving God? Do you know that actually you could preach the gospel without posting on Facebook? Now I'm not saying anyone in here does this, but I remember this guy Doug Trowbridge who used to go to Steadfast Baptist Church. A lot of you probably were friends with him on Facebook. And I noticed something weird about him. He was constantly posting pictures of himself taking selfies with people out soul winning. And what is he doing? He's doing his works to be seen of men. That's what he's doing. Number one because it turns out he's a false prophet so of course he's not going to have any rewards in heaven. All he can get is the glory of men on this earth, right? But you know we don't have to be that way as Christians. In fact Jesus told us not to be that way. And I'm not saying you can never talk about the work you do. And I'm also not saying that you can't have a public ministry. Because there's many things in Christianity that's public. You know, preaching a sermon is a public thing to do. Going out and preaching the gospel. People are going to see you do those works. But whether it's public or private what matters in the sight of God is your heart and your motives. You can have a completely public ministry and do works that are seen of men every single day. And if your heart is right you'll be rewarded for that in heaven. But if you have a public ministry and every single thing that you're doing is just to get honor and praise for men, then you lost your reward. You have your reward. It's the praise of men. And that's pretty lame if you ask me. That's pretty cheap. I'd rather have the praise of God. I'll read for you 1 Timothy chapter 5 verse 24 says, Some men's sins are opened beforehand going before to judgment and some men they follow after. You know some people you could look at them and just be like wow this is a really sinful person. You know if you're on the wrong side of town and you see a prostitute it's like okay some women's sins are opened beforehand like we understand this is a very simple person but you know some people can hide it. Some people can act like they're very holy and they're very separated and they could even be in the ministry and they could even be doing all these works for God. But you know sometimes they're hiding things. And at the judgment seat of Christ it's going to reveal who we really are. We can hide from men but we cannot hide from God. And then verse 25 says Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand and they that are otherwise cannot be hid. You can't hide your good works from God either. He knows you're evil. He knows the good works that you do. And so since we know that God sees everything that we do if we're going to spend all of our time serving God if we're going to put time and energy and money and all of our efforts into serving God wouldn't you want to get a reward for it? Well if we know that God sees us in secret we know that he's going to reward us openly. We know that they that are otherwise cannot be hid that should motivate us to do things out of a right heart. And not to be seen of men but rather to please God. You know so what are some ways that people do this today? We've already talked about some of them but how about giving money to church? Hey that's a good thing to do. The Bible teaches that we should pay our tithe that we should pay 10% of our increase to the Lord. I believe in that but you don't have to go telling everyone about it. You really don't. And especially if you're going to give above and beyond your 10% and give a free will offering to the Lord that's something that if you do hey I want you to get a reward for that because that's a great sacrifice to give of your extra money to the Lord but if you tell everyone about it then you have your reward everyone thinks you're awesome. Everyone thinks that you're so gracious and so generous and that is your reward that we think that about you. But what I'd rather is for you and I to not be thought that way of men but to be thought that way of God and get rewards in heaven. Helping a brother in Christ you know simple things like giving someone a ride. You don't have to tell every single person you know the things you do for your brothers in Christ. Helping the poor. Preaching the gospel. You know how about preaching a sermon? You know you don't have to post literally every single sermon that you preach to all of your social media accounts right? What example of a pastor do we see where the pastor's just reposting all of their preaching? No they don't draw attention like that. Obviously the church posts the sermons and I'm not saying it's wrong every once in a while to post one of your sermons. You're like, hey I got the opportunity to preach at this new church. You know praise God for this opportunity or hey this sermon was very interesting for me to study or something like that. But look if you're just posting all of your sermons and just constantly trying to gain attention to yourself it gives the appearance that you're prideful. It gives the appearance that you're puffed up. And hey maybe someone's doing that and you have the pure right heart and if you have that heart that's fine but it could be a trap for people who preach to just gain all this attention to themselves and to start getting puffed up and get all the glory of men rather than the glory from God. How about prayer? Let's go back to Matthew chapter number six. Jesus covers this topic. Verse five, and when thou prayest thou shall not be as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets. Why? That they may be seen of men. Why? Because they care about pleasing men more than they do about pleasing God. Verily I say unto you they have their reward. Boy does this fit a lot of religions today. How about Judaism? Where they're at the wailing wall just banging their head against the wall so everyone can see how much they pray to God. What a joke. Is that really going into your closet and shutting the door and praying to thy father which is in secret? No, it's making a fool out of yourself because you want to gain all this attention so everyone can see how spiritual you are. Right? Or the Catholic priest that wants to repeat a bunch of Latin just over and over and over so that everyone can think he's such a holy man. You know what Jesus says? They're a hypocrite is what they are. When I see a Catholic priest you know what I call him? Hey hypocrite. Because that's what Jesus called him. Bunch of hypocrites. How about Manley Perry? Praying in the comment section. It's like that's not how you pray to God. We're all seeing that. And there's nothing wrong with public prayer but you know what the vast majority of your prayer life should be in secret to God. In fact that's what Jesus is about to say. Look at verse number six. But thou when thou prayest enter into thy closet and when thou has shut thy door pray to thy father which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Once again you want to know why a lot of people want to just pray openly to gain all this attention because they lack faith. Because they forget oh yeah my father actually does see me in secret. Oh yeah praying actually is talking to God and he actually hears me. Because a person that actually believes that they can just talk to the creator of the universe it's not going to matter whether that's in front of people or by yourself. But people who are just carnal and just fleshly and don't actually believe that God sees you in secret you have to do it in front of men so that everyone can see how spiritual you are. So that you can get your glory from men rather than of God. Let's look at verse number seven. But when ye pray use not vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be ye therefore not sorry be not ye therefore like unto them for your father knoweth what things ye have need of before ye ask him. After this manner therefore pray ye our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors and lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever amen. So Jesus he tells them he's giving them instructions on how to pray and he's saying when you pray do not use vain repetitions like the heathen do. And then basically he says after this manner pray ye. So he's giving them a sample prayer. He's telling him this is the way that you should pray. He's not saying this is what you should pray because he just said don't vainly repeat prayers like the heathen do. But people that like to be seen of men like the catholic church you know what they do they repeat this exact prayer right after Jesus just said don't vainly repeat things and they're just like that looks like a good prayer to repeat over and over and over. It's like you just want to be seen of men that's it. Because you don't care about pleasing God if you cared about pleasing God you would have listened to what Jesus just said to not repeat prayers vainly. How's another way what's another way people try to please God over pleasing men how about fasting Jesus covers this topic as well look at verse number 16 moreover when ye fast be not as the hypocrites of a sad countenance for they disfigure their faces that they may appear unto men to fast verily I say unto you they have their reward but thou when thou fastest anoint thine head and wash thy face that thou appear not unto men to fast but unto thy father once again which is in secret and thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Sounds like Jesus is trying to reiterate something to us over and over and over but a person who does not want to please God and just wants to please men they're not worried about the father that sees in secret they're worried about the men that see them and so Jesus is saying when you're fasting what you should not do you should not appear unto men to fast don't have a sad countenance don't go walking around like you're so emaciated and you're so tired and you don't have any energy because you're fasting he says don't disfigure your faces to make it look like you're fasting and it's so funny the Catholic church has a holiday called Ash Wednesday and basically they're fasting and you know what they do? They disfigure their face they get a thing of ash and put a cross on their forehead and you know what the point of this cross is? To let everyone know hey guys I'm fasting doo doo doo doo because they're hypocrites because they want to be seen of men it's just like they just look at what Jesus teach and then just do the exact opposite that's what people do that want to please men it's unbelievable it's almost comical if it wasn't a religion that damned so many people to hell you know it's disgusting but Jesus is teaching us over and over thy father would see it in secret shall reward thee openly we have to do things to be pleasing to God not pleasing to men what's another way that people try to please men over God how about preaching aren't there a lot of people that preach to be seen of men rather than to please God or what they preach to please men rather than pleasing God you go ahead and turn to John chapter 3 and I'll read for you Philippians 1 15 the Bible says some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife and some also of good will the one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds you know the Bible says that some people some preachers literally preach Christ just because they envy other people and just because they want to strive just because they're full of pride and they want to contend and you'll see these guys who since they're envious and since they're prideful you see them have to lash out at other men of God why because they're not preaching Christ to glorify Christ they're preaching Christ to glorify themselves and so it's like uh oh I'm not getting the glory I wanted oh I'm not getting the recognition from man that I wanted I guess now I have to be envious and strive and attack my brothers in Christ why because you're doing it to be seen of men and when someone is just attacking good men of God for no reason it's just a proof that they're prideful it's just proof that they're preaching Christ not sincerely when someone does stuff like that but you know John the Baptist wasn't this way John chapter 3 verse 26 says and they came unto John and said unto him rabbi he that was with thee beyond Jordan to whom thou barest witness behold the same baptiseth and all men come to him these people are trying to play on John the Baptist's pride and saying hey do you see you know that guy Jesus you're with yeah all men are coming to him now what do you think about that John how do you feel about that where are your disciples at they're all with Jesus now you can see how this is trying to just pick on John's pride right verse 27 John answered and said a man can receive nothing except to be given him from heaven ye yourselves bear me witness that I said I am not the Christ but that I am sent before him he that hath the bride is the bridegroom but the friend of the bridegroom which standeth and heareth him rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice this my joy therefore is fulfilled he must increase but I must decrease who do these guys think they were talking to this is the same guy who said hey I'm not even worthy to take this guy's shoe latchet he's like I'm not worthy of anything around this guy and he's saying look my joy is fulfilled by this news you're bringing me that people are following Jesus Christ why because he must increase and I must decrease and every single preacher needs to have the attitude that the Lord Jesus Christ must increase and they must decrease you know why is this such a revolutionary concept that preaching should be about glorifying God and not yourself why is this such a revolutionary concept that preaching should be about glorifying the Bible the Lord Jesus Christ and not the preacher the last person I ever want to listen to preach is someone that is glorifying themselves someone that is prideful because that's not glorifying God no one comes to church to hear the preacher just glorify themselves people come to church because they want to hear God's words and it's so weird when preachers won't even preach the Bible what is that that's an evidence that you just want to be seen of men and that you're just prideful because nothing I can say can be as interesting or as powerful as Matthew chapter 6 and the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and nothing any preacher can say can be as interesting and powerful as the Bible and so preachers need to not just be puffed up and do what they do to be seen of men but rather to be seen of God to glorify God but you know often times when it comes to pleasing God or pleasing men as preachers it's often times just as much about what the preacher doesn't say as much as he does say a lot of times you can look at a preacher and be like oh yeah all he's doing is talking about himself clearly he just wants it for the glory of men but you know you could also tell a lot about a preacher by what he does not preach about by what he does not say go to Galatians chapter 1 and I'll show you an example of a man who was not afraid to preach anything the apostle Paul he wasn't doing what he was doing to be seen of men he wasn't afraid to preach something that was unpopular he wasn't afraid to preach something that was a little bit negative Galatians chapter 1 look at verse 1 he says I marvel that you are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel which is not another but there be some that trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Christ but though we or an angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed the apostle Paul's not taking a middle of the road approach on this he's not worrying about who this is going to offend he's saying listen if anyone preaches a different gospel than we preach unto you whether it was ourself whether it was an angel from heaven let him be accursed let him go to hell is what the apostle Paul made his stance on does it sound like he's trying to please God or trying to please men that doesn't win you very many points when you're saying hey I'm just going to accurse this person that's not exactly doing things to be getting all this attention from men no that's pleasing God look at verse 9 as we said before so say I now again if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that you have received let him be accursed now verse 10 is the key for do I now persuade men or God or do I seek to please men for if I yet please men I should not be the servant of Christ and so sometimes you could tell that a preacher is not the servant of Christ and that he does seek to please men by what he won't say and if a pastor will never stand up if a preacher will never stand up and make a clear line on salvation and say hey if someone preaches a false gospel let them be accursed hey let the Mormons be accursed let the Jehovah's Witnesses be accursed we're not going to try to make friends with them okay because that would be trying to be a man pleaser not pleasing God and how funny is it that some pastors when you call and ask them what they believe about salvation they get all offended they don't want to talk about it they don't want to answer that question why because they want to please men if you would have asked the apostle Paul and you preached another gospel to him he would have just told you to go to hell he's not trying to win you over he's not trying to please men he's not going to get offended when you ask him about salvation you know what that is that's a pastor that wants to please men that does not fear God who's not the servant of Christ and people often accuse preachers of being prideful for calling people out by name but really it's the preachers that won't call anyone out that are prideful because they're seeking to please men because calling people out by name is not easy and it doesn't win you very many points it wins you a bunch of enemies is what it does but that's what pleasing God is hey how about a group of people today that preachers they want to please men so much that they won't call out how about the sodomites hello it's June pride month and you know most Baptist churches won't call these filthy beasts what they are sodomite reprobate pedophiles why because they want to please men that's why because they're worried about everyone in their church leaving they're worried about offending people they're not worried about what the Bible actually says what does the Bible say go to Proverbs chapter 8 I'll read for you Leviticus 2013 hey anti pride month Leviticus 2013 if a man also lie with mankind as he lieth with a woman both of them have committed an abomination they shall surely be put to death their blood shall be upon them hey if you're a preacher and you actually want to please God and not men you know what you would read that verse and actually believe it and please tell me how if this verse doesn't apply today you know the Bible says all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine for correction for instruction and righteousness please tell me how we are supposed to be edified by this verse today if it's not supposed to be in effect just at least give me an answer but you won't even give an answer because these preachers won't even touch this topic with a ten foot pole why because they want to please men that's why Proverbs 16 5 says everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord though hand joined in hand he shall not be unpunished hey where's all the preachers calling these freaks what they are an abomination to God they're not doing it because they fear man that's why Proverbs chapter 8 look at verse 13 the fear of the Lord is to hate evil pride and arrogance and the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate hey show me the preacher that fears the Lord and I'll show you the preacher that hates pride and that hates pride month how can you hate pride and not hate pride month our nation has a whole month of the year where we spit in the face of God and we celebrate the most disgusting horrible wicked people on this planet and we call them happy about it too we call them gay we spit in God's face and Christians are silent about it Christians are scared to talk about it because they fear man you know what at this church we believe that every single homosexual should die and go to hell we believe every single homosexual pervert pedophile should be stoned by the government and burn in hell for all eternity and you know what that's not my opinion that's what the Bible says go to 2 Peter chapter 2 2 Peter chapter number 2 near the end of the New Testament 2 Peter chapter 2 look at verse 6 and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly and delivered just the lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked for that righteous man dwelling among them in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust unto the day of punishment of judgment to be punished notice how in verse 6 the Bible says that when God condemned them with an overthrow he was making them an ensample to those that afterward should live ungodly so in pride month in the month of June what's the example in the Bible that we look to to say huh I wonder what God would think about pride month I wonder what God would think about all the sodomites I mean even in Houston Texas deep in south Texas here in the Bible belt I saw a billboard on the way to church today that was saying protect trans youth here in the Bible belt why aren't people reading the Bible what God said is the example is Sodom and Gomorrah when God burned these sodomites alive with fire from heaven that's what God thinks should happen to these people protect trans youth kill all the trans youth stone all the trans youth with stones is what the Bible says go to Jude chapter number 1 the only chapter in the book of Jude right before the book of Revelation Jude 1 verse 7 the Bible says even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the cities about them in like manner giving themselves over to fornication and going after strange flesh notice this are set forth for an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire so these sodomites made God so angry that not only did he burn them alive on this earth but he's going to make sure that they suffer the vengeance of eternal fire eternal fire what is that that's hell and God says the example for these sodomites is that every single one of them are going to burn in hell in eternal fire suffering the vengeance that they deserve you say why is God so harsh about this why does God so harsh about the topic of the sodomites go to Romans chapter 1 you know the Bible explains this to us in Romans chapter 1 but even just the verses we've already looked at how is it that Christian preachers are not talking about this how is it that Christian preachers are going to pretend like the Bible doesn't say what it does how is it that Christian preachers are going to pretend like we should love these people and that we should even let them into our churches oh yeah because they fear man because they want to please men rather than God here's why these people should be put to death here's why we need to continue to preach against these people and why we need to stand on this doctrine Romans 1 25 it says who changed the truth of God into a lie and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator who is blessed forever amen for this cause God gave them up unto vile affections so when we call them disgusting that's not our opinion the Bible says it's a vile affection for even their women to change the natural use into that which is against nature and likewise also the men leaving the natural use of the woman burn in their lust one toward another men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was me and even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient being filled now I wish every single person would understand these two words being filled the Bible does not say that sodomites are filled with all unrighteousness the Bible says that they're being filled with all unrighteousness now here's the problem with these sodomites that are being filled is that they're not automatically at the peak level of wickedness every single reprobate gets more and more evil the longer that they're on this earth because they're being filled with all unrighteousness they're being filled with fornication you see a lot of us in here probably went to public school if you think about back in public school the girl who was the really really bad whore maybe she slept with like 10 guys that's horrible that's extremely disgusting and wicked but you know what they do all these surveys of sodomites where they just openly tell them how many partners that they've been with and it's thousands of partners thousands of partners you know what that is that's being filled with fornication because your average unsafe person who's not a reprobate is not going to be with thousands and thousands of partners even though 10 is disgusting and horrible and wicked and you're going to get diseases and God is going to judge you for that that's a lot different than what the sodomites are because every single day they're being filled with fornication every day that they're alive longer on this earth they will become more of a fornicator than they were the day before that's why you have reprobates that get to Jeffrey Dahmer level and get to you know the level of these psychopath reprobates if you watch the documentary psychopath reprobates it talks about a lot of examples of these serial killers Ted Bundy you know what I mean day one of reprobation you're not Ted Bundy you know just like every Christian has a point in time where they trusted on the Lord Jesus Christ and they became a child of God every reprobate has a point in time where they became twice dead and day one of being twice dead you're not Ted Bundy no but you know when you become Ted Bundy when you're being filled each day when you're being filled until imagine being filled as this cup until you're just falling over every day with wickedness evil fornication being filled with wickedness being filled with covetousness being filled with maliciousness being filled with envy being filled with murder being filled with debate being filled with malignity being filled with whispers does this sound like people that we want in our society people that not only commit all of these sins and not only have the capacity to commit these sins at way higher levels than normal saved or unsaved people but people who are getting worse in all of these categories every single day of their existence verse 30 backbiters being filled being filled with being a hater of God being filled with despite being filled with pride being filled with boasting of themselves being filled with inventing evil things you want people alive on this planet that literally invent evil evil that we don't even know about evil that you can't even fathom and these people every day are just continuously inventing more evil things is that the type of people we want even alive? that's why we don't stand just that oh well you know we don't want them in church oh we just don't want them around our kids I just don't think they can be saved no we stand that they should be put to death that they should be killed why? because they're being filled they're being filled with all of these things disobedient to parents without understanding covenant breakers without natural affection you want to talk about the most sick human beings alive is pedophiles pedophiles and what are they? they're without natural affection and every single day a pedophile lives he gets more and more sick and more evil I know someone who's a detective and they were telling me how they ended up catching this person who was trying to commit all these horrible acts with young children he was a school teacher and this person arrested him put him on the stand this person had his trial and this pedophile who's 24 years old he literally got on the stand and he said I will never stop I will never stop every time I get on the phone every time I get on the computer I have to go and do this sick stuff I will never stop no one can ever help me and then this stupid psychologist got up and said I can help him but he can't be in prison so this faggot, this pedophile got like 7 years in prison and is scheduled to get out in like 2028 by the way I'm praying for his death he's on my imprecatory prayer list because this guy's going to be in his 20's still when he gets out and he literally just says I will never stop why? because he's without natural affection and he's being filled with it every single day implacable unmerciful and you just got to think how can the Bible be any more clear on this subject it can't be ignorance is not the reason people are not preaching about this topic why did I just go through all of that well number one because it's anti-pride month and we need to talk about it but number two because it fits this theme that Jesus is teaching in Matthew chapter 6 of doing things to be pleasing to God or doing things to please men and why is it that it was just a coincidence that 50 years ago every single Christian agreed on this and now we're the only ones the Bible hasn't changed people haven't just changed their mind about this they're scared is what they are they fear men that is the bottom line Matthew chapter number 10 if you'll flip over to Matthew chapter number 10 and look at verse number 32 Matthew 10 32 it says whosoever therefore shall confess me before men him will I confess also before my father which is in heaven but whosoever shall deny me before men him will I also deny before my father which is in heaven and so you need to just pick a side are you gonna deny the Bible are you gonna deny what God says about these people and be shameful in the sight of God or are you just gonna say yep that's what the Bible says and be shameful in the sight of men make your choice but people who want to stand with these sodomites you know God is gonna be ashamed of them and they're they're a disgrace to God you know recently steadfast we tried to we tried to get a company to make a product for us and one of the things on this product it just had the verse reference Leviticus 2013 it didn't even have the words just the verse reference and we were gonna pay these people a lot of money to make this product for us and they rejected us because of that because they're ashamed of God's word you know what but God's gonna deny them God is gonna deny them and all of these Christian preachers that are too afraid to preach what needs to be said God is gonna be ashamed of them someday go back to Matthew chapter 6 we'll make these last two points short I went a little long on that one but we'll make this one short look at Matthew chapter 6 verse 19 number two a good Christian strives to lay up treasure in heaven not on earth so the first point a good Christian strives to please God rather than men number two a good Christian strives to lay up treasure in heaven not on the earth Matthew 6 19 the Bible says lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth where moth and rust of corrupt and where thieves break through and steal so this is a direct command from the Lord Jesus Christ not to lay up treasures for ourselves on this earth but you know what most Christians in 2021 United States of America completely disregard this one that's all they care about most Americans care about nothing more than their money and their toys and mammon in fact when I went to Mexico you know after I preached people the gospel I was just curious and I was asking them hey what do you guys think about Americans like when you think America what do you think of and you know they all told me lazy love money you know it's just like you got it right that's that's pretty much exactly what America is like you know but let let that be said of pure words Baptist Church don't let that be said of steadfast Baptist Church no we need to be Christians that are laying up our treasure in heaven and not on the earth what a sad testimony we have that all the Mexicans are like you guys are lazy and you love money and it's like a lot of Americans you know have that lazy stigma about the Mexicans but it's actually the reverse when you actually see the truth on that I'll read for you Romans 8 5 it says for they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit for to be carnally minded is death but to be spiritually minded is life and peace because the carnal mind is enmity against God for it is not subject to the law of God neither indeed can be so then they that are in the flesh cannot please God and that should be some sobering words to anyone who wants to live their life focused on gathering up treasure on this earth because they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh and what does the Bible say they that are in the flesh cannot please God I don't know about you I want to please God and so if I want to please God I can't be living a life that's just gathering wealth that's just wanting to gather all these toys gather all this mammon in my life and lay up all this treasure in heaven it's impossible it's impossible to please God that way it's impossible to please God when you're in the flesh yet I don't think most Christians in America realize today that they are this percent pleasing to God because they're so covetous because all they care about is laying up treasure for themselves on this earth let's go to Ecclesiastes chapter number 2 Ecclesiastes chapter number 2 King Solomon tried this he was very successful at it he's probably the richest man that has ever lived in the history of the world he's very successful at laying up treasure on earth but let's see how that turned out for him verse number 10 of Ecclesiastes 2 and whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them boy that sounds like the American dream right there isn't that what most Americans would just tell you I just want to be able to do anything I want to get that is what Americans want today that's what Solomon did I withheld not my heart from any joy for my heart rejoiced in all my labor and this was the portion of all my labor then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought in all the labor that I had labored to do and behold all was vanity and vexation of spirit and there was no profit under the sun for the sake of time let's skip to verse 17 therefore I hated life now does anyone here want to hate their life today okay well of course not but that's what happens when you give your eyes just anything or you give yourself anything that your eyes desire you may think that you'd be happy if you just got everything that you wanted but you would actually hate your life if you got everything that you wanted you know a lot of times it's nice to just work hard and maybe you have something that you're working towards a goal a reward or something like that and it's satisfying when you reach that goal right it's satisfying when you can treat yourself every once in a while it's satisfying when you can splurge every once in a while but if you're just living a life that's just continuously splurging just anything you want you give yourself eventually you're going to run out of things that you want and you know what all you're going to be able to do is just look at all your stuff all the treasure that you've laid up on earth and you're just going to hate your life that's why so many of these millionaires and billionaires are drunks and drug addicts and end up committing suicide you think that they'd be the happiest people on planet earth you know we saw a shirt today when we were out soul winning it was this little Mexican kid and it said happy is the new rich I'm like that's awesome that's awesome because I'd rather be happy than rich I'd rather be happy than rich I'd rather lay up treasure in heaven that I could actually take with me go back to Matthew chapter number 6 and also keep a place in 1 Corinthians number 3 Matthew 6 and 1 Corinthians 3 Matthew 6 20 the Bible says but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt and where thieves do not break through nor steal for where your treasure is there will your heart be also Jesus is telling us hey lay up your treasure in heaven because that stuff you could actually take with you and so Jesus wants the best for us he's come to give us life and that we may have it more abundantly God wants the best for us and he knows that if we lay up treasure on earth we're not going to be happy anyways even when we attain that goal he'd rather us lay up treasures in heaven by doing things of eternal value because that actually lasts we could actually take that with us for where your treasure is there will your heart be also where's your treasure tonight where is your heart tonight you know if we were to do a financial analysis on your life would we see that what you really love is alcohol would we see that what you really love is cigarettes would you see that what you really love is all these vain things or would we see what you love is the Lord serving God you know I know a lot of people that get one vacation a year and they spend thousands of dollars to do one thing to go to the red hot preaching conference that's awesome and I'm not saying that you can't go on a vacation just to do something fun as well but hey that's great that a lot of people aren't laying up their treasures on earth rather they're laying up treasures in heaven and I think one way that we can help ourselves all of us can help ourselves to lay up treasure in heaven rather than on earth is to think about a very important day that's coming up for all of us in the future and that's in 1 Corinthians chapter number 3 look at verse 9 every man's work shall be manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is I think one of the ways we can help ourselves not to want to lay up treasures on earth but rather in heaven is to be thinking about the judgment seat of Christ this is a day that should be on all of our minds all the time thinking about how someday you will stand before the Lord Jesus Christ alone your husband's not going to be there with you your wife's not going to be there with you your pastor's not going to be there with you you are going to be there alone and God is going to judge your works and try your works by fire and anything that burns up you will suffer loss and anything that remains is the gold the precious silver or the silver and the precious stones the things that you want to remain the good works the souls that you won to Christ all the times that you prayed for someone that's the kind of stuff that you want to remain but you know what a lot of people are going to stand before Christ and be ashamed and suffer loss on that day and just literally all their works are going to be burned up but they are still going to be saved but we don't want that to be the people in this room some people are going to stand before Christ and their computers, their guns their money, all the things that they loved in this earth and gave all their time, money and energy into all that stuff is just going to be burned away and you know what, eternity is a long long time compared to this earth the bible says that our life is like a vapor it just vanishes away and all of us are going to wish that we had done more for Christ when we stand before him and so one thing that could help us not to be covetous, not to lay up treasure on earth is constantly be thinking about that day constantly be thinking about how you are going to stand before the Lord Jesus Christ and what are you building? What are you spending your time doing? Are you building the gold the silver and the precious stones or is it all wood, hay and stubble? You know a good Christian is one that lays up treasure on earth and not in heaven lastly number three a good Christian concerns himself with serving God today not with worrying about tomorrow a good Christian concerns himself with serving God today not with worrying about tomorrow go to Matthew chapter 6 and we will finish out this chapter verse number 25 Jesus said therefore I say unto you take no thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall drink nor yet for your body what you shall put on is not the life more than meat and the body than raiment hey isn't there more to life than worrying about the things you are going to eat, the things you are going to wear I mean that's like there is a lot more important things to that but especially with our country coming out of this coronavirus crisis that our year has had you know a lot of Christians have been caught up with these things worrying and thinking about food, clothing, raiment all of these things but God says don't take any thought for those things Jesus says take no thoughts for those things and in fact he gives us a carnal example that shows us really how silly it is to worry about this kind of stuff look at verse number 26 he says behold the fowls of the air, what are the fowls kids what are the fowls, does any kid in here know what a fowl is ok pay attention, here is what a fowl is bird, ok, bird so Jesus is telling you behold the fowls, the birds of the air for they sow not, the birds aren't going out and starting up the tractor and sowing the seed are they neither do they reap during harvest season, you know they are not getting in the combine, they are not getting you know to the fields and working hard like this nor gather into barns yet your heavenly father feedeth them, are you not much better than they, Jesus is saying like look how silly you are for worrying about this kind of stuff, even these little birds, they don't go out and do all these things yet God takes care of them, aren't you a lot better than a bird you are his son, you are his daughter he loves you, of course he is going to take care of your needs verse 27 which of you by taking thought can add one cubit to his stature, and why take he thought for raiment, he is going to give us another carnal example here, consider the lilies of the field, how they grow they toil not, neither do they spin you know the lilies aren't getting up bright and early and strapping on their boots and toiling all day and working a 12 hour shift, they are not spinning yarn they are not doing any of these things, they are flowers, they do nothing, okay but look at verse 29 and yet I say unto you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these, wherefore if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith, he is saying God takes so much care for these birds God takes so much care for these flowers for the grass, which are nothing they are just going to be burned, but you an eternal soul, his son someone he loves, his daughter, someone he loves he is going to take care of you he is going to give you the food, the drink the clothing, all the things that you need if he gives that stuff to the birds, why wouldn't he give it to you so a lot of Christians, hey if you want to be a good Christian, stop worrying about tomorrow, stop worrying and being stressed out about all the cares of this life tomorrow, but rather just worry about serving God right now, worry about serving God today look at verse number 31 therefore take no thought, saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or wherewithal shall we be clothed for after all these things do the Gentiles seek, for your heavenly father knoweth that you have need of all these things, and what does this come down to again, faith do you actually believe that God knows that you need all these things hey, do you actually believe that our father which seeth in secret will reward us openly all of these things that Jesus is talking about it really comes down to faith and that's what a lot of people lack today verse number 33 but seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you take therefore no thought for the morrow for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof, sufficient unto the day seek God first seek the kingdom of God first serve God first and he's going to take care of all your needs, all the things that you are stressing about even other things that we can plan in the future about, like, this Bible verse is not telling us not to plan anything, okay we have to balance the scripture, it's not like Jesus is just saying, literally only think about today, and don't plan a career don't plan finding a wife don't plan having kids, that's not what he's saying we have to balance the scripture, I'll read for you Proverbs 4 26 it says, ponder the path of thy feet and let all thy ways be established so the Bible does tell us to ponder the path of our feet, what direction am I going in life, what is my plan what are my goals, but once you know your plan and your goal, which number one should be to serve God, serve God today and stop worrying about tomorrow just worry about where you are today, make sure instead of worrying about your financial stress, your job stress your marital stress, you know, have you read the Bible today have you prayed to God today, have you gone soul winning this week, are you at church every time the doors are open because that's what seeking the kingdom of God first actually looks like doing all those things first, and Jesus said, hey if you do those things, that he's going to take care of you, that he's going to provide all these things for you the last verse I'll read for you, is Proverbs 3 5, the Bible says, trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding in all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths so instead of, you know, looking at your financial situation, saying, oh I'm stressed out, you know, I can't tithe, I'm not going to have enough money trust in the Lord with all thine heart oh, but you don't understand, I don't have enough money and lean not unto thine own understanding that's your understanding talking trust in the Lord he will direct thy paths, God has never forsaken one of his children God has never let one of his children down if you follow the principles in the Bible it's never going to fail you, you're never going to go wrong doing what the Bible says and so a good Christian should just serve God today and not worry about tomorrow even the good things that you can plan in this life don't get stressed out about those things rather, get busy serving God, so in conclusion number one, a good Christian strives to please God, not man number two, a good Christian strives to lay up treasure in heaven, not on earth and number three, a good Christian concerns himself with serving God today, not worrying about tomorrow, and I would really encourage every single person in here to read the whole Sermon on the Mount because that's just one chapter and you can just preach forever on the Sermon on the Mount there's so much great doctrine and truth in these chapters, so I really would encourage every single person to read those chapters and with that, let's have a word of prayer, Lord, thank you so much for this day, and thank you for your word thank you that we have the preserved word of God that we can read exactly what your son preached to us, Lord and I just pray that every single person in here would treasure the word of God and that they would work hard on becoming a better Christian not so that they could be seen of men but rather so that they could please you and serve you, and in Jesus' name we pray, Amen Alright, for our last hymn this evening in your white handouts we're actually going to sing Psalm 149 in your white handouts Psalm 149 Psalm 149 in your white handout Let's sing Praise ye the Lord sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of saints Let Israel rejoice in him that made him Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King Let them praise his name in the dance Let them sing praises unto him with the temporal and heart for the Lord taketh pleasure in his people he will beautify the league with salvation Let the saints be joyful in glory Let them sing aloud upon their beds Let the high praises of God be in their mouth and not to edge its sword in their hand to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people to bind their kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron to execute upon them the judgment written this honor have all his saints praise ye the Lord Amen and with that you are dismissed, drive safe