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How are the mighty fallen and the weapons of war perished? Let's all bow our heads and have a word of prayer. Thank you Lord for bringing us here together and for the livestream that everybody else in the congregation who isn't present with us can listen and sing praises to you. We hear your word, Lord we ask you to please feel Pastor Jones with your Holy Spirit as he comes forward to preach the message that he laid on his heart. And Lord, we ask you to please give us all our ears to hear and of course to receive the message. And Lord we love you and in Jesus' name we pray, amen. Amen. All right, amen. Second Samuel chapter number one. Keep your place there but go back one chapter. Go back to First Samuel chapter number 31. First Samuel chapter 31. The title of the sermon this evening is Don't Be a Hero. Don't Be a Hero. Now obviously look, there's nothing wrong with a heroic act. You know, if you've been in a situation like that then praise God. You know, I think every soul owner's a hero. I think that obviously nobody's a bigger hero than the Lord Jesus Christ who put his life, you know, died for our sins, stuff like that. That's not the kind of hero that I'm talking about. I think Brother Brian knows exactly what kind of hero that I'm about to start preaching against. This kind of hero is high minded, eager to seek attention, rejects instructions and is ostentatious, right? This is not the kind of hero that you wanna be. This is the kind of hero that will not save you when the time of saving arrives. This kind of hero is more qualified to do everybody's job than the people that have gotten blessed to do those jobs. For example, there's people that are saying that, you know, the pastors that are obeying the, you know, the governor's orders to cut the services down or go live stream or shelter in place or, you know, doing things wrong. And like, I don't hate these guys, right? I get it, you know, I was, you know, in that, I had that mentality when I was younger. You know, I would correct people that I shouldn't have corrected. I get it, you know, I don't hate these guys. But it goes beyond that, right? And in times like this, I kinda like it because it does a great job of basically boiling these people up to the surface. You get to see who they are, you know? Nothing like a good old trial, tribulation, or a crisis to start seeing who's a real man, who's a real woman, who's a real person, and who the fake ones are. Because I'll tell you, there's no shortage of people out there that are just hell-bent on being a hero, that want to be number one. They wanna be the top dog, right? They didn't go through the spiritual leadership class at Verity Baptist Church, but they're super quick to tell me I'm wrong, to email me, email me stupid questions from an anonymous account, things like that, you know? Like I said, there's no shortage of that kind of stuff that's out there. But the reason why I picked this chapter here in 2 Samuel 1 is because of the Amalekite. We're gonna focus on the first 15 verses there. Now, what I want you to understand before we start reading 1 Samuel 31 is that when you're reading 1 Samuel 31 and you go transition right over to 2 Samuel chapter 1, you need to understand that it's the narrator that is telling both stories. So what does that mean? That means it's the Holy Ghost, right? Holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. So when the narrator is speaking, there's this statement. This was a test question in one of my classes at Verity. The statement trumps the story. So you have the Amalekite here saying, hey, David, look at me, I'm a hero. I'm the one that killed Saul. I finished him off for you, right? Look at me, can I get a cookie? Can I get a crown? Can I get some kind of a treat? Can I get lifted up on high? He's trying to be a hero. And it's obvious when you compare the chapter right before it, 1 Samuel chapter 31. Now you say, why bring that up? We're gonna go through this chapter here. It's only like 13 verses. We've got time. And the reason why I wanna go through this is because there's a lot of people out there that say that this is a contradiction in the Bible. They'll say, well, in 1 Samuel 31, the Bible says that Saul leaned on a sword. You know, he fell on a sword. And then the Amalekite says he came and killed. Contradiction. Look, you don't think somebody would have caught that in the last 2,000 plus years? You know, before there were chapters and verses in the Bible, you would have just went right into reading 2 Samuel chapter one, okay? You don't think somebody would have caught that by now? It's ridiculous. It's almost embarrassing when somebody says that. It's like, look, that might fool the new evangelical. That might stump them, but it should never stump a Baptist. It should never stump somebody like us. But we're gonna deal with that here real quick. I'm just gonna basically prove my point, prove to you that the Amalekite in the story, he is lying. And that really is the basis for my sermon because if he's not lying, then the Amalekite's not the hero that I'm talking about, which in fact he is. So what we're gonna do is we're just gonna kinda go over this controversy as an introduction, and then we'll get into the points. I've got four points and I've already named them for you. I basically turned the word hero into an acronym to get you four points, just easy to remember. Maybe we'll make cards and we'll post them out here on the table. Actually, maybe we'll put them out here on the front door with this acronym so that when new people come, they can just pluck one. If you're any of these, you can still come in here, but if you don't change after a while, you can get in the boot, right? And here's another hero, false Nimrod. If you guys don't know who I'm talking about, see me after the service and I'll tell you, because people online are probably like, what are you talking about? Who is that? I'm not gonna give this guy the satisfaction of naming him because he's lower than dirt. Out of all the people in this church who have ever come here that are not welcomed back, he is by far the worst one. The worst one, because he's a railer and he is a hero that I'm talking about. He thinks he knows more than me. He thinks he's better than everybody in here because he saved his family from this awful church that was so mean and so harsh. And look, I get it, people, oh, why are you bringing that up? Because it's important, because it's applicable, because these people are out there. That's why I'm bringing it up. And you know what? I will continue to bring it up. And the next bozo that tries it, he's gonna get the same treatment, amen? That's how, look, that's how this game played, right? You wanna attack us? I'm gonna attack you right back. So before I start getting all upset here, let's go back to what I was previously talking about here. So it's first Samuel chapter 31. Let's just go through this here. Verse one, it says, now the Philistines fought against Israel and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines and fell down slain in Mount Gilboa. Verse two, and the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons, and the Philistines slew Jonathan and Abinadab and Mount Keshua, Saul's sons, just like it says in first Samuel chapter 28. Is that not what Samuel told Saul? Today, you'll be with me, or that one I sent will be with me? That's what he said, that's exactly what happened here. Now, the reason why I stopped here and I'm bringing this up is because what does the Amalekite do when he runs into David? He says, hey, I know about Saul being dead and his son, Jonathan. Why doesn't he mention the other two sons? I don't have any doubt that the Amalekite was there. And I'll probably say why here as we go through this. I'm sure he was there because he comes back with a crown. You know, he comes back with some items, but I think he doesn't, by the time that he actually heard or saw what had actually happened to Saul, by that time, it was disinformation. He got enough information to where he thought he could make a good lie and that it would stick and work. So you gotta remember that Saul was trying to kill David for months. And so this guy here thinks, oh, well, okay, I've got confirmation that he's dead. Now is my chance to be a hero, right? That's exactly what you have going on here. But notice how this is reading. It's the narrator, it's the Holy Ghost. So when you have a character in the Bible that says something, like the Amalekite, that doesn't mean that it's gospel. That doesn't mean that what he's saying is true. The Bible's just recording what he said, right? And the Holy Ghost here is telling you what happened. Just like in 2 Samuel 1, the Holy Ghost is telling you what the Amalekite said. He's not saying that, you know, that that's how Saul died. No, this is how he died, this is what happened. His sons died, verse three, and the battle went sore against Saul and the archers hit him. And he was sore wounded of the archers. Notice the detail here. Why couldn't the Amalekite have all this detail? Because he's lying, look at verse four. This is, then Saul said unto his armor bearer, draw thy sword and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me. But his armor bearer would not, for he was sore afraid, therefore Saul took a sword and fell upon it. What does the Amalekite say? He says that Saul leaned upon a spear and was like, you know, was like, oh, I'm sure he couldn't live after that, so I went ahead and finished him off like he asked. Verse five, it says, and when his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon a sword and died with him. So Saul died and his three sons and his armor bearer and all his men that same day together. And again, you know, it's worth mentioning again that the Amalekite, he only mentions Jonathan. Now, why is that? Well, it's because Jonathan was important to David. That was his best friend. And the guy knew that, everybody knew that, right? Everybody knew the story about Jonathan helping out David while Saul was trying to kill him. And so that's a further attempt of the Amalekite to get on David's good side and to paint himself as a hero. Verse seven, and when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley and they that were on the other side, Jordan, saw that the men of Israel had fled, that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities and fled, and the Philistines came and dwelt in them. And this is probably about the time that the Amalekite was somewhere in camp and started to hear stuff and wound up fleeing as well. For, look at verse eight, it says, and it came to pass on the morrow when the Philistines came to strip the slain, they found Saul and his three sons fallen in Mount Galboa. So these Philistines come here, they think they're gonna get all the treasures, they're gonna get all the loot, and they say, oh, jackpot, we've got Saul and his sons. So we'll go ahead and put him on display over back in our homeland. Verse nine, it says, and they cut off his head and stripped off his armor and sent into the land of the Philistines roundabout to publish it in the house of their idols and among the people. So that was more valuable than coming back with all the loot from all the other people that were slain. Verse 10, and they put his armor in the house of Asheroth, and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan. And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgili had heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul, all the valiant men arose and went all night and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan and came to Jabesh and burnt them there. And they took their bones and buried them under a tree at Jabesh and fasted seven days. Now look right over 2 Samuel chapter one and notice verse number one. It says, now it came to pass after the death of Saul when David was returned from the slaughter of the Amalekites and David had about two days in Ziklag. If you don't know the background story there, the Amalekites came to Ziklag and they took David and his servants and his men, they took their wives, they kidnapped all the people there. So David goes back, is a real hero and rescues him, comes back here and that's when the Amalekite appears because obviously the battle went sore for Saul. He said, well, I'm not gonna go to the Philistines either. I'm just gonna go head back to my homeland, runs into David, says, here's my chance, baby. I'm gonna be a hero. It's it. I've got struck gold. You know, it's a done deal here. And so when you roll, did everybody see that? When you roll right into verse one of chapter one, 2 Samuel, who's talking? It's the same narrator, right? It's the same narrator and you read all 15 verses and what he's doing, verse two, and it came even to pass on the third day that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes ran and earth upon his head and so it was when he came to David that he fell to the earth and did obeisance. So why are all those details in there? Because the Holy Ghost is trying to tell you, hey, this guy was really putting it on thick. He was putting on a good act. He's putting on a good show, okay? That's why those details in there. Now we're gonna come back to some of these here. I'm just gonna get right into the points this evening. Now point number one is this. Don't be a hero and be high-minded, okay? The H in hero stands for high-minded. Now look down at verse number seven there in 2 Samuel chapter one. It says, and when he looked behind him, he saw me and called unto me and I answered, here am I. Now out of all the people that were around Saul, why in the world would King Saul look to an Amalekite, a foreigner, and say, hey, would you do the honors of killing him? Doesn't make any sense. Remember the story in Judges about the guy that didn't want to be killed by the woman when she dropped the big boulder on him, right? But it's recorded that that's how he died. Anyways, look, you think Saul would want to be known for being slain by an Amalekite? No, he didn't want to be known for being slain by the Philistines, so he fell on the sword. Now there's also the abuse factor that goes into there as well. You know, he didn't want that to happen. Go to Romans chapter 11, Romans chapter 11. And so, you know, it's just obvious by reading this in continuation and not plucking things out of context that it's the same narrator, the same God who preserved these words for us that is telling the story in 2 Samuel chapter one. There is no controversy, it's a done deal. The Amalekite was simply lying. He was trying to be a hero. Why? Because he was high-minded. Why? Because he wanted attention. Why? Because he was probably a person that grew up rejecting instruction. That's probably why, okay? So Romans chapter 11, look at verse number 18. It says, boast not against the branches, but if thou boast, thou barest not the root, but the root, but the root, thee. Verse 19, thou wilt say then the branches were broken off that I might be grafted in. You see the, do you see the high-mindedness here? Look at verse 20. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not high-minded, but fear. For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed, lest he also spare not thee. So Paul's saying, hey Romans, hey guys, just because the nation of Israel by and of itself is no longer that chosen vessel that God's gonna use, it's now us that are saved, right? Us that are real Jews, according to Romans chapter two, verse 28. He's saying just because it's that way now, don't have this high-minded attitude that says, oh hey, God chose you and not them, because he could wind up destroying you even being saved if you have a high-minded attitude, and you reject instruction, you're just this person that knows it all, you're better than everybody, you've got everything figured out, but you've really done nothing. All you do is wait for that right moment of time, the right situation, and then bam, you seek to improve your image. You know what a real hero does? A real hero is obedient and faithful all the time. Somebody who's meek and humble, and somebody that when they do get the chance, they follow through, not because they're concerned about their image, but because that's just how they are. That's just how they are. I mean, think about that. When you go knock on somebody's door, or you go out to the community and you get somebody saved, what does that say about you? That you were already prepared, that you've already been living that life to where God says, hey, now I can use this person to produce fruits, right? But here's what happens. Every once in a while, you get somebody in here and they'll, oh man, I don't wanna do all the hard work, all the studying, all the memorizing the verses, the going out. I just wanna get people saved like right now. And in here's what'll happen. They'll go out, and a lot of this is a guess, because I hear about it, but I don't get to see it. You know, they'll come back, 10 saved, 15 people saved. And look, I'm not saying that can't happen, especially places like Hawaii or the Philippines, you know, overseas. I hear about that a lot by people that I trust and I know are great soul winners. But look, you got some dude coming here for a couple months, oh, he's got eight people saved at work today, and they were all atheists, by the way. You know what I mean? Somebody who's high-minded, somebody who didn't wanna put in the work, okay? You know, and then, oh, and then by the way, it doesn't just stop there. Then they gotta tell you what you're doing wrong while you can't get 18 people saved in half an hour. Well, I got, I just, you know, I just gave somebody this box of treats, man, and got 50 people saved. Turn to 2 Timothy 3. And like I said, I'm not saying you can't send 15 people out and get those numbers, but when you got one dude coming back after a half hour every time, 10 saved, 15 saved, all I'm saying is that there's a problem. Especially in this country, okay? There is a problem. 2 Timothy 3, look at verse number one. It says, this know also that in the last days, perilous times shall come. You know, amen, right? Idaho earthquakes, you got pestilence, all kinds of uncertain information out there. Just all sorts of bizarre stuff going on right now. But keep reading here, verse two, it says, for men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, and unholy. You have to understand this, I mean, this describes the times that we're living in. I mean, if Paul's telling Timothy, hey, this is how it's gonna be in your day, you better know it's gonna be like that in our day, if not worse. Because he's saying, this know also that in the last day, perilous times shall come. So what is the mindset, what's the popular mindset gonna be during these times? People are more focused on their goods, of their achievements, right? The things that they want, the things that glorify men. And being a Bible-believing Christian doesn't mean that you're above this. We can all fall prey and we all struggle with pride. Everybody in here, including me, we all struggle with pride. But the difference is, can you admit that? Because when you can admit that, you can put it into check. You can get better, you can improve, and then God will use you mightily. Look at verse three, it says, without natural affection, truce-breakers, false accusers, incontinent, fears, despisers of those that are good. Are there not just tons of people out there, Christians, right? They get mad at us when we knock on their doors. I can't believe you're knocking on people's doors, it's offensive. Shut up, shut your mouth. He despises those that are good, right? They despise you, they don't like us for it, why? Because instinctively they know, they know they should be doing the same thing, that's why. Look at verse four, traders, heady, high-minded, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. So the hero that I'm talking about is high-minded. He's lovers of, his pleasure's more than a lover of God. He says, I like the feeling of when people look at me and say, wow, there's somebody that's gotta put together, there's somebody that's a hero, there's somebody who can save me, there's somebody who just saved the whole internet. I just saved the new IFB, man. I just, just, look at me, man, I'm a hero, I'm high-minded, I mean, well, I'm not high-minded, but I'm gonna put together, you guys are wrong. You're a FEMA pastor, come say it to my face. Verse number five, it says, having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. That statement right there, I think about this verse all the time. This verse is the new evangelical to a T, to a perfect T. Having a form of godliness, do they not have a form of godliness? Right? Go knock on the doors and talk to them. They can say Bible, they attend church, they know some of the language, they know some of the stories, they have a form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof. Jesus said, all power is given unto me. All power in heaven and earth is given unto me, he said. That's what he said. What would be included in that? His words. What does modern Christianity say today? The original manuscript only movement is the only way to go. You King James only people are wrong. Right? What does that mean? That means that they're high-minded. That means that they're the hero. They can save you because they've studied the Greek. They've studied the original languages. They know what the scholars say. Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof from such turn away. So when somebody comes to you and has that attitude and they will not change, we don't wanna just fellowship with them. We wanna put those types of people away. That's why I preach against them every single chance I get. Because I don't like that. It's against the Bible. From such turn away. We won't allow, I won't allow people in here like that. Now for a couple services, sure. But if they won't change that, they gotta go. Because of this verse right here. Because high-mindedness and people that are proud, all they do is spread that garbage around. It's contagious. You think the coronavirus is contagious? Not, it's nowhere near as contagious as hanging around somebody who's high-minded. You think, well, I'll just change them. No, you won't. They'll change you. They will change you. Turn to Proverbs chapter number eight. Proverbs chapter number eight. While you're turning to them, read for you Titus chapter two, verse six, which says this. I'm gonna get on the young men a little bit, and then I'll get on the young ladies a little bit later. So while you're turning to Proverbs eight, Titus chapter two, verse six says this. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded. Sober-minded as opposed to what? High-minded. Why does Paul tell Titus that? Because as young men, they're more susceptible to pride and arrogance. It's just the way it is. That's the conversation of the old man for the young man. If that makes sense, you know what I'm saying? And so there needs to be a constant preaching against us, an exhortation for young men not to fall into the trap of being high-minded. Being high-minded, being prideful for anyone is a snare. It's a trap. The Bible says very clearly in Titus chapter two, verse six, to be sober-minded. So when you're not sober-minded, right, when you're drunk on pride, you will not act properly. You say, well, he's talking about booze. Well, that would apply too. I mean, when people drink booze and they get drunk, are they acting properly? No. Can they think straight? No. Do they act stupid? Yes. Well, guess what? So do people that are full and drunk on pride. They say stupid stuff. They make the most ridiculous posts on social media about how we're wrong, about how we're going to falter under the tribulation. Look, I don't remember me backing down from anything, anywhere, at any time, since starting this church. Why would I back down from the government? It makes no sense. I don't trust them, which is why we're compliant, okay? Because we don't know. Nobody's got all the answers to this thing that's going on out there. Do I have my suspicions? You better believe I do. You better believe I do. You know what? But I'm not willing to risk other people's lives, and that's something that needs to be thought of. So when you let pride and that high-minded attitude take over you, you're unhealthy spiritually, man, and physically. I mean, you're literally sporting toxins in your body. You just can't think straight. Getting on social media, I think all these pastors that are closed down are wrong and this and that and the other thing. What do you think God would say to that? I don't remember looking over and seeing you in my spiritual leadership class. I don't remember you getting ordained by a pastor. I don't remember you meeting the qualifications. In fact, a lot of times I don't even remember you being married or having children. Is that, I mean, look, go talk to a Catholic priest. You think he's gonna be humble, right? No, high-minded. They are not sober people. They think that they have it all figured out. They think that man is the final authority. They have a form of godliness, right? They know some of the lingo, but we're supposed to turn those people away. Why? Because they deny the power thereof. Proverbs chapter eight, look at verse 13. It says, the fear of the Lord is to hate evil, pride, and arrogance in the evil way and the froward mouth do I hate. Now, does that mean I hate every single person that's prideful? No, no, but we're supposed to hate that attitude. Now, there's some people that are hell-bent on pride, but we'll talk more about in June, right? You all know who I'm talking about, right? Those people I hate. We all do, but I don't wanna lose a sermon to that, so. But very clearly here, we're supposed to hate it. Look, you say, well, what's the remedy to being high-minded? You need to learn to hate it. I don't know, maybe you need to think of something in the past that you were prideful about and you got brought down a few notches and just think about that every once in a while. Maybe you need to write that out on a piece of paper and read it every morning and remember that God chopped you down a few notches. He knocked a little bit of bark off you, right? He clipped your wings, so to speak. You couldn't soar off anymore, right? That mind just kinda does like the penguin thing and hops across the ground. Maybe that's what you need to do. Turn to Proverbs chapter 13. Why you turning there, I'm reading from Proverbs 11, too, which says this, when pride cometh, then cometh shame, but with the lowly is wisdom. If you watch these people, especially on social media that are prideful, that have it all put together, have it all figured out, eventually, they always get put to shame. And thank God for the ones that apologize and are like, oh, I was wrong, right? But the ones that are like making excuses and coming back around, oh, you're, you know, actually, you're still wrong because that's that and the other thing. You know what, those are the types of people that just are eager for attention, they reject instructions, and they are ostentatious, meaning they are intended on their image. They are hell-bent on how they look in other people's eyes. That's all they care about, that's it. It's an image thing. Proverbs 13, look at verse 10, it says, only by pride cometh contention, but with the well-advised is wisdom. Think about false Nimrod and the crew that left here. Right? Only by pride cometh contention. It's because he was so high-minded to think that he had it all put together, that he had the answers that I was so wrong. Right, what happened? Contention, a fight broke out, and we went through another battle, and he lost. Why did he lose? Because he didn't have the answer. He kept making claim. You did this, you're wrong, you're wrong. You're not following procedures. What are they, what are they? Show me, tell me. Oliver's stuff's on YouTube. Oliver's stuff's on Facebook. Show me where I went wrong right now. Tell me right now. Ooh, I can't, I can't do it. So he just dips off, which is good, because he's high-minded. He got his little balloon and deflated. That's what happens, right? Then cometh shame. Proverbs 16, verse 18 says this. You can lose your place here, go back to 2 Samuel, but it says, pride goeth before destruction, and in haughty spirit before a fall. Look, I'm trying to exhort you tonight. I'm trying to give you some advice to save you. If you're struggling with being high-minded, you might wanna just think about what I'm saying and change your attitude, because you will be brought down, especially as a child of God. God will knock you down several pegs, I promise you. Proverbs 29, 23 says this. A man's pride shall bring him low, but honor shall uphold the humble in spirit. And that's the answer to being high-minded, is humility. Work on your humility. So point number one is, if you don't wanna be a hero, then don't be high-minded, right? Don't be high-minded. Now here's point number two. Here's the E in the acronym hero, eager to seek attention. You see, the hero that I'm talking about this evening that we're studying is eager to seek attention in just about every area they can get it. That's what the Amalekites' problem was. He wanted the attention. He didn't wanna put in the work. He didn't save anybody. He didn't do anybody any favors. He just happened by chance, I believe that part, he happened by chance to be on Malaga Ball, but then he tried to capitalize on that. He tried to get some attention, and what happened to him? He wound up losing his life. Look at 2 Samuel 1, look at verse five. It says, And David said unto the young man that told him, How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son be dead? And the young man told him, Said, As I happened by chance upon Mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear, and lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him. I'll bet if those chariots and horsemen were following hard after him and this Amalekite was there, he would have been like false Nimrod and dipped. He would have ran like Usain Bolt out of there. In fact, that's how he got to Ziklag three days later. That's probably what it was. But no, seriously though, David's asking a good question here because he knows the camp of Saul. Obviously, he didn't know who this guy was, but he's pretty familiar with Saul. Didn't he not work for him for a long time? He knew Saul's attitude. He knew his ups, he knew his downs, he knew a lot about him. And so that's why he's asking this question here. He's like, Hey, how knows thou that Saul and Jonathan's son be dead? Like, how are you? And then you gotta imagine David hearing this, like that's, Saul's a lot of things, but this doesn't sound like him. This doesn't sound like him at all. And so what is this guy doing? He's eager, right? He's eager to seek attention. That's what he's doing. He wants the attention. He thinks he's gonna look great in the eyes of David and get lifted up on high. Now turn to Matthew chapter number six, Matthew chapter number six. Matthew chapter six, verse one, very, very famous familiar verse here. It 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. And he's not saying you can't never do an alm and somebody find out about it by chance. He's saying, don't do that, right? Take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of men. So when that's your intention is to get attention, it's a problem. It's a problem. Verse two, therefore, when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee. Isn't that what the one upper does? That's exactly what the one upper does, right? Oh, you bought a Kawasaki motorcycle? Well, guess what? I bought three of them. I had a friend say that one time. And he was like, well, I didn't buy three of them, but I'm going to. And actually, I know somebody who's got like five and they're all higher CCs in yours too. And they're better. Look, if I can't do it better, I at least know somebody who's done it better or I'll find somebody that's done it better. So verse three, he says, 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. Verily I say unto you, they have their reward. So if your intention is to get attention, you have no rewards. It's a done deal. You're the false kind of hero that nobody likes, nobody wants to be around. You might be able to fool some people once in a while in life, but really it's the lazy man's way. It's the person that doesn't want to put in the time and the patience and the effort required to be a real hero. So they say, you know what? I'm just going to start seeking attention wherever I can get it. I mean, that's exactly what we have here. And it's a terrible way to live your life. Look at verse three. He says, but when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth, that thine alms may be in secret, and thy father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly. Look, these are pro. You know, I got on the Young Men About Pride because it's something everybody struggles with, especially young men, but you know what, ladies? To have a tendency to struggle with attention. First Timothy chapter two, verse nine. It says, in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broided hair or gold or pearls or costly array, but which becometh women professing godliness with good works, right? Why is that in the Bible? Because women have a tendency to want attention. Look, I'm not trying to be rude. I'm not trying to hurt anybody's feelings. All I'm trying to say is that this is what the Bible teaches, right? Certain genders have struggled with different things. He's saying that women adorn themselves in modest apparel. Because people have this attitude sometimes. Oh, you're a Baptist. Are you one of those that just demands that people wear skirts? Did your women wear skirts and you dress all modest? I don't demand anything. I just preach what the Bible says and you either follow it or you don't. If you don't like it, eventually people just leave, right? I mean, it's simple. It's simple. It's not a cult. Whose house have I ever gone to and checked up on you? You'd follow what I said? I don't have time for that. It's ridiculous. Go to Ephesians chapter six. And while you're turning there, I'm gonna read for you Philippians 2, three, which says, let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than themselves. Again, what's the answer to if you struggle with always wanting to seek attention? Again, it's humility. It's being me. It's putting others before yourselves. Why? Because it requires you to get out and actually take action. It requires you to actually look on someone else's situation and say, you know what, I'm gonna find more value in helping them right now than myself. And when you decide to do that, you'd be surprised at how quickly your attitude changes. Ephesians chapter six, look at verse five. Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling in singleness of your heart as unto Christ. Now, it doesn't say slaves. I'm not gonna get the big book out tonight because I think I threw it real hard. I don't know where it's at right now, but I'm just willing to, I'm just maybe willing to gamble here. I'm sure that one of the modern versions put slaves here. No, the Bible teaches you slavery. No, this is talking about an employee boss type relationship. You sign up to be a servant, you sign up to work somewhere, you know what? You shouldn't do your job as a man pleaser. You shouldn't do your job with the goal that the boss would see how hard you're working at the moment. Who's worked with people like this before? All of us have. And you know what? Sometimes it works. Sometimes they get promoted. Sometimes they get rewarded. In fact, a lot of times they do. But you can't let that dictate how you act. Verse six. Look at this. Not with eye service as men pleasers, but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart. So when you keep chugging away at your job, not to please your boss, but to please Christ, it's amazing at how much the drama will just disappear from your work life. You say, but my boss likes all the people that go to the bars with him and play softball after work. So if that bothers you, change your focus. You need to make sure that you're working hard for the Lord. Because that removes that whole thought process from you. And now you're not going to work bitter. Now you're not going to work angry. And now you're gonna be able to do twice the work you were before, because you're not worried about what other people think. And what else is this thing here? Hey, the only ones that matters is the Lord Jesus Christ. You know, are you willing to work hard when no one else is looking? Or are you just the kind of person that's eager for attention? You want that, you're just out there for that eye service, just to please man. That's what a hero does. A hero is eager to seek attention, all right? Now turn to Colossians chapter three. And here's the remedy for that. We just read Matthew chapter six, just a few verses from there. But if you were to jump down to verse 13, and don't turn there, I'm just gonna read this for you. You remember when Jesus is giving the manor on how we should pray. He said, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. You need to understand that this can be part of your prayer life. If this is something that you struggle with, ask for help. But you see, the hero doesn't think he needs to ask for help. The hero thinks, oh, I've got it all put together. I'm just on autopilot. And God's just like, man, look at this guy go. I don't even have to worry about him. He's so good. He can do everything. She can do everything, right? No, we're supposed to ask the Lord for help with temptations and to be delivered from evil. That is the remedy to this attitude. Colossians chapter three, look at verse one. It says, if ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Verse two, set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. And that's another thing I harp on a lot, right? Why, because it's true. Why, because it's in the Bible. When your focus is on the things of the earth, the temporal things, you suffer loss. You suffer loss of reward. It's just a fact of life. It's wood, hay, and stubble. And when it goes unchecked, when you go to a church that doesn't preach this type of stuff to you, what's the result? You got a congregation full of 10 or 20 or however many hundreds, thousands of heroes. You got these big mega churches. I know they don't have that many people here in Idaho, but some of them have a couple thousand people every Sunday. And know what? Most of them are heroes. Most of them think they've got it all put together. And they think that we're just like, oh, all the fundies, man, they just can't get enough. They're just always talking about following the Bible and we're free in Christ. We don't need to follow the laws. And it's like, then why'd you tell me I had to follow the commandments to get saved? Anyways, point number one was if you don't wanna be a hero, then you need to not be high-minded. And number two is if you don't want to be a hero, you do not wanna be the person that is eager to seek attention. It's a trap. It's something that will drag you down. Think about the Amalekite. And there's tons of other people in the Bible that we could talk about as well. And what's the end result every single time? Destruction. Why? Because pride goeth before a fall. All right, what'd I have you guys turn? You're still in Colossians chapter three? Yeah. All right, go to 2 Timothy three again. All right, so point number three is this. If you don't wanna be a hero, you need to be the type of person that doesn't reject instructions. You see, because the person that rejects instruction, it doesn't just stop at church or it doesn't just stop at work. Eventually it goes into every area of your life, whether you're a student, whether you're employed, whether you're still under mom and dad's wings, right? When you develop the habit that says, you know what, I'm not gonna listen to instruction because I know better than the boss. You know what, that just spills over into church. It spills over into the fellowship. And the next thing you know, you're just a pompous jerk. We need to be people that can receive instruction, not the types of people that reject instruction. You don't have to turn there because we already read it. Second Samuel chapter one, verse 14. It says, and David said unto him, how was thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the Lord's anointed? I mean, think about it, the armor bearer, he was afraid to destroy the Lord's anointed, wasn't he? And he was really asked. Saul said, hey, thrust me through lest these uncircumcised come through and abuse me. But yet you have this Amalekite that's like telling this story like, hey, I just, you know, killed him like it was nothing. No problem, I'm here for you, David. It's you and me. I'm your hero, I'm the man. You know what that tells me? It tells me that that was a person who probably rejected instruction most of his life. Because think about it, David's like, don't you know? Like, don't you know that's like a bad thing, right? To stretch forth thine hand against the Lord's anointed. Why are you opening your mouth right now? Second Timothy chapter three, look at verse 16. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, including second Samuel chapter one. And is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness. That means I can go to the Bible and get instructions in righteousness. So that means I can go to the Bible and teach somebody else how to get that divine righteousness as mentioned in Romans chapter four. That means I can go to the Bible and get instructions on how to live my life righteously in the new man. But we're criticized today by the heroes for doing so, aren't we? Who are, oh, Jesus came, you know, he fulfilled the law, and you want to bring us back under the law. No, quit hanging out with fags. You know what, that's good doctrine. In fact, that's great doctrine. That could save your life. You know, how about sanctification? Where do you think we learned that from? It's from the Bible. It's instruction. But you see, if you notice the pompous, arrogant jerks that are over there at the New Evangelical Fund Centers, they reject instruction. They're heroes. They don't like what we say. They don't like what we do. That's why they're constantly calling, constantly emailing, constantly texting, constantly bothering our people in here. So you guys are a cult because you're so different. And I've got nothing else to say to it. You just want to go to the Bible for everything. Why, wouldn't it be okay for a so-called Christian to even say that? Can't you even pretend right? I mean, right, I mean, come on. It is a joke. But the Bible's very clear here that all scripture is given by inspiration of God, and it's profitable for doctrine. That means the doctrine that I'm teaching you, I learned from these chapters here, and it's profitable for you to teach these things. This isn't the kind of sermon, obviously, that gets a lot of views or that necessarily feels good. I mean, I don't know if anybody in here is struggling with pride, like in the way that I'm talking about, probably not. I think our church has been thoroughly cleansed the last few months. But you know what, you need to know these things anyways, because it's gonna help you down the road, help you help other people out as well. So we have a fundamental right to use the Bible for instruction. But the hero today says, well, God's word was buried in the ground. I don't need that. All I need is what the scholar says. We're free in Christ, I can do whatever I want as long as I, you know, follow the commandments that I believe in, then I'll get to heaven. Turn to Proverbs chapter number one. Proverbs chapter number one. While you're turning the memory for your Proverbs 23, 12, which says, apply thine heart unto instruction and thine ears to the words of knowledge. You know, if you wanna learn about the value of following instructions, you need to read a chapter of Proverbs every single day. Today's April 1st, you gotta read Proverbs chapter one, the whole thing, tomorrow chapter two, and keep that up. Because that book there will teach you the value of instruction. And that book there is gonna keep you, along with all the other scripture, I'm not just singling out the Proverbs, but I'm saying that's the value there, that's gonna keep you in the line of instruction, that's gonna keep you from being a person who rejects instruction. Proverbs chapter one, look at verse one. The Proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel. Now he tells you why, verse two, to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding. See, you need to be a person that applies your heart unto instruction. Because when you do that, you will get understanding. And isn't that what we all want in here? Don't we want that understanding so that we can better answer the critics so that we can get people saved? So that we can make disciples? I mean, that's how it's done. It's done by people that follow instructions. It's not done by people that are heroes that say, well, you know what, I've got it all put together, man. I'm just genetically better than you. I'm born eloquent. You know, there are people that are born eloquent. Joel Osteen, John Hagee, there's a lot of people like that that are just naturally gifted at speaking. But does that mean that everything they say is right? Not at all, right? You need to apply your heart to the instruction. Do you think Joel Osteen's applying his heart to instruction tonight? What about these stupid faith healers that are out there? Where are they during this whole pandemic or whatever you want to call it, right? They closed their services down. A lot of them did, not all of them, but why aren't they at the hospitals? Why aren't they healing people? You know, I hope they take a big hit after this. Because now I will make fun of them. Now I'm not making fun of people that are taking precautions. They say, you know, we're just gonna live stream at home or whatever. Even people that have decided to live stream before the governor shut down. I'm not making fun of them, but I am gonna make fun of these faith healers. Because they are heroes. They are the wrong kind of heroes. Verse three, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment in equity. Well, there's that nasty word again. There's that nasty word judgment, right? Verse four, to give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. And where do you think Paul learned that phrase to tell Titus, you know, to exhort them to be sober-minded, Titus chapter two, from having that understanding of what this is teaching here, right? Give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Well, I wanna see young people have a desire for knowledge and discretion, because there's somebody that's gonna make it in the spirit, you know, in the new man. There's somebody that's gonna go far and get a lot of work done for God. Verse five, a wise man will hear and will increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsel. This isn't the maybe. This is a guaranteed promise right here. A wise man will hear. So what is the opposite of a wise man? A foolish man. A foolish man rejects instruction, and the byproduct is they get labeled a hero. A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels. It's a promise. Verse six, to understand a proverb and the interpretation, the words of the wise and their dark sayings. Verse seven, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Go to, go back to 2 Samuel chapter one. Proverbs 5 23 says this. He shall die without instruction. He shall die without instruction, and the greatness of his folly he shall go astray. The person who rejects instruction, who decides, you know what, I don't need that because I'm just better than you. Look, I heard a woman say that one time, and I'm not picking on ladies, but I'm just saying this. This lady was really lifted up, really high-minded, went to the local mega church. This was when I was working at the shipyard several years ago. We were working on a job, and one of her classmates, she was an apprentice, and one of her classmates got handed this big job, right? And he's walking down on the dry dock with his big old packet, and he walks by her, kind of like with a smug look on her face, and she goes, that better not be what I think it is. And I was like, what do you think it is? She's like, that's a paperwork job. She's like, I'm better than he is. I'm better than his parents. I'm better than everything he's ever had. That's what she told me. She said, I am better. I am a better human being than he is, and I didn't get that job, and she was so mad. She went and talked to the boss. I was crying and whining and stuff like that. Look, those types of people are out there. They've been, I, she just said, I will never forget that. I am better than he is. I was like, ugh. I mean, and at this present time, when she's saying it, like, I'm backslidden. I mean, I'm going to church once in a while, right? And I'm dealing with pride myself at that time in my life, but I'm like, man, did she really just say that? And she, I mean, she believed it, man. She meant it. What a joke, but the Bible's very clear here. It says, he shall die without instruction, and in the greatness of his folly, he shall go astray. You know what, that's what happened to her. She didn't die physically, but later on, she just got tucked away in a little office doing who knows what, nothing significant, nothing that you would brag about to people or be proud of or anything like that, and that's what usually happens to people like that. All right, so real quickly, quick recap here. Point number one was don't be high-minded. Point number two, don't be eager to seek attention, and point number three is don't be a person that rejects instruction, okay? Last point here is the word ostentatious. Who knows what that means, ostentatious? A person who's, it's pretty much the same as my second point, right? Just a little bit of a variation here, a little bit of a difference, but a person who's ostentatious is somebody who's just, they're just, their intentions are just solely to get glory, vainglory, right? The King James Bible uses the word pom. If you actually look up the word ostentatious underneath, it'll say archaic for the word pom, which is funny because some of these hero scholars will say the word pomps, archaic, you know, not the Bible, but you can find all these words in the King James Bible in modern publications today, different sermon, but here's a little definition. It says displaying wealth, knowledge, et cetera, in a way that is meant to attract attention, admiration, or envy, right? So slightly different than just eager. There's people that just want attention, and then there's people that are ostentatious, and as I was studying out this word here, this story kept popping up, and it was a lady, I'm sure some of you have heard about her. I don't know why this person's popular, but her name's Kim Kardashian, or Kim Kardashian, and it just kept popping up that she was in the ocean or something like that with $75,000 earrings and just screaming and crying about it, and somebody went out there and rescued her, and she was all bawling. It's like, why would you go into the ocean with $75,000 earrings? In fact, why would you even have $75,000 earrings? That is ostentatious. That's ridiculous, right? And so that's the perfect example of somebody that's like that, but all three of these things that I've already mentioned, if they go unchecked and you let them faster in your life, this is the next step, man. This is where it's at. This is the next step. Now, you're there in 2 Samuel 1, look at verse two. It says, it came even to pass on the third day that behold, a man came out of the camp from Saul with his clothes rent and earth upon his head, and so it was when he came to David that he fell to the earth and did obeisance. Right, so this guy, again, this is an ostentatious person here. He's really poured it on, like he's an Amalekite, apparently he's trying to make this image, like he's known throughout all Israel, he's loving the kingdom and loving David and stuff, and so he's gotta put on an act, right? Instead of putting $75,000 earrings on his head, he just dumps a bunch of dirt on his head and rips his clothes, and he gets down, oh, King David, I'm for you. There's like, who are you? I don't know you. In fact, in El, Saul didn't know you either. It's just a ridiculous thing here. Turn to Luke chapter 20, Luke chapter 20. Luke chapter 20, again, this guy would have done well to have the doctrine about doing alms before men. Now, obviously, it's not an alm, but it's something he's doing to seek attention. He wants admiration. Now, was he always like this? That's what the Bible doesn't say. But one thing that is a fact is this guy is ostentatious. You know, you've all had that neighbor and that coworker that just has to show you every single thing they just bought Right, look at these 20,000 rolls of toilet paper I got. I got to them before everybody else did. Yeah, you're the reason why we're having a hard time getting it. And I've met people like that this week. Go to the house, oh, I got no shortage. I got out there when I first heard about it. I went to all the stores. I went to Costco. My wife went to WinCo. We cleaned people out. And these people are proud of it. You know these people off of Taconic Drive over here in Meridian, those rich homes over there? Those are the bozos that have the toilet paper, a lot of them. I'm gonna get in trouble and lose my top percent of stuff, but it's true, man. You know, these people, I mean, so before this pandemic, it was like, oh, that's just my 18,000-foot garage with five motorhomes in it. You know, now it's like, yeah, I got rid of the motorhome and that's where all my toilet paper's at. I'm gonna be fading the whole community before long. You're gonna be bowing to me. Luke chapter 20, look at verse 46. Luke chapter 20, verse 46. Luke chapter 20, verse 46 says, "'Beware of the scribes which desire to walk in long robes "'and love greetings in the markets "'and the highest seats in the synagogues "'and the chief rooms at feasts.'" These people are heroes, the kind of heroes we don't want to be. And why is Jesus saying this? Because it will destroy you. Plain and simple. Say, teach me something I can learn. Act like this and get destroyed. That's what's gonna happen to you. Turn to Acts chapter 25. Acts chapter 25. We'll take a look here at the pomp of Agrippa. Acts chapter 25, look at verse 23. I meant to show you this earlier, but we'll just read it now. It says, Acts 25, 23 says, "'And on the morrow, when Agrippa was come in Bernice "'with great pomp and was entered into the place of hearing "'with the chief captains and principled men of the city "'at Festus's commandment, Paul was brought forth.'" And so, you know what? Agrippa, he said, "'Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.'" I wonder, and I can't prove this, but I just wonder if that pomp, that ostentatious behavior is what held him back. If that was the difference between the almost, you know? It could be, because by and large, it's pride that inhibits people from getting saved, right? I know more than God, I know more than you. So I should have told you to keep your place, but go to Luke 14 and we're done. Luke chapter 14 and we're done. Luke chapter number 14, look at verse seven. It says this, verse seven, "'And he put forth a parable to those which were bidden, "'when he marked how they chose out of the chief rooms, "'saying unto them, "'When thou are bidden of any man to a wedding, "'sit not down in the highest room, "'lest a more honorable man than thou be bidden of him.'" Look, I'd just like to exhort everybody who's listening to me right now. This should be our attitude, right? This should be the attitude. So the governor, you know, if Governor Little invites you over to the palace to eat dinner, you know, don't go sit right next to him. You don't go sit outside until he says, hey, why don't you come on in here? Come on in here, Jeff. Come here, Jeff. I wanna talk to you about some plumbing issues. Come here, Moses. I'm gonna talk to you about being a goofball. No, I'm just kidding. Look at verse nine. It says, "'And he that bade thee, "'and him come and say to thee, "'Give this man place, and thou begin with shame "'to take the lowest room.'" Because look, when you go in there, I love this part. When somebody comes in, man, I'm high and mighty. I used to go to these big wig meetings when I worked for the government, and sometimes the admirals would come in there, and these are people with palm. These are people with palm. These are big, you know, powerful people, people that would come from Washington, D.C., and there were certain chairs that were basically designated for those types of people depending on the meeting. And, you know, I learned real quick, like, I would go, I'm quiet by nature anyways, but I always go sit, like, in the corner, like, on the outside of the wall. And a lot of times, like, when my boss was gone, because he didn't want to go to those meetings, I would do the same thing, and he'd be like, no, no, come up here and sit with us today. You know, you're one of us today. And that always made me kind of feel good. Like, I'd always watch these guys that were maybe newer in the supervisor role. They'd come to one of those meetings, and they'd go sit right where they thought the admiral was gonna be, you know, and, you know, the meeting moderator would come in and be like, hey, who the heck are you? Go sit over there, you know what I mean? It's true, though, right? You're better off just playing it safe and being humble, and let God do the exhortation. Let God lift you up. Let God exalt you, right? He takes care of his children, right? We don't need this ostentatious, pompous attitude. Verse 10, but when thou are bidden, go and sit down in the lowest room, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, Friend, go up higher. Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meet with thee. For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. And that's the remedy to the hero. That's the remedy to being the wrong kind of a hero. And look, if you can prevent yourself from being the wrong kind of a hero, someday you're gonna be the right kind of hero. And actually you already are, because you're saving us from hearing your loud, high-minded, eager for attention, rejecting instruction, ostentatious attitude, mouth, from just whatever it spews out. You know, and that's a blessing when you don't have to hear that crap, right? So that's a blessing. You're saving us from having to hear that, I mean, most oral people don't like that. You know, look at me, man. Oh, man, I beat up like 20 guys one time. I had a boss who was saying, I was in the elevator and I beat 13 people up. No, you didn't. Nope, you sure didn't. I didn't say that, but I also was thinking, you didn't beat 13 people up. I don't care how tough you are. 13 midgets would have cleaned your clock, okay? But anyways, I have no idea why I'm saying that. You get the point, you got the acronym. I'll beat it out of you. If not, I'm just kidding. All right, long day, all right? Let's bow our heads out for prayer. Lord, thank you so much for the truth in your Bible. Once again, thank you for bringing us here to be able to hear this study. I just pray that you would bless us, Lord, to keep humble. And I just pray that this thing, Lord, would be over soon. We can all assemble together one time, Lord, and you would continue to grow this church and lead us through many more battles and victories, Lord. And please bless your soul-winning attempts. In Jesus' name, I pray, amen.