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You You You You Hey, man, welcome to first works Baptist Church, we're gonna get started with song number 245 song number 245 is you find your seats And if you are able to let's all stand up together for our first song the old account was settled long ago song number 245 Let's all stand together for our first song See it on that first verse There was a time on earth When in the book of him and all the cow was standing for sins yet unforgiveness My name was at the top with many things below I went on to the keeper and said oh long ago long ago long ago Yes, the old account was settled long ago And the record's weird today for he washed my sins away when the old account was set up long ago The old account was large and growing every day For I was always sinning and never tried to pay But when I looked ahead and saw such pain and woe I said I would settle I settle long ago long ago Long ago Yes, the old account was set up long ago And the record's clear today for he washed my sins away when the old account was settled long ago When in that happy home my saber's home above I'll sing redemption story And praise him for his love. I'll now forget that book with pages wide as snow Because I came and said oh, I said oh long ago long ago long ago And the record's clear today though he washed my sins away when the old account was settled long ago Oh Sinner trust the Lord be cleansed of all your sin for thus he hath provided for you to enter in and if you live a Hundred years below up there. You'll not regret it. You said oh long ago long ago long ago Yes, the old account was settled long ago Oh record's clear today for he washed my sins away when the old account was settled long ago Amen, wonderful scene. Let's start our service with a word of prayer. Dear God only father We thank you so much with your God for just allowing us to be here this morning. Lord God I pray that you please just bless every aspect of a service with God I pray that you please just bless the singing unto you and Lord I pray that you please just bless people that couldn't make it to church today. Look God I know some people are sick. I pray that you please just heal their bodies and Lord most importantly I pray that you would also just be with our pastor Please fill in with your Holy Spirit guide him through the scriptures Oh God bring to remembrance of the things that he has studied Lord God as well I pray now that you please just bless her service now in Jesus name. Amen. You may be seated song number 410 faith is a victory song number 410 there in your hymnals is our second song We will see it on that first verse in camps along the hills of light you Christian soldiers rise seen on that verse in Camped along the hills of light ye Christian soldiers rise And press the battle air the night Going skies Against the bow and bales below let all our strength be heard Faith is a victory We know That over comes a world Faith is a victory Faith is a victory Oh Glorious victory that overcomes the world His banner over us is love our sword the Word of God We tread the road the stains of Triumph rod By faith they like all whirlwinds with Every field the faith by which they conquer death It's still our shining shield Faith is a victory Faith Is a victory Oh Glorious victory that overcomes the world On every hand the full we find drawn up in dread array Let tense of ease be left behind and onward to the fray Salvation's helmet on each end with truth o'er the bow The earth shall tremble need or fear and echo with a shout Faith is a victory Faith is a victory Oh Oh glorious victory that overcomes the world to him that Overcomes the full right Raymond shall be give Before the angels he shall know his name confessed in him Then onward from the hills of life our hearts will love a flame will Tranquish the host of night in Jesus conquering name Faith is a victory Faith is a victory Oh Glorious victory that overcomes the world All Right great singing. Thank you for being here this morning. Welcome to first works Baptist Church Just a few announcements here before we sing our next song which will be song number 363 if you want to get that ready in your songbooks 363 wonderful words of life if you did not get a bulletin going to raise your hand and one of the ushers can get one For you some important information on there Of course our Sunday morning service is at 1030 Sunday evening at 5 p.m. And then we have our Thursday night Bible study at 7 o'clock We are currently studying the book of Matthew So I hope to see you on Thursday evening And then you see the the sowing times and teams and the list of expecting mothers Congratulations to brother Leon and miss Lorena on the birth of their baby girl. Joy, Lucene Yakovian she is 7 pounds 10 ounces and 21 inches And so if you would like to be a blessing and send him a meal or send him a gift card Please make sure you contact my wife and she can she's organizing that and so if you can just shoot her a text She can give you information about that. So congratulations to them and then you see the important reminders there at the bottom Oh, and by the way, we have someone else expecting I almost forgot Brother Eric, can you do a little? Ah Would you say brother Jose Ms. Janelle, oh hey man Congratulations number six, right Boy or girl I'm not gonna ask We'll see All right. Congratulations to you too. And then some of the upcoming church events here We have of course miss Tanya leaves baby shower on Sunday, May 28th That's next week next Sunday, and that'll be after the service We have the Monday soul winning on the 29th meeting at the building at 1130 If you have any questions see brother Ulysses The end of school picnic is on Tuesday May 30th at 1230 and that will be at eucalyptus park If you have any questions about that You can see brother Ulysses and then the ladies prayer breakfast on Saturday, June 3rd And miss Janelle's the one who heads that up so you can talk to her about information about that And then you see the regular reminders there at the bottom Please make sure you silence your phones during the preaching so as to not be a distraction during the service and that is it Let's go ahead and sing our next song 363 wonderful words of life Hey man song number 363 wonderful words of life song number 363 seen on that first verse Sing them over again to me wonderful words of mine Let me more of their beauty see Wonderful words of life Words of life and beauty Teach me faith and duty Beautiful words wonderful words wonderful words of life Beautiful words wonderful words wonderful words of life Christ the blessed one gives to all Wonderful words of life Sinnerless to the love being called wonderful words of life Also freely given wooing us to heaven Beautiful words wonderful words Wonderful words of life Beautiful words wonderful words wonderful words of life Sweetly echo the gospel call wonderful words of life Offered pardon and peace to all wonderful words of life Jesus only Savior Saint divine forever Beautiful words wonderful words wonderful words of life Beautiful words wonderful words wonderful words of life Amen wonderful singing at this time our ushers will be receiving the offering and please turn your Bibles to Psalm chapter 37 You You You Psalm 37 this morning Psalm 37 the Bible reads Fret not thyself because of evildoers neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity For they shall soon be cut down like the grass and wither as the green herb Trust in the Lord and do good. So shall thou dwell in the land and verily thou shalt be fed Delight thyself also in the Lord and you shall give thee the desires of thine heart Commit thy way unto the Lord trust also in him and you shall bring it to pass You shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light and thy judgment is the noon day Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thyself because of him who Prosperth in his way because the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass Cease from anger and forsake wrath fret not thyself in any wise to do evil for evildoers shall be cut off But those that wait upon the Lord they shall inherit the earth Forget a little while and the wicked shall not be yay They shall diligently consider his place and it shall not be But the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace The wicked plotteth against the just and gnasheth upon him with his teeth The Lord shall laugh at him for he seeth that his day is coming The wicked have drawn out the sword and have bent their bow to cast down the poor and needy and to slay such as be of upright conversation their sword shall enter into their own heart and their bows shall be broken a Little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked Where the arms of the wicked shall be broken, but the Lord upholdeth the righteous The Lord knoweth the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be forever They shall not be ashamed in the evil time and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied But the wicked shall perish and the enemies of the Lord shall be as the fat of lambs They shall consume it is smoke. They shall consume away The wicked borroweth and payeth not again But the righteous showeth mercy and giveth for such as be blessed of him shall inherit the earth and they that be cursed of him Shall be cut off The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord and he delighteth in his way Though we fall he should not be utterly cast down for the Lord upholdeth him with his hand I've been young and now I'm old yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken nor his seed begging bread He is ever merciful and lendeth. His seed is blessed Depart from evil and do good and dwell forevermore for the Lord loveth judgment forsaketh not his Saints They preserve forever, but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell therein forever The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom and his tongue talketh of judgment The law of his God and this is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide The wicked watch at the righteous and seeketh to slay him The Lord will not leave him in his hand nor condemn him when he is judged Wait on the Lord and keep his way and he shall exalt thee to inherit the land When the wicked are cut off thou shalt see it I've seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree Yet he passed away and lo he was not yea I saw him but he could not be found Mark the perfect man behold the upright at the end of that man is peace But the transgressors shall be destroyed together The end of the wicked shall be to cut up shall be cut off But the salvation of the righteous is of the Lord he is their strength in the time of trouble The Lord shall help them and deliver them He should deliver them from the wicked and save them because they trust in them. Let's pray to the Lord God Thank you for this opportunity to assemble here in your house Just ask that you would meet with us here now this morning and please Bless pastor me here with the Holy Spirit as he preaches your word and Jesus name. We pray. Amen man All right. We're in Psalm 37 this morning. Look down at your Bibles at verse number 7 It says rest on the Lord and wait patiently for him fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way Because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass and the time I started this morning It's ten reasons the wicked prosper ten reasons the wicked prosper Why is it that evil people succeed in this world? I mean if you've been alive for any length of time You obviously see that there's some pretty wicked people in this world So Britain some people who are very evil have nefarious intentions and they seem to be prospering Succeeding going forward in their life. And if you're a Christian you obviously frustrated with these things, you know Anything like me I think to myself how is it that these people are permitted to continue to go forward continue to live Continue to succeed and prosper in this world, even though they're really wicked and we see here in Psalm 37 That David obviously felt the same way and expressed those same thoughts here in this particular Psalm And in fact in verse number one, he starts off by saying fret not thyself because of evildoers Neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. What does it mean to fret? It means you're overly anxious You're kind of worrying about it. You're kind of just frustrated about it and David here saying don't fret don't worry about the evildoers of this world He goes on to say in verse number seven the latter end fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way It says because of the man who bringeth the wicked devices to pass and then he says in verse number the 34 Excuse me verse number I Lost my passage here verse number 34 says wait on the Lord and keep his way He shall exalt thee to inherit the land when the wicked are cut off thou shall see it I have seen verse 35 the wicked in great power and spreading himself like a green bay tree. He's obviously Expressing the fact that in his personal life in his experience He's seen a lot of wicked people just kind of go forward without any hindrances Just kind of succeed in this world and he's essentially telling the reader here We need to make sure we don't fret about these things. Don't be overly anxious about them Don't worry about your wicked boss who's constantly prospering your neighbor who's not saved He's not a Christian but yet seems to be succeeding in this world that one individual who just blasphemes the Lord Is not a Christian just seems to kind of mock the things of God yet seems to be succeeding Or how about just the wicked rulers of this world right who are just constantly succeeding They don't seem to be hindered threat not thyself because of evildoers the Bible says now We're gonna come back to Psalm 37 and go with me through what the Ecclesiastes chapter number 8 Ecclesiastes chapter number 8 this morning. I'm gonna give you 10 reasons Why the wicked prosper and I want to help us today as Christians as a church to have the right mindset Regarding the evil people of this world. Okay, we obviously don't want to justify who they are or make excuses We're gonna look at 10 biblical reasons why they succeed why they're doing well And what does the Bible have to say about it? Look at the Ecclesiastes chapter 8 and verse number 14 It says here verse number 14. There is a vanity which is done upon the earth that there be just men Unto whom it happeneth according to the work of the wicked now, what does that mean? He said me, you know, I've seen a lot of good people Righteous people well-meaning people suffer the consequences that the wicked would suffer, right? You see a really righteous person maybe someone who loves the Lord is going to church but then their life is cut short or They're hindered in some way and it's just like wow, isn't that recompense designated for the wicked? Why is it that the righteous is suffering in that manner, right and then he says there be wicked men to whom it happeneth According to the work of the righteous. I said that this also is vanity. So you see you hear the frustration in the voice of Solomon here who's the writer of the book of Ecclesiastes? He's like, I don't get it You know, there's people in this world who are righteous good well-meaning people. They love the Lord. They're good individuals They're just men, but then they kind of suffer the consequences of the wicked and then you have really wicked people who are just evil They're wicked and yet they seem to be enjoying the Recompenses of the righteous and he says this is vanity. This is so frustrating. This is the way the world works Why is that now when I give you these ten reasons, I'm actually talking about two categories of people Okay When I say the wicked obviously I could be referring to either wicked people as in just plainly unsaved individuals Who are still redeemable? But yet they live wicked lives they live sinful Lifestyles, they're not doing things that are pleasing unto the Lord because they're not even saved, but they're still redeemable or I'm referring to people who are not redeemable right what the Bible would refer to as reprobates and So I want to talk about those categories, but I'm gonna I'm gonna hit on the first category Which is just simply the person who is redeemable, but it's just living a wicked lifestyle. This is referring to your neighbor You know that neighbor who's a drunkard maybe he's like committing adultery He's just kind of a cheat. He's a liar yet. He seems to be succeeding God Why are you allowing this person to prosper in his way yet? You are, you know a god-fearing person a churchgoing individual you work hard You love your family, but you don't seem to be making steps forward like this person is why is that? Let me give you a couple reasons. We're gonna look at the Ecclesiastes chapter 9 if you would Ecclesiastes chapter 9 and Again, you know we need to make sure we have the right attitude towards unsafe people towards the reprobates Towards the wicked of this world. We need to make sure we align our thinking with what the Bible says Okay, so reason number one why the wicked prosper? Let me say this is that they are reaping the benefits of being God's creation the reason the wicked are allowed to prosper the unsaved who are living a sinful lifestyle is Simply because they're simply reaping the benefits of being a human being. Okay. So what do you mean by that? Well, you know, there's a default setting that God has for just all human beings Okay, there's this default setting that every human that God has in this world for all human beings whether they're Christian whether they're unsaved It doesn't matter who they are They will reap certain benefits that other parts of creation do not I mean, you know Even if you're the most wicked person in this world, you still have it better than the dog You have it better than the animal you have it better than some, you know gazelle and in Africa Who's being constantly hunted by lions? I mean we are the greatest of all of God's creation Human beings are the greatest of all God's creation and the reality is this is that we Before salvation have inherited this default setting of just being blessed because we're human beings Okay, we're born into this world with certain blessings and it's not necessarily because God's favoring that wicked person It's not because he just loves that individual more than God's people or he loves that reprobate more than God's people It's just that they're human. So they obviously inherit blessings that come with being a human being. Okay The certain blessings that come with being God's greatest creation and you know, I think of it this way You think of the fact that or I'll give you this example when I edit certain videos. I use a program called Premiere Pro that comes from an Adobe suite and This is where I edit all the videos all the shorts Documentaries whatever it is that we make I do it on that But when you first open the program if you first download it and you open it It comes with a certain interface. That's just the default interface. Okay? In other words, the tools are in a specific area all of the the grade the color grading is in a certain area But you have the choice to essentially click on a specific button and change that interface if you want Right change it around put screens in different places Well, that's basically the way God's blessing us. Okay, when we first are downloaded into this world, so to speak I'm not saying we're in the matrix or anything like that, right? Don't take this illustration too far. Okay You know, we're downloaded we're born into this world We essentially inherit this interface with just the default settings already there and I'm sure you know The Adobe company has your best interest in mind in a sense of this is the most effective way to edit certain videos having this particular interface, right But you know, there's certain people that are not happy with that and in light of that They begin to switch things around to kind of you know Fit their agenda, you know make a God in their own image Right, they turn the truth of God into a lie And then at that point they leave the default settings and they become a reprobate or whatever maybe okay But then there's individuals who actually look at that default setting and say, you know, I'm gonna edit according to this This is this is good in my sight. I like it And so what I'm saying is, you know this world When you see wicked people prosper and they succeed and they seem to be doing well It's not because God particularly loves that individual more than you not because he's favoring them more than you It's just because there are human being and they get to enjoy certain things that all human beings do look at Ecclesiastes 9 and verse number 1 it says for all this I considered in my heart even to declare all this That the righteous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God No, man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them all things come alike to all There is one event to the righteous and to the wicked To the good and to the clean and to the unclean to him that sacrifices to him that sacrifices Not as it is good So as a sinner and he that swereth as he that fearth and oath There is an evil among all things that are done under the Sun that there is one event even unto all the Bible says What does it say? You know certain things just happens to everyone. For example, there's a default setting called death And Just because a righteous person dies doesn't mean God Doesn't like that individual. It's just part of the default setting of being a human being right? There's default settings of sicknesses There's a default setting of just being a sinner You know Struggling with sin having that temptation whatever it may be and so the evil happens to everyone But you know what the good happens to everyone as well Okay That's why it says in verse 2 all things come alike to all and then in verse 3 it tells us That there is an evil among all things that are done under the Sun Look at Matthew chapter 5 if you would Matthew chapter number 5. So reason number 1 why is it that the wicked prosper? Well, don't confuse prospering with just the default setting Just because wicked people are allowed to prolong their days and they live long days and maybe they succeed at their jobs or you know They have a family and they seem to be happy and all these things don't mistake that for God favoring them more than you It's simply them enjoying that default setting of being God's creation. They're reaping the benefits of just being a human being. Okay Look at Matthew 5 44 Matthew chapter 5 verse 44 says but I say unto you love your enemies Bless them that curse you Do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you that ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven for he maketh his son to rise on the evil and on the good and Sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. What is he saying? You know just being a human being you get to enjoy the Sun you get to enjoy The wicked person people of this of this world get to enjoy the vitamin D as much as you do Right, they can they get to enjoy the beautiful day in Southern California The 70 degrees the beautiful weather The beautiful Sun they get to enjoy the beach here in Southern California I mean, we don't know about those other people in other parts of the country. Okay, but oh hi Arizona's. How are you doing? Hey, I'm just kidding, you know You know we get to enjoy all those things, but you know what the we can do, too And It's not like why isn't God just designated all these great things for God's people What's because we're all human beings and in general God has that default setting for us to enjoy Everything whether you're saved or unsaved go to Acts chapter 17 if you would act chapter 17. So reason number one is They're simply enjoying or benefiting reaping the benefits of being God's creation They get to be a part of that default setting So don't frighten yourself because of evildoers just because they get to enjoy the things that a human being does You know, they get to eat certain foods and enjoy certain enjoy certain luxuries of this world It's not because God's blessing is on them It's simply because of the fact that they are human beings Acts chapter 17 verse 24 says God that made the world and all things are in Seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth dwelleth not in temples made with hands Neither is worship with men's hands as though he needed anything See he giveth to all life breath and all things and has made of one blood all nations of men For to dwell on all the face of the earth and that determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitations So he says here that God essentially determined where you're gonna be born What family you're gonna be a part of well part of the country or the world you're gonna be in The looks that you're gonna have, you know, this is why that you know The the thing created cannot say to him that created a why has thou made me thus Don't complain about your features Don't complain about the color of your skin How light you are how dark you are how tall you are how short you are. This is the way God made you Amen, he created you with these bounds. And so and it says in verse 27 Why that they should seek the Lord if happily they may feel after him and find him Though he be not far from every one of us So essentially what God is saying here is that God has situated every human being doesn't matter if you're in the jungles of the Amazon Doesn't matter if you're in Africa those doesn't matter if you're in the most pagan part of the world He still set you in your bounds and those boundaries that habitation is still conducive to you seeking after the Lord If you're born in America You have the habitation and the boundary of God's blessing on this country enough for you to go and seek after the truth Right, there's plenty of churches the Bibles everywhere. There's preaching everywhere. He said what about the people who don't live in a Christian nation though? You know What if they live in a communist country or some Southeast Asian country were you know idols idolatry is rampant Well, you know, that's a good reason to seek after the God of the Bible It's like this place is so wicked. I Have it so bad here. There's so many idols. I Need God to deliver me from all this and make no mistake about it Just because no one's has heard the name of Jesus Which I don't necessarily believe that in different parts of the world everyone has within them the innate belief that God exists Okay, it's called the light that God gives to them. Okay, and So he says there that he does that in order for them to seek the Lord So these default settings that God places us in are Meant are built there for the intention of us seeking after the Lord Thereafter in light of those things now go to go back to Ecclesiastes if you would Ecclesiastes chapter 9 Ecclesiastes chapter number 9. So reason number one. Why does God prosper the wicked? The number one number one reason is because of the default settings It's not because he specifically wants to bless that individual or favoring their wicked deeds or their wicked devices or is for their Intentions or their motives. It's just because they're a human being. Okay Number two and he is here's a really deep reason why the wicked prosper Very deep, okay people simply get lucky That's basically what it is why do the wicked prosper well, I'll be honest with you it's just by chance sometimes Sometimes Wicked people succeed in this world only because they just got lucky. You're like, whoa. Whoa. Whoa. What do you mean luck? I don't believe in luck my friends. Well, you know what the Bible teaches chance and I hate to I hate to break the news to you, but that means they just got lucky is what it is by chance It's not because they're a great person. It's not because they're righteous. It's not because they're just it's just because they got lucky Look at Ecclesiastes 9 11 It says here in Ecclesiastes 9 11 I returned and saw under the Sun that the race is not to the Swift wait what I Thought the people who win the race are people who are fast Swift means fast Nor the battle to the strong neither yet bred to the wise Nor yet riches to men of understanding nor yet favor to men of skill Listen to this but time and chance happeneth to them all Now along with that default setting that we talked about in the first place There's certain rules that this world operates under right certain biblical principles this world operates under in other words if you want to win the race, you gotta be fast if You want to make money if you want to succeed you got to work hard Okay, if you want to make bread you got to be a little wise If You want riches you have to be a man of understanding If you want your boss to favor you you should be a man of skill right this is in general true especially according to the Bible however if you do all these things and Your wicked co-worker succeeds and gets the promotion It's not because you lack Wisdom it's not because you lack understanding and it's not because you don't have skill. It's just that time and chance happeneth to them all Why is this person allowed to succeed and prosper he might have just gotten lucky Why does this person have so much money? He might have just inherited it from a family member something. He just got lucky Just by chance and that's an important point Because of the fact that you know we obviously don't want any gay biblical principles. You need to work and by the way don't depend on chance either So don't take this verse and say hey You know maybe time and chance shall happen unto me and therefore I could be lazy and learn no skill and get no Understanding and not be wise and not be swift no in general the default setting of those biblical principles Is that you should learn those things and adopt those skills and those virtues however if success doesn't come to you Immediately because of those things and it comes to a person who is a wicked individual lives a wicked lifestyle Don't just throw out the baby with the bathwater and say well. I guess the Bible's not true You know people have a tendency to do that they Institute certain biblical principles in her life, and then things do not turn out the way they thought it should And they're like oh, I guess it's not true then But to say it's not true is to say that the Bible is not true, and we know that the Bible is true Because it's God's Word and just because it didn't immediately happen to you Does it mean it's not true and folks? I know what I'm talking about even Bible believing Christians people who claim to believe the Word of God People who claim to have faith in God's Word once they apply it if they don't get immediate success It's just like oh, I don't believe this then does it didn't work cuz they didn't work for me Well first of all we should do right in spite of the fact if it works or not Let me just say that right. It's right to do right regardless if it works or not It's right to exercise righteousness Regardless of how it turns out for you. It's right to do that which is right in the sight of the Lord Regardless of the outcome why because it's always right to do right in the eyes of God That's why now thankfully You Know you will have a favorable outcome But you know what God doesn't work on your timetable though You know God's not a drive-thru He's not a Starbucks employee He's not a restaurant where you just like okay. I ordered my meal a little bit ago or whatever Hey, you didn't make this drink exactly how I wanted it. You know Sorry, it doesn't work that way There's a couple orders on the menu But God expects you to get all of them, and he'll get it to you when he gets it to you Now here's a great example of how this works in Belize This the restaurants in Belize are just way different than here Okay here if the food's not ready by like five minutes. I'm like angry. You know. I mean. It's just like what are they? Killing the cow back there here Well in Belize. I think they are they are actually killing the cow because I'm exaggerating here what like over an hour maybe like an hour and a half Maybe like an hour and 45 minutes Was it more than that? Hike it was about an hour and 45 It was like an hour and 45 minutes before it came out so we like we order the food And then you see like employees come out, and then they're like turning on the lights And you know they're just getting all the food ready, and it's just like man This is taking forever, but you know they operate differently over there, okay, and the food is obviously fresher, so it's better or whatever and so But just microwave it for me. I'm just okay. I'll take them. I'm hungry now, okay You know that's the way God operates It's like you're gonna get fed. You're gonna get the fulfillment, but you know you got to go according to the cooks timing though You can't rush to cook Okay, don't rush to cook don't rush him because of the fact that he's gonna give it to you when he gives it to you Understand you're like well. I need patience. Well don't ask for patience because he'll make you wait longer Waiting longer will teach you patience But the point that I'm trying to make here is The fact that just because something doesn't work out for you because you've obeyed God doesn't mean it doesn't work You know just because you know your husband Didn't turn out the way you would want him to when you submit to him doesn't mean submitting doesn't work or that it's not right To do it's still right to do Just because loving your wife as Christ also loved the church Doesn't work immediately because your wife You know whatever doesn't respect your whatever doesn't mean you shouldn't do it because it's still right to do and it will yield the results Later on my friends like oh, man But I know this couple and they seem to be really happy and they're not Christians And they're not instituting these principles here, and you know what's up with that well You know what are you saying you saying the Bible is not true And look you can look at a couple and they look like they got everything together But you don't know what happens behind closed doors You don't know what kind of blows they're throwing and elbows and pans are flying although. You don't know But folks even if that were true that they were Succeeding and they have a happy marriage because you see it on Instagram or something You see how happy they are with all their selfies or something Doesn't matter because we're still Christians and the Bible says that this system works but if it doesn't work and That couple does succeed that employee does succeed in spite of the fact that they have no skill understanding or wisdom They just got it by chance They just got it by time and chance don't get mad Don't get don't fret don't worry don't grow anxious have the maturity to to assess that situation and say I just got lucky because I'm way more qualified than him or You know I'm serving God here. I know this is what I deserve, but you know what he does it But it's okay because time and chance happens to them all It says in verse number 12 for man also knoweth not his time As the fishes that are taken in an evil net and as the birds that are caught in the snare So are the sons of men snared in an evil time when it falleth suddenly upon them You know that their car breaks down, too You know that they also have health issues as well. You know that people steal from them, too You know they get their stuff broken into as well. Just as well as you do why because it happens to everyone okay, and you know if you You're living in a godly life you serve the Lord, but you know you're having these financial woes and not because you're being Disobedient rebellious towards the Lord, maybe it's just time and chance happens to them all so why am I having these health issues? Oh because you live in a sin-ridden world That corrupts and screws everything up Including your body right It's like why did this evil day come upon me well because along with the fact that you get the blessings of being a human Being there's also curses that come upon a human being for being a human being right Sicknesses there's death. There's sorrow. There's anguish There's grief that comes upon people time and chance happeneth to them all and you know I think a great example of this would be my father-in-law Okay, my father-in-law was a pastor a great servant of the Lord did great works for God Saw a lot of people saved started churches and and pastored a great church preached hard I mean was it was it was and is a great man of God raised a godly family and and and eight wonderful children One of them is the best one out of the eight though obviously hope she's watching something around here You know he just did everything right and then all of a sudden He gets this AVM where his the nerves in his brain were essentially tied in a knot. That's how he was born and Then it ruptured when in his 50s and He nearly dies and now he can no longer pastor. He could barely even function. He can't walk he interacts with his family But you know he's not necessarily the same person that he was you know back in 2013 when that happened to him and It's not because he did anything wrong. It's not because he's a he abuses drugs He wasn't doing Muay Thai kickboxing got a hit to the head, and then he got an aneurysm or something He was literally born with it He was born with the AVM, and it's not because he's wicked. It's not because he was even because he did everything right He did everything right. I mean he sent missionaries all across the world had a great vision for the next generation I mean he trained me he trained many others, and he did everything right and this happened to him And it's just like why I'll tell you why cuz time and chance happened to them all that's why It's not because he's a wicked person and you think about why couldn't that happen to some you know prosperity gospel preacher Why can't that happen to some repenting your sins preacher so non-denom Lame preacher who is not even getting people saying he's leading people astray You know he's tolerating all kinds of sin. He's preaching false doctrine. He's just a wicked person How come the AVM couldn't be on him rather than on? Pastors Pizito, I'll tell you why cuz time and chance happened to them all and it's not because God is favoring that wicked person It's just that that guy just got lucky and unfortunately my father-in-law was not lucky at the time. That's what he was born with What I'm trying to get across here go to Luke 13 of Luke 13 is the fact that the reason you know Good things happen to bad people is Because of the fact that there's a default setting where everyone's blessed They receive the rain they receive the Sun they're allowed to breathe and enjoy the luxuries of this world Not because God favors them specifically, but just because they're humans, but also because they're just they just get lucky sometimes. That's just it Man, why does this person get all those great genetics? You know all these great physical features and strength and why them? Honestly, they just got lucky because they can't do anything about that. They just have great genetics I Look at Luke 13 verse number 1 It says there were present at that season some that told him of the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices And Jesus answering said unto them suppose he that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you nay, but except you repent he shall likewise perish He's like you would look at these group of people who died in such a horrible way and say oh, man Maybe these people were the worst types of sinners. It's like No, in fact, you're lucky. It didn't happen to you because it can happen to anybody Because it doesn't mean that there are sinners above the rest. It doesn't mean they're super wicked It just time and chance happens to them all that's how life is Okay What's another reason why The wicked prosper go to Genesis chapter 30 Genesis chapter 30. Let me just cover this point briefly So reason number one is because of the default settings they're reaping the benefits of just being God's creation Number two is that they got lucky Number three is that they obey biblical principles whether knowingly or unknowingly Some people just succeed in this world because they read a book By some secular dude who read these principles from the Bible or they got these principles from another person who knew the Bible and Maybe they're not wicked. Maybe they're not necessarily doing anything nefarious or dishonest They're unsaved and they're succeeding without Christ per se But it's only because they're executing biblical principles. That's what it is because The world runs on biblical principles biblical principles that run this world You know the Bible says be not deceived God is not mottled whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap So some people reap the benefits of being a hard worker Because the Bible says that if you work hard God will bless you for it. He will allow your hand to prosper in that Well, that's that's essentially a principle that applies to everyone not just Christians Okay So they succeed because they obey biblical principles whether knowingly or unknowingly Reason number four that's reason number three reason number four why the wicked prosper Here's a big one. Okay The wicked prosper because they inherit the fallout of God blessing the righteous So don't give them too much credit Man they're doing so well, it's probably because first of all, they live in America In America, you know to a certain extent is blessed by God because there's Christians here. There's churches here So they're only inheriting the fallout of God's blessing on us God's blessing on the righteous God's blessing on churches, you know churches and Christians are the most hated in America, but people are dumb They need to realize the reason God hasn't destroyed America is because of churches It's because of Christians. We're withholding the judgment of God back from this country. So stop persecuting us It's like we're the reason you're even enjoying the luxuries that you get to enjoy in America It's not because of your president for sure not because of your president It's not because of your mayor your governor whatever magistrates you want to accredit for God's blessing it's because of Christians Because God doesn't favor mayors. He doesn't favor governors. He doesn't favor presidents for sure You know, he favors God's people and when he blesses God's people the blessing abounds so abundantly That he just pours over and you know what people get to glean from the corners of the field of those blessings The poor of this world the unsaved of this world who are completely in debt to God because of their sin Get to glean the corners of the field of God's blessing us. You see God bless us was with the field We have the blessing of a vineyard. We have the blessing of a field We have the blessing of all these fruits But you know what every once in a while when you're gleaning all the fruits and you're collecting all those resources a little bit of those blessings just fall in the corners of the field and So the poor of this world referring to the unsaved they get to enjoy some of that stuff, too Now, let me give you an example of this. Okay, look at Genesis chapter 30 verse 25 and It came to pass when Rachel had born Joseph that Jacob said unto Laban Send me a way that I may go into my own place into my country Give me my wives and my children for whom I have served thee and let me go Thou knowest my service which I have done which I have done thee and Laban sent it to him I praise him if I found favor in thine eyes tarry in other words stay For I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for thy sake So Laban's like do me a favor. Just can you stay a little longer like for like a couple more seasons Okay, because you know Laban is kind of He's doing this guy dirty a little bit, okay Cuz you know, he's worried. He's laboring. He's he's laboring for both of his daughters, you know, he Laban's trying to give away his daughters and Rachel and Leah and he ends up giving them to Jacob deceitfully, of course And then Jacob's just like, you know, I've served you long enough. I need to get going I need to start my own life get my own house Start my own thing and so I need to get going and then Laban's like well Can you just please like stay just a little longer? And he says I've learned by experience that God is actually blessing me for your sake I'm he didn't say he's blessing Laban for Laban's sake or people for Laban's labor or his godliness. It's like for Jacob's sake So what does that mean? It means that Laban is experiencing the fallout of God blessing Jacob Okay, and we see this with Joseph as well Go to Genesis chapter 39, you see Christianity my friends is the Midas touch of this world That's basically what it is Christian by the way Christianity not Catholicism Christianity not Mormonism Christianity not Jehovah's Witnesses Christianity not Pentecostalism we're talking about Christianity biblical Christianity With the right salvation the right doctrine, you know our God is what we're talking about here Buddhism has not blessed this country Hinduism has not blessed this country You want to look at the results of a country that is that how blessed they are because of Hinduism go to India all the starving people as That delicious cow walks right in front of them Who they can easily slay and make a double quarter pounder or a double double four by four whatever it is, right? But no because they believe because Buddhism teaches them that that's their ancestors. They're unwilling to kill it. And so people starve. Oh Great job Buddhism Great job Hinduism, you know go to Southeast Asia. See how God's blessing those countries because of the religion I mean and it's not like it's not like they're not instituting and practicing the religion. They have idols on every corner they pray to false gods every single day and Have have they been blessed because of it? No They have a corrupt government They're starving. They're malnourished. I mean just go there and you see what I'm talking about. Okay? But look at America Like oh man, what are you a nationalist? No I'm a I'm a Christian is what I am and I believe that Christianity has the Midas touch in this world that whatever nation You know, it touches it actually improves that society increasingly No matter what you Institute God's laws you establish churches you win souls to Christ God blesses that nation. That's just the way it works. It turns to gold whatever nation Christianity touches turns to gold now obviously after a while It becomes ripe of rate silver, right? Because then the individuals in that world begin to reject biblical principles reject Jesus Christ, you know Like Israel, for example at one at one time It was like gold right and it would bless the nations around them But then it rejected Jesus Christ and therefore became a reprobate nation We can point to many nations who at one point were maybe a Christian nation because of the Midas touch the Christian Midas touch the Jesus touch and Then later on generations thereafter another generation arose that knew not the Lord and then it became perverse wicked Rejecting the God of the Bible and now they are cursed look at Genesis 39 verse number one Says Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh captain of the garden in Egyptian bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites which had brought him down thither and the Lord was with Joseph and he was a Prosperous man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian and his master saw that the Lord was with him and that The Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand and Joseph found grace in his sight and served him And he made him overseer over his house And all that he had put it put excuse me All that he had he put into his hand and it came to pass from that time He made him overseer in his house and over all that he had that the Lord blessed the Egyptians house for Joseph's sake And the blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had into the house and in the field So obviously Potiphar is an Egyptian He's a pagan That's not saved Because Joseph is working for him. He gets to inherit the Midas touch His house is being blessed. His resources are being blessed not because he's done anything righteous Not because God is favoring him but because God favors Joseph and Potter forgets to enjoy the fallout of that blessing. You know what by the way, this is a principle that you know Your business wherever you work at should succeed because of you God should favor your job because of you your boss should favor you because you are a Christian and From what it looks like from what it sounds like it's not very hard to succeed in the in the world today Because there's so many lazy people out there who don't want to work, you know They're too busy playing Call of Duty and doing other Nonsensical things that they don't have the desire to work So it's not very hard to actually get a job succeed and work and get your boss's favor. How much more When God's favor is on you, he's blessing you and then he begins to bless that job because of you That's the way it works. It works at a job. It works even in a home my friends This is why if you're in a situation where you married someone who's not a believer God says you can still possibly save your spouse because of you You can sanctify your kids your kids are holy because of you doesn't mean they're saved yet It means they have a better chance of getting saved because they have a believer in the home It works in a home. It works at a job. It works in a country as well Okay, the Bible says in Psalm 33, you don't have to turn there verse 12 blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord And the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance Psalm 144 verse 15 says Happy is that people that in such that is that is in such a case. Ye happy Is that people whose God is the Lord and so over and over again go to Genesis chapter 26 if you would Genesis chapter 26 Why do the wicked prosper Oh because they're piggybacking off of our blessing That's what it is They're essentially piggybacking off of the blessing that we get Okay, why is this nation prospering more than any other nation because of Christianity? Because there's churches why is it that as wicked as this nation has gotten as Many babies has has been aborted as much as Sodom has just been promoted Over and over. Why is it that God has not yet destroyed America? I'll tell you why it's because of Christians We're literally the ones who are holding back the judgment of God upon this nation And people don't realize it they're never gonna realize it until it's too late, right There might be people who recognize that God has blessed in this country because of Christianity But others tried to debunk it and say it's not that it's for other reasons or whatever But we know what the Bible says and the Bible is true that they're essentially experiencing the fallout Look at Genesis 26 verse number one it says there was a famine in the land beside the first famine that was in the days of Abraham and Isaac went into Abimelech king of the Philistines into Gerar and the Lord appeared into him and said go not down into Egypt dwell in the land which I shall tell thee of Sojourn in this land and I will be with thee and I will bless thee for unto thee and unto thy seed I will give all these countries and I will perform the oath which I swear unto Abraham thy father and I will make thy seed to multiply as the stars of heaven and will give unto thy seed all these countries And then thy seed listen to this shall all the nations of the earth be blessed How is a nation truly blessed when it has Christians evangelizing that nation? Because that seed obviously is Christ and if we are Christ if we belong to Christ then guess what? We're part of that promise and the reason nations are blessed According to this verse is because Christians are in that particular country preaching the gospel getting people saved Showing them the right way, man you Go to Ezekiel 33 Ezekiel 33 we're giving reasons why God prospers the wicked and I think that's one of the greatest reasons is because Christianity has a Midas touch and that Ripple effect that it has on this world on individuals and countries is felt. Okay But here is probably the number one reason why God blesses the wicked or should I say why they are prospering in this world? Should I say? Why is that it's because of the fact that God wants him to be saved and This is an attitude that we need to have and we need to recognize and not be confused about is the fact that the reason Why these people are prospering going forward it might be because God wants him to be saved Okay, not might is he does want him to be saved Look at Ezekiel 33 Hmm Ezekiel chapter 33 and verse 11 says say unto them as I live sayeth the Lord God I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked But that the wicked should turn from his way and live turn ye turn ye from your evil ways for why we die Oh house of Israel now the Bible teaches us that the goodness and forbearance of God shall lead you to repentance so when the world is Succeeding and prospering and enjoying financial success the possessions of this world God hopes that that person in light of that would seek after God now obviously that's not necessarily the case all the time, right? Sometimes that causes them to trust in themselves. They trust in their riches But there are people in this world they get saved and not because they're going through a difficult time Alright, not because they're going through a hard time not because they're experiencing trials and tribulations in their life They just recognize, you know, what God's been good to me. And so in light of that they are open to the gospel I've knocked on plenty of doors where people get saved and it's not because they're out there. They're wits end It's not because they had a death in the family. It's not because they're sick. It's not because they're suffering It's because they feel like well God's been good to me. I believe in God. I Want to know the truth and in light of that, you know I want to get saved believe it or not and that that is God's intention So God would want people in this world who are enjoying the riches of this world to give him credit for that And say you know what by the grace of God. I have not experienced suffering like others have in fact God has been good to me and In light of that they get saved. It doesn't happen all the time, but it does happen. Okay, he wants them to be saved It's not slack concerning his promises as some in count for slackness But as long suffering toward us and not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance Now obviously, you know that works but you know suffering works better though. Obviously, we know that right It's often suffering that gets people's attention Okay near death experiences. I Mean, that's what got my attention You know when I went out swimming that the night before I got saved went on to the into the ocean in the middle of The night and you know, we we were like, let's see how far we can go And Why because We want to see how far but like what's gonna what's gonna stop us? Oh, yeah, that's right. We get tired So how are we gonna make it back and then I realized that when I turn around the lights were really dim You know in the distance and I'm just like and then I was really tired and I'm like, I'm gonna drown out here I should have gone to church tonight because someone invited me to church I was like, I'm gonna die and then you know I I try to do what what kids do what we do as kids in the pool You go all the way under and you push yourself off the floor, you know But then I went under and I just kept doing this and just kept doing it was just like there's no floor And then the water just got colder and colder and then I just went back up and I swallowed some water and I'm just like and I call out to my friends and I couldn't hear them they couldn't hear me and Finally, I just like swam back and I ended up somewhere. That was not where we initially started Crawling on the beach. My lungs are just on fire And I were laying there thinking like this is the stupidest thing I've ever done I'm going to church tomorrow Like I could have died and now all these things run into my mind like my mom would have gotten like a notice Like we we need you to come identify this body or something Like I was like I could have died and that moved me to go and seek the living waters. Amen So then I went to church and then that's where I got saved and I remember thinking to myself Lord Thank you for sparing my life so that I can get saved you know, I was very grateful but it took that experience to kind of move me to go seek the truth and You know, sometimes that's why you know, that's why it's easy to witness the gang bangers We go to like South Central and Compton. Those are some really receptive people now There might be people in here who don't agree with that or something. You know, you're like, I don't know about that You know, I've run into some pretty close gang bangers or okay, whatever but the gay members I run into though You know, they pretty receptive. I've run into guys who are like Bloods and Crips and they're all flamed out They're just they got the colors on and man they readily receive the gospel You know why because they're always near a near-death experience You probably just had to drive by that day or something. Who knows and so they get saved now obviously again There's people who even in light of those near-death experiences still don't get saved. Right? They harden their hearts and you know or There's individuals Who aren't around those near-death experiences? And then they don't die and Then they think that that like qualifies them to have God's favor or something like that. You know, I knocked on doors It was just like are you 100% sure that if you die today you go to heaven? They're like, oh, yeah Yeah, I know God. I was I almost died and God saved me from and that's just like He saved you so that you can hear what I'm telling you right now But they view that as like their their ticket to heaven or something. It's like you're gonna have a rude awakening When you actually die and you lift up your eyes in hell You know the the the evil of this world that comes upon an individual It's all meant to kind of push you towards the truth and even as a Christian if you have evil coming upon you it's to kind of get your attention and And to help you to get right with God and if you are right with God and you have evil coming upon you It's just to make you more godly okay, and so That's one of the reasons go back to Ecclesiastes if you would chapter number eight So now that we got just the regular unsaved people out of the way, it's pretty pretty clear, right? That that's why God blesses them. So don't envy the unsaved wicked people of this world Who are not necessarily reprobates? They're just regular sinners. Don't envy them. Don't fret yourself Because they're succeeding there's a reason why they're succeeding Okay, and make sure you bring these principles into mind when you see it happen so that you don't feel defrauded By God or something. It's just like oh God How come you're not blessing me and they're getting blessed and they're enjoying all these things and they get to do X Y & Z Why not me? Well, just go over these principles here. You'll see why okay But then there's that second group of people And these are what's known as the reprobates People who are beyond the hope of salvation because there are people in this world that can't be saved because they don't want to be saved and Here's what's funny. It's just like how can you say the camera everyone can be safe? Well, what about the people who don't want to be saved they be saved. Well, no, okay, then that's who we're talking about We're talking about people who don't want to be safe We're not just putting the label reprobate on just every Tom Dick and Harry of this world Talk about people who literally don't want salvation at all. I Mean just it's what the Bible refers to as haters of God Like there can't there's not people like that in this world I mean, I had literally someone comment on one of my videos or something and said I am a proud hater of God so they like You know capitalized G Punctuation and they're all sinned You know, they're just that's what they do So Don't tell me I don't exist because they do and You know what? These people also succeed and they also prosper. I know by personal experience Because we have enemies enemies of our church who hate our church. They hate my ever-loving guts They wish the worst upon me. They wish the worst upon our church. They rejoice over the fact that our churches attacked They rejoice over the violence that has been placed upon our church they rejoice over those things they hate us These are the reprobates of this world. So we live in a real world folks. This is not a movie Okay, this is a real world so get your head out of the sand and And start realizing that these people actually exist and you know what the Bible actually says that they exist Now, why do they succeed? Well number one is simply because we have a corrupt justice system So It's not because you know God's blessing them obviously it's because literally we just have a corrupt justice system This is why pedophiles go in jail and they come right out. It's like a revolving door for pedophiles Okay Why are pedophiles just allowed to live in this world and continue to molest and violate the innocent is because we have a corrupt justice system Look what it says in Ecclesiastes 8 verse number 9 It says all this have I seen and applied my heart unto every work that is done under the Sun That there is a time wherein one man ruleth over another to his own hurt and so I saw the wicked buried Who have come and gone from the place of the holy and they were forgotten in the city where they had so done This is also vanity Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily Therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil You know because wicked people are not punished immediately Therefore it emboldens them to continue to do evil because they're not suffering the consequences of their actions He says though a sinner do evil and hundred times and his days be prolonged yet surely I know that it shall be well with them that fear God which fear before him So don't fret because of our corrupt justice system It's frustrating for sure When the government just favors wicked people wicked individuals and reprobates and those who hate the Lord It's frustrating When judges favor the wicked over the righteous, that's a little frustrating That can get you a little anxious that can get you a little stressed sometimes, but the Bible says here. Don't worry It shall be well with them that fear God Which fear before him and you know what if that person prolongs his days and continues to go forward and Succeeds and oppresses the righteous It's not gonna last forever okay, and So we have to realize that the reason evil people because that's a question that I've asked myself like why God Why? Why do you allow these people to just continue to go forward now? Let me say this is that not everyone is allowed to continue to go forward And I can share other stories of you of people who you know were destroyed in a horrific way Okay, but you know that's not every single story though, and there are instances where the enemies of God do have victory over God's people They do have victory over them, and she's like wow it was because not because God's not powerful enough It's not because not it's not because God's not favoring us. It's not because we don't have God's blessing It's because we have a corrupt justice system and every human being in this world is an autonomous person Who can make their own decisions, and you know judges can make a decision based upon their wicked intent They can favor their wicked if they want because it's their decision But here's another reason why the reprobates of this world are allowed to prosper. They're simply a tool That's why the Bible says in Proverbs 16 verse number 4 the Lord hath made all things for himself yea, even the wicked for the day of Evil the Bible says So according to the Bible wicked people exist in this world reprobates exist in this world deceiving and being deceived because of the fact that God allows them to in order to be used as a tool to recruit people who hate the Lord to Now a lot of people don't understand that but it's true Because there's certain people in this world who don't want the truth Not only do they not want the truth they mock the truth But you know they need a church, too They need somewhere to congregate to Believe it or not. That's why the Jehovah's Witnesses exist. That's why the Mormons exist That's why these false religions exist it exists for people who don't want the actual truth And look isn't it interesting that when a really famous person claims to have found God They become like a Jehovah's Witness Mean let me give you an example Prince Prince himself blouses himself Prince mr.. Doves cry himself Mr.. Weeping and wailing he gnashes his teeth himself you know this guy when he was seeking after God cuz you know he was exposing all of the nefarious agenda of Hollywood and the Illuminati and all this stuff, but you know it's just like oh man Prince is looking for the truth They killed him cuz he was looking for the truth. No. No he became a Jehovah's Witness Like an open Jehovah's Witness Like when they had a Jehovah's Witness conference. They were like boasting of the fact that he was like up there Sitting just among everyone else being a Jehovah's Witness and So you know God's not gonna allow him to find Christianity Why because he lived most of his life mocking Christianity? practicing wickedness rejecting the truth mocking Jesus Christ and So you know what God does and believe it look people don't like this, but it's fact and God does this he's like okay? I'll give you this instead and make you think that you found the truth God is vengeful my friends Yes, God is loving. He's caring. He's merciful. He's gracious, but he's also vengeful Did you know the Bible says that he will mock the wicked? You will laugh at their calamity Why would God do that because these people are constantly laughing and mocking God, and they think they can do it without Reprecussions it doesn't work that way So you know what someone needs to deceive Prince and by the way Michael Jackson was also a Jehovah's Witness Isn't that interesting? Both of those guys were Jehovah's Witnesses, and he was a Jehovah's Witness for like a long time. He was open about it, too But isn't interesting That you know these guys become Jehovah's Witnesses. You know there needs to be an institution They can maintain that deception for people who hate the truth, and that's why those institutions are allowed to exist That's why Mormonism is allowed to exist that's why Buddhism and Hinduism are allowed to exist because believe it or not there's people in this world who actually hate the truth and so they need a Continue to be deceived according to the Bible God allows that to you now obviously there's people in this world don't don't misunderstand what I'm saying there's people in this world who are Lost sincere people who are lost in those religions who can still be saved Buddhists who can still be saved Hindus they can still be saved You know Jehovah's Witnesses. They're very hard to win for sure You know there's well-meaning people that can still be saved from those religions We're talking about the people who just hate the truth, and that's why they're a part of that religion okay, and And so The reprobates are allowed to continue because they're simply a tool he's made the wicked even for the day of evil What's another reason let me give you let me just breeze through these last couple of reasons here Go with me if you would to go back to Psalm Actually go to Psalm 73 and then we're gonna go to Psalm 37 And one of the reasons the reprobates of this world are allowed to exist is because it gives us something to hope for Because When you read the Bible and you hear preaching you're just saying I just want justice pastor I Want justice I want God to carry out his execution his righteousness, but did you know you you might not live long enough to see it That's a hard truth. That's a hard pill even for me to swallow Because I want justice, too There's wrongs that have been done to us in our church, and you know I want justice people want justice But you know what I might die and just never see justice this side of eternity So you like what are you gonna? Do well? I just know that one day it will come upon them. I have faith I Have that hope set before me Knowing that one day it'll come so it increases my faith It allows me to just put it in the hands of God and say you know what? Maybe America can't be saved Because it's so corrupt there's so many wicked people here and They're not being punished and I might die in this state where I never see execute justice executed But I know one day it will come upon them And I have faith because God said that he would do it Now here's another reason reason number nine Why God why the wicked are allowed to prosper? It's because God is allowing them to treasure up wrath Which kind of goes with the other point of the fact that they're a tool? You know the Bible says that people treasure up wrath against the day of wrath because you wonder to yourself Why are serial killers just allowed to just live? People who molest children, maybe they're never caught You know just really wicked people who violate the innocent. What's up with that? How come God? Why does God allow evil in this world? You know a lot of people ask that right? Well people have to understand when you look at it from the biblical perspective There's certain people the longer they live if they're evil The more points that are racking up on the day of judgment So the more severe the punishment will be when it's instituted So it's just like he's not gonna take him out of the picture yet He's gonna allow them to be as wicked as they are because he has all of eternity To punish that person person for their violation of the innocent. So they're treasuring up wrath against the day of wrath Okay, and here's the last point here of why the wicked prosper Let me say this it's because their success is actually a facade. It's not even real So just remember that all those other points are true, but at the end of the day, it's fake They're not really succeeding and sometimes we as Christians can get caught up in this social media world Where we only determine if a person succeeds based upon their posts Right based upon their picture based upon that one lift Based upon that one place they went to it's just like wow, but you know, it's a facade. It's fake. It's not real So before you go and envy and fret at the wicked Because of their so-called success Just remember it's just a it's just perceived successful in your eyes But it's not really successful Before you go and envy the Hollywood elite You know When they're at the what did what do they call the Metagala or what the the gala or whatever that wicked thing where they all? Get together. Wow, they're so rich and famous and they're having so much fun Let me say this is that those people are miserable They're miserable Now they're not going to display their misery. Although some of them do They're not gonna tell you how miserable they are So look before you start complaining about your marriage and saying how come we're not like, you know The Hollywood they look so happy and they're traveling the world. Well, first of all They're not happy You know be thankful that your wife is not, you know dropping a turd on your bedsheets Like Johnny Depp I Mean that's something to be grateful for you should look at your wife and say thank you for never doing that Cuz there's people in this world that do that Why because it's a facade it's not a real happy marriage and Wives, you can thank your husband too, you know Folks there's people in this world that are struggling with stuff like that It's not like they can't even think about having a happy marriage they just get there they're struggling thinking about can I have clean sheets Can I have a sanitary bed Can we use the million-dollar toilet instead of the bed Can you use the bidet? Instead of the bed So You know it really puts things into perspective right it's all facade Johnny Depp is not a happy person That's why he's constantly drinking and doing recreational drugs and all these things because he's got a like Smoke the pain away in the smell away It's all a facade it's all it's fake Don't Look at their success and think oh man. What a great life. That's a horrible life Better is a dinner of herbs where love is I'm not gonna say it a stalled ox. I'm not gonna say I know what you're thinking Marcos and Hatred are with although that would apply a stall turd and hatred. They're with yes It's true Look at Psalm 73 Asaph here complaining a little bit says truly God is good to Israel Even to such as are of a clean heart But as for me My feet were almost gone my steps edible and I slipped for I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the Wicked there are no bands in their death, but their strength is firm We're not in trouble as other men neither are they plagued like other men therefore pride Compassionate them about as a chain violence covered them as a garment their eyes stand out with fatness They have more than the heart could wish they're corrupt. They speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily They set their mouth against the heavens and their tongue walketh through the earth Therefore his people return hither and waters of a full cup are rung out to them and they say how doth God know And is there knowledge in the Most High? Behold these are the ungodly who prosper in the world they increase in riches Barely, I have cleansed my heart in vain. I wash my hands in innocency for all the day long Have I been plagued and chasing every morning if I say I will speak thus behold I should offend against the generation of thy children When I thought to know this it was too painful for me listen to this verse 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God then understood I their end So he's complaining about all these things and he's just like but then I went to church And I heard about the turd and I'm like, you know, I got a pretty good at home And I heard about all the problems that these Hollywood elites have Yeah, I mean I have a bidet But at least my wife and my spouse used the actual restroom when needed I understood their end. I Understood that this is not something that should envy or fret about because in actuality it's all facade It's fake. They don't really know love They don't really know commitment. They don't really know the love of God folks Not only do we have the opportunity of having great marriages and godly children. We get to have God Get that the Bible we get to have communion with the creator of the universe We get to have the peace of God the passive understanding we get to have joy We get to have all these wonderful virtues that God allows us as his people to have I mean, there's so much that we get to be grateful for and So don't envy or fret about the wicked of this world Even if they seem to succeed Even if they beat us Even if they win against us They tap us dry they shame us before the world they embarrass us it's okay because we understand their end and So those are the ten reasons why the wicked prosper and it doesn't mean we can't prosper This is just kind of like a public service announcement To remind us all The wicked will prosper in this world Don't freak out when they do These are the reasons why let's pray father we thank you so much for your word Help us as your people Lord to keep a right biblical mindset and I know myself personally. I do fret and I struggle sometimes with the Prosperity of the wicked and why is it that good things happen to bad people and I pray that you'd help me Lord to renew My mind daily and to recognize the principles that we discussed this morning help us as your people To have faith in the Word of God to believe the Bible and And to recognize that at the end of the day it shall go well with them that fear God we love you We thank you pray the scenes in Jesus name. Amen Amen song number 212 as our last song Oh, happy day song number 212 There in your hymnals song number two hundred and twelve See it on that first verse. Oh Oh Happy day that makes my choice. I'll be my savior And my God well made this quo We are rejoice and tell us raptures all abroad My sin away And every joy See every day Happy day Happy day when Jesus was my sins away. Oh Happy, but that seals my vows to him who man Rits all my love Let cheerful and Thumbs fill his house well to the Sacred shrine I move Happy day when Jesus was my sins away To watch and pray and every joy Happy day Happy day when Jesus was my sins away His on the great Transactions done I am my Lord and he is mine He drew me and I followed on Charmed to come fast the voice divine Happy day Happy day when Jesus was my sins away He taught me how to watch and pray and every joy See every day Happy day Happy day when Jesus was my sins away Now rest my long Divided heart fix on this blissful center Or evermore my lord Happy day when Jesus was my sins away He taught me how to watch and pray and every joy See every day Happy day Happy day when Jesus was my sins away Amen wonderful singing you are dismissed You