1 00:00:30,099 --> 00:00:35,059 He's always been a good singer. All right, if you would open 2 00:00:35,059 --> 00:00:39,619 your Bibles to Matthew chapter six tonight. Matthew, chapter six. 3 00:00:42,499 --> 00:00:48,579 As I was really just now, within the last couple of minutes, 4 00:00:49,939 --> 00:00:56,709 thinking about how that I could easily offend someone with 5 00:00:56,709 --> 00:01:00,709 this, and I don't want to do that. And so I will readily say that 6 00:01:00,709 --> 00:01:03,469 what I am about to talk about just for a minute, really just in 7 00:01:03,469 --> 00:01:08,989 the introduction and the title and part of the body and the ending 8 00:01:08,989 --> 00:01:15,029 and the conclusion. Now, the subject that I chose could be a little 9 00:01:15,029 --> 00:01:17,029 offensive. I didn't mean for it to be. I didn't even think about 10 00:01:17,029 --> 00:01:22,679 it when I was writing it. But I do recognize that what I'm going 11 00:01:22,679 --> 00:01:29,959 to talk about there is a legitimate, for some people, legitimate 12 00:01:29,959 --> 00:01:33,559 psychological imbalance regarding this particular subject. 13 00:01:33,719 --> 00:01:38,319 But for the most part, it's not. For the most part it's not okay. 14 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,559 So I just want to clear that up, that I do recognize that. So 15 00:01:41,559 --> 00:01:44,719 In Matthew, chapter 6, verse 33, the Bible says, but seek ye first 16 00:01:44,719 --> 00:01:49,299 the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things 17 00:01:49,299 --> 00:01:53,019 shall be added unto you. Take, therefore, no thought for the morrow, 18 00:01:53,019 --> 00:01:55,779 for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. 19 00:01:56,419 --> 00:02:02,259 Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. How many have ever 20 00:02:02,259 --> 00:02:07,019 watched, and this is a long time ago, I don't know how long ago, 21 00:02:07,019 --> 00:02:12,299 it's been many, probably at least 10 years or more. When I saw 22 00:02:12,299 --> 00:02:19,269 the. The program called Hoarding Buried Alive. You watched 23 00:02:19,269 --> 00:02:25,909 that, You've seen that. Y' all have seen that. I never did watch 24 00:02:25,909 --> 00:02:30,629 that show on purpose. I always, whatever. If I was flipping 25 00:02:30,629 --> 00:02:34,949 through the channels and I saw it, I just couldn't believe what 26 00:02:34,949 --> 00:02:41,019 I was seeing. And I just stopped because I was just so overwhelmed 27 00:02:41,659 --> 00:02:49,379 that this could actually take place. And some of it was just. Well, 28 00:02:49,379 --> 00:02:52,019 you know, like I said, I believe that for some of those people 29 00:02:52,019 --> 00:02:56,699 there was a legitimate psychological issue, but not with 30 00:02:56,699 --> 00:03:01,739 everybody. And I don't mean to be cruel or judgmental. I really 31 00:03:01,739 --> 00:03:09,739 don't. When I was pastoring in, in Seattle, in Bellevue, we had 32 00:03:09,739 --> 00:03:15,739 an older couple, a senior couple in our church, and the Zimmermans, 33 00:03:15,739 --> 00:03:19,139 Ms. May May and Earl Zimmerman. I led Ms. May to the Lord. 34 00:03:19,139 --> 00:03:23,499 She was 83 years old, got saved, gloriously saved. If you can 35 00:03:23,499 --> 00:03:27,579 imagine an 83 year old woman getting gloriously saved, baptized 36 00:03:27,579 --> 00:03:33,349 too. 83 years old. It's wonderful. And so I asked, I said, 37 00:03:33,349 --> 00:03:36,749 well, can I come over and visit with you? And boy, she was 38 00:03:36,749 --> 00:03:42,349 really reluctant. She had married Earl and she sold her house 39 00:03:42,349 --> 00:03:45,909 and they moved into his house. And she just didn't want me to come 40 00:03:45,909 --> 00:03:47,989 over. She said, well, I'm really kind of embarrassed for you 41 00:03:47,989 --> 00:03:52,709 to come over, Pastor. I said, well, don't worry about it, May, 42 00:03:52,709 --> 00:03:59,659 it's all right. And she said, well, it's kind of a mess. And so 43 00:03:59,659 --> 00:04:02,579 I went in. She invited me over. We went in, my wife and I, 44 00:04:02,579 --> 00:04:07,779 and I honestly, I just, I couldn't believe it. I just could 45 00:04:07,779 --> 00:04:14,419 not believe it. Stuff everywhere. Everywhere. I could not 46 00:04:14,419 --> 00:04:18,299 see the couch when I, when I walked. I know there was one there 47 00:04:19,019 --> 00:04:22,259 because stuff was sitting on it and stuff was sitting in front 48 00:04:22,259 --> 00:04:26,309 of it and stuff was sitting beside it and stuff was piled up 49 00:04:27,989 --> 00:04:31,509 and there were two chairs sitting right in front of the television. 50 00:04:32,709 --> 00:04:35,429 And then so from the, from the, from the front door there was 51 00:04:35,429 --> 00:04:42,469 a, I mean, a pencil thin trail to those two chairs. And then from 52 00:04:42,469 --> 00:04:47,069 those two chairs to the kitchen, to the sink, there was a 53 00:04:47,069 --> 00:04:49,549 pencil thin trail. And then from there there was a pencil thin 54 00:04:49,549 --> 00:04:55,579 trail to the restroom, their bedroom. There was absolutely no 55 00:04:55,579 --> 00:05:00,019 room for not one more single person to live in that home unless 56 00:05:00,019 --> 00:05:02,059 they just moved a bunch of stuff. I mean, they would have had 57 00:05:02,059 --> 00:05:07,459 to clean it out, container full, just for one more person to 58 00:05:07,459 --> 00:05:12,859 get in there. Now the crazy thing was that I never would have 59 00:05:12,859 --> 00:05:15,859 guessed that by looking at them, because when they started coming 60 00:05:15,859 --> 00:05:20,349 to church, both of them were immaculate. He wore a nice suit every 61 00:05:20,349 --> 00:05:24,789 day, every Sunday she was in a nice dress, had a really nice looking 62 00:05:24,789 --> 00:05:35,389 car. And when I was over there to visit with him, I did ask him 63 00:05:35,389 --> 00:05:37,909 could I use the restroom. And I did go into the restroom and they 64 00:05:37,909 --> 00:05:42,869 had their clothes hanging up in there and it was all fresh from 65 00:05:42,869 --> 00:05:46,549 the cleaners. So that's why they looked immaculate when they 66 00:05:46,549 --> 00:05:54,349 went to church. But it occurred to me that the same recurring 67 00:05:54,349 --> 00:06:01,149 theme prevailed as I watched that show Hoarders, the same reoccurring 68 00:06:01,149 --> 00:06:06,549 theme. And outside of the fact that some of them there might be 69 00:06:06,549 --> 00:06:11,229 that psychological issue, the majority of the time it was just 70 00:06:12,049 --> 00:06:20,169 pure selfishness. It was all about me. That's my stuff. Don't 71 00:06:20,169 --> 00:06:24,729 you touch it. It's my stuff. I'm going to do with it what I want 72 00:06:24,729 --> 00:06:28,369 to do with it. How dare you invade my. It's my stuff. You leave 73 00:06:28,369 --> 00:06:36,369 it alone. It's mine. So when I watched Hoarders, I always said, 74 00:06:37,419 --> 00:06:41,459 I'll never get like that. I will never, I mean, I mean, I made, 75 00:06:41,459 --> 00:06:46,499 I made a decision. I am never going to get like that. And praise 76 00:06:46,499 --> 00:06:53,298 God, I never have. But I'm convinced that most Christians in 77 00:06:53,298 --> 00:06:59,219 America are hoarders of a different kind. And so I'd like to 78 00:06:59,219 --> 00:07:01,939 ask a few pointed questions this evening. It's not going to all 79 00:07:01,939 --> 00:07:05,819 be as somber as this, but I want to ask a few pointed questions 80 00:07:06,139 --> 00:07:12,699 this evening. How much room is dedicated in your life? If your life 81 00:07:12,699 --> 00:07:19,059 was a house, how much room is dedicated in your house for Jesus 82 00:07:19,059 --> 00:07:25,899 Christ and the things of God? Is it limited to one hour per week? 83 00:07:27,179 --> 00:07:29,899 That would be equivalent to the Zimmerman's allowing me to step 84 00:07:29,899 --> 00:07:32,779 inside the home and not allowing me to have access to any 85 00:07:32,779 --> 00:07:35,059 other portion of the house. Well, can I use the restroom, brother? 86 00:07:35,059 --> 00:07:40,029 Or no? No, you're just going to have to wait. Well, how about. 87 00:07:40,029 --> 00:07:43,749 Can I get it? Can I get. No, just. You're fine where you're at. 88 00:07:44,469 --> 00:07:55,829 I'll let you in. That's good enough. And so do other things and 89 00:07:55,829 --> 00:07:59,589 activities crowd your life to such a degree that there is no room 90 00:07:59,589 --> 00:08:08,039 for God? Here's a little test. What do you do on Monday that has 91 00:08:08,039 --> 00:08:17,439 any spiritual significance whatsoever? How do you connect with 92 00:08:17,439 --> 00:08:25,919 God on Tuesday? How much time do you spend in fellowship with God 93 00:08:26,239 --> 00:08:32,829 on Wednesday? Which part of your prayer list do you pray through 94 00:08:32,829 --> 00:08:41,549 on Thursday? When on Friday, besides at the dinner table, do you 95 00:08:41,549 --> 00:08:46,109 communicate with God? And then on Saturday, do you just take Saturday 96 00:08:46,109 --> 00:08:54,839 off? Because after all, it's a weekend. Now, do I exaggerate or 97 00:08:55,799 --> 00:09:04,199 do I paint a pretty grim but familiar picture? We're hoarders. 98 00:09:05,719 --> 00:09:13,719 We've got a whole lot of stuff that will not allow God to have access 99 00:09:15,639 --> 00:09:21,809 to our house, to our life. Now, preacher, do you realize you're 100 00:09:21,809 --> 00:09:27,809 talking to the Wednesday night crowd? I do. I realize I'm talking 101 00:09:27,809 --> 00:09:33,049 to the choir section right here. And this is the crowd that 102 00:09:33,049 --> 00:09:37,569 needs it the most. This is the crowd. Why do I say that? Why in 103 00:09:37,569 --> 00:09:39,769 the world do I think y' all are that rotten? Do I think y' all 104 00:09:39,769 --> 00:09:42,969 are that unspiritual? No, not at all. The reason I say you need 105 00:09:42,969 --> 00:09:45,649 it the most is because the word of God tells us in First Corinthians 106 00:09:45,649 --> 00:09:49,619 10:12, Let him who thinks he stands take heed to lest he fall. 107 00:09:51,619 --> 00:09:55,059 I mean, we're here on Wednesday night, and so it's almost 108 00:09:55,219 --> 00:09:57,499 normal for you to say, preacher, you ought to be preaching 109 00:09:57,499 --> 00:10:00,659 this to the Sunday morning cry. Why you think you got this right? 110 00:10:02,499 --> 00:10:05,899 I'm here on Wednesday. I don't fit that bill. Well, what'd you do 111 00:10:05,899 --> 00:10:11,659 Tuesday? You see, I understand that. I understand that if this, 112 00:10:11,659 --> 00:10:15,709 you know, if Hatchlet's going to be reached by Heritage Baptist 113 00:10:15,709 --> 00:10:19,269 Church, it's Typically going to be this crowd right here. If things 114 00:10:19,269 --> 00:10:21,869 are going to get done in this church, most of the, you know, most 115 00:10:21,869 --> 00:10:25,949 of the volunteers that from anything that gets done in the church 116 00:10:25,949 --> 00:10:30,309 typically comes from this crowd right here. I know to whom 117 00:10:30,309 --> 00:10:34,429 I'm speaking and the word. And we have to take this to heart. This 118 00:10:34,429 --> 00:10:37,029 is the word of God. The word of God says, let him who thinks he 119 00:10:37,029 --> 00:10:40,909 stands, take he lest he fall. Now, I know I didn't say it. Let 120 00:10:40,909 --> 00:10:47,279 him who thinketh he standeth, take heed lest he falleth. Amen. 121 00:10:49,199 --> 00:10:54,359 And so what I want to do then is I want to show you six ways on 122 00:10:54,359 --> 00:10:59,159 how to keep from becoming a spiritual hoarder. Six ways to help 123 00:10:59,159 --> 00:11:01,759 you to keep from becoming a spiritual hoarder. See, because I 124 00:11:01,759 --> 00:11:04,879 don't think we're there yet. I mean, I like to think we're not there 125 00:11:04,879 --> 00:11:08,479 yet. I'd like to think this is the crowd that I'm preaching to that 126 00:11:08,479 --> 00:11:14,299 allows God to have his way in their life on Monday morning, on 127 00:11:14,299 --> 00:11:18,419 Tuesday. I'd like to think that there was some spirituality 128 00:11:18,419 --> 00:11:21,299 took place in your life, some spiritual exercise took place in 129 00:11:21,299 --> 00:11:24,139 your life before you came to church on Wednesday. This is that 130 00:11:24,139 --> 00:11:28,139 crowd. I believe that. I believe that there are some in here, 131 00:11:28,299 --> 00:11:36,139 maybe all. I hope that actually do pray on Thursday and 132 00:11:36,139 --> 00:11:39,779 I understand and you'll say amen to this. It's easy, brother. 133 00:11:39,779 --> 00:11:43,939 And I say this with conviction because I've experienced it. Everybody 134 00:11:43,939 --> 00:11:48,219 in here can say amen to this. It is easy for life to crowd out 135 00:11:48,379 --> 00:11:55,019 Jesus. It's easy for life to crowd out church. It's easy for life 136 00:11:55,019 --> 00:11:59,499 and business and things and sleep and bed to crowd out our devotions. 137 00:12:00,539 --> 00:12:04,979 It's easy for life to crowd out our Bible reading, our prayer, 138 00:12:04,979 --> 00:12:11,479 our fellowship, even our spouses and our children. Life can 139 00:12:11,479 --> 00:12:16,359 crowd those things out. We can allow things to get so built up into 140 00:12:16,359 --> 00:12:19,639 our life to crowd out the things that are most important and 141 00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:24,759 then the important becomes urgent. So I want to give you six 142 00:12:24,759 --> 00:12:27,879 ways on how to keep from becoming a spiritual hoarder. This 143 00:12:27,879 --> 00:12:30,559 isn't rocket science. I'm not going to tell you anything you haven't 144 00:12:30,559 --> 00:12:33,279 heard before. I'm just going to reiterate it and hopefully it'll 145 00:12:33,279 --> 00:12:36,239 come from a fresh voice tonight and we'll be able to apply 146 00:12:36,239 --> 00:12:39,199 it, you know, maybe just apply it tonight. Alright, here we go. 147 00:12:39,199 --> 00:12:42,459 First of all, number one. Be consumed with the giver, not the 148 00:12:42,459 --> 00:12:46,699 gifts. Be consumed with the giver, not the gifts. Verse 19 through 149 00:12:46,699 --> 00:12:50,259 23. I'm still in Matthew 6. You just got to back up a few verses 150 00:12:50,259 --> 00:12:53,859 in verse 19 through 23. The key word here in these verses is 151 00:12:53,859 --> 00:12:57,419 treasure. The key word is treasure. He says, lay not for yourselves 152 00:12:57,419 --> 00:13:01,539 treasures upon the earth where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where 153 00:13:01,539 --> 00:13:04,219 thieves break through and steal. But lay up for yourselves 154 00:13:04,219 --> 00:13:08,019 treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt. 155 00:13:08,099 --> 00:13:11,479 Where. And where thieves do not break through nor steal. For 156 00:13:11,479 --> 00:13:15,799 where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Now again, 157 00:13:15,799 --> 00:13:19,079 the Lord is not condemning, and I'm not condemning wealth. The 158 00:13:19,079 --> 00:13:24,279 Lord's not condemning wealth in this passage, nor the wise stewardship 159 00:13:24,279 --> 00:13:30,759 of saving against tomorrow. He commends that. He commends the wise 160 00:13:30,759 --> 00:13:34,439 stewards and in Proverbs he instructs us to be like the ants 161 00:13:34,439 --> 00:13:38,839 and store up in the summertime against the harsh winter times of 162 00:13:38,839 --> 00:13:42,599 life. He tells us to do that. It's a smart person who will do that. 163 00:13:43,959 --> 00:13:47,559 Job was one of the richest men in the Bible. Abraham was said to 164 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,679 be very wealthy. Jacob was a wealthy man when he came back from 165 00:13:50,679 --> 00:13:58,359 Haran. And God has given us richly all things to enjoy. So I'm 166 00:13:58,359 --> 00:14:02,119 not saying that you shouldn't have things, and God's not saying 167 00:14:02,119 --> 00:14:07,009 that. First Timothy 6:17 says, Charge them that are rich in this 168 00:14:07,009 --> 00:14:10,329 world. Uh oh, watch out rich people. He's fixing to condemn you. 169 00:14:10,329 --> 00:14:13,609 No, no. He says, charge them that are rich, that they be not high 170 00:14:13,609 --> 00:14:21,209 minded nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God who 171 00:14:21,209 --> 00:14:24,729 giveth us richly all things to enjoy. It's all right to have things 172 00:14:24,729 --> 00:14:27,729 as long as we don't put those things in front of God, as long as 173 00:14:27,729 --> 00:14:30,729 we don't allow those things to keep us out of church, to keep us 174 00:14:30,729 --> 00:14:33,129 from our Bible, to keep us from our devotions, to keep us from 175 00:14:33,129 --> 00:14:35,879 prayer with our families, to keep us from spending time with our 176 00:14:35,879 --> 00:14:38,919 families. Those things that God gave us to be priorities in our 177 00:14:38,919 --> 00:14:45,199 life. Are you a spiritual hoarder? Do you have so much going 178 00:14:45,199 --> 00:14:48,359 on in your life? You've already made plans to not be here 179 00:14:48,359 --> 00:14:55,759 on Sunday? We've come up with this saying that just kind of smooths 180 00:14:55,759 --> 00:14:57,799 it all over. It gives a preacher an out. You know what that 181 00:14:57,799 --> 00:15:09,169 saying is? Just saying, just saying. What is condemned is the 182 00:15:09,169 --> 00:15:14,889 love of money and the desire to be wealthy. The desire to be wealthy. 183 00:15:16,329 --> 00:15:23,569 It's okay to desire to have a store for later, but to think on 184 00:15:23,569 --> 00:15:28,689 and to constantly look for ways to get more and more and more 185 00:15:28,689 --> 00:15:32,589 because you know how it is when you have more. How much is enough? 186 00:15:32,589 --> 00:15:39,469 Just a little more. When's your house big enough? Just a little 187 00:15:39,469 --> 00:15:44,749 bigger. How nice of a car do you need? Just a little nicer. It's 188 00:15:44,749 --> 00:15:50,749 never enough, is it? We have to let God be enough. The key word 189 00:15:50,749 --> 00:15:55,389 in this passage is treasure. Verse 22 and 23 says this. The thing 190 00:15:55,389 --> 00:15:58,469 that you set your heart on is what will consume you. Look what 191 00:15:58,469 --> 00:16:01,959 he says in verse 22. The light of the body is the eye. If therefore, 192 00:16:01,959 --> 00:16:05,079 thine eye be single, the whole body shall be full of light. But 193 00:16:05,079 --> 00:16:08,479 if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. 194 00:16:08,639 --> 00:16:11,919 If, therefore, the light that is in thee be darkness, how great 195 00:16:11,999 --> 00:16:15,639 is that darkness? The thing you set your heart on is what's going 196 00:16:15,639 --> 00:16:19,519 to consume you. And the word of God tells us where your treasure 197 00:16:19,519 --> 00:16:24,959 is, there will your heart be. Amen. The thing we set our heart 198 00:16:24,959 --> 00:16:27,839 on, the thing we set our eye on, the thing we set our heart on, 199 00:16:27,919 --> 00:16:32,779 that's the thing that's going to consume us. Number one, be consumed 200 00:16:32,779 --> 00:16:37,899 with the giver, not the gifts. Number two, recognize one master 201 00:16:38,139 --> 00:16:46,019 in your life. Folks, it's an epidemic. Christian hoarding is an 202 00:16:46,019 --> 00:16:51,219 epidemic. We don't give God near the time that we used to give 203 00:16:51,219 --> 00:16:56,299 in America. Christianity has changed. I mean, the overall. The 204 00:16:56,299 --> 00:17:00,579 overall character of Christianity has changed in America. 205 00:17:02,019 --> 00:17:05,979 And I believe that one of the reasons is that because we're trying 206 00:17:05,979 --> 00:17:11,099 to split our allegiance between God, we try to compartmentalize 207 00:17:11,099 --> 00:17:14,779 our life. And when we try to. As a Christian, you cannot compartmentalize 208 00:17:14,779 --> 00:17:20,539 your life. You can't. All right, so you have a great job. That's 209 00:17:20,539 --> 00:17:25,809 wonderful. But have a. Be a Christian who has a great job. You 210 00:17:25,809 --> 00:17:28,409 can't compartmentalize it. You can't switch it. You can't say, oh, 211 00:17:28,409 --> 00:17:32,129 I had. This is my. This. My job has my allegiance, and if I have 212 00:17:32,129 --> 00:17:37,609 some little extra time, then I'll give it to God. No, God is number 213 00:17:37,609 --> 00:17:41,049 one. Recognize one master in your life. He tells us in verse 24, 214 00:17:41,049 --> 00:17:45,009 same chapter. No man can do what serve two masters. No man can 215 00:17:45,009 --> 00:17:47,169 serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the 216 00:17:47,169 --> 00:17:49,969 other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. You 217 00:17:49,969 --> 00:17:54,539 cannot serve God in Mammon. Now, we read that and we think to 218 00:17:54,539 --> 00:17:57,579 ourselves, there's no way I'd despise God. There's no way I would 219 00:17:57,579 --> 00:18:02,019 despise God. Until your wife says, honey, why aren't you coming 220 00:18:02,019 --> 00:18:07,738 to? We need to go to church, but you've got other plans. And now 221 00:18:07,738 --> 00:18:10,859 you're getting mad because she's almost demanding you come to 222 00:18:10,859 --> 00:18:13,419 church and now you're getting mad. You know what you're doing? 223 00:18:13,419 --> 00:18:23,189 You're despising one of the masters. And God says, you can't 224 00:18:23,189 --> 00:18:25,589 do. You can't serve, too. Don't think you're going to serve 225 00:18:25,589 --> 00:18:30,229 your job or your hobbies and serve God, too. You can't split your 226 00:18:30,229 --> 00:18:39,229 allegiance. You're going to love one and hate the other. One 227 00:18:39,229 --> 00:18:42,989 cannot divide his allegiance between God and things. Home Depot 228 00:18:43,149 --> 00:18:51,549 did not die for your sins. Right? Okay, ladies. TJ Maxx did 229 00:18:51,549 --> 00:18:56,829 not hang on a cross for you. JC Penney didn't shed his blood for 230 00:18:56,829 --> 00:19:02,869 you. And let me ask you this. Young men, and maybe young ladies. 231 00:19:02,869 --> 00:19:05,829 And it's not always young men. It could be some older guys, too. 232 00:19:06,149 --> 00:19:10,869 Which one deserves more time from you, your hobbies and your games? 233 00:19:12,069 --> 00:19:20,269 Jesus Christ. Gaming is an epidemic. You know the word of God 234 00:19:20,269 --> 00:19:25,589 still. It still reads in there. When I became a man, I put 235 00:19:25,589 --> 00:19:33,509 away childish things. And if your night is eaten up playing games 236 00:19:35,029 --> 00:19:40,379 when you ought to be in bed with your wife, you've yet to put 237 00:19:40,379 --> 00:19:45,059 away childish things. Hoarder. You're a hoarder because you're allowing 238 00:19:45,059 --> 00:19:49,939 that to crowd out the most important things. Hoarder. Number 239 00:19:49,939 --> 00:19:52,979 two, recognize one master in your life. Number one, be consumed 240 00:19:52,979 --> 00:19:56,419 with the giver, not the gifts. Number two, recognize one master 241 00:19:56,419 --> 00:19:58,899 in your life. And number three. Don't sweat the small stuff. 242 00:19:59,539 --> 00:20:02,659 Don't sweat the small stuff. Look at verse 25 through 31. Beginning 243 00:20:02,659 --> 00:20:05,099 in verse 25, it says, Therefore I say unto you, take no 244 00:20:05,099 --> 00:20:08,299 thought for your life what you shall eat or what you shall drink, 245 00:20:08,299 --> 00:20:12,019 nor yet for your body what you shall put on is not the life more 246 00:20:12,019 --> 00:20:16,659 than meat and the body than raiment. One of the reasons a person 247 00:20:16,659 --> 00:20:20,019 becomes enslaved to things has become a word. Before I even go there, 248 00:20:20,019 --> 00:20:22,458 let me. I just thought about this, and I probably shouldn't say 249 00:20:22,458 --> 00:20:24,579 it, but I've already meddled anyway. I'm just going to go ahead 250 00:20:24,579 --> 00:20:27,739 and meddle a little bit more. How many pair of shoes do you need? 251 00:20:29,819 --> 00:20:35,099 How many purses do you need? Yeah, I know. I'm meddling now. Okay. 252 00:20:35,099 --> 00:20:42,899 How many pairs of boots do you need? Here's what I'm saying. If 253 00:20:42,899 --> 00:20:51,299 you can afford it. Amen. God bless you. But, yeah, I was just 254 00:20:51,299 --> 00:20:53,979 meddling. That really doesn't have anything to do with this. But 255 00:20:55,019 --> 00:20:57,059 seriously, though, you know what, though? There are some people 256 00:20:57,059 --> 00:21:01,549 that are addicted to shoes. Hello? Some people are addicted to 257 00:21:01,549 --> 00:21:05,069 body art, just like some people are addicted to piercings. 258 00:21:05,869 --> 00:21:11,789 Mm. Yeah, it is it's an epidemic. It really is. So one of 259 00:21:11,789 --> 00:21:14,589 the reasons that a person becomes so enslaved to things is 260 00:21:14,589 --> 00:21:19,349 because of worry and insecurities, anxiety and fearfully 261 00:21:19,349 --> 00:21:23,589 fretting over the basic necessities of life until their life 262 00:21:23,589 --> 00:21:27,689 becomes so consumed with the things that there's no room or time 263 00:21:27,689 --> 00:21:37,009 for God constantly worried. Verse 26 through 31. Behold the fowls 264 00:21:37,009 --> 00:21:39,969 of the air. For they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather 265 00:21:39,969 --> 00:21:43,249 into barns. Yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much 266 00:21:43,249 --> 00:21:46,489 better than they? Which of you, by taking thought, can add one 267 00:21:46,489 --> 00:21:49,569 cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? 268 00:21:49,889 --> 00:21:52,849 Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They toil not, 269 00:21:52,849 --> 00:21:55,849 neither do they spin. And yet I say unto you that even Solomon 270 00:21:55,849 --> 00:21:59,679 in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Wherefore, 271 00:21:59,679 --> 00:22:02,679 if God so clothed the grass of the field, which today is and tomorrow 272 00:22:02,679 --> 00:22:06,239 is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye 273 00:22:06,239 --> 00:22:09,719 of little faith? Therefore take no thought saying, what shall 274 00:22:09,719 --> 00:22:12,919 we eat? Or what shall we drink? Or wherewithal shall we be 275 00:22:12,919 --> 00:22:18,519 clothed? We read verse 26:30. We read that the birds and the flowers 276 00:22:18,519 --> 00:22:23,159 are taken care of by God. Are you not more value to God than a 277 00:22:23,159 --> 00:22:28,179 soulless bird? You're made in the image of God. Think about this. 278 00:22:28,179 --> 00:22:31,739 Those of you who you know, you know you have more shoes than you 279 00:22:31,739 --> 00:22:35,739 can possibly wear. Those of you who know you have more purses 280 00:22:35,739 --> 00:22:40,419 than you need. Think about this the next time you get the urge 281 00:22:40,979 --> 00:22:43,779 to spend a hundred bucks on a pair of shoes when you know you've 282 00:22:43,779 --> 00:22:51,219 already got a dozen pair or more. Think about medical missions. 283 00:22:53,449 --> 00:22:56,489 Think about a missionary that you could send that money to. Seriously. 284 00:22:56,569 --> 00:23:01,209 Laying up treasures in heaven. Lay not up treasures upon the earth, 285 00:23:02,009 --> 00:23:05,489 where moth and rust doth corrupt thieves break through and 286 00:23:05,489 --> 00:23:09,849 steal. How many of you ever had your home broken into and you 287 00:23:09,849 --> 00:23:13,969 were burglarized? You had stuff stolen. Man, that's a horrible 288 00:23:13,969 --> 00:23:17,289 feeling. You think to yourself, man, I worked so hard, 289 00:23:18,889 --> 00:23:23,529 spent my money for that, and somebody stole it from me. Yeah, 290 00:23:23,529 --> 00:23:26,809 that's exactly what happens. That's what God's saying. That's 291 00:23:26,809 --> 00:23:29,369 what he's saying. Your treasure is not here on the earth. 292 00:23:29,849 --> 00:23:33,009 Put some treasure up in heaven. You know what would be awesome? 293 00:23:33,009 --> 00:23:35,569 I know everybody in here. I know everybody in here could, if 294 00:23:35,569 --> 00:23:38,889 you wanted to, probably. Probably. You could probably take 295 00:23:38,889 --> 00:23:43,049 on one missionary for support on your own, by yourself. I mean, 296 00:23:43,049 --> 00:23:47,659 50, 100 bucks a month. Yeah, you could. And there are some people 297 00:23:47,659 --> 00:23:51,139 in here that actually do that, who are not on the wall. It's a missionary 298 00:23:51,139 --> 00:23:54,059 that they like somebody that they know. They know a missionary 299 00:23:54,059 --> 00:23:56,499 that I do it. I have a missionary that's not on our wall. 300 00:23:56,499 --> 00:24:02,539 He's a friend of mine. He's in another part of the world, and our 301 00:24:02,539 --> 00:24:05,179 church doesn't support him. But I want to support him. And you 302 00:24:05,179 --> 00:24:08,259 can do that, too. You can. And I don't even miss it every month. 303 00:24:08,259 --> 00:24:11,959 I don't even miss it. Don't even miss it. You know what? I still 304 00:24:11,959 --> 00:24:15,759 had a coffee today. My wife bought me a coffee. Isn't that awesome? 305 00:24:15,999 --> 00:24:21,559 And still support a missionary? Of course. I vacuumed 306 00:24:21,559 --> 00:24:28,439 the house the other day and I had to move my wife's shoes. And 307 00:24:28,439 --> 00:24:32,119 I put them on the. You can tell her I said this. And I put them 308 00:24:32,119 --> 00:24:35,719 on the steps to get them out of the way. And I counted them on 309 00:24:35,719 --> 00:24:39,949 purpose. And this was only what was in the living room. I'm 310 00:24:39,949 --> 00:24:44,349 gonna go ahead and say it. I'm gonna do it. I am gonna do it. She 311 00:24:44,349 --> 00:24:48,869 had 11 pair of shoes in the living room alone. That didn't count 312 00:24:48,869 --> 00:24:53,149 what was upstairs in her closet. Come on, now. And all the 313 00:24:53,149 --> 00:24:59,749 men said, you chickens scared to death. It is what it is. You know? 314 00:24:59,829 --> 00:25:07,919 It is what it is. All right, let me give you number four before 315 00:25:07,919 --> 00:25:12,319 I dig my grave any deeper. So, number one, be consumed with the 316 00:25:12,319 --> 00:25:16,119 giver, not the gifts. We're talking about how not to become a 317 00:25:16,119 --> 00:25:19,879 spiritual hoarder. How not to allow your life to get so filled 318 00:25:19,879 --> 00:25:24,359 with junk and things that God doesn't have room. There's no room 319 00:25:24,359 --> 00:25:27,199 for the Lord. So, number one, be consumed with the giver, not the 320 00:25:27,199 --> 00:25:30,879 gifts. Number two, recognize only one master in your life. In 321 00:25:30,879 --> 00:25:32,929 fact, before we buy anything, we ought to ask him. Is that it? 322 00:25:32,929 --> 00:25:40,049 Okay. Can you be glorified in this, Lord, Whatsoever you do, do 323 00:25:40,049 --> 00:25:42,209 all to the glory of God. Whether therefore, you eat or drink, 324 00:25:42,209 --> 00:25:45,089 or whatsoever you do, do all to the glory of God. Number three. 325 00:25:45,089 --> 00:25:48,289 Don't sweat the small stuff. And then number four. This is a big 326 00:25:48,289 --> 00:25:52,089 one. Consider your testimony. Consider your testimony. Verse 32. 327 00:25:52,169 --> 00:25:56,609 For after all these things do the Gentiles seek. After all these 328 00:25:56,609 --> 00:25:59,609 things do the Gentiles seek. This is how the lost people think 329 00:25:59,609 --> 00:26:04,999 and act. In fact, I printed this out because while you're already 330 00:26:05,079 --> 00:26:07,919 familiar with it, I thought I would just go ahead and solidify 331 00:26:07,919 --> 00:26:12,559 what you already know. We live in. And I'm not making fun of people. 332 00:26:12,559 --> 00:26:21,799 We live in what is known as nationwide, the me generation. The 333 00:26:21,799 --> 00:26:26,599 me generation and there are young people and the me generation, 334 00:26:27,159 --> 00:26:32,399 it spans a specific age group and there are even some of the godly 335 00:26:32,479 --> 00:26:36,679 young people who are in that age group who will say, yes, this 336 00:26:36,679 --> 00:26:40,879 generation is that. And it breaks their heart and they don't 337 00:26:40,879 --> 00:26:43,639 want to be characterized like that. But this is the, this is the 338 00:26:43,639 --> 00:26:48,559 fact. It is characterized by focus on individualism, self interest, 339 00:26:49,039 --> 00:26:53,279 personal fulfillment, often seen as self centered and materialistic. 340 00:26:53,599 --> 00:26:57,119 Now let me just some common characteristics of the me generation. 341 00:26:57,119 --> 00:27:00,669 I just, I printed this out. And individualism, a strong focus 342 00:27:00,669 --> 00:27:05,909 on personal needs and desires over the collective good. Self interest, 343 00:27:06,309 --> 00:27:09,509 prioritizing personal interests above other considerations. 344 00:27:10,389 --> 00:27:14,869 Materialism, a focus on consumer culture and acquiring goods, 345 00:27:15,509 --> 00:27:20,589 Narcissism and entitlement, increased self esteem and a belief 346 00:27:20,589 --> 00:27:23,829 that one deserves certain benefits or privileges. Entitlement, 347 00:27:24,469 --> 00:27:28,619 rejection of traditional A tendency to move away from traditional 348 00:27:28,619 --> 00:27:32,299 values and behaviors in favor of what works best for the individual. 349 00:27:32,539 --> 00:27:36,499 And then focus on self expression. A strong emphasis on 350 00:27:36,499 --> 00:27:40,899 personal identity and self expression and brother, listen, I 351 00:27:40,899 --> 00:27:45,259 can give you five, six, ten verses that speak against each and 352 00:27:45,259 --> 00:27:49,459 every one of those. That is not how we are supposed to be. We 353 00:27:49,459 --> 00:27:53,509 are not supposed to be characterized as focused on me, not 354 00:27:53,739 --> 00:27:58,859 me, me, me, me, as opposed to the collective good or anybody else. 355 00:27:58,859 --> 00:28:02,899 I am not entitled to anything. I'm supposed to be content with such 356 00:28:02,899 --> 00:28:10,019 things as I have. And so consider your testimony. When we're 357 00:28:10,019 --> 00:28:12,899 out there spinning like the world. Listen, if it walks like a 358 00:28:12,899 --> 00:28:20,509 duck, quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck. And if we look like 359 00:28:20,509 --> 00:28:22,629 the world and act like the world, and dress like the world, 360 00:28:22,629 --> 00:28:25,149 and talk like the world, and spin like the world and dress like 361 00:28:25,149 --> 00:28:28,629 the world, people are going to look at us and say, where's Jesus? 362 00:28:31,749 --> 00:28:34,629 Consider your testimony. Number five. Make a decision and 363 00:28:34,629 --> 00:28:38,469 then let your decision make your decisions. Did you hear that? 364 00:28:38,709 --> 00:28:41,829 Make a decision and then let your decisions make your decisions. 365 00:28:41,829 --> 00:28:47,369 Verse 33 but seek ye first the kingdom of God, all his righteousness 366 00:28:47,369 --> 00:28:50,409 and all these other things shall be added unto you. Seek ye 367 00:28:50,409 --> 00:28:54,889 first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. Don't be unstable 368 00:28:54,889 --> 00:28:59,889 as water. Don't be double minded. Proverbs 24:10 says, if thou 369 00:28:59,889 --> 00:29:03,129 faint in the day of battle, thy strength is small. I mean, just 370 00:29:03,209 --> 00:29:06,329 determine that you're going to live for Jesus Christ no matter what. 371 00:29:06,409 --> 00:29:12,449 And if hard times come because of that, then just stand. Just let 372 00:29:12,449 --> 00:29:15,989 the hard times come. Jesus will hold you up. He'll see you through 373 00:29:15,989 --> 00:29:19,309 it. Make a decision and let your decisions make your decisions. 374 00:29:19,309 --> 00:29:23,309 In other words, look, when you got saved, surely there are some 375 00:29:23,309 --> 00:29:25,909 of you in here. I know that when I got saved I made this decision. 376 00:29:25,909 --> 00:29:29,229 I'm going to church, man. I'm going to serve Jesus Christ. He died 377 00:29:29,229 --> 00:29:34,069 for my sins. I'm saved, man. I'm going to miss hell and make heaven. 378 00:29:34,389 --> 00:29:38,149 I'm going to church. I want to be where God's word is preached and 379 00:29:38,149 --> 00:29:42,599 I want to learn the word of God. I'm going to go to church and 380 00:29:42,599 --> 00:29:45,599 there hasn't been one family reunion that has kept me from it 381 00:29:47,999 --> 00:29:51,479 in all the years that I've been working as a bi vocational pastor 382 00:29:51,479 --> 00:29:54,319 and just as a Christian in general. I can count on one hand 383 00:29:54,319 --> 00:29:57,399 and I'm not trying to pat me on the back, I'm just saying I made 384 00:29:57,399 --> 00:30:01,239 a decision a long time ago and that decision made my decisions. 385 00:30:01,239 --> 00:30:03,679 I can count on one hand how many times I've missed a Sunday morning 386 00:30:03,839 --> 00:30:09,249 service in 40 plus years. Why? Because I made that decision a long 387 00:30:09,249 --> 00:30:16,169 time ago and that decision made all the other decisions. Sounds 388 00:30:16,169 --> 00:30:20,689 so bad. But may I give you one more personal illustration? When 389 00:30:20,689 --> 00:30:25,449 I came to Fort Worth to go to Bible college, my goal was God called 390 00:30:25,449 --> 00:30:28,249 me to preach. I didn't want anything to get in the way of that. 391 00:30:28,249 --> 00:30:34,229 Nothing. I was single minded, boy, I was tunnel vision. I have 392 00:30:34,229 --> 00:30:37,389 to work, but I'm going to go to Bible college. Went to Bible college. 393 00:30:37,389 --> 00:30:40,629 My first class is at seven in the morning. I went to college till 394 00:30:40,629 --> 00:30:45,109 noon and then I had to work. And it was amazing. I'm telling you, 395 00:30:45,109 --> 00:30:48,188 it's amazing. How many jobs was offered to me in those four years 396 00:30:48,188 --> 00:30:51,469 that would have kept me from getting to that 7 o' clock class 397 00:30:52,029 --> 00:30:56,669 or having to cut out. Instead of four years, I could have dragged 398 00:30:56,669 --> 00:30:59,939 it out into five years or even six years. But boy, I'd have made 399 00:30:59,939 --> 00:31:02,699 good money. You want to know which one offered me the greatest 400 00:31:02,699 --> 00:31:09,259 money, the greatest amount of money? It was Winn Dixie distribution 401 00:31:09,659 --> 00:31:14,699 warehouse, working in the freezer at night. They offered a 402 00:31:14,699 --> 00:31:18,499 lot of money. I was a young, I was single at this time. I was a 403 00:31:18,499 --> 00:31:24,699 single Bible college student. Broke, I mean paycheck to paycheck, 404 00:31:24,699 --> 00:31:29,359 barely paying the rent, tithing, giving admissions, but broke 405 00:31:29,359 --> 00:31:33,319 after that. If pastor's wife hadn't fed me every day after work, 406 00:31:33,319 --> 00:31:37,879 I don't know, some days I'm sure I would not have eaten. But 407 00:31:38,759 --> 00:31:41,959 God just put it in my heart. He said, no, that's not why you're 408 00:31:41,959 --> 00:31:44,639 here. You're here to go to Bible college. You're here to. I 409 00:31:44,639 --> 00:31:47,879 called you to preach. You're here to become a preacher and eventually 410 00:31:47,879 --> 00:31:51,119 a pastor. I called you to that. And I can say, by the grace 411 00:31:51,119 --> 00:31:54,609 of God, that was more overpowered. I made that decision 412 00:31:54,769 --> 00:31:58,529 a long time ago, and that decision made all my other decisions. 413 00:32:00,369 --> 00:32:03,689 Put God first. Let him be your treasure. And your wants will change, 414 00:32:03,689 --> 00:32:08,369 and your needs will be met. Your wants will change. Proverbs 415 00:32:08,369 --> 00:32:11,649 37:4 says, Delight thyself also in the Lord, and he shall give 416 00:32:11,649 --> 00:32:13,889 thee the desires of thine heart. Now, you know what that means. 417 00:32:14,209 --> 00:32:16,129 You know what that means. I don't have to preach it at you, but 418 00:32:16,129 --> 00:32:18,649 I'm going to say it anyway. We delight ourselves in the Lord, and 419 00:32:18,649 --> 00:32:22,139 he'll give us the desires. He'll put the right desires in our 420 00:32:22,139 --> 00:32:24,939 heart, and then that's the things we'll desire, and he'll give 421 00:32:24,939 --> 00:32:37,899 us those. I had a Dodge Ares car. Now, how many of you believe 422 00:32:39,099 --> 00:32:44,539 that my desire was to have something other than a Dodge Ares 423 00:32:45,259 --> 00:32:52,789 car? God did not give me that desire of my heart. In fact, well, 424 00:32:52,789 --> 00:32:54,509 you know how it is. I'm driving down the road, and all of 425 00:32:54,509 --> 00:32:59,709 a sudden the wipers come on. Just for no reason. All kinds of 426 00:32:59,709 --> 00:33:02,268 things like that. I walked up to the car one day, and before I 427 00:33:02,268 --> 00:33:06,029 got to it, the door handle fell off. A Dodge Aries. That's a 428 00:33:06,029 --> 00:33:10,149 Dodge. You talk about a lemon. That was the worst car I've ever 429 00:33:10,149 --> 00:33:15,719 had in my life. I think I actually ended up trading it in when 430 00:33:15,719 --> 00:33:18,759 I actually could afford to get another car. And they said, we'll 431 00:33:18,759 --> 00:33:21,719 give you 200 on a trade, and something like that, and it was ridiculously 432 00:33:21,719 --> 00:33:25,119 low. I said, okay. I didn't even argue. I just. Man, you give 433 00:33:25,119 --> 00:33:28,079 me $10 for it, I'd have been happy. I'd have paid you to take 434 00:33:28,079 --> 00:33:34,399 it. It was a horrible car. Delight thyself in the Lord, and 435 00:33:34,399 --> 00:33:37,479 he will give thee the desires of thine heart. Philippians 2:13 436 00:33:37,479 --> 00:33:41,569 says, it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do. Of 437 00:33:41,569 --> 00:33:45,489 his good pleasure. God will give you the desire to do his will. 438 00:33:45,729 --> 00:33:48,649 And the thing is, he'll put that in our hearts, and then we'll 439 00:33:48,649 --> 00:33:52,329 start calculating. I'm not sure I can do that. I'm not sure 440 00:33:52,329 --> 00:33:55,689 I can even afford to do that. Boy, I don't really think I got time 441 00:33:55,689 --> 00:33:58,649 to do that. I know he's. I know he'd like for me to. I know 442 00:33:58,649 --> 00:34:01,609 he'd like. I know that I probably should give some time to 443 00:34:01,609 --> 00:34:04,849 vbs, but I really got. I don't Know about? I don't know. Look, if 444 00:34:04,849 --> 00:34:07,719 God put the desire in your heart, He. He'll give you the ability. 445 00:34:08,519 --> 00:34:11,959 He'll give you the ability and the resources to make it happen. 446 00:34:12,679 --> 00:34:15,599 And then let me give you my final thought. Number six. Live for 447 00:34:15,599 --> 00:34:19,959 Jesus today. Forget about yesterday and stop worrying about 448 00:34:19,959 --> 00:34:22,918 tomorrow. Look what he said in verse 34. Take, therefore, no thought 449 00:34:22,918 --> 00:34:25,599 for the morrow. For the morrow shall take thought for the things 450 00:34:25,599 --> 00:34:31,159 of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Live today 451 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:36,629 for Christ. Let tomorrow take care of itself. There are two great 452 00:34:36,629 --> 00:34:43,109 eternities, yesterday and tomorrow. Those two days are eternal. 453 00:34:43,109 --> 00:34:45,869 You can't do anything about yesterday, and you may not have tomorrow 454 00:34:47,149 --> 00:34:55,629 eternal. If your life is so cluttered that Jesus cannot interrupt 455 00:34:55,629 --> 00:34:59,509 your day to get you to do something for him. You are a spiritual 456 00:34:59,509 --> 00:35:06,579 hoarder. Let him come in with a container or two or three and declutter 457 00:35:06,579 --> 00:35:15,299 your life so that you can enjoy being a Christian. The Christian 458 00:35:15,299 --> 00:35:20,619 life can be enjoyable. It can be fun. Let me ask you this. How 459 00:35:20,619 --> 00:35:23,379 many of you prefer a clean house over a dirty, cluttered house? 460 00:35:27,149 --> 00:35:31,829 Man, y' all are okay. Thank you. A couple of us. How many of 461 00:35:31,829 --> 00:35:34,229 you? Let me see this one. By a raise hand. How many of you actually 462 00:35:34,229 --> 00:35:37,429 clean your house before you go out of town so that you can come 463 00:35:37,429 --> 00:35:49,949 back to a clean house? Amen. Think about the house of a hoarder. 464 00:35:50,109 --> 00:35:54,229 You've seen that program. You think about the house of a hoarder. 465 00:35:55,109 --> 00:35:59,509 It's disgusting. When I watched those programs, I did one 466 00:35:59,509 --> 00:36:01,749 of two things. I either felt sorry for them because they were 467 00:36:01,749 --> 00:36:09,069 truly mentally handicapped or something. I felt sorry for them, 468 00:36:09,069 --> 00:36:14,709 I really did, or I was angry at them for being so stinking selfish. 469 00:36:15,589 --> 00:36:21,509 It was one of the two. Those are the emotions that I had. So if 470 00:36:21,509 --> 00:36:25,709 we do wake up tomorrow, and there's no guarantee that we will, 471 00:36:27,229 --> 00:36:31,789 but if we do wake up tomorrow, I wonder if you'd be willing with 472 00:36:31,789 --> 00:36:40,989 me to pray, Lord, I blew it yesterday. And I might not even have 473 00:36:41,069 --> 00:36:49,119 tomorrow, but I have today. And you deserve to have all of me 474 00:36:49,119 --> 00:36:58,559 today. And, Lord, I can and I will live for you today. We can't 475 00:36:58,559 --> 00:37:01,799 pray that prayer. We may not be able to pray. Lord, I'm going 476 00:37:01,799 --> 00:37:04,799 to live from you from now on till Jesus comes. You do that, you're 477 00:37:04,799 --> 00:37:09,799 going to break that promise. But if you'll wake up in the morning 478 00:37:09,799 --> 00:37:13,239 and with me say, lord, I blew it yesterday. Good night. I don't 479 00:37:13,239 --> 00:37:16,969 even count how many times I blew it. But I got a fresh start 480 00:37:16,969 --> 00:37:21,649 today. Might not be here tomorrow, but I got today. And Lord, 481 00:37:21,649 --> 00:37:26,169 I can serve you today. You deserve all of me, not just a part 482 00:37:26,169 --> 00:37:31,609 of my house, not just a small compartment. Lord, you deserve it 483 00:37:31,609 --> 00:37:37,969 all. And so, Lord, help me to follow your will, your spirit, by 484 00:37:37,969 --> 00:37:44,399 faith today. Amen. Let's stand together. How not to become a spiritual 485 00:37:44,399 --> 00:37:47,119 hoarder. I know I'm preaching to the Wednesday night crowd. You're 486 00:37:47,119 --> 00:37:51,439 probably not that well. This will help you to not be. To not become 487 00:37:51,439 --> 00:37:55,759 that. Let's pray. Father, we love you tonight. We thank you for 488 00:37:55,919 --> 00:37:59,799 working in our lives in such a way that. Lord, first of all, if 489 00:37:59,799 --> 00:38:03,439 we do have too much stuff in our house, in our life, and it's 490 00:38:03,439 --> 00:38:07,969 crowding you out in so much that I can't. Insomuch that I can't. 491 00:38:07,969 --> 00:38:11,649 I don't have time to pray. I don't spend time with my wife, I 492 00:38:11,649 --> 00:38:16,449 don't spend time with my kids. I rush off to work and I get home 493 00:38:16,449 --> 00:38:21,489 and I pick up my controllers and playing my games. Lord, I pray 494 00:38:21,489 --> 00:38:27,289 you'd forgive me. Lord, help me to declutter. Allow you to declutter 495 00:38:27,289 --> 00:38:30,409 my life. I don't want to be a spiritual hoarder. I want you to 496 00:38:30,409 --> 00:38:33,789 have all of me. You deserve it, Father. Work in our hearts and 497 00:38:33,789 --> 00:38:37,389 in our lives. Have your way in our hearts. In this invitation this 498 00:38:37,389 --> 00:38:38,789 evening, I pray in Jesus name.