1 00:00:30,419 --> 00:00:37,139 You ever heard the expression give til it hurts? God doesn't ever 2 00:00:37,139 --> 00:00:43,099 want giving to hurt. Amen. He doesn't want that. And if you'll 3 00:00:43,099 --> 00:00:46,779 give in the shadow of the cross, it won't hurt. Because you'll 4 00:00:46,779 --> 00:00:51,819 never be able to give as much as Jesus gave. I want to do a little 5 00:00:51,819 --> 00:00:55,659 chorus here real quick. I'll watch the clock for you so you don't 6 00:00:55,659 --> 00:01:03,079 have to watch yours. I want to talk for a minute tonight about the 7 00:01:03,079 --> 00:01:07,599 heart. Because that's really what life's all about. Did you know 8 00:01:07,599 --> 00:01:12,679 the Bible says to keep thy heart with all diligence? For out 9 00:01:12,679 --> 00:01:20,399 of the heart proceed the issues of life. Lester Orloff used 10 00:01:20,399 --> 00:01:23,719 to say you're not what you think you are, but what you think 11 00:01:24,039 --> 00:01:30,119 you are. The Bible says that as a man thinketh in his heart, so 12 00:01:30,119 --> 00:01:35,199 is he. Did you know the Bible says out of the abundance of the 13 00:01:35,199 --> 00:01:43,399 heart the mouth speaketh. What you speak comes from the heart. The 14 00:01:43,399 --> 00:01:46,679 old farmers used to say what's down in the well is going to come 15 00:01:46,679 --> 00:01:53,559 up in the bucket. The Bible says that God. Man looks on the outward 16 00:01:53,559 --> 00:01:59,799 but God looks on the heart. It's all about the heart. How about 17 00:02:00,039 --> 00:02:08,199 your heart? Is it right with God? That's the thing that counts 18 00:02:08,839 --> 00:02:21,529 today. Is it black by sin? Is it pure within? Won't you ask Christ 19 00:02:21,769 --> 00:02:33,769 in today? People often see you as you are outside. Jesus really 20 00:02:33,849 --> 00:02:46,499 knows you for he sees inside. So how about your heart? Is it right 21 00:02:46,659 --> 00:02:56,899 with God? That's the thing that counts today. Now friend, how 22 00:02:56,899 --> 00:03:07,219 would you feel if your heart were made with a window on each side 23 00:03:09,939 --> 00:03:19,949 so that all could see not just outward charm but detect if inward 24 00:03:20,029 --> 00:03:38,589 harm? Jesus really knows you for he sees inside. So how about 25 00:03:38,909 --> 00:03:48,679 your heart? Is it right with God? Cause that's the thing that 26 00:03:48,679 --> 00:04:02,959 counts today. That's kind of a sermon in itself, isn't it? Can you 27 00:04:02,959 --> 00:04:08,119 imagine if people could see what's in our heart? Kind of scary 28 00:04:08,119 --> 00:04:13,239 maybe, isn't it? Take your Bible and go to the book of Psalm, 29 00:04:13,239 --> 00:04:22,639 chapter 112. Psalm chapter 112. I'm a little tangled up here. 30 00:04:27,759 --> 00:04:32,039 Brother Flanagan used to. And we used to have our church a lot. 31 00:04:32,039 --> 00:04:37,289 And he'd, when he'd put on his microphone and everything tangled 32 00:04:37,289 --> 00:04:41,169 up, he said, well Jesus said there'd be wires and rumors of wires. 33 00:04:47,889 --> 00:04:56,289 Stewardship, a one track mind, living one way, not a lot of different 34 00:04:56,289 --> 00:05:01,119 ways. I started telling our people not long ago and I got a lot 35 00:05:01,119 --> 00:05:04,519 of weird looks when I said it. But I said, I want to tell you to 36 00:05:05,079 --> 00:05:11,759 stop living for Jesus. And they all leaned over, said, oh, somebody 37 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:18,559 called 911. Wetherby's lost it. I said, let's just don't live 38 00:05:18,559 --> 00:05:25,399 for Jesus. Let's live with Jesus. He said, well, we're going 39 00:05:25,399 --> 00:05:28,829 to live with him in heaven. No, I'm talking about down here living 40 00:05:28,829 --> 00:05:32,629 with Jesus. You say, well, isn't that the same? Not everybody 41 00:05:32,629 --> 00:05:37,589 that lives for Jesus lives with Jesus because they meet him 42 00:05:37,589 --> 00:05:43,949 at certain times, but he's not there all the time, getting in our 43 00:05:43,949 --> 00:05:47,949 head to wake up with Jesus, go to bed with Jesus, walk with Jesus, 44 00:05:47,949 --> 00:05:54,359 live in the presence of Christ. Boy, what a difference that 45 00:05:54,359 --> 00:06:02,999 would make. In Psalm 112, it says, Praise ye the Lord. You know, 46 00:06:02,999 --> 00:06:06,479 when you start thinking about stewardship and you realize it's 47 00:06:06,479 --> 00:06:11,119 about the lordship of Christ, the Lord of everything, not just 48 00:06:11,119 --> 00:06:16,359 the Lord of Sunday. The Lord of everything, not just the Lord 49 00:06:16,359 --> 00:06:21,629 of your tithe, the Lord of everything. Bringing Jesus living 50 00:06:21,629 --> 00:06:25,109 with Jesus in everything. You do whatsoever you do, in word or 51 00:06:25,109 --> 00:06:29,989 deed, do all to the glory of God. The Bible says, trust in the 52 00:06:29,989 --> 00:06:34,189 Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. 53 00:06:34,349 --> 00:06:41,549 In all thy ways, acknowledge him and he shall direct thy path. 54 00:06:42,509 --> 00:06:45,939 You see, most people, even good Christian people, they. They 55 00:06:45,939 --> 00:06:48,539 say, well, I want to put God first. And so they look at their 56 00:06:48,539 --> 00:06:52,299 life as a pie. And I'm going to give the Lord the biggest piece 57 00:06:52,299 --> 00:06:59,779 of the pie. Well, the Lord made the pie. He owns the pie. He 58 00:06:59,779 --> 00:07:05,779 wants you to share everything with him. In all thy ways, acknowledge 59 00:07:05,779 --> 00:07:12,379 him and he shall direct thy paths. Bob Jones Sr. Used to say, 60 00:07:12,379 --> 00:07:17,669 for the Christian, nothing is secular. You let that sink in for 61 00:07:17,669 --> 00:07:21,549 a moment. Nothing is secular. You see, we like to divide our Christian 62 00:07:21,549 --> 00:07:27,229 life separate from our secular life. Our church life is one part, 63 00:07:27,229 --> 00:07:29,589 but then we go to work, and that doesn't have anything to do 64 00:07:29,589 --> 00:07:36,069 with God. Jesus said, he's lord of everything. A lot of people 65 00:07:36,069 --> 00:07:39,469 say, well, this is our vacation. And that's separate from 66 00:07:39,469 --> 00:07:45,389 my spiritual life. No, it's not. Stewardship is the hub of the 67 00:07:45,389 --> 00:07:49,109 wheel. Giving is just one spoke. Money is just a spoke in the 68 00:07:49,109 --> 00:07:54,069 wheel. It's including, it's acknowledging, it's realizing, it's 69 00:07:54,069 --> 00:08:00,789 inviting, it's experiencing Christ in everything you do when 70 00:08:00,789 --> 00:08:07,109 you buy. The Bible says, whatsoever you eat or drink, do all 71 00:08:07,109 --> 00:08:12,159 to the glory of God. You see, God's not against things, but he 72 00:08:12,159 --> 00:08:17,719 wants us to use things and love people and love him. Money is 73 00:08:17,719 --> 00:08:21,679 not evil, but the love of money is the root of all evil. And 74 00:08:21,679 --> 00:08:25,079 if God can trust us with money. He'll give us money. But he 75 00:08:25,079 --> 00:08:29,719 tests us to see what we'll do with a little. And God's always watching. 76 00:08:29,719 --> 00:08:35,249 We talked about that this morning. But it all begins with, 77 00:08:35,649 --> 00:08:41,009 is He Lord of your life? Is he? I want you to think about that. 78 00:08:41,009 --> 00:08:48,329 I mean, honestly, before God. Do you include the Lord? Do you look 79 00:08:48,329 --> 00:08:52,489 for his nod in everything you do? You say, lord, that's, I want 80 00:08:52,489 --> 00:08:59,089 to glorify you. I want to honor you in everything. Everything. 81 00:09:01,909 --> 00:09:08,109 So important. If we had time tonight, we'd go to Psalm 23. Because 82 00:09:08,109 --> 00:09:13,749 that's the kind of life, really that I want to live. He makes 83 00:09:13,749 --> 00:09:16,629 me to lie down in green pastures. That sounds pretty good. 84 00:09:17,669 --> 00:09:23,349 Instead of dead, brown pastures. He leadeth me beside still 85 00:09:23,349 --> 00:09:26,709 waters. Don't you like to be beside still waters? Not a storm, 86 00:09:26,709 --> 00:09:31,469 but still waters. He restoreth my soul. I need that all the time. 87 00:09:31,469 --> 00:09:35,869 He leadeth me in paths of righteousness. Yea, though I walk 88 00:09:35,869 --> 00:09:38,309 through the valley of shadow of death, I fear no evil. Thou art 89 00:09:38,309 --> 00:09:41,509 with me. Thy rod and staff comfort me. Thou preparest a table 90 00:09:41,509 --> 00:09:46,709 before me. My cup runs over, boy, that's the life. But it all 91 00:09:46,709 --> 00:09:53,829 began with, the Lord is my shepherd. You take that out and everything 92 00:09:53,829 --> 00:09:57,489 else falls apart. You're on your own. Do you really want to be 93 00:09:57,489 --> 00:10:06,649 on your own? In Psalm 112, it says, Praise ye the Lord. Blessed 94 00:10:06,649 --> 00:10:12,329 is the man that feareth the Lord. I know you've heard a lot of 95 00:10:12,329 --> 00:10:15,409 definitions, probably over the years, good ones, of the fear of 96 00:10:15,409 --> 00:10:18,929 the Lord. But my own personal definition for the fear of the Lord 97 00:10:19,409 --> 00:10:29,479 is to never take him casual, never to take him seriously. We're 98 00:10:29,479 --> 00:10:32,359 living in a time where everything's casual and it's seeped 99 00:10:32,359 --> 00:10:36,559 into our churches and everything people do, it's casual. 100 00:10:36,559 --> 00:10:42,039 Even preachers have gotten casual. Dress casual, sing casual, 101 00:10:42,439 --> 00:10:46,119 get involved casually. You know, when you start going down that 102 00:10:46,119 --> 00:10:51,289 road, it's all about you, what makes you feel comfortable. That's 103 00:10:51,289 --> 00:10:55,729 why we go casual, because that's the way we feel. What's the 104 00:10:55,729 --> 00:11:00,529 way we want to be? You read the Old Testament. Nobody took God 105 00:11:00,529 --> 00:11:05,169 casually when they were right with God. They took two weeks just 106 00:11:05,169 --> 00:11:08,689 to get ready to go to church, to go to the tabernacle. How'd you 107 00:11:08,689 --> 00:11:12,089 like that? They wouldn't go in the door. They bathed and cleaned 108 00:11:12,089 --> 00:11:16,369 and got their clothes laid out and. And fasted and prayed and had 109 00:11:16,369 --> 00:11:20,089 devotions and time together to get ready to go to the house of God. 110 00:11:21,529 --> 00:11:27,009 The fear of the Lord. Never take him casual. But that's where 111 00:11:27,009 --> 00:11:30,289 everybody's going today. You know why? Because God's not sovereign. 112 00:11:30,289 --> 00:11:35,929 In most churches, the people are sovereign. The young preachers 113 00:11:35,929 --> 00:11:41,339 nowadays, in a lot of these so called seminaries, they're teaching 114 00:11:41,339 --> 00:11:43,859 them, find out what the people want to do and do it, and they'll 115 00:11:43,859 --> 00:11:51,939 give you their money. They'll come make them, Lord, make them happy. 116 00:11:53,859 --> 00:11:57,899 And so that's. Modern preachers just want to fit in with 117 00:11:57,899 --> 00:12:04,779 everybody else. What do y' all want me to do? I'll do it. I'm glad 118 00:12:04,779 --> 00:12:13,649 you don't have a pastor like that. Blessed. You want blessings? 119 00:12:13,649 --> 00:12:17,529 Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord and that delighteth 120 00:12:17,529 --> 00:12:21,609 greatly in his commandments. He doesn't endure them. Did you know 121 00:12:21,609 --> 00:12:24,969 the Bible says that the commandments of God are not grievous. 122 00:12:25,689 --> 00:12:33,459 They're not to go, oh, no, not another rule. No. When God says thou 123 00:12:33,459 --> 00:12:36,139 shalt not, he's saying, I love you so much. I don't want you to 124 00:12:36,139 --> 00:12:39,739 hurt yourselves. They're love letters. The Ten Commandments are 125 00:12:39,739 --> 00:12:44,379 love letters. When he says thou shalt, he's saying, help yourself 126 00:12:44,379 --> 00:12:55,459 to a blessing. He delighteth greatly in his commandments. I like 127 00:12:55,459 --> 00:12:59,459 verse two. It says, his seed that always in the Bible talks about 128 00:12:59,459 --> 00:13:05,539 his family. His seed shall be mighty upon the earth and the generation 129 00:13:05,539 --> 00:13:11,139 of the upright shall be blessed. Can I make a statement here 130 00:13:11,139 --> 00:13:16,499 that maybe upset somebody, but it's so important, especially you 131 00:13:16,499 --> 00:13:22,379 men, fathers, husbands, who love your family. If you rob God, 132 00:13:22,379 --> 00:13:28,869 you're robbing your. One of the greatest things a man can do 133 00:13:28,869 --> 00:13:32,309 to make sure his family are protected and provided for and taken 134 00:13:32,309 --> 00:13:37,949 care of is to put God first in your finances. Will a man rob God? 135 00:13:38,669 --> 00:13:43,069 Oh, yeah. Malachi 3. They said, what do you mean? Where have 136 00:13:43,069 --> 00:13:48,589 we robbed you? And he said, in tithes and offerings. Yeah. There's 137 00:13:48,589 --> 00:13:52,269 more than just meeting the financial needs. I understand that, 138 00:13:52,839 --> 00:13:56,479 but that's the best place to start. And a lot of men pray for 139 00:13:56,479 --> 00:13:59,839 their family and weep and go to the altar and all that's great, 140 00:13:59,839 --> 00:14:07,479 but they're robbing God. God can't bless a thief. Across the country, 141 00:14:07,639 --> 00:14:15,519 all religions put together in one big bowl. Only about 23% of people 142 00:14:15,519 --> 00:14:19,599 who say they're Christians tithe or give anything on a regular 143 00:14:19,599 --> 00:14:23,849 basis. I don't know if you know about your church. My church 144 00:14:23,849 --> 00:14:29,129 got up to about 52 or 53%. And I would think it would probably be 145 00:14:29,129 --> 00:14:32,569 high in this church because you've been taught and preached to 146 00:14:32,569 --> 00:14:38,929 and you've grown and you understand. Billy Graham used to 147 00:14:38,929 --> 00:14:40,929 say if you're right with your money and you're right with your 148 00:14:40,929 --> 00:14:47,139 honey, you're probably going to make it. I mean, let's face it, 149 00:14:47,379 --> 00:14:50,819 the devil fights our family, our homes, our marriages. He wants 150 00:14:50,819 --> 00:14:54,779 to tear it apart. If he can hurt you at home, he can hurt you. 151 00:14:54,779 --> 00:14:58,539 He'll hurt you all over. It'll affect the way you work and the way 152 00:14:58,539 --> 00:15:05,379 you worship and it'll affect everything but his seed. You want 153 00:15:05,379 --> 00:15:10,219 your family to be blessed? Look at verse 3. Wealth and riches 154 00:15:10,219 --> 00:15:19,549 shall be in his house. Is that talking about money? It might include 155 00:15:19,629 --> 00:15:29,029 money, but it's not all about money. Amen. Jesus. Did you know 156 00:15:29,029 --> 00:15:35,989 two thirds of the parables of Jesus had something had money involved 157 00:15:35,989 --> 00:15:40,679 in it? That might surprise you, but you go back and take all 158 00:15:40,679 --> 00:15:47,879 the parables and you'll see Jesus had a lot to say about money. 159 00:15:48,279 --> 00:15:52,599 Because he needs your money. No, because he knew it's going to 160 00:15:52,599 --> 00:15:55,759 cause a lot of problems in a lot of families and marriages. Still, 161 00:15:55,759 --> 00:16:00,159 the number one cause of divorce in America is financial stress 162 00:16:00,159 --> 00:16:05,129 and disaster and all that thing. But Jesus said, if you are 163 00:16:05,129 --> 00:16:09,769 not faithful and right over the. Over the unrighteous mammon. 164 00:16:09,769 --> 00:16:16,289 Mammon means money. Jesus said this. If you're not faithful over 165 00:16:16,289 --> 00:16:22,289 the unrighteous mammon, he said, how shall I commit to you the 166 00:16:22,289 --> 00:16:30,539 true riches, the real stuff, the good stuff, the true riches, 167 00:16:33,739 --> 00:16:38,339 wealth and riches shall be in his house. And his righteousness 168 00:16:38,339 --> 00:16:42,619 endureth forever. Look at verse four. Unto the upright, there 169 00:16:42,619 --> 00:16:49,939 ariseth light in the darkness. We're living in a dark world and 170 00:16:49,939 --> 00:16:54,499 it's getting darker. But the darker the night, the brighter the 171 00:16:54,499 --> 00:17:03,299 light. For the Christian, we can have light unto the upright. 172 00:17:03,299 --> 00:17:06,019 That means the saved, those are looking up and doing the right 173 00:17:06,019 --> 00:17:12,659 thing. According to the Bible, not according to the world. The world 174 00:17:12,659 --> 00:17:18,299 says right's wrong and wrong's right now. But there ariseth light 175 00:17:18,299 --> 00:17:23,779 and darkness. He is gracious and full of compassion. Righteous, 176 00:17:25,139 --> 00:17:33,219 a good man showeth favor and lendeth. In other words, he's not 177 00:17:33,219 --> 00:17:39,539 hoarding his blessings, he's sharing with others. By the way, 178 00:17:40,179 --> 00:17:45,419 I'll probably hit on this tomorrow night, but this is be very 179 00:17:45,419 --> 00:17:47,779 important for you to understand because a lot of these 180 00:17:48,348 --> 00:17:51,908 preachers that are con artists say the more you give, the more you'll 181 00:17:51,908 --> 00:17:56,668 get and that's the end of it. But this would be worth writing down, 182 00:17:56,668 --> 00:18:01,348 not because I said it, but we're not to give to get. We're to 183 00:18:01,348 --> 00:18:08,668 give to get, to give again. Give and it shall be given unto you, 184 00:18:08,668 --> 00:18:11,588 pressed down, shaken together and running over shall men give unto 185 00:18:11,588 --> 00:18:16,629 your bosom? The Bible says Luke 6:38. You see, we're not to 186 00:18:16,629 --> 00:18:25,429 be storage tanks, we're to be pipelines. And God flows it out of 187 00:18:25,429 --> 00:18:30,189 heaven into our life and he watches how we handle those blessings. 188 00:18:32,669 --> 00:18:35,269 But we don't give to get. A lot of people think, you know, I've 189 00:18:35,269 --> 00:18:37,669 really got some problems. I need more money. I think I'll just 190 00:18:37,669 --> 00:18:43,739 get more. Give so you can get. So you can give again. And when you 191 00:18:43,739 --> 00:18:46,979 give again, you can't out give God. God's going to give to you again 192 00:18:46,979 --> 00:18:50,299 and then you're going to get and give back. And you back and forth. 193 00:18:50,299 --> 00:18:53,339 Give, get, give, get, give, get, give, give. It's just back and 194 00:18:53,339 --> 00:18:58,179 forth all the time. And that's the way God wants us to live. Because 195 00:18:58,179 --> 00:19:01,699 giving is living. The happiest people in the world are giving people. 196 00:19:02,579 --> 00:19:07,259 The most miserable people are the tightwads living in fear that 197 00:19:07,259 --> 00:19:12,039 someone's going to get their stuff. Remember I told you this morning, 198 00:19:12,039 --> 00:19:14,759 we don't have any stuff. Everything we have belongs to God. 199 00:19:17,559 --> 00:19:28,039 Have you learned to give? The Bible says, a good man, showeth favor 200 00:19:28,039 --> 00:19:34,599 and lendeth. He will guide his affairs with discretion. Surely he 201 00:19:34,599 --> 00:19:37,759 shall not be moved. Remember that song we used to sing? I shall 202 00:19:37,759 --> 00:19:45,399 not be moved forever. The righteous shall be in everlasting 203 00:19:45,479 --> 00:19:50,319 remembrance. Now watch this. Remember the little song I did a 204 00:19:50,319 --> 00:19:55,119 moment ago? How about your heart? He, the man who is blessed, 205 00:19:55,119 --> 00:20:01,799 who says, praise the Lord. He shall not be afraid of evil tidings. 206 00:20:01,799 --> 00:20:10,089 His heart is what fixed us. Southerners talk about fixing to 207 00:20:10,089 --> 00:20:15,329 do something, but that's not what that word means, of repairing. 208 00:20:15,649 --> 00:20:22,529 No, not at all, not at all. Fixed. His heart is fixed. In other 209 00:20:22,529 --> 00:20:29,409 words, it's set, it's settled, it's final. It's locked in, it's 210 00:20:29,489 --> 00:20:32,999 fastened, it's. It's concentrated, it's determined, it's 211 00:20:32,999 --> 00:20:37,279 firm, it's hard, it's definite, it's constant. His heart 212 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:46,959 is fixed. Now, that is stewardship. His heart is fixed on 213 00:20:46,959 --> 00:20:52,719 the Lord Jesus Christ. I know you've heard it, but either he's 214 00:20:52,719 --> 00:20:57,199 Lord of all or he's not Lord at all. It's a contradiction of terms 215 00:20:57,279 --> 00:21:02,219 to say, well, he's lord over some things. Jesus said, why do you 216 00:21:02,219 --> 00:21:09,059 call me Lord and do not the things which I command you? You know, 217 00:21:09,219 --> 00:21:16,058 we use that word sometimes too casually, O Lord, and we sometimes 218 00:21:16,058 --> 00:21:20,779 don't even think about it. But if we understand what the word Lord 219 00:21:20,779 --> 00:21:29,069 is. Sovereign King, seek ye first the kingdom of God. A kingdom 220 00:21:29,069 --> 00:21:36,109 as a king. Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. Seek ye 221 00:21:36,109 --> 00:21:42,549 first the kingdom of God in his righteousness, and all these 222 00:21:42,549 --> 00:21:46,109 things shall be added unto you. He say, things? What things? 223 00:21:46,189 --> 00:21:49,989 Well, he didn't list them all, but he said, take no thought of what 224 00:21:49,989 --> 00:21:53,029 you shall eat or drink or what you shall put on. I think he put 225 00:21:53,029 --> 00:21:57,279 that put on in there for the ladies. I don't meet too many men 226 00:21:57,279 --> 00:22:02,479 that go, oh, no, I don't know what I'm going to wear today. My 227 00:22:02,479 --> 00:22:05,479 wife says, honey, you've worn that long enough. It's time to change. 228 00:22:08,199 --> 00:22:13,639 But he said, you don't need to worry, you don't need to fret if 229 00:22:13,639 --> 00:22:19,479 you'll put me first. By the way, God put you first, did he not? 230 00:22:22,769 --> 00:22:26,289 That's what Romans 8:28 is all about. For we know that all things 231 00:22:26,289 --> 00:22:31,969 work together for good to them that love God because of that relationship. 232 00:22:32,769 --> 00:22:38,969 And all means all. That's all. All means all things. The good, the 233 00:22:38,969 --> 00:22:43,329 bad and the ugly, they don't all feel good, they don't all look 234 00:22:43,329 --> 00:22:47,409 good. But they all work together for good, for saved. Men 235 00:22:47,409 --> 00:22:52,569 and women, young people, boys or girls, put God first in their 236 00:22:52,569 --> 00:22:57,649 life. Every time I think about Seek ye first the kingdom of God, 237 00:22:57,649 --> 00:23:05,049 I think about that old comedy. Some of you said, man, he's old Abbott 238 00:23:05,049 --> 00:23:12,049 and Costello. Who's on first? Remember that. Oh, man, that one 239 00:23:12,049 --> 00:23:16,089 will give you a headache after a while. But that's the question, 240 00:23:16,089 --> 00:23:22,409 isn't it? Who's on first in your life? Is it you or is it God? 241 00:23:24,089 --> 00:23:29,969 Are you set in your ways or are you set in his ways? That's what 242 00:23:29,969 --> 00:23:37,969 that means. His heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord. In fact, 243 00:23:37,969 --> 00:23:40,809 it repeats it almost again a different way. Verse 8. His heart 244 00:23:40,809 --> 00:23:47,979 is established. He shall not be afraid. I mentioned this morning 245 00:23:47,979 --> 00:23:55,819 about Joshua as he stood there with his wife and kids in front of 246 00:23:55,819 --> 00:23:58,259 Israel. And he said, you all need to choose who you're going to 247 00:23:58,259 --> 00:24:05,019 serve. But he said, as for me in my house, I would love if we could 248 00:24:05,019 --> 00:24:07,939 get a picture of them standing there and all these people out there. 249 00:24:07,939 --> 00:24:11,079 I. I would love to have seen the face on his wife when he said 250 00:24:11,079 --> 00:24:17,959 that. I wonder if his wife would look up with a gleam and say 251 00:24:17,959 --> 00:24:24,999 under her breath, that's my man. He's leading us in the right 252 00:24:24,999 --> 00:24:28,919 direction. Can you imagine all the kids, their mouth open, go, wow, 253 00:24:28,919 --> 00:24:36,089 dad, we're serving the Lord, aren't we? But what if his wife would 254 00:24:36,089 --> 00:24:39,969 have had a smirk on her face and rolled her eyes to go, oh, brother, 255 00:24:39,969 --> 00:24:45,929 here we go again. You know, it's hard. It's very, very hard in 256 00:24:45,929 --> 00:24:49,648 a marriage when one of the spouses wants to put God first and 257 00:24:49,648 --> 00:24:55,929 the other doesn't. It's a horrible way to live. A horrible 258 00:24:55,929 --> 00:25:02,319 way to live. But when they're both together, they become one. And 259 00:25:02,319 --> 00:25:08,279 they want the same thing out of life, to honor Jesus Christ wherever 260 00:25:08,279 --> 00:25:15,999 they go, whoever they're with, whatever they do, his heart is established. 261 00:25:15,999 --> 00:25:21,239 He shall not be afraid. 2nd Timothy 1. God hath not given us 262 00:25:21,239 --> 00:25:33,089 the spirit of fear, but of power. Amen. And of love. Amen. And 263 00:25:33,089 --> 00:25:42,169 that mindset. A sound mind, thinking clearly and thinking right. 264 00:25:44,809 --> 00:25:48,889 I mentioned this morning, so many people live by fear. They want 265 00:25:48,889 --> 00:25:52,009 to wait and see. I don't want to jump up and commit and volunteer 266 00:25:52,009 --> 00:25:57,989 and get involved yet. I got to wait and see. I can't afford to give 267 00:25:57,989 --> 00:26:02,789 right now. Maybe later. You can't afford not to give. You'll 268 00:26:02,789 --> 00:26:08,829 never get ahead by putting God behind. Never. God made it that way. 269 00:26:13,709 --> 00:26:19,589 Look in verse nine. He hath dispersed. There you go. Give to 270 00:26:19,589 --> 00:26:24,959 get, to give, to get, to give again to get. I mean, just try it 271 00:26:24,959 --> 00:26:32,479 sometime. Say, lord, would you increase the finances in my life 272 00:26:32,479 --> 00:26:39,039 so I can give more? I think the Lord would go, hmm, say that 273 00:26:39,039 --> 00:26:45,239 again. Probably doesn't get a lot of requests like that. I thank 274 00:26:45,239 --> 00:26:50,909 God so much. Shelly and I have been married 53 years. And when we 275 00:26:50,909 --> 00:26:55,029 first started, even before we got married, we said, when we get 276 00:26:55,029 --> 00:27:02,589 married, God's coming first in our finances. And for 50. Well, I 277 00:27:02,589 --> 00:27:06,869 retired three years ago, but the whole time I was. And we still 278 00:27:06,869 --> 00:27:12,069 give, and God's still blessing us, but we increased our giving every. 279 00:27:12,269 --> 00:27:16,989 Every year. I'm not bragging, saying, man, aren't I a good Christian? 280 00:27:17,309 --> 00:27:23,389 No. We go as Gomer said, Shazam. And we couldn't believe it. 281 00:27:24,749 --> 00:27:31,669 We thought, man, every time we give, God gives back. And so we'd 282 00:27:31,669 --> 00:27:34,589 give more and he'd give more, then we'd give more, and then he'd 283 00:27:34,589 --> 00:27:42,319 give more than that. But again, may I continually press upon 284 00:27:42,319 --> 00:27:47,279 you. Don't equate blessings with money. Money's not wrong. God 285 00:27:47,279 --> 00:27:51,599 can bless you financially if you'll put him first. And give to 286 00:27:51,599 --> 00:27:56,039 get, to give. But it's not always about money. God may give 287 00:27:56,039 --> 00:28:00,839 you health. Some people would give every penny they have to have. 288 00:28:04,289 --> 00:28:13,529 Amen. A family, sons and daughters that love God and want 289 00:28:13,529 --> 00:28:17,089 to serve God. Not because they have to, because they want to. Boy, 290 00:28:17,089 --> 00:28:21,089 what is that worth to have a church like this? You say, oh, there 291 00:28:21,089 --> 00:28:25,569 are churches all up and down the road. Not like this church. They're 292 00:28:25,569 --> 00:28:32,539 getting fewer and far between. Churches are changing. Thank God. 293 00:28:32,539 --> 00:28:35,379 This church says, by the help and grace of God. Your pastor. I 294 00:28:35,379 --> 00:28:39,899 know. He said it over and over again to God and to himself. We're 295 00:28:39,899 --> 00:28:47,379 going to stay the course. We're going to stay the course. He 296 00:28:47,379 --> 00:28:51,179 hath dispersed. He hath given to the poor. His righteousness endureth 297 00:28:51,179 --> 00:28:56,869 forever. His horn shall be exalted with honor. And I love. Verse 298 00:28:56,949 --> 00:29:01,629 10. The wicked shall see it. When it says the wicked, it talks 299 00:29:01,629 --> 00:29:04,949 about unsaved people. The wicked shall see it and be what? 300 00:29:04,949 --> 00:29:11,509 Grieved. Isn't that something? It's almost like David when he said, 301 00:29:11,509 --> 00:29:14,709 thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. 302 00:29:15,109 --> 00:29:22,199 Cause the enemies could go, huh? And this man, who I believe 303 00:29:22,199 --> 00:29:27,359 was saved and is putting the Lord first in his life, said, the 304 00:29:27,359 --> 00:29:30,919 wicked shall see it and be grieved. In fact, it says he shall 305 00:29:30,919 --> 00:29:34,559 gnash with his teeth. I mean, they're miserable and melt away. 306 00:29:35,439 --> 00:29:40,639 The desire of the wicked shall perish. That's a good Stewardship. 307 00:29:40,639 --> 00:29:48,109 Chapter Psalm 112. Fixed. My heart is fixed. When I first saw 308 00:29:48,109 --> 00:29:51,509 Shelly in the choir, never talked to her. But I walked in and 309 00:29:51,509 --> 00:29:55,629 saw her in the choir. Beautiful redhead. My heart was fixed. 310 00:29:59,709 --> 00:30:03,069 I probably shouldn't tell you this, but on our very first date, 311 00:30:03,069 --> 00:30:08,149 I said, I'm going to marry you. She says, no, you're not. I'm 312 00:30:08,149 --> 00:30:14,119 going to be an airline stewardess and travel. No, you're 313 00:30:14,119 --> 00:30:23,679 not. I'm going to marry you. The rest is history. God wants us 314 00:30:23,679 --> 00:30:27,399 to get our heart fixed. To get it settled, or make up your mind. 315 00:30:28,679 --> 00:30:33,079 Fixed on who's in charge. Fixed on what God says in His Word. 316 00:30:33,079 --> 00:30:41,689 That settles it. Fixed in the church. Amen. This is your church. 317 00:30:41,689 --> 00:30:45,409 It's the Lord's church. But he put you in this church. Brothers 318 00:30:45,409 --> 00:30:50,049 and sisters together. What if every member showed up on one service? 319 00:30:52,049 --> 00:30:57,609 What if every member tithed on one Sunday? Everyone just tithed. 320 00:30:57,609 --> 00:31:05,309 No offerings. Your preacher would have to. We'd have to call 321 00:31:05,309 --> 00:31:11,549 911. He'd be out on the floor. What if every church member were 322 00:31:11,549 --> 00:31:18,149 just like me? What kind of church would this church be? Fixed 323 00:31:20,629 --> 00:31:27,349 on your finances? Fixed on your family's welfare? Is your heart 324 00:31:27,349 --> 00:31:33,979 fixed? Or does it need some repair work? Fix in heaven. Fix on 325 00:31:33,979 --> 00:31:37,939 heaven. Do you think about heaven very much? Most of us. I don't 326 00:31:37,939 --> 00:31:44,179 have time. I'm thinking about the world so much. I understand we're 327 00:31:44,179 --> 00:31:47,099 not to isolate ourselves. I understand that. We're in the world, 328 00:31:47,099 --> 00:31:50,379 but not of the world. But you know what we need to think more about 329 00:31:50,379 --> 00:31:57,309 our home, where we're going to, and then to fix our heart on 330 00:31:57,309 --> 00:32:03,709 the clouds. Because Jesus is coming. I used to say, any day, it's 331 00:32:03,709 --> 00:32:10,629 any moment, he's at the door. Is your heart fixed? Would you bow 332 00:32:10,629 --> 00:32:14,909 your head and close your eyes? Let's stand together, please. Everyone's 333 00:32:14,909 --> 00:32:25,289 standing. Can you say my heart is fixed? My heart is locked in. 334 00:32:26,969 --> 00:32:33,969 It's firm, it's definite. Does your husband know that? Does your 335 00:32:33,969 --> 00:32:37,809 wife know that? Does your kids know? My dad's heart is fixed. He's 336 00:32:37,809 --> 00:32:42,489 made up his mind. There's no more need to discuss. It's settled. 337 00:32:43,449 --> 00:32:49,619 Do your kids know that? Do your kids know their parents? Their 338 00:32:49,619 --> 00:32:56,059 heart is fixed. What about your heart? We're going to have a 339 00:32:56,059 --> 00:32:59,819 verse of invitation in just a moment. The music will begin to play. 340 00:32:59,819 --> 00:33:03,379 If you would go ahead now. And I'm going to pray. And the altars 341 00:33:03,379 --> 00:33:09,819 will be open. Maybe you need a tune up. Maybe you're not on fire 342 00:33:09,819 --> 00:33:17,509 as you were when you first got saved. Heavenly Father, thank you 343 00:33:17,509 --> 00:33:21,469 for this church and Lord, for this size church. Everybody here 344 00:33:21,469 --> 00:33:26,749 has burdens and trials and things that they're dealing with. 345 00:33:27,549 --> 00:33:32,309 And Lord, there's nothing too hard for you. We know that. But Lord, 346 00:33:32,309 --> 00:33:36,949 you gave us a choice to live the way we want to live. And thank 347 00:33:36,949 --> 00:33:40,929 you for your counsel. And I pray that more and more people here 348 00:33:40,929 --> 00:33:47,369 at Heritage Baptist Church will say, my heart is fixed. My mind 349 00:33:47,369 --> 00:33:56,289 is made up. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord God. 350 00:33:56,289 --> 00:33:58,889 Speak to every heart. You spoke to mine tonight, right while 351 00:33:58,889 --> 00:34:03,209 I was in the middle of my sermon, you spoke to my heart. Thank 352 00:34:03,209 --> 00:34:10,799 you, Lord. Bless this invitation. In Jesus name. I have 353 00:34:10,799 --> 00:34:15,399 decided to follow Jesus. You know that song? Let's sing a verse 354 00:34:15,399 --> 00:34:18,239 of it. And if you'd like to come, come go back to your seat. 355 00:34:18,559 --> 00:34:22,559 Just takes a few moments. You say, lord, I want my heart to be 356 00:34:22,559 --> 00:34:24,719 fixed. I want it to be settled.