1 00:00:30,259 --> 00:00:39,459 And sing. Very good job. I'll pay you later. Well, it is good to 2 00:00:39,459 --> 00:00:43,699 be back home. And when we talk about our home church, we always 3 00:00:43,699 --> 00:00:49,419 refer to this church. And my pastor is Eric Crawford, and bless 4 00:00:49,419 --> 00:00:54,179 his heart, he's gotten a lot of phone calls from me lately, and 5 00:00:54,659 --> 00:00:59,559 if y' all would send him on a trip or get him some therapy for 6 00:00:59,559 --> 00:01:02,679 dealing with me and the things we've been going through, there's 7 00:01:02,679 --> 00:01:05,879 not a more generous church in this world than Heritage Baptist 8 00:01:05,879 --> 00:01:10,239 Church. There's not a more generous pastor than Eric Crawford. 9 00:01:11,279 --> 00:01:14,599 And I just want to let you know I appreciate you guys, your 10 00:01:14,599 --> 00:01:17,199 prayers. I try not to get emotional, but it's going to happen. 11 00:01:17,439 --> 00:01:20,359 I've been so emotional lately, and somebody told me I was going 12 00:01:20,359 --> 00:01:26,189 through, man, a pause, so. And I guess I need to pause, but my wife 13 00:01:26,189 --> 00:01:30,349 says I'm embarrassed everywhere I go. But I know this 14 00:01:30,349 --> 00:01:33,589 church has invested a lot in ministries I've been a part of, and 15 00:01:33,829 --> 00:01:37,949 especially this last one. And I just want to say thank you. I know 16 00:01:37,949 --> 00:01:43,109 this side of heaven, things may look like a waste of time, and 17 00:01:43,109 --> 00:01:47,229 maybe. I know I've gone through it. Sometimes you feel like 18 00:01:47,229 --> 00:01:51,349 a failure. Sometimes you feel like a nut. Sometimes you don't. 19 00:01:52,909 --> 00:01:57,509 But I do know this is that when we get to heaven, what a day 20 00:01:57,509 --> 00:02:00,909 of rejoicing that will be. And I just want to thank you from the 21 00:02:00,909 --> 00:02:03,669 bottom of my heart for all that you've invested in me and my 22 00:02:03,669 --> 00:02:08,269 family. And we're just looking for what God has for us next. I am 23 00:02:08,269 --> 00:02:12,189 doing some modeling now. I'm doing men's maternity clothes. And 24 00:02:12,189 --> 00:02:18,109 so we do have a job. And so got to lighten it up. How many of 25 00:02:18,109 --> 00:02:22,339 you would agree tonight, And I know I got a time window tonight, 26 00:02:22,339 --> 00:02:28,739 but how many of you would say, this world's tough. People are tough. 27 00:02:30,019 --> 00:02:34,499 Ministry is real tough. Pray for your pastor. Love your pastor. 28 00:02:35,219 --> 00:02:39,819 And I'm telling you, we live in a society today that is not God 29 00:02:39,819 --> 00:02:45,459 fearing, not God loving. I would say most of us tonight, we 30 00:02:46,349 --> 00:02:53,069 face stress. Not me, but y'. All. Do y' all face depression? I've 31 00:02:53,069 --> 00:02:56,629 never faced that. No. We face a lot of things in this world, don't 32 00:02:56,629 --> 00:03:01,229 we? And we face a lot of things that God said in the end, 33 00:03:01,229 --> 00:03:04,389 times are going to come. These days are going to come when men be 34 00:03:04,389 --> 00:03:07,429 lowers of themselves. And all the things that we see today, it's 35 00:03:07,429 --> 00:03:10,189 here. We're just waiting on a trumpet to. 36 00:03:10,189 --> 00:03:13,709 Sound, and we're out of here. We're so close. Paul thought he was 37 00:03:13,709 --> 00:03:18,419 close in his day. Think of how much closer we are. 38 00:03:18,419 --> 00:03:24,099 Tonight than ever before. If you're discouraged tonight, I want 39 00:03:24,099 --> 00:03:29,219 you to take your Bibles and go with me to Ecclesiastes. And I want 40 00:03:29,219 --> 00:03:32,179 to help you get more discouraged. No, I'm just kidding. 41 00:03:34,979 --> 00:03:37,219 I want you to look at something. Tonight we're going to 42 00:03:37,219 --> 00:03:43,069 look at a few scriptures out of Ecclesiastes. Remember that Solomon 43 00:03:44,589 --> 00:03:48,749 is writing as an older man, looking back on his life and looking 44 00:03:48,749 --> 00:03:53,309 back on all the things that he had done in his life. And tonight 45 00:03:53,309 --> 00:03:56,829 I want to preach on the subject of the pursuit of happiness. 46 00:03:57,629 --> 00:04:00,789 Maybe y' all have heard this before, but we hold to these truths 47 00:04:00,789 --> 00:04:04,789 to be self evident. That all men are created equal, that they 48 00:04:04,789 --> 00:04:08,269 are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. 49 00:04:08,669 --> 00:04:12,149 That among these are life, liberty and, and say it. 50 00:04:12,149 --> 00:04:12,469 Class. 51 00:04:12,469 --> 00:04:14,949 And the pursuit of happiness. 52 00:04:16,309 --> 00:04:18,789 When you read the life of Solomon. 53 00:04:18,789 --> 00:04:23,749 You'Ll see the life or the pursuit of happiness. 54 00:04:25,109 --> 00:04:26,749 And tonight when we get to the. 55 00:04:26,749 --> 00:04:28,949 End, we're not going to read the entire book of Ecclesiastes. 56 00:04:28,949 --> 00:04:29,749 I don't get scared. 57 00:04:30,229 --> 00:04:33,269 But we are going to read the last chapter and see where he was 58 00:04:33,269 --> 00:04:36,109 at at the end of this. Because if you read verse one, he says a 59 00:04:36,109 --> 00:04:41,319 word of the. Notice what he says. He's not king, he's not the 60 00:04:41,319 --> 00:04:44,759 son of David, yet He will say that. He says, now I'm a preacher. 61 00:04:45,159 --> 00:04:48,639 He says, now looking back on my life, I want to go back and I 62 00:04:48,639 --> 00:04:52,599 want to tell others. I want to be a proclaimer. I want to be a herler 63 00:04:52,599 --> 00:04:56,399 of those truths that I found out in my life. Because Solomon in 64 00:04:56,399 --> 00:04:59,679 the book of Ecclesiastes tells us that. Here's what I did. I tried 65 00:04:59,679 --> 00:05:02,079 to pursue happiness in my life. And guess what it was. 66 00:05:02,079 --> 00:05:07,289 Notice what he's going to say in verse two. It says, vanity, vanities. 67 00:05:08,409 --> 00:05:10,169 He said, earth. 68 00:05:10,249 --> 00:05:15,049 Or Seth the preacher, vanity of vanities. He says, in case you 69 00:05:15,049 --> 00:05:17,769 missed this, all is vanity. 70 00:05:19,129 --> 00:05:28,969 Solomon had 700 wives. Yeah, I thought I'd get more reaction out 71 00:05:28,969 --> 00:05:29,369 of that. 72 00:05:30,569 --> 00:05:34,009 700 wives. Could you imagine waking up every day. 73 00:05:34,009 --> 00:05:35,369 And going, whose birthday is it? 74 00:05:35,369 --> 00:05:39,469 Whose anniversary is it? Just every day you got candles and a cake 75 00:05:39,469 --> 00:05:43,949 ready to go. Because every day he had 300 concubines, a cake that 76 00:05:43,949 --> 00:05:46,949 wasn't enough, and servants, and he had cattle. Matter of fact, 77 00:05:46,949 --> 00:05:50,429 somebody said if you took all of what Solomon had and you put it 78 00:05:50,429 --> 00:05:56,069 in today's worth, he would be worth $2.1 trillion. He had everything. 79 00:05:56,389 --> 00:06:01,349 He pursued happiness. And when you read here, especially in chapter 80 00:06:01,349 --> 00:06:01,589 One. 81 00:06:01,589 --> 00:06:02,109 Chapter Two. 82 00:06:02,109 --> 00:06:04,629 He says, look, I went after this. I went after this. 83 00:06:04,629 --> 00:06:10,959 And he said, but all is vanity. I don't know who wrote this, 84 00:06:10,959 --> 00:06:15,879 but it's so true. It says, the search for happiness is one of the 85 00:06:15,879 --> 00:06:20,279 chief sources of unhappiness. Let me read that again. 86 00:06:20,759 --> 00:06:23,439 The search for happiness is one of. 87 00:06:23,439 --> 00:06:26,439 The chief sources of unhappiness. 88 00:06:27,559 --> 00:06:31,319 See, there are people in this world today, and maybe they're not 89 00:06:31,319 --> 00:06:34,639 sitting here tonight, but they're in the world today and they're 90 00:06:34,639 --> 00:06:37,699 trying to find happiness. They're trying all they can can to 91 00:06:37,779 --> 00:06:41,219 pursue something that'll make them smile, that'll make them forget 92 00:06:41,299 --> 00:06:45,139 all their troubles just for a moment. People are begging for a 93 00:06:45,619 --> 00:06:46,339 timeout. 94 00:06:48,019 --> 00:06:52,339 But can I remind you that Solomon writes, and he says, all 95 00:06:53,138 --> 00:06:57,459 is vanity. I'll give you three things tonight, and then we'll hit 96 00:06:57,459 --> 00:07:01,859 the last chapter. Number one. The pursuit of happiness will leave 97 00:07:01,859 --> 00:07:08,149 you empty. You know the word vanity means emptiness, worthlessness 98 00:07:08,629 --> 00:07:09,829 and meaningless. 99 00:07:10,869 --> 00:07:14,229 You see the houses we live in, the cars we drive. 100 00:07:16,549 --> 00:07:20,909 Public service announcement. Don't drive a Kia. Mine's down in 101 00:07:20,909 --> 00:07:24,509 Louisiana right now. It broke down on us coming here. It's down 102 00:07:24,509 --> 00:07:27,309 there. We left it in Louisiana. I just. I left it by the 103 00:07:27,309 --> 00:07:30,539 bridge. I said, you know, I'm just kidding. It's getting. I wanted 104 00:07:30,539 --> 00:07:34,859 to, but. Amen. Y' all know too, right? But it had. 105 00:07:34,859 --> 00:07:38,739 The pursuit of happiness leaves you empty. It's all vanity. 106 00:07:38,979 --> 00:07:43,979 33 times in Ecclesiastes, he used the word vanity. He reminded 107 00:07:43,979 --> 00:07:47,819 that things that we pursue in this life that are not for God and 108 00:07:47,819 --> 00:07:51,219 not for eternity or just vanity. It's just emptiness. It's 109 00:07:51,219 --> 00:07:54,859 just. Listen, how many times did Jesus say, look, you can have 110 00:07:54,859 --> 00:07:57,619 your riches, you can have all the things, but you still are going 111 00:07:57,619 --> 00:07:58,819 to be empty inside. 112 00:08:01,809 --> 00:08:07,969 Emptiness, worthlessness and meaningless. You realize if you're 113 00:08:07,969 --> 00:08:10,649 a child of God tonight, that God doesn't want your life to be 114 00:08:10,649 --> 00:08:16,529 meaningless. He wants us to be meaningful. Why? Because he saved 115 00:08:16,529 --> 00:08:16,849 you. 116 00:08:17,489 --> 00:08:22,849 He gave the very best for you so that you could invest in eternity 117 00:08:22,849 --> 00:08:27,979 for Him. We see that. Number two. Not only will the pursuit of 118 00:08:27,979 --> 00:08:33,339 happiness leave you empty, but it'll also leave you exhausted. Amen. 119 00:08:34,299 --> 00:08:35,779 You ever just get back from a. 120 00:08:35,779 --> 00:08:39,659 Day'S work and you go, I'm not doing nothing. I'm just going to 121 00:08:39,659 --> 00:08:42,419 go sit on the couch and I'm not doing nothing. Why? 122 00:08:42,419 --> 00:08:46,779 Because you're tired? It's been one of those days where everything 123 00:08:46,939 --> 00:08:51,819 was just going wrong or something like that. And that's happened 124 00:08:51,819 --> 00:08:55,019 a lot here lately. Man, you're just exhausted. 125 00:08:57,149 --> 00:09:02,469 Somebody calls you and says, hey, you want to come over? No. Until 126 00:09:02,469 --> 00:09:04,429 they say the magic words. Well, I was going to take you out 127 00:09:04,429 --> 00:09:13,469 to eat. I'm feeling better. No end. Or the pursuit of happiness 128 00:09:13,709 --> 00:09:14,749 has no end. 129 00:09:15,149 --> 00:09:19,909 It will leave you exhausted. Happiness does not last. Somebody 130 00:09:19,909 --> 00:09:22,229 said, you can't buy happiness. I don't believe that. I believe you. 131 00:09:22,229 --> 00:09:24,889 Can you take me to an ice cream shop? 132 00:09:24,889 --> 00:09:28,129 I'm pretty happy for a little while. You give me five minutes after 133 00:09:28,129 --> 00:09:32,529 eating ice cream, and I'm like, the happiness is gone. You 134 00:09:32,529 --> 00:09:35,409 could take me on a vacation. And for a week I'm like, praise God. 135 00:09:35,409 --> 00:09:38,609 And then you look at your credit card statement or your bank 136 00:09:38,609 --> 00:09:39,048 account and. 137 00:09:39,048 --> 00:09:43,609 You go, oh, no, I shouldn't have went there. 138 00:09:43,609 --> 00:09:48,249 I shouldn't have done this. Happiness is only for a short time. 139 00:09:48,729 --> 00:09:52,369 And here Solomon reminds us. As a matter of fact, he tells us 140 00:09:52,369 --> 00:09:54,249 in verses one through three, it leaves us empty. 141 00:09:55,029 --> 00:09:55,749 Us. In verse eight. 142 00:09:55,749 --> 00:09:59,149 Look at verse eight, if you will. It says, all things are full 143 00:09:59,149 --> 00:10:05,749 of labor. Man cannot utter it. The eyes. The eye is not satisfied 144 00:10:05,749 --> 00:10:09,669 with seeing, nor the ear filled with learning. He said, listen 145 00:10:09,669 --> 00:10:12,909 with hearing. He says, look, you can pursue this happiness. You 146 00:10:12,909 --> 00:10:15,709 can pursue things online, but you know what it does? 147 00:10:15,709 --> 00:10:21,839 It leaves you exhausted. You know, I think one of the hardest 148 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:30,439 professions in this world is being a mom. All you men should have 149 00:10:30,439 --> 00:10:33,879 said amen right there. Cause, you know one thing, she leaves you 150 00:10:33,879 --> 00:10:37,479 alone one day, a half a day with the kids, and she comes home 151 00:10:37,479 --> 00:10:38,639 and you go, you got a. 152 00:10:38,639 --> 00:10:41,479 Little twitch to you. You're like, you know, and the kids are 153 00:10:41,479 --> 00:10:44,479 scared to say anything because you, you know, I mean, we know how 154 00:10:44,479 --> 00:10:50,929 it is, but, you know, it's so funny to see a mom who has two or 155 00:10:50,929 --> 00:10:53,209 three. And I don't know why people keep having them after that, 156 00:10:53,209 --> 00:10:59,209 but they do. And, you know, we were with Cody yesterday. 157 00:10:59,289 --> 00:11:02,569 My days are messed up, too. They got 15 kids, you know, and. 158 00:11:02,569 --> 00:11:03,649 They were sitting in front of us. 159 00:11:03,649 --> 00:11:06,809 They have six and five and one on the way. 160 00:11:07,049 --> 00:11:09,849 And they were sitting in front of us. And I was watching poor Cody. 161 00:11:10,009 --> 00:11:14,689 And bless his heart, he didn't get nothing out of the messages because 162 00:11:14,689 --> 00:11:16,169 those kids were everywhere. 163 00:11:17,149 --> 00:11:23,549 And I was back there praying for him, going, you did this. But 164 00:11:23,549 --> 00:11:28,549 you ever see that mom when you come home and she just has that look 165 00:11:28,549 --> 00:11:35,029 of, I am exhausted. I see my wife sometimes when you have a special 166 00:11:35,029 --> 00:11:38,629 needs daughter, and I can come home and I'm like, you know what? 167 00:11:38,629 --> 00:11:41,589 How about you go somewhere and I'll watch Bailey for A while. Or 168 00:11:41,589 --> 00:11:44,309 I'll take Bailey. I've had to take Bailey on drives out in the 169 00:11:44,309 --> 00:11:49,459 country before, because I can tell my wife's exhausted. But you 170 00:11:49,459 --> 00:11:52,499 know what happens when we pursue the things of this world that 171 00:11:52,499 --> 00:11:55,739 are not eternal and they're not part of God's will for our life? 172 00:11:56,219 --> 00:12:01,139 It leaves us exhausted. People are exhausted tonight because they're 173 00:12:01,139 --> 00:12:03,299 trying to go after the almighty daughter, or they're trying 174 00:12:03,299 --> 00:12:04,419 to go after building this. 175 00:12:04,419 --> 00:12:07,779 And trying to do this and trying to do this. And listen, you 176 00:12:07,779 --> 00:12:10,819 need to work, and you ought to do the best you can. And if you can 177 00:12:10,819 --> 00:12:15,219 make $100,000 a year, praise God and do it so you can tithe and 178 00:12:15,219 --> 00:12:18,659 give to missions. Hallelujah for that. And listen, here's what 179 00:12:18,659 --> 00:12:21,839 God wants us to. God wants us to be exhausted because. 180 00:12:21,839 --> 00:12:26,679 We work for the kingdom. Pastor said this yesterday in his 181 00:12:26,679 --> 00:12:31,319 message. The only part I really listened to. Just kidding. 182 00:12:32,039 --> 00:12:36,399 But pastor said this, is that so many times in talking about just 183 00:12:36,399 --> 00:12:41,279 being exhausted and doing things for not eternity's sakes, 184 00:12:41,279 --> 00:12:44,679 he said this. He says the reason that God blesses Heritage 185 00:12:44,679 --> 00:12:50,929 Baptist Church is because we work and our people work. And you 186 00:12:50,929 --> 00:12:54,169 know what? Look around. God bless that. Look at what God's doing 187 00:12:54,169 --> 00:12:59,769 here. Because you are. Yes. You're like, I'm exhausted. Got visitation 188 00:12:59,769 --> 00:13:03,809 tonight. Hey, listen, you're exhausted from working. Yes. But 189 00:13:03,809 --> 00:13:06,769 you ought to be exhausted because you know what? You work for 190 00:13:06,769 --> 00:13:12,129 the Lord. And then the last thing we see. And we can see this 191 00:13:12,129 --> 00:13:14,729 in chapter two. And I don't want to read all the verses tonight, 192 00:13:14,729 --> 00:13:18,569 but look at verse chapter two, if you would. I don't know why in 193 00:13:18,569 --> 00:13:23,529 chapter two, that Solomon all of a sudden turns Irish. 194 00:13:24,329 --> 00:13:29,369 Read it. Notice what he says. Just matter of fact, start at verse. 195 00:13:30,409 --> 00:13:33,689 Verse 4. I made me great work. 196 00:13:34,969 --> 00:13:36,409 I don't know why y', all, son. 197 00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:39,009 I don't know if it's out of Irish. I don't know. I'm bad at stuff, 198 00:13:39,009 --> 00:13:39,929 so I apologize. 199 00:13:40,169 --> 00:13:42,289 I builded me houses, I planted me. 200 00:13:42,289 --> 00:13:47,119 Vineyards that made me gardens. Right. It's a little bit 201 00:13:47,119 --> 00:13:48,879 Irish, maybe, but. 202 00:13:48,879 --> 00:13:52,039 Notice what he says in Archers. I planted trees in them 203 00:13:52,039 --> 00:13:56,159 and all kinds of fruit. I made me pools of water to water therewith 204 00:13:56,159 --> 00:13:59,559 and wood to bring forth trees. And I got me servants and maids. 205 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:02,839 And he goes down, he talks about all the. I did this, I did 206 00:14:02,839 --> 00:14:05,719 this, I did this, I did this. And he says. 207 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:12,829 I'm exhausted, and I never got to the finish line of happiness. 208 00:14:14,429 --> 00:14:19,389 You know why? Because happiness has no end. You just always 209 00:14:19,389 --> 00:14:23,509 will pursue it. It will exhaust you. The last thing tonight 210 00:14:23,509 --> 00:14:26,989 we see that not only will it exhaust you, but it will engulf you. 211 00:14:26,989 --> 00:14:31,149 What does that mean? It will consume you. Engulf you. And pretty 212 00:14:31,149 --> 00:14:33,149 soon, it's all that you think about. 213 00:14:33,629 --> 00:14:36,549 Your family will go by the wayside because you're in pursuit 214 00:14:36,549 --> 00:14:39,669 of happiness. Your job will go by the wayside. Your church will 215 00:14:39,669 --> 00:14:43,049 go by the way. Listen, every time you walk into the church, it's 216 00:14:43,049 --> 00:14:49,129 not about you feeling happy. If it is, we're in the wrong place. 217 00:14:49,529 --> 00:14:53,449 Because I sat underneath some preaching this week that I needed 218 00:14:53,449 --> 00:14:57,409 so bad. And when I left there, I wasn't saying, I'm so happy. And 219 00:14:57,409 --> 00:14:58,089 here's the reason why. 220 00:14:58,089 --> 00:15:04,329 I was like, ow, that hurt, Lord, I thank you. I needed that, 221 00:15:06,819 --> 00:15:09,539 Lord. I needed to hear from God. I needed to hear from you. I 222 00:15:09,539 --> 00:15:12,819 needed to hear from your word. And sometimes, yeah, it does. 223 00:15:12,819 --> 00:15:14,739 And by the way, we can be happy Christians. 224 00:15:15,619 --> 00:15:16,259 Amen. 225 00:15:16,419 --> 00:15:18,619 A merry heart doeth. I was actually going to preach on that 226 00:15:18,619 --> 00:15:20,459 tonight. Do you need some medicine? Because the Bible says 227 00:15:20,459 --> 00:15:21,019 a merry heart. 228 00:15:21,019 --> 00:15:22,179 Doeth good, like a medicine. 229 00:15:22,819 --> 00:15:26,379 But brokenness dries up the bones, and the brokenness of a spirit 230 00:15:26,379 --> 00:15:29,819 dries up the bones. And, boy, we're seeing that in our world today. 231 00:15:29,819 --> 00:15:34,379 We can smile. Why? Because we're saved. We can enjoy this life. 232 00:15:34,379 --> 00:15:37,819 And how many times has pastor said, listen, this life is not made 233 00:15:37,819 --> 00:15:40,539 to be endured, it's made to be enjoyed. And we should enjoy the 234 00:15:40,539 --> 00:15:43,739 things that we should be happy at our family, we should be happy 235 00:15:43,739 --> 00:15:46,179 at our church. But that is not our pursuit. 236 00:15:48,819 --> 00:15:53,739 Because as a Christian, here's what happens. The Lord God, when 237 00:15:53,739 --> 00:15:57,579 the moment you get saved gives you the Holy Spirit. And you know 238 00:15:57,579 --> 00:16:02,749 what you get? There is joy, unspeakable and full of glory. There's 239 00:16:02,749 --> 00:16:08,189 a joy. See, happiness is brought on by happenstance or by 240 00:16:08,429 --> 00:16:15,389 outside things, right? Joy is an inward holy spirit working and 241 00:16:15,389 --> 00:16:20,109 doing. And when you don't pursue the things of God and you 242 00:16:20,109 --> 00:16:24,109 pursue the things of the world, what happens is that it encompasses 243 00:16:24,109 --> 00:16:30,799 you or it engulfs you. You ever see a fire that is. I mean, 244 00:16:30,799 --> 00:16:34,999 it's just going. You know, we would say that thing is engulfed. 245 00:16:36,439 --> 00:16:40,759 Sometimes in our life, we are engulfed by the pursuit of happiness. 246 00:16:41,239 --> 00:16:43,319 Go to chapter 12. I love chapter 12. 247 00:16:44,279 --> 00:16:45,999 I always tell people, you know, when. 248 00:16:45,999 --> 00:16:48,239 You get saved, probably not the first book you ought to read 249 00:16:48,239 --> 00:16:49,719 is the book of Ecclesiastes. 250 00:16:52,119 --> 00:16:56,579 Nor probably the Song of Solomon. Amen. You ever read the 251 00:16:56,579 --> 00:16:57,299 Song of Solomon? 252 00:16:57,299 --> 00:16:58,699 You kind of blush reading it. You're like. 253 00:17:00,939 --> 00:17:02,299 You don't hear many messages. 254 00:17:02,299 --> 00:17:05,939 Out of some of those scriptures, do you? You can maybe 255 00:17:05,939 --> 00:17:08,939 write your wife a love letter and say Song of Solomon, you know, 256 00:17:09,099 --> 00:17:18,499 SOS 13. I don't know what that one is. But here Solomon says, you 257 00:17:18,499 --> 00:17:26,109 know what? I tried everything that I could to find happiness. I 258 00:17:26,109 --> 00:17:29,949 had my house full of things. I had the gold, I had the silver. I 259 00:17:29,949 --> 00:17:30,549 had the people. 260 00:17:31,109 --> 00:17:34,229 I had people that if I just went like this, they would go, yes, 261 00:17:34,229 --> 00:17:38,549 King, what can we do for you? He was the wisest man that had ever 262 00:17:38,549 --> 00:17:42,389 walked the face of the earth, humanistically speaking. He was the 263 00:17:42,389 --> 00:17:46,389 son of David. He was king. As a matter of fact, he called him king 264 00:17:46,389 --> 00:17:50,709 of Jerusalem and Judah too, at that time, because it was the united 265 00:17:50,789 --> 00:17:53,648 kingdom. But here he was. Here he's king. He's everything. 266 00:17:55,408 --> 00:18:02,648 But later in life, Solomon's sitting down and going, it ain't 267 00:18:02,648 --> 00:18:07,847 worth it. But you know what is worth it? Here's what he tells us. 268 00:18:07,847 --> 00:18:10,528 Look at the good stuff. He says here two things, and I'm done 269 00:18:10,528 --> 00:18:15,168 tonight. Instead of pursuing happiness, we should pursue God, 270 00:18:15,328 --> 00:18:17,328 who can give you happiness and joy. 271 00:18:18,969 --> 00:18:19,649 Notice what he says. 272 00:18:19,649 --> 00:18:23,129 He says, let us hear the conclusion. Chapter 12, verse 13 273 00:18:23,449 --> 00:18:27,169 says, Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter. You 274 00:18:27,169 --> 00:18:33,408 know what that means? That's when a pastor says, last point, 10 275 00:18:33,408 --> 00:18:41,369 more minutes notice. Notice when you get to the last two verses 276 00:18:41,449 --> 00:18:46,499 of the book of Ecclesiastes. It's amazing because he's been real 277 00:18:46,499 --> 00:18:47,779 wordy up to this point. 278 00:18:48,579 --> 00:18:51,379 You read it, he has. He said, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah. 279 00:18:51,379 --> 00:18:52,739 I mean, he's giving you lists of stuff. 280 00:18:52,739 --> 00:18:54,339 And he says two things right here. 281 00:18:54,339 --> 00:18:58,299 Here's the whole matter. What is it? What is it, Solomon? Tell 282 00:18:58,299 --> 00:18:59,219 us, what is it? 283 00:19:00,659 --> 00:19:03,139 Number one, fear God. 284 00:19:04,659 --> 00:19:06,619 Okay, okay, give me sub points. 285 00:19:06,619 --> 00:19:12,499 Solomon, now. Fear God. I want you to think about this for a moment. 286 00:19:13,459 --> 00:19:19,219 Do you know when Solomon was writing this, who people feared? 287 00:19:19,939 --> 00:19:23,619 They feared the king because he could end their lives. 288 00:19:24,179 --> 00:19:27,019 He could make their lives miserable. But he said, don't fear 289 00:19:27,019 --> 00:19:31,299 me. Don't fear the king, but fear the King of kings. Fear God. 290 00:19:31,379 --> 00:19:36,299 Listen, there's no fear of God anymore. People will say the Lord's 291 00:19:36,299 --> 00:19:41,249 name in vain like never before. You can't watch a commercial 292 00:19:41,249 --> 00:19:45,089 anymore without them. And things that are on TV now that I'm 293 00:19:45,089 --> 00:19:49,009 telling you, you watch regular CBS or something like that or regular. 294 00:19:49,009 --> 00:19:53,929 We used to call it regular tv. Remember when you could antenna, 295 00:19:53,929 --> 00:19:56,889 you know, regular tv? They didn't cuss on there. But if you 296 00:19:56,889 --> 00:20:02,009 had hbo. No, no, no, we're not getting that. But today they'll say 297 00:20:02,009 --> 00:20:06,289 the Lord's name in vain like that all day long. You say, how do 298 00:20:06,289 --> 00:20:13,689 you know? Because somebody told me. I won't say Clay's name 299 00:20:13,689 --> 00:20:21,329 in front of everybody. Fear God. You know what Proverbs 17 says? 300 00:20:21,329 --> 00:20:25,849 Guess who wrote this, by the way? Solomon. Fear the Lord. The 301 00:20:25,849 --> 00:20:28,689 fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools 302 00:20:28,689 --> 00:20:32,259 despise wisdom and instruction. He said in Proverbs 303 00:20:32,259 --> 00:20:36,499 15:16, he said, Better is little with fear of the Lord than 304 00:20:36,499 --> 00:20:42,339 great treasure and trouble therewith. He said, fear God. Notice 305 00:20:42,339 --> 00:20:47,339 what he says. Secondly, he said, keep his commandments. He said, 306 00:20:47,339 --> 00:20:48,819 keep his commandments, for this. 307 00:20:48,819 --> 00:20:51,899 Is the whole duty of man. If you want to know what to do tonight 308 00:20:52,059 --> 00:20:55,899 and you say, I don't know what to do. I told my wife, I said, I'm. 309 00:20:55,899 --> 00:20:58,059 Going to print me a T shirt up and a hat. 310 00:20:58,499 --> 00:20:59,699 And you know what it's going to say? 311 00:20:59,699 --> 00:21:02,499 I don't know. People have been asking me, what are you going to 312 00:21:02,499 --> 00:21:08,259 do? I don't know. Where are you going? I don't know. You asked 313 00:21:08,259 --> 00:21:11,859 me a question. That's probably going to be my. I don't know. I don't 314 00:21:11,859 --> 00:21:15,059 know. I've been waiting for the Lord to use billboards again. 315 00:21:15,619 --> 00:21:18,339 I don't know if he ever used them. But I'd love to drive by a 316 00:21:18,339 --> 00:21:28,709 billboard and it says, michael Wiggins, move to. That wasn't like 317 00:21:28,709 --> 00:21:37,149 a manly, but take it. Keep his commandments. Do you know? First 318 00:21:37,149 --> 00:21:42,269 John is full of the statement, keep his commandments. And you know 319 00:21:42,269 --> 00:21:45,229 what? First John deals with our relationship with our Father, 320 00:21:45,229 --> 00:21:48,429 the fellowship and the relationship we have with our Father. 321 00:21:49,639 --> 00:21:53,479 John reminds us over and over again, keep his commandments, keep 322 00:21:53,479 --> 00:21:57,639 his word. Solomon gets to the end of his life. He's like, the pursuit 323 00:21:57,639 --> 00:22:02,079 of happiness is empty. It's so empty, isn't it? I'm telling you, 324 00:22:02,079 --> 00:22:05,999 people. People try. So exhausting. And it will engulf you. 325 00:22:05,999 --> 00:22:10,079 It will take over your life if you're not careful. You say, how 326 00:22:10,079 --> 00:22:17,359 do I break free of that fear, God? Keep his commandments. Do you 327 00:22:17,359 --> 00:22:22,119 know what Jesus told his disciples when he chose them? He 328 00:22:22,119 --> 00:22:24,919 said something amazing that we just kind of look over. I think sometimes 329 00:22:24,919 --> 00:22:27,119 he said this, follow me. 330 00:22:28,159 --> 00:22:31,519 Matter of fact, he told me, he said, take up your cross and follow 331 00:22:31,679 --> 00:22:34,239 me. You know what that means? Pursue me. 332 00:22:36,159 --> 00:22:38,759 I was driving through Saginaw getting here, and I thought Officer 333 00:22:38,759 --> 00:22:42,389 Biddle was working, so I was speeding through. I'm in a rental 334 00:22:42,389 --> 00:22:44,349 car that says Georgia tags on it. I'm just kidding. 335 00:22:44,349 --> 00:22:47,309 I don't but you know what? If you. 336 00:22:47,309 --> 00:22:51,709 If you got blue lights behind you and you don't pull over, guess 337 00:22:51,709 --> 00:22:52,389 what they call it? 338 00:22:52,389 --> 00:22:55,429 A pursuit. You know what that means? 339 00:22:56,069 --> 00:23:00,629 They're going to stay with you if they can and probably going to 340 00:23:00,629 --> 00:23:04,109 pitch you, and then you'll be on the news. No, they're going to 341 00:23:04,109 --> 00:23:09,369 pursue you. That means to stay with. God asked us to stay with him. 342 00:23:09,369 --> 00:23:18,209 Follow me, Pursue me. I love what Solomon said in Proverbs 8, 343 00:23:18,209 --> 00:23:23,889 verse 17, in that little. There's like three verses there. 344 00:23:23,889 --> 00:23:27,969 He says that if you'll seek him, he says, you shall find Him. 345 00:23:28,769 --> 00:23:31,969 He says this, if you pursue God, guess what? You'll find Him. 346 00:23:33,659 --> 00:23:38,019 Jesus wants us to pursue him tonight. He wants us to take up our 347 00:23:38,019 --> 00:23:40,779 cross and to follow him and pursue him tonight. 348 00:23:41,739 --> 00:23:44,779 And in the midst of pursuing him, you're going to find happiness, 349 00:23:44,779 --> 00:23:47,939 you're going to find joy. You're going to find that God is 350 00:23:47,939 --> 00:23:50,699 going to lay up treasures in heaven that you don't even know about. 351 00:23:52,459 --> 00:23:55,579 I was thinking about Brother Bake and me and him have a little. 352 00:23:56,699 --> 00:24:00,629 He was just at a church not too long ago. Anyway, we won't talk 353 00:24:00,629 --> 00:24:04,829 about that. But I was thinking about him the other day. I was praying 354 00:24:04,829 --> 00:24:10,389 for him and I said, you know what? I don't know how it is. I've 355 00:24:10,389 --> 00:24:14,829 been everything in the ministry, but a missionary, okay, 356 00:24:16,109 --> 00:24:19,629 yeah, now I'm going. But you know what? You know what you think 357 00:24:19,629 --> 00:24:21,709 about these missionaries? Sometimes they spend three years 358 00:24:21,869 --> 00:24:28,239 here pursuing the funds so that they can pursue what God has 359 00:24:28,239 --> 00:24:31,679 for them. There's a waiting period there. Could you imagine if 360 00:24:31,679 --> 00:24:35,479 you called somebody to be your pastor and you had to wait three 361 00:24:35,479 --> 00:24:38,399 years for them to be your pastor? That'd be something, wouldn't 362 00:24:38,399 --> 00:24:42,719 it? But you know what? Here's what God says. You can pursue me 363 00:24:42,719 --> 00:24:48,439 and guess when you can start. Right now. Fear God, Keep my commandments. 364 00:24:48,439 --> 00:24:54,359 Solomon said, this is the conclusion of the whole matter. So 365 00:24:54,359 --> 00:24:58,199 many times we pursue the things of this world. And he reminds 366 00:24:58,199 --> 00:25:04,759 us where rust and moth and all that dust corrupted. I do not miss 367 00:25:04,759 --> 00:25:10,479 the Texas traffic. I do not miss the Texas wind. My toupee almost 368 00:25:10,479 --> 00:25:17,479 flew off twice today, I'm telling you. And just. I mean, just 369 00:25:17,479 --> 00:25:23,589 the wind's just blowing. You know, what if God puts you in a place 370 00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:27,709 and you pursue him? If God calls you to Texas, God calls you 371 00:25:27,709 --> 00:25:31,749 to Africa. God calls you to China. God calls you to the choir. 372 00:25:31,749 --> 00:25:35,109 God calls you to Sunday school class, you know what he's going to 373 00:25:35,109 --> 00:25:41,389 do? He's going to provide for you as long as you pursue him. And 374 00:25:41,389 --> 00:25:44,709 so many times in this world we pursue the things of this world. 375 00:25:46,039 --> 00:25:50,959 At the end of it you just got nothing in your hands. Breaks my 376 00:25:50,959 --> 00:25:57,199 heart to see people get to an age of retirement and that they pass 377 00:25:57,199 --> 00:26:00,199 away or whatever it may be and all that stuff's gone. Guess who 378 00:26:00,199 --> 00:26:05,199 gets it? The kids who don't deserve it. But you know what? We 379 00:26:05,199 --> 00:26:13,409 can pursue God and at the end of it we are laying up treasures 380 00:26:13,409 --> 00:26:17,569 in heaven and I'm so thankful for that. You want to stand tonight 381 00:26:17,729 --> 00:26:20,409 and I'll pray and pastor you come. Father, we love you and thank 382 00:26:20,409 --> 00:26:23,449 you God for your love for us. Lord, I pray you bless this time 383 00:26:23,449 --> 00:26:25,649 that we've had in your word. And Lord thank you for the words 384 00:26:25,649 --> 00:26:28,889 of Solomon, Lord that they were inspired by the Holy Spirit 385 00:26:28,889 --> 00:26:34,809 of God for us tonight. And Lord help us to be in pursuit of 386 00:26:34,809 --> 00:26:38,529 you. We ask your blessing now in Jesus name, amen.