The Path of Proverbs | Senior Pastor Kenneth Carpenter

Well, good morning in Jesus name. For this is the day that the Lord have made. I will rejoice in it and be exceedingly glad. You can make your way back to your pew at this time and if you would you may be seated here in the auditorium. Thank you so much choir. Absolutely amazing. Absolutely amazing choir today. Praise team usher us into the presence of God. I want to welcome some special guests with us today. Uh, brother Carl and sister Connie Perry have been teaching some Bible studies uh to some precious people that just want to know more about the word of God. And uh I think last week or so we baptized John and John's mother's here with us today and that whole group over there. We're so glad to have you all at First Apostolic Church. Thank you so much. Thank you so much for being with us today. And um several years ago, we had a family that moved here. Brother and sister Quesbo and Mark uh moved to First Apostolic Church from Titusville, Florida. Brother How Kennedy's church. And brother Hal Kennedy was quite the preacher, but he's also quite the Southern Gospel singer and very well known there in in the Southern Gospel uh arena. and uh brother Hal Kennedy's went on to be with the Lord, but this morning his son and daughter-in-law are here today. Would they stand right now? We'd like just to say thank you so very very much. Thank you over here. So good to have you all. Uh your father certainly blessed us with brother Earl, sister Roberta Casebo, and then the family that is here, the Cognos. We're so thankful. And then uh I know the the Newberry family, they're smiling a little bit uh wider today than they normally do cuz they've got their children down from up north and we're so glad to have you all here. We love your mom and dad. Um they're quite a blessing. They're quite they're quite a blessing today. How many's ready to receive the word of God? >> Ready to receive the word of God? you'd stand with me this morning. And it's just as we stand, I tell you why we stand. If we're physically able to stand, I tell you why we stand. We stand in honor of the reading of God's word. U the the the honor of the reading of God's word that they're physically able to stand. It's similar uh comparable uh when you're in a courtroom and the judge walks out. Somebody will come out and say, "All rise." And it's just giving honor to the man there in the black robe. And um but today I ask you to stand because the word of God is clothed in righteousness and mercy and peace and grace that we're going to receive this morning. The book of Proverbs chapter number one. Proverbs chapter number one and verse number one simply reads as follows. the proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel, to know wisdom and instruction. To perceive the words of understanding, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equality. to give stability to the simple and to the young man knowledge and discretion. A wise man will hear and will increase learning. A man of understanding shall attain unto wise counelss. The un to understand a proverb and the interpretation the words of the wise and their dark sayings. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck. For a few moments this morning, I want to do a little Bible teaching on the path of Proverbs. The path of Proverbs. Before we do that, we want to go before the Lord in prayer. Please remember to pray for sister Rebecca Long. She had shoulder replacement this week. And let's pray for her full recover recovery. Mother Xander and a minister friend of ours down in Mississippi, Brother Jerry Wilson needs a touch from the Lord today. I got a note uh here that Brother Patrick Campbell is going to be having his surgery coming up this next week and let's remember him. And then at the end of my message today, we gather in the altar if one of the elders would go and anoint a prayer cloth for brother Patrick that he could wear during his surgery. Would you join me in prayer at this time? Father, we love you. We thank you, God, for the move of your spirit that we have felt, the lifechanging move of your spirit, the praises of the redeemed today, the people that have been set free and now they have come back into your house, God, to give you praise and to give you worship. Lord, I pray you've heard the names that were spoken and you see the names that will scroll across our screen today. And you know all of our needs, Lord Jesus, and please answer them according to your perfect will, Lord. You have all power in heaven and in earth. And I just ask you today, Lord, to move upon our request, Father, for the next few moments, would you anoint my mind, anoint my heart, anoint the ears of the people today, God, that we would go in the path of Proverbs. We'll give you praise and honor and glory. In Jesus' name we pray. Before you're seated, give Jesus a great big hand of praise right now. Give him a great big hand of praise. Thank the Lord. You may be seated. The path of Proverbs. I hear this often as a pastor. Pastor, I want to serve God. Where do I start? Or I hear it from people that have been in church. I hear this often. Pastor, I want to recommmit my life back to God. What is my first steps? What is my first steps? I want to give my life to God. I want to serve God. I want to recommmit my life back to God. And I'm going to tell you the first steps that you can find is in that one book in the Bible. Out of 66 books, there's one book in the Bible called Proverbs. Proverbs. As a matter of fact, it would be a neat thing to do. Today is the last day of May. That's hard to believe, isn't it? Today is the last day of May and tomorrow is June 1st. June has 30 days uh 30 days in it. If you included chapter one of Proverbs being today, if you start reading a pro a chapter a day, just a chapter a day from Proverbs, by the end of June, you have re you have read the entire book of Proverbs. What is a proverb? What is a proverb exactly? Well, just simply put, a proverb is a wise saying instructing in practical common sense behavior. Just practical common sense behavior. And I know we're living in a generation that common sense is not really common anymore, but just good basic common sense. Proverbs is a lot like uh some sayings that we have. A stitch in time saves nine. Well, what does that mean? A stitch in time saves nine. Well, it simply means fixing a small problem early presents bigger ones later. A stitch in time is worth nine. How about this one? Don't count your chickens before they hatch. What does that mean? Just don't assume success too soon. All right? Don't just don't just assume success. Wait till it comes and the check clears. All right? You got to don't count your chickens till they hatch. How about actions speak louder than words? How about the early bird gets the Well, these are not in the Bible. They're not in the book of Proverbs, but that's what Proverbs is. That's what these 31 That's what these 31 chapters are filled with. Just good basic, skillful, common sense behavior. And I got good news. You don't have to be educated to understand Proverbs. You don't have to have a college degree, a Bible school degree. You don't even have to have a high school diploma to understand Proverbs because Proverbs is about skillful living. Skillful living. You're living your life skillfully. You're living your life on purpose. Now, when we begin to read the book of Proverbs, the first few verses are telling about what a proverb is. it uh it it just says the purpose of Proverbs, the purpose of the book, you if you write in your Bible, if you if you write in your Bible, you could say that verses 1-5 is just simply telling you what Proverbs will do for you. Uh it will give you wisdom. It will instruct you. It will cause you to perceive and understand wise sayings. you you'll not just hear them, but you'll actually understand them. Do you do you know, church, that when the Apostle Paul writes about praying for churches, he never really presents a need. He never says, you know, this church needs money or this church needs this. But when Paul writes and prays for the church, he always has a common theme that God would give you the spirit of revelation and understanding of the doctrine. He he wanted them to understand the doctrine. You see, sometimes we can obey something or we can hear something that we don't necessarily understand. And I would imagine today that if you're a guest here to First Apostolic Church or you're not familiar with Pentecost that there would be a lot of worship that took place in this room today that you would just simply say, "Well, I don't understand that. I don't I I I don't I don't I don't understand that." Well, that's okay because the knowledge of God is going to come and you're going to understand why you do certain things. So, it goes all the way from verses one to verse five. And and then it it simply talks about a wise man will hear and increase learning. A man of understanding shall attain and to wise counselss. In other words, you're going to get outside of yourself. You're going to understand that no one person has all knowledge. And you're going to understand that you need other people and you need other you need the right voices in your life. Amen. You need the right voices in your life. And so Proverbs is telling this is what it's this is what it's for. And then it comes down to verse seven and it really turns the corner because if you don't get this, nothing else will work living for God. It's the first thing you have to have in your life. It's the first thing you have to have. And here it is. Verse seven. The fear of the Lord is the beginning. Look at that word. Is the beginning of knowledge. But look at the contrast here. But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Well, I I want I think we all could agree today. I don't want to fall in the category of a fool. All right. I want to fall in the category of the fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. You don't you don't really know what you need to do. You don't really have understanding in what you need to do until you have the fear of the Lord. Now, let me tell you something. Here's what the fear of the Lord is. And I'll tell you what it isn't. Here's what it is. The fear of the Lord is a respect for the holy. It is a respect for the holy. It is an acknowledgment of God. It is a respect. Listen to this closely. It is a respect that is manifested in our daily actions and decisions. It is an awareness of the presence of God and a desire to please God. Let's look at that again. The fear of the Lord is is it is an acknowledgment of his. It is a respect for the holy. It is it is an attitude that is manifest. See too many people try to serve Jesus on Sunday and Wednesday. They try to serve Jesus one day a week. Too many people think they can serve Jesus by coming to church on Christmas and Easter. All right. But do you know you will never serve God just with one day a week? You will never serve God with two days out of the year. If you're going to serve God, it is going to be a daily a daily decision that you make because God is just as real in the morning as he is right now. God's not more real because I've got my Bible tucked under my arm and I've got a suit on and I'm in a holy place. No, no, no. God is just as real in the morning when my hair is not combed as neatly as it is right now. God is just as real in my life. And if you believe that, say amen. >> Well, if he's just as real, then my actions and my attitudes and my behavior should be no, I'm at church. I'm on my best behavior. We'll never get anywhere with God >> with that kind of mentality. So, let me read it again. The fear of the Lord is a respect for the Holy, a respect that is manifested in our daily actions and decisions. It is an awareness of the presence of God. And then, I love this. And my desire to please him. Don't you want to please God? Don't Don't you want God to be pleased with you? You know the people in your life that you love, the people in your life that you love, guess what you have connected to that? You want to please them. And the God that we serve, we want to please God. But here it is. Do you realize that God can be pleased by our skillful actions in life or God can be grieved? God can be pleased with how I behave or God can be grieved. He can be pleased or he can be grieved. Genesis 5:24, look at this man. It's possible to please God. Genesis 5:24, Enoch walked with God and he was not for God took him. What's that mean? He He There's this man in the Old Testament named Enoch that so pleased God that one day God just looked down upon the earth and God took him to heaven. God just took him to heaven. Somebody's looking for Enoch. Where'd Enoch go? Somebody had to Maybe he's just seen him. I don't know. It's not necessarily in the Bible, but maybe somebody just seen him go up into heaven. Just God just God just took him. Well, why would God look down upon an earth and just take one man? The answer to that is found in Hebrews 11 and5. You still with me this morning? Hebrews 11 and5. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him. For before his translation, he had this testimony that he what? >> He pleased God. Man, I want to get out of this old earth one day. Don't you? This earth is not eternal. Heaven is eternal. I want to get out of here one day. And the only way I'm gonna get out of this old earth one day is to live a life that is pleasing that is pleasing to God. Now, if it's possible, brother Nolan, to please God, it's possible to grieve God. I invite your attention to the book of Ephesians, chapter number four, verse number 29. And I would like to remind you that re Ephesians, the book of Ephesians was written to saved people. It's written to people that are already baptized, already filled with the Holy Ghost, and already striving to live for God. So now, I want you to know, Ephesians was not written to the Boy Club, and Ephesians was not written to Washington, DC. It wasn't written to Las Vegas. It wasn't it wasn't written to people that were, you know, just uh uh uh sinful people. It was written to church just like this one. Well, what do you want us to know, Paul? Here's what I want you to know. Verse 29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearer, and do what? And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. whereby ye are sealed under the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake had forgiven you. Can I tell you that this morning that we can please God with our mouths, but we can also grieve God with what we say. And he's talking about how we treat one another and how we speak to one another and how we talk to one another and how we build. And this could go into your home life, husbands and wives. And and it could go into your children. It could go into your fellow brothers and sisters. It could it could go into that. Oh, I want my speech to please God. I I I I want what I say to walk away. I I don't want to get around people. I I I don't want to get around people. And after after I'm done, I walk away and I feel like I need a shower. I just feel like I just need a I just need a shower. There was nothing good being said. There was nothing positive being said. I just I I you know, I I just feel like, you know, uh just just I just need a good shower. But but then there's those people you get around and and they're talking upbeat and they're talking positive and and and and when a problem comes up, a solution is given and and and they're talking about better days ahead, not better days were behind and you leave them people and you just feel like you could run through a troop and leap over a wall and you just feel like you can do all things through Christ, you know? Oh, I want I want to please God. Let me tell you what the fear of the Lord isn't. The fear of God is that God is watching me to see if I step out of line so he can warp me over the head. Oh, God is just watching us today. He's waiting. He's the spiritual cop hid in the bushes with the radar gun just waiting to write you up. Please get that image of God out of your mind if you only knew how much God loved you. But you see, you don't know it until you start reading your Bible, until you start getting around other people, other people. And then you'll start finding out he really loves me. Because you can set like I did when I first came to God and I sat in the congregation of the holy or the righteous and the perfect, you know, the perfect people. That was my that's what I thought they were. They were perfect without flaw. They were holy and righteous and angel wings were under their coats and and dust was coming from heaven. I mean, it was just I was the rotten low down sinner in the in the group and and when they find out truly who I am, they'll they'll surely ask me to leave here. But, you know, I stayed around long enough to hear testimonies. I I heard testimonies of people that that had lived a life just like I had lived, but now they were these people that I thought were flawless and and and and all of that. And and I fig I figured out just how much God loves us. God is no respector of persons. God loves us all equally. God has a plan for all of us. God has a work for all of us. Come on. Can you give him some praise and honor that God has a plan? No. The fear of God isn't God is watching me to see me to see if I step out of line. Let me tell you something else. God isn't. God isn't someone God isn't someone. There's the consequences of sin. I understand that. But God isn't someone that years after you've trespassed him and years after you have repented and asked God to forgive and something tragic happens to you, don't you allow your mind to start thinking, "This is God paying me back. This is God getting even." Can I tell you, you'll never walk with God if it's a God that is going to get you back. No marriage survives keeping score. >> Well, you did this, I'm going to do that. Well, you said this, I No, no, no. No marriage survives. Fear of God, is it God watching me to see if I step out of line? The motive, the motive for resisting temptation isn't a fear of hell, but a heart that desires to please God. Well, well, I I don't do that. I don't want to go to hell. I don't Please, please get wisdom in your life. Get get some wisdom in your life. Well, we we don't do this because, you know, we don't do this. And there are some things in the word of God that are plainly written that we don't do. And there are some things that are not plainly written in the word of God that we don't do. All right? But we don't do them out of a fear. A fear if I do this, I'll go to hell. If I do this, you know, some people come to the altar to get fire insurance, you know, you you won't live for God long that way. You know why you should resist temptation? Do you know why that when you fall, you should get back up? You know why you should do that? Because it's pleasing to God. >> It pleases God that I behave this way. But please understand, go back to verse 7 of chapter 1 of Proverbs. Let's look at the contrast here. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wi of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom. Look at the contrast. Fear of God is the beginning of knowledge. The fear of God is that wise person that reads a wise book called the Bible who hears wise preaching who hangs out and fellowships with wise people. All right, that's the beginning of knowledge. But then it simply says, but fools. Look at the contrast. But fools, what did they do? They despise wisdom and instruction. They, you know, it's it's amazing today. Nobody is trying to make anybody live right. All right. No, nobody the way we live, the way we live as Christians, we're not trying to make sinners live right. >> We're trying to shine a light for them, but we're not trying to make them. Isn't it amazing today? You can be despised by people that you don't even know. You can be despised by people that don't even know you. They just know what you stand for. They just know who you are. Oh, you're from the south. You travel sometimes and and people say, "Oh, you're from the south. You must be this political party or you must be that polit or you or you must this and that." Can I tell you that I don't want to be known for my political party? I want to be known by the God who saved me. >> That's who I want to be known by. I want to be known by the God who saved me. But fools despise wisdom and instruction. They just don't want this kind of living. and just don't tell me who are you to tell me what to do. Who are you to tell me what I'm to do? Let's see if we can find the wise man and the fool together. Matthew chapter 7:24. Is this all right this morning? >> And my wife often tells me, she sometimes writes things down, I say, and she'll she'll tell me in the car, "Well, you said this and you said that." And and I I I appreciate my help, mate. I'm a better man. I am a better man because of my million-dollar penny today. I promise you I'm I'm I'm a better I'm a better person. But she'll she'll chuckle. She'll say, "What are you going to do one day when you're preaching and you say, "Is this all right?" And somebody says, "It's not. We just rebuke them." Matthew chapter 7 verse number 24. Listen to Jesus. Matthew 7:24. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him unto what? Help me now. >> What kind of man is he? >> A wise man. Which built his house upon a rock. And when the rain descended, floods came, the winds blew, beat upon the house, it fell not, for it was founded upon a rock. That's how a wise man builds his house. Verse 26. And everyone that heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not shall be likened unto a what? >> Foolish man. Here we are. Which built his house upon the sand. The rain descended, the floods came, the winds blew, and beat upon the house, and it fell. And great was the fall of it. Can I tell you what a wise man does? Can I tell you what a a wise husband does? Can I tell you what a wise family does? A wise father does. He values his family. He values his spouse. And he wants to build his house. We're not talking about a We're not talking about where you live, your address. We're talking about your spiritual house. You build that house so that it is safe for your family. So it is safe for your family. The wise man has a value for his family. He has a value for their future. A house without a foundation is unsafe. But can I tell you a wise man has to work more, give more, do more to have a house on the rock. It does take more. If you want a safe house, it's going to cost you more. But the cost is no problem. When years you begin to see the product of the cost that you pay. Amen. >> The cost the cost. The wise man values his family, his future. See, the wise man steps out and says, "It's not raining today, but it's going to rain." The wise man steps out and says, "It's not flooding right now, but it's going to flood." The wise man steps out and says the wind is very calm, but he knows storms come. >> He knows that they can come. That's why, and we have come through a season. I don't know how many couples in this church has got married the last seven or eight weeks. I seem like every Friday night I'm marrying somebody and eating cake later. I mean, it just seemed like we're just just just one, right? But I'm gonna tell you, we we we try in marriage counseling, Pastor and Sister Ericson, in in the mar premarital counseling. They're telling them it's not if you have a disagreement, it's when you have a disagreement. >> It's not when you adjust. It's it's not when we So, you you paint an unrealistic. See, I I personally believe we ought to have a reality wedding. We ought to have a reality wedding. I believe we need to get the bride up at 5:00 in the morning and march her here to church. I believe that we need to get the groom who's worked all day long and his armpits uh uh are not that sweet cologne aroma and bring him up here. And then I believe that we need to get some sick babies and some dirty diapers instead of having little beautiful candles lining the aisles. We just hang dirty diapers and bills and overdoses and all of that. man said, "Me and my wife been married years and never have an argument." I said, "What other lie you going to tell me?" All right. You see, the wise man said, "It's going to cost me more." Cuz remember what Jesus said? He said he digs down deep. He dig down deep. This parable is told in another book, the book of uh I believe the book of Luke tells it. The book of Luke says the man dug down. What did you dig down? What was you digging in? Dirt. What are we made from? Dirt. If you want to be a wise man or woman, you got to get the dirt out of your life. >> And I'm going to tell you, it's not a one day a week thing, and it's not a two day a year thing. It's an everyday thing. You got to say, "Hey, that's dirt talking right there. Hey, that's dirt thinking right there. Hey, I I spoke to this one. That was dirt coming out. You got to keep on digging till you get your life on the rock. And then when the rains come and the winds blow and the floods surround the house, you stay in the house because it's a safe place. But the fool the fool fool doesn't have to do much work. Matter of fact, if a if a wise man and a fool start building at the same time, the w the fool is so Oh, man. Wow. The wise man is wiping sweat. He got a bandana around his head. He's wiping sweat and digging. Well, the fool's already brother Perry got it framed up over here. While while I'm digging in the dirt, the fool's already got a roof on. While I I'm digging in the dirt, the fool's already put his four-wheeler in the garage. While I'm digging in the dirt, the fool's already hung the bicycles up. While I'm digging in the garage, while I'm digging in the ground, the fool's already parked his motor home there. While I'm digging in the dirt, Brother Tyler, the fool's already put his pool in the house. Now, I'm going to tell you something. There's nothing wrong with four-wheelers, bicycles, pools, or motor homes unless you're not on the rock. Cuz we have too many people in America today that think that things are going to make them happy. >> A bigger house. >> A trophy wife. On and on it goes. This this and that, this vacation, that vacation, this this uh fool willing. And again, there's nothing wrong with that unless you're not on the rock. >> And if you're not on the rock, can I tell you something? A storm will come that no four-wheeler, no bicycle, no pool in your backyard will be able to ward it off when the storm comes. >> What do you do when the storm comes and there's no foundation? There's no no foundation. Let me read to you coming to a close here in a moment. Matter of fact, I go ahead and ask our musicians if they would come. Let's look at something. How many is interested in preaching about the last days? How many's interested? Our our news. You You realize the Middle East is a hot bed right now. The end of time. Anybody interested in the end of time? Things happening in the end of time. Well, let's look at a couple verses here. Lukeap 17 26. Luke 17:26 Jesus says, "And as it was in the days of Noey or Noah, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of Man, his return." They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage until the day that Noi entered the ark, flood came, destroyed them all. Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot, they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built it. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Jesus talked about the end of time, the end of the world. They asked, "When shall these things be?" Obviously did not give them the date, but he told them the season. He told him he told them what it would look like. What it would look like. Notice something with me, church. Two things are taking place at the same time. Look with me. Two things are taking place at the same time. What is it? Judgment, destruction, deliverance, and protection. Two things are taking place at the same time. The wise man and the fool is taking place at the same time. Where do you see the wise man and the fool here? Well, Noah is a wise man because Noah, according to Hebrews 11:7, by faith, Noah being warned of God of things not seen as yet. Can I tell you, a fool has to see it to believe it. A fool says, "There's a God. Let him come down here and talk to me. If he'll come down here and talk to me, I'll believe him." That's what the fool Noah could have said, "What? It's the middle of the desert." What? The nearest body of water is 100 or so miles away. Build a boat. Call animals in. Floods coming. Destruction of the whole earth. That's what a fool does. But when Noah hears from God, being warned of God, verse seven, of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his what? House, by which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. What's going on? There's a wise man named Noah that's got his family. Boy, Shim, bring me another board. bring me another bucket of nails. Ham, bring me some more Do this and do that. It's going to rain. The judgments of God are coming. The foolish, they were drinking, they were marrying, that were given in marriage. Life was going on and on and on and on and on and on. until the day that Noah entered the ark and the flood came. I want you to know this morning that you still have time to go from a foolish person to a wise person. You have time this Sunday morning at 11:20. You have time to decide. No longer I'm going to live my life to survive, but I'm going to give my life to God. I'm going to start every father, every husband, every mother, every wife. Likewise, as it was in the days of Lot, look at verse 26, 28 again. What was going on in the days of Lot? They did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they built it. But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom, it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all. Here it is. Here it is. Lot. And I I I believe that Lot gets a bad rap. And I'm going to show you in a moment why. I I know Lot made some horrible decisions. But if I would lead the way, James, if I would lead the way, would it help everybody else? Lot made some horrible decisions, but so have I. Well, does anybody else slide their hand up in the air? So, before we get on our high horse about Lot, we're no different than Lot. We've all made bad decisions. We've all ended up in places we didn't want to be. That was a lot. was locked. Wait a minute. Second Peter chapter 2 verse number 6 is rehearsing the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Look at look at second Peter chapter 2:6. And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes. It's what God did. He rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah. He didn't wait for Sodom and Gomorrah to go to hell. He took hell to Sodom and Gomorrah. He condemned them with an overflow, overthrow, making them an example unto those that after should live ungodly. He did it to Sodom and Gomorrah. So that in the 21st century, people that want to live like they live should see the destruction. But I'm not done. Verse seven. And delivered just Lot vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked. For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds. The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished. Yes, Lot made a lot of bad decisions. Lot made a Lot got his family too close to the world and he paid the price for it. But at the end of the day, people that make the wrong and the bad decisions, thank God, through Jesus Christ, our merciful savior, we can turn things around and we can become the people that God says. Three children, we have Fallon, Lauren, and Nolan. Have they displeased me at times? Yeah. Yeah. Growing up, Growing up there were times I was displeased with them. If they displeased me a whole lot, they felt it could take you to the place on the bridge on the parkway out here where a little girl named Fallon was being mauy in the backseat of the car. And I said, "Fallon, if you say another word, I'm going to pull this car over and spank you. No, you won't. I'm not I'm not I'm not saying that bragging. You know why I did that? I love her. I love her. But you know something? I'm so proud of them. I'm so proud of the of the people that my children have become. I'm so proud of the lives that they're living. I'm I'm so proud that I bump into them in prayer. I'm so proud of their walk with God. Can I tell you as an earthly father, if I can remember things, I was displeased, but I don't remember them often. But when I begin to see their life right now, our heavenly father is no different this morning. Yes, I've done things to displease God. You've done things to displease God. But aren't you thankful for a merciful, loving, graceful father? Go ahead and stand with me right now. A merciful, graceful father, I forgive you. It's a lot. You get a bad rap. I know. But the Bible calls you a righteous man. The Bible calls you a just man. And here's my last verse for the day. Proverbs 24 and 16. See, this is this path of Proverbs here. Here's here's one. Here's a stitch in time saves nine. Here's an early bird gets the worm. Here's don't count your chickens till they hatch. Here's a wise spiritual proverb. For a just man fallth seven times, and rising up again, but the wicked shall fall into mischief. Can I tell you something? Yes. Just people, wise people can have falls in their life, but God doesn't keep count of how many times you've fall fallen. He sees that eighth time that you get back up. He sees that eighth time that you get it all together. Well, I've tried, church. Try it again. I've tried this. Try it again. You see, when the Bible said a a just man falls seven times, it's not counting 1 2 3 4 5 6 seven. Seven is a number of completion. It's a number of completion. The earth was created in seven. Seven days, six days, seven day rested. Seven's all through the Bible. Seven, seven. It's a It's a completion. It's a completion. But what does eight represent? Eight represents a new beginning. With every seven, there's a new beginning. And I believe on this Sunday morning that there's people, you hear me? I feel the Holy Ghost so strong right now. There's men and women in this congregation right now that need to make their way to the altar because God's got number eight waiting on you. God's got number eight. You have fallen seven times, but you're going to get back up this morning. My life, I'm going to build my marriage. Some of you are here. Some of you here today and you're contemplating marriage. Can I tell you, don't contemplate marriage unless you build that marriage on the rock that can endure the storm. Don't build that marriage on the rock. Build that marriage on the rock that can take the wind. Build that marriage on the rock that can take the flood. Build that marriage today. Some of you today are here in this room and your life is a riv. God had you on your mind. God had you on his mind this morning. Church family, before I invite everybody in the altar, could we just pray right now for everyone that is here? Father, oh, you're going to move right now. You're going to move right now, Lord. You You are already moving right now, God. There's peoples whose eyes are already filled with tears, God. There's people here today that you've already gripped them with your holy hand today that they don't even realize that's you right now. that that's you right now, God, moving upon them. And in the name of Jesus, God, I pray they will respond to you right now. Lord, is in the name of Jesus, I pray that you would respond. Help me pray, church, if you're standing here this morning and you need to either give your life to God or need to recommmit your life to God right now. Before anybody comes, I want to give you the first opportunity to be able to come and kneel in this altar. Would you come right now? You know who you are. You know what you've been feeling. You know what your life has been like. And and and you you know you need a new beginning. You want joy. You want peace. Would you come right now? Pray with me, church. In the name of Jesus. In the name of Jesus. Young lady, you know who you are this morning. Young man, you know who you are this morning. There is a new life that's just a few feet away. There's just a new life right now that's a few feet away. There's just a new life waiting on you just a few feet away. Just a few feet away. Pray right now. Just a few feet away. Come on. Right now, answer that. Just a few feet away. Just a few feet away. The altar's right here. The Lord is looking down from heaven. He's saying, "They walked all the way to the altar for me. They walked all the way to the altar for me." Oh, yes. Right now, God. Yes. Right now, God, don't put it off another day, sir. Don't put it off another day, young woman. Don't put it up another day, young person. Don't put it up. Don't be a fool. Don't Don't be a fool. Don't be a fool right now. Don't be a fool right now. The storm is coming. My God. All right. All right. Pastor, it's it's a it's a brand new place. I'm It's a brand new place. I'm going to make it as easy as I can. You wanted to come. You wanted to walk down, but you didn't want to be the only one walking. This church family is going to respond in just a moment. And this church family is going to begin to empty the pews. And when they begin to empty the pews, why don't you just slide out on the aisle with them? Why don't you come with them this morning? Those of you that need to dedicate your life. Come on, church family. Move up as close as you can to the altar right now. This altar is going to be filled right now. The name of Jesus, you're going to move. Holy Ghost, you're moving right now. Oh, spirit of God, move right now. Oh, spirit of God, move right now, God. Come on, move up around the altar as close as you can right now. Close as you can right now. Oh, I give my life to you right now, God. Come on, singers, if you will sing. Come on. I I give my life to you right now, God. I give my all and all to you right now. Oh, I give my all and all. I'm going I'm going to listen I'm going to listen to a a wise book. I'm going to listen to a wise book that's been preached by a wise man. I'm going to go get around some wise people right now. I give you my life, Jesus. >> I give you my life, God. >> I give you my life, God. I build my life up on the rock. >> I build my life up on the rock. >> Come on, move as close as you can up around the altar this morning. >> Within your will. So I trust you. Even still, I believe you are who you say you are. You'll do what you say you'll do. You'll come through. You are always aable. I believe you've already made a way. So I'm running through party ways straight to you. You are always faithful. Jesus, you're >> holding stand. >> Holy stand. >> Every word, >> every word you say is a promise that you is from foundation. >> Cannot be shaken. >> Cannot be shaken. My God, you never fail. Never was, you never will. I You are who you say you are. You'll do what you say you'll do. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. That on that cross your blood was spilled. And by your stripes I been every promise you fulfilled. I believe. I believe that you get in victory and power is in I believe your church is still alive and will Gospel truth I live to tell. Heat. Oh yes. Let's create a great choir. Let's create a great choir. Let's sing with him today. Straight to you. You are always faithful. I'm tired of my foolish living. I'm tired of my foolish living. Oh, I'm tired of my foolish living. From today forward, I will embrace the wise word of God. I will embrace the wise word of God. I will get back up. Oh yes, Lord. Oh yes, you are. Oh, let's lift our hands right now all over this building. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God. Oh, thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Oh, thank you, God. Let's just let the Lord Come on. Let the Lord linger. Let the Lord touch you right now. You've never lifted your hands before, why don't you try it right now? You've never lifted your hands and praised to Jesus, why don't you just try it right now? You've never just If you've never just tilted your head back and verbally said, "Jesus, I love you." Why don't you try it right now with me? Oh yes, God. Hallelujah. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. Beautiful. >> Woo. Hallelujah. >> Beautiful. Glorious. >> Yes. Beautiful. >> I need some help getting this man baptized. >> If he's ready, take him up. Tell brother Eric. >> Oh yes, God. Oh yes, God. Oh yes, God. Oh yes, God. Oh yes, God. Yes, God. Yes, God. Brother Nolan, keep on praying. I need Brother Nolan. Brother Nolan. Brother Nolan. Somebody else is coming for baptism. Go ahead. Praise God. >> All right. We baptize you today in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. >> Jesus name. >> Oh yes God. Oh yes God. That's it. That's it. Oh thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Thank you Lord. Building on the rock. Building the rock. Building on the rock. I believe. I believe. I believe. I believe. Holy Ghost. Holy Ghost. Here we go. Heat. Heat. You are who you say you are. You do what you say. Oh, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful, beautiful. Oh, God is moving. One more time. We got another one to baptize. They just took them up. But one more time, without the aid of music or singing, could we just lift our voices up to our father? Please him real good. Oh, please him real good. >> Oh yes, God. Oh, please him real good. >> Go ahead. Your hallelujah pleases him. >> Go ahead. Your hallelujah. Your I love you Jesus pleases him. Go ahead. That pleases him. That does. It does. It plea. Your hand up in the air pleases your father. Pleases him. Woo. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. pleases him. Now, while they're preparing for baptism, let me say this to you. It help you to get to the second chapter. Get to the second chapter of Proverbs tomorrow. But if you finished out the first chapter today, it would say, "My son, listen. Listen to the instructions of your father and the law of your mother." Okay? Okay. And that's that's that's a mother and father there and uh giving instruction, raising and then it the first thing that comes out of their mouth is my son if sinners entice you don't go with them. >> So the first thing that he says is stay out of the wrong crowd. >> Stay out of the wrong crowd. You you you see the reason you're here lifting your hands and worshiping God. Basically, you're with the right crowd this morning. You're with the right right crowd. But I want you to know that if you start running with the wrong crowd, you'll take up the wrong crowd's behavior. And then he just basically says the wrong crowd. Proverbs 1 says the the wrong crowd will tell you come and be a part of us. be a part of our gang. Come be a part of the gang. But it says at the end, every man will look out for his own interest. Every man will look out for his own interest. It says if you'll listen to the law of your father and mother, which is the church and God said, it'll be a crown on your head and it'll be a chain of of of of royalty around your neck. In other words, if you'll listen to God, God will dress you up real good. God will make somebody out of you. But if you run with the wrong crowd, you'll fall with the wrong crowd. So that's Proverbs 1. You get up in the morning, read Proverbs 2, and it'll come to you. It'll come to you. Thank the Lord.