The Beginning of Knowledge

[0:00] Proverbs 1.7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[0:22] ! My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother,! for they shall be an ornament of grace. For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.

[0:33] My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not. Lord stir our hearts, open our ears and hearts, speak Lord your word, that we might hear it and obey it.

[0:46] For your sake Lord Jesus we pray. This is a message about fear, families and forsaking. The beginning of knowledge.

[0:57] The beginning of knowledge. Where is it found? The beginning of knowledge. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. It elsewhere says the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

[1:08] God's not dead. Many Aussie Christians and Aussie churches are dead. I heard this preacher just last night, he was saying just that, and I tend to agree with him.

[1:23] God's not dead, but Aussie churches and Christians are in many places dead. I was just talking to a brother this morning saying how there's some wonderful edifices out there in the country.

[1:38] Country churches with just a couple of people in them, some of them. Huge churches that once held many. Of course populations moved and there's other reasons, but the churches are dead.

[1:51] Why? Why? I'm glad you asked that. Because we have lost the fear of God. That's why. We've lost the fear of God.

[2:03] When we honestly pray like David did in Psalm 86 11. Teach me thy way, O Lord.

[2:13] I will walk in thy truth. Unite my heart to fear thy name. Most of us, spiritually, are careless sheeple.

[2:26] Unthinking, unaware, maybe even unconcerned. What a tragic state to be.

[2:36] Unconcerned about what is happening. We are a nation held captive, yet not even aware of it. We're in the midst of a war against Christianity.

[2:50] The foundations are under attack and we have slacked off. We are asleep behind the wheel. And this is a time that calls for God's people to rise up.

[3:07] To stand up for our loved ones. For what matters. And we've held back. We've not taken things seriously enough. The time is now for us to cross the line.

[3:21] It's as if we've tiptoed up to the line. We want to make that commitment. We've got to step over the line. We've got to cross the line. If you love the truth.

[3:32] If you love your family. Let this be a rallying call today. The beginning of knowledge. The world is being overtaken by a godless agenda.

[3:44] The propaganda merchants are selling us a lie. A new perspective of history. Even the history books are being changed.

[3:54] So that the truth is not being told. There's a new perspective of history. A shedding of cherished values and ideals.

[4:05] And many around us are deceiving themselves. We're told of such a time in 2 Timothy 3 verse 13. But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse.

[4:17] Deceiving and being deceived. Not only are they deceived. They are also defiled.

[4:28] In Titus 1 verse 15 and 16. It says unto the pure. All things are pure. But unto them that are defiled and unbelieving.

[4:41] There's nothing pure. But even their mind and their conscience is defiled. Defiled. Defiled. They profess that they know God. But in works they deny Him.

[4:54] Being abominable and disobedient. And unto every good work. Reprobate. They profess they know God. Yet in works they deny Him.

[5:08] Deceived. Defiled. Disobedient. Disobedient. Sounds like many these days who say they are Christians. Lacking.

[5:20] Slacking. Ignorant. Friends this is the reality. Let's be honest today. It's the reality. People say I fear God. But it doesn't translate into the life they live.

[5:35] In works they deny Him. This is a sad reality. And we're deceived and deceiving ourselves. Truth and justice and personal freedoms are being eroded all around about us.

[5:48] And where is the church? We are silent. Churches and Christians are mostly silent. It's like it's by osmosis.

[6:01] It's by gradualism. I know we don't have a TV that we watch in our home. But I had a chance to sit in the lounge room of a fellow Christian.

[6:13] And I saw what was being pushed on on him. And his children were there watching these things. And I thought we're being defiled. Defiled. Defiled.

[6:25] Christians. Wake up. Wake up. Truth and justice and what is decent and honourable is being eroded.

[6:40] And you're being defiled and your children are being defiled. And we're silent. We're silent. We just swallow it. In our schools, our nation's children are being deliberately dumbed down.

[6:57] Dumbed down. And indoctrination is happening. To change your child's conscience, personality, values and behaviour. It's a behavioural change.

[7:08] That's what they call it. A behavioural change. And it's on a massive scale. And dear people, it's planned and it's intentional.

[7:19] From cradle to grave. From womb to tomb. The state controls the children of this generation.

[7:35] They say zero to twelve. A month or two old. And they're just parked there. From zero to twelve.

[7:50] By then, it's too late. It's too late. From the childcare kennels to the universities.

[8:00] This is what is happening. Brothers and sisters. We send our children to the Amorites to raise them. And to educate them. And they do.

[8:13] Then we wonder why we've lost them. Then we wonder. Then we think. Schools are increasingly pushing an anti-God, anti-parent agenda.

[8:27] An indoctrination. This is happening. We've all got different convictions on these things. I regret some of the decisions I made as a parent.

[8:38] I've got to tell you today. The news media manufactures their stories. They craft their sound bites. They're designed to keep you uninformed.

[8:51] Everything is warped. Twisted. The TV stations, they don't report the news. They create the news. It's crafted to suit their change of gender.

[9:05] We are being deceived. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[9:16] We are a nation of fools. According to this definition. A nation that despises wisdom and instruction. Consider the fools that lead us.

[9:29] That govern us. Often. Our popular comedians are fools. In Proverbs 14.9 it says. Fools make a mock at sin.

[9:41] But among the righteous there is favour. What do our comedians go on about? It's usually smutty, dirty jokes, isn't it? Innuendos. Violin innuendos.

[9:52] Fools make a mock at sin. Fools make you laugh. Fools are your comedians. Our popular entertainment artists and musicians are fools.

[10:04] In Ecclesiastes 7 verse 5. It says. It's better to hear the review of the wise. Than for a man to hear the song of fools. What do they sing about? What do they sing about?

[10:14] In the popular music culture of our world today. The filthy, dirty talking rap stars. The filthy rap music artists of our day. What does come out of their lips?

[10:27] It defiles you. It defiles you. It defiles you. It defiles you. The song of fools. Fools. And even the country and western trash is largely about adultery and immorality.

[10:44] Friends, wake up and smell the coffee. Wake up and smell what is going on. Fools are entertaining us. Our fools are singing the songs we tune into.

[10:57] The radio stations we love. And our esteemed educators and professors are fools. Many falling for the lies and lunacy of evolutionary theory.

[11:09] We're told of them in Romans 1.22. Professing themselves to be wise. They became fools. Our prominent religious leaders are fools.

[11:25] The ones who've got big names. By and large. Leading others as blind leaders of the blind. In unbelief as our Lord Jesus said.

[11:40] As he rebuked the Pharisees in Matthew 23 verse 19. He didn't hold back. He said, ye fools and blind. He didn't hold back.

[11:53] He told it like it was. Fools. Governing us. Entertaining us. Making us laugh. Educating us and our children.

[12:07] Our nation's moral compass is broken. Broken. Here's a quote. The problem is we're no longer a moral society. Morality points to a code of conduct.

[12:19] Or a set of beliefs. Distinguishing rights. And wrong behaviours. Instead. We have a pragmatic acceptance. So pragmatism is whatever works.

[12:32] So whatever the individual chooses. To each his own. End quote. To each his own. Choose your own God. Choose your own truth.

[12:43] Most people do not understand what is happening in the world around us. And why are we in such a mess? Because we have lost the fear of God.

[12:56] That is why. Many are addicted to pleasure and ease and comfort. We have got too comfortable. We have got too cosy. We have got too cosy. And in our days.

[13:08] We see love exchanged for lust. We see traditional families replaced with multiple domestic partners. This is foolishness.

[13:23] Foolishness. Homosexuality is becoming normalised with disastrous results. Where we see deadly diseases. The boundaries and limits are shifting.

[13:34] Shifting. Shifting. Ever shifting. Now the age of consent. Lowered. Lowered. Lowered. One day we'll be removed. Everything we've held dear is trashed and ruined.

[13:48] In this world we live. Our nation has adopted a worldview. A worldview without God. And we've entered a new age. Where deception prevails.

[14:00] We've been taken in and taken over. And we've missed the fundamental truth. The fundamental truth. The fear of the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge.

[14:15] The beginning of wisdom. And without this fear. This reverence towards God. We won't obey Him. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[14:25] The reverence of God is wisdom. But the lack of reverence is foolishness. So we see. The beginning of knowledge. It starts with God.

[14:36] That's the beginning of knowledge. If you want to know the reality. The truth today. It starts with God. This is the foundation of all wisdom and knowledge.

[14:48] So no wonder we're in trouble today. What is the answer for Holmes in this desperate time? Deuteronomy 6.

[14:58] The passage that speaks of the fundamental confession of faith. Hear, O Israel.

[15:09] The Lord our God is one Lord. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God. With all thine heart. And with all thy soul.

[15:21] And with all thy might. And these words. Which I command thee this day. Shall be in thine heart. And thou shalt teach them. Diligently unto thy children.

[15:34] And shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house. And when thou walkest by the way. And when thou liest down. And when their eyes are stuck.

[15:45] And thou shalt bind them as frontlets before thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house. And on thy gates. The answer is God's truth.

[16:01] We need that today. Brothers and sisters. Our great need is to be founded on the right foundation. As our Lord Jesus told his story. Of the man who built his house on the sand.

[16:12] And the one who built his house on the rock. And the rock pictured a home. A life founded on God's word. God's truth.

[16:22] Let the word of God prevail in your home. Let it prevail there. In your home. So you talk about it. And you walk it. And you have it written.

[16:34] And displayed. And believed. And obeyed. Let the word of God be present. In your home. In your home.

[16:44] Fathers. Mothers here today. I call on parents. Raise your children. Raise your children. It's your job. Not the government's. It's your job.

[16:56] Fathers. Mothers. It's your job. Raise your children. Teach them the word of God. It's your job. Don't abandon that.

[17:09] The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom and instruction. There is a deliberate assault on values. We're in a war of competing ideas and world views.

[17:22] There's a conflict over beliefs and values. Over things that rule us as a society. A war is on. And we are engaged in it.

[17:32] Yes. That means you. You. And me. Whose side are you on? This is a war about truth.

[17:43] How we need to understand these things. Brothers and sisters. And this is not meant to discourage.

[17:53] But to encourage you. That you have something so precious. And meaningful. In these days when people are looking for meaning. And reality. When some would even dare to question.

[18:06] Is truth even important? Some say that. The direction our country. Our culture is going. The kind of world we want to see.

[18:18] For our children. Our grandchildren. What God will we acknowledge. Or will we acknowledge any God at all? There is a battle on. Brother. Sister.

[18:29] There is a battle on. For the hearts and minds. Of our nation. Of our children. Of our society. Of the people of this nation. And biblical Christianity.

[18:41] Is today discarded. They laugh at it. They want the new and trendy stuff. The lies. And it's a downward spiral. That is happening.

[18:52] And we must discern. Discern the signs of the times. Fools despise wisdom. And instruction. You know. Some of this might sound somewhat alarmist.

[19:03] But I believe it is true. I believe with all my heart. That this is true. That we are in. The last time. We are in. The last hour.

[19:14] As it were. That these are desperate. Desperate days. And perilous times. Are here. And now. Friends. How. We must. Take.

[19:26] Note. There is this. System. That is. All around about. A totalitarian. Antichrist. System. Of command and control.

[19:38] Is being set up. And it's endemic. It's widespread. So we must be alerted. As God's people. In these times. As our Lord tells us to be. It's time to sound the trump.

[19:49] But it's time. For watchmen. And preachers. To preach the truth. Without apology. We must. Stand fast. We must. When the dominant.

[20:00] Political agenda. Is. To abolish God's truth. There's deliberate. Efforts going on. You know. I don't mean to bag America. But it's happening in America. It's happening in Britain.

[20:12] It's happening in. In Europe. In the Western world. Godly values. And principles. Are being abandoned. Wholesale. Moral order.

[20:22] Is being lost. They're redefining. What a family is. What? Isn't it? Clear? Isn't it clear to any. Clear thinking human being.

[20:33] With any sense in their heads. What a family is. And redefining marriage. Isn't. Couldn't anything be clearer. Than what a marriage is. Isn't it?

[20:45] Plain and simple. Fools despise. Wisdom and instruction. God's people. God's people. It's up to you and me.

[20:56] To hold fast. The truth of God. Hold it forth. I believe persecution is coming. I really do. I really believe persecution is coming.

[21:09] We're just in a bit of a comfort zone here. Australia's in a comfort zone. Let's face it. We're too comfortable. And. God's people in times past.

[21:24] They had to stand. And they had to go through the fire. They had to go through. The inquisition. Where the religious. Establishment.

[21:35] Was the enemy. And friends. We need to speak up. Even though we'd be called. Hatemongers. It says that fools despise wisdom.

[21:48] Will you be a fool? Or will you be a noble man? A noble woman? In Acts 17. 11. It says. These were more noble. Than those in Thessalonica.

[22:00] Noble. In that. They received the word. They received God's word. With all readiness in mind. And searched the scriptures daily. Whether those things were so.

[22:10] Truth. Truth. Is under siege. And we must receive the word. And search it. For the answers we need. True knowledge starts. With knowing God. Knowing him.

[22:21] Knowing the Holy One. Now developing that prayer. Developing that. That zeal. That love. That earnestness. To know the Holy One.

[22:32] Proverbs 9 verse 10. It says. The fear of the Lord. Is the beginning of wisdom. And the knowledge of the Holy. Is understanding. The knowledge of the Holy.

[22:43] That's understanding. The home front. Is where the battle rages. The fiercest. An all out assault.

[22:56] On marriage. Our text. We started with. Says. My son. Hear the instruction. Of thy father. And forsake not. The law.

[23:06] Of thy mother. I suppose. It's. Understanding. That they were godly. Parents. Where are the parents. And the children. Who care.

[23:17] About the truth. Friends. Marriage is not. A human. Invention. But a divine. Institution. It's the basic building block. Of society.

[23:28] God. Defines. A family. And I want to exhort you. As God's precious people. Today. That it's time. To step over the line.

[23:41] To. Stop playing church. And. To start being the church. To be the church. That's what we want to be. Isn't it? Aren't we meant to be salt.

[23:52] And light. And. In this world. Where there's a world view shift. The biblical definition of marriage. Is the only. Definition of marriage.

[24:04] Fools. Despise wisdom. Marriage is God ordained. It's God's plan. God's design. It's the creator's idea. And.

[24:16] Believers here today. Can we. Understand this. Simple truth. This morning. Just grasp this simple truth today. But in reality.

[24:27] There's just two kingdoms. Two. Now there's. 150 odd countries in the world. But there's really only two kingdoms. Just two.

[24:37] One of darkness. One of light. Where do you belong? One. It's one. One or the other. Ephesians 5.11. It says. And have no fellowship.

[24:49] Went the unfriendful works of darkness. But rather. Reprove them. Stand against them. A new world order. Is emerging. And what's behind it.

[25:00] The agenda. Is anti. God. Why is this all happening? Because there's two kingdoms. Two. The kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of light. Where did it all begin?

[25:12] At Babylon. The tower of Babel. And it continues today. The same spirit. The same intent. Building a life. Building a world.

[25:22] Building a society. A community without God. That's what the governors of our planet want. And they're doing it.

[25:34] John 3. It tells us that this is the condemnation. That light is coming to the world. And men loved darkness rather than light. Because their deeds were evil.

[25:45] For everyone that doeth evil hated the light. Neither cometh to the light. Lest his deeds should be reproved. Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

[25:57] They'd rather stay in their darkness. They prefer darkness to light. That's why they hate us. That's why they hate the biblical believing church.

[26:08] That's why they hate you. If you are standing up for Christ. Where you live and work. We're in the midst of a deep crisis. A cultural crisis.

[26:20] And some care. Some of you do care about family values. You care about having spiritually strong families. It matters to you. To see your children walk in God's ways.

[26:31] Is important to you. To know that they can grow in faith. And live wholesome lives. You want to rescue your child. You want them to see that knowledge.

[26:42] That purity. That character. That judgement that is right. And as the battle gets more intense. In this world where traditional Christian family values are being eliminated and replaced.

[26:54] Where there's this mind control as it were. This propaganda that prevails. These messages that are embedded in everything we watch. You and I grow more and more desensitised to it day by day by day.

[27:10] Let's face it. The things that we accept. And kind of turn a blind eye to these days. Some years back. Would have been different wouldn't it? Would have been different.

[27:21] Would have been shocked. We've lost our sense of shock. We've forgotten how to blush. As it were. And many Christians are living in darkness. This same culture. That prevails.

[27:33] Obsesses them. That is tragic people. It's tragic that you. As the ones who. In the early Bible reading. Says be ye holy. Even as I am holy. That you.

[27:45] And I. Adopt the same thinking. As the world around us. It should not be so. It should not be that. The same culture. Obsesses us.

[27:55] The same loves. The same mindset. Mindset. Of our worldly neighbours. Is the same one that we have. It should not be so. The same values of humanism.

[28:07] That the lost have. That we have. We should be different. We should be so. We should be light. And it's what. Is at the heart of Babylon. Is this kind of thinking.

[28:17] The same corrupt heart. Pride. Arrogance. Rebellion. We're going to make a name. For ourselves. We're going to build a city. We're going to build a tower. That reaches to the stars. We're going to have our names in lights.

[28:28] We're going to be the top of the pops. The greatest and latest. It's the spirit of Babylon people. And as Christians. We should be different. We should be different.

[28:40] Yet. This kind of bold Christian message. Is considered a hate crime. Too hot to handle. And Christians are being censored. I've seen stories. Right across the globe.

[28:52] In news stories. About what's happening in Britain. And in other western world countries. Where Christians are being muzzled. You know. When Christian parents. They're to raise a voice of dissent.

[29:03] In parents and friends meetings. They're quashed. And they're handcuffed. And shown the door. Because the message. Is too hot to handle.

[29:15] And complacency sets in. It's easier just to go with the flow. Than to dare to rock the boat. It's easier to have apathy. And just be indifferent. To lack concern.

[29:27] To lack motivation and passion. I know this preacher last night. Was saying in the churches. You know. He was having a bit of a dig. And it was uncomfortable for me.

[29:40] Because. It's at my feet. The responsibility is on my head. If this church is cold. Because I'm not fired up enough. The problem is here in the pulpit.

[29:53] Pray that this pulpit will always be on fire. So that this church will be fired up. That you'll be stirred up. In a good way. In a good way. We need that problem sisters.

[30:05] And this preacher was saying. How. There's a lack of anticipation. I know Brad mentioned that. That excitement factor. That there's something happening here. That this is a happening place.

[30:16] It's a happening place. Because God is moving here. People's lives are being changed. People are getting committed to Christ. People are being converted. Their life direction is being changed.

[30:27] Their lifestyle is being transformed. They're becoming more and more like Jesus Christ. And they're going from glory to glory. And the path of the just. Shineth more and more.

[30:38] Unto the perfect day. So that week by week. You look more like Jesus. That's what we want in this church. We want that anticipation.

[30:49] That we've got a message. Our world needs to hear. And we will not hold it back. So we're called to dissent. We're called to dissent.

[31:00] From what is the popular view. We're called to be unashamed. We're called to stand in the gap. There is a gap.

[31:13] I was talking with a Christian family of late. And saying there's a gap between the husband and wife. There's a gap. They've grown a bit distant. There's a bit of a barrier there. There's a bit of.

[31:24] There's something getting between them. And sometimes there's a gap. Between us and God. Let's face it. Draw near to God.

[31:35] And he will draw near to you. We need to narrow that gap. We need to close that gap. And get closer. Get closer. We have a sacred duty. So where can we start?

[31:47] At the home. At the home. Parents are the first teachers of their children. The godless powers in this world. Are increasingly banning the teaching of Christian faith.

[32:00] The biblical family is the backbone of society. And mums and dads here today. Fathers and mothers. Children.

[32:11] Young people. Biblical families. The biblical family is very precious. Young people.

[32:21] Your mums and dads are very precious. God's given them to you. They're responsible before God.

[32:35] Honour them. Honour them. You may not always agree with them. But honour them. Give them honour. And parents. How we need.

[32:47] To set a godly example for our children. How we need that. 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.

[33:01] And chains about thy neck. It's going to be the best thing that you can have. Not the. What do they call it? The bling. You know. But the ornament about thy head.

[33:12] And the chain about thy neck. Shall be that. That. Godly. Parenting. And for some of us. We don't have godly parents. But yet. There's still that.

[33:23] Principle of respect. And of honour. It's been said that when the family. Is destroyed. The culture is doomed. This is what happened in Rome. Why it fell to pieces.

[33:34] It just got fragmented. And destroyed. The biblical family today. Is an endangered species. And we need the wisdom and instruction. Will we realise it.

[33:47] Or will we despise it. Ephesians 5. Wives submit yourselves unto your own husbands as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife.

[33:59] Even as Christ is the head of the church. And he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church. Is subject unto Christ. So let. The wives be to their own husbands in everything.

[34:13] Husbands. Love your wives. Even as Christ also loved the church. And gave himself for it.

[34:23] That he might sanctify and cleanse it. By the washing of water by the word. That he might present it. To himself a glorious church. Without. Without. A spot.

[34:35] Or wrinkle. Or any such thing. But that it should be holy. And without blemish. We're in trouble. Because we've lost. The biblical order. Think of these things.

[34:47] Fools despise wisdom and instruction. These are simple truths. Ephesians 5 and 6. Biblical submission to the husband. Biblical love of husband to wife.

[34:58] Biblical honour of children to parents. The covenant. The sacred bond. Has been dishonoured. Trashed. Just like it's fashionable these days.

[35:08] For a bride's dress. To be trashed. After a wedding. That's what our culture is doing to marriage. God's truth is being trashed. And despised. Maya.

[35:19] A preacher of old said. About sensuality and sexual immorality. How it destroys a nation. I quote. There is no sin. Which will sooner bring about a nation's fall.

[35:30] If history teaches anything. It teaches that sensual indulgence is the surest way. To national ruin. Society. In not condemning this sin.

[35:40] Sin condemns itself. God hates sin. He hates divorce. We need to save our families. Our marriages. To grieve with godly sorrow.

[35:53] And to repent of our selfish ways. We desperately need to follow God's plan. For the family. And we know sometimes families break up. And it's irreparable.

[36:04] Sometimes that happens. God has grace. And God gives us grace. While you've got a marriage. Save it.

[36:15] Save it today. There's biblical roles that you have. Fathers. Husbands. Wives. Mothers. Children. Parents.

[36:25] The wife. The wife is to leave her father and mother. And to be joined to her husband. In godly submission. With heartfelt obedience. As to the Lord.

[36:36] How much stronger. In reverence. The wife is to be a support. A help meet. The husband. Is to nurture. To please his wife. In faithfulness.

[36:47] With honour. To provide for his household. God. God. It's been said that. We don't have a submission problem. In marriage.

[36:58] We have a leadership problem. In marriage. A leadership problem. Because where does the buck stop? Who carries the can? Is the father.

[37:09] The husband. We've got a leadership problem. In families. In marriages. Because men haven't been taught how to be men.

[37:20] Men. You're to be the priests of your home. You're meant to be the one who sets the example to your family. The priest of the home.

[37:32] What does that mean? A priest has to keep himself undefiled. Keep close to God. Deal with sin.

[37:45] A priest is called to be faithful. In prayer. And intercession. Pray for your family. Pray for your wife. Pray for your children. As a priest.

[37:56] The father is to teach. His family. The word of God. The Jewish people. Have family centered worship.

[38:09] Around the role of the family. And it's based on the Bible. Family centered worship. With the father taking the lead. All of the festivals which God established.

[38:20] Are celebrated in the home. Directed and taught by the father. So fathers today. Men of God.

[38:32] Be the man of God. Be the priest of your home. Paul exhorts a woman. Paul exhorts a woman to ask her husband. Learning from him. God has given man the responsibility. The buck stops here.

[38:44] With you. Fathers. Husbands. We answer to God. For our leadership. Will we be that servant leader.

[38:54] Who truly loves. As Christ loved the church. That's love indeed. Love indeed. Isn't it? To love. So truly.

[39:05] As Christ loved the church. There's no higher love than that. Is there? Greater love. Have no man. Than this. Men. Men you are to lead.

[39:17] And leaders must be going somewhere. You need to have. The right plan. The right goal. For your family. As leaders of the family unit. To have that goal.

[39:28] To serve God. To love God. To raise your children. For God. And his glory. Men you are responsible. Before God. For your leadership. God has given us the plan.

[39:39] The blueprint. The plan is here. It's in our hands. The plan is his word. The fear of the Lord. Is the beginning. Of knowledge. But fools despise wisdom. And instruction.

[39:49] 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.

[40:01] My son. If sinners entice thee. Consent thou not. Just quickly. That last verse. Verse 10. Proverbs 1. My son. If sinners entice thee.

[40:12] Consent thou not. Peer pressure. Peer pressure. Young men. Young women. Peer pressure. Let it be good. Godly. Peer pressure.

[40:23] Be about those who love God. Be around them. It will mean bucking the trend for you. Some of you. Young women. Young men. Who are in worldly schools.

[40:33] And secular. And secular. Places of learning. You're going to have to buck the trend. You're going to have to be a fish that swims upstream. You're going to have to take some flack.

[40:44] For what you stand for. For what you believe in. But stand. Stand still. Stand strong. Stand nevertheless. Stand for God. And men.

[40:54] You are responsible for training your children. Men. Being exhorted today. Proverbs 22 verse 6. Train up a child. In the way. He should go.

[41:06] And when he is old. He will not depart from it. Sadly. Not all my children. Are following God. Where does the fault lie?

[41:19] I could have done more. Friends. Train up a child. In the way he should go. And when he is old. He should not. He will not. Depart from it.

[41:30] Evil has infiltrated our nation. Humanism. Feminism. Pagan philosophy. My son. If sinners entice thee. Consent thou not.

[41:41] It's enticing. This world and its toys. And its traps. Are enticing. It's wrapped up in pretty packaging. It's marketed.

[41:53] It's slick. And seductive. It's cool. It's popular. Everybody's doing it. And the conditioned masses are just blind to it.

[42:07] Come and join us. Come and join in. Come and have a beer. Have a party. Let's chill out. They say.

[42:18] My son. If sinners entice thee. Consent thou not. The choice is clear. Will we fear God.

[42:29] Or follow the crowd. What will it be? Proverbs 3. It says. Be not wise in thine own eyes. Fear the Lord. And depart from evil. We need to depart from evil.

[42:42] And from following those who choose the godless path. And we all could do more. I could do much more. The fault is here. Proverbs 13.

[42:53] It says. He that walketh with wise men shall be wise. But a companion of fools shall be destroyed. But a companion of fools shall be destroyed. Choose your company carefully.

[43:03] The companion of fools shall be destroyed. I fear for my loved ones. I fear for them.

[43:15] Their company is not good. A companion of fools shall be destroyed. We've got to choose our company wisely. You know. Evil communications corrupt good manners.

[43:25] So. In other words. That kind of association. Where those who are not following God. Will be damaging. For your Christian life.

[43:37] It's going to hurt you. When you walk with God. I exalt you this morning. Do not keep company with fools. You know.

[43:48] When I became a Christian. My worldly friends sin dropped me. Because I started talking about. Faith in Christ. If you're a Christian. The people that booze and curse.

[44:01] And tell smutty jokes. That they won't want to hang around you. You still want to reach them in love. You'll still do your utmost to reach them. In love.

[44:14] But it won't be the same company that you keep anymore. Something changes. A companion of fools shall be destroyed. Choose wisely the company that you keep.

[44:25] Be amongst God's people. So you can be enriched. So you can grow. So you can be trained. So you can go out. Now this is what the prince was saying last night.

[44:37] A big need in our cold. Independent Baptist churches. Is training. Training. Being where you can be trained. It's important.

[44:48] It's so important. And fathers. Train your children. We don't want to be amongst those who are either deceived. And defiled.

[44:59] Because they're going to be destroyed. The companion of fools should be destroyed. Choose your company wisely. Can two walk together except they be agreed? There's so many things we could say.

[45:11] And many professing Christians are backsliding today. I urge you. The choice is clear. Kingdom of darkness. The kingdom of light. Let us pray.

[45:22] Let us pray. Let us pray. Let us pray.