WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.120
 thank you Andy great job

00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:10.939
 well this morning I want to finish up this series

00:00:10.939 --> 00:00:13.480
 a four part series we started a number of weeks ago

00:00:13.480 --> 00:00:16.539
 about prayer enemies of prayer

00:00:16.539 --> 00:00:19.539
 and this morning I'm going to add two to that list

00:00:19.539 --> 00:00:24.280
 we've talked so far about six enemies of prayer

00:00:24.280 --> 00:00:26.379
 and when I say prayer I don't mean just

00:00:26.379 --> 00:00:28.620
 you know bowing our heads and praying for a moment

00:00:28.620 --> 00:00:31.280
 but really having an effective prayer life

00:00:31.280 --> 00:00:33.980
 and my guess is that a lot of you in this room

00:00:33.980 --> 00:00:36.079
 if you had sat down and given it some thought

00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:37.439
 taken an hour or so and said well

00:00:37.439 --> 00:00:39.039
 what do you think he's going to talk about

00:00:39.039 --> 00:00:41.000
 you would have named some of these that I've named

00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:44.079
 and so it came as no surprise to you

00:00:44.079 --> 00:00:47.299
 I'm going to mention two this morning however that might

00:00:47.299 --> 00:00:49.400
 there are two this morning I'm going to talk about

00:00:49.400 --> 00:00:52.579
 that probably a lot of you in this room

00:00:52.579 --> 00:00:56.020
 wouldn't have said necessarily would have come to your mind

00:00:56.020 --> 00:00:57.920
 when you think about enemies of prayer

00:00:57.920 --> 00:01:02.140
 but I think you'll see they may be two of our fiercest enemies

00:01:02.140 --> 00:01:03.820
 that we've talked about yet

00:01:03.820 --> 00:01:07.820
 the first believe it or not is success

00:01:07.820 --> 00:01:11.560
 if you ever thought about how success in life

00:01:11.560 --> 00:01:16.960
 could actually be a hindrance to your being effective in prayer

00:01:16.960 --> 00:01:19.159
 believe me you're going to see in just a moment

00:01:19.159 --> 00:01:21.960
 it can be now I want to be real clear about this

00:01:21.959 --> 00:01:26.739
 I hope everyone in this room considers themselves successful

00:01:26.739 --> 00:01:29.859
 you know humility is not having a bad self image and think

00:01:29.859 --> 00:01:31.799
 well you know I'm just no good to anybody

00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:33.579
 that's not humility

00:01:33.579 --> 00:01:35.399
 that's not true humility

00:01:35.399 --> 00:01:37.679
 so I hope you look at yourself

00:01:37.679 --> 00:01:41.359
 and I hope you have enjoyed success in your life

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 and it doesn't mean because you're successful

00:01:43.439 --> 00:01:45.979
 you can't have an effective prayer life

00:01:45.980 --> 00:01:48.980
 I hope many of you have been successful in parenting

00:01:48.980 --> 00:01:52.159
 I hope many of you have been successful in marriage

00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:54.740
 that you're successful in being a grandparent

00:01:54.740 --> 00:01:57.079
 that you're successful in your job

00:01:57.079 --> 00:02:00.480
 you're successful perhaps in some area of interest

00:02:00.480 --> 00:02:02.260
 that you hold in life

00:02:02.260 --> 00:02:04.640
 there's nothing wrong with success

00:02:04.640 --> 00:02:06.280
 so don't hear me saying that this morning

00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:07.960
 I just want to caution you

00:02:07.960 --> 00:02:09.960
 that success can be

00:02:09.960 --> 00:02:11.439
 and often is

00:02:11.439 --> 00:02:13.860
 a real hindrance to prayer

00:02:13.860 --> 00:02:14.880
 let me show you what I mean

00:02:14.880 --> 00:02:16.120
 if you have your Bibles

00:02:16.120 --> 00:02:18.540
 look with me to Proverbs chapter 30

00:02:18.540 --> 00:02:20.660
 Proverbs chapter 30

00:02:20.660 --> 00:02:22.460
 and we're going to look at verse 8

00:02:22.460 --> 00:02:23.400
 the latter part

00:02:23.400 --> 00:02:24.960
 and then verse 9

00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:26.340
 and then we're going to go to another text

00:02:26.340 --> 00:02:26.960
 in just a moment

00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.160
 but look at Proverbs chapter 30

00:02:29.160 --> 00:02:30.460
 verse 8 and verse 9

00:02:30.460 --> 00:02:32.860
 the writer of Proverbs

00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:35.380
 he's asking God

00:02:35.380 --> 00:02:36.920
 for two things

00:02:36.920 --> 00:02:38.140
 and I want you to

00:02:38.140 --> 00:02:40.100
 note what these two things are

00:02:40.100 --> 00:02:41.320
 this is what he says

00:02:41.320 --> 00:02:43.400
 give me neither

00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:46.520
 poverty or wealth

00:02:46.520 --> 00:02:49.080
 I want you to think about that for a moment

00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:51.500
 that sounds pretty noble right

00:02:51.500 --> 00:02:52.400
 on the front end

00:02:52.400 --> 00:02:55.879
 give me neither poverty nor wealth

00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:57.860
 don't let me starve to death

00:02:57.860 --> 00:02:59.840
 don't let me have to scramble

00:02:59.840 --> 00:03:01.080
 to find something to eat

00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:02.939
 to have shelter over my head

00:03:02.939 --> 00:03:04.000
 please God

00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:06.200
 don't leave me in a state of poverty

00:03:06.200 --> 00:03:07.819
 but also

00:03:07.819 --> 00:03:09.879
 don't give me wealth

00:03:09.879 --> 00:03:12.560
 now probably we'd be

00:03:12.560 --> 00:03:13.319
 way more hesitant

00:03:13.319 --> 00:03:15.120
 about praying that second part

00:03:15.120 --> 00:03:15.460
 right

00:03:15.460 --> 00:03:17.599
 God don't make me

00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:18.299
 wealthy

00:03:18.299 --> 00:03:19.400
 but that's what he

00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:20.199
 prays

00:03:20.199 --> 00:03:20.840
 and then he

00:03:20.840 --> 00:03:21.759
 adds this

00:03:21.759 --> 00:03:22.979
 feed me

00:03:22.979 --> 00:03:24.159
 with the food

00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.699
 I need

00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:27.240
 now

00:03:27.240 --> 00:03:28.939
 a lot of us in this room

00:03:28.939 --> 00:03:30.519
 kind of think

00:03:30.519 --> 00:03:31.359
 of ourselves

00:03:31.359 --> 00:03:32.819
 as being in that category

00:03:32.819 --> 00:03:34.079
 we think

00:03:34.079 --> 00:03:34.719
 well you know what

00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:36.659
 really that's not so unusual

00:03:36.659 --> 00:03:38.199
 that's kind of how I am

00:03:38.199 --> 00:03:40.479
 I just want enough

00:03:40.479 --> 00:03:41.599
 to get by

00:03:41.599 --> 00:03:42.099
 right

00:03:42.099 --> 00:03:43.740
 I bet many of you

00:03:43.740 --> 00:03:44.740
 in this room have said

00:03:44.740 --> 00:03:46.199
 I don't care

00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:47.240
 a thing in the world

00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:48.099
 about being

00:03:48.099 --> 00:03:49.019
 rich

00:03:49.019 --> 00:03:50.780
 I really just don't want

00:03:50.780 --> 00:03:51.659
 to be rich

00:03:51.659 --> 00:03:52.539
 I don't have to have

00:03:52.539 --> 00:03:53.159
 wealth

00:03:53.159 --> 00:03:53.960
 it's not something

00:03:53.960 --> 00:03:54.519
 that's really

00:03:54.519 --> 00:03:55.879
 important to me

00:03:55.879 --> 00:03:56.719
 now some of you

00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:57.500
 said something contrary

00:03:57.500 --> 00:03:58.240
 to that one time

00:03:58.240 --> 00:03:58.519
 or another

00:03:58.519 --> 00:03:58.780
 right

00:03:58.780 --> 00:03:59.560
 you said

00:03:59.560 --> 00:04:00.539
 well I hope one day

00:04:00.539 --> 00:04:01.680
 I'm really rich

00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:02.439
 and really wealthy

00:04:02.439 --> 00:04:04.280
 I found as we get older

00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:05.280
 as we age in life

00:04:05.280 --> 00:04:06.140
 we realize it's not

00:04:06.140 --> 00:04:06.560
 going to happen

00:04:06.560 --> 00:04:07.520
 a lot of us

00:04:07.520 --> 00:04:09.099
 kind of get over that

00:04:09.099 --> 00:04:09.500
 and we say

00:04:09.500 --> 00:04:09.960
 you know what

00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.060
 I don't have to be

00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:11.420
 wealthy

00:04:11.420 --> 00:04:12.140
 I don't have to have

00:04:12.140 --> 00:04:12.520
 everything

00:04:12.520 --> 00:04:13.819
 we want enough

00:04:13.819 --> 00:04:14.379
 to get by

00:04:14.379 --> 00:04:14.780
 you ever say

00:04:14.780 --> 00:04:15.379
 anything like that

00:04:15.379 --> 00:04:16.740
 I just need enough

00:04:16.740 --> 00:04:17.660
 to get by

00:04:17.660 --> 00:04:18.579
 I just want to live

00:04:18.579 --> 00:04:19.360
 comfortably

00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:19.959
 right

00:04:19.959 --> 00:04:21.560
 well

00:04:21.560 --> 00:04:22.519
 I want to tell you

00:04:22.519 --> 00:04:23.860
 I'm not sure

00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:24.819
 we're being as honest

00:04:24.819 --> 00:04:25.560
 in our assessment

00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:26.000
 of that

00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:26.600
 as we

00:04:26.600 --> 00:04:27.639
 want to pretend

00:04:27.639 --> 00:04:28.300
 we are

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 because

00:04:29.139 --> 00:04:30.279
 what the writer

00:04:30.279 --> 00:04:31.120
 says here is

00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.379
 I just need

00:04:32.379 --> 00:04:33.360
 enough

00:04:33.360 --> 00:04:35.080
 all I need

00:04:35.080 --> 00:04:36.020
 is enough

00:04:36.020 --> 00:04:36.660
 to get by

00:04:36.660 --> 00:04:37.240
 today

00:04:37.240 --> 00:04:38.620
 if you follow

00:04:38.620 --> 00:04:39.360
 that line of thinking

00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:40.639
 it's not necessarily

00:04:40.639 --> 00:04:41.680
 being comfortable

00:04:41.680 --> 00:04:43.199
 it's simply

00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:44.340
 having enough

00:04:44.340 --> 00:04:45.020
 to cover

00:04:45.020 --> 00:04:46.480
 today's

00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:47.439
 needs

00:04:47.439 --> 00:04:48.960
 how many of us

00:04:48.960 --> 00:04:49.600
 in this room

00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:50.980
 honestly can say

00:04:50.980 --> 00:04:52.379
 when we die

00:04:52.379 --> 00:04:53.520
 we hope we die

00:04:53.520 --> 00:04:55.600
 just two or three minutes

00:04:55.600 --> 00:04:56.580
 before our

00:04:56.580 --> 00:04:57.879
 banking account

00:04:57.879 --> 00:04:58.660
 is deplete

00:04:58.660 --> 00:05:02.360
 because that's

00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:02.760
 what it is

00:05:02.760 --> 00:05:03.060
 to have

00:05:03.060 --> 00:05:03.980
 just enough

00:05:03.980 --> 00:05:04.580
 to get

00:05:04.580 --> 00:05:05.580
 by

00:05:05.580 --> 00:05:06.200
 right

00:05:06.200 --> 00:05:07.980
 you die

00:05:07.980 --> 00:05:08.800
 and you don't

00:05:08.800 --> 00:05:09.260
 have anything

00:05:09.260 --> 00:05:09.960
 left over

00:05:09.960 --> 00:05:12.060
 you don't

00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:12.560
 have anything

00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:13.000
 to leave

00:05:13.000 --> 00:05:13.460
 family

00:05:13.460 --> 00:05:14.340
 or friends

00:05:14.340 --> 00:05:15.080
 or

00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:16.420
 a charity

00:05:16.420 --> 00:05:17.440
 that you'd like

00:05:17.440 --> 00:05:18.220
 to perhaps

00:05:18.220 --> 00:05:18.860
 leave in your will

00:05:18.860 --> 00:05:19.820
 you just

00:05:19.820 --> 00:05:21.040
 die

00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:22.120
 and there's

00:05:22.120 --> 00:05:22.900
 nothing left

00:05:22.900 --> 00:05:23.340
 over

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 that's what

00:05:24.620 --> 00:05:25.140
 this prayer

00:05:25.140 --> 00:05:25.460
 is about

00:05:25.460 --> 00:05:26.420
 just give me

00:05:26.420 --> 00:05:26.940
 enough

00:05:26.939 --> 00:05:28.120
 for today

00:05:28.120 --> 00:05:28.959
 so

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 when we think

00:05:30.259 --> 00:05:30.639
 about that

00:05:30.639 --> 00:05:31.040
 we say

00:05:31.040 --> 00:05:31.600
 well you know

00:05:31.600 --> 00:05:32.219
 maybe you don't

00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:32.839
 cut it quite

00:05:32.839 --> 00:05:33.480
 that close

00:05:33.480 --> 00:05:33.860
 you know

00:05:33.860 --> 00:05:34.759
 let's

00:05:34.759 --> 00:05:35.519
 live

00:05:35.519 --> 00:05:36.360
 comfortably

00:05:36.360 --> 00:05:37.060
 but what he

00:05:37.060 --> 00:05:37.660
 prays for

00:05:37.660 --> 00:05:38.699
 is just enough

00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:39.620
 to get by

00:05:39.620 --> 00:05:41.339
 who would pray

00:05:41.339 --> 00:05:42.300
 a prayer like that

00:05:42.300 --> 00:05:43.839
 don't surprise you

00:05:43.839 --> 00:05:45.019
 Solomon prays it

00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:45.659
 and of course

00:05:45.659 --> 00:05:46.259
 you know about

00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:46.620
 Solomon

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 and he tells us

00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:49.019
 why he prays it

00:05:49.019 --> 00:05:49.540
 look at the very

00:05:49.540 --> 00:05:50.159
 next verse

00:05:50.159 --> 00:05:51.379
 otherwise

00:05:51.379 --> 00:05:53.199
 I might have

00:05:53.199 --> 00:05:54.300
 too much

00:05:54.300 --> 00:05:56.399
 and deny you

00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:56.779
 saying

00:05:56.779 --> 00:05:57.879
 who is the

00:05:57.879 --> 00:05:58.279
 Lord

00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:00.359
 or

00:06:00.359 --> 00:06:00.919
 am I

00:06:00.919 --> 00:06:01.379
 still

00:06:01.379 --> 00:06:02.059
 profaning

00:06:02.059 --> 00:06:02.879
 the name

00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.599
 of my

00:06:03.599 --> 00:06:04.659
 God

00:06:04.659 --> 00:06:05.759
 you know

00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:06.079
 what he's

00:06:06.079 --> 00:06:06.359
 saying

00:06:06.359 --> 00:06:07.500
 he's saying

00:06:07.500 --> 00:06:08.019
 the problem

00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:08.519
 with having

00:06:08.519 --> 00:06:09.159
 too much

00:06:09.159 --> 00:06:09.500
 is

00:06:09.500 --> 00:06:10.239
 I'll come

00:06:10.239 --> 00:06:10.559
 to place

00:06:10.559 --> 00:06:10.859
 I'll say

00:06:10.859 --> 00:06:11.219
 who is the

00:06:11.219 --> 00:06:11.379
 Lord

00:06:11.379 --> 00:06:11.619
 in other

00:06:11.619 --> 00:06:11.779
 words

00:06:11.779 --> 00:06:12.679
 who needs

00:06:12.679 --> 00:06:13.019
 him

00:06:13.019 --> 00:06:14.439
 who needs

00:06:14.439 --> 00:06:14.739
 God

00:06:14.739 --> 00:06:15.259
 in your life

00:06:15.259 --> 00:06:15.679
 if you got

00:06:15.679 --> 00:06:16.399
 everything

00:06:16.399 --> 00:06:17.639
 and you can

00:06:17.639 --> 00:06:18.199
 meet every

00:06:18.199 --> 00:06:18.659
 challenge

00:06:18.659 --> 00:06:19.000
 that ever

00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:19.439
 arises

00:06:19.439 --> 00:06:20.379
 by just

00:06:20.379 --> 00:06:20.899
 reaching in

00:06:20.899 --> 00:06:21.619
 your back

00:06:21.619 --> 00:06:21.959
 pocket

00:06:21.959 --> 00:06:22.259
 and pulling

00:06:22.259 --> 00:06:22.579
 out your

00:06:22.579 --> 00:06:22.899
 wallet

00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:23.819
 who needs

00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:24.219
 God

00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:25.280
 so God

00:06:25.280 --> 00:06:25.840
 don't give

00:06:25.840 --> 00:06:26.440
 me so much

00:06:26.440 --> 00:06:27.080
 that I become

00:06:27.080 --> 00:06:28.040
 independent of you

00:06:28.040 --> 00:06:28.820
 and self-sufficient

00:06:28.820 --> 00:06:29.880
 and I don't need

00:06:29.880 --> 00:06:30.960
 you in my life

00:06:30.960 --> 00:06:31.480
 but Lord

00:06:31.480 --> 00:06:31.960
 here's the other

00:06:31.960 --> 00:06:32.300
 thing

00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:33.620
 I don't want to be

00:06:33.620 --> 00:06:34.640
 tempted to have

00:06:34.640 --> 00:06:35.740
 to steal food

00:06:35.740 --> 00:06:37.500
 I don't have to

00:06:37.500 --> 00:06:38.940
 be tempted to

00:06:38.940 --> 00:06:39.800
 take from

00:06:39.800 --> 00:06:40.520
 someone else

00:06:40.520 --> 00:06:41.220
 what is not

00:06:41.220 --> 00:06:41.700
 mine

00:06:41.700 --> 00:06:42.340
 and thereby

00:06:42.340 --> 00:06:43.340
 profane your name

00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:44.240
 or break your law

00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:44.760
 that's what he's

00:06:44.760 --> 00:06:45.200
 talking about

00:06:45.200 --> 00:06:46.120
 and so Lord

00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:47.020
 I don't want to

00:06:47.020 --> 00:06:47.780
 fall in either

00:06:47.780 --> 00:06:48.660
 one of those

00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:49.160
 categories

00:06:49.160 --> 00:06:50.440
 I want just

00:06:50.440 --> 00:06:51.320
 enough

00:06:51.319 --> 00:06:52.719
 in other words

00:06:52.719 --> 00:06:53.360
 I don't really

00:06:53.360 --> 00:06:54.219
 want to be

00:06:54.219 --> 00:06:55.959
 that successful

00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.459
 now I'm going to

00:06:57.459 --> 00:06:57.639
 tell you

00:06:57.639 --> 00:06:57.980
 if anybody

00:06:57.980 --> 00:06:58.759
 could write this

00:06:58.759 --> 00:06:59.300
 and know about

00:06:59.300 --> 00:06:59.659
 this

00:06:59.659 --> 00:07:00.879
 it was King

00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:01.279
 Solomon

00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:02.599
 when you read

00:07:02.599 --> 00:07:03.339
 about Solomon

00:07:03.339 --> 00:07:04.699
 in Chronicles

00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:05.680
 and Kings

00:07:05.680 --> 00:07:06.560
 I want to tell you

00:07:06.560 --> 00:07:07.519
 many of you read

00:07:07.519 --> 00:07:08.899
 Forbes magazine

00:07:08.899 --> 00:07:10.659
 Fortune 500

00:07:10.659 --> 00:07:12.039
 some of you in this

00:07:12.039 --> 00:07:12.740
 room keep up

00:07:12.740 --> 00:07:13.219
 with that kind of

00:07:13.219 --> 00:07:13.659
 stuff and

00:07:13.659 --> 00:07:14.719
 and boy you know

00:07:14.719 --> 00:07:15.459
 who are the ten

00:07:15.459 --> 00:07:16.420
 richest people in

00:07:16.420 --> 00:07:16.879
 the world and

00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:17.459
 where they live

00:07:17.459 --> 00:07:17.899
 and all that kind

00:07:17.899 --> 00:07:18.219
 of stuff

00:07:18.219 --> 00:07:20.000
 you've never read

00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:21.100
 about any human

00:07:21.100 --> 00:07:21.939
 being who

00:07:21.939 --> 00:07:23.319
 succeeded in life

00:07:23.319 --> 00:07:25.019
 financially as

00:07:25.019 --> 00:07:26.639
 much as King

00:07:26.639 --> 00:07:27.019
 Solomon

00:07:27.019 --> 00:07:28.339
 when you read

00:07:28.339 --> 00:07:29.240
 Chronicles and

00:07:29.240 --> 00:07:30.139
 Kings and about

00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:31.040
 his wealth I'm

00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:32.480
 telling you it is

00:07:32.480 --> 00:07:33.779
 opulent wealth it

00:07:33.779 --> 00:07:35.120
 is mind-blowing you

00:07:35.120 --> 00:07:35.959
 think to yourself

00:07:35.959 --> 00:07:37.319
 how could anyone

00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:38.639
 have a mask when

00:07:38.639 --> 00:07:39.300
 you read about his

00:07:39.300 --> 00:07:40.279
 stables and the

00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:40.959
 palace he was

00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:41.680
 greater than the

00:07:41.680 --> 00:07:43.139
 temple he built in

00:07:43.139 --> 00:07:44.220
 Jerusalem for God

00:07:44.220 --> 00:07:45.139
 when you read about

00:07:45.139 --> 00:07:45.740
 his wealth you just

00:07:45.740 --> 00:07:47.339
 say man that's just

00:07:47.339 --> 00:07:48.959
 awful that's crazy

00:07:48.959 --> 00:07:51.339
 kind of money and

00:07:51.339 --> 00:07:53.000
 boy he had it he

00:07:53.000 --> 00:07:54.079
 lived an opulent

00:07:54.079 --> 00:07:55.139
 lifestyle and I

00:07:55.139 --> 00:07:55.719
 think as he's

00:07:55.719 --> 00:07:56.719
 writing this he's

00:07:56.719 --> 00:07:57.719
 thinking back at

00:07:57.719 --> 00:07:59.500
 times perhaps when

00:07:59.500 --> 00:08:00.519
 that wealth didn't

00:08:00.519 --> 00:08:02.299
 serve him well but

00:08:02.299 --> 00:08:03.379
 this guy's got money

00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:04.680
 he had a thousand

00:08:04.680 --> 00:08:06.579
 wives a lot of us

00:08:06.579 --> 00:08:07.179
 have trouble

00:08:07.179 --> 00:08:08.000
 supporting one

00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:11.459
 right I mean I

00:08:11.459 --> 00:08:12.139
 had a film in

00:08:12.139 --> 00:08:12.799
 church a while back

00:08:12.799 --> 00:08:15.060
 that he his credit

00:08:15.060 --> 00:08:16.179
 card got stolen and

00:08:16.179 --> 00:08:17.079
 he didn't report it

00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:17.859
 he told me for six

00:08:17.859 --> 00:08:18.579
 months because he

00:08:18.579 --> 00:08:19.159
 found out the guy

00:08:19.159 --> 00:08:19.680
 that stole it was

00:08:19.680 --> 00:08:20.259
 spending less than

00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:21.120
 his wife was right

00:08:21.120 --> 00:08:25.800
 so here's a guy

00:08:25.800 --> 00:08:28.099
 that's true by the

00:08:28.099 --> 00:08:30.060
 way I mean it's

00:08:30.060 --> 00:08:30.699
 true he told me

00:08:30.699 --> 00:08:31.379
 that's not true she

00:08:31.379 --> 00:08:32.159
 spends like that

00:08:32.159 --> 00:08:35.779
 anyhow here's a guy

00:08:35.779 --> 00:08:37.179
 who says boy there

00:08:37.179 --> 00:08:38.659
 is danger in having

00:08:38.659 --> 00:08:40.659
 too much we need

00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:41.620
 just enough to get

00:08:41.620 --> 00:08:42.740
 by because he

00:08:42.740 --> 00:08:43.559
 recognized what

00:08:43.559 --> 00:08:44.100
 happened in his

00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.399
 life was this he

00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:47.100
 himself turned away

00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:48.899
 from God when he

00:08:48.899 --> 00:08:49.879
 started out he had a

00:08:49.879 --> 00:08:50.820
 whole heart for God

00:08:50.820 --> 00:08:52.120
 but by the time he

00:08:52.120 --> 00:08:53.600
 finished he had

00:08:53.600 --> 00:08:55.040
 turned his back to

00:08:55.040 --> 00:08:56.500
 some degree on the

00:08:56.500 --> 00:08:57.060
 things he'd been

00:08:57.060 --> 00:08:58.100
 taught in his youth

00:08:58.100 --> 00:08:59.200
 I want you to look

00:08:59.200 --> 00:09:00.080
 at a second passage

00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:00.960
 go with me to the

00:09:00.960 --> 00:09:01.680
 book of Revelation

00:09:01.680 --> 00:09:04.180
 chapter 3 and let

00:09:04.180 --> 00:09:05.080
 me set this up for

00:09:05.080 --> 00:09:06.639
 you in Revelation

00:09:06.639 --> 00:09:07.779
 chapter 2 and 3

00:09:07.779 --> 00:09:09.580
 this is known as the

00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.620
 seven letters to the

00:09:10.620 --> 00:09:11.620
 churches of Asia

00:09:11.620 --> 00:09:13.620
 minor Jesus is

00:09:13.620 --> 00:09:14.639
 speaking to John

00:09:14.639 --> 00:09:15.899
 and he's going to

00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:17.980
 dictate seven letters

00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:18.860
 he will send to these

00:09:18.860 --> 00:09:19.940
 seven churches in Asia

00:09:19.940 --> 00:09:21.720
 minor now many of

00:09:21.720 --> 00:09:22.580
 you probably most of

00:09:22.580 --> 00:09:23.399
 you in this room are

00:09:23.399 --> 00:09:24.379
 somewhat familiar with

00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:25.080
 these seven letters

00:09:25.080 --> 00:09:26.519
 you know this already

00:09:26.519 --> 00:09:28.379
 these seven letters are

00:09:28.379 --> 00:09:30.440
 strikingly similar in

00:09:30.440 --> 00:09:32.620
 form not in content

00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:34.440
 the content of every

00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:35.700
 letter is unique and

00:09:35.700 --> 00:09:36.580
 individual and

00:09:36.580 --> 00:09:37.419
 different from one to

00:09:37.419 --> 00:09:39.480
 the next but the form

00:09:39.480 --> 00:09:42.000
 is almost identical he

00:09:42.000 --> 00:09:43.679
 begins with a greeting

00:09:43.679 --> 00:09:44.740
 from the Lord Jesus

00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:46.139
 Christ depicting Jesus

00:09:46.139 --> 00:09:47.240
 in a certain fashion

00:09:47.240 --> 00:09:48.440
 that is appropriate for

00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.500
 that city in every

00:09:49.500 --> 00:09:51.159
 individual letter he

00:09:51.159 --> 00:09:52.700
 then talks about what

00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:54.539
 he knows about them and

00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:55.500
 he either commends

00:09:55.500 --> 00:09:57.519
 them or he is critical

00:09:57.519 --> 00:09:59.279
 of them in every single

00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.740
 letter he makes a

00:10:00.740 --> 00:10:02.179
 promise to them at the

00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:03.279
 end of every one of

00:10:03.279 --> 00:10:04.720
 these letters I want

00:10:04.720 --> 00:10:05.379
 you to hear what he

00:10:05.379 --> 00:10:07.179
 says to the church at

00:10:07.179 --> 00:10:08.379
 Laodicea let me just

00:10:08.379 --> 00:10:09.419
 preface this by telling

00:10:09.419 --> 00:10:11.000
 you this this is the

00:10:11.000 --> 00:10:11.799
 letter in which there

00:10:11.799 --> 00:10:13.519
 is not one word of

00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:15.779
 commendation he doesn't

00:10:15.779 --> 00:10:17.320
 say anything good about

00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.700
 this church in Laodicea

00:10:18.700 --> 00:10:20.360
 everything in this

00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:21.720
 letter is of a critical

00:10:21.720 --> 00:10:23.639
 nature look with me to

00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:26.120
 chapter 3 and verse 14

00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:28.259
 and here's what we find

00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:31.539
 to the angel of the

00:10:31.539 --> 00:10:33.259
 church in Laodicea

00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:35.259
 write the amen the

00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:36.759
 faithful and true witness

00:10:36.759 --> 00:10:38.720
 the originator of God's

00:10:38.720 --> 00:10:41.500
 creation says I know

00:10:41.500 --> 00:10:43.560
 your works that you are

00:10:43.560 --> 00:10:46.639
 neither cold nor hot I

00:10:46.639 --> 00:10:49.100
 wish that you were cold

00:10:49.100 --> 00:10:53.340
 or hot now everybody in

00:10:53.340 --> 00:10:54.300
 this room has heard this

00:10:54.300 --> 00:10:55.519
 passage right you've heard

00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.660
 it read you read it

00:10:56.660 --> 00:10:57.980
 yourself you've studied it

00:10:57.980 --> 00:10:58.980
 you've heard sermons about

00:10:58.980 --> 00:11:01.379
 it I'm fearful when we

00:11:01.379 --> 00:11:02.180
 come to this passage

00:11:02.180 --> 00:11:04.600
 sometimes we bring our

00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:06.660
 thinking modern thinking to

00:11:06.659 --> 00:11:08.480
 bear on the words of Jesus

00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:10.500
 and misunderstand what he's

00:11:10.500 --> 00:11:12.279
 saying for instance let me

00:11:12.279 --> 00:11:14.279
 give you an example how

00:11:14.279 --> 00:11:15.120
 many of you have ever

00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:17.399
 attended a church where

00:11:17.399 --> 00:11:18.339
 there just wasn't much

00:11:18.339 --> 00:11:21.299
 spirit or much life I mean

00:11:21.299 --> 00:11:24.399
 it just it was just dull and

00:11:24.399 --> 00:11:27.740
 boring and you left there and

00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:29.059
 as you left you turned to

00:11:29.059 --> 00:11:29.899
 your spouse and you said

00:11:29.899 --> 00:11:32.059
 something like this man that

00:11:32.059 --> 00:11:33.740
 place didn't have much life in

00:11:33.740 --> 00:11:35.180
 it right have you ever said

00:11:35.180 --> 00:11:37.060
 something like this it was as

00:11:37.060 --> 00:11:38.399
 cold as a milkshake in there

00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:41.560
 I mean I don't tell you I

00:11:41.560 --> 00:11:42.360
 preach in some of those

00:11:42.360 --> 00:11:45.279
 places right I mean it's dead

00:11:45.279 --> 00:11:47.139
 as three o'clock it was it was

00:11:47.139 --> 00:11:50.060
 just lifeless it was cold there

00:11:50.060 --> 00:11:52.139
 was no warmth of spirit that

00:11:52.960 --> 00:11:55.580
 place just isn't on fire and

00:11:55.580 --> 00:11:57.580
 then you've been to that place at

00:11:57.580 --> 00:11:59.539
 some time in your life where man

00:11:59.539 --> 00:12:01.580
 they preach the word of God and

00:12:01.580 --> 00:12:03.940
 the singing is uplifting and

00:12:03.940 --> 00:12:05.320
 there's the spirit of God that's

00:12:05.320 --> 00:12:06.960
 moving in that place and we

00:12:06.960 --> 00:12:08.160
 say something like this when we

00:12:08.160 --> 00:12:09.879
 leave there man that place was

00:12:09.879 --> 00:12:13.139
 on fire I mean those people are

00:12:13.139 --> 00:12:15.620
 on fire for God the fires of

00:12:15.620 --> 00:12:17.660
 revival are burning in that

00:12:17.660 --> 00:12:19.360
 church you ever heard those

00:12:19.360 --> 00:12:21.879
 expressions as a result I'll

00:12:21.879 --> 00:12:23.740
 tell you something it taints our

00:12:23.740 --> 00:12:25.580
 thinking about this passage because

00:12:26.340 --> 00:12:27.820
 what we have the tendency to think

00:12:27.820 --> 00:12:33.020
 is this that hot is good and cold

00:12:33.020 --> 00:12:36.400
 is bad but I want you to look at

00:12:36.400 --> 00:12:37.879
 the passage that's not what Jesus

00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:40.879
 says he says you're neither hot nor

00:12:40.879 --> 00:12:42.080
 cold you're in the middle you're

00:12:42.080 --> 00:12:44.500
 tepid you're lukewarm you're neither

00:12:44.500 --> 00:12:47.280
 hot nor cold I wish you were one or

00:12:47.280 --> 00:12:49.660
 the other Jesus is not saying I wish

00:12:49.660 --> 00:12:52.420
 you were good or bad why would he

00:12:52.420 --> 00:12:54.120
 want them to be bad you understand

00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:57.460
 that so what he's saying is this both

00:12:57.460 --> 00:13:00.580
 are good to be hot is good and to be

00:13:00.580 --> 00:13:02.320
 cold is good but you're not either

00:13:02.320 --> 00:13:04.720
 you're lukewarm and that's good for

00:13:04.720 --> 00:13:06.960
 absolutely nothing now what does he

00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:09.600
 mean both are good because you see

00:13:09.600 --> 00:13:11.360
 we got to divorce it from how we think

00:13:11.360 --> 00:13:13.519
 in that spiritual realm about hot and

00:13:13.519 --> 00:13:16.700
 cold have you ever been out working in

00:13:16.700 --> 00:13:19.680
 the yard and it's 95 degrees and your

00:13:19.680 --> 00:13:21.740
 wife comes out and she has pity on you

00:13:21.740 --> 00:13:23.580
 and brings you a glass of cold lemonade

00:13:23.580 --> 00:13:26.580
 boy doesn't that taste good you're

00:13:26.580 --> 00:13:28.139
 outside and you come inside and it's

00:13:28.139 --> 00:13:31.600
 air conditions blowing and it feels so

00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:33.940
 good and it's so refreshing just kind of

00:13:33.940 --> 00:13:36.240
 revives you when you felt like you're

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:39.279
 going to pass out or it's cold and you

00:13:39.279 --> 00:13:43.340
 go inside and it's warm and cozy and you

00:13:43.340 --> 00:13:47.580
 sit by the fire hot is good and cold is

00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:50.180
 good but lukewarm it's just in between

00:13:50.179 --> 00:13:52.500
 it's absolutely nothing and that's what

00:13:52.500 --> 00:13:57.799
 Jesus is saying here in verse 14 15 and

00:13:57.799 --> 00:14:02.039
 16 look at verse 16 so because you are

00:14:02.039 --> 00:14:05.599
 lukewarm and neither hot nor cold I'm

00:14:05.599 --> 00:14:10.839
 going to vomit you out of my mouth now I

00:14:10.839 --> 00:14:12.620
 want to tell you you've heard that all

00:14:12.620 --> 00:14:13.799
 your life you've heard the sermon

00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:17.059
 preached this passage preached but I

00:14:17.059 --> 00:14:18.679
 think sometimes we just kind of hurry

00:14:18.679 --> 00:14:20.039
 through this we don't really think

00:14:20.039 --> 00:14:24.199
 about it do you realize how repulsive

00:14:24.199 --> 00:14:28.359
 an image that is your eyes how

00:14:28.359 --> 00:14:32.419
 offensive that is to say to someone

00:14:32.419 --> 00:14:36.379
 imagine tomorrow at work your boss does

00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:38.059
 something that just really ticks you

00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:40.419
 off how many gonna walk into his office

00:14:40.419 --> 00:14:41.759
 30 minutes later and say you know what

00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:44.019
 I just want to tell you something you

00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:49.600
 make me vomit better be careful about

00:14:49.600 --> 00:14:52.500
 that one right because he probably

00:14:52.500 --> 00:14:55.620
 gonna throw you out of his office try

00:14:55.620 --> 00:14:57.439
 this today when you go home guys your

00:14:57.439 --> 00:15:00.039
 wife works real hard she puts the meal

00:15:00.039 --> 00:15:02.980
 on the table you take five six seven

00:15:02.980 --> 00:15:04.439
 bites out of it you turn to and say

00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:09.820
 hmm this makes me want to puke you think

00:15:09.820 --> 00:15:13.180
 you get by all that very long boy it's

00:15:13.180 --> 00:15:14.720
 pretty offensive thing to say to

00:15:14.720 --> 00:15:19.160
 somebody you make me want to vomit and

00:15:19.160 --> 00:15:22.120
 that's what Jesus says now get this these

00:15:22.120 --> 00:15:24.940
 are not people we would think of as being

00:15:24.940 --> 00:15:28.120
 his enemies these seven letters are to the

00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:30.180
 seven churches of Asia minor this is one

00:15:30.179 --> 00:15:33.039
 of his churches he has loved and died

00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:36.819
 for and he says to this church you make

00:15:36.819 --> 00:15:41.459
 me sick well I'm gonna tell you if he says

00:15:41.459 --> 00:15:43.419
 that to the church the way out of Asia we

00:15:43.419 --> 00:15:46.500
 ought to pause real carefully and say what

00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:48.759
 in the world would make Jesus say

00:15:48.759 --> 00:15:52.000
 something like that I mean that's so

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:55.099
 unlike Jesus it's so uncharacteristic of

00:15:55.099 --> 00:15:58.399
 Jesus to say something so repulsive is

00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:00.620
 that what is it in the world they have

00:16:00.620 --> 00:16:04.220
 done that is so offended our Lord well

00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:07.199
 look at the very next line if you will

00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:14.000
 verse 17 because you say I am rich I have

00:16:14.000 --> 00:16:18.179
 become wealthy and need nothing picture

00:16:18.179 --> 00:16:20.939
 of arrogance isn't it and you don't know

00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:24.860
 that you are wretched and pitiful poor

00:16:24.860 --> 00:16:29.779
 poor blind and naked let me tell you about

00:16:29.779 --> 00:16:34.240
 these people in Laodicea the church of

00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:36.879
 Laodicea if you had looked at all seven

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:39.879
 of these churches this is where the fat

00:16:39.879 --> 00:16:44.620
 cats were this is the wealthy church this

00:16:44.620 --> 00:16:47.039
 is the one that has all the money they

00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:51.340
 need it was a banking community they dealt

00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:55.220
 often in gold they had three primary

00:16:55.220 --> 00:16:57.840
 things they made their living from banking

00:16:57.840 --> 00:17:01.220
 the production of clothing this white

00:17:01.220 --> 00:17:05.160
 garment and an eye salve they ship this

00:17:05.160 --> 00:17:07.640
 eye salve for medical purposes to other

00:17:07.640 --> 00:17:13.319
 communities in Asia Minor Jesus capitalizes

00:17:13.319 --> 00:17:16.860
 on that and this is what he says he says

00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:20.099
 when I look at you I see how you see

00:17:20.099 --> 00:17:23.059
 yourselves now you understand we see

00:17:23.059 --> 00:17:25.459
 ourselves one way someone else sees us a

00:17:25.459 --> 00:17:27.159
 different way oftentimes right we can be

00:17:27.159 --> 00:17:31.500
 delusional and this is what they see we're

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:36.099
 doing just fine our bank accounts are full we

00:17:36.099 --> 00:17:38.579
 got more than enough money all the goal we

00:17:38.579 --> 00:17:41.359
 could ever want we're producing this white

00:17:41.359 --> 00:17:43.939
 garment look at us man check out these

00:17:43.940 --> 00:17:48.059
 threads I am really dressed to the nines

00:17:48.059 --> 00:17:51.820
 right what about my vision nothing wrong

00:17:51.820 --> 00:17:54.100
 with my vision we've got this eye salve we

00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:58.460
 produce and I can see perfectly we're on top

00:17:58.460 --> 00:18:02.500
 of our game that's what they see when they

00:18:02.500 --> 00:18:05.500
 look in the mirror and see themselves but

00:18:05.500 --> 00:18:08.799
 here's what Jesus sees he says when I see

00:18:08.799 --> 00:18:11.940
 you I see people who are poverty stricken

00:18:11.940 --> 00:18:14.940
 he's talking about spiritually bankrupt

00:18:14.940 --> 00:18:18.799
 people he says when I look at you I see

00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:22.620
 people who are in rags you're naked and

00:18:22.620 --> 00:18:24.259
 you don't know it remember that children's

00:18:24.259 --> 00:18:27.940
 book we read to our kids the king who

00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.400
 thought he'd been convinced by this fellow

00:18:31.400 --> 00:18:33.000
 that he had these beautiful clothes but

00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:35.820
 really he's standing there absolutely naked

00:18:35.820 --> 00:18:39.779
 for the people and he says you think you

00:18:39.779 --> 00:18:41.839
 see so well but you know what I see I see

00:18:41.839 --> 00:18:45.779
 somebody who is blind and miserable and

00:18:45.779 --> 00:18:50.500
 naked now I just want to ask you you kind

00:18:50.500 --> 00:18:54.119
 of upset you and alarm you and cause you

00:18:54.119 --> 00:18:58.579
 pause to wonder how God looks at us today

00:18:58.579 --> 00:19:02.299
 we see ourselves one way does God look at

00:19:02.299 --> 00:19:06.220
 us another you see when you're on top of the

00:19:06.220 --> 00:19:08.299
 world and you got everything going for you

00:19:08.299 --> 00:19:11.200
 and you're successful in life as the world

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.700
 measures success it's pretty easy to get

00:19:13.700 --> 00:19:15.960
 arrogant and think we never say this out

00:19:15.960 --> 00:19:19.460
 loud in church we really just don't need

00:19:19.460 --> 00:19:21.519
 you very much you say well we never think

00:19:21.519 --> 00:19:23.139
 that here at first pickings well let me

00:19:23.139 --> 00:19:25.599
 just caution about something it'd be pretty

00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:27.379
 easy to think that because after all look

00:19:27.379 --> 00:19:29.639
 at your building I mean look at this

00:19:29.639 --> 00:19:31.500
 facility their church is out there meeting

00:19:31.500 --> 00:19:33.440
 that all over this countryside who don't

00:19:33.440 --> 00:19:35.299
 have a secondary place who don't have a

00:19:35.299 --> 00:19:38.019
 primary place to worship as nice as this is

00:19:38.019 --> 00:19:42.319
 let alone your primary house of worship I

00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.740
 mean that's a beautiful beautiful edifice over

00:19:44.740 --> 00:19:47.319
 there and it's as pretty as any place I've ever

00:19:47.319 --> 00:19:50.619
 preached it's gorgeous right and look at your

00:19:50.619 --> 00:19:53.279
 pastors you've had you've got a history of

00:19:53.279 --> 00:19:55.879
 having had great pastors Fred one of my dear

00:19:55.879 --> 00:19:58.440
 friends there's not a better pastor in South

00:19:58.440 --> 00:20:00.299
 Carolina it'd be pretty easy wouldn't it say you

00:20:00.299 --> 00:20:02.399
 know what we have got some good preaching here at

00:20:02.400 --> 00:20:04.660
 first pickings and not only that we've had a

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:08.980
 history of it going way way way back and what

00:20:08.980 --> 00:20:11.700
 about your music I mean I've told Brian any

00:20:11.700 --> 00:20:14.380
 number of times I'd rather work with him and

00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:17.200
 about anybody I know he just he is gifted in

00:20:17.200 --> 00:20:19.700
 music your pianist the instrumentalist the

00:20:19.700 --> 00:20:21.759
 choir I'm not blowing smoke at you this one

00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.900
 I'm telling you you've got an outstanding

00:20:23.900 --> 00:20:25.900
 music program and I've heard many of you say

00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:28.320
 we are loaded with town here at first

00:20:28.320 --> 00:20:31.320
 Baptist Church of Pickings right and I know

00:20:31.319 --> 00:20:34.319
 this about you you've got good key leaders and

00:20:35.039 --> 00:20:37.319
 the people in the church love each other and

00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:40.000
 that's a wonderful thing but I just want to

00:20:40.000 --> 00:20:42.099
 caution you about something it'd be pretty easy

00:20:42.099 --> 00:20:44.759
 to say well Lord you know what we don't really

00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:47.500
 need to depend on you that much we've kind of got

00:20:47.500 --> 00:20:52.319
 this I mean we're we're kind of good to go we got

00:20:52.319 --> 00:20:54.439
 good preaching good music good leaders good

00:20:54.439 --> 00:20:57.319
 building we're meeting our budget everything's

00:20:57.319 --> 00:21:01.319
 everything's cooked we're rock along just fine right

00:21:02.000 --> 00:21:07.379
 success can do you in in terms of prayer listen to

00:21:07.379 --> 00:21:12.919
 what Jesus goes on to tell them I advise you verse 18 to

00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:15.519
 buy from me gold refined in the fire so that you may be

00:21:15.519 --> 00:21:18.419
 rich and white clothes so that you may be dressed and

00:21:18.419 --> 00:21:21.559
 your shameful nakedness not be exposed and ornament to

00:21:21.559 --> 00:21:25.960
 spread on your eyes so that you may see as many as I love I

00:21:25.960 --> 00:21:29.500
 rebuke and discipline so be committed and repent now verse

00:21:29.500 --> 00:21:35.180
 20 get this listen I stand at the door and not if anyone hears

00:21:35.180 --> 00:21:39.079
 my voice and opens the door I will come in to him and we'll

00:21:39.079 --> 00:21:44.960
 have dinner with him and he with me verse 20 in my estimation is

00:21:45.900 --> 00:21:50.240
 one of the verses in the New Testament that is misinterpreted as

00:21:50.240 --> 00:21:55.940
 much as any verse in the entire New Testament in fact I don't mean to be a

00:21:55.940 --> 00:22:00.420
 offensive to you today but probably many of you in this room I'd be surprised

00:22:00.420 --> 00:22:05.160
 if many of you in this room have not used this verse in an incorrect

00:22:05.160 --> 00:22:11.059
 fashion let me tell you why I say that when we read that verse most of us our

00:22:11.059 --> 00:22:15.900
 minds go back to that time in revival when somebody came and said Jesus is

00:22:15.900 --> 00:22:21.259
 knocking at your heart's door and if you will just open your life to him and

00:22:21.259 --> 00:22:25.019
 open your heart to him he will come in and he will save you and he will give you

00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:28.379
 eternal life because Jesus wants you to be saved and he's knocking at your heart

00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:31.660
 and he's not going to force his way into your life but if you'll open that door

00:22:31.660 --> 00:22:35.680
 the latches on the outside you've heard all those things and he'll just come in to

00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:39.879
 you I want to tell you something spiritually that's true

00:22:39.880 --> 00:22:45.980
 Jesus wants men and women to be saved he'll not force himself upon you he's inviting you in the

00:22:45.980 --> 00:22:53.240
 book of revelation other places to come to him but here's the cold hard truth that's not what this

00:22:53.240 --> 00:23:00.280
 verse is about Jesus is not talking to an individual and he's not talking to people who are lost he's

00:23:00.280 --> 00:23:06.760
 talking to his church remember that and the door he's knocking at is not the door of your heart

00:23:06.759 --> 00:23:13.640
 it's the door of the church you got to ask yourself what would bother him so much that he says i

00:23:13.640 --> 00:23:20.039
 want to vomit you out of my mouth you make me sick it nauseates you here's what it is he's on the outside of

00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:31.480
 his church looking in instead of on the inside directing the life of the church they have shut him out you

00:23:31.480 --> 00:23:38.519
 know why they have shut him out because they have become all sufficient we've got everything we need

00:23:39.240 --> 00:23:44.920
 we're okay and i'm going to tell you something there are a lot of churches around the country today

00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:54.279
 mostly the successful ones who are suffering from that same exact problem because god at one time they

00:23:54.279 --> 00:24:00.839
 were dependent on him and god blessed and with that blessing they became arrogant and they came to the

00:24:00.839 --> 00:24:06.759
 place that they said god we don't really need you anymore we're capable of running the show on our own

00:24:07.879 --> 00:24:12.919
 and god has been left out of the church i believe all this country this morning there are places where

00:24:12.919 --> 00:24:18.679
 people are meeting and sermons are being preached and singing is taking place and god is standing on the

00:24:18.679 --> 00:24:28.119
 outside looking on the inside wanting in could that have happened here at first baptist church of pickens

00:24:28.119 --> 00:24:36.919
 you say well no no we really do pray really look at all the things you do and then ask yourself this

00:24:37.479 --> 00:24:46.039
 how much time do we spend praying and how much time do we spend entertaining and meeting and doing all the

00:24:46.039 --> 00:24:52.839
 other things that we do you see success can sneak up on it's happened to me in my life before

00:24:52.839 --> 00:24:58.439
 where with one victory and another victory and another victory it's pretty easy to think you know

00:24:58.439 --> 00:25:08.039
 what we got this we know how to do this and we thereby exclude god from the picture all together

00:25:09.319 --> 00:25:15.159
 let me mention a final enemy of prayer and i close and this one likewise is going to surprise you

00:25:15.160 --> 00:25:24.040
 perhaps not only a successful life but an ordinary life james chapter five before the guys put it on

00:25:24.040 --> 00:25:29.960
 the screen don't put it on the screen just yet guys and before you turn to it let me just ask you

00:25:30.840 --> 00:25:35.640
 how many of you in this room know what james chapter five those verses i talked about verse 13 and

00:25:35.640 --> 00:25:41.400
 following are about does anybody here know i'm sure i'm betting half of you you don't trust yourself to

00:25:41.400 --> 00:25:46.519
 say it but i'm betting at least half of you probably know what james five is about you know what it's

00:25:46.519 --> 00:25:55.160
 about you're not going to say are you but i know you know it it's about prayer he's going to cite elijah

00:25:55.160 --> 00:26:00.920
 as an example and he's going to say here's why you ought to pray because look how elijah prayed and what

00:26:00.920 --> 00:26:10.680
 resulted from that prayer right but here's my question if prayer is so effective and we need god

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:17.000
 to answer prayer why don't we pray that's what this series has been about why don't we pray what

00:26:17.000 --> 00:26:22.519
 are the hindrances to prayer the enemies of prayer can i tell you the biggest reason we don't pray and

00:26:22.519 --> 00:26:29.400
 none of us want to hear this i don't even want to say this but it's true it's because we see so few

00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:35.880
 prayers answered isn't that right because if we were seeing prayers answered all the time we'd be

00:26:35.880 --> 00:26:40.360
 encouraged and we'd say well let's just pray more that's what happened in acts chapter two

00:26:40.359 --> 00:26:45.479
 the more they prayed the more god did the more god did the more they prayed but we suffer from the

00:26:45.479 --> 00:26:51.000
 opposite we pray and we don't see anything and so as a result we say what's the use so we pray these

00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:55.240
 little namby pamby prayers and we're content to do that and just move right along saying hey we'll

00:26:55.240 --> 00:27:02.679
 handle all this ourselves well let me show you what the problem was look at james five go ahead and put

00:27:02.680 --> 00:27:09.880
 it on the screen and turn to it if you have your bible james 5 verse 17 elijah was a man with a nature

00:27:09.880 --> 00:27:19.320
 like ours i like that you know what that means he was ordinary just like we are he put his pants on

00:27:19.320 --> 00:27:26.120
 same way you do he got up in the morning did everything he did throughout the day went to bed

00:27:26.119 --> 00:27:32.439
 got up the next morning he's an ordinary guy yet he prayed earnestly that it would not rain

00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:41.399
 and for three years and six months it did not rain on the land then he prayed again and the sky gave

00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:50.359
 rain and the land produced its fruit if you want to understand the scripture clearly can i give you a tip

00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:56.359
 on something one of the things i do is this and i'm i was blessed to be able to to do this because

00:27:56.919 --> 00:28:04.039
 i'm not a quick study like a lot of you i was a slow reader so i just read things real slow and as i'd

00:28:04.039 --> 00:28:09.399
 read them i'd stop and think well what would that do what would that be like and try to insert myself in

00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:18.759
 that situation and just flesh it out we read this so quickly we miss it do you hear what he said he

00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:27.559
 prayed it wouldn't rain for three and a half years and it didn't rain not two weeks not a month

00:28:28.759 --> 00:28:37.240
 not three months not six months three and a half years and we've had some droughts in south carolina

00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:42.039
 remember a few years ago i can remember that weather map and it had us all in red you know how long it

00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:50.920
 didn't rain about two and a half months two and a half months you multiply that to where it's three

00:28:50.920 --> 00:28:58.599
 and a half years you've never seen a drought in south carolina three and a half years do you know

00:28:58.599 --> 00:29:05.240
 what it would do it would devastate i don't mean it would hurt it would devastate our economy there

00:29:05.240 --> 00:29:12.839
 wouldn't be a creek bed around that had a drop of water in it our lake levels would plunge like you

00:29:12.839 --> 00:29:21.880
 have never seen before remember that drought we had back somewhere in the early teens 2012 13 14

00:29:22.759 --> 00:29:30.039
 owned a lake house down on lake hartwood small little place shallow lot bad for that drought

00:29:30.039 --> 00:29:34.839
 i'm gonna tell you they could have clemson could have played a football game between my dock and

00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:41.960
 where the water began right i mean it was long long long way out there to where the water was you

00:29:41.960 --> 00:29:49.000
 remember driving over there that was about a two or three month drought can you imagine how lakes would

00:29:49.000 --> 00:29:55.960
 dry up there wouldn't be anything green in the upstate how would that affect agriculture well you'd lose

00:29:55.960 --> 00:30:01.160
 tomatoes and beans and soybeans and all that but let me tell you something else every cattle farmer

00:30:01.160 --> 00:30:06.519
 because they couldn't afford to buy hay they'd have trouble even finding if they could buy it and afford

00:30:06.519 --> 00:30:13.559
 it they'd be selling off all their cattle prices would go through the roof you could go to the grocery

00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:20.120
 store and not find groceries that's what happened in israel it didn't rain for three and a half years you

00:30:20.119 --> 00:30:27.719
 know why god was bringing ahab in israel to their knees he wanted to get ahab's attention and bring him

00:30:27.719 --> 00:30:36.039
 absolutely to his knees and so he says he prays and for three and a half years it doesn't rain

00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:47.479
 why did this ordinary guy pray and god did incredible things and we pray and nothing happens

00:30:47.480 --> 00:30:54.440
 well i gotta be honest with you i purposefully left out verse 16b i want you to look at that text

00:30:55.480 --> 00:31:04.519
 read verse 16b the intense prayer of the righteous is very powerful

00:31:06.519 --> 00:31:16.039
 the intense prayer that's part of it fervent prayer the righteous is very very powerful

00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:24.359
 the other thing is this the righteous this was an ordinary man in terms of he was a human being

00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:27.799
 like all of us but i want to tell you something and this is part i hope you'll get as i bring the

00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:36.359
 message to a close there was nothing ordinary about elijah's spiritual life at all he was an ordinary

00:31:36.359 --> 00:31:41.559
 flesh and blood human being but i'm going to tell you something his spiritual life was exemplary

00:31:41.559 --> 00:31:48.839
 it was extraordinary i mean this is a guy who listened to the voice of god obeyed the voice of god was

00:31:48.839 --> 00:31:59.960
 obedient to god lived a holy separated consecrated dedicated pure life and i just wonder is that the problem we

00:31:59.960 --> 00:32:09.879
 have i wonder if today in the church we have become so ordinary we look like everybody out there in the world

00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:15.080
 in fact can i tell you something there are a lot of churches working their hardest to try to convince the world

00:32:15.560 --> 00:32:23.800
 we're just like you there are a ton of churches out there selling themselves today on this idea you can

00:32:23.800 --> 00:32:28.680
 come here and be comfortable because we're just like you we're no different than you are

00:32:30.840 --> 00:32:35.000
 i'm going to tell you something when people come in the church of the place they look just like

00:32:35.000 --> 00:32:43.480
 everybody they pass on the street boy something is bad wrong with the church our language shouldn't be

00:32:43.480 --> 00:32:48.839
 the language of the people on the street our actions shouldn't be the actions of the people on the

00:32:48.839 --> 00:32:54.920
 street our holiness and purity shouldn't be like the purity and the holiness of the average guy on the

00:32:54.920 --> 00:33:02.200
 street i'm not talking about living a puritanical legalistic life i'm talking about a life that's simply

00:33:02.200 --> 00:33:07.000
 dedicated to god that says hey you know what i'm going to listen to god i'm going to obey him i'm not

00:33:07.000 --> 00:33:15.559
 going to be influenced by my culture i'm going to influence my culture i close by reading you this verse

00:33:15.559 --> 00:33:25.799
 in isaiah look at isaiah 59 1 and 2 surely the arm of the lord is not too short to save

00:33:25.799 --> 00:33:34.279
 that's what isaiah writes he says surely the arm of the lord is not too short to save he can reach us it's

00:33:34.279 --> 00:33:43.639
 not he's got a short withered arm and he's incapable of reaching us nor his ears too dull for hearing

00:33:45.079 --> 00:33:49.480
 some of you are going through a stage in life right now you've gotten older and you don't hear as well

00:33:49.480 --> 00:33:54.759
 you need hearing aids right and your grandchildren they speak to you and they say boy papa

00:33:54.759 --> 00:34:01.960
 dad mom they need some hearing aids that they can't their ears dull their hearing's dull

00:34:03.079 --> 00:34:08.840
 and isaiah saying surely god's arm is not too short that he can't reach us and surely his hearing is

00:34:08.840 --> 00:34:17.239
 not so dull he's not so ancient he hasn't been here so long that he doesn't hear us and this is what he

00:34:17.239 --> 00:34:28.599
 says no but your iniquities have separated you from your god and your sins have or your sins have hidden his

00:34:28.599 --> 00:34:36.279
 face from you so that he will not hear isaiah concludes this

00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:38.440
 yes

00:34:38.440 --> 00:34:43.640
 he says no the reason we're being punished god's not listening to us pray

00:34:45.080 --> 00:34:50.120
 it's not because he can't hear us he can't see us he doesn't know we're in need

00:34:51.160 --> 00:34:57.800
 it's because we have so much sin in our lives we have become repulsive to him

00:34:57.800 --> 00:35:04.440
 and we're just not holy and pure and so i'm going to tell you something until we address our own

00:35:04.440 --> 00:35:11.160
 spiritual poverty the real problem and need in our life he's not going to be concerned about these other

00:35:11.160 --> 00:35:12.440
 things about which we're praying

00:35:14.600 --> 00:35:17.240
 i'm telling you that if you haven't already come to know this

00:35:18.200 --> 00:35:23.960
 we've got much bigger fish to fry spiritually than most of the things that we pray about

00:35:23.960 --> 00:35:31.960
 we're far far in greater spiritual poverty than even we know

00:35:33.800 --> 00:35:39.720
 do you realize how much the world has impacted the church how much we look like people everywhere

00:35:39.720 --> 00:35:44.039
 else in the world do people see anything about your life that they say well you know what that's

00:35:44.039 --> 00:35:48.920
 somebody who's dedicated to god i don't mean they said that guy you know he follows this bunch of rules

00:35:48.920 --> 00:35:53.720
 and regulations no not that kind of thing i'm saying they just know there goes a man who is

00:35:53.960 --> 00:36:01.079
 holy committed pure clean heart clean spirit clean mouth clean life he's dedicated to god i'm

00:36:01.079 --> 00:36:07.800
 going to tell you something either james lied or what he said is true the effectual fervent prayer of a

00:36:07.800 --> 00:36:15.720
 righteous man availeth much and that may just be your problem and my problem that we don't fit that

00:36:15.720 --> 00:36:22.599
 category anymore there's a way to fix that it's not an easy path but you know what the path is

00:36:22.599 --> 00:36:28.199
 is it's recognizing that about yourself recognizing that the world has influenced you and impacted you

00:36:29.159 --> 00:36:35.960
 that you're not as sold out to god as you once were and it's a path of repentance that leads to

00:36:35.960 --> 00:36:42.920
 confession where we fall on our face and we say oh god i want to know the truth about me i don't want to

00:36:42.920 --> 00:36:49.480
 look in that fake mirror anymore that causes me to look one way the way the i'd like to see myself i

00:36:49.480 --> 00:36:55.320
 want to see what you see would you dare to ask yourself that during this invitation time brian's

00:36:55.320 --> 00:37:01.320
 going to come and he's going to lead us in a song a beautiful song just as i am listen would you ask god

00:37:01.320 --> 00:37:09.400
 god show me right now in these verses we'll sing show me just how i am to you let me see the truth about

00:37:09.400 --> 00:37:13.720
 me i don't want to i don't want to live in the dark anymore i don't want to be delusional anymore

00:37:14.440 --> 00:37:19.720
 i want to know what you see when you look at me let's stand he's going to sing you pray if you need

00:37:19.720 --> 00:37:24.039
 to come here the front you do that if you want to just kneel right there at your seat or sit there

00:37:24.039 --> 00:37:27.719
 at your seat you just do business with god

00:37:29.079 --> 00:37:44.360
 just as i am without one plea but that thy blood was shed for me

00:37:44.360 --> 00:37:53.400
 and that thou bidst me come to thee

00:37:53.400 --> 00:37:58.120
 oh lamb of god

00:37:58.120 --> 00:38:00.280
 i come

00:38:00.280 --> 00:38:03.400
 i come

00:38:06.440 --> 00:38:10.519
 just as i am

00:38:10.519 --> 00:38:12.679
 and waiting

00:38:12.679 --> 00:38:12.759
 and waiting

00:38:12.759 --> 00:38:14.759
 and waiting

00:38:14.759 --> 00:38:15.559
 to rid

00:38:15.559 --> 00:38:17.559
 my soul

00:38:17.559 --> 00:38:19.559
 of one

00:38:19.559 --> 00:38:21.480
 dark

00:38:21.480 --> 00:38:22.360
 blood

00:38:22.360 --> 00:38:23.960
 to thee

00:38:23.960 --> 00:38:26.440
 whose blood

00:38:26.440 --> 00:38:28.759
 can cleanse

00:38:28.759 --> 00:38:31.159
 each spot

00:38:31.159 --> 00:38:32.679
 oh lamb

00:38:32.679 --> 00:38:35.400
 of god

00:38:35.400 --> 00:38:37.559
 i come

00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:42.599
 i come

00:38:42.599 --> 00:38:44.599
 i come

00:38:44.599 --> 00:38:45.639
 i come