WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.400 I have one of my favorite people in the world with us this morning as our guest speaker. 00:00:04.400 --> 00:00:10.960 His name is David Hartage. He is the just recently former Executive Director of the 00:00:10.960 --> 00:00:16.300 Baptist General Convention of Texas, lovingly called Texas Baptists. And we are a Texas 00:00:16.300 --> 00:00:23.440 Baptist church and very glad to be one. And Dr. Hartage is actually the one that sent my 00:00:23.440 --> 00:00:28.560 resume to the search committee, First Baptist Henrietta. And so really he's the reason I'm 00:00:28.559 --> 00:00:35.320 here. So if y'all don't like it, blame him. All right. No, I'm very grateful to him. And 00:00:35.320 --> 00:00:44.500 he's been a dear friend for the last several years and mentor as well. And I'll just give 00:00:44.500 --> 00:00:50.079 there's too many accomplishments and places that God has taken him across the years to 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:57.039 give you the full rundown. But he's been a pastor for what, 25 years thereabouts. And he's, I 00:00:57.039 --> 00:01:02.600 believe, originally from La Mesa, Texas and pastored up in our neck of the woods, up in a town 00:01:02.600 --> 00:01:09.819 that shall not be named, that we may have lost to a couple of weeks ago in football. So, but 00:01:09.819 --> 00:01:13.680 don't hold that against him. It was a long time ago and he was just trying to love those people 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:21.500 to Jesus up in holiday. They need Jesus. All right. So, no, that's all right. But, but he 00:01:21.500 --> 00:01:28.500 has served churches in Oklahoma and Texas and God has used him mightily. And he served 00:01:28.500 --> 00:01:34.920 over 10 years as the executive director for Texas Baptist. He's a graduate of Baylor, a 00:01:34.920 --> 00:01:41.240 graduate of Southwestern Seminary and Midwestern Seminary. And we are very, very honored to have 00:01:41.240 --> 00:01:46.719 him with us this morning. And I'll tell you what, I wanted to bring him out here regardless 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:52.099 to preach because I owe a great debt of gratitude to him as well. And I know he'll be a blessing 00:01:52.099 --> 00:01:56.599 to you all. And God worked it out really well because I was sick this week and I had to take 00:01:56.599 --> 00:02:00.760 a trip down, down to New Orleans for seminary and got back late last night. So it was really 00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:04.900 nice that I had a guest speaker here this morning. So we are honored to have Dr. Hartage 00:02:04.900 --> 00:02:07.219 and not to take any more of his time. Why don't you come on up? 00:02:07.219 --> 00:02:18.719 Well, thank you so much. Truly honored to be here. And Pastor, thank you for the gracious 00:02:18.719 --> 00:02:27.680 invitation. And my year serving Texas Baptist as the executive director gives me an opportunity 00:02:27.680 --> 00:02:34.219 to say thank you to this church for the faithful and generous support you have provided over the 00:02:34.219 --> 00:02:38.580 years for our mission and ministry. We couldn't do the work we do and have the impact that we 00:02:38.580 --> 00:02:43.039 have in Texas and far beyond were it not for people like you and churches like this. And 00:02:43.039 --> 00:02:50.060 so I want to say thank you. And we're grateful. Since I retired at the end of December, as my 00:02:50.060 --> 00:02:57.520 daughter calls it, my side hustle now, I've been helping the work of Texas Baptist men out just a 00:02:57.520 --> 00:03:02.520 little bit. That's our disaster relief arm, if you know about that. So just a real quick update on 00:03:02.520 --> 00:03:13.280 what Texas Baptist men are doing in response to the war in Israel. Two weeks ago, you helped us send 00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:20.360 20 people to Israel who have for the past two weeks been providing about 5,000 meals a day 00:03:20.360 --> 00:03:30.439 to people in hospitals and a whole lot of other people in that war-torn region. Last Sunday, 00:03:30.439 --> 00:03:40.099 you helped us send 50 doctors, nurses, and paramedics. So on behalf of all those people whose lives have 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:45.139 been helped because of people like you at First Baptist Henrietta, on behalf of Texas Baptist men 00:03:45.139 --> 00:03:49.319 and the Baptist Union Convention of Texas, thank you. We're making a difference. And keep praying, 00:03:49.439 --> 00:03:55.340 as Psalm 122 says, keep praying for the peace of Jerusalem. And we'll all join in that together. 00:03:55.340 --> 00:04:00.259 And what you get today from me is just kind of what's been on my heart for the last while, 00:04:00.700 --> 00:04:08.080 what I've been praying about in the last few weeks, months. But I probably ought to start with 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:17.879 put your minds at ease. One of my spiritual gifts is brevity. So I won't take long, but I do want to 00:04:17.879 --> 00:04:24.519 share kind of what's on my heart about where we are as a country today and a world and what you and I 00:04:24.519 --> 00:04:31.579 as believers and followers in Jesus Christ can do about it. So that's what you get today. But I'll start with 00:04:31.579 --> 00:04:42.419 this. Back in 1844, there was Queen Victoria in England had a husband named Prince Albert. And I don't know 00:04:42.419 --> 00:04:51.919 that much about the royals, but it never has struck me that the prince of the queen is overrun with 00:04:51.920 --> 00:04:59.180 opportunities or responsibilities. So Prince Albert, looking for something to do maybe, 00:04:59.780 --> 00:05:07.080 heard about an event that was happening in Paris. And he got the idea that maybe what was happening in 00:05:07.080 --> 00:05:16.379 Paris, France, could happen in a larger scale in London. So he had this idea in 1844 that he would 00:05:16.379 --> 00:05:24.959 bring to London from all over the world, the latest and the greatest, whether it be cuisine, fashion, 00:05:26.120 --> 00:05:35.360 technology of 1844, bring all of that to London in one place under one roof. It was something he was 00:05:35.360 --> 00:05:43.920 going to call the Great Exhibition. Now, where were you going to house the Great Exhibition? So he had a 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:52.180 building built. The building was called the Crystal Palace, almost a million square feet of iron and 00:05:52.180 --> 00:06:01.460 glass built in London. And sure enough, on May the 1st, 1851, the Great Exposition unfolded. It went from 00:06:01.460 --> 00:06:09.300 May the 1st to October 31, and people from all over the world came for this exhibition in the Crystal 00:06:09.300 --> 00:06:16.439 Palace. And then when it was over, they moved it. Took it down and moved it to another part of London, 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:29.680 where it stood from 1854 to 1936 when it burned. But you can still see it today in Dallas, Texas. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:37.579 So if you go to Dallas, and you drive down what the locals there call Stemmons Freeway, 00:06:38.840 --> 00:06:46.759 I-35 East, and you're going towards downtown, and on your left, there is a really large brown 00:06:46.759 --> 00:06:54.319 World Trade Center. And just next to it, right across the street, is a white iron and glass building 00:06:54.319 --> 00:07:01.959 called the Information Mart. It is an exact replica of the Crystal Palace. Now, why do I say all of that? 00:07:03.180 --> 00:07:06.899 Because I think that's where our biggest problem is. I think that's where our biggest temptation is. 00:07:06.980 --> 00:07:13.560 I think that's where you and I face our greatest challenges as believers. I'll use the phrase, 00:07:13.959 --> 00:07:18.959 this looking like that. And if I could use it, if I could say it another way without being offensive, 00:07:18.959 --> 00:07:24.859 the biggest temptation we face, the biggest challenge we face as believers and followers 00:07:24.859 --> 00:07:37.099 of Jesus Christ in 2023 is us looking like them. So what do I mean by all of that? Well, take your Bible, 00:07:38.139 --> 00:07:46.259 turn to Psalm 106. I am not a Bible scholar. I am a Bible reader. 00:07:46.259 --> 00:07:55.339 And in my Bible reading, I've come across these two verses that I'm going to read for you today, 00:07:55.459 --> 00:08:04.579 and they really strike me as significant verses for you and me in 2023. So it's Psalm 106. I'm going 00:08:04.579 --> 00:08:12.899 to read verse 34 and verse 35. So here we are, follow along. They did not destroy the peoples the Lord 00:08:12.899 --> 00:08:21.560 had commanded them. Instead, they mingled with the nations and adopted their ways. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:30.179 So it's that second verse there, verse 35, I want to focus on. They mingled with the nations 00:08:30.179 --> 00:08:36.939 and adopted their ways. Now I'm going to draw a line here. I think it's one thing to mingle. 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:46.160 I think it's one thing to engage the world, the society, the culture around us. I think it's one 00:08:46.160 --> 00:08:52.220 thing to interact somehow, some way with the world and the culture and the society around us. I think 00:08:52.220 --> 00:09:00.780 it's one thing to mingle. It is a completely different thing to adopt the ways of the nations. 00:09:00.779 --> 00:09:11.740 And I think that's where our greatest temptation comes today. Us being so drawn to the ways of the 00:09:11.740 --> 00:09:17.579 world that we eventually adopt the ways of the nations around us. Now, if it's any consolation 00:09:17.579 --> 00:09:25.419 to us, that's always been a problem. It's always been a challenge for God's people. I'll give you some 00:09:25.419 --> 00:09:31.599 examples. We like what's comfortable. Who doesn't want to be liked? Who doesn't want to fit in? Who 00:09:31.599 --> 00:09:38.519 doesn't want to blend in? Who doesn't want to be accepted? We all do. And we always have. I remember 00:09:38.519 --> 00:09:47.719 the story. God used Moses to bring the Israelites out of bondage, taking them to this promised land, 00:09:47.779 --> 00:09:52.679 which, by the way, was not just a promised land. That was a promised life he was giving them. 00:09:52.679 --> 00:09:58.839 So they make their way out of Egypt. They haven't gone very far. They come to their first really bump 00:09:58.839 --> 00:10:03.399 in the road, their first really trial. And what happens? They start complaining, Moses, take us 00:10:03.399 --> 00:10:08.959 back. We want to go back. Yes, we were enslaved. Yes, we were oppressed. But we were familiar. We were 00:10:08.959 --> 00:10:14.899 comfortable. Who doesn't want the familiar? Who doesn't want the comfortable? And the comfortable 00:10:14.899 --> 00:10:20.059 thing is to blend in. The comfortable thing is to fit in. The comfortable thing is to do what it 00:10:20.059 --> 00:10:27.339 takes to be liked. And we always have wanted that. You remember Joshua chapter 24? He finally draws 00:10:27.339 --> 00:10:32.919 the lines. Kind of the first Alamo scene. He finally says to the people, Joshua 24, folks, 00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:39.899 you got to choose. Now I'm paraphrasing here, but folks, you got to choose. Are you going to serve? 00:10:40.119 --> 00:10:44.000 In other words, are you going to adopt the ways of the nations around you? Are you going to serve 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:49.620 the gods of the peoples in whose land you're living? Are you going to serve those gods? Or will 00:10:49.620 --> 00:10:53.120 you serve the Lord your God? And that's when he makes that statement, as for me and my house, 00:10:53.159 --> 00:11:00.679 we will serve the Lord. But they had to choose. By the way, we have to choose. And it's a daily 00:11:00.679 --> 00:11:09.659 choice. It's constant. I think maybe the best example is 1 Samuel chapter 8. So in 1 Samuel chapter 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:16.539 8, you know, there was Moses, then there was Joshua, and then the people of Israel were led by a series 00:11:16.539 --> 00:11:22.559 of judges. Samson was one of those judges. Samuel was the last of those judges. So there's Samuel. 00:11:22.819 --> 00:11:31.679 He's the leader of the people. Samuel's getting older. And so the leaders of the Israelites, 00:11:31.939 --> 00:11:35.959 they come to Samuel and they make a request of him. Do you remember what they requested? 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:45.500 Samuel, would you anoint us a king? Well, Samuel, he is so disappointed in their request. 00:11:46.139 --> 00:11:52.080 You don't need a king. The Lord your God is your king, he says. And they said, no, anoint for us a king. 00:11:53.019 --> 00:11:57.780 So Samuel says, why? Do you know what their answer is? Do you remember their answer? I'm going to 00:11:57.780 --> 00:12:05.220 paraphrase again, but their answer is, everybody else has one. Seriously, that is their answer. We want to 00:12:05.220 --> 00:12:12.519 be like the other nations. They all have a king and we do not. All that to say, God's people, 00:12:12.860 --> 00:12:19.279 we've always struggled with this. Now there's an extra challenge in 2023. So the tug of the world 00:12:19.279 --> 00:12:24.500 has always been there. The tug of the world is real, it's strong, and it's always been there. But you 00:12:24.500 --> 00:12:32.480 know what's compounded that temptation and the challenge for us today? We now have a portion of the 00:12:32.480 --> 00:12:38.060 Christian community pushing us that direction. There's a portion of the Christian community 00:12:38.060 --> 00:12:45.539 that now pushes us to compromise, pushes us to sacrifice, pushes us to try to blend in 00:12:45.539 --> 00:12:51.219 and not offend. Well, I don't want to be, I don't want to offend anybody. 00:12:53.439 --> 00:13:00.459 But at the same time, for you and for me, the challenge is clear. Mingle with the nation, 00:13:00.599 --> 00:13:06.219 but do not adopt their ways. We cannot afford to look like them. 00:13:06.220 --> 00:13:19.040 1910, the president was William Howard Taft, and he went to a baseball game. 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:29.379 Now, William Howard Taft, president in 1910, was a big guy. So he'd been sitting at this baseball 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:33.420 game for a while. And you know, when you're the president and you go to a baseball game, 00:13:33.419 --> 00:13:38.939 everybody's looking at you, everybody's watching. So after he'd been sitting at this baseball game 00:13:38.939 --> 00:13:46.379 for a while, he decided to stand up. Well, the president stands up, so everybody stood up. 00:13:48.439 --> 00:13:53.399 Well, there are two things you need to know about that. One, that's where the seventh inning stretch 00:13:53.399 --> 00:14:02.860 started. And two, just because somebody else does it, doesn't mean you and I have to. 00:14:03.419 --> 00:14:09.539 Even if they're someone of significance and influence and importance. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:17.559 So, what do we do? 00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:24.039 How do we stand our ground, hold our place? 00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:30.019 What do we do? Well, Paul wrote to the Romans, chapter 12, verse 2, and he says, 00:14:30.419 --> 00:14:35.980 do not conform to the world around you. In other words, do not adopt the ways of the nations 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:42.740 around you. The way Paul said it was, do not conform to the nations. But instead, he said, 00:14:42.939 --> 00:14:50.279 be transformed by the renewing of your mind. So, you and I are to live transformed lives. 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:56.459 So, what does transformation look like? I'm going to spend these next couple of minutes 00:14:56.459 --> 00:15:03.439 talking about what transformation looks like. So, right now, I got to tell you, I don't know 00:15:03.439 --> 00:15:07.980 if I have six points or two points. What I really know for sure is you hope I have two. 00:15:07.980 --> 00:15:13.840 But what does transformation look like? 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:25.279 Number one, it all starts with the way we think. And so, we have to think differently 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:28.759 than those who do not believe in and follow after Jesus think. 00:15:28.759 --> 00:15:38.019 That's what Paul said, Romans 12, to be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:15:38.120 --> 00:15:41.919 Jesus said it like this in Matthew, chapter 22, when he was asked about the great commandment. 00:15:42.159 --> 00:15:45.559 He said, love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. 00:15:47.379 --> 00:15:51.939 You got your Bible with you? You can look over to what Paul said, Philippians, chapter 4, 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:56.899 verse 8. Paul said it like this. Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, 00:15:56.899 --> 00:16:01.559 whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:07.500 if there's any moral excellence, and if there's anything praiseworthy, dwell on these things. 00:16:07.679 --> 00:16:12.360 Think on these things. We, you and me, as believers and followers of Jesus Christ, 00:16:12.500 --> 00:16:18.259 we just have to think differently. That's where it all starts, with the way we think. 00:16:18.980 --> 00:16:24.039 It's one thing to mingle with the nations, but we cannot adopt their ways. We cannot adopt the ways 00:16:24.039 --> 00:16:28.639 that the people who do not know Jesus, we cannot adopt the way that they think. 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:33.079 We think differently. It's just different. 00:16:35.399 --> 00:16:36.219 Number two, 00:16:37.419 --> 00:16:40.459 we talk differently. 00:16:41.839 --> 00:16:43.579 Now, by that I mean two things. 00:16:43.860 --> 00:16:44.139 One, 00:16:45.339 --> 00:16:46.879 the words we use, 00:16:47.799 --> 00:16:48.839 we use different words. 00:16:49.719 --> 00:16:50.939 There are words we don't use. 00:16:50.940 --> 00:16:53.060 So, 00:16:53.180 --> 00:16:57.540 if you want to distinguish yourself as a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ, 00:16:57.720 --> 00:16:59.180 it all starts with the way you think, 00:16:59.420 --> 00:17:02.440 but the way you think will also be translated in the way we talk. 00:17:02.580 --> 00:17:04.920 So, we have to talk differently. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:07.380 And it begins with the words that we use, 00:17:07.840 --> 00:17:10.120 and secondly, it's the way we use those words. 00:17:11.259 --> 00:17:14.820 We have to use our words in ways that are uplifting, 00:17:15.120 --> 00:17:16.259 helpful, beneficial. 00:17:16.259 --> 00:17:18.379 Even if we are condemning, 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:20.660 even if we are not condoning, 00:17:20.940 --> 00:17:21.660 we have to use, 00:17:21.799 --> 00:17:23.079 we have to say those kinds of things 00:17:23.079 --> 00:17:24.599 in a way that we can be heard 00:17:24.599 --> 00:17:27.180 rather than put off those who we're trying to speak to. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:30.440 It all has to do with the way we think, 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:31.359 then it's the way we talk, 00:17:31.599 --> 00:17:32.440 then it's the way we act. 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:35.440 Just the way we live our lives. 00:17:35.440 --> 00:17:38.700 By that I mean, 00:17:38.840 --> 00:17:41.400 there are some things 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:45.440 that because I'm a believer and a follower of Jesus, 00:17:45.600 --> 00:17:46.940 there are some things I'm just going to do. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:48.880 I'm going to be faithful 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:50.840 to the Lord and to His church. 00:17:51.580 --> 00:17:52.680 I'm going to be generous 00:17:52.680 --> 00:17:55.440 with my time, my talent, and my treasure. 00:17:57.559 --> 00:17:58.860 There are things I'm going to do 00:17:58.860 --> 00:18:01.380 because that's what the Scripture requires of me. 00:18:02.100 --> 00:18:03.740 But there are things that I will not do, 00:18:04.080 --> 00:18:05.100 places I'm not going to go, 00:18:05.099 --> 00:18:06.039 things I'm not going to do, 00:18:06.119 --> 00:18:08.319 activities into which I will not engage 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:11.259 because I'm a believer and followers of Jesus. 00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:14.839 So what does transformation look like? 00:18:16.319 --> 00:18:19.480 It looks like thinking on a higher level, 00:18:20.240 --> 00:18:21.559 talking in a nicer way, 00:18:22.319 --> 00:18:24.059 behaving in a way that's commendable 00:18:24.059 --> 00:18:26.419 and biblical. 00:18:27.899 --> 00:18:30.459 Remember that 2007 movie 00:18:30.459 --> 00:18:32.019 is the first of like five or six, 00:18:32.019 --> 00:18:34.339 maybe the first of too many, 00:18:34.339 --> 00:18:36.119 Transformer movies? 00:18:37.059 --> 00:18:37.939 You remember that 2007? 00:18:38.500 --> 00:18:38.980 So yeah, you know, 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:42.119 that movie was based upon a cartoon of 1986. 00:18:43.220 --> 00:18:44.299 But it all has to do with, 00:18:44.379 --> 00:18:45.959 when I was raising my kids, 00:18:46.419 --> 00:18:48.059 my son, they had these little toys. 00:18:48.179 --> 00:18:49.539 They were like little cars and trucks. 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:51.299 And you start turning them around a little bit 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:51.639 and all of a sudden, 00:18:51.699 --> 00:18:52.419 they become a little robot. 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:54.559 Well, they made a whole movie about that. 00:18:55.500 --> 00:18:56.299 You know, it was one thing 00:18:56.299 --> 00:18:57.980 and then something happens to it 00:18:57.980 --> 00:18:58.899 and becomes something else. 00:18:59.919 --> 00:19:02.539 Well, we've been transformed. 00:19:03.980 --> 00:19:05.000 We were one thing, 00:19:05.099 --> 00:19:06.019 we came to know Jesus, 00:19:06.139 --> 00:19:06.919 now we're something else. 00:19:07.799 --> 00:19:08.819 We were one thing, 00:19:08.899 --> 00:19:09.460 we know Jesus, 00:19:09.579 --> 00:19:10.419 now we're something else. 00:19:10.420 --> 00:19:13.820 And that something else is 00:19:13.820 --> 00:19:16.380 somebody who thinks and talks and acts 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:17.460 on a higher level. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:20.200 Still mingling, 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.039 still engaging. 00:19:21.220 --> 00:19:22.800 That's when Jesus in John 17 00:19:22.800 --> 00:19:23.980 prayed for his followers. 00:19:24.060 --> 00:19:24.980 Do you remember what he prayed? 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:26.840 Do not take them out of this world, 00:19:27.019 --> 00:19:28.360 but keep them from the evil one. 00:19:28.519 --> 00:19:29.100 In other words, 00:19:29.360 --> 00:19:31.500 keep them from adopting the ways of the nations. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.820 Let them mingle. 00:19:35.200 --> 00:19:36.400 Let them engage. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:37.779 Let them be involved. 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:37.819 Let them be involved. 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:39.700 But God, please, 00:19:39.779 --> 00:19:40.960 keep them from the evil one 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.359 so that they do not adopt 00:19:42.359 --> 00:19:43.259 the ways of the nations. 00:19:43.379 --> 00:19:44.180 They do not conform 00:19:44.180 --> 00:19:45.299 to the ways of this world. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:47.399 Now, 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:49.200 I am going to meddle 00:19:49.200 --> 00:19:50.339 just a little bit, 00:19:50.759 --> 00:19:52.779 but I'm a one-time wonder here, 00:19:52.899 --> 00:19:53.359 and so, 00:19:54.500 --> 00:19:56.180 you know, 00:19:56.379 --> 00:19:58.579 that's the way it is. 00:19:58.779 --> 00:19:59.779 Now that I've retired, 00:19:59.859 --> 00:20:01.139 I've got this newfound freedom 00:20:01.139 --> 00:20:02.399 to say what I want to say. 00:20:03.680 --> 00:20:05.519 So just deal with it. 00:20:07.779 --> 00:20:09.160 So I've got to tell you, 00:20:09.220 --> 00:20:11.119 there are some underlying challenges here. 00:20:12.379 --> 00:20:15.339 So I'm just going to put it out there. 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:17.960 Underlying challenges 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:21.859 to mingling but not adopting. 00:20:23.119 --> 00:20:23.799 So what are they? 00:20:24.460 --> 00:20:24.720 Well, 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:25.460 I don't know. 00:20:25.559 --> 00:20:26.700 I got three. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:27.799 There may be more, 00:20:28.480 --> 00:20:29.279 but here's three. 00:20:29.359 --> 00:20:29.859 Number one, 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:31.939 the temptation 00:20:31.939 --> 00:20:37.579 to separate too far 00:20:37.579 --> 00:20:39.759 that we lose 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:41.539 our influence. 00:20:42.919 --> 00:20:43.119 You know, 00:20:43.259 --> 00:20:45.319 I don't want to adopt 00:20:45.319 --> 00:20:46.500 the ways of the nations, 00:20:46.899 --> 00:20:47.939 and the Bible says 00:20:47.939 --> 00:20:49.279 come out from among them 00:20:49.279 --> 00:20:50.099 and be separate. 00:20:51.139 --> 00:20:53.079 I'm just going to remove myself. 00:20:55.219 --> 00:20:56.319 You know people, 00:20:56.539 --> 00:20:57.379 I know people 00:20:57.379 --> 00:20:58.399 who are believers in 00:20:58.399 --> 00:20:59.259 and followers of Jesus, 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.660 and they just separated 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:02.379 so far from 00:21:02.379 --> 00:21:04.000 the culture, 00:21:04.240 --> 00:21:05.740 they have no influence over it. 00:21:06.000 --> 00:21:07.539 They have no influence on it. 00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:09.119 So the underlying challenge 00:21:09.119 --> 00:21:10.019 is to 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:11.940 find that healthy balance 00:21:11.940 --> 00:21:12.660 of mingling 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.539 but not adopting. 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:15.259 Don't separate so far. 00:21:15.339 --> 00:21:15.900 When it says 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:16.859 come out from among them 00:21:16.859 --> 00:21:17.440 and be separate, 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.539 it means 00:21:18.539 --> 00:21:19.759 come out from among them 00:21:19.759 --> 00:21:20.420 and be different. 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.379 Don't get so far out there 00:21:24.379 --> 00:21:25.019 that you can't have 00:21:25.019 --> 00:21:25.940 an impact on them. 00:21:25.940 --> 00:21:27.420 So that's the underlying 00:21:27.420 --> 00:21:28.420 challenge number one. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:29.500 Stay engaged. 00:21:29.680 --> 00:21:30.299 Stay involved. 00:21:31.299 --> 00:21:32.519 Stay influential. 00:21:35.059 --> 00:21:35.960 So underlying 00:21:35.960 --> 00:21:37.039 challenge number two. 00:21:38.820 --> 00:21:39.799 Don't get mad. 00:21:43.220 --> 00:21:43.460 Now, 00:21:43.580 --> 00:21:44.059 there are things 00:21:44.059 --> 00:21:44.680 happening out there 00:21:44.680 --> 00:21:45.480 that I'm mad about. 00:21:46.759 --> 00:21:47.799 I got to tell you. 00:21:47.799 --> 00:21:49.940 But there's a difference 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:52.579 between righteous indignation 00:21:52.579 --> 00:21:55.299 and ungodly anger. 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.619 Jesus 00:21:57.619 --> 00:21:59.000 exemplified 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.740 righteous indignation. 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.099 And so that's where 00:22:02.099 --> 00:22:03.019 we have to find ourselves. 00:22:03.139 --> 00:22:03.859 Things that are happening 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.559 around us 00:22:04.559 --> 00:22:05.399 that we don't 00:22:05.399 --> 00:22:06.779 don't get mad 00:22:06.779 --> 00:22:07.680 because what happens 00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:09.180 when you and I get mad? 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.879 We get mean. 00:22:11.880 --> 00:22:14.340 And when you get mean, 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:15.340 you have, 00:22:15.500 --> 00:22:17.140 you lose your influence 00:22:17.140 --> 00:22:18.500 over those 00:22:18.500 --> 00:22:19.320 who don't know Jesus. 00:22:20.200 --> 00:22:21.100 So I'm telling 00:22:21.100 --> 00:22:22.380 you and me, 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:24.020 when those things 00:22:24.020 --> 00:22:25.060 happen around us, 00:22:25.160 --> 00:22:26.140 when people say things 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:26.760 and do things 00:22:26.760 --> 00:22:28.200 and things are unfolding 00:22:28.200 --> 00:22:28.740 around us 00:22:28.740 --> 00:22:30.980 and righteous indignation 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:31.600 is one thing, 00:22:31.860 --> 00:22:32.640 but don't get mad 00:22:32.640 --> 00:22:33.600 because when you get mad 00:22:33.600 --> 00:22:34.140 you get mean 00:22:34.140 --> 00:22:34.800 and when you get mean 00:22:34.800 --> 00:22:35.640 you lose your influence. 00:22:36.660 --> 00:22:37.940 And now this last one 00:22:37.940 --> 00:22:38.720 I am going to say 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.840 in the sweetest way 00:22:39.840 --> 00:22:40.920 I can possibly say it. 00:22:40.920 --> 00:22:42.100 I'm just, 00:22:42.180 --> 00:22:42.539 this is, 00:22:42.700 --> 00:22:43.880 I'm just like 00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:45.300 covering this with honey. 00:22:46.519 --> 00:22:47.620 This is just the sweetest, 00:22:47.740 --> 00:22:48.039 I'm just, 00:22:48.259 --> 00:22:48.539 this is, 00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.539 this is me 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.740 saying something 00:22:50.740 --> 00:22:55.100 that may be hard 00:22:55.100 --> 00:22:57.160 but saying it in a sweet way. 00:22:57.380 --> 00:22:58.080 This is it. 00:22:59.039 --> 00:23:00.060 Don't get weird. 00:23:06.140 --> 00:23:07.080 Don't go there. 00:23:07.759 --> 00:23:08.279 Have you ever heard 00:23:08.279 --> 00:23:08.820 that phrase, 00:23:09.200 --> 00:23:09.960 oh he or she, 00:23:09.960 --> 00:23:11.400 they're just odd for God? 00:23:13.980 --> 00:23:16.400 Don't be odd for God. 00:23:17.620 --> 00:23:19.059 That doesn't really draw 00:23:19.059 --> 00:23:20.340 anybody into the kingdom. 00:23:22.140 --> 00:23:23.600 Can we not just be 00:23:23.600 --> 00:23:24.640 normal people 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:29.299 who are abnormally 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:31.700 thinking and talking 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:33.460 and living in such a way 00:23:33.460 --> 00:23:34.600 that it's attractive 00:23:34.600 --> 00:23:36.340 to those who don't know Jesus? 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.740 Can we not be those people? 00:23:37.740 --> 00:23:39.920 Let's be those people. 00:23:40.620 --> 00:23:41.620 Just don't get weird. 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:45.900 So I'm finished. 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.079 You're not, 00:23:48.140 --> 00:23:49.000 I know that's not how 00:23:49.000 --> 00:23:50.120 you're supposed to end a sermon. 00:23:50.299 --> 00:23:51.779 I went to seminary. 00:23:53.980 --> 00:23:55.539 But that was a long time ago 00:23:55.539 --> 00:23:56.180 and I'm, 00:23:56.180 --> 00:23:58.140 and I'm retired. 00:23:58.400 --> 00:23:58.819 So I'm, 00:23:58.819 --> 00:23:58.919 I'm finished. 00:23:59.439 --> 00:23:59.879 I'm finished. 00:23:59.879 --> 00:24:00.879 I'm finished. 00:24:00.879 --> 00:24:01.879 I'm finished. 00:24:01.879 --> 00:24:03.000 I'm finished. 00:24:03.000 --> 00:24:05.059 I'm finished. 00:24:06.139 --> 00:24:07.579 That's all I got for you. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:10.000 But folks, 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:12.939 Psalm 106 00:24:12.939 --> 00:24:15.299 was written a long time ago 00:24:15.299 --> 00:24:18.059 but I don't know 00:24:18.059 --> 00:24:19.359 that there's a more relevant verse 00:24:19.359 --> 00:24:20.179 for 2023 00:24:20.179 --> 00:24:23.579 than that. 00:24:23.579 --> 00:24:25.639 It's one thing to mingle 00:24:25.639 --> 00:24:26.379 with the nations. 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:29.559 Do not adopt their ways. 00:24:30.339 --> 00:24:31.159 Let's pray together. 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:32.759 Father, 00:24:32.859 --> 00:24:33.579 thank you for the day, 00:24:33.659 --> 00:24:34.619 the blessings of the day, 00:24:34.699 --> 00:24:35.939 the chance to be together. 00:24:36.919 --> 00:24:38.159 I pray for this church. 00:24:38.259 --> 00:24:39.419 I thank you for the pastor. 00:24:40.279 --> 00:24:40.559 God, 00:24:40.619 --> 00:24:41.699 I pray that right here 00:24:41.699 --> 00:24:42.339 in Henrietta 00:24:42.339 --> 00:24:43.559 at First Baptist Church 00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:44.539 there would be a movement 00:24:44.539 --> 00:24:45.399 of your spirit 00:24:45.399 --> 00:24:47.339 that just changes 00:24:47.339 --> 00:24:48.059 this community 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:48.980 and this county 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.720 and spreads far beyond that. 00:24:50.859 --> 00:24:51.139 And Father, 00:24:51.140 --> 00:24:52.840 I pray that you would help 00:24:52.840 --> 00:24:54.080 the people of this church, 00:24:54.280 --> 00:24:54.520 me, 00:24:55.080 --> 00:24:55.940 the people of this, 00:24:56.020 --> 00:24:56.940 help us 00:24:56.940 --> 00:24:58.900 to be people 00:24:58.900 --> 00:25:01.240 of godly Christian influence 00:25:01.240 --> 00:25:02.540 that draw people 00:25:02.540 --> 00:25:03.180 to your kingdom 00:25:03.180 --> 00:25:04.860 and we never push them away. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:06.000 We stand our ground 00:25:06.000 --> 00:25:07.780 in a way that's attractive. 00:25:09.000 --> 00:25:09.980 This is our prayer 00:25:09.980 --> 00:25:10.800 in Jesus' name. 00:25:11.540 --> 00:25:11.800 Amen. 00:25:12.320 --> 00:25:12.560 Okay, 00:25:12.640 --> 00:25:13.360 can I have your attention 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.400 just for a real quick second? 00:25:15.040 --> 00:25:16.020 I am finished. 00:25:17.340 --> 00:25:17.800 But, 00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.580 a couple of things. 00:25:19.700 --> 00:25:19.820 One, 00:25:19.920 --> 00:25:20.520 we're going to have 00:25:20.520 --> 00:25:21.040 an invitation. 00:25:21.240 --> 00:25:22.060 The pastor will be standing 00:25:22.060 --> 00:25:22.620 right here at the front. 00:25:22.780 --> 00:25:24.140 If you don't know Jesus, 00:25:25.160 --> 00:25:26.860 today, 00:25:27.200 --> 00:25:28.140 you have a chance 00:25:28.140 --> 00:25:29.700 to walk down this aisle, 00:25:29.820 --> 00:25:30.920 take the pastor by the hand 00:25:30.920 --> 00:25:31.160 and say, 00:25:31.300 --> 00:25:32.340 I just want a personal 00:25:32.340 --> 00:25:33.300 relationship with Jesus. 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.880 You heard the deacon 00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.480 talking about 00:25:35.480 --> 00:25:36.200 it's not a religion, 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:36.840 it's a relationship. 00:25:37.160 --> 00:25:37.840 If you don't have 00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:38.880 a relationship with Jesus, 00:25:39.360 --> 00:25:41.640 you'll never be in a room 00:25:41.640 --> 00:25:42.540 more filled with people 00:25:42.540 --> 00:25:43.420 who want to see you 00:25:43.420 --> 00:25:44.120 make that decision 00:25:44.120 --> 00:25:44.820 than you are today. 00:25:44.880 --> 00:25:45.440 So you come 00:25:45.440 --> 00:25:46.780 and we will celebrate 00:25:46.780 --> 00:25:47.340 that decision. 00:25:47.480 --> 00:25:48.400 Maybe you're here today 00:25:48.400 --> 00:25:49.360 and you need to walk 00:25:49.360 --> 00:25:49.800 before the Lord 00:25:49.800 --> 00:25:50.500 in a fresh spirit. 00:25:50.500 --> 00:25:50.980 You can kneel 00:25:50.980 --> 00:25:51.420 at this altar 00:25:51.420 --> 00:25:51.819 and pray. 00:25:52.039 --> 00:25:52.859 You can take the pastor 00:25:52.859 --> 00:25:53.240 by the hand. 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:53.859 You can pray with him. 00:25:54.059 --> 00:25:55.000 But if you need 00:25:55.000 --> 00:25:55.700 to read it, 00:25:55.819 --> 00:25:56.460 commit yourself 00:25:56.460 --> 00:25:57.519 to being the kind 00:25:57.519 --> 00:25:58.099 of person 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:59.299 who mingles 00:25:59.299 --> 00:26:00.160 but doesn't adopt, 00:26:00.359 --> 00:26:01.519 you want to be that person, 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:02.460 you come and let's 00:26:02.460 --> 00:26:03.740 let it happen 00:26:03.740 --> 00:26:04.299 right here today. 00:26:05.059 --> 00:26:05.440 You're looking 00:26:05.440 --> 00:26:06.200 for a church home? 00:26:06.779 --> 00:26:07.859 What a great church this is. 00:26:07.900 --> 00:26:08.539 I live in Dallas 00:26:08.539 --> 00:26:09.019 and I'm thinking 00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.559 about joining. 00:26:09.559 --> 00:26:12.419 whatever decision 00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.319 you need to make, 00:26:13.419 --> 00:26:13.859 you make it 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:14.579 as God leads you. 00:26:14.639 --> 00:26:15.220 Let's stand together 00:26:15.220 --> 00:26:15.679 and let's sing. 00:26:15.919 --> 00:26:16.700 We invite you to come 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:17.200 to pastor. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:17.819 We'll be at the front. 00:26:17.819 --> 00:26:18.740 We'll be at the front. 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:19.220 We'll be at the front. 00:26:19.220 --> 00:26:20.179 We'll be at the front.