WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.560 is that saying on a tombstone that is right below the name. 00:00:06.100 --> 00:00:12.060 And if you look around at graves, you'll see some interesting ones. 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:15.480 Jesse James, his says, 00:00:15.800 --> 00:00:20.640 murdered by a traitor and a coward whose name is not worthy to appear here. 00:00:22.480 --> 00:00:26.980 Betty Davis, the actress, hers says she did it the hard way. 00:00:26.980 --> 00:00:30.339 There's a Maryland grave that says, 00:00:30.539 --> 00:00:33.399 here lies an atheist all dressed up and nowhere to go. 00:00:35.219 --> 00:00:40.179 And George Johnson in Tombstone, Arizona, 00:00:40.539 --> 00:00:42.820 bought a horse that had been stolen. 00:00:43.980 --> 00:00:45.620 He didn't know it had been stolen, 00:00:46.260 --> 00:00:49.320 but he couldn't persuade him that he didn't know it at the time. 00:00:49.900 --> 00:00:51.659 And so his stone says, 00:00:52.179 --> 00:00:55.859 here lies George Johnson hanged by mistake 1882. 00:00:55.859 --> 00:01:00.240 He was right, we was wrong, but we strung him up and now he's gone. 00:01:03.079 --> 00:01:06.980 Lester Moore got shot when he delivered a damaged package. 00:01:07.099 --> 00:01:09.120 Wasn't his fault, but they shot him 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:11.719 and realized later that it wasn't his fault. 00:01:11.780 --> 00:01:13.599 It says, here lies Lester Moore, 00:01:14.140 --> 00:01:17.420 four slugs from a 44, no less, no more. 00:01:18.760 --> 00:01:22.200 Frank Sinatra says, the best is yet to come. 00:01:22.299 --> 00:01:24.420 And Frank, I hope that was the case. 00:01:24.420 --> 00:01:28.000 Rodney Dangerfield says, there goes the neighborhood. 00:01:29.960 --> 00:01:32.820 Merv Griffin that had a late night talk show said, 00:01:32.900 --> 00:01:34.960 I will not be back after this message. 00:01:37.460 --> 00:01:41.180 And the great boxer, Jack Dempsey's grave says, 00:01:41.299 --> 00:01:45.740 a gentle man and a gentleman, even though he was a boxer. 00:01:46.700 --> 00:01:48.640 We kidded Dawn years ago and said, 00:01:48.700 --> 00:01:49.960 we's going to put on her tombstone. 00:01:49.959 --> 00:01:51.039 And I told you I was sick. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.819 And she replied and said, on yours, we're just going to put, 00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:57.139 phew. 00:01:59.199 --> 00:02:00.459 Because that's what I make, 00:02:00.599 --> 00:02:03.719 that noise I make every night when I get home and rest. 00:02:04.500 --> 00:02:07.299 I heard about one that didn't want an epitaph on his grave. 00:02:07.399 --> 00:02:09.599 Matter of fact, he didn't want his name on his grave. 00:02:10.159 --> 00:02:12.259 He didn't like his name, never did. 00:02:12.259 --> 00:02:14.159 His name was odd. 00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:19.599 And he said, when I die, don't put my name on the stone. 00:02:20.099 --> 00:02:21.419 Because I hate my name. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.340 I just want you to put the day that I was born 00:02:24.340 --> 00:02:27.079 and the day that I died. 00:02:27.959 --> 00:02:28.659 And that's all. 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:30.879 And that's exactly what they did. 00:02:31.719 --> 00:02:33.739 And when people walk by that grave, 00:02:33.819 --> 00:02:36.079 they look at it and go, hmm, that's odd. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:36.139 That's odd. 00:02:36.139 --> 00:02:36.159 That's odd. 00:02:42.259 --> 00:02:44.239 Some of y'all will get that about lunch. 00:02:48.799 --> 00:02:51.639 I want us to look this morning at the life 00:02:51.639 --> 00:02:53.539 and the passing of a few people 00:02:53.539 --> 00:02:58.099 and the statement that their lives left. 00:02:59.219 --> 00:03:02.539 Genesis chapter 5, beginning in verse 21, 00:03:02.799 --> 00:03:06.840 it says, when Enoch had lived 65 years, 00:03:06.840 --> 00:03:08.219 he fathered Methuselah. 00:03:08.219 --> 00:03:12.419 Enoch walked with God after he fathered Methuselah 00:03:12.419 --> 00:03:15.000 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 00:03:15.599 --> 00:03:17.840 Thus all the days of Enoch were 365. 00:03:19.340 --> 00:03:22.699 Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:28.560 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he fathered Lamech. 00:03:29.520 --> 00:03:33.840 Methuselah lived after he fathered Lamech 782 years 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.800 and had other sons and daughters. 00:03:35.800 --> 00:03:42.240 Thus all the days of Methuselah were 969 years and he died. 00:03:44.040 --> 00:03:49.260 There's a genealogy as well in 1 Chronicles chapter 4 00:03:49.260 --> 00:03:52.620 that has dozens of names in it, 00:03:53.120 --> 00:03:55.920 but it gives more detail about one name. 00:03:57.000 --> 00:04:00.620 It's in 1 Chronicles 4, 9, and 10, and it says this, 00:04:01.100 --> 00:04:03.740 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, 00:04:03.740 --> 00:04:07.000 and his mother called him Jabez, saying, 00:04:07.180 --> 00:04:09.120 because I bore him in pain. 00:04:10.320 --> 00:04:13.219 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, 00:04:13.780 --> 00:04:17.240 oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my border 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:19.819 and that your hand might be with me 00:04:19.819 --> 00:04:22.060 and that you would keep me from harm 00:04:22.060 --> 00:04:23.800 so that it may not bring me pain. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:28.019 And God granted what he asked. 00:04:28.019 --> 00:04:32.099 Jabez and his prayer have been a part of Scripture 00:04:32.099 --> 00:04:34.419 for thousands of years, 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.959 but most didn't recognize it until the year 2000 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:42.859 when Bruce Wilkinson wrote a little book 00:04:42.859 --> 00:04:45.039 called The Prayer of Jabez. 00:04:45.659 --> 00:04:48.159 He sold 9 million copies. 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:52.159 It encouraged people to pray the prayer of Jabez, 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:55.340 and he got thousands of letters from people 00:04:55.340 --> 00:04:57.240 that told them that that prayer worked 00:04:57.240 --> 00:04:59.660 and that God had blessed them. 00:05:00.920 --> 00:05:02.340 But I want to be clear this morning. 00:05:03.800 --> 00:05:05.620 God didn't answer Jabez's prayer 00:05:05.620 --> 00:05:07.620 because it was worded correctly. 00:05:08.480 --> 00:05:10.560 That's not why God answered his prayer. 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:14.860 He answered it because Jabez lived an honorable life. 00:05:14.860 --> 00:05:20.259 He answered it because Jabez relied upon the Lord in prayer 00:05:20.259 --> 00:05:24.500 and that he prayed deliberately and plainly enough 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:28.840 to recognize when God's hand was at work. 00:05:29.840 --> 00:05:32.160 Jabez stood out among the rest 00:05:32.160 --> 00:05:35.860 in a lot of baguettes in the genealogy, 00:05:36.780 --> 00:05:38.939 and he got more than just a baguette. 00:05:40.319 --> 00:05:42.199 In our passage today, 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.539 we see at least one stand out, 00:05:45.639 --> 00:05:48.259 and I want to point out a couple of others as well. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:53.599 This man Enoch lived like few others did 00:05:53.599 --> 00:05:55.939 and left like few others have 00:05:55.939 --> 00:06:01.039 because only four have left like Enoch left, 00:06:01.180 --> 00:06:02.019 to my knowledge. 00:06:02.740 --> 00:06:05.480 It said he walked with God and was no more. 00:06:06.659 --> 00:06:09.860 So there's Enoch who left mysteriously like that. 00:06:09.860 --> 00:06:12.960 Scripture also tells us about Elijah 00:06:12.960 --> 00:06:15.699 who left in a fiery chariot from this life. 00:06:16.920 --> 00:06:19.759 Jesus himself who ascended into heaven 00:06:19.759 --> 00:06:21.319 after he had resurrected. 00:06:22.600 --> 00:06:23.900 And my dog Boo, 00:06:24.580 --> 00:06:27.759 back in Christmas of 2010, 00:06:28.879 --> 00:06:31.160 I had an old dog, 16 years old, 00:06:31.199 --> 00:06:33.340 and he could hardly walk across the yard. 00:06:34.100 --> 00:06:35.560 Did not see very well. 00:06:35.759 --> 00:06:38.500 He didn't go out for very long. 00:06:38.500 --> 00:06:43.680 I had a younger dog that was on one of those collars 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:45.699 that kept her in the yard, 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:48.360 and so we had the back gate open in the backyard 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:50.939 and let that dog go back and forth. 00:06:51.300 --> 00:06:52.540 And old Boo was so old, 00:06:52.579 --> 00:06:53.459 he wasn't going anywhere. 00:06:53.660 --> 00:06:56.100 And I was in the process of bringing in Christmas decorations 00:06:56.100 --> 00:06:57.180 and those type things. 00:06:57.399 --> 00:06:59.060 And a little while later, 00:06:59.060 --> 00:07:00.500 we realized he wasn't around. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.519 Poor dog wasn't even able to walk across the yard, 00:07:04.519 --> 00:07:08.419 but yet he had walked somehow, somewhere. 00:07:09.579 --> 00:07:11.419 And so we just said he walked with me 00:07:11.419 --> 00:07:12.379 and then was no more. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:14.139 I mean, we sent out search parties. 00:07:14.299 --> 00:07:15.000 It was in December. 00:07:15.159 --> 00:07:16.819 It was sub-freezing weather that night, 00:07:16.879 --> 00:07:18.500 and we were tore up. 00:07:18.539 --> 00:07:19.539 And if you don't have a dog, 00:07:19.599 --> 00:07:20.759 you don't relate to any of this. 00:07:20.799 --> 00:07:21.500 And if you do have a dog, 00:07:21.560 --> 00:07:23.259 you realize the horror of all of that. 00:07:23.399 --> 00:07:26.779 And we still never saw a sign of him. 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:27.859 I had a guy in the church 00:07:27.859 --> 00:07:29.519 that owned a monument business. 00:07:29.519 --> 00:07:31.959 And I said, I'd like to get, you know, 00:07:31.979 --> 00:07:33.599 like a footstone or just something 00:07:33.599 --> 00:07:35.919 to have my dog's name on it, you know. 00:07:36.039 --> 00:07:39.819 And man, we got a stone that, a huge stone, 00:07:39.979 --> 00:07:42.259 and it simply had his name and his dates, 00:07:42.519 --> 00:07:44.859 and it said Genesis 5, 22. 00:07:45.000 --> 00:07:45.959 He was no more. 00:07:46.339 --> 00:07:48.099 Because we don't know what happened to that dog. 00:07:49.419 --> 00:07:50.699 Never did find out. 00:07:51.299 --> 00:07:53.060 Now, I'll tell you what we do know about Enoch. 00:07:54.039 --> 00:07:56.120 Enoch walked with God. 00:07:56.120 --> 00:07:58.920 Now, to walk with God means 00:07:58.920 --> 00:08:01.600 that you spend time with God daily. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:03.439 To walk with God means 00:08:03.439 --> 00:08:06.199 that you live cleanly before the Lord. 00:08:06.639 --> 00:08:08.000 To walk with God, it means 00:08:08.000 --> 00:08:09.800 that you obey him faithfully, 00:08:10.280 --> 00:08:12.259 that you let nothing hinder 00:08:12.259 --> 00:08:14.480 your relationship with the Lord. 00:08:14.920 --> 00:08:16.540 Nothing hinder that fellowship 00:08:16.540 --> 00:08:17.800 that you have with God. 00:08:18.500 --> 00:08:20.399 What a life he lived. 00:08:21.540 --> 00:08:25.360 Name after name is listed on this page. 00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:27.900 And there's no description of their life. 00:08:28.420 --> 00:08:31.040 All we know is the children that they had. 00:08:31.800 --> 00:08:32.759 And the reality is, 00:08:32.820 --> 00:08:34.000 we don't know a lot of that either. 00:08:34.480 --> 00:08:35.800 Because I'll tell you this, 00:08:36.240 --> 00:08:38.080 some genealogies in Scripture, 00:08:38.200 --> 00:08:39.539 and if you see similar ones 00:08:39.539 --> 00:08:41.039 that are not consistent, this is why. 00:08:41.460 --> 00:08:43.519 Some genealogies in Scripture 00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:44.840 skip generations. 00:08:46.000 --> 00:08:47.340 And you know why they skip generations? 00:08:47.759 --> 00:08:49.840 Because that generation didn't have an impact. 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:52.379 So they just skipped right over it. 00:08:52.940 --> 00:08:53.379 Completely. 00:08:53.379 --> 00:08:55.679 The people are not even listed. 00:08:57.019 --> 00:08:59.379 Then there's people in these genealogies 00:08:59.379 --> 00:09:00.279 that have other children 00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:01.919 that are listed 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:03.220 and some that are not listed. 00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:06.399 Either it was the first son that's listed, 00:09:06.939 --> 00:09:08.939 or it's the one that made the impact, 00:09:09.480 --> 00:09:10.919 or the one that's in the lineage 00:09:10.919 --> 00:09:12.179 of one who made an impact. 00:09:13.179 --> 00:09:14.379 So I want you to get this. 00:09:14.379 --> 00:09:18.600 Enoch never died. 00:09:20.340 --> 00:09:22.620 Hebrews chapter 11 verse 5 says 00:09:22.620 --> 00:09:25.340 that by faith Enoch was taken up 00:09:25.340 --> 00:09:27.820 so that he should not see death, 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:29.139 and he was not found 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:30.439 because God had taken him. 00:09:31.179 --> 00:09:32.620 So before he was taken, 00:09:32.759 --> 00:09:36.439 he was commended as having pleased God. 00:09:36.440 --> 00:09:39.860 God took him physically, bodily, 00:09:40.320 --> 00:09:42.120 to heaven without dying. 00:09:43.440 --> 00:09:45.600 One man complained to Mark Twain one time 00:09:45.600 --> 00:09:45.900 and said, 00:09:45.980 --> 00:09:49.580 I'm just afraid this world is just coming to an end. 00:09:50.560 --> 00:09:51.540 And Twain replied, 00:09:51.940 --> 00:09:52.820 well don't worry about it. 00:09:53.180 --> 00:09:54.640 You'll never get out of it alive anyway. 00:09:55.980 --> 00:09:58.160 And yet, you probably won't, 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:59.000 but you might. 00:10:00.140 --> 00:10:02.460 Enoch had a departure, not a death. 00:10:03.040 --> 00:10:04.860 He had a transition, not a tomb. 00:10:04.860 --> 00:10:06.659 Elijah did the same, 00:10:06.779 --> 00:10:08.620 and those who are alive when the Lord returns, 00:10:08.759 --> 00:10:10.539 praise God, will do the same as well. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:13.519 Enoch would have been remembered 00:10:13.519 --> 00:10:16.960 for whatever his life consisted of. 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:19.899 And if he had a tombstone, 00:10:19.960 --> 00:10:21.539 and he didn't because he wasn't buried, 00:10:23.139 --> 00:10:24.419 his epitaph would have been, 00:10:24.560 --> 00:10:27.120 he walked with God. 00:10:30.080 --> 00:10:31.820 I want you to notice this morning 00:10:31.820 --> 00:10:34.740 a confusing matter to take note of. 00:10:34.860 --> 00:10:38.820 In Genesis chapter 4, 00:10:39.139 --> 00:10:42.019 we have the genealogy of Cain's descendants, 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.759 and in Genesis chapter 5, 00:10:43.879 --> 00:10:46.480 we have the genealogy of Seth's descendants. 00:10:48.259 --> 00:10:50.240 Remember, Cain was Abel's son 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:51.860 that killed his brother Abel 00:10:51.860 --> 00:10:53.860 in a spiritual jealousy. 00:10:54.899 --> 00:10:56.639 Seth was the third son, 00:10:57.139 --> 00:10:58.680 and his descendants are the ones 00:10:58.680 --> 00:11:00.300 that God used more mightily. 00:11:00.299 --> 00:11:02.259 It can be confusing 00:11:02.259 --> 00:11:03.679 because some of the people 00:11:03.679 --> 00:11:04.759 have the same names, 00:11:04.799 --> 00:11:05.699 they've used them again, 00:11:06.259 --> 00:11:09.199 and Lamech is one of those names 00:11:09.199 --> 00:11:10.240 that's used twice. 00:11:10.779 --> 00:11:13.620 But I want to focus on the Lamech 00:11:13.620 --> 00:11:15.719 that's in the line of Cain 00:11:15.719 --> 00:11:18.259 because Lamech stands out 00:11:18.259 --> 00:11:20.079 for a couple of reasons. 00:11:20.080 --> 00:11:24.000 In Genesis chapter 4, verse 19, 00:11:24.120 --> 00:11:24.800 it says, 00:11:25.800 --> 00:11:27.520 And Lamech took two wives, 00:11:28.139 --> 00:11:30.840 the name of the first was Adah, 00:11:31.180 --> 00:11:34.080 and the name of the other was Zelah. 00:11:34.080 --> 00:11:38.040 And then it goes on to say, 00:11:38.139 --> 00:11:39.460 in verses 23 and 24, 00:11:40.259 --> 00:11:42.020 Lamech said to his wives, 00:11:42.600 --> 00:11:44.120 Adah and Zelah, 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:47.440 Hear my voice, you wives of Lamech. 00:11:48.000 --> 00:11:49.340 Listen to what I say. 00:11:50.220 --> 00:11:52.720 I have killed a man for wounding me, 00:11:53.259 --> 00:11:55.300 a young man for striking me. 00:11:56.160 --> 00:11:58.620 If Cain's revenge is sevenfold, 00:11:59.480 --> 00:12:02.259 then Lamech's is seventy-sevenfold. 00:12:02.259 --> 00:12:05.399 Now, that passage, 00:12:05.580 --> 00:12:08.100 in that little brief explanation, 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:12.779 tells me that Lamech had some problems. 00:12:14.019 --> 00:12:15.399 The first problem he has, 00:12:15.419 --> 00:12:16.299 he had two wives. 00:12:18.200 --> 00:12:19.960 Not only was that ungodly, 00:12:20.039 --> 00:12:21.340 but it was also unwise. 00:12:21.480 --> 00:12:22.879 If you listen to the great theologians, 00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:23.779 the Oak Ridge Boys, 00:12:24.319 --> 00:12:25.539 they sang years ago, 00:12:25.679 --> 00:12:26.819 trying to love two women 00:12:26.819 --> 00:12:28.580 is like a ball and chain. 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.340 Sometimes the pleasure ain't worth the strain, 00:12:31.340 --> 00:12:32.300 it's a long old ride, 00:12:32.540 --> 00:12:34.379 and it'll tire your mind. 00:12:34.960 --> 00:12:36.259 But apparently Lamech didn't listen 00:12:36.259 --> 00:12:37.200 to the Oak Ridge Boys, 00:12:37.879 --> 00:12:39.300 and so he tried to love two women. 00:12:40.480 --> 00:12:41.740 Lamech was actually a man 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:44.060 that couldn't control himself. 00:12:45.580 --> 00:12:47.560 Not only was he not a one-woman man, 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:49.139 but his life was marked 00:12:49.139 --> 00:12:51.500 by violence and pain. 00:12:52.620 --> 00:12:54.180 And that speaks a lot of Lamech. 00:12:54.179 --> 00:12:56.519 And it not only speaks a lot to Lamech, 00:12:56.599 --> 00:12:59.079 but it also speaks a lot to Cain. 00:13:00.699 --> 00:13:02.500 Do you remember what Cain did 00:13:02.500 --> 00:13:04.099 after he killed his brother? 00:13:04.439 --> 00:13:07.019 We talked about Cain and Abel weeks ago, 00:13:07.139 --> 00:13:09.219 but I didn't deal with this matter. 00:13:10.500 --> 00:13:12.399 But what happened to Cain 00:13:12.399 --> 00:13:13.739 after he killed his brother? 00:13:14.099 --> 00:13:15.859 Genesis 4 verse 16 says, 00:13:16.639 --> 00:13:18.199 then Cain went away 00:13:18.199 --> 00:13:19.879 from the presence of the Lord. 00:13:19.879 --> 00:13:23.019 Now let that sit for a minute. 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:27.299 Then Cain went away 00:13:27.299 --> 00:13:28.700 from the presence of the Lord 00:13:28.700 --> 00:13:32.220 and settled in the land of Node, 00:13:32.919 --> 00:13:34.759 east of Eden. 00:13:36.139 --> 00:13:38.299 The word Node there in the Hebrew 00:13:38.299 --> 00:13:39.759 means wandering. 00:13:42.879 --> 00:13:43.960 So in other words, 00:13:44.100 --> 00:13:45.879 he was wandering outside 00:13:46.460 --> 00:13:49.039 of the presence of God. 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:52.439 And based upon what he told his wives, 00:13:53.100 --> 00:13:55.519 his violence led him to, 00:13:55.620 --> 00:13:56.059 excuse me, 00:13:56.740 --> 00:13:58.439 Cain's violence led him 00:13:58.439 --> 00:14:00.320 to wonder on the wrong path. 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:03.019 And based upon what Lamech said 00:14:03.019 --> 00:14:03.720 to his wives, 00:14:03.860 --> 00:14:04.759 his descendants, 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.860 Cain's descendants did that as well. 00:14:08.700 --> 00:14:09.700 The truth of the matter is 00:14:09.700 --> 00:14:11.139 what Lamech said was 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:12.279 that he was violent. 00:14:13.039 --> 00:14:14.740 But it says he is violent 00:14:14.740 --> 00:14:16.899 because somebody else started it. 00:14:16.980 --> 00:14:17.539 In verse 23, 00:14:17.539 --> 00:14:19.419 he said somebody wounded me. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:21.820 But Lamech was determined 00:14:21.820 --> 00:14:23.279 to finish it. 00:14:24.240 --> 00:14:25.620 And verse 24, 00:14:26.620 --> 00:14:29.439 when he speaks like he does 00:14:29.439 --> 00:14:30.439 and says if Cain's 00:14:31.259 --> 00:14:33.620 revenge is sevenfold, 00:14:34.059 --> 00:14:36.860 then Lamech's is 77-fold. 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.139 When he says that, 00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.139 I want you to understand 00:14:39.139 --> 00:14:39.860 what he's saying. 00:14:40.720 --> 00:14:41.620 He's bragging. 00:14:41.620 --> 00:14:44.440 That's a boast. 00:14:46.039 --> 00:14:47.200 He'd have made for a good 00:14:47.200 --> 00:14:48.259 mid-Atlantic wrestler 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:50.060 that got up afterwards 00:14:50.060 --> 00:14:51.600 and made their comments. 00:14:52.759 --> 00:14:54.179 He's bragging about the fact 00:14:54.179 --> 00:14:55.299 that if you mess with me, 00:14:55.560 --> 00:14:57.360 it's going to be handed to you. 00:14:58.700 --> 00:15:01.480 Lamech probably didn't have 00:15:01.480 --> 00:15:03.399 a message on his gravestone. 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:05.720 But if he had, 00:15:05.759 --> 00:15:06.600 it would have said this. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:09.340 He didn't walk with God. 00:15:12.840 --> 00:15:14.559 I would rather have 00:15:14.559 --> 00:15:16.620 on my stone 00:15:16.620 --> 00:15:18.899 and on my life 00:15:18.899 --> 00:15:20.699 what I suggested 00:15:20.699 --> 00:15:22.139 would have been Enoch's stone. 00:15:23.100 --> 00:15:24.879 And that is he walked with God. 00:15:25.740 --> 00:15:26.899 What a way to be remembered. 00:15:27.799 --> 00:15:29.299 The only thing that's really said about him 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:31.240 is that he walked with God. 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:34.080 But I want you to notice something 00:15:34.080 --> 00:15:35.159 about Enoch's life. 00:15:36.659 --> 00:15:39.180 It was not always that way. 00:15:41.299 --> 00:15:43.080 He didn't always walk with God. 00:15:44.779 --> 00:15:46.419 I want you to look at Genesis 5, 00:15:46.500 --> 00:15:47.759 21 and 22 again. 00:15:48.580 --> 00:15:49.519 And it says this. 00:15:50.600 --> 00:15:52.919 When Enoch had lived 65 years, 00:15:53.000 --> 00:15:54.220 he fathered Methuselah. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:15:57.480 Enoch walked with God 00:15:57.480 --> 00:16:00.240 after he fathered Methuselah, 00:16:00.240 --> 00:16:01.940 300 years. 00:16:02.820 --> 00:16:04.220 And had other sons 00:16:04.220 --> 00:16:05.560 and daughters. 00:16:07.240 --> 00:16:08.440 I want you to notice 00:16:08.440 --> 00:16:09.279 from that passage 00:16:09.279 --> 00:16:10.960 that the first 65 years 00:16:10.960 --> 00:16:11.759 of his life, 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:14.259 it simply said that he lived. 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.240 There was really nothing 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.320 to make any different 00:16:18.320 --> 00:16:19.519 from anyone else. 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:22.419 And then he had a son. 00:16:23.820 --> 00:16:26.220 And his son was named Methuselah. 00:16:26.220 --> 00:16:28.340 And something changed 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:29.519 in Enoch's life. 00:16:31.040 --> 00:16:32.399 Enoch walked with God 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:35.379 after he fathered Methuselah. 00:16:36.320 --> 00:16:38.899 Now, sometimes having children 00:16:38.899 --> 00:16:40.940 is a wake-up call. 00:16:42.139 --> 00:16:43.580 I've seen it many times 00:16:43.580 --> 00:16:44.639 in my years of ministry. 00:16:45.639 --> 00:16:48.300 When a young couple has a child, 00:16:48.440 --> 00:16:49.860 there's a decision that's made 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:51.860 in one way or the other. 00:16:51.860 --> 00:16:55.180 It's definitely a time 00:16:55.180 --> 00:16:56.840 of decision for the churchgoer. 00:16:57.800 --> 00:16:59.379 Either that young family 00:16:59.379 --> 00:17:01.080 will become committed 00:17:01.080 --> 00:17:02.440 to the church 00:17:02.440 --> 00:17:04.360 and to make sure 00:17:04.360 --> 00:17:06.480 that that child is raised 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:08.360 in the admonition of the Lord 00:17:08.360 --> 00:17:10.299 and that they will be 00:17:10.299 --> 00:17:11.980 committed to the church 00:17:11.980 --> 00:17:13.700 and make sure 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:16.120 that kid has every opportunity 00:17:16.120 --> 00:17:17.120 that he or she can 00:17:17.120 --> 00:17:18.880 to know of the love 00:17:18.880 --> 00:17:19.900 of Jesus Christ. 00:17:20.780 --> 00:17:22.900 Or something else happens. 00:17:24.140 --> 00:17:24.940 Or they'll be, 00:17:26.120 --> 00:17:27.240 they won't be committed 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.080 to the church 00:17:28.080 --> 00:17:30.040 because they're too busy 00:17:30.040 --> 00:17:31.020 trying to take that kid 00:17:31.020 --> 00:17:31.780 everywhere else. 00:17:35.160 --> 00:17:36.240 Let me be clear. 00:17:36.240 --> 00:17:39.300 I don't care what this world 00:17:39.300 --> 00:17:40.300 may promise you. 00:17:41.800 --> 00:17:42.520 Jesus said, 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.740 if you gain the whole world 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:44.940 yet lose your own soul, 00:17:45.480 --> 00:17:48.300 what have you gained? 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.180 So listen, 00:17:50.880 --> 00:17:52.020 do all you can 00:17:52.020 --> 00:17:52.960 to give your children 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:54.820 as much of Jesus 00:17:54.820 --> 00:17:56.100 as you possibly can 00:17:56.100 --> 00:17:56.980 while they're still 00:17:56.980 --> 00:17:57.680 under your roof. 00:17:58.400 --> 00:18:00.200 Don't let anything 00:18:00.200 --> 00:18:02.080 distract you 00:18:02.080 --> 00:18:04.340 because the devil 00:18:04.340 --> 00:18:05.680 will try anything. 00:18:06.780 --> 00:18:08.420 The devil will try 00:18:08.420 --> 00:18:09.320 everything. 00:18:10.520 --> 00:18:11.880 You want to tear down 00:18:11.880 --> 00:18:12.380 a country? 00:18:13.440 --> 00:18:14.760 Tear down a family. 00:18:15.660 --> 00:18:16.920 You want to tear down 00:18:16.920 --> 00:18:17.380 a child? 00:18:17.380 --> 00:18:19.740 Make sure their parents 00:18:19.740 --> 00:18:20.440 are not committed 00:18:20.440 --> 00:18:22.100 to follow the Lord Jesus. 00:18:23.200 --> 00:18:24.580 Don't let anything 00:18:24.580 --> 00:18:25.280 distract you 00:18:25.280 --> 00:18:26.140 because I promise you 00:18:26.140 --> 00:18:27.040 when their knees 00:18:27.040 --> 00:18:27.780 are blown out 00:18:27.780 --> 00:18:29.460 and their career is over, 00:18:30.300 --> 00:18:30.840 they're still going 00:18:30.840 --> 00:18:31.340 to need Jesus. 00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:34.480 When hearts 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:37.400 are young, 00:18:38.400 --> 00:18:41.380 when hearts are tender, 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:44.620 it's not hard to nurture 00:18:44.620 --> 00:18:46.440 that child 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.160 in the Lord. 00:18:48.700 --> 00:18:49.880 But over time, 00:18:49.980 --> 00:18:50.700 hearts grow 00:18:50.700 --> 00:18:52.180 hard. 00:18:54.180 --> 00:18:55.120 And the shot 00:18:55.120 --> 00:18:56.080 don't come as easy 00:18:56.080 --> 00:18:58.140 the longer it goes. 00:18:59.340 --> 00:18:59.660 Don't, 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:01.000 don't miss 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:01.720 the shot 00:19:01.720 --> 00:19:02.460 that God 00:19:02.460 --> 00:19:04.000 gave you. 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.300 And another message, 00:19:07.100 --> 00:19:08.060 empty nesters 00:19:08.059 --> 00:19:09.980 with that smile 00:19:09.980 --> 00:19:10.679 on your face. 00:19:12.940 --> 00:19:13.839 Don't abandon 00:19:13.839 --> 00:19:14.500 church 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:16.139 when the kids 00:19:16.139 --> 00:19:16.839 leave the house. 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.480 Invest in the 00:19:19.480 --> 00:19:20.519 next generation. 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.279 Volunteer, 00:19:24.099 --> 00:19:24.879 undergird, 00:19:25.619 --> 00:19:26.119 support. 00:19:26.119 --> 00:19:27.940 Have I mentioned 00:19:27.940 --> 00:19:28.440 VBS? 00:19:28.799 --> 00:19:29.899 Help with VBS. 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:32.440 Don't miss 00:19:32.440 --> 00:19:33.159 the shot 00:19:33.159 --> 00:19:33.879 that God 00:19:33.879 --> 00:19:34.960 gives us 00:19:34.960 --> 00:19:36.640 to influence 00:19:36.640 --> 00:19:37.640 young lives 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.400 for the Lord Jesus. 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:39.840 Enoch didn't. 00:19:41.100 --> 00:19:41.860 Enoch didn't. 00:19:42.259 --> 00:19:43.440 Something changed 00:19:43.440 --> 00:19:44.360 when Methuselah 00:19:44.360 --> 00:19:45.259 came along. 00:19:45.400 --> 00:19:46.799 And what was it? 00:19:47.799 --> 00:19:48.279 Well, I think 00:19:48.279 --> 00:19:49.039 I know the answer. 00:19:49.299 --> 00:19:49.980 I'm not positive 00:19:49.980 --> 00:19:50.440 about this. 00:19:50.500 --> 00:19:50.880 You can argue 00:19:50.880 --> 00:19:51.500 with me afterwards, 00:19:51.600 --> 00:19:52.100 but you got a right 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:52.559 to be wrong. 00:19:52.660 --> 00:19:54.059 But I think 00:19:54.059 --> 00:19:54.440 I know. 00:19:55.840 --> 00:19:57.059 I think the clue 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.120 is in the name 00:19:58.120 --> 00:19:58.940 Methuselah. 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.860 His name 00:20:01.860 --> 00:20:02.319 meant 00:20:02.319 --> 00:20:04.279 it shall 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.299 be sent 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:07.339 when he dies. 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.339 It shall 00:20:09.339 --> 00:20:09.759 be sent 00:20:09.759 --> 00:20:10.200 when he dies. 00:20:10.259 --> 00:20:10.939 Now listen to this. 00:20:13.079 --> 00:20:14.299 It shall 00:20:14.299 --> 00:20:14.899 be sent 00:20:14.899 --> 00:20:15.299 when he dies. 00:20:15.399 --> 00:20:16.179 What shall 00:20:16.179 --> 00:20:16.659 be sent? 00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:17.179 Well, let's play 00:20:17.179 --> 00:20:17.679 a little math 00:20:17.679 --> 00:20:18.299 game for just 00:20:18.299 --> 00:20:18.779 a few minutes, 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.079 okay? 00:20:19.539 --> 00:20:19.919 You might want 00:20:19.919 --> 00:20:20.379 to write this 00:20:20.379 --> 00:20:20.779 down if you 00:20:20.779 --> 00:20:21.240 want to check 00:20:21.240 --> 00:20:21.720 me on it. 00:20:22.460 --> 00:20:23.279 Genesis chapter 00:20:23.279 --> 00:20:24.720 5 verse 26 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:25.460 through 28 00:20:25.460 --> 00:20:26.079 tell us 00:20:26.079 --> 00:20:27.500 that Methuselah 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:30.240 lived 782 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.500 years after 00:20:31.500 --> 00:20:32.279 the birth 00:20:32.279 --> 00:20:33.519 of Lamech. 00:20:34.700 --> 00:20:35.720 When Lamech 00:20:35.720 --> 00:20:37.759 was 182 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:39.380 he had 00:20:39.380 --> 00:20:39.779 Noah. 00:20:41.599 --> 00:20:41.779 So 00:20:41.779 --> 00:20:42.680 Methuselah 00:20:42.680 --> 00:20:43.799 was to live 00:20:43.799 --> 00:20:44.680 after Noah 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:45.299 was born 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:46.940 600 more 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:47.480 years. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:49.440 And Genesis 00:20:49.440 --> 00:20:50.299 chapter 7 00:20:50.299 --> 00:20:51.059 verse 6 00:20:51.059 --> 00:20:51.839 tells us 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:52.500 that when 00:20:52.500 --> 00:20:53.119 Noah was 00:20:53.119 --> 00:20:53.940 600 years 00:20:53.940 --> 00:20:54.660 old the flood 00:20:54.660 --> 00:20:55.059 came. 00:20:56.779 --> 00:20:57.359 So in other 00:20:57.359 --> 00:20:58.440 words Methuselah 00:20:58.440 --> 00:21:00.640 had 600 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:01.299 more years 00:21:01.299 --> 00:21:01.799 to live 00:21:01.799 --> 00:21:02.259 when Noah 00:21:02.259 --> 00:21:02.840 was born 00:21:02.840 --> 00:21:03.320 and Noah 00:21:03.320 --> 00:21:03.960 was 600 00:21:03.960 --> 00:21:04.600 when the flood 00:21:04.600 --> 00:21:05.000 came. 00:21:05.380 --> 00:21:06.380 Then Methuselah 00:21:06.380 --> 00:21:07.100 died in the 00:21:07.100 --> 00:21:07.720 same year 00:21:07.720 --> 00:21:08.559 as the flood. 00:21:09.140 --> 00:21:09.680 And when I 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.600 first read that 00:21:10.600 --> 00:21:11.100 and didn't know 00:21:11.100 --> 00:21:11.440 his name 00:21:11.440 --> 00:21:11.740 I thought 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:12.299 they left 00:21:12.299 --> 00:21:12.740 Grandpa 00:21:12.740 --> 00:21:13.600 out of the boat. 00:21:14.400 --> 00:21:15.140 How in the 00:21:15.140 --> 00:21:15.580 world could 00:21:15.580 --> 00:21:16.360 they do that? 00:21:16.360 --> 00:21:16.420 Yeah. 00:21:20.920 --> 00:21:21.820 But then I 00:21:21.820 --> 00:21:22.259 went back 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.820 to the meaning 00:21:22.819 --> 00:21:23.720 of his name 00:21:23.720 --> 00:21:26.679 and his name 00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:27.559 means it 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:28.319 shall be 00:21:28.319 --> 00:21:28.879 sent 00:21:28.879 --> 00:21:29.899 when he 00:21:29.899 --> 00:21:30.619 dies. 00:21:31.279 --> 00:21:32.179 What shall 00:21:32.179 --> 00:21:32.980 be sent? 00:21:33.619 --> 00:21:34.519 The flood. 00:21:36.200 --> 00:21:37.279 The judgment 00:21:37.279 --> 00:21:37.980 of God. 00:21:39.099 --> 00:21:40.079 The cleansing 00:21:40.079 --> 00:21:40.919 of the earth. 00:21:42.599 --> 00:21:43.819 Who named 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:45.240 Methuselah? 00:21:46.639 --> 00:21:48.119 God gave 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:48.859 the name 00:21:48.859 --> 00:21:49.919 to Enoch 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:51.840 and when 00:21:51.840 --> 00:21:52.600 he gave 00:21:52.600 --> 00:21:53.320 that name 00:21:53.320 --> 00:21:54.200 to Enoch 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:55.560 Enoch 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:56.340 began to 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:56.940 walk with 00:21:56.940 --> 00:21:57.400 God. 00:21:59.000 --> 00:22:00.039 He heard 00:22:00.039 --> 00:22:00.580 the warning 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.200 shot 00:22:01.200 --> 00:22:02.580 of God 00:22:02.580 --> 00:22:04.560 and the 00:22:04.560 --> 00:22:05.340 warning shot 00:22:05.340 --> 00:22:05.820 of God 00:22:05.820 --> 00:22:07.140 changed his 00:22:07.140 --> 00:22:08.019 life and from 00:22:08.019 --> 00:22:08.500 that day 00:22:08.500 --> 00:22:09.060 forward he 00:22:09.060 --> 00:22:10.080 followed the 00:22:10.080 --> 00:22:10.480 lead of the 00:22:10.480 --> 00:22:10.880 Lord. 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:12.620 Now I told 00:22:12.620 --> 00:22:13.340 you his epitaph 00:22:13.340 --> 00:22:14.039 would be he 00:22:14.039 --> 00:22:14.720 walked with 00:22:14.720 --> 00:22:15.480 God but it 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.000 might be he 00:22:17.000 --> 00:22:18.380 followed the 00:22:18.380 --> 00:22:19.800 lead of God. 00:22:19.920 --> 00:22:23.060 I thank 00:22:23.060 --> 00:22:23.460 God 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:25.680 that Enoch 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.380 made a change 00:22:26.380 --> 00:22:27.000 in his life 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:28.279 and I'm also 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:28.900 thankful that 00:22:28.900 --> 00:22:29.580 God gives us 00:22:29.580 --> 00:22:30.300 examples of 00:22:30.300 --> 00:22:30.740 those who 00:22:30.740 --> 00:22:32.759 do not 00:22:32.759 --> 00:22:33.900 live for 00:22:33.900 --> 00:22:34.340 him and 00:22:34.340 --> 00:22:34.860 make a mess 00:22:34.860 --> 00:22:35.120 of their 00:22:35.120 --> 00:22:35.660 lives because 00:22:35.660 --> 00:22:36.300 I believe he 00:22:36.300 --> 00:22:37.100 puts it all 00:22:37.100 --> 00:22:37.700 there for us 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:38.380 to learn from 00:22:38.380 --> 00:22:39.060 it for us 00:22:39.060 --> 00:22:39.500 to gain 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.300 understanding 00:22:40.300 --> 00:22:40.800 from their 00:22:40.800 --> 00:22:41.620 example so 00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.000 we don't have 00:22:42.000 --> 00:22:42.460 to go through 00:22:42.460 --> 00:22:42.840 the same 00:22:42.840 --> 00:22:43.259 things they 00:22:43.259 --> 00:22:43.680 did or 00:22:43.680 --> 00:22:44.539 because we 00:22:44.539 --> 00:22:44.860 want an 00:22:44.860 --> 00:22:45.740 example before 00:22:45.740 --> 00:22:46.680 us to live 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:47.779 by and that's 00:22:47.779 --> 00:22:48.100 why these 00:22:48.100 --> 00:22:48.460 lives are 00:22:48.460 --> 00:22:49.000 placed before 00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:49.360 us in 00:22:49.360 --> 00:22:49.700 scripture. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:22:51.120 But what 00:22:51.120 --> 00:22:51.800 matters is 00:22:51.800 --> 00:22:52.240 what kind 00:22:52.240 --> 00:22:52.620 of impact 00:22:52.620 --> 00:22:53.000 that has 00:22:53.000 --> 00:22:53.620 on us. 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:54.880 That's what 00:22:54.880 --> 00:22:55.340 I mean let's 00:22:55.340 --> 00:22:55.920 just be honest 00:22:55.920 --> 00:22:56.640 what really 00:22:56.640 --> 00:22:57.640 matters to us 00:22:57.640 --> 00:22:58.320 is not how 00:22:58.320 --> 00:22:59.019 they lived 00:22:59.019 --> 00:23:00.620 what really 00:23:00.620 --> 00:23:01.420 matters to us 00:23:01.420 --> 00:23:02.340 is how we 00:23:02.340 --> 00:23:02.880 live. 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.019 What are we 00:23:06.019 --> 00:23:06.400 going to do 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:06.779 with our 00:23:06.779 --> 00:23:07.320 lives? 00:23:08.920 --> 00:23:09.800 I mean let's 00:23:09.800 --> 00:23:10.480 be honest with 00:23:10.480 --> 00:23:10.980 God. 00:23:12.660 --> 00:23:13.560 Can it be 00:23:13.560 --> 00:23:14.300 said of you 00:23:14.300 --> 00:23:16.560 he walked 00:23:16.560 --> 00:23:17.160 with God? 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.220 God? 00:23:19.300 --> 00:23:20.100 She walked 00:23:20.100 --> 00:23:20.759 with God 00:23:20.759 --> 00:23:25.120 or is it 00:23:25.120 --> 00:23:27.840 said does 00:23:27.840 --> 00:23:28.180 he really 00:23:28.180 --> 00:23:28.560 walk with 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:28.800 God? 00:23:31.920 --> 00:23:32.660 Does she 00:23:32.660 --> 00:23:33.240 really walk 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:33.680 with God? 00:23:35.960 --> 00:23:36.640 Now I want 00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.040 to be honest 00:23:37.040 --> 00:23:37.440 with you we 00:23:37.440 --> 00:23:37.920 can't control 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:38.259 what people 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:38.660 say. 00:23:39.360 --> 00:23:39.759 We can't 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.259 control that. 00:23:40.259 --> 00:23:40.400 God. 00:23:41.400 --> 00:23:42.920 So I'm a 00:23:42.920 --> 00:23:43.319 little less 00:23:43.319 --> 00:23:43.819 worried about 00:23:43.819 --> 00:23:44.379 what people 00:23:44.379 --> 00:23:44.799 say. 00:23:46.720 --> 00:23:47.559 The question 00:23:47.559 --> 00:23:48.220 is this. 00:23:50.900 --> 00:23:51.579 Do we 00:23:51.579 --> 00:23:51.940 walk with 00:23:51.940 --> 00:23:52.180 God? 00:23:52.180 --> 00:23:55.960 or do we 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.500 fail to walk 00:23:56.500 --> 00:23:56.920 with God? 00:23:59.080 --> 00:23:59.720 Bigger than 00:23:59.720 --> 00:24:02.560 that when 00:24:02.560 --> 00:24:03.420 God speaks 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.279 a word of 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.279 direction to 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.160 our lives 00:24:06.160 --> 00:24:08.340 when he 00:24:08.340 --> 00:24:09.480 gives us a 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.080 word of 00:24:10.080 --> 00:24:11.140 warning about 00:24:11.140 --> 00:24:11.940 our lives 00:24:11.940 --> 00:24:13.680 like he did 00:24:13.680 --> 00:24:14.259 Enoch 00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:15.860 through the 00:24:15.860 --> 00:24:16.420 name of his 00:24:16.420 --> 00:24:18.940 son how do 00:24:18.940 --> 00:24:19.640 we respond to 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:19.860 that? 00:24:19.859 --> 00:24:25.319 Is our 00:24:25.319 --> 00:24:26.219 lives marked 00:24:26.219 --> 00:24:29.259 by us 00:24:29.259 --> 00:24:30.179 changing the 00:24:30.179 --> 00:24:30.919 direction 00:24:30.919 --> 00:24:32.959 that we're 00:24:32.959 --> 00:24:33.859 going in when 00:24:33.859 --> 00:24:35.240 God guides us 00:24:35.240 --> 00:24:35.759 with new 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.259 knowledge? 00:24:37.879 --> 00:24:38.799 Or when 00:24:38.799 --> 00:24:39.639 God guides us 00:24:39.639 --> 00:24:40.299 with personalized 00:24:40.299 --> 00:24:41.159 truth? 00:24:43.179 --> 00:24:43.859 When God 00:24:43.859 --> 00:24:44.859 speaks down 00:24:44.859 --> 00:24:45.879 deep into our 00:24:45.879 --> 00:24:46.579 hearts and to 00:24:46.579 --> 00:24:47.319 our lives? 00:24:49.859 --> 00:24:52.279 Are our 00:24:52.279 --> 00:24:52.939 lives marked 00:24:52.939 --> 00:24:53.599 by such as 00:24:53.599 --> 00:24:53.879 that? 00:24:56.699 --> 00:24:57.359 So my 00:24:57.359 --> 00:24:57.879 question is 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.219 this. 00:25:00.539 --> 00:25:01.479 What is the 00:25:01.479 --> 00:25:02.059 spiritual 00:25:02.059 --> 00:25:03.000 epitaph 00:25:03.000 --> 00:25:04.819 of your 00:25:04.819 --> 00:25:05.299 life? 00:25:07.899 --> 00:25:08.419 I 00:25:08.419 --> 00:25:09.099 purposely 00:25:09.099 --> 00:25:11.339 left room 00:25:11.339 --> 00:25:11.839 on the front 00:25:11.839 --> 00:25:12.059 of the 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.479 bulletin 00:25:12.479 --> 00:25:14.759 so that you 00:25:14.759 --> 00:25:15.179 could write 00:25:15.179 --> 00:25:17.459 down what 00:25:17.459 --> 00:25:17.859 would my 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:18.500 epitaph 00:25:18.500 --> 00:25:19.400 be? 00:25:24.920 --> 00:25:25.680 Write it 00:25:25.680 --> 00:25:26.039 down. 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.000 And 00:25:29.000 --> 00:25:29.539 consider 00:25:29.539 --> 00:25:30.180 today 00:25:30.180 --> 00:25:32.519 your 00:25:32.519 --> 00:25:32.859 warning 00:25:32.859 --> 00:25:33.319 shot. 00:25:35.660 --> 00:25:36.000 Enoch 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:38.099 was 65 00:25:38.099 --> 00:25:38.960 years old 00:25:38.960 --> 00:25:41.140 when God 00:25:41.140 --> 00:25:42.079 awakened him 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:43.359 to his 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:43.579 real 00:25:43.579 --> 00:25:44.259 circumstances. 00:25:45.839 --> 00:25:46.779 And he 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:47.519 changed. 00:25:48.500 --> 00:25:50.660 something so 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.160 powerful 00:25:51.160 --> 00:25:51.819 happened in 00:25:51.819 --> 00:25:52.359 that man 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:53.960 that he 00:25:53.960 --> 00:25:54.660 is described 00:25:54.660 --> 00:25:55.259 like nobody 00:25:55.259 --> 00:25:56.019 else is in 00:25:56.019 --> 00:25:56.380 scripture. 00:25:57.380 --> 00:25:58.099 That he 00:25:58.099 --> 00:25:58.819 walked with 00:25:58.819 --> 00:25:59.480 God and 00:25:59.480 --> 00:26:00.640 was no 00:26:00.640 --> 00:26:01.359 more. 00:26:09.140 --> 00:26:10.160 I am so 00:26:10.160 --> 00:26:12.339 glad he 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:12.740 listened to 00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:13.019 the Lord 00:26:13.019 --> 00:26:13.299 when he 00:26:13.299 --> 00:26:13.680 spoke. 00:26:13.680 --> 00:26:14.680 God 00:26:14.680 --> 00:26:15.920 and it's 00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:16.279 been my 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:16.660 prayer 00:26:16.660 --> 00:26:19.259 all week 00:26:19.259 --> 00:26:21.500 that God 00:26:21.500 --> 00:26:22.140 would speak 00:26:22.140 --> 00:26:23.799 through the 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:24.320 power of the 00:26:24.320 --> 00:26:24.940 Holy Spirit 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:25.600 and through 00:26:25.600 --> 00:26:26.180 his word 00:26:26.180 --> 00:26:27.200 to your 00:26:27.200 --> 00:26:27.620 life 00:26:27.620 --> 00:26:29.519 and that 00:26:29.519 --> 00:26:29.779 you would 00:26:29.779 --> 00:26:30.279 respond in 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:30.779 obedience 00:26:30.779 --> 00:26:32.519 to follow 00:26:32.519 --> 00:26:32.860 him. 00:26:34.500 --> 00:26:35.460 There may be 00:26:35.460 --> 00:26:36.039 somebody here 00:26:36.039 --> 00:26:36.580 this morning 00:26:36.580 --> 00:26:38.299 who's never 00:26:38.299 --> 00:26:39.779 come into a 00:26:39.779 --> 00:26:40.340 relationship with 00:26:40.340 --> 00:26:40.740 the father. 00:26:41.080 --> 00:26:41.680 Never has. 00:26:41.680 --> 00:26:43.880 God 00:26:43.880 --> 00:26:44.340 to forgive 00:26:44.340 --> 00:26:44.700 you of your 00:26:44.700 --> 00:26:45.019 sins. 00:26:45.120 --> 00:26:45.440 You've never 00:26:45.440 --> 00:26:45.880 asked him to 00:26:45.880 --> 00:26:46.160 come into 00:26:46.160 --> 00:26:46.620 your life. 00:26:46.720 --> 00:26:47.019 You've never 00:26:47.019 --> 00:26:47.539 asked him to 00:26:47.539 --> 00:26:48.100 change you. 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.860 You've never 00:26:48.860 --> 00:26:49.539 committed your 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:50.140 life to follow 00:26:50.140 --> 00:26:50.360 him. 00:26:50.600 --> 00:26:50.960 Now maybe 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.519 many people 00:26:51.519 --> 00:26:51.980 think you 00:26:51.980 --> 00:26:53.400 have and 00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:53.940 maybe nobody 00:26:53.940 --> 00:26:54.500 thinks you 00:26:54.500 --> 00:26:54.779 have. 00:26:56.060 --> 00:26:56.600 But the 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.400 reality is if 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:57.779 you've never 00:26:57.779 --> 00:26:58.299 committed your 00:26:58.299 --> 00:26:58.620 life to 00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.180 Christ you've 00:26:59.180 --> 00:26:59.600 never asked 00:26:59.600 --> 00:26:59.820 him to 00:26:59.820 --> 00:27:00.180 forgive you 00:27:00.180 --> 00:27:00.420 of your 00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:00.799 sins and 00:27:00.799 --> 00:27:01.019 to come 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:01.240 into your 00:27:01.240 --> 00:27:02.560 life and 00:27:02.560 --> 00:27:03.180 to change 00:27:03.180 --> 00:27:04.120 you to 00:27:04.120 --> 00:27:04.820 empower you 00:27:04.820 --> 00:27:05.120 with his 00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:05.779 Holy Spirit. 00:27:06.980 --> 00:27:07.620 That has 00:27:07.620 --> 00:27:08.320 never happened. 00:27:08.480 --> 00:27:08.900 I don't care 00:27:08.900 --> 00:27:09.380 if your name 00:27:09.380 --> 00:27:09.840 is on the 00:27:09.840 --> 00:27:10.180 roll. 00:27:10.180 --> 00:27:12.400 I don't 00:27:12.400 --> 00:27:12.720 care if 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:13.000 you've been 00:27:13.000 --> 00:27:13.500 baptized. 00:27:14.500 --> 00:27:15.120 If you've 00:27:15.120 --> 00:27:15.640 never committed 00:27:15.640 --> 00:27:16.220 your life to 00:27:16.220 --> 00:27:19.060 Christ it's 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.500 your warning 00:27:19.500 --> 00:27:19.900 shot. 00:27:22.920 --> 00:27:23.680 It's time to 00:27:23.680 --> 00:27:24.120 just surrender 00:27:24.120 --> 00:27:24.700 your life. 00:27:26.259 --> 00:27:26.480 Dear Lord 00:27:26.480 --> 00:27:27.060 forgive me of 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:27.580 the sins that 00:27:27.580 --> 00:27:28.060 I've committed. 00:27:28.539 --> 00:27:29.299 I'm sorry for 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:29.720 what I've done 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:30.380 and from this 00:27:30.380 --> 00:27:30.900 day forward I 00:27:30.900 --> 00:27:31.240 want to live 00:27:31.240 --> 00:27:31.720 for you. 00:27:32.560 --> 00:27:32.799 And I'm 00:27:32.799 --> 00:27:33.259 thankful for 00:27:33.259 --> 00:27:33.759 what Christ 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.259 has done for 00:27:34.259 --> 00:27:34.580 me on the 00:27:34.580 --> 00:27:34.980 cross. 00:27:35.840 --> 00:27:36.500 I commit my 00:27:36.500 --> 00:27:36.960 life to you 00:27:36.960 --> 00:27:37.259 today. 00:27:37.980 --> 00:27:38.980 Today could be 00:27:38.980 --> 00:27:41.779 the change 00:27:41.779 --> 00:27:42.240 that affects 00:27:42.240 --> 00:27:42.819 the rest of 00:27:42.819 --> 00:27:43.259 your life 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.579 if you'll 00:27:43.579 --> 00:27:43.779 surrender 00:27:43.779 --> 00:27:44.120 your life 00:27:44.120 --> 00:27:44.460 to Christ 00:27:44.460 --> 00:27:44.759 Jesus. 00:27:46.559 --> 00:27:47.160 Maybe you're 00:27:47.160 --> 00:27:47.420 here and 00:27:47.420 --> 00:27:47.700 you've done 00:27:47.700 --> 00:27:48.380 that personally 00:27:48.380 --> 00:27:49.720 privately but 00:27:49.720 --> 00:27:50.279 you've never 00:27:50.279 --> 00:27:50.819 let other 00:27:50.819 --> 00:27:51.319 people know 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:51.819 about that 00:27:51.819 --> 00:27:52.279 publicly. 00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:52.819 You've never 00:27:52.819 --> 00:27:53.440 done that. 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.599 And Jesus 00:27:54.599 --> 00:27:55.000 by his 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:55.519 commission and 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:55.799 by his 00:27:55.799 --> 00:27:56.519 example showed 00:27:56.519 --> 00:27:57.000 us that we 00:27:57.000 --> 00:27:57.559 follow that 00:27:57.559 --> 00:27:58.120 up by letting 00:27:58.120 --> 00:27:58.640 people know 00:27:58.640 --> 00:27:59.140 and announce 00:27:59.140 --> 00:27:59.960 that of sorts 00:27:59.960 --> 00:28:01.279 through baptism. 00:28:01.400 --> 00:28:01.759 And if you've 00:28:01.759 --> 00:28:02.440 never done that 00:28:02.440 --> 00:28:02.980 I encourage you 00:28:02.980 --> 00:28:03.259 to come. 00:28:03.360 --> 00:28:03.920 I'd love to 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:04.839 guide you in 00:28:04.839 --> 00:28:05.620 that process. 00:28:05.619 --> 00:28:08.359 maybe you're 00:28:08.359 --> 00:28:08.879 here and God's 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:09.399 drawing you to 00:28:09.399 --> 00:28:10.000 this church. 00:28:11.219 --> 00:28:11.879 God's blessed 00:28:11.879 --> 00:28:12.619 us mightily in 00:28:12.619 --> 00:28:13.379 recent days and 00:28:13.379 --> 00:28:14.819 maybe you feel 00:28:14.819 --> 00:28:15.419 like God's 00:28:15.419 --> 00:28:16.379 leading you to 00:28:16.379 --> 00:28:17.259 be here as 00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:17.519 well. 00:28:17.619 --> 00:28:18.039 You're a 00:28:18.039 --> 00:28:19.819 believer in the 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.399 word of God. 00:28:20.839 --> 00:28:21.219 You've given 00:28:21.219 --> 00:28:21.659 your heart and 00:28:21.659 --> 00:28:22.079 life to the 00:28:22.079 --> 00:28:22.779 Lord Jesus and 00:28:22.779 --> 00:28:23.179 you want to 00:28:23.179 --> 00:28:23.579 join the 00:28:23.579 --> 00:28:24.139 church and 00:28:24.139 --> 00:28:25.259 join hands 00:28:25.259 --> 00:28:25.839 with us and 00:28:25.839 --> 00:28:26.839 let us do 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.500 our job for 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.039 the Lord Jesus 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:28.779 until he comes. 00:28:28.879 --> 00:28:29.579 And if he's 00:28:29.579 --> 00:28:30.099 leading you in 00:28:30.099 --> 00:28:30.539 that way you 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:30.799 come. 00:28:30.879 --> 00:28:31.279 I'd love to 00:28:31.279 --> 00:28:31.739 guide you in 00:28:31.739 --> 00:28:32.179 that process. 00:28:32.899 --> 00:28:33.279 But even 00:28:33.279 --> 00:28:36.700 more today are 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.480 people who know 00:28:37.480 --> 00:28:38.079 that they have a 00:28:38.079 --> 00:28:38.660 relationship with 00:28:38.660 --> 00:28:39.759 the Lord and 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.779 are members of 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:42.420 this church. 00:28:44.899 --> 00:28:45.759 But you know in 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.399 your heart this 00:28:46.399 --> 00:28:46.940 morning God's 00:28:46.940 --> 00:28:47.299 given you a 00:28:47.299 --> 00:28:47.899 warning shot. 00:28:50.119 --> 00:28:50.839 He's awakened 00:28:50.839 --> 00:28:51.639 you to 00:28:51.639 --> 00:28:52.000 something. 00:28:53.099 --> 00:28:53.579 And whether you 00:28:53.579 --> 00:28:54.059 do it in your 00:28:54.059 --> 00:28:54.539 seat where you 00:28:54.539 --> 00:28:54.960 are or whether 00:28:54.960 --> 00:28:55.319 you do it at 00:28:55.319 --> 00:28:56.299 this altar or 00:28:56.299 --> 00:28:56.660 whether you do 00:28:56.660 --> 00:28:56.920 it with a 00:28:56.920 --> 00:28:57.480 pastor praying 00:28:57.480 --> 00:28:58.019 for you. 00:28:59.779 --> 00:29:00.279 Let's don't 00:29:00.279 --> 00:29:01.680 let God give 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:02.899 us the 00:29:02.900 --> 00:29:03.480 knowledge of 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:03.960 the state of 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:05.500 our soul and 00:29:05.500 --> 00:29:06.360 us ignore it. 00:29:07.700 --> 00:29:08.240 Let's just 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.420 trust him and 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.040 do exactly what 00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:11.620 he's told us to 00:29:11.620 --> 00:29:11.840 do. 00:29:13.040 --> 00:29:13.560 Let's pray 00:29:13.560 --> 00:29:13.840 together. 00:29:13.940 --> 00:29:15.780 Lord Jesus I 00:29:15.780 --> 00:29:16.600 ask your God 00:29:16.600 --> 00:29:18.040 that you'll help 00:29:18.040 --> 00:29:18.620 us to learn from 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:19.040 other people's 00:29:19.040 --> 00:29:20.660 examples and 00:29:20.660 --> 00:29:21.300 that Father you'll 00:29:21.300 --> 00:29:21.960 bless us right 00:29:21.960 --> 00:29:23.400 now with the 00:29:23.400 --> 00:29:24.600 power and the 00:29:24.600 --> 00:29:25.480 strength to 00:29:25.480 --> 00:29:26.420 obediently follow 00:29:26.420 --> 00:29:27.940 in Jesus precious 00:29:27.940 --> 00:29:28.340 name. 00:29:28.900 --> 00:29:29.120 Amen.