Participants: Doug Batchelor
Series Code: OTR
Program Code: OTR000972
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01:01 It's been an encouraging and inspiring
01:04 to be together with you this beautiful day. 01:08 The Lord just bless with the great day. 01:10 Amen. And you feel a different kind of energy 01:13 in a roomful of men. Where to say a lot of 01:18 leadership and lot of potential, yeah, 01:25 I have really prayed a lot about what to say? 01:28 I actually had about 40 different things; 01:31 I had to try and coalesce less down 01:33 to three presentations. I wanted to talk 01:36 about enclosing this afternoon. 01:40 I like to speak to you about a different 01:44 kind of mighty men. And these are 01:47 what I would call the Kings of Pride. 01:51 The Kings of Pride and I know that maybe 01:53 a little different then what you saw in your, 01:57 in your outline earlier today, but I tell you 02:00 where I'm coming from. I would like to see God 02:04 pour out his Spirit on his people. Amen. 02:08 And so, and I know the Lord wants to. 02:10 And so, I pray and I say God, what is preventing 02:14 you from pouring out your Spirit on your church, 02:18 the way you wanted to. And then I read 02:22 in the word that, it's a same problem 02:24 there is always been. Why did Lucifer get evicted 02:31 from heaven? Pride. Pride, why was Nebuchadnezzar 02:39 driven from the social interaction 02:45 of other people started with pride. 02:50 And what were the disciples arguing about 02:52 in the upper room, which of them was the greatest? 02:58 Now, one thing that you will see that is, 03:01 it's not totally unique to men, but it's manifested 03:05 a certain way among men is that 03:07 men are very territorial, if you put a lot of ladies 03:12 in a room and it's a small room and they are 03:15 all squashed together, they love it. 03:17 It helps them get intimate, but you do that 03:22 to men, they started to get a little bit edgy. 03:26 Because we like to know, who gets the arm rest 03:30 on the airplane? This is my territory. 03:34 I have stick to that, when I go camping 03:36 with my friends and you know, every year I have, 03:38 I have lot of fun, I, I go out 03:40 with the bunch of Christian gentlemen, 03:41 we were camping in the desert, 03:42 we take these ATVs. I think one year 03:45 we had 16 of us just Nevada will never 03:47 be the same. We go way out in the desert, 03:49 but its funny when we first get to the camp 03:52 everybody starts staking out there place, 03:55 their camp. And men are kind of territorial 03:58 that way. You even see it in the animal kingdom, 04:00 it's something, something where we are wired 04:02 for you know we want to have our place. 04:05 And if men are telling stories of some adventure. 04:09 No sinner has one taking his last breath telling 04:11 about his adventure, but what are the other 04:13 guys do? Let me tell you, my adventure, 04:16 but my adventure taught you adventure. 04:18 One guy says, you know, I caught a fish this big, 04:20 the other guy goes mine was this big. 04:23 And this is competitiveness. 04:26 And that's why the disciples just before 04:30 three and a half years following the humblest man 04:32 in the world in the upper room. 04:34 God wants to pour out his spirit. 04:35 What was the obstacle? He said what were you 04:38 talking about on the way? We weren't talking 04:41 about any. He knew what they were talking about? 04:43 They were debating among themselves, 04:46 which have them was the greatest? 04:49 And I don't you know, I'm not suggesting there is, 04:51 this spirit of competition here going on 04:54 this seminar, but when you leave in our lives, 04:56 it's typically true that we all grapple with pride. 05:01 We are proud about our person, 05:04 about our position and about our possessions. 05:09 I think it was spurgeon that said we should 05:11 never be proud of race or place or face. 05:17 And yet, it's kind of an ingrained 05:19 in all our hearts and it springs from selfishness. 05:24 I've got a little study that I, 05:26 I did in the Bible looking at some of the kings 05:28 and some are good and some are bad, 05:32 but many of them struggled with pride. 05:37 And if we will humble our service before the Lord 05:39 and if we will have the mind of Christ 05:42 it opens our hearts to receive the baptism 05:46 of the Holy Spirit. What had to happen with Israel 05:49 before God poured out the Holy Spirit 05:51 in the days of Elijah? After God sent the fire 05:54 down from heaven, the people fell on their faces 05:57 they said the Lord he is God, the Lord he is God, 05:59 they humble themselves then the rain came. 06:03 And when we as men can have that 06:06 spirit of Christ. I think that's all the Lord 06:10 is waiting for is for us to humble ourselves 06:14 and pray and seek his face and turn 06:17 from our wicked ways, then he will hear 06:19 from heaven, he will forgive our sin, 06:21 he will heal our land. You know, 06:23 what healing the land means? He would send 06:25 the rain to counteract the family. 06:27 We are talking about the Holy Spirit. 06:29 Now, you know, what I mean? 06:30 So, as I look in the word of God. 06:32 I notice that as Christ began his ministry; 06:36 he zeroed in his side specifically on pride 06:42 and he got to even pride in the church. 06:44 You talked about Pharisees, 06:49 who were very religious, but they prayed 06:53 to be sin of men. What will they think of me? 06:55 They gave their offerings to be sin of men. 06:59 They fasted to be sin of men. 07:01 They were more pre-occupied 07:03 with what people thought about then and Jesus said, 07:05 don't let your left hand know what 07:06 is your right hand is doing. Be more interested 07:08 in the reward that comes from your Father in heaven 07:10 then what your friends think. 07:11 And I'll tell you when God is gonna pour out 07:13 his spirit on the church is when we end up having 07:16 that attitude would really are much more concerned 07:20 with what God thinks of us in this relationship, 07:24 in this relationship. But we are so pre-occupied; 07:28 the devils got us soul wrapped up in being proud 07:32 of our person, our position 07:35 and our possessions that we lose 07:39 the eternal perspective. And we have got 07:41 some case studies in the Bible and these were 07:43 some great men that are here for our example. 07:48 For instance, in the Exodus story 07:52 if Moses says, let my people go 07:54 and he represents Jesus, who with the pharaoh 07:56 represent? The devil, how many of you would agree 08:01 that the pharaoh probably had a pride problem? 08:05 His kingdom is disintegrating around him 08:08 and all he has got to do is humble himself 08:10 and say the Lord is God, but he won't do it 08:13 and as soon as the plague is removed 08:14 he briefly humbles himself 08:16 because he really left with no alternative, 08:17 but as soon as that plague is removed 08:20 he hardens his heart again, 08:21 well it came over me I don't deserve this, 08:23 these are our slaves. Matter of fact, 08:26 his pride was so terminal that even after God 08:30 parts the sea, he goes charging off 08:34 into this miraculously parted ocean 08:36 to get his way. I would think after God parts 08:40 the sea to deliver his people, I would say 08:42 you went I'm not going in there, 08:45 but he just couldn't give up. 08:48 Pride makes you stupid, how many know that? 08:50 Can I get? I have got three scars, 08:55 I won't show you. I got one right here 08:58 on my hand, I just showed you. 09:00 Left hand, left foot, and left eye all three times 09:06 I was showing off. Up in the cave, 09:09 I was gonna go dive off these rocks and impress 09:11 my friend, how I could a high dive, 09:13 walking across the creek barefoot, 09:15 I stepped on a gerber baby jar, you know, 09:18 the little glass jars they used to have. 09:19 It cracked under my foot, cut my foot open 09:21 had to stitch myself up and very humble, 09:25 I never did get to do the dive. 09:27 Holy Spirit goes before fall. 09:30 Again I was up in the mountains, 09:32 I was gonna show my friend how I 09:33 could spear fish? I sharpening the stick. 09:37 This, you know, one-on-one and using the knife 09:40 and the stick don't cut towards yourself, 09:42 cut toward to myself, cut myself right down 09:44 to the bone here, it still the nerves 09:46 as looking at today, they are still dead. 09:47 Had to stitch myself up again too far away 09:50 from emergency. I had to stay up in the hills 09:53 for a while showing off some girls were watching, 09:56 I wanted to do a jump with the bike, 09:59 went over this jump, try to impress them 10:04 and they were impressed I promise you that, 10:05 bike flow up in the air came down landed 10:08 on my face, cut under my eye, I had to get surgery 10:10 and stitched up and patch and thankful I can see. 10:15 And I have notice through my life that 10:19 and I'm kind of open myself up to, 10:22 you take as a fate you probably 10:23 not that different. Maybe you will thinking 10:27 what Doug you really are different. 10:29 When it gets done, but you know, 10:33 it's just one of the things, I think the Lord 10:34 is always hammering on me is the pride 10:38 and selfishness. And I usually go 10:39 hand-in-hand because pride is all 10:41 about yourself. Matter of fact, 10:44 in First Corinthians 13, what is it says, 10:46 "Pride or love is not puffed up." 10:49 The antithesis of love is pride and selfishness 10:53 and Christ is love, the devil is selfish 10:57 and proud. And so often pride is like a 11:00 compass needle that always points inward. 11:04 It's always seeing me, what would they think 11:06 of me? Look at me, and what this 11:07 is gonna mean to me. And it's only when 11:11 we humble ourselves and say, Lord it's not 11:13 about me, it's about you. I wanna have your mind 11:16 and you know you can't do that 11:17 without the Holy Spirit, you can't receive 11:19 the Holy Spirit until you humble yourself. 11:20 Now, show me where in the Bible 11:22 that we are supposed to pray that God humbles us? 11:27 It's not in the Bible. The Bible says, God says, 11:31 humble yourself. That means you don't just walk 11:35 through life and say God you give me the 11:36 gift of humility, it's a choice you can make 11:39 to behave and to think with humility. 11:42 God says humble yourself, you can choose to think 11:45 and behave in a humble way. And when you are 11:47 tempted to selfish and proud you can counteract 11:50 to that consciously. God tells us humble yourself, 11:53 humble yourself. Because you see, it's like love. 11:56 The God can't force love. He can humiliate you, 11:59 he can embarrass you, but you can still be 12:01 as proud as the pharaoh and marched off 12:03 to your destruction. The great sin originating 12:09 with Satan is pride. And the devil is gonna self 12:13 destructing and even though he knows, 12:15 he has a short time, he knows he is domed. 12:18 Will he change? Is he gonna give up? 12:21 He is going down, he knows he is going down 12:24 and he is so stubborn and proud, 12:25 he is gonna take as many with him as he can. 12:27 Has lot of lost people out there. And you know, 12:30 men in particular. I think this is a bigger problem 12:33 you know technically there are more women. 12:36 I know more women are alive than men, 12:38 but even beyond that statistic 12:40 a higher percentage of women demonstrate 12:43 spirituality and join churches than men. 12:46 And part of the reason is because of a man's pride 12:49 it's very difficult for us to say, I need help. 12:54 I mean we don't like to ask for directions, 12:56 do we? One kid was asking his mother, 13:00 she sat in the backseat and dad is driving around 13:03 town trying to figure out where he is going? 13:05 Is this why or he said how long was the flood? 13:08 And mom said, 40 days and 40 nights. 13:11 Mom how long was Noah on the boat? 13:13 Oh! Nearly a year. Was he afraid to ask directions, 13:19 just like dad? In the Christian life, 13:23 the only way you win is by surrender. 13:27 Who here wants to brag about surrender? 13:31 Men don't want to say I was wrong, I need help, 13:34 it's a sign of weakness to say I need help. 13:37 You see, that's one reason we struggle 13:39 with this issue in a different capacity 13:42 then women typically do. Is because for us 13:45 to come to the place, where we get on our knees 13:48 and say Lord depart from me, I'm a sinful man. 13:52 Then God, he can't say alright 13:54 will you follow me? And I'll make you fishermen. 13:56 Whenever the disciples or John the Baptist 13:59 or anybody humbled themselves before the Lord 14:01 with the attitude of he must increase, 14:03 I must decrease then God could do something 14:06 spectacular, but it's not easy for us. 14:09 Because we want to think we are in charge, 14:12 it's an illusion. We want to think 14:14 we are in control. Who usually monopolizes 14:17 the self control? The men or the women. 14:20 Come on fess up. We want to be in control 14:26 and yet we know we are not. "Pharaoh saw 14:31 the rain and the hail and the thunder 14:34 and he hardened his heart more." 14:38 Exodus chapter 10:17, pharaoh servant 14:40 said to him, "Let the people go to serve 14:43 the Lord, don't you know that Egypt is destroyed?" 14:45 And he just couldn't let go. 14:51 Until you finally drown. God choose the young men 14:55 to be king. Head and shoulders 14:59 taller than everyone else. All dark and handsome. 15:03 And you know, in the beginning 15:05 he had something of a humble attitude. 15:08 Matter of fact, when they went to coordinate them 15:10 they couldn't find them because he was hiding. 15:13 Finally after becoming king and getting 15:15 the accolades of the people and having 15:17 the few victories, you began to get proud. 15:19 You know, whom I'm talking about? King Saul 15:22 and it got so bad that he just had to have his way. 15:27 And you heard the expression, 15:29 power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. 15:34 It's very important, if you are in any kind 15:35 of position of a leadership and authority 15:39 and influence that you have accountability, 15:42 you need to invite accountability, 15:44 you need to welcome accountability because 15:47 if you get the position, where you have got all 15:49 that power influence and money can destroy people. 15:52 I saw that first him, and again I don't mean 15:55 to be disrespectful, but my father had hundreds 16:01 of millions of dollars when he died. 16:04 And I saw all my life people treated him 16:07 differently. Because instead of saying 16:11 Mr. Batchelor you are acting like an idiot. 16:15 And sometimes he did, I don't mean disrespect, 16:19 but after he was gone people said, 16:20 I mean he was impossible, but they never tell him 16:23 that because he would somehow penalize them 16:27 or cut their wages or something like that, 16:29 and he didn't surround himself with people, 16:32 George that's wrong, you shouldn't do that. 16:36 And so basically you lost that sense 16:39 of accountability and it hurt his character. 16:42 You need to invite people around you 16:44 that will be honest with you and maintain that. 16:49 Well Saul, he was more concerned with what the 16:52 people thought of him. And even when 16:55 he was confronted by Samuel the prophet. 16:58 God had told him to go destroy all of the 17:01 Malachite's and he didn't do it, 17:03 he kept the king alive. And he said, 17:05 I'm not gonna destroy all the cattle, 17:06 he was told to kill them too. 17:07 So, these are good ones, let keep these 17:10 and will make bring them back, we will parade them 17:13 through the city, offer sacrifice, 17:15 the people said, you know, why do you want to 17:17 destroy and Saul wanted to be popular 17:19 with the people that even when he was confronted 17:22 with that by Samuel, and Samuel said 17:24 you can't be king anymore. And Samuel turned 17:27 to walk away. Saul said, no at least comeback 17:31 and honor me before the people. 17:33 What do the people gonna think? 17:35 I mean I would think that after the Lord had said, 17:38 you are not king anymore, you would humble 17:39 yourself, but he was so pre-occupied. 17:42 Why did King Saul want to kill David? 17:46 Because Saul heard the lady is singing, 17:48 Saul is slaying thousands and he like that, 17:51 but he didn't like to chorus. And David has 17:55 killed his ten thousands. And instead of being 17:57 thankful they were singing about him at all. 17:59 He was mad that anybody would get more honor 18:02 than him or be describe the higher number 18:05 than him, and he spent the rest of his life, 18:07 he wasted years, he could have been fighting 18:09 the enemy, fighting someone that wasn't 18:11 a threat, fighting someone that should 18:13 have been NLI because of pride. 18:17 I have seen that even among Christians, 18:18 I have seen it in the church. Who has gotten 18:22 the most baptisms? Who has got the 18:26 biggest church? And you know get a bunch 18:29 of pastors together say how many members 18:31 do you have? Oh! Yeah, but how many here 18:34 on in your church Sabbath morning and you know, 18:36 I'm, I'm telling you we are not immune. 18:39 Same thing that you saw among the apostles, 18:41 Nebuchadnezzar, God blessed him with success, 18:47 you didn't want to give God the credit 18:49 phenomenal success, a very bright king, 18:52 I mean after all he is the one who tested 18:54 in Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and Daniel. 18:57 He was a pretty smart king and after conquering 19:03 all of the surrounding empires 19:05 and building a Babylon, so it was the golden empire 19:08 of history. He stood up on his balcony one day 19:13 and the sun was going down and it was just a 19:15 glorious spectacle as he surveyed that panorama. 19:19 His heart swells with pride and instead of 19:21 saying thank you Lord for giving me 19:24 this opportunity, to help these people. 19:26 He said, is this not the great Babylon that 19:29 I have build for my majesty and my glory 19:32 and I mean he was basically will become a 19:35 maniacal narcissistic king. Me, me, me, I, I, I, 19:41 what was that the devil said in heaven? 19:44 I will exalt my throne above the stars of God, 19:48 I will be like the most, I, I, I. 19:52 And then God took away Nebuchadnezzar's wisdom 19:56 also and he was a raving idiot, 19:57 grabbling on the ground, eating grass 19:59 like a donkey. And they had to kick him out 20:03 some back 40 somewhere for seven years until 20:05 finally God gave him senses back, 20:08 have any humble himself, he humbled himself. 20:11 Prayed to God, gave him credit. 20:16 You are smart when you are humble. 20:20 The fear of the Lord is beginning of wisdom 20:22 and before honor there is humility. By the way, 20:28 that's proverb 15:33, "The fear of the LORD 20:30 is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor 20:33 is humility." Proverb 12:15, by the way written 20:36 by the Wisers Men, "The way of a fool is right 20:38 in his own eyes: but he who heeds counsel 20:41 is wise." When people are demanding, 20:43 I have their way all the time, not very smart. 20:46 Proverbs 11 verse 2, "When pride comes 20:49 then comes shame, but with the humble 20:52 there is wisdom." I need all the wisdom 20:55 I can get and so God cannot give divine wisdom 20:58 to those who are proud. So, if you would 21:02 need wisdom starting place and say Lord 21:05 I don't know, I'm a little child. You know, 21:08 I, I probably on a pause there and look at what 21:10 Solomon said, when you read, 21:14 if you look at First Kings chapter 3 in your Bible. 21:19 Matter of fact, there is not in my notes here, 21:21 but I think this would be a good. 21:27 First Kings chapter 3, verse 3, 21:30 "And Solomon loved the LORD, 21:31 walking in the statutes of his father David." 21:35 And then he go on and says in verse 5, 21:37 In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon 21:40 in a dream by night and He said, 21:41 "Ask what I will give you." Now, here is God 21:45 almighty of the cosmos asking Solomon, 21:49 what do you want, ask? Solomon said, 21:53 "You shown great mercy to your servant David 21:56 my father because he walked before you 21:58 in truth, in righteousness, 22:00 in uprightness and heart with you, you have 22:02 continued this kindness to him and that you 22:04 have given him a son to sit on his throne 22:06 as it is this day. And now, O LORD you have 22:10 made your servant king instead of my father 22:12 David, but I am just a little child. 22:14 I don't know how to go out or come in. 22:16 And your servant is in the midst of your people 22:19 who you have chosen; therefore give 22:22 your servant an understanding heart 22:25 to judge your people." Who is the focus 22:27 of Solomon's prayer? Is Solomon saying, 22:30 me, me, me, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, 22:33 or he is saying Lord, you, you, you, you, you. 22:36 And does God give him wisdom? 22:39 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. 22:42 He humbled himself; he recognized 22:44 what his need was? He said, Lord I don't know 22:47 what I'm doing. I don't know how to go out 22:49 or to come in? Help me, give me this wisdom. 22:51 And God answered his prayer. 22:54 How very different from some other kings. 22:58 Take for instance King Hezekiah; 23:04 you might turn in your Bibles Isaiah 39. 23:08 This is the antitheist I love using that word 23:12 of what just happen there in First Kings. 23:18 Isaiah 39, you remember when God healed Hezekiah, 23:24 he was gonna die, he had this boil, 23:26 and the fever and God said, set your house 23:28 in order you are going to die and not live, 23:30 and he cried and prayed and God 23:32 he humbled himself. God heard his prayer, 23:35 he healed him of his terminal problems that 23:38 you are gonna have 15 more years, 23:40 you still terminal, but now you have 15 years. 23:44 And then the son stood still. 23:48 He said what's sign shall I give you? 23:50 You want the son to go forward 23:52 or you want the son to go backwards. 23:53 He didn't stand still actually went backwards 23:55 10 degrees. And the people in Babylon 23:58 they were watching the sundial 23:59 and observing the heaven. They said, Oh! 24:01 What is this? What's cause this sign? 24:04 To what do we describe, this is a pretty soon 24:05 word reach them, it's the God of, 24:07 of King Hezekiah did this. And emissaries 24:10 and ambassadors are sent from Babylon to find out 24:12 about the God of King Hezekiah, 24:15 who has done this marvelous sign. 24:17 And how Hezekiah know, I have told you be aware 24:21 when you are at the top, you got to be careful, 24:23 it's like the momma whale said to the baby whale. 24:26 Be careful, when you get to the surface 24:27 and you start to blow that's when 24:28 you get harpooned. And sometimes, 24:31 when God blesses us and were successful 24:33 and here Solomon thought you know, 24:35 we have got peace with our surrounding neighbors, 24:37 the economy is great, I'm healed, 24:40 I got 15 more years, I'm on top of the world 24:43 and then to top things off look at that, 24:45 I have got emissaries from Babylon. 24:46 Babylon is the center of intelligence in education. 24:49 They are coming to me to ask me question, 24:52 well I'm really something. Right after that 24:54 wonderful miracle God did for Hezekiah. 24:57 He now become self centered. 24:58 He was a good king. We are all at risk. 25:05 So, what does he do? You can read 25:09 in Isaiah chapter 39, verse 2, "And Hezekiah 25:14 was pleased with them, and He showed them 25:16 the house of his treasures; the silver 25:19 and the gold, the spices and precious ointment, 25:21 and all his armory; and all that was found among 25:24 his treasures. There was nothing in his house 25:26 or in his dominion that Hezekiah 25:28 did not show them." I might add never says 25:31 he showed them the temple of the Lord. 25:34 Never says, he showed them God, 25:37 that's what they were coming to find out 25:39 about Bible tells us that God tested him in that, 25:42 he send these emissary to enquire about the wonder 25:45 that was done. They were coming to find out 25:48 about God, what a great opportunity, 25:49 how different would history have been? 25:52 And Hezekiah had given them a Bible study 25:55 on Jehovah to take back to Babylon. 25:59 People are gonna want whatever your treasure is? 26:01 You brag about all your stuff, do you think 26:04 they are gonna love you more? 26:06 Do you love your neighbor more, 26:08 when they get new toys? What's a typical corner 26:11 reaction to that? You don't love them more, 26:14 you want their toys. And I, you know, 26:19 I probably done it, I don't know why we do it, 26:20 but when people brag about I got this 26:22 and I got that. Very few people 26:25 are so sanctify this, I'm just really happy 26:27 for you brother. They were thinking, I guess, 26:29 I got to get a new one, he has got a 2008 mines 26:31 is 2002. I have got the ladies model. 26:36 Friends flip out there ladies PDA or gadget 26:38 or phone or something like that. 26:39 And everyone at the office is giving me a hard time 26:41 because I don't have an iPhone yet. 26:44 We are all want that upgrade. People are gonna 26:50 want you treasure. And Hezekiah showed them 26:53 his treasure, if his treasure was the Lord, 26:55 they want that. Where your treasure is 26:59 that's where your heart is gonna be. 27:01 So, he brags about his stuff. 27:04 Isaiah the prophet comes to him later 27:06 and he asks this question. What have 27:08 they seen in your house? Now, as men 27:12 whether you are single or you are married 27:15 or you have children. When people come 27:19 to your home, if you are the husband, 27:21 you are the houseman, you ought to be priest 27:23 servant leaders in your families, 27:26 what are they seeing in your house. 27:29 When they come into your house, first of all, 27:31 do they sense the spirit of God there? 27:34 Is your burden to show anybody that comes 27:36 within your gates, your treasure? 27:39 Is your treasure Jesus? Now, I was really 27:44 convicted on this a few years ago. 27:50 How do I say this, but that sounds like 27:51 a bragging, but we have property up in the hills 27:55 and had it for 30 years, about a years ago, 27:58 designed and build a cabin up there. 28:02 It's solar electric, I was up there last week, 28:03 added two more solar panels and I put 28:06 in a pelton wheel and got a lot of work in 30 years, 28:08 it's pretty neat, it's kind off the grid, 28:10 but we got all the modern conveniences and, 28:13 and one day, we had ordered some propane 28:16 because we do have a propane refrigerator 28:17 and a gas stove. Propane truck comes; 28:21 I mean we are way off, dirt roads way up 28:24 in the hills near some neighbors a mile away. 28:28 And propane truck comes this healthy young man 28:32 jumps out of the propane truck 28:33 and he looks around, he looks at me. 28:36 And he look familiar, but I didn't recognize him 28:39 right way. He said, Brother Doug 28:41 I have been out here in a long time. 28:42 Oh! He called Pastor Doug, and I said 28:45 are you so and so and I said his name, 28:48 he said, yeah. I taught him when he was a kid 28:51 in juniors, doing well. I also knew that 28:55 he wasn't going to church anymore and I thought, 28:59 well praise the Lord, God send him up here. 29:02 And he looked around and he said, you know, 29:04 I have been here what is this, a really nice place. 29:07 Well, that's all I needed, 29:08 just open the door and ask me about my place. 29:11 That little window that he gave me. 29:15 I said, yeah, well you know, the whole things 29:17 runs on the sun. You see panels up there, 29:20 and so we got to runs into the inverter here 29:22 and then I have got the generator, 29:23 when the generator runs, it converts inverter 29:24 into a charger and it charges a battery, 29:26 we got the meter here and said, 29:28 it's all gravity flow water and it runs on 29:29 the plug wheel, we dug the lake over here. 29:31 And I'm going on and on and on, 29:32 it must have been really boring actually, 29:34 but you know, we all become armored 29:36 with our own voice, when we are talking about 29:37 ourselves and our achievements, 29:38 we think everyone else is just as interested 29:40 as we are. I frequently lose the sense of time, 29:47 when I'm preaching because I'm enchanted 29:49 by my own voice. And so on, telling him about 29:53 all the stuff in the house and, 29:56 and the next thing I knew, 29:59 he looked at his watch, he said, you know, 30:00 it's really good to see you. He says, 30:02 I got to make another delivery. 30:04 And I slapped him on the back and he hopped 30:06 in the truck, I didn't have a prayer with him 30:07 because I was so into talking about the place 30:13 and the stuff, the equipment that my mind 30:17 just was not in the soul winning state of mind. 30:20 I was showing my treasure and just 30:24 as he was driven away in that big old 30:26 lumbering truck and all the dust 30:28 was building up behind. I heard a little voice say, 30:31 what do we see in your house? And I never, 30:35 I never have seen him since. I didn't say 30:39 can I get your number? Can I call you? 30:43 And you know, I have just been so convicted 30:46 that my heart was so selfish. What do you care 30:50 more about a lost soul or scratch in your car? 30:54 What bothers you more? You know, 30:57 we are pre-occupied sometimes like Hezekiah 30:59 with our treasure. Our earth fully stuff 31:05 or maybe it's, maybe it's not the house we live in, 31:08 maybe it's the clothes we wear. 31:10 No, I'm not a clothes worth, 31:13 if it wasn't for my wife and my mother-in-law. 31:15 I don't know what I would be wearing right now, 31:18 but they kind of tell me what to wear, 31:20 I mean you know got to nice living in a cave. 31:22 I didn't wear anything back then. 31:24 So, this is an upgrade no matter what I wear, 31:27 but you know, some people in the spirit 31:29 of prophecy has lot to say with those who are 31:31 pre-occupied with fashion. And you know, 31:35 you and I know people that every time 31:37 they got to tell me, they got to get a new suit, 31:38 new tie and hundred dollars suits 31:40 and the Gucci loafers and all that stuff, 31:45 Rolex watch, Casio, G shock, but you know 31:54 there are even those who are so concerned 31:56 with the external appearance. 31:57 Jesus talked about the priest that would wear 32:01 their robes in such a waste to impress people 32:03 with the phylacteries and, and their parents 32:07 like a colonel with all of his, his ribbons 32:11 and his stripes, try to impress a person 32:15 with their uniform. There is another king 32:17 in the Bible. Put on his royal apparel, 32:20 King Herald Acts chapter 12 made a speech, 32:24 golden sequence glistening in the sun 32:27 and the people who were actual little 32:30 inebriated listening to him, very impressed by 32:33 what they saw on this earth, 32:34 it's a voice of a God and not a man 32:37 and he should have said, no, no don't say that, 32:39 that's not right, I'm just a man, now you, 32:43 who was that said the Solomon said, 32:46 "A jewel of gold in a pig's nose is like 32:49 a beautiful woman without discretion." 32:54 And you know, sometimes you can put all kinds 32:56 of fancy jewels and gold and clothes on a person 33:00 and we are all bodies or all mortal 33:05 these are corruptible bodies 33:10 just like Adam and Eve you know, 33:11 we are trying covered up with fig leaves. 33:14 So, he is making the speech, 33:16 but he would not humble himself and give God 33:18 the glory for anything intelligent 33:20 he might have said, for even the clothes he wore. 33:24 And because he took that credit upon himself, 33:27 the angel of the Lord touched him. 33:30 So, he was smoked by the angel of the Lord 33:33 and he was consumed by warms. And you know, 33:35 that's actually born out by gel sea fish it says, 33:37 he was eaten and died and sort diseases 33:39 from maggots. Overtaken humbled you might say 33:47 because they took the credit 33:49 proud of his attire. And we got to be careful 33:54 also about flattering peoples, 33:56 like when they flattered hared. 33:57 And so it's a voice of a God. 33:59 Now, it's nice to complement people 34:02 and you know, we all appreciate that 34:03 when someone seems to appreciate 34:05 what we have done and what we have said, 34:06 and I think that you ought to show appreciation, 34:08 if you are married you need to learn to express 34:12 don't take your spouses for granted express 34:14 appreciation on an ongoing basis, 34:17 one of the common appropriate complaints 34:20 that wives have is that you know, 34:23 we are very appreciative when we were dating them, 34:27 but then after we marry them we just start 34:29 taking it for granted that they are suppose to, 34:31 you know, wash the clothes and, and wash 34:33 throughout the day because I help with dishes 34:34 and house cleaning and stuff we should, 34:36 but you show appreciation, 34:39 say thank you. Amen. And it goes a long way, 34:44 and it's often reciprocal and you find that 34:46 you get more, if you give it, 34:47 but flatter is different, flatter is like 34:49 an artificial sweetener, it's like your same 34:52 nice things to person, you may not even 34:54 believe yourself because you want something 34:56 from men. And if people make a complement to you, 35:00 you got to be careful to sniff it, 35:02 but don't swallow, it's like perfume is meant 35:04 to be sniff, but don't drink it. 35:05 It will make you sick. Who is that who said 35:09 that lot of bees have drowned 35:10 in their own honey? And so, you know, 35:14 and I do that. If you folks are so nice 35:17 and even hear I meet him between meetings 35:20 you say some very nice things and I'll tell you, 35:23 I have learned to take it all with grain of salt; 35:26 I was telling the pastor just earlier, 35:28 television creates an illusion. 35:32 And I know that, I preached the whole sermon 35:35 one time and I thought I had the audience 35:37 spell bounce. Someone came up to me 35:38 as soon as I was done and said Pastor 35:40 we don't have to tell you flies men down all night. 35:45 Well, if you don't think that will humble you. 35:51 Everybody got to go through that 35:52 at least once. And so you know, 35:56 whenever I hear people looking like 35:57 they are really interested, I'm not sure 35:59 if it's me or if it's something about me. 36:01 No, no, no as got their attention. 36:05 So, I got to be careful not to flatter. 36:08 Proverbs 29 verse 5, "A man who flatters 36:11 his neighbor spreads a net for his feet." 36:14 Proverbs 27:6, "Faithful are the wounds 36:18 of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy 36:21 are deceitful." Sometimes it's the construct 36:25 a criticism that I have receive from my friends 36:28 and often my spouse. You know, 36:30 I think I have done a really great job 36:31 and then afterward my wife will say 36:33 will you realize that you mixed up the words 36:35 Peter and Paul during that whole sermon, 36:37 where you gave and you just got them 36:39 backwards every time you said up 36:40 and no one want to interrupt you. 36:42 Karen is usually nice enough be interrupt me 36:44 right during the sermon said, don't you mean. 36:46 And, I praise God for a wife like that, 36:49 but you want people who will be honest with you. 36:55 You need to invite that instead of becoming 36:59 scornful, if someone criticizes you thank them. 37:02 So, you know, I appreciate that. 37:04 I need to think about that. 37:07 And it even happens to good kings, 37:09 sometimes there is religious pride. 37:12 Second Chronicles 26:16, when is say King Uzziah, 37:15 do you think that was a good king or bad king? 37:19 We often remember their mistakes, 37:21 but King Uzziah was a good king. 37:22 So, he walked in the commandments of the Lord 37:24 according to David his father, 37:28 but when he was at the zenith of his success, 37:31 that's how it often happens. 37:32 Enemies are defeated, kingdoms being build up, 37:35 great success he said you know, 37:38 I don't know if I like the idea 37:40 that I'm not allowed to going in the sanctuary 37:42 like the priest, I'm king, God was with me, right. 37:45 I had to be able to do what a king does, 37:46 the other pagan kings they offer sacrifice, 37:48 why can't I do it? Because the word of God said, 37:51 only the Levites. And he began to rationalize 37:55 themselves and pretty soon, 37:56 he grab hold of the sensory one day 37:58 and he walked into the temple of Lord 38:00 with the sensor and only priests were supposed 38:02 to do that. And the priests 38:05 are confronted him and said, King Uzziah 38:07 this will not be to your glory, 38:08 you are not supposed to do this. 38:10 This is appointed for the Levites 38:11 and the children of Aaron to do this. 38:14 And he got angry instead of humbling himself 38:17 and say, you know, you are right. 38:18 He got angry and as a result of that 38:22 while he was having his tirade, lost his temper. 38:28 You know, why we often lose our temper? 38:31 Pride, someone defended our pride, 38:34 don't you love it when someone tells you, 38:36 you are wrong. Anyone here like to be wrong? 38:41 When someone confronts you? 38:44 And he was having tirade, he lost his temper 38:48 and he ranted and rave and while he was doing it, 38:50 the priest looked at him. And leprosy popped out. 38:54 They could see on his forehead. 38:57 And they took him and thrown him 38:58 out of the temple and he was leprosied 39:00 till the day of his death. By the way, 39:04 when you lose your temper, why do they say that, 39:08 because the devil finds it? And usually at least 39:13 temporarily demon possessed when we lose 39:15 our tempers? Haymen, he was pre-occupied 39:21 by with his position, hey I have been exalted, 39:24 I'm the right hand man of the king, 39:25 I'm his friend and advisor and he love telling 39:27 everyone that went back home to his wife 39:29 and his friends, call them all together 39:30 and began to brag about his success. 39:33 So, look I have got this incredible pay increase, 39:36 I'm invited into the palace, I come and go, 39:38 I'm the king's friend, I'm his advisor, 39:40 he has promoted me, but it doesn't do me 39:44 any good because Mordecai I won't bow down to me. 39:46 I want everyone to recognize my authority. 39:50 Well, I know what I'm gonna do, 39:51 I hang him from the gallows 50 feet high. 39:54 What ended up happening? That's quite a story 39:57 about pride there in the Book of Esther. 39:59 He goes to the king to try and get the 40:00 death warrant of Mordecai. 40:02 And while he is in there trying to secure 40:04 the king is having as a dream or he can't sleep 40:07 and he is having a crown that read the Hayman 40:10 suddenly he remembers I never rewarded 40:12 this guy Mordecai. So Hayman comes in 40:16 to ask for the death warrant and before 40:19 he gets to say anything, the King says hey Hayman 40:22 I got to ask you a question. 40:24 What should I do for the man who 40:26 I had like to honor? And Hayman thinks to himself. 40:31 Who would the king want to honor more than me. 40:36 And he says well let me tell you what I think 40:38 you have to do your highness. 40:39 You have to put him on the King's verse. 40:41 Put the king's robe on, put the king's crown 40:44 on him, it sounds like he wants to be the king, 40:46 doesn't it? It's like the devil want to be God. 40:50 He said can you pray him up and down the street 40:52 for everyone to see. That shall it be done 40:54 to the man whom the king delights to honor. 40:57 He says, that sounds good and he said 41:00 tell you what since it's your idea, 41:02 you are the man, told lead him through the streets. 41:05 I want you to go find Mordecai. 41:07 Do everything you said right down to the detail, 41:09 good idea. I want you to pray him up and down 41:12 the streets in my robe with my crown on my horse. 41:17 He who exalts himself will be humble. 41:20 If that's not exhibited what is? 41:22 Just like the devil talk about a reversal of rules. 41:27 The devil, who wanted to destroy Christ. 41:32 Christ who humbled themselves 41:33 will be exalted. The devil who exalted himself 41:35 will be humbled. It's going to be the ultimate 41:38 reversal of rules. Let another man praise you 41:42 and not your own mouth. A stranger 41:44 and not your own lips. Before greatness 41:49 must come humility. 1st Corinthians 4 verse 7 41:54 that none of you be puffed up on behalf 41:57 of one against the other. For who makes you differ 42:00 from another? And what do you have that 42:02 you did not receive? Now if you indeed receive it, 42:05 why do you boast as though you had 42:06 not received it? Martin Luther 42:09 used to love to tell the story about a woodpecker 42:11 that was picking away at the big tree in the bold 42:14 of lightening struck the tree 42:15 and it fell over and the little woodpecker flew 42:17 away and said look what I did, look what I did. 42:21 We are all little bit like that. 42:26 Second Chronicle 7:14 if my people, 42:29 who are called by my name, will humble themselves 42:32 and pray and seek my face and turn 42:35 from their wicked ways, then I will hear 42:38 from heaven and forgive their sin 42:40 and heal their land. Job 22:29. 42:43 He will save the humble person. 42:45 I don't know about your friends, 42:47 but I wanna be saved. And if I led pride 42:55 possess my mind and my thinking. 42:57 Guide my life. If the devil was cast out 43:02 because of pride or we going in that way 43:03 that pride and selfishness. Micah 6:8, 43:08 what are the priorities with the Lord. 43:09 What's really important to God? 43:11 What does the Lord require of us the Prophet asks. 43:15 He has shown you, O man, what is good; 43:17 And what does the Lord require of you 43:20 But to do justly, to love mercy, 43:24 And to walk how, walk humbly. 43:27 You know walk is not something 43:28 where you stationary making a decision 43:29 for a moment. It's a way of life. 43:32 God wants his men of faith to walk humbly. 43:37 Humble does not mean weak. Was Jesus weak? 43:43 Jesus was a man's man. Matter of faith 43:45 I take issue with these medieval paintings 43:48 they have got of Jesus, where he always looks 43:49 a little bit anorexic up there on the cross 43:52 and the kind of blue and spindly. 43:56 I think that carpenters back then didn't have 43:58 power tools. And Jesus was a man. 44:02 Nobody could have gone through 44:04 what he went through the last 24 hours of his life 44:06 and even survived to get to the cross unless 44:10 he was in good shape. Christ was a man, 44:13 but he was a humble man. He was meek man, 44:17 he was a brave man, he was a strong man, 44:20 he was a mighty man. See sometimes we think 44:22 it's incongruous. How can you have a meek man 44:24 and a humble man be a mighty strong man. 44:30 You ever read anywhere in the Bible 44:31 where it says Samson had been muscles. 44:35 Show me that chapter and verse. 44:37 It's not in there. Matter of fact, 44:40 when the spirit of God was withdrawn from Samson, 44:42 says he was like other man. 44:44 I bet you have never pictured Samson 44:46 before splendidly guy looks like, you know, 44:48 he has got the big horn rim just like a computer 44:50 and geek. Hi Samson, I kill lions, 44:54 thousand Philistines. All of you picture him 44:58 with biceps like that alright. 45:01 But he says that when the spirit of God 45:03 was withdrawn from him and he didn't even know it 45:06 that he went on to shake himself 45:07 and he was just as vulnerable 45:09 and weak as any other man. 45:10 It was the spirit of God that came on David 45:13 that helped him kill a lion. 45:15 What makes us strong? What makes us mighty man? 45:19 Being spirit filled, how do we get that? 45:22 If we would humble ourselves before the Lord. 45:25 If we would humble ourselves before the Lord. 45:28 That's what makes you strong. 45:29 There is no limit to what God can do through 45:33 our lives if we would present ourselves 45:34 as a living sacrifice and humble ourselves 45:37 before God. James 4:6 He gives more grace 45:40 therefore he says God resist the proud 45:43 but he gives grace to who? The humble. 45:47 Psalm 25:9. The humble he guides and justice. 45:51 You want God's guidance. He guides the humble. 45:54 Even the butterfly starts out as a worm. 45:57 The meek will inherit the earth up 46:01 wanna be one of those. Right. 46:03 Christ said he that would be greatest among you, 46:06 let him be as certain. Those are the ones you 46:10 have grade in the eyes of the Lord. 46:12 Now you can see in the Bible of Pattern. 46:18 If Nebakanezer was cast out of men society 46:22 because of pride. Adam was evicted 46:25 from the garden. You can see in the Bible 46:30 these examples of people who lost everything 46:32 because of pride. It's all lost the kingdom. 46:36 We are not going into heaven that way. 46:39 But Jesus he gave up everything 46:43 and humbled himself. Notice this verse. 46:46 Bible says he who exalts himself will be humbled 46:49 and he who humbles himself will be exalted. 46:52 Philippians 2 verse 5, Philippians 2:5. 46:55 Let this mind be in you. God wants to give you 47:00 this mind, but he won't force it on you. 47:01 You must choose to humble yourself. 47:03 Let this mind be in you. What mind? 47:05 The mind that was in Christ. 47:07 Ask God to give you the mind of Christ, 47:09 the attitude of Christ, the humility of Christ. 47:12 The Christ Jesus who being informed 47:15 in the form of God did not consider it robbery 47:17 to be equal with God. It would not have been 47:20 inappropriate for him to consider himself 47:22 equal with God, but he made himself 47:25 of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, 47:30 coming in the likeness of men being 47:32 found in appearance as a man, 47:34 He humbled himself and became obedient 47:37 to the point of death, even the death 47:38 of the cross. Therefore God is highly exalted him 47:42 and given him a name that is above every name 47:44 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow 47:47 of those in heaven, and of those on earth, 47:49 and of those under the earth everyone 47:51 is gonna bow to Christ. That every tongue 47:53 should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord 47:56 to the glory of God the Father. 48:01 He who humbled himself the most is going 48:04 to be exalted the highest. He who exalted himself 48:08 the most that's the devil. God says 48:11 I'll bring forth the fire from the midst of thee, 48:13 and that will devour thee, and I will bring 48:15 thee to ashes upon the earth in the sight of them 48:17 to be behold thee. And even the devil himself 48:20 is gonna bow down and say Jesus Christ is Lord. 48:23 There is gonna be the great reversal of roles. 48:27 You will get to share in one of those 48:29 two destinies. Now I don't know what things 48:32 are like with you, in your family, at your job, 48:35 in your life, in your church maybe there 48:38 are chances are that there is conflict 48:41 somewhere and you might find that lot of it 48:46 could be resolved, if you will humble yourself. 48:49 I have got a tip for you guys that are married. 48:53 You got to apologize sometimes whether 48:54 you think you are right or wrong. 48:55 There is no moral dilemma there. 48:58 You need to learn how to say, I'm sorry 49:01 we quarreled, I'm sorry dear. 49:05 Even if you may have been right on a point, 49:07 humble yourself. Be a lot more harmony 49:11 in our relationships with sometimes is tension 49:14 that just goes on and on because we can't say 49:17 we are wrong, sometimes in relationships 49:19 in the church. Someone just has to get 49:22 to the place you can heal a lot of schisms 49:24 and division someone would say. You know, 49:28 I don't wanna be like this anymore. 49:30 I like to humble him so. I have seen church 49:32 members sue each other; I have seen families 49:34 break apart because of pride, 49:37 divorces because of pride. That's what really 49:43 makes us strong, that's what makes us mighty men 49:46 and men of faith is when we can say you know, 49:49 I'm willing to humble myself. 49:50 You do and God says he will lift you up. 49:56 And he will keep lifting you up until 49:58 you are lifted up with Christ in heavenly places. 50:02 You know it's about time to close here. 50:06 Before we do I think it's important that 50:08 we give everybody an opportunity 50:10 to make a decision. You know at the cross 50:16 is where you see the ultimate display 50:19 of Christ humbling himself. At the cross 50:24 you see the devil love for power 50:26 and you see Christ power of love. 50:31 And that's where all of us gain the strength 50:34 to humble ourselves. How can we be proud 50:37 when you sit there at the foot of the cross 50:39 and you see that he is going through everything 50:42 that he went through because of you are sins. 50:44 What do we have to be proud of? 50:46 Where are the ones who really are responsible 50:48 for his death and his sufferings, 50:50 so what do we gonna be brag about. 50:52 Everything you have comes from God. 50:54 Naked, you came into the world, 50:56 naked you are going out. The only thing 50:58 you can take with you is that robe of righteousness 51:00 that Jesus gave up at the cross. 51:06 I believe the Lord brought you here today 51:08 and he has great plans for you, 51:10 he wants you to be a mighty man of faith, 51:12 but you got to come and choose to humble yourself 51:15 and say Lord I wanna come to you just as I'm. 51:17 I like to invite Jeremy to come up. 51:20 He is gonna sing the 1st verse from a familiar song 51:22 and I would like you to just bow your heads 51:24 as he is singing and be praying in your life. 51:26 If there is something in your life, 51:28 you need to surrender to the Lord. 51:29 I would like you to take this opportunity to do 51:31 that and we will be having prayer 51:33 together before we close. 51:51 Jesus, keep me near the cross; 52:01 There's a precious fountain, Free to all, 52:15 a healing stream, Flows from Calvary's mountain. 52:30 In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, 52:50 Till my raptured soul shall 52:58 find Rest beyond the river. 53:12 Before we have one more verse of this song. 53:14 I would like to just extend an invitation 53:19 to each of you in order to be successful 53:23 mighty men of faith it begins with a surrender. 53:27 We come to Jesus just like we are. 53:31 We cast our sins upon him, all of our cares 53:34 upon him and he promises that he has the power 53:38 to release in our lives that you and Jesus 53:42 cannot be overcome by any adversary. 53:45 He can give you victory over the temptation 53:47 in your life over the problems in your life. 53:49 Our God is a God of power. Amen. 53:51 But you cannot unite yourself with that power 53:54 until you empty yourself. He wants to fill you 53:57 with his spirit, but so often our hearts 54:00 and minds are so full, the things of this world, 54:03 materialism, selfishness sin. 54:09 Today, I like to just ask if the Holy Spirit 54:12 when speaking to your heart can you realize. 54:14 I wanna go all the way with God. 54:17 I want to accept all of God's forgiveness 54:19 and I want all of his power to live a new life 54:22 to represent him to have the mind of Christ in me. 54:25 If that's your prayer then why don't you 54:28 stand together, we are gonna 54:30 listen to one more verse. 54:37 Near the cross I'll watch and wait, 54:48 Hoping, trusting ever, Till I reach the 55:03 golden strand Just beyond the river. 55:19 In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, 55:39 Till my raptured soul shall find 55:48 Rest beyond the river. 56:02 It would be a good idea for us to sing that chorus 56:06 together, but before we do. There maybe 56:10 some of you here today that have some special 56:13 need in your life and you really wanna take this 56:17 opportunity to say Lord in your presence 56:20 and even in the presence of others, 56:22 in the presence of your angels. 56:24 I would like to say by your grace today 56:26 is gonna be a new day as I go from this place. 56:29 I want to be new creature and you like come forward 56:33 and request special prayer. As we are singing 56:37 the chorus together, I want you to come 56:40 to the front, we will have special prayer for you 56:43 and ask the God to just activate 56:45 his power in your life. I think everybody knows 56:49 the chorus to this song and I just see 56:52 all these men together, well it would be beautiful 56:54 to have all of us sing that together in the cross 56:57 that's where the power, that's where 56:59 we want our new lives. If you like to come now 57:02 as we sing that together and you have some need 57:05 for prayer come in the cross, in the cross. 57:17 In the cross, in the cross, Be my glory ever, 57:37 Till my raptured soul shall find 57:47 Rest beyond the river. Amen. |
Revised 2014-12-17