1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,040 This morning and turn to 2nd Corinthians Chapter 11. 2 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:07,800 Second Corinthians Chapter 11. I didn't mention it earlier, but 3 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,520 I will mention it now. Tonight we are going to get back 4 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:13,920 into discovering the stories of the Bible. 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:16,239 And boy, I tell you what, the one that we're going to discuss 6 00:00:16,239 --> 00:00:21,560 tonight is rich, rich, rich with a lot of lessons, a lot of of 7 00:00:21,560 --> 00:00:24,440 types and pictures. And you're not going to want to 8 00:00:24,440 --> 00:00:27,200 miss tonight. So plan to be back here at 6:00 9 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,040 this evening for our evening service. 10 00:00:29,040 --> 00:00:30,360 Of course, we have a regular service. 11 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,120 But then the message tonight I'm really looking forward to. 12 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,240 We're going to jump back into the Old Testament and talk about 13 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,800 one of the stories in the Old Testament, one that you know of, 14 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:43,560 but maybe re familiarize yourself with it and pull out 15 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:46,600 some lessons in there that hopefully will be a help to you. 16 00:00:46,600 --> 00:00:49,520 But second Corinthians Chapter 11, this is Paul. 17 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:52,640 He wrote the book of 1st and 2nd Corinthians. 18 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,680 Obviously he wrote many other books in the New Testament as 19 00:00:54,680 --> 00:00:59,360 well. But the apostle Paul is, is here 20 00:00:59,360 --> 00:01:02,480 in, in in this chapter, Chapter 11 is kind of establishing his 21 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:06,720 apostleship and giving his pedigree, if you will. 22 00:01:06,720 --> 00:01:09,880 And, and he makes it clear more than once that he's not doing it 23 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,000 because he's trying to brag. He's not doing it because he's 24 00:01:12,000 --> 00:01:13,840 trying to talk about how good he is. 25 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:16,920 But to say this is the authority that I've been given from God? 26 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:20,920 And he starts, he starts to go through some of the different 27 00:01:20,920 --> 00:01:25,200 things that he suffered as as an apostle. 28 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:29,120 And so I just want to pick up there in verse #23 actually, 29 00:01:29,120 --> 00:01:34,040 let's go back to verse 21. I speak as concerning reproach 30 00:01:34,040 --> 00:01:36,920 as though we had been a weak. Howbeit wherein so ever any is 31 00:01:36,920 --> 00:01:39,040 bold, I speak foolishly, I'm bold also. 32 00:01:39,200 --> 00:01:40,680 Are they Hebrews? So am I. 33 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:43,680 Are they Israelites? So am I, Are they the seed of 34 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:44,880 Abraham? So am I. 35 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:47,720 Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. 36 00:01:47,880 --> 00:01:50,720 I am more in laborers, more abundant. 37 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,880 Now what Paul is saying here and he's getting ready to talk about 38 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:54,040 some of these things that he suffered. 39 00:01:54,040 --> 00:01:57,560 But what he's saying here is if you want to talk about if these 40 00:01:57,560 --> 00:01:59,880 are the things that that make you a Christian, if these are 41 00:01:59,880 --> 00:02:02,120 the things that make you a good Christian, then I'm better than 42 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:03,960 anybody else. And he's saying I'm, I'm 43 00:02:03,960 --> 00:02:06,360 speaking foolishly here. This is just looking at it 44 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,240 strictly from a from a human perspective, not a spiritual 45 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:11,080 perspective. But he said, are you a Hebrew? 46 00:02:11,080 --> 00:02:13,000 I'm a Hebrew too. Are you a Pharisee? 47 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:16,160 I'm a Pharisee of the Pharisees. Have you suffered? 48 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:17,840 I've suffered more than anybody else. 49 00:02:17,840 --> 00:02:20,680 And if, if that if that's what makes you a a good Christian, 50 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:23,320 then I'm better than any of you are at those things. 51 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:25,800 Then he goes to lists and again, he's not bragging. 52 00:02:25,800 --> 00:02:28,480 He's saying if if we want to speak about it in that way, I'm 53 00:02:28,480 --> 00:02:30,760 speaking foolishly, but I'm all of these things too. 54 00:02:31,160 --> 00:02:34,880 I'm more, he says, in laborers, verse 23 more abundant in 55 00:02:34,880 --> 00:02:39,000 stripes above measure, in prisons, more frequent in deaths 56 00:02:39,120 --> 00:02:43,160 OFT of the Jews. Five times received I-40 57 00:02:43,160 --> 00:02:47,120 stripes, save 139 stripes five times. 58 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,040 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned. 59 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,680 Thrice I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day. 60 00:02:52,680 --> 00:02:56,080 I have been in the deep in journeyings, often in perils of 61 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,680 water waters, and perils of robbers, and perils by my own 62 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:02,920 countrymen, and perils by the heathen, and perils in the city, 63 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,280 and perils in the wilderness, and perils in the sea. 64 00:03:05,480 --> 00:03:09,360 In perils among false brethren. In weariness and painfulness, in 65 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:14,520 watchings, often in hunger and thirst, in fastings, often in 66 00:03:14,520 --> 00:03:17,960 cold and nakedness. Besides those things that are 67 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:20,320 without. That which cometh upon me daily, 68 00:03:20,320 --> 00:03:23,400 the care of all the churches. Who is weak and I am not weak? 69 00:03:23,520 --> 00:03:28,320 Who is offended and I burn not? If I must need glory, I will 70 00:03:28,320 --> 00:03:31,600 glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. 71 00:03:31,880 --> 00:03:34,680 They saying If I need something in myself the glory of, I'll 72 00:03:34,680 --> 00:03:37,200 glory in those things. But obviously His glorying was 73 00:03:37,200 --> 00:03:38,840 not in that. He said very plainly that as 74 00:03:38,840 --> 00:03:42,760 glorying was in Jesus Christ. But I, I want to just, I, I, I 75 00:03:42,760 --> 00:03:45,600 only read that this morning as a, as a way to introduce to you 76 00:03:45,600 --> 00:03:47,440 what I want to talk to you about, what I want to preach to 77 00:03:47,440 --> 00:03:48,800 you about for a little bit this morning. 78 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:50,960 I've got 4 verses. I just want you to listen to 79 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,280 these and. See if you can pick out a common 80 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,200 word in all of these verses. All right, Philippians chapter. 81 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:01,800 Four and verse. 11 The Bible says this, not that I speak in 82 00:04:01,800 --> 00:04:05,360 respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever state I am 83 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,480 there with to be content. First Timothy chapter 6 and 84 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:11,280 verse 8, and having food and raiment, let us be there with 85 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:13,840 content. Hebrews chapter 13 and verse 5. 86 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:17,040 Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content 87 00:04:17,040 --> 00:04:19,839 with such things as you have. For he has said, I will never 88 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,360 leave thee, nor forsake thee. Luke chapter 3 and verse 14 And 89 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,040 the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying, and what shall we 90 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:27,560 do? And he said unto them, do 91 00:04:27,560 --> 00:04:30,440 violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely and be 92 00:04:30,440 --> 00:04:34,360 content with your wages. You notice one word that was in 93 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,560 all of those What is it? It's the word content, right? 94 00:04:37,760 --> 00:04:39,960 The word content. And we see that word fairly 95 00:04:39,960 --> 00:04:42,440 often in Scripture. But content means to avail, to 96 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:47,560 be contented or to be enough. And in, in every sermon, I think 97 00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:50,280 there's maybe keywords that usually a person can determine 98 00:04:50,280 --> 00:04:53,400 what type of message this is. And I think that's pretty easy 99 00:04:53,400 --> 00:04:55,800 for you to do that this morning. And I'm not going to ask you to 100 00:04:55,800 --> 00:04:57,680 do this, but I want you to. I want you to. 101 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,600 Do it in your. Mind, at least, if I were to ask 102 00:05:00,600 --> 00:05:03,840 you to take out a piece of paper and write down the one thing, 103 00:05:04,600 --> 00:05:08,240 the answer to this question, What would it take to make you 104 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,160 happy? What would it take to make you 105 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,640 happy? What would you write on that 106 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,200 page? I know that you maybe would say, 107 00:05:16,200 --> 00:05:19,320 you know that, that you know, I want to go to heaven when I die. 108 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,000 I'm not talking about spiritual things necessarily. 109 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:24,400 We're talking about a strictly physical thing today. 110 00:05:24,400 --> 00:05:27,320 I want to do more for Christ. I hope that those are all things 111 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:28,640 that you would write down on that list. 112 00:05:28,800 --> 00:05:30,920 But what I'm talking about is from a physical standpoint when 113 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:34,760 he talks about being content, what would it take to make you 114 00:05:34,760 --> 00:05:38,080 happy? What do you need to make you 115 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:39,800 happy? That's. 116 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:43,000 I'm talking about the the the present, the physical. 117 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,480 Are you happy with your present? Lot in life now, I suppose there 118 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:48,920 is. There's something in us that 119 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:51,640 that has a drive that makes us want to go and do more and be 120 00:05:51,640 --> 00:05:53,120 better. But but are you? 121 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:56,480 Happy. Are you content? 122 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:00,840 Are you satisfied with your lot in life? 123 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:04,720 Well, I wish I had more money, or I wish I had more this, or I 124 00:06:04,720 --> 00:06:07,280 wish I had that, or I wish this, I wish that. 125 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,200 If not, then what will it take for you to be satisfied? 126 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:13,480 When I look. At people in general today, I 127 00:06:13,480 --> 00:06:16,720 see a Society of people who are, who are not happy, they're not 128 00:06:16,720 --> 00:06:20,800 content, they're not satisfied. And these 4 verses that we read 129 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:24,080 this morning and, and looking into some of them, we, we can 130 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,800 see some reasons why people are not happy just by looking at 131 00:06:26,800 --> 00:06:28,720 those things, The things that the Bible says here in those 132 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:30,360 four verses that we should be content with. 133 00:06:30,560 --> 00:06:33,520 Most people are not, most people are not content. 134 00:06:34,400 --> 00:06:37,720 All four of those verses speak on contentment and all four of 135 00:06:37,720 --> 00:06:40,720 them talk about being content with our situation as it 136 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:43,080 currently is. Let's look at it. 137 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:45,400 Let's go over to Luke chapter, chapter 3. 138 00:06:46,760 --> 00:06:49,600 I want you to examine your life today and then I want you to 139 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:51,880 conclude by the time we get to the end of the service this 140 00:06:51,880 --> 00:06:54,760 morning, I want to, I want you to conclude if you are satisfied 141 00:06:54,760 --> 00:06:58,240 or not. Would you say, could you say not 142 00:06:58,240 --> 00:07:00,920 everybody, if I were to ask you to raise your hand, are you 143 00:07:00,920 --> 00:07:02,640 satisfied? Everybody would raise their 144 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,880 hand, right? But truly are you satisfied? 145 00:07:06,280 --> 00:07:10,760 Are you content? Luke chapter 3 and verse 14, 146 00:07:11,600 --> 00:07:14,760 he's talking to the soldiers and they said what what should we 147 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:16,280 do? And he said do violence to no 148 00:07:16,280 --> 00:07:19,320 man, neither accuse any falsely. And he says this and be content 149 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:23,160 with your wages. You have some type of income. 150 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:28,080 Most of us have Social Security benefits. 151 00:07:28,080 --> 00:07:30,600 If you, if you're done working, if you're retired, but most of 152 00:07:30,600 --> 00:07:33,240 you have a regular salary, you get benefits. 153 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,200 You have all kinds of other things. 154 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:38,360 But even if you make minimum wage, are you content? 155 00:07:38,840 --> 00:07:40,480 No. Again, there is that side of 156 00:07:40,480 --> 00:07:43,840 things that says I need to go do something more with my life. 157 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:45,800 I mean, I need to make something more out of my life. 158 00:07:45,800 --> 00:07:48,200 And so you keep striving and you keep, you keep trying to move 159 00:07:48,200 --> 00:07:52,040 forward with those things. But is it because you are not 160 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:54,320 satisfied? You're not content with your 161 00:07:54,320 --> 00:07:57,680 life the way that it is if that's the job that God gave you 162 00:07:57,680 --> 00:07:59,760 and you know that that's the job that God wants you to have. 163 00:08:00,040 --> 00:08:01,840 Listen, there's some people that are going to be millionaires and 164 00:08:01,840 --> 00:08:03,600 there's some people that are going to be thousandaires, 165 00:08:04,680 --> 00:08:06,320 right? I fit in the thousandaire 166 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:08,520 category. But are you satisfied with that? 167 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,000 Are you content with that? If if that's what God wants for 168 00:08:11,000 --> 00:08:15,000 you, are you content? How about let's look at first 169 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:16,560 Timothy chapter 6. Go over there. 170 00:08:19,560 --> 00:08:22,920 First Timothy chapter 6 verse #8. 171 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:28,720 Now obviously this is a tremendous passage on money and 172 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:33,480 not allowing the love of money to corrupt us. 173 00:08:33,480 --> 00:08:35,880 The Bible doesn't say that money is the root of all evil. 174 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:37,400 A lot of people like to quote it that way. 175 00:08:37,760 --> 00:08:39,280 Oh, money is the root of all evil. 176 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,600 No, the Bible says that the love of money is the root of all 177 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,440 evil. So I'm not a millionaire. 178 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:46,880 I'm only 1000 there. There's no way that I can be one 179 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:49,680 of those people who's a money grubber who just can't get 180 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:51,480 enough right? Because I'm only 1000. 181 00:08:51,480 --> 00:08:55,240 There not a millionaire. Well, no, it depends on whether 182 00:08:55,240 --> 00:08:58,520 you love money or not. Somebody who can be has somebody 183 00:08:58,520 --> 00:09:01,040 who's a millionaire can not have a love for that money and 184 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,400 somebody who's a thousandaire can love money more than 185 00:09:03,400 --> 00:09:06,760 anything else in their life. Doesn't matter how much you 186 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:09,360 have. It matters what you how you feel 187 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:10,920 and how you think about what you have. 188 00:09:11,320 --> 00:09:13,280 But the Bible says there in first Timothy chapter 6 and 189 00:09:13,280 --> 00:09:15,520 verse 8 and having food and raiment. 190 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:20,720 Let us be there with content. Be content with food and 191 00:09:20,720 --> 00:09:22,600 raiment. Let's take a poll this morning. 192 00:09:23,320 --> 00:09:24,920 Anyone here that doesn't have clothes on today? 193 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:29,240 Good. Anybody here that doesn't have 194 00:09:29,240 --> 00:09:33,840 any food in their house anywhere that you can eat, All right, 195 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,440 good, because we'll take care of it if you don't. 196 00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:40,080 But everybody's got food. Everybody has something to put 197 00:09:40,080 --> 00:09:42,680 on. What does First Timothy chapter 198 00:09:42,680 --> 00:09:46,280 6 and verse 8 say? And having food and raiment? 199 00:09:47,440 --> 00:09:51,760 Let us be there with content. Turn over to Philippians Chapter 200 00:09:51,760 --> 00:09:57,080 4. Philippians chapter 4. 201 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,680 Now I don't think I need to remind you, but maybe I do. 202 00:10:05,880 --> 00:10:10,040 We're pilgrims. This world is not my home. 203 00:10:10,040 --> 00:10:12,440 I'm just passing through. Isn't that what we sing all the 204 00:10:12,440 --> 00:10:14,160 time? I'm just passing through this 205 00:10:14,160 --> 00:10:15,760 world. But I want to settle down and I 206 00:10:15,760 --> 00:10:18,880 want to have a huge house and I want to have fancy cars and I 207 00:10:18,880 --> 00:10:21,480 want to have a great job that Nets me millions of dollars so 208 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,600 that I can retire and live in luxury and have everything that 209 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,480 I want. And if I want this, I can just 210 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:28,120 go buy it because I've got the money there. 211 00:10:28,120 --> 00:10:29,680 And I don't even want to have to think about it. 212 00:10:29,680 --> 00:10:32,680 I can just go live my life and enjoy everything in my life that 213 00:10:32,680 --> 00:10:34,400 I want. But I'm just a Pilgrim. 214 00:10:34,400 --> 00:10:37,360 I'm just passing through. No, so many people have put down 215 00:10:37,360 --> 00:10:40,040 roots because they're not content with what they have. 216 00:10:40,040 --> 00:10:41,840 They're not content with just food and raiment. 217 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:44,880 They're not content to just be a servant of Jesus Christ. 218 00:10:44,880 --> 00:10:47,520 They've got to be a Lord in his house. 219 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:49,760 Philippians chapter 4 and verse 11. 220 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,400 For I have learned Paul says in whatsoever state I am. 221 00:10:53,840 --> 00:10:57,560 There with to be content that word state has to do with your 222 00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:01,080 circumstances, your position, your occasion, your your 223 00:11:01,080 --> 00:11:02,920 locality. And you might say I'm I'm 224 00:11:02,920 --> 00:11:04,640 miserable, I'm lonely, I'm in. Debt. 225 00:11:04,640 --> 00:11:07,280 I'm sick, I'm depressed. What does this first say? 226 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:12,120 I've learned that in whatsoever state I am there with to be 227 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,040 content. That means if you if, if you 228 00:11:15,040 --> 00:11:18,920 live in Texas and you and you have all of the freedoms that 229 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:21,320 you have there be content. If you live in Florida and you 230 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:22,920 got the freedoms that you have, there be content. 231 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,000 If you live in Virginia and you're losing all your rights, 232 00:11:25,080 --> 00:11:27,200 be content. Right now it's. 233 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,560 Not talking about the state that you live in, it's talking about 234 00:11:29,560 --> 00:11:31,440 the condition that you live in, Right? 235 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:35,480 Let's go to Hebrews chapter 13. That was the fourth verse that 236 00:11:35,480 --> 00:11:43,240 we read Hebrews chapter 13 and verse #5 Let your conversation, 237 00:11:43,400 --> 00:11:46,280 that word conversation is your lifestyle. 238 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:51,480 Let your lifestyle be without covetousness and be content with 239 00:11:51,480 --> 00:11:54,320 such things as you have. For he hath said, I will never 240 00:11:54,320 --> 00:11:57,480 leave you nor forsake you. Be content with what you have. 241 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:03,000 How many of you have something that you can call yours right? 242 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:07,280 You don't live in a in a tent somewhere with just a enough 243 00:12:07,280 --> 00:12:09,800 food to eat today and a little sleeping bag and a pill you 244 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,160 have. You have plenty of stuff. 245 00:12:11,160 --> 00:12:12,680 And. When we actually start going 246 00:12:12,680 --> 00:12:15,600 through everything, we find out that most of us have way more 247 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,800 than enough. We have way more than what we 248 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,360 actually need. We don't have any wants. 249 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:23,360 We just have needs, right? I mean, sorry, we don't. 250 00:12:23,360 --> 00:12:25,960 We don't have any needs. We just have wants, right? 251 00:12:26,200 --> 00:12:29,760 We have everything we need. We just want stuff, right? 252 00:12:29,920 --> 00:12:32,320 And many times it's because we're not content with such 253 00:12:32,320 --> 00:12:35,520 things as we have. And you say, well, I don't have 254 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:39,240 much, but you do have something. You remember our text in Second 255 00:12:39,240 --> 00:12:42,320 Corinthians Chapter 11. How many of you have experienced 256 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:45,800 what Paul is talking about? Maybe, maybe some difficulty 257 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:48,600 here or some difficulty there, but none of us have been through 258 00:12:48,600 --> 00:12:51,440 everything that Paul describes that he went through. 259 00:12:51,720 --> 00:12:55,400 Probably Paul said, I've learned in whatsoever state I am there 260 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,600 with to be content. Paul is the one that wrote those 261 00:12:57,600 --> 00:12:59,840 words. And you think about the fact 262 00:12:59,840 --> 00:13:02,760 that Paul, are you, are you talking about being content with 263 00:13:02,840 --> 00:13:05,360 Second Corinthians Chapter 11, all of those things that you 264 00:13:05,360 --> 00:13:07,560 went through? Yes, he's talking about even 265 00:13:07,560 --> 00:13:09,520 those times. Be content with such. 266 00:13:09,520 --> 00:13:14,520 Things as you have. He's been beaten 195 times and 267 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:18,160 yet he says I'm happy. I'm content stoned. 268 00:13:18,240 --> 00:13:19,920 How is it Paul? I'm happy. 269 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:25,440 If something has to take place in your life to finalize your 270 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:27,360 happiness, then you will never be happy. 271 00:13:28,760 --> 00:13:31,440 Happiness is always going to elude you. 272 00:13:31,440 --> 00:13:33,360 You will never be satisfied, Paul says. 273 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:37,400 For I have learned in whatsoever state I am there with to be 274 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,320 content. If you need more money to be 275 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,520 happy than when you have that money, you're going to need 276 00:13:41,520 --> 00:13:43,680 more. Doesn't matter who it is, Most 277 00:13:43,680 --> 00:13:46,760 people are seeking more. I doubt if anybody would ever 278 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:48,680 tell you I don't need any more money. 279 00:13:49,160 --> 00:13:50,840 Very few people. Are in that category. 280 00:13:50,840 --> 00:13:53,400 Most people say you know one of the richest men in the world 281 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,280 they asked him one time how much how much money is enough. 282 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:57,800 You're a millionaire, you're a billionaire. 283 00:13:57,800 --> 00:14:00,600 How much money is enough? You know what he said just one 284 00:14:00,600 --> 00:14:03,840 more dollar. That's what that's the mindset 285 00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:06,080 that most people have just just one more dollar. 286 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,240 I'll be happy when I have just one more dollar. 287 00:14:09,680 --> 00:14:12,000 I don't know a lot of these guys, but I've heard these names 288 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:13,080 before. Jason Tatum. 289 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:16,800 If you follow NBA basketball, then you probably recognize his 290 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:17,520 name. I don't. 291 00:14:17,520 --> 00:14:24,160 But he signed this year A5 year, $314 million contract to play 292 00:14:24,160 --> 00:14:28,120 basketball, made him the highest player, highest paid player in 293 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:29,600 the NBA. That doesn't include any of his 294 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,120 endorsements. All the commercials that they 295 00:14:31,120 --> 00:14:35,120 do, it doesn't include any of the products that he sells or 296 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:36,560 any of the investments that he makes. 297 00:14:36,560 --> 00:14:39,120 That's just playing basketball. So I did some math. 298 00:14:39,120 --> 00:14:41,720 I, I, I thought, you know what? Let me, let me, let me figure 299 00:14:41,720 --> 00:14:43,200 out how much money that really is. 300 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:46,040 Because you say $314 million, it sounds like a lot of money. 301 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:49,840 But to think about how much money that actually is, think 302 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:52,280 about this. If he played every minute of 303 00:14:52,280 --> 00:14:55,960 every game over the next five years in the NBA, there's 82 304 00:14:55,960 --> 00:15:00,120 games in an NBA basketball season, 48 minutes in a 305 00:15:00,120 --> 00:15:05,840 basketball game. That means that he makes $265.92 306 00:15:05,920 --> 00:15:10,240 every second. Multiply that out, he makes 307 00:15:10,240 --> 00:15:16,880 $15,955 every minute on the basketball court, which means 308 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:26,280 then in a single game he makes $767,760 per game to play a 48 309 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,840 minute game of basketball. He could pay off my entire 310 00:15:29,840 --> 00:15:35,960 mortgage by playing 10 1/2 minutes of one game in just over 311 00:15:35,960 --> 00:15:39,120 2 games. The average American makes $1.7 312 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:43,080 million in their lifetime. He makes that in just over 2 313 00:15:43,080 --> 00:15:47,800 games playing basketball. If you work the job making 314 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:52,360 minimum wage, which in Virginia right now is $12.41 an hour and 315 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:57,840 you work 40 hours a week, it would take you 29.7 years to 316 00:15:57,840 --> 00:16:01,960 make what he makes in one basketball game 48 minutes. 317 00:16:02,400 --> 00:16:06,000 It would take you 30 years to make what he makes in one game 318 00:16:06,640 --> 00:16:12,960 making minimum wage. Get this, if he spent $20,000 a 319 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:20,360 day, if he spent $20,000 a day, it would take him 15,700 days. 320 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:24,440 That's 43 years to spend all that money. 321 00:16:25,000 --> 00:16:29,720 If he spent $20,000 a day, that's that's with him making 322 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:33,360 $314 million / 5 years. Now get this Floyd Mayweather, 323 00:16:33,760 --> 00:16:36,560 he's a boxer. He fought what they called the 324 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:39,520 fight of the century a few years ago against Conor McGregor. 325 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:45,160 He made $300 million on one fight, and he's done that twice. 326 00:16:47,400 --> 00:16:50,680 Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Chiefs, signed a $450 327 00:16:50,680 --> 00:16:54,840 million, ten year contract. Shohei Otani, the Dodgers 328 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:58,760 baseball player, signed a 10 year, $700 million contract. 329 00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:02,760 And the list goes on. But I imagine that all of these 330 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,839 men, when their contracts are up, they're going to want more 331 00:17:05,920 --> 00:17:08,240 because that's the way the mind works, that's the way we work. 332 00:17:08,359 --> 00:17:12,640 I $314 million / 5 years. Well, all right, I'll, I'll make 333 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,599 that for that. But I bet I, I'm going to expect 334 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,680 some more after I'm done playing that five years, right? 335 00:17:17,680 --> 00:17:19,599 That's the way that we are. If you need, if you need an 336 00:17:19,599 --> 00:17:22,079 emotional breakthrough, you're you're going to still be unhappy 337 00:17:22,079 --> 00:17:25,160 when certain things happen. If you're seeking to upgrade 338 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:28,319 your lifestyle, contentment is never going to come to you. 339 00:17:28,480 --> 00:17:31,360 If you're not happy in your misery, then you cannot attain 340 00:17:31,560 --> 00:17:33,800 contentment. We have too many wants. 341 00:17:33,800 --> 00:17:36,080 It's easy. It's too easy to acquire debt. 342 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:39,160 I looked into some of this as of this month, 2025, the average 343 00:17:39,160 --> 00:17:41,840 American household debt, which is the revolving debt, it 344 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:44,280 doesn't count your mortgage. It's much, much higher if you 345 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:46,600 put the mortgage in there. But the average American has a 346 00:17:46,600 --> 00:17:51,760 debt of $10,037. The average American, 10,037 347 00:17:51,760 --> 00:17:53,760 dollars. Total revolving debt in the 348 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:57,560 United States is $1.4 trillion. That's how much people owe 349 00:17:57,560 --> 00:18:01,000 today, not counting their mortgage, not counting their car 350 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:03,440 payments, not counting any of the things like the big ticket 351 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:05,080 items. That's how much people have on 352 00:18:05,080 --> 00:18:09,400 credit cards today in the US, $1.4 trillion. 353 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:13,320 Total consumer debt in America, if you count all the mortgages 354 00:18:13,320 --> 00:18:18,600 and the cars and everything else, $18.59 trillion is how 355 00:18:18,600 --> 00:18:21,760 much Americans owe for the things that they have. 356 00:18:22,040 --> 00:18:24,760 Lots of other statistics that we can add here, but Americans are 357 00:18:24,760 --> 00:18:26,640 deep in debt. Why is that? 358 00:18:26,640 --> 00:18:28,800 It's because we can never have enough. 359 00:18:29,560 --> 00:18:33,040 We can't get enough. We cannot be content and it 360 00:18:33,040 --> 00:18:36,360 amounts to the fact that we just think that God cannot supply 361 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,120 your needs. So this morning I want to give 362 00:18:40,120 --> 00:18:43,840 you 2 quick points about satisfaction as it relates to 363 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:46,560 this idea of contentment. The title of the message this 364 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,320 morning is Satisfaction Guaranteed. 365 00:18:49,880 --> 00:18:52,560 Satisfaction guaranteed because I want to show you this morning 366 00:18:53,400 --> 00:18:56,320 the only place that you can find true happiness. 367 00:18:56,320 --> 00:18:58,960 And I think most of us know the answer to that question already. 368 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:01,440 But we're going to take a few minutes and look at a few more 369 00:19:01,440 --> 00:19:04,160 verses and give some things that'll hopefully be a help to 370 00:19:04,160 --> 00:19:05,040 us this morning. Let's pray. 371 00:19:05,040 --> 00:19:07,120 Father, again, we thank you so much for your goodness to us. 372 00:19:07,120 --> 00:19:09,440 Thank you for the opportunity that we have to be here this 373 00:19:09,440 --> 00:19:11,320 morning, but that it would be a help to us. 374 00:19:11,320 --> 00:19:13,800 God, may this be an encouragement to us more than 375 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:15,200 anything. But God, I pray that you'd help 376 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:16,760 us to be content. I pray that you'd help us to be 377 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:19,000 satisfied with what you've given us. 378 00:19:19,840 --> 00:19:21,880 Pray that a message would speak to our hearts. 379 00:19:21,880 --> 00:19:24,120 And again, we thank you for all that you do for us in Jesus 380 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:27,400 name, Amen. Turn over Proverbs chapter 30. 381 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:29,720 I don't these are not fancy points by any stretch this 382 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,080 morning, just two of them and they're not even alliterated, 383 00:19:32,080 --> 00:19:34,840 believe it or not. But the first point that I want 384 00:19:34,840 --> 00:19:38,080 you to understand is this satisfaction does not come from 385 00:19:38,080 --> 00:19:41,280 feeding the physical. Satisfaction does not come from 386 00:19:41,280 --> 00:19:43,880 feeding the physical. The flesh cannot be satisfied. 387 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:46,800 How many of you have ever eaten until you were satisfied? 388 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,040 Every hand should go up. You've all eaten till you're 389 00:19:50,040 --> 00:19:51,640 satisfied. You've eaten till you're more 390 00:19:51,640 --> 00:19:54,400 than satisfied, right? We've all been there before. 391 00:19:54,840 --> 00:19:57,440 I think, you know, it's getting ready to happen here soon. 392 00:19:57,440 --> 00:20:00,160 Thanksgivings coming up. And we always eat way more than 393 00:20:00,160 --> 00:20:01,560 enough. And you get up from the table 394 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:04,240 and you say, man, I'm never eaten again. 395 00:20:04,560 --> 00:20:06,520 I don't think I can fit another thing in here. 396 00:20:06,520 --> 00:20:08,160 And guess what happens a couple hours later? 397 00:20:08,520 --> 00:20:10,640 You're back in the kitchen pulling out the leftovers and 398 00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,720 eating the Turkey and the desserts, and you're snacking 399 00:20:12,720 --> 00:20:15,720 and you're doing all this stuff because we're never satisfied, 400 00:20:15,720 --> 00:20:17,320 right? It's the way it goes for most of 401 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:19,200 us. It doesn't matter what you give 402 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,320 the flesh, it is still going to want. 403 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,800 More. Proverbs chapter 30 makes it 404 00:20:23,800 --> 00:20:26,200 very clear. Verse #15 There are three things 405 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:30,360 that are never satisfied. Yeah, for things say not it is 406 00:20:30,360 --> 00:20:33,680 enough. There are we, we will never be 407 00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:36,640 satisfied. The flesh is this ever absorbing 408 00:20:36,640 --> 00:20:38,880 sponge that never reaches saturation. 409 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,840 And that's why when you give into the flesh, you'll be giving 410 00:20:41,840 --> 00:20:43,600 it over and over and over and over. 411 00:20:43,720 --> 00:20:45,520 That's how addictions. Work. 412 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:49,520 When it comes to drugs or alcohol or pornography or money, 413 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:52,560 you name it, people become addicted because the flesh is 414 00:20:52,560 --> 00:20:55,240 never satisfied. They're always seeking a bigger 415 00:20:55,240 --> 00:20:56,640 high. They're always seeking more 416 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:57,880 money. They're they're always looking 417 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,720 for more gratification and the flesh never. 418 00:21:00,720 --> 00:21:05,760 Has enough, but our satisfaction is not found in fleshly things 419 00:21:05,760 --> 00:21:08,880 turn over to Matthew chapter 6. This is where so many people get 420 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:11,000 it wrong. That's why they're they're ever 421 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:14,040 seeking, the Bible says, and never able to come to the 422 00:21:14,040 --> 00:21:17,160 knowledge of the truth. They're looking for answers in 423 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,200 the wrong places. They're seeking fulfillment in 424 00:21:19,200 --> 00:21:21,120 the flesh. They're seeking fulfillment in 425 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:23,880 earthly things, and they will never find it there. 426 00:21:23,880 --> 00:21:27,160 Matthew chapter 6 and verse 25. The Bible says this. 427 00:21:27,360 --> 00:21:30,280 Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life what 428 00:21:30,280 --> 00:21:34,240 you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor yet for your body 429 00:21:34,240 --> 00:21:38,160 what you shall put on. Is not the life more than meat 430 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,720 and the body more than raiment? Isn't there more to life than 431 00:21:41,720 --> 00:21:43,640 just eating and putting on clothes? 432 00:21:44,320 --> 00:21:49,760 Verse 30 Wherefore if God so clothed the grass of the field, 433 00:21:49,760 --> 00:21:53,600 which today is and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not 434 00:21:53,600 --> 00:21:56,960 much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? 435 00:21:58,000 --> 00:22:01,720 Oh, when we, when we put all the emphasis on the physical and we 436 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:04,600 put all the emphasis on the flesh and all the emphasis on 437 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:06,840 what we're going to eat and what we're going to drink and what 438 00:22:06,840 --> 00:22:09,080 we're going to wear and what we're going to have, all of 439 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:11,600 those things. God says, I take care of the 440 00:22:11,600 --> 00:22:16,000 grass. It, it grows up and it dies And, 441 00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:17,480 and I still take care of the grass. 442 00:22:17,480 --> 00:22:19,480 It's, it's here today and it's gone tomorrow. 443 00:22:19,600 --> 00:22:21,560 Don't you think I can take care of you? 444 00:22:22,160 --> 00:22:26,920 O ye of little faith, don't allow the cravings of the flesh 445 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:30,080 to control your life. And so we say that satisfaction 446 00:22:30,080 --> 00:22:31,600 does not come from feeding the physical. 447 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,760 But I also want you to see this. Turn over to Psalm 37. 448 00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:41,000 You can only be satisfied when you allow God to take over your 449 00:22:41,000 --> 00:22:44,040 desires. Told you these were not fancy 450 00:22:44,040 --> 00:22:47,600 points this morning. You'll never be satisfied with 451 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:50,640 just the physical. Satisfaction does not come from 452 00:22:50,640 --> 00:22:53,080 feeding the physical, but you can only be satisfied when you 453 00:22:53,080 --> 00:22:55,320 allow God to take over your desire. 454 00:22:55,320 --> 00:22:58,080 Psalm 37 and verse #4 The Bible says this. 455 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:03,120 Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the 456 00:23:03,120 --> 00:23:07,920 desires of thine heart. I don't I've said this many 457 00:23:07,920 --> 00:23:09,240 times. I don't think that means that 458 00:23:09,240 --> 00:23:11,520 God's going to give you everything your heart desires. 459 00:23:11,880 --> 00:23:15,160 I think that means God's going to change the desires of your 460 00:23:15,160 --> 00:23:18,080 heart to be what He wants your desires to be. 461 00:23:18,680 --> 00:23:22,360 You get your will in line with God's will. 462 00:23:22,360 --> 00:23:24,840 And all the things that you think you want right now, all 463 00:23:24,840 --> 00:23:26,400 the sudden you don't need anymore. 464 00:23:27,480 --> 00:23:30,920 Where before I was so focused on making money and building a 465 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,440 business and and having everything that's going to 466 00:23:33,440 --> 00:23:35,080 satisfy me for the rest of my life. 467 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,120 Now my will is in line with God's will and those things 468 00:23:38,120 --> 00:23:41,800 don't bring me satisfaction anymore because God changed my 469 00:23:41,800 --> 00:23:43,800 desires. I don't need that anymore. 470 00:23:43,920 --> 00:23:46,920 Where it used to be drugs or alcohol or pornography or 471 00:23:46,920 --> 00:23:50,280 whatever it happens to be when I brought my will under God's 472 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:53,600 will, I don't need those things for satisfaction anymore. 473 00:23:53,920 --> 00:23:57,680 All they can do is satisfy the flesh for a short time, but I 474 00:23:57,680 --> 00:23:59,640 don't need those to truly be satisfied. 475 00:23:59,640 --> 00:24:03,960 My will is now under God's will and God has changed my desires. 476 00:24:04,960 --> 00:24:07,520 I think every problem, every difficulty in the home, every 477 00:24:07,520 --> 00:24:10,520 little disagreement in marriages would be resolved if every 478 00:24:10,520 --> 00:24:12,160 person would just do what I'm saying. 479 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:16,000 A man who is not submitted to God cannot be satisfied. 480 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,480 Most men think that happiness will come from the next 481 00:24:19,480 --> 00:24:21,440 promotion. They think it'll come with the 482 00:24:21,440 --> 00:24:25,640 next tool or the next machine for the garage or the next, you 483 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,280 know, big, whatever it happens to be the night, the next new 484 00:24:28,280 --> 00:24:31,560 car that comes out of the, the, the, the next house that I get 485 00:24:31,560 --> 00:24:33,800 that's a little bigger than the last one that I have. 486 00:24:34,720 --> 00:24:36,800 Most men think that they'll be totally fulfilled when they're 487 00:24:36,800 --> 00:24:40,720 recognized as being successful. But you cannot be happy until 488 00:24:40,720 --> 00:24:44,080 you are happy with what God has already given you. 489 00:24:44,080 --> 00:24:47,400 Psalm 23 is a popular, or I shouldn't say popular. 490 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,160 I should say a well known verse to all of us. 491 00:24:49,160 --> 00:24:53,720 The Lord is my shepherd. Verse #1 I shall not want. 492 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,640 I don't want when I put Him in the place that he belongs in, 493 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,240 he's going to take care of me. He's going to satisfy the the 494 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,880 deepest longings of my heart. But when he is my shepherd, I 495 00:25:04,880 --> 00:25:06,640 don't need anything. David's saying I'm not 496 00:25:06,640 --> 00:25:09,880 satisfied. I am satisfied in in that the 497 00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:11,720 Lord is my Shepherd, nothing else. 498 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:16,120 Is needed for that contentment. One more paycheck, one more 499 00:25:16,240 --> 00:25:19,040 piece of furniture, one more emotional high is not going to 500 00:25:19,040 --> 00:25:23,360 bring satisfaction Tomorrow. Those unfulfilled cravings are 501 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:25,560 going to be back. The same way that you could go 502 00:25:25,560 --> 00:25:29,560 out and spend $150 on a meal and you're going to be hungry again 503 00:25:29,560 --> 00:25:32,600 tomorrow because the flesh is never satisfied. 504 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:35,760 The same dissatisfaction that followed you, followed you to 505 00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:38,080 bed, is going to be traveling with you all the next day, and 506 00:25:38,080 --> 00:25:39,440 the next, and the next and the next. 507 00:25:39,960 --> 00:25:42,200 You can get no closer to satisfaction than you are right 508 00:25:42,200 --> 00:25:44,600 now without Christ being in control. 509 00:25:45,360 --> 00:25:48,240 So how do you find that satisfaction that comes through 510 00:25:48,240 --> 00:25:50,160 Jesus Christ? Let me give you 4 quick things 511 00:25:50,160 --> 00:25:52,560 this morning and we'll be done. Turn over to John chapter 1. 512 00:25:55,080 --> 00:25:57,080 Number one, you receive Christ as your Savior. 513 00:25:57,080 --> 00:25:59,040 That's how you find that satisfaction. 514 00:26:01,080 --> 00:26:05,320 You can look for happiness in all the places that the world 515 00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:07,560 tells you. You can find happiness, but 516 00:26:07,560 --> 00:26:10,400 you're never going to find happiness until you come to the 517 00:26:10,400 --> 00:26:13,040 cross. You can never be satisfied in 518 00:26:13,040 --> 00:26:16,520 God if he is not your father. John chapter 1 and verse #12 but 519 00:26:16,520 --> 00:26:21,280 as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons 520 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,440 of God, even to them that believe on his name. 521 00:26:24,720 --> 00:26:27,600 The devil is your father if you've not accepted Jesus Christ 522 00:26:27,600 --> 00:26:29,640 as your savior, and he'll lie to. 523 00:26:29,640 --> 00:26:32,960 You in any way that He has to in order to make you believe that 524 00:26:32,960 --> 00:26:35,880 satisfaction will come through anything but Jesus Christ. 525 00:26:36,600 --> 00:26:39,680 He's the one who tells you that you can accept Christ, just do 526 00:26:39,680 --> 00:26:41,760 it later. There will be time. 527 00:26:41,920 --> 00:26:44,080 I understand. You need that fulfillment. 528 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,960 You need that satisfaction. Every one of us has a craving 529 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,840 for God, if you will. But, and you can do that, you 530 00:26:50,840 --> 00:26:52,880 can, you can accept Christ as your Savior. 531 00:26:52,880 --> 00:26:55,680 Just do it later. Go, go do the things that you 532 00:26:55,680 --> 00:26:59,640 want to do with your life first. Go, go fulfill all the desires 533 00:26:59,640 --> 00:27:01,400 you have. There'll be time to accept 534 00:27:01,400 --> 00:27:03,600 Christ. There may not. 535 00:27:04,440 --> 00:27:07,040 But he's the liar that tells you you can find that satisfaction 536 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:09,920 in the next pill, that you can find that satisfaction in the 537 00:27:09,920 --> 00:27:12,160 next drink, in the next mouse click. 538 00:27:12,160 --> 00:27:15,000 But he knows that it's not going to bring satisfaction. 539 00:27:15,120 --> 00:27:18,440 He knows that hell is his final destination and he's trying to 540 00:27:18,440 --> 00:27:20,320 take. As many people there with him as 541 00:27:20,320 --> 00:27:23,640 he possibly can. And the Bible is made. 542 00:27:23,800 --> 00:27:26,560 God has made the way, and the Bible has made it clear that the 543 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:30,000 way to heaven is very simple. Romans chapter 3 and verse 23 544 00:27:30,000 --> 00:27:32,160 For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 545 00:27:32,760 --> 00:27:36,480 Romans 623 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is 546 00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:38,520 eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. 547 00:27:39,160 --> 00:27:42,280 Romans 10 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord 548 00:27:42,360 --> 00:27:45,280 Jesus, and shall believe in thine heart, that God has raised 549 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:47,360 him from the dead, thou shalt be safe. 550 00:27:47,360 --> 00:27:50,120 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with a 551 00:27:50,120 --> 00:27:52,320 mouth confession is made unto salvation. 552 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,600 Verse 13 For whosoever, whosoever. 553 00:27:55,800 --> 00:27:58,480 Ain't that a wonderful word? It doesn't. 554 00:27:58,560 --> 00:28:01,240 It's not the whosoever that the Bible is talking about. 555 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:05,160 Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 556 00:28:05,680 --> 00:28:09,360 That whosoever is everybody. It doesn't say whosoever accept 557 00:28:09,360 --> 00:28:11,840 the murderer, or whosoever accept the person that lived a 558 00:28:11,840 --> 00:28:15,120 wicked lifestyle, or whosoever accept the person that that 559 00:28:15,120 --> 00:28:17,160 that, that that hasn't been faithful to church. 560 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:19,800 Whosoever accept the person that doesn't give to church, or 561 00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:21,720 whosoever accept this or accept that. 562 00:28:21,720 --> 00:28:24,040 There is no exception to whosoever. 563 00:28:24,280 --> 00:28:27,840 Whosoever includes everybody, we can all come to Jesus Christ 564 00:28:27,840 --> 00:28:28,600 for. Salvation. 565 00:28:29,200 --> 00:28:30,560 And that's the. Only way that you're going to 566 00:28:30,560 --> 00:28:33,200 find true satisfaction, I'm going to give you a couple other 567 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:35,560 ways, but those other ways are not going to matter one bit. 568 00:28:35,560 --> 00:28:39,040 If you have not received Jesus Christ as your Savior, True 569 00:28:39,040 --> 00:28:42,760 satisfaction is only found in Him and through him. 570 00:28:43,680 --> 00:28:46,120 But the second way that you can find satisfaction, true 571 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:49,920 satisfaction, is to rejoice in your salvation. 572 00:28:49,920 --> 00:28:53,920 Turn over to Luke chapter 10. Oh, we have a lot of verses that 573 00:28:53,920 --> 00:28:56,280 tell us to rejoice. Philippians chapter 4 and verse 574 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,760 4. Rejoice in the Lord Alway and 575 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:02,360 again I say, rejoice First Thessalonians chapter 5 and 576 00:29:02,360 --> 00:29:05,080 verse 16. Rejoice evermore. 577 00:29:05,720 --> 00:29:09,480 Simple verse, great truth, rejoice evermore. 578 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,840 But rejoice in your salvation. Luke chapter 10 and verse #20 579 00:29:14,240 --> 00:29:17,520 Notwithstanding in this, rejoice not that the spirits are subject 580 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,960 unto you, but rather rejoice because your names are written 581 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:27,080 in heaven. This is the same man. 582 00:29:28,240 --> 00:29:31,280 First Thessalonians chapter 4-5, rejoice evermore. 583 00:29:31,400 --> 00:29:33,520 Philippians chapter 4. Rejoice in the Lord alway. 584 00:29:33,520 --> 00:29:35,800 And again I say, rejoice. This is the same man that wrote 585 00:29:35,800 --> 00:29:39,240 First Corinthians Chapter 11. All those things that he went 586 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:42,320 through, all he can say is rejoice, rejoice. 587 00:29:42,320 --> 00:29:44,600 It does not matter. Your circumstances don't 588 00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:46,800 determine whether you're going to be happy or not. 589 00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,600 Your circumstances don't determine your level of 590 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,720 contentment. Your circumstances don't, don't, 591 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,120 don't give you your satisfaction. 592 00:29:55,320 --> 00:29:58,840 Your satisfaction is found first of all in Jesus Christ, but is 593 00:29:58,840 --> 00:30:02,680 found in the rejoicing in him. First Peter chapter 4. 594 00:30:02,680 --> 00:30:04,720 In fact, turn over to first Peter chapter. 4. 595 00:30:06,760 --> 00:30:12,000 First Peter chapter 4, he tells us, and again, This is why I say 596 00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:13,920 that if you have not received Christ as your Savior, there's 597 00:30:13,920 --> 00:30:15,800 no way that you can rejoice in these other things. 598 00:30:15,800 --> 00:30:18,160 There's no way that you can have satisfaction in these other 599 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:19,960 things. You cannot rejoice if you have 600 00:30:19,960 --> 00:30:23,960 no salvation to rejoice in. He says don't rejoice in the 601 00:30:23,960 --> 00:30:25,560 fact that you can cast out devils. 602 00:30:25,560 --> 00:30:28,560 Don't rejoice in the fact that the spirits are subject unto 603 00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:29,880 you. Rejoice in the fact. 604 00:30:30,080 --> 00:30:31,800 That your name is written in heaven. 605 00:30:32,560 --> 00:30:34,560 Your name is written in the Lamb's book of life if you've 606 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:36,280 accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior. 607 00:30:37,280 --> 00:30:39,200 But first Peter chapter 4 and verse 13. 608 00:30:39,200 --> 00:30:43,320 But rejoice in as much as you are partakers of. 609 00:30:43,320 --> 00:30:47,240 Christ's sufferings. That when his glory shall be 610 00:30:47,240 --> 00:30:50,920 revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 611 00:30:52,040 --> 00:30:54,000 Well, that's a hard thing to rejoice in. 612 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:56,360 Rejoice in the fact that that I'm. 613 00:30:56,400 --> 00:30:58,800 Suffering. If you're suffering for the 614 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,400 cause of Christ, that's a great thing to suffer for, because one 615 00:31:02,400 --> 00:31:05,880 day, one day you'll stand before God and you'll be rewarded for 616 00:31:05,880 --> 00:31:07,960 the sufferings that you went through for the cause of Jesus 617 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:09,560 Christ. Are you saved? 618 00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:11,960 And rejoice. Are you going to heaven? 619 00:31:12,080 --> 00:31:15,360 Be satisfied. Let me give you this number 3. 620 00:31:15,640 --> 00:31:17,440 How do you find that satisfaction? 621 00:31:17,440 --> 00:31:19,600 How can you guarantee that satisfaction? 622 00:31:19,800 --> 00:31:23,560 Receive Christ as your Savior. Rejoice in your salvation. 623 00:31:23,560 --> 00:31:27,040 But #3 I want you to think about this. 624 00:31:27,040 --> 00:31:31,080 Return to your first love. Turn it over to Ephesians 625 00:31:31,080 --> 00:31:36,360 chapter 5. Maybe you remember the days 626 00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:40,440 right after you got married. You'd call your new bride on the 627 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:45,120 phone every few hours at the at the longest, right? 628 00:31:45,760 --> 00:31:48,040 Call on the phone 3. You'd speed speed all the way 629 00:31:48,040 --> 00:31:50,560 home after work because you're so excited to get home. 630 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:52,440 Every minute of the evening was spent together. 631 00:31:52,440 --> 00:31:54,840 And if she went into another room, you got up and followed 632 00:31:54,840 --> 00:31:57,600 her into that room, right? Why is Matt laughing? 633 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:02,920 And that's the way you're you're excited because it's it's fresh, 634 00:32:02,920 --> 00:32:06,800 it's new, it's wonderful. Marriage is a wonderful thing 635 00:32:06,800 --> 00:32:08,760 and it and it should be that way all the time. 636 00:32:09,440 --> 00:32:12,040 Even after 20 years of marriage, it should be that way. 637 00:32:12,040 --> 00:32:13,920 Maybe not getting up and following her into every room, 638 00:32:13,920 --> 00:32:16,400 but but but wanting to be together. 639 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:18,760 There's nobody that I would rather be with in my wife. 640 00:32:18,760 --> 00:32:21,360 If I have an opportunity to go out with my wife or go out with 641 00:32:22,080 --> 00:32:24,680 Brian, I'm going to go out with my wife, right. 642 00:32:24,680 --> 00:32:28,120 But that's an easy choice. But, well, you ought to want to 643 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:31,040 spend that time together, but sometimes you have to do 644 00:32:31,040 --> 00:32:35,000 something to to get that spark back, right? 645 00:32:35,160 --> 00:32:38,480 Set aside everything that you're doing every single day and just 646 00:32:38,480 --> 00:32:41,120 go spend some time together. Get away from everything and go 647 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,240 spend some time together, right? It's important to do those 648 00:32:44,240 --> 00:32:46,360 things. But what is that doing that's 649 00:32:46,360 --> 00:32:49,520 returning to your first love? It's getting back to what you 650 00:32:49,520 --> 00:32:52,040 had in the very beginning. It's getting back to what you 651 00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:55,840 were when you really were in love with each other, and the 652 00:32:55,840 --> 00:32:58,560 same is true with the Lord. After you were saved, I think 653 00:32:58,560 --> 00:33:01,200 most of us felt like, like like we're walking on air. 654 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:02,920 What a wonderful thing. I'm saved. 655 00:33:02,920 --> 00:33:06,680 How can everybody not be shouting for joy that knows? 656 00:33:06,680 --> 00:33:10,600 Jesus Christ is their savior. Because it's wonderful thing. 657 00:33:10,600 --> 00:33:13,720 This is a, this is a brand new relationship that I have with 658 00:33:13,800 --> 00:33:17,080 with Jesus Christ. I was on my way to hell just a a 659 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:19,440 few weeks ago and now I'm on my way to heaven. 660 00:33:19,560 --> 00:33:21,440 How can you not be excited about that? 661 00:33:23,000 --> 00:33:25,720 Father, we get away from that day when it all happened. 662 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:29,080 Father, we get away from kneeling at the foot of the 663 00:33:29,080 --> 00:33:30,880 cross and having my sins forgiven. 664 00:33:30,880 --> 00:33:34,200 The farther you get away from the the wonderful feeling of of 665 00:33:34,200 --> 00:33:38,600 that burden of sin being lifted off your shoulders, and the more 666 00:33:38,600 --> 00:33:41,800 you get into the grind of daily life and the more you get into 667 00:33:41,800 --> 00:33:45,520 the grind of the Christian life, you get further and further away 668 00:33:45,520 --> 00:33:49,240 from that first love. From the, from the joy that you 669 00:33:49,240 --> 00:33:52,000 experienced when you found Christ. 670 00:33:53,360 --> 00:33:55,840 We as the church are the bride of Christ and we should be 671 00:33:55,840 --> 00:33:58,960 yearning for a real relationship with him. 672 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:03,160 Ephesians chapter 5 and verse #1 says be therefore followers of 673 00:34:03,160 --> 00:34:08,639 God as dear children. The only way that you can be a 674 00:34:08,639 --> 00:34:12,520 follower of God after you're saved is through Bible reading, 675 00:34:12,520 --> 00:34:15,840 through prayer, for through being a witness of the things 676 00:34:16,040 --> 00:34:18,040 that have happened to you. And if you don't stay active in 677 00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:19,920 those things, you're going to be empty and you're going to be 678 00:34:19,920 --> 00:34:22,760 dissatisfied. You may have perfect attendance 679 00:34:22,760 --> 00:34:25,280 in Sunday school. You may not miss a church 680 00:34:25,280 --> 00:34:28,239 service. You may give 20% of your tithe 681 00:34:28,239 --> 00:34:30,760 and in your offerings, and you can sing all the hymns. 682 00:34:30,760 --> 00:34:34,679 But if you do not have that intimate relationship with Jesus 683 00:34:34,679 --> 00:34:36,960 Christ, things are going to be hollow and they're going to be 684 00:34:36,960 --> 00:34:39,159 empty. And you're going to lose that 685 00:34:39,159 --> 00:34:41,400 first love. And it's not going to be 686 00:34:41,400 --> 00:34:43,280 exciting living for the Lord. And you're not going to be 687 00:34:43,280 --> 00:34:45,960 satisfied with your life and you're not going to be content 688 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,880 with the things that you have. There's been many times in my 689 00:34:49,880 --> 00:34:53,560 life, through busy schedules, through neglect, many times just 690 00:34:53,560 --> 00:34:56,000 through plain old laziness, that I've gone a few days without 691 00:34:56,000 --> 00:35:00,520 reading my Bible or praying or sharing the gospel. 692 00:35:00,760 --> 00:35:02,480 And I'll tell you, I was so miserable. 693 00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:06,600 My life was so empty. Something inside of me was 694 00:35:06,600 --> 00:35:09,680 missing. That inner man was crying out 695 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,520 for God and for fellowship with Him. 696 00:35:11,520 --> 00:35:14,120 And that's why the only way you're going to have that true 697 00:35:14,120 --> 00:35:17,520 satisfaction after, you know, Jesus Christ as your Savior is 698 00:35:17,520 --> 00:35:21,120 to get back to that first. Love, something's going to have 699 00:35:21,120 --> 00:35:26,560 to initiate that spark again. Many times it's something that 700 00:35:26,560 --> 00:35:29,640 you just have to make happen. You start moving away from God, 701 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:31,960 and I don't want to preach a different message this morning, 702 00:35:31,960 --> 00:35:33,960 but you start moving away from God. 703 00:35:34,760 --> 00:35:37,600 It's hard to get it back. You don't feel like reading your 704 00:35:37,600 --> 00:35:41,320 Bible, you don't feel like praying, you don't feel like 705 00:35:41,320 --> 00:35:43,560 witnessing, you don't feel like living for him. 706 00:35:44,160 --> 00:35:46,440 And the further you get away from it and the longer it goes 707 00:35:46,440 --> 00:35:49,040 without doing those things, the easier it is to say no to it the 708 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:51,520 next time when you realize I need to do that. 709 00:35:52,480 --> 00:35:54,760 So how do you get it back? How do you, how do you, how do 710 00:35:54,760 --> 00:35:56,920 you get that relationship back with God again? 711 00:35:57,080 --> 00:35:59,280 I'll tell you what, you just have to get in God's word. 712 00:36:00,040 --> 00:36:02,160 Just just pick up the Bible and start reading it. 713 00:36:02,320 --> 00:36:06,880 Just get on your knees and pray. Just just tell somebody about 714 00:36:06,960 --> 00:36:09,280 Jesus Christ. There's no other way to make 715 00:36:09,280 --> 00:36:11,000 that happen. There's no other way to get that 716 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,480 relationship back. There's no other way to get that 717 00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:15,320 spark back. You just have to do it. 718 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:19,360 And what you'll find out is you'll discover who He was at 719 00:36:19,360 --> 00:36:22,360 the beginning, and you'll get that first love back. 720 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:25,680 And it's a wonderful thing. You will be satisfied in Jesus 721 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:28,080 Christ. I told you this story not too 722 00:36:28,080 --> 00:36:31,320 long ago, I think, but I think it fits so perfectly here 723 00:36:31,320 --> 00:36:34,400 because it, it, it, it happens with all of us so many times. 724 00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:36,800 But about the man and his wife who were driving down the road 725 00:36:37,400 --> 00:36:39,880 and they were in that old, they were sitting in an old car and 726 00:36:39,880 --> 00:36:41,760 they had that, that long bench seat. 727 00:36:42,480 --> 00:36:45,640 And they, they, they, they were, they were driving down the road 728 00:36:45,640 --> 00:36:47,920 with the windows down and they were just looking out there at 729 00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,560 the country. And as they were, as they were 730 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:53,920 driving through and all the corn fields in the trees and all of 731 00:36:53,920 --> 00:36:55,840 those things, they were passing and the wife was just kind of 732 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:58,600 looking out the window. And she said, you know, I 733 00:36:58,600 --> 00:37:02,480 remember back in those days when we used to sit so close together 734 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:05,520 and you used to sit there with your arm around me. 735 00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:09,040 We would drive down the road and you would just kind of play with 736 00:37:09,040 --> 00:37:12,080 my hair and all of those other things that you used to do. 737 00:37:13,120 --> 00:37:15,600 She said, why, what happened? How come? 738 00:37:15,760 --> 00:37:17,360 How come you don't do that anymore? 739 00:37:20,360 --> 00:37:23,400 And that man looked over at his wife and he said, honey, I 740 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:28,080 haven't moved. And that's exactly the way that 741 00:37:28,080 --> 00:37:30,120 it is in our with our relationship with God. 742 00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:37,400 Oh God, we used to be so close. I used to have this relationship 743 00:37:37,400 --> 00:37:39,960 with you. And my salvation was exciting. 744 00:37:40,840 --> 00:37:42,400 And I used to love living for the Lord. 745 00:37:42,400 --> 00:37:43,880 And I used to love reading the Bible. 746 00:37:43,880 --> 00:37:46,320 And I used to not be able to wait to be able to get down on 747 00:37:46,320 --> 00:37:49,200 my knees and pray. And I used to love telling other 748 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:52,640 people about Jesus Christ after I got saved and I don't know 749 00:37:52,640 --> 00:37:55,040 what's happened. Something's changed. 750 00:37:55,040 --> 00:37:59,960 What is it that's changed? God looks at us and he says. 751 00:38:02,240 --> 00:38:06,800 How do you get that back? Just got to start sliding over. 752 00:38:07,960 --> 00:38:09,760 Just start. Sliding back over on the. 753 00:38:09,760 --> 00:38:14,200 Sea, you'll get that closeness again, you'll get that. 754 00:38:14,360 --> 00:38:16,880 You'll get that first. Love back, but that's the only 755 00:38:16,880 --> 00:38:19,120 way that you're going to find true satisfaction. 756 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:25,240 If God doesn't feel as close. Or your relationship doesn't 757 00:38:25,240 --> 00:38:28,600 feel as right as it should be. It's not Him that moved, it's 758 00:38:28,600 --> 00:38:31,400 us. We need to return to our first 759 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:34,440 love. If I could give you one thing 760 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:36,960 today, it would be that you'll never find what your flesh 761 00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:39,960 craves because there is no satisfaction in those things. 762 00:38:40,760 --> 00:38:43,800 There's satisfaction only in Jesus Christ. 763 00:38:44,560 --> 00:38:47,320 Turn over to Galatians chapter 6 and I'm going to give you the 764 00:38:47,320 --> 00:38:50,520 last point here this morning. How do you find that true 765 00:38:50,520 --> 00:38:53,440 satisfaction? How can you have a guaranteed 766 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,200 satisfaction? How can you be content? 767 00:38:55,440 --> 00:38:58,240 Well, first of all. Receive. 768 00:38:58,240 --> 00:39:01,560 Christ as your Savior. Rejoice in your salvation, 769 00:39:01,560 --> 00:39:06,160 return to your first love, and lastly, reap blessings from 770 00:39:06,160 --> 00:39:10,400 helping others. When was the last time you did 771 00:39:10,400 --> 00:39:12,880 something for somebody? Else, I mean, just plain and 772 00:39:12,880 --> 00:39:15,760 simple, you gave of yourself to help somebody out. 773 00:39:15,760 --> 00:39:17,920 Not because you could get something back for it, not 774 00:39:17,920 --> 00:39:20,080 because you were hoping that they were going to give you 775 00:39:20,080 --> 00:39:23,040 something in return, or hoping that all of these good things 776 00:39:23,040 --> 00:39:26,280 would come back to you. But just just because. 777 00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:28,120 You wanted to help somebody else? 778 00:39:30,600 --> 00:39:34,440 You know, maybe ladies call one of the church families. 779 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:36,040 And just say hey I'm. Preparing dinner for you 780 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:37,680 tonight. I'll be over at 6:00. 781 00:39:38,640 --> 00:39:40,120 What a help that would be to somebody. 782 00:39:40,600 --> 00:39:42,600 Well, you say I'm too tired at the end of the day from all the 783 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:44,120 work that I do and everything else. 784 00:39:44,240 --> 00:39:46,240 Sacrifice your feelings to help somebody else. 785 00:39:46,240 --> 00:39:49,520 I can promise you this. You'll find satisfaction in 786 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:52,880 that. You'll be surprised by the 787 00:39:52,880 --> 00:39:55,640 blessing that you receive. I'm not talking to. 788 00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:59,240 I am talking about taking your time and your effort and using 789 00:39:59,240 --> 00:40:01,840 it to help somebody else. Time that's valuable to you, 790 00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:04,680 Time that means a lot. Time that you may think that you 791 00:40:04,680 --> 00:40:08,240 don't have time and effort that if you exert. 792 00:40:08,240 --> 00:40:11,680 Towards somebody else, then your own house is. 793 00:40:11,680 --> 00:40:14,080 Going to be ignored. And I'm not just not something 794 00:40:14,080 --> 00:40:16,320 that should you should do all the time, but you want to know 795 00:40:16,320 --> 00:40:19,600 what's wrong with America? Everybody's so focused. 796 00:40:19,600 --> 00:40:23,120 On. Old #1 it's all about me. 797 00:40:23,400 --> 00:40:26,480 How can I? Get ahead and I don't care who I 798 00:40:26,480 --> 00:40:28,720 have to step on to get up to that next step. 799 00:40:29,280 --> 00:40:33,320 I don't care what I have to do to elbow my way in, I'm going to 800 00:40:33,320 --> 00:40:34,640 do it. It's all about me. 801 00:40:35,360 --> 00:40:39,240 When I was in India, I was with. Brother Nitin and. 802 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:43,560 There's so many people in India. We were standing in line. 803 00:40:43,560 --> 00:40:44,960 I was, I was right in the very front. 804 00:40:44,960 --> 00:40:47,000 We were, we were in a mall, believe it or not, of all 805 00:40:47,000 --> 00:40:49,240 places, and we were getting ready to get into an elevator to 806 00:40:49,240 --> 00:40:52,880 go up to the third floor. And there was a whole crowd of 807 00:40:52,880 --> 00:40:56,320 people behind us. And the elevator dinged the 808 00:40:56,320 --> 00:40:59,640 doors open and it was packed. And there were so many people 809 00:40:59,640 --> 00:41:02,320 pushing out and so many people elbowing to get in. 810 00:41:03,160 --> 00:41:05,840 I was standing in front of the elevator and the doors closed 811 00:41:05,840 --> 00:41:08,920 and it went up without me. And I said all. 812 00:41:08,920 --> 00:41:10,920 Right, I can learn to play this. Game too. 813 00:41:11,400 --> 00:41:14,360 Those doors came, that elevator came down, those doors opened up 814 00:41:14,360 --> 00:41:15,520 and I was the first one in there. 815 00:41:16,160 --> 00:41:17,600 Right, I'm not letting that happen. 816 00:41:17,600 --> 00:41:19,840 Again, I figured out how to play the game, but that's exactly 817 00:41:19,840 --> 00:41:21,920 what most people have done, especially in America. 818 00:41:21,920 --> 00:41:23,080 They've learned how to play the game. 819 00:41:23,080 --> 00:41:27,280 It's about me and me first. If I get in, I don't care who 820 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:28,640 else doesn't. I'm in. 821 00:41:29,080 --> 00:41:32,800 It's all about me. It's all about old #1 Galatians 822 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:36,160 Chapter 6 and verse #2 bear ye one another's burdens. 823 00:41:36,160 --> 00:41:39,640 And so fulfill the law of Christ. 824 00:41:39,880 --> 00:41:43,560 Turn over to Philippians a couple pages over Chapter 4. 825 00:41:49,360 --> 00:41:57,440 Verse #2 Look, not every man on his own things, but every man 826 00:41:57,440 --> 00:41:58,680 also on the. Things. 827 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:03,000 Of others now kids, that's not giving you permission to cheat 828 00:42:03,000 --> 00:42:06,680 in school, that is saying. That we shouldn't just be so 829 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:09,760 concerned. About ourselves, don't just look 830 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:11,240 at. Everything that you have to deal 831 00:42:11,240 --> 00:42:13,560 with How? About looking at the things that 832 00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:17,320 others are dealing with and go do something to help them out, I 833 00:42:17,320 --> 00:42:22,520 think, I think. I think all of us would agree 834 00:42:22,520 --> 00:42:24,360 with these with. These verses that we just read 835 00:42:24,360 --> 00:42:26,960 bear you in another burden. Look, not every man I can do. 836 00:42:26,960 --> 00:42:29,600 I can do many of those things for myself and some I can't. 837 00:42:29,600 --> 00:42:34,000 But you, you think about the the immensity and the overwhelming 838 00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:35,440 help. It is when somebody comes and 839 00:42:35,440 --> 00:42:38,680 helps you out, even if it's something that you can do for 840 00:42:38,680 --> 00:42:40,640 yourself, but somebody just comes and says, Hey, let me let 841 00:42:40,640 --> 00:42:42,600 me help you out with that. Let me do that for you. 842 00:42:43,200 --> 00:42:46,640 What a blessing that is to you. Now you can be a blessing to 843 00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:49,720 somebody else. In the same way there's Psalm 15 844 00:42:49,720 --> 00:42:52,160 and verse #1 the Bible says, Lord, who shall abide in thy 845 00:42:52,160 --> 00:42:54,240 Tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy 846 00:42:54,240 --> 00:42:57,040 hill? Verse #4 says He that sweareth 847 00:42:57,040 --> 00:43:00,200 to his own hurt and changeth not. 848 00:43:00,640 --> 00:43:03,680 That means to do something for others that will cost you 849 00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:07,120 something taking valuable. Time and using. 850 00:43:07,120 --> 00:43:10,520 It for others taking money that you need to live on maybe and 851 00:43:10,520 --> 00:43:16,360 making somebody somebody else's life easier will we? 852 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:17,880 Many times give. Out of our. 853 00:43:17,880 --> 00:43:20,160 Abundance, but not out of our need. 854 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:22,280 You won't be happy until you develop that kind of life 855 00:43:22,280 --> 00:43:23,720 attitude. Go ahead and be selfish. 856 00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:27,040 Lay it for yourself, think only of yourself, and one day it's 857 00:43:27,040 --> 00:43:30,640 going to come back and swallow you up, and one day it's not. 858 00:43:30,640 --> 00:43:34,360 Going to count for. Anything, it's all going to be 859 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:38,400 burned up. You die the second. 860 00:43:38,480 --> 00:43:41,440 You vacate that. Position at work, doesn't matter 861 00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:44,560 how important you think you were, somebody else is going to 862 00:43:44,560 --> 00:43:46,720 fill that position. And then maybe a couple 863 00:43:46,720 --> 00:43:48,400 colleagues that remember you for a little time. 864 00:43:48,400 --> 00:43:51,200 But five years from now, nobody's going to know you even 865 00:43:51,200 --> 00:43:56,520 worked there, that that job that you gave your life to, nobody's 866 00:43:56,520 --> 00:44:02,360 even going to know your name. That house she. 867 00:44:02,360 --> 00:44:06,120 Spent so much time and so much effort building, getting it 868 00:44:06,120 --> 00:44:08,000 exactly the way that you wanted it to be. 869 00:44:10,160 --> 00:44:12,040 It's not burned up in 50 years. It's going to. 870 00:44:12,040 --> 00:44:14,000 Belong to somebody else that didn't even know you lived 871 00:44:14,000 --> 00:44:18,280 there. Your cars, they'll last a few 872 00:44:18,280 --> 00:44:21,360 years, but then they're going to rust and end up in a junkyard 873 00:44:21,360 --> 00:44:24,000 somewhere. And yet those are the. 874 00:44:24,000 --> 00:44:27,880 Things that most people. Spend their entire life chasing 875 00:44:27,880 --> 00:44:33,720 after and those are things that will never bring true 876 00:44:33,720 --> 00:44:37,400 satisfaction. Are you content? 877 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:40,480 Are you happy? Is there? 878 00:44:40,480 --> 00:44:44,080 Satisfaction in your soul or is there something lacking? 879 00:44:46,000 --> 00:44:47,680 What I've told you today will make you happy. 880 00:44:48,600 --> 00:44:52,960 You can set yourself free from dissatisfaction if you choose. 881 00:44:53,640 --> 00:44:54,800 Maybe it's that you're not. Saved. 882 00:44:54,800 --> 00:44:57,120 Maybe you don't know. Jesus Christ as your Savior, and 883 00:44:57,120 --> 00:45:00,000 you'll never find that satisfaction in anything other 884 00:45:00,440 --> 00:45:05,200 than Jesus Christ. Can you say without reservation 885 00:45:05,200 --> 00:45:06,560 that you know? That you're going to heaven when 886 00:45:06,560 --> 00:45:08,760 you die? Perhaps there's? 887 00:45:09,080 --> 00:45:11,760 A fear. That arises when you think about 888 00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:13,600 death because you don't know where you're going to spend 889 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:18,320 eternity. Get that settled today. 890 00:45:19,560 --> 00:45:21,240 I read a story about. A little girl in a. 891 00:45:21,240 --> 00:45:24,320 Sunday school class There was. She was. 892 00:45:24,320 --> 00:45:28,240 Three years old and they were. Trying to memorize Psalm 23 and 893 00:45:28,240 --> 00:45:30,280 the first verse, the Lord is my shepherd. 894 00:45:30,280 --> 00:45:32,440 I shall not want. They all said that together. 895 00:45:32,440 --> 00:45:34,640 And then the teacher said, does anybody think they can say that 896 00:45:34,640 --> 00:45:36,640 verse? That little girl raised their 897 00:45:36,640 --> 00:45:38,760 hand and she said I can say it. She said, all right, go ahead 898 00:45:38,760 --> 00:45:41,800 and say the verse. And she said the Lord is my 899 00:45:41,800 --> 00:45:44,400 shepherd. The second. 900 00:45:44,400 --> 00:45:45,720 Part just wouldn't come to her. She. 901 00:45:45,720 --> 00:45:49,320 Said it again, the Lord is my shepherd and that's enough. 902 00:45:49,320 --> 00:45:52,800 And. Boy, I tell you what, that is 903 00:45:52,800 --> 00:45:57,600 enough for us. We don't need to to go after all 904 00:45:57,600 --> 00:46:00,240 of these things that the world has to offer because the the 905 00:46:00,240 --> 00:46:02,960 truth is, there is no satisfaction in the physical. 906 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:07,360 There is no satisfaction in what we can hoard to ourselves. 907 00:46:07,360 --> 00:46:11,080 There is no satisfaction in what we can gain in this life. 908 00:46:12,280 --> 00:46:15,600 There's only satisfaction in Jesus Christ and submitting our 909 00:46:15,600 --> 00:46:20,000 will to his will, submitting our desires to his desires. 910 00:46:20,320 --> 00:46:22,360 And how do you find that? How do you find that 911 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:25,160 satisfaction? Only in Jesus. 912 00:46:25,160 --> 00:46:28,520 Christ, that's the answer. All of these things that we 913 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:32,800 talked about this morning, it's only in Jesus Christ when you 914 00:46:32,800 --> 00:46:39,040 turn to him and only Him, you can guarantee that you'll. 915 00:46:39,040 --> 00:46:43,960 Have that satisfaction. Most of us like to. 916 00:46:43,960 --> 00:46:46,920 See that little stamp on? A product, when we buy it, 917 00:46:47,440 --> 00:46:51,280 satisfaction guaranteed. There's no, there's no risk in 918 00:46:51,280 --> 00:46:54,440 that if I buy it and I don't. Like it I. 919 00:46:54,440 --> 00:46:57,360 Can take it back. If I buy it and it breaks, I can 920 00:46:57,360 --> 00:47:01,120 take it back, right? How about try this? 921 00:47:02,160 --> 00:47:05,960 Try Christ, tried everything else you've been focusing on all 922 00:47:05,960 --> 00:47:08,200 those other things you've been, you've been trying to satisfy 923 00:47:08,200 --> 00:47:10,160 the flesh. How about turn to Christ? 924 00:47:11,240 --> 00:47:17,080 You'll find out that it's a 100% satisfaction guarantee in Jesus 925 00:47:17,080 --> 00:47:20,000 Christ. Are you content this morning? 926 00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:23,360 Let's pray. Father, again, we thank you so 927 00:47:23,360 --> 00:47:27,000 much. For your goodness thank you for 928 00:47:27,000 --> 00:47:28,960 the time that we can spend together around your word. 929 00:47:28,960 --> 00:47:31,640 God, I pray that you'd help each one of us to truly evaluate our 930 00:47:31,640 --> 00:47:35,680 own lives and to. Truly determine if we are. 931 00:47:35,680 --> 00:47:41,040 Content in you or not truly determine if we're satisfied in 932 00:47:41,040 --> 00:47:45,000 anything other than Jesus Christ, God may may that. 933 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:47,880 Be where we gain all. Of our satisfaction and we'll 934 00:47:47,880 --> 00:47:49,400 put the other things to the side. 935 00:47:51,640 --> 00:47:53,480 May we stop pursuing the things in this? 936 00:47:53,480 --> 00:47:56,160 Life that we think will make us happy and start pursuing you. 937 00:47:58,240 --> 00:47:59,880 Thank you again for all that you do for us in. 938 00:47:59,880 --> 00:48:01,600 Jesus name Amen if you.