I'll be back. It is a... And that's why you. Be born. Lord, I pray you bless your word. Has a coronavirus. of Israel. Look what it says in verse two. Very important. It says to know it says to know this is so It says the words of understanding. Look at the verse three. It says to receive. Underline receive. So underline to know, to perceive, and to receive. And look what it says, to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity. Verse four says to give. So right off the bat, we have in verse two to verse four, it says to know, to perceive, to receive, and to give. And it says to give what? To give subtly to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. It says in verse five, a wise man will hear and will increase learning and a man of understanding shall attain to wise counsel. So I just want to quickly look at this. It says to know, to perceive, to receive and to give. And there is a progression. How are you going to give? How are you going to give somebody? You know, this world's needy. What are so many people out there hurting? So many people out there. I mean, there's people that want to kill themselves. You know it, and I know it. It's terrible. How are you going to help? There's people out there that are depressed. People hooked on drugs. There's people that their marriages are failing. There's people that there's so many bad things happening. And guess what? God has put you in their place right in front of them to help them. How are you going to help them if you don't have something to give them? And that's why the Bible says to know, to perceive, to receive, and then and only can you give. So there is a progression, and we cannot give until we have received, right? That makes total sense. And there's certain things that we need to be in place, like the very first one, to know. To know what? Wisdom and instruction. This takes a portion of faith. For you to know wisdom and to know instruction, it takes a portion of faith. You have to have faith to know, just think about this, to know what? To know that it's there. to know that wisdom and instruction, it's there, it's in God's word, and it's just waiting for you to discover it. As I told you last week, when you open this blessed holy book, you're not reading it, it's reading you. The Bible is alive. I mean, think about that, it's alive. It's literally God. How's that happen? Because it's God. God can do it, and that's what God does. God has his life, his son, Jesus, contained in the words. So when you start to read it, it's reading you. It wants to perceive your understanding, your knowledge, see what you believe. So just think about this. Your instruction is in this book, waiting for you to receive it, waiting, but before you can receive it, the next word is to perceive. It's a great word, that word perceived. Perception. You know what it is? It's the ability to hear. It's an ability to see or become aware through your senses. Being aware of something that you cannot see, yet you're aware that it's there. You know, if I said, you know, some people in the book of Job, the guy says, there was a spirit. I couldn't see it, but it made my hair stand up on end. You know what I mean? It's like, I knew something was there. Whoa, it was spooky. Well, forget the spookiness and think about this. God's word is the most amazing, powerful, awesome thing in the whole universe. God's word created everything. God spoke it into existence. And God, being the supreme, sovereign being that he is, has given us his word. And he wants us to hear his voice, but only us. Jesus said in John 14 that he said, I go in a little while. You will not see me, but then I'll manifest myself to you. To the world I won't, but to you I will. And then Philip said, how are you? Or I'm sorry, it was Judas, not Iscariot. He said, how are you going to manifest yourself to us and not to the whole world? And this is the mystery that I want you to understand what's in the Book of Proverbs. Really, really cool stuff. So it's in there and you have to perceive that it's there. See, most times you read it and you don't understand it. So you just, OK, I'm going on. And God's like, OK, I guess they really didn't want to know. You see, what did it say you need to know? Instruction. How many people want instruction? I know I do. Being a pastor, being a father, being a grandfather, being a boss, being a worker, being anything, you need instruction how to do it. I'll tell you right now, this book, I heard they say that Bible basic instructions before leaving earth. This book is an instruction of how to act, how not to act, what to think, what not to think. And most of the time, in all reality, we mess up and we don't do things right. And this book has to straighten us out. Don't wait for me to straighten you out, or your parents to straighten you out, or your boss to straighten you out, or the IRS to straighten you out. But let God straighten you out. And that's what you have to understand. It's instruction. Do you want instruction? So you need to perceive it, that it's there. It's an ability, that you're aware that it's there. You just don't see it yet. And when you're aware that it's there, you'll start to apply your heart and look and seek and knock. And you'll ask, God, I don't understand. What is it? And then it says, then you'll receive. Now, this is important. To receive. Receive starts with a response. Think about this. It starts with a response. The word of God should be met with a specific response. When the Word of God, don't let those words just pass by. It is the voice of the Almighty. When the Word of God is trying to give you something, how ought we to receive it? We ought to receive it with gladness and rejoicing, or at least with humility and thanksgiving. So many people, and you know it's true, and maybe you're one of them, you do not like to be rebuked. You don't like to be told you're doing something wrong. Most people don't, but I'll tell you right now, I love it because I need to know. I tell my people in our church, I'm like, listen, if I'm doing something wrong and it's bad for the church, please let me know. We try to meet with about five, six guys at once a month and say, hey, what's going on? Anything I need to know? Am I doing something wrong? Am I doing something right? I just need to know. Why would you want to stay the same? Why would you not want to be everything God wants you to be? I'll tell you right now, when you receive from God, it starts with a response. And I'll tell you right now, a specific response. A great welcome, it should be. David said in Psalm 119, 140, he said, thy word is very pure. Therefore, thy servant loveth it. David, God says, a man from my own heart. Read Psalm 119. It's the longest chapter in the book. But the whole psalm is about David talking about God's word. He's thanking God for his correction, thanking him for his rebuke. I'll tell you right now, if you get correction from God, it's not rebuked to you, it's correction. But when you're stubborn, like a child, when you tell your child, you know, you didn't clean your room correctly, they could either be like, oh, thank you, I didn't see that sock over there, I didn't know that I didn't do that right, thank you for that, now next time I can do it right. No, they don't do that, they're like, I did it right, someone else did, and they have a response to your trying to be a blessing to them. And that's what God's trying to tell us, how we respond to God's correction shows. a multitude of who you really are. And so many preachers are like that. So many men of God, women of God, people that have been around a long time, they're like that because they believe everything. Oh, no, that's what I believe. And they don't want to be corrected. I'll tell you right now, just forget everything and just let God correct us. I just want to move on. But if you think about that for a minute, that's how you should receive the word of God. And then when you do receive it, then it says to give. It says to give. That's what Jesus said. It says, he that freely gives free or I'm sorry, he that freely receives will freely give. How can you give anything if you haven't received it yet? And how should you receive something from God if you don't even perceive it's there? How do you know anything unless you get it from the word of God? Amen. Let me move on. David loved the Lord more than anything. He said more than his own food, more than his own life. And he wanted God's correction, his instruction, his reproof, and his rebuke. How you receive God's rebuke will tell a lot about you. And that's what I want you to examine yourself and see your own self. But even in John chapter 1, verse 11 and 12, it says that Jesus came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, To them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. So what does that mean? If you receive Jesus Christ, if you receive the King of Kings, if you receive the word of God, if you receive a correction, a rebuke, something you're doing wrong, and the word of God comes and it tells you you're doing something wrong, you receive that, God's gonna give you power. He's gonna give you power to become something greater than you are now. I'm here to tell you the book could change your life, amen? It says, power, look at me, please. It says in verse four, to give subtly to the simple. It says, to the young man, knowledge and discretion. You know what I find? I find that so many people do not have discretion. They have no discretion these days. And you know what that tells me? They don't have wisdom. In the old days, wisdom was taught. In the old days, people gave some good old wisdom, the old Mark Twain little things. And you learn. from these things. And this book of Proverbs is a book of understanding. It's a book of knowledge and wisdom. Look with maybe what in verse six, it says now right here, look what we just go into high gear right here. It says to understand a proverb, which means you don't. It says to understand a proverb and the what? The interpretation. And you need God to interpret it to you. People think that they don't need that. They do. Look what it says. The words of the wise and their what? Dark settings. See, when you read this, it's going to go over your head. You're not going to understand it. It's a fact. You're not going to understand it. So that's why you need God who wants to see if you believe it's even there. And will you come to God? Will you ask? Will you seek? Will you not? It's very, very important. And here, What we have here in verse seven is the most important thing. Not only did it say to understand a proverb, which means, listen to me, it's very important. We must have a fundamental belief in God. To understand a proverb, you must have a fundamental belief in God that he is the sovereign God of all the universe. He is the sovereign God of all things. And we should rightly, please rightly reverence him. Amen. Rightly reverence him as he is such as he is in such a way that we would fear him more than you would a parent, more than you would a police officer, more than you would a judge, more than you would, I don't know, like an element or even your boss. What some people or will fear their boss, do whatever their boss says. God doesn't do something they want to listen to. That's because they don't fear the Lord. Look what it says with me, please. Verse 7, very important. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. And please pay, look what it says. But fools despise wisdom and instruction. You know what that means? You know what despise means? It means they don't care. I'd rather someone hate me than not care about me. Because I don't care whether you live or die. It is way worse than I hate you. If they hate you, there's feelings there. Amen? There's feelings there. But if they could care less what you do, That's despise. And God's saying here, fools despise. They do not care about wisdom and instruction. Right off the bat, he's telling you that these words contain wisdom and instruction, and fools do not care. So how much do you really care about learning? And that's why I'm trying to help you today. trying to help everyone that's going to listen to this, whether you're been saved and reading about 50 years or not, you're going to see things in here that I'm telling. I guarantee you've never known, never seen before. Let's hurry up and move on so I can get to that. But I want you to think about God. He knows all. He sees all. Amen. God knows everything. He sees everything and he can do anything. But fools do not care. about wisdom and instruction. The book of Proverbs is not a history book. Listen to me. It's not about 1st 2nd Chronicles, which gives me history of Israel. It's not a history book. It's not a doctrine book where you're gonna learn doctrines. It's not a story book. What tells you about like Esther and Ruth? It's not a story book. You know what it is? It's a book of wisdom. It's a book of understanding, and it's a book of knowledge. And as you're on quarantine and you're home all the time, read Book of Proverbs, whatever the date is, read it. And I don't mean read it to get through it. I mean read it to hear God speak to you. I wish there was people here that I could bring up for testimony. How many people have actually heard God's voice? See, people don't know this. There's many that do. But there's some people watching tonight. They don't know the Bible, so they don't understand hardly any of these things. But there's talks about Elijah that God revealed himself to Elijah. Well, he revealed. a fire and wind and lightning and earthquakes. He says, but God wasn't in that. He said, then he heard a still, small voice behind him. He said, God was in that. And that's what this word will do. It'll speak to you. Michael, Daniel, David, Brian. It'll speak your name. But if you're not in tune with the word, you're not going to hear it. And to hear God think about this, please, you say you believe. To hear God speak to you, man, woo, I'm telling you, it'll change your life. It's awesome. God is amazing. It's a shame to me that people don't know this. But anyway, so God asks us, look in chapter 2 real quick. God asks us to apply our hearts to it. Look in chapter 2, verse 2. It says so that thou incline thy ear unto wisdom look what it says and apply your heart to understand It's the only way you're ever going to know what this says. You have to apply your heart You just read it with your eyes and keep on going guess what you're gonna get You know why because I told you last week chapter two or chapter two of first corinthians says that who can know the deep things of god Except the spirit of god's center. There's such great things that God wants to speak to us how can he give us the deep things and we won't even hear the simplest things amen so let's get right into our lesson lesson chapter 1 is found here starting in verse 10 And since we're going to read it down, we'll just read from 8 and 10 says, My son, this is where God is turning. Now, after this beginning of introduction, he's turning to his Children. He's turning to his believers. He's really in all realities turn. Those were born of his spirit born again. Religion can't give you born again. The Bible doesn't even do it. It just teaches you how to do it. Only the Holy Spirit of God can draw you by truth that you need to be born again. What does it mean? It means you have a birth, a spiritual birth, and God now is your father. And once God's your father, you can't go to hell. He's not gonna let his children go to hell. Do you understand this? This is reality, and this is real, and this is what some of you, and please listen, some of you are lacking. You're lacking the spirit of the living God. You live by another spirit spirit of fear spirit of the world Whatever the puppet strings tell you to do I'll be mad be angry you do God wants to break that strings make you free and give you liberty and give you his freedom Give his spirit. Let me move on what it says my son hear the instruction of your father and Forsake not the law of your mother. I'm gonna tell you something a little secret. You ready? You know who your father is, right? Who's your mother? Teach this when people don't, that's the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit's your mother. What does that mean? It means God, the Father in heaven, but he sent his Holy Spirit to be a comforter. He's the one that's gonna be there comforting you when you bruise your knee, when you fall off your bike, when you lose your best friend, when you lose a loved one, when you're down and out. He'll never leave you, he'll never forsake you. The Holy Spirit's like your mother. I know right now I've lost my mom three years ago and I miss her. And I know many of you do too. I watch on Facebook, people always talk about their mother. Mother's the most amazing thing. That's what the Holy Spirit is. The most wonderful, amazing, awesome person to have with you that loves you more than life itself. Keep moving on. So it says this, it says in verse 9, It says, forsake not the law of your mother, verse nine, for they shall be an ornament of grace in your head and chains about your neck. Now, we turn it on right here. This is where God's mystery starts to come. And this is where you're gonna have to apply your heart and say, what are you trying to say, Father? Look in verse 10, it says, my son, if sinners entice thee, what's he say? Consent thou not, don't say yes. Now that's good, solid, right there, good instruction. If sinners, Entice you what's he said say no say say say no right my point to this is the word entice Let me see if I had a written down and I'm not even looking at my notes. Oh, yeah the word entice Look what it means. It means to attract or tempt by offering you pleasure or advantage Remember that to attract you to tempt you by offering you pleasure or advantage now Him saying that he says if sinners are enticing you They're going to be enticing you with pleasure or advantage don't consent with them now keep going look what it says it says For if they say now, this is where the mystery comes in This is why I want you I asked you last week to read this to find out what you think it means Look what it says. It says if they say to you come with us Let us lay wait for blood Let us lurk privately for the innocent without cause. Wait a minute here. It says, God's saying they're gonna come and they're gonna entice you. Don't listen to them. Wait a minute. My enticement is going out and murdering somebody? They said, come on, let us lurk privately. Let's hide from the innocent for no reason. Let's go and kill them. I'm sorry, but that's not gonna tempt me or you ever. So it cannot be that. So God is right now giving us a mystery. What are you trying to say father? And that's where you and I want you to understand this to so that you can start to understand all the problems. Look what it says. If they say without if they say come with us, it's always that way. with the spirit and the power of the air, as the Bible says, or the spirit of the world. They want us all to come with them. They want us all to believe kind of the same things, be on the same page. They don't like it when you are led by the word of God, because then you have a foundation and you know it's true. They want you to believe what they believe. So that said, look what it says, let us lay wait for blood. So I want you to underline lay wait for blood. Because that's really the key to this. Lay wait for blood means something. And like I said, there's powers that want us to join them. And in the same mindset, they want us to have the same mindset, which will lead us, please listen to me, it will lead you away from God's correction and instruction. Because I'll tell you right now, there are millions of Christians out there. Millions. And there's millions of people out there that say, I'm a Christian, I'm born again, I love God. But you cannot, you cannot rebuke them or instruct them. I shouldn't say you cannot. They won't let the Word of God. They don't like when a real preacher with real authority gets up and tells them what the Bible says about how to dress. Oh, no way. Or that a woman can't be a pastor. What? How you can't tell me? Really? Read your Bible. See they don't want to hear rebuke or reproof. That's the spirit of the world wants you to get to take you away to what you want and what it wants and I'm going to get into that for a minute. But let's look at this lay wait for blood. Does that sound tempting? Lay wait for blood. Is that sound alluring? No, not at all. It's because It's not for your pleasure. This is talking about something that's for your advantage. Now, this is what I want you to see. You don't want to kill anyone. Of course not. But look what it says with me, the next verse. It says, let us swallow them up. Look what it says. Alive. So he's not talking about killing them. It says, as the grave. And what? Whole. He wants all of the persons. He wants everything they have as those that go down into the pit. Remember Joseph was into a pit. Remember he was sold into slavery. They want to have control. They want to use you as a pawn, as a property. The real word I want to give you is merchandise. And this is so important. And I don't know if you can understand these deep things, but I want you to. Look what it says. It says in verse 13, we shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our houses with spoil. So let's look real quickly at what is God talking about when he said, let us lay wait for blood. So you have to know the word of God. Turn with me quickly, if you would, to Leviticus chapter 17. Leviticus 17, amen? I'll give you a moment to get there. Leviticus 17 is a great chapter in giving the law of God when God talks about the blood. The very first time that God talks about the blood was the blood of Abel. His brother killed him, and you know what God said in the game? He said, your brother's blood is crying out to me from the ground. That means he was still alive, in the blood, calling out, talking to God. Let that sink in your little word. Look what, in verse 11. Leviticus 17, 11, look what it says. For the life of the flesh is in the, what? In the blood. And I have given it to you upon the altar to make an atonement for your souls. For it is the blood that maketh an atonement for your soul. Now, we know that they're talking about the blood of the lamb, that the life of that lamb is a substitutionary life. It's life for yours. And that also goes right into Jesus being the lamb of God, that he has given us the life of Jesus Christ on the altar to make an atonement for our soul. That means Jesus Christ, when he resurrected from the dead, he rose from the dead. And the first one to sing was Mary. And Mary was going to just dive on him. He said, touch me not, Mary, for I have not yet ascended unto my father. He was the high priest at that time, and he still is. And he took his blood. And that blood makes atonement. And we'll talk about this later, because there's too many things to talk about. But it is the blood that forgives us. It is the blood that atones for our sin. So anyway, but it says, the life of the flesh is in the blood. Look in verse 13. I want to read this for my friends who's hunters, because I'm a hunter. And look what it says. It says, and whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunted, He hunts, and he catches any beast or fowl that may be eaten. He shall even pour out the blood thereof and cover it with dust. Look what it says. For it is the life of all flesh. The blood of it is the life thereof. Therefore, I said unto the children of Israel, you shall eat the blood of no matter of flesh, for the life of the flesh is the blood thereof, whosoever eat of it shall be cut off." So what is God saying? Lay wait for blood. Lay wait for their life. They're laying in wait for the life of a person. Hold, as those who go down in the pit, we shall find precious substance. Now this is where I can see it, but maybe you can. I'm here to tell you that there are powers out there, principalities. that are ruling in the kingdom of this world. Do you understand that? And they want us when he says if sinners entice you, you're not going to be enticed by go killing someone, but you will be enticed by go back with me to Proverbs. Look at Proverbs chapter one. He says in verse 13, we shall find all precious substance. We shall fill our house with spoil. You know what he's saying? He says, you're going to get a lot of money. You're going to get profit. You're going to get prestige. You're going to get power. You're going to get authority. Everything that this world has to offer, you can get it from people. But you have to have them trapped. But they can't know they're trapped. It's a religion. It's a false teaching. It's a way to control people. Look what it says in verse 14. It says, cast thy lot among us. Let us all have one purse. It's funny, because I'm a King James Bible believer. I believe this book, and I know. It's not even belief. I know that it is the voice of God. It is inspired and anointed. It is alive. It's awesome. When you tell certain people that read the NIV or the other this, you tell them you believe that the Bible's inspired, they get negative. I don't know why. I would just, if I was them, I'd say, oh, that's cool that you believe that. I don't. That's OK. But they literally get mad at you. I've had it happen. And they want to come attack you for your belief that the Bible is alive and inspired. Who would not want you to believe in the Bible? Who would not want you to believe that God gave us his word and his voice? Only the powers that be. Look what it says in verse 15. It says, my son, walk not thou in the way with them, Refrain thy foot from their path. You know, he's telling us this because so many Christians So many children of God have gone this way and they don't even know I'm gonna tell you some things and I'm really good not even gonna say I'm gonna loo to it Hope you can understand what I'm trying to say. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you But look what it says when it says in verse 16 It says for their feet run to evil and they make haste to shed blood talking about the life of people look at verse 17 Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird. What's that say? They don't know There's a net spread for people and they can't see it. They don't know it. They're caught up in the devil's web They're caught up in a religion. They're caught up in something contrary to the Word of God. Because I'm here to tell you right now that the powers that be want you to join up with them. When they said, lay wait for blood, this is for an advantage for you. And I'm here to tell you right now that the Bible says it is their life. And you want to understand it, They get something out of it. And what they get, they get money, they get prestige, they get precious substance that it says. And it says in verse 18, look in 18, they lay wait for their own blood. See, they're not out there trying to kill someone. God says without them knowing, they're doing it and hurting themselves. Because this is the mystery that God has put here that most people don't even see what God's trying to say to them. Because they don't stop and say, what do you mean lay wait for blood? And the only way you can do that is study to show yourself approved. And look at where God's talking about the blood. And he just told us that the life of the flesh is in the blood. So really what he's saying is they're laying wait for your life. They don't want, he says, hold. They don't want you to die. They want to have, make merchandise of you. I'm here to tell you I've never met, never met, not saying it doesn't exist, never met an independent, fundamental Baptist pastor that's multi-millionaire. Never met them. They exist, maybe. I never even met a rich person. I never met a millionaire person. Never, don't know it. Maybe someone was and I didn't know it. But think about all the people that are out there on television. Think about all those big name guys, you know, Joel and Ken Copeland, all them guys. They got Learjets, $40 million houses, $100 million in the bank, and they're pastors. How did that happen? How does a pastor become multi-millionaires? Because exactly what God is trying to tell us here, that there's a force that wants us to follow them because we get advantage, we get gain. I'm here to tell you the church and God is not about you getting money. It's not about you getting wealth and power. It's not. It's about you getting something so greater, better than wealth and power, wisdom, understanding and knowledge. from God. I want you to realize that it says here that they are greedy of gain. Look with me, please. It says in verse 19, so are the ways of everyone that is what? Greedy of gain. Greedy of gain. What do you think that means? How many of us are greedy of gain? You say, not me, I'm very humble. You get your check, you get a little excited, couldn't wait. My friend Brian over there, we're all jealous of him, he got his check right away and let me know it. You know what I did? Handed it to the mailbox. I got a box of rocks. I got nothing yet. And people get it. But people are looking forward to getting something. And I'm not saying that's bad. But there's people that are always looking forward to getting something. They want this, and they want that, and they want the new car, and they want the bigger house. And no matter what they have in life, they're not satisfied. They want more. They want more. You know why that is? Because we have an enemy. There's a devil out there. Why don't you turn with me, please, to Luke, Chapter 4. Look in Luke, Chapter 4. Look in Luke, Chapter 4. I'm going to teach you something today that I hope and pray that someone will get it. Luke chapter four, say amen when you're there. Amen, I know, I heard you. I heard you through the phone. Brian's back there. Look at Luke four with me. Look at verse four. Luke 4.4, and Jesus answers him saying, it is written that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word. I'm sorry, but by every word of God. Do you live on the word of God? Is it more important to you than food? Probably not, but you should be. Look at verse five. It says, and who? The devil. Taking him up into a high mountain, look what the devil did. He showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said unto him, all this, what power will I give thee? And the glory of them, for that is delivered unto me and to whomsoever I will give it. The devil is the God little G of this world. He has power to give riches and wealth and money and power and authority to whomever he will. It looks good. It sounds good. How about when it's cloaked up and wrapped up in the church and in religion? I want to tell you something, everything in the book of Proverbs, everything about it is all about religion. You know why? Because it's all about Israel. And Israel was under the institute of everything about them was religion. It was all about their religion. And you know what the devil's about? The devil's not about more atheists. The devil wants you to worship. The devil wants you to praise. The devil wants you to sing. The devil doesn't care if you go to church or even read your Bible. He just doesn't want you to be close to Jesus Christ. Because that's where you'll receive the truth, the way, and the life. The churches are full of people that have been deceived and lied to. The church is a full people going to go to hell. And God says, my son, listen to me. Turn with me if you would, please, to 1 John chapter 2. 1 John chapter 2. Very important verse. This verse rules my life. This rule, when I got saved, became a Christian, got born again in 1991, you know, I did everything there was to do that was wrong. Did it all. And for somebody who's known me, they called me Mad Dog. Mad Dog Rose. Mad Dog Mike. I was crazy. I was nutty. I wasn't a person to hurt people, but I was nuts. I'd do anything. And I did a lot of bad stuff, stupid stuff, really. But when I got saved, God took all that from me, and he allowed me to see some things. And this verse helps me all the time. Look if you would, please, in 1 John 2. Look in verse 15. It's important. Please pay attention. This will help you. It says, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Man, love not the things of the world. See, you don't understand. When the church house brings the world's house into it, it is the devil has deceived us. The rock and roll in the churches? Are you kidding me? That doesn't belong in the church. Fashion in the churches? Listen, you might say, oh, well, people wear suits and ties. I'm wearing a shirt and without the tie. I'm only dressing decent for God. That's all. There's no dress code. But it seems to me when you look at the worship teams. that are on these big churches, like with Hillsong and all that. There's a, there's a dress code. You have to have jeans with rips in it, got to have hair sticking up, got to have a t-shirt. Because if you wear anything else, you're just not a part of that. It's weird. It's weird to me. But look what it says. It says, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loved the world, the love of the father is not in it. I'm telling you right now, rock and roll and all that stuff is of the world. And the devil is the God of music. And he twists it. Quickly, look in James, look in James chapter four with me. This one here, I hope it instructs you. I'm almost out of time, but I want you to please listen to me. This verse really helped me. When it said, love not the world, it helps me. And when James says this, look with me, please, in verse 4, James 4, 4. God is calling us names, or at least certain people. He says, you adulterers and adulteresses. What does that mean? Those that say they worship God, really, they love the world more. They love the things of the world more. God says, you're cheating on me, and it's an adultery. And look what he says, you adulterers and adulteresses, know you not that friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever, therefore, will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Now, you can take that any way you want. I think you don't even need explaining, do you? Whoever's gonna be friendship with the world. That's why you don't let the world into the church. The church is sacred and holy. You don't have to have rock and roll and electric guitars and drum sets and smoke and mirrors and lights. That's pathetic. That is not holiness and godliness. Now you might disagree with me, but you look at the world and then you look at certain churches and you see they're just like that. I'm not saying one church better than the other. I'm telling you God is telling you to warn us that there's reason that churches are going that way because of gain. They're getting money. They're getting popular. They got thousands of people. They have nice, I mean, beautiful houses and cars and well off. And God's people, it should not be about that. It shouldn't be about that at all. Turn back with me, please, to where we were in Proverbs. Proverbs chapter one. I want to continue on. But what I want you to see is that maybe you didn't see it before. Lay wait for blood. They're saying lay wait for their lives. Why? Because we can be in control of them. We could take them whole as those who go down to the pit. We will find all precious substance and we will be out again and we will get this. Look what God says, please. In verse 20, he says, Wisdom cried without. She utters her voice in the streets. She cries in the chief places of concourse, in the opening of the gates, in the city she utters her words saying, how long, you simple ones, would you love simplicity, and scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. He's asking you, how long until you turn back to God, and holiness, and righteousness, and truth, and mercy? You know where truth starts? in your heart. You have to be truthful about yourself. If the word of God told me, I'm trying to think of something that I wouldn't want. If the word of God told me I can't preach anymore, that would be devastating, but I'd say yes, sir. Whatever God says. The word of God tells me that I have to love my wife, even as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for it. Now people say, I'll love my wife. I'll pick a bullet for her. I'll die for her. That isn't what Jesus said. Jesus said, love her even as he loved the church and gave himself for it. Gave himself. You know what that means? That means the people that were nailing the nails in his hands was the church that he was dying for. The people that were spitting in his face was the church that he was dying for. The people that were whipping him and beating him and calling him names, sometimes you're going to be on that receiving end of people yelling at you and calling you names and spitting in your face. And God said, love them. How? How can I be like that? By God's word, getting into your heart and realizing the truth about ourselves. None of us are worthy of God. None of us are worthy of anything. Let me hurry up and finish. I'm sorry, going off on that. But look with me, if you would, please, in chapter, I mean, verse 22, or verse 23. Look what he says. He says, turn you at my reproof. You see, he's reproving us. He's correcting us. He says, behold, I love this. Look at this. Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you. Man, you see you don't understand he will give you of his spirit And then you'll be able to see and to know and acknowledge you with the spirits fruit of that spirit is love joy peace Long-suffering long-suffering. Yeah, you need it in this world. Don't you that means you you take things you don't yell out It's gentleness meekness humbleness faith Goodness, temperance. We need that in this world. You need that. I need that. But look what he says. He says, turn you at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you. I will make known my words unto you. God will. If you apply your heart, if you look at this and say, God, I know it's there. I want to know wisdom. I want instruction. I want to perceive it. I know it's there. And I want to receive it unto myself that I can give others so I can be a teacher, so I can be a better mom, a better dad, so I can be the man, woman that you want me to be. I need your word to do that. Well, then when we get to something hard and it says, if sinners entice you, consent them not. If they say, come, let us lay wait for blood, And you don't know what that means. Good. That means God's giving you a mystery. He wants you to seek it and find out what is God trying to say to you. There's so much more deeper. Look what he says. I'm going to finish once we get through this chapter, because I'm not going to talk a lot more about what's going on. I'm just going to read. But look what he says. He says, turn you at my reproof, verse 23. Behold, I will. I will pour out my spirit unto you. I will make known my words unto you. Look, he says in verse 24. because I had called and you refused. Please listen. God's calling each and every one of us unto himself. He's calling us to his son, Jesus, so that we can have our sins washed away. Taken away, there's nothing you can do to take your sins away. There's nothing you can do to atone for your sins Jesus Christ did it all we have to humble ourselves come to him and call upon him and realize that he is The only way he said I am the way I am the truth. I am the life I No man comes unto the Father, but by me. We must come to Jesus. No religion can save you. No anything can save you, only Jesus. And you come to him, and he will pour out his spirit on you, and he will let you know things that have not been known from the beginning of creation. Look what he says, but because I called and you refused, look what he says in verse 24, I stretched out my hand, No man regarded. I think about this. He stretched out his hands. They were nailed to the cross and no man regarded. I feel sad and sorry for people that don't care that God's own son was crucified for you. God's own son was beaten for you. He did all that for you and for me. When you realize that God did that for you, how much he loves you, how much he cares for you, if it doesn't touch your heart, your heart cries. And you need something more important than this. You need love in your heart. It's God. Keep going. He says, because I stretched out, because I called, I stretched out my hand in no man regard. Look at verse 25. But I have set at nought. I mean, is that nothing? Or you, I'm sorry. You have set at nought all my counsel. You would none of my reproof. That means you wouldn't listen to the preacher tonight. You didn't like it to go to a church. Listen, I had people come visit a church all the time. I am loud. I am excited. I'm passionate. I love God. I love people. I love the word of God. I get excited. I get excited over the Eagles. I get excited over Guy Tenor's pizza. Give me a cheesesteak from Leo's and woo, man, I have a revival. That's who I am. I'm real. I'm just the same all the time. How much more I get excited about the things of God. Man, God is awesome. He saved me. I'm going to heaven when I die. And I got heaven in me now. God's turned from a knucklehead roofer to a pastor. I didn't do that. The word of God did that. Wisdom, and he wants to give it to you. But he says, because you've said it non, all my counsel, and you would none of my reproof. Reproof is great. Look, he says in verse 26, please pay attention. God says, I also will laugh at your calamity. I will mock when your fear comes. God would do that? Yeah. God would laugh at people, yes. It says it right there. You say, I don't believe that. Oh, well, you don't believe God. I do. He said it right there. Look what he says. Verse 27, when your fear comes as desolation and your destruction comes as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish comes upon you, see, when those things and pleasures of the world are gone, when your money's gone, when the virus is on, when you're divorced and death and things like that, look what he said, then they'll call upon me But I will not answer. Then it says, when it says, then they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. And he tells us why he says for they for that they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord. The fear of God right now is your choice. When I was a kid, you know, the old thing, step on a crack, break your mother's back. You always heard that. I wouldn't step on cracks just because I didn't want to hurt my mom. I love my mom. I'm a mama's boy. You know why? Because my mom loved me. She was the only one on the planet that I felt love for. Only one. Even to this day, outside of Christ, if it wasn't for my mother, I wouldn't know love. I wouldn't know it at all. It's hard for people to love. They're all too consumed with themselves. They all want and want and want, but mothers, they give and give and give and give. And so I didn't want to step on a crack, because I didn't want to break my mother's back. I know it's not real. But I also had that fear of God. When I was young, I wouldn't say the word GD, because it's using God's name in vain. And God said in his 10 commandments, I will not hold him guiltless who uses his name in vain. I feared God as a young person. I did everything wrong, but I feared God. I perceived that he was there. I believed that he was there. And God saw that I feared him. And that's when God came to me, 1991, on a Wednesday night. He came to me and he said, Michael, look at you. And he showed me all my sin. And the first time I left, I knew I was going to hell. I knew it. I was a nice person. I got on my face with tears in my eyes. I said, Jesus, save me. And he saved me. And he took from me all that stuff. But look what he says in verse 28. Then they shall call upon me, but I will not answer. They shall seek me early, but they shall not find me. For they hated knowledge. You didn't care about church. You didn't care about the Word of God. You don't want to hear it. It's not who I am. It's not what I'm about. Well, guess what? When your life is in the ready to die, heaven and hell is the only place you're going. You're not going with God. You will go to hell. It's a fact. But God's whole time has his hand out wanting to save you. And look what he says in verse 30, they would none of my counsel, they despise, they didn't care about my reproof. And he says, therefore, shall they eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices. You want your own way, you're going to get it. You want your own life, you're going to get it. You want your way or do you want God's way? You'll listen to your boss, you'll listen to a doctor, you'll listen to people, but you won't listen to God. That's because there's a spirit of disobedience out there. I have to finish. Look what it says. It says, verse 31, therefore, shall they eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own devices for the turning away of the simple shall slay them and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. Let me just interject. What I hear more than anything else is people saying, well, why is that guy not good? That guy's not good. He's not a Christian, but yet he's got a big house, and he's got money, and he's got this. How come that guy is the pretty girl? How come he's the girlfriend? Whoa. Man, some people there aren't happy with their lives, are they? People there are looking for the devil will show you everything that you don't have. The turning away of the simple will slay them. Do you realize that good people go to hell? because they're not really good. They're sinners, and they're nice, and they're kind, and I love them, and you love them, but there's only one way to heaven, only one way out of hell, and that's receiving Jesus Christ. Believing that God so loved you, he gave his only begotten son. Believing the word of God, the gospel of your salvation, your salvation. Jesus Christ is the son of a living God, born of a virgin, lived a sinless, perfect life. Walked on water, raised the dead, showed everyone who he was, okay? Then he took a cross for you. He took a beating for you. Your punishment was put on him. He took it all, and God will only accept his blood, will only accept his blood for the atonement of your sin. If you will close your eyes and pray and say, Lord Jesus, have mercy on me, a sinner. I'm a sinner, I've sinned. I want my own way. God help me. Save my soul, Lord Jesus. I give it to you. Give unto me your spirit. and give me everlasting life. Teach me how to follow you. Teach me how to be a child. I'm open, Lord. I thank you, Lord. I love you, Lord. In Jesus' name, amen. Look at the last verse. It says, verse 33, but whosoever hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely and shall be quiet from the fear of evil. Some people are afraid, afraid of this coronavirus. afraid of losing their job, afraid of getting sick and dying. A lot of people are, and you have a right to be. But I'll tell you right now, I'm more afraid of not pleasing God than I am a virus. I'm more afraid of my friends going to hell than I am a virus. We'll get over this. We're going to win. Sickness comes. Death comes upon all men. Add to this the judgment. I'm going to ask you to just, we're done. Thank you for hanging with me this long. Thank you for being involved in this, thank you for hearing. I hope and pray you didn't tune out, maybe listen to it again, go back over with your Bible. I just want you to realize next week or next Wednesday night, I'm gonna show you things in the book of Proverbs I guarantee you've never seen before, didn't know before. Amazing, awesome things. Let's pray. Father, we love you. Thank you for Jesus, who's real love. Thank you for saving anyone who will come to you by faith. and sincerity of heart and say, Jesus, I'm a sinner. I believe I'm going to hell. Would you save my soul, please? I give it to you. I trust in you. Call upon the name of the Lord, and thou shalt be saved. The Bible said, Father, save the soul that's nearest hell. Heal the person that's sick and needy. Help those, Lord, who need your reproof and your correction. Help them to receive it and help us to give it out to this world. We love you and we praise you, Jesus name. Amen. Thank you so much.