9-7-22 - Is Serving God In Vain?

Well at this time I want to jump right in a been gone for Wednesday. So good to be back in the regular back in the book of Malachi, we have leased a couple more sermons there soak up some of you were not with us in our study through Malachi. In the summer you chose to go to a men's class or a women's class and you were so glad for that. In the oven were glad to have everybody back together so Malachi chapter 3, we all do have a repeat of if you have your place or you're welcome to stand at this time will reverse 13 Denver safety. We do have a recovery ministry. Starting back up tonight over in room 200 back there so just want to make everyone aware of that severe prayer for those guys.

Malachi chapter 3 verse 13 literally down the verse number 18.

The Bible says your words have been stout against me safe the Lord.

Yet you say, what have we spoken so much against the gifts that it is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts, and now we call the proud, happy, gave a that work wickedness are set up gave a that tempt God or even delivered and they that feared the Lord spake often one to another in the Lord hearkened and herded in a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord and thought upon his name, and they shall be mine saith the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spares his own son that serve with him, then shall ye return in certain between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serve with God in him that serve them, not father. We again are so overjoyed that your word is with us. We pray that you would grant us insight and understanding. Not only that we would understand the truth that we would apply if that we would be gripped by God and and in his words denied and I pray that you would do that work and not only this sanctuary but in that team ministry in the youth ministry the children's ministry that the recovery ministry. Bless all that said and done tonight. The Christ will be exalted. We ask in Jesus name God's people said Amen. You may be seated. This evening, but here hate to waste time for like I can have it on the road when the worst things for me that I found that my sanctification is tested probably more than any other area is if I get off on the wrong exit out that that happens to us men, but when I get off on some exit.

You never ever noticed there like turn right ahead in. There's like two or three different terms to decide which one is that Cigna is 15 in front of the band that you end up somehow. You know you just put that away and focus.

You could get off on the right exit when you have all that stuff going on but with the stress of wasting time. The frustration doing a project and then finding out like it was done wrong and that whole thing needs to be flipped on the back. You gotta remove every little item and then in change that around, you know it's usually like a bookcase you 500 pieces in the find of the backboard was termed the opposite direction.

You know it, and just the stress of wasting time and feeling like me and if I would've just done something different. I wouldn't of wasted time in the world looks at the church and they see what were doing tonight's is a waste of time that that what were doing is foolish as is robbing us of what would be valuable date of the world sees money as valuable as pleasure is valuable is a love for things as was really valuable. God calls Christians though.

To love God more than we love.

Anything else that our affection, our hearts desire would be chiefly for God, that those who are truly rich may be poor in the eyes of the world that those who are rich in the eyes of the world may be very poor in the economy of God as well. The world would serve would see serving God is a complete waste of time, energy, resources where is those who love God are seen serving God is the greatest investment of their life. There's really nothing that you and I can do that would invest our time and energies resources better than investing them into the things of God. So I would ask you tonight. How do you view serving God how you view serving God. How do you what you base God's goodness on in your service to God upon when you think about is God good because or is God good like which one do you land that that what you feel God owes you, what would you stop serving God for maybe another way to ask that would cause you to say I'm done serving God. The people in Malachi's day had a religion that had become an external system and it had no internal reality just to bring you into the context of your new to the book of Malachi, Malachi, or him a lot. She recalled it is the last book of the Old Testament and it was written about 400 years before John the Baptist came on the scene. The great voice in the wilderness crying repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

We have about a 400 year gap, but this is also about 100 years after the rebuilding of the temple, the pew, the Jews had gotten back into the land after 70 years of captivity in Babylon.

And so there there. Ezra has already reestablished some things. The book of Ezra Zappa, and Nehemiah has already built the city walls that had been broken down so this is this is several years about a decade past those times and in Malachi, the people had become stale in their religion. It had become external to them. It had no internal reality. As I mentioned, and so God sends Malachi to his name means messenger.

He calls Malachi to go and be a messenger of repentance that he would call the people to God that they would see that there in sin they need to become right on the inside are going through the motions on the outside but there inside is not right with God and in cannot happen to us. Never ever have the external, but there's no internal and neck and beaver become very problematic.

But this section of verses reveals the deterioration of the heart of the people who believe that they deserve more than what God was giving to them. They had base God's goodness on their temporary life and they begin to question God because of what they were going through. Throughout this book, the people could not see their sin. They could only see their goodness every time God questioned them and said you're doing this wrong, they would say where we doing that wrong.

You need to work on this where we need to work on that.

And God comes in Malachi chapter 1 verse three says God loves you and they said were you. How do we know that you love us, on the date the questioned everything is like a rebellious teenager and in and that was their spirit, their attitude they they brought God sacrifices that really reflected their feelings toward God, they brought God they were supposed to bring God their first and best sacrifice the best of the flock. The best of their herds but instead they were bringing God or leftovers in, and it was really reflecting how they viewed God or what you offer to God with your time, energy, service resources, reflects the value that God has in your heart or life in service to God and in and in what we do with that life reflects our God's value in our heart. In the same way. What God did with the life he had reflects the value that he sees in us and so you say what did Christ give up for us. We he was rich, became ports of the way through his poverty might be rich right. Jesus Christ gave up his life that we might have life. The value of love he showed to us with a question God's love a Rob God of tithes and offerings in Malachi 3 verse eight and nine. He says you've robbed me and they said were you.

We have revived the and he says and ties and offerings and so here the rebellion continues as their words increase against the Lord. This is such an important text for us because all of us in life are going to face trials that will test our faith. It will cause us to step back and say how could God be good if such bad things seem to be happening in my life.

How could God be good if such seeming injustices are happening to me and we will begin to attach the goodness of God to temporary situations.

We will base God's glory in his great majesty on paper length situations, but that is exactly what happened in Malachi's day and into night is really a warning of that and maybe some things we can do to help us when we traverse valleys as I can tell you it's okay to say you know God's great God's wonderful and and and and that's easy to do when you're on a mountaintop life's going well but you know if you've lived any length of life that life can really put you in some sticky places you can be in some situations where you're just trying to make it through the day you're not thinking about next month or next year you're trying to think about how do I get through this day when when breathing is tough when when living is difficult when you're so pressed by paying an inward or outward suffering and in. You begin to say God, why, and so when we look through this and I think it will help us as we look at in message I've entitled to serving God in vain, and this is really where the people in Malachi's they had landed and so first of all, let's look at what I call the divine accountability and that's in verse 13 through 14. He says to them in verse 13 God says your words have been stout against me safe. The Lord, and what that means is the word stout.

There is a is a Hebrew word that means your words have been very harsh against me. They have been very hard against me. They have been aggressive toward me. They have been strong. They have been criticizing against me and and in their criticizing God with harsh language. This is more fierce than what they were doing back in chapter 2 Malachi chapter 2 verse 17 says you have wearied the Lord with your words and in their responses.

Always, yet they say, wherein have we wearied him me that this is what they always do and when you say everyone to do with evil is good in the sight of the Lord, and he did life in heaven.

Where is a God of judgment. They begin to question God's justice and chapter 2 it continues with more fierce response in chapter 3 that that is the kind of language. This doubts spirit and in verbal assaults against God that really reflects the heart of ferry terminal and when Moses came to Barrow and said let my people go throughout Pharaoh response that in Exodus 52 Pharaoh said who is the Lord that I should obey the voice guide his voice to let Israel go. I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go to is God who does he think he is what you're about to find so that's that's that. That harsh language that's that that spirit of rebellion. In fact, the word stout that's used in Malachi chapter 3 verse 13 is the Hebrew word because sock sockets and of these ages and in Hebrews like you're hawking something because sock is Isaac, but it's the same word used for hardening when it's a minute later talks about that in the book of Exodus when Pharaoh's heart was socked it was hard so he gave hard speech against God because his heart was hardened toward God. This is this is what happens. Benson's commentary says your words have been blasphemous and void of all reverence and duty you have spoken injurious leave me and have uttered such things as this honor. Me know.

How did God know their words were stout, fierce and hard against how did he know that was you listening question is can he not listen to God.

God not only knew they had harsh language against him, but he actually knew the exact words that they used takes it to a whole another level because in verse number 14.

Notice what he says will start researching. This is usually your words have been stout against me safe, Lord, notice others, but yet he said what have we spoken so much against the verse 14 he have said, and then God begins to quote the things that they say this is what I call the divine accountability. This is this is our ever present accountability. Never said what I wish I had a good accountability partner heavens like we it's important that a physical accountability part. I do understand that but you need to understand there and I now want to lift this tonight up to the place that it deserves. But there is a level of accountability that we should feel from the weight of God's presence that is always with us a flip if you would with me to Psalms 139. I just want to highlight a couple things that are Psalms chapter 139 because David here understood this. David was really pressed by the reality of God's ever abiding presence.

I kinda want to break down the you these verses in Psalm 139 touch on this. He says in Psalm 139 and if you not been familiar with this chapter.

It is a chapter that is worth reading the repetitious late and memorizing 139, says the Lord, thou has searched me and you've known me word for searched here is actually a word used for mining and extracting precious metals out of the earth, Lord, you have mined me. You have unearthed me. You have dug into my soul you know what's inside of me. You have excavated me is the idea and end as the divine minor you have known me the extracting nature of your searches caused you to now know me, you, you have what is on the inside has now become manifest and he begins the chapter with the fact that applies to the knowledge of the omniscient mind to the most intimate thoughts of the heart. Why is it important for us to reflect upon the greatness of God's knowledge of our detailed lives think it's important for us to reflect on that. How does it affect the person when things become out in the open. How many sins in your life do you think you would have said no to. If you knew they would be out in the open. If you knew everyone would know about it if all the wrongs of your life or put on a big screen to show others that you committed in the last seven days.

How reformed or do you think you have lived in the last seven days would you have changed the wording would you have change some attitudes you have changed some thoughts. It is like being set on the dark areas of our life that really help a person to turn the dark sins of life into right action that's that's why you will notice people who sin run from the light they want to get away from accountability for why some people just don't want to ever be around churches because they don't want the light on accountability. They don't want the exposure. John read Jesus nails it on the head. Does any man love and and this is gone, the nation, the light is come in the world, and men loved darkness rather than light. Why, because their deeds were evil.

Verse 21 goes on in verse 20 is on us is really going to do with evil hates the light you to come to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved or he would be reviewed for that but he that knew the truth comes the light, that is, these may be manifest. The rotting God is a Jesus made it very clear that people don't want to come to the light because the light brings exposure and that most people don't commit sin at noon in the day, knowing their latest was a big party at 11 AM about 2 PM. I know I was a young rebellious kid nighttime just lured her sin is like a fishing lure to the young sinner it's you you wanted the cover of night and so God's knowledge of our lives is extensive. He says in verse number two.

Here, thou knowest. My down sitting and mine uprising. What does that mean with this is to say that God knows the time that he knows us from the time we go to bed to the time that we rise up and everything in between. God knows all that we do both in the resting times of life, and in the activities of life. To date we have watches and cell phones.

I remember one had like my for my first smart phones and I remember taking a walk in and I got home and the funds that you want to record your walk account dear. You follow me around like you tracking creditor and you know it, and now we have watches only steps I got today 47,000 steps as I don't always like whatever. So she beats me every every bit, but we we we we have things that attract us to give the detail of our heartbeat give the detail of where we've been where all this information and if we have gadgets that can do that.

How much more do you think God could much more does God know the details and Jesus relays that he knows the very hairs of our head. They are numbered.

I can only do that for a couple of you, but God knows that I don't know why that's insensitive to the two in here but watch me next week will be cursed with a baldheaded just come right off the straight. I can tell you to start going it's gone guy on the color black or brown anything else and I'm not hanging on to what's back here okay professor in college he could loop it and I thought that the visit be 30 inches long. I mean it was working all the we literally walk through the grounds, and numbing. The wind picked up and is like he doesn't have any hair under there is just off of the basket system that nobody let it go God. God knows us in a knows what what we think verse two, he says, you understand my thought afar off. This statement is is important verse to know what you get this. This doesn't mean that God is far off in heaven, and knows our thoughts, for God is near all the time. What this statement means is before our thoughts are actually fully developed when there simply in the germination form God already knows what they will become. That's literally what this is, meaning God knows every single detail of every single thought that we have all the inside thoughts are as clear as outward words and actions.

He knows our thoughts when our thoughts are far from full production that should cause us to make sure our thoughts are moving in the right direction. He thought, you see how it goes.

You see how how God just and David grasp that I think that you searched me and you mind me your you're looking past the external anybody can look good on the outside. God is looking for the heart that is clean any any says in verse three that you know where I go you can pass my path and my lying down your acquainted with all my ways work and passes come from a Hebrew word that means the window as the Jews would window grain by casting it up near the heavier grain would fall and in the lighter chapter uses or will be blown away. Here the meaning David gives his God is sifting him to rid his life of the useless chap of his life and soul is really good.

There remained you, you can pass me your winnowing me seeing what's what's good my path and my lying down speaks of God, winnowing, and evaluating life in every way the whole entire life from what's active to what's inactive. He says your acquainted with all my ways.

All the past that I tread the whole course of my life. All I do in all places is fully known to God not God then is seen as knowing all the believers ways as he sifts the believer evaluating what goes on in his life to see what is good what is useless.

This is reflective of prescriptive step three. Right when we before God and he puts us in the fire of his judgment the bema seat of the judgment seat of Christ, see what is old overpressure Stonewood is wood hay and stubble and ask a question what is the last time you stopped and thought, God is here right now and would he be okay with what's going on in the place that I met there. Well tonight, right now it would exist. Life can we say that when were wherever we got be okay with us watching this guy be okay with us and how we are in our marriage we got be okay with time talking to my husband or my wife got be okay with Don treating my family, my on parenting my children verse four. God knows what I say. He says, for there is not a word in my tongue, but low Lord, thou knowest it all together where I tell you it's a pretty intense thing when you think about God knows every single word that's ever been given God's knowledge of all of our thoughts extends the words he says you know it all together.

Note what that with that statement means you know it all together you now somebody can say something and then they realize they probably should've said that they try to turn the statement around is really not what I was really trying to say is I know it all together. I know the words and the intention there is no snow squirting out of this business, that's a right way statement.

There is no getting out of this. If we can examine your will and the angel Lord bring the Lord Jehovah who came to Abraham in Genesis 18 uses a RAM your old and well stricken in years, kindly save his own language. What he says and your wife is also very old and stricken years and have a wife come this season that a year from dinner so they had a child is is you can have a child in your old age and the Bible says Sarah was inside the tent and overheard the Lord say that to Abraham and Sarah laughed and the Lord responded and said why did your wife why did Sarah laugh is anything too hard for the Lord, and here's what Sarah said I did not laugh, speak what we would've done right in and you know the Lord said no but you did laugh. She didn't respond. You understand that's how this is going to work there. There is no there is not really know that's what you did me no arguing.

He knows my heart so much better than I know myself and so Matthew 1236 Jesus made a very heavy statement said this, but I seen you that every idle word that men shall speak, he shall give account thereof in the day of judgment every idle word that's not even every important word every casual statement every police just every whatever you say you'll give account thereof was last time you stopped and thought should I say this because I know the God knows exactly what I just said and what I'm going to say God will hear me when I say that first Peter 310 says for he that will love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips that they speak no guile. Ephesians 429 says let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth you at the next verse says, and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God. You know what greets him when corrupt communication comes out of her mouth. Oh how I love Jesus and then were cussing by the time were pulling out your own progress. That is that is that is that shouldn't happen. Amen.

I hope it doesn't happen and so let no corrupt communication go to guard her lips in any says in verse five that has beset me behind before and laid thine hand upon me.

Got you even compassed me word beset here means to enclose with the hedge its use of an army surrounding the cities of theirs no way to escape the idea here is that God has enclose this on every side, and there's no way to escape God no matter what direction we try to run, so you laid your hand upon me and and isn't this reflective of David rumor what he said in Psalms 32 attribute sin with Bathsheba broken his violent and end with his wife but he also violated the wife of Uriah need any sleep – even God brings judgment down upon his head and and David said in Psalms 32. Three.

When I kept silence my bones. Wax told for my roaring all day long. David and tell anybody about it. He says for day and night by hand was heavy upon me. God was literally crashing. David because of David's unrepented of sin, you had the hand of God. Just press you just just squeezing your life never tried to get away from God and live in rebellion and find God's hand just pressing you are thankful for that are thankful for the hand of God that squeezes when we try to get away from him. God's knowledge is so overwhelming liquidated says in verse six. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, says it is is high.

I cannot attain just just hear the breath go out of David's life is just overwhelmed with omniscience. He's grasping the just touching if you would become of the garment of God's omniscience and is just taking his breath away and he concludes that it just transcends me.I held my 8 ounce cup of my knowledge to the ocean of your omniscience and adjusters caused me to be in silence is like jokers that I've spoken once, but I put my hand upon my mouth and I will not speak twice. I spoke of things too wonderful for me. You understand there is a day when were going to be rocked in silence. Not because God says be quiet, but because our own soul would say you can't have a word be uttered in the presence of such glory will be so overwhelmed with the glory of God. I think all of us when we get to heaven were just gonna go work really overwhelmed with how horrifying are sinners to be overwhelmed with how great the grace of God is in our hearts are going to be in such an allegiance to God to begin to grasp even greater how great the sacrifice was gaze upon the scars and say God. How could she look back at Earth and say how could I how reformed I would've lived. How more devoted I would've been David concludes Psalms 139 with one of threat. Perhaps one of the greatest prayers that I've I've used this really probably every week of my life I I grasp this. This these verses and just incorporate them in my prayers. But if you're not familiar with someone 3923 four that that that's really the that's the conclusion of the heart begins to get this you come to this like this is what you end that if you get someone 39 you'll get this because there's nowhere else you can land you won't run from God because there's no way to run from God you won't be a foolish Jonah you will say things like search me oh God, and know my know my heart try me and know my thoughts lying out from me what you see there and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting. Show me if there's any sin that I can repent of it that I could get on the right path and live for you.

I don't want to hide sin from you. What a fool I would be. I want to be revealed to myself how wicked I am, so that I can repent and get right with you search me and let me know what your search has concluded.

Grieve me over what greets you, let me see my sin as intense as you see drawn me to my own brokenness and humility over my sin. And so with that, let's go back to Malachi chapter number three and in in in from Psalm 139.

They just want you to see how the mountain Malachi's day response to the omniscience of God. Listen to how the people Amalekites, they respond God says your words have been stout against men know what your words of been over there is not a word in my tongue that lower Lord, you know it all together but they say why have we spoken so much against the notice what they say about God. In verse 14. Your words of been stout against me say the Lord you have said it is vain to serve the Lord. It is vain to serve God and what profit is it that we have kept his ordinance that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts. Here the rebellious heart of man is not pray Psalm one 3923 and four would not of been wonderful to us as your words been stout against me and they said oh God, search us, nor heart. Try us and if there's any wickedness lead us in the way everlasting would not of been a beautiful ending to Malachi. Instead, they reject God's divine accountability God's accusations and then they challenge God. When God calls them to account for their actions there now calling God to account for his actions.

The creation is now calling the creator into question their pride had so inflated themselves that they became the judge of God self deification is always the result of the prideful person man will always profess himself to be wise when they remove the creator and they will ultimately become fools because of fully set his heart there is no God and they will say, God, you will be the answer you question me. I question you, Sarah. As I said tried to escape the accountability of God.

She could not do that me ask you how you treat God's divine account accountability. You treat God's divine accountability for going to see the rebellious response to God there. Verse 1415 yes, that is vain to serve God. What's that mean literally means this when they say it is vain to serve God there. There saying it is completely useless serving.this is a waste of our time wasteful. What profit is it to keep his ordinance. They saw obedience to God as being a taker.

Instead of being a giver. They saw disobedience to God is the real way to fulfillment that the light of Satan gave jointly fulfill the is not obedience to God to bring fulfillment, it's disobedience you need to send to be fulfilled and that how people do and it says and that we have walked mournfully before the Lord of hosts were morning comes from the verb to be dark or perhaps having darkened her face with grief and sorrow for some flight of their nation and some sin, but they concluded these acts were completely useless. What why do we why we put dark clothing on and put dirt on her head or throw ashes and put ashes on his wife while we walk around mournfully wanting God to bring blessing upon the negatives is a waste of time that they had the externals, but there was nothing internal to verse 15 it says in now what what verse 15 is saying in our literally and from now on we will call the proud or the arrogant and sinful.

The happy ones.

So from now on were going to call prideful people who are arrogant and boastful and sinful. The happy ones that work wickedness there. They're the ones are set up there. The really blessed ones they did attempt God there even delivered that they do evil, and they escape the judgment of God, nothing bad ever happens to the people who attempt God greater of the people Amalekites day was was due to their pride.

It was such a vicious assault against the goodness of God.

Again, then this is the these were the people God's chosen people and if there in such darkness, what he thinks happening to the world at that time. If God's people in the dark oligarch with the world so so first they thought that they earned more than they received. These are some things that cause problems. They thought they earn more than they received they believed they had worked for more than they had the question God for their sin. For for the punishment that they were going through the trials they were going through. They questioned God why God would accuse them of sin. So in the midst of some of their difficulties instead of them looking inward saying perhaps some of these things are being caused because were sinning, none of they got mad because God allowed trials to come upon them. Secondly, they attached all of God's blessings to the here and now they made earth.

There heaven and were wanting their best life now you were going to church. They wanted to go to. How foolish to base God's goodness on the temporary incident. How foolish to build sand castles and say, God, if you don't give me the pass Sandcastle now and I should write about your best Sandcastle now by forwarded by Joel O'Steen but Psalm 73. If you're not familiar. Psalm 73. You can flip over their own REITs of this to you is very familiar. Psalm 73 you know what I'm talking about razor and okay so Marita this is this is this is this is the chapter that was written by a guy who struggled with this issue. Why do believers go through trials and why do the wicked prosper. I do what it is in the terminology of today. Why do bad things happen to good people want to good things happen about the realities is not good right question is not why do bad things happen to good people to what the question is why do good things happen to anybody. Psalm 73, one just walk through some of this chapter with you it's it's just that it explains itself. Psalm is going to pretty quick.

Psalm 73 with verse one. This is truly God is good to Israel, even to such as a cleaner that's true.

Verse two but as for me, my feet were almost gone.

My stepson well-nigh slipped. He said I was in a slippery place. I almost fell for. I was envious that the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked, and he begins to detail this from verse four all the way down. Look at verse 12 pickup backup. He says behold these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world. They increase in riches, verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain. I got clean before God for nothing is what he sink and wash my hands and in and seek for all day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning.

He's he's here attaching the goodness of God to temporary circumstances.

Verse 16 he goes on when I thought to notice it was too painful for me to have a thought that harasses you. This just can't do it and you know what brought him back to sanity. Verse 17 three verse 17 together until I went into the sanctuary of God then understood either you know what the word end means. It means you just remove yourself from the temporary and you've cast yourself into the eternal. When I went out when I get so focused on the microcosm of my temporary existence and not the macrocosm of the eternal glory of God.

I can get messed up. He says it was there that I verse 18. Surely doubt that set them in slippery play are not the slippery one. They are building sand castles. Waves are coming. Sandcastle then realized high tide coming in right rebuilder Sandcastle Navan surely other systems. The device verse 19.

How are they brought into desolation is in a moment there utterly consumed with tears as a dream when one awake is so Lord when doubt awake, and shalt thou despise their image. This, my heart is grieved. I was pricked in my rain so foolish was I and ignorant. I was a beast before the he's like I was like a dumb animal.

How many times this got the gun and say you're just like a just so foolish thereof never work with animals. Tears work with animals to be extremely stressful about grandpa had a pig farm. We got there can be very stubborn sometimes. And so you would be like walk a line of them into like a fairing borrowed another building or something like that and sometimes a general stubborn. They like would want to go into the building and that you get when an shockers anybody don't talk about you all would shock each other man weird his men REITs like the pig and we did these boards and try to tell you they get.

You get so frustrated and sometimes you get so stubborn and it's like just go in and don't you like shocking them and pushing him and you can do anything they can feel it made his big 500 pound figures like you know what you do vector scratch a little to the left.

You try to get a vendor wear myself out here, but that's how we can become like a foolish animal to God, we just we tried were bent to go the wrong way. Verse 23. Nevertheless, this is on continually with the why. Why am I continually with God. Why am I still there, why are you still here what Val has holding me by my right hand. You are the one who is holding me, you have held me by my writing would Jesus say you're in my hand, and no one like you out over that not verse 25 whom have I in heaven with the there is not up on earth that I desire besides the my flesh, my heart fails so what God is the strength of my heart my portion forever hello they that are far from the shall perish in that has destroyed all indigo hoarding from the but it is good for me to draw near to God.

I have put my trust in the Lord God, that I may declare all thy works. That's how he in just some keys to to why this man in Psalm 73 and why these people Malachi. These are some the reasons why they begin to slip from their faith. First of all, they, as I mentioned, they elevated the temporary prosperity basing God's goodness on temporary prosperity God is good. If these tangible things work well for me what what we do when we do that again, as were were creating a Sandcastle system and saying God, your goodness is based upon this little Sandcastle goddesses. I don't build Sandcastle.

I don't play in the sand God, the God of eternity. His elder law and the God who sits in eternity.

They said what profit is there in serving God get the Lord speaks to such foolishness. In Mark eight. That's is what profit is there if you gain the whole world and lose your own soul you talk about what profits you. Jesus says if any man comes after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.

You come into the kingdom naked stripped of everything was a church related see said you think you're rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing yet. You're naked and destitute and poor you are impoverished.

What was a church at Smyrna. The church's murder had nothing right is that you you are poor, but you are rich, what happens when God calls you rich the rich do you think that is anybody want God to call you Richard the will call you poor… To deal. I'll take what is your soap organizes all your rich I'll take that economy. Matthew 724 to 27.

The man could've go to Castle and sand.

The man could have had a small home in the Rockford in the great storm who would you rather be Luke 16 the rich man had everything Lazarus had nothing but when they died. It sure changed and it basing God's goodness on the temporary, not only eternal looking at the physical not the spiritual. Remember, people may look good on the outside with a fulfilled life is not the life filled with things the fulfilled life is a life filled with God gives them keys to staying balanced and stable Percival base God's goodness and what he's done for you spiritually, not what he's done for you physically, God's goodness is not bound or temporary earthly timeline, but on eternity. Second, I give the illustration may times, but if you you had a timeline straight from that door over that wall. Some hundred and 10 feet or so and and say was a years and every little tiny thread of carpet just one little tiny thread of carpet was was 1 million years and you and millions of years spread across this room is billions of years, I should say and in and that's it.

That's just a picture of eternity goddesses was a 70 or 80 or 90 year lifespan look like in such a timeframe, you would you could even draw.big enough to see is God's goodness based on that little fraction of a.or the expanse of eternity. Why would you only got up and down there that might need us and hurting my back is an ache in my ankles, not skinny in my is that what we do. My friends went out no battery died. I wanted to start the God of the church Sunday or I remember early on this happen all the time because we start with a people just all new believers, many of them new believers and people people signal for protractor, I got saved.

I really thought things would get easier my life I tell you what they've got difficult church got you guys are paying you to use that language to be always on my go take your remarks at number eight.

While the conversation of Luke 1314.

Jesus says he may come after me. There's a denial process. Anyone who hates his life shall save it. You think you think Jesus going to go to across in your will be given comfort you think lies going to be a bed of roses. This is an art. This is a paradise for us folks, this is the field of labor isn't.

I tell you we have a pretty good labor. This is like paradise for some people in the world were so blessed and so sin brilliance 417 says this level possibly you know you preach on this for like an hour and then read this verse and we'd all be like going through so much. This is what he says after he had been beaten, shipwrecked and imprisoned in all these injustices have he says in verse 70 for our light affliction, which is but for a moment, its light and its momentary value.

We would not call light momentary what he went through the help desk working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. We look not at the things which are seen with the things which are what Nazi the things which are seen are just several things are not seen the return in Romans 818 reckon the sufferings of this present time worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

It's not even comparable what God is going to eternally bless us with compared to what we go through for him. You can compare the two perspectives, 1558.

You need to understand this nothing you ever do for God is ever a waste of time. Not one of the most tiny fraction of service with honor to God in your heart of devotion to him of prayer of suffering for him of even suffering, and trusting God nothing will ever go through. For God is ever a waste of time prescribing 1558 is, therefore, my beloved brother, be steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord. For as much as you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord anybody glad your labor is not available. I have labored on my car before and on like this is been a faint project for me.

I've broken stuff I've made it worse. Back off Josh, I'm not. I don't even feel safe right now.

Some freak. I need somebody at your prayer list all of them.

I got stop doing this of Mark 941 for whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, verily, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward and that something in Matthew 25 he says I was hungry and you and me officers to give me drink it like when we do that he says is much at least these these little acts of service you did on near you don't even remember them but I remember singularly rewarded for things like I did not even know you know you'll do that because that's what they did there there like shot in the godly good to be shocked because God has forgiven all of our sins were like in my not going to be judged on things notes on the grace of God like a sink race for me with and then God will send you remember when you do this like I don't remember the victory. I'm sure there's a way to see he's going to he's gonna bring all these things back and you did this you did this and you did this for this person you think I should make us all come to church with the spirited want to serve one another.

You think I should make us when we leave your so you know what when I go to Walmart on somebody that door for that person. Glory of God and love of Christ for the love that song share the gospel with my neighbor see how I can minister that person every day of your entire entity. Every little thing you do can be done for the glory of God in the most pedestrian just the tiniest so that world.

So Galatians 69 says let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season will reap if we faint not in so Dorothy Salyer wrote on Jesus suffering on the cross for guilt. The guilt of humanity.

She said this and I think this is good, she says, for whatever reason God chose to make man as he is limited in suffering and subject to sorrow and death. He had the honesty encouraged to take his own medicine. He has made he has himself gone through the whole of human experience from the trivial irritation of family life in the cramping restrictions of hard work and lack of money to the worst horrors of pain and humiliation defeat despair and death when he was a man he played the man he was born in poverty died in disgrace and thought it well worthwhile whenever we go through we can look to have and save it. He's been there, he's gone much further than me.

Let's close with the last thought. Verse 16 through 18 the right response to God says. Then they that feared the Lord, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of the wisdom right. Sinners have no fear of God before their eyes says they speak often one to another. When you fear the Lord your mouth will testify of it. And guess who you'll attract other people and for the Lord.

No love to talk about the Lord goes on and says in the Lord hearkened and heard it here.

The divine accountability. Here's the conversations of his people. As I reflect on God and notice how God responds in verse 16 and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that fear the Lord and that thought warm toward their means meditated upon his name.

This book or scroll was written before God and had the names of the people were meditating and conversing about God who would fear the Lord, the true believers.

Henry Morris says in heaven. God keeps records of not just the actions of his people.

But even their thoughts. This verse indicates this particular pleasure. When people truly fear the Lord and he occupies both their conversation and their inward thoughts even, perhaps, especially when most of their contemporaries ignore or reject him. So in the midst of a nation rejecting God. You see God saying get out a scroll. Write a book. Why did he have to do that because the research pronouncements of judgment upon the nation. He wanted them to have sweet assurance who were his.

They would not be caught up in such judgment that they were kept by the power of God. God wants you to have that piece. I look out €40. This is just awesome. He says, but remembers written before them for them that fear the Lord and thought on his name. Verse 17 and they shall be mine in a great, say, the Lord of hosts in that day when I make up my jewels and I will spare them as a man spare his own son that service them and so God wants us to have assurance he writes the book even declares that we are like jewels to him like a precious treasure special to God in any says I will spare you like a man spares his son for his own children and in verse 18 he says, then shall you return and discern between the righteous and wicked, between him to serve God and in the service of not so to the foolish. The heart of standards of of God. God says you don't want to serve you want to fear you to use harsh words against me that in that day, you're going to see the rewards that I dump upon the people who do fear me and serve make you gonna see everything burned up.

When the earth is consumed in judgment and in the wicked are destroyed friend tonight. Are you living for God and serving God.

We have a divine accountability. God knows us inwardly, he knows us outwardly know this, this and bring great strong accountability to us to cause us to say, you know, Lord, search me know my heart try me know my thoughts. If there's any wicked way in believing where lasting but also brings us sweet assurance in the sense that God knows and he still says while we were yet sinners, Christ died for love what AW toes are said he said how unutterably sweet is the knowledge that our heavenly father knows us completely.

No talebearer can inform on us. No enemy can make an accusation stick a forgotten skeleton can come tumbling out of some hidden closet to ambush us and expose her hidden pass no unsuspected weakness in our characters can come to light to turn got away from us. Whatever may befall us. God knows and cares as no one else can it not just so thankful God is not shocked to learn anything about a seniority knows that in life you will face trials and friends is going to be some things that you and I face that are not always going to be an easy answer for me. Sometimes in life or pain can be so intense that there's there's no there's no words of the can take that pain is going hurt but it's in those times a week and just say God I trust Lord gives the Lord takes away the blessed be his name. We need to know this every single day of our life. There is a book being written about the actions of our life Bible says in heaven. The books wrote another book was opened, which the book of life will there's a least three books there. One is the book of life. Another is the Bible because the Bible is will be in heaven according by courting the Bible some one 1989 someone 9160 but also there's a book of records.

The Bible speaks of every word Mansell speaker give an account of God's right netbook down has your chapter 2022. Looking how are you been riding lately know what it is. If you see pen that's been writing down this chapter of my life is been in my hands once and that you just turn it over to God's sake. I want you to Let you begin to write the rest of this year. You know I God in his mercy can go back into the good news is he doesn't erase the good things we've done, but his blood can cover the sins of our life be great, for God sake I could just to remove as far as the east is from the west sins of this year of my life. Cleansing me if you're saved it doesn't save you by saying that, but there's a sanctification is in their is a washing of the fee will need your whole body wash your feet get dirty when you walk through life just be confess our sins and get right with God. So tonight let that be true of us that we say got him turn up and over the soft stance and I we thank you for your work tonight. It's so comforting it's so encouraging. Thank you for mercy, grace and salvation that I thank you for the dear saints that are here tonight the people of God more. You look on an imperfect church because I'm here and these people are here we have a perfect Savior.

And so we knew common challenges of life difficulties in tears and pain. Sometimes we don't understand, and give us grace and faith, trust you and those valleys be with each person denied if anyone is in Christ. Tonight they might come and be saved upright and Chris is denying that we would surrender our lives to be fully devoted to learning Jesus name