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you you Well good morning everyone welcome to mountain baptist church take your song books and turn to song 426 Song 426 in your song books will sing I heard the bells on Christmas Day And if you would stand We'll sing song 426 Christmas Day Carrows play and wild and sweet the words repeat of peace on earth good I thought the day had come the bow fries of all Christian dumb had rolled along the unbroken song of peace on earth goodwill to men and in despair I My head there is no peace on earth I said for hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth goodwill to men then the bells more loud and deep God is not dead nor doth he sleep Shall fail the right prevail with peace on earth Goodwill to men till ringing singing On its way the world revolved from night today a voice a chime Chance sublime of peace on earth goodwill to men Let's pray Heavenly Father Lord again We just want to thank you God for a beautiful Sunday that we get to meet in your house and to hear your word preached I want to thank you Lord for the Sony marathon that happened yesterday all the souls ever saved and throughout last week as well I pray Lord now that you would just be over there pastor fill with your power and spirit for it's in Jesus Name ask all of it. Amen. All right, you may be seated and take your blue Take your blue Mountain Baptist song books Your blue Mountain Baptist Psalms hymns and spiritual song books And turn to page number two Turn to page number two in your blue Mountain Baptist song books We'll sing psalm 15 page number two Lord who shall abide in thy? Tabernacle who shall dwell in thy holy? Hail Lord who shall abide in thy? Tabernacle Who shall dwell in thy holy? Hail he that walketh up rightly and worketh righteousness And Speaketh the truth in his heart He that walketh up rightly and worketh righteousness and Speaketh the truth in his heart He that backbideeth not with his top nor do with the goal to His neighbor nor take up reproach against his neighbor He that backbideeth Not with his tongue and whose eyes Person is content body on them that fear the Lord and whose eyes of Person is content body on them that fear the He that swearth to his own herd and changeeth not He that putteth not His money to usury. He that swearth to his own herd and changeeth not He that putteth not His money to usury nor take it three times I get the Innocent he that do with these things shall never be moved nor take its reward Against the innocent he that do with these things shall never be moved Lord who shall abide in thy? Tabernacle who shall dwell in the holy Amen welcome to Mount Baptist Church on this Sunday morning and Beautiful morning a little chilly, but it's supposed to be warming up. I think to at least get into the 50s today and so Some announcements here we do have some visitors from Mononga so not too far away there and so if you haven't got a chance say hi to them and then We also have our Canadian brethren that came in and we had the soul wing marathon this weekend So praise the Lord for the salvation is there and then also just for everybody that came out to help with that As you see we have a new piano up here It needs to be tuned I guess it'd be okay, it's just a little flat I think but but so well, but again with the old piano if anybody is Is wanting a piano to have at home to practice or anything like that? You know it's yours so first come first serve as far as that goes It's heavy and obviously you might need some help moving it well, we'll figure that out, but Just want to put that out there if anybody wants piano You know You know it's yours. We don't want to stockpile pianos plus. We don't have that much room as it is right now anyway but So anyway, I appreciate the the men that helped helped me move this Yesterday and so a blessing there As far as announcements go be in prayer for those aren't feeling well, I know brother Nick is still not feeling well and then James has had a fever off and on so that's why Most my family's out except for Clara, but most my family's not sick. It's just obviously With me preaching up here. I can't really wrangle all my kids. You know during the church service so But just being a prayer there I know others that have been getting over sicknesses or maybe still dealing with that So just being prayer there tis the season for all of that but and then after the service don't forget that we'll be doing the kids choir practice for the Christmas music and so any of the kids that are gonna be Participating that will have that afterwards as far as church services Go, everything should be normal today. We'll have our afternoon service at 4 p.m But before that we're gonna have our main soul winning time at 1 p.m So give you some time to go get some lunch. You can come back here. We'll get teamed up to go out soul winning At 1 p.m. And then also the regional soul winning times Monday Tuesday, Wednesday Saturday Just be on our church group there as far as knowing the exact locations time and and and all that too as far as Sometimes those get shifted to different days So these are kind of tentative times especially with what they getting dark at like five o'clock now sometimes sometimes I know some of the men will go a little earlier if they can just to kind of get there out there when it's still light It is what it is. We're in we're in some short days now And then on the upcoming events there we have the men's prayer meeting. That'll be this coming Friday So after you go out on Black Friday and trample everybody come back here and ask for forgiveness Actually is Black Friday even That much of a thing anymore. Like everything's online, you know, like every I see Black Friday deals now So which I'm not against, you know, because I was never for Black Friday Anyway, not saying you're insane if you did Black Friday But I just don't like shopping anyway, let alone when everybody's like trampling you Just Yeah, anyway, so but that being said we're gonna have the men's prayer meeting this this coming Friday We do have on the list there December 9th as our Christmas party. So I'm thinking on that that Saturday of having it around 1 130 and the reason for that is we have a lot of kids and It takes a little bit to get that sugar down before bedtime and so So I'm thinking around that time. We are gonna have like the white elephant gift exchange. So So, yeah And obviously I think everybody knows the way that works you just bring For everybody that wants to participate you bring a gift for everybody that's gonna participate doesn't have to be anything expensive I think we had like a $5 $5 or $10 type of You know Like that's the range you want to be in but you know people give gat gag gifts and everything else we've seen that where someone will give you a I Saw one time at the church at a manual someone filled up a a cereal box with lemons and that was the gift so Now if someone finds out yeah, that's right fruit fruit nowadays that now that nowadays They give me that But kids opening that they're not gonna be that happy but But anyway, you won't have the kids ones and then we'll have the adult ones and so So that that'll be coming up here soon. So that'd be on the 9th and then the next Saturday There's gonna be soloing marathon. I think it says Marietta, Ohio, but it may be Parkersburg. Now. Those are really close together. So It's in the same area So that's going to be on December 16th And so if you can make it out to that, that'd be great on the back of your bullets in there We have our chapter memory of the month Romans chapter 10. And so Many of you probably have a lot of these verses memorized if not the whole chapter But it's always good to have this chapter memorized for soul winning purposes But just you know in general it's great a lot of great verses in there Hebrews 13 5 is our memory verse for the week. Let your conversation be without covetousness And be content with such things as you have but yet said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee So that's a memory verse for the week and then birthdays do we Did we miss anybody last week because I was out in Arizona last week. Did we get everybody last week? Before I get into the the new ones here because we have we have Bella Alyssa so we need to get Alyssa. Okay, so it's Alyssa Ford and then Well, Aaron you're you're up to you Hold are you brother? You're still young And then the spinas are out And then Juliet's the 25th and Elijah's the 25th So and that's my younger brother's birthday, too so but he doesn't get sunk to because he's got to be here for that so but So Juliet's Elijah so half the Ford family So we'll get you we'll sing for you here before we get into the next song and then on the pregnancy list there We have Alyssa Anastasia and tabby so be in prayer there for all these ladies, but also be in prayer for those that just had little ones the recovery process they're transitioning into having more children and so just be in prayer for all those and And also be in prayer for those that are wanting to have more children and all that You know just be in prayer there that that everything works out the way the Lord would want it I think that's about all I have for announcements at the moment Can't think of anything at the moment that I I'll remember it for the next service if there's anything else Hi, if you want to give a tithe or an offering you can give it in the box right back there whenever you want and Then the the mother baby rooms for the mothers and babies only We'll have brother they've come up sing happy birthday and Also another song and then I forgot as a brother wave or brother Anthony But Anthony's gonna be reading first Timothy chapter 6 for us before we get into the sermon All right, take your song books and turn to page 293 Song 293 in your song books we'll sing Is You're All on the Altar Is You're All on the Altar But before we sing that we need to sing happy birthday to all of these on the birthday list. So we have Alyssa, Aaron You say Juliet is this week as well Bella is sick like out all five of my five except All of my kids are at home as well So Bella's not here too. So we'll sing. Happy birthday to her next time. Let's see. So Alyssa Aaron Juliet Elijah dude We're getting you all done this week. All right, you all want to stand up There you go, yeah, you know I was gonna make I wasn't gonna rag on Aaron because he's bigger than I am and All right, so we'll sing happy birthday and then Julie Jules Jules, there you go. You standing up. Why don't you stand up on that chair so we can see you. There you go That's perfect. All right, awesome. We'll sing. Happy birthday to all you all Ready? Here we go. Ready? Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday God bless you Happy birthday to you Happy birthday to y'all and we will sing song Number 293 You have longed for me sweet peace and for faith to increase and ever Nestle fervently prayed But you can not be pressed or be perfectly blessed until all on the altar is laid Is your all on the altar of Sacrifice lane your heart does the speed control You can only be blessed and at peace and sweet rest As you yield him your body So Would you walk with the Lord in the light of his word and at peace and content men all way You must do his sweet will To be free from all them on the altar You're all you must lay Is your all on the altar of Sacrifice lane your heart does the spirit control You can only be blessed and at peace and sweet rest As you yield him your body and soul Oh, we never Can know What the Lord will bestow of the blessings? for which we have prayed Till your body and soul He doth fully Control and are all on the altar is laid Is your all on the altar of Sacrifice lane your heart does the spirit control You can only be blessed and at peace and sweet rest as you yield him your body and soul Who can tell Love he will send from above and I'll happy our hearts will be made of the Fellowship suite we shall share at his feet when are all on the altar is laid Is your all Sacrifice lane your heart does the spirit Control You can only be blessed and at peace and sweet rest as you yield him your body and soul All right, take your Bibles and turn to the book of 1st Timothy chapter number 6 1st Timothy chapter number 6 in your Bibles and we'll have brother Anthony come and read that for us 1st Timothy chapter 6 The Bible reads let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed and They that have believing masters let them not despise them because they are brethren but rather do them service Because they are faithful and beloved partakers of the benefit These things teach and exhort if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ into the doctrine which is according to godliness He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and stripes stripes of words whereof cometh envy strife railings evil surmising's perverse disputings of men of Corrupt minds and destitute of the truth supposing that gain is godliness from such withdrawal thyself But godliness with contentment is great gain for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain we can carry nothing out And having food and raiment let us be there with content But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish and hurtful lusts Which drown men in destruction and perdition for the love of money is the root of all evil Which while some coveted after they have heard from the faith and pierced themselves through with many sorrows But thou o man of God flee these things and follow after righteousness godliness faith love patience meekness Fight the good fight of faith lay hold on eternal life Where unto thou art also called and have hast professed a good profession before many witnesses I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate Witnessed a good confession They thou keep this commandment without spot Unrebucible until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ which in his times He shall show who is the blessed and only potent it the king of kings and Lord of Lords who hath only hath immortality dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto whom no man hath seen nor can see to whom be honor and power Everlasting amen charges them that are rich in this world That they be not high-minded nor trust in uncertain riches But in the living God who giveth us richly all things to enjoy that they do good that they be rich in good works Ready to distribute willing to communicate laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time To come that they may lay hold on eternal life Oh Timothy Keep that which is committed to thy trust avoid profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely So-called which some professing have erred according to concerning the faith grace be with thee. Amen. Let's pray definitely father Thank you for this morning where we can gather and study from your word I pray it should be a pastor Robson film with the Holy Spirit and help us all be edified this morning in Jesus name. I pray Amen so you're there and first Timothy chapter 6 and I want to preach a sermon entitled be content Be content and we're coming into Thanksgiving this coming next week, or I guess it's this week Yeah, this week. It's Sunday. And so when I think about Thanksgiving, obviously I think the big thing when it comes to being thankful is just being content with what you have and There's actually a portion. I'm gonna be getting into a certain point that really made me think of being content or more So being content is a way to deal with certain maybe problems that you have Whether it and I'm gonna be getting into a certain one like like anger Okay, you may say well, how does that help you with anger? Well, that's what I'm gonna be getting into because I do believe that that definitely correlates But let's look at the text passage here in verse 3 Let's just get some context here as far as very famous Passage here as far as being content But verse 3 here says if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ into the doctrine which is according to godliness He is proud knowing nothing but doting about questions and strives of words Whereof cometh envy strife railings Evers evil surmises perverse disputings and men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth Supposing that gain is godliness from such withdrawal thyself. So when it comes to the words of God, they are pure They're holy. They're wholesome There's never a time to be ashamed of what the Bible has to say There may be some hard things that are said there's some crass things that are said, but those are wholesome words They're pure words and anybody that would say otherwise is proud and they don't know anything The Bible's right you're wrong and when it comes to what's pure the Bible's right on what's pure And what's evil the Bible's right on what's evil? But the thing is is that there's people out there that That think that if you have gain meaning that if you have riches that means you're godly You know you think about the Joel Steens of the world you think about like this kind of prosperity type of Preaching that's out there to where you know, if you have a lot that must mean that you're godly because you're being blessed but there's a lot of wicked people that have a lot of money and That doesn't mean that they're godly and So just because you have a lot of things doesn't mean they got that that you're you're godly or that that's coming from God Now every good gift and every perfect gift is from above and coming down from the father of lights We know that and we know that God is good Even even to those that are evil and and all that we know that's true but the idea here is that Just because you have a lot of things doesn't mean that that that you're right with God and that you're doing what you should be Doing in a lot of cases when you're dealing with the wicked or the unbelievers, you know They'll have a lot of nice things but you know don't envy them because their day is coming and they're in slippery places meaning that if they die they're done and All they had to remember anything good is what they had in this world But going on from that in verse 6 it says but godliness with contentment is great gain So being content, you know, obviously having godliness and being content with what you have is great gain and Explains this a little further because in verse 7 says for we brought nothing into this world and it is certain We can carry nothing out think of Job He says naked came I into this world and naked shall return thither right is The idea there is that we came into the world with nothing. We're leaving with nothing And what is this talking about physical things right material things? so when you think about being content, I think the the number one thing you're gonna think of is What you have material wise right what you have as far as like a house car like whatever clothing Whatever you have is the idea is being content with what you have But it says in verse 8 and having food and raiment. Let us be there with content So if if you're you're not hungry and you have clothes on your back Be content and Obviously God promises that to us I we get into a verse on that as well. But the idea here is that That's what we should just be content with that anything else is is bonus really and Going on from that in verse set that verse 9 it says but they that will be rich Fall into temptation now the thing that I want you to understand there is that it's not it's not simple to be rich, right? Solomon had great riches and God gave him those riches It where it gets it gets sinful or gets it gets wrong is where those that will desire And like they want to be rich, right? It's like their whole modus operandi is to be rich and that's what they're living for They're living to be made rich and The idea here is that those that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many foolish hurt and hurtful lusts Which drown men in destruction and perdition and here's where you really get into it for the love of money is the root of all Evil see money is not the root of all evil The love of money is the root of all evil right money answers all things and obviously you need money to pay the bills You need money to go get food get clothing pay you pay the rent pay the mortgage, right? but the idea is that if you love money right is that's where you're getting it and I know some people say well, you know, it's the root of Of some evil or it's it's a root of all evil. No, it's the root of all evil and You can go all the way back to to to the devil and he wanted to be like the most high He wanted everything right? He wanted all the possessions. He wanted all that. He wanted everything that came with it and We need to be aware of that that we don't love money especially as we're going into the holiday season you know you think about like all the material things that are out there and just not Not loving that not loving not not, you know, basically obviously coveting things And all that it says which while some coveted after they have erred from the faith and pierced themselves through With many sorrows and so this is a big warning out to Christians basically saying be content with what you have if you have food and raiment be content and Not to be just coveting after a whole bunch of stuff not loving money Not not seeking to be rich and and now if God makes you rich praise the Lord if he blesses you with many Great things and listen. I I consider myself rich. Okay, you know as far as what we have in this world right now, I Definitely don't consider myself poor Now if you compare yourself to millionaires billionaires, then yeah, I mean we're poor compared to that But in all honesty You know, I have I have a house I have two vehicles I have clothes my back, you know, like this is not an Armani But I got it at JC Penney's and you know what it fits nice. I like it That's all it needs to be right? You're like JC Penney's I got mine from a thrift store, you know but I get that, you know, but but the thing is is that we need to be content with what we have and obviously dealing with material possessions and our Memory verse for the week is Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 5. You can turn it if you'd like but Hebrews chapter 13 in verse 5 It says let let your conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as you have We hath said I will never leave thee nor forsake thee so that we may boldly say The Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me now the thing with this is I Understand where you know, obviously you would love to have enough money to where you don't have to worry about Paying anything you don't have to work, you know, like everything's being paid and listen I'm all about having good finances and not just constantly being worried about paying the bills Okay So I'm obviously I'm not saying that you should be in that state or you should definitely be in a state where you're just like Everything's getting paid and it is what it is and you're not living above your means but I'll say this and I When it comes to the Lord is my helper The idea here is that we don't want I don't want to be wealthy and here's my reason why is in Proverbs chapter 30 in Verse 7 it says two things have a required of thee deny me them not before I die remove far from me Vanity and lies give me neither poverty nor riches feed me with food convenient for me So you don't want to you don't want to be on the poverty line But you also you don't want to I don't want to be rich either and let me give you the reason It'll actually the Bible will tell you the reason why here it says lest I be full and deny thee and say who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal and take the name of my God in vain So you don't want to be on the poverty line where you're having to steal and like obviously you have to commit sin to try to even survive But you also don't want to be on the rich side where you're gonna forget God The idea is that you're in this ear in the realm where you have to trust in the Lord and You're you're you're working and you're getting money because here's thing if you had enough money right now to just live for the next 20 years Okay Then I'm not saying that you can't serve the Lord I'm not saying that you know, you couldn't still do what you should be doing and live righteously and all that but there's a tendency To Basically say I have what I need and not lean on the Lord When you're working and you're like, hey, if I stop working the pills the bills don't get paid Then you have to lean on the Lord. This is why the poor are rich in faith because the poor are Already having to lean on the Lord on it on a daily weekly basis to say hey I'm not gonna be able to survive if I don't keep working if the Lord doesn't bless me with health doesn't bless me with a Job, you know all these things that you're basically leaning on the Lord For if you have all the money in the world That's where you get into the rich man mentality now if you're saved already Well, praise the Lord you have eternal life you're going to heaven but in this life as far as living as a Christian We need to be thinking about the fact that we still need to be leaning on the Lord in our Christian life We need to be leaning on him and trusting in him and not just basically Living life and saying I'm doing it by myself. I'm lifting myself up on my own bootstraps and the idea is I don't want to be in that state and Say what you will and I get it fleshly speaking I'd love to just have like a million dollars, which that doesn't mean anything anymore, right million dollars It's like, you know, that would be that would be out in a couple years, right? Especially with the inflation in the way it's going if I had a billion dollars Next year, it'll be a trillion but We need to be thinking about What's good? for our lives as a Christian and Sometimes well and a lot of times We need to have these hard times we need to have tribulation because tribulation work Experience and patience and and you know that stuff is good to have to go through some downtime some hard times Because that will make us better people We don't want to be constantly in that state but Go to Luke chapter 3 Luke chapter 3. So when I think about this I think about jobs I think about Think about the fact that especially, you know most of us are Providing for our families as men and we're working a job or working a full-time job and we're trying to bring in an income to provide for our families and That Weight is on our shoulders men to provide for our families And this is where we really need to be trusting in the Lord that You know that he'll provide and here's the thing with With all the news, I mean there's everything from the economy's gonna crash Everything is gonna be turned into some cryptocurrency and all our money is gonna be worth nothing and you know We need to do all that and listen, I'm not saying that stuff isn't gonna happen But in the end I'm not gonna fret about it. I'm not gonna worry about it if everything turned to Bitcoin I believe the Lord will somehow get me Bitcoin You know, I'll figure it out or Whatever, right? But I'll say this, you know cows are always have intrinsic value, right? So time to get some cows Get some pigs No, but all joking aside. We need to just be trusting in Lord and and And not be worried about like is the economy gonna crash what if this happens? What if this happens over here? No, just trust in the Lord. The Lord will provide and here's the thing Godliness with contentment is great gain If you're living for the Lord and you're doing what God wants you to do. He will take care of you he promises to take care of you and Just have that faith and that trust that he will Luke chapter 3 John the Baptist is baptizing believers and they're basically asking what do we do now, right and In verse 12 here. It says then came also publicans to be baptized and said unto him master What shall we do and he said unto them exact no more than that which is appointed you So he basically he's like don't defraud anybody right? You're a public you're taking tax, you know, whatever And obviously they didn't have a good view on publicans just as much as we don't have a good view on the IRS But the idea here is that don't extort anybody But then it goes on to say in verse In verse 14 and the soldiers likewise demanded of him saying and what shall we do and he said unto them do violence to no man neither the accused any falsely and be content with your wages and I think that's the big thing when we think about You know our jobs is just being content with what we're making now That doesn't mean that you can't ask for a raise doesn't mean that you can't Find a job that has better wages But here's the thing in this don't don't fret about it. Don't worry about it. And the idea is I Still remember, you know, you'll get into cases where someone's being paid more than you and then you're working harder than them Or you've been there longer Just be content with what you're making and then you know what? Hey opportunities will arise and I believe that God will open those doors. Maybe this other job will open up or maybe You'll get that promotion and all of that and again, I'm not against asking for a raise and saying hey You know, can I get a raise all of that? I don't think that's wrong But if you don't get the raise be content and maybe something else will open up. Maybe another job will open up Maybe something else will will come down the line and in the end Obviously we need to be able to provide for our families and we got to do what we got to do when it comes to that so You know being content with our job being content with our wages That's that's something sometimes hard to do and we need to Be content and then if something else comes up then great Go to Matthew chapter 6 and verse 31 Matthew chapter 6 and verse 31 dealing with The idea that it says having therefore food and raiment. Let us be there with content The idea is that even with that Don't worry about it And don't fret about it And Notice what says here in Matthew chapter 6 and verse 31. It says therefore take no thought Saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or wherewithal shall we be clothed? now when it says take no thought for it It doesn't mean like just live in your basement and eat chips off your chest and expect everything to get paid for right? The Bible says if you don't work now that you eat the idea though is that if you're working hard doing what you should be Doing don't worry about it. It'll be taken care of right and Don't fret about it God promises that he'll take care of it It says in verse 32 says for after all these things do the Gentiles seek for your Heavenly Father knoweth that you have need of All these things but seek ye first The kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you take therefore no thought for the morrow for the Marl shall take thought for the things of itself sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof Meaning this is that today there's enough problems to worry about today than there is about tomorrow, right? And I know I preached on this before but the idea is don't worry about things. You can't control You're like wow, you know who's gonna get elected it's like can you really control that? Who's gonna be who's gonna you know, what are they gonna do over here? What's the Supreme Court gonna do over here? And I'm not saying not to pray about certain things I'm just saying that I'm not gonna lose sleep Over things I can't control And I have enough problems it's kind of like when you think about and I've talked about this too as far as other churches and what's going on with them and Like worrying about like well, what's this church gonna do over here? They have this problem over here. It's like Let's worry about ourselves here. Let's keep our focus here We haven't and not saying we have a whole bunch of problems here, but I'm just saying we have enough problems here We have enough problems in our own homes to where we can spend our whole lives worrying about that and Things that we can control right because can you control with that? That that church is doing over there. Can you control what that other family in the church is doing? So but you can control what happens in your own home You can control, you know what you can control. That's what you should be thinking upon and what you should be focusing on and So me as a pastor I'm gonna focus on what is the church need here because I can control it Because I'm actually the pastor here, right? But if I'm looking at another church and maybe they have some issues going on I can pray for them if they want my help I can be there for them, but I can't control it You know, I'm not I I'm not in any position to do anything about it And I think that'll take a lot of pressure off of you if you just let go of things you can't control don't fret about things you can't control and There are things you can control though and so that's where you should put your focus and being content with that right being content with the things that you can control and Go to Philippians chapter 4 Philippians chapter 4 And ultimately if you're content with what you have you're content with your job content with the The the material things that you have you're gonna be thankful for what you have And we should be thankful we should give thanks always and And Honestly the more you think about what you have the more you realize that we have way more than we need I Mean when Christmas comes around, you know a lot of times You know, my family will ask me like what would you like for Christmas? You know, is there anything you need and honestly there isn't and it's always a want right? It's always like well, you know, it'd be nice to have this or it'd be nice to have this but I don't need it I don't have to have it and So When when when someone's asking you, you know, hey, what would you like for Christmas and that and you can't think of anything you need You know, you're blessed, you know that you have what you need, you know that you should be thankful for everything to have And Especially here in America, you know after going out to Greece and doing that mission trip we did in August It really made it well one Praise the Lord that I was born in America, you know But the idea of like what we have compared to other people have what my children have Compared to what other families have And I'm almost I don't want to say fearful That my children have too much but that is a concern So sometimes where you're like, hey Are they gonna be spoiled to the point where? They don't want to hear the gospel or that they don't want to follow the Lord, right? There's almost it's almost when in America. That's where actually I'm a little more concerned And and listen, I want my kids to have a lot of stuff and I'd love I'd love to give him everything in the world I Believe God wants to give us everything in the world, but he also knows That the more he gives us the more proclivity we have to Not being grateful for it and using it for things that we shouldn't use it for and not depending on him because we have so much throughout the Bible God's people have always been this this rollercoaster of God blessing them and then them basically forgetting God and then they have to be put into dire straits to where Okay, they're down here now. I need to trust in God And we as Christian listen, we should not want to have to hit rock bottom before we We we change, you know before we get back to the Lord, you know, we should be we should be right here Where we're we're getting a little up here. We're like, hey, we're getting a little too big for our britches We need to we need to get get back on par where we should be right instead of like, okay, we're up here Let's just do this die bomb to where we're down here in the pit. And now we it's time to get right with God And so a constant reminder that hey Be thankful for what you have. God has blessed us above and beyond anything that we should ever have in this life and Anything that that we have? most of the stuff I have is is is Above and beyond anything that I deserve and what God would need to give me and we need to be content with that and And not just be desiring the next new thing and just wanting the next new thing or being envious of what other people have Listen, you know what when it comes to When I see celebrities and I see people getting all the stuff that they have I actually feel bad for them I mean think about these like these there's like these Award, what is it? What does it call it? It's like basically these talent shows or things like that where there'll be like these kids that'll like get famous Because they have some talent they can sing or they can do whatever I'm actually saddened when they win Because now I know That they're even they're gonna be harder to win. They may never get saved after that Because of the riches and everything that comes with it and the corruption Go out to Hollywood. You want your kids to be corrupt take them out to Hollywood? Take them out to that to that, you know, Sodom and Gomorrah that's out there and When I see that, you know, so everybody's like that's great. I love the fact that you won, you know You know, you're gonna have you're gonna be famous and all I can think about is That person may never get saved like the chances now have just been just cut down to here and It's just a different mindset I think when it comes to we knowing that the poor are rich in faith and Whenever someone is is that saved and then they get all those riches it's just making it harder Philippians chapter 4 and verse 6 here And it says be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known unto God and It says and the peace of God which passeth all understanding shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus And here's thing when you need anything or you have anything the Bible says casting all your care upon him for he careth for you and Put it on him and just let him deal with it Any type of burden whether it's financial burden mental burden anything put it on the Lord and just be carefree about it to the where the Lord will take care of it and Have faith that the Lord will and he'll give you that peace that passes all understanding It says finally my brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever Things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue and if there be any praise think on these things Those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen to me do and the God of peace shall be with you You want to be content? think on these things The more that you're reading the Bible the more that you're thinking about Godly things thinking about you know just Soul winning or just you know doing good unto others and all these things that we should be doing The more you think about that type of stuff the less you'll be thinking about the things Of this world the material things of this world and all the wants that are out there But then it goes on to say in Verse verse 10 here it says, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me have flourished again Wearing you were also careful, but you lacked opportunity Not that I speak in respect to want for I have learned whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how to be a base, and I know how to abound Everywhere and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry both to abound and to suffer need I can do All things through Christ which strengthens me So Paul is stating here. It doesn't matter if I have everything or don't have anything. I'm content and This is where we need to be whatever state that we're in So what I want to get it to now is not necessarily Material things because obviously that's the big one when you think about being content is just material stuff right house car clothing Whatever right food Those type of things we need to be content with what we have and if you look at it I believe you'll look at it and say hey, I have more than I need I'm blessed beyond measure my cup runneth over when it comes to that, but now let's think about The state that you're in meaning. This is like maybe The point of life that you're in this could be anything from age to maybe being single being married to Just different things different stages of life right and where you're at This could be having kids not having kids Having some kids having a lot of kids right and listen Those that maybe have maybe have want to have more kids I can understand it But then those that have a lot of kids and say I wish I had you know like sometimes You're like I wish I had more time or I could do these things that those that have less kids do That make sense or those that don't have kids You know having you know like I have five kids. I don't have the most in this room But you know what date night's hard to find someone to watch your five kids or you know things like that and The thing is is just wherever you're at be content and You say well, that's that's easy for you to say because you have this this and this But I could say the same thing about your situation right Just as much as you know some could say well You know to the husband's you know oh, you know you get to go leave the house And you can actually Be go five minutes without a child touching you And you can do all that go to work And they'll look at that be like yes, that's and listen praise the Lord. I'm glad I'm a man so but We could also look back and say hey, you know what? If I could do my job my pajamas that'd be cool, too And if I could do this or that you know that'd be cool and listen I'm not saying I want to trade jobs with my wife Because my wife has has a hard job But at the same time we could all look at each other and say hey I wish I had that I wish I had this the idea is that we just need to be content where we're at Because there are certain things that that wives you don't see that your husband's are going through at work when they had the person cussing you out for something that you didn't even do and Then they also had the weight on their shoulders that hey I need to get paid to pay the bills and if I don't pay the bills then I Gotta lose my house. I don't have food or money for food. What's gonna happen, you know all these things but wives and mothers listen I get I Get why you would look at the husband be like yeah Look at you getting drive drive to work and be by yourself, and you know all of that You just get all this time of leisure. You know And I I get it okay and So the point though is is that? We can all look at each other and say this is harder. This is harder. This is easier This is easier either way. We're in our the role that we need to be in and we need to be content and First Corinthians chapter 7 verse 17 says, but as God had distributed to every man as the Lord hath called everyone So let him walk and so ordain I in all churches is any man called being circumcised Let him not become uncircumcised as any man is any called and uncircumcision Let him not be circumcised circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing but the keeping of the commandments of God Meaning in the New Testament circumcision doesn't matter whether you're circumcised you're not circumcised doesn't matter. There's neither Jew nor Greek in Christ We're all one in Christ right so doesn't matter. We're not trying listen it. You know Especially at that time you had believed a lot of believers that were Jews you had a lot of believers that were Greeks or just people that were Gentiles right and Doesn't matter right. It doesn't matter where what stock you come from Wherever you're called that's where you're at and Verse 20 it says let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called art thou called being a servant care Not for it, but if thou mayest be made free use it rather so it's like You're a servant You know fine if you're made free great use it And then it goes on to say for he that is called in the Lord being a servant is the Lord's Freeman Likewise also he that is called being free is Christ's servant. You're bought with a price be not ye the servants of men Brethren I let every man wherein he is called there and abide with God now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord yet I give my judgment as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful meaning that Paul's a virgin He never got married. He obviously was faithful in that and he even says you know every man had this proper gift, right? But it says I I suppose therefore that That this is good for the present distress I say that is good for a man so to be art thou bound unto a wife Seek not to be loosed art thou loose from a wife seek not a wife So basically it's like if you're unmarried be content if you're married be content and But then he's not saying like you listen if you're not married you can't get remarried you or you can't get married Right it's saying in verse 28. It says, but if thou marry That's not sin and if a virgin marry she hath not sin nevertheless such a lot of trouble in the flesh But I spare you and he goes on to talk about like basically if you're married you're gonna be caring for your spouse And and all of that okay and he obviously has given his side of the story as far as like here's the benefits of being single and This can go out to people that are either married or unmarried Listen the grass is always greener on the other side when it comes to this issue Meaning it you married there's benefits to being married But there's also benefits of being single as far as that goes and so you could always look at each other and say hey I wish I was there. I wish I you know You know I was single or whatever. Maybe I wish I was married and We just need to be content where we're at if that changes fine It's kind of like if that changes then use that but the idea is not to And listen I was there. I was single for a while. You know I got married when I was 29 And I was single there for a while And I wanted to be married and I wanted to find the right one and and all that and I was there like man I just want to be married I'm tired of being single and it's easy to not be content with the situation that you're in But you have to just deal with and be like I this is where I'm at right now so be it and Now I'm married and I can look back and be like man. I had so much more time back then, but I'll say this I Don't miss the dating world Don't want to ever want to go back to that so You know there are some things where you look at me like that is bad. We don't want to deal with that No, I mean some people enjoyed that part of it. I guess but I'm done with it, so But but when it comes to being content with your situation Where you're at? Being content with our for example our church right our church is just over six years old our church is growing But you could say and I was just talking to someone You know we're just moving the piano We're just talking about certain things about like our church like the music in our church for example, right? And some kids look at me like you know. It's just not where I wanted to be You know or it's not It's not Verity Baptist Church And I'm just gonna be frank with you. I don't know if we'll ever be at that point Verity Baptist Church, they have like a whole choir and like orchestra right Siphonie Orchestra, they straight-up have for every service right and listen. It's fantastic and Lord willing we'll get there one day But you know what when brother Nick's here playing piano, and we have two violinists, and we have those that are playing you know clarinet and different instruments and stuff like that Listen when we started you know the music ministry was me I'm not exactly a songbird okay, but I was leading the singing acapella Those the OGs here no And everybody's just like those people that were here at the beginning you're like this what we had now is fantastic like this is great But others may come in and say hey you know man that's kind of lacking to what I'm used to or maybe that's lacking compared to other churches and The idea is to be content with what you have listen if we if we have a piano player two violinists and and two Is it? Does Anna say to play clarinet you play clarinet right you play kind okay, so I just I didn't know if there was a flute in There don't want to misrepresent but If that's all we have For the rest of our church's existence praise the Lord That's more than what we had before and Now I don't see that happening I see us growing I see as getting you know a bigger building With more space to where we can have a lot more instruments we could have people you know we could have a choir behind it We could have everything right? but the idea is just being content where you're at and Just being thankful for what you have when it comes to how many people we have at church, right? Listen our church is above average It's above average right now, there's a lot of families that are sitting half most my family's not even here And if our church stayed there praise the Lord I Don't think it will I think our church will grow I think the Lord will bless the Lord will build the church But the idea there is just being content with where you're at. You know what I was content when we had 20 some people The idea is be content with what you have and I believe the Lord will give you more The more you're thankful for what you have the more I believe God will give you think about your children the more They're thankful for what you give them and appreciative what you what you give them aren't you like here's some more But if you're just like I wish I had more you know like or you give them a popsicle and they're like I wanted red You gave me purple you know Obviously that attitude there is gonna be like oh you're not getting a popsicle for a little bit now until you change that attitude right so Being content how about those that are married being content with your wives Okay, go to Proverbs chapter 5 Proverbs chapter 5 This can obviously get into the idea of adultery But I want to say this be content with your wives Even outside of that Because meaning this is that you can look at someone else's wife, and you can say I wish my wife could cook like this I Wish my wife did this right? Tabby's not here. I was gonna pick on her but You're like my wife can sew okay, but she's not like a seamstress like like like Tabby and Rachel, right? But it'd be wrong for me to be like I wish my wife was like Tabby and like like like Rachel when it came to Like what they can sew and everything Everyone's wives have their pros and cons and have things that they're better at than others And we should never just be comparing our wives to other people's wives and saying I wish my wife did this I wish my wife You know whatever right so even outside the adultery although That's something you need to be thinking about is the fact that the reason adultery happens because you're not content with your own spouse You're looking somewhere else because you're not content And that's where it starts listen mine I affecteth my heart the Bible says in Lamentations and the idea there is that what you're looking at Is what you're gonna end up desiring? The Bible says I made a covenant with mine eyes why then should I think upon a maid? Don't be looking at other stuff don't be looking at you know other other women that are out there And listen I know in today's age when it comes to scantily clad The the dress that's out there now when it comes to or lack thereof is the fact that it's hard Sometimes you got put on blinders That's why I you know I go to the gym at certain times because it's less likely That there's gonna be women in there that basically just don't wear clothes. I mean they just basically wear like skin tight spandex And I just have to put on blinders or just move to a different area or whatever and So in the climate that we're in nowadays you really have to watch what you're looking at Because the Bible does say that if you look upon a woman to lust after her you have committed adultery already in your heart and listen This goes and I know this is Sunday morning, and this may be you know this is I don't like hearing this word but it needs to be said pornography is wicked as hell Looking at that garbage and looking at that type of stuff is going to destroy your marriage If Anybody's dealing with that they need to get that garbage out of their life Looking at that type of stuff you say well It's not the same listen looking at a woman to lust after her you committed adultery in your heart That's not the same as committing the actual act right Like the physical act the physical act in the Old Testament would get you the death penalty It's still a sin And listen you won't commit the physical act if you don't start with what you're looking at and then it going into your heart sin when it has to conceive bring our I'm gonna I'm gonna mess it up now Sin when it's finished bring forth dead lust when they had conceived bring it forth sin and sin when it is finished bring it forth death It starts with what you're looking at then it turns into lust then it comes into your heart and that will just Simmer there until it turns into something else listen you don't become an alcoholic if you never take the first sip And when you realize hey, I shouldn't even be looking at that stuff then you're not gonna be getting into that stuff The Bible says in Proverbs 5 verse 15 drink waters out of thine own cistern and running waters out of thine own well Let thy water let thy fountains be dispersed abroad and rivers of waters in the streets Let them be only thine own and not strangers With thee let thy fountain be blessed and rejoice with the wife of thy youth Let her be as the loving hind and pleasant row let her breast satisfy thee at all times and be thou Ravished with always with her love and why wilt thou my son be ravished with a strange woman and embrace the bosom of a stranger It all starts with not being content with your spouse And You know what you should be thankful for your spouse and you say well you know she's she's lacking in this area be thankful for the areas that she's doing great in and Listen, why don't you look in the mirror every once in a while, too? Because there's things that you're lacking and also Sometimes you need to you need to your expectations are up here. You need to you need to be understanding of the situation Listen I have five kids and I can't expect my house to be just this spic and span Sparkling like no junk in the house like when I'm talking about like toys being everywhere and stuff like that You got to know where you're at your situation, okay and Priorities as far as where you're gonna be as far as what you expect, okay? If your wife's homeschooling your children Which most in here are homeschooling their children? She's cooking cleaning listen. I have two washers and dryers, and they're running all the time All the time and That's for my kids clothes mostly now. It's mine, too. You know I got to the gym and all that stuff, too, but that's just running all the time and my wife's And my wife's always like trying to bring her expectation up here I'm like if you want to do that. It's fine. She's like straight up wanting to like grind wheat berries to make flour Because she says it's more nutritious, and I'm like go for it She's like sourdough is the you know we want to go sourdough on everything. I'm like fantastic made sourdough pancakes I'm like do that, but it takes a lot of work But she may put herself to that standard, but I'm not necessarily holding her to that standard does that make sense like I'm gonna basically Say hey, you know what? That's great if you want to do that, but I'm not expecting it, okay And it's easy to look at someone else like they do this they do that you know and they're just making all this stuff But they don't have the same circumstances you do Everybody's got different circumstances Listen your kids may be harder than my kids my kids may be harder to deal with than your kids And we're both we're all spanking you know we're not sparing the rod We're disciplining the same, but listen my kids have anger issues, which is gonna be my next point Runs in the family okay, sorry dad The last point I want to you say where is this sermon coming from well, it's Thanksgiving's coming up so obviously being content but There's something brother Dave so our deacon brother Dave We're on vacation, and we're just talking about dealing with anger and I know I know a lot of us deal with that especially the men okay We deal with I think more so patience and anger you know those things go hand in hand you know being temperate not losing your temper and And You know he mentioned to me that you know he had heard somebody say basically the to deal with anger one way to deal with anger is basically to And if I misquote what what you what you said I apologize, but basically the idea is That things aren't ideal and that's why you're angry Meaning like things aren't going in the ideal way that you want it to go and therefore you get angry because it doesn't and It made a lot of sense But the thing is is that I believe this is also a way a biblical way of thinking about this go to Ephesians chapter 4 Meaning this If things don't the reason that I'm usually like upset or angry is because it's not going the way I want it to go think of this you're going you're on your way to work And you get behind somebody going like two miles an hour That's not ideal is it Right like I need to get to work and this person just has no particular place to go Right That can make you angry right because you're like listen You're like listen buddy. I have places to be like all this stuff, and it makes you angry Because it's not ideal the ideal situation is that the road is completely open and no one is in front of you But the ideal is not realistic. That's not real life That's what you have to understand. Is that the ideal The ideal wife the ideal husband the ideal house the ideal anything the ideal situation doesn't exist and It if you realize that then I think that that will help you realize okay. This is an ideal But this is where I'm at and I and I think about this because a Lot of times I get angry because I'm not getting things done. I want to get done Part of the reason is that I make this list this impossible list of things. I'm trying to accomplish I Mean I'll just give you an example just at my house. There's like this list of things. I'm trying to get finished and done And it just looms over your head and every day you don't get it done. You're just angry about it I'm just personally telling you you may say you're not who cares about what's going on. You know with that I'll give you one example. There's like this gutter When they built my house they didn't put piping in to get the water away from the house So there's this one gutter That's like kind of tucked back behind the house And I had I had the stuff. I had the piping I have everything I need to do. I just need to do it the only problem is I don't have any time to do it you know and And Just in my mind. I'm like I need to go out there I need to dig this ditch I need to put this pipe in I need to put this in here so I can get the water away from the house So I don't have to worry about that and all this now There's no water coming into the house right now as far as I know it could do that for the rest of its life You know the rest of this duration is not gonna do anything Like what's the point of the story the point is? my ideal situation is that I go get that done and That's one thing on many things that I want to do, but here's the difference Here's the thing that I that I need to realize is that's a want. That's not a need There are things that are needed And there are things that I want to do There are things as far as time with my family Get home from work before they go to bed. I need to spend some time with my children sometimes That's helping out with the schooling sometimes. It's just playing with them. That's just being around them And I don't want to sacrifice Once that I have that need to get done With needs that have to happen in the ideal situation is that all that stuff gets done somehow I slow down the rotation of the earth and the day is longer, and you know I get all of it done, right? And that's truth matters. There's not enough time in the day But to me when when you think when I think of this Ephesians chapter 24 verse 26 It says be ye angry and sin not let not the sun go down upon your wrath neither give place to the devil So know this is that it's not always wrong to be angry right that God is angry with the wicked every day There's righteous indignation But we're not to be an angry person Right you're not just to go around just being angry about everything You could be angry that there's wickedness going on. You could be angry that abortion is going on, right? But we're not to just go to bed stewing about it So one, it's not wrong necessarily to be angry, but That shouldn't be something that you're just known for and it should be something that you're just constantly being angry, right? Should be able to turn that off and just be like all right. I'm angry about that But you know it is what it is. I can't control it whatever But then it goes on to say In verse verse 28 it says let him that stole steal no more But rather to let him labor working with his hands the things which is good the thing which is good That he may have to give to him that need it But no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth But that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers and grieve not the Holy Spirit of God Whereby ye are sealed into the day of redemption But all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking put a be put away from you with all Malice and be kind one to another tender-hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you and When the Bible says you know the obviously the qualifications of a pastor is not to be soon angry And this is one that I do believe I meet that qualification But it's something that I'm constantly having to keep in check right it's something. I'm constantly wanting making sure I'm reining in Because I would say most of you probably think What are you talking about and hopefully that's the case most of you would say what are you talking about? You don't seem like an angry person or whatever, right? but And many of you are you know you can relate when you work a full-time job and Then you have kids that you're coming home to and like all these things that are going on it's easy to lose that patience to lose that temper and all of that and I Think though the way to really focus on this is the fact that and whatsoever state I am to be there with content I'm not saying not to be like my kids are unruly. I'm gonna be content with that No, it's not what I'm talking about okay Obviously the Bible says that you know thou shalt beat him with the rod now shall save his soul from hell You know the Bible there's so many verses on discipline But what I'm talking about is that hey, you know maybe maybe Dinner isn't the three-course meal that I was expecting when I came home Maybe you know maybe the house isn't as clean as I would like it to be Maybe you know My clothes aren't all my favorite clothes aren't clean right now You know just hard for my wife because I have like three shirts. I like so once you know like so But you have to think about the fact that this isn't ideal, but it is where I'm at I'm content with it Right now in my life, we're in survival mode My house can be clean later and when I say clean I'm talking about like Things organized right I'm not talking about like there's trash laying everywhere, and it's just like putrefying Sick suckle you know like no I'm talking about like it's just it's hot you know what I mean like everything's the the pillows are all in a place like all this stuff right and right now It is what it is, and I don't let that bother me If dinner isn't what I expected to be I don't let it bother me I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to that my wife right she actually told me she loves that about me I could eat cereal every night, and I'd be fine And it doesn't bother me As long as it's that organic Cinnamon Toast Crunch type of cereal we're golden not health not exactly healthy for me to do that but but some other husbands would say no I need a hot meal every night or They're upset about it and listen everybody's kind of has their priorities, but I'll say this you can't expect everything to be right If you want the house to be just spic and span You can't expect this area over here to just be the same level I'm just being real and I'm talking to young families here I'm talking to those that have Kids that are dealing with this you need if you if you want to deal with anger And I'm talking to the husband's when it comes to this and I'm not saying the wives can't have anger okay? Because you need to hear this too That sometimes you get angry with your kids because things aren't going in that ideal situation No, this is that your kids are never going to be in that ideal like proper place We're all just work. We're just doing what we can to do it best. We can with what we got and This has helped me out a lot when it comes to just dealing with anger I'm just saying this is an ideal, but ideal isn't realistic This isn't getting done, but this doesn't have to be done And I just let it go be like if I get some time, I'll do it There are certain things that need to be done, and that's what I worry about That's what I'd get done and once I get it done if there's time left over And maybe there won't be time for me to do that that that stupid gutter thing For another like maybe it won't be every springtime when it happens so be it And you say that's silly to get angry over that type of stuff But that type of stuff is things that I owe us as husbands and fathers It looms. You're just like that is just sitting there, and I just want that to get done And it just bothered me that that's not done, and you just have to just nope that's not going to get done that's not the priority and being content When I'm angry you know what that means I'm not content and That hits hard you know when I'm angry about something. I'm just like I'm not content I'm not content with where I'm at not content with what's going on Now if that's my fault. I need to deal with it right because there's some times where Things will happen you're angry about it, but you did that to yourself And you need to fix those type of things that are going to be causing that but go to Ecclesiastes chapter Chapter 12 and we'll be done you God tells us not to worry about food and raiment doesn't he just take no thought for it Really what is needed is very simple Think about Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes is a book all about things that are done under the sun We're talking about work labor done under the sun It's All about what we do here on the earth, and it's not necessarily saying that it's simple It's just vain because it's all going to be burned up. It's not going to last forever right Whether it's a house whether it's material things Whatever right? The whole book is dealing with that aspect But then it concludes with this Ecclesiastes chapter 12 verse 9 it says and moreover Because the preacher was wise and he still taught the people knowledge Yea, he gave good heed and sought out and set in order many proverbs the preacher sought to find out acceptable words And that which was written was upright even words of truth the words of the wise are as goads and as nails fastened by the masters of of Assemblies which are given from one shepherd and and further by these my son be admonished of making many books There is no end and in much study is weariness of the flesh Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter Fear God and keep his commandments for this is the whole duty of man Here's the simple thing you need to worry about. Fear God and keep his commandments Do that Everything will take care of itself. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you It says in verse 14 for God shall bring every work into judgment and every secret thing whether it be good or whether it be Evil and you think about the judgment seat of Christ and how it's gonna be gold silver precious stones or wood hate and stubble One is eternal and one is temporal And things that are temporary in this life are all gonna be burned up and ultimately what we do as far as keeping the commandments Is what matters? Part of keeping the commandments is to bring up your children and nurture and admonition the Lord Obviously preaching the gospel to every creature like there's a lot there's commandments that are in there You know what? You know, what's not in there me getting that gutter fixed You know what that's not gonna change the cost of tea in China as far as whether I get that fixed or not That's the type of stuff that I worry about and I get angry about in the end it doesn't really matter It's not going To be ultimately anything worth it's gonna be all burned up and Being content especially in the sea, you know going into the holiday season Being content with things you have will cause you to be thankful for what you have Being content with the things you have will cause you not to be covetous Because the Bible talks about that this world is not It's not comprised of the things what you possess meaning this is that your life is not It's not about what you possess and the thing is is that people may look at that and say well gain is godliness. No godliness with contentment is great gain and Being content with what you have being content with the situation that you're in in life The time of life that you're in whether you're young you could be a kid and be like, I wish I was older You could be our age and be like, I wish I was younger or you know, you could be older and wish you were younger You know like I Feel I'm in the prime. I love this time right now 38 years old. I just I mean dominating at football against the other team Speaking of a Naga that's where we played at you may have heard about us. I'm just kidding But all joking aside Just being content. Listen if you have your health be content You have food and raiment be content. You're single be content. You're married be content You don't have children be content. You have children be content you're young old be content and Listen you'll be you you you'll have less stress. You'll enjoy life more God will bless you if you're content with the things that you have and if you're content with the things that you have Chances are God will give you more And let's end with a word prayer. The only father we think today. Thank you for your word Thank you for these passages Lord and help us especially at this time to be content with what we have Be content in the positions that we're in right now and Lord just paid you that you bless us and just thank you for Everything that you've given us Lord. We don't deserve it it at all and Lord Thank you for your unspeakable gift, which you've given unto us eternal life and Lord. We just thank you Forever for that and we just pray that you be with us the rest of today But you'll be as we go out soul winning and Lord You pray that you'd bring us back at the appointed time and what we love you in prayer also Jesus Christ name Amen, but they will come and sing one more song and then we'll be dismissed All right, take your song books and turn to song 427 Song 427 in your song books. We'll sing we three kings If you would stand we'll sing song 427 we three kings of or in it are bearing gifts we traverse afar field and Mountain moor and mountain following yonder star Star of wonder star of night star with royal beauty bride Westward leading still proceeding Guide us to thy perfect light born a king on Bethlehem's plain gold I bring to crown him again King forever Ceasing never over us all to reign Oh Star of wonder star of night star with royal Beauty bride Westward leading still proceeding guide us to thy