WEBVTT 00:00:02.240 --> 00:00:09.599 Welcome to Sharper Sword, the publication ministry of White House Baptist Church in Lemon Grove, California. 00:00:09.919 --> 00:00:16.480 White House believes that individuals can reach their potential for the Lord as they grow in Christ. 00:00:16.719 --> 00:00:22.320 We want to hear our Lord say, Well done, thou good and faithful servant. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:29.519 Let's join Pastor Doug Fisher as he preaches another important biblical message from the Word of God. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:34.159 The Balaam worship. 00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:41.759 If you'll read on down, he he began to cut down the different groves that they used to worship false gods. 00:00:42.079 --> 00:00:44.399 Notice, if you would, verse number eight. 00:00:44.640 --> 00:00:45.600 Verse number eight. 00:00:45.840 --> 00:00:48.000 In the 18th year of his reign. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:49.840 So he's now, how old? 00:00:50.079 --> 00:00:52.479 Eight plus eighteen is, say it? 00:00:52.719 --> 00:00:53.359 26. 00:00:53.439 --> 00:00:55.119 He's 26 years old. 00:00:55.439 --> 00:00:59.520 Notice he begins to repair the house of the Lord his God. 00:00:59.679 --> 00:01:01.439 He he did some fundraising. 00:01:01.600 --> 00:01:04.879 He got money, if you would, and he put it in the hand of workmen. 00:01:04.959 --> 00:01:10.959 He's 26 years old, and he made sure they were uh doing the work on the house of the Lord. 00:01:11.120 --> 00:01:15.359 While they're doing the work on the house of the Lord, they find a book in there. 00:01:15.519 --> 00:01:17.439 And the book is the book of the law. 00:01:17.599 --> 00:01:27.840 And if you'll read carefully down in verse number 18 and 19, he has certain scholars, certain men, certain leaders read that unto him. 00:01:28.159 --> 00:01:37.280 And while they're reading that unto him, that book of the law, uh, it begins to shake his mind a little bit about what God is saying. 00:01:37.439 --> 00:01:39.280 Notice at 26 years old. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:41.040 Look at verse number 21. 00:01:41.280 --> 00:01:44.959 Verse number 21, he says, Go inquire of the Lord for me. 00:01:45.280 --> 00:01:52.319 26 years old, he says, I want to know about these things that are written in the book that is found. 00:01:52.879 --> 00:02:00.000 He says, It seems like the wrath of the Lord is poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord. 00:02:00.159 --> 00:02:01.599 He's 26 years old. 00:02:01.840 --> 00:02:13.680 Well, he goes on down, and uh, and what he is told by this, those that have read to him, and they go to inquire of the Lord, Heckiah does, and God gives him an answer. 00:02:13.840 --> 00:02:18.560 Verse number 23 Tell ye the man that sent you to me. 00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:26.159 Tell that 26-year-old Josiah, thus saith the Lord, I will bring evil upon the inhabitants of the land. 00:02:26.319 --> 00:02:26.639 Why? 00:02:26.800 --> 00:02:31.120 They've been uh forsaking me and burning God uh incense to other gods. 00:02:31.199 --> 00:02:48.479 But verse number 26, as for that king, as for that 26-year-old king, Josiah, who sent you to inquire, make sure you say unto him, verse number 27, because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God. 00:02:48.719 --> 00:03:00.879 When thou heardest these words uh against this place and against the inhabitants thereof, and humblest thyself, you were 26, and because you humbled yourself, there's there's certain things that I'm going to do for you. 00:03:01.199 --> 00:03:20.000 And then the king in verse number 29, the uh 26-year-old gathers together all the leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, and he made sure that the words of this book are read in their ears, and he stands and makes a public covenant to walk with the Lord. 00:03:20.159 --> 00:03:26.800 And I want you to see in verse number uh 33, Josiah took away all the abominations out of the country. 00:03:26.960 --> 00:03:32.719 He he cleaned up the false worship, and in all his days he departed not from following the Lord. 00:03:32.879 --> 00:03:34.639 Now, would you hold your place right there? 00:03:34.719 --> 00:03:37.599 You get this picture of who Josiah is. 00:03:37.759 --> 00:03:39.840 He's still 26 years old. 00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:41.360 And God makes a statement. 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:42.560 Hold your place right there. 00:03:42.719 --> 00:03:44.879 Look over at 2 Kings, please. 00:03:45.199 --> 00:03:53.520 2 Kings chapter number 23, and uh notice what 2 Kings 23 says, and notice verse number 25. 00:03:53.759 --> 00:03:57.120 2 Kings 23, verse 25. 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:17.360 And like unto him was there no king, speaking about Josiah, and like unto him, there was no king before him that turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his might, according to all the law of Moses, neither after him arose there any like him. 00:04:17.839 --> 00:04:25.439 Isn't that interesting, Josiah, when God uh gives you a little synopsis of who he is, he said, There was no king like him. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:33.199 There was no king that turned to the Lord with all his heart, with all his soul, with all his might. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:36.319 I mean, he was full in, fully committed. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:41.680 And that was God's uh, if you would, editorial comment about Josiah. 00:04:41.920 --> 00:04:44.319 Go back to 2 Chronicles 35. 00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:49.040 2 Chronicles 35, and Josiah keeps a Passover. 00:04:49.279 --> 00:04:59.600 In verse number one, you'll see Josiah is still 26 years old, and he keeps a Passover, and and what was said about this Passover is in verse number 18. 00:04:59.759 --> 00:05:01.680 Look at 35, 18. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:09.759 And it says, there was no Passover like to that kept in Israel from the days of Samuel the prophet. 00:05:09.920 --> 00:05:19.759 Think of all the different kings represented there, whether it be a Hezekiah or Jehoshaphat, there was no Passover that was kept in Israel from the days of Samuel. 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:25.279 And neither did all the kings of Israel keep such a Passover as Josiah kept. 00:05:25.439 --> 00:05:29.519 So you can see how God elevates him in telling us about him. 00:05:29.680 --> 00:05:39.759 And now in verse number 39, verse number 19, remember that Passover was kept in the 18th year, so he's still 26 years old. 00:05:40.000 --> 00:05:43.519 And then God decides to tell us something. 00:05:43.920 --> 00:05:48.720 And what he tells us is almost like it's stunning. 00:05:48.959 --> 00:06:06.240 When you just have contemplated who Josiah is and what he has done at such an age, what he did at 16 and what he did there at 26, and who he was, uh, there was a king that came up whose name was Neko. 00:06:06.480 --> 00:06:07.839 He was king of Egypt. 00:06:08.079 --> 00:06:14.000 And when he came up, he uh sent messengers, if you would, to Josiah, verse 21. 00:06:14.399 --> 00:06:20.879 He sent messengers to him, to Josiah, saying, What have I to do with thee, thou king of Judah? 00:06:21.040 --> 00:06:30.560 Speaking to Josiah, I came, uh I come not against thee this day, but against the house whereof I have war. 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:33.680 He said, I didn't come against you, Soiah. 00:06:33.839 --> 00:06:36.079 I I didn't come to war with you. 00:06:36.240 --> 00:06:49.279 And then uh Niko says, This, for God commanded me, for God commanded me to make haste, forbear uh uh thee from meddling with God who is with me, that he destroy thee not. 00:06:49.439 --> 00:06:56.319 Uh, the king there of Egypt says to Niko, he says to Josiah, I didn't come to war with you. 00:06:56.959 --> 00:06:59.360 God commanded me to do something, and I'm here. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:04.480 And uh, if I were you, uh Josiah, I would forbear and I wouldn't meddle. 00:07:04.800 --> 00:07:08.879 I wouldn't get involved with what God has me to do. 00:07:09.360 --> 00:07:26.639 Verse 22, the first word, nevertheless, nevertheless, Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself that he might fight with him and not hearken not unto the words of God. 00:07:27.040 --> 00:07:30.800 Would you say the next uh few words with me, the next five words? 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:33.360 Say it, from the mouth of God. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:36.399 Say it again, from the mouth of God. 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:37.199 What do you mean? 00:07:37.360 --> 00:07:41.120 Nico said, Don't meddle with me, don't come near me. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:42.560 I didn't come to fight with you. 00:07:42.720 --> 00:07:45.360 I'm doing something God wants me to do. 00:07:45.680 --> 00:07:48.399 But uh Josiah hearkened not. 00:07:49.360 --> 00:07:58.959 And evidently Nico was getting something from God, and the Bible says the archer shot at King Josiah. 00:07:59.279 --> 00:08:05.519 The king said unto his servants, Have me away, for I am sore wounded. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:14.079 And they put him in a second chariot, and the Bible says they they brought him to Jerusalem, and there Josiah died. 00:08:15.199 --> 00:08:16.879 You know how old he was? 00:08:17.120 --> 00:08:26.079 We'd already read he had uh he was when he was eight years old, he he ruled and reigned 30 and one year, so he's 39 years old. 00:08:26.399 --> 00:08:31.680 Think of what he did between 16 and 26. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:34.720 Uh think about what he accomplished. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:47.279 And here he is at 39 years old, and uh he gets involved in something that evidently he he shouldn't have got involved with, and God, if you would, uh, writes it down for us. 00:08:47.440 --> 00:08:50.159 You know, there ought to be a lesson in here for us. 00:08:52.080 --> 00:08:54.639 There ought to be a lesson in here for us. 00:08:56.559 --> 00:09:05.200 I'll give you some scriptures in a moment, but notice all of, verse number 24, all of Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.080 And Jeremiah lamented. 00:09:09.039 --> 00:09:13.600 The lamentations of uh Jeremiah lamented for Josiah. 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:20.399 They wrote songs about him, they wrote lamentations about him, all his all his deeds. 00:09:20.639 --> 00:09:28.320 God records it in verse 26 all his goodness, all that he had done, all that he had accomplished. 00:09:28.559 --> 00:09:34.960 And now at 39 years old, he he was dead because he meddled. 00:09:39.759 --> 00:09:40.879 He meddled. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:45.759 Brother and I, when I read this, it's almost like stunning. 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:47.279 Like you're quiet right now. 00:09:47.360 --> 00:09:48.799 Like, look what he did. 00:09:48.960 --> 00:09:58.720 Look who he was, look what he cleaned up, look, look what he gave money to clean up, if you would, the house of God to obey the commandments of God. 00:09:58.799 --> 00:10:02.240 And and and God, if you would, spoke to him through Hilkiah. 00:10:02.399 --> 00:10:09.440 And and may I say to you that he kept a Passover like nobody had kept since the days of Samuel. 00:10:09.600 --> 00:10:12.399 And uh Nico said, I didn't come to war with you. 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:16.399 Don't don't get involved in something that's not pertaining to you. 00:10:17.440 --> 00:10:18.879 Don't meddle. 00:10:20.320 --> 00:10:24.159 Don't get involved in something that God has told me to do. 00:10:26.320 --> 00:10:27.679 Brother, I want to say this to you. 00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:28.720 Please listen to me. 00:10:28.960 --> 00:10:34.159 Sometimes uh we have to be careful that we think we know what God's doing. 00:10:35.519 --> 00:10:39.840 We think we understand all that God's doing and we compare it to our lives. 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:46.960 I want to tell you, God's doing things way above our lives, way above our experiences. 00:10:47.519 --> 00:10:53.279 And there's certain things God may say that doesn't pertain to you, leave it alone. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:57.039 We might even judge it of wondering if God's in it or not. 00:10:57.120 --> 00:11:01.519 I want to tell you, it's better not to even go there in your mind. 00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:08.320 It's better to be humble to say, you know what, I don't know what God's doing, but if God's in it, I'm gonna leave it alone. 00:11:09.600 --> 00:11:11.120 I'm just gonna leave it alone. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:16.960 Because when God builds his kingdom, he might not do it just the way you would do it. 00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:22.559 He might not do it just the way I would do it, but that doesn't mean he's not doing it through those people. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:27.679 Niko was an Egyptian, but he said, I'm coming here. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:33.679 God has told me to come here to do this, and I have nothing to do with you, stay out of it. 00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:35.279 Just stay out of it. 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:38.480 Don't meddle with what I'm doing, what God told me to do. 00:11:38.639 --> 00:11:42.000 But uh Josiah wouldn't forbear. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:47.039 Needless, nevertheless, he disguised himself. 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:53.679 Well, they shot, and they shot him, and he went back and died. 00:11:54.639 --> 00:12:02.879 What a what a time for him to die at 39 years old because he didn't take the advice of somebody. 00:12:03.200 --> 00:12:10.799 You say, but the advice came from a king of Egypt, brethren, he had no business, uh, it didn't pertain to him. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:12.799 What do you mean? 00:12:12.960 --> 00:12:16.080 Uh we need to be careful about being busybodies. 00:12:17.039 --> 00:12:18.240 Would you agree with that? 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:25.120 You say, I come here on Mother's Day night, and you're telling me, look, he did so many things right, and then it's stunning. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:27.840 And God says, now I'm gonna write this about him. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.399 I'm gonna tell you how he finished his life. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:40.159 He got involved in something that had nothing to do with what he should be involved with. 00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:43.919 He should have focused on what he was doing and stayed focused on that. 00:12:44.159 --> 00:12:46.399 He was doing great up until that time. 00:12:46.639 --> 00:12:49.919 But he got involved with something he should have never got involved with. 00:12:50.159 --> 00:12:51.919 Uh let me give you the Proverbs on it. 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:54.240 Look at Proverbs 26, please. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:56.399 Proverbs chapter number 26. 00:12:56.559 --> 00:13:01.279 And I have no reason really to preach this tonight other than I'm supposed to preach it. 00:13:02.559 --> 00:13:04.720 Well, you say, what, what, what, what'd you just say? 00:13:04.879 --> 00:13:08.240 I have no reason to preach this tonight other than I'm supposed to preach it. 00:13:08.720 --> 00:13:10.639 Proverbs chapter 26. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:13.600 Uh, here's uh a scripture that I hope will bear out. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:15.120 Look at verse 17. 00:13:15.840 --> 00:13:16.960 Verse 17. 00:13:17.440 --> 00:13:19.519 He that passed by. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.039 He that passeth by. 00:13:23.679 --> 00:13:28.240 So we happen by something, and there's strife. 00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:34.159 He that passed by and meddleth with strife, belonging not to him. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:37.919 It's like one that taketh a dog by the ears. 00:13:38.399 --> 00:13:44.159 Now, brethren, I I I I am not a great theologian, but I understand that. 00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:52.399 Did you ever take uh a dog by the ears that's a calm dog and grab the dog by the ears and get sniffed at a little bit? 00:13:52.960 --> 00:13:53.919 Get bit a little bit? 00:13:54.080 --> 00:13:55.600 Do you know what I'm talking about or not? 00:13:56.159 --> 00:13:57.679 Some of y'all know what I'm talking about? 00:13:57.840 --> 00:14:03.600 You take a nice calm dog and grab him by the ears, and some dogs don't like their ears grabbed. 00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:09.279 Now, some you can, you know, ruffle up in the ears, but I want to tell you something. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:19.440 He says if you pass by something and you meddle with strife that doesn't belong to you, it's like taking a dog by the ears, and don't be surprised when you get bit. 00:14:20.799 --> 00:14:22.960 What he's saying is you didn't have to get bit. 00:14:23.440 --> 00:14:26.799 All you had to do was pass on by and leave that dog alone. 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:31.759 Like you ever say, uh, I got I I don't have a dog in that fight. 00:14:32.559 --> 00:14:34.159 I'm not involved with that. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:37.279 Uh hey, you'll hear stuff in Christianity. 00:14:37.519 --> 00:14:40.399 Best to say, no, don't, I'm not involved with that. 00:14:40.799 --> 00:14:43.279 I don't have to contend with anything there. 00:14:43.519 --> 00:14:47.279 It's not threatening, it's not something that I need to be involved with. 00:14:47.440 --> 00:14:54.240 It's just some stuff, some personalities, some things going on, some things that I probably don't understand. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:57.120 And who knows if God's involved with it or not. 00:14:57.679 --> 00:15:03.200 You see, on the internet, you can get on that stuff and get involved with stuff and read stuff that doesn't involve you. 00:15:03.279 --> 00:15:04.320 You said, I'm not involved. 00:15:04.480 --> 00:15:07.039 If you let it into your mind, you're involved. 00:15:07.519 --> 00:15:10.639 And it's better just to let some of that stuff go, would you agree? 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:14.159 I bring you uh the case of Josiah. 00:15:14.960 --> 00:15:18.960 I bring you the case of Josiah at 39 years of age. 00:15:19.360 --> 00:15:24.639 I bring you the case of Josiah, who Nico said, Leave me alone, I didn't come to war with you. 00:15:24.799 --> 00:15:27.279 This is not a matter that pertains to you. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:32.480 And God says, I want to record something, Josiah nevertheless didn't listen. 00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:39.200 And somebody shot an arrow and nailed him. 00:15:40.240 --> 00:15:43.600 I don't want to say he died premature because it's none of my business. 00:15:43.759 --> 00:15:50.639 There's some other scriptures that maybe point to something that God did, but I want to say to you, uh, there's a lesson in there for us. 00:15:51.440 --> 00:15:56.320 Why should I want my family involved in something that doesn't pertain to us? 00:15:57.279 --> 00:16:01.600 That's why that's why it's better not to talk about matters that don't pertain to us. 00:16:02.320 --> 00:16:04.080 It's better not even to know the matters. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:07.120 If you don't know the matters, then you can't talk about them. 00:16:08.000 --> 00:16:09.519 Are you still with me or not? 00:16:10.320 --> 00:16:12.399 Say nobody ever tells me nothing. 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:13.759 What a blessing. 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:17.200 Nobody ever tells me nothing. 00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:18.960 Let me tell you the flip aside of something. 00:16:19.120 --> 00:16:21.519 Everybody always tells me everything. 00:16:22.399 --> 00:16:25.679 Look, if everybody always tells me everything, I got a problem. 00:16:26.080 --> 00:16:30.399 I'm a magnet and an attraction to people who want to gossip. 00:16:31.279 --> 00:16:32.559 Come on, is that right? 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:37.600 I hope people don't tell me anything, especially if I can't do anything about it. 00:16:38.320 --> 00:16:40.080 I don't just need to hear this and hear that. 00:16:40.159 --> 00:16:44.080 Now, if it's something important dealing with the church or management, then I want to know about it. 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:48.879 But may I say to you, there's certain things, it's like, hey, look, that's that's not my business. 00:16:49.200 --> 00:16:50.639 Well, don't you want to know about that? 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.080 Can I do anything about it? 00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:52.879 Well, not really. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:55.279 Well, then, no, I don't want to know anything about it. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:56.000 Why? 00:16:56.159 --> 00:16:57.759 Because I don't want to get bit. 00:16:58.720 --> 00:17:00.399 Oh, this is not gonna bite you. 00:17:00.559 --> 00:17:03.120 How do you know how it's gonna affect my mind? 00:17:04.079 --> 00:17:06.160 Come on, are you still with me or not? 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:13.759 Brother, you hear something and it'll creep up on you three days later and you go, Oh man, I wish I wouldn't have known that. 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:18.960 Then it'll be with you for five days and you say, Man, I just wish I didn't know that. 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.880 I was having a good time of it. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:24.720 Now I got my brain's wrapped around something I just wish I didn't know. 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:28.079 Because if I'm not careful, I'm Josiah. 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:30.319 What? 00:17:30.559 --> 00:17:32.960 If I'm not careful, I'll get Josiah. 00:17:33.680 --> 00:17:35.599 It'll get me before it's time. 00:17:38.799 --> 00:17:41.359 39 years old wasn't very old. 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:45.039 Especially somebody who had the track record that he had. 00:17:46.319 --> 00:17:49.119 He took a dog by the ears and got bit. 00:17:49.759 --> 00:17:51.200 In fact, look a little further with me. 00:17:51.279 --> 00:17:52.160 Everybody all right tonight? 00:17:52.319 --> 00:17:54.079 Look at Proverbs chapter number 20. 00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:58.400 You say, what a what a what a message for Sunday Night Mother's Day. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:58.799 I know. 00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:00.799 Proverbs chapter 20. 00:18:01.680 --> 00:18:02.960 Proverbs chapter 20. 00:18:03.039 --> 00:18:06.240 Look what it says in Proverbs 20 with the principle, verse 3. 00:18:06.480 --> 00:18:07.920 Verse 3, you're doing great. 00:18:08.079 --> 00:18:12.160 It's an honor for a man to cease from strife. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:19.359 Well, look, if it's an honor for a man to cease from strife, then it's dishonoring to meddle into strife. 00:18:19.920 --> 00:18:25.599 It's an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling. 00:18:26.799 --> 00:18:31.519 Brother, now, if God says it's a foolish thing to meddle, we ought to think about that. 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:37.519 Especially if somebody just says, now, uh, I know you're not involved, but this is for prayer. 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:44.480 Now, now that can be good, or that can be a smokescreen. 00:18:45.279 --> 00:18:47.119 Now there's nothing wrong with praying. 00:18:47.359 --> 00:18:54.400 But brother, some of this stuff is like, man, how many prayer requests that deal with strife are you gonna give me? 00:18:57.119 --> 00:18:58.880 You know what I'm talking about or not? 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:01.200 Well, I heard this, let's pray for that. 00:19:01.359 --> 00:19:03.119 Or I heard this, let's pray for that. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.400 All right, did you hear this? 00:19:04.480 --> 00:19:05.200 Let's pray for that. 00:19:05.359 --> 00:19:06.400 Did you hear this over there? 00:19:06.559 --> 00:19:08.480 That's not even part of what, but let's pray for that. 00:19:08.880 --> 00:19:10.160 Let's hear it, let's pray for that. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:14.319 Sooner or later, you gotta realize you're dealing with a busybody. 00:19:18.559 --> 00:19:26.640 If they just keep bringing strife situations to you and strife and strife and strife and strife and strife, sooner or later, ding ding ding, it should relate to you. 00:19:26.799 --> 00:19:27.920 I'm gonna get bit. 00:19:28.160 --> 00:19:30.400 This is a busybody prayer request. 00:19:31.200 --> 00:19:32.880 It just never stops. 00:19:33.759 --> 00:19:35.359 So I need to be careful of that. 00:19:35.519 --> 00:19:35.920 Why? 00:19:36.160 --> 00:19:39.039 Because it's an honor for every man to cease from strife. 00:19:39.200 --> 00:19:40.480 Notice what it says about the king. 00:19:40.559 --> 00:19:41.680 Stay with me, we're almost done. 00:19:41.839 --> 00:19:43.519 Ecclesiastes chapter four. 00:19:43.759 --> 00:19:45.119 Ecclesiastes chapter four. 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.160 Am I all right tonight? 00:19:46.319 --> 00:19:49.359 Hey, brother, if we're on the right side of this, you can say amen. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:52.240 I mean, really, if you're on the right side, you can say amen. 00:19:52.319 --> 00:19:55.200 Or you can say, okay, I need to be careful about this situation. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:55.839 What? 00:19:56.000 --> 00:20:06.240 It may not even be in our church, it could be in your workplace, it could be across the country, it could be, hey, every family, extended family situation, you don't have to be involved with. 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:08.960 Some of y'all have big extended families. 00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:10.160 There's some of that stuff. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:13.359 You want to just say, Well, nothing I can do with that. 00:20:13.599 --> 00:20:15.119 Well, don't you want to know? 00:20:15.519 --> 00:20:18.240 Well, kind of, but kind of not. 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:25.759 Because it just seems like you keep bringing junk to me about people. 00:20:26.480 --> 00:20:29.039 And it shapes my opinion about them. 00:20:29.680 --> 00:20:31.279 And I don't want to know. 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.960 I want to have a good walk with God. 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:39.200 And knowing some of that stuff, it's just like a soap opera. 00:20:40.799 --> 00:20:42.559 Scripted by the devil. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:48.799 Look at Ecclesiastes chapter 4, it pertains to Josiah. 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:53.359 Look at verse 4, uh, Ecclesiastes 4, look at verse 13. 00:20:54.240 --> 00:21:03.839 A better is a poor and a wise child than an old and foolish king who will no more be admonished. 00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:07.839 Now let me clarify, Josiah was not old. 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.920 He's 39. 00:21:10.559 --> 00:21:12.640 But I gotta tell you, he was foolish. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:15.359 And he couldn't be admonished. 00:21:15.839 --> 00:21:17.599 You say you're judging Josiah. 00:21:17.759 --> 00:21:18.880 I'm sorry I am. 00:21:20.079 --> 00:21:21.119 You say he wasn't old. 00:21:21.200 --> 00:21:22.000 No, he's 39. 00:21:22.319 --> 00:21:23.279 But he was foolish. 00:21:23.440 --> 00:21:28.400 He shouldn't he should have listened to Nico when Nico said, Stay out of this. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:30.960 My beef is not with you. 00:21:31.519 --> 00:21:33.519 That was an admonishment. 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:39.519 Because he got involved with something that other people followed him. 00:21:40.480 --> 00:21:42.079 Well, what was the end result? 00:21:42.559 --> 00:21:44.400 Jeremiah lamented. 00:21:44.640 --> 00:21:47.279 The lamentations, the singers lamented. 00:21:47.759 --> 00:21:58.000 It demoralized the country for a while when Josiah died unexpectedly, and then if you look after him, there was no good king. 00:21:59.279 --> 00:21:59.599 Come on. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.440 You still with me or not? 00:22:01.839 --> 00:22:04.640 After him, he was the last good king. 00:22:04.960 --> 00:22:08.079 It went downhill from then severely. 00:22:08.640 --> 00:22:11.440 Manasseh, keep going, Jehoiakim. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:13.359 Jehoiachin, keep going. 00:22:13.599 --> 00:22:21.759 The idea was the lamentations came because God was taking his hand off of uh off of that nation at that time. 00:22:22.480 --> 00:22:24.400 Josiah was that last one. 00:22:24.559 --> 00:22:27.359 If he would have been admonished, maybe he would have lasted a little bit longer. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.759 I don't know. 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:31.200 Maybe God had a plan on the whole thing, but the lesson is very clear. 00:22:31.359 --> 00:22:32.400 One more scripture. 00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:36.400 Look over at 1 Peter, just so you know we read the New Testament around here. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:22:38.720 1 Peter chapter number 4. 00:22:38.880 --> 00:22:40.079 Everybody still good? 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:42.559 I'm just saying tonight, let's be careful. 00:22:42.640 --> 00:22:44.880 Let's go out of here and say, hey, let's be careful. 00:22:45.119 --> 00:22:47.359 Let's be careful, uh, married couple. 00:22:47.519 --> 00:22:49.119 Let's be careful, family. 00:22:49.680 --> 00:22:51.519 Let's be careful, teenager. 00:22:51.680 --> 00:22:53.440 Let's be careful, young adult. 00:22:53.680 --> 00:22:54.960 Hey, do I know something? 00:22:55.119 --> 00:22:57.200 Okay, I do, but do I need to pass it on? 00:22:57.359 --> 00:22:58.640 Not necessarily. 00:22:59.119 --> 00:23:01.920 Maybe it's time to just leave that right there and leave it alone. 00:23:02.079 --> 00:23:04.640 Look at 1 Peter chapter number 4. 00:23:04.799 --> 00:23:05.759 Watch this scripture. 00:23:05.839 --> 00:23:06.640 It's very interesting. 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.680 Last scripture. 00:23:07.920 --> 00:23:09.200 Verse 15. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:12.079 But let none of you suffer as a what? 00:23:13.200 --> 00:23:14.160 Or a what? 00:23:14.720 --> 00:23:15.680 Or a what? 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:17.519 Or a what? 00:23:18.160 --> 00:23:20.559 Busybody in other men's matters. 00:23:20.880 --> 00:23:27.279 What's interesting there is the classification of busybody is in the classification of murderer. 00:23:28.000 --> 00:23:30.799 It's in the classification of thief. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:34.160 It's in the classification of evildoer. 00:23:34.640 --> 00:23:38.480 So evidently, God's not that impressed with busybodies. 00:23:40.079 --> 00:23:43.759 We just think of busybody, like in 1 Timothy, as a tattler. 00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:49.759 Somebody that goes around and just has a loose lips and mouth and just talks a lot about people's matters. 00:23:49.920 --> 00:23:51.759 It's a little bit more than that. 00:23:52.240 --> 00:24:00.400 In this case, God categorizes a busybody in other men's matters as a in the same category as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer. 00:24:00.480 --> 00:24:10.880 So in our minds, in our minds, the uh the wrongdoing of a busybody, it should get like it's really wrong. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.880 It's in the classification of murderer. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:18.319 It's in the classification of thief. 00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:20.559 Thief violates. 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:24.559 Thieves take something that's not theirs. 00:24:24.960 --> 00:24:29.440 There's a violation when you get stolen something that's valuable. 00:24:29.759 --> 00:24:31.279 You feel violated. 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.799 Evildoer. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:35.200 And then God says busybody. 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:37.519 In other men's matters. 00:24:37.759 --> 00:24:40.640 What's implied there is that don't pertain to you. 00:24:41.119 --> 00:24:42.480 We still okay with that? 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:47.519 Brethren, the evidently the busybody classification would grieve the spirit of God. 00:24:52.640 --> 00:24:54.799 Do I have a wrong spirit tonight? 00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:00.720 We should not get in our cars and talk about busybody matters on the way from church. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.920 It just grieves the spirit. 00:25:04.240 --> 00:25:06.160 It'd be better to be silent. 00:25:08.400 --> 00:25:09.039 What's wrong? 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:09.920 Did I do anything? 00:25:10.079 --> 00:25:11.279 No, I'm just being silent. 00:25:11.599 --> 00:25:13.519 Don't you want to talk about busybody stuff? 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:14.880 No, not tonight. 00:25:20.480 --> 00:25:27.039 Brethren, this phone's a wonderful thing, but too much texting about busybody matters can mess things up. 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:29.200 Did you hear? 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.559 Well, I have to be careful about that. 00:25:32.880 --> 00:25:35.599 It's so easy to forward stuff. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:38.799 That doesn't pertain to other people. 00:25:39.039 --> 00:25:40.640 I've probably been guilty too. 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:44.400 But the Holy Ghost should convict us, and we ought to listen to that conviction. 00:25:44.480 --> 00:25:46.559 It ought to be conscience. 00:25:47.839 --> 00:25:48.640 Wrong. 00:25:48.960 --> 00:25:49.839 Stop it. 00:25:50.160 --> 00:25:53.599 Busybody, evildoer, murderer, thief. 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.359 Dogs. 00:25:56.160 --> 00:25:56.799 Ears. 00:25:57.359 --> 00:25:58.000 Biting. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.759 Josiah. 00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:00.960 39. 00:26:01.839 --> 00:26:03.119 Did a great job. 00:26:03.440 --> 00:26:04.079 Eight. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:06.000 Sixteen. 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.680 Twenty-six. 00:26:08.240 --> 00:26:10.240 Died at thirty-nine. 00:26:11.920 --> 00:26:13.200 Lamentations. 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:16.480 From there on out, problems. 00:26:16.799 --> 00:26:19.599 Busybodying can ruin families. 00:26:20.480 --> 00:26:23.440 Busybodying can split up marriages. 00:26:25.039 --> 00:26:27.599 Busybodying can split churches. 00:26:28.720 --> 00:26:30.400 Say amen right there. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:32.400 It's true. 00:26:32.799 --> 00:26:36.400 I realize it's Mother's Day night, but brethren, let's be honest down here. 00:26:37.119 --> 00:26:43.279 We don't want to get before the Lord and suffer loss because we got involved in somebody's weakness. 00:26:44.640 --> 00:26:45.920 What do you mean, weakness? 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:56.000 They weren't mentally disciplined and strong enough to stay out of other people's matters, and they drug us in, and we weren't strong enough to say our friendship only goes so far. 00:26:58.400 --> 00:27:00.160 I'm not getting involved in that. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.920 It's not my place. 00:27:02.079 --> 00:27:08.559 I believe the book, and the way I read that is we're involved in too much in our conversation, and that needs to stop. 00:27:08.720 --> 00:27:10.240 We're still friends. 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:14.160 But let's have a walk with the Holy Ghost and not be involved with that. 00:27:16.079 --> 00:27:17.599 Because it's not right. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:25.279 And it falls in the category of murder, thief, evildoer, and God says busybody and other men's matter. 00:27:25.359 --> 00:27:29.279