Honor and Respect part 2- 1-10 Wed 1996

1-10 Wed 1996

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:00

Romans 13 and also would you pick up Acts chapter 12? Romans 13 and Acts chapter 12. And uh last week we talked about Romans 13 a little bit. I want to pick it up there and go it a little bit different way with it tonight. Romans chapter 13 and Acts chapter 12 if you would. It's a little bit too loud, Jean. Bring it down just a little bit. Romans 13, Acts chapter 12. Appreciate you braving the snow to be here tonight. Amen. I talked to somebody back east today, I don't remember what city it was, and they said, uh uh, boy, we called out there to one of our relatives and they said, uh, sounds like you guys are having some tough weather. And I said, Yeah. I said, it's pretty tough, 7580. So they said, Yeah, we heard it was getting cold out there at night. I said, it really is. Uh in the 40s at night. I mean, anytime after it gets in the 50s, it's it's sweater weather out here. And uh, when it gets 40, you light the fire, amen. Bring in the wood. It's it's time to light that fireplace up. And they were just laughing. And the guy said to me, he said, Yeah, I got three feet of snow on my back doorstep. I can't even open the door. And I said, Well, brother, uh, isn't it good to be in God's will? Amen. Romans chapter 13. What are you gonna say, amen? God's calling us without with repentance. Romans 13. Look at verse 7, if you would. Verse 7. And let's bring this back into focus just for a few minutes tonight. Render therefore to all their dues, tribute to whom tribute is due. Custom to whom custom. Fear to whom fear. And would you say the next uh four words with me again, please? Say it. Honor to whom honor. If you remember last week we talked just a little bit about honoring. I want to give you a um I want to give you kind of a warning tonight, if you would, and I think it's very apropos. Look at Acts chapter 12. Acts chapter 12. And the warning is not so much a uh a scolding, it's just uh just a gentle warning and uh admonishment, and you don't have to worry about going out of here feeling bad about yourself. I don't believe we have this problem with this church, but I think it's something that needs to be said once in a while, if nothing else, just to reiterate to maybe some who haven't been here for a while, uh, where we stand. Look at Acts chapter 12, and notice verse 20. Verse 20. And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sion, but they came with one accord to him, and having made blasts the king's chamberlain, their friend, desired peace because their country was nourished by the king's country. And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne and made a what? An oration unto them. And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a God and not of a man. May I make a statement? They are going overboard on honor. They've passed off what honor is supposed to be, and they've come into worshiping a man. Is that right? It is the voice of a God and not a voice of a man. Now, Herod made a mistake. What was his mistake? Silence. He didn't correct him. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory. I tell you what, it's a terrible death, too. And he was eaten of worms. You talk about a bad hair day, amen? And gave up the ghost. Or why was he eaten of worms? Because when the people said it's the voice of a God and not of a man, he didn't correct them. He didn't humbly say, no, no, no, no, no. Like Peter says later, I myself am a man. He never said anything about this. And I wonder if it got to the place where the people were expected to give him this kind of honor. And anytime you start honoring a person above God, there's a problem. Would you agree with that statement? Now there's nothing wrong with honor, but in this situation, it got out of hand. Look, if you would, let's just study a little bit about this type of scenario. Look at Esther chapter 6. Esther chapter 6. It is in probably every one of us, there's a side to us that's we would call carnal, that we desire a little honor, a little appreciation, a little status, a little recognition. And there's nothing wrong with that as far as far as it's kept spiritual. But if it goes overboard and our expectations get too great, there can be a great problem. Exeter chapter 6. I don't think it goes overboard in this church, but let me just show you a couple of things. Esther chapter 6. You may have heard about a man named Haman. If you haven't, you ought to study this man. He's an interesting person in the Bible that God put in there as an example, and what you'll find out is you don't want to be a Haman. Amen? Look at Esther chapter 6, and notice what you'll see in verse number 3, verse number 3. And the king said, What honor and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king's servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. And verse 4 of Esther chapter 6, and the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king's house to speak unto the king to hang who? Mordecai. On the gallows that he had prepared for him. And the king's servant said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. And Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to what? Honor. Now Haman thought in his heart. Just like some of us sometimes, amen. Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honor? More than to myself. And Haman answered, the king, for the man whom the king delighteth to honor. Now, who is Haman thinking about? Himself. Let the royal apparel be brought. Now, what we're getting here is Haman's fantasy. Is that right? Getting a little Haman's fantasy here. Have you ever had a fantasy about being honored? Oh no. No, no, no. One honest man. We've all had them, haven't we? Come on, yes or no? A little bit of fantasy about being honored in some way, shape, or form. You say, preacher, that's a terrible thing. We would never do that. We're Christians. I know, but there's a carnal side to all this. Verse 8. Let the royal apparel be brought, which the king useth to wear. And the horse that the king rideth upon. Here's his fantasy. And the crown royal which is set upon his head. He's got this all pictured how he's going to look. And let this apparel, let his apparel and horse be delivered to hand of one of the king's most noble princes. And they may array that the man withal whom the king delighteth to honor. And bring him on horseback through the street of the city and proclaim before him. That's now we see what Haman wants. He wants the whole city to bow down. Amen? To him. Thus shall it be done to whom the man, to the man whom the king delighteth to honor. Brother, we always we all have little fantasies from time to time, I'm sure, about the honor of uh the idea of honor and prestige and recognition and status and appreciation. But the example of this here is a man who's a little bit carnal. And if you remember what happens here, uh the king kind of busts Haman balloon. Verse number 10. Then the king said to Haman, I think what he's probably thinking is, good idea. Make haste, take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, your fantasy, and do even to Mordecai the Jew. You know, the one you hate, which he didn't know at the time, that sitteth at the king's gate. Lest nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. He talked about eating crow. Another bad day, hair day, amen. They tell him about it later. But the idea here is he's got this fantasy about honor. But please look up here. His fantasy goes beyond what it should. Now, look up here just for a moment. In a church, there are different positions. In your business, there's different positions. In your home, there's different positions. In your extended family, there's different positions. I think what we have to do is to be sober about who we are and what we are and not be heady or high-minded. And we need to keep it in perspective of what honor and dignity is all about. It's not meant to lift up in pride. I have no problem with honoring somebody or recognizing somebody. In fact, if you ask me what one of my weaknesses was as a pastor, it's probably that I don't honor people enough around here. But I guess on the other side, what I'm concerned about is that we don't get into this situation where people can get to the place where they're looking to honor everybody. Now we should honor everybody, but may I say this: what that may tend to do is bring about competition. I don't have any problem in honoring somebody and recognize somebody for years of service, but please look up here. It should not be competitive. Look, if you would at uh Esther chapter 3. Esther chapter 3. Again, I would admit maybe a fault and a weakness in this area as a leader, but I guess on the other side, I'd rather there be a little bit less as long as there's not a competition, a jealousy, and anger develop. Look at Esther chapter 3. Esther chapter 3. We go back and find Haman's root problem here. After these things did King Assar promote Haman. And you can read verse 1. And all the king's servant, verse 2, that were in the king's gate, bowed and reverence too. They reverence too. And boy, you know what? He liked that. Please look up here. You know, in government, don't tell me some of the officials don't like it. I've been in the military. I know men who love it. They live for it. In business. I mean, it's all over out there. For the king had so commanded concerning him. But, verse 2 again, Mordecai did what? He bowed not, nor did him reverence. Then the king's servants, which were in the king's gate, said unto Mordecai, Why transgressest thou the king's commandment? Now it came to pass when they spake daily unto them, and he hearkened not unto them, that they told Haman to see whether Mordecai's matters would stand. For he had told him that he was a Jew. Look at verse 5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did him reverence, then was Haman full of what? You write it down, it's competition, it's jealousy, it's you're not seeing me for what I am. It's uh it's it could even be like this. Uh in a marriage, I'm the husband, you're supposed to reverence me. Bow down, woman. What are you talking to me that way for, woman? Don't you know what the Bible says about that? Boy, I hope nobody said that recently. I mean, if I would, I'd just hang my head in shame. Well, even Sarah called Abraham Lord, that's what you should call me. Hey, buddy, you should earn it. And if you earn it, you won't have to tell her. And if you have to, you're going about it the wrong way. Me, Tarzi, you Jane. You stay here, I swing. Ridiculous. Amen? Hey, we're supposed to earn their reverence by serving them. Where do you read that? In the book. Christ loved the church and gave himself for it. It's his bride. Come on, guys, amen. We know that wouldn't be talking about you, Jeff. Lord, I mean, Jeff, I'm just kidding. Do you understand what I'm saying? Some guys go to seed on this thing. You know who usually goes to seed on it? And it's not nobody that I married recently, I'm sure. But uh guys who just get married got this thing, you know. Me, man of the home. You woman. Reverence me. Welcome to reality, buddy. Now, there is reverence and honor, but it ought to not be taken out of context of how God intended it. Don't take this wrong. I've always encouraged my wife to put her relationship with the Lord above her relationship with me. Always, always, always, always, always. Why? If anything ever happens to me, she won't go to pieces. She's got her fellowship and her relationship with the Lord, and it doesn't come always through me. I know she does unto me, as what God says to, and everything like that, but please look up here. If she doesn't have a personal walk with God and everything's dependent on me, what happens when something happens to me? She's got to go on. Amen. Look what it says there again, verse 5. And when Haman saw that Mordecai bowed not, nor did reverence, then was Haman full of wrath. May I make another statement? Now I was uh I was a series commander for a while, which is series commander. I was at Paris Island, South Carolina. What that means was I was in charge of about uh 300 recruits and about 28, 29 drill instructors. And some of these drill instructors were uh, you know, uh they were still fairly young as far as leadership goes, and they would come in there, and all of a sudden, these 60 privates in their platoon had to obey their every order. And I'm not just saying obey, I mean, if the drill instructor came out and said, I need this, I mean they had to run and run. And everything was in fast forward and fast motion. And if the drill instructor said, you know, somebody in here needs to go and uh do this for me, I mean, often 60 guys would go to do it. And what you have to be careful of when that happens is they get prima donna-ish. They get to the idea where they enjoy this power, and they start taking advantage of it. So, one of my jobs as a series commander was to set those drill instructors straight from time to time. And I enjoyed doing that. Amen? Somebody has to keep in line. Now, most of them were good guys and everything, but every once in a while you get somebody coming a little heady, a little high-minded, never been in power like that before, and it would get to them, and they'd start taking advantage of the privates. And my job was to call those drill instructors aside and say, knock it off before I have to knock you off. Amen. Now you say, What do you mean? Well, I let them do their job, but they weren't supposed to go overboard on this thing with their honor back and their dignity back. Now, that can happen in Christian churches too. Someone gets a little power, gets a little leadership role, and starts thinking, you know, hey, you know what? God typically has a way of whittling that down. Amen. We've all had that, I'm sure, at times. The idea, though, is we're not supposed to take this honor thing too far. Look up here. I'm the pastor, but I don't need to be set up on a pedestal. You don't need to have my picture in your house and burn candles to it. Don't take that wrong. I don't expect that. I don't, uh please look up here. I don't expect blind obedience. I wouldn't expect that. If I'm asked you to do something and you said why, I would expect to be told why. Nobody wants to say anything, amen. That's true. Hey, you know what? As my children get older, and once they get past a certain age and I tell them to do something, they have the right to turn around and say, Why do you want me to do that, Dan? And I would have had a good reason. Now, when they're younger, if they say why, I say, it's none of your business. Why? Just do it. Stay with me. I'm losing some of you. Look at verse uh, look at verse uh look at verse six again. Stay with me. And he, this is uh Haman, saw that Mordecai bowed not. Haman's full of wrath, verse six, and he, Haman, thought scorn to lay hands on Mordecai alone. You know what he wanted to do? He wanted to strangle the guy. Go after him. For they had showed him the people of Mordecai. The idea here is there's a competition. Now, before I go on, should a husband be respected? Absolutely. Should a mother be respected? Oh, more than absolutely, in my mind. Oh yeah. There's one thing you don't do in my home. Don't be disrespectful to mom. Oh, you got a problem with me. Amen. Why? She's the weaker vessel, and I'm her protector. If she doesn't learn, if they don't learn now about that, male and female, they'll walk all over there when she's, when she's when they're at 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Amen. So I believe in honor and respect. I believe there ought to be uh, you know, certain order and respect in business and in the government and in the church. So I'm not trying to put that down. But what I'm trying to say, brother, is we don't want to take it too far. Look, if you would, at another verse of scripture. Notice Numbers 22. Stay with me. Numbers 22. You say, preacher, are there other scriptures that would point to this? Oh, yeah, I think of a few. Numbers chapter 22, turn there. You say, you mean the competitiveness? Oh yeah. Hey, have you uh do you remember the story as you turn in Numbers chapter 22? They're coming back on the road and they're discussing a certain uh aspect of uh their relationships with each other, the disciples are, the apostles, and they come back and Jesus said, Hey guys, uh, what were you just talking about on the way? Oh, nobody says nothing. Everybody's real quiet. Why? What were they talking about? Who would be greatest? Who would be greatest? You know what that is? Competition. And who were they talking about? They themselves. Sure. And brethren, I don't see anything in here where we're supposed to be looking for honor for ourselves. In fact, we're supposed to be esteeming each other better than ourselves. Is that right? With the right attitude, I'm not worried about so much whether you honor me or not. I'm worried about how I'm dealing with you, how I'm working with you, what I think about you, how I'm serving you. I'm not worried about whether you're honoring me or not. A leader that's constantly saying, Well, you know what? They honored their pastor, and man, they haven't honored me yet. He's in trouble. A pastor is looking across the fence and saying, Wow, look, look, look what that look at the car that guy gets to drive. Look at mine. Don't they care about me? That guy's got a problem. He's starting to compare what he's being given to what that guy's being given, and he should never do that. Never. That can happen as a problem in business. Wow, look at the office that guy got. Look what I got. I do more work than he does. Why does he get a better office? Who cares? Doesn't matter. Do your job. Watch God promote you. Watch God give you honor. You start looking across at someone else. Look at that department over there. Look what you know what? Just do your job in your department. Amen? Get quiet on me. You know what I'm talking about. Why? Because we're looking at someone else and look at the honor and the esteem and the dignity and everything's placed on them, and they're saying, boy, I envy that. I want that. I wish I had that. Well, do your job and watch what God will do for you. Look at Numbers 22. Stay with me. I'm going to be kind tonight. Numbers 22. Look at uh, if you would, here's an enticement. Uh Balak is the topic of conversation here. And look what he does in verse 5. He sent messengers therefore unto Balaam, the son of Beor to Pethor, which is by the river. And what he wants him to do, he wants Balaam to come out. Verse 6. Come now, therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people. He's asked them to curse the Israelites, for they are too mighty for me. Now, we're going to skip down a little bit. You ought to read it sometime. Balaam refuses, but look at verse uh 14. And the princes of Moab rose up and they went to Balak and said, Balaam refuses to come with us. Verse 15. Look what happens here. And Balak sent yet again princes, more and more what? Honorable. You know what he's doing? Hey, we'll get him. We'll bring out the more honorable ones. We'll bring out the higher ups and more honorable than they. And they came to Balaam and said to him, Thus saith Balak, the son of Zippor, let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me. For I will do what? I will promote thee unto very great, say it. Here's one man telling another man, You need to come, because I'm going to promote you to great honor. And what's going on here is there's an enticement. And I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me, come, therefore, I pray thee, curse me, this people. And what the Balak, the king, is asking Balaam to do is go against God's will. Oh, listen, brethren, sooner or later you will have the opportunity to go through some type of promotion or some type of honor or some type of something that would potentially put you. In a situation where you may be being enticed against God's will. It will probably come to three-quarters of the people in this room before your life is over in some way, shape, or form. Boy, you know, when that comes, it's like, oh, this must be God's will. Be careful. There's a story in here to teach you something. Amen? I don't want no donkeys talking to me. Amen? I already got an example in here. So the idea here is, he says, I'll promote thee to great honor. Now look if you would, and we'll skip through. Look at verse uh 37, brethren. Verse 37. And Balak said, verse 37, unto Balaam, there's the king who's trying to entice the prophet to do this thing against God's will. Did I not earnestly send unto thee to call thee? Wherefore cameest thou not unto me? Am I not able indeed to promote thee to honor? Brethren, I'm going to make a statement. I believe, without a doubt, Christians have the propensity to potentially leave God's will when they see the potential to honor. And you have to be very, very careful about it. You've got to make sure it's God's will. Now, could God do something to promote you to honor? Sure, but what you've got to be careful about, is it God? Or is it a temptation? Now, if you know the story, uh, look over at chapter uh 24, 24, please. Look at it. And notice verse 10. Well, look at verse uh 9. He counts, verse 9, he laid down as a lion, as a great lion, who shall stir him up. Blessed is he that blessed thee, and cursed is he that curse thee. And Balak, here's that king's anger, was kindled against Balaam. And he smote his hands together, and Balak said unto Balaam, I called thee to curse mine enemies. Behold, thou hast altogether blessed them these three times. Therefore, now flee thou to thy place. I thought to promote thee unto great honor. Look what he says. But lo, the Lord hath kept thee back from honor. This guy is full of himself. Balak is full of himself and doesn't even care about God in any way, shape, or form. And now he's telling him, hey, don't you know you had a great opportunity here? And you blew it. You read the rest of the story. He did right. Now, can God promote people to honor in business? Of course he can. Can God promote people to honor in different events and all that? Of course he can. But, brethren, you just have to make sure that it's God doing it. And not men. Organizations. Why? Because people can go right out of God's will. Amen? Look over a little bit further and stay with me. Notice if you would to Acts chapter 10. Acts chapter 10. We get a little bit more heavy here. Acts chapter 10. You're doing okay so far? No rotten tomatoes thrown at me. Everything's fine. Acts chapter 10. And look what happens here. Again, with this concept of honor and going overboard with it. Now, now I need to make a statement here tonight, and I want you to listen a couple of times. There is nothing wrong with honoring someone. There's nothing wrong with giving them dignity. There's nothing wrong with giving them a ward or present. A few years back, uh, hey, I did not, I did not uh go against the idea that there was a little honor done to my wife and I for our 10 years of service here, and I don't have any problem with honoring people and that kind of stuff, as long as it doesn't go overboard. And please look up here, as long as it's not expected. When people begin to expect it and don't get it, that's when there can be jealousy and competition. It should not be demanded. It should be earned. Big difference. Look if you would at Acts chapter 10. What goes on here? Uh Cornelius is coming to uh meet Peter, or Peter's coming to meet Cornelius, verse 25, and as Peter was coming in, Cornelius met him, fell down at his feet, and what? Worshiped him. Peter took him up, saying, Stand up. I myself also am a man. Brethren, uh, there's something to learn in that statement right there. Now hold your place right there and look a couple chapters over and look at Acts, if you would, chapter 14. Acts 14. Here's what we've got to remember as we go through this life, and maybe God blesses you and you're successful in everything. Acts chapter 14, I hope he does. They're getting ready to make them into gods here. Look at verse 11. And when the people saw that Paul had, or what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lyconia, the gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. They called Barnabas Jupiter and Paul Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. And the priest of Jupiter was before the city brought oxen and garlands into the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Who were they going to sacrifice to? And for Paul and Barnabas. Stay with me, verse 14. But when the apostles Paul and Barnabas, or Barnabas and Paul heard of, they rent their clothes and ran them in among the people, crying out and saying, Sirs, why do you these things? I like the next statement. We are men of what? Like passions with you. What are they saying? We're not gods. We got the same passions you have. And brethren, if there's anything that you've got to remember, if you get promoted into some type of honorable position and people treat you with dignity and respect, you need to remember whence you're from. You need to remember where you came from, and you need to remember every morning you're a sinner saved by grace. And if they're saluting you in the military because you're high ranking, praise the Lord. If they're saying, calling you yes, sir, and by first name when you come at your business, praise the Lord. If you have a position of leadership in the church, praise the Lord. Just remember, though, you're a sinner saved by grace, and one of the days you're going to fall before the judgment gabar of God just like everybody. And we will be judged by those like passions. Because we have them too. Now, remember what happened there. Paul said, you know, or Peter said, I myself also in a man. That's why we have such a problem with religions that promote these people to where you bow down to them. Listen, brother, don't take this wrong. We would never kiss a statue's foot. Do you understand what I'm talking about? Peter's foot over there in the Vatican is almost kissed off. That's true. I mean, the toes are starting to go on, all these people rubbing their mouths on that rock. And they think they're doing obedience. Now, we laugh, but you know what? They're very serious. Nothing else. That ought to show you something's wrong with it. When these guys come in all dressed up and they got the headgear and they've got the robes and they got all that stuff. Hey, you know what's a it's religious rigomerobe. Sure. You say, well, can you show me an Old Testament example? Oh yeah. Jeroboam set up his own religion. He put the two golden calves up. He took the lowest people and made them priests. He had the feast days. He had the mockery of everything that God set up in Israel and he had it all set up, and the sins of Jeroboam followed king after king after king after king after king for years, and God's judged him. It was a man-made religion. You know why people gravitate towards that? Because they like the idea of worshiping something they can see. We don't worship someone we see other than then by the deeds of the Holy Spirit who's likened to the wind. We worship the one that we see through the eyes of our understanding by faith. You know the greatest thing about what we have, you don't have to come through me to get the understanding of this book. There's one mediator, and his name is not Doug Fisher. Amen? I would never take the concept that you have to come through me to get your sins absolved, or that you have to come to me to get your understanding. If I can give you some advice or influence you in some way, shape, or form, the rest is really sacrilegious. It's an abomination. You say you're putting yourself down. No, I'm not. I'm putting it into perspective. And we need to keep the right perspective. Wouldn't you agree, brother? Let me show you three scriptures here. Stay with me. Look at John chapter 6. You say you're all negative. I'll give you something positive in a minute. John chapter 6. I think this is real positive. John chapter 6. John chapter 6. And also, would you pick up one other verse, uh Matthew chapter 4? Stay with me. John 6, Matthew 4. I'm watching the time. Honor me. Look at your book. John chapter 6. There needs to be honor and respect, but we just need to be careful how far we take it. Notice a little scripture here that's kind of interesting. John chapter 6. Verse 15. Verse 15. When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by what? Oh yeah. To make him a what? What did he do? He departed again into a mountain himself alone. Why'd he do that? Because it wasn't time. You mark it down. One of the most important things for a person who's rising into some type of leadership or honorary status is whether or not it's time. Whether or not it's the right timing. And Jesus knew that the time wasn't right. All the people looked at it and they said, this is the one. He knows it's not time. And the example there is he didn't let them make him into king, into a king at that point in time. Oh, he is the king of kings. He is the Lord of Lords. He will be the monarch and he will come back and be king one day, but it just wasn't time. Now, one of the hardest things to do is to have an opportunity that comes up and you look at it and you say, God, is this your will? And God says, It's not time yet. Wait. And for you to say, no, it's not time. That's a hard thing to do. You know what we want to do? Sure. Man, yeah, right. Yeah, let's do it. Patience is not one of our greatest virtues. And by the way, brethren, I know people who've got over their heads. Too much, too soon, too quick. It can bury people. I could ask for testimonies, and somebody here could stand up probably and say, you know what? I was offered this and I thought I was ready for it, but I just went too quick into it and everything. And you know what I forgot to do? I forgot to ask God his opinion. So I just went ahead and did it. And probably if I would have asked him, I would have said, you know, maybe not right now, but but keep me in mind for the future, or or I'll do that later or something. And all of a sudden, if you're not careful, we get over our heads and then we cry out and say, God, where are you? And God says, Well, you know what? You forgot to ask me. So we have to be careful about this thing about why would we go ahead and go with it? Please look up here. Because we want to be honored. We want to be influential. A few years back. I got approached as a pastor by a group. They wanted to come and uh have a meeting in our church, and it's a good group. There's nothing wrong with that or anything. And they called me and said, Brother Fisher, we think that uh maybe your church would be a great church for us to have a certain meeting at your church and everything. And uh we'd like you to think about that and pray about it and get it back to us. Oh, it was uh, I guess, uh a tremendous opportunity by some people's standard. They would be just pastors would be jumping for that opportunity. So I uh I went over and thought about it for about two hours. And uh they called me back a couple days later and they said, Well, uh, are you gonna do it? And I said, No. No, I don't think the timing's right. And that uh uh I don't think so. Uh listen, but let me give you a second alternative. And by the way, the alternative worked out very well for them. You say, What did you make your decision on? Oh, it was simple. Would it help our church? That was all the decision had to be made on. Would it help our church? You see, I would never use you as a church so I get more honor. More glory, so I get my name in the paper. So it was a simple decision. Well, you say, what do you mean? Well, I would never use this church for my gain. So I said, no, I don't think it would be right. And you know what? They were kind enough not to ask me the reason. Still friends with them, no big deal. You say, oh, you got passed over. We get passed over. I believe it was God's will that wasn't for us. Oh, don't you ever have regrets? Absolutely not. I've seen some guys that I've known through the years jump at those things and it ruined them. Why? They weren't ready, nor was their church ready. You know, I'm kind of the type of guy, stay off the skyline. I don't need to be seen. You get seen, you get shot at. I got three letters last week. A couple of guys shooting at each other. It's not even my battle, but they're sending letters to all the guys on the mailing list. They're shooting at each other. What do I care? Pray for them. Put down your guns. You say, where are they shooting at? Well, some guy said this in a meeting, and some other guy said this in a meeting, and he said this in a meeting, and somebody else got involved. Who cares? I care enough to pray for them, but it's not my battle. You'd be amazed at what guys fight over. You you have that in your business, don't you? In your office? You have it in your home. It happens between pastors sometimes. I just never got involved with it. I don't know anybody that doesn't like me. I'm not being arrogant. You mean do they all like you? No, I just don't know anybody that doesn't like me. Why would I listen to that? And by the way, you know why? I haven't got politically involved. I've just stayed clear of it all. Well, what does Fisher believe? What camp's he in? You know what? I don't know. They got their own camp going on down there. Because we have a guy in from this one, and a guy over there, and a guy comes in here, and a guy comes in there, and we have a guy in. I had a lot of pastors saying, Who's Glendy Hamilton? I said, I don't know. Here, I'll send you some tape, see what you think. You know who Glendy is? Just a guy that preaches the word. And he fit us. And he's not on anybody's, you know, guru status or anything like that. And that was kind of nice. See, I just haven't got involved in that. Why? Because it doesn't matter to me about that thing about being recognized by the brethren. Oh, I can't say that probably the first three or four years. You know, I had to struggle through that a little bit. You know what it was? Heady, high-minded, novice. Do you understand what that said about not a novice, less being lifted up in pride? Sure. It's okay for me to say all this tonight, isn't it? I just want you to know my heart about this thing with honor. It's not wrong to do it, it's just wrong for it to get out of. Well, let me show you one of the scripture that kind of deals with this. They can't have taken by force. Look at Matthew chapter 4. I'll give you something in a minute that you'll like. Matthew 4. Now listen, let me say something. If you're upwardly mobile and on the rise and God's promoting you up, I'm not saying don't do it. I'm just saying be careful along the way. Hey, uh, I'll give you a statement. Uh Matthew chapter 4, as you turn in there. Uh, what you have to be careful of as you rise up is you don't you don't ever want to look at followers or someone that's lesser than you or lower than you on the totem bowl, and you never want to look down on them as a peon. Never. I remember when I was uh going through officer candidate school, uh uh Quantico, Virginia, and boy, I tell you what, those those uh those gunnery sergeants and staff sergeants, they love to get future officers in there and just let them have it. I mean, you look at boot camp and and all that and hear about that. I'm telling you that officer candidate school boot camp was even worse than that because they know they only had six weeks and one shot at you. And then you were going to be over them. And they just let you have it. And they did everything that they could think of. And uh, but I was there and going through that, and I mean you you you we shined uh uh uh we we we shined the trash cans and we we we toothbrushed the floors, uh the cracks in the floors. I mean, I I sat I sat in a uh I sat up against a wall like this for about three hours one night. Uh try that for a while. You you know, and just just for uh my bed wasn't tight enough. And I mean, just uh drill and start came by and said, Fisher up against the ball cat, and you just sat there like this. Now that's not too bad for a while, but try it for a couple hours. And when you fall over, they say, get back up and get back up there again. They just like that kind of stuff. And you know what you are? You're nobody, you're nothing, you're less than nothing. And they make you feel that way. That's okay. It's all a game.

unknown 40:26

Right.

SPEAKER_00 40:26

Just a game. And uh, but I remember when we were getting ready to graduate, and uh, don't take this wrong, I come out number one in my class, and the major told me, he said, now listen, soon to be Lieutenant Fisher. He said, Don't ever forget what it's like. What you just went through. As you rise up in the ranks, if you don't forget, you'll be a good leader. Every once in a while, go back and visit them in the trenches. When you're in your CP and it's raining out there on the troops, go down and get a little muddy with them in the foxhole. You know what happens too often as leaders rise up, they forget what it's like out in the trenches. When a person who used to go soul winning doesn't think they're think they're above that now because now they're a leader, they need to go back and go back soul winning again. And care about people again and pick up a broom and sweep up the church again and do that kind of stuff. Amen. Get back in a servant's role again. Never you never get to the place where you start looking down on people. Looks like to me Jesus took the low road and gave us that as an example down here for us. Amen? Am I against honor? No. But just don't let it go to your head. Look, if you would at Matthew 4. Here's the danger. Stay with me. Rise up, be a good leader. That's that's fine. Make a lot of money. That's okay. I'm not against that. Just as you're doing it, make sure you remember who's doing it for you. Matthew chapter 4. Now I told you how the people tried to take him by force and make him king and lift him up. Verse 7, please. Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God. Stay with me. Again, the devil taking him up into an exceeding high mountain, showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them, and said unto him, All these things will I what? You know what he's offering him? A promotion. Everything. I'll give it all to you. All you gotta do is fall down and worship me. Brother, you know what he's trying to do? He was quote unquote trying to bring him to a false honor. It wasn't his to give. And by the way, may I say this to you? He already had everything before the foundations of the world. But the idea is right here, you bring it down to, if we're not careful, there can be a false promotion given. Now I want you to turn to two more scriptures, and I want to show you something, and we'll close. Don't miss these two scriptures, though. Look at 1 Corinthians 12. Come on. 1 Corinthians 12, you're doing great tonight. And Philippians chapter 2. Sometimes I think, Philippians chapter 2, 1 Corinthians 12. I'll tell you something about myself that people don't always like. Philippians chapter 2 and 1 Corinthians 12. We're family, we're church. I'll tell you about myself. I don't mind being transparent, I'm not insecure. Philippians chapter 2, 1 Corinthians 12. Sometimes on a Sunday morning or a Sunday night, more on a Sunday morning than anything else, I'll um I'll put myself down a little bit. I'll stand up here and say something about myself or put myself down or something like that. And every once in a while somebody will say, Pastor, you don't have to put yourself down. Yeah, there's a purpose and there's a reason behind that. I want to connect. And if they think I live in a glass house and that my life is just perfect and I just walk on water, sometimes people need to know you sink, too. And you do dumb things and you have problems. Because that way they say, you know what? I can relate to that guy. He's got the same problems I got. But it looks like he found a solution. The book, amen. So if you hear me put myself down, there's a purpose and a reason behind it. It's not that I'm going, oh, I'm a terrible this and I'm a terrible that. And I'm please, I don't do that at night. Believe me. But there's a reason to do that. To connect. And why not be honest about yourself who we are? Why try to make ourselves into something we're not? Please look up here. It's not a sign of weakness to be honest. It's not a sign of weakness to be real and genuine. People will respect you more if you are. I've already been through that facade in the Marine Corps. I'm not in the Marine Corps down, but in the Marine Corps as an officer, you are, you play a facade. You play a role. At Paris Island, South Carolina, as an officer, they made me out to be a little G God. I mean, I'd walk into the squad bay, and I mean everything in the world froze. Nobody moved. And I could keep them that way for hours if I wanted to. You can let that go to your head if you're not careful. I mean, it would just freeze, and I'd walk around, and I mean the minute I walked into Squad Bay, there would be the first private there and say, attention! And everybody would freeze right where they're at. And I don't care what they were doing, whether they're coming out of the showers, whether they had a rifle in their hands, whether they were in if they were in their bed, they were to be attention in their bed. True story. And the minute I came in, the drill instructor was out there, and he was one step behind me following me around. In case I needed anything. Anything. And they made me to be a little G God. And that was back in the days before the politics got involved and took away the discipline and everything. And I know what that's all about, put play in that facade. But you know what? I was just a person. That's all. So I've been there. I've been on that side. I've been where they literally, I mean, uh well, I won't go into detail other than other than to say that that they did things to promote this reverence, but it was man-made. I don't need that stuff. Do I, do I, do I, uh, does my office as a pastor or your office as whatever your position is, does it have a little reverence and respect to it? Sure it does, but don't let it go to your head. You rise up and you're you get rich and famous in some way, shape, or form, great. Don't let it go to your head. Remember from once you came. And uh when you come to your kingdom, don't forget us. Let me tell you what uh what really, if you if you look at it, uh honor and respect. Let me tell you what it's all about. And I'll give you two scriptures and I'll close with this. I got uh some notes the other day, and I'll tell you this to me is is more important than probably many, many things that could come my way. Um says, Well, wouldn't you like to be known on a national level? If I am, it would be only just so I can have an influence. That'd be the only reason. But if God doesn't want it, I don't want it. It's no big deal to me. Dear pastor, thank you so very much for everything you do for us. This is a teenager. I don't thank you nearly as much as I should, and I am sorry. I thank God every day for having a pastor like you. I feel very blessed to be under you. Thank you for your message on Sunday about roots going downward, so we can bear fruit up there. That was just what I needed. I've been feeling so discouraged lately, and God really spoke to me. Thank you once again. You know what that is to me? That's honor. That's all I need. That'll do. Dear pastor, thank you for everything you're letting God do through you. Your message last Sunday about God's throne really brought revival to my heart. For the first time, I have seen the incredible honor it is to be able to come before the throne of God. This has brought a big change in my life. Some of your teenagers. Dear pastor, thank you for the sermon you preached last night. It was an encouragement. I also want to thank you for your prayers for my family. Continue to pray for my father. May God richly bless your family. Brother, that's honoring. They know I'm praying for their dad. You say, am I trying to promote myself? Come on. Didn't you hear the message? Listen, if you can have teenagers hold you in reverence and respect, I feel like maybe we're on the right track. And I want our teenagers to hold leaders in respect and honor, but not overboard. They don't need to go overboard with it. I want them to hold adults in respect. Hey, if you have gray hair, and don't take that wrong, they ought to look you with double honor. Or if you're of an age worthy of double honor because you've been labored, hey, let them give you that due respect. Amen. As my hair falls out and grows grayer, uh, I don't have a problem with a teenager holding the door open for me. It didn't hurt my arm when I opened it. Amen. So they give up their seat for me. Good. That's right. There's nothing wrong with that. I got bounced across the floor one time from my brother when I didn't give up my seat for a girl that walked in the room. I never forgot that. Amen. You're looking at me like I'm strange or something. Look if you would at Philippians chapter 2 while you're there. Stay with me. Philippians chapter 2. Look what it says, brethren, verse 3. We're taking roots tonight if you don't know. Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory, but in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem other how? Better than themselves. It doesn't mean to get depressed because someone's a little bit better than you are. It says we ought to esteem others better than ourselves and in that lowliness of mind, that humility. Well, what's the proper aspect? Look one more scripture. Look at 1 Corinthians 12. I think this says it. 1 Corinthians 12. Look at verse 25. Thank you for turning. It's the last scripture. That there should be no schism in the body, but the same, but that the members should have the same care one for the other. What should be the attitude? Here it is. Whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it. Or one member be what?

unknown 50:38

Honor.

SPEAKER_00 50:40

All the members get jealous.

unknown 50:46

No.

SPEAKER_00 50:46

One member be honored, all the members do what? They rejoice. Why? Because they're preferring that person above themselves and they're happy to hear the honor. Please look up here. When I hear another church and a pastor that's doing a great job, and then they had a great big day, I don't get jealous. I say, praise the Lord. If a church five minutes from us had a great big day and doing well and the church is growing and people are getting saved, I'm not jealous about that. Man, I'm saying, glory to God, praise the Lord, go, man, go. Why should I get jealous about that? We're not the only church in town. Somebody up the way gets a little more honor and a little more prestige, or someone over there is recognized, and I'm not. Who cares? Praise the Lord for them. I'm not saying like, who cares? Like, I don't care about that. I'm not saying with a bad attitude, I'm saying it doesn't it doesn't eat my lunch at night. Now, put it where you're at, in your job and your business, and your home and your family and your position in the church, and it shouldn't be eaten your lunch either. Come on. Thank you for praying for my parents while they went through some trials and tribulation. I enjoyed your sermon last night, and I pray I would take it to heart. Thank you for everything. Dear Pastor Fisher, thank you for praying for me and my family. You're a great pastor. I know. I know you're a great encouragement to me and my friends. Please tell your wife. I appreciate her example that she sets for me. So I told you. I know it must be hard to travel a lot and to be away from your family and friends, but thank you for doing it. You've been a great representer for our church. We love you, Pastor. Please continue to pray for me. These are all teenagers. Dear Pastor, you don't mind me reading these, do you? Oh, by the way, I'm not gloating. I'm trying to finish the message. This to me, if these teens honor me this way, that means we've reached them. We've got through. We're making some progress. Why? Because a lot of teens in our day and age, they wouldn't respect me in my position. They would say, Oh, I've got to go back over there and listen to that. Thank you so much for all you've done and do for this church and school. You say, Who put them up to us? Oh, we paid them a lot to say these things. You provide us with so much. The opportunities you set before us are numerous. When I read that, I was thinking about the missionaries coming in. There is so much the Lord has done through you to make Lighthouse Baptist Church more capable of serving the Lord and reaching Los San Diegans for Christ. The teen group especially would not be a mere speck of what it is today if you had not been a responsible leader over us. You know what? I haven't done much for the teen group but helped the leaders. Really? Those leaders do a lot. But somehow, those leaders have taught these teens to respect me. There is so much to be thankful for. This is honor. There's a difference. They don't dial down and worship me. No way. But also they don't hate me. Hey, and by the way, I don't I don't have a problem with getting to know your team. In fact, I want to get to know them. That's one of the hardest things I've had to work through. Teens scare me. I'm being honest. I get asked to preach at a teen meeting. I I already know it's not God's will. But I've done it before. Just out of God's will. That's all. I'm just kidding. There is so much to uh to be thankful for, and so uh let's see, what's it? I've had so much joyous times in the teen group. Growing through my teen years here will be something I'll never forget. Here's an interesting one. I only got a couple more. Thank you for pastoring this great church and having a school here. This church is the best that I have ever gone to, and I've learned a lot from the preaching. The school has a good spirit, and I've never been to a school like this one before where the students are so spiritual. Dear pastor, just write to say thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to stop and think about us and pray for us. Thank you for being a great example in my life and for being so patient with me. It's uh a teenager had some problems. I spent some time with him. Hey, this is this one's one that'll slap you in the face. Just three words that just really hit me. Thank you for taking the time to study to give us great messages and bring great understanding, Pastor. I appreciate it. Here's what got me. Thanks for giving me a good role model. Well, that'll put some pressure on you to look up to. You know what that did to me? I thought, man, they're watching me, they're watching me, they're watching me. Either that or this guy's a liar. They're watching. And they're watching you too. I go on, I'll just read you one last one. I thought this was good, and this one you'll you'll you'll need to know the background on, and I'll finish with this one. Uh this is uh from Rachel Swim. And the reason I'm telling you that uh we, my family now lives in the in the home where Brother Swim lived, and uh where Rachel and Jacob grew up, a few of their years, and Rachel writes, and Rachel and I have a real good relationship together. She says, Hello, thanks for being and letting God make you the greatest pastor for his glory. Sunday night's message taught me a lot about being rooted in Christ. When my family and I lived on Garfield, that's where we live now, the garden was kept very well. We used to spend many hours weeding, watering, admiring, and working on that backyard. Your gopher story last night reminded me of the day when my mom and I were pulling weeds out of the carrot box, when all of a sudden, in a straight second before our eyes, a carrot plant went straight down under. And she says this I am so very glad that you have found a way to serve justice on those thieves. Who had stolen our food years ago serves them right. Thanks for your great leadership, and goes on to say some other personal things. Brother, you know what? All I'm saying is that to me is all the honor I need. If we if we reach them, may we've accomplished something. We've got a great responsibility before us. Honoring each other, yes, but not letting it go to our heads.