Are You Taking God for Granted?

Good afternoon, everyone! Nice to see all of you here today. Another beautiful Texas day, nice and sunny. Appreciate the warm welcome very much. I appreciated the special music. I'm learning more about Mr. Pritchard all the time. I didn't realize he was a composer and played the piano. I met him a few years ago at Camp Colorado, and he's been our boy's counselor, so I deeply appreciate that. That's not an easy job, and he does a great job with it, so I appreciated the sermon as well. Also, the special music. Also, I'm really a little surprised. I knew Stacy and Jamie Munson liked me. I mean, I understood that, but to come all the way to Texas. Just kidding. They were planning to do this probably before I was, or maybe around the same time, but anyway, it's good to have the Munson's here in the congregation as well, and I'd like to welcome any guests. I know we have some guests because I met a few before services began. Seems like Dallas has lots of visitors. I told someone I haven't met all the members yet, so I'm not sure who's visiting and who's here, so looking forward to getting to know all of you, of course. Well, brethren, oh, also, I should say that my wife is leaving me. She's going to Alaska tomorrow. We have a grandson and a daughter in Alaska, so she's going to be gone for about a month, so you won't see her for a while, so make sure you say hi to her today. I'm going to miss her greatly, but one of us had to do it, and I needed to stay behind, so I'm glad Barbara's going to be able to go and see our daughter and our grandson. Our son-in-law, he's an Alaskan fisherman, so he's out at the Kodiak Islands right now, fishing for salmon, bringing home salmon for their livelihood, but it'll be nice for our daughter to have our wife there with her for about a month.

Alright, brethren, perhaps one of the easiest things to do in a human relationship is to take a close friend, a neighbor, especially a spouse or a family member, for granted. That's pretty easy to do. Have you ever been taken for granted yourself? Have you ever felt unappreciated, or has someone taken you too lightly, or perhaps taken advantage of your kindness, your mercy, your generosity? I'm sure none of us appreciate being taken for granted, but I'm also quite sure that every one of us, at one time or another, has taken someone else, some other human being, for granted, perhaps many times, probably many times throughout the course of our lives.

But frankly, I'm not as concerned about taking another human being for granted as I am taking God the Father and Jesus Christ for granted. Have you ever stopped to think about that? Could it be possible that you've been taking God for granted? I submit to you that we may all be guilty, to some degree, of taking God for granted again at one time or another. So let's consider this question in today's sermon, are you taking God for granted?

Now first of all, let's answer the question, what does it mean to take someone for granted? Number one, if we are taking someone for granted, we're not being as appreciative toward them as we should be. We may even be taking advantage of their generosity and their kindness toward us, their mercy toward us. In other words, we're not really respecting them properly. Humanly, we begin to expect certain things from people that we're close to, and we seem to forget that those things are being done for us out of the goodness of their hearts.

For example, our husbands, our wives, hopefully we're doing many things for each other out of the goodness of our heart, but we may have a tendency to take those things for granted. We may come to expect certain things that we're not really entitled to, but someone is generously giving us. For example, a child may think, since mom likes to keep the house so clean, she's going to pick up after me if I leave things lying around, so I guess I won't pick them up myself.

I'll let her take care of that. Or maybe a child will say, if I don't do the dishes like I'm supposed to, mom will probably do them eventually. Or if I don't clean my room, mom will eventually clean it up for me. Or maybe dad will clean it up for me. Or if I don't mow the lawn like I'm supposed to, maybe dad will get out there and do it for me.

You know, children, I'd like to talk to you for a moment, because the Bible says, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. So if your parents tell you to mow the lawn, then you should do it, right? If they tell you to do the dishes, you should do the dishes. Whatever it is they tell you to do, if it's in the Lord, if there's nothing wrong with it, if it's not against God's law, then you should obey them.

Let's go to Ephesians chapter 6 and let's read it together. And children, you can turn here as well. Maybe the parents can help them. Some of those who are older and know how to read, they can perhaps find it themselves. But in Ephesians chapter 6 verse 1, it does say, children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and your mother, which is the first commandment with promise that it may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.

Also, notice the instruction to fathers, and you fathers do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and the admonition of the Lord. So we are supposed to, also as fathers and mothers, we are supposed to instruct our children and teach them the way to go, God's way.

So we need to be careful that we don't take each other for granted. If a child begins to have an attitude of taking their parents for granted and expecting them to overlook certain things, what are good, tuned-in parents going to do? Well, of course, parents are supposed to correct their children. They're supposed to correct them because they love them. God says, I correct those I love or I chasten those I love. And we as parents are supposed to do the same thing. We are supposed to discipline our children in a proper way, in a loving way, in a godly way, but we are to instruct them in proper behavior and teach them not to take us, us parents, for granted and not to expect us to overlook things.

We are supposed to hold you accountable. If we tell you to do something, then we're supposed to hold you accountable to do that. We're not supposed to look the other way and forget that we told you. That's our job as parents. Also, we parents are to teach our children what you may have heard is consequential reasoning or good consequential reasoning.

In other words, there are consequences for the decisions that you make. We reap what we sow. It's biblical. There are consequences, so we need to understand when we make a decision there will be certain consequences. A child should know what to expect when they decide to transgress or break the law of their parents. A child will not be so quick to take their parents for granted if the parents are consistent with them. And you know, in some ways it's much easier to take God for granted than it is our own parents, because our parents are right there with us all the time.

We can see them, but it's even easier to take God for granted in some respects. A husband may come to expect certain things from his wife without fully considering all that she has to do in a day's time. I know that women are pretty busy, especially those who have children, a number of children, and it may be easy for a husband to take her for granted and actually demand too much from her. On the other hand, a wife may expect her husband to drop everything immediately to tend to her whims. I don't know if that's ever happened to you.

It's never happened to me. Well, maybe once or twice. Let's not take each other for granted, brethren. Let's be mindful of what others are doing for us, and let's be appreciative toward them. Let's be grateful and thankful for one another. That's a big part of taking people for granted, not really appreciating all that they do for us.

How does this type of thinking translate into taking God for granted? Let's go to Deuteronomy 8, because there's actually instruction here in Deuteronomy. Those of you who have been studying your Bibles and going to the Bible study in McKinney have been covering Deuteronomy, so no doubt you've gone through this. But let's consider what's said here again in Deuteronomy 8, verse 1. Every commandment which I command you today, you must be careful to observe. Of course, this is Moses speaking to them in regard to the Ten Commandments and the other statutes and judgments that God gave through Moses, that you may live and multiply, that you will be blessed.

In other words, that you may go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers, because this is right before they are going to go in and possess the land, the promised land. So God humbled you. He humbled you in verse 3, allowed you to hunger and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know that he might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone, but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Eternal.

And of course, this is how God speaks to us through the Word of God, through all the words in the Bible. We're to live by every word that's here. Verse 4, your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. So they wandered into the wilderness for forty years, and God blessed them, and God took care of them, and their clothes didn't wear out, and he fed them, and he took very good care of them.

Verse 5, you should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Eternal your God chastens you. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God to walk in his ways and to fear him. God wants us to learn to fear him properly, to hold him in awe and respect, and never take him for granted, and realize that God really does hold our lives in his hands.

Ultimately, it will be his decision whether we live or die. Verse 6, therefore you shall keep the commandments and learn to fear God. For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks, of water, of fountains, and springs that flow out of valleys and hills, a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey, a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing and whose stones are iron, and out of those hills you dig copper.

You'll have plenty of natural resources, and you'll be able to build and have wonderful homes and wonderful sheds and everything that you need. When you've eaten and are full, when you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which he has given you, beware.

So here's a warning. God says beware that you do not forget the Lord your God. When we forget God, we are taking God for granted. Don't forget God, don't take him for granted, by not keeping his commandments, his judgments, and his statutes which I command you today. Lest when you've eaten and are full and have built beautiful houses and dwell in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply and your silver and your gold are multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied when you're blessed abundantly, when your heart is lifted up and you forget the Lord your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt from the house of bondage, who led you through that great and terrible wilderness in which were fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty land where there was no water, who brought water for you out of the flinty rock.

God provided that water for them, who fed you in the wilderness with manna which your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and that he might test you to do you good in the end. You see, God tests us and he proves us because he wants us to learn the lessons that will bring eternal life. God loves us so much. He wants all of us to be in his kingdom. It is his good pleasure to give you the kingdom of God for all eternity. So God's going to test you. Notice verse 17, however. But then you say in your heart, my power, oh speaking of God, you say in your heart, my power and the might of my hand have gained me this wealth.

And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth. We have to always remember it is God who blesses us and gives us every good thing, every good gift comes from God. So God is the giver of all good gifts that he may establish his covenant which he swore to your fathers as it is this day. Then it shall be if you by any means forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and serve them and worship them.

I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish as the nations which the Lord eternal destroys before you, so you shall perish because you will not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God. And then Moses goes on to talk to them about how God will give them victory over giants. He will give them victory over all people even though they're more powerful physically. He will give them victory. He will give them strength and power over them. Notice verse 4, do not think in your heart after the Lord your God has cast them out before you saying, because of my righteousness the eternal has brought me in to possess this land.

But it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is driving them out before you. You know God blesses us not so much because we're so righteous, but because He is righteous and He loves us. And we are called out and chosen. We are a special people. And of course, those of us who have repented of our sins and received the Spirit of God, we are to be different. We are to be set apart as Mr.

Pritchard talked about in the sermonette what sets us apart. It is God's Spirit. It's His calling. He goes on to say that in verse 6 that you are a stiff-necked people. And frankly, the same is true for us today. Every one of us is a stiff-necked person.

We have that tendency humanly to be stiff-necked, don't we? I mean, I will admit that there are times when I can be very stubborn and stiff-necked and not always at the best times. Now, there are some times when we need to be stubborn and we need to stand up, but there are other times when we are stubborn and stiff-necked and it is contrary to God's laws and His ways.

So we have to be on guard and we have to realize our own nature. The Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things. It is desperately wicked. We must never forget that. At the same time, we must be always grateful that God is helping us change and stop being that way. We don't have to continue in that and we don't have to do it very often, hopefully. We don't have to be that way. Most of the time, if we are honest with ourselves, I think you will agree with what I am saying here.

Let's also be careful not to mistake God's mercy and His blessings for His approval. That can be a mistake. Sometimes God still pours out blessings upon us when we are not really doing what we should. So don't mistake His mercy and His blessings for His approval because if you are going contrary to Him, He does not approve of that. God is a good, consistent parent. He does not approve of that and eventually your sins will find you out. A person may begin to think in his mind and heart, since God is loving, He is kind, He is compassionate, He is forgiving, and I am weak and frail, God will forgive me if I sin a little. A person may develop the attitude that a little sin is acceptable to God.

But no sin is acceptable to God. You know, God hates sin. That's what the Bible says. He hates it. So is it acceptable? No, it's not acceptable. And if we think it is, we're making a big mistake. We have to repent of our little sins. All of our sins. When a person begins to take God's love, His compassion, and His forgiveness for granted, then he will become lax toward God's law. Since God doesn't zap us immediately for every sin we commit, a person may begin to think that God really isn't paying attention.

He doesn't really know what's happening down here. He doesn't seem to care that much. And it appears that I can get away with doing what I want. With sinning against Him. What about the world that we live in today? Does this world take God for granted? A lot of people don't even believe in God in this nation and in this world. But there are many professing Christians, people who do believe in God. They profess a belief in God, but their behavior reflects an attitude of one who is severely taking God for granted.

Couples who are not married will oftentimes cohabit these days. They'll live together, they'll sleep together without thinking much about God and His laws. They may even go to church most Sundays and profess to be Christians, and they'll have symbols of what they consider their Christianity draped around their necks and so forth. But their behavior reflects an attitude of disregard for God's laws and His statutes. Men and women will often commit fornication and adultery without really considering God at all, even though they would consider themselves good people.

I'm sure you've met many people like that. And they are very nice people in many, many ways, and they're very decent in many, many ways, but they're breaking God's laws blatantly, and they're taking God for granted. And that's why God is going to come back with fury in the days ahead.

His wrath will be poured out on a sinning people who have taken Him for granted way too long, and He's going to have enough. Enough is enough, and Christ, of course, is going to come back with power.

And, frankly, we need to be ready for Christ's return. In Genesis 39, let's go there for a moment, and let's consider a man who did not take God for granted. Joseph sets a sterling example for us. Genesis chapter 39, and certainly God did exalt Joseph, but he suffered, didn't he, even in prison for a time, because of his righteousness. Genesis 39 verse 9.

Now, this was after Potiphar, his master. Joseph was a slave in Egypt, and it was Potiphar who was his master. And his wife, Potiphar's wife, began to make advances upon Joseph. She wanted him to commit sexual immorality with her. He says in verse 9, to her, there is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me, but you, because you are his wife.

How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? So, here was a woman that wanted Joseph. Potiphar was probably gone a lot. And Joseph had enough character, and he was a righteous man, and he did not take God for granted. He said, this is a great wickedness and a great sin against God. And Joseph continued that behavior, as far as I know, throughout his life.

The Bible really has a lot of wonderful things to say about Joseph. He was a man who did not take God for granted. Now, our society in America today is becoming more decadent all the time. Several years ago, I recall seeing a headline that claimed that 40,000 pornographic sites were shut down in the year 2007. Now, again, this goes back a few years. But I remember thinking, wow, that's great! We're actually doing something to clean up some of the filth on the internet. Frankly, I wasn't too surprised when I soon found out that it was China, not America, who was trying to clean up the smut. They were the ones that were shutting down these sites.

Now, I don't know how much the United States has tried to do that. It seems to be perfectly legal in this country. How ironic that a Gentile nation more concerned and ready to act against moral decay than the descendants of Abraham. Even before Abraham lived, the world had begun to take its creator so lightly and so much for granted that God decided that he needed to do something about it. The Bible says that every thought of their hearts became evil continually. Remember that? It's in Genesis chapter 6 verses 5 through 8. Genesis chapter 6. Noah was also another man who did not take God for granted.

He listened to God, he obeyed God, and for about 120 years he built an ark when everyone was ridiculing him and thinking he was absolutely crazy. Genesis chapter 6 verse 5. This is again what I just said. The Eternal saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth. In fact, every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually and the Eternal was sorry that he had made man on the earth and he was grieved in his heart.

And the Eternal said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth, both man and beast, creeping things and birds of the air, for I am sorry that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Eternal. Noah was a different sort of person. Now the world had drifted so far away from God that they no longer thought he was real or alive.

They surely did not think that he would do what he did and destroy them in a flood. Did they? They didn't think that was going to happen. Personally, I think God has placed certain examples in the Bible to send to all of us a very, very clear message. And that message is, don't take me for granted. Just because I'm very patient, I'm slow to anger, I'm merciful, I'm loving, I'm kind, I'm compassionate, I'm forgiving. Don't think that I don't see what's going on in your life.

Don't think that I don't care about how you live your life and how you treat others and how you treat my commandments and my laws. Now these biblical accounts should wake us up spiritually. Examples like the flood, examples like Sodom and Gomorrah. That's just a couple examples. There are many others. In fact, let's go to 1 in 2 Samuel 6. Now this is an account that has puzzled people a great deal, actually.

Many people have not understood what was happening here. 2 Samuel 6. I believe this is in here because God wants us to get this message, don't take me for granted. Obey me and obey me carefully. 2 Samuel 6. Now the Ark of the Covenant was being moved. In verse 6, when they came to Nahshon's threshing floor, Uzzah put out his hand to the Ark of God and took hold of it for the oxen stumbled.

Then the anger of the Eternal was aroused against Uzzah and God struck him there for his error. There were things that were being done that were contran. I don't have time to go into this entire account. Perhaps someone could give this as a sermonette someday and go into it in greater depth. But Uzzah was transgressing God's law in how to handle this very important item, this Ark of the Covenant.

So he touched it and the anger of the Lord was aroused against Uzzah and God struck him there for his error. Notice in the margin, at least in my Bible here in verse 7, it says his irreverence. He did not revere God's laws regarding the instruction on how to take care of the Ark of the Covenant. So God struck him down and David was afraid of the Eternal that day and he said, how can the Ark of the Eternal come to me?

David was afraid. He says in verse 8 that he was angry because of the Eternal's outbreak. So did David think he was more righteous than God? You know, this is before David's sin with Bathsheba and the death of Uriah the Hittite. Perhaps God was even sending a message to David.

Don't take me for granted. Don't take me lightly. Don't break my commandments. Uzzah died because he was becoming too comfortable and familiar with the Ark of God. He no doubt was taking it for granted and the care of it. There were specific laws that pertained to how this Ark was to be handled. Uzzah was being tested and he disregarded those laws. He died immediately. Well that sends a powerful message to me.

That message is, don't take God and his laws for granted. Don't assume that God won't care, that he won't mind if you break his laws just a little bit. What about in the New Testament? How did God react when Ananias and Sapphira took God's ways too lightly? Let's go to Acts chapter 5 in the New Testament. So it isn't just Old Testament scriptures here that bear out what we're talking about today. In the New Testament church in Acts chapter 5, God was also sending a powerful message with Ananias and Sapphira. Notice Acts chapter 5 verse 1, Now a certain man named Ananias with Sapphira, his wife, sold a possession.

And he kept back part of the proceeds his wife also being aware of it. So they were in cahoots together, you might say. And they brought a certain part and they laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself? Well, it remained, was it not your own? It wasn't something that was required, but it was a free will choice.

And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? You didn't have to give all that money to the church. It was in your possession. It was your choice. Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men, but to God. You know, evidently he wanted to look like he was really better than he really was, that he was giving it all. That was the appearance that he was laying out there, that he was giving everything.

But really he wasn't, and it was okay. He didn't have to. But you can't lie about that sort of thing. You have not lied to men, but to God. Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. That was it for him. That was his last breath. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. How would you feel if something like that happened in this congregation? Sure, we would all fear, wouldn't we? And the young man arose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him.

Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. I guess the rumor mill, the gossip mill, wasn't moving as quickly back then. It hadn't got to her. And Peter answered her, Tell me whether you sold the land for so much? And she said, Yes, for so much. Then Peter said to her, How is it that you have agreed together to test the spirit of the Eternal, the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.

And sure enough, immediately she fell down at his feet, and she breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

And we could go on and we could read further about the power that was in God's church in those early days. Because God was revealing his church to his people and to the world to some degree, to those that were there. Perhaps God will do that in a greater way in the future, but, brother, we need to be ready when that time comes. We all need to be ready.

We can't be taking God for granted. We can't be breaking His laws and His commandments. Or something like this could happen to us in those days ahead. Perhaps God will do that again. So that's the first aspect. That's taking God for granted, what we've been talking about. And also, to continue with this, secondly, if we're taking someone in authority for granted, we begin to presume too much upon ourselves. We become presumptuous and we take upon ourselves some of their authority. And you know, God doesn't like that, frankly. And in Numbers 16, and I don't think I'm going to have time to cover this in great depth here, but let's go to Numbers 16.

This is a fascinating chapter, and frankly, we used to go to this a lot more back in the worldwide Church of God. Whenever there was an upheaval in the Church, it seemed like this is where we would go. And we didn't always use this properly. And I'll be the first to admit that. We didn't always use this properly. We need to use it properly today. But we should not draw the faulty conclusion that there is no authority in God's Church today. Because if we do, we're making a very severe mistake in our thinking. Let's notice what happens here in Numbers 6. Remember that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The God of the Old Testament, the one who became Christ. Hebrews 13.8, He's the same yesterday, today, and forever. This hasn't changed. Now, Korah, the son of Ishar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and on, the son of Pelias, sons of Reuben, took men. And they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, 250 leaders of the congregation. So these were leaders. These were people that were in authority to some degree themselves. They had positions of responsibility.

They had things to do. They represented the congregation. They were men of renown. So people looked up to them. They gathered together against Moses and Aaron and said to them, You take too much upon yourselves for all the congregation is holy. So notice the argument, We're all holy, every one of us, and the Lord is among us. Why then do you exalt yourselves above the assembly of the eternal? Why do you do this? So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face. Actually, Moses was a very humble person. He was the right kind of leader. He wasn't abusing his authority. He was a godly man. He didn't even want the job.

God gave him the job. So when Moses heard it, he fell on his face. That was his first reaction because he knew that, uh-oh, this isn't good. He spoke to Korah and all of his company saying, Tomorrow morning, the eternal will show us. He will show who is His and who is holy. Notice he didn't justify himself. He said, You know, God's going to take care of this. He left it in God's hands. He will cause Him to come near to Him. That one whom He chooses, He will cause to come near to Him. Do this. Take censors, Korah and all your company, put fire in them and put incense in them before the Lord tomorrow, before the eternal.

And it shall be that the man whom the Lord chooses is the Holy One. You take too much upon yourselves. Now, He did say that. He did let them know that, frankly, I'm afraid you're the one that's taking too much upon yourself. Because you're going to stand against the one that God chose.

Now, I'm not saying we have a Moses in the church today. No, I'm not saying that. If we do, I don't know who He is. No, we don't have a Moses, but nevertheless, there are positions of authority in the Church of God today that should be respected. And those who fill those positions, if they serve well, should be respected for the service that they render.

So Moses said to Korah, Here now, you sons of Levi, is it a small thing to you that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel to bring you near to Himself to do the work of the tabernacle? You see, they were leaders. They had been given responsibility. They were supposed to take care of their responsibilities and serve the people of God. They weren't to rise up against others who were also doing the same.

We're all to work together as God's people, as the children of God, and as God is calling. No matter what responsibilities were given, we must all take care of those responsibilities faithfully. So back to verse 9, to do the work of the tabernacle of the Lord, to stand before the congregation, to serve them, and that He has brought you near to Himself, you and all of your brethren, the sons of Levi, with you, and are you also seeking the priesthood?

So you want more. You want more. God has given you responsibility, but you want more. Therefore, you and all your company are gathered together against the eternal. Now that was the problem. They were rising up against God. And what is Aaron that you complain against Him? Now Moses and Aaron were both good servants. Now Aaron did make some grievous errors in judgment with the golden calf. He did some things He should not have done, but God was merciful with him. And even Moses stood for Aaron and stood for all the people of God.

And frankly, God was ready to wipe them all out at that time and start over with Moses. But Moses was a humble servant of God. So it goes on. I'm not going to read all this, but they all did rise up against Moses and Aaron, people that God had given responsibilities within the congregation in the wilderness. And so they gathered together, verse 19, Cora gathered all the congregation against them at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. Then the glory of the Lord appeared to all the congregation, and the eternal spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

Then they fell on their faces and said, O God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and you be angry with the entire congregation. So the eternal spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the congregation, saying, Get away from the tents of Kohath, Dathan and Abiram. In other words, don't follow ministers in their error. Don't follow elders in their error. You have to make a choice. We all need to make a choice.

Who we follow. Are we going to follow the true servants of God? Or are we going to follow rebels? It's going to happen again. It's happened in the past. It's likely we'll be tested in this way again. And by the way, I'm not giving this sermon because of anything that I know is coming. A lot of people worry about that. Whenever a sermon is given like this one, it's like I'm preparing you for something. Yeah, I'm preparing you for the kingdom of God. That's it. That's my job. So going on further, people had to choose who were they going to follow at this point.

Moses rose and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. And he spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart now from the tents of these wicked men. Now, they were elders and great men of renown, right? Yeah, people looked up to them. They respected them. They were good people in many, many ways.

But now they're wicked men because they're defying the living God and those who are representing the true God in faithfulness. Touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins. So they got away from around the tents of Korah, Dathan and Abiram. And Dathan and Abiram came out and stood at the door of their tents with their wives, their sons, their little children.

And Moses said, By this you shall know that the Eternal has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will. If these men die naturally, like all men, or if they are visited by the common fate of all men, then the Eternal has not sent me. But if the Eternal creates a new thing, and the Earth opens up its mouth and swallows them up with all that belongs to them, and they go down alive into the pit, then you will understand that these men have rejected the Eternal.

Now it came to pass as he finished speaking all these words that the ground split apart under them, and the Earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up with their households and all the men with Korah with all of their goods. So they and all those with them went down alive into the pit. The Earth closed over them, and they perished from among the assembly.

So a rather stark reality of what can happen when we choose to rebel against God and those who are faithfully serving God. Again, these examples in the Bible should send powerful messages to us. They should be wake-up calls for us. God still works within His Church, and He inspired Paul to write in the New Testament that an elder who serves well is worthy of double honor.

That's what the Scripture says. Of course, if they don't serve well, don't follow them. Don't follow them in their error and in their sin. So these are serious matters, and we as a congregation, all of us, need to understand that God is alive in this congregation.

God is for real. You can count on Him. He's the same today as He was back then. Why do human beings hate to be taken for granted? Why do you hate to be taken for granted? It's natural to want to be appreciated for the things that you do that are right and good and that you're doing out of the goodness of your heart. Secondly, you don't want people to assume that you're going to necessarily act in a certain way at a certain time.

In other words, just because I'm pouring out all this generosity now, it doesn't mean I'm going to always do this. So don't come to expect it. Be grateful for it. Be thankful for it. But don't take me for granted and don't come to expect it. God does not want to be taken for granted. So let's talk about some of the symptoms that indicate that you may be taking God for granted. What are some of the symptoms?

Number one, you have become lax in praying. You're just not praying faithfully. There are too many excuses for why you can't pray every single day and do it fervently. You are taking God for granted. Secondly, studying the Bible. If you're not studying the Bible, you're taking God for granted. The Bible is clear of instruction that we should study His Word. And thirdly, if you're not fasting, and not just on the Day of Atonement, then you're taking God for granted. Because Christ said, when I'm taken, when I'm crucified, when I go up to the Father in Heaven, my disciples will fast.

He wasn't just talking about the Day of Atonement. So if you're lax in prayer, in Bible study, and in fasting, then you are taking God for granted. Remember, Daniel prayed three times a day. David prayed often. David was a man after God's own heart, surely not perfect by any means. But he was a man of prayer, and the Psalms are full of his prayers. He loved God, and he loved God's law. Paul instructed us that we should be instant in prayer. He said that we should pray without ceasing.

In other words, that should be the way we go throughout our day. That God should be first and foremost in our mind and in our hearts. We should be meditating as well on God's way, and not be so tied up with our jobs that we forget God, or whatever else it might be that's getting in the way. Christ's example was one of fervent prayer. Are you beginning your day and ending your day with fervent prayer? If not, maybe you're taking God for granted. Maybe you're taking God's instruction lightly, or for granted.

The fervent prayers of a righteous man avails much. If we in this congregation want to truly be an example throughout the world, then we have to take these things seriously. You do, and I do. And the more we do that, the more we will be a beacon and a light to the dark world around us. We can make an impact in Dallas. This is a big community. This is a big, vast area here, and we can make an impact if we draw near to God. Who knows what God will do with us in the future?

So let's not be lax. Remember what it says in Acts 17 verses 10 and 11. It talks about the Bereans. Remember the Bereans, they study daily to see whether things were right, whether they were true or not. It says they were noble in that. So we should be like the Bereans. We should be studying God's Word daily, faithfully. We can be very diligent. You can be very diligent in studying God's Word, but you have to put your mind to it.

And again, fasting. That is a wonderful spiritual tool. It's a power tool spiritually. And if we will fast more often, then we will reap the benefits of that. We will have strength, spiritual strength and power like we've never had before. So the first point, symptom, have you become lax in your prayer, your Bible study and your fasting. Secondly, another symptom is that you are taking the Sabbath lightly. You're just not keeping the Sabbath properly. You become lax.

You've found excuses for not even assembling on the Sabbath at times. Now, unfortunately, there may be people missing today because they're guilty of the very thing that I'm talking about right now. This is a commanded assembly. This is where we need to be unless we have a real good reason for being somewhere else, a godly reason that would stand up to Christ Himself.

This is where we need to be. Now, if we're sick, obviously, we don't want you to come here sick. But otherwise, we need to be here. We need to fill this hall every Sabbath and not be part-time Christians. Let's go to Isaiah 58. Let's notice the instruction God gives us in regard to the Sabbath. And the Sabbath is a test commandment. It also does set us apart. The Spirit of God certainly sets us apart in greater ways.

But the Sabbath does set us apart. Isaiah 58, verses 13 and 14 here. Here it says, If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, in other words, if you stop trampling on my Sabbath day from doing your pleasure on my holy day, and you call the Sabbath a delight, the holy day of the Lord honorable and shall honor Him not doing your own ways nor finding your own pleasure nor speaking your own words, then you shall delight yourself in the Eternal.

And I will cause you to riot on the high hills of the earth. Do you believe that promise? God will bless you for this. And I will feed you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, because we are the children of Israel, of Jacob. The mouth of the Eternal has spoken it. You can count on it. It's true. It's real. So you may be showing that you're taking God for granted if you're taking His Sabbath lightly, if you're not drawing near to God on this day and calling it honorable and holy, if you're not being careful what you say on the Sabbath, if you're not being careful what you do on the Sabbath, then you're guilty of taking God for granted.

You know, I really enjoyed this Sabbath morning. You know, I haven't had many Sabbath mornings like the one I had this morning, because for the last nineteen years I've been driving about 230 to 360 miles every Sabbath for the last nineteen years. I've had very few Sabbaths where I was able to stay home and stay there till noon. And, you know, it was quite enjoyable. I enjoyed it. I hope you are enjoying your Sabbaths and that you're using them profitably as well. I felt I did use my Sabbaths properly in the car, but I was driving a lot. But, you know, I always counted the Sabbath a great delight.

The Sabbath is a beautiful thing. We should cherish God's Sabbaths, sanctified and set apart for a holy purpose, and we need to keep it as such. So don't be lax in how you observe God's Sabbath. Number three, another symptom. You are continuing to repeat a particular sin. If you are repeating a particular sin, you are taking God for granted and you're not getting serious about putting sin out of your life. In Ecclesiastes chapter 8, it says, because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily. Ecclesiastes chapter 8, I guess I'll go there. I don't know what time it is.

Ok. Ecclesiastes chapter 8, let's go there briefly. Ok, Ecclesiastes chapter 8 verse 11. This is a principle that we need to always take in mind here in heed. Verse 11, because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil. I don't think I'll read the other two verses, but you can read those later. The point is, just because God hasn't judged quickly and punished us for our sins, it doesn't mean He condones them. No, God hates sin.

He doesn't condone our sins. And when we sin repeatedly and we continue in the same sins, we are taking God for granted. And we're not getting serious about putting sin out of our lives. Because with God's strength, we can do all things. And we can get the thorny sins out of our lives with God's help. It doesn't mean we're going to be perfect, but we're not going to stay repeatedly committing the same sins over and over and over.

It's possible to do that for years and years and years and years and still be converted. It is possible, but it's not healthy. It is a symptom that you're taking God for granted. And it's something that you really need to get serious about.

In Revelation 2, it shows us what will happen if we overcome. Overcoming means to put sin out of your life. It means to stop the sin. Repentance is about stopping the sin and no longer continuing in it. Revelation 2, verse 7, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to him who overcomes, I will give to eat from the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

So it's talking about overcoming the world, the cares of the world. It's talking about overcoming Satan and his temptations. It's talking about overcoming our own carnal nature. It's talking about putting these sins out of our lives and not allowing them to rule over us. Verse 11, same chapter, He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches, to he who overcomes shall not be hurt by the second death.

They won't be cast into the lake of fire is what he's saying if we overcome, if we put sin out. Verse 17, same chapter, He who has an ear, let him hear. To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna to eat, and I will give him a white stone and on that stone a new name written which no one knows except him who receives it. In other words, again, we will be in God's kingdom.

We will live forever with God. Verse 26, same chapter, And he who overcomes and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, along with Christ, who will come back and set the way for us. We will follow him in this. He who overcomes, I could read many other scriptures in Revelation that talk about overcoming. We will be granted to sit on the throne of God. We will rule and reign with Christ himself if we are an overcomer.

But if we take God for granted, we will not be there. If you take God for granted and don't repent of that, you're not going to be in his kingdom. Number 4, another symptom. You are neglecting your God-given responsibility to teach, guide, and discipline your children properly. This is important. God gives you a responsibility to teach your children, to instruct them, to guide them, and to show them the way to walk. How are they going to know how to walk unless you set the example for them?

First of all, you have to set a godly example of love, of mercy, of compassion, but also of discipline. God chases those he loves. You need to learn to be consistent with your children, and you need to stop making excuses for why your children are rowdy, too rowdy. I'm not talking about normal kids. I love children. And I like to see kids be kids. And I don't like to see them in a straitjacket. I like to see them have fun. And frankly, I've seen a lot of that here so far.

I've seen kids having fun. And that's great, and they should have fun. And I'm going to be there with my squirt guns and doing my part to see that they have fun. But at the same time, we as parents have to take our job seriously, and we must not allow our children to take us for granted. You have a law that you lay down for your children, and they should obey it. So don't lay a law down that you're not willing to enforce or to keep. Be careful the laws that you lay down.

Make sure that they're godly laws. And then be careful how you discipline your children in keeping those laws. In Deuteronomy 6, and I don't have time to go there, but we'll cover that another day, it says about when we walk through the home, when we're outside, when we're taking our kids fishing, whatever we're doing, teach your children God's way. Instruct them in His truth. Love your kids with all of your heart.

They're yours. God's given them to you. And you've got to love them with everything, with every ounce and fiber in your being, with everything that you have. Love them. But be good to them. And teach them God's way. And don't let them run rampant and run wild, especially not here, in this building. Know where your kids are, and know that they're behaving, and that they're not disrespecting this facility and what we've been given here. This is a place God's given us to meet. So let's take special care of our children. God expects you to do that.

It is primarily your responsibility. Now the church is going to help in ways. We're going to have Sabbath school, and we're going to do our best to teach them godly ways. I mean, we're not going to stand up for things like Harry Potter. Sorry, you know, I don't believe in Harry Potter. I believe that's contrary to God's truth in His way. It's in the Bible. It's sorcery. You know, don't teach your kids that kind of stuff. Don't act like that's okay. No, come on! That's a no-brainer! It's your responsibility. You have to live up to it.

So we're going to need your support in what we do, and we're going to try to do it God's way. And if we're wrong, tell us. And if we think we're right, we're going to tell you back why we do.

And we're going to support it with Scriptures, and then it's your choice. Let's go on to a fifth symptom. If you're lacking faith in God's power and willingness to intervene, then you're taking God for granted. If you are lacking faith in His power and His willingness to intervene, then you are taking Him for granted. Because God is all-powerful. He's got all the power of the universe at His disposal. So let me ask you a question.

Do you think of doctors and medication before you think of God? What pops into your mind first? There are times when medication and doctors are fine, and they can be utilized, and they should be utilized at times. But that's a personal thing between God and we as His people. I know this. We should think of God first, when our children are sick and we're sick. And we should believe that God will intervene for us. And we should have faith that He'll intervene for us. And that He'll heal us. And that He'll restore us. Because God is gracious and God is good.

And we're the ones that limit Him. So let's step out in greater faith in the future. You will automatically think of God first if you're not taking Him for granted. Should we not look for miracles? Should we not believe in miracles? So, brethren, how do you stop taking God for granted?

How do you stop that? Well, first of all, you repent of that behavior. If any of these symptoms apply to you, then you need to repent of them. And I need to repent of them. Yes, I'm holding a high standard. God's way is a high bar. It's a high standard. So first, we need to repent and ask God to forgive us for taking Him and His ways so lightly. And secondly, we have to stop doing the things that are making us spiritually sick. We have to stop doing those things. Again, remember the symptoms that we talked about.

And there are many other symptoms that we could talk about. Brethren, if you repent, you will be healed spiritually and you will no longer have these symptoms to any large extent. Now, you may still have some symptoms, but you're not going to be desperately sick. You will be much healthier spiritually. And believe me, when I look out at all of you, I know God's working in your lives. I know God is calling you and that you have a personal relationship with Him.

So I know that you'll take these things to heart and you'll go talk to God about them and ask Him to show you where you might be lax, where you might be taking Him for granted. I know we all want to do what is right and acceptable before God. That's why we're here. I take that for granted. That's why you're here. I believe in you.

And I believe what God can do through you and in you. So, brethren, none of us as human beings like to be taken for granted. God doesn't like to be taken for granted either. So ask yourself, have I been guilty of taking God for granted? By the way, I'm really looking forward to the welcoming committee. The warm welcome. I appreciate that. Again, it's great to be here.