Do You Believe You Are the Exception?

Thank you very much, Mr. Holcomb. Very nice blend. I never thought of Rachmaninoff and the shepherd going together, but very nice.

Have you ever thought that you were the exception? No one has ever been tried as you're being tried. You are the exception. No one has ever had the thoughts, the perceptions, the persecution, the feelings, the experiences that you're having. You are the exception. Or have you fallen into the trap of believing that you can violate certain principles and laws and will not affect you as long as everything else is right in your life? In other words, as long as you continue to believe that God exists and you pray to Him, do you believe you can decide to ignore the law of God and yet serve Him? Do you believe you are the exception? God says in Psalm 33 and verse 4, all of His works are done in truth. All of His works are done in truth. That's Psalm 33 verse 4. Christ states in John 1717, Your Word is truth. So God says, All of my works are done in truth. Psalm 33 and verse 4. Christ states in John 1717, Your Word is truth. In other words, God does everything He does according to His Word. So can you say that you really believe in God, and can you really think and believe that you can pray to Him and not do what He says to do in His Word? And can we say that what we do, we do according to the Word of God? Let's give some examples of those who thought they were exceptions in the Bible. Satan thought he was wiser and brighter than everyone else, including God. He was the exception. Adam and Eve thought they could decide right and wrong themselves, apart from God. They were the exception. Cain thought he was without sin. So he brought a thank offering instead of a sin offering. He was the exception. Nimrod thought he could rule in the place of God. So he built the tower of Babel. He was the exception. Esau thought he could treat the sacred as profane. So he sold his birthright for a bowl of soup. He was the exception. Achan, which you heard about in the sermonette, thought that he could steal secretly and get away with it. He was the exception. But as you heard in the sermonette, he and his family, his whole family, stoned and burned. The sons of Eli and Samuel thought because of their father's office. Eli was a high priest, and Samuel was judging Israel. They thought because of their father's office and high position in the land, that they could play the role of the playboys. You'd call them playboys today. They were corrupt in every way. Saul thought he could please people and God. He was the people's choice. He was a tall, handsome man. Solomon thought he could marry idolaters. 700 wives and 300 concubines. He thought he was the exception. Gihazi thought he could deceive Elisha. You probably don't know Gihazi that well, but maybe you could find out who he is. Judas thought he could betray Christ. And apparently thought he could betray Christ after spending three and a half years with him and get away with it. I guess he thought he was the exception. Ananias and Sapphira, which you also heard about in the sermonette, thought they could lie to the Apostle Peter and deceive him. Of course, the Apostle Peter was given great discernment, and Peter said to them, why are you lying to the Holy Spirit? It doesn't make the Holy Spirit a person. The Holy Spirit was in Peter, and he had the gift of discernment. And because of their lies, they fell dead. I guess they thought they were the exception. Diotrophes thought he could gain the preeminence over the Apostle John. So notice the words that I used throughout these examples of ones who thought they were the exception. Thought they could. Thought they could.

Now we go to Hebrews chapter 4. It's quite amazing how well the sermonette and the sermon will go together today with no conferencing at all. In Hebrews 4 and verse 12, God sees all, knows all, and through the Word of God, each one of us can have ourselves examine the Word of God is God's spiritual mirror. In Hebrews 4 verse 12, the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword. Piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit in the joints and marrow is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. If you want to know about you, and you want to really be analyzed in the spiritual sense, then go to the Word of God. There are a lot of exceptions. At least people think there are exceptions in our society today. Over 5,000 Americans a day try cocaine for the first time, thinking they are the exception. Cocaine is so addictive that some people become addicted with one hit or shot or whatever they call it, sniff. Dozens of entertainers and athletes are dead at the hands of the merchants of death, the drug pushers. Thousands of homosexuals have AIDS because they thought they were the exception. Over 3,000 teenagers a day get pregnant in this nation. 3,000 a day is over 1.4 million a year. Each one probably thinking that he, she is the exception. She, in this case, of course, he is involved, but usually takes no responsibility. Hundreds drop out of high school each day thinking they are the exception. Thousands are locked up every day thinking they are the exceptions, or I guess they used to think that. One out of 30 Americans are in prison. No nation on the face of the earth even approaches that. Hundreds cheat on their mates every day thinking they are the exception. So we could ask ourselves, do any of us believe that we are the exception? In the way we keep the Sabbath, let's go to Isaiah 58. Are we the exception? Is God giving us special licenses? Special license with regard to the Sabbath? I don't think He's given any of us license with regard to the Sabbath. Occasionally we might have the ox and the ditch. In Isaiah 58, verse 13, if you turn away your foot from the Sabbath from doing your pleasure on my holy day and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable, and shall honor Him, not doing your own ways nor finding your own pleasure and speaking your own words, then shall you delight yourself in the Eternal, and I will cause you to ride upon the high places of the earth and feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father, for the mouth of the Eternal has spoken it. I don't think any of us fully understand completely the Sabbath, of what it means in the total sense with regard to us and our relationship with God and what we are saying and what we're professing with regard to the Sabbath, that we recognize Him as the Creator of heaven and earth in the physical sense, and we recognize Him as the spiritual Creator. Without Him, we would not even have life or breath, and we honor Him and we worship Him, and we come before Him on the Sabbath.

Do any of us think that we're the exception in drinking too much? Hopefully not a problem among any of you, but for many people in the world, a large percentage of our population, they are alcoholics. Alcoholics affect the whole family and the whole societal structure. It costs Americans billions of dollars every year. Do you think you are the exception in gossiping, passing along what I heard? Do you think you are the exception in being your brother's keeper?

You know, you look at the world today. How many star athletes, Hollywood celebrities, thought he, she was the exception. Drugs would not hurt them. Extramarital affairs would not hurt them. Being homosexuals would not hurt them. They had fame and fortune, but there was a hole in their soul and they thought it could be filled with something else. And really, there's a hole in the soul of every person, S-O-U-L. A hole in the soul of every person that doesn't know God as creator and as the Lord of their life, as being a part of their life and their very being. Now, you have, each one of us, we have eternal fame and fortune within our grasp. All these examples, basically, that I've named in the world, they have fame and fortune in their grasp in the flesh for maybe a decade, maybe five decades. Larry Hagman died in the past 24 hours. He was on the famous soap opera, whatever you want to call it, for about 13 years or so in Dallas. Who shot J.R.? Well, J.R.'s gone. They said the last episode of the Dallas television program was viewed by 300 million people in 57 different countries. So, he had fame and fortune. Hagman was sort of a new-ager, and he would spend oftentimes a month or so withdrawn, so-called meditating and so on. Evidently, he had a hole in his soul, as so many have. But we have eternal fame and fortune within our grasp, kings and priests in the kingdom of God. The crown of eternal life. Let's look at James chapter one. James chapter one. You know, we sing the song some, I don't know, crown him with many crowns. There's a crown of gold. There's a crown of glory. There's a crown of righteousness. But this one here, we can have all the others, and we don't have this one. It's all in vain. In James chapter one, in verse 12, Blessed is a man that endures temptation or trial. For when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life which the eternal hath promised to them that love him. That crown of life. If you don't receive the crown of life, it's all in vain.

Now to Revelation 2 and verse 10. Revelation 2 and verse 10, the reward of the various churches given here. Actually, if you are in the kingdom of God, you get all the rewards that are mentioned here in these verses of the rewards to the seven churches.

That's another sermon, but anyhow, in Revelation 2 and 10, fear none of those things which you shall suffer. Behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that you may be tried, and you shall have tribulation. Ten days, be you faithful unto death, and I will give you a crown of life. Everyone, of course, that's in the kingdom of God will get a crown of life. Now in Revelation 19 verse 12. Revelation 19, first part, is about the marriage supper of the Lamb, the great rejoicing in heaven. That takes place, and then it shifts to the scene of Jesus Christ coming again on the white horse. Those that are with him are clothed in fine linen, which is symbolic of the righteousness of the saints. Let's read verse 11. Revelation 19, 11, and I saw heaven. Heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And he that sat upon him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he does judge and make war. So there is such a thing as righteous war. But most of the wars that we see in our day and time are not righteous wars. It's man trying to rule over man. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. Crown him with many crowns, and the Father crowned him with many crowns. And if you are in the resurrection, the first resurrection of the just, you will receive a crown of life. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. Crown of glory, crown of righteousness. And he had a name written that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And you'll notice up there in verse 8, the last part, fine linen is the righteousness of saints. So there are many crowns spoken of in the scriptures. Christ wears all that are good and righteous. So are you treating the sacred as profane as Esau did? If you're not after that crown of life and recognize what it is and what it's worth, maybe you are. Are you willing to forfeit the crown of life and the crown of righteousness for thinking you are the exception? Let's notice Hebrews 12-14. A little bit about Esau here in Hebrews 12 and verse 14.

Hebrews 12-14, follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.

Looking diligently lest any man fail at the grace of God, lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled. I wonder what percentage of the people who have turned from the truth and gone back into the world, how many of them, the source of their turning back as some root of bitterness in which they let a man or a situation or a happening take their crown.

Lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled, lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright. For you know afterward when he would have inherited the blessing he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears. So if you think you're the exception long enough, we'll talk about that later in the sermon, thinking that you are the exception, then eventually, even if you come to the point and say, hey, maybe I want to turn around, it may be too late, and the message ever is today. Today, if you would hear his voice, harden not your heart. In 1 Timothy 6, verse 12, 1 Timothy 6, verse 12, 1 Timothy 6, verse 12, fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto you are also called, and have professed a good profession before many witnesses. I give you charge in the sight of men, who quickens all things, makes the life quickens before Christ Jesus, who before Pontus Pilate witnessed a good confession. That you keep this commandment without spot, un-rebutable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. Fight the good fight of faith.

When a certain pastor general was about to go on a trip in December of 1994, he called me that morning, he said, I'm going to Atlanta, Georgia. I have two sermons. One says this and one says that. And he was trying to feel me out. And my response to him are the verses I'm reading to you today. Verse 17, Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not high-minded in their trust and uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy, that they do good and that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate, laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life, that crown of life. You'll never let it slip. All Timothy, keep that which is committed to your trust, avoiding profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science, or some translations have philosophy, it is the knowledge of men apart from God, which some professing have erred concerning the faith, and some pseudo-intellectuals have turned away a lot of people in the Church of God. And they're, as one to call it, lost in their own intelligence. That's a terrible place to be lost, and many have lost their way therein. And some are there today. Don't let that happen to you. Vain, babblings, and oppositions of science falsely so-called, which some professing have erred concerning the faith, grace be with you. Amen. We tend to forget there is a spirit at work, and the children of disobedience, many in the Church view the situation is purely a parental or maybe a environmental problem, a school problem, and seek to do away with their own responsibility. Well, if the parents had done what they should have done, if the school had done what they should have done, if the Church had done what it should have done, then everything would be just right. You look at Ephesians 2. Let's turn there. In Ephesians chapter 2, and this being this Satan the Devil walks about seeking whom he may devour. He's on the watch and we're warned to be sober, be vigilant, be watchful, because he walks about as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, and he is active today, and he will be more and more active as time goes along. In Ephesians 2.1, and you hath he quickened, are made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins. And hopefully that's every one of us here that we have received the Holy Spirit and those who haven't been baptized yet. God is working with you. He's drawing you. He's wanting you to cross the line and that is to cross the line and dedicate yourself into the path of righteousness wherein times pass you walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. See, the sad part, as Peter talks about, is after you have walked this way that if you begin to think that you are the exception, you begin to think that you can somehow reason around the word of God, you can speak where God has not spoken, and think that you can rationalize whatever it is that whatever it is that does not go along with the word of God, then you're sadly mistaken. He continues here, among whom also we all know, no exceptions. We all had our conduct in times past in the lusts of our flesh fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind and where by nature the children of wrath even as others. See, when God created us, he created us in a neutral state. That is, we had neither done good nor evil. But he created us subject to vanity, the here and now, and the carnal mind, apart from God, wants its own way. And then you couple that with the influence of Satan, and you see what a high mountain you have to climb.

As I said, you are responsible. I am responsible. None of the things you could have a perfect environment, perfect parents, perfect ministers, perfect teachers, great educational programs, and we could go on with perfect this and that. But none of these things change human nature, nor does it change Satan. And what his goal is. Humankind has not learned the lesson of the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve thought they were exceptions. They could choose right and wrong apart from God. They could be their own arbiters. Satan said, you shall not surely die if you eat of that tree of the knowledge of good and evil. God, he's the one. He's lying to you. See, in the Garden of Eden, God was their teacher. They had the perfect environment, the perfect teacher. They had everything. And yet, they did what they did. You see, that element of personal responsibility and choice is always there. Parents can do a great job in rearing their children, but if a person refuses to seek God, thinking they are the exception, they will pay the price. The lives of Cain and Abel prove this. They brought an offering. Cain brought a thank offering. He didn't admit that he was the sinner. He was the exception. I guess he thought he was the Messiah. You know, Eve said, when he was born, I've got me a man of the Lord. Maybe thinking that this was a fulfillment of Genesis 3.15. Cain and Abel, same environment, same parents. And when it came showdown time, what happened?

Abel's offering, the sin offering, was accepted. Cain was so jealous that he killed his brother. Each one of us must accept personal responsibility for where we are in life. Let's go to Ezekiel 14. Ezekiel 14. Ezekiel the Watchman in captivity over in Babylon, writing back to Jerusalem and Judah. And for that matter, Israel, and for us today, the words of God are living. Ezekiel 14, verse 14, Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness as the eternal God. Now, the backdrop of that is, look at verses 12 and 13. The word of the Eternal came unto me, saying, Son of man, when the land sins against me by transgressing grievously, then will I stretch out my hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it. And though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they shall deliver but their own souls by their righteousness as the eternal God. In verse 20, though Noah, Daniel, and Job were in it, as I live, says the eternal God, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter. So if you think you're going to write in on the coattails of your parents, forget it.

If you think that you can just hang around the church, forget it. But of course, I don't know exactly when God says a young person has reached the age of accountability. I mean, historically, with the culture of the Jews, which I guess is in some ways, but Paul talks about that they have a zeal for God and not according to knowledge in Romans 10, but they shall deliver neither son nor daughter, they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness. So when the Jewish culture, when they got to be 13 years old, then they have the bar mitzvah, they have one for the boys and for the girls. So at the exact age of accountability, I don't know. But I know that what it says in Ecclesiastes, remember now your creator in the days of your youth. And that is the Word of God. The problems that we're facing today are very complex. They're far-reaching. Second, third, fourth generation Christians know this is the Church of God. And some of them are in their 30s and 40s, knowing that this is the Church of God, and yet they have not been baptized. Or if they have, they haven't really lived up to the commitment that they supposedly made at baptism. But we know, as we've already read from Ephesians 2, that there is a spirit of disobedience that works that might say you are the exception. Wait! So your wild oats, more convenient day. Not now. You're not ready now. And God replies, and once again we heard this in the sermonette, Be not deceived, God is not mocked. For whatsoever man soweth, that shall he also reap. He can sow righteousness unto eternal life, or he can sow wild oats to the destruction of his own being. Galatians 6, verses 7 and 8. In some cases, perhaps the action that a person takes, not necessarily deliberate, not necessarily premeditated, and they do such and such.

I wonder if Solomon thought he was the exception when he began to marry idolaters, and yet at the same time think, well, I can marry an idolatress and remain faithful. Do you know that Solomon married an Egyptian before he received wisdom? Yet God gave him wisdom. Look now at 1 Kings chapter 3 and verse 1. Solomon thinks he was the exception.

Solomon is one of the most enigmatic characters in the whole Bible. Of all the wondrous things that he writes in Proverbs and in Ecclesiastes, then he turns around and does what he does and winds up the way apparently he winds up. In 1 Kings 3, verse 1, and Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh, king of Egypt. Is anything new under the sun? Israel, Egypt, connection today. Solomon made affinity with Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and took Pharaoh's daughter and brought her into the city of David, which is Zion, until he had made an end of building his own house and the house of the Eternal and the wall of Jerusalem round about. So we might say the first pop-out of the box, Solomon marries an idolatress. Only the people sacrificed in high places because there was no house built under the name of the Eternal until those days. Now that sacrificing in high places is also where they went to sacrifice to false gods. And Solomon loved the Eternal, walking in the statues of David his father. Only he sacrificed and burnt incense in high places.

So there was a clue right off. He marries an idolatress, sacrifices in high places. And the king went to Gibeon to sacrifice there, for that was the great high place that Thousand Bird offerings did Solomon offer upon the altar. In Gibeon, the Eternal appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, Ask what I shall give you. And Solomon said, You have showed unto your servant David my father great mercy, according as he walked before you in truth and righteousness and in the uprightness of heart with you. And you have kept for him this great kindness that you have given him a son to sit upon his throne as it is this day. So what Solomon prayed for and asked God for was wisdom and an understanding heart. Verse 11, and God said, Because you have asked this thing, had not asked for yourself long life, neither have asked for riches for yourself nor asked the life of your enemies, but you have asked for yourself understanding to discern judgment. Behold, I have done according to your words, lo, I have given you a wise and understanding heart, so that there was none like you before you, neither after you shall any arise like unto you. Now what a tragic story a person Solomon turned out to be. Did he think he was the exception? How could he do it? Of course, he was king over a physical nation at that time. He had all the fame and fortune. It says that Solomon's wisdom went out through the known world and people came to the courts of Solomon. The queen of She-bud is set and learned at his feet. But then we go to 1 Kings chapter 11. Verse 1. But King Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, that's his first wife, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabite, Samanites, Edomites, Zadonians, Hittites, of the nations concerning which the Lord said unto the children of Israel, You shall not go into them, neither shall they come into you. In other words, you don't have children by them, you don't marry them, because they are idolaters. For surely they will turn away your heart from there after their gods. But Solomon clave unto them in love. He had 700 wives, princes, 300 concubines, and his wife turned away his heart. For it came to pass when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not perfect with the eternal his God, as was the heart of David his father. For Solomon went after Ashtoreth, the goddess of the Zidonians, after Milchim, the abomination of the Ammonites. Solomon did evil in the sight of the Eternal, and went not fully after the Allure, as his father David. Then did Solomon build in high place for Chimosh, the abomination of Moab to the hill that was before Jerusalem. And for Moab, the abomination of the children of Ammon. And likewise did he for all his strange wives, which burnt incense and sacrificed under their gods. How could it happen? Did he think he was the exception? Or what happened? Was it the lust of the flesh? All these women. He had everything. If you read about just what they would have for what we might call dinner, for a meal, all the animals that were chilled and dressed and served, and on and on it goes, and all the gold, and all the riches, and all the wisdom, and all the fame and fortune. The Eternal was angry with Solomon because his heart was turned from the Eternal God of Israel, which had appeared unto him twice, and had commanded him concerning the thing that he should not go after other gods, but he kept naught that which the Eternal commanded. And as far as we know, Solomon never repented. You know, as when Solomon married the Egyptian woman, his first wife, you know, you might think, well, why didn't God say to Solomon, put away your strange wife?

Why should he? Why should God say that to him? Because, as you read in Deuteronomy 1718, let's go there, Deuteronomy 1718, Deuteronomy 1718, and it shall be when he sits upon the throne of his kingdom. This is talking about the kings of Israel, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book out of which is before the priest the Levites. And it shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the eternalist God to keep all the words of his law and those statues to do them, that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren, and that he turn not aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left, to the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom, he and his children in the midst of his Israel. So I don't know if Solomon copied out the book of the law or not. It says in Deuteronomy that he was supposed to. Surely Solomon knew this.

And what about us today? Many of us wait for what God has already spoken. God has already spoken to us. We have a more sure word of prophecy, wherein to we do well to take heed. That's what Peter writes, 2 Peter 1.19, I think it is. And in many cases, not only has he spoken to us through his word, but he has hit us over the head at times, and in some cases, many times with a proverbial two-by-four to get our attention, so that we would repent. We would see the error of our ways. Solomon apparently came to believe that he could manage 700 wives, 300 concubines, most of whom were idolaters and still fear God. But it was just a matter of time, just a matter of time, till he began to build high places, as we've read for them, and to go after all the other strange gods, which of course greatly displeased God. Now, you could contrast David's reign with Solomon's reign. Of course, the first three kings of Israel saw David Solomon. One might say that David's sins were greater than Solomon's, and as far as the immediate result, probably they were. But God looks on the heart and the long-term effect, the fruits, the general course and direction of a person's life. And if we do sin and we repent, God removes that as far as the east is from the west. And as I have so often said, God is more interested in what we are becoming than in what we are necessarily achieving in the physical sense, especially. Once again, we read these first three verses, 1 Corinthians 13.3. Solomon had achieved so very much. So very, very much. You can read about some of those achievements, especially in the book of Ecclesiastes. In 1 Corinthians 13, verse 1, this statement about God is more interested in what we are becoming than what we are achieving, or necessarily what our physical job is, or what kind of fame and fortune we might have in this world.

Follow after charity, agape, spiritual love, desire, spiritual gifts. I'm reading chapter 14. Verse 1 of 13, Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels and have not agape, spiritual love, I become a sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge. And that's one of the things that so many people in the church through the years have been hung up on with regard to, oh, I understand prophecy, and I understand this and I understand that. Knowledge puffs up, charity edifies. You can understand all of that, and it's still be in vain. It's not that you shouldn't seek to understand it, but it is at best a means to an end, not the end result within itself. The end result is to become love as God is love. Though I have the gift of prophecy, understand all mysteries and all knowledge. Though I have all faith so that I can remove mountains and have not charity, the spiritual love, if I'm not becoming as God is, God is love, I am nothing. Though I have bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, have not charity, it profits me nothing. See, David's three greatest sins in the minds of the people was his adultery with Bathsheba. I guess he thought he was the exception. He was the king. He looked over and he saw this beautiful maid bathing, and he called for her.

Then, when it was found out that she was with child, he premeditatedly arranged for her husband Uriah to go to the front lines, knowing he would be killed. So he was guilty of murder, premeditated. Then he numbered Israel, and as a result, scores of thousands of people died.

With the contrast, David sinned and turned to God, Solomon sinned and turned to idols. David, from the beginning, sought God above all else. Solomon sought out all kinds of inventions of men, and at the same time thought he could serve Mammon.

And what did God say? He said that only in the matter of Uriah was David guilty of blood. And sometimes I wonder exactly why he says only in the matter of Uriah. Go to 1 Kings 15.5. I think it is because David premeditatedly did this. Just sat down and premeditatedly planned out the murder of a person. Whereas in the other situations, I guess you could appeal to, well, he was tempted. He saw Bathsheba, he was tempted, whatever. With regard to numbering Israel, I guess he wanted to be sure that he had wherewithal to win the battle.

But with the matter of Uriah, there was no excuse available whatsoever.

In 1 Kings 15.5, because David did that which was right in the eyes of the Lord, in turn, not aside from anything that he commanded him, all the days of his life save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.

Because David deliberately premeditatedly planned a man's death, I guess he thought he was the exception. He was the king, you know, and when Nathan came to him and said, here's what's happened, David. Well, David was very mad. Nathan said, you are the man. And David came to himself and he began repentance.

He began to fast and to pray. In comparing the writings of David and Solomon, I'm struck with one thing. David's writing center around seeking, searching, hungering, thirsting for God. We'll read a couple of examples here. Let's go to Psalm 42, verse 1. Psalm 42, verse 1. Comparing the writings of David and Solomon. It's not that Solomon's writings were not inspired. Those that are recorded are inspired, but we have read what Solomon, how Solomon turned out. In Psalm 42, verse 1, as the heart, the deer, pants after the water brooks, so pants my soul after you, O God. There's nothing like being so thirsty that you think you can't go another step without water.

And that same figurative sense, panting after, seeking, thirsting for, verse 2, my soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before my God? My tears have been my meat day and night while they continually say unto me, Where is your God? When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me.

For I had gone with the multitudes. I went with them to the house of God with a voice of joy and praise with a multitude and kept holy day. Why are you cast down, O my soul? Why are you disquieted within? Hope you in God, for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. So David comes to himself, of course, and he seeks God. Solomon's writings seem to be after the fact. The knowledge is invaluable, but Solomon's method of gaining knowledge was very painful.

Solomon's knowledge was to a large degree experiential. Let's go to Ecclesiastes now. We've mentioned this a few times. Ecclesiastes chapter 1. Experiential knowledge. A lot of people talk about experience, and some people say that experience is the best teacher. Experience is not the best teacher. Experience gives the test first and the lesson afterward. Whereas if you're a student in school, you would hate to have the test first. The lesson after, they call that a pop test.

Whereas in life, it is better to learn the lesson and be prepared for the test. In Ecclesiastes chapter 1 verse 12, the preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. This is Solomon. And I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done under heaven.

This sword travail hath God given to the sons of men to be exercised therewith. I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity. In this case, vanity means temporary. It means it just lasts a short time. It doesn't. It is not eternal. Doesn't last. Temporary. Behold, all is temporary in vexation and spirit. That which is crooked cannot be made straight. That which is wanting cannot be numbered. I commune with my own heart. In other words, I did a self-examination. That's what commune with my own heart means. In other words, I go over all of my problems and look at them, examine them.

I commune with my own heart, saying, lo, I have come to great estate, have gotten more wisdom in all that they have been before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart had great experience of wisdom and knowledge, and I gave my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceive this also as vexation of spirit, for in much wisdom is much grief, and even increases knowledge, increases sorrow.

Of course, the more you come to see the condition and the state of the world and the condition and the state and the thinking of people, it does want to make you sigh and cry. Because once you really have the knowledge, it truly frees you from fear, ignorant superstition, and the dogmas of man. You come to realize and know that you know that God is the only hope, the only hope for humankind.

In chapter 2, verse 1, I said in my heart, Go to now, I will prove you with mirth, therefore enjoy pleasure, and behold, this also is temporary. I said of laughter, It is mad and a mirth. What does it? I sought in my heart to give myself unto wine, yet, acquainting my heart with wisdom, and to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was that good for the sons of men, which they should do under the heaven all the days of their life. I made great works. I builded me houses. I planted me vineyards. You could go on and on with what he does. He tried to live the experiential life and to try to discover what it was really like with man, and yet at the same time hold on and walk with God. And in the end, it did him in.

So experience is not the best teacher. Test first and the lesson later. The only way that we can be truly happy and at peace with ourselves is to turn with God and turn to God with our whole heart. We must make peace with God, and then after we make peace with God, we can have the peace of God. You go to Romans 5. The peace with God comes first. In Romans 5, verse 1, therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. When a person really comes in contact with the truth and they hear the truth and and something goes off in their heart and minds and says, hey, this makes sense. This is the truth, and they become convicted of it. And there is also with that a sense of guilt, a burden that they want taken off their lives. How can it be taken off? Because as long as we are in our sins, we are an enemy of God, as we shall see here. But then, when that is taken off, we are set free. And as Christ says, if the Son shall set you free, you shall be free indeed. It's John 8, 34, 35, somewhere long in there. Now we pick it up in verse 6. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet for adventure for a good man, someone even dare to die. That's in this physical realm, physical world. But God commences love toward us, and then while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us, much more than being now justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. So we see we justified by faith through our Lord Jesus Christ, as in verse 1.

And when we were without strength, Christ died for the ungodly. Now verse 10, for if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life with the life essence of God and Christ, the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. So there we make peace with God. Now in Philippians chapter 6. I don't think there is a Philippians 6. It's probably 4. In Philippians chapter 4.

Philippians chapter 4 verse 6. Be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, giving with thanksgiving, let your request be known unto God and the peace of God. See, when you come to that point where you know that your sins have been forgiven, that they have been removed as far from you as the east is from the west, as it says in Psalm 103. And you have that just moment when the world seems to stand still and all is well with you and God and everyone else. And you have the peace of God.

I wonder how much we're experiencing the peace of God in our lives now.

It says here, see, be careful for nothing. Verse 6. That's anxious care. But in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, which we just observed that day, let your request be known unto God and the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Have the peace of God. God is long suffering. He's merciful. He's not willing that any should perish. God has a picture of us right now. So ask yourself, what picture does God have of me at this very moment? What does he think about me? He's long suffering, not willing that any should perish. But brethren, don't be deceived. We are in a spiritual battle, and we're in a battle for our lives. And God is trying to communicate with each one of us right now. Today, if you would hear his word, today, if you would hear his voice, God is speaking to us today, every one of us, through his word. Today, if you would hear his voice, as it says in Hebrews 3, Harden, not your heart.

Don't come to the point that you think that you can reason around God. Be it known that every thought, idea, word, experience, perception, action has its effect, and they are either building, edifying, comforting, exhorting, or they are either destroying the very fiber of your being.

And you see right there in Philippians, if you're still there, verse 8, Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, think on these things.

It seems to me that in the course of human behavior and discourse that people come to the point that they do what you might describe as crossing the line. They either cross the line and begin to reject God in a lot of ways. Taking liberty with the Sabbath, I think, is one of the beginning points. Beginning to think that God doesn't require X, Y, or Z, that we are saved by grace, and so we are. And I think next week I'm going to speak on grace to really show what it is. If you really understand all of the ramifications that they come to embrace what the Protestant preacher might say, that all you have to do is believe in Jesus Christ. And it says in James 1, verse 18-19, the devils believe and tremble.

So if you cross that line where you begin to try to reason around God, you come to the point when no appeal based on the Word of God, no appeal based on common sense and logic, no appeal to emotion will turn them from their course. You know that they have gone a long ways toward rejecting God. And it is a fearful thing, just like we read about Esau. Though he sought repentance, with tears he found no way, no way to turn back. He hated his brother, Jacob, to the day he died.

Will Esau be in the second resurrection? I don't know for sure. I hope that he will be. Then on the other hand, we have people that cross the line in which they dedicate themselves to following God. They've counted the cost. They're not turning back. They're not drawing back. And I hope that's where we are. Every one of us, that we have crossed the line, and we know where in we stand. And we understand straight as the gate and narrows the way which leads unto life. And few there be that find it. And always remember, let's turn to this Scripture, Romans 14 verse 10. Always remember this Scripture. You might try to forget it after today, but you won't be able to forget it. It will be with you for the rest of your life. Try to forget this Scripture. No, not really. In Romans 14 verse 10. But why do you judge your brother, or why do you set at night not your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written as I live, says the Eternal. Every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God. The exception? There are no exceptions.