Getting Out of the Winter Doldrums

I'm going to talk about something today that is so fundamental to all of us, unless you think I'm a hypocrite. This message today is so basic, so fundamental to every single Christian. It applies to me. I realize that it applies to me.

It applies to you. It applies to all of us. Today, this is more of dialogue than it is preaching, because this is something that we all go through and something that we all need to remember. Do you ever wish you had it better than you do? Do you wish your trials would just go away? Do you long for the kingdom and the peace and the rest that you will have there?

Or has that image faded in your mind? It can be through the dead of winter. It can be. It's interesting that the Holy Days come right at spring, when we start to see things renew, and we're supposed to renew things also in our mind, because those images fade away. And trials and troubles and aches and pains and illnesses tend to help us forget the vision that we have.

You see people act foolishly, but nothing bad ever happens to them, but you are plagued all day long. And it's not fair. And it gets you down. And if you feel that way, it means the Holy Days are near. It's almost time for our spiritual batteries to be recharged. Today, I would like for us to take a look at a couple of Proverbs and a song, and be encouraged and refreshed and looking forward to the upcoming Holy Days. The pivotal Proverb is Proverb 13 and verse 19. Proverbs 13 and verse 19. Proverbs 13 and verse 19. I'll read from the NIV on this one. A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest from turning from evil.

Now, knowing a little bit and just a little bit, a very little bit, about Hebrew poetry, we know that this is a rhyme, and it is a rhyme of meaning. So, how do these two statements rhyme? That's what the sermon is going to be about today. It's about the doldrums. It's about getting out of the doldrums. It's about having vision for the future and tasting the end results that are so sweet.

And yet, on the opposite side of that, it doesn't talk about failure. It talks about bad behavior. Okay? Not failure. Success versus bad behavior. And that is the rhyme that this proverb goes through. Tasting success is so sweet. But those who are, what does it say? Fools detest from turning from their evil ways. They despise turning from evil. And the implication is bad actions lead to bad results. Bad actions lead to bad results. Have you ever had something that you wished for, something that you really want, a goal, and then you attained it? You got that car, or you got married, or you bought that first house, or whatever it was that you had, and you got it.

I remember buying our first house and just standing at it, and I was amazed at the magnitude of this dwelling that we were in. Now we have four kids, and we're just busting at the seams. But at the time, it was amazing. I couldn't believe it. This house that we had. Then we try to get the teen group in there. They have to sit out on the back porch, because they don't all fit. But a goal attained is so sweet. Maybe it's to graduate from school or college, or just make it through the day without breaking something.

Hey, that's a goal. That's a goal I have sometimes. This proverb says that that's good for the whole self, your feelings, your body, everything to accomplish something. How can you get it? How can you attain it? What you really desire? Well, the second half of the proverb tells us how, how not to fail at attaining it. The fool is disgusted at doing good. Disgust him. If you work in the world or you deal with the world, you've seen this. You see this every week that you go out. People who refuse to do good, to treat people well. They're mean, nasty, jealous, do all kinds of immoral things. And the kicker is they get away with it. Wow.

He won't turn away from causing trouble, but he will not fulfill his life. He will not be fulfilled. Why do you think the fool constantly does evil? He's trying to fill a void that is bottomless pit. It cannot be filled. But he constantly feeds himself, fulfills every possible lust, every selfish desire, and he's never full. The fool will not turn away from evil, and his longing will never be fulfilled. Does that mean he's always poor? Does that mean the prudent man will always reach what he desires immediately? No. We can see that just by walking out our front door. The fool might be rich, and the prudent man, the righteous man, might be poor. But that doesn't mean that the fool is fulfilled, and the righteous man is emptying, not by a long shot. Riches are not fulfilling. The fool will not be fulfilled, whether he's rich or poor or somewhere in between. That's what this proverb is talking about. It's not talking about wealth at all.

Solomon is telling us to strive for a goal so that it will be fulfilled. Keep the end in mind. Don't get caught in the trap that fools get caught in of living life for every evil deed that fulfill every selfish lust every single day. And brethren, when we take our mind off of our goal, that's what we slip into. The carnal mind is like a tightly wound rubber band, stretched as far as it can stretch. And all you have to do is let go, and it goes right back to where you were. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse 8 New Revised Standard Version for this one. I'm going to be switching versions. Sorry to the guy who's on the projector there. 14 and verse 8, New Revised Standard Version. It is the wisdom of the clever to understand where they go. But the folly of fools misleads. Okay, let's read that in NIV. The wisdom of the prudent is to give thought to their ways. Think about where they're going. But the folly of fools is deception. Don't let riches of the foolish and the ungodly people turn you away from your goal. A goal attained is sweet to the soul. And brethren, it can be discouraging to get illness and trial and financial difficulty, persecution from other people, and those things wear us down. And when we come in between the Holy Days and we go that long a period of time of not getting together with the brethren during the week and things like that, that Holy Days do provide, it's good to go to socials and things like that, too, for that very reason, it's easy to get off course and think and doubt, why am I doing this? Why am I even here? And we throw our hands out. Well, you're not alone. You're not alone by a long shot. People thought of that before you and I were ever born. In fact, before our parents were ever born. There's a psalm written about that, a psalm written about a time when a man is feeling down when he's sick and he's poor and he's dejected, and other people around him are so filthy, stinking rich and healthy and nothing bad ever happens to them. But they're evil and he follows God and it's not fair. How do we keep the end in mind? I won't get to that in a minute. There's actually action involved in this sermon, brethren. There's something we have to do to keep the end in mind. It's not just a thought. Oh, yeah, the kingdom's coming. Yay, I'm all better. Nope. You won't be all better. Something we have to do. So let's take a look at this psalm. It's a psalm of Asaph. And I don't know who Asaph was. There's not much written about who he was. He wrote quite a few psalms and they are extremely deep. Psalm chapter 73. Psalm chapter 73. And we will read a good portion of it, if not the whole thing.

Let's walk through the emotions of Asaph going through a winter period of time in his life when it's not fair. Truly, God is good to the upright, to those who are pure in heart, but as for me, my feet almost stumbled. He says openly, what an open, honest book. He just opens his heart to us. He says, I almost blew it. Have you been there before, brethren? Are we there? Let's walk through this. For I was envious of the arrogant. I saw the prosperity of the wicked, for they have no pain. Their bodies are sound and sleek. They're not in trouble, as others are. They're not plagued like other people. Ever feel that way? Their pride is their necklace. Violence covers them like a garment. Just think about the workplace. You know, we have this democratic society, but in the corporate America, it's like the ancient Roman Empire. It's doggy dogs. Violence does cover them. Verse 7. Their eyes swell out with fatness, and their heart overflows with follies. Just foolishness. Just going out and drinking all the time and doing all kinds of foolish things. They scoff and they speak with malice. Lostly, they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against heaven, and their tongues rage over the earth. Therefore, the people turn and praise them, and find no fault with them. And they say, how could God know? Is there any knowledge in the most high? Such are the wicked at ease. They increase in riches. And then he crashes. Well, he doesn't, but he almost crashes. And he explains that crash in verse 13. This is how he feels. This is just an open, honest expression of discouragement. All in vain I have kept my heart clean, and washed my hands in innocence. I didn't go to parties. I didn't cheat people. I paid my taxes. I did everything I was supposed to do.

14. For all the day long, I have been plagued. I am punished every morning.

If I had said, I will talk on this way, I would have been untrue to the circle of your children. But when I thought how to understand this, it seemed a wearisome task. I can't even imagine a way out, he says. This is horrible. Have you ever felt that way? Verse 17. Until I went to the sanctuary of God, I went to church, I heard the word of God, and it helped me. How did it help him? And I perceived their end. I saw the end. I kept the end in mind, he said. Verse 18. Truly you set them on slippery places. You make them fall to ruin. How they are destroyed in a moment, swept away, utterly in terror.

Verse 19. They are like a dream when no one awakes. On an awakening, you despise their phantoms. When my soul is embittered, I was pricked in the heart. I was stupid and ignorant. He's coming around. He goes to church, he considers, oh yeah, things are going to end up differently. And he's convicted in his heart. I was the ignorant one. How foolish of me! And he repents. I was like a brute beast towards you. Do you ever walk through some days like a brute? You don't even pray. You don't study. You don't even bother with a cup of coffee. You just go out the door, grumpy and cranky. I see some smiles, so I know you're relating to me here. How do I know this?

He was a brute beast towards God. Nevertheless, I am continually with you. You hold my right hand. God's with you anyway. He loves you even when you're a cranky, grumpy person that nobody else would ever want to be with. God is right there. He was holding his hand the whole time. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you receive me with honor. Whom have I in heaven, but you. He honors God with his words now. And there is nothing on earth that I desire other than you. They can keep their riches. I am keeping the end in mind.

My flesh and my heart may fail, and they do, don't they? But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Indeed, those who are far from you will perish. You put an end to those who are false to you. But for me, it is good to be near God. I have made that Lord God my refuge, and tell of all your works. So, brethren, keeping the end in mind is the solution. How does that work? Is there practical steps that we can take to keep the end in mind? Yes, there are. Yes, we've heard them before. But yes, I bet everybody is going, I don't know. Why? Because it's winter time, and the Holy Days are coming up. And this is what happens to us. And we just need a gentle reminder, and we'll go, oh yeah, that's right. That is what we're supposed to be doing. We need to be doing it. All right. What is the end of the righteous? Let's peer into the future. If the foolish man ends in terror, what happens to the righteous? Revelation 22, verse 12. Jesus Christ Himself makes you a promise. Revelation 22, verse 12. See, I am coming soon. My reward is with me to repay according to everyone's work. It's not going unnoticed. The trials you go through are not unnoticed by God. You just have to be patient.

He's counting them up, and He's going to give you a reward that will blow you away.

What will that reward be? John, chapter 14. Let's continue on. Did Aishah keep his heart clean and vain? In other words, do you keep your heart clean and vain? Is it worthless, or is there a reason for it? It was not in vain. Jesus Christ will be rewarding us. John, chapter 14, verses 2 through 4. In my Father's house are many mansions, he said. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. This is just before he was crucified on the cross that Mr. Dove was talking about, and he's telling his disciples this. So, when he was telling this, he was intent. He was intense when he was talking to them about this, because he was about to go through something that he knew was horrible. So, when he says this, it was with a sense of urgency that he wanted to leave something with them. And what was it? That he's coming back, and he's going to come back with something really, really good. You're going to love it.

Verse 3, if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself. And that where I am, you may be also. And where I go, you know. And the way you know. And that's an important statement. The way you know. We have to know the way, brethren. We have to walk in the way. How sweet to the soul, as it said in the proverb, to have that attained. A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul. How do we achieve that one thing? How do we ensure that the trials we go through will be worth it? Well, that's what I want to spend the balance of the sermon on.

That's what the Holy Days are for, and they're coming up. And I just wanted to remind us. The Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread are a little more than a month away. The Passover is not a reenactment, but a memorial. Something for us to remember what Jesus Christ did when He suffered and died to atone for our sins. And through the Passover, we remember what God has done for us, but we also remember what our response has to be back to Him.

But first, before we do that, we have to wash each other's feet, don't we? And we acknowledge the need to continue to love and serve one another in a spirit of humility and service to one another. Brethren, this is the key. This is the key to coming out of the doldrums. This is what we need to do right here. When we wash those feet, somebody's feet, we actually put our hands in the water and wash their feet. We remember, we're reminded, we're humbled that we need to serve other people with a spirit of humility in order to remain in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Yes, we actually believe that we can give it up. We don't believe, once saved, always saved. But we rather instead believe that there is a walk, that we have to walk all of our lives.

And by doing that washing the feet, we're saying, we remember we're not once saved, always saved, but we must remain in the faith and grow. Hebrews 10, verse 26-29.

Hebrews 10, verse 26, if we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Anyone who rejected the law of Moses died without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the spirit of grace? In that service, brethren, when we wash somebody's feet, we remember that we cannot return to our old selfish ways. We cannot treat other people badly. And we can't do that, and if we do that, then we are counting the blood of Jesus Christ as nothing. And we just read what the penalty for that is. God doesn't simply overlook our sins. That's not what he does. A price has to be paid for those sins, and every year we're reminded and encouraged by the reminder that he, Jesus Christ, paid for our sins. It's time to take stock in ourselves. It's time to look inward. That's the key to coming out of the doldrums, believe it or not. You know, when you say it, oh, you've got to examine yourself, examine yourself, it seems kind of like tedious housecleaning, like the things you don't really want to do that you would procrastinate. But believe it or not, it's actually the key to coming out of discouragement. Looking inward and taking stock as to where you are in your journey to become like Jesus Christ. Put your mind back on the goal. Those actions that you have to take that we'll go through in just a minute, actually put our mind back on the goal. And we won't be like Asaph discouraged that everybody else has it so good, and we have it so bad. But we will actually be so encouraged that we have it so good. Even with our trials.

1 Corinthians 11. Jesus Christ had to pay for the price for our sins. 1 Corinthians 11 and verse 26.

For those who are taking notes, we'll read through verse 29. 1 Corinthians 11, 26 through 29. For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till he comes. Oh, we need this every year. It's not some pharisaical ritual we go through. It's a reminder that encourages us every year. And can you feel it that you need that encouragement right now? Yeah, it's coming up. That's why God has us do this every year. Therefore, whoever eats this bread and drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and the blood of our Lord.

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat the bread and drink the cup. For who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. After the Passover, and after we're reminded of what Jesus Christ did for us and what our response is to be back to him, we immediately go into the Days of Unleavened Bread. And we're reminded how to respond to God's mercy that he just gave us, to put certain things out of our lives and to put certain things in our lives. It's a neat object lesson every year that encourages us.

It's a perpetual way of life. If Christ's sacrifice is going to cover our sins, then we must do the following. 1 Corinthians 5 in verse 8. If Christ's sacrifice is going to cover our sins, then we must, verse 8, therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness. Those are the things that we have to put out of our lives. Those are the things that we need to clean house. Have we built up any malice toward other people? And wickedness could mean anger or violence or angry thoughts toward other people. Have we developed any malice or anger this year? It's time to clean house. Those are the things we put out. But, continuing on, with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, those are the things that we have to put in our hearts and minds. Something goes out and something goes in. And if we are to stay in the blood of Jesus Christ and be covered by that sin, we have to continually put something out and be putting something in. By allowing God to teach us His ways and change our hearts requires time. And that's why the Days of Unleavened Bread are seven days. Because it's a lifelong journey. It's not just a meal. It's not just a one-day celebration where we come to church and we honor Jesus and have some candy, some nice pretty pastel colors. Ladies get to dress up in nice dresses. That's nice. It's not Christianity. It's a seven-day feast picturing a lifelong journey of changing, of looking inward and going, where am I at? Am I humble? Am I? Have I been mean to somebody? The seven days of the Days of Unleavened Bread symbolize the rest of our lives from today going forward. We must be devoted to completing the process of change. What the Bible calls growth, like a newborn baby is born when you're baptized. You have to grow to become an adult, not just a preteen or an adolescent, but a full-fledged adult. To the full measure, the stature and the fullness of Christ.

Only those who are committed to growing, to spiritual maturity, will enter the Kingdom of God. And the food that nourishes that growth is the Word of God, His Holy Scriptures. 2 Peter, let's dive into this, 2 Peter 3, 13-18. 2 Peter 3, starting in verse 13.

Nevertheless, we, according to His promise, look for the new heavens and the new earth, in which righteousness dwells. There is no place in the Kingdom of God for malice or wickedness towards other people. None! It won't be there! So what does that mean? If we harbor malice and wickedness, if we don't have this humility, like we feel when we wash our brother or sister's feet, perfectly in our heart, we won't be in the Kingdom, because in the Kingdom only dwells righteousness. Verse 14, Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent, we've got to work at this, to be found by Him in peace, not quarreling, not fighting, without spot and blameless. Are you blameless? Are you? Have you not mistreated somebody this year? I'm not. I'm not blameless. I'm not there yet. Are you? Well, this is the time of year to take stock, and when we do, we get encouraged. And consider that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you. As also, all of his epistles, speaking in them these things, which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do the rest of the Scriptures. Just step out of the message for a moment, make a side point there. Did you notice that Peter just referred to Paul's writings as Scripture? They knew that they were writing the Bible. When Mr. Armstrong wrote all of his booklets and books, he told us, this is not the Bible. I'm explaining the Bible, but this is not Scripture. When we write our booklets today, we're explaining Scripture with them. So we say, we are not writing Scripture. But Peter knew that they were writing the Word of God. This is God-breathed.

Verse 17, back into the message. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware, lest you fall from your own steadfastness. And that's what happens to us when we act to God like brute beasts, like animals, ignoring Him and just fulfilling our lust, like a cow that just goes out and grazes the grass. We're not steadfast. We lose it. Hey, God's right there. He's holding your hand. Just go back to the sanctuary of God, look to the end, and He will encourage you.

Being led away with the error of the wicked. Verse 18, But grow in the grace, which means the favor and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are to grow, brethren. And what is the end product? How are we supposed to be when all is said and done? Well, I'll get to that in a minute. But what are we going to be through the process? Encouraged. Not discouraged, but encouraged. When we look inward, brethren, it takes the doldrums away. Because when we take stock in how we've treated other people, we start to get the vision back. And when we get the vision back, we're so encouraged that we have it good. And those people who are against God don't have it so good after all.

What are we supposed to be like when it's all said and done? Well, obviously we know the answer, like Jesus Christ.

Galatians chapter 4, verse 19. Galatians chapter 4, verse 19. Let's see how many more notes I have here.

My little children, for whom I labor in birth, again until Christ is formed in you. That's all I wanted to read. I just wanted you to get that statement. Christ is to be formed in us. And brethren, if we're angry at somebody else on a continual basis, and we've all been there, Jesus Christ is not formed in us yet. Don't be discouraged. You're in good company.

But we can't stay here. We've got somewhere we have to go. Jesus said in Matthew chapter 11 and verse 28, come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. He's not trying to beat us up. Beating us up, making us feel terrible, is not the purpose for self-examination. The exact opposite is the purpose for self-examination. Growth and encouragement are the purpose for self-examination. Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Learn. You don't know it all yet. You know how I know that you and I don't know it all yet? Because we're not perfect yet.

We still mess up with other people. We're not there yet. Learn from me, he says, for I am gentle. And this is how we need to be, too. We're imitating him. How is he? What is he like? I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, verse 30, and my burden is light. Can you not hear the love there? Can you not hear the encouragement there? Do you know he doesn't compete with the Father? And the Father is not egotistical either. He doesn't compete with Jesus Christ. They're very comfortable in their roles with each other, because they love each other. That's the way we need to be with each other, just like them. John 5, verses 19-24, Jesus describes how he is with the Father. This is how he is, brethren. This isn't what he does. This is how he is. And this isn't what we need to do, brethren. This is how we need to be. This is who we are supposed to be. John 5, verse 19, then Jesus answered and said to them, Most assuredly I say to you, the Son can do nothing of himself but what he sees the Father do. For whatever he does, the Son also does in like manner. There is no contention between them. They get along with each other. We don't always get along with each other, so we need to grow. It's a lifelong process. Verse 20, For the Father loves the Son. He loves us too, brethren, and shows him all things that himself he does, and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. And he does all of that for you and me. Verse 21, For the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father, listen to the trust between these two, for the Father judges no one, but he has committed all judgment to the Son. Here, Jesus Christ starts out saying, I will do nothing without my Father, nothing against the Father. I am totally with him. And then he says, the Father is totally with me. He's given all judgment to me. Brethren, that's what we have to compare ourselves to. That is the standard. That is what will be in the kingdom of God, and nothing short of that. So we have a ways to go, don't we? And it's okay. Be encouraged by this. Yes, it's a process. Yes, you're in good company. We're all that way, to one degree or another. But don't compare yourselves to each other. Compare yourselves to this, what we're reading right now. Verse 23, That all should honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son, does not honor the Father who sent him. Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears my word and believes in him, who sent me, has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life. We do not yet have the power to live forever. Every one of us in this room is subject to death right now. But we do have the promise, don't we? And that promise is as good as attained, as long as we walk in this walk. It was during Jesus Christ's last Passover, that last meal, with his disciples, that he stressed the importance of attitude of and treatment towards other people. And brethren, if you're discouraged right now, this will lift you out of it. At least it will go a long way too. It won't solve your problems. It won't take your trials away. But it will give you the perspective that you need to make it through those trials. Jesus Christ explained at this dinner to his disciples that this was vital to their relationship between them, which would be us, and the Father and Jesus Christ. Let's skip down to John 13. John 13, and we'll read verses 34 and 35.

What attitude and what treatment of other people should we have? John 13, verse 34, A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. Mr. Dove was right. We don't need a cross hanging around our neck. Love is the symbol of the Christian. It's time to take stock, brethren. Where are we at in our personal walk? Do we have malice, or do we walk humbly? Do we forgive, or do we hold anger inside? Do we love? Like God the Father and Jesus Christ love, because nothing short of that will be in the kingdom of God. Now, Jesus Christ stressed a lot more detail about that, between John chapter 13 and John chapter 17, but I'm not going to read that, because we usually read that during the Passover service. And I don't know if that's going to be read during Passover this year, but it usually is, so I'm going to skip it. But let's read a similar chapter in Romans. Paul says something similar in Romans chapter 12. Romans chapter 12, and we're going to read quite a bit of Romans chapter 12, and then on into Romans chapter 13. Romans chapter 12, starting in verse 13, we're going to pick up with Paul here, where we left off with Jesus Christ, talking about the attitude towards other people and examining ourselves. Are we in the faith? Because being in the faith means a lot more than coming to church. It means what's going on on the inside of us. Do we have any hostility inside us, brethren? Verse 13. Share! This is an action-packed chapter. It's all about action. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality. We had a good sermonette not too long ago on hospitality. Are we being hospitable to each other? Do we get together during the week? Do we open our homes up? You know, your house does not have to be a great showpiece. My house isn't a showpiece. I have four kids. We can clean our house spotless, and in five minutes you'd think a tornado went through. It's okay. Your house doesn't have to be a showpiece. You don't have to have perfect furniture. Who cares?

You have to love. You have to be hospitable. That's what's going to encourage us, brethren. That's what's going to pull us, not out of our trials, but out of the doldrums that we go through in our trials. 14, Romans 12, verse 14, Bless those who persecute you. Oh, that's a tall order. That's a tall order. But nothing short of that will be in the kingdom of God. And do not curse.

No mean things come out of your mouth. Rejoice with those who rejoice. If they succeed, you're happy. Hey, way to go! You got the promotion. It doesn't matter that you didn't. Not at that moment. It matters that they did. It matters to you that they did, because you're a Christian and you love them, and you're happy for them. And it's not all about you all the time. Rejoice with those who rejoice, but mourn with those who mourn.

Don't say, Oh, I can't take another bad day. I'm going to avoid that person. No! Don't give them a hug, unless they're not touchy-feely. Then don't touch them. You know what I mean. Verse 16, live in harmony with one another.

Do not be proud. Listen to all the action in Christianity. But be willing to associate with people in low position. Do you have the favorites and the not-so-favorites? Because if you do, you've got to get rid of that. That's not going to be in the kingdom of God. And you and I want to be in the kingdom of God. And there's no place for favoritism in the house of God. It won't be in the kingdom. That's why the Days of the Eleven Bread are seven days. This is a process, a life-long process of growth. And it's about action. But when we take those actions, we're reminded of the end. And when we're reminded of the end by taking those actions, our trials do not get us down. We will not be defeated. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. And if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone. Obviously, with that qualifier he put on that sentence, if it's possible, obviously it's not always possible. But it better not have come from you or me, or we won't be in the kingdom. We better not be the cause of strife within the body. We had better be the cause for love and unity and caring for one another and hospitality and sharing. That's what the house of God looks like. That's how people will know we're Christians if we love one another. This is practical stuff. This is everyday things we should be doing as Christians. And when we do them, we get the end in mind again. And we're okay, even though we're not. Even though physically we may be falling apart, we're okay. We're going to make it. Nothing will defeat us. So, where was I?

18? Yeah, so going to 19 now. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath. Okay, okay, that's an encouraging statement. Yet, you don't get to take revenge. It doesn't mean they're not going to get theirs. They're going to get justice. Some people have done some really bad things to you, said bad things to you, done violent things to you. Don't take revenge. And that way, you leave room for God to punish. Because when God punishes, okay, that person has a chance for salvation also. And as a Christian, if you have God's spirit in you, that's exactly what you want. Because when we take revenge, it only escalates the problem. But when we leave room for God to exercise His judgment and His righteousness, they get a chance to repent, too. Because not only will God punish them, but He punishes them because He loves them dearly. People have hurt you. Let it go. Let God handle it. God promises He will. That's an encouraging statement. Leave room for God's wrath. He'll take care of it. You just worry about your job. You just examine yourself. You make sure you are in the face. My friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written, it is mine to avenge and I will repay, says the Lord. On the contrary, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. You know what bothers me? Greatly, that the conservative political party in this country, which stands for the Bible and for God supposedly, is against the taking care of those people who come across the border, and treats them as though they are our enemies. We are supposed to feed them and give them drink and make sure that they're healthy. But we despise the fact that they might go to an emergency room and that might cost us money. Have you read the Bible? Because the Bible says we're supposed to do that. Do not align yourself with a political party, brethren. Align yourself with God. Or we will find ourselves on the outside with God.

Feed your enemy. If he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil. And during the wintertime, it's so possible to feel overcome by evil. But overcome evil with good. Examine yourself, and I will do the same. And we will be encouraged, and we will overcome. Let's skip down a few verses. I don't want to read the entire chapter 13. Let's go to chapter to verse 8. Although it would be good to read verses 1 through 7, you can do that on your own. Romans chapter 13, now in verse 8, let no debt remain outstanding except continuing debt to love one another. For he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law. Paul is reiterating what Jesus Christ said at the Passover meal. Do not commit adultery. Do not murder or steal. Do not covet. And whatever other commandments there may be are summed up in this one rule. Love your neighbor as yourself. Where are we at, brethren? When we examine ourselves, are we examining how well we tithe? You should tithe, definitely. Is that what we're examining? Is that the weighty matter? No!

Are you examining whether or not you're holding a grudge against your spouse or against somebody here in the church?

Because that will not be in the kingdom of God. Love does no harm to neighbor, verse 10. Therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this. Understand the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber. Don't we feel like we're in a slumber in the middle of winter? I know I do. Because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over. The day is almost here. What an encouraging statement. So, let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime. We're in the nighttime, as far as this world is concerned. And the world is getting darker. But we are the light. And how do we let that light shine by loving other people?

Let us behave decently, as in the daytime. Not in orgies or drunkenness, not in sexual immorality or debauchery, not in dissensions, which are fights, or jealousies. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Christ, and do not think about how to gratify your desires of the sinful nature. Turn from evil, from wrongdoing, and learn to love. That is the standard. In John 15, I'll just read a couple of verses. I said I wasn't going to read it, but I'll just jump in a couple here. John 15, verses 12 through 13, Jesus said, This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends. And I have a question for you. How can you hold a grudge against somebody, but lay down your life for them? That is the opposite. If you're holding a grudge, if you're angry with somebody, you're below the standard. And if I'm holding a grudge, I'm below the standard. That's the way it works. We all have to walk this walk. We must learn to love. We must learn to give ourselves. Sometimes we have to give ourselves up, and let other people go first.

So, are you going through a pre-feast trial? Many of us do. And sometimes that trial is simply discouragement. The doldrums. Consider your path. Think about the end. Visualize the goal, and how sweet that will be. What's more important than that? Huh? Are the trials that we go through? No. The people who are mean to you? Nope. How rich or poor you are? Of course not.

It's just a short amount of time before the Passover and the Days of Unleavened Bread, and it's now a time to remember the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. A time to remember that we made a commitment. And if you have not yet made the commitment, I encourage you to do so.

And we made a commitment to put the old man out and let Jesus Christ be built in us. Let's prepare for the Holy Days. They are important. They're not some pharisaical ritual. It's not just something that we do to earn salvation. That's a garbage argument. These Holy Days are annual encouragements. We need them.

They help us keep our eye on the goal. Don't waste your time worrying about your trials. Spend your time examining yourself. Do you love other people? The Holy Days are not a vacation. They are a spiritual recharge, a rejuvenation. In Proverbs 13 and verse 19, we read this at the beginning. It says, A longing fulfilled is sweet to the soul, but fools detest turning from evil. Brethren, let's focus our eye on the goal and consider or think about the path to get there. Turn from doing wrong or thinking wrong. Examine yourself and make sure you're not harboring malice or wickedness towards other people. Get that out and let Jesus Christ be built in. The desire attained is sweet, brethren. Let's walk towards that goal.