A Sure Appointment

hi I'm Pastor Bob you're about to dig into the fruit of the active word broadcast ministry and it's our heart it's our hope to help you grow in the knowledge and understanding of who Jesus is and the work that God wants to do in your life now if in fact we can serve you better we'd love to know drop us a line hey pick up the phone give us a call because it's our goal now hey enjoy [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] Oh [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] please be seated [Music] see [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] you were sayin you were [Music] [Music] [Music] Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Music] yes you are Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] and [Music] [Applause] [Applause] [Music] on the hill far away stood an old rugged cross the end muffy and I love that oh well it is and best [Music] too much [Music] I will play to the [Music] soon spy [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] I [Music] Oh [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] to the old rugged cross I will ever be true its shame and reproach gladly bear then he'll call me someday too [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] did Sunday for my [Music] father this day once again we slowed our hurried pace we come to this place and we invite you to move in our heart adjust and alter that part that needs change father we will admit there's something in all of us that could be different could be better and we gather with that hope in mind the week after week month after month year after year you are building better believers the kind that shines so bright the world can see we're serious about spiritual things that's our hope for we know that soon and very soon we will see your face we look forward to meeting you not as a judge with a gavel declaring we are guilty but as a friend with a hand and those wonderful words well done good and faithful servant enter now your father's rest that's our hope it's why we're here in Jesus name Amen statistics for death shouldn't shock or surprise us listen 10 out of 10 people die it's true I've said that before and I'll say it again statistics for death shouldn't shock or surprises 10 out of 10 people die now I will admit the experience the event yeah that the circumstances surrounding it those might shake you those could certainly stun you but the passing the exit the departure no no no no no no no no more should come to that door with a sense of readiness preparation because it's a fact of life this thing fact of death you understand you're gonna go someplace go someplace I just got back and for the last couple of weeks I've been a busy pastor two weeks ago Monday it started in Chicago spoke at a conference there from Chicago I went to North Carolina spent some time there then home for the weekend at the Boca Church then last Monday Indiana spoke three times there then to Detroit got on a plane Friday back here today listen I continue to as I traveled ask an answer ticket ticket I my ticket transportation transfer nation how many get from here to there apparel what do I need to wear accommodation where am I staying it's a very natural thing to have happen if you know you're going someplace ticket transportation apparel accommodation very natural thing Christian listen those of you who are not yet the Bible declares you can write this down for later thought Hebrews 9 and 27 it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment I'm gonna say that again it's appointed unto man once to die and then the judgment appointed appointed appointment yeah you've been to the dentist lately and he wants you to come back he gives you a little card says you have an appointment you have to go see the judge you have a permit an appointment appointment the test you know the doctor you says hey you gonna have to come back when the tests come back it gives you a card you got appointment you put that card on your refrigerator door I have an appointment the dentist I haven't apply with the doctor listen you have an appointment - I don't want to put down on my fridge rater door why don't you want to put then your Ridge Raiders oh oh come on Bob don't be so morbid don't be so morose I mean don't be so dark or depressing so insensitive so it's sensible I mean come on man no no no no it's very important for me to be this serious about something we're all going to have happen in our lives in fact if you would like to with me look into the future your future man you want to see your future I got your future right here here's your future are you ready yeah Oh Bob you're sick that's sick man there's a casket in my church a coffin that's art coffin I don't even know how to say that but there's one of those in my church Bob you know someone you call him hey can I borrow a casket for the weekend yeah I do I did because I want you to see something see what what what you got in there we should go in there ready here we go what's in there nothing nothing I don't know what you expect that wouldn't have body here today of course wouldn't be very respectful but I want you to see there's nothing in there and if in fact there was someone in there I want you to take note he or she would be here listen without their motorcycle without their motor home they'd be here without their house without their North Carolina cabin without their Beach condo they'd be here without their family they'd be here without their wife oh don't go there please wait what wait a second you'll go without your job you'll go there without your status you'll go there without your well you'll go there without your money you know go there without your yeah yeah yeah when you go you you leave everything behind everything's left behind in fact your body gets left behind if your body stays here in the box and we put it in the ground and and this is something that we all know it's something we all know you leave everything behind everything not everything it's why I'm here today it's what I'm wanting to share with you you'll take some things with you when you go what's that the first of five if you're taking note one just take your reputation that's what you'll take with you your reputation yeah it's your good name it's who you are you're gonna take that with you it's exactly what we learn in ecclesiastical easy sc7 and when it says a good name is better than precious ointment and the day of death then the day of one's birth what's that the day you die is better than the day you're born and your name is more valuable than here's the way another translation reads it it's more valuable then precious or expensive perfume now we have to stay there for a minute here's why expensive perfume you know that when the Bible uses the word expensive perfume that in that day like hours it implies it lasts longer in other words you buy cheap cologne or chief perfume it shouldn't last as long as the expensive stuff right that's one of the reasons you buy the expensive stuff so you can last a little longer now you know what I'm talking about some of you you've shaped the hand of a friend of yours and because it's expensive cologne you smell them all afternoon I still smell Mike and Mike something on my hand or you hug a woman in the church and because it's expensive perfume you go home you're like oh what's that there are some women in this church my wife knows my smell oh you spent time with yeah I did smell her yeah do okay she knows it's a they bought me before right there I'll take off my jacket I'll hang it up in my closet Oh week two weeks a month later I put up I hate that listen scripture says your name your reputation it lasts longer that's longer than that it lasts so long you know a good name even a bad name it seems to like stick so much so well your wife's pregnant and you've been looking at baby names and you got one of those books and 9000 names and you started talking about names here's here's what happened you said well how about Debbie for a name and the reason you thought Debbie is cuz there's Debbie in high school and you remember Devon I'm a Debbie for an egg yabba-dabba is now not Debbie gonna name her Debbie why well because she remembers Debbie too let me know Debbie in this house I know what Debbie you're talking about no I wasn't talking about that there you were - I shot that look in your eye you tell my Debbie Debbie Debbie I wasn't Debbie Debbie was Debbie Debbie just Debbie now it's Debbie Debbie no Debbie okay how about Mike no no Mike oh no Mike now you see how that works and you know exactly what I'm talking about there can be a name from high school how many years has it been that person is not in your life but nonetheless they still have that influence and affect one person takes the name does something to it and forever it's it's well you know what I'm talking about we have on our staff here at Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale an associate pastor named Fidel see I'd have to say much more why cuz I go travelling with this guy in the minute you introduced him yeah this is pastor Fidel photo in Florida Fidel in Florida they supposed to be a little further south stop it one guy trashes the name and leaves everyone else with that name looking kind of Cuban as a kid growing up my dad he had a good friend named Adolf I'm very popular for all the right reasons in the same way all the years I've done baby dedication slesin I've never dedicated a baby Judas never there buddy oh let me see your people what's his name what are we gon Judas all right here baby Damien it's one of those weird things sickman a lot of baby Sigmund's it just has an attachment to a name Christian listen it's the whole heart of you saying goodbye and your name sticking around after the perfume passes your reputation now here's the point right now your reputation is putty we can still mold it we can still shape it but once you're in the box it's concrete sorry your reputation is your reputation at that point here's what's gonna happen we're gonna gather around your box and people will say well now do you remember he was also and they're gonna fill in the blank with what you're doing right now cuz it's gonna stay with you forever so if somebody says you were really kind that's because you were kind to some he says really compassionate because you're compassionate if somebody says mean it's mean vile vile you get the idea this wife's real important it's important you know good names better than very expensive perfume like the day that you're dead is better than the day you're born because if you had a good name you're done you're done you'd have to do this thing anymore there's nothing more to work on when it comes to your reputation while we're done we're done that's what Jesus did he finished and on the cross he hung and died his reputation well that's interesting isn't it keeping your place in Ecclesiastes 7 it's Philippians chapter 2 and verse 3 look at the way this reads it's fascinating to me we see let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself let each of you look out not only for his own interest but also for the interest of others let this nine be and you which was also in Christ Jesus who being in the form of God did not consider it robbery to be equal with God but listen to this but made himself of no reputation taking on the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men and being found in appearance as a man he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death yes even death on the cross no reputation no reputation now whoa wait a second Bob certainly Jesus had a reputation his own no no the Bible says he stripped himself of his deity he embraced our humanity for one purpose his reputation would be to glorify God he only came to glorify God now why is that important Christian listen I had the chance to finish up a conference in Indiana grab a rent a car and drive to Detroit to spend an afternoon with my dad and because I was so close to it I went to my elementary school and I walked the hallways of my elementary school and I stood right where I would stand to raise the flag you see I was the safety boy captain I oversaw the safety boys I was controlling the streets in an early age sixth grade Captain Bob and listen I went into the hallway we're on a really cold Detroit morning we'd come in and have hot chocolate after being safety boyce it was one of the privileges of having your hands frozen numb you'd have hot chocolate afterward one of the moms would supply it and I remember seeing that room as a small kid and thinking it was big and seeing that room now at my age thinking is so small walk in the hallways they're so small and every buddy so tiny teachers are even tiny Lilliput and I see on the wall a plaque dedicated to the principal who was the principal when I went and know Meijer and I have this conversation with the janitor and we start talking about Edna Meyer and here's what he says she was so other focus she was so into serving she was not self-centered her self absorbed her self focused I mean and I realized you know she got nationally known she and I sitting on a you know big stash of great wealth but but in the box I am certain teachers from afar and students generation after generation K say hey Edna Meyer in the box no no she died with this thing of good name a great reputation I don't know about you because I've done some memorial services of course in my time I've had people sell at a reputation for and they always find cigars oh fast cars great wine oh really that's what you want to leave behind that's what you want to boy everybody remembers really that's it you see you can go online and you can find what's written on many a tombstone many a headstone Sammy Davis jr. California Sammy Davis jr. the Entertainer the entertainer Betty Davis she did it the hard way the voice of porky the pig it says that that's all folks you get the idea you're gonna be known for something something's gonna stick something's gonna stay and the point that's being made is when it comes to your good name right now you have an opportunity to make the most of it because that my friend you'll take with you what else will you take with you back to Ecclesiastes chapter 7 pick it up with me this time in verse 2 better to go to the house of mourning than go to the house of feasting for that's the end of all men and the living will take it to heart sorrow is better than laughter for by a sad countenance the heart is made better the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning but the heart of fools is in the house of mirth it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of a fool for like the crackling of thorns under a pot so as the laughter the fool this also is vanity surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason and the bribed abases the heart your attention please newer translation says you're wiser to go to a memorial service than go to a backyard barbecue why well because it's this box man it's this box it's this experience right now some of you are looking on at this experience ago I still think it's a little strange you got a coffee you get a casket at church no no let me let me say all of you are in the business of making decisions and choices with your life the one that you will take with you and that's why he says make sure you take this to heart it's an eternal choice eternal choice pal I want to put it you this way it's heaven or hell that's what the Bible don't believe in oh oh you don't believe in hell you're not believing it just makes it disappear right oh let me tell you something just talked a lot about Hell and Jesus talked a lot about heaven and the very reason he hung on the cross to save sinners from eminent judgment was to give us this hope beyond the grave so that we could make a choice that would affect the future and even eternity later the low wait a second I don't even know that that's my choice in the first place wait what do you mean my choice I mean isn't it he who chooses I mean doesn't the Bible say you know I chose you you didn't chose me to go mirror fruit fruit that last John 15 something I mean isn't that what the Bible teaches yeah but the Bible also teaches in 2nd Peter chapter 3 and verse 9 God's not slow is some consider slowness in keeping his promise no he's patient with us not wanting anyone to perish but all to come to everlasting life so the Bible says now listen again God is not willing that any one perish it's not God's will to see anyone go to hell how was made for Satan and his demons now you make the choice to go the choice I don't know if I have a choice in the matter well you don't think you do oh look at Joshua chapter 24 draw your attention to verse 15 talk about choices Joshua 24 and 15 joshua declares if it seems evil to you to serve the Lord choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve whether the gods which your father's served that we're on the other side of the river or the gods of the amorite sand whose land you now dwell but as for me and my house will serve the Lord it make a choice now please come here come here a minute just a little closer do me a favor as a pastor whatever choice you make make it so obvious and clear that we don't have to stand next to this box and wonder where you're at yeah I'm talking about there are times and it's very very I want to just tell you how uneasy you make me feel when you haven't made that choice and I'm not talking to your wife and I'm saying well tell me what was his faith like I mean what was his did he have a belief in God well you know pastor Bob there a few times he came to service and well I thought one Sunday he was going to I'm for it and prayed that prayer but he just he just never really stopped well why not you knew this was gonna happen please don't leave us just kind of standing there saying whoa we're really not sure no no no no no no no no the grave speaks to us and what does it say this off a tombstone listen come blooming youths as you pass by and on these lines do cast an eye as you are now so once I was as I am now so you must be prepare for death and follow me hmm somebody scribbled on the side of the rock to follow you I'm not content how do I know which way you went what's that no please I like that a little more than you do anyway here's the point I'm going to heaven I know I'm going to heaven no but you better hope you're as confident I am about heaven why I'm going to have him I I'm not going to go to hell I'm going to heaven when it comes to the choice again eternity I've already made that decision and today I know I'm going to heaven do you know why I know I'm going to heaven listen because I'm good that's why no no no no if it was up to me being good I wouldn't make it and none of us would you see I'm going to heaven because the Bible says these things were written that I might know I have eternal life what things were written that I might know I have eternal life the things that are very clear about salvation so that I can know this so that I know this so that I know this now what do I know I know that I am NOT good enough to get to heaven I don't deserve heaven only one person lived a life deserving of heaven and that was Jesus so Jesus hangs on the cross he says to his father forgive them father they know not what they do and he gives us a specific promise that if we believe in him we won't perish but we'll have everlasting life so my eternal choice is one now that secures salvation for me it is something I take with me out of the box I go and now I stand before the Lord and as I said so in prayer I will now say in sermon let me tell you something I don't want to meet God as a judge I don't want to have this kind of opportunity you know go to a church service have a pastor preach have a whole congregation sing songs and have me actually be that stubborn and that resistance to God went to that church I heard there I was there the Sunday they had the casket on I have got bad bad this sick kid was sick oh really did anything happen in your heart when the Bible says hey the living will take this to heart I don't know when and I don't know how but you'll soon find yourself there now that's part of the problem isn't it it's that old Woody Allen quote Woody Allen said I know I'm gonna die I just don't want to be there when it happens so it bothers us even to the point where some of us have been involved in exhaustive studies to figure out how it just might happen off the internet from the National Safety Council what are the odds of dying now honestly I think I could have answered that and said 100 percent but the reason for this well the National Safety Council had so many people saying what are the chances of dying if if if and they decided to put together a study back in 2003 and figure out what are the odds of dying if if well one of these is you know what are the odds of dying you know an animal or a writer occupant on an animal drawn vehicle so you're in a carriage horse and buggy what's the odds of you dying well in 2003 believe it or not 101 people died that way so the odds of you dying that way in your lifetime are one in 37,000 whoa take a step back from worst current carriages next time you see one what about bee stings you know non-venomous but you died right here bitten or stung by a non venomous insect or any other anthropologists 12 people in 2003 died that way so the odds of you dying that way in 1 year 1 in 24 million in your lifetime the odds of you dying that way are one in three hundred and twelve thousand that's interesting isn't it so you get extra information when you come to Calvary that's just Bible how about this one here this is this I found interesting how about dying because your nightie was ignited by fire and it melted and you died three people died that way in 2003 so the shot or chances one in 96 million just extra information you say well I ain't gonna happen to me listen you might be the one person that changes the stat yeah in 2003 there's three people but this year it's four and they have to change this just because of you Bob you're you're being sick again I just can't understand this preoccupation with that no no I can't understand how many people will know this and here's what they do they neglect it they ignore it or they pretend you neglect this you don't give anything proper place in your life and every time anyone mentioned don't talk about death I don't want to talk about I don't you're neglecting the inevitable ignore it by 1900 don't pretend like it's not on another house I'm just hit my back what was that that's a coffin pal it's soon gonna be on everyone's back you're pretending like it's there pretend that we also call make-believe this make-believe let's believe there is no death imagine there's no heaven hey whoa all the imagining you can do all the seizure you saw it doesn't change the reality of the fact that we're all gonna die you've said that too many times pastor make your next point all right no well back to Ecclesiastes chapter 7 you're gonna take with you your reputation you're gonna take your eternal choice and now in verse 8 we read the end of a thing is better than it's beginning now that's not a marriage verse for you again Ecclesiastes 7 & 8 the end of a thing is better than its beginning the patient and spirit is better than the proud and spirit do not hasten in your spirit to be angry for anger rest in the bosom of fools and do not say why were the former days better than these for you do not inquire wisely concerning this can I have your attention and please pay careful attention to the passage here's why the end of a thing is better than its beginning that pertains to your life you understand in the economy of God you can trust the Lord that things are going to get better in your life he says here's the problem some of you are not patient and spirit your proud in spirit and in your pride you shake a fist at God and you actually say the former days were better I like my old life or I like my old whatever it is you look back in the past and you don't Forge forward to the future why you're still hanging on the past and because you're hanging under the past there's the future somebody says let go of the past I can't I'm hanging on to it and while you're hanging on to the past you're shaking your fist toward God saying why was my past so much better than my now and my future he says you don't inquire wisely but you know you don't get this do you that in the economy of God the will of the Lord is that it will be the future better now God used that passage in my life oh we were here just a couple a few years and for those who don't know Calvary chapel's started this church started in a funeral home so I have a special affection for caskets in fact we had a Sunday service where there was a dead person in Sunday school just laying out like that and Fidel pastor of Adele's daughter came running out of Sunday school there's a dead person in Sunday school and the funeral director came honks rova schools balloons sorry okay look you guys still have Sunday school in here yeah we can she sat down started coloring mr. Church started funeral now I thought on the one hand it could be a good thing you know the Bible says the dead in Christ shall rise first then we who are alive will be caught up in the air we'd really be ready because we'd see him go hey they go now now stop I laughed a responsibility in Las Vegas teaching a few hundred people every Sunday at 4:30 in the afternoon came here to start this church we only had about 40 people in the funeral home and I was thinking about heading back and some of you know this my wife went away and got together with some gals it was a conference of sorts and she reading the word was led to Ecclesiastes seven eight and nine that the end of a thing is better than it's beginning don't be proud full in spirit be patient and spirit and don't say why were the former days better keep in mind when I lived in Las Vegas before I came here to start this church I was a pastor had a great apartment at a great car we were living a very happy life and then make the decision to move here I came here couldn't afford the insurance on my car sold it we found ourselves in a not so nice apartment in a not so nice area of the city and starting all over and no one's saying hi Pastor Bob know at the time I'm selling stereos over at some department store it was a very different life and I continued to look back at the past and say the former days were better maybe it's time to go backwards and as God laid that reference on my wife's heart and she came home and shared it with me God at the same time was showing me some things and between the verses he showed me and the verses he showed her we made the decision to stay here and here's the reality of that decision I would have missed all this I would have missed it because I would kept on saying the former days were better now that's my experience the truth I'm trying to impart to you is that there are some of you right now you're looking back at something and you're saying it used to be or once it was and God's saying will you leave that and move forward now well I can you don't understand no here's what I understand again in the economy of God it's going to get better because the end of a thing is better than it's beginning if in fact you'll trust the Lord but for you to be angry at God for you to be mad at God for you to say why you guys no no that's such a prideful spirit you don't in earning wisdom inquire smart on this subject because you don't know the future please please please please when it comes to what you'll take into this next world it will in fact include your face your face what do I mean by your face jot it down it's Matthew chapter six and in verse 25 Jesus is doing the speaking and when it comes to your daily life he says and I quote therefore I say to you do not worry about your life what you will eat or what you will drink nor about your body and what you'll put on it is not life more than food and the body more than clothing look at the birds of the air they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns yet your heavenly Father feeds them are you not of more value than they then Jesus continues and says which one of you by worrying could add a single qubit to your life consider the lilies of the field they neither toil or spin and yet got to raise them Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of these oh you of little faith Jesus says don't you think that if God cares that much about the grass that is here today and gone tomorrow how much more he will care for you Jesus says and adds I remember listening to Gracie Burnham the wife of Mark who a few years back was held hostage by the Abu Sayyaf group over there in the Philippines there are missionaries and they got abducted and they were being used as a bargaining chip and now rescuers came in and in the rescue attempt mark shot and he dies Gracie comes back to the United States and now she's being interviewed on the 700 club and the interviewer says Gracie what do you miss or what lessons could you share with us about living in the jungle in these hostage like conditions and Gracie said you know the other day I went to the refrigerator open the door and I saw this food and I started to cry and he immediately my mind had gone oh she's talking about the blessings of America that's not what she was talking about at all she continued and said this when we were in the jungle mark and I would pray because we didn't know how he's gonna provide for us and every day we'd pray and everyday in some different way God would make sure we had food in our stomach she said I miss being so dependent upon God for my daily food she said open up the refrigerator door and had thought it's too easy I'm not as dependent as I used to be on God how about you you see when it comes to a life of faith faith is not the denomination it's not the religion itself it's you as a Christian determining that every day there's going to be some decision you make that reflects a relationship with God and that's what you'll take with you now the beauty of taking faith with you according the Word of God is that that's what he'll reward you for every act of faith he rewards so if there is no faith your reward will be limited if there is lots of faith there'll be lots of reward but you'll take it with you what else will you take with you well the fourth of five quickly back to Ecclesiastes 7 and we'll bring this close to her to close verse 11 of chapter 7 we read wisdom is good with an inheritance and profitable to those who see the Sun for wisdom is a defence as money is a defense but the excellence of knowledge that is wisdom gives life to those who have it verse 13 consider the work of God for who can make straight what he has made crooked in the day of prosperity be joyful but in the day of adversity consider surely Gaza pointed one as well as the other so the man can find out nothing that will come after him I've seen everything in my days of vanity there's a just man who perishes in his righteousness there's a wicked man who prolongs life in his wickedness what's that he says there's a few things that kind of bugged me he says one of the things that bugs me as I'll see you he then live long I'll see a righteous man died early who's that bugs me give you another thing that bugs me he says I see days of adversity I see days of prosperity he says God made him both that kind of bugs me I don't know it only bugs you if you treat and he says this money as a defense the way you treat wisdom as a defense wisdom is not used as a defense use wisdom as an offense as you're walking through life you let it go forward so that you make better decisions you see something that you will take with you for certain and I'm sure of it is this it's wisdom that comes from above not earthly wisdom in the Bible takes great pains to explain the difference between the two you see there's worldly wisdom and then there's what the Bible calls wisdom of the mature what's the difference between worldly wisdom and wisdom and the church hears worldly wisdom worldly wisdom good guys finish last that's worldly wisdom and here's what I've had to ask when somebody says good guys finish last where do you think the finishing lines at if you think the finishing line is here on earth yeah you can look on and go man good guys finish last pickle look he was good and he didn't get what the bad guy got he won no no that's not where the finishing line that the finishing line is in the kingdom and if you're gonna tell me that you know conventional wisdom or worldly wisdom suggests one thing I say to you the final word is what God determines with this word and it's wise for you to consider that than what your friends say now that's important then here's why jot it down is Matthew 11 and 19 later you can read it Jesus is discussing with the religious folk of his day as he kind of scratches his head their perception of who he is and who John the Baptist was and he says this he goes you know John came neither eating or drinking and you said he had a demon John didn't party John lived a very pure and holy life and for that reason people look down and go the guy's got demons jesus said the Son of man came and he eats and drinks and he hangs out with sinners and you call him a a wine-bibber and the glutton and then Jesus says this in the New International Version translation he says wisdom is proven right by her actions I don't you to forget that wisdom is proven right by her actions if you think you're wise we will see that in your life it won't be something you keep in your mind so many times we think of wisdom and we see some guy sitting on a mountaintop you know humming he's very wise very philosophical let me tell you some wisdom is proven right in her actions it's in your decisions you will take those wise or unwise decisions with you when you go you take that on into the kingdom so it's very important that you act upon the wisdom of God and the wisdom Solomon submits is the kind who slows down long enough to say you know what there's days of prosperity and there's days of adversity but if God's the one who made him both well then I need to face my difficulty with the grace of God and I need to face the blessings of God with a sense of appreciation but I'm not going to turn my back on God during days of difficulty and find myself following him with joy in days of prosperity you see wise man stops thinks takes it a little slower and finds himself with conclusions he'll take with him after the grave fifth and finally back to Ecclesiastes chapter 7 picking it up with me in verse 16 he says this don't be overly righteous nor be overly wise why should you destroy yourself to not be overly wicked nor to be foolish why should you die before your time it's good that you grasp this and also not remove your hand from another for he who fears God will escape them all what what is he saying he said don't be overly righteous and don't be overly wise well wait a minute Bob I don't understand that at all no I do completely last you will take with you character character character now why does he say don't be overly righteous and don't be overly wise he knows you can't be what do you mean I mean come on let's be serious reputation is what other people perceive concerning you but character is who God really knows you are so when you play the part of really righteous I would I would never do that yes I would but I can't tell you or vary why you know I was thinking the other day and let me tell you what God showed me Oh will you turn it off my goodness don't be overly righteous or overly don't play a religious gay come on you are who you are and character is a matter of admitting it man it's walking in humility it's staying with the spirit of contrition it's walking with such a humility why well because you got yep I'm not gonna play this game I'm Bob human being I'm no more holier than you are no more righteous than you are at least most of you for some of you that are just plain wicked bad I don't know why you're here no there was a poll they asked this question if you could have an affair and not get caught would you like for certain nobody would ever catch you you know like you could actually get away with it you know what percentage said they would do it if they were certain no one would know I don't know I'm gonna have to look it up I didn't I only saw the beginning no listen does it really matter you're waiting to find out you're waiting for me to say let me tell you somewhere off an 89% Wow no no here's what matters most concerning character what would you do now what did the pollsters find what would you do if you are certain that you won't get caught and you can do something like that would you do it certain certain what you would asking that isn't the better question is well God will know why would I do that now that's a smart thing for the pastor to say isn't it but what would the pastor do you see he stays on this subject in spirit in verse 21 we read also do not take the heart everything people say lest you hear your servant cursing you for many times also your own heart has known that even you have cursed others what's that again it has to do with hypocrisy and the reality of righteousness you look kinda go I can't believe they said that he says you said the same thing Dola oh yeah well that's different I'm the boss they're the servant so it's okay for you to put down your service but if the servant puts down the boss then alright because now come on we're all sinners we're all schemers what's that it's what he concludes verse 23 all this is proved by wisdom I said I'll be wise with it as far from me as for that which is you know far off and exceedingly deep who can find out I applied my heart to know in search and seek out wisdom and the reason of things to know the wickedness of folly even the foolishness and madness and I find more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets whose hands are fetters he who pleases God shall escape from her but the sinner shall be trapped by her what's that the woman who makes the advances it's only by the grace of God why because every man has that sin in his heart and if you get caught up in that sin it's because you're a sinner grace of God mercy of God it's choosing not to play a religious game and that's why he closes this way verse 27 here's what I found says the breacher adding one thing to another to find out the reason which my soul still seeks but I cannot find one man among a thousand I found but a woman among all these I've not found truly this only I found that God made man upright but they have sought out many schemes what's that God's trying to make us all straight but we're all schemers schemers every sister is saying yes every man is a schemer I know that for sure I'm dating this gamer or I married us gamer character I went back to Berkeley High I went back to Berkeley Michigan and I visit a friend who's got an ice-cream shop now on Coolidge Boulevard and he in high school was one of the more handsome more successful wheeler and dealers and now he appears to be an honest guy with an ice-cream store but an interesting conversation but it may rot me right back here to this and and you and me and what this whole thing is all about called life see I know my audience and I know that there are some of you here today that you can look on to the big box and you can still ignore it or neglect it or pretend but I'm hoping you deal with it why here's why closing thought for me it's not a box for me it's a door I don't fear this thing it doesn't it you know if you're the kind of person where you came into church today and I pulled up oh and the whole service have been having is this a heavy thing I am sorry that your pathway from this life into meeting Jesus for all eternity is that weird awkward or uneasy but for me it's really not and it shouldn't be for anyone who calls himself a Christian why again these things were written that we know we have eternal life it's appointed unto man wants to die then the judgment I am at peace with God if I put my head on the pillow tonight and tomorrow morning I'm gon know this it's not a box it's a door I get a promotion hey it's my prayer and hope then you enjoy the same promotion I want to be standing around the throne worshipping God and have you come up and kind of go Bob and I look at younger who are you excuse me what no no can you call my secretary no let me tell you something the joy we will have in the kingdom for all eternity or the sorrow we will have for all of eternity because we're a phony or hypocrite we really didn't believe what the pastor said not unless you see it where you believe come on it's already predetermined anyway I have no choice I live life the way that I choose to live my life and that's my reputation really and you wanna be in the box having said that no no no you don't you you really really don't and here's why I know you don't because God in His infinite wisdom saw fit to bring you here today to hear this passionate preacher tells you you don't want to live that way he brought you here just for that reason so you'd have one more chance to think it through and go alright I got one more chance to father we come to you now in Jesus name and we trust father that as your word has been declared you're knocking on hearts of those who are here and we will have opportunity to make an eternal choice father we believe that we're not here by happenstance or coincidence but it's truly truly you at work and for whatever reason whoever the friend whoever the family member whatever the cause that compelled us to come Lord right now you are working please Lord may your arm of salvation move in your house and may you touch the spirit of those who are yours may you draw them out of their seat and may they make that decision today that secures for them a place in your kingdom Lord today write their name in your Lamb's Book of life in Jesus name we pray I'm not gonna say Amen yet because it's still a holy moment what I will say is that as pastor clay is prepared to close us in song and the singers are in place gonna lead us in worship that if you are here for the first or second time or you were brought by a friend and right now there is some question about where you'll spend eternity that you would want to with our time together clear that confusion that you'd actually say you know what if it's these things were written that I might know I have eternal life and it's appointed unto man wants to die then the judgment I'd be a fool to pass this opportunity by they say well I don't know if I'm ready for that what do you mean I mean when we start to play this song you get up out of your seat and wherever you're at you come forward you stand right here and then you pray this prayer with your mouth believing it in your heart you say this God today I'm opening my heart I'm inviting you inside I want to follow you forgive me of my sins change my life and God because he's here hears your prayer and he reaches inside and he takes your heart of flesh and he replaces it with a heart after his spirit and you change I'm not the same guy I am so not the same guy and when I drove the streets of where I grew up and realized how I am not the same guy I was so thankful and so grateful that God at just the right time reached into my life and said you're mine follow me and I dropped what the world had to offer and said all right I'm gonna follow you I don't know what lies ahead but I'm gonna follow you Jesus Christ died a brutal bloody death for that choice in your life so if he thought your life was worth dying for my question do you think the life he died for is worth living for if you think it'd be smarter to follow his path and to be a part of his plan rather than to continue on your path and do your own thing and fulfil your plan will you'd think logic would at some point click it and you go you know wait wait a second God made me he has a plan for my life but I'm doing my own thing over here and all I have to do is step over into his will and then find out why he made me why I am Who I am that's all it takes right now you are a prayer away from eternity some of you are and as we sing this song I will be praying for that decision in your life I'll be praying privately and silently and I'll be joined by hundreds of Christians in this room that are going to be praying for that decision in your life as we're praying for you and you hear the music something's gonna happen right here and you're no err you will know in your heart right now whether you are saved or whether you are not saying whether you're on your way to heaven or you have no eternal security at all and when God reveals that to you if you don't have a ticket a means of transportation apparel or accommodation it's time for you to go you know what I need a Savior I need a sacrifice for my sins yes I will comfort you get out of your seat come forward we'll pray that prayer together now I've said plenty in fact I've said more than enough you know where you're at right now with God someday you'll be on the inside of the box and I want that to be a door for you a door into an exciting adventure eternal life the kingdom of God my friend that ball is now in your court you're gonna drop it are you gonna hoop it it's gonna go through and everyone will cheer and say hallelujah good move with the ball I'll be praying for you caster clay lead us in song if that's you right now you get up [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] and [Music] seven [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] hey if you would hold your applause just for a minute I got to imagine that there are some still sitting in their seat thinking I don't know man I don't know it please hold your applause for a minute please here's why there is the I don't know in your heart one or two reasons one I don't know because and here's what Jesus said light has come into the world but men loved darkness rather than light lest their deeds be exposed what's that a lot of people won't come to Jesus I understand it completely why there's something you're doing you don't want to give up and you know it's sinful you know it's wrong you I couldn't come to Jesus why the first thing he's gonna say is I want you to stop doing that oh so the thing that you're doing that you know he's not happy with her pleased about you'd rather have that than eternal life how much sense does that make well that's the problem it makes no sense and the fact that it makes no sense you'd hang on to something here and forsake something there Jesus said what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and he forfeits his soul that make any sense there's only one reason someone would make that decision and here's the reason because you are so bound and blind that with the opportunity of eternal life the enemy has you in his grip and you can't see anything spiritually so you're stuck you're sitting there going I don't even know what he's talking about right now I don't get it how long does he talk when's he done that's where your brain center right now that's how bound you are now there's one other probability there's a part of your heart right now that's wrestling and I know that wrestle well it's like you get the angel on one side the devil on the other you know I'm talking about right now the angel saying you get up out of the seat come on is your day now at the time I'll do this with you the devil on the other no dude don't do this man you can you're my friend I wanna go to hell with you and here's what you're thinking you're thinking I would like to be a Christian I would like to live a right life but I don't have what it takes to do it you're right you don't see I can't do anything for Jesus without him I can't be a good dad I can't be a a loving husband without the grace or the help of God I can't live a righteous I can't be pastor plus I have his help some of you are thinking I could never live a righteous life well of course you can't not without God it's the very thing that you need to have you have to have but you won't get it because you haven't got it so what must you do you have to by faith say I believe in getting up out of my seat coming forward standing praying and asking Jesus into my life that he will do for me what I cannot do by myself and that's be saved live a right life know that I'm on my way to heaven like Bob knows he's on his way to heaven now what I've said has been sheer logic it just it just makes a lot of reasons it's just like boys got a point what what do you mean well I mean just make sense Jesus Christ hung on a cross he bled and died for sinners i'ma sinner you're a sinner you need Jesus the Bible says there's only one name given and a man by which we might be saved the man Jesus so it's all really simple we make it complex and we confuse it when we add all kinds of other stuff to it but what I'm saying to you today and I'll close by saying it God loves you so very very very much and the proof of that is his son bleeding and dying for your sins and because He loves you so much if there's a part of your heart that says I want God I need Jesus he wants you he loves you and all you have to do to make that relationship complete leave your seat come forward pray a prayer from the heart and watch him do what he does what he did for me what he did for 100 people in this room now if that's your heart I'm not gonna ask clay to play another chorus we don't have time for that but if that's you you go you know what preacher you're right I'm on my way up you wait for me man I'm on my way wherever you are if there's one more person room says I belong up there you get up out of your seat and come right now right now come on up come on up come on up good mood anybody else at all just come on up let's pray that prayer together and let's let's get the business of God done today amen amen [Applause] [Music] come on up [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] come on up hey maybe you brought a friend today maybe turn to your friend and say hey you want me to walk up there with you I'll walk up there with you turn to your friend in a very loving way see I'll walk up with you man sometimes all it takes is a little encouragement and somebody can make the right decision the right way but sometimes friends bring friends to Christ amen great decision good that's great outstanding good move fridaya yes anybody else at all come on forward now now's the time [Music] we'll wait for you guys right here right here we'll wait for you come on up Church get my hand as they come out standing good [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hey [Music] good move glad you're here [Music] hey let's pray together Oh we'll wait for you come on that's good yeah runnings a good thing at a time like this good mood he's God [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] all right let's pray father the group that's gathered in your name knows that they know something's missing on the inside there's been this desire to connect with your kingdom a hope to talk to you and know that we are and yet too often our feelings fall and fail with a lack of experience and understanding God we just want to make sure that our prayers are heard and then we have a place in your kingdom so today you brought us to a church some of us have never been here before we heard your word declared and now something happened on the inside we knew we weren't joining it wasn't a matter of membership but deep in heart we understood that you were knocking and we had to open that door we had to say yes to you because we want to be saved and we want to go to heaven and we don't want to go to hell we know that our behavior deserves judgment and we'd rather that judgment was on your son Jesus Christ we understand it's why he died and why he rose again from the dead so we are here waiting to pray a prayer God and as we pray this prayer and meaning in our heart we understand you're gonna do what you do best you're gonna forgive us of our sins you're gonna save us and we'll have a brand new chance with life thank you God for this opportunity those who have come forward it's your turn now to pray out loud I want you to repeat these words after me oh it's my words but it's your heart that God's listening to he knows right where you're at say out loud Lord God I opened my heart and I invite you inside to be my god to be my Savior and to be my friend forgive me of my sins wash me clean for I've decided this day to follow you Jesus from this day forever I'm yours in Jesus name Amen amen great decision very good decision outstanding now listen before you guys go anywhere you haven't joined our church okay you've joined the church its global it's pulled a pole it's goes to coast but we would be doing you a disservice if we didn't give you a Bible and a Bible study guide so you can just go home and get to know God a whole lot better all on your own so you see you standing close by there's Eric and Charlie those are a couple of brothers we have Bibles and we have Bible study guides we want to give you and if you'll just take a minute follow Eric and Charlie get the Bible get the Bible study guide you'll be back with your friends in a minute okay can you head that direction Church fleet get my hand as they go god bless you guys good move excellent decision won't regret that at all pastor clay [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] and then God bless you guys have a great rest of your weekend [Music] thanks for listening to this presentation of the active word a Ministry of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Florida for further information about the active word with Pastor Bob hoy write to us at p o-- box 5767 Fort Lauderdale Florida 333 100 or call us at one eight seven seven four four four word or you can contact us online at active word org [Music]

Channel: David Triana

Views: 1,712

Rating: 4.757576 out of 5

Keywords: Pastor Bob Coy Fort Lauderdale Calvary Chapel

Id: TpluwhLbnDk

Length: 92min 39sec (5559 seconds)

Published: Fri Sep 27 2019