Our text is Proverbs 14, verse 12. Proverbs 14, 12 says, there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Now this past week, we've had some protests going on in this country called No King Day. No King Day. I don't want a king. Nobody's a king over me. But let me challenge this idea by saying there's no such thing as a kingless heart. No such thing as a kingless heart. In the kingdom of Satan, which is thoroughly established here with this congregation, I've been preaching for a number of years. In the kingdom of Satan, which is the kingdom of self. Remember Satan's first sin, what he was all about? I will, I will. It's all about self and what I will do. Not God's will, my will. in the kingdom of Satan, which we're in, as Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 4, 3, and 4, that the God of this world has designed our world, our culture, our atmosphere, our thinking, all of our systems, to blind the hearts and minds of them, that is, people at large, from seeing the light of the glorious gospel. which will save the soul. That's true liberty. That's true freedom. And what is the king, the god of this world trying to do? Prevent us from seeing truth that brings true freedom that we seek for. The anthem in this world is my truth, my reality. The rebellious undertow here is I'm going to do it my way. That's true freedom when I can do it all myself my way. But in that kingdom of rebellion, that kingdom of self-will, that kingdom of Satan, freedom is an illusion. Slavery is the reality. The crown in a kingdom of self, which is the kingdom of Satan that we're in right now. God doesn't want to take credit for what's going on in the world, this mess. This isn't God's doing. It's the doing of Satan and all those who choose self over God's will. The reason for problems in the world, suffering and death, is not because God's will is being done, it's because self-will is being done. And the crown in a kingdom of self becomes a crown of curse, proudly worn by all those who are deceived, saying, I serve no one but me and I enjoy freedom because I'm doing it my way. That's why we're in a mess. and we're deceived. Humanity at large is thinking, because I've done it my way and I know what's right and I know what's wrong, I'm enjoying life too. It's fullest. Proverbs chapter 14, verse 12. Take you back to our text verse. There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. It always leads to disaster. Self-will is destructive, is self-destructive, right? Self-will is self-destructive. Every heart, every one of us, every heart has a throne. And the question isn't, if there will be a king in your heart, the question is, who is the king sitting on the throne in your heart? A king is more than just a crown or a word or a throne. At its core, a king is someone who ultimately has authority over the realm of the kingdom, of its kingdom. I hesitate there because Jesus said the kingdom is within you. Why did Jesus say the kingdom is within you? That's because this is Satan's kingdom and he's making a distinction. Satan's kingdom is out here. Christ's kingdom, he is king and wherever he rules and whosever heart is yielded over and surrendered to King Jesus, that's where his kingdom is. It's not out here in this world, not in the kingdom of Satan, but in our hearts. Spiritually, the word king is much more than just talking about who's the ultimate authority, because it has a much deeper and profound weight to it. A king is the object of our highest loyalty. Our king or any king defines what our identity is. It directs our decisions and holds the final say of what we will do and how we will act and what we will think is right. In that sense, a king is whatever rules your heart. And that's where Jesus is going. He doesn't want lip service. He wants your heart. In the time of the judges, Israel was ruled by God. Well, it was set up that way. It was ruled by God in design through divinely appointed leaders called the judges. But the people looked around and said, you know, they have a king over there and they have a king and they have, we don't have a king. What did they overlook? They had a king. What they were saying is, We don't want this king, we want a king like them. And when they say them, they're saying, I want a king like me. I want a king who acts like me and thinks like me and talks like me and has the same values as me. I don't like it the way this King Jesus, this King of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is. I don't want it that way. I want it my way, the rule of self. And so they looked around and said, give us a king like the other nations. And why is that? Because they wanted a king and they wanted a kingdom like the world that appeals to them. Now Samuel was the last judge, and Samuel's getting this request, and Samuel's thinking, I'm being rejected. He was taking this personally. Have I failed the people? What have I done wrong? But 1 Samuel 8, verse 17 records the words of God to Samuel. And he says this, the Lord said unto Samuel, hearken unto the voice of the people and all that they say unto thee, for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them. You see, that's the heart of rebellion, and that's the heart of humanity at large. That's what people want. I want to do it my way. It's the cry of Satan. I will, not God's will. What a contrast that is to Jesus in the garden during his prayer, wasn't it? Nevertheless, Lord, Father, not my will be done, but thy will be done. Ultimately, the cry for a king to be like other nations is like the modern protest of today. No King Day, no King Day, I don't want a king. It's a cry for, and I have pointed out earlier, there's no such thing as a kingless throne or a kingless heart. That cry of no king is actually a cry of any king but Jesus. That's what it is. That's what it comes down to. Any king but Jesus. It's like I was doing a seminar, creation evolution seminar up at the University of North Dakota. And I'll never forget during the Q and A session, there was a girl who asked a question and after I answered it, she rejected it and said, well, any God is possible, but I don't believe in the Christian God. Any God but the Christian God. Any king but King Jesus. I don't want him. As I told her, that's very interesting. She identified herself as a Christian atheist. I said, I need to talk to you after the meeting. I want to find out more about this. That's how people think. That's what I'm saying. When people live in this world, we are deceived. We think we're free, but we're not apart from Jesus. And don't we do the same thing that we could say, oh yeah, that's irrational. That's silly. That doesn't make any sense to think that way. But you know, think about it. When we choose our own plans, well, you know what plans come to your mind. The Holy Spirit may be bringing some plans you have in mind to your mind right now. When we say, well, be careful what you pray for, you might get it. Is God going to give you a snake instead of bread? Is he going to give you something that's not good outside of or contrary to his will? And what is his will for our life? Anything that's good for us. Be careful. You don't want to just surrender your life over to God. You don't know what he might ask of you. He might send you off to Timbuktu. By the way, that's a real place, Timbuktu, California. Who wants to go there? Gee, that's scary. But the point is, when we say it's a fearful thing to ask for God's will to be done in our life, because he might ask us to do something we don't want to do, what we're saying is, I don't want to do God's will. I don't want Jesus to be king over my life. Rebellion replaces trust. When we don't trust God, we're in rebellion because some other choice, some other decision must take its place. And we put confidence in our money. We put confidence in people we trust. rather than in God, in his provisions, in his wisdom. And then oftentimes we find ourselves blending into our culture, blending into the ways of the world, rather than standing up firm on the solid rock of truth. The cry for any king but Jesus isn't just ancient history. It's modern history. It's the cry of the flesh today. So let's bring it a little closer to home in today's culture. We preach, when I say we, that is our culture, the world system. We preach self-rule like salvation. Be free and follow your own heart. Be free, live your own truth. Be free, be the hero of your own story. Be free and do your own thing. But the Bible is very clear. Self is not a savior. Self is a fallen throne. And when self reigns, Jesus is dethroned. And that raises the question, who's ruling in the throne of your heart? Because there's no such thing as a kingless heart. Someone's ruling in there. This is the great lie of our generation of our world, as it's been for every generation, that freedom means doing whatever we want. But real freedom is found in surrender to the one who created us, because he knows what's best for us. He's the designer. Psalm 47, verse two declares, for the Lord most high is terrible. He is a great king over all the earth. Now, this word terrible, we have a meaning today that says, boy, that's really bad. But here in the scriptures, This is very, very, and really good. God, Lord Almighty, is really good. He's a great king over all the earth. God doesn't just reign in heaven. He reigns over all nations, all systems, over all those who surrender to him. He is the God, ultimately, and the king over all things. He's the King of kings, Lord of lords. But he's giving us a choice right now, as he's given the world a choice. And the evidence is we have chosen self and followed the way of pride and self and will, the way of the father of it all, who said, I will, Satan himself. In Acts 5, verse 29, Peter and the apostles were told to stop preaching Jesus. Stop! And their response was this, we ought to obey God rather than man. Now this was not a cry of rebellion and arrogance, not at all. It was a cry of allegiance. It's recognizing that when culture and Christ collide, only one gets to wear the crown. It's saying this, my feelings don't get the final word, God's word does. My preferences don't rule me, Jesus does. My past doesn't define me, his Lordship today does. And like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9, 19, for though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all that I might gain the more. Here's the paradox of that. The freest people on earth are the ones ruled by Christ. And that's why when the cry of, we ought to obey God rather than men, it's not an excuse to rebel, it's allegiance to God. And it's a demonstration that God's way is the best way and the better way. reaching out to those who would otherwise oppress and say, and you too can find peace in King Jesus. Not a rebellion, it's an invitation to come and join peace under King Jesus. And that's how we live with true freedom right there. Two things I'll leave with you here. to experience true peace under King Jesus. Submit all of your decisions to God's word, to his way, to his will. Don't ask him to bless your plan. Ask him to bless you with his plan. Believe in the work that Christ has done, his death, his burial, his resurrection. Trust in the love he's displayed and demonstrated, showing I'll do anything, anything for you to bless you to your benefit. And number two, denounce all rival kings, including yourself. And that's the really most challenging rival king is ourselves. Fear, pride, addiction, success, it doesn't matter what it is, what comes out of our lives, what our experiences are, none can sit where Jesus belongs. That's the attitude we ought to have. This throne in my heart, has room for only one king, King Jesus. And this isn't just about saying Jesus is Lord, it's about living like he is the Lord. So let the kingdoms of self fall, let the idols of our culture shatter, and let every knee and every heart cry, let freedom ring. No king, but Jesus. Amen? We're glad you joined us for our services here at Mission Boulevard Baptist Church. If this program has helped you and you would like to have more information about trusting Christ as your Lord and Savior, or if you would like to have resources to help you in your spiritual walk and growth, please email us at the address on your screen. We look forward to having you join us again online, but you are always welcome to personally attend any of our services at the Mission Boulevard Baptist Church here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Hi, this is Dr. Patrick Briney. I hope and pray this important lesson has improved your life. For more life changing lessons, and to get your free book that I've written for you, visit my website at patrickbriney.com. And please share this valuable lesson with at least three of your friends to enrich their lives in our Lord Jesus Christ. I'll upload my next lesson for you soon. God Bless.