Chapter 4 here this morning by way of introduction, Proverbs chapter 4. As I've emphasized, as we've visited the Proverbs off and on here the last several weeks, that one of the key phrases that Solomon uses in the book of Proverbs is, my son. And what I see is probably that primarily this was addressed to Rehoboam as Solomon is trying to prepare Rehoboam for for preparing him to become king. He's giving him some teaching that he needs. So let's look at Proverbs chapter 4 verses 1-7, my way of introduction here this morning. Proverbs 4 verse 1, Hear ye children the instruction of a father, and attend to no understanding. For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. He taught me also, and said unto me, let thine heart retain my words, keep my commandments, and live." Notice here he's talking about passing on truth from generation to generation. Get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not. Neither decline from the words of my mouth. Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee. Love her, and she shall keep thee. Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and with all thy getting, get understanding. Notice also Proverbs chapter 19 then. Proverbs chapter 19. I want for us to, this morning, take a look at four different My Son teachings that Solomon gave to Rehoboam and bring some application to our lives. And let me just emphasize why I believe this is so important, these principles that we look at here today. There are many who are changing everything about their lives. They're changing church. They're changing so many different things. In fact, that seems to be a key word in our modern day is change. And as someone has said, keep the change. We don't want any. But you notice here again, as you think about the change that is coming into our world today, spiritually primarily, as I'm emphasizing here today, I believe there's some things that Solomon tried to teach Rehoboam that we need to pay attention to. Notice it says here, Proverbs 19, verse 27. First of all, you notice here he says, cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. Now, as you read how he words this here, obviously, Rehoboam was listening, and Solomon knew this, Solomon knew that Rehoboam was listening to something that was going to lead him astray, because he says, stop listening to something that's leading you astray. Cease, my son. There are so many today that are listening to things that are going to lead them astray. The word air there, notice it says here, again, cease my son to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. The word err means to deviate from a standard. Of course, this is our standard right here. This is where we get our standard. As you think about the word standard, it means to stand upon something. This is our standard. Notice again what he says here, we are to stop listening to things that lead us that causes us to err from the words of knowledge. For example, the Bible says we're to not listen to the counsel of the ungodly. Who is the ungodly? One who's living without God. I've said this before, I don't care how conservative they are, if they're ungodly, they're ungodly. We're to not be listening to their advice. We're not to listen to the counsel of the ungodly. Also, the scornful. The Bible says in Psalm 11, we're to not to sit in the seat with the scornful. We're not to sit there and listen to the scorner. So again, these are things that lead a person to error. But also false teachers. I want you to notice Romans chapter 16. We saw this, I believe, last Sunday night. I want you to see this again in this context of not listening to things that cause us to go into errors. Romans 16. I want you to notice a phrase in particular that I want to emphasize in this passage. Romans chapter 16 verses 17 and 18. There are so many churches. In fact, I'm getting tired of hearing how many so-called independent Baptist churches that are going off into error because they are listening to the wrong things. I'm sorry, but if they don't have the truth of God's Word, they're not to be listening to them constantly. It says in Romans 16 verse 17, Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them. And as I said last Sunday night, there's times when we have to name names in order to mark them. Which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned. Notice you've already learned these things. So why would we listen to someone who's going to teach things contrary to what this book has to say? Notice we are to Mark those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to this doctrine. The things that we have learned, and notice, we are to avoid them, have nothing to do with them. Here's what I want you to see in verse 18. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple, the one who doesn't know any better. Notice these good words and fair speeches. Stop listening to the good words and fair speeches. I'm sorry, most, I'm wanting to say all TV preachers are not worth listening to. That's why I'm backing off of that and saying most. I'm sorry, but Chuck Swindoll is not one to be listening to. He says, I'm a legalist because I preach standards. So what's he doing? He's a new evangelical leading people off into corruption. I'm sorry, but I can't listen to Charles Stanley very long. I know he's a popular preacher. He even claims to be a Baptist. But when he can go on a cruise this summer with his own son who denies The virgin birth of Lord Jesus Christ, there's a problem there. Joel Osteen, you know, his hair's all in place. He has some enthusiastic type speeches. They're not sermons, they're speeches. We cannot listen to things that cause us to err. All you have to do is go to their doctoral statements online and you understand they don't have all of the truth. But again, we see very clearly we are to avoid these people who have good words and fair speeches. And by that, they deceive the hearts of the simple. We're to not listen to false teachers. Notice to me, 2 Peter 2. 2 Peter 2. 2 Peter 2. And let me just say, there's a lot of independent Baptists that are coming into our quote-unquote camp. that fit in these things as well. In fact, I think I mentioned even this last Sunday night, we have this idea, this mindset, okay, if they're outside our camp, then we can name their names. But you can't talk about one of the brethren that's preaching error. Where's that in the Bible? Notice it says in verse 1, But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily, secretly, privately shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways, by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words, hypocritical words, make merchandise of you." Boy, they talk a good message. Notice these feigned words, they make merchandise of you. "...as they live in their million-dollar houses, and raise money for their sixty-five million-dollar jets." whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." Again, we are to refuse to stop, we are to cease listening to a teaching that causes us to err. Notice 2 Peter 3 then. 2 Peter 3, verses 15 through 18. Here is that Peter writes and he mentions the Apostle Paul and some of the things that the Holy Spirit moved the Apostle Paul to write. Here he says, an account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him, hath written unto you. As also in all his epistles, his New Testament letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood. Even the Apostle Peter says, there's some things that the Apostle Paul is writing that are hard to understand. By the way, this side of heaven, we're not gonna understand everything about this book. But I should be trying to understand it as much as possible. Notice again, he says, some things are hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned in an unstable rest. So they take these things that are hard to understand. Notice how they're described. They are unlearned. I don't care if they have a PhD behind their name and teach in a Bible college somewhere. There's some Bible quote-unquote scholar. It doesn't matter. They are unlearned and unstable. That's what the Bible says. So if they start saying that the first chapters of Genesis are not literal history, that I'm sorry, the Bible says they are unlearned and unstable. Again, that's happening in Bible colleges today. It says, which they are learning unstable. Notice what they do with the scriptures. They rest them. That's the root word of what we say with wrestling. You know, I didn't wrestle in high school, but I worked in a high school where they had wrestling. And so I didn't have much to do when the wrestling matches were going on. And so I'd watch a little of that. There was some twisting around. I said, no wonder people have back problems, wrestlers later on. But again, you notice they wrestle, they rest, they twist the scriptures. As do also the other scriptures unto their own destruction. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also be led away with the error, notice, the error of the wicked. That so-called Bible scholar in some college somewhere, the Bible describes him as wicked. A false teacher is wicked. Notice, you fall from your own steadfastness. You're not going to be stable. You're not going to be strong in your stand. You fall from your own steadfastness. But instead, notice, grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory, both now and forever. Amen. Again, we see back in Proverbs 19.27 that Rehoboam was to stop listening. He was to stop listening to the instruction that causeth the air from the words of knowledge. Two ways I believe that takes place. First of all, listening to teaching that is contrary to the Bible, but it's also rooted in ignorance of what the Bible teaches. Notice what I mean, Mark chapter 12. Mark chapter 12. Why do we see so many so-called Christians getting caught up in false doctrine today? In fact, somebody will say, oh yeah, I enjoy listening to Joyce Meyers, and I'm thinking, whoa, where'd that come from? First of all, she's a woman preacher preaching. It's not just women in that gathering. You watch the crowd? It's not just women. The Bible has something to say about that. So supposedly she believes the Bible, but she doesn't believe all the Bible because she's practicing something that the Bible says is not true. Not good to do. But again, as you notice these things, how is it that so many are getting caught up in these things? First of all, I believe it's because we're listening to it, but also because we are ignorant of what the Bible has to say. Mark 12, verses 18 and following. As Jesus is dealing with the liberals of his day, the Sadducees. It says in verse 18, Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection, and they ask him, saying, So they don't believe in the supernatural. Even as you see elsewhere, I think it's in the book of Acts, it tells us that they didn't believe in angels, they didn't believe in resurrection. In fact, they didn't even believe in anything other than the first five books of Moses. So that's all of the Old Testament they would accept. Notice, which say there is no resurrection, they asked him saying. They were liberals, that's why they were sad, you see. Master Moses wrote unto us, if a man's brother die. So they're quoting from the books of the Old Testament that they accepted. if a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. Now there were seven brethren. So as we read this, you see first and foremost, this is not a real situation, obviously. It's a hypothetical situation. So they're using a hypo, that's what liberals do good, do good, do well, they do well at using hypothetical situations to make their point. you know let's let's get back to the truth okay it says now there were seven brethren the first took a wife and dying left no seed no descendants no heirs and the second took her and died neither left he any seed and the third likewise and the seven had her and left no seed left excuse me left no seed last of all the woman died also now if I was that seventh brother I'd be thinking Well, I'm getting out of here. She's poisoning somebody or something. I don't know about this. Six brothers die and you're supposed to marry her? That sounds a little scary to me. Notice it says, "...and the seven had her to wife. Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not..." These were quote-unquote teachers in Israel. Leaders in Israel, do ye not err, because ye know not the Scriptures, neither the power of God? For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels which are in heaven. And as touching the dead, that they rise, have ye not read in the book of Moses? Notice what he's doing here. He's quoting from the books of the Bible that they accepted, Notice here it says, of course they don't believe in the resurrection, so he's addressing that false doctrine. It says, have you not read in the book of Moses how in the bush God spake unto him saying, I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. Again, you don't believe in resurrection, he's the God of the living. Notice this last statement then in verse 27. I'm sorry, ye therefore do greatly err. Why do they greatly err? Because they don't know the scriptures. We have had generations of Christians now, at least who claim to be the name, claim the name Christian, who spend no time in the Bible and barely any time in church. In fact, we got an email from a pastor friend who recently had a lot of little different Christian sayings and all those things. And one of them I thought was, little humorous. Why change church? It doesn't matter which church you stay away from. A lot of people change church and they stay away from churches as much as they used to. Notice again, we do greatly err because we don't know the Word of God. If we don't spend any time in the Bible, we're going to be led away into error, especially when we're listening to teaching that causes us to err. Second of all, consider also Proverbs 23. Proverbs 23, another my son. Proverbs 23, verses 15 and 16. Proverbs 23, verse 15. My son, if thine heart be wise, my heart shall rejoice, even mine. Yea, my range shall rejoice when thy lips speak right things. Also chapter 27, verse 11. Proverbs 27, verse 11. Again, my son's addressing Rehoboam in particular, but it's, preserved for us as well. My son be wise and make my heart glad that I may answer him that reproacheth me." Notice another principle that Solomon teaches Rehoboam here. Bring joy to your spiritual leaders. The character of a follower validates and encourages the leader. Let me just say it on a practical level as a pastor. Nothing discourages me more than anything more than somebody who has had the truth and they walk away from it. That is heartbreaking. Notice again what Solomon is trying to teach Rehoboam here. Verse, I'm sorry, 27 verse, what did I say, verse 11. My son be wise and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me. Again, the character of a follower validates and encourages the leader. John even said that I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. Now, I don't believe that's probably necessarily his children as much as he's writing to a local church. He has no greater joy than to hear that the people of the flock, the church, are walking in truth. I have no greater joy, as a father, I have no greater joy than to know that our sons and our daughters-in-law want to serve God today. That brings great joy to our hearts. When you think about a teacher and a student, I know we have a lot of homeschoolers in our church. There's no greater joy. when we were in teaching, there's no greater joy than to see that a student wants to learn and wants to understand the truth. Again, as we understand the principle here. In fact, notice with me Hebrews 13. Hebrews chapter 13. Again, another verse that we went to here recently, but I want you to see it in this context. Hebrews 13, verse 17. In fact, let's look at verse 7 also, because we'll mention this here in a moment. Hebrews 13, verse 7. Remember them which have the rule over you, spiritual leaders, who have spoken unto you the word of God. Notice, they have spoken the truth of God's word, whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Also, verse 17. Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves, for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account. Notice this, that they may do it with joy and not with grief, for that is unprofitable for you. Often Solomon would say to Rehoboam, in fact, the principle that he would give is that there's a sorrow and a sadness that comes to the heart of a parent that has a child who walks away from the truth. Again, we see here this principle that we are to strive to bring joy to the hearts of our spiritual leaders. But third, consider also Proverbs 23. Proverbs 23, verse 19. Again, these principles all relate to one another. Proverbs 23, verse 19. Let's listen carefully to what I say here. Follow with your heart. I am not saying follow your heart. Proverbs 23 verse 19, hear thou my son, again this phrase, my son, and be wise, and guide thine heart in the way. Also verse 26, my son, again this phrase, my son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways. We are to follow with our heart. not follow our heart. Remember again I've said Jeremiah 17 verse 9 says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. You have a sinful wicked heart. The only thing that's ever going to change, the only time that's ever going to change is someday when we are glorified and we have a new heart. First Corinthians 11 1 Paul says to the church at Corinth, be ye followers of me even as I also am of Christ. Listen to what Paul is saying there. He doesn't just say, follow me, because I'm a good example to follow. That's not what he's saying. He says, follow me as I follow Christ. So what do you think about the truth of God's Word? In fact, I believe a spiritual leader, whether it's a parent, whether it's a pastor, a teacher, whatever the case may be, We must strive to become so much like the teaching of this book so that as we follow Christ, those we lead can follow our example. What kind of examples you set up in your home? I've mentioned from time to time I did not allow our sons to put posters up of athletes or musicians or anything like that. I didn't care if they had a favorite team. I didn't have a problem with that. But I would often tell them, you don't know the true character of those athletes. So you have their posters up, and all of a sudden, you find out they're wicked and corrupt, which most of them are. All it takes is a matter of time, and they're exposed as wicked men. But again, the whole truth is, who am I following? Listen to me, Philippians chapter 3. Paul dealt with this in relation to the Philippian church. Philippians chapter 3. again Hebrews 13 7 told us that we are to follow their faith whose faith follow so find people of faith that we can follow it says in a verse 17 Philippians 3 verse 17 brethren be followers together of me and mark them are so here's some more than we need to mark mark them which walk so as you have us for an example are so the other one was a negative thing mark those and avoid those false teachers but find someone you can follow. In fact, the Apostle Paul even describes himself as a pattern for those who would afterward believe. So again, we see the pattern that's given for us. The Apostle Paul was set up as an example, as we see in this passage here. It says, mark them with so walk, so as you have us for an example, a sample, a pattern for us to follow. For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and I'll tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame. They mind earthly things." Notice those things, those individuals that we are to not follow. So we are to follow with our heart. Now back in Proverbs, I want you to notice Proverbs 24 then. Proverbs chapter 24. Here's the one I want to emphasize. Those others, I believe, prepare us for this principle here. Proverbs 24 verses 21 and 22. My son, fear thou the Lord and the King. Meddle not with them that are given to change, for their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both. All right, here's it again, my son. All right, so my son, and I believe God is teaching us these things today as well. My son, notice, first of all, fear thou the Lord, and the King. Alright, so fear of God and respect for authority will help protect us from unhealthy change, unbiblical change. It says, My son, fear the Lord and the King. But then he says, meddle not with them that are given to change. Why? Because their calamity shall rise suddenly, and who knoweth the ruin of them both? Hang on to those words. We'll come back to them in a moment here. Notice we have 1 Peter chapter 2. 1 Peter chapter 2. As we think about a fear of God, I believe that's one reason why there's so much wickedness in so-called Christianity today. We have lost our theophobia. You think about a theophobia. We have all kinds of phobias. There's even a phobia, a fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of your mouth. I can't remember, it's a long phobia. I don't know why they even called it that name, but claustrophobia, fear of close places, you know, fear the dark, and we have so many phobias. The one phobia that we have overlooked and lost is our fear of God, theophobia, fear of God. It says in 1 Peter 2, verses 13 through 17, it says, Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether it be to the king as supreme, or unto governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God that with well-doing you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men, as free and not using your liberty for a cloak of maliciousness, but as the servants of God. Notice he summarizes this with four statements then. Honor all men, love the brotherhood. Notice the last two. Fear God, honor the king. And again, I'm using this collectively, generally, honor the king as respect for authority. I believe because of those two things that we've lost in our society, our world is given to change right now. Respect for authority and a fear of God. But the Bible speaks again of given to change, following trends. And have you ever noticed that sometimes change is set up as appearing to be progress? There's a word that they relate to that, and that's progressive. there are politicians who claim to be progressives. You don't want a progressive politician. A progressive politician is going to lead us towards liberalism. Now what's really bad is over the years I've come across websites where churches claim to be progressive. They claim that that is a good thing. I remember when an evangelist was just dropping in and I knew of him and so I went to his sending churches website just to see what church he was sent out of and all those things. And as I went to that website, one of the emphases I saw in that website was that they were a progressive Baptist church. There's a red flag right there. A progressive Baptist church. They are given to change. Fashions change. Just hang on to your tie long enough, man, and it'll come back into style. Fashions change. That's how they make money. What's sad is some of the 60s and 70s styles are coming back in, like that was a good thing. It's like, you look at your yearbooks, you think, oh, how disgusting. But yet it's becoming popular once again. Ephesians 4.14 says that many are tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. It's like, put the finger up, as our preacher used to say, put the finger up and say, well, I wonder which way the wind's blowing today. So many are swept about with every wind of doctrine. There's some new teaching that comes along, and boy, they'll just wrap, what, some new teaching, come on, they'll follow that. They're swept about with every wind of doctrine. They're tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. But again, change feels like progress. So many are following the trends in our modern day. But let me emphasize that truth does not change. Trust me, Jeremiah chapter six. Jeremiah chapter 6. In fact, Pilate asked Jesus, what is truth? Jesus said he came to bear witness of the truth. And Pilate says, what is truth? He says, I don't even know what truth is anymore. As he's wrestling with what to do about Jesus. You know, his wife is telling him to have nothing to do with this man, you know, because I've had some bad dreams about him. And he's finding nothing wrong in Jesus, but yet the crowds are saying, crucify him, crucify him. What is truth? And we have such a relative truth today. In fact, let me just say this about our quote-unquote society and relative truth. They like saying, well, what's truth for you may not be truth for me. So in other words, there's more than one truth claim. That's our tolerance. You know, the Muslim, supposedly they have truth, that's truth to them. Well, I'm a Christian, that's truth to me. That's not Bible. Let me just say this, truth does not change. In fact, notice what Jeremiah was told here by way of his prophecy, Jeremiah 6, verse 16. Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths. whereas the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls." Notice what they said. They said, we will not walk therein. I am not ashamed today to be called an old-fashioned independent Baptist preacher. There's a lot of people who are ashamed of even being a Baptist. So take the name off. I'd be like us calling this New Haven Church because we're ashamed of being a Baptist. You know, I had a man I went to college with, a church that our family was a part of for years. In fact, it was the sending church for my parents. He removed the name Baptist finally after years at that church. He's no longer a Baptist. He said, well, I'm still a Baptist, but we just don't want it to be offensive. We don't want people to stay away from the church just because we have the name Baptist on our sign. Well, if you're truly a Baptist, somewhere along the way, they're gonna find out you're a Baptist. So that tells me that's deception then, if that's the case. Well, the truth of the matter is, after they've changed their music and all those things, they don't want to be called a Baptist. Again, he says, choose the old paths, ask for the old paths, whereas the good way, and walk therein, and you shall find rest for your souls. but like so many today, we will not walk therein. We don't want the old paths. We want something new. We want something progressive. Philippians 3.1 says that we are to mind the same things. First Timothy chapter 3 in relation to the church and truth. First Timothy chapter 3. First Timothy chapter 3 verses 14 through 16. This is right after the qualifications for bishops, for pastors, and for deacons. As it says here in verse 14, Philippians, I'm sorry, Philippians, 1 Timothy chapter 3, verse 14, these things write unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. But if I tarry long, if I am delayed in getting there to you, Timothy, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, there's a certain way we should behave, generally speaking, in this place. It should not be a distraction. Our behavior should not be a distraction from the truth. Notice here how Paul describes the house of God, which is the church of the living God, but then he says it's the pillar and ground of the truth. So you think about a support pillar, for example, in a basement. If that support pillar is knocked out, what's going to happen to the house eventually? It's going to not be a safe place to be, right? Notice that, talking about a pillar, and I believe probably he's referring to some of the Greek and Roman temples, as you see the common architecture of that day. This pillar and this ground of truth. So there was a support pillar that would hold these buildings up. In fact, some of those pillars are still seen in some of the ruins. Notice also the ground of the truth. I believe that's referring to more of the foundation. If there was an earthquake right now and the foundation started moving, what's going to happen to this building? It's going to be unstable, right? Notice how God describes the church of the living God. We're not talking about churches in general. This is the true New Testament church. Notice it's the pillar and ground of the truth. I said that truth does not change. We don't have anything such thing as a relative truth. Relative truth is not truth. It's error, even as we've already seen, we're to not listen to teaching that causes us to err. It says again, it's the pillar and ground of the truth. The local church should be a guardian of the truth. Then he says, goes on to give this doctrinal statement in relation to the Lord Jesus Christ. Without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God, the modern Bibles have that changed. He, notice it's God, Jesus Christ is God, was manifest in the flesh. justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. Again, this doctrinal statement of truth. Notice 2 Timothy 2. 2 Timothy 2, verse 2. Verse 1, let's look at the context. Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses. The same, the same, the same commit thou unto faithful men. We're not looking for new doctrines. We're not looking for sensational teaching to be able to gather a crowd. The same commit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also. The things I was taught, the things that I have learned, I'm passing on to you. Faithful men and ladies, Teach others also. We are to pass on the truth, but it's not new things we're to be looking for. The same things we are to commit. Also chapter 3, 2 Timothy 3, verse 14. But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. Notice we're to continue in the same things. Continue in the things which we have learned and has been assured of. Notice these doctrinal teachings, we've been assured of these things. They are true. Let me kind of list for you how this change takes place. First of all, the philosophy changes. That is why I do not read the books of New Evangelicals. I'm sorry, I tried reading Rick Warren books years ago, and it's like, you know what? It's watered down stuff And he quotes from how many different Bibles. By the way, hardly anybody carries a Bible to his church. And David Cloud actually went there and found out why. David Cloud is one who kind of exposes false teaching. And as he went to the church, he noticed nobody's carrying a Bible with them to church. Well, first of all, it's hard to follow along, because Rick Warren will quote from eight different, quote unquote, modern versions. Then he also has them up on the board, on some screen, so you don't need your Bible. Here's the point. You can't follow along when you're quoting from eight different Bible versions, perversions as we would consider them. But I don't read the books of New Evangelicals because I will become New Evangelical. I don't even read a lot of Protestant stuff anymore. Because I'm a Baptist, not a Protestant. There is a difference. There is a difference. Again, we notice here that first of all, there's a philosophy change. That comes from the things that I listen to, that I read. Then there's an atmosphere change. The atmosphere will change. Churches will start using new methods. They'll turn to sensationalism. That's why so many churches today are like carnival scenes. They use the carnival atmosphere to get the crowds. You read and check some of these mega churches out, that's the atmosphere. The atmosphere changes. But then they attract a different crowd. It's interesting, James refers to this in James 2. James 2. When you start attracting a different crowd because of what you have in your music and all those things, then notice what happens here, verse 1 of chapter 2, James. My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons. For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel. Boy, he's got a nice suit on. Boy, he's dressed, you could tell he's got money. Or as we often say, he's got means. And there come also a poor man in vile arraignment. You know, he's got worn out clothing. And yet respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and saying to him, the happy clothing. You know, it's sad. Our world has taken words and destroyed them. Gay used to be a good word. Anyway, it says here, it says, you know, say to the one who has dressed nicely, we'll say, and say unto him, sit thou there in a good place. That's not the front row in the Baptist church. Brother, you look like you have money, you pick whatever role you want. That's what takes places. You notice here, sit thou in a good place, and say to the poor, sit thou, or sit there under my footstool. you take the place nobody else wants. Are you not then partial in yourselves, or become judges of evil thoughts? Hearken, my beloved brethren, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which ye have promised? How many of you are rich here today? I have no idea. Some of you may be rich, and you're just not showing it. What's interesting, in Jamaica, Some of those people, if you did not see what they drove up in, some of them walked to church. But in Jamaica, I thought it was interesting. If you did not see how they got to church, you would not know the difference in most cases. Everyone dressed their best for church. Notice again, it says, God has chosen the poor of this world, rich in faith, heirs to the kingdom, which he hath promised to them that love him. but ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you and draw you before the judgment seats? Do they not blaspheme that worthy name by which ye are called? If ye fulfill the royal law according to the scripture, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself, ye do well. But if ye have respect to persons, being partial to the one who has means, who has money, Ye commit sin, and are convinced of the law as transgressors. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. For he that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill. Now if ye commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law. So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. for ye shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy. And mercy rejoiceth against judgment." I want you to consider what happens here in many churches as they begin to change. As they start changing certain things, the atmosphere changes and they start attracting the rich in the community. Oh, we've got to change things so that we keep these people coming. We have to change some things because, you know, after all, we have to tiptoe through the tithers because if they leave, then we won't have the money coming into the church house. So we attract a different crowd. Then standards change. The music starts changing. Dress standards start changing. All these things start changing. And finally the message changes to keep the crowd. Notice 2 Timothy chapter 4. 2 Timothy chapter 4. So again, philosophy, atmosphere. We attract a different crowd. Standards start changing. Then the message starts changing so that you keep the crowd. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 1. This is exactly what's happening in so many churches. That's why I want for us to stand guard against this being given to change. It says verse 1, 2 Timothy chapter 4. I charge thee therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ who shall judge the quick and the dead as appearing and his kingdom. Preach the word. Be instant in season out of season. This is not a Joel Osteen sermon. Notice, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long-suffering. Joel Osteen has said himself he doesn't use the Bible because that can be offensive. He'll throw a verse in here and there just to say it's scripture. But he said up front, I don't use the Bible in my books and my sermons because it might be offensive to someone. So it's his man's wisdom, not God's wisdom. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. That time has arrived. But after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers having itching ears. And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables. I already know that in this church we've had some people visit that did not want the message. Because they were gonna have to change. I've been in this business long enough to know. They can only handle it so long when the truth of God's word is preached. So are we gonna be given to change? Are we gonna stand firm? And let me remind you again that wrong change is destructive. Remember the two words we saw in Proverbs 24, 22, calamity and ruin. Let's just see an example of this, 1 Timothy 1, verse 18. First Timothy 1.18, this charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy. Notice I give you a charge. I'm giving you this challenge here. According to the prophecies which went on before on thee, that thou by them mightest swore a good... Oh, we don't like talking about warfare. The Christian life is not a playground. It's a battleground. That thou mightest war a good warfare, holding faith, and a good conscience, which some, having put away concerning faith, have made what? Shipwreck. They have wrecked their lives. Then he gives two examples. Now, of course, you don't mention names, because, you know, after all, the Apostle Paul does. Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Notice that they cast off faith, concerning faith, and what happens to them? Wreck and ruin, calamity and ruin, destruction. There are so many who are changing Bibles today. There are thousands of changes in the modern perversions from this book right here. I believe I'm holding the inspired, preserved word of God in the English language. Things that are different are not the same. You know they like saying you're the NIV and all that. They're in the heritage of the King James Bible. No, they're trying to give them credibility when they are corruption, they are perversion. This is the Inspired Preserves Word of God. All the others are perversions. There are thousands of chains, they're not the same. The changing music. If we bring our drum section, I don't know if anybody plays drums, but if we bring our drum sections in here and loud music, we'll attract a crowd. Things will change. Things will change dramatically. So many churches are changing music, changing their doctrine, changing their standards. And so many today are given to change even in their marriages, with our easy divorce today. Why don't you consider that the Bible tells us to beware of unbiblical change. You don't need to turn there. Let me read for you as we close. Hebrews 2, verse 1. Again, we are to not be given to change. We are to hold fast to the things that we have. that God has given to us. Hebrews 2.1 says, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip. Give more earnest heed to the truth, not error. Like I say, I'm concerned for some people who tell me they listen to these false teachers. Just a matter of time before they keep drifting, they keep drifting. Then they don't like the message from the Word of God anymore, and so they keep drifting, they keep drifting. End up in calamity and ruin. Those are Bible words. So many are heading off into the error today. What does Paul say in Hebrews 2.1? Give more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, the truth, lest at any time we should let them slip. How strong is your hold today? You know, Jesus said, as he was dealing with his disciples, woe unto you when all men speak well of you. I'm convinced that's why a lot of preachers are changing things, because they want the world to speak well of them. They want to be accepted by the world. Are we going to listen to the truth and avoid the change? Let's stand together this morning As I was looking through the Proverbs, I was reminded of these passages here this morning. Refuse to listen to error. Bring joy to your spiritual leaders. Follow with your heart. Beware of unbiblical change. We live in a day, a lot of things are changing. Again, Hebrews 2.1 says, hold fast. Hold fast, give earnest heed to the things that we've heard, lest they slip. Oh, don't lose hold. Let's see.