23-0806a Transcript

Preacher: Mike Mathis

(1:24) Good morning, everyone. (1:28) It is an honor to be able to present (1:34) another portion of God’s Word to you. (1:41) Now, I have two copies of the Bible.

(1:46) I have my own, which is the New King James Version. (1:53) And I have one of the copies of the Bible, (1:58) which is the New American Standard Version. (2:03) And the reason for that is I want to read (2:08) the text from Psalm 141.

(2:13) And the reason for that is it has (2:17) the exact wording of my title (2:23) and this lesson that I am going to present. (2:30) I watch on YouTube and on my computer (2:38) this man named Johnny Robertson (2:43) from Martinsville, Virginia. (2:47) He works with the Martinsville Church of Christ.

(2:54) And he works in the Virginia, North Carolina region (3:07) on the TV stations presenting a program (3:16) that is called What Does the Bible Say? (3:22) This program’s format allows callers to call in (3:27) and ask questions concerning matters he is discussing. (3:36) But then sometimes they ask questions (3:42) on other Bible subjects. (3:46) And it amazes me how he can be talking about one thing (3:54) and someone will call him up and ask a question (3:59) concerning a Bible question that isn’t related (4:04) to the topic that he is discussing and covering.

(4:11) And after he answers that question, (4:16) he will go back to what he’s been talking about (4:22) to start off with. (4:25) I don’t know if I could do that. (4:28) I’d probably have to.

(4:30) Now where was I, you know, before that question was asked? (4:36) He’s been working a good while, (4:40) working with the Church of Christ. (4:46) And he has been overseas, working overseas (4:53) in an area that is called the Marshall Islands. (4:59) He came back and he’s been working over in, (5:05) as I say, in the Martinsville, Virginia area.

(5:12) And as I said, What Does the Bible Say? (5:19) program can be seen on YouTube (5:21) for anyone that may be able to have YouTube online (5:28) if they’re interested in watching. (5:33) Now he’ll show video clips about happenings (5:40) that are going on in the local area (5:44) across the country, (5:48) showing clips of the denominations, their doctrines. (5:55) He’s debated different denominations.

(5:59) He’s even debated atheists. (6:04) And he’s been trying for a while to get one in particular. (6:11) But he did have him once.

(6:17) And yet this man, that opportunity that he had, (6:26) he was on TV. (6:28) He took most of the hour. (6:33) And Johnny Robertson didn’t have time to answer what he said.

(6:42) He took up most of that time. (6:45) But the TV station let Johnny Robertson later (6:51) have his time to reply to what he said. (6:57) He’s been trying to get him into an area (7:01) where it would be even.

(7:07) Johnny Robertson would say something (7:11) and this man would say something. (7:13) But the man just won’t do it. (7:17) And he’s had to come to the conclusion (7:21) that that man is not going to meet him and have a debate.

(7:28) And I think it’s because the man is not really prepared (7:35) really to respond to him. (7:39) And there are people that seemingly (7:42) do not want to really confront Johnny Robertson (7:50) in the things that he is doing (7:55) because, I believe it’s because, (7:58) they’re just not biblical savvy. (8:03) And it’s a shame that even those within the brotherhood (8:08) is just like those that are in the denominational world.

(8:17) Just not up to study, don’t want to. (8:24) And it’s sad. (8:28) Now this lesson that he presented, (8:32) of which I’ve borrowed the title, (8:36) but I have forgotten most of what he said (8:41) because it was on video.

(8:44) So the outline that I have is my own way. (8:49) And I’m going to present it according to my way. (8:56) The title that he gave was (9:01) Let the Righteous Might Me.

(9:05) And that’s taken from Psalm 141, verse 5. (9:12) And I’m using the New American Standard Version, (9:17) the Bible that is on the back of the tube (9:27) because it says exactly what the wording of that title is (9:35) in verse 5 of Psalm 141. (9:40) But I want to read starting with verse 1. (9:45) Oh Lord, I call upon you. (9:49) Hasten to me.

(9:52) Give ear to my voice when I call to you. (9:57) May my prayer be counted as incense before you. (10:03) The lifting up of my hands as the evening offering.

(10:09) Set a guard over my mouth. (10:14) Keep watch over the door of my lips. (10:19) Do not incline my heart to any evil thing.

(10:25) To practice deeds of wickedness with men who do iniquity. (10:32) And do not let me eat of their delicacies. (10:36) Let the righteous might me in kindness and reprove me.

(10:43) It is all upon the head. (10:47) Do not let my head refuse it. (10:51) For still my prayer is against their wicked deeds.

(10:59) But you know, it starts off in Psalm 141 with a plea to God. (11:11) Now, it says, let the righteous might me. (11:18) The King James, the New American Standard, the American Standard, (11:23) I believe, I’m certain.

(11:27) Let the righteous might me in verse 5. (11:33) The New King James and some other copies of the Bible (11:38) will have let the righteous strike me. (11:43) But it’s still the same. (11:45) It’s not literal.

(11:49) You don’t go up and physically strike or smite one. (11:55) But it is the fact that as God’s children, (12:08) and as we need to go to God, (12:14) we need to know that God, (12:17) even though the righteous is meeting anyone that is righteous, (12:25) any man, anyone that would be righteous, (12:33) but I cannot think of anyone more righteous that we can go to (12:39) and get correction from and from His Word is God. (12:49) So as a child of God, we can go to Him (12:57) and we can plead with Him concerning things that we have need of.

(13:09) And certainly we need to come to God and go to Him. (13:23) He says, give ear to my voice when I call to you. (13:28) He says, give ear to my voice.

(13:34) Well, on the Sermon on the Mount, (13:41) Jesus is speaking in Matthew 7 and verse 7 beginning, (13:54) He says, ask and it will be given to you. (14:00) Seek and you will find. (14:02) Knock and it will be opened to you.

(14:06) For everyone who asks receives, (14:10) and he who seeks finds, (14:12) and to him who knocks it will be opened. (14:17) God assures us that whatever we ask, (14:24) and it has to be according to His will, (14:29) He will give to us. (14:34) And He points out that if a man’s son asks for bread, (14:45) will He give him a stone? (14:48) Or if he asks for a fish, will He give him a serpent? (14:54) If you, then, being evil, (14:56) know how to give good gifts to your children, (15:00) how much more will your Father who is in heaven (15:05) give good things to those who ask Him? (15:11) Notice it’s good things.

(15:14) And notice that it is those things He doesn’t say that we want. (15:22) We may want some things that God knows is not good for us, (15:26) but anyway, He will certainly hear His children, (15:33) and He will hear those that hear Him and heed His commands. (15:43) And thus, we can go to Him in prayer.

(15:50) And David continues. (15:53) This psalm is a psalm of David, (15:56) and David says, (15:59) Let my prayer be set before you as incense. (16:10) And we know that incense is a fragrant odor (16:19) that involves smoke.

(16:24) It has a fragrance that they use, (16:30) and they use it during sacrifice. (16:36) And under the law, (16:39) they had a special concoction that God gave to them (16:48) that no one else was to copy. (16:55) They were to use this in their worship, (17:00) and they were to mix that according to God’s specification.

(17:08) And so, he says, (17:10) Let my prayer be set before you as incense. (17:15) Now, in Revelation 5-8, (17:19) as it was read in your hearing, (17:24) that there were prayers, (17:31) there was incense there, (17:34) and this incense is referred to as (17:38) the incense represented the prayers of the saints. (17:45) In Revelation 5-8, (17:48) Now when he had taken the scroll, (17:52) the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders (17:58) fell down before the Lamb, (18:00) each having a harp and golden bowls full of incense, (18:06) which are the prayers of the saints.

(18:10) And then in chapter 8 of Revelation, (18:15) verses 3 and 4, (18:20) it says, (18:21) Then another angel, having a golden censer, (18:27) came and stood at the altar. (18:30) He was given much incense, (18:33) that he would offer it with the prayers of all the saints (18:39) upon the golden altar which was before the throne. (18:45) And the smoke of the incense, (18:47) with the prayers of the saints, (18:50) ascended before God from the angels' hands.

(18:55) So we see that the incense in Revelation (19:00) is representative of the prayers of the saints. (19:06) And David wants his prayers set before him, (19:15) set before God as incense. (19:21) Then he furthers his plea in this Psalm 141, (19:32) when he says, (19:34) Set a guard over my mouth.

(19:38) And you know, we need to watch our mouths. (19:47) Some will use their mouth (19:50) as a means of inciting people to do wicked things (19:59) and to do things the way that it starts out. (20:08) And we use our mouth, (20:11) but there are things that we can say (20:15) that will start out friction.

(20:18) Now, we shouldn’t use our mouths to cause friction, (20:29) cause dissension, (20:32) and we just need to be careful. (20:36) And I’m certain of the belief that David realizes (20:41) that the mouth and his mouth, (20:49) he needs to have watched over. (20:53) He pleads with God, (20:55) Keep watch over the doors of my lips.

(21:00) Because as he stated in Proverbs 13, 3, (21:07) which was also read in your hearing, (21:14) Proverbs 13, 3, (21:19) that our mouths need to be guarded (21:24) because we can stir up a lot of trouble. (21:36) Proverbs 13, 3, if I can get to it, (21:42) that he who guards his mouth preserves his life, (21:51) but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction. (21:59) And certainly, not only that, (22:03) but he may destroy others along with himself.

(22:09) And there are times when a person will speak (22:18) and that will cause a lot of friction (22:23) and will cause dissension. (22:28) In Proverbs 21 and verse 23, (22:35) whoever guards his mouth and tongue (22:39) keeps his soul from trouble. (22:44) I believe that is the reason that James, (22:49) in the first chapter of James, (22:54) gives a warning to those in the brotherhood (23:00) that we need to, in James 1, he says, (23:10) So then, my beloved brethren, (23:13) let every man be swift to hear, (23:16) slow to speak, slow to rap, (23:20) for the rap of man does not produce (23:23) the righteousness of God.

(23:28) And then in the third chapter of James, (23:35) I’m going to read verses 1 through 12. (23:40) My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, (23:44) knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. (23:50) For we all stumble in many things.

(23:53) If anyone does not stumble in word, (23:57) he is a perfect man, (24:00) able also to bridle the whole body. (24:05) Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths (24:08) that they may obey us, (24:11) and we turn their whole body. (24:15) Look also at the ships, (24:18) although they are so large (24:20) and are driven by fierce winds, (24:24) they are turned by a very small rudder (24:28) wherever the pilot desires.

(24:33) Even so, the tongue is a little member (24:36) and boasts great things. (24:41) See how great a force a little fire kindles. (24:48) And we know that all it takes is a spark in some places, (24:55) and once it gets started, (24:57) we’ve got a big blaze.

(25:00) And right now, Canada is experiencing fires, (25:06) as well as California now. (25:12) And there’s these wildfires in Greece (25:16) that they’re having to deal with. (25:21) But how great a force a little fire kindles.

(25:28) And the tongue is a fire, (25:32) a world of iniquity. (25:34) The tongue is so set among our members (25:38) that it defiles the whole body (25:41) and sets on fire the course of nature, (25:45) and it is set on fire by hell. (25:50) For every kind of beast and bird, (25:53) of reptile and creature of the sea, (25:58) is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

(26:02) But no man can tame the tongue. (26:06) It is an unruly evil, (26:08) full of deadly poison. (26:11) With it we bless our God and Father, (26:15) and with it we curse men (26:18) who have been made in the similitude of God.

(26:23) Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. (26:28) My brethren, these things ought not be so. (26:34) Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, (26:38) or a grapevine bear figs? (26:42) Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.

(26:50) So we see that we need to watch, (26:55) we need to be careful of our tongues. (26:59) Now it is true that one can speak the truth (27:04) and someone will find something in it offensive. (27:12) Jesus spoke the truth.

(27:15) As a matter of fact, he says, (27:16) I am the truth. (27:19) And many people, (27:21) they found fault with what he was saying (27:28) and tried to trip him up. (27:34) But yes, we can use the tongue, though, (27:41) to really lash out at someone else (27:46) and then we can cause division.

(27:49) So we need to keep, (27:52) we need to guard our doors, (27:55) the doors of our lips. (27:57) We need to watch (28:00) and we need to control our anger. (28:08) Then he further asks, (28:15) pleads with God that, (28:19) he says, (28:20) do not incline my heart to any evil thing.

(28:28) We should be careful what we put our minds on, (28:36) to practice deeds of wickedness, (28:40) to let those thoughts, wicked thoughts, (28:44) that we may from time to time (28:48) enter into our minds, (28:52) that we need to be careful (28:55) not to let those come into works of evil. (29:05) And he says, (29:09) also to practice deeds of wickedness (29:13) with men who does iniquity, (29:22) who do iniquity, (29:23) men who do iniquity, (29:25) and do not let me eat of their delicacies. (29:31) In Proverbs 23, (29:40) verses 6 through 8, (29:48) it says that, (29:52) it says, (29:53) do not eat the bread of a selfish man (29:56) or desire his delicacies (30:01) or as he thinks within himself, (30:04) so is he.

(30:06) He says to you, (30:07) eat and drink, (30:10) but his heart does not wish it. (30:16) You will vomit up the most of what you have eaten (30:19) and waste your compliments. (30:24) Now this could very well be speaking physical food, (30:29) but maybe we can also apply to spiritual things.

(30:38) There are evil men (30:41) with wicked thoughts and wickedness (30:47) that they’ll do anything and everything (30:50) to try to get you to go with them. (30:56) We’re told not to let them inside us to do evil. (31:04) And these delicacies may be these things (31:08) that they’re trying to get over to us.

(31:12) Ah, it’s not going to be harmful to do just this one thing, (31:18) and therefore we are caught up (31:23) in what they are doing. (31:25) And yes, (31:28) we can vomit up that morsel that we have eaten (31:35) or that we have participated in, (31:39) and then our compliments, (31:41) oh yeah, that’s good, you know, (31:44) that looks good, (31:48) sounds good. (31:50) But afterwards, (31:53) we’re going to find out that it’s not.

(31:56) So we need to, (31:58) we need, (32:00) we plead with God, (32:02) he pleads with God that (32:05) he doesn’t practice wicked works (32:08) with men who work wicked works. (32:13) Do not let me eat of those delicacies. (32:17) And the first part of this psalm, (32:23) he says, (32:24) let the righteous make me.

(32:28) Now I’m going to break off right now this (32:35) and continue with this tonight. (32:43) If there’s anyone that is subject to the invitation (32:51) to come back to God, (32:55) may you do so now, (32:58) while we stand and while we sing.