Gaining Weight and Loosing Pride Sun. AM 10-6-96

Job 32.

And notice if you would, in verse number one, it says this.

So these three men ceased to answer Job.

And then it tells you why.

Because he was what?

Righteous in his own eyes.

Now, mark a little note there.

The problem then was in Job's life, there must have been some pride.

Because Job saw himself somewhat righteous yet in his own eyes.

And so, you know, the world has what they call weight reduction programs.

May I tell you that God has pride reduction programs?

And what the book of Job was about, if you read it a few times through, which I have recently, it's all about Job's pride reduction program.

And God puts him on a pride reduction program.

You say, now wait a minute, Job was a what Job was a guy that God was blessing.

Yeah, but you know what?

God saw something in Job that he wanted to take care of.

And he began to work on Job.

And because Job saw that he was, these men saw Job righteous in his own eyes, and it says that in two or three places.

Well, God began to bring him down a little bit.

Look at Job chapter 1 and follow with me.

Job 1 · chapter mention

Job chapter 1.

Job 1 · chapter mention

Even if you studied this before, I want to show you a couple things.

And I want to show you an attitude that has to be if God's going to work on a pride.

Job chapter 1.

Job 1 · chapter mention

Notice verse 12, brethren, quickly.

The Lord said unto who?

Satan, talk to me.

The Lord said unto who?

Satan.

Behold, all that he hath is in thy power only upon himself, put not forth thy hand.

So do you understand that God was going to use Satan in Job's life to begin to reduce Job's pride, but God still had the power over what Satan could do and could not do.

Amen?

Look if you would in Job chapter 2 and look at verse 6.

Job 2 · chapter mention

And by the way, you say, boy, you look a little, you look a little bent up.

I know, but I can still preach, amen.

There's so much inside of me that I'll just have to let it out in sections.

Look at Job chapter 2 and look at verse 6.

Job 2 · chapter mention

So Job goes through day one where he loses his sons and his daughters and all that he owns, and Satan comes back again in verse 6.

And the Lord said unto Hoseith, Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand, but look at the restriction, but save his life.

So God knew what Job needed in his life.

Would you agree with this?

Job was right in the middle of God's will.

Come on, yes or no?

Wait a minute, Satan's getting to him.

I know, but Job is right in the middle of God's will, and God has a plan.

Did it hurt Job?

Look at verse 13.

So they sat down with him, that's Job, upon the ground, seven days and seven nights, and look at this.

None spake a word unto him.

For they saw that his grief was very great.

I don't know what he was doing, but brethren, I'll guarantee you, Job was sobbing and crying.

And nobody said a word because you ever been with someone and just didn't know what to say?

And all you could do is sit with them and let them cry.

You ever been there?

If you haven't yet, you may sooner or later.

And look at Job when he came out of his trauma, if you would.

Look at verse chapter 3.

And look at the first thing Job thought in verse 3.

Let the day perish wherein I was born.

He said, You know what?

I wish I would have never been born.

Look at verse 11.

Why died not I from my womb?

You know what he's saying?

I wish I was never born.

Verse 25.

Look at Job 3, verse 25.

Job 3:25

For the thing, Job says, which I greatly feared, is come upon me.

And that which I was afraid of is come unto me.

I was not in safety, neither had I rest, neither was I quiet.

And look what it says in verse 26.

You say the next three words with me, say it.

Yet trouble came.

And brethren, in this life, trouble's gonna come.

I would speculate that just by looking at me you would say, Hey, it looks like you've been through a little trouble.

I'm on the men, though, amen?

Now, the idea behind all this trouble, though, was for God's benefit and blessing upon Job's life, because there was a little pride that God wanted to take care of in Job's life.

Look if you would at chapter 38, please.

Chapter 38.

You doing okay this morning?

Chapter 38.

And by the way, it'd be a great time to invite people to church and say, man, you got to come and hear our church and our preacher.

He's in a wheelchair.

Use it.

Bring people in, amen.

I'll wheel around a couple of times, you know, whatever I can do.

Job chapter 38.

Job 38 · chapter mention

I'm not going to go through the whole thing because I want to show you some consistencies in the Bible, but I want you to see this: that God at appointed time began to answer Job.

Look at Job chapter 38.

Job 38 · chapter mention

Then the Lord answered Job out of the world went and said, Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge?

You know what he's talking to?

Job.

Look what he says to him in verse 3.

Gird up now thy loins like a man.

Wait a minute.

This guy has just lost his children, lost his everything he owns.

He's got boils all over him, and his wife has said, Curse God and die, and his friends have not been comforters.

They've been miserable comforters.

The Bible said.

They've been attacking.

He's been told about some things.

And the Lord shows up and says, Act like a man.

Act like a man, gird up the loins.

For I will demand of thee an answer thou be.

Now listen, God doesn't speak to him kindly when he starts off.

Look at verse 4.

Where was thou when I laid the foundations of the earth?

You know what he's saying?

Who are you, Job?

Declare if thou hast understanding.

Who hath laid the measures thereof?

If thou knowest.

You know what he's doing?

Please look up there.

He's putting Job down.

Why?

Because the whole thing in the book of Job, the premise is Job's going through a pride reduction program.

Amen?

You say, why is that important?

God resisteth the who.

Proud, but giveth grace to the who.

You want to get close to God?

Humility is the way.

And you say, okay, I'm humble.

I'm humble.

I'm humble.

I'm humble.

I'm humble.

I know I'm humble.

I know I'm humble.

You know what that is?

Pride.

Amen.

Sometimes you want to be humble and I'll think I'm humble.

I'll think I'm humble.

I'll just be humble.

I'll fast till I'm humble, Lord.

Don't do this to me.

I'll just fast till I'm humble.

And God says, no, this has to happen.

It'll be good for you.

Just have a good attitude while you're going through it.

If you look a little bit further, so God answers him.

And look if you would at uh look at the end result in chapter 42.

You don't mind studying your Bible, do you?

Chapter 42.

Look at verse 6.

Here's the good result of this whole thing.

Look what Job says.

Job in verse 1 answers the Lord.

Verse 6, wherefore, there's what Job said, I abhor myself.

You know what that is, brethren?

Verse 6 of Job 42?

That's humility.

And repent in dust and ashes.

I abhor myself.

I see myself for what I really am, and I'm not happy with what I see.

Well, God liked that.

And verse 10, after a few more things happened, the Lord turned the what?

The captivity of Job.

What do you mean he was captive?

Yeah, he was captive in a situation of trouble that was going to bring about humility.

Now I've got to tell you that I've read verse 12 quite a few times.

So the Lord did what?

Say it?

Bless the latter end of Job more than his beginning.

And I've thought, well, Lord, if this thing that I'm going through is just a little bit of Job, as long as I can get to Job 42 and verse 12, everything will be fine.

But it takes a little while to get there.

Now, let me show you some consistency.

And you've got to understand, I can't be quite as dynamic from a wheelchair.

Amen.

So let me show you some consistency.

So look at Hebrews 12.

Look at Hebrews 12.

You say, Why am I listening to this?

Because trouble's coming in your life.

Well, why do I have to listen to this?

Because every once in a while God may say, you know what?

You're gaining a little pride, and I need to put you through a little pride reduction program so I can get close to you again.

Because while you're proud, I have to resist you, but when you get that humility, I can give you all the grace that you need.

Look at Hebrews 12 and notice verse 9, brethren.

Verse 9.

Furthermore, we have had fathers of our flesh, which did what?

Corrected us.

Now, it would be a bad thing for anybody to say, wow, whatever Pastor Fisher's going through, boy, it must be God's correcting him.

Well, you shouldn't say that, but I can say that about myself.

Amen?

So you say, well, why do you say that?

Because chastisement, correction, purging, whatever you want to call it, it's all for our benefit.

So he says, uh, and we have gave them what?

Reverence.

I'm happy to tell you, and I'm talking about myself just a little bit, that when we go through these troubled times, there should never be a time that we get mad at God.

Let me say it again.

There should be never a time where we get mad at God.

In fact, what it does is it makes us reverence him more.

Shall we not much rather be in what?

Subjection.

You know what I think about Job, brethren?

You know what the great thing about Job was?

He really did, for a good part of that pride reduction program, stay in subjection to his captivity.

He didn't charge God foolishly.

He didn't lose his integrity.

Yeah, he he got back at his miserable comforters just a little bit and said, You guys don't know what you're talking about.

But according to what I read, he kept a pretty good subjective attitude towards God while he was in captivity.

Amen?

For they verily, for a few days, verse 10, chastened us after their own pleasure.

Here's what I like.

But he, that's God, for our what?

Prophet.

Why?

That we might be partakers of his holiness.

The only way Christ can live through us and abide in us stronger is that we have to decrease so he can increase.

And that's only through humility.

Uh breaking, brokenness.

The trouble that comes.

I remember laying in the emergency room and this eye was all bunged up and I had stitches and it was all swollen shut.

I remember thinking, this is for my prophet.

This'll be good for me.

This'll make me a better husband.

It'll make me a better father.

It'll make me a better pastor.

I didn't say preacher, I said pastor.

You know what I've been praying for?

God make me a better husband.

Make me a better father.

Make me a better pastor.

So in the emergency room, while they were stitching up my knee, I was kind of under my breath saying, Thank you, Lord, for answering my prayer.

You say, what a terrible thing to say.

You got an accident, it was a mistake, you ran into somebody, and you're giving God glory and saying, Thanks for answering my prayers?

Absolutely.

Because God could have never let it happen.

Let me say it again.

God could have never let it happen.

You know He's able to take the wheels off the chariots.

Come on, amen.

You say, well, if you if you believe that, then aren't you mad at him?

Not in the least.

If this is gonna make me better, I'm willing to be made better.

Amen?

Let me show you something else.

Look at Luke 12.

You doing okay this morning?

You say, boy, you're talking about yourself.

Well, I've only been with myself for a while.

Luke chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

I haven't heard anybody else's sins in a while, so I've got to preach on my own.

Amen.

Luke chapter 22.

Luke 22 · chapter mention

Luke 22.

And I just want you to see this as consistency here.

And you know this, but I want you to see four places in the Bible here where God uses Satan.

Look at Luke 22.

Remember how God said, okay, Satan, you can have Job?

Look at verse 31.

And the Lord said, Simon, Simon.

Behold, who?

Say it.

Who?

Satan hath desired to do what?

To have you.

You know what he's saying?

Little captivity time coming for you, Simon.

You need this.

That he made sift you.

That sifting, that purging, that purify you as wheat.

And so God gave Simon Peter over to Satan, and God used Satan in Simon Peter's life to sift him.

The end result was, if you read the chapter, he went out and wept bitterly.

Look at 1 Chronicles chapter 21 and 2 Samuel 24.

1 Chronicles 21 · chapter mention

Now I can't keep your attention very well by going back and doing illustrations and everything, so you're just going to have to stay awake lest I get angry, amen?

Come on.

2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21.

Pity a crippled man, amen?

Come on.

1 Chronicles 21 and 2 Samuel 24.

Look at the consistency of this thing.

God allowed Satan to put Job into captivity, but was for Job's own good.

God allowed Simon Peter to be put into a little bit of a sifting period of time and used Satan, but it was for his own good.

Look at 2 Samuel 24.

2 Samuel 24.

And verse 1, and again, verse 1 of 2 Samuel 24.

Thank you for turning there.

And again, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel.

And he moved David against them to say, Go number Israel and Judah.

Now look at verse 1 of chapter 24.

He moved David against them.

So somebody caused David to do this.

David goes out and numbers Israel, and God's not pleased with the whole thing.

And brethren, look at 2 Samuel 24.

Look at verse 10.

And David's heart what?

Smote him.

Is everybody there in verse 10?

David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people.

Why, David knew he'd done wrong.

And David said to the Lord, I have sinned greatly that I have done.

And now I beseech thee, O Lord, take away the iniquity.

David's going through some turmoil here.

And look if you would at verse 17.

Verse 17.

And David spake unto the Lord when he saw the angel that smote the people.

You see, God said to David, You got three choices.

Which one?

And it's all going to affect these people.

And David says, Lo, I have sin and I have done wickedly.

But these sheep, what have they done?

Because of David's sin, some other people were affected.

And I remember uh that Saturday afternoon out by the roadside, I uh I uh I busted the windshield out of our suburban with my my head, and uh the boys and I were able to get out.

And the last one that was brought out, I Eric got out, and Michael got out, and I got out, and the last one that was brought out was Jonathan, my youngest son.

And uh I'm laying there on the side of the road, and the paramedics are starting to call him life flight and all this kind of stuff, and I look out, and through this eye I see my youngest son laying out there on the asphalt, and uh they've got him laid out and blood is flowing towards me from the back of his head.

And I thought about this scripture.

But these sheep.

What have they got?

I said, Lord, if it's for me, but you see my Jonathan is our huggy buggy bear.

You got one of those in yours?

Out of seven children, you gotta get one of those, amen.

He's the uh he's the personality of John in the Bible.

He just he just hugs, yes sir, yes, ma'am.

Never much of a trouble.

Really.

And to see that young one laying out there and think, Lord, if it's if it's me, why these sheep?

You see, Brother God was gonna get what he wanted.

That which I feared most had to come upon.

Hurt me, I children.

Would you understand the only worse thing it could have been if it would have been my youngest?

Little Debbie Joy.

You say, well, don't you love them all equally?

Yeah.

But could you understand that?

Or if it would have been my seven-month pregnant wife.

So I rejoice that God spared me.

And it didn't go past what I was able to bear.

And one thing you gotta realize is when you're going through some trouble that God won't tempt you above that which you're able to bear.

So you've got to lay there and you've got to say, whatever it is that I'm going through, God will give me the grace to bear it because he's not gonna destroy me with this.

He's gonna better me.

You say, well, why'd you ask to turn to 1 Chronicles?

Look over there.

1 Chronicles 21.

Look at the first verse, and many of you know it, but I want you to see it.

1 Chronicles 21.

If you'll see the consistency, God used Satan in Job's life and God used Satan in Peter's life, and look at verse 20 or verse 1 of chapter 21.

And who?

Satan stood up against Israel and did what?

Provoke David to number Israel.

So what do you mean?

Well, God allowed Satan to have his way with David a little bit so God could get what he wanted out of David.

You say, oh, come on, I don't believe in that Satan stuff, then you don't believe in the Bible.

Look at one more verse of scripture, and I'm almost to the end of scriptures.

Look at 2 Corinthians 12.

And would you pick up Acts chapter 5, last two scriptures this morning?

Acts 5 · chapter mention

And you don't have to worry about me preaching too long this morning.

You say, wow, what a blessing.

See, I knew you'd find a blessing out of this somewhere.

2 Corinthians 12 Corinthians 12 and Acts chapter 5.

Acts 5 · chapter mention

And by the way, this is not a this is not a hard luck story, so to speak.

And this is not something you should have a great deal of sympathy.

This is life.

This is this is a walk with God, and this is God preparing us for the future.

I'm not, I don't have a bad attitude about this thing at all.

Remorse, sorrow, grief, heartache, concern for the injured.

Sure.

I'm laying in the emergency room as you return to 2 Corinthians 12 and also Acts 5, and uh I didn't want to uh they wanted to give me some pain stuff, and I didn't want any because I had some calls I needed to make.

So I said, instead of that pain medicine, would you bring me a telephone?

And uh they brought me a telephone in and they said, Who you gotta call?

And I said, Well, I'm a pastor for church and I'm gonna call some people.

And uh so I began making some calls and making sure everybody was informed and what needed to happen the next day.

And and I just wanted to encourage some people.

Uh I don't remember who I called.

Uh I could remember a few of them.

Uh but the guy got mad at me.

Uh the emergency room got mad at me and said, listen, listen.

He said, You're gonna take this stuff.

And I said, wait a minute, hold on.

It's my right whether I take pain medicine or not.

And I said, I'm not ready for it yet.

I said, don't dummy me up with that demolit.

Just don't do it.

He said, Listen, you're emotional?

I said, I know I'm emotional.

And you know what I was thinking?

That was God's plan.

Don't dummy me up with drugs.

Let me be emotional.

Let this thing work on me like it's supposed to work.

Why, why, why get all drugged up and not let the effect be there that God had planned?

Amen?

So I started making calls, and I know I told some people it was the greatest, the third greatest day of my life.

The first greatest day was my salvation, the second greatest day was my marriage.

And as far as I'm concerned, it was the third greatest day of my life.

Because if humility gets us closer to God, then you've got to call that a great day.

Amen?

Come on, yes or no?

Sure.

So I made quite a few phone calls.

And uh I I'm pretty good at remembering numbers.

And I could I called up quite a few people.

A couple of y'all weren't home.

And uh and they were uh, I remember talking with somebody, I don't remember who it was, and they were stitching up my knee, and uh he hit a spot that he had not numbed very well.

And I yelled and I said, sorry, now let's get back to it or something like that.

But I I want to call some people because uh I wanted to encourage that everything was okay.

At about 7:30, 8 o'clock that night, the guy said uh uh, listen, we got uh some some work to do on you that's gonna be a little bit painful.

And I was getting a little bit tired.

You know how the adrenaline runs out after a while?

And I said, okay, go ahead and give me just a little bit of that stuff, but not too much.

And uh I didn't take much of it while I was in because I wanted to feel you.

I wanted to feel what God wanted me to do, and I didn't want man-made drugs to overshadow God's spirit.

Does that make any sense?

How could you tell that to a medic?

Listen, buddy, it's good for me.

I want to cry, I want to be hurt because it'll it'll make me grow in Christ.

So take your pen tape pain medicine and take it somewhere else.

The guy's gonna go, what?

That's writing up for a psych evaluation.

Amen?

Come on, yes or no?

I mean, you know.

So the guy got a little angry at me, and later I apologized to him and everything.

And the reason they gave me a little I had to go to X-rays.

Oh man, they're terrible people.

I'm sorry, that didn't mean they were very kind to me.

But they make you do things that hurt.

Amen.

But they did a good job.

Look, if you would with me a little bit further, and I'm almost finished.

Look at 2 Corinthians 12.

You say this is not a this doesn't sound like a poor me.

This is not a poor me message.

This is you ought to rejoice for me and with me, and for my family and for our church.

Look at 2 Corinthians 12 and notice verse 7.

Fourth place, and lest I should be exalted above measure.

This is Paul speaking.

Through the abundance of the revelations, God had shown him a lot about what was about to happen in this world to come, wrote the book of Revelations.

There was given to me a thorn in the flesh.

The messenger of who?

Wow, that's the fourth time.

Satan was used by God on Job.

Satan was used by God on Peter.

Satan was used by God on David.

And here, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, he says, you know what?

Messenger of Satan showed up.

To do what?

Buffet me.

Why?

Lest I should be exalted above measure.

You know what it was?

Pride reduction.

And you know what Paul does?

He does the same thing, a natural thing that he was to do?

Lord, take this from me.

And Paul said, no, or God said, no, my grace is sufficient.

You see, Paul, the world's not going to understand this one.

My strength is made perfect in weakness.

Then Paul said, once I understood that, I'm going to gladly therefore glory in infirmities.

Why?

That the power of Christ may rest upon me.

And then look at verse 10 and understand it.

Paul said, you know what?

I'm going to take pleasures in these infirmities, in reproaches, and necessity and persecution and distresses for Christ's sake.

I'm going to have a good attitude about it.

I'm going to act like a man.

I'm going to act like a Christian.

And I'm going to say, Glory to God, this is necessary.

For when I'm weak, then am I strong.

You say, I don't get that.

I am crucified with Christ.

Nevertheless, I live, yet not I.

I must decrease, he must what?

Say it.

Increase.

And the only way to get decrease sometimes is for God to say, man, I've been dealing with you about this thing, and now I'm going to go ahead and take it.

My way.

Now you may be sitting there and said, Pastor, what had you been doing that was so wicked and vile that God would allow this thing?

And you know, pride comes in a lot of different shapes and forms.

A little stubbornness, a little laxity.

You say, but I had a pastor call me, a number of pastors that called me, and I told him I thought I was in God's pride reduction program.

And he said, Preacher, you don't you don't have any pride.

He said, You're one of the most humblest men I know.

And I said, Well, reputation is what others think about you.

Character is what God knows you are.

God knows what I am.

God knows what I needed.

Now, please look up here.

And God knows who you are.

And God knows what's inside of you.

And he loves you if you're his child.

And he may put you through a little pride reduction program of your own.

Oh, by the way, you say, well, what do you think this thing here was in Paul?

Oh, this was pride maintenance.

He was on the long-term program.

This thorn in the flesh never was going to go away.

You read carefully, probably had something to do with his eyesight, maybe more.

You say, where do you get that?

Just study Corinthians a couple places.

You say, well, what was that love?

Absolutely, that was love because God was going to use Paul in such a way that he said, I'm just going to give you a permanent pride maintenance program here.

That'll be good for you.

And that way, while you're weak and you know it's me working through you, that I can be strong.

And Paul's attitude was, you know what?

I'm going to glory in this thing.

Because it's God's sovereign will.

You know what a lot of people do?

They blame God.

You know what Christians should do?

Thank God.

Now, when I thanked him, it could have been worse.

My wife said, I don't remember what day she got over.

We were in the hospital.

I said, How are you doing, Patty?

It's kind of tough visiting three hospitals at once.

And she said, Well, it's better than visiting three funeral homes.

Amen.

One last verse, Acts 5, and we'll finish.

Go home and eat.

Or if you're down south, they'd say, Well, go to the house.

Acts 5.

And verse 40.

Look at the attitude, brethren.

Attitude is everything sometimes.

Verse 40.

Almost finished.

Thanks for your patience.

And to him they agreed, and when they had called the apostles, and what?

Beaten them.

And I'm not saying they got slapped on the hand, brethren.

They were beaten.

They commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus and let them go.

They departed from the presence of the council.

How?

What was their attitude saying?

You say, Man, that is so dumb.

How could they feel that way?

They were in God's will.

Rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer what?

Shame.

For his name.

Just some shame.

After all that he suffered for us, is it so wrong that every once in a while God says, Alright, it's time for you to go through a little pride reduction program.

I guess you get the drift of the message.

If somebody were to ask me, what's one thing that you've learned out of this, I would say this to you.

I think over the last couple of weeks I've gained a little weight.

Not the first week.

That hospital food.

But you know, you can only lay in a twor, if you lay in a chair for 20 hours a day and you got to eat a little bit, uh you're gonna gain a little bit.

And do you understand if you don't use your body, it starts to kind of get flabby?

So I'm laying there in this morning and I'm looking at this thing and I'm going, my my chest is getting more flabby, my legs are definitely this thing is shriveling up over on this side, and I'm gaining a little weight.

I look uh quite a sight here.

But I guess uh while I'm gaining a little weight, I'm losing a little pride.

That's a good trade.

God gave me everything I have and everything we have as a family, and if he chose to put us through this and put me through this, there must be a good reason.

I began pastoring this church in 1984.

I'm I'm 12 and a half years now as the pastor of this church.

I've got a medium-term goal that uh I'd like to pastor our church 25 years.

But I've never probably told you this.

My long-term goal is to pastor this church 40 years.

Because that's a number in the Bible that's well respected as far as leadership.

You say, 40 years, what are you talking about?

Well, it's kind of like this.

You see, I think about these long-term things.

Uh if God tarries, which he might, might not, I don't know how long it is till the millennium starts.

But you ought to have a plan in your life, shouldn't you?

Uh my plan is that uh if God would allow it, I'd like to pastor this church 40 years.

I'll be uh 69 years old.

No, that's not too old at all.

By the way, if you're visiting that much Brother Swim, how old are you, Brother Swim?

75.

75.

So 69 is a young child.

That'd give me that g that allow me 40 years to pass this church.

Um I'm halfway to the 25-year-old mark.

And uh the year will be 2024.

You say, oh, God's gonna come before that.

I know, but you ought to have a plan.

Because if he gives you three-score and ten and you get to the judgment seat a few years from now at the rapture or whatever, it'd be nice to say, well, I was planning on doing something for you, God.

Have a long-term plan?

You said three score and ten.

I had it planned until I was 69.

Last year I thought I'd take it easy.

Kind of coast on through.

You say you're almost talking like there's really a heaven.

There is.

You're almost talking like this is temporary.

It is.

Just just here for a vapor.

Just a moment.

But we ought to do something with our lives while we're here.

And if God chooses in your life to let you go through something, praise God for it.

Now listen, I don't expect to see a row of wheelchairs out here next week.

Wow, don't go to that church right now.

God's really moving.

You say, where where's the humility in all this?

Um my goal for 40 years and 25 years, and when I say my goal, I hope you understand.

I believe it's the Holy Spirit leading inside of me.

But the humility comes in that uh my goal for today is to preach this morning and be able to be at church tonight.

My goal two days ago was to be able to get both contacts back into my eyes so I could see again.

It's been a little bit messed up.

My goals uh last Wednesday, no, Tuesday, was to get dressed for the first time.

Regular clothes.

Those hospital gowns get old after a while, amen.

My goal last Saturday, a week ago yesterday, was to be able to make it from the hospital to my home.

My goal on Thursday and Friday before that was to be able to get up out of the hospital bed and make it to the bathroom.

That's a good goal.

My goal the Wednesday before that Thursday and Friday was to be able to sit up and bend.

And put my legs out over the bed.

You say, why are you saying that?

Because that's the humility.

That's when you feel helpless.

That's when you see how frail you are.

I could go back farther than that, but it'd probably get a little too personal.

I don't know why you're here this morning, but I believe God led you to this place.

It's no coincidence that you're here hearing this message.

It's no coincidence that I'm here.

I'm not mad at God.

In fact, I love him now more than I ever have.

I love my wife more.

I say, oh, that's implying that you didn't love her before.

I said more.

I love my children more.

And I love you as the church.

I'm looking forward to seeing the whole church tonight.

Some of them are off in the Spanish ministry this morning, some of them are out working on this property, some of them are on the bus ministry.

I'm looking forward to seeing that flight tonight.

Because I honestly missed you.

And I think I love you more as a pastor now than I did before.

So is it worth it?

Absolutely.

May I say this to you?

Uh 17 years ago, when I first got saved, I uh I had an octeochondral fracture in this in this knee.

And uh they came up and cut some some muscle out and went down there and cut and paste and put it all together.

And they said uh you probably won't ever walk without a limp.

And uh God kind of took care of that.

And now in this heel, I've got a uh a calcanus, which is the thick heel bone, got shoved up by the floorboard, and uh they had to pull it down and put some screws in there and and all that kind of stuff.

And and so there's no, it's uh it's a non-weight-bearing thing until Christmas, and then probably a good uh another year or so until I'm functioning real well again.

Now, that doesn't bother me at all.

Not not with what other people have gone through.

Not with people I visited in the hospital.

This left leg is kind of my little thorn you say, well, it's kind of close.

I know it's a leg, it won't disattach.

That way at three o'clock in the morning, every once in a while it'll throb and God will just remind me who's in charge.

Before honor comes what?

And sometimes try fasting, try reading, try being in preaching, do everything you can, and then God says, All right.

Time for one of the major things I had planned for you since the foundation of the world.

Oh Lord, not that, anything but that.

Oh, I knew it was coming.

Oh, the trouble has come upon me.

Well, fretting won't stop it.

And once it's already done, there's no reason to live in perdition.

You say, what do you mean?

Why you're laying in the hospital bed and it's already done, there's no reason to go, oh, why didn't I do this?

Or why, if I just would have done it, why didn't I turn on that road?

Why wasn't I just a oh, why, why was, oh, why burn yourself out?

Why not just say, God, as I see in this Bible, a messenger of Satan must have showed up, and it must be for my good.

Thank you.

I'm sorry for the pain caused to others.

But Lord, don't let this go for naught.

May more people be reached, may more people be helped, may more people be encouraged.

Use it somehow.

And may I say this to you I'm no martyr.

I'm just a Christian.

And by the way, this is just normal.

I would consider abnormal having bodies sawn asunder.

Hebrews?

People being taken away captive.

Man, brethren, honestly, we got a pretty easy life.

As Christians in our time zone, in our little space, in our little window that we're alive, it's not a bad time to be a Christian.

Pretty easy.

If you've never received Christ as your Savior, maybe God's had you on a little bit of a pride reduction program because before salvation has to come humility.

If you've been serving a long time and boy, you say, I think God's about ready to do something with my life, might get a little humility first.

If you're just getting ready to start serving in a capacity in our church, or might be a little humility first.

But realize God's got a plan.

And keep this in mind.

He loves you more than you love him.

He loves you more than you love yourself.

And he'll never let you be tempted above that which you're able.

Don't be too stubborn, though.

He's got ways.

That are past our ways.

So I'm gaining a little weight.

How you doing, preacher?

Gain a little weight.

Losing a little pride.

Getting a little closer.

Getting set up for the next 12 and a half years.

And then the 15 after that if God tarries.

Okay, Fisher, stand before the judgment seat of Christ.

If he just says, Well done now, good and faithful servant.

That's good enough for me.

You say, preacher, aren't you a little bit concerned that you might limp the rest of your life?

Well, that'd be a privilege.

I know a guy that wrestled with God all night.

Went away with a limp forever.

What was that?

Pride reduction.

Be a blessing.

Let's bow our heads.

Close our eyes.

How many here are already Christians and you could say, glory to God, I'm glad I know my Father.

I'm glad I know my Savior.

I'm glad I received him one day, one night, one morning, as my personal Savior.

Would you hold up your hands real high?

God bless you.

You may put them down.

Maybe right now you say, you know, I came to church.

I wanted to hear.

Well, the gospel is this, that Jesus Christ came, that he died for you, that he was buried, and that he rose again from the dead for you.

That he shed his blood for you.

All you have to do is by faith apply it.

And he will save you.

I wonder if there'd be somebody in here today say, I don't know, really know what's going on, but it seems like I'm going through a little of this trouble.

Well, not much, not as much as you, but a little bit.

And maybe God's trying to work to bring me closer to him, or maybe it's really for this concept of salvation.

I still need to be saved.

I wonder if you'd be honest this morning, even though the message wasn't totally dealing with salvation.

But I wonder if you'd let a preacher that you've just listened to that is a little bit broken right now, and maybe a little bit close to God.

I wonder if you'd let me pray for you, sir, ma'am, friend, for God's hearing of your cry for your salvation, your forgiveness, your place in heaven.

With your heads bowed and your eyes closed, if you're not sure if you died today, and you face God and you'd be ushered in to the kingdom of heaven forever and ever.

If you're not sure that you're on your way to heaven as his child, would you do me the honor of letting me pray for you this morning?

With your heads out bowed, eyes closed, I won't point you out.

Just lift up your hand and say, That's me.

I'm not sure if I'm saved yet.

I'm not sure if I'm a Christian yet.

Pray for me.

Hold him up right now and say, Pray for me.

God bless you.

Just before I pray, Christian?

I wonder this morning, if God wanted to take you through a little bit of a pride reduction program, would you be willing?

Would you go in with a good attitude?

Maybe if it was your husband, ma'am, or your wife, brother, or your children, or someone that you love.

And God said, All right, I'm setting them up for things in the future.

I've got something planned, but there's some chastening first, there's some purging, there's some sifting first.

And trouble has to come.

I wonder if we could keep a good attitude, knowing that God loves us and cares for us.

Let's all stand.

Let's all stand.

And please don't leave.

I'd love to be able to stand with you.

But look up here just for a moment.

Maybe right now, look up here just for a moment.

You know somebody, a friend, a relative, a neighbor, a son, a daughter, a father, a mother, a husband, a wife, that's away from God.

God's going to bring them back, and God's putting them through some things right now.

Or maybe you know somebody that's walking with God and it looks like God's going to do something with them, and boy, you're saying, boy, that seems like they're going through it right now, or maybe there's someone's you.

Could I ask you to do something for me?

And more for you than for me.

Could I ask you to take a few moments and bow your knee or come before your father and say, God, if that's what it's going to take.

I don't know if I'm willing, but I'm willing to be made willing.

And then while you're down there, just pray for our church.

I know a man right now named Jerry Hunt.

And Jerry is a faithful member of our church, Jerry and Miriam.

And last time I saw Jerry earlier this week, he had all kinds of tubes in him, and he and he had an angio, whatever you call that, almost had a uh a burst in one of his uh arteries.

And he's just laying there flat out the last time I saw him.

They had him out for three days.

And God's been using him, he's going, been going soul winning for the first time in his life.

He's been growing, he's been here over a year and a quarter now at our church, and just growing together with God.

And his wife's been up there, they're at Grossmont Hospital, and I looked at that situation and said, God, you must have a plan for Jerry and Miriam.

You must have something special for them in their life.

And maybe God's got something special planned for you, brother, you, sister, or someone you know.

Would you rejoice with me this morning that God loves us enough to take time with us and work with us as individuals?

Would you pray for Jerry and Miriam?

And it wouldn't hurt to throw up a prayer for me, my family.

And then while you're praying, don't forget to pray for yourself.

With your heads bowed and your eyes closed, would you come and use an old-fashioned altar this morning?

Those of you accustomed to do so?

Come right now.

If you'd like to have some prayer right where you're at, please do that.

You say, well, I don't have anything to pray about, then forget about yourself for a moment and pray for Jerry Hunt.

He's got a respirator in.

He's got, I've never seen so many bags on that IV stand.

He's of intensive care.

But God's gonna do something miraculous with his life.

I believe that.

And many, many testimonies in our church this morning of those who've gone through very, very difficult times, numerous surgeries for many various things, and now God's using them.

Before honor comes humility.

As much as we like to, we say, humble yourselves, and then God says, You've humbled yourself, yet I want to take you a step further.

And I'm going to use uh a messenger of Satan.