All right, let's take our Bibles
and turn back to the book of Proverbs chapter 27 Proverbs
27 Verse by verse we've tried to
take these precious Parables these Proverbs and Today according
to the providence of God. We're on verse 14 Proverbs 27
verse 14 The Spirit of God moved upon
a man named Solomon to pen these words. He that blesseth his friend
with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, it shall be counted
a curse to him. Now, you know, it's a good thing. When we are moved in heart to
acknowledge or bless our friends, when that word blessing, and
I'm going to tell you the word bless, blesseth. When you look
it up, it's got a variety of meanings, some that are positive
and some that are negative. Same word, same word. But it's
a good thing when we're moved to acknowledge or bless our friends
when that word blessing is taken in a positive sense to thank,
to congratulate, or salute in a way of friendship. Friends love to speak well of
one another. Friends, true friends, good friends, brethren. The friendship of David and Jonathan,
That was a marvelous friendship. It set forth a marvelous message
of God's covenant grace, mercy. Whenever David had risen to the
position of being a king and Jonathan had died, but before
David rose to being a king and Jonathan died, they made a pact,
made a covenant. And this is what Jonathan asked
him. He told him, he said, look, when you become king, would you
remember me and my family? Would you have mercy on my family? David said, I will. And after
Jonathan died, it made this covenant because it said David loved Jonathan. Jonathan loved David as he loves
his own soul. And then the scripture declares
after Jonathan died, David's a king, and he says one day,
is there any that is left of the house of Saul that I may
show him kindness for Jonathan's sake? Jonathan was his friend. His friend. A friend. Brother Henry Mahan wrote in
a little book For me, one day, wrote a little something. I told
him, I said, Henry, I want you to sign this for me. He signed
it, and he signed it then. He put Proverbs 17, 17. A friend
loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. A friend. A friend loves you. He loves
you when you stumble. He loves you. He loves you. He
loves you. He's your friend. But our passage today sets forth
something of that word blessing. And here again, you look up that
word. It'll have positive and negative meanings. It just all
depends on where and how it's being used. The passage today,
it reveals this word blessing. Actually, Blue Letter Bible,
or I'm sorry, Amplified, Amplified interprets it flattery. But it's
a word that means arrogant, rude, voice given with a lack of respect. That's what it means. He that
blesseth or flatters his friend with a loud voice, a loud voice,
an insincere, rude voice, rising early in the morning, it shall
be counted a curse to him. What does that mean? What is
the scripture setting for? What is the spirit of God telling
us today? Well, he's saying this. He said a word of supposed blessing,
supposed adoration. When it's given, and it's not
truly a word of praise as we would think of blessing that
way, but it's rather a cut. It's a slur. It's saying it in
an arrogant, hard way. Because the honor of that person
to whom it's being spoken, his honor is not really the intent.
It's not really. Rather, it's given to harm him. It's given to detract from him
and bring glory to the one that's trying to put him down. That's what it's saying. Let
me show you something. Turn with me to the book of Acts
chapter 16. Acts 16. Paul and some other preachers
was in a place preaching. We're in Philippi and they were
preaching and while they were there preaching, the scripture
said Acts 16, 16 to 18, something happened to Paul. And it says, Acts 16, 16, it
came to pass as we went to prayer, a certain damsel possessed with
the spirit of divination met us, which brought her masters
much gain by soothsaying. The same followed Paul and us
and cried, saying, these men are the servants of the most
high God, which show unto us the way of salvation. And this
did she many days. But Paul, being grieved, turned
and said to the Spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ
to come out of her. And he came out the same hour. Now, here was a woman that was
possessed, the scripture declares, with a spirit of divination. She claimed to be one that could
foretell the future. And she brought a lot of gain
to some men that were hiring her. She was their little servant. And she followed God's preachers. She stalked them, actually what
she was doing. And she made an effort to try
to detract from the message that they were preaching. And she
was going to try to do it in a way that was really kind of
a subtle subtle way, she tried to do something that would be
a confusion to people. What she did was she cried and
this is what she said, these men are the servants of the Most
High God. Now you know what the truth of
that is? They were the servants of the
Most High God. And she said, they show us the way of salvation.
And you know what they were doing? They were showing the way of
salvation. They were preaching the gospel
of God's grace. The only way. That's what they
were doing. But Paul was grieved, the scripture
says, toward the spirit within her. And he turned and he said
unto her, he said, I command you, in the name of Jesus Christ,
to come out of her. And the spirit came out of her
the same hour. They could not receive the flattery,
the blessing. That's the worry. They couldn't
receive that flattery, witness of this demon-possessed woman
because it came from a heart that was not moved by the love
of God, the love of Christ. She had no love for the Lord.
She had no love for these preachers. She was demon possessed. And
what it was, Paul recognized it. It was a distraction. I told
you before, I remember being invited. This stuck with me,
how needful it was. When I was living in Tennessee
and had a guy call me. Said, we're going to meet down
at the square. Told you the story. But it's relevant to this. We're
going to meet down at the square. down there in Franklin, right
around the monument. It's got a big old monument there.
And we're going to meet around the square. We're going to have
preachers from all area right here. All going to come together.
And we're going to bind together. We're going to pray together.
We're going to seek the Lord together. We're going to pray
for this city. Well, let me ask you this. Is
it needful? Was it needful to pray for the
city? Yeah. Lord, I pray. Have mercy here.
Was there anything wrong with praying for a city if it's wrought
from a true heart and love for Christ according to the gospel
and belief of the grace of God? No, nothing wrong with that.
But for me to meet together with a bunch of preachers that I know
don't believe what I do, we're not serving the same God. And
could I assemble myself together with them and make a show that
I'm with you? We're all together. You know,
it doesn't matter where you go to church as long as we're all
together, as long as you're going somewhere. That's the only thing
that matters. That's wrong. That's wrong. I couldn't do that.
Would you meet with us, Marvin? No. No, I won't. Really? No, really. Yeah, really, no. No, I won't. Why? What can I
do? I said, I don't serve the same
God. Is that hard? No, I'm truthful. This woman
was proclaiming something that was true. They are the servants
of the Most High God and they show unto us the way of salvation. But Paul could not be associated
with her because It would be confusing. It's a lie. Here you go. In the minds of
people it's a mixing of works and grace and demons. No, no. Come out of her. You can't say
that. This act of deception that happens
to Paul and those preachers, it was the same thing concerning
the Lord over the book of Luke. Luke chapter 22, our Lord had
the same thing happen to him. Luke 22, verse 47, 48. Luke 22, while he yet spake,
behold, a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the
12, I'm getting ahead of myself, I apologize to you. This is,
I was going to talk, this blessing right here I'm talking about
is when Judas came up to the Lord and it was the deception.
I was going to read the scripture that was concerning whenever
some spirits was cast out by the Lord and they cried out,
we know who you are, you're the Christ, you're the son of the
most high God. This scripture that I'm reading
right here is that blessing That blessing, that is actually a
deception. This is when Judas came up to
the Lord. While he yet spake, behold, a
multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went
before them and drew near unto Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus
said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of Man with a kiss?
Whenever the Lord was in the garden, whenever Judas came up
to him and kissed him, was that kiss, would that normally be
associated with that which was kind and considerate? Yes, it
was. But when Judas kissed him, it
was that kiss or that blessing, outwardly, of deceit. Why did
Judas do what he did? Well, he did it because he wanted
to. He did it for gain. He did it out of a heart of selfishness. This is the mindset of what's
being set forth here in Proverbs chapter 27. He that blesseth
his friend with a loud voice rising early in the morning,
it shall be counted a curse unto him. Now, let me ask you this. Do we not behold continually
now, still, this same spirit that is set forth from the mouth
of those that stand in pulpits, and they're using right words. They're using the Lord Jesus
Christ. They're using grace. They're
using salvation. They're using the cross. They're
using words that we recognize and accept as being right and
true. They speak of the Lord. The Lord
said of them, he said, you hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you,
saying, this people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and
honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Everybody that's standing in
pulpits and using right words that blesses outwardly, The Lord
Jesus Christ, it's not a blessing in the sense that we talk of
in kindness and love. In fact, the Lord said there's
a blessing that's set forth. It's a blessing when a man blesses
his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning,
making sure that no one gets ahead of him. I don't want anybody
to think that I'm not first and fervent in my love for the Lord. It shall be counted a curse unto
him. Many, the scripture says, Matthew
chapter seven, many shall say to me in that day, how many,
I wonder, how many, I wonder, are sincerely standing and preaching,
declaring a supposed salvation by works trusting in their own
efforts that this very verse right here is going to come to
pass. Write it down. Matthew 721, not everyone that
saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.
But he that doeth the will of my Father, which is in heaven,
many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied
in thy name? And in thy name have cast out
devils? and in thy name done many wonderful
works. And then while I profess unto
them, I never knew you. Depart from me, ye that work
iniquity. Rising early in the morning,
fervent, fervent, how eloquently. Now listen. Number one, where
Do all false preachers. That's the only way I know how
to say it. They're false prophets. The scripture speaks of it. John
chapter eight. Here's my question. Where do
they get their message? Where do they get their message?
Where do they get their power? John chapter eight in verse 44. The scriptures declared that
the Lord's speaking to these Jews that boasted of their heritage
in Abraham. We're sons of Abraham. You're a liar. You're of the
devil. That's what they told him. This is what the Lord said
to them. Ye are of your father, the devil. I get it. I get it. When somebody would say, Marvin,
you're too hard. You're too hard. We don't need
to tell people that they're sinners. They need encouragement. I'm
like, they're going to be confused. I like what Brother Scott said.
He said, you're going to confuse them by telling them the truth.
He said, they're already confused. There are people, people are
dead. Tell them. Tell them that they're
dead. They're ignorant. They're lost. Tell them. Tell
them. The Lord said to these false
Jewish religionists, he said, you're of your father, the devil.
And the lust of your father, ye will do. He was a murderer
from the beginning. and abode not in the truth. Do
you realize that men that are telling lies on God and telling
people, they're telling them something that is not true, that
they can be saved by their works or by being baptized or by walking
down the aisle or praying through. You're not going to be saved
like that. And do you realize that that's murder? That's murder. He was a murderer
from the beginning and a bold not in the truth because there's
no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh
of his own, for he is a liar. And the father of it, and the
Lord said, you're of your father, the devil. Therefore, whenever
you hear someone speak from a pulpit, and it sounds, they're using
words, But the glory of the Lord is not the issue. The glory of
man is the issue. Where do they get their material?
The Lord said, you're of your father the devil. He was a liar. He abode not in the truth. He
was a murderer. And you're of him. You're of
him. And how eloquently, this is what I started to say a while
ago, how eloquently Men speak of purity. Purity before God. Goodness before God. Without
the possession of a new heart. Men that are motivated by their
own fleshly thoughts. of communion and fellowship with
God with no knowledge whatsoever of the heart of true communion.
They don't know how peace is wrought with God, how God is
satisfied, how sin is put away. They don't know. And Satan knows how to articulate
this flattery. He knows how to move his people
to speak swelling words. The Lord says, you speak well
of me with your lips, but your heart is far from me. They know
how. They know how to woo people and
tickle their ears. They know how because their father
is the devil. And he knows how. He knows how. And the masses just flock to
him. Man, I look at some of these
mega churches and I'm thinking, good, wow, that's a lot of people. And they're lost. They're lost. He knows how to bring glory to
His deceived subjects and make themselves think that they're
wise in their own conceit. And I'm going home to glory.
And this one died and she passed away. She was oh so faithful. And you know she wasn't sitting
under the gospel She's in a better place now. If she didn't believe
the gospel, she's not. The deception lies in the fact
that they speak from a depraved heart that only desires one thing,
their own glory, and not the glory. That's the heart of this
passage right there. He that blesseth his friend with
a loud voice, an arrogant voice, a rude voice, rising early in
the morning, it shall be counted a curse to him. That's the truth
of that passage. But I want to leave you with
this thought, this blessed thought. There's a heart. given in regenerating grace. And it moves that regenerated
sinner to speak truly with a heart of thankfulness and blessing
and honor unto the Lord. There's a heart that is given
that speaks like that a publican. There was a Pharisee and a publican.
They went into the temple to pray and the Pharisee stood and
prayed thus with himself, God I thank you that I'm not like
other men are. I give and I tithe. I do all these things. I'm not like that, you know,
that wicked tax collector or that publican. But the publican
standing afar off, the scripture says, would not lift up so much
as his eyes unto heaven. But he smote upon his breast,
saying, God, be merciful to me, a sinner. That's a word of blessing
unto the Lord. Number one, Lord, I'm appealing
to you who alone can show mercy. I'm asking you to show mercy
on me, a sinner. I'm a sinner. And I need you. Lord, I'm not here to brag. I'm
just telling you right now. That thief on the cross, I keep
bringing up all the time. That's got to be one of the most
encouraging passages of scripture to me. He was a stinking thief. He was
a murderer. He was a thief. He told that
other one, he said, listen, we're getting everything we deserve.
This man hadn't done nothing. He's done nothing amiss. Lord,
remember me. I tell you what, number one,
I need to be remembered by the Lord in mercy. Remember me when
you enter into your kingdom. And the Lord's words to that
man, I'm telling you what encouragement. He said, verily I say unto thee,
today. Today you're gonna be with me
in paradise. And I'm thinking, Lord, have
mercy on this sinner. Have mercy, Lord, on me. You said, Lord, you're going
to have mercy and compassion on whomsoever you will. Lord,
I'm not deserving of the least of your mercies. I don't deserve
it. I don't deserve it. But I'm just asking. I'm asking,
Lord, would you have mercy on this sinner? These that bless
the Lord, truly bless him from their heart. Not out of the filthy
gain and making merchandise of men's souls and stuff. No, no. But I truly want to praise Him. They know that when they've done
all they can do, ask Him. Tell somebody. When they've done
all they can do, you know what they are? Unprofitable servants. That's what they are. What does
that mean? That means they hadn't added anything to His glory,
but they've come. out of a heart of need. And they've
asked him. Brethren, in closing, we all
have a race to run. We all have a course to finish.
And by the grace of God, the Spirit of God keeps those that
the Lord's loved and redeemed and the Spirit called. He keeps
them by the power of God through faith. And they know that. They
know that. I'm here, I am what I am by the grace of God. Lord,
give me a heart to truly bless you, thankful to you, asking
that you'd have mercy on me as your friend. Lord, you said a
friend There's a friend that sticks closer than a brother.
Lord, you said to your disciple, he said, I'm your friend. Lord,
would you be my friend? Be my friend. One that loveth
at all times. Help me and deliver me, Lord,
from the deception of my old heart, the wiles of the devil. And do it, Lord, I pray for your
glory and my eternal good. Amen.