1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, 2 00:00:03,279 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 1: and the knowledge of the Holy is understanding Proverbs nine ten. 3 00:00:09,480 --> 00:00:12,960 Speaker 1: Heavenly Father, it is your wisdom I desire, for it 4 00:00:13,039 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: is the only knowledge worth having. Your wisdom shows me 5 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:19,759 Speaker 1: how to live day to day in this life with 6 00:00:19,880 --> 00:00:24,959 Speaker 1: your blessings. As I study your word, I understand how 7 00:00:25,120 --> 00:00:28,319 Speaker 1: love works. Coupled with the power you have invested in me. 8 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,559 Speaker 1: I begin to understand the wisdom of your ways that 9 00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:37,000 Speaker 1: are so much higher than my own. Through the power 10 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:41,480 Speaker 1: of your word, I realize how childish I can act sometimes. 11 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:46,120 Speaker 1: Then I need your instruction in Kingdom principles. When I 12 00:00:46,200 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: honor you and draw near to you, I hear your 13 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:53,520 Speaker 1: heart beat and long to be with you. I will 14 00:00:53,560 --> 00:00:57,320 Speaker 1: follow you wherever you lead. I am in this world, 15 00:00:57,480 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: but not of it. I am only passing through on 16 00:01:01,040 --> 00:01:03,920 Speaker 1: my way to my eternal home with you in heaven. 17 00:01:05,520 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: You are preparing me for that day when we will 18 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:12,399 Speaker 1: never be parted, and I will know fully the beauty 19 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:17,560 Speaker 1: of your wisdom. I'm humbled by you, Lord, and feel 20 00:01:17,600 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: so ignorant of your ways. Strengthen me to set at 21 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,760 Speaker 1: your feet and be instructed by your Holy Spirit that 22 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,240 Speaker 1: I might learn what is holy and pleasing in your 23 00:01:29,240 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: sight and the precious name of Jesus. Amen. Thank you 24 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:41,200 Speaker 1: for listening to today's daily prayer for more inspiration and 25 00:01:41,360 --> 00:01:44,760 Speaker 1: an incredible message from our feature pastor. Stay tuned to 26 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:46,680 Speaker 1: pray dot COM's Sunday service. 27 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:57,840 Speaker 2: Hey, pray dot Com family, Pastor Nick Gatsky here with 28 00:01:57,960 --> 00:02:01,000 Speaker 2: a better word. We all want our lives to matter, 29 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,640 Speaker 2: and that goes for teens wondering what career to pursue, 30 00:02:03,680 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 2: all the way to retirees reflecting on decades of work. 31 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:10,959 Speaker 2: We all want to know what makes life meaningful. King 32 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 2: Solomon asked the same question, and with unlimited resources, he 33 00:02:14,600 --> 00:02:19,119 Speaker 2: tried everything discover the secret to the meaningful life. Right 34 00:02:19,120 --> 00:02:20,840 Speaker 2: now on a better Word. 35 00:02:22,040 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 3: Today, on a better Word with Pastor Nick Katsky. 36 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:30,480 Speaker 2: The true meaning in life is found when you fear 37 00:02:31,080 --> 00:02:36,360 Speaker 2: the Lord, and because God sees, and because God knows, 38 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:45,400 Speaker 2: and because God will judge, everything now matters. What are 39 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:46,200 Speaker 2: you afraid of? 40 00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:51,840 Speaker 3: Heikes public speaking, maybe spiders or snakes. Most of our 41 00:02:51,880 --> 00:02:56,240 Speaker 3: fears are things we try to overcome, outgrow, or simply 42 00:02:56,280 --> 00:03:01,079 Speaker 3: push aside. But today on a Better Word, Nick Gatsky 43 00:03:01,440 --> 00:03:05,040 Speaker 3: reveals there's one fear. We need a fear that can 44 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:09,200 Speaker 3: give your life purpose, meaning and longevity. As we wrap 45 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,080 Speaker 3: up our series The Meaningful Life, we're discovering why the 46 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:17,040 Speaker 3: ancient writer of Ecclesiastes concludes that people need to fear 47 00:03:17,280 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 3: God after testing wealth, pleasure, knowledge, and achievement. Solomon's final 48 00:03:24,000 --> 00:03:28,160 Speaker 3: words reveal what we were actually created for. It's not 49 00:03:28,200 --> 00:03:31,480 Speaker 3: about adding another item to your spiritual to do list. 50 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:37,760 Speaker 3: It's about embracing a perspective that transforms everything. So pastor Nick, 51 00:03:38,120 --> 00:03:41,880 Speaker 3: when most people hear fear God, they picture an angry 52 00:03:42,000 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 3: deity waiting to punish them. How is biblical fear different 53 00:03:45,400 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 3: than that kind of terror. 54 00:03:47,520 --> 00:03:53,200 Speaker 2: Well, biblical fear isn't just a fear of punishment or retribution. 55 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:55,280 Speaker 2: And that's what we think of right when somebodys be 56 00:03:55,360 --> 00:03:58,320 Speaker 2: afraid of God, will be afraid of him because he's 57 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:01,040 Speaker 2: stronger than I am, and he's not going to use 58 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:04,800 Speaker 2: that strength in a way. That's just he's going to 59 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:06,880 Speaker 2: take it out on me even if I don't deserve it, 60 00:04:07,440 --> 00:04:09,160 Speaker 2: or he won't be gracious to me if I do 61 00:04:09,360 --> 00:04:14,880 Speaker 2: deserve it. But biblical fear does include a level of 62 00:04:14,920 --> 00:04:17,600 Speaker 2: acknowledgment that yes, God is way bigger and more powerful 63 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:22,280 Speaker 2: than me, and therefore I better pay attention. He's infinitely 64 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:28,200 Speaker 2: more severe than I give him credit for. But beyond that, 65 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: it's a level of reverence to say because he is 66 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 2: God and I am not, because he sees everything and 67 00:04:39,640 --> 00:04:44,040 Speaker 2: I don't see things clearly, because he knows everything and 68 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 2: I only know a fraction. Because he is infinite and 69 00:04:47,800 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 2: stands outside a time, and I am finite and live 70 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,799 Speaker 2: for a very short amount of time, I should revere 71 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 2: him for who he is, what he does, and what 72 00:04:57,960 --> 00:05:00,320 Speaker 2: he calls us to do. And that's a he healthy 73 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:01,799 Speaker 2: sense of biblical fear. 74 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,680 Speaker 3: So in today's message, you mentioned that the fear of 75 00:05:04,720 --> 00:05:09,239 Speaker 3: God brings benefits like wisdom and security, even having God 76 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,320 Speaker 3: confide in us. For someone who's never experienced that kind 77 00:05:12,320 --> 00:05:14,240 Speaker 3: of relationship, how do you even begin. 78 00:05:15,000 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 2: You begin by acknowledging that you are not the king 79 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:22,120 Speaker 2: of your own universe, which is hard right, that I 80 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 2: am not on the throne of my life. That is 81 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:32,159 Speaker 2: human problem number one. But when you get to the 82 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:35,760 Speaker 2: place to say, there is somebody greater than me, somebody 83 00:05:35,760 --> 00:05:40,920 Speaker 2: who deserves my allegiance, my reverence, my fear, and that 84 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: person actually wants the very best for me. Then you 85 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:46,919 Speaker 2: start to get to a place where you can begin 86 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,000 Speaker 2: to say, I'm going to grow in understanding who this 87 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 2: person is and how they call me to engage with 88 00:05:57,720 --> 00:06:01,960 Speaker 2: them and live in a certain way. And at that 89 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 2: place there actually comes great joy and. 90 00:06:05,640 --> 00:06:07,720 Speaker 3: You have to almost release control, right, and that can 91 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:10,360 Speaker 3: feel scary. What do you say to the person who 92 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 3: finds fear in that? 93 00:06:12,320 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 2: I think, welcome to the club. And yet at the 94 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 2: same time, when you realize that you can't control it anyway, 95 00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:25,440 Speaker 2: I mean I would say to that person, have you 96 00:06:25,480 --> 00:06:28,360 Speaker 2: been able to control it all anyway? Yeah? No, you haven't, 97 00:06:28,880 --> 00:06:32,039 Speaker 2: and so why not give over that control to the 98 00:06:32,040 --> 00:06:34,800 Speaker 2: one who actually can? So good Thanks Nick. 99 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 3: Let's turn together to Ecclesiastes, chapter twelve, verses nine to 100 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 3: fourteen to start the conclusion of the disposition of life. 101 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:50,599 Speaker 2: Ecclesiastes comes to an end, and the editor of this 102 00:06:50,720 --> 00:06:54,280 Speaker 2: book makes his voice heard. Up until this point we 103 00:06:54,520 --> 00:06:57,320 Speaker 2: believe that Ecclesiastes is the direct words of Solomon. But 104 00:06:57,360 --> 00:07:02,359 Speaker 2: now there's a little PostScript commenting on the wise words 105 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:06,680 Speaker 2: of Solomon and giving us the summary. And this summary 106 00:07:06,720 --> 00:07:10,840 Speaker 2: is found Ecclesiastes twelve, verses nine through fourteen. Follow with 107 00:07:10,880 --> 00:07:12,840 Speaker 2: me as we read this morning. This is what it says, 108 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:20,960 Speaker 2: he writes. Besides being wise, the preacher also taught the 109 00:07:21,000 --> 00:07:25,200 Speaker 2: people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with 110 00:07:25,240 --> 00:07:28,679 Speaker 2: great care. The preacher sought to find words of delight, 111 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:35,840 Speaker 2: and uprightly he wrote words of truth. The words of 112 00:07:35,880 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 2: the wise are like fixed, are like gods, and like nails. 113 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:45,880 Speaker 2: Firmly fixed are the collected sayings. They are given by 114 00:07:45,960 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 2: one shepherd, my son. Beware of anything beyond these. Of 115 00:07:50,880 --> 00:07:53,440 Speaker 2: making many books, there is no end, and much study 116 00:07:53,560 --> 00:07:57,360 Speaker 2: is a weariness of the flesh. The end of the 117 00:07:57,400 --> 00:08:07,520 Speaker 2: matter all his been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, 118 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: for this is the whole duty of man. For God 119 00:08:12,000 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 2: will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, 120 00:08:18,280 --> 00:08:24,360 Speaker 2: whether good or evil. The end of the matter is this, 121 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 2: the editor concludes. This is the big reveal. This is 122 00:08:30,760 --> 00:08:35,720 Speaker 2: the takeaway. This is the chief application of twelve chapters 123 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:41,000 Speaker 2: of wisdom. Do you ever become exhausted by trying to 124 00:08:41,080 --> 00:08:45,479 Speaker 2: keep up with all of the latest trends in leadership, 125 00:08:46,440 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 2: or the latest business strategies, or the latest theories about 126 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: your health or the next new diet or the latest 127 00:08:54,600 --> 00:08:59,480 Speaker 2: self help goals. Last year, seven hundred and sixty nine 128 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 2: million was spent on self improvement audio books. Another eight 129 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:14,080 Speaker 2: hundred million dollars was spent in physical books for self improvement. 130 00:09:15,880 --> 00:09:26,280 Speaker 2: One point five billion dollars spent annually for people to 131 00:09:26,360 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 2: try to gain more wisdom, develop more habits, change your lifestyle, 132 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: have some clarity of perception, be self actualized, get healthier, 133 00:09:38,880 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 2: and stay healthier. And not all of these things are bad. 134 00:09:43,480 --> 00:09:49,360 Speaker 2: But there is a warning. The warning is beware of 135 00:09:49,440 --> 00:09:53,640 Speaker 2: wisdom that comes from someone other than the one shepherd. 136 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:59,120 Speaker 2: He gives you what you need to have a fulfilling 137 00:09:59,480 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 2: life and friends that leads us to the end of 138 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:09,520 Speaker 2: the matter. In the pursuit of meaning in this life, 139 00:10:09,600 --> 00:10:13,600 Speaker 2: we have seen that Solomon gave himself to self indulgence, 140 00:10:14,120 --> 00:10:19,320 Speaker 2: to learning, to money, to sex, to food and to drink, 141 00:10:19,360 --> 00:10:23,199 Speaker 2: and to pleasures of every kind. It was all vanity, 142 00:10:23,320 --> 00:10:26,720 Speaker 2: he said, fleeting in its nature. It was like a vapor. 143 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,079 Speaker 2: Every time he turned to try to find a greater 144 00:10:29,240 --> 00:10:32,040 Speaker 2: experience in life, every time he tried to turn to 145 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:35,959 Speaker 2: have greater self actualization, every time he thought pleasure would 146 00:10:35,960 --> 00:10:39,520 Speaker 2: do the trick it was like trying to catch the wind. 147 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:45,200 Speaker 2: In the end, it was momentary. Living for the weekend 148 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 2: won't give you a sense of joy and a lasting 149 00:10:47,040 --> 00:10:50,000 Speaker 2: sense of meaning. Living for the next great meal, or 150 00:10:50,000 --> 00:10:52,760 Speaker 2: the next drink or the next sexual encounter won't do 151 00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,760 Speaker 2: it either. Your career might be fantastic, and you might 152 00:10:56,800 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 2: be really, really good at it, but in the end 153 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,439 Speaker 2: it will provide you with what you most deeply desire 154 00:11:04,679 --> 00:11:13,000 Speaker 2: in life, it too will be vanity, like chasing after 155 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 2: the wind. The end of the matter, all has been heard, 156 00:11:23,240 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 2: all of the pursuits have been explored. The end of 157 00:11:28,920 --> 00:11:36,839 Speaker 2: the matter. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this 158 00:11:36,880 --> 00:11:41,560 Speaker 2: is the whole duty of man. Now, to say that 159 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 2: this is the duty of man is interesting if we 160 00:11:43,960 --> 00:11:48,240 Speaker 2: translate it from the original Hebrew. It literally says, this 161 00:11:48,520 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 2: is the whole of man. That is to say, this 162 00:11:53,840 --> 00:11:58,720 Speaker 2: is what life is all about. This is what you 163 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,839 Speaker 2: were made for. When you are in proper alignment, when 164 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:06,040 Speaker 2: you see things as they truly are, when things are 165 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:10,800 Speaker 2: in your right estimation, the greatest meaning, the greatest fulfillment, 166 00:12:11,040 --> 00:12:15,600 Speaker 2: the greatest experience of this life happens when you fear 167 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 2: God and keep his commands and as we've said in 168 00:12:20,559 --> 00:12:23,520 Speaker 2: the previous weeks, fearing God is not simply being afraid 169 00:12:23,679 --> 00:12:28,760 Speaker 2: of him. It is acknowledging him. It is recognizing him 170 00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:32,800 Speaker 2: in your decisions. It's pointing to his proper place as 171 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:43,199 Speaker 2: king of the universe. It's appreciating his severity. Fearing God 172 00:12:47,400 --> 00:12:57,360 Speaker 2: is a posture for your life. A posture is the 173 00:12:57,480 --> 00:13:05,640 Speaker 2: disposition of your indie visual parts, and when they're considered together, 174 00:13:06,559 --> 00:13:11,000 Speaker 2: they carry your body in a certain fashion. If you 175 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 2: bend one of those individual parts out of place, your 176 00:13:17,240 --> 00:13:21,280 Speaker 2: posture will be poor. And if you have poor posture 177 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:24,680 Speaker 2: for too long, the other parts are going to begin 178 00:13:24,720 --> 00:13:32,920 Speaker 2: to hurt. Fearing the Lord is a posture for your life. 179 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:43,520 Speaker 2: In every action, every thought, every deed, every desire, we 180 00:13:43,640 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 2: grow to acknowledge Him, to revere him, to follow him, 181 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:55,520 Speaker 2: to love him. And as you do, true powerful meaning 182 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 2: virgins forth for you. There are wonderful benefits for you 183 00:14:04,559 --> 00:14:09,240 Speaker 2: in fearing the Lord. When you live your life in 184 00:14:09,280 --> 00:14:11,440 Speaker 2: this way, listen to some of the things that the 185 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:15,000 Speaker 2: Bible says. This is just a flavor through psalms and 186 00:14:15,080 --> 00:14:17,520 Speaker 2: proverbs about the benefits of fearing the Lord. It says 187 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,160 Speaker 2: that the fear of the Lord adds length to your 188 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,160 Speaker 2: life Proverbs ten twenty seven. It teaches a person wisdom 189 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:27,320 Speaker 2: Proverbs one and Proverbs nine and Proverbs fifteen. It enables 190 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 2: a person to avoid evil Proverbs three, eight, fourteen, and sixteen. 191 00:14:31,840 --> 00:14:35,040 Speaker 2: It leads to life Proverbs nineteen twenty three. The fear 192 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:38,640 Speaker 2: of the Lord brings wealth and honor and life Proverbs 193 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:41,680 Speaker 2: twenty two. And it is the fountain of life Proverbs 194 00:14:41,680 --> 00:14:46,760 Speaker 2: fourteen twenty seven. Those who fear the Lord have a 195 00:14:46,880 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 2: secure fortress and a refuge for their children Proverbs fourteen 196 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:57,000 Speaker 2: twenty six. They're blessed Proverbs twenty eight, Psalm one twelve, 197 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 2: Psalm one twenty eight, Psalm one twenty eight four. There 198 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 2: they are to be praised Proverbs thirty one. Those who 199 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:07,560 Speaker 2: fear the Lord lack nothing Psalm thirty four nine. They 200 00:15:07,640 --> 00:15:11,000 Speaker 2: grow in their hatred for evil Proverbs eight thirteen. And 201 00:15:11,040 --> 00:15:14,800 Speaker 2: they walk in uprightness Proverbs fourteen two. To those who 202 00:15:14,840 --> 00:15:21,000 Speaker 2: fear the Lord, God does particular things. He confides in 203 00:15:21,080 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 2: them Psalm twenty five fourteen. Think about that for a 204 00:15:25,720 --> 00:15:35,640 Speaker 2: moment God confides in them. He makes his covenant known 205 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 2: to them Psalm twenty five. He has his eyes uniquely 206 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:43,800 Speaker 2: on them Psalm thirty three. He has compassion on them 207 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,840 Speaker 2: Psalm one O. Three. He loves them, He sends his 208 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:51,520 Speaker 2: righteousness to them Psalm one O three seven. He delights 209 00:15:51,520 --> 00:15:54,760 Speaker 2: in them Psalm one forty seven eleven. He fulfills their 210 00:15:54,880 --> 00:15:58,400 Speaker 2: desires Psalm one forty five nineteen. And he makes them 211 00:15:58,800 --> 00:16:07,040 Speaker 2: safe Proverbs twenty nine five. Do you fear him? Do 212 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:10,960 Speaker 2: you go through your days acknowledging God in every area 213 00:16:11,160 --> 00:16:18,680 Speaker 2: of your life? Or is he more often a passing thought? Friends, 214 00:16:18,720 --> 00:16:22,239 Speaker 2: Really pause and think about this. This is the opportunity. 215 00:16:22,280 --> 00:16:29,920 Speaker 2: This is a tremendous self reflective opportunity for significant growth 216 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:36,360 Speaker 2: and greater meaning. And of course, we don't just fear 217 00:16:36,400 --> 00:16:39,560 Speaker 2: God for the benefits that we get by fearing him. 218 00:16:41,080 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 2: We fear God because of who he is. Because he 219 00:16:46,280 --> 00:16:50,480 Speaker 2: is eternal, because he is righteous, because he's just, because 220 00:16:50,480 --> 00:16:53,800 Speaker 2: he is loving, because he is holy, because he is 221 00:16:54,000 --> 00:16:57,480 Speaker 2: all powerful, and because he is all knowing, because there 222 00:16:57,520 --> 00:17:00,720 Speaker 2: is no beginning and no end to this God. He 223 00:17:00,920 --> 00:17:05,760 Speaker 2: is perfect in every single way. God does not estimate, 224 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:16,400 Speaker 2: He doesn't need to estimate. He is precise. God doesn't 225 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 2: need to perceive things. He knows everything, and it's hard 226 00:17:27,680 --> 00:17:34,320 Speaker 2: to fear God when we have a really big vision 227 00:17:34,480 --> 00:17:40,760 Speaker 2: of ourselves but a very small vision of Him. It's 228 00:17:40,760 --> 00:17:45,040 Speaker 2: hard to fear God when we feel self sufficient to 229 00:17:45,080 --> 00:17:49,399 Speaker 2: accomplish what we want, or when we feel entitled to 230 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,439 Speaker 2: have what we want whenever we want. It's easy to 231 00:17:53,600 --> 00:17:58,720 Speaker 2: underestimate this God in the midst of temptation, because when 232 00:17:58,920 --> 00:18:05,639 Speaker 2: we ultimately fall prey to that temptation, underestimating Him is 233 00:18:05,720 --> 00:18:11,119 Speaker 2: exactly what we do. And it's most certainly easy to 234 00:18:11,200 --> 00:18:14,719 Speaker 2: underestimate Him when we simply go through life charting our 235 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:21,719 Speaker 2: own course. And verse fourteen ends with the reason why 236 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:27,800 Speaker 2: fearing God gives meaning in life. Look at it with 237 00:18:27,880 --> 00:18:32,840 Speaker 2: me the last verse of this entire book, For God 238 00:18:32,920 --> 00:18:38,520 Speaker 2: will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, 239 00:18:38,720 --> 00:18:43,760 Speaker 2: whether good or evil. If you are ready to meet 240 00:18:43,800 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 2: God right now, or if you are desiring to avoid 241 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,000 Speaker 2: Him for the next ten, twenty or thirty years, there 242 00:18:49,040 --> 00:18:51,879 Speaker 2: will be one day when we will all stand before 243 00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:55,800 Speaker 2: Him face to face, and every thought and every word, 244 00:18:55,840 --> 00:18:59,200 Speaker 2: and every deed and every single secret you have will 245 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:07,960 Speaker 2: be brought into His perfect judgment. Throughout the whole book, 246 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,240 Speaker 2: this preacher Solomon has been living life under the sun 247 00:19:12,400 --> 00:19:15,200 Speaker 2: life without God, And he is saying again and again 248 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 2: and again, is that it is there any meaning to 249 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:22,600 Speaker 2: be found in any of this? And he concludes that 250 00:19:22,760 --> 00:19:26,600 Speaker 2: life without God, in the midst of our actions, in 251 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,040 Speaker 2: the midst of our desires, in the midst of our pursuits, 252 00:19:29,040 --> 00:19:34,119 Speaker 2: if God isn't present there, then it's all meaningless. But 253 00:19:34,640 --> 00:19:37,600 Speaker 2: now we come to the conclusion that if there is 254 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:41,399 Speaker 2: a God, and if he is holy, and if he 255 00:19:41,440 --> 00:19:46,800 Speaker 2: will judge the world, then all of the sudden everything matters. 256 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:54,240 Speaker 2: Every decision I make has meaning to it. Every action 257 00:19:54,560 --> 00:19:58,280 Speaker 2: is an opportunity to display the glory of God, joy 258 00:19:58,400 --> 00:20:01,600 Speaker 2: and meaning and all all of you above benefits that 259 00:20:01,600 --> 00:20:04,320 Speaker 2: we've read a moment ago in life are found when 260 00:20:04,359 --> 00:20:06,760 Speaker 2: I rejoice in Him, when I depend upon Him, when 261 00:20:06,760 --> 00:20:10,040 Speaker 2: I trust him, when I enjoy him, when I strive 262 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:15,040 Speaker 2: for him, and when I obey him. The true meaning 263 00:20:15,160 --> 00:20:23,840 Speaker 2: in life is found when you fear the Lord. And 264 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:29,920 Speaker 2: because God sees, and because God knows, and because God 265 00:20:30,520 --> 00:20:38,080 Speaker 2: will judge, everything now matters. This leads Philip Reichen to 266 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:45,200 Speaker 2: conclude at the final judgment, it will matter how we 267 00:20:45,320 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 2: used our time, whether we wasted it on foolish pleasures 268 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:54,679 Speaker 2: or worked hard for the Lord. It will matter what 269 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:57,560 Speaker 2: we did with our money, whether we spent it on 270 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,760 Speaker 2: ourselves or invested it in the eternal kingdom. It will 271 00:21:01,800 --> 00:21:05,840 Speaker 2: matter what we did with our bodies. What our eyes 272 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:10,959 Speaker 2: saw or our hands touched, and what our mouths spoke. 273 00:21:12,680 --> 00:21:17,719 Speaker 2: Whether we obeyed our father and mother will matter, and 274 00:21:17,760 --> 00:21:19,719 Speaker 2: so will the look that we gave them, and that 275 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:24,560 Speaker 2: little comment we made as we were walking away. What 276 00:21:24,600 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 2: we did for a two year old will matter, the 277 00:21:27,840 --> 00:21:32,320 Speaker 2: way we made time to get down on her level. 278 00:21:33,920 --> 00:21:37,399 Speaker 2: What we said about someone else's performance will matter. The 279 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:41,560 Speaker 2: sarcastic remark or the word of genuine praise, the proud 280 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:48,520 Speaker 2: boast and selfless sacrifice will matter. The household task and 281 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 2: the homework assignment will matter. The cup of water, the 282 00:21:54,040 --> 00:22:02,240 Speaker 2: tear of compassion, the word of testimony, All of it matters. 283 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:08,960 Speaker 2: The final message of Ecclesiastes is not that nothing matters, 284 00:22:10,800 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 2: but it's that everything matters. Everything has eternal significance. Everything 285 00:22:20,880 --> 00:22:26,440 Speaker 2: is a spiritual endeavor. Every aspect of your life can 286 00:22:26,600 --> 00:22:30,920 Speaker 2: either fall in line with God or fall away out 287 00:22:30,960 --> 00:22:36,800 Speaker 2: of line with God, and it matters. It has eternal 288 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 2: significance because it is all subject to the perfect judgment 289 00:22:43,119 --> 00:22:50,920 Speaker 2: of a righteous and eternal God who sees everything. Your 290 00:22:51,160 --> 00:23:00,760 Speaker 2: life is pregnant with meaning every single day, and fearing 291 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:05,919 Speaker 2: God is the way that you experience it the best. 292 00:23:09,960 --> 00:23:15,560 Speaker 2: And what matters most is the decision that each one 293 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 2: of us have to make about the Lord Jesus. The 294 00:23:20,000 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 2: book ends, and it doesn't give us the hope of grace, 295 00:23:26,560 --> 00:23:28,520 Speaker 2: but it certainly points us to our need for it, 296 00:23:28,520 --> 00:23:32,000 Speaker 2: doesn't it. Because if it's true that I have failed 297 00:23:32,080 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 2: mightily and I have, and that I'm going to continue 298 00:23:38,359 --> 00:23:42,600 Speaker 2: to grow in my fear of the Lord, but I'm 299 00:23:42,640 --> 00:23:46,120 Speaker 2: not where I need to be and I believe I will, 300 00:23:48,119 --> 00:23:54,439 Speaker 2: then I need to be forgiven at that judgment. I 301 00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:57,080 Speaker 2: need a savior for my sins at that judgment. And 302 00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:59,760 Speaker 2: the coming of Jesus not only gives us a greater 303 00:24:00,480 --> 00:24:05,440 Speaker 2: reason to fear God, because God conquers death, sacrifices himself 304 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 2: and love for you and for me, and he gives 305 00:24:07,800 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 2: us his perfect righteousness on the day of that judgment. 306 00:24:11,440 --> 00:24:16,280 Speaker 2: So we will continue to experience life, meaningful life, not 307 00:24:16,760 --> 00:24:19,199 Speaker 2: just that this is all that there is, but that 308 00:24:19,280 --> 00:24:24,640 Speaker 2: there is a life that lasts forever into eternity. There's 309 00:24:24,680 --> 00:24:33,080 Speaker 2: a life to come a life with God. Jesus saves 310 00:24:33,160 --> 00:24:38,800 Speaker 2: us from the vanity of this life and he ushers 311 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 2: us into the eternal life. And so praise God, my friends, 312 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:50,040 Speaker 2: that everything matters. Praise God for his eternal purposes that 313 00:24:50,200 --> 00:24:59,240 Speaker 2: are unfolding in your days right now. Praise God for 314 00:24:59,320 --> 00:25:03,200 Speaker 2: the life that is come because of His son Jesus. 315 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:10,399 Speaker 2: What a life we have to live. Let's live in 316 00:25:10,440 --> 00:25:20,440 Speaker 2: fear of the Lord. Please pray with me, Father, help 317 00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:25,359 Speaker 2: us in this to see you more clearly, to never 318 00:25:25,680 --> 00:25:31,480 Speaker 2: underestimate or undervalue you in our decision making, shape our 319 00:25:31,560 --> 00:25:37,919 Speaker 2: thoughts and our desires. Give us a posture, a fear 320 00:25:38,280 --> 00:25:44,040 Speaker 2: that leads to obedience. We pray, we thank you for Jesus. 321 00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:47,240 Speaker 2: We thank you for the ministry of your spirit which 322 00:25:47,280 --> 00:25:51,840 Speaker 2: empowers us to this very end. And we pray now 323 00:25:51,880 --> 00:25:54,080 Speaker 2: that you would grow us as a church family in 324 00:25:54,160 --> 00:25:58,520 Speaker 2: this way and as individuals in this way as well. 325 00:25:59,200 --> 00:26:01,800 Speaker 2: We love you, Lord a man. 326 00:26:04,200 --> 00:26:07,720 Speaker 3: This is a Better Word. With Pastor Nick Katsky and 327 00:26:07,800 --> 00:26:12,320 Speaker 3: a message titled the Disposition of Life, we're learning that 328 00:26:12,359 --> 00:26:15,560 Speaker 3: the fear of God isn't about cowering and terror, but 329 00:26:15,600 --> 00:26:19,520 Speaker 3: about recognizing something so magnificent and powerful that it re 330 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:23,720 Speaker 3: orders your entire worldview. This message is the final part 331 00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:27,240 Speaker 3: of a series called The Meaningful Life. If you missed 332 00:26:27,240 --> 00:26:29,920 Speaker 3: any of the series, catch up online at a Better 333 00:26:29,960 --> 00:26:33,879 Speaker 3: Word dot org. And you never have to miss a 334 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:37,280 Speaker 3: message when you subscribe to our podcast, available on your 335 00:26:37,320 --> 00:26:41,320 Speaker 3: favorite podcasting app. Search for a Better Word with pastor Nick. 336 00:26:42,000 --> 00:26:43,520 Speaker 3: Now once again, here's Nick. 337 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 2: Are you experiencing the transforming power of Christ in your 338 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:50,480 Speaker 2: daily life? Here in a Better Word? Our mission is 339 00:26:50,560 --> 00:26:53,200 Speaker 2: to give you all of Christ, in all of Scripture, 340 00:26:53,359 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 2: for all of life, because there's not a single part 341 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 2: of your life that Jesus cannot reach when you listen 342 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:02,080 Speaker 2: to his word. God's Word is living, in active and 343 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,239 Speaker 2: able to transform every part of your life for the 344 00:27:05,280 --> 00:27:09,440 Speaker 2: good for those who love God and seek Him. You're 345 00:27:09,480 --> 00:27:13,240 Speaker 2: invited to join me here for a Better Word every 346 00:27:13,320 --> 00:27:17,000 Speaker 2: day as we dig into God's Word together, verse by 347 00:27:17,119 --> 00:27:21,960 Speaker 2: verse to reveal Christ on every page. As you listen, 348 00:27:22,000 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: you won't simply hear messages about familiar Bible passages. We're 349 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:29,560 Speaker 2: not skipping anything, especially the verses that challenge us and 350 00:27:29,640 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 2: sometimes make us uncomfortable, because that's where the change often happens. 351 00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,320 Speaker 2: So if you're listening today. It's not by accident. We're 352 00:27:38,320 --> 00:27:41,480 Speaker 2: glad you're here and we believe that God is calling 353 00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,639 Speaker 2: you to a better Word. 354 00:27:44,240 --> 00:27:44,800 Speaker 1: Thanks Nick. 355 00:27:45,280 --> 00:27:49,400 Speaker 3: This program is listener supported. We rely on the generosity 356 00:27:49,480 --> 00:27:52,560 Speaker 3: of listeners just like you to keep these messages going 357 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,719 Speaker 3: and sharing the gospel. To support us, please go to 358 00:27:55,960 --> 00:28:01,600 Speaker 3: a Better Word dot org. That's a Better Word, Awarchie four. 359 00:28:01,880 --> 00:28:04,840 Speaker 3: Write to us at a Better Word the O box 360 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:10,000 Speaker 3: number ten, Canfield, Ohio four four four zero six. I'm 361 00:28:10,000 --> 00:28:12,359 Speaker 3: Brian Dollan and goding you back next time for more 362 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:17,200 Speaker 3: biblical teaching right here on a Better Word. A Better 363 00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:21,280 Speaker 3: Word is a teaching ministry of Old North Church in Canfield, Ohio. 364 00:28:21,680 --> 00:28:27,160 Speaker 2: You will be like God human unity. God was severed 365 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:31,800 Speaker 2: and through it all God's promise remain true. 366 00:28:32,080 --> 00:28:37,080 Speaker 1: Follow me, April and I will make you great. 367 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:44,800 Speaker 2: This is the Chosen People. Listen to the Chosen People 368 00:28:45,040 --> 00:28:46,480 Speaker 2: at the Chosen. 369 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:47,520 Speaker 3: People dot com. 370 00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:59,200 Speaker 2: That's the Chosen People dot com.