Lest I Should Be a Castaway — Keith Daniel

Prayer for Spiritual Protection

Can we bow for a moment of prayer, please? Father, have mercy on all of us. Come, let there be a hedge of protection around us. That Satan was aware, as he spoke of Job, that God had a hedge of protection around him.

And so, that hedge that Satan couldn't penetrate, couldn't touch Job, because of God's protection. We ask for that tonight. The angels of God, the swords drawn to do battle against Satan and his hosts.

One third of the stars of heaven were swept by his tail upon the earth. Now, these angels, fallen angels, are desperate demons. We ask for protection from them and our enemy, Satan. By the risen, resurrected power of Christ, the Holy Spirit brooding upon us, guarding over us.

Come now, Lord, and bless and keep us safe in the hollow of Thine hand. For we are gathered here in love for Christ and because of Christ, in Thy name. So, wash me afresh in the blood of Jesus the Christ.

Anoint and fill me and anoint in Thy mercy with the Holy Spirit. And take Thy word and this message relating to it, expounding it, and break it open to our hearts. In a way that will be of eternal value and not just one fleeting moment in a meeting.

In Jesus Christ's holy name. Amen. You all know this passage, a very well-known passage in God's word, that I'm going to expound on tonight. 1 Corinthians 9, verse 25. Every man and every man, every man that striveth for the mastery, every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate, is temperate in all things.

Spiritual Discipline and the Race of Faith

Every man that striveth for the mastery, that aims and pursues to become their best, to be able to win a race, to reach peak level physically, mentally, the best they can become before they run the race and as they run the race.

Every man that striveth, that aims to be able to win, to be their best, to reach peak level in every aspect of their life, physically, mentally, is temperate in all things, is ruthlessly disciplined, ruthlessly disciplined in every aspect of his life, in every aspect of his life.

Now, they do it, that is, athletes, physical athletes, they do it to obtain a corruptible crown, a wreath, if they win, an earthly crown. But we, we, an incorruptible, that is a spiritual, eternal reward, an eternal crown.

I therefore so run, I therefore so run in a spiritual race now, spiritually. I therefore so run not as uncertainty, not as uncertainty. I have no doubt as to what is required of me because of what God has given me in this book to tell me.

I have no doubt as to what is required of me in every aspect of my life to win this race, to run this race, I therefore so run in the spiritual race now, not as uncertainty. I know what is required of me, I have no doubt.

And so fight I, so fight I, not as one that beateth the air. I know what I'm fighting for, I know what I'm fighting against, and what I'm fighting to obtain. So fight I, not as one that beateth the air, but, but I keep under my body.

That is speaking of his spiritual life now, not his physical. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection. I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, when I have preached to others, I myself should be accost away.

I keep under my body and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be accost away. Brethren, I have to guard my spiritual life ruthlessly. I have to guard my spiritual life ruthlessly, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, especially if I have preached or faithfully witnessed to others, I myself should become accost away.

Literally meaning cast away. Terrifying words. My credibility, my credibility cast away, tragically forfeited and lost. My testimony cast away, thrown away. My ministry disqualified. A tragic, tragic portion of warning we have in God's Word.

Moral Shipwreck and the Loss of Christian Testimony

Beloved, one of the most tragic, one of the most tragic and unnerving onslaughts and attacks against Evangelical Christianity today worldwide is that how many preachers and prominent Christians, by that I mean Evangelical soul winners, how many preachers and prominent Christians everywhere have fallen and been exposed in shameful sin.

Prominent Evangelicals across the world are giving the unsaved, the ungodly legitimate cause, legitimate reason to despise and reject and discredit the Gospel. When David, when David tragically fell into sin, Nathan the prophet rebuked him in 2 Samuel 12 verse 14, because by this deed, David, because by this deed thou hast given great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.

Ecclesiastes 10 verse 1, Ecclesiastes 10 verse 1 warns us, dead flies, dead flies cause the ointment, the perfume of the apocryphe to send forth a stinking savour. So doth a little folly, that's all the devil wants from you, that's all he's waiting for, a little folly.

So doth a little folly, him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour. On our highways and our national roads today, wherever there's a high rate of fatal accidents that have occurred, you will find a fearful and sober warning, reading danger, high alert zone, high alert zone, beware, high casualty and fatal accident occurrence.

Now, beloved, when one is confronted with such a grave warning, only a very foolish man, a very foolish woman would not immediately slow down and become careful and concentrate to avoid becoming the next casualty.

But beloved, beloved, we are living, it seems, in an unprecedented dangerous age, where many well-loved preachers, prominent Christians, respected Christians have fallen into, and are being mercilessly exposed in shameful compromise and sin.

Christ warned us all, Christ warned us all, that in these last days, and you have to have your head buried in the sand so deep it's unbelievable, if you don't know that's right now. Christ warned us all that in these last days, because iniquity shall abound.

That's a strange word in the Greek. You'll find it is used now when you try to explain an avalanche. It gains momentum. Have you ever seen an avalanche in a film, in some documentary? It doesn't just roll down, it gains momentum.

There's nothing in its way, nothing that tries to stop it, nothing that tries to avoid could be, it's just gaining momentum. To such a degree, there's nothing left. Now God says, in the last days, there will be an escalation of all things that have always been there.

You'll find in eschatology in every passage, there's an escalation. There's always been diseases, there's always been wars. But there's suddenly an escalation of diseases, an escalation of natural disasters.

There's never before that will overwhelm the world. Everywhere, an escalation of all these things. There's always been these things, diseases. There will be an escalation of diseases that will shock and put fear.

Men's hearts will fail them for fear of things that will come on the earth. But there will also be an escalation of moral decadence. That's how we know. It's just, how will we know when thou wilt return, is the question.

There will be an escalation of things that always were there. But I think the most fearful is an escalation because iniquity. Moral decadence, moral depravity, shall abound, escalate, till nothing can stop it.

No government, no censorship, no restrictions. It just wipes out any restrictions. And 10-year-olds are depraved and destroyed morally. And you can't stop it. The media, everything. Because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.

Fearful words, terrifying words. Now that word, many, is the most terrifying word of all. The masses, the Greek will come to, the meaning of that Greek word is primarily the most. In its context, under the banner of Christianity worldwide.

The masses, the most who gather under the banner of Christianity worldwide. The love of the masses of the most. In its context of people professing Christianity worldwide. That word, many, is again and again used.

Because many false prophets shall arise and shall deceive many. The most people who preach under the banner of Christianity in the name of Christ. Walking into the pulpit of the Bible, are false prophets.

Many false prophets, the masses, the most. They come to a place where they're heaped to themselves. Teachers having itching ears. But they will not receive the love of the truth. Don't give us the truth, don't make us feel uncomfortable.

Don't touch sin. But give us preachers, teachers, who can excite us sensually. You know, they look like Hollywood, they carry on, they dress like Hollywood. And they give us anything of entertainment, but they won't give us this book.

They become a famine of the word of God. Not of bread, not of water, but a desperate longing for those who want God's word to find anywhere that's preaching. It's all just entertainment, all just a cry of soulmanship.

But nothing of God's word. Oh, the most. How many? Oh, Jesus said, many. The same word, the same Greek word. Shall say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? Literally, in its context, in the light of all scriptures, but in the immediate context, preached.

Preached in thy name. Have we not preached in thy name? Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not preached in thy name? In thy name have cast out devils. In thy name done many wonderful works, miracles.

You know what's astounding here is Jesus didn't say, no, that couldn't happen in my name. He didn't. He didn't argue. I wonder what percentage of the people who cast out devils in the name of Christ today are going to hell.

Or did Christ not mean this? This is a mistake on Christ's behalf. Many, the most, the masses who stand in the pulpits. Will be fraught, prophets, who will cry in desperate fear and shock and shame. Did we not, prophets, did we not preach in thy name?

In thy name, in thy name, cast out devils in thy name. Have done many wonderful works. And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you. I never knew you. Depart from me. Depart from me. Ye that work iniquity.

You that never ever came to a place of repentance from the sin in your life. The known sin that this book condemns. Fearful words. I wonder how many across the entire world under the banner of Christianity will say those words to Christ one day.

When he returns. Oh, be careful. The love of many will wax cold. Why? Because iniquity shall abound. There will be an escalation of depravity. Mainly because of lack of preaching against it. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 15.

Hebrews chapter 12 verse 15. Looking diligently lest any man fall. Looking diligently lest any man fall. From the grace of God. Verse 16. Lest there be any fornicator. That is a man falling into immoral evil.

Or profane person. As Esau. That's staggering. Who for one morsel of meat. Sold his birthright. For ye know that afterward. Afterward when he would have inherited the blessing. He was rejected. For he found no place of repentance.

What does that mean? Of undoing. Of reversing the consequences of what he so foolishly had done. Though he sought it carefully with tears. Beloved one weak moment. Is all the devil needs. One wrong choice.

And everything you have gained. Of trust. Of privilege. From everyone who knows you. Beginning with your children. Could be lost and forfeited forever. Never to be regained. I need to read that again.

One weak moment. One wrong choice. And everything you have gained Esau. Everything that's meaningful. Everything you've gained of trust preacher. Of privilege. From everyone who knows you. Could be lost and forfeited forever.

Never to be regained again. Christian. Christian think not that your forgiven sins. Will have no earthly consequences. I want to repeat that. Christian think not that your forgiven sins. Oh God will forgive.

There's still mercy. That's amazing. Beyond comprehension of God's mercy. But that doesn't mean you don't lose. Forever. And forfeit. And become cast away. A reject from the pulpit. A reject that people will not trust you again.

Your children will never look at you with trust again. Your wife will never look at you with trust again. You stand with a Bible. No one wants to trust you. No one wants to listen. Ever again in your life.

You forfeit the privileges. And what is a greater privilege than to serve God. Think not that your forgiven sins. Will have no earthly consequences. The preaching policeman. Derrick Melton. Of Prior Community Church in Oklahoma cried.

What a man of God he is. Want to be shocked? Go onto the website under his name. And daily he puts these astonishing statements. To try and work shock. Wake us up. Think not that your forgiven sins. He said.

Will have no earthly consequences. Esau. Numbers 32 verse 23. Warns us all. Esau. Your sin will find you out. What does that mean? In its context. Esau. Your sin will find you out. Oh. It will affect your lives.

Tragically and adversely. Be sure of that. Beloved a Christian. Is in danger zone. Spiritually. He is in danger zone spiritually. When like Esau. He faces temptation. And casts aside. Literally casts aside.

He disregards any thought of the consequences. He only regards the moment of sinful pleasure. I want to repeat that. A Christian is in danger zone spiritually. He's in it when. He like Esau faces temptation.

And he literally casts aside. Disregards any thought of the consequences. The consequences don't matter. Whatever he lost. Only regarding the moment of sinful pleasure. Later on he weeps for the rest of his life.

Ages. With everybody else near him that loved him. Don't doubt it. He is in high alert zone. Where a high occurrence of fatal accidents happen. In our privileged Christian world. And he has most surely.

Beyond doubt. Thrown aside. Every meaningful spiritual exercise. And discipline. To maintain a vital relationship with God. He has most surely. There's no doubt. He's thrown aside. Of his life. Every meaningful spiritual exercise.

To maintain his relationship with God. Be careful. Be warned. No matter who you are. Sin. Lieth. At the door. You think God said those words to Cain? There's not a word in this book. In its context. But in the light of the rest of the scriptures.

That isn't vital. Or it wouldn't be in this book. For you are understanding the heart of God. For you and me to survive. There's nothing that we don't need. From the first thing he said. To Adam and Eve.

The first thing he warned. The first thing he says. To Cain. Oh Cain. Sin. Lieth at the door. You need to look at your own heart. As to whether what you give to God is wrong. It isn't what God wants. Sin lieth at the door.

Vigilance Against the Devil's Attacks

Therefore be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary. Your enemy. The devil. As a roaring lion. Walketh about. Seeking. Whom he may devour. God isn't playing the fool here sir. This is in some empty words that cannot happen.

Not in God's words sir. Be sober. Be vigilant. Because your adversary. Christian. The devil. Your enemy. As a roaring lion. God says. Walketh about. Seeking. Whom he may devour. 1 Peter 5 verse 8. Neither give place to the devil.

God warns us. In Ephesians 4 verse 27. Neither give place to the devil. What does that mean? Don't foolishly invite the devil to destroy you Christian. Don't invite him to destroy you. Don't give him opportunity.

To destroy you. Oh let me warn you brother, sister. Don't play the fool with a lion. Don't you dare. Play the fool. With. A lion. When I was a boy. We had the days of the circus. I don't know if they have such things these days.

Those days. The population of a town would. Or a city in South Africa would. Just go. Row. Lines upon lines. Around the blocks and blocks. To get into some show of the circus. When they came to town. Right in the heart of our city.

There was a special place. It was worth so much money. But they kept that open. For the circus. Annually coming to our town. And we all went. I doubt that anybody missed. Those of you that are my age.

You might still remember what a circus is. Anyway. Here was the Boswell Wilkie Circus. And there was a big advert. That used to draw the crowd. Perhaps more than anything else. Yes, there was Tiki the clown.

And there was an actor. Swinging and whirling through there. But the one thing that really drew the crowd. Was a man called Carl Fisher. He was a lion tamer. Now this lion tamer. Had a big advert. In the newspapers.

Attached to the circus. Coming to town. And on top of the circus. A big painting. On some canvas. Massive canvas pluck. And there he was. The big advert was. That this lion tamer. Would take the lion's mouth.

And pull it open. Those ferocious teeth. And open and pull it. And stick his entire head. Into the lion's mouth. That was not very wise. I wouldn't say anyone. Has any wisdom to do that. But this man.

Obviously had tamed this thing. And trusted it. That it would never harm him. Like a little baby. Now it's a big ferocious lion. But I went to see that. With my family. A little boy standing. He shoves his head into the lion's mouth.

And everybody screams. What incredible courage. What incredible man. Well. The next show. After I sat there. Thank God it wasn't that show. The next performance of the entire circus. That whole crowd of children.

In their hundreds and hundreds. Families. In this massive tent. Holding hundreds and hundreds. They all witnessed one of the saddest moments. Of the circus's history in the world. It simply closed. Its massive jaws.

I can't tell you the details. Across the newspaper. As it ripped that man. To such an incredible. Before they could stop that lion. Or get to him. All the cages surrounding. To keep us protected from the animals.

While this performance. Before they could stop. There was nothing virtually left of that man. That hadn't been ripped apart. You don't play the fool with a lion. You do not play the fool with a lion. Now beloved.

I thank God. I wasn't there to witness that. Can you imagine that. Remaining in the minds of children. I mean there was. Children had to be psychologically treated. And we witnessed what they saw. People.

Would never forget such a horrific thing. That was a terrifying thing. To have witnessed. But it's more fearful to me. Today. To witness. The roaring lion. That God warns us of. Destroying preachers. World famous preachers.

Well loved. Esteemed revered Christians. Prominent Christians. Soul winners. Leaders. Across the entire world. It's more fearful to see the lion. That God warns us. Don't give place. Don't invite him to kill you.

Don't invite him to destroy you. It's literally God's warning. Neither give place to the devil. Don't give him an opportunity. That is more fearful to me. Here's a newspaper. In another language. In our home.

Afrikaans. One of our main newspapers. 11th of May this year. 2014. Here's a picture of this man. Who had these lions. The crowds would come. To his big game reserve. That he had privately. Many of them do.

For all the American tourists. And here he was. Kitty he called him. Come Kitty. To a lion. And in front of all these people. After years. Of Kitty just rubbing against him. They ripped him to pieces.

A terrifying thing. A terrifying thing. Oh. How many preachers that I have known. And knelt with. And wept with. For so foolishly. And tragically gave place to the devil. Believing they would get away with it.

Losing fear. Of Satan. And what God warns us he will do. I have a list here. I hope no one ever reads it. I hope with all my heart. Men I. And people across the world. Have loved. And revered. Who really were anointed of God.

Don't doubt that. Not one of them didn't make mistakes. But then show me a preacher. Including Wesley, Whitfield and Spurgeon. That didn't say I made a mistake. That doesn't disqualify you. If you're big enough to say.

But men who made another mistake. Not doctrinally in one verse. For a while. But of giving place to the devil. Giving him an opportunity. Inviting him. Name upon name upon name. Destroyed. Cast away. Forfeited.

Their privilege as a preacher. Till the day they die. Their respect. Their honor. Their credibility. Their testimony. Cast away. But what was. What was the tragic cause. Of so many prominent Christians.

Spiritual Roots and the Soil of God's Word

And preachers. In these days. Falling in such a tragic way. That has brought such shame on Christianity. Across the world. And caused millions to stumble. In a way unprecedented in our history. As a church.

What was the tragic cause. Of so many. Prominent Christians. And preachers and leaders. Falling into such shameful sin. This year I was on a tour. In Africa. In a certain section of Africa. And to take me.

From all these towns. We came to the foot of a very high spot. In Africa's geographical situation. And we had to go through a gorge. Very much like your Grand Canyon. Only nothing could compare. With the Grand Canyon anywhere in the world.

But the same idea. This river. As we had to go up this pass. Through the whole gorge. Up where the river had ground. Down and down and down over the years. And these high cliffs. The most magnificent formation of rocks.

On both sides of this river. And this torrent at times. Had just washed away. And down, down, down. This gorge. We had to travel up through this valley. This amazing gorge. Canyon. To get to a very high place.

Where I was to preach. The next day. In one of the Dutch Reformed churches. They had viewpoints. We stopped and climbed up the rocks. To see great waterfalls. Beautiful situation. Where you just can't believe the beauty.

It's incomprehensible. Your breath is taken away. What happened? But in one of the viewpoints. Where we stopped the car. I noticed a tree. Now this tree I noticed for one reason. It was the largest tree.

That I had seen in the whole. Going through this canyon. And here at this viewpoint. There was this magnificent tree. The others were there. But it had obviously stood long before the others. It had grown.

And somehow. It had grown to such stature. Thrived. It was higher than all the trees. And magnificent. But then I looked carefully. As I went closer. And there was a sad tragic thing about that tree. You see most of its roots.

Were once in the ground. Were now hovering over nothing. The river washed away the soil. All the firm soil. And earth. That these roots were steeped. And was washed away. Obviously in times of rain floods.

And torrents. And here it was. A few roots. Keeping it standing. But it was going to fall. There was no doubt. And this would be one terrible crash. Because it was the largest. It would affect an enormous amount of the vegetation.

This tree was about to fall. Just being held by a few roots. That were still in the earth. Sunk into the earth. Into the soil. But here the most roots. Were hovering over a void of nothing. The river just washed away.

All the soil. The most roots were hovering over a void of nothingness. Empty air. It was quite terrifying. To realize what was about to happen. To this beautiful tree. A tree that stood. That grew. Longer than all the other trees.

That reached such heights. And such beauty. It was about to fall. There was no doubt of that. No doubt of that in my heart. Here was a tree. Whose roots were no longer safely sunk into good soil. No longer rooted.

And grounded. Into the soil. Firm. Keeping it safe. Now in our country. The most beautiful city is Cape Town. That's where Jenny and I live. We live at the foot of. One of the most beautiful. If not the most beautiful mountain in the world.

Millions of people annually flock from all over the world. The tourist class. Millions. That's our greatest income of the whole state. What you call a state. We call a province. The western province. The tip of Africa.

Here's a boot. That's the shape of Africa. And here's the toe. The two oceans. Atlantic and the Indian meet. You can see from that mountain. The two oceans. The color. It's an amazing view. Now most tourists who have been there.

From across the world. Tourist class. Have voted it the most beautiful city in the entire world. Because of our mountains. And our seas. The ruggedness. The Cape of Storms. The Cape of Good Hope. Historically.

We live there. A beautiful situation. Now there's a park. It's the oldest park in the southern Africa. That's man made. And this park runs adjacent to our parliament buildings. Which has been reviewed as.

Among the most beautiful buildings in the entire world. But archaeology. The architecture. And so along this long road. Of all our government's buildings. The most beautiful structures. Is this park. Called the company gardens.

Now Jenny and I often go there. I go there to be quiet. To pray it's not too far. A little walk from our home. And there's these amazing. Something like the Central Park in New York. Not quite as big though.

But oh the beauty. And the trees. That for hundreds of years. From the early settlers. Brought trees and vegetation. Trees that have thrived there for hundreds of years. There's such a variety. From all over the world.

That were planted hundreds of years ago. By the early settlers that came. The early European settlers that came to Africa. Well. The one tree that stood higher than the rest. It just drew me. I looked through all these trees.

And suddenly I saw whoa. So I walked across there. Loving trees and the beauty that God created. Of this world. As I do. And I looked at the plaque. And there was a beautiful plaque. Attached to the tree.

Telling all the information of what it is. And the roots. That struck me. It wasn't like another tree. That roots just went into the earth. Deep. This tree. Its roots were about so high. So wide. You had to climb over them.

And these roots just went. Right over there. Past other trees roots. Past other trees trunk. There's these roots going oh. Everywhere there's roots. You had to walk in a path between the roots. High roots.

Wide. And just spread over the ground. And sunk their roots deep. Deep into the soil. Everywhere. Just going spreading. Now that was interesting to me. So I read the plaque. And I wrote a few details down.

About this tree. It is called the Fictus Elastica. Elastica. Moricaya. Fictus Elastica. You'll pretend I know what I'm saying. But anyway. That's what it is written literally. It is in the Benzen group of figs.

It can also be referred to in parts of the world as a rubber tree. A species of the fig genus. But it's native to north east India. And southern Indonesia. It's native to north east India. And southern Indonesia.

And I read these words. Because in parts of India the people guide those roots of that tree over dangerous chasms and voids. Precipices. Cliffs. They literally can guide the roots to cross over these dangerous voids.

And they eventually form a living bridge. They have living bridges. Because the people guide them over the dangerous chasms. The voids. The cliffs. The peaks. To the other side. They eventually form living bridges.

Now how does the devil wash away the soil that are the means through which our spiritual roots seep strength and feed from? How does the devil wash away the soil that are the means through which we survive?

Our roots seep deeply to feed from. To grow. To be solidly firm grounded. Rooted and grounded in Christ. I believe he sends a river. He sends a river beloved of legitimate yet meaningless things. Non-essentials.

Time-consuming. That divert the soul from spending meaningful unhurried time with God and above everything with the meditation of his word. I believe he sends into our lives legitimate things. Thrilling things.

Boy, if you want to be thrilled, watch what's coming as you pay for something on the internet. Some new thing. They're advertising what's coming next year. You can't wait for next year before you even started.

Everything's just time-consuming. Oh, it might be thrilling, but it's time-consuming. Tell God it isn't. Tell God it genuinely hasn't become a danger to you. A diversion. I'm talking about not only that, but anything.

He sends a river of legitimate, meaningless, non-essentials. Time-consuming. Things that divert the soul from spending meaningful unhurried time with God's word. The meditation of God's word wears out the soul until he has no strength emotionally and mentally to give any time to God's word.

He's so busy drowning himself with meaningless, time-consuming things but legitimate. Not necessarily sin. Oh, child of God, may I just stop here for a moment. May I just stop here for a moment to ask every one of you urgently, has the devil has the devil washed away most of his spiritual soil that you once sunk your roots into daily?

I want to repeat it. Answer God. Answer your conscience. Has the devil washed away most of the rich spiritual soil that you once sunk your roots into daily, spiritually, with meaningless activity? And you let him.

Don't tell me you didn't know you were doing it. If the word of God is first, God is first. That's the only way you know God is first. If it's second to anything, God is second. If it's tenth in line, God is tenth in line.

Don't dare say it isn't. Christian, you urgently need to carefully take those roots. You urgently need to carefully take those roots that are hovering tragically over nothing. Over a void of meaningless activities.

You need to redirect them. To lead them. To redirect no matter what it costs you. No matter what you have to throw out of your life. No matter how much it costs you in life. It'll cost you more if you lose your tender walk with God.

And privilege. And fall. You need to redirect those roots that are hovering over meaningless activities. And emptiness. And you need to sink them back into the soil. Into the rich spiritual soil of God's word.

Firstly and foremost, sink them back into God's word once again. Beloved, from the day you're saved to the day you die, excluding not one day in your life. No matter what the consequences. No matter what the circumstances.

Your greatest duty in life is to meditate the word of God wherever you can. And if it isn't, you are a total backslider. Don't blame your work. Don't blame anything. If it keeps you from God, don't even blame the ministry.

Don't blame the work of God. If the work of God keeps you from God himself, the work of God is your biggest sin. And every other sin will be the result of that. Don't play the fool with the privilege of your name being not destroyed.

Don't play the fool. Beloved, firstly you need to sink back into God's word. Desperately. Your roots. In Psalm 1, and I thank God it is Psalm 1. Why is it Psalm 1? Because you've got to be doers of the word.

Not here as only deceiving yourself. You live Psalm 1. You apply your life before you dare to read Psalm 2. Or you are playing the fool with God. Why is Psalm 119 the longest passage in the entire Bible?

Beloved, there's a reason. Every verse tells you the essential necessity of why you need to be soaking yourself in the word of God, treasuring it above any gold, anything you could attain in life, financially, any achievement in life, anything.

If it is first, God is first, and you're safe. Every verse relates to this. In every aspect of Christianity. That's why it's the longest. But the first Psalm, you've got to live because before you jump to Psalm 2 and Psalm 3 and start taking promises, no, there's a condition for God's promises.

You've got to live it. That's why it's Psalm 1. Blessed is the man who doesn't give time to the things that grip the world. Verse 2, but his delight, his delight, all consuming delight, the Hebrews said.

Not one of his delights. The other delights fade into significance. They have no drawing power because the more you read God's word, the more you want it. The more time you give to God's word earnestly with all your heart, the less time you find for anything that is not essential for your survival.

Oh, his delight is in the law of the Lord. Now that's what they had when this was written. Now we have the entire Bible. His delight is in the word of God, in his law, in the word of God. Doth he meditate?

That cancels out hurry. Now you only cancel out hurrying with God's word when God's word's first. And saves first. There's nothing to hurry to. There's nothing Hollywood has that could divert you. It just becomes wasted, vanity, worthless.

There's nothing Hollywood with all its technology can do to put in that box or anything in this world that can draw you away from what excites you a billion times more than any person has been excited under what Hollywood can give you today.

No matter what it is. I believe that with all my heart I want to find another man more excited every day in this entire world than I am with this book. Enthralled. Weeping. Trembling. Worshipping. Oh, his delight, this makes him blessed, is in the law of the Lord.

In his law doth he meditate day and night. Not all day. Of course you have responsibility with other things. But let me shock you. You give God first place with this book, and the time your wife needs you won't neglect.

Your children will treasure the memory of you if you give God's word, but they'll curse the memory of you if you neglect that and give them all day. You'd be a failure. Your workplace you achieve, you'll be more diligent, more conscientious, more worth than anybody else.

If you don't neglect this book, you find you don't steal. You won't even steal a phone call from the company you. It's something of the sensitivity that this book gives you. That the Holy Ghost works in you to the degree you have the mind of Christ, to the degree you will soak yourself in this book.