In this Sunday Bible study from Eagle Pass, I continued our multi-week series on wisdom in Proverbs, focusing on how to identify, avoid, and respond to fools from a biblical perspective. We walked through key passages—Proverbs 14:7, Proverbs 9:6, Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1, Psalm 74, Proverbs 10:23, Proverbs 1:7, 1:22, 12:15, 14:6, 14:8, 15:2, 20:3, 10:18, Ecclesiastes 7:9, Luke 12:16–21—and explored traits like denying God’s existence, blasphemy, making light of sin, loving mischief, despising wisdom and instruction, self-deception, trusting one’s own heart, meddling, slander, and unrighteous anger. I emphasized the call to guard our hearts with Scripture rather than emotions, resist the influence of foolish voices, and prioritize the Lord’s Day and the gathering of the saints. We closed with a practical encouragement to pray for Sundays, pursue biblical counsel, and live with eternity in view rather than short-term gain or applause.
Resources and references mentioned include Scripture readings throughout Proverbs, Psalms, Ecclesiastes, Luke 12, and notes on Matthew 5’s millennial context. I also invited listeners to reach out via joeroos.com with questions and topic ideas, and shared service times for First Baptist Church of Eagle Pass for those seeking a KJV Bible-believing church in the area.
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(00:04:08) Opening, welcome, and show setup from Eagle Pass
(00:05:24) Weekend recap and crypto episode callback
(00:05:41) Live stream hiccups and housekeeping
(00:06:06) Series on wisdom recap and today's topic: avoiding fools
(00:07:02) Community contact: website, email, and comments
(00:10:00) Transition to Bible study: Prayer and Proverbs 14:7
(00:11:14) Proverbs 14:7 explained: leave the foolish
(00:11:42) Proverbs 9:6 and defining a fool biblically
(00:13:30) Psalm 14 & 53: The fool says there is no God
(00:14:48) Secular education, evolution, and moral standards
(00:16:54) Relativism and situational ethics vs. God's commands
(00:18:41) On feminizing God and softening rules
(00:20:46) Fools blaspheme and reproach God (Psalm 74)
(00:24:41) Fools mock sin; mischief as sport (Proverbs 14:9; 10:23)
(00:29:46) Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7)
(00:32:27) Refusing opposing views: media, campuses, and debate
(00:36:11) Self-sufficiency and deceit of fools (Proverbs 12; 14; 28)
(00:41:40) Talkativeness, meddling, and slander (Proverbs 15; 20; 10)
(00:43:28) Anger and contentiousness of fools (Ecclesiastes 7; Proverbs 18)
(00:45:44) Parable of the rich fool (Luke 12): eternity in view
(00:47:39) Rehoboam's folly and other biblical examples
(00:49:41) Matthew 5:22, Raca, and dispensational application
(00:55:07) Sunday as the Lord's Day: exhortation and prayer
(00:58:41) Closing prayers, church invite, and announcements
(01:03:00) GoFundMe appeal and final sign-off
- Wayne Rankin
- Rosanna Rankin
- Carolina Jimenez
[00:04:09]
Unknown:
Transmitting live from the asylum studios deep in the bowels of Southwest Alrighty. Hey, folks. This is Joe Roos, and it is great to be with you once again as we open and study the precious word of God, your King James Bible. And you know, folks, as always, whenever and wherever ever you find yourself watching or listening to us, it's always, always my prayer that you find yourself in the grace and in the mercy of our lord and savior, the lord Jesus Christ. Welcome to the Joe Ruse Show. And of course, as always, we are transmitting live at the asylum studios from the pimple on the backside of Texas, the beautiful city of Eagle Pass. And folks, it is an absolutely beautiful, beautiful Sunday evening here in Eagle Pass, Texas.
It is phenomenal, beautiful, gorgeous. What a weekend. Hope you guys had a good weekend. I hope you guys were actually able to check out the show yesterday with our resident crypto psychic, Marissa Lee. We talked about Algorand, Algo Land. We talked about XRP. We talked about everything that is of importance. So, folks, I hope you're able to check that out. And, seems like we're having some trouble here with the rumble feed. The key seems to be freezing up, so we'll keep an eye on that and see what happens. Hopefully, it's not everywhere else. And if it is, well, sorry.
At least it was unimpeded on the audio stream. Right? Right. Alright. Well, folks, for the last, oh, five weeks already. Jeez. I can't believe it's five weeks already. For the last five weeks, we've been studying wisdom on our Sunday afternoons, and, the book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom. And, so far, we've taught on the, biblical admonition that you find in Proverbs. He that winneth souls is wise. We talked a little bit about soul winning. We've talked about dealing with fear, and then last week, we talked about dealing with death. And, so this week, we're gonna begin in Proverbs chapter 14, and we're gonna deal with a subject, that we all come across on a daily basis, dealing with fools and avoiding fools.
Alright. Now before we get started, if you would, please head over to our website, joeroos.com. Joeroos.com. And if you would, please where's my banner? There we go. Joeroos.com. There we go. Joeroos.com. Head over to our contact section. Send us over a message. Let us know what you're thinking. Any questions, comments, cares, or concerns that you might have, any issues that might come up, any suggestions for a topic a topic for a show or a or a guest you'd like us to get. Head over to the website, open up the contact form, send it over to us. If you don't wanna use the web form, totally fine with me. You can always email me directly at [email protected]. That's [email protected].
Or right down below there, there's a section for comments. You could leave a comment down below, and we would be happy to, respond to those as well. So, plenty of ways to reach us and, just pick pick your best weapon. Alright? And, let's do that. Alright. Also, this show is brought to you by Ezra Healing. Folks, Ezra Healing is a substantial part of the new wellness paradigm currently being born in North America and around the globe. The global citizenry are no longer satisfied with the sick care version of so called health care. Band aid medicine, endlessly treating symptoms rather than root causes, must be abandoned as soon as possible. Patient centric care must be the priority. Folks, we need to transition towards the do no harm model of private care that places humanity at the forefront of real health and wellness care. In this new model, your entire lifestyle is examined and analyzed to promote and support the totality of your body's integrated systems.
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That's podhome.fm. And if you sign up today, you get thirty days absolutely free. Thirty days to play with it, and then $15.99 a month after that. It's a great platform, folks. You are really gonna be pleased with it, so I would suggest you check it out. Alright. Now if you have your bible with you, I am going to be using a, bible on the screen here, electronic bible today. So I don't have my, I don't have my, my my sword here with me. But, head over to Proverbs and chapter number 14. Proverbs chapter 14. Alright? And, let's pray. Father, would you add your blessings to the reading and examination and the study of your word? Father, we thank you for it. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and, Lord, it it it it brings healing, but it also brings admonition.
Lord, help us never to presume upon it or take it lightly, but to be as serious as we know how to be. And when we approach it, in really believing and understanding it, and understanding that we hold in our hands, in our laps, in in our eyes before us, the wonderful, the inspired, the preserved, the perfect word of God. And father, we thank you for it, and we bless you for it. In the precious name of our savior, the lord Jesus Christ, we do pray. Amen. Alright. Proverbs chapter seven. Correction. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse seven. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse seven. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Alright. Let me give you the, 2,025 interpretation of that. Okay. When someone starts talking stupid, leave. Just leave. In other words, avoid fools. Alright? Go back to chapter number nine. Proverbs chapter nine and verse six. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. Well, there is, without a doubt, a lot of foolishness that we are surrounded with. Let me turn that off. There we go. Much better. There's a lot of foolishness that we're surrounded with, and some of it, well, almost at times seems to be utterly inescapable in modern day America.
You know? But if we're gonna avoid fools and foolishness, this may even include, in fact, I'm absolutely convinced it will include periodically. Well, actually, quite often Changing channels. You with me? Don't change this. Stay here. Alright? We got a lot to talk about, so stay here. But, but you understand what I'm saying? You know? Got a lot of stuff out there that that is just nothing more than foolishness, and God says to avoid fools. Alright? But, but having said that, we are compelled then to investigate what a fool is from a biblical viewpoint. Alright? Not from any other standpoint and not from any other definition, but what does God say a fool is?
Well, probably all of you. At least most of you can think of a number one of the number one criteria of a fool. And now there there are many that we're gonna look at. Alright? Many we're gonna look at, but what do you suppose the number one criteria of a fool is? Biblically speaking. Just biblically speaking. Alright? A fool says there is no God. Alright? Take your Bible, go with me to Psalm 14. Psalm 14, and let's get some confirmation on that. Psalm 14 and verse one. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no god. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good.
Alright? So a fool, someone who's a fool, someone who's foolish, concludes that there is no God. Alright? Go over to, go over to Psalm 53. Psalm 53. Alright. Evidently, this is important enough to be embedded in our hearts and minds that God repeated it. He said it again here in Psalm 53 and verse one. Psalm 53 verse one, the fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity. There is none that doeth good. So, basically, God reinforces the idea that a fool maintains that there is no God. Alright? Now today, much of today's modern secular educational system, is constructed for the purpose of denying God's existence.
That's really, like, that's really half the reason they exist. You see, be because you see, if God can be eliminated, then there are no standards of behavior that need to be adhered to, except the arbitrary ones that that man chooses to impose upon himself. For example, science says evolution. Alright? Now if evolution can be documented, and it and it and it's nothing that has to be proven and when I say documented, I mean documented to the extent that the majority of people are convinced. You know, I I was talk I was talking to an elderly man, one time, and he he wasn't so elder that that he lost his mind, or anything like that, but I but I remember this conversation, you know, back in New York, and his wife attended our church, and, he didn't, but but he brought this up. He brought this up. He said something about, well, you know, I believe in evolution.
I said, alright. Well, tell me why. I'm broad minded enough. You can tell me why. And he said, well, because of what they show on TV. Alright. So that was the only evidence that he could submit, what they show on television. I said, okay. Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever read any books that oppose the theory? He said, no. I said, would you be willing to? He said, no. Now you know what that guy's really telling me? He was telling me that that he that he wanted to believe in evolution. He wanted to believe in evolution. Because if evolution is a fact, then there then there's an all probability, no God which and and that allows him to behave any way that he wants to behave.
Alright? So that's the bottom line of it. Evolution has no rules. There are there are no 10 commandments in the theory of evolution. There are no rules of behavior. You see what I'm saying? Not in evolution. Alright? Now that's true in that's that's true in that that it's in science. It's it's true in philosophy. You know you know philosophy teaches our kids? Philosophy teaches our kids the theory of relativity. Alright? All things are relative. There are no absolutes. There are no constants. Everything is relative to circumstances, situations, and and and so they arrive at a phrase called, what is it?
Situational ethics. Situ situational ethics. You see now, all that is is another effort to avoid God and allow people to behave any way that they want to behave without any fear or or or of consequences. God's commandments are not for his benefit. Okay? Understand that. God's commandments are not for his benefit. It's it's for ours. But that's a notion that escapes a lot of people. People think think of God as just an old, you know, ogre sitting up in the sky somewhere that says, oh, man. I'm really gonna give it to them today. Yeah. I'm gonna give them I'm gonna give them 10 commandments, and and I'll make their lives miserable.
But it's not that way at all. It's not that way at all. What god gave us in commandments and standards of behavior is not for his benefit. It's for ours. And ultimately, and it ultimately benefits and and ultimately, it benefits us. So so then we have you know, now now, you know, here's a thought, actually. Here's a thought, and and it's a thought that that kinda came to me earlier today, and it's not something I really thought about before. It never really occurred to me before, and I was kinda debating if I was gonna bring it up tonight, but, and I'm going out on a limb with this one, but I believe it.
You know, you have some of the newest bibles that that they're coming out with, and and you've heard of them, you know, that that and what they're trying to do is trying to feminize God. And so they're going around changing pronouns. You know, God can no longer be a he. God has to be a she, or an it or or or whatever, you know, whatever they wanna make it, but God can no longer be a he. And I got to thinking about that. I said, why? Why would there be an effort to feminize God? And then it it occurred to me. I know why. I know why.
The softening of the rules. The softening of now just think about it. Think about it. Before you cut me off here, just think about it. In most homes, if dad said no, we would try to see if we could massage mom a little bit. Right? Because mom, you know, by her maternal instincts, was a little softer. Little easier to to to navigate to. And so it it was kind of, you know, well, let's, you know, let let's see if we can feminize God, and then maybe the rules will be slackened a little bit. And one of the things I've always hated, I always hated when my mom said when when I went to my mother to ask her something, and she would say, well ask your father. You know, I hated that.
You know? No. I wanna ask you. And I I thought you would cut me a little bit more slack. Not often, but once in a while. You know? But alright. So so fools. Fools deny God. That's the number one thing you need to know about fools. If you don't know anything else, know that. Alright? But that's not all. Fools blaspheme God. Go over to Psalm 74. Psalm 74 and verse eight. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, oh Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Alright. Now this is something that I've mentioned frequently, you know, from from in in this capacity, from from pulpits over the years, preaching, because it's just, you know, to me, it's it's such a a glaring example of of the very existence and holiness of God himself, you know, the God of the Bible. You know, you name another God, you know, small g God that you that people utilize as a curse word. Think about that.
Just think about that. No other God is used as a curse word. Right? Allah has never been utilized as a curse word, or the gods of Buddhism, or Hinduism, or any other isms that are out there. It's always the god of the Bible. Always the God of the Bible that that's that's in the world, and used, and swearing, and cursing. And you know what that tells me? You know what that tells me? That tells me that when a person is cursing in the name of God Almighty, what they're really searching for in their mind is a stamp of final authority on what they're saying. And instinctively instinctively, without even realizing how they've confused themselves, They've called on the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The God of the Bible to authoritatively put his stamp on whatever that statement is they were making. So that that's why they they they ask God to damn something. You know, they they never ask Buddha to damn anything. I mean, can you imagine that? Oh, Buddha damn. I might start using that one. What do you think? Oh, Mohammed damn. It just doesn't work. Right? It it it doesn't work, and you know why that is? Because there's no authority there. That's why. There's no authority. There's just none. It's empty. It's like a vacuum. You see? So fools blaspheme God, and that in and of itself demonstrates the actual reality of our God.
Alright? Now in a in a close relation to that, I want you to look down in verse, 22, Psalm 74 and verse 22. Let me get that to you. Arise, oh god. Plead thine own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches thee daily. Reproaches thee daily. Alright. Now, I I suppose that we could come up with a few examples that of what it would mean to reproach God. Alright? Let me give you one that I've heard people say, you know, periodically over the years. Alright. And I'm sure you've heard stuff like this too. Well, when I get ups when I get upstairs, I got a few bones to pick with the man the old man upstairs. Oh, yeah. You do.
You absolutely do. How's that gonna work out for you, bud? How's that gonna work out for you? You know what they're doing? You know what they're doing there? The the they're reproaching god. And and I'll tell you something, folks. That's a terrible disease that leads, as far as I'm concerned, to spiritual dementia where to to to where they can't even think after after a while about, you know, particularly about spiritual things. Alright. But that's not all. Go to Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs in chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14. Fools make a mock at sin, but among the righteous, there is favor. Alright. So fools make a mock at sin.
Now the pulpit commentary is not usually very dependable, but occasionally, they come up with something that's actually worth reading, and and this this is one time that they actually did. Their comment on this particular verse is this. Quote, fools commit sin lightly and cheerfully. They give spacious names to grievous transgressions, pass over rebuke with a joke, and encourage others in crime by their easy way of viewing it. Alright. That's a pretty good explanation. That's pretty good. You know, a a young fraternity man who was a Christian sat for about two hours in the living room of his frat house listening to, you know, a typical bowl session, you know, by by all of these young students.
One young man described the specific requirements for a BTO or a BMOC. Alright? You know what that is? A BTO is a big time operator, and the BMOC is the big man on campus. Alright? Well, he was quite vivid. Let's just put it that way in in his details. And, after a gala laughter, swept through the room, the Christian said quietly, I think you left out two very important qualifications for the wolf. And what are those? Asked the first speaker, still chuckling. The Christian said, a weak head and a wicked heart. A weak head and a wicked heart. I imagine it got really quiet for a little while.
Well, the only real problem with that story is that, you know, Christians don't really belong in frat houses, to be honest. And I don't know if you left at that point, but it would have been a good time to exit. You know? Would have been would have been a good time to say, alright. See you later. I'm out of here. Four young men four young men piled into a taxi, which was carried which carried an aged gentleman in it. As a taxi went toward Downtown New York, the young men laughed and roared about what they were gonna do that night, the drinks, the women, when they got there. And and one of them winked at his buddy, turned into the old man who had been silently gazing out of the window during the entire conversation said, well, how about it, pups? You wanna make a night on the town with us?
The old gentleman quietly looked at each one of the young bucks and turned and said, slowly and deliberately, gentlemen, I fear God. How do you respond to that? You know, how are you gonna answer that? That sums it up pretty well. Alright? I don't think you can sum it up any better than that. Alright. Now in in connection with making a market sin, go over to Proverbs in chapter 10. Proverbs in chapter 10. Proverbs chapter 10, and it'll be verse 23. Now, you know, as I as I review all these various definitions and descriptions of a fool, I can't help but think almost without exception, that every one of them has a pretty direct application to the modern news media.
Think about that. I mean, you could probably make your own applications in your mind's eye, but but just think about that for a second. Now Proverbs chapter 10 and verse 23, it is as sport to a fool to do mischief, but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Alright. So the idea is it's great sport to see what they can get away with. That's the idea of the whole thing. You know, harmless pranks turn into misdemeanors, which turn into further trouble. See, it's a sport to get into mischief. Now I I suppose that that most younger younger men at least, you know, have sought out mischief at one time or another in their life.
You know, when I was working back in New York, my my partner and I were assigned to an overnight security detail for a for a new fountain that was, recently opened at a point of entrance to a boardwalk over in, and beach over in South Beach on Staten Island. And it it was an ugly statue, to be honest with you. It was horrible. But, it was just like a bunch of dolphins that were positioned like they were playing in the fountain, and they had water that flowed up and sprayed out, you know, with lights and and all that. And that thing just run all night long. Well, we were there babysitting this fountain because someone put a whole bottle of dish detergent in that fountain one night, and the whole circle, the and parking lot were covered with bubbles.
Alright? That's mischief. That's mischief. You gotta be careful about mischief. You see? Un unfortunately, a lot of mischief that people get into today are not harmless. They're not harmless pranks at all. Go to Proverbs chapter one verse seven. Proverbs chapter one verse seven. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Alright? So the idea of the thing is a fool thinks he knows it all. Right? A fool thinks he does a fool thinks he knows it all. He doesn't need any instruction. He refuses to investigate facts.
You know, it happens in politics. For example, you know, liberals liberals drive me nuts. You know that. Not just because they're liberals, they drive me nuts because they refuse to investigate all the facts, and that's what drives you crazy. That's what drives you crazy. And so, the failure to investigate the facts often leads to a downward trend that ends in violence. Now you've all heard of Antifa. You know what that is? You know that that's that's that's a group of mostly young men running around the country that are ignorant of the facts. And it's ex and it it's an excuse for them to misbehave as we've already suggested.
And then, of course, you know, that invades and finds its way into religion. So, you know, it's not just politics. It's it's it's it's not those kinds of things. It's religion. For example, when the Jehovah Witness comes to your door and he wants to wants you to take his literature, How about this? How about you offer him some literature? You know what happens when you offer him some some literature? He refuses it. He he will not take your literature under any set of circumstances. You know what the problem is? You know the he will not investigate the facts.
The other side of the story, he won't do it. He's been instructed not to do it. When they when they would come to me, I would tell them all the time, I can't take your literature unless you take some of mine. You know, I'm not afraid of yours. Why are you afraid of mine? And, you know, I I've done other things. I've insulted them. I've I've tried I mean, I've tried everything. You know? I have. I I said I said to one guy once, I I said, are you so intellectually deficient that you can't sort out the truth from fiction? You know, I mean but you see, that's the way they've been brainwashed. That that's the way they've been programmed. They cannot take anybody else's literature.
They couldn't visit any other church under any set of circumstances. They just can't do it. You see? They're not allowed to do it. Alright. You know, one way you get a good education is to get both sides of the story. You get all sides. But we but we see so much in now, you know, for example, we have college campuses all across America that are resisting and not allowing conservative speakers on the campus. That's insanity. That's insanity. You know, I think about Charlie Kirk. You know, he went to these liberal college campuses and engaged these people in critical thinking, or at least he tried to, and they killed him for it.
But yet they all talk about they wanna keep dialogue. They want dialogue. We need to talk. We need to keep talking. Yeah. They'll keep talking as long as you're in agreement with what they hold to be their truth. That's insanity. Is that a good education? How can you tell how can you call that good education when you resist the opportunity to even hear what the other side has to say? And then a lot of times, you know, if if if they are successful in bringing a conservative speaker, you know, the adversary show up, they scream, they yell, they protest. They make so much noise that the speaker can't even be heard.
You know what fools you know, fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fools do it. Tragically Tragically, there are there are too many fools running the college campuses of America. Too many. Alright. They they hate knowledge. Look at, verse 22 of chapter of Proverbs chapter one. Verse 22. How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? And a scorner's delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Alright. Let me ask you let let me ask you how many liberal evolutionists do you think have ever visited, the arc out there in Kentucky?
Probably not handfuls. You know? Because why? Because they don't wanna be faced with the possibility that they could be wrong geologically or or any other way scientifically. They just don't wanna be confronted with the possibility that they could be wrong. How many? I I how many college students in America, except maybe some Christian colleges, aren't all that equated with the fact there are hundreds, if not thousands of scientists in the world that do not agree with climate change? I googled it one time, and the the, you know, the list goes on, and it goes on, and it goes on and on. And, of course, Google will probably try to remedy that, you know, by eliminating their names, you know, but they're you know, I'm I'm talking about credible scientists. I'm talking about people with with all of the academic bona fides, the the the PhDs in physics and and and all of that stuff. And they're saying, no. Climate change doesn't exist as it's being taught.
It does not exist as it's being propagated today, but you never hear about that. You never hear about that on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, whatever MSNBC became? You don't hear about that. Why not? Why don't you hear about that? Well, I'll tell you why. Because fools hate knowledge. That's why. That's why. So, you know, maybe you, we you know, we're surrounded by fools. Alright? That's not all. Proverbs chapter 12. Proverbs in chapter 12. And when you get there to verse number 15, Proverbs 12 verse 15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Alright. You know what that tells me? That tells me that fools are self sufficient in their thinking.
Fools are self sufficient in their thinking. They think that they know all that there is that they need to know, and they don't need to have their minds, you know, invaded by any other opposite ideas or or or concepts. And so Paul reiterates essentially the same thing over in Romans chapter one. You see he's talking about fools and and and and what they've rejected, which is obvious truth. Right? But that but, you know, that's not all. Look over in Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14 and, in verse six. Proverbs 14 verse six, a scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not, but knowledge is easy unto them that understandeth.
A scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not, but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Well, there which you would say is, they're, self confident. Self comp they they think they have all the answers. They think they have all the answers, and and and they don't need to be exposed to to anything else. And, and and consequently, look at verse 16. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confident. Confidence. They they they exude that attitude of, man, we gotta get a handle on it. They're so self confident. They're self deceivers.
Looking for verse, chapter 14 verse eight. Verse eight, same chapter. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the fool but the folly of fools is deceit. Alright? They're self deceivers. Self deceivers. Alright? And then, let's look over in Proverbs chapter 28. Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 26. Now this is the real corn killer in my opinion. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool. Alright. Now how many times has the world instructed you to just trust your heart? Believe your heart. Follow your heart. I mean, listen to all the songs that are out there, you know, that that are on the hip rate today, you know, country, hip hop, you know, whatever it is that you like to listen to.
And I'll guarantee you that at least half of them, if not more, are encouraging you to believe your heart, follow your heart, and trust your heart. And that Bible tells you that if you do that, you're a fool. And why is that? Why is that? Well, it's really simple. Jeremiah said, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Your heart's gonna mislead you. Your heart will operate on the fabric of its emotions. And your emotions, and you all know this, your emotions are a roller coaster. They're a roller coaster. Amen?
I mean, do you always feel exactly the same way every day? You get up and you say, man, I feel good today and and tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day, next month, the next it's just the same. No. No. Probably not. And if you do, I wanna pat you on the head. Maybe rub some of that off. I don't know. Probably not. You know why? Because of our humanity. Because of our humanity. Or even better, a good liberal word is humanality. Is that better? You like that one better? Humanality? No. I know humanity, but I but I've I've heard I've heard the libs say something about humanality, so I'm just trying to be, you know, inclusive.
Okay. Whatever. Whatever. You know? Look, folks. You can't. You you can't depend on your heart because your heart will fool you. Your heart will lie to you. Your heart will deceive you. Don't trust your heart. Fools trust their heart. Now as believers, and particularly in our spiritual lives, you can you can't trust your heart at all. You cannot trust your heart at all, spiritually. You gotta trust the evidence, and the evidence is found in the word of God. Alright? Fools. That's not all. Proverbs chapter 15. Let's go over there. Proverbs chapter 15 and, verse number two. Proverbs 15 verse two.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. You know what? You you know what fools are? Fools are full of words. Fools are full of words. One of the indicators of a fool is they generally never shut up. So, you know, they're given a meddling. Look in, Proverbs chapter 20 and verse three. Proverbs chapter 20 and verse three. It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling. Alright. Now what's a meddler? Well, a meddler is someone that sticks his nose into into somebody else's business. Alright? That's the simplest way I could I could describe it to you. That's a meddler. Alright? That's what fools do. You know? That's what they do. And that's not all. Go to Proverbs chapter 10. Let's go back to Proverbs chapter 10, and let's look at verse, verse 18.
Proverbs 10 verse 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander is a fool. Fools are slanderers. Alright. Now what's a slanderer? A slanderer is someone that tells stories about someone else without concrete evidence that it's truth. So they just make stuff up. Do you, like, do you suppose the media ever does that? Well, sure. They make stuff up all the time. And, you know, you know, and and and they throw it out there, and they expect people just to believe it. Now that's not all. Fools are also angry. Fools are angry. Go to Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes chapter seven. So So if you're in Proverbs, just go over to your right, next book, Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes chapter seven and verse nine. And, you know, it's it's it's hard it's hard to find, and I and I keep referring to to Libs because I I I see a lot of fools in the political world under that heading. But but but it's really it it's really hard to find a happy liberal. Right? You ever noticed that? I don't know if you have or not. I I've noticed that. You know, it's just hard to find a happy liberal. I find happy conservatives all the time, you know? But liberals, man, they're just not happy. They're not why? Because they're angry.
They're mad all the time, you see, and that leads them to be contentious in Proverbs 18 and verse six. They're they're they're just contentious, argumentative, and that's just the it's just the way they are. Alright. Now if you ever been in a in a conversation if you ever been in a conversation with one, you may have noticed that when when when you presented your side, we didn't read the verse. Right? Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Now back to the conversation. I mean, if you if if you'd ever been in a conversation with one, you'd probably noticed that when that that when you've presented your side of, of, of the case or or or or or, or your side of of the case had substance, and and it had facts, and it has, you know, the kind of thing that generally what happens you know, that kind of thing. And and what generally happens is they just get louder and they talk louder, and they scream a little bit without submitting any further evidence.
They're contentious. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen it all over. They make TikTok videos. They're proud of it. They will shout over you because they have no ideas. They have no vow they have no they they have no facts. They're contentious. And, of course, you you also encounter that in in the religious world as well. You know? Right? Let's go over to Luke in chapter 12. Luke in chapter 12. Let's just run over there really quick. And, Luke chapter 12 and and kinda wrap this up with some of their observations here. Alright. Now the Bible says to avoid fools.
Well, that's probably impossible on a 100% basis because the world seems to be proliferated with fools. Amen? But at the very least, I would say don't allow fools to influence your thinking. You know, try to make sure that they're not influencing you in directions in in in in in ways which which don't offer biblical substance and truth. Alright. Now in Luke chapter 12 and, verse 16, verse 16. And he spake a parable unto them saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this I will do. This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be which thou has provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward god. Alright. Now the parable is pretty self explanatory, and and it's simply this. If you make no preparations for the future beyond this life, no preparations for the judgment seat of Christ, no preparations for eternity, you're a fool. You're a fool. Don't be a fool. You say, don't be a fool. Alright? Fools resist the sayings of Jesus Christ, which of course includes the gospels.
Go to first Kings chapter 12, Old Testament. Gonna flip on back. First Kings and chapter 12, and then you're gonna go to verse eight. It says, but he alright. Now the he here is Rehoboam from verse one, which is the son of Solomon. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him. Alright. Now if you follow the narrative all the way through, we're not gonna do that, but if you follow the narrative all the all the way through, Rehoboam was given the keys and the badge to the kingdom after the death of his father Solomon. And so what he does is he surrounds himself with the council of young men, and he says, you know, what do you guys think I ought to do?
And they said, well, here's here's what you here here's what you, what here's what you do. You go back and you tell them you tell them that your father was a pussycat. You tell them that that you're gonna you're you're gonna really hammer them with taxation. You're gonna you're gonna put put a heavy weight on people. And, and and so then, you know, he pondered this, and he said, well, he said, okay. That sounds good to me. That's what we're gonna do. And then the result of that was the kingdom split. The kingdom split. I mean, literally, a political civil war took place, and it was split because he consulted the young men.
You know, fools look to Antifa for advice, but but wise men don't. You see? So Rehoboam was a fool. He was a fool. The Pharisees were fools, and Jesus called them fools over in Matthew chapter 20 and verse three, then he repeated it. God calls Israel a fool in Jeremiah chapter four and verse 22 because of their backslid and derelict ways. He says, you're fools. You're fools. So, you know, we have a lot of examples, and and those are just three of them, but but there are many, many, many more in your Bible that people or groups of people turned out to be fools.
And there there is one passage I'm gonna take you to over it, and this is Matthew chapter five. Alright. Matthew chapter five, and it's a legitimate question. So so so let's see if we can get an answer. Matthew chapter five verse 22. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause, without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council, but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. Alright. Now first of all, you need to set the stage here. Alright? You have to realize where this is. Alright. This is in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and the Sermon on the Mount is the constitutional form of a coming kingdom, the millennial kingdom.
All of this behavior that's being discussed in the in the Sermon on the Mount has an application to the future, and this is the way the government is gonna be run under the iron rod of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has nothing to do with the church age. Okay? Let's make that clear. I know this is dispensationalism. We haven't really studied dispensationalism on on this show yet. We're going to. We're gonna be moving into that shortly. But this has nothing to do with the church age. Because on more than one occasion, Paul called people fools, or he instructed us to know that some people are fools.
Alright. So then how does that apply? How does this passage apply to us then? Well, it's a millennial application is what the thing is, and specifically to Israel and the millennial kingdom. But now there's something else that has to be observed here. Alright? Let's go back up to the verse. Let's get the verse back up there. There we go. Alright. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Alright? And all that that that could very well be a human judgment. You see? And and we know that because of what follows. Alright? And so, you know, in other words, another way of saying another way of looking at it would be, you know, somebody might drag you to court in the millennium because you're angry with your brother without a cause.
And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raqa, shall be in danger of the council. Alright. Well, the council's another human endeavor, not a godly thing, but a human thing. Alright? This has a government, millennial government kind of application. Alright. Now what about that word, Raqqa, r a c a? What is Raqqa? When was the last time you ever said you're a raca to somebody? Probably never. I I know I never have. Well, raca is a Hebrew word. It's a Jewish word, and it's and it's the word for fool, but, but, a modified form of a fool. Alright? Look at the rest of the verse.
But whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. Alright? So so do do you see how the whole thing goes? Right? It goes in segments, like increments. The first one is if you're angry angry with your brother without a cause, you might face some kind of a judgment. Alright? If you say to your brother, Rocca, you could be in danger of being drugged in front of a council. But if you call someone a fool, you could be in danger of going to hellfire. Now there is nowhere in the Pauline epistles anywhere that would indicate that if you call someone a fool, you might go to hell.
This has a millennial application. Alright. Now what is a then? What is then? What does it mean? Well, in instead of calling it, you know what? Instead of calling, I'm gonna put it into into the best modern vernacular that I can. Alright? Instead of saying, well, you know, that guy's a fool, you might say, well, that guy's a blockhead. You see what I mean? It's it's just kind of a modified form of fool that that's that's that's a a toned down approach to a fool. Alright? So so that's a That's what means. Alright? You're not really saying fool, but you're implying that his behavior is foolish. So he's a blockhead, or he's he's a knucklehead, or or he's a jerk, you know, something like that, you know. And and you could think of all kinds of names. You you can go anywhere else. I'm not gonna say them, you know, doing a bible study. I'm not gonna say the other words that come to mind.
So in other words, you're questioning their behavior. You're questioning their sanity. You're questioning their common sense. You're questioning. You're not necessarily accusing, but you're questioning. That's what raka is. So does it have any application to you? Does it have any application to you? Probably not more not anymore than if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. You know, how many of you would like to have that have an application of that to you? How many of you would like that? Right? If your right eye offend thee, pluck it out. I have never been to a church that said, man, can we use that verse right there? You know, put it on a big banner, you know, you know, probably not.
Probably not. But but you understand what I'm talking about. You know, tragically, too many Christians take Sunday cavalierly. Alright? Too many Christians have higher priorities, and the priority of going to church and and and meeting with the saints and hearing the word of God is somewhere maybe fourth, fifth, or even sixth down the list. Folks, Sunday's an important day. Sunday's an important day. We call it the Lord's day. Alright? It's not the Sabbath, that's Saturday. But for Christians, it's the Lord's day. The day should belong to him.
It should belong to the Lord. And I encourage you and I encourage others as that, you know, we look forward to Sunday. We look forward to Sunday. Is is Sunday a day that you pray about? That you look forward to? You anticipate? You say, God, we'd sure like to see you show up in a real special way this Sunday. And, you know, if all the saints did that boy, you know, who who yeah. Who would know who knows what would happen? And Charlie is howling at the door, so I'm getting distracted. I'm sorry. You know, if everyone would just pray for Sunday. Just pray for Sunday. Heavenly father, we thank you that you love us. We I I wish you I wish we loved you more.
I I really do. I I wish that I wish you and that all you have in your workforce was a top priority in our list. I I do. But tragically, all too often, it isn't. All too often, it isn't. Lord, forgive us for our indifference. I pray. Charlie is howling at the door. You know, maybe if God's people would kinda recommit themselves in in in in a very unusual or or or or wonderful way to the purposes of Lord Jesus Christ in in their lives, and and and and with God's help to help us avoid fools and live our lives according to the dictates of the word of God, things would be a lot better in this world.
I'm convinced of that. So, heavenly father, again, we thank you for the day. We thank you for the preaching and teaching of your book. We thank you for the words that you've given us to live our lives by. Father, we thank you, and, lord, thank you so much that it is for our benefit that you give them to us, and help us, father god, to to apply these things to our lives each and every day. Lord, help us to avoid fools and foolish things. Help us help us to to not to not even consider the foolish thoughts, because, you know, Lord, we our minds are always full of foolish things. We're surrounded by foolish things all day long.
So, Father, please, I pray that your Holy Spirit would fall upon each one of us, and if there's anyone that's listening under the sound of my voice, father, I just pray that you would just just fall down upon them, Lord. And I'll thank you for it, and save them today in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright, folks. Don't forget. Head over to the website. Sign up for the program announcements email list that we have up there. It's a great way for us to keep in contact with everybody, so please check it out and sign up for it. It's free. Don't cost you nothing. And, we're not gonna spam you. We're not gonna send you stuff you don't want. We're not gonna, you know, pitch things to you. It's all about the show, about upcoming episodes, and so on and so forth, the guests and and whatnot. So check it out. Program programming announcements email list right there on the website. As soon as you get up there, a little pop up window is gonna show up, and you should be good to go. Alright. Also, if you are in the Eagle Pass area and you're looking for a good King James Bible believing and Bible teaching church, why did you consider paying us a visit over at First Baptist Church of Eagle Pass? We meet at 664 North Monroe. Our Sunday school hour starts at 10AM. Sunday's, worship service begins at eleven. Evening service is at 6PM, and Wednesday night Bible study is at 7PM. Now for more information, just head over to the church's Facebook page. Just log in to Facebook, search for First Baptist Church of Eagle Pass. It's the only one in town. So it's not like you're gonna be able to, you know, miss it or anything. So, First Baptist Church of Beagle Pass, do the search on on Facebook, and, and like, subscribe, follow the page if you like. Check it out. There's a lot of really great information in there about the church and about things that the church is involved with, and, check them out. Come and pay some visit. Alright. Don't forget to check us out on all the socials. We're not gonna run through them all now, but, you know, you know what they are. We're out there, so find us. Alright. Shout outs as always to our producing team, our executive producer, Wayne Rankin, Rosanna Rankin, Carolina Jimenez, Marissa Lee, and anonymous Angela. Thank you guys for all that you do and and what you contribute to the show through your time, your talent, your treasure. We really do appreciate that, immensely. Now if you wanna help out, you wanna get involved, you can help us out with a donation. A one time donation in any amount is greatly appreciated. A recurring donation in any amount is also greatly appreciated.
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And, you know, it to to scale back at this point would be a huge a huge blow, for me. And, you know, we wanna try to avoid that. So if you have the means and you're able to help out, we would really appreciate. There's a link in the show notes. There's also the QR code right up here on your screen. Any amount will be helpful. We do appreciate that. I hate asking for stuff like this. It just drives me absolutely crazy. Shouldn't have to do this thing, but this is what we do. Alright. So I do appreciate it. Any help is helpful, and we do appreciate it, and thank you very, very much for it. Alright. I think having said that, we will say our goodbyes. So, folks, thank you again for taking the time to be with us us on this Sunday edition of The Joe Russo, our Bible Studies Sunday.
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Transmitting live from the asylum studios deep in the bowels of Southwest Alrighty. Hey, folks. This is Joe Roos, and it is great to be with you once again as we open and study the precious word of God, your King James Bible. And you know, folks, as always, whenever and wherever ever you find yourself watching or listening to us, it's always, always my prayer that you find yourself in the grace and in the mercy of our lord and savior, the lord Jesus Christ. Welcome to the Joe Ruse Show. And of course, as always, we are transmitting live at the asylum studios from the pimple on the backside of Texas, the beautiful city of Eagle Pass. And folks, it is an absolutely beautiful, beautiful Sunday evening here in Eagle Pass, Texas.
It is phenomenal, beautiful, gorgeous. What a weekend. Hope you guys had a good weekend. I hope you guys were actually able to check out the show yesterday with our resident crypto psychic, Marissa Lee. We talked about Algorand, Algo Land. We talked about XRP. We talked about everything that is of importance. So, folks, I hope you're able to check that out. And, seems like we're having some trouble here with the rumble feed. The key seems to be freezing up, so we'll keep an eye on that and see what happens. Hopefully, it's not everywhere else. And if it is, well, sorry.
At least it was unimpeded on the audio stream. Right? Right. Alright. Well, folks, for the last, oh, five weeks already. Jeez. I can't believe it's five weeks already. For the last five weeks, we've been studying wisdom on our Sunday afternoons, and, the book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom. And, so far, we've taught on the, biblical admonition that you find in Proverbs. He that winneth souls is wise. We talked a little bit about soul winning. We've talked about dealing with fear, and then last week, we talked about dealing with death. And, so this week, we're gonna begin in Proverbs chapter 14, and we're gonna deal with a subject, that we all come across on a daily basis, dealing with fools and avoiding fools.
Alright. Now before we get started, if you would, please head over to our website, joeroos.com. Joeroos.com. And if you would, please where's my banner? There we go. Joeroos.com. There we go. Joeroos.com. Head over to our contact section. Send us over a message. Let us know what you're thinking. Any questions, comments, cares, or concerns that you might have, any issues that might come up, any suggestions for a topic a topic for a show or a or a guest you'd like us to get. Head over to the website, open up the contact form, send it over to us. If you don't wanna use the web form, totally fine with me. You can always email me directly at [email protected]. That's [email protected].
Or right down below there, there's a section for comments. You could leave a comment down below, and we would be happy to, respond to those as well. So, plenty of ways to reach us and, just pick pick your best weapon. Alright? And, let's do that. Alright. Also, this show is brought to you by Ezra Healing. Folks, Ezra Healing is a substantial part of the new wellness paradigm currently being born in North America and around the globe. The global citizenry are no longer satisfied with the sick care version of so called health care. Band aid medicine, endlessly treating symptoms rather than root causes, must be abandoned as soon as possible. Patient centric care must be the priority. Folks, we need to transition towards the do no harm model of private care that places humanity at the forefront of real health and wellness care. In this new model, your entire lifestyle is examined and analyzed to promote and support the totality of your body's integrated systems.
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That's podhome.fm. And if you sign up today, you get thirty days absolutely free. Thirty days to play with it, and then $15.99 a month after that. It's a great platform, folks. You are really gonna be pleased with it, so I would suggest you check it out. Alright. Now if you have your bible with you, I am going to be using a, bible on the screen here, electronic bible today. So I don't have my, I don't have my, my my sword here with me. But, head over to Proverbs and chapter number 14. Proverbs chapter 14. Alright? And, let's pray. Father, would you add your blessings to the reading and examination and the study of your word? Father, we thank you for it. The word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two edged sword, and, Lord, it it it it brings healing, but it also brings admonition.
Lord, help us never to presume upon it or take it lightly, but to be as serious as we know how to be. And when we approach it, in really believing and understanding it, and understanding that we hold in our hands, in our laps, in in our eyes before us, the wonderful, the inspired, the preserved, the perfect word of God. And father, we thank you for it, and we bless you for it. In the precious name of our savior, the lord Jesus Christ, we do pray. Amen. Alright. Proverbs chapter seven. Correction. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse seven. Proverbs chapter 14 and verse seven. Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge.
Alright. Let me give you the, 2,025 interpretation of that. Okay. When someone starts talking stupid, leave. Just leave. In other words, avoid fools. Alright? Go back to chapter number nine. Proverbs chapter nine and verse six. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. Forsake the foolish and live, and go in the way of understanding. Well, there is, without a doubt, a lot of foolishness that we are surrounded with. Let me turn that off. There we go. Much better. There's a lot of foolishness that we're surrounded with, and some of it, well, almost at times seems to be utterly inescapable in modern day America.
You know? But if we're gonna avoid fools and foolishness, this may even include, in fact, I'm absolutely convinced it will include periodically. Well, actually, quite often Changing channels. You with me? Don't change this. Stay here. Alright? We got a lot to talk about, so stay here. But, but you understand what I'm saying? You know? Got a lot of stuff out there that that is just nothing more than foolishness, and God says to avoid fools. Alright? But, but having said that, we are compelled then to investigate what a fool is from a biblical viewpoint. Alright? Not from any other standpoint and not from any other definition, but what does God say a fool is?
Well, probably all of you. At least most of you can think of a number one of the number one criteria of a fool. And now there there are many that we're gonna look at. Alright? Many we're gonna look at, but what do you suppose the number one criteria of a fool is? Biblically speaking. Just biblically speaking. Alright? A fool says there is no God. Alright? Take your Bible, go with me to Psalm 14. Psalm 14, and let's get some confirmation on that. Psalm 14 and verse one. The fool hath said in his heart, there is no god. They are corrupt. They have done abominable works. There is none that doeth good.
Alright? So a fool, someone who's a fool, someone who's foolish, concludes that there is no God. Alright? Go over to, go over to Psalm 53. Psalm 53. Alright. Evidently, this is important enough to be embedded in our hearts and minds that God repeated it. He said it again here in Psalm 53 and verse one. Psalm 53 verse one, the fool has said in his heart, there is no God. Corrupt are they, and have done abominable iniquity. There is none that doeth good. So, basically, God reinforces the idea that a fool maintains that there is no God. Alright? Now today, much of today's modern secular educational system, is constructed for the purpose of denying God's existence.
That's really, like, that's really half the reason they exist. You see, be because you see, if God can be eliminated, then there are no standards of behavior that need to be adhered to, except the arbitrary ones that that man chooses to impose upon himself. For example, science says evolution. Alright? Now if evolution can be documented, and it and it and it's nothing that has to be proven and when I say documented, I mean documented to the extent that the majority of people are convinced. You know, I I was talk I was talking to an elderly man, one time, and he he wasn't so elder that that he lost his mind, or anything like that, but I but I remember this conversation, you know, back in New York, and his wife attended our church, and, he didn't, but but he brought this up. He brought this up. He said something about, well, you know, I believe in evolution.
I said, alright. Well, tell me why. I'm broad minded enough. You can tell me why. And he said, well, because of what they show on TV. Alright. So that was the only evidence that he could submit, what they show on television. I said, okay. Well, let me ask you this. Have you ever read any books that oppose the theory? He said, no. I said, would you be willing to? He said, no. Now you know what that guy's really telling me? He was telling me that that he that he wanted to believe in evolution. He wanted to believe in evolution. Because if evolution is a fact, then there then there's an all probability, no God which and and that allows him to behave any way that he wants to behave.
Alright? So that's the bottom line of it. Evolution has no rules. There are there are no 10 commandments in the theory of evolution. There are no rules of behavior. You see what I'm saying? Not in evolution. Alright? Now that's true in that's that's true in that that it's in science. It's it's true in philosophy. You know you know philosophy teaches our kids? Philosophy teaches our kids the theory of relativity. Alright? All things are relative. There are no absolutes. There are no constants. Everything is relative to circumstances, situations, and and and so they arrive at a phrase called, what is it?
Situational ethics. Situ situational ethics. You see now, all that is is another effort to avoid God and allow people to behave any way that they want to behave without any fear or or or of consequences. God's commandments are not for his benefit. Okay? Understand that. God's commandments are not for his benefit. It's it's for ours. But that's a notion that escapes a lot of people. People think think of God as just an old, you know, ogre sitting up in the sky somewhere that says, oh, man. I'm really gonna give it to them today. Yeah. I'm gonna give them I'm gonna give them 10 commandments, and and I'll make their lives miserable.
But it's not that way at all. It's not that way at all. What god gave us in commandments and standards of behavior is not for his benefit. It's for ours. And ultimately, and it ultimately benefits and and ultimately, it benefits us. So so then we have you know, now now, you know, here's a thought, actually. Here's a thought, and and it's a thought that that kinda came to me earlier today, and it's not something I really thought about before. It never really occurred to me before, and I was kinda debating if I was gonna bring it up tonight, but, and I'm going out on a limb with this one, but I believe it.
You know, you have some of the newest bibles that that they're coming out with, and and you've heard of them, you know, that that and what they're trying to do is trying to feminize God. And so they're going around changing pronouns. You know, God can no longer be a he. God has to be a she, or an it or or or whatever, you know, whatever they wanna make it, but God can no longer be a he. And I got to thinking about that. I said, why? Why would there be an effort to feminize God? And then it it occurred to me. I know why. I know why.
The softening of the rules. The softening of now just think about it. Think about it. Before you cut me off here, just think about it. In most homes, if dad said no, we would try to see if we could massage mom a little bit. Right? Because mom, you know, by her maternal instincts, was a little softer. Little easier to to to navigate to. And so it it was kind of, you know, well, let's, you know, let let's see if we can feminize God, and then maybe the rules will be slackened a little bit. And one of the things I've always hated, I always hated when my mom said when when I went to my mother to ask her something, and she would say, well ask your father. You know, I hated that.
You know? No. I wanna ask you. And I I thought you would cut me a little bit more slack. Not often, but once in a while. You know? But alright. So so fools. Fools deny God. That's the number one thing you need to know about fools. If you don't know anything else, know that. Alright? But that's not all. Fools blaspheme God. Go over to Psalm 74. Psalm 74 and verse eight. Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, oh Lord, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. Alright. Now this is something that I've mentioned frequently, you know, from from in in this capacity, from from pulpits over the years, preaching, because it's just, you know, to me, it's it's such a a glaring example of of the very existence and holiness of God himself, you know, the God of the Bible. You know, you name another God, you know, small g God that you that people utilize as a curse word. Think about that.
Just think about that. No other God is used as a curse word. Right? Allah has never been utilized as a curse word, or the gods of Buddhism, or Hinduism, or any other isms that are out there. It's always the god of the Bible. Always the God of the Bible that that's that's in the world, and used, and swearing, and cursing. And you know what that tells me? You know what that tells me? That tells me that when a person is cursing in the name of God Almighty, what they're really searching for in their mind is a stamp of final authority on what they're saying. And instinctively instinctively, without even realizing how they've confused themselves, They've called on the name of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The God of the Bible to authoritatively put his stamp on whatever that statement is they were making. So that that's why they they they ask God to damn something. You know, they they never ask Buddha to damn anything. I mean, can you imagine that? Oh, Buddha damn. I might start using that one. What do you think? Oh, Mohammed damn. It just doesn't work. Right? It it it doesn't work, and you know why that is? Because there's no authority there. That's why. There's no authority. There's just none. It's empty. It's like a vacuum. You see? So fools blaspheme God, and that in and of itself demonstrates the actual reality of our God.
Alright? Now in a in a close relation to that, I want you to look down in verse, 22, Psalm 74 and verse 22. Let me get that to you. Arise, oh god. Plead thine own cause. Remember how the foolish man reproaches thee daily. Reproaches thee daily. Alright. Now, I I suppose that we could come up with a few examples that of what it would mean to reproach God. Alright? Let me give you one that I've heard people say, you know, periodically over the years. Alright. And I'm sure you've heard stuff like this too. Well, when I get ups when I get upstairs, I got a few bones to pick with the man the old man upstairs. Oh, yeah. You do.
You absolutely do. How's that gonna work out for you, bud? How's that gonna work out for you? You know what they're doing? You know what they're doing there? The the they're reproaching god. And and I'll tell you something, folks. That's a terrible disease that leads, as far as I'm concerned, to spiritual dementia where to to to where they can't even think after after a while about, you know, particularly about spiritual things. Alright. But that's not all. Go to Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs in chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14. Fools make a mock at sin, but among the righteous, there is favor. Alright. So fools make a mock at sin.
Now the pulpit commentary is not usually very dependable, but occasionally, they come up with something that's actually worth reading, and and this this is one time that they actually did. Their comment on this particular verse is this. Quote, fools commit sin lightly and cheerfully. They give spacious names to grievous transgressions, pass over rebuke with a joke, and encourage others in crime by their easy way of viewing it. Alright. That's a pretty good explanation. That's pretty good. You know, a a young fraternity man who was a Christian sat for about two hours in the living room of his frat house listening to, you know, a typical bowl session, you know, by by all of these young students.
One young man described the specific requirements for a BTO or a BMOC. Alright? You know what that is? A BTO is a big time operator, and the BMOC is the big man on campus. Alright? Well, he was quite vivid. Let's just put it that way in in his details. And, after a gala laughter, swept through the room, the Christian said quietly, I think you left out two very important qualifications for the wolf. And what are those? Asked the first speaker, still chuckling. The Christian said, a weak head and a wicked heart. A weak head and a wicked heart. I imagine it got really quiet for a little while.
Well, the only real problem with that story is that, you know, Christians don't really belong in frat houses, to be honest. And I don't know if you left at that point, but it would have been a good time to exit. You know? Would have been would have been a good time to say, alright. See you later. I'm out of here. Four young men four young men piled into a taxi, which was carried which carried an aged gentleman in it. As a taxi went toward Downtown New York, the young men laughed and roared about what they were gonna do that night, the drinks, the women, when they got there. And and one of them winked at his buddy, turned into the old man who had been silently gazing out of the window during the entire conversation said, well, how about it, pups? You wanna make a night on the town with us?
The old gentleman quietly looked at each one of the young bucks and turned and said, slowly and deliberately, gentlemen, I fear God. How do you respond to that? You know, how are you gonna answer that? That sums it up pretty well. Alright? I don't think you can sum it up any better than that. Alright. Now in in connection with making a market sin, go over to Proverbs in chapter 10. Proverbs in chapter 10. Proverbs chapter 10, and it'll be verse 23. Now, you know, as I as I review all these various definitions and descriptions of a fool, I can't help but think almost without exception, that every one of them has a pretty direct application to the modern news media.
Think about that. I mean, you could probably make your own applications in your mind's eye, but but just think about that for a second. Now Proverbs chapter 10 and verse 23, it is as sport to a fool to do mischief, but a man of understanding hath wisdom. Alright. So the idea is it's great sport to see what they can get away with. That's the idea of the whole thing. You know, harmless pranks turn into misdemeanors, which turn into further trouble. See, it's a sport to get into mischief. Now I I suppose that that most younger younger men at least, you know, have sought out mischief at one time or another in their life.
You know, when I was working back in New York, my my partner and I were assigned to an overnight security detail for a for a new fountain that was, recently opened at a point of entrance to a boardwalk over in, and beach over in South Beach on Staten Island. And it it was an ugly statue, to be honest with you. It was horrible. But, it was just like a bunch of dolphins that were positioned like they were playing in the fountain, and they had water that flowed up and sprayed out, you know, with lights and and all that. And that thing just run all night long. Well, we were there babysitting this fountain because someone put a whole bottle of dish detergent in that fountain one night, and the whole circle, the and parking lot were covered with bubbles.
Alright? That's mischief. That's mischief. You gotta be careful about mischief. You see? Un unfortunately, a lot of mischief that people get into today are not harmless. They're not harmless pranks at all. Go to Proverbs chapter one verse seven. Proverbs chapter one verse seven. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fools despise wisdom and instruction. Alright? So the idea of the thing is a fool thinks he knows it all. Right? A fool thinks he does a fool thinks he knows it all. He doesn't need any instruction. He refuses to investigate facts.
You know, it happens in politics. For example, you know, liberals liberals drive me nuts. You know that. Not just because they're liberals, they drive me nuts because they refuse to investigate all the facts, and that's what drives you crazy. That's what drives you crazy. And so, the failure to investigate the facts often leads to a downward trend that ends in violence. Now you've all heard of Antifa. You know what that is? You know that that's that's that's a group of mostly young men running around the country that are ignorant of the facts. And it's ex and it it's an excuse for them to misbehave as we've already suggested.
And then, of course, you know, that invades and finds its way into religion. So, you know, it's not just politics. It's it's it's it's not those kinds of things. It's religion. For example, when the Jehovah Witness comes to your door and he wants to wants you to take his literature, How about this? How about you offer him some literature? You know what happens when you offer him some some literature? He refuses it. He he will not take your literature under any set of circumstances. You know what the problem is? You know the he will not investigate the facts.
The other side of the story, he won't do it. He's been instructed not to do it. When they when they would come to me, I would tell them all the time, I can't take your literature unless you take some of mine. You know, I'm not afraid of yours. Why are you afraid of mine? And, you know, I I've done other things. I've insulted them. I've I've tried I mean, I've tried everything. You know? I have. I I said I said to one guy once, I I said, are you so intellectually deficient that you can't sort out the truth from fiction? You know, I mean but you see, that's the way they've been brainwashed. That that's the way they've been programmed. They cannot take anybody else's literature.
They couldn't visit any other church under any set of circumstances. They just can't do it. You see? They're not allowed to do it. Alright. You know, one way you get a good education is to get both sides of the story. You get all sides. But we but we see so much in now, you know, for example, we have college campuses all across America that are resisting and not allowing conservative speakers on the campus. That's insanity. That's insanity. You know, I think about Charlie Kirk. You know, he went to these liberal college campuses and engaged these people in critical thinking, or at least he tried to, and they killed him for it.
But yet they all talk about they wanna keep dialogue. They want dialogue. We need to talk. We need to keep talking. Yeah. They'll keep talking as long as you're in agreement with what they hold to be their truth. That's insanity. Is that a good education? How can you tell how can you call that good education when you resist the opportunity to even hear what the other side has to say? And then a lot of times, you know, if if if they are successful in bringing a conservative speaker, you know, the adversary show up, they scream, they yell, they protest. They make so much noise that the speaker can't even be heard.
You know what fools you know, fools despise wisdom and instruction. Fools do it. Tragically Tragically, there are there are too many fools running the college campuses of America. Too many. Alright. They they hate knowledge. Look at, verse 22 of chapter of Proverbs chapter one. Verse 22. How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? And a scorner's delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge? Alright. Let me ask you let let me ask you how many liberal evolutionists do you think have ever visited, the arc out there in Kentucky?
Probably not handfuls. You know? Because why? Because they don't wanna be faced with the possibility that they could be wrong geologically or or any other way scientifically. They just don't wanna be confronted with the possibility that they could be wrong. How many? I I how many college students in America, except maybe some Christian colleges, aren't all that equated with the fact there are hundreds, if not thousands of scientists in the world that do not agree with climate change? I googled it one time, and the the, you know, the list goes on, and it goes on, and it goes on and on. And, of course, Google will probably try to remedy that, you know, by eliminating their names, you know, but they're you know, I'm I'm talking about credible scientists. I'm talking about people with with all of the academic bona fides, the the the PhDs in physics and and and all of that stuff. And they're saying, no. Climate change doesn't exist as it's being taught.
It does not exist as it's being propagated today, but you never hear about that. You never hear about that on ABC, NBC, CBS, CNN, whatever MSNBC became? You don't hear about that. Why not? Why don't you hear about that? Well, I'll tell you why. Because fools hate knowledge. That's why. That's why. So, you know, maybe you, we you know, we're surrounded by fools. Alright? That's not all. Proverbs chapter 12. Proverbs in chapter 12. And when you get there to verse number 15, Proverbs 12 verse 15. The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise. Alright. You know what that tells me? That tells me that fools are self sufficient in their thinking.
Fools are self sufficient in their thinking. They think that they know all that there is that they need to know, and they don't need to have their minds, you know, invaded by any other opposite ideas or or or concepts. And so Paul reiterates essentially the same thing over in Romans chapter one. You see he's talking about fools and and and and what they've rejected, which is obvious truth. Right? But that but, you know, that's not all. Look over in Proverbs chapter 14. Proverbs chapter 14 and, in verse six. Proverbs 14 verse six, a scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not, but knowledge is easy unto them that understandeth.
A scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not, but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth. Well, there which you would say is, they're, self confident. Self comp they they think they have all the answers. They think they have all the answers, and and and they don't need to be exposed to to anything else. And, and and consequently, look at verse 16. A wise man feareth and departeth from evil, but the fool rageth and is confident. Confidence. They they they exude that attitude of, man, we gotta get a handle on it. They're so self confident. They're self deceivers.
Looking for verse, chapter 14 verse eight. Verse eight, same chapter. The wisdom of the prudent is to understand his way, but the fool but the folly of fools is deceit. Alright? They're self deceivers. Self deceivers. Alright? And then, let's look over in Proverbs chapter 28. Proverbs chapter 28 and verse 26. Now this is the real corn killer in my opinion. He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool. Alright. Now how many times has the world instructed you to just trust your heart? Believe your heart. Follow your heart. I mean, listen to all the songs that are out there, you know, that that are on the hip rate today, you know, country, hip hop, you know, whatever it is that you like to listen to.
And I'll guarantee you that at least half of them, if not more, are encouraging you to believe your heart, follow your heart, and trust your heart. And that Bible tells you that if you do that, you're a fool. And why is that? Why is that? Well, it's really simple. Jeremiah said, the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it? Your heart's gonna mislead you. Your heart will operate on the fabric of its emotions. And your emotions, and you all know this, your emotions are a roller coaster. They're a roller coaster. Amen?
I mean, do you always feel exactly the same way every day? You get up and you say, man, I feel good today and and tomorrow and the next day and the next day and the next day, next month, the next it's just the same. No. No. Probably not. And if you do, I wanna pat you on the head. Maybe rub some of that off. I don't know. Probably not. You know why? Because of our humanity. Because of our humanity. Or even better, a good liberal word is humanality. Is that better? You like that one better? Humanality? No. I know humanity, but I but I've I've heard I've heard the libs say something about humanality, so I'm just trying to be, you know, inclusive.
Okay. Whatever. Whatever. You know? Look, folks. You can't. You you can't depend on your heart because your heart will fool you. Your heart will lie to you. Your heart will deceive you. Don't trust your heart. Fools trust their heart. Now as believers, and particularly in our spiritual lives, you can you can't trust your heart at all. You cannot trust your heart at all, spiritually. You gotta trust the evidence, and the evidence is found in the word of God. Alright? Fools. That's not all. Proverbs chapter 15. Let's go over there. Proverbs chapter 15 and, verse number two. Proverbs 15 verse two.
The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright, but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. You know what? You you know what fools are? Fools are full of words. Fools are full of words. One of the indicators of a fool is they generally never shut up. So, you know, they're given a meddling. Look in, Proverbs chapter 20 and verse three. Proverbs chapter 20 and verse three. It is an honor for a man to cease from strife, but every fool will be meddling. Alright. Now what's a meddler? Well, a meddler is someone that sticks his nose into into somebody else's business. Alright? That's the simplest way I could I could describe it to you. That's a meddler. Alright? That's what fools do. You know? That's what they do. And that's not all. Go to Proverbs chapter 10. Let's go back to Proverbs chapter 10, and let's look at verse, verse 18.
Proverbs 10 verse 18. He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander is a fool. Fools are slanderers. Alright. Now what's a slanderer? A slanderer is someone that tells stories about someone else without concrete evidence that it's truth. So they just make stuff up. Do you, like, do you suppose the media ever does that? Well, sure. They make stuff up all the time. And, you know, you know, and and and they throw it out there, and they expect people just to believe it. Now that's not all. Fools are also angry. Fools are angry. Go to Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes chapter seven. So So if you're in Proverbs, just go over to your right, next book, Ecclesiastes. Ecclesiastes chapter seven and verse nine. And, you know, it's it's it's hard it's hard to find, and I and I keep referring to to Libs because I I I see a lot of fools in the political world under that heading. But but but it's really it it's really hard to find a happy liberal. Right? You ever noticed that? I don't know if you have or not. I I've noticed that. You know, it's just hard to find a happy liberal. I find happy conservatives all the time, you know? But liberals, man, they're just not happy. They're not why? Because they're angry.
They're mad all the time, you see, and that leads them to be contentious in Proverbs 18 and verse six. They're they're they're just contentious, argumentative, and that's just the it's just the way they are. Alright. Now if you ever been in a in a conversation if you ever been in a conversation with one, you may have noticed that when when when you presented your side, we didn't read the verse. Right? Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Now back to the conversation. I mean, if you if if you'd ever been in a conversation with one, you'd probably noticed that when that that when you've presented your side of, of, of the case or or or or or, or your side of of the case had substance, and and it had facts, and it has, you know, the kind of thing that generally what happens you know, that kind of thing. And and what generally happens is they just get louder and they talk louder, and they scream a little bit without submitting any further evidence.
They're contentious. You know what I'm talking about. You've seen it all over. They make TikTok videos. They're proud of it. They will shout over you because they have no ideas. They have no vow they have no they they have no facts. They're contentious. And, of course, you you also encounter that in in the religious world as well. You know? Right? Let's go over to Luke in chapter 12. Luke in chapter 12. Let's just run over there really quick. And, Luke chapter 12 and and kinda wrap this up with some of their observations here. Alright. Now the Bible says to avoid fools.
Well, that's probably impossible on a 100% basis because the world seems to be proliferated with fools. Amen? But at the very least, I would say don't allow fools to influence your thinking. You know, try to make sure that they're not influencing you in directions in in in in in ways which which don't offer biblical substance and truth. Alright. Now in Luke chapter 12 and, verse 16, verse 16. And he spake a parable unto them saying, the ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully. And he thought within himself saying, what shall I do because I have no room where to bestow my fruits? And he said, this I will do. This will I do. I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years. Take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
But God said unto him, thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee. Then whose shall those things be which thou has provided? So is he that layeth up treasure for himself and is not rich toward god. Alright. Now the parable is pretty self explanatory, and and it's simply this. If you make no preparations for the future beyond this life, no preparations for the judgment seat of Christ, no preparations for eternity, you're a fool. You're a fool. Don't be a fool. You say, don't be a fool. Alright? Fools resist the sayings of Jesus Christ, which of course includes the gospels.
Go to first Kings chapter 12, Old Testament. Gonna flip on back. First Kings and chapter 12, and then you're gonna go to verse eight. It says, but he alright. Now the he here is Rehoboam from verse one, which is the son of Solomon. But he forsook the counsel of the old men, which they had given him and consulted with the young men that were grown up with him, which stood before him. Alright. Now if you follow the narrative all the way through, we're not gonna do that, but if you follow the narrative all the all the way through, Rehoboam was given the keys and the badge to the kingdom after the death of his father Solomon. And so what he does is he surrounds himself with the council of young men, and he says, you know, what do you guys think I ought to do?
And they said, well, here's here's what you here here's what you, what here's what you do. You go back and you tell them you tell them that your father was a pussycat. You tell them that that you're gonna you're you're gonna really hammer them with taxation. You're gonna you're gonna put put a heavy weight on people. And, and and so then, you know, he pondered this, and he said, well, he said, okay. That sounds good to me. That's what we're gonna do. And then the result of that was the kingdom split. The kingdom split. I mean, literally, a political civil war took place, and it was split because he consulted the young men.
You know, fools look to Antifa for advice, but but wise men don't. You see? So Rehoboam was a fool. He was a fool. The Pharisees were fools, and Jesus called them fools over in Matthew chapter 20 and verse three, then he repeated it. God calls Israel a fool in Jeremiah chapter four and verse 22 because of their backslid and derelict ways. He says, you're fools. You're fools. So, you know, we have a lot of examples, and and those are just three of them, but but there are many, many, many more in your Bible that people or groups of people turned out to be fools.
And there there is one passage I'm gonna take you to over it, and this is Matthew chapter five. Alright. Matthew chapter five, and it's a legitimate question. So so so let's see if we can get an answer. Matthew chapter five verse 22. But I say unto you, that whosoever is angry with his brother without cause, without a cause, shall be in danger of the judgment, and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council, but whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. Alright. Now first of all, you need to set the stage here. Alright? You have to realize where this is. Alright. This is in the middle of the Sermon on the Mount, and the Sermon on the Mount is the constitutional form of a coming kingdom, the millennial kingdom.
All of this behavior that's being discussed in the in the Sermon on the Mount has an application to the future, and this is the way the government is gonna be run under the iron rod of the Lord Jesus Christ. This has nothing to do with the church age. Okay? Let's make that clear. I know this is dispensationalism. We haven't really studied dispensationalism on on this show yet. We're going to. We're gonna be moving into that shortly. But this has nothing to do with the church age. Because on more than one occasion, Paul called people fools, or he instructed us to know that some people are fools.
Alright. So then how does that apply? How does this passage apply to us then? Well, it's a millennial application is what the thing is, and specifically to Israel and the millennial kingdom. But now there's something else that has to be observed here. Alright? Let's go back up to the verse. Let's get the verse back up there. There we go. Alright. Whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. Alright? And all that that that could very well be a human judgment. You see? And and we know that because of what follows. Alright? And so, you know, in other words, another way of saying another way of looking at it would be, you know, somebody might drag you to court in the millennium because you're angry with your brother without a cause.
And whosoever shall say to his brother, Raqa, shall be in danger of the council. Alright. Well, the council's another human endeavor, not a godly thing, but a human thing. Alright? This has a government, millennial government kind of application. Alright. Now what about that word, Raqqa, r a c a? What is Raqqa? When was the last time you ever said you're a raca to somebody? Probably never. I I know I never have. Well, raca is a Hebrew word. It's a Jewish word, and it's and it's the word for fool, but, but, a modified form of a fool. Alright? Look at the rest of the verse.
But whosoever shall say, thou fool, shall be in danger of hellfire. Alright? So so do do you see how the whole thing goes? Right? It goes in segments, like increments. The first one is if you're angry angry with your brother without a cause, you might face some kind of a judgment. Alright? If you say to your brother, Rocca, you could be in danger of being drugged in front of a council. But if you call someone a fool, you could be in danger of going to hellfire. Now there is nowhere in the Pauline epistles anywhere that would indicate that if you call someone a fool, you might go to hell.
This has a millennial application. Alright. Now what is a then? What is then? What does it mean? Well, in instead of calling it, you know what? Instead of calling, I'm gonna put it into into the best modern vernacular that I can. Alright? Instead of saying, well, you know, that guy's a fool, you might say, well, that guy's a blockhead. You see what I mean? It's it's just kind of a modified form of fool that that's that's that's a a toned down approach to a fool. Alright? So so that's a That's what means. Alright? You're not really saying fool, but you're implying that his behavior is foolish. So he's a blockhead, or he's he's a knucklehead, or or he's a jerk, you know, something like that, you know. And and you could think of all kinds of names. You you can go anywhere else. I'm not gonna say them, you know, doing a bible study. I'm not gonna say the other words that come to mind.
So in other words, you're questioning their behavior. You're questioning their sanity. You're questioning their common sense. You're questioning. You're not necessarily accusing, but you're questioning. That's what raka is. So does it have any application to you? Does it have any application to you? Probably not more not anymore than if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off. You know, how many of you would like to have that have an application of that to you? How many of you would like that? Right? If your right eye offend thee, pluck it out. I have never been to a church that said, man, can we use that verse right there? You know, put it on a big banner, you know, you know, probably not.
Probably not. But but you understand what I'm talking about. You know, tragically, too many Christians take Sunday cavalierly. Alright? Too many Christians have higher priorities, and the priority of going to church and and and meeting with the saints and hearing the word of God is somewhere maybe fourth, fifth, or even sixth down the list. Folks, Sunday's an important day. Sunday's an important day. We call it the Lord's day. Alright? It's not the Sabbath, that's Saturday. But for Christians, it's the Lord's day. The day should belong to him.
It should belong to the Lord. And I encourage you and I encourage others as that, you know, we look forward to Sunday. We look forward to Sunday. Is is Sunday a day that you pray about? That you look forward to? You anticipate? You say, God, we'd sure like to see you show up in a real special way this Sunday. And, you know, if all the saints did that boy, you know, who who yeah. Who would know who knows what would happen? And Charlie is howling at the door, so I'm getting distracted. I'm sorry. You know, if everyone would just pray for Sunday. Just pray for Sunday. Heavenly father, we thank you that you love us. We I I wish you I wish we loved you more.
I I really do. I I wish that I wish you and that all you have in your workforce was a top priority in our list. I I do. But tragically, all too often, it isn't. All too often, it isn't. Lord, forgive us for our indifference. I pray. Charlie is howling at the door. You know, maybe if God's people would kinda recommit themselves in in in in a very unusual or or or or wonderful way to the purposes of Lord Jesus Christ in in their lives, and and and and with God's help to help us avoid fools and live our lives according to the dictates of the word of God, things would be a lot better in this world.
I'm convinced of that. So, heavenly father, again, we thank you for the day. We thank you for the preaching and teaching of your book. We thank you for the words that you've given us to live our lives by. Father, we thank you, and, lord, thank you so much that it is for our benefit that you give them to us, and help us, father god, to to apply these things to our lives each and every day. Lord, help us to avoid fools and foolish things. Help us help us to to not to not even consider the foolish thoughts, because, you know, Lord, we our minds are always full of foolish things. We're surrounded by foolish things all day long.
So, Father, please, I pray that your Holy Spirit would fall upon each one of us, and if there's anyone that's listening under the sound of my voice, father, I just pray that you would just just fall down upon them, Lord. And I'll thank you for it, and save them today in Jesus' name. Amen. Alright, folks. Don't forget. Head over to the website. Sign up for the program announcements email list that we have up there. It's a great way for us to keep in contact with everybody, so please check it out and sign up for it. It's free. Don't cost you nothing. And, we're not gonna spam you. We're not gonna send you stuff you don't want. We're not gonna, you know, pitch things to you. It's all about the show, about upcoming episodes, and so on and so forth, the guests and and whatnot. So check it out. Program programming announcements email list right there on the website. As soon as you get up there, a little pop up window is gonna show up, and you should be good to go. Alright. Also, if you are in the Eagle Pass area and you're looking for a good King James Bible believing and Bible teaching church, why did you consider paying us a visit over at First Baptist Church of Eagle Pass? We meet at 664 North Monroe. Our Sunday school hour starts at 10AM. Sunday's, worship service begins at eleven. Evening service is at 6PM, and Wednesday night Bible study is at 7PM. Now for more information, just head over to the church's Facebook page. Just log in to Facebook, search for First Baptist Church of Eagle Pass. It's the only one in town. So it's not like you're gonna be able to, you know, miss it or anything. So, First Baptist Church of Beagle Pass, do the search on on Facebook, and, and like, subscribe, follow the page if you like. Check it out. There's a lot of really great information in there about the church and about things that the church is involved with, and, check them out. Come and pay some visit. Alright. Don't forget to check us out on all the socials. We're not gonna run through them all now, but, you know, you know what they are. We're out there, so find us. Alright. Shout outs as always to our producing team, our executive producer, Wayne Rankin, Rosanna Rankin, Carolina Jimenez, Marissa Lee, and anonymous Angela. Thank you guys for all that you do and and what you contribute to the show through your time, your talent, your treasure. We really do appreciate that, immensely. Now if you wanna help out, you wanna get involved, you can help us out with a donation. A one time donation in any amount is greatly appreciated. A recurring donation in any amount is also greatly appreciated.
But if you wanna get involved with the producing team, you can sign up to be an associate producer for $17.76 a month. Producers are eighteen dollars and thirty six cents a month, and executive producers are $25 a month and more or more. So you can sign up on the website. Just, make it a recurring donation for those those amounts, and we'll know exactly what you're doing, and we'll get you listed here as a associate producer, producer, or executive producer, and you become part of the producing team. Now the benefits to it is everybody gets the shout out on every show like you just heard. You also get included in all the show notes. And then, also, our executive producers get the opportunity to come on the show with us, like we do with Wayne on Wednesday evenings. We have our Wednesdays with Wayne segment. That's always a fun fun time to have and, talk about all the great stuff that he was working on up there in the great state of Washington and, and his upcoming show that he's developing right now. So check him out. Alright.
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Alright? And then, before we go, just wanna make one more mention of this. There's a, QR code that just came up on your screen there. That's a QR code for a GoFundMe that we have set up, for myself, for the show, for the purposes of raising funds to help to help cover a shortage in the escrow payments on the on the the home and the studio, all that stuff. And, we have until the end of the month to come up with a lump sum payment. Otherwise, it's gonna be in the, monthly payment on the mortgage is gonna be, almost almost 50% more, than it has been. And, if that happens, it's it's the possibility of having to scale back what we're doing, and, you know, we put a lot of time and effort into into getting us to to where we are now.
And, you know, it to to scale back at this point would be a huge a huge blow, for me. And, you know, we wanna try to avoid that. So if you have the means and you're able to help out, we would really appreciate. There's a link in the show notes. There's also the QR code right up here on your screen. Any amount will be helpful. We do appreciate that. I hate asking for stuff like this. It just drives me absolutely crazy. Shouldn't have to do this thing, but this is what we do. Alright. So I do appreciate it. Any help is helpful, and we do appreciate it, and thank you very, very much for it. Alright. I think having said that, we will say our goodbyes. So, folks, thank you again for taking the time to be with us us on this Sunday edition of The Joe Russo, our Bible Studies Sunday.
Thanks for tuning in. Thanks for being here. God bless you. Make Texas independent again. Go podcasting. Keep a steady stride and keep talking. God bless you. We'll see you tomorrow.
Opening, welcome, and show setup from Eagle Pass
Weekend recap and crypto episode callback
Live stream hiccups and housekeeping
Series on wisdom recap and today's topic: avoiding fools
Community contact: website, email, and comments
Transition to Bible study: Prayer and Proverbs 14:7
Proverbs 14:7 explained: leave the foolish
Proverbs 9:6 and defining a fool biblically
Psalm 14 & 53: The fool says there is no God
Secular education, evolution, and moral standards
Relativism and situational ethics vs. God's commands
On feminizing God and softening rules
Fools blaspheme and reproach God (Psalm 74)
Fools mock sin; mischief as sport (Proverbs 14:9; 10:23)
Fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7)
Refusing opposing views: media, campuses, and debate
Self-sufficiency and deceit of fools (Proverbs 12; 14; 28)
Talkativeness, meddling, and slander (Proverbs 15; 20; 10)
Anger and contentiousness of fools (Ecclesiastes 7; Proverbs 18)
Parable of the rich fool (Luke 12): eternity in view
Rehoboam's folly and other biblical examples
Matthew 5:22, Raca, and dispensational application
Sunday as the Lord's Day: exhortation and prayer
Closing prayers, church invite, and announcements
GoFundMe appeal and final sign-off
