Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Welcome to Pure Words Baptist Church.
Go ahead and start getting situated.
Find your seats.
It's good to see everybody this morning.
And go ahead and pull out your hymnals
and open up to your first song.
It'll be song number 64.
Our first song is going to be
song number 64.
Shall we gather at the river?
Song number 64.
Find your place.
Song 64.
On the first
Shall we gather
at the river
Where
Bright angel feet have trod
With its crystal
tied forever
Flowing by
the throne of
God
Yes, we'll
gather at the river
The beautiful,
the beautiful
river
Gather with
the saints at the river
That flows
by the throne of
God
On the
bosom of the river
Where
the Savior
King we own
We
shall meet in sorrow
never
Neath the glory
of the throne
Yes,
we'll gather
at the river
The beautiful,
the beautiful
river
Gather with the saints
at the river
That flows
by the throne
of God
Ere
we reach the shining
river
Lay we
every burden
down
Grace our
spirits will
deliver
and provide a
robe and crown
Yes,
we'll gather
at the river
The beautiful,
the beautiful
river
Gather with the saints
at the river
That flows
by the throne
of God
On the last, soon
we'll reach the shining
river
Soon our
pilgrimage will cease
Soon our happy
hearts will quiver
with the melody
of peace
Yes, we'll
gather at the river
The beautiful,
the beautiful
river
Gather
with the saints
at the river
That flows
by the throne
of God
Brother Edward, you want to
pray for us this morning?
Thank you, Father God, for waking us up
this morning, Lord Father God, and bringing us
thanks to your service
God bless the service and God bless
brother
Ben
Fill up with your Holy Spirit and bless
this day
and help us to
win souls for your kingdom
when we go out throwing
I pray this in the name of Jesus, Amen
Amen
Alright, just flipping your hymnals one page
to the right, to song number 65
Song number 65,
Just Over in the Glory Land
65
On the first
I have a home prepared
where the saints
abide
Just over in the glory
land
And I long to be
by my Savior's
side
Just over in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land
I'll join
the happy angel
band
Just over in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land
There with
just over in the glory
land
I am on
my way to those
mansions fair
Just over in the glory
land
There to
sing God's praise
and His glory
share Just over
in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land I'll join
the happy angel
band
Just over in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land
There with
the mighty host I'll
stand Just over
in the glory
land
What a joyful
thought that my Lord
I'll see Just
over in the glory
land
And with kindred
saved there forever
be Just
over in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land I'll
join
the happy angel
band Just over
in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land There with
the mighty
host I'll stand
Just over in the glory
land
I'm the last with the
blood washed throng
I will shout and sing
Just over in the glory
land
Glad Hosanna
to Christ the
Lord and King
Just over in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land I'll
join
the happy angel
band Just over
in the glory
land
Just over
in the glory
land
There with
the mighty host I'll
stand Just over
in the glory
land
Amen. Good singing.
So if you could go ahead and pull out your
bulletins for the morning, we'll go over
our announcements. If you don't have one,
just go and raise your hand. Brother Henry
and Brother Eli will bring them around to you.
And on the top left we have our service
times. Our morning
service is at 10 30 a.m.
Our evening service is at 5 30 p.m.
And our midweek Bible study is on
Thursday at 7 o'clock p.m.
And below this we have our soul winning
times. So on Sunday
we go out at 2 p.m. in between
the services. On Thursday
we go out before the
Bible study at 5 15.
And on Saturday we go out at 10
a.m. And all those
times meet here at the church house.
And we have another time
that meets in Baytown
at Jenkins Park that's led by
Brother Brandon that is on Saturday
and it meets at Jenkins Park at
10 a.m. Right brother?
And his phone number is there so if you
want to go to Jenkins Park
on Saturday, just let him know that you'll
be meeting him there. Just kind of give him a heads up.
And below this we do have
our totals. So we have
350 even for the year.
Great job. Does anybody have
any? You have one.
We've got two to add on there.
We'll add more this
afternoon.
Hopefully. And below this
we are in our new
Bible memory passage.
We are in chapter number one.
We just started. We're in verse number two.
So if you didn't get the last one
start fresh. Get this first one.
It's a good chapter.
So definitely work on that.
And just for the kids, if you memorize
this verse, we're perfect.
By the next midweek service we'll get some ice cream.
So kids work on that.
And then just also be in prayer for our expectant mothers.
We have Sarah Gomez.
She's very close. We have
Christian Rogers, Sister Christian Rogers
and her baby, Sister Corinne
Darnell. And we also have
Brother Ben preaching for us today.
And they're expecting.
So just pray for Sister Alicia and their baby
boy. Right, brother?
Just be in prayer for all of them.
And just that everybody stays healthy with all of that.
And our preaching schedule.
So I just mentioned we have Brother Ben back with us.
It's always a blessing having him.
From Steadfast.
July 26th we have Brother Duncan Urbanic
coming back to preach both services
for us. August 2nd
we'll have Pastor Shelley
preaching both services for us.
And then September 13th we'll have
Pastor Grayson Fritz from All Scripture.
It'll be his first time here.
So it'll be exciting having him.
And then just some upcoming
events. On Saturday
August 1st we will have the
second anniversary for Pure Words Baptist Church.
So on that Saturday
we're going to have a soul winning marathon.
And we're also going to have our annual Bible burning.
So if you guys have
if you have any
false Bibles, go ahead and bring those in.
We'll have a big bonfire again.
It should be a really good time.
And then the day after that
like I mentioned is August 2nd
and that's the Sunday that Pastor Shelley
will be preaching both services for us.
So that'll be a fun and exciting
weekend full of fellowship.
So definitely kind of add that.
Just kind of be aware of that.
And then just another reminder
if you have any prayer requests
you want some special prayer
about a certain thing, you can just email those
to the church. PureWordsBaptistChurch
at gmail.com
Pastor Shelley will go through those prayer requests
during the midweek service.
We'll make sure everyone gets
all the prayer that they need.
But that is the announcements
for the morning.
So go ahead and pull your hymnals back out.
And we'll sing our third song.
It'll just be
one song to the right again.
It'll be song number 66.
Song number 66
at Calvary.
Song 66.
On the first
years I spent
vanity and pride
caring not
my Lord was crucified
knowing
not it was for me
He died on
Calvary
mercy there was
great and grace was
free pardon
there was multiply
to me
there my burdened soul
found liberty
at Calvary
by
God's word at last by sin
I learned
when I trembled
at the law
I spurned till
my guilty soul
in glory turned to
Calvary
mercy
there was
great and grace was
free pardon
there was multiply
to me
there my burdened soul
found liberty
at Calvary
Oh
the love that drew
salvation to men
Oh the grace that brought
it down to men
Oh the mighty
gold that God did
spend at Calvary
mercy there was
great and grace was
free pardon
there was multiply
to me
there my burdened soul
found liberty
at Calvary
and last
now I've given Jesus
everything
now I gladly
owe Him as my
King now
my raptured soul can only
sing of Calvary
mercy there was great
and grace was free
pardon
there was multiply
to me
there my burdened soul
found liberty
at Calvary
Alright
so at this time if you go ahead and pull out your
Bibles and turn your Bibles to Luke chapter
number 14 Luke chapter
number 14 brother Brandon will go ahead and read
for us and we'll go ahead and pass the offering
plate
Alright we're there in Luke chapter 14
and it came to pass as he went to the
house of one of the chief Pharisees to
eat bread on the Sabbath day that they
watched him and behold there was a certain man
before him that had the
and Jesus answering
spake unto the lawyers and Pharisees saying
it is lawful to heal on the Sabbath day
and they held their peace and he took him
and healed him and let him go
and answered them saying which of you
shall have an ass or an ox fallen in a pit
and will not straight away pull him
out of the Sabbath day and they could
not answer him again of these things and
he put forth the parable of those which were
bidden when he marked how
they chose out of the chief room saying
unto them when thou art bidden of any to
the wedding it sit not down in the highest
room least a more honorable man
than thou be bidden of him
and he that bade thee and him came and
said to thee say to thee give
this man place and thou begin
with shame to answer the lowest room
but when thou are bidden go
and sit down in the lowest room and when
he that bade thee cometh he may
say unto thee friend go up
higher than shalt thou have worship
in the presence of them that sit
and meet with thee for whosoever
exalted himself shall be abased
and he that humbleth in himself
shall be exalted then he said
also to him that bade him
when thou makest the dinner of
a supper call not thy friends
nor thy brethren neither thy kinsmen
nor thy rich neighbors least
they also bid thee again and recompense
be made thee
but when thou makest
a feast call the poor and maimed
and lame the blind thou shalt
be blessed for they cannot recompense
thee for thou shalt be recompensed at the
resurrection of the just
and one of them that sat meet with him
heard these things and he said unto them
blessed is he that shall eat bread
in the kingdom of God then shall
he be unto him a certain
man made a great supper and bade many
and sent the servant at
suppertime to say to them that were bidden
come for all the things are now
ready and they all with
one consent began to make the excuse
to first said unto him I have
bought a piece of ground and I must
see needs go and see it
I pray thee I have have my
excuse and another
said I have bought five yoke of oxen
I go to prove them I pray thee
have thee have my excuse
and another said
I have married a wife and therefore I cannot
come so that servant came and showed
his lord these things then the master
of the house
began angry of his servant go
out quickly into the streets and lanes of the
city and bring in bring hither
the poor and the maimed and the halt and the
blind and the servant said lord
is is it done that thou has
commanded and yet there is room and
the lord said unto the servant go out into the
highways and hedges and compel them to come
in that my house may be fulfilled
for I say unto you that none of
those men which were bidden shall
taste of my supper
there went a great multitude with him and he turned
and said unto them if any man come
to me and hate not his father and mother and wife
and children and brethren and sisters
yea in his own life also he cannot
be my disciple and whosoever
doth not bear his cross and come after me
cannot be my disciple for which
of you intending
to build a tower sitteth not down
first and cometh the cost whether
he is sufficient to finish it
least happily after
he had laid this foundation and is
not able to finish it all
that behold it began to mock him
saying this man began to build and was
not able to finish or was
or what king going to
make war against another king sitteth
not down first and consulteth
whether he be able with ten
thousand to meet him and cometh against him
with twenty thousand or else
while the other is yet great way off
he sendeth an abasage
and desireth conditions of peace
so likewise whosoever
be of you that forsaketh not
all that he hath he cannot be my disciple
salt is good but if the
salt have not have lost its favor
wherewith shall it be seasoned
it is neither fit for the land
nor yet for the dung hill but met
cast out he that hath ears
to hear let him hear better word of prayer
dear god we just thank you for this
glorious morning lord thank you for everyone
here lord we thank you for the souls
that were going to be one today god we thank you for brother
ben to come down and preach for us lord and we
just pray that you fill him with your spirit and you just be with us
all and be with him lord in jesus name i pray amen
amen
thanks for having me again
it's always great to be here i want to thank
pastor shelly for the opportunity
to come back i always have a great time
with you guys going soul winning
the fellowship it's a tight knit church
with people who actually
love each other
a lot of churches where you can't really say that's true
right people just kind of go through the motions
but not the case here at pure words
so uh thanks again for
for having me we're there in luke chapter 14
let's take a look at verse number 28
luke 14 and verse 28
the bible says
skip down to verse 33 for sake of time
the title of my sermon this morning is what are you willing to forsake
what are you willing to forsake
this is a question you're going to have to ask eventually
in your christian walk
because at the end of the day
if we did everything that we wanted to do
in the flesh then we would accomplish
nothing in our spiritual
in our christian life
it's a question that you'll have to confront eventually
you'll reach several
crossroads on your journey
to being a disciple of jesus christ
several different crossroads in your life
where you'll have to make a choice
between that which is biblical
and that which is carnal
that which is, well, a direction
you shouldn't go down
and my question for you this morning
in fact I'm going to have several questions for you over the course of this sermon
is what are you willing to give up
what are you willing to give up
to follow jesus
what are you willing to give up
to be a disciple of jesus
what are you willing to give up
to amass innumerable rewards in heaven
being a disciple
entails, as I just said, going through
several different crossroads
and at each fork in the road moment
you'll realize
that there's a sacrifice
that's required
the bible talks about spiritual sacrifices
I talked about it a few months ago
when I came and preached for you guys
on the priesthood of the believer
and it talks about
our entire body being a living
sacrifice unto god
in the sense that we do what pleases him
rather than what pleases our flesh
at salvation
you cross through
a crossroads if you will
in the sense that you had to make a choice
and the choice was
salvation by grace through faith alone
one saved always saved
or trusting in your works
and for those of you who are saved
who are sitting here in front of me this morning
you chose to place all your faith and trust
and rely on jesus christ
for your salvation
rather than your own good deeds
for those of you who perhaps were saved
out of a false religion you had to make a choice
between the lord jesus christ
and some other false god
you had to make a choice
between jesus christ
and some other false religion
whether it was islam
whether it was mormonism
whether it was even perhaps I don't think anyone here
got saved out of this false religion
but maybe judaism I don't know
but my point is Jehovah's witnesses
whatever it may be you were confronted
with a road in your life and you had to make a decision
which road are you going to choose
which side are you going to choose
what are you going to forsake
to get saved
but it doesn't stop with salvation
because after you get saved
after you begin to walk
the christian walk
and you attempt to be a disciple
you're going to face several obstacles
you're going to face several
fork in the road moments
and what are you going to do
and what are you going to do when you reach those moments
what are you going to do when you hit that crossroads
what decision are you going to make
what are you willing to forsake
that's what we're talking about this morning
go to Matthew chapter 4
Matthew chapter 4
while you turn there I'll read from Luke chapter 9
Matthew chapter 4
is where I'd like you guys to turn
let me just read something for you
from Luke 9 which says
and he said to them all
if any man will come after me
and deny himself
and take up his cross daily
and follow me
self-denial step one
on your path to being
a follower of Jesus
step one on your path
to trying to conform
your will, I'm sorry
conform your desires to that
which matches the will of God
great works
mighty works is what God wants you to accomplish
if you read Ephesians chapter 2
verse 10
the Bible articulates that there are great works
that God wants you to walk in
He doesn't want you to get saved
and then sit on your rear end
and accomplish nothing
He doesn't want you to get saved
and then sit around in front of the television set
playing video games, watching movies
watching TV shows
watching HBO
watching cable television
whatever distraction is out there
the Lord doesn't want you distracted
the Lord doesn't want you to be totally useless
that's not why
He saved you, He saved you so that you can
take that truth that you believed
that you affirmed when you got saved
and you can share it with other people
and so that you can walk in the Spirit
exhibit the fruit of the Spirit
in this life
it doesn't end at salvation
my challenge for you is that you don't just
stop and be satisfied
at the fact you're saved
see, that's why we come to church
because the Christian life entails more
than just that great, you're saved
I'm happy for you, and the Bible says
but to him that worketh not, but believeth on him
that justifieth the ungodly
his faith is counted for righteousness
even as David also described the blessedness of the man
in whom God impudeth righteousness
without works
you could do no works for the Lord
and still be saved
we all understand that
but do you really want to be that Christian?
or would you rather be Abraham?
I know which one I would choose
Matthew 4, notice verse 18
it says in Jesus walking by the sea of Galilee
saw two brethren
Simon called Peter and Andrew his brother
casting a net into the sea
for they were fishers
and he saith unto them, follow me
and I will make you fishers of men
and they straightway left their nets
and followed him
what I want you to notice there is Simon, Peter
and Andrew, the immediate response
to Jesus
the immediate response to Christ's
call to action right there
straightway left their nets
and followed him
Jesus says follow me
and I will make you fishers of men
if you want to be a soul winner today
if you want to learn how to turn many
to righteousness today
if you want to be a profitable Christian today
then Jesus gave you the formula to follow
which is him
follow him
he gave us his word, he is the word
the word was God, John 1-1
he gave us the instructions
on how we can follow him
how we can leave behind our nets
how we can leave behind the things of this world
and go accomplish great things for the Lord
he gave us the instructions
it's too bad though
so many people ignore them, don't they?
so many people
their Bible, it's sitting on their shelf
at home
and every time they open it up they're going to have to
blow some dust off of it, aren't they?
and flip over to John chapter 1
or wherever it is that they'd like to read
for that day
the idea of a Christian who reads their Bible
just two days in a row
unfortunately, it's not
a happy thing for me to say this
but unfortunately, it's a rarity
but I want to see the tide turn
in America
I want to see that change in this country
it starts with each and every one of you
you say, oh, I'm just one person
well, you know what?
great change came in the word of God
and we see so many examples of it, courtesy of who?
one person
from Moses, to David, to Jeremiah
and all the rest of them
one person made an impact
and so don't be discouraged at the fact that you are just
one person
verse 20 says, they straightway left their nets
and followed him
the response was immediate
there was no hesitation
they followed Jesus Christ
you say, oh, those are just two fanatical extremists
alright, look at verse 21
and going on from thence
he saw other two brethren
James the son of Zebedee and John his brother
in a ship with Zebedee their father
mending their nets and he called them
and they immediately left the ship
and their father and followed him
the sons of Zebedee do the exact same thing
following Jesus
leaving, forsaking the ship
following Christ
now you might be standing in a ship this morning
and you might be called to do something
greater than what you're doing right now
will you follow Jesus?
will you forsake the ship that you're standing in metaphorically right now?
and go follow Christ
what are you willing to forsake to do so?
are you willing to go all in?
that's what I hope
that you are willing to do
and the goal of this sermon by the end of it is that you say
yeah, I am willing to go all in
I am willing to go all out
I'm going to ask a series of questions to challenge you
I want you to consider what you're willing to give up
seriously consider it
look in the mirror figuratively this morning
and consider, what am I really willing to give up?
why is it that certain churches
for example, Verity Baptist Church
lost a ton of people
after they got into some
let's just say persecution in 2016
well, because those people weren't willing to give up
their reputation
will that happen here?
well, I don't know
my first question, are you willing to forsake carnal desires?
go to Romans chapter 8
while you turn there I'll read from 1 Corinthians 2
for who hath known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him
but we have the mind of Christ
if you want to go all in
if you want to be a disciple
you have to have the mind of Christ
that's what you have to have today
you have to adopt God's attitude
God's mentality
God's worldview
set aside your own
whatever that may be
and whatever it was before you got saved
set it aside, put it away
and instead have the mind of Christ
and in order to have the mind of Christ
you have to actually read his word
and you have to read it every single day
so your mind can be renewed
so that you're not thinking about things
in the way that the world would look at them
so you don't have the world's attitude about current events
about Bible doctrine
whatever the case may be
and doing so might make you a little different
in the eyes of the world they might look at you like you're a little bit weird
but at least you can look in the mirror and say
you know what? I have integrity
I'm following Christ
I have the mind of Christ
and how could you call yourself a Christian
and not want to do that?
now obviously there are people who are saved
who are worldly
I understand that
but again I don't want you to be that category of saved Christian
that's the point of the sermon
we need to appeal to the Bible
to determine every aspect of our worldview
no matter how small of a component it is
every single aspect of what we believe
we ought to appeal to the Bible
and that takes true humility
a lot of people would look at a church like ours
and say oh you guys are so prideful
you think you know what God wants
yeah we do because he explicitly states it in his word
that's how we know
and it doesn't make us prideful
because we actually read his word
and decide to acquiesce to his word
that doesn't make us prideful my friend
that makes us humble
for those of you who are actually doing it
it makes you humble
because you're setting aside what you believe
and transforming it to the mind of Christ
you're in Romans 8 look at verse 5
for they that are after the flesh
do mind the things of the flesh
but they that are after the spirit
the things of the spirit
for to be carnally minded is death
but to be spiritually minded
is life and peace
because the carnal mind is enmity against God
for it is not subject to the law of God
neither indeed can be
the fleshly desires the Bible says are at enmity with God
you cannot not forsake the things of the flesh
and expect to go all out for Jesus Christ
it doesn't work that way
you're going to have to eventually reach a crossroads
a fork in the road moment and decide
what are you going to do
your own fleshly desires
or desires that will end up contributing
to the rewards that you may have when you get to heaven
do you want to get there by the skin of your teeth
or be called great in the kingdom of heaven
it's a question you'll have to ask yourself
now I have some conjecture I want to share with you here
I think in the flesh
Peter and Andrew probably wanted to continue fishing
I'm sure they would have liked
it would have been convenient for them to continue fishing
to continue doing exactly what they were doing
James and John I'm sure in the flesh
probably wanted to continue mending their nets
right
they probably wanted to continue
but they forsook that which is carnal
to go after that which is spiritual
they were at a crossroads
follow Jesus or continue fishing
and the crosswords for you
are you going to go with your carnal desires
or that which is spiritual
go to Proverbs chapter 21
you ask well what prevents people from going all out
what prevents people from putting aside their carnal desires
to accomplish spiritual goals
and be the best Christian they could be
money money
this is why the Bible tells us in 1 Timothy chapter 6
for the love of money is the root of all evil
which while some coveted after
they have erred from the faith
and pierced themselves through with many sorrows
why is it that the political class
are so irredeemably corrupt today
money the love of money
they prostitute themselves to a donor class
they don't believe anything
and it's because of money
because money is the root of all evil
according to the word of God
Proverbs 23 says
now don't get me wrong
I want to caveat this by saying
yeah there are men in the Bible who had riches
Abraham being one of them
we know that Boaz in the book of Ruth
certainly had riches
because you have a big bank account
let's say you've been blessed with riches
that's not inherently sinful
you don't have to live in a cardboard box
to be right with God
and I don't want you to be confused about what I'm saying
however if that is what you live for that's sin
if you glory in those riches
if that is your top priority in life
you have a problem
that's the delineation
that's the difference
so don't get confused at what I'm saying
but the love of money
if you love money
if that's what you live for
if you want to amass as many riches as possible in this life
I hate to say this to you
but I'm going to have to do it
because the truth hurts
it's vain
it's absolutely meaningless
it's vain
it's carnal
and by the end of your life
you'll realize
it'll be too late then
so instead why don't you set your affections on things above
heavenly rewards by the way that have eternal value
that have eternal value
money on the other hand
it enables a life of leisure
it enables a life of constant pleasure
it enables a life of incessantly feeding the flesh
now what would be the crossroads for you
where you have to make a choice about what you want to forsake
what if hypothetically your boss came up to you men at your job
and said hey I have a promotion for you
an idea for a promotion for you
in which you're going to have to work so many hours
at that little church you've been going to
Pure Words Baptist Church if they're aware of it
and you still have your job
and that church that you've been going to
when I give you this promotion
which is going to make you a lot of money
you're not going to have any time to go there anymore
you're going to be working so many hours
that church is going to have to be ejected out of your schedule
it's done
finished
what do you do?
do you take it?
or do you continue with the job that you have now
which is making you enough money
to put food on the table for your family
which by the way men that's our responsibility isn't it?
to make sure we're working our tail to the bone
to put food on the table for our family
and any man that doesn't do that
who doesn't work and instead sends their wife to work
so that they can sit at home and play video games all day
is a loser derelict
but there's another side of the scale
which is the man who works so many hours
to amass materialism and money and a large bank account
and then forsakes the godly things
if you're faced with that choice
if your boss walks up to you, he struts up to you
and says hey I got a great promotion for you
but that church you're going to have to leave
you're not going to have time
the Bible reading you do in your free time
not going to have time for that either
you're going to be so tired after work
the only thing you'll want to do is sit on your couch
sip lemonade
watch TV
maybe play some Xbox or Playstation
if you're a Playstation guy
I was an Xbox guy when I played video games
still have an Xbox frankly
just use it for YouTube though, so judge not
but anyway
y'all are like, you're a hypocrite
ask my wife, I don't play video games anymore
folks, if your boss comes up to you and says hey
I got this promotion, what are you going to do?
do you choose the money, the lavish lifestyle
the big bank account
perhaps you'll be able to afford a bigger house
maybe you'll fancy your car, what are you going to do?
well I hope that you would choose the things of God
because let me tell you something right now
those rewards are a lot more meaningful
than what you can amass in this life
Proverbs 21, I think I had you turn there
in verse 17
he that loveth pleasure shall be a poor man
he that loveth wine and oil shall not be rich
those who would dedicate their lives to be rich
you know it's ironic because I think they'll end up emotionally bankrupt
they think that'll give them happiness
the big screen TV they think will give them happiness
the gold plated garage door
which I'm not sure exists, but let's pretend for a minute
they think that gives them happiness
the gold boat they think gives them happiness
the millions of dollars they think will give them happiness
but it's going to make them emotionally bankrupt
why do you think so many celebrities end up depressed
to the point even of suicide
because all those riches just couldn't fill that void
well Jesus can
Jesus can that's for sure
how about these lottery winners
how could somebody who's rich end up poor
well how about these people who win the lottery
and then they blow it all
in a matter of months
they indulge the flesh with everything they see
imagine you could afford to buy anything you look on
that's what these lottery winners end up doing
and they lose it all very very quickly
because that's not what this life is about
of course it's what the television says that it's about
it's what Hollywood says that it's about
the flesh wants constant leisure, constant relaxation, no work, laziness
that's what the flesh wants
are you willing to forsake that though to follow Jesus Christ
it would be much easier for our pastor to go travel to some private island somewhere
sit on a beach chair, sit lemonade and do nothing
no more stress, no more drama
it'd be much easier for him to do that
but it wouldn't be worth it in the end
at all
it'd be much easier for us to forsake church
to forsake the things of God
and the stress that comes with it
the affliction that comes with it
it'd be much easier to yield to carnal desires
but I guarantee you this
if you choose that path you will regret it
and I've obviously never experienced this at 26 years old
however
when I reach the end of my life
if that's the path I chose I can guarantee I'll regret it
and you know what the worst feeling in the world is
getting to the end of your life on your deathbed and thinking
man I just wish I did things a heck of a lot different
2 Timothy 4 it says
for Demas hath forsaken me having loved this present world
and has departed unto Thessalonica, Cretans to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia
Demas he could have forsaken the world to follow Jesus Christ
but instead he forsakes the work of the Lord
so that he can go follow the world
and he's known as someone who fell
he's known as someone who I believe was saved but didn't finish the race
what are you going to be known as?
if you want to go all in
then you're going to reach that same crossroads
that boss who you work for right now might come to you with a job opportunity
or maybe you end up finding a job opportunity outside of your current place of employment
that takes you out of church
takes you out of the spiritual things you're accomplishing right now
what will you do?
my admonition choose wisely so you don't end up like Demas
so you don't end up drowning in the materialism that you so badly want in the flesh
and end up a byword
go to Titus 2, Titus chapter 2
my next question for you is this
are you willing to forsake bad doctrine?
are you willing to forsake bad doctrine so you can go on and be a disciple
so you can go all in?
for some of us who might have a church background
you might have learned a thing or two from your parents
you might have learned a thing or two from your cousin
you might have learned a thing or two from that old church you used to attend
are you willing to forsake that doctrine though?
for what the Bible teaches?
Titus 2, notice how important doctrine is
look at verse 6 when you get to Titus chapter 2
Titus chapter 2 verse 6
it says
young men likewise exhort to be sober minded
in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works
notice this
in doctrine showing uncorruptness
gravity, sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned
that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed
having no evil thing to say of you
young men are exhorted here to live life seriously
soberly and not to act like a clown
and take everything as a joke
to take their lives seriously
but it also says in doctrine showing uncorruptness
gravity, sincerity
taking doctrine seriously
and that entails departing from false doctrine
that you might have learned prior to coming to a church like this
the Bible says that teaching the Bible is a serious endeavor
and some might ask the question
why split hair on doctrine?
why split hair on teachings of the Bible?
because it's important and bad doctrine by the way
will stymie people's Christian walk
it'll be an obstacle for people's Christian walk
so when you're confronted with a conflicting teaching
then the humble man, if you want to show true humility and not fake humility
then the humble man will set aside what he believed before
and instead believe right doctrine
here are some examples, how about this one
the pre-tribulation rapture
this is a very popular doctrine today
it's promoted courtesy of different films and entertainment like Left Behind
which promotes a secret rapture found in zero places in scripture
and yet many people because they've read the books
because they've watched the movies
because the slogans have been repeated behind the pulpit at their church
believe in the pre-tribulation rapture
and if you believe that today
if I walk up to you and I show you Matthew chapter 24 verse 29
and I show you 2 Thessalonians chapter 2
which makes it clear that the antichrist comes first
that he's going to be revealed first before the day of Christ
that the abomination of desolation must occur before the rapture
if you're confronted with all these scriptures
immediately after the tribulation of those days
shall the sun be darkened and the moon shall not give her light
and the stars shall fall from heaven
and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken
and then shall appear the sign of the son of man in heaven
when you see those scriptures what are you going to do?
will you change?
and there are many more than that by the way
we could go to Revelation
we could go to Revelation chapter 7
show you the rapture there
we could go to Revelation chapter 14
show you the rapture there symbolically
and prove that it's those who endured great tribulation
for 75 days who get raptured out
they have to go through the tribulation
and that's consistent with the theme of the Bible
where you see believers being persecuted starting all the way in Genesis
ever heard of a guy named Abel?
so if I show you those scriptures what are you going to do?
that's a crossroads
what will you forsake?
will you forsake the bad doctrine for the good doctrine?
so what's the big deal?
folks, the pre-tribulation rapture is one of those doctrines that creates apathy
because why bother trying to turn many to righteousness
why bother even studying end times Bible prophecy
why bother caring at all about current events or anything that's going on
if we're just going to be raptured out of here before the tribulation begins anyway
the pre-tribulation rapture I believe is one of many doctrines
that aids in creating dead as adornial churches
so that's the consequence of believing it
if you're confronted with scripture that contradicts that
will you change your mind?
I hope you would
how about Zionism?
the idea that Christ rejecting Jews are the chosen people of God
if they want to be the chosen people of God
they have to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ
that's what the Bible says
what's the consequence of continuing to believe this bad doctrine
well how about the practical idolatry of the false nation of Israel today
1948 Israel
the Israeli flag
lifting up those who hate Jesus Christ
lifting up those who believe in a text
the Talmud that says blasphemous things about Jesus Christ
and that word blasphemous doesn't even do it justice
it's that bad
and that's what happens to a lot of Christians who believe in this false doctrine
the worship practically of the nation of Israel
you see it in evangelical Christianity today
waving their Israeli flags
bowing down to politicians who feed their talking point on Israel
that's all they seem to care about
and some churches even will kick out members who aren't on board with Zionism
I've heard countless testimonies of that happening
how about Calvinism?
and there are some people who are confused on Calvinism
but they're saved
and if you're confronted with scriptures that contradict that
what are you going to do?
are you going to depart from that?
oh but my cousin taught me this when I was 10 years old
it doesn't matter the Bible says something different
whosoever will the Bible says
God doesn't just pick who gets saved who doesn't
what's the consequence though?
well it invalidates soul winning
because if God's in control of who gets saved and who doesn't
and we're just nothing but marionettes
why evangelize?
and that's why so many Calvinists do not go door to door
and do not go soul winning
so those are some examples of bad doctrines that can actually prevent you
from fulfilling spiritual goals
from being a disciple from going all in
and when you're confronted with them
and you're shown from the Bible how they're wrong
I hope that you'll change
that's the goal
but the prideful man won't do that
the prideful man won't do that
because they think they know better
even when confronted with the truth
go to Hebrews chapter 13
Hebrews chapter 13
doctrine is so important
we can't overlook
right doctrine
it doesn't mean we're going to be right on everything
there are going to be certain doctrines
that perhaps we're confused on
or we don't necessarily know very well
I understand that
nobody knows everything
but the Bible is clear on a great many subjects
Hebrews chapter 13
when you get there look at verse 9
Hebrews 13 and verse 9 the Bible says
be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines
for it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace
not with meats which have not profited them
that have been occupied therein
don't be carried about with strange doctrines
with lies
with weird crap that you'll find on the internet
on YouTube
courtesy of losers sitting in their mommy's basement
eating 50 pounds of ice cream every day
making weird videos about the Nephilim
what is that?
people believe angels mated with humans
it created giants
that's weird
if you believe that you're weird
please change
how about the flat earth
yeah there's a lot of preaching on that
and I will kick that dog
until I die
because it's weird
the flat earth is weird
and if you're confronted with scores of scripture
debunking it
will you change?
or will you stick to your guns because
that's what you think you know
some loser on YouTube taught it to you
I would trust in the word of God over some
derelict on YouTube
go to Romans chapter 12
Romans chapter 12 my third question for you
are you willing to forsake that
let me rephrase that
are you willing to forsake what's popular?
are you willing to forsake
what's popular?
you know what's not popular today?
preaching the gospel
you know what's not popular today?
turning many to righteousness
you know what's not popular today?
going door to door with a church
invite in hand
to see if you can get someone to understand
what it takes to go to heaven
and then lead them in prayer
asking Jesus for salvation
that's not popular today
most churches don't do that
but are you going to stop doing it just because it's not popular?
God has purified unto himself
a peculiar people zealous of good works
Exodus 23 it says
thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil
neither shalt thou speak
in a cause to decline after many
to rest judgment
when golden calves were trendy
and popular in the wilderness
you know who succumbed to that trend?
it was Aaron
he didn't have the leadership ability
to say no we're not doing that
and you know what?
Aaron followed a multitude to do evil
and our society today
it promotes golden calves
every single day
incessantly
I'm talking about television
I'm talking about Hollywood movies
I'm talking about people who stare at screens
all day sitting on their rear end
instead of going outside
we need to teach our kids today
to go outside and play with a basketball
and play with a soccer ball
throw the football around
do anything ride a bike
go outside do something active
instead of sitting around staring at a
screen all day pushing
buttons on a controller
their kids obsessed
with it today because that's what's popular
that's what they're being fed with
every time they turn on the television
go buy the latest video
game in which you can go around and
shoot innocent people
where you can go around and you can steal
cars and then take the vehicle
and drive over pedestrians
is that what you want your kid playing?
and then people wonder why do we have
mass shootings in America? let's ban all the guns
I mean you tell them
you teach them evolution
which devalues life you put them in front
of the TV to play these gory
violent video games all day what did you expect
would happen? you tell them the Bible
is bad that God is bad they hate and reject
God what did you expect would happen?
but that's what's popular
Romans chapter 12 verse 2
be not conformed to this world
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind
that you may prove what is that good
and acceptable and perfect
will of God be not
conformed to this world the Bible says
although the temptation
is going to be there because
worldly things are popular and what
you do is not popular and we
as human beings have this
tendency we have this desire to want
to fit in why is it that so
many kids in high school struggle a lot of the time
because they don't quote fit in
and so they do wicked sins
and things so that they can fit in
like drink and smoke
and utter
filthy communication I've been there
all so they can fit in
well you know what how about we stop caring about
fitting in with the world and instead
care about fitting in with God's people
the ways of this world are contrary
to this book you don't need me to say that to you
for you to recognize it
I mean think about it the world can't even
figure out that men and women are different
that's basic
fact that's as obvious
as the sky is blue that's as
obvious as one plus one equals two
although today and you're going to think
this is satire but it's real
there are teachers coming out and claiming math
itself is racist
okay that's
clown world you want clown world
or you want the Bible I want
the Bible I don't want clown world
and yeah this world is becoming clown world
bozo world where math is racist
people can't even figure out how to
discipline their kids today
1 Corinthians 3
it says for the wisdom of this world is foolishness
with God for it is written he taketh
the wise in their own craftiness and again
the Lord knoweth the thoughts of
the wise that they are vain
worldly wisdom
listen to this carefully is stupidity
in the eyes of God it's
stupid it's foolish it's dumb
so stay away from it
why is that because we have
the ability
to ascertain
true intellect courtesy
of the Bible because the
Bible is true because God's word
is truth
whether this world wants to admit it
or not but what's the wisdom of this world
today evolution I already touched on it
earlier I'm going to hit it again
because I hate evolution
what is evolution
it's this idea that
some small molecule evolved
into a person somehow our
brain activity is nothing more
than fizz how do we have free will
then it's unscientific
it's stupid
and people want to make fun of us we're leaving
creation no it's dumb it's
not even scientific it violates the second
law of thermodynamics it violates
the law of biogenesis
I prefer in the beginning God
created the heaven and the earth
but this is taught
as fact in the public fool system
it's the
wisdom of this world
that they want your children to be
indoctrinated with
here's another issue I know I already
brought this up a few moments ago but I'll bring it up again
disciplining your children
the wisdom of this world says
no no no no the biblical prescription
for disciplining your children
is wrong it's harsh
Bible says he that spareth the rod hated
his son but forget about that
if you want to instead acquiesce
to the wisdom of this world then
you're going to end up with rowdy riotous
children because actually
disciplining your children actually
ensuring that they
face consequences for their misbehavior
according to the wisdom of this world
wrong you need to avoid it
you can't do it
instead this is what they'll advocate
for forget about what the word
of God prescribes instead it's
no no little Timmy
one
two
three I'll put you in time out
four
fuck does that really work
you know I've seen kids laugh
at their parents when they start doing the
count the one two three
four five count
and it doesn't work if you count up or if you
count down even if you count down it's still
not so the kids don't take it seriously
don't believe me watch
it occur if you're ever in public
with a large family who don't go to church
don't know what the Bible says about discipline
watch it happen trust me you'll see it
Timmy no no no
five four
three kids laughing at him
two one
no no no please eat your food
Timmy please please listen
to me please I'm begging you please
just listen to me
I'm begging you
please
is that the kind of parenting you think
we ought to be following is that the
kind of advice you think we need to be following
the wisdom of this world and that's just one
example
but again forsaking that which is
popular has a consequence
doesn't it Amos
five it says they hate him that
rebuketh in the gate and they abhor him
that speaketh uprightly
if you say no no no I'm gonna
follow the instructions from God on how to
actually discipline my
children instead of getting on my
knees and begging for them to behave
and begging for them not to be rude
and begging for them not to
throw their food off their plate and
onto the floor at dinner time
instead of getting on my knees and begging for them
not to do that I'm gonna take charge as a parent
and make sure that there are
rules they need to follow in my household and
serious consequences if they break
those rules and you'll be hated
for that believe it or not yes it's true
you will be hated you will be called abusive
you will get looks
your way contorted looks
your way
folks the ramifications for forsaking
that which is popular in any
realm any component of your life
is pure unadulterated
hatred and so what are you gonna do
go with the wisdom of this world
or with the wisdom of God
I think I've already demonstrated how foolish
the wisdom of this world really
is
but see the thing is a majority
have bought into what I call group think
group think
it's a herd mentality
and you're seemingly insane
according to them if you deny
their perspective ladies
if you dress like a woman
and you're not going to work
to sit in a cubicle 50 hours
a week dressed in a pantsuit
other women are gonna look at you
like you are insane
if you don't make more money than your husband
they're gonna look at you like you
are insane
if you reject feminist dogma
and abortion and
wickedness and the destruction
of the family they're gonna look at you like
you are insane
but your attitude ought to be this
I'm a Bible believing Christian
like it or lump it
here's another thing that's popular
today
worldly music
I searched billboard
here's your top 100 popular songs
on Google
and here's the masterpiece I found
at number 2
what's poppin by
Jack Harlow featuring
Lil Wayne I refuse to say
Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne is who he is he's little
and he's not little in his own
sight right
he's just little anyway
Lil Wayne and others
here are the lyrics to this song
it's popular and you know what
you wanna be a disciple of Christ
you're gonna have to make a choice you wanna go with this or
hymns and spiritual songs
here's this right here
what's poppin
here are the lyrics
my body got rid of them toxins
sports center top 10
can anybody explain to me
what this is saying
please
but that's what's popular
today that's stupid
garbage nonsense is what's
blaring through the radio of
almost every car that's driving on the road
today this garbage this nonsense
this stupidity this is
the wisdom of this world
word salad what does this mean
sports center
top 10 detox
toxins
what is he talking about
but of course people blare this on the radio
they're dancing while they're driving thinking they're
cool listen to the music
that came from multinational corporations
that hate them they think that's anti-establishment
oh yeah I'm bumping Lil Wayne right
now I'm so cool yo
yo yo yo no you're not cool
you're an idiot go to
Hebrews chapter 10 that's what's popular
so again are you willing to forsake
that how about we instead listen
to Psalm chapter 139
how about we listen to Psalm 117
how about we listen to
the hymns at Calvary which we
sung this morning is a heck of a lot better
infinitely better than I'ma spend
this holiday locked in my body got rid of them
sports center top 10
what are you talking about you're a moron
and if you talk like these people
you're stupid you lack
intelligence is that who you want your
role model to be
guy can't even put a sentence together
this is grammatically incorrect
I could go on and on about
it let's just move on my fourth
point are you willing to forsake
your habitual sin
we're getting increasingly
extreme here I guess
going all in for Jesus Christ
it means you're facing a cross
road and what's that cross road it's a choice between
your habitual sin that you've
dealt with for decades
perhaps hypothetically
or forsaking it so you could be a better
soldier so you could be a vessel under honor
and one talk obviously we're all sinners
what I'm talking about though is the same
sin over and over
and over and over again
that you've been struggling with a big sin that you've been
struggling with that's holding you
back are you willing to eliminate that pet
sin to be a better follower
of Jesus Christ to be a disciple
Psalm 119 it says
order my steps and thy word
and let not any iniquity have
dominion over me going back to
that beer bottle constantly
going back to the smut online
constantly you know what that means
those things have dominion over you
and you can't let that iniquity have
dominion over you if
you want to be all in
you have to make a choice
cleanse the temple of God which is your
body or
just continue wallowing
in this filth Hebrews 10
it says verse 26
for if we sin willfully after that we receive the
knowledge of the truth there remaineth no more
sacrifice for sins but a certain
fearful looking for of judgment and fiery
indignation which shall devour
the adversaries as a saved
Christian you can't lose your salvation
but what you'll get in
return for willful sin
willful disobedience
is you're going to get judgment
you're going to get fiery
indignation which shall devour the
adversaries a chastening
with zeal from God and the Bible
says it's a fearful thing to fall
into the hands of the living God
if you're saved today I'm warning
you do not take
that lightly don't take the
punishment the judgment of God in this life
lightly don't go around
gallivanting yeah I'm saved
that means I can do whatever I want nope
you'll go to heaven
but your life here on
this earth you will face
the punishment 1 Corinthians 10
here's the good news it says in verse 13
there's a way out
if you want to forsake that habitual sin
that sin that you constantly find
yourself falling into so you can be a
better follower of Jesus Christ
you can go all in here's the good news
for you you have the Holy Spirit
inside you you
have the new man the Bible says
that if you walk in the flesh you won't
I'm sorry if you walk in the spirit you
won't fulfill the lusts
of the flesh there's a way out
you have the Holy Ghost use
him you can ask God to steer you
away from those bad habits that you
continually find yourself falling
into here's a crossroads
I keep using that word but I think it's relevant
to the sermon imagine an unmarried
couple for example
an unmarried couple who've been living together
for years understanding
they're in fornication
knowing they're in fornication but
it's inconvenient for them
to split in terms of living
separately so they live together
committing fornication and they might
come up with the excuse yeah I know that I'm living
with my girlfriend and that is fornication
according to the Bible but you know what I mean
we love each other
well here's the solution for that how about you
forsake that pet
sin of yours and get married
how about you get married
you want to be a disciple of Christ
and you're in that situation
get married
the Bible says that fornicators ought to be
kicked out of the church until they repent
and can come back and then all
things will be made right again
but it takes the choice on
the free will they have to exercise
their free will these couples do
to say I'm more interested
in being a disciple I'm more interested in
going all in and so
as a result I will forsake that fornication
and I'll either get married
or move out of the
apartment I'm sharing with my girlfriend
Titus 2 it says for the grace of God which
bringeth salvation hath appeared to all
men teaching us that denying
ungodliness and worldly lusts
we should live soberly
righteously and godly in this
present world and there's no more
important time than 2020 to
do that so I would hope
that the couple living in fornication
who really does want
to go all in would realize
that they have to stop that they have to get
married that they have to move out
and start following Christ
if they want to
amass the rewards I've talked about already
it's time to turn up the heat what do you say
let's turn up the heat a little bit
almost done you say okay Ben
fine I'm willing to forsake my carnal
desires
and start instead have spiritual
priorities I'm willing to do that I'm willing
to forsake the bad doctrine that I
learned from my courtesy of my family or my
old church great I'm willing to do that I'm willing
to forsake that which is popular I wasn't
a fan of little Wayne anyway
I'm willing to
even stop that bad
habit the online smut
or whatever it is
that you're struggling with you're willing to
turn away from it you say yeah yes
to all your questions so far well how about
this one are you willing to forsake
friendships
go to Proverbs 13
are you willing to forsake friendships
Proverbs 28
as you turn to Proverbs 13 the Bible says
who so keepeth the law is a wise
son but he that is a companion
of riotous men shameeth
his father if you're
a companion of riotous men
Bible says your father is ashamed
you say well my
my friend's a black lives matter
supporter going out and destroying private
property what are you doing
you might want to find a new friend
okay you say my friend's a drunk
my friend isn't
even saved thinks the Bible's a
dumb fairy tale
what are you doing then
it might be time for new friends are you
willing though to make new friends
are you willing to forsake some of these
friendships that will act as an obstacle
for you in your walk
Proverbs 13 says in verse 20
he that walketh with wise men
mosquitoes back
he that walketh with wise men shall be
wise but a companion of
fools shall be destroyed
if your friends are
unsaved if they're fools if they're
going out and getting into debauchery
and things of that nature the
Bible says then that you a companion
of fools will then be
destroyed if you're hanging out
with people who are listening to little
Wayne blasting it in their car
memorizing the lyrics and you find
yourself humming it
you're going to be destroyed
you're a companion of fools
are you willing to forsake them though
to follow Jesus that's my question
why would you have to forsake them
well imagine if they walked up to you
they said hey
you're kind of weird now that you got saved
you're a little different you got to choose
you got to choose between all this
religion that you've dabbled in
or me then what
what if you've been friends with this person for
years what if it's been a decade
and they come to you with this
ultimatum first of all that would make
them wicked as hell the Bible says a friend
loveth at all times
but what would you do I would
hope you would say alright then see ya
I love God
that's what I would hope you would do I'm going to skip
some of this here for sake of time let's go
to my final point
go to Matthew chapter 10
Matthew chapter 10 the Bible says
I'll just say this real quickly here
in 1 Corinthians chapter 5
even those let me read this real
quick and then we'll move on to the final point
even
those who are
saved there's a warning
1 Corinthians chapter 5 which deals
with church discipline it says
in verse 9 I wrote unto you in an
epistle not to company with fornicators
yet not altogether with the fornicators of this
world or with the covetous or extortioners
or with idolaters for then
must he needs go out of the world but now
I have written unto you not to keep company if
any man that is called a brother be a fornicator
or covetous or an idolater or a railer
or a drunkard or an extortioner with
such and one know not
to eat oh what if they're saved
though what if they go to a new IFB church
if they've been kicked out for railing
you need to say goodbye
but are you willing to do that are you willing
to forsake that friendship even
if they're saved if they fall on this list
the Bible says with such and one
know not to eat and if you want to be
a disciple of Jesus Christ then
those words ought to have real meaning for you
even if they're inconvenient
so I told you to
turn to Matthew chapter 10 here's my last point
we're going to turn up the heat now
are you willing to
forsake family
Matthew 10
look at verse 21
and the brother shall deliver up the brother to death
verse 21
and the father the child and the children shall
rise up against their parents and cause them to
be put to death
there's a time coming where even your
family members
will want to put you
to death
they're going to want to rat you out
to the government
because you refused perhaps
if we're in the end times to take the mark of the beast
that's how bad it's going to get
verse 34
skip down to verse 34
you want to go all in?
you want to walk the walk
as well as talk the talk
you want to be a disciple
all out for Jesus Christ
and understand in certain situations
I'm not saying this will happen to all of you
but for some of you and statistically I think
this is true for some of you sitting in front of me
right now your foes will be they
of your own household and what are you going to do
when people who you thought you loved
the most come to you and say
you pick between that Bible and us
what are you going to do then?
this is a sobering passage right here
your foes will be they of your own household
can you believe it?
people who you love
who you grew up with
your fathers, your mothers, your brothers, your sisters
for righteousness sake
they might
I'm not saying it will definitely happen
but they might turn on you
they might turn on you
Jesus said he's not come to bring peace
he came to bring division
the gospel brings division
right doctrine brings division
it will be the anti-Christ
who promises peace
what are you willing to forsake?
what I've asked the entire sermon
what about family?
Matthew 10 look at verse 37
we're winding down folks
thanks for your attentiveness
I appreciate it verse 37
he that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me
and he that loveth son or daughter
more than me is not worthy of me
how about this crossroads?
how about this choice?
the Lord Jesus Christ
or your brother in the flesh
the Lord Jesus Christ
or your sister
the Lord Jesus Christ or your cousin
the Lord Jesus Christ or your aunt
or your uncle
then what?
go to 2 Chronicles 15
2 Chronicles 15
I want to show you this in practice
2 Chronicles chapter 15
oh this will never happen
really?
because I can't tell you how many people
come up to me and said
yeah my brother won't talk to me anymore
because of what I believe about the homos
yeah my sister
she wants nothing to do with me
because I believe
that Sodomites
according to Leviticus chapter 20
are committing a capital crime
won't talk to me
it's like I don't even exist
2 Chronicles 15 look at verse 16
and also concerning Maacah
the father of Asa the king
he removed her from being queen
because she had made an idol in a grove
and Asa cut down her idol and stamped it
and burnt it at the brook kydron
Asa removed his own grandmother
from the throne
for being given to idolatry
it doesn't look like family
was even an obstacle for him
because he was willing to remove her
if necessary
so that he could ensure his nation
is serving God
why?
because he's not a respecter of persons
and so look even his grandfather
Maacah, even her
his allegiance was to God
and one day you might have to make
that same choice
I don't want you to have to go through that
I wouldn't wish that on anyone
the Bible does tell us in Psalm 120
I am for peace but when I speak
they are for war
I want peace, I think we all want peace
we all just want to get along
we're not in some cult
I'm not saying just cut off everybody
that disagrees with you, no
they're the ones who are going to want to cut you off
you ought to love your family
listen carefully to what I'm saying
you love your family
even if they have cut you off
you love them and you pray for them
and you hope that one day they come around
you love your family
you pray for your family
don't be the aggressor
that cuts them off
and I'm talking to adults here
not minors, obviously if you're a child
living in your parent's house
that's a different story
they put food on your table
you have to go with what they want
and that's fine, but if you're an adult today
if you're out on your own today and you're married
and you have your own family and it's detestable
compared to the other people
who you are related to
and they offer you an ultimatum
are you going to go with Jesus
or are you going to go with them
go with Jesus, understand
that doesn't give you the right then
to be nasty to them
or to hate them
unless there's some, you know, weird reprobate or whatever
different story, I'm talking about normal people here
it doesn't give you the right to hate on them
you know what, pray for them every night
that they'll come around and accept you
for who you are
someone who's a member of the spiritual Israel
someone who's saved and loves God
here's what they'll tell you, oh we're worried about you
that's what they'll say
get ready for it
we're worried about you
you go to church every Sunday
and you don't do drugs and you don't do alcohol
and you don't get into trouble
you have a clean criminal record
we're worried about you
seriously?
that's what they're going to say
they're worried about you going to church
a place where you learn
how to raise a family
a good traditional conservative
family that loves God
a place where you can learn how to love God
a place where you learn how to love your neighbor
a place where you learn the Bible
a place where you have great fellowship
where you've been happier than you've ever been
because you've made really close friends who actually love you
and care about you
a place where you can learn how to be a hard worker
to provide for your family
a place where you learn how to be a better husband
a better wife, a better man, a better woman, a better person
a better Christian, they're going to look at you and say
we're worried about you, it's insanity
but you will have to go through with it
you will have to go through that issue
is what I'm trying to say, imagine that
imagine being worried about somebody
who's engaging in that type of behavior
but that's how they think
and that's a crossroads
you will face, you will go through
the fork in the road, the Lord Jesus Christ
is that what you'll pick?
the Lord Jesus Christ
God, the things of God
or will you acquiesce to the will of your family
even those who you thought loved you the most
which one are you going to choose?
I'll give you the right answer
and this might be hard to hear
and it takes a lot of courage
and it takes some maturity maybe
and some experience in the Christian life
to pick this option
but I'll give you the right answer, I'll give you the right attitude
as for me
as for my house
we will serve
the Lord
and they might not like hearing that
they might not want to hear that
and it might be really difficult for you
to utter those words
to those of the people that are even in your family
but you ought to say this
with all the vigor
and all the courage that you've got
as for me and my house
we will serve the Lord
put this in your pipe and smoke it
I will never stop loving Jesus Christ
I will never stop serving Jesus Christ
I will never stop preaching the gospel
I will never stop reading my Bible
I will never stop going to church
you're going to have to put a bullet in my brain to stop me
go to 2nd Chronicles 25, we'll be done
it's hard
and look, obviously you could maybe say that in a nicer way
when an individual is preaching
just understand that's not necessarily how you should talk
like out in the world and stuff
2nd Chronicles 25
but that's what I believe
go ahead
you want to ultimatum? I choose Jesus
every single time
nothing you could do
nothing will make you change my mind
nothing, you'll have to kill me
you have to put a bullet in my brain to make me stop
2nd Chronicles 25
we're almost done, look at verse 5
I just want to get this in
moreover, Amaziah gathered Judah together
and made them captains over thousands
and captains over hundreds, according to the houses of their fathers
throughout all Judah and Benjamin
and he numbered them from 20 years old and above
and found them 300,000 choice men
able to go forth to war
that could handle spear and shield, verse 6
he hired also 100,000 mighty men
of valor out of Israel for 100 talents of silver
but there came a man of God to him
saying, O king, let not the army of Israel go with thee
for the Lord is not with Israel
to wit with all the children of Ephraim
but if thou wilt go, do it, be strong for the battle
God shall make thee fall before the enemy
for God hath power to help and to cast down
and Amaziah said to the man of God
but what shall we do for the 100 talents
which I have given to the army of Israel
listen to this, and the man of God answered
the Lord is able to give thee
much more than this
Amaziah prepares for battle
the man of God says, this is not
what you need to be engaging in
and the response is, well, Lord
what about what I've invested
Lord, what about what this has cost me so far
and here is what the man of God answered
the Lord is able to give thee
much more than this
I've talked about a ton of different sacrifices today
a ton of things that you ought to give up
if you really do want to be a disciple
that you might have to give up
if you really want to be a disciple
and if you're thinking in your mind
well, that seems like a lot
even my own family
well, the Lord is able to give thee much more than this
you might get a new family
I have a new family
they are my children
I have a new family
they are my church friends
I have a family, they're my friends here at Pure Words Baptist Church
I love you guys
you know, I have a family
it's called like-minded believers
who like me for who I am and aren't going to make me change
everything I believe
to fit in with their philosophy
with their worldly philosophy
you know, you might get a new family
oh, what about my friends though? I don't want to lose all my friends
they're going to think I'm weird, you'll make new friends
the Lord is able to give thee much more than this
I actually love you
you can listen to new music
you can put that Lil Wayne album in the trash
and listen to real music, good music
edifying music that pleases God
so are you willing to forsake your carnal desires
are you willing to forsake bad doctrine
are you willing to forsake what's popular
are you willing to forsake your
pet habitual sin
are you willing to forsake friendships
are you willing to even forsake family
if necessary, not saying that that's the goal
we ought to continue to reach out
and love them and pray for them
don't take what I'm saying out of context
but if you have no choice, if you're given an ultimatum
what will you do?
which one will you choose?
and if you actually, honestly
now don't lie, but if you honestly
answered yes to every single one of these questions
and you're thinking in your head
this seems like a lot to give up
don't ever forget these words
the Lord is able
to give thee much
more than this
1 Corinthians 2
this is the last verse I'm going to quote
remember this
if you're an individual who's given up a lot
to try and be a disciple
to try and follow Jesus Christ
no matter what you lose
in this life, no matter what job
opportunities you have to pass up
that would have paid a lot of money
so you could stay in church and read your Bible
and go soul winning
no matter what you lose in this life
never forget God has something better prepared
for them that love Him
He's got something much better for you
waiting for you in Heaven
blessings in this life and rewards in Heaven
and let me just say this
the slings and the arrows
and the railing
and the backbiting
and the false accusations that you might
have to deal with in your Christian walk
it's all worth it
it's worth it for that old lady you may meet
out soul winning who's knocking on death's door
who might die
the next day
it's worth it for that old lady on her deathbed
who you knock on her door
and you give her the gospel of Jesus Christ
and she gets saved, it's worth it for her
it's worth it for the young man who has this
burden of work salvation on his heart
this burden of trying hard to please God
so he can one day go to Heaven not knowing
what eternal security even is
doesn't even know the concept and so badly
wants to ensure that he's going to Heaven one day
it's worth it for that man
for you, the soul winner, knocking on their door
and showing them that in fact it doesn't take any work
the work's all been done for him
all he has to do is believe, it's worth it for him
you know, it's worth it for
that widow
you knock on her door out soul winning
she just lost her husband
she's thinking about depression, she's thinking about drugs
she's thinking about alcohol
and you show up on her property and you've got a church
invited and you say, hey, I've got some hope for you
you're welcome to come to our church
but more importantly than that
are you sure you're going to Heaven?
because this life, with all its affliction
is not all that we have
it's worth it for her
it's worth it for all those people
all those examples of people you'll meet
out soul winning, all of them with tears in their eyes
I've seen it, even last time I was here
a young man praying
asking Jesus to save him
tears strolling down his face
as he calls on Jesus for salvation
it's worth it
I'll take all the affliction, all the tribulation
all the persecution
just so I could turn one person to righteousness
like that guy
who was so thankful to get saved
it's worth it for him, but it's not just worth it for those people
it's worth it for you, it's worth it for your children
it's worth it for your wife
it's worth it for your family
it's worth it for every single person
sitting in the pew this morning
it's worth it for each and every one of you to go through this affliction
it's worth it for each and every one of you
to forsake the things I talked about
and you know what, there are other things I didn't even get to
it's worth forsaking all
as we read in Luke chapter 14
why? to be a disciple of Jesus Christ
it's worth it
trust me
and it might not seem that way in the flesh
but trust me, it's worth it
so that's all I wanted to leave you with
I'm going over
but I just thank you guys for listening
and I just hope that this sermon admonishes you
to think about what are you willing to forsake
what are you willing to give up
what are you willing to sacrifice
so you can go all in
because you know what, we only have one life to do it
and it's this one right now
I hope you make the right decision
let's pray
Father, I thank you so much for
this church, Lord
and I just pray everyone in here
really honestly examines themselves
and realizes, hey, you know what
yeah
I am willing to forsake all
I'm willing to forsake what's popular
I'm willing to forsake my friends
I'm willing to forsake even my family
just so I can get one person saved, Lord
so I could serve
so I could serve God, Lord
I pray that the people here this morning
would examine what it is they're truly willing to give up
so that they too
can follow you
just like so many great men of God did
in the Bible
we love you and we thank you for preserving
and protecting this church in the midst of a world
that hates it and will continue to hate it
more and more as the years go on
in Jesus' name I pray, Amen
number 86
in the garden
86
I come to the garden alone
all I do is
spill on the roses
and the voice I hear
on and on I hear
the sound
of
rocket
closing
anyone
with me
any
other
I pray
that the people here this morning
would examine
what it is they're truly willing to give up
all I do is
spill on the roses
and the voice
I hear
on and on
I pray
that the people here this morning
would examine
what it is they're truly willing to give up
all I do is
spill on the roses
and the voice
I hear
on and on
I pray
that the people here
this morning
would examine
what it is they're truly willing to give up
all I do is
spill on the roses
and the voice
I hear
on and on
I pray
you