Holy Spirit, as he preaches your word to us, in Jesus' name we pray, amen.
Amen, all right, well I wanna of course begin by saying thank you to Pastor Mejia for inviting
me out, and I always enjoy spending time with Pastor Mejia, I consider him a close friend,
a good friend, I had a good time last night doing the podcast, and I appreciate the invitation.
I wanna say thank you to all of you, this is a great crowd, for a Thursday night in
Southern California, and the traffic and all that, I appreciate you putting the effort
to be here, and of course I wanna say thank you to this church for who you are, and what
you've gone through, and how you've faced it, and your faithfulness, and I just want
you to know that we, you've got some fans in Northern California, and we are rooting
you on, and we are thankful for you, and you know, I really wanna say this church is
the bomb, I'm sure I'm not the first one to say that, but we think the world of you
guys.
We're there in 2 Corinthians chapter number 4, and I'd like you to look down at verse
number 1, this passage in some ways reminds me of this church, there's some correlations
between the ministry of the Apostle Paul, and the ministry of Pastor Mejia, and of First
Works Baptist Church, in verse 1 the Bible says this, Therefore seeing we have this ministry,
as we have received mercy, I want you to notice these three words here, in verse 1 it says,
We faint not.
And this is a little bit of a theme in this chapter, if you look at verse 16 it says,
For which cause we faint not.
And the Apostle Paul is taking some strong stands, and he's not backing down, he has
not fainted, and this is what you've done, this is what First Works has done, you've
taken some strong stands and you've not fainted, you can say, like the Apostle Paul,
we faint not, and I wanna thank you for that, I wanna thank you for being a strong church,
for being a strong pastor, for being a strong church behind your pastor, because what we
don't need, and what we often get, is fundamental Baptists taking strong stands, and as soon
as there's some pressure they back off, they apologize, they say I didn't mean it,
I misspoke, and I'm glad to see a man of God who says, you're still filthy, you're
still wicked, and you know, this is what we believe in, we're not mincing words, and
that's what Paul says, Paul says, hey we faint not, we're not backing down, we're
not giving up, like Paul, you have received persecution for preaching the truth, notice
verse 2, but have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness,
not handling the word of God deceitfully, every pastor that stands against a church
like this one, when you get persecuted for the message against the filthiness, the sodomites,
the LGBTQ, and all that, you know, they really are handling the word deceitfully, because
you can't be, you know, in ministry and not know what the Bible says about these things,
but Paul says, you know, we have hidden, we've renounced the hidden things of dishonesty,
not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation,
notice these words, of the truth, commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the
sight of God.
So Paul says, look, we've not handled the word of God deceitfully, we've, in fact,
but by the manifestation of the truth, we've stood up and spoken the truth, we've preached
the truth, and this church has preached the truth, and you've received persecution as
a result, notice not only that, but Paul, like this church, has reached people with
the gospel, verse 3, but if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost, in whom
the God of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light
of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
He says, for we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your
servants for Jesus' sake.
And this church, like the apostle Paul, has stood firm, notice verse 6, for God, who commanded
the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
And here's what I want you to notice, and we're getting to the passage I want to deal
with tonight, and I just want you to see it in its context, that the apostle Paul here
has some similarities to this church.
He did not back down, you have not backed down.
He said, we faint not, and the apostle Paul says, we have not dealt with the word of God
in a deceitful way, we've made manifest the truth of God's word, and that's what
you've done, you've preached the truth, not just salvation, but also sanctification.
And Paul says, we've also preached the gospel, we have preached salvation, we preach not
ourselves but Christ Jesus.
And the idea is that you might look at somebody like Paul and think maybe more highly than
Paul would have you to think.
You know, you might look, and something that first works and first works, and Pastor Mejia,
you've always been an awesome church, you've always been an amazing church, you've always
done great things.
But you've recently crossed, and I don't know if you know this, but you've recently
crossed to a new level.
I mean, I would like to call it, you know, you're famous, but I think the proper word
is probably more you're infamous.
And you've crossed to a level of publicity, you've crossed to a level of people knowing
you, people knowing about you, I don't think there's a person in this area that doesn't
know about first works Baptist church.
And some might look at that and say, man, that's a wonderful thing, and I understand
that and I appreciate that.
And Paul says this in verse 7, he says, don't misunderstand it though, he says, but we have
this treasure in earth and vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and
not of us.
Let us always remember that the victories that God allows us to have, that the battles
that God allows us to fight, they are not for our glory, they're for the glory of God.
And you've came out on the other side and you've been successful.
I mean, look at this building, it's a beautiful building.
I got a tour of the building last night and, you know, as I was walking around and looking
at this amazing facility, I thought to myself, man, you know, you guys are really struggling
with that bombing thing.
They really messed you guys up, didn't they?
I mean, oh well, I guess you have to settle for this place.
But Paul says this, he says, we have this treasure in earth and vessels, that the excellency
of power may be of God and not of us.
And the apostle Paul, in the next several verses, begins to give these statements, and
I want you to notice them.
I call these statements of reality and statements of clarity.
Paul's just being very honest.
He says, we are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
We are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken, cast down, but not destroyed.
And what we see in these two verses, we see these four statements, and they are kind of
counterintuitive.
They are a statement of dismay and a statement of victory.
They are a statement that is negative and that which is positive.
He says, we are troubled, negative, but we are not distressed, positive.
We are perplexed, negative, but not in despair, positive.
Persecuted, negative, but not forsaken, positive.
Cast down, negative, but not destroyed, positive.
And see, Paul has given us this idea, and I think it's important for us to realize
these statements of reality and these statements of clarity, because we have the tendency to
want to be on either side of these, right?
I mean, the Christians and maybe some of the independent, vulnerable Baptists in this area,
you know, might be shaming you for your persecution.
We like to talk a lot about shame, you know, in this society.
You hear about fat shaming and, you know, this shaming and that shaming.
But you know what I found?
I'm not, you know, I'm not defending that stuff.
What I'm saying is this.
You know what I found?
There's a lot of persecution to shaming, where Christians will look at a church like
this and say, well, you must be doing something wrong.
I mean, because what other church is getting bombed?
I mean, what other church is being persecuted?
And they shame you in that idea.
And Paul says, no, you know, let me just be very clear.
We are succeeding.
We have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of power may be of God and
not of us.
But he said, let me be clear.
We are troubled on every side.
And then there's, and people would say, oh, no, no, no.
We don't want to, you know, we should be ashamed of that.
Let's hide that.
Let's not talk about that.
Paul says, no, no, we are troubled, but we're not distressed.
We are perplexed but not in despair, persecuted but not forsaken, cast down but not destroyed.
I'd like to take a few moments tonight and just kind of dissect these statements and
unravel these statements a little bit if you would allow me to.
I saw that on the back of your bulletin.
There's a place for you to take notes and maybe you can jot some of these thoughts down.
We're there in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and I want to begin with this first statement,
this statement of reality, this statement of clarity, this statement that is counterintuitive.
He says we are troubled on every side yet not distressed and it is true.
It is true and we won't hide it.
It is true that we are troubled on every side.
This is not the first time the apostle Paul said that.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 8, he says we are troubled on every side.
I'd like you to notice chapter 1 and verse 8 if you would.
In 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 8, 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 8, he says
this, 2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 8, he says, for we would not, brethren, 2 Corinthians
chapter 1 and verse 8, for we would not, brethren, have you ignorant.
Notice what he says.
He says of our trouble which came to us in Asia that we were pressed out of measure,
above strength, insomuch that we were despaired even of life.
Go to 2 Corinthians chapter number 7.
Look at verse number 5.
2 Corinthians chapter number 7 and verse 5, 2 Corinthians 7 and 5 says this, for when
we were come into Macedonia, 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5, our flesh had no rest.
Notice these words.
But we were troubled on every side, he says.
We were troubled on every side.
And look, you say, are you trying to discourage us?
You know, I'm not trying to discourage you but I want you to understand and I want you
to get the reality that when you live New Testament Christianity, when you actually
preach the Word of God, when you are not deceitful, when you make manifest the truth, yes, it
is true.
We are troubled on every side.
You say, why is that?
Go to 1 Corinthians chapter 16 if you would.
We are there in 2 Corinthians, let's flip back to 1 Corinthians chapter number 16.
1 Corinthians chapter number 16.
Look at verse 9.
You say, you know, this church, if I come to this church, if I stay at this church,
are the articles, the negative articles going to continue?
And the answer is yes.
Will people continue to hate on us?
The answer is yes.
Will Pastor Mejia continue to say things that piss everyone off?
Yeah.
You know, look, let's just be honest.
We are troubled on every side.
You say, why?
Here's why.
Because when we attempt to accomplish something great for God, there will be trouble in opposition.
1 Corinthians 6 verse 9 says, for a great door and effectual.
The word effectual means effective.
A great door that is a reference to an opportunity, an opportunity to accomplish something, to
do something very effective.
For a great door and effectual is open unto me.
Doesn't that sound good?
Isn't that what we all want?
I mean, is that what you want in your life?
Isn't that what every pastor wants?
Isn't that what every church wants?
Doesn't every church want it to be said that a great door and effectual is open unto them?
But look, that statement doesn't come without the follow-up statement and there are many
adversaries.
If you're going to try to do something, if you're going to try to accomplish something,
look, if you're going to go to Santa Ana and get a bunch of people saved, if you're going
to hold soul-winning marathons, if you're going to preach God's word, if you're going
to make documentaries, if you're going to actually stand up in Southern California and
do what the preachers in this area are not doing and preach God's word and not mince
words and make it clear, realize that there's going to be a target on your back.
The devil's not just going to take that line rolling over.
You don't have to turn there.
Acts 19 and verse 15 says this, And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know and
Paul I know, but who are ye?
In this area, they would say Jesus I know and Bruce Mejia I know.
Because whenever you try to accomplish something, whenever you try to do something, whenever
you try to actually bring, you know, truth to an area and try to conquer an area, there
will be trouble, there will be adversaries, there will be problems.
So look, Paul says this, Paul says I'm not going to lie to you, I'm not going to tell
you that, you know, the Christian life is just a bed of roses and everything's fine
and everything's happy and nothing bad ever happens.
He says look, we are troubled on every side.
That's the reality.
But he says, let me explain something to you, we're troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
He says we're troubled on every side, yet we're not distressed.
What does that word distress mean?
Go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 if you would, back to 2nd Corinthians chapter 7.
The word distress means suffering from anxiety.
It means to be stressed, to be stressed out.
And look, if you think about it, isn't the purpose of troubles to cause you anxiety?
I mean, isn't the purpose of the adversary, the persecution, to bring stress, to bring
distress?
Look, that's the goal.
Go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 7 verse 5.
He says, for we were coming to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled
on every side.
Notice what Paul says, he says, without we're fighting.
He said, we're being attacked on all sides, he says, we're troubled on every side.
Paul says, when I looked out, all I saw was fighting, all I saw was conflict, all I saw
was adversaries, all I saw was issues.
He says, without we're fighting, and then Paul, in a moment of reality, in a moment
of being sincere and authentic, and we understand that he's speaking by the inspiration of the
Holy Ghost, but he says, without we're fighting, within we're fears.
I mean, isn't that the purpose of troubles?
The purpose of trouble is to make your heart quiver.
The purpose of trouble is to scare you.
The adversary brings trouble to terrorize you.
I mean, they are terrorists, literally.
I mean, you say, I wonder why they bombed our church?
To scare you?
Why did they bomb the church building?
To cause stress?
To cause anxiety?
For you to look out and say, without we're fighting, within we're fears?
And let me say this, God understands, look, fear does not come from God.
The Bible says that God has not given us the spirit of fear, but I also believe that God
understands that we're human beings, and sometimes we get scared.
Sometimes we get stressed.
Sometimes we have anxiety.
Sometimes when the fighting is tough on the outside, there might be some fear on the inside.
I think God understands that.
Go to 1 Peter, if you would, keep your place there in 2 Corinthians 4, that's our text
for tonight.
1 Peter 5, if you would, if you start at the end of the Bible and head backwards, you have
the book of Revelation, Jude, 3 John, 2 Peter, and then 1 Peter, 1 Peter 5, 1 Peter 5, and
verse 7.
In 1 Peter 5 and verse 7, you have this beautiful verse, one of the most comforting, beautiful
verses in the entire Bible.
1 Peter 5, verse 7, casting all your care, what does the word care mean?
It means anxiety, it means stress, it means distress, it means fear.
Casting all your care upon him, who's the him there?
1 Peter 5, verse 7, I think one of the most beautiful verses in the entire Bible, one
of the most comforting verses in the entire Bible, casting all your care upon him, for
he careth for you.
Now I want you to notice the context of 1 Peter 5 and verse 7.
The context is this, verse 8, one of the most sobering verses in the Bible.
One of the most admonishing verses in the Bible.
One of the most warning verses in the Bible, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary,
the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
1 Peter 5 and verse 8 is one of the quintessential verses right up there with Ephesians 6 on
the subject of spiritual warfare.
God tells us, hey, you need to be sober, you need to be vigilant, because your adversary,
your adversary, the conflict, the enemy, your adversary, the devil, he's walking about
as a roaring lion, walking about, seeking you, whom he may devour.
And for years I would read 1 Peter, and I would often think to myself, I wonder why
God put such a beautiful, comforting verse, 1 Peter 5, verse 7, casting all your care
upon him for he cares for you, right before one of the most scary, admonishing, warning
verses, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh
about, seeking whom he may devour.
And the reason for it is because God understands that we are troubled.
See, 1 Peter 5, verse 8, be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil, as a roaring
lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.
You could write next to 1 Peter 5, 8, we are troubled on every side.
And you know what you could write next to 1 Peter 5, 7?
Yet not distressed.
Casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.
You say, what do I do, Pastor Jimenez, because I hear this preaching about, you know, fear
is not from God, and God has not given us the spirit of fear, and you know, Jesus often
saying fear not, but sometimes, sometimes I still feel the strength, sometimes, sometimes
I still feel the anxiety, sometimes, sometimes, without we're fighting, within we're fears.
What do I do?
You cast it upon Christ.
I love the old hymn, Just as I Am.
It teaches us that you can bring your distress to Christ.
One of the verses says, just as I am, though tossed about, with many a conflict, many a
doubt, fightings and fears, within, without, O Lamb of God, I come.
I mean, that's straight out of the Bible.
I come.
You say, what do you do with your fear?
What do you do with the stress?
What do you do with the anxiety?
What do you do with these feelings that arise when the conflict comes?
Paul says, hey, you know that you can be troubled and not distressed?
See we think, oh, in order to live a life of peace, you know, we must have peace all
around us, and Paul says, no, no, peace is something you have on the inside.
He says, it is the peace of God that passeth all understanding.
It is the peace that God gives you.
It is the peace that the Holy Spirit gives you.
He says, you can be at war, you can be troubled on every side, you can have conflicts without
and have peace within.
So Paul says, Paul says, let me just be real with you.
Paul says, look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it for you.
We're troubled on every side.
But also know this, that we're not distressed.
We can cast our care upon him for he careth for us.
Then Paul gives us a second statement of reality, a second statement of clarity.
Second Corinthians chapter four and verse eight, he says this, in fact, you do me a
favor, go to the book of Job, Job chapter number 10, you open up your Bible just right
in the center of the Bible, you more than likely fall in the book of Psalms, right before
Psalms you have the book of Job, Job chapter 10.
Paul says, we are troubled on every side yet not distressed.
That's the first statement of clarity, of reality.
Then he gives us a second statement, he says this, we are perplexed but not in despair.
We are perplexed.
The word perplexed means puzzled or confused.
Paul says, we are perplexed but not in despair.
He says, you know, I'll be honest with you, sometimes I'm confused.
Sometimes I'm puzzled.
Sometimes I just kind of have to sit back and think to myself, wait, what?
And Paul's just being real with us.
And I mean, I don't know, I would have to guess.
I would imagine we can, Pastor Mejia can fill us in later.
But I would imagine when he got a phone call in the middle of the night or early morning
on Saturday morning, and evangelist Ulysses calls him and says, hey, Pastor, I know you
said not to call you unless they blow up the building, but they blow up the building.
I'm sure there was a moment, I mean, you know, it was early in the morning, I'm sure there
was a moment where you're just kind of like, wait, what?
Hey, is it okay to be perplexed?
I mean, sometimes we're perplexed, isn't that true?
Sometimes we're a little confused, sometimes we're just unsure, we're not sure how this
is all going to work out.
I mean, you spent three weeks in the wilderness, right?
Meeting in the tabernacle, under the tent, walking in circles.
It's okay to be perplexed.
Paul said, hey, we are perplexed, let me tell you something, sometimes in the Christian
life we're perplexed.
Here's what Job said, Job chapter 10 and verse 2, remember Job, the most upright man,
a perfect, askew to evil, the Bible says, Job chapter 10 verse 2, he says, I will say
unto God.
This is Job in the midst of his trial, in the midst of his trouble.
He said, I will say unto God, do not condemn me.
Then he says this, Job chapter 10 verse 2, he says, show me wherefore.
The word wherefore means for what reason?
Job speaking to God, he says, show me wherefore thou contendest with me.
Job looks at God and the Bible says that Job never cursed God and he never charged God
foolishly and Job never looked at God and said, God, you're wrong to do this and curse
God and gave up on God.
But there were times when Job said, God, I don't know what you're doing.
I'm not against what you're doing to me, but can you just tell me, he says, wherefore
thou contendest with me.
Why are you doing this to me?
Look at verse 15, same chapter, Job chapter 10 verse 15.
He says, if I be wicked, woe unto me.
Job says, I know I'm right with God.
I'm not sinless, but I know I haven't done wickedness.
He says, if I be wicked, woe unto me.
If I be righteous yet, will I not lift up my head?
He says, notice these words, he says, I am full of confusion.
What's he saying?
Here's what he's saying.
I'm perplexed.
Therefore, see as thou mine affliction.
Go to Job 23, look at verse 8.
Job 23, in Job 23, we have one of the most famous verses in the book of Job.
Job chapter 23 and verse 10 is one of the most well-known verses of the book of Job.
But leading up to that verse, it's very interesting.
If you look at verses 8 and 9, why don't you notice what Job said?
Because Job is saying what Paul's saying.
He's saying, sometimes I'm perplexed.
Sometimes I'm puzzled.
Sometimes I'm confused.
He says in verse 8, Job 23, verse 8, behold, he says, I go forward.
Speaking about God, he says, I go forward, but he is not there.
And backward, but I cannot perceive him.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him.
He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
In verses 8 and 9, Job says, I don't know where God is.
And I don't know what God is doing.
I go forward, he's not there.
I go backward, he's not there.
I look on my left hand and I know God's at work, but I don't see him.
And I look on my right hand and I don't perceive him.
And he says, I don't know.
He says, I'm confused.
He says, I just, I'm not sure what's happening.
And look, in the Christian life, you will find yourself there from time to time.
Where you just say, I'm not sure.
And sometimes, as leaders, people come to us as the pastor, the pastor, what are we going to do?
And it's like, I don't know, you got any ideas?
I'm open for suggestions.
I'm perplexed.
Job says, look, he says, sometimes we don't know where God is, and we don't know what God is doing.
He says, I go forward, but he is not there.
And backward, but I cannot perceive him.
On the left hand, where he doth work, but I cannot behold him.
He hideth himself on the right hand, that I cannot see him.
And in that context, in that context comes one of the most famous verses in the book of Job.
Job 23 and verse 10, he says, but he knoweth the way that I take.
When he hath tried, I shall come forth as gold.
You say, what is Job saying?
Here's what Job is saying.
Job is saying, I don't know where God is, but God knows where I am.
I go forward, I don't see him.
I go backward, I don't see him.
I look on the left, I look on the right.
I don't see him.
I don't know where he is, but he knoweth the way that I take.
Just because I don't know what God is doing doesn't mean that God doesn't know what God is doing.
Paul says, we are perplexed.
Look, I'll be honest with you.
Go to 2nd Corinthians chapter 5.
I'll be honest with you.
Sometimes we're perplexed.
Last night we were talking back in 2016 when we had our big protest and thank the Lord we never got blown up.
That's a whole different thing.
You know what I mean?
But we had issues and our lease was up and our landlord was not going to renew our lease.
We were like you guys.
We were all over the news.
National and international news.
All over the place.
Everybody knew who we were.
We couldn't knock on the door.
Oh, you guys.
And as a result of that nobody wanted to rent to us.
I know the feeling.
And I mean we were looking around and looking around.
We spent six months, ten to twelve hours every day looking at building after building after building.
I believe that I have stepped foot in every building that could have potentially held a church in the city of Sacramento.
And the problem was not that we didn't have church people.
We had lots of church people.
People were energized because of the persecution.
People were on board.
It wasn't that we didn't have money.
We had money.
But nobody wanted to rent to us.
And nobody wanted to lease to us.
And for about six months we looked and looked.
And everywhere we went people kept saying no and no and no and no.
And those were six months.
Well I'll be honest with you.
I was pretty perplexed.
I mean I'm just kind of like what are we going to do?
What are we going to do?
I dreaded coming to church because I knew at church and people were well intentioned people.
But I knew that somebody would inevitably walk up to me and say pastor what are we going to do?
And the answer was I don't know.
But when I don't know what God wants.
When I don't know where God is.
When I don't know what God's doing.
He knows where I am.
And when I am tried I shall come forth as gold.
He knows the way that I take.
Here's what I'm telling you.
Sometimes we're perplexed.
I mean I remember thinking to myself at that time we were running about 150 in church on Sunday morning and I was thinking to myself man well maybe we could go back to the house because we started in the house and if we hold five services.
You know and bring like 40 people, 30 to 40 people.
This is how I was thinking.
You know I wonder if I could get a tabernacle.
I'm just telling you sometimes we're perplexed.
But you know that we're never in despair.
See Job had to learn a lesson.
Job never cursed God.
He never charged God foolishly.
He kept saying show me wherefore thou contendest with me and why is it God that you are doing this?
And Job had to learn a lesson, a very difficult lesson that is hard for all of us to learn and it is this that God does not owe you an explanation.
That God does not have to bring you into his planning meetings.
We get saved by faith.
We get saved by faith, our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ.
But you know the Bible says that we're not just saved by faith.
The Bible says the just shall live by faith.
The Bible says we walk by faith.
2 Corinthians 5 and verse 7 it says for we walk by faith not by sight.
Say what does that mean not by sight?
Here's what it means.
We walk by faith not by explanation.
We walk by faith.
We do what's right.
We do what God has called us to do.
We preach the sermons God has called us to preach.
We go salt winning how God has called us to go salt winning and yes Paul says sometimes we are perplexed.
Sometimes the answer is I don't know.
I'm confused.
Where is God Pastor?
He knows the way that I take.
I'm not sure where he's at.
He says we are perplexed but then he says this he says but not in despair.
See the word despair means complete loss or absence of hope.
You can be puzzled, confused, unsure, but not have lost complete hope.
The Bible says blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.
Aren't you thankful that our hope is in the Lord?
Aren't you thankful that our trust is in the Lord?
The Bible says if you put your hope in the Lord, if you put your trust in the Lord, blessed is the man that trusted in the Lord and whose hope the Lord is.
For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters that spread without her roots by the river and shall not see when he cometh.
But her leaves shall be green.
The Bible says look when your hope is in God you can prosper, you can succeed, you can continue on even if you're unsure because you're sure in your God.
And Paul just gives us these statements of reality.
He says look I just want you to understand.
It is true.
We are troubled on every side yet not distressed.
He says it's true.
Sometimes we are perplexed but not in despair.
We've not lost hope.
We know that God's in control.
Then he gives us a third statement.
Go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 4 if you wouldn't.
Look at verse 9.
He says persecuted.
Persecuted.
The word means suffering, hostility, or ill treatment.
He says persecuted but not forsaken.
Paul says look I'll be honest with you.
If you go to a real church.
I'm not talking about John MacArthur's church.
I'm talking about a real church.
I'm not talking about Rick Warren's church.
I'm talking about a real church.
You go to a real church.
I'm not talking about Greg Laurie.
I'm talking about a real church.
You go to a church that's actually going to preach the Bible.
You go to a real church.
I'm not talking about David Jeremiah.
I'm talking about a real church.
When you go to a real church.
When you follow the real Bible.
When you follow the actual Jesus Christ.
Not the one that's been made up.
He says you'll be persecuted.
You'll be persecuted.
I mean the Bible says you know this.
2 Timothy 3.16
Yea and all that will of Godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution.
You say man we went through these hard times.
Hey that's a badge of honor.
Amen.
Now you know.
You kind of always knew.
But now it's certified.
I mean in the newspaper certified.
We are living godly in Christ Jesus.
Because we're suffering persecution.
Paul says yea we're persecuted.
What of it?
People will often go to Luke if you would.
Luke chapter number 6.
Christians will often try to shame us for our persecution.
Pastor Anderson and I grew up going to the same church.
In Orangeville California.
There was a lady that went to that church.
She was older than we were.
But her and her husband went to that church.
And she knew some of my family members.
She's heard of some of the exploits and things that
Pastor Anderson has done.
And things that we've been involved in.
She said to one of my family members.
And of course our family members defended us.
But she said to one of our family members.
They must be doing something wrong.
I mean that never happens to our church.
That's because your church is lame.
I mean they must be doing something wrong.
Because you know.
The articles and the reports on the media.
That can't be normal.
That never happens to our pastor.
That's because your pastor never preaches anything.
But to try to shame us.
Like we've done something wrong.
Luke chapter 6 verse 22.
Notice what Jesus says.
When somebody says something like that to me.
You must not read the Bible.
You must not know the Bible.
You know.
You must not have even graduated from Sunday school.
Even in Sunday school they teach you that they crucified Jesus.
Luke chapter 6 verse 22.
Blessed are ye Jesus said.
Blessed are ye when men shall hate you.
Like the L.A. Times. Yeah.
When they shall separate you from their company.
Like the city of El Monte. Yeah.
I mean this is like your life first.
This is like your church's life first.
Blessed are ye when men shall hate you.
When they shall separate you from their company.
And shall reproach you.
And cast out your name as evil.
I mean Bruce Mejia has become a cuss word.
For the son of man's sake. I'll take that.
He says rejoice ye in that day and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in heaven.
Notice these words.
For in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets.
Followers of God have always been persecuted.
When you suffer persecution just realize this is actually what it should be like.
This is actually New Testament Christianity.
First works Baptist Church is actually living out the book of Acts.
I mean read the book of Acts.
The book of Acts you have the Apostle Paul and you have other men of God going out starting churches preaching the gospel and preaching the truth of God's word.
And they're getting thrown out of town.
Persecuted.
Lied about.
I mean this is New Testament Christianity.
Look Paul says, Paul says look let me just be real.
Let me be very real.
I'm not going to try to sugar coat it for you.
I'm not going to try to act like oh you know don't read those articles.
He says look it's true.
We are troubled on every side.
But as true as that is we are also not in despair.
He said we're not distressed.
We are perplexed but not in despair.
He says persecuted.
Yes.
Sure.
And if you live godly in Christ Jesus you'll be persecuted too.
But then he says this.
Go to Romans if you would.
Romans chapter number 8.
You're there in Luke, John, Acts, Romans.
He says persecuted then he says this but not forsaken.
You know I can face any persecution as long as God's with me.
I mean I can face any persecution as long as I know I've not been forsaken by God.
It's interesting how Paul puts these thoughts together because in Romans chapter 8 he does
it again.
In Romans chapter 8 he puts these ideas together of persecution and the presence of God.
Persecution and God being with us.
Romans chapter 8 well known verses.
Look at verse 35.
He says who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
I mean it's a question regarding being forsaken.
He says look nothing is going to separate us from the love of Christ.
Christ, God, is never going to forsake us.
He says who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Then he gives out some examples of things that people might put up there and notice
they all fall under the canopy of persecution.
He says shall tribulation or distress or persecution or famine or nakedness or peril or sword
as it is written for thy sake for Christ's sake we are killed all the day long.
We are persecuted all the day long.
We are counted as sheep for the slaughter.
Then he says this, nay in all these things.
In all what things Paul?
In the tribulation, in the distress, in the persecution, in the famine, in the nakedness,
in the peril, in the sword, in the killing, in the being counted as sheep for the slaughter.
He says nay in all these things we are more than conquerors.
You say how can that be Paul?
How can it be?
Our church got blown up Paul.
He says we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities nor powers
nor things present nor things to come nor height nor death nor any other creature
shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See he says yes, he says look here's the thing.
We are persecuted.
It's true.
I mean Paul's just being honest.
He says listen folks the things you've read on the newspaper they're true.
The reports you've heard by the news media it's true.
We are troubled on every site.
We are perplexed.
We are persecuted.
We are not forsaken.
Romans chapter 8 look at verse 31.
Notice the context of this passage.
Romans 8 31 he says what shall we say to these things?
If God be for us who can be against us?
So what does that mean?
Here's what it means.
God and I make a majority.
I mean God and I, do you understand this?
In the Christian life God is the goal.
You say what's the goal God?
You know what the goal's not?
Pastor Mahi and I have been talking about this over the last couple days.
We like nice buildings.
I'm thankful for a nice building that we have in Sacramento.
I'm thankful for and I know he's thankful for this nice building that God has given you here.
But you know that buildings are not the goal.
You say what's the goal in the Christian life?
God's the goal.
God is the goal in the Christian life.
So when I'm persecuted for Christ's sake I win.
Because I'm with Christ.
And by the way those who are not persecuted are forsaken.
I mean when these devils, when these false prophets can have these churches, these mega churches
and just everybody loves them, the world loves them, nobody persecutes them.
I mean why are their churches not getting blown up?
Paul says look persecuted but not forsaken.
He says if God be for us who can be against us?
Look I'd rather be with God against the whole world than with the world absent of God.
I mean it may be in the valley where countless dangers hide.
It may be in the sunshine that I in peace of mind.
But this one thing I know if it be dark or fair if Jesus goes with me I'll go anywhere.
I'll fight any battle.
I'll preach any sermon.
I won't shy away from any passage.
I'll go soloing anywhere.
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me.
See Paul says look, here's the truth about Paul's ministry.
Here's the truth about Verity Baptist Church.
Here's the truth about First Words Baptist Church.
Here's the truth about Faithful Word Baptist Church.
Here's the truth about all of the churches that we would consider friends and in our fellowship.
The truth is this, yes we are troubled on every side.
But here's the truth as well, yet not distressed.
We are perplexed sometimes.
Look it's okay can we admit it?
Sometimes I don't know what we're going to do.
Sometimes I'm not sure.
Pastor how can you not know?
Well you know at those times I'm thankful it's his church not mine.
Sometimes we're perplexed but not in despair.
Persecuted but not forsaken.
Then he makes this statement.
2nd Corinthians chapter 4 verse 9.
He says cast down but not destroyed.
Cast down but not destroyed.
Those words cast down in the original Greek they mean cast down.
But if you wanted to put it into our modern vernacular you could say this, knock down.
When Paul says cast down he says look sometimes I fall.
And not fall like I tripped, fall like someone knocked me down.
He says but not destroyed.
If you want to put that into our modern vernacular.
Because if you remember Paul and if you're a student of Paul you'll know that Paul, he was a fan of sports.
He often used sports as analogies in his writings.
The race that is set before us.
I keep under my body and bring it into subjection lest that by any means when I preach to others I myself should be a castaway, get disqualified.
He says so run I.
He would often use these analogies.
And here he uses another type of analogy maybe for us we could think of it like a boxing analogy.
My dad was a boxer in the military when he was a young man and when I was growing up he would give my brother and I lessons on boxing and things like that.
And you know one of the first things you need to understand when you decide that you want to go into a sport like boxing or any sport like that.
It's this that when you enter into a fight you just have to realize, you have to make peace with, you have to accept the fact that you're going to get hit.
It's just part of the game.
You're not going to win.
Look you can't win a fight.
And we're talking about boxing when it's just you know for fun.
But that sure you like a street fight when you're like fighting for your life or you're defending your family.
You know which some of you may need to after church on a Sunday morning.
And I'm not advocate I'm not advocating violence.
I'm just saying if they attack you defend yourself.
But look you can't go into a fight and say OK OK we're going to go into this boxing fight.
But don't you know don't hit the face not the face.
It doesn't work that way.
You have to look you have to realize if you're going to fight you might get hit.
And in fact in fact if you're going to fight you might get knocked down.
And Paul says look I'll be honest with you.
I've been knocked down sometimes.
I've been knocked down but I've not been knocked out.
I've been knocked down but I wasn't down for the count.
He said sometimes we are cast down but not destroyed.
He said we're cast out.
Sometimes we're knocked down but we're not knocked out.
Go back to Luke if you would Luke Chapter 22.
Luke Chapter 22.
Can we be honest.
I mean let's just keep this in the room OK.
Don't tell anybody outside this room.
Sometimes we've been knocked down.
Don't let our enemies know this you know.
I hate for this to get out like on live stream or something but.
Sometimes in the midst of a fight.
We've taken one to the chin and we've gone down.
Can we be honest.
I mean they've shut down our YouTube channels.
We you know we had a YouTube channel that had almost 10,000 subscribers on it and they shut it down.
I felt really bad about that till Pastor Anderson's channel got shut down then I'm like well maybe it's not that bad.
Maybe I should quit whining about that.
I mean they've shut down our YouTube channels.
We've been knocked down.
They've shut down our online giving.
I mean multiple times they've shut down our online giving.
We sign a contract.
We find a company.
We tell them upfront hey here's who we are.
This is what we're about.
Oh sure no problem.
Yeah we don't mind and they get one phone call.
I mean they have in the past successfully shut down our online giving.
We've been knocked down.
They've gotten our landlords to not renew our lease.
We've been knocked down.
They've gotten our insurance company to drop us.
We've been knocked down.
They protested us.
We've been knocked down.
They turned the media against us.
We've been knocked down.
They've canceled our conference locations.
We've been knocked down.
They've gotten us banned from countries.
I mean we've been knocked down.
They've blown up your building.
I think it's safe to say we've been knocked down.
But you know we've been knocked down but we've not been knocked out.
Paul says cast down.
He said sometimes we're cast down.
Sometimes in the midst of the fight because we're in this fight.
Be sober. Be vigilant.
Because your adversary the devil has a roaring lion walking the bough seeking whom he may devour.
Sometimes we're in the midst of this fight and we get hit and we go down but we get back up.
Cast down but not knocked out.
He says cast down but not destroyed.
Luke 22 verse 31.
We see Jesus saying this to Peter.
Jesus is forewarning Peter and he's telling Peter let me tell you something.
You're gonna get knocked down.
But I want you to get back up Peter.
I don't want you to go down for the count.
Luke 22 verse 31.
And the Lord said Simon Simon behold Satan had desire to have you that he may sift you as wheat.
But I prayed for you that thy faith fail not.
You know what Jesus is saying to Peter?
He's saying Peter let me Peter let me warn you.
You're gonna get knocked down.
But don't get knocked out.
I'm praying that your faith fail not.
He says and when thou art converted Peter.
When you get back up Peter strengthen thy brethren.
He said help somebody else in the fight.
See the Bible says for a just man fall seven times and rises up again.
Oftentimes we use that verse in the context of sin and there's nothing wrong with that.
I think that's a proper context.
Sin causes you to fall.
You fall for sin.
A just man rises seven times.
But you know the idea is also this that sometimes in a fight you get knocked down.
What do we do?
Get back up.
What do we do?
We're not destroyed.
See our victory is connected in Jesus Christ.
Go to 1 Corinthians.
Go back to 1 Corinthians if you would.
1 Corinthians chapter 15.
Notice verse 57.
1 Corinthians chapter 15.
1 Corinthians chapter 15 and verse 57.
But thanks be to God which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
We already have the victory in Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 14.
2 Corinthians 2 verse 14 says this.
Now thanks be unto God which always causeth us to triumph in Christ.
He always causes us to triumph the Bible says.
Go to 2 Corinthians chapter 1.
Look at verse 8.
2 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 8.
He says this.
Paul says this.
For we would not brethren have you ignorant of our trouble.
He says look we've been troubled which came to us in Asia.
He says that we were pressed out of measure.
Paul says I felt like I had given it my all.
He says above strength.
I had nothing left to give.
Insomuch that we despaired even of life.
He says I thought we were going to die.
Paul says.
But we have the sentence of death in our lives.
And then he says this.
That we should not trust in ourselves.
But in God which raiseth the dead who delivered us from so great a death and doth deliver in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us.
Go back to 2 Corinthians chapter 4.
2 Corinthians chapter 4.
Look at verse 14.
2 Corinthians chapter 4 and verse 14 says this.
Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus and shall present us with you.
I want you to notice that there is this idea of the resurrection.
For all things are for your sakes that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God for which cause we faint not.
But though the outward man perish yet the inward man is renewed day by day.
And Paul gives this idea of the resurrection and you say you know what does the resurrection have to do with being cast out but not destroyed.
And look here's the truth.
We have not yet striven.
We've not yet shed blood.
We've received persecution.
I mean you guys have gotten pretty close.
But the truth is this.
None of us have died yet for the cause of Christ.
I mean nobody has been killed yet.
No one has been beaten.
But it's coming.
It's coming.
And Paul who has a young man named Saul witnessed the stoning of the first martyr in the New Testament Stephen.
Paul who has gone through persecution, who has been beaten, who has been stoned, who has been imprisoned, who has gone through these things.
Says we are cast down but not destroyed.
Then he brings up the resurrection.
And I think he brings it up to answer the question that is in some of the minds of his readers because his readers are New Testament Christians.
They've seen the persecution.
And they said okay Paul I get it.
If we get cast down, if we get knocked down then we just got to get back up.
Cast down but not destroyed.
But Paul, Paul, I understand.
They throw a rock at me and it casts me down.
I got to get back up.
That's what you're saying Paul.
But what happens Paul when they throw a rock at me and I get cast down?
And they throw another rock at me.
And the breath leaves this body.
And I physically can't get back up.
How does that work Paul?
How does it work Paul when they take rods and beat you to death?
How does it work Paul when they put you on a cross and crucify you?
How does it work Paul when they shoot you in the head for the cause of Christ?
How does it work Paul when they behead you for the cause of Christ?
How does it work Paul when that persecution that actually sheds blood?
This is a nice raw, raw, cheery type thing you're telling us Paul.
If we get cast down just get back up.
But what if we get cast down and we physically can't get back up?
And Paul says, you'll get back up.
Job said this,
For I know that my Redeemer liveth,
And that he shall stand the latter day upon the earth,
And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
Yet in my flesh shall I see God.
See at the end of the day they might cast me down.
And they might cast me down so bad that I physically can't get back up.
But one day I will get up.
One day I'll rise up in the resurrection.
And Paul says in that light, in that light, in that understanding that we must fight.
Yes we are troubled but not distressed.
We are perplexed but not in despair.
Persecuted but not forsaken.
Cast down but will never be destroyed.
He says in that context, in that idea, in that knowledge Paul says.
Verse 17, 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 17,
For our light affliction,
Which is but for a moment,
Worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
I'm not here to take anything away from you.
But everything that you have endured and everything that we have endured,
It is a light affliction.
How can you say it's a light affliction?
It's a light affliction because it is but for a moment.
It is a light affliction because our lives are a vapor that appearth for a little time and then vanisheth away.
It is a light affliction because this is not eternity.
In fact these light afflictions work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.
While we look not at things which are seen,
Buildings are things that are seen.
YouTube channels are things that are seen, if they're good YouTube channels.
If you don't know how to preach, nobody's watching them.
Bank accounts, houses, vehicles, jobs, 401K.
These are just things that are seen but the things which are not seen.
The souls of men that are reached with the gospel,
That are taught to walk with God, that are taught to reach other people with the gospel.
For the things which are seen are temporal but the things which are not seen are eternal.
So Paul says, look, look, we are troubled, yes, just for a moment.
Sometimes I'm perplexed for a moment.
Sometimes I even get cast down but I'll get back up.
What if you can't get back up Paul, then Jesus will get me up at the resurrection.
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.
So Paul gives us these statements of clarity and of reality.
Paul says, look, we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of power may be of God and not of us.
He says, it is true. The things you've read are true.
If you Google our name, it's true.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed.
Perplex, sometimes, but never in despair.
Persecuted, yeah, if you're doing right, yeah, but not forsaken.
He says, sometimes we're even cast down but we're never destroyed.
Sometimes we get knocked down but we'll get back up.
And one day we might get so knocked down that we physically can't get back up but Christ will rise us up.
And for that reason, he says for that reason, we understand that these things, they're just a light affliction.
But for a moment, we can endure them for the eternal weight of glory.
Because I'm here to tell you, First Works, and I know you know this, it's not over.
Persecution will continue to come.
Your name will continue to be dragged in the mud.
You will be hated, you will be reviled.
I mean, to this day, I don't answer calls on my phone of numbers that I don't know.
And every once in a while, I think to myself, it's been three years, it's been four years, it's been five years.
Let me pick up this random, it's like, we hate you, you fill the air.
And I'm like, good, it's been four years.
It's true.
But it's but for a moment.
And we're earning an exceeding weight of glory.
Let's bow our heads in that word of prayer.
Heavenly Father, Lord, I thank you for this church.
I thank you for the man of God that you've given them.
A strong man with a wonderful family, backing him, supporting him.
And strong men, strong families that have stood with him.
Lord, help us like Paul, just to realize that it's true, some of these things are true.
But you're always with us.
It's just but for a moment.
And we're earning an eternal weight of glory.
I pray that you would continue to help this church to go forward.
I pray that you would continue to help this church to fight the battles.
Like David, we can stand up to the Goliaths of this world and say, the battle is the Lord's.
If God be for us, who can stand against us?
Help us to continue to fight in your name, to suffer for your name.
In the matchless name of Christ, we pray.
Amen.