We're in Hebrews chapter 13 look down at your Bibles in verse number nine it says here 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 there in the title of sermon this morning is diverse and strange doctrines or be not carried away with diverse and strange
Doctrines now turn with me if you would to Proverbs chapter 14 hold your place there in Hebrews chapter number 13
I'm gonna reach you from a couple scriptures here in
Ephesians chapter 4 by the way when you read a scripture like Hebrews chapter 13 in verse number 9
Or it says be not carried away with strange and diverse doctrines. You know that should ring a bell with other portions of Scripture that have that same
Admonition that have that same warning
Specifically found in Ephesians chapter 4 in verse number 14 where it says that we henceforth be no more children
Tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the sleight of Ben and cunning crafted
It's whereby they lie in wait to deceive
But speaking the truth and love may grow up into him in all things which is the head even Christ
You see here in Ephesians chapter 4 the Apostle Paul says hey
You shouldn't be carried away with every wind of doctrine and why does he compare and by the way?
That's referring to false doctrine, but why is he comparing false doctrine to win?
Well simply for the fact that it comes and goes it's something that is new
It's something that comes and it's trendy and then it goes away
It's something that is popularized at one point and then it just fades away and God is saying here
Hey, we should not be carried away with every wind of doctrine with every trendy little teaching that comes and every trendy little false
Doctrine that props up its head. We should not give heed to those things. You say well, give me an example
Well, I don't know like a flat earth
You know, that's a false doctrine
Not only is it a false doctrine. It's a stupid doctrine and no
Christian with an IQ of one
Should ever adhere to such a doctrine
Why it's a wind of doctrine and God says don't be carried about with those things
Now as I mentioned it's a new teaching and we should strive never to be carried away with just any new teaching that props up
You know that that's kind of hard to do in the age in which we live in because we live in the internet age
Right social media and different platforms where false doctrine literally is at your fingertips
It's just one click away. It's one video away
You're watching one video and you have 10 15 other videos on the right to you on YouTube
That are promoting other false doctrines and false teachings. We should not adhere to those things
Look what it says in Proverbs chapter 14 in verse number 15
The Bible says here the simple believeth every word
But the prudent man looketh well to his going what does it mean that the person who simple believes every word?
Well, someone who's simple is not educated in spiritual matters. They're not educated in life matters
They're simply simple. They're not wicked and they're not evil
They're just ignorant and the Bible tells us that when we're ignorant guess what's gonna happen. We're gonna believe anything
You know anybody who comes up with a good argument for a false doctrine people are going to believe it
That's why it's important that we're not simpletons as Christians, you know
my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge the Bible says and that's true because it says the simple believeth every word and another portion of
That they're punished they're punished along with the person who is rebellious and is a fool why because they're ignorant so ignorance is not bliss
And people like to say that ignorance is bliss
No, it's not you need to make sure that you educate yourself in spiritual matters as well as life matters
So you're not punished and it goes on to say that but the prudent man looketh well to his going what is the pretty man?
That's the man who observes that's the man who studies that's the man who looks well to his going
He's proving all things holding fast that which is good
Now the Bible says in Psalms 1 verse 1 blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly
Nor standeth in the way of sinners nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful
But his delight is in the law of the Lord and in his law doth he meditate day and night
He shall be like the tree
Planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season
His leaf also shall not wither and whatsoever we do it shall prosper the ungodly or not
So but are like the chaff which the wind what driveth away
So, you know a wicked people were in reference to false prophets and false teachers
Do they're just driven about with every wind of doctrine and guess what ultimately they're gonna be like the chaff
That are driven away and like it says in Matthew, they're gonna be burned
So we need to make sure we don't take on the characteristics of a simpleton, you know, it's not ignorance. It's not bliss
We need to make sure that we're smart that we're learning that we're growing that we're reading the Bible you say well
You know, I'm just I'm struggling with so many life issues right now
Well, you know a lot of those life issues can be taken care of if you just read the Bible
And let me say this a lot of those life issues can not only be taken care of when you read the Bible
But when you apply the Bible
see it's good for you to come to church and learn biblical principles to learn how to run your family and
lead your wife and lead your children and be a good employee, but it's nothing if you don't apply it to your personal life a
Simpleton is someone who's still it's just ignorant
But someone who is a fool is someone who knows the truth but refuses to apply it. Okay now
Go with me if you would to Ephesians chapter 3. So what's the what's the answer to that?
Well, the answer to that is that we make sure that we educate ourselves
But biblically speaking in regards to spiritual matters. We need to make sure that we're rooted in truth, right?
We're rooted and grounded in the Word of God that we understand
basic Bible
Doctrine
The Bible tells us in Ephesians chapter 3 in verse 16
That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded and what in love
So in Ephesians in Hebrews chapter 13, it says it's good that the heart be established with grace here in Ephesians chapter 3
It says be being rooted and grounded in love. These are basic virtues
That God wants us to be rooted in he wants us to understand you see if we're not careful as Christians
We want to get into all the deep things of the Bible
But we completely negate the most basic things in the Bible
Whereas the Bible and the Christian life is built upon the foundational basic teachings of the Word of God
So don't try to get so far into deep doctrine. Do you completely negate the basics?
Don't try to master the deep doctrines of the Bible if you have not mastered the basics
You say well, you know, I I've read so many things in the Bible and I think they're I think this is a good truth
You know, it may be a good truth
But it may be beyond your comprehension as of now what you need to do is establish your heart with love
Establish your heart with grace learn the basics be not carried away with diverse and strange
doctrines now go to Colossians chapter number two
Just laying an introduction foundation here
Colossians chapter number two, let me turn there myself
The Bible says here in Colossians chapter number two in verse number one for I would that you knew what great conflict I had for
You and for them at Laodicea and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh
that their hearts might be comforted being knit together in love and into all riches of full assurance of
Understanding to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God in the Father and of Christ and whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom
And knowledge so we understand it. We can understand the deep things of God, right?
The Bible tells us in the first Corinthians chapter number two that the Spirit of God dwells in us and search at all things
Yea, the deep things of God and thankfully that all these hidden treasures are found in Christ
We can understand these things but look what it goes on to say here
And this I say lest any man should beguile you with enticing words for though I be absent in the flesh yet
I am with you in the spirit join and beholding your order in the steadfastness of your faith in Christ as
He have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord so walking him rooted and built up in him and
Established in the faith as he have been taught abounding therein with thanksgiving. So what is the commandment there?
We need to make sure that we're rooted. We're grounded. We're settled and the basics of the faith
So we won't be beguiled. Okay. Now you go on social media you run into a bunch of experts
On deep doctrine
You're running to soak about I don't mean that they're actual experts. I'm being facetious here
Okay, you're ready to all kinds of experts who believe who think they know all the deep things in the Bible
But guess what? They know nothing
they don't know what they're speaking nowhere if they affirm and
You dig a little deeper into conversations with these people you'll see at the end of the day. They're not even saved
You know, they'll say well, you know
You have to repent of your sin or you have to do some kind of good work
And it's just like what in the world you're trying to get into the deep doctrines of end times
You're trying to get into the deep doctrines of you know, fill in the blank and you didn't even understand the basics of salvation
You're a Nicodemus
You know Nicodemus was a ruler of the Jews, but yet what did Jesus tell our thou master of Israel?
No, it's not these things and what was he referring to salvation?
You know, we need to make sure that as God's people that we are content
To learn and to master the basics. Well, I'm not saying negate the deep things of God, but you know, you have a lifetime
To learn the deep things of God, you don't have to learn them your first year of salvation
You know get a firm grasp on the deep things of on the basics of God and guess what?
That'll be foundational for you to learn the deep things of God. Okay now
Let me give an immediate interpretation of Hebrews chapter 13 if you can turn back there if you would go back to Hebrews chapter 13
So, I believe the Apostle Paul wrote the book of Hebrews for various reasons
One of them is just the writing style obviously looks like the Apostle Paul
But here he's he's just warning these Hebrews
Regarding diverse and strange doctrines and why is that? Well, he uses the phrase
Diverse and strange. Okay, so that's very important to know the word diverse simply means various. Okay, it means a
Multitude or different types we would use that with the word diverse. All right now
The reason I believe he's using diverse doctrines is because if you look at the the theme of the book of Hebrews
It's the Apostle Paul
Constantly trying to reinforce the fact that the New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant
Why is that well because in an Old Covenant you find meats drinks and divers
washings and cardinal ordinances
Which apparently these people in the book of Hebrews were adhering to now go to Hebrews chapter number nine
We're gonna look at that real quick Hebrews chapter number nine
I know I had to turn to Hebrews chapter 13
But we'll go to Hebrews 9 and verse number 8 says the Holy Ghost is signifying
That the way into the holiest of all was not yet made manifest
While as the first tabernacle was yet standing which was a figure for the time present in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices
That could not make him that did the service perfect as pertaining to the conscience
which stood only in meats and drinks and divers washings and
cardinal ordinances imposed on them until the time of
Reformation now the Reformation is referring to is not referring to Martin Luther
The Reformation is referring to is the coming of Christ because the Reformation is when you make something better
And the theme of the book of Hebrews is it is a better covenant. Okay established upon better promises
He's the mediator of that better covenant. So what happened when Jesus Christ came was crucified and that whole process took place
Meats drinks divers washings are done away with
They're no longer there
We don't have to adhere to the Levitical law of the rituals of the dietary laws of
The washing the laws of washings and all these other things
Those are done away with in Christ and in fact in Colossians chapter 2 it says that those things were nailed to the cross
Okay, by the way, that includes the Sabbath
Because the Sabbath was a shadow of things to come even in Hebrew chapter 4 explains that it pictures what rest
That's why in the Old Testament when someone would work on the Sabbath what happened to them? They were put to death
Some people said why would someone be put to death?
You know just for not observing the Sabbath because it's a picture of someone working for their salvation
you see the Sabbath pictures the abstaining from work and
faith in Christ
So when someone worked in the Old Testament, they're basically marring that shadow of salvation
They're saying well, I'm gonna not take the rest. I'm going to work whereas Christ in the New Testament
We understand that he already did the work. So we see there that all those things were done away with now
Look at Hebrews chapter number eight
So that's what this is referring to when it's talking about diverse doctrines
It's referring to the doctrines found in the Old Testament under the Old Covenant look at Hebrews 8 verse 6
But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant
Which was established upon better promises for if that first covenant had been fall is then should no place have been sought for
the second you see the New Testament is
Preeminent to the Old Testament. I don't care what any Jewish rabbi says
I don't care what any dispensationalist says the New Testament is superior
To the Old Testament now, it's superior in the areas that God has made it superior
Okay, which is what we read in Hebrews chapter 9 that meets drinks and diverse washings
It is not superior and it has not negated the moral laws
Such as putting people to death for certain crimes
Adultery, you know fornication is still sinful
All these things are still put in place and we should still be adhering to these things
but the areas where God said hey, they're done away with guess what they're done away with and
Now the New Testament we see that the New Covenant is superior to the Old Covenant and that's something that we see throughout Hebrews is
Paul's constant say hey, Jesus is better than Moses
He's better than the priesthood. He's better than Aaron. The New Covenant is better than the Old Covenant
Hey, Jesus Christ's sacrifice was better than the yearly sacrifices that we saw in the Old Testament. It's better
Why because it's permanent
now
Let me see here so we see that
He's warning them about this
So obviously it alludes to the fact that some of these people were still adhering to these diverse teachings and doctrines
Now what don't we see that today?
Don't we see people today still adhering to old Levitical laws or they're trying to bring back those old Levitical laws of the Hebrew
Roots movement where they're trying to bring us back under the law of the Old Testament when the Bible teaches us in the New Testament
Clearly that you know
We conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law and you can include Levitical law in that you can
Include the diverse washings in that why because it's done away with we're not justified by those things and look anybody any
Saint in the Old Testament who was saved guess what they didn't believe that either
They didn't believe you could be justified by those things
They understood that they were a shadow of things to come something that was going to come in the future
Now what's the application to this?
The application is simply this is that look we as Christians need to make sure that we're not being carried about with various doctrines
you know the the person who comes to mind when I think about this is
Doka
Doka ministries were like he's coming up with the new doctrine every week
I'm not and I'm not being facetious when I say that either. I
Mean one week is like not every Christians gonna escape the lake of fire
The next week is like not every Christian needs to wear, you know
Suits for church or something like that and just like things changing constantly. You know what he's cared about with every wind of doctrine
By the slight of you know, his evangelist
Cunning craftiness, which he's not cunning. He's not craft. He's just an idiot
But they're adhering to these weird doctrines that no Christian has ever talked
You know and people want to accuse us of teaching doctors that no Christian has ever taught. We'll go ahead and prove that
You know prove that people didn't believe in the posture pre-wrath, you know, I see the posture pre-wrath right here
You know prove that people never taught that Jesus went to hell
Many people have taught that even people who don't agree with our movement have taught that
You know prove whatever doctrine that we're teaching that no one's ever taught that you're not gonna be able to prove it
But guess what? We can't prove no Christian has ever taught
That Christian no, they're not all Christians are gonna escape the lake of fire. No one has ever taught that
Well Catholics have but Catholics aren't Christians
They're not Christians
Well, they're Catholic. There's no such thing as a Catholic Christian, right? It doesn't exist
The word Catholic doesn't even exist in the Bible, right? Okay now
We need to make sure that as God's people. Hey, we're not carried about with every one of doctors
So how do you say? Well, how can I make sure that I won't be cared about with diverse doctrines?
Well, you need to be settled in the basics
Because the basics is what's hell is what helps you to determine what's true and what's not we're gonna look at that in just a bit
Go go with me if you would to Romans chapter 14
And
I find it interesting in Hebrews chapter 13
It says be not carried away with diverse and strange doctrines and it refers to spin
Excuse me specifically refers to meat
Okay, so that's what it's referring to the meats, right?
But the Bible tells us in 1st Corinthians 8 8 but meat commended us not to God for neither if we eat
Are we the better neither free not are we the worse?
So it's like they were taking these Levitical laws of meats of what not to eat what to eat the unclean and the unclean and they're
basing
spirituality off of those things
You cannot judge someone in meat or drink
You know, obviously I'm talking about in spiritual matters you could obviously judge someone say if they're eating McDonald's they're probably not very healthy
Okay, but you can't say that person is not spiritual if they choose a certain food, you know, we can't
But let me say this if someone chooses to be a vegan according to the Bible we can judge that
I said well according to the Bible that person's weak
Because that's what the Bible says in Romans chapter 14, okay
But in like manner they can't judge us and say that we're weak because the Bible says that you know
That's not what judges our spirituality
Now the Bible says in Romans 14 verse 17 for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness and peace
And joy in the Holy Ghost this reminds me of the Israel United in Christ false teaching group
Whatever cult you want to call it where these races bunch of races
So-called Christians who think that they're like the literal Jews if you're black or whatever and if you're of Issachar then you're the Guatemalans
I always forget which ones they say what is it? What what is Guatemala?
Zebes Abulin
Mexicans are Issachar according to them right and I remember we went to this door and
Like he was just stuck on this one thing. He's like do you eat pork?
Yeah, I do I had bacon this morning he said how can you eat pork and he's just like astonished
Hey for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, buddy
You know and I was explaining to him that every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused
And he said he told me this he said so would you eat dog?
I'm like well
you know
If that was the only thing laughing yeah probably and in fact
You know what you just said is pretty offensive to people in Southeast Asia who have dog as a delicate as a delicacy
I'm talking about they eat that and knowingly eat that and they enjoy it
Okay, how many know what I'm talking about okay, and not just in Southeast Asia different parts around the world they eat dogs
Okay, hey, but you know by the way. I'm not on the on a campaign to eat the next pit bull that comes my way
But
You know what if the time comes where it's like there's no meat
There's nothing left, and it's just some some German shepherds. Just hanging out you know
Have at it pray for it
Because it's cleansed by the Word of God you know and and eat it
But you know what that does not determine someone's spirituality, but this guy was just stuck
You know I can't but you guys got to stop eating bacon, and I'm like I want to talk about salvation
I want it because you know what meats for belly and belly for meats, but God shall destroy both it and them
So that's not important the most important thing is that which cannot be destroyed if you get saved, which is your soul, okay?
So not only that but divers doctrines don't profit anybody now go to go to a second timothy chapter number four
Excuse me first timothy chapter number four
So one thing that these guys were not understanding is
Hey, you need to boot out
These divers doctrines of the old test and we're not supposed to adhere to those things anymore
Those are nailed to the cross, but not only that, but they don't profit anybody
Now look at first timothy chapter 4 verse number 1
notice the similarities of the wording in Hebrews 13 and
First timothy 4 verse 1 now the spirit speaketh expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith
Giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils now
Please look up here when we think of seducing spirits and doctrines of devils you can apply a lot of different false doctrines to that
We can say repenting your sins is a seducing spirit
It's a doctrine of devils. You know you can save the people who believe the sodomites can be saved
That's a that's a seducing spirit and a doctrine of devils
Dispensationalism you know all these other things we can apply a lot to it
But the main interpretation of this verse is found in verse number two and three speaking lies in a hypocrisy
Having their conscience here with the hot iron
forbidding to marry
That's that's a doctrine of devils right there
Okay, because marriage is good
Marriage is honorable the Bible says in Hebrews chapter 13. Okay. It is good. It's not good for a man to be alone
Amen
And all the men said all right you guys are kind of making me nervous there for a second
forbidding to marry Catholic priests and
commanding to abstain from meats
Which God has created to receive with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth?
So if you don't know the truth you're gonna abstain from meats
If you know the truth you know these people on Instagram stay woke
You know these vegans who are like you gotta stay woke well according to this the way you stay woke is by eating meat
The way you know the truth is by eating meat
Because it provides protein for you to think clearly
It goes on to say for every creature of God is good and nothing to be refused if it be received with thanksgiving
For it is sanctified by the Word of God in prayer if thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things thou shalt be a
Good minister of Jesus Christ nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine were unto thou hast attained
So the doctrine of Devils and the seducing spirits that it's referring to is when people teach hey
You shouldn't marry and hey, you should you should abstain from meats now
Look what goes on to say verse 7 but refused profane and old wise fables and exercise thyself rather unto godliness
Verse number 8 for bodily exercise
Profited little now we would look at verse 8 and automatically think of what like weight training
You know people people who don't work out they use this verse to people who do work out a bodily exercise profit little okay
You know, but that's not what it's talking about. It's not talking about it's not talking about dead lifting
You know it's not talking about Muay Thai kickboxing
It's not about running amen brother Jordan. It's not talking about those things
Exercise simply means a practice an exertion of something, but when you practice it on a consistent basis
So the bodily exercise that it's referring to is the abstaining from meats
You see what I'm saying in context. That's what it's saying
That bodily exercise of abstaining from meats on a day in day out basis year and year out basis guess what it doesn't profit it
Profits very little now. I would say this you know if you stay away from shrimp if you eat shrimp all the time
You know you probably not gonna be very healthy
If you don't have a balanced diet
And you're only only eating meats and you're not balancing out with vegetables and the right type of foods guess what you're probably gonna be
Imbalanced in your health okay, so bodily exercise profit little look what it says
But godliness is profitable
Until all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come
This is a faithful saying worthy of all expectation now go to heat go back to Hebrews chapter 13
Look what it says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse number 9
Be not carried about with diverse and strange doctrines for it is good that
It is a good thing that the heart be established with grace now with meats
Which have not profited them that have been occupied
Therein so these people who just want to emphasize what you eat as
Doctrine teaching for doctrine the commandments of men guess what it's not profiting them anything
The Bible says that godliness with contentment is great gain. That's profitable
You know what's profitable is when you meditate upon the Word of God
Just meditate upon these things give thyself
Holy to them for in doing so thou shalt both save thyself and them that hear thee that's profitable for godliness
That's profitable for the things of God, okay
Now here's the thing go go to 1st Corinthians chapter number 10
So on the flip side of that we want to make sure that we do things that are our profiting right
Look what it says in 1st Corinthians chapter 10 verse 23
Says all things are lawful for me
But all things are not expedient all things are lawful for me, but all things edify
Not now. What does it mean to edify means to build up?
So at the end of the day we need to make sure that what we believe what we teach what we do is
Actually building someone else up
If it's not it's not profitable
You
Know the minimalist mindset of the culture of minimalism is to get rid of anything that you're not going to use
Don't be a spiritual hoarder. Okay. Does anyone know what a hoarder is? I remember years ago
I cleaned the house and I was hired to clean this house and not that I'm not talking about like
You know, just wipe the windows and stuff. I'm talking about clear out the house
okay, and it was a house that belonged to a hoarder and
This is not your ordinary hoarder
This was the work this is the worst I think I even got sick
From just being in that house the dust had collected so much in that house
Then it looked like snow on the corners of the of the rooms
Had built up on the corners of the rooms. There's newspapers from decades
They were just piled up in the living room
The kitchen was not you weren't able to walk through that kitchen because they saved every single milk carton bottle
You know, everything was just piled up onto the ceiling
I
Mean they had so much so many things in there that they just could not throw away, you know
But there's a lot of Christians who live like that though
They just want to compile as much information even if it's not profitable
But you know what that's not necessary
We need to compile the information that is necessary. Let me say this all the Bible is necessary
Okay, all the Bible is necessary. It's all profitable
So yeah consume this and fill your house with this fill your mind with the treasures and wisdom found within his word
But you know
There's other things outside of the Bible that you might not need to fill your your mind with because it's not profitable for you
You need to get rid of it clean it out and live a minimalist spiritual life. Amen
But how do you live a minimalist spiritual life? Well, the philosophy of minimalism is this you just need the basics
You just need the basics and in the Christian life, that's what we need
We need the basics and we need from there to build there upon okay now
The Bible said go to 2nd Timothy chapter number 2. I'm gonna reach you
From let me see here
I'm gonna wait off on that go to 2nd Timothy chapter 2 in verse 14
It says here in verse 14 of these things put them in remembrance charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to
No profit, but that's to the subverting of the here's study to show thyself approve them to God a workman
They needed not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth, but shun
Profane and vain babblings for they will increase into more ungodliness. How can you apply that on a practical level?
Hey, don't just have stupid conversations. I
Mean just dumb conversations about nothing, you know your conversations ought to be centered around the oracles of God
It ought to be centered and by the way, we're not always gonna be talking about the Bible we understand that
You know, it's just like let's just talk Bible. There's things outside of Bible
We can talk about but it should profit and ask yourself before you start talking
Hey is what I'm about to say is it profitable to someone or is it does it just puff me up?
Does it make me look good?
Does it help me to elevate myself above the brethren because of the knowledge that I have if that's the case to just keep your
mouth shut
Amen, you know, we need to make sure that we shun profane and vain babblings because they will increase into more ungodliness
What's the ungodliness that will increase you pride?
vanity strife
Okay now
Go to Matthew chapter 15
Matthew chapter number 15 a
Good rule of thumb about this is
Or excuse me a good principle about this is the fact that we need to make sure that we're not teaching for doctrines the commandments
of men
Okay, there's plenty in the Bible that we do know it's true
We need to make sure that we shun things that we don't know for a fact
It's true or not
And we need to be careful that we don't become this group of Christians that just constantly wants to teach for commandments
The doctrines of men, okay, we need to make sure that we don't command people to do things that are our preference
Well, I think it's in the Bible. Well, let me ask you this. How many times have you read the Bible?
Let me ask you this. How long have you been saved for?
Well, what about you how long I've been saved for 11 years
So just go ahead and beat that, you know
I've read the Bible multitudes of times and in fact, I don't know credit my knowledge to the fact that I've studied the Bible
I credit my knowledge to the people that have influenced me in doctrine
over the last 11 years
you know, I've
What I do in my personal Christian life is what others have said is it you just rely on the default of what you've already
Learned and you know what when I first got saved I wasn't looking to get into all kinds of deep doctrines
You know
I was looking to do I wanted to make sure that I was in this thing for the long run and
In order to be in it for the long run. I need to make sure that I was settled in the basics of Christianity
So in order to do that guess what I need to be simple concerning evil and wise concerning good
I want to make sure that I read the Bible over and over again until I know the basics
100% okay now look at Matthew chapter 15
In verse number eight says this people draweth nine to me with their mouth and honored me with their lips
But their heart is far from me, but in vain they do worship me teaching for doctrines the commandments of men now
What were some of their doctrines, you know washing of cups that's not bad, but they're teaching it as doctrine
Guess what meats they're the ones who is straining in that and swallowing a camel for things that were not doctrinal
And we need to make sure that if you have a preference
But you cannot prove it
Okay, and let me let me just chase a rabbit here. Okay. This is a good rabbit
if you have a certain belief about something, but you had
Multitudes of people disagree with you on it. This is what you do. You just keep it to yourself
If you have people who have been saved longer than you
Who have read the Bible many more times than you disagree with you. You should probably reevaluate your teaching
because guess what that's called that's called humility and
Humility is what's necessary to learn more doctrine. Well, I don't think I just think I'm right
Okay, then then continue to be proud doting about questions knowing nothing
You see if we're not careful. Look, it's a blessing to be a part of the new IFB movement
You know why because there's men who have put in the labor and the effort to teach us a lot of deep doctrine
and some people when they get saved they get saved right off the bat knowing a lot of the doctrine a
Lot of things that are very important to us
They're not key, but they're you know, what they're there are teachings that have you know, there's false doctrines out there
They have to see this for a long time until someone came and taught us about the posture pre-rapture
They taught us the intricacies of the reprobate doctrine
They taught us the intricacies of you know, fill in the blank, but you know what?
It took those people who learn those things years
to come across those truths
Pastor Steven Anderson did not even believe replacement theology when he first started the church
you
Know and then you come on the scene you get saved
Automatically someone teaches it to you you get it right off the bat and you expect everyone else to get it right off the bat
That's not how it works
You need to make sure that you're thankful for the teachings that you receive the men who put in the labor and the effort to
Get those truths, but may it teach you. Hey, you need to start where they started
Which is years ago just getting to know the basics
You see pastor Steven Anderson didn't start off knowing even all the intricacies of the posture pre-wrath rapture
He learned those things and the intricacies thereof through years of experience through years of studying the Bible
That's not something you get right off the bat
So don't have this mentality that you have a corner on a truth more than anybody else and look
Let me say this and I'm getting ahead of myself here. I have this conversation with pastor Anderson
I don't know a week ago or something like that and
He was telling me this or maybe it was at the conference. He told me this he's like, you know brother Mejia
There's there's doctrines that I've taught as of recently. That's new to people
It's not obviously not new to the Bible
There's other people who have taught it in years past and he goes but when I introduced the people readily received it
But you know what? It was a doctrine that I chose not to teach for years
He
Learned something in his Bible
Seven years ago and he chose not to teach it until seven years later
You know why because he wanted to make sure that it was true
So put that in your stinking pipe and smoke it for seven years
He learned a doctrine chose not to teach it for seven years and aside from that
He even told me this he goes brother here
he goes, I'll even call my pastor friends my pastor friends before I talk before I even teach it and
Fact check to see if it sounds right or not
And he goes and if they say it's not right and they give me a valid point. I don't teach it
But you know what we have today?
newborn babes who are supposed to desire the sincere milk of the word that you may grow the right thereby and
Instead of newborn babes who just want to believe who just want to teach all kinds of deep doctrine
And they're not settled even in the basics and even when someone tries to correct them on those doctrines
Guess what? They don't they don't take that correction. Well
Okay, you know there's things that I've learned in the Bible that I'm not teaching yet and it's nothing heretical
Don't don't get all scared
Now these are things that I fact-check with other people as well, okay, cuz
Pride says well, I'm right. Everyone else is wrong
Okay, and look don't have this attitude either then when you get a new doctrine or you learn some facet
You know, you said well, no one agrees with me, but I don't care, you know pastor and no one agree with pastor
And don't compare yourself to someone who's been saved for a lot longer than you
You know, don't compare yourself with someone who's read the Bible's more times than you have
That's an illegitimate comparison to make
You know what we as Christians out to do is say, you know what I just got saved
I've been saved for a couple years. I don't know a whole lot
I just want to get rooted and grounded in the basics and if I learn something extra from that
I'll share it with someone just to validate if it's true or not
If it's not I'll just keep reading the Bible and keep learning because that's what I want
You see the person who is sincere in learning is willing to admit when they're wrong
Because that's how you learn
You learn by understanding that you're wrong
Right
The way you learn is when someone tells you hey, you're wrong and you say, okay now
I'm gonna change that and believe that which is right. That's how you learn
You do not learn by just saying well, I'm gonna believe whatever I believe regardless of what anybody says. It's not the way it works
And I'll give you an example of this is teaching for doctrines the commandments of men is in Acts chapter 15
We see the Apostles even doing this teaching that they should abstain from certain needs and from things strangled
Animals that were strangled that was not a doctrine found in the Bible
But they taught it
Were they right? No
They were wrong
And look, there's nothing wrong with being wrong
It becomes wrong when you resist the truth and you think you're right anyways
You see a lot of times
Newer Christians, they want the respect of those who are older Christians or people in the church
But let me let me give you some advice and if you don't want to listen to this you can tune out and think
About something else what you're gonna eat for lunch
When you are told that you're wrong
Evaluate what you've learned and say, you know what? You know, maybe he's right. Maybe I am wrong
Maybe let me let me reevaluate that a little bit. Hey, why don't you simmer on that for about seven years or so?
Why don't you revisit that doctrine in ten years?
Oh, man, but that's so long. I could I can preach this wonderful sermon. Well, why don't you just preach a wonderful sermon about salvation?
Why don't you just preach a wonderful sermon about grace?
Why don't you preach a wonderful sermon about the basics of Christianity?
Is that not wonderful?
I just want to be like
just
Bombastic. I just want to blow people away. That's the wrong attitude to have as a preacher
And look you said well you preach bombastic sermons I have to preach three times a week
If you preach three times a week for an entire year, you're gonna have a couple of bombastic sermons in there
You know why because the Bible is bombastic
You know, you don't have to try to be controversial when you're when you're a preacher you're controversial if you just preach the whole counsel
of God
Amen, so stick to just the Word of God and look today's not a bombastic sermon. I don't think it's bombastic
I'm not sharing anything new. I think a lot of people here probably know what I'm talking about
But you know what this needs to be taught
You know bombastic sermon was last week when I talked about, you know, God hating people, you know
I just ripped face on that that's bombastic. But you know what? Sometimes we need to go back just to the basics. Okay now
He also mentioned, you know, he talks about foreign right or excuse me strange doctrines
Which means what foreign and a strange doctrine is a teaching that is foreign to the Bible
It's something that's not found in the Bible
So we need to make sure that when we find something in the Word of God
That we compare Scripture with Scripture and we say is this foreign to the Word of God?
Well, remember here hating people's foreign to the no, it's not you're not reading the Bible
Review the sermon from last week and look at all the verses we looked at
Look when the Bible clearly says that he hates all workers of iniquity. I
Mean that's not in Hebrew. That's not in Greek. That's not even some foreign language. That's very clear
right
So that's a clear teaching that we can say
Okay, but not only that we have scores of verses after that that teach that doctrine
Okay, foreign doctrines are things that we put into the Bible
You know doctrines that we put into the Bible ie, you know, Justin unjust LeBlanc
Where he literally said, you know, I know what it says right there
But if you put your thumb on this word right here and you close the Bible, whatever
You can make it say whatever you want it to say, that's basically what he said
That's a foreign that's a strange that's a queer doctrine
Pun intended
Okay now so let me give you some points to consider. Okay?
Number one I mentioned this already but but we're gonna talk a little bit about this go to go to
Hebrews chapter number five
Number one become an expert in the basics
You know brother Eddie has been teaching the Spanish class and probably for the last couple of weeks
He just goes over the basics, right? We were going over just basic
Rules of Spanish and he constantly says this in the classes if you could just master these right here
You can read anything. You may not know what you're reading, but you'll be at least be able to read it
You know the accents and in the the the three rules we stay away from the fourth one the sober is
What is it? I can't remember the fourth one. And no, I know it's Drukulas, but the one after that
The next one after that
Sober is Drukulas. We stay away from that one
We haven't learned that one, but the first one we have and that helps us to know the rules of words
So that helps us a lot and why is that because if you could just master those you can read any Spanish literature
You know, there's there's some exceptions if you read medieval literature, right?
But for the most part if you get those basics down guess what you can read anything
Well, that's the same principle that we need to apply it to the Christian life
If we could just master these basic things down
You know what we can basically stick into this thing for the long haul to the Lord comes back until you die
Look, I'm gonna read to you from 2nd Timothy 3 16
all scriptures given by inspiration of God in this profitable for doctrine for
Proof for correction for instruction and righteousness that the men of God may be perfect thoroughly furnished into all good works
So what does it mean to be perfect? It means to be entire?
So the Word of God teaches us so we could be entire that means complete well balanced in all areas of life
So, you know, you say how do I apply that?
You should not be interested in learning a deep doctrine if you can't even lead your own family
Ouch
Yeah, you know if you can't if you're not even a good employee at work
But you want to fight all kinds of false doctrine you might want to first take care of that part
You know not be worse than an infidel
You see what I'm saying? So we want to make sure that we're perfect. We're entire in all areas of life
Don't think you have one area down pat, but then you're just completely neglecting everything else
We want to make sure that we're good husbands that we're good fathers, we're good employees, we're good soul winners
We're good church members. We're good filling the blame good children
You know
Well rounded and everything to be thoroughly furnished until all good works. Okay now
What I have you turn
Hebrews chapter 5 let me read to you a couple more scriptures your first Corinthians 8 1 says now it's touching things offered unto idols
We know that we all have knowledge knowledge puffeth up
But charity edify it if any man think that he knoweth anything he knows nothing yet as he ought to know
That's a good. That's a good place to read right there every once in a while when you think you know everything
I don't know anything as I ought to know look at Hebrews chapter number five now
This is interesting because in Hebrews 13, he says that don't be carried away with divers and strange doctrines
It's good to the harvey established with grace and not with meats
But you know people who have been occupied there and have not profited and they look what a Hebrew chapter 5 says in verse number 12
For when for the time he ought to be teachers
You have need that one teach you again
Which be the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not of strong meat
So they're over here trying to get into the intricacies of the Old Testament. It's just like hey you need someone to teach you again
the first principles
That goes to show you that these people do not know the basics
Look what it goes on to say for everyone that uses milk is unskillful in the word of righteousness for he is a babe
Don't let that offend you we will all start it off as babes
But strong meat belonging to them that are a full age
even those who by reason of use have their senses exercise to discern both good and
Evil so as you're learning doctrine exercise your senses to discern both good and good and evil, okay?
And look we do what one thing that we don't want in our church the atmosphere
We don't want is an atmosphere of a bunch of know-it-alls
You understand that we don't want an atmosphere of a bunch of know-it-alls
You know and look people are at different levels of spirituality here, but you don't want to be characterized as a know-it-all
Well you think you just know everything could guess what you don't
You
Know you don't know everything and it would you you do well to take heed to those who have come before you
who have learned certain things and
Have been successful in their Christian life and and adhere to them okay now first Timothy chapter 6
In verse number 3 says if any man teach otherwise and consent not to wholesome words
Even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and to the doctrine which is according to godliness. He is proud knowing nothing
But doting about questions and strives of words where have cometh enby strife railings evil surmisings
perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds and destitute of the truth
Supposing that gain is godliness from such withdrawal thy self so at the end of the day
We need to make sure hey when we leave here do I know the basics you know and look
That's why in our church. We're preaching the same messages
They have different titles we hit it from a different angle a different facet of the diamond
But you know what it is. It's the same exact teaching
Okay, why because we want to make sure we're grounded in the basics. That's why like the old I have B
That's why there's so much false doctrine in those churches
Because they didn't even know the basics the pastor doesn't even know the basics
You got one side that believes repenting your sins the other side believes in you know one saved always saved the back row believes in
Calvinism and
Then the people in the front believe in dispensations
And it's just like well, it's just a great
Smorgasbord of different bits kumbaya. It's all great. They all say that they're Baptists and believe the Bible
No, that's what happens when you don't teach your people the basics
You know we need to make sure that we stick to that and try not to be a
Jack-of-all-trades because then you'll be a master of none
You know a jack of all doctrines master of none
Okay
number two is this so be an expert at the basics and
Don't feel
like you're
anything don't don't feel like
How can I put it don't feel like you're any less of a person because you only know the basics
You know if God places an emphasis on the on the basics so should we and don't devalue the basics either
Well, I want to grow beyond that well
That's good that you want to grow beyond that, but just make sure that you're growing in these areas first, okay?
And you have a lifetime to learn a lot of different doctrines number two don't always seek the new doctrine go to Acts chapter 17
Now look I don't seek new doctrines because every doctrine in the Bible is not new
It's found in the Word of God, but that's not to say that the Bible is not inexhaustible. It's inexhaustible therefore
We're always gonna be learning something new of the same exact thing
So we'll always learn something new not a new doctrine, but a new facet of the doctrines
We already believe okay a new facet of and times a new facet of the reprobate doctrine a new facet of
You know looking the way we look at salvation or pictures in the Bible people's lives in the Bible like for example
Brother David and I were out sowing yesterday, and as I was talking to someone I came across a new doctrine not a new touch
I came across a new way of explaining the same doctrine that we believe which is salvation and
I was I was just pleading with this guy, and he didn't get saved
But cuz he believed you could lose your salvation etc, and I said look. There's a guy in the Bible who committed suicide
Do you know who that is I say his name is Saul
Committed suicide and the Bible says that he was a saved man and one of the things that confirms that is that Samuel told Saul
You know tomorrow thou and thy son shall be with me
Samuel was saved obviously he was a prophet of the Lord
He was a saved man, and then immediately I thought to myself. Oh, man. That's a great argument in the Old Testament
When you're all preaching the gospel, but guess what we have Samuels like of Jesus Christ of the Old Testament
Why is that because in the New Testament? What did Jesus tell the thief on the cross today? That shall be with me in
Paradise which is a great New Testament example of someone who didn't do any great works
You know you know Church of Christ rejectors didn't get baptized
Regardless of what Kayla Robertson says that they might have taken them down from the cross baptized them real quick
And then put it back up on the cross
Stupid that's called a strain that's called a queer doctrine
You know he got saved
By believing on Christ, but you see the same wording do we see there with Samuel and Jesus Christ tomorrow
Thou and I son shall be with me Jesus said today. Thou shall be with me in paradise. You know that's not a new doctrine
What is it? It's a different facet of
The doctrines we already believe
That's what we have to look for when we read the Bible is different facets of the doctrines
We already believe why because it keeps our Bible reading interesting doesn't it you know it keeps our Bible reading interesting it
Increases our faith in the Word of God that we can continue learning the Word of God, but we should not seek new doctrines
Okay, that's something that's foreign that the Bible does not teach look at Acts 7 Acts chapter 17 verse 18
It says then certain philosophers of the Epicureans and of the Stoics encountered him and some said what would this babbler say other some?
He seemed to be a setter forth of strange gods
Because he preached unto them Jesus and the resurrection and they took him and brought him to Eri
Areopagus saying may we know what this new doctrine where of thou speakest is?
For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears we would know therefore what these things mean for all the Athenians and strangers
Which were there spent their time and nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing now
Luckily for these Athenians guess what it worked to their advantage
Because they were constantly wanting to hear a new thing Paul came with not a new thing not a new doctrine
He came with the doctrine of the Bible and then they end up getting saved because of that
But you know what a lot of Christians take on that same attitude
That they just want to either tell or hear something new
Right, it's just like well. What's a new thing? You know what's a new doctrine?
What's something that no one's ever come up with before you know I want to piss it against the wall type of a sermon
You know no you don't need a piss it against the wall sermon
to blow someone away
The compliments that I've gotten from the sermons that I preach I've always been from the basics
When they say I didn't know that thank you for teaching me something like the the gospel presentation last week
How to preach the gospel a lot of people compliment said thank you so much, but I learned a lot from that
But you know what that's super basic
It's something that's very basic
But you know what people appreciate the basics because that's what they need to be reinforced in not a new doctrine
Not in this teaching that not all Christians are our Saints
But that's a new doctrine. No one's ever taught that before okay
The Bible says in Revelation 3 verse 2 be watchful and strengthen the things which remain
That are ready to die for I have not found thy works perfect before God
so I
Just mentioned earlier about Pastor Anderson saying that you know he sits on a doctrine if he learned something new
He doesn't share it for a very long time now
I remember what doctrine it was so at the post trip the post trip pre-rath or the post trip conference from last year
He taught on the new heaven than the new earth. I mean you've heard that sermon before great sermon
And we're all soul winning and he said so and he talked to me about it
He goes what do you think about this and he told me about it because I think I'm gonna preach this he goes
It's something that I believe for a long time, but I've been simmering on it for a long time as well
You know because I wanted to make sure that I was right
And he goes and if I had it if I had enough people to tell me yeah, yeah
It doesn't sound wrong that I won't preach it. You know this is Pastor Anderson obviously you know
This is a man who knows the Bible
He's a seam as a man who's knowledgeable of the Word of God and even him someone like him with his credentials and credibility
Would abstain from teaching a doctrine that many of us would probably like no it sounds right pastor
But he brought you would be like well. You know let me sit on it for a while
It's better to play it safe
You know and look
There's something called credibility as well
Okay, it's important to teach deep doctrines, but it's important to have credibility as well and credibility comes with what with time
So and look thank God if you got something new from the Bible, and you're barely you just got saved
But you know what you need credibility
What's the Word of God bless God?
Yeah, but you know what the one who's delivered me the Word of God is not very credible because if you just got saved
How do we know that you're grounded even in the basics?
We've had enough experiences with people who are novices, and they end up getting into false doctrine
Allowing their evangelists you know to take over the church and teach all kinds of wicked false doctrines
So we need to make sure that we pray for credibility
Amen, we need to pray and say God help me to gain credibility by just being consistent in the basics of life
And look if this is offending you and you don't like what I'm saying
Then that goes to show the level of maturity
Amen
You know it shows the level of maturity that someone has if they're not able to receive a teaching like that
I've been rebuked like this like this many times
Many times okay throughout my Christian life where I was told you're wrong
You know, but you know in sincerity because I want to grow I I just admit I was wrong
Apologize I'm wrong, and I want to move on and keep learning
That's honorable. What's not honorable is you say well. I don't care what he says
I'm just gonna keep doing what I'm doing you know don't try to get into new doctrines stick to the basics
Okay, look go to James chapter 1 and here's how you can do that be an instant here
What does that mean well the Bible says preach the word be instant in season out of season amen that means
Preach the Bible when it's popular when it's not preach doctrines that are popular preach doctrines that are not
Preach everything that the Word of God teaches
But you know what that means as a here you need to be instant as well to be ready to receive
Any teaching from the Word of God well? I'm here to hear about the faggots I?
Want to hear sermon on the right I got I need my monthly sermon on faggots
You
Know I need to hear about God hating faggots and pedophiles and how they need to be put to death
That's what I want to hear
You just need to be instant in hearing anything that the Bible teaches
You know look what the Bible says in James 1 verse 19 wherefore my beloved brethren let every man be swift to hear
slow to speak
Slow to wrath go to verse 22, but be doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving your own selves for if any
Be a hearer of the word and not a doer. He is likened to a man beholding his natural face in the glass
For he beholded himself and goeth his way and straight way forget it what manner of man
He was but who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty continued therein
He be not a forgetful here, but a doer of the work this man is blessed in his deed
So what's the point there the point is this number three is don't always look for sensationalism
Does anybody know what that is sensationalism? It's when you're just looking for that wow that was great
I just want to just blow people away sensationalism, okay
When you teach and preach from the Word of God you will have sensational moments because this book is amazing
You know I think of a pastor from years past in the 1920s by the name of J. Frank Norris
Does anybody know who J. Frank Norris is he was considered a very hard preacher in those days in fact
I recovered a preaching from him, and he's like saying slut like every other word
Like he's just like I just ripping on modesty and all these things
He's a hard preacher
But this so he had two of the largest independent fundamental Baptist churches in America in his time
There are very large churches, and he was a very hard preacher
He one time one of his most by the way they call him the shooting salvationist the reason for that is because he killed a man
Okay, he shot someone in his office because they tried to kill him and they reached in to pull out a weapon
He's like don't do it
I'm gonna shoot you if you do it, and he did it and so he shot him dead
And he was acquitted of all charges
amen
so
but this guy one time there's a
Drunk driver. He crashed and the guy died and his brains were just splattered all over the road and
I don't know how exactly how the story went, but J. Frank Norris came across that scene, and he saw the broken glass of
Alcohol he grabbed the broken glass of alcohol went to the to the scene scooped up the brains
Took it to church and preached against alcohol
Yeah, that's that's sensationalism right there Wow
I guarantee you people were there were like I'm never touching another drop of alcohol ever again
You know and that's necessary, but you know what when you preach the Bible
That's what happens now. He made it a little more sensational by doing that okay
People
You know so you there's times when certain doctrines are sensational and
And we don't do it
We don't preach it just to be sensational
But for the fact that that's what the Bible teaches that's what we need to teach and typically something is sensational because it's not talked
about very often
Like in 20 years ago the reprobate doctrine was not a sensational doctrine
Right, but now because it's not being talked about very much when people hear it
Perks the attention of people and they're like wow you know so that goes to show you that the entire Bible literally in a sense
Is sensational it just depends on the era that you're in or something's not being taught and then you emphasize it people like whoa?
What in the world you see you believe that like ladies should stay home and work at home and stuff well
That's sensational. You know no that's like. That's old. That's in the Bible, okay?
So don't always see for sensationalism not in just when you preach, but also when you hear because if you're not careful
You know we don't want faithful
We're Baptist Church of almighty to be like a circus where you just come to be entertained I?
Just what you got you know what we're gonna talk about salvation today the doctrine of salvation
We're gonna talk about the doctrine of you know don't be a sensationalist Christian
We're gonna talk about something. That's very mundane and look
Every doctrine in the Bible is important
That sermon was all right you know it's okay well
Let me ask you this did it have Bible verses in it did it have Bible teaching in it
If it did then guess what it was a great sermon amen not because of my deliverance, but because of the Bible
You see if we have a sensationalist mentality where we want everything to be wowing then guess what sermon some sermons will be better than others
But when we realize that though we need everything in order to be perfect we need everything to be entire
Every sermon is applicable to our lives
Because the mature Christian not only looks for sensationalism you know what they look for they need something to help their marriage
Like I need to be a better employee. I need to be a better son
I need to be a better X Y & Z you know I need practical Christian living doctrine sermons
But I also need deep doctrine I need it all and they will listen to everything and apply everything that they hear okay
Don't be like Herod
Okay the Bible says in mark 620 before Herod feared John knowing that he was a just man and holy and
Observed him and when he heard him he did many things and heard him gladly
You know why you know Herod liked John the Baptist, but don't really like this because he was sensational
He's just like yeah, I like listen to this guy
You said well didn't that change his life. No in fact. He killed her. He killed John the Baptist
He beheaded him so it wasn't life-changing to him
Don't be the kind of Christian where you hear something
It doesn't change anything make sure that you apply the things which you've learned and and grow
Okay, because not every sermon is gonna be a sensational sermon not every sermon is gonna be a hit banger or a home run
most of the times the home run for you is gonna be when you apply the sermon and
Then you succeed in the long run because of it
That ought to be the goal
You know and every once in a while obviously we'll have like a pep rally where we you know fight against false prophets and call
Out the names or whatever, but you know not every sermon is gonna be like that
And we need to get to a spiritual maturity
We need to get to a maturity level where we come because we want to learn something
And if it's something that we already learned then maybe said I want to reinforce that which I've already learned amen
So be not carried away with diverse and strange doctrines
Let's be experts in the basics make sure that we're not trying to learn some new doctrine that does that's foreign to the Bible
But not only that make sure that we're not just trying to be sensationalist hearers or preachers either amen
inspire heads and have a word of prayer follow me. Thank you so much for your word and
Lord all the basics of the Bible are important
Obviously there's certain books in the Bible to catch our attention more than others
But that is not negate the fact that Leviticus is important numbers is important
A lot of the Old Testament books are important every book of the Bible is important. It's all necessary to be perfect an entire
Wanting nothing
I pray that you'd help us to be thoroughly furnished through your word and I pray that you guide us and direct our steps Lord and
To appreciate even the basics of life because that's what life is made of and I pray God that you'd help us to do so
In Jesus name we pray. Amen