All right, we're in first corinthians chapter number 16 look down at your bibles verse number seven
It says for I will not see you now by the way
But I trust to tarry a while with you if the lord permit
But I will tarry at Ephesus until pentecost for a great door and effectual is opened unto me and there are many
Adversaries the bible says and the title of the sermon this evening is new levels new devils
new levels new
Devils now what do I mean by that when I say new levels and new devils?
Well, because in the christian life in your individual life the higher you go up
Spiritually speaking or the longer you are a christian the more you are faithful. You're steadfast and you're unmovable
You're always abounding in the work of the lord. There's always going to be spiritual opposition
You're you're the the number of enemies will increase the number of adversaries will multiply
Why is that because the more you do for god the more success you have in the christian life the more satan
Wants to stop you why because he doesn't want you to be effective at preaching the gospel
He doesn't want you to be a good church member. He doesn't want you to be someone who is humble
Who's just serving the lord who's just being a good wife a good husband a good?
Son or daughter or an employee so as these opportunities these doors of opportunities open up
We're going to see far more enemies trying to creep in hinder us and stop us from doing the work of the lord
Okay, and it's foolish to think that well, you know, everything's going to be hunky-dory
The more we do for god, you know, nothing's going to happen. Everything's going to be a bed of roses
We're not going to have enemies. We should just be loved by our community and loved by los angeles and loved by california
That's not realistic
Why because california is a wicked state?
California you said why are you there because this is where I was born and raised amen
And we're to be a light in darkness we're to we're to preach the word of god in a dark place
We should shine forth as lights in a crooked and perverse nation and state
You know, obviously we're in a wicked state that's called california. We're living over here next to sodom and gomorrah
Which is hollywood we have everything going against us when it comes to the laws and the culture and all these things
This is considered a liberal state
But you know what we still have an independent fundamental baptist church here who still preaches the truth
And you know what god will continue to open doors for us
But we just can't be ignorant and not realistic and thinking well get no opposition is going to come about that
You can't expect to become more godly or increase in your righteousness and not have opposition
Because opposition is there to try to hinder you but if you deal with it correctly, it's actually going to help you
You
Opposition can either stop you or could actually propel you forward
You know
And here we see that the apostle paul's writing to the church at corin the last chapter. He explains that
He's going to stay at ephesus until pentecost
Ephesus obviously was a city
That was given to a lot of idolatry. All right
And based upon the content found in the book of effusions there seems to have been major spiritual warfare taking place
So if you really compare all the times that ephesus is mentioned whether it's in revelation chapter two, it's in the book of
Ephesians it's in the book of acts and first corinthians you always see that there's some sort of spiritual battle taking place there
And god has the tendency to use the church at ephesus to not only show
What that spiritual battle looks like but also what it looks like to fight against that spiritual battle, okay?
And look i'm not talking about the spiritual warfare where there's like demons and unclean spirits possessing people
They're just foaming out the mouth and like this maniac a gadera type of thing. I know that exists
You know, we have a demon possessed guy who walks up and down these streets every day
Every single day he came by today smoking his pot, right and he's just I believe he's possessed
Just because he has the same walk. Where is he going?
And why did he choose?
tyler avenue
You never see by the way, you never see him walk on the other side of the street
He's always on this side of the street
And i've rebuked him multiple times
And he's just he just keeps coming up and down these streets. What is it?
He's possessed but you know what that guy is gonna do no harm to anybody
You know, he might irritate some people he might scare some some kids or whatever it may be
But that's not the kind of demon possession that i'm talking about
I'm talking about people who are demon possessed who satan is using as puppets to try to hinder the work of god
These are the adversaries that we need to watch out for
And these are the adversaries that we need to expect when the doors of opportunity open up for us. Okay?
So i'm talking about people who are possessed with devils who are teaching doctrines of devils
You know who the adversaries are sometimes other pastors
Yeah
Hold on a second pastors are demon possessed. Of course
Not all of them, but some of them
I mean you have chris lasala who blatantly openly says
That he's possessed with a thousand demons
I mean he just
Has no problem. Just telling you he believes that every christian is possessed with at least a hundred. That's the bare minimum
Yeah
And because he's so godly he has a thousand
You know
Chris lasala is a wicked false prophet
He and by the way, he's telling the truth
He's not lying
You know, he might actually underestimate
How much how many demons are actually possessing him? It might be more than that
But at least he's being honest and saying hey i'm possessed with devils
So that's why those people who are in those churches. They're a bunch of idiots
Because he's actually telling them hey i'm possessed with devils. Let me lead you and be your pastor and they're like, okay
You know, obviously that has its place and and I don't believe that independent fundamental baptists
deal with stuff like that because
We're on the front lines
and say this is not going to throw some demon possessed person to try to hinder the work of god here because of the
Fact that that we'll just like brush that off and say that this is foolishness get out of our church
You know
The kind of people who are possessed who try to infiltrate churches or try to hinder the work of god
They're more subtle. Are they not?
Don't they come under the guys?
They're they're wolves in sheep's clothing or they're just people who just try to hinder the work of god to frustrate the purposes here
To try to get us to not go sowing or try to bring in some damnable heresy
These are the type of adversaries that we actually see go to ephesians chapter number six if you would
Ephesians chapter number six and really the sermon is a reminder
That just because we're independent doesn't mean we're no longer under spiritual warfare spiritual warfare will continue to the day that we die
And in this church, we will continue to have spiritual battles and spiritual warfare
Let us not be ignorant of this concept and don't think hey, and by the way, let me say this
We've had a great victory this weekend, did we not?
Great victory church went independent people got saved and let me say this
There's always an attack
Prior to an event like this or after or both
So look, this is not the time to kick your feet up
Take your socks off and just chill out drink some lemonade and act like nothing's gonna happen
This is actually a time when we realize. Okay, the hit is coming. We got to be ready for it
You know, I remember
Uh for the so many mega marathon that we did our first so many mega marathon
Literally the day I mean we had a successful day
The day after which was easter our car got stolen
With all of our materials on it
You know and look that really didn't hinder the work of god. It just frustrated me is what it did
Because I had to preach come to church and I had my mind. It's like where's my vehicle, you know
We got to I got to figure out how to get my family from point a to point b
And sometimes things like that will happen and I believe that satan just trying to frustrate trying to wear out the saints in a sense
Okay
And we just got to realize that we're in a spiritual battle and now hey
We're at a new level and guess what? There's a brand new company of devils
That we're going to be fighting. There's a brand new army of devils and demons and wicked people
That we're going to be confronted with and let me say this you need to be ready
Not just as a church, but guess what as individuals be ready
Because you know what satan wants to do. He wants to pick apart people one person at a time from our church
How does he do it? He does it through temptation
He does it through sin
He does it through idleness. He does it through laziness. He does it through contention. He does it through strife
He does it through vainglory. He does it through weak christians
Who can really cause the body of christ to kind of be pulled apart based upon fights and strife and contentions
We want to make sure that we're vigilant and recognize. Hey, the battle is not over. We're not dead
We're not in heaven. We're just at a new level
And when there's a new level there is a new devil, okay
you know the old devils, you know, the the
The hofni and phinehas. Those are the old devils
those those dogs
old devils
Okay, the the dude who believes you can stop believing that you were saved
That's an old devil
These are kind of like these are like really stupid doctrines
You know
And let's let me say this we can't expect that in the future. Actually the devils will increase after this
Okay
Look at eph 6 verse 11 says put on the whole armor of god
That ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. These are the devices that satan has okay
Now here's the great thing about this is that we know that there's no new thing under the sun
The devices that satan has used in times past are the same devices that you will use today
That's why it's important that we read the bible. That's why it's important that we take heed to the testimonies of the lord
What are the testimonies of the lord the stories that we see in the bible?
The testimonies of david of saul and other people because of these people because these people were of like passions
There are men just like us
They suffer the same temptations and we need to take into account the testimonies of the lord because of the fact that
Satan's going to come at us with his wiles with his devices
It says for we wrestle not against flesh and blood
But against principalities against powers against the rules of the darkness of this world against spiritual wickedness in high places
Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of god that you may be able to withstand in the evil day
Having done all to stand and look
Sometimes satan just attacks not through false prophets. Sometimes he just attacks through just basic things like temptation
Hey, let me say this single guys you need to be careful
Don't live loosely
If you're dating or you're engaged or whatever may be now's not the time to be careless
In your relationship. No, we're fine. Look he that stand to take heed lest he fall
And don't think you're above temptation
Don't think you're above the wiles of satan the same device that satan used on david
It's the same one he's using on you
How can satan try to hinder the work of god allow fornication in it
Cause people to fornicate in our church
To cause them to get excommunicated to ruin their lives
You know you may think well, no, no, no go back to the false prophets
I want to hear about the false prophets false prophets. No, let's talk about morality for a second
Let's talk about purity for a second because that's important
You don't want to strip you from the power of god on your life fornication that will destroy your life
Forever
Adultery will destroy your life forever. That's something you won't come back from and look
Don't think you're so strong and you've read the bible so many times and i'm prayed up
And I go to first works baptist church and god's favors all my life don't think you're above temptation
You know, we need to make sure that the young men in our church and the young ladies in our church stay pure
And look one of the ways you stay pure
Obviously you don't fornicate but the bible tells us that you should know how to possess your vessel in sanctification and honor
You know what? That means you need to set up some safeguards in your life to keep you away from even being tempted to sin
Obviously, we don't want to sin duh
But how about we take it a step further and even step away from that which would even cause us to be tempted
You know because once we're tempted we've already crossed the line and we're one step into the temptation of fornication
right
Whereas if you're so far to to the right that when you're tempted if you step forward
Hey, guess what fornication is still way over there. You can still make your way back
Yeah
Well, you know, I just think you're too strict
I just think you know, did you that that's like old iab stuff or whatever, you know, yeah
I'm sure that's what like david thought
You know, i'm sure that's what samson thought
I'm sure that's what uh, these other people who throughout the ages have thought the same thing and fallen into fornication and uncleanness
Good
You know satan can hinder you not just in the manner of false prophets and infiltrators
We got that down pack, but you know what?
It can it can they can hinder you just from fornication by by allowing fornication tempting you with fornication
Be vigilant
Well, you know, she's godly i'm godly we're bought and look i'm not questioning the love of the lord in anybody
What i'm saying is this is we're in the flesh. Amen
Amen
And you need to purposely walk in the spirit that you may not fulfill the lust of the flesh
Yeah, but what's a little look?
And I know this happens where like couples will date
And they'll hold hands or their hug and kiss i'm not for that
I'll just be honest with you
You know, and if that's what you do then, you know, i'm not the moral police here
I'm not here to tell you what you're what you're supposed to do
But the bible does say it is good for a man not to touch a woman
And let me just tell you kissing means touching
You do I think you have to touch and hard to kiss right? I think that's the way it works, you know
Unless you do the the central american Spaniard kids where you kiss the the air, you know
type of thing, right
You know, you're setting yourself up for temptation
And let me just remind you if we find out or I find out that anybody is fornicating within our church
The options are on the table for you to either leave
And not come back until you get that right you get married
Right or you just separate you stay in church, but you're separated
Nothing in the middle
Nothing in the middle. Oh, I thought you were my pastor. Yeah, that's what i'm telling you these things
A crappy pastor would not tell you these things
He lets you fornicate have babies stay in the church ruin your life as long as you put in the tithe check in the plate
Keep your tithe check and stay pure
and then tithed
We need to make sure that we recognize that these things are sinful
And we emphasize and we make it look exceedingly simple because it is because in the day and age in which we live
Sometimes young people are a little too loose in their relationship
They don't put the safeguards up
They don't put the standards up and that's why they end up going into temptation and fornication to destroy their lives
Don't be that person
Look and by the way, if you did that in times past i'm not preaching to you
I'm preaching to the people who have not done that yet
And they still have hope to do it, right? So, you know what you should be amending me more than anybody else because you agree
Say look new levels new devils
Hey when you start, you know dating a girl or you're in a relationship, that's a new level man
But it's also new devil no i'm not talking about
Your boyfriend or girlfriend, right
It's a new level but guess what there's a new devil
And look i'm not talking about this charismatic stuff, but there's like the devil of of alcoholism the devil of lust and all this stupid pentecostal crap
I'm talking about just the fact that you know what because you're doing right you you're going to attract
Satan's minions to try to hinder you and destroy your life
Okay
And i'm not for the the necking and petting and stuff like that and look
I'm not going to impose that on you though
You know, obviously you can't kick that i'm not going to kick you out because you you you're you kiss and stuff like that
That's not my business
I'm, just warning you
Oh, what do you know you're like 33
You know
Okay, then go do whatever you want to do then. Let's see how that works out for you
Let's see
Let's see if you're the exception to the rule
But you know what i've learned is I don't want to be the exception to the rule when it comes to these things
I don't even want to try to I don't even want to try to be the exception to the rule
I'd rather just stay far from it because you could actually be the casualty rather than the exception
You know
adultery drunkenness
You know
Recreational smoking and marijuana these things are foolish and sinful and they will get you kicked out of church
And these are things that satan can try to use your old lifestyle to try to get you into sin
I forgot where I was going with this. So look when you're dating
when you're dating
If you hold hands you're not you're not necessarily I don't I don't think you're sitting but what i'm saying is like
It's just another step because let me show you how this works. Okay?
is
when you touch
The relationship has to grow you understand that
So it I can't stop it at hand holding
It turns into like a hug right because you're like wow this hand feels good
It's soft. It's girly
And then eventually it starts into a hug and guess what happens after the hug then the kiss comes
And you know what? It can't stop there
It will not stop there
and here's the thing is
That's why I encourage you look get married as soon as possible if that's what you have to do
But if you can't get married as soon as possible, you need to slow your roll
You slow your roll
Why because one either you're gonna defraud yourself defraud her or two you're gonna do something really stupid
And you know what? You're gonna break each other's hearts. You know why because you both love the lord you both love the bible
And you just ruined
That thing right there and i'm not saying that can't be restored. I'm not saying you can't repent obviously you can get right
Move forward and learn from it and put it behind you. But how about we just don't do that
Just don't even do it period
Look guys have some self-control
Show some self-control
This is a new level. We're going to face new devils because of it
We need to make sure that we're vigilant about these things and recognize we're entering in new levels
And look i'm saying this because I love the guys in our church. I love the girls in our church
I love the parents in our church the children in our church. I want everyone to be good
But in order to do that, don't be ignorant
I don't see nothing wrong with that. I just think you know, I can do
Ride alone in the car with the girl and nothing's gonna ever gonna happen to me. Really?
Is that what you think?
Oh, so you're the exception to the rule
Getting kind of quiet
Is my mic not on or something like
Eric our uh, mark, did you check this? Okay. Okay. I'm just checking
It's kind of quiet
It's good not to ride in a car in the car alone with the girl the op or excuse me
someone of the opposite gender
Other if it's I mean if it's not your mom or sister or cousin or something like that
Well, you know we we we kind of you know, I read my bible, you know, I know what's up
You're the exception, right
Yeah
so
We need to make sure that as we enter new levels
That there will be new devils
And look, here's the thing now that was very negative. I know
All right, but what i'm talking about? Look, what are the new levels? It's the great doors
Because it says a great door and effectual is open unto me
This is the positive aspect and who is the one who is opening the doors for us it's god
Go to revelation chapter three
So you've heard the phrase there's a prepared place for prepared people
Well, you know who prepares that place for that prepared person. Jesus
God does
And as you prepare god says all right, you've been preparing you've been doing that what you're supposed to do
Here's an open door for you of opportunity to do something great take it look what it says in revelation chapter three
In verse seven it says into the angel of the church of philadelphia, right?
These things saith he that is holy he that is true
He that hath the key of david he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth
I know thy works
Behold I have set before thee an open door
And no man can shut it for thou has a little strength and has kept my word and has not denied my name
So jesus is the one who opens these doors of opportunities
Miss dj, if you need to take her to the mother baby room just in order to calm her down
And then you can bring her back in. Okay
Hey, we want the children to be in the service hey, man
But sometimes they need to transition into the service my children in the same way. It's okay
It doesn't bother me, but we just need to train them. All right
So jesus is the one who opens these doors
And the good thing about this is it says he that openeth and no man shut it
No, man shut it
So when god opens a door for us, we don't have to worry about anybody trying to close that door on us
Because jesus is the one opening the door
They can try to hinder us they can try to trip us up when we go through the door, but they can't shut it
you know
When we started this church, it was a great door
Was there a lot of opposition? Yes, you better believe there was a lot of opposition, but no one can shut the door
They couldn't shut the door on the preaching. They couldn't shut the door on the soul winning
They couldn't shut the door of the people coming to our church. They couldn't shut the door. Amen
And that should be an encouragement to you that if you stay faithful, you don't deny the bible you live for god
God's gonna open up some doors and god and he's not gonna close it. No one's gonna close it
Right
It says no man shut it then shut it and no man open it
Another thing here is that we see is that sometimes opportunities close on us
And god will sometimes close an opportunity
for you
But it's not because of god
It's often because of us
We forfeit
The opportunity to take the opportunity
And we close that
You say well, how do I know if that opportunity is gone?
Well, if you try to do it and it just seems as though it's just not working
You know if you know that you basically did something for example
Let me give an example if you've been married and divorced and you still want to be a pastor that door is closed
It's closed. It doesn't even have a doorman on it
Yeah, it's just a brick wall
It's not even a door anymore
Okay
You know if
You've done those things then you know what the door is completely closed and there's many other examples
But what i'm talking about here are the doors that are open and you know what?
We need to open up our eyes to the doors that are open before us that god is setting forth
Pay attention to the open doors. Amen
And go through it. It says that it's effectual. What does that mean? It means that it can it can produce a lot of results
So, you know what los angeles is a big open door, but it's also effectual because there's a lot of opportunities to see people saved here
And look we're going to get to a point in our church where the people who are coming through these doors
Are not just listeners of the new ifb though all of them are welcome if they're for us, obviously
But you know who's going to be coming through these doors are just people in the los angeles area who know about our church
That's the opportunity that we have
Amen
We get to work with clean slates
People who don't know about dipstick sationalism and repent of your sins and all this crap, you know
We can teach them what the word of god actually says and from birth teach them in the right ways of the lord
This is an effectual door that we have. Okay
And it's exciting to see what god is doing, but we just got to recognize new levels means new devils now
What have you turned look at revelation chapter 3?
And look verse 9
So he said he talks about the door, right? It's open
No, man can close it. He's just like great verse 9 behold. I will make them of the synagogue of satan
Which say they are jews and are not but do lie behold
I will make them to come and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee
Why are the why are the jews being mentioned here? Okay. Well, they're being mentioned because they're the opposition
so
They got the open door and guess who's the adversary the jews?
The christ rejecting jews and we can basically tell that the jews are the ones who are persecuting the church at philadelphia
They're persecuting them and that's why he says look i'm going to tell make them of the synagogue of satan
Which say they are jews and are not but do lie
I'm going to make them to worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee
Because I was kept the word of my patience
I will also keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon
The earth so we see here that when the adversaries come god says hey, don't worry i'm with you
I'm going to keep you from the hour of temptation
I'm going to protect you
So that means no weapon formed against thee shall prosper
Pull out the ak-47
pull out the ar-15
You know spiritually speaking, right?
Pull out whatever weapon the katana
pull out the super soaker
pull out the mosberg
But you know what god says no weapon formed against thee shall prosper
And so what if someone comes and shoots us up go to heaven, baby
Job's done we get the clock out
You know, we need to just have faith in god and recognize don't let adversaries scare you
Let the when you see an adversary like yes i'm in the right door
Amen
Like is this the door? Oh, there's an adversary. All right. Yeah, this is the one come on guys
This is the right one. There's all kinds of adversaries here
That confirms that what we're doing is right
No door
If there's no door, there's no opportunity
Okay
Many adversaries will be on that other side go to first corinthians chapter 15
And I like what paul the apostle says here because in chapter 16 of first corinthians
He says that a great door and effectual is open unto me and there are many adversaries. Well in chapter 15
Look what he says in verse 31. I protest by your rejoicing which I have in christ. Jesus our lord. I die daily
If after the manner of men, I have fought with the beast at ephysis
What advantage does it mean if the dead rise not let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die
So what is he saying here he says at ephysis I was fighting with beasts
And by the way, he's not talking about like a pit bull when he's out soloing
Okay, when he's talking about the beasts at ephysis, he's talking about false prophets wicked people
And as I mentioned today, you know, we're going to be doing the first work soloing
But part of the work also is fighting with beasts
Here in omani, okay
Go with me if you would to acts chapter number 19
Acts chapter 19 new levels new
Devils, you know what as it was mentioned on friday. We need to make sure that we're fit for this fight
You know, we can have a rally pump up type of a sermon and service but at the end of the day
You need to make sure that you're fit for the kingdom of god
You need to make sure that you're pumping these weights spiritually that you're exercising yourself rather unto godliness
That you're making sure that you're giving yourself to attendance to reading to exhortation into doctrine
You're making sure that you're prayed up spirit-filled because guess what the fight is coming
The fight is on old christian
soldiers right
And you can't be afraid to fight
We just need to be ready to fight is what we need to do. Okay
So ephysis seems to be this epicenter of spiritual battles and spiritual warfare
Look at acts chapter 19
It says here verse five, but when they heard this they were baptized in the name of the lord. Jesus
And when paul had laid his hands upon them the holy ghost came on them and they spake with tongues and prophesied
And all the men were about 12. So we see a great work done here. What happened a great door was open
Paul took it saw people saved and now they're spirit-filled christians, right?
Verse eight says and he went into the synagogue and spake boldly for the space of three months
Disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of god. He's fighting with the beast at ephysis is what we see there
Verse nine but when diverse were hardened and believe not
But spake evil of that way before the multitude he departed from them separated the disciples disputing daily in the school of one tyranas
These are the adversaries
Okay, so after he sees this great thing what happens? Oh, there's some adversaries there
There's some jews there. There's some people who are trying to hinder him. There's some people who are speaking evil of that way now
We know this already
This is something that's very obvious and we know that this is a part of our ministry
But just as a reminder, it's not bad when people speak evil of us
It's not bad when other christians
speak evil of us
It's not it's it's bad only if what they're saying is true
You know or you know, we're being accused of murder or theft and these ungodly things
But if they're just speaking evil of us because of our heart preaching because we're too mean behind the pulpit
Because we hate faggots and we think they should be put to death and i'm glad that that fool
Epstein died and hung himself where he was murdered and we want pedophiles to die and they say you're so unloving
These people are wicked. They're evil. Thank you for saying that about me because you're confirming what i'm saying is true because you're so lukewarm
You will never say something like that
So when I preach this it shows me that what you're preaching is wrong
Amen
It shows me that we're on the right side of the battle
So don't be afraid
Don't get discouraged when people speak evil of you and you know what even good people
Will speak evil of you
I'm talking about saved people
People who have the holy spirit of god living within them who are king james only their independent fundamental baptists
They will speak evil of you
Let that be a confirmation. Hey, i'm in the right door
I'm in the right door. Okay
So just just mark it down. This is the sequence of orders. There's an open door just expect it
There's going to be adversaries. I wouldn't doubt if some stupid
A reprobate infiltrator will be here in the next couple of months or whatever
It's going to happen
You know some disgusting beast dog
Is going to come waltzing in here trying to teach false doctrine trying to do something wicked and you know what?
We're going to do to him what we did to everyone else
Who comes through these doors trying to spread some false doctrine trying to violate the innocent of our church?
You know, by the way, if some pedophile comes in here
Oh, by the way, if you're a pedophile, just let me know after you know, let me know now
I would like to know I like to talk to you
You know, we'll turn you over to the authorities i'll basically do to you what my old pastor did to a pedophile came to him
Pedophile came to him and he's like pastors, you know, you know, i'm i'm a registered sex offender and he goes, oh, okay
And he he took off he came back and he said yeah
So, you know, can I stay in the church? He goes no, I just call the police. They're coming to get you right now
He's like you're out of here
You know, but now you know
tolerant baptist church
Loving baptist church
Rather try to restore the pedophiles
And bring them into the church and then you have these fag loving idiots
Baptists who are defending these fag pastors
Like cameron giovannelli who's in jail now
And is just admitted to all this stuff
I want to know what those pastors say now
What now
punk
All that trash you're talking and all this stuff. He admitted it
That filthy pervert
That disgusting piece of crap giovannelli needs to be strung
With the noose around his neck tie a millstone about his neck
And be drowned in the depths of the sea
I hope that what happened to epstein happens to cameron giovannelli
Let us pray thus
That such an event will take place
these wicked people
You know, and you know, oh you guys are so unloving
Yeah, keep bringing it on because that's exactly what we needed here to confirm that what we're doing is right
He said what door is this, you know a door to be able to just preach the word of god freely
You know what the door is for preachers today
Is that god has given us the commission to just preach the whole bible unfiltered uncensored. Amen
Yeah, but if you do that there's gonna be all kinds of adversaries
Yeah
But you know what a lot of pastors are doing they're not taking that next level therefore they're not facing that next devil
Because they're too scared
a bunch of pussyfooting
Pastors who don't want to face the devils that are coming with these next levels
By the way, pussyfooting is not a bad word. Okay, I gotta constantly tell her
That's an old word don't worry
Don't soil yourself. Okay, it's it's it's a word that just means these weaklings, okay
Look at verse 23
and by the way verse 10 and this continued by the space of two years so that
All they which dwelt in asia heard the word of the of jesus of the lord jesus both jews and greeks. Amen
So we see another door open
So what happens he takes this door he goes through fights off these adversaries and guess what another door is open
So it's sometimes there's a door that opens that leads to another door and there's an adversary in between
But you know what if you don't fight off that adversary, you're not going to get to the next door
The word of the lord jesus spread over those two years look at verse 23
And the same time there arose no small stir about that way
For a certain man named demetrius a silversmith which made silver shrines for diana brought no small gain unto the craftsman
Whom he called together with the workmen of like occupation and said sirs you know that by this craft we have our wealth
Moreover you see in here. They're not alone at ephesus, but almost throughout all asia
This paul hath persuaded and turned away much people saying that they be no gods which are made with hands
So what do we see here? He's messing up their their livelihood
The word of god is spreading so much in this area. He's like man. This guy is screwing everything up
This is a good door, amen
So then not only this our craft is in danger to be said enough
But also that the temple of the great goddess diana should be despised and her magnificent magnificence should be destroyed whom all asia and the world
Worshipeth and when they heard these sayings that were full of wrath and cried out saying great is diana of the ephesians
So what we see here is the apostle paul did a great work in the city to the point. He caused an uproar
Of this false religion
You know and that's exactly what we need to do in omani
this wicked buddhist temple
This devilish temple who has led thousands yay millions to hell because of its false teachings
its idolatrous practices
By the way, most buddhas these guys who are in the temple. They're a bunch of perverts too
Bunch of perverts you say how do you know that well
Back at my old church. There was a missionary to cambodia
and
He used to give me the the down low on all this stuff
He used to say those guys are some of the most biggest perverts
Ever, you know, they try to live this this this life of asceticism where they they abstain from doing certain things
They're not supposed to watch tv. No relationship with girls all these kind of things
He says man, they watch dirty movies in the rooms all the time
Their eyes are always wandering and lusting after women. They don't care about any of this stuff
These are some of the most wicked people
Perverts is what they are
And this godless temple is like the like the temple of diana
The only difference is some fat dude who's been in hell for the last couple thousands of years or whatever
buddha
You know, we want to make sure that here in omani as we're spreading the gospel. We're not just spreading the gospel
We're spreading the truth about the bible what the bible says about that wicked temple over there
Oh, you're racist that has nothing to do with race
Zero
Now is it true that there's a lot of asians that are sucked into that?
Yeah, but you know what? I know a bunch of idiots who are from different races who also get sucked into that
It's not based upon race
How about the catholic church
What's that one called here epiphany
Which i'm pretty sure they're priests of some faggot
Pedophile who just hasn't been discovered to be one as of yet, but I guarantee he is
Oh, you know, I don't agree with this kind of preaching it's just too hard
You know
It's the bible though
It's the word of god and it's fact
Well, you know independent fundamental baptists. They have you know pedophiles in them. Yeah, and we expose them and I just talked about one recently
Yeah
The ones who are independent fundamental baptists they just failed the clergy of the catholic catholicism is all is
You know, they didn't want to be catholic perverts in the catholic church. So they decided to be in the baptist churches
It's the same type of devil
It tries to infiltrate these religious institutions to take advantage of innocent people
That's the way it works
You know, oh man, I think we just just all get along and you know
You should you should talk to the church down the street and you guys should be unified in your beliefs
No
Nay
Nay, okay
Go to act chapter 20
By the way in that same chapter
He said in verse 37 for you have brought hither these men which are neither robbers of churches nor your blasphemers of your goddess
So these guys were not christians they're like, hey they're kind of trying to back up paul and he says look
They're not robbing churches. You know what that tells me even back then
There were false prophets are going into churches to try to make money off of them, you know
Nothing new under the sun, right?
Act chapter 20 verse 28 says take heed therefore unto yourselves into all the flock. He's talking to the ephesians here
Over which the holy ghosts have made you overseers to feed the church of god
Which he hath purchased with his own blood for I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you
Not sparing the flock also of your own self shall memorize speaking perverse things to draw away disciples
After them go with me if you would to revelation chapter number two
Revelation chapter two, what am I talking about here? I'm saying that hey, let's not be surprised in the next couple years
If it just gets worse
Because that just means we're reaching new levels
You know what? That means you need to kick it into high gear spiritually speaking
And I would hope to god that the people who are in here this very moment would be here 10 years from now
And I won't even leave it at that stronger
Than how you are now
more mature
Than where you are now
Strong in the lord far greater than what you are now not still a babe in christ
If you're a babe in christ, amen, but you know what it's time to grow up
to being a toddler
To being a young adult to being a man a spiritual father
Okay, it's time to grow up
Why because hey
This is how it works. Hey, look guys. There's a door here
But only those who are ready for this can come
Because there's successes and everything but you know, there's also adversaries and I don't want you to get tripped up
We need to make sure that we're ready to go through that door
Okay
So remember that
The church at ephesus was the was the one we're reading about in revelation chapter two
So we see a lot of spiritual warfare look at verse two
It says I know thy works and thy labor and thy patience
And how thou canst not bear them which are evil and has tried them which say they are apostles and are not and has found them
Liars now go back to ephesians if you would chapter number six
I need to give you some points before my voice goes out
I feel like my voice is about to give out
So the points are about to give you a really basic
And they're straight from the bible is nothing you haven't heard before. Yeah, can you please it's nothing that you haven't heard before
This is very common
But you know what? Sometimes we need to put it into remembrance the things that we've learned before because sometimes we forget
Okay, so if we're going to reach new levels and overcome new devils
This is what we need to make sure
That we do look at verse 14 of ephsians chapter six. It says stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth
What does it mean to have your loins girt about with truth? Well, these are your loins, you know your belly
These are your loins and god says what you need to do is girt them tie them
with what with truth
Okay
You think of like a guy who does who dead lifts okay who dead lives here you deadlift often to wear a belt
To kind of help with your posture that core to protect your core, right?
And here we see that what he's telling them is you need to make sure you have your core values in place
for spiritual battles
So you just can't come into this battle and this warfare with just zeal
Because sometimes people have zeal without knowledge
So
But if you have zeal without knowledge that means you have no core values
What are core values that means things that you believe right in here?
That means there are the beliefs that you have that make you you
It doesn't make you a member of our church it makes you you
In fact, the reason you're in our church is because this is who you are
So when the bible tells us have your loins girt about with truth it means you need to make sure that you internalize
these teachings
You internalize these beliefs
You got to make sure you make them a part of who you are
These doctrines yay, even the standards of of the bible
Internalize them and make them a part of you
That's the first thing that he tells you to do
Right
So before he gets even gets into the sword the breastplate the shield
All these other the helmet of salvation. He says make sure you girt your loins about with truth first
He says take a stand
But you know what if you're going to take a stand you got to have your loins girt about with truth
You got to have some core
values and look
I'm talking about salvation
Right i'm talking about the bible but even things beyond that
Because of the fact that your core values is what you're going to pass on to your children
And your children are going to be a reflection
of your core values or the lack thereof
You your children will be a reflection they will become a result they will be a byproduct of your core values or the lack thereof
So don't play church
Yeah
Don't play zealous believer just be it
Be something of substance because look if you're playing church then your children are going to play church too
for a limited time only
But if this is who you are
That's exactly what you're going to produce
And if we're going to get into this spiritual battle one of the core values needs to be
Never quit
Never surrender no retreats. No reserves no regrets
This is where I stand and this is where I will die
This is where I this is who I am and this is who I always will be
I will never change because I can't change who I am
But in order not to change who you are, you got to be the right type of person
And have your loins girt about with truth. You say how do I how do I girt my loins with truth?
Well, obviously by reading the word of god and
Internalizing the teachings of the bible believing them
Wholeheartedly to the point you're just living it out. This is who you are
Okay, that's what you have to do
So if we're as we reach new levels and overcome new devils, we got to have core values
You know, we're talking about even prior to the service
Brother alex is asking me like why did the old ifb lose their children?
Because if you look at the old ifb many of the great pastors of yesteryear they lost all their children
And when I say lost them, I mean like reprobate status lost them
One of the greatest preachers of yesterday was dr. Jack hyles, right?
Great man of god say, you know was sent out to save america his son. Dave house is a full-blown reprobate
His daughter is an atheist
And this guy was a hard
preacher
I listened to him when I first got saved. He helped me clean up my life
He helped the pastors that were sent out my pastor for example
And great men of god still has great sermons did a great work
You know set america on fire for soul winning and church planting, but he lost his children
There there's there's something missing there
You know we need to make sure
That we believe these core values and we practice them when we say hey son, this is not what we do
This is who we are
And because this is who we are this is what we do
Don't be a fake christian don't be a phony don't be a person who loses the next generation because you're playing church just be real
Yeah, yeah, but i'm really weak then get real strong
It's do or die man. You gotta you gotta make sure you do it if you're gonna preserve that next generation
Because as we reach new levels and overcome new devils, we need to make sure that we have that
That's why you see people, you know, they believe for a while they endure for a while
But at the time of temptation they fall away why because they didn't have core values the bible says they had no root in themselves
That's what this is when you get rooted in christ when you get rooted in your beliefs
That means your roots go so far down deep that any you know
Wind or storm can come by and blow off your leaves, but guess what? The stem is still there. The trunk is still there
Like a palm tree
They say the root of a palm tree is longer than the palm tree in the palm tree itself
and you can
Tornadoes and hurricanes and yeah, it'll bend it'll even touch the floor, but it won't be ripped out because the root is so deep
And that's how our core values need to be
That they're so deep but they're so internalized in you that no matter what storm comes about guess what you might bend
You might weep you might cry you might suffer loss, but you're not going to break
But you're not going to be rooted up why because that's who you are. You're a palm tree
But not only that if we're going to reach new levels and overcome new devils we need to have core values
But we also need to have a clean heart
It says in verse 14 stand therefore having your loins girt about with truth and having on the breastplate of
Righteousness, we understand that the breastplate is something that obviously protects a lot of organs
But probably one of the most important ones is your heart
Protecting your heart. So it's not just a matter of believing the right things, you know, it's keeping your heart clean
Don't be a dirty christian
Keep your heart clean, you know love not the world neither the things that are in the world
If any men love the world the love of the father is not in him
So core values clean heart a comprehensive gospel verse 15 says in your feet shot with the preparation
Of the gospel of peace. What does that mean? All right
You got the clean heart
You got the core values. All right now it's time to practice to being a good ambassador of christ
Preach the gospel be a good soul winner be proactive and actually preaching the gospel and seeing people safe keep track of your salvations. Amen
Keep track of your salvations or keep track of your progress
Make sure you make soul winning a part of your life because we want to make sure that we're not only hearers of the word
But we're doers also, right?
And one of the the iron clad ways of making sure that you're a doer of the word is that you go sowing
Is that you go sowing
Like man, I don't know where i'm at in the lord if i'm pleasing unto god
Well go sowing and you can confirm that you're you're good in the eyes of god
Because that's what god wants you to do
So if you're unsure in any area of your life go sowing and you can at least say well
I know i'm right with god in this area
Because i'm obeying him to go out and see someone safe, right?
None of that but a conditioned faith it says in verse 15 above all taking the shield of faith
Wherewith he shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. So what does that mean?
Well, the shield of faith is basically when doubt comes
The shield of faith is something that you use to quench the fiery darts, which is doubts that satan throws at you
Because look all of us doubt
We doubt god's provision
We doubt god's protection
We don't doubt if we believe though
People want to say yeah people sometimes they doubt, you know, look if you doubt your salvation
Let us help you with that today and you'll never doubt after that and if you continue to doubt after that
Then there's another issue there in regards to your theology
Because look we just talked about being comprehensive with our gospel
We're pretty thorough when it comes to preaching the gospel if you walk away from one of our conversations
Still wondering if you're saved or not. There's something far deeper
and in error in your theology
Okay
You know, we don't doubt it for sake
Am I did I believe on the right jesus
What is it the mormon jesus
Or the jehovah's witness. I forgot
Sarah which one did I uh, like you're just questioning that's stupid and look I know that sounded stupid
That's exactly what people believe sometimes though
We're like, well, you know, he just forgot what jesus he believed in he just believes in the in the pentecostal modulus. Jesus
And you know, but he's still saved. No, he was never saved
Fool
I'm talking about doubt in god's provision and his protection
You know the bible tells us if we believe not yet
He abideth faithful for he cannot deny himself and that is in context of being delivered our flesh being delivered
Because often persecution could also bring harm to our bodies
and you wonder like man, what's
What's going to happen to me?
You wonder what uh, mishak shadrach and abednego thought when they're about to get thrown into the furnace of fire
They say god is able to deliver us, but if not
We still are not going to bow because they knew hey, there's a possibility he might not that's a little bit of doubt
Right, but you know what they did they put the shield of faith
They quenched all the fiery darts of the wicked one pun intended
And they went into the furnace anyways
And god delivered them
And look everyone has faith
But what we need to work on is increasing our faith
You know if you weigh 120 pounds spiritually speaking you could weigh 185
of muscle
By increasing your faith
How do you do that by exercising your faith? You like how I did that?
You got to exercise your faith you got to step out in faith you got to take risks
You got to put yourself in a position
Where you would have doubt but you still act upon and still do what god wants you to do in spite of that
Use your shield of faith and you know what that shield of faith ends up actually becoming like a weapon as well
Because you don't doubt
Okay
As we reach new levels and overcome new devils
We need to make sure we take up the shield of faith and last lastly
We need to make sure we have a clear mind. It says in verse 17 and take the helmet of salvation
And the sword of the spirit, which is the word of god, what is the helmet of salvation? Well, this is not referring to
Us being saved as far as our spirit being saved in context what I believe this is referring to when it talks about the helmet
of salvation
You know often you think a helm a physical helmet is used to protect you from things that would come from above
unawares
Right
So it would protect you put it on and it protects you from arrows or anything that would cause harm to you
It basically protects you from that which comes above and when I believe this is a reference to
The salvation is actually the redemption of our bodies
Because often in the bible we are told to be vigilant, right?
and more specifically
If you're to think about it in context of first corithian chapter four and five, we're not going to go into those scriptures
The last 75 days of great tribulation
They tell you lift up your heads for your redemption draw nigh
And the admonishment that you constantly see to those saints who are going through that great tribulation
Is that they need to make sure that they're vigilant that they're paying attention that they're awake
Okay, but you know what the helmet of salvation is not only vital at that point. It's vital today, too
to be a vigilant
Christian believer paying attention being aware having a clear mind
Making sure that you're not bogged down with the cares of this world the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things
Entering in that can choke the word of god and cause you to be unfruitful
You know, you got to make sure
That you're not entangled with the things of this with the cares of this world
Have a clear mind. We all have responsibilities. We all have trials but clear your mind
Make sure you're paying attention. This is how when we reach new levels
And when those devils come we can overcome them
And obviously the sword of the spirit is a given, you know, we got to take the word of god
We got to make sure we know the bible and know how to use it. So what's the sermon today? It's simply this
Hey first sunday a first works baptist church was great
The weekend was great people got saved. We had a great time is awesome. It's a new level. Amen
But there's new devils
You know, let's rejoice let's celebrate
celebrate high five daps
Hugs
Only between men and men women and women, right?
You know celebrate but then also recognize. Hey, man
New devils, huh?
new devils
Let's not be ignorant
Okay, the fight is not over yet
We got another lap coming up
And guess what? There's more hurdles
On that lap. Amen inspire heads on our board of prayer father. We thank you so much for your word
And thank you for this level that you helped us to reach lord
And thank you so much for thank you for the people here
But help us lord. I pray that you protect us place a hedge of protection about us
And when you so see fit to remove the hedge as you did with job
I pray that we be as job that we would hold fast our integrity
That we would say though. He slay me yet. Will I trust him?
And that we would pass with flying colors. I pray god that you'd help us to do so
And help us to get our core values intact help us to take the breastplate of righteousness
The shield of faith and the helmet of salvation the sword of the spirit help us to be prepared to preach the gospel
That we would have a spear in one hand and a shovel in the other
And be willing to work on one side and be willing to preach the gospel see people save on the other
And I pray god that you'd help us to do so continue to
Give our church a long and prosperous life here that we would honor and glorify you in all that we do
And in jesus name we pray. Amen