you
You
My heart
You
He's coming back to welcome me
You
By my savior
I am
In the glory
With
Oh
You
Burn it deep within me. Let your voice be heard
Millions grow in darkness in this day and hour
I will be your witness
Fill me with
Fire
Set my soul
Make my life a witness
Of thy saving power
Millions grow in darkness
Waiting for thy word
Set my soul
Give to me a passion as I seek to win
Help me not to falter
Reveal
Fill me with thy spirit
Let thy will prevail
Set my soul afire lord set my soul afire
Make my life a witness
Of thy saving power
Millions grow in darkness
Waiting for thy word
Set my soul afire lord set my soul afire
Set my soul afire
Lord in my daily life
Far too long i've wandered in this day of strife
I will be your witness
As you live in me
Set my soul afire lord set my soul afire
Make my life a witness
Of thy saving power
Millions grow in darkness waiting for thy word
Set my soul afire lord set my soul afire
Amen wonderful singing at this time. The ushers will come forth to collect the offering and you can turn in your bibles to isaiah 65
So
Good evening tonight. We're in isaiah chapter 65
isaiah chapter 65 in the bible reads
I'm sought of them that ask not for me. I am found of them that sought me
Not I said behold me behold me unto a nation that was not called by my name
I've spread on my hands all the day into a rebellious people which walketh in a way that was not good after their own thoughts
A people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face and sacrificed it in gardens and burneth incense upon altars of brick
Which remain among the graves and lodge in the monuments which eat swine's flesh and broth of abominable things is in their vessels
Which say stand by thyself come near not near unto me
For I am holier than now. These are a smoke in my nose a fire that burneth all the day behold
It is written before me. I will not keep silence but will recompense even recompense into their bosom
Your iniquities and the iniquities of your fathers together saith the lord which have burned incense upon the mountains and blasphemed me upon the hills
Therefore will I measure their former work into their bosom?
Thus saith the lord as the new wine is found in the cluster and once saith destroy not for a blessing is in it
So will I do for my servant's sake that I may not destroy them all
And it will bring forth a seed out of jacob and out of judah an inheritor of my mountains and mine elect shall inherit it
And my servant shall dwell there
And sharon shall be a fold of flocks and the valley of acor a place for the herds to lie down in
For my people that have sought me
But you are they that forsake the lord and forget my holy mountain and prepare a table for that troop
And that furnish the drink offering unto that number
Therefore I will number you to the sword and you shall all bow down to the slaughter
Because when I called you did not answer when I spake you did not hear
But did evil before mine eyes and did choose that wherein I delighted not
Therefore thus saith the lord god behold my servant shall eat but you shall be hungry behold
My servant shall drink but you shall be thirsty behold. My servant shall rejoice but you shall be ashamed
Behold, my servant shall sing for joy of heart, but you shall cry for sorrow of heart and shall howl for vexation of spirit
And you shall leave your name for a curse unto my chosen for the lord
God shall slay thee and call his servants by another name
That is he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in god of truth
In the god of truth and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the god of truth
Because the former troubles are forgotten and because they are hid from mine eyes for behold
I create a new heavens and a new earth and the former shall not be remembered nor come into mind
But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create for behold
I create jerusalem a rejoicing and her people a joy and I will create in jerusalem
And join my people and voice and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her nor the voice of crying
There shall be no more than an infant of days nor an old man that hath not filled his days
For the child shall die in hundred years old, but the sinner being 100 years old shall be a curse
And they shall build houses and inhabit them and they shall plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them
They shall not build in another inhabit
They shall not plant in another eat
For as the days of a tree are the days of my people and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands
They shall not labor in vain nor bring forth for trouble
But they are the seed of the blessed of the lord and their offspring with them
And it shall come to pass that before they call I will answer and while they are yet speaking I will hear
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock
And dust shall be the serpent's meat they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain sayeth the lord
Let's pray dear lord. Thank you for this church lord
Thank you for the people within it lord
And we thank you for pastor right now and we pray that you bless him and fill him with your spirit and give him boldness
As he preaches your word and I pray that we're edified by the preaching of your word lord
Bless the service and every aspect of it. We pray this all in jesus name. Amen. Amen
Okay, we're in isaiah 65 look down at your bibles in verse number one
It says I am sought of them that ask not of me. I am found of them that sought me not
I said behold me behold me unto a nation that was not called by my name
I've spread out my hands all the day until rebellious people which walketh in a way that was not good
After their own thoughts of people that provoketh me to anger continually to my face
That sacrifices in gardens and burneth incense upon altars of brick
Which remain among the graves and lodge in the monuments which eat swine's flesh and broth of abominable things in their vessels
Verse number five is our text verse. It says which say stand by thyself come not near to me for I am holier than thou
These are a smoke in my nose a fire that burneth all the day
And the time of my sermon this evening is people that annoy god
People that annoy god. Okay, and what i'm referring to specifically is the latter end of or excuse me verse number five where it says
Which say stand by thyself come not near me for i'm holier than thou
These are smoke in my nose
I want you to notice the phrasing there that says the people who are holier than thou
The people who say don't come near me the people who claim to have this holy disposition and holy outlook, you know
God says these are actually a smoke in my nose
And the reason he says that is because you know
It's it's essentially trying to communicate the fact that he's annoyed by it you think of the book, uh, the verse in proverbs chapter 10
Where it talks about
As vinegar to the teeth and a smoke to the eyes so was a slugger to them that sent him, right?
Essentially he's referring to the fact that you know a sluggard a lazy person will annoy his boss
You know the person who has the responsibility
The person who's dishing out
Distributing the responsibility and the job to do is going to be annoyed by a person who's just lazy
Who doesn't want to do anything?
It's like smoke to the eyes and as we see here in isaiah 65 is like smoke to the nose
For a person who is a holier than thou now, what does it mean to be holier than thou?
This is referring to a self-righteous arrogant person. This is a person who you know
Essentially puts himself out there as being a very spiritual person spiritually superior
But inwardly they're actually a really bad person. Okay. Now, let me just say this is that I believe that two
Sets of groups can be guilty of this particular act here. Number one obviously is the false prophet, right?
This is an individual who's just not saved
They you know are wicked people
They are you know, ravening wolves. They're false prophets
They they hate the lord and so they put out this disposition of being holy in order to deter suspicion
But then the other group I believe can be referring to save people
Now, what do you say? What do you mean by that? What i'm referring to is a person who's just spiritually immature
Okay, because sometimes spiritually immature people can have a holier than thou attitude
Can make themselves out to be spiritually superior and it's not because they're evil. It's not because they're wicked
They're just immature. You understand go to first corinthians chapter number three if you would first corinthians chapter three
And god is against both and both of them are annoying and let me just say this is that
The holier than thou individual is not only annoying to god. It's annoying to us as well
It's annoying to just normal people who just want to serve god
And and love the lord and win souls to christ and just live a normal christian life
When you have this element or this person this individual will come to you
It's like smoke to the nose just completely annoying
You just want to get away from that person you want to end that conversation as quick as possible
You're like, I don't really want to be around this person because they're annoying to be around
Why because they're very condescending and i'm going to give a couple of characteristics of a holier than thou
This evening but look at first corinthians chapter three
In verse number one, it says and I brethren could not speak unto you as unto spiritual
But as unto carnal even as unto babes in christ
So what do we see there?
We see the parallel is that a babe in christ is often synonymous with someone who is just carnal. Okay doesn't mean they're not saved
It doesn't mean that they're an unsaved wicked person. It just simply means that they haven't grown much in the lord
Okay, they're a baby in christ
He says in verse number two. I have fed you with milk and not with strong or not with me
For hit the two you were not able to bear it neither yet. Now are you able for ye are yet carnal?
For whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions
Are ye not carnal and walk as men?
So some of the characteristics or some of the attributes the actions of a babe in christ a person who's carnal
Is that they're envious they're always involved in strife
They're always trying to divide people
And he's saying there that you know, these these type of individuals are just walking as men
What does it mean when he says walking as men?
Well, what he's trying to communicate here is that you're just walking as a man absent of the spirit
You understand when he says you walk as men
He's essentially talking about the individual who's not walking in the new man, but rather walking in the old man
Which is something that christians can be guilty of right christians if you're not careful if we're not careful
We can often just walk in the flesh and then have a self-righteous
arrogant prideful arrogant attitude
Which is not something that that pleases god go with me if you would to matthew chapter 23
Matthew chapter 23, let me give you some characteristics
Of the holier than thou you say why preach this sermon?
Well, you know one of the reasons I want to preach this is because I want to make sure that we as a church
Is just a balanced church
That our church is not producing
You know holier than thou self-righteous arrogant little punks
Okay
You know because that's not a good testimony first of all to a lost and dying world
It's not a good testimony to other churches. It's not a good testimony to other christians. And the fact is you're just annoying
If you're holier than thou, you know, people are not going to be want to be around you
They're not going to respect what you have to say
They're not going to esteem you as being a godly person. You're just going to annoy the fire out of a bunch of people
Okay, because there's nothing attractive
There's nothing admirable. There's nothing admirable of a person who just thinks that they're better than everyone else spiritually
Now characteristic number one of a holier than thou number one is that
They deem themselves to be spiritually superior. Okay, they have a spiritually superior
Disposition. What does that mean? They're hyper spiritual, okay
They have this over-the-top excessive spiritual behavior
This is a common tactic intended to deter attention from their true intentions
Or the lack of their spiritual disciplines. So what they often do is they just kind of cake on the spirituality
So that's to make you think that they're like spiritual giants first and foremost that they really love the word of god
They just really love soul winning. They just they just really love righteousness
So in their attempt to try to convince you of that they go over the top on their
Spiritual attitude and then obviously they become hyper spiritual and in doing so they
They in a sense condemn other people for not being as spiritual as them. Okay, look at matthew 23 verse number five
It says but all their works
matthew 23 verse 5
Referring to the pharisee says it says but all their works they do
to be seen of the lord
No, it says to be seen of men
So what is the motive behind the hyper spirituality of the pharisees they just want you to see how spiritual they really are
Or how spiritual they look right how they think they are
They make broader phylacteries and enlarge the borders of their garments. I mean if you look at the jews today, for example
You know, their phylactery is referring to that stupid box they put on their forehead
You know what i'm talking about? They put this little band around their arm and they they make broader phylacteries
They have a box in their head that has the torah they have all those verses right here
Why because they want you to think that they're more spiritual than they what they really are you understand?
Whereas god never intended for the word of god to be in their forehead. He wanted it to be in their hearts
But they don't care what god wants. They just care about what you see
And they're more concerned about you make making sure that you see that they have the pentateuch
They have the word of god in their forehead so you can say wow look how spiritual this person really is
Why because there's they want to have a spiritually superior disposition before everyone else so as to not
You know call attention to their lack of spirituality
Or some nefarious agenda that they may have this is why the bible says in isaiah 65
Come not near me for I am holier than thou
Okay
Now one of the reasons, you know, one of the things that inspire this sermon
And i'll get into it in just a bit is you know, one of my pastor friends preached a sermon
Last week and he you know, he was under a lot of fire over a specific word that he said and this is the word
Nah, just kidding, you know
And you know people were just just killing him on on facebook and they're just kind of like just you know
Putting them down and I was rebuking a lot of these people who were getting on him because they were going over the top on
their condemnation
Okay, and i'll get into that later on
But I literally said, you know, you're being kind of being a holier than now and this is what this individual said
Well, i'd rather be a holier than now
And preach the righteousness of christ
Than have to deal with the filth of this world
And i'm like who in the world
Who?
Who actually knows the bible?
Would actually want to say i'd rather be a holier than that. What is he saying? I'd rather be just a self-righteous
Arrogant just portray myself to be a righteous person rather than actually be a righteous person
No one in their right mind who actually knows the bible would say i'm fine with that title
And the person who's fine with that title obviously doesn't know the bible either that or they're so blinded by their pride and arrogance
That they actually think it's a good thing
Why because they actually think that they are holier than you
Okay
Come not near me for i'm holier than now. Look at luke 18. If you would luke chapter 18, let's look at an example of this
Characteristics of a holier than now they seem to be spiritually superior. They put out this disposition that they're better than everyone else
This over-the-top excessive spiritual behavior look at luke chapter 18 verse number 10
It says here two men went up into the temple to pray the one a Pharisee and the other republican
Now right off the bat if you knew nothing of the history of israel
You would think oh man
The Pharisee is probably the righteous person because he's the religious leader the publican the tax collectors. These people are probably bad
But we see something different when we actually see what they're praying it says in verse 11 the Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself
God
I thank thee that I am not as these other men are
I mean talk about self-righteous, right?
This is basically what this guy told me i'm so glad that i'm just holier than everyone else
I'd rather be a holier than thou
Than these other people that's filtered this world, right?
I am thankful
I thank thee he's like i'm thanking you because i'm not like these other people these other men are extortioners
unjust
Adulters and then you know this publican's praying and he's like especially like this guy right here
Or even as this publican
So he's like condemning the guy who's lit
It's like, you know, they hear you say, you know you condemning someone for the sin that you've committed
It's like a dirt telling another piece of dirt that they're a piece of dirt
Verse 12
I fast twice in a week. Oh, wow
I get ties of all that I possess
So what is he doing? He's pontificating and making him try to self-see more spiritually, you know superior not before people but before god
I mean talk about being blind
Folks when we go to god in prayer
No one pontificates before god in prayer because prayer just the very act of prayer is what humility
It's recognizing
You know, we're nothing we need you lord. I can't do anything without you
I can do all things to christ which strengthens me, but I can't do anything in and of myself
Prayer requires humility on your part because god resisted the proud and giveth grace into the humble
Well, this isn't a humble prayer my friends
Who cares if you fast twice in a week and?
You know, I give ties of all that I possess verse 13 the publican standing afar off
Would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven but smote upon his breast saying god be merciful to me a sinner
I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other
For everyone that exalted themselves shall be abased and he that humblest himself shall be exalted
So obviously the publican was far more righteous in the eyes of god
Than the pharisee because the pharisee was simply a self-righteous arrogant individual
He was a holier than now and I would dare say that god was annoyed
At the pharisee he was irritated and annoyed at this individual for thinking
He was so much more righteous than this individual, but here's the thing the publican is going to go to heaven
The pharisee is going to split hell wide open
So it's like this guy's going to split hell wide open he's going to go to the lowest parts of the earth for being a false
For being a false prophet
Yet the publican who didn't fast twice in a week
You know the publican who you know, we don't know maybe he didn't give tithes of all that he possessed he saved
Okay
So what these holier than that was like to do is they belittle others?
And speak to them in a condescending manner now, how would this look like today? Well?
You know, I I don't say I wouldn't say there's examples in our church, but let me just throw some potential examples
Out there of something that you know, this can happen. Let's say, you know, let's say you do a good amount of soul
winning in our church
Amen, you know you go so many five days out of the week. I mean, that's a lot of soul winning
And let's say there's other people which I would say probably 99 of our church
Or I would say 90 of our church probably doesn't go so winning five days out of the week, but that's okay
A lot of them go one day out of the week two days out of the week three days out of the week, you know
two at the most
It would be wrong
For the one who goes five days out of the week
To go to the person who goes one day out of the week and say why don't you go five?
Why don't you go twice as I do and give tithes of all that you possess like I do
You know you start condesc- you start speaking to them in a condescending manner because they're not doing as much as you are doing
That is a holier than thou attitude and that annoys god, but let me say this it annoys the church, too
Okay, when you speak to someone you say well, you know, oh you oh you don't go so many on sunday afternoon
Oh, you don't go so many on saturday or you're not gonna go with us to go preach to god
Oh, you're not gonna. Oh, why why i'll tell you why none of your business
And by the way, no one in here has to give a reason to anybody why they don't go so when it's a certain day
Okay, don't think it's it, you know, if if someone comes to you and says oh why not, you know
Unless of course, it's your spiritual. It's your it's your team leader who you have a good relationship with
You know and you're comfortable, but if some individual just comes to you and says oh, why not? Well, what's what's the problem?
Oh, are you going to a barbecue?
Oh
Well, yeah, you want to come no, I have meat that you know, not of
My meat is to do the will of him that sammy to finish his work
So
To that to that person i'd be like well i'm gonna go eat ribs, I mean it's like i'm gonna go eat some
All right, whatever cool. You're still invited to come if you want to come or whatever, you know
But this is what i'm talking about where people, you know, they they condemn others
You know in a way that tries to make them look more spiritually superior
Okay
And that is wrong. That is prideful. That's arrogance
That is a holier than thou attitude and that's something that we want to avoid as christians go to luke chapter 20
luke chapter 20 if you would
Which leads me to my next point is that holier than now's have glib and excessive over-the-top spiritual terms
Okay
What I mean, they speak in a way
That you want to leave this impression that they just really know the bible
Right or that they're just really just excessively spiritual
You know, they use all these biblical terms which by the way, obviously we want to use biblical terms
But you know you can tell the person who wants to use biblical terms
Because it's biblical to do and the other person who wants to use biblical terms because they want you to know
That they know these biblical terms
You understand and that is a holier than thou. Okay
And you say why do they do that? Well, because they want you to think that they just know the bible that well
But folks we don't need to go around telling people how much bible we know
Let's discuss the bible. We'll know how much bible we know
All right
Let's just have regular conversations about the word of god. Let's talk about doctrine
Let's talk about end times bible prophecy and then we'll know
You know you understand and you don't need to go around trying to prove to everyone that you know the bible because at the end
Of the day everyone is at a different spiritual level
You understand everyone's it
Grows at a different rate different spiritual level
And you know, we never want to have this attitude that oh you didn't know this
You didn't know what the bible says in matthew 24 that it's after the tribulation
Well, maybe they haven't gotten that far maybe they just got saved and they're still learning the word of god instead of talking down on them
For not knowing that why don't you just kindly teach them what the bible says about that?
Because you know what? Guess what? There's a time when you didn't know that doctrine either
Right
There is a time when you didn't know that doctrine and the last thing you want to do
Is condemn someone for being as ignorant as you were at one point, right?
Okay, look at luke chapter 20
And verse 19, it says the chief priests and scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him and they feared the people
For they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them
Look what it says here and they watched him and sent forth spies
Which should feign themselves just men they're faking themselves to be
Save people righteous men that they might take hold of his word
So that they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor and they ask them saying master
We know that thou sayest and teaches rightly neither accepts as thou the person of any but teaches the way of god truly
What are they doing? They're just caking on the flattery
Right red flag number one right there
Any time you hear flattery which is insincere
praise
Insincere compliments and it's just kind of caked on that's a red flag number one
Okay, what are they doing? What are they trying to cover up? Just be sincere
But often how this looks like today
Is you know people you you go out there preaching the gospel?
You're with the sony partner and you say, you know who serve believes may be saved and they're just like whoa believeth
You know, I noticed uh when you're at the door
You said believes
I just want to correct you on that real quick
It's actually believeth
Okay, so I just want to let you know that
What is that that's this excessive spiritual talk where it's just like it's the same thing
And if it wasn't the same thing, then why don't we just all you why don't we just talk king james language like 24 7 or something?
It's as if like if you remove the th from believe then all of a sudden just it just completely removes
You know the meaning of what that's supposed to mean, okay
It's nonsense, but this is this over the top
Type of talk that people have sometimes when they're holier than else. Okay
Go to matthew chapter 6 matthew chapter 6
Matthew chapter number six
So characteristic number one is that they have a spiritually superior disposition
They have glib and excessive over-the-top spiritual terms. Now, let me just give you an extreme example of this
Because I come from the old ifb
And this is a this was
Really common in old ifb churches
Brother how's it going? Praise the lord jesus
Whoa
Hallelujah, praise god. I mean if you really want to know what this looks like just go to a pentecostal church
Go to spanish pentecostal church
Hallelujah, amen. Urbano. They're just like constantly
The sentence begins with a hallelujah and ends with a hallelujah
It begins with the praise the lord and ends with an amen. Praise. Jesus all these things
And it's just like, you know, you say oh, what do you got against hallelujah? Obviously, I have nothing against it
You're missing the point here
The point is it's excessive
Okay, where you're just like hey brother
sister in christ
Beloved brethren grace be unto you and peace from god our father and our lord jesus christ, how art thou
And i'm not joking people have talked like that in times past
Talked like that in times past and and here's the thing like when I was, you know, um, a babe in christ
I didn't know anything about flattery. I didn't know anything about this
But I knew there was something wrong when someone would do this to me without even knowing what exactly it was
But I just didn't know how to really pinpoint it or what to do about it because I remember there's times when
In in when I used to go to an old ife church
There's a particular individual
Individual
Who always wanted me to take certain kids home for they were they were part of the christian school or the bus ministry
And you know after sunday night, he would try to recruit a bunch of people
To take those kids home, even though he was the one responsible for doing that
And and you know, which is not a problem. He would ask people. Hey, can you take someone home or whatever?
But when he would come to me, he would see me from like across the room and be like brother
Brother
How's it going how's bible? Oh, that's great brother you're reading the bible. I know you are I know you are
Hey, uh, I was wondering, you know, and then he hits you with the
And but here's the thing is like I I didn't know it was flatter because I didn't really I wasn't really taught what that was
But what I did know is that when I hear that brother
You know from afar?
In my mind i'm like just cut it just tell me what you want
Because I knew what that meant is that he wanted something from me
He didn't care if I read my bible, right? He didn't care how I was going with me in bible college
He didn't care if I was failing spiritually or if I was in sin, he just cared if I could take those kids home
He wanted something from me. And so he would have this
excessive just praising type of uh personality
And words that would try to cake on to kind of deflect from his true intention that he wanted me to take the kids home
He really didn't care about those other things. Okay
Now that's an extreme example of that and you know, this is other extreme examples like joe osteen
I mean his whole ministry is just based off of flattery
like god's never mad at you and you know, you're
Say this prayer and do this and only positive only type sermons. That's like that excessive
Praise and spiritual terms so as to deflect from the fact that he's a false prophet
Okay
Look at matthew chapter 6
Now we laugh at that but you know that could be common even in our church, okay, it's like you know
I don't know. Maybe there's there's certain things that that certain words that we use in church
And maybe there's like a biblical parallel to that or biblical
Word for that particular term and people maybe give you a hard time if you don't use it or something
You know, it's like oh, why don't you call your wife beloved instead?
That's more of a biblical term to use
Or you know, oh, here are my kids all kids. I think you should call them seed
instead
That's your seed
But it didn't exist
It exists my friends it's out there
Okay
And so, you know and look obviously the bible says seed
You know, it talks about it uses these terms and there's nothing wrong with necessarily using those terms
But obviously when someone is just caking that on they're trying to give you a portrayal
They're trying to they're trying to make themselves look more spiritual than they really are
Okay, let me say this most people who do these things often have a really bad spiritual life behind the closet
Or in the closet, okay behind closed doors when they're away from everyone else
When no one's watching them, they typically don't behave as spiritual as they do when they're in front of everyone else
Okay, look at matthew chapter 6
The bible warns us of this it says in verse 1 take heed that you do not your alms before men to be seen of them
Otherwise you have no reward of your father, which is in heaven. Alms is referring to
You know just kind of helping the poor, okay?
And and what this is referring to is like, you know when you give a donation for example to like a
Person who is in need, you know, god doesn't want us to publicize that you understand
He wants us for it to be a private matter. This isn't referring to tithing or offerings
This is just referring to if you're helping someone in need
God doesn't want you to blow a trumpet. It says in verse number two
Therefore when thou doest thine arms do not sound a trumpet before thee
As the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets. Yeah, I wonder who he's talking about
That they may have glory of men barely I say to you they have their reward now, you know who's notorious for this
people on social media
You always see on social media like people with like a hundred dollar bill
Giving it to some dude on the street or something like that
Because they want people to see their works
But when they'll do is that excuse me well when they'll do ist alms let not thy left hand know what thy right hand do it
Obviously that's impossible. He's using hyperbole here
He's not saying like shh, you know, he's just like
He's saying that you should be so discreet in your giving
It'll almost seem as though your right hand doesn't know what your left hand is doing
That's how discreet you should be
about your um givings, okay
He says in verse number four that thine arms may be in secret and thy father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee
openly
and when thou prayest
Thou should not praise the hypocrites thou should not be as the hypocrites are for they love to pray standing in the synagogues
And in the corner of the streets that they may be seen of men verily I say to you they have their reward
So they say look when you pray
Don't be like these people who just stand on the corners just lifting up their holy hands
Because they want people to see how eloquent they pray
But when thou prayest enter into thy closet when thou has shut thy door pray to the father
Which is in secret thy father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly
But when you pray use not vain repetition as the heathen do for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking now
This reminds me of another example
Okay
And I remember in times past i've known people
That you know, they'll pray in an open setting and they just pray for a really long time
And they'll pray like a really just eloquent prayer
It's just like, you know, the god of abraham isaac and jacob
and you know
Just pray all these these using this king james terms and everything in front of everyone
And again when I was a babe in christ that that would get me I was like, wow, this person's like spiritual
This is like this person really knows how to get a hold of god
But then that same person two weeks later wasn't even in church
Let alone bible. First of all, it wasn't even in bible college, but not even in church
And it just kind of threw him back like whoa
Isn't this the person that like pray these really deep prayers and stuff like that? But now I know why okay?
Go to matthew chapter 23, if you would matthew chapter 23
So the bible places a heavy emphasis on doing things in secret
So the majorly spiritual disciplines that we do such as reading the bible or praying
The large amounts that we do of it should be done in secret not in public
That's how you know when we pray for the service
After the service they're not long prayers
But i've known people who pray
For a really long time they'll weep as they pray, you know jack treeber's one of them
Oh god, he's like
And he just wants he wants people to think that he's more spiritual than he really is when all he really wants is just more
money
The reason he's weeping so hard is to pull on your heartstrings so you give so he can buy another street
So you can get another fountain more plasma screens and more ivory pianos or whatever
That's why he does that. I mean literally during I can't remember if it was like during coven
He posted a picture of himself out in front of his church on his knees with the space to the ground praying
Oh someone just so happened to walk by
With a really nice camera
And it was just like oh our pastor's praying. Let me just take a picture of him right here
And then like they posted it or something. It's like
It's like
I'm not what I wanted to know like how many takes do they have for that? You know what I mean?
He's like did you get my good side, you know, and i'm telling you he's on his knees on his face
And it's just like the background is just perfectly lit
It's like what in the world and I guarantee you there's plenty of people like wow, what a man of god
You know, this is what a spiritual guy, you know, but folks come on
Come on
And obviously social media is notorious for this, you know, you have people like playing pranks on people
And it's just like people believe that these pranks are actually taking place, but the camera guy is like right there
he's just like
And the guy's all
But people believe it
So jack tree was simply taking advantage
Of the ignorance of people on social media. They really think that he's like man. He even prays nice
He even prays like with with you know
With the church behind him and everything and by the way, it says in the corners of the streets
He was in the corner of the street
He was literally in the corner of his church street doing that
Apparently he forgot to read matthew six before he went out there to do that
Yeah
Like, you know, sometimes you read the bible and like and you're like this is kind of like over the time
Are there really people that yeah, they're really people who do this stuff like this
I mean the reason the bible is saying is because people have done it in times past
And they will continue to do it even thereafter
I mean you hear people teach doctrines that the bible's completely clearly against and it's just like man the bible refutes that clearly
Look at matthew 23
So
Matthew 23 verse 14
The point that we're on here is that they give glib and excessive over-the-top spiritual terms matthew 23 verse 14 says
Won't you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for you devour widows houses and for pretense make long prayer?
Therefore you shall receive the greater damnation
Won't you scribes and pharisees hypocrites?
For you can pass sea and land to make one proselyte and when he is made you make him twofold more
The child of hell than yourselves. What is he saying?
You know a lot of these things they do to be seen of men
So they're willing to compass sea and land not to reach a bunch of proselytes
But just to make one just so they can say they can make one
But what why do they do that because of the fact that they want to have this excessive spiritual behavior
It's like oh we're willing to compass sea and land just to make one process just to build one house
Just to dig one well or whatever
It's nonsense. Okay, you're still in matthew 23. What's another?
Characteristic of a holier-than-thou they strain at a gnat and they swallow a camel, right?
What does that mean? They make a big deal?
out of the smallest issues
Okay
And they don't make a big deal. They make a small deal of the big issues
It says in verse 23 won't you scribes and pharisees hypocrites for you pay tithe and mint anise and cumin?
And have omitted the weightier matters of the law judgment mercy and faith
These ought you to have done and not to leave the other undone you blind guides would strain at a gnat and swallow a camel
He's saying you put more emphasis on these things, but you don't put enough emphasis on these you should do both
But these are the weightier matters of the law
Now go to matthew chapter 7 if you would matthew chapter 7
Now let me talk about something that happened last week, okay
And that's you know, my friend pastor shelley of seth dennis baptist church he preaches he preached a sermon
And in the sermon he was talking about
You know using certain terms that social media uses and just kind of discouraging using those types of terms
And one of these terms that he was talking about is the phrase. Let's go brandon. Oops. I cussed, you know
Let's go brand. How many know what i'm talking about? Let's go brandon, right?
And he's talking about this phrase, but then he he basically
Tells everyone
What that phrase means?
Okay, and he actually says the word
Okay
Now let me just tell you my position as a pastor
Of this church
Is that obviously, you know, if you're to ask me personally and i'm just going to tell you my personal opinion
I wouldn't use language like that behind a pulpit
While i'm preaching just because I feel it's inappropriate to use
Now, can I point to a verse in the bible that says you shouldn't?
No, I can't I can point to verses that you can make an application to
Okay
But I can't say well the bible says thou shall not say the f word behind the pulpit or something. It's not there
Okay
And and here's the thing when he said it he wasn't like f joe biden
I hate this president for you know
raising the gas prices
It was under a controlled setting
Where he's simply explaining what let's go brandon means
Now again, if I was preaching that sermon, I probably wouldn't say that word
But he said it
You know, obviously it's not I wouldn't consider it to be appropriate
But here's the thing after he said it a bunch of people jumped on him on social media
Condemned the fire out of him
And then he apologized afterwards
He apologized
Put a public statement out apologizing and people kept at him even thereafter
Now that's wicked folks. Okay
And you know, i'm looking through these comments and i'm like, oh, this is not about the cuss word
Yeah
This ain't about the cuss word because he issued an apology
And scripture teaches that when a person repents they get right we move on right, but they're like he needs to step down
I can't believe this pastor would say something like this
Just all types of like just just condemning him and throwing him under the bus and let me just say this
As his friend, he doesn't need that right now first and foremost
Amen
Pastor jonathan. Shelly needs our support
He needs our prayers. He needs for us to stand up and say we stand with pastor. Shelly instead of as baptist church
You know and if he chose to use that word and you know that's between him and his church
Doesn't disqualify him because he didn't do it in a moment of passion or anger
He's explaining what the word means and people are making it seem as though he's just like always cussing like a sailor or something like that
Like that's all he does or something. First of all, he's simply defining what that phrase means
Okay, it wasn't a moment of passion. He didn't do it out of anger
It wasn't he just like slipped and said the f-word. He's like, oops. Sorry. Oh, man. What was I thinking?
Kind of thing because he's so angry or whatever
It was controlled but even then he realized it was wrong and he apologized for but yet people still want to hound him
Condemn him
Tell me he needs to step down
And I'll never and this one guy's like i'll never let my children ever listen to that sermon
It's like how many children do you have? Well, I don't really have children but uh
When I do though
Straining at a gnat and swallowing a camel, okay
Now do I think he should have issued an apology? I'll be honest with you. I don't care
Because I know pastor Shelley. He's a good friend of mine
I know his intentions are not evil
And nowhere in the bible does it say that if a pastor drops an f-bomb to define what another word means is he's disqualified
People are putting that up there on the pedestal along with like divorce or something like that
What's wrong with people? Well, let me just say this
The reason they're doing that is not because they have something against the f-word it's because they have something against Shelley
the s-word
You know, they're they're they have something against him so they're just waiting for him
To just do something bad in their eyes so they can just openly condemn him
And and but folks this is so wicked. It's so evil and let me explain why you know when we went through our persecution
There is some and i'm gonna say there's there's like a bastard pastor out there
By the name of Michael Johnson
And he is a bastard because I don't think that guy saved there. I said it
He got up listen to me he got up and condemned me for the bombing
And said, oh, you know, yeah god's hands off of pastor mahia
Because that's why his church got bombed and god allowed the sodomites to come after his church because he must not be right with god
wicked
We get persecuted our church gets blown up and that's the conclusion that he comes to
What does it show it shows me that he was just waiting for something to happen so he can point a finger at me for something
What's the same deal pastor Shelley?
Okay
and and shame on these individuals who would
Go on social media and condemn him while his church is being protested at this moment
Okay
While he's being threatened while his church building is being vandalized
While they're just you know, threatening to take his life and and all that stuff and yet they find you like, you know
This is an appropriate time to do this
And then even after he issues the apology is just like not good enough. We're going to keep going after you wicked
Look at matthew seven
Verse number one says judge not that you be not judged for with what judgment you judge you shall be judged
And with what measure you meet it shall be measured to you again
And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consider it's not the beam that is in thine own eye
So what does god condemn he condemns when you condemn someone for a sin that either you're guilty of or when you're guilty of something
That's worse
You know, you're trying to take the uh
The uh
It says here in verse number four
Or verse three you're beholding the moat that is in thy brother's eye
You're trying to take the moat out but in like manner you are you actually have a beam in your eye
He said what are you referring to? Well, you know, there's another pastor that actually got up on social media as well
And just wanted to chime in
This hater of the new i of b
That I called out last year
For being a little busybody
And he gets up and he's just he's just like attacking pastor shelly
And he's just condemning pastor shelly
For for for this word or whatever saying all this nonsense
But mind you let me let me remind you of something this guy
First and foremost is guilty of siding with and supporting false prophets
openly
And obviously i'm talking about mcmurtry here
He's with keith gomez who's a repent of your sins false prophet
Joe major who is a heretic
Okay, and these other pastors who are a bunch of divisive?
Pastors, you know who who you know, we had that whole thing with them last year, you know, he sides with these people
But more than that, he just sides with people who just believe in a repenting sins gospel like that. What pastor shifflet a guy
Repent your sins guy
And let me just remind you of something okay lest you forget
God actually hates it more when you side with people who preach a false gospel than someone who says the f-word
And I don't agree I don't think people should be saying it especially in the context of a sermon
But folks if you really want to weigh the balances here and see which one's worse the false prophet who's preaching the false gospel is worse
You defending a false prophet and their false message and their false gospel is worse
So let me put it to you in biblical terms. You got yourself a beam in your eye
Trying to remove the mode that by the way pastor shelley already removed, right?
And it looks to me that the beam's still there though
And he's not the only one there's other people who are rebuking
pastor shelley
Right and this is what I think, you know
You're rebuking pastor shelley for something that's subjective and yes, it is subjective, right? Yeah, okay
And you can think that it's sinful to say that word and you know what more power to you
And i'm not against that at all. If you think it's inappropriate and sinful to say that word you hold yourself to that standard
There's nothing wrong with that
I'll support you in that what I don't support is when you're trying to impose a standard upon someone else though
Okay
But you know, what's funny is, you know people over here rebuking pastor shelley for something that he's already apologized for
And something that's subjective not clearly laid out in the bible
But you know, there's something isn't it that is clearly laid out in the bible and that is rebuke not an elder
So the bible actually says to not rebuke an elder it's sinful to rebuke an elder
You get up on social media and rebuke the elder after he's already apologized
And you just keep at it that's actually wicked that's actually sinful that is a holier than thou attitude
And by the way in isaiah 65
These same people are saying come not near me. I'm holier than thou. We're committing all kinds of abominations in the previous verses
Worshipping false gods eating pork when they weren't supposed to
But yet they're the ones who say oh come not near me. I'm holier than thou because I don't say the f-word
Don't say the f-word
Let me just explain something to you, okay
I'm, not by any means
Justifying anybody in our church to just go around in our church and just start dropping f-bombs either
I need to make that clear make that disclaimer like oh cool pastor. He is cool with it
The bible teaches discretion and appropriateness
Okay, and look folks the reason I don't think it's it's good to just go around just drop an
F-bombs is because of the fact that you know, it just shows you probably don't read a whole lot
Don't have an extended vocabulary, but you know
If someone stubs their toe outside or something like that and like drops it
I'm, not gonna be like, oh you can't come back to church
Come not near me
Like we don't you know, you know people make mistakes
and look
I never want to say that word behind the pulpit when i'm preaching
But i'm not gonna say i'll never do it because you just never know sometimes
I'm a human being
I make mistakes. Did you know I make mistakes, too?
Did you know that I can be in a moment of heated passion?
And maybe say something that I would regret later on because i'm a human being right?
Okay
And let me just say this if I have worked to ever say that hypothetically I expect everyone to forgive me here when I ask for forgiveness
Okay, just put that out there and you know what i'm saying?
Well, i'm gonna send this sermon to you when you don't want to forgive me
I I do and you know what if you say that word in front of me and you're just like i'm sorry. I'm not gonna be like
awkward
I'll be like, well, you know, it slips sometimes it happens
You know what i'm not fine with is just people just and by the way, there's words in the bible for example
Like hell damn
bastard piss whore
Yeah
These are offensive words in the bible, but you know what again the principle of appropriateness still applies
Because even though the words of the lord are pure words. We're not going to go around during a sunday morning service
And be like bastard this and bastard that and may that false prophet drink his own piss and eat his own dung
Because it wouldn't be appropriate to do that. That's why
We're gonna be like, yeah this whore I was preaching this gospel and she was a whore that wouldn't be appropriate
Okay
But you know some people like to do that
Because they want to show how extreme they are
How zealous they are
How much they're okay with these words to the point where they're just willing to use them all the time folks
Obviously in moderation these things should be used but appropriate needs to be used look folks telling a false prophet to go to hell a-okay
You know, but you know, we should have some discretion that on a sunday morning when there's visitors here, you know
Like yeah, I told that false prophet to go to hell. Hey, man
Hopefully he does go to hell today and you know the hell with it. You know, you're just kind of like
It's not appropriate
Discretion my friends right and i'm not in any way saying that pastor. Shelly didn't have discretion
He was simply letting people know what that phrase meant
And here's the hypocrisy and these old ifb chumps
I guarantee you some of them had said let's go brandon
Yeah, yeah, but that's not really the word yeah, but that's what it means
I guarantee some of these old ifb chumps had said screw
And you know what? It means the same thing. Well, yeah, but the the f word is just more, you know
It just sounds worse, but it means the same thing
right
And here's the thing, okay, let's just flip it on you then
Okay
Because you know those people in the new ifb myself included
We say faggot
Amen
But you know what did you know there's people in the old ifb who would consider that to be an inappropriate word
They actually have a higher standard in that regard and say we don't use that word. You should use the word sodomite
Because that's a biblical term not faggot and to that I say well, you know, that's fine for you
For me, I shall continue to use the word
Because it's not clearly laid out in the bible
Because a lot of these words are subjective
You understand what i'm saying here, right?
So someone in a different church can actually use that same argument that you're supposedly using against master Shelley against you
You say the word faggot faggot's not in the bible
And you know faggots who some people is inappropriate to use I don't agree with them
But some people may deem that as being inappropriate
That's why they only stick with homosexual or they stick with sodomite or reprobate and they're fine with those terms
They're not fine with our f word
You understand what i'm saying
You're like, well, what does the world think then?
Well, first of all, who cares what the world thinks but secondly, you know, the world deems faggot as being an inappropriate word
I mean you can drop f bombs all day long before the world and they don't care but if you drop the other f bomb
They care about that one
So the world's not necessarily a good standard to go by
But they're rebuking pastor Shelley for this even though and and this is why it's so wicked because of the fact that he's already apologized for
it
And let me just remind everyone here if someone sins in our church and they're openly rebuked or they get it, right
And you start pointing out you start condemning that person for that sin of the past you're wicked and you will be rebuked for that
Immediately and if that guy was in our church doing that I would this sermon would be if he sat right here
I'd preach to his face right now
And let him know that i'm talking about him
Because it's not right to do it's not right to do for for any christian to condemn another christian who's already gotten it
Right, but number two to rebuke a pastor
It's not right. But again, it's not because he has such a problem with this particular
expletive
It's because he has a problem pastor Shelley
That's at the end of the day. That's what it's all about
Okay
and you know
It's almost good that he came out and said something like that because it kind of brings out the worst in people and you
You see who?
Is a holier than thou because i'm I want to know who the holier than thou are
Because I don't I don't want to be near them
And by the way, according to this verse they don't want to be near me anyways
Stand not near me for i'm holier than thou
They're smoking in god's nose and they're smoking our nose they're annoying and and amen
Go to matthew chapter 15
So
And i'll be honest with you, you know it it it upsets me when when people get on
You know my friends or people in the new ifb
And you know the you know, there's certain pastors out there
Who just they stay away from us up until something like this comes up, right? Yeah
Then they start poking their little heads into the threads, huh?
Start making their little comments
So it shows you what they're all about
What are they all about they're all about making sure that they're present when they want to condemn us
But folks like I said before the sins that they've committed are far more grievous if they really want to compare
Because it's far more grievous
To support a false prophet preaching a false gospel and defend him. Well, he doesn't really believe in repenting your sins
That's what he said in his book. If he didn't believe it. Why did he print it in a book?
Yeah
It's not like he just said it he put it in a book
And then he sells it
He wants people to buy the book so they can see that. He says he's repenting your sins to be saved
I mean folks and when you're defending people like that, it's just like well, that's actually more grievous
And let me make something very clear i'm all for people having standards in our church
Standards are important amen
And one of the reasons standards are important is because to a certain extent they protect our convictions
Okay, they help us so that we you know, we don't get close to that line where we're violating god's word
But let me say this standards are different from other from people from different people some people have higher standards than others
And it's never right listen to this
It's never right to take a personal standard a personal preference
And try to impose it upon someone else because at that point you're teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
Right
That's what it is. And you know what who's guilty of that the old fbe was notorious for them
They would undermine doctrine
Which god said thou shall not or thou shalt
And they just uplift their own standards
And again, i'm not against standards standards are important. However
You can't put them on the same pedestal as doctrine
Look what the bible says in matthew 15 verse 5 it says but ye say whosoever shall say
To his father or his mother it is a gift by whatsoever that mightest be profited by me
And honor not his father or his mother he shall be free
Thus have you made the commandment of god of none effect by your tradition
You hypocrites well did his eyes prophesy of you saying this people draw nine to me with their mouth and honoring me with their lips
But their heart is far from me, but in vain do you do worship me
teaching for doctrines the commandments of men
And that's exactly what these guys are doing
Okay, and by the way, I don't even think pastor shelly's even phased by this
You know what? I mean?
I don't believe he is. I don't think he should be phased by it because it's a bunch of nobodies making a big deal
about a somebody
the reason i'm even preaching this is because
This could be a temptation for people maybe even in our church
To have this type of holier than thou attitude this disposition that's actually wicked
Okay, and please don't mistake what i'm saying. I'm not saying don't be zealous for the lord
But you know what you need to have a zeal that's what according to knowledge
A zeal that is according to knowledge my friends
I mean one of the guys literally said, you know, he's condemning pastor shelly and then someone asked i'm like
Have you heard the sermon and like no, I haven't heard the sermon yet
Then what are you even talking about, you know he that answer at the manner before he here with it
It's foolishness and folly into that's right
So, who are you to even talk
Go to luke chapter 11
What's another characteristic of a holier than thou let me just breeze through some of these because i'm already out of time
And I and I preached for like an hour and a half last week on alcohol. Was that alcohol?
Yeah, I was out. All right, and you know, I just don't want to keep doing that. Okay, so
I'm in a bad mood now and i'm just kidding
Characteristics of holier than thou they constantly wait for people to do wrong so they can point it out
Yeah
This is a characteristic of a holier than thou. They're just waiting for you to say the wrong thing
Do the wrong thing dress the wrong way
Think the wrong thing
They're just waiting for you to do something so they can just point it out
That is wicked my friends
Look at verse 52. Woe to you lawyers for you have taken away the key of knowledge
You entered not in yourselves and them that were entering in ye hindered
Verse 53 and he said these things unto them the scribes and the pharisees began
And as he said these things into them the scribes and the pharisees began to urge him vehemently and to provoke him to speak of many
things
Laying wait for him and seeking to catch something out of his mouth that they might accuse him
It's not like that. They were coming to jesus because they really wanted to learn the word of god
They're just waiting for him to say the wrong thing
And by the way, this would be wicked if you come to church with this type of attitude, right?
Like i'm just coming to church because I want to hear past me here just slip up on something, you know
Oh, he's defending pastor shelly about the f4. I'm going to come in every day until pastor pastor mijia
Just slips up and says the f42
I just can't wait till he slips up and says something that's not doctrinal or just not correct. That's a wicked attitude to have
And that's an attitude of a holier than thou that's not an individual who sincerely wants the truth
That's an individual who just wants to accuse you of wrongdoing, right?
And you know what if you put me under a microscope and you just you just examine me
Monday through sunday 24 hours a day. You're gonna have some stuff to work with because i'm a human being right
And I make mistakes
Just like anybody else here
No one's perfect, but folks we should give each other the benefit of the doubt
And never approach one another with an attitude of oh, I can't wait to see mori slip up
He thinks he's just
Team leader I could be a better team leader than him wait till which I just find him doing something wrong
I just can't wait to tell pastor mijia and just rat him out. That's a wrong attitude to have folks
Oh you lisas
the evangelist
I do more sowing than him
I just can't wait till I see him slip. That's a wrong wicked attitude to have
And it reminds me, you know, not to not to beat a dead horse, but why not I mean, you know
Inspiring philosophy that guy, you know with the whole alcohol thing
You know when I when I responded because when he made a video he didn't expect for me to respond to him
And yours truly, you know, i'm i'm a little witty in my videos, you know, I kind of like to
You know like elijah just kind of you know
You know poke a little fun and I don't think he was expecting that and so, you know
I got on this video and I said too easy. Here's my response
And he responded by saying oh you fell for my trap
Ha ha ha he's just like he told me like he laid a trap for me and I fell for it hook line and sinker
And i'm so done and I was just like out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaking
I'm like interesting choice of words
Like I mean, what's the worst you can do like make another video?
But I sent him this verse jeremiah 5 26 for among my people are found wicked men
People are found wicked men they lay weight as he that said it snares they set a trap to catch men
So I told him interesting choice of words and I sent them this verse
Because it's weird
Righteous people don't set traps for people
Unless they want to point something out
Unless they unless they have an ulterior motive to make you look bad
You understand?
You know it should be that when we come to church
We give each and every one of ourselves here the benefit of the doubt
We don't look for flaws to point out and when there is a flaw if there is a sin that's you know that can be fixed
You know, we forgive and we forget we move on
Okay
But this is what wicked people do and you know the people who are condemning pastor Shelley right now
They they probably have not liked them for a long time
I'll just be honest with you. Okay
And let's say let's say this the tables are turning and I said something like that
You know, there might be someone in our church
Who would just wait for that opportunity
It might be I mean i'm not saying there is but you know
There's a possibility and if there's no one in our church, I guarantee you there's someone out there
Who hates pastor mohia?
They hate me. They hate my beard. They they
Hate my hair. Why does he always part his hair?
he always wears that same suit and
Tells those jokes and
I just always talks about keto and power. I guarantee there's people who watch me
Consistently that probably hate my guts. I'm telling you it's out there
And they're not watching the sermons because they want to learn something they're watching because they're just hoping I just slip up and say something
That's what they're hoping for. It's wicked folks
Our attitude should be
that we warn
Them that are unruly we comfort the feeble-minded we support the weak, but we're patient towards all men that should be the attitude
Point number five go with me if you would to go to matthew chapter seven
Number five they place a greater emphasis on the outward appearance. I'm not going to get into that
But uh often what they'll do is they're more concerned with what you see
Than what what you don't see, you know
They're more concerned with making sure that they have a good reputation before you because they're trying to hide something
That they don't want you to see and then lastly is it here's the last point
Is that they often end up being some of the most wicked people?
Not all the time because there could be people even in our church babes in christ who have these characteristics
If they're holier than thou and all they need is an admonishment
Maybe two sometimes four or five
And you know why people laugh in our church it's because everyone knows what i'm talking about
Everyone is just like yup. I experienced it this week with someone there's someone in our church
When people laugh in our church, it's not always because i'm funny
It's because they're thinking about an example in our church
Just to give you a heads up on that
You know, it's you know, it's it's common amongst new christians to kind of behave this way
And and here's my instruction to the church, okay?
is that when you
Run into a person like this in our church who's not a wicked person. They're just a babe in christ. Just reprove them
Just rebuke them
I mean that's what needs to be done open rebuke is better than secret love, right?
You don't want them to to to kind of like keep those habits and and stay that way so they need correction
So don't say well, you know, maybe someone else will take care you make sure you're just on the spot
Tell them this is a wrong attitude for you to have what you just said there is a self-righteous statement
And this is how people can take it and i'm trying to help you so that you don't do it again
And if they do it again, then you said boy, I told you
You didn't listen
Okay, because you're arrogant you're prideful. You're not self-aware
Of the things that you're saying and you're gonna offend people in our church. And in fact, you've already offended me
You just let them have it
Okay, so that's kind of rough. Yeah, but you know, I'd rather be rough with someone
So they can just correct it
Then just let them keep going and then they just wax worse and then they offend a bunch of people in our church
They're not bad people. They just need to grow
But sometimes it's not that they need to grow. Sometimes people are just really wicked
Sometimes people just can't help themselves because they're very wicked
Look at the bible says in matthew 715 beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they're ravening wolves
I mean we know this verse
Like the back of our hands, but folks sometimes we forget that there's actually individuals who want to look like christians
They talk like christians, but they're doing it because they have an ulterior motive. They're bad people. They're wicked people
Okay, and the vast majority of the time that the bible talks about holier than thou's it's about the pharisees
And guess what? The pharisees weren't saved
They just were not saved and in fact in isaiah 65
He's talking to his people in the beginning of the chapter he says I was sought of them that sought me not referring to the gentiles
Because he's talking about the fact that israel becomes so prideful and arrogant and just full of themselves
That they strayed from the lord. Okay, and that's why he has sought himself a new people
But the point that i'm trying to make tonight is the fact that you know, we need to be aware of these characteristics
And we need to be aware that these people exist
And we need to be aware of the of the red flags when we see them
And not be paranoid about it, but you know, just recognize when we see it
Because it's it's a wicked attitude for obviously for evil people to happen. It's a wicked attitude for christians to have
Okay, and we don't want to have that type of attitude
Don't be like these people make sure that we stay balanced appropriate
Discreet and when we make mistakes and someone owns up to it forgive them and move on
Forgive them and move on
Because you would want them to do the same to you
Let's pray father. We thank you so much for your word. We're so thankful for
Christians who were patient with us lord when we fell short. I pray god that
Uh, you continue to bless our church bless pastor shelly and steadfast baptist church as they continue to go through their persecution lord
Make them strong
Protect them may your hand be upon them lord remind them that you've sent your your celestial angels lord to protect them
And I pray god that you continue to bless us as we go on our way we love you
We thank you. Pray these things in jesus name. Amen
Please turn your song books to song number 87
Song number 87 there as our last song just when I need him most
Song number 87 all together nice and strong on that first verse
Just when I need him jesus is near
Just when I falter
Just when I hear
Ready to help me ready to cheer
Just when I need him most
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer just when I need him most
Just when I need him jesus is true
Never forsaking all the way through
Giving for
You
Just when I need him most
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer just when I need him most
Just when I need him jesus is strong
Wearing my burdens all the hay long
For all my sorrow
Giving a song
Just when I need him most
Just when I need him
Just when I need him most
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer just when I need him most
Just when I need him he is my all
Answering when upon him I call
Tenderly watching lest I should fall
Just when I need him
Most
Just when I need him
Jesus is near to comfort and cheer just when I need him
Amen wonderful singing you're dismissed
You