Thank you for the souls that were saved today. I ask now that you please bless Pastor Mahanzi
He preaches your word and bless us with attentiveness as we listen. In Jesus name I pray. Amen
All right, we're in 1st Samuel chapter 16 look down at your Bibles at verse number 6
1st Samuel chapter 16 verse number 6 says and it came to pass
When they were come that he looked on Eliab and said surely the Lord's anointed is before him
the Lord said unto Samuel look now look not on his countenance or on the height of stature because I have refused him for
The Lord seeth not as man seeth for man looketh on the outward appearance
But the Lord looketh on the heart
Then Jesse called Abinadab and made him pass before Samuel and he said neither hath the Lord chosen this
Then Jesse made Shema to pass by and he said neither had the Lord chosen this
Again just he made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel and Samuel said unto Jesse the Lord hath not chosen these
And Samuel said unto Jesse are here all thy children
and he said there remaineth yet the youngest and behold he keepeth the sheep and
Samuel said unto Jesse sent and fetch him for we will not sit down till he come hither and he sent and brought him in
Now he was ruddy and with all of a beautiful countenance and goodly to look to and the Lord said arise
Anoint him for this is he of course that's referring to
David now the title of the sermon this evening is things are not always what they seem things are not always what?
They seem we see in first Samuel chapter 16 at this point King Saul had gone to a point
Where he had rejected the word of the Lord for so long that basically God said I'm gonna reject you from being King and the kingdom
Of God shall be taken from you and given to a neighbor of thine that is better than thou
Obviously God had already had the foreknowledge that the next king was gonna be King David and at this point King David is a young
Man, in fact, the Bible says that he's a youth he's ruddy and he's not necessarily a mature adult so to speak though
he was mature and
We see that Samuel goes and he seeks out the next king to anoint while King Saul is in office
He goes and he goes to the sons of Jesse and he goes through all of the sons seven eight nine of them
Right and as he's going through them, you know, they're saying this has to be the guy right here
This has to be the son. They're like, that's not the one I've refused him. They go to the next one
They say well this must be the one he said that's not him
I refused him even to the point where his dad basically said well
There's pretty much no one left and he asks him. Do you have any more sons?
And he tells them well, there's one more but you know, he's out keeping the sheep
He brings him out
he ends up being the king and then the rest is history from there and that's what we see is the anointing of
David and by the way
This is where we find the famous verse in verse 7 where it says for the Lord seeth not as man seeth
For man looketh on the outward appearance
But the Lord looketh on the heart now before I get into the crux of what the sermon is about
I want to talk about this verse for just a minute
This verse verse number seven has been grossly misapplied today, right?
To this notion that we shouldn't judge anyone isn't that what they typically would say they'll often couple
Judge not lest he be judged even though the Bible doesn't say that
Says judge not that he be not judged and they'll often say judge not that he be not judge
You know because God looks on the heart, right and what they're basically saying is hey
You shouldn't judge people because you don't know their heart
You know, you don't know what they were who they really are inside
But you know what if they were actually to stop and think about what they're saying
It's basically they're they're basically condemning the people that they're talking about
Because of the fact that you know what if they really knew what was in the heart of man, right?
If they really knew what was in the heart of man, they would understand they're actually a lot more wicked than most people think
Okay
The manner in which they try to use it they basically said don't judge you don't know their heart
but here's the thing, you know, the Bible teaches us that we can know man's heart and
In fact, there is a proven way to know what is in the heart of man
The Bible tells us out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh
So one sure way you could know what's in a man's heart is based upon the words that have come out of his mouth
Because what's coming out of his mouth is simply a manifestation of things that he's been meditating upon
Thinking about you know things that are in his mind
And so when people talk about only if they only talk about money, you know, that's all they talk about
Well, you know what's in that person's heart
If a pastor gets up on Sunday morning Sunday night Thursday night Wednesday night and all they talk about is money
Guess what's in that person's heart money
if a person gets up and all they talk about is
You know the possessions of this world and and the things that they own and you know all these these temporal possessions
That's what's in their heart, right? Hey if a person in the church gets up and just all they talk about is false doctrine
They can't seem to get anything right, you know, there's something wicked in that person's heart or they're just miss greatly misguided
But that's what's in their heart
So this is a proven way that we can tell what's in a person's heart is based upon the words that they say
That's why I like talking to people
In our church, right?
To see what's in your heart
You know, I like to get to know people talk to people just to see what they say, you know, and look folks
You like well, I'm not gonna talk to you
After this, I'm no longer talking to you. Well, what do you have to hide?
You
Know if we are innocent if we're not involved in anything nefarious or wicked we shouldn't have anything to hide
We can just openly speak
Openly talk not have to hide anything because we don't have anything nefarious in our agenda you understand
The Bible actually tells us in Matthew 15 verse 18
But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart and they defile the man for out of the heart
Proceed evil thoughts murders adulteries fornications thefts false witness
Blasphemies these are the things which defile a man but to eat with unwashing hands defileth
Not a man you see before a person commits murder before a person commits adultery before a person commits fornication
Before a person steals or lies or blasphemies it starts in the heart
Okay
So what first Samuel 16 is actually teaching is
That things are just not always what they appear to be or what you think they are
David in the eyes of his father was the least likely to be selected as king
He didn't even consider him
He brought all of his sons except for him and unless you know
Except Samuel would have just asked do you have any more?
He probably wouldn't have called him out because he didn't think he was a likely candidate to be the king
Why because he probably didn't look the part in fact the Bible says that he was a youth and he was ruddy
Whereas the previous King that came before him the Bible tells us that he was shoulders
Above everyone else higher than any of the people the Bible says so Saul was a tall person
He had a physical prowess about himself. He looked like a king. He looked like a leader
He looked like a ruler but in comparison to David, you know, David didn't really look like that
So, what do they do God's basically tell him hey you judge the outward appearance
But I'm judging on the heart and based upon this man's heart. He's a man. That's after mine own heart
that's basically what he's saying because he tells Samuel I've
Chosen me a man after mine own heart and you're right
We can't see the heart but God can and you know, sometimes we're out not to judge on the appearance
Because of the fact that the heart could be something completely different than what's being manifested outward in the flesh, right?
That's what we see now go to Isaiah chapter 53 things are not always what they seem
David's father failed to realize
that
You know just because someone looks a certain way doesn't mean that's actually who they are inside
You know what and we live in a society today that places a great emphasis on appearance
Right on how you look how well your your your your body is structured your face is structured
You know, this is the guy right whereas God could care less about those things
In fact, he considers the body to be corrupt
okay, you know and
At the end of the day that which is a great price according to the Bible is the inward man
That's what's a great price not how you know ugly a person is or you know
How they look or how short they are or how fat they are or how whatever you fill in the blank
According to the Bible, it's the inward man that counts
That's what God says is more precious than anything else is the inward man
Though the outward man Paris the Bible says the inward man is renewed day by day
But unfortunately Christians today focus more on the outward appearance than they do on the inward
They seek to strengthen the outward man to have an appearance
Whereas God says you need to strengthen the inward man
You know be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might the Bible tells us
Saul rejected the counsel of the Lord. Whereas David was a man after God's own heart
Saul had a proud of physical prowess about himself. Whereas David didn't look like anything special
But you know what his heart was special because he loved the Lord. Okay
Now I can spend the entire sermons showing the parallels between David and Jesus and I've done that in multiple sermons
But I just want to show you one thing because you know it to a certain extent
David was somewhat rejected right because he wasn't even considered
For the kingdom, you know to be the king
Look at Isaiah 53 verse 2 for he shall grow up before him as a tender plant and as a root out of a dry
Ground he hath no form nor comeliness and when we shall see him
There is no beauty that we should desire him later on it talks about not being esteemed
So that's the same thing that happened with David. They didn't really esteem him as being a leader
They didn't desire for him to be the king
But God did desire that now this in Isaiah 53 is referring to Jesus Christ himself go to Matthew chapter 8
I'm going to show you something here Matthew chapter number 8 if you would
Things are not always what they seem now
The first thing I want to point out when it comes to this concept of things not always being what they seem is that you?
Know what Jesus is not always what people think he is
Okay, it's not always what it seems
There is a grave misconception of who Jesus Christ is today in 2020
And people have this perception. They have this image of Jesus. It's not biblical
and
You know you have your liberal churches and your fun liberal fun centers
Purple light type churches and they paint Jesus as being just this lovable only compassionate
Absent of wrath no hell good devil type of Jesus
I'm and I'm being I'm being facetious, but at the same time. I'm being serious
Whether it's just Jesus they kind of mix up Jesus with Gandhi
right
People literally mix up Jesus with Gandhi all the time
They think Jesus is like Gandhi's brother or something you know this this person who's just all for peace
No war are you kidding me?
God is a god of war the Bible says
God is a god of I came not to bring peace, but a sword that comes from the mouth of Jesus
Now
The Bible tells us that he came into his own his own received them now
So they had this perception of who the who the Messiah was right?
I mean even his own disciples people who believed in Christ they thought he was going to come as a king
To establish his kingdom, but things are not really what they seem
Because that his first coming did he come to establish an earthly kingdom
No, he came to seek it to save that which is lost and people had this perception
Well, he's gonna be like David. You know he's gonna be like Solomon and just he's just gonna rule the kingdom
But you know what according to Isaiah 53 when we shall see him there is no beauty that we should desire him
So when people physically saw Jesus Christ on this earth there was nothing about him that people thought wow he's beautiful
He's handsome. This guy has like he's he must be the Christ
nothing at all
His own people from his own country rejected him. They mocked him they crucified him
Right because they didn't you know he didn't fit there the description of what they thought him about
Okay, I'm gonna give you an example of this look at Matthew 8 verse 29
This is the story of the man who is possessed with the devil or devil
Excuse me says in verse 29 says and behold they cried out saying what have we to do with thee Jesus thou son of God?
I thought come hither to torment us before the time and there was a good way off from them a herd of many swine-feeding
So the devil's we saw them saying if thou cast us out suffer us to God
So the devil's we saw them saying if thou cast us out suffer us to go away into the herd of swine and
He said unto them go and when they were come out
He just let him go run freely and just eat grass of the field and took care of the the pigs and the swine and they
lived happily ever after false
They went into the herd of swine and behold the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and
perished in the waters
This is not the sermon
But this is from the sermon from earlier
There's a lot of animals that died here
They ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the waters because swine can't swim
He just killed a bunch of swine just to save one person
You know why because human beings are better than animals
They are of more value than any sparrow, okay
I've shown this to a lot of vegans and they're just like you miss interpreting that
So is this symbolic for something or like can you explain to me the symbolism and how does this?
Folks, I know there's symbology in the Bible. This is not an instance of that this literally happened. Okay, and
And you think like Jesus cried for this for the swine that went into like
Sentient beings
These poor sentient beings they just drowned I would have wept just because I remember like so many hot dogs and pork and bacon
They could have come from that
So much food. They were just they just perished you think he cared about all that swine that just drowned violently in the sea. No
He rejoiced over the fact that this man's life was saved. Okay, because that what is important to God, let's continue rain
Let's get back on track here
And then I kept them fled and went their ways into the city and told everything and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils
so
The people were keeping the swine. They're just like wow. This is a an amazing miracle that took place
You know this guy who you know
Society knew was possessed with devils is
Now as it says in other parts, he was not sitting in clothed and in his right mind
Okay, whereas in times past he was among the graves. He was cutting himself
He was acting just possessed right because he was and now he's sitting clothed and in his right mind a bunch of swine
Just died. They just ran violently down a steep and they drowned in the sea. I mean, this is a great exploit that took place
Okay, so the people who own the swine they're just like whoa
We got to go tell everyone about this because this guy's back to normal
Look at verse 34 and behold the whole city came out to meet Jesus
What do they mean? They're just like man. I want to meet this guy
He saved the possessed he somehow caused the devil's to go into the swine. He did this great exploit. I want to meet him
and
When they saw him they besought him that he would depart out of their coast
Not in the world
Yes, we did. Oh
Get out of here, man
Get out of here. Can you just leave our coast, please?
This is a fulfillment of Isaiah 53
There's nothing about him that they should desire him
So when they came to him, they just he didn't fulfill their expectation in other words as far as his appearance is concerned
You see what I'm saying?
Things are not always what they seem
They see Jesus and even though they see the man sitting in clothing in his right mind
The miracle was done. The pigs are drowning, you know, the people are testifying. They want to meet him when they see him
Oh, yeah, I guess
This is the guy I could get out of here. I thought you were like Jesus, you know
Everything we've heard about you
Instead they just tell him to leave their coasts
Now, let me just say this is that this happened 2,000 years ago, but let me be quite frank with you. It's still happening today
You know because you have people talk about Jesus all the time
But when people actually get to know the Jesus of the Bible
They want him to depart out of their coast
They want nothing to do with him. Why because things are not always what they seem
They have a certain expectation of what Jesus should be how he should look what he should teach
How loving he should be?
What kind of compassion he should have
His nature they have it all fixed in
But once you open up the Bible and you say well, here's the Jesus that you're asking about
They're like, oh no have that Bible depart out of my coast
That's not my Jesus
That's not how Jesus wouldn't do that
Jesus wouldn't say that
And it's just like well, this is his word
Jesus is the Word of God
This is his Bible
The Bible says certain Jesus said this search the scriptures for in them
You think you have eternal life and they always testify of me
This is not a misinterpretation of who Jesus Christ is. This is who Jesus Christ is
You understand
but today you have
Churches all around the world specifically, of course
We're referring to the United States where Jesus is being preached from the pulpit
But let's be quite honest if we were to really show who Jesus is from the Bible
They would say depart out of my coast. I want nothing to do with
The Bible goes on to say in Isaiah 53 verse 3
It says he is despised and rejected of men a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief and we hit as it were our faces
From him he was despised and we esteemed him
Not surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows yet. We did esteem him stricken smitten of God and
afflicted
You know today you have people who literally constantly put words in Jesus mouth
Jesus wouldn't say that he said it
What are you talking about?
We talk about like the death penalty for sodomites the death penalty for people who commit adultery
Jesus would never do that
Like what Bible you're reading?
Well
God would never do something. How can God you know?
Just are you trying to tell me that God would just violently take away an animal's life
I'm not trying to tell you that the Bible says that has thousands of examples of that
you need to come to grips with who Jesus really is and
Don't make up a Jesus of your imagination
He's a figment of your imagination you have an expectation of Jesus. That's not reality folks
And I'm not talking about the people here. We have the right perception of Jesus
Why because we have the right Bible we have the right teaching we know who Jesus is
Okay, but there's people out there. They literally will confuse Jesus with Gandhi
Love the sinner hate the sin
All right, and they'll literally say Jesus I mean I literally have people tell me Jesus said love the sinner hate the sin
All right
How many have people tell you that as if Jesus said that you will never find that that must be in John 23?
verse 1
Look it up
That must be in Revelation 23
Not gonna find it that must be in Matthew 29
Mark 17
Okay, that must be in some extra biblical revelation because it doesn't exist. Jesus never said that that was a pervert named Gandhi
Who would sleep in a bed with naked women? Oh
You don't want to talk about that now do you
Don't compare Jesus with Gandhi and look folks if you want to say love the sinner hate the sin, that's fine
But don't say that Jesus said it
Be honest with yourself do your research and recognize Gandhi is the one who made that statement not Jesus
Things are not always what they seem
but it's okay because you know what the Jesus of Bible is way better than the Jesus that people are portrayed for
decades on end and hundreds of years
This false Jesus is the seizure Borgia
Okay
they make Jesus in
Their own image and they constantly move the goalposts and de-emphasize what he emphasizes, you know
It's foreign to them the biblical teachings are foreign to him and look
I mean and I'm so sick and tired of seeing it on social media
You see on social media people posting pictures of Jesus and that's supposed to make an image of God
but let's let's just say let's just
Say okay, then maybe you could make an image of Jesus what you can't because the Bible says you clearly can't
Why would you choose Caesar Borgia?
They choose this tall white complected
Brown hair long flowing brown hair like the dude just got like out of a saloon salon
I was gonna say a saloon that too actually both
This Pantene Pro-V
guy
He's tall thin and limp-wristed. Yeah, and when I mean limp-wristed, he's literally like
He has blue eyes in those paintings
And I'm thinking myself like do you know how Middle Eastern people look?
You
Know how people look from the Middle East not like that
I mean, these are the same people that said the Jews are God's chosen people
Even though they look Polish and they have red hair, right?
It's just like you know, how real Israelites used to look like. I mean they were it's the Middle East
They're under the Sun. They're dark
This guy looks like he's from, you know, I don't know Spain or Europe or something
Caesar Borgia
Okay
But this is in there you see this on I see this on Instagram all the time and often post
Verses and they'll have Jesus there and just like cut that faggoty hair off
That guy has long hair
That's sinful according to the Bible folks. Oh
Jesus wouldn't talk like that. No, you know what? You're absolutely right. He wouldn't talk like that
He just he walks the walk actually instead of saying faggoty he just burns all the homos in Genesis 19
Which is exactly what he did
How can you say such a thing?
I
Could read it for you
It's in the Bible
But things are not always what they see now, right?
Where people think well, oh man. Well, this is the Jesus that I thought this is always who Jesus was. No
Jesus is in the Bible folks who he is his nature his divine his divinity his compassion his wrath
It's all intertwined here in the Word of God
And we need to make sure that we don't get duped by the Jesus of mainstream Christianity
Okay, I know this is offensive to some people but look folks. This is this is fact
Okay
Things are not always what they seem and often people have this perception because they have preconceived ideas that were instilled by
Mainstream Christianity that doesn't use the King James Bible. They don't read the Word of God
They base their theology off of feelings and images
And by the way, we need to read the Bible entirely not selectively
Right
People are that well, that's Old Testament. Yeah, I know Old Testament is great
Love the Old Testament
If the Old Testament was completely done away with I mean, why does it make up a large percentage of our Bible?
Why did God choose for it to be a large percentage of the Word of God if it just has no relevance to us today?
Jesus said he's the same forevermore. Amen same yesterday today and forevermore
So the Jesus of the Old Testament is the Jesus of the New Testament the Jesus of the Old Testament
Okay does not change
You know if Jesus were to walk into the vast majority of churches today
The pastors and the congregants would probably like thoroughfit
They would not like some of his preaching
You
Know because he preached the Word of God and he would you know, Jesus ripped face
Jesus rips face. He teaches doctrine. I mean the prophets
He's not preaching like the prophets the prophets preach like him
You understand that so how can that be if he came way after the prophets because they had the Spirit of Christ upon them
That's why
The only reason the prophets were so bold in their preaching what the reason they were so abrasive
It's because they had a Spirit of God upon them folks
Things are not always what they seem now, here's the unfortunate thing. Okay, because when you think about Jesus, you know
The Jesus of the Bible is obviously a lot different than the Jesus of mainstream Christianity
but you know a lot of people will look at for example like a Joel Osteen and
Think wow
Godly man, I
Know you don't think that but I guarantee I promise you there's people out there to think that in fact look at his church service
Thousands upon thousands of people who think that okay, you know, I wouldn't send my dog to a Joel Osteen service
Okay, and there's false prophets out there
Who looked apart but things are not always what they seem
Go to Matthew chapter 23
I'll read you from 2nd Corinthians 11 13 says for such are false apostles
deceitful workers
Transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ and no marvel for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light
Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness
Whose end shall be according to their works
So what we see is that Satan when he seeks to have an agenda of deception
He mixes it in with a little bit of truth now
How does that look how does that look like on a physical scale or in the physical realm?
Okay. Well, basically they make them look like a Christian, right?
They make false prophets look like Christians. That's why the Bible even talks about wolves in sheep's clothing
so they have an appearance as
Of a sheep, but inwardly they're ravening wolves. Look at Matthew 23 verse 27
Won't you scribes and Pharisees hypocrites for you're like unto whited sepulchres
Which indeed appear beautiful outward?
You know, they just have a beautiful casket
But are within full of dead men's bones and of all uncleanness even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men
but within you're full of hypocrisy and
Iniquity, you know what? I don't care what he looks like. What does he say?
What is he teaching I don't care if he says he's an independent fundamental Baptist
Peter Ruckman said he was an independent fundamental Baptist
Peter Ruckman is a wicked person who taught a lot a lot of false doctrine. I
Don't care if a sleuter says he's an independent fundamental Baptist the guy is not saved
You
Know they might have the outward appearance and look like a Baptist and yea even carry a King James Bible
But at the end of the day, it doesn't matter what they look like. Let's see what they believe
You understand because things are not always what they seem
The Bible says in Matthew 7 15 beware of false prophets which come to you in sheep's clothing
But inwardly they are ravening wolves the Bible tells us
So what I'm trying to get us to understand here is that we need to make sure
That we never fall into this mold this way of thinking that because this is the way it's always looked that it's right
We need to always filter everything through the Bible and sometimes we as Christians
We have preconceived ideas and nothing can ever be questioned that nothing could ever be changed
but here's the thing what doesn't change is the Bible and
that's what we need to compare it to you know, and
Unfortunately, you have Christians who say well, this is what I've always believed therefore I will never change
And they think that's an honorable thing to do. I mean, it sounds honorable on the surface. I'm never gonna change
I'm never gonna change. I'm never gonna change. This is what I've always believed, but that's not biblical folks
The Bible literally says you have to renew your mind
Transform your mind you have to change
Change is often good if it's changed for the better
The
Attitude that we should have is this well, you know what? I'm not a man given to change
But if I'm wrong, I need to change
But there's literally people who you show them from the Bible what the Bible says and they see and they'll say I'm still not gonna change
though and
Is that honorable? No, that's called pride
This is like man. I gotta admit that I'm wrong
Now I have to admit that this entire time
I believe something wrong and now I need to change what I believe folks
if you just let go of that pride you get something called humility you get something called grace and
It's actually far more honorable for a person to admit that they're wrong and get it, right
Then to for everyone know that you're wrong including yourself and not get it right at that point. You look like an idiot
Okay
Things are not always what they seem
Now let's switch gears here what about sin
You know when you think about sin, obviously, we know what the Bible says about sin, but sin can often be
deceptive as well the Bible actually talks about the pleasures of
sin and
often when sin comes or
Temptation comes it comes in a different form in order to entice you but things are not always what they seem
And that's how we got to understand we have to understand go to Proverbs chapter 20 if you would
Proverbs chapter 20, you know, it's important that we as Christians even as a church that we're constantly talking about overcoming sin. Amen
You know keeping our lives clean making sure that we are good repenters of sin that we're keeping the church clean
Not just physically but spiritually as well
okay, we're cleaning up our lives and
Here's the thing. I'm gonna teach some very basic doctrine right now
But this is something that often people forget. Okay when it comes to sin
The more you sin
The more you don't get it right the more you actually begin to justify your sin
Understand so the more you sin and you don't get it right
the more you actually begin to justify your sin and then it becomes normalized in your life and
Then the end result of that because the wages of sin is what death
What ends up happenings you suffer the consequences of that sin and by that time, it's just too late
You
Become desensitized to your sin because you don't get it right and folks
Let me just say this we are never gonna stop sinning
Right. We're sinners. No one's perfect
But here's the thing that doesn't mean that we can just continue in sin that grace may abound
we need to make sure we get sin out of our lives and
Here is the temptation sometimes for Christians who are heavily involved in the ministry
Heavily involved in their church is what they'll do is they'll justify their sin by the service they have towards God
Well, you know, yeah, I'm involved in this, but I'm a good soul in the bow. I
Do this, but you know, I'm like five people to the Lord this week. I know how to preach the gospel
I know the Bible I'm post trip. I
Don't like the Jews and all these things, you know
I don't like homos and you begin to justify your sin based upon the things that you believe and do
But you know what the Bible talks about the armor of God including the armor of righteousness the breastplate of righteousness and
The breastplate of righteousness is referring to righteous living folks
We don't you got to make sure that we as Christians we keep sin out of our lives and
You keep it in check on a daily basis. Don't use your service for God as a justification why it's okay for you to sin
Okay. Oh
Weed here and there never hurt anybody
Smoking here and there and drinking here and there and you know doing a little this here and there I serve God I
go to church
folks
deception
And look things are not at surface value. There may seem correct
but things are not always what they seem and
That sin grabs a clutch grabs a hold a stronghold in your life. It's gonna eventually destroy your
Let me say this folks. Let me just remind us of what type of church we're in
The type of church we're in is that if you're involved in drunkenness, you will get excommunicated out of the church
What is drunkenness when you are not sober via?
alcohol weed
crack heroin
Mind altering drugs you sniff glue. I
Consider that to be not sober
Well, it's glue, you know, I got a lot of projects I do at home and every once in a while
I just kind of whiff it up a little bit and
Sin is not always what it seems
Because sin according to the Bible it tells us it's pleasurable. It's not like sin is like not fun sin according to the Bible's pleasurable
But what does the Bible tell us in Proverbs 20 verse 17 bread of deceit is sweet to a man
Bread of deceit is sweet. It says tastes good. Hold on a second
But afterwards his mouth shall be filled with gravel
You bite into that bread. Oh, man. This is sweet, but you start chewing. You're just like oh, this is gross
It's like yeah
Things are not always what they seem, huh?
You know you smoke weed you drink alcohol. Oh, I'm having so much fun until you black out and get raped
All things are not always what they seem, huh?
You know you take some mind-altering drug, oh we're having so much fun. Yeah until you just fry your brain lose your mind
And you become a lifelong idiot with holes in his brain because you did shrooms
Shrooms
Puts holes in your brain folks. Oh, but it's just hanging out with my friends. Yeah, but folks the wages of sin is death
You know oh, but you know I got I'm hanging out with this person
You know it's just my girlfriend, and we just we made a mistake, and we're we
Fornicated you know we did we did that and and you know, but you know we love each other
Well folks first of all if you're in our church, and you're involved in fornication
Come come talk to me after the service. I need to get I need to talk to you
You cannot be in our church and be involved in fornication
Okay, according to first Corinthians chapter 5 fornication is a sin
That is that will get you excommunicated out of the church now if you didn't know that okay? Well now you do now you know
Will you be merciful yes, but now you know
So now what's expected is that you get that right either you separate from your partner that you're fornicating with or
You get married
right
But sin is not always what it seems we need to recognize that we need to make sin look exceeding sinful and
Don't let pet sins get him get a stronghold in your life
You know and don't allow your work and your service for the Lord to overshadow your sins either
To make an excuse of why oh, this is okay, because you know I do this
I saw when I'm part of a soul winning team
You know I do great works for God God's hand is on me. I'll be just fine doesn't work that way guys
I don't respect their people
We need to make sure that we as Christians are confessing our sins. We're getting it right. We're departing from evil
We're cleansing our lives. We're sanctifying ourselves on a daily basis, okay?
The Bible tells us in Romans 6 21 what fruit had he then in those things were of year now ashamed
For the end of those things is death
But now being made free from sin and become servants to God you have your fruit unto holiness and the end everlasting life
For the wages of sin is death
But the gift of God is eternal life to Jesus Christ our Lord go to Luke chapter 14 excuse me Luke chapter 14
Things are not always what they seem how about this the Christian life is not always what it seems
Some people tell you hey become a Christian once you become a Christian it's gonna be a okay
Roses and daisies a bed of roses nothing bad will ever happen lies lies lies lies and more lies
Now look you get saved
It's it's only up from here
But
That's not to say that as you're making your way up
You're not gonna suffer some some tribulation
You're gonna go through difficulty in fact. I hate to break it to you sometimes
You go through the same difficulty that unsaved people go through as well
Sometimes you suffer the same consequences the unsaved people suffer as well
Sometimes you suffer the same misfortunes that unsaved people suffer as well because that's just life
The Christian life is not what it seems sometimes
Oh, I'm a Christian now, so now everything's gonna be fine. My wife's gonna. Love me my husband's gonna
Love me my children are gonna respect me. I'm just gonna succeed and nothing ever bad is gonna happen wrong
It's not what it seems sometimes bad things happen to good people in fact it happens a lot
It's part of the Christian life now don't let that deter you
From living the Christian life and being faithful to God
Why because I'd rather go through trials and difficulties with God than without God
right
I'd rather
Go through difficulties and tribulations and trials while I'm reading my Bible
Well, I'm preaching the Word of God while I'm winning people to Christ while I'm serving the Lord
Then have to go through difficulties and trials not doing those things
Why because the the Christian who goes through trials, and they're not involved. They're not serving the Lord
They're wondering man am I being punished
Like it's God gonna strike me down
Do I even have God's protection on me whereas the person who served the Lord? They're like you know God's protecting me
I know he's with me. I'm just going through a trial
But don't fool yourself into thinking that because you're a Christian nothing bad is ever gonna happen to you. It will happen to you
Look let me just say this okay
We
Talk about we often talk about persecution because that's the tribulation right and
Often the the the mind said that even those in the new IFB have is like oh, we're gonna suffer tribulation
We're gonna suffer persecution at the hands of the sodomites
You know and everyone always prepares for that like I remember literally when we first started the church
You know Garrett Kirsch way who's who's a reprobate he he was like literally like trying to scare us the entire time
He's just like oh, yeah. He doesn't have a bunch of reprobates in here
Self-fulfilled prophecy by the way because he was the first one
But he was he would say he goes you guys are gonna have all kinds of sodomites
And it I don't know what he was trying to accomplish
You know cuz I was just thinking myself well
I guess I'm just gonna have to get some of my gangster buddies to come like on the first day
To kind of just like fight them if that happens cuz I've never really been involved in something like that. You know we're
Where you're in a church, and then sodomites come like are they gonna like break through the door?
We're gonna have to get down like how does that work?
You know, but I remember there's a guy who used to go to our church
And I told him I said hey first day. We might have some sodomites
So you know this is what you got to do
okay, cuz I can't do it cuz I'm gonna be preaching so I need you to pay attention if they come this is what you
Do and literally reach the work at this warehouse, and and he was like the bouncer
So he was a cute literally go around you guys remember
He would literally go around and just pick up the workers and just like toss him to the side
He's just like pick him up and toss me
He's like I gotta get ready you know I gotta get ready for that persecution in case there's some sodom
I gotta pick him up and throw him out
That's literally by the way no sodomites have ever shown up to our church
Okay
That might change, but I don't think it will I don't believe any sodomite will ever
Step foot in our church
Without us doing something about it. I think a lot of sodomites are actually scared of our church and rightfully so
you know
But we had this thing because of Garrett cursory of course there
You know on the first day you're gonna have a bunch of sodomites and all these things you know
but you know what persecutions have actually come in a different form and
This is what a wise pastor recently has told me okay. He said he said brother Mejia
You we often think that the trial comes we often think we can we can predict the kind of tribulations. We're going to experience
Like I already know what I'm gonna go through. I already know what the trials gonna be he says it never works out that way
We're never able to predict
The trial that comes our way we think we can it's like well. It's just sodomites
Not necessarily
Sometimes there's a curveball and it comes in a different form it blindsides you and
That's what that's the trial that you look if we can predict the trials that we can prepare for them to that
You know custom fit custom fitted for that trial and just deal with it, but here's the thing
There's no learning that takes place with that
When we go through something that we've never experienced like a death in the family for example
you know as a
Sickness something that just completely takes you off guard you're forced to be in a position where you're gonna learn something from that
But here's the thing a lot of people they go through trials like that
And they just fall away why?
Because things are not always what they seem they thought that when they became a Christian they start serving the Lord
Nothing bad is ever gonna happen folks bad things will happen I
know good people
great Christians who have lost their children and
For parents that's almost unimaginable I
Don't like to imagine that but there's good people who have lost it. I mean good pastors
I think a pastor Wilkerson for example from First Baptist Church of Hammond. He lived down the street from my house. I
Know him he knows me. I actually recently just saw him at a airport a couple months ago
But I remember he lost his 17 year old son in a car accident
I
Just life-taking not because he was involved in sin that they're a godly family you guys you guys remember him
Lost his son, and I remember both our church and his church wondering like why?
Do you think they would have expected something like that?
No, because sometimes
Difficulties come in different forms in different shapes in different sizes
look what it says in Luke 14 verse 26 if any man come to me and hate not his father and
Mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters. Yea his own life
Also, he cannot be my disciple and this whoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple
For which of you intending to build a tower
sitteth not down first and
Counteth the cost whether he have sufficient to finish it
Less happily after he had laid the foundation is not able to finish it all that behold it begin to mock saying
This man began to build and was not able to finish, you know, what we have to do as Christians count the cost
Count the cost and don't say well, I'll serve the Lord as long as I just get one trial
No, you just got to say serve the Lord no matter what happens
Serve the Lord no matter what happens count the cost and look
Let me just teach you real quick how to deal with a specific trial if you're going through a trial if you ever
You're gonna go through a trial boat. If you're in a trial, this is what you do. You think of the worst possible outcome
I already know why you're laughing. I remember that
inside joke, sorry folks
Think of the worst possible outcome
The worst thing that can happen and you make peace with it
That's one of the best ways to deal with the trial
You say okay. What's the worst thing that can happen? Well, the worst thing that happen is that I just die
All right, I'll make peace with that
You look at your situation you figure out what is the worst possible thing that can come from this situation and you imagine it and
You make peace with it and say well, what's in God's hands then?
That's the worst thing that can happen
You know, so guess what when that doesn't happen you get something a little lesser than that. You're actually like, okay, that wasn't that bad
That punch in the face wasn't that bad
You understand?
Well, what I'm saying is this is that as Christians you need to count the cost
And say well, man, I thought we're just gonna be like persecuted by the sodomites
No, sometimes it's just like a health issue you get sometimes it's a death in the family
Sometimes it's a death of someone who's close to you
Sometimes it's a pain that's very unbearable and you wonder why am I going through this? But you know what?
This is what you signed up for
Right
And when we never be the kind of Christians that charge God foolishly
Really like Joe
We do not charge God foolishly for anything that happens in our life. That is negative or bad
We recognize the Lord give it the Lord take it bless. It'll be the name of the Lord. This is what I signed up for
This is what I signed up for. I knew things were gonna happen
Obviously we didn't know the specifics but something was gonna happen
You don't want to be the one who thinks well, this is not what I expected
Because things are not always what they seem okay
The Christian life is not always what it seems but let me say this some people were saying well serving God is boring
Well, not necessarily serving God is exciting
People who want to tell you all you do is go to church. You just like so in and just
Stay at church like till 12
You guys go to raising canes like that sounds boring
Well, I'm saying things are not always what they seem
Don't knock it till you tried it
Come to our church go to the services go Sony sing the songs serve the Lord and you'll recognize wow
This is actually an abundant Christian life
This is actually very exciting. I actually anticipate going to church. I
Actually anticipate hanging out with the brethren
Can we have a fellowship that's not in church?
Can we have something going on at hikes house or at the Gonzales house, can we have a fellowship?
Can we just see each other throughout the week? And you know what the Christian life becomes an exciting life
Don't let someone give you a preconceived idea what it's like to serve God. Well, that's all you do
Well, what do you do on Sunday mornings recover from your hangover?
What your clamato
Trying to get over your hangover
Throwing up your guts. Well, that sounds fun
No, it's not
Wake up in the morning cup of coffee Bible in hand getting ready for church
Go to church and you have a great time
The only people criticize you and try to give you a preconceived idea what it's like to serve God
It's great to serve God. I'm excited to serve. I love serving the Lord. It's great
You
Said doesn't it get mundane? Of course everything gets a mundane. This is life
We can't just be like ah
Go on like fourth gear the entire time. Sometimes you got a downshift
You know, sometimes you don't need to see me and I don't need to see you
Right
It's just life folks, okay
Things aren't always what they seem don't let people try to give you this perception of churches
Oh, it's such a burden to go to church. You just go in here preaching of God's Word. Yeah. Okay, what's better?
yeah, go into a club and
Dancing and and and being around your friends that are drinking and drunk and looking like idiots
Why a bunch of perverts got back to you the whole time. You don't know which ones are freaking reprobate
Who has some wicked motive of?
Raping you you don't know who has AIDS or STDs. Oh, yeah, that sounds fun
Why don't you just play Russian roulette? It's like the same thing. Oh
That sounds great that you do not on a Saturday night, I'd rather just get good sleep on a Saturday night
Wake up go to church and guess what tonight I laid my head on a pillow with a clear conscience
a
Lot of people lay their heads on their pillows wondering do I have AIDS?
Did I get herpes
Did I get gonorrhea? I need to go get tested not me
The worst thing I think I was like did I leave the lights on at the church?
Did I leave the AC that's the only that's like the only thing
No guilty conscience
Did I bring my hard drive? Oh stink. I forgot the cards that charged the batteries
That's just like the worst thing that you that I think of
There's people who out there who lay their heads on the pillow and I just wondering like man
What's gonna happen to me?
And what did I get myself involved in folks when we're serving God?
All things were together for good to them to love God then were they called according to this purpose
It's only on the up-and-up after this
Things are not always what they seem don't let people give you this wrong perception of the Christian life
What's the sermon today? The sermon is simply this
Before you make judgment on a situation before you make judgment on the Christian life. Hey before you make judgment on Jesus read the Bible
and
Simply the sermon is this reinforce everything that you're perceiving through your eyes and ears to the Bible
You have a wrong perception of something. Okay, let's realign our thoughts according to the Word of God
Amen, let's fire our heads and have a word of prayer. Father we thank you so much for your word
please continue to renew us in our minds Lord and sometimes I myself can get my mind in the gutter and
and not in your word and not think upon things that are lovely and true and
Lord I pray God that you continually help us to
Recognize what real what the reality is and the reality is the truth is found in the Word of God
That's what reality is it never changes our circumstances the situation are constantly changing and transforming
They're taking on new roads, but the Word of God never changes. It's steady. It's a rock
And I pray that you'd help us to stand upon that rock continuously and and not allow others to to determine
What our perspective should be help our perspective to be molded by the Word of God and in Jesus name we pray. Amen