WEBVTT 00:00.340 --> 00:02.760 Amen. Okay, we're in Isaiah chapter 1. 00:03.080 --> 00:07.700 Isaiah chapter 1, the time of my sermon tonight is actually found in verse 21 that says, 00:08.100 --> 00:11.520 How is the faithful city become and harlott? 00:11.580 --> 00:12.180 That is the title. 00:12.700 --> 00:15.320 How is the faithful city become and harlott? 00:15.460 --> 00:17.040 And of course, here in Isaiah chapter 1, 00:17.540 --> 00:23.180 the prophet Isaiah is being sent by the Lord to preach against Judah and Jerusalem for their godlessness. 00:23.380 --> 00:24.820 They become a very wicked nation. 00:25.180 --> 00:29.200 But also the city of Jerusalem has become equally evil. 00:29.200 --> 00:31.220 It's become equally idolatrous. 00:31.480 --> 00:34.480 It's been filled with sin and just rebellion. 00:35.160 --> 00:41.440 And so God is giving an indictment here against Judah and Jerusalem for their godlessness, for their wickedness. 00:41.600 --> 00:45.300 And he's basically saying in verse 21, hey, you used to be a faithful city. 00:45.720 --> 00:46.840 You used to be very loyal. 00:47.160 --> 00:48.120 You used to worship the Lord. 00:48.500 --> 00:50.300 You used to do that which is right in the sight of God. 00:50.360 --> 00:52.660 You were very faithful, but now you're a harlot. 00:53.080 --> 00:53.920 Now, what is a harlot? 00:54.020 --> 00:55.320 A harlot is a prostitute. 00:55.320 --> 00:55.860 Okay? 00:56.240 --> 01:02.280 A harlot, you know, different words in the Bible that communicate this is a whore, a prostitute. 01:02.640 --> 01:06.740 That's what we would call it today, you know, a strange woman and so forth. 01:06.980 --> 01:16.500 And so what the Lord is saying here is that Judah and Jerusalem went from being a very loyal, faithful city to worship God to being an absolute whore. 01:16.940 --> 01:20.520 Now, this is obviously speaking to Judah and Jerusalem directly. 01:20.520 --> 01:26.080 But the great thing about the Bible is that these things are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come. 01:26.280 --> 01:34.720 Meaning that we can take these stories and these sermons that these prophets are preaching against Judah, Jerusalem, Israel, Samaria and apply them to ourselves. 01:35.100 --> 01:39.200 We can apply them to New Testament Christians because the principle still applies. 01:39.380 --> 01:46.640 And often when a prophet is addressing a particular nation, he almost addresses them as though they're individuals, right? 01:46.700 --> 01:49.340 Like an individual person who is committing these things. 01:49.340 --> 01:52.100 And so it's very much applicable to us today. 01:52.260 --> 01:55.920 What I want to talk about tonight is how faithful Christians become like harlots. 01:56.260 --> 01:56.440 Okay? 01:57.140 --> 01:58.120 And what do I mean by harlots? 01:58.420 --> 02:04.920 I'm obviously referring to the fact that they backslide, they get out of church, they become hoarish spiritually speaking. 02:05.460 --> 02:07.500 And how is it that that takes place? 02:07.620 --> 02:09.160 Why is it that that takes place? 02:09.560 --> 02:18.580 Well, you know, first and foremost, let me start off by saying that, you know, a lot of these changes that a Christian can go through by the time they get out of church, you know, a lot of it is gradual, right? 02:18.580 --> 02:23.640 It's them allowing some sort of sin in their life, some sort of bad habit that they didn't correct. 02:24.040 --> 02:32.280 They allow themselves to do what's often referred to as the sins of commission, and that often leads to the sins of omission, right? 02:32.640 --> 02:35.840 Sins of commission is when you transgress the commandments of the Lord. 02:36.160 --> 02:38.720 The sins of omission is when you cease to do right. 02:39.400 --> 02:42.680 So when you couple those together, it's often a recipe for disaster. 02:43.240 --> 02:46.500 It's a recipe to get out of church, to stop serving the Lord. 02:46.500 --> 03:05.800 If you couple transgressions, iniquity, you know, breaking God's laws, committing sin, and you add to that rebellion, add to that sinfulness, you add to it, you know, the omitting of actual spiritual disciplines, you know, it's only a matter of time before you actually get out of church, okay? 03:06.280 --> 03:13.500 And it's important for us as Christians to realize that the Christian life needs to be lived on a continual daily and weekly basis. 03:14.060 --> 03:23.600 Meaning that, you know, the war does not end, you know, just because you have one great victory today, you have to fight that same battle every single day. 03:24.040 --> 03:30.000 If not, you can incrementally get backslidden, incrementally get away from the Lord. 03:30.160 --> 03:33.380 And before you know it, you're just completely out of the service of God. 03:33.840 --> 03:38.860 You will be characterized as one who was faithful as a city, but now you're just a whore, okay? 03:38.860 --> 03:43.700 Now you're just a complete harlot and you're completely useless in the eyes of God. 03:43.820 --> 03:48.400 And obviously we know that a person who backslides, they're going to suffer the consequences of their actions. 03:48.920 --> 03:51.620 There's a lot of punishment that comes with that. 03:51.920 --> 03:56.100 They're often given over unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, the Bible says. 03:56.620 --> 04:03.420 There's a lot of built-in consequences because if you sow to the flesh, you shall of the flesh reap corruption, right? 04:03.880 --> 04:07.960 But there's also things that you relinquish, you know, you relinquish the blessings of God as well. 04:07.960 --> 04:12.300 You don't get to enjoy the blessings of being faithful to the service of God, 04:12.380 --> 04:15.820 being faithful to church and being faithful to the Christian life. 04:16.100 --> 04:21.460 There's a lot of blessings that come with that and unfortunately you're back to square one, right? 04:22.080 --> 04:25.280 Now it's always a blessing when Christians come back to church, right? 04:26.200 --> 04:31.980 It's great when people get right with God, they get back to church and they start building up their spiritual lives again. 04:32.180 --> 04:33.240 And that is the goal. 04:33.380 --> 04:36.720 The goal is for people who are backslidden to be restored, 04:37.120 --> 04:42.120 to come to a place of repentance, to come to a place where they realize, like, I messed up, 04:42.460 --> 04:46.240 I need to get back in the church, you know, and just get back to the things of God. 04:46.620 --> 04:50.000 And you know, it's great that when people come back, they're received with open arms. 04:50.500 --> 04:54.000 It's not like, oh man, you got so much work you got to do now. 04:54.420 --> 04:56.320 You know, that may be true to a certain degree, 04:57.060 --> 05:02.880 but it's not as much work as the work you would have to put in if you didn't come back at that particular time, right? 05:02.900 --> 05:05.500 If you came back decades later or something like that, 05:05.500 --> 05:08.520 you know, you don't have necessarily a whole lot that you have to work on. 05:08.780 --> 05:09.820 But here's the thing, folks. 05:10.060 --> 05:14.240 The point is that you should just put in the effort and the work to just stay right with God 05:14.620 --> 05:18.400 instead of the work and the effort that it takes to get right with God once you backslide. 05:18.760 --> 05:19.660 Because that is a lot of work. 05:19.860 --> 05:20.280 But you know what? 05:20.660 --> 05:23.760 It's a lot of work to stay right with God, but it's a lot more arduous. 05:23.840 --> 05:24.860 It's a lot more difficult. 05:25.340 --> 05:30.560 It's a lot more painstaking to try to get right with God once you've already backslidden to begin with. 05:30.560 --> 05:34.920 And so pay the price of being a faithful city. 05:35.320 --> 05:39.640 Pay the price of being a faithful Christian rather than paying the price of becoming a harlot 05:39.640 --> 05:43.340 and having to get right with God, having to suffer the punishments of the Lord. 05:43.720 --> 05:44.700 And make no mistake about it. 05:44.800 --> 05:48.440 As a Christian, we will all get chastised by the Lord. 05:48.660 --> 05:49.040 That's a fact. 05:49.180 --> 05:50.760 Even if you're in church, okay? 05:51.120 --> 05:52.760 Sometimes the Lord chastises us. 05:53.160 --> 05:54.020 He prunes us. 05:54.460 --> 05:55.540 He's refining us. 05:55.820 --> 05:57.040 But make no mistake about it. 05:57.040 --> 06:01.920 When you backslide and you get out of church, that guarantees that you will become chastised by the Lord. 06:02.200 --> 06:06.140 Because whom the Lord loved it, He chasted it and scourged with every son whom He received it. 06:06.480 --> 06:11.400 And of course, Hebrews chapter 12 is talking of the context of just straightening your paths, 06:11.720 --> 06:16.920 making sure that you get right with God, that you repent of that sin, and you get it right with the Lord. 06:17.320 --> 06:24.700 You know, often in the Bible, there's instances where the Bible often compares a person, an individual, a believer, to a city. 06:24.700 --> 06:32.060 You know, the Bible says, he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls. 06:32.220 --> 06:34.600 He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty. 06:34.860 --> 06:37.560 And he that ruled with the spirit, then he that takeeth a city. 06:37.740 --> 06:41.020 So we can see the comparisons here that we're looking at in verse 21. 06:41.640 --> 06:44.560 And obviously the Lord is very grieved at Jude and Jerusalem. 06:45.200 --> 06:51.860 The fact that they went from being a very faithful city, set on a hill, letting their light shine, 06:52.220 --> 06:56.320 being a witness unto the Gentiles, to being reduced to a whore and a harlot. 06:56.840 --> 06:59.720 And you know, that's what we need to avoid as Christians today, okay? 07:00.940 --> 07:05.920 And this is not to say that after service, we need to just think about every person who backs on it like, yeah, they're a whore now. 07:06.700 --> 07:08.440 Unless they're literally legitimately a whore. 07:08.540 --> 07:10.340 But you know, I'm not saying we should go around saying that. 07:10.520 --> 07:14.240 I'm just saying, you know, you shouldn't go around and be like, yeah, that person is a spiritual harlot now. 07:14.400 --> 07:18.180 But I am making that application because that's the application that the Lord makes. 07:18.180 --> 07:22.580 So let me give you a couple points in this regard from this passage of Scripture. 07:23.200 --> 07:28.600 First and foremost, what does he mean when he talks about that they are a harlot? 07:28.680 --> 07:29.960 How do they become a harlot? 07:30.480 --> 07:36.000 Well, as I mentioned, a harlot is a prostitute, which is essentially a whore that sells herself, okay? 07:36.800 --> 07:44.280 And the way we can apply this to Christians is that Christians, if they're not careful, they can become whores in their belief systems, 07:44.280 --> 07:49.760 horse with their company that they keep, and they begin to sell themselves to work wickedness, right? 07:50.300 --> 07:54.960 They begin to essentially allow themselves to be influenced by other individuals. 07:55.220 --> 07:55.900 And what are they doing? 07:56.340 --> 08:04.240 They're allowing the world, they're allowing the flesh, and they're allowing the devil to propose a price for their virtue, okay? 08:04.820 --> 08:10.500 And, you know, it's just like, well, you know, just mischurch this Sunday, you know, I'll take you out. 08:10.780 --> 08:11.720 We're going to have a good time. 08:11.720 --> 08:13.340 I'll pay for it. 08:13.520 --> 08:15.220 You know, you can come hang out with me. 08:15.440 --> 08:16.300 We'll do this. 08:16.360 --> 08:17.660 It's not going to be all the time. 08:18.160 --> 08:19.080 And make no mistake about it. 08:19.100 --> 08:23.920 When Satan tries to get at you, when I say incrementally, he works incrementally. 08:24.560 --> 08:29.740 Meaning that the first compromise is never outright sin and transgression. 08:30.300 --> 08:36.620 It's just little by little warming up the water so you don't realize that it becomes boiling until it's too late, okay? 08:36.620 --> 08:44.020 And I think about Proverbs chapter 20 that states that, you know, the buyer says it is not say at the buyer, 08:44.360 --> 08:47.300 but when he's gone his way, then he boasts it. 08:47.700 --> 08:48.440 What is that referring to? 08:48.860 --> 08:56.240 You know, it's referring to the fact that sometimes when people would barter and purchase and make these bargains with sellers for merchandise, 08:56.820 --> 09:01.840 you know, they'll go to a person who's selling a particular item and say, ah, this is nothing. 09:02.620 --> 09:03.700 This is nothing. 09:04.080 --> 09:05.320 Give me this much for it or whatever. 09:05.320 --> 09:05.880 It's not. 09:06.020 --> 09:06.520 It's not. 09:07.100 --> 09:08.780 You're like, I don't know why you're selling it for that much. 09:09.020 --> 09:11.260 Just, you know, just sell it for this amount. 09:11.380 --> 09:12.440 I'll give you this much for it. 09:12.460 --> 09:13.540 It's just like, well, I guess it's not. 09:14.000 --> 09:16.020 And then they sell it and what does the buyer do? 09:16.260 --> 09:19.420 He walks away and he's just like, look how much I got this for, right? 09:19.800 --> 09:21.340 Look at the deal that I got. 09:21.800 --> 09:24.060 And this is a great picture of Satan. 09:25.060 --> 09:28.360 Because Satan, what he does is that he promotes sin to your life. 09:28.620 --> 09:29.360 And what does he say? 09:29.520 --> 09:29.940 It's nothing. 09:30.620 --> 09:31.160 It's not. 09:31.700 --> 09:32.800 It's not, right? 09:33.220 --> 09:33.840 It's nothing. 09:33.840 --> 09:36.580 To miss church every once in a while, that's not a big deal. 09:36.740 --> 09:38.760 To not read your Bible, that's not a big deal. 09:38.780 --> 09:40.280 You'll hop back home tomorrow. 09:40.880 --> 09:42.520 You'll be back in church next week. 09:43.000 --> 09:44.660 You're going to preach the gospel next week. 09:45.160 --> 09:47.100 It's not, it is not, say, the buyer. 09:47.680 --> 09:49.120 But then when you give in, you know what he does? 09:49.280 --> 09:49.860 He boasts it. 09:50.400 --> 09:51.620 He's like, I got him to miss church. 09:52.220 --> 09:53.380 I got him to miss his Bible reading. 09:53.500 --> 09:54.660 I got him to not go soul-inning. 09:54.740 --> 09:58.400 I got him to just, I got him out of church two weeks in a row or whatever. 09:58.840 --> 10:00.100 I got him out of church three weeks. 10:00.240 --> 10:01.900 I got him out of church an entire month. 10:01.900 --> 10:05.280 Because in your mind, the way he proposes it, it's nothing. 10:05.840 --> 10:07.040 It's nothing to miss church. 10:07.340 --> 10:08.340 No, actually it is something. 10:09.780 --> 10:13.660 The Bible says, for sake not the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of some is, 10:14.060 --> 10:17.480 but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching. 10:18.420 --> 10:22.880 You know, the Bible tells us and it teaches us that the house of God is the pillar and ground of truth. 10:23.120 --> 10:28.300 It's where we come to realign our behaviors, our mentality, what we believe, 10:28.780 --> 10:30.580 and we're reminded of the eternal. 10:31.460 --> 10:35.600 So when you begin to miss church and just kind of treat it in a flippant manner, 10:35.940 --> 10:39.040 that's basically you giving in to the buyer that says it's not, it's not. 10:39.480 --> 10:40.820 Just miss every once in a while. 10:40.920 --> 10:41.340 That's okay. 10:41.420 --> 10:42.300 You're still a good Christian. 10:42.820 --> 10:44.300 You haven't changed your belief system. 10:44.700 --> 10:47.460 Yeah, that's exactly how the buyer comes and operates. 10:47.940 --> 10:48.040 Okay? 10:48.440 --> 10:55.180 He tries to minimize, you know, the amount of effects of the consequences of your sins of omission. 10:55.520 --> 10:57.700 So then when you realize it, when he walks away like, 10:57.700 --> 11:00.500 man, actually I did, you know, I just gave up my virtue. 11:00.960 --> 11:02.580 I gave up my spiritual disciplines. 11:02.780 --> 11:04.000 But by that time, it's too late. 11:04.900 --> 11:05.180 Okay? 11:05.860 --> 11:08.180 And so, you know, the harlot sells herself. 11:09.120 --> 11:16.640 And here's the thing, folks, is that it can get to a point where a Christian is being sold a bill of goods by the world, 11:16.700 --> 11:17.440 the flesh and the devil. 11:18.180 --> 11:22.540 And depending upon how long they're out there in the world and the backslidden state, 11:22.860 --> 11:23.580 you know what's going to happen? 11:23.580 --> 11:28.620 Eventually the tables are going to flip and now they're going to start paying for those services. 11:29.060 --> 11:32.580 You see, a prostitute is one thing where people are paying them. 11:33.060 --> 11:36.140 It's another thing when a prostitute pays someone to service them. 11:36.740 --> 11:38.320 And this is exactly what the Bible talks about. 11:38.620 --> 11:40.740 Go to Ezekiel, if you would, chapter 16. 11:41.460 --> 11:42.700 Ezekiel, chapter 16. 11:46.800 --> 11:48.600 Ezekiel, chapter 16, if you would. 11:49.420 --> 11:50.420 And this is how it starts. 11:50.420 --> 11:55.060 It starts with the world paying for your services, paying for your absence of church, 11:55.320 --> 11:56.840 paying for your spiritual disciplines. 11:57.100 --> 11:58.060 But you know what it turns into? 11:58.140 --> 11:59.720 It turns into you paying them. 12:00.180 --> 12:01.160 You paying the world. 12:01.620 --> 12:02.740 You paying the fines. 12:03.360 --> 12:06.200 You paying the price of being out in the world, 12:06.420 --> 12:08.080 because that's how it always ends up. 12:08.100 --> 12:09.320 Look at Ezekiel, chapter 16. 12:10.340 --> 12:12.360 And look down at your Bibles at verse 33. 12:12.520 --> 12:14.780 It says, they give gifts to all horse. 12:15.660 --> 12:16.880 Actually, let's start in verse 32. 12:17.720 --> 12:20.200 But as a wife that committed adultery, 12:20.600 --> 12:22.840 which taketh strangers instead of her husband, 12:23.480 --> 12:25.060 they give gifts to all horse, 12:25.660 --> 12:29.380 but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers, 12:29.900 --> 12:35.360 and hires them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom. 12:35.380 --> 12:38.540 He's like, you know, a prostitute actually gets paid. 12:39.260 --> 12:40.440 And it's still bad. 12:41.160 --> 12:43.500 But you're the type of prostitute that you do the paying. 12:44.040 --> 12:44.740 But you know what? 12:44.760 --> 12:46.220 That's exactly how sin operates. 12:47.220 --> 12:48.620 Satan offers you this. 12:48.940 --> 12:50.520 He's the one who's willing to pay for this. 12:50.680 --> 12:51.700 But in the long term, 12:52.140 --> 12:54.200 you end up paying the consequences of your actions. 12:54.740 --> 12:56.420 Sin will take you farther than you want to go. 12:56.540 --> 12:57.700 Keep you longer than you want to stay. 12:58.140 --> 12:58.880 And listen to this. 12:59.040 --> 13:00.300 Cost you more than you want to pay, 13:00.760 --> 13:03.760 because the wages of sin is always death. 13:03.960 --> 13:06.400 How does a person go from being a faithful city 13:06.400 --> 13:09.500 to being an absolute harlot and a whore? 13:09.940 --> 13:12.160 They sell themselves, okay? 13:12.160 --> 13:13.520 To this world. 13:13.640 --> 13:15.220 They sell themselves to their friends. 13:15.400 --> 13:17.680 They sell themselves to vices and sinfulness. 13:18.060 --> 13:19.760 That's how it ends up taking place. 13:19.800 --> 13:20.860 Go to James chapter 4. 13:21.240 --> 13:22.100 James chapter 4. 13:23.260 --> 13:24.760 James chapter 4, if you would. 13:25.580 --> 13:28.320 How is the faithful city become a harlot? 13:28.420 --> 13:31.160 Well, it begins by allowing yourself to be sold 13:32.100 --> 13:35.040 for the pleasures of this world, 13:35.300 --> 13:36.780 for the vices of this world, 13:37.020 --> 13:38.960 for the temporal pleasures, okay? 13:39.400 --> 13:41.580 Look at James chapter 4 in verse number 4. 13:41.580 --> 13:42.040 It says this, 13:42.140 --> 13:44.020 ye adulterers and adulteresses, 13:44.380 --> 13:46.100 know ye not that the friendship of the world 13:46.100 --> 13:47.940 is enmity with God. 13:48.580 --> 13:51.060 Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world 13:51.580 --> 13:54.000 is the enemy of God. 13:54.340 --> 13:55.040 So the Bible says here, 13:55.340 --> 13:56.960 if you are a friend of this world, 13:57.440 --> 13:59.300 if you are in close association 13:59.300 --> 14:00.900 with the things of this world, 14:01.000 --> 14:02.640 you're basically like an enemy of God, 14:03.020 --> 14:05.640 because you are operating according to the course of this world, 14:05.980 --> 14:07.760 you're aiding in its system, 14:08.060 --> 14:09.900 and basically you're a part of it now. 14:10.520 --> 14:12.560 And you know, we have to be careful as Christians 14:13.080 --> 14:16.580 that we don't allow the world to lure us in 14:16.580 --> 14:18.820 to its systems, to its way of believing, 14:19.180 --> 14:21.560 to its philosophies and ideologies, okay? 14:22.080 --> 14:23.960 And one of the fastest way to do that 14:23.960 --> 14:26.200 is through the internet, okay? 14:26.900 --> 14:28.900 It was like before back in the day, 14:29.040 --> 14:30.420 it's just like you have to know someone 14:30.420 --> 14:32.280 to influence you in the wrong way, 14:32.800 --> 14:35.520 but now it's just like it's on your phone, right? 14:36.500 --> 14:37.420 Just people, 14:37.420 --> 14:41.420 just putting all kinds of crazy weird ideas in your mind 14:41.420 --> 14:44.500 and all kinds of weird ideologies in the mind, 14:44.840 --> 14:47.380 you know, trying to get you to justify murderers 14:47.380 --> 14:48.500 and child killers, 14:49.080 --> 14:51.240 and then all of a sudden you're just thinking like the world! 14:53.160 --> 14:54.940 You've become a friend of the world! 14:55.660 --> 14:57.600 And you know, it's absolutely insane 14:58.340 --> 14:59.520 that you know, today, 15:00.140 --> 15:02.960 we have this justification for infanticide 15:02.960 --> 15:04.680 where it's just like, oh man, 15:04.680 --> 15:06.780 we need to make sure we release the murderer, 15:07.220 --> 15:08.420 they're the innocent one, 15:08.880 --> 15:10.760 and the innocent people, the actual innocent people 15:10.760 --> 15:11.920 are the guilty ones, right? 15:12.260 --> 15:12.920 It's insane! 15:13.340 --> 15:15.200 And you know what, this whole Lindsay Clancy thing, 15:15.340 --> 15:17.180 and this is probably like the third week I'm talking about, 15:17.220 --> 15:19.240 but it merits addressing, okay? 15:20.060 --> 15:22.360 You know, it's demonstrating how much feminism 15:22.360 --> 15:24.220 has infiltrated churches as well, 15:24.940 --> 15:26.900 because of the fact that it's just like before, 15:27.060 --> 15:28.260 you had all these Christian women 15:28.260 --> 15:30.120 who are just completely against feminism, 15:30.760 --> 15:33.160 completely against the feminist ideology 15:33.160 --> 15:34.100 and the agenda, 15:34.540 --> 15:36.120 but all of a sudden they just join forces 15:36.120 --> 15:37.660 with a bunch of liberal retarded women 15:38.860 --> 15:40.400 on this particular ideology. 15:41.100 --> 15:43.220 It's like, you know you're teaming up with the world? 15:43.560 --> 15:45.060 You're teaming up with a bunch of liberals, 15:45.400 --> 15:46.700 with a bunch of God-haters? 15:47.100 --> 15:49.320 In this regard, you know, how are you allowing 15:50.200 --> 15:51.960 these absolute reprobates 15:52.660 --> 15:54.300 to just influence you 15:54.300 --> 15:55.800 to take on their position 15:55.800 --> 15:57.400 instead of actually going to the Bible itself? 15:58.280 --> 15:58.460 Okay? 15:59.960 --> 16:01.020 And look folks, you know, 16:01.020 --> 16:02.780 don't sell yourself to the liberals. 16:03.400 --> 16:06.160 Don't sell yourself to the narrative of the liberals. 16:06.700 --> 16:07.880 Well, I think they got a point. 16:07.960 --> 16:09.700 They didn't got no point. They're stupid. 16:11.040 --> 16:11.980 You don't like that? 16:12.140 --> 16:13.340 Here's a better word. They're retarded. 16:14.860 --> 16:16.160 You know, you're allowing the whores 16:16.160 --> 16:17.540 to make you a whore. How about that? 16:18.840 --> 16:20.540 You're allowing the literal whores 16:20.540 --> 16:21.800 to make you a spiritual whore. 16:24.300 --> 16:26.260 And you know, here's the thing, folks, 16:26.380 --> 16:29.060 is that women don't realize the absolute ramifications 16:29.060 --> 16:32.100 of these decisions that they're making 16:32.100 --> 16:32.880 to side with this. 16:33.160 --> 16:35.240 Because, you know, literally a couple days ago, 16:36.080 --> 16:37.220 and I literally said this, you know, 16:37.420 --> 16:39.120 the Bible specifically says 16:39.120 --> 16:41.460 in Ecclesiastes chapter 8 and verse 11, 16:41.700 --> 16:43.460 because sentence against an evil work 16:43.460 --> 16:45.520 is not executed speedily, 16:45.860 --> 16:47.760 therefore the hearts of the sons of men 16:47.760 --> 16:49.500 is fully sent in them to do evil. 16:49.800 --> 16:51.040 Meaning that if you don't punish 16:51.040 --> 16:53.660 the criminals and the evil doers of this world, 16:53.880 --> 16:55.100 it's going to embolden others 16:55.100 --> 16:57.680 to commit the same crime, knowing full well 16:57.680 --> 16:59.060 that they will not receive the consequences 16:59.060 --> 17:01.100 of their actions. Ah, you're just exaggerating. 17:01.280 --> 17:02.580 Oh, is that right? A couple days ago, 17:02.760 --> 17:04.880 another mother killed her child 17:06.500 --> 17:08.660 and what did her lawyer say? 17:08.800 --> 17:10.760 Oh, she's going under a psychotic episode 17:10.760 --> 17:11.800 or whatever. That's just what it was. 17:12.240 --> 17:13.660 And, you know, is it any coincidence 17:13.660 --> 17:15.260 that she was just a fan of Lindsay Clancy? 17:16.340 --> 17:17.980 She had literally just been discussing, 17:18.620 --> 17:20.120 you know, defending Lindsay Clancy 17:20.120 --> 17:21.480 to her friends about three and a half hours 17:21.480 --> 17:22.620 before they found her child. 17:24.180 --> 17:25.340 Oh, that's just coincidence. 17:25.340 --> 17:27.500 You can point to a ton of examples of this. 17:28.400 --> 17:29.980 Because when you don't punish wicked people, 17:30.100 --> 17:30.680 that's what you get. 17:31.580 --> 17:33.140 And, you know, these women would be singing 17:33.140 --> 17:34.780 a different tune if Lindsay Clancy 17:34.780 --> 17:36.440 took the lives of their child. 17:37.680 --> 17:38.620 You'd be singing a different tune 17:38.620 --> 17:39.700 at that point now, wouldn't you? 17:41.840 --> 17:42.940 Don't sell yourself. 17:43.500 --> 17:45.140 Don't be a spiritual prostitute 17:45.140 --> 17:47.640 by selling yourself to this world. 17:48.080 --> 17:49.680 And you say, well, I'm still in church. 17:49.980 --> 17:50.520 Yeah, but you know what? 17:50.620 --> 17:52.420 The battle always begins in the mind, though. 17:53.120 --> 17:55.260 The battle is always in the mind 17:55.260 --> 17:56.960 trying to change what you believe, 17:57.360 --> 17:59.040 trying to corrupt your way of thinking 17:59.040 --> 18:00.920 because the Satan knows 18:00.920 --> 18:02.460 that if he can change your way of thinking, 18:02.720 --> 18:04.200 he can change how you behave as well. 18:04.520 --> 18:05.440 That's what's important, folks, 18:05.540 --> 18:07.000 to cast down imaginations. 18:07.560 --> 18:09.240 Every high thing that exalted itself 18:09.240 --> 18:10.440 against the knowledge of God 18:10.440 --> 18:12.900 and not allow yourself to be duped 18:12.900 --> 18:14.760 by the wisdom of this world 18:14.760 --> 18:17.400 because it's earthly, sensual, devilish, 18:17.460 --> 18:17.980 the Bible says. 18:19.520 --> 18:20.900 And look, folks, 18:21.060 --> 18:21.960 I'm just telling you right now 18:21.960 --> 18:23.920 feminism has infiltrated. 18:24.340 --> 18:25.420 It's been so effective 18:25.900 --> 18:27.580 that liberal women 18:27.580 --> 18:29.840 are spearheading this movement 18:29.840 --> 18:31.960 and somehow have just recruited 18:31.960 --> 18:32.860 a bunch of Christian women 18:33.680 --> 18:34.900 to side with them. 18:35.140 --> 18:36.060 How does that feel, ladies? 18:36.900 --> 18:38.500 How does that feel to back up 18:38.500 --> 18:40.560 a bunch of liberal ladies in their endeavor 18:40.560 --> 18:42.640 to completely destroy the family unit 18:42.640 --> 18:44.600 and justify the killing of children? 18:44.600 --> 18:45.220 It's insane. 18:46.620 --> 18:48.720 And this whole thing is going to a mistrial or whatever 18:48.720 --> 18:50.840 and praise God 18:50.840 --> 18:51.820 for that one dude 18:53.220 --> 18:54.620 who stood up 18:54.620 --> 18:56.200 and just did not agree 18:56.200 --> 18:58.640 and just stood against all... 18:58.640 --> 19:00.100 They said it was like nine women 19:00.100 --> 19:01.320 and three men, but technically 19:01.320 --> 19:03.480 it was ten dudes. 19:04.080 --> 19:04.860 I mean ten women, sorry. 19:05.180 --> 19:06.500 It was ten women and one dude 19:06.500 --> 19:09.460 because the other dudes are just acting like women. 19:12.260 --> 19:14.000 And it's a mistrial or whatever 19:14.000 --> 19:15.620 and it's going to restart again 19:15.620 --> 19:17.760 and hopefully she gets what she deserves 19:17.760 --> 19:20.300 but I don't think she is though. 19:20.780 --> 19:21.960 I hope so. I hope I'm wrong. 19:22.540 --> 19:23.860 I hope I'm 100% wrong 19:23.860 --> 19:25.760 but just the way things are 19:25.760 --> 19:27.420 the way our society operates 19:27.420 --> 19:29.140 the way how Godless people are 19:29.140 --> 19:30.780 and all this is done 19:30.780 --> 19:31.880 is demonstrated to me 19:31.880 --> 19:33.240 and it should demonstrate to you 19:33.240 --> 19:34.600 the state of affairs 19:34.600 --> 19:36.080 of the mental health of women 19:36.080 --> 19:38.700 where they are at spiritually 19:38.700 --> 19:39.480 in their mind 19:39.940 --> 19:41.820 and husbands, let me just tell you right now 19:41.820 --> 19:42.700 control your wife 19:44.700 --> 19:45.500 yeah, control 19:45.500 --> 19:46.580 yeah, control 19:48.360 --> 19:49.580 control your wife 19:50.040 --> 19:51.520 and you know what, yeah, control the way 19:51.520 --> 19:52.420 she thinks too 19:53.500 --> 19:55.260 oh that just sounds so sexist 19:55.260 --> 19:56.460 whatever you want to call it, I'm good with that 19:56.460 --> 19:57.900 yeah, that's cool, sure 19:58.820 --> 20:00.260 control the way your wife thinks 20:01.200 --> 20:03.120 how are you going to say something like that 20:03.120 --> 20:04.660 well you know if Adam controlled Eve 20:04.660 --> 20:07.120 we wouldn't be in this situation now would we 20:08.000 --> 20:09.000 this is what happens 20:09.000 --> 20:11.200 when Eve was allowed to operate 20:11.200 --> 20:12.540 as an autonomous person 20:13.040 --> 20:15.220 just outside of the jurisdiction of her husband 20:15.220 --> 20:16.820 damned the whole world 20:21.020 --> 20:23.080 and so you know it's our 20:23.080 --> 20:24.600 responsibility to protect our wives 20:26.000 --> 20:27.400 and you know we need to have 20:27.400 --> 20:28.780 homes where it's not like 20:28.780 --> 20:30.840 you're like fighting with your spouse 20:30.840 --> 20:31.380 in this regard 20:32.480 --> 20:33.960 women submit to your husband 20:35.580 --> 20:37.220 okay, as unto the Lord 20:37.220 --> 20:37.740 yeah 20:37.740 --> 20:39.900 and don't give me this why I submit to God 20:39.900 --> 20:41.080 I just submit to my husband 20:41.080 --> 20:42.780 then you don't submit to God 20:43.360 --> 20:44.320 what is that? 20:45.060 --> 20:46.140 it's not the way God views it 20:46.780 --> 20:48.780 and you know what you need to do 20:48.780 --> 20:50.780 is make sure that you bring yourself in alignment 20:50.780 --> 20:53.560 with your reasonable husband 20:53.560 --> 20:55.200 and if your husband says hey 20:56.060 --> 20:58.020 Lindsay Clancy is a reprobate 20:58.020 --> 20:59.960 and she's guilty 21:00.420 --> 21:01.860 and you need to get off of 21:01.860 --> 21:04.120 social media because you're being deceived 21:04.120 --> 21:05.700 by this crap then you know what 21:05.700 --> 21:07.380 you need to put away the phone and say you know what 21:07.380 --> 21:09.120 my husband's right I'm too emotional right now 21:09.120 --> 21:10.320 I'm hormonal 21:14.820 --> 21:16.180 it's insane folks 21:16.780 --> 21:17.920 it's absolutely insane 21:17.920 --> 21:19.260 she's like well you don't understand women 21:19.260 --> 21:20.560 they have these hormones and stuff 21:20.560 --> 21:23.040 so does that mean that the dudes who think that they're women 21:23.040 --> 21:24.540 now they're not women then or what 21:24.540 --> 21:25.340 how does that work 21:26.220 --> 21:28.000 well that doesn't count 21:28.000 --> 21:28.780 or something like that 21:29.660 --> 21:31.460 you know what about all these 21:31.460 --> 21:33.540 by the way every murderer 21:33.540 --> 21:35.920 serial killer has mental issues you kidding me 21:36.540 --> 21:38.060 what are you talking about 21:38.060 --> 21:40.180 they're all psychos 21:40.180 --> 21:42.420 they all got 21:42.420 --> 21:44.060 fused screw loose in the brain 21:44.060 --> 21:45.760 they're all reprobates 21:46.540 --> 21:47.920 these serial killers 21:47.920 --> 21:50.440 Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy 21:50.440 --> 21:51.940 the night stalker 21:51.940 --> 21:54.040 all these people are mentally 21:54.040 --> 21:55.740 ill and guess what 21:55.740 --> 21:56.400 they're still guilty 21:58.440 --> 21:59.380 I'm just telling you right now 21:59.380 --> 22:01.620 if Dahmer isn't brought down on Lindsay Clancy 22:01.620 --> 22:02.620 this is going to keep happening 22:03.740 --> 22:06.040 and you know women are just like oh this is 22:06.040 --> 22:07.920 such a win no because you know what 22:07.920 --> 22:09.280 now dudes aren't going to want to marry you 22:10.320 --> 22:11.820 they want nothing to do with you 22:12.340 --> 22:13.760 because you advocate for the killing 22:13.760 --> 22:15.620 of the strangulation of children 22:17.540 --> 22:18.140 so no 22:18.140 --> 22:20.020 that's not a good thing for you 22:20.020 --> 22:20.900 ok 22:22.660 --> 22:24.060 it's insane my friends 22:24.060 --> 22:26.100 but you know what I guarantee you 22:26.100 --> 22:27.880 I'm not talking about the liberals because the liberals 22:27.880 --> 22:29.260 are just doomed in a lot of ways 22:29.260 --> 22:31.820 I'm talking about Christian women who are carried away 22:31.820 --> 22:32.560 with this nonsense 22:32.560 --> 22:35.660 and they're allowing themselves to just be 22:35.660 --> 22:37.020 absolutely brain 22:37.020 --> 22:38.500 brain corrupted 22:39.320 --> 22:41.860 by these women and by these godless people 22:41.860 --> 22:43.360 don't allow it to happen allow the Bible 22:43.360 --> 22:44.280 to renew your mind 22:44.280 --> 22:46.540 and look a lot of people are just delusional 22:46.540 --> 22:48.060 just delusional 22:48.060 --> 22:50.860 you know it's just like 22:50.860 --> 22:52.980 tell me you haven't watched the trial 22:52.980 --> 22:55.240 without telling me you haven't watched the trial 22:55.240 --> 22:56.200 it's like 22:56.200 --> 22:57.000 hello 22:57.000 --> 23:00.800 the trial wasn't about whether she was guilty 23:00.800 --> 23:01.920 or not of killing the children 23:02.580 --> 23:04.380 it's about literally whether she's 23:04.380 --> 23:06.500 criminally guilty meaning that oh 23:06.500 --> 23:08.540 you know she was in her right mind 23:08.540 --> 23:10.440 or whether she was not in her right mind 23:10.440 --> 23:11.740 everyone agrees 23:11.740 --> 23:14.040 Lindsay herself that she killed her children 23:15.100 --> 23:16.880 and it's just like no as the husband 23:17.460 --> 23:18.180 you're delusional 23:18.940 --> 23:20.160 and when you look at this stuff 23:20.160 --> 23:21.560 when you look at what's going on you're like 23:21.560 --> 23:22.920 oh so that's how the tribulation is gonna 23:22.920 --> 23:25.580 okay I get it now that's how people just accept the antichrist 23:25.580 --> 23:27.340 okay because you know you're thinking like 23:27.340 --> 23:28.460 how's that gonna happen 23:28.460 --> 23:30.600 well when you got a bunch of idiots out there 23:32.180 --> 23:34.040 who need no evidence 23:35.160 --> 23:36.280 to pass judgment like that 23:36.280 --> 23:37.160 then you're just like oh 23:37.160 --> 23:39.780 this is without the antichrist 23:40.520 --> 23:41.500 this is without the 23:41.500 --> 23:43.340 lying signs and wonders 23:43.900 --> 23:45.660 I mean Lindsay Clancy hasn't committed 23:45.660 --> 23:46.240 no wonders 23:47.420 --> 23:49.320 and she still is able to 23:49.320 --> 23:51.180 deceive the multitudes how much more 23:51.180 --> 23:53.080 in the end times when that happens 23:54.480 --> 23:55.540 point being here 23:55.540 --> 23:57.180 is that and I'm telling you right now 23:57.180 --> 23:59.120 I guarantee you there's a lot of Christian women 23:59.120 --> 24:00.860 who are a character bow 24:01.280 --> 24:03.340 with this wind of doctrine why 24:03.340 --> 24:04.720 because they don't protect their minds 24:04.720 --> 24:07.700 and husbands you need to make sure you protect the minds of your wives 24:07.700 --> 24:08.480 good 24:08.480 --> 24:12.400 a Christian often can become 24:12.400 --> 24:14.120 go from a faithful city 24:14.120 --> 24:15.300 to a harlot 24:15.300 --> 24:17.240 by selling themselves 24:17.240 --> 24:18.780 by being a friend of the word 24:18.780 --> 24:19.560 go back to Isaiah 24:20.220 --> 24:21.620 Isaiah chapter 1 24:24.180 --> 24:25.680 Isaiah chapter 1 24:25.680 --> 24:27.740 how is the faithful city become a harlot 24:27.740 --> 24:29.140 well she sold herself 24:29.140 --> 24:31.980 but we also see that they relinquish 24:31.980 --> 24:33.420 judgment and righteousness 24:33.420 --> 24:34.840 he says in verse 21 24:34.840 --> 24:36.600 how is the faithful city become a harlot 24:36.600 --> 24:38.240 it was full of judgment 24:38.240 --> 24:40.700 and righteousness lodged 24:40.700 --> 24:42.020 in it the Bible says 24:42.430 --> 24:44.540 now one thing I've noticed is that when Christians 24:44.540 --> 24:45.940 are on fire for God 24:46.430 --> 24:48.040 or they are on par 24:48.530 --> 24:49.800 with the teachings of the Bible 24:50.390 --> 24:51.960 they're very judgmental 24:52.740 --> 24:53.240 right 24:53.760 --> 24:56.020 that's actually a good thing now in your mind you're like 24:56.020 --> 24:57.440 well I thought it was good to judge 24:57.440 --> 24:59.200 no it's very good to judge 25:00.480 --> 25:02.460 judgment in the Bible is also described 25:02.460 --> 25:03.400 as discernment 25:04.460 --> 25:05.540 it's the ability 25:05.540 --> 25:07.360 to judge between good 25:07.360 --> 25:09.500 and evil a right decision 25:09.500 --> 25:10.540 and a bad decision 25:11.200 --> 25:13.000 so when a Christian is right with God 25:13.000 --> 25:14.600 they're filled with judgment 25:15.280 --> 25:17.280 you know and if you don't agree with that 25:17.280 --> 25:19.460 you just been saturated with a lot of 25:19.460 --> 25:20.500 water down preaching 25:21.160 --> 25:23.460 that tries to make you think and convince you 25:23.460 --> 25:25.480 that somehow judging people is wrong 25:25.480 --> 25:26.560 don't judge 25:26.560 --> 25:28.940 you shouldn't judge nobody's perfect 25:28.940 --> 25:31.240 no the Bible says judge not that you 25:31.240 --> 25:32.820 can be not judged for what judgment you judge 25:32.820 --> 25:34.280 you shall be judged with measure your meat 25:34.280 --> 25:37.220 and then it goes on to talk about the fact 25:37.220 --> 25:38.260 that if you're going to judge someone 25:38.260 --> 25:40.460 you better not be guilty of the sin that you're judging 25:40.960 --> 25:42.780 but once you're clear of that sin 25:42.780 --> 25:44.620 clear of that iniquity 25:44.620 --> 25:46.260 guess what how about it 25:47.120 --> 25:49.140 start judging because that's exactly what we 25:49.140 --> 25:50.100 as Christians are supposed to do 25:50.100 --> 25:52.180 and in fact the Bible says that we have the mind of Christ 25:53.280 --> 25:54.940 we are able to make the right 25:54.940 --> 25:56.480 decisions discern 25:57.300 --> 25:58.960 between good and evil 25:58.960 --> 26:01.420 and we have the wisdom of God 26:01.420 --> 26:02.380 this is what the Bible says 26:03.420 --> 26:04.540 but here's the thing 26:04.540 --> 26:06.840 when a person goes from being a faithful city 26:06.840 --> 26:08.520 to a harlot just I'm going to tell you right now 26:08.520 --> 26:09.420 judgment goes out the window 26:11.000 --> 26:12.620 judgment as in judging sin 26:12.620 --> 26:14.780 but also just discernment goes out the window 26:14.780 --> 26:16.580 they're unable 26:17.060 --> 26:18.340 to make right decisions 26:19.140 --> 26:20.940 you know why because it's like God has 26:20.940 --> 26:22.740 extracted the judgment from them 26:22.740 --> 26:25.060 and now they're just making a bunch of dumb decisions 26:26.920 --> 26:27.640 and look folks 26:27.640 --> 26:28.320 you know obviously 26:28.780 --> 26:30.600 not every Christian has the maturity 26:30.600 --> 26:31.560 to make the right decisions 26:31.960 --> 26:34.040 but the great thing about that is that if you're in a church 26:34.040 --> 26:37.200 you're surrounded by very mature discerning Christians 26:37.740 --> 26:39.320 meaning that you could just go to someone 26:39.720 --> 26:40.760 your spiritual leader 26:40.760 --> 26:42.040 a team leader 26:42.040 --> 26:43.740 a mature person in the faith 26:43.740 --> 26:47.000 and ask them for advice in an area that you are deficient in 26:47.000 --> 26:47.720 when it comes to wisdom 26:48.240 --> 26:49.160 they're going to give you wisdom 26:49.740 --> 26:50.800 they're going to give you prudence 26:50.800 --> 26:53.460 they're going to give you the right decision to make 26:53.460 --> 26:54.540 because they're level headed 26:54.540 --> 26:56.880 and then you can grow in that area 26:56.880 --> 26:59.100 wise men if you walk with wise men 26:59.100 --> 27:00.420 you shall be wise the bible says 27:01.260 --> 27:03.020 and another thing is that when you're right with God 27:03.020 --> 27:04.600 you can pray for wisdom and get it 27:04.600 --> 27:07.000 if any of you lack wisdom let them ask of God 27:07.000 --> 27:08.560 who give it to all men liberally 27:08.560 --> 27:10.200 and a braith not the bible says 27:10.200 --> 27:12.220 and he'll give it to you he'll give you wisdom 27:12.220 --> 27:14.640 he'll give you prudence you have the word of God 27:14.640 --> 27:15.780 but let me just tell you right now 27:15.780 --> 27:17.900 when you see a backslidden person 27:17.900 --> 27:20.220 someone who's gotten out of the church is making the worst decisions 27:20.220 --> 27:21.200 don't be surprised 27:22.520 --> 27:23.920 that is the result 27:24.480 --> 27:26.060 of going from a faithful city 27:26.060 --> 27:28.620 to a harlot judgment goes out the window 27:29.200 --> 27:30.620 they're unable to make 27:30.620 --> 27:32.140 any type of 27:32.140 --> 27:33.800 sound judgment 27:34.860 --> 27:36.340 and it goes on to say here 27:37.180 --> 27:38.680 it says it was full of judgment 27:39.960 --> 27:40.920 righteousness lodged 27:40.920 --> 27:41.880 in it 27:41.880 --> 27:43.420 now this applies to 27:44.020 --> 27:46.100 individuals but also applies to churches does it not 27:46.100 --> 27:48.260 a good church is a church that judges 27:49.860 --> 27:51.060 preach is hard 27:51.060 --> 27:52.560 calls out sin 27:52.560 --> 27:54.240 tells it like it is 27:54.240 --> 27:56.440 you find a church that has no judgment 27:56.440 --> 27:57.620 that's a bad church 27:58.220 --> 27:59.700 that's a horrible church 27:59.700 --> 28:02.040 run screaming in the opposite direction 28:02.900 --> 28:04.960 why because there's simply a church 28:04.960 --> 28:07.020 that has great swelling words of vanity 28:07.020 --> 28:08.840 they are flattering you 28:08.840 --> 28:11.000 they don't care about your spiritual health 28:11.000 --> 28:13.340 they're willing to just tickle your ears 28:13.340 --> 28:14.860 and just tell you what you want to hear 28:14.860 --> 28:16.060 because they don't want to lose you as members 28:16.060 --> 28:17.760 a church is meant to 28:21.060 --> 28:22.240 it's filled with judgment 28:23.380 --> 28:24.860 but a church that has no judgment 28:24.860 --> 28:26.080 oh man red flag 28:26.540 --> 28:28.180 run screaming in the opposite direction 28:28.180 --> 28:29.480 but it says here 28:29.480 --> 28:31.100 the faithful city 28:31.100 --> 28:32.280 was filled with judgment 28:32.280 --> 28:34.060 and righteousness lodged in it 28:34.060 --> 28:36.840 in the morning we talked about the fact that 28:36.840 --> 28:38.660 righteousness from a 28:39.940 --> 28:40.780 salvation context 28:40.780 --> 28:42.920 is referring to like the perfection 28:42.920 --> 28:44.160 that we get in Christ 28:44.160 --> 28:46.440 but as I also mentioned 28:46.440 --> 28:48.060 righteousness in the Bible 28:48.060 --> 28:50.340 can also be referring to just moral 28:50.340 --> 28:52.440 uprightness the fact that 28:52.440 --> 28:54.520 you are just a morally 28:54.520 --> 28:56.240 upright individual 28:56.240 --> 28:57.620 you're a holy individual 28:57.620 --> 29:00.180 you love righteousness you like 29:00.180 --> 29:02.320 right living and 29:02.320 --> 29:03.840 when a Christian is faithful 29:04.720 --> 29:05.840 they're not going to be perfect 29:05.840 --> 29:07.740 but they will be moving in the right 29:07.740 --> 29:09.380 direction when it comes to righteousness 29:10.320 --> 29:11.760 meaning that they are working 29:11.760 --> 29:12.660 on themselves 29:13.560 --> 29:15.960 you give me a person who's about to backslide 29:15.960 --> 29:17.620 I'll give you a person who's becoming 29:17.620 --> 29:19.120 wishy-washy on their righteousness 29:19.600 --> 29:21.840 they're not really repenting of their sins anymore 29:21.840 --> 29:24.040 they're not really working on themselves 29:24.040 --> 29:25.240 or how about this 29:25.240 --> 29:27.480 they used to go soul-winning 29:27.480 --> 29:29.340 they used to go to church 29:29.340 --> 29:32.320 they used to do all these things and now they don't 29:33.220 --> 29:35.640 look folks it's one thing when a Christian 29:36.260 --> 29:36.880 you know 29:36.880 --> 29:38.860 goes to one service a week 29:38.860 --> 29:40.080 as a brand new Christian 29:41.500 --> 29:42.720 that's how everyone starts 29:43.360 --> 29:44.740 I remember when I first went to church 29:44.740 --> 29:46.580 I thought there was only one service 29:47.360 --> 29:49.280 it just goes Sunday morning and that was it 29:50.200 --> 29:50.720 I'm like 29:51.220 --> 29:53.840 it's cool then chill the rest of the day 29:55.100 --> 29:55.660 and then 29:55.660 --> 29:57.640 someone told me they're like oh you're going home 29:58.840 --> 29:59.240 yeah 30:00.140 --> 30:01.620 and they're like are you going to come back 30:01.620 --> 30:02.480 I'm like for what 30:02.480 --> 30:04.340 yeah I'll be back next week 30:04.900 --> 30:06.660 they're like no tonight for the service 30:06.660 --> 30:08.180 I was like you guys got a service 30:09.040 --> 30:10.540 tonight you guys do this twice 30:11.120 --> 30:11.980 they're like yeah 30:11.980 --> 30:13.400 come back for Sunday night service 30:13.400 --> 30:16.000 and I was like okay I'll come back for that 30:16.000 --> 30:17.940 and then it came back 30:17.940 --> 30:19.580 it was great and then 30:19.580 --> 30:22.200 after maybe two weeks of that 30:22.200 --> 30:23.900 they're like oh so we'll see you on Thursday 30:24.440 --> 30:25.220 I'm like for what 30:27.700 --> 30:28.280 they're like 30:28.280 --> 30:29.420 for Bible study I'm like 30:29.420 --> 30:31.260 you guys have another service 30:31.820 --> 30:33.260 because you know I didn't grow up in church 30:33.260 --> 30:34.040 I don't know about this 30:34.040 --> 30:36.060 you know for us Catholics 30:36.060 --> 30:39.400 you go to church for Easter and Christmas 30:40.120 --> 30:41.060 or at least you say 30:41.060 --> 30:43.000 that's what you do but you don't really do it 30:44.580 --> 30:45.180 so then 30:45.180 --> 30:47.700 we go to Thursday night Bible study 30:47.700 --> 30:49.500 at 7 o'clock and I'm like whoa this is 30:49.500 --> 30:50.800 three services 30:50.800 --> 30:53.080 now in the old IP they also had Sunday school class 30:53.920 --> 30:55.560 so then you know I'm coming in 30:55.560 --> 30:56.540 for service 30:56.540 --> 30:58.460 and at one time I came in the morning 30:58.460 --> 31:00.060 and I came a little early than usual 31:00.880 --> 31:02.260 and then someone just pulled me aside 31:02.260 --> 31:03.780 they're like where are you going 31:03.780 --> 31:05.640 you need to be in class 31:05.640 --> 31:07.300 and I was just like class 31:08.620 --> 31:09.640 Sunday school class 31:10.380 --> 31:12.040 I'm like a school 31:12.040 --> 31:13.340 like what are you talking about 31:13.340 --> 31:15.200 they're like yeah we have Sunday school class 31:15.200 --> 31:17.740 so they pulled me in the class and it was just like a short little 31:18.520 --> 31:19.260 lesson or whatever 31:19.260 --> 31:21.660 it's like a sermonette type of a thing 31:21.660 --> 31:23.620 and I'm like man these people go 31:23.620 --> 31:26.700 to Sunday school Sunday morning Sunday night 31:26.700 --> 31:27.780 and then 31:28.720 --> 31:29.660 you know we're there 31:29.660 --> 31:30.900 and there's just on Sundays 31:30.900 --> 31:32.880 and they're like we'll see you on Tuesday 31:32.880 --> 31:33.980 for summer saturation 31:34.600 --> 31:35.920 and I'm like what is that 31:35.920 --> 31:38.680 and they're like we go and preach the gospel on Tuesdays 31:38.680 --> 31:39.460 I'm like 31:40.280 --> 31:42.300 this is like the fourth service 31:42.300 --> 31:43.620 for me you know what I mean 31:43.620 --> 31:45.120 because you go there they preach the gospel 31:46.300 --> 31:47.620 and then after that 31:47.620 --> 31:49.900 they had something called RU 31:49.900 --> 31:50.620 okay 31:51.340 --> 31:53.460 and RU was something in the old IFB 31:53.460 --> 31:54.460 you may not know what that is 31:54.460 --> 31:56.840 but it stands for Reformers Unanimous 31:56.840 --> 31:59.040 and basically what they would do is like on Fridays 31:59.640 --> 32:01.100 you know all the drug addicts 32:01.100 --> 32:03.880 former drug addicts would go to this special service 32:03.880 --> 32:05.260 it preached to them 32:05.260 --> 32:06.440 they'd help them memorize scripture 32:07.180 --> 32:09.800 and I was loving church so much that they told me about RU 32:09.800 --> 32:11.780 I was like I'm not a drug addict but I'll go though 32:11.780 --> 32:13.240 just to get more preaching in 32:13.780 --> 32:15.500 and so I would go to RU 32:15.500 --> 32:16.980 hear more preaching 32:16.980 --> 32:18.580 memorize scripture 32:18.580 --> 32:19.660 because I didn't know 32:19.660 --> 32:22.800 the church was just multiple services 32:24.140 --> 32:25.300 and it was great 32:25.300 --> 32:26.900 after a while I did 32:26.900 --> 32:28.200 get rid of that 32:28.720 --> 32:30.200 Reformers Unanimous service because 32:31.100 --> 32:33.140 it wasn't my type of service 32:33.140 --> 32:34.100 that I really liked 32:34.100 --> 32:36.620 and there was a lot of weird people there 32:36.620 --> 32:38.220 and I remember thinking to myself 32:38.750 --> 32:40.560 people were going to start thinking I'm a crackhead or something 32:41.580 --> 32:43.320 and that ended up being the case 32:43.320 --> 32:46.840 they were just like what kind of drugs did you 32:46.840 --> 32:47.440 what kind of drugs I just 32:47.440 --> 32:49.140 I just want another preaching service 32:49.780 --> 32:50.520 and I remember 32:50.520 --> 32:54.400 the director of RU 32:54.400 --> 32:56.220 he really liked the fact that 32:56.220 --> 32:58.580 a bible college student was going to the RU services 32:58.580 --> 33:00.440 it kind of gave them more credibility 33:00.440 --> 33:02.900 so then he ended up inviting me to a conference 33:02.900 --> 33:03.520 up north 33:03.520 --> 33:06.060 and he was like hey I'll pay for everything just come 33:06.060 --> 33:08.080 I'm like oh great so I went with him 33:08.080 --> 33:09.840 and then he's introducing me to all the leaders 33:09.840 --> 33:12.460 he's like this is our first RU 33:12.460 --> 33:14.140 bible college student 33:14.140 --> 33:15.360 and I'm just like 33:15.360 --> 33:16.780 oh hold on a second 33:16.780 --> 33:19.620 I didn't start off an RU 33:19.620 --> 33:21.780 and they're just like congratulations sir 33:21.780 --> 33:23.420 we're really proud of you 33:23.420 --> 33:25.880 and I'm like alright it's time to cut off the RU service 33:25.880 --> 33:27.320 because I didn't do this 33:27.320 --> 33:29.900 the point being is that as a brand new Christian 33:29.900 --> 33:31.980 you gradually learn more and then you do more 33:31.980 --> 33:33.000 that's one thing 33:33.000 --> 33:34.980 to add one service or whatever 33:34.980 --> 33:37.680 but it's another thing when you've already done these services 33:37.680 --> 33:39.900 but then you start to reduce the amount that you do 33:40.440 --> 33:41.860 you start cutting back 33:42.720 --> 33:43.760 that's a problem there 33:44.280 --> 33:45.860 because at that point now 33:45.860 --> 33:48.120 it's just like well I need to 33:48.120 --> 33:49.560 like minimize what I do 33:49.560 --> 33:51.400 not go to as many services 33:51.400 --> 33:54.540 or you might be listening to someone saying hey you're getting a little too radical there 33:54.540 --> 33:56.340 you're getting a little too crazy there 33:56.340 --> 33:58.600 you're getting a little too fanatic there 33:58.600 --> 33:59.820 you need to take a couple 33:59.820 --> 34:02.400 days off a couple weeks off of a Sunday night 34:02.400 --> 34:03.560 of a Thursday night 34:03.560 --> 34:06.160 and you know what happens the longer you're at a church 34:06.160 --> 34:07.320 the more easy it is to 34:07.780 --> 34:08.380 be at a church 34:09.020 --> 34:10.080 that's just the way it works 34:10.080 --> 34:12.420 now look folks if you are projectile vomiting 34:12.420 --> 34:14.220 you're running 105 fever 34:14.220 --> 34:16.260 and you know you are 34:17.200 --> 34:18.600 pregnant in some instances 34:18.600 --> 34:20.360 because sometimes women when they're pregnant they're just 34:20.360 --> 34:21.940 you know they got a lot of things 34:21.940 --> 34:24.100 they're making eyeballs and elbows and stuff like that 34:24.100 --> 34:25.180 they just can be very tired 34:25.180 --> 34:26.540 that's another thing okay 34:27.960 --> 34:30.080 but if it's just you got nothing going on 34:31.140 --> 34:32.460 you know you need to be 34:32.460 --> 34:32.840 in church 34:34.500 --> 34:36.180 don't start cutting away 34:36.900 --> 34:37.340 services 34:37.820 --> 34:39.080 and Bible reading 34:39.080 --> 34:40.820 and soul winning times 34:40.820 --> 34:43.660 just because someone is telling you that you're doing too much 34:44.660 --> 34:45.920 okay that's one thing 34:45.920 --> 34:47.820 and so you know what does it show 34:47.820 --> 34:49.560 when you start doing this I'm telling you what it is 34:49.560 --> 34:50.400 it's righteousness 34:50.900 --> 34:52.520 you're living righteously but 34:52.520 --> 34:54.540 the person who was a faithful city 34:54.540 --> 34:56.960 who is now a harler I'm just telling you right now 34:57.400 --> 34:59.280 they started off going to all the services 34:59.280 --> 35:01.060 they were three to thrive 35:01.060 --> 35:02.640 then there were two to thrive 35:02.640 --> 35:03.980 then there were one to thrive 35:03.980 --> 35:06.000 and then there's just no thriving after that 35:06.600 --> 35:08.080 because they just made excuses 35:08.080 --> 35:09.760 of why not to come to church or whatever 35:09.760 --> 35:12.220 and again I'm not referring to you 35:12.220 --> 35:13.240 your car breaks down 35:13.240 --> 35:15.160 you died or something like that 35:15.160 --> 35:15.940 you have an excuse 35:17.580 --> 35:18.480 I get it 35:20.980 --> 35:22.240 I'm talking about the fact 35:22.240 --> 35:24.040 that you just are making up excuses 35:24.040 --> 35:25.160 why not to come to church 35:26.900 --> 35:28.560 it's a righteous thing to come to church 35:28.560 --> 35:30.340 it's a righteous thing to carry these things out 35:30.340 --> 35:31.480 don't be lazy 35:32.340 --> 35:33.480 don't be a sloth 35:33.480 --> 35:35.380 don't be a spiritually lazy person 35:35.380 --> 35:37.260 who just can't hack it 35:37.260 --> 35:40.080 because you rather just do nothing somewhere else 35:40.080 --> 35:42.400 and look you know I'm not trying to be rude to you 35:42.400 --> 35:42.940 but I kind of am 35:42.940 --> 35:45.820 you're kind of like not doing nothing 35:45.820 --> 35:47.100 you're not doing anything right now 35:47.640 --> 35:49.300 other than just listening to me 35:50.600 --> 35:52.260 I don't have you on a treadmill 35:52.260 --> 35:53.220 or something like that 35:53.220 --> 35:55.440 okay you're literally 35:55.440 --> 35:57.360 you know you're sitting there 35:57.360 --> 35:58.440 I'm just yelling at you 35:58.440 --> 36:00.400 the one who's doing the most work right now is me 36:01.940 --> 36:03.300 I'm the one who has to look at you 36:03.300 --> 36:04.960 I'm the one who has to preach 36:04.960 --> 36:06.720 you just have to sit there 36:06.720 --> 36:09.120 and get the preaching of God's word 36:09.120 --> 36:10.780 consume it and then later 36:10.780 --> 36:12.180 the work goes later on 36:12.180 --> 36:13.780 you have to obey it later on 36:13.780 --> 36:15.140 it's not hard to be in church 36:15.140 --> 36:17.280 I don't have sympathy for people 36:17.280 --> 36:18.420 it's just so hard 36:18.420 --> 36:22.700 I got you these cushiony seats 36:24.420 --> 36:25.780 if you think this is hard 36:25.780 --> 36:27.120 you were not in Omani 36:29.860 --> 36:30.900 can I get a witness 36:31.580 --> 36:33.340 who remembers the chairs in Omani 36:34.180 --> 36:35.660 okay and you know what 36:36.420 --> 36:37.820 bless your soul 36:38.720 --> 36:40.400 for being willing to be 36:40.400 --> 36:41.960 a member of First Works Baptist Church 36:41.960 --> 36:44.180 when we were in Omani because those chairs sucked 36:44.680 --> 36:45.820 it was just like 36:45.820 --> 36:47.360 you know what 36:47.360 --> 36:49.780 you obviously came for the preaching not because of the comfort 36:49.780 --> 36:51.900 okay and let me say this 36:51.900 --> 36:54.040 oh it's so cold in here though 36:54.680 --> 36:55.280 bro 36:56.000 --> 36:57.020 if you're in Omani 36:57.740 --> 37:00.540 that was the closest you would get to the lake of fire 37:00.540 --> 37:00.940 okay 37:00.940 --> 37:04.440 and we bought like an AC unit 37:04.440 --> 37:05.120 didn't help 37:05.780 --> 37:07.580 okay and so like 37:07.580 --> 37:09.800 these chairs in AC 37:09.800 --> 37:11.200 this is helping you amen 37:11.200 --> 37:13.960 what I'm saying is this is not hard to come to church 37:15.760 --> 37:17.120 you're not a martyr 37:18.380 --> 37:19.740 for coming to church 37:19.740 --> 37:22.200 it's not difficult at all 37:22.200 --> 37:24.480 depending upon how far you live 37:24.480 --> 37:25.520 is it hard it could be 37:25.520 --> 37:28.200 you got people traveling 3 hours or whatever 37:28.200 --> 37:30.200 okay you know we'll sympathize 37:30.200 --> 37:31.300 for you just a little bit 37:31.300 --> 37:34.740 but hey you're 10 minutes away 37:34.740 --> 37:36.460 I'm not sympathizing with you at all bro 37:36.460 --> 37:38.180 you're not getting any empathy 37:38.180 --> 37:40.740 you're 15 minutes away I'm not empathizing at all 37:40.740 --> 37:41.660 you don't get my sympathy 37:42.220 --> 37:43.740 you're 30 minutes away still 37:43.740 --> 37:46.300 because we literally have people who drive like hours 37:46.880 --> 37:48.200 and they're willing to come 37:48.200 --> 37:49.300 and put in the work 37:49.300 --> 37:50.720 of sitting there 37:50.720 --> 37:52.720 and just listen to the preaching of God's word 37:53.380 --> 37:54.980 I don't really appreciate that 37:54.980 --> 37:56.420 well you can go to some non 37:56.420 --> 37:58.780 I welcome you I challenge you 37:58.780 --> 38:00.720 to go to some non-denom church 38:01.300 --> 38:03.000 you know and you get all the 38:03.000 --> 38:04.060 bells and whistles 38:04.060 --> 38:06.280 you get you know cool stuff 38:06.280 --> 38:08.240 and purple lights and smoke and mirrors 38:08.240 --> 38:10.780 but the preaching absolutely sucks 38:11.660 --> 38:13.180 and you get nothing out of it 38:13.180 --> 38:13.680 okay 38:14.960 --> 38:17.120 and it actually takes more work 38:17.120 --> 38:17.760 in those churches 38:17.760 --> 38:20.700 because you have to try to get something out of the preaching 38:20.700 --> 38:21.360 from there 38:22.540 --> 38:24.560 the point is is that a person goes 38:24.560 --> 38:26.260 from a faithful city to a harlot 38:26.260 --> 38:28.700 when they begin to relinquish 38:28.700 --> 38:30.720 judgment and righteousness 38:31.700 --> 38:32.900 you know it should be 38:32.900 --> 38:34.820 that as Christians we are constantly 38:34.820 --> 38:36.360 working at being righteous people 38:36.960 --> 38:38.140 okay and look 38:38.140 --> 38:40.340 obviously I'm not saying to just be 38:40.340 --> 38:42.340 fully mature in your first year 38:42.340 --> 38:43.280 second year third year 38:43.280 --> 38:44.960 but you know we should endeavor 38:44.960 --> 38:47.160 every single time every single week 38:47.160 --> 38:48.600 to change something about ourselves 38:48.600 --> 38:51.560 to get right with God and be a righteous person 38:52.080 --> 38:52.800 it says 38:52.800 --> 38:54.620 how was the faithful city becoming a harlot 38:54.620 --> 38:57.720 it was full of judgment and righteousness lodged in it 38:57.720 --> 38:59.620 but now murderers 38:59.620 --> 39:01.300 so they're saying like this is 39:01.300 --> 39:03.260 such a godly place at one point 39:03.260 --> 39:04.400 it was such a faithful city 39:04.400 --> 39:07.600 but now like it's just filled with criminals and murderers 39:07.600 --> 39:09.340 now how do we apply that as Christians 39:09.340 --> 39:11.380 well go to 1 John chapter 2 39:11.380 --> 39:12.220 hold your place there 39:14.020 --> 39:14.840 1 John 39:17.420 --> 39:18.860 1 John chapter 2 39:20.540 --> 39:21.460 here's the thing folks 39:21.460 --> 39:22.280 as Christians 39:23.380 --> 39:25.140 one of the major virtues 39:25.140 --> 39:27.160 that I feel like we need to work on 39:27.160 --> 39:29.140 I need to work on every Christian needs to work on 39:29.140 --> 39:30.860 is just the virtue of love right 39:30.860 --> 39:32.400 we talked about that two weeks ago 39:32.400 --> 39:34.800 having genuine love for the brethren 39:35.260 --> 39:37.160 and that is essentially the marker 39:37.160 --> 39:37.880 of a disciple 39:38.460 --> 39:40.320 by this y'all all men know that you are my disciples 39:40.320 --> 39:41.720 if you have love one for another 39:42.260 --> 39:43.280 that's what the Bible says 39:43.900 --> 39:45.740 and so our love for the brethren ought to grow 39:45.740 --> 39:47.700 so that basically means 39:47.700 --> 39:49.800 that there should be no hatred between brethren 39:49.800 --> 39:52.220 should be no hatred 39:52.660 --> 39:53.940 you know what is the sign 39:53.940 --> 39:56.240 that a person is regressing spiritually 39:56.240 --> 39:57.940 they become hateful 39:57.940 --> 39:59.180 and bitter towards the brethren 39:59.800 --> 40:01.260 look at 1 John chapter 2 40:01.980 --> 40:03.460 and look at verse number 8 40:03.460 --> 40:05.260 it says again a new commandment I write unto you 40:05.260 --> 40:07.720 which thing is true in him and in you 40:07.720 --> 40:09.560 because the darkness is past 40:09.560 --> 40:11.000 and the true light now shine it 40:11.000 --> 40:13.060 he that sayeth he is in the light 40:13.060 --> 40:14.640 and hateeth his brother 40:15.180 --> 40:17.300 is in darkness even until now 40:17.300 --> 40:19.140 he that loveeth his brother 40:19.140 --> 40:20.680 abideth in the light 40:20.680 --> 40:23.620 and there is none occasion of stumbling in him 40:23.620 --> 40:25.200 but he that hateeth his brother 40:25.200 --> 40:26.460 is in darkness 40:27.260 --> 40:28.520 and walketh in darkness 40:28.520 --> 40:30.240 and knoweth now whether he goeth 40:30.240 --> 40:32.740 because the darkness hath blinded his eyes 40:32.740 --> 40:33.320 the Bible says 40:33.320 --> 40:36.520 and tells me there is no room 40:36.520 --> 40:38.120 in our hearts for hatred for the brethren 40:39.280 --> 40:39.760 obviously 40:39.760 --> 40:43.080 I don't think when Christians backslide 40:43.080 --> 40:44.580 I don't think it automatically starts off 40:44.580 --> 40:45.480 as hatred towards the brethren 40:45.480 --> 40:47.780 there is like a gradual 40:48.360 --> 40:50.080 there is gradual steps to that 40:50.740 --> 40:51.700 you become offended 40:52.340 --> 40:54.460 after the offense then resentment 40:55.000 --> 40:55.480 bitterness 40:55.480 --> 40:57.700 then you are not getting it right 40:57.700 --> 40:58.780 and then what is the ultimate thing 40:58.780 --> 41:00.540 the ultimate step there is 41:00.540 --> 41:01.860 that you become hateful towards the brethren 41:01.860 --> 41:04.340 you have this animosity towards the brethren 41:04.340 --> 41:05.640 you don't want to see them 41:05.640 --> 41:06.780 you don't want to be around them 41:06.780 --> 41:09.180 that is a marker of a person 41:09.180 --> 41:10.540 who has gone backslidden 41:11.320 --> 41:13.460 and may not be said of anybody in here 41:13.460 --> 41:15.780 anybody in our church that you have any type of hatred 41:15.780 --> 41:16.680 in your heart for the brethren 41:17.960 --> 41:20.060 now look I'm not saying you have to like everyone 41:21.060 --> 41:23.200 and thank God that the Bible doesn't require us to 41:23.200 --> 41:23.440 right 41:26.160 --> 41:26.560 amen 41:26.560 --> 41:28.840 because it gets hard sometimes to like everyone 41:29.360 --> 41:30.840 we just do personalities 41:30.840 --> 41:31.260 clash 41:31.920 --> 41:33.660 you know what I'm saying right 41:34.920 --> 41:36.300 sometimes you just don't 41:36.300 --> 41:38.580 get along with people the way you would get along with others 41:39.260 --> 41:39.700 and 41:40.780 --> 41:41.960 but here is the thing 41:41.960 --> 41:44.300 there should be no animosity or hatred 41:44.300 --> 41:46.160 or ill will towards other people 41:47.000 --> 41:48.360 because you are still a Christian 41:49.180 --> 41:50.040 as a Christian 41:50.360 --> 41:51.620 you need to demonstrate love 41:51.620 --> 41:52.880 you need to have love 41:52.880 --> 41:54.000 and let me say this 41:54.820 --> 41:56.180 also prior to 41:56.180 --> 41:57.340 hating someone 41:57.340 --> 41:59.960 a precursor to that is just envy 42:01.300 --> 42:02.540 envy towards the brethren 42:03.540 --> 42:05.840 becoming covetous towards the things that they have 42:05.840 --> 42:07.600 envy is towards their position 42:07.600 --> 42:08.420 and their status 42:08.420 --> 42:10.600 and this can often transform 42:10.600 --> 42:12.760 and evolve into hatred 42:12.760 --> 42:14.320 for the brethren and look folks 42:14.320 --> 42:16.720 if that's you you are like well I have reason 42:16.720 --> 42:18.360 to hate this person no you don't 42:18.360 --> 42:19.580 no you don't 42:19.580 --> 42:21.240 because the Bible strictly commands against it 42:21.240 --> 42:23.680 and you need to get that right with God 42:23.680 --> 42:26.000 and look if there is ever animosity 42:26.000 --> 42:27.580 and hatred between brethren 42:27.580 --> 42:28.780 this is what you do 42:28.780 --> 42:31.640 get it right with God go to that person 42:31.640 --> 42:32.920 ask for forgiveness 42:33.380 --> 42:34.980 ask that they forgive you 42:35.440 --> 42:37.580 be reconciled to your brother 42:37.580 --> 42:39.300 and then live happily ever after 42:40.400 --> 42:41.600 you don't have to 42:41.600 --> 42:43.080 just carry on 42:43.080 --> 42:44.980 with animosity hatred 42:45.560 --> 42:47.380 bitter strife envies 42:47.380 --> 42:49.340 in your heart because it's a godless thing to do 42:49.340 --> 42:51.180 and it puts you on the path 42:51.180 --> 42:52.740 to becoming a spiritual harlot 42:53.240 --> 42:54.980 where once you are a faithful city 42:54.980 --> 42:57.200 you are doing right you are doing good 42:57.200 --> 42:58.640 but all of a sudden you get offended 42:58.640 --> 43:01.260 and let me tell you something you will be offended in our church 43:02.180 --> 43:03.320 I'll make sure of it 43:03.320 --> 43:05.660 I'm just kidding you will be offended 43:06.160 --> 43:07.660 someone is going to offend you 43:07.660 --> 43:09.260 someone is going to wrong you 43:09.260 --> 43:11.340 why because just because we're a church 43:11.340 --> 43:12.700 doesn't mean that we're perfect 43:13.300 --> 43:15.300 and people will do wrong things towards you 43:15.300 --> 43:16.740 not because they intend to 43:16.740 --> 43:17.960 maybe they do I don't know 43:17.960 --> 43:21.020 it's a sinful church just like any other church 43:21.020 --> 43:22.940 we just have to make sure 43:22.940 --> 43:25.080 that we put the appropriate 43:25.600 --> 43:27.180 parameters and guidelines 43:27.180 --> 43:28.880 so when that happens 43:28.880 --> 43:31.060 we don't allow it to evolve 43:31.060 --> 43:32.320 into hatred for the brethren 43:32.320 --> 43:34.420 because let me tell you this 43:34.420 --> 43:37.680 hatred becomes bitterness and it just completely destroys you 43:37.680 --> 43:39.300 I mean look at Saul and David 43:39.300 --> 43:41.700 Saul was a righteous person 43:41.700 --> 43:42.880 a godly individual 43:42.880 --> 43:44.600 then he just had a hatred towards David 43:44.600 --> 43:46.720 even to the point where he wanted to kill David 43:47.380 --> 43:49.020 it's a godless thing to do my friends 43:49.020 --> 43:51.160 and so we need to ask Christians 43:51.860 --> 43:52.260 endeavor 43:52.840 --> 43:54.660 to keep the spirit of unity 43:54.660 --> 43:56.380 in the bond of peace 43:56.380 --> 43:57.780 you know what it means to endeavor? 43:58.020 --> 43:59.400 means work at it 44:00.260 --> 44:02.380 if there's beef between you and another brother 44:02.380 --> 44:04.040 in Christ go get it right 44:04.040 --> 44:05.980 stop acting like a little girl and just go get it right 44:05.980 --> 44:07.440 we're not in the fifth grade 44:07.440 --> 44:08.820 we're not in elementary school 44:08.820 --> 44:10.520 this is not high school 44:10.520 --> 44:11.540 okay 44:12.100 --> 44:14.020 let me just remind everyone here too 44:14.020 --> 44:15.900 that we need to make sure 44:15.900 --> 44:17.740 that if there is people 44:17.740 --> 44:20.100 that are causing us to be divided 44:21.380 --> 44:22.440 that number one 44:22.440 --> 44:25.180 we just got to make sure we get all the stories first 44:26.160 --> 44:26.680 okay 44:27.300 --> 44:28.780 and look don't be bringing up things 44:28.780 --> 44:29.700 from the past either 44:30.880 --> 44:33.080 and I talk about this all the time 44:34.260 --> 44:35.680 don't bring up past 44:35.680 --> 44:36.360 offenses 44:36.360 --> 44:39.140 let bygones be bygones 44:39.720 --> 44:40.800 just let it go 44:40.800 --> 44:42.420 and you know what don't allow people 44:42.420 --> 44:43.860 who don't go to our church 44:44.560 --> 44:46.120 to try to make your mind evil 44:46.120 --> 44:47.500 affected against the brethren here 44:47.500 --> 44:48.700 it's not right to do 44:49.340 --> 44:50.560 especially if they're not in church 44:51.200 --> 44:53.000 even if they used to go to our church 44:53.640 --> 44:54.080 okay 44:54.680 --> 44:55.920 they're trying to make your mind evil 44:55.920 --> 44:57.660 trying to stir up trouble 44:57.660 --> 45:01.340 and this is mainly most of the time 45:01.340 --> 45:01.860 amongst women 45:01.860 --> 45:02.940 let me just be honest with you 45:02.940 --> 45:05.020 I feel like you hate women or something like that 45:05.020 --> 45:07.800 most dramas centered around women 45:07.800 --> 45:08.980 just be honest with you 45:08.980 --> 45:10.780 can I get some ladies to nod their heads 45:10.780 --> 45:12.600 what else we got 45:14.280 --> 45:15.000 where's my wife 45:15.000 --> 45:16.740 nod your head honey 45:18.120 --> 45:18.760 it's true 45:20.760 --> 45:21.700 don't allow people 45:21.700 --> 45:23.660 to make your mind evil affected against the sisters 45:23.660 --> 45:24.980 and brothers in Christ in the church 45:25.760 --> 45:27.520 and let me also say this 45:27.520 --> 45:29.580 don't believe everything you hear either 45:30.420 --> 45:31.800 person says something about 45:31.800 --> 45:32.700 x, y, and z 45:32.700 --> 45:35.020 don't automatically jump on the bandwagon 45:35.020 --> 45:37.100 to just believe it even if you have a bias 45:37.100 --> 45:38.980 against the person who's telling you these things 45:38.980 --> 45:41.100 like oh yeah that must be true because they would do something 45:41.100 --> 45:41.840 no it's not 45:42.280 --> 45:43.200 you don't know 45:43.200 --> 45:46.860 we have to protect ourselves against stuff like that 45:46.860 --> 45:49.600 because you know what the devil's constantly trying to cause 45:50.140 --> 45:50.580 division 45:51.040 --> 45:53.420 he knows that a strong church is united 45:53.420 --> 45:55.240 he knows that a strong church 45:55.240 --> 45:56.700 has loved one for another 45:56.700 --> 45:57.980 and so what is he trying to do 45:57.980 --> 46:00.440 he tries to send these people 46:00.440 --> 46:02.480 who just cause division 46:02.480 --> 46:04.380 and problems in the church 46:04.380 --> 46:05.920 and through gossip 46:05.920 --> 46:08.340 and being busy bodies and tattletales and whatnot 46:08.340 --> 46:09.820 forget all that 46:10.610 --> 46:12.460 okay forgive, forget 46:12.460 --> 46:13.900 let bygones be bygones 46:13.900 --> 46:16.620 and don't allow a problem to evolve 46:16.620 --> 46:17.460 beyond that 46:17.460 --> 46:19.500 reconcile you're like well 46:19.500 --> 46:21.380 two and a half years ago 46:21.380 --> 46:23.480 in six weeks and three days 46:23.900 --> 46:24.620 forget that 46:25.900 --> 46:27.400 and look folks I've had people 46:27.400 --> 46:28.380 in this church offend me 46:29.460 --> 46:31.100 in times past you're like what did they do 46:31.100 --> 46:31.620 I don't remember 46:32.680 --> 46:33.560 I know what happened 46:34.680 --> 46:35.680 I don't remember though 46:37.420 --> 46:38.380 I don't remember 46:39.160 --> 46:41.300 because I don't sit around thinking about those things 46:42.400 --> 46:43.100 you know why 46:43.100 --> 46:45.020 because I have to live with you for the rest of my life 46:45.420 --> 46:45.960 that's right 46:47.040 --> 46:48.960 I have to see you for the rest of my life 46:48.960 --> 46:51.020 and you know what I don't want 46:51.020 --> 46:52.780 for the rest of my life to have this 46:52.780 --> 46:55.600 for you to have this stigma in my mind 46:55.600 --> 46:56.800 about you 46:56.800 --> 46:58.500 so when I forgive 46:58.500 --> 47:00.280 I also try my best to forget 47:00.280 --> 47:02.240 and obviously it's probably somewhere in the files 47:02.240 --> 47:03.020 right 47:04.900 --> 47:05.900 massive cabinet 47:05.900 --> 47:08.480 in my mind of offenses 47:08.480 --> 47:09.500 and things that have happened 47:09.500 --> 47:12.580 but I don't put the file at the very front of the cabinet though 47:13.460 --> 47:14.660 I put it away 47:14.660 --> 47:15.640 in the back 47:15.640 --> 47:18.400 I lock it and I throw away the key 47:18.400 --> 47:19.500 and I forget about where it's at 47:19.500 --> 47:22.220 it takes a lot of work actually in my mind 47:22.220 --> 47:23.780 to go back to those offenses 47:24.500 --> 47:25.860 I got to look for the key 47:25.860 --> 47:27.860 got to figure out what cabinet it's in 47:27.860 --> 47:29.100 what file it's under 47:29.100 --> 47:30.320 I don't label my stuff either 47:31.100 --> 47:32.880 I do that all on purpose 47:32.880 --> 47:35.680 so I'm not revisiting old offenses 47:35.680 --> 47:37.360 and then become a bitter resentful person 47:38.180 --> 47:39.600 you need to do the same 47:40.720 --> 47:41.160 okay 47:42.560 --> 47:44.880 why because you know the bible talks about 47:45.400 --> 47:45.840 hatred 47:45.840 --> 47:47.260 being like murder 47:47.840 --> 47:48.300 okay 47:48.300 --> 47:50.840 the faithful city was great it was full of judgment 47:50.840 --> 47:52.860 it was full of righteousness but then it was filled 47:52.860 --> 47:55.060 with murder and the way we could apply that 47:55.060 --> 47:57.480 is they became a place of hateful 47:57.480 --> 47:59.460 intent towards their brothers 47:59.460 --> 48:01.160 and those who lived among them 48:01.160 --> 48:02.320 just how it would be in a church 48:02.320 --> 48:02.980 go back to Isaiah 48:03.580 --> 48:04.580 Isaiah if you would 48:08.440 --> 48:08.960 how 48:08.960 --> 48:11.500 has the faithful city become a harlot 48:11.500 --> 48:12.860 she sold herself 48:12.860 --> 48:15.280 she relinquished judgment and righteousness 48:15.280 --> 48:17.140 she began to hate 48:17.140 --> 48:18.440 the brethren, murderers 48:18.440 --> 48:19.420 look what verse 22 says 48:19.420 --> 48:22.360 thy silver is become 48:22.360 --> 48:23.940 dross the bible says 48:24.690 --> 48:26.320 now what can we apply 48:26.570 --> 48:28.640 how can we apply this particular statement 48:28.640 --> 48:30.520 well when you look at silver 48:30.520 --> 48:32.440 you know obviously it has 48:32.440 --> 48:34.600 value right, monetary value 48:34.600 --> 48:36.520 but when it begins to 48:36.520 --> 48:38.700 accumulate dross it drops in 48:38.700 --> 48:39.920 value okay 48:39.920 --> 48:41.780 and you know obviously 48:41.780 --> 48:44.080 the goal is is that when it accumulates dross 48:44.080 --> 48:46.100 you got to scrub away the dross 48:46.100 --> 48:47.960 so it can remain useful 48:48.620 --> 48:49.960 but there can be a 48:49.960 --> 48:51.900 point where it becomes so 48:51.900 --> 48:53.800 corrupted so filled 48:53.800 --> 48:56.000 with dross that is just kind of 48:56.000 --> 48:57.300 useless at that point 48:57.920 --> 49:00.180 there's two ways to apply this obviously we know 49:00.180 --> 49:01.800 that Jeremiah chapter 6 for example 49:01.800 --> 49:03.120 the bible says 49:03.880 --> 49:07.580 and it compares the two coins 49:07.580 --> 49:09.000 that are no longer able to be 49:09.000 --> 49:11.380 clean they're no longer able to be purified 49:11.380 --> 49:12.680 and so forth and that's referring to the 49:12.680 --> 49:14.540 reprobate but here's the thing though 49:14.540 --> 49:16.980 is that when it applies to Christians 49:16.980 --> 49:18.920 Christians can't become reprobate 49:18.920 --> 49:20.480 they can't lose their salvation 49:20.870 --> 49:23.020 they can't be beyond the hope of salvation 49:23.020 --> 49:25.880 but they can become castaways though 49:27.000 --> 49:28.920 okay and in fact in 49:28.920 --> 49:30.280 the original language 49:30.280 --> 49:33.100 the term reprobate is also 49:33.100 --> 49:35.180 used to describe the term castaway 49:35.180 --> 49:36.740 in the context of Christians 49:36.740 --> 49:38.540 not beyond the hope of salvation 49:38.540 --> 49:40.880 but just beyond being useful 49:40.880 --> 49:41.620 unto the Lord 49:42.300 --> 49:45.020 now you and Isaiah let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 9 49:45.020 --> 49:46.600 if you will 1 Corinthians chapter 9 49:46.600 --> 49:48.780 this is another part of the work that you have to do 49:48.780 --> 49:50.760 when you're in church is actually go through your bible amen 49:52.700 --> 49:54.820 God forbid that we should read the bible in church 49:56.000 --> 49:57.680 1 Corinthians chapter 9 50:01.000 --> 50:02.280 1 Corinthians 9 50:02.280 --> 50:04.640 and let's start in verse number 26 it says 50:04.640 --> 50:06.940 I therefore so run not a certainty 50:06.940 --> 50:09.440 so fight I not as one that beat at the air 50:09.440 --> 50:11.220 but I keep under my body 50:11.220 --> 50:12.680 and bring it into subjection 50:13.260 --> 50:15.260 lest by any means when I preach to others 50:15.260 --> 50:17.740 I myself should be a castaway 50:17.740 --> 50:19.500 so what is the apostle Paul saying here 50:19.500 --> 50:21.300 he's saying you know I need to make sure 50:21.300 --> 50:23.400 that I discipline my body to do the things 50:23.400 --> 50:25.500 that it's supposed to do to spiritually run 50:25.500 --> 50:27.120 the race because if not 50:27.120 --> 50:28.640 I can become useless 50:30.380 --> 50:30.860 castaway 50:30.860 --> 50:32.760 what is castaway it's like 50:32.760 --> 50:34.520 the branch in 50:34.520 --> 50:36.000 John chapter 15 50:36.000 --> 50:38.180 that's not abiding in the vine 50:38.760 --> 50:40.120 it's broken off 50:40.580 --> 50:41.800 men gather them 50:41.800 --> 50:44.020 and cast them into the fire and they are burnt 50:44.760 --> 50:46.460 basically means you become a useless Christian 50:46.460 --> 50:47.300 okay 50:47.300 --> 50:50.080 and you know how a faithful city becomes a harlot 50:50.080 --> 50:50.900 they become useless 50:50.900 --> 50:52.560 they're no longer serving 50:53.200 --> 50:55.540 they're no longer abiding in the vine 50:55.540 --> 50:58.660 they have allowed the draws to accumulate 50:58.660 --> 50:59.980 on them so much 50:59.980 --> 51:02.160 it's not really worth anything anymore 51:02.160 --> 51:03.860 and you know what it is true 51:03.860 --> 51:05.820 don't allow the liberal preachers 51:05.820 --> 51:07.960 like you're worth so much to God 51:08.720 --> 51:10.320 because initially that is true 51:10.320 --> 51:12.040 which is why he died for us right 51:12.040 --> 51:13.940 why Jesus Christ died for us 51:13.940 --> 51:15.420 where we're saved but 51:15.420 --> 51:17.460 let me just give you the reality check here 51:17.760 --> 51:19.540 if the salt has lost its savor 51:19.540 --> 51:21.140 it is thenceforth good for nothing 51:21.800 --> 51:23.960 the Bible talks about 51:23.960 --> 51:25.720 the unprofitable servant 51:27.000 --> 51:28.140 it means that 51:28.140 --> 51:30.000 you're no good 51:30.720 --> 51:31.380 you're no bueno 51:33.540 --> 51:34.960 and the Lord as a boss 51:34.960 --> 51:35.760 can fire you 51:37.560 --> 51:38.680 he can say 51:38.680 --> 51:40.100 you're not doing a good job 51:40.100 --> 51:41.960 you're not doing a good job 51:41.960 --> 51:43.840 you've allowed the draws to accumulate 51:44.560 --> 51:46.600 you're just allowing sin in your life 51:46.600 --> 51:47.720 and you know what 51:47.720 --> 51:49.420 it's time to just take you out of the picture 51:49.920 --> 51:50.740 you're fired 51:52.120 --> 51:53.580 doesn't mean you'll lose your salvation 51:53.580 --> 51:54.760 thank God for that amen 51:54.760 --> 51:57.100 it just means you ain't getting paid 51:57.980 --> 51:58.740 for the work 51:58.740 --> 51:59.860 that you could have done in the future 51:59.860 --> 52:01.700 the rewards you could have gained 52:01.700 --> 52:03.260 because you made yourself useless 52:03.260 --> 52:06.080 after salvation the goal for us 52:06.080 --> 52:08.080 is to be useful in the service of the Lord 52:08.710 --> 52:09.540 useful servants 52:10.220 --> 52:10.960 so winners 52:10.960 --> 52:12.640 to reach people 52:12.640 --> 52:14.420 to invest in people 52:14.420 --> 52:16.720 to disciple people how to preach the gospel 52:16.720 --> 52:18.080 to turn people to righteousness 52:18.600 --> 52:20.520 we should have this prayer 52:20.520 --> 52:21.580 to say Lord please 52:22.080 --> 52:23.640 use me to change someone's life 52:24.500 --> 52:26.500 use me to just help someone get right 52:26.500 --> 52:28.260 with God to get saved 52:28.260 --> 52:30.640 and please do that for the rest of my life 52:31.460 --> 52:32.180 but you know what 52:32.180 --> 52:33.640 sometimes silver becomes dross though 52:33.640 --> 52:35.560 so accumulated with dross 52:36.580 --> 52:37.460 sin, corruption 52:37.460 --> 52:40.940 that it gets to a point where it doesn't even look like a coin anymore 52:41.500 --> 52:43.140 doesn't even look like silver anymore 52:43.900 --> 52:45.000 it just lost 52:45.000 --> 52:46.700 it's luster, it's beauty 52:46.700 --> 52:48.560 it doesn't shine anymore 52:48.560 --> 52:50.540 because it's not letting its life so shine 52:51.000 --> 52:51.880 it's so dim 52:52.320 --> 52:54.560 after a while it's just like they're not even useful anymore 52:54.560 --> 52:56.560 they're actually becoming detrimental 52:57.300 --> 52:58.420 towards the things of God 52:58.420 --> 52:59.720 go to chapter 3 52:59.720 --> 53:01.520 chapter 3 53:05.100 --> 53:07.620 you're like well pastor I know of someone who's like that 53:07.620 --> 53:09.080 I know someone who's saved 53:09.080 --> 53:10.420 but they're backslidden 53:10.420 --> 53:12.380 and they're not useful to the things of God 53:12.380 --> 53:14.300 and I feel like God hasn't punished them what's up with that 53:14.300 --> 53:16.080 well we gotta leave that in God's hands 53:16.660 --> 53:18.180 because we have no idea 53:18.180 --> 53:19.840 that essentially 53:19.840 --> 53:21.660 demonstrates how merciful God is 53:22.880 --> 53:24.260 God's just merciful to that person 53:24.260 --> 53:25.900 and we have no idea 53:26.540 --> 53:29.440 what type of thoughts the Lord is putting into that person's mind 53:30.460 --> 53:32.680 and we need to pray for that person to get right with God 53:32.680 --> 53:34.160 I'm just telling you right now though 53:34.160 --> 53:36.100 that you can get to a point 53:36.100 --> 53:37.700 where you become a cast away 53:37.700 --> 53:40.120 where God just tosses you to the side 53:40.120 --> 53:42.080 because not only are you not useful 53:42.080 --> 53:43.880 you're actually becoming detrimental to others 53:43.880 --> 53:45.680 look at 1 Corinthians chapter 3 53:46.820 --> 53:49.120 and verse number 16 53:49.120 --> 53:49.440 it says 53:49.440 --> 53:51.020 no you're not the temple of God 53:51.020 --> 53:52.940 and the spirit of God dwelleth in you 53:52.940 --> 53:56.220 if any man defile the temple of God 53:56.220 --> 53:56.920 listen to this 53:56.920 --> 53:58.660 him shall God destroy 53:59.440 --> 54:01.440 for the temple of God is holy 54:01.440 --> 54:02.920 which temple you are 54:03.640 --> 54:05.240 what does that mean? you'll kill you 54:06.800 --> 54:08.420 destroy means you'll kill you 54:09.620 --> 54:12.820 it means like if you start defiling your temple 54:13.740 --> 54:15.440 allowing draws to accumulate 54:15.440 --> 54:17.660 it gets to a point where God just says 54:17.660 --> 54:19.200 I'm just going to take you home 54:20.300 --> 54:21.280 because you're just being 54:21.740 --> 54:23.180 you're being a rebel 54:24.080 --> 54:24.960 you are 54:24.960 --> 54:26.620 filled with spiritual disease 54:26.620 --> 54:28.960 from the top of the head to the soul of the foot 54:29.420 --> 54:30.960 there's no ointment for you 54:30.960 --> 54:32.600 you're not willing to get right with God 54:32.600 --> 54:33.960 you're not repenting 54:33.960 --> 54:36.060 you're just persisting 54:36.640 --> 54:37.520 in sinfulness 54:37.520 --> 54:39.500 and God says alright I'm just taking you out 54:39.980 --> 54:41.960 because it's better for you to just be taken home 54:41.960 --> 54:43.420 than for you to become 54:43.420 --> 54:45.080 detrimental to yourself and to others as well 54:45.080 --> 54:49.180 and this is a real thing folks 54:49.180 --> 54:51.180 go to 2 Timothy chapter 2 54:51.180 --> 54:53.260 2 Timothy chapter 2 54:53.260 --> 54:55.500 2 Timothy chapter 2 54:56.800 --> 54:58.760 and look folks all of us 54:58.760 --> 55:00.520 listen to me all of us have a little draw 55:02.100 --> 55:03.180 we've got a little draw 55:04.100 --> 55:05.660 we've got a little corruption 55:05.660 --> 55:07.660 and that's because we're in this corruptible body 55:07.660 --> 55:09.700 but you know 55:09.700 --> 55:11.420 it should be that on a daily basis 55:11.420 --> 55:12.460 you're scrubbing that draw 55:13.560 --> 55:15.260 not allowing it to accumulate 55:15.880 --> 55:17.120 and what am I doing right now 55:17.120 --> 55:19.380 I'm just like trying to strip away the draw 55:19.380 --> 55:20.340 from me right now 55:20.340 --> 55:22.120 strip away the feminism 55:22.120 --> 55:23.480 strip away the effeminacy 55:23.480 --> 55:25.220 strip away the godless thinking 55:25.220 --> 55:26.920 strip away sinful habits 55:26.920 --> 55:28.920 that's what I'm trying to do to make you 55:28.920 --> 55:31.600 keep you useful in the things of God 55:31.600 --> 55:33.100 look at 2 Timothy chapter 2 55:33.100 --> 55:35.100 in verse number 19 55:35.760 --> 55:37.320 it says nevertheless the foundation of God 55:37.320 --> 55:38.800 standeth sure having this seal 55:38.800 --> 55:40.760 the Lord knoweth them that are His 55:40.760 --> 55:43.080 and let everyone that name it the name of Christ 55:43.080 --> 55:44.280 depart from iniquity 55:44.280 --> 55:46.780 but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold 55:46.780 --> 55:49.000 and of silver but also of wood and of earth 55:49.000 --> 55:50.780 and some to honor and some to dishonor 55:50.780 --> 55:52.860 if a man therefore purge himself 55:52.860 --> 55:54.340 from these listen to this 55:54.340 --> 55:56.840 he shall be a vessel and to honor 55:57.660 --> 55:59.080 sanctified and meet 55:59.080 --> 56:00.580 for the master's use 56:00.580 --> 56:02.380 and prepare them to every good work 56:02.380 --> 56:04.460 well I thought you said that God could use 56:04.460 --> 56:06.620 he uses imperfect people he does 56:06.620 --> 56:08.340 but does that mean you just like 56:08.340 --> 56:10.360 accumulate filth and corruption 56:10.360 --> 56:12.120 and just be a sinful person 56:12.120 --> 56:14.660 no because God wants us to put in the effort 56:14.660 --> 56:15.500 to be sanctified 56:15.500 --> 56:18.280 which why he follows up in verse 22 56:18.280 --> 56:20.640 flee also youthful lusts 56:20.640 --> 56:22.040 but follow righteousness faith 56:22.040 --> 56:23.820 charity peace with them to call on the Lord 56:23.820 --> 56:25.560 out of a pure heart 56:25.560 --> 56:27.060 go back to Isaiah chapter 1 56:27.060 --> 56:28.480 Isaiah chapter 1 56:30.600 --> 56:32.640 we need to make sure that we keep 56:32.640 --> 56:33.420 our silver 56:35.200 --> 56:36.280 clean from dross 56:36.280 --> 56:37.600 that we're scrubbing it away 56:39.160 --> 56:41.060 take away the dross from the silver 56:41.060 --> 56:42.420 and it shall come forth a vessel 56:42.900 --> 56:44.020 for the finer the Bible says 56:44.020 --> 56:46.680 and so very important 56:46.680 --> 56:48.840 so the faithful city becomes a harlot 56:48.840 --> 56:50.600 because she sold herself 56:50.600 --> 56:52.540 she relinquishes judgment and righteousness 56:52.900 --> 56:54.980 the city is filled with murder 56:54.980 --> 56:56.600 her silvers become dross 56:56.600 --> 56:57.800 look what it says in verse 22 56:57.800 --> 57:00.940 thy silvers become dross, thy wine mixed 57:00.940 --> 57:02.080 with water 57:02.840 --> 57:04.160 so he's saying like you know 57:04.160 --> 57:06.460 wine of course here is referring to juice 57:06.980 --> 57:08.780 okay and you know 57:08.780 --> 57:10.800 juice supposed to be potent 57:10.800 --> 57:12.140 especially comes from the vine 57:12.140 --> 57:14.300 and for some people it's just too strong 57:14.300 --> 57:16.560 so what do they do they put a little water in it 57:16.560 --> 57:18.480 they water it down 57:19.520 --> 57:21.080 okay and what he's saying is like 57:21.080 --> 57:22.560 you are such a faithful city 57:22.560 --> 57:23.780 of just potent 57:24.490 --> 57:25.320 knowledge of God 57:25.320 --> 57:26.820 potent righteousness 57:26.820 --> 57:28.880 but now you're just watered down 57:28.880 --> 57:32.520 you know what may not be said of you or me 57:32.520 --> 57:34.440 that we ever become watered down Christians 57:35.500 --> 57:36.660 just soft 57:36.660 --> 57:37.940 watered down 57:37.940 --> 57:39.860 Christians with no conviction 57:40.390 --> 57:41.380 no standards 57:41.380 --> 57:43.280 just not standing up for anything 57:43.280 --> 57:45.000 may we be potent Christians 57:45.000 --> 57:47.600 when someone tastes our wine 57:47.600 --> 57:50.360 it's like that juice that Vitor gives us 57:50.360 --> 57:51.700 you know what I'm talking about 57:51.700 --> 57:54.360 that wine thing that he gives 57:54.360 --> 57:55.360 it's actual juice 57:55.360 --> 57:56.900 it's not alcoholic wine 57:56.900 --> 57:58.260 drinking alcohol is a sin 58:00.240 --> 58:01.580 just to throw it out there 58:01.580 --> 58:03.400 in case anybody didn't know that 58:03.400 --> 58:04.900 you know 58:05.680 --> 58:06.980 alcohol no drunken 58:08.660 --> 58:10.140 don't even look at it the Bible says 58:10.140 --> 58:11.640 drinking alcohol is a sin 58:12.260 --> 58:14.240 okay and you cannot drink alcohol 58:14.240 --> 58:14.760 and be in church 58:15.420 --> 58:17.660 so you better not be here drinking alcohol 58:17.660 --> 58:19.280 when you go home 58:19.280 --> 58:20.840 if you do let's talk 58:22.140 --> 58:23.120 I'm gonna throw you out 58:23.880 --> 58:25.760 if you think it's okay to just come to church 58:25.760 --> 58:27.680 drink alcohol and be here 58:27.680 --> 58:29.560 and you could substitute alcohol for 58:30.000 --> 58:30.400 weed 58:31.240 --> 58:33.800 any kind of recreational drugs or whatever 58:33.800 --> 58:34.980 throw that all in there 58:34.980 --> 58:36.280 we don't want nothing to do with that 58:36.280 --> 58:37.800 because a little 1111 at the whole lot 58:38.760 --> 58:40.700 you're gonna fill our church with dross 58:40.700 --> 58:42.220 we're trying to remain silver amen 58:43.220 --> 58:44.600 but what he's saying here is that 58:44.600 --> 58:46.700 you know you become diluted you're watered down 58:47.380 --> 58:48.620 you know you're not really 58:48.620 --> 58:50.580 as zealous for the things 58:50.580 --> 58:51.760 of God as you used to be 58:51.760 --> 58:53.480 you're just kind of like 58:53.480 --> 58:55.580 you just watered down juice 58:55.580 --> 58:57.740 you don't taste as sweet anymore 58:57.740 --> 58:59.420 you don't have that potency 58:59.420 --> 59:02.580 in your taste anymore because you're just a watered down 59:02.580 --> 59:03.200 person 59:03.760 --> 59:05.300 and what this means is that 59:05.300 --> 59:08.460 we as Christians need to make sure we remain zealous for the things of God 59:09.020 --> 59:09.500 okay 59:09.500 --> 59:10.840 and not just 59:10.840 --> 59:13.260 you know not just make excuses 59:13.260 --> 59:14.020 for sin 59:14.020 --> 59:16.720 not make excuses for doctrinal errors 59:16.720 --> 59:18.440 obviously we need to be long suffering 59:18.440 --> 59:20.620 towards babes and Christ but not towards those 59:20.620 --> 59:21.520 who should know better 59:21.520 --> 59:24.380 and so we see here 59:24.380 --> 59:25.960 that they become 59:27.040 --> 59:28.660 like reprobate silver 59:28.660 --> 59:29.740 castaways 59:30.340 --> 59:32.480 watered down and lastly number six 59:33.100 --> 59:34.660 is that they have their evil 59:34.660 --> 59:36.360 associations verse 23 says 59:36.360 --> 59:38.960 thy princes are rebellious and companions 59:38.960 --> 59:39.920 of thieves 59:40.520 --> 59:43.060 everyone loveth gifts and followeth after rewards 59:43.060 --> 59:44.700 they judge not the fatherless 59:44.700 --> 59:46.920 neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them 59:46.920 --> 59:49.220 one thing that will definitely 59:49.220 --> 59:50.840 transfer you from 59:50.840 --> 59:52.940 being a faithful city to a harlot 59:52.940 --> 59:54.520 are the people you hang out with 59:55.100 --> 59:57.060 that is a fact my friends 59:57.060 --> 59:59.320 the people you keep around you 59:59.320 --> 01:00:01.140 you will be like those people 01:00:02.020 --> 01:00:03.460 so the Bible is always saying 01:00:03.460 --> 01:00:05.960 follow righteousness with them 01:00:05.960 --> 01:00:08.360 they call upon the name of the Lord 01:00:08.960 --> 01:00:10.500 why because God knows how 01:00:10.500 --> 01:00:12.640 powerful influences 01:00:12.640 --> 01:00:13.500 are in our lives 01:00:13.500 --> 01:00:14.680 our associations 01:00:15.140 --> 01:00:16.900 you will be like the people you're around 01:00:16.900 --> 01:00:18.980 which is why God says don't forsake the assembly 01:00:18.980 --> 01:00:20.880 because God wants you to be like a Christian 01:00:21.300 --> 01:00:22.620 and the way you become like a Christian 01:00:22.620 --> 01:00:23.800 is by being around other Christians 01:00:23.800 --> 01:00:27.240 I know you said alcohol is the same 01:00:27.240 --> 01:00:28.180 but I kind of struggled with that 01:00:28.180 --> 01:00:29.360 we'll hang around us for a while 01:00:29.960 --> 01:00:31.980 we'll shame alcohol before you so much 01:00:31.980 --> 01:00:33.880 that you'll be just absolutely disgusted by it 01:00:34.880 --> 01:00:35.800 you'll walk away and be like 01:00:35.800 --> 01:00:36.960 you know what, drinking alcohol is gay 01:00:38.740 --> 01:00:39.460 so gay 01:00:40.100 --> 01:00:41.120 yeah, yeah, it's gay 01:00:42.240 --> 01:00:43.640 I'm never going to do that again 01:00:43.640 --> 01:00:45.080 because it's just so frowned upon 01:00:46.480 --> 01:00:48.040 you'll have the right mentality 01:00:48.040 --> 01:00:49.560 regarding sin 01:00:50.100 --> 01:00:50.460 righteousness 01:00:51.240 --> 01:00:53.700 but let me also say this, the flip side is true as well 01:00:54.500 --> 01:00:55.960 you keep hanging around your cousins 01:00:56.820 --> 01:00:58.040 you keep hanging around 01:00:58.040 --> 01:00:59.460 your unsafe family 01:00:59.460 --> 01:01:01.560 your worldly family, your backslidden family 01:01:01.560 --> 01:01:03.480 you keep hanging around people who don't have 01:01:03.480 --> 01:01:04.760 the same biblical values as you 01:01:04.760 --> 01:01:06.000 eventually you'll be like them 01:01:06.880 --> 01:01:08.020 you'll become corrupt 01:01:08.020 --> 01:01:11.020 you keep hanging around the dross, you're going to accumulate some dross 01:01:11.400 --> 01:01:12.460 that's just how it always works 01:01:13.000 --> 01:01:15.480 that's how you go from being a faithful city 01:01:15.480 --> 01:01:16.900 to a harlot 01:01:17.400 --> 01:01:18.980 and here's the last bonus point 01:01:18.980 --> 01:01:21.180 if this is you just get right with God 01:01:21.180 --> 01:01:22.420 amen, look at verse 16 01:01:22.420 --> 01:01:24.720 wash you, make you clean 01:01:24.720 --> 01:01:27.680 put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes 01:01:27.680 --> 01:01:29.020 cease to do evil 01:01:29.020 --> 01:01:30.680 what am I supposed to do 01:01:30.680 --> 01:01:33.100 here's a good one, just stop doing it 01:01:33.100 --> 01:01:33.440 right 01:01:34.500 --> 01:01:36.060 I love how the Bible is just so practical 01:01:37.000 --> 01:01:38.980 like how do I do this, just stop 01:01:39.640 --> 01:01:40.600 just don't do it 01:01:41.060 --> 01:01:43.160 obviously sometimes you need help, you need reminders 01:01:43.160 --> 01:01:45.280 but the Bible just says cease to do evil 01:01:46.360 --> 01:01:47.120 and then what 01:01:47.120 --> 01:01:48.780 verse 17, learn to do well 01:01:48.780 --> 01:01:50.400 I mean the Bible is just so practical 01:01:51.300 --> 01:01:53.040 he's like stop doing the bad stuff 01:01:53.640 --> 01:01:55.680 and start learning how to do the right stuff 01:01:56.340 --> 01:01:57.580 learn to do well 01:01:57.580 --> 01:01:59.160 seek judgment 01:01:59.160 --> 01:02:00.820 relieve the oppressed 01:02:00.820 --> 01:02:03.300 judge the fatherless, plead for the widow 01:02:03.300 --> 01:02:05.860 come now, let us reason together 01:02:06.640 --> 01:02:07.480 say to the Lord 01:02:07.480 --> 01:02:08.980 though your sins be as scarlet 01:02:08.980 --> 01:02:10.320 they should be as white as snow 01:02:10.320 --> 01:02:12.040 though they be red like crimson 01:02:12.040 --> 01:02:13.920 they shall be as the Bible says 01:02:14.820 --> 01:02:15.680 what is he saying 01:02:16.480 --> 01:02:17.660 just confess it 01:02:17.660 --> 01:02:20.180 allow me to just clean you of your sin 01:02:20.960 --> 01:02:22.580 cleanse you of all unrighteousness 01:02:22.580 --> 01:02:24.260 and move on with your life 01:02:24.260 --> 01:02:25.620 learn to do well 01:02:26.320 --> 01:02:27.940 and the great thing about learning to do well 01:02:27.940 --> 01:02:29.160 is you don't have to do it by yourself 01:02:29.160 --> 01:02:30.140 you're doing it right now 01:02:30.880 --> 01:02:32.420 this is why it's important not to miss church 01:02:33.060 --> 01:02:35.220 what does church do, it teaches you how to do well 01:02:36.440 --> 01:02:38.420 it instructs you in the ways 01:02:38.420 --> 01:02:39.300 of righteousness 01:02:39.940 --> 01:02:42.360 and it tells you stop doing evil 01:02:43.080 --> 01:02:44.300 cease to do evil 01:02:44.820 --> 01:02:46.100 stop drinking alcohol 01:02:46.100 --> 01:02:47.740 no fornication 01:02:48.460 --> 01:02:49.340 no adultery 01:02:50.600 --> 01:02:51.480 no railing 01:02:51.480 --> 01:02:53.000 no extortion 01:02:53.000 --> 01:02:54.620 no idolatry 01:02:54.620 --> 01:02:58.080 you can't do that anymore 01:02:59.720 --> 01:03:00.880 then you learn 01:03:00.880 --> 01:03:02.940 you cease to do evil, you learn to do well 01:03:02.940 --> 01:03:04.400 you confess it before the Lord 01:03:04.400 --> 01:03:06.900 folks the Christian life is not hard at all 01:03:07.420 --> 01:03:09.040 it's actually very simplistic 01:03:09.040 --> 01:03:10.560 as far as what we're to do 01:03:10.560 --> 01:03:12.900 is it challenging to actually implement that 01:03:12.900 --> 01:03:14.900 of course, but the system is very simple 01:03:15.440 --> 01:03:17.800 cease to do evil, learn to do well 01:03:17.800 --> 01:03:19.000 get right with God 01:03:19.000 --> 01:03:20.900 and if you're a harlot, get back to becoming 01:03:20.900 --> 01:03:22.420 a faithful city 01:03:22.420 --> 01:03:24.280 Father we thank you so much for your word 01:03:24.840 --> 01:03:26.720 I pray that you'd help us as your people 01:03:27.220 --> 01:03:29.600 to be faithful cities all the days of our life 01:03:30.080 --> 01:03:31.360 and some of us may even 01:03:31.360 --> 01:03:33.380 deviate from the path at one time or another 01:03:33.380 --> 01:03:35.140 I pray that they would be reminded 01:03:35.140 --> 01:03:36.960 of these truths to get back on track 01:03:36.960 --> 01:03:39.100 Lord and to learn to do well 01:03:39.100 --> 01:03:41.020 cease to do evil and allow 01:03:41.020 --> 01:03:43.160 themselves to be cleansed by the blood of Christ 01:03:43.740 --> 01:03:44.840 from their unrighteousness 01:03:44.840 --> 01:03:46.780 bless us as we go on our way, we love you 01:03:46.780 --> 01:03:48.140 we thank you, pray the things in Jesus name 01:03:48.140 --> 01:03:48.440 amen