WEBVTT 00:19:08.580 --> 00:22:03.030 get started evening grid 51 for 51 we'll sing there starting on the verse another 00:22:03.030 --> 00:22:08.350 opportunity this evening to sing more praises unto you and hear more teaching 00:22:08.350 --> 00:22:11.340 from your word pray that you'd be with the salvations that were had this 00:22:11.340 --> 00:22:15.380 afternoon as well as any seeds that were planted also pray for this service that 00:22:15.380 --> 00:22:18.770 everything would be done decently in an order that you'd open our ears and our 00:22:18.770 --> 00:22:22.310 hearts to the message fill pastor with your spirit these things we pray in 00:22:22.310 --> 00:22:33.980 Jesus name amen for our next him number 154 him number one five four blessed be 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:55.160 the tie that binds 154 154 they're on the first 00:22:55.160 --> 00:25:03.780 is in the memory chap the inside we have our service times listed Sunday morning 00:25:03.780 --> 00:25:08.960 at 1030 Sunday evening at 430 and our Wednesday Bible study through the book 00:25:08.960 --> 00:25:15.420 of Ecclesiastes at 7 o'clock below that we have our soul winning times as well 00:25:15.420 --> 00:25:22.950 as our soul winning stats and we have that broken up by month total our local 00:25:22.950 --> 00:25:27.600 salvations here in Oklahoma City and then brother Eric and brother Zach are 00:25:27.600 --> 00:25:31.080 preaching in the Philippines so we're adding their total as well and then I 00:25:31.080 --> 00:25:34.340 don't have enough room but I also am keeping track of video conferencing 00:25:34.340 --> 00:25:38.520 salvations I know some people have been doing VR chat room soul winning and 00:25:38.520 --> 00:25:43.470 video conferencing soul winning so I'm keeping those numbers as well some 00:25:43.470 --> 00:25:47.190 hilarious things out soul winning today our church had three salvations so 00:25:47.190 --> 00:25:51.620 praise God for that but just some really funny things one of the ladies got this 00:25:51.620 --> 00:25:56.490 document that was trying to explain how to be saved and it starts off by saying 00:25:56.490 --> 00:26:02.430 this is my most recent possible revelation I am not sure if it's from 00:26:02.430 --> 00:26:07.850 God but it makes sense and addresses some very important issues because of 00:26:07.850 --> 00:26:11.850 all the anointed ministries that see and implement Jesus name baptism without 00:26:11.850 --> 00:26:15.670 making it public for fear of censorship loss of support and controversy that 00:26:15.670 --> 00:26:19.090 might happen I am not certain that Jesus will get this out to the masses 00:26:19.090 --> 00:26:22.750 of people who have a lot of love for him but whose sins are not yet remitted 00:26:22.750 --> 00:26:26.250 because no minister has the guts to research the subject of baptism in 00:26:26.250 --> 00:26:29.040 Jesus name for the remission of sins or to make their findings public one 00:26:29.040 --> 00:26:32.890 sentence Wow all right that was it and there's a lot more than that I'm not 00:26:32.890 --> 00:26:37.790 gonna read the whole thing then on the way back I get a call and realize I 00:26:37.790 --> 00:26:40.380 don't usually answer the church phone because there's usually two types of 00:26:40.380 --> 00:26:46.580 people that call us angry feminists about 1st Corinthians chapter 7 or LGBT 00:26:46.580 --> 00:26:50.120 that are angry about our preaching on the sodomites but this time I see a 00:26:50.120 --> 00:26:55.060 caller ID that says Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Michael this 00:26:55.060 --> 00:26:59.030 will be interesting someone someone must have had some fun out there and I answer 00:26:59.030 --> 00:27:03.130 the phone and they're just like yeah I'm just calling to let you know that some 00:27:03.130 --> 00:27:07.190 of your missionaries told other missionaries that they were going to 00:27:07.190 --> 00:27:11.400 hell and that they were freaks and I'm like oh wow what happened tell me what 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:14.760 happened and yeah you know they just said that these people I just said oh 00:27:14.760 --> 00:27:19.190 what kind of missionaries were they oh they were Mormon and I said oh I have no 00:27:19.190 --> 00:27:23.080 problem with what they said Galatians chapter 1 makes it very clear if any man 00:27:23.080 --> 00:27:26.620 preached any other gospel than that which we have preached unto you let him 00:27:26.620 --> 00:27:31.780 be accursed that guy's like wow that's interesting okay wow and I said are you 00:27:31.780 --> 00:27:37.110 a Mormon and he goes no no I used to be a Pentecostal and it's like his caller 00:27:37.110 --> 00:27:42.080 ID literally says Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it's just like goes 00:27:42.080 --> 00:27:46.420 to show to you like Mormons are such liars it's not even funny you go out 00:27:46.420 --> 00:27:49.560 soul-wanting and you ask them you know do you believe in multiple gods they'll 00:27:49.560 --> 00:27:53.100 tell you no do you believe Jesus is a created being they'll tell you no oh do 00:27:53.100 --> 00:27:56.780 you believe the Bible they'll tell you yes they just lie like crazy and then 00:27:56.780 --> 00:28:01.000 after we get off this phone this phone call we get a review left and the review 00:28:01.000 --> 00:28:07.260 says claimed to be Christian but they only showed hatred towards anyone that 00:28:07.260 --> 00:28:10.600 was not a part of their church and told them they were going down that was the 00:28:10.600 --> 00:28:13.880 message of my sermon this morning right I got up and said make sure you hate 00:28:13.880 --> 00:28:17.350 everyone that's not a part of our church right it's just crazy and then of course 00:28:17.350 --> 00:28:21.350 the profile picture is the Mormon Jesus and they also left a five-star review 00:28:21.350 --> 00:28:24.300 for the Mormon Church the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so 00:28:24.300 --> 00:28:28.040 that was really funny it's amazing how Mormons will just lie and tell you they 00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:31.720 would I mean imagine being so ashamed of your religion that someone asked you 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:36.550 like are you a Christian no it's like what like are you a Mormon no but you 00:28:36.550 --> 00:28:41.430 are how weird is that crazy but that was a fun time you got to go soul winning 00:28:41.430 --> 00:28:44.700 you're missing out if you're not there's lots of fun experiences like that we do 00:28:44.700 --> 00:28:49.700 have let's go in the back our upcoming events we have March 28th is the 00:28:49.700 --> 00:28:54.890 listeners pick soul winning marathon in Patterson New Jersey we're sending the 00:28:54.890 --> 00:28:58.750 halls out there to lead a soul winning marathon and I've gotten lots and lots 00:28:58.750 --> 00:29:02.660 of responses from people that are interested even just today at lunch 00:29:02.660 --> 00:29:05.850 another person emailed me saying hey we're gonna be at that soul winning 00:29:05.850 --> 00:29:09.330 marathon in New Jersey and so I just want to repeat what I said this morning 00:29:09.330 --> 00:29:13.570 please pray every single day for this marathon I would just love to see as 00:29:13.570 --> 00:29:17.800 many people come out as possible and for there to be many people saved at this 00:29:17.800 --> 00:29:23.450 event because we're so hateful right so hateful April 1st we got the 00:29:23.450 --> 00:29:28.260 Lord's Supper April 4th we got the soul winning marathon here in Oklahoma City 00:29:28.260 --> 00:29:35.340 meeting at early wine park at 9 a.m. and then the 2nd of May we got the OSU 00:29:35.340 --> 00:29:39.930 Stillwater soul winning marathon at the college there May 9th Mother's Day tea 00:29:39.930 --> 00:29:44.220 May 20th through the 24th anti-israel conference at steadfast Baptist Church 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:48.940 June 17th to the 20th Germany soul winning we have the European soul 00:29:48.940 --> 00:29:53.670 winning conference in Frankfurt Germany also make sure to keep the requests in 00:29:53.670 --> 00:29:57.200 our prayer list in prayer throughout the week and if you have any requests 00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:00.650 please do email us and we'd be happy to add that for you let's go ahead and go 00:30:00.650 --> 00:30:09.340 to our third song together this evening third him this evening it's gonna be 00:30:09.340 --> 00:30:33.110 number 448 him number four four eight brethren we have met to worship four 00:30:33.110 --> 00:30:37.970 hundred forty eight we'll sing they're starting on the first 00:30:37.970 --> 00:34:18.660 turn if you would to Timothy chapter Timothy chapter number first Timothy 00:34:18.660 --> 00:34:24.590 chapter one apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior and 00:34:24.590 --> 00:34:31.480 Lord Jesus Christ which is our hope unto Timothy my own Son in the faith grace 00:34:31.480 --> 00:34:38.290 mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord as I besought thee 00:34:38.290 --> 00:34:42.970 to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest 00:34:42.970 --> 00:34:48.290 charge some that they teach no other doctrine neither give heed to fables and 00:34:48.290 --> 00:34:53.320 endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying 00:34:53.320 --> 00:34:58.660 which is in faith so do now the end of the commandment is charity out of a 00:34:58.660 --> 00:35:04.730 pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfamed which from some having 00:35:04.730 --> 00:35:10.120 swerve have turned aside unto vain jangling desiring to be teachers of the 00:35:10.120 --> 00:35:15.120 law understanding neither what they say nor aware of they affirm but we know 00:35:15.120 --> 00:35:20.600 that the law is good if a man use it lawfully knowing this that the law is not 00:35:20.600 --> 00:35:25.970 made for a righteous man but for the lawless and disobedient for the ungodly 00:35:25.970 --> 00:35:31.900 and for sinners unholy and for fame for murderers of fathers and murderers of 00:35:31.900 --> 00:35:37.360 mothers for manslayers for whoremongers for them that defile themselves with 00:35:37.360 --> 00:35:44.700 mankind for men stealers for liars for perjured persons and if there be any 00:35:44.700 --> 00:35:49.240 other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine according to the glorious 00:35:49.240 --> 00:35:55.580 gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust and I thank Christ 00:35:55.580 --> 00:36:00.920 Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me 00:36:00.920 --> 00:36:06.560 into the ministry who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious 00:36:06.560 --> 00:36:12.980 but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of 00:36:12.980 --> 00:36:18.980 our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 00:36:18.980 --> 00:36:25.240 this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came 00:36:25.240 --> 00:36:31.530 into the world to save sinners whom I am chief albeit for this cause I obtained 00:36:31.530 --> 00:36:38.650 mercy that in in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for 00:36:38.650 --> 00:36:43.970 a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting to life 00:36:43.970 --> 00:36:50.980 everlasting now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God the 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:57.250 honor and glory forever and ever amen this charge I commit unto thee son 00:36:57.250 --> 00:37:03.790 Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on thee that thou it 00:37:03.790 --> 00:37:09.290 by them Midas wore a good warfare holding faith in a good conscience 00:37:09.290 --> 00:37:14.940 which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck of whom is 00:37:14.940 --> 00:37:22.320 Hymenaeus and Alexander whom whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may 00:37:22.320 --> 00:37:43.100 learn not to blaspheme man this evening I want to talk to you about this idea of 00:37:43.100 --> 00:37:48.820 God wanting to use you God wanting to use you title my sermon is simple God 00:37:48.820 --> 00:37:55.080 wants to use you number one God wants to use you even if you have a sinful past 00:37:55.080 --> 00:38:00.140 look at 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 12 the Bible says and I thank Christ Jesus 00:38:00.140 --> 00:38:05.360 our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the 00:38:05.360 --> 00:38:08.820 ministry now he's gonna explain what he was like before he was saved notice 00:38:08.820 --> 00:38:16.140 verse 13 who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained 00:38:16.140 --> 00:38:22.190 mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief so notice before the Apostle 00:38:22.190 --> 00:38:26.200 Paul was Paul back when he was Saul he describes what he was like and he says 00:38:26.200 --> 00:38:30.970 before he was a blasphemer remember we had a sermon a few weeks ago about watch 00:38:30.970 --> 00:38:35.580 your mouth if you want to live and how seriously God takes the idea of blasphemy 00:38:35.580 --> 00:38:39.960 and cursing his name using the Lord's name in vain the Bible says that he will 00:38:39.960 --> 00:38:43.500 not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain and you know what back when 00:38:43.500 --> 00:38:48.900 Paul was Saul he was just a blasphemer he would blaspheme God and he was what a 00:38:48.900 --> 00:38:53.800 persecutor he would persecute Christians he would go against the work of God he 00:38:53.800 --> 00:39:00.160 was injurious he was harmful to the work of God look at verse 14 and the grace of 00:39:00.160 --> 00:39:04.770 our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus 00:39:04.770 --> 00:39:10.310 this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came 00:39:10.310 --> 00:39:16.550 into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief he says how be it for this 00:39:16.550 --> 00:39:22.540 cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long 00:39:22.540 --> 00:39:26.830 suffering and this is the important part for a pattern to them which should 00:39:26.830 --> 00:39:32.380 hereafter believe on him to life everlasting so before the Apostle Paul 00:39:32.380 --> 00:39:37.660 was saved he lived just about as wicked of a life as you could live blaspheming 00:39:37.660 --> 00:39:43.640 God persecuting the Church of God injurious to the work of God now of 00:39:43.640 --> 00:39:47.950 course he obtained that mercy for one reason because he did it ignorantly in 00:39:47.950 --> 00:39:54.350 unbelief and also God showed forth all this long-suffering for a pattern to 00:39:54.350 --> 00:39:59.110 those who after should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so he's showing a 00:39:59.110 --> 00:40:03.620 pattern saying hey we should be able to look back to the Apostle Paul and see 00:40:03.620 --> 00:40:07.980 the life that he lived and see the grace that God bestowed upon him and we should 00:40:07.980 --> 00:40:11.160 be able to apply that to ourselves saying hey if God still wanted to use 00:40:11.160 --> 00:40:15.500 the Apostle Paul when he was a blasphemer a persecutor injurious well 00:40:15.500 --> 00:40:20.830 then of course God also wants to use me and of course God also wants to use you 00:40:20.830 --> 00:40:25.020 go to Acts chapter number eight Acts chapter number eight I think that's why 00:40:25.020 --> 00:40:29.820 God gave us such an extreme example is because it's very likely that you're not 00:40:29.820 --> 00:40:34.200 gonna look back on your life before you were saved and be like yeah I was 00:40:34.200 --> 00:40:38.700 actively persecuting Christians I was actively you know hailing them before 00:40:38.700 --> 00:40:43.400 judges consenting under their deaths doing all these crazy things it says in 00:40:43.400 --> 00:40:50.480 verse number one of Acts 8 and Saul was consenting unto his death now his there 00:40:50.480 --> 00:40:56.600 is referring to Stephen in Acts chapter number seven who was stone and Paul who 00:40:56.600 --> 00:41:00.320 was Saul at that time notice he was just consenting under that death he was just 00:41:00.320 --> 00:41:05.510 totally okay with Stephen a righteous man of God just being stoned to death 00:41:05.510 --> 00:41:10.290 and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was 00:41:10.290 --> 00:41:14.920 at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea 00:41:14.920 --> 00:41:19.280 and Samaria except the Apostles and devout men carried Stephen to his 00:41:19.280 --> 00:41:25.530 burial and made great lamentation over him as for Saul he made havoc of the 00:41:25.530 --> 00:41:30.540 church entering into every house and hailing men and women committing them 00:41:30.540 --> 00:41:35.730 committed them to prison so notice but you know we as soul winners what do we 00:41:35.730 --> 00:41:40.660 do we go door to door and we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ where Paul saw 00:41:40.660 --> 00:41:45.430 at this time he was just making havoc of the church and he was just entering into 00:41:45.430 --> 00:41:49.690 every house trying to find people who were the disciples of Jesus who were the 00:41:49.690 --> 00:41:53.150 followers of Christ those who believed in him notice entering into every house 00:41:53.150 --> 00:41:59.350 and hailing men and women committed them to prison I mean that is a pretty rough 00:41:59.350 --> 00:42:04.060 past I mean I don't think there's anyone in here that has a past close to 00:42:04.060 --> 00:42:07.190 something like that where it's like what were you like before you got saved I was 00:42:07.190 --> 00:42:10.090 going door-to-door gathering up Christians bringing them to their death 00:42:10.090 --> 00:42:14.550 bringing them before judges I mean that's crazy look at verse 4 therefore 00:42:14.550 --> 00:42:20.500 that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word go to 00:42:20.500 --> 00:42:24.660 2nd Corinthians 5 you know I read all that because from time to time I hear 00:42:24.660 --> 00:42:30.680 people that really struggle with guilt from their past and I'm not talking 00:42:30.680 --> 00:42:34.610 about like hey you know they sinned yesterday and they feel bad about it it's 00:42:34.610 --> 00:42:38.430 like hey you know if you sin you should feel about it you should be sorry feel 00:42:38.430 --> 00:42:42.000 bad about it you should repent you should get right with God and then you 00:42:42.000 --> 00:42:45.180 should move on with your life but there's some people that they just like 00:42:45.180 --> 00:42:48.550 constantly live in the past and they constantly just beat themselves down 00:42:48.550 --> 00:42:53.220 and hate themselves and just have this negative thought towards themselves of 00:42:53.220 --> 00:42:58.160 things that they did way in the past and they just kind of live in this state 00:42:58.160 --> 00:43:01.850 where they think like you know I don't think God really wants to use me I don't 00:43:01.850 --> 00:43:05.670 really think I could be used that great of God because look at how horrible I 00:43:05.670 --> 00:43:10.920 was before I was saved or look at how bad I was a couple years ago even but 00:43:10.920 --> 00:43:15.160 it's like hey if you read the Bible and you see the Apostle Paul he says the 00:43:15.160 --> 00:43:20.510 reason God bestowed so much grace on me was as a pattern for those who after 00:43:20.510 --> 00:43:24.520 should believe on Jesus Christ saying look Paul's just about as bad as it gets 00:43:24.520 --> 00:43:29.960 and yet God used the Apostle Paul more than just about anyone right he really 00:43:29.960 --> 00:43:37.580 did look at second Corinthians 5 verse 17 the Bible says this therefore if any 00:43:37.580 --> 00:43:45.100 man be in Christ he is a new preacher old things are passed away behold all 00:43:45.100 --> 00:43:50.510 things are become new now unfortunately some people will twist this verse to 00:43:50.510 --> 00:43:55.130 say hey when you get saved everything in your life is just gonna automatically 00:43:55.130 --> 00:43:58.120 change and you're just gonna automatically start having good works 00:43:58.120 --> 00:44:02.260 and you're just gonna automatically want to read the Bible want to pray want to 00:44:02.260 --> 00:44:05.970 Preach the gospel, but that is not true. It doesn't match reality 00:44:05.970 --> 00:44:09.520 There is no one that just all of a sudden you're gonna be perfect after you're saved 00:44:09.520 --> 00:44:15.820 But here's the thing when you get saved you actually get the new man and the new man 00:44:15.820 --> 00:44:19.090 Hey, all things are made new to that new man 00:44:19.090 --> 00:44:26.280 The new man never sins the new man has never sinned the new man will never sin 00:44:26.280 --> 00:44:32.780 And so here's the thing no matter what your past was before you got saved if you are saved today 00:44:32.780 --> 00:44:40.480 You have a new man somewhere inside of you and that new man is completely different than whoever you were before you got saved 00:44:40.480 --> 00:44:46.150 And so you've got to be able to differentiate between these two things in your life saying, okay. Yes 00:44:46.150 --> 00:44:47.620 Maybe I did have a sinful past 00:44:47.620 --> 00:44:52.660 Maybe there are things in my past that I am ashamed of that I do not like but here's the thing 00:44:52.660 --> 00:44:59.060 God has told us to walk in the new man to put on the new man and to 00:44:59.300 --> 00:45:07.820 Crucify the lusts of the old man go to 2nd Corinthians 7 2nd Corinthians 7. We see an example with the Apostle Paul 00:45:07.820 --> 00:45:12.870 What is he? He's an ex-persecutor. He's an ex-persecutor of Christianity 00:45:12.870 --> 00:45:15.910 What about if you just have like major sins in your past? 00:45:15.910 --> 00:45:21.920 Because despite the show that a lot of people like to put on acting like they're so squeaky clean 00:45:21.920 --> 00:45:23.710 They've never made a mistake before in their life 00:45:23.710 --> 00:45:28.730 There's a lot of people that have really messed up pasts that get saved and praise God for that 00:45:28.730 --> 00:45:33.130 I mean we're going into like the most ghetto areas of Oklahoma City 00:45:33.130 --> 00:45:38.530 We're going into the most ghetto areas of this world and we're getting tons of people saved all the time 00:45:38.530 --> 00:45:44.300 You don't think that we're getting people saved who have committed murder. I guarantee you we give get gotten murderers saved 00:45:44.300 --> 00:45:49.060 I mean, it's called abortion one in four American women have had an abortion. That's murder 00:45:49.060 --> 00:45:53.300 We're getting murderers saved all the time. You don't think we're getting tons of fornicators saved 00:45:53.300 --> 00:45:56.040 You don't think we're getting people saved that are blasphemers 00:45:56.080 --> 00:46:01.260 You don't think we're getting people saved that have committed adultery. It's like yes all the time 00:46:01.260 --> 00:46:07.320 But you know, what should those people do? Should they just like stay in that that guilt is be like, oh man 00:46:07.320 --> 00:46:10.410 I was a blasphemer. I was a persecutor. I was an adulterer. I was a murderer 00:46:10.410 --> 00:46:17.940 No, that is not where they should stay look at 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 4 great is my boldness of speech toward you 00:46:17.940 --> 00:46:21.580 Great is my glorying of you. I am filled with comfort 00:46:21.580 --> 00:46:27.730 I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation for when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest 00:46:27.730 --> 00:46:31.830 But we were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears 00:46:31.830 --> 00:46:35.640 Nevertheless God that comforted those that are cast down 00:46:35.640 --> 00:46:43.180 Comforted us by the coming of Titus and not by his coming only but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you 00:46:43.180 --> 00:46:48.150 When he told us your earnest desire your morning your fervent mind toward me 00:46:48.310 --> 00:46:53.910 So that I rejoiced the more for though I made you sorry with a letter 00:46:53.910 --> 00:46:58.120 I do not repent though. I did repent 00:46:58.120 --> 00:47:04.680 So what is he referring to he's referring back to in 1st Corinthians because this is 2nd Corinthians in 1st Corinthians 00:47:04.680 --> 00:47:11.710 What is he constantly dealing with major sin issues in the church dealing with all sorts of dramas and problems and 00:47:11.710 --> 00:47:19.090 specifically 1st Corinthians 5 he's calling out the open known case of fornication in the church 00:47:19.370 --> 00:47:26.810 and he's like this fornication is so bad that it's not even so much as named among the Gentiles that one should have his 00:47:26.810 --> 00:47:33.780 Father's wife. I mean that is extremely gross and imagine that's just open known in the congregation 00:47:33.780 --> 00:47:39.070 No one's doing anything about it that obviously needs to be called out and he says hey, you know 00:47:39.070 --> 00:47:42.970 Don't you judge those that are within he's like, I'm not even there. I've judged already 00:47:42.970 --> 00:47:45.440 Hey, you need to judge this situation 00:47:45.520 --> 00:47:49.980 You need to put away from among yourselves that wicked person. He's like 00:47:49.980 --> 00:47:52.930 Hey, if any man be called a brother and is a fornicator 00:47:52.930 --> 00:48:00.140 Idolater, you know, he lists all those things there in first Corinthians 5 he says with such and one no not to eat right now 00:48:00.140 --> 00:48:04.490 That's kind of a hard saying that's kind of a negative message and he's referring back to that 00:48:04.490 --> 00:48:09.260 He says for though I made you sorry with a letter. I do not repent though 00:48:09.260 --> 00:48:11.360 I did repent so you know what that means? 00:48:11.360 --> 00:48:15.960 He wrote first Corinthians he fixed this issue and you know what inside 00:48:15.960 --> 00:48:21.800 He kind of felt a little bit bad about it because you know what preachers are human beings too, right? 00:48:21.800 --> 00:48:23.790 And it's like he knows it's the right thing to do 00:48:23.790 --> 00:48:30.380 But it's not like he wants to you know be disliked by these people or to come down hard on them or to be the bad 00:48:30.380 --> 00:48:34.340 Guy, but he's like look I wrote this letter and in writing this letter 00:48:34.340 --> 00:48:39.700 I made you sorry and he says you know what I don't repent even though I did it first, right? 00:48:39.700 --> 00:48:43.130 I did kind of feel like man, I'm not sure if I should have said that but he says you know what? 00:48:43.130 --> 00:48:47.360 I don't repent what I said was right and you know what would to God today 00:48:47.360 --> 00:48:50.130 We have preachers that instead of just being ruled by their emotions 00:48:50.130 --> 00:48:54.130 They just say what does the Bible say did I preach what the Bible says? Well, then you know what? 00:48:54.130 --> 00:49:01.200 That's okay. However things fall as long as I preach what the Bible says. That's what matters. He says there in verse number 00:49:01.200 --> 00:49:10.070 Let's keep reading says I do not repent though. I did repent why he says for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you 00:49:10.070 --> 00:49:13.880 Sorry, though it were for though it were but for a season 00:49:13.880 --> 00:49:21.800 He says I understand that my letter upset you made you upset made you feel bad. He says now I rejoice 00:49:21.800 --> 00:49:27.310 I'm happy he says not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to 00:49:27.310 --> 00:49:32.230 Repentance he's like look I'm actually happy now that I wrote that letter 00:49:32.230 --> 00:49:37.830 not because you were made sorry not that because you were made to feel bad but because that 00:49:38.370 --> 00:49:43.220 Feeling bad led you to getting right with God, right? So it's like 00:49:43.220 --> 00:49:49.250 Hard preaching can sometimes make people feel bad. But you know what we should never regret that hard preaching 00:49:49.250 --> 00:49:52.580 Especially when it causes people to get right with God 00:49:52.580 --> 00:49:58.370 And you know what hard preaching causes people to get right with God. I could tell you that's what that was true in my life 00:49:58.370 --> 00:50:05.200 Hearing hard preaching helped me get things right continues to help me get things right and you know, we need hard preaching 00:50:05.560 --> 00:50:13.110 He says this for you were made sorry after a godly manner that you might receive damage 00:50:13.110 --> 00:50:20.120 By us in nothing, so he specifies that this sorrow that the church experienced was a godly type of sorrow 00:50:20.120 --> 00:50:22.980 Meaning there is a sorrow that is an ungodly sorrow 00:50:22.980 --> 00:50:28.950 There is a feeling bad for yourself and throwing a pity party for yourself. That is not godly 00:50:28.950 --> 00:50:32.540 That is not what God wants for you. He says for godly sorrow 00:50:32.540 --> 00:50:34.610 worketh 00:50:34.610 --> 00:50:41.300 Repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death 00:50:41.300 --> 00:50:45.560 So it's like hey, we don't want to stay our entire lives 00:50:45.560 --> 00:50:52.380 Just in this state of sorrow just feeling bad for ourselves. Just oh, I'm such a bad person 00:50:52.380 --> 00:50:57.010 Oh, I can't believe I sin. Oh, I can't believe I did this bad thing in my life 00:50:57.010 --> 00:51:00.730 No, no, no, you don't just stay there. You have the sorrow you feel bad for sin 00:51:00.730 --> 00:51:08.010 And then you do what you repent you get right you forsake that sin that you have committed 00:51:08.010 --> 00:51:13.740 You say you're sorry to God you confess your sin and then after that you move on 00:51:13.740 --> 00:51:18.640 And you let it go and you don't just hold stuff 00:51:18.640 --> 00:51:22.430 Over yourself for sins that you have committed in the past 00:51:22.430 --> 00:51:28.130 Let me tell you something that may seem humble to some people that is not humble because God 00:51:28.360 --> 00:51:32.850 Forgives you and if God forgives you you should forgive you and you know what God 00:51:32.850 --> 00:51:36.840 Wants to use you today and God wanted to use the Apostle Paul 00:51:36.840 --> 00:51:43.430 And you know what God wanted to use the man guilty fornication in 1st Corinthians 5, you know why because he was a brother 00:51:43.430 --> 00:51:47.900 Hey, if any man be called a brother is a fornicator. What is the goal? 00:51:47.900 --> 00:51:55.210 Why is why does God still have us on this earth after we get saved is to serve God to fear God and keep his 00:51:55.310 --> 00:52:00.620 Commandments for this is the whole duty of man. The Bible says right so it's like look 00:52:00.620 --> 00:52:06.400 Yeah, you've sinned in the past join the club and if someone acts like they haven't sinned 00:52:06.400 --> 00:52:10.600 Let me tell you what they are a liar if any man say that he has no sin 00:52:10.600 --> 00:52:14.610 He deceive it himself and the truth is not in him 00:52:14.610 --> 00:52:22.250 He says in verse number 11 for behold this self same thing that he sorrowed after a godly sort 00:52:22.430 --> 00:52:29.150 What carefulness it wrought in you yay, what clearing of yourselves yay, what indignation yay 00:52:29.150 --> 00:52:31.120 What fear yay, what vehement desire? 00:52:31.120 --> 00:52:33.610 Yay, what zeal yay? 00:52:33.610 --> 00:52:40.350 What revenge in all these things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter? 00:52:40.350 --> 00:52:46.880 So it's like hey you sorrow after a godly sort you're sad that you sin you ask God for forgiveness 00:52:46.880 --> 00:52:51.260 You're even a little bit mad at yourself. Like I'm gonna I'm gonna avenge this. Hey, I messed up 00:52:51.260 --> 00:52:54.660 You know what? I'm gonna get back on track. Hey, I'm gonna go soul winning 00:52:54.660 --> 00:53:02.080 I'm gonna do what's right in the future and he says in all these things notice you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter 00:53:02.080 --> 00:53:08.970 It's like hey the person's repented. It's over. It's done move on once someone has 00:53:08.970 --> 00:53:14.440 Repented I'll read for you. First. John 1 9 says this if we confess our sins 00:53:14.440 --> 00:53:20.130 He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness 00:53:20.290 --> 00:53:26.320 now look the Bible says he that covereth his sins shall not prosper the the answer is not just to 00:53:26.320 --> 00:53:31.290 Sin and then cover it and then move on like nothing has ever happened 00:53:31.290 --> 00:53:37.480 The answer is when you sin you confess it you forsake it you ask for 00:53:37.480 --> 00:53:41.150 Forgiveness and then you move on like nothing has ever happened 00:53:41.150 --> 00:53:50.720 That's actually the right formula to take go to Galatians chapter 6 Galatians chapter number 6 now the Bible gives us instruction 00:53:50.720 --> 00:53:54.330 On how to act when someone is repentant 00:53:54.330 --> 00:54:07.000 Galatians 6 look at verse 1 brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual 00:54:07.000 --> 00:54:10.890 Restore such in one in the spirit of meekness 00:54:10.890 --> 00:54:19.370 Notice considering thyself lest thou also be tempted bear you want another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ 00:54:19.370 --> 00:54:24.240 For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceive it himself 00:54:24.240 --> 00:54:28.890 So notice when someone is wanting to be restored when someone's taken in a fault 00:54:28.890 --> 00:54:32.670 We should be very very quick to restore people 00:54:32.670 --> 00:54:38.360 We should be very very quick to put back out that hand of fellowship and to receive people 00:54:38.360 --> 00:54:44.670 Who were in a sinful situation and they get right with God why he says considering yourself 00:54:44.670 --> 00:54:51.180 Hey, it's the golden rule right as you would have men do unto you do you even also unto others, right? 00:54:51.180 --> 00:54:55.660 We are supposed to treat others the way that we want to be treated 00:54:55.660 --> 00:55:00.000 So look, you know, we for example, I preach super hard on things like church attendance 00:55:00.000 --> 00:55:04.050 But you know what if someone who hasn't come to our church in a really long time 00:55:04.050 --> 00:55:07.110 All of a sudden showed up to church, you know what? 00:55:07.110 --> 00:55:12.700 I wouldn't be doing be like wow, you've really been wasting your life for the last year. Where have you been lazy bones? 00:55:12.700 --> 00:55:18.410 Hey, how many people have you gotten saved last year, huh? Zero loser. What are you doing? No, I would just be like 00:55:18.410 --> 00:55:23.410 Hey, so great to see you, man. How you been? Thanks for coming. We're happy to have you right, you know 00:55:23.410 --> 00:55:27.930 Never try to make someone feel bad for trying to get right with God 00:55:27.930 --> 00:55:33.470 I mean, that's so evil when someone is trying to do right. Hey, they're in a bad situation 00:55:33.470 --> 00:55:38.090 They want to fix things and then as they fix things you try to make them feel bad for that 00:55:38.090 --> 00:55:41.990 That's wicked folks. And it's like hey consider yourself 00:55:41.990 --> 00:55:46.030 Because again people every man walketh in a vain show 00:55:46.110 --> 00:55:51.530 It's like oh you want to try to make someone feel bad who's repentant and who's fixing something? 00:55:51.530 --> 00:55:58.150 But again, if God just in front of this whole congregation laid out every sin you've committed in the last year 00:55:58.150 --> 00:56:04.290 You think that someone's opinion might not change about you a little bit. Oh you hypocrite holier than now. Absolutely 00:56:04.290 --> 00:56:06.330 We are all sinners, right? 00:56:06.330 --> 00:56:09.240 We all do things that we are not proud of and so, you know 00:56:09.240 --> 00:56:14.410 We should consider ourselves and if someone wants to get right with God, we should be their biggest cheerleader 00:56:14.410 --> 00:56:21.320 we should say hey praise God we should be like the father of the prodigal son and we should kill the fatted calf and 00:56:21.320 --> 00:56:26.510 Sing and make merry and rejoice over one sinner that repents 00:56:26.510 --> 00:56:33.890 You know, you ought to be very careful in how you restore people and you know, let me say this you should never 00:56:33.890 --> 00:56:40.090 Bring up sins from people's path that they have repented of that is evil 00:56:40.090 --> 00:56:44.260 That is wicked and look I've had even people tell me like hey 00:56:44.260 --> 00:56:48.180 You know this person a few years ago said this thing about you and you know, I'm just like I don't care 00:56:48.180 --> 00:56:51.690 That's ancient history. That is complete ancient history 00:56:51.690 --> 00:56:57.060 I'm gonna let that go in one ear and out the other and I'm not gonna think different of that person whatsoever 00:56:57.060 --> 00:56:58.450 Because you know what? 00:56:58.450 --> 00:57:06.580 It's just inappropriate and it's unchristian to just bring up every negative thing about someone from someone's past and try to just shove 00:57:06.580 --> 00:57:10.820 That in their faces and rub their nose in it. That is evil my friend 00:57:10.820 --> 00:57:17.540 That is not how God tells us to be go to Ecclesiastes 7 Ecclesiastes chapter number 7 now 00:57:17.540 --> 00:57:24.600 Look, I'm not talking about, you know church cover-ups here. Obviously that stuff needs to be exposed. It needs to be repetitive 00:57:24.600 --> 00:57:30.740 Yeah, I'm not talking about oh, you know, don't bring up churches stealing from missionaries when they're stealing from missionaries 00:57:30.740 --> 00:57:35.340 Okay, that's not what I'm talking about. But I'm talking about you know, you come up to me and you say hey 00:57:35.340 --> 00:57:39.180 Did you know a few years ago this person really struggled with this? It's like I don't want to hear that garbage 00:57:39.180 --> 00:57:44.240 Oh a few years ago. Did you know that this person had this issue with their child? Hey 00:57:44.240 --> 00:57:49.150 Do you know this person said this about this person? It's like shut up. Let things go 00:57:49.150 --> 00:57:56.250 Look what Ecclesiastes 7 verse 20 says for there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not 00:57:56.250 --> 00:58:00.900 This is really important notice also take no heed unto all words that are spoken 00:58:00.900 --> 00:58:09.070 Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou like what that thou thyself 00:58:09.310 --> 00:58:16.760 Likewise has cursed others. No as the Bible saying here, you know in not ever not in every single situation 00:58:16.760 --> 00:58:23.850 Is it so important that you just figure out every detail that you just get justice on every word? 00:58:23.850 --> 00:58:25.170 That's ever been spoken 00:58:25.170 --> 00:58:31.140 Sometimes it's better just to not try to figure everything out because you might hear your servant your employee 00:58:31.140 --> 00:58:35.610 I guess in modern vernacular say something bad about you, but it's like hold on a second 00:58:35.610 --> 00:58:39.160 Have you ever said something bad about someone else, right? 00:58:39.160 --> 00:58:45.760 So so is it really fair to sit here and just hold people's feet to the fire for every little thing 00:58:45.760 --> 00:58:49.990 They've ever said in their entire life. It's like I hope that you're holding yourself to that same standard 00:58:49.990 --> 00:58:55.980 Hey, you better be judging people with this same measure that you measure other people with and you know 00:58:55.980 --> 00:59:00.940 I hear people people have come to me all the time saying this person has said this bad thing about you 00:59:00.940 --> 00:59:06.180 Oh several years ago. This person, you know made fun of how young you are. This person said I don't care 00:59:06.180 --> 00:59:11.540 I don't care and you know what if someone has said something bad about me in the past 00:59:11.540 --> 00:59:17.140 I'm just letting it go and I love that person and that person. Hey, you're welcome to come to church 00:59:17.140 --> 00:59:19.520 You're welcome to go soaning with us. You're welcome to be my friend 00:59:19.520 --> 00:59:27.240 Like I will just let that stuff go because it's just a carnal wicked Christian that wants to hold every person's feet to the fire of 00:59:27.240 --> 00:59:32.760 Every single thing that they've ever done. That is a bad attitude. Let me prove this to you from the Bible 00:59:32.760 --> 00:59:36.390 Go to Psalm 25 Psalm 25. We're gonna look at several 00:59:37.100 --> 00:59:45.150 Proverbs in a minute and we're looking at Psalm 25 Psalm 25 verse 6. The Bible says 00:59:45.150 --> 00:59:52.070 Remember Oh Lord thy tender mercies and my loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old verse 7 00:59:52.070 --> 00:59:57.600 Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy 00:59:57.600 --> 01:00:05.580 Remember thou me for thy goodness sake Oh Lord, you know, praise God that God forgets our sins 01:00:05.580 --> 01:00:09.320 He removes them as far as the East is from the West. Not only does he forget it 01:00:09.320 --> 01:00:16.760 He's like praying God remember thou me for thy goodness sake. Oh lord. Remember not the sins of my youth 01:00:16.760 --> 01:00:22.360 You know, it's a really wicked thing to do is when someone brings up someone's sins of their youth 01:00:22.360 --> 01:00:27.630 You know, this is just terrible with the days that we're living in where it's like older generations 01:00:27.630 --> 01:00:30.740 They kind of lived their youth and not every single thing 01:00:30.740 --> 01:00:36.600 They ever did was recorded on the internet and you know, that's a blessing in a sense because you know 01:00:36.860 --> 01:00:40.910 Young people do stupid things foolishness is bound in the heart of a child 01:00:40.910 --> 01:00:44.840 Teenagers do dumb things young people do dumb things and you know 01:00:44.840 --> 01:00:48.330 You don't want to be defined in your life by the sins of your youth 01:00:48.330 --> 01:00:54.380 And so if anyone ever comes to you and they want to say hey, you know what this person was like at this age 01:00:54.380 --> 01:00:57.380 You know what this person was doing at that age, you know, you should shut that down 01:00:57.380 --> 01:01:01.510 You should give the angry countenance because that is so wicked 01:01:01.510 --> 01:01:03.930 It's like would you want to be remembered for the sins of your youth? 01:01:03.930 --> 01:01:08.970 Were you just a perfect person? Were you like the prodigal brother? Oh, you know from my youth 01:01:08.970 --> 01:01:13.330 I've always kept your commandments. It's like no, no one is he says Lord 01:01:13.330 --> 01:01:19.750 Please remember me for thy loving-kindness think about how King David, you know remembers people 01:01:19.750 --> 01:01:21.210 He's listing, you know 01:01:21.210 --> 01:01:25.410 The mighty men the mighty men that he's listing that were in his army that did great things 01:01:25.410 --> 01:01:30.140 And he's just listing all the good things that they did and if you read the accounts of David mighty men 01:01:30.140 --> 01:01:36.980 He usually just lists like one or maybe two of their great feats and he just chooses to define these people by their great moments 01:01:36.980 --> 01:01:42.480 Right. He doesn't sit here and say like, you know, a Dino. Yeah, he you know, he did and I don't I think it's a Dino 01:01:42.480 --> 01:01:46.480 I'm guessing now. No, it's been Ia been Ia been Ia 01:01:46.480 --> 01:01:52.110 He goes down into the snowy pit and just slays a lion on a snowy day. He's like, that's a snowy day 01:01:52.110 --> 01:01:58.020 There's a lion in a pit. I'm gonna slay it. He's like I'm gonna define been Ia by killing the lion on the snowy day 01:01:58.020 --> 01:02:01.310 I'm sure there were some things that been I didn't you know do that were perfect 01:02:01.310 --> 01:02:04.300 I'm sure that he had some sins in his life, but it's like I like that David 01:02:04.300 --> 01:02:10.070 He just said, you know, I'm gonna define these men by this. I'm not gonna hold the sins of their youth against them 01:02:10.070 --> 01:02:16.240 I'm gonna remember them for good. Look at Proverbs 16 Proverbs chapter number 01:02:16.240 --> 01:02:25.630 16 Proverbs 16 look at verse number 27. The Bible says this an 01:02:25.630 --> 01:02:28.160 ungodly man 01:02:28.160 --> 01:02:34.370 diggeth up evil and in his lips there is as a burning fire a froward man 01:02:34.370 --> 01:02:37.320 So with stripe strife and a whisperer 01:02:37.320 --> 01:02:45.670 Separated chief friends, you know someone that would just want to find out all the evil of someone's past 01:02:45.670 --> 01:02:50.780 And oh what you did when you were young and let me let me find out all the sins you've ever committed 01:02:50.780 --> 01:02:53.560 You know what the Bible says about that person that is an ungodly 01:02:54.550 --> 01:03:02.610 Person and you know what if you are going around talking about the sins of other people that they've repented of a long time ago 01:03:02.610 --> 01:03:10.110 That tells me a lot more about you than about someone else and you know for all I care and for all that God cares 01:03:10.110 --> 01:03:16.210 Someone could have committed murder ten years ago and have repented of it and is now right with God 01:03:16.210 --> 01:03:22.230 And if you're going around saying hey, do you know this guy used to be a murderer? You're the wicked one. Not the murderer anymore 01:03:22.230 --> 01:03:29.330 That's the truth and you know what I will never tolerate people going around and being loudmouth gossips 01:03:29.330 --> 01:03:36.290 Bringing up sins from people's past that is wicked and evil and it will be rebuked and you know what men 01:03:36.290 --> 01:03:43.240 You ought to not allow that crap in your family to not let your wives go around and bringing up dirt from people's past 01:03:43.240 --> 01:03:51.780 That is evil go to Proverbs 10 Proverbs chapter number 10. Look what it says in verse 12 01:03:52.600 --> 01:03:58.450 Hatred stir it up up stripes, but love covereth all 01:03:58.450 --> 01:04:03.020 Sins it's like look God wanted to use the Apostle Paul 01:04:03.020 --> 01:04:08.680 God wanted to use the man in 1st Corinthians 5 that had gotten things right and we're told hey 01:04:08.680 --> 01:04:12.300 We should restore that person. We should forgive that person 01:04:12.300 --> 01:04:15.640 We should let that person go on and serve God 01:04:15.640 --> 01:04:22.990 But you know what a hateful person does a hateful person stirs up strife where there was none. There was no strife 01:04:22.990 --> 01:04:27.350 There was no issue. There's something repented of for a long time ago, and then you want to bring that up 01:04:27.350 --> 01:04:32.640 What are you you are a hateful piece of crap is what you are to do something like that 01:04:32.640 --> 01:04:45.510 Look at Proverbs 19 Proverbs chapter number 19 Proverbs chapter number 19 look at verse number 11 the discretion of a man 01:04:45.510 --> 01:04:52.470 Deferrith his anger and it is his glory to pass over a 01:04:52.470 --> 01:04:58.710 Transgression, I mean sometimes we just live in a fallen world and you just hear about things 01:04:58.990 --> 01:05:01.620 Because people gossip people talk and you know what? 01:05:01.620 --> 01:05:06.630 I'm not just like trying to find out every detail of every person's life and all the things they've ever done long 01:05:06.630 --> 01:05:08.630 I'm just trying to like forget about things 01:05:08.630 --> 01:05:15.200 Immediately to just let things go out of my head to not catalog things in my mind and to just pass over a 01:05:15.200 --> 01:05:20.100 Transgression even when it's like this person said this about you. I'm just like I just don't even care 01:05:20.100 --> 01:05:23.780 Why because you know what life is more about you? 01:05:23.780 --> 01:05:28.260 It's about the work of God going forth and you know what we should pass over some 01:05:28.540 --> 01:05:35.080 Transgressions from time to time and have this thing called grace and be this thing called long suffering and not just hold people's feet to the fire 01:05:35.080 --> 01:05:41.650 And let me just be very very very very clear if I ever hear that there's someone in this church going around and 01:05:41.650 --> 01:05:49.350 Bringing up someone sins and spreading someone sins that they have committed in the past that they have repented of I will make you 01:05:49.350 --> 01:05:52.070 Apologize to that person or you will be kicked out of church 01:05:52.070 --> 01:05:57.560 That is a wicked and evil attitude and we are not gonna tolerate a place 01:05:57.800 --> 01:06:04.430 Where we're just gonna bring up everything the brother so-and-so's ever done in his life and go spread that around when he's repented of that 01:06:04.430 --> 01:06:16.960 That will not be tolerated go to Hebrews 8 Hebrews chapter number 8 Hebrews chapter number 8 01:06:16.960 --> 01:06:23.770 Look at verse 12 says for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities 01:06:23.770 --> 01:06:31.470 Will I remember no more praise God for that right that our sins and our iniquities? 01:06:31.630 --> 01:06:38.970 God does not even remember them and you know what when your brother has repented you ought to let it go 01:06:38.970 --> 01:06:45.190 To forgive and to not even remember it if you can just let things go out of your mind 01:06:45.190 --> 01:06:51.010 You know, so hey, yeah, you should have godly sorrow when you sin you should want to get right with God 01:06:51.010 --> 01:06:58.000 You know, you should confess your sins not someone else's right confess your sins 01:06:58.350 --> 01:07:03.330 Not someone else's go to Matthew chapter 20 Matthew chapter number 20 01:07:03.330 --> 01:07:08.550 So I said number one God wants to use you even if you have a sinful past number two 01:07:08.550 --> 01:07:12.490 God wants to use you even if you got a late start 01:07:12.490 --> 01:07:18.060 I think some people they they feel like they can't be used greatly by God because they have a sinful past and you know 01:07:18.060 --> 01:07:20.730 What that's not true. God wants to use you number two 01:07:20.730 --> 01:07:23.450 I think some people think that they can't be used greatly by God 01:07:23.450 --> 01:07:29.560 Because they kind of got a late start in the Christian life look at Matthew 20 verse 1 for the kingdom of heaven is 01:07:29.680 --> 01:07:31.650 Like unto a man that is an householder 01:07:31.650 --> 01:07:37.930 Which went out early in the morning to hire laborers into his vineyard when he had agreed with the laborers for a penny a day 01:07:37.930 --> 01:07:44.790 He sent them into his vineyard and he went about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and 01:07:44.790 --> 01:07:48.870 Said unto them go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right 01:07:48.870 --> 01:07:54.520 I will give you and they went their way and he went about the 6th and 9th hour and did likewise 01:07:54.520 --> 01:07:58.920 And about the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle and sayeth unto them 01:07:58.920 --> 01:08:03.180 Why stand you here all the day idle they say unto him because no man hath hired us 01:08:03.180 --> 01:08:09.060 He sayeth unto them go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive 01:08:09.060 --> 01:08:15.110 So you have this boss here and he's employing labors and he hires some people at the first hour 01:08:15.110 --> 01:08:18.690 He hires some people at the third hour. He hires some people at the sixth hour 01:08:18.690 --> 01:08:20.180 He hires some people at the ninth hour 01:08:20.180 --> 01:08:27.210 He hires some people at the 11th hour where there's just one more hour to work in the day and he tells them all hey 01:08:27.330 --> 01:08:32.960 Whatever is right that I'm going to give you then he says in verse number eight 01:08:32.960 --> 01:08:39.420 So when even was come the Lord of the vineyard saith unto unto his steward call the laborers and give them their hire 01:08:39.420 --> 01:08:41.520 Beginning from the last unto the first 01:08:41.520 --> 01:08:46.320 When they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny 01:08:46.320 --> 01:08:53.590 But when the first came they suppose that they had that they should have received more and they likewise received every man a penny 01:08:53.590 --> 01:08:57.910 And when they had received it they murmured against the good man of the house 01:08:58.380 --> 01:09:03.250 Saying these that have wrought but one hour and that was made them equal unto us 01:09:03.250 --> 01:09:08.810 Which have borne the burden and heat of the day, but he answered one of them and said friend 01:09:08.810 --> 01:09:14.120 I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a penny take that thine is and go thy way 01:09:14.120 --> 01:09:17.400 I will give unto this last even as unto thee 01:09:17.400 --> 01:09:26.110 Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own is thine eye evil because I am good 01:09:26.110 --> 01:09:31.080 And you know elsewhere in the Bible the Bible talks about this principle of unto whom much is give him 01:09:31.080 --> 01:09:34.100 Of him shall much be required 01:09:34.100 --> 01:09:40.810 So one way you can kind of think about this parable is there are some people that get saved very early on in life 01:09:40.810 --> 01:09:46.080 I mean think about the children that are growing up in anchor Baptist Church and in the new IFB 01:09:46.080 --> 01:09:51.990 They're usually getting saved at what five six seven eight years old very young into life 01:09:51.990 --> 01:09:56.550 You know raise your hand those of you who are adults raise your hand if you were saved under the age of ten 01:09:56.630 --> 01:10:03.930 Okay, it's definitely the minority, right? I was saved in my teen years. I know many of you were saved in your 20s 01:10:03.930 --> 01:10:09.190 Some of you even later than that. Well, here's the thing if you got saved really really young in life 01:10:09.190 --> 01:10:13.500 You do have a great advantage. You have been blessed greatly by God 01:10:13.500 --> 01:10:17.960 Look if you grew up in church if you grew up in a good Baptist Church 01:10:17.960 --> 01:10:23.540 And you grew up hearing the word of God preached and you grew up with the King James Bible and you grew up with soul-winning 01:10:23.660 --> 01:10:29.290 Look, you've got this great advantage, but here's what you also have. You have a great expectation from God 01:10:29.290 --> 01:10:31.670 You have a great responsibility 01:10:31.670 --> 01:10:37.510 You have this great expectation of labor to be produced because so much has been given unto you 01:10:37.510 --> 01:10:42.320 There's other people in life that get saved in the third in the sixth in the ninth 01:10:42.320 --> 01:10:47.200 Yeah, some even in the eleventh hour and don't just assume that you know 01:10:47.200 --> 01:10:51.890 The longer carnal life you live all of a sudden just the more you're gonna be rewarded in heaven 01:10:51.890 --> 01:10:56.510 Just because you've been saved longer no unto whom much is given of him shall much be required 01:10:56.510 --> 01:10:59.770 Right. And so hey, you know if someone gets saved 01:10:59.770 --> 01:11:05.020 Let's say in the eleventh hour of their life and they get saved as a very old individual 01:11:05.020 --> 01:11:12.380 Don't just despair and say like man because I'm old I've missed all these great years that I could have been using serving God 01:11:12.380 --> 01:11:17.350 I could have been using soul winning. And so what could I really do for the kingdom of God? 01:11:17.350 --> 01:11:21.480 What could I really produce? You know, what rewards could I really get in heaven? 01:11:21.480 --> 01:11:27.900 Well, it's like hey if you're just faithful in that one hour that God has given you that you're working in 01:11:27.900 --> 01:11:35.050 You know, you might get rewarded just the same exact amount as the one who's been working the entire brunt of the day, right? 01:11:35.050 --> 01:11:37.570 Just hey wherever you find yourself in life 01:11:37.570 --> 01:11:43.700 Whatever state of life you're in just go as hard as you can for God be thou faithful unto death 01:11:43.700 --> 01:11:46.710 Serve him all the days of your life. And you know what? 01:11:46.710 --> 01:11:52.830 That should be the goal whether you're saved in the first hour or in the eleventh hour go to Psalm 148 Psalm 01:11:52.830 --> 01:11:54.000 148, you know 01:11:54.000 --> 01:11:59.180 We don't want to think that old people can't be used greatly by God and you know 01:11:59.180 --> 01:12:00.890 We don't have a lot of old people in our church 01:12:00.890 --> 01:12:05.360 But here's the thing we're all gonna be old someday and you know what we should be trying to reach old people 01:12:05.360 --> 01:12:08.890 We should be trying to get old people saved, you know, it doesn't happen very often 01:12:08.890 --> 01:12:11.640 But from time to time we get some old people saved 01:12:11.640 --> 01:12:16.220 I've gotten some people saved in their 80s and 90s and it's like that's the 11th hour 01:12:16.420 --> 01:12:20.560 They're getting saved right at the 11th hour, but is it just like okay, they're saved 01:12:20.560 --> 01:12:23.820 But I mean they're old so they might as well just phone it in until they die 01:12:23.820 --> 01:12:24.430 No 01:12:24.430 --> 01:12:29.060 Look what the Bible says in Psalm 148 verse 11 kings of the earth and all people 01:12:29.060 --> 01:12:34.830 princes and all judges of the earth both young men and maidens old men and 01:12:34.830 --> 01:12:40.530 Children let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is excellent 01:12:40.530 --> 01:12:43.480 His glory is above the earth and the heaven 01:12:43.480 --> 01:12:47.660 Hey, you know old people should be in the house of God and you know what? 01:12:47.660 --> 01:12:52.870 You may be retired from your job. Oh thou boomer, but you should never retire from serving God 01:12:52.870 --> 01:12:59.890 You should never retire from praising God, you know, I love pastor Cobb in Houston, Texas 01:12:59.890 --> 01:13:06.120 Who's in his late 80s and when I went to Spring Crest Baptist Church him and his wife that have been past 01:13:06.120 --> 01:13:10.110 He's been pastoring for over 50 years. We're sitting in church. You know what they're doing 01:13:10.110 --> 01:13:14.590 They're belting out praises to God in their 80s, you know, praise God for that 01:13:14.670 --> 01:13:22.210 we need some more old people today that are gonna stop living for everything under the Sun and all their money that they've got stacked up and 01:13:22.210 --> 01:13:29.490 All their free time from their retirement and say you know what God commands me even to praise the Lord go to Psalm 71 01:13:29.490 --> 01:13:36.420 Psalm 71 01:13:36.420 --> 01:13:42.310 God wants to use you even if you got a late start Psalm 71 look at verse 8 01:13:42.310 --> 01:13:46.640 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day 01:13:46.940 --> 01:13:52.310 Notice this cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me 01:13:52.310 --> 01:13:56.170 Not when my strength failing Oh God 01:13:56.170 --> 01:14:00.860 That was taught me for my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works 01:14:00.860 --> 01:14:04.420 Now also when I am old and gray-headed Oh God 01:14:04.420 --> 01:14:10.080 forsake me not until I have showed thy strength under this generation and I power to 01:14:10.080 --> 01:14:14.450 Everyone that is to come and of course, you know 01:14:14.450 --> 01:14:20.420 This is this is a psalmist calling out to God and praying out to God, but we already know God's answer to this prayer 01:14:20.420 --> 01:14:26.100 Is that God is not gonna forsake a saint just because they're getting old just because they're getting gray-headed 01:14:26.100 --> 01:14:29.620 You know, of course God is not gonna forsake that person and you know 01:14:29.620 --> 01:14:34.520 That person needs to not forsake the Lord just cuz you're getting old just cuz you're getting the gray hair 01:14:34.520 --> 01:14:39.430 You know what praise God until the very end go to Psalm 92 Psalm 01:14:39.430 --> 01:14:44.960 92 now look if I think if you're wise 01:14:46.030 --> 01:14:50.520 Obviously, you know you get saved at whatever age you get saved before you're saved 01:14:50.520 --> 01:14:53.650 It's not like you're thinking like oh, man, you know, I really need to get saved 01:14:53.650 --> 01:15:00.190 Usually someone has to come tell you and you weren't even necessarily seeking but it's like once you are saved regardless of what age 01:15:00.190 --> 01:15:04.230 You are you should just get to work for God. You should bring forth fruit 01:15:04.230 --> 01:15:05.060 But you know what? 01:15:05.060 --> 01:15:09.340 It doesn't stop when you get old look what it says in Psalm 92 verse 13 01:15:09.340 --> 01:15:13.510 Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God 01:15:13.930 --> 01:15:18.180 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age 01:15:18.180 --> 01:15:24.970 They shall be fat and flourishing to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock and there is no 01:15:24.970 --> 01:15:29.990 Unrighteousness in him. I love that idea of people still 01:15:29.990 --> 01:15:35.330 Bringing forth fruit in old age now look if you got saved young in life 01:15:35.330 --> 01:15:39.410 You would be a fool not to spend the energy of your youth 01:15:39.410 --> 01:15:44.140 Serving God because when are you gonna have more energy and be able to do? 01:15:44.140 --> 01:15:49.220 You know the most amount of works possible for God. It's obviously in your youth obviously 01:15:49.220 --> 01:15:53.580 You know those triple decker apartment complexes with all those stairs 01:15:53.580 --> 01:16:00.100 You know we're gonna have a lot easier of a time as young men and young ladies getting people saved there then pastor Cobb 01:16:00.100 --> 01:16:04.380 God bless you pastor Cobb, but it's just true. I could run stairs better than you. That's not a boast 01:16:04.380 --> 01:16:06.250 It's like I'm in my 20s. You're in your 80s 01:16:06.250 --> 01:16:11.830 You know we should take advantage of our youth for sure, but when you get old that doesn't just that doesn't mean like okay 01:16:11.830 --> 01:16:15.280 I'm done soul winning. I'm giving up. I'm not gonna bring forth fruit anymore 01:16:15.280 --> 01:16:20.180 Look as long as your body has strength as long as you have a voice 01:16:20.180 --> 01:16:24.430 As long as you are able to do it physically you should be a soul winner to the bitter end 01:16:24.430 --> 01:16:27.550 Now obviously some people could get so 01:16:27.550 --> 01:16:33.880 Physically decrepit if you will that they can't do that, but it just goes to show hey for as long as you can 01:16:33.880 --> 01:16:40.650 You should be investing into that getting as many people saved as possible go to first Corinthians one first Corinthians one 01:16:42.510 --> 01:16:49.150 So number two, I said God wants to use you even if you have a late start number three 01:16:49.150 --> 01:16:51.670 God wants to use you because he only has 01:16:51.670 --> 01:16:59.310 Imperfect people to choose from there are no perfect individuals in this world when you read the Bible 01:16:59.310 --> 01:17:07.060 It's not filled of just sinless men sinless man after sinless man after sinless man. No, it's just like jacked-up situation 01:17:08.150 --> 01:17:16.200 unbelievably horrible situation after another and you see God continuing to use imperfect people because guess what that's the only type of people that 01:17:16.200 --> 01:17:22.840 Exist is imperfect people first Corinthians 1 verse 26 for ye see your calling brethren 01:17:22.840 --> 01:17:28.240 How that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called 01:17:28.240 --> 01:17:33.870 but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and 01:17:33.870 --> 01:17:38.860 God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and 01:17:39.370 --> 01:17:42.610 Base things of the world and things which are pleat despised 01:17:42.610 --> 01:17:50.910 God have God chosen yay and things which are not to bring to not things that are why that no flesh should glory in 01:17:50.910 --> 01:17:56.140 His presence. So notice it says not many mighty not many noble are called 01:17:56.140 --> 01:18:02.280 No, this doesn't say not many perfect because there's zero perfect sinless people that are called 01:18:02.280 --> 01:18:07.810 But there's not many mighty and not many noble, you know, usually it's the unwise. It's the foolish 01:18:07.810 --> 01:18:12.680 It's the base things of this world that God wants to use in the greatest way possible 01:18:12.680 --> 01:18:17.000 Why because God wants to get as much glory as possible? 01:18:17.000 --> 01:18:22.840 Which is why it would be so foolish to look at yourself and say hey, I've got a sinful past 01:18:22.840 --> 01:18:28.450 Hey, you know, I've done things. I'm not proud of you know, I'm not the most smart person. I'm not the most good-looking 01:18:28.450 --> 01:18:33.880 I'm not the most athletic. I'm not the greatest speaker. Therefore God, you know couldn't really use you 01:18:33.880 --> 01:18:41.680 It's like no, no, you are like the best candidate for God to use because he often doesn't use the mighty the noble the strong 01:18:41.680 --> 01:18:45.680 Because people who are that way do they really want to share glory with God? 01:18:45.680 --> 01:18:49.220 No, usually those people want the glory for themselves, right? 01:18:49.220 --> 01:18:52.970 The people who are just the the best speakers of this world 01:18:52.970 --> 01:18:59.690 The people who are the most athletic the people who are the richest in this world are generally not the best 01:18:59.810 --> 01:19:06.660 Christians are generally not the ones doing the greatest works for God go to 2nd Corinthians 4 01:19:06.660 --> 01:19:15.200 2nd Corinthians 4 so hey, you know being based being foolish being weak not being rich not being the coolest person 01:19:15.200 --> 01:19:20.660 That doesn't disqualify you from doing great works for God, you know you being a little socially awkward 01:19:20.660 --> 01:19:23.160 That doesn't disqualify you from doing great works for God 01:19:23.160 --> 01:19:29.350 I've seen some really socially awkward people get people saved and there's a lot of your prideful real good 01:19:29.350 --> 01:19:34.900 You know schmoozing politician types that are getting no one safe 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 6 01:19:34.900 --> 01:19:38.430 For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness 01:19:38.430 --> 01:19:44.180 Hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ 01:19:44.180 --> 01:19:48.500 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the 01:19:48.500 --> 01:19:53.990 Excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 01:19:53.990 --> 01:19:59.590 It's like God wants to use us these earthen vessels, right? 01:19:59.750 --> 01:20:05.320 Nothing special about us. The only thing that makes us special is what we have inside of us 01:20:05.320 --> 01:20:12.040 Which is what the gospel of Jesus Christ and when we as these earthen vessels go out and share the gospel 01:20:12.040 --> 01:20:20.140 Where is the excellency of the power going to be attributed to this great speaker this wonderful rich man this superb orator? 01:20:20.140 --> 01:20:21.440 No, it's gonna be given to God 01:20:21.440 --> 01:20:27.220 That's what it says that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us 01:20:27.220 --> 01:20:34.440 You know, you want to be used greatly by God sincerely desire in your heart that God will be glorified and not you 01:20:34.440 --> 01:20:42.030 That's a great recipe to be used by God be like John the Baptist saying hey, he must increase I must decrease 01:20:42.030 --> 01:20:48.610 You know the Jews were coming saying hey, are you the Christ? Are you Elijah Elijah Elias? He's like hey 01:20:48.610 --> 01:20:54.590 I already told you I am NOT there's one who's coming after me whose shoes latchets. I am NOT worthy on loose 01:20:54.710 --> 01:21:01.460 That's the humility that he had you know, you're used greatly by God go to Exodus 20. Let me remind you 01:21:01.460 --> 01:21:05.250 let me give you a reality check this evening of some of the 01:21:05.250 --> 01:21:11.150 Imperfect men and women that God used and why we need to stop having this idea 01:21:11.150 --> 01:21:17.180 Where people just think they're so perfect. They're so wonderful and everyone else is so bad 01:21:17.180 --> 01:21:25.700 These are the types of people that God used he used Moses who let me remind you was a murderer who literally murdered someone 01:21:25.910 --> 01:21:31.090 Notice what it says in Exodus 20 verse 11 and it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown 01:21:31.090 --> 01:21:35.820 That he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens and he spied an Egyptian 01:21:35.820 --> 01:21:41.210 Smiting in Hebrew one of his brethren and he looked this way and that way and when he saw that there was no man 01:21:41.210 --> 01:21:47.370 He saw the Egyptian and hid him in the sand when he went out the second day behold two men of the Hebrews strove together 01:21:47.370 --> 01:21:49.140 And he said to him that did the wrong 01:21:49.140 --> 01:21:53.640 Wherefore smite is thou thy fellow and he said who made thee a prince and a judge over us? 01:21:54.030 --> 01:22:00.820 Intendest thou to kill me as thou kill. It's the Egyptian Moses feared and said surely this thing is known now when Pharaoh heard this thing 01:22:00.820 --> 01:22:02.040 He sought to slay Moses 01:22:02.040 --> 01:22:08.950 But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian and he sat down by a well 01:22:08.950 --> 01:22:13.440 Now for raise a hand who's ever committed. No, please don't raise a hand for that, but it's like imagine 01:22:13.440 --> 01:22:16.840 You know someone is in our church that's committed murder, right? 01:22:16.840 --> 01:22:20.710 You know, it would be ridiculous if someone's just like hey 01:22:21.950 --> 01:22:28.080 This person has committed murder. They that'd be wrong. Okay, because look people are allowed to repent of things 01:22:28.080 --> 01:22:31.810 People are allowed to move on people are allowed to still be used by God 01:22:31.810 --> 01:22:37.170 Even if they've sinned in their past, even if they've done something bad in the past 01:22:37.170 --> 01:22:41.620 It's like these holier than now today that act like they're so squeaky clean 01:22:41.620 --> 01:22:45.800 You know, they've never had a single problem in their marriage one single day in their life 01:22:45.800 --> 01:22:49.070 But it's like would you have sat here and not followed Moses? 01:22:49.190 --> 01:22:55.900 Would you have sat here and cried and complained and acted like a holier than now if Moses was your leader? 01:22:55.900 --> 01:22:59.550 Probably yet Moses had murdered and you know what he did 01:22:59.550 --> 01:23:06.190 He led the people out of the land of Egypt look at Exodus 4 Exodus 4. That's not it 01:23:06.190 --> 01:23:07.040 He wasn't just a murderer 01:23:07.040 --> 01:23:11.840 You know what else he did is he kind of like questioned and lacked faith in God a little bit when God gave him his mission 01:23:11.840 --> 01:23:15.900 To do Exodus 4 verse 10 and Moses said unto the Lord. Oh my lord 01:23:15.900 --> 01:23:21.620 I am not eloquent neither heretofore nor since thou has spoken unto thy servant 01:23:21.620 --> 01:23:26.100 But I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue that doesn't that sound like a great candidate 01:23:26.100 --> 01:23:32.680 According to first Corinthians one to be used by God if he's not eloquent and the Lord said unto him who hath made man's 01:23:32.680 --> 01:23:37.960 Mouth or who make it the dumb or deaf or the seeing or the blind if not I the Lord now 01:23:37.960 --> 01:23:41.930 Therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say 01:23:41.930 --> 01:23:48.610 So what did Moses do? Hey, he committed murder. What did Moses do? He showed lack of faith in God 01:23:48.610 --> 01:23:53.720 He kind of back talked to God a little bit when God gave him his mission. Yet. What did Moses do? 01:23:53.720 --> 01:23:59.090 Hey, he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Hey, he put forth his staff and he parted the Red Sea 01:23:59.090 --> 01:24:05.200 Hey, he brought those plagues upon Egypt upon the Egyptians upon Pharaoh's house 01:24:05.200 --> 01:24:11.890 You know God was able to use an imperfect man to do something wonderful. How about this good acts 13? 01:24:11.890 --> 01:24:20.850 How about this? How about King David who the Bible says is what a man after God's own heart and what did King David do? 01:24:21.630 --> 01:24:26.850 He was not in the battle when he was supposed to be in the battle. He was staying up late at night out on the rooftop 01:24:26.850 --> 01:24:33.160 He sees a woman naked and bathing and he just decides to just sit there and just feast his eyes on her 01:24:33.160 --> 01:24:36.880 And then he calls for her and then he's told hey 01:24:36.880 --> 01:24:41.530 This is someone's wife and then he lies with her and gets her pregnant 01:24:41.530 --> 01:24:48.240 And then he goes and sends her husband into the hottest part of the battle and has him killed 01:24:48.340 --> 01:24:52.810 That's jacked up that's jacked up in all sorts of different ways and you know 01:24:52.810 --> 01:24:56.950 If someone in our church did that it would just everyone would freak out rightly so, okay 01:24:56.950 --> 01:25:00.510 But yet notice what the Bible says in Acts 13 verse 21 01:25:00.510 --> 01:25:06.420 and after they desired a king and God gave unto them Saul the son of sis a man of the tribe of Benjamin by the 01:25:06.420 --> 01:25:12.890 Space of 40 years and when he had removed him he raised up unto them David to be their king to whom also he gave their 01:25:12.890 --> 01:25:16.780 Testimony and said I have found David the son of Jesse a man 01:25:17.130 --> 01:25:21.950 After mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will of this man's seed hath God 01:25:21.950 --> 01:25:26.810 According to his promise raised up unto Israel a savior Jesus 01:25:26.810 --> 01:25:34.220 So notice God still used David as a great king of Israel one of the greatest kings of Israel as the sweet 01:25:34.220 --> 01:25:38.530 Psalmist of Israel and as a progenitor of the Lord Jesus Christ 01:25:38.530 --> 01:25:45.810 He's an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ go to Genesis chapter number 12 01:25:45.810 --> 01:25:50.070 And it's like well, what's what's the difference then between him and Saul? Well, you know Saul 01:25:50.070 --> 01:25:55.650 He's confronted with his sins and he doesn't fess up to it. He makes excuses for it 01:25:55.650 --> 01:26:03.030 He doesn't you know, just repent and say like hey, I've said I've done wrong where it's like King David did something absolutely horrible 01:26:03.030 --> 01:26:07.580 But you know what he said, he said I have sinned and then you know what Nathan the prophet said 01:26:07.580 --> 01:26:07.720 Hey 01:26:07.720 --> 01:26:12.480 The Lord has put away your sin the Lord forgot about it 01:26:12.480 --> 01:26:16.750 The Lord has forgiven him and you know what after David has been forgiven by God 01:26:16.750 --> 01:26:21.060 It would be wicked for other people to bring that up and to rub that in David's face 01:26:21.060 --> 01:26:26.580 Even though it was such a horrible thing because you know what God has forgiven him. God has moved on we should move on 01:26:26.580 --> 01:26:29.690 What about Abraham? Here's something Abraham did 01:26:29.690 --> 01:26:34.520 He lied about his wife being his sister look at Genesis 12 verse 11 01:26:34.520 --> 01:26:41.700 And it came to pass when he was come near to Egypt to enter into Egypt that he said unto Sarai his wife behold 01:26:41.700 --> 01:26:44.490 Now I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon 01:26:44.490 --> 01:26:49.070 Therefore it shall come to pass when the Egyptians shall see thee that they shall say 01:26:49.070 --> 01:26:53.740 This is his wife and they will kill me but they will save thee alive 01:26:53.740 --> 01:26:59.980 Say I pray thee thou art my sister that it may be well with me for thy sake my soul shall live 01:26:59.980 --> 01:27:05.460 Because of thee ladies, how would you like to be the wife in this situation where your husband comes up to you and says? 01:27:05.460 --> 01:27:09.280 Hey, you know, I want you to say that you're just my sister 01:27:09.280 --> 01:27:14.650 And you know, he's trying to butter up a little bit saying like look you're so beautiful that people are gonna just automatically assume 01:27:14.650 --> 01:27:17.650 You know that you're my wife would you because she is right? 01:27:17.650 --> 01:27:22.240 But you know he did that and then also let me read for you Genesis 20 verse 2 01:27:22.240 --> 01:27:26.970 It says an Abraham said of Sarah his wife. She is my sister in the Bimelech king of Gerrard 01:27:26.970 --> 01:27:35.070 Sent and took Sarah. So what did Abraham do Abraham lied pretty big lie to say that your wife is your sister 01:27:35.070 --> 01:27:40.200 I mean, that's a pretty big deal yet. God made him what the father many nations 01:27:40.200 --> 01:27:44.760 And go ahead and turn to Romans chapter from before he used Abraham 01:27:44.760 --> 01:27:48.690 I mean this this goes to show the grace of God. Why why did Abraham do this? 01:27:48.690 --> 01:27:53.810 Well, it's cuz he kind of had fear right he was fearful that they were gonna take his wife or something like this 01:27:53.810 --> 01:27:57.170 But yet in the New Testament looking back on the life of Abraham 01:27:57.170 --> 01:28:01.400 You know how the Bible chooses to remember him is a man of extreme faith 01:28:01.400 --> 01:28:04.640 Even though this was kind of a lapse of faith right here 01:28:04.640 --> 01:28:08.060 If we're being honest notice how the Bible looks back on him Romans 4 verse 19 01:28:08.060 --> 01:28:14.150 And obviously this is referencing a different situation, but still the point stands verse 19 and being not weak in faith 01:28:14.150 --> 01:28:20.640 He considered not his own body now dead when he was about 100 years old neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb 01:28:20.640 --> 01:28:23.770 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief 01:28:23.770 --> 01:28:29.060 But was strong in faith giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised 01:28:29.060 --> 01:28:34.640 He was able also to perform. So looking back. How does the Bible paint the picture of Abraham? 01:28:34.640 --> 01:28:39.560 You know this man who was scared and lacking faith and lying about you know, his marital status 01:28:39.560 --> 01:28:43.460 No, the Bible chooses to look back on him as saying this was a man full of faith 01:28:43.460 --> 01:28:47.130 This man staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief 01:28:47.130 --> 01:28:53.900 He was fully persuaded that what God promised he was able also to perform, you know, that's how the Lord is 01:28:53.900 --> 01:28:59.370 That's how merciful God is to us go to Genesis 32. How about Jacob? 01:28:59.370 --> 01:29:04.110 You know Jacob he used trickery to get his brother's birthright 01:29:04.110 --> 01:29:08.880 He kind of exploited the fact that his brother was so hungry and would just sell off his birthright to him 01:29:08.880 --> 01:29:14.670 You know, he had a really messed up family situation his kids wiped out a whole village 01:29:14.670 --> 01:29:18.430 Murdered a whole village she come and his family 01:29:18.430 --> 01:29:22.900 Why because she come or she come every say his name slept with Dinah, right? 01:29:22.900 --> 01:29:29.890 And so his kids just go and murder a whole village. It's just like oh well Jacob must be trash then because his kids are bad 01:29:29.890 --> 01:29:31.260 Let's just forsake Jacob 01:29:31.260 --> 01:29:34.980 Let's just say Jacob's the worst person ever because his kids ended up being bad 01:29:34.980 --> 01:29:42.300 Is that really how the Bible has us to remember Jacob? Absolutely not notice what happens in a Genesis 32 verse 27 01:29:42.300 --> 01:29:46.600 And he said unto him. What is thy name? This is a pre incarnate 01:29:46.600 --> 01:29:50.820 Appearance of Christ when he's wrestling with Jacob it says and he said unto him 01:29:50.820 --> 01:29:55.180 What is thy name and he said Jacob and he said thy name shall be called no more Jacob 01:29:55.180 --> 01:30:01.630 But Israel for as a prince has thou power with God and with men and has prevailed 01:30:01.720 --> 01:30:07.650 So notice God's view of Jacob even though he was an imperfect person even though, you know 01:30:07.650 --> 01:30:14.860 He was not just perfect and walks on water. He says hey you as the prince has power with God and with men and has 01:30:14.860 --> 01:30:21.390 Prevailed what about Gideon, you know Gideon when he was told to go fight the Midianites 01:30:21.390 --> 01:30:23.900 He seemed pretty scared 01:30:23.900 --> 01:30:28.730 He seemed like he was doubting a little bit God's promise because he's like, alright God, you know 01:30:28.730 --> 01:30:30.400 I'll do it, but I want you to show me a sign 01:30:30.400 --> 01:30:36.290 I want there to be due only on the fleece and not on the ground and then God does that and he's like, okay 01:30:36.290 --> 01:30:37.570 I need you to do it again 01:30:37.570 --> 01:30:41.430 Except this time I want the fleece to be dry and I want you know due to be else on the ground 01:30:41.430 --> 01:30:45.300 You know kind of seem like he had a little bit of doubt a little bit of trepidation a little bit of anxiety 01:30:45.300 --> 01:30:50.680 And yet what does the Bible call him a mighty man of valor? What does God call? 01:30:50.680 --> 01:30:55.650 I mean not just not just like some someone else calling that like God calls him a mighty man of 01:30:56.280 --> 01:31:03.240 Valor go to Hebrews 11. Okay. How about this? Rahab? She was what a whore. She was a prostitute 01:31:03.240 --> 01:31:07.940 She sold her body to men for money, you know 01:31:07.940 --> 01:31:12.770 It's just like are we only ever gonna think negatively of Rahab she would just constantly bring that up 01:31:12.770 --> 01:31:17.640 Notice what it says she's in the the Hall of Faith Hebrews 11 verse 30 by faith 01:31:17.640 --> 01:31:23.470 The walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days by faith the harlot Rahab 01:31:23.470 --> 01:31:29.840 Perished not with them that believed not when she had received the spies with peace 01:31:29.840 --> 01:31:36.850 So hey, Rahab was a prostitute, but what happens? Hey, she's in the Hall of Faith. She's in the Hall of Faith 01:31:36.850 --> 01:31:44.100 Chapter go to judges 16. I'll get through a couple more examples here judges chapter number 16. Okay, how about Samson? 01:31:44.100 --> 01:31:49.980 Well Samson a perfect guy or Samson's life kind of a train wreck. I mean you read Samson 01:31:49.980 --> 01:31:54.570 It seems like he's just sleeping with every woman. He sees it's like he went into a city and he saw a fair woman 01:31:54.570 --> 01:31:57.920 And he lied with her and then he sees this girl and he just lies with her 01:31:57.920 --> 01:32:04.190 It's like that's a messed up situation. This is a sinful person. But yet God still used him notice 01:32:04.190 --> 01:32:09.900 Judges 16 verse 28 and Samson called unto the Lord and said oh Lord God remember me 01:32:09.900 --> 01:32:17.120 I pray thee and strengthen me. I pray thee only this once Oh God that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my 01:32:17.120 --> 01:32:23.040 two eyes and Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood and on which it was born up of 01:32:23.040 --> 01:32:28.910 the one with his right hand and of the other with his left and Samson said let me die with the Philistines and he 01:32:28.910 --> 01:32:34.820 bowed himself with all his might and the house fell upon the Lord's and upon all the people that were there in so the 01:32:34.820 --> 01:32:42.600 dead which he slewed his death more than they which slew he slew in his life so hey even though he had some serious 01:32:42.600 --> 01:32:49.200 issues he was definitely a man that gave his strength unto women no doubt about that right but hey at the end of his 01:32:49.200 --> 01:32:54.270 life he was still used in a mighty way to destroy tons of enemies tons of the 01:32:54.270 --> 01:32:59.710 enemies of God God was still using Samson even though he was imperfect go 01:32:59.710 --> 01:33:07.110 to John 21 John chapter number 21 you know how about Peter was Peter perfect 01:33:07.110 --> 01:33:12.990 absolutely not Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times it took a 01:33:12.990 --> 01:33:18.090 little maid to ask him hey are you with him for him to deny right he forsook the 01:33:18.090 --> 01:33:24.010 Lord Jesus Christ in his darkest time he's warming himself by the fire before 01:33:24.010 --> 01:33:28.510 the Lord Jesus Christ is going to face the death of the cross and the torture 01:33:28.510 --> 01:33:34.360 he's going to experience but was Peter ever used look at John 21 verse 15 so 01:33:34.360 --> 01:33:38.680 when they had died Jesus saith to Peter Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest 01:33:38.680 --> 01:33:42.520 thou me more than these he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee 01:33:42.520 --> 01:33:47.490 he saith on him feed my lambs he saith to him again the second time Simon son 01:33:47.490 --> 01:33:52.220 of Jonas lovest thou me saith on him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he 01:33:52.220 --> 01:33:56.970 saith unto him feed my sheep he saith unto him the third time Simon son of 01:33:56.970 --> 01:34:02.350 Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time 01:34:02.350 --> 01:34:06.590 lovest thou me and he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest 01:34:06.590 --> 01:34:12.080 that I love thee Jesus saith unto him feed my sheep so it's like hey did 01:34:12.080 --> 01:34:17.400 Peter sin yes he did did he feel bad about it yes he did you know does God 01:34:17.400 --> 01:34:21.940 still want to use Peter in the future absolutely hey do you love me more than 01:34:21.940 --> 01:34:25.580 these you know what you need to do Peter you need to get up you need to stop 01:34:25.580 --> 01:34:31.270 feeling bad for yourself you need to go out and you need to feed my sheep I'll 01:34:31.270 --> 01:34:35.960 just read this one for you you know how about Noah Noah was a righteous man yet 01:34:35.960 --> 01:34:41.190 what did he do he got drunk and uncovered himself in the tent and ended 01:34:41.190 --> 01:34:44.720 up getting in a situation where he was taken advantage of yet the Bible says 01:34:44.720 --> 01:34:48.450 of Noah Genesis 6 8 but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord these are the 01:34:48.450 --> 01:34:54.100 generations of Noah Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations Noah 01:34:54.100 --> 01:34:57.510 walked with God notice how the Bible speaks of him positively you know I 01:34:57.510 --> 01:35:02.010 brought up this morning Jonah righteous prophet he's commissioned to go preach 01:35:02.010 --> 01:35:06.400 the Ninevites hey 40 days Ninevah shall be overthrown he preaches he does what 01:35:06.400 --> 01:35:10.490 God says he ends up getting mad he ends up getting angry at God for being 01:35:10.490 --> 01:35:14.820 merciful and it's like you know if you actually look at reality if you actually 01:35:14.820 --> 01:35:17.800 read the Bible you actually know anything about the Bible and read these 01:35:17.800 --> 01:35:25.720 You know what you've noticed is that God is just not using perfect individuals because perfect individuals do not exist. 01:35:25.720 --> 01:35:34.530 There's no such thing. And so you know what? It would be foolish for you to get to a rut in your life, which most people, hey, they're going to get into a rut. 01:35:34.530 --> 01:35:39.480 They're going to get into a situation where they're not as on fire. They got bad issues going on in their life. 01:35:39.480 --> 01:35:45.860 You know, it'd be so foolish for you to just quit right there. You know what you got to do? Hey, you got to pick yourself up. 01:35:45.860 --> 01:35:51.060 You got to confess that sin to God. You got to move forward with your life and realize that God can still use you. 01:35:51.060 --> 01:36:00.450 And look, any person, any person that is saved, that still has breath in their lungs, it is true, God can still use that person. 01:36:00.450 --> 01:36:08.410 That does not mean that God can still use you in the exact position, in the exact way as if you had been living a righteous life. 01:36:08.410 --> 01:36:12.400 You know, there's things like being a pastor, being a deacon that has qualifications. 01:36:12.400 --> 01:36:19.370 But look, no matter who you are, no matter what you have done, if you are saved, you can still serve God. 01:36:19.370 --> 01:36:21.590 You can still be used of God. 01:36:21.590 --> 01:36:28.520 And you know, I remember hearing a preacher several years ago talk about how, you know, if you've been living a sinful life, you really shouldn't be a soul winner, right? 01:36:28.520 --> 01:36:32.730 You should only go soul winning after you've really become righteous again and gotten right with God. 01:36:32.730 --> 01:36:34.700 You know what, that is stupid. 01:36:34.700 --> 01:36:36.740 You know, as soon as you have sinned, you know what you should do? 01:36:36.740 --> 01:36:39.070 You should go soul winning the next day. 01:36:39.070 --> 01:36:43.010 You should go out and serve God because it's not like you're going around telling people 01:36:43.010 --> 01:36:44.980 that to get to heaven you need to live a good life. 01:36:44.980 --> 01:36:45.970 That would be hypocrisy. 01:36:45.970 --> 01:36:48.020 You know what you're going around telling people? 01:36:48.020 --> 01:36:53.130 Is that, hey, you're saved by grace and that you don't deserve salvation. 01:36:53.130 --> 01:36:56.110 And that salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast. 01:36:56.110 --> 01:37:00.080 So you know what, if you've been in a rut or you've sinned or you've messed up, 01:37:00.080 --> 01:37:03.060 how are you being a hypocrite by going and telling people the free gift of salvation? 01:37:03.060 --> 01:37:07.510 You are not. 01:37:07.510 --> 01:37:12.430 Let's close in 2 Corinthians chapter number three, 2 Corinthians chapter number three. 01:37:12.430 --> 01:37:18.600 But look, you need to stop having this pity party for yourself for sins that you've committed in the past 01:37:18.600 --> 01:37:22.550 and acting like you're so unusable because you've had sins in your past. 01:37:22.550 --> 01:37:24.520 You need to stop with that attitude. 01:37:24.520 --> 01:37:29.550 You definitely need to stop with the attitude of trying to bring up other people's sins from their past, 01:37:29.550 --> 01:37:31.540 rubbing that in their face. 01:37:31.540 --> 01:37:35.520 You know, people need to stop acting like they're the only people that could be used by God. 01:37:35.520 --> 01:37:40.490 You know, sometimes you hear from mature Christians, you know, that it's just only the new IFB doing good things for God. 01:37:40.490 --> 01:37:43.960 No, there's good, safe, old IFB people too. 01:37:43.960 --> 01:37:45.970 And realize that God still wants to use you. 01:37:45.970 --> 01:37:50.000 Let's close here, look at 2 Corinthians 3 verse 2. 01:37:50.000 --> 01:37:52.910 "Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men, 01:37:52.910 --> 01:37:58.090 for as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, 01:37:58.090 --> 01:38:01.100 written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, 01:38:01.100 --> 01:38:05.470 not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart. 01:38:05.470 --> 01:38:08.430 And such trust have we through Christ to Godward, 01:38:08.430 --> 01:38:13.380 not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves, 01:38:13.380 --> 01:38:15.590 but our sufficiency is of God, 01:38:15.590 --> 01:38:20.800 notice this, who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament, 01:38:20.800 --> 01:38:23.670 not of the letter, but of the Spirit, 01:38:23.670 --> 01:38:27.730 for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life. 01:38:27.730 --> 01:38:30.330 Look, if you are saved, you know what that means? 01:38:30.330 --> 01:38:33.270 That means that you have the Holy Spirit of God inside of you, 01:38:33.270 --> 01:38:36.540 and you are sealed with that Spirit of God until the day of redemption, 01:38:36.540 --> 01:38:42.710 and the Bible says that we are qualified for the ministry of the New Testament, 01:38:42.710 --> 01:38:45.710 not because you're so great, not because you're so wonderful, 01:38:45.710 --> 01:38:48.660 not because you're perfect, but because of that Spirit that dwelleth in us, 01:38:48.660 --> 01:38:53.630 the Bible says that who hath also made us able ministers of the New Testament. 01:38:53.630 --> 01:38:58.040 If God has still allowed you to be here, despite what you may have done in your past, 01:38:58.040 --> 01:39:02.360 despite how old you were when you got saved, despite any issues that you've had, 01:39:02.360 --> 01:39:08.510 look, if you are still here today and you are saved, you are a qualified minister of the New Testament. 01:39:08.510 --> 01:39:13.760 You are able to be used by God. You are able to go out and get people saved. 01:39:13.760 --> 01:39:15.760 And you know what? That's what you should do. You should move forward. 01:39:15.760 --> 01:39:19.740 You should let things go from your past, from other people's past, and go forward serving God. 01:39:19.740 --> 01:39:22.730 Let's pray. Lord, thank you for this day and thank you for your word. 01:39:22.730 --> 01:39:26.710 I pray that every single person in here, regardless of what's been done in their past, 01:39:26.710 --> 01:39:31.690 would just go forward in service for you, that you would just continue to extend your grace towards us 01:39:31.690 --> 01:39:33.680 and help us to do the same for others. 01:39:33.680 --> 01:39:35.680 In the Jesus name we pray. Amen.