get started evening grid 51 for 51 we'll sing there starting on the verse another
opportunity this evening to sing more praises unto you and hear more teaching
from your word pray that you'd be with the salvations that were had this
afternoon as well as any seeds that were planted also pray for this service that
everything would be done decently in an order that you'd open our ears and our
hearts to the message fill pastor with your spirit these things we pray in
Jesus name amen for our next him number 154 him number one five four blessed be
the tie that binds 154 154 they're on the first
is in the memory chap the inside we have our service times listed Sunday morning
at 1030 Sunday evening at 430 and our Wednesday Bible study through the book
of Ecclesiastes at 7 o'clock below that we have our soul winning times as well
as our soul winning stats and we have that broken up by month total our local
salvations here in Oklahoma City and then brother Eric and brother Zach are
preaching in the Philippines so we're adding their total as well and then I
don't have enough room but I also am keeping track of video conferencing
salvations I know some people have been doing VR chat room soul winning and
video conferencing soul winning so I'm keeping those numbers as well some
hilarious things out soul winning today our church had three salvations so
praise God for that but just some really funny things one of the ladies got this
document that was trying to explain how to be saved and it starts off by saying
this is my most recent possible revelation I am not sure if it's from
God but it makes sense and addresses some very important issues because of
all the anointed ministries that see and implement Jesus name baptism without
making it public for fear of censorship loss of support and controversy that
might happen I am not certain that Jesus will get this out to the masses
of people who have a lot of love for him but whose sins are not yet remitted
because no minister has the guts to research the subject of baptism in
Jesus name for the remission of sins or to make their findings public one
sentence Wow all right that was it and there's a lot more than that I'm not
gonna read the whole thing then on the way back I get a call and realize I
don't usually answer the church phone because there's usually two types of
people that call us angry feminists about 1st Corinthians chapter 7 or LGBT
that are angry about our preaching on the sodomites but this time I see a
caller ID that says Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Michael this
will be interesting someone someone must have had some fun out there and I answer
the phone and they're just like yeah I'm just calling to let you know that some
of your missionaries told other missionaries that they were going to
hell and that they were freaks and I'm like oh wow what happened tell me what
happened and yeah you know they just said that these people I just said oh
what kind of missionaries were they oh they were Mormon and I said oh I have no
problem with what they said Galatians chapter 1 makes it very clear if any man
preached any other gospel than that which we have preached unto you let him
be accursed that guy's like wow that's interesting okay wow and I said are you
a Mormon and he goes no no I used to be a Pentecostal and it's like his caller
ID literally says Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints it's just like goes
to show to you like Mormons are such liars it's not even funny you go out
soul-wanting and you ask them you know do you believe in multiple gods they'll
tell you no do you believe Jesus is a created being they'll tell you no oh do
you believe the Bible they'll tell you yes they just lie like crazy and then
after we get off this phone this phone call we get a review left and the review
says claimed to be Christian but they only showed hatred towards anyone that
was not a part of their church and told them they were going down that was the
message of my sermon this morning right I got up and said make sure you hate
everyone that's not a part of our church right it's just crazy and then of course
the profile picture is the Mormon Jesus and they also left a five-star review
for the Mormon Church the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints so
that was really funny it's amazing how Mormons will just lie and tell you they
would I mean imagine being so ashamed of your religion that someone asked you
like are you a Christian no it's like what like are you a Mormon no but you
are how weird is that crazy but that was a fun time you got to go soul winning
you're missing out if you're not there's lots of fun experiences like that we do
have let's go in the back our upcoming events we have March 28th is the
listeners pick soul winning marathon in Patterson New Jersey we're sending the
halls out there to lead a soul winning marathon and I've gotten lots and lots
of responses from people that are interested even just today at lunch
another person emailed me saying hey we're gonna be at that soul winning
marathon in New Jersey and so I just want to repeat what I said this morning
please pray every single day for this marathon I would just love to see as
many people come out as possible and for there to be many people saved at this
event because we're so hateful right so hateful April 1st we got the
Lord's Supper April 4th we got the soul winning marathon here in Oklahoma City
meeting at early wine park at 9 a.m. and then the 2nd of May we got the OSU
Stillwater soul winning marathon at the college there May 9th Mother's Day tea
May 20th through the 24th anti-israel conference at steadfast Baptist Church
June 17th to the 20th Germany soul winning we have the European soul
winning conference in Frankfurt Germany also make sure to keep the requests in
our prayer list in prayer throughout the week and if you have any requests
please do email us and we'd be happy to add that for you let's go ahead and go
to our third song together this evening third him this evening it's gonna be
number 448 him number four four eight brethren we have met to worship four
hundred forty eight we'll sing they're starting on the first
turn if you would to Timothy chapter Timothy chapter number first Timothy
chapter one apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our Savior and
Lord Jesus Christ which is our hope unto Timothy my own Son in the faith grace
mercy and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord as I besought thee
to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest
charge some that they teach no other doctrine neither give heed to fables and
endless genealogies which minister questions rather than godly edifying
which is in faith so do now the end of the commandment is charity out of a
pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfamed which from some having
swerve have turned aside unto vain jangling desiring to be teachers of the
law understanding neither what they say nor aware of they affirm but we know
that the law is good if a man use it lawfully knowing this that the law is not
made for a righteous man but for the lawless and disobedient for the ungodly
and for sinners unholy and for fame for murderers of fathers and murderers of
mothers for manslayers for whoremongers for them that defile themselves with
mankind for men stealers for liars for perjured persons and if there be any
other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine according to the glorious
gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust and I thank Christ
Jesus our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me
into the ministry who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious
but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief and the grace of
our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus
this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners whom I am chief albeit for this cause I obtained
mercy that in in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long-suffering for
a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to everlasting to life
everlasting now unto the King eternal immortal invisible the only wise God the
honor and glory forever and ever amen this charge I commit unto thee son
Timothy according to the prophecies which went before on thee that thou it
by them Midas wore a good warfare holding faith in a good conscience
which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck of whom is
Hymenaeus and Alexander whom whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may
learn not to blaspheme man this evening I want to talk to you about this idea of
God wanting to use you God wanting to use you title my sermon is simple God
wants to use you number one God wants to use you even if you have a sinful past
look at 1st Timothy chapter 1 verse 12 the Bible says and I thank Christ Jesus
our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the
ministry now he's gonna explain what he was like before he was saved notice
verse 13 who was before a blasphemer and a persecutor and injurious but I obtained
mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief so notice before the Apostle
Paul was Paul back when he was Saul he describes what he was like and he says
before he was a blasphemer remember we had a sermon a few weeks ago about watch
your mouth if you want to live and how seriously God takes the idea of blasphemy
and cursing his name using the Lord's name in vain the Bible says that he will
not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain and you know what back when
Paul was Saul he was just a blasphemer he would blaspheme God and he was what a
persecutor he would persecute Christians he would go against the work of God he
was injurious he was harmful to the work of God look at verse 14 and the grace of
our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus
this is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptation that Christ Jesus came
into the world to save sinners of whom I am chief he says how be it for this
cause I obtained mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all long
suffering and this is the important part for a pattern to them which should
hereafter believe on him to life everlasting so before the Apostle Paul
was saved he lived just about as wicked of a life as you could live blaspheming
God persecuting the Church of God injurious to the work of God now of
course he obtained that mercy for one reason because he did it ignorantly in
unbelief and also God showed forth all this long-suffering for a pattern to
those who after should believe on the Lord Jesus Christ so he's showing a
pattern saying hey we should be able to look back to the Apostle Paul and see
the life that he lived and see the grace that God bestowed upon him and we should
be able to apply that to ourselves saying hey if God still wanted to use
the Apostle Paul when he was a blasphemer a persecutor injurious well
then of course God also wants to use me and of course God also wants to use you
go to Acts chapter number eight Acts chapter number eight I think that's why
God gave us such an extreme example is because it's very likely that you're not
gonna look back on your life before you were saved and be like yeah I was
actively persecuting Christians I was actively you know hailing them before
judges consenting under their deaths doing all these crazy things it says in
verse number one of Acts 8 and Saul was consenting unto his death now his there
is referring to Stephen in Acts chapter number seven who was stone and Paul who
was Saul at that time notice he was just consenting under that death he was just
totally okay with Stephen a righteous man of God just being stoned to death
and at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was
at Jerusalem and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea
and Samaria except the Apostles and devout men carried Stephen to his
burial and made great lamentation over him as for Saul he made havoc of the
church entering into every house and hailing men and women committing them
committed them to prison so notice but you know we as soul winners what do we
do we go door to door and we preach the gospel of Jesus Christ where Paul saw
at this time he was just making havoc of the church and he was just entering into
every house trying to find people who were the disciples of Jesus who were the
followers of Christ those who believed in him notice entering into every house
and hailing men and women committed them to prison I mean that is a pretty rough
past I mean I don't think there's anyone in here that has a past close to
something like that where it's like what were you like before you got saved I was
going door-to-door gathering up Christians bringing them to their death
bringing them before judges I mean that's crazy look at verse 4 therefore
that they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the word go to
2nd Corinthians 5 you know I read all that because from time to time I hear
people that really struggle with guilt from their past and I'm not talking
about like hey you know they sinned yesterday and they feel bad about it it's
like hey you know if you sin you should feel about it you should be sorry feel
bad about it you should repent you should get right with God and then you
should move on with your life but there's some people that they just like
constantly live in the past and they constantly just beat themselves down
and hate themselves and just have this negative thought towards themselves of
things that they did way in the past and they just kind of live in this state
where they think like you know I don't think God really wants to use me I don't
really think I could be used that great of God because look at how horrible I
was before I was saved or look at how bad I was a couple years ago even but
it's like hey if you read the Bible and you see the Apostle Paul he says the
reason God bestowed so much grace on me was as a pattern for those who after
should believe on Jesus Christ saying look Paul's just about as bad as it gets
and yet God used the Apostle Paul more than just about anyone right he really
did look at second Corinthians 5 verse 17 the Bible says this therefore if any
man be in Christ he is a new preacher old things are passed away behold all
things are become new now unfortunately some people will twist this verse to
say hey when you get saved everything in your life is just gonna automatically
change and you're just gonna automatically start having good works
and you're just gonna automatically want to read the Bible want to pray want to
Preach the gospel, but that is not true. It doesn't match reality
There is no one that just all of a sudden you're gonna be perfect after you're saved
But here's the thing when you get saved you actually get the new man and the new man
Hey, all things are made new to that new man
The new man never sins the new man has never sinned the new man will never sin
And so here's the thing no matter what your past was before you got saved if you are saved today
You have a new man somewhere inside of you and that new man is completely different than whoever you were before you got saved
And so you've got to be able to differentiate between these two things in your life saying, okay. Yes
Maybe I did have a sinful past
Maybe there are things in my past that I am ashamed of that I do not like but here's the thing
God has told us to walk in the new man to put on the new man and to
Crucify the lusts of the old man go to 2nd Corinthians 7 2nd Corinthians 7. We see an example with the Apostle Paul
What is he? He's an ex-persecutor. He's an ex-persecutor of Christianity
What about if you just have like major sins in your past?
Because despite the show that a lot of people like to put on acting like they're so squeaky clean
They've never made a mistake before in their life
There's a lot of people that have really messed up pasts that get saved and praise God for that
I mean we're going into like the most ghetto areas of Oklahoma City
We're going into the most ghetto areas of this world and we're getting tons of people saved all the time
You don't think that we're getting people saved who have committed murder. I guarantee you we give get gotten murderers saved
I mean, it's called abortion one in four American women have had an abortion. That's murder
We're getting murderers saved all the time. You don't think we're getting tons of fornicators saved
You don't think we're getting people saved that are blasphemers
You don't think we're getting people saved that have committed adultery. It's like yes all the time
But you know, what should those people do? Should they just like stay in that that guilt is be like, oh man
I was a blasphemer. I was a persecutor. I was an adulterer. I was a murderer
No, that is not where they should stay look at 2nd Corinthians 7 verse 4 great is my boldness of speech toward you
Great is my glorying of you. I am filled with comfort
I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation for when we were come into Macedonia our flesh had no rest
But we were troubled on every side without were fightings within were fears
Nevertheless God that comforted those that are cast down
Comforted us by the coming of Titus and not by his coming only but by the consolation wherewith he was comforted in you
When he told us your earnest desire your morning your fervent mind toward me
So that I rejoiced the more for though I made you sorry with a letter
I do not repent though. I did repent
So what is he referring to he's referring back to in 1st Corinthians because this is 2nd Corinthians in 1st Corinthians
What is he constantly dealing with major sin issues in the church dealing with all sorts of dramas and problems and
specifically 1st Corinthians 5 he's calling out the open known case of fornication in the church
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
Father's wife. I mean that is extremely gross and imagine that's just open known in the congregation
No one's doing anything about it that obviously needs to be called out and he says hey, you know
Don't you judge those that are within he's like, I'm not even there. I've judged already
Hey, you need to judge this situation
You need to put away from among yourselves that wicked person. He's like
Hey, if any man be called a brother and is a fornicator
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
That's kind of a hard saying that's kind of a negative message and he's referring back to that
He says for though I made you sorry with a letter. I do not repent though
I did repent so you know what that means?
He wrote first Corinthians he fixed this issue and you know what inside
He kind of felt a little bit bad about it because you know what preachers are human beings too, right?
And it's like he knows it's the right thing to do
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
Guy, but he's like look I wrote this letter and in writing this letter
I made you sorry and he says you know what I don't repent even though I did it first, right?
I did kind of feel like man, I'm not sure if I should have said that but he says you know what?
I don't repent what I said was right and you know what would to God today
We have preachers that instead of just being ruled by their emotions
They just say what does the Bible say did I preach what the Bible says? Well, then you know what?
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
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
Sorry, though it were for though it were but for a season
He says I understand that my letter upset you made you upset made you feel bad. He says now I rejoice
I'm happy he says not that you were made sorry, but that you sorrowed to
Repentance he's like look I'm actually happy now that I wrote that letter
not because you were made sorry not that because you were made to feel bad but because that
Feeling bad led you to getting right with God, right? So it's like
Hard preaching can sometimes make people feel bad. But you know what we should never regret that hard preaching
Especially when it causes people to get right with God
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
Hearing hard preaching helped me get things right continues to help me get things right and you know, we need hard preaching
He says this for you were made sorry after a godly manner that you might receive damage
By us in nothing, so he specifies that this sorrow that the church experienced was a godly type of sorrow
Meaning there is a sorrow that is an ungodly sorrow
There is a feeling bad for yourself and throwing a pity party for yourself. That is not godly
That is not what God wants for you. He says for godly sorrow
worketh
Repentance to salvation not to be repented of but the sorrow of the world worketh death
So it's like hey, we don't want to stay our entire lives
Just in this state of sorrow just feeling bad for ourselves. Just oh, I'm such a bad person
Oh, I can't believe I sin. Oh, I can't believe I did this bad thing in my life
No, no, no, you don't just stay there. You have the sorrow you feel bad for sin
And then you do what you repent you get right you forsake that sin that you have committed
You say you're sorry to God you confess your sin and then after that you move on
And you let it go and you don't just hold stuff
Over yourself for sins that you have committed in the past
Let me tell you something that may seem humble to some people that is not humble because God
Forgives you and if God forgives you you should forgive you and you know what God
Wants to use you today and God wanted to use the Apostle Paul
And you know what God wanted to use the man guilty fornication in 1st Corinthians 5, you know why because he was a brother
Hey, if any man be called a brother is a fornicator. What is the goal?
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
Commandments for this is the whole duty of man. The Bible says right so it's like look
Yeah, you've sinned in the past join the club and if someone acts like they haven't sinned
Let me tell you what they are a liar if any man say that he has no sin
He deceive it himself and the truth is not in him
He says in verse number 11 for behold this self same thing that he sorrowed after a godly sort
What carefulness it wrought in you yay, what clearing of yourselves yay, what indignation yay
What fear yay, what vehement desire?
Yay, what zeal yay?
What revenge in all these things you have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter?
So it's like hey you sorrow after a godly sort you're sad that you sin you ask God for forgiveness
You're even a little bit mad at yourself. Like I'm gonna I'm gonna avenge this. Hey, I messed up
You know what? I'm gonna get back on track. Hey, I'm gonna go soul winning
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
It's like hey the person's repented. It's over. It's done move on once someone has
Repented I'll read for you. First. John 1 9 says this if we confess our sins
He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness
now look the Bible says he that covereth his sins shall not prosper the the answer is not just to
Sin and then cover it and then move on like nothing has ever happened
The answer is when you sin you confess it you forsake it you ask for
Forgiveness and then you move on like nothing has ever happened
That's actually the right formula to take go to Galatians chapter 6 Galatians chapter number 6 now the Bible gives us instruction
On how to act when someone is repentant
Galatians 6 look at verse 1 brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual
Restore such in one in the spirit of meekness
Notice considering thyself lest thou also be tempted bear you want another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ
For if a man think himself to be something when he is nothing he deceive it himself
So notice when someone is wanting to be restored when someone's taken in a fault
We should be very very quick to restore people
We should be very very quick to put back out that hand of fellowship and to receive people
Who were in a sinful situation and they get right with God why he says considering yourself
Hey, it's the golden rule right as you would have men do unto you do you even also unto others, right?
We are supposed to treat others the way that we want to be treated
So look, you know, we for example, I preach super hard on things like church attendance
But you know what if someone who hasn't come to our church in a really long time
All of a sudden showed up to church, you know what?
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?
Hey, how many people have you gotten saved last year, huh? Zero loser. What are you doing? No, I would just be like
Hey, so great to see you, man. How you been? Thanks for coming. We're happy to have you right, you know
Never try to make someone feel bad for trying to get right with God
I mean, that's so evil when someone is trying to do right. Hey, they're in a bad situation
They want to fix things and then as they fix things you try to make them feel bad for that
That's wicked folks. And it's like hey consider yourself
Because again people every man walketh in a vain show
It's like oh you want to try to make someone feel bad who's repentant and who's fixing something?
But again, if God just in front of this whole congregation laid out every sin you've committed in the last year
You think that someone's opinion might not change about you a little bit. Oh you hypocrite holier than now. Absolutely
We are all sinners, right?
We all do things that we are not proud of and so, you know
We should consider ourselves and if someone wants to get right with God, we should be their biggest cheerleader
we should say hey praise God we should be like the father of the prodigal son and we should kill the fatted calf and
Sing and make merry and rejoice over one sinner that repents
You know, you ought to be very careful in how you restore people and you know, let me say this you should never
Bring up sins from people's path that they have repented of that is evil
That is wicked and look I've had even people tell me like hey
You know this person a few years ago said this thing about you and you know, I'm just like I don't care
That's ancient history. That is complete ancient history
I'm gonna let that go in one ear and out the other and I'm not gonna think different of that person whatsoever
Because you know what?
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
That in their faces and rub their nose in it. That is evil my friend
That is not how God tells us to be go to Ecclesiastes 7 Ecclesiastes chapter number 7 now
Look, I'm not talking about, you know church cover-ups here. Obviously that stuff needs to be exposed. It needs to be repetitive
Yeah, I'm not talking about oh, you know, don't bring up churches stealing from missionaries when they're stealing from missionaries
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
Did you know a few years ago this person really struggled with this? It's like I don't want to hear that garbage
Oh a few years ago. Did you know that this person had this issue with their child? Hey
Do you know this person said this about this person? It's like shut up. Let things go
Look what Ecclesiastes 7 verse 20 says for there is not a just man upon earth that doeth good and sinneth not
This is really important notice also take no heed unto all words that are spoken
Lest thou hear thy servant curse thee for oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou like what that thou thyself
Likewise has cursed others. No as the Bible saying here, you know in not ever not in every single situation
Is it so important that you just figure out every detail that you just get justice on every word?
That's ever been spoken
Sometimes it's better just to not try to figure everything out because you might hear your servant your employee
I guess in modern vernacular say something bad about you, but it's like hold on a second
Have you ever said something bad about someone else, right?
So so is it really fair to sit here and just hold people's feet to the fire for every little thing
They've ever said in their entire life. It's like I hope that you're holding yourself to that same standard
Hey, you better be judging people with this same measure that you measure other people with and you know
I hear people people have come to me all the time saying this person has said this bad thing about you
Oh several years ago. This person, you know made fun of how young you are. This person said I don't care
I don't care and you know what if someone has said something bad about me in the past
I'm just letting it go and I love that person and that person. Hey, you're welcome to come to church
You're welcome to go soaning with us. You're welcome to be my friend
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
Every single thing that they've ever done. That is a bad attitude. Let me prove this to you from the Bible
Go to Psalm 25 Psalm 25. We're gonna look at several
Proverbs in a minute and we're looking at Psalm 25 Psalm 25 verse 6. The Bible says
Remember Oh Lord thy tender mercies and my loving kindnesses for they have been ever of old verse 7
Remember not the sins of my youth nor my transgressions according to thy mercy
Remember thou me for thy goodness sake Oh Lord, you know, praise God that God forgets our sins
He removes them as far as the East is from the West. Not only does he forget it
He's like praying God remember thou me for thy goodness sake. Oh lord. Remember not the sins of my youth
You know, it's a really wicked thing to do is when someone brings up someone's sins of their youth
You know, this is just terrible with the days that we're living in where it's like older generations
They kind of lived their youth and not every single thing
They ever did was recorded on the internet and you know, that's a blessing in a sense because you know
Young people do stupid things foolishness is bound in the heart of a child
Teenagers do dumb things young people do dumb things and you know
You don't want to be defined in your life by the sins of your youth
And so if anyone ever comes to you and they want to say hey, you know what this person was like at this age
You know what this person was doing at that age, you know, you should shut that down
You should give the angry countenance because that is so wicked
It's like would you want to be remembered for the sins of your youth?
Were you just a perfect person? Were you like the prodigal brother? Oh, you know from my youth
I've always kept your commandments. It's like no, no one is he says Lord
Please remember me for thy loving-kindness think about how King David, you know remembers people
He's listing, you know
The mighty men the mighty men that he's listing that were in his army that did great things
And he's just listing all the good things that they did and if you read the accounts of David mighty men
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
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
I'm guessing now. No, it's been Ia been Ia been Ia
He goes down into the snowy pit and just slays a lion on a snowy day. He's like, that's a snowy day
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
I'm sure there were some things that been I didn't you know do that were perfect
I'm sure that he had some sins in his life, but it's like I like that David
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
I'm gonna remember them for good. Look at Proverbs 16 Proverbs chapter number
16 Proverbs 16 look at verse number 27. The Bible says this an
ungodly man
diggeth up evil and in his lips there is as a burning fire a froward man
So with stripe strife and a whisperer
Separated chief friends, you know someone that would just want to find out all the evil of someone's past
And oh what you did when you were young and let me let me find out all the sins you've ever committed
You know what the Bible says about that person that is an ungodly
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
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
Someone could have committed murder ten years ago and have repented of it and is now right with God
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
That's the truth and you know what I will never tolerate people going around and being loudmouth gossips
Bringing up sins from people's past that is wicked and evil and it will be rebuked and you know what men
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
That is evil go to Proverbs 10 Proverbs chapter number 10. Look what it says in verse 12
Hatred stir it up up stripes, but love covereth all
Sins it's like look God wanted to use the Apostle Paul
God wanted to use the man in 1st Corinthians 5 that had gotten things right and we're told hey
We should restore that person. We should forgive that person
We should let that person go on and serve God
But you know what a hateful person does a hateful person stirs up strife where there was none. There was no strife
There was no issue. There's something repented of for a long time ago, and then you want to bring that up
What are you you are a hateful piece of crap is what you are to do something like that
Look at Proverbs 19 Proverbs chapter number 19 Proverbs chapter number 19 look at verse number 11 the discretion of a man
Deferrith his anger and it is his glory to pass over a
Transgression, I mean sometimes we just live in a fallen world and you just hear about things
Because people gossip people talk and you know what?
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
I'm just trying to like forget about things
Immediately to just let things go out of my head to not catalog things in my mind and to just pass over a
Transgression even when it's like this person said this about you. I'm just like I just don't even care
Why because you know what life is more about you?
It's about the work of God going forth and you know what we should pass over some
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
And let me just be very very very very clear if I ever hear that there's someone in this church going around and
Bringing up someone sins and spreading someone sins that they have committed in the past that they have repented of I will make you
Apologize to that person or you will be kicked out of church
That is a wicked and evil attitude and we are not gonna tolerate a place
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
That will not be tolerated go to Hebrews 8 Hebrews chapter number 8 Hebrews chapter number 8
Look at verse 12 says for I will be merciful to their unrighteousness and their sins and their iniquities
Will I remember no more praise God for that right that our sins and our iniquities?
God does not even remember them and you know what when your brother has repented you ought to let it go
To forgive and to not even remember it if you can just let things go out of your mind
You know, so hey, yeah, you should have godly sorrow when you sin you should want to get right with God
You know, you should confess your sins not someone else's right confess your sins
Not someone else's go to Matthew chapter 20 Matthew chapter number 20
So I said number one God wants to use you even if you have a sinful past number two
God wants to use you even if you got a late start
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
What that's not true. God wants to use you number two
I think some people think that they can't be used greatly by God
Because they kind of got a late start in the Christian life look at Matthew 20 verse 1 for the kingdom of heaven is
Like unto a man that is an householder
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
He sent them into his vineyard and he went about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace and
Said unto them go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right
I will give you and they went their way and he went about the 6th and 9th hour and did likewise
And about the 11th hour he went out and found others standing idle and sayeth unto them
Why stand you here all the day idle they say unto him because no man hath hired us
He sayeth unto them go ye also into the vineyard and whatsoever is right that shall ye receive
So you have this boss here and he's employing labors and he hires some people at the first hour
He hires some people at the third hour. He hires some people at the sixth hour
He hires some people at the ninth hour
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
Whatever is right that I'm going to give you then he says in verse number eight
So when even was come the Lord of the vineyard saith unto unto his steward call the laborers and give them their hire
Beginning from the last unto the first
When they came that were hired about the eleventh hour they received every man a penny
But when the first came they suppose that they had that they should have received more and they likewise received every man a penny
And when they had received it they murmured against the good man of the house
Saying these that have wrought but one hour and that was made them equal unto us
Which have borne the burden and heat of the day, but he answered one of them and said friend
I do thee no wrong. Didst thou not agree with me for a penny take that thine is and go thy way
I will give unto this last even as unto thee
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own is thine eye evil because I am good
And you know elsewhere in the Bible the Bible talks about this principle of unto whom much is give him
Of him shall much be required
So one way you can kind of think about this parable is there are some people that get saved very early on in life
I mean think about the children that are growing up in anchor Baptist Church and in the new IFB
They're usually getting saved at what five six seven eight years old very young into life
You know raise your hand those of you who are adults raise your hand if you were saved under the age of ten
Okay, it's definitely the minority, right? I was saved in my teen years. I know many of you were saved in your 20s
Some of you even later than that. Well, here's the thing if you got saved really really young in life
You do have a great advantage. You have been blessed greatly by God
Look if you grew up in church if you grew up in a good Baptist Church
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
Look, you've got this great advantage, but here's what you also have. You have a great expectation from God
You have a great responsibility
You have this great expectation of labor to be produced because so much has been given unto you
There's other people in life that get saved in the third in the sixth in the ninth
Yeah, some even in the eleventh hour and don't just assume that you know
The longer carnal life you live all of a sudden just the more you're gonna be rewarded in heaven
Just because you've been saved longer no unto whom much is given of him shall much be required
Right. And so hey, you know if someone gets saved
Let's say in the eleventh hour of their life and they get saved as a very old individual
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
I could have been using soul winning. And so what could I really do for the kingdom of God?
What could I really produce? You know, what rewards could I really get in heaven?
Well, it's like hey if you're just faithful in that one hour that God has given you that you're working in
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?
Just hey wherever you find yourself in life
Whatever state of life you're in just go as hard as you can for God be thou faithful unto death
Serve him all the days of your life. And you know what?
That should be the goal whether you're saved in the first hour or in the eleventh hour go to Psalm 148 Psalm
148, you know
We don't want to think that old people can't be used greatly by God and you know
We don't have a lot of old people in our church
But here's the thing we're all gonna be old someday and you know what we should be trying to reach old people
We should be trying to get old people saved, you know, it doesn't happen very often
But from time to time we get some old people saved
I've gotten some people saved in their 80s and 90s and it's like that's the 11th hour
They're getting saved right at the 11th hour, but is it just like okay, they're saved
But I mean they're old so they might as well just phone it in until they die
No
Look what the Bible says in Psalm 148 verse 11 kings of the earth and all people
princes and all judges of the earth both young men and maidens old men and
Children let them praise the name of the Lord for his name alone is excellent
His glory is above the earth and the heaven
Hey, you know old people should be in the house of God and you know what?
You may be retired from your job. Oh thou boomer, but you should never retire from serving God
You should never retire from praising God, you know, I love pastor Cobb in Houston, Texas
Who's in his late 80s and when I went to Spring Crest Baptist Church him and his wife that have been past
He's been pastoring for over 50 years. We're sitting in church. You know what they're doing
They're belting out praises to God in their 80s, you know, praise God for that
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
All their free time from their retirement and say you know what God commands me even to praise the Lord go to Psalm 71
Psalm 71
God wants to use you even if you got a late start Psalm 71 look at verse 8
Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honor all the day
Notice this cast me not off in the time of old age forsake me
Not when my strength failing Oh God
That was taught me for my youth and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works
Now also when I am old and gray-headed Oh God
forsake me not until I have showed thy strength under this generation and I power to
Everyone that is to come and of course, you know
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
Is that God is not gonna forsake a saint just because they're getting old just because they're getting gray-headed
You know, of course God is not gonna forsake that person and you know
That person needs to not forsake the Lord just cuz you're getting old just cuz you're getting the gray hair
You know what praise God until the very end go to Psalm 92 Psalm
92 now look if I think if you're wise
Obviously, you know you get saved at whatever age you get saved before you're saved
It's not like you're thinking like oh, man, you know, I really need to get saved
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
You are you should just get to work for God. You should bring forth fruit
But you know what?
It doesn't stop when you get old look what it says in Psalm 92 verse 13
Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God
They shall still bring forth fruit in old age
They shall be fat and flourishing to show that the Lord is upright. He is my rock and there is no
Unrighteousness in him. I love that idea of people still
Bringing forth fruit in old age now look if you got saved young in life
You would be a fool not to spend the energy of your youth
Serving God because when are you gonna have more energy and be able to do?
You know the most amount of works possible for God. It's obviously in your youth obviously
You know those triple decker apartment complexes with all those stairs
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
God bless you pastor Cobb, but it's just true. I could run stairs better than you. That's not a boast
It's like I'm in my 20s. You're in your 80s
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
I'm done soul winning. I'm giving up. I'm not gonna bring forth fruit anymore
Look as long as your body has strength as long as you have a voice
As long as you are able to do it physically you should be a soul winner to the bitter end
Now obviously some people could get so
Physically decrepit if you will that they can't do that, but it just goes to show hey for as long as you can
You should be investing into that getting as many people saved as possible go to first Corinthians one first Corinthians one
So number two, I said God wants to use you even if you have a late start number three
God wants to use you because he only has
Imperfect people to choose from there are no perfect individuals in this world when you read the Bible
It's not filled of just sinless men sinless man after sinless man after sinless man. No, it's just like jacked-up situation
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
Exist is imperfect people first Corinthians 1 verse 26 for ye see your calling brethren
How that not many wise men after the flesh not many mighty not many noble are called
but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise and
God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty and
Base things of the world and things which are pleat despised
God have God chosen yay and things which are not to bring to not things that are why that no flesh should glory in
His presence. So notice it says not many mighty not many noble are called
No, this doesn't say not many perfect because there's zero perfect sinless people that are called
But there's not many mighty and not many noble, you know, usually it's the unwise. It's the foolish
It's the base things of this world that God wants to use in the greatest way possible
Why because God wants to get as much glory as possible?
Which is why it would be so foolish to look at yourself and say hey, I've got a sinful past
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
I'm not the most athletic. I'm not the greatest speaker. Therefore God, you know couldn't really use you
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
Because people who are that way do they really want to share glory with God?
No, usually those people want the glory for themselves, right?
The people who are just the the best speakers of this world
The people who are the most athletic the people who are the richest in this world are generally not the best
Christians are generally not the ones doing the greatest works for God go to 2nd Corinthians 4
2nd Corinthians 4 so hey, you know being based being foolish being weak not being rich not being the coolest person
That doesn't disqualify you from doing great works for God, you know you being a little socially awkward
That doesn't disqualify you from doing great works for God
I've seen some really socially awkward people get people saved and there's a lot of your prideful real good
You know schmoozing politician types that are getting no one safe 2nd Corinthians 4 verse 6
For God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness
Hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels that the
Excellency of the power may be of God and not of us
It's like God wants to use us these earthen vessels, right?
Nothing special about us. The only thing that makes us special is what we have inside of us
Which is what the gospel of Jesus Christ and when we as these earthen vessels go out and share the gospel
Where is the excellency of the power going to be attributed to this great speaker this wonderful rich man this superb orator?
No, it's gonna be given to God
That's what it says that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us
You know, you want to be used greatly by God sincerely desire in your heart that God will be glorified and not you
That's a great recipe to be used by God be like John the Baptist saying hey, he must increase I must decrease
You know the Jews were coming saying hey, are you the Christ? Are you Elijah Elijah Elias? He's like hey
I already told you I am NOT there's one who's coming after me whose shoes latchets. I am NOT worthy on loose
That's the humility that he had you know, you're used greatly by God go to Exodus 20. Let me remind you
let me give you a reality check this evening of some of the
Imperfect men and women that God used and why we need to stop having this idea
Where people just think they're so perfect. They're so wonderful and everyone else is so bad
These are the types of people that God used he used Moses who let me remind you was a murderer who literally murdered someone
Notice what it says in Exodus 20 verse 11 and it came to pass in those days when Moses was grown
That he went out unto his brethren and looked on their burdens and he spied an Egyptian
Smiting in Hebrew one of his brethren and he looked this way and that way and when he saw that there was no man
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
And he said to him that did the wrong
Wherefore smite is thou thy fellow and he said who made thee a prince and a judge over us?
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
He sought to slay Moses
But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh and dwelt in the land of Midian and he sat down by a well
Now for raise a hand who's ever committed. No, please don't raise a hand for that, but it's like imagine
You know someone is in our church that's committed murder, right?
You know, it would be ridiculous if someone's just like hey
This person has committed murder. They that'd be wrong. Okay, because look people are allowed to repent of things
People are allowed to move on people are allowed to still be used by God
Even if they've sinned in their past, even if they've done something bad in the past
It's like these holier than now today that act like they're so squeaky clean
You know, they've never had a single problem in their marriage one single day in their life
But it's like would you have sat here and not followed Moses?
Would you have sat here and cried and complained and acted like a holier than now if Moses was your leader?
Probably yet Moses had murdered and you know what he did
He led the people out of the land of Egypt look at Exodus 4 Exodus 4. That's not it
He wasn't just a murderer
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
To do Exodus 4 verse 10 and Moses said unto the Lord. Oh my lord
I am not eloquent neither heretofore nor since thou has spoken unto thy servant
But I am slow of speech and of a slow tongue that doesn't that sound like a great candidate
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
Mouth or who make it the dumb or deaf or the seeing or the blind if not I the Lord now
Therefore go and I will be with thy mouth and teach thee what thou shalt say
So what did Moses do? Hey, he committed murder. What did Moses do? He showed lack of faith in God
He kind of back talked to God a little bit when God gave him his mission. Yet. What did Moses do?
Hey, he led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Hey, he put forth his staff and he parted the Red Sea
Hey, he brought those plagues upon Egypt upon the Egyptians upon Pharaoh's house
You know God was able to use an imperfect man to do something wonderful. How about this good acts 13?
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?
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
He sees a woman naked and bathing and he just decides to just sit there and just feast his eyes on her
And then he calls for her and then he's told hey
This is someone's wife and then he lies with her and gets her pregnant
And then he goes and sends her husband into the hottest part of the battle and has him killed
That's jacked up that's jacked up in all sorts of different ways and you know
If someone in our church did that it would just everyone would freak out rightly so, okay
But yet notice what the Bible says in Acts 13 verse 21
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
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
Testimony and said I have found David the son of Jesse a man
After mine own heart which shall fulfill all my will of this man's seed hath God
According to his promise raised up unto Israel a savior Jesus
So notice God still used David as a great king of Israel one of the greatest kings of Israel as the sweet
Psalmist of Israel and as a progenitor of the Lord Jesus Christ
He's an ancestor of the Lord Jesus Christ go to Genesis chapter number 12
And it's like well, what's what's the difference then between him and Saul? Well, you know Saul
He's confronted with his sins and he doesn't fess up to it. He makes excuses for it
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
But you know what he said, he said I have sinned and then you know what Nathan the prophet said
Hey
The Lord has put away your sin the Lord forgot about it
The Lord has forgiven him and you know what after David has been forgiven by God
It would be wicked for other people to bring that up and to rub that in David's face
Even though it was such a horrible thing because you know what God has forgiven him. God has moved on we should move on
What about Abraham? Here's something Abraham did
He lied about his wife being his sister look at Genesis 12 verse 11
And it came to pass when he was come near to Egypt to enter into Egypt that he said unto Sarai his wife behold
Now I know that thou art a fair woman to look upon
Therefore it shall come to pass when the Egyptians shall see thee that they shall say
This is his wife and they will kill me but they will save thee alive
Say I pray thee thou art my sister that it may be well with me for thy sake my soul shall live
Because of thee ladies, how would you like to be the wife in this situation where your husband comes up to you and says?
Hey, you know, I want you to say that you're just my sister
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
You know that you're my wife would you because she is right?
But you know he did that and then also let me read for you Genesis 20 verse 2
It says an Abraham said of Sarah his wife. She is my sister in the Bimelech king of Gerrard
Sent and took Sarah. So what did Abraham do Abraham lied pretty big lie to say that your wife is your sister
I mean, that's a pretty big deal yet. God made him what the father many nations
And go ahead and turn to Romans chapter from before he used Abraham
I mean this this goes to show the grace of God. Why why did Abraham do this?
Well, it's cuz he kind of had fear right he was fearful that they were gonna take his wife or something like this
But yet in the New Testament looking back on the life of Abraham
You know how the Bible chooses to remember him is a man of extreme faith
Even though this was kind of a lapse of faith right here
If we're being honest notice how the Bible looks back on him Romans 4 verse 19
And obviously this is referencing a different situation, but still the point stands verse 19 and being not weak in faith
He considered not his own body now dead when he was about 100 years old neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief
But was strong in faith giving glory to God and being fully persuaded that what he had promised
He was able also to perform. So looking back. How does the Bible paint the picture of Abraham?
You know this man who was scared and lacking faith and lying about you know, his marital status
No, the Bible chooses to look back on him as saying this was a man full of faith
This man staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief
He was fully persuaded that what God promised he was able also to perform, you know, that's how the Lord is
That's how merciful God is to us go to Genesis 32. How about Jacob?
You know Jacob he used trickery to get his brother's birthright
He kind of exploited the fact that his brother was so hungry and would just sell off his birthright to him
You know, he had a really messed up family situation his kids wiped out a whole village
Murdered a whole village she come and his family
Why because she come or she come every say his name slept with Dinah, right?
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
Let's just forsake Jacob
Let's just say Jacob's the worst person ever because his kids ended up being bad
Is that really how the Bible has us to remember Jacob? Absolutely not notice what happens in a Genesis 32 verse 27
And he said unto him. What is thy name? This is a pre incarnate
Appearance of Christ when he's wrestling with Jacob it says and he said unto him
What is thy name and he said Jacob and he said thy name shall be called no more Jacob
But Israel for as a prince has thou power with God and with men and has prevailed
So notice God's view of Jacob even though he was an imperfect person even though, you know
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
Prevailed what about Gideon, you know Gideon when he was told to go fight the Midianites
He seemed pretty scared
He seemed like he was doubting a little bit God's promise because he's like, alright God, you know
I'll do it, but I want you to show me a sign
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
I need you to do it again
Except this time I want the fleece to be dry and I want you know due to be else on the ground
You know kind of seem like he had a little bit of doubt a little bit of trepidation a little bit of anxiety
And yet what does the Bible call him a mighty man of valor? What does God call?
I mean not just not just like some someone else calling that like God calls him a mighty man of
Valor go to Hebrews 11. Okay. How about this? Rahab? She was what a whore. She was a prostitute
She sold her body to men for money, you know
It's just like are we only ever gonna think negatively of Rahab she would just constantly bring that up
Notice what it says she's in the the Hall of Faith Hebrews 11 verse 30 by faith
The walls of Jericho fell down after they were compassed about seven days by faith the harlot Rahab
Perished not with them that believed not when she had received the spies with peace
So hey, Rahab was a prostitute, but what happens? Hey, she's in the Hall of Faith. She's in the Hall of Faith
Chapter go to judges 16. I'll get through a couple more examples here judges chapter number 16. Okay, how about Samson?
Well Samson a perfect guy or Samson's life kind of a train wreck. I mean you read Samson
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
And he lied with her and then he sees this girl and he just lies with her
It's like that's a messed up situation. This is a sinful person. But yet God still used him notice
Judges 16 verse 28 and Samson called unto the Lord and said oh Lord God remember me
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
two eyes and Samson took hold of the two middle pillars upon which the house stood and on which it was born up of
the one with his right hand and of the other with his left and Samson said let me die with the Philistines and he
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
dead which he slewed his death more than they which slew he slew in his life so hey even though he had some serious
issues he was definitely a man that gave his strength unto women no doubt about that right but hey at the end of his
life he was still used in a mighty way to destroy tons of enemies tons of the
enemies of God God was still using Samson even though he was imperfect go
to John 21 John chapter number 21 you know how about Peter was Peter perfect
absolutely not Peter denied the Lord Jesus Christ three times it took a
little maid to ask him hey are you with him for him to deny right he forsook the
Lord Jesus Christ in his darkest time he's warming himself by the fire before
the Lord Jesus Christ is going to face the death of the cross and the torture
he's going to experience but was Peter ever used look at John 21 verse 15 so
when they had died Jesus saith to Peter Simon Peter Simon son of Jonas lovest
thou me more than these he saith unto him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee
he saith on him feed my lambs he saith to him again the second time Simon son
of Jonas lovest thou me saith on him yea Lord thou knowest that I love thee he
saith unto him feed my sheep he saith unto him the third time Simon son of
Jonas lovest thou me Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time
lovest thou me and he said unto him Lord thou knowest all things thou knowest
that I love thee Jesus saith unto him feed my sheep so it's like hey did
Peter sin yes he did did he feel bad about it yes he did you know does God
still want to use Peter in the future absolutely hey do you love me more than
these you know what you need to do Peter you need to get up you need to stop
feeling bad for yourself you need to go out and you need to feed my sheep I'll
just read this one for you you know how about Noah Noah was a righteous man yet
what did he do he got drunk and uncovered himself in the tent and ended
up getting in a situation where he was taken advantage of yet the Bible says
of Noah Genesis 6 8 but Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord these are the
generations of Noah Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations Noah
walked with God notice how the Bible speaks of him positively you know I
brought up this morning Jonah righteous prophet he's commissioned to go preach
the Ninevites hey 40 days Ninevah shall be overthrown he preaches he does what
God says he ends up getting mad he ends up getting angry at God for being
merciful and it's like you know if you actually look at reality if you actually
read the Bible you actually know anything about the Bible and read these
You know what you've noticed is that God is just not using perfect individuals because perfect individuals do not exist.
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.
They're going to get into a situation where they're not as on fire. They got bad issues going on in their life.
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.
You got to confess that sin to God. You got to move forward with your life and realize that God can still use you.
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.
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.
You know, there's things like being a pastor, being a deacon that has qualifications.
But look, no matter who you are, no matter what you have done, if you are saved, you can still serve God.
You can still be used of God.
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?
You should only go soul winning after you've really become righteous again and gotten right with God.
You know what, that is stupid.
You know, as soon as you have sinned, you know what you should do?
You should go soul winning the next day.
You should go out and serve God because it's not like you're going around telling people
that to get to heaven you need to live a good life.
That would be hypocrisy.
You know what you're going around telling people?
Is that, hey, you're saved by grace and that you don't deserve salvation.
And that salvation is not of works, lest any man should boast.
So you know what, if you've been in a rut or you've sinned or you've messed up,
how are you being a hypocrite by going and telling people the free gift of salvation?
You are not.
Let's close in 2 Corinthians chapter number three, 2 Corinthians chapter number three.
But look, you need to stop having this pity party for yourself for sins that you've committed in the past
and acting like you're so unusable because you've had sins in your past.
You need to stop with that attitude.
You definitely need to stop with the attitude of trying to bring up other people's sins from their past,
rubbing that in their face.
You know, people need to stop acting like they're the only people that could be used by God.
You know, sometimes you hear from mature Christians, you know, that it's just only the new IFB doing good things for God.
No, there's good, safe, old IFB people too.
And realize that God still wants to use you.
Let's close here, look at 2 Corinthians 3 verse 2.
"Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men,
for as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us,
written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God,
not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
And such trust have we through Christ to Godward,
not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves,
but our sufficiency is of God,
notice this, who also hath made us able ministers of the New Testament,
not of the letter, but of the Spirit,
for the letter killeth, but the Spirit giveth life.
Look, if you are saved, you know what that means?
That means that you have the Holy Spirit of God inside of you,
and you are sealed with that Spirit of God until the day of redemption,
and the Bible says that we are qualified for the ministry of the New Testament,
not because you're so great, not because you're so wonderful,
not because you're perfect, but because of that Spirit that dwelleth in us,
the Bible says that who hath also made us able ministers of the New Testament.
If God has still allowed you to be here, despite what you may have done in your past,
despite how old you were when you got saved, despite any issues that you've had,
look, if you are still here today and you are saved, you are a qualified minister of the New Testament.
You are able to be used by God. You are able to go out and get people saved.
And you know what? That's what you should do. You should move forward.
You should let things go from your past, from other people's past, and go forward serving God.
Let's pray. Lord, thank you for this day and thank you for your word.
I pray that every single person in here, regardless of what's been done in their past,
would just go forward in service for you, that you would just continue to extend your grace towards us
and help us to do the same for others.
In the Jesus name we pray. Amen.