Everybody welcome to sure foundation Baptist Church, please find your seats first song of the evening
We're gonna be singing song 20 when I see the blood song 20
I start on the first song 20 when I see the blood price our Redeemer. I'm starting the first price
Our Redeemer died on the cross died for the sinner
Paid all his due all who receive him need never fear
Yes, he will pass will pass over you when see the blood
When I see the blood when the blood will pass over you this of sin
Can save as problems so worse over you blood a blood will pass
Just come reject refuse sinner. Hey sin
She's a sin. God will pass will pass blood blood compass boundless love does have paths true
The storm of blood will pass over by great singing brother Christian
Could you please open us up with a word of prayer amen next song is gonna be song number two
Glory to his name song number two and your hymn books. We're gonna start on the first down at the cross
Down at the cross where my Savior died
Down where for cleansing from sin I cried
There to my heart was the blood applied
Glory to his name
Glow to his name
Glow to name to my heart was the blood applied
Glow to I so wondrously saved from sin
He thus so sweetly abides within
There across where I took me
Glow to to my heart the blood glow precious fountain that saves from sin
I'm so glad heaven saves me to my heart was the blood
This verse is found thy poor soul at the same glory
Great singing brother Justin can you please come up for some announcements
Come to shoot foundation Baptist shirts on the afternoon service raise your hand if you need a bulletin and I'll show will bring one to you
The verse week is Titus chapter 1 verse 2 in hope of eternal life
Which God that cannot lie promise before the war began God has promised us eternal life
That means once you have saved you will never lose it for any reason. Let's look at the inside page
Please give us a follow on YouTube Facebook rumble and X. I am banned on X for 30 days
So, you know see you in 30 days
Service time Sunday morning at 11 Sunday afternoon service at 4 and Wednesday night Bible study at 7 p.m
This coming Wednesday will be in Judges chapter 19. So if you are in the area, please come on Wednesday nights
So many time Saturday morning at 1030 and Sunday afternoon at 1 30 p.m. Today. We had two salvations praise the Lord for that
I know the weather is cold. Hopefully, you know, we'll this is the last snow because because it was 70 degree this past Monday
But now it's 20, so it's you know, just weird Indiana weather
But praise the Lord for that, you know in you know, because in in the Bible says in
whatsoever state I am there with to be to be content even in the state of Indiana, amen, so
Upcoming events Lord Supper service will be during the afternoon service on Sunday, March 29
It'll be a special service just for the Lord Supper
I'll probably put your sermon on the Lord Supper next Sunday morning just to give you you know
What we believe the Bible teaches on the Lord Supper because there are so many wrong ideas, you know
Different churches do it differently. Also Easter service is on April 5th. We'll have a Pollock right after the morning service
I will have a son-of-she ready soon. We'll also have a man preaching during the afternoon service that day
So if you want to preach and if you are a man, please let me know your sermon topic prior to that event
We have so many marathons planned out throughout the year. Although the April 4th mega marathon may turn out to be just a regular Saturday
So winning because you know, it wasn't as organized as it was supposed to be. So again, stay tuned for that
And then please help us with the cleaning of the church building right after service today. That will be hugely appreciated
If one in the house be saved or needs to be baptized, please see an usher on myself after the service
Please please stay on your new stay on your new converse and talk to them about baptism
let's look on the back side you can see the birthdays in the month of February and
We don't have any birthdays upcoming anyone. I missed who is going to have birthday this coming week. Nobody
No, all right with that being said, let's sing one more song and then we'll take up the offering
We're gonna be singing song 102
Song 1 0 2 he hideth my soul in the cleft of the rock song 1 0 2 full
Savior G my Lord
say to
soul
Of the soul in the clasp of his of his singing us
Just keep please come up for the offering the more head
Do you please pray for offering so about this second Timothy chapter 1 if you don't have a Bible Bible
Please raise your hand and I shall will bring one to you. We'll read a whole chapter as our custom saying to me chapter 1
beginning at verse number one Paul and
Apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus to Timothy my dearly beloved
Son grace mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord
I thank God whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience that without ceasing I have I have remembrance of being my prayers night
and day greatly desiring to see thee being mindful of thy tears that I may be that I may be filled with joy when I call to
Remembrance the unfamed faith that is in thee which dwells first in thy grandmother Lois and thy mother Eunice
And I am persuaded that in thee also wherefore I put thee in
Remembrance that I'll stir up the gift of God which is in thee by the putting on of my hands
For God had not given us the spirit fear but of power and of love and of a sound mind
Be not out there for a shame of the testimony of our Lord nor of me
He's prisoner but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God
Who had saved us and called us with an holy calling not according to our works
But according to his own purpose and grace which was given us in Christ Jesus before the war began
But is now made manifest by the by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ
Who had abolished death and had brought life and immortality to light through the gospel
Whereunto I am appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles for the witch cause I also suffer these things
Nevertheless, I'm not ashamed for I know whom I have believed it and I'm persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have
Committed unto him against that day hold fast the form of sound words
Which thou has heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus that good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the
Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us this thou knowest that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me of
Whom are by jealous and homogenous the Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus
Onesiphorus for he oft refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain
But when he was in Rome, he saw me out very diligently and found me
The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day and in how many things he ministered unto
Me at Ephesus thou knowest very well. By the way, could you pray for this man? So we just read out of
Second Timothy chapter 1 the thing about this chapter that I do like in 2nd Timothy
Chapter 1 is in verse 16. We'll go to verse 16. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus
Freeth oft meaning often refreshed me. It was not ashamed of my chain
But when he was in Rome, he saw me out very diligently and found me
the Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day and how many things he ministered unto
Me at Ephesus thou knowest very well
so tell my sermon tonight is loyalty is royalty loyalty is royalty and
The thing is we live in day and age where people just are not loyal to the things of God
My main point of this sermon is kind of stir that up stir up
That desire to be loyal to the things of God in your life and again in verse 16 of the chapter
We just read only sufferers with someone that was loyal to the things of God because it says in verse 17
When he was in Rome, he saw for Paul very diligently and he was able to find him
And now this is back before you know GPS is back before social media
So it's I'm sure and I imagine took a lot of time for only Cypherus to find Paul in Rome
Vulgar verse 18. He gets a reward for that. The Lord granted him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day
And then how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus that I'll notice very well. So Paul obviously
Remembers and what only sifras did his loyalty to him. So my first point is going to be this
All right, so loyalty. What is loyalty loyalty and itself means devotion, you know, you're devoted you're committed to something now as Christians
We should be committed to the things of God and throughout the sermon
I'm gonna be just listing things that we should be loyal to as Christians
So my first point is be loyal to church be loyal to church
If you would turn with me to Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 as Christians
We should not be forsaking church a lot of Christians do that when we go out soul winning
It is a very common thing. Unfortunately to run into people that are saved. Hey, it's great
They're saved but they don't go to church anywhere. They haven't been in church since Kobe. They're still using that excuse
Well, you know covin, you know, so I don't go to church
Well, where's the Bible say about this subject? Look at verse 21 of Hebrews chapter 10
It says in having a high priest over the house of God. So who is in charge of the house of God?
Is it the pastor? No, it's actually God Jesus Christ is over the house of God
Let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith
Having a heart sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water
Let us hold fast to profession of our faith without wavering for he is faithful that promised and let us consider
one another to provoke unto love and
To our two good works or verse 25 not
forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of Psalm is but exhorting one another and
So much the more as you say the day approaching so the moment is very clear here
We should not be forsaken church even when things look like they're getting tougher harder or a little more dangerous
You know obviously with things going on in the world
It seems like things are getting crazier and more destructive and insane, but the Bible makes it very clear
We need more church in these times not less. We should be loyal to God's house
Why because the Bible says in Psalm 122?
I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord
Let me ask you this when you came to church today. Were you glad were you glad when you came to church today?
Because you should be glad when you go to church today
This is the one day of the week or if you come on Wednesday nights as well
This is one of the few times a day the week where you can fully devote your focus and attention
To Jesus to God so that you can have your focus reset on the right priorities in your life
Because we're busy throughout the week week you got work
You got family for those have a wife and children. You got to take care of them
There's a lot of things you got to manage throughout the week
You know in the in the book of Proverbs it talks about that when someone is, you know cutting the tree that
No, it's better. It's better to sharpen the ax first and then to cut the tree rather than you know
Just working extra harder swinging at the tree
Repeatedly to pour more often to it basically work smarter not harder is what that verse is implying
You know if you find yourself struggling throughout the week
You know having trouble keeping commitments keeping up with things going on
It's not so much that you need more breaks
Sometimes it could be just yeah, you have the wrong priorities could be you're just not putting church first
You're putting something else above God that could be an issue
So more specifically when it comes to being loyal to church we how we show that by obeying and being some in being in
Submission to church leadership turn with me in a first Peter chapter 2 first Peter chapter 2 now
God put authorities in our life for a reason to keep us in the white in the right lane
So that we can be on the right trajectory to life so that we're not going down a bad path
You know, that's what the Bible says in Proverbs faithful are the wounds of a friend
No, I'd very much rather have someone in this church. Just tell it to me straight. Tell me just know without sugarcoating it
Hey, brother Stephen, you're going down a bad path, you know, stop what you're doing. Basically, I you know
We all need that from time to time. None of us are perfect. None of us are perfect infallible
We need those guardrails in our life and God
One big guardrail in your life that God has set up is the pastor the evangelist of the church
He watches for your soul. The Bible says here in 1st Peter chapter 2 or the verse
13 here it says this
Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake
Whether it be to the king as supreme or to governors as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers
And for the praise of them that do well now. This is talking about initially, you know governors and magistrates
Judges and people in the land of our government, but this can also apply to
To the leadership in church is the Bible says that we should submit ourselves to every ordinance of man every ordinance
So every form of leadership we should be obeying and it says that you know being a being a leader of the church is not
Easy being a pastor is a very demanding job. It's not something that is for everyone
You know, there's a lot of weight pastors carry that frankly
None of us know about will ever know about or fun hear about because no they don't want no you to be burdened by the sense
That's why they take on the burdens
It's a very demanding job and honestly people that have that are in these positions deserve our respect and our appreciation
you know, it says in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 17 obey them that have rule over you and
Submit yourselves this is specifically talking about church leadership here in this verse for they watch for your souls as that they must
Here's the reason why it's so important that we obey our church authorities because they must give an account
What they did to God eventually when they get to heaven that they may do with joy and not with grief for that is
Unprofitable to you. So what would be profitable if evangelicals on was the leader of the church, but he had no joy
And he was just kind of just doing a begrunge like alright guys another Sunday. Just turn this verse here. Yeah, whatever
No, what now I believe he loves
Doing what he does and we and I appreciate what he does, but it wouldn't be a profit to us
We're what it and someone that labors in the word, you know
This is why I encourage people to come here on Wednesday nights
Because I'm learning a lot of Bible from him and what he's going through in the book of Judges right now in just the other books
book of Hosea
It's all really good stuff that you're learning and hearing you could tell he's putting in the work and the effort and actually laboring in
the word and the Bible says that that person's worth a double honor and
it's a very demanding job and
You can turn if you want to but in the first Timothy chapter 3 is where I'm gonna go next first Timothy chapter 3 just some
qualifications of
Being a pastor is like I said, it's a very demanding job because not only is the job itself very high-demanding by higher pressure
I mean think about it. All these pastors are working on especially in a smaller church
They're working a full-time job 50 60 hour work weeks
Then you got a wife and kids to look after then they got a deliver three sometimes four sermons a week
Full sermons. I sure was just one a month sometimes. Yeah, these guys are doing it every week. The pressure never really leaves
Pastors or leaders like that that are in that kind of position
It's it's not for the faint of heart at all and it says in first Timothy chapter 3 verse 1
This is a true saying if a man desire the office of a bishop. He desires a good work
So it's a good work obviously being a pastor is a very high calling that something is very good to be a bishop
That must be blameless the husband of one wife. So he's got to be married. It's got to be a man
No, no woman pastors. Okay, so the Bible says
Vigilant sober of good behavior given the hospitality apt to teach not given the wine
No striker not greedy a filthy lucre, but patient not a brawler not covetous one
They were well his own house having his children in subjection with all gravity
So he's got his kids in line when they're in his household
Under his authority verse 5 for if a man know not how to rule his own house. How shall we take care of the church of?
God because if a guy is single he can't be a pastor because he doesn't know what it's like to know be a rule of the house
You know, that's why these Catholics over here where they basically say in the court you gotta be single is it's just stupid
It goes it falls flat on the face of this verse in verse 5 right here
But just some insight there on the qualifications is just to be a pastor then after you meet those qualifications
Then you got all this pressure on you on top of that. It's a very demanding job
So if they gotta go through all that don't think we can the least thing we can do is to obey them when they tell
Us to do something. Oh, but I don't like it. Well, you can always leave the church, you know
They're not dictating your you know everyday life at home, but what their authority is here at church
So if you want to be here at this church, you gotta get on the leadership program
The Bible says to submit to them and submit to all ordinances of men
so that's one way you can be loyal to church and
Another way to be a blessing and being loyal to church is being a peacemaker being someone that's not going around
Just causing arguments causing division in the church because the Bible says judgment comes to those who resist authority
Matthew 5 9 says blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
Turn with me to Zephaniah chapter 3 is Zephaniah chapter 3 one that resisted authority
Will be judged by God Zephaniah chapter 3 look at verse
2 it says Oh Lord
I have heard thy speech and was afraid Oh Lord
Revive thy work in the midst of the years in the midst of the years make known and wrath remember mercy
God came from T man. Oh wait. I'm in a backer. That's why I'm like what this isn't right. Sorry
Zephaniah verse 3 verse 2 she obeyed. Here we go. She obeyed not the voice. She received not correction
She trusted not the Lord. She drew not near to our God her princes within her roaring lines
Her judges are evening wolves. They gnaw not the bones till the marrow her prophets are light and treacherous persons
Her priests have polluted the sanctuary. They have done violence to the law
So these prophets are not being loyal to things got here. They are light and treacherous persons meaning they can be bought and sold
They're corrupt basically they can be bribed
We'll get verse 8 here of zephaniah chapter 3 therefore wait ye upon me
saith the Lord until the day that I rise up to the prey for my
Determination is to gather the nations that I may assemble the kingdoms to pour upon them my indignation
Even all my fierce anger for all the earth shall be devoured with the fire of my jealousy
So God here does not take it lightly when someone is not taking the things of God seriously
He says he would pour out his fire of his jealousy upon them
So that's why it's very important that we should be loyal to the thing especially church, you know, we should take it seriously
You know, this is God's house. You know everyone everyone likes to freak out when it comes to dress standards in church
Like oh, I thought this is supposed to be church. You know, God doesn't judge and stuff like that
You know, it's funny how people can go to a little golf club place, right to play golf and they got their dress standards
They won't call that place a cult
But when the house of God when church wants exercise a little bit of standards on people, oh we're a cult now
Like I just find that ridiculous, you know, we should take the things of God seriously
There's no verse in the Bible that says men of the church should wear a shirt and tie
But I think the principle applies that we should put the things of God above everything else
So we should put our best when we go to church. So that's my first point be loyal to church
You know, we live in a day and age where people just don't care about church
They don't care. They all they care about is our 401k their retirement plan the economy
You know, we need to be the exception
We need to stand out in this day and age where we actually do put the things of God first in our lives
Point number two be loyal to the King James Bible. Now reread the Bible don't rewrite it
Now a lot of people want to stand in authority that the King James Bible has in its place and try to correct it
You know, that's something we should not be doing as Christians
And turn with me to Revelation chapter 22. Now one of the last verses in the entire Bible
This is what God leaves us with one of the last verses in the whole Bible
This is what God tells us look at verse 18 of Revelation chapter 22
For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book
If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book
So he answered the word of God every single plague mentioned in the book
I believe this one about the whole Bible everything in this book shall be added unto you verse 19
And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy God shall take away his part of the book of life
Hey, you decide to alter table of God's word and you try to push that as God's word
God's gonna take away your chance ever be saved. You want that?
I'll they know in this room would have that issue. But you know what people around the world? There's already people like that
It's called the you know, the NIV translation committee people that have already pushed these new Bible versions
And if they're creating discussing corrupt Bible versions like that, why should we ever be reading them?
Why should we have any fellowship with Bibles like that?
We should and out of the holy city and the things that are which are written in the book says rest of the verse
So we should be loyal to the Bible
The reason why working James the reason why this church is King James only is not because we believe like it's the only
Version in the entire world that has inspired words of God for English speakers
It does because is faithfully translated for an original Greek in Hebrew, Texas Receptus. That's why we are King James
We're not these crazy. No wild welcome tonight to say. Oh, it got reinspired in 1611 or something like that
That's not what we're saying. No, this can be articulated and reasoned with with basic logic
No, the original well, this really isn't my notes
But you can turn her if you want and someone 19 verse 89 actually gives us the location where you read the actual original Bible
This is actually in heaven. I'll prove that to you here right here in a minute someone 19 verse 89. It says forever
So this is forever. This is an eternal statute right here
Okay, forever award thy word is settled in heaven didn't say it's being debated right now in heaven
No, it's settled. It's already settled
So the word of God the the original originals if you're wanting to get something where the originals are
No is in heaven right now. God has original copies in heaven and how was the word of God then?
Translated from heaven to man through prophets through
Spiritful men that wrote down and penned down God's word as they were moved by the Holy Spirit
So the Bible says they they they spate the words guys. They're moved by the Holy Ghost
So that's how and eventually it came all the way down to after every faithful translation
We got now the King James Bible for English speakers
Okay, so that's and why should we be loyal specifically to this Bible and not some other version?
What's the fruit over the fruit for the last four hundred years of the King James Bible?
I mean, is there any church out there that you are they is there any such thing as and by NIV onlyists?
Where they're just tearing up a soul winning. I've got to even hear a church of such a thing now
There is no such thing as an ESV only church
I mean the only church that even has the position of being in one particular translation is the King James
All the other versions don't just use any version
They feel like that day because King James Bible rightly places Jesus as the authority
it really puts God as the authority and
As Baptist we take it for granted that will submit to the Bible as the ultimate authority in all matters of faith and practice
All those are just they don't do that. They'll just go. Oh, well, I don't like what this verse says
So I'm gonna do this version because I like what it says here. Well, it makes the person the authority then he's not the judge
He's the one that's gonna tell you what to think right or she now because we got a bunch of false prophets
Female pastors now it's insane, but that's one of the reasons and God preserves his truth by promise not revision
So God simply the reason why the Bible is reserved quite simply is God promised it and in Psalm chapter 12
Verse 6 it says this it says the words of the Lord are pure words as silver tried in a furnace earth
Purified seven times thou shall keep them award and shall preserve them from this generation forever
So God promised he would preserve the word. He promised it from the beginning. God cannot lie. It's impossible for God to lie
That's actually one of the two immutable truths in the Bible about Jesus Christ that he cannot lie
It's impossible for Jesus to lie if God lies who's telling truth then no one would we're all liars
Every one of us are liars. So someone has to tell the truth. It has to be Jesus and
Here's the thing about that. Okay, you can agree to that
You can agree with the King James while being the right Bible and everything and that's what you read
But do you read it every day? Do you get up every morning?
Putting God first in your life by reading the Bible every single day the answer is no you got you got to do that
Here's the reason why it helps you it makes you a wiser better person turn with me to Deuteronomy chapter 17
Deuteronomy chapter 17 and I know I sound like a broken record
I've said this in previous sermons, but we should be reading our Bibles every single because it's our bread
It's our daily bread. It's what makes us better. It's our spiritual bread. I have a rule for myself
I mean, you don't have to follow this rule if you don't want to that's fine
But I don't need anything until I read something in the Bible first in the morning
I I read the Bible in the morning then I get to eat breakfast no Bible. No breakfast
That's my rule for myself
Why because I want to take this I want to take the things of God very seriously in my life
So that I can be the best Christian I can possibly be and I'm not perfect. I stumble I have rough days
We all do right, but it gives me the best possible chance to be in the spirit and not in the flesh
And I want to give myself every chance I get to sin as little as possible
I don't know about you. I don't want to have a rough time on this earth
Do you want me chapter 17 look at verse 19 and this shall be well with him and he shall read therein all the days
Of his life that so this song about the king specifically what he should do with God's word
That he may learn to fear the Lord his God to keep all
The words of this law and these statutes to do them that he may be not lifted up
Above the brethren his brethren and that he turn on aside from the commandment to the right hand or to the left
To the end that he may prolong his days in his kingdom and he and his children in the midst of Israel
So that's what God wants us to read his word
You can apply this to someone as in the New Testament
Believer because when we put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ Christ when we get saved
We have the Holy Spirit and dwell on us
We've become priests after the order of Jesus Christ who is our high priest spiritually speaking
So if we read our Bibles and we're taking in God's word every day, we're not gonna be lifted up among our brethren
We're not gonna think too highly of ourselves to put it more plainly
You know, we're not gonna be like so puffed up prideful like oh, I'm so much better than this guy over here
We're this girl over here, you know, you know, we're gonna have a good humble view of ourselves
Hey, I'm a foul will sinner saved by grace and it's only by God's word
I'm doing anything through through God's might through God's strength
You know that is one of the reasons why we should be reading our Bibles every day and you know
God told Joshua, you know that this book of the law shall not should it not depart out of my mouth
Yeah, he should not depart from it. Then thou shalt why he shall be prosperous and then thou shalt good success
You know Joshua what before he's about to conquer the lands of Canaan God tells him read the Bible face what he tells him
Read read his word. So we should read it read it every day. Okay, let's say you do that
Okay, you have the right position on the King James Bible your King James only you read your Bible every day
Do you defend his truth or you see you ashamed of it?
That's that's that's the next level of loyalty to the King James Bible. Are you ashamed of being a Christian?
Like when you let's say you're at work and co-workers find out you're Christian. Are you like shy about it?
Or you're like, yeah, I'm a Christian. What about it? You know, how about that?
No, if more Christians were like that, they'd be like, oh wow. Okay, you know, no
I mean not to be that confrontational about just but yeah, I'm a Christian. Yeah, it's part of life
You know, it's who I am, you know, you shouldn't be ashamed of being a Christian
It's only been Roman chapter one. Roman chapter one is again. I've said this before another sermon
But it bears repeating because we live in a day and age where people are not just openly sitting
They're proud about their sin. I mean people today are really in open
Facultry today bunch of psalmites out there just parading their sin. Oh, they're proud about their sin
They're not ashamed about it or people today bragging about being drunk
You know, I with my job my co-workers are constantly bragging. I'll go. Yeah, I got drunk over the weekend
What about you? I'm like now I went to church
That's I'll tell them like oh, you're holy man over here. Okay, you know, whatever man
I don't care
But you know what if they if people today can be proud about the sin
I can I can if you are not ashamed of their sin
I should definitely not be ashamed of me being a safe Christian Roman chapter one look at verse 16
It says this for I am NOT ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God
Unto salvation to everyone that believeth to the Jew first and also to the Greek
So pull out the right attitude here. I am NOT ashamed of the gospel. Why it's the power of God
It gets people saved. We got two people saved today. It's great. Amen by the power of the gospel
You know, why would it be ashamed of something that saves people's souls from hell for an eternity if you're ashamed of that
I mean, I'm not saying you're not saying I'm just saying that that's not good
You should you should not be ashamed about those things. You should you're in a flush. Obviously you should mean the spirit be
Not ashamed of the things of God when it comes to that. Just think about this. Let's say you're salesman. You're selling a product, right?
Door-to-door you're going door-to-door selling a product to someone and you're ashamed that product
Do you are you are you really being loyal to your company than the hardy to sell that product door-to-door?
Not really, right? You're kind of like well, I know this place cool and all but you know
I'm a little shy to show you you're not really being waltz at a company, right?
Now how does God feel about us as ambassadors of Christ when we don't go out preaching the gospel people because we're a little shy
We're a little ashamed of the gospel. God's mad at us
Like no, I gave you the power unto salvation through my gospel through the power of the gospel. Don't be ashamed about it
No, I got it. You know use wisdom. Don't be no brow-beating. Don't be super
You know conversational to the point where people don't want to talk to you
That's all I'm saying
But you should definitely when the conversation has come up on the topic does come up
You should be able to face the music and just say yeah
I'm a Christian, you know in the book of Ruth Ruth is a great example of being loyal and to the things of God
Ruth chapter 1 verse 15 says this and she said behold thy sister-in-law is gone back unto her people and unto our guides
Returned there after thy sister-in-law. So Ruth sister-in-law was an idolater and basically returned back to her gods after they left and
Ruth said and treat me not to leave thee or to return from following after thee for whether thou goest
I will go and where thou and where thou lodges
I will lodge thy people shall be my people and thy God my God
Where thou diest will I die and there will I be buried the Lord do so to me and more also if I
But death part thee and me Ruth was definitely not ashamed of the truth here
I mean you could just tell she was all in for the things of God. She's like yours my God
No, I want that God now. I want the God. I want the Lord, you know, that was her attitude
You know, if we can be like that, why can't we? We have the full Bible right here
They didn't have the New Testament at that time yet
They were just by faith knowing God was going to fulfill those promises looking forward to the cross, right?
We have the full thing right here in front of us. We have the we have something better than the miracles
We have something better than a non-transfiguration. We have a more sure word of prophecy right here at the Bible
We should be loyal to it
So that was my second point first point be loyal to church submit into authority church authority things like that and
You know being a peacemaker not being someone that causes problems in church point number two being loyal to the King James Bible
You know, there's a lot of other versions out there that are just incorrect take verses out attack the deity Christ all that kind of stuff
We should be someone that defends its truths and not ashamed of the truth
Now just a thought that I just thought of you know, if you found the cure to cancer
Would you be ashamed of that? You'd be telling everyone to cure to the cancer, right? Hey, I found the cure to this horrible disease
Let me tell you all about it. I would not be ashamed about it. I'd be like tell people about it
You know, you know, obviously the gospel is far greater than the cure to cancer
It's secured to the biggest problem. We all face eternal damnation because of our sin point number three
Be loyal to so winning be loyal to so winning another way
How you can be loyal to the things of God be loyal to so winning. Why people going to hell every day?
It's it's a sad reality
It's just is that's the reality we're dealing with and in Proverbs 11 chapter 30 and you can turn there if you want
It basically says that wise people go so winning
It says the fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and he that winneth souls is wise
So take it to the bank. If someone's a soul owner, they're wise meaning spiritually wise
They understand that people are going to hell and that the only way they can escape out
Is if I open my mouth and show what the Bible says about Jesus Christ and what he did for us
Daniel chapter 12 says this in verse 3 and they that be wise
shall shine as the brightness of the firmament and they that turn away many to righteousness as
The stars forever and ever that's not everyone. That's not every believer that's gonna have that
It's only the people that turn many to righteousness that really is also winners that will shine as bright as the stars forever and ever
You know, I want to be someone like Daniel someone that stood on the truth, you know
I'm sure Daniel had a lot of opportunities his life to compromise, you know, think about it
I mean he was serving under a pagan king many pagan kings actually and
Many times you could have been like well, you know
Yeah, if I want to keep my job if I want to serve Christ longer, I should just compromise and stuff like that
No, I don't want your phone to the lions and who wants that right? I'll just stop praying
I'll just stop praying with the windows open, you know
I was just just cool things off a little bit that I'm sure that that might have been thought he thought of at some point
But you know, he said no, you know what nuts that I'm just gonna keep doing
I'm supposed to be doing and God's gonna take care of the rest and he ended up did you know?
He shut the mouths of the lions and he who was mean in the lions then, you know
He's God protects those that love him and it's the one sure thing that lasts forever to every soul
We went to the Lord is etched forever in heaven for eternity
That's something that no one can take away from you ever if someone is truly saved
They put their faith and trust in the death burial bodily resurrection Jesus Christ. They're saved forever
They're eternally secure by the blood of Jesus Christ
Because the thing is we're trusting the work said Jesus Christ did for us to go to heaven
Otherwise, we'd have to be as perfect and as spotless as Jesus Christ would go to heaven which none of us are
So the only way to go to heaven is just believe on him because he's perfect
He already did the works and the Bible says here in Ecclesiastes chapter 11 verse 8
It says but if a man live many years and rejoice in them all yet
Let him remember the days of darkness for they shall be many all that cometh is vanity
So the Bible makes it very clear that you can live many years be happy in them
But if you don't do anything for God, it's all darkness. Anyway, it's all vanity now
That's why I love the book of Ecclesiastes throughout the book
You just realize that everything in this life right now that we see here and feel is pretty much temporal and vanity
The only thing that matters is serving God and that's how the book ends here in Ecclesiastes chapter
12 verse 14 verse 13. "Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter fear God and keep his commandments for this is the
whole duty of man." Really that's God's will for every saved person just keep his commandments do what he tells you to do and
That's gonna last for eternity. And again, you know, we're loyal to a lot of things in this life
We may not realize it, you know, especially if you've got a job you're loyal to your company
At least you should be you know, if you're working for your company and you're telling customers something that's better
Supposedly, well that's wicked. You should be working for the other company. That's how you feel you should be pro company with whatever company
You're working for but you know people
Like I said, I'm not saying you're not right with God. I feel like sports
I used to like sports too sports sports can be fun, but people really are really into sports teams sometimes, right?
They're really into it. They're big fans of the sports team. They're showing their loyalty to a sports team, right?
I am a die-hard Indianapolis Colts fan, you know or something like that, you know, how how do people
Show their loyalty to the Indianapolis Colts just using them as example. Well, they'll wear their jerseys their gear, right?
They'll buy tickets to their games or something like that and show them on when they're playing like the playoffs or something
That's how they show their loyalty. Okay, if people can get all loud
Obnoxious even for a sporting event for something as silly as that and compared to God to say the things of God
Why can't we get loud, you know and and passion about the things of God here?
You know, there's been so many churches I've been to where they want to talk about sports
That's all they want to talk about is all the colonel stuff
They don't want to talk about the Bible or anything about the doctrines of the Bible
Now that's one thing I love about this church a lot is you know people here
We really do care about the doctrine we care about the things of God and we'll talk about a lot of things in about that
I've honestly never heard about I'm just like, oh, I never even thought about that way
I love hearing the perspectives everyone brings to the table when it comes to that and the point of that is if royalty shows up
Everywhere else in your life. Why not here? How come you can be loyal to your sports team, but you can't be loyal to God here
I mean didn't God bleed on the cross for you forever. I don't think Indianapolis Colts would ever do that for you
I'm not hearing on the cult here. I'm just saying, you know, I don't hate football at all
I grew up watching football all the time with my parents. It was always it's always a cherished memory for me
But you know Indianapolis Colts didn't die for my sins. Jesus Christ did, you know
So that's my third point being loyal to soul winning, you know
We should be reaching people pulling them out of the fire being shown our that's how we show our loyalty to God really into the
Gospels by getting people saved by being faithful to that too
It's not just doing one time in your life and getting like a hundred people saved or something
It's doing it faithfully day in day out for decades of your life until God calls you home
That's how you show your ultimate loyalty when it comes to soul winning. Is that always easy to do? No, it's not
But that's why it's so important that we do it point number four be loyal to your spouse friends and family
We're just relationships in general if you want to summarize that you know, we should be loyal if you're married to be loyal to your spouse
Don't backbite or slander people close to you
Either as the Bible says here turn with me to Proverbs chapter 10 Proverbs chapter 10. We'll get verse 18
It says this he that hideeth hatred with lying lips and he that are of a slander is a white
No, no, he's a fool. He's not wise. He's a fool
Someone that others lies about another person is foolish is stupid now
We say the word fool kind of lightly and in English modern vernacular
But if you read the book of Proverbs a fool is someone that's like really wicked really stupid really evil
It's a really strong word to call someone in the book of Proverbs a fool
God doesn't use that word lightly, but we'll be like, oh, you're kind of you're kind of being foolish
We've definitely softened it a little bit over the years, but a fool's like you're being almost demonic almost
You're being super evil and super wicked right now
But just think about it. Why would you want to spread a rumor about someone here in this church if it's not true?
You have to be a really evil person to do that. It's it's it's evil. It's wicked, you know
And it says in Numbers chapter 16 verse 3, you know the story of Korah's rebellion
"And they gathered themselves together against Moses and against Aaron and said unto them, Ye take too much upon upon you
Seeing all the congregation are holy"
Boy, that's okay, buddy
"Every one of them, and the Lord is among them, wherefore then lift ye up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord"
So, notice what Korah is saying here in verse 3 of Numbers chapter 16
He's calling the congregation holy
Have you read Exodus chapter 32 buddy? They're not all holy, but okay
And he's saying that Moses is lifting himself above the congregation
Basically saying he's being prideful here, he's basically trying to abuse his power
Is that what Moses was doing? No, that's obviously slander, it's obviously not true
Moses was the meekest man on the earth at that time
And now the Bible also says we should keep our commitments
We should be, Christians should not be known for people that just don't keep their words
We should keep our words as Christians
Turn over to Psalm chapter 15
Actually one of my most favorite Psalms in the book of Psalms is Psalm 15
Just because I love just what it says, especially when it comes to commitment
Because it starts off with a question in Psalm 15, it says
"Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?"
"Lord, what's going to be the type of person that's going to stay in church?"
It's what it's asking. I'm going to skip down verse 3
"He that backbideth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbor, nor takeeth up a reproach to his neighbor"
And verse 4 it says this
"In whose eyes a vile person is content, but he honors them that fear the Lord"
"He that sweareth to his own hurt and changeth not"
So even this person makes a promise to someone and it's in their detriment
They're still going to do it because they care about keeping their word
They care about being honest people, especially to the people among the church
Let's say I make a promise to Brother Wade
I'm like "Hey Brother Wade, every Saturday I'm going to drive all the way up to your house to drop off the groceries for you"
That's going to be to my heart, because that's going to be a lot of money on gas for me
Because I live two hours away from him right now
But I'd better keep my word if I promise him that, right?
That's what the verse is saying here
So that's something I should do if I were to do that
That's just an example
And we should be ones that keep our promises
Because, I mean, it's kind of the proverbial truth now these days
That politicians lie, they always speak out of both sides
We should not be like politicians, we should be honest people
We should be people that when we say something's going to get done, it's going to get done
Now, I won't have that reputation about me
I want to be, to people in this church, when I say I'm going to do something, I'm going to do it
Now, that's why I'm very careful to say, "Oh, I promise to do something"
Because I don't know what tomorrow's going to bring, I have no idea
So I always try to be very careful when saying, "Oh, I for sure will do this"
Because I have no idea if I'm even going to be alive tomorrow
I usually say, "If possible, I'll do my best to do this"
That's the safest area to be in because it's like, "Hey, life happens, but I'm going to try my best to do this"
So, and another thing for us to be loyal, we should be loyal to our friends
We should be loyal to people in this church, why?
Because we should be surrounded with wise counsel
Proverbs chapter 27, I don't know about you, I love being around church people that actually are not insane people
That actually love the Word of God, because it encourages me, it wants me to keep going
Because I'm surrounded by these sinners all week
I want them to get saved, but they don't have the worldview I do
They don't have the biblical worldview, they got the worldview from TikTok
They got the worldview from Fox News, CNN, whatever
That's where they're getting their worldview from, not from the Bible
Only Christians are getting that worldview
And I want to be around people that have that worldview
Proverbs 27 verse 9, it says this
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart, so do doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel
It's good to have friends in the church
I got quite a few friends in the church that I love and care for
And I hope I get more friends in the future
Because I get hearty counsel from them
I don't know everything
I don't know if you know that, I don't know everything
But there's a lot of people in the church that are very smart in a lot of areas of life
That I get to glean from
And just ask them questions, hear the wisdom they have to say
Because I could be the ultimate prideful person where I'm like
"Oh, I already know everything, I can't be taught anything
I'm going to teach everyone my truths"
I could have that attitude or I could just be like "You know what?
Everyone has something to bring to me that I don't know"
Pastor Hiles had a really good quote about this basically saying
He was talking about even people that aren't saved
That "Everyone knows something that I don't know, therefore all men are my teachers"
We should all have that attitude when it comes to just
Because obviously unsaved people know carnal things that we may not know
Like car stuff, car repairs and stuff like that
Just thinking of an example, house stuff, budgeting
No, just because someone isn't saved doesn't mean we can't learn from them either
But especially people in the church
We can definitely learn something from people here in God's house
Just like I said earlier, I like hearing other people's perspectives
On things in the Bible because, you know, we all have a bias
We all have a viewpoint that is skewed to our way of thinking
And that way when we get another person's perspective on it
It kind of broadens our way of thinking
It's like, oh, I didn't think about it that way
So we should keep our commitments
We should surround ourselves with wise counsel
Deuteronomy chapter 32 verse 20 says this
For they are a nation void of counsel
Neither is there any understanding in them
Talking about Israel after they get forsaken by God
It's the prophetic son of Moses in Deuteronomy chapter 32
Where Israel is going to forsake God
And God is going to basically judge them
All says in 1 Samuel chapter 18 verse 1
And it came to pass when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul
The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David
And Jonathan loved him as his own soul
And Saul took him that day and would let him go no more to his father's house
Then Jonathan and David made a covenant because he loved him as his own soul
And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him
And gave it to David in his garments even to his sword
And to his bow in his girdle
And David went out where the sword of Saul sent him and behaved himself wisely
And Saul set him over the men of war
And he was accepted in the sight of the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants
So Jonathan was loyal to David
How did he show himself to be loyal?
First of all, he stuck with him. He kept his promises to David
And David also kept his promise to Jonathan way later after his death
When he showed kindness to his lineage with Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel chapter 9
So they both kept each other's promises in their words
And they both were wise in a way where they helped each other out
Especially from King Saul who was obviously engrievous in trying to kill David
Just an example in the Bible right there showing how someone can be loyal to someone else in the Bible
There's a lot of examples about that, you know
Especially a bad example of loyalty is Peter when he denied Jesus three times
You know, when things got tough, he got ashamed of the truth, got ashamed of Jesus
And was like, "Oh, you know, I don't know him. Who is that guy? I have no idea who that is
You know, I was not with him. I don't know without say us basically"
So, and the Bible is chock full of examples like that
You know, Abiothar and Zadok is another example I can think of
You know, when, you know, Solomon was establishing his reign as king
You know, Abiothar was on the other side
But he showed loyalty in the past to David
And Solomon was like, "Well, I should put you to death for this
But because he showed loyalty to David in time past
I'm actually just going to strip you of your priestly title" and things like that
But he still has consequences for not being loyal to David after his death
So that's my fourth point
Be loyal to relationships, spouse, friends, family
You know, obviously families can be tough, especially being loyal to them
Especially if they're not here in this church, they're out in the world
Or they're saved but they're just not living a good life or something like that
They're kind of just watered down lukewarm Christians
But the Bible says we should honor our mother and father
That's not up for debate
I don't care what your situation is
If you've got a mother and father and you're here and you have a mother and father
They did something to at least lead you here in some way
So whatever it is, whatever positive things you can think of
Think of those things about them and honor them in that way
Is what I would say
And I love my parents, you know
I honor them in every way I can
Because that's what the Bible tells me to do
I want to live a long life
I don't know about you
I want to be here on this earth
Doing as much work for God as long as possible
And the Bible literally says
If you honor your mother and father
Thy years and days on the earth shall be long
It shall be many
So I want that for myself
I want to be able to live long so that I can do law for God here in this life
I only got one life
We all do
We only have one shot to just go out soul-winning as much right now
The time is now
It's not, oh, when I get to heaven
You know, it's now, right now
My last point is this
Be loyal to Jesus Christ
Now, a lot of people will say this
Well, I don't follow a man
I don't follow any pastor
But I follow Jesus
You know, that kind of thing
They're really not loyal to Jesus
Because, you know, Avengers On had a great sermon this morning
About who the real Jesus actually is
Someone, Jesus of the Bible
Who is God manifest in the flesh
The real Jesus
The one who was without sin
The one who took on the sins of the whole world
The one that bled for us on the cross
The one that went, his soul went to hell
For three days and three nights for us
And then he bodily rose again from the dead
That's the real Jesus we should be loyal to
Not the long-haired, hippie-dippie Jesus
That's cool with sin
Now that's the Jesus everyone likes to think about today in this day and age
Not the one that preached hard
That literally pissed off the Jews so much that they literally had conspired with the Roman government to have them crucified
Now a lot of people forget about that
Why did they crucify Jesus?
Because everyone knows that
That's a fact
That's just like a historical fact at this point
That Jesus Christ was crucified
You ever thought about what led to that?
Yes, JFK was assassinated
But you want to know why he was assassinated?
Because he pissed off the wrong people
That's why
Just like Jesus Christ pissed off the wrong people
It's not like Jesus Christ was just walking down
Just minding his own business
Wasn't bothering anyone
Wasn't saying anything controversial
And all of a sudden he just crucified him
No, he was preaching
And believe me, everyone here in the church knows about
The hate we get from the world here in the church
Just such out-soul winning
Just sermons preached by this pulpit
How they call us things that just aren't true
They slander us, they malign us
All this wicked stuff
Why? Are we really terrible people?
No, we're just proclaiming what the Bible says
We're proclaiming the truth and the world hates the truth
They love darkness more than the light, the Bible says
Leadership can falter, but nothing will alter if you're following Christ
Now, that's the good thing about being a Christian is
Our faith lies with someone that's perfect
That's Jesus Christ
Someone who is without sin
Jesus Christ has never sinned, he will never sin
He is perfect, he is the total embodiment of pureness, honesty, integrity, everything
Everything that's good is Jesus
Praise God we have something that's shown in Foundation to lean on every day
Because you got a lot of people that are really into politics
You got a lot of people that are really into the Republican party or the Democrat party
They're really into their politician
Unfortunately politicians are people
The best men are men at best
They're going to fall at some point in their life
You know, Jesus Christ will never fall, he will never fail us
So how can we show our loyalty to Jesus Christ then?
Someone that's that magnificent, that awesome
Well, do you pray to him? Do you talk to him every day?
You ask yourself that question because I mentioned this in a previous sermon of mine
A relationship is not going to succeed without communication
If you want a relationship to flourish, you need to have communication
It's the same with Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ wants that fellowship with you if you're saved
Turn with me to Matthew chapter 21
Matthew chapter 21
Jesus Christ wants to hear from you
He loves you
He wants to know what you're going through
He wants to know what you need
He already knows what you need, but he wants you to ask
Matthew 21 verse 22
And all things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer
Believing ye shall receive
So here's the thing here
When you pray to God, it's an act of faith
The Bible says in Hebrews, in the book of Hebrews
That when someone is praying to God, it's an act of faith
He must believe that he is
And he is a doger of those that diligently seek him
Now when you're coming to God
You're intercessing to God the Father through Jesus Christ
Is what you're doing
And the Holy Spirit is helping with that communication as well
During this prayer
So when you're praying to God
God then receives the prayer
And if you believe in and you're saying in faith
That he's actually listening
He'll answer it
Now in the book of Daniel
In the book of Daniel chapter 10 for sake of time
I'm not going to go there
But that chapter talks about spiritual warfare
What goes on during that whole thing
Sometimes prayers can be hindered because of demons
Now they can hinder a prayer or an answer to prayer
Because demons will try to interfere with that
That's spiritual warfare
Prayer is part of spiritual warfare
Now we get the premise of soul winning spiritual warfare
Because we go out there
We see a bunch of whack jobs out there
You know, people with knives trying to threaten you
As you walk away from a door or something
But prayer is also spiritual warfare
When you're praying to God
You're actually engaging in spiritual warfare
Why do you think there's so much discouragement
When it comes to prayer sometimes?
Because you don't feel like anything's happening
That's what Satan wants you to think
He wants you to think nothing's been answered
So you know you don't pray
So nothing happens
And Luke chapter 18 is another place talking about prayer
You can turn there if you want
Luke chapter 18, let's see
I'm going to start at verse 2
Luke chapter 18
"Sane, there was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man"
So this is the parable of the unjust judge
"And there was a widow in that city, and she came unto him, saying, 'Avenge me of mine adversary'"
And he would not for a while
So there's a duration of time here
For a while he just ignored her, right?
"But afterward he said within himself, 'Though I fear not God, nor regard man'"
Like, I don't care
This guy might be a rapper, right?
Who knows, he doesn't fear God or man
"Yet, because this widow troubled with me, I will avenge her, lest her continual coming she weary me"
So he's like, "Hey, I'm just gonna shove this widow, I'm just gonna do it for her so she just leaves me alone"
So, if the unjust judge can be like that, if he can have that attitude
Why couldn't God answer prayer for us?
When God loves us, he's very just
He is the total opposite of this unjust judge
God loves you, God does fear
Well, he doesn't fear, but he wants you to fear him
And he respects those who have faith in him
So, that's another way we can show loyalty to God
Is praying to him daily
Reading the Bible is another way to show loyalty to Jesus as well
Because Jesus Christ is the Word
I don't know why Christians want to separate that
No, he is the Word, it's what the Bible says
So, we're not worshiping the Bible
We're just telling what the Bible says
He literally says the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God
How do you interpret that? There's only one way to interpret that
Jesus is God
The Word is Jesus Christ
And another way we can show loyalty to Jesus Christ
is by being a partaker of his sufferings
1 Peter chapter 3
Turn there to 1 Peter chapter 3
1 Peter chapter 3 verse 16
It says this
Having a good conscience that
whereas they speak evil of you as of evildoers
they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ
for it is better if the will of God be so
that ye suffer for well-doing than for evildoing
for Christ also hath once suffered for sins
that just for the unjust that he might bring us to God
being put to death in the flesh but quickened by the Spirit
So it's actually a good thing to be a Christian and to suffer for that
Now you're just living your life
you're just going through your life
you're in your Bible praying to God
keeping your remembrance of everything that's good and holy
and people hate you for that
I've had that happen in my personal life
you know, people who just hate on me just because what I believe what the Bible says
Did I kill anyone? Did I hurt anyone? Did I steal from anyone?
No, I'm not a criminal
I've never committed a crime in a day in my life
yet they treat me like one, why?
because I just believe what the Bible says
you know, and they speak all manner of evil against me falsely for my sake
but the Bible says to rejoice and to be exceedingly glad
for anyone that goes through that
the reward in heaven is great
and that's how you show your loyalty to Jesus as well
is by showing you're not just someone that's half in half out
there's a lot of Christians that are saved
but they would never put themselves in that situation
where they would be hated in the world
they usually hide what they believe
they're not at all vocal what they believe
I'm telling you right now
there's no quicker way to make people hate you
than to say "you're a Christian, you actually believe what the Bible says"
that's how you really get people to hate you
it's just true, I've seen it firsthand
I could talk about literally anything else with people
and we're cool, we're civil, everything's nice
but sometimes I bring up the Bible
and they're like "you believe that?"
that's the whole other person I'm talking to
I do. Matthew chapter 10 says this
"whosoever therefore shall confess me before men
him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven
but whosoever shall deny me before men
him will I deny before my Father which is in heaven"
and again, we should not be shunned by Jesus
we should be confessed in His name
especially in front of other people
we want people to be saved, right?
well, how can we get people saved if we don't confess about Jesus before them?
we have to at that point, we gotta be vocal about Jesus Christ at that point, right?
and the last way we can show our loyalty to Jesus is to trust Him in everything
I know that's like a very sunny school kind of answer
but it's true, it's what the Bible says
this is the last way we'll turn to Proverbs chapter 3
Proverbs chapter 3, we'll end here
you know, God wants us to trust Him
you know, He does
I know it's not easy
I know sometimes we don't see the spiritual things
we don't see what God's doing behind the scenes
but we need to just trust Him
there's just been things in my life that's happened
especially in the last couple years
where I'm like, God, why is this happening?
but now I'm looking back and I'm like
oh, now I know why that happened
because look at all the blessings on the road
that happened in my life now
I didn't see it at the time
God knew though
I just gotta trust Him
that He's, you know
especially if you're generally living your life right
you're praying, you're going to church
you're doing everything you're supposed to be doing
you're a soul owner
and bad things happen to you
and there's no grievous, glaring sin in your life
it's probably a trial
so at that point just pray to God
and just trust him
Bible says here in Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart
and lean unto thine own understanding
and all thy ways acknowledge him
and he shall direct thy paths
Be ye not wise in thine own eyes
fear the Lord and depart from evil"
Notice it says here
"not unto thine own understanding"
There is no understanding in this world
but it's carnal, it's fleshly, devilish
says in the New Testament
Now the things of God
the things that are above
above the sun
the knowledge, the wisdom
that's above the sun
not under the sun
that is what we need to trust on, ultimately
If we won't stay loyal to Christ
His word, His church, and His work
then what exactly are we going to be loyal to?
Think about this
You know, the Christian life can be hard
it can be sometimes
it can be very time consuming
it can take a lot of your energy
it can be exhausting
especially with the long drive to church
Well think about this
What would you rather be doing on Sunday?
What would you be doing with your time?
You know
If I weren't busy doing the things for God
I'd probably get into sin
I'd like to think I wouldn't, but who knows?
You know, I'm a sinner
You know
God intentionally has things in the way
so that we stay away from certain things
from certain sins
Because you're not going to be tempted with adultery
if you're married and you're happy with your marriage, right?
Just like a more silly example
You're not going to want to eat a bunch of Oreos all the time
if you're already full eating healthy food, right?
You know
A lot of people will say they're struggling with the diet
Well, have good healthy foods in your house
Don't buy unhealthy foods and have none of that in your house
So you're not tempted, you know?
And stay in the fight, don't give up
If we don't keep fighting, who will?
I mean, how many other churches are even out there
so wanting as hard as we are?
They're just not doing it
It's sad, but it's true
I'd like to say there's hundreds of other churches
doing what we're doing in this city alone
But there just isn't, you know?
If we don't keep fighting
If we don't keep contending for the truth for the gospel, who will?
I mean, there will always be someone that will preach the gospel
But let's not make it harder for God
You know, we got a good church here
We already got the infrastructure
We already have the zeal
Let's just keep doing it, you know?
Let's not go soft on soul winning
Let's not go soft on preaching hard either
Now, how we stay great
What made us great is how we stay great, you know?
If we start going in a direction
Where we start softening on preaching or soul winning
That's when that candlestick is going to be removed from this church
If we don't keep fighting, who will?
Because in God's kingdom, royalty really is royalty
You want to be loved by God
You want to actually do what is right
And be accepted by Him
Well, you do what He says
And listen, God loves you just intrinsically because you're saved already
But if you want God to bless you in this life
Well, then you do what He says
And you show your loyalty to Him
If you do so, you'll be blessed
And you'll actually
Who wants to live the whole life and not make a difference?
I want to make a big difference in my life
I want to do something with my life
I don't want to just co-spy
And then no one remembers me
I don't do anything big
I want to accomplish something in this life as a Christian
So, I hope you got something from this sermon
I hope you remember the things I said tonight in my sermon
that you would take at the heart
Because royalty really is royalty
Let's have a word of prayer
I just tell my Father, thank you Lord for this church
Lord, I just pray God that we all stay loyal to you
Lord, to the things of you
We take you seriously, Lord, to the things of you seriously
And Lord, if anyone here is struggling in this church right now
Lord, with anything, Lord, I just pray God
You would help them, Lord, give them comfort
And we all just stay united, Lord
In doctrine and in truth, Lord
In your name, Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen
Alright, Amen, last song
Of the evening is gonna be
Song 309
Dare to be a Daniel
Song 309
Standing by a purpose true
Heeding God's commands
Honor them
The faithful few
All to Daniel's band
Dare to be a
Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a
Purpose firm
Dare to make it known
Many mighty men
Are lost daring
Not to stand
Who for God had been
A host by joining
Daniel's band
Dare to be a
Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose
Firm and dare to make it
Known
Many giants great and tall
Stalking through the land
Headlong to the
Earth would fall
If met by Daniel's band
Dare to be
A Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose
Firm and dare to make it
Known
Hold the gospel banner
High onto victory's
Grand
Satan and his host
Defy and shout for Daniel's
Band
Dare to be a Daniel
Dare to stand alone
Dare to have a purpose
Firm and dare to make it
Known
Alright, amen. Brother Alex,
Would you please close out on a word of prayer?
Amen, you are dismissed.