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🎵Piano music plays🎵 🎵Piano music continues🎵 Hey man, welcome to First Works Baptist Church. We're gonna get started with song number 24, 🎵And can it be🎵 Song number 24 there in your hymnals. And if you are able to, let's all stand together for our first song this evening. 🎵And can it be that I should gain an interest🎵 Song number 24. Sing it like a mighty choir unto the Lord. Sing it on that first. 🎵And can it be🎵 🎵That I should gain an interest🎵 🎵In the Savior's blood🎵 🎵Died He for me🎵 🎵Who cut this pain for me🎵 🎵Who came till death pursued🎵 🎵Amazing love🎵 🎵How can it be🎵 🎵That now my God🎵 🎵Should stop for me🎵 🎵Amazing love🎵 🎵How can it be🎵 🎵That now my God🎵 🎵Should stop for me🎵 🎵He left His Father's throne above🎵 🎵So free, so embedded in His grace🎵 🎵Emptied Himself of all but love🎵 🎵And bled for Adam's helpless praise🎵 🎵Tis mercy, all humans and free🎵 🎵Oh, how can it be🎵 🎵How can it be🎵 🎵How can it be🎵 🎵That now my God🎵 🎵Should stop for me🎵 🎵Long my imprisoned spirit lay🎵 🎵Fast bound in sin🎵 🎵And nature's night🎵 🎵Fine I defuse🎵 🎵My winning reign🎵 🎵I rose, the dungeon claimed with light🎵 🎵My chains fell off, my heart was free🎵 🎵I rose, and fought and followed the🎵 🎵Amazing love🎵 🎵How can it be🎵 🎵That now my God🎵 🎵Should stop for me🎵 Amen, wonderful singing. Let's start our service with a word of prayer. Dear God and my Father, we thank you so much, Lord God, for the gift of salvation, Lord God, through your son Jesus Christ. We thank you so much for that, Lord God. And I do pray, Lord God, that you please just, we do pray that you please just bless every aspect of our service, Lord God. And I pray that you please just be with us, Lord God, as we sing unto you, Lord God. And I pray that you please just be with our pastor, Lord God, as he preaches your word unto us. I pray that you please just lead him to the scriptures, Lord God. And I pray that you please also just be with us in the congregation, Lord God. Oh, Lord, I pray that you would help us, Lord God, to have open ears and open hearts, Lord God, as well. I pray now these things in Jesus' name. Amen. You may be seated. Song number 136, Master of the Tempest is Raging. Song number 136. Song number 136, Master of the Tempest is Raging. Song number 136. Sing it on that first verse. Master of the Tempest is Raging. The billows are tossing high. The sky is o'ershadowed with blackness. No shelter or help is nigh. Hearest thou not that we perish? How canst thou nigh asleep? When each moment so madly is dreading? O brave and the angry deep, The winds and the waves shall obey my will. Peace be still, Whether the wrath of the storm toss sea, Or demons or men or whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship, Where lies the master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace be still, They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace be still. Master, with anguish of spirit, I bow in my grief today. The depths of my sad heart are troubled. Awaken and save, I pray. Torrance of sin and of anguish, Sweep o'er my sinking soul. And I perish, I perish, dear master, Of acid and safe control. The winds and the waves shall obey my will. Peace be still, Whether the wrath of the storm toss sea, Or demons or men or whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship, Where lies the master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace be still, They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace, peace be still. Master, the terror is over, The elements freely rest. Earth's sun and the calm lake is mirrored, And heaven's wind in my breast. Blessed Redeemer, Leave me alone for more, And with joy I shall make a blessed harbor, And rest on that blissful shore. The winds and the waves shall obey my will. Peace be still, Whether the wrath of the storm toss sea, Or demons or men or whatever it be, No water can swallow the ship, Where lies the master of ocean and earth and skies. They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace be still, They all shall sweetly obey my will. Peace, peace be still. All right, great singing. Thank you for being here this evening. Just a few announcements here. Before we sing our next song, which will be 246. Redeem song number 246, if you want to get that ready in your songbooks. Our Sunday morning service is at 1030 Sunday evening, 5 p.m. And then our Thursday night Bible study is at 7 o'clock. We're currently going through the book of Matthew. And of course, I'll be covering the second half of Matthew chapter 10 tonight. And then you see the first works family nights. I want to encourage everyone to make it their goal to be here for family nights. Bring your family for family nights. We're going to start it off with carnival night. Have some fun things for the kids, jumper. We'll have some possibly bacon wrapped hot dogs and hamburgers. And just a lot of fun stuff. And so make some memories for the summer and be here for that. We have the ice cream social coming up on July 16th. And then the kids Olympics and men's preaching night is on the 30th of July. And then we close off the family nights with the church bonfire on Friday, August 4th. And so hope to see you for all those weeks there. And then you see the list of expecting mothers. Of course, congratulations once again to Jacob and Malia on the announcement that she's expecting. And so we'll put her on the prayer list there. And then you see the important reminders at the bottom. Of course, today was Father's Day. Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Hope you enjoy your In-N-Out gift card. If you didn't get one, just ask Brother Ulysses and he can get you one if you didn't receive one this morning. And then the Samaria Soul Winning is on Monday, June 26th. Meet at the building at 1130. 4th of July picnic on Tuesday, July 4th. And that'll be at Eucalyptus Park. And then we'll have the men's prayer night coming up on Friday, July 7th, 7 p.m. at the church building. We will have dinner for all the men who come on that evening. You see the regular reminders there at the bottom. Please make sure you silence your phones during the preaching. So as to not be a distraction during the service. And one last thing. I mentioned it this morning. But there is a changing table available in the men's kitchen restroom. And so men, if you have diaper duties, make sure you don't use the ladies restroom. You can use the restroom here. We have a changing table there available for the dads. And so keep that in mind. And that is it. Let's go ahead and take some soul winning numbers from this past week. Salvations from Monday to Thursday. Salvations from Monday to Thursday for Salvations. How about Friday and Saturday? Salvations for Friday and Saturday. Three for Riverside. And then Salvations for this afternoon. Three. One for Brother Cody's team. Anybody else? Going once, twice, thrice. Okay. Keep up the great work. Let's go ahead and sing our next song. 246, Redeemed. Song number 246. Song number 246. Song number 246 is our third song. Song number 246, Redeemed. Seen on that first verse. Redeemed how I love to proclaim it. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed through his infinite mercy. His child and forever I am. Redeemed. Redeemed. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed. Redeemed. His child and forever I am. Redeemed and so happy in Jesus. No language can rapture until I know that the light of his presence with me doth continually dwell. Redeemed. Redeemed. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed. Redeemed. His child and forever I am. I think of my blessed Redeemer. I think of him all the day long. I know I cannot be silent. His love is the theme of my song. Redeemed. Redeemed. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed. Redeemed. His child and forever I am. I know I shall see in his beauty the king in whose law I delight. Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps and giveth me song in the night. Redeemed. Redeemed. Redeemed by the blood of the lamb. Redeemed. Redeemed. Redeemed. His child and forever I am. Amen. Wonderful singing. At this time our ushers will be receiving the offering. Please turn your Bibles to Matthew chapter 10. piano plays softly piano plays softly piano plays softly Good evening. Matthew chapter 10. And the Bible reads These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles and into any city of the Samaritans. Enter ye not. But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils. Free ye have received, freely give. Provide neither silver nor gold nor silver nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves, for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it. But if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak, for it shall be given you in the same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child, and the children shall rise up against their parents and cause them to be put to death. But ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in the city, flee into another. Verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. They have called the master of the house Beelzebub. How much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in the light, and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father? But the very hairs of your head are numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. 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 also deny before my father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth, I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, and a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you he shall in no wise lose his reward. Let's pray, dear Lord God, thank you for the service, Lord, and that we're going to have tonight, Lord. I just pray that you bless this service, you bless the preaching, Lord, and just help the congregation to be attentive to the preaching, Lord, and that we come away edified, Lord. So just bless this time. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Okay, tonight we're going to continue with Matthew chapter 10 from Thursday, and I'm going to finish up the chapter here. Let me give you a little bit of review of what we went over on Thursday. Of course, in chapter 10 in the beginning is essentially when he sends out his 12 disciples, and he enables them supernaturally to cast out devils, to heal sicknesses in all manner of disease. And the reason he's doing that is to confirm the word that they're going to preach. So as they're going out to different cities, preaching the word of God, getting people saved in like manner simultaneously, they're also performing these miracles, which in turn gives the message credibility at the time. Now the reason Jesus Christ is allowing this, here comes the pizza place. We get another pizza tonight. I see Pizza Hut. Yeah, it is. It's Pizza Hut. Ulysses, I thought you called the pizza places all around here. Why don't you go ahead and go out there, evangelists, and go handle that. So the reason he's doing this, the reason he's allowing them to perform these miracles is to confirm the word of God, right? It's to confirm the message, to let them know that they're sent by God. Hey, by the way, I actually, I do want pizza tonight. Can you let him know that we do want it? Yeah, let him know we want it, we'll pay for it. Because I'm actually hungry, actually. I ate lunch kind of early. But tell him, hurry up, Eric, come on, man, hurry. Say, pastor wants the pizza. Hey, you faggots, I want the pizza tonight. Joke's on you, I'm into that. I'm into that. Tell him we'll pay for it. Anyways, I want to make sure that we get the pizza, though. So don't shame him. What do you say? We're getting it? All right, cool. How many pizzas are there? How many pizzas? Come on, guys. Paul here. Poor guys just standing out there. You know, I don't see him bringing in the pizzas. What's up here? Three pizzas? You faggots are so cheap. You guys think so, like, come on, we got a church here. I can kill three pizzas. Just take it. Yeah, take the three pizzas out, we'll get it. I guess. Can you guys do me a favor, though? Because last Thursday we got pizzas, and you guys left me one slice. I mean, can I get two at least? Get the pizza, get the three pizzas. That sounds great. All right. Man, small vision, you know? Small vision. Good night in the morning. Anyways, so back to the Bible here. Hey, we like to live out the Bible here, by the way. Amen? So as he's ordaining them, he's sending them out. He's enabling them to do these supernatural miracles because it confirms the word of God. And the reason he allowed it then and not now, because people think, well, how come those miracles aren't available today? Well, it's because of the fact that the apostles were the catalyst to the New Testament churches. So in order to kind of get the momentum going in the New Testament to start those churches, you know, he's basically allowing those things to happen. And let me say this, is that although these gifts are null and void today, such as, you know, being able to speak in a different language to preach the word of God, the Bible makes it very clear that in the end times, those miracles are going to resurface, okay? And the reason why is because of the fact it's going to be the greatest sowing movement, you know, during those last 75 days or even 40 and two months to get a lot of people saved. So God's going to allow those miracles to resurface once again. And I don't believe it's the matter, it's like resurrecting people from the dead or even healing sicknesses. I think more so when it comes to being able to speak in a different language, a language that you previously did not learn or understand in order to get more people saved. But in this particular case, you have the manner of diseases being healed, the casting out of devils. And so they're going about doing these things. And then he commissions them, he says, you know, go into Jerusalem, go not into the way of the Gentiles or into the way of the Samaritans, only into the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And I explained why on Thursday why that was the case. It wasn't because Jews are better than everyone else or because God esteemed the Jews as being better than anyone else. It's more of a strategic geographical strategy, right? The gospel began there in Israel, so it's like go to the lost sheep of the house of Israel and once we're essentially done there, you know, when everyone else is, we see that pretty much Israel's closed, then start moving out to Judea, Samaria and the other most parts of the earth. So then we see that later on. So the reason that's important to know is because, you know, a lot of people think, oh, the Gentiles were like Plan B. Oh, the Gentiles, they're not as loved as the Jews, but that's false, that's wrong. For God so loved the world, right? And that includes the Gentiles. And we see in the Old Testament many scriptures talking about God wanting to reach the Gentiles Israel was supposed to be a light unto the Gentile nations. So then we see that and he sends them out to go preach the word of God and he begins to talk about the fact that, you know, they're going to be persecuted for preaching the gospel. You know, they're going to be persecuted and he tells them in verse 23, he says, But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another, for verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel till the Son of Man be come. And what he's basically saying there is, you know, if they're not receiving you in this particular city, they're making it hard for you to preach the word of God and to do ministry, to reach people, okay, then just go to another city. There's plenty of cities to go around, right? And the immediate interpretation that he's talking about here is he's saying, you're not going to run out of cities because I'm going to end up meeting with you again. Which we see that in the gospels, they're preaching in those cities and Jesus Christ ends up preaching in those same cities and then meeting up with his disciples again. The underlying interpretation or the foreshadowing that we see here is that it's referring to end times prophecy. Because in end times prophecy, you know, we're not going to run out of people to preach to before the second coming of Christ is what he's referring to there, okay? So we're going to pick up in verse 24 because that's where we left off and this is basically a sermon on persecution part number two. Now let me just say this before I get started. Why is it important to preach on persecution, to talk about these things, and to explain these passages of scripture? Why not talk about things that immediately are applicable to us? Although this is pretty much applicable to us right now, as you guys clearly see, okay? Why is this important? I'll tell you why. Because of the fact that if churches are not taught, if congregations are not taught that you will suffer persecution, when persecution comes, they're just going to run between, with a tail between their legs. They're going to flee. They are not going to be able to endure the Christian life, okay? You see, God wants Christians to stick it out no matter what, you know? Oh no, pizza came, you know? But there's Christians out there just like, I don't like all this attention and then they just flee or something. You know, we want to be strong Christians, Christians who shall not be moved, you understand? And you know, Thursday when they sent us pizza or whatever, they also threw a stone through my window, okay, here in my office, and they broke the windshield to the van. You say, why are they doing that? It's called, they want to intimidate us, right? It's basically like, this is what happens when you preach God's word. So in their mind, it's like, oh, he's going to see the broken window. He's going to see the fact that the van was vandalized, and he's going to stop preaching that way. But that's not how we see things here, okay? When glasses, when windows get broken, things get vandalized, it's like, oh man, I guess I'm doing a pretty good job. You know, for them to do that, they're confirming that what I'm doing is right, it's correct, okay? Because those are the repercussions of preaching God's word, is that there's going to be a group of people out there who don't like what you're saying. But if congregations are prepared for that, they'll see a broken window and be like, I'm going to some lib church instead, you know, because they can't handle that. But this is your daily reminder, this is your weekly reminder, yearly reminder, that when you preach God's word, when you believe the right doctrines and you stand on the truth, you will get persecuted for your beliefs. And don't become afraid, don't become offended, don't become a weakling of a Christian, stick it out. You know, have some gratitude over the fact that the word of God is being thundered forth in our church to the point where people are upset and they're actually doing something about it. You know, not much obviously, I mean three pizzas is not a whole lot, okay? I'm sorry, I can only produce three pizzas apparently. The persecution is only worth three pizzas apparently, okay? I'm doing the best that I can though, okay? So it's important that we preach on persecution because you are going to be persecuted, you will suffer tribulation, you will have people hate you, and yet even to the point where they might vandalize your things, steal your vehicle, threaten your life, and dox you or whatever, and say they know where you live, stick it out anyways. Who cares what they do? A rock through the window, that small talk, been there, done that. We've had a bomb thrown in our building, so what? Who cares? This is part of the Christian life. Yea, all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution, my friends. And so if churches aren't suffering persecution, you know what that means? It probably means they're not a godly church because that's what the Bible says. It says that we will suffer for righteousness sake, but you know what? If there's preachers out there and pastors out there that are just getting along great with the world, they have no problems with the sodomites, no problems with the fags of this world, and the reprobates, then guess what? They're not going to get any persecution. But when you're preaching God's word, obviously you're going to get some, and that just comes with the territory. And look, don't apologize to me either. I've had people be like, oh man, I'm sorry that happened to you. I'm not. What do you mean sorry? Why, did you do it or something or what? I'm going to apologize because you're going to make me think that you did it or something. People apologize and I'm just like, there's no reason to be sorry for it. I just got me a fat check in heaven for that one. I don't know how much, but I'm pretty sure it's a good amount. For me it's just like, finally, you know what I mean? Got a rock through the window and through the van and some messages. Great, I get more rewards. And if you back me up, you get rewarded as well, amen? Don't be ashamed of your church. Alright, that's all introduction. Verse 24, because we're going to continue to talk about persecution in this chapter. It says, the disciple is not above his master nor the servant above his Lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master and the servant as his Lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household? So what is this passage talking about here? This is a great passage and it really hones in on the importance of persecution and what it means to us. And that is that we are not above persecution. So when another Christian or another church looks at us, looks down on us for the persecution that we suffer, they're basically saying that they're above Jesus Christ. Why? Because of the fact that it says there, we're not above him, we're not above Jesus Christ. We're going to suffer as much as Jesus Christ, but never more than Jesus Christ. We're not above our master, we're not above our Lord. And it also says it is enough for the disciple to be as his master. So when they say, why don't you be like Jesus Christ? Okay, I'm trying my hardest here. And you know what, if people start calling me a devil or that I'm wicked, then guess what? That means I'm as my master because they call the master of the house Beelzebub as well. So this shows us that when people, other Christians, because really the majority of the persecution most of the time comes from other Christians, condemning us for what we preach or whatever, because they're all sissies. But they condemn us because they think, oh, you know, you guys got to be like kinder, have more love in your heart, you know, have more compassion. But let me ask you, is your compassion above Jesus Christ? Do you love more than Jesus? Do you have more kindness in your heart than Jesus? Because that's basically what they're implying is that because they don't get persecuted, people don't threaten them or revile them, it means that they're nicer than God. But folks, if you're a Christian and you're actually serving Jesus Christ as your master, as your Lord and you're as Jesus Christ, then guess what? You should get some form of persecution. There's a couple ways to interpret this. Number one is, hey, you know what? If they crucify Jesus Christ, you know, they're probably going to persecute us too. That's number one. But number two is don't get discouraged when people revile you and call you the devil or say that you're wicked and evil because if they call the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call they of his household? It's like, oh, man, I want to get along with the world and I don't want any conflict, then you're in the wrong fight because this fight, the good fight of faith, is going to have some enemies that speak evil of you, that threaten you, that say all manner of evil against you. They will dox you. It cracks me. It's like, I know where you live. It's like, I know too. It's like, thanks. What? What does that change? Nothing. And it's just like, I'm going to go and kill you. My pastor friends were sending me text messages that they're getting. They're like, we're going to kill you and do all this manner of evil against you. And it's just water if it ducks back for him because we're just racking up the rewards and at the end of the day, we should expect nothing less. I know that Christianity in America has been sold a bill of goods by false prophets that try to make it seem as though this is just a bed of roses, that nothing bad will happen. You should be able to get along with everyone and everything's going to be hunky dory. Go to your Sunday school class, go to your church service. And it's just, Jesus is just loved by the world. Wrong my friends, wrong. Biblical Christianity shows us that they hated Jesus Christ. They crucified Jesus Christ. They spake evil of Jesus Christ and they persecuted his followers as well. So guess what? Should that change in 2023? Absolutely not. They hated him because he preached against them. They hated him because he preached against their religion and their beliefs and therefore they will hate us also. So never think you're above persecution. Never think you're above it, that you're better than it, that you're nicer than God, more compassionate than God. It doesn't exist. If you're going to serve Christ and follow him, that's what's going to happen. Look at verse 26. Fear them not therefore, for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed and hid that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in the light and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. So this is telling us here, first of all, you're in good company if people hate you because they hated Jesus, right? Secondly, therefore, don't be afraid of them. Don't be afraid of the reprobates of this world. Don't be afraid of those who persecute you. Preach it on the housetops because how is this being translated as fear? Well, you know, today in 2023, the way we would say it is, you know, pastors just refuse to preach the word of God as it needs to be preached. Preach against the sodomites. Preach against, you know, whatever religion. Preach against the culture of this world because they're afraid of the backlash that they might get because of it. They're afraid that people might send them pizza or get a rock through their window or even worse, get their church bombed or something like that. They're afraid of those things. And so what is the byproduct of being afraid? Well, they'll scale back on their preaching. They won't preach as hard. And let me say this is that before they even get to that point, sometimes they're even just afraid of their church members. They won't preach certain things in their church because they're afraid of losing their church members. They're like, oh, man, this person tithes so much or whatever. You know, this person gives to the building program or puts this amount of money in the offering plate. If I say this particular thing, if I preach on this particular sin, I might lose them. They're afraid of that. But God says, what I tell you in darkness, that's speaking in the light. Don't be afraid of preaching God's Word. And, you know, and by the way, it's just like, hey, pastors, why do you know how much people tithe anyways? Checking records and stuff? Like, I don't know how much. I don't even know if you guys tithe. I have no idea who tithes. The only person I know that tithes for sure, two people I know that tithes for sure. Me and that guy right over there because he works for me. You know what I mean? But even then, I don't check if he tithes. He better be tithing, you know what I mean? But, you know, I don't know if anybody else tithes because I don't really care. I don't really care. But you know what? That determines the decisions of a lot of pastors in America today on what they preach, on what kind of content they're going to have. You know, I want to hear some fiery sermons in June by other pastors. Let's hear some more preaching against Sodomites by the old IFB. But you know what? It's probably not going to happen because they're afraid because they heard about what happened at First Works Baptist Church. And they don't want that duplicated in their church. And therefore, they're going to get soft on it. They're not going to preach hard on it. But the Bible says, Preach the word, be instant in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. We're not supposed to scale back. The Bible says, Cry out loud and spare not and show my people their transgression. You know what? The wicked flee when no man pursueth, but the righteous are bold as a lion. And so you can threaten, throw rocks, throw bombs. It does nothing to us, my friends. It just reinforces what we believe even more. You know what? When people want to give us exposure and put us on social media outlets to expose us and try to expose us to the news, we welcome that. Why? It's free publicity. And the last time that happened, we got people coming to our church who agreed with us. And look, that'll work even more now because people now are more sick of the fags than they were three years ago. I mean, you have unsaved people who are literally physically getting into brawls with the sodomites for teaching sodomy in school, in public schools. I mean, it's ridiculous what's going on out there. But you know what? All you're going to do is expose us to them, and they're going to be like, oh, man, there are some good pastors out there with some stones. And so here he's saying, don't be afraid of them. Fear not. Fear not. Preach it. Preach the Word of God. Preach the entire counsel of God. Don't just stick to one specific topic, one specific, you know, type of subject in the Bible. We need to be able to preach it all. Now, obviously, there needs to be a balance to this, right? Because we're not going to preach on reprobates every single Sunday. You know, I know some of you would just love that. Some of you, just all you want to major on is on reprobates. It's like Jews and reprobates and a little bit of anti-Semitism prophecy, and you're just a complete Christian, you know what I mean? But no, sorry, we also have to talk about other things as well. We have to talk about marriage, child rearing. We have to talk about just systematic doctrine, just the practical Christian living. We have to talk about tithing. We have to talk about fasting. We have to talk about prayer. We have to talk about everything because he says to preach the entire counsel of God. The problem is that a lot of pastors, they'll only choose the easy stuff to talk about and avoid the controversial things that the world would consider to be controversial because why? Because they're afraid. But he says there, don't fear. You know, preach it upon the housetops. And the way we interpret that is preach it on YouTube, preach it on Rumble, preach it on Instagram, preach it everywhere, okay? Don't hide. Look at verse 28. He says, and fear not them which kill the body but are not able to kill the soul, but rather fear him which is able to destroy the soul and body and hell. He goes on to say, are not two sparrows sold for a farthing and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not, therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. So you see the common thing that keeps coming up is like don't fear. Don't be afraid. So obviously, you know, Christians can have the propensity to be a little afraid sometimes, right? They're scared for their safety. They're afraid for the safety of their family, the safety of the church. But Jesus says, don't be afraid. Why are you going to be afraid of someone who can take your life but can do nothing to your soul? Can't do anything to your soul. And look, the only time you should be afraid is if you're not saved. Because if you're not saved, you can split hell wide open. That's even worse, okay? But if you're saved, you know, don't fear him. Don't fear those who are out there persecuting you. The one you should fear is God himself. And it's not saying because he's going to cast you in hell. He's saying that he just has the capability of delving into both of those realms, the physical realm and the spiritual realm. So God has the power to not only destroy the body, but he also has the power to destroy the soul in a place called hell, okay? That's what he's saying there. And so how does that apply to us? Well, we need to be more eternally minded and not value our lives so much to the point where we refuse to take a stand. We refuse to stand on the truth because we're afraid of what might happen to us, right? And you know, a lot of Christians are like that. They're afraid that they might die serving the Lord. They're afraid that, you know, someone's going to do something to them. But you know what? We need to not be afraid and recognize at the end of the day, if God wants me to die, then I die and you know what? He's going to use it for his glory. But he goes on to say there in conjunction with verse 28, he says, Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing, and one of them shall not fall on the ground, listen to this, without your father? And of course, he says in verse 31 that we're more value of more than many sparrows. So what is this talking about here? Well, we can interpret it two ways. One of them, one way we can interpret it is by saying, you know what? God's not going to allow harm to come into you because at the end of the day, you're more valuable than a bird, okay? You're more valuable. God takes care of the birds. So how much more is he going to take care of you, right? That's a proper interpretation based on other portions of scripture. We can back that up. But I think what he's actually saying here, if you look at the latter end of verse 29, he says, And one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. So he's saying, look, you know, two sparrows are sold for a farthing, God knows all the sparrows, and if one dies, it's like God allowed it to fall on the ground and die, understand? So in other words, when persecution comes upon you, just realize this, God allowed it. It's not like God is caught off guard. He's like, they threw a rock through, what? Oh, man, I was like somewhere else during that time. He obviously allowed it. He allowed the bombing. He allowed the rock. He allowed the pizza, because he knew I was hungry. You know, he allowed all these things. Nothing happens without God knowing that it's going to happen. And if we're to get extreme, if I were to die serving the Lord because someone murdered me, okay, don't let it catch you off guard. God allowed it. And it doesn't mean that he doesn't value me, because in fact, the life of a martyr is very valuable in the eyes of God. It just means that he allowed it. So this is where we have to delve into the realm of not my will but thine be done. You know, don't fear death, my friends. Don't fear death. And let me say this, there will come a time where they will criminalize Christianity, murdering Christians will be a thing. It'll be socially and morally acceptable to murder Christians. So you better get ready for that, because the Bible talks about it. The Bible talks about that there's going to come a day when that is morally and socially acceptable for everyone to just target Christians and put them to death. That is legitimately going to happen one day, and it's going to be under the reign of the Antichrist, where he goes to make war with the saints and he shall overcome them. They're not going to serve prison time for it or anything like that. It'll be criminal to be a Christian. So you better get ready for it now. And accept death now, amen. You say, oh man, but you've got a wife and kids and you're willing to leave them behind. Well look, folks, obviously I don't want to leave my kids behind and my wife behind. Obviously not. But you know what? This life is meant to be lived for God anyways. So I thank the Lord that he gave me a wonderful family and a wonderful wife and wonderful kids. But you know what? If he sees fit to take my life for the cause of Christ so the word of God can thunder forth and reach more people, by my death and so be it, my children and my wife get the honor of having a father and a husband as a martyr. That's how we need to view life, my friends. Stop valuing your life so much that you're willing to scale back on the truths of God's word, not stand for truth, because you want to preserve your life. And we're going to talk a little bit more about that later on. So he's saying none of this happens without, you know, and now obviously this is indirect, it's talking directly about persecution, but you could apply this all around. So when you go through a trial in your life, a difficulty in your life, you didn't fall to the ground without your father knowing. When you go through suffering in your life, just know this, God knew it was going to happen, he allowed it to happen. You say, well how does that help me though? Like, just knowing that like, you know, that's not really comforting, you know what I mean? Like, he allowed suffering in my life, persecution, you know, ailments, sicknesses, financial woes. Okay, great, thanks for telling me that he allowed it. How does that help? Well, the implication there is that he's in control. So if he knows and he allowed it to happen, that means he can stop it from happening or impede it from going further. In other words, we need to fear God more than anybody else because at the end of the day, he's the one who's turning the knobs, he's the one who's in control, he's the one who can stop it or keep it going. That's why folks, this is my philosophy, when stuff like this happens, I never want to fear whoever's doing it. The first thought that ever comes to my mind when persecution comes my way is like, I need to make sure that I'm pleasing God. Because he's the one who's holding the leash on those reprobates. He's the one who's in control. And if it was up to him, he can literally cause them to take my life if he wanted to. So it's not, you know, surviving persecution or getting through a trial or getting through difficult times isn't contingent upon our relationship or our apologizing to the sodomites or whatever. It's contingent upon our relationship with the Lord. Because if he wants to, if you're backslidden, if you're a wicked Christian, you know God can Saul you. Saul, you guys know Saul? God can Saul you and just take your life because of your disobedience. So at the end of the day, you know what I do? I fear God. I'm like, Lord, be merciful unto me because it's really on him. He is the one who allows it. He's the one who allows the spirit to fall to the ground, etc. So don't be afraid. Don't constantly look over your shoulder or wonder what's going to happen. God's in control. He's the one who's protecting us. And let me just say this. You may not see it. I physically don't see it. But according to the Bible, there are angels who are protecting our church, protecting our families. And they don't sleep. That's their job. That's what they do. So how do you know? Because the angels compass the believers. That's why the saints. The ones who are serving God, He compasses them about. When you're driving, I mean especially the way some of you drive, you definitely have some angels protecting you for sure. You don't know how many dangerous situations you might have been in where maybe you could have died or something. And it's because God protected you and spared your life. You need to take those things into account. That's why with me, when things like this happen, I'm like, okay, I need to make sure I'm right with God. That I'm not regarding iniquity in my heart. That I'm reading the word of God and I'm asking Him for His mercy. Because at the end of the day, He's the one who determines if it goes further than when it needs to go. He's the one who's in control. That's what this verse is talking about here. He says in verse 30, But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Now for some of you that's not very hard for Him to count. Amen. But it's still true. Amen. What does He mean by that? He knows everything about us. He's not caught off guard in any way. He says in verse 32, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Now let me explain these two verses because there's two ways of interpreting what He's saying here. One way could be referring to salvation. When He says, Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. He could be referring to the fact that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God will raise him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. And He's saying then I'll confess you before my Father which is in heaven. And you could look at for example Revelation chapter 3 and verse number 5 when it talks about he that overcometh shall be clothed in white raiment. He says I will not blot out his name out of the book of life and shall confess him before my Father which is in heaven. So you can see how this can be interpreted as referring to the fact that if you confess, he'll confess you in regards to salvation. And then of course if you deny him, deny salvation, then he'll also deny you eternal life as well. That can be interpreted in that way and I can see how people can get that. But in its context I think it's just referring to persecution and rewards. Because when He says whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father which is in heaven. He could be referring to the fact that like you're willing to profess or confess your faith before others. You're not ashamed of the Bible. You're not ashamed of His word. You're not kowtowing and making apologies for the word of God. You're basically like I'm willing to just stand on God's word. And when you do that, the Bible says He'll confess you before His Father in heaven, before God the Father. Now the Bible also teaches us that Jesus Christ is like our intercessor. And another way of saying intercessing is like He is confessing us before the Father. So in other words, if we're willing to confess Jesus Christ and stand on God's word, we're more likely to get our prayers answered too. You understand what I'm saying? God will answer our prayers and we have Jesus Christ the Advocate interceding for us before God the Father, confessing us before the Father in heaven so that when we say, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them which are on the earth? You know that goes directly to God by Jesus Christ because it's priority male. You understand? So it's like those who are getting persecuted get priority in a sense. Because they're the ones standing on the front lines. They're the ones serving God. They're the ones who are not ashamed of God's word. And that's really what it comes down to. Are you ashamed of the Bible? Are you ashamed of God's word? You're like well I'm not even ashamed of it because I don't even care for the word of God. Okay, then that still means you're ashamed of it because you're not esteeming the word of God. So God wants you to esteem his words more than our necessary foods and not be ashamed of it. So when someone tells you, Is it true that this is what you believe? Yeah, it's 100% true for sure. That's exactly what I believe because I'm a Christian. Why don't you believe that? You know when another Christian comes to you and just tries to make you seem like you're some cult or some cult member, Oh your church teaches it. Isn't that weird that you guys... It's like no, I find it weird that you don't believe that. Because you claim to be a Christian who claims to believe the Bible, yet you don't believe what the Bible says. That's weird. That's cultish. So this is what that's referring to there. Look at verse 33. Whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Now go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. Hold your place there in Matthew chapter 10. Go to 2 Timothy chapter 2. What does that mean? Well here's the thing is that when we deny the Lord, not in regards to salvation, but maybe you deny Him, deny association with His beliefs, His doctrines, you're basically denying the Lord, right? It's like Peter when he denied knowing the Lord. He denied Him thrice. And so this is very much applicable to us because of the fact that Christians, if they're not careful, can have the temptation to deny that they believe certain things because they're afraid of the persecution. They're afraid of the response that they're going to merit due to them accepting or vocalizing, confessing that they believe a certain doctrine. Well Jesus says if you deny me before men, if you deny what you believe, then I'm going to deny you. Now what does He mean by denying? Well in regards to persecution, He's actually referring to rewards. Look at 2 Timothy chapter 2 and look at verse number 10. It says, Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sake, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with Him, we shall also live with Him. If we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. Now what does that mean there? He's saying if we suffer for the cause of Christ, we're going to reign with Christ. Now what is that talking about? Reigning with Christ is referring to the reward that we will receive at the millennial reign. It's when God distributes authority as a reward to us for the works that we did here. According to the Bible, one of the things, listen to this, one of the things that produces rewards is suffering for His name's sake. When we suffer for His name's sake and we suffer righteously, rightfully, and we endure, then guess what? We get to reign with Him in the millennial reign. That's why it's important that you don't quit. Don't quit church. Don't stop coming to church. Don't stop reading your Bible. Don't stop sowing. Just keep it up. That's one of the greatest reasons to endure. It's just like I want to get paid at the end of this. I want to rule and reign with Christ in the millennial reign. I want Elmani, you know what I mean, under my rule, amen? I want these cities to be under my reign, so therefore I need to endure when I suffer. That's what He means there. He says if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him. So in the same exact context, look what it goes on to say. If we deny Him, He will also deny us. What will He deny us in its context? Reigning with Him. You understand? So if we choose to be ashamed of God's word, deny that we believe certain things, deny the doctrines, deny His word, deny that we're faithful Christians, when we're approached about it, okay then, you'll be denied access to being a king in the millennial reign. You'll be denied a crown when you see Jesus Christ coming. Denied rewards. And so, you know, a lot of people will be ashamed at His coming. If we're ashamed of Him and His word, the Bible says that He'll be ashamed of us at His coming when He comes with His angels and His glory. And that's one of the greatest reasons why we should just be bold in our stance for Christ. And we're not trying to be obnoxious. We don't want to be obnoxious and annoying and holier than nows. We want to take a bold stance when it calls for taking a bold stance. By the way, you don't need to bring persecution to you. I don't go out looking for persecution. I don't know if you notice that. I'm not trying to be a jerk to everyone, you know what I mean, just so I can create some persecution, stir up the pot a little bit. I just preach the Bible and it just comes. That's how it works. So when it comes, it's like, okay, then you flip the switch and you're like, I'm not backing down on any of this. I believe every single word. This is what I believe. You might get persecution from your family, from your friends, from complete strangers. But, you know, don't be this person who gets denied these eternal rewards just because you're a little scared of the repercussions of standing on the Word of God today. Go back to Matthew chapter 10. So that's what I believe that's referring to there. Verse 34 says, Think not that I am come to send peace on earth. I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father and the daughter against her mother and the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And a man's foe shall be they of his own household. Now, this is very interesting because, you know, a key buzz phrase that you hear a lot is, oh, you're being divisive. Why are you being so divisive? And it's often in reference to doctrine. You're being so, we can't be divisive. And in fact, Paul Chappell, the pastor of Lancaster Baptist Church, he has a book in his bookstore condemning being divisive. But Jesus literally said, without using the word divisive, which we see here that it still means it, that he came to bring division. Like he's coming to create conflict. Now, why is that? How is it that Jesus Christ can come here and bring division with mankind? Because of the fact that he is the one true God and he's not backing down from that. So he's like, either it's my way or the highway that goes to hell. It's basically what it means, right? He's not going to be like, well, you know, I guess, Buddha, you can come. But not you, Mohammed, you know. No, he's just like, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man cometh unto the Father but by me. What does that do? It creates division between Christianity and every other religion. This is saying that we are the true religion. And let me just make it clear, we are the true religion. Christianity is the one true religion. It's the only religion that can save you. Jesus saves. Christianity is Jesus Christ. That's how we get our name. Christians, because we believe in Jesus Christ, it's the only true religion. And so, yeah, we bring division and we're not going to be like these compromising Christians out there, these compromising pastors and churches that are just like, well, I think some of these Catholics are saved. Are you a little weakling? No, they're not. They're going to split hell wide open. Because they believe on the Virgin Mary for salvation. They say, well, you know, I can't judge. Well, you will be judged. You're going to be judged harshly, in fact. Go ahead, don't judge. But you know what, by saying they don't judge, they're judging. Because they're judging Christianity to not be the one true religion. So he says there, and look, he says, I don't come to send peace on earth. Don't get it twisted. Don't get this twisted to think, oh, you know, Jesus Christ, we should be, you know, the Catholic Jesus. It's like it's all peace and, you know. He said, no, I come to send a sword. Chop things up. And if you didn't understand it the first time, like in case you didn't get that illustration, he's like, I'm coming to put a man against his father, pretty much. Put a daughter against her mother. We look at those and we're like, man, that's rough, you know what I mean? Like, division between son and father, between daughter and mother. But then he says, you know, daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. And I think to myself, you don't really need Jesus for that, actually. Like, that kind of happens naturally sometimes, you know. But he's basically saying, like, the closest relationships you have, I will bring division between you. And you know what? I know that by experience. Because I've had division with my family members because of Jesus Christ. I've lost family members. You know, in fact, you know, I don't really have family members to talk to me. My mom, you know, she comes to our church and then, you know, I talked to my dad today. And my dad, as far as I know, I believe he's saved because he came to our church and someone witnessed him and he called upon the name of the Lord. But even before that, he supported me. Even when we got bombed, he was the only family member that actually called me. My brother and sister didn't call me. My aunts and cousins, everyone who knew me, no one contacted me to say, hey, are you okay? Are the kids fine? Hey, is everything all right? Nobody did. He was the only one that contacted me. And I thought to myself, what's his stance going to be? Is he going to tell me, like, hey, you're in the wrong for this? He told me, he's like, first of all, what kind of bomb was it? Second off, here's my advice to you. And I'm like, what is he going to say? He's like, don't apologize. I'm like, yes, Father. And he's like, he's like, don't back down. He goes, the worst thing you can do is make a public apology for the sermons that you preach. Don't ever do that. He's like, he's basically telling me, you made your bed, now you got to sleep in it. He's like, you stand by what you said and never back down. And he was like unsaved at this time, too. I'm like, man, if I can just get some safe pastors to like be this way. And they got the Spirit of God. It's like, my father's just using common sense and the God-given stones that he has to make those decisions. They can't even do that with everything else. But he told me, he's like, don't back down. He goes, I support you, I love you, and keep it up. And then he told me, he's like, you know, some of your cousins are criticizing you for what you said. And they're telling me to tell you to apologize to them, that you should apologize. And my dad said this, well, you know what, you never seen me apologize to no maricon. So I'm not going to have my son do that either. He's the only one that contacted me. No one else did. You know why? Because Jesus Christ brings a sword. He brings the vision. And the majority of my family members were embarrassed. Oh, that Bruce said those things and he's on the news. All embarrassed. Now, my mom was not embarrassed. My mom was in the thick of the persecution. My mom was actually ready to die that day. My mom literally told me when we're about to head out the door, I've lived a long life. If they come at you, I'm just going to throw myself on them. Whatever happens, happens. She said, I've already lived a long life. And she was ready to go out like a G. Grandma, like a grandma. And, you know, I'm thankful my parents backed me up. But, you know, I would wish some other family members would back me up. I wish some other Christians would back me up openly. And actually, and there are some people that did. But, you know, for the most part, it was fundamental Baptist churches, New IFB churches that were backing me up. They were open about their support. That was their one opportunity, their one chance to actually take a stand so that they see that the majority hates their faggotry. But what does it do? It brings division. It causes a sword to go through, to bring division. But I'm fine with that because, you know what? He literally said there, I came not to bring peace but a sword. And we are at variance with other people, variance with unsafe people. I'm fine with that. Because I'm not looking to please the world, my friends. I'm not looking to please the world. I'm not looking to please my family. I'm not looking to please anybody. I'm looking to please Jesus Christ. But here's the thing, when a man's ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with them. Not because they like us but because maybe he instills the fear of God in their hearts to leave us alone. And he says, a man's foes shall be they of his own household. These are strong words that need to be repeated. So that Christians aren't offended and they stumble when they become a Christian and people start turning on them. Hey, a man's foes shall be they of his own household sometimes. It's good stuff, hey man. Verse 37 says, he that loveth father and mother more than me is not worthy of me. Man. He's like, if you love your mom and dad more than me, you don't deserve me. Well that seems a little like, you know, oh yeah, like he's God? Yeah. Because we're supposed to love God. My kids are supposed to love God more than they love me. I'm supposed to love God more than I love them. 100% loyalty to Jesus Christ. And not just in speech, in deed as well, my friends. He says, and he that taketh not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me. What is he saying? You've got to be willing to die. Die to self, but even die. Now, you're like, man, you're talking about dying. Like, are we going to die or what? Well, eventually you will die, yeah, for sure. Hey, let me let you in on a little secret. You're all going to die. Every single one of you are going to die. You know, unless Jesus Christ comes before that takes place, you're going to die. Okay? Every single one of you are going to die. So make peace with that. I can't tell you how it's going to be, but you know, I'm prophesying that ye shall die one day. Because it's true. Now, here's how you can preserve your life, though, if you want to live a little longer. I think everyone wants to live a little longer. Like, I made peace with the fact that I'm going to die, but I want to live longer, though. Say, why? So I can serve God more, be with my wife more, raise my kids, get more people saved. You know what I mean? Like, actually do something of eternal significance. I want to live longer, so how can I serve God, take a stand, get persecuted, but preserve my life so that I can, like, live longer, so that I don't die at a young age? Look at verse 39. He that findeth his life shall lose it. Now, what does it mean by finding your life? It means that you're trying to preserve your life by making sure that you don't preach God's word, that you don't take a stand. Now, listen to this. If you choose to live a Christian life that does not, number one, glorify God, take a stand for the word of God, God can just cut your life short. Because it's like, you basically, the salt hath lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted, it is thenceforth good for nothing but to be cast out and to be trotted under the foot of men. So he's just like, you're just kind of like, here, I might as well just take you home early. You'll lose your life if you're trying to just live, you're going to lose your life. And the implication there is that the way you're trying to live is by not taking a stand for God, not believing the Bible, or not, you know, just, you know, standing up for the word of God, you're ashamed of God's word, et cetera. But he says, and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. What does that mean? If you're willing to just give it all to the Lord, preach God's word, not be ashamed, put yourself on the line, God's like, all right, then I'll let you live. You get to live. So it's kind of like, it's like, it's like this really risky business, you know what I mean? So you got to be like near death and you're just, but you, but you get to live. So I'd rather just preach the word of God unfiltered and make everyone mad, but then God preserves my life. And by the way, let me just say this. It is just never worth, listen to me, it's never worth it to apologize. Never. Because people apologize because they think, well, if I apologize, they'll leave me alone. Wrong. The Bible says they're implacable. So what happens is you apologize and then they just want more. We're like, well, that's not good enough. We want to come to your church. And you say, it's not good enough. I want to, I want influence over your children. Let's have drag hour story time or whatever at your church. They just keep like more wanting more and more. So better to just take the hardest stance against the sodomites and say, I'm out of apologies. I don't, you know, I'm not an apologist. I'm not into apologetics. So you just, just stand for God's word. Let it fly because either way they're going to attack you and apologizing doesn't help anything. That's why I was just like, is that really what you believe? Yep. Without apology. Exactly what I believe. And you know what? These sodomites are just too used to Christians like apologizing, kowtowing to them and putting the pressure on them. And so, you know, they think they have the upper hand sometimes because of these wee pastors out there. These little punk pastors who apologize for everything like Jeff Owens. Who preached some of the hardest sermons in the 90s against sodomites and then came out later and apologized to the homos. It's just like, you know, I didn't mean that. I was young and dumb. Now you're old and dumb. And I'm so sorry. Yeah, but he's still, it's funny though because, you know, you go on his website and he's still selling those sermons where he preached against the sodomites. Ain't that interesting? You know, if you really didn't believe that, because he said that, he goes, I didn't really believe that. Then why are you still selling those sermons, Jeff Owens? Is Pizza Hut back? We get more pizza? Well, I guess they ordered us more. Finally. So, oh, he ordered that one. Okay, good, good, good. Oh, so what, Ulysses persecuted us now? It was Ulysses the whole time. Freaking guy, man. He's just trying to popularize our church. Never apologize. Never apologize. Never say sorry. Don't be a Jeff Owens. Okay, take a stand. And look, again, they're emboldened because of the Christians that apologize. But then when they meet a fiery fundamental Baptist who says, screw you, I'm still preaching God's word and you can't stop me, you little faggot. Then it's just like, oh man, we didn't expect that. Aren't you a Christian? Yeah, this is what a Christian looks like. This is what a fundamental Baptist actually looks like. In 2023, there's still fundamental Baptists to preach hellfire and damnation, and we're not going to stop no matter what. And you know what that does? That emboldens other people to preach just as hard. And we recruit more people to our movement. More people see it. More people are emboldened. More people want to preach hard against it. And that's why a lot of the culture right now, listen to this, are turning against the homos. That's why. So you know what? Don't apologize. Don't say sorry. I'm sorry. You know, date them. A bunch of demons. You're like, well, you know, so what are you saying? We just got to take a stand and not back down? Yeah, that's exactly what we got to do. You know what? In the millennial reign, all this will be a drop in the bucket. And you're going to be thankful. Man, I'm thankful I took a stand. Because it wasn't really much compared to all of eternity. And you know what? Then you also look boss and gangster by doing it as well in the day and age in which we live. Because you know what? The world is so sick and tired of sissified pastors out there, looking as faggoty as the ones who are going against them, not preaching hard, you know, preaching like a woman. Estrogen levels are all high, no testosterone, preaching all nice. People are sick and tired of that crap. They want to see a fundamental Baptist get up like an Elijah, like a John the Baptist, to rip some face and call it what it is. That's what people want to hear today. Because they're sick and tired of all the crap and the abominations of the land. And they want someone to just stand up and say, just tell us the truth. And you know what? We need more pastors to get up. Some of you need to start preparing to be pastors. Stop messing around. And start preparing, reading God's word, getting trained, because we need more soldiers in the fight. We need more examples to get up, to preach God's word unapologetically, and say, yeah, I believe that too. Because you know what? They're trying to get this narrative out there that we're like the only ones that believe this. Everyone believes this. Go on Instagram. You'll find some crazy videos on Instagram of people who aren't even Christians talking about how sodomites are going to burn in hell because they can't be saved. They got better theology than some of our fundamental Baptist brethren. Some unsaved people out there got better doctrine than some fundamental Baptists. And you know what? It's like 400,000 likes. That tells me there's people out there that agree with this, at least 400,000 of them. And so don't give me that. Don't feel like you're all alone, oh man, it's just our church. No, no, no, no, no, no. There's a lot of people who believe like this. And so lose your life, amen? Lose your life so you can find it. It says in verse 40, he that receiveth you receiveth me. He that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. That's why it's a good reason to support the man of God. It says he that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward. He that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Support the man of God, support the pastor, support the church if you want yourself a reward too. He says in whose service shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple. Barely I say to you he shall in no wise lose his reward. So really what he's saying is you know what? Your labor is not in vain. Your persecution will not be in vain. You will get rewarded for this. It's not like God expects for you to suffer and nothing happens at the end of the tunnel. There's a reward for you. In fact, listen to this. Matthew 5 says great is your reward in heaven. I don't think most people understand what that means. Because Jesus said that. He said great is your reward in heaven. When he says great it means like your payday is like really fat. So how do you know? Well, whenever God like tries to emphasize certain things and if he kind of adds some things on there, you can rest assured that he means like okay this is really big. For example, like eglon. Remember when the Bible describes the weight of eglon? It says he was a very fat man. Now the reason he's saying that is to kind of get in your mind like God's not going to say some crazy words to describe you. He's just going to tell you look, he's a very fat man. And when you read the story you're like oh dang that's true. Because he lost his favorite knife in there, you know what I mean? Like when he was shaking. Because he like stabbed him and then the handle went into the fat and closed upon the handle. And you're like okay so when God says very fat man I mean he means like, you know what I mean? So when he says great is your reward in heaven, he's not going to be like he's going to flip a coin at you when you get to heaven. Like hey here's for standing up for God's word, here's your little diamond or something. No, he's saying your payday is really big. It's really big. And so, you know, when people do this to us we rejoice. I rejoice. I'm like yes! I'm going to get paid. This is great. And it just confirms, because you know sometimes as a pastor I'm just like man like am I doing enough Lord? Like is this sufficient? And every once in a while you send something like this and it's just like keep going, you're doing good. Like this is the direction you're supposed to be going in. Because this confirms that what I'm preaching is correct. This confirms that the stand that we're taking is right. This confirms to me and this should confirm to our church. And here's the thing folks, you talk about persecution, you know what? Since the bombing, we didn't lose anybody from the bombing. Because that's their goal is just like that people will be afraid to come to our church. No one was lost and in fact we added members to our church. So the more you persecute us, the more you increase our attendance. The more the word of God spreads. It's all beneficial to us. And those are the temporal rewards but we also get eternal rewards as well. And so don't be afraid of persecution. Take it like a man. Go eat a pizza. Enjoy it. Because listen to me, enjoy it because there will come a day when you can no longer be persecuted for righteousness sake. So do it now while the opportunity is available. Let's pray. Father we thank you so much for your word. Thank you for the persecution Lord. And at the end of the day we know we don't deserve it not because we feel like we're above it but because suffering for your name's sake is a great honor. And so I pray Lord as your people that you would continue to protect us and smite the evil doers Lord, smite the reprobates. And may they go quick down into hell Lord. I pray that you would destroy them and confound them and bring them in great derision. Confound their devices against us Lord. And may you instill the fear of God in their hearts that they may not be able to sleep or think. And may you send them strong delusions Lord that they would fear you and fear your people. And I pray that you would help us to continue to be fruitful as God's people. As we see people saved may you bless the preaching of God's word and help us as your people to continue to honor and obey you and please you in all ways Lord. We love you. We thank you. We pray these things in Jesus' name. Amen. If we're going to sing I'd Rather Have Jesus and if you did not get a song sheet please raise your hand and one of the ushers will hand you one. Brother Moses and Brother Ruben need one over here. Brother Ron over here needs one. Brother Adam, TJ, Brucie, Brother Jose, Brother Robinson, Maribel needs one back there. Anybody else? Oh Brother Adam needs one over here. Poor Adam. We're going to sing I'd Rather Have Jesus. We're going to sing it on that first verse. I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold. I'd rather be His than have riches untold.