All Aboard !!!

Open by playing the music to "Wabash Cannonball"

or Life’s Railway to Heaven

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Sermon---All aboard !!!

II Peter 3:9

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Today we’re gonna use our imaginations taday so put yer thinking cap on---cause we’re takin ourselves a train ride to illustrate some Bible truths.

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Thar’s only two trains runnin in the spiritual world---thar’s the Heavenly Cannonball---and thar’s the Hellfire Express !!!

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The tracks for both trains head out as far as the eye can see---way out into eternity !!!

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The two trains are runnin throughout all the world---they have stops in every nation---every state---every town and city---and even every home.

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The Heavenly Cannonball is God’s train---Jesus is the engineer---headin up the tracks ta Heaven---that’s the train most folks wanna be on---so why do so many miss it ???

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The Hellfire Express is the devils train---headin down the tracks to the fires of Hell---and most of the human race is ridin this train !!!

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God’s train makes a special stop every time the Word of God is preached and every time someone shares Christ !!!

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It stops and the conductor hollers---ALL ABOARD !!!

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II Peter 3:9 says---The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

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The one sharing Christ is like the conductor of the train---the person could be a Pastor---an Evangelist---a Sunday School teacher---a Missionary---or any Christian witnessing to friends and family.

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Every time someone shares the Word of God---they are just like that train conductor yelling---"ALL ABOARD !!!"

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Every time the word of God is shared---every time we hear the message of the Gospel---we have a chance to get on board God’s train.

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Why do so many fail to get on board ??? Why do so many reject Christ ???

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Usually when people reject Christ the first time---it’s a bit of a struggle with their conscience---but every time we say NO to God---it becomes that much easier to say NO the next time !!!

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The more times we reject Christ---the harder our hearts become---and the easier it is to put it off for another day---putting it off for another day is one of Satans best tricks !!!

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Hebrews 3:13 says..........lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

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In II Corinthians 2:6 Jesus warns us not to put off getting right with God.......now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

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A Pastor of a Church is much like a train conductor---he has a big responsibility---calling people to board the train and showing us to our seats---and collecting our tickets.

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We could never afford the price of a ticket to heaven---but the price of our ticket on God’s train has already been bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus !!! Amen !!!

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So many church leaders today are watering down the word of God to please men and are becoming liberal in thar preachin---thats like goin itno battle with toy plactic swords instead of the REAL thing !!!

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God’s word is to be used with power and authority---it is a weapon to destroy evil---Hebrews 4:12 says---For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

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The Bible tells us to be careful not to be decieved by ministers that don’t have the backbone to preach the truth of God’s word.

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II Timothy 4:3-4 tells us that many preachers will stop preaching sound doctrine---and instead will preach only what people’s itching ears want to hear---"the God is Love docrine" of today is a good example !!!---people today are turning away from

the truth !!!

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Acts 20:28 says Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

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II Timothy 4:2 tells church leaders---preach the word---reprove---rebuke---exhort !!! In other words if if something is wrong---tell people it’s wrong---if it’s sin---then call it sin !!! Amen !!!

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Do people always want to hear the truth ??? Most folks just want ta come ta church and want to hear "I’m OK---You’re OK" !!!

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Sometimes the truth hurts cause it hits too close to home !!!

Amen !!!

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Church leaders (me included) who fail to preach God’s truth---will be judged harsher than those they misled---II Peter 2:1 says---But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.