WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH----9/02/01
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: SEARCH ME O LORD
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JOHN 3:16-18 “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. FOR GOD SENT NOT HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD; BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED: BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HATH NOT BELIEVED IN THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.”
TURN IN YOUR BIBLE TO PSALMS 139:23-24 “SEARCH ME O GOD, AND KNOW MY HEART: TRY ME, AND KNOW MY THOUGHTS: AND SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAY IN ME, AND LEAD ME IN THE WAY EVERLASTING.”
HE WAS ASKING THE LORD TO DO A FULL EXAMINATION OF HIM. NOBODY ELSE BUT HIM. TWO THINGS I WANT TO POINT OUT THAT I SAW IS THAT FIRST HE WAS ASKING GOD TO CHECK OUT HIS HEART. THEN HE SAID KNOW MY THOUGHTS WHICH IS YOUR MIND. I THOUGHT THE SCRIPTURE IN HEBREWS 10:16 “FOR I’LL PUT MY LAWS INTO YOUR HEARTS. IN YOUR MINDS WILL I WRITE THEM. YOUR SINS AND YOUR INIQUITIES WILL I REMEMBER NO MORE.” HE WAS SAYING WHEN YOU GOT SAVED, YOU GOT TO START AFRESH.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SOMETHING HERE WHEN THE PSALMIST WAS SAYING CHECK OUT MY HEART AND MY MIND. HE DIDN’T ASK GOD TO CHECK OUT HIS SOUL. I BELIEVE BECAUSE HE KNEW WHERE HIS SOUL WAS. HE KNEW HE’D BEEN SAVED BY THE HOLY GRACE OF GOD, SEALED TILL THE DAY OF REDEMPTION. HE FELT THERE WAS NO NEED IN GOD CHECKING OUT HIS SOUL BECAUSE HE KNEW IT WAS WITH THE LORD. BUT AFTER WE’RE SAVED AND GOD PUT HIS LAWS IN OUR HEARTS AND IN OUR MINDS THAT WHERE WE BECOME THE CHRISTIANS WE NEED TO BE FOR THE LORD TODAY. YOU MIGHT BE HERE TODAY AND YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT ABOUT YOUR SOUL. YOU’RE A SPECIAL GUEST HERE TODAY. IF YOU’RE ASKING GOD TO CHECK YOU OUT TODAY AND GOD CAN’T FIND IN YOU A SOUL THAT’S SAVED BY HIS GRACE AND SEALED BY HIS PROMISE; A SOUL THAT IS COVERED BY THE BLOOD: I WANT TO TELL YOU, YOU’RE LOST TODAY WITHOUT GOD. THE DEVIL HAS YOU RIGHT WHERE HE WANTS YOU TODAY.
WE NEED SOME LOST SOULS TODAY THAT BELIEVE THAT THEY ARE LOST IN ORDER FOR GOD TO SAVE THEM TODAY. THERE’S NOTHING ANY BETTER TODAY THAN KNOWING THAT YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD AND THAT YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY HOME ONE DAY AFTER AWHILE. WE’VE GOT SOMETHING TO SHOUT ABOUT AND PRAISE GOD ABOUT. THERE’S PEOPLE THAT ARE LOST TODAY AND ON THEIR WAY TO HELL TODAY. I HAVE A LONGING HEART AND SOUL FOR THEM TODAY.
THE PSALMIST SAID CHECK OUT MY HEART AND MY MIND TODAY BECAUSE MY SOUL IS OKAY. LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING TODAY, THE DEVIL CAN NEVER GET TO YOUR SOUL TODAY. IF YOU DIE AND GO TO HELL: IT’S NOT THE DEVILS FAULT, IT’S NOT GOD’S FAULT: IT’S YOUR FAULT! BECAUSE YOU DON’T KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR!
THE DEVIL CAN NEVER GET INTO YOUR SOUL BUT HE CAN GET IN YOUR HEART. HE CAN GET IN YOUR MIND AND HE CAN MESS UP YOUR LIFE. THE BIBLE SAYS HE’S A DECEIVER, A LIAR AND THE FATHER OF IT. THE DEVIL DESIRES TO HAVE YOU AND TO SIFT YOU AS WHEAT.
THERE’S THREE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU TODAY IN THIS SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE HEART AND MIND. BUT I WANT TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION: I WONDER WHAT GOD WILL FIND IF YOU ASK HIM TO SEARCH IT TODAY? I WONDER WHAT HE’LL FIND WRONG IN YOUR LIFE? THE PSALMIST DIDN’T SAY CHECK OUT WHAT’S RIGHT IN MY LIFE. HE SAID TO CHECK OUT WHAT’S WRONG IN MY LIFE. HE SAID SEE IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAY IN ME. THERE’S A LOT OF CHRISTIANS TODAY THAT HAVE A LOT OF WICKED WAYS
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IN THEM. IF YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD YOU OUGHT TO HAVE SOME RIGHT THINGS IN YOU ONCE IN AWHILE. THERE OUGHT TO BE SOME GOOD THINGS. BUT TO GET TO THE GOOD THINGS, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO GET RID OF THE BAD THINGS. THREE THINGS I WANT TO SHARE WITH YOU ARE SOME WICKED WAYS. I’M SURE THERE ARE MORE BUT THESE ARE THE THREE THAT GOD HAS LAID ON MY HEART TO SHARE WITH YOU.
WICKED WAY #1 WHEN PEOPLE LIVE FOR THEMSELVES. WHEN PEOPLE LIVE FOR THEMSELVES AND DON’T LIVE FOR THE SAVIOR. ANY TIME YOU DON’T PUT GOD FIRST IN YOUR LIFE IT’S WICKED. PHILIPPIANS 2:21 PAUL SAYS THIS “FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN, NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE JESUS CHRIST’S.”
YOU SAY PREACHER, HOW DO I KNOW WHEN THINGS ARE WRONG IN MY LIFE? HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I’M LIVING FOR SELF? I’LL TELL YOU, YOU’LL LIVE A MISERABLE AND WRETCHED LIFE. YOU’LL BE SICK ALL THE TIME. YOU WON’T HAVE ANY MONEY. YOUR WANTS WILL KEEP GROWING, YOUR DESIRES WILL KEEP GROWING. WHY? BECAUSE YOU’RE LIVING FOR YOURSELF. MY BIBLE TEACHES ME THAT GOD SHALL SUPPLY ALL MY NEEDS. IF I’M LIVING FOR MYSELF I’M GOING TO DO WITHOUT THE THINGS OF GOD BECAUSE I’LL BE PUTTING MYSELF AS NUMBER ONE AND NOT GOD. THERE’S TOO MANY PEOPLE LIVING FOR THEMSELVES. THEY LOVE WHO THEY WANT TO LOVE, HATE WHO THEY WANT TO HATE, SET THEIR OWN SCHEDULES. THAT’S DON’T SOUND LIKE A CHRISTIAN TO ME. WE’RE SUPPOSED TO BE CHRIST LIKE. WHEN YOU GET SAVED, YOU BELONG TO THE LORD. IF YOU’RE RUNNING YOUR OWN LIFE, YOU’RE EITHER LOST OR BACKSLID.
IN SECOND TIMOTHY 3:1-2 “...IN THE LAST DAYS PERILOUS TIMES SHALL COME. FOR MEN SHALL BE LOVERS OF THEIR OWN SELVES, COVETOUS, BOASTERS, PROUD, BLASPHEMERS, DISOBEDIENT TO PARENTS, UNTHANKFUL, UNHOLY.”
WE’RE LIVING IN THE LAST DAYS PEOPLE. NOT BECAUSE IT’S SUNDAY. NOT BECAUSE IT’S SEPTEMBER. BUT BECAUSE WHEN JESUS WAS BORN INTO THIS WORLD AND GREW UP AND STARTED PREACHING THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND. IT BEGAN THAT DAY.
WE’RE LIVING IN A WORLD WHERE PEOPLE DON’T LOVE THE LORD. THEY DON’T LOVE THE HOUSE OF GOD. THEY LOVE THEMSELVES. THEY DON’T PUT GOD FIRST IN THEIR LIFE TODAY. IF THEY DID, THEY’D LOVE THE HOUSE OF GOD, THE BIBLE AND SUNDAY SCHOOL., THE SONGS OF ZION. DON’T SIT THERE AND TELL ME YOU LOVE GOD AND NOT COME TO SUNDAY SCHOOL AND SHOW UP AT CHURCH WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE IT. IF GOD’S IN YOUR LIFE, YOU’LL SHOW IT.
PAUL SAID IN GALATIANS 2:20 “I AM CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST: NEVERTHELESS I LIVE; YET NOT I BUT CHRIST LIVETH IN ME: AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LIVE BY THE FAITH OF THE SON O GOD, WHO LOVED ME, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.”
CHRIST DON’T LIVE AT YOUR HOUSE OR AT CHURCH. HE LIVES IN YOU IF YOU’RE SAVED!
PEOPLE ARE SAVING GOD FOR LAST. YOU KNOW WHEN THEY CALL ON HIM? WHEN THEIR IN REAL TROUBLE. YOU BETTER GO TO CHRIST FIRST. WHEN I SAID YOU’D BE SICK ALL THE TIME AND YOU WOULDN’T HAVE ANY MONEY I WAS SAYING THIS: I KNOW WE’RE ALL GOING TO GO THROUGH PAIN AND SUFFERING BUT THE BIBLE SAYS THE WAYS OF A TRANSGRESSOR ARE HARD. IF YOU TRANSGRESS AGAINST GOD YOU’LL NOT GET NOTHING FROM GOD.
THE 2ND WICKED WAY IS PEOPLE LIVING IN SIN. INSTEAD OF LIVING IN SALVATION. I HAVE TO GO BACK TO MY FAVORITE VERSE. SECOND CORINTHIANS 5:17 “IF ANY MAN BE IN CHRIST HE IS A NEW CREATURE.” THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE SAYING THEY ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD, TRYING TO LIVE THE OLD LIFE. ARE YOU SURE CHRIST MOVED INTO YOUR LIFE? I GUARANTEE YOU WHEN HE DOES HE’LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE. CHRISTIANS KNOW THE BIBLE SAYS DON’T DO IT AND THEY’LL RUN RIGHT OUT AND DO IT. I GOT SOME PEOPLE MAD AT ME ONE TIME. I WAS UP PREACHING
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AND I’LL NEVER FORGET IT. I GOT TO PREACHING SOMETHING THE LORD LAID ON MY HEART AND GOT TO TALKING ABOUT LOTTERY TICKETS AND AFTER SERVICE HE CAME OVER TO ME AND SAID, “YOU BEEN LOOKING IN MY CAR, PREACHER?” I SAID, “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” HE SAID, “THERE’S LOTTERY TICKETS ON THE FLOORBOARD OF MY CAR.” I SAID “NO, BUT GOD HAS.” IF I ASKED ANY BODY IN THE FLESH IF THEY WANTED TO BE RICH; WE’D ALL SAY YES. WE COULD BUY WHAT WE WANT, GO WHERE WE WANT, DO WHAT WE WANT AND WHEN WE WANT. BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN WE’D BE LEAVING OUT CHRIST. IF GOD CAN SUPPLY OUR NEEDS, WHY DO WE NEED LOTTERY TICKETS? PEOPLE COME TO WORSHIP WITH SIN IN THEIR LIFE AND THEY LEAVE WITH SIN IN THEIR LIFE. YOU BETTER BE GETTING IT RIGHT WITH GOD WHILE YOU’RE AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. YOU KNOW WHOSE SUFFERING FOR IT? OUR COMMUNITIES. A LOST AND A DYING WORLD. THEY SEE US AND SAY IF THAT’S A CHRISTIAN, I DON’T WANT TO BE ONE. THEIR A BUNCH OF HYPOCRITES DOWN AT THE HOUSE OF GOD. I’M NOT EXCUSING THEM FOR THAT. I’LL SAY THIS: WE’RE NOT PERFECT, WE’RE JUST SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WE NEED TO LOOK AT SIN LIKE THIS: EITHER TAKE IT OUT OF ME OR TAKE ME OUT OF IT. IF YOU CAN’T GET IT OUT OF ME THEN GET ME SOMEWHERE WHERE IT WON’T GET IN ME ANYMORE. PEOPLE GET SIN IN THEIR LIFE BECAUSE THEY GO TO THE WRONG PLACES. THEY LIVE THE WRONG KIND OF LIFE STYLE. QUIT LEAVING GOD BEHIND AND FOLLOW HIM INSTEAD. MATTHEW 22:37 SAYS “LOVE GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART AND ALL YOUR MIND AND ALL YOUR SOUL.” BUT THERE’S PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY THAT HAVE SO MUCH SIN IN THEIR LIFE. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT SIN WILL SEPARATE YOU FROM THE LOVE OF GOD. YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU. THE BIBLE EVEN SAYS HE DOESN’T LOOK ON SIN. SO WHAT’S HE GOING TO DO IF WE HAVE SIN IN OUR LIFE? HE’S GOING TO TURN HIS FACE FROM US. HE DOES NOT LIKE SIN. HE CAME TO GET YOU OUT OF SIN.
THE THIRD WICKED WAY IS CHRISTIANS LIVING SIMILAR TO THE WORLD AND STILL BEING SEPARATED FROM THE LORD. YOU CAN HARDLY TELL WHOSE A CHRISTIAN AND WHO ISN’T. THERE’S NOTHING I HATE WORSE THAN HEARING SOMEONE USING GOD’S NAME IN VAIN AND YOU GO UP TO THEM AND THEY SAY WELL I’M SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WHY YOU CUSSING YOUR GOD THEN?!!! IF YOU WANT CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE, THEN GET HIM IN YOUR WHOLE LIFE. DON’T JUST GET HIM ON SUNDAYS. THE DEVIL IS THE BIGGEST COUNTERFEITER I’VE EVER SEEN. AN IMITATOR. I BELIEVE HE HAS SOME PEOPLE FOOLED, TRICKED. HE’S TELLING PEOPLE THEIR SAVED WHEN THEIR NOT. HE’S GOT THEM CONVINCED THEIR SAVED AND ON THEIR WAY TO HEAVEN AND THEY’LL DIE AND BUST HELL WIDE OPEN. A PREACHER ONCE SAID THAT THE ROAD TO HELL IS PAVED WITH GOOD INTENTIONS. HOW GOOD YOU LOOK ON THE OUTSIDE, YOUR GOOD WORKS WILL NOT GET YOU TO HEAVEN. YOU MUST HAVE THE BLOOD APPLIED AND WHEN YOU DO YOU’LL SEE A CHANGE. THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG IN THE CHURCH TODAY. I’M TALKING ABOUT GOD’S CHURCH AND GOD’S PEOPLE. PEOPLE DON’T FELLOWSHIP WITH ONE ANOTHER, THEY DON’T REACH OUT TO THE LOST. THEY DRIVE BY THE HOUSE OF GOD AND DON’T CARE. I WONDER HOW MANY CHRISTIAN HERE TODAY WOULD BE WILLING TO DO THIS: LORD YOU SPOKE TO MY HEART TODAY AND I’M GOING TO COME TO THE ALTAR AND GET THINGS RIGHT WITH YOU. MY LIFE’S GOING TO BE FOR YOU TODAY. JOHN THE BAPTIST WAS BEHEADED FOR PREACHING THE GOSPEL. I HEARD THIS WEEK ON THE RADIO THAT A MAN OVERSEAS HAD A GUN PUT TO HIS HEAD AND WAS ASKED TO DENY THE LORD. HE SAID I CANNOT DENY MY GOD AND THEY SHOT HIM. TO ME THAT’S A CHRISTIAN! THEY GOT SOMETHING AND CAN’T NOBODY TAKE IT AWAY FROM THEM. GOD IS NOT JUST AROUND US, HE’S IN US. IT’S GOING TO COME DOWN TO A CLOSE ONE DAY. THERE WILL BE NO SIN. HE’S GOING TO CLEAN IT ALL UP.
WHY DID THE PSALMIST ASK GOD TO DO THIS? HE COULDN’T ASK US, WE COULDN’T DO IT. BUT HE KNEW GOD COULD. I WONDER, WHEN IS THE LAST TIME YOU ASKED GOD TO
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CHECK YOU OUT?
LET US PRAY: LORD I PRAY YOU WOULD SEARCH ME. KNOW IF THERE BE ANY WICKED WAYS IN ME. IF THERE IS, I PRAY LORD YOU WOULD FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS AND HELP ME TO LIVE MY LIFE BETTER. HELP ME LORD TO PUT YOU FIRST IN MY LIFE AND CONTINUE TO DO SO, SO THAT I CAN BE A LIGHT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST. THAT YOU MIGHT BE GLORIFIED AND HONORED. IN JESUS NAME I PRAY. AMEN
