WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH 08-29-01
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: WHO AM I? PAGE 1 OF 4
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 TO REVELATION 22:7-17 “BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY: BLESSED IS HE THAT KEEPETH THE SAYING OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK. AND I JOHN SAW THESE THINGS, AND HEARD AND SEEN, I FELL DOWN TO WORSHIP BEFORE THE FEET OF THE ANGEL WHICH SHEWED ME THESE THINGS. THEN SAITH HE UNTO ME, SEE THOU DO IT NOT: FOR I AM THY FELLOW SERVANT, AND OF THY BRETHREN THE PROPHETS, AND OF THEM WHICH KEEP THE SAYINGS OF THIS BOOK: WORSHIP GOD. AND HE SAITH UNTO ME, SEAL NOT THE SAYINGS OF THE PROPHECY OF THIS BOOK: FOR THE TIME IS AT HAND. HE THAT IS UNJUST, LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL: AND HE WHICH IS FILTHY, LET HIM BE FILTHY STILL: AND HE THAT IS RIGHTEOUS, LET HIM BE RIGHTEOUS STILL: AND HE THAT IS HOLY, LET HIM BE HOLY STILL. AND BEHOLD, I COME QUICKLY; AND MY REWARD IS WITH ME, TO GIVE EVERY MAN ACCORDING AS HIS WORK SHALL BE. I AM ALPHA AND OMEGA, THE BEGINNING AND THE END, THE FIRST AND THE LAST. BLESSED ARE THEY THAT DO HIS COMMANDMENTS, THAT THEY MAY HAVE RIGHT TO THE TREE OF LIFE, AND MAY ENTER IN THROUGH THE GATES INTO THE CITY. FOR WITHOUT ARE DOGS, AND SORCERERS, AND WHOREMONGERS, AND MURDERERS, AND IDOLATORS, AND WHOSOEVER LOVETH AND MAKETH A LIE. I JESUS HAVE SENT MINE ANGEL TO TESTIFY UNTO YOU THESE THINGS IN THE CHURCHES. I AM THE ROOT AND THE OFFSPRING OF DAVID, AND THE BRIGHT AND MORNING STAR. AND THE SPIRIT AND THE BRIDE SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY, COME. AND LET HIM THAT ATHIRST COME. AND WHOSOEVER WILL, LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY.”
I WANT TO DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO VERSE 11. HE THAT IS UNJUST, LET HIM BE UNJUST STILL: AND HE THAT IS FILTHY, LET HIM BE FILTHY STILL: AND HE THAT IS RIGHTEOUS, LET HIM BE RIGHTEOUS STILL: AND HE THAT IS HOLY, LET HIM BE HOLY STILL. I WANT TO ASK THIS QUESTION THIS MORNING: WHO ARE YOU? I’M SURE THERE ARE HUSBANDS AND WIVES WHO’VE BEEN MARRIED TO EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME BUT WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, THEY DON’T AS MUCH ABOUT EACH OTHER AS THEY THINK THEY WOULD. THAT’S THE WAY IT IS WITH PEOPLE TOO. PEOPLE LOOK AT MEN ON THE OUTWARD APPEARANCE BUT GOD LOOKETH ON THE INWARD. ALL WE SEE IS WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE BUT GOD SEES DEEP DOWN ON THE INSIDE. I WANT YOU TO ASK YOURSELF: WHO AM I? IF THE LORD WERE TO COME BACK TODAY, WHOEVER YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IS WHO YOU WILL BE WHEN HE COMES BACK. NOT ONLY ARE YOU GOING TO BE WHO YOU ARE BUT WHAT YOU ARE. A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO BUILD THEMSELVES UP AND MAKE THEMSELVES OUT TO BE SOMETHING THEIR NOT. A LOT OF PEOPLE TRY TO DRESS UP AND TRY TO HAVE A FORM OF GODLINESS BUT DENY THE POWER THEREOF. WHETHER YOU WANT TO BELIEVE IT OR NOT, JESUS CHRIST IS COMING BACK ONE DAY AFTER AWHILE. WHOEVER YOU ARE AND WHATEVER YOU ARE WHEN HE COMES WILL BE WHOEVER AND WHATEVER YOU ARE WHEN HE COMES. A LOT OF PEOPLE DON’T BELIEVE HE’S COMING BACK BUT ACCORDING TO THE WORD OF GOD HE IS AND HE MAY BE ON HIS WAY BACK RIGHT NOW. WE NEED TO BE READY.
I WANT TO SHARE SOME SCRIPTURES IN LUKE 21:27 “AND THEN SHALL THEY SEE THE SON OF MAN COMING IN A CLOUD WITH POWER AND GREAT GLORY.” WHEN HE
WHO AM I? ........PAGE 2 OF 4
COMES BACK HE’S GOING TO HAVE ALL POWER AND ALL GLORY AND THINGS WILL BE DONE HIS WAY AND WHOEVER YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IS WHO YOU WILL BE WHEN HE COMES IN THAT DAY AND THAT HOUR.
IN HEBREWS 10:37 “FOR YET A LITTLE WHILE, AND HE THAT SHALL COME WILL COME, AND WILL NOT TARRY.” WHO ARE YOU? CHRIST KNOWS WHO YOU ARE.
I WANT TO SHARE THIS SCRIPTURE WITH YOU IN REVELATION 1:7 “BEHOLD, HE COMETH WITH CLOUDS; AND EVERY EYE SHALL SEE HIM, AND THEY ALSO WHICH PIERCED HIM: AND ALL KINDREDS OF THE EARTH SHALL WAIL BECAUSE OF HIM. EVEN SO, AMEN.” THERE’S SOME SCRIPTURES IN THE BIBLE THAT TELL US VERY PLAINLY THAT HE IS COMING BACK AFTER AWHILE IN THE CLOUDS OF GLORY. THERE WILL BE NO MORE TIME FOR CHANGE WHEN HE COMES.
IN ACTS 1:11 “...YE MEN OF GALILEE, WHY STAND YE GAZING UP INTO HEAVEN? THIS SAME JESUS, WHICH IS TAKEN UP FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, SHALL COME IN LIKE MANNER AS YE HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.” HE ASCENDED FROM THIS PLACE AND ONE DAY AFTER AWHILE HE’S GOING TO DESCEND BACK TO IT. WHOEVER YOU ARE TODAY IS WHO YOU’RE GOING TO BE WHEN THE LORD COMES BACK.
IN FIRST THESSALONIANS 5:1-2 “BUT OF THE TIMES AND THE SEASONS, BRETHREN, YE HAVE NO NEED THAT I WRITE UNTO YOU. FOR YOURSELVES KNOW PERFECTLY THAT THE DAY OF THE LORD SO COMETH AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT.” ARE YOU THE PERSON YOU WANT TO BE WHEN THE LORD COMES BACK OR WOULD YOU RATHER BE SOMEBODY ELSE? YOU NEED TO BE A CHILD OF GOD. YOU NEED TO BE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. WASHED IN THE BLOOD OF THE LAMB. THERE’S NOTHING ELSE WE NEED TO BE EXCEPT A CHILD OF GOD.
IN MATTHEW 24:44 “THEREFORE BE YE ALSO READY: FOR IN SUCH AN HOUR AS YE THINK NOT THE SON OF MAN COMETH.”
IN REVELATION 3:11 “BEHOLD I COME QUICKLY: HOLD THAT FAST WHICH THOU HAST, THAT NO MAN TAKE THY CROWN.” HE COMING BACK QUICKLY, HE’S COMING BACK FOR HIS CHURCH AND HIS CHURCH IS ALL THAT HE’S COMING BACK FOR. ARE YOU GOING TO BE READY? THERE WILL NO LONGER BE TIME FOR CHANGE.
IN MARK 13:37 “ AND WHAT I SAY UNTO YOU I SAY UNTO ALL, WATCH.” HE SAID WATCH. WE’RE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR THIS AND THAT BUT HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU GET UP AND LOOK OUT YOUR DOOR AND LOOK UP TOWARDS HEAVEN TO SEE IS JESUS IS COMING? YOU GET WRAPPED UP IN THIS WORLD AND YOU THINK THIS OLD WORLD IS GOING TO GO ON FOREVER BUT IT’S NOT. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT HEAVEN AND EARTH WILL PASS AWAY BUT MY WORD SHALL NEVER PASS AWAY.
I LIKE WHAT JESUS SAID IN JOHN 3:6-7 “THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE FLESH IS FLESH; AND THAT WHICH IS BORN OF THE SPIRIT IS SPIRIT. MARCEL NOT THAT I SAID UNTO THEE, YE MUST BE BORN AGAIN.” THAT’S WHAT YOU NEED, YOU NEED TO BE BORN AGAIN.
LET ME SHARE A FEW THINGS WITH YOU THAT WILL NOT MATTER WHEN THE LORD COMES. IT WILL NOT MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE OR HOW YOUNG YOU ARE WHEN HE COMES. YOU’RE GOING TO BE EXACTALLY WHO YOU ARE RIGHT NOW IF HE WERE TO COME RIGHT NOW. NUMBER TWO IT DOES NOT MATTER WHERE YOU ARE FROM. WHAT COLOR, WHAT RELIGION; WHAT MATTERS IS THAT YOU HAVE THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAT ON CHURCH PEWS ALL THEIR LIFE AND THOUGHT THEY WERE SAVED AND THEY DIE AND GO TO HELL. I BELIEVE THAT. I BELIEVE THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT PEOPLE IN THE WORLD: THE SAVED, THE LOST AND THOSE THAT ARE LOST AND THINK THEY ARE SAVED. JUST BECAUSE YOU SIT ON A CHURCH PEW AND SIGN YOUR NAME TO A CHURCH RECORD BOOK, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU’LL DIE AND GO TO HEAVEN. YOU MUST BE BORN AGAIN. IT’S NOT WHEN YOU CHOOSE BUT WHEN GOD CHOOSES. I BELIEVE WHEN THE SPIRIT DRAWS, THAT’S WHEN IT’S TIME. I REMEMBER WHEN THE SPIRIT DREW ME AND THAT’S WHEN YOU NEED TO MOVE. YOU’RE EITHER GOING TO BE SAVED OR YOU’RE GOING TO BE LOST. IT DOES
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NOT MATTER WHAT KIND OF CLOTHES YOU WEAR, WHAT YOU’VE DONE IN THE PAST, WHAT MATTER IS WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE SAVED. THESE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD TODAY LIVE THE MOST UNGODLY LIVES I’VE EVER SEEN. TORN UP LIVES, TORN UP FAMILIES, DRUGS, ALCOHOL...ALL THESE WORLDLY THINGS. ALL THAT MATTER IS IF YOU’RE SAVED OR NOT. IF YOU’RE LOST AND THE LORD COMES BACK, YOU’RE GOING TO SUFFER AND DIE AND GO TO HELL. IF YOU DON’T HAVE THE BLOOD APPLIED HE’S GOING TO SAY WHO ARE YOU? YOU’RE GOING TO KNOW HIM BUT HE WON’T KNOW YOU. HE’S ASKING THAT QUESTION TODAY...WHO ARE YOU.
THAT DAY IS GOING TO BE A DAY OF SEPARATION. A DAY WHEN THE JUST SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE UNJUST. A DAY WHEN THE SAINTS SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE SINNERS. LOVED ONES SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE LOST ONES. A DAY WHEN THE WIVES SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE WICKED. A DAY WHEN THE BELIEVERS SHALL BE SEPARATED FROM THE NON BELIEVERS. A DAY WHEN THE SHEEP ARE SEPARATED FROM THE GOATS. A DAY WHEN THE WHEAT IS SEPARATED FROM THE TARES. A DAY WHEN THE LIVING ARE SEPARATED FROM AMONG THE DEAD. REAL QUICKLY I WANT TO TELL YOU THE RESULTS ON THAT DAY OF SEPARATION. THOSE THAT ARE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD IT’S GOING TO BE A DAY OF DAWNING FOR US. BUT IF YOU DIE LOST IT’S GOING TO BE A DAY OF DARKNESS. CHRISTIANS OUGHT TO BE LOOKING FOR JESUS TO COME. BUT THOSE THAT ARE LOST AREN’T LOOKING. THEY AREN’T READY. THOSE THAT ARE SAVED IT WILL BE A DAY OF GLADNESS BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE A DAY OF SADNESS. THOSE THAT ARE A SAVED IT WILL BE A DAY OF TREASURES BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE A DAY OF TROUBLES BEYOND MEASURE. FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SAVED IT WILL BE A DAY OF VICTORY BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE A DAY OF VANITY. TO THOSE OF US THAT ARE SAVED IT WILL BE A DAY OF JUSTIFICATION BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE A DAY OF JUDGMENT. THEY’LL BE JUDGED NOT ACCORDING TO HOW THEY LOOKED, WHAT THEIR AGE WAS BUT WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAD THE BLOOD APPLIED. TO THOSE THAT ARE SAVED IT WILL BE THE DAY OF ETERNAL LIFE BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF ETERNAL DAMNATION. THOSE OF US THAT ARE SAVED IT WILL BE DELIVERANCE FOR US BUT TO THOSE THAT ARE LOST IT WILL BE A DAY OF DEPARTING WHEN JESUS SAYS TO YOU: “DEPART FROM ME, FOR I NEVER KNEW YOU.” THE THREE WORST WORDS YOU CAN EVER HEAR FROM JESUS ARE: DEPART FROM ME. IN THAT DAY IF YOU DON’T GET CHRIST IN YOU LIFE THEN THAT’S WHO YOU’RE GOING TO BE WHEN HE COMES. IF YOU’RE SAVED YOU’LL SAY HELLO JESUS AND IF YOU’RE LOST YOU’LL SAY GOODBYE JESUS. THIS THINGS NOT FOR A LIFE TIME: IT’S FOR ETERNITY. ETERNITY HAS A BEGINNING BUT IT HAS NO END. THE DAY OF THE LORD IS COMING.
IN MALACHI 3:2 “BUT WHO MAY ABIDE THE DAY OF HIS COMING? AND WHO SHALL STAND WHEN HE APPEARETH? FOR HE IS LIKE A REFINERS FIRE, AND LIKE A FULLER’S SOAP.” IN OTHER WORDS IF YOU’RE SAVED HE’S GOING TO CLEAN YOU UP AND IF YOU’RE LOST ON THAT DAY YOU’LL BURN UP. IT’S EITHER HEAVEN OR HELL. THERE IS NO IN BETWEEN. WHO ARE YOU? JUST BECAUSE YOU KNELT DOWN AT AN ALTAR SOMEWHERE AND FELL DOWN ON YOUR KNEES AND THOUGHT IN YOUR MIND THAT YOU HAVE CHRIST, DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU DO. I BELIEVE IF YOU HAVE IT, YOU’LL KNOW IT.
LET US PRAY: FATHER, I HAVE FELT YOUR SPIRIT DRAWING ME, TELLING ME THAT I AM NOT SAVED. I HAVE NOT LED A LIFE WORTHY OF YOU. I ASK YOU LORD TO FORGIVE ME OF ALL MY SINS. I BELIEVE WITHIN MY HEART THAT YOU SENT YOUR ONLY BEGOTTEN SON TO DIE FOR ME. THAT HE WAS RAISED ON THE THIRD DAY AND THAT I TOO CAN COME TO LIVE WITH HIM IN HEAVEN.. I ASK YOU LORD TO SAVE ME. THANK YOU. FATHER, WHO AM I? IF I AM NOT PLEASING IN YOUR SIGHT, IF I HAVE NOT DONE THE THINGS THAT YOU WOULD HAVE ME TO DO, I PRAY LORD THAT YOU WOULD REVEAL
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THEM TO ME NOW SO THAT I MIGHT GET FORGIVENESS OF MY SINS AND LIVE MY LIFE BETTER FOR YOU. IN JESUS NAME, AMEN.
