WESTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH
PASTOR: TERRY VAUGHAN
SERMON TITLE: COUNTERFEIT RELIGION
“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 ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.” JOHN 3:16-18.
1 CORINTHIANS 15:12-17 “NOW IF CHRIST BE PREACHED THAT HE ROSE FROM THE DEAD, HOW SAY SOME AMONG YOU THAT THERE IS NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD? BUT IF THERE BE NO RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD, THEN IS CHRIST NOT RISEN: AND IF CHRIST BE NOT RISEN, THEN IS OUR PREACHING VAIN, AND YOUR FAITH IS ALSO VAIN. YEA, AND WE ARE FOUND FALSE WITNESSES OF GOD; BECAUSE WE HAVE TESTIFIED OF GOD THAT HE RAISED UP CHRIST: WHOM HE RAISED NOT UP, IF SO BE THAT THE DEAD RISE NOT. FOR IF THE DEAD RISE NOT, THEN IS NOT CHRIST RAISED: AND IF CHRIST BE NOT RAISED, YOUR FAITH IS VAIN; YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS.”
THE WORDS THE LORD LAID ON MY HEART THE LATTER PART OF THIS WEEK WERE THE LAST PART OF VERSE 17 WHERE IT SAYS: YE WERE YET IN YOUR SINS. I TEND TO BELIEVE THAT ABOUT A LOT OF PEOPLE TODAY. SIMPLY BECAUSE YOU DON’T BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST DON’T MEAN THAT IT’S NOT REAL. I KNOW IT’S REAL IN MY LIFE. I REMEMBER READING IN THE OLD TESTAMENT ABOUT HOW THE DAY STAR SHOULD ARISE IN OUR HEARTS. THERE’S SOMETHING VERY SPECIAL ABOUT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. I BELIEVE WHAT’S IT’S TALKING ABOUT HERE BEING IN VAIN IS PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW IT, SEE IT, DON’T BELIEVE IT AND FEEL IT. I’M GLAD I’M SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT DON’T BELIEVE IT OR KNOW IT AND IF THAT BE THE CASE AND CHRIST BE NOT RISEN IN YOUR LIFE THE BIBLE SAYS YOUR FAITH IS VAIN AND YE ARE YET IN YOUR SINS. BUT IN
ROMANS 8:11 “BUT IF THE SPIRIT OF HIM THAT RAISED UP JESUS FROM THE DEAD DWELL IN YOU, HE THAT RAISED UP CHRIST FROM THE DEAD SHALL ALSO QUICKEN YOUR MORTAL BODIES BY HIS SPIRIT THAT DWELLETH IN YOU.”
I’M GLAD THAT THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST IS REAL TODAY. IT’S NOT JUST SOME PICTURE OR SOME STORY READ IN A FICTIONAL BOOK. WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, THERE WAS A MAN NAMED JESUS CHRIST AND THE BIBLE SAYS HE WAS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD WHO WAS SENT OUT OF HEAVEN FOR US TO SAVE US FROM OUR SINS AND TO BIRTH US INTO THE FAMILY OF GOD AND ONE DAY CARRY US HOME TO BE WITH HIM. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON’T KNOW HIM. I’M TALKING ABOUT THE RISEN CHRIST. THE RISEN SAVIOR. THE ONE WHERE THEY WENT TO THE TOMB AND SAW THE ANGELS THERE AND SAID “HE’S NOT HERE.” THEY SAID HE’S RISEN. BUT WHERE YOU HAVE TRUE CONVERSION, YOU’LL ALSO HAVE FALSE COUNTERFEITS. I WANT TO PREACH TO YOU ON COUNTERFEIT RELIGION.
SOME PEOPLE TODAY HAVE RELIGION IN THEIR HEAD RATHER THAN IN THEIR HEART. I BELIEVE IT HAS TO START ON THE INSIDE AND WORK IT’S WAY OUT. THANK GOD TODAY THAT JESUS CHRIST IS STILL SAVING LOST SINNERS. PAUL SAID JESUS CHRIST CAME INTO THE WORLD TO SAVE SINNERS OF WHOM I AM CHIEF. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF COUNTERFEITS. I’LL SAY THIS: YOU’VE EITHER GOT IT OR YOU DON’T HAVE IT. THERE AIN’T NO IN BETWEEN. THE BIBLE SAYS THAT GOD IS NOT THE AUTHOR OF CONFUSION. LET ME SHARE SOME VERSES.
1 JOHN 5:12 “HE THAT HATH THE SON HATH LIFE; AND HE THAT HATH NOT THE SON OF GOD HATH NOT LIFE.” THAT’S PRETTY SIMPLE. EITHER YOU HAVE HIM OR YOU DON’T.
MARK 16:16 “HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED; BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED.” THAT’S PRETTY SIMPLE TOO. EITHER YOU HAVE HIM OR YOU DON’T. YOU NEED TO ASK YOURSELF IF YOU TRULY HAVE HIM. I’VE SEEN ELDERLY MEMBERS IN CHURCH THAT WENT TO CHURCH ALL OF THEIR LIFE AND IN THEIR 60’S AND 70’S THEY CAME TO THE ALTAR AND GOT SAVED. THERE CANNOT BE A CONVERSION IN YOUR LIFE UNTIL THERE IS FIRST A CONVICTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU’LL GET SAVED? WHEN CHRIST LET’S YOU KNOW YOU’RE LOST AND YOU HEAR HIM KNOCKING ON YOUR HEARTS DOOR AND YOU LET HIM IN. THEN AND ONLY THEN WILL YOU GET SAVED. LET ME ALSO CLARIFY THIS VERSE WHERE IT SAYS HE THAT BELIEVETH AND IS BAPTIZED SHALL BE SAVED. THIS IS NOT REFERRING TO A PHYSICAL BAPTISM BUT A SPIRITUAL BAPTISM. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO HAVE A PHYSICAL BAPTISM IN ORDER TO BE SAVED. WE DO PHYSICAL BAPTISMS AS SYMBOLIC REMEMBRANCE OF WHEN JOHN BAPTIZED JESUS. JUST AS WE HAVE COMMUNION TO REMEMBER THE LORDS LAST SUPPER.
MATTHEW 7:21 “NOT EVERYONE THAT SAITH UNTO ME, LORD, LORD, SHALL ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN; BUT HE THAT DOETH THE WILL OF MY FATHER WHICH IS IN HEAVEN.” THERE’S A LOT OF THEM CRYING LORD, LORD BUT JUST BECAUSE YOU KNOW HIS NAME DOESN’T MEAN YOU CAN GO TO HEAVEN. YOU MUST BE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE CALLING ON HIM TODAY THAT DOES NOT KNOW HIM AS SAVIOR.
MARK 7:6 “WELL HATH ESAIAS PROPHESIED OF YOU HYPOCRITES, AS IT IS WRITTEN, THIS PEOPLE HONOURETH ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR FROM ME.”
THEIR SAYING THE PRETTY WORDS BUT IT’S NOT WHAT YOU SPEAK THAT WILL GET YOU INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD UNLESS YOU CAN SPEAK AND CONFESS THAT JESUS IS LORD OF YOUR LIFE AND FORSAKE YOUR SINS.
ROMANS 8:9 “BUT YE ARE NOT IN THE FLESH, BUT IN THE SPIRIT, IF SO BE THAT THE SPIRIT OF GOD DWELL IN YOU. NOW IF ANY MAN HATH NOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, HE IS NONE OF HIS.”
IF YOU HAVEN’T GOT THE SPIRIT OF CHRIST, YOU DON’T BELONG TO CHRIST. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT DON’T HAVE IT AND A LOT THAT DO. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SAVED AND A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT ARE LOST.
TITUS 1:16 “THEY PROFESS THAT THEY KNOW GOD; BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM, BEING ABOMINABLE, AND DISOBEDIENT, AND UNTO EVERY GOOD WORK REPROBATE.”
THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE PROFESSING THAT THEY KNOW HIM BUT IN THEIR WORKS THEIR DENYING HIM. LISTEN, IF YOU’VE GOT CHRIST IN YOUR LIFE, YOU’LL BE A GOOD WORKER AND A GOOD SOLDIER EVERY DAY YOU LIVE. A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO PROFESS TO KNOW HIM DON’T SHOW IT. IF YOU’VE GOT IT YOU’LL SHOW IT.
2 TIMOTHY 3:5 “HAVING A FORM OF GODLINESS, BUT DENYING THE POWER THEREOF: FROM SUCH TURN AWAY.”
THERE’S A LOT OF FORMALISM IN RELIGION. A LOT OF COUNTERFEIT IN RELIGION. JAMES SAID TRUE RELIGION AND UNDEFILED BEFORE GOD IS TO VISIT THE FATHERLESS AND THE WIDOWS AND TO KEEP ONESELF UNSPOTTED FROM THE WORLD. THERE’S TOO MANY CHRISTIANS THAT ARE PARTAKERS OF THE WORLD. THEY ACT LIKE THE WORLD AND LOOK LIKE THE WORLD. THE BIBLE SAID THAT IF ANY MAN LOVE THE WORLD THE LOVE OF GOD IS NOT IN HIM.
MATTHEW 12:30 “HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME IS AGAINST ME; AND HE THAT GATHERETH NOT WITH ME SCATTERETH ABROAD.”
ARE YOU WITH HIM TODAY? WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IN OUR LIFE TO KNOW? TO KNOW THAT WE’VE BEEN SAVED. BETWEEN THE TIME OF YOUR BIRTH AND THE TIME OF YOUR DEATH, JESUS WILL HAVE CROSSED PATHS WITH YOU. SALVATION WILL HATH APPEARED UNTO ALL MEN. I HOPE AND PRAY WHEN HE CROSSES YOUR PATH, YOU LEARN TO ACCEPT HIM AS YOUR SAVIOR BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT SAYS THEY HAVE HIM AND THEY DON’T.
I WANT TO POINT OUT SEVEN INDICATORS TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU HAVE IT OR YOU DON’T. ALRIGHT SEVEN INDICATORS TO LET YOU KNOW IF YOU DON’T HAVE IT, BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE IT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW YOU DO.
NUMBER ONE: YOU’LL HAVE NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE. WHAT DID JESUS TELL THEM IN LUKE? WITHOUT REPENTANCE, YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO COME TO GOD WITHOUT REPENTANCE AND FORSAKING OF THEIR SINS. THE FIRST MOVE TO BECOMING A CHILD OF GOD IS TO REPENT OF YOUR SINS. YA’LL REMEMBER JACOB AND ESAU. THE BIBLE SAYS THIS ABOUT ESAU IN HEBREWS 12:17;
FOR YE KNOW THAT HOW AFTERWARDS WHEN HE WOULD HAVE RECEIVED THE BLESSING, HE WAS REJECTED BECAUSE HE FOUND NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE. ESAU WAS REJECTED. HE COULD HAVE RECEIVED THE BLESSING. HE COULD HAVE BEEN SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD. HE COULD HAVE CALLED HEAVEN HIS HOME. HE COULD HAVE CALLED JESUS HIS SAVIOR. HE COULD HAVE CALLED GOD HIS FATHER BUT HE WENT TO HELL BECAUSE WHY? HE DID NOT REPENT. HE FOUND NO PLACE FOR REPENTANCE. YOU CAN NOT BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND KEEP ON LIVING THE SAME KIND OF LIFE YOU DID BEFORE YOU GOT SAVED. JESUS WILL WORK IN YOUR LIFE AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. DO I HAVE TO BE PERFECT? NO. BUT YOU WILL NOT BE THE SAME PERSON YOU USED TO BE.
NUMBER TWO: YOU’LL FIND YOU HAVE NO POWER OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.
YOU’LL HAVE NO POWER OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE. IN ACTS 1:8 “BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.”
IF YOU’RE SAVED GOD’S GOT TO RULE IN YOUR LIFE. WHY? BECAUSE YOU’RE ONE OF HIS. I REMEMBER WHAT SATAN TOLD THE LORD WHEN HE WAS THERE TRYING TO BRING JOB DOWN. HE WAS TALKING TO THE LORD AND SAID THE LORD HAD PUT A HEDGE ABOUT JOB. BUT JESUS TOLD HIM HE COULD DO WHAT HE WANTED BUT HE COULDN’T HAVE HIS LIFE BECAUSE JOB BELONGED TO HIM. IF YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD THERE WILL BE SOME POWER OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE. THERE’S A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DON’T WITNESS AND RECEIVE OUR LIFE. WHY? BECAUSE THEIR LOST. NO POWER OF GOD IN THEIR LIFE.
NUMBER THREE: THERE WILL BE NO PEACE OF GOD WITHIN.
JESUS SAID IN JOHN 16:33 “THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. IN THE WORLD YE SHALL HAVE TRIBULATION: BUT BE OF GOOD CHEER; I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD.”
THERE MIGHT BE SOME TROUBLING THINGS HAPPENING ON THE OUTSIDE, THE OLD WORLD MIGHT BE FALLING DOWN AROUND YOU AND THE COUNTRY MIGHT BE GOING TO BATTLE WITH EACH OTHER BUT YOU’LL HAVE THE PEACE OF GOD INSIDE YOU. IT DOES NOT COME ON THE OUTSIDE. PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS PRAYING: HOW COME I JUST CAN’T HAVE THIS OR THAT. HOW COME THERE’S SO MUCH TROUBLES AND TRIBULATIONS IN MY LIFE. LISTEN, THE PEACE OF GOD IS ON THE INSIDE. JUST LIKE HE SAID THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS WITHIN YOU. YOUR PEACE DOES NOT START ON THE OUTSIDE. IF YOU’RE BATTLING WITH THE CONFLICT OF NOT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT YOU’LL GO TO HEAVEN WHEN YOU DIE, YOU’RE LOST. BEING SAVED IS NOT A “I THINK I AM” WAY. IT’S AN “I KNOW SO” WAY. JOB SAID I KNOW MY REDEEMER LIVETH. PAUL SAID I KNOW IN WHOM I BELIEVE. THERE’S A LOT OF COUNTERFEITS OUT THERE.
NUMBER FOUR: NO PRAYERS HEARD.
JOHN 9:31 “NOW WE KNOW THAT GOD HEARETH NOT SINNERS: BUT IF ANY MAN BE A WORSHIPPER OF GOD, AND DOETH HIS WILL, HIM HE HEARETH.”
ISAIAH 59:2 “BUT YOUR INIQUITIES HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND YOUR GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HID HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.”
THESE COUNTERFEITERS, THESE FALSE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE THINK THAT THEY HAVE CHRIST AND THEIR ALWAYS PRAYING AND ASKING GOD FOR THIS AND THAT AND NEVER HEARS THEM. AND IF GOD NEVER HEARS IT, HOW CAN GOD ANSWER IT? IF YOU’VE NEVER HEARD GOD SPEAK TO YOU THEN WHY WOULD YOU EXPECT HIM TO LISTEN TO YOU? PEOPLE ARE PRAYING EVERYDAY AND GOD IS NOT HEARING THEM. THE ONLY PRAYER HE HEARS FROM A SINNER IS THE ONE OF REPENTANCE AND THEN AFTER THAT HE HEARS THEIR PRAYERS BECAUSE THEY ARE ONE OF HIS.
I WONDER HOW LONG YOU’VE BEEN PRAYING AND HAVEN’T HAD ANYBODY LISTENING? THAT’S WHAT THE PROPHET ELIJAH DID. ALL THOSE PROPHETS WERE PRAYING TO THEIR GOD AND THEY GOT TIRED OF HEARING ELIJAH PRAYING TO HIS GOD AND ELIJAH SAID: EITHER MY GOD IS REAL OR YOUR GOD IS REAL. THEY BUILT A SACRIFICE AND DUG A TRENCH AROUND THEIR GOD AND PUT THE SACRIFICE ON THE ALTAR AND POURED WATER ON IT AND AROUND IT. AND ELIJAH TOLD THEM TO PRAY TO THEIR GOD THAT HE WOULD COME AND TAKE THE SACRIFICE. THEY BEGIN TO PRAY BUT NOBODY WAS HEARING. AND ELIJAH SAID MAYBE YOU’RE SERVING A GOD THAT SLEEPS OR MAYBE YOU’RE SERVING A GOD WHOSE GONE FAR OFF. SO THEY PRAYED FROM MORNING TILL EVENING AND NOBODY HEARD. BUT WHEN IT COME TIME FOR ELIJAH TO PRAY HE BOWED HIS HEAD AND GOD SENT FIRE OUT OF HEAVEN AND BURNT UP THE SACRIFICE, THE ALTAR, THE SAND THE WATER...EVERYTHING.
GOD MAY NOT ANSWER YOU RIGHT AWAY BUT IF YOU’RE SAVED BY THE GRACE OF GOD: HE WILL HEAR YOU. HE ANSWERS PRAYERS ACCORDING TO HIS TIME AND NOT OUR TIME. IF YOU’RE LOST, GOD WILL NOT HEAR YOUR PRAYERS UNTIL GOD KNOCKS ON YOUR HEARTS DOOR AND YOU LET HIM COME IN AND ACCEPT HIM AS LORD OF YOUR LIFE AND REPENT OF YOUR SINS.
NUMBER FIVE: NO PERSECUTIONS AGAINST YOU.
2 TIMOTHY 3:12 “YEA, AND ALL THAT WILL LIVE GODLY IN CHRIST JESUS SHALL SUFFER PERSECUTION.”
THERE’S SOME COUNTERFEITERS IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE NEVER HAD CHRIST, THEY NEVER HAVE ANY PROBLEMS, THEIR NEVER IN DISTRESS OR PAIN. YOU KNOW WHY? THE DEVIL IS GIVING THEM EVERYTHING THEY WANT. THE DEVIL DOES NOT PERSECUTE PEOPLE WHO DON’T BELONG TO CHRIST. HE ONLY PERSECUTES US WHO ARE SAVED. WHY? BECAUSE HE DON’T WANT OTHER PEOPLE TO GET SAVED THROUGH YOU. THE BIBLE SAYS THE DEVIL IS LIKE A ROARING LION. JESUS TOLD PETER THAT THE DEVIL DESIRED TO HAVE HIM AS WHEAT. THE DEVIL IS AFTER GOD’S PEOPLE. HE’S NOT AFTER HIS PEOPLE. YOU’LL KNOW YOU’RE NOT SAVED WHEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY PERSECUTIONS.
NUMBER SIX: NO PRESENCE OF GOD IN YOUR LIFE.
HEBREWS 13:5 “LET YOUR CONVERSATION BE WITHOUT COVETOUSNESS; AND BE CONTENT WITH SUCH THINGS AS YOU HAVE: FOR HE HATH SAID, I WILL NEVER LEAVE THEE NOR FORSAKE THEE.”
WHETHER YOU KNOW IT OR NOT, HE’S ALWAYS THERE WITH YOU. WHETHER OR NOT YOU WANT TO BE WITH HIM OR NOT, HE’S STILL THERE. BECAUSE HE SAID HE’S NEVER LEAVE US NOR FORSAKE US. BUT THERE’S A LOT OF COUNTERFEITERS OUT THERE THAT’S ALWAYS SAYING: GOD WHERE ARE YOU WHEN I NEED YOU. GOD WHY WAS YOU NOT HERE WHEN I NEEDED YOU. I REMEMBER MARTHA SAID THAT IN JOHN 11 WHEN LAZARUS DIED. SHE TOLD JESUS HAD HE BEEN THERE HER BROTHER WOULD NOT HAVE DIED. SHE MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN THAT HE WAS THERE BUT I BELIEVE OLD LAZARUS KNEW. WHY DO WE LET THE DEVIL GET US SO DEPRESSED? WHEN WE KNOW CHRIST IS ALWAYS THERE IN OUR LIFE. THERE’S A LOT OF COUNTERFEITERS OUT THERE THAT DON’T HAVE CHRIST AROUND THEM. HOW CAN YOU HAVE CHRIST IN YOUR SOUL IF CHRIST IS NOT PART OF YOUR LIFE? IF HE’S GOING TO BE ON THE INSIDE THEN HE’S ALSO GOING TO BE ON THE OUTSIDE.
NUMBER SEVEN: YOU’LL HAVE NO PRAISE TO GOD FROM YOU.
1 PETER 2:9 “BUT YE ARE A CHOSEN GENERATION, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, AN HOLY NATION, A PECULIAR PEOPLE; THAT YE SHOULD SHEW FORTH THE PRAISES OF HIM WHO HATH CALLED YOU OUT OF DARKNESS INTO HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT.”
THERE’S NOT ENOUGH CHRISTIANS TO DAY THAT ARE WILLING TO PRAISE GOD. I WAS DYING AND ON MY WAY TO HELL. I WAS NOT WORTHY OF THE FREE GIFT OF SALVATION. BUT PRAISE GOD, HE LOVED ME. EVERYONE IN AWHILE I LIKE TO SHOUT AND PRAISE GOD FOR SAVING ME. THERE’S NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO WILL PRAISE GOD. YOU KNOW WHY? ONE REASON IS BECAUSE THEY DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO PRAISE HIM FOR. IF HE’S JUST SOME IMAGE IN YOUR LIFE THAT MOM AND DAD MAYBE TOLD YOU ABOUT YEARS AGO, THAT’S NOT WORTHY TO PRAISE HIM ABOUT. HE DESERVES OUR PRAISES FOR SAVING OUR SOULS. HE TOOK AWAY OUR GUILT, OUR PAIN OUR TORMENT OUR SINS. HE DEFEATED DEATH, HELL AND THE GRAVE FOR US. WHY? BECAUSE HE LOVED US AND THAT’S SOME THING TO SHOUT ABOUT. I WONDER ABOUT SOME OF THOSE BIGGER CHURCHES. I VISITED ONE ONCE AND WENT TO SHOUTING AND THEY THREW ME OUT. THEY THOUGHT I HAD SOME DEMON IN ME. I’M BEGINNING TO WONDER WHY THEY AREN’T SHOUTING. I DON’T HAVE A DEMON IN ME. I HAVE CHRIST AND I’M SAVED AND I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW IT.
I BELIEVE MAYS JACKSON ONCE SAID: MY MAMA DIED AND I WAS AT HER FUNERAL AND GOD BEGAN TO DEAL WITH ME AND REMINDED ME OF HOW SHE HAD BEEN SAVED AND TOOK ME TO CHURCH AND I COULDN’T HELP MYSELF AND I BEGAN TO SHOUT. HE SAID GOD JUST GAVE HIM A LITTLE GLIMPSE OF GLORY.
YOU’LL PRAISE GOD IF YOU’RE SAVED. I’M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO GET UP AND SHOUT. I’M NOT SAYING YOU HAVE TO RUN AROUND THE CHURCH. I’M SAYING IF YOU HAVE HIM ON THE INSIDE, YOU’LL BE PRAISING HIS NAME.
2 TIMOTHY2:19 “NEVERTHELESS THE FOUNDATION OF GOD STANDETH SURE HAVING THIS SEAL; THE LORD KNOWETH THEM THAT ARE HIS.”
IF YOU’RE STILL WEARING THE GRAVE CLOTHES INSTEAD OF THE GRACE CLOTHES YOU’RE HEADED FOR HELL. CHRIST IS VERY SERIOUS IN HIS MISSION AND HIS MISSION IS TO SAVE SINNERS. YOU SAY PREACHER ALL THIS TIME I THOUGHT I WAS SAVED BUT I’M MISSING ALL THESE SEVEN AREAS THAT YOU POINTED OUT. WON’T YOU COME.
LET US PRAY: FATHER, I HAVE LIVED MY LIFE SO MANY YEARS THINKING THAT I HAD YOU AS LORD OF MY LIFE BUT AFTER HEARING TODAYS MESSAGE I CAN’T REMEMBER A TIME WHEN I HEARD YOU SPEAK TO MY HEART. TODAY FATHER I FEEL YOU KNOCKING ON MY HEARTS DOOR AND I’M ASKING YOU LORD TO FORGIVE ME OF MY SINS. I REPENT OF ALL THE WRONG THAT I HAVE DONE AND I’M ASKING YOU LORD TO SAVE ME. MINE EYES HAVE NOW BEEN OPENED AND I BELIEVE WITH ALL MY HEART FATHER THAT JESUS CAME AND DIED FOR ME AND THAT HE AROSE INTO HEAVEN AND WILL ONE DAY COME BACK FOR ME. IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN
