PROFESSION WITHOUT POSSESSION
TEXT: TITUS 1:16
INTRO:
NOW AS WE GET INTO THE MESSAGE THIS MORNING, I JUST WANT TO READ ONE SIMPLE PASSAGE OF SCRIPTURE HERE IN THE BOOK OF TITUS AND USE THAT FOR MY TEXT. AND THEN WE WILL GO RIGHT INTO THE MESSAGE AND SEE WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE FOR US THIS MORNING. NOW AS I PREACH THIS MORNING, I ASK FOR YOUR UNDIVIDED ATTENTION, THE MESSAGE IS ONE THAT WE ALL NEED TO HEAR, AS I WILL BE PREACHING TO EACH AND EVERYONE OF US THAT ARE HERE THIS MORN-ING.
READ 1:16 I WANT TO PREACH " PROFESSION W/O POSSESSION "
WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY WHEN EVERYONE CLAIMS TO BE A CHRIS
TIAN, EVERYONE CLAIMS TO KNOW JESUS CHRIST BUT IN WORKS THEY DENY HIM. THEIR LIFESTYLE SAYS SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT.
JESUS: MANY SHALL COME TO ME IN THAT DAY SAYING LORD, LORD..
NOW WHAT DO I MEAN A PROFESSOR.... ?
1. ONE WHO CLAIM’S TO BE SAVED
2. ONE WHO CLAIM’S TO KNOW CHRIST AS SAVIOR
3. ONE WHO CLAIM’S TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD BUT YOU DO
NOT POSSESS SALVATION.... PROFESSION W/O POSSESSION.
HERE TITUS EXCLAIMS THAT THOSE PEOPLE WERE PROFESSING CHRIST, BUT IN WORKS THEY DENIED HIM. IN OTHER WORDS, THEIR WALK WAS IN CONTRADICTION WITH THEIR TALK. THEY CLAIMED TO BE A CHRIST-IAN, BUT THEIR LIFESTYLE SAID SOMETHING ALTOGETHER DIFFERENT.
ILL. TOPEKA SOULWINNING
THIS YOUNG MAN PROFESSED CHRIST AS SAVIOR BUT WAS A HOMOSEXUAL. YOU SAY PREACHER ARE YOU SAYING THAT A HOMOSEXUAL CAN’T BE SAVED?
NO, THEY CAN BE, BUT IF THEY ARE SAVED, THEY WILL NOT LIVE IN THE HOG PEN FOR VERY LONG.
PAUL: AND SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU, BUT YE ARE WASHED
AND MY FRIEND, WE ARE LIVING IN A DAY WHEN PEOPLE ARE CLAIMING TO BE CHRISTIANS, BUT IN WORKS AND DEEDS THEY DENY THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
A. JUDAS ISCARIOT - PREACHING ENGAGEMENTS, MISSION TRIPS
BUT IN THE END, EVERYONE KNEW THAT JUDAS WAS A THIEF AND A PRETENDER. AND LET ME JUST INTERJECT THIS INTO MY MESSAGE THIS MORNING....WHAT YOU DO IN PRIVATE IS WHAT YOU REALLY ARE.
IF YOU ARE....
1. HAVING AN IMMORAL RELATIONSHIP AND STILL CLAIMING TO
BE A CHRISTIAN... YOU’RE A PROFESSOR.
2. CAN MISS CHURCH AND IT DOESN’T BOTHER YOU, YOU ARE
JUST A PROFESSOR. DAVID - I WAS GLAD...
I AM SIMPLY SAYING IF YOU CAN MISS CHURCH AND THE FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD’S PEOPLE AND GO ON ABOUT YOUR MERRY WAY DAY AFTER DAY AND IT NEVER BOTHERS YOU, THERE IS SOMETHING DRASTICALLY WRONG!
YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR AND NOT A POSSESSOR.
AND MY FRIEND, THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT WE ARE TO EXAMINE OUR-
SELVES AND SEE JUST HOW WE MATCH UP TO WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS. AND LET ME SAY THIS MORNING: YOU ARE EVER SO FOOLISH TO THINK THAT THE MESSAGE IS NOT FOR ME. I WILL JUST SIT BACK AND COUNT CEILING TILES OR CLIP MY NAILS..... FRIEND THAT IS A TRICK OF THE DEVIL TO PREOCCUPY YOUR MIND AND TO KEEP YOU FROM HEARING THE MESSAGE THAT GOD WANTS YOU TO HEAR. THIS MESSAGE IS FOR ALL OF US TODAY.
PROFESSION WITHOUT POSSESSION:
NOW AS WE GET INTO THE MESSAGE THIS MORNING. LET ME GIVE YOU SOME (5) DIFFERENT MARKS OF THOSE WHO PROFESS CHRIST, BUT DO NOT POSSESS HIM AS THIER LORD AND SAVIOR.
FIRST OF ALL, YOU WILL NOTICE THAT THOSE WHO PROFESS CHRIST, BUT DO NOT POSSESS CHRIST.....
I. THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE
HEY IF YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND YOU ARE PROFESSING CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR, THERE MUST BE A CHANGE. WITHOUT EXCEPTION, THERE MUST BE A CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE, LOOK AND LOVE.
2 COR. 5:17 IF ANY MAN.....
NO I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT INSTANT MATURITY, BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT A DEFINITE CHANGE, THAT SOMETHING THAT GOD HAS INWORKED AT SALVATION THAT HAS CHANGED YOUR SOUL. MY FRIEND, I AM SIMPLY SAYING THAT THERE HAS GOT TO BE SOME EVIDENCE IN YOUR LIFE, THAT SHOWS THAT YOU HAVE BEEN BORN AGAIN. AND I BELIEVE THAT THIS EVIVDENCE CAN BE SEEN I (1 - 3) AREAS. FIRST OF ALL THERE WILL BE A ....
1. CHANGE IN WAY YOU LIVE - WHEN YOU GET SAVED, YOU WILL NOT...
A. GO TO SAME PLACES YOU USED TO GO. STRIP JOINTS, POOL HALLS
B. YOU WON’T SAY THE SAME THINGS YOU USE TO SAY.
C. YOU WILL REACT DIFFERENTLY THAN YOU DID BEFORE
D. YOUR LANGUAGE WILL BE TRANSFORMED FROM CURSING TO PRAISING
THERE WILL BE A DEFINITE CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE.
ILL. DOUG CUMMINGS
2. CHANGE IN THE WAY YOU LOOK - MANIAC OF GADARA
AT ONE TIME THIS MAN WAS RECORDED TO HAVE BEEN CUTTING HIMSELF WITH STONES. HIS BODY WAS COVERED WITH CUTS AND SCARS. HE WORE NO CLOTHES, SATAN HAD STRIPPED HIM OF EVERYTHING THAT HE HAD.
BUT WHEN JESUS PASSED BY ONE DAY, HE GOT SAVED AND THE BIBLE SAYS HE WAS FOUND CLOTHED AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND, SITTING AT HIS SAVIORS FEET.
MY FRIEND, WHEN THIS MAN GOT BORNED AGAIN, THERE WAS A DEFINITE CHANGE THAT ALL COULD SEE.
ILL. THOMAS JOHNSON - ALL DOPED UP, THINGS I CANT EVEN SAY...
BUT ONE DAY JESUS PASSED HIS WAY AND HIS LIFE WAS TOTALLY
TRANSFORMED.
I’M SIMPLY SAYING THAT WHEN YOU GET SAVED .......
A. NEIGHBOR’S - WILL NOTICE SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT THE WAY
YOU LOOK.
B. LADIES - WILL START TO LOOK LIKE LADIES AND NOT LIKE
SOMETHING OFF THE STREETS OF KANSAS CITY.
1. THE WAY YOU DRESS WILL START TO LOOK MORE MODEST.
2. THE MAKE-UP WILL CHANGE - IS MAKEUP A SIN ? IT IS A SIN NOT
TO WEAR IT FOR SOME. IF THE BARN NEEDS PAINTING THROW IT ON
THERE WILL BE A CHANGE ABOUT THE WAY THAT YOU LOOK.
C. MEN - WILL START TO LOOK LIKE MEN
EARINGS WILL COME OFF
NECKLACES WILL COME OFF
HAIR - WILL BE SHORT ENOUGH SO THAT PEOPLE CAN TELL YOU ARE
A MAN. MY FRIEND, WHEN YOU GET SAVED, JESUS CHRIST COMES IN AND BEGINS TO TRANSFORM THE WAY YOU LIVE AND THE WAY YOU LOOK BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE A CHANGE .......
C. IN THE THINGS YOU LOVE
IT BOTHERS ME THAT THOSE WHO PROFESS CHRIST AS THEIR SAVIOR AND YET YOU ALMOST HAVE TO DRAG THEM TO CHURCH. I AM WONDERING IF IT IS BECAUSE THEY ARE JUST PROFESSORS AND NOT POSSESSORS OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST.
UNFAITHFUL MEMBERS -
AND LET ME SAY TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE SITTING HERE THIS MORNING. IF YOU FIND IT EASY TO MISS OUT ON CHURCH WHEN THE DOORS ARE OPENED.... I THINK I WOULD START TO CHECK OUT MY SPIRITUAL CONDITION AND MAKE SURE THAT I WAS A POSSESSOR AND NOT JUST A PROFESSOR OF CHRIST.
DAVID: I WAS GLAD WHEN THEY SAID UNTO ME LET US GO TO THE HOUSE
OF THE LORD. ONE THING HAVE I DESIRED AND THAT WILL I
SEEK AFTER, THAT I MAY DWELL IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD
FOREVER.
HEY, WHEN I KNOW SUNDAY IS APPROACHING, I GET A LITTLE UNEASY, WHY ? BECAUSE I KNOW THAT PREACHING TIME IS NEAR. AND MY FRIEND AS A BORN AGAIN CHRISTIAN, THAT OUGHT TO EXCITE YOUR SOUL.
AND WHEN I HAVE TO BEG AND PLEAD WITH PEOPLE - CHURCH MEMBERS, OUT ON VISITATION TO COME BACK, I AM WONDERING IF THEY ARE NOT JUST PROFESSORS AND NOT POSSESSORS. MY FRIEND WHEN YOU GET SAVED, THERE WILL BE A LOVE FOR THE PREACHING OF THE WORD OF GOD.
SO FIRST OF ALL, THERE WILL BE NO CHANGE FOR THOSE WHO ARE JUST PROFESSORS.
II. THERE WILL BE NO CHARITY
HOW CAN A GOD OF LOVE COME INTO THE HEART OF A PERSON AND THAT LOVE NEVER BE MADE MANIFEST IN SOME WAY ? I TELL YOU IT CANNOT HAPPEN. THERE MUST BE AN EVIDENCE OF LOVE IN YOUR LIFE. MY FRIEND IF YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR THERE WILL BE NO LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR THE....
A. LOST - THIS IS WHAT BOTHERS ME ABOUT THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE AVAILABLE FOR SOULWINNING ON SATURDAY MORNINGS AND YET YOU NEVER SHOW UP. I AM WONDERING IF YOU ARE NOT JUST A PROFESSOR. HEY, IF THERE IS A LACK OF LOVE FOR THE LOST THERE IS SOMETHING DRASTICALLY WRONG IN YOUR LIFE.
I AM TELLING YOU THIS MORNING, IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A DESIRE, A PASSION TO SEE PEOPLE PLUCKED FROM THE FIRES OF HELL, YOU ARE NOT BORNED AGAIN AND YOU ARE NOT SAVED.
THERE MUST BE A CHARITY FOR...
B. THE BRETHREN - I JOHN 3:15
WHOSOEVER HATETH HIS BROTHER IS A MURDERER: AND YE KNOW THAT NO MURDERER HATH ETERNAL LIFE ABIDING IN HIM.
MY FRIEND IF YOU ARE A POSSESSOR OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THERE MUST BE A LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN. THERE IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT THE FAMILY OF GOD. THERE IS SOMETHING I FIND JOYUS ABOUT HANGING OUT WITH GOD’S PEOPLE. ARE WE PERFECT, ARE WE SINLESS, HEAVENS NO, BUT I WOULD RATHER RUN WITH THE PEOPLE OF GOD THAN WITH THE SAME CROWD THAT I USE TO RUN WITH BEFORE I GOT SAVED.
AND IF YOU STILL PREFER TO RUN WITH THE SAME gODLESS CROWD THAT YOU DID BEFORE YOU SUPPOSEDLY GOT SAVED.... I AM WONDERING ARE YOU JUST A PROFESSOR AND NOT A POSSESSOR ?
IF THERE IS NO DESIRE TO FIND GOOD GODLY FRIENDS TO RUN WITH THEM AND FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM, SOMETHING IS WRONG.
ILL. BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER
ILL. A CAT DON’T RUN WITH A DOG
AND A CHRISTIAN HAS NO BUSINESS RUNNING WITH THE DEVIL AND HIS CROWD.
THERE MUST BE A LOVE FOR THE BRETHREN, THERE MUST BE A CHARITY FOR....
C. THE BLESSED HOPE 2 TIM. 4
THE APOSTLE PAUL THERE IN THE MAMERTINE PRISON WROTE TO TIMOTHY AND TOLD HOW THOSE THAT LONG FOR THE APPEARING OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THEY WILL SOMEDAY RECEIVE A CROWN OF RIGHTEOUS-NESS.
WHAT WAS PAUL SAYING ? THERE WILL BE A LOVE FOR THE BLESSED HOPE IF YOU ARE A POSSESSOR OF JESUS CHRIST.
I KNOW SOME OF YOU HERE THIS MORNING, THE VERY THOUGHT OF CHRIST JESUS COMING AGAIN - GIVES YOU AN UNEASY FEELING DOWN DEEP INSIDE. AND I AM WONDERING IF IT IS BECAUSE YOU ARE REALLY NOT JUST PROFESSING CHRIST ?
MY FRIEND, IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, THERE OUGHT TO BE A LONGING IN YOUR HEART TO SEE THE ONE WHO DIED ON THE CROSS AND SAVED YOUR SOUL.
NOT ONLY IS THERE NO CHANGE, CHARITY....
III. THERE IS NO CHASTISEMENT HEB 12:6 - 8
MY FRIEND IF YOU ARE A CHRISTIAN, LIVING OUT OF THE WILL OF GOD AND OFF INTO THE PIT OF SIN, THERE MUST BE CHASTENING FROM GOD ALMIGHTY.
AND LET ME JUS SAY THAT GOD HAS ALL KINDS OF PADDLES HE CAN USE
TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. THERE MAY BE A.....
A. LACK OF JOY - DAVID
B. LACK OF PEACE -
C. ILLNESS
D. FINANCIAL DIFFICULTIES
E. JOB DEMOTION
GOD KNOWS HOW TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. AND IF YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING, YOU CANNOT WRONG CHRIST, CHRUCH OR A CHRISTIAN AND GET AWAY WITHOUT EXPERIENCING THE CHASTENING HAND OF GOD, UNLESS YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR AND NOT A POSSESSOR.
IF YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING CLAIMING TO BE SAVED AND YOU...
1. GO HOME AND TALK BAD ABOUT THE PASTOR
2. RUN DOWN OTHER CHRISTIANS
3. CURSE THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST: AND THERE IS NO CHASTISEMENT
THEN MARK IT DOWN FRIEND, YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BORNED AGAIN.
ILL. LOGAN
MARK IT DOWN FRIEND, YOU CANNOT RAISE YOUR HAND AGAINST THE MAN OF GOD AND GET AWAY WITH IT.
ILL. J. SMITH PREACHER WAS WITNESSING TO ANOTHER MAN
MY FRIEND, IF YOU ARE HERE THIS MORNING AND YOU THINK THAT YOU CAN CURSE GOD AND USE HIS SON’S NAME IN VAIN AND GET AWAY WITH IT, YOU GOT ANOTHER THOUGHT COMING. YOU SAY I HAVE DONE IT BE
FORE AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.... I WOULD NOT ADVISE YOU TO DO IT AGAIN !
EX. 20:7
THE LORD WILL NOT HOLD HIM GUILTLESS THAT TAKETH HIS NAME IN VAIN.
IN OTHER WORDS, PAYDAY IS COMING SOMEDAY FOR YOU. AND IF YOU CAN DO IT AND GET AWAY WITHOUT BEING CHASTENED OF THE LORD, THEN YOU MY FRIEND ARE A PROFESSOR AND NOT A POSSESSOR.
NOT ONLY WILL THERE BE NO CHANGE, CHARITY, CHASTENING
IV. THERE WILL BE NO COMFORT JOHN 14:16
JESUS GAVE HIS DISCIPLES THE PROMISE OF THE COMFORTER JUST BEFORE HE LEFT AND WENT BACK TO HEAVEN. AND MY FRIEND WITHOUT THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING ON THE INSIDE OF YOUR HEART, THERE WILL NEVER BE ANY COMFORT.
IF YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR, THERE WILL ALWAYS SEEM LIKE THERE IS SOMETHING MISSING IN YOUR LIFE.
1. NO DESIRE TO BE AT CHURCH
2. NO DESIRE TO READ BIBLE
3. NO DESIRE TO BE WITH CHRISTIANS
IF YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR: THERE WILL ALWAYS BE....
1. A VOID - SOMETHING MISSING
2. NO LASTING PEACE
MY FRIEND, IF YOU FIND THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS DOUBTING YOUR SALVATION - AND IT SEEMS AS IF THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU HAVE JUST NEVER GOT SETTLED WITH GOD.
I AM WONDERING IF THAT COULD NOT BE THE HOLY SPIRIT SAYING THAT YOU ARE JUST A PROFESSOR.
YOU SEE FRIEND WHEN YOU GET SAVED, GOD GIVES YOU A PEACE THAT PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING.
ILL. OCT. 18TH 1995
AND IF THERE IS NEVER ANY PEACE, NEVER ANY COMFORT IN YOUR SOUL, I AM WONDERING IF YOU ARE NOT JUST A PROFESSOR OF CHRIST AND NOT A POSSESSOR.
V. THERE IS NO CLEANSING JN. 13:11
YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN
I CAN IMAGINE AS THE LORD JESUS SAT THERE WITH HIS DISCIPLES AS HE LOOKED AT EACH AND EVERYONE AND SAID THOSE WORDS... I AM WONDERING WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH THEIR MIND.
BUT LETS BRING IT TO OUR DAY AND TIME. IF THE LORD JESUS CAME AND STOOD BEHIND THIS PULPIT AND BEGAN TO LOOK DOWN EACH AND EVERY ROW AT EACH AND EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT WAS SITTING HERE THIS MORNING. I AM WONDERING IF JESUS WITH THOSE EYES OF DISCERNMENT WOULD NOT HAVE TO SAY " YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN."
YOU PROFESS TO BE CLEAN, YOU PROFESS TO BE A CHRISTIAN, BUT JESUS IS SAYING YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN.
1. YOU SAY BUT I HAVE BEEN BAPTISED
2. I AM A CHURCH MEMBER
3. I READ MY BIBLE RELIGIOUSLY
4. I AM A SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER.... YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN
MANY SHALL COME TO ME IN THAT DAY SAYING LORD, LORD.....
JESUS: THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT....
IT JUST SEEMS LOGICAL THAT I AM SAVED AFTER ALL I DO.... THERE IS A WAY THAT SEEMETH RIGHT, BUT THE END THEREOF ARE THE WAYS OF DEATH.
YE ARE NOT ALL CLEAN.... A. WAVA B. REGINA C. JOANNA, RICKY AS WELL AS SEVERAL OTHERS. THEY PROFESSED CHRIST, THEY LOOKED LIKE A CHRISTIAN, BUT THEY DID NOT POSSESS SALVATION.
