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.
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If I or any other pastor of any church ever starts preaching a "Watered down Gospel to please men"---the Bible calls them "false teachers"& DAMNABLE !!!---each of us as believers are responsible to make sure we are in a church where our Pastor stands on the absolute truth of God’s Word !!!
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In Galatians 1:8---Paul warns us like this---But though we---or an angel from heaven---preach any other gospel unto you that that which we have preached unto you---let him be ACCURSED !!!
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This is what God says about a GOOD Pastor---Hebrews 13:17 says---Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
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In other words---if a pastor sees someone straying off God’s path and falling into sin---it is his responsibility as a church leader---to use God’s word to correct wrong thinking and help them get right
with God.
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The Bible says that we are all a part of the "body of Christ"
(the church)---and we need to be willing to accept correction when necessary---because the church leaders are watching over our souls---Amen !!!
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According to the Bible---if a Pastor fails to share God’s truth and correct someone who is falling into sin---God will hold them accountable for their souls !!!
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Have you hopped on board the Heavenly Cannonball---or are you still on the Hellfire Express ???
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The Hellfire Express is the other train we’re gonna talk
about taday !!!
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If we think about it---every one of us is automatically on board the Hellfire Express---every person born on this earth is on the Hellfire Express on thar way ta hell !!!
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The Hellfire Express is headin down the tracks ta hell with a full head of steam---loaded to capacity !!!
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The Hellfire Express is adding more train cars every day to keep up with the demand !!!
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Isaiah 5:14 tells us that so many are n board the Hellfire Express that "Hell has enlarged" ta make room for them all !!!
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Most of the human race is aboard the Hellfire Express !!!
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Why are so many people headin fer Hell ???
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The Bible explains trhat in Matthew 7:13-14---Broad is the gate that leads to destruction---but narrow is the way that leads to life---and FEW there be that find it !!!
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So how many will find the way to heaven ??? Many ???
---or FEW ???
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The GOOD news is---we don’t have to stay on the Hellfire
Express !!! Amen !!!
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We can jump off that train at any time---but it’s our choice
alone !!!
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Thar are folks that jump off that train---but they put off gettin on the Heavenly Cannonball !!!
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They are the folks that want ta go ta Heaven---but they want the world and the flesh too---they want it both ways !!!
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II Corinthians 6:14 explains it like this---what fellowship does righteousness have with unrighteousness ??? What does light and dark have in common ???
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For a Christian to want it both ways is like tryin ta mix oil n’ water together---ya can be blame sure it ain’t gonna work !!! Amen !!!
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Yet a lotta folks sittin in our churches taday figger they can do just that !!!
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They figger if they’re good folks and go ta church every Sunday---they’ll be just fine !!!
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Jesus sees things a might different---Revelation 3:15-16 says---I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would that thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth !!!
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In other words---trying to have it both ways literally sickens the Lord to the point of gagging !!!
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The sad part is this---most of those who try ta have God and the World too---figger they’re still goin ta heaven---cause God knows they’re just weak human beings and they just can’t help
thermselves !!!
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These lukewarm Christians may have jumped off the Hellfire Express---but when they die---Satan has thar ticket waitin for them---cause God says yer either for me or you’re against me !!!
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In other words---the Devil owns the fence !!! Amen !!!
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Which train are we on board this morning ???
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If we’re still tryin ta sit on the fence---our train ticket ta Hell is all printed up---waitin for us !!!
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The Bible says if we haven’t given our hearts tho the Lord chosen FOR Christ---to put it simply---we’re actually against Him---God wants us HOT or COLD---not LUKEWARM !!!
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Some haven’t even made the choice to jump off the
Hellfire Express !!!
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The Hellfire Express is chuggin down the track full throttle---maybe yer afrain ta jump---maybe yer afraid ta let go of the things of this world !!!
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Matthew 16: 26 tells it like this---For what is a man profitted---if he gain the whole world---and lose his own soul ?---or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul ?
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The Bible says---NOW is the ay of Salvation---NOW---not tommorrow---we have no guarantees in this world !!!
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If you haven’t given your life to Christ---don’t leave here today til you make things right with God !!!
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Lets Pray
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Altar Call
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Closing Hymn
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Departing Song (Happy Trails)
