And He died to make men holy,
let us die to make men free, while God is marching on. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah. Glory, glory, hallelujah! His truth is marching on. It is a shame that certain hymns
have been only associated with certain things and times and
seasons and so forth. We are about to be about to hear
the singing of several great hymns over and over and over
again at this time of year. Hymns such as Hark the Herald
Angels Sing, Joy to the World, which are great hymns, great
hymns of worship and praise, but the average person will only
associate them with Christmas and sing the words that they
don't have a clue what they mean. Let us not be guilty of that.
All right, turn back to 1 Corinthians 16. As said before, this is a
Bible study and we must deal with every verse. I want to faithfully
deal with every verse, not leave any out. But we will dwell, at
the end of this message, we will dwell on two verses, verses 13
and 14. Now the Apostle Paul is closing
his letter to the church at Corinth, but it's not just to them, it's
to the church everywhere, to the church at Rocky Mountain.
This is to you and I, to you and I. And he says in verses
one and two, concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given
order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. On the first day
of the week, let every one of you, men, women, young people,
every one of you lay by him in store. That is, put it up, prepared
to give it as God hath prospered him. Let there be no gatherings
when I come. That is, that we don't have to
take a collection up later. Every one of you on the first
day of the week he says lay by everyone concerning the collection
for the site. Now these. Gifts these collections
they were taking up. Were to help out the poor saints
at Jerusalem. What he. Is saying there is going
to take this gift there to the church there who had many poor
people in it. He was writing to Carruth, which
was a very rich city and all the people in it. And most of
the members of that church were very well off. That's who he's
writing to. As are we. So this applies to
us. It's for the collection of the
saint. Now, what we do, we do it as unto the Lord. For his
glory, his honor and appreciation to him and thankfulness to him
and all that, but we don't We don't give God anything. God
doesn't need anything. Right? He said, if I were hungry,
I wouldn't ask you. I don't need money. He said, all the gold and silver
is mine. You may hear these religions today talk about how much God
needs you to do this and do that. No, he doesn't. God is infinitely rich. God is
all, has all. He doesn't need anything from
us. The God's people did so that's who it's for you say what we
do we do as under the Lord but it's it's. God doesn't need our
money to continue his work no sir. But what but we got to pay our
electric bills and all that. Right AEP demands that they that
the bill be paid. Well. First day of the week,
it says, let every one of you lay by in store, that there be
no gatherings. We're not going to take a collection
up later, but do it with forethought. That's a good thing, isn't it?
To do something with forethought, plan it ahead of time. You had
it in mind to do it. You put it up for that purpose
and that intention. It reveals thoughtfulness and
so forth, care. We pass the plate here we have
for years that's the way where I grew up that's where they did
it there it's just the way you take up money because we're human
we'll we'll not forget. That's the reason however I don't
much like it. I don't much like it carrying
the plates down the middle and everybody and people visitors
come in and see and that's what they associate with religion
today you know that's why I don't like it. What they associate
with religion today is passing the plate. Some places don't
do it, some churches don't do it. They have a box back at the
back for that reason. But it's just a means of taking
up money. And you know we don't do it,
that this church is not about money. Nevertheless, God gives
orders to his people concerning the care of his church, doesn't
he? Let every one of you, young and
old alike, do you make any money? here any money and allow it to
whatever. Everyone. I don't think that. First day first day that means. That's Sunday after Friday payday
in. My body lay up my back. Why why
should we do this why should we. Give. To the cause of Christ church
and the gospel of the gospel why. Well let me ask you. How important
is the gospel to you. How important what does the gospel
mean to you what does this church mean to you. How important is
it that this place continue. What does it mean to your family
your children. You know that most of what your
children are going to get from this book is going to be from
right here. They're not going to hear it out there in the world.
They're not even going to hear it in a so-called Christian school
if you send them to whatever that is. They're not going to
do it. They're going to hear the absolute
truth. You want it to go on. You want
this to go on. You want it to continue. Well,
see that it does. That's what he said. We read, you know, we read. Let me let me give you an illustration.
Let me ask you this, can you live without this gospel? Can
you live? Could you go on in life? Without this gospel being here
in it, without this church, without these people. I hope you mean
that I believe you do. There's an elderly woman just
passed away a member of the church at Madisonville talking about
Maurice on the phone yesterday. Miss Coleman. Anybody remember
Miss Coleman from down there. What a wonderful woman. She was
like Ellen Fralin to us. Just a wonderful woman. I have fond memories of that
lady. Ninety three years old. She just passed away. If those
doors were open, she was there. She was there, sat right there,
right where it gave in second row. I don't know how many years,
40 more years. Somebody asked her just a few
days ago, her health was failing and she was not able to worship,
attend worship. And they asked her, they said
to her, Sister Coleman, you've been real awful faithful all
these years. Awful faithful. And she says,
well, and this was her reply. Listen to this. She said, well, I ought to. She said, I need to. She said,
and I want to. Is that what the gospel means
to you? Ought to. It's our reasonable
service, isn't it? By the mercies of God, Paul wrote
in Romans 12, present your bodies living, so you ought to. Reasonable service. Need to. You need to hear this gospel. I want to. Isn't that wonderful? Brother
Maurice broke down when he told me that. Lost a dear sister. Ought to. What a testimony. We reap what we sow, scripture
said. We reap what we sow. We sow to the flesh, we'll get
rich. But then what do we have? Sow
to the spirit, we'll get rich. Rich in faith toward God. Which
is better. There is he that hath much that
hath nothing. Scripture said. And there's he
that hath little that's great treasure. So sparingly reaps
sparingly. That's just what you pay for. That's true in everything. You
know there's no bargains. Nothing's free. Nothing's free. Set salvation. Right. We don't give anything that Christ
gave all that salvation one hundred percent of the grace of the Lord
Jesus Christ is work freely given to us. Talking about this principle
of getting out of something what you put into it that's what he
said so sparingly you reach fairly. Give much you get much. Prove
your love. That's what he's saying. Prove
your love. Ever want to prove it? Man, you love your wives? Prove it. Talks cheap and real cheap. I love you, honey. And spend
it all on yourself. She knows better. God sure does. I love the gospel. And it almost. God's not my. Not my. Prove your love. That's
what the scripture says. That's the principle. Prove your
love. And the next verse. He gives some instruction, next
verses. He gives some instruction concerning
sending a missionary gift. As I told you, they were taking
up a gift for the church of Jerusalem. And Paul intended to come and
stay with them a while on his way somewhere. Let's read on
verses three through seven. When I come, whoever you approve
by your letters, whoever you say, go send this gift to Jerusalem. Verse four, if it be me, I'll
go with them. They go with me. I will come
unto you, he says, when I pass through Macedonia. I do pass
through Macedonia. It may be that I will abide. Yeah, and winter with you like
to stay all winter with you, that you may bring me on my journey,
that you may see me on wherever I go. And I will not see you
now, by the way, but I trust to carry a while with you if
the Lord permit. Here's the point I want us to
notice. Paul says, no, this is where
I'm going. This is what I'm going to do.
And I can't come now, but I'll come later. And I intend to go
and I'm because I am going through that. If the Lord. Look at James with me, the book
of James chapter four. OK, the apostle James says this
emphatically that God says it through James. I need to quit
talking like saying like these men are the ones that said this. I'm trying to learn that. I love
Brother Todd and I love where it says in Romans nine. The scriptures say it to Pharaoh. For this purpose, I've read you
ever read that the scripture. No, Moses said, No, God said
it. The scriptures say. The scriptures
say God's words, James chapter four, he the Lord emphatically
tells us that whatever we intend to do, wherever we intend to
go, We should precede everything by saying, God willing. Now, listen to me. We're all
guilty of this, we're human, but that doesn't excuse it. James 4, look at verses 13 through
16. He says, go to now, you that
say today or tomorrow we'll go into such a city and continue
there a year and buy and sell and get gain. You don't know
what shall be on tomorrow. What is your life? It is even
a vapor. Some of you not with me right
now. I want you to ask the Lord to grab a hold of you, OK? This
is a vital message. I don't care how many years you've
been here or who you are, including me. And forgive me for saying that,
but maybe you'll thank me later for it. This is important. What is your life? It's a vapor.
It appears for a little time and then vanishes away. You ought
to say, if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that.
Every one of us ought to say that, ought to perceive that.
Even a believer should not presume upon anything. Though we're absolutely
certain the Lord's going to provide for us, we ask Him for it. Give
us this day our daily bread, right? Why? Because we're ever
mindful of Him that way. We're no different in the world
out there than we just presume upon things coming. Right? So he tells us as believers,
you ask the Lord for, I know He's going to, God's never, His
seed has never been begging bread, never, and never will. So do
I just not ask? No, you better ask him for it.
Keep your mind on him. It makes you mindful of him.
So the world doesn't give God a thought, but he keeps feeding
them. He said, I've girded you though you didn't know me. I've
fed you, I've clothed you though you didn't know me, didn't acknowledge
me. Don't let us be guilty of that. And we can make our plans
and we should. But don't make a plan without
preceding it by this, God willing. That's where we differ, he said. That's where we differ in the
world. God willing, the people of this world like to boast of
what they're going to do tomorrow, and there's no promise of tomorrow. And so, but not us. Let us not
be like that fool. I want to do this, I want to
do that, when today our soul might be required of us. No,
no, no. This is why the scripture always
says today, today, today, today, today, while it's called today.
Today is the day, right? This is the only thing we're
sure of is right now, right this moment. And we should, we can
make our plans, yet temper them, all our plans, temper them with
God willing. And we should live every day
as if there were no tomorrow. You know that? Every day, no
tomorrow. Anybody in here who doesn't know
Christ? Man, you're in danger. That's foolish. You might be
dead tomorrow. Down in verse 22, it says, If
any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema maranatha.
I didn't ask you if you were a Christian. I didn't ask somebody
to go to church. I didn't ask somebody if they
made a profession of faith. But right here it says, any man
who loves not the Lord Jesus Christ, he's going to go to hell.
She's going to go to hell. Meaning, what does that mean?
Needs Christ, knows Christ, believes Christ, loves Christ. Loves to
hear about him. Loves to worship him. When you
love somebody, it's known. How do you know it? You talk
with them. You walk with them. You love to talk about them. You love them. You love their
person. You love it when other people are talking about them.
It's very easy to see. Very easy to see. Amen. Love not the Lord Jesus
Christ. Really love. God knows. He's going to hell. Ask the Lord to set your affection
on things above, where Christ sits at the right hand of God.
Make no boast of tomorrow, today while it's called today, now,
today, today, today. Today is a day of salvation.
Go back to our text now, 1 Corinthians 16. Now Paul, knows assuredly the necessity
of going to Ephesus. He says that, I'm going to Ephesus,
I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. Verses 8 and 9, a
great door, he says, is effectually opened unto me, but there are
many adversaries. I will tarry, I'm going to stay
at Ephesus, but a great door is effectually opened unto me.
Now, sometimes it's very, very clear what the Lord would have
us to do and where he would have us to go. Sometimes it's very
clear to me. When we were to come here, very
clear what the Lord opens. He opens. He opens and nobody can shut
what the Lord shuts. No man can open and whatever
the Lord opens, you can confidently say like Paul did there, there's
a great door open. I'm positive. You can confidently
say I'm going here and I'm going there. And as I told you us coming
here it was just no doubt was there. God made it clear to me
and my wife. Everything everything pointed
to that so we could say or even somebody asked where are you
going we're moving to Rocky Mountain. We did. Sometimes you don't know
until it turns out all right. But let me give you another example.
You may remember this. Rick Williams there was going
to Orlando, Florida, to help the
folks there work on their church house. They were building a new
church house down there. And Brother Greg and the folks
down there just were certain it was the Lord's will. It's
obvious now, isn't it? That was the Lord's will for
them to build that building. God has added greatly. Well,
they needed carpenters and needed help, and people were going from
all over, and we got one of the best carpenters in the church
at 13th Street, paid his finances, and we sent him on the way, too. I was absolutely positive that
he's going to make it down there. He got on an airplane. Anything
can happen on an airplane. I wasn't worried a bit. Honestly, I wasn't a bit worried.
I told him, I said, a squadron of F-16 fighter jets couldn't
shoot that passenger jet down with you on it, going down there
to work on that building. No, sir, couldn't shoot her down.
I know you're going. He did. But now I told him, Rick,
on the way back, You might want to take a bus,
because I'm just not sure. Once your work is finished, that's what Paul, in a sense,
is saying. There's some things you can be
absolutely certain about. But still, you say, Lord, will
it? The Lord will. The Lord will. Look at verses
10 and 11. He says, Timothy is going to
come, if Timothy come, if he's with you. They may be with you
without fear. He works the work of the Lord,
as I do. What Paul loved his fellow preachers,
he loved Timothy, he loved Apollos, he loved these men. He really
did. And it showed. He's always with
them, always talked about them, talking to them. And Timothy
is a beloved gospel preacher whom Paul wanted to go to Corinth,
wanted to preach to these people. And so he says, He says, see
that he has nothing to worry about while he's with you. You
see that? See that he has nothing to worry
about. While I was away, you remember Brother Dan? While I
was away, I called Dan up, and now he's faithful. He's going
to see to the needs. But you know, my dad told the
treasurer of 13th Street for 50 years to write a check to
the business. He's going to do it Russell's
like clockwork he's going to do I know he's going to do it
but. They did it anyway. So don't take it personally.
But then I know you are you're faithful but. Paul showing proving his love
when this man is a gospel preacher and see that his knee be generous.
Be generous with him. See, he has nothing to worry
about. No need. And Apollos, verse 12, our brother, oh, I
greatly desired him to come unto you with the brethren. I was
just talking to Brother Maurice, and oh, I love that man. Don't
you? Those of you who know him, he's
been a faithful gospel preacher for so many years. Don't you
love Maurice? The old southern gentleman. I told him, Brother Maurice,
I sure would like you to come see us again. I know the folks
would. I know the folks would like to see you again. I know
you'd like to see Scott again here at Scott, wouldn't you?
Jack Shank can see him, and on and on. This is what Paul did
to Apollos. Oh, I wish Apollos could come preach to you. But
his will was not at all to come at this time. He will come when
he shall have convenient time. In other words, everything is
according to Apollos's will. No, no. No. God's will and directing that
man. The lot is cast into the lap,
Proverbs 16, verse 36. But the whole disposing thereof
is of the Lord. The whole disposing is of the
Lord. So he says that and now the Lord through Paul gives some
short. And here's where I want to dwell
for the next 10 minutes. All right. The Lord gives some short yet
full exhortations to everybody in the church, you, me. Current,
everybody. Are you with? All right, look at it first.
13th watch. Watch. You ever told your children you
tell them this all the time. Be careful. You wouldn't love them if you
didn't tell them that all the time. Honey watch out now. Be
careful. Watch what we say is here keep
your eyes open. Keep your ears open. Watch like
a watchman be on the lookout. Says it's everybody young people
listen now young people listen to me just a little bit. All
right. I know you've been here a while. You've been here feels
like 24 hours. Listen you better watch out now. A lot to watch out for. Watch out. Turn with me to 1
Peter. If you're watching, you'll turn.
1 Peter 4. 1 Peter chapter 4. I know you all tell your children
that. Watch out. Be careful. Watch what you're
doing. Our Father tells His children this. Watch. Be aware. Be on
the lookout. Keep your eyes open. Why? There's
nets. There's pits. There's temptations. There's
dangers. There's snares. There's enticements. everything
that's in the world. The world is a perilous place. Nearly everything is a danger
to the believer in this world, you know? Nearly everything is
a pitfall on every hand. Nearly everything. Look at 1
Peter 4, verse 7. He says, The end of all things
is at hand. Now, Peter said that two thousand
years ago. How much more is it now? Well,
he said that to some people back then, didn't he? The end of all
things is at hand. Well, it was. For every one of those people
are gone. It's the end. That was the end for them. And
I can confidently say to everybody in here, the end's at hand. I
don't care if you're fifteen or seventy five years and. Our father tells his children
be aware we look at the on the lookout keep your eyes open all
these things that everything's a danger the end is soon read
on verse seven be there for sober and watch unto prayer be sober
the word sober Means exactly what you think it means. Somebody
that's not sober is intoxicated. And we can be intoxicated with
something other than alcohol. As a matter of fact, most people
are. There's people who've never touched
liquor in their life and make great boasts of it. Pharisees
that they be. But there's some who've never
touched liquor yet are intoxicated with many things. Overcome by
drunk in this world, intoxicated by people. She's my life. Oh, I live for
her. Oh, do you? She's going to die. And then
what? You got to. All set for me to live. It's
Christ. I live for him all the time and
I don't know what. People are intoxicated with things. Just absolutely drunk with Insatiable
desire, that's what a drunk keeps drinking, keeps drinking, loves
the feeling, keeps drinking, keeps drinking. Gotta have more,
I love this feeling. These things, boy, when they're
gone, the feeling's gone. And you're more miserable than
when you start. The scriptures talks about the
deceitfulness of riches. The deceitfulness of riches that
promises happiness and joy and never delivers deceitful, deceitful. Relationships. There's only one relationship
that delivers. It's only one relationship, only one husband
that will never leave you. There's only one family worth
really nurturing. That's right. There's only one
family. We're going to have. A family
reunion someday. And every member of the family
is going to be there. We've never in all my years had a mayhem
family reunion. There's a bunch of those ornery
people I don't ever want to see again. They're rotten, no good God haters.
But buddy, we have a Christ family reunion every Sunday. I got aunts and uncles and cousins,
and I don't care if I ever see them again, honestly. I got a brother. Well, God have
mercy on his soul. But we're going to have a family
reunion someday. And it's going to last forever. Family of God. God's family. people intoxicated, be sober,
watch under prayer. Listen to me. Scripture says
this over and over again. Watch under prayer. The only
way you will watch the only way we will watch it is if we ask
the Lord to keep us watching. That's what that means. Watch
under prayer. The only way we'll keep our eyes wide open to the
pits, to the snares, to the temptations. The only way we won't fall to
the slightest temptation is if the Lord keeps us from it. That's why he says, watch on
the prayer. You can't take one step without falling in a ditch. You know, we can't take one step
without falling to some temptation. So he says, watch out, young
people. Oh. Watch out. Watch out, keep your
eyes open, your ears open, you conscience, the Lord's given
you a conscience. Why? There's a reason for that. Keep you from killing yourself
or following those that will kill you. Set a watch. And David
prays this. Lord, set a watch over my mouth. Watch unto prayer. Lord, keep
me. Deliver us from evil. The Lord tells us to pray that.
Lord, deliver us from evil. I'll run to it. I'll not only
fall in it, but I'll lay hold on it. Can't help, like we said, your
thoughts and all that, but when lust has conceived, Lord, keep
me from conceiving it. Keep me from laying hold of the
temptation. Keep me from the evil one. Lead me not into temptation. That's where I'll go. Where I'll
go. And then he says, set a watch
over my lips, my mouth. Lord said, this is this is my
biggest problem. This wound just kills this Separates
this divides this. It's not only hurts others, but
ends up coming back on me. Lord said a watch on what make
me watch what I say. Watch. We could go on and on
with that, couldn't we? Watch. Watch. Watch out now, young people,
watch out. This world will take you down
with it. Watch out now. Especially those
who have made a profession, watch out. Young people, the world
will take you down with it. Young men, young men, I'm talking
under 50 at least, watch out. You got house, that family of
yours, that job, all of that, you watch out that it doesn't
take your mind off of Christ. Whole lots of young men have
left him for their family of career, older men and women. Watch out. But you don't become
complacent and presumptuous in your profession. I'm old now. And I've. Fight's over. Oh, is it? Watch out. Watch out. I'll just drift on. No, Paul
was in his 60s when he said, I press. toward the mark of the
prize. He said, I forget that which
is behind. I forget yesterday. I'm a needy sinner today. I need
this gospel today. You know, if anything, older
people, you need the gospel now more than ever. Facing eternity
tomorrow, literally tomorrow for some of you. You need it
now more than ever, don't you? Gladys? It won't be long. Charles? It's here, buddy. It is here. You need this gospel
now more than ever. You mean I'm leaving here forever? Yes, sir. Tell me again. Tell me again, my hope. Tell
me again, one more time, because I'm still fearful. I'm still
worried. I still have some doubts. Would
you tell me one more time how I'm going to get the glory? OK,
I will. Christ. Is your hope? But trust him and him alone. Look at the next thing, stand
fast in the faith, stand fast in the faith. If you're in the. Stand fast in it now more than
ever. I was going to have you turn, but
I'll just quote it to you now more than ever. Every one of us need to stand
firm in the truth. Now, more than ever, when Scripture
says in the last days, perilous times shall come, turn away their
ears from the truth. Nobody wants to hear about God
being sovereign. Nobody wants to hear about God
being just. Nobody wants to hear about God's sovereign, electing,
saving grace. Nobody wants to hear about Christ's
righteousness. Nobody wants to hear about that.
Turn away their ears from the truth. And turn under fables
tell me how much God needs me tell me how what a good boy and
girl I've been all my Christian life tell me there tell me all
that that's what I want to hear me up. Nobody wants to hear that now
more than ever. Stand true. Stand fast. And fast. Never did it been a
day more against the truth and now never. Folks, there's not
one 100 percent of the population that believes this gospel. I
don't care what the. Surveys say. Just go tell people who God is
and say. Well. And look at this last thing,
we quit, you like me, look at this, everybody quit like quit,
you like me and be strong with you like me. This is talking
to men and women, but especially men, men. Oh, we better hear
that. We better hear that. Quit you.
That means conduct yourself. Act like a man. Quit you like
men, there's three things here I want us to consider that we
quit ourselves. In the church, that is, as the
body of Christ in the family. And in the world. Quit you like
men act like men conduct yourself. like men, like women, adults,
mature believers in the church, in the church as the body of
Christ, as a member of Christ's body, men, men, elders, though
we don't have, you might not have the title, yet you are. Teacher of somebody. Quit yourselves
like men. We're going to take the mantle
the mantle of responsibilities in this body of Christ as men
as you would at home. We take so to speak the bull
by the horns at home or should. As you would at home do it here.
See the needs that are here and there are many. And do it. But you like me lead in the church. Be an example. And faith and conduct. And charity
hospitality do it. Quit yourself like me act like
me in the church leaders of the church. Now I told my wife recently
that I used to. Feel guilty about dealing with
this. Things like giving and service and all that because.
I feel very ashamed. of my lack of these things when
I was a young member of the church in my twenties. I feel very ashamed for my lack
of giving and my lack of service. There were many things to do
that I didn't. I was in my twenties. Now, a young man in his twenties
under the gospel for a few years. You can understand him not having
the wisdom And taking the responsibility, you can't doesn't excuse it. But it's understandable. Right. Doesn't excuse it, he has the
same he has the same Bible and same here in the same thing,
doesn't excuse it, but it's understandable. But now a young man in his 30s
and under the gospel tenure, 40s. 50s. Oh, it's time to act like a man. Time to act like a man. You ought to know some things
by being under the gospel a while. You ought to assume some responsibilities. You know, if I walk around my
house, if I've been married about ten years, I ought to see, you
know, that woman needs some help, doesn't she? Married 10 years,
you might see a little bit. Married 20 years, boy, you've
been married 30 years. Then you finally, she really
needs some help. And without her asking you, this
is exactly what this is saying. Act like a man. Treat yourself like men, women.
Act like a man. Assume the mantle of responsibility
in the church, in the family. In the family, this is not my
word, this is not my advice, this is God's word, quit you
like men. In the family, be first men, be first and foremost a
spiritual leader. Anybody can bring a paycheck
home. Anybody. There are men out there
that are better providers than we are. But be first and foremost a spiritual
leader, the high priest of your home, to your wife and your children.
The high priest. Lead, guide, direct your home
according to this book. Is this sound counsel? This is the whole counsel of
God. In the family, be first and foremost a spiritual leader. Lead, guide, direct, make decisions
how? For yourself, that's what a young
feller does. A young married man, that's all
he does. He's just married. He's got to
go home. And it's only the mercy and the
grace of God if that marriage lasts. Most of them don't. But now that you know something,
now that you're hearing this, quit yourself like a man. Spend everything you got on them.
Your time. Act like a married man. Do everything with the glory
of God in mind. Honey, I know this is what we
want. I know this is what both of us
want. But what does God say? This is what we need. We need
to seek the Lord's will in this thing. Honey, we've done it too
long without seeking His will. Now is the time. Need to act
like a man. Anybody need this but me? I don't
see much response here. I need this. Quit you like a
man. Stan, you and me, man. Talk to me. Act like a man. We need and we do it and we act
like a man and what... In the world. In the world. Quit yourselves like men. Be
strong in the world. Turn to this, I've never forgotten
this first time I read it. Isaiah 51. Isaiah 51. I remember reading this years
ago. I say I've never forgotten it. I wish I'd never forget. At least I've always remembered
where it is. Isaiah 51. Quit yourselves like men in the
world. Be strong. Are you tired of playing the
coward before this world? Anybody other than me? Religion is so bold and so brash
with their blasphemy. That's what most of it is, blasphemy.
They're bringing Jesus down. They've got Jesus and God like
a man and man like a God, and they're just bold and brash with
it. They go door to door with their blasphemy. And they'll
stand toe-to-toe with you and corner you and pigeonhole you
and collar you with their blasphemy. They're militant about it. I say, well, Scripture says it's
time for us to act like Elijah in the face of all these prophets
of Baal. You know what? Start with me, this preacher. But you like me. Look at verse
12 and 13. God says I even I am he that
comforted you who are now that now should be afraid of a man
that shall die and of the son of man which will be made as
grass and forget us the Lord thy maker. If anybody ought to be unafraid
of man, it ought to be us. Shouldn't it? This conviction by other than
me. But you like me. I'm going to be like Elijah before
the prophets of Baal be like Peter James and John. I love
I love to read that don't you? And I was standing before those
people that said that we're going to kill you if you keep this
up. And Peter. Now he was he had
never forgotten that time he renounced the Lord was a shame
that before a little girl. He's afraid to be known as a
disciple before a little maiden. He remembered that, but he's
standing before a crowd of people that had his life in their hands.
Did they? Did they? Did they? No, and Peter said,
they said, you better quit preaching this Nobody believes this. The
whole world hates this, and we do too, and you better quit this."
And he said, now whether it's right that we should obey man
or God, you tell me. We ought to obey God rather than
man. And you can kill these bodies, but you did what God determined
to be done. They're going to go about it, and they beat them.
Beat them up. And they went home rejoicing. Aw, quit you like me. Ain't nobody
gonna beat us up. Just not gonna happen. May come
to that. But I don't see it anytime soon.
What can they do to us? Huh? Blackball this church. It's blackballed
anyway. Nobody believes like you. Quit
that. Get off a rag. Be like Paul before Felix and
Agrippa. There's Felix and Agrippa up
there and all their riches and poshes and that. The whole court
and everybody in the world was behind them and all. Here's Paul
by himself. One man alone. By himself. In chains. Poor ragged man in chains. And
they're all laughing at him. And Paul says, you need to be
like I am. He's a fool. Yeah, he's a fool
for Christ's sake. We're going to see. We're going
to see. I'm sure we're going to see. He's on the Lord's side.
He really is. All this Christian religion out
there, all this stuff going on, it's an abomination to God. That blaspheming God Almighty
everywhere. That blaspheming Christ. It's time to act. to
tell them so. This really convicted me when
I studied it. Quit you like men. Act like a
man. Speak like a man. And he quits by saying, and we'll
quit by saying, let all your things be done with charity.
Verse fourteen, let everything be done with charity. What's
that mean? Do we really love this? This
is how it started out. Do we really love this gospel?
Do we really love God? Who loves God? Let me tell you
who loves God. It's the one that stands up for
his honor and his glory. Right? Who really loves God? It's the
one that stands up for his name's sake. I remember a man and I've told
you that years ago and they were not important. He was a manager in a body shop
dealer local car dealership member of the church at Ashland and
he was standing around with a bunch of we're working a bunch among
a bunch of co-workers and they were taking God's name and you
know And saying Jesus and God and people just taking his name. Anyway, this old fella, he had
all he could take. And finally, he went to a group
of them standing there and he said, fellas, if you stay out
of hell, it will be by calling upon that name that you're blaspheming
with right now. Now, that didn't win him any
friends. And it further castigated him and cast him out. Stephen said the same thing. And it says Jesus Christ stood
up. I love that. It says Jesus Christ
stood up who seated everybody else. And we'll see. The vengeance
is mine, I will pay. I love that. Do all things in
charity. Who loves God? Well, I say I
do. Who loves Christ? I say I do. Who loves God's people? Who really
loves us? Who is this family? Who is this?
Is this my family? I say it is. Show me. That's what James said. Show me. Show me. Show me. Quit yourselves like
men and women. Stand fast. Be sober. Stand fast in the faith. Be strong. Watch. Let everything be done out of
love. Lord, if I give my body to be burned, have not love. My reasonable servant. Where
would I be without this? Where would I be without this
gospel? Where would you be? Where would you be without this
gospel? If you never heard it, you wouldn't
know one another? You would have a husband or wife you have right
now you wouldn't be right here most of us be dead. Without God. This is worth it. First day of
the week. Lay it all aside and lay aside. So do you good all right in closing
let's say. Number. What is 393? 393, let's sing the first, in the
green hymnal, 393, sing the first and last verses, okay? 393, stand with first and last
verses only. Okay. I'm going to do this on the floor. Okay.