If you wish to follow along,
of course turn to Paul's epistle to the churches of Galatia, chapter
1. Galatians chapter 1, and I'll begin reading where I've been
kind of starting the past few weeks that I have been here.
Verse 6 of Galatians 1, and then I'll actually mention my text
when we get to it. that you are so soon removed
from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel, which is not another, but there be some that trouble
you and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we or an
angel from heaven preach any other gospel unto you than that
which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said
before, so say I now again. If any man preach any other gospel
unto you than that which ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men or
God? Or do I seek to please men? For
if I please men, I should not be the servant of Christ. Now
the next two verses are my text for this morning. But I certify
you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not
after man. For I neither received it of
man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus
Christ. Let me begin by saying God ordained
the gospel without any human consultation. And let me also
say that gospel preaching and its results never depend upon
the preacher or even the hearer. Both of these things are true.
But that's not Paul's meaning in verses 11 and 12. Paul, in
verses 11 and 12, is defending the gospel he had preached, and
I want you to note that. As we will get into this, God
willing, here in a moment, I'll try to make good on why I emphasize
that. Paul is defending the gospel
he had preached to these dear people. Infiltrators had come
in, not that they might, they had already come in. They had
hoodwinked or tricked the people. These infiltrators had come in
and they didn't just muddy the waters, Jack, they had poisoned
the waters. This is what a false gospel,
a false message does. It poisons the waters. Paul is
assuring these people, these dear people, that he is among
a small group, a small handful of men whom Christ had personally
taught in person. That's what he's talking about
in verses, specifically in verse 12. Now, let me try to go back
to those moments. There is no doubt that all who
receive the gospel receive it because of an act of God. There
is no doubt as to that. And the reliance upon it being
preached and even being heard and believed relies solely upon
God. But there's not a one of us here
that God didn't use some man or group of men to reveal the
truth to us. Mack, even if I read this Bible,
men wrote this Bible. If God opens my eyes to see things
in this book, God used men to do that. But that wasn't the
case with Paul the apostle and the other apostles. They were
taught directly by Jesus Christ himself. And that's what Paul's
doing. He is certifying his apostleship. So let's read it again. But I
certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of
me is not after man. And notice he keeps talking like
a past reference, Mac, a past. And I'll jump ahead for a moment
now. The reason is because even the apostle Paul, with the authority
that he had, he wasn't allowed to change the gospel. Because
he says, though we or an angel from heaven preach anything else
than what we've already preached, what's already been said, let
him be accursed. So he certified his apostleship,
but I certify you, brethren. that the gospel which was preached
of me is not after man. Now that's true in any case,
at all times, but this is specifically true of the apostles. For I'd
either received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation
of Jesus Christ. And in the Greek, it would be
I was specifically revealed this through the person of Jesus Christ
himself. Now, let me just give us four
things, kind of as the backdrop here as to what was taking place. Any message other than the apostolic
gospel of free reign and grace is heresy. Any gospel. Now we'll look at some of those
things that men say later on, but I'm not gonna do that this
morning. Look at what Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus. And
I know you're familiar with this, but look at Ephesus chapter two.
And for the sake of time, let's just look at the last few verses
of that chapter, Ephesians chapter two. Did I say Ephesus? I meant
Ephesians, sorry. Ephesians chapter two, verse
19. Now therefore ye are no more
strangers and foreigners. He's speaking specifically to
Gentile believers here. But fellow citizens with the
saints and of the household of God. Now let me stop for a moment.
What God is doing in this age is not God trying to do something
different than what God was doing for Israel when Christ was on
the earth. He's fulfilling exactly what God had ordained before
the foundation of the world. And I'll, later on in other messages,
I'll try to build upon that or give you why I said that. Of
the household of God and are built upon the foundation, look
at it, of the apostles and the prophets. What prophets? Old
Testament prophets. And you all know this already.
The only Bible that they had early on in the early days was
the Old Testament. The New Testament was being written,
and much still had to be written at that time. And are built upon
the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself
being the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building fitly
framed together groweth into a holy temple in the Lord. And
he's talking there about us. not some edifice, not some brick
and mortar building. He's talking about God's people,
in whom ye also are builded together for habitation of God through
the Spirit. But notice, built upon the foundation of the apostles
and prophets. Look at Hebrews chapter one.
And this is what the writer of Hebrews, whoever he may have
been, Hebrews chapter one. Now, I think it was probably
the Apostle Paul, and I highly value my opinion, but that is
simply my opinion, and that's all it is. God, who at sundry
times, in his divers manners, spake in time past unto the fathers,
helped by the prophets. That's the Old Testament Scriptures.
Then look at that next four-letter word. H-A-T-H. You see that? Hath. Note it is
not. Is speaking. Though that's certainly
true, but when he speaks today, it's only what he's already said,
and it's in this book. Do you understand what I'm saying?
Hath in these last days spoken, not his speaking, but hath in
these last days spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed
heir of all things, by whom he also made the worlds. So get
out, emphasize this, hath. There are no new words from God.
I know in our day and age, everybody likes to talk about visions and
having dreams and that kind of thing, but there are no new words
from God. What God says now is only what
he's already said through Jesus Christ, and we have it all recorded
in this book. So that's the first thing I wanna
point out. Any message other than the apostolic gospel of
free reigning grace is heresy, second thought. Paul was not
an apostolic pretender, okay? He was not pretending. Now we've
read verse 11 and 12, but look at verses 15 through 24. Because
in verses... Of course, 13 and 14, he talks
about his former way, his former life. But then in 15, verse 15,
we read these words. But when it pleased God, who
separated me from my mother's womb and called me by his grace
to reveal his son in me that I might preach him among the
heathen, immediately I conferred not with humanity. Do you see
that? With flesh and blood. You see
it? Now, one of the first things
I did when God saved me is I began to talk to the person God sent
to me. And as soon as that person, which was Joe Galusi, had brought
me the gospel, and as soon as God had converted me, and as
soon as we found out there was a group of people in Beckley,
West Virginia, mainly meeting in Mabscot, we immediately conferred
with flesh and blood. We immediately desired to join
up, but Paul didn't do that. Now that's the amazing thing.
Look, to reveal his son in me, that I might preach him among
the heathen immediately, I conferred not with flesh and blood, neither
went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me,
but I went into Arabia and returned again into Damascus. And we might
say, What did he do there? The only reference in the scripture
was this was when he was being given the revelation by Jesus
Christ. He doesn't state it directly,
but it's the part of the context. You see what I'm saying? He said,
I didn't receive this from man. This came as a direct revelation
of Jesus Christ to me. Then after three years, I went
up to Jerusalem to see Peter and we'll deal with that. It
was just a casual visit. Paul had been taught personally,
just like the other apostles had been taught personally. He
did not need to confer his message or figure out if his message
was agreeable with anybody else. He had apostolic authority. He was taught directly and personally
by Jesus Christ. Now, tell me what that was for
him to experience. I have no idea in this world,
but I'm not an apostle. Therefore, Jack, I got no reason
to desire to seek to experience what Paul went through. I don't
have that authority. And I'm glad, I'm glad. But look, but
other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.
Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God
I lie not. So what's he saying? The message
that he received, he was taught it personally by Jesus Christ
himself. Now, the third thing. What therefore
was preached to these people by Paul was, is, and shall ever
be fully authoritative. Fully authoritative. In other
words, what Paul taught and preached went. It was and is and shall
ever be God's word. And as I already pointed out,
even Paul was not offered to, suffered to alter the message
again. Verse eight, but though we, even
me an apostle. Apostleship didn't give them
the right to come up with what God says, it was simply they
were told what God said and they repeated it to others or wrote
it down. So remember, even the apostle Paul could not alter
this message or it would be a perversion of the gospel. So here's a fourth
though, these people. had believed, okay? They had
believed what Paul had preached. Now Paul's not indicating that
now he may preach something else. That's clear from the, if he
preached anything else, what? Let him be accursed, right? Me
or an angel from heaven? Why, because the gospel comes
from God. It doesn't come from angels,
it doesn't come from men, though God may use either one to bring
the message. Remember he used angels at the
birth of our Lord, did he not? To some shepherds. Anyway, be
that as it may, these people had believed, pardon me, and
are now hoodwinked, or as Paul puts it, as it is translated
in the KJV, they've been bewitched. If indeed they're actually overcome
by this, they are in real, serious danger. But Paul relied on something
greater than himself for this. Look at chapter five of what
he said. And I know you're aware of this. Chapter five, and let's
begin for right now in verse seven. Ye did run well. Who did hinder you? And you all
here remember Earl preaching on this and said that word hinder
means to throw a body block. You know, like you're in a football
game and somebody comes over and knocks a man off course.
That's what he's talking about. You did run well. Who did hinder
you that you should not obey the truth? This persuasion cometh
not of him that calleth you down. Again, when we get to this, we
will deal with this more in detail. Our God is absolutely sovereign
over everything, but do not blame God for anything evil. This persuasion
cometh not of God. God didn't move you to do this.
Or these men, I'm sorry. God didn't move these men to
come do this. Now he was in sovereign control of every one of those
men. The ability for them to think and speak and even speak
error, God gave them that ability. But that doesn't make God the
author of the error. This persuasion cometh not of
him that calleth pity. That might be a time when I'll
preach on the difference between faith and fatalism. But we're
not gonna do that, I'm not gonna do this at morning. A little
leaven, leaveneth the whole lump. And remember that's what I saw,
I used a modern day illustration, letting, you know, opening up
Pandora's box. A little leaven will leaven the
whole lump. You see, but preacher, it can't
be that you gotta be right about everything. We're not right about
everything. But if we reject the clearly
revealed truth of the person and work of Jesus Christ, we've
gone off course on everything. Everything so worldwide. Okay
a little Evan 11th the whole lump. Now here it is. I have
confidence in you That you will bear That you will not be otherwise
mine. Is that what he said? No, he
says I have confidence in you how through the Lord you see
that I Knowing this, if God has begun a good work, he will accomplish
it, he'll finish it all the way up until the day of Jesus Christ.
I have confidence in you through the Lord that ye will be none
otherwise minded, but he that troubleth you shall bear his
judgment, whosoever he be. So again, these people had believed
and are now hoodwinked, they're bewitched. If they're truly actually
overcome by this, they are in serious trouble. But Paul knew
his reliance on this not overcoming them depended solely on the power
of God himself. It is not in us, even as believers,
to, and I'll use an old phrase I know everyone's familiar with,
to lift ourselves up by our own bootstraps. It's just not within
us. And somebody says, but why didn't
God give us that power? So that no flesh shall glory
in his presence. And if that's, Ellen, all we
ever knew about it, that's good enough. God has purposed that
he's gonna get all the glory for everything. Our start, our
continuance, and our ending. He'll get the glory of it all.
When we fall flat on our face, he gets the glory for us being
brought back up again. So let's consider the following
things for us, because what I've tried to make some personal application,
what I've really given us is just a history. Think about it.
Paul had preached the gospel to these people. They had received
it. They received him. He said, you
received me as if I was Christ himself. You received what I
preached to you as the very words of God himself. And now you're
turning away from it. Now you're turning away from
it. That was the problem there. But let me just give you three
things. Most of my statements will be on the third one. First
of all, this is like just a little thing to catch your mind, the
unchangeable gospel. The unchangeable gospel. Now I'll say this, I'll try to
say this properly. God's gospel has been as full
as God because God's gospel came from God before the world ever
began. But in places like Genesis, Exodus,
Numbers, all of those books, God began to show forth the gospel,
show forth the gospel. And as Scott Richardson one time
said, the gospel back then was just like a little seed, just
like a little seed. But as time went on, more was
not added to the gospel, but more revelation of the one gospel
began to come, and to come, and to come all the way up until
the apostles, and now it's been fully revealed. and it's all
right here. Mac, there is nothing else for
us to say about God other than it's right here. We have no authority
to say, thus saith the Lord, unless the Lord's already said
it. Already said it. So that's the
unchangeable gospel. From Genesis to the times of
the apostles. More details may have been given,
yes. But do you remember, I don't
know if it was last week, a few weeks ago, I said this. The gospels
in the Old Testament, about the only thing that's not there is
the name Jesus of Nazareth. That's about the only thing that's
not there. Isaiah 53 is as much gospel jack
as any man or woman ever needs. Preach Isaiah chapter 53. So
from Genesis. to the apostles, from Moses,
let's say, and before that, of course, but Moses wrote the first
five books of the Bible. From Genesis to the apostles,
more details were added, were given, yes, but since the apostles,
the gospel is fully detailed already. And go back to Hebrews
again. Now Hebrews chapter two, remember
we read Hebrews one, one and two. But look at Hebrews chapter
two, first couple of verses. for two or three verses. Therefore,
we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have
what? Heard. heard, lest at any time we should
let them slip. For if the word spoken by angels
was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just
recompense of reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great
salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord
and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him? Do you see it? This lets me know
that the gospel that Jesus Christ preached is exactly the gospel
that the Apostle Paul preached. And yet you've got some people
that claim to be Baptist, Presbyterian or whatever, they actually think
that there's more than one gospel. And think it's valid to teach
men and women there's a gospel for Israel and a gospel for the
church. And it's just not so. But anyways, go on. God also
buried them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with different
kinds or diverse miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according
to his own will. For unto the angels he hath not
put in subjection the world to come, whereof we speak, but one
in a certain place testified, saying, what is man that thou
art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him?
There is no other gospel. And you know, if our depravity
wasn't so deep, we could not be hoodwinked, or tricked, or
have the shell game. But even in believers themselves,
and what's the proof of that? The churches of Galatia. Men
and women who had joyfully, lovingly received God, his son, his gospel,
and his apostle, were now turning away from that. That shows us
how bad we are down in here, don't it? Still yet, still yet. Oh, preacher, you shouldn't tell
people that. You should if you're gonna tell them the truth. You
should if you're going to. So when it happens to them, they
can recognize what's going on and recognize the source of the
problem. You know where the real problem is? It's not the false
teachers. It's right in here. It's right
in here. So remember, it's the unchangeable
gospel. Number two, this is for me especially,
especially us preachers, because we have a, We have an authority
to publicly minister the word of God in a way that others don't
have that authority. Here's my second thought. Step lightly amidst God's work. Now look at it, go back to chapter
one. There's just one word there.
Verse 11 started, remember 11 and 12 is our text for this morning.
But I certify you, what's that next word? Brethren. Do you see that? He's still calling
them brethren. You see that? Still calling them
brethren. Even though they've began to
veer away some. But I certify you brethren. Again,
step lightly amidst God's work. Look at, what is it, chapter
three. Oh foolish Galatians, that's
tough language, isn't it? But it is real language, it's
true language. Oh foolish Galatians, who hath
bewitched you that ye should not obey the truth, before whose
eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, you see it, crucified
among you. Chapter four, look at what he
says to them. Verse six, and because ye are
sons, do you see that? And because ye are sons, God
has sent forth the spirit of his son into your hearts, whereby
you cry, Abba, or that is, Papa, Father. And also look at verse
12. Brethren, chapter four. Brethren, I beseech you, be as
I am, for I am as ye are. Ye have not injured me at all. This ain't about respecting Paul. It's about honoring God Almighty
in the person of his son. So again, step lightly amidst
God's work. Refuse to condemn. You know what
I'm saying? If somebody has already received
the gospel, now, if they don't know the gospel, they're lost. Jack, they're lost. If they've
never heard the gospel, never believed the gospel, they are
lost. But if they have heard and have
received that gospel, then be careful even if they begin to
veer away. Never refuse, well never certainly,
refuse to condemn, but not rebuke. But not rebuke. Refuse to condemn
where grace has been clearly manifested. And again, I'll say
this, this is for me, something that Tommy and I talked about
the other day, the details that was between he and I. That's
why you gotta be careful with these so-called pull-pick, not
pull-pick committees, but these discipline committees. They're
always ready to put somebody out. If somebody is at fault,
what's the one thing they really need to hear and have? The preaching
of the gospel and the fellowship of his people. You know, you
got somebody that's got an arm mashed and you're gonna say,
well, you can't go to the doctor no more. You was dumb enough
to get your arm mashed. Isn't that sad? Notice Paul never
wrote to these people, well, you're going to hell if you don't
straighten up. or at least you can't be a part of the true church
on earth. Paul keeps talking about brethren. He loves these people still yet,
Mac, still yet. Step lightly when it comes to
God's work. Now, number three. Having said
that, never ignore the danger of error. Never. Remember, we've already looked
at this, it is perversion. Chapter one, verse seven. Perversion
never benefits anyone. Secondly, it's not a popularity
contest. Error is nothing but a popularity
contest. That's why they can take this
part and leave this part alone. Or really hammer on one, two,
three doctrines, but leave four, five, and six alone. It doesn't
really matter. Why? Because it's all about being
accepted of men in some way and some form. Error is perversion,
chapter one, verse seven. Error is a popularity contest. It is not servitude to Christ.
Galatians chapter one, verse 10. Thirdly. always affects the
truth. Truth never sanctifies error. You see that? Error affects truth,
but truth never sanctifies error. Chapter two, verse five. And
as I said, we'll look more at this later. Chapter two, verse
five, to whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour,
and I think that's a figure of speech. Paul didn't say I gave
them at least an hour of air. I let them preach for an hour
on their air, and it's a figure of speech. to whom we gave place
by subjection, no, not for an hour. Why? That the truth of
the gospel might continue with you. Why? Because when the air
was allowed to flourish, even in Peter's case of just changing
tables, it drew other people away with the hypocrisy. A little leaven leaveneth the
whole lump. Here's another verse, chapter,
about error affects truth. Truth never sanctifies error,
chapter four. Look at what Paul wrote. Verse
17. They zealously affect you, but
isn't that good? Isn't all zealousness in religion
good? No. No. They zealously affect
you, but not well. Yea, they would, here's what
I'm talking about Tom, they would exclude you that you might affect
them. Look how I'm keeping things straight.
Look at how I'm keeping everything in order. Look at how these people
are in line now that I laid the law down. No, they zealously
affect you, but not well. Yea, they would exclude you that
you might affect them, but it is good to be zealously affected
always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you,
my little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be
formed in you, I desire to be present with you now and to change
my voice, for I stand in doubt of you. He just bit straight
up. It's being straight up. So again,
error is perversion. Error is always about popularity,
not servitude to Christ. Error always affects truth. Truth
can never, well just, if they got just a little bit of truth,
it'll be okay. It'll take care of all the error. No, it will
not. A little leaven leavens the whole lump. There's another
thought. Error, as I've already read it, error does give way
to doubt. If somebody's caught up with
error, Jack, if they stay there, they're in trouble. Even our
Lord himself said, he that continueth unto the end, the same shall
be saved. So again, error does give cause
for doubt. But here's the fifth and last
thing. Error, turn to chapter five. This is, this to me, now
this is my feelings on the matter. So don't take my feelings as
dogma. I know this is a fact. Anyway,
this error may be the manifestation of actual apostasy. Chapter five,
let's just read a few verses. Stand fast, therefore, in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled
again with the yoke of bondage. Behold, I, Paul, say unto you,
that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing. Now,
does that mean if there were some of these Galatians, and
they were hoodwinked, they were bewitched, and they went out,
and they were circumcised, and now they're lost, and they got
no reprieve? No, not by any means. But he said, if this is really
your stance, if this is really what your stance, your circumcision
has to bring you merit before God, you're in trouble. Why? Because Christ shall profit you
nothing. For I testify again to every
man that is circumcised that he is a debtor to the whole law. And somebody says, well, that
just means the ceremonial law. No, it means all the law. He's a debtor to the whole law.
Now look, this is where it becomes frightening. For me, this is
frightening. Christ is become of no effect
unto you. Doesn't that sound pretty serious?
Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are
justified by the law, ye are fallen from grace. Now, was any
of these people actually justified by the law? No, but if this is
what's truly in their heart and mind, If this is truly where
they stand, then they have run into apostasy from Christ. You
have abandoned him altogether. Because it's either Christ is
all or he's nothing. Do you understand that? You either
see and you know that Christ is all he is all but you either
see that Christ is all or Christ is nothing to you I Either see
that Christ is all or Christ is nothing unto me. Oh God save
us from ourselves Save us from ourselves Because I can relate
to these Galatians I know how easily it has been and no doubt
still is, how easy it is for me to start to be drawn away
on something that does not truly matter and get my mind caught
up on that. I've mentioned a few things to
you, there's some of them I won't mention to you. I mean, I got
my mind in such a tangle one time, Jack, I didn't know whether
we ought to, how do we find out whether the wine we're using
is really kosher or not, you know? That it's really not got
some kind of, you know, stuff in it. It ain't supposed to,
I'm thinking, I fought with that, and I fought with that, and I
fought with that, and I fought with that, and finally I said,
God help me. Because it don't matter. God save us from ourselves I'll
end with this turn to Titus chapter 3 And at first you may think
it was chapter just Titus chapter 3 I want to read the first several
verses and anybody that's already familiar with it said but I understand
a little bit how this fits but it's God sweetly force you and
I to look to and to cling to Christ alone always and God,
if and when I do begin to veer away, quickly force me back into
the way, you know? Because it's nothing but bondage
for me to be out here. God's called us to liberty, not
to serve ourselves, but to serve God. Now look at what Paul wrote
to Titus, and this is a very well-rounded message, if you
will. Look at what he said. talking
to Titus about preaching to the people he was preaching to. And
I think he was, was it Crete? Isn't that where Titus was? If
I'm wrong, I'll stand corrected on that one. Put them in mind
to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey madresses,
to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be
no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men. For
we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived,
serving divers, or that is different, varying lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. Now that's
sound instruction. Here's what you used to be, but
here's where you can engage in Christ. You can be subject to
principalities. In fact, we can do that by the
grace of God. but remember what we are by nature. Don't ever forget, don't ever
think that we are accomplishing this in our own selves. But having given this sound instruction,
look at what is said next. But after that the kindness and
love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of
righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy, he
saved us by the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost.
You see how he's got the gospel well-rounded with everything
there. Our only hope is, and always will be, Jesus Christ
himself. He is made unto us wisdom. Now Jack, I'd like a little bit
of wisdom to walk in this world, but I've gotta remember, he is
my wisdom. That's the wisdom that gives
me merit before God, is his wisdom, not my wisdom. Not even some
wisdom he might give me, because that could be cluttered by the
flesh. that can be affected by the flesh. That can, as I said
before, let me find it. That can be affected by the flesh. Not by works of righteousness,
which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us. By
the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, which
he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior. How
much of this part have we done? None of it. You see it? None
of it. which was shed on us abundantly
through Jesus Christ our Savior, that being justified by his grace,
we should be made heirs. Aren't you glad God made you
this? He didn't leave it up to you to make yourself that. Aren't
you glad, huh? And hath made us heirs according
to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying. And
these things I will that thou affirm, how often? Constantly,
you see it? Constantly, that they which have
believed in God might be careful to maintain, and I know what
people read that they think of good works. They think of well,
you know, feeding the poor, praying in church, and you know, teaching
Sunday school. This means honest trades. Just
get a decent job. That's what he thought, just
get a decent job, that's what it means, but good works. Look, these things
are good and profitable unto men, but avoid foolish questions
and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law,
for they are unprofitable and empty. You see it? Empty. Then this one last thing. A man
that is an heretic, after the first and second admonition,
he's been warned twice, reject. Reject. Now somebody said, that
means he goes to hell. No, we don't determine that. That person
is in God's hands. I thank God that he doesn't damn
heretics, because I used to be one. I used to be one, but he has
the right to. He has the right to. So again,
I say, oh God, save me from myself. That's what I need. And I need
that every day. I need that. I need to be saved, Jack, every
day. And the primary thing I need
saved from is me. Me. You know, one of these days,
he will deliver me from me. One of these days, it'll be done,
either in death or when he returns in that trumpet. I'd like to
hear that trumpet right now. Just go up. I told Penny and
Linda and Pam, I said, when it comes to death, I'm a little
chicken. I'm not looking forward to that experience. I'd like
to just hear the trumpet go on. But it doesn't matter. It doesn't
matter. Because to be absent from the
body, we're going to be what? present with the Lord. Two glorious
things. Ain't it gonna be glorious to
be absent from this body? That means to be done with self. Heavenly Father, encourage us
by your words, your truth. We realize that we are feeble
preachers and feeble hearers at best, at best. But God, we
thank you for your the enablement of your spirit that just enlightening
our minds and our hearts and our ears over and over and over. Oh God, don't stop. Don't stop. Work on us always and we trust
that you will because you've promised it so. In Christ's name,
amen.