See what happens. All right,
if you wish to follow along, turn to the book of Hosea. Excuse me, Hosea chapter four.
Hosea chapter four, we're still in the book of Hosea. I suppose
this is probably about the fifth message that I've preached from
this book and God willing, we will continue on. week after
next, because I won't be here next week, Lord willing. Hebrews,
or Hosea, rather, chapter four. Now, before I read, most of all
of you know this, but I have been trying to preach the gospel
for about 33 years now. I was in professing Christianity
for 17 years prior to that. That makes about a total of,
what is it, 50 years. made a profession of faith in a religious institution
when I was around five or six years old, but God was pleased
to call me out of professed Christianity. And since that time, I've met
many others that are likewise. It would seem to me that on many
occasions, most of the people that God is saving lately are
professed Christians. You ever noticed that? I know
this is a strange thing to most of the world, but most people
who profess to be Christians have no idea what Christianity
truly is. Sadly, most of what is considered
as Christian or what is passed off as Christianity, much of
it is like Israel of old. Now let's read now. Listen, just
a couple verses I'll read as my starting place in my text.
Hosea chapter four. Think of it. Think of Christianity. and Israel of old, that is at
least profess Christianity. And this is what God says through
Hosea, Hosea four verse one, hear the word of the Lord, ye
children of Israel. Now here is my title and what
I intend to speak about. Hear the word of the Lord, you
children of Israel, and here it is, for the Lord hath a controversy. You see that? For the Lord hath
a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is
no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land. And then
look at verse six. My people My people are destroyed. And we can take that as this
was Israel, the people of God, that covenant nation. And yet
many of them were not truly David, right? They were not truly the
people of God. They were not his elect. They
had not bowed to the Lord of glory, but yet they were called
his people as a covenant nation. My people are destroyed for lack
of knowledge. And when you read that, my mind
would automatically go, if that was all it said, my prayer would
be, oh God, send someone to preach the gospel to them. But that's
not the problem. They had heard the gospel. They
had the gospel. Here's the problem. My people
are destroyed for lack of knowledge because thou hast rejected knowledge. Do you see that? And I am here
to proclaim this morning that most all of professed Christianity
today has rejected the knowledge of God. They reject the mercy
of God, and they reject the truth of God. That's the problem. It's
not that the truth is not there. Every person who's ever picked
up a Bible and read it has read the truth of God. They've had
the truth of God testified to them through the writings of
Holy Scripture. Every person who's ever heard
someone quote from the Scripture or preach from the Scripture
has heard the truth of God. Yet most who preach today, most
who profess to be preachers called of God, those men do not preach
God's truth, God's mercy, and the knowledge of God. In other
words, as it's said here, the Lord hath a controversy. But I want this small group here
this morning to understand this. I'm not just pointing my fingers
out there at everybody else. Let us also, let us always remember
our tendency to compromise God's holy word. We have that tendency
within us. This is not me preaching down
to anybody. This warning is valid for every
individual upon the face of God's earth. The Lord hath a controversy. This rejection of knowledge was
revealed, and this is not something that's just back yonder. Look
at what the Apostle Paul said. Turn with me to 2 Timothy. And
let's read what the Apostle Paul said there. This is the Apostle
Paul, in this present age, in these last days, and this is
what Paul wrote to Timothy in his second epistle, in 2 Timothy
chapter three, and listen to what he says, verse one. This
know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come, for
men shall be lovers of their own selves, and that's the age
in which we live without question. lovers of their own selves, covetous,
boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, false accusers,
incontinent, that is, having no self-control. He goes on and
says, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors, heady,
high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God. But
here's the amazing thing. When we think about these things,
we often maybe want to think about the beer joints or the
brothels or the nightclubs, but that's not what he's talking
about, is it? Look at what he says. Having a form of godliness. David Wright, they professed
to know God. They profess to know God. They profess his word. They claim they believe the gospel
of God. But here Paul says, having a
form of godliness, but denying the power thereof. From such,
Paul tells us to do what? Turn away. He goes on. Look at
the next chapter. Chapter four. I charge thee,
therefore, before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall
judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom,
preach the word. be instant, in season, out of
season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine,
for the time will come when they will not endure, do you see it? When they will not endure sound
doctrine, but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers having itching ears, and they shall turn away their
ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables." This
is no surprising phenomenon to us. God's Holy Word declares
and has warned about this from the beginning. This is the state
of all mankind by nature. The present state of professing
Christianity is this. Here's what it is. No truth.
No truth. Somebody says, preacher, you
don't really mean that. I mean exactly that. No truth,
no mercy, no knowledge of God. Everything that professing Christianity
holds to today, in some way or another, distorts God's truth. It distorts God's mercy. It distorts
the knowledge of God. Even when they speak of the virgin
birth, Neil Cochran, they still don't really get that God was
made flesh. They believe God became a man,
but they do not believe that this man is God Almighty. They do not believe that God
is God Almighty. Now let me just show you how
this is so in our day. There's no truth. No truth of
God in professed Christianity today. There is no mercy of God,
and there is no knowledge of God. Now, let's give you eight
things. First of all, professing Christians, and you, sadly, you
know this to be true, professing Christians reject mankind's total
corruption toward God. Do they not? There is in this
day this doctrine, this teaching of free will, which teaches that
when man fail in the garden, everything about man fail but
his will, and that is nothing but absolute heresy. It's heresy. Man, look at what man's like. Turn to Romans chapter 3. This
is certainly nothing new to this group here. Romans chapter 3
and verse 9. What then? Are we better than
they? That's Paul's asking. Are the
Jews better than the Gentiles? The Jews had advantage, but they're
not better. What then, are we better than
they? No, in no wise. For we have before proved, both
Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin. As it is written, how many righteous
people are there on this world? None. What about you preacher? None. What about this group here? None. What about every group
out there? None. There is none righteous,
no not one. There is none that what? Understand
us. There is none that what? Seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the
way. They are together become unprofitable. That is, if you was to lump us
all together and bring out the best that we have in all of us,
it still is what? Unprofitable. They're all going
out of the way. They are together become unprofitable.
There is none that doeth good, no, not one. Was it not Solomon
who said this? There's not a just man on the
face of the earth that doeth good and sinneth not. Everything that we do, even today
as believers, is shot full of evil. And it's shot full of sin. Everything we do is affected
by, my next point, what we are. Professing Christians today reject
man's sin. singular sin. They preach a lot
against sins, but they do not preach the actual corruption
of the individual in the heart. You remember what Paul said,
Romans chapter 7 and verse 24? And he said this about himself,
Neil, even after he'd been an apostle for several years. He
said this about himself even though he was at the present,
pinning down inspired scripture. He said this, O wretched man
that I am. Do you see that? You see, I'm
not saying that there are not sins that are evil. Sin is evil. All sin is corrupt. But we commit
sins because we are sinners. Our problem, the problem with
our actions stems from the problem of our person. Oh wretched man
that I am. Here's a third thing. Professing
Christians today, reject God's sovereign right in election. Do they not? Now somebody says,
preacher, do you have to believe in election to be saved? No,
you have to believe Christ to be saved. But if you believe
Christ, you're gonna believe Christ's word. If you believe
the son of God, you won't just believe in him, you will believe
him. And here's what his called apostle
wrote. Now you know it, Romans chapter
nine. Listen to what it says. Romans chapter nine to verse
11. And isn't it amazing when you read passages like this,
David Wright, you could just quote this passage to somebody
and they'll say, well, I don't believe it like that. It's just
what it says. Look at what it says. For the
children, talking about Talking about these two twins, for the
children being not yet born, neither having done any good
or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might
stand, not of works. What is the basis of God's election? I don't know what the basis of
God's election is, but I know a few things that it's not. And
it's not of human works. Good or evil. It's not God picked
the best, or God picked the worst. God chose whom he wanted to choose
according to his own wise sovereign purpose, that the purpose of
God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him
that calleth. It was said unto her, that is
the mother of these two boys, it was said unto her, the elder
shall serve the younger, and then Paul, has no qualms with
quoting exactly what the holy word of God says, as it is written,
Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. And as Henry Mahan
said, what did God do for Jacob? He received him into his bosom,
did he not? What did God do for Esau? God
cut him off. It is amazing to me that in this
day and age, that there are men and women who profess to be Christians
and then they will say, I don't believe that. That's sad. That's scary. And God says, I
got a controversy with you. Why? No truth. No mercy. This is about mercy. Now look
at it. Here's another one. Here's another
one. Professing Christians reject God's particular redemption of
his people. I think they hate that, Penny,
more than anything else in this world. when you tell someone
Jesus Christ died for his people and his people only. The Lord
of glory himself said this, and it's recorded for us by John. In John chapter 10 and verse
11, the Lord of glory said these very words, I laid down my life
for the sheep. I believe him. I believe he died
for the sheep. And he was also quite clear,
not all men are sheep. And that's just the way it is.
You see, professing Christians reject mankind's total corruption.
Professing Christians reject man's sin. Professing Christians
reject God's sovereign right in election. And professing Christians
reject God's particular redemption of his people. You tell them,
I believe Jesus Christ died for the sheep. He said, I'd die,
I'd lay down my life for the sheep. And they say, well, I
believe that, but. Why is there a reason for a but? I lay down
my life for the sheep. The Apostle Paul put it this
way, that Jesus Christ, as a matter of fact, he puts it, God, God
purchased someone with his own blood. And who was it? The church.
And Paul Pendleton, not everyone's even a member of a local church,
let alone the universal church of the Lord Jesus Christ. Hmm,
professing Christians reject that God is responsible to save
a people. You know that? They profess to
be Christians and they say, now, God's done all he can do, now
it's up to you. That puts the responsibility
of salvation before you. Let me tell you something, you're
responsible for your sin. You're not responsible to save
yourself. Yes or no? You're responsible before God.
You are accountable before God. I am accountable. I am responsible
before God because of my sins. But I am not responsible for
my own salvation. And yet that is exactly opposite
of what most so-called professing Christians speak today. Our Lord
Jesus Christ put it this way. And other sheep I have. which are not of this fold, them
also," and what's the next words, "'I must bring.'" David Wright,
who did he say was responsible for bringing the sheep? He took
the responsibility. And Neil, I am so glad for that.
I'm glad he took responsibility for the salvation of his sheep.
And my only hope is that I am one of those sheep. That he's
called me out of darkness into his marvelous light. That he's
called me by name. That he's called me by his gospel. That he's laid hold of me and
arrested me in my rebellion and turned me toward himself. And
yet, the majority of people who profess to be Christians, they
reject that knowledge. They reject that. Look at this
group today. And even if we had everybody here. You will not
feel stadiums preaching what I'm preaching right now. You
know why? Because the Lord has a controversy with professing
Christians in this day. They have rejected God's truth,
they have rejected God's mercy, and they have rejected the knowledge
of the Lord. And I do not say this angrily.
I say this with broken hearts. Think about this. professing
Christians reject God's conquering grace. You know what I said?
God's conquering grace. Turn to Romans chapter five. Now, like Paul, I'm not gonna
give God's conquering grace without talking about what it conquers
and who it conquers. Look at what it says, Romans
5 verse 19. For as by one man's disobedience,
and it's one disobedience. In other words, it's one man
and it's one disobedience. You see that? For by one man's
disobedience, many were made sinners. We are not sinners because
we commit sins. We commit sins because we were
made sinners when Adam rebelled against God in the garden. And
there are people who profess to be Christians that reject
that. There was a group on TV, not too long ago, for two or
three Sundays, they were trying to refute that very doctrine.
And yes, this is what it says. Oh God, help us to quit trying
to figure out what it says. Quit trying to figure out what
it means, and God, bow us to your holy word. For as by one
man's disobedience, many were made sinners. That's disheartening,
is it not? That's a very sad thing to have
to proclaim, but Paul, it's the truth. But look at what it says.
So, so, by the obedience of one, shall many be made righteous. That gives me hope. That gives
this old sinner hope. Moreover, the law entered that
the offense might abound, but where sin abounded, what? But where sin abounded, and sin
abounds in you, and sin abounds in me, and sin abounds in everyone
that may be hearing my voice. Sin abounds in us. But look,
but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound. And then men talk about sending
away your day of grace. It ain't your day of grace. It's
God's grace. It's his day. Yes, today is the
salvation. Today is the day of salvation
and that day rests in God's hands. Take a breath. You hold that breath, that's
all you got. Take a breath. So you got the next one's up
to God. And one of these days, one of these days, Emily, God
Almighty will take my breath. Why? Because my life is in his
hands. My days are in his hands. And we have to be saved by the
grace of God, not by something in us. Moreover, the law entered
that the offense might abound, but where sin abounded. Grace
did much more about, most of what's called grace by professing
Christianity today is nothing than some emotional wish by God.
And that is not our God. that is not the knowledge of
God, that is not the truth of God, that is not the mercy of
God. For he says, that as sin hath reigned unto death, even
so might grace reign, if you give your heart to Jesus. Is
that what it says? No, that's not what it says.
It doesn't even say, even so might grace reign, if you bow
to his son, and bow to his son you must. Here's what it says,
though. That as sin hath reigned unto
death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal
life. By what? By Jesus Christ our
Lord. So think about it. When God said
to Israel of old, I have a controversy with you because in the land
there's no truth. no mercy, no knowledge of God,
and my people are perishing for the lack of knowledge, but they've
rejected that knowledge. I say, I'm no prophet, but I
say that's still true in this day and age to the professing
church of Christianity today. They reject man's total corruption
toward God. They reject man's sin, singular. They reject God's sovereign right
in election. They reject God's particular
redemption of his people. They reject God as responsible
to save a people. Professing Christians reject
God's conquering grace, but even more, professing Christians reject
God's sovereign right in mercy and hardening. God said, this
is not some new thing that the Apostle Paul brought along. This
was said by God to Moses in the Old Testament. I will have mercy
on whom I will have mercy, and whom I will, I will harden. Folks, we are worms in God's
hands. David, right, if he wants to
take me as a worm and make this worm his, he has that sovereign
right. And if he decides he wants to
take this worm and crush that worm in his justice and his wrath,
he has that right. Because mercy is sovereign. Hardening is sovereign. It's
all up to God. And men today profess to be Christians,
and they say, well, I've never heard that. My preacher don't
preach that. Your preacher ain't preaching
the truth. Then your preacher ain't talking about God's mercy.
Then your preacher is not talking about the knowledge of God. Professing
Christians also, think about this. Professing Christians reject
God's ability to secure the saved in all aspects of life. Paul
is clear. I remember, I quoted this to
an individual one time. He was a preacher. Man, he was
a preacher, but he wasn't a preacher of truth. He wasn't a preacher
of God's truth. He wasn't a preacher of God's
mercy. He wasn't a preacher of the knowledge of God. And I quoted
to him Romans 8, verse 28. And we know that all things work
together for good to them that love God, to them who are the
called according to his purpose. And that's all I quoted. And
Neil, he said, you ain't talking about that predestination stuff,
are you? It ain't about what I'm talking
about. This is what Paul said. And let's read what he goes on
to say. And I can't quote it. Look at what he says. It's amazing. People who profess to be Christians,
David, get upset when you start quoting these passages. Look
at it. Verse 28 of Romans, we know that
all things work together for good, to them that love God,
to them who are the called according to his purpose, for whom he did
foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image
of his son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. You see, God Almighty purposed
for Jesus Christ to save a people. That's what that teaches. Look
at it, for whom he did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be
conformed to the image of his son, that he might be the firstborn
among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate,
them he also called. And whom he called, them he also
justified. And whom he justified, them he
also glorified. What shall we then say to these
things? And professing Christian says, I don't believe that. Then
you don't believe God. You don't believe his truth.
You don't believe his mercy. You have no knowledge of God. Because this is who God is. This
is what God is doing. Look, what shall we then say
to these things? If God be for us, who can be
against us? He that spared not his own son,
but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things? My brothers and sisters, if right
now today, if there's anything you don't have, it's because
right now you don't need it. And if there's anything that
you need today, God will give that thing to you today. If there's
anything in this life that you never need, then God will never
give it to you. But whatever we need, in the
time of our need, God will supply that to us in and through Jesus
Christ our Lord. He's already offered him up for
us. How shall he not with them also? Freely! I like that, don't
you? I like free things. I like free
things. But it's even more important
when you realize that you can't pay for it yourself. I don't
have anything to pay to God that would merit such a thing before
God because everything I touch is fouled by me. Everything I
touch is fouled by my sin and my sins. Oh, who shall lay anything
to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifies. Who
is he that condemneth? Well, I've seen what you've done.
God doesn't. Not if you're one of his. Not
if you're one of his. Who is he that condemneth? It
is Christ that died, yea, rather, that is risen again, who is even
at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for
us. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? And here's where it's at. Men
and women are being lied to in our day by professing Christian
preachers and being told indiscriminately and universally, God loves you,
and that's a lie. God's love is in Christ Jesus. Outside of Christ Jesus is nothing
but the wrath and judgment and justice of God against sin. Who shall separate us from the
love of Christ? Tribulation, will that do it?
No. Distress, will that do it? No. It feels like it will sometimes. You may have thought it has at
times, but if you're what he is, If you're one that's been
called according to his purpose, none of these things can separate
you from what? Separate you from your bank account?
Oh yeah, you might be separated from that. Separate you from
your job? Yeah, you might be separated
from that. Separated from a loved one? Yeah, you might be separated
from that. But thank God those things don't
matter. They'll all come to an end one
day. Neal, even our relationships in this world that we hold most
dear, all of our fleshly relationships, one day they'll all end. That
woman back there, she won't be my wife forever. She's my wife
in this life only. And then when we go to glory,
we both get to be the wife of Christ. Isn't that what it's
all about? Look at it. Shows tribulation,
distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or sword as
it is written. Now think about it. This is amazing.
Because most people when they read this, oh, I got all these
blessings and everything's gonna be fine for me. It is going to
be fine for you, but according to God's own sovereign purpose.
Look, as it is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day
long. What a glory, and this is hard
for me to say, but it's true nonetheless. What a glory, Neil,
to be killed for the cause of Christ. And I'm not saying, oh,
here, I'm ready. That's not what I'm saying. I'm
saying it's a glory to be killed for the cause of Christ. As it
is written, for thy sake we are killed all the day long. We are
accounted as sheep. Aren't you glad for that? I'm
glad for that. We're accounted as sheep. But
look at what else it says. We're accounted as sheep for
what? The slaughter. Now if my God desires that for
me, that's his business. And you know what, that's best
for me. I heard Don Fortner say, if we really believe God like
we ought, and we never believe God like we ought, but if we
really believe God like we ought, we would never desire to change
anything that's ever happened, is happening, or shall ever happen
to us because God Almighty, in his mercy and wisdom and truth,
ordained it for our good. It doesn't say we understand
it, it says we know it. We know it. Look, nay, in all
these things, in them, in all these things, we are more than
conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, and here's
the problem. Most who profess to be Christians
are not persuaded of these things. The truth of God The mercy of
God and the knowledge of God has never so gripped them in
their heart, mind, and soul that they become persuaded by the
word of God and his gospel that this is true. I am persuaded
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities,
nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height,
nor death, nor any other creature, and here it is, shall be able
to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus
our Lord. Isn't that a glory? But I say
this again this morning, the Lord hath a controversy with
anyone who professes to be a Christian, and you reject this knowledge.
God has a controversy with you. Now think about this. Oh, God help us not to play the
proverbial ostrich. And you know, there's many people
who profess to be Christians, when they hear these kind of
things, that's exactly, Paula, what they do, is they stick their
head in the sand. I don't wanna hear it, I'm fine,
I'm okay, I've got my religion, I've got my profession, I've
got my denomination, I've got my baptism, I've got my name
on the roll, whatever it might be, they stick their head in
the sand and they reject the knowledge of God. Do not play
the proverbial ostrich. The indictment is still valid
today. Hear the word of the Lord, you
professing Christians. This is what I'm saying, and
that includes me too. That includes you too. Hear the
word of the Lord, you professing Christians, for the Lord has
a controversy with such if there's no truth. if there's no mercy,
if there's no knowledge of God. And our problem is, you know,
at one time, let me give you this. At one time, this gospel
was preached all over this country in its early days. This gospel
is not being preached all over now. It's been the gospel of
Jesus Christ has been perverted by this free will works human
worth religion that calls itself Christian. And let's take a few
views of what happened in Israel and I think we'll see some snapshots,
Neil, of the very same things that are taking place in our
day. Go back to Hosea chapter four. Now let's look at it here. I'm gonna say the indictment
is still valid. Today the Lord hath a controversy. Let's look
at it. Think about it, because there is no truth, because there
is no mercy, because there is no knowledge of the Lord, then
look at what he says, there is no constraint to our evil. Right,
look at it, verse three, by swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing,
and committing adultery, they break out, they break out, they
bust out of bonds. I will do what I want to do.
And is that not the cry of our day? They exalt man's will rather
than bowing down to God's will. And have even coined it, called
it free will. But it's nothing more than self
will that shakes its fist in the face of God and says, I will
have my way, not yours. Look, and blood toucheth blood. You remember our Lord said, brothers
shall rise up against what? Brother. You know, there's been
churches split over this very thing right here. Local assemblies
fall apart because someone gets up and preaches the truth of
God, the mercy of God, and the knowledge of God. And you know
what I say? Thank God for it. Thank God for it. There's no
constraint to their evil. Look at it, chapter four, verse
two. Look at this, chapter four, verse three. Their rebellion
affects everything. Look at it. Therefore shall the
land mourn. Now remember, he's talking about
Israel. Get this picture in your mind. Think of this country,
this country in particular, has rejected the gospel of the Lord
Jesus Christ. They've rejected God's truth,
they've rejected God's mercy, they've rejected the knowledge
of God, and we wonder why everything seems to be falling apart all
around us. Look at what it says, therefore
shall the land mourn. and everyone that dwelleth therein
shall languish with the beast of the field. What's the poor
animal's got to do with it? Because our corruption, our rebellion
against God, our rejection of his truth and his mercy and his
knowledge affects everything around us. You even become mean
to your animals when you hate God. Look at it. Everyone that dwelleth therein
shall languish with the beast of the field, with the fowls
of the heaven. Yea, the fishes of the sea also shall be taken
away. Oh, let me tell you something. To reject the truth of God, to
reject the mercy of God, to reject the knowledge of God will affect
everything around us. Not only that, look at it. Chapter
four, verse four. There is no reverence for God.
Oh, do we not see that in our day? No reverence for God. Look at what it says. Yet, let
no man strive nor approve one another. Why? But yet, this is
what the Israelites were doing. They were going around reproving
each other, pointing the finger. Well, I don't like that. I don't
like this. Well, I see it this way. Oh,
I see it that way. Go back and look at this history.
This is what they did. But look, yet, let no man strive
nor reprove another, for thy people are as they that strive
with the priest. You see it? No reverence for
God. No reverence for his son. No reverence for his gospel. That's the indication here. And
that's the same thing that's happening in our day by those
who profess to be Christians. Look at another one. Chapter
four, verse five and six. All classes are involved. Look. Therefore, shalt thou fall in
the day, and the prophet also shall fall with thee. That's
your preachers. That's your preachers. They'll follow thee in the night
and I will destroy thy mother. Do you see that? Some of the
closest ones to you. My people are destroyed for lack
of knowledge because they have rejected knowledge. And then
look at it. I, oh, what a solemn word this is. Look at it. I will
also reject thee. and thou shalt be no priest to
me, seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also
forget thy children. Oh, what a solemn thing. Think about this, it goes on.
Chapter four, verses seven through 11, they cannot be satisfied.
Don't we live in a tick-filled day? You know what a tick is,
don't you? You get one of them things up in your hair and it
bites ahold of you, and what's it do? It just starts sucking.
and sucking and sucking. And you know what it's sucking
out of you? Your blood. You know what your blood is?
Your life! Isn't it? Life's in the blood.
That's what the book says. And what's that tick doing? Sucking
and sucking and sucking the life out of you. And look at what
he says. Let's read it, chapter four. As they were increased,
so they sinned against me. Therefore, will I change their
glory into shame. They spread like cockroaches.
And our rebellion spreads like a cockroach. Look, they eat up
the sin of my people and they set their heart on their iniquity. And again, remember, we're not
talking about the beer joints and the brothels. We're talking
about in the midst of professed Christianity. That's what we're
talking about. And there shall be like people,
like priests. and I will punish them for their
ways and reward them for their doings, for they shall eat,"
and look at it, and not have enough. Isn't it amazing? In
religion, it's always got to be more, more, more. More praying, more Bible reading. Now let me tell you, I don't
pray enough. I don't read enough. I don't study enough. I feel
like I don't preach enough. Paul Pendleton, I feel like I
don't believe God enough. but my satisfaction is not in
what I do. My satisfaction is in God's holy
son. But look what happens to the
professing Christianity. For they eat and have not enough. They shall commit whoredom and
shall not increase because they have left off to take heed to
the Lord. Whoredom and wine and new wine
take away the heart. What an indictment against any
people. What an indictment against anyone.
But look, it doesn't stop there. Here's the sixth thing. Look
at chapter four, verse 12. Man's opinion is their doctrine.
Look at it. My people ask counsel at their
stocks. Can you imagine? Not crying out
to God for God, lead me, guide me, direct me according to your
holy word. Uh-uh. Let me jingle up the stocks. Look at it. My people ask counsel
at their stocks, and their staff declares unto them, for the spirit
of Hordibs has caused them to err, and they go whoring from
under their God. They abandon God's truth for
their own will. They abandon their own mercy
for their own free, God's mercy. They abandon the mercy of God
for their own free will. They abandon the knowledge of
God for the knowledge of philosophy and the knowledge of emotionalism
and the knowledge of professing. Isn't it amazing that almost
everybody today thinks you can walk an aisle, pray a prayer,
and that saves you. And it's nowhere found even in the book
of God. Nowhere. Nowhere at all. And yet most
people who profess to be Christians think that's at least the starting
point of how you've saved. It's just not so. Oh, here's
what they cry. Here's this controversy. Look
at chapter four, verse 13. Here's what we say when we are
in professing Christianity. Here's what we say when we reject
God's truth. Here's what we say when we reject
God's mercy. Here's what we say when we reject
the knowledge of God. Do not disturb me. Look at it, chapter four, verse
13. They sacrifice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn incense
upon the hills, under oaks and poplars and elms, because the
shadow thereof is good. But this just feels good to us.
You ever heard that? This just seems right to us.
And God is clear, there's a way that seemeth right unto a man,
but the end thereof are the ways of death. Look at it. Therefore,
your daughters shall commit whoredom and your spouses shall commit
adultery. In other words, this is the way
we worship and it feels good. You know, most people who profess
to be Christians think Christianity is about feeling good about yourself.
And it's exactly the opposite. According to one of the greatest
Christians who ever walked, and that man was Job, What did Job
say when he finally seen who God was? He said, I hate myself
and I repent in dust and ashes. Why? Because finally he had seen
God for who he really was. Do not disturb me. I don't want
to hear that preacher. I don't want to hear that doctrine.
I don't want to hear what you call truth. It's not what we
call truth. This is God's truth. And then
think about this, here's the last one. Even God, to a professing
people like this, even God holds back his restraint. Chapter four,
verse 14. Look at it. I will not punish
your daughters when they commit whoredoms, nor your spouses when
they commit adultery. Isn't that an amazing statement?
What's he talking about, Neil? That he's gonna let their sin
go? No, that's not what he's talking about. He's saying he's
gonna hold back his restraint. He'll let them go hog wild, as
we say today. He'll turn them over to their
own sinful, corrupt lusts. I will not punish your daughters
when they commit whoredom, nor your spouses when they commit
adultery, for they themselves are separated with whores, and
they sacrifice with harlots. Therefore, the people that doth
not understand shall fall. Now, here's the problem. Here's
one of the problems with most of modern day so-called professed
Christianity. They think that this book is
designed for men like me to get up and preach and try to change
the world. That's not the designation for preaching the gospel of God.
Preaching the gospel of God is for the sake of God calling out
his people out of darkness into light, and he's leaving the world
right where they are to fulfill their unrighteousness. You remember
that one phrase? For the iniquity of the Amorites
is not yet full. People think it's Christianity
to preach against abortion. Let me tell you something, that's
one of the things that God's turned this country over to.
They've rejected his truth, they've rejected his mercy, they've rejected
the knowledge of God, and God's turned us over to all these things.
He's turned this country over, and it ain't about getting the
country. God don't save countries in that way, God saves individual
souls. That's what God does. Now, Neil,
if God's pleased to save a bunch of them in one spot, it'll be
a benefit for that one spot. but preaching the gospel is not
for the salvation of America. America is not going to be saved.
The sheep are going to be saved. That's what it's all about. And
yet most people think that preaching, and preaching the Bible, preaching
about God, preaching about Jesus, is to try to bring all the world
together, and it's just not so. Our message is not preaching
against abortion, abortion's wrong. But that's not our message.
Our message is not about preaching against homosexuality. Homosexuality
is wrong! But that's not our message. So
is stealing an eraser at work. I'm talking about if it's just
a five, 10, well, maybe it's more than that now, Neil. If
it's just a 25-cent eraser, it's still sin against God and mankind,
you see. Because God's lifted the restraint,
we say, well, at least I haven't done that sin. No, but you're
unable to cry out, oh, wretched man that I am in here. Even God holds back his restraint.
Then, look at God's summary. Think about this. Verses 15 through
19. This is God's summary to this
bit here. Though thou Israel play the harlot,
yet let not Judah offend. Now look at it. And come not
unto Gilgal. Isn't that odd? Go back and look
at many of the great things that happened to Gilgal. Isn't this
odd? And look, neither go up to Bethhaven. That's Bethel. But notice he
changes the name here. Many great things happened at
Bethel, but he tells them don't go up there. Don't come up to
Gilgal, neither go up to Bethhaven. Why? Because Israel had taken
these very glorious places where glorious things had happened
and began to worship in idolatry and attempt to mix the worship
of God with the worship of this world. And it cannot be done.
And what God said is, don't rely on the accolades of the former
day. That's what he's talking about. How many people do you
know of as Presbyterian that'll talk about old Presbyterians
and they don't believe a lick of what those old Presbyterians
used to preach? How many people do you know brag about being
a Baptist and brag about old Baptist, brag about Spurgeon
and have no idea the gospel that Spurgeon preached? Isn't that
amazing? Just like our Lord Jesus Christ said. He said you garnish
the graves of the prophets and you kill the ones that are right
in front of you today. That's what he said. You garnish
the grave, oh, we love them old prophets. And he said, tell you
what, tell you what, they said, well, if we'd have been alive
in the days of our fathers, we would not have killed the prophets.
He said, you prove my own truth. You confess and you're the seed
of that evil generation. This is, look what God says.
Nor swear the Lord, in other words, nor swear, don't do this,
the Lord liveth. Don't call God in on your idolatry
and think that it sanctifies it. You know, that is most of
so-called professing Christianity today. They believe what they
want, they practice what they want, they do whatever they want,
and I'm not talking about immorality. I'm talking about all the religious
righteousnesses, and they do all these things, and they call
the name of God in on it, and they think that that somehow
baptizes it and makes it holy. All's it is is an affront to
the holy God. An affront to his truth, an affront
to his mercy, and an affront to the knowledge of God. For
Israel slideth back as a backsliding heifer. Now the Lord will feed
them as a lamb in a large place. And why do you do that? Feed
them so they will be slaughtered. You see it? He's giving them
what they want, and then he's gonna slaughter them. Look, here's,
this is, This is frightening to even read. Ephraim is joined
to his idols. Better get over there and try
to win his soul. Is that what he says? No, sir. You see, I
want everyone who's maybe even listened this long, you have,
anyone else who hears this message, I'm not trying to change professing
Christianity. I'm warning professing Christianity,
you're going to perish. You're a backsliding heifer.
You've relied on your stocks, you've relied on your staff,
you've relied on human opinion, you've relied on human emotion,
but you reject the truth of God, the mercy of God, and the knowledge
of God, and you shall perish. So preacher, what's the point?
My point is just like this, what the Apostle John said in Revelation
chapter 18 and verse four, where God Almighty speaks to John and
says, come out from among her ye, my people. Neal, God's not
gonna save professing Christianity. They will perish, they'll knock
and say, Lord, Lord. We want to enter. We've done
all these wonderful works in your name. We've preached in
your name. Cast out devils in your name. This is professing
Christianity, is it not? You don't do that unless you
believe in Jesus. But we've done all these many wonderful works.
And then Christ said, I will profess unto them. Depart from
me, you workers of iniquity. I never knew you. I'm not trying to change that.
I'm just crying out, oh God, call out from among that morass
those who are your people. Would any flee to God in brokenness
and contrition? Would you? Do you see the corruption
you're in? Do you see the false way? Do
you see the error of false Christianity? David Wright, I'm saying to anybody,
run from it. Run from it like you would a
plague. Or will you stiffen your neck? Will you just stiffen your,
this is the way I've always, this is what mom and daddy believed.
You know, there are people that hold to that. Isn't that sad?
This is what my grandma believed, and I love my grandma. She's
the most godly woman that ever walked. No, you're wrong, she
wasn't the most godly. The most godly person that ever walked
was Jesus Christ the Lord. As a matter of fact, intrinsically,
he's the only godly man that ever walked this world. Will
you stiffen your neck? and perish under God's wrath,
one or the other is true of each one of us. Everyone here this
morning, everyone who hears my voice on this TV, one or the
other is true of everyone. You will either flee in brokenness
and contrition to Jesus Christ, or you will stiffen your neck,
and you will say, I will put all my hope in myself. Or you
will say, God, unless Christ is my hope, I have no hope. Oh, my brothers and sisters,
may God make me be that one who says my only hope is Jesus Christ. Paul, if he didn't love me and
die for me, I'm a goner. And I won't be able to say one
word to God that would change that matter. Oh, wretched man that I am, I
deserve to go to hell. If God joins me to Christ and
takes me to glory, that's an act of his truth. That's an act
of his mercy. That's an act of his knowledge.
That's God being God. But if God says, Walter Pendleton,
you're not mine, and you will perish forever, I have nothing
in the court of justice that I could raise in myself that
would stop that before God. Not a thing. Here's the question,
has he brought you to that place yet? Has he brought you there?
Father, be with us as we continue. And oh, God, may our fellowship
together be sweet. We do pray, Lord, for those who
couldn't make it today because of the weather and sickness and
many other such maladies and problems. Lord, we bow to your
sovereign will, and we ask that you bless them and bless us.
And oh, God, we pray for many of our loved ones, many we care
about, people that are close to us and dear to us. Oh, God,
if you don't save them, they won't be saved. We can't do it,
God. we got children we love, or spouses
we love, or grandparents we love, whatever it may be, oh God, bow
them to the person of thy son. In his name I ask it, amen.