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Tuesday, February 25, 2014

SPIRIT-FILLED WARFARE THE BELT OF TRUTH


Ephesians 6:13-18
Intro:  The verses before us speak about spiritual warfare. They remind us that we are in the fight of our lives. Against a relentless, powerful enemy. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual being who is intent on our destruction. We are fighting against an enemy who hates our God, and who hates us too. He wants to devour our families, destroy our testimonies, devastate our church, and discredit our God. But, this enemy of whom I speak is not all-powerful. The God we serve is, 1 John 4:4.

 While Satan is intent on our defeat, the Lord is interested in giving us the victory. The Bible tells us very clearly that, in the end, God will have the last word, and Satan will be forever defeated and banished to the Lake of fire, Rev. 20:10-15. In the meantime, God has provided us with everything we need to “stand” for Him against everything the enemy can throw at us.

 Today, we will begin to consider the resources the Lord has given to us to help us “stand” for Him, and to enjoy victory in the spiritual battles of life. Let’s begin to study the pieces that comprise “the whole armor of God.” Ephesians 6:10 and 13 both tell us to utilize this armor in our daily warfare with the our enemy. The enemy is identified as Satan in verse 12. This passage teaches us that the only hope of victory we possess if or us to be adorned in “the whole armor of God.

 Verse 13 tells us to “take unto you the whole armor of God.” This literally means “to take up.” It is the image of a soldier standing amid the pieces of the armor. He only has to appropriate what had been proved for him. When the “take it us”, verse 10 says that he is to “put it on.” Armor does no good in the armory, and armor does no good until it is put on the soldier’s body.  

This armor, if utilized properly, will enable us to do what verses 11, 13, and 14 say we are to do, and that is “stand.” This armor will also make it possible to “withstand,” or “resist,” the daily assaults that come our way from the enemy. Let’s begin today to examine the pieces of “the whole armor of God.”  

  I.  V. 14a  THE BELT OF TRUTH

The standard garment for the Roman soldier was a loose fitting tunic. It was really nothing more than a large, square piece of cloth with holes cut for the arms and head. It was usually worn loose, allowing it to drape over the body. When it came time for battle, that tunic would prove itself to be very dangerous for the soldier. 

Since most combat was hand-to-hand in ancient times, giving the enemy such an easy handhold would mean certain death. Not only that, but the tunic, if left loose, would hinder the soldier’s freedom of movement. So, before a battle began, the soldier would carefully gather the tunic around his body and hold it in place with a heavy leather belt. The phrase “girt about” literally means to “fasten one’s belt.” 

This practice was common among ordinary citizens as well. The people in that culture wore long, flowing robes. When he had to move fast, or do some sort of physical work, the robe would be tightened about the body so movement would be unhindered. 

When the Lord would bring the children of Israel out of Egypt, and gave them His instructions concerning the Passover, He told them to “eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S passover,” Ex. 12:11. They were to be ready to go. 

The Lord Jesus told His people to be ready to go as well. In Luke 12:35 He said, “Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning.” That is, we are to be ready to go all the time. Our spiritual loins are to be girded, as we are to be looking for the coming of the Lord.  

We don’t wear robes today, but we are to be “girded” up as well. Our “girding” is not physical, it is mental and it is spiritual. Here is how Peter said it: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” 1 Pet. 1:13

The “belt” we wear in our spiritual battles is not a belt of leather, it is a belt of “truth.” The word refers to “the content of that which is true.” If we are to “stand” in the “evil day”, then we must “stand” in the “truth.”  

When Paul speaks of our being “girt about with truth,” he is referring to a couple of specific areas of truth. Let me mention them to you today. 

  First, there is the “truth” found in the Word of God. Jesus said, “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth,John 17:17. Without a working knowledge of the truths of Scripture, the child of God is easy prey for the enemy. Paul has already told us that there is a great danger if we do not know truth. “That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive,” Eph. 4:14. That is why the Lord gave us His Word, and that is why He gave us preachers to explain it to us. He wants us to know His “truth” so that we might “stand” in the “evil day.” Without the truth, the saints of God have no foundation, and they are easily led astray.  

The only way to combat error is with the “truth.” It is the devil’s desire to defeat us, to destroy us, and to distract us. He does this by peddling lies. Like he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, Satan is still seeking to altar the Word of God. He wants wants us to ignore the “truth” God gives us and embrace his lies that are designed to lead us away from the Lord. 

As I said, the only way to combat error with “truth.” The only way to know the “truth” is to be exposed to it. The Bible is “truth.” The Bible is reliable. It is accurate. It is to be read, and it is to be believed. Those who read it and believe it soon discover that, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works,” 2 Tim. 3:16–17

Those who don’t soon find that they are casualties in the war between God and Satan. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,1 Tim. 4:1

So, the Bible is truth.

-   It teaches all we need to know about life and death, Heaven and Hell, God and Satan, and sin and salvation.

-   It reveals our condition before God, Rom. 3:10-23.

-   It reveals His solution to our problem, Jesus Christ the Son of God, John 3:16.

-   It reveals the way of salvation, Acts 16:31; Eph. 2:8-9.

-   It reveals the final destiny of the saints of God, John 14:1-3.

-   It reveals the final destiny of the lost, Psa. 9:17

The Bible is a book to be read, believed, obeyed, and loved. Those who do will be led into the path of life. Those who don’t will spend eternity in death. If you own a Bible, you should praise the Lord for it, and you should soak in the “truth” it contains daily. Let it shape your life, feed your soul, guide your steps, and lead you to Jesus Christ. It is “truth,” and in its pages are life everlasting. Make the Bible your foundation and stand on it! 

  Second, not only does “truth” refer to “the content of that which is true,” it also refers to “the very attitude of truthfulness.” This thought seems to get to the heart of what Paul is teaching us here. So, in this context, it speaks of an attitude of commitment and preparedness. It is the primary characteristic of a true believer, of one who serves God out of sincerity and not out of hypocrisy. For this believer shabby service is not tolerated, but they gather up the loose clothing of their lives, and bind it with total commitment to the will of the Lord. Thus, they are enabled to “stand.” 

Far too many in our day allow the loose folds of their lives to blow around them, hindering their walk with the Lord. Like the ancient soldier who’s loose tunic would allow the enemy to easily them and pull them down in battle, many believers allow the cares of this world to enfold their lives. Their habits, cares, and interests entangle them prevent them from faithfully serving the Lord as they should. Half-hearted commitment is not true commitment at all! 

That is not to be the way believers live their lives. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier,2 Tim. 2:4. Those who are “girt about with truth,” those who are true, committed believers, prepare themselves for the battle they are in, and they “stand” for His glory. 

When we are girded with “truth,” it means that we are walking with the Lord in total commitment and discipline. The committed Christian is prepared in the day of battle, because he has set his heart on the Lord in total commitment. He is true in his profession and he is disciplined in his walk. Thus, the enemy cannot easily trap him, or defeat him in the day of battle. 

Athletes demonstrate this kind of commitment and discipline. In Paul’s day they would train their bodies and sacrifice everything to win a small laurel wreath that would with away and perish in no time at all. They train, they work, they endure, pain, suffering and deprivation, all for the hope of winning the praise of men. For an athlete, there is no guarantee that they will be successful. They must compete against every other athlete in the contest for the victory.  

Christians are fighting for something far greater than a perishable crown. We are fighting for the very glory of God. We are to “stand” for Him in the day of battle, because it is His will for our lives. Those who know Him will be committed to honoring Him with the lives they live and the battle they wage. At the end of the way, when the battle ends, and the noise of warfare is lost in the anthems of His praises, the faithful, “true” believer will receive a crown that will never fade away. “And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible,1 Cor. 9:25. Every saint of God can have this crown, not just one. It is guaranteed to the faithful saint.

If an athlete can give everything just for the hope of possibly winning a perishable crown, how much more should we, the redeemed saints of God sacrifice everything to stand for Him? How much more should we be faithful, committed, and true?

 To be “girt about with truth” is to be renewed in the mind and it is to be absolutely committed to God’s will for our lives. It is to be the faithful, true disciple Jesus mentioned when He said, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me,” Matt. 16:24

It is to be the “living sacrifice” Paul wrote about in Rom. 12:2. “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God,” Rom. 12:2. Thus, it makes the “truth” of God visible, by allowing others to see that “truth” in shoeleather. 

To be “girt about with truth” means that we embrace the “truth” as it is reveled in the Word of God, then it means that we live out that “truth” in our lives day by day. It means that we are real.  

  The belt around a Roman soldier’s midsection did more than just bind his clothes close to his body. The belt provided him with stability for his back and abdomen. It helped him to “stand” in the day of battle. When we embrace the objective “truth” of God’s Word, and when that “truth” becomes subjective by being lived out in our daily lives, we will be a hard target for the enemy to bring down. 

By the way, if a soldier failed to protect his loins, he would not be able to produce offspring when he returned home from the battle. If the church does not stand on the truth, guard the truth, and wear the truth as a belt, we will not have a credible witness before those lost in sin. 

Conc: When our “loins” are “girt about with truth,” we will have taken up the first essential piece of the “whole armor of God.” It will mean that we will be “true” in our profession of Jesus Christ as our Savior and as our Lord. We will be enabled to live for the Lord day by day. 

In some ways, living for the Lord is harder than dying for Him. Many millions have given everything for the Lord. They were burned alive. They were fed to wild beasts. They were brutally slain in the name of religion and entertainment. Thank God that they remained faithful unto death! If you give your life for the Lord, the pain of death will last but a short time, and you will be in the presence of the Lord. However, if you live for Him, the battle against sin, evil, Satan, and the struggle to walk in obedience, and to render faithful service endure day after day. Living for the Lord can be painful in a world that hates Him and His “truth.”  

I’m not taking anything away from the faithful martyrs who have given their lives for the Lord over the centuries. I am saying that a faithful life, lived in obedience, over many long years is a wonder to behold. A life of “truth” that bears faithful witness to the life changing power of the Gospel, brings great glory to the name of God. 

That’s why many of God’s precious saints, people who were not known outside their church and local community, will hear Him say “well done” at the end of the way. They were faithful to live their lives for Him. They walked in “truth,” and God will honor them for it some day. 

  Are your “loins girt about with truth?

  Are you a faithful, true servant of the Lord?

  Does your daily walk bring glory and honor to Him? 

  If you have never embraced the “truth” of the Gospel and you need to be saved, come to Him and He will implant “truth” in your soul and change your life.

   If you are saved, come ask Him to help you “take up the whole armor of God, that you might be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
By Pastor Alan Carr
 
Pastor Rolando Ramos 

 

We MUST Tell People to REPENT!


And they went out, and preached that men should repent. Mark 6:12

A gentle reader recently asked about the people who say they believe in Jesus and still live like Satan's world. I've encountered MANY, MANY, individuals who claim they've been Christians for years--but they can't stand to hear about the things of God. Many go to church and think that it is a social club never preaching the gospel to a single soul. They are concerned with soup kitchens and hospitals and special music and newsletters which is would be okay if it were based on truth--but these people do not share the gospel with the lost! A man can go to hell on a full stomach. Then you've got the ones that go to church once a week and as soon as they leave out of the doors they get to cursing and doing whatever they please. All of these categories have something in common--NO REPENTANCE. THIS is an issue I've been wanting to address--badly.

We Bible believers have our little formulas for leading people to Jesus, but we are leaving out a most necessary part of sharing the gospel--the preaching of REPENTANCE. As a result, there are a lot of heathens walking around thinking that they are saved. We spend almost no time on this vital aspect of the gospel and then we spend a good deal of time on assurance verses when the person has not even repented! REPENTANCE is foundational--

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the FOUNDATION OF REPENTANCE FROM DEAD WORKS, and of faith toward God,

The Lord Jesus had plenty to say about REPENTANCE--

Luke 5:32 "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to REPENTANCE."

Luke 24:47 ...[Jesus said to them] that REPENTANCE and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Mark 1:15 ..."The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: REPENT ye, AND BELIEVE the gospel."

"[W]e Bible-believers have been doing the unsaved a disservice as we share the gospel with them. We say, 'just believe'. But does not James say that even 'the devils believe and tremble'? When soul winning, we often tell people to just admit that they are a sinner and believe in Jesus. Then we go on to stress MANY assurance verses. This is terribly wrong. What we need to be stressing is REPENTANCE from dead works.

"We don't need to spend half of our time on assurance. It's okay for somebody to be scared when they are doing wrong. That's called the fear of the Lord. That's called working out your salvation with fear and trembling! They need to stop doing evil and be holy like the Lord. Yet we say, 'Don't worry, you can do any old thing and still get in. You can sin as much as you want to, don't worry about God's commandments.' This flies in the face of many scriptures like--

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.

Romans 11:22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

2 Peter 1:10-11 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

If you want Jesus, you must repent.

Acts 26:20 ...they should repent and TURN TO GOD, AND DO WORKS MEET FOR REPENTANCE.

Acts 2:39, 3:19 REPENT YE therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...

Acts 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to REPENT:

Acts 20:21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

It's okay to fear the Lord! It is the unbeliever that has no fear of God!

Romans 3:18 There is NO FEAR of God before their eyes.

THE LORD TAKETH PLEASURE IN THEM THAT FEAR HIM, in those that hope in his mercy. Ps 147:10-11

2 Corinthians 7:1 Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS IN THE FEAR OF GOD.

Hebrews 12:28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY WITH REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR:

 Except the Lord in your heart day, you are not promised tomorrow

Pastor Rolando Ramos

Friday, February 21, 2014

The Enemies of the King


**Matthew 15:1-39**

Enemies of Christ major on man-made rules and traditions, which, however practical, should never hold precedence over God-given commands or biblical principles. Obey Him!!

--Jesus taught the truth and manifested love and concern for all who came to Him. In stark contrast, the scribes and pharisees insisted on a literal and often painful application of Law. They believed in keeping rules above and beyond any human need. Note, that like so many who object to the truth, they had no alternative to offer. Jesus healed the sick. What did the Pharisees offer in place of His healing? Jesus gave hope and spiritual comfort to those who came to Him. What did the scribes or pharisees have to give to the lives of those who were hurting? We should also consider that the scribes and Pharisees were as much in need as anyone. Surely, there were sick and crippled scribes and pharisees. No doubt, some scribes and pharisees had blind chidren or deaf loved ones. Jesus could have helped these people as He had helped others. Their doubt and unreasonable questioning cut them off from the ministry of Jesus. Not only did they not receive any physical help from the Lord, they did not receive the spritual message that could have saved their souls and brought them into the kingdom of God. We should keep in mind the things we are giving up when we question and doubt the ministry of Jesus. --

The Truth about the Scribes and Pharisees

Matthew 15:3-9

"But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and , He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death. But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, it is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; and honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mougth, and honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."

**Isaiah 29:13**

"Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:"

--The people claimed to belong to God, but they were disobedient and merely went through the motions; therefore, God would bring vengeance upon them. Religion had become routine instead of real. Jesus quoted  Isaiah's condemnation of Israel's hypocrisy when he spoke to the Phariees, the religious leaders of his day. --

The pharisees were faced with arguing not only with the Law, but also the Prophets. Isaiah had declared that a people would come who honoured God with their mouths while their hearts were far from God. They would teach as doctrine the commandments of men. This prophecy was fufilled in the Pharisees and Scribes.

The truth about Defilement

Matthew 15:10-14

"And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand: not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man. Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying? But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch."

Matthew 15:17-20

"Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: these are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man."
 
By Dinah Ramos

 

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

NOT EVERYONE GETS TO GO TO HEAVEN

Matthew 7:21-23

Intro: You might not think it, but our world is very heavenly minded. That is a strange statement considering just how wretched and wicked our world is, but in a recent CNN poll, it was discovered that 81% of the people asked believed in a literal heaven where people lived with God after death. 81%! 61% of those polled said that they believed they would go to Heaven immediately when they died. Another 88% believed that they would see departed family and friends when they arrived in Heaven.
I find these numbers astonishing in light of the wickedness that fills our society, don't you? Of course, there is another side to this story. Of all those polled, 6% believed Heaven could be reached by doing good works. Another 57% believed that Heaven was available to all who place their faith in God and did good works and 34% believed that Heaven was for those who had faith in God alone. Now, here is where a problem begins to be seen. A full 63% of those who responded believed they were going to Heaven, but they cited the wrong reason for getting there. The other 34%, who believed that Heaven came to those who placed their faith in God, may be just as wrong as those who believe salvation comes s a result of works.
I want you to know this morning that not everyone goes to Heaven when they die! I know we want to believe they do, but the fact of the matter is, not everyone who thinks they are going to Heaven really is. In what is, without question, the most important area of any person's life, most people, are sincerely wrong concerning what they believe about salvation.
As Jesus drew near to the end of the Sermon on the Mount, He takes the time to remind men of the seriousness of their salvation. He wanted all who heard Him to be sure that they were genuinely converted. That is my desire for each of you this morning. I would like for us to spend a few minutes with these words of Jesus and notice some thoughts that come from this passage. I am going to preach this morning on the thought "Not Everyone Gets To Go To Heaven."
It is my prayer that you will allow the Spirit of God to speak to your hearts today. It may be that there are some here this morning who have never been truly saved. Perhaps this is the day when you will meet Jesus as your Savior. Maybe there are those who think they are saved, but in truth, you're not. I am praying that God will speak to your heart today! Perhaps there are those who know you have never been converted. There is no better time than right now to get that taken care of. Let's join Jesus as He teaches us the truth that "Not Everyone Gets To Go To Heaven."
I. V. 21a A STARTLING COMMUNICATION
A. Jesus makes one of the most startling statements in all the Bible. He says that not everyone who claims Him as Lord will be saved! He is telling us that there will be some people who will think they are saved, but who, in fact, are still lost and headed to Hell!
B. Jesus makes it clear that not all who profess Him possess Him!
C. A mere profession of Jesus as Savior is not enough to save! A person may believe in the doctrines of the faith. They may be sincere and good. However, merely saying you know Jesus is not enough to save your soul. Belonging to the church, being a good person, doing religious things, etc, are all good, but none of them can save the soul! Salvation come only through the new birth, John 3:3, 7.
D. I think it is clear that Jesus is telling us that there will be some who will think they are saved and in reality they are deceived. Why would I believe this? Because the Bible has much to say about this matter.
1. "For many are called, but few are chosen.", Matt. 22:14.
2. The parable of the Wheat and the Tares, Matt. 13:24-30; 13:36-43.
3. Paul also knew that there would be some in the church who would be fooled by their profession. "Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?", 2 Cor. 13:5
4. Simon Peter also mentioned this phenomenon, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:", 2 Pet. 1:10.
E. Why is this such a major concern? Because without Jesus, there is no hope for salvation. There is hope for nothing but Hell fire! Sadly, there are too many in our day who base their "salvation experience" on what their mother or daddy told them happened. Too many are trusting a time when they had a strange experience. What we need to get firmly nailed down this morning is that there are many people who are trusting in some "fuzzy" experience to get them to Heaven. Friend, you had better be sure where your faith is today! Why? Your eternity depends on what you trust in! Remember, not everyone gets to go to Heaven!
I. A Startling Communication
II. V. 21b A SIMPLE CONDITION
A. Here, Jesus clears up the matter of what brings salvation to a life. He says that people are saved by "doing the will of His Father." Does this mean that people are saved by works? Of course not! Eph. 2:8-9. If we are going to understand this verse, we are going to have to find out what the will of the Father is.
B. According to John 6:40, this is the will of God, "And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day."
C. So, the Bible makes it clear that salvation comes to those who see the Son and believe in Him. The bottom line? Salvation is by pure faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. If you can come to the place where you are trusting nothing but the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ to save you from your sins, that is biblical salvation. It is stated as simply as possible in Romans 10:9-10, "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."
D. God has made salvation so easy to receive that He is able to invite anyone who thirsts to come to Him for salvation, John 7:37; Rev. 22:17. Salvation is simple, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved...", Acts 16:31.
E. Where is your faith this morning? It had better be in Jesus because not everyone gets to go to heaven!
I. A Startling Communication
II. A Simple Condition
III. V. 22 A STUNNED COMPLAINT
A. When these people hear the requirement for salvation, they begin to recount all the things they have done in life. They had done some pretty impressive stuff! They had preached the Word of God! They had cast out devils! They had done many wonderful works! And, they had done it all in the Name of Jesus!
B. You see, they were sincere! They were busy! They were doing good stuff in a good Name. They were making a difference. They were so busy working for the Lord that they never took the time to get to know Him personally!
C. These people appealed to their works to save them. They even call Him Lord, but they do not know Him! If this verse teaches us anything at all, it teaches us that salvation cannot be produced by works! My friends, you can do it all! You can work and give and visit and preach and teach and go to church and on and on and on, but the truth still remains. Salvation is by "grace through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. Not of works lest any man should boast."
D. Do you hear these boasting? Notice that their whole claim to Heaven rests in what "they" have done! The focus is on them and not on the Lord. May I just remind you this morning, your salvation will never be about you? It will never be about what you have accomplished or what you may have done. Salvation is all about Jesus and what He did when He went to the cross and took the sins of the world on Himself at Calvary., 2 Cor. 5:21. Salvation is about Him! Salvation is about the One Who suffered, bled and died to accomplish what a million lifetimes of religious works can never do, Ill. Heb. 9:12-14; Heb. 9:25-28; Heb. 10:10-14! (Ill. The awful sufferings of the cross, Isa. 52:14; Isa. 53:4-11! Glory Hallelujah!
E. Because of all this, I am glad that I can tell you this morning, "It is done, and there is nothing for you to do, but accept Jesus and His plan for your salvation!" If you have received Him and His plan, then praise the Lord. If not, then you need to realize that not everyone gets to go to Heaven!
(Ill. One day, a king died. His servants spread the unbelievable news all over the palace. He had died in his bed of natural causes.
"Where has he gone?", asked one of the king's wisest counselors
"Why, to Heaven of course!", answered all the others.
"No", said the other gravely, "I served this king for many years and traveled with him to many places. He loved to travel and would go over the details of each journey. Every element was planned and anticipated. But I have never heard him say a word about traveling to Heaven. It is a journey for which I saw him make no preparation. I am quite sure he did not go to Heaven." What about you? Have you made the right preparations?)
I. A Startling Communication
II. A Simple Condition
III. A Stunned Complaint
IV. V. 23a A SHOCKING CONFESSION
A. As those people stood before the Lord, surely they were shocked at what they had already heard. Now they are about to hear something that will forever seal their destiny. He tells them, "I never knew you." They had claimed to be working in His name. They had claimed that they knew Him. They had professed a relationship, but Jesus tells the truth. He tells them that at no time in their lives hd He ever known them!
(Ill. Of course, Jesus is God! He knows everything. He knew who they were and He knew their hearts. What He means here is that He had never known them in a personal relationship. These people had never been saved!)
B. There are those who feel that this passage is speaking to backsliders. Some feel that these people were once saved and now, for whatever reason, they are lost again. Of course, Jesus says that He "never" knew them. If He ever knew then He cannot say that He never knew them! These aren't backsliders! These people are just plain lost in their sins!
(Ill. By the way, I am convinced that many who appear to be "backsliders" in the church are really people who were never been saved in the first place, 1 John 2:19.)
C. The whole point of this verse is this, "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his.", 2 Tim. 2:19. If Jesus ever knew you, He still does today. If not, then you might be in this crowd that gathers on that day and finds they have no future in Heaven. Not everyone gets to go to Heaven!
I. A Startling Communication
II. A Simple Condition
III. A Stunned Complaint
IV. A Shocking Confession
V. V. 23b A SUDDEN CONDEMNATION
A. These lost ones are ordered to leave the presence of the Lord! There is only one place in the universe where men can be free from the manifest presence of God and that is in the fires of Hell, 2 Thes. 1:8-9, "In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;"!
B. My friends, we need to remember that there is a vast difference between Heaven and Hell!
1. Heaven is described as a place of endless bliss and eternal glory, Rev. 21:4; John 14:1-3.
2. On the other hand, Hell is described as:
A. Unquenchable Fire - Mark 9:43
B. A place of memory and remorse - Luke 16:25; 27-28
C. A place of thirst - Luke 16:24-25
D. A place of misery and pain - Luke 16:24-26; Reb. 14:10-11.
E. A place of frustration and anger - Matt. 13:25; Matt. 24:51
F. A place of endless separation - Rev. 21:8; 2 Thes. 1:8-9
G. A place of undiluted divine wrath - (Ill. Hab. 3:2, There will be no mercy for those who go to Hell!)
(Ill. It is clear to see that there is no comparison between Heaven and Hell. Which one do you want to go to when you die?)
C. I think the saddest words in all the Bible will be these words recorded here, "I never knew you, depart from me." These are people who expected to hear the Lord welcoming them into Heaven. They were sincere. They thought they were saved. They knew all the catch words and the right things to say. They knew "Gospel speak". Why then will these people hear these words? Because they are basing their hope of salvation on their own works and goodness. Because they have failed to place their faith in the finished work of Jesus on the cross. They will go to Hell because they chose their way over God's way. I wonder, what will Jesus say to you? Remember, not everyone gets to go to Heaven!
Conc: 81% of Americans believe in the existence of a real literal Heaven. Almost that many expect to go there immediately when they die. Will they? Only if they have trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. Unless they come to God through Jesus Christ, they will never be saved, John 14:6.
This morning, I want you to know that I do not have the ear of 81% of Americans. However, I have had your ea this morning. Where do you stand with the Lord Jesus? Do you think you are saved? Do you hope that you will do to Heaven when you die? What are you basing that hope on this morning? If there is the slightest doubt in your heart that you are saved, you need to come and get that things settled right now. Some of you are lost. You need to get out of your seat and make your way to Jesus right now. He is calling will you come?

I remind you again, not everyone gets to go to Heaven! Will you?

By Pastor Alan Carr 

Pastor Rolando Ramos 

Monday, February 17, 2014

The Beauty of Holiness



When obedience comes hard, as "heavy burdens and grievous to be borne" (Matthew 23:4), we either don't stop to think of Holiness at all, or else only in a sarcastic reference to the strictness of the Law. This is not love. This is not obedience. This is not Holiness. Love obeys, and does so readily and joyfully. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His Commandments: and His Commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3). Holiness is beautiful because it is the fruit of your love to Him. Our love union with the LORD is beautiful because it yields our obedience to Him, which yields to Him great joy. "He that hath My Commandments, and keepeth Them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him" (John 14:21). What can you offer God Who has everything? You can choose Him. Be called by His Name. Agree with Him. Please Him. "Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my LORD" (Philippians 3:8). Give Him the love and worship of an obedient heart to His every Word. "Thy Words were found, and I did eat Them; and Thy Word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy Name, O LORD God of hosts" (Jeremiah 15:16).

May God bless your day

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