Participants: Chris Shelton (Host), Kenny Shelton
Series Code: BTLP
Program Code: BTLP000029
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00:41 Hello, and welcome to Behold The Lambs presents,
00:44 I'm Chris Shelton your host. 00:46 And I want to extend a very warm welcome to you today 00:50 for tuning in. 00:51 Today is the second in a four part series 00:55 that we have entitled, 00:56 "The Plain, Straight Testimony Must Live." 00:59 You know we're finding that through 01:01 the study of this series that we have a personal 01:04 as well as a corporate responsibility 01:07 to properly deal with a ugly word that we call sin. 01:12 You know no one likes to admit they're a sinner, 01:14 yet in the blessed word of God, 01:17 in Romans 3 and verse 23 we read, 01:20 "All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." 01:24 Now how terribly sad it would be 01:27 if our study abruptly stopped, 01:30 just ended right at this verse? 01:32 Having the knowledge that sin separates us from God, 01:35 that the penalty of sin is eternal death. 01:37 That it was because of sin the Christ was mocked, 01:41 rejected, beaten, and crucified. 01:45 Then this verse alone would leave us feeling hopeless. 01:49 So let's continue reading on in Romans 3 01:51 and look at verses 24 and 25, we read here. 01:56 "Because justified freely by his grace through 01:59 the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 02:02 whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation 02:06 through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness 02:10 for the remission of sins that are past, 02:12 through the forbearance of God." 02:15 And these three verses along are combined 02:18 a treasure trove of study and growth in Christ. 02:23 He has given so very much for our salvation, 02:27 but has pointed out in verse 25, 02:30 now listen, that there is to be a remission of sins. 02:35 Sins are to be overcome in our lives, 02:37 through the power and the strength of our Savior, 02:40 through his gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. 02:43 So no matter what it is, what idol we are holding on 02:48 to in this world in order to receive God's blessing. 02:53 Friends, it must go, and to help us on our journey, 02:56 Pastor Kenny is going to present, 02:59 the Plain, Straight Testimony Must Live, part two today. 03:04 But before he does where blessed to listen 03:07 to brother Woolsey, as he prays a song in entitled 03:12 "Eternal Life" at the 3ABN Worship Center. 03:17 [music] 05:55 Thank you for joining us today, "Behold the Lamb." 05:57 We pray that the Lord has been meeting 05:59 the needs of your heart. 06:01 Today, we have just an important study again, 06:03 it's a second part. 06:04 We're talking about 06:06 "The Plain, Straight Testimony Must Live." Where? 06:09 Live in us, live in the church. 06:11 And this is a subject that some people might have 06:13 a little problem with, you know we're going 06:15 to have to deal with it, because God deals with it. 06:19 Before we get into our study once again 06:20 we're going to kneel and have prayer, 06:22 you may want to prayer along with me, I hope you do. 06:25 Some of you do with audio and maybe some are doing 06:28 you know video and so on. 06:29 But, will you can please just kneel with me 06:31 and ask God's blessing on this most important subject, 06:35 let's pray together. 06:39 Merciful Father in heaven, 06:40 we thank You for the privilege of prayer. 06:43 We thank You that we call upon You in our time of need. 06:46 Today, we have need of the power of thy Holy Spirit. 06:50 Come near to our hearts, open our mind, 06:52 our ears and help us just receive the word that 06:56 you have in store for us. 06:57 Forgive me if anything in my heart and life, 07:00 any sin, anything that needs to go right now, 07:03 I pray in the name of Jesus that You blood 07:06 I know is sufficient enough to cleanse me 07:08 from all in righteousness. 07:10 We need to hear not from man, 07:12 but we need to hear from heaven. 07:13 Thank you now for hearing, thank you for answering prayer 07:16 and we just ask in the name of Jesus and for His sake, amen. 07:23 Once again we always invite you to get your 07:25 pencil and paper, and we do this 07:26 because we cover some things rather quickly 07:29 and sometimes it's hard for us to retain 07:31 all of these things. 07:32 So if you'll just jot them down and then go back 07:34 and study to show yourself approved, 07:36 also study to make sure I'm telling you the truth, 07:40 not everybody that stands 07:41 in the pulpit is telling the truth. 07:43 Not everyone is giving present truth 07:45 and so we need for you to sit down 07:47 with the power of the Holy Spirit 07:48 and do this study with us. 07:50 What we're gonna do, since this is a second part 07:53 of our study, if you allow me I'm gonna recap. 07:56 I jotted down 10 things and I know that's a lot, 07:59 that we covered last time our first part 08:01 in "The Plain, Straight Testimony Must Live." 08:05 And so if you missed it real quickly and you say, 08:07 boy, I want go back and get it, 08:08 well that's gonna be available too. 08:10 If you the missed the first part here you go. 08:12 Number one, there is no such thing, 08:15 point one, no such thing 08:16 as a little or in significant sin. 08:20 Number two, our message is the same today 08:23 as John the Baptist, we need to repent, 08:27 we need to make the path straight 08:28 for the coming of Jesus Christ. 08:31 Point number three, we must call sin, sin or what? 08:36 By his right name. 08:37 Four, we must be sighing and crying 08:39 for the abominations that are done in our midst. 08:43 Point number five, that we covered. 08:46 Sin cannot be tolerated among God's people, 08:50 it must be dwelt with in order to have the blessings of God. 08:55 Six, failure to deal with sin as we recognize it, 09:01 as leaders in the church that sin is registered 09:05 against our names as though we had committed it. 09:09 Think about this, it's registered against our name 09:13 if we fail to deal with it. 09:16 Seven, one sinner, now pay special attention, 09:20 one sinner can shutout the presence of God 09:23 or the light of God from the entire congregation. 09:28 Now we don't want that, why come to church 09:31 if God's presence's not gonna be there, 09:33 the power of the Holy Spirit. 09:35 But one sin that we understand 09:37 and we know is taking place and we let go, 09:40 it's gonna shutout God's presence. 09:41 Oh friend, that's sad. 09:44 Point number eight, sin must be searched out and put away. 09:50 Now please remember, we covered about searching out 09:52 that sin and how it should be done according to scripture. 09:56 Number nine, we learn how we can view sin, 09:59 I like this one, how we can view sin as God views it. 10:04 Last point number ten, Jesus came into the world 10:08 to destroy what? 10:10 Destroy the works of the devil. 10:13 Wow! You know those are ten points quite 10:16 a bit of material to cover, but we realize that as we do 10:20 a four part series not everyone's going to be able 10:22 to be there and to you know, get ever part 10:25 and so we need to go back sometime. 10:28 And part number two, I will always like to start out 10:29 with something that I, sometime people say was 10:32 a little bit of a shocker. 10:34 But I want you to know since we're dealing 10:35 with the sin issues in the church 10:37 because it's withholding God's blessing from us. 10:40 Have you ever wonder why, why we're not seeing things 10:43 happen in the church as we did 10:45 in the New Testament Church, we read the Book of Acts 10:47 and we get so excited that we just can hardly stand it 10:50 and look what God is doing. 10:51 Listen, we serve the same God today. 10:54 God can work those miracles, 10:55 but He needs people that He can work them through. 10:58 And if we are, not only sin in our life, 11:00 but the sin in others we tolerate it 11:02 because we don't have the spiritual backbone 11:05 to do something about it. 11:06 God is gonna withhold those blessings 11:08 and I don't know about you, but I need them. 11:10 Now here's what we done, 11:11 this will fit as we go through our studies, 11:14 but I'm gonna just kind of give it to you right now. 11:17 In a letter that was written called letter 2/15 in 1902. 11:22 Notice what it talks about, those who persist 11:26 in open rebellion or sin in the church 11:29 once they've been dealt with. 11:30 Notice what has to take place. 11:32 I know, I know it's distasteful to some people 11:36 and I know that some of you are not going to like that. 11:38 But you know what, you know, 11:39 I love you too, but I just tell you 11:41 I'd lot rather please God, then I had to deal with you. 11:44 Okay, Oh! That's come on let's think about 11:46 this a little bit here. 11:48 We're either gonna please man 11:49 or we're going to please whom? 11:50 God, notice how this reads. 11:53 It says, "The names of those who sin and refuse 11:57 to repent should not be retained upon 12:01 the church books," 12:02 Wow! "Lest the saints be held accountable 12:07 for their evil deeds." 12:09 Now can you, once again, can you, 12:11 do you have enough on your shoulders, 12:13 enough in your own life going on 12:15 that you don't need somebody else's. 12:17 "Those who pursue a course of transgression," 12:21 here's it, "should be visited?" 12:23 Yes, "and should be labored with, 12:26 and if then they refuse to repent, 12:29 they should be separated from the church fellowship 12:33 in accordance with the rules laid down in the Word of God." 12:37 Not man made rules and regulations, 12:39 but what, according to the rules 12:40 that God has laid down in his word. 12:43 So we're to labor with them, pray with them, 12:45 work with them, encourage them, 12:47 bottom-line if they continue on the wrong path, 12:50 they're to be disfellowshipped, 12:52 and that is a word that not too many people 12:55 really like to get involved with. 12:56 Let me read 3 Testimonies 269 once again, 13:00 now remember this is our platform 13:01 from which we are studying from. 13:04 Remember this if you missed, 13:05 the plain, straight testimony must live 13:08 in the church, or what? 13:11 Please pay attention, or what? 13:13 Or the curse of God will rest upon His people 13:17 as surely as it did on ancient Israel because of their sins." 13:23 Now notice plain what? 13:24 Is a plain straight testimony alive and well in your church. 13:29 If not, notice what she said, God's prophets this. 13:32 "Or the curse of God will rest upon His people." 13:38 We don't need the curse of God do we? 13:40 We want the blessings of God, 13:42 we want the presence of God that changes mankind 13:46 and prepares us for heaven. 13:48 So none of us can sit back and say, 13:50 well we don't need the plain, straight testimony, 13:52 you know it's gonna cause problems. 13:53 You don't need the curse of God and I don't need that. 13:57 We left off with the question in our first part, 13:59 is there something maybe 14:01 you're detecting in your church. 14:03 There is a lack of something, lack of spirituality, 14:06 there is lack of power in the church. 14:09 Lack of blessings, lack of the presence of God, 14:12 nothing's going on. 14:14 Maybe there should be some soul searching, 14:17 because something is not right. 14:19 Let me just read for you, 14:20 this is 4 Testimonies page 166 and 167, 14:24 I'm gonna refer to these things, 14:26 there is gonna be some reading, 14:27 but boy is it powerful, notice. 14:30 Neglect, here we start out with word neglect, 14:32 "Neglect to repent and obey His word will bring 14:37 a serious consequences upon God's people today 14:41 as did the sin against ancient Israel." 14:45 Now are you read for this? 14:47 "There is a limit beyond which He will" God, right? 14:51 "Will no longer delay His judgment. 14:54 The desolation of Jerusalem stands as a solemn warning 14:59 before the eyes of modern Israel." 15:03 This pertains to us, us as God's people today. 15:07 Remember there is a what? 15:08 A limit and then go off 15:10 the judgments of God begins to fall. 15:12 You think you've been getting away with it, 15:14 you've been dealing and you know behind people 15:16 don't really realize what's going on in your life. 15:19 God does and He knows the moment that it began 15:21 and there is be a time that He is gonna say 15:23 that is enough and the judgments 15:25 began to fall on you. 15:26 I'm reading on, notice. 15:28 The eyes of modern Israel, "that the correction given 15:32 through His chosen instruments 15:35 cannot be disregarded with impunity." 15:38 That means without what? 15:39 Without punishment and loss, keep this in mind, 15:43 notice it says here. 15:45 "The correction that is given through 15:48 His chosen instruments," some people just partake upon 15:52 themselves that they're gonna go correct somebody else. 15:55 God will impress your heart and your mind, 15:57 what to do and how to do it. 15:59 And we must be what? 16:00 In harmony with scripture, God chooses. 16:03 Now notice some people says, oh yeah, 16:05 but you know we don't wanna go through that, 16:06 and we're apprehensive about it. 16:07 We don't want to deal with it, 16:09 but listen God chooses individuals. 16:13 With this correction to give correction, 16:15 but if we disregard this correction, 16:19 notice there will be punishment 16:21 and there will be loss. 16:23 May I give you an example? 16:24 This is really important, please pay attention. 16:27 You remember the High Priest Eli. 16:29 Well, Eli, he wouldn't deal with sin in his sons. 16:35 Notice this parents this is very, very important. 16:39 Eli refused to deal with sins, 16:41 he passed them over in his sons as a light thing. 16:46 He tried to correct, he talk to them a little bit about it, 16:49 but he passed it on as a light thing. 16:52 This was a neglect of the father, 16:54 not only a priest but the father, 16:57 to reprove and to restrain the wrongs of his son. 17:02 Notice the two things 17:04 what the father's responsibility in the home, 17:07 is to reprove and to, notice this work. 17:11 And some of you won't like this, to restrain. 17:14 In other words you put a stop to it. 17:17 And again the old saying is, you know, 17:19 as long as you lender this rule, 17:20 this is the rule, this is the way that we're going 17:22 to operate according to the what? 17:25 The way that God says we're to do it. 17:27 So Eli did not restrain his sons, 17:30 Eli then called the sins they were involved in. 17:34 You read the story of Eli and his sons, 17:37 it was no light thing what these guys were doing 17:39 in the name of Jesus. 17:41 But he wouldn't, he wouldn't reprove them, 17:43 he didn't restrain them, you know what this did? 17:46 This brought disaster upon all of Israel. Why? 17:49 Because of Eli, because he didn't correct it, 17:52 because of what his sons were participating. 17:54 Notice with me, Eli, 17:59 his sons were killed, Eli lost his life. 18:05 This is because of sin. 18:07 The Ark was taken, listen carefully 30,000 people 18:13 lost their lives. 18:16 And friend, this wasn't the end. 18:19 The daughter-in-law who was pregnant 18:21 with child when she heard of all the news 18:24 and all went on, her husband was killed, 18:28 father-in-law was killed, the Ark was taken. 18:31 All these people killed. 18:33 And she went into labor 18:36 and while she was in labor, she died. 18:40 You remember being the Bible passage 18:41 when we tolerate something that comes against us, 18:45 and what we have and/or 18:47 maybe our companion and our children. 18:51 And she died and the son lived and the name given 18:54 the son was what? 18:55 Was Ichabod, why the name Ichabod to the son? 18:59 Because he said the glory of the Lord has departed. Why? 19:03 Why did the glory of the Lord depart? 19:06 Because there was sin in the camp and it wasn't dealt with. 19:10 Can you even imagine that 30,000 people lost 19:13 their life because of two rebellious young men, 19:17 and because the priest, the pastor, 19:21 the elders let it go, 19:23 didn't deal with it, didn't restrain it. 19:27 Oh, friend, you're saying wow! 19:31 Four testimonies 166, 'cause you're gonna say, 19:33 are you sure this is it? 19:35 Listen, four testimonies 166 says this, 19:38 all this was, all these things that I've 19:40 mentioned and more happened was allowed 19:44 because sin was lightly regarded and because 19:48 it was allowed to remain among them. 19:52 What a lesson, what a lesson it is to men 19:57 who are holding positions of responsibility in the 20:01 church of God today. 20:05 It screams out to us that we need be faithful 20:10 in removing the wrongs that distort 20:14 and dishonor the cause of truth. 20:18 Friend, can we bear responsibility 20:21 for something like that? 20:24 Well, you know the, some people will say, yeah, 20:28 I realize that was in you know Eli's time, 20:31 and so listen does the same dangerous 20:33 exists among the church today. 20:36 Let me read again four testimonies 166, 20:38 see we have people who they live kind of 20:41 in a little house and they pull the cover over their 20:43 heads and they don't want, 20:45 well that was back then, 20:47 it doesn't pertain to us now. 20:49 Sin is deal sin. 20:51 God frowns upon it, he has to turn from it. 20:55 Four testimonies 166, it says, 20:58 "The same dangers exists today among the people 21:02 who profess to be depositories of God's law." 21:06 This starts getting a little bit close 21:08 to you and to me, doesn't it? 21:11 Reading on, "they are too apt to flatter themselves 21:15 that the regard and they hold up the commandments 21:19 will preserve them from 21:20 with the power of divine justice." 21:23 So we had a group of people who are saying what? 21:25 Well we've had the Ten Commandments, 21:26 we're holding them up and because we're holding 21:29 them up, you know God is going to preserve us, is He? 21:35 Reading on, it says, "They refuse to be 21:38 reproved for evil, and they charge 21:41 God's servant with being too zealous 21:43 in putting sin out of the camp." 21:46 That's what people do sometime, you know, 21:48 they hear and they said, oh we don't want to do that, 21:50 oh, he is too zealous, oh he shouldn't be doing that. 21:52 Does that, sin has to go out of the camp. 21:56 Notice, profess people, it says here, 21:59 "A sin-hating God calls upon those who professed 22:02 to keep His law, is that you today? 22:05 To depart from all iniquity." 22:08 I want you to notice there, you know, 22:10 just Acts Chapter 3, Acts Chapter 3 22:12 that's what Jesus came for, isn't it? 22:15 He came what, to get rid of sin. 22:18 Matthew 7:23 says, we need to depart from what? 22:21 From iniquity. 22:24 And of course certainly in Timothy 2 verse 4, 22:28 Bible talks about we need to be redeemed from what? 22:32 From iniquity. 22:34 We need to have purity of life because the passage says, 22:38 because we are a peculiar people, 22:40 we're to be different from the world and most 22:43 generally you can't tell who is God's people 22:45 and who is not just seeing them walk down 22:47 the street, there is no difference. 22:49 You realize why this world in a mess that is 22:51 in today, and have you ever really thought about it, 22:54 found a little quote I thought to be interesting, 22:55 let me, please let me share it with you. 22:57 From a Manuscript 60, written in 1900, see if it applies. 23:02 "It is the rejection of truth, 23:06 man's dispensing with the commandments of God." 23:10 No longer binding, no, we don't have to do that anymore. 23:13 "Has produced the condition of things 23:16 now that exists in the world," you believe it? 23:19 "God's Word is made of none effect, 23:22 Listen to this, "By false shepherds." 23:26 Things exists in the world today because 23:28 we have rejected God, 23:30 we have rejected keeping His commandments. 23:32 Well, at the same time professing we love him, 23:34 professing we're going to keep His commandments. 23:37 Professing that we're gonna be part of the 23:38 family of God, that we're going to help. 23:41 Listen dear friends, the mess that we're in is 23:43 because we rejected God and we rejected His commandments. 23:47 And there are a group of people who say what, 23:50 oh yeah, well because we keep 23:51 the commandments of God. 23:52 You know God is not gonna do anything to us, we're all. 23:55 Let me just read something in the 23:56 Old Testament of what God said. 23:58 Jeremiah Chapter 7, I wish we had a lot of time 24:02 to spend on this, not now, 24:04 but I'm gonna go through some verses as quickly as I can. 24:07 And see if maybe today and in Jeremiah's time 24:11 if there is any connection and if there 24:13 is a connection, God help us. 24:17 Jeremiah 7 verse 2, it says, 24:19 "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house." 24:22 Do what? 24:24 "Stand in the gate of the Lord's house." 24:26 Didn't say go somewhere else, 24:27 it said go in the temple, go into God's house. 24:31 "Proclaim this word, and say, 24:33 Here the word of the Lord all ye of Judah, 24:35 that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord." 24:38 Verse 3, "And saith the Lord of hosts, 24:41 God of Israel, Amend your ways your doings, 24:45 and I will cause you to dwell in this place." 24:48 We're starting to get heavy stay with me, 24:50 verse 4, "Trust not in your lying words, 24:56 saying all The temple of the Lord, 24:59 The temple of the Lord, 25:00 The temple of the Lord, are these." 25:03 See those people back there saying what? 25:06 The temple of the Lord, we're being honored of 25:09 God because we're lifting up the Ten Commandments 25:12 and so God is not gonna do anything to us. 25:18 I hope somebody's pay attention to my mind. 25:22 And so in Jeremiah, today they were saying, 25:23 the temple, the temple, the temple, 25:26 I'd like to read all but I can't I'm gonna skip to 25:27 verse 8, notice what it says, it said, 25:29 "Behold, ye trust in lying words, that cannot profit." 25:34 And then God goes on and reveals this he said, 25:36 "Will you steal, will you murder, 25:40 will you committed adultery, 25:41 and swear falsely, burn incense to Baal," 25:45 listen, "Walk after other God's whom ye know not." 25:49 Now here is what he says, and then, 25:51 and let me just add this I'm gonna be careful about it. 25:54 God might say to you and me, 25:55 and you have the audacity, 25:57 you have the audacity to come before me, why? 26:01 Listen, he said, you're doing what? 26:03 Murder, stealing, adultery, 26:05 and incense to other Gods. 26:06 Verse 10 and then he says, 26:08 "And then you come and stand before me 26:12 in this house, which is called by my name, 26:15 and say, we are delivered to do all these abominations?" 26:22 Knowing they're doing abominations but because 26:24 they say well we, you know, God's given us the law 26:26 and so you know therefore he is gonna over look. 26:29 God said, you have the audacity to do that. 26:33 Come to my house that's called by name, verse 12. 26:38 "But go now unto a place which was in Shiloh." 26:41 Is what God saying to him. 26:42 "Where I set my name at first, and I see, 26:46 what I, and see what I did for the wickedness of 26:48 the people of Israel." 26:49 God said go back and you check out what I did, 26:52 when they refused my word. 26:54 Verse 14, "Therefore will I do to this house, 26:59 which is called by my name." 27:00 What is he talking about? His people, isn't it? 27:02 Here's gonna I'm gonna do to my house, God says, 27:05 "Wherein ye trust, and you place 27:07 which I gave you and to your fathers, 27:09 as I have done to Shiloh." 27:12 Here is what he said verse 15, 27:13 "I will cast you out of my sight, 27:17 I have cast out all your brethren, 27:19 the whole seed of Ephraim." 27:21 Now notice verse 23, keep going. 27:25 "But this things commanded I them, 27:27 "Here is what God says, what I said, 27:28 "Obey my voice, I will be your God, 27:32 ye shall be my people and you walk in all the ways 27:35 that I have commanded you, 27:37 and it will well with you." 27:38 Here is the whole key to Christian living, 27:41 here is the whole key to the blessings of God 27:43 just walk, do what he said, obey his voice 27:46 and by faith just walk in it. 27:48 And he said what, it's gonna be well with you. 27:51 You act like you don't want it well with you. 27:53 You know how it could be well, oh friends, 27:56 you see the importance of this, 27:57 you know how you can be blessed of God. 27:59 He says the blessing before you and a curse 28:01 and we choose the curse almost every time. 28:04 Verse 28, then I'm gonna get off of this, listen, 28:07 "But thou shalt say unto them, 28:09 this is a nation that obeyeth not the voice of 28:12 the Lord their God, not receiveth the 28:14 correction," notice this, "truth is perished, 28:16 and is cut off from their mouth." 28:19 Friend, you think, you think God is not taking note today. 28:23 You think he is not noticing what's going on. 28:25 Oh, I like to spend more time now I'm not going 28:27 to do that, so much information. 28:30 We have no, cannot also say, the temple, 28:32 the temple, the temple, 28:33 like God's is not going to correct us. 28:36 Regardless of who we say that we are, you know, 28:38 where we go to church, and what we do that God's 28:41 not going to correct us, he is going to correct us. 28:44 He is going to correct a people, 28:46 simply by obeying his voice. 28:48 Second Samuel 7:14 just simple says, 28:51 "If he commit iniquity," notice, 28:53 "If he commit iniquity, I will chasten him 28:55 with the rod of men, 28:57 and the stripes of the children of men." 29:01 God is trying to get your attention and my 29:02 attention today, we may need a good striping, 29:05 I hope you get a spiritual striping. 29:07 Also you know Matthew 24 verse 12 the Bible says, 29:11 "And because iniquity shall abound, 29:13 "What happens? 29:14 That's right, you've got, 29:15 "The love of many shall wax cold." 29:18 Because what, because iniquity shall abound. 29:21 Can we just go quickly in the first step, 29:24 so I want you encouragement here 29:26 is that we need to repent and get back to our 29:29 first love while there's still time. 29:32 You see this is what about, 29:33 you have to listen, you have to, let the 29:35 spirit say, don't be set there and put up wall 29:38 and say, oh yeah, but we're not because 29:39 God is gonna do this. 29:40 God said, you hear my voice and you will obey 29:43 and walk in what I said. 29:44 If not, we don't care what your profession is, 29:47 we don't care you say that you are, 29:51 we're known by our life, aren't we? 29:53 Not by just outward by talking. 29:56 Now notice, if we wanna get back to God 29:58 the first part of it, the Patriarchs and Prophets, 30:00 it's a beautiful book page 590 says this, 30:03 "Repentance is the first step," I like that. 30:06 "Is the first step that which must be taken that 30:09 all who would return to God." 30:12 Now listen, "no one can do this for another." 30:16 So a lot of people say, well you know, 30:17 I'm gonna -- we can pray, we can encourage. 30:19 No one can do this for anybody else. 30:23 If you're gonna return to God, 30:24 if you're wanna return to God today, first of all, 30:26 you're gonna have to acknowledge you are 30:27 a sinner and then we need to repent. 30:30 It says here, "We must individually 30:32 humble our souls before God." 30:35 Put away, come on this is, 30:38 it's gonna add up in just a few minutes, 30:39 if you just pay attention you know just, 30:43 you know just phone ringing and the devil's 30:46 trying to get you way but not right now. 30:49 The Holy Spirit has you attention, 30:51 it says we need to put way our idols, 30:55 "when we have done all that we can do, 30:59 the Lord will manifest His salvation to us." 31:02 Isn't that beautiful? 31:03 When we've done all the Bible says to what, 31:06 all to spend, rather died than knowingly sin. 31:13 God, he hates sin, and we always like 31:18 he love the sinner like it's going be an excuse for it, 31:21 it's not he does, but you know he says, 31:25 he wants to manifest His salvation to us. 31:30 Now, I believe this, God cares for his church. 31:35 God cares about his people. 31:38 But let me ask you a question are you, am I, 31:43 am I really sighing and crying for the abominations 31:46 that are affecting our spiritual condition. 31:51 Are you sighing and crying for what? 31:52 The abominations, now what is sighing and crying? 31:56 Have you ever thought about that? 32:00 Sighing and crying, we talk about sighing is to, 32:04 you take in a deep breath and you-- 32:08 Have you ever been hurt so bad, 32:11 something has happened that you taking a deep breath 32:14 and you led it out, your sighing is a deep, 32:18 long audible breath of sorrow. 32:23 You'll say, yeah, 'cause you know 32:24 you lost a loved one, we are talking about 32:27 for sins that are among us. 32:31 Are we sighing, are we hurting inside 32:33 or we just saying well that's in, that's too bad. 32:38 We have to be sighing and crying for those abominations. 32:41 Now let's make this clear, 32:42 God makes no compromise with sin. 32:47 You may think that all your wonderful and all, 32:50 it's all gonna be well and God's going to overlook, 32:53 he makes no compromise with sin, that's out. 32:57 You say, yeah, but what are you talking about 32:58 these abominations for? 33:01 Ezekiel 23 verse 36 says, "Declare unto them, 33:07 notice them, their abominations." 33:10 God has commissioned individuals whoever 33:14 they might be, he says you need to declare 33:17 to the people my people the abominations that be done. 33:22 Now I want to get this really, really, really clear. 33:26 Revelation 21 verse 27 talks about heaven, 33:31 didn't go to heaven, but you know what the Bible says? 33:34 "There is no wise going to enter into anything 33:37 that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh" and what? 33:41 Good and abomination, or maketh a lie." 33:45 So the abdominal's not going to make it, 33:47 I need to know what the abomination is, 33:50 what is it eferring to. 33:52 Because God has said through his prophet 33:53 you have to make them know understand, 33:56 what an abomination really is and what it's all about? 33:59 You just look up the word abomination, 34:02 you know what in Hebrew what it means? 34:04 Abomination means the bottom. 34:07 Are you there? Hello? 34:11 Abomination means what? The bottom. 34:15 Now notice this, now I don't know 34:17 if I can get this, now I don't know, you think about it? 34:22 And then as you study it more, it says look. 34:24 This abomination means the bottom, 34:26 but it means this, it's below the bottom. 34:33 That's what the word means, 34:34 abomination is below the bottom. 34:39 What, when you got to the bottom you're at the bottom? 34:42 But this abomination in God's sight said 34:45 you are below the bottom, 34:47 however low you can get, it's lower. 34:51 I've heard some people say, 34:52 we can't sit like this, you know. 34:54 Somebody say, oh boy! 34:55 It's bad, and somebody say no, 35:00 it's worse than bad, wow! 35:04 So an abomination then, is that which is below 35:08 the low, it's detestable, wow! 35:14 And it deals, listen to this carefully, with idolatry. 35:22 Nothing that what worketh abomination will enter 35:24 in the kingdom, abomination, an idol. 35:27 What is that? What is it talking about? 35:29 The meaning of the idol. 35:32 You see Paul warns the Christian church. 35:36 He said, whether therefore you eat 35:38 or whether you drink, do what? 35:40 Good, all to the glory of God. 35:46 He is not only addressing idol and idol worship. 35:50 He's addressing self pleasing, 35:52 we have a lot of people that just want 35:53 to please themselves, that's all they think about 35:55 is themselves all the time. 35:58 They love ease, they don't want to work, 36:01 they just want a life of ease. 36:04 They want to gratify the appetite, 36:08 the God of appetite and of passion. 36:13 This is why I believe that just the knowledge 36:14 of the truth doesn't make a man a Christian, 36:19 now let me just say this to many of you today. 36:21 If your religion seeks to gratify the eye, 36:27 this your religion, I heard people say, 36:30 oh, come on go to our church, 36:32 boy, I tell we got things. 36:34 You need to see these things, 36:36 we've got the big building we've got all this, 36:38 we've got everything over here. 36:41 Gratifies what? 36:43 The eye, or if you have a religion that, listen, 36:48 that appeals to the ear, oh you need to come to church, 36:52 man, we've got music, 36:54 we've got music I tell you, it'll set you on fire. 36:56 We've got the all the instruments and the drums 36:58 and we've got all this man, 36:59 you will just be blessed if you come 37:01 and listen with your ears. 37:07 If your religion, if all you have that it just 37:11 deals with the taste. 37:14 You ever heard that? 37:18 Bible does say taste and see that he's good. 37:20 But you know what, come and go, my religion, 37:23 my church where I go. 37:24 Now I know it's gonna get some of you railed up, 37:26 but you know, you'll get over it. 37:29 If it appeals to the taste, 37:31 oh why don't you come, we come and visit to church. 37:33 Well, that sounds good, it's all right. 37:35 Come early, because we're eating, 37:39 we're eating donuts and drinking coffee. 37:42 We're having a big time, we're eating. 37:45 If your religion just appeals to the ears 37:47 and to the eyes and to the taste, 37:49 you don't have any religion. 37:51 Friend, it goes deeper than that. 37:54 It sanctions what? Self indulgence. 37:57 It's all about what I like 38:00 and may I just say this, 38:02 it is not the religion of Christ, 38:06 because his religion, what? 38:08 Deny self, take up the cross and follow him. 38:11 The Bible is clear, where your treasure is, 38:14 there will your heart, what? 38:16 There your heart be also, Luke Chapter 12 verse 34. 38:20 Oh, please read it, I'm not trying to be 38:22 difficult I want get your attention, 38:25 you know, by the Holy Spirit just startle you to say, 38:28 you know, what my religion's been based upon 38:30 taste and what we do and what we see, 38:32 and what rather than based upon the word of God 38:34 and my obedience to the word of God. 38:38 Now let me get just really plain, 38:40 you say well some of you say it's plain enough, 38:43 and you may already turned it off, 38:44 but bless your heart, let me tell you. 38:45 This is the message, this people who is preparing 38:49 for heaven will be listening with spiritual 38:51 ears and saying, God help me to understand it. 38:54 Oh, I'm gonna had to make some changes, 38:55 oh how I need to make some changes but God help me. 39:00 Idolatry, abominations and you realize that 39:04 in ancient times, idolatry, 39:06 listen carefully dealt with demon worship. 39:10 Listen, idolatry dealt with demon worship. 39:16 Idolatry dealt with pretended communication with the dead. 39:24 Idolatry and the abomination dealt with what? 39:30 Worshiping the dead. 39:34 Claiming to be spirits of the dead, 39:39 Israel committed idolatry, 39:43 acts of idolatry when they made the golden calf. 39:47 Now why am I interested in this spirits of devils 39:50 and demons and dead, you're worshiping 39:53 the dead, spirits of the dead. 39:55 Let me just give you one passage here we won't 39:57 have time to spend on, but boy it be a mess, 40:00 if we didn't go to it right now. 40:01 Book of Revelation, Revelation Chapter 16, 40:05 quickly, you there? 40:06 Revelation 16 verse 13, here's what the Bible says, 40:11 it says, "I saw three unclean spirits 40:13 like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon." 40:17 Which is basically what dragon, 40:19 when you realize that's the devil but it's modern 40:21 Spiritism and Paganism. 40:24 Out of the mouth of the beast, 40:26 we've realized the beast none other than the papacy. 40:29 "And out of the mouth of the false prophets." 40:31 That's apostate Protestantism, we've left our first love. 40:36 Demons, it said prophets, "For they are," verse 14, 40:39 "Spirits of devils, working miracles." 40:43 God said, they are abominations 40:47 among my people, self pleasing. 40:52 You say, man, that's not quite clear enough, 40:54 oh, I would like to go into more detail, 40:56 maybe do some messages on these three unclean spirits. 41:01 But as we're looking and talking today 41:03 because it's still dealing with uncleanliness 41:05 in the church among God's people. 41:08 In my life I wanted to be clean. 41:11 I want to have clear, right 41:12 communication with the Holy Spirit. 41:18 I want you to think about something, it says, 41:20 we usually don't think along this line, 41:21 but you know covetousness is a form of idolatry. 41:27 And you realize in the church, 41:28 God's prophets said what? 41:30 Covetousness is the greatest sin among commandment keepers. 41:35 Wow! Covetous is a form of what? 41:39 Of idolatry, may I be real, real, real plain, 41:43 if we disregard, and I try to make this clear 41:46 as we go in a couple lines, stay with me. 41:48 If we disregard the fourth commandment 41:51 the Sabbath, what's going to happen? 41:55 If we just regard it, the results become idolatry, wow! 42:02 Faithful observance of the Seventh-day Sabbath 42:06 protects God's people from idolatry. 42:10 Wow! We need that, don't we? 42:12 You wanna make it real clear? 42:14 Let me give you some forms of idolatry 42:17 and see maybe where it's hit on us 42:19 and maybe we didn't even know it. 42:22 But we need to attack it, the devil is working, 42:27 idolatry, abominations. 42:29 Remember abominations deals what? 42:31 Idolatry, spiritualism, things that the devil is 42:35 trying to get is off the track with, 42:36 it deals with such things as false doctrine, 42:42 little bit clear. 42:44 Gambling is a species of idolatry, gambling. 42:50 Horse racing, alcohol, am I getting it real clear 42:57 for us to today, the desire 42:59 for greater riches is a form of idolatry. 43:07 Think about the God of the passions 43:09 and the appetite is a species of idolatry, 43:15 image making, form of idolatry. 43:20 Idolatry is spiritual adulatory, 43:24 marriage with other nations led Israel into idolatry. 43:30 It will lead you into idolatry if you're not careful, 43:33 if you're unequally yoked, the Bible is clear on that. 43:39 Needless ornaments, a species of idolatry. 43:44 Gold and silver, think about these needless 43:49 ornaments of gold and silver and things 43:51 we put on our poor model bodies 43:54 become little idols, tobacco using, species of idolatry. 44:00 Theater going is a species of idolatry, 44:04 Sunday observance after we have that the light has come. 44:09 After the light has come, it's a form of idolatry. 44:15 Oh, it's not enough for you, that ajars me to say 44:21 this is what God has said, spirit of prophecy has said. 44:28 Do you realize Samson. 44:30 Mighty strong man, leader of Israel. 44:35 Samson's love for lewd women was idolatry. 44:43 Selfishness is idolatry, idolizing men, 44:49 we live in society in this world 44:51 that we idolize men and women 44:53 because they're here, they're up here, 44:55 they have these things of the world. 44:57 We idolize men and women, we idolize human talent. 45:02 Oh I wish I could be, oh I give anything if I, 45:04 we idolize this, maybe that's why we need to be 45:07 very careful when that, gives me food for thought. 45:10 That's why the devil is working through even 45:12 America and what did he say there? 45:14 Oh, American Idol, isn't that a TV program? 45:18 American Idols? 45:22 If nothing else just because of the name. 45:26 It talks about what idolizing men and women. 45:30 And the things that they say, today you are in, 45:32 you know, you've skewered no one knows who you are, 45:35 and tomorrow because you sing a little song 45:37 and some of you have off tune is all of a sudden 45:40 everybody in the world's gonna know you. 45:42 We're idolizing human beings, 45:45 they've became our idols. 45:49 Fundamentals of Education Page 312. 45:53 It says this, too much importance placed on holiday, 45:59 holidays is a species of idolatry. 46:03 I'm not making it up, you know what, 46:05 people don't want to study or read these things 46:07 because it might just hamper them from having some fun. 46:12 Say too much importance did you get it? 46:15 Review and Herald in 1903, September 10th says this, 46:18 "O that God's people had a sense 46:22 of the impending destructions, 46:24 " listen to this, "Of thousands of cities, 46:28 now almost given totally to, what? 46:30 To idolatry." 46:33 If we can put this you will kind of 46:35 in a nutshell and began to say this is kind of 46:38 bottom-line, God's people we need to realize 46:40 right now that these cities what, 46:42 are ripe for destruction. 46:44 And we see it happening, towns and villages 46:47 and the floods and things that are happening. 46:50 All just almost wiped out of existence, 46:52 we live in this time. 46:54 They're almost given over to idolatry 46:56 and the judgment, there is a limit that God said. 47:00 And then the judgment's begin to fall, 47:02 and a price has to be paid. 47:05 Manuscript 53, 1910 says this, 47:09 "The inhabitants of the ungodly cities 47:13 is soon to be visited by calamities, 47:16 have been cruelly neglected." 47:19 That's talking about what, 47:20 warning them of what's going to take place. 47:22 More meetings, evangelistic series, 47:24 going in and try to persuade people what? 47:26 Because it's soon that many are gonna pass off the sin. 47:29 It's going to be too late. 47:32 Cruelly notice this, neglected, listen, 47:34 the time is near when large cities will be 47:37 swept away and all should be warned of 47:39 these coming judgments. 47:42 All should be warned what? 47:44 These coming judgments, is somebody warning us today? 47:46 When will these things are going to, 47:48 they're taking place 47:49 and they're taking place right now. 47:51 Why? Why these judgments? 47:55 Let me just read one more, 47:56 maybe it make some sense to your, 47:57 nine testimonies 92 says this. 48:01 "Those who choose to choice to be disloyal 48:06 must be visited in mercy, with judgment, 48:10 in order if possible, they may be aroused 48:15 to realization of the sinfulness of their course." 48:21 How interesting, to be aroused, 48:24 God's allowing these judgments to do what? 48:26 To get peoples attention, I prayed that he's 48:29 getting attention by what? 48:30 Many of us today, is he getting your attention? 48:34 Are we just griping and murmuring 48:36 and complaining as Israels, Israel. 48:38 Oh, I don't understand why all these things happen, 48:40 because there is idols in the land, 48:42 there is abominations in the land and not only 48:44 in the land but they becoming and among us 48:46 as God's people, and we're not sorting them out. 48:48 We're involved in all of these different species 48:50 of idolatry and yet God what? 48:53 Is withholding his blessing, 48:54 he's turning is back, we're dealing with sin 48:56 in the church and was looking at and said, 48:58 yeah but you know we can't do anything with, 48:59 we've got to do something by God's grace. 49:02 And in these studies, we're going to see 49:04 the responsibility that we had, you say, 49:05 yeah, but I've already sinned. 49:07 It's more than this. 49:09 We're talking about disagreements in the church 49:12 and what people need to do when there is 49:14 disagreement in the church. 49:16 You may have never read this before, 49:18 we let people argue and fuss and carry on, 49:20 disagree, they've walked down this hall, 49:21 they've walked down that hall, 49:23 they don't speak to one another in church. 49:24 Something needs to be done, 49:25 that's not the spirit of God in the church 49:29 and we're being robbed of the blessing. 49:30 That's what I'm talking about today, 49:32 robbed of the blessings of God. 49:34 I don't want to be robbed, 49:37 I know, you don't want to be robbed. 49:40 But are we sighing and crying for the abominations. 49:44 Is that straight testimony is it live and well. 49:49 Friend, it's never gonna happen and as we really 49:52 develop a real love for God. 49:57 If we become, we need to be jealous 49:58 for his honor and for his glory. 50:01 Then the Holy Spirit is going to give us 50:03 a clear view of wrongs and sins that are among us. 50:10 And then when they are put away, 50:11 we receive the blessings of the Lord, 50:13 what the Lord is purifying the church. 50:16 He's purifying the people. 50:19 Seven Testimonies 18 says, 50:21 "God has withheld His blessings." 50:24 The main thing get to you, are you and I, 50:27 are we robbing somebody else of the blessing of God. 50:32 Are you robbing me stop robbing me, 50:34 am I robbing you? 50:35 I've got stop robbing you of the blessings. Why? 50:40 It says here, "because we are not working in 50:42 harmony with His direction." 50:45 God's people must deal faithfully 50:48 with wrong doing, we've got to. 50:53 Five Testimonies 620 said listen, 50:55 "God is dishonored by those who profess the truth, 51:00 while they are" listen, "At variance, 51:02 at enmity with one another. 51:05 Satan is the great accuser of the brethren." 51:09 Notice this though, "That all who engage 51:11 in this work are enlisted in his service." 51:14 Are you enlisted in the service if the devil? 51:17 You will say, well, no, I'm not, 51:18 listen dear friends, you are dishonoring 51:20 your profession if you are at variance, 51:24 or you are at enmity with one another. 51:27 Is there someone in the church that you're angry with. 51:29 Is there someone else in the world 51:31 that you haven't settled and made it right. 51:34 Satan is the accuser of the brother, 51:36 but listen dear friends, unless we made it right, 51:38 we are what? 51:40 Listed, we are listed, the service of the enemy. 51:43 I don't want to be in his service, 51:45 you're gossiping and backbiting, 51:47 and still coming in a Godly church, 51:49 God's church will not to be taken place. 51:54 Why does Satan like these problems, 51:55 as we began to wrap it up a little bit here, 51:57 because we're dealing with issues in the church. 51:59 We've got deal with them. 52:01 What does Satan like these problems in the church? 52:04 What does he like members that odds with one another. 52:07 Five Testimonies 620 says this, 52:10 "Satan is constantly working to prevent 52:13 the union and harmony." 52:15 Do you get it? Yeah. 52:17 "That unbelievers," listen, 52:19 "By witnessing backsliding, dissension, and strife 52:24 among professed Christians, 52:26 may become disgusted with religion and be 52:30 confirmed in their impenitence." 52:33 The devil wants what? 52:35 We wants us to have what? 52:36 No unity in the church and we're gossiping 52:38 and backbiting, telling everybody else 52:40 in the world the problems in the church. 52:43 And what, the unbelievers hear this stuff. 52:47 They hear of the strife and they hear of 52:48 the problems in the church is falling apart. 52:51 This little church down here fell apart and so on. 52:53 It says what, the unbeliever becomes 52:55 disgusted with the cause of Christ, 52:57 He has no reason to want to repent. 52:59 Friend, we need to get it right 53:01 with God while there is time. 53:04 While there is time, we need to get it right with God. 53:07 There's so much that God is leading and speaking 53:10 to His church today, me and you. 53:14 Changes that need to take place in our life. 53:18 And how often and before we close, 53:20 how often have you seen this council carried out 53:23 because we're dealing with straight testimony. 53:25 How often have you seen that, 53:26 Five Testimonies 241 notice this, 53:29 "When trouble arises between brethren, 53:32 get it, the Savior's rule should be strictly followed. 53:37 All possible effort should be made 53:40 to an effort to reconciliation, 53:43 but if the parties stubbornly persist 53:46 in remaining at variance, listen carefully. 53:49 "They should be suspended till they can harmonize." 53:53 Have you ever seen that in the church? 53:55 Couple of different parties they have problems 53:56 in the church, they argue, 53:57 they fuss and they try to get people 53:59 take their side and this side and that side. 54:02 The council that God gives His church today, 54:05 every effort should be made to drawn together 54:07 get unity, but if they can't get into unity 54:09 if they're in opposition, both parties 54:11 need to be suspended from the church 54:14 until they can harmonize, why? 54:16 Because God's blessing's gone. 54:18 Well, that's heavy duty, isn't it? 54:21 It's almost impossible sometime for our minds, 54:25 we're caught up in envy and strife and jealousy 54:27 and pride with worldly ambition. 54:30 So hard for us to understand spiritual truths. 54:34 And the old devil brings in things to distract us 54:37 from the cause of Christ. 54:39 Spiritual things are spiritually discerned. 54:42 Friends, we close today, 54:44 the second part of this four part series. 54:47 Oh, much more coming up, that we're going to see 54:50 that God is going to bless mightily His last day people, 54:54 who have the Straight Testimony alive, 54:58 living in the church. 55:00 That's willing to call sin by its right name, 55:02 what do we pray about that right now while there is time? 55:06 That God will appoint his messengers to stand 55:09 in the pulpit, call sin by its right name 55:11 and take the acts to it, that there maybe repentance 55:15 and preparation for the coming of Jesus. 55:17 I want to pray for you right now. 55:19 I want to pray for myself. 55:20 Shall we do that as we close together 55:21 God will give us that kind of courage, let's pray. 55:25 Merciful Father in heaven, 55:26 we thank you for your powerful word today 55:28 and the necessity of hearing and obeying your voice. 55:32 We want the smile approbation of God. 55:36 We don't want you to turn your back upon us, 55:38 we need thee every moment of our life. 55:41 Now I pray that the Holy Spirit will inspire 55:43 each of us to greater heights, to what be pleasing 55:45 in the sight of heaven, not man, 55:48 but in sight of heaven. 55:49 We thank You for hearing and for answering prayer. 55:51 Thank You for the precious souls now 55:53 that's made that decision for you, in Jesus name, amen. 55:58 Well, as we close again today, 55:59 again next part we do part number 3, 56:02 going to be very, very, very, very interesting. 56:04 It doesn't get easier as we go, 56:07 it becomes, the message becomes very straight 56:09 and sometimes strange to us. 56:12 But why don't we just be praying about it 56:14 before this message come, 56:15 God will help us to understand it. 56:17 And we always want to encourage you too, 56:19 in our last few seconds here. 56:21 You know without support of the 3ABN, 56:24 these programs wouldn't be on the air 56:25 and it goes, Behold The Lamb, you know our only support 56:28 that we have is from freewill offerings 56:31 from God's people. 56:32 And so we're gonna be praying 56:33 that the Holy Spirit will impress you to continue 56:36 to give the blessings that we need, 56:37 so we can continue to do these programs 56:39 and bring home present truth right now 56:42 in the hour in which we live. 56:44 Will you pray for us, we're gonna pray for you, 56:46 we love you, see you next time. 56:50 Hello again, we pray that you are blessed 56:53 as studied along with Pastor Kenny today. 56:56 And we hope that you wish to continue this study. 57:00 Therefore we are offering this four part series 57:03 for a donation of support to 57:04 Behold the Lamb Ministries for just $29 or more. 57:08 Your support is greatly needed and appreciated 57:11 if we're to continuing to bring these timely 57:14 messages to you via 3ABN Television Network. 57:19 So please contact us and as for you very own 57:22 four part series entitled 57:25 "The Plain, Straight Testimony Must Live" 57:28 you may order by calling us at area code 618-942-5044, 57:35 that's Central Standard time 57:36 here in the United States, 57:38 or write in to us at Behold the Lamb Ministries, 57:41 PO Box 2030, Herrin, Illinois 62948, 57:45 or through our website you may order their at 57:48 www.BeholdThe Lambministries.com 57:52 or send a request via an email to 57:55 BeholdTheLambministrues @Yahoo.com. 57:59 Friends, until next time, may our blessed Lord 58:02 continue to richly bless you and yours. |
Revised 2014-12-17