Greetings, everyone. It is a joy to be here with you.
It's been several years since we've been here in a meeting.
I love the brethren and sisters of this congregation.
It's been a joy over the course of the last 20 years or more to
be here for revival meetings. And it's just a tremendous
pleasure that I have to be back in this particular year, this
particular year on my. Part.
It's my 49th year of been a four time gospel preacher.
I started when I was 17. I let you do the math and then
we'll figure this all out. What is written on the board
tonight is very important. It's about salvation.
I'm a firm believer that people need to understand salvation, to
appreciate it and to commit to it.
You know, we sing a song periodically.
Lord, I commit my life to thee. Take it and make it thy own.
Another song we have sung through the years is have thine
own way. Lord, have thine own way.
You know, thou or the Potter, not the clay.
I love these type of songs because they encourage us in
every way to love the Lord enough that He's first and
foremost in our life. And nothing is more important
than our service to the Lord. Nothing is more important than
that. Nothing is more important than
when you die or I die. That we go to heaven.
Nothing is more important than that.
And therefore today we're going to lay the groundwork on which
we plan to build the remainder of this meeting over, and we're
going to talk about salvation and the benefits we have of
salvation and the consequence if we don't.
Now we need to know the good that makes us feel good, but we
need to know the bad that should make us do good, because it's
not good. The bad is not good, but the
good is really, really positive. Therefore we have many
scriptures on the board. I'll throw in another segment of
verses along the way, but I ask of you to pay extremely close to
the scriptures. And the book, chapter and verse
of scripture is where we can spend these Nets.
The Lord be willing, the Nets sit sermons tonight through
Saturday, two of the Lord's day. We're going to study the Bible,
the Bible, through reading and studying the Bible, and you and
me obeying the Bible. Salvation is all ours, and that
is what is so important. I appreciated the prayers of
this congregation already during this meeting.
I love the songs. I learned from these songs
tonight. A couple of them I didn't know
real well, I heard maybe many years ago, but it's just
wonderful to have songs of praise and honor to God.
It is so wonderful to hear brother and pray to the almighty
God leading the congregation in prayer for our brothers and our
sisters, directing us to the throne of grace.
Isn't it so good that God said, listen, I want you to come
boldly, boldly unto the throne of grace, to to know that we can
do that. You can't do that to Donald
Trump. You can't do that in politician
around unless you're a very unique guy or lady that has a
special connection and a special life.
You can't do that to politicians.
You have a hard enough time doing that with your doctor to
call and get him on the line. You may get a, you know, $10.00
an hour waitress or somebody or somebody talking to you or
receptionist or whoever you may be.
I just want you to know you can pray.
Directly to your father, only as a baptized believer.
Baptize believer to be able to say our Father, which art in
heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy Kingdom come, thy will be
done in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day Our Daily Bread.
Forgive us our death as we forgive our debtors.
Lead us not into temptation. Deliver us from evil for thine
as the Kingdom, the glory of the power forever.
Amen. Matthew's account of what is
generally considered the model prayer.
It's equally considered that in Luke 11 verses one through 5 or
so I do want you to love the Lord enough that everything the
Lord wants you to do you want to get first in line to go do it
because your spiritual life is more important than anything
else or anybody else. Very, very important.
So therefore, I look forward to our study throughout this week.
We have several topics. I brought a a notebook full of
sermons and I thought, well, maybe that's not enough.
I've got my second notebook and filled it up and it's OK.
Here we go. We're ready to roll for these
six sermons and this gospel meeting tonight through Rorschet
afternoon, as you see on the board the title of salvation.
But can I ask you a question briefly, please?
That is simply this. What is it?
What is salvation? I'm not asking anybody to speak
of any word during the lesson, Even where during the meeting,
if I ask you a question, it's just for you to ponder.
I'll give you a second along the way to do that.
But what is salvation? Salvation is speaking to human
beings like you and like me, to save us.
From sin and its consequences and to make us right with God.
My dear friends, listen. That is the ultimate to be right
with the Lord and to save us from sin.
You know what sin would do. Old Testament and not written on
the board. I know several of you've written
these notes down and you're welcomed.
After service is over, you're welcome.
Come snap a picture. All across the country, people
do that on a regular basis. That's fine, whatever you want
to do. But do you know what sin does?
And Isaiah, the 59th chapter, verses one and two.
The Bible says, behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened,
that he cannot save and nither is his ear heavy that he cannot
hear, he said. But your sins have separated
between you and your God. Salvation is how human beings
like me and you get rid of our sins because the consequences of
sin. It separates us.
From God. That's in your Bible.
I don't hear what translation you're reading after whatever
your translation of choice is. And I preach from the King James
primarily, New King James periodically.
And there's some other translation I may bring in a
passage to. It doesn't matter which
translation. The bottom line is, I want you
to know in your mind, in your heart, and your efforts to do
the right thing and to be committed to the Almighty God,
that my sins will separate me from.
God. And therefore I'm going to stay
away from sin and if I have sinned in my life and I'm going
to get rid of my sins. That's the way Christians should
do live and act. Therefore, let's take a look at
something point #1. By the way, I don't feel the
bored most every night of something, but I don't want you
to get worried about me forgetting time.
I know you work, you have kids, you go to school and all that.
I'm going to preach awhile and then I'm going to quit for 23
1/2 hours. I'm going to come back in here
and do it all over. Again.
But I I'll be preaching 30 to 40 minutes.
That's about all I'm going to preach the majority of the time.
There may be a time or two I go take it off, but it'll be over
the weekend so I may give myself another 15.
Minutes or so, but I'll be mindful of the timetable.
OK, OK, Now let's take a look here, the Great Commission.
Now what is? The Great Commission.
It is a Commission that is great.
It's not called great, but it's called great in our hearts and
our minds that our preach it because it is.
Great. There have been different times
throughout the Scriptures that people were told they were sent
out to by twos to evangelize, and at times preachers, the
apostles and elders, and different ones had a variety of
work. But in the Great Commission we
find it recorded in Matthew the 28th chapter, verses 18 through
20. Jesus gave these words the Son
of God, your Lord, your Savior, our greatest friend, He said.
All power Speaking of himself, is given to me in heaven and in
earth. Go therefore, and teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the
Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them verse 20 to
observe all things what serve I've commanded you and Lord.
I am with you always, even unto the end of the world, to you
that are taking notes to you that have fallen agenda minds.
I want you to remember one very important principle that's just
the second later. On I want you to remember
another important principle, but just right here we got one major
I want you to remember. Matthew 28 and verse 19 is the
only time in the entire New Testament that it teaches the
baptism in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy
Spirit. If you have been baptized at
some point in your life, and I know majority of you no doubt
have, but if you've been baptized at some point, I just
want you to reflect back, was I baptized into the name of the
Father, the Son of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus said I want you in the Great Commission.
I want you to go to all the world.
I want you to preach the gospel to every creature.
That's a lot, a lot of people. You know why?
There's a lot of lost souls and Jesus said I want you to
baptize. Teach them the apostles.
I want you to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and
Holy Spirit. Other passes, Scripture says for
their mission of your sins. Another passage arise and wash
away your sins. I want you to know something.
This is really. Really important.
Every person here, we have to be baptized for the mission of sins
in the name of Jesus Christ. In the name of the Father, the
Son, and the Holy Spirit. That's a right baptism.
It's a burial and water. It has been very enjoyable
throughout the years, have been conversation and Bible studies
with a lot of people. And along the way that you find
people that have been baptized, right?
And they're well, they're confident.
They come right in there like a bullet in China hutch.
And they're ready to let me know exactly how it is.
And they're right and I'm wrong. I think I said I'm, I'm eager,
willing and ready to learn. So you show me the Bible, your
baptism, and I'll show you in the Bible what I believe the
Bible teach you and we'll compare notes.
Well all of a sudden the conversation comes through and
it screeches in hawk. I'm read over here with all my
Bible verses and they're they're thinking.
They say, well the preacher didn't tell us where it was.
It just said, the Bible said, well let me tell you what,
sometimes us preachers can be wrong.
I want you to go after the scriptures and you look in the
Bible. The Bible said it this way.
Acts 17 to verse 11. The Bible said, I want you to
search the Scriptures daily to make sure these are things are
so Christians. I want you to check up on me
every lesson, every step, every book, chapter in verse.
I want you to look at these verses of scripture as we go
along throughout this lesson and all the lessons throughout the
meeting. And I want you to search out the
Scriptures and you make sure that what I teach is true
according to the Bible. And you're committing yourself
to the Lord. You say, let's the Lord I'm you.
Speak, Lord, like Samuel Lavoe. He says, speak, Lord, thy
servant here at the command, Lord, I'll obey.
That's the kind of a commitment level we need.
Then, Lord, you tell me what? Then I'm going to do it.
So what verse? Not nobody speaking up.
What verse teaches Father, Son, Holy Spirit, Baptism.
It's Matthew 28, verse 19. Commit that to memory, because
you're not finding any other verse.
Now you are going to find in the book of Acts.
Baptize the name of the Lord in the name of the Lord Jesus in
the name of God. What?
They got you or nothing you're going to find.
But let me tell you what those phrases in the name of means by
the authority. Of.
And how? What is the authority that Jesus
gave us to baptize? He said Baptized the name of the
Father, Son, Holy Spirit. So see, it's all baptized,
right? But it's got to be like Jesus
said and your commitment and your entire life to teach other
people, not only yourself, but teaching other people.
Is to help. Them do the right thing, The
right way. OK, let's look again.
Mark 16, verse 15 and 16. Same account of the Great
Commission being given by Jesus. This is after the death, the
bearer and the resurrection of Jesus.
This is the time that Jesus was given.
As a matter of fact, let me tell you this way.
You know where Matthew 28 quit? That's the last chapter of
Matthew. And you know where Mark 16 quit.
And also Luke 24. You know where they all quit.
They quit right before Acts one starts so you can read and study
your Bible. And when you get through reading
Matthew 28, you could turn over to Acts One and pick up right
where you left off. Same thing as Mark.
Such thing. Same thing.
Luke 20. 4. Therefore, when you read the
Mark 16, Jesus is saying to the people, he said, go into all the
world, preach the gospel to every creature.
He that believeth is baptized shall be saved.
He that believes not shall be damned.
Wow, what a difference. See, we today need to do
everything we can to do one or two things.
Well, number one is saving our self.
I'm talking more about this later on in tonight's lesson #2
is to help save other people. And the way to do that is
teaching them to be safe. And listen, I'll tell you what's
not enough. I'll be very honest, very frank.
I'm a I'm a very to the point kind of guy.
And that is, it's not enough for you to ask somebody are you
saved? You know what?
They're going to saved. Yeah, most people, Yeah, yeah,
I'm saved. Well.
Well, have you been baptized? Not enough.
That's still not enough. But it's OK.
You start off there. Have you been baptized?
Most people. Oh, yeah, Yeah.
You know what? The questions that you need to
ask. I love person work nearly as
much as Frank, right? Yeah, he loves it.
He loves it a whole lot. I love it a whole lot too.
I may be 1 notch below him. He's great.
I've seen him do his work and it's fabulous.
But still, together, we can accomplish a lot.
And here's what is so important. Do you know what is important
here when you look at Mark 16 verse 15 and 16 to let people
know the right question? We need to ask Please make a
record of this in your mental record or in your written
record. And that is simple this.
Have you been baptized with the Baptism of the Great Commission?
That's the right question. They're related to the world
today. They're taught to sprinkle water
on people, calling it a baptism. And that young person that
sometimes only six weeks old, they're going to raise up men
and talk, Yeah, you're baptized. Yeah, you're baptized.
But. Then tell you what.
If you're not baptized by the baptism of Great Commission,
you're not baptized scripturally, so it didn't even
get. You need to think everybody for
yourself. Have I obtained salvation the
way God intended? All right, let's look at Luke
24. You go look what you know what
you look. You look at every.
List you can of the Great Commission.
Here's what you're going to find.
Here's what you're not going to find majority of the time.
I have looked at more than I can even count right now.
Matthew and Mark when you can, people say the Great Commission.
Matthew 28, Mark 16th You hardly ever see Luke 24.
Let me tell you what Luke 24 verse 46 and 47 is just as much
a Great Commission as Matthew 28 and Mark 16.
Furthermore, Lou's account of the Great Commission.
It includes information, valuable information that
Matthew, Mark do not even include and with the same
breath. I want to say Matthew and Mark
include things Luke doesn't include.
That is the reason when you're studying a topic, before you go
drawing a premature conclusion, you want to gather all these
verses and thoughts together. Then draw your conclusion.
Just like on the communion, you want to find out what Matthew
Mark, Luke, Acts 2, Acts 20 and 1st Corinthian 10 and 1st
Corinthian 11 teaches about the communion before drawing your
conclusion. See, when you gather it all
together, then you got everything God said about it for
us. And that's what's important for
salvation. In order for us to have
salvation, we've got to look at Luke 24.
Now what does Luke 24 teach? Number one, it teaches us all
began at Jerusalem. You don't see that in Matthew
nor Mark. You see it in Luke.
It says beginning at Jerusalem. I've heard many gospel preachers
preach great sermons on beginning at Jerusalem.
And this is what it's all about, that the church was established
at Jerusalem. This is where the first gospel
sermon was preached, that people had the opportunity to obey.
I used to say that immaterial prematurely, you know.
What do you mean? Well, here's what I meant.
I used to say this is the first gospel sermon of Acts 2 that's
ever been preached. That was wrong.
That was not accurate, but. Because I can show you a whole
list of verses where John the Baptist and Jesus preached the
gospel of the Kingdom, so that what was not that was incorrect
of me to say this is the first. Time in Acts 2.
But it is the first time the gospel was preached that people
have the opportunity to obey. Now that part's right.
And this is so wonderful. Did you know who that first
summer was preached? In Acts 2 the the baptism of the
Great Commission was preached. And do you know what about 3000
people, according to Acts 242. Obeyed the gospel.
That's what we need to do, give people something solid to hang
on to and people are willing to commit to what they know is
right. And what we know is right is
book Matthew, chapter 28, verses 18 through 20.
Same with Mark, same with Luke. So now what we know is that the
Lord's church is established in Jerusalem.
First time the gospel of preach that people can obey it and
about 3000 people obeyed it. No wonder 47 of Acts 2.
The very last verse of Acts 2, it says praising God and have in
favor with all the people and the Lord added to the church
daily such as should be saved. The Lord has added your name to
the church daily on a regular. Basis such as should be saved.
Now, Christians, has the Lord added you to the church?
He had. If you obey the gospel and done
the right thing, now have you made the commitment to follow
Him? And you're going to let nothing
get in your way. Hey, let's go back.
We can find out. Matthew 28 and 20.
You remember the father sent home the Spirit verse 19.
Now verse 20. Heath, I want you to teach
people to observe all things whatsoever.
I have commanded you. I've had people all over this
country. They say, Adam, what do you
think would be good to teach Somebody once elevated the
gospel. I go, well, that's your.
Heart. Matthew 2820 nineteen says how
to baptize them and verse 20 said now teach them to observe
all things. What survive commanded you?
So you opened up the Bible to the.
Words of the Jesus and the words of the gospel.
You began to teach what Jesus taught, my friend.
It's easy to get behind that. It's easy to get behind and thus
set the Lord and do what the Lord said to do.
There's so much on the Great Commission.
I absolutely love it. But I'll tell you what I really
believe. It's why it's called the Great
Commission. Now you can take this or leave
it. That's your choice and but you
can briefly mention I'm not going to in depth but if you
have a question feel free to ask after we dismiss Jesus had
earlier told the apostles go to the Jews don't bother go to the
Gentiles right now. There wasn't a time for.
Them right now. But he's limited where they
should go. But now by that too, it was all
the world, every nation, every creature.
We read those in scripture, Matthew, Mark, and.
Luke But at the time, earlier he said, I want you to go to the
Jews and we'll take care of the others a little bit later.
But now the Great Commission was it was an unlimited message
everybody in the whole world going.
To tell you something, we have people who go to all, all over
the world preaching the gospel, all over the place.
And let me tell you what the same thing they preach in
America. They preach over there because
they want people to be saved over there just like they are
here and giving them good chapter and verse.
And I want you today, I want you to get your handle on this
situation. I want you to know good chapter,
verse of what you believe, why you believe it, where it's
located in scripture. Don't.
I don't want you here. I say this or I say that or I
believe this. I believe that.
No, no. You say Jesus said, the apostle
said. The Bible says.
Now when you do that, you've got something that you can hang on
to and you can show people here's how to reach salvation.
All right, number two, first written in three, verse 60.
This is so important. This deserved my whole lesson.
Of any of these one point well, but I want to bring them all
together because I've got a lot I want to say.
And the next 5 sermon plus tonight here we find the First
Corinthians. The Bible teaches me right here
Chapter 3 and verse 6 when you're speaking evangelism.
He said I have planted. Paul said I have planted.
Apollo says watered God gives the increase.
Congregation and church leaders. I know they've asked a lot of
people, and I know I've been asked plenty of time.
Why does some congregation, they just grow, grow, grow.
Other congregations shrivel, shrivel, shrivel.
Why does some congregation go and grow and others just don't
get around getting it done? Tell you why?
Because some congregation plant and water, I promise you this.
I promise you, if we as an individual and as a
congregation, if we were plant, we water, the Bible said God
will bring the increase. If we do our part, God can do
this for it. No.
If no, as no buts, God will do his part.
Now my question is, are you going to do your part and I can
do my part. It's our job to plant and to
water. You know, today you may plant
the seed, I may water. It.
But tomorrow I may plant the seed and you can water it so we
can work together as a team. You know they went two by two.
The lot in New Testament, especially in the book of Acts.
God will bring the increase. If we're planting, we water now.
Congregation don't like me saying this.
However, if they're not planting and they're not watering, they
don't get an increase. But if you're planting water,
you don't let anybody steal your Thunder.
Don't let anybody steal your joy.
That is the joy of your salvation.
You know when you're. Excited about something?
You know, you get your new set of wheels, you get your new
threads and something new clothes you want to wear.
You got a new job. You're whatever you're doing and
it's really exciting to you. Do you know what you're going to
talk about it? Well, you're excited about the
new car, the new house, new clothes, the new jobs, this or
that. Let me tell you what, That's
all. That's fine.
No problem whatsoever. I want you to tell people about
your salvation when you got it, how you got it, what it took to
obey the gospel and encourage them to do the same thing.
See, the more people that you're able to lead to Christ, the more
committed you're going to be. Did you know that the more you
have to assist, maybe the more you plant, the more you water
and you see that man or that woman Obey the gospel and
baptism. Do you know what?
You're going to stay in the defense of them.
You're going to help them. You're going to help them go to
heaven. Therefore, everyone of you here.
What? What?
However long you've been to the church, you know, I've been in
church over 50 years. Significantly over 50, actually.
Not that I look over or anything, but you know how it
goes. Listen, it's so important for
you today to make every effort to tell people why the church is
important, salvation, how, how to obtain it.
You want to share it with them because you want them to be
saved. That is how we really get truly
committed. Now here's what the Bible says I
planted upon this water and God brings the increase.
Now I don't want anybody to speak up.
But have you planted the seed lately?
Have you watered what somebody else planted what you've got?
Unique here, you've got a congregation of very skilled and
talented brethren and sister who know how to teach the gospel.
You've got some good planters. And you've got some good.
Waterers. And I'll promise you this,
You've got a good God who can bring the increase.
It is so wonderful. And it works.
It's worth. This is God's plan.
I didn't make this up. That's why I write down the
passage here. All I'm doing is telling you
what the passage said and welcoming you to turn it in your
preference of translations. All right, Luke #3, you've got
an eternal soul. Salvation for your eternal soul,
don't you? Look carefully.
Please, Matthew 16 and 26, listen to what Jesus said.
I don't mind saying don't worry about what I say.
What does Jesus say? Jesus said, What is the profit,
my brethren, if you gain the whole world, but you lose your
own soul? If you gain all the money in the
world, it's not worth your soul. If you lie, you cheat, you curse
your your, immoral, your whatever.
Or if I am, whatever. Listen, it's nothing is worth
our return soul, And Jesus said it so broadly.
If there's nothing I can say any bigger or better than him, he
said, What have you gained? What have you profited in the
King James Version? What have you profited if you
gained the whole world? But you lose your own soul?
Dear friends, you can't afford to lose your soul.
You can give this one chance and one chance only, and when you
die, you're going to face the good Lord.
In the Judgment Day, the Bible said it's supported.
A man wants. To die Hebrew 9 and 27 after
this is judgment. Oh, it's very important that we
live a faithful and dedicated life, showing our commitment to
the Lord in every way, letting nothing get in our way.
And we do what we know is right now, when you look at this, you
don't want to lose your soul so that I don't want you to ever,
ever compromise your spiritual value because of job,
relationships, hobbies, or nothing.
Nothing in this world is worth losing your soul over.
OK the other one now and James one and 21 James one.
James is the brother of Jesus and he said lay apart all
filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness.
That's that just simply means that we need to get rid of all
this crud out of our life. Modern day vernacular,
superfluity of naughtiness and receive with meekness.
Here comes the engrafted word which is able to save your soul.
Now we all have a choice. We can save our soul.
We can lose our soul. But here's what I promise you.
I promise you can do one or the other.
You're going to save it or you're going to lose it.
Your soul. You've only got one, and you've
only got one chance during your life to do the right thing and
obey the gospel. You can save your soul or lose
it. Which one you're going to do?
Jesus taught us. Jesus, the brother taught us.
You're going to lose it or you're going to save it.
Now, friend, I want you to do the right thing.
I want you to save your soul, and I want you to have other
people be saved. We can get back here, right
here, very next one. Number four, First Timothy 4 and
verse 16. You know, I I just love passages
as a preacher, as an evangelist. I love reading First Timothy,
Second Timothy, and Titus because it's Paul teaching a
young preacher how to preach and what to preach, when to preach.
It all kind of great things. When you look at First Timothy,
you say exactly, without any doubt or any questions at all.
You see exactly what the Bible says.
And I love it here, because you take heed unto thyself.
Oh, he's got my attention. Continue in them.
For in doing this you have saved yourself, and them to hear thee
Take heed. What unto the doctrine.
Take heed into the doctrine number one.
Continue in it #2 and if you do this, you'll save yourself and
you'll save others. Dear friend, I don't know other
than. When you were.
Saved any better time you're going to feel about?
Salvation than when you help save somebody else.
That is such a warm, fuzzy, enjoyable feeling when you're
you're instrumental even a little bit.
You told somebody where the church was.
You know, I was in the airport, and I like to get to the airport
early. I'm one of those strange guys.
I thought I liked to get there a couple hours early and I I like
to settle there where I'm going to leave from in.
In this case, it's in Dallas, TX, it's in Terminal C and it
was K #26. So I figured everybody hovering
around there must be going to Bakersfield.
Well, I just thought several people need to know.
I was coming here to hold a meeting.
Bakersfield, you know, I thought that.
Are you going to Bakersfield? Oh, yeah.
Are you going to like where you live?
Are they just a shop over? Do you go somewhere?
But most everybody I talk to know that's where we live.
I go, do you know where Plains Rd. is?
And began to talk to them. They said, now I'm going there
to hold a revival meeting. Oh, you're a preacher.
Yes, I'm a preacher. And then began.
To talk scripture. And I got to talk scripture with
a lot of people. That's because I was that early
and people could understand and and some people may have thought
I was weird, as strange or something, but I felt like I've
done some personal work. That's why it's important.
Because, see, we want to help our self and be safe and we want
to help others. Because listen, believe it or
not, but you might be the only one, the only true New Testament
Christian they ever. Meet Wow.
That's hard to imagine, I know, but it's true.
You might be Dallas, TX you know, I know a lot of people fly
in and fly out hundreds of thousands a day.
But up to what? These big towns, even your town?
I know this was before it was coming to land.
I could say all the lights of the bed.
Bakersfield has grown since the last time I was here and I just
saw all these lights. About I don't know 9 thirtyish
or what, I'm not sure what time exactly.
But, you know, I got to think of why There's a lot of people
here, a lot of souls like you who've been saved because you've
obeyed the gospel and you find that scripture placed the worst.
Wow, that's wonderful. A lot of people out here don't
have a clue. The guy that ended upset by me?
Oh, he because I had. My book and my Bible and my
information open and I was just reading and kind of minding my
own business, believe it or not. And he said.
Oh, you're reading the Bible? Oh, yes.
I am a fellow. You're a Christian.
Well, yeah. After what'd you do to be a
Christian? And that's like I did.
I didn't know about the study. He didn't really want to know
how. He didn't really know how he
became a Christian. Well, I don't really know.
But I'm really. I'm a, I'm a really good.
Well, good for you. What are you doing with the
Christian life? Well, my preacher said I need to
read this book. What book is it?
One of the Old Testament book. I said the Old Testament's great
and it's a learning for us. And I explained this very
briefly. I wanted to get back to how he
became a Christian. I said, do you live in
Bakersfield? Yeah, I did.
I live in Bakersfield. I said, do you know where Plants
Rd. is? And we've been talking about the
church here. And I said I've been here
before. I've got many good friends here.
They said, I feel when I go to Bakersfield and I want to
worship, I want to go to this congregation because this a
congregation that follows the Bible and it stays true to the
word, wild and so wonderful on many other I can tell you, but
that's not about me. It's about the gospel being
spread. It's so important.
So loose your lips, loose your tongue.
Practice telling people what to do to be saved.
You'll save yourself. You'll say about the first
Timothy 416. It's just a dynamic passage.
OK, let's look at #5 Resurrection.
Oh my, the resurrection, John 5. And you can note verse 28 and
29. The Bible says marvel not at
this, for the hour cometh which all that in the grave shall hear
his voice. Thus 28 Marvel 9th.
Don't marvel what I've said or what I've done.
I want you to be aware of the fact there's been a
resurrection, a resurrection of life in John 529 or a
resurrection of damnation. John Five in 29.
Same verse John 529. See what kind of resurrection we
can all be raised in the final day.
And the resurrection you look in your Bible, it's there.
John 529. Resurrection of life that's
going to heaven. Resurrection of damnation that's
going to hell. I do what this should make us
all, me and you, so committed to fighting Satan, fighting sin,
fighting evil. We let nobody, nobody and
nothing get in our way. Because if we die faithfully,
Revelation 2 and 10 the latter part of the passage be thou
thankful unto death, I'll give their crown of life.
Now, I'll be very frank with you.
Sometimes me and others have perhaps misapplied the original
intent of the writer in Revelation 210, but it's it's
not a terrible myth, but it's just not exactly, in my
judgment, what John had in mind when he pinned these words.
Now what Revelation 210 talks about tribulation and trials and
difficulties. But the only part of the verse.
And then he said, Be thou faithful unto a death.
So he wanted a commitment out of him.
You be faithful unto death, meaning that you love the Lord
so much in your Christian life that you will suffer yourself to
be murdered or to die. For the Kingdom of God's sake,
be faithful unto death, meaning that you're willing to give your
life for the Lord. Are you that?
Committed. I want you to know you give your
life for the Lord. The Lord gave his for you.
You give yours for him. Be faithful unto death, even to
the point of giving your life. Yes, it's OK.
If you say replication to intensive be faithful the day
you die, no problem. But that's not what the intent
of the writer is. What the intent is.
If I want you to be faithful, even the point of giving your
life for the Lord, and he said I will, you will receive a crown
of life. Well, that's what I want.
I will crown of life. And it's going to work that way.
So therefore, whether you like it, whether you don't, you're
going to be resurrected. If you die before the Lord comes
back, I'm going to be resurrected.
If I die before the Lord comes back mid-december, they wondered
if I was going to live or die. I lived mid January, back at the
operating table. They didn't know if I could live
or die, but I lived. The Lord went through with me
again. I really wasn't through.
I really know I want to go to heaven, but I just wasn't ready
to go right there, you know what I mean?
I wanted to wait. I wanted to go.
But I want to work first. I've got work I want to.
Do the Lord sparing me, says I, Brother Frank in this prayer.
I sincerely appreciate Brother Frank's prayer.
It made a difference in our life.
I thought, man, if if I can't praise him now, I just can't
imagine I've done that all my life.
But I was baptized at 10 years old.
I've had 10 sermons. I was ready to go.
I'm my dad, you know, the gospel preacher and the elder of the
church. 4 houses up. My granddad, brother EH Miller,
you know, been around for many, many years.
I just. I wasn't wanting to quit.
By the Lord, send your hands. Send your hands.
If you want me to live and let me preach, let me live here.
If not, pay up. All yours.
I just want you to know, my Christian friends, living for
the Lord is the best life there is.
Because rain, sleet of snow, good time, bad times, things not
going the way you want to. It's OK.
The Lord is in charge, and you'd be so thankful.
I want you to be the kind of people that every time the
leadership of this congregation opens those doors for worship,
you're here. That kind of commitment's kind
of we need and the Lord wants out of you without somebody
having to beg and plead. I want you to you be pulling in
and then talking to other people, The dead kind of you be
that kind of person. Oh, my dear friend, this is so
very important. OK, let's look here.
Saving ourselves? Oh, now he's putting the ball in
our court. Save thyself.
I just gave 3 verses there that we could give.
But Acts 2 and 40. This is Acts 2.
The day that first sermon was preached that people had the
opportunity to obey, about 3000 obeyed.
And we talked about that 25 minutes ago here.
He said save yourself from the essential war or wicked
generation. Philippians 2 and 12.
He said, I want you to work out your own salvation.
That sound familiar? You're all salvation with fear
and trembling. First him before 6th state we
board the red and point #4, how you save yourself and save
others. My dear friends, listen, save
yourself. You don't let anybody anything
get in your way. You don't be hesitant to to let
people know. Listen, I'll be honest with you
there. I'll be glad to do things that
you want to go do. But on this time I have a
commitment with the Lord. I'll symbol with the Saints.
Lord, on Lord's day we attend worship, we commune together.
Hire whatever you want to say. And you might need to practice
that because you may not be accustomed to kind of giving
your faith, but it's OK. Practice it.
Figure out how do you that you want to respond to people
because you know your lifestyle, people at work or at school, or
your neighbors or your friends or whoever that's wanting you to
go do this. Go something.
Do something else. You know how you need to
respond. Work on it.
Because when you do, you're going to save yourself.
I'll tell you what, this is scary, but it's true.
If I don't work to help others, say, I'm not going to save
myself, the Lord expects me to talk to other people.
I'm absolutely confident today if all of us will work together
to save other people, all of us together will be saved in the
final day because we're reaching out and help other people.
OK. The final point right here in
Matthew 25 and 40. Six.
You know Matthew 25 is 1 where the Lord gave 3 illustrations.
He gave you one of the of the virgins of the talents, and have
separated the sheep from the ghost, the saved, and the lost,
and all three of those. And then the very last verse,
verse 46, about chapter These shall go away into everlasting
punishment. That's all on the left.
These shall go away into life eternal.
Which one is yours? Which one is yours?
Where are you? On the path to that resurrection
of life for life eternal. You remember resurrection of
life right here, John 529. Come down here.
Life eternal. That's what it Life eternal is
eternity going to last forever and ever and ever.
It's going to never, ever end. I want it to be the best to you
you'll ever have. God-given you the best.
He gave you a son to Doc Calvary.
I want you to go to heaven. I don't want you to have.
To worry about this. But I want you to be
understandable. If you don't do this, you don't
do that. These will go away into
everlasting punishment. You know one of the toughest
jobs as the minister to conduct the funeral to somebody that
you're scared to death for the eternal salvation.
We used to have this gentleman that went to church because his
wife wanted him to. He didn't believe in God.
He'd sell him bareback and he was just a difficult gentleman.
But I'd go see him about every week.
I'd go to his house and he but he had no interest in spiritual
thing where he eventually got sick and had a problem and it
just, it looked like his life was just swiftly fleeing from
him and the nurses came in. He's going to have a a brain
surgery and the nurses came in to shave him, shave his head, he
thought, they said he they'd come in.
They're coming here to save you, he goes.
Nobody's going to save me. And he got all.
Hyper, they said, well, it's hurt and we didn't say save.
We said shave. Oh well, all right.
Well when he lived through surgery and he died a few weeks
later and his wife said Allen Do you think he went to hell?
I go listen the Bible said in first you went to five and 13.
Those that are without God would judge.
Let God do it. Those within the church we judge
so don't ever say we don't judge people.
And the Bible says you do it first fifty and five verse 13.
You judge those within by the scripture for those without
leaving up to God. You don't have to do that.
You don't have to take on that burden.
But as a baptized believer, we help each other.
Go to heaven, my dear friend. There's so much more we can talk
about today, but I'm going to let this be the finishing time.
It is 7 four. No, no, not take for you.
And I just want you to be saved. I look forward to, I look
forward to everyone of our services.
I look forward to singing and the prayer and the teaching and
the study of God's word, the fellowship.
What I want to know right here, right now.
If you died, would you go to heaven?
If not, I. Want you to come right up here?
State your request. I want to obey the gospel of
baptism. Or I'm a baptized believer and I
have sinned in my life and I ask you to pray to Almighty God for
it. You know what the Bible says
that to a baptized believer, you repent and you pray to God.
You know what we're going to do if you sin and you, you request
it. We're going to repent and pray
to God. You know what the Bible said in
First John One If you have confessed your sin, he's
faithful and just to forgive you.
So you know what? If you make the request that
you've got sin in your life, you want to confess that if we
confess and pray to God, He'll forgive us.
God is making it easy. We just need you to have the
strength, the backbone and the commitment.
That you're going to do things the right way if you have the
spirit you need. We're welcome to come by.
We stand by. We stand.
We thank you for listening to our podcast put on by the Church
of Christ at 2215 Plans Rd. in Bakersfield.
If you would like any additional information or you would like to
receive a free Bible correspondence course by mail,
please e-mail us at info@churchofchristbakersfield.com.
Our service times are Sundays at 10:30 AM and 5:00 PM and
Wednesdays at 7:30 PM. Please make plans to join us.
We would love for you to be our honored guest.