From our text that we just read a moment ago.
We find that Daniel knew that Nebuchadnezzar was an idolater
and that a portion of the royal Provisions was given over to
consecrate the idol in connection with the feasts.
And for this reason, his conscience would not consent for
him to take part in the false religion by accepting food.
And so he requested the prince to be excused from are taking
the prince of the eunuchs was responsible for the development
of these specially chosen men and he would naturally be
unwilling to Grant to Daniel the exemption requested.
But God took a hand in the matter and caused him to have a
tender love for Daniel. Which led him at least to be
personally disposed to favor him.
This is but one example that we can find in God's word, where a
man purpose tour resolved in his heart, the course of action that
he is going to take or he was going to do.
I believe that the Bible upholds resolving or purposing with many
examples that are found throughout all the pages of
divine inspiration. We find in God's word, how it
was that God himself, truly purposed.
We find often that the Apostle Paul did the very same, he
purposed, and he would also exhort others to purposes, well
regarding their giving and second Corinthians chapter 9 and
verse. Number seven, the entire idea
was that a man needs to purpose in his heart, purpose in his
mind, well, in advance before an action is taken, if we wait
until we are stuck in a Crossroads of making A
determination or a decision for changes in our life.
Chances are we are not going to make those changes and as we
look back across the landscape of the previous year we will
find that we are no different than we were a year ago and so
it is something that we must do we must take stock and we must
take a view into our life, into our heart, into the things that
mean something You are in this life and determine the changes
that we must make. I will say this though that not
necessarily in our life, do we have to have negative things or
bad things going on for us to realize that we need to make
changes? If we are going to stand?
You know the old saying that if we do the same things we've
always done. We are going to be in the same
place that we've always been. With reference to the body of
Christ in the goals that we have congregationally here at this
place or congregationally across town with those that call the
Brundage Lane congregation in their home or all throughout the
Brotherhood of wherever the Lord's Church meets in any
designated area. In order for there to be growth
and development, there needs to be change a constant changing.
The message that I wish to convey for a few moments this
afternoon is that we as Christians need to take that
retrospective view of ourselves in order that we might grow.
The only way that we can determine or purpose where we
want to go. As the body of Christ.
Is to first, take inventory to decide where we are.
Businesses must do the very same thing.
If a person is going to have a This plan that individual is
going to have to look as the lead individual of that
business, they have to take a look at where they are today.
They have to ask their self, where do they want to be in the
future? And then there must of
necessity, be a plan of action in order to get there.
If we don't do that, we will never grow as the body of
Christ. You know, the problem with
resolutions today, Especially those that the world makes
especially at the very dawning of a brand new year is that
shortly after the year begins usually by February or March.
What we have resolved to do what we have purpose to do, goes by
the wayside. I would say, perhaps the most
common resolution that people make around New Year's is I am
going to lose a few pounds or I am going to get a membership.
Better Jim. I'm going to do something to
improve my health. I want to do something by way of
my eating habits, so that I might be healthier.
If I have a problem with my health, I want to do the things
that will alter my health for the good, but oftentimes those
resolutions go by the wayside quite frequently.
After they start and changes are never made.
I want you to know too that I understand that when people
resolve to make changes in their life, I do believe with all of
my heart that there are many well-meaning people that have
all of the best intentions about them.
They just like a plan and they lack the focus to see it
through, but did you know that when one makes a resolution for
that, which is good regarding their spiritual life, it is
never to be broken. Hear the words of old that's
found in. Estes chapter 5 and Verses 4 and
5, which says when thou Hast a vow unto God, defer not to pay
it for, he hath. No pleasure in fools pay that
which thou Hast vow'd better. Is it that thou shouldst not vow
them. That thou shouldst thou and not
pay. Those things for good.
Spiritually are not to be broken.
Let me just say this if I may that the only way that we can
take a good look at ourself and determine where we are.
Perhaps is one of the most difficult things that we must do
in the flesh. And that is we must be
completely and brutally honest with ourselves.
You know, it's pretty easy for me to be honest.
About Ryan's faults, that's real easy or someone else.
What's difficult is for me to be honest about my deficiencies.
Now that's tough. Let me illustrate it this way.
Sometimes, we don't see that, we don't see outside of our self
and recognize that anyone who has ever played the game of golf
will understand when I give this illustration.
Exactly what I mean, about being honest with yourself, A story
was once told where two fellows went out on a golf course and
they were good buddies and they were traveling in a golf cart
together enjoying the day. And as they finished one hole,
there was one fellow and he'd be the guy that kept score, you
know how that goes and they got back into the cart.
And he took that card and he's thinking about the whole that he
just played and he's counting up The Strokes that he had taken
for that whole. Well as he added those things
up, he writes down. Well, I think I had it 6 and he
writes that number down. Then he asks his good buddy.
He says what do you have? Well, he thought for just a
moment and he said Better give me a 62 and then after awhile as
time went on, he was thinking over the next few seconds.
And he says, no. Wait a minute.
Wait, wait, wait, that's not right.
That's not right. I don't think I had a six.
I think I had a five. Well, his buddy looks at him and
kind of pauses for a moment took that pencil and writes down an
eighth. He said, what'd you do that for,
why'd you write down eight? I didn't have an eight.
He said, well, this is the reason you said you had a six,
then you said you had a 5. You had a seven, why'd you put
down eight? He said that's the penalty for
improving your lie. Very difficult sometimes to
examine ourselves and look to exactly how we all and what we
do. Number one, I want to talk to
you for a few minutes. Now, about four things that are
worth resolving worth purposing in our life.
Number one, let's take this time from this point forward and
let's make the resolve the serious resolve in our hearts
and our minds in our lives. And so on that, we're going to
be more faithful in church attendance.
You know let me say this, it has to be said right now because it
is part of our job as fellow Christians not just preaching.
Teachers and teachers, but fellow Christians to encourage
one another and exhort one another about assembling with
the Lord's church, when the debt, when the doors are open.
But I have to say, also, it is also necessary to commend and
recognize when Brethren have done that, which is good.
I Want To Praise all of you that have come to this meeting.
You've turned out and come out to Services.
Last night, we had a full house. That was wonderful Friday.
Wasn't much shorter than a full house It's very important that
we recognize when Brethren do good.
To not only are we supposed to admonish, not only are we
supposed to bring up things that are negative reprove and rebuke.
Remember, that's what Paul said. You have to be instant in season
and out of season to a young evangelist Timothy.
He told them this reprove, any and rebuke, that's easy because
that's all the negative stuff then he says you have to exhort
With all long-suffering and Doctrine.
That's to encourage people to do what they already know is,
right? And they already know what they
should do, but we need to praise Brethren to When they do that,
which is good when they do that, which is right.
And I appreciate very much the attendance of all the Brethren
that have come to be with us, you have truly added to this
meeting. But, you know, there are far too
many people that aren't sick. They're not old, they're not
feeble, but they want to take their Christianity in capsule
form administered and Sunday morning.
Doses, they want to be the Sunday morning crowd, you know,
very sadly. We look out throughout the
Brotherhood. Why is that?
Why is it that we have a Sunday morning crowd.
It's one size, a Sunday, evening crowd, another size and a
Wednesday evening crowd, still another size.
Why is that? Couldn't it be that as we look
to the lives of all of all of us and Brothers and Sisters in
Christ, couldn't it be that we need to make a resolution that
we need to take a full examination being very honest.
With ourself and ask ourself the question we're really is my
heart. I believe this with all my
heart. Folks are say it with all the
love, I can possibly muster, here's the deal.
If we go out and do other things except come and worship with the
Saints, when the doors are open, there's no way around it.
We have to accept it for what it is.
You know the saying you are, what you are?
Or it is what it is. We have to accept the fact that
we truly have I made a decision to do something else.
Let's call it. What it is, that's what it is.
We've just made a willful choice to do other things.
Why would I constantly bring that out?
Why would it constantly be mentioned in Bible studies?
And constantly be mentioned by congregational teachers
everywhere who stand in a public forum and teach on this quite
simply is this? Jesus said if there's anything
else in your life that's more. Important than I am.
You cannot be my disciple. That's as simple as that.
How would it be if we have chosen to do something else and
we're in the middle of doing all of that, at the Lord comes back,
sobering things to think about. I hope but understand this far
too many Christians. Want this.
They want the lines drawn, they want the parameters drum.
They want to know where does it begin, and where does it end?
So, all I have to do is that which is in between and then all
I have to do is survive. Serve God.
That way, the bare minimum. And I can go to heaven.
Let me just say this. If a person is seeking after the
bare minimum, it's their heart, that needs to change a man needs
to change his heart. It's all about the heart.
Did you know that? When the heart.
Is one way it determines where that person will spend eternity.
Because if the heart is not, right?
Jesus said, the seed of the Gospel will not produce fruit.
If the heart is not right, that person will not make the right
decisions in his or her life understand this too.
And that's why it's so important that we keep encouraging, one
another to guard the heart. The reason for that is a
Apostasy begins in the heart. The heart goes first, it's the
heart that comes to Jesus first and it's the heart that leaves
first as well. When we come and we, well
actually when we miss Services, we miss an opportunity to do
some wonderful things. Number one, we missed the
opportunity to worship God what a wonderful opportunity.
We've been given in life to do so.
We've been given the opportunity to come together and edify and
uplift each other. We've also been given the
opportunity to come and be edified.
You will never get that moment in time back ever again.
Don't lose those opportunities. Don't let the Lord be second in
your life. It won't be acceptable in the
day of judgment. We must put him first in all
that we do. Ladies and gentlemen, it begins.
In the heart. Now one more thing about this,
if you're a person that has no problem with church attendance,
Great. And make the resolution, make
the purpose in your heart, make the calm resolved in the serious
resolve that you're going to do what you have to do to encourage
others, to be the same way. Let's make that resolution and
let's stick to that. Number two, let's be mindful of
and make the resolve that we're going to be more prayerful that
we're going to have prayer, be a part of our everyday life that
it's going to Main part in a large portion of our day.
We must understand that God is willing to listen.
Have you ever stopped to consider that?
I know we've prayed we prayed tonight.
Our brother prayed for us and we said, Amen to that prayer and in
doing. So, that was our prayer. 20.
We believe in prayer. And prayer is had all the time,
but don't lose sight of what exactly is happening when we
pray. We, as a child of God is
Speaking to our heavenly father and he is listening.
How many times do we get confused in life?
How many times do we go through struggles?
Because we don't lay our cares in our burdens on.
The only one that can help. You know, that's what we do,
isn't it? We take our problems to our
friends. They can't help.
They can't relieve those burdens another time.
To you. Give somebody something that's
not there to carry. They'll pass it on to somebody
else. Lay your burdens.
On got shoulders. First Peter, chapter 3 and verse
12. The Bible says, for the eyes of
the Lord are over the righteous. And his ears are open unto their
hearts. But the face of the Lord is
against them that do evil God has promised not only to listen
to our prayers, but he's also promised that he will answer
those prayers as well. In first John chapter 5 and
verse 15. The Bible says, and if we know
that he hear us whatsoever, we ask We ask, we know that we have
the petitions that we desired of him.
You know, Jesus caught on prayer.
He surely did there were times when people would see Jesus
praying, and they would know that he was a man of prayer and
they would congregate to him, and they would be drawn to him
and they would even ask him, would you teach us a little more
about prayer? You know, we can learn a lot
from Jesus, about prayer, in all the times that we can find that
he prayed by Bowl. And also all the times that he
gave instruction about prayer, will not go into the story, but
you remember Jesus one time taught about pretension in
prayer and the heart that a man is supposed to have.
When he prays to the almighty God, we know that with the
Pharisee and the Publican, we know all of what the religious
Elite. The Pharisee did with his broad
and phylacteries as his robes were behind him as he was swept
up. Those stairs that day in the
hour of worship, as he stood there in the presence of the
almighty, God gazing up toward heaven and told God how great he
was. Nobody ever taught this whole
hapless Publican. How to pray?
There wasn't a rule book at the door.
He just found himself in the presence of the almighty God.
And when he did, he recognized his sin.
He smote his breath, which is a his breast which is an outward
sign of inward anguish. He wouldn't even look up toward
Heaven. He bowed his head down toward
the ground and he said, father be merciful God.
Be merciful to me a sinner. You know what Jesus said, he
went home Justified. You know what that word means to
have acquitted. That's right.
That'll happen public in and all the extortion and all the
horrible sin that was guilty in his life, he went away,
forgiven, the other one, all of his wonderful works.
All of his wonderful attributes that he told God, what he was.
He went home with all of those and his sins to Jesus.
Also, taught something that you and I need to think about
though, I don't know anyone. I really don't, I don't know
anyone in the sound of my voice tonight.
Night. I don't know that.
I know anyone. Personally, that's a Christian
that would fall into the category of one who was guilty
of pretentious prayer. I don't know anybody like that.
But, you know, Jesus talk something else about prayer.
He taught persistence in prayer to you remember, when Jesus gave
the parable of the friend at midnight, he was teaching about
persistence in prayer, and as he gave that Parable and talk that
sermon so long. Go.
He said this, which one of you that has a good friend?
That's your neighbor, your dear friend, and it's midnight.
And somebody that's also a friend of yours comes into town,
comes to your house. Comes to your door and you open
the door and you let him in. But you go back inside the house
and you open up the cupboards as it were and you look in there.
And you see that there's no nothing to give your dear
friend. You are short of Of provision.
So what do you do? Jesus says, you go at midnight
to your friend's house. When you do though, I could just
imagine in my mind's eye, the picture of this, you knock on
the door. Your friend is a good friend.
He calls out. What do you want?
And you said, and you tell them what happened?
Someone's come to my house, I'm short of provision.
Please, let me have loaves of bread that I might feed a friend
that has come through. You know what Jesus said?
even though he's your friend, He'll say no.
Don't bother me with that. Don't bother me with that right
now. It's midnight.
I'm in bed, my children are fast asleep, Don't burden me with
that right now. But Jesus says, this person
talking to the same friend is persistent.
In fact, he says this, when he's persistent, he won't give them
the bread because of his friendship.
He'll give him the bread because of his importunity.
That's what the King James version, says means persistence
because of his persistence. He'll finally say, okay, here it
is. Here's the bread.
I hope we know what Jesus was talking about.
He was talking about this. If your friend at midnight, you
can persuade your friend at midnight to give you bread.
If you're persistent, surely you can be persistent in the heart.
In the eyes of God and pray and receive the same.
He continues to teach an application about that Parable.
And he goes on to say this, What, father, in the world,
which by the way, Earthly fleshly father's can be Wicked.
They surely, can they can be evil?
In fact, there are wicked evil fathers in life that are evil to
other people and Jesus painted that picture.
But then Jesus said the same father with his with his own
son, he's going to be completely and thoroughly different.
Notice what Jesus says. Says about that.
He says, first of all, for us to continue to do, so continue to
ask he says, and I say unto you ask, and it shall be given you
seek, and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you,
for every one that asketh receiveth and he that seeketh
findeth and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.
I think we understand and looking at the verbiage That's
described there. That, that is a continual asking
a person that will continually ask continually knock
continually pursue. That's the person that's going
to receive the blessings of god. Notice what Jesus says really
quickly. Now in the scriptures as he
Compares a physical father in the flesh that could very well
be a wicked. Man.
In comparison to god, notice verse 11.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father.
Will he give him a stone? Why surely not or if he asks for
a fish, will he give for a fish? Give him a serpent or if he ask
an egg, will he give him a scorpion if ye then being evil
know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more
shall your heavenly father? Give the Holy Spirit to them
that ask him by the way, this Holy Spirit here Some
manuscripts a good spirit. What he's talking about is the
same language. He was talking about on the
great Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7, when it talks about
good things, how much more will your heavenly father?
Give good spirit or good things to those, who ask, You know, I
think it's important that we're persistent in prayer.
Prayer needs to be a focal point of our day.
Someone said this about prayer prayer, may cause us to Quick
sinning, but sin will cause us to quit praying trouble.
Drives us to prayer, but prayer drives us away from trouble.
We should pray without ceasing very sadly.
Some cease without praying prayer needs to be an important
part of our life. Life.
We must pray daily as if everything depends on the
almighty God and we must work every day as if everything.
Depends on us. Start your day in prayer, Pray
during your day and certainly never pill your head at night
without clearing things up with your maker.
That's a wonderful blessing. We're not perfect. we can go to
the god of Heaven in an attitude of prayer before our heads, our
pillowed at night before we drift deep into the
unconsciousness of night, we can pray to God and ask God,
sincerely from the bottom of our heart, to forgive us of any
transgression or anything that stands between us, so that we
can know and feel confident, and sure, and comfortable with all
the Blessed, hope that if the Lord came back that night, or if
your soul shall be required of you that night, You would be
okay. One man said this though he who
runs from the Lord in the morning, we are scarcely, find
him the rest of the day. Begin your day in prayer.
Thirdly let's make the resolve and we're going to do better
about visiting those who are less fortunate and those that
are in need. Remember what Jesus pictured,
when he pictured the Judgment seat in Matthew, the 25th
chapter in the Judgment scene. There, beginning in verse 34
Jesus said then shall the king say unto them on his right hand.
Come you blessed of my father inherit the Kingdom prepared for
you from the foundation of the world.
For I was an hungred and ye gave me meat.
I was thirsty and you gave me drink.
I was a stranger and you took me in naked and you clothed me.
I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to
me then shall the righteous answer him saying.
Lord, when saw we thee and Hungered and fed thee or thirsty
and gave thee. Drink when saw we thee a
stranger and took thee in or naked and clothed thee?
Or when saw we thee sick or in prison and came unto thee?
And the King shall answer and say unto them, verily?
I say unto you inasmuch, as ye have done, it unto the least of
these my brethren You have done it unto me.
But notice the sobering were just found in verse 41.
Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand?
Depart from me depart from me. You cursed into Everlasting fire
prepared for the devil and his angels for I was an hungred and
ye gave me no meat. I was thirsty and you gave me no
drink. I was a stranger and you took me
not in naked and you clothed me not sick and in prison and you
visited me. Not then, shall they also answer
him saying, Lord, when saw thee we The hungered or thirst or a
stranger or naked or sick or in prison and did not Minister unto
thee. Then I shall be answered.
He answered them saying, verily, I say unto you inasmuch.
As you did it. Not to one of the least of these
my brethren. You did it not unto me?
Jesus said, and these shall go away into Everlasting
punishment, but the righteous into life eternal, I realize
that there are many wonderful people.
This congregation right now. Also, from Brundage Lane, I know
you personally. I know you do this.
I've seen you do it. We all know that, by the way, if
you think you're doing things and secret, which is the way we
do it, we don't want to blow the horn, but I'll tell you
something, you cannot, go and continually do good deeds for
others in your life and not have people know it.
People will know it. You influence will scream
volumes Without You uttering, even a word.
So I do appreciate all those that do that.
They go and they see to the sick, they take Things to the
needy and so on, especially those of the household of faith.
And we're so thankful for you, But if you notice, we're getting
bigger, we're growing, that means there are more that have
needs. Now, that means that there are
others that are among us, that need something from us in every
way shape, or form. You know, we can defeat that old
devil and we can get to heaven, one day, but I'm going to tell
you this right now. It's going to take every one of
us. I believe that with all my
heart, a few people cannot do the work of the church.
A few people. Cannot go out and see to the
needs of the sick. And those that are in need,
it'll take us all. Let us be resolved to do that to
be better than we've ever been in the past.
Let's help others. Especially help us all get to
heaven. But finally, this afternoon
Let's make the resolve that we're going to be better about
telling others about Jesus. Sometimes, I think that church
members think that as long as they live the Christian Life and
live their life away from sin and and attend Services of the
church that that's really all that's required that we really
don't have any other responsibilities that we live
our life as Christians over here in like a group or I hate to say
the word but like a click or something.
That's not Christian Living because Jesus said that I'm
supposed to go out and tell somebody about it and you too,
not just the preachers you too. Oh, that's a responsibility that
all of us have to share. Let me ask you this question,
though. I want you to think back of when
you became a Christian. When you once heard the gospel
preached, many of you grew up in families that were Christians.
I was very fortunate that. I was a young boy when my
parents were converted, very thankful for that.
What about the folks that did not have parents that were
instrumental in converting them somewhere in your in the course
of your life? Somebody preach the gospel to
you. What if go back in time in your
mind? What if that person would have
never said a word? What if they would have never
invited yet to come to services to a gospel meeting where
preacher? Preach the gospel?
What if Where would you be today?
And where would you be an eternity if no one took an
interest in your soul? Why do you suppose that the
truth is often the best kept secret in town?
Here's some reasons. Why folks.
Say excuse is often given they say well I don't have enough
knowledge, you know, something I am convinced that you will do,
you will know exactly what you want to know.
If you're truly interested in something, you will learn it,
you will study it. It will, you will think about
it, you will talk about it until, you know, it.
Some people say, well, I would I just don't know any candidates.
I just don't have any leads. I don't know anybody.
You go to school. Go to work.
Have you ever gone to the grocery store?
The ever seen a trashman a gardener and the ever lived in
between two houses and those people next year called
Neighbors. You ever been part of a club you
ever been in a sport, have you ever known somebody?
Have you ever conversed with another human being?
Oh, we know people, we surely do.
You know, don't be fearful either.
Don't be fearful of rejection. Just remember what Jesus said
when they reject it. They're not rejecting you.
They're rejecting me. That's what Jesus said.
But think about this never met a Salesman that didn't sell.
You ever met a ball player who didn't play?
Here amid a Christian. It didn't save Souls.
I hope we would never be indifferent.
I would hope and pray that we would never be lulled into
complacency security. Where were just content with
where we are? Because I'll tell you something,
if we want to grow as the body of Christ and we do we've had
some tremendous growth in this area.
We've had growth amongst our members.
We've had growth of those that have been baptized into Christ
and, and have been converted. That's great.
That's wonderful. But listen, we are not done.
We are not finished. We have so much more to do.
And we are not satisfied because the Lord's not satisfied either.
We have work to do until he comes back.
Don't be lulled into complacency and security.
Let's not hold back. Let's resolve that we're going
to build bridges into the lives of others.
Let's continue to spread the gospel to those that are lost
and hope and pray that they have good and honest hearts.
Let's take the word of God and try the very best we can to
soften even the hardest of hearts.
So they can go to heaven, too. I want you to listen to these
very sobering words. As found in Ezekiel chapter 3,
beginning in verse 18. Where the Bible says when I say
unto the wicked Thou shalt surely die and thou givest him.
Not warning nor speakers to warn the wicked from his Wicked way
to save his soul the same Wicked man shall die in his iniquity
but his blood I will require at thine hand.
Yet if thou warn the wicked and he turned not from his
wickedness nor from his Wicked way, he shall die in his
iniquity. But thou Hast delivered thy Soul
again, when a righteous man does turn from his righteousness and
commit iniquity and I lay a stumbling block before him, he
shall die. Because thou Hast not given him
warning. He shall die in his sin and his
righteousness, which he hath done.
Shall not be remembered but his blood will.
I require At thine hand. That perhaps is some of the most
chilling words in all the Bible. I wonder how many folks would
have been receptive if we would have just been brave and
courageous and bold. If you don't know what to do you
and just invite him. You don't know what to say, get
me involved, I'll say it, but let's reach into the lives of
people that we come in contact with, and let's save.
So in conclusion, let me just say this, In order for us to
take a good view of our self and be really honest of where we are
today. We must realize that often
times, we like to inflate our self.
We like to give ourself a little too much credit.
We can see the faults in others. We don't see them in ourselves
because after all it doesn't apply to me.
Sometimes we exalt ourselves or we esteem ourself more than we
ought to think. We need to get out of that
mentality and get out of that spirit, and that heart, because
that won't make change in our life.
Let me illustrate it. This trailer really quickly.
The story was once told about a fellow that was a very well-off
well-to-do, man. He was the CEO of a very large
corporation. I understand, he was a very,
very important Land. One day being in all his
importance, he's in his important car with his wife and
the driving down the road and they see a gas station.
They decide to pull in there and get some gas.
Well, here, the CEO wish his car into that gas pump jumps out of
his car and the gasoline. Comes over he no more even looks
up at this fellow. He just says fill it as he walks
on by and goes inside the store area there and wait for it's
time for his time to pay. Well, after a little while, the
gas station attendant was finished and the gas was done
pumping, he looks out the window and he sees that his wife is
having an animated discussion with this gasoline attendant.
He thought will how odd she can't surely know him.
But then he pays for his gas, goes out to his car, the
gasoline, attendant waves, goodbye.
He gets in that car and he pulls away and when he does he says to
his wife, you know, I couldn't help but realize or I couldn't
help but see that you were talking to that fella like you
knew him. Did you know that man?
She said, yeah, I knew him. Went to high school with him.
Well, he inquired a little further, he said, well, was he a
friend? An acquaintance of classmate who
was he? She says, well, no actually we
dated quite extensively while we were in school. first thing out
of his mouth, he said this Man honey.
Are you lucky? She looked at him, kind of
surprised and said, well, why am I lucky?
Oh, are you lucky that I came around?
You are so lucky that I came around.
She said, well, how's that? He said, if I hadn't come
around, you would not be the wife of a CEO.
You'd be the wife of a gasoline attendant.
She looked him dead straight in his eyes and she said this,
let's get one thing straight honey.
If I hadn't married him, he'd have been the CEO and you'd have
been the gas station attendant. Sometimes we exalt how we really
are. We need to step out of ourselves
and see ourselves for what and who we are and make the results.
We're going to change in conclusion.
If there are changes that you need to make this afternoon in
your life, I implore you don't put it off for tomorrow.
Don't do that one man. Wrote this about tomorrow.
He said, tomorrow is the great enemy of advancement.
Boasting of Tomorrow is the Lazy Man's way of evading.
Today's duties tomorrow leaves more tasks, undone more books
on, read more houses, unclean, more programs unlocked, more
resolutions unkept than any other factor in life.
Tomorrow, is the great enemy of the church are great.
Liability is not our ignorance or our unconcerned or our
unwillingness. But tomorrow, more absentees
have been neglected, more lessons have gone, unprepared
more prospects have gone unlisted and more lost.
People have gone unsaved because of tomorrow, where one man being
an atheist or an agnostic died in a lost condition, losing his
soul. There are thousands of
well-meaning people who found themselves in that same
condition because they were waiting in counting on tomorrow.
Tomorrow is Satan's best scheme and keeping lost men.
Lost. Yes, Satan knows.
He will never destroy your faith in the Bible or your belief in
the love of God. He does not care when you
realize that you are lost and that you need to be a Christian.
He knows all of these things are of no avail to you. if he could
just keep you waiting, For tomorrow.
Are you not a Christian? Are you not a Christian this
afternoon? The Bible, clearly states.
So then Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,
when we hear God's word, that's what moves us to make a
decision. We believe what we've heard and
believed in Jesus, for whom he is as the Son of God.
We make the determination in our life that we no longer want to
travel in that way. We want to go a different
direction. That's called repentance, I'm
making a change, I'm making a resolution.
I am making a purpose in my heart.
I'm going to change this. Then the Bible says that a man
must confess that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and upon these
steps. As we noticed this morning,
these things are unto or up to a man's salvation.
But Galatians 3, and 27 says, it is, when a man is baptized, he
is baptized into the body of Jesus Christ.
His sins are washed away. He is saved in a safe condition.
Added to the body of Christ. The Lord's church and starts his
life. The only one that matters right
then. We thank you for listening to
our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.
Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional
information, or you would like to receive a free Bible
correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at her
Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.
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Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.
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