1 00:00:00,100 --> 00:00:02,500 I am a coward. You want to know why? 2 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:05,700 Well, I believe God has burned some certain messages upon my 3 00:00:05,700 --> 00:00:08,700 heart but because I'm so afraid of offending people. 4 00:00:08,700 --> 00:00:11,200 I've kept them quiet. I've kept them to myself. 5 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:14,700 But today I decided enough is enough and I'm going to share 6 00:00:14,700 --> 00:00:18,600 with you three Christian scams. Now, before we get started, I 7 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,100 want to tell you something. Some of you will be angry at 8 00:00:21,100 --> 00:00:22,600 some of the things I'm going to say. 9 00:00:22,700 --> 00:00:26,100 So before you write a negative comments, would you do a favor 10 00:00:26,100 --> 00:00:28,100 for me? Would you be willing to listen 11 00:00:28,100 --> 00:00:29,800 to this video all the way through? 12 00:00:30,000 --> 00:00:33,200 Through and hear the arguments in all of their fullness before 13 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,500 you dismiss what I'm about to say. 14 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:37,900 Okay. So the first Christian scam that 15 00:00:37,900 --> 00:00:41,300 should be made illegal is the word of faith movement. 16 00:00:41,800 --> 00:00:44,300 All the Prosperity Gospel. What is the Prosperity? 17 00:00:44,300 --> 00:00:47,900 Gospel is basically the idea that God wants every single 18 00:00:47,900 --> 00:00:51,100 Christian in the whole world to be rich and the more faith you 19 00:00:51,100 --> 00:00:54,500 have, the more God will make you rich, the more you donate to 20 00:00:54,500 --> 00:00:58,600 these prosperity preachers. The more God will also increase 21 00:00:58,900 --> 00:01:01,700 your material. Now, why is this a problem? 22 00:01:01,700 --> 00:01:05,200 Well, the Bible says God Will Supply your every need. 23 00:01:05,200 --> 00:01:08,000 Not your everyone, not your every loss and I every craving, 24 00:01:08,000 --> 00:01:10,900 not your every desire. Know your every need the Bible 25 00:01:10,900 --> 00:01:15,400 also says this and having food and clothing with these we shall 26 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:18,800 be content. May I ask you a very personal 27 00:01:18,800 --> 00:01:21,200 question. If you only had clothes on your 28 00:01:21,200 --> 00:01:24,600 back food in your stomach, a roof over your head and Jesus 29 00:01:24,600 --> 00:01:27,700 Christ. Would that be enough for you 30 00:01:27,700 --> 00:01:29,800 constantly? Looking at you constantly? 31 00:01:29,900 --> 00:01:32,800 In, for the next thing, more accolades, more money, more 32 00:01:32,800 --> 00:01:35,800 success, more popularity. Are you trying to get as much 33 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,200 out of this world? But can you? 34 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:41,200 And I say, like David said, in Psalm 23, The Lord is my 35 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,200 shepherd. I shall not want why? 36 00:01:44,500 --> 00:01:48,400 Because Jesus Christ is more than enough for me, but speaking 37 00:01:48,400 --> 00:01:52,000 of the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus wants said, this woe to 38 00:01:52,000 --> 00:01:54,900 you who are rich. So, in other words, Jesus saying 39 00:01:55,100 --> 00:01:57,600 it can actually be a curse to be rich. 40 00:01:57,700 --> 00:01:59,500 That's not something you hear every day. 41 00:01:59,500 --> 00:02:04,600 The So Paul said this, for the love of money is a root of all 42 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:09,400 kinds of Evil's for which song have strayed from the faith in 43 00:02:09,400 --> 00:02:12,200 their greediness. And pierced themselves through 44 00:02:12,200 --> 00:02:15,200 with many sorrows. And the truth, is this some of 45 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:18,600 the greatest young people had so much potential for the Lord 46 00:02:18,600 --> 00:02:23,000 Jesus Christ, got corrupted by this thing called gold, but hear 47 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,200 what you're saying, you're saying, Joe, doesn't it say in 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,200 the passage. The love of money is the root of 49 00:02:27,208 --> 00:02:28,600 all evil. You're right. 50 00:02:28,600 --> 00:02:31,100 It is the Love of Money. E, which is the problem, not 51 00:02:31,100 --> 00:02:33,900 having money itself. And if you yourself can earn a 52 00:02:33,900 --> 00:02:37,400 heap of money and only take what you need and give the rest away 53 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:39,500 to the poor or to Ministry or praise. 54 00:02:39,500 --> 00:02:41,600 God. You're a stronger man than I am. 55 00:02:41,700 --> 00:02:44,200 But for the rest of us, never forget this. 56 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,300 Quote by Thomas Carlyle for every 100 man that can stand in 57 00:02:48,300 --> 00:02:51,200 adversity. There is only one man who can 58 00:02:51,200 --> 00:02:54,500 withstand Prosperity. So that all of these vain 59 00:02:54,500 --> 00:02:57,200 Ambitions die. Let us be able to say with the 60 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,800 psalmist. David the Lord is my shepherd. 61 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:02,700 I shall not want. I just need you. 62 00:03:02,700 --> 00:03:07,000 Jesus, you were enough but let's just rewind for a second. 63 00:03:07,100 --> 00:03:09,900 Why did the Apostle Paul warned Believers? 64 00:03:09,900 --> 00:03:13,300 So strongly about the love of money and how it can actually 65 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:17,200 make you stray from the faith. There's actually a very, very 66 00:03:17,200 --> 00:03:19,600 famous example of this Boomer talking about. 67 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,700 Well, let's see if you can get the right answer, leave it in 68 00:03:21,700 --> 00:03:24,500 the comment box. Who do you think is one person 69 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,000 who let the Love of Money? Bring them away from the Lord 70 00:03:27,000 --> 00:03:31,900 Jesus Christ. Does the name Judas, Iscariot 71 00:03:31,900 --> 00:03:35,700 ring any bells, Judas was the disciples Treasurer and that's 72 00:03:35,700 --> 00:03:39,500 why Church Treasurer's have to be so careful that they don't 73 00:03:39,500 --> 00:03:42,200 let the Love of Money, get into their hearts because they are 74 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:46,300 dealing with big sums of money. And so were Judas all this money 75 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:50,500 coming through and he was being trusted to be pure in this area 76 00:03:50,500 --> 00:03:53,800 of finances. So, how did the Pharisees 77 00:03:53,800 --> 00:03:57,300 managed to persuade Judas? Iscariot to betray the Lord. 78 00:03:57,300 --> 00:03:59,000 Jesus Christ. What was the bait? 79 00:03:59,100 --> 00:04:01,300 That they dangled in front of Judas. 80 00:04:03,100 --> 00:04:06,600 Money, okay, you ready for this? I'm going to say something very 81 00:04:06,600 --> 00:04:09,500 controversial right now. It's not just the prosperity 82 00:04:09,500 --> 00:04:13,100 preachers, who have been abusing their listeners and trying to 83 00:04:13,100 --> 00:04:16,300 get money out of them. I believe this is now creeped in 84 00:04:16,500 --> 00:04:20,300 to the Evangelical Church and traditional Christians who we 85 00:04:20,300 --> 00:04:23,300 put on these huge, big paddle. Stools are also trying to get 86 00:04:23,300 --> 00:04:27,100 money out of their listeners. Am I the only one who thinks 87 00:04:27,100 --> 00:04:31,500 that we've become far too glamorous expensive suits photo 88 00:04:31,500 --> 00:04:34,100 shoots with your favorite. Strong, the front cover. 89 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:38,500 All glossy all clean Conference Centers in five-star hotels with 90 00:04:38,500 --> 00:04:41,300 luxurious meals. And then on top of all of that. 91 00:04:41,300 --> 00:04:46,000 It seems like churches are being run like businesses with CEOs. 92 00:04:46,000 --> 00:04:49,100 And the church, doesn't really look like the church anymore. 93 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:52,000 It's starting to look more and more like the world. 94 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:56,100 And again, perhaps you disagree with me, but I just think no 95 00:04:56,100 --> 00:05:00,100 wonder, no one's getting saved these days because Ministry has 96 00:05:00,100 --> 00:05:04,900 become about getting that orange and Going to squeeze every last 97 00:05:04,900 --> 00:05:08,200 drop of juice, out of the orange to get everything, we can out of 98 00:05:08,207 --> 00:05:10,000 this world. To get all of the money. 99 00:05:10,000 --> 00:05:13,400 All of the fame and Ministry has become so much about the man. 100 00:05:13,400 --> 00:05:17,000 And so little about the Lord, Jesus Christ, what happened to 101 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:18,600 the gym? Elliot's of the world, who are 102 00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:22,400 willing to go to a dangerous tribe and die and he did die 103 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:25,400 trying to reach the Lost. What happened to the doctor, 104 00:05:25,500 --> 00:05:28,100 Helen rows of ears? And she was one night when she 105 00:05:28,100 --> 00:05:31,000 tried to reach the Congolese people, but she carried on 106 00:05:31,000 --> 00:05:32,700 ministering to that people. What? 107 00:05:32,900 --> 00:05:35,700 Put into the David Brain. It's of the world who died in 108 00:05:35,700 --> 00:05:38,400 his thirties. Eating berries, and riding for 109 00:05:38,400 --> 00:05:41,600 miles and miles on Horseback trying to reach the American 110 00:05:41,600 --> 00:05:45,000 people getting hypothermia and living in a hot were nothing 111 00:05:45,000 --> 00:05:49,000 like the old Saints of the past and I just think myself 112 00:05:49,000 --> 00:05:51,700 included. We need to look at ourselves and 113 00:05:51,700 --> 00:05:55,800 say, has to become about us, or is it about the Lord Jesus 114 00:05:55,800 --> 00:05:57,600 Christ. But again, please don't 115 00:05:57,600 --> 00:05:59,900 misunderstand me. I'm not saying by any means, we 116 00:05:59,900 --> 00:06:02,700 can't have nice things. It's nice to go on a holiday. 117 00:06:02,900 --> 00:06:06,000 It's nice to wear nice clothes. It's nice to go out for a meal 118 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,800 every now and then but I'm just saying don't let these things 119 00:06:08,800 --> 00:06:12,500 dominate your life and make sure that every single one of us is 120 00:06:12,500 --> 00:06:15,600 giving away freely to the poor and to other missions and 121 00:06:15,608 --> 00:06:18,100 Ministries. So that the work of the Lord 122 00:06:18,100 --> 00:06:21,100 might increase. Now the second Christian scam 123 00:06:21,100 --> 00:06:24,700 which is going to offend a lot of people is this idea of the 124 00:06:24,700 --> 00:06:27,100 online church. Now, before we go into this, I 125 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:29,800 want you to know this does not apply to anyone who has a 126 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:32,400 serious health issue, who can't leave the house. 127 00:06:32,500 --> 00:06:34,700 This. Apply to anyone who perhaps the 128 00:06:34,700 --> 00:06:37,300 government has closed their church right now so they can't 129 00:06:37,300 --> 00:06:39,400 meet in fellowship and it doesn't apply to anyone who 130 00:06:39,400 --> 00:06:41,800 lives in the middle of the Wilderness and there's nowhere 131 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:44,000 near them where there's a bible-believing church at, they 132 00:06:44,000 --> 00:06:47,300 can easily attend but it does apply to all those Christians 133 00:06:47,300 --> 00:06:51,000 across the world who no longer think it's necessary to meet 134 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:53,600 with a local body of Believers in the flash. 135 00:06:53,600 --> 00:06:56,500 But again, I can hear exactly what you're thinking. 136 00:06:56,500 --> 00:06:59,800 You're saying to me Joe. You and I are part of the church 137 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:01,600 were part of this big church together. 138 00:07:01,600 --> 00:07:04,300 Anyone, who's a Christian? It is in the church and you're 139 00:07:04,300 --> 00:07:07,700 right, me and you are in the church together, but we mustn't 140 00:07:07,700 --> 00:07:10,900 confuse the global church with the local church. 141 00:07:10,900 --> 00:07:13,900 The global church is for instance, web says husband's 142 00:07:13,900 --> 00:07:17,500 love your wives as Christ loved. The church is talking about all 143 00:07:17,500 --> 00:07:20,200 the believes in the world. But then in the Bible, there are 144 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,900 also very clear verses about the local church. 145 00:07:24,000 --> 00:07:28,700 Romans 16 verse 16 says all the Churches of Christ greet. 146 00:07:28,700 --> 00:07:32,700 You notice how it says churches not just church Acts. 147 00:07:32,900 --> 00:07:36,700 Verse 22 says the reports of this came to the ears of the 148 00:07:36,700 --> 00:07:40,500 church in Jerusalem. There was a local church in 149 00:07:40,500 --> 00:07:43,900 Jerusalem. 1 Corinthians 16 verse 1 says this. 150 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:47,900 Now concerning the collection for the Saints as I directed the 151 00:07:47,900 --> 00:07:51,900 churches of galatia. So you also are to do. 152 00:07:51,900 --> 00:07:55,300 So there were local Christians who are supporting the work of 153 00:07:55,300 --> 00:07:57,800 the Lord in galatia and Hebrews 10. 154 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,700 Verse 25 says, this not forsaking the Assembly of 155 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,200 Ourselves to gather a my friends. 156 00:08:05,200 --> 00:08:08,200 It breaks my heart to know that right now. 157 00:08:08,400 --> 00:08:12,100 There are believers listening to my voice who are forsaking 158 00:08:12,100 --> 00:08:14,400 meeting with other believers together. 159 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:18,900 And Jesus Christ said by this, all will know that you are my 160 00:08:18,900 --> 00:08:21,500 disciples. If you have love for one 161 00:08:21,500 --> 00:08:25,500 another, to let me ask you this. How can we have love for one 162 00:08:25,500 --> 00:08:27,800 another? How can we have love for of a 163 00:08:27,808 --> 00:08:31,300 Christians? If we refused to meet with the 164 00:08:31,300 --> 00:08:34,900 body of Christ, if you Used to sing hymns together and Worship 165 00:08:34,900 --> 00:08:37,600 the Lord together. How can we lay hands on a 166 00:08:37,600 --> 00:08:41,500 discourage believer and pray for them if we just do online 167 00:08:41,500 --> 00:08:45,400 Church, how can we show hospitality and open up our home 168 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:48,500 as the Bible commands? If we just decide to hide from 169 00:08:48,500 --> 00:08:50,300 all the other believers in the world. 170 00:08:50,400 --> 00:08:54,800 Now, look, I really don't want to be insensitive to anyone 171 00:08:54,800 --> 00:08:56,900 listening. I know they'll be people 172 00:08:57,100 --> 00:09:00,900 listening to this video right now who have been really hurt by 173 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:03,700 Christians in the past. And because Cuz of it you've hid 174 00:09:03,700 --> 00:09:05,600 away and you want nothing to do with them. 175 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:09,900 And looking at you right now is a man who has been her far more 176 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,100 by Believers, the non-believers of ever hurt me. 177 00:09:13,100 --> 00:09:16,700 But, never forget this, just because you've had one bad meal, 178 00:09:16,900 --> 00:09:20,200 doesn't mean you never eat again and I can tell you one thing for 179 00:09:20,200 --> 00:09:22,200 free. There are lots and lots of 180 00:09:22,200 --> 00:09:25,500 bible-believing churches out there who love the Lord Jesus 181 00:09:25,500 --> 00:09:28,000 Christ. And you want to encourage you as 182 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:30,400 a Believer right now. They might be small. 183 00:09:30,500 --> 00:09:32,700 The might only be three people in the whole church. 184 00:09:32,800 --> 00:09:36,000 But they are out that if you look hard enough, and some of 185 00:09:36,008 --> 00:09:39,600 you need to hear this too, instead of praying on your past, 186 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:42,200 has why not pray for your pastor. 187 00:09:42,300 --> 00:09:45,100 I'd be lying to you. If I didn't say it, melts my 188 00:09:45,100 --> 00:09:46,700 heart. When people write in the comment 189 00:09:46,700 --> 00:09:51,200 box, Pastor Joel, it really does touch my spirit, and it makes me 190 00:09:51,200 --> 00:09:54,000 feel good. But, the truth is this, I'm not 191 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,300 your pasta. I'm just an average guy. 192 00:09:56,300 --> 00:09:59,400 Your average Joe making videos on the internet and there's 193 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,100 nothing worse than when Robin thinks he's Batman. 194 00:10:02,100 --> 00:10:04,000 And Sighs. There's nothing worse. 195 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:07,100 Than when a Christian YouTuber tries to take the place of a 196 00:10:07,100 --> 00:10:09,800 pasta and some other things. You email me. 197 00:10:09,900 --> 00:10:12,100 Some of the things you write to me in the comment box. 198 00:10:12,300 --> 00:10:14,400 I think there's no way I can help you. 199 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:18,100 If this you need a Shepherd in your local area to pray with 200 00:10:18,100 --> 00:10:20,400 you, to encourage you and to meet with you, on a regular 201 00:10:20,400 --> 00:10:23,100 basis to work you through these issues. 202 00:10:23,100 --> 00:10:25,900 I've said this before. It's really good to take Vitamin 203 00:10:25,900 --> 00:10:26,800 D. Supplements. 204 00:10:26,900 --> 00:10:29,500 It will really bless your life, but never ever forget. 205 00:10:29,500 --> 00:10:32,400 You need the main course and that's what Christine YouTube 206 00:10:32,400 --> 00:10:34,700 videos. Like that just like supplements. 207 00:10:34,700 --> 00:10:37,800 It will bless your life, but never forget the main course, 208 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:41,800 which is the local church and fellowship with other believers. 209 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,300 Very recently. I heard an English Pastor, a man 210 00:10:44,300 --> 00:10:48,300 called David Earnshaw say this in a sermon and it blew my mind. 211 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:53,000 He said in 2020, the small shops couldn't survive, but the big 212 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,800 shots just got bigger and bigger. 213 00:10:54,800 --> 00:10:58,200 He said, his time went on, even the biggest shops could no 214 00:10:58,200 --> 00:11:01,300 longer survive, because everything went online and 215 00:11:01,300 --> 00:11:04,100 likewise the same thing. Thing has happened with the 216 00:11:04,100 --> 00:11:05,600 church. At first. 217 00:11:05,600 --> 00:11:07,600 The small church is couldn't survive. 218 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:10,200 They've shut down and I know churches the shutdown in the 219 00:11:10,208 --> 00:11:13,400 last 12 months, but the big church is got bigger and bigger, 220 00:11:13,400 --> 00:11:17,100 but now it's come to the point where even the big churches 221 00:11:17,100 --> 00:11:19,500 can't survive. Because everything has gone 222 00:11:19,500 --> 00:11:21,200 online. And as Boris Johnson, the 223 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:25,100 British prime minister said, if you want your local shop to stay 224 00:11:25,100 --> 00:11:29,700 open, use it and if you want your local church to stay open, 225 00:11:30,100 --> 00:11:32,600 we'll use it. Visit it, encourage it. 226 00:11:33,000 --> 00:11:36,200 I'll be part of that Fellowship. Perhaps I'm the only one who is 227 00:11:36,200 --> 00:11:39,700 tired of driving past Church buildings, and we know that the 228 00:11:39,700 --> 00:11:42,300 church is not the building, its the people but it does break 229 00:11:42,300 --> 00:11:44,700 your heart. When you pass a building that 230 00:11:44,700 --> 00:11:47,400 once had a hundred people meeting in and now it's just 231 00:11:47,400 --> 00:11:50,700 become a place to sell tables and chairs or it's become 232 00:11:50,700 --> 00:11:53,900 another religious Center, because the Christians didn't 233 00:11:53,900 --> 00:11:58,300 support it when it was open. Okay, here's how we're going to 234 00:11:58,300 --> 00:12:00,400 do this. I'm going to share with you an 235 00:12:00,500 --> 00:12:02,600 Eastern Fable, but just to make things. 236 00:12:02,800 --> 00:12:04,500 He's a little bit more interesting. 237 00:12:04,600 --> 00:12:06,700 I'm going to turn it into a riddle. 238 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:08,400 So let's see which of you out there? 239 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:10,600 Can guess the correct answer to the riddle. 240 00:12:10,600 --> 00:12:12,900 And once you've got it, of course, leave it in the comment 241 00:12:12,900 --> 00:12:14,700 box below. One day six. 242 00:12:14,700 --> 00:12:18,100 Blind men were told to put their hands on something and describe 243 00:12:18,100 --> 00:12:20,900 just what it was. They could feel the first blind, 244 00:12:20,900 --> 00:12:22,800 man. Said this I feel something. 245 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:26,600 Large like a big oversized fan. The next blind man. 246 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:30,800 Said this, as I put my hands on it, it feels rock-hard a bit 247 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,800 like a brick wall. Another Man, at the back said, I 248 00:12:34,800 --> 00:12:38,700 feel as though I can feel a strong sort of cord like a rope. 249 00:12:38,700 --> 00:12:40,600 The two at the front. One of them said this? 250 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:41,900 No. No, it's not a rope. 251 00:12:41,900 --> 00:12:46,300 What I feel is a sort of spear, it's sharp, and it's smooth. 252 00:12:46,300 --> 00:12:49,800 And the man next to him said really because I feel something 253 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:55,200 quite rugged, like a large sort of snake ready to buy it and 254 00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:58,900 then the very very last blind, man said, all of you are wrong. 255 00:12:58,900 --> 00:13:02,600 Do you know what? I can feel a large tree trunk? 256 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,700 My dear friends. Have you guessed what it was? 257 00:13:05,700 --> 00:13:10,400 The blind men were touching. They had found a big large 258 00:13:10,600 --> 00:13:13,200 elephant. Now, why do I tell you that 259 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,800 story? There's actually one reason and 260 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:18,900 one reason alone. I believe the culture that you 261 00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:22,800 and I live in right now has become just like those six blind 262 00:13:22,800 --> 00:13:24,600 man. All around the world. 263 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:28,400 We have men and women laying their hands on God and trying to 264 00:13:28,400 --> 00:13:31,300 describe what it is. They feel they come up with 265 00:13:31,300 --> 00:13:32,600 their own assumptions. Their own. 266 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:36,600 Judgments, and they try to bring God down into their own culture. 267 00:13:37,000 --> 00:13:40,000 For instance, me get one man. And he says, yeah, I think God 268 00:13:40,000 --> 00:13:42,500 just wants us to be happy. It doesn't matter who I'm in a 269 00:13:42,500 --> 00:13:44,400 relationship with doesn't matter who I. 270 00:13:44,400 --> 00:13:48,500 Marry as long as I'm happy God's happy, another man might stand 271 00:13:48,500 --> 00:13:49,300 up. And say, yeah. 272 00:13:49,300 --> 00:13:53,300 When I read the Bible, I just, I just don't think that hell is 273 00:13:53,300 --> 00:13:56,000 meant to be taken, literally. I don't think God would ever 274 00:13:56,000 --> 00:13:58,000 send anyone to Hell. Another person. 275 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:00,400 A lady. Perhaps says, I don't really 276 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:04,500 think that God would ever Want us to take the resurrection 277 00:14:04,500 --> 00:14:06,800 seriously? No, it's more of a metaphor. 278 00:14:06,900 --> 00:14:08,200 It's more of a picture that we need to. 279 00:14:08,200 --> 00:14:11,200 Just look after one another and care for one another because 280 00:14:11,200 --> 00:14:14,600 good always triumphs over evil. And they interpret the Bible. 281 00:14:14,600 --> 00:14:17,500 They change it, they mess it up and they're laying their hands 282 00:14:17,500 --> 00:14:19,500 boldly on things that they have. No. 283 00:14:19,500 --> 00:14:21,100 Right. To touch whatsoever. 284 00:14:21,100 --> 00:14:23,800 Perhaps you thinking, Joe. It can't get much worse. 285 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:25,800 Now. Can it surely will? 286 00:14:25,800 --> 00:14:27,500 The answer is? I'm afraid. 287 00:14:27,500 --> 00:14:29,600 Yes. It can get a lot worse. 288 00:14:29,900 --> 00:14:32,600 So not only now, if we got lecturers professors. 289 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:35,800 Skeptics atheist. The people all around is trying 290 00:14:35,800 --> 00:14:39,000 to bend and shape and challenge the Bible. 291 00:14:39,200 --> 00:14:42,400 But right now we have the church itself. 292 00:14:42,400 --> 00:14:45,400 Jumping onto this same bandwagon and they too. 293 00:14:45,700 --> 00:14:49,100 Are questioning the Bible. They too are trying to bend it 294 00:14:49,100 --> 00:14:52,800 and Slot it in to this very ungodly culture that we live in. 295 00:14:53,100 --> 00:14:54,700 And what do they call themselves? 296 00:14:54,900 --> 00:14:59,200 They call themselves Progressive Christians, if you leave with 297 00:14:59,200 --> 00:15:02,200 just one thought ringing in your ears. 298 00:15:02,700 --> 00:15:06,500 I want it to be this one. Culture is not King. 299 00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:10,600 Jesus is King and I don't know who you follow on Instagram. 300 00:15:10,700 --> 00:15:13,800 I don't know who you watch on Tick-Tock who you listen to on 301 00:15:13,800 --> 00:15:16,000 YouTube, but I do know. One thing. 302 00:15:16,000 --> 00:15:17,400 Does it matter? How beautiful they are. 303 00:15:17,400 --> 00:15:20,300 It doesn't matter how talented, how much of a great singer. 304 00:15:20,300 --> 00:15:23,100 They are. If this person does not believe 305 00:15:23,100 --> 00:15:27,500 that the word of God is true from Genesis to Revelation that 306 00:15:27,500 --> 00:15:29,400 person isn't worth listening to at all. 307 00:15:29,500 --> 00:15:32,600 Jesus Christ himself said this woe to you. 308 00:15:32,900 --> 00:15:37,600 When everyone speaks well of you for that is how their ancestors. 309 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:41,400 Treated the false prophets. You see in the Old Testament. 310 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:45,800 We read about these false prophets who had big big crowds 311 00:15:45,800 --> 00:15:47,800 around them. The people love what they had to 312 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,600 say because they deceive the people, they told the people 313 00:15:50,600 --> 00:15:53,300 everything they wanted to hear with their dreams and they'd say 314 00:15:53,500 --> 00:15:56,300 thus, saith the Lord. But God himself said they ran 315 00:15:56,300 --> 00:15:59,300 those false prophets. They ran, but I did not send 316 00:15:59,300 --> 00:16:02,100 them but then the man, the prophet that God did send what 317 00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:04,100 happened. Then the crowds turned on him 318 00:16:04,100 --> 00:16:05,900 and said, shut up. We don't want to hear you. 319 00:16:05,900 --> 00:16:07,600 Will someone get this guy to be quiet? 320 00:16:07,600 --> 00:16:10,700 And sometimes they would even have Stones thrown at them. 321 00:16:10,800 --> 00:16:13,900 If you start preaching the truth just like John the Baptist, you 322 00:16:13,900 --> 00:16:17,200 might lose your head and as Leonard Ravenhill said, oh how 323 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:20,000 we could do with some men who are willing to lose their heads 324 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:24,000 for Jesus. So in 2021, how do we apply 325 00:16:24,000 --> 00:16:25,900 this? Well, if you want a big 326 00:16:25,900 --> 00:16:28,300 following, if you want many supporters, if you want to be 327 00:16:28,300 --> 00:16:31,600 rich, just tell the people what they want to hear. 328 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,500 That's what Progressive Christianity, does it tells the 329 00:16:34,500 --> 00:16:36,300 people what they want to hear it? 330 00:16:36,300 --> 00:16:40,200 Basically ripped out pages of the Bible ignores the important 331 00:16:40,200 --> 00:16:43,400 bits and doesn't like the bits that hold up the mirror to our 332 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:45,800 sin and show us just how ugly we are. 333 00:16:45,900 --> 00:16:48,600 Just how vile we are. And that's why we need a savior 334 00:16:48,600 --> 00:16:52,700 Jesus Christ to redeem us because we have no hope in 335 00:16:52,700 --> 00:16:55,000 ourselves. There is nothing good from the 336 00:16:55,000 --> 00:16:57,300 head to the toe. There is nothing sound that 337 00:16:57,300 --> 00:16:59,800 dwells within our flash. But what does the progressive 338 00:16:59,800 --> 00:17:02,400 Christian want to do? He wants to do as many good 339 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:02,900 work. Works. 340 00:17:02,900 --> 00:17:05,400 She wants to do as many good works because that's what this 341 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:09,000 world, like social justice, environmentalism all these 342 00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:12,400 things, which are good in and of themselves, but that will not 343 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:15,200 save you. It is only the god of the Bible. 344 00:17:15,200 --> 00:17:19,500 Jesus Christ, who can save you. The Bible says, the God of this 345 00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:23,300 world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers. 346 00:17:23,500 --> 00:17:25,200 So what do they want to do to us? 347 00:17:25,200 --> 00:17:27,300 What do they want to do to Christians? 348 00:17:27,300 --> 00:17:30,500 They want us to be quiet. So, you'll find this in your 349 00:17:30,500 --> 00:17:32,600 workplace, in your school, in your neighborhood. 350 00:17:33,000 --> 00:17:36,200 Everyone will be putting pressure on you to be silent. 351 00:17:36,600 --> 00:17:39,700 But you know what, I believe the greatest tragedy of all is we 352 00:17:39,700 --> 00:17:44,000 obey and very often Christians are so quiet when we should be. 353 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaking up, jumping is interesting that when June comes 354 00:17:47,800 --> 00:17:51,500 literally pretty much every town and every city around the world 355 00:17:51,500 --> 00:17:54,900 will be filled with thousands and thousands of people marching 356 00:17:54,900 --> 00:17:57,800 up and down the streets celebrating pride month. 357 00:17:57,900 --> 00:17:59,600 Johnny. It's interesting that the 358 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:02,500 Muslims when they are offended, and when something goes wrong, 359 00:18:02,700 --> 00:18:05,700 Wrong to do with their faith. They go out on the streets and 360 00:18:05,700 --> 00:18:08,600 they campaigned for Sharia law, and they really do put their 361 00:18:08,600 --> 00:18:12,000 feet down, Julius interest in that the environmentalist, 362 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:14,000 they'll climb or Builders or get arrested. 363 00:18:14,000 --> 00:18:16,600 They'll tell the whole world that we want to bring rights for 364 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,000 animals. And then what about you? 365 00:18:19,000 --> 00:18:22,600 And I you and I have a message of Hope. 366 00:18:22,700 --> 00:18:26,500 The only hope that gives a man or woman a hope beyond the grave 367 00:18:26,500 --> 00:18:29,500 truth eternal life through Jesus Christ. 368 00:18:29,800 --> 00:18:32,600 And what do we do? We keep it silent. 369 00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:35,100 And that's what the world likes us to do. 370 00:18:35,300 --> 00:18:38,000 As long as we're just harmless, like the Ned Flanders of the 371 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:41,400 world, people are happy, but we mustn't be silent. 372 00:18:41,500 --> 00:18:43,900 And that's really what this video is about today. 373 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,400 Now, is not the time to be silent. 374 00:18:46,400 --> 00:18:49,200 Now, is the time to obey Jesus Christ. 375 00:18:49,200 --> 00:18:52,400 Command to preach the gospel to Every Creature. 376 00:18:52,500 --> 00:18:55,200 Now, if it's okay with you, I just like to have a private 377 00:18:55,200 --> 00:18:58,200 conversation with anyone who's watching this video. 378 00:18:58,200 --> 00:19:01,900 Now, who is a preacher, whether you've got small platform or a 379 00:19:01,900 --> 00:19:04,800 large platform? I'd really like to chat to you 380 00:19:04,800 --> 00:19:06,400 right now. A little while ago. 381 00:19:06,500 --> 00:19:09,600 I sat down with my pastor and we talked about all kinds of things 382 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,000 for about four hours. And one of the questions I asked 383 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,700 him, was this, if there was one thing, you regret in the many 384 00:19:15,700 --> 00:19:18,200 years you've had in Ministry. What's the one thing you would 385 00:19:18,200 --> 00:19:21,300 change? And he said, Joe, if I could 386 00:19:21,300 --> 00:19:24,600 change one thing. I wish when I was a younger man. 387 00:19:24,800 --> 00:19:30,300 I preached more of Jesus Christ. You see you and I we could 388 00:19:30,300 --> 00:19:34,300 criticize liberal Christians to The cows come home, we can pull 389 00:19:34,300 --> 00:19:37,200 holes at their Theology. And boy also need to look at our 390 00:19:37,200 --> 00:19:40,200 own Hearts. The Apostle Paul said this for I 391 00:19:40,200 --> 00:19:45,200 decided to know nothing among you but Jesus Christ and him 392 00:19:45,200 --> 00:19:49,700 crucified here is this man, the Apostle Paul with this huge 393 00:19:49,700 --> 00:19:54,100 intellect and yet he decided to know one thing, the simple 394 00:19:54,100 --> 00:19:59,000 Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. And my fear really is this. 395 00:19:59,900 --> 00:20:05,800 I'm scared that you and I have also Let's the culture, dictates 396 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,800 what we make our message is about. 397 00:20:07,900 --> 00:20:10,300 Okay, we're not like the progressive Christian in that, 398 00:20:10,300 --> 00:20:13,600 we sort of twist it, and bend it, and make it more suitable to 399 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:16,300 the world. But we've let social media and 400 00:20:16,300 --> 00:20:18,900 clicks inform. What we make our message is 401 00:20:18,900 --> 00:20:21,700 about. Let me give you an example right 402 00:20:21,700 --> 00:20:24,400 now. There is a big trending that is 403 00:20:24,400 --> 00:20:26,200 just rushing. Through all of our 404 00:20:26,200 --> 00:20:29,300 recommendations on whatever platform you're on and it's 405 00:20:29,300 --> 00:20:32,600 exposing preachers. People are obsessed with 406 00:20:32,700 --> 00:20:35,600 Exposing other false teachers. And I'm not saying there's 407 00:20:35,600 --> 00:20:38,300 anything wrong with that. The Bible says to Mark and 408 00:20:38,300 --> 00:20:43,200 expose, but is it really our emphasis right now that there's 409 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:46,300 an emphasis also on the weird and the wonderful, the most 410 00:20:46,300 --> 00:20:48,300 controversial things. We see in the Bible. 411 00:20:48,500 --> 00:20:51,400 Lots of messages have been pumped out about that and it's 412 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,600 just a question. I'm asking, I'm asking it to my 413 00:20:53,600 --> 00:20:56,900 cell to have. We lost our way a bit. 414 00:20:57,200 --> 00:21:01,100 Have we lost our emphasis by keeping the main thing the main 415 00:21:01,100 --> 00:21:04,700 thing and that's Jesus. Stand him crucified, whether 416 00:21:04,700 --> 00:21:07,300 there's a man or woman, who's never heard the name Jesus 417 00:21:07,300 --> 00:21:08,900 before. All those someone who's been a 418 00:21:08,900 --> 00:21:12,800 Believer for 80 years, every single one of us needs to soak 419 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:16,000 up the gospel every single day because let's be honest. 420 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:17,800 That's what heaven's going to be about. 421 00:21:17,800 --> 00:21:19,400 It's not gonna be about false teachers. 422 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:22,000 It's not going to be about lectures and apologetics. 423 00:21:22,100 --> 00:21:26,500 It's going to be about this, wonderful fact that Jesus Christ 424 00:21:26,500 --> 00:21:29,600 died for me, and that's what we need to hear. 425 00:21:29,600 --> 00:21:33,700 So just a suggestion for myself and for perhaps You also make 426 00:21:33,700 --> 00:21:37,100 sure that your messages are consumed with Christ. 427 00:21:37,100 --> 00:21:41,000 Make sure you focus set aside videos every now and then 428 00:21:41,200 --> 00:21:44,200 they're just completely all about the Lord. 429 00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:47,200 Jesus Christ and him alone. And who knows what the holy 430 00:21:47,200 --> 00:21:50,200 spirit will. Do when the gospel gets out to 431 00:21:50,200 --> 00:21:51,900 all these people around the world. 432 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:55,200 I find that very exciting and I'm sure you do too. 433 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:57,800 One more thing before you go. Sometimes people aren't used to 434 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,100 me preaching harsh messages like this. 435 00:22:00,300 --> 00:22:03,300 Well, if you'd like to hear some of my hard message, Edges on 436 00:22:03,300 --> 00:22:06,000 lukewarm Christianity on false teachings. 437 00:22:06,300 --> 00:22:08,800 Please do click here. Perhaps you'll find some of them 438 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:10,600 helpful. And if you haven't yet, 439 00:22:10,600 --> 00:22:13,700 subscribe to this YouTube Ministry, please do consider 440 00:22:13,700 --> 00:22:15,900 subscribing. We'd really love your friendship 441 00:22:15,900 --> 00:22:17,600 here off the curb Ministries.