Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast
from St. Augustine, FL.
Now enjoy this message. So we're talking about the
Kingdom Code of Ethics principle, and by definition it
means this. This is the standard of conduct
established by the King for the behavior and social
relationships of his citizens. This is also the expectation of
the king regarding the values, moral standards the citizens
must adhere to. So think, do you think that the
mayor suffer the lamb that the Lord's going to save you?
Thought your electronic devices were cool?
Check this out. And that we're all going to be
at the mayor suffer the lamb playing video games or watching
movies right now. We're going to be tuned into the
king and we're going to have the best food ever and gain no
calories with it. It's going to be amazing, right?
But the standard of conduct is established by the king, say, by
the king, by the king. So what are ethics?
Ethics as a set of moral principles, the principles or
conduct of governing an individual or a group.
Now, this should not actually be a shock to us.
In fact, for us to even have this conversation from the
church's perspective, it should be expected.
It's amazing how you know, especially in the United States,
how so many times ministers and ministries have allowed
themselves to compromise the code of ethics supposedly for
the sake of winning the lost, right?
And so, you know, we reduce standards so that, you know,
we're not offensive. We reduce standards so that, you
know, everyone can feel comfortable, right?
And these particular. But you understand the world,
even in the devil's system, he doesn't do that.
And everyone is conditioned to a standard.
How do we know this? Do you go to work?
I mean, when you, you don't decide when you go to work.
I mean, unless you're self-employed.
And if you're self-employed, then most of the time your
clients are telling you when you're going to do something.
You know, it's always funny when I'm going to start my own
business. That's laughable because they
don't understand that is not you get 5 hours, that means you work
overtime and don't get OT. That's what that means, yeah.
I mean, when you start a business, I mean, you're putting
everything in the business. You're like, you're just hoping
you're going to get paid. Now.
You you may be getting things in the account, but you're like, on
a personal level, it's like, man, I'm putting everything into
this deal. I understand how that is, but
you know, obviously we, we think, you know, that if we own
it, that everyone's working for us and then we're just making
money. There are people who function in
that capacity and you can arrive to that capacity, but the
reality of self-employed people never do because they're not,
they're self-employed, they're not actually business owners and
there's a difference there or they're not investors.
That's a there's a difference there.
My point is, is that, you know, we have standards we associate
with all the time. If you go to Publix, there's a
standard you submit to the minute you go to Publix.
You said what do you mean? Well, you understand if you act
a certain way, they can get you off their property.
There are places that literally say this employees only.
That's called a standard. And the established conduct in
that facility is you must be an employee to have access to this
area. And people are shopping and are
submitting to that all the time without griping.
Do you go to work? They say you're going to be here
at this time, or if you got a project, it's due here.
If they tell you that, I mean, there's all kinds of stuff.
They tell you what your insurance is going to be.
You know, you agree based upon pay.
Or maybe you just need a job. You don't care how much it is.
And at the end of the day, you're there.
But these are standards. Then you have to go through HR.
And man, I was in the secular world.
There's all kind of hoops there, how you can talk to people.
And it's even worse today, right?
There's sexual harassment, there's all kind of harassment,
people complaining, all the those are all called standards
and the world complies with that.
So then we come to the church and we act like all because it's
free, right? And I couldn't do anything to
earn it. Then there's technically no
standard or expectation for me. But the Bible doesn't say that.
The Bible literally says there is a standard.
There is a code of ethics that should function within the
church. Amen.
And we should be different. So I'm going to hit a couple of
scriptures real fast just for the sake of repetition real
quick, only so that you can again see the connection that
there are behaviors, there's conduct, and there are social
relationships that are not allowable in His Kingdom.
All right, which means again, we've said this before, Jesus
said you cannot serve both God and wealth, right?
So for you to say I can do it, you're a liar because God says
you cannot. Now, if you serve God, you could
have wealth called wealth follows.
But if you serve wealth, God's not following.
You could say he's blessing you, but he's not in it because the
devil give you the whole world. I said the devil can give you
the whole world and there's many people say God bless me and
God's not actually in that at all, but I don't have time for
that. OK, that that means those who've
been trained in righteousness can discern when someone says,
oh, the Lord's blessed me. You're like, bro, your
lifestyle's in such a way. I don't even you, you have no
connection with God and you're going to like God's done this.
The only blessing you have is what blessing falls on the just
and the unjust. You may have that, but as far as
it being consistently ordered of the Lord, it's not the devil is
supplying your life to keep you away from thank God because
he'll supply you the world at the for for for 15 of your soul
right. So Ephesians chapter 5.
We saw this last week one through 8.
I'm just going to read it quick. Therefore be imitators of God as
beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ also loved
you and gave Himself up for you as an offering, as a sacrifice
to God, as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity
or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among
Saints. And there must be no filthiness
or silly talking, of course jesting, which is not fitting,
but rather giving a thanks for this it for this.
You know with certainty that no immoral, impure person or
covetous man who is an idolatry has any inheritance in the the
Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with
empty words. For because of these things, the
wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Therefore do not be partakers with them.
But you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the
Lord. Walk as children of the light.
So again Paul says, be an imitator of God.
You cannot act like the world, be you cannot be saved.
Act like the world and tell me you're imitating God because
Jesus did not come and imitate the world.
They did not imitate the world. He lived the Kingdom standard.
He was perfect, blameless. You said, well, I can't be
perfect. Well, you've been made righteous
and you've been made perfect. And if you yield, you can live
more perfected than you think. Now, if you mess up, you have an
advocate, you can get quick forgiveness, you understand, but
your lifestyle is not a practicer of wrong behavior,
although periodically or on some occasions and most of the time
when the occasion occurs, you actually know why it happens.
Any time that I have a failure in conduct, I know why because
I've not guarded myself leading up to it.
I have not had a failure in 20 years that I don't know it's
coming if I don't do something. And if it came, it was my fault
because I knew it was coming because I was feeling my flesh
come alive and I wasn't doing what I was empowered to do to
crucify it so it wouldn't get to that place.
Then when it got to that place and I was in it and I was hating
every minute of being in it, then the Holy Ghost was like,
what are you doing? Because he sure wasn't saved.
Well, I mean, you can't help it, son.
You're just a sorry Sinner. Saved by grace, bro.
The Holy Ghost never told me that on the now.
He wasn't audible, but it was loud in my spirit.
What are you doing? What are you talking?
Like, why are you behaving like this?
And I would get in private conversations with him.
Well, you know, boom, boom, boom, boom.
And I would give a list to justify my response.
And they were all fleshly, and the world would have agreed with
me and championed my cause. But the Holy Ghost says, well,
son, you've been delivered from that.
You're really without excuse. Then he would say, you know what
you got to do. Now you know what you have to
do. Now you know what you must do.
And I know what that answer was. I must ask for forgiveness.
I must go to the one that I've done wrong.
I must ask them to forgive me. I must because that's the
conduct of a citizen in the Kingdom.
It's the standard of the king and he died so that I can live
that and it's not optional for me.
Not that's the standard. When you blow it, you've got to
fix it. I can't just sweeping out of the
rug walk into the room and that like nothing happened.
Can't do it. That's not how it works.
Y'all hearing me? All right, Galatians 519 and 21,
we saw this and we'll read out the passion translation.
That said, the cravings of the self life are obvious.
Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing
after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of
those who get get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment
when others have favored or favored, temper tantrums, angry
quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with
your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others,
murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties and all other
similar behaviors. Haven't I already warned you
that those who use their quote UN quote freedom for these
things will not inherit the Kingdom realm of God?
So these are outside the code of ethics.
And in both of these passes of Scripture, and there was a third
one I gave you out of First Corinthians chapter 6 that
communicated there are specific standards and conducts that are
not in the Kingdom. So you cannot be born again,
bring that kind of behavior in and say God's OK with it.
That is a false. That's false.
And any church or minister or ministry that says God is OK
with any of those actions within his Kingdom is lying.
It is not true. Now, if you happen to fall in,
and when I say fall, you understand, it's really by
choice, OK? Because we really don't fall
into these things. We surround ourselves in
situations or we don't, you know, keep ourselves guarded so
that it becomes, we become prey to it, meaning we we easily
accept or, or set ourselves back into that position.
OK, Because again, it is irresponsible for me to say, you
know what, you just can't help it.
That's not true. You can't help it.
You can help it. You can help it so you stop it,
but you can also help it when you're in it so that you can get
back out. Because again, a righteous man
may fall seven times, but but he gets up.
Now, does he get up in unrighteousness?
No, he gets back up in righteousness 'cause he repents,
he asks for forgiveness, and he goes back to the behavior
befitting the Kingdom. Amen.
Now the world cannot do our behavior because they're not of
the nature of God. So again, as I said last week,
someone could come in here and be participating in behavior
that we've listed in these passages of Scripture.
And is it wrong? Yes.
But again, to tell them you can't do that without them being
changed in their spirit. It's impossible.
Now, it doesn't mean we can't say, hey, that's that.
That doesn't function in the Kingdom of God.
Now, that man, I just can't help it.
You. You should say.
I know. See what we do a lot of times as
believers, we try to change the person before they have the
spirit in them and their spirits change to be changed.
Well, you got to quit doing that.
What you need to say. Well, I understand you're doing
it. You can't help it.
You're right. You're stuck.
Yeah, but you can get out. How?
You must be born again. I mean, go ahead and admit to
them. I mean, it's not right.
I get it. But we're we can't say you're
going to have to quit sleeping around.
I mean, if they're lost, they're going to sleep around.
You're going to say you can't help but sleep around, can you?
I mean, go ahead and just just be honest.
That's how they function. You say, do you want to get out
of that? Because you can.
Christ is made away because that behavior doesn't come in the
Kingdom. And you can get out, but you're
in it. And we understand that.
And there's no reason for me to tell you to change because you
can't change that. But Christ can change it if
you'll give your life to Him. And then at that point when they
come into the Kingdom now it's a totally different expectation.
And I'm amazed of how clear the Bible is.
But, and I know why it does and I'm going to tell you why, but
it's amazing, as clear as the Bible is, is that pastors and
congregation members of the Church of Jesus Christ that
knows he died on the cross. I pointed this because it's this
here, but it's not a cross. But you understand who died on
the cross for their sins because they were in a in a condition
that does not give them the Kingdom, they're not allowed in.
They are only going to be thrown into the lake of fire, which is
the second death. But when they accept Christ as
Lord, they become a new creature.
In Christ, the old passes away. That person that was outside
before the cross never makes it in the Kingdom.
A new spirit gets on the inside. The Holy Ghost bears witness.
And in essence when we shut the door to the world, he is saying
none of that is allowed in here. But yet we preach like it all
gets to come over and we can live it this way because we
weren't good enough to get out then we're really not good
enough if it wasn't forgotten. And we're going to live the same
thing basically here. But God knows we asked him to
come into our heart and the church really don't look
different than the world. We just say we ask Jesus to save
us and it's not his scripture. Now why would we keep this
position? Because we want our carnality.
We want the world and all of its pleasures, but we don't want to
go to hell. And that's not lordship because
you have to abandon that. And the Kingdom is extremely
clear because again, you have no excuse.
God's like I took the nature out of you that was stuck there.
I gave you a new nature that is not stuck there, is not
connected to there. And if you allow that nature to
develop by my spirit called the Holy Ghost that I put in you, He
will renew your mind and your whole behavior will manifest
differently. You have to see yourself free
from that right. That's why Romans 8 says we've
been free from the law of sin and death.
We are in a new law called the law of the Spirit of life in
Christ Jesus. Hallelujah, Amen.
So we've been made righteous in our spirit in right standing
with God. But we have to renew our minds
so that the righteousness that we are in the Spirit can
manifest in the world. We are never to live like the
world with a righteous spirit, ever.
That's not the context. And the Lord the Holy Spirit
knows. I mean, again, when you go to
school, there's a lot of subjects, right?
There's math, there's English, you know, there's history,
there's science. Maybe those are all different
subjects. All of them contain words, some
have numbers. But the reality is there's
concepts there. Some of us were better in
subjects than others, but at the end of the day, we are to learn
them so that we can improve and function in society and so on
and so forth. Right?
OK, well, the same things in the Kingdom.
So again, if you know nothing about calculus, I'm not talking
to you about calculus. We got to go back to the
beginning. We're going to do basic
arithmetic, but basic, basic arithmetic is the foundation
that will allow us to build each stage until we get to, you know,
deeper layers of mathematics. Same thing with English, you
know, English, they just get you phonics.
So you can even say a word, you know, you can pronounce a word.
And then they get into sentence structures.
I mean, that's next level stuff. I mean, I'm getting into this
stuff right now, got my own personal tutor and it's like
next level stuff. And then you, when you see it on
paper, that's one thing. It's another thing when you're
speaking like I'm doing right now and I'm having to be
conscious of whether or not I'm saying what should be written
correctly. Are you hearing me?
But through repetition and practice and study, I can
transform my mind never to do another double negative
sentence. Hallelujah.
And for all you English people, you say Amen.
For all you non-english people, you're like, what's he talking
about? I understand to you, you won't
know. But to those who know, they
don't know that boy don't know what he talking about.
I don't want to be in that room with those who will know.
Why? Because I'll be a better pastor
in five years. I'm going to have better
influence. You know, if I'm going to be
before people in government, I need to be able to speak and
have a better orator skills, right?
We should develop ourselves entirely.
And honestly, English was work. My point though, is, is that I
can't bring my baby gibberish. I mean, because if I talk to you
like I did when I first came out, well, not when I first came
out of the womb, but I wasn't talking.
But you know, once I started. To communicate with vocal cords,
you understand? You want me to tell you what my
preaching would sound like, right?
Because when you're a child and you want something, and as a
pastor, I want you to grow up spiritually.
So this is what my sermons would sound like.
So what does it sound like?
Because I'm going to scream until you get it, because that's
what babies do, right? They scream until they're
satisfied. And a lot of y'all ain't
satisfied me yet. So we'd be screaming forever.
Be like, what can we do to satisfy pastor?
Renew your mind. Right, Right.
All right. I'm glad that sunk in.
Amen. So Paul, again, when it comes to
the code of ethics in First Corinthians 5, we saw last week
that he mentions a particular behavior that was happening in
the Corinthian church that he says didn't even happen in the
world. And he was so put out about it
to the point that he says in 2nd 1st Corinthians 511 to 13, he
said, but actually I wrote to you not to associate with any
so-called brother if he is an immoral person or covetous or
idolatry or reviler or a drunkard or a swindler, not even
to eat with such a one. For what do I have to do with
judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are
in the church? Now again, in the church, when
someone says don't judge me, that's not scriptural.
Now, again, I'm not judging you to determine whether you're
going to be in the lake of fire or not.
That's not my judgement. My judgement is based upon your
behavior, the code of conduct, the fruit you are to display.
And if you are, if you are acting and behaving like an
unbeliever, I have every right in the church to say what are
you doing with the expectation you need to change?
And the reason I would say it is because you can and your spirit
man already will is is different.
You've just gone backwards with your mindset.
That's why Roman says whoever sets his mind on the flesh
fulfils the desires of the flesh and the flesh produce what?
Death. But those who set their mind on
the Spirit, well, we have our minds set on the Spirit 'cause
we are alive to the Spirit, but we have to set our minds there.
Paul and another one of his epistles, when he's talking
about being born again, he says put on the new man with that,
which is a really interesting statement, 'cause if you're born
of God, you don't put that on. God made you a new creature in
Christ. But when he says put on the new
man, what's he talking in reference?
He's saying you've got to put that on in your mind.
You have to remind yourself you're not the person who used
to be dead and separated from God.
You're not a a lie. You're you're not held bondage
to that kind of behavior and thinking you're not bound to it
was in my family. Well, that's not in the Jesus
family. You're in a new family.
You're in the wrong tree, people.
So every time you use excuses like symptoms in your body and
sickness or behaviors, temper tantrums or you're impatient,
well, you know, my Mama was impatient.
Who cares? You're not your Mama.
You're actually your own person. And who's your daddy?
Because that's what I want to know.
Who's your daddy? Because your daddy sits on a
throne and your daddy don't act like that.
And he's made you in his nature. So at the end of the day, the
church should have this conduct that is so awesome, like the
Kingdom, that when someone comes in that they realize, man, I
fill out a place and they should.
Nobody could come up out of hell and go stand before Jesus and
feel like that they fit in. In fact, we've seen it in
Scripture when the when the Lord, when the father came down
out of heaven came down on a mountain or what I mean the the
and his covenant. I mean, the ones he had already
like shed blood to cover and was his chill was his nation were
afraid of him couldn't even be in his presence and the audacity
that we think that we can behave any way we want to and we going
to just walk right up to the throne.
I mean, it's it's insanity. But again, we so many babes in
Christ have been been sold such a watered down version of Jesus
that all they know about him is that he died for their sins.
If they ask him to come in their heart when they die, they go to
heaven and that's all they know. So that's all they that's the
only way they know how to live. Now, when I say that it's not
like the Holy Ghost and say you need to go somewhere else that
you can teach you how to live because I've been that person.
Go where you can find somewhere to learn how to live because in
me, I'm like, there's got to be more than this.
I knew I was going to heaven. Now I knew based upon what I
knew because I've learned more since then.
But with that being said, I'm like, there's got to be more.
And then all of a sudden I get in places that knew more truth,
knew more behavior, conduct, character, how I could release
this person on the inside. And man, when I operated in
those truths by faith, it's changed my life.
This changed my life. It allows me to stand in front
of a person and let them slap me in the face and tell them to hit
me again. I've done that.
And when I did that, the person who slapped me the first time
ended up paying my year at Rhema the second year and then later
came to this church and got healed here.
This is amazing stuff. But again, if I lived according
to the flesh, we just would have hit, right?
I mean, I'm not going to be slapped by somebody in front of
everybody and being, you know, to be embarrassed.
I mean, if you're going to lose, go, at least go fighting, right?
I mean, that's typically the mentality.
But I had a greater one on the inside.
And I did more in that moment than someone slapping me in the
face. And it yielded more than I
expected. All right.
Are you hearing me? So again, the message says it
this way, He said it says. But I'm saying that you
shouldn't act as if everything is just fine when a friend who
claims to be a Christian is promiscuous or crooked, is
flipped with God, flipped with God, or rude to friends, get
drunk, gets drunk, or becomes greedy and predatory.
You can't just go along with this training it as acceptable
behavior. I'm not responsible for what the
outsiders do, but don't we have some responsibility for those
within our community of believers?
He says God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide
when our brothers and sisters are out of line and if
necessary, clean house. So again, it is a false
statement for the church to believe that someone has the
right to fellowship in a local body if they repeatedly will not
come out of knowingly wrong behavior of the Kingdom, that
they should have an unlimited supply of mercy.
That is mythical thinking. And honestly, through the 30
years I've been doing ministry, most Saints can't handle that,
can't handle it. And what's really sad, the
majority of the Saints don't have enough discernment to know
that brother is so jacked up. They should go.
And then when they do go, they go try to run them down.
Or like, why you trying to run down somebody we got rid of?
Oh, y'all don't want to hear this because I, I'm, I got a
message, I got revelation, I got a message the day Jesus was
silent. It blow your mind.
He didn't even talk, offered no salvation, none.
And we think everybody at every time, at any time, it's because
we're untrained. We're so untrained.
No, the church wouldn't be in the position it's in the United
States if we were wiser as a church body and say, what are
you doing acting like that? When you have Kingdom peer
pressure, then fleshly people are either going to get right in
the Kingdom that they already can.
You're with no excuse. You're born of the Spirit now.
Or take your fleshly cell phone down the road 'cause you're
choosing. Well, they, they weren't nice,
but no, you wouldn't repent. I mean, really, that's the key.
Well, they're not a friendly church.
No, you're an unrepented person. That's what that looks like.
Say Amen anyway. All right, which brings me to
Proverbs chapter 6, new verse for today.
You ready? Proverbs 616 to 19.
It says there are six things which the Lord.
What's that word? Come on, say that word.
Come on, say that word again. Who?
Who hates? Who hates?
Who's hating? Oh, but God is love.
Love can hate and be righteous. See, it's amazing how much we
allow the world to dictate how we interpret Scripture.
There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which it
which are an abomination to him. So when we get to the 7th 1:00,
we, we going beyond hate, we getting into abomination.
All right, let's go on #1 haughty eyes #2A lying tongue.
Did you lie to me? I might as well just look at you
and say, well, God sure hates this conversation because you
just lied to me and hands that shed innocent blood.
Now that one's like no brainer, right?
Verse 18, a heart that devises wicked plans.
The problem with that is, is that they're typically extremely
nice people. They're cunning feet that run
rapidly to evil. So that's 12345.
Here's number six, a false witness who utters lies.
Now this is someone who's coming in, knows it isn't true, but are
trying to slander someone else. And then here we go.
You ready for the abomination? The one that's worse than hate
and one who spreads strife among brothers.
Now God hates these first six and typically these are easy to
see outside of the community of the church.
But when inside his community someone starts spreading strife,
Daddy is not well with that child.
And all day long you can say the Lord loves you and he does,
because love has met every condition to keep you out of
being a strife maker. So when you're creating strife,
strife among the brothers, the love is saying you better repent
and get out of that and get over here back under the blood, cause
love did that for you. But if you continue this course,
you're going to have the consequence of that course,
'cause my word does what my word does to those who create strife.
Are you hearing me now? One of the easiest strife ones
is this. It happens in the church and,
and, and listen, the reason why this is easy, because it's the
Satan's number one tactic. You have to understand it's this
tactic. Who sits on the throne in
heaven? Who sits on the throne in
heaven? God the Father.
Does he sit on the throne in heaven?
Is he supreme authority? Who's at his right hand?
Jesus. And who has Jesus deployed to
the earth? The Holy Spirit, three in one.
But even in the Godhead, Jesus said, I only do what the Father
says. The Holy Spirit only tells us
what Jesus does. So the Holy Spirit is
representing Jesus. Jesus is representing the
Father. The Father is all authority,
power, love, justice. OK, somebody and his creation
says I want his throne now. It wasn't Jesus, it wasn't the
Holy Ghost. We know it was an anointed
cherub. We call him Satan today.
So you understand, how does Satan convince 1/3 of the
angels? He goes by and says, I'm not
really sure about what the Father's doing.
So he starts to create strife among the angelic beings of the
character of God. This is why the pastor is always
the one targeted because he is the under shepherd of the Great
Shepherd. You understand, I'm not the head
of this church. His name's Jesus.
And let me just go ahead and let you know so you will know when
you do talk about me among the brethren in ways that are not
positive. Jesus is listening because when
they talked about Moses, Moses said you better get out the way
son, because I am going to smoke Miriam and Aaron because I have
heard them talk about you. And Moses had to say don't do it
Lord. He said let me tell you
something, the way your sister has talked about you, I'm going
to do something. So she going to have leprosy for
seven days. Well, she don't talk about you
like that and and everybody in this congregation is going to
know that. But see, we live in the age of
mercy and grace of which these actions don't happen that fast,
but we act like God all of a sudden developed.
He's hearing impaired. But you understand, God can
interpret everything, I'm just telling you.
But then we do it to each other, so and so, and we talk about why
do we do this? This is not behavior fitting of
the Kingdom of God, period, period.
Now you say, well, am I talking about someone?
If they've done something wrong, what you need to do is if
someone's gone wrong, you go to them in private and you try to
get them to change their behavior because at the end of
the day, the Kingdom don't function like this.
But if they do not repent and you know of a couple people that
have seen that action, you try to say, hey, come on, let's
change. But at that point, even in those
places, they have a shepherd or a pastor that you say pastor so
and so. I talked to them about this.
Notice it, I mentioned it because you know what?
The body can do that. But at the end of the day, it's
good for me to know because if they come to me and start
running you down and I'm unaware, then I'm coming to you
to try to find out what's going on, right?
At the end of the day, we can reconcile because that if they
don't want to repent, then it's going to come to me anyway.
And at that point, we're trying to do what we need to do to get
behavior, the code of ethics of the Kingdom of God, to function
within the church because God expects it.
And again, this is not hard. So you have to strip that from
your mind. This is not hard.
This is actually easy for you because you are already born in
Christ. You've been made righteous.
You have the power to crucify the flesh that you have it.
So when here it comes, I mean, at least be like David, because
when Nathan says you are that man, he repented, right?
But why do we want to save our face?
That's the problem. You want to save your life,
you're going to lose it. We think that's only applicable,
you know, in salvation. I mean, I've seen many believers
lose their life because they wanted to save their life, you
know, not make it look like they were doing that.
You're doing it. Just repent, man.
What's the problem? We'll get reconciled and we'll
Alec, it never happened. This is what we're already
positioned or all of us are actually positioned to do that.
The minute a person repents, we forgive them.
Hallelujah. So you know, how do you know
something's going on in the camp?
Well, how are they talking? Amen.
How are they talking? How are they talking about
people? I mean, if all they're doing is
complaining and whining and, and, and talking about this
person talking about that, you get around someone's talking
about different layers of leadership, you should be like,
bro, something ain't right here. So at the end of the day, if
someone came to you and say, you know, I think pastor, you should
say, let's go talk to him. I mean, how hard is that?
But ten times out of 10, you know what they're going to say.
No, no, I mean, no, I'm not going to deal.
I'll just let the Lord deal with it.
No, we going to deal with it because apparently you were bold
enough to say something to me about it.
So let's go deal now. You're not so bold.
I mean, do you fit the lying tongue now?
Now again, outsiders, what do you expect?
They come in here. All that guy, I mean plenty of
come through. He just wants your money.
We don't even talk about money. I mean whatever I mean, because
they have their own hang up. You know, I'm not going to run
you down and try to fix you because you need to be changed
spiritually. You're not going to change.
And I understand that. And you know what, you don't
offend me. You're no issue.
I understand you're helpless and we can actually help you should
you choose to want to be helped. Because we were like you.
We were dead in our trespasses and sin.
We thought we were right, but God, Amen.
But now, now that we're in again, Coach Shirley can tell
you, I don't care where those boys played baseball before.
There is a code of ethics, a conduct behavior that's going to
happen on that team. And if they violate it, I don't
care how good you are. You're out, right?
And you know what, they'll do it for baseball.
How much more to the one who died for us and then actually
he's empowered us to be the elite athlete again.
We actually are all starters. How about that?
I mean, now God doesn't do participation trophies.
I just want you all know that He doesn't do that.
You actually have to play the game called faith.
You got to get out there and do something.
Can't be riding the pond and say I'm part of the team.
No, you got to get engaged. You got to be at practice.
You got to work this thing, but we know whether you work in it
or not. That's why Paul said if a man
don't need a man to work. I saw some of y'all, y'all
busybodies out there, y'all ain't doing Jack right.
If a man does not work, if a man does not, If a man does not,
it's not. If a man don't, that is
incorrect. If a man does not work, so quit
saying don't. It's doesn't and some of you
said I didn't realize it 'cause you're from the South.
This is the problem. We're fixing this, we're fixing
it now. There's nothing negative on the
South other than when you're Grammarly wrong.
We're not ignorant people. OK, Hallelujah.
So if a man does not eat work, then let him starve.
Hallelujah. OK, Thank you.
Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4.
Amen. Hallelujah.
I may need to bring some of my youth pastor back around here to
help y'all out. Ephesians 422 to 27.
Then we'll jump down to 29. It says again that in reference
to your former manner of life, you understand we have a former
manner. This is what I love about David
Mackey, especially, you know, when he had just, you know, come
to the church, his whole life's being changed.
And again, behavior, code of conduct, everything's different.
Quit drinking, alcoholic forever, her whole life.
I mean, I'm talking about hidden stuff everywhere.
Cold Turkey, but he's cold Turkey because he kept
scriptures in his ear. Temptation came, but the
scripture kept running in his mind thinking because he knew
inside I have the power to do this and then he had this kind
of tenacity that you know what, if I could live that's good as a
Sinner, Surely I can live even better as a believer because the
greater ones on the inside of me.
So when I was talking, he said. Now the old man, I always loved
that because he always kept a kept an arm's distance from.
The old man and. When the thought came of how to
handle said, he said now the old man, which is telling.
Me I. Had this thought that the old
man would have jumped on, but I'm a I'm a new man, right?
So in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside
the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the
lusts of deceit that you be renewed in the spirit of your
mind and put on the new self, which is what in the likeness of
God has been created in righteousness and holiness of
the truth. Therefore, laying aside
falsehood, speak truth, each one of you with his neighbor, for we
are members of one and mother. Be angry and do not sandwich
tells us angry. Any angry emotion can happen
righteously. So do not think because you're
born again. You're like the Jesuses that we
see on most of the films where he never raises his voice.
The Lord. Has anger now the Bible tells us
the Father has an area in him that has anger because it says
he's storing up wrath for the sons of disobedience so.
Here he is. Forgiving.
He he, he's done everything for us to come in.
He's trying to draw you in. He's to taking care of every
condition on the man so that you can accept Jesus.
Yet he's also got a burner of anger waiting to be poured out
on those who will not accept Jesus as Lord.
That's happening, and He's righteous in doing so.
So be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down in
your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Now, in this first year, I took this to an extreme when my wife
and I were young in our marriage because we had a conflict.
We're not going to bed. It was not going to happen.
And again, I took this to an extreme, OK?
But you know, I just took it a little too literal.
And if we had some challenges, you know, when we first got
married, because we're growing and developing, she had a lot of
baggage. I have my own set of baggage.
We're merging. You know, we're trying to do it
right. And I know what God says.
She knows what God says. She wants to handle it one way.
I want to handle it another way. And I would use the scripture
and man at night brought it. I would turn lights on.
I would snap sheets off. We are not going to get go to
bed till this thing's done. And she was.
Patient with me. Long-suffering.
I'm serious, 'cause that's. You know, at some point she.
Realized God love him, it's really not a big deal to me.
We can go to bed and we can finish this in the morning, but
he's got to hang up and for his sake, let's resolve this deal,
right? And honestly, she would just
resolve me now. I don't know that she was always
resolved. She would figure that out or we
talk about a little bit later and it's like, wow, I guess we
could have talked about this in the morning.
I figured it out later on, you know.
Now there are occasions that if it's certain thing you need to
talk because if you lay in the bed, he'll pound you all night
long and then you'll wake up the next day and you'll even be more
angry and be like don't even touch or don't even look at me,
OK. And I know I'm prophesying now
because some of y'all been in this case before where you're
like don't even talk to me. I mean, you're so put out now
because you've let it Stew, because when you go to sleep,
you're not sleeping now. So you.
Understand in those comments like.
It's better for us to get some reconciliation resolution here
and again, how fast, as quick as you can kill your flesh.
I mean, it's really not doesn't take long.
You got get over yourself. How?
Fast did it? Get over yourself.
The other one gets over themselves.
Admit our owns, forgive and go. Let me tell you how fast that
is. 15 seconds. This is ain't all not fair
people. This can be 15 seconds, 'cause
that's about how long it takes for me to tell you I did wrong
in five seconds. She says she what her wrong was
if there was wrong, if there was not a wrong, we're just
whoever's admitting. And then I forgive and then you
kiss. And then sometimes it goes
beyond that because you know what?
That's what people that are married can do.
Just say Amen anyway. I mean, you should say yeah.
Now don't go home and pick a fight just so you can go
somewhere tonight, Skip. That part just say let's go.
Somewhere, all right, Verse 29. Verse 29.
Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a
word as is good for edification according to the need of the
moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
This is very important because again, we are family.
We're not perfect people and the reality is some of us are
actually doing a lot better than people are saying we are.
I'm just going to say that. Because again, when people talk
behind the back and you're a person who listens to the
conversation behind the back without actually going to the
source and whoever that source is, I may be that source, it may
be somebody else's, the source. Well, you're violating.
Stuff like this, because if someone is not having wholesome
words and edification and and building up, and I mean again,
if someone's not excited about the church they've been planted
in, it's really time to leave. Because God is not trying to.
Keep you somewhere to be a nag and it's.
Not your assignment by. God to nag they are to point out
everything wrong is to. Have peace, love.
Love the people around you, recognize that some people make
mistakes, but by God I have. And you know what?
I can forgive them really quick. You know, and somebody's like,
man, I think. Well, you know, if they did,
let's pray for them. I mean, most people don't even
engage in it. Let's pray for them.
What happened? What'd you hear?
That's not the code of conduct of the church.
And if you're hearing this, you got to cut that stuff off.
You have to be wise enough to say wait a minute.
You're. This is like.
We're like, you know, trying to have reality church.
I mean, people are talking about church like it's a TV reality
show and it's actually not reality.
Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. By whom you were sealed for the
day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and
anger and clamor and slander be put away from among you, along
with all malice. Be kind to one another.
Be what? Be kind to one another.
You know, sometimes people come up to me and say, Pastor Earl, I
hadn't seen so and so. Well, I pray for him.
I mean, what do you want me to say?
Because you know what? I know a lot.
About things, but I don't talk about it and I'm sure not going
to talk bad about them, but. I don't can't say they don't do
the. Opposite.
I mean that should. Be like easy.
For you to discern if someone is willing to talk bad about
someone but the person you go to, they won't talk bad.
It should be a clear indicator which one's off should be easy
at that point the discern or even if the if the person's not
admitting it at the time and someone is correct, if the
person not willing to pray for them so that they can change.
If that person who's complaining won't pray for the one they're
complaining about, this is a clear indication that is
violating. The code of.
Ethics. Clear indication of doing this,
right? I mean, really, why do we have
this mythical thinking that everyone's going to stay in the
church at every state that came in?
Jesus doesn't even guarantee this.
I mean, does. It grieve.
Sure. That's why I said don't grieve
the Holy Spirit. You know the Holy Spirit's
grieved when a believer doesn't do it right and then hardens
themselves from doing it right. All because they want to save.
Face. Come on most of y'all.
Know that I mean I could pull people up here on the platform
say let's just go ahead and tell everybody about your life what
I. Know.
About you that you've told me. And most people just like, don't
want. To do that invitation, yet
somebody can go around and say something and then no one even
asked me the question. That's violating the code of.
Ethics. And as a church, we shouldn't
put up with. That kind of behavior we should
be. Resistant to.
Individuals that would want they're not with us if that's
how they're going to respond. Does it grieve us?
Yes. But again, in the case of of of
Pastor Darrell, he had a situation with a particular
staff and the Lord said get rid of them.
The Lord told him to do this. He's the head of the church.
But when the person was confronted by the pastor, which
was Pastor Darrell, he cried crocodile tears, said that he
was sorry, basically Esauld Pastor Darrell in the office, he
said, OK, I'll restore you. Why?
Because it is the natural desire to want to see people get it
right. But the Lord already told him,
and God is not a man, that he shall lie six months.
Later. A worse thing happened with this
individual pastor at that. Point was.
Upset because he now you know here, I know you were wrong.
You admitted it. I said I would restore you and
then you're going to do this. You're out.
Then they ran him down all over town, ran him down through the
car, and 200 of his members left the church.
Now, Pastor Daryl was pretty. Upset about that at that point
and then more left because, you know, pastors like trying to
because people are talking and he's trying to say it in a way
without saying it in a way. And people got offended by that
and more left and he's so then he went to Lord.
He's crying. He's like, Lord, what?
I didn't do the sin. Why is this happening?
And the Lord said these words to him.
He said, son, I told you to find him the first time.
What made you think you could do something for him that I
couldn't? But you know what?
There's so many people in. Churches thinks that everyone
can get it right, but not everyone's going to get it
right. And for the righteous, if it
grieves them, it breaks your heart.
But for the sake of. The good of the flock it's time
to go. It's time to go.
I'll say Amen anyway. OK verse 32.
We got to be kind to one another right tender hearted forgiving
each other just as Christ as also forgive you.
Let's read out the the the passion real quick says and
never let ugly or hateful words come to your mouth.
See these are things that violate the code of conduct.
But instead let your words become beautiful gifts that
encourage others. Do this by speaking words of
grace to help other help them. The Holy Spirit of God has
sealed you in Jesus Christ until you experience your full
salvation. So never grieve the Spirit of
God or take for granted His holy influence in your life.
Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity and
insults, but instead be kind and affectionate towards one
another. Has God graciously forgiven you?
Then graciously forgive one another.
The depths I've cried. I know pastor and I have some
common relationships with people.
And so, you know, obviously he is a pastor, a father of faith.
And so, you know, based upon sometimes he'll get engaged in
some conversation with people that I know.
So I'm aware of a situation and then all of a sudden he becomes
aware of a situation and then we talk about that particular
situation. And you know, and I've heard him
say to people, he says, well look, just go on, just forgive.
Just let. It go you're.
Somewhere else now. And it's amazing when people
can't. Let it go.
Won't let it go. Like.
It's their duty. To inform now.
You understand the minute that happens it.
Becomes your duty to inform the whole Church of something that
you're not the. Pastor of.
That is breaking code of ethics. Now again, you're saying, well,
you sure? You know that makes it look like
we put too much faith in the pastor.
You don't put no faith in me. I didn't die for you.
But there is a rank and structure.
You put your faith in God. You know what?
God is not mocked. There's not going to be a Have
you not seen recently some well known ministers that are not in
pulpits today? Why?
'Cause your. Sin will surely find you out.
Do you think I am immune to that?
No it. Scares me to death.
That would scare me to death, the fear.
Of God, that scares me so much that there would be no, no, not
going to do it, Not going to do it.
That's God scares me, man. I do not want to be in the hands
of an angry God. I'm not going to do that.
I have no pride, nothing. Let's just reconcile.
Let's just get it fixed because there is nothing you've done
other than blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.
And we wouldn't be having this conversation anyway.
There's really nothing going on, nothing you can say to me,
nothing that could have done, nothing that could have
happened, that we can't reconcile this thing, get it
fixed. It's always been my attitude.
It is my attitude. It should always be your
attitude. And if someone doesn't keep that
attitude, then there's a problem with that individual.
They're breaking the code of ethics, right?
Again, years ago, in the beginning, you know, there was
some individuals that were here, you know, had some challenges
personally in their own lives. We reconciled that.
But then all then ended up having challenges with the
church in general and left and did not leave.
Great. But all you can do is go on
because again, I don't have to defend myself.
That's not. My assignment.
The Bible. Says vengeance is mine.
Thus saith the Lord, I will, and again I can help that process by
praying for them, by even blessing them.
Right. And as a.
Result of that all. That does is allow God to do
what he does. Years later I get a call.
Repentance. Years later.
Relationships restored, the spouse contacted people that
were here during that time and asked for forgiveness about some
scenarios that the people didn't even realize that they had that
position and were quick to forgive.
Because they were having some challenges.
And they started examining their heart and like, wow.
So they repented too. It took.
Some time, but you. Know how quick it was us for us
to do this? We were years ago already.
In this position, just waiting for them to come home to have
that now. They don't.
They're not. Here, but it's restored, so
there's. Nothing.
Anything that's going. On that can't get restored in
any of our lives because the code of ethics in the Kingdom of
God is forgiveness, loving, right, patient, being kind to
one another. Amen period.
And anything else is unacceptable behavior in the
Kingdom of God. Romans chapter. 12.
Last passage of Scripture and we'll be done.
Romans 12 starting verse nine. It says let love be without
hypocrisy. Right.
Let love be. Without hypocrisy.
Now, what's that mean? That means you talk the word,
but you don't do the word because you know you can.
Get around a lot of Saints. That know the word.
But they don't do it. And again it's.
Unavoidable that the fruit of their lives don't manifest.
It's unavoidable. I have been in.
Ministry long enough and I've been around, and some of you've
been here long enough too that you can look out at some that
had been here before and their lives are in complete shambles
today because of a conscious choice to get against.
Jesus and be actively attending a.
Different church, but still life is falling apart because they
did not reconcile. You cannot leave the.
Church one church, go to another church and expect you to be
fruitful without having reconciliation if there was an
issue. Can't do it.
I don't know why it's getting so quiet in here.
I mean, I just want, I mean. We're going to have what the
Bible says we'll have and that is a church without spot or
wrinkle, right. We're going to be people that
aren't coveting each other's stuff.
We're going to love each other. We going to be be champion each
other. We're going to like you're so
awesome. You're amazing.
I mean what Bridget awesome tonight wasn't Laura awesome
tonight wasn't Eloise did awesome tonight?
You know, I mean, because, you know, obviously Marcus is going
to be, you know, has come out of this position and it's going to
be travelling. And so, you know, but look what
we're doing. We're champion the next day.
We don't sit. Back and.
Whine and complain and cry and we champion each other.
We champion what he's doing. We champion what we're doing.
We're champion the 'cause we love each other.
We, we're, we're passionate about the work of the Lord.
We're passionate about doing the things we're supposed to do.
So we abhor what's evil. We cling to what is good, be
devoted to one another and brotherly, love giving
preference to one another and honor, not lagging behind in
diligence fervent. In spirit serving.
The Lord rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation,
devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the Saints,
practicing hospitality. We bless.
Those who? Persecute us.
We bless them. We bless and do not.
Curse. Rejoice with those who.
Rejoice. Weep with those who weep.
Be of the same mind towards one another.
Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.
Do not be wise in your own estimation.
Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
This is why it's easy in the. Code of conduct to understand if
a person is out is if if a person has genuinely been wrong
and they want to get back. They're wrong if you've seen
them done. Wrong.
I mean literally seen, not conversation.
Literally. You're like, man, I can't
believe they did that. Do you it that your Kodak should
say You know what, I forgive them and at.
The end of the day, I'll, I, I can.
Deal with that. I'll talk with them.
This is none of your business. You don't have to be.
Let's pray for them. You know how many people are
offended by somebody else's offense and.
It didn't even happen to them. Right.
Because again, what are we doing?
We're taking societal issues. Who is the one being victimized?
I'm going to champion for them. But you've never been
victimized. Yeah, but I'm standing for them
because who's going to stand in for the rights of them?
And then the church, we do this. We look for the one that got
hurt, then we want to. Champion, but half the time.
We don't even know if the hurts real.
And then if it is real, we want to kind of.
Keep it and keep talking to them like they're still hurt.
You know, this is what I hate about alcoholic is anonymous.
I'm an alcoholic. Well, are you delivered?
Have you been set free? Because you don't have to be an
alcoholic, you know, But they keep.
Them in remembrance. Because again, if you don't
remember that, you were. Now again, I know what I was
without Christ. I understand that.
But I don't dwell in that. I'm too.
Focused on who I am. Now in Christ.
And when I focus on those. I'm not thinking about sin.
I mean, drinking is not even a thought in my mind.
One word comes to my mind when. It comes to alcohol.
Flee. That's what comes to my mind.
Flee. Flee.
I'm not doing it.
I got to keep my mind sober. Are you hearing me?
Respect. What?
Is right in the side. Of all men, if possible.
And here's the key, verse 18. We close with this one if
possible, which means it's not always possible.
So if possible so. Far as it depends on and.
This is. How we all ought to live.
If possible, as far as it depends.
On you be at peace with all men. And there are many
relationships. In my 54 years, OK, I don't
remember the first five years of those relationships.
But beyond that, in those. Relationships OK after I came
into Christ which was 21 I was born again at 9:00 but I didn't
live for Jesus. Now there have been some
relationships that I had between 9 and 21 that were I was not
good person. And I look for I, I.
Always ask if I can have the opportunity.
Let me ask them to forgive me. Allow me to be able to have a.
Conversation I remember one I talked to a a girl in high
school that I knew we were over at the 312 location and called
me had a challenge where their brother knew I was in ministry
now which obviously they were shocked and but we.
Talked and in my. Conversation.
I said. I'm not going to say her name,
but I said, hey, I just want you to forgive me because I wasn't a
good guy in high school. And her words was like.
Earl Sure you were, man. You were awesome, I said.
No, I was not. I was.
Not, I mean, honestly, it was awkward.
She didn't. Know how to forgive me?
But the reality was. When I look at my standard Dang.
She had a nickname for me which were.
Letters, I will never tell you what they were.
Yeah, right there was. Actions was another.
Particular individual I. Would love to be able to have a
face to face and say I am sorry, forgive me I think.
They're with the Lord, I think not.
With the Lord like gone, but I think they're, you know, have a
relationship with God. I don't follow them.
So, you know, I don't run my friends down.
They're not friends anyway. They're acquaintances because if
they really want to have a relationship with me, they all
know where I'm at. They can come see me.
But that the point is, is, you know, those things weigh heavy
on me in the context that it's not right.
And if there's an opportunity, I want to get that right because
if possible. As long as it depends on me, I.
Want to get at peace? And it's easy to get at peace.
Why? Because the blood of Jesus
covers every wrongdoing, there's not an issue going down that God
has not taken care of. Period.
And I submit to that you. Have to submit to that and.
That's why this house will be a great.
House, because we submit, we live to the code of ethics.
Amen. When I was in the military, we
had the UCMJ Uniform Code of Military Justice.
We had to submit to that code. Well, I'm in a Kingdom bigger
than that now. And here's a great thing.
He gave me the spirit that can do this code, and I want to
because it reflects the nature of my king.
Let's do it together. Amen.
Let's pray. Father, we love you, we honor
you. We thank you so much
the.