Humility

This is free. Okay sign it does not take away from my time for whoever's got to stopwatch. But that song comes from Revelation 4. I just want to but we listen to these songs before after John goes up into heaven. I looked and behold a door and the first verse which I Heard a Voice which I heard was like the sound of a trumpet speaking to me saying come up here and I will show you what must take place after these things immediately. I was in the spirit Behold a throne with standing in heaven and one sitting on the throne and he wouldn't who is sitting on a throne was like jasper stone and a sardius an appearance and it was a rainbow around the throne like an emerald appearance and around the throne there were twenty-four Thrones. And upon the 24 Elders sitting close in Golden crowns on their head. Out front of Thrones theme flashes of lightning and sounds and Pearls of thunder and there was seven lamps of fire burning Before the Throne which are on the 7th which are the seven spirits of God Before the Throne. There was some like a sea of glass like Crystal and in the center and around the living creatures full of eyes in front of and behind them. The first creature was like a line II creatures like a cast the third creature was a face like that of a man and the fourth creature was like a flying eagle and the four creatures which one of them having six wings. It was full of eyes rounded. Holy. Holy is the Lord God Almighty who was and who is who is to come? Send a living creatures gave glory and honor to him seeking him sitting around the throne who lives forever and ever the 24 Elders which fell down before him were sitting who was sitting on the throne and worshiped him. With who lives forever and ever and will cast their crowns before him staying in this is where the song is worthy. Are you our Lord Our God to receive glory and honor and power for you created all things and because of you we will exist forever and ever and ever.

That is exactly but that's exactly what we were talking about today. So I got to give you a little story about two months ago. Is there a series do you want me to speak on a topic? He's so I have until last week I had prepared for you. It was on Psalm 91 about the promises and Provisions of God protect you Evan Gary Cole Gary's not here. He's on vacation so I can tell you the story. We're all held in confidence. I am starting the series called Woodland a little early Woodlawn a little early.

High-minded, I'm serious. I mean, what do you say to your pastor? Say what I was thinking about saying my password what happens if I looked at the Westin?

you know the Lord leeches sometime we in the last month have just Garbage, I'm in the world is spinning out of control. All right verse that song that they just talked about when John and Revelations is taken up to heaven and sees the vision of what makes will ask her. These things are the things that we are going through right now again, this is not a good after these things are going around in the world today. The world is going out of control. So I started doing research for this. I just talked about the news that was happening today is nothing. 24-hours going really don't like to listen to here's the headline categorize. Let's first talk about the shooting Orlando shooting police officers that shot people. All right, we rush to judgment on that one happened in Baton Rouge one in Minnesota. If course from that we crazy guy who sits Tower in Dallas officers killed in doubt. So we get police shootings in Baton Rouge shootings in Munich, Germany. Our world spinning out of control. So let's take Isis very sensitive and not offend are the Muslims. All right. That's what we're told German train a shampoo. Somebody's walking on a train with

Nice nice in in in France. France was motivated by the Orlando Massacre just recently sold in serious. So what is a musically it's just are you? Okay? If you're a Muslim or Christian, do you want to convert to Muslim?

I did not watch because I was surprised they were boasting.

I am uplifted by that message. All right. Now, I started studying this group called freedom from religion the freedom from religion foundation. So here's some of the lawsuits that they brought within the last few weeks. They are suing using my my clicker. I'm throwing it away. All right, so I broke it.

All right. If you don't mind can you edit that out of that MP3 file? It'll be up on the website so that the state of Georgia to remove the Christian flag from there courtroom in San Diego school with the church. Now, let me just put this into perspective. Usually every year we put together a school supplies for the school school supplies. Because separation of church and state which by the way doesn't show up in the Constitution at all that you can't you can't have Christ in the church and the school to the public school right here in the great state of Texas a school was using the movie. You can't do that in the Republican National Convention in Cleveland to promote the DVD release will guess what the city of Cleveland

You can't really have those because your message is incendiary too controversial. Is too controversial got to take the freedom of religion. You see this question with distance of God. That was a billboard.

This is the world that we're living it and it gets even a little bit more scary, even though we're not rushing rushing just passed a law that says if you would like to evangelize in our country will need to come and ask us permission first. How do you think that meeting is going to go? All right. We live in a world that is out of control. It rushes to judgment and instead of positive. These groups create more chaos. All right. So should we as Christians be surprised at all and go to the pretty face that uses cuz I got to get rid of all that stuff.

We should not be surprised us know this. First of all that in the last first will come with their mocking following after their own lust and saying where is the promise of his coming forever since the fathers fell asleep all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation. Sound familiar 1st. Timothy Paul's writing to Timothy. He says this but the spirit explicitly says that in the latter days some will fall away from the stage praying spirits and doctrines of demons today. Look around you and everybody but we're not the church is falling away. It's hard as Christians to sit here. And are you shall not do something combination? There's not a lot of gray areas, but for us to hold to moral absolute and follow Christ. We are called We Are close-minded. We are intolerant and we are.

Cost something now that it's never cost as much in this country before to be a follower of Christ.

As you can tell, I'm a little stirred up. I got I got practice at the 8:30 because I got to tell you this is not a Polish sermon. All right, this is not a sermon really that I wrote down as much as I outlined because I'm just telling you from my own heart what I'm doing right now and I don't want to put myself in your shoes. But as far as a Christ, I imagine you're having the same type of feeling around at what's going around on around us in our world. And strangely I do a Bible reading every morning to try to and two days ago when I was writing this out these two Parables out of loop. I read these two parables in his like it just hit me like a sledgehammer that this is today. Jesus is talking to us today. So this comes from Luke 18 and see if you hear something out of him. Certain city there was a judge who did not fear. God and. Did not respect man. There was a woman in that City and she give me legal protection from my opponent while he was unwilling. To do anything but afterwards he said to himself even though I do not fear God nor respect man, because this woman bothers me. I will give her legal protection. Otherwise by continue to come to me. She will wear me out. Sounds like our legal system today and our political system today and Jesus said he is charged. Will not bring about Justice for his elect who cry over for them. I tell you that he will bring about Justice for them quickly. Here is the kicker. Jesus however, when the son of man comes will he find faith on this Earth? What's an example of our political and our legal system today? We don't follow the rules. We follow the rules and we are not as our culture becomes more and more secular isn't the absence of religion. We're being told I shouldn't tell you this story against studying on to Facebook and I went on to the freedom from religion for a Facebook page and I got into discussions. I got kicked off. I'll just let you know. I took me awhile to figure that I got there but I figured it out the food of people in this especially this organization is the Constitution says separation of church and state.

Religion can't be involved with if you are a football coach and you want to pray before a football game and you work at a public school chances are you will wear a coach was fired because he was praying with his players or his.

Terrible now to keep us so that you're not here until the 11:30 service or 11:00 service is over. I'm going to try to keep moving Falls right on in Luke 8 and this is a warning to us listen carefully up to the end of the temple to pray one of the other attacks collect the Pharisees stood and was praying this to himself even like this tax collector over there and I'm really not pointing to you as a text.

That was his attitude the tax collector. He was standing in some distance away.

And he was willing to lift his eyes to heaven but bowed his head and said God be merciful to me. spinner I tell you this man went to his house Justified rather than the other for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled. But he who humbles himself will be exalted this Parables a warning to us today. Our attitude towards Christians. I tell you. To me. I'm going to give you my story. I did on Facebook don't we all get on Facebook and I guess it was just this week and it was black lives matter protest in Washington, DC. They got their bull horns are shouting and a white elderly gentleman walked up and I don't know what building they were in front of I'm going to say it was okay. It was something that he wanted to get into and he walked up and he's like I want to go this way and they're like no

Because I want to get I want to go and use the white privilege Road over here.

I don't mean to be I don't want to come across as racist for me, but I was mad at that.

And I was wrong. I was wrong as a Christian. That should not be my attitude. Okay us. weird nothing more than stairs nothing more than Civ. They are we as Christians are no better than them like what they're doing. I think it's but we're about showing the love of Jesus Through us.

Introduction to the scripture last and I want to say this and I'm going to stand a little bit farther away from you to say this. Jesus was the worst evangelist of all times.

Okay, let me put it another way. Jesus is a terrible marketer in today's turn. You think of the messages we get to buy sings It's All creating want is the greatest shoes ever when you wear these shoes are going to be able to jump high run fast. You need this car look at it.

We as marketers create a need from want I need never tell you are we hides at school website today. What's the smallest? All right.

I work in e-commerce. I make those buttons really big.

Jesus is the worst sales person ever. Because he tells you right up front to count the cost.

I guess that's the point. Jesus been selling anything. safe So that was all set up. Luke chapter 14 our first are scripture verse Now you're just going along with him and turn and said to them. This is Jesus comes to me and does not hate his own father mother wife and children and brother and sister stop right there.

is Jesus

He says it right there. You're supposed to hate your father your mother your wife your children your brother your sister and even your own life size of a little bit. Jesus is his missionary work for 3 years. He's like the rest of us and trust me having to do this sermon three days and three times in a row. You change it based on your audience father or mother more than me worthy of me more than me is not worthy of me see Jesus. is giving you the cost to be a follower he's saying to you not that he said if you put mother's daughter wife all that.

You're not really following he's saying you've got to get rid of yourself and you got to follow me. Jesus gives a warning and really a comfort not a warning as much as a comfort to the church in Sardis and Revelations where it's very applicable to us today messages fear not What you are best offer you're going to suffer. Behold the devil is about to cast some of you into prison so that you will be tested and you will have tribulation. faithful unto death And I will give you a Crown of Life.

Jesus is telling us get ready yourself. Follow me and even a fat following me is to death present with the Lord. That's a that's a good thing. So, it's let's go on. Jesus goes on to say whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me to not be to my disciple clears it up a little bit and he who does not take his cross and follow me after me is not worthy of me the idea of a cross and carrying the cross is the one you have to yourself. So the Holy Spirit can come in now. We are the light of the world. We are the light of the world not by our own doing but we are the light of the world because the Holy Spirit comes into us and we love others not by our power the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is Jesus. Okay, so Matthew again, emphasize the point of denying oneself Matthew 16 says is anyone wishes to come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. after the baptism of Jesus John said he must increase I must decrease so Are you willing are you willing to get rid of yourself deny yourself and carry Jesus in you for the world. Now he goes on to Jesus goes on to give some very very practical advice for which one of you when he wants to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it. Otherwise when he lays down a foundation and it is not able to finish it begin to ridicule him sang this man began to build and he's not able to finish or when he sets out to meet another team when I first sat down with 20, Or else while the other Army is still out there on purpose a little bit. He would send a delegation. Peace. You see there is no. credit card God plan you have to pay the price to follow Christ. All right, he's telling you the cost before you follow me. All right Connor. I'm sorry, you're going to I'm going to tell you a story of my son now and he doesn't know I'm going to do it. So I want to apologize in advance.

You'll get it. So when we take the step. To become a follower of Christ. We make a commitment. Are we prepared? The safer on that commitment. That's what Jesus is telling us. We just we asked her the other day. Can you go pick something up? He said sure I'll go pick it up. I need it. He said why are you getting so mad about me going picking up a soffit?

It is a big deal. You make a commitment. You have to follow through with that commitment.

You lied surprised. I'm sorry that was not in the script because you don't you don't read your Bible. You don't follow your Bible. You're not following him, but you made that commitment. That's why Jesus the same amount the cost to be my disciple.

Enough of that cuz Connor doesn't want to look at me anymore. The next verse is the hardest roughest verse for anyone.

Sony then none of you can be my disciple who does not give up all his possessions now Is Jesus telling you and I to go sell everything we own and go live in a cave like a monk? No. Our possessions are our idols. If we worship the idol of our boat are the idol of our devices and their worship our possessions, then we're putting a head. So is there anything you own that is worth more than a relationship with Jesus?

That's a tough one. I really like my iPad. Put it another way use the iPad if I'm on my deathbed my wife comes to me.

it's going to be I want to see the I want to see the face of Jesus. Jesus is telling us. Get rid of yourself deny yourself. Let me in. Let me see.

Don't put ahead of me with all your heart. So that's what Jesus is saying to us and if we put

Viewpoint view into action when we start to see the spinning out of control of this world you don't get anxious about it anymore. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. And all righteousness will be upon you. Let me just and the scripture reading. See your leighliter just doesn't usually do this it goes on to say and end this with their for salt is good. But even if fault has become tasteless with what will it be season? It is useless either force or soil or friend of the manure pile. It should be thrown out. If we lose our saltiness as Christians should be thrown out. He who has ears to hear Let Him hear.

You know for 200-plus years being an American and being a Christian has been easy. And it's not going to be that way anymore. In fact, it's been getting harder and harder over the last 60 plus years and hasn't it hasn't been this week. It hasn't been this month. It's been going on for a while. I'm in 6263. We decided to throw prayer out of school. Okay, everything everything sort of started to spiral on his just getting faster and faster and as a student of Prophecy of the jigsaw puzzle of God's word when it comes to prophecy. The coming of Jesus is coming quicker everyday. It seems like it's coming sooner and sooner and the pieces the pieces on the on the chessboard of the world are all coming together. I mean Israel in 1947, I believe it was. All right, you know you look Russia right now is poised on the Syrian border. That's Ezekiel. 38-39 Iran has nuclear weapons. They caused enough chaos in the world that the mahadeen which is the 12th. I am I can never say it, right.

Jesus is part of there and time for his, it is said I mean it is Seth and we as Christians have to live in this world until we are called up but we have to live in it with a few pieces of advice from me for whatever it's worth first one.

fear not every time every time a messenger of God came and talked to one of the people on Earth the first thing out of their mouth was fear not We live in a crazy crazy crazy world so crazy that I am going to use a quote from Yoda to explain this point. Hey, this is serious. I thought long and hard on. This one here is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger anger leads to hate and hate leads to suffering.

We can't see it because it's angry we hate trust me. I'm talking to me as much as I'm talking to you is like a syrupy session. All right, I see the things going around in this world, and I'm trying to I'm trying to be Christ but this world is pushing harder and harder against that so we get rid of him.

John 1st, John Gray books read read it everyday his first John is to you. All right, it is to you and he basically in first John chapter two little children abide in him so that when he appears you may have confidence and not shrink away from him and Shea at his coming. That he is righteous. You know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of him a John tells of an expectation Lang and John 15, and I'm sure we've read this you notice first if the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world the world would love to tell that because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world.

The world hates you. It goes on to say these things. I have spoken to soothe you that are in me may know and have peace. You going to have tribulation but take courage. I have overcome the world. Now that video clip that we watched earlier and that's a true story story of Woodlawn is a true story and Bear Bryant in there with that boy. He's recruiting him to come to Alabama at a time when Alabama was completely utterly segregated Bear Bryant's words little bit just so I can use it with as a scripture reference, but he sets that boy, you know what the difference is between you.

twisting the words little bit courage you got it, and I ain't. Has Christian. We have to take our Courage by abiding in Jesus and last point.

Don't be troubled.

Fear not don't be troubled or the same thing, but they're not. I can still have anxiety even if I don't fear, but Jesus tells us and it's really the greatest. Hope we have. The greatest hope we have I'm going to read John 14 and you're you'll know what you've heard it. But Jesus is telling us something is telling his disciples something and he's telling in the upper room when he is about to die.

Dino sheets within the next 24 hours is going to be crucified on the cross and he tells his disciples fish. Don't let your heart be troubled. believe in God believe also in me In my house are many Dwelling Places if it were not so I would have told you for I go to prepare a place for you if I go and prepare a place for you. I will come again and receive you to myself that where I am there. You may be also. And you know the way where I am going.

This world is crazy right now. It is out of control. We are part of that world. We have a part to play in that world. But we are not of the world are commandment is to love God. And to love our neighbors, that's our commandant. So when we see the world the hate and the world in there a lot of hate going on right now in the world. We know what our way is. If you have a doubt about what that way is you're not alone. Turn that same conference conversation Thomas doubting. Thomas said to Jesus Lord. We don't know where you are going and how do we know the way?

and Jesus said I am the way. the light the truth. I got that I am the way the truth the life no one comes to the father but through me. I got to tell you honestly, I hope you feel the same way. is this is this is narrow-minded is this is considered big tree in this world? I'm good with it because I would rather be right with Jesus. wrong with the world then wrong. With Jesus and right with the world.

We are to love our neighbors even when they're unlovable.

And I got to stay the groups that tell us how tolerant they are and how intolerant that we are and tell us how close-minded we are and how open-minded they are. They really should be a lot of hate.

We can't do it. We are. his life in the world you Are the church this building? Is not the church you as the church are the body of Christ. If we took this service and moved it to Cody Park. That's why the church would be the church is Jesus in you? me when we see hate in this world

We can't partake him. We are his life through us. Jesus's life shines in the cost of being Christian today. Now I'm going to read. twist What is love and I want you as you listen to the words think of Jesus's second coming and see if this very very familiar passage doesn't make a lot.

Love is patient love is kind love is not jealous love does not brag. It is not arrogant. It does not act unbecomingly. It does not speak its own does not provoke. It does not take into account or wrong suffered does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth bearing althing believing all things hopes, all things endures all things. Love Never Fails, but if there is a gift of Prophecy They will be done away. If there are tongues they will seat if there is knowledge.

for we know in part we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes partial Would be that away. When I was a child, I used to speak like a child think like a child reason like a child when I became a face-to-face now I know in part you see part of the store. But then I will know just as I have been fully known. When Christ comes and takes us out of this chaos, we will know fully we will be known by him fully and everything that we see it just the part. Poland but now faith hope love abide these three but the greatest of these Good love. Is the cost of following Jesus?

Lord help us help us as we go through our daily life to keep focused. All of our focus on you Lord, you loved us so much that you sent your son to die a horrific death on a cross, but you loved so much that on the third day you rotate to cover the sins of all of us. He's giving us that invitation written in the blood of Jesus and you've told us the cost and all you ask is to follow.

We love you in Jesus name.