Being Alert In The End Times - 030903
BEING ALERT IN THE END TIMES
March 6th, 2003
I WANT YOU TO FIND IN YOUR BIBLES THE BOOK OF THESSOLONIANS………1ST THESSOLONIANS…
BEC I’M GOING TO BE READING A NUMBER OF SCRIPTURES FROM THERE, AND YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH ME, AND EVEN MARK YOUR BIBLES AS WE GO ALONG.
IN LIGHT OF ALL THAT IS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD RIGHT NOW. WITH THE U.S. ON THE VERY VERGE OF INVADING IRAQ IN OUR CONTINUING WAR AGAINST TERRORISM…..
I WANT TO HELP US UNDERSTAND HOW TO THINK!!!
IN THIS MESSAGE THIS MORNING,, I WANT TO DEAL WITH THE 12 COMMANDS FOR END-TIME BELEIVERS FROM 1 THESSOLONIANS!!!
I TRUST YOU REALIZE AS A GENERAL COURSE THIS MORNING THAT THE BIBLE DOES SPEAK ABOUT THE END TIMES….
THERE ARE SOME THINGS YET TO HAPPEN…..(AND I DON’T HAVE TIME TO DEVELOP THAT FOR YOU TODAY)……..
AND THAT DURING THIS TIME PERIOD YOU AND I DO HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO BE READY!!!
NOW…
THE BIBLE SPEAKS ABOUT THE LAST DAYS AS BEING A TIME WHERE IT WILL BE ‘PERILOUS”….
IT WILL BE A DANGEROUS TIME!!!
THAT’S WHAT THE WORD PERILOUS MEANS!!!
IT SAYS THESE LAST TIMES WILL BE PERILOUS TIMES……DANGEROUS TIMES!!!
NOT JUST PERILOUS IN THE NATURAL…….AS WE ARE WATCHING THINGS ACROSS THE GLOBE THAT ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT WILL CAUSE SOME UNREST,, AND UNSETTLEDNESS, IN YOUR OWN PEACE LEVEL….
AS WE WATCH THE WORLD CHANGE……..EVEN WHAT’S GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN WASHINGTON, AND AT THE U.N. AND IN NORTH KOREA, AND THE MIDDLE EAST….
IT’S SO MIND-BOGGLING……OR THAT FAR OUT IN THEIR MIND….!!!
WE ARE IN A DANGEROUS CULTURE!!!
IT’S DANGEROUS FOR CHILDREN!!!
WE HAVE EVEN IN OUR OWN CITY……….A HIGH PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN THAT EXPERIENCE SOME FORM OF ABUSE…
AND THAT’S A DANGEROUS CULTURE!!!!
WE HAVE MARRIAGES THAT ARE IN SITUATIONS WHERE IT’S VERY DANGEROUS FOR THEM!!!
WE HAVE A GENERATION AND A CULTURE THAT’S IN A HIGH LEVEL OF ADULTERY …
THAT’S DANGEROUS FOR MARRIAGES!!!
WE HAVE IN THE WHOLE SINGLE ARENA……..NOT ONLY HEALTH DANGERS…….WHEN IT COMES TO MORAL IMPURITY…….AND OTHER THINGS THAT TAKE PLACE THERE…..
BUT ALSO EMOTIONAL DAMAGE THAT TAKES PLACE SO OFTEN!!!
IT’S A DANGEROUS CULTURE!!!
PERILOUS TIMES!!!
DANGEROUS FOR THE FAMILY….
DANGEROUS FOR RAISING CHILDREN…..
THAT’S THE FACT OF THE MATTER………BEC WE’RE IN TIMES WHERE THERE’S NOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR AUTHORITY…
THERE’S NOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THE WORD OF GOD….
THERE’S NOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR HOLINESS…….OR THE WORDS PURITY AND RIGHTEOUSNESS…
NOT A LOT OF RESPECT FOR A THING CALLED VOWS……AND KEEPING TO YOUR MATE….
A THING CALLED MARRIAGE……!!!!
WHY???
BEC WE’RE IN THE END TIMES!!!
NOT JUST THIS YEAR……
OR SINCE 9/11………OR THE LAST 10 YEARS, OR THE LAST 50……..
BUT FROM THE CROSS TO THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST………1000…..2000……HOW MUCH LONGER WILL IT BE……?
WE’RE IN A TIME PERIOD THAT IS VERY PERILOUS…..
EVIL GETS WORSE….AND INIQUITY GROWS IN PEOPLE’S MIND………AND HEARTS GROW COLD!!!
IT’S A DANGEROUS TIME!!!
SO THE APOSTLE PAUL…….WRITES TO THE THESSOLONIAN CHURCH AND HE GIVES THEM 12 COMMANDS THAT THEY SHOULD FULFILL IN ORDER TO EMBRACE……..
OR REALLY CONDUCT THEMSLEVES WITH A ……………SOME FORM OF VICTORY IN THEIR LIVES…..
DURING A TIME PERIOD THAT IS SO DANGEROUS!!!!
A TIME PERIOD THAT WILL COME IN AND TRY AND RUIN CERTAIN PARTS OF YOUR LIFE!!!
1 AND 2ND THESSOLONIANS……THESE 2 EPISTLES DEAL WITH A CHURCH PAUL IS TRYING TO EXHORT TO GET READY….
EMBRACE……ENCOUNTER……….HANDLE…………THE PRESSURE OF AN ANTI-CHRIST……….SPIRIT!!!
THE PRESSURE OF IMPURITY…
THE PRESSURE OF DISRESPECT…
THE PRESSURE THAT COMES UPON THE PEOPLE OF GOD……..
THE TRIBULATION FACTOR!!!
NOT JUST THE GREAT TRIBULATION….
BUT THE PRESSURE FACTOR………(THAT’S WHAT TRIBULATION MEANS)….
THE PRESSURE THAT COMES ON PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THEIR CONVICTIONS!!!
GIVE UP THEIR MARRIAGE….
GIVE UP THEIR PARENTING….
GIVE UP THEIR MORALS….
THERE’S PRESSURE ON PEOPLE TO GIVE UP THEIR BELIEF SYSTEM!!!
NOT BELIEVE IN THE GOD OF THE BIBLE…………
NOT BELIEVE IN THE BIBLE AND THE WAY IT’S WRITTEN THAT WE COULD ACTUALLY OBEY IT….
BUT THERE’S A PRESSURE ON PEOPLE’S MINDS………..AND PEOPLE’S CONVICTIONS!!!
NOW…
IN 1ST THESSOLONIANS……..I WANT TO PUT UP FIRST OF ALL FOUR SCRIPTURES!!!
2:19 – FOR WHAT IS OUR HOPE, OR JOY OR CROWN OF REJOICING? IS IT NOT EVEN YOU IN THE PRESENCE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AT HIS COMING?
SO THE APOSTLE PAUL IS SPEAKING ABOUT THIS GROUP OF BELEIVERS AND IS SAYING …..’OUR HOPE AND JOY IS HOW WE PRESENT YOU……..AT THE COMING OF CHRIST”!!!!
3:13 – SO THAT HE MAY ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS BEFORE OUR GOD AND FATHER AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL HIS SAINTS”
AND I’M HOPING TO DO THAT WITH YOU THIS MORNING (ESTABLISH YOUR HEARTS)……IN A VERY QUICK MANNER!!!
AS YOU MOVE TOWARD THE COMING OF CHRIST……..YOUR HEART SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED IN HOLINESS!!!
YOUR HEART AND LIFE SHOULD BE ESTABLISHED BLAMELESS BEFORE THE LORD, AT THE COMING OF CHRIST!!!
THAT’S WHAT THE APOSTLE PAUL SAYS!!
4:2 – FOR YOU KNOW WHAT COMMANDMENTS WE GAVE YOU THROUGH THE LORD JESUS!!!
NOW….I’M GOING TO GIVE YOU 12 OF WHICH I’VE TAKEN OUT OF THESE EPISTLES……AND JUST LISTED OFF FOR YOU……..THAT ARE APOSTOLIC COMMANDS FROM THE APOSTLE PAUL……..
ON HOW WE CAN PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST……AND LIVE IN THE DAYS WE MUST LIVE IN!!!!
5:23 – NOW MAY THE GOD OF PEACE HIMSELF SANCTIFY YOU (NOTICE…..SANCTIFICATION……..THE LAST VERSE WAS HOLINESS……..UP BEFORE THAT WAS ‘HOW I MAY PRESENT YOU IN THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD)….THE GOD OF PEACE HIMSELF SANCTIFY YOU COMPLETELY AND MAY YOUR WHOLE SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY BE PRESERVED BLAMELESS AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST!!!!
IT SHOULD GIVE YOU A PRETTY GOOD IDEA OF WHAT MUST TAKE PLACE DURING THIS TIME PERIOD…
THERE HAS TO BE A PRESERVATION!!!
WHY???
BEC THERE’S A DEGENERATION GOING ON!!!
THERE’S AN ATTACK AGAINST YOUR SPRIIT, AGAINST YOUR SOUL, AGAINST YOUR MIND……..AGAINST YOUR LIFE…..
AGAINST YOUR MORALS…
AGAINST YOUR MARRIAGE…
AGAINST YOUR KIDS…….
AGAINST YOUR PARENTING….
AGAINST YOU AS AN INDIVIDUAL TO BE HOLY…….BEFORE THE LORD………
THERE IS PRESSURE ON YOU TO GIVE ALL THAT UP!!!!!!
AND THE MORE WE GET NEARER THE COMING OF CHRIST THE MORE THAT PRESSURE WILL BE!!!
AND PAUL SAYS….”I PRAY THAT YOU WILL BE PRESERVED……..BLAMELESS…….AT THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST”!!!
NOW…
WHEN THE APOSTLE PAUL……..ADDRESSES THE THESSOLONIAN CHURCH……..THERE ARE A COUPLE OF REASONS WHY HE EVEN WROTE THE EPISTLE!!!
I’M GOING TO REST IT ON JUST ONE REASON……..
HE WROTE THE EPISTLE BEC HIS SON IN THE FAITH TIMOTHY…..BROUGHT BACK A REPORT ABOUT THE CHURCH!!!
AND TIMOTHY….TOLD PAUL EXACTLY WHAT WAS GOING ON IN THE BODY OF BELEIVERS….!!!
AND HE DESCRIBED THE PRESSURE………AND THE GREAT STRENGTH THEY HAD….
AND ALSO SOME OF THEIR WEAKNESSES………..AND A FEW OTHER THINGS THAT WERE OUT OF ORDER…….
AND SO PAUL…..HAVING HEARD THE REPORT HE RESPONDS WITH THIS LETTER….THIS EPISLTE!!!
ANOTHER REASON HE WROTE THIS EPISTLE WAS TO ENCOURAGE THE STAMINA OF THIS GROUP……….THIS LITTLE CHURCH……
THEY ARE A POWERFUL PEOPLE…..BUT THEY’RE UNDER A LOT OF PRESSURE!!!
AND SO PAUL IS WRITING TO ENCOURAGE THEM!!!
BUT HE HAS ALSO RECEIVED A LOT OF REPORTS HOW PEOPLE ARE UNDERMINING PAUL’S AUTHORITY!!!
THEY ARE ACTUALLY SPEAKING VERY EVIL AGAINST HIM AS AN APOSTLE!!!
THEY WERE TAKING HIS REPUTATION AND SLAM-DUNKING HIM TO MAKE HIM A PERSON HE WAS NOT!!!
SO HE WANTS TO ANSWER THAT ….AND SAY….”HEY…I’M NOT THAT KIND OF A PERSON”….
THIS IS THE KIND OF APOSTLE I AM ……AND I DON’T WANT YOU TO BELIEVE THESE REPORTS!!!
SO THERE IS A LITTLE PERSONAL THING ALSO GOING ON HERE!!!
AND ALSO….THE VERY LIFE OF THESE BELEIVERS……
SOME BELEIVERS WERE LIVING IN A VERY LIFESTYLE OF SIN…
SOME OF THESE BELEIVERS HAD SOME MORAL PROBLEMS THEY WOULDN’T DEAL WITH…..
AND SO THE APOSTLE IS WRITING HERE AND SAYING…..”SAY…LISTEN HEAR”…..THERE ARE SOME THINGS IN YOUR CHURCH YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO STOP………”!
“YOU CANNOT LIVE THIS WAY………BEC THE JUDGEMENT OF GOD WILL COME UPON THAT PERSON AND THE WHOLE CHURCH………”
AND HE BEGINS TO DEAL WITH THE VERY COMMUNITY LIFE OF THE BELIEVER…
AND THEN FINALLY HE DEALS WITH THE AREA I’M DEALING WITH………CONFUSION…..AND DISCOURAGEMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF CHRIST!!!!
ACTUALLY…
SOME OF THESE BELEIVERS THOUGHT THE COMING OF CHRIST………HAD ALREADY TAKEN PLACE!!!
AND PAUL SAYS…………”DON’T BE TAKEN IN BY THAT…..BEC BEFORE THAT HAPPENS……THESE THINGS…….MUST HAPPEN”……….AND BECAUSE THESE THINGS HAVEN’T YET HAPPENED…….YOU CAN BE ASSURED YOU DIDN’T MISS HIS COMING”!!!!
AND SO HE’S DEALING WITH CONFUSION!!!
NOW…
IN HIS EXOHORTATION………..(AND I’M GOING TO TAKE THESE FROM 1ST THESSALONIANS AND 2ND…) BUT FIRST……….1ST THESSALONIANS FIVE IS WHAT I NEED TO JUMP INTO FIRST HERE REAL QUICK!!!!
HERE ARE 12 COMMANDS THAT I GIVE YOU…….THAT PAUL GAVE THEM!!!
THEY ARE SIMPLE…
BUT IF YOU DO THEM….THEY WILL TRANSFORM YOUR HOME!!!!
TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE…….
AND YOU WILL BE PROTECTED!!!!
#1. BE SPIRITUALLY ALERT AT ALL TIMES!!!!
V.4 – BUT YOU BRETHREN ARE NOT IN DARKENESS!!!!
WELL….YOU BETTER NOT BE……….
SO THAT THIS DAY SHOULD OVERTAKE YOU AS A THEIF……..BUT YOU ARE ALL SONS OF LIGHT AND SONS OF THE DAY
(WELL. WE SHOULD BE SONS OF THE LIGHT AND OF THE DAY)….
WE ARE NOT OF THE NIGHT NOR OF DARKNESS……THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP AS OTHERS DO!!!!
NOW…HE’S SPEAKING HERE OF A SPIRITUAL LETHERGY……A LUKE WARMNESS…..
A LACK OF WATCHFULNESS……
SPIRITUAL SLEEPINESS IS UPON THE BELEIVERS……….
AND HE SAYS……..”THEREFORE LET US NOT SLEEP AS OTHERS DO….BUT LET US WATCH AND BE SOBER”!!!
THAT IS VERY ALERT TO WHAT IS GOING ON AROUND YOU!!!
FOR THOSE WHO SLEEP , SLEEP AT NIGHT, AND THOSE WHO GET DRUNK, ARE DRUNK AT NIGHT……BUT LET US WHO ARE OF THE DAY BE SOBER, PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE OF FAITH AND LOVE AS A HELMET THE HOPE OF SALVATION!!!!
THE COMMAND HERE IS TO ALERTNESS…..TO WATCH……..TO WAKE UP (ROMANS 13:11)………AND DO THIS KNOWING THE TIME…….
THAT NOW!!!!……………..
NOW IS THE TIME!!!!!
THAT OUR SALVATION IS NEARER THAN WHEN WE FIRST BELIEVED!!!
IT IS NOT A TIME TO DO BUSINESS AS USUAL….
IT’S NOT A TIME TO BE SPIRITUALLY ASLEEP!!!
IT’S NOT A TIME TO BE IN A SPIRIT OF LETHARGY OR LUKEWARMNESS……OR A SPIRIT OF ‘I DON’T CARE”….
OR NOT REALLY DEAL WITH ANY PART OF YOUR LIFE OR YOUR FRIEND OF FAMILY…
AND JUST LET THINGS BE LIKE THEY’RE GOING TO BE!!!
NO!!!
IT’S A TIME FOR YOU TO BE ALERT!!!!!!!
AND WATCH OUT WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND YOU!!!!!
AS A PARENT OR GRANDPARENT……YOU SHOULD BE FINDING YOUR SPIRIT WITH YOUR CHILDREN……..
SO ALERT!!!……TO EVERYTHING THAT GOES ON IN THEIR LIFE…..EVERYDAY!!!!!!!
I NEED TO BE INVOLVED WITH THEM….AND BEING SPIRITUALLY ALERT……….
PRAYING FOR EACH ONE OF THEM…..
TRYING ANY WAY YOU CAN………TO KNOW WHERE THEY ARE SPIRITUALLY….KNOW WHERE THEY ARE MENTALLY………
KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN THEIR HEART….
HOW CAN I HELP THEM TO REALLY PROTECT THE HEDGES AROUND THEIR LIFE!!!!
PARENTS…………….PUT BOTH HANDS ON THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT NOW…..IT’;S A TIME TO BE SPIRITAULLY ALERT!!!!!!!
IT’S NOT A TIME TO SLEEP!!!!!
AND I’LL TELL YOU ANOTHER THING…..(I’LL JUST SLIP THIS IN)….BUT I FIND SOME PARENTS MAKE A MISTAKE WHEN THEIR KIDS GET 17, 18, 19…..
THAT’S WHEN THEY START CHECKING OUT!!!
THE PARENTS DO!!!!
THE PARENTS START CHECKING OUT!!!
THEY SAY…”WELL ….WE RAISED THEM THROUGH THE TEEN YEARS……..AND NOW THEY’RE ON THEIR OWN…
AND I DON’T KNOW WHO THEY’RE DATING….OR HANGING WITH…
AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT’S REALLY GOING ON HERE……
AND I DON’T KNOW WHO THEY WORK WITH AT THEIR JOB…….ETC….
IF MY KIDS LIVED IN MY HOME UNTIL THEY ARE 30……..I WILL PARENT THEM UNTIL THEY’RE 30!!!!
IF THEY’RE IN MY HOME……I’M INVOVLED WITH THEIR LIFE……(AND EVEN TO A DEGREE ONCE THEY’VE LEFT MY HOME)
CAN I HEAR AN AMEN!!!!
IT’S NOT A TIME TO BACK OFF!!!!!
I TELL YOU WHAT ……….IT’S HARDER WHEN THEY GET OUT OF H.S…….I THINK….
TO MAKE SURE EVERY DECISION……….(BEC THEIR DECISIONS AT THAT AGE WILL LAST A LOT LONGER)….!!!
I WANT TO KNOW WHO THEY’RE HANGING AROUND WITH AT WORK….
I GO TO THEIR JOBS……AND HAVE LUNCH WITH THEM……….
MEET THEIR BOSS….
MEET THE FRIENDS THEY WORK WITH!!!
I’VE WARNED THEM…..(WATCH THAT PERSON)……..
THAT IS AN IMPURE PERSON……..OR THAT’S A GOSSIPPING PERSON….
OR THAT’S A PERSON THAT WILL RUIN YOU…..”
‘OH DAD”………..
NO!!!…I’M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW….THAT PERSON IS BAD NEWS!!!!
(A MONTH LATER…….DAD……YOU KNOW THAT PERSON YOU TOLD ME ABOUT)…..
THAT’S RIGHT………!!!!!
WHY???
BEC I’M A PARENT……..AND I WILL REMAIN SPIRITUALLY ALERT AS TO WHO IS INFLUNENCING MY CHILD!!!!!!!!
MENTALLY……[PHYSICALLY…..MORALLY,,,,,,,SOCICALLY………
IN ANY WAY…..
HOW THE INFLUENCE IS COMING DOWN THE PIPE IS VERY IMPORTANT!!!!!
NOW….
ALERTNESS TO YOUR OWN SPIRITAUL LIFE!!!!
WHAT IS INFLUENCING YOU THE MOST RIGHT NOW!!!????
WHAT IS SHAPING YOU RIGHT NOW?>????
HOW MUCH ARE YOU NURSING BITTERNESS OR RESENTMENTS…….OR UNFORGIVENESS………
THOSE THINGS!!!
WHAT ABOUT YOUR THOUGHT LIFE ……….THAT YOU’VE ALLOWED YOURSELF TO MAYBE……….DEGENERATE A LITTLE BIT!!!
AND YOUR DAY DREAMING IS NOT PURE BEFORE GOD!!!!
MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THINGS THAT COME TO YOU ON A DAILY BASIS THAT ARE WRONG!!!
NOW YOU TOLERATE THEM……….
NO BODY HAS AN X-RAY VISION THAT CAN SEE THROUGH YOU …..EVERYTHING THAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR SPIRIT OR MIND………
BUT YOU KNOW……….AS I’M TALKING…..THERE ARE THINGS YOU’RE ALLOWING THAT ARE WRONG!!!!
BE ALERT AT ALL TIMES!!!!!!
NOW!!!!……..(SAY IT WITH ME)….
NOW IS THE TIME FOR YOU TO WAKE UP…………….AND SAY….”WOW…….I DIDN’T KNOW THE ENEMY WAS SO CLOSE”!!!!!
HE’S CLOSE!!!
I DIDN’T KNOW HE HAD SO MANY WEAPONS……….HE HAS WEAPONS!!!!
OF COURSE ……..GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU….THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD….
BUT HE HAS WEAPONS!!!!
#2….. BE FULLY ARMED AND READY FOR SPIRITAUL BATTLE!!!!
PUTTING ON THE BREASTPLATE….
THIS IS WARFARE LANGAUGE………
WITH A HELMET…….
BE CLOTHED…….READY FOR BATTLE!!!!
THE BREASTPLATE IS TO GUARD YOUR EMOTIONS………….THE BREASTPLATE IS TO GUARD YOUR AFFECTIONS!!!!
IT DOESN’T TAKE A ROCK SCIENTEST TO LOOK AT A PERSON WHO IS STRUGGLING SPIRITUALLY………..
AND LOOK AT THEIR EMOTIONAL LIFE!!!…
AND IF YOUR EMOTIONAL LIFE IS GOING THE WRONG DIRECTION………..
IF YOUR ALLOWING YOUR AFFECTIONS TO GO THE WRONG DIRECTION….
IF YOUR ALLOWING THINGS TO ATTACH THEMSELVES TO THOSE VERY PRIVATE AREAS OF YOUR LIFE…
THOSE ASPIRATIONS…….
THE DREAMS…….THE VISIONS…….THE VERY FEELINGS YOU HAVE OF YOUR INNER MAN………..
TO GO AFTER SOMETHING!!!
IF YOU START ALLOWING YOUR EMOTIONS……..THEY’LL GO AFTER THE WRONG THING!!!
YOU NEED TO GET BACK ON A BREASTPLATE…………TO PROTECT YOUR EMOTIONS….
THE BREAST PLATE OF FAITH AND THE LOVE OF GOD……….
AND PROTECT YOURSELF SO THAT YOU ARE NOT EMOTIONALLY DRUG THROUGH THINGS YOU SHOULD NOT GO THROUGH!!!
YOU’VE GOT TO PROTECT YOUR EMOTIONS!!!!
WE’RE VERY EMOTIONAL, AND WE LIVE IN AN EMOTIONALLY DRIVEN SOCIETY!!!!
PUT ON THE HELMET!!!!
WHAT’S A HELMET FOR…..???
WHEN YOU GET CONKED ON THE HEAD…..IT DOESN’T HURT AS MUCH!!! RIGHT????
WE ALL KNOW THAT!!!
A HELMET PROTECTS THE NOGGIN!!!
SPIRITAULLY A HELMET PROTECTS YOUR THOUGHT LIFE!!!!!
WHAT YOUR PUTTING IN…..
WHAT’S COMING THROUGH YOU…
WHAT YOUR MEDITATING ON……
WHAT IS GOING ON WITH YOUR MIND….
NOT JUST THE THOUGHTS THAT COME LIKE THIS….
BUT THE STRATEGIES OF YOUR MIND…
THE HABITS OF YOUR MIND………….
YOUR PERCEPTIONS ABOUT THINGS!!!!!
THINGS THAT HAVE AFFECTED YOU IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR A YEAR OR TWO!!!!
#3. BE A COMMITTED AND FUNCTIONING MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH!!!!
V11. THEREFORE COMFORT EACH OTHER, AND EDIFY ONE ANOTHER, JUST AS YOU ALSO ARE DOING”……..AND WE URGE YOU BRETHREN, TO RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO LABOR AMONG YOU, AND ARE OVER YOU IN THE LORD, AND ADMONISH YOU, TO ESTEEM THEM VERY HIGHLY
NOW……WHY DOES THE APOSTLE PAULHAVE TO SAY…..”LISTEN THESSALONIANS…..MAKE SURE YOUR’E CONNECTED TO OTHER BELIEVERS”
AND……MAKE SURE YOUR’E CONNECTED TO SPIRITAUL LEADERSHIP…..
AND …….MAKE SURE THAT THE CHANNEL OF RESPECT AND RECEPTION IS CLEAR……….AS YOU ARE BEING PASTORED BY……….
AND HE SAYS….”LEADERSHIP THAT IS WORTHY OF YOUR RESPECT”!!!!!!
TO COMFORT OR EXHORT OTHER BELEIVERS….
YOU HAVE TO BE INVOLVED IN OTHER BELEIVERS LIVES!!!!
YOU KNOW WHAT/???
IF SOMEONE IS GOING TO HELP YOU………IT’S NOT GENERALLY GOING TO BE AN ELDER OR A PASTOR….
PROBALBY WON’T BE ME…..MOST OF THE TIME FIRST!!!
WHY??
BEC I’M NOT INVOLVED INDIVIDUALLY WITH EVERYBODY’S LIFE HERE!!!!!
THERE’S NO WAY I CAN BE WITH A COUPLE HUNDRED PEOPLE!!!!
I’M INVOLVED WITH THE LEADERSHIP TEAM AND THE PASTORAL TEAM………
AND THE CELL LEADERS…..
AND CONCEPTS THAT WE ESPOUSE TO HELP THEM PASTOR THE CHURCH….OR LEAD THEIR CELL….
THE PEOPLE THAT YOU’RE INVOLVED WITH…..THAT ARE THE CLOSEST TO YOU ARE YOUR FRIENDS…..
AND THEY’RE PROBABLY THE FIRST PEOPLE YOU WILL TALK TO IF YOU’RE HAVING A PROBLEM….
OR A PARENTING PROBLEM…
OR A WORK PROBLEM…….
ETC.
IF SOMETHING IS GOING ON IN YOUR FINACES…….
IF YOU HAVE ON THE OTHER HAND……….NOBODY THAT YOU’RE CONNECTED WITH…….
WHO DO YOU TALK WITH???
YOURSELF!!!!
OR SOMEBODY AT WORK………WHO MAY NOT BE A BELEIVER…..
OR WHO…..MAY BE A BELEIVER…..BUT MAY NOT BE VERY WISE!!!
OR WHO IS WISE……….WHO MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO REALLY SPEAK INTO YOUR LIFE!!!
AND SO……
WHO ARE YOU CONNECTED TO!!!!
I EXHORT YOU THIS MORNING…………
IF YOU WANT TO BE READY FOR THE LAST DAYS…………CONNECT YOURSELF TO OTHER BELEIVERS AND BE IN A RELATIONSHIP IN THE CHURCH WHERE YOU RESPECT LEADERSHIP….
AND HONOR LEADERSHIP!!!!
YOU SAY…..PASTOR…….
HOW WOULD I KNOW IF I AM SPIRITUALLY DEGENERATING…..???
IF YOU MURMER…..GOSSIP….OR CRITICIZE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP!!!!!
YOUR ON YOUR WAY DOWN…..NOT UP!!!!
WELL…..ARE YOU SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO WORSHIP YOU AND ALL THE OTHER ELDERS……….????
YEAH…..THAT’S A GOOD IDEA…..THAT’S EXACTLY WHAT I’M SAYING!!!!
WELL…..ARE YOU SAYING YOU DON’T HAVE FAULTS????!
OF COURSE I HAVE FAULTS….!!!!
YOU WANT ME TO LIST THEM OUT WITH A POWER POINT PRESENTATION!!!!????
OF COURSE YOUR GOING TO HAVE THOSE THINGS IN LEADRSHIP!!!!
MAYBE YOU DON’T EVEN LIKE ME IN MY PERSONALITIY……..
MAYBE I JOKE AROUND TOO MUCH……..
OR I DO THIS….
OR THE WAY I SPEAK…
OR THE WAY I DRESS…..
OR MY HAIR STYLE…….
OR SOMETHING ELSE ABOUT ME……OR ONE OF THE ELDERS…..OR ALL OF THEM!!!!
YOU MAY SAY….”I DON’T EVEN LIKE YOU…….HOW CAN I RESPECT YOU???
YOU DON’T HAVE TO LIKE MY PERSONALITIY……….
BUT YOU DO HAVE TO BEAR WITNESS TO MY MINISTRY….
AND YOU HAVE TO RESPECT MY OFFICE!!!!!
THAT IS….
GOD PUT ME AS THE PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH…..THORUGH THE ELDERSHIP….WITH THE LAYING ON OF HANDS…………
AND IN THAT RIGHTEOUS ORDER…..
THERE SHOULD BE RESPECT TOWARDS ME…..
AND NOT JUST ME…..BUT THE ELDERSHIP……..
AND THOSE THAT ARE SPIRITUALLY OVER THE CHURCH……..THERE SHOULD BE A GODLY HONORING OF THOSE MEN…..AND WOMEN….
NOT A TEARING THEM DOWN!!!!!
WHEN I HEAR ANYONE SAYING SOMETHING ABOUT A SPIRITAUL LEADER…..
EVEN THOUGH IT’S A LITTLE JOKE OR WHATEVER………..
AND IT’S A LITTLE SLANTED THIS WAY……
I STOP THEM IN THEIR TRACKS!!!
EVEN THOUGH I MAY THINK WHAT THEY ARE SAYING IS RIGHT!!!
CAUSE SOMETIMES IT IS!!!
THEY ARE YOUR LEADERS!!!
AND YOU HONOR THEM AND RESPECT THEM!!!!!
WHY???
BEC THE PRINCIPLE OF RESPECT AND AUTHORITY IS JUST THAT.!!!!
IT’S A PRINCICPLE …….NOT AN EMOTION!!!!!
NOW…..
DOES……….EVERY PERSON IN THIS ROOM LOVE THE PERSON (YOUR BOSS) WHO YOU WORK FOR???/
AND DON’T ANSWER THAT…..
ESPICALLY IF YOUR BOSS IS SITTING NEXT TO YOU………………..DON’T MOVE!!!
BUT YOU PROBABLY HONOR YOUR BOSS EVEN THOUGH HE’S A LITTLE FUNNY….
OR DOES SOME FUNNY THINGS…….
OR YOUR FOREMAN OR WHATEVER….
YOU WOULD NEVER MAYBE DO ANYTHING……….BEC THEY HAVE AUTHORITY!!!
HOW MUCH MORE IN THE CHURCH!!!!
PARENTS…..
BACK THE YOUTH PASTOR..!!!
I’M TELLING YOU RIGHT NOW….
TO BE A COMMITTED MEMBER OF A LOCAL CHURCH IS MORE THAN SITTING IN THAT PEW OR CHAIR!!!
IT MEANS JOINING THE COMMUNITY OF THE BELIEVERS…
RESPECTING SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP…….
HONORING GOD WITH OUR OFFERINGS AND GIFTS……
AND MOVING TOGETHER AS THE FAMILY OF GOD!!!
CAN I HEAR AN AMEN!!!!!