Save Yourselves! (2)
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And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.
Intro:
Dearly beloved of God, this scripture rings out to us from nearly 2,000 years ago. It is time for us to save ourselves. Why? Because we need to be saved......period.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.
I don’t care how good you think you are, your good works are not enough to save you.
For the scriptures declare:
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-27), one thing that never really jumped out at me is the fact that he was a religious leader. I said he was a religious leader.
HE WAS INTO DO GOOD......HE WAS INTO DOING THE RIGHT THING. He wanted to make sure that he was doing all he could to inherit eternal life.
He asks Jesus “Good Master, what shall i do to inherit eternal life?” Am I leaving anything out.....because he probably felt that something was missing and if this be the case then he was right.
Watch this.....this is a major point. Jesus himself said “Why do you call me good?” Now here it is Jesus the one who is without sin, the one who became our sinless perfect sacrifice said of himself “Why do you call me good?”
NOW IF JESUS HIMSELF, WHO WAS SINLESS, WHO WAS PERFECT, WHO COMMITTED NO WRONG, WHO HAD NO GUILE SAID THIS......THEN YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU SIR....YOU MAAM DON’T HAVE A LEG TO STAND ON!
Jesus says in the same verse (19) “Only God is truly good.” GOD is the only one that is good.
We lie, when we say that so and so is a good person. WE DECEIVE OURSELVES WHEN WE SAY THAT WE ARE A GOOD PERSON. I NEED TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH......GOD’S WORD IS TRUE AND GOD’S WORD SAYS, JESUS SAID THAT GOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS TRULY GOOD!
AND IF GOOD IS THE ONLY ONE THAT IS TRULY GOOD.....THAT MEANS THAT WE ARE IN TROUBLE.....THAT MEANS THAT WE ALL NEED HELP. IT DOESN’T MATTER IF YOU ARE SAVED OR IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED.
WE ALL NEED TO RECOGNIZE THAT WE ALL STAND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR. IF YOU ARE NOT SAVED, IF YOU HAVE NOT REPENTED AND BELIEVED THE GOSPEL YOU NEED TO SAVE YOURSELF!
AND IF YOU HAVE REPENTED, BELIEVED THE GOSPEL, RECEIVED WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, BEEN FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND YOU’RE LIVING OR ATTEMPTING TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE......YOU STILL STAND IN NEED OF A SAVIOR!!! YOU CAN SIT BACK AND ACT LIKE YOU GOT IT MADE.....BUT I’LL BE THE FIRST TO DECREE AND DECLARE THAT I NEED A SAVIOR.....AND THE SAVIOR THAT I NEED IS JESUS!!!! I NEED JESUS!!!!
IS THERE ANYONE IN HERE THAT CAN BE HONEST IN HERE AND LIFT YOUR HAND TO HEAVEN AND DECLARE I NEED JESUS!!!
My God, I need to finish this to get to the main text.
This religious leader, on the outside was considered to be a good man. Jesus told him “you know the commandments: you must not commit adultery, must not murder, must not steal, must not testify falsely, honor your father and mother.”
Even with that small section, some of us are in trouble already.
Some of us have been guilty of committing adultery. Some of you have committed the act, some of you may not have committed the act but you slept with someone that was married. And if you haven’t done that you lusted with your eyes and Jesus said to look upon a woman and to lust in your heart is the same as committing the act. Now understand, Jesus if you read the context of what he is saying....he is addressing things that could lead up to the act of adultery or the act of murder.
Anger leads to the wrath and wrath leads to murder. And you can murder or destroy your brother or your sister WITH YOUR MOUTH! YOU CAN HURT PEOPLE WITH THE THINGS THAT YOU SAY!
You must not steal, some of us at some point may have stole. Some of us God has saved and you may not be going out shop lifting. You can cheat on your taxes and that is stealing. You can cheat on a test or a job application by lying. You can be saved, speaking in tongues, reading your bible everyday and at the same time be robbing God with your tithes and offering:
Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation. Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Now for this ignorant people that are anti-tithes, the ones that think they are real smart but are actually really dumb. We know what the word means. Yes, back then tithes wasn’t money, it was the first fruit of what you possessed. You brought 10% of what you brought in and you brought it to the house of God.
The purpose of the tithe was to give to God first, secondly the tithe was designed to take care of those who worked in the house of God. They brought corn, wine, livestock, etc.
Now we live in 2025, corn is not going to keep my lights on. I don’t drink wine, but wine, soda, water can’t pay my mortgage. You bring my the first born of your livestock, I appreciate it, but then I got to take it to the butcher....I need to first pay the butcher, and then I need a freezer to put all that meet and guess what.....a freezer runs off electricity!
So people say some real ignorant stuff because they want to listen to these false teachers that can rightly divide the word. Today we tithe 10% of our increase.......MONEY. So if I make 1500, I tithe 10% which is 150 dollars. It is simple, you move the decimal over to the left one space and that is 10%.
But the problem with some people is that they are so greedy, they complain about giving 10 percent....all God asks for is 10% and a offering.....the rest is yours.
The second problem is that WE LUST.....AND WHEN WE LUST WE ACCUMILATE BILLS TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE SO MANY BILLS THAT WE CAN’T PAY OUR TITHES. IN OTHER-WORDS, BROTHER AND SISTER YOU HAVE PUT YOURSELF BEFORE GOD.
The way that you REPENT from this, IS NOT SAYING LORD I’M SORRY BUT KEEP DOING IT. And let me say this.....IF YOU ASK SOMEONE TO GIVE YOU MONEY TO PAY YOUR TITHES THAT IS NOT PAYING TITHES. TITHES COMES FROM YOUR INCOME NOT FROM SOMEONE ELSE.
THE WAY YOU REPENT IS THAT YOU SIT DOWN LOOK AT YOUR BILLS, DISTINGUISH BETWEEN YOUR NEEDS AND YOUR WANTS. SOME THINGS YOU GONNA NEED TO LET GO OFF, SOME THINGS YOUR GOING TO HAVE TO LET THE PEOPLE TAKE IT BACK. I’D RATHER THEY TAKE IT BACK THAN FOR ME TO GO TO THE LAKE OF FIRE BECAUSE I ROB AND STEAL FROM GOD BECAUSE I DON’T PAY MY TITHES!
When you don’t pay your tithes, the scripture says “You are cursed with a curse.” You can ask me to pray for you all you want.....but won’t answer my prayer if you aren’t doing right! You are cursed with a curse.....you can get the out of town Bishop to pray for you, you can shake, fall out in the floor, run, cry, holler and dance......but it does not negate the word of God......you are cursed with a curse. You wanna get the curse off of you? You wan’t things to go right? You want overflow in your life?
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
Jesus said:
Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.
But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.
If everyone paid tithes and offering like they should first off God will take care of you. I need some witnesses in here. Secondly if everyone paid their tithes and offering, we could do some things in the church, we could hire some people to work for the church, we could employ people and people could get paid.
We wouldn’t have to struggle to raise money because the money would be there. Wouldn’t have to come up with creative ideas and have all of the services to raise money because it would be there already.
I myself I pay tithes and offering, I give back to the church so on Pastors’ week, the church still gets an offering because I tithe and pay offering right back into the church.
Jesus told the rich young, religious leader do not steal. The Lord then says “do not bear false witness”......stop telling lies on people.
The Lord tells this young man “honor your mother and you father.” Some of us have violated this. When you talk back to your Momma and Daddy.....YOU’RE IN VIOLATION OF THE WORD OF GOD. I understand that we don’t always get it right, I understand that we may falsely accuse you, but there is a way to talk to us.
Young people, learn to shut your mouth, go and pray and when the air has cleared, come back and talk to Mom and Dad about the situation. I believe that every young person has a right to tell their side of the story. If you are wrong then we can talk about why you are wrong. If we find ourselves to be in error.....then we should humble ourselves and apologize.
When you do things that bring shame to your parents.....YOU DISHONOR your mother and father. Guess what? DON’T MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.......AGE DON’T MATTER.....SHE STILL YOUR MOMMA.....HE’S STILL YOUR DADDY.
The word honor means to also “take care of”.......THEY TOOK CARE OF YOU WHEN YOU COULDN’T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF.......NOW YOU’RE GROWN......AND YOU DON’T WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THEM? YOU DON’T WANT TO BE AROUND THEM? THAT’S DISHONOR!!!
So right there.....just those few things already got some of us in trouble. I want you to do something. You won’t incriminate yourself......because everyone in here is guilty of something.....Imma give you the scripture in a minute.
Tell two people “I SHO-NUFF NEED JESUS!” I NEED A SAVIOR!!!!
The rich young ruler then tells Jesus “I’ve obeyed all these commandments since I was young.” What else is there.....I feel that there is more.
Jesus then says “There is still one thing you haven’t done. Sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
It is not about the act.....it is about the reasoning behind the act. Because he loved his money more than he did God.
To follow Jesus you have to be willing TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING!!!!!
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A MIND TO REALIZE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD ISN’T ABOUT ME.....IT’S ABOUT ME HELPING AND BLESSING OTHERS!!!! THAT’S WHY PEOPLE ARE NOT BEING SAVED LIKE THEY SHOULD.....BECAUSE WE ARE TOO STUCK ON OURSELVES TO REACH OUT TO OTHERS!
FINALLY......AFTER YOU DECIDE I’M READY TO GIVE UP EVERYTHING, AFTER YOU REALIZE THIS THING IS GREATER THAN ME, YOU GOT TO FOLLOW JESUS AND TO FOLLOW JESUS YOU HAVE TO DENY YOURSELF, TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM.
GONNA BE SOME SUFFERING, GONNA BE SOME SELF-DENIAL AND DISCIPLINE INVOLVED. YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE TO KILL SOME THINGS OFF IN YOUR LIFE......DIE TO THINGS. BUT GOD WILL RAISE.....GOD WILL EXALT YOU.
Tell three people “WE GOT TO SAVE OURSELVES”
Got to save ourselves from this on-toward generation. You need a savior.....saved or unsaved.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
But Paul says previously in this same chapter:
But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
And this is the Jesus the Peter preached on the day of Pentecost.
The day in which the Jews celebrated the giving of the law and the establishment of the nation of Israel. On this day, The LORD sent his Holy Spirit and filled those believers, those disciples of Jesus who witnessed his death and resurrection, who believed on him and in Him.
And as God sent the Law, now God has sent his spirit and established the “Church” which is the ekklesia and the word ekklesia means “the called out ones” the one in which God has called out of darkness, called out of sin, called out of disobedience and called into the marvelous light.
Bible says, that when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. They had been praying for 10 days straight. They did not leave until the received what Jesus promised them and that was to be filled with the Holy Ghost.
And that is the problem with some people.....they come to the altar a couple of times and then because they don’t receive they stop coming.
But you gotta do like the saints of old did. YOU GOTTA STAY THERE TILL YOU GET THAT HOLY GHOST POWER! You gotta come to the altar, have someone lay hands on you and pray that you receive it, you gotta PRAY, FAST, AND SEEK THE LORD UNTIL HE FILLS YOU WITH THE HOLY GHOST!
The BIBLE SAYS, that SUDDENLY, there was A SOUND FROM HEAVEN......I SAID A SOUND FROM HEAVEN AND IT WAS DESCRIBED AS A RUSHING MIGHTY WIND and it FILLED ALL.....SOMEBODY SAID ALL.....THE HOUSE WHERE THEY WERE SITTING.
See when you are locked in......when you are praying......and you’re desperate for a move of God......God will reach out and touch you!
Then Luke writes......what appeared to be cloven tongues “like” he is describing what it was like. Cloven means divided.....in otherwords, one person began to speak, then another person began to speak, and it spreaded across the room until everyone in the house was speaking in other languages.
WATCH!!! The bible says “AND THEY WERE ALL FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST, you don’t receive the Holy Ghost until the cloven tongues of fire come!!! I don’t care what the educated preacher has told you.....look at the scripture and see it for yourself!!!
THE BIBLE SAYS “AND BEGAN TO SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES.......HOW? AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM UTTERANCE......AS THE SPIRIT GAVE THEM THE ABILITY.
AND PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS UNKNOWN TONGUES AND THERE IS THE GIFT OF TONGUES. IF YOU READ THE BIBLE CORRECTLY IN ACTS WE SEE THE MANIFESTATION OF THE GIFT OF TONGUES AND ALSO UNKNOWN TONGUES (ACTS 10, ACTS 19).
LET’S GET OUT OF HERE.
CONCLUSION:
The room got so loud, they praised God so loud.....tell your neighbor....”You ought to let your praise ring out.” I got so loud that people all over the city descended upon the house. They were amazed, because these unlearned people were speaking fluently in their own language. What were they saying?
THEY WERE PRAISING GOD!!! SPEAKING IN OUR LANGUAGE THE WONDERFUL WORKS OF GOD!!! WHEN YOU ARE FILLED WITH THE HOLY GHOST AND GOD MOVES ON YOU......YOU’LL PRAISE HIM!!!!
Some people were amazed, some were confused and that is usually what happens when someone that hasn’t been exposed to the Pentecostal way feels. Some are afraid. No need in being afraid......the Holy Ghost is WONDERFUL!!!
Others mock, and it is the same today......those that don’t have it like we have....will mock and preach against it. Tell us, we out of order, tell us we crazy.......nah, nah, nah......I’m fully sane and in my right mind.
They said these people are drunk....because when you get the Holy Ghost good......and when you really let the Holy Ghost have it’s way....it’ll make you drunk in the Spirit!
Peter stood up filled with the Holy Ghost and said “These are not drunk as you suppose seeing it’s only 9 o’clock in the morning.....no one drinks that early in the morning.
BUT THIS IS THAT THAT WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHET JOEL “And is shall come to pass IN THE LAST DAYS” THE DAYS BEFORE THE END OF TIME.....THE DAYS BEFORE THE LORD RETURNS TO RAPTURE THE CHURCH, THE DAYS BEFORE ALL MANKIND SHALL STAND BEFORE THE LORD AND GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF THE DEADS DONE IN THEIR BODIES.....I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh.” And stop.
YOU NEED TO KNOW THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD HAS BEEN POURED OUT UPON ALL FLESH.....TELL SOMEONE IT’S ON YOU RIGHT NOW!!! YOU JUST NEED TO OPEN UP AND LET HIM IN!!!! YOU JUST NEED TO BELIEVE AND RECEIVE IT!!!
AND THEY SHALL PROPHESY, and your young men shall see visions, and your old man shall dream dreams: and on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy.
WATCH THIS PART.....THIS IS THE OVERLOOKED PART:
AND I WILL SHEW WONDERS IN HEAVEN ABOVE, AND SIGNS IN THE EARTH BENEATH; BLOOD, AND FIRE......AND FIRE....AND VAPOUR AND SMOKE: THE SUN SHALL BE TURNED INTO DARKNESS, AND THE MOON INTO BLOOD, BEFORE THAT GREAT AND NOTABLE DAY OF THE LORD COME
SOMEBODY HOLLER OUT JUDGEMENT DAY! AND IT DON’T MATTER HOW GOOD YOU THINK YOU BEEN.....YOU’RE STILL A SINNER.....AND IF YOU DON’T REPENT OF YOUR SINS......IF YOU DON’T FULLY TURN TO GOD.....GOD IS GOING TO JUDGE YOU.
THE JEWS UNDERSTOOD THIS. THEY THOUGHT MAN WE ARE IN TROUBLE.....BUT PETER STARTS TO PREACH HOPE....AND THAT HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRIST!
PETER SAYS “AND IT SHALL COME TO PASS THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED!”
BELOVED OF GOD, DON’T YOU KNOW WHEN YOU BELIEVE THE GOSPEL, REPENT OF YOUR SINS, TURN TO GOD, AND RECEIVE WATER BAPTISM IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS YOU ARE CALLING ON JESUS!!!!
IF YOU WERE BAPTIZED AND SOME CALLED TITLES OVER YOU BUT NOT THE NAME......THAT DOESN’T COUNT! YOU HAVE TO CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD......WHEN WE INVOKE THE NAME OF JESUS BEFORE YOU GO INTO THE WATER WE ARE CALLING ON THE NAME OF THE LORD.....AND THE BIBLE SAYS....YOU SHALL BE SAVED!
Peter then says, Jesus of Nazareth, an man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders, and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you (you seen it yourselves).
Him being delivered by God’s prearranged plan which was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. And by wicked hans have crucified and slain: But God raised him up, God resurrected him, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Later Peter proclaims in verse 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” Are there any TRUE WITNESSES IN THE HOUSE?
Peter then says.....in such a way “You rejected him, but let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom YOU CRUCIFIED, THE BE BOTH LORD AND CHRIST!!!”
AND WHEN THEY HEARD THIS, THEY REALIZED THAT THEY MESSED UP, WHEN THEY REALIZED THIS, THEY REALIZED THAT THEY NEEDED TO RIGHT THIS WRONG, WHEN THEY HEARD THE WORD, THEY WERE CONVICTED IN THEIR HEART. AND WHEN GOD’S WORD FINDS YOU AND IT TOUCHES YOU.....YOU NEED TO RESPOND!!!!
WE REALIZE THIS MORNING WE NEED A SAVIOR.....WE NEED JESUS. IF YOU REALIZE YOU NEED JESUS AND YOU’RE NOT SAVED.....WHAT DO YOU DO TO RIGHT THE WRONGS IN YOUR LIFE. YOU DON’T WANT TO BE JUDGED AND FALL INTO THE WRATH OF GOD.....PREACHER....TELL ME WHAT TO DO.
Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation. Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.
