Participants: John Lomacang
Series Code: 15WAC
Program Code: 15WAC000009A
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00:32 We need wisdom, We need power,
00:36 True love for each other. 00:39 We have had so many big, but empty words, 00:46 So we come before Your face asking for Your grace. 00:53 Bring Your people to a state of kingdom light 00:59 restore Your church again. 01:03 Touch Your people once again, 01:10 with Your precious holy hand we pray. 01:17 Let Your kingdom shine upon this earth, 01:23 through a living and glorious church. 01:31 Not for temporary deeds, 01:37 but to restore authority and power. 01:46 Let a mighty rushing wind blow in, 01:55 and touch Your people once again. 02:00 Lord, You see Your tired servants, 02:08 and Your broken wounded soldiers, 02:11 Oh how much we need Your precious healing hand. 02:17 We need the power of the cross as the only source for us, 02:25 when we stand facing final battle's prize 02:31 restore Your church again. 02:35 Touch Your people once again, 02:42 With Your precious holy hand we pray, 02:49 Let Your kingdom shine upon this earth, 02:56 through a living and glorious church. 03:03 Not for temporary deeds, 03:10 but to restore authority and power. 03:17 Let a mighty rushing wind blow in, 03:27 touch Your people once again. 03:34 Let that mighty rushing 03:37 wind blow in... 03:45 and touch Your people once again. 04:17 The message is entitled: "FALSE ARMOR" 04:20 What's the message title? "FALSE ARMOR" 04:23 If you have your Bibles today, 04:24 go with me to the book of Ephesians. 04:26 Paul knows about false armor. 04:30 Ephesians 6, and we're going to consider verse 11. 04:34 "Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand 04:39 against the wiles of the devil." 04:46 In 2006, January 7th, I read a New York Times article. 04:54 It was a pentagon study linking the fatalities 04:59 of many of the American soldiers to the frailty of 05:02 the body armor that they were given 05:04 when they were in the Middle East. 05:06 Listen to the article... 05:08 It says, "A secret Pentagon study has found 05:12 that as many as 80% of the Marines that had been killed 05:17 in Iraq, from wounds to the upper body, 05:21 could have survived if they had better body armor. 05:28 Such armor had been available to a strange part since 2003, 05:34 but until recently, the Pentagon had largely 05:37 declined to supply it to the troupes, 05:40 despite calls from the field for better protection, 05:44 according to military officials. 05:48 The vulnerability of the military body armor 05:50 has been known since the start of the war." 05:55 In other words, they knew that before they sent 05:57 their troops to the battlefield, that there was a defect 06:00 in their body armor. 06:02 It was not up to par. 06:03 It was not the best body armor, but they sent them anyway. 06:07 Eighty percent of the casualties could have been prevented 06:10 if they had better body armor... 06:13 And the soldiers knew it, and they begged for 06:16 better body armor, but the leaders prevented 06:19 giving them this better body armor. 06:29 They say they had known since the beginning of the war, 06:35 and it is a part of a series of problems 06:38 that have surrounded the protection of American troops. 06:43 Now allow me today, to use some exegeses. 06:51 I'm suggesting to you today that there would be 06:55 less fatalities in the Adventist Church 06:58 if pastors were giving their members better body armor. 07:06 If you didn't hear the article carefully, 07:09 your ought to know that Satan has known from 07:12 the beginning of the war, that anybody 07:15 that's not covered with the whole armor of God, 07:18 is covered with false armor. 07:21 If there's anything that we need in these last days, 07:25 is better body armor. What do ya say? 07:29 The armor was available, 07:31 but the request for protection was denied 07:35 One of my prayers today is that pastors 07:37 would hear the cry of their members. 07:40 They would hear the heart of their members. 07:42 I have traveled far and wide with my wife and I together, 07:45 and so often, we have left the fields of work, 07:48 concerned about what's going to happen 07:50 to the membership after we're gone because the members 07:52 have been saying, "We are hungry, we are starving." 07:56 We have to send to America and to different parts 07:59 of the world to hear good, solid, scriptural sermons. 08:02 We want better body armor, but our pastors, 08:05 and our leaders are just not listening. 08:07 Brothers, God is going to hold us accountable 08:11 if we put our members in the field, 08:14 on the battlefield for the Lord 08:15 without better body armor. What do ya say? 08:18 The weakness of the armor must be a focal point 08:22 of anyone called to be a general in the army of God. 08:27 Whether you know it or not, the most intense war to face 08:30 this planet is now in the planning stages. 08:32 If you think it's bad now, it's going to get worse 08:34 before Jesus comes. 08:37 The battle that is being put together by 08:38 the forces of hell, will erase the memory of 08:42 all other battles that have ever been fought. 08:45 The final showdown between heaven and earth 08:47 is on the horizon. 08:49 Listen how Ellen White describes this 08:51 in the book, "Our Father Cares," p.246 08:55 She says, "A terrible contest is before us. 08:59 We are nearing the battle of the great day of God Almighty. 09:03 That which has been held in control, is to be let loose. 09:07 The earth is to be the battlefield, 09:10 the scene of the final contest and the final victory. 09:13 This is the part of the sentence I like... 09:15 She says, "Here, where for so long, Satan has led 09:19 men against God, rebellion will be forever suppressed." 09:23 Come on, say, "Amen," somebody. 09:24 God is going to win! 09:26 As-a-matter-of-fact, let me re-phrase that... 09:28 "He has already won." 09:29 The battle was won at the cross, 09:31 but the devil knows he has a short time. 09:33 He's pulling every stop out, hoping somehow, 09:37 to keep us unprepared for that final showdown 09:40 between darkness and light, truth and error. 09:43 If ever there was a time that we need to have 09:46 the best armor, it is today, and why not? 09:49 If you go into the Word of God, this is the best armor. 09:52 Can somebody say, "Amen." 09:53 What about a halleluiah? 09:55 This is the best body armor! 09:57 I remember a story of a man that went into battle, 09:59 and before he went into battle, his wife gave him a 10:03 small pocket Bible... You may have heard the story. 10:05 And while he was on the battlefield, 10:07 and the bullets were flying, he sustained a thump 10:11 to his chest, and in his mind, he thought, "This is it," 10:15 only to regain his consciousness to discover that the bullet 10:20 had found the Bible that his wife had given him, 10:23 and it did not penetrate the Bible. 10:25 Come on somebody... 10:26 I want to tell you today, the devil got some 10:28 sharp bullets, but they'll never penetrate the Word of God. 10:31 Carry the Bible in your heart. 10:33 David, the psalmist, said it wonderfully... 10:34 "Thy Word have I hid in my heart, 10:37 that I might not sin against thee." 10:38 The only protection today is having God's Word, 10:41 not on your shelf, but in your mind and in your heart, 10:44 and practiced out in your life. 10:46 When you look at the writings of the Apostle Paul, 10:48 He is so familiar... You know he tells us that 10:51 we are up against the wiles of the devil, 10:54 and when I looked at that verse and I began to analyze it, 10:57 I discovered what he wasn't saying... 11:00 He was not saying that we are against a wild devil, 11:04 he is saying we are up against the wiles of the devil. 11:09 Go to Revelation 12:17, notice this... 11:12 Revelation 12:17... if you can give me just a little more 11:16 microphone, I'd appreciate it, in the house. 11:18 Just a little bit more. 11:19 I'd appreciate that very much - thank you. 11:22 Revelation 12:17- Not a wild devil, 11:26 but the wiles of the devil. 11:28 The Bible says in Revelation 12:17- 11:31 And I'm reading this from the King James Version. 11:33 And I have various translations throughout my sermon, 11:36 but I like it best in the King James Version 11:39 for this particular text. 11:41 The Bible says, "And the dragon was wroth with the woman, 11:44 and went to make war with the remnant of her seed 11:48 which keep the commandments of God and have the 11:51 testimony of Jesus." 11:53 The wiles of the devil. 11:55 Now let's define the word "wiles." 11:58 The word "wiles" is defined as such: Trickery, a con, 12:05 a hoax, a scam, a ploy, a stunt, deception and subterfuge. 12:11 In other words, the devil uses whatever he can 12:14 to refocus our attention away from that which is the issue, 12:17 to that which is not the issue. 12:20 He does that in church sometimes. 12:22 He comes to church and... Every time I get up to preach, 12:24 I always see it on Sabbath morning. 12:26 All of a sudden, people that have been wide awake 12:28 before the sermon, all of a sudden these benches 12:31 become St. Mattress Cathedral. 12:35 They just fall asleep, and when the sermon is done, 12:37 they're wide awake again. 12:39 What a lot of people don't know, and Ellen White 12:41 talks about this... She says, "During the sermon 12:42 the angels - Satan's angels are wafting their wings softly 12:48 among the congregation, trying to waft us to sleep, 12:52 bring us to a place of stupor that we miss the message 12:55 that God intended just for us." 12:58 So that's why Paul says, and that's why Peter 13:00 backs him up... "Be sober, be vigilant because your 13:02 adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion 13:06 seeking whom he may devour." 13:08 We've got to be urgent. 13:09 We must be awake in these times in which we live. 13:13 Whether you know it or not, Satan is using complex 13:15 contraptions and elaborate plans to pursue us. 13:20 His intentions is to get us to fall into a trap 13:23 that would result in our own destruction. 13:26 Subterfuge, scams, trickery, deception 13:30 are aimed at the commandment-keeping church, 13:33 and many are becoming casualties because they 13:36 prefer false armor. 13:39 In preparation for this message, I read an article 13:42 a young man had put together. 13:44 An article about the deficiencies that he finds in 13:47 Christianity, and I'll share some of those with you today. 13:51 Very insightful, very... it opened my eyes 13:54 as a pastor that liked to see new material. 13:57 It gave me foundation to present an old message 14:00 with new garments, and he pointed out 14:03 how we are able to detect false armor. 14:07 As-a-matter-of-fact, let me begin by saying, 14:09 "One of the evidences that your armor is false, 14:12 is the claim not to teach doctrine." 14:15 Now follow this very carefully, go with me to 1 Timothy 4:1 14:19 The evidence that your armor is false is to claim 14:23 that you do not teach doctrine. 1 Timothy 4:1 14:31 False armor is described or disguised under many 14:35 false claims and the first one is the claim 14:38 not to teach doctrine. 14:39 There are a lot of churches like that nowadays. 14:41 They say come to our church, we don't teach doctrines. 14:44 Well if you use the Bible, the word "doctrines" 14:46 is simply another word for "teaching." 14:49 The only way that your church does not teach 14:51 doctrines is if it has deleted 14:53 the use of God's Word altogether. 14:56 But notice what Paul says, 15:00 1 Timothy 4:1- The Bible says, 15:04 "Now the Spirit expressly says that in 15:07 the latter times, some will depart from the faith 15:11 giving heed to seducing spirits, and, what else church? 15:16 ... doctrines of devils or doctrines of demons," 15:18 as the New King James Version says. 15:20 Satan introduces false doctrines under the disguise 15:25 of non-denominationalism. 15:27 Now let's think about that for a moment... 15:30 If you go to the bank... 15:31 I've got some money - not giving it out. 15:34 I've got a 5 and a 1, I've got a 20, 15:38 I don't have a 10... 15:40 Maybe somebody can give me a 10 after church today. 15:44 Here's my concept... 15:46 There is no such thing as as non-denominationalism! 15:50 You go to any bank and you ask for money. 15:52 They say, "In what denominations would you like that?" 15:55 And then you say, "I don't want any denominations." 15:57 They say, "Sir, ma'am, you can only get money 16:00 in a specific denomination." 16:02 "But I don't want denominations, 16:03 I do want money, but no denomination." 16:06 You can't get a $5 bill, except in a $5 denomination. 16:10 You cannot get a $1 bill, except a $1 denomination, 16:13 and so on and so forth. 16:15 So when a church says that it's nondenominational, 16:18 and it claims to have the Bible, you better run for the hills. 16:21 Come on, say "Amen." 16:23 Because it is a subterfuge, it is a sham, 16:27 it is a hoax. 16:28 You cannot be a Christian church and claim 16:31 to not be connected to some denomination. 16:34 About 20 or 25 years ago when I was in the 16:36 Heritage Singers, and we went down to Southern California, 16:38 some of you may remember, Dr. Robert Schuller... 16:42 A very well-known man, the Crystal Cathedral 16:44 in Southern California. 16:45 I went to his church... we went there not to listen to 16:48 sermons, but we had a concert there... 16:50 And when I also went there with Pacific Press 16:52 to give my testimony, I went to the foyer, 16:56 and his church claimed to be nondenominational... 16:58 He said, "We don't teach doctrines here." 17:01 But I went to the foyer and picked up one of their 17:03 bulletins, the church bulletins, 17:05 and I read the following... 17:06 It says, "While we are a nondenominational congregation, 17:11 we teach the doctrines of the holy Catholic Church." 17:16 And I thought, "There it is, you gotta read the fine print." 17:19 Help me out somebody. 17:21 It's hidden somewhere. 17:23 There is no such thing as non-denominationalism. 17:26 As-a-matter-of-fact, the evidence of that is 17:29 in checking out the armor. 17:30 Notice 1 Samuel 17:38-39, the Bible warns us 17:36 not to handle anything that has not been tested. 17:39 Notice Saul and David in this wonderful exchange... 17:43 1 Samuel 17:38-39... and I must move fast today 17:47 because the clock is not my friend. 17:49 Verse 38 of 1 Samuel 17, And the Bible says, 17:55 "So Saul clothed David with his armor, 17:59 and he put bronze helmet on his head. 18:02 He also clothed him with a coat of mail. 18:05 David fastened his sword to his armor and tried to walk. 18:10 He did what... church? He tried to walk. 18:13 I gotta make application right there. 18:16 If that armor is not for you, 18:18 you ain't going to be able to walk in it. 18:23 And the reason he could not walk, the Bible says, 18:26 for he had not tested them. 18:28 And David said to Saul... these are powerful theological words. 18:33 "I cannot walk in these armors. 18:34 I cannot walk with these for I have not tested them. 18:38 So David took them off." 18:41 Brothers and sisters, it's time to take off some of this 18:44 stuff that has not been tested 18:46 by the Word of God. What do you say? 18:47 If the message does not pass the test of the Scriptures, 18:51 do not put it on! 18:53 And nowadays, we're bringing all kinds of things in here, 18:55 but that's why Paul, the Apostle says, 18:57 "Test all things; hold fast to that which is good." 19:01 If it does not pass the Scriptural test, 19:05 don't put it on. 19:07 As-a-matter-of-fact, when one is afraid to test 19:09 what he believes, it's false armor. 19:10 When the Bible does not support what one believes, 19:13 it is false armor. 19:16 But he goes on to point out false armor evidence #2 19:20 This one really caught my attention. 19:22 The second way that you could know that your armor is false 19:25 is in accepting the re-packaged lie. 19:30 Write that down... Accepting the re-packaged lie. 19:34 This is powerful... What re-packaged lie? 19:37 Satan is not only the father of lies, 19:40 he also is the author of confusion. 19:43 And today, neopaganism can be found in many 19:47 so-called Christian movements. 19:49 Now somebody may say, "What on earth is neopaganism?" 19:53 Follow me carefully... Neopaganism is the claim 19:57 to be spiritual while not being scriptural. 20:01 Neopaganism - the claim to be spiritual, 20:03 while not being scriptural. 20:05 That's why Paul says, "In the last days... 20:08 giving the list of the signs, he says, "In the last days 20:11 there will be a form of godliness, 20:14 but denying the power thereof... and what does he say? 20:16 From such what should we do? Turn away." 20:21 If it's not supported by God's Word, 20:23 it is a re-packaged lie, but let me even go further than that. 20:27 The re-packaged lie teaches that in spite of your choices, 20:32 you will not surely die, but the Bible teaches 20:36 the wages of sin is what? Death 20:38 The re-packaged lie... no matter what you choose 20:40 to do, you will not surely die. 20:42 That's why I'm sick and tired... every time somebody dies, 20:45 every time somebody famous dies, where are they? In heaven! 20:49 Michael Jackson is in heaven. 20:51 And so is Liberace... he's in heaven now. 20:54 And Sammy Davis, Jr., and Frank Sinatra - in heaven now. 20:58 Elvis is... in heaven with Michael Jackson. 21:03 The re-packaged lie - no matter what you do, 21:05 everybody is going to go to heaven. 21:07 As-a-matter-of-fact, years ago, there was a movie 21:08 called, "All Dogs Go to Heaven." 21:13 On that note, let me clear something up... 21:14 You may not have thought about this, but check it out... 21:16 I've done my homework. 21:17 I won't mention in public had I not done my homework... 21:20 People ask, "Will my animals be in heaven?" 21:23 Let me answer that question scripturally.. No they won't be. 21:27 They will be in the new earth... 21:29 Because we answer these questions often without even 21:31 asking ourselves the question... 21:33 "How will animals get to heaven?" 21:36 Are they going in the first resurrection? 21:38 Or the second resurrection? 21:40 They're not going in the second resurrection, 21:42 and Jesus is coming back for the righteous 21:45 who are living and dead. 21:46 He's not coming back for dogs and cats and horses. Amen 21:50 But in the new earth, it's not unlike God that if you have a 21:54 pet that died - it's not unlike God to make sure 21:57 that your pet that you love is in the new earth! 21:59 Come on somebody! 22:01 But I'm not going to heaven because my doggie is going 22:03 to be there, I'm going to heaven 22:04 because Jesus is going to be there. 22:06 I know what it's like sometimes the kids ask... 22:09 "Pastor, is my puppy going to be in heaven?" 22:10 I said, "No, but he might be in the new earth." 22:13 Let me make it very clear, whether he's in heaven, 22:15 or whether he is in the new earth, 22:16 whether he's not in either, I can guarantee you 22:19 that you'll be a whole lot happier then, than you are now! 22:23 Another way that you could know the package lie, 22:26 the lie has been re-packaged is when you are taught 22:29 that your beliefs and my beliefs, though different, 22:33 result in salvation for both of us. 22:35 That amazes me! 22:37 This is how the wall between 22:39 denominations are being broken down. 22:41 You know, a lot of our doctors in our church are 22:44 hobnobbing with doctors of other denominations, 22:46 and they get so constipated over their doctoral title, 22:50 that they forget their scriptural responsibility. 22:53 I went to one of our colleges once and I heard 22:56 "doctor" being thrown around so much... 22:57 "Hi doctor" so and so and doctor so and so, 22:59 I got so sick, I needed a doctor. 23:06 Your beliefs and my beliefs must be the same... 23:09 in harmony with God's Word 23:11 if they will result in salvation for both. 23:13 Another way that you can know that the lie has been 23:15 re-packaged is... when you fall for the idea that 23:19 all that matters is that we love Jesus. 23:22 Sounds just like the Beatles... 23:24 "All we need is love, love..." 23:29 Now brethren, it begins with the love of God... 23:31 You better love Jesus, but you cannot love Jesus 23:35 and not keep His commandments. Come on somebody... 23:37 People say, "Well it doesn't matter you believe 23:39 and what I believe as long as we love the Lord." 23:42 Well the Bible says, "Not everyone that says to me, 23:44 "Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven." 23:46 You cannot close your eyes and ears to the direction 23:50 that God has given you and say, 23:51 "I'm going to end up in heaven anyhow." 23:53 Go to Isaiah 4:1, quickly now... 23:55 I'm going to read it while you're going there. 23:58 Isaiah 4:1- a very big book, very easy to find. 24:03 The Bible is speaking of the last days says, 24:05 "And in that day, 7 women shall take hold of one man 24:10 saying, "We will eat our own bread... 24:14 I'm reading from the King James Version now... 24:16 "We will eat our own bread and wear our own apparel, 24:21 only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach." 24:26 Seven women - how amazing that God uses the #7. 24:30 Seven churches, 7 women, 7 churches. 24:34 We will eat our own bread, we have our own way of 24:37 feeding ourselves; we have our own doctrines; our own bread. 24:40 We have our own apparel, our own standards of righteousness. 24:43 All we want from You, Lord, is the name "Christian." 24:46 If we can get the label, 24:48 the world won't look at us with reproach. 24:51 Let me say something to you... 24:52 The world knows what Christians ought to do. 24:55 My wife and I travel quite often sometimes in South Africa 24:59 I remember meeting a pastor down in South Africa 25:02 we were on our way to Johannesburg, I think a 25:04 few years ago, and he was on the same plane going 25:08 but he did not tell us until we met him at the terminal 25:12 on the same plane coming back. 25:14 He said, "I saw you when you were going to Johannesburg, 25:17 but I didn't want to upset you or interrupt you 25:19 or bother you, but I wanted to let you know 25:22 that even though we meet in Johannesburg, I also 25:25 live in southern Illinois, 25:28 and I also watch 3ABN. 25:31 Now some people don't think that where they 25:33 go in the world, that God does not have a cloud 25:35 of witnesses continually watching them. 25:38 That's why I take my wife everywhere! 25:43 Because you know, some people, you meet folk, 25:45 and they want to take pictures, nothing wrong with that, 25:47 and they want to get friendly and hug you. 25:48 I don't want any rumors to begin in any country 25:51 that my wife and I are on separate pages. 25:56 I think you know what I mean. 25:58 Anybody I'm hugging and kissing 26:01 would have been married to me for 31 years. 26:07 The Bible says they want their reproach to be taken away. 26:10 If you believe that you love the Lord, 26:12 you gotta follow His instruction. 26:14 As-a-matter-of-fact, let me even give you a 26:15 practical way to remember this. 26:17 You may love to drive, but if you don't follow the 26:19 turn-by-turn directions, you will be lost. 26:23 You can drive and love to drive, 26:25 but you must follow the instructions 26:28 that are being given to you. 26:29 My wife and I, we bought a GPS a number of years ago, 26:32 and the voice that was in the GPS, that was announcing 26:37 the turn-by-turn directions, was an American voice. 26:40 And they chose a horrible female American voice. 26:44 And it was just, you know when we'd miss our turn 26:45 she'd say, "Recalculate," and I thought, 26:50 "Man, she has an attitude, I'm sick and tired of her saying, 26:52 I'm sick and tired of her saying, "Recalculate." 26:55 So we went in and chose different voice. 26:58 We chose a British voice and she said, "Recalculating." 27:02 And I thought, "That sounds a whole lot better." 27:05 You see brothers and sisters, if we're going in the wrong 27:07 direction, you have to have the right attitude to tell 27:10 people they're going in the wrong direction. 27:12 Many of us know we're going in the wrong direction... 27:14 I don't need to beat you up to tell you that. 27:16 I just need to say... "recalculating." 27:20 The good news is if you're going in the wrong direction, 27:22 God allows U-turns, what do you say... 27:24 You see, Isaiah 30:21 says, 27:26 "You shall hear a word behind you." 27:29 God speaking through His word. 27:31 God's positioning system. 27:32 You will hear a word behind you saying, 27:35 "This is the way, walk ye in it, 27:38 whenever you turn to the right, or turn to the left." 27:42 God wants to make sure that 27:43 we make our final destination, what do you say... 27:46 The third way that you can 27:47 know that you have false armor is this... 27:49 This is powerful! 27:50 Blurred distinctions, say that with me. 27:54 "Blurred distinctions." 27:56 Now I've seen some of you guys with your wonderful 27:58 cameras and many of us just have a good old phone, 28:02 iPhone or android phone, and more and more 28:05 really good cameras are being left in the store, 28:08 and many of us are settling for our iPhones 28:10 and our android phones because we can post to the Facebook 28:13 and Instagram right away. 28:16 But hear my point, I think in this particular 28:18 instance, I have to use the analogy of a professional camera 28:22 You see, in photography, you can blur a sharp 28:27 picture, but you cannot sharpen a blurred picture. 28:35 Now I'm coming at ya, ya ready? 28:38 It's getting blurry when the messages and priorities 28:42 of the remnant church are indistinguishable 28:45 from the message and priorities of other churches, 28:47 it's getting blurry. 28:49 It's getting blurry when the commandment-keeping 28:51 Christian starts dressing like the world.. it's getting blurry. 28:56 My wife was down in Kenya with me last year, 28:59 in Nairobi, Kenya and one of the greatest compliments... 29:02 My wife is not an extreme person, 29:04 she doesn't walk around like she just ate a bag of garlic. 29:07 You know, some folk look so out of context. 29:11 They look almost unpleasant. 29:13 God does not want it. Read about Ellen White. 29:15 Ellen White talks about dress. 29:16 She says, "We should not be so out of step with the 29:20 day in which we live that we look repulsive to the gospel. 29:23 But a young lady came to my wife and another young lady 29:26 joined her and she said, "You know what, 29:27 we were concerned when we heard that you were coming from 29:30 America to our camp meeting - because we know that 29:33 American women dress a certain way that we don't support 29:36 done here in Nairobi, Kenya. 29:37 We want to thank you for being an example 29:42 to us as young ladies." Amen, somebody? 29:45 You see Church, we gotta... some of the young ladies 29:47 have to keep in mind that some of these 29:49 young men want to make heaven too. 29:55 You may come to church on Sabbath morning 29:57 thinking about Jesus, but if you mess his mind up 29:59 and he can't think about Jesus the moment he sees you, 30:02 something's wrong! 30:05 Just recently on Facebook there was a young lady 30:07 who declared that she is no longer going to wear those 30:10 Lycra Spandex tight, black, pants. 30:13 Anybody know what I'm talking about? 30:15 And read this on Facebook my wife will, 30:18 you know, she'll - whatever you call it, go to her page. 30:24 She'll share it. 30:25 I was amazed by the article. 30:26 A young, beautiful lady, 25 years old, 30:29 she heard other women discussing the discomfort that they 30:35 received from comments of other men when they saw them 30:37 in these tight, stocking-like pants that are being 30:42 worn by so many women nowadays. 30:44 So just to get her bearing and her calibration, 30:48 she said to her husband, "Now honey, what do you think 30:51 when you see a woman in these 30:53 black, tight, leotard-type pants?" 30:56 He said, "Honey, I want to be honest with you. 30:58 It's hard for me not to look, but I don't look, he said." 31:03 Yeah - right... want to fix that between he and his wife. 31:07 He said, "It's hard not to look." 31:11 And you know what she said, 31:12 She said that made her get rid of 31:14 all her tight-fitting, black pants - the leotard type 31:20 that you see in the mall, and, unfortunately, 31:22 sometimes you see in the church. 31:25 And people began to attack this young lady 31:29 for the decision she made. 31:30 They called her "extreme." 31:32 They said she's like a Muslim extremist. 31:35 They began to attack her. 31:36 She said, "I'm not telling you what to do. 31:38 I just want my husband to understand that when I 31:42 leave the house, I want to be respected by other men 31:45 like my husband respects me when I'm at home. Amen somebody. 31:48 So ladies, you gotta remember that God has created 31:52 men to be stimulated by what they see. 31:56 In our class this week, I talked to that about my young men. 31:59 I said, you know, be careful what you watch on television. 32:03 Maybe the television could be a temptation, 32:06 but they should not come to church being tempted 32:08 when they try to worship God. Amen somebody... 32:11 It's getting blurry when Sabbath morning messages 32:13 sound like Sunday morning messages... Amen lights 32:20 It's getting blurry when evolution is taught in 32:23 Christian institutions. 32:25 It's getting blurry when the emerging church is pushing 32:27 the abandonment of denominational labels. 32:31 And calling themselves, not a movement, but a conversation. 32:36 What you need to know is the demolition of the Bible-based 32:39 Christian is gaining momentum. 32:41 Satan is seeking to demolish the Bible-based churches. 32:45 If you are Bible-based, you almost are getting to the 32:48 place where you are irrelevant, where you don't count, 32:51 where you're out of step, you're out of date. 32:55 It's getting blurry when spiritual formation and 32:57 contemplative prayer suggests that I look within myself 33:00 to find spiritual peace. 33:01 When I look within myself, I remember what Paul says... 33:04 "In me that is in my flesh, dwells no good thing." 33:07 I need to find my peace in Jesus - what about you? 33:10 Don't look in yourself, you'll get more disgusted 33:13 the longer you look. 33:15 It's getting blurry when women's ordination 33:17 is discussed with more passion than evangelism. 33:19 Come on help me out. 33:20 All this time wasted on women's ordination. 33:27 You gotta just listen to Charissa Fong preach! 33:31 She ain't tripping over women's ordination, 33:32 but she can preach better than many preachers I know. 33:35 You know why? Because God anointed her! 33:38 You gotta pray for the anointing, 33:40 and for the Holy Spirit. 33:41 You don't need a badge or a certificate to be used by God. 33:46 Come on somebody. 33:47 Sometimes with all these issues in the church, 33:50 sometimes I can almost hear Jesus weeping saying, 33:52 "I want My church back." 33:57 If the message is not clear, deception is not identifiable. 34:02 That's why Paul says, "For if the trumpet makes an uncertain 34:06 sound, who will prepare for battle." 1 Corinthians 14:8 34:11 It is too late to be blurry, 34:13 that is why I title my Wednesday night Bible study, 34:17 that is seen all over the world, I call it, "A Sharper Focus." 34:21 We ought to get sharper, right - my brother? 34:22 We ought to get sharper... 34:24 The closer we get to the coming of Christ, 34:26 our messages need to get sharper and sharper and sharper. 34:29 There's a young lady in Glen Burnie, Maryland, 34:32 who keeps in touch with my wife every month, 34:34 and she sent us a letter - she came to camp meeting 34:37 finally down to 3ABN this last camp meeting, 34:40 and she said to me, she said, "You know what, 34:42 she said, I cannot tell you how much I owe you. 34:46 Because 2 years ago when you began "A Sharper Focus" 34:51 on Wednesday night, she said, "I was not an Adventist," 34:53 but I began to watch it and she says "I owe it to you for being 34:57 clear and straight and loving about these doctrines 35:00 that I did not even understand. 35:02 She says, "I am an Adventist now because of your faithfulness 35:05 to the preaching of God's Word." 35:07 Brothers and sisters, it's too late to be blurry. 35:10 The Word of God is quick and powerful and sharper 35:13 than any 2-edged sword. Remember this... 35:16 A sharp sword will eliminate a blurry message. 35:20 Evidence #4 that you have on false armor. 35:27 And I'll just read it. 35:29 "Christian leaders, he said, and Christian organizations 35:33 are more and more likely, themselves, 35:36 to yoke themselves with unbiblical pagan groups 35:41 and movements which set the followers up for 35:44 synthesis, synchronism and compromise of 35:49 the doctrines and priorities. 35:50 In other words, he ends by saying, 35:52 "So what fellowship does light have with darkness?" 35:55 And Paul, the apostle says in 2 Corinthians 6:14, 35:58 I'll break that down even more clearly... He says, 36:01 "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers." 36:03 And he was not just talking about marriage. 36:06 "For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness, 36:09 and what communion has light with darkness? 36:11 You see brethren, since God warns against being 36:14 unequally yoked, it is Satan's plan to create 36:18 an unequally yoked connection between those who 36:21 don't believe the message, 36:23 and those who do believe the message, and you know what? 36:25 Whenever you get together with somebody that 36:27 does not believe your message, it never results in 36:30 them becoming converted, unless you are so strong, 36:33 that they cannot bend your convictions. 36:35 And most cases, when there's a unity between 36:38 darkness and light, darkness wins! 36:42 That's the kind of world we live in, 36:43 but let me show you how... Go to 1 Samuel 28:7-10 36:46 This is a powerful analogy of how this works, 36:49 and how Satan is accomplishing it. 36:53 1 Samuel 28:7-10- You remember the story of Saul 36:56 when he went down to the witch of Endor? 36:58 This is a powerful story! 36:59 I read this story many, many, many times, 37:02 but when I was working on this sermon, 37:04 God turned on a new light and gave me a new angle 37:07 on how this is now affecting 37:09 the church that He loves so dearly. 37:13 Then Saul said in 1 Samuel 28:7, "Then Saul said to his servants, 37:20 "Find me a woman who is a medium." 37:23 Now those of you that are theological, 37:25 you know that in prophecy, a woman represents the church. 37:28 "Find me a woman that is a medium that I may go 37:32 to her and inquire of her, and his servant said to him, 37:36 "In fact, there is a woman who is a medium at Endor." 37:40 So Saul disguised himself and put on other garments. 37:47 And he went and two men with him, 37:51 and they came to the woman by night." 37:55 Oh, so much spiritual significance here... 37:56 I could hear Charissa getting a sermon ready for this one. 38:00 "And he said, "Please conduct a séance for me, 38:05 and bring up for me the one I shall name to you." 38:09 "Then the woman said to him, "Look, you know what Saul 38:13 has done, how he has cut off the mediums and the 38:15 spiritists from the land." 38:17 "Why then do you lay a snare for my life to cause me to die?" 38:22 And this blew me away... 38:24 Saul, a man once chosen by God, said to a witch, 38:28 "And Saul swore to her by the Lord, saying, 38:32 "As the Lord lives, no punishment shall come 38:35 upon you for this thing." 38:37 Now here are the 3 things that we can extract from that... 38:40 Tell your neighbor to listen. 38:41 Say, "Listen, Saul hid his identity. 38:47 He was a godly king, but he hid his identity. 38:50 He did no longer look like a godly king. 38:53 He hid his identity, received demonic aid, 38:57 and then promised divine protection to a 39:01 satanic representative. 39:03 That's powerful... think about that! 39:05 A godly man seeking... hiding his identity. 39:11 I cannot forget - I remember one pastor was on an airplane 39:15 traveling and he was sitting next to a lady that 39:17 he did not know would end up where he was going. 39:19 And she turned to him and said, 39:21 "Now what do you do for a living?" 39:22 He said, "I'm a motivational speaker." 39:25 Now when somebody asks me that on the plane, 39:27 you know what I say, "I'm a pastor." Amen? 39:30 And they might just get a good Bible study. 39:34 Don't be ashamed of who you are in Christ. 39:38 He said, "I'm a motivational speaker." 39:40 You know what, God rebuked him because when he got to 39:42 camp meeting, he did not know that that lady, 39:45 who was on that plane, would be at that same 39:47 camp meeting where he was. 39:48 And she walked up and she said, "Didn't you tell me you 39:49 was a motivational speaker?" 39:52 And he looked with a stare that said it all. 39:55 He did not represent Christ. 39:59 He changed his identity, then he received demonic aid 40:03 and then promised divine protection 40:05 to a satanic representative. Let me break it down... 40:08 Many preachers are just like King Saul - they preach 40:12 messages received from a satanic source. 40:15 Many churches are the mediums for Satan. 40:18 The message is not from above, but from beneath 40:21 and Satan uses the Bible, but he excludes the key 40:25 verses in the Scripture. 40:27 Paul identifies it this way in 2 Corinthians 11:13-15 40:31 "For such are false apostles, he says, deceitful workers 40:36 transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ; 40:39 and no wonder or no marvel for Satan himself, 40:42 transforms himself into an angel of light," Paul says... 40:46 Therefore, 2 Corinthians 11:15, "Therefore it is no great thing 40:52 if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers 40:57 of righteousness whose end will be according to their works." 41:01 Now you know what, the devil is not dumb. 41:03 Some of us think that he has a red cape, 41:06 that he only shows up on jars of hot pepper; 41:10 he only comes out once a year during Halloween... that's a lie 41:13 The devil, when he appeared to Christ in the wilderness, 41:17 he appeared as a beautiful prince. 41:20 He was a created being. 41:22 Although he lost his former estate, 41:23 he has maintained some of the great gifts that God 41:26 had given to him when he was an obedient angel. 41:29 And the very tools that he had in glory, 41:32 are the tools that he uses to accomplish the dilution 41:36 and the breakdown of Christianity of these last days. 41:40 What were Satan's two greatest gifts? 41:42 Think about it... Music and adornment. 41:47 I'll be right back... 41:49 Music and adornment. 41:52 He was corrupted because of the beauty of his splendor. 41:57 All the precious stones was his covering... 42:01 which will give me an open door to the very next level. 42:05 You see, one of the other ways that you can know 42:07 that you are unequally yoked is if you fall for something 42:11 called the "Hegelian dialect" or the Hegelian concept. 42:15 Let me teach you something new. 42:16 The Hegelian concept - this was created by a man by the name of 42:21 "George William Frederick Hegel" 42:24 and what that simply is... 42:26 I'm not going to give you the long definition. 42:27 What that simply is is the merging of two 42:30 opposing views in order to give birth to a third view. 42:38 When I show you how that works, you'll say, "Amazing." 42:41 See that's what politicians do. 42:43 They'll go to a community that does not like gun violence, 42:46 and they'll say, "I'm against gun violence." 42:49 Or they'll go to another community that likes 42:51 guns and say, "We support guns." 42:53 And then both of them will vote for one man. 42:57 Did you see what I said? 42:59 They don't like guns, they do like guns. 43:01 He'll change his message to appeal to both groups 43:05 so that he can accomplish his end result and that is to be 43:08 voted into the office... a double-tongued message. 43:10 That's exactly how the devil has done. 43:13 Listen to what he does... He merges opposing views 43:16 to give birth to a third one and here is how he does it. 43:20 He's very clever; he uses Christian words 43:23 and rock music to create a third genre - Christian rock. 43:33 Since when did Christian music and rock music 43:39 share the same platform? 43:42 I went the iTunes to check that out one day. 43:44 Do it yourself - your own survey. 43:46 I went to iTunes - don't do it now. 43:49 I went to iTunes one day just to check out the concept. 43:52 And I put in Christian music, and I found these categories: 43:57 Christian, contemporary, Christian rock, 44:00 Christian jazz, Christian acid, Christian R and V, 44:04 and Christian hip hop. 44:08 If you take off... if you just stop at the word 44:09 "Christian," you're safe, but the devil has used 44:12 this very same art to merge things together 44:16 that in the eyes of God are opposed to one another. 44:20 "Woe to those that call good evil and evil good, 44:23 light darkness and darkness light," 44:25 and that's exactly what has happened in the church today. 44:28 That's why, let me just share this... 44:29 I told you yesterday, I love music. 44:31 I've got a huge library of music. 44:34 But I'm not going to give up my music... 44:37 Sorry... I'm not going to give up my MESSAGE 44:40 in favor of my music. 44:43 Let me even make it clearer. 44:45 The devil knew that 15 or 20 years ago, 44:48 most Adventists would never 44:49 leave the Adventist Church, you know why? 44:51 Because they value the Sabbath. 44:52 They valued our doctrinal positions. 44:55 So he says, "Since they're not going to leave for the message, 44:58 I'm going to get them to build a bridge through the music." 45:01 And many people are going to church today, 45:04 but they're going to be at Hillsong tomorrow 45:06 to get their praise on. 45:10 Follow the Old Testament, the kings of the Old Testament. 45:13 God gave them direction not to build a false altar 45:17 next to God's altar and those kings that were faithful 45:20 tore down the false altars so that God's altar can stand. 45:24 Let me encourage you, church. 45:27 There's a lot of good music in Christianity, 45:29 I'm not saying it's all bad, but the only song I want to sing 45:32 is a song of Moses and of the Lamb... what about you? 45:35 I want to be on that sea of glass to sing that song, 45:37 and as my good friend, Danny Shelton, says... 45:40 "The devil does not care whether you fall out the 45:42 right side of the boat or the left side, 45:45 as long as you fall out. 45:49 Which brings me to my final evidence that 45:53 you can know you have on false armor. 45:57 That's following gurus, say that with me... 46:00 Following what? "gurus" 46:02 Now gurus used to be found just among a certain 46:04 particular religious group, a non-Christian religious group. 46:08 But let me just make that even clearer. 46:10 He defined this so wonderfully. 46:11 He says, "We are much more likely in these days 46:15 not to refer to our Bible for our convictions." 46:18 Where do we fine that? 46:20 He says, "We find that among Christian mass media; 46:22 favorite talk show hosts, like Oprah Winfrey. 46:26 I never forget that when Oprah Winfrey said... 46:28 She argued with a Christian, young lady 46:30 I was so glad when I saw that. 46:32 I was saying to that Christian, young lady that 46:34 stood up against Oprah Winfrey, because Oprah said, 46:36 "Jesus is not the only way to heaven." 46:39 And a Christian, young lady stood up on that show, 46:41 on national television and she said, "Oprah, that is not true. 46:45 You may have said that but because you said it, 46:47 doesn't mean it's true." Come on somebody... 46:49 And there was a conversation back and forth and she said, 46:51 "Ma'am, what do you mean that Jesus is the only way? 46:54 How can you be so narrow-minded?" 46:56 Well, the Bible says, "The way that leads to 46:58 eternal life has a narrow path," 47:00 and Jesus says, "I am the way, the truth and the life." 47:03 And Paul the Apostle says, "There is no other name 47:05 given among men whereby we must be saved.." 47:08 ... In the name of Jesus, Amen 47:10 So that young lady sat down and all the audience 47:12 took Oprah's side, but I was on 47:14 that young lady's side. What do you say... 47:16 You may not be popular, but popularity 47:19 never won a contest in God's eyesight. 47:21 There was only 8 people on the ark, 47:22 everybody else was on the outside. 47:24 I'm going to tell you this time, 47:25 God has given us some hope. 47:26 There's going to be a lot of people in heaven this time, 47:28 and we might as well be in the crowd. What do you say... 47:31 That's what's happening nowadays, 47:33 They go to their favorite talk show host. 47:35 He also says they turn to Christian mass media. 47:38 Christian mass media is becoming Christian mass confusion. 47:42 Now if you watch 3ABN and Hope Channel and Amazing Discoveries, 47:46 and Amazing Facts, you got some good stuff. 47:48 But just because it's Christian, 47:50 doesn't mean Christ has authorized it. 47:53 Then they also said - they go to celebrity ministers. 47:58 Oooo, I gotta admit Brother Joel Osteen can motivate 48:06 you to swim without an air tank. 48:09 He's a good motivator! Come on somebody... 48:12 He's really good at what he does, but God has 48:15 not given him our commission. 48:17 So we should not accept his commission. 48:21 Don't try to be like T. D. Jakes or Joel Osteen, 48:24 or Joyce Meyer and the list goes on and on, 48:26 Creflo Dollar and all those famous folk. 48:29 Stand firmly and be faithful to what God has given to you. 48:33 He also pointed out that, the other way, that we are 48:37 establishing our beliefs as we turn to movie producers. 48:40 Have you seen what the devil has been doing lately? 48:43 For those that don't read their Bible, 48:44 the devil says, "Okay, I'll go ahead and produce a movie 48:47 called, "Noah," and they come away 48:50 with the belief that that's what Noah is all about. 48:52 ... An angry man that was fighting against God, 48:54 and hated people to kill them all. 48:56 That's many people's concept of Noah. 48:59 Now the movie come out, "The Exodus." 49:01 I want to just put this on the burner here... 49:03 I have not gone and I will not go to see any of them. 49:06 I got the true version. 49:08 And then, this ideology with this little boy, 49:12 in this movie now, "Heaven is for Real." 49:14 Heaven is for real, but you don't die and go to heaven. 49:18 And if you go, you ain't coming back. 49:22 As-a-matter-of-fact, if I go to heaven, 49:24 do you think I'll want to come back? 49:26 That's why Lazarus didn't go to heaven... 49:29 he's going to go when Jesus comes. 49:32 And now, as though the devil has not gotten enough mileage 49:36 off of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins' books - "Left Behind," 49:40 he has now taken Nicholas Cage, a popular actor, 49:43 and re-introduced to the movie theaters, 49:45 the new "Left Behind." 49:47 You know what's been left behind in the "Left Behind" series? 49:51 The truth has been left behind, that's what's left behind. 49:54 You want to know the truth? 49:56 Read God's Word, Amen? 49:58 If you are admiring any popular religious leader, 50:01 politician or talk show celebrity that leads you 50:03 away from following Christ and His Word, 50:06 you are covered with false armor. 50:09 So, as the clock is beginning to wind down, 50:13 here are some counsels... 50:14 I'll cut it short, but I'll give you the good stuff. 50:18 Don't abandon scriptural integrity 50:20 for political correctness. 50:23 Don't abandon Christ-centered preaching 50:26 for the prosperity gospel. 50:29 Don't abandon Godly living for good-feeling. 50:32 Don't settle for publications without inspiration. 50:36 That's deep, they didn't get that yet. 50:40 Publications without inspiration. 50:43 You want inspiration, we have a more sure 50:46 word of prophecy. 50:48 Believe in the Lord, and so shall you be established. 50:51 Believe in His prophets, and so shall you prosper. 50:53 Some of you shaky Adventists need to go back and 50:56 get those Ellen White books out of the garbage 50:58 and put them back on your shelf, and I'm not going to apologize. 51:05 It is not possible to prepare for the final battle 51:08 when your leader is orchestrating your destruction. 51:13 As pastors, we must be faithful because one day 51:17 we will give an account to the God that has hired us. 51:19 I may work for the Illinois Conference and the 51:21 North American Division, and so on and so forth, 51:23 but I've got to give an answer to God... what do you say. 51:26 I ought to be able to make sure 51:27 that your blood is not on my hand. 51:30 The battle is coming to us that came to Jesus. 51:37 And so, let me end with this point. 51:38 I've got 30 seconds, but I think I can make it. 51:44 It's time to abandon the false armor in favor 51:49 of the best armor. 51:51 Don't just sing it... live it! 51:53 Don't just talk it... walk it! 51:56 Don't wait for the coming of the Lord, 51:58 work for the coming of the Lord! 52:00 Don't just be a Seventh-day Adventist, 52:02 be an Adventist every day. Come on somebody... 52:05 Don't settle for being in the congregation, 52:07 be in Christ. 52:09 That's the only way that this church is going to make it. 52:11 And I tell you what... the Lord is coming 52:14 to a planet near you... just in case you forgot. 52:21 We ought to lift up the trumpet and loud let it ring... what? 52:25 Jesus is coming again! 52:27 So that faithful man that knows what it's like to be in jail 52:30 and being whipped, and being tortured, 52:32 he says, and I repeat the words of the immortal 52:34 Paul the Apostle, put on the whole armor of God 52:38 that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 52:43 Today, can I take a minute to give an appeal? Today, today. 52:48 Last Sabbath morning of the Witness Conference, 52:51 if you really want to be a witness, 52:52 my brothers and sisters, you need the best armor. 52:55 Anybody here today wants the best armor? 52:57 If you want the best armor today, 52:59 I want you to stand with me, I want to pray for you. 53:04 I wish I can come back and do a series called, 53:07 "Golden Christians" 53:08 That's just a foretaste of things that could come. 53:14 Heavenly Father, Your people are standing 53:17 here today, but Your pulse, and Your desire and Your passion 53:22 is not that they stand on this Sabbath morning... 53:25 One day, You want every one of us to stand on the sea of glass. 53:30 To stand in the New Jerusalem. 53:34 To stand converted, sealed in the righteousness of Jesus. 53:39 Heavenly Father, this is just a foretaste of glory divine, 53:44 and we know that the devil has come down with great wrath 53:47 knowing he has a short time. 53:49 But Father, help us to look away from the distractions. 53:52 Help us to look unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher 53:55 of our faith. 53:56 And Lord, we know that in this congregation today, 53:58 there is somebody struggling barely being able to hold on. 54:02 Barely knowing whether or not they are going to stay 54:05 in this church or walk away from it. 54:07 Heavenly Lord, today go to that heart, that person 54:10 that's struggling and give them the words 54:12 of encouragement that their names are written 54:15 on the Book of Life and, please Lord, 54:18 convict them that they will not allow 54:20 anyone to take away their crown. 54:21 Lord, may we be faithful, from clergy to congregation. 54:27 May we be faithful from church to conference. 54:29 May we be found faithful when Jesus comes. 54:32 May we hear the words, "Well done, thou good 54:36 and faithful servant." 54:37 And so, Lord, work on us, break us if that's what it takes 54:43 But when You come Father, and the names are called, 54:47 may everyone here today, under the sound of my voice, 54:50 desire to hear the sound of Your voice. 54:53 May none of us be lost. 54:55 May none of us just sing songs, and read Scriptures, 55:00 and participate in programs. 55:02 May our desire to be in that Kingdom, 55:06 in that Redeemed Host accomplish that, we ask 55:09 for Your name and for Your glory, 55:12 in Christ's name I pray... Amen |
Revised 2015-07-06