The Power Of A Godly Life - Walking In Holiness - Frank Brancato 1/5/20

We learned that a Godly life does two things.

Number one, it silences criticism.

And number two, it will lead people to glorify God and we'll

get to that in detail a little bit later.

But let me first talk about the critics for just a minute.

I understand that the critics in our life, I get it, their

widespread, they're all around us.

In fact, for the most part, they've captured the

institutions of our society, our society, even in the school

systems, right? And I know it's probably worse

today than ever. I get it, but even in the

educational system around us, what we have is, we have an idea

that is thrust upon our children, for example, that we

need to accept people that are of a sinful nature or sinful

Lifestyles and sinful lifestyles are all around us.

And if you opposed a sinful lifestyle, you're in the

minority and you are criticized. And that happens.

Today, I get that But living a Godly life was silence.

Those critics? What about the people that Peter

was writing to they would have understood about such critics.

They would have understood about the stressful situation that

they were in. In fact, historically we find

they were scattered from their homes.

They were under severe persecution.

They were feeling the pressure of society's hostility.

They needed motivation to carry on living the Christian Life in

the midst of great trials. And Peter tells them that their

life would be the kind that would Silence the Critics and a

life. That convinces unbelievers of

the validity of the Christian faith which can convert them

now. We also have an obligation to

live Godly before watching world. you've heard me say this

when I preach the sermon on the value of a good friend, and I

talked about the influences that are around us, And I often times

refer to young people, but really, it's anybody.

I'm going to make a statement that you've heard me say over

the years, but who you really are, who you really are is

better determined, by the way that you look by the way that

you act, by the way that you talk.

And by the way that you dress in places number one, where you are

not known or number two, in places that you feel the most

comfortable that's really you. Now we hope praying trusted

everybody that's here today is the same person tomorrow.

What I'm saying, is the places tomorrow that you go especially

in places where you are not known.

That's really you. Are we authentic a person that

lives a Godly life needs to be authentic, to have the

influence, we need to have. So going back to our text in

verse 11 though, he calls Christians sojourners and he

begins like this. He said I beg you as sojourners

now, interesting words sojourners, more on that in just

a minute. But let me say he said I bet you

as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from fleshly lusts that

war against the Soul in these verses Peter is saying that if

I'm going to live a Godly life on the outside, it begins on the

inside. You've also heard me say this,

that godliness is not your own personal.

Goodness, why do we talk so much about the inside?

You know why? Because the inside is where the

problem is, the outward behavior is simply.

The manifestation of what we are on the inside, that's why we

always talk about the heart. We talk about things, for

example, that And by actions, they're really the symptom,

they're not the problem, the problem is the heart and when we

only address the situation, or the symptom, it's like putting a

Band-Aid on a laceration. We got to fix the problem.

So what's godliness godliness is something that is on the inside.

What is it? It's not your personal goodness.

You've heard me say this to it is having a practical awareness

of God in every aspect of your life.

What about this? Righteousness is to Godliness.

You've heard this too. As conduct is to the heart.

And I think it's really important to put this in at this

time when he talked about what's Inward and what's outward

godliness is on the inside that is inward.

It's a practical awareness of God in every aspect of your

life, it will demonstrate itself on the outside, that's

righteousness. So godliness is inside.

Righteousness, is the manifestation of godliness what

else? Get very practical.

What about the heart? You will do exactly what your

heart is, and the heart is on the inside, and it will manifest

itself in outward. Deportment.

And that's called conduct. If we don't fix the inside, we

have no shot at fixing the outside.

And really, that's what we're talking about.

In verse 11. It's clearly Inward and private.

So let's look at the word sojourners for just a minute.

Different translations render this word as follows.

The new King James renders it as sojourners.

The King James renders it as strangers and this word can also

be translated As aliens now, what's interesting about that

he's saying this, I'm writing to you as a Sojourner, as a

visitor, as a traveler, I'm referring to you as a stranger

or an alien and the work, the Greek word that is made.

From these three English words comes from the definition

alongside the house. What he's saying is you are

living in the world alongside the world but you're not from

this world. This is not your home.

Home. It's not a place of permanence.

It means living alongside the house.

When Peter uses the word pilgrims, it means to make a

brief stay. Now, if you set the tone here,

he's saying I'm talking to you, not to worry too much about

what's going on, outwardly around you and your

surroundings. You know why, because you are a

Sojourner, you are not from this world, you have no place of

permanence in this life, it doesn't matter.

You're a pilgrim. Meaning.

This it's only a brief time that you're here.

So I'm writing to you, encouraging you You as a

Sojourner and as a pilgrim. Now, obviously, we are born into

this world physically, right? And we are born into this world.

So when do we become a stranger? When we become a Sojourner or an

alien, we become a stranger to the world.

When we are born into Jesus Christ, when we become a

Christian, when were baptized for the remission of sins,

Colossians chapter 1 and verse 13.

Colossians 1 · chapter mention

He has delivered us from the power of darkness and hath

translated us into the kingdom of his dear son at baptism.

We belong or we Solutely become a stranger to the world.

Here's another passage Hebrews 13 and 14 for here.

We have no continuing City but we seek the one to come.

Do you remember when we studied the last week in the life of

Jesus? Do you remember when I said that

passage? And how many times have we taken

that? Passage out of context?

When you talk about Jesus, while he lived on the Earth, where the

scripture says Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests

but the son of man has nowhere to lay his head and we talked

about that idea and I freely admitted, you know, I I said

well he must have been homeless, that's not true, he had a place

in Capernaum, he could have gone to Peter's house, it wasn't that

he had nowhere to go. What it means is this that Jesus

has no place of permanence or Comforts in this life.

And the reason for that is because he had a continuing City

he had a place that's greater and so do we?

That's what he's saying. You're just passing through,

you're only here for a little while you are alongside you are

a stranger here and you're looking for a one that is to

come A continuing City in that is heaven.

So he brilliantly set that. Sets the tone with these.

And then it gives some instruction.

And he says, this abstain from fleshly lusts now, fleshly lusts

are strong cravings and tendencies of the flesh.

Obviously, it does, it does refer to sexual immorality, but

it's not exclusive to that is strong Cravings of the flesh.

The word abstain is a greater word than the word.

Stop abstain is an action word. It is something that we set into

motion. It's kind of like the word that

Paul used in First Corinthians. Chapter 6 and verse 18 when he

1 Corinthians 6 · chapter mention

said, flee fornication or immorality, the word flee, it

comes from the Greek word, few go, and that's where we get the

English word fugitive. So the word abstain is very

similar to the word flee. It's like a fugitive, a

fugitive, from the law runs from the law that's action.

And by the way, if you're stopped fleeing from the law,

They get you. Yeah, they get you if you stop

fleeing from sin, it'll get you It's an action word, doesn't

just mean just stop committing sin.

Yeah, that's great. That didn't help.

How am I going to do that? I have to abstain from fleshly

lust, I have to flee or run like a fugitive from it.

Fleshly lusts, Galatians chapter 5 deals with the number of

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

these. I'll briefly read these quickly.

The Works of the flesh are evident which are adultery

fornication. Uncleanness lewdness idolatry

sorcery hatred contentions jealousies.

Outbursts of Wrath selfish, Ambitions, dissensions heresies,

envyings murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like of which

I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past that

those who practice, such things will not inherit the kingdom of

God. Now, why do we have to abstain

from these things? Why do we have to run from these

things? Peter says, why?

Because he said they war against the soul.

Soul. I've heard a number of the men

here. Say from the pulpit.

That we are in a battle. We are in a spiritual battle.

And we're in a battle with the Devil.

The devil is the enemy. And how many times have we all

referenced? And they are battling.

The devil is battling for our children, not just our children.

He's battling for you, too. And by the way, if he can get to

you through, your kids will do that too.

He may not be able to discourage you directly, but maybe he can

get to your kids. And if that happens, maybe

you'll fall. The devil throws everything he's

got. And the Bible says that the

fleshly lust will war against the soul.

Now interesting that phrase war against the soul.

It's not just some little battle by the way and it's not

something that is a one-time thing, the phraseology, their

warring against, the sole means to wage war.

It means to carry out an all out military campaign.

That's the phraseology. It's like going into battle in

the military. It isn't some tiny Skirmish or

battle. It's not a one-time thing.

It is a long-term battle, so we have to continue to run from the

fleshly lusts. We're going to get to the some

specifics on how to and I love that practical passages.

I'm establishing the general principle now though.

So if we're in a battle where Santa is going to be fought on a

very serious level, so how do we fight against sin?

How do we do that in Romans chapter 8?

Romans 8 · chapter mention

Beginning in verse 12, therefore brethren.

We are debtors not to the flesh for if you live, according to

the flesh, you will die. But if by the spirit, notice you

put to death, the Deeds of the body, you will live.

What's that mean? How do you put to death, the

Deeds of the body? Well, Christians are to mortify,

the remaining sin that's in your life.

What's it mean to mortify remaining sin?

Well, I'll tell you one of the favorite sayings today.

You've heard this relax. Let go let God.

Well, I do believe in letting God, meaning this, I put all my

faith and trust in him. I put my life In His Hands in

both Time and Eternity. Yes, I agree with that, but

there's nothing about the Christian Life that has anything

at all to do. With letting go everything has

everything to do with holding on and fighting back.

Everything. There's nothing about letting go

and relaxing. You relax, you're going to lose.

Hold on to that, which is of the spirit and mortify the Deeds of

the flesh. Let's talk about that for just a

minute mortifying, remaining sin.

Well, first of all, please get the following.

Sin is not mortified. When it's merely covered up.

You know, I can I can hide my sin from you.

I can hide it from anybody. In fact, I heard this the other

day. I don't know how much truth

there is to the one part. We understand.

There's nothing we can hide from God, and we can't lie to God.

He knows, but I was listening to a broadcast, and somebody said,

there's two people, you can't lie to and get away with number

one, you can't lie to God. Number two, you can't lie to

your wife, both of them will find out and that's true.

They're both going to find out. That is the closest most

intimate relationship that we have.

So we can't lie forever and not get caught.

The same is true with our spiritual relationship.

We have an intimate spiritual relationship with God and we

can't lie about that. That's going to come back.

So sin is not mortified when it's merely covered up.

If I continue in sin, but I try to hide it.

I've done nothing to the sin. I have not mortified it.

I have not put it to death, let me give you a passage Proverbs

Proverbs 28:13

28:13. He who covers his sins, will not

Prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have

mercy. Now stay with me as we build

this Foundation here, stay with me as we flow.

Through what does the Bible say? In 1st John, chapter 1, I love

John 1 · chapter mention

this passage If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to

forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

So it's not a matter of covering UPS in.

It's a matter of getting rid of sin and confessing that sin to

God the word confess though does not mean reluctant admission.

It doesn't mean I'm sorry I got caught.

My dad used to say that you really sorry.

You're sorry, you got caught. My dad said that my whole life

confess. In here comes from the Greek

word. Homo lagaye.

Oh, and it literally means to say the same.

So when you confess that sin, who you confessing it to, you're

confessing it to God. And when you confess that sin to

God, you are literally saying the same thing about that sin

that God says about that sin. What does that mean practically?

That is confession with Godly sorrow and repentance.

Little side note here. Sometimes we spend all of our

efforts talking about confession because that's what it says.

And we don't spend enough time talking about repentance

confession without repentance is meaningless.

I can be sorry that I did something.

I have no other way to get around it and then confess it.

Okay, I did it like I admitted it.

So what confession with that repentance is meaningless.

If I want the Forgiveness of God which I do then, God is going to

forgive me. My sins and cleanse me, even

from the contamination of that sin.

If I confess it with Godly sorrow and repentance runs hand

in hand, Number two. Sin is not mortified when it's

merely internalized. What does that mean?

It's kind of like this. I don't commit that sin anymore.

I've stop committing that sin, okay?

But if you ruminate on the pleasures and joys of that sin

inside and you have not mortified that sin, you still

ruminate on the pleasures of that sin, it's only a matter of

time before that sin will link back out.

So if you internalize this and you have not mortified the sin

Give me a little illustration about leaking out.

Number of years ago, there was a man by the name of Edsel mad

ski. He was 37 years old and in

relatively good health. He was walking through Los

Angeles International Airport, LAX and all of a sudden as he

began to walk through, he started to sweat profusely.

He grasped his chest. He had a massive heart attack

and he dropped dead. Well, 37 year old pretty healthy

young guys. Don't have massive heart

attacks. Walking through the airport and

drop dead. When they took his body and they

did an autopsy, they cut him open and this is what they

found. They found that in his stomach

was 11 rubber containers and in those 11 rubber containers, was

one half of a million dollars worth of cocaine.

What happened is one or more of those containers leaked?

Little hole here little seepage there, it leaked and took his

life. That's kind of what sin is

folks. If you internalize it, you don't

mortify it. It's only a matter of time

before the leak out. Got a morph.

I got to put it to death, got to get it out of our life.

Here's another one sin is not mortified when it's merely

exchanged for another sin. What good is it to trade the

lust of the flesh? For the lust of the eyes?

The lust of the eyes for the pride of life, it's kind of like

this. It's kind of like a vise, if a

person has a vice, okay, and you say, well, you know what?

I smoke cigarettes. So I'll just start smoking

cigars, okay? Or I'll start smoking a pipe or

I'll start chewing tobacco. You haven't done anything, you

haven't quit, the use of nicotine and the use of tobacco,

what you've done is. You just exchanged it for

another Vice? The same is true as Sin Sin is

not mortified when it's merely exchanged for another sin.

So it's not mortified when it's just covered up.

It's not mortified when it's internalized, it's not mortified

when it exchanged for another sin, but fourthly and finally,

this is big. It is not mortified until the

conscience has been A pieced. Let's talk about that for just a

minute, the conscience very important in First Peter chapter

1 Peter 3 · chapter mention

3 and verse 16. It says having a good conscious

that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your

Good Conduct in Christ may be ashamed.

You know, contrary to psychology, they say, you know

what? We don't want somebody to feel

bad about anything. I'm not making fun, I don't

understand it. I don't understand all that.

Big picture stuff that they do today.

I'm not qualified. You know, I was talking to

somebody just the other day, I believe this.

Sometimes people think preachers ought to be counselors.

And from a psychological standpoint, we are completely

unqualified to do that. All we can do is show you the

scriptures. We're on qualified for that

other stuff. So I understand that there are

schools of thought that maybe I don't understand, but notice

this is what society says, society says, we don't want your

conscience to bother you anymore.

We don't want you to be in pain from the decisions and choices

that you have made in the past. We don't want you to feel bad

about that. Did you know this, though, when

you talk about the conscience, the conscience is the pangs of

guilt of a guilty. Conscience are the right healthy

and natural consequence of sin. So that you can hate yourself.

No, she can feel bad about yourself, no, so that you get a

situation where you can't ever forgive yourself.

No. So that you fix it.

You've talked about, I've talked about this team before talking

about, you know, you fire the nerve on a horse, they're still

crippled, they're still lame but you don't feed they don't feel

it fire the nerve right years ago, a number of years ago, I

was working out lifting weights lift them too heavy and I did

something to my right wrist, something popped, and their

attendant or something. It was so sore.

I mean, I couldn't hardly move my wrist, I put ice on it, I

took Advil, I did all kinds of stuff but it wouldn't go away.

Finally, went to the doctor and the doctor said, have you ever

had a cortisone shot? And I said, no never have said,

well you're getting one today and they came out with that

horrible needle. And by the way, when they're

going to run that thing in you for a cortisone shot, that

needle looks like about that long. here it comes and stuck

that thing in there, and I'll tell you, it hurt it, hurt worse

than my wrist, but 20 minutes later, My wrist felt better than

it ever did. Was it fixed?

No, the doctor said Frank, you do know I've taken the pain

away, but the damage is still there.

That's what the conscience is for, you know, that there's

damage so you can fix it not just mask it.

So until the conscience is appeased, I have not mortified

sin. So notice this now mortifying

remaining sin When we begin to mortify sin, when Jesus is not

only lowered on the outside, but Jesus is Lord, on the inside,

how we gonna do that? What have we learned so far?

Well, we learn we have to abstain from fleshly.

Lust me, give you something very practical on how to do that, got

to do this. If you're having a hard time

with fleshly lusts, ask yourself, are you doing this in

James chapter 4 and verse 7? James says, submit yourself.

James 4 · chapter mention

Therefore unto God, resist the devil and he will flee from you

two things are required submit and resist.

If you're having trouble with the flesh or fleshly lust, let

me ask you, are you submitting to God?

And are you resisting the devil? And by the way, resisting, the

devil means you don't go where those Temptations are, you do an

about-face to those things. And you run the opposite

direction and that's what abstaining and fleeing and all

of those things mean what else? In.

So, doing guess what? We can form the Jesus Christ.

We are now making no provision for the flesh, but there's more,

we have more to do, we have to meditate on God's word, that's

Philippians chapter 4, you know, Paul said in Philippians chapter

Philippians 4 · chapter mention Philippians 4 · chapter mention

4 whatsoever, things are lovely whatsoever, things are good

whatsoever. Things are of good report.

And on and on and on, he says, thank the word means, meditate

meditate on these things. So here goes practical, how we

going to mortify sin submit and resist conform.

The Jesus Christ will make no provision for the Flesh, and we

are going to meditate on God's word.

I'm going to tell you, you can't do that and continue to have a

problem with sin. But it's a lifelong effort.

In Joshua 1:8, I love this. I love practical passages and I

Joshua 1:8

like the ones that give us hope, don't you?

The book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you

shall meditate in it day and night that you may observe to do

all that is written in it for. Then you will make your way

prosperous and then you will have good success.

Notice this, somebody might say, I just can't.

Yeah, you can sure you can. I just can't?

Yeah, you can look here. Meditate on the word of God day

and night. Observed to do what is written

in it and guess what, you'll have success.

Don't let anybody tell you, you can't.

Don't let anybody in the world. Tell you that you can't because

you can, there's nothing in the word of God that is required,

that you cannot do. sometimes we sell ourselves short and we just

say I just can't but really it's because we just won't We can you

will have good success. Meditate on the word of God,

observed to do what's written in it, and will have success.

And that's going to lead to something that every one of us

needs and that's called self-control.

How many times in our life have we not utilized or demonstrated

self control every aspect of your life you need self-control.

Sometimes we say something quickly because we didn't get a

hold of our self yet and then we regret what we said and sadly.

And unfortunately we can't reel it back in.

Sometimes it's too late, sometimes the damage is already

done, right? All the things that we've said

so far will lead to self control and help us make better choices.

First Corinthians chapter 9. Beginning in verse 26, Paul said

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

therefore I run thus not with uncertainty thus, I fight not as

one who beats the air, but I discipline my body and bring it

into subjection lest. When I have preached to others,

I myself should become disqualified.

You know, Paul basically saying this, I have to get control over

my body and that's not passive. That is active.

In fact, the word discipline here in the new King, James in

the Old King James, it's the word Buffett, what an

interesting word, Buffett. Buffett literally means.

I strike a blow against one scholar said, it's like you're

giving it a black eye. Now, I'm not saying you walk

around punch yourself in the face.

Not saying that, it's not what he's saying.

He's talking from a figurative sense but it means I'm not being

passive here, I'm being active, I got to do something.

I got to run, not with uncertainty.

I gotta fight like one that doesn't just beat the are like

Shadow Boxing. I gotta have a Target.

I Supporting my body and I bring it into subjection.

That's what I do. All active things.

In word discipline leads to outward deportment.

In other words, sin does not exist on the outside because it

doesn't exist on the inside. First Peter chapter 2 and verse

1 Peter 2 · chapter mention

12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles that when

they speak against you as evildoers they may by your good

works which they observe glorify God in the day of visitation is

incredible. This is the power of a Godly

life. He said having your conduct

honorable. What's that mean?

You know, the Greek word that's translated here for honorable,

is one of those Greek words that really cannot be summed up in

one word. In fact, it's the Greek word

Kalos. It means the following.

It means lovely. It means fine.

It means when sung gracious fair to look at Noble and excellent.

what he saying is, if your conduct is noble and excellent,

and honorable and fine, and lovely, and all of that, You're

going to have a great power of influence over others.

In this idea what he's talking about is this, the idea of

honorable, one scholar said, it is the purest and highest kind

of goodness. So again, our outward,

deportment must reflect our inward discipline and always

will, whatever that is. In other words the quality of a

transformed life must be visible to the unsaved world.

So what's the purpose of all this?

When people criticize you that they may observe your good works

and actually glorify God even be saved as a result.

I'm going to talk to young people now for just a minute.

I realize it's difficult. I really do.

I understand that sometimes in life and with all the

surrounding things and all the pressures that are on you, I

know it's difficult. It was difficult when I was a

kid and I'm 53 and I know it's worse.

Now, I know that I know it's harder.

But yes, you can. You can.

You can, if you will remember, there's nothing in the word of

God that says, to do something that you cannot do.

It's not true. I want to talk about tough times

though, because I know that we have tough times, let me give

you an example of really tough times.

And I want you to do this, compare, this compare the tough

times that I'm going to read about to you to the tough times

of Life as a reality today, and if they can do it, you and I can

do it. This is the history of the

times, at during the time of this writing.

Peter's readers would have certainly understood about

hostility and animosity when Christians were evildoers, like

you says, In this passage, it literally meant that they were

being accused of doing something.

That was worthy of severe punishment.

In studying the persecutions of that time Christians were

accused of insurrection. By the way, that's violent,

uprisings, against the authority of government.

They said there were guilty of rebelling against Authority,

governments, and other authorities to.

They were, falsely accused of atheism, because they refused to

worship Idol or Pagan Roman gods, they were accused of

cannibalism because they participated in the Lord's

Supper, they were accused in wrongly of immorality, and they

were even falsely. Accused of having incestuous

relationships, they were accused of damaging trade.

And So progress, they were accused of wrecking homes and

leading slaves into Rebellion. and like today, They were

accused of hating people because they opposed the world system.

They were literally being accused, mocked slandered in

every possible Direction. And Peter is saying this,

there's only one way to do away with all of that and that is to

live a life that is Honorable that's how you do it.

That's how you fight back. And you know what's going to

happen? Not only do you Silence the

Critics, but I love this notice, you will even lead those to

glorify God in the day of visitation.

What's that mean? Well, first of all glorify God

in the day of visitation, what is the day of visitation in the

Old Testament. We find that it's used a number

of ways. But basically, for two reasons,

and that is blessings and judgment.

In other words, when God comes and blessing when God comes in

judgment, But every time that I'm aware of in the New

Testament, when the phraseology is used in the day of

visitation, it's referring to God's mercy and God's salvation

every time. Day of visitation.

When God visits by the power of the Gospel.

Are you getting the point? Here's the point.

The point is your Godly life. We'll have such power and

influence. You will Silence.

The Critics that will criticize you for being a Christian and it

will even have the influence to lead people to Jesus Christ when

they hear the gospel someday. The power of a Godly life.

Do you know, you have that kind of power Some 106.

And for Remember Me. Oh, Lord.

With a favor, you have toward your people, o visit me with

your salvation, that's what that means.

What a powerful powerful concept Peter is telling us because the

life that you live, you can have influence on the lost that the

gospel is offered to them will obey and glorify God when

salvation comes through the gospel.

So As one man said, one time that we are the Bible's.

The world is reading. We are the truths that the world

is needing and we are the sermons, The World Is Heating.

So, let me ask you this. What about you today?

When times get tough? What can you do?

I'll tell you what, you can do. You can keep living a Godly

life. That's what you can do and never

quit. I know people quit for a various

reasons. I know that.

But I never understood. Why someone could have

challenges in life and hard times in life?

And because of the hard times, grow discouraged and quit.

I don't get that and quit on the only one that can help.

I don't understand that at all. so when hard times come, they

will fight back. With a Godly life.

Fight back. Everybody has a choice. when

hard times come, am I going to lay down and quit?

Or from a spiritual perspective, am I going to get up and fight?

And the fight is the good fight of faith.

Because remember we're just pilgrims anyway.

We're only here for a little while.

We have no reoccurring or long lasting City here on this Earth.

We're looking for one, that's greater the poet.

Once wrote success is failure turned inside out the silver

tint of the clouds of doubt. You can never tell how close you

are. It may be near when it seems so

far. So stick to the fight.

When you're hardest hit, it's when things seem worse, that you

must not quit. I'm going to close now.

With a story that happen to a man by the name of telemachus in

the year. 391. Ad.

He was a little man that lived in a village.

Tending, his garden and spent most of his days in prayer.

And one day I've read one day, he decided he felt compelled to

go to Rome and he did that required a long journey by foot.

So he walked tirelessly on and on and finally weeks later

wearisome he walks into Rome. He looks up and he sees the mass

number of people during the days of a Roman festival and they're

all headed to the Coliseum. He joined the crowd and he

followed along. When they got into the Coliseum,

he looked down. And he saw a line of Gladiators

and they were facing the emperor that was sitting elevated above

them. and all these Gladiators, they looked up and they said we

that are about to die salute, you This little man telemachus

realized. These men were going to die.

At the entertainment of those that were there.

So this tiny little voice began to yell.

He said no stop. Stop it's wrong but nobody

heard. He pressed his way down through

the crowd. He made it all the way down to

the wall. He jumped over the wall and down

on the floor of battle. He ran toward the Gladiators and

the crowd starts to laugh because they think it's part of

the act when they realized that he was just there to stop.

What was happening. They got very angry and one of

the Gladiators took his Spear and he thrust it into the

midsection of that little man and telemachus fell down to the

sand. Blood streaming from his body,

he says it's wrong. Stop.

And he died. I read that there was a hush

over the entire Coliseum and way up high.

A man turned around and he walked out.

Not a sound, being made another walked out.

Until the Coliseum was empty. That was the last time I read

that Gladiators ever fought to the death for the entertainment

of the people. In fact, in 399 a.d., the

emperor made a decree, could never happen by law.

What's my point? My point is if the power of one

life, one example and one tiny little voice could alter

history. Think about what the power of a

Godly life can do. It can Silence the Critics and

Lead others to Jesus Christ. I'm finished this morning.

Thank you so much for your kind listening.

I hope something that was said was encouraging and helpful to

you in some way. We never end a time that we

teach from the word of God, without extending an invitation.

Maybe you're here and you're not a Christian.

If you're not a Christian, you can be a Christian today, come

believing in Jesus, repent of your sins confess, his name as

the Son of God and be baptized in water for the remission of

your sins added to the body of Christ and saved today.

Maybe you've taken those steps of obedience, but you've been

away from the Lord, you can come back.

Repent of those things. Confess those things.

We pray with you and for you, and God will forgive and restore

it. We thank you for listening to

our podcast, put on by the Church of Christ at 22:15 plans.

Road in Bakersfield, if you would like any additional

information or you would like to receive a free Bible

correspondence, course by mail. Please email us at info at True

Church of Christ Bakersfield.com.

Our service times are on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and

Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. Please make plans to join us.

We would love for you to be our honored guest.