If I Were You

I was turned to Luke chapter 13, Luke chapter 13, that song they just sang I've listened to

Luke 13 · chapter mention Luke 13 · chapter mention

coming up the road at least on Sunday morning, coming up 183 every Sunday morning probably

that I've been here because what I do with you on Sunday morning I hope will glorify God

because he's worthy of it all, most appropriate song and I thoroughly enjoy that and I say that

for a couple of reasons, one is Lord willing next Sunday I ain't coming up 183 to get to you

I'm coming about two blocks because I'm in debt again, we bought a house so and we are thankful

moving trucks coming Wednesday, you can get our sticks as my parents called it, they were in the

military for 20 years and getting settled so thankful to be a resident here now, thank God

some exciting things happening in our church and I'm excited about this day but also some

things that are coming up and in the coming days I'm going to invite our men to join me

on a weekday morning for some prayer and share time where we read a common book together

book that I like reading, chapter a week, that kind of thing and then talk about that book, talk a little bit about life and pray together and spend some time together

I try to do that, try to offer it for a couple of times, one early in the morning where those who are tied to schedule can make it to that

and then one later in the morning, those who are blessed to not be tied to schedule don't like getting up early no more

so, you know, anyway the details are coming to that but let me get here first and get settled

but possibly the first book that we read is a book by a man named, a pastor named Dean in Syria

the book is called The Unsaved Christian

and in that book, Dean speaks of people that think they're Christians

hang out sometimes with Christians

people who are culturally thought to be Christians

there's just one problem

they've never surrendered their lives

to the Lord

and as scripture would put it, they're lost

now don't misunderstand me

many times they fraternize with the church

they play the part

the reality is personally

they just don't know Jesus

and Jesus speaks of the same manner

in a parable that we look at today

he compares death

to a door

and I want you to hear what he says this morning

Luke chapter 13

Luke 13:22

verse 22

said he went on his way through towns and villages

teaching and journeying towards Jerusalem

and someone said to him

Lord

will those who are saved be few?

and he said to them

strive to enter through the narrow door

for many I tell you will seek to enter

and will not be able

when once the master of the house

has risen and shut the door

and you begin to stand outside

and to knock at the door

saying Lord open to us

then he'll answer to you

I don't know where you come from

then you will begin to say

we ate and drank in your presence

and taught in our streets

but he will say

I tell you I do not know where you come from

depart from me

all you workers of evil

in that place

there will be weeping

and gnashing of teeth

when you see Abraham

and Isaac and Jacob

and all the prophets

in the kingdom of God

but you yourselves

cast out

and people will come

from east and west

from north and south

and recline

at table

in the kingdom of God

and behold

some are last

who will be first

and some are first

who will be last

let's pray together

Lord Jesus

the

the definitive word

that I just read

is stark

it's difficult to talk about

and it's real

and as Jesus spoke it

with urgency

I know this morning

that I'll speak it

with urgency

God I pray

that your sweet spirit

will land it

in the hearts

and minds

that need to hear it

in the way

that they need to hear it

and help us all

be strengthened by it

in Jesus precious name

Amen

things are not

how you think

they are

those that seem

first for the Lord

may not always

be first for the Lord

they talk a good game

they may have even

convinced themselves

but only by ignoring

the clear direction

of scripture

it is my fear

but it's also my belief

belief that there may be

people right here

among us

even in this room

even watching online

that will not go to heaven

when they die

the door will be shut

and they will be left behind

people from all over the place

places that you don't expect

will come in

but the majority

of the world

that we live in

are lost

and will

and will spend

eternity

apart from God

and that does

not have to be

and so today

I want us to think

about our own situation

I want you to think

about your own heart

and your own life

and I want you to think

about your family

and I want you to think

about your neighbors

and I want you to think

about your world

and with that in mind

I want to give

three pieces of advice

this morning

the first one is this

go where few

fear to tread

because God's way

is seldom

the popular way

that is not new

in our culture

that has always been the case

it may feel new

it may be worse

than it used to be

but the reality is

it's always been

the narrow way

the less traveled way

it's not the popular way

it is unpopular today

to admit our own frailties

and sins

and that there are

responsibility

what's popular

is to blame somebody else

when in reality

we all have frailties

we all are sinners

and it's not popular

to ask an almighty God

to intervene

but the reality is

that's the only hope

that we have

is to do that

it's not popular

to live for the Lord

with great zeal

instead of being half-hearted

it's popular

to do a lot of other things

with a lot of zeal

a lot of you

are like me

you were cheering

on your football teams

yesterday

with zeal

you know

I'd like to meet

that ref

that called that targeting

on that Alabama quarterback

because I am sick

of Alabama

I hope I didn't

distance anybody

but anyway

if I did

so be it

but anyway

I responded

with great zeal

people fish

they got great zeal

about that

they're not going to let

anything come in the way

of that

people shop

and they got great zeal

about it

they're not going to let

anything come in the way

of that

you know

well we do a lot of things

with great zeal

but it is not popular

and those things are popular

but it's not popular

to live for the Lord

with great zeal

it's a whole lot easier

to be half-hearted

about this thing

you know

I mean preacher

I have blocked off

an hour or two

on Sunday

for the Lord

what else do I need to do

that's popular

what's unpopular

is to live for him daily

it's unpopular

to live in our world

and live a life of purity

instead of being seduced

by the world's influence

I want to be clear

this morning

and I ain't throwing stones

I'm just telling the truth

God still stands

for marital

monogamous

heterosexual purity

period

that has not changed

the society

in which we live

has shifted

and changed

and will continue to

and that may be popular

but the truth

of God's word

is still

just as true

as the day

it was penned

it is the timeless

truths of God's word

and I promise you

that when society

seems to be

so much different

than God's word

it was when it was penned

if you don't believe that

study the Roman Empire

study the atmosphere

in which

the Apostle Paul wrote

study the atmosphere

in which Jesus spoke

what he did

the reality is

the very things

that are popular today

were just as popular then

how they took something

that was sedacious

and sinful

and made it

as if it was elite

much like

we deal with

in our society today

it is unpopular

to say that

some will be angry

with me about that

because of decisions

their families made

because of ailments

that they've been through

but I'm going to tell you

something folks

whether we like it or not

whether we agree with it

or not

it's truth

and it's unpopular

to say that

it's unpopular

to try to influence

your world

with the gospel

instead of

silently putting along

not concerned about

the state of

the heart of others

but Jesus impels us

time and time again

to reach out

to speak to others

to make sure

that we live out

our faith

to be a fragrance

of the gospel

of Jesus Christ

all those things

are unpopular

but they are godly

and they are right

and they are blessed

and Jesus calls those

the narrow way

or the narrow gate

I want you to listen

to how he put it

in the greatest sermons

that's ever been preached

it's in Matthew 7

Matthew 7:13–14

verse 13 to 14

and he said

enter by the narrow gate

for the gate is wide

and the way is easy

that leads to destruction

and those who enter it

are many

for the gate is narrow

and the way is hard

that leads to life

and those who find it

are few

we face a fork

in the road

of life

my friend

and we have to

do something

about that fork

that fork

Yogi Berra

put it this way

he said

when you come

to a fork in the road

take it

well it's not that easy

Yogi

because there's more

than one fork

in life's road

spiritually

there's a huge fork

what are you going

to do with Jesus

you have to do

something with it

and when you delay

your decision

to follow Christ

when you feel

the spirit of God

nagging at your heart

when you feel

conviction in your heart

and your need

to respond to Christ

and you refuse

to do that

because you don't

want to make

a decision like that

delaying such a decision

is making a decision

and that decision

is no

how many times

have you been

on a car lot

and said

just let me

ponder it

and then left

and never came back

I called a buddy

who sells cars

for a living

and I said

what's the percentage

because I

I went through

a sinful spell

in my life

of selling cars

and

I'm kidding

I'm kidding

I was

I was

transferring

from junior college

at Greenville Tech

to Gardner Webb

was going from

a quarter system

to a semester system

I had an extra long summer

and they were hiring

and so I

hey

$200 draw

in a car

living at home

man that's

that's money

I was rich

you know

anyway

I didn't last long

but I know

we study the strategies

of it

and so I asked him

I said

what's the chances

when somebody

walks off your lot

that they're going

to come back

he said

if they walk

off the lot

there's only

a 25% chance

that a customer

returning

that will return

if they walk

off the first time

only a 25% chance

they don't want

you to walk

off

but

how many times

have you said

let me ponder

on it

and took their

card

and never

bothered again

it is my burden

that week

after week

folks sit

in this place

or watch online

and they say

you know

that's something

to think about

I think I'm

going to ponder

on that

and then we

walk outside

and walk

through that

beautiful portico

and forget it

at the meal

and never

readdress it again

in our lives

never deal with it

and I want you

to know

that's not

putting off

a decision

you made a decision

and that decision

was

no

if you're

prompted

in your gut

to give your life

to Christ

do it

do not wait

because

you're at a fork

and you have

to make a decision

at that fork

what you're going

to do

you may not

realize

that you headed

the wrong way

I heard about

a guy who was

driving down the

interstate

and his cell phone

rang

and he answered

and his wife said

honey be careful

out there

I was watching

there's somebody

on the interstate

going the wrong way

he said oh baby

it's worse than that

they all going

the wrong way

look sometimes

people go the wrong

way and they don't

even realize

they're going

the wrong way

for the slow ones

he was the one

that was going

the wrong way

you live life

upside down

I heard it

described as a

funnel

that if you

that if you

live your life

with the wide

end of the funnel

up

and all

the stuff

in your life

you start

wide

and you try

to take

in all

the world

that all

that stuff

narrows down

into one

result

and that is

a life

of disaster

and a life

of difficulty

but if you

turn that funnel

upside down

and you

narrow it in

on Christ

and Christ

alone

you open

yourself up

to a life

of eternity

and of opportunity

and few

fear to do

it

so my first

piece of advice

is go where

few fear

to tread

the second

one is this

be quick

about it

be quick

about it

I don't want

you to read

me wrong

when Jesus

says many

will seek

to enter

and will

not be able

he's not

talking about

rejecting

those that

surrender

their life

to Christ

Christ

don't do

such as

that

he don't

reject

folks

that surrender

their life

to Christ

scripture

is clear

in Romans

10 13

for everyone

who calls

upon the name

of the Lord

will be

safe

you don't

have to

wonder

today

if God

will accept

you today

regardless

of the wrong

that you've

done

regardless

of who

may know

about it

or who

may not

know

about it

you don't

need to

clean up

your areas

of your life

to come

to Christ

matter of

fact

you can't

clean up

the areas

of your life

to come

to Christ

you need

to come

to Christ

the way

you are

you'll never

be successful

doing it

on your own

and when you

acknowledge

that you'll

never be

successful

in doing

it on your own

you surrender

your life

to follow

Christ

and come

as you

are

and thank

God

by the power

of the Holy

Spirit

he'll clean

you up

he'll give

you a Holy

Spirit

to empower

you

to rise

above your

habits

and vices

and he has

surrounded you

with a bunch

of other

sinners

who struggle

with the same

type sins

we're not

going to talk

about it

we're not

going to

advertise it

but the reality

is folks

there ain't

much difference

between any

of us

and God

has put us

together

to help

one another

along

to come

alongside

and encourage

one another

not look down

on other folks

because they got

caught and we

didn't

but instead

to encourage

and surround

them and love

them as they

grow in the

Lord

you'll never

be successful

on your own

and that's why

he gives you

the Holy Spirit

of God

to give you

the power

to do it

that's why

he gives you

the church

of Jesus

Christ

to stand

with you

to do it

that's the

promise of the

work of the

Spirit

and the

lives

of all

who call

upon the

name of

the Lord

and so I'm

telling you

do not

put it

off

and that's

what Jesus

is saying

here

that's not

just a preacher

ploy

that's what

Jesus is

saying here

Jesus said

once the

door of

opportunity

is shut

it's shut

that could

be in your

death

and you

can't predict

that

and if you

wait for

either one

be clear

it's too

late

it's too

late

Jesus

in case you

delineate the

difference between

the red words of

Jesus and the

other words of

scripture

I believe

they're all

inspired by the

Holy Spirit of

God and perfect

and without

failure

okay

so I want to be

clear about that

but I know some

people like to just

talk about what

Jesus said

so I'll tell you

what Jesus said

Jesus said

there's a lot of

regret in hell

that's what Jesus

said

but it is

forever

too late

forever

I want you to

listen to how

Jesus describes

it in Luke

Luke 16 · chapter mention

chapter 16

just listen to me

we're not going to

read it this

morning

but he describes

a man that had

great riches that

did not see a need

for a personal

relationship with

Christ

and he is now

in agony

in hell

and he's speaking

of a spiritual

torment there

and he's speaking

of physical

torment there

and he makes

two requests

in the clearest

glimpse into hell

that Christ ever

gave us

the first request

he said

is

could someone

dip their

finger in water

and cool

my tongue

and number

two

can somebody

go warn

those who are

living

my brothers

can you tell

them

lest they also

come into this

place of torment

if those in hell

could talk

and scripture

says

if people

will not

listen to the

word of God

they will not

listen to the

tormented in

hell

that's what

Jesus said

so why

wait

because the

door of

opportunity is

closing

I'm not going to

close it

it's going to

close in one

of three ways

it's going to

close in your

death

it's going to

close in the

Lord's return

or it's going to

close in the

Lord's deadline

there's a door

Jesus speaks of it

that can be shut

spiritually

before one

dies

and the Bible

is clear that we

only come to God

because the spirit

draws us

it's not of our

own inclination

that you know

you need the

Lord

that's not

scripture is clear

that we are dead

in our

transgressions and

sins

we don't come up

with that on our

own

he initiates that

and there comes a

point and I don't

understand it but I'm

telling you scripture

teaches it there

comes a point when

that initiation is

no more that might

be at death that

might be at his

return it might be

before that I don't

understand that I

don't know that but

I'm telling you God

knocks and

we're to respond

Jesus said in John

John 6:44

6 verse 44

no one can come to

me unless the

father who sends

me draws him

but you don't have

to wonder

because I got news

for you today

that's why I'm

standing here

if you want to be

saved today you

can be

because God gave

you that idea

if you're considering

it God put it in

your heart and he

will save you today

God's got a

deadline and the

opportunity is open

to everyone at

least once but there

comes a time when the

spirit conviction does

not come hardness

comes in Proverbs

warns us in Proverbs

29 1 he said he who

is often rebuked and

hardens his neck will

suddenly be destroyed

and that without

remedy there comes a

time when the message

is not heard there

comes a time when the

knock does not come

and if God is speaking

to your heart respond

because the door may

never be opened again

I want to be clear

folks I'm not going to

shut it

but what happens

is somebody gets under

conviction

and they fail the need to

respond

but they're concerned

about the folks around

them

they're concerned

about what somebody's

going to say

they're concerned

about what somebody's

going to think

and they let the

moment pass

and they walk out

this building

and they never bother

with it again

if you don't know

Jesus

your spiritual house

is on fire

do not be

consumed

do not go to sleep

respond

and be quick about it

and the third thing

is this

be sure of it

be sure of it

you need to know

that you're saved

John wrote

more about the need

and the urgency

and the exclusivity

of salvation

through Christ

than anyone else

and I want you to

listen to the end

of the gospel

of John

he wrote

in John 20

John 20:30

verse 30

30 and 31

now Jesus

did many other signs

in the presence

of the disciples

which are not written

in this book

but these are written

so that you may believe

that Jesus is the Christ

the son of God

and that by believing

you may have life

in his name

at the end

of 1st John

because the same

John wrote

the big John

the gospel of John

and the three little

Johns

okay

and at the end

of 1st John

John 5:13

5 verse 13

it says

I write these things

to you who believe

in the name

of the son

that you may know

that you may know

that you have

eternal life

he wrote it

that we would know

Jesus personally

and be assured

that we knew him

personally

so don't you dare

go through life

wondering if it's

real or not

there's no need

for that

people have doubts

it's common

to have doubts

what causes doubts

let me give you

three things

that cause doubts

and I'll close

one is a lack

of trust

sometimes we doubt

because we just

don't trust

we can't see

the God

we can't see

God move

as we want to

and that leads

us to doubt

and there's two

problems with that

one is we are

to live by faith

and not by sight

and I'm telling

you got those

curveballs

you're not always

going to see it

coming

you're not

and if you're

trying to figure

it out

and you're not

satisfied with

what you're seeing

I got news for you

you're not in charge

he is

and so we live

by faith

and we trust him

and if you live

by what you see

you're not living

by faith in the Lord

failing to live

by faith

will lead one

to doubt

all kinds of things

including one's

salvation

so don't come

to the end

of your dilemma

and wish you

had trusted God

put all your eggs

in one basket

it's safe here

put all your eggs

in one basket

and trust the Lord

because he will not

fail you

and he will bless you

because he blesses

such as that

we live by faith

and not sight

the other reason

that we have a lack

of lack of trust

is because your salvation

is not based upon you

it's based upon

the grace of God

so when you look

at your life

and think

how in the world

how in the world

could I be saved

I'll tell you

how you could be saved

the same way

I got saved

by his grace

that's the only hope

we have

is by the grace

of God

it's unseen

but it is sure

doubt comes

from a lack

of trust

in God

I'll tell you

something else

that causes doubts

sin causes doubts

your sin

alienates you

from God

and it'll cause

you to feel

lost

and away

from God

and alone

I'll tell you

what that is

if you've ever

surrendered your life

to the Lord

Jesus Christ

a minute

with all your heart

giving him

your life

the conviction

of the Holy Spirit

of God

will help you

see your sin

and then the devil

will try to get in there

and twist it

and try to convince you

that you're lost

don't ever let sin

reign in your life

it causes all kinds

of misery

not only for you

but for those around you

don't ever let sin

reign in your life

because when you give

your heart and life

to God

your first step

of obedience

is baptism

and if you haven't

done that

or it's out of order

meaning you got baptized

and later you got saved

and have not been

baptized since

I'm just telling you

there's not a magic

potion around it

it's a point of obedience

is what it is

for some reason

Jesus got baptized

and he had never sinned

then he'd get saved

but he got baptized

and then his last words

to us

was going to all the world

and teach

and baptize

Baptists didn't put

the emphasis on it

Jesus put the emphasis

on it

and so

if you privately

give your heart and life

to the Lord Jesus Christ

but never publicly

acknowledge that

through the way

in which Christ

instructed us to

and also showed us

how to do it

then I promise you

that's going to be

a stumbling block

in your life

if you refuse to do that

it's going to be

a stumbling block

that causes you

to stumble

straight out of the gate

but it's not just that

there'll be doubt

coming in your life

for unconfessed sins

I mean

there's our favorite sins

that we harbor

and we hold on to

real tight

we don't want anybody

to know about them

we don't want anybody

messing with them

they're just our little sins

and they strain

sometimes they strain

a lot of times

they strain on relationships

with other people too

but they definitely strain

on your relationship

with God

it separates you

from God

it strains your relationship

with God

and so that kind of sin

hanging around

will mess you up

repent and doubt no more

confess and turn from your sin

but sin will cause you to doubt

the last thing that will cause you to doubt

I want you to hear me this morning

I'll tell you what will cause you to doubt

lostness

if you're lost

you'll doubt

and you should

not knowing the Lord

as your personal Lord and Savior

will make you feel like

you don't know the Lord

as your personal Lord and Savior

and you know what that is

that didn't come from you

that's the conviction

of the Holy Spirit of God

and the only way

to make that doubt

go away

is to give your heart and life

to the Lord Jesus Christ

to go where few

fear to tread

do it quickly

if I were you

I'd do it now

with every head bowed

and every eye closed

I want you to be clear

today

that I'm not a manipulator

I'm not trying to conjure you

into anything

and we're not going to lead you

without leading you

we'll be thorough with you

in the decision you make for Christ

but as Jesus

implored those with him

to be serious about this thing

and to make a decision about it

he tells me to do the same

if you're here this morning

and you don't know the Lord Jesus

as your personal Lord and Savior

the invitation's open

not only from us

but from him more importantly

he'll save you

we'll stand and sing

in just a moment

more important than singing

or standing

is for you to come

and say preacher

I need to give my heart and life

to the Lord Jesus Christ

I need to be changed by him

and I think today

that I can stand here

every day

and tell you

today's day of salvation

Jesus is the same yesterday

today and forever

he will save you today

if you'll come to him

maybe you're here

and you know you're a Christian

but you've never acknowledged

that publicly through baptism

that's never happened

maybe you're floating out there

you're not affiliated

with the church

you're not affiliated

with the body of believers

and you're struggling

and God's leading you

to be a part of this church

God's leading you

to publicly acknowledge

that through baptism

we're happy to guide you

in that process

maybe you're here

and you are a Christian

and you have done those things

but the reality is

as you hear this today

God's laid somebody

on your heart

he's laid somebody

that needs to know Jesus

upon your heart

and you're burdened

for that person

and you need to bring them

to this altar

you need to pray for them

you need to ask God

to open opportunities

for you to share with them

maybe there's stuff

that you're harboring

in your life

sin that you're harboring

in your life

it's causing doubt

it's causing difficulty

it's causing rough relationships

it's causing all kinds

of problems

and the reality is

you need a touch

you need to repent

you need to change

I have no idea

what God's told you

I just know

what he told me to do

and you'll never be satisfied

if you don't trust him

and follow his lead

as he leads you

and this is a golden opportunity

so you respond

as God leads you to

Lord Jesus

I love you

and I thank you

for your love for us

and I ask right now

dear God

that we will not do

less than you tell us to do

and we will not do more

than you tell us to do

but God will be obedient

and follow you

Lord if there's anyone here

who does not know you personally

as their Lord and Savior

Jesus Christ

I pray today will be

the day of salvation

right now

oh God I pray

in Jesus name

amen

stay