The Faithful City became a Harlot - Pastor Bruce Mejia

Amen. Okay, we're in Isaiah chapter 1.

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

Isaiah chapter 1, the time of my sermon tonight is actually found in verse 21 that says,

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

How is the faithful city become and harlott?

That is the title.

How is the faithful city become and harlott?

And of course, here in Isaiah chapter 1,

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

the prophet Isaiah is being sent by the Lord to preach against Judah and Jerusalem for their godlessness.

They become a very wicked nation.

But also the city of Jerusalem has become equally evil.

It's become equally idolatrous.

It's been filled with sin and just rebellion.

And so God is giving an indictment here against Judah and Jerusalem for their godlessness, for their wickedness.

And he's basically saying in verse 21, hey, you used to be a faithful city.

You used to be very loyal.

You used to worship the Lord.

You used to do that which is right in the sight of God.

You were very faithful, but now you're a harlot.

Now, what is a harlot?

A harlot is a prostitute.

Okay?

A harlot, you know, different words in the Bible that communicate this is a whore, a prostitute.

That's what we would call it today, you know, a strange woman and so forth.

And so what the Lord is saying here is that Judah and Jerusalem went from being a very loyal, faithful city to worship God to being an absolute whore.

Now, this is obviously speaking to Judah and Jerusalem directly.

But the great thing about the Bible is that these things are written for our admonition upon whom the ends of the world are come.

Meaning that we can take these stories and these sermons that these prophets are preaching against Judah, Jerusalem, Israel, Samaria and apply them to ourselves.

We can apply them to New Testament Christians because the principle still applies.

And often when a prophet is addressing a particular nation, he almost addresses them as though they're individuals, right?

Like an individual person who is committing these things.

And so it's very much applicable to us today.

What I want to talk about tonight is how faithful Christians become like harlots.

Okay?

And what do I mean by harlots?

I'm obviously referring to the fact that they backslide, they get out of church, they become hoarish spiritually speaking.

And how is it that that takes place?

Why is it that that takes place?

Well, you know, first and foremost, let me start off by saying that, you know, a lot of these changes that a Christian can go through by the time they get out of church, you know, a lot of it is gradual, right?

It's them allowing some sort of sin in their life, some sort of bad habit that they didn't correct.

They allow themselves to do what's often referred to as the sins of commission, and that often leads to the sins of omission, right?

Sins of commission is when you transgress the commandments of the Lord.

The sins of omission is when you cease to do right.

So when you couple those together, it's often a recipe for disaster.

It's a recipe to get out of church, to stop serving the Lord.

If you couple transgressions, iniquity, you know, breaking God's laws, committing sin, and you add to that rebellion, add to that sinfulness, you add to it, you know, the omitting of actual spiritual disciplines, you know, it's only a matter of time before you actually get out of church, okay?

And it's important for us as Christians to realize that the Christian life needs to be lived on a continual daily and weekly basis.

Meaning that, you know, the war does not end, you know, just because you have one great victory today, you have to fight that same battle every single day.

If not, you can incrementally get backslidden, incrementally get away from the Lord.

And before you know it, you're just completely out of the service of God.

You will be characterized as one who was faithful as a city, but now you're just a whore, okay?

Now you're just a complete harlot and you're completely useless in the eyes of God.

And obviously we know that a person who backslides, they're going to suffer the consequences of their actions.

There's a lot of punishment that comes with that.

They're often given over unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, the Bible says.

There's a lot of built-in consequences because if you sow to the flesh, you shall of the flesh reap corruption, right?

But there's also things that you relinquish, you know, you relinquish the blessings of God as well.

You don't get to enjoy the blessings of being faithful to the service of God,

being faithful to church and being faithful to the Christian life.

There's a lot of blessings that come with that and unfortunately you're back to square one, right?

Now it's always a blessing when Christians come back to church, right?

It's great when people get right with God, they get back to church and they start building up their spiritual lives again.

And that is the goal.

The goal is for people who are backslidden to be restored,

to come to a place of repentance, to come to a place where they realize, like, I messed up,

I need to get back in the church, you know, and just get back to the things of God.

And you know, it's great that when people come back, they're received with open arms.

It's not like, oh man, you got so much work you got to do now.

You know, that may be true to a certain degree,

but it's not as much work as the work you would have to put in if you didn't come back at that particular time, right?

If you came back decades later or something like that,

you know, you don't have necessarily a whole lot that you have to work on.

But here's the thing, folks.

The point is that you should just put in the effort and the work to just stay right with God

instead of the work and the effort that it takes to get right with God once you backslide.

Because that is a lot of work.

But you know what?

It's a lot of work to stay right with God, but it's a lot more arduous.

It's a lot more difficult.

It's a lot more painstaking to try to get right with God once you've already backslidden to begin with.

And so pay the price of being a faithful city.

Pay the price of being a faithful Christian rather than paying the price of becoming a harlot

and having to get right with God, having to suffer the punishments of the Lord.

And make no mistake about it.

As a Christian, we will all get chastised by the Lord.

That's a fact.

Even if you're in church, okay?

Sometimes the Lord chastises us.

He prunes us.

He's refining us.

But make no mistake about it.

When you backslide and you get out of church, that guarantees that you will become chastised by the Lord.

Because whom the Lord loved it, He chasted it and scourged with every son whom He received it.

And of course, Hebrews chapter 12 is talking of the context of just straightening your paths,

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

making sure that you get right with God, that you repent of that sin, and you get it right with the Lord.

You know, often in the Bible, there's instances where the Bible often compares a person, an individual, a believer, to a city.

You know, the Bible says, he that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down and without walls.

He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty.

And he that ruled with the spirit, then he that takeeth a city.

So we can see the comparisons here that we're looking at in verse 21.

And obviously the Lord is very grieved at Jude and Jerusalem.

The fact that they went from being a very faithful city, set on a hill, letting their light shine,

being a witness unto the Gentiles, to being reduced to a whore and a harlot.

And you know, that's what we need to avoid as Christians today, okay?

And this is not to say that after service, we need to just think about every person who backs on it like, yeah, they're a whore now.

Unless they're literally legitimately a whore.

But you know, I'm not saying we should go around saying that.

I'm just saying, you know, you shouldn't go around and be like, yeah, that person is a spiritual harlot now.

But I am making that application because that's the application that the Lord makes.

So let me give you a couple points in this regard from this passage of Scripture.

First and foremost, what does he mean when he talks about that they are a harlot?

How do they become a harlot?

Well, as I mentioned, a harlot is a prostitute, which is essentially a whore that sells herself, okay?

And the way we can apply this to Christians is that Christians, if they're not careful, they can become whores in their belief systems,

horse with their company that they keep, and they begin to sell themselves to work wickedness, right?

They begin to essentially allow themselves to be influenced by other individuals.

And what are they doing?

They're allowing the world, they're allowing the flesh, and they're allowing the devil to propose a price for their virtue, okay?

And, you know, it's just like, well, you know, just mischurch this Sunday, you know, I'll take you out.

We're going to have a good time.

I'll pay for it.

You know, you can come hang out with me.

We'll do this.

It's not going to be all the time.

And make no mistake about it.

When Satan tries to get at you, when I say incrementally, he works incrementally.

Meaning that the first compromise is never outright sin and transgression.

It's just little by little warming up the water so you don't realize that it becomes boiling until it's too late, okay?

And I think about Proverbs chapter 20 that states that, you know, the buyer says it is not say at the buyer,

Proverbs 20 · chapter mention

but when he's gone his way, then he boasts it.

What is that referring to?

You know, it's referring to the fact that sometimes when people would barter and purchase and make these bargains with sellers for merchandise,

you know, they'll go to a person who's selling a particular item and say, ah, this is nothing.

This is nothing.

Give me this much for it or whatever.

It's not.

It's not.

You're like, I don't know why you're selling it for that much.

Just, you know, just sell it for this amount.

I'll give you this much for it.

It's just like, well, I guess it's not.

And then they sell it and what does the buyer do?

He walks away and he's just like, look how much I got this for, right?

Look at the deal that I got.

And this is a great picture of Satan.

Because Satan, what he does is that he promotes sin to your life.

And what does he say?

It's nothing.

It's not.

It's not, right?

It's nothing.

To miss church every once in a while, that's not a big deal.

To not read your Bible, that's not a big deal.

You'll hop back home tomorrow.

You'll be back in church next week.

You're going to preach the gospel next week.

It's not, it is not, say, the buyer.

But then when you give in, you know what he does?

He boasts it.

He's like, I got him to miss church.

I got him to miss his Bible reading.

I got him to not go soul-inning.

I got him to just, I got him out of church two weeks in a row or whatever.

I got him out of church three weeks.

I got him out of church an entire month.

Because in your mind, the way he proposes it, it's nothing.

It's nothing to miss church.

No, actually it is something.

The Bible says, for sake not the assembly of ourselves together as the manner of some is,

but exhorting one another and so much the more as you see the day approaching.

You know, the Bible tells us and it teaches us that the house of God is the pillar and ground of truth.

It's where we come to realign our behaviors, our mentality, what we believe,

and we're reminded of the eternal.

So when you begin to miss church and just kind of treat it in a flippant manner,

that's basically you giving in to the buyer that says it's not, it's not.

Just miss every once in a while.

That's okay.

You're still a good Christian.

You haven't changed your belief system.

Yeah, that's exactly how the buyer comes and operates.

Okay?

He tries to minimize, you know, the amount of effects of the consequences of your sins of omission.

So then when you realize it, when he walks away like,

man, actually I did, you know, I just gave up my virtue.

I gave up my spiritual disciplines.

But by that time, it's too late.

Okay?

And so, you know, the harlot sells herself.

And here's the thing, folks, is that it can get to a point where a Christian is being sold a bill of goods by the world,

the flesh and the devil.

And depending upon how long they're out there in the world and the backslidden state,

you know what's going to happen?

Eventually the tables are going to flip and now they're going to start paying for those services.

You see, a prostitute is one thing where people are paying them.

It's another thing when a prostitute pays someone to service them.

And this is exactly what the Bible talks about.

Go to Ezekiel, if you would, chapter 16.

Ezekiel, chapter 16.

Ezekiel 16 · chapter mention

Ezekiel, chapter 16, if you would.

Ezekiel 16 · chapter mention

And this is how it starts.

It starts with the world paying for your services, paying for your absence of church,

paying for your spiritual disciplines.

But you know what it turns into?

It turns into you paying them.

You paying the world.

You paying the fines.

You paying the price of being out in the world,

because that's how it always ends up.

Look at Ezekiel, chapter 16.

Ezekiel 16 · chapter mention

And look down at your Bibles at verse 33.

It says, they give gifts to all horse.

Actually, let's start in verse 32.

But as a wife that committed adultery,

which taketh strangers instead of her husband,

they give gifts to all horse,

but thou givest thy gifts to all thy lovers,

and hires them, that they may come unto thee on every side for thy whoredom.

He's like, you know, a prostitute actually gets paid.

And it's still bad.

But you're the type of prostitute that you do the paying.

But you know what?

That's exactly how sin operates.

Satan offers you this.

He's the one who's willing to pay for this.

But in the long term,

you end up paying the consequences of your actions.

Sin will take you farther than you want to go.

Keep you longer than you want to stay.

And listen to this.

Cost you more than you want to pay,

because the wages of sin is always death.

How does a person go from being a faithful city

to being an absolute harlot and a whore?

They sell themselves, okay?

To this world.

They sell themselves to their friends.

They sell themselves to vices and sinfulness.

That's how it ends up taking place.

Go to James chapter 4.

James 4 · chapter mention

James chapter 4.

James 4 · chapter mention

James chapter 4, if you would.

James 4 · chapter mention

How is the faithful city become a harlot?

Well, it begins by allowing yourself to be sold

for the pleasures of this world,

for the vices of this world,

for the temporal pleasures, okay?

Look at James chapter 4 in verse number 4.

James 4 · chapter mention

It says this,

ye adulterers and adulteresses,

know ye not that the friendship of the world

is enmity with God.

Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world

is the enemy of God.

So the Bible says here,

if you are a friend of this world,

if you are in close association

with the things of this world,

you're basically like an enemy of God,

because you are operating according to the course of this world,

you're aiding in its system,

and basically you're a part of it now.

And you know, we have to be careful as Christians

that we don't allow the world to lure us in

to its systems, to its way of believing,

to its philosophies and ideologies, okay?

And one of the fastest way to do that

is through the internet, okay?

It was like before back in the day,

it's just like you have to know someone

to influence you in the wrong way,

but now it's just like it's on your phone, right?

Just people,

just putting all kinds of crazy weird ideas in your mind

and all kinds of weird ideologies in the mind,

you know, trying to get you to justify murderers

and child killers,

and then all of a sudden you're just thinking like the world!

You've become a friend of the world!

And you know, it's absolutely insane

that you know, today,

we have this justification for infanticide

where it's just like, oh man,

we need to make sure we release the murderer,

they're the innocent one,

and the innocent people, the actual innocent people

are the guilty ones, right?

It's insane!

And you know what, this whole Lindsay Clancy thing,

and this is probably like the third week I'm talking about,

but it merits addressing, okay?

You know, it's demonstrating how much feminism

has infiltrated churches as well,

because of the fact that it's just like before,

you had all these Christian women

who are just completely against feminism,

completely against the feminist ideology

and the agenda,

but all of a sudden they just join forces

with a bunch of liberal retarded women

on this particular ideology.

It's like, you know you're teaming up with the world?

You're teaming up with a bunch of liberals,

with a bunch of God-haters?

In this regard, you know, how are you allowing

these absolute reprobates

to just influence you

to take on their position

instead of actually going to the Bible itself?

Okay?

And look folks, you know,

don't sell yourself to the liberals.

Don't sell yourself to the narrative of the liberals.

Well, I think they got a point.

They didn't got no point. They're stupid.

You don't like that?

Here's a better word. They're retarded.

You know, you're allowing the whores

to make you a whore. How about that?

You're allowing the literal whores

to make you a spiritual whore.

And you know, here's the thing, folks,

is that women don't realize the absolute ramifications

of these decisions that they're making

to side with this.

Because, you know, literally a couple days ago,

and I literally said this, you know,

the Bible specifically says

in Ecclesiastes chapter 8 and verse 11,

Ecclesiastes 8 · chapter mention

because sentence against an evil work

is not executed speedily,

therefore the hearts of the sons of men

is fully sent in them to do evil.

Meaning that if you don't punish

the criminals and the evil doers of this world,

it's going to embolden others

to commit the same crime, knowing full well

that they will not receive the consequences

of their actions. Ah, you're just exaggerating.

Oh, is that right? A couple days ago,

another mother killed her child

and what did her lawyer say?

Oh, she's going under a psychotic episode

or whatever. That's just what it was.

And, you know, is it any coincidence

that she was just a fan of Lindsay Clancy?

She had literally just been discussing,

you know, defending Lindsay Clancy

to her friends about three and a half hours

before they found her child.

Oh, that's just coincidence.

You can point to a ton of examples of this.

Because when you don't punish wicked people,

that's what you get.

And, you know, these women would be singing

a different tune if Lindsay Clancy

took the lives of their child.

You'd be singing a different tune

at that point now, wouldn't you?

Don't sell yourself.

Don't be a spiritual prostitute

by selling yourself to this world.

And you say, well, I'm still in church.

Yeah, but you know what?

The battle always begins in the mind, though.

The battle is always in the mind

trying to change what you believe,

trying to corrupt your way of thinking

because the Satan knows

that if he can change your way of thinking,

he can change how you behave as well.

That's what's important, folks,

to cast down imaginations.

Every high thing that exalted itself

against the knowledge of God

and not allow yourself to be duped

by the wisdom of this world

because it's earthly, sensual, devilish,

the Bible says.

And look, folks,

I'm just telling you right now

feminism has infiltrated.

It's been so effective

that liberal women

are spearheading this movement

and somehow have just recruited

a bunch of Christian women

to side with them.

How does that feel, ladies?

How does that feel to back up

a bunch of liberal ladies in their endeavor

to completely destroy the family unit

and justify the killing of children?

It's insane.

And this whole thing is going to a mistrial or whatever

and praise God

for that one dude

who stood up

and just did not agree

and just stood against all...

They said it was like nine women

and three men, but technically

it was ten dudes.

I mean ten women, sorry.

It was ten women and one dude

because the other dudes are just acting like women.

And it's a mistrial or whatever

and it's going to restart again

and hopefully she gets what she deserves

but I don't think she is though.

I hope so. I hope I'm wrong.

I hope I'm 100% wrong

but just the way things are

the way our society operates

the way how Godless people are

and all this is done

is demonstrated to me

and it should demonstrate to you

the state of affairs

of the mental health of women

where they are at spiritually

in their mind

and husbands, let me just tell you right now

control your wife

yeah, control

yeah, control

control your wife

and you know what, yeah, control the way

she thinks too

oh that just sounds so sexist

whatever you want to call it, I'm good with that

yeah, that's cool, sure

control the way your wife thinks

how are you going to say something like that

well you know if Adam controlled Eve

we wouldn't be in this situation now would we

this is what happens

when Eve was allowed to operate

as an autonomous person

just outside of the jurisdiction of her husband

damned the whole world

and so you know it's our

responsibility to protect our wives

and you know we need to have

homes where it's not like

you're like fighting with your spouse

in this regard

women submit to your husband

okay, as unto the Lord

yeah

and don't give me this why I submit to God

I just submit to my husband

then you don't submit to God

what is that?

it's not the way God views it

and you know what you need to do

is make sure that you bring yourself in alignment

with your reasonable husband

and if your husband says hey

Lindsay Clancy is a reprobate

and she's guilty

and you need to get off of

social media because you're being deceived

by this crap then you know what

you need to put away the phone and say you know what

my husband's right I'm too emotional right now

I'm hormonal

it's insane folks

it's absolutely insane

she's like well you don't understand women

they have these hormones and stuff

so does that mean that the dudes who think that they're women

now they're not women then or what

how does that work

well that doesn't count

or something like that

you know what about all these

by the way every murderer

serial killer has mental issues you kidding me

what are you talking about

they're all psychos

they all got

fused screw loose in the brain

they're all reprobates

these serial killers

Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy

the night stalker

all these people are mentally

ill and guess what

they're still guilty

I'm just telling you right now

if Dahmer isn't brought down on Lindsay Clancy

this is going to keep happening

and you know women are just like oh this is

such a win no because you know what

now dudes aren't going to want to marry you

they want nothing to do with you

because you advocate for the killing

of the strangulation of children

so no

that's not a good thing for you

ok

it's insane my friends

but you know what I guarantee you

I'm not talking about the liberals because the liberals

are just doomed in a lot of ways

I'm talking about Christian women who are carried away

with this nonsense

and they're allowing themselves to just be

absolutely brain

brain corrupted

by these women and by these godless people

don't allow it to happen allow the Bible

to renew your mind

and look a lot of people are just delusional

just delusional

you know it's just like

tell me you haven't watched the trial

without telling me you haven't watched the trial

it's like

hello

the trial wasn't about whether she was guilty

or not of killing the children

it's about literally whether she's

criminally guilty meaning that oh

you know she was in her right mind

or whether she was not in her right mind

everyone agrees

Lindsay herself that she killed her children

and it's just like no as the husband

you're delusional

and when you look at this stuff

when you look at what's going on you're like

oh so that's how the tribulation is gonna

okay I get it now that's how people just accept the antichrist

okay because you know you're thinking like

how's that gonna happen

well when you got a bunch of idiots out there

who need no evidence

to pass judgment like that

then you're just like oh

this is without the antichrist

this is without the

lying signs and wonders

I mean Lindsay Clancy hasn't committed

no wonders

and she still is able to

deceive the multitudes how much more

in the end times when that happens

point being here

is that and I'm telling you right now

I guarantee you there's a lot of Christian women

who are a character bow

with this wind of doctrine why

because they don't protect their minds

and husbands you need to make sure you protect the minds of your wives

good

a Christian often can become

go from a faithful city

to a harlot

by selling themselves

by being a friend of the word

go back to Isaiah

Isaiah chapter 1

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

Isaiah chapter 1

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

how is the faithful city become a harlot

well she sold herself

but we also see that they relinquish

judgment and righteousness

he says in verse 21

how is the faithful city become a harlot

it was full of judgment

and righteousness lodged

in it the Bible says

now one thing I've noticed is that when Christians

are on fire for God

or they are on par

with the teachings of the Bible

they're very judgmental

right

that's actually a good thing now in your mind you're like

well I thought it was good to judge

no it's very good to judge

judgment in the Bible is also described

as discernment

it's the ability

to judge between good

and evil a right decision

and a bad decision

so when a Christian is right with God

they're filled with judgment

you know and if you don't agree with that

you just been saturated with a lot of

water down preaching

that tries to make you think and convince you

that somehow judging people is wrong

don't judge

you shouldn't judge nobody's perfect

no the Bible says judge not that you

can be not judged for what judgment you judge

you shall be judged with measure your meat

and then it goes on to talk about the fact

that if you're going to judge someone

you better not be guilty of the sin that you're judging

but once you're clear of that sin

clear of that iniquity

guess what how about it

start judging because that's exactly what we

as Christians are supposed to do

and in fact the Bible says that we have the mind of Christ

we are able to make the right

decisions discern

between good and evil

and we have the wisdom of God

this is what the Bible says

but here's the thing

when a person goes from being a faithful city

to a harlot just I'm going to tell you right now

judgment goes out the window

judgment as in judging sin

but also just discernment goes out the window

they're unable

to make right decisions

you know why because it's like God has

extracted the judgment from them

and now they're just making a bunch of dumb decisions

and look folks

you know obviously

not every Christian has the maturity

to make the right decisions

but the great thing about that is that if you're in a church

you're surrounded by very mature discerning Christians

meaning that you could just go to someone

your spiritual leader

a team leader

a mature person in the faith

and ask them for advice in an area that you are deficient in

when it comes to wisdom

they're going to give you wisdom

they're going to give you prudence

they're going to give you the right decision to make

because they're level headed

and then you can grow in that area

wise men if you walk with wise men

you shall be wise the bible says

and another thing is that when you're right with God

you can pray for wisdom and get it

if any of you lack wisdom let them ask of God

who give it to all men liberally

and a braith not the bible says

and he'll give it to you he'll give you wisdom

he'll give you prudence you have the word of God

but let me just tell you right now

when you see a backslidden person

someone who's gotten out of the church is making the worst decisions

don't be surprised

that is the result

of going from a faithful city

to a harlot judgment goes out the window

they're unable to make

any type of

sound judgment

and it goes on to say here

it says it was full of judgment

righteousness lodged

in it

now this applies to

individuals but also applies to churches does it not

a good church is a church that judges

preach is hard

calls out sin

tells it like it is

you find a church that has no judgment

that's a bad church

that's a horrible church

run screaming in the opposite direction

why because there's simply a church

that has great swelling words of vanity

they are flattering you

they don't care about your spiritual health

they're willing to just tickle your ears

and just tell you what you want to hear

because they don't want to lose you as members

a church is meant to

it's filled with judgment

but a church that has no judgment

oh man red flag

run screaming in the opposite direction

but it says here

the faithful city

was filled with judgment

and righteousness lodged in it

in the morning we talked about the fact that

righteousness from a

salvation context

is referring to like the perfection

that we get in Christ

but as I also mentioned

righteousness in the Bible

can also be referring to just moral

uprightness the fact that

you are just a morally

upright individual

you're a holy individual

you love righteousness you like

right living and

when a Christian is faithful

they're not going to be perfect

but they will be moving in the right

direction when it comes to righteousness

meaning that they are working

on themselves

you give me a person who's about to backslide

I'll give you a person who's becoming

wishy-washy on their righteousness

they're not really repenting of their sins anymore

they're not really working on themselves

or how about this

they used to go soul-winning

they used to go to church

they used to do all these things and now they don't

look folks it's one thing when a Christian

you know

goes to one service a week

as a brand new Christian

that's how everyone starts

I remember when I first went to church

I thought there was only one service

it just goes Sunday morning and that was it

I'm like

it's cool then chill the rest of the day

and then

someone told me they're like oh you're going home

yeah

and they're like are you going to come back

I'm like for what

yeah I'll be back next week

they're like no tonight for the service

I was like you guys got a service

tonight you guys do this twice

they're like yeah

come back for Sunday night service

and I was like okay I'll come back for that

and then it came back

it was great and then

after maybe two weeks of that

they're like oh so we'll see you on Thursday

I'm like for what

they're like

for Bible study I'm like

you guys have another service

because you know I didn't grow up in church

I don't know about this

you know for us Catholics

you go to church for Easter and Christmas

or at least you say

that's what you do but you don't really do it

so then

we go to Thursday night Bible study

at 7 o'clock and I'm like whoa this is

three services

now in the old IP they also had Sunday school class

so then you know I'm coming in

for service

and at one time I came in the morning

and I came a little early than usual

and then someone just pulled me aside

they're like where are you going

you need to be in class

and I was just like class

Sunday school class

I'm like a school

like what are you talking about

they're like yeah we have Sunday school class

so they pulled me in the class and it was just like a short little

lesson or whatever

it's like a sermonette type of a thing

and I'm like man these people go

to Sunday school Sunday morning Sunday night

and then

you know we're there

and there's just on Sundays

and they're like we'll see you on Tuesday

for summer saturation

and I'm like what is that

and they're like we go and preach the gospel on Tuesdays

I'm like

this is like the fourth service

for me you know what I mean

because you go there they preach the gospel

and then after that

they had something called RU

okay

and RU was something in the old IFB

you may not know what that is

but it stands for Reformers Unanimous

and basically what they would do is like on Fridays

you know all the drug addicts

former drug addicts would go to this special service

it preached to them

they'd help them memorize scripture

and I was loving church so much that they told me about RU

I was like I'm not a drug addict but I'll go though

just to get more preaching in

and so I would go to RU

hear more preaching

memorize scripture

because I didn't know

the church was just multiple services

and it was great

after a while I did

get rid of that

Reformers Unanimous service because

it wasn't my type of service

that I really liked

and there was a lot of weird people there

and I remember thinking to myself

people were going to start thinking I'm a crackhead or something

and that ended up being the case

they were just like what kind of drugs did you

what kind of drugs I just

I just want another preaching service

and I remember

the director of RU

he really liked the fact that

a bible college student was going to the RU services

it kind of gave them more credibility

so then he ended up inviting me to a conference

up north

and he was like hey I'll pay for everything just come

I'm like oh great so I went with him

and then he's introducing me to all the leaders

he's like this is our first RU

bible college student

and I'm just like

oh hold on a second

I didn't start off an RU

and they're just like congratulations sir

we're really proud of you

and I'm like alright it's time to cut off the RU service

because I didn't do this

the point being is that as a brand new Christian

you gradually learn more and then you do more

that's one thing

to add one service or whatever

but it's another thing when you've already done these services

but then you start to reduce the amount that you do

you start cutting back

that's a problem there

because at that point now

it's just like well I need to

like minimize what I do

not go to as many services

or you might be listening to someone saying hey you're getting a little too radical there

you're getting a little too crazy there

you're getting a little too fanatic there

you need to take a couple

days off a couple weeks off of a Sunday night

of a Thursday night

and you know what happens the longer you're at a church

the more easy it is to

be at a church

that's just the way it works

now look folks if you are projectile vomiting

you're running 105 fever

and you know you are

pregnant in some instances

because sometimes women when they're pregnant they're just

you know they got a lot of things

they're making eyeballs and elbows and stuff like that

they just can be very tired

that's another thing okay

but if it's just you got nothing going on

you know you need to be

in church

don't start cutting away

services

and Bible reading

and soul winning times

just because someone is telling you that you're doing too much

okay that's one thing

and so you know what does it show

when you start doing this I'm telling you what it is

it's righteousness

you're living righteously but

the person who was a faithful city

who is now a harler I'm just telling you right now

they started off going to all the services

they were three to thrive

then there were two to thrive

then there were one to thrive

and then there's just no thriving after that

because they just made excuses

of why not to come to church or whatever

and again I'm not referring to you

your car breaks down

you died or something like that

you have an excuse

I get it

I'm talking about the fact

that you just are making up excuses

why not to come to church

it's a righteous thing to come to church

it's a righteous thing to carry these things out

don't be lazy

don't be a sloth

don't be a spiritually lazy person

who just can't hack it

because you rather just do nothing somewhere else

and look you know I'm not trying to be rude to you

but I kind of am

you're kind of like not doing nothing

you're not doing anything right now

other than just listening to me

I don't have you on a treadmill

or something like that

okay you're literally

you know you're sitting there

I'm just yelling at you

the one who's doing the most work right now is me

I'm the one who has to look at you

I'm the one who has to preach

you just have to sit there

and get the preaching of God's word

consume it and then later

the work goes later on

you have to obey it later on

it's not hard to be in church

I don't have sympathy for people

it's just so hard

I got you these cushiony seats

if you think this is hard

you were not in Omani

can I get a witness

who remembers the chairs in Omani

okay and you know what

bless your soul

for being willing to be

a member of First Works Baptist Church

when we were in Omani because those chairs sucked

it was just like

you know what

you obviously came for the preaching not because of the comfort

okay and let me say this

oh it's so cold in here though

bro

if you're in Omani

that was the closest you would get to the lake of fire

okay

and we bought like an AC unit

didn't help

okay and so like

these chairs in AC

this is helping you amen

what I'm saying is this is not hard to come to church

you're not a martyr

for coming to church

it's not difficult at all

depending upon how far you live

is it hard it could be

you got people traveling 3 hours or whatever

okay you know we'll sympathize

for you just a little bit

but hey you're 10 minutes away

I'm not sympathizing with you at all bro

you're not getting any empathy

you're 15 minutes away I'm not empathizing at all

you don't get my sympathy

you're 30 minutes away still

because we literally have people who drive like hours

and they're willing to come

and put in the work

of sitting there

and just listen to the preaching of God's word

I don't really appreciate that

well you can go to some non

I welcome you I challenge you

to go to some non-denom church

you know and you get all the

bells and whistles

you get you know cool stuff

and purple lights and smoke and mirrors

but the preaching absolutely sucks

and you get nothing out of it

okay

and it actually takes more work

in those churches

because you have to try to get something out of the preaching

from there

the point is is that a person goes

from a faithful city to a harlot

when they begin to relinquish

judgment and righteousness

you know it should be

that as Christians we are constantly

working at being righteous people

okay and look

obviously I'm not saying to just be

fully mature in your first year

second year third year

but you know we should endeavor

every single time every single week

to change something about ourselves

to get right with God and be a righteous person

it says

how was the faithful city becoming a harlot

it was full of judgment and righteousness lodged in it

but now murderers

so they're saying like this is

such a godly place at one point

it was such a faithful city

but now like it's just filled with criminals and murderers

now how do we apply that as Christians

well go to 1 John chapter 2

1 John 2 · chapter mention

hold your place there

1 John

1 John chapter 2

1 John 2 · chapter mention

here's the thing folks

as Christians

one of the major virtues

that I feel like we need to work on

I need to work on every Christian needs to work on

is just the virtue of love right

we talked about that two weeks ago

having genuine love for the brethren

and that is essentially the marker

of a disciple

by this y'all all men know that you are my disciples

if you have love one for another

that's what the Bible says

and so our love for the brethren ought to grow

so that basically means

that there should be no hatred between brethren

should be no hatred

you know what is the sign

that a person is regressing spiritually

they become hateful

and bitter towards the brethren

look at 1 John chapter 2

1 John 2 · chapter mention

and look at verse number 8

it says again a new commandment I write unto you

which thing is true in him and in you

because the darkness is past

and the true light now shine it

he that sayeth he is in the light

and hateeth his brother

is in darkness even until now

he that loveeth his brother

abideth in the light

and there is none occasion of stumbling in him

but he that hateeth his brother

is in darkness

and walketh in darkness

and knoweth now whether he goeth

because the darkness hath blinded his eyes

the Bible says

and tells me there is no room

in our hearts for hatred for the brethren

obviously

I don't think when Christians backslide

I don't think it automatically starts off

as hatred towards the brethren

there is like a gradual

there is gradual steps to that

you become offended

after the offense then resentment

bitterness

then you are not getting it right

and then what is the ultimate thing

the ultimate step there is

that you become hateful towards the brethren

you have this animosity towards the brethren

you don't want to see them

you don't want to be around them

that is a marker of a person

who has gone backslidden

and may not be said of anybody in here

anybody in our church that you have any type of hatred

in your heart for the brethren

now look I'm not saying you have to like everyone

and thank God that the Bible doesn't require us to

right

amen

because it gets hard sometimes to like everyone

we just do personalities

clash

you know what I'm saying right

sometimes you just don't

get along with people the way you would get along with others

and

but here is the thing

there should be no animosity or hatred

or ill will towards other people

because you are still a Christian

as a Christian

you need to demonstrate love

you need to have love

and let me say this

also prior to

hating someone

a precursor to that is just envy

envy towards the brethren

becoming covetous towards the things that they have

envy is towards their position

and their status

and this can often transform

and evolve into hatred

for the brethren and look folks

if that's you you are like well I have reason

to hate this person no you don't

no you don't

because the Bible strictly commands against it

and you need to get that right with God

and look if there is ever animosity

and hatred between brethren

this is what you do

get it right with God go to that person

ask for forgiveness

ask that they forgive you

be reconciled to your brother

and then live happily ever after

you don't have to

just carry on

with animosity hatred

bitter strife envies

in your heart because it's a godless thing to do

and it puts you on the path

to becoming a spiritual harlot

where once you are a faithful city

you are doing right you are doing good

but all of a sudden you get offended

and let me tell you something you will be offended in our church

I'll make sure of it

I'm just kidding you will be offended

someone is going to offend you

someone is going to wrong you

why because just because we're a church

doesn't mean that we're perfect

and people will do wrong things towards you

not because they intend to

maybe they do I don't know

it's a sinful church just like any other church

we just have to make sure

that we put the appropriate

parameters and guidelines

so when that happens

we don't allow it to evolve

into hatred for the brethren

because let me tell you this

hatred becomes bitterness and it just completely destroys you

I mean look at Saul and David

Saul was a righteous person

a godly individual

then he just had a hatred towards David

even to the point where he wanted to kill David

it's a godless thing to do my friends

and so we need to ask Christians

endeavor

to keep the spirit of unity

in the bond of peace

you know what it means to endeavor?

means work at it

if there's beef between you and another brother

in Christ go get it right

stop acting like a little girl and just go get it right

we're not in the fifth grade

we're not in elementary school

this is not high school

okay

let me just remind everyone here too

that we need to make sure

that if there is people

that are causing us to be divided

that number one

we just got to make sure we get all the stories first

okay

and look don't be bringing up things

from the past either

and I talk about this all the time

don't bring up past

offenses

let bygones be bygones

just let it go

and you know what don't allow people

who don't go to our church

to try to make your mind evil

affected against the brethren here

it's not right to do

especially if they're not in church

even if they used to go to our church

okay

they're trying to make your mind evil

trying to stir up trouble

and this is mainly most of the time

amongst women

let me just be honest with you

I feel like you hate women or something like that

most dramas centered around women

just be honest with you

can I get some ladies to nod their heads

what else we got

where's my wife

nod your head honey

it's true

don't allow people

to make your mind evil affected against the sisters

and brothers in Christ in the church

and let me also say this

don't believe everything you hear either

person says something about

x, y, and z

don't automatically jump on the bandwagon

to just believe it even if you have a bias

against the person who's telling you these things

like oh yeah that must be true because they would do something

no it's not

you don't know

we have to protect ourselves against stuff like that

because you know what the devil's constantly trying to cause

division

he knows that a strong church is united

he knows that a strong church

has loved one for another

and so what is he trying to do

he tries to send these people

who just cause division

and problems in the church

and through gossip

and being busy bodies and tattletales and whatnot

forget all that

okay forgive, forget

let bygones be bygones

and don't allow a problem to evolve

beyond that

reconcile you're like well

two and a half years ago

in six weeks and three days

forget that

and look folks I've had people

in this church offend me

in times past you're like what did they do

I don't remember

I know what happened

I don't remember though

I don't remember

because I don't sit around thinking about those things

you know why

because I have to live with you for the rest of my life

that's right

I have to see you for the rest of my life

and you know what I don't want

for the rest of my life to have this

for you to have this stigma in my mind

about you

so when I forgive

I also try my best to forget

and obviously it's probably somewhere in the files

right

massive cabinet

in my mind of offenses

and things that have happened

but I don't put the file at the very front of the cabinet though

I put it away

in the back

I lock it and I throw away the key

and I forget about where it's at

it takes a lot of work actually in my mind

to go back to those offenses

I got to look for the key

got to figure out what cabinet it's in

what file it's under

I don't label my stuff either

I do that all on purpose

so I'm not revisiting old offenses

and then become a bitter resentful person

you need to do the same

okay

why because you know the bible talks about

hatred

being like murder

okay

the faithful city was great it was full of judgment

it was full of righteousness but then it was filled

with murder and the way we could apply that

is they became a place of hateful

intent towards their brothers

and those who lived among them

just how it would be in a church

go back to Isaiah

Isaiah if you would

how

has the faithful city become a harlot

she sold herself

she relinquished judgment and righteousness

she began to hate

the brethren, murderers

look what verse 22 says

thy silver is become

dross the bible says

now what can we apply

how can we apply this particular statement

well when you look at silver

you know obviously it has

value right, monetary value

but when it begins to

accumulate dross it drops in

value okay

and you know obviously

the goal is is that when it accumulates dross

you got to scrub away the dross

so it can remain useful

but there can be a

point where it becomes so

corrupted so filled

with dross that is just kind of

useless at that point

there's two ways to apply this obviously we know

that Jeremiah chapter 6 for example

Jeremiah 6 · chapter mention

the bible says

and it compares the two coins

that are no longer able to be

clean they're no longer able to be purified

and so forth and that's referring to the

reprobate but here's the thing though

is that when it applies to Christians

Christians can't become reprobate

they can't lose their salvation

they can't be beyond the hope of salvation

but they can become castaways though

okay and in fact in

the original language

the term reprobate is also

used to describe the term castaway

in the context of Christians

not beyond the hope of salvation

but just beyond being useful

unto the Lord

now you and Isaiah let's go to 1 Corinthians chapter 9

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

if you will 1 Corinthians chapter 9

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

this is another part of the work that you have to do

when you're in church is actually go through your bible amen

God forbid that we should read the bible in church

1 Corinthians chapter 9

1 Corinthians 9 · chapter mention

1 Corinthians 9

and let's start in verse number 26 it says

I therefore so run not a certainty

so fight I not as one that beat at the air

but I keep under my body

and bring it into subjection

lest by any means when I preach to others

I myself should be a castaway

so what is the apostle Paul saying here

he's saying you know I need to make sure

that I discipline my body to do the things

that it's supposed to do to spiritually run

the race because if not

I can become useless

castaway

what is castaway it's like

the branch in

John chapter 15

John 15 · chapter mention

that's not abiding in the vine

it's broken off

men gather them

and cast them into the fire and they are burnt

basically means you become a useless Christian

okay

and you know how a faithful city becomes a harlot

they become useless

they're no longer serving

they're no longer abiding in the vine

they have allowed the draws to accumulate

on them so much

it's not really worth anything anymore

and you know what it is true

don't allow the liberal preachers

like you're worth so much to God

because initially that is true

which is why he died for us right

why Jesus Christ died for us

where we're saved but

let me just give you the reality check here

if the salt has lost its savor

it is thenceforth good for nothing

the Bible talks about

the unprofitable servant

it means that

you're no good

you're no bueno

and the Lord as a boss

can fire you

he can say

you're not doing a good job

you're not doing a good job

you've allowed the draws to accumulate

you're just allowing sin in your life

and you know what

it's time to just take you out of the picture

you're fired

doesn't mean you'll lose your salvation

thank God for that amen

it just means you ain't getting paid

for the work

that you could have done in the future

the rewards you could have gained

because you made yourself useless

after salvation the goal for us

is to be useful in the service of the Lord

useful servants

so winners

to reach people

to invest in people

to disciple people how to preach the gospel

to turn people to righteousness

we should have this prayer

to say Lord please

use me to change someone's life

use me to just help someone get right

with God to get saved

and please do that for the rest of my life

but you know what

sometimes silver becomes dross though

so accumulated with dross

sin, corruption

that it gets to a point where it doesn't even look like a coin anymore

doesn't even look like silver anymore

it just lost

it's luster, it's beauty

it doesn't shine anymore

because it's not letting its life so shine

it's so dim

after a while it's just like they're not even useful anymore

they're actually becoming detrimental

towards the things of God

go to chapter 3

chapter 3

you're like well pastor I know of someone who's like that

I know someone who's saved

but they're backslidden

and they're not useful to the things of God

and I feel like God hasn't punished them what's up with that

well we gotta leave that in God's hands

because we have no idea

that essentially

demonstrates how merciful God is

God's just merciful to that person

and we have no idea

what type of thoughts the Lord is putting into that person's mind

and we need to pray for that person to get right with God

I'm just telling you right now though

that you can get to a point

where you become a cast away

where God just tosses you to the side

because not only are you not useful

you're actually becoming detrimental to others

look at 1 Corinthians chapter 3

1 Corinthians 3 · chapter mention

and verse number 16

it says

no you're not the temple of God

and the spirit of God dwelleth in you

if any man defile the temple of God

listen to this

him shall God destroy

for the temple of God is holy

which temple you are

what does that mean? you'll kill you

destroy means you'll kill you

it means like if you start defiling your temple

allowing draws to accumulate

it gets to a point where God just says

I'm just going to take you home

because you're just being

you're being a rebel

you are

filled with spiritual disease

from the top of the head to the soul of the foot

there's no ointment for you

you're not willing to get right with God

you're not repenting

you're just persisting

in sinfulness

and God says alright I'm just taking you out

because it's better for you to just be taken home

than for you to become

detrimental to yourself and to others as well

and this is a real thing folks

go to 2 Timothy chapter 2

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

2 Timothy chapter 2

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

2 Timothy chapter 2

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

and look folks all of us

listen to me all of us have a little draw

we've got a little draw

we've got a little corruption

and that's because we're in this corruptible body

but you know

it should be that on a daily basis

you're scrubbing that draw

not allowing it to accumulate

and what am I doing right now

I'm just like trying to strip away the draw

from me right now

strip away the feminism

strip away the effeminacy

strip away the godless thinking

strip away sinful habits

that's what I'm trying to do to make you

keep you useful in the things of God

look at 2 Timothy chapter 2

2 Timothy 2 · chapter mention

in verse number 19

it says nevertheless the foundation of God

standeth sure having this seal

the Lord knoweth them that are His

and let everyone that name it the name of Christ

depart from iniquity

but in a great house there are not only vessels of gold

and of silver but also of wood and of earth

and some to honor and some to dishonor

if a man therefore purge himself

from these listen to this

he shall be a vessel and to honor

sanctified and meet

for the master's use

and prepare them to every good work

well I thought you said that God could use

he uses imperfect people he does

but does that mean you just like

accumulate filth and corruption

and just be a sinful person

no because God wants us to put in the effort

to be sanctified

which why he follows up in verse 22

flee also youthful lusts

but follow righteousness faith

charity peace with them to call on the Lord

out of a pure heart

go back to Isaiah chapter 1

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

Isaiah chapter 1

Isaiah 1 · chapter mention

we need to make sure that we keep

our silver

clean from dross

that we're scrubbing it away

take away the dross from the silver

and it shall come forth a vessel

for the finer the Bible says

and so very important

so the faithful city becomes a harlot

because she sold herself

she relinquishes judgment and righteousness

the city is filled with murder

her silvers become dross

look what it says in verse 22

thy silvers become dross, thy wine mixed

with water

so he's saying like you know

wine of course here is referring to juice

okay and you know

juice supposed to be potent

especially comes from the vine

and for some people it's just too strong

so what do they do they put a little water in it

they water it down

okay and what he's saying is like

you are such a faithful city

of just potent

knowledge of God

potent righteousness

but now you're just watered down

you know what may not be said of you or me

that we ever become watered down Christians

just soft

watered down

Christians with no conviction

no standards

just not standing up for anything

may we be potent Christians

when someone tastes our wine

it's like that juice that Vitor gives us

you know what I'm talking about

that wine thing that he gives

it's actual juice

it's not alcoholic wine

drinking alcohol is a sin

just to throw it out there

in case anybody didn't know that

you know

alcohol no drunken

don't even look at it the Bible says

drinking alcohol is a sin

okay and you cannot drink alcohol

and be in church

so you better not be here drinking alcohol

when you go home

if you do let's talk

I'm gonna throw you out

if you think it's okay to just come to church

drink alcohol and be here

and you could substitute alcohol for

weed

any kind of recreational drugs or whatever

throw that all in there

we don't want nothing to do with that

because a little 1111 at the whole lot

you're gonna fill our church with dross

we're trying to remain silver amen

but what he's saying here is that

you know you become diluted you're watered down

you know you're not really

as zealous for the things

of God as you used to be

you're just kind of like

you just watered down juice

you don't taste as sweet anymore

you don't have that potency

in your taste anymore because you're just a watered down

person

and what this means is that

we as Christians need to make sure we remain zealous for the things of God

okay

and not just

you know not just make excuses

for sin

not make excuses for doctrinal errors

obviously we need to be long suffering

towards babes and Christ but not towards those

who should know better

and so we see here

that they become

like reprobate silver

castaways

watered down and lastly number six

is that they have their evil

associations verse 23 says

thy princes are rebellious and companions

of thieves

everyone loveth gifts and followeth after rewards

they judge not the fatherless

neither doth the cause of the widow come unto them

one thing that will definitely

transfer you from

being a faithful city to a harlot

are the people you hang out with

that is a fact my friends

the people you keep around you

you will be like those people

so the Bible is always saying

follow righteousness with them

they call upon the name of the Lord

why because God knows how

powerful influences

are in our lives

our associations

you will be like the people you're around

which is why God says don't forsake the assembly

because God wants you to be like a Christian

and the way you become like a Christian

is by being around other Christians

I know you said alcohol is the same

but I kind of struggled with that

we'll hang around us for a while

we'll shame alcohol before you so much

that you'll be just absolutely disgusted by it

you'll walk away and be like

you know what, drinking alcohol is gay

so gay

yeah, yeah, it's gay

I'm never going to do that again

because it's just so frowned upon

you'll have the right mentality

regarding sin

righteousness

but let me also say this, the flip side is true as well

you keep hanging around your cousins

you keep hanging around

your unsafe family

your worldly family, your backslidden family

you keep hanging around people who don't have

the same biblical values as you

eventually you'll be like them

you'll become corrupt

you keep hanging around the dross, you're going to accumulate some dross

that's just how it always works

that's how you go from being a faithful city

to a harlot

and here's the last bonus point

if this is you just get right with God

amen, look at verse 16

wash you, make you clean

put away the evil of your doings from before my eyes

cease to do evil

what am I supposed to do

here's a good one, just stop doing it

right

I love how the Bible is just so practical

like how do I do this, just stop

just don't do it

obviously sometimes you need help, you need reminders

but the Bible just says cease to do evil

and then what

verse 17, learn to do well

I mean the Bible is just so practical

he's like stop doing the bad stuff

and start learning how to do the right stuff

learn to do well

seek judgment

relieve the oppressed

judge the fatherless, plead for the widow

come now, let us reason together

say to the Lord

though your sins be as scarlet

they should be as white as snow

though they be red like crimson

they shall be as the Bible says

what is he saying

just confess it

allow me to just clean you of your sin

cleanse you of all unrighteousness

and move on with your life

learn to do well

and the great thing about learning to do well

is you don't have to do it by yourself

you're doing it right now

this is why it's important not to miss church

what does church do, it teaches you how to do well

it instructs you in the ways

of righteousness

and it tells you stop doing evil

cease to do evil

stop drinking alcohol

no fornication

no adultery

no railing

no extortion

no idolatry

you can't do that anymore

then you learn

you cease to do evil, you learn to do well

you confess it before the Lord

folks the Christian life is not hard at all

it's actually very simplistic

as far as what we're to do

is it challenging to actually implement that

of course, but the system is very simple

cease to do evil, learn to do well

get right with God

and if you're a harlot, get back to becoming

a faithful city

Father we thank you so much for your word

I pray that you'd help us as your people

to be faithful cities all the days of our life

and some of us may even

deviate from the path at one time or another

I pray that they would be reminded

of these truths to get back on track

Lord and to learn to do well

cease to do evil and allow

themselves to be cleansed by the blood of Christ

from their unrighteousness

bless us as we go on our way, we love you

we thank you, pray the things in Jesus name

amen