Code of Conduct - Kingdom Principles

Thanks for checking out the Anchor Faith Message podcast

from St. Augustine, FL.

Now enjoy this message. So we're talking about the

Kingdom Code of Ethics principle, and by definition it

means this. This is the standard of conduct

established by the King for the behavior and social

relationships of his citizens. This is also the expectation of

the king regarding the values, moral standards the citizens

must adhere to. So think, do you think that the

mayor suffer the lamb that the Lord's going to save you?

Thought your electronic devices were cool?

Check this out. And that we're all going to be

at the mayor suffer the lamb playing video games or watching

movies right now. We're going to be tuned into the

king and we're going to have the best food ever and gain no

calories with it. It's going to be amazing, right?

But the standard of conduct is established by the king, say, by

the king, by the king. So what are ethics?

Ethics as a set of moral principles, the principles or

conduct of governing an individual or a group.

Now, this should not actually be a shock to us.

In fact, for us to even have this conversation from the

church's perspective, it should be expected.

It's amazing how you know, especially in the United States,

how so many times ministers and ministries have allowed

themselves to compromise the code of ethics supposedly for

the sake of winning the lost, right?

And so, you know, we reduce standards so that, you know,

we're not offensive. We reduce standards so that, you

know, everyone can feel comfortable, right?

And these particular. But you understand the world,

even in the devil's system, he doesn't do that.

And everyone is conditioned to a standard.

How do we know this? Do you go to work?

I mean, when you, you don't decide when you go to work.

I mean, unless you're self-employed.

And if you're self-employed, then most of the time your

clients are telling you when you're going to do something.

You know, it's always funny when I'm going to start my own

business. That's laughable because they

don't understand that is not you get 5 hours, that means you work

overtime and don't get OT. That's what that means, yeah.

I mean, when you start a business, I mean, you're putting

everything in the business. You're like, you're just hoping

you're going to get paid. Now.

You you may be getting things in the account, but you're like, on

a personal level, it's like, man, I'm putting everything into

this deal. I understand how that is, but

you know, obviously we, we think, you know, that if we own

it, that everyone's working for us and then we're just making

money. There are people who function in

that capacity and you can arrive to that capacity, but the

reality of self-employed people never do because they're not,

they're self-employed, they're not actually business owners and

there's a difference there or they're not investors.

That's a there's a difference there.

My point is, is that, you know, we have standards we associate

with all the time. If you go to Publix, there's a

standard you submit to the minute you go to Publix.

You said what do you mean? Well, you understand if you act

a certain way, they can get you off their property.

There are places that literally say this employees only.

That's called a standard. And the established conduct in

that facility is you must be an employee to have access to this

area. And people are shopping and are

submitting to that all the time without griping.

Do you go to work? They say you're going to be here

at this time, or if you got a project, it's due here.

If they tell you that, I mean, there's all kinds of stuff.

They tell you what your insurance is going to be.

You know, you agree based upon pay.

Or maybe you just need a job. You don't care how much it is.

And at the end of the day, you're there.

But these are standards. Then you have to go through HR.

And man, I was in the secular world.

There's all kind of hoops there, how you can talk to people.

And it's even worse today, right?

There's sexual harassment, there's all kind of harassment,

people complaining, all the those are all called standards

and the world complies with that.

So then we come to the church and we act like all because it's

free, right? And I couldn't do anything to

earn it. Then there's technically no

standard or expectation for me. But the Bible doesn't say that.

The Bible literally says there is a standard.

There is a code of ethics that should function within the

church. Amen.

And we should be different. So I'm going to hit a couple of

scriptures real fast just for the sake of repetition real

quick, only so that you can again see the connection that

there are behaviors, there's conduct, and there are social

relationships that are not allowable in His Kingdom.

All right, which means again, we've said this before, Jesus

said you cannot serve both God and wealth, right?

So for you to say I can do it, you're a liar because God says

you cannot. Now, if you serve God, you could

have wealth called wealth follows.

But if you serve wealth, God's not following.

You could say he's blessing you, but he's not in it because the

devil give you the whole world. I said the devil can give you

the whole world and there's many people say God bless me and

God's not actually in that at all, but I don't have time for

that. OK, that that means those who've

been trained in righteousness can discern when someone says,

oh, the Lord's blessed me. You're like, bro, your

lifestyle's in such a way. I don't even you, you have no

connection with God and you're going to like God's done this.

The only blessing you have is what blessing falls on the just

and the unjust. You may have that, but as far as

it being consistently ordered of the Lord, it's not the devil is

supplying your life to keep you away from thank God because

he'll supply you the world at the for for for 15 of your soul

right. So Ephesians chapter 5.

Ephesians 5 · chapter mention

We saw this last week one through 8.

I'm just going to read it quick. Therefore be imitators of God as

beloved children and walk in love, just as Christ also loved

you and gave Himself up for you as an offering, as a sacrifice

to God, as a fragrant aroma. But immorality or any impurity

or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among

Saints. And there must be no filthiness

or silly talking, of course jesting, which is not fitting,

but rather giving a thanks for this it for this.

You know with certainty that no immoral, impure person or

covetous man who is an idolatry has any inheritance in the the

Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with

empty words. For because of these things, the

wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Therefore do not be partakers with them.

But you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the

Lord. Walk as children of the light.

So again Paul says, be an imitator of God.

You cannot act like the world, be you cannot be saved.

Act like the world and tell me you're imitating God because

Jesus did not come and imitate the world.

They did not imitate the world. He lived the Kingdom standard.

He was perfect, blameless. You said, well, I can't be

perfect. Well, you've been made righteous

and you've been made perfect. And if you yield, you can live

more perfected than you think. Now, if you mess up, you have an

advocate, you can get quick forgiveness, you understand, but

your lifestyle is not a practicer of wrong behavior,

although periodically or on some occasions and most of the time

when the occasion occurs, you actually know why it happens.

Any time that I have a failure in conduct, I know why because

I've not guarded myself leading up to it.

I have not had a failure in 20 years that I don't know it's

coming if I don't do something. And if it came, it was my fault

because I knew it was coming because I was feeling my flesh

come alive and I wasn't doing what I was empowered to do to

crucify it so it wouldn't get to that place.

Then when it got to that place and I was in it and I was hating

every minute of being in it, then the Holy Ghost was like,

what are you doing? Because he sure wasn't saved.

Well, I mean, you can't help it, son.

You're just a sorry Sinner. Saved by grace, bro.

The Holy Ghost never told me that on the now.

He wasn't audible, but it was loud in my spirit.

What are you doing? What are you talking?

Like, why are you behaving like this?

And I would get in private conversations with him.

Well, you know, boom, boom, boom, boom.

And I would give a list to justify my response.

And they were all fleshly, and the world would have agreed with

me and championed my cause. But the Holy Ghost says, well,

son, you've been delivered from that.

You're really without excuse. Then he would say, you know what

you got to do. Now you know what you have to

do. Now you know what you must do.

And I know what that answer was. I must ask for forgiveness.

I must go to the one that I've done wrong.

I must ask them to forgive me. I must because that's the

conduct of a citizen in the Kingdom.

It's the standard of the king and he died so that I can live

that and it's not optional for me.

Not that's the standard. When you blow it, you've got to

fix it. I can't just sweeping out of the

rug walk into the room and that like nothing happened.

Can't do it. That's not how it works.

Y'all hearing me? All right, Galatians 519 and 21,

we saw this and we'll read out the passion translation.

That said, the cravings of the self life are obvious.

Sexual immorality, lustful thoughts, pornography, chasing

after things instead of God, manipulating others, hatred of

those who get get in your way, senseless arguments, resentment

when others have favored or favored, temper tantrums, angry

quarrels, only thinking of yourself, being in love with

your own opinions, being envious of the blessings of others,

murder, uncontrolled addictions, wild parties and all other

similar behaviors. Haven't I already warned you

that those who use their quote UN quote freedom for these

things will not inherit the Kingdom realm of God?

So these are outside the code of ethics.

And in both of these passes of Scripture, and there was a third

one I gave you out of First Corinthians chapter 6 that

1 Corinthians 6 · chapter mention

communicated there are specific standards and conducts that are

not in the Kingdom. So you cannot be born again,

bring that kind of behavior in and say God's OK with it.

That is a false. That's false.

And any church or minister or ministry that says God is OK

with any of those actions within his Kingdom is lying.

It is not true. Now, if you happen to fall in,

and when I say fall, you understand, it's really by

choice, OK? Because we really don't fall

into these things. We surround ourselves in

situations or we don't, you know, keep ourselves guarded so

that it becomes, we become prey to it, meaning we we easily

accept or, or set ourselves back into that position.

OK, Because again, it is irresponsible for me to say, you

know what, you just can't help it.

That's not true. You can't help it.

You can help it. You can help it so you stop it,

but you can also help it when you're in it so that you can get

back out. Because again, a righteous man

may fall seven times, but but he gets up.

Now, does he get up in unrighteousness?

No, he gets back up in righteousness 'cause he repents,

he asks for forgiveness, and he goes back to the behavior

befitting the Kingdom. Amen.

Now the world cannot do our behavior because they're not of

the nature of God. So again, as I said last week,

someone could come in here and be participating in behavior

that we've listed in these passages of Scripture.

And is it wrong? Yes.

But again, to tell them you can't do that without them being

changed in their spirit. It's impossible.

Now, it doesn't mean we can't say, hey, that's that.

That doesn't function in the Kingdom of God.

Now, that man, I just can't help it.

You. You should say.

I know. See what we do a lot of times as

believers, we try to change the person before they have the

spirit in them and their spirits change to be changed.

Well, you got to quit doing that.

What you need to say. Well, I understand you're doing

it. You can't help it.

You're right. You're stuck.

Yeah, but you can get out. How?

You must be born again. I mean, go ahead and admit to

them. I mean, it's not right.

I get it. But we're we can't say you're

going to have to quit sleeping around.

I mean, if they're lost, they're going to sleep around.

You're going to say you can't help but sleep around, can you?

I mean, go ahead and just just be honest.

That's how they function. You say, do you want to get out

of that? Because you can.

Christ is made away because that behavior doesn't come in the

Kingdom. And you can get out, but you're

in it. And we understand that.

And there's no reason for me to tell you to change because you

can't change that. But Christ can change it if

you'll give your life to Him. And then at that point when they

come into the Kingdom now it's a totally different expectation.

And I'm amazed of how clear the Bible is.

But, and I know why it does and I'm going to tell you why, but

it's amazing, as clear as the Bible is, is that pastors and

congregation members of the Church of Jesus Christ that

knows he died on the cross. I pointed this because it's this

here, but it's not a cross. But you understand who died on

the cross for their sins because they were in a in a condition

that does not give them the Kingdom, they're not allowed in.

They are only going to be thrown into the lake of fire, which is

the second death. But when they accept Christ as

Lord, they become a new creature.

In Christ, the old passes away. That person that was outside

before the cross never makes it in the Kingdom.

A new spirit gets on the inside. The Holy Ghost bears witness.

And in essence when we shut the door to the world, he is saying

none of that is allowed in here. But yet we preach like it all

gets to come over and we can live it this way because we

weren't good enough to get out then we're really not good

enough if it wasn't forgotten. And we're going to live the same

thing basically here. But God knows we asked him to

come into our heart and the church really don't look

different than the world. We just say we ask Jesus to save

us and it's not his scripture. Now why would we keep this

position? Because we want our carnality.

We want the world and all of its pleasures, but we don't want to

go to hell. And that's not lordship because

you have to abandon that. And the Kingdom is extremely

clear because again, you have no excuse.

God's like I took the nature out of you that was stuck there.

I gave you a new nature that is not stuck there, is not

connected to there. And if you allow that nature to

develop by my spirit called the Holy Ghost that I put in you, He

will renew your mind and your whole behavior will manifest

differently. You have to see yourself free

from that right. That's why Romans 8 says we've

been free from the law of sin and death.

We are in a new law called the law of the Spirit of life in

Christ Jesus. Hallelujah, Amen.

So we've been made righteous in our spirit in right standing

with God. But we have to renew our minds

so that the righteousness that we are in the Spirit can

manifest in the world. We are never to live like the

world with a righteous spirit, ever.

That's not the context. And the Lord the Holy Spirit

knows. I mean, again, when you go to

school, there's a lot of subjects, right?

There's math, there's English, you know, there's history,

there's science. Maybe those are all different

subjects. All of them contain words, some

have numbers. But the reality is there's

concepts there. Some of us were better in

subjects than others, but at the end of the day, we are to learn

them so that we can improve and function in society and so on

and so forth. Right?

OK, well, the same things in the Kingdom.

So again, if you know nothing about calculus, I'm not talking

to you about calculus. We got to go back to the

beginning. We're going to do basic

arithmetic, but basic, basic arithmetic is the foundation

that will allow us to build each stage until we get to, you know,

deeper layers of mathematics. Same thing with English, you

know, English, they just get you phonics.

So you can even say a word, you know, you can pronounce a word.

And then they get into sentence structures.

I mean, that's next level stuff. I mean, I'm getting into this

stuff right now, got my own personal tutor and it's like

next level stuff. And then you, when you see it on

paper, that's one thing. It's another thing when you're

speaking like I'm doing right now and I'm having to be

conscious of whether or not I'm saying what should be written

correctly. Are you hearing me?

But through repetition and practice and study, I can

transform my mind never to do another double negative

sentence. Hallelujah.

And for all you English people, you say Amen.

For all you non-english people, you're like, what's he talking

about? I understand to you, you won't

know. But to those who know, they

don't know that boy don't know what he talking about.

I don't want to be in that room with those who will know.

Why? Because I'll be a better pastor

in five years. I'm going to have better

influence. You know, if I'm going to be

before people in government, I need to be able to speak and

have a better orator skills, right?

We should develop ourselves entirely.

And honestly, English was work. My point though, is, is that I

can't bring my baby gibberish. I mean, because if I talk to you

like I did when I first came out, well, not when I first came

out of the womb, but I wasn't talking.

But you know, once I started. To communicate with vocal cords,

you understand? You want me to tell you what my

preaching would sound like, right?

Because when you're a child and you want something, and as a

pastor, I want you to grow up spiritually.

So this is what my sermons would sound like.

So what does it sound like?

Because I'm going to scream until you get it, because that's

what babies do, right? They scream until they're

satisfied. And a lot of y'all ain't

satisfied me yet. So we'd be screaming forever.

Be like, what can we do to satisfy pastor?

Renew your mind. Right, Right.

All right. I'm glad that sunk in.

Amen. So Paul, again, when it comes to

the code of ethics in First Corinthians 5, we saw last week

that he mentions a particular behavior that was happening in

the Corinthian church that he says didn't even happen in the

world. And he was so put out about it

to the point that he says in 2nd 1st Corinthians 511 to 13, he

said, but actually I wrote to you not to associate with any

so-called brother if he is an immoral person or covetous or

idolatry or reviler or a drunkard or a swindler, not even

to eat with such a one. For what do I have to do with

judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are

in the church? Now again, in the church, when

someone says don't judge me, that's not scriptural.

Now, again, I'm not judging you to determine whether you're

going to be in the lake of fire or not.

That's not my judgement. My judgement is based upon your

behavior, the code of conduct, the fruit you are to display.

And if you are, if you are acting and behaving like an

unbeliever, I have every right in the church to say what are

you doing with the expectation you need to change?

And the reason I would say it is because you can and your spirit

man already will is is different.

You've just gone backwards with your mindset.

That's why Roman says whoever sets his mind on the flesh

fulfils the desires of the flesh and the flesh produce what?

Death. But those who set their mind on

the Spirit, well, we have our minds set on the Spirit 'cause

we are alive to the Spirit, but we have to set our minds there.

Paul and another one of his epistles, when he's talking

about being born again, he says put on the new man with that,

which is a really interesting statement, 'cause if you're born

of God, you don't put that on. God made you a new creature in

Christ. But when he says put on the new

man, what's he talking in reference?

He's saying you've got to put that on in your mind.

You have to remind yourself you're not the person who used

to be dead and separated from God.

You're not a a lie. You're you're not held bondage

to that kind of behavior and thinking you're not bound to it

was in my family. Well, that's not in the Jesus

family. You're in a new family.

You're in the wrong tree, people.

So every time you use excuses like symptoms in your body and

sickness or behaviors, temper tantrums or you're impatient,

well, you know, my Mama was impatient.

Who cares? You're not your Mama.

You're actually your own person. And who's your daddy?

Because that's what I want to know.

Who's your daddy? Because your daddy sits on a

throne and your daddy don't act like that.

And he's made you in his nature. So at the end of the day, the

church should have this conduct that is so awesome, like the

Kingdom, that when someone comes in that they realize, man, I

fill out a place and they should.

Nobody could come up out of hell and go stand before Jesus and

feel like that they fit in. In fact, we've seen it in

Scripture when the when the Lord, when the father came down

out of heaven came down on a mountain or what I mean the the

and his covenant. I mean, the ones he had already

like shed blood to cover and was his chill was his nation were

afraid of him couldn't even be in his presence and the audacity

that we think that we can behave any way we want to and we going

to just walk right up to the throne.

I mean, it's it's insanity. But again, we so many babes in

Christ have been been sold such a watered down version of Jesus

that all they know about him is that he died for their sins.

If they ask him to come in their heart when they die, they go to

heaven and that's all they know. So that's all they that's the

only way they know how to live. Now, when I say that it's not

like the Holy Ghost and say you need to go somewhere else that

you can teach you how to live because I've been that person.

Go where you can find somewhere to learn how to live because in

me, I'm like, there's got to be more than this.

I knew I was going to heaven. Now I knew based upon what I

knew because I've learned more since then.

But with that being said, I'm like, there's got to be more.

And then all of a sudden I get in places that knew more truth,

knew more behavior, conduct, character, how I could release

this person on the inside. And man, when I operated in

those truths by faith, it's changed my life.

This changed my life. It allows me to stand in front

of a person and let them slap me in the face and tell them to hit

me again. I've done that.

And when I did that, the person who slapped me the first time

ended up paying my year at Rhema the second year and then later

came to this church and got healed here.

This is amazing stuff. But again, if I lived according

to the flesh, we just would have hit, right?

I mean, I'm not going to be slapped by somebody in front of

everybody and being, you know, to be embarrassed.

I mean, if you're going to lose, go, at least go fighting, right?

I mean, that's typically the mentality.

But I had a greater one on the inside.

And I did more in that moment than someone slapping me in the

face. And it yielded more than I

expected. All right.

Are you hearing me? So again, the message says it

this way, He said it says. But I'm saying that you

shouldn't act as if everything is just fine when a friend who

claims to be a Christian is promiscuous or crooked, is

flipped with God, flipped with God, or rude to friends, get

drunk, gets drunk, or becomes greedy and predatory.

You can't just go along with this training it as acceptable

behavior. I'm not responsible for what the

outsiders do, but don't we have some responsibility for those

within our community of believers?

He says God decides on the outsiders, but we need to decide

when our brothers and sisters are out of line and if

necessary, clean house. So again, it is a false

statement for the church to believe that someone has the

right to fellowship in a local body if they repeatedly will not

come out of knowingly wrong behavior of the Kingdom, that

they should have an unlimited supply of mercy.

That is mythical thinking. And honestly, through the 30

years I've been doing ministry, most Saints can't handle that,

can't handle it. And what's really sad, the

majority of the Saints don't have enough discernment to know

that brother is so jacked up. They should go.

And then when they do go, they go try to run them down.

Or like, why you trying to run down somebody we got rid of?

Oh, y'all don't want to hear this because I, I'm, I got a

message, I got revelation, I got a message the day Jesus was

silent. It blow your mind.

He didn't even talk, offered no salvation, none.

And we think everybody at every time, at any time, it's because

we're untrained. We're so untrained.

No, the church wouldn't be in the position it's in the United

States if we were wiser as a church body and say, what are

you doing acting like that? When you have Kingdom peer

pressure, then fleshly people are either going to get right in

the Kingdom that they already can.

You're with no excuse. You're born of the Spirit now.

Or take your fleshly cell phone down the road 'cause you're

choosing. Well, they, they weren't nice,

but no, you wouldn't repent. I mean, really, that's the key.

Well, they're not a friendly church.

No, you're an unrepented person. That's what that looks like.

Say Amen anyway. All right, which brings me to

Proverbs chapter 6, new verse for today.

Proverbs 6 · chapter mention

You ready? Proverbs 616 to 19.

It says there are six things which the Lord.

What's that word? Come on, say that word.

Come on, say that word again. Who?

Who hates? Who hates?

Who's hating? Oh, but God is love.

Love can hate and be righteous. See, it's amazing how much we

allow the world to dictate how we interpret Scripture.

There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which it

which are an abomination to him. So when we get to the 7th 1:00,

we, we going beyond hate, we getting into abomination.

All right, let's go on #1 haughty eyes #2A lying tongue.

Did you lie to me? I might as well just look at you

and say, well, God sure hates this conversation because you

just lied to me and hands that shed innocent blood.

Now that one's like no brainer, right?

Verse 18, a heart that devises wicked plans.

The problem with that is, is that they're typically extremely

nice people. They're cunning feet that run

rapidly to evil. So that's 12345.

Here's number six, a false witness who utters lies.

Now this is someone who's coming in, knows it isn't true, but are

trying to slander someone else. And then here we go.

You ready for the abomination? The one that's worse than hate

and one who spreads strife among brothers.

Now God hates these first six and typically these are easy to

see outside of the community of the church.

But when inside his community someone starts spreading strife,

Daddy is not well with that child.

And all day long you can say the Lord loves you and he does,

because love has met every condition to keep you out of

being a strife maker. So when you're creating strife,

strife among the brothers, the love is saying you better repent

and get out of that and get over here back under the blood, cause

love did that for you. But if you continue this course,

you're going to have the consequence of that course,

'cause my word does what my word does to those who create strife.

Are you hearing me now? One of the easiest strife ones

is this. It happens in the church and,

and, and listen, the reason why this is easy, because it's the

Satan's number one tactic. You have to understand it's this

tactic. Who sits on the throne in

heaven? Who sits on the throne in

heaven? God the Father.

Does he sit on the throne in heaven?

Is he supreme authority? Who's at his right hand?

Jesus. And who has Jesus deployed to

the earth? The Holy Spirit, three in one.

But even in the Godhead, Jesus said, I only do what the Father

says. The Holy Spirit only tells us

what Jesus does. So the Holy Spirit is

representing Jesus. Jesus is representing the

Father. The Father is all authority,

power, love, justice. OK, somebody and his creation

says I want his throne now. It wasn't Jesus, it wasn't the

Holy Ghost. We know it was an anointed

cherub. We call him Satan today.

So you understand, how does Satan convince 1/3 of the

angels? He goes by and says, I'm not

really sure about what the Father's doing.

So he starts to create strife among the angelic beings of the

character of God. This is why the pastor is always

the one targeted because he is the under shepherd of the Great

Shepherd. You understand, I'm not the head

of this church. His name's Jesus.

And let me just go ahead and let you know so you will know when

you do talk about me among the brethren in ways that are not

positive. Jesus is listening because when

they talked about Moses, Moses said you better get out the way

son, because I am going to smoke Miriam and Aaron because I have

heard them talk about you. And Moses had to say don't do it

Lord. He said let me tell you

something, the way your sister has talked about you, I'm going

to do something. So she going to have leprosy for

seven days. Well, she don't talk about you

like that and and everybody in this congregation is going to

know that. But see, we live in the age of

mercy and grace of which these actions don't happen that fast,

but we act like God all of a sudden developed.

He's hearing impaired. But you understand, God can

interpret everything, I'm just telling you.

But then we do it to each other, so and so, and we talk about why

do we do this? This is not behavior fitting of

the Kingdom of God, period, period.

Now you say, well, am I talking about someone?

If they've done something wrong, what you need to do is if

someone's gone wrong, you go to them in private and you try to

get them to change their behavior because at the end of

the day, the Kingdom don't function like this.

But if they do not repent and you know of a couple people that

have seen that action, you try to say, hey, come on, let's

change. But at that point, even in those

places, they have a shepherd or a pastor that you say pastor so

and so. I talked to them about this.

Notice it, I mentioned it because you know what?

The body can do that. But at the end of the day, it's

good for me to know because if they come to me and start

running you down and I'm unaware, then I'm coming to you

to try to find out what's going on, right?

At the end of the day, we can reconcile because that if they

don't want to repent, then it's going to come to me anyway.

And at that point, we're trying to do what we need to do to get

behavior, the code of ethics of the Kingdom of God, to function

within the church because God expects it.

And again, this is not hard. So you have to strip that from

your mind. This is not hard.

This is actually easy for you because you are already born in

Christ. You've been made righteous.

You have the power to crucify the flesh that you have it.

So when here it comes, I mean, at least be like David, because

when Nathan says you are that man, he repented, right?

But why do we want to save our face?

That's the problem. You want to save your life,

you're going to lose it. We think that's only applicable,

you know, in salvation. I mean, I've seen many believers

lose their life because they wanted to save their life, you

know, not make it look like they were doing that.

You're doing it. Just repent, man.

What's the problem? We'll get reconciled and we'll

Alec, it never happened. This is what we're already

positioned or all of us are actually positioned to do that.

The minute a person repents, we forgive them.

Hallelujah. So you know, how do you know

something's going on in the camp?

Well, how are they talking? Amen.

How are they talking? How are they talking about

people? I mean, if all they're doing is

complaining and whining and, and, and talking about this

person talking about that, you get around someone's talking

about different layers of leadership, you should be like,

bro, something ain't right here. So at the end of the day, if

someone came to you and say, you know, I think pastor, you should

say, let's go talk to him. I mean, how hard is that?

But ten times out of 10, you know what they're going to say.

No, no, I mean, no, I'm not going to deal.

I'll just let the Lord deal with it.

No, we going to deal with it because apparently you were bold

enough to say something to me about it.

So let's go deal now. You're not so bold.

I mean, do you fit the lying tongue now?

Now again, outsiders, what do you expect?

They come in here. All that guy, I mean plenty of

come through. He just wants your money.

We don't even talk about money. I mean whatever I mean, because

they have their own hang up. You know, I'm not going to run

you down and try to fix you because you need to be changed

spiritually. You're not going to change.

And I understand that. And you know what, you don't

offend me. You're no issue.

I understand you're helpless and we can actually help you should

you choose to want to be helped. Because we were like you.

We were dead in our trespasses and sin.

We thought we were right, but God, Amen.

But now, now that we're in again, Coach Shirley can tell

you, I don't care where those boys played baseball before.

There is a code of ethics, a conduct behavior that's going to

happen on that team. And if they violate it, I don't

care how good you are. You're out, right?

And you know what, they'll do it for baseball.

How much more to the one who died for us and then actually

he's empowered us to be the elite athlete again.

We actually are all starters. How about that?

I mean, now God doesn't do participation trophies.

I just want you all know that He doesn't do that.

You actually have to play the game called faith.

You got to get out there and do something.

Can't be riding the pond and say I'm part of the team.

No, you got to get engaged. You got to be at practice.

You got to work this thing, but we know whether you work in it

or not. That's why Paul said if a man

don't need a man to work. I saw some of y'all, y'all

busybodies out there, y'all ain't doing Jack right.

If a man does not work, if a man does not, If a man does not,

it's not. If a man don't, that is

incorrect. If a man does not work, so quit

saying don't. It's doesn't and some of you

said I didn't realize it 'cause you're from the South.

This is the problem. We're fixing this, we're fixing

it now. There's nothing negative on the

South other than when you're Grammarly wrong.

We're not ignorant people. OK, Hallelujah.

So if a man does not eat work, then let him starve.

Hallelujah. OK, Thank you.

Ephesians 4. Ephesians 4.

Amen. Hallelujah.

I may need to bring some of my youth pastor back around here to

help y'all out. Ephesians 422 to 27.

Then we'll jump down to 29. It says again that in reference

to your former manner of life, you understand we have a former

manner. This is what I love about David

Mackey, especially, you know, when he had just, you know, come

to the church, his whole life's being changed.

And again, behavior, code of conduct, everything's different.

Quit drinking, alcoholic forever, her whole life.

I mean, I'm talking about hidden stuff everywhere.

Cold Turkey, but he's cold Turkey because he kept

scriptures in his ear. Temptation came, but the

scripture kept running in his mind thinking because he knew

inside I have the power to do this and then he had this kind

of tenacity that you know what, if I could live that's good as a

Sinner, Surely I can live even better as a believer because the

greater ones on the inside of me.

So when I was talking, he said. Now the old man, I always loved

that because he always kept a kept an arm's distance from.

The old man and. When the thought came of how to

handle said, he said now the old man, which is telling.

Me I. Had this thought that the old

man would have jumped on, but I'm a I'm a new man, right?

So in reference to your former manner of life, you lay aside

the old self, which is being corrupted in accordance with the

lusts of deceit that you be renewed in the spirit of your

mind and put on the new self, which is what in the likeness of

God has been created in righteousness and holiness of

the truth. Therefore, laying aside

falsehood, speak truth, each one of you with his neighbor, for we

are members of one and mother. Be angry and do not sandwich

tells us angry. Any angry emotion can happen

righteously. So do not think because you're

born again. You're like the Jesuses that we

see on most of the films where he never raises his voice.

The Lord. Has anger now the Bible tells us

the Father has an area in him that has anger because it says

he's storing up wrath for the sons of disobedience so.

Here he is. Forgiving.

He he, he's done everything for us to come in.

He's trying to draw you in. He's to taking care of every

condition on the man so that you can accept Jesus.

Yet he's also got a burner of anger waiting to be poured out

on those who will not accept Jesus as Lord.

That's happening, and He's righteous in doing so.

So be angry and do not sin. Do not let the sun go down in

your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.

Now, in this first year, I took this to an extreme when my wife

and I were young in our marriage because we had a conflict.

We're not going to bed. It was not going to happen.

And again, I took this to an extreme, OK?

But you know, I just took it a little too literal.

And if we had some challenges, you know, when we first got

married, because we're growing and developing, she had a lot of

baggage. I have my own set of baggage.

We're merging. You know, we're trying to do it

right. And I know what God says.

She knows what God says. She wants to handle it one way.

I want to handle it another way. And I would use the scripture

and man at night brought it. I would turn lights on.

I would snap sheets off. We are not going to get go to

bed till this thing's done. And she was.

Patient with me. Long-suffering.

I'm serious, 'cause that's. You know, at some point she.

Realized God love him, it's really not a big deal to me.

We can go to bed and we can finish this in the morning, but

he's got to hang up and for his sake, let's resolve this deal,

right? And honestly, she would just

resolve me now. I don't know that she was always

resolved. She would figure that out or we

talk about a little bit later and it's like, wow, I guess we

could have talked about this in the morning.

I figured it out later on, you know.

Now there are occasions that if it's certain thing you need to

talk because if you lay in the bed, he'll pound you all night

long and then you'll wake up the next day and you'll even be more

angry and be like don't even touch or don't even look at me,

OK. And I know I'm prophesying now

because some of y'all been in this case before where you're

like don't even talk to me. I mean, you're so put out now

because you've let it Stew, because when you go to sleep,

you're not sleeping now. So you.

Understand in those comments like.

It's better for us to get some reconciliation resolution here

and again, how fast, as quick as you can kill your flesh.

I mean, it's really not doesn't take long.

You got get over yourself. How?

Fast did it? Get over yourself.

The other one gets over themselves.

Admit our owns, forgive and go. Let me tell you how fast that

is. 15 seconds. This is ain't all not fair

people. This can be 15 seconds, 'cause

that's about how long it takes for me to tell you I did wrong

in five seconds. She says she what her wrong was

if there was wrong, if there was not a wrong, we're just

whoever's admitting. And then I forgive and then you

kiss. And then sometimes it goes

beyond that because you know what?

That's what people that are married can do.

Just say Amen anyway. I mean, you should say yeah.

Now don't go home and pick a fight just so you can go

somewhere tonight, Skip. That part just say let's go.

Somewhere, all right, Verse 29. Verse 29.

Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a

word as is good for edification according to the need of the

moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.

This is very important because again, we are family.

We're not perfect people and the reality is some of us are

actually doing a lot better than people are saying we are.

I'm just going to say that. Because again, when people talk

behind the back and you're a person who listens to the

conversation behind the back without actually going to the

source and whoever that source is, I may be that source, it may

be somebody else's, the source. Well, you're violating.

Stuff like this, because if someone is not having wholesome

words and edification and and building up, and I mean again,

if someone's not excited about the church they've been planted

in, it's really time to leave. Because God is not trying to.

Keep you somewhere to be a nag and it's.

Not your assignment by. God to nag they are to point out

everything wrong is to. Have peace, love.

Love the people around you, recognize that some people make

mistakes, but by God I have. And you know what?

I can forgive them really quick. You know, and somebody's like,

man, I think. Well, you know, if they did,

let's pray for them. I mean, most people don't even

engage in it. Let's pray for them.

What happened? What'd you hear?

That's not the code of conduct of the church.

And if you're hearing this, you got to cut that stuff off.

You have to be wise enough to say wait a minute.

You're. This is like.

We're like, you know, trying to have reality church.

I mean, people are talking about church like it's a TV reality

show and it's actually not reality.

Do not grieve the Holy Spirit. By whom you were sealed for the

day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and

anger and clamor and slander be put away from among you, along

with all malice. Be kind to one another.

Be what? Be kind to one another.

You know, sometimes people come up to me and say, Pastor Earl, I

hadn't seen so and so. Well, I pray for him.

I mean, what do you want me to say?

Because you know what? I know a lot.

About things, but I don't talk about it and I'm sure not going

to talk bad about them, but. I don't can't say they don't do

the. Opposite.

I mean that should. Be like easy.

For you to discern if someone is willing to talk bad about

someone but the person you go to, they won't talk bad.

It should be a clear indicator which one's off should be easy

at that point the discern or even if the if the person's not

admitting it at the time and someone is correct, if the

person not willing to pray for them so that they can change.

If that person who's complaining won't pray for the one they're

complaining about, this is a clear indication that is

violating. The code of.

Ethics. Clear indication of doing this,

right? I mean, really, why do we have

this mythical thinking that everyone's going to stay in the

church at every state that came in?

Jesus doesn't even guarantee this.

I mean, does. It grieve.

Sure. That's why I said don't grieve

the Holy Spirit. You know the Holy Spirit's

grieved when a believer doesn't do it right and then hardens

themselves from doing it right. All because they want to save.

Face. Come on most of y'all.

Know that I mean I could pull people up here on the platform

say let's just go ahead and tell everybody about your life what

I. Know.

About you that you've told me. And most people just like, don't

want. To do that invitation, yet

somebody can go around and say something and then no one even

asked me the question. That's violating the code of.

Ethics. And as a church, we shouldn't

put up with. That kind of behavior we should

be. Resistant to.

Individuals that would want they're not with us if that's

how they're going to respond. Does it grieve us?

Yes. But again, in the case of of of

Pastor Darrell, he had a situation with a particular

staff and the Lord said get rid of them.

The Lord told him to do this. He's the head of the church.

But when the person was confronted by the pastor, which

was Pastor Darrell, he cried crocodile tears, said that he

was sorry, basically Esauld Pastor Darrell in the office, he

said, OK, I'll restore you. Why?

Because it is the natural desire to want to see people get it

right. But the Lord already told him,

and God is not a man, that he shall lie six months.

Later. A worse thing happened with this

individual pastor at that. Point was.

Upset because he now you know here, I know you were wrong.

You admitted it. I said I would restore you and

then you're going to do this. You're out.

Then they ran him down all over town, ran him down through the

car, and 200 of his members left the church.

Now, Pastor Daryl was pretty. Upset about that at that point

and then more left because, you know, pastors like trying to

because people are talking and he's trying to say it in a way

without saying it in a way. And people got offended by that

and more left and he's so then he went to Lord.

He's crying. He's like, Lord, what?

I didn't do the sin. Why is this happening?

And the Lord said these words to him.

He said, son, I told you to find him the first time.

What made you think you could do something for him that I

couldn't? But you know what?

There's so many people in. Churches thinks that everyone

can get it right, but not everyone's going to get it

right. And for the righteous, if it

grieves them, it breaks your heart.

But for the sake of. The good of the flock it's time

to go. It's time to go.

I'll say Amen anyway. OK verse 32.

We got to be kind to one another right tender hearted forgiving

each other just as Christ as also forgive you.

Let's read out the the the passion real quick says and

never let ugly or hateful words come to your mouth.

See these are things that violate the code of conduct.

But instead let your words become beautiful gifts that

encourage others. Do this by speaking words of

grace to help other help them. The Holy Spirit of God has

sealed you in Jesus Christ until you experience your full

salvation. So never grieve the Spirit of

God or take for granted His holy influence in your life.

Lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity and

insults, but instead be kind and affectionate towards one

another. Has God graciously forgiven you?

Then graciously forgive one another.

The depths I've cried. I know pastor and I have some

common relationships with people.

And so, you know, obviously he is a pastor, a father of faith.

And so, you know, based upon sometimes he'll get engaged in

some conversation with people that I know.

So I'm aware of a situation and then all of a sudden he becomes

aware of a situation and then we talk about that particular

situation. And you know, and I've heard him

say to people, he says, well look, just go on, just forgive.

Just let. It go you're.

Somewhere else now. And it's amazing when people

can't. Let it go.

Won't let it go. Like.

It's their duty. To inform now.

You understand the minute that happens it.

Becomes your duty to inform the whole Church of something that

you're not the. Pastor of.

That is breaking code of ethics. Now again, you're saying, well,

you sure? You know that makes it look like

we put too much faith in the pastor.

You don't put no faith in me. I didn't die for you.

But there is a rank and structure.

You put your faith in God. You know what?

God is not mocked. There's not going to be a Have

you not seen recently some well known ministers that are not in

pulpits today? Why?

'Cause your. Sin will surely find you out.

Do you think I am immune to that?

No it. Scares me to death.

That would scare me to death, the fear.

Of God, that scares me so much that there would be no, no, not

going to do it, Not going to do it.

That's God scares me, man. I do not want to be in the hands

of an angry God. I'm not going to do that.

I have no pride, nothing. Let's just reconcile.

Let's just get it fixed because there is nothing you've done

other than blasphemy of the Holy Ghost.

And we wouldn't be having this conversation anyway.

There's really nothing going on, nothing you can say to me,

nothing that could have done, nothing that could have

happened, that we can't reconcile this thing, get it

fixed. It's always been my attitude.

It is my attitude. It should always be your

attitude. And if someone doesn't keep that

attitude, then there's a problem with that individual.

They're breaking the code of ethics, right?

Again, years ago, in the beginning, you know, there was

some individuals that were here, you know, had some challenges

personally in their own lives. We reconciled that.

But then all then ended up having challenges with the

church in general and left and did not leave.

Great. But all you can do is go on

because again, I don't have to defend myself.

That's not. My assignment.

The Bible. Says vengeance is mine.

Thus saith the Lord, I will, and again I can help that process by

praying for them, by even blessing them.

Right. And as a.

Result of that all. That does is allow God to do

what he does. Years later I get a call.

Repentance. Years later.

Relationships restored, the spouse contacted people that

were here during that time and asked for forgiveness about some

scenarios that the people didn't even realize that they had that

position and were quick to forgive.

Because they were having some challenges.

And they started examining their heart and like, wow.

So they repented too. It took.

Some time, but you. Know how quick it was us for us

to do this? We were years ago already.

In this position, just waiting for them to come home to have

that now. They don't.

They're not. Here, but it's restored, so

there's. Nothing.

Anything that's going. On that can't get restored in

any of our lives because the code of ethics in the Kingdom of

God is forgiveness, loving, right, patient, being kind to

one another. Amen period.

And anything else is unacceptable behavior in the

Kingdom of God. Romans chapter. 12.

Last passage of Scripture and we'll be done.

Romans 12 starting verse nine. It says let love be without

hypocrisy. Right.

Let love be. Without hypocrisy.

Now, what's that mean? That means you talk the word,

but you don't do the word because you know you can.

Get around a lot of Saints. That know the word.

But they don't do it. And again it's.

Unavoidable that the fruit of their lives don't manifest.

It's unavoidable. I have been in.

Ministry long enough and I've been around, and some of you've

been here long enough too that you can look out at some that

had been here before and their lives are in complete shambles

today because of a conscious choice to get against.

Jesus and be actively attending a.

Different church, but still life is falling apart because they

did not reconcile. You cannot leave the.

Church one church, go to another church and expect you to be

fruitful without having reconciliation if there was an

issue. Can't do it.

I don't know why it's getting so quiet in here.

I mean, I just want, I mean. We're going to have what the

Bible says we'll have and that is a church without spot or

wrinkle, right. We're going to be people that

aren't coveting each other's stuff.

We're going to love each other. We going to be be champion each

other. We're going to like you're so

awesome. You're amazing.

I mean what Bridget awesome tonight wasn't Laura awesome

tonight wasn't Eloise did awesome tonight?

You know, I mean, because, you know, obviously Marcus is going

to be, you know, has come out of this position and it's going to

be travelling. And so, you know, but look what

we're doing. We're champion the next day.

We don't sit. Back and.

Whine and complain and cry and we champion each other.

We champion what he's doing. We champion what we're doing.

We're champion the 'cause we love each other.

We, we're, we're passionate about the work of the Lord.

We're passionate about doing the things we're supposed to do.

So we abhor what's evil. We cling to what is good, be

devoted to one another and brotherly, love giving

preference to one another and honor, not lagging behind in

diligence fervent. In spirit serving.

The Lord rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation,

devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the Saints,

practicing hospitality. We bless.

Those who? Persecute us.

We bless them. We bless and do not.

Curse. Rejoice with those who.

Rejoice. Weep with those who weep.

Be of the same mind towards one another.

Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly.

Do not be wise in your own estimation.

Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.

This is why it's easy in the. Code of conduct to understand if

a person is out is if if a person has genuinely been wrong

and they want to get back. They're wrong if you've seen

them done. Wrong.

I mean literally seen, not conversation.

Literally. You're like, man, I can't

believe they did that. Do you it that your Kodak should

say You know what, I forgive them and at.

The end of the day, I'll, I, I can.

Deal with that. I'll talk with them.

This is none of your business. You don't have to be.

Let's pray for them. You know how many people are

offended by somebody else's offense and.

It didn't even happen to them. Right.

Because again, what are we doing?

We're taking societal issues. Who is the one being victimized?

I'm going to champion for them. But you've never been

victimized. Yeah, but I'm standing for them

because who's going to stand in for the rights of them?

And then the church, we do this. We look for the one that got

hurt, then we want to. Champion, but half the time.

We don't even know if the hurts real.

And then if it is real, we want to kind of.

Keep it and keep talking to them like they're still hurt.

You know, this is what I hate about alcoholic is anonymous.

I'm an alcoholic. Well, are you delivered?

Have you been set free? Because you don't have to be an

alcoholic, you know, But they keep.

Them in remembrance. Because again, if you don't

remember that, you were. Now again, I know what I was

without Christ. I understand that.

But I don't dwell in that. I'm too.

Focused on who I am. Now in Christ.

And when I focus on those. I'm not thinking about sin.

I mean, drinking is not even a thought in my mind.

One word comes to my mind when. It comes to alcohol.

Flee. That's what comes to my mind.

Flee. Flee.

Flee. I'm not doing it.

I got to keep my mind sober. Are you hearing me?

Respect. What?

Is right in the side. Of all men, if possible.

And here's the key, verse 18. We close with this one if

possible, which means it's not always possible.

So if possible so. Far as it depends on and.

This is. How we all ought to live.

If possible, as far as it depends.

On you be at peace with all men. And there are many

relationships. In my 54 years, OK, I don't

remember the first five years of those relationships.

But beyond that, in those. Relationships OK after I came

into Christ which was 21 I was born again at 9:00 but I didn't

live for Jesus. Now there have been some

relationships that I had between 9 and 21 that were I was not

good person. And I look for I, I.

Always ask if I can have the opportunity.

Let me ask them to forgive me. Allow me to be able to have a.

Conversation I remember one I talked to a a girl in high

school that I knew we were over at the 312 location and called

me had a challenge where their brother knew I was in ministry

now which obviously they were shocked and but we.

Talked and in my. Conversation.

I said. I'm not going to say her name,

but I said, hey, I just want you to forgive me because I wasn't a

good guy in high school. And her words was like.

Earl Sure you were, man. You were awesome, I said.

No, I was not. I was.

Not, I mean, honestly, it was awkward.

She didn't. Know how to forgive me?

But the reality was. When I look at my standard Dang.

She had a nickname for me which were.

Letters, I will never tell you what they were.

Yeah, right there was. Actions was another.

Particular individual I. Would love to be able to have a

face to face and say I am sorry, forgive me I think.

They're with the Lord, I think not.

With the Lord like gone, but I think they're, you know, have a

relationship with God. I don't follow them.

So, you know, I don't run my friends down.

They're not friends anyway. They're acquaintances because if

they really want to have a relationship with me, they all

know where I'm at. They can come see me.

But that the point is, is, you know, those things weigh heavy

on me in the context that it's not right.

And if there's an opportunity, I want to get that right because

if possible. As long as it depends on me, I.

Want to get at peace? And it's easy to get at peace.

Why? Because the blood of Jesus

covers every wrongdoing, there's not an issue going down that God

has not taken care of. Period.

And I submit to that you. Have to submit to that and.

That's why this house will be a great.

House, because we submit, we live to the code of ethics.

Amen. When I was in the military, we

had the UCMJ Uniform Code of Military Justice.

We had to submit to that code. Well, I'm in a Kingdom bigger

than that now. And here's a great thing.

He gave me the spirit that can do this code, and I want to

because it reflects the nature of my king.

Let's do it together. Amen.

Let's pray. Father, we love you, we honor

you. We thank you so much

the.