Why does a brother err from the truth

Welcome to this week's message from the church at Chelsea Westover.

Our core values are vibrant worship, intimate fellowship, fulfilling service, and clear biblical truth.

We pray that this message changes your life.

Let's tune in to today's message and see what God has in store for you.

It's exciting to see God in action, isn't it?

Isn't it just great to see what God's doing?

Man, what a week.

Now, hey, we we've got a fantastic week coming up this whole week.

Be praying, be knocking on doors, telling everybody that right here next Sunday morning we start our community awakening.

And it is gonna be fantastic.

Everybody's coming.

We got a lineup that if you miss, if you hey, God's got something that He's gonna speak to you specially every service.

I guarantee it.

Because the men of God, the anointed singers of God that are gonna be here are some of the best in the country.

I'm telling you, you don't want to miss starting next Sunday morning.

Dr.

Randy Spencer, a colleague of mine that worked with me at Liberty University in church planning, but as a church planner, he's built, oh, four churches from about 30 people to over 700, 800, 1 to 1,000 in four different places.

He is just unbelievable.

He's now just resigned his church in Stanton, Virginia to go full-time.

Well, he says full-time, part-time, uh the with the state convention there to help them plant churches.

So that's exciting, uh, doing more because he's been so successful at it, plus training pastors with me for seven years at Liberty University.

So he's gonna be, he and his wife Lynn will be here.

They're gonna be all week.

He'll be opening it up on Sunday morning and then closing it out on Wednesday night.

So he'll be with us all week.

Uh he's also a motorcycle riding buddy, so I love that.

We may have to get a ride in while he's here.

But uh uh they're just precious.

And then Sunday night, all buckle up.

Uh, Terrence Jones, my buddy from Montgomery, Alabama.

He's an African-American preaching machine.

Uh in fact, uh, Sylvester was with me and several of our people at our church planning meeting uh earlier in the spring, and uh they heard uh Terrence speak that night and oh, the anointing of God.

So he's gonna be here on Sunday night.

And Jessica, Jessica and Eddie, Dr.

Cole, they land Sunday morning at the airport right here in Birmingham at 9.26.

So uh if I could get them on a police escort.

But anyway, they will be here by uh, I'm sure.

I told her uh Benji, she's gonna be sending you her tape, her thing, so it'll be ready.

So when she gets here, we'll let her if she gets here before the Randy gets ready to preach.

Probably not, but we'll see.

We'll see.

She'll be singing, but she'll definitely be closing it out Sunday morning.

And then we're gonna cut her loose Sunday night.

I'm just telling you, when you hear her sing, you will you'll have a spell.

That's just as simple as I can say it.

And it's gonna be awesome, it's gonna be fantastic.

And then Monday night, Dr.

Cole, her husband, will be preaching, and the Stevens trio's gonna be here.

Y'all, we love them.

Uh, gospel group, their song on the blood's rising up the charts quickly.

And uh, so that's gonna be a great night.

And the sheriff's gonna be here.

Uh our sheriff and a lot of, and we've invited, and by the way, we want you to invite every law enforcement officer you know to be here on Monday night.

It's gonna be awesome.

It's gonna be awesome.

Uh, and we'll, by the way, we'll be feeding everybody every night.

Now we do need to know, and next Sunday we'll be asking you, you know, how many people you have in your family that'll be eating at 5.30 to 6.30.

Well, actually, 5.30 to about 5 uh to about 6 uh 15, we'll be feeding every night.

But we just gotta know.

We gotta know so we don't cook way too much or way too little.

So when Heather's gonna be heading that up for us, and we're excited about that.

We want to make it as easy for you so you can get off work, come right, eat supper, and then let God speak to you directly on what we're praying God's gonna wake up America.

Folks, America's in trouble.

I mean, I I've quit watching the news, quit listening to it.

I can't do it anymore.

I even turned Rush off yesterday.

I just, I mean, Friday.

I can't, it's getting too bad for me.

The only answer, the only answer is God intervening.

Amen.

That's the only answer.

And the Bible says, if my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, forgive their sins, and heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7.14, and that's what we're doing.

That's why we're having this awakening, community awakening.

Uh so try to, I meant, clear your calendar, make this an important event, because this could be country changing.

Can I get an amen?

Westover changing, Chelsea changing, uh, Harpersville changing.

And uh also uh Sunday night, Terrence will be here, but also the mayor from Harpersville and his church, supposed to be here on Sunday night.

They'll be here.

Uh Brother Theo, we're excited about that.

And then Monday night, all the law enforcement, uh, so we can pray for them and just let them know that we support those that are in authority.

Amen.

Romans 13.

And so it's just gonna be a great night.

And uh uh Tim Cox from Liberty Baptist Church, and they'll be here on Monday night.

Uh he's gonna be leading us in prayers, and Theo Sunday night.

So it's gonna be an exciting time.

And then Tuesday night, like I said, uh Brother Jones will be back to preach on Tuesday night as well, with uh Jessica doing the music, and then Wednesday night, Dr.

Spencer close it out with the trio.

The Stevens trio will be on Monday night and Wednesday night.

So we've got a lineup.

It's gonna be awesome.

We're asking God to give us at least over 200 people every night.

So help us.

If our church just shows up faithfully every night and brings somebody, we could have 300 plus.

And so that's what we uh are asking God to do.

So do your part.

That's all I ask, and I know you will.

I know you will.

I know you will.

Well, turn with me this morning in your Bibles.

By the way, I said I'd say hi to my wife.

She's in Sacramento, California.

Hey, honey, I love you very much.

And she's got the two grandkids.

My youngest daughter is a PA, surgical PA, and she uh works at the hospital there in Sacramento, California.

And she every year has to go for training.

So this year uh she chose to go to Maui.

So uh, yes.

I saw her this morning up on the mountain overlooking.

I thought to myself, I thought she was supposed to be in class, but she takes after her dad.

I skipped a lot.

No, I didn't really.

I didn't.

I was a good student.

I was a good student.

But anyway, James chapter 5.

James 5 · chapter mention

And we're looking at last week.

If you missed the message, many of you have already said you've watched it again online.

And by the way, you can get everything we do online.

I am so appreciative and thankful for all that Benji and our crew does uh for a small, it's not a small church anymore, but for a new church.

Uh, we just celebrated our fourth year anniversary.

Uh we are just a number one with technology.

And uh those young guys and Sarah back there, Jason back there, everybody, they sure make me look good.

Amen.

They really make me look good.

But last week we looked at the title of the message, Restoring the Wayward.

In fact, what we talked about, the one of the major doctrines that the church does not adhere to today is going after the wayward.

And we're not talking about the lost.

Now we are constantly to go after the lost.

That's what the church is called to do.

But guess what?

The church also is called to go after the wayward.

Those Christians that lose their zeal, they lose their fire, they lose that first love, and they become cold, callous, critical, oh me, and despondent.

So we're called to go after them.

In fact, we see that in James chapter 5, and very few churches do that.

James 5 · chapter mention

In fact, a lot of times they say good riddance.

And that's a bad attitude.

That's the wrong attitude.

You can't you can't be a spirit-filled Christian and not hurt when your wayward brother goes astray or wayward sister goes astray.

It breaks my heart.

That's the hardest thing for me.

Let me just tell you what the hardest thing in ministry is not fighting the devil.

Hey, we fought him this morning, but we won.

Amen.

Hey, then it's it's a spiritual attack.

That's not the major problem for me, because I know with the armor of God, and if God be for me, who can be against me?

And hey, there's no weapons that are formed against the believer in Christ.

So we can say something, we've won that battle.

That battle's been won.

Amen.

That battle's been won.

So we got the power, we've got the armor, we got the sword of the Spirit.

But what breaks my heart is when I see Christians or a person come to know Christ, and I mean, God just jumps all over them.

And man, they're on fire for God for about three months, six months, maybe even a year, and then next thing you know, they start, they start missing, or they quit talking about the Lord.

You don't see that joy, you don't see that radiance.

Those who look to Him are radiant, they should never be ashamed.

Psalms 34, 5.

You don't see that radiance.

And next thing you know, you don't see him at all.

And you know what?

Here's what happens.

Preacher, I haven't seen so-and-so.

Well, what'd you do about it?

Well, I'm concerned.

Are you concerned?

You're concerned to ask me, and that's good.

I need to know too.

I want to know.

Call the elders.

We talked about it.

But what about have you have you made a contact?

Have you gone to see them?

Have you caught them up and say, Can I take you to lunch?

I'm praying for you.

Well, it's none of my business.

Oh, it's all your business.

It's all your business if you're a Christian.

And especially if they're a member of your body.

It is your business.

We are our brother's keeper.

Genesis 4 9.

So that's the foundation.

And look at verse 19 in James 5.

Brethren, those that are saved, we said the word brethren there means two things.

It can mean a physical brother, but it also can mean a brother or sister in Christ.

It's used that way in both ways in the word.

Now notice what he says.

Brethren, if any of you do not, if any of you do err, and we looked at in context what that word meant, to wander away from the things of God, from the truth, and one convert him.

The word convert there means to bring back.

It means to recover and bring them back, just like a shepherd does a wandering sheep.

That's very important.

And then he says, and I love this, that he which converts brings back the sinner from the error of his way, shall save a soul from death and shall hide a multitude of sins.

In other words, you keep them from going down the wrong path, the wayward path to destruction.

Wow.

Now that's a saved person that's gone astray.

Now, now watch.

And what did we say?

Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, you remember what we said last week?

I said, first of all, there's a subtle danger.

The point number one last week was there's a subtle danger that every one of us have the possibility to err.

Every one of us.

And if you say, well, not me, I remember a guy that said the same thing to Jesus himself called Peter, and before the, hey, Rooster had crowed three times, he had denied him three times.

He didn't think he stands, take heed lest he falls.

1 Corinthians 10, 12.

So it's not that we don't all have that potential, we do.

And with that potential means a large percentage will stray.

They will go astray.

And you know what I'm convinced the more now after almost 45 years, I mean, after 35 years in the ministry, you know, I think a lot of people that are, now the easiest way to write that off, let me just tell you.

Well, they were never saved.

That used to be my, they just weren't saved.

Guess what?

A lot of truth is there.

That is a lot of truth.

Okay?

But I'm talking about people that had a thirst for God.

It was evidence that they had a thirst for God.

Now, if somebody makes a decision and they never follow through with baptism, they never get involved in church, they never start serving.

We're gonna see that as I go through this.

Hey, they never did get saved, but those that did and wander away, what has the church done to bring them back?

And what breaks my heart is that means if we don't help them come back, they're headed for destruction.

They're headed for 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

God help us.

God help us.

So, with that said this morning, the title of the message, Restoring the Wayward Part 2, and here's the question.

Why does a brother air from the truth?

Why does a brother or sister err from the truth?

Why do Christians backslide?

Spiritually cool off, drift away from the Lord.

Let's look at the first point.

Signs of backsliding.

We're gonna look at two things this morning.

Signs of backsliding, and two, the steps of backsliding.

Now, the steps of backsliding is gonna be a lot of lists, but I did this on purpose because here's what I want you to do.

This message is so important.

I want you to be able to cut that.

Uh, by the way, does everybody have a sh uh worship guide?

Everybody, if you do not have a worship guide, please raise your hand because the outline's always in the worship guide, please, because I want you to feel this out.

I want you to go with me, then I want you to cut it or or or use scissors and cut it all out, your outline.

I want you to put it in the flap of your Bible and tape it in there or however you do it.

And I want you to be reminded every day you open that book about the possibility of you and me backsliding.

Can I get an amen?

And notice the steps.

You'll see the signs and the steps.

It'll be a warning sign for you every day.

Every day.

And I thought to myself, boy, if that, if this can really happen, wow, what an unbelievable reaction can we see in the faithfulness of our people at CCW.

Number one.

Here we go.

Sign number one.

If one grows bolder with temptation and flirts with it, or a short version, flirts with sin.

You start ignoring the warnings of temptation.

In other words, after you got saved, you wouldn't go to an R-rated movie.

You wouldn't listen to certain stuff.

You wouldn't participate with certain things or fellowship with certain people in certain areas.

But now it's kind of worn off, and instead of your fire growing, it's dwindled, and now you're kind of back doing the things you were were doing or thinking about doing before you got saved.

That's a definite sign of you cooling off.

Sign number two.

Making small matters of sin.

Laughing about it.

Or thinking it's cute.

We saw that with the homosexual situation.

Twenty years, no, 10, 12, 14 years ago, they were making, they would use it as a funny joke and making fun and and laughing, and they got people start laughing.

Next thing you know, they're accepting.

Very dangerous.

When God's word says something's wrong, it's wrong.

Can I get an amen?

Common statements are made.

Well, it's really not that wrong.

Or maybe that's not for you.

But what about me?

Oh, here I've had this told me all the time.

Oh, preacher, that's narrow-mindedness.

You're just narrow-minded preacher.

Guess what?

Guilty.

Because the Bible says in Matthew chapter 7, are you ready for this?

Matthew 7 · chapter mention

Matthew chapter 7, verse 13, for wide is the gate, and broad is the way which leadeth unto destruction, and many there be that go in thereat.

Matthew 7:13

But look at what he says in verse 14.

But in verse 14, he says, Because straight and narrow is the way, and few there be that find it.

I think I'll just stay narrow-minded, amen.

Because I want to stay in the way.

The way of life, not destruction.

Amen.

So that's very important, but that's what they say.

Number three.

To be comfortable in your Christian life without service.

In other words, you're a comfortable Christian, but you're not serving in your church.

You're not serving the Lord with your gifts, with your talents.

Now, see, here's the hard one.

Because you're really not doing anything bad, but you're just not serving.

You're kind of minding your own business.

I've had people tell me that's none of my business.

In fact, I've had them tell me, preacher, you're putting your nose in anybody's everybody's business.

I said, I'm not putting my nose in everybody's business.

I'm preaching the truth.

Now, guess what?

The truth will put its truth in your business.

Amen.

Hey, I all I am is the delivery boy.

Amen?

So if the shoe fits it, Papa used to say, wear it.

So, but that's it.

You're comfortable, but you're not serving, hey, you're not involved in your church.

You're less act, you start getting less active.

Oh, you you can you can see it when uh they resign a position that they've been working, they've been on fire, and then next thing you know, they resigned their position.

A few weeks later, a month later, they're not even, they start missing, then next thing you know, another month they're not even coming at all.

That's a sign of cooling off.

That's a sign of getting ready to start your steps and backslide.

In fact, you already started.

That's it.

That's it, folks.

Listen, I'm so excited we have right here, we had 11 in the covenants class yesterday, but we have eight that we're gonna be presenting today.

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine today that joined that signed the covenant.

And one of the reasons we go through the covenants class, there's four lessons and all, because if you're gonna be a member of this church, you got to get involved.

Hello, you gotta be active.

We don't need you to sign a, hey, just sign on the dotted line and then sit back there and try to tell us what to do and do nothing.

Hello, you okay out there?

Been there, seen those Baptists?

Well, preacher, I think we ought to do this.

You know what my answer is?

Do it.

Go do it.

Well, what wait a minute now, wait a minute.

Oh, preacher, I think we need a van ministry.

Well, go do it.

Clay did.

Well, I think we need more, we need some dishwashers.

Amen.

Hey, hey, listen.

I know any of us can wash dishes, and we need help.

So get it, hey, wash your dishes.

Where is is I don't see David and they may have to, is David here his little boy?

Look.

Lou.

He's the best dishwasher we got.

How old is Luke?

Five and a half.

Five and a half.

He gets up there on a chair and he washes.

You ought to watch that little boy.

He's unbelievable.

And he said, Pastor Danny, I love washing dishes.

I said, would you go teach some of our adults what they need to do?

Amen?

Amen.

We all have a part in this body.

And when people say, well, I don't have any gifts.

Hey, you got a gift of washing dishes.

But that's just that's one.

Serve it in the nursery.

All that you do, all the, all of it, a lot.

Hey, listen, when I pulled up this morning at a quarter to nine, there was 40 something cars already here.

At 7:30, there's about eight or nine cooking.

I'm telling you, we've got 30 or 40 folks that are so involved every Sunday morning that makes all this happen that you don't have a clue.

And without them, we wouldn't be having what we're having.

Thank you.

God bless you.

But they're not doing it because I ask them.

They're doing it because God's called them to service.

God doesn't call you to sit, He calls you to serve.

Yes, greatest among you shall be your servant.

Amen.

Amen.

Matthew 23, 11, by the way.

But that's where it is.

Not just the verse, but your servant.

Amen.

Amen.

You got to get involved.

You got to get involved.

And that's what he's talking about.

It really is.

Number four.

When God's word and his exhortations become a drudgery or an obligation rather than a joy.

Woo! Now, if you're going to be back there washing dishes, grumbling and complaining, or keeping the nursery, in this church, we don't have anybody to help us.

I'd rather you not work.

I'd rather have one person say, Pastor Danny, I don't know what I'm doing, but I do it with a rightful attitude, than somebody back there working and qualified, but yet griping and complaining all the time.

I didn't get but one amen on that one.

How about a no me?

Oh me.

Amen?

My wife, when I start a little bit, she'll say, preacher, you little negative.

You're the cheerleader.

Now what?

You're getting a little na okay.

God bless you, honey.

I'm ready.

Zip it.

What did what did Barney Hugh say?

Nib it?

Well, we need to zip it.

Amen?

See, criticalness and just nagging and complaining spreads like a wildfire.

And if I hear it, I'm coming to say I love you.

Why are you so negative?

Or critical.

Don't be that way.

Don't be that way.

Now, if you're gonna be critical, go get you lock yourself in the closet and just have at it.

Yeah.

Amen.

So, man.

That's good preaching, preacher.

Listen, listen to what he says.

Romans 7 22.

For I delight in the law of the Lord.

I delight in it.

Oh, that's like I delight on Fridays going to licking good donuts.

I delight in going in there and getting my two favorite donuts and my coffee.

In fact, Heather and DJ are brother than on the place.

There's Pastor Danny.

They know.

They already have my donuts waiting on me when they see me.

They know.

I delight in that.

I can't wait.

And that's what the word delight means.

For I delight in the law of the God after the inward man.

What they're saying, what they are really saying right there, is that I can't wait to do it.

Do you delight in the word of God like that?

I hope you, and most of you do.

You delight in.

I can't wait on Sunday mornings to go to CCW.

Why?

Man, we're going to fellowship.

Hey, in a few weeks, we're going to have Sunday school, Bible study at 8 45.

It's going to be awesome.

Ladies, you're going to have one of the greatest classes, men with Sylvester, you, and then the couples.

We're and the kids, Sunday school, we all, it's going to be awesome.

You got to get involved.

But again, see, there's that delight.

I don't, yeah, but I was up all night.

Well, there's so few exceptions every so.

But you don't, hey, you may not delight to go to work, but you go to work because you have to, I guess.

But you ought to delight going to work.

You ought to be thankful God's giving you a job and delight in it.

Amen.

Hey, having a job is better than not having a job.

Can I get an amen?

That's enough to be happy.

Delight.

Delight in the book.

Delight in, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that you make growth there by.

1 Peter 2.2.

Delight thyself also in the Lord.

That's what he's talking about.

And then number five.

When the things of the world occupy a lot more time in you than the things of God.

The only reason I hit this, because it's legitimate, and I and I'm not condemning it.

I enjoy football, but football is about to take off.

I mean, people are so excited.

Now they delight in football.

And the reason I know they delight in football.

Because on Saturday mornings, when the ball game's at 2 o'clock, they'll leave at 7.

Because they got to go do that tailgating.

Gotta go do the tailgating.

I mean, they meet up and I've done it.

I hey, I I love it.

I enjoy it.

I'll go tailgate with you.

Free food.

I'm in.

Amen.

Then good football.

I'm in.

But then Sunday morning.

9 30, 9 o'clock.

Alarm goes off, they hit it again.

And next thing you know, they slept in.

But they're not going to sleep in on Saturday morning going to the football game.

They're going to be out there, honey, come on.

We're going to miss me, me, me, me, meh, meh, meh.

Just a thought.

What you gonna do in heaven on Saturday morning when there's not a football game?

Hello.

Just a thought.

Huh?

You're gonna have good seeds, but you better be shouting for the right one.

And it won't be Auburn and Alabama.

Woo! It'll be Jesus! Jesus!

Hey, and I play, I'm I just priorities.

We're gonna see that.

Y'all getting me.

I'm ooh.

All right.

Let's go.

Proverbs 13, 15.

Watch this.

This is good.

By the way, let me give you James 4.4, though.

What happens is these things, when these things overcome the position in our hearts other than the Lord, you know what they become?

Most preachers won't say this.

They become idols.

They become idols.

By the way, the hunting, too.

I'll get on the hunters, fishers, golfers, everything.

Ball playing.

Hello.

Travel ball.

You gotta be careful there.

Gotta be true.

What kind of picture?

What kind of idea are you showing?

What's more important?

When that happens, you start becoming lukewarm.

Listen to what James says.

We've covered this, so I'll just quote it to you again, you adulters and adulteresses.

Know you not that the friendship to this world is enity, hostility with God, whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world, is what?

The enemy of God.

Now he's talking, he's not talking about enjoying some of those things.

He's talking about when those things are more important to you than God.

Does that make sense?

You with me?

Say amen, preacher.

Okay, that's what he's talking about.

They have become your God.

They have become your idol.

When that takes place, look out.

Proverbs 13, 15.

This is a verse that I shared with my nephew just recently.

Good understanding gives favor, but the way of transgressors is hard.

Now I want you to read this.

Is that up there, Jason?

Did I forget to give it?

Proverbs 13, 15.

Good understanding.

In other words, understanding the word of God, being obedient to the word of God.

Good understanding gives favor.

You want favor of God, you just keep him first, and you just give, hey, you be obedient to him.

There it is.

Good understanding gives favor.

You want favor from God?

Be obedient.

Have a desire.

Delight in him.

But the way of transgressors, what is it?

Say it with me out loud.

All right.

The way of transgressors is what?

Again, it's what?

And when you come and you say, Pastor Danny, I am really having a hard time.

It's hard.

I've heard that a lot this week.

It's hard.

My first inclination, but I know I'll be labeled a legalist if I was to say, well, you just need to check up, you know, how's your relationship with the Lord?

Because the Bible says good understanding giveth favor, but the way of transgression is hard.

So if you're just having a hard time out, now I know there's trials for the purpose of perfecting us.

I understand that.

That's one of them.

But there's also trials for, hey, trying to get us back off the wayward path onto the right path.

Can I get an amen?

And that's the context here.

When you go off and you start cooling down, losing that first love, guess what?

Your way is going to be hard.

So don't try to figure it out.

You don't try to blame me.

Don't try to blame your husband.

Maybe Lanny, but I'm not sure.

But don't don't bless you.

Hey, don't try to blame your wife, your kids, or your job, your employer.

Don't do that.

Hey, if you're wrong, it's you.

It's me.

I'm the only one that can control my direction.

I'm the only one.

And you've got one or two directions.

Jesus says, I've come to give you life and give it more abundantly.

Satan in the same verse says, But I've come to kill, steal, and destroy.

You choose Satan's way, destruction.

You choose God's way, life.

You choose Satan's way, it's gonna be hard, destructive.

You choose God's way, it may be a little tough, but you won't realize it because He's with you.

And even the tough times will be good times.

You'll be able to sing even in the valley.

Because you know the mountain's coming.

Weeping may endure for the night, but I'm gonna have a spell.

Joy comes in the morning.

Psalms 35.

Amen.

Joy comes in the morning.

Can I get a can some of my Pentecostals say amen?

Because my backslidden Baptist is not doing too good this morning.

I well, I meant good Baptist, not bad.

I've slipped out.

My wife, I can see her through that.

Honey, you said I said that.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

Just kidding.

All right, now so let's look at the steps.

Man told me the other day, he said, Preacher, I can't say amen when you killing my toes.

Well, I said, Well, just holler, oh mine are being stomped on too, folks.

Trust me, they are.

So, B.

Is the ice cream truck here?

Oh.

Sounded like the ice cream truck.

I was going to say, where's Matt?

We've been out door to door with the ice cream truck for two weeks, and it's been so fun.

B, we needed that, didn't we?

B.

Now let's look.

There's 13 steps to backslide.

There's really you, you could probably do them in about four or five, but since you're gonna put it in the flap of your Bible, I wanted you to have every scripture.

We believe in the truth around here.

Can I say an amen?

Don't you love the book?

Amen.

That's one of our key foundations.

Oh, the inerred, infallible word of God, the absolute truth.

By the way, we believe somebody asked me the other day, they said, Are you a Democrat or are you a Republican?

I said, I'm a Biblicist.

They said, who's running for that?

I said, He's already won.

Oh, oh, that, that.

That's a, oh, that, that is the answer.

Amen.

I have a ball.

I preach all the time to Y.

That's my, I love to go.

I don't go to work out, I go to preach.

Now, number one, the steps of backsliding, reasons why we backslide and wonder from the truth.

And by the way, let me tell you, Paul was very scared of this.

The apostle Paul himself was so scared of backsliding, which it produces a condition of coldness, I was telling you, callousness and carnality and criticalness and corruption.

Look at what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9 27.

I love this verse.

Paul said, But I keep under my body, the King James says, I beat my body and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should not be a castaway.

In other words, I should not be disapproved of.

Whatever it takes to keep the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life intact.

I'll do whatever it takes.

Whatever it takes.

Man, that's good.

That's good.

So, the question I want us to ask ourselves: how does a person get sidetracked from the Lord and err from the truth?

What are the reasons?

Knowing the reasons, hopefully, will prevent it.

Number one, you stop seeking the Lord.

Number one, the desire for fellowship with God's gone.

In other words, that quiet time, instead of having it every day, you start having it every other day, then once a week twice a week, then once a week, then none a week.

A proverb a day keeps the devil away.

If you didn't do anything but read a proverb a day and heed what it says, hey, that would be your marching orders every day.

And then throw in about four or five Psalms.

Next thing you know, you've read through the book of Proverbs every month and most of the Psalms.

And you come out with a joyful attitude and direction to walk.

Can I get an amen?

And everybody has their own personal Bible studies, and I understand that.

But a proverb of day ought to be every one of us in our quiet time.

Amen?

So it's vitally important.

Revelations 2.40.

Listen to what he said.

Nevertheless, I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love.

You no longer love me like you first love me.

Now I don't know about you, but remember the excitement and the joy and the love you have for God when you got saved?

I meant.

Hey, hey, I can tell when somebody is spirit-filled most of the time.

You know why?

And that means they're in the Word.

That means they're obeying the Word.

That means they're doing what they're supposed to be doing.

They're involved in church, they're serving, they're excited.

They can't wait to go to church on Sundays.

They can't wait for the community awakening.

Can't wait.

There's such a joy on you.

That's it's oozing out of you.

And then I can tell, I can tell when you bless your heart.

Now, when you're walking into church and you're liking like this, now you may have some problems.

I'm with you.

That's why we we're pretty good at dealing with problems around here.

But the key is, hey, if you got Jesus in you, nothing's impossible with God.

Luke 1 37.

Nothing.

The Greek word for nothing means nothing.

Amen.

But no, there are no billy goat Christians.

There's no button there.

No.

So stop seeking the Lord.

James 4.8.

Draw nigh to God.

He will draw nigh to you.

Cleanse your hands.

Get your sins.

Get right.

You sinners.

We're all sinners.

See, a lot of people don't like that word.

I'm not a sinner.

Yeah, you are.

You just lied.

Hello.

We're all sinners.

Purify your hearts.

Get your heart right.

Double-minded.

In other words, you know what he's saying?

You're double-minded when you're trying to have one foot in the world and one foot with God.

You're double-minded.

It's not gonna work.

You're headed for that hard road.

You're headed for that wide, destructive road.

Not the narrow road.

So that's all.

Number two.

And I give you, I gave you a lot more verses there, too.

Number two, the shunning of temptation has ceased.

You no longer shun the things that you used to do, like you did after you got saved and growing, or when you're walking with the Lord.

You're playing with sin again.

Playing around with temptation and sin, which will burn you and scar you if you're not careful.

Listen to what Jesus said about it.

Matthew 24, 12.

Because iniquity shall abound.

Watch.

The love of many shall wax cold.

You know when, hey, when your love has waxed cold for God, it translates not only to God, but to people.

Your love waxed cold for people.

You know why?

There's sin in your life.

Hello.

Isn't that what it says?

And because iniquit, by the way, the word iniquity means sin.

Because sin shall abound, dwell in you and me, the love of many wax cold.

That's it.

It's pretty plain.

Pretty simple.

So when we quit loving God, we quit loving people.

And when we quit loving people, we're in trouble.

Because we're no longer loving God.

Amen.

You're headed one way.

Destructive.

Down that wrong path.

Number number three.

A stand still in the work of the Lord.

1 Corinthians 15, 58.

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast.

Ooh.

Unmovable.

Now watch.

Always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Always abounding in the work of the Lord.

Why?

For as much as you know what?

Your labor's not in vain.

Ooh, is that not good?

Your labor's not in vain in the Lord.

In other words, if you're not serving the Lord, you're not, hey, your labor's in vain.

Now, let me tell you what that means to me.

Even our occupation that God's given to us, you are an ambassador placed, whether you're a teacher, whether you're a carpenter, Harry, whatever, uh, engineer, clay, whatever you are, you are an ambassador for the Lord, placed where you are working, and you are to be laboring there for the Lord.

Can I get an amen?

Because if you're not, you're labors in vain if you're a Christian.

So that's powerful.

That's powerful.

Very powerful.

Number four.

Now this is a real powerful one.

You ready?

Stuck in sinful habits.

Stuck in sinful habits.

Now watch I call them the two Ps.

Stuck in sinful habits with wrong priorities and wrong people.

Hello.

Hello.

Wrong, stuck in sinful habits with wrong priorities and wrong people.

People influence you.

You influence people.

The question is what way of influencing is happening?

Either you are influencing them to godliness or they are influencing you to worldliness.

And if you've got friends that are influencing you to worldliness and you can't be hey you can't be the influencer to influence them to godliness you need to not be their friends.

Or excuse me, you can be their friends but you can't fellowship with them.

You need to still be their friends but not fellowship.

Amen?

I got some friends like that.

And they gotten to the point now they don't even ask me to go with them because they know I'm going to say no.

But I always ask them to go with me and guess what they say?

No.

They know I'm not going to go over there and do that.

Just not going to do it.

Why?

Because I'm guarding myself and I don't want to be tempted above I know there's ways to escape but why if I'm an alcoholic or a reformed alcoholic why in the world would I want to go eat in a bar?

Hello?

You listening?

Flee 1 Corinthians 618 for all the sex addicts and pornography.

Flee fornication why in the world if you've got a problem with pornography you're going to go on a site where the subject for that to pop up I had that happen one time with me.

God is my witness I'm sitting there and I'm trying to study all my libraries all my thing and my wife's office is right next to it.

About that time I don't even know where it came from but that was before we had the protection things now and agree my wife put the thing on the next day.

But I'm sitting there and all of a sudden that thing goes poop and I go, whoa, and Susan walks God as my witness she walks she shut my I got up I pulled the cord out I said and I ain't coming to it back on to the mouth fixed I can't handle it.

Amen I'm a male amen I can't handle it amen I will set no wicked thing before my eyes the book says amen so stuck in sinful habits with wrong priorities and wrong people look at what he says in 2 Timothy 2 4 no man that wars uh oh wow no man 2 Timothy 2 4 no man that wars against himself with the affairs of this life no man that warth excuse me no man that warth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life that he may please him who has chosen him to be a soldier you can't get tangled up in the world stuff it'll it'll choke you listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 1322 He says you hear the word this is the parable of the sore and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word and you become unfruitful do you know your stress and your cares and all the problems you start handling having and going through because of life wayward children wayward all the stuff that's a way of life the good the bad and the ugly they're coming listen you get saved they're still coming the difference is you got somebody that'll navigate you through it.

Amen so you're saying oh I don't know what to do that just shows me and should show you when I feel that way and when I I'm not in the word enough I got to go to the book.

I got to go to the truth God says you should know the truth and it should set you free.

And if God be for you who can be against you God is my refuge and strength the very present help in time of trouble.

The righteous cry the Lord hears delivers them out of all their problems their troubles.

You start quoting the book but you got to know it.

You got to delight in it so that when they come and when you start doing that you know what Satan does he goes.

He can't handle Jesus was tempted three times on the Mount of temptation get thee behind me Satan for it is written thou shalt worship the Lord thy God and him only shall thy serve that's good.

If Jesus needed the scripture how much more do we need it amen evil communications that's with the wrong priorities and wrong people corrupt good morals all 1 Corinthians 1533 number four five shallowness in understanding the truths of God's word I just explained that many do not grow because they are ignorant of God's word or lack the desire to learn the word Ephesians 4 listen to what Paul said that we henceforth be no more children tossed to and fro.

You know why children get hurt sometimes and do wrong things they don't know better.

Parents are to teach their children what to do and what not to do can I get an amen Susan told me last night she said that little Braxton reminds me of you.

I said is that good or bad way he's so energetic and he's so determined to do something when I called to him and said Braxton Braxton you can't do that he doesn't listen I said oh so that's not good.

So that was not a good compliment no no I didn't mean it that way but but we train our children so that it's good for them so they don't get hurt.

You don't touch the stove when it's hot you don't do certain things because it will cause you to be hurt.

Well guess what?

God the Father wants to train us and teach us but if we don't get in the word then we are walking ignorantly against a formable foe called Satan who is sat in traps every day and no wonder we get caught and then we say what happened Hello you okay Proverbs a day oh that's bad y'all didn't hear a word I said about 10 minutes ago did you?

Ready?

Proverb a day keeps the now you got it now you got it amen that's what you do you put your armor on every morning every morning because you hey he's waiting outside let me tell you he was waiting when I walked in the door today I am so thankful I spent I had some good quiet time this morning amen but he knew what I needed he knew what I was fixing to run into.

Think about that.

So he said hey I did something this morning normally don't do it I study and then I pray but God said memorize scripture this morning so about 35 minutes I went through about 60 verses just quoting them out loud.

A lot of them in here but now I know why he was getting my sword ready because I was fixing to start doing this and you want a sharp sword not a dull one when Satan shows up you don't need to be trying to get it out of the sheaf Amen where's that verse what pray what brother Danny say to that I knew I should have been listening I knew I should have been taking notes that's good as newborn babes and desire.

Number six strife with other Christians conflicts and arguments with other Christians can be devastating to your spiritual growth you know you get mad at somebody and you you just you just I'm not going to have anything else to do with them.

Do you know what you just did?

You just took your bitterness and you just put it right here and and you planted it right in your heart so now Satan can take the roots and just go and next thing you know you're going to be bitter toward everybody even the ones you love the the most that's what happens how do I know that Matthew 5 23 24 listen to what Jesus said that's not in your notes but it's on there put it down therefore if thou bring thy gifts to the altar and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee by the way that means yeah if you know your brother's got aught you know there's a conflict with them.

Uh-oh that's pretty tough it's not if you got aught with them they got aught with you it's pretty easy that when I got aught with Paul back there I know I got I don't want to go tell him I'm sorry I ain't going to do it.

Holy Spirit says yes you are or you'll be quenched spirits you won't have the power on your life and you're just going to get more miserable do I have to Lord yes you do.

Yeah but you don't but there's that but it's not a but he says if you know they got all leave your gift before the altar don't get mad so much that you don't give the gift just thought y'all didn't catch that that went right over y'all's head that's okay therefore if thou bring the gift to the altar and there remembrance thy brother hath ought against thee leave the gift.

Now watch before the altar and go thy way first be reconciled to the brother and then come and offer thy gift.

In other words it doesn't give it it's not worth the dime for you to give your tithe or to give your gift and you got bitterness with people in the church.

He says you go get it right and then everybody can worship freely that's pretty strong isn't it?

Is that not good stuff?

You say no that's convicting stuff.

Same way with your husband and wife too amen what did Paul say in the in the passage with the husband wife do not let the sun go down upon your wrath till you get it fixed.

Amen well I'm going to the couch well you can go to the couch you still got to get it right but but but really listen folks you can't have aught with one another listen what Psalm says behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity is that not awesome is that not awesome and then in Ephesians 4 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace you know what he says it doesn't care what it takes you keep unity in the body of Christ are we all going to agree absolutely not well we should all agree on the word of God but preference principles we have to agree preferences there'll be a dime a dozen but don't let preferences get you bitter and you can't let the principles of God's word get you bitter because the word's right now you may get upset but you're going to have to deal with it because word's not changing you're going to change I'm going to change words not going to change for you or for me.

Amen somebody say that's good preacher and Hebrews 1215 talks about that root of bitterness springing up trouble in you.

And then notice what he says and not only in you but then he says and therefore thereby many be defiled Hebrews show that one put that up there Jason not only do you get bitter but you Hebrews 1215 hey not only do you get bitter but you spread it.

Look lest any root of bitterness spring up troubling you and thereby many be defiled not only are you bitter but you start spreading it in the church you stop we start gossiping and we start telling people why so and so has done me wrong now you got a cancer going through the whole church God help us amen God help us that's good preaching preacher that's tough preaching to me too hey I'm just as guilty as you are number seven saintly living is no longer practice.

I don't even need to in other words you're not living for God I'll give you one good verse 1 Peter 115 be ye holy in all manner of conversation for it is written be holy for I'm holy you gotta live what you claim to be can I get an amen you're writing a letter a chapter each day by the deeds that you do and the words that you say mean read what you write distort it or true what is the gospel according to you 2 Corinthians 3 5 You are a letter written in our heart known and read by all men.

Our testimony number eight steadfastness in serving the Lord steadfastness in serving the Lord is spent it's in other words you just quit here's one verse Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's meat nor with the wine with the drink therefore he requested of the prince of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.

In other words his priorities and the right people he was not going to defile himself he was going to serve the Lord live for the Lord and work for the Lord and not himself and Galatians 6 9 says let us not be weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if we faint not if we don't give up you don't know how close you were when you quit when you walked away in an airplane taken off in clouds I've flown so much that I I'll do anything to keep from flying now I've I'd flown that much.

And we used to fly private plane when I was at liberty preaching all over and Brian the pilot my seminary guy we'd start in the clouds and and every once in a while we'd we'd get in in a little storm and things start bumping and I'm sitting here Brian I know I'm prayed up are you prayed up Brian is there any sin in your life I mean I don't want you to have to I mean it's one thing if God's going to take you today but I'd like not to go with you if I don't have to trip He'd just laugh at me every time I'd say that because he knew what I meant.

Turn this sucker around get it down I don't care where we land get it down but every once in a while he'd say just hang on preacher just hang on give me another minute I don't want another minute boom boom boom then all of a sudden I'm looking back at God and all that junk's underneath us maybe just one minute one more day one more Sunday for breaking through to victory and you turned and you walked away and you didn't get your victory you hang in there you stay steadfast you don't give up when the going gets tough the tough gets going I got a better one when the going gets tough the spirit fills shout Amen number nine the spoiling of the mind and heart corrupt thinking guard your heart for out of it flows the issues of life Proverbs 423 as a man thinks in his heart so is he.

Proverbs 237 guard it I like what he says in 1 Peter 13 wherefore gird up the loins of your mind be sober and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Gird up that mind put that helmet of salvation on gird it up.

Right thinking produce right living can I get an amen wrong thinking produces wrong thinking and wrong living number 10 can't serve two masters some endeavor to live for the Lord and also try to live for the praise and and and the promotion of the carnal world can't do it.

Jesus said in Luke 1613 no servant can serve two masters for either he will hate one love the other else he will hold to the one despise the other you cannot serve God in money double-minded person is unstable in all his ways James 1 8 number 11 spiritual goals are forsaken spiritual goals are forsaken Paul kept going forward by keeping his spiritual goals in view and not giving up Philippians 3 13 and 14 Paul says this one thing I do boy this is good church.

Put it up there this brethren I count not myself to have apprehended but this one thing I do forgetting those things which are behind.

In other words you got saved and we're not interested in your past amen C CW's not interested in your past we're interested in your future and God's got a fantastic future for you and it's hey you got to have a goal and you got to press listen to what he says forgetting those things before my life they're gone but reaching forth into those things which are before oh I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in and through Christ in other words I press I give it I've been watching the Olympics man I've enjoyed TV more than I've enjoyed it in years.

That's all I've watched is Olympics and watch them run and and and and that uh oh what's the name decathlon what do you call it where they swim triathlon they swim then they do the bike and oh that American woo they were trying to pull from her on that bike because that was her weakest event and she just grit press it press it she blew them all away she stayed with the leaders till they got to the bike she was second then Katie bought the door bye she never gave up she never lost sight of her goal she never lost sight she knew what she had to do and how to do it and she just was determined nobody's gonna stop her not even the Sweden lady that had beaten her in the world.

Nobody's gonna stop me this time.

And I love what Paul says write this first down Acts 2024.

It's not there.

God gave me this this morning He says none of these things move me nothing's gonna stop me Paul said that I might finish my course we all have a course with joy and the ministry we all have a ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.

You've got a calling you got a course and you got a ministry and we're to finish it with joy.

Not

Grudgingly, but joyfully.

Amen.

I've seen a lot of sour preachers.

Now wait, I don't mean that in a bad way.

I've been close one time.

Anyone there's a lot of people my age in here.

Remember Johnny Paycheck's number one song for a long time?

Take this job.

I didn't say that.

Y'all said it.

I mean, you just quit.

I've had enough of people.

I'm out of here.

I've been there a lot of times.

Have your pity party.

God, they don't appreciate me.

He said, they didn't appreciate me either.

What do you how do you answer that one?

I get the message Lord.

Then you know what he does?

He whispers.

That's okay.

When he really wants to get my attention, he says, It's okay, Danny boy.

It's not over yet.

You say faith.

Because I've got your reward.

It's not about them.

It's all about me.

You just hang in there.

You just keep doing what you're doing.

Your reward's coming.

It's coming.

It's coming.

Well done.

Now good and faithful, sir.

Good and what?

Faithful.

Enter into the joy of the Lord.

And then lastly, what is the last number 12 fits?

A shuddering of people's opinions and comments.

You can't listen to people unless they're godly people.

Godly counsel you listen to.

But your opponents, your enemies, you don't listen to them.

Joshua said, Only be thou strong.

I can't wait until we start our new series in Joshua.

It's going to be so good.

Only be thou strong and very courageous.

That thou mayest observe to do according to all the law.

Got to stay in the book, be obedient to the book, which Moses, my servant, commanded thee, turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whithersoever thou goest.

You know why this church is prospering so quickly?

We're staying with the book.

It's not about Pastor Danny, it's not about the council.

It's not about you.

It's about him.

Amen.

God has given me the desires of my heart right now to build a new testament.

I'm in my fourth quarter of ministry.

And I prayed for this.

I didn't know exactly what I was praying for when I resigned from temple.

I said, Lord, I know I'm in my fourth quarter.

I don't know what you want me to do.

It looks like you want me to go build Bible Institutes with the Rollins Foundation, but I knew that wasn't what it was.

I just knew that wasn't what it was.

So I thought, well, I'll buy a SERPRO.

I just sold a SERPRO with my son-in-law.

I'd bought in with him.

He did the work.

All I did is put up money.

Sounds right, son-in-law.

You put up the money, right?

But but uh I was gonna buy Scottsburgh and do a SERPRO and then do full-time evangelism, wouldn't have to worry about money and stuff.

I I mean I had it all figured out.

And then my best friend, David Wilson, said, I don't think that's what y'all do.

And I thought to myself, well, who's telling, are you my Holy Spirit?

I started to tell him I already got two.

Holy Spirit and Susan.

Don't need three.

But then I thought, well, the Trinity, God the Father, God Son, God knows, maybe I do need three.

He said, He said, I think we ought to start church.

I said, start a church?

I'm 58 years old.

He said, Well, you just told me you you were in your prime.

I said, I lied.

I said, that's hard work.

I just gave up three jobs.

He said, pray about it.

Long story short, four years, last Sunday, four years ago, Christy, David, me and Susan started right there.

Well, actually, back there.

I said, Lord, if this is what you want, we're gonna build a church, but we're gonna build it the New Testament way.

Not the Southern Baptist way, not the Presbyterian's way, not the Methodist way, not the people's way.

We're gonna do it the Bible's way.

And that's what we've done.

And it has been fun.

It has been fun.

I mean, I I get up in the morning, I study for three hours, and then you know what my job is?

Everything that moves, fire the gospel at them.

And to love on them, and to comfort them, and to invite them to church.

That's what I do.

That's what your preacher does almost seven days a week.

And I love it.

I love it.

Because I know when you step in this building, many of you got a lot of visitors here today.

Did we give out visitors things today, Benji?

He did.

Okay.

Well, I think we we had a lot more visitors come in.

How many visitors here right now that didn't get a free gift or get one of our cuts?

Raise your hand.

All right.

Keep them up.

Keep them up.

Y'all go get it.

Get it right now.

Thank you, Adrian.

I want y'all to have that.

I'm telling you, a lot of times, you know what I'm learning?

A lot of people think we start at 11, even though so, but they come in a little bit later.

But we love you.

Man, thank you for visiting here today.

We got a free gift for you, and we've got a free meal for you in a minute.

I like today we got all kind of soups.

It's gonna be good.

Love you.

Thank you for choosing to visit with us today.

Now listen to me, church.

And I close with the last one.

Shuddering people's opinions and comments.

And then number 13, selfishness.

By focusing on my will instead of God's will.

That's the killer.

You know why you go wayward?

You know why the backslider, ready for this?

14?

Write it down, Proverbs 14, 14.

The backslider is filled with his own ways.

Isn't it amazing?

Proverbs just tells it like it is.

The backslider is filled with his own ways.

And a good man shall be satisfied from what?

Himself.

In other words, a good man doing God's will will be satisfied where he is and what he's doing.

He'll have peace.

He'll have contentment.

But a backslider never will.

Been there?

We all have.

So this morning, let me ask you.

One of the verses that I love is Romans 12, 1 and 2.

It's the only way to end a message like this.

Part 1 and part 2.

And that is, have you presented your body a living sacrifice?

Wholly acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Not to be conformed or changed by the world, but to be transformed, metamorphosis by the living, real Word of God and Jesus Christ Himself.

Present your bodies.

Here's a better way.

Is he number one in your life?

I can't help but use this because it's so true, because this is what really gets me every time.

Is he Lord of your life?

Somebody said, How do you know, preacher?

I said, God gave me this years ago.

I wish I could tell you every time that I thought about it and looked into the scriptures.

I obeyed it.

But let me just tell you, you know how I know he's Lord of Danny Lovett's life?

When I take my time management book and I look at my time, my work time, what am I doing there?

Am I showing Jesus in my work?

When I take my pleasure time, am I showing Jesus in my pleasure time?

Church time, am I faithful to go to my church?

Am I faithful to be involved in my church?

I was at a car show recently.

And I was inviting everybody there to come to my church.

Our church.

And several of them said, Well, Pastor Danny, we love you and we'd love to come.

But we're involved in our church.

I said, Yes! I said, stay there.

Don't come to my church.

Stay involved.

But then I said, but what about a community of waiting on Monday or Tuesday or, you know, when you don't have church?

Yeah, we'll come.

We'll come.

I don't want to, I'm not trying to steal sheep.

Amen.

You don't steal sheep.

I don't need to steal sheep.

There's too many wandering out there to go get.

I don't need sheep that's in grazing in the pen.

I don't need that.

I want the wanderers.

Amen.

I want the lost wanderers and the saved wanderers that are out of church.

That are lost.

Those are lost need to be saved.

Those that are saved but they've been hurt.

A lot of people get hurt in a church.

Now you know why you get hurt?

A lot of the things I said is why you get hurt.

But don't let people keep you away from serving God.

I shared that this morning.

Don't let people keep you from God.

There's a bunch of hypocrites here.

I'm one of them.

I thought I might get somebody to agree with me.

Nobody's going, you don't, you're not a hypocrite.

I'm the only hypocrite here, but that's okay.

We all are.

That's right.

That was a trick question.

Y'all were one.

That's good.

Y'all paid attention on that one.

What did he mean by that now?

What?

That's good.

But listen, people are, hey, don't, remember, number 12, don't worry about opinions and comments of other people.

It'll keep you from God.

Amen.

Don't do it.

Don't do it.

You just serve him.

You deal with him.

Because I got, he doesn't think critically of you.

Even when you're wondering, he's still not critical of you.

He's hurting for you.

Because he wants you back.

He loves you.

He wants you back.

Every head bow and every eye close.

You hear this morning, you say, Pastor Danny, if I was to die right now, I know that I'd go to heaven.

The Bible says in 1 John 5.13, these things have been written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God, that you may know, you can absolutely know that you're saved.

And you know if you're to die today, you're on your way to heaven.

Don't be ashamed of it.

The Bible says, the scripture saith, whosoever believeth on him should not be ashamed.

Romans 10.13, raise your hand and say, I'm glad to be saved this morning.

All over this building.

All over.

Amen, amen.

You may put them down.

Some of you cannot.

And I'm going to give you the opportunity right now to be saved, to give your heart and your life to Jesus Christ right now.

Just like the thief did 2,000 years ago on a place called Calvary, like this cross, hanging there with Jesus.

He turned and said, Lord, will you remember me today?

And the Lord turned and said, Today thou shalt be with me in paradise.

He confessed the sin.

He says, We're the guilty, not you.

We deserve our punishment, not you.

Thank you for dying for me.

Will you forgive me?

And he did.

So would you right now do that?

Would you pray the sinner's prayer?

The prayer doesn't save you, but giving your heart does.

Would you pray the sinner's prayer with me and give your heart to Christ?

Would you pray these words?

Would you say, pray them silently as I pray them out loud?

Would you say, dear Jesus, I know that I'm a sinner and I can't save myself.

But right now, Lord Jesus, I'm asking you to come into my heart and my life and change me.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for saving.

Thanks again for tuning into this week's message.

We pray that your life has been changed.

If you would like to find out more about us, visit us on our webpage at thechurch at cw.com.

You can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at TheChurch at CW.

Need prayer or more information?

Send us an email at office at the church at CW.com.

We hope you have a wonderful day and again, God bless you.