 Well, I had the privilege to speak at Karechapamana Bello during the Passion Week and the Lord put a message in my heart And I entitled it April's Fool But what happened was that as I was preparing a study for today The Lord began to kind of put that message back You know gave it back to me and I kind of began to work it in a different way that I want to share with you now So if you please let me your ear. I do want to share regarding not being a fool Now what is a fool? Let me give you the definition A fool is someone who is silly or stupid a person who lacks judgment or sense I call them a men's or a titiri is what we call them But there's one individual in the Bible Who I believe was the greatest fool in scripture? His name was Judas Iscariot And the reason why I believe he was the greatest fool because he had he walked with Christ He was one of the twelve disciples. He was one of the guys that that was in charge of the money He was a guy who are not only walk with the Lord, but he witnessed Jesus Christ do Miracles he he was there when Jesus was speaking, you know His wisdom and and this message from from from above of course and yet in all that he still turned his back on Christ So for that reason, I think he's one of the one of the greatest fools recorded in scripture What I want to do today is encourage you not to make the same mistakes that he made My encouragement is that you won't be a fool But that you will be wise and that you would turn your life completely to God and that you will be Determined not to ever turn your back on him because the reality is we're gonna lose if we do right well He was a fool listen in that he betrayed or turned his back on Jesus Christ himself Now if you're taking notes in Matthew chapter 26 verses 14 through 26 We have actually the story where Judas actually meets with this Well, some of the guys from the from the temple there and and they agreed to betray Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of of silver In fact, we do know also that this was prophesied in the Old Testament that this was gonna take place and Psalms 55 verses 12 through 14 This is what the psalm is right for it is not an enemy who reproaches me then I could bear it Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me then I could hide from him But it was you a man my equal my companion and my acquaintance He took sweet counsel together and walked the house of God in the throne and Psalms 41 verse 9 again We read he who eats bread with me has lifted up his hill Against me and then you'll find other passages like Job 1919 Jeremiah 2010 and John 13 18 all spoke about this individual who will betray Jesus Christ and He did prophecy was fulfilled But the question that I want to ask is why did he betray Jesus? Why did Judas Iscariot? Betrayed the Son of Man God in human flesh after all that he's seen after all that he heard He still turned his back on the Lord for 30 pieces of silver Well Judas like the other Disciples you see expected Jesus to start a political rebellion and to overthrow Rome a Stread your Judas certainly assume as well as the other Disciples Listen that he will be given an important role in Jesus's new government But when Jesus prays Mary for pouring out perfume worth the year salary Judas may have realized that Jesus's kingdom was not physical or political, but spiritual Hear me It's possible that Judas greedy desire for money and status could not be fulfilled if he followed the Lord So he probably betrayed Jesus in exchange for money and favor from the religious leaders Now we're told that Satan entered Judas and no doubt tempted him Luke chapter 22 verse 3 We read this then Satan entered Judas sir name Iscariot who was numbered among the 12 So so here's the thing the first thing I want you to understand guys is this That if you're truly a believer a follower of Jesus Christ and the spirit of God abides in you lives in you There's no way know how that you can be demon possessed You know when I grew up I grew up in them in a very legalistic church when I was young and it was interesting how how Every time they will have like these you know deliverance from the devil type of thing where they will put a chair They'll put some paper Bags on the ground and and these broke people will come and they'll sit on there and they'll say They love me that leads us out of the bunion and they start acting all weird and throwing up and laughing and and to be honest with you As a little boy it freaked me out it messed me up But one of the things that kind of tripped me out was like man These guys supposed to be Christians and the demons are coming out. How is that possible? And then I realized that you know a lot of these people were probably not even saved number one number two There were just playing games playing this little going along with the flow right type of thing because the scripture tells us that That our greater is he who is in you then he was of this world So you see if the spirit of God God the creator of the world lives inside of you There's no way that the devil can take residence in the same place where the spirit of God is living So understand that if you're a believer you cannot be demon possessed, but Listen closely you can be tempted by the enemy the word entered There in Luke chapter 22 verse 3 in the Greek simply means to come in as to relate to Satan taking possession of the body of a person But also can refer to Being tempted to do something against the Lord so Satan himself listen came and entered Judas's mind and tempted him Tempted one of Jesus's disciples to send against the Lord Jesus Christ now I can see it here and try to figure out whether Judas was a believer or not and you know and all this But that's not why I'm here. What I do want to say is this I want you to notice how Satan himself Went after Judas Iscariot This is what trips me out What trips me out is that Satan has no respect in who you are he can care less if you're a minister He can care less if you're a Christian a baby Christian He can care less if you're an OG Christian if you know what I mean He can care less the thing is this if if he can hurt God He's gonna go after you if he knows that you're you that you can disrupt the work of God He's gonna go after you if he feels he can you know kind of cause you to stumble He's gonna go after you turn your back on God. He's gonna go after you. He doesn't respect people and In Matthew chapter if you remember in chapter 4 Do you remember who was the one who tempted Jesus on that mountain before he started his ministry? It was Satan himself and this is what trips me out What trips me out is that he went and try to get Jesus the son of God to sin against his heavenly father So if he doesn't respect Jesus and doesn't respect Judas who was one of the 12 you think is gonna respect you He's gonna come after you and he's gonna try to get you to sin Against Christ Listen to what I'm saying guys The reason why I'm saying that because there's a lot of people today who have who have been fooled by the enemy's lives You know we live in a time right now where we're in this generation where man everything that is wrong is accepted as good And what's good is bad. I mean think about it. Just with the rabbi Jonathan Jonathan was just saying right now. Go ahead. You know, you think about how it will they're trying to you know Legalize same-sex marriage, you know, they legalize marijuana And you can just you know in our schools. They're trying to teach that homosexuality. It's okay to our to our babies and Then you see all this happening right before rising like man What's going on? Well, the enemy has lied to them and the world is taking it in and this is what trips me out That Christians are falling for the same life. They're being fooled under the banner of love Oh, you got to love them. You got to do this You got and I ain't all and this is crazy if you follow me on Facebook I get into some crazy debates, you know Because the reality is this guys, you know, I put something on there and they'll come in and this will choose me out that they're Christians Well, brother, you're coming too strong. Well, and I'll put something like well, how do you know I'm coming too strong? I didn't say nothing other I just posted that. Well, you know, these Christians are always out to tell me they're gonna go to hell But I didn't say that Well, what about this and what about this and I tell me let me just tell you like it is and I'll just share What the Bible says but the thing is is that then they'll accuse me and not loving and I'll tell them listen It's not that I don't love them Man, in fact, I even posted on one at one time. I told this guy listen I know of a homosexual who used to fellowship with me once at our church And he ended up leaving and went and became a fool blown homosexual and a while back You know, he called me and we started talking and and he tells me Dave, you know, he's like I'm hurting I miss God and I told him come back come back dude. He's like I can't because I don't want to be judged And I told him listen, dude, if someone judges you when you come I'll knock them out I didn't say that I told them look if you're feeling like that, bro I tell him you come I'll wait for you in the front I'll have you sit next to me while we do worship and then afterwards. I'm done my message I'll walk you to your car and I'll hug you in front of all them. How's that bro for your bro? La netta can I call it so so this is a crazy thing. He didn't show up But the point that I was saying is they listen I love them. I don't love their sin But I don't you know, but them I love because I see their sin just like every other sin Oh, you know gossip and and lying right or murder or you know, and everything and so forth See sin is sin But the problem is that many Christians try to categorize it and into what's worse and what's not listen Sin is sin and Jesus died for all sin But the thing is is Christians because they're feeling bad for them under the banner of love You got to accept you got to receive them. You got to do all this and I say, uh-uh ain't like that See, this is what the word of God says But what happens is because and I'll tell them dude, where do you get that from to be with the Bible? We'll show me in the Bible show me somewhere where it says that homosexuality is a sin where Jesus said That homosexuality is a sin. So I asked them a simple question. I said, all right Do you believe John chapter 1 verse 1 the beginning was the word the world was with gun the words was God Yes, so who was the word was Jesus? So Jesus was the word, right? Yes. So the word is the Lord, correct? Yeah, well check this out in the word from the Old Testament and New Testament whether it came through the lips of Christ And not it came from God himself Jesus the word of God talks about homosexuality being a sin So there it goes there. I Wonder how you type that out, huh? But anyways But the point that I'm saying is listen today even Christians are being fooled And the enemy is having a ball with it It is time that we understand what is truth and we stand up for it not to be mean Because then you have the other Christians right that stand up with sign You're going to hell turn a burn type of thing. You know what guys? I learned something you ain't gonna get far with that. You're not Yeah, you love them. Yeah, you share with them and there's times and I told them There's times you have to be straightforward and there's times you you have to be just loving How do you know well the spirit of God will give you discernment See, there's been times where I've talked someone says listen. No, you're wrong. You're going to hell dude You don't repent and there's times that you know what man God loves you and he died for that sin See, God will give you wisdom God will give you discernment and how to share But the thing is is guys don't become so don't lean on one side that you ignore the other side But the enemy today is fooling Christians and let me tell you why because they don't know their word Because they're not opening up their Bibles Listen, it's important guys that the enemy will try to get you To sin against God The sin against the Lord and if you're a believer tell me if this is not true if you're walking with Christ, right? You're worshiping you're doing good, right? Isn't it interesting that the enemy always goes after you and Let me let me take shares on through the end sometimes not always Satan he got his little demon I think Satan sometimes it's focused more on like Greg Laurie and all those guys, right? The big guys, right? Well, but think about it though You know, he's gonna send his little demons towards you and he starts tempting you, you know slowly But then he knows how to do it just like just like on Judas You know, I wonder if Judas was kind of just like skin of his spiritual not not political not physical And if you betray him puts a little thought and that's all it takes Because slowly, but surely he begins to act upon it and was he least expected in Matthew chapter 26 He finds himself with the religious leaders As a handing them the money And he turns against the Lord. He sinned again Christ against Christ And that's how the enemy works in our minds guys. Oh, it's okay. It doesn't you know what? It's not fool-blown pornography. Just click And boom he gots you Right. Oh, that's not exaggerate. That's just an exaggeration And it's a lie He kind of waters it down makes it look pretty and all that and then when you bite boom He gots you and we're gonna see more about than a few moments But I want you to understand That Satan went after Judas Iscariot To get him to sin against the Lord You see Satan's part in the betrayal doesn't remove any of the responsibility that was placed upon Judas You see Judas was disillusioned because Jesus was talking about dying rather than about setting up his kingdom So Judas may have been trying for to force Jesus his hand and make him use his power to prove He was the Messiah or maybe Judas not understanding Jesus's mission no longer believed that Jesus was God's chosen one Whatever Judas thoughts were we do know this Satan Assumed that Jesus's death would end Jesus's mission and and and it will be destroyed What actually destroy God's plan Like Judas Satan didn't know that Jesus is dead and resurrection were the most important parts You hear me of God's plan to bring redemption to mankind and listen to what I'm gonna tell you guys right now You have a choice You can either allow yourselves to be fooled Or not it's a matter of choice And I keep thinking about that in fact turn your Bibles To all Matthew. I just want I want to give you a scripture I haven't even made me give you the scripture. So let's read it in Matthew. Let's just see how this guy turns I got too excited there man. Forgive me It's cuz that video man. I'm y'all pumped though. I want to come up with a match in Matthew chapter 26 notice To give you the verse Then one of the 12 Kajut is as scary as went to the chief priests and said what are you willing to give me in verse 14? If I deliver him to you they counted out to him 30 pieces of silver So from that time he sought opportunity to betray him So there's the scripture He was a fool in that he took the money from that point forward He was looking for an opportunity to sin against his Lord In a few moments, I'm gonna show you four things why I believe he was actually the fool But as we continue I want you to understand Satan and careless who you are can I also say that Satan won't enter a believer's heart But he could sure entice the mind And get us to sin against the Lord and it's been said before being tempted is in a sin It's when we yield to sin or give in to the temptation that becomes a sin And as I mentioned today, he is in a rampant trying to get God's followers his disciples his men his women to sin against God Whether it be on the freeway Whether be at work at home Dude, this guy does not rest He doesn't and I think that we need to be aware of especially now that we're living in the last days Where all this is happening right before us man, you know, I when I get up in the morning I I like to turn on CNN or Fox News, you know, and I know I Just like to kind of switch and kind of hear both sides and you know, listen to what's going on And I can tell you this especially with the rise of ISIS Man We're true Satan is on a rampage man You know think about these people that really think That what they're doing is right they're convinced that Killing a Christian under the name of Allah is good. It's right that they're gonna go to heaven and get their 70 virgins or whatever it is Think about it. They're fooled. They're deceived And as believers, we need to make sure that we're well equipped We need to make sure that we are aware of the enemy's tactics We need to make sure sure that our eyes are focused upon God Because if not, he'll go after us to and slowly but surely you can find yourself Compromising and sin against your Lord How do we overcome the enemy's temptations? Ready very very very simple by simply giving yourself to God's Word in complete obedience What do I mean by that? Listen guys Christianity is really simple. I think sometimes we complicate it. Don't we obey and be blessed This obey be cursed due to autonomy 28 talks about that You want to avoid temptation when God tells you don't look there. Don't look Don't open that page. Don't open that page Don't take that don't take it If you do that this is when the enemy tempts you You won't fall into that sin and Sin against your Lord because this is what happens when you sin against God You hear me? Immediately the enemy starts working on you and slowly but surely he'll use the guilt Right with a conviction of the Holy Spirit. It's to draw you close to the Lord But the enemy will pick it up pick up on that and begin to turn it into guilt And then he wants to beat you down with that guilt and when you least expect it You're no longer serving God You know for years for years the enemy had me like that For years I was I was deceived thinking. Oh, you know what God won't forgive me God won't use me God won't do this God won't do that, you know and all along. I I have forgotten that God loves me unconditionally That I am saved by grace and it is the goodness of God that leads a man to repentance And it was so I finally say you know what Satan man you you're fool You're gonna fool this fool, you know type of thing. I said because you know what I did I went back to the word of God. I believe the word of God I apply the word of God and the Lord free me from the guilt and he allowed me to enjoy sweet fellowship with him once again Guys, there's some of you guys right now in this room There are still being beat down by guilt And because of it God it's like you can't be used by God God wants to use you but have you ever wonder maybe it's you God is saying listen that I forgave you already Turn from it. It's okay Because of it But because we don't we're still in that place Well obey God's word Remember in Luke chapter 4. Let's turn to you guys remember this story in Luke chapter 4 Keep in mind the point is that the enemy Went after Judas Iscariot in Luke and He got him to sin against God He entered him sold him a lie. He took it And he fell But if you want to be victorious everything over the enemy what better place to look than in the life of Christ, amen And Luke chapter 4 verse 1 you guys remember the story So I'm just kind of read right through it right quickly And then I'll just highlight just two things then Jesus verse 1 being filled with the Holy Spirit Returned from Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness be tempted for 40 days by the devil And in those days he ate nothing and afterward when they had ended He was hungry and the devil said to him if you are the son of God command these stones to become bread And notice how the Lord the Lord defended that temptation, but Jesus answered and said it is written the word of God Mansion I live by bread alone, but by every word of God Then the devil taking up take I'm taking him up on a high mountain showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time Notice in a moment of time he showed him all the kingdoms of the world. Have you ever thought about that? So it's kind of like he gave him like a little vision and that is not the enemy is You didn't know I'm talking about You you're just standing there and you just have this vision of oh, I can be a king ping right or whatever I Can do this and I can do that think about it I mean the commercials do that for you too. Doesn't don't they? You know they you for probably password as all they said is you know, they'll show you all you know This guy would you know some you know six-pack and all that with blue eyes Yeah, he's dancing with the beard and all these girls are all around him and they're all smiling But they never show you the other half of it, right? When they're drunks in the street begging for money So they can keep on drinking they don't show you the girl that is raped and left with diseases They don't show you all the families are abandoned. See he just gives you a glimpse of quick Just quick things so you and the thing is you know, and we catch it Oh, and we go right after it, but Jesus didn't see he showed him the kingdom and the Lord stuck to the word of God notice And the devil said to him all these Authority I will give you and and their glory for for this has been delivered to me And I give it to whomever I wish which is true Therefore he says if you will worship before me All will be yours Jesus said to him get behind me satan for his written you shall worship the Lord your God and Emma only shall you serve? And he brought him to Jerusalem set him on a pinnacle of the temple and said to him if you are the son of God Throw yourself down from here for this rain He shall give his angels charge over you to keep you and in their hands They shall bear you up as you dash your foot against a stone and Jesus answered and said to him It has been said you shall not tempt the Lord your God and here's the key now when the devil had ended every temptation and he failed He departed from him until another opportune time underscore the word opportune time Why cuz he doesn't quit Another opportunity will come And when you study the life of Christ, you're gonna see many times where the enemy try to get him to stand against his father Guys if he didn't respect Jesus. Oh, man Don't get so. Yeah, I give you to sit here right now cuz let me tell you something. He's all right. You want to play that way Let's do it And he's gonna wait for you and watch you and Boom, he's gonna go after you when that opportunity comes. You know what's crazy? It even comes in ministry. That's how he hit me I remember the first time that when God was using me man, and he was doing it You know, he was using me great and I was very young in the Lord I was like 19 years old and to be honest with you man God put me through some things and my pastor recognized that he allowed me to speak in certain places And I was blessed man And I remember and I'll share this you know to my shame Going to the men's conference years ago here in the in the Empire and I spoke I get my testimony were 5,000 men And I remember afterwards my pastor telling me don't go through there David and I said why he goes just don't do it Just go to the back door and go home. But you know me, right? Look as I was I said, you know And I disobeyed him and I walked through the crowd and as people started doing this. Hey, what's up, bro? You can walk you guys up there, you know, oh, that was cool. That was awesome. You know what literally man I was like gliding and when I finally landed I my head was this big couldn't put my cap on And what happened is this pride synced in and I thought I was all that And God had a humble me and I'll be honest with you it took years for me to recognize it years I'm talking about like 15 years for me to recognize it Guys don't let the enemy fool you Once he's done and your victorious stay humble stay dependent upon God Knowing that the enemy is gonna come back but be prepared and how you prepare very simple Stacks by staying close to God and simply obeying his word. That's the key. You hear me? That's the key to being victorious Now Going back. What is the what is it that made Judas a fool here? Go? He was a fool for a lie himself to be fooled by Satan. I talked about that in a few moments actually a few seconds ago And we too can fall for Satan's lie Be assured that he'll make us look and feel like a fool So how do we keep ourselves? James 4 7 tells us submit to God resist the devil and he will flee from you Let me say that again submit to God and listen guys as I'm reading these passages I know probably some of you guys now. I know that passers already. Well, that's fine. I was like that Oh, I know already some of those don't he will flee Listen, he's giving you this is the word of God. It's alive and it works And God is not a liar. He's giving you the solution To overcome Satan you hear me? So when he tells you in James 4 7 submit to God submit to God Put yourself under the Lord Resist the devil and he will flee from you I mean, he's telling you just that Because I can tell you this and that one day have passes by that the enemy doesn't try to get me to sin against the Lord Especially when you're in front of the TV watching the Dodger game Or the Laker game And those Carl Jr. commercials comes out, right? Gosses change it but I want to see the hamburger says David come on. You know, you're lying you man You got to change it, right? I'm being straight up with you guys God tells me listen submit to me submit to me just obey me Just give yourself to me. I know what I'm doing. I'm doing it for you for your own good And he does and the enemy says And he takes off but he'll come back as I mentioned earlier. He'll come back Here's another reason why Judah was a fool in that listen when given the opportunity to repent. He didn't You see when you Judas took the money. He ignored the convictions that got placed upon his heart. No doubt Now I want you to think about this for a moment If you are a Christian What I mean by that the spirit of God lives inside of you you're born again Please listen carefully When temptation comes and the Holy Spirit begins to convict you The true believer the true believer You hear me? It's gonna be convicted and it's gonna be at a place where he's gonna make a choice Every time that I've been in a position to sin against God It's hard For me, I don't know if it's for you. You guys answer that question But for me, it's hard and I battle with it. You're like, oh Lord Lord and that's right. I mean, it's hard and in my mind it feels like I'm battling for like about an hour It's only like a second, you know Why because because I'm a Christian I'm a believer the spirit of God lives inside of me. So when Judas listen Took that money if he was a believer the moment it was placed in his hands. I Know if he was a believer that the Holy Spirit was convicting him. Are you really gonna do that? Don't take it. You can still give it back to them We're talking about I don't know what the spirit was saying, but I'm sure if he was a Christian He was being convicted You know I'm saying guys Why do I say that? Because it amazes me when I go on Facebook or tweet, you know or all that whatever and I see Christians drinking partying Posting stuff up that I'm like, well, are you serious? Dude that girl's half-naked Dude that guy's this are you see and I'll send a little private message there. What's up with that? I Do it. Oh, pastor. Why are you being judgmental? I'll be judgmental. Let's check it out The Bible says John 7 24 that we are to judge righteously And this is the righteous judge judgment. I'm not condemning you. I'm just letting you know that your life does not coexist with the word of God But if you're a believer at that moment right before you sin God is gonna speak to you and here's the thing even when you take that step to sin, right? You still oh You ever you still have a choice You could be walking away. He could have walked away and said oh Because it's hard it's hard to sin if you're a believer because God lives inside of you But on the other side of that coin you have the individual who just okay That's not myself and then they enter into that sin style life And then you talk to them and they'll tell you I'm just backsliding Really yeah, God loves me God forgave me. He died on the cross for future past present sense And I'll be like are you serious? Yeah, why? I'm like, dude. How can you say that with a smile on your face? You're getting entertained by the things that Jesus died for How can you look at me and Plead the grace of God upon you with a smile while you're engaging sin. How how is that possible? And I say you know what in the book of you know, I love John because John is straight forward man He calls it for what it is, right? I mean I just finished doing a study to the book of 1st John and 2nd and 3rd. I but when I did 1st John and man, oh Man, I do that. I was teaching. I don't have you turn in fact turn your Bible there as I make this point In 1st John 3 but as I was teaching through it, dude, I can I was looking around cuz you know I wanted to see I wanted to see what how God was convicting people, right? And and so I'm sharing and I'm just man giving it up because in my mind I'm thinking what if tomorrow they die and I don't have this chance so I'm gonna just share the way it is So so as I'm sharing I read this passage I can see people doing it Looking at the time. Oh, man. We just started And I just like oh Lord, they're under conviction praise the Lord, but in 1st John chapter 3 Notice what it says in verse 7. Let's start from verse 4 whoever commits sin Also commits lawlessness and sin is lawlessness is lawlessness And you know that he was manifested to take away our sins Jesus and in him there is no sin Whoever buys in him does not sin whoever continues with him does not sin Whoever sins has neither seen him nor known him When he says um does not sin keep in mind. He's talking about does not practice Sin is a habitual thing in their lives Verse 7 here's oh man. I love this little children Let no one deceive you. No let no one fool you in other words He who practices righteousness is righteous just as he is righteous verse 8 he who sins is of the devil For the devil has sinned from the beginning and for this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil Whoever has been born of God does not sin does not sin does not practice sin for his seed the spirit of God Remains in him and he cannot sin because he is born of God in this the children of God and the children of devil are manifested Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is he who does not love his brother I mean is that simple or what? the reality is this if there's no conviction and you're in sin and You're just kind of practicing. It's who you are You say listen the reality is you belong to the devil not to God So what happened you've been fooled That's why I like when Paul says don't let don't be deceived if you and then he names the list of sins writing Corinthians And Galatians when he gives you a list of sins and revelations John talks about that He says talks about adulterers and fornicators homosexuals drug users Drunkers and so forth if you practice such things you will not inherit the kingdom of God And I say that guys, please not to judge you guys But to help you guys to open your eyes that if you're in this room and you're practicing sin If you're living living with your boyfriend or girlfriend right now and having sex and you're here to hear a message Hoping that it's gonna make you feel good. You go back and sell prison. You know, I feel really good I knew about people. I've talked about that before People who are in the worship team and they will sleep together They will pray because they feel so bad and then they go right back to the bed Guys, listen John tells us if you're sinning you're practicing sin Listen closely because I know there's a lot of actors in the church today. I Know that I was one of them. I was one of them. I Knew how to speak and I know I knew the scriptures. I knew how to quote them and everything, but I was an actor. I Was fake And to the Lord open my eyes and I'm telling you right now if you sin willfully habitually With no conviction You do not belong to God Hear me Pastor, what if I sin and and I'm just struggling with sin Guys listen very closely. There are Christians that struggle with sin You know, you know, what's the best way you can overcome that sin? Stop doing it. That's simple stop doing it and The more you stop doing it the better you're gonna get at not doing it and then you're free Because see the thing is this God gave you his spirit and his word to help you overcome those sins And I am tired of listening to God. I struggle with lust. I struggle with lust. I struggle with you Don't get it pastor. It's hard. Oh, hello. I'm a man. I know what I know what you're struggling with So you don't struggle with with with with lust. I'll be honest with you. No, I used to But I don't How do you do it simple when I do that? No, I'll do that No, no, I might look like a fool But I ain't no fool Because I realize that if I entertain it it's gonna go further and when I least expect it Go nor why now my prayers are more like Lord, please forgive me then. Oh Lord, you're so good. You're awesome See everything changes your relationship with God change everything messes up If you're true believer though You're not gonna practice sin You hear me Well when that money was right there when sin is knocking at your door The spirit of God is waiting for you to say no, I will not sin against my God But if you're just like opening a kale kale come in You're not of God You're of the devil You hear me and I would hate for you to wake up in hell One day because you're allowed yourself to be fooled. You hear me Know the Word of God Take it for what it is and apply it And you're gonna see man the joy and the blessings that come from someone who submits himself to the Word of God So again When he was there he was a fool and when that opportunity was given to him to repent he didn't He ignored the convictions of God if he was a believer But if he had no conviction that truly he was not a believer Here's another thing Jesus showed him that he knew He would he would he would be the one to to betray him Remember remember that in in the book of matthew 26 and verses 20 25 You guys remember the story when he's out with the disciples and they're all the last supper you guys remember that Someone's gonna betray me. Who is the Lord? Is it me? Judas like me Yeah, it's you Judas the one who dips right here right next to me and he does it I mean, I want you to think about it The money if he's a believer conviction could have repented Now at the table right before Christ goes to the cross he's sitting right there with Jesus and Jesus I mean, how much clearer can you have that right? It's you Judas go do what you're gonna do He's a fool because he ignored it He ignored it How about this when Judas came with the soldiers to give up To give up Jesus remember what Jesus said to him in matthew 26 47 through 50 Jesus looked that had been said friend friend What are you doing here? When he said that listen, he was giving him an opportunity to repent So three things three three three times Jesus reached out to him it ultimately led to his death because that's the result of sin If you're here and you're a believer Maybe the spirit of God is speaking to you and he's been trying to reach you I don't know. Maybe your grandma called you me. Oh you should go to church today It's the Lord saying God or maybe a wife or a child Or maybe you're driving on the radio you heard a message, but you were too convicted. So you turned it off Now you come to church And God is just trying to get your attention You're a fool If you don't listen, why because I guarantee you that those sins Nothing good comes out of sins Nothing good There's always consequences to sin sorrow and pain and misery And you're loving God your heavenly father who adores you Doesn't want you to fall into that because he knows what sin does in a person's life So he's reaching out to you now once not twice three four five times And he's trying to get your attention even calls you friend Or like I like to see me. Oh Listen guys Don't be a fool Don't be a fool if you're not a believer and you're here just because right someone invited me Guess what? I pray that you don't walk away Making that foolish decision not giving your life to christ You know when I was 19 years old I sat where you guys are right here. It wasn't as pretty as it was all green. It was ugly back then. Trust me Ah And I was sitting in the back On a wednesday night And I came forward and gave my life to the lord right here. I wasn't a fool I was cool Because now I was serving the one Who loves me So don't be a fool. See the lord will do whatever it takes to get your attention just like he did with judas You hear me just like he did with judas So he tried to reach him probably when he put the coins there Also when he told them in the table, it's you judas and even when he called them friend But listen by him not responding to christ's call to repentance He told god no And a fool is someone who tells the lord no In psalms 14 one you guys probably familiar with this passage. There's a link to you know, uh, atheist day, right? The fool has said in his heart. There is no god, right? Here's what's interesting when you read that passage in his original language This is how it reads without the there is it reads like this the fool has said in his heart No god No god So the fool is the one who tells god no Do you understand that when you're telling god no Think about it. You're telling god no god One who loves you the creator of the world The messiah The king of kings lord of lords the light of the tribe of juda god You're telling them no You know It's like if my kid if he was telling me that can I go somewhere and I see Oh, no, no bad literature go back You go back The fool has said in his heart no god so by him not responding to the lord he told the lord no And the foolish thing was this because it led him to his death What made jade is a fool judas a foolish and closely also is that he betrayed jesus for money Listen, he willfully agreed to give up the lord for 30 pieces of silver 30 pieces of silver or 30 silver coins was a was a price of a slave according to exodus 21 32 and joel through three Listen judas's intention isn't mentioned in scripture, but his motive was money The price offer wasn't much as some scholars believe some believe that 30 pieces of silver Is hard to determine but some believe that it was a small amount some say it was probably worth 25 bucks Others though other scholars believe that it was equivalent to to um To to about you know, um, um four months of wages for labor almost kind of like 7 500 dollars in modern terms Where there was a litter where there's a lot It still messed up still messed up here's the thing To sell out jesus For such an amount Any amount is truly a foolish act indeed isn't it but before we look down on judas I wonder how many people here in this room have turned their backs on christ over a small amount of money or maybe a lot of money Charles purgent once said quote yet many have sold jesus for less price than judas received A smile a sneer has been sufficient to induce them to betray their lord Unquote think about it some of us in this room Has sold out the lord You know, um, I almost did that the lord blessed me to work down at the docks But see I love the lord man. I do he's so cool There was a time where you know that lottery thing went through you guys remember that and you had to send your postcard And you get paid. Well, I was one of those lottery picks And and the first day the first time I went man, I was getting so many hours man. We were making bank And slowly but surely it started filling up the you know, the the casual hall There's where you will go and get your job So it kind of slowed down a little bit, but just even if you got out two three days You were still making more than the regular person was And I remember man, I started making money And slowly but surely man my heart is being pulled into it And when the lord says no david, I got a calling. I know but wait a minute. I gotta work. I gotta work But you know what I love about god He didn't give up on me He made it messed up for me You know how he did I remember like lord, what's going on man? I haven't got out in a long time Well, the thing was this check this out. I had to work at least one day in six months one day To keep my card This was trip me out Because I was teaching on wednesday and a sunday You have to call in to see when your number comes up and then you can go to work down at the docks So I would call Monday nope Tuesday nada Wednesday morning nada Wednesday night. Oh my litter got out Oh Okay, I'll try you next time I'll call back on thursday and then friday and saturday and sunday Oh, they went out again and it happened for six months And I lost my card And the lord would happen I'll tell you what happened. I didn't call you to the docks. I called you to a pulpit But I was this close to giving up the lord for money I would have been the worst mistake. I would have ever made I wouldn't be here sharing with you guys probably today But there's some of us here today that have given up god for money You're so busy in working three jobs And here's the thing I'm not talking about those that have to work because you know, you really need it I pray god one day would deliver you from that So you know spend some time with the lord and fellowship with the brothers and the lord But there's some of you guys here that are working so much hours These these these should have been filled So you can what have the car Have that watch the eye watch Nice watch too Do you know what I'm saying And and and the things this is crazy the things that god are being ignored Your pastor doesn't have to come up here and beg for you to serve To sign up in the children ministry in the usher ministry in the parking ministry You guys should be lining up to sign up But I wonder How many of us don't because we're so caught up and busy kind of like in that parable, right Of the sea that lands on the thorns They're being choked up by the cares and the worries of the world. They're not bearing fruit Is that you today? Have you sold sold god up for money? Fame, what is it if you have The good thing about the lord is that he's always willing to receive the repented Note also that for those who choose the pledges of life over the eternal blessings of god our fools And luke chapter 12 verses 16 to 21 talks about that because I've ran out of time You can just jot that down and you can see for yourselves Luke 12 16 to 21 Can I also give you another side note here? And this is what really really really Gets to me Know that when we betray our lord over money or anything else whether it be a girlfriend or boyfriend or work education The party life or whatever it is We bless the enemy You know the one who's trying to destroy you and kill you You know that the one who hates you with a vengeance The one who can't stand you the one who has been lying to you are your life. You bless them You know what's interesting that when you're reading luke chapter 22 verse 5 It says in regards to the judas it says and they were glad and agreed to give him money When when when they made a decision to give money to to judas they were glad There were smiles in their faces Because they're going to betray jesus judas had betrayed jesus They were glad So so i wonder if they had a little smile in their face. Yes. We got him. Thank you judas And I think about it in my time my way How can I apply that well listen when you betray your lord? For what i just named girlfriend boyfriend relation whatever it is school education work whatever it is You bless the enemy I hate sage. I'm i'll say that man because he's been after me for a while He has And and i've seen what he's done. I almost lost my family because of him I almost i almost lost my life because of him I can't stand him and then i'm seeing what he's doing to our youth I'm seeing what he's doing to even christians I see what he's doing, you know to the christians that are outside of the united states. They're being beheaded for the gospel of christ I see what he's doing with our government dude. I can't stand him And I will not put a smile on his face But I want to make him angry I want him to know that david truhio loves god and is committed and trust me i'm putting myself out there Because the day that I told god. Yes. Oh, he was army And I know that the only way I can overcome is to fall in love with christ But I hate him And I will not put a smile upon his face by yielding to his desires or his temptation god helped me And I know the only way I can do this if I walk in the spirit The bible tells if we walk in the spirit we will not fulfill the lust of the flesh and in life And then when we do that sage is not going to get blessed uh-uh not by me I remember I was talking to somebody And they were sharing with me how they fell And I looked at him and said man, and he was crying And I said, you know what bro? I am so blessed And they're like why I just told you what I did wrong. I say I'm blessed because you're crying. Why? Why pastor? I said because you're convicted dude Dude, that is so cool If you weren't crying, then I would if you were like mad dog me and all that then you know, I have issues with you I mean I have to figure out how i'm gonna work with you. Let you know, you're not probably safe But the fact that you're crying blesses my heart Then I said check this out don't say no more Repent yeah, but you know, it's okay. God forgave it And I was encouraging him and then he says well, what do I do now you want you want what you do now? Yeah, I do Join me And what and disrupting the enemy's plans How by being faithful to god By being committed to god By standing up and talking about how you feel right now because you fell for that sin Join me See guys Don't make the enemy glad because you turn your back on god Get him ticked off By being faithful to the lord Finally judas is a fool because he allowed the guilt of his foolish act to drive him To his death and matthew 27 just kind of Read that right quickly in verse three That says in judas his betrayers seeing that he had condemned Having condemned was remorseful And brought back and brought back the 30 piece of silver to the chief priests and elders saying I have sin by betrayed innocent blood They say what is this what what is that to us? You see to it And he drew he threw down the piece of silver in the temple and departed and went and he had He was a fool listen. I'm gonna finish with this Because he allowed the guilt to take the best of him You know what's crazy as I mentioned earlier Jesus reached out to him right when I'm sure the lord when he got those coins in his hand At that table Right and even at Gethsemane when he was betrayed When he called him friend So if the lord Was trying to reach him Don't you think that if judas would have just dropped the rope and ran back and said lord, I'm sorry That jesus would have still reached out to him Even with a little smile like saying everything's all right. You're forgiven. He would have He would have because see the lord Tells us that it's not the will that any should perish But that all come to repentance So when a person turns and repents from his ways the lord takes them in and forgives them There might be some in this room right now that you're where judas is You're at the point where you want to give up You're at the point where you just want to throw in the towel You're at the point where you just want to kill yourself and trust me. There's a lot of people today You know that that think that just killing this of ending their lives right now is the best way it's not Because god loves you and can take you restore you and they use you for his glory Don't buy into his lies. Don't be fooled by such lies If you run back and you tell god lord, I'm Forgive me lord. God said man. I forgave you already You know, I read a book Called can a minister be restored after he falls I read it a long time ago and I remember when I was reading it, um Now I remember the numbers exactly, but I'm gonna just throw something out there It's just kind of something along along the lines and it said that about 90 percent No, actually like 94 percent of ministers that fall Never come back They never come back it says, uh Another percent like three or four percent They they they become alcoholics And the other two some kill themselves I think that's one more. I didn't do the math. You know what I'm talking about around there But one percent this is what blew my mind away Actually come back And I said to myself, why won't they come back? Are they disqualified? Will god not use them? And then this is what god ministered to me I was just reading in matthew How the lord will leave the 99 to go after the night the 100 And that one minister that fell God loves him just as much as the 99 And he will go out and try to reach him But could you imagine the pain the sorrow the regret everything that the enemy just throwing on him to get him To believe that god won't use him again Or love him take about it And the lord spoke to me And I say, you know what lord Truly you are god of love Truly And there's some of you guys right now. There are that hundredth sheep You're wondered off Maybe you're here present, but your heart is off and you and today might be the day that you say, you know what man Maybe god speaks to me today. I don't know I want to tell you don't let the enemy use guilt to beat you down And keep you from coming back to the hands of a loving god who adores you man god has sprung on you man And he wants to forgive you restore you and use you for his glory If you would just come back home