 We're going to be looking at verses 20 through 34 here in the book of 1st Corinthians chapter 15. We'll begin by reading verses 20 through 22. I'll do a little recap for just a moment and we'll get into our study. 1st Corinthians chapter 15 beginning at verse 20, reading to verse 22. Paul writes, But now Christ is risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. And so Paul is speaking concerning obviously resurrection and I'll remind you that last time we were together Paul had given six negatives that if true would actually empty the gospel of its power. And last time we were together we looked at these things. He had said in verse 13, if there's no resurrection of the dead then Christ is not risen. And so everything related to one question. What if Jesus Christ died but remained in the grave? What if he were not resurrected? And as we saw that question and he began to answer it, we noticed that there were at least six things that would be regarded as negatives. One, we pointed out that the preaching of the gospel would be futile. Second, trusting the gospel would also be in vain. Third, he said the apostles would be liars. Fourth, believers would still be in their sins. Fifth, the dead have perished. And finally he said Christians of all people should be most pitied. And so he's been speaking concerning the resurrection and all. And so the point he's making in verse 20 is simply that Christ is risen from the dead. And since Jesus is risen from the dead, believers need not to be pitied. Christians don't need to be pitied because Jesus indeed is risen from the dead. Since he's risen, the resurrection of his disciples must also occur. And that's what he speaks about in verse 20 when he says and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Now when he speaks about those who have fallen asleep, he's not talking about those who go to Bible studies on Sunday night. The term falling asleep or falling asleep is what is referred to as a euphemism. It's a word that relates to in a tender sense. It speaks of death. And this is the third time, by the way, in this chapter that he has spoken of death as sleep. Remember with me in verse 6 he had said, after that he was seen by over 500 brethren at once, of whom the greater part remained to the present, but some notice have fallen asleep. In verse 18 he had said, then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. And then he'll say it again in verse 51 of this chapter when he says, behold, I tell you a mystery, we shall not all sleep. So sleep is another way of speaking of death. It's an Old Testament as well as a New Testament expression concerning death. In the Old Testament, Daniel chapter 12 verse 2 says, many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life and some to shame and everlasting contempt. And so sleeping is a picture of death. Why is it a picture of death? Because when somebody is dead and they're in that casket, they have the appearance of sleeping. That's why it's referred to as sleeping. In the New Testament in John chapter 11 verses 11 through 14, it says, he went on to tell them, our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I'm going there to wake him up. His disciples replied, Lord, if he sleeps he'll get better. Jesus said, shut up, long kids. He didn't say that, that's mine. But it goes on to say, Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep. So then he told them plainly, Lazarus is dead. And so when he speaks concerning sleep, those who have fallen asleep, that's a way of referring to death. So Jesus has become what Paul calls the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. First fruits, what are the first fruits? Well, in the Old Testament, what are called first fruits are referring to a representative sample of a harvest. The first fruits indicate that there's a full harvest to follow. And under Jewish law, they could not harvest their grain until an offering was made, and that offering was called a first fruits offering. Leviticus chapter 23 verses 10 and 11 in the Old Testament reads, speak to the Israelites and say to them, when you enter the land I'm going to give you and reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. Use to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf. The priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. So Jesus' resurrection is what is called the first fruits of the resurrection. And that would be in picturing the believing dead. In his death and resurrection, Jesus made himself an offering to the Father on our behalf. And as a first fruits, Jesus is paving the way for the harvest for the rest of the crop. The rest of the crop would be us. So his resurrection was not an isolated event, but it actually is a picture of what is going to take place for us. Now Paul here is referring to a permanent resurrection because we know that there are other resurrections that already have occurred in both the Old and the New Testament. There is a story of a widow, Zeraphoth, who had a son who had died and was brought back to life. We have an instance of a Shumanite woman who was mentioned in resurrection, mentioned in 2 Kings chapter 4. But we know in the Old Testament we see these incidents, but we also see them in the New. In the New Testament you might find this interesting. In the ministry of Jesus, Jesus raised three people from the dead. Remember the story of the widow of Nain? The widow of Nain had a son. She was a widow and only had one son, her only son, and her son had died. And Jesus was going into this region by this city of Nain. The city of Nain, if you're looking at a map of the nation of Israel, it's by the Sea of Galilee, and Nain is located about 10 miles southwest of the Sea of Galilee. So Jesus was up in that area. And as Jesus was up there ministering, he sees a funeral procession, and there's a woman who is weeping, and as she's weeping, Luke tells us that it's because she's a widow and her only son has died. And in that culture, the husband was responsible for caring for his wife. When he died, that responsibility would fall upon the shoulders of the son. But when the son dies, that leaves her without any way of surviving. And so this woman is completely destitute. And as she's in this funeral procession, the Lord Jesus Christ walks up, and he ministers, and he raises this woman's son from the dead. We see that in Luke chapter 7. There's another incident where Jesus was ministering. It's found also in Luke in chapter 8. There's a man whose name is Jairus. Jairus is an official whose daughter is very ill, and he comes and speaks to the Lord Jesus Christ and says, my daughter is near death. Please come and please help her. And on his way, as Jesus is about to go to minister, he's interrupted by a woman who had an issue of blood, and he stays there and ministers to this woman and brings healing to her. But in the meantime, some of the people come and say to Jairus, no need to bother the master any longer. Your daughter's died. And so Jesus still goes to the man's house, and as he goes to the man's house, he goes to the room where this little girl's body is. And he says just before he goes in, we all know this story, before he goes in, he says, don't be concerned about it, she's only sleeping. And those who were there weeping and carrying on over this began to laugh him to scorn because they knew she was dead. And yet Jesus goes into that room, he takes with him three of his men, and he walks up to where this little girl is, and he says to her in Aramaic, Lita Kumi, which means little girl I say unto you, arise and she comes to life. And so there's a resurrection. And mentioned a moment before about Lazarus, Lazarus in John chapter 11 verse 44 was dead, and there comes the Lord Jesus Christ, and he enters into that, into the city there, and asks, where is, where did you lay him? And they say to him, and well, they take him to the place, but they say as he wants to enter in and roll that stone away, they say, master, he's been dead four days, and the smell of death is inside of that tomb, and Jesus stands there and weeps there at the tomb, but he cries out, and what's he say, Lazarus come forth. And it's been said before, even as Lazarus comes hopping out with his grave cloths on, Jesus specifically said Lazarus, because if he had said come forth, all the other ones would have come out too. I don't know that that's true, but that's kind of a humorous thought. But anyway, but he says, come forth. And so you have these resurrections. There are some who would speak of the resurrections as actually resuscitations, but they were dead and they were brought back to life, their resurrection. And so what we have here is Jesus Christ who brings resurrection. All of these who were brought back to life eventually died again. So Jesus is the first to be resurrected and to remain alive. And so verse 20 again, Christ has risen from the dead and has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep. Verse 21, for since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead. All mankind descends from Adam and Eve, and all mankind have Adam's sin nature and the sin nature that we have, well, sin leads to death. In Romans chapter five verse 12, it says, therefore just as sin entered the world through one man and death through sin, in this way death came to all men because all sinned. All were in the loins of Adam. He, the first man, actually is the progenitor of all the human race. His human nature is given to all of us. So we have what is called an Adamic nature. The Adamic nature is another way of speaking of our sin nature. So what he's saying here is Adam sinned, Adam died, we are all descended from Adam, therefore we also die. So by man came death, but also by man comes resurrection from the dead. So by this man Jesus comes the resurrection of the dead. So Jesus' death and resurrection brings life to those who believe in him. In Romans 5, 19 says, for just as through the disobedience of the one man, the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man, the many will be made righteous. So verse 22, for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive. Now when it says, as in Adam all die, that speaks of the human race, but when the word all is used in reference to Christ, that doesn't include those who reject Jesus as their savior. You see, righteousness comes only by faith in the work of Christ on our behalf. People will be raised, but they'll enter into judgment. There are those who are raised, who are saved, who enter into glory with the Lord. And so they're all going to be raised, but some will go into judgment and we who believe in Christ are going to enter into heaven to be with him. In verse 22, 23 rather it says, but each one in his own order, Christ the first roots afterwards, those who are Christ that is coming. And so there's an order involved, Jesus first and then those who belong to him. Now just as something that might add to our understanding of this, scripture seems to indicate that the resurrection is not a single event, though it's regarded to as a single event in the sense that it's referred to as resurrection, but you actually have an order. The Bible speaks concerning resurrection and it speaks really of the two resurrections. One is the resurrection of the just and the other is the resurrection of the unjust. In Revelation chapter 20 verse 6, it says, blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them. They will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years. But he goes on in Revelation 20 in verse 12 to say, I saw the dead great and small standing before the throne. Books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books. And then he goes on in verse 15 to say, if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. So you have the resurrection of the just, but you have the resurrection of the unjust. Some are resurrected to life and some are resurrected to everlasting shame. Now, in this first resurrection, I'll go a little further. It appears that there are at least three stages, at least three stages in what is called the first resurrection. You have the first stage, which is believers from Pentecost to the rapture of the church. In 1 Thessalonians 416, it says, with the loud command, with the voice of the archangel, with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. So you have those from Pentecost to the rapture. Then you have the tribulation saints. In Revelation 20 verse 4, I saw thrones on which receded those who had been given authority to judge. I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image or received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. You also have the Old Testament saints, and that would be speaking of both resurrections, and that I mentioned to you earlier in Daniel chapter 12 verse 2. And so he's speaking of the resurrection. He says again, verse 23, each one in his own order, Christ the firstfruits afterward, those who are Christ at his coming, then comes the end to God the Father when he puts an end to all rule and all authority and power. And when he said then comes the end, that occurs after the second coming and the resurrection and establishment of his kingdom. All things are going to return to what they originally were designed to be and what they originally were at that time. Verse 25, for he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet, the last enemy that will be destroyed is death. I was mentioning today in one of the services, I didn't say it in all three services. I said it in one of the services that there's this attitude sometimes, and I'll expand on it a bit, there's this attitude sometimes that death is like, well I've heard it said, you know it's a doorway into eternity, and some have even referred to death as being like their friend. The Bible doesn't teach that death is your friend. Death is your enemy. That's what we just read right now, that it's an enemy. Death is an enemy. The last enemy that will be destroyed, he said, is death. The wages of sin is death. Death represents a separation between man and God. It wasn't God's intent that man should live for a short time and then die. Look at all the pain that some of us have suffered through in our grieving for the loss of those who we've loved. And think of those who have gone through a prolonged illness where they just continue on and on and on and would even wish that they could die and have yet to be able to do so and they're in such terrible pain. That isn't a friend. That isn't God's design for you. That's not what God intended for us. He didn't intend for us to be born with that knowledge of anticipation that one day I'm going to ultimately die. When you're young, when you're 10, 15, 20 years old, you never think about it really. It's not something that most people think about. At least I didn't. I was aware that one of these days when I'm real old, that may happen, but you never really think about that. And old to me was over 40. And so, yeah, when you get real ancient and old like 40 or something, then you'll probably die. You never think about it. But the longer you're alive, the more aware you are that the journey in front of you is a shorter duration than the one behind you. There are less days in front than there are behind. And you begin to be aware of that and you begin to be aware of the fact that life is brief. You become aware of the fact that your body is rebelling against you. Now it's not acting like it's supposed to. When you used to roll out a bed and land on your feet, now you roll out a bed and land on your head. I mean, it's just a different thing. You get out of bed and your body screams and says, get back in there right now. It's just that way. And you begin to have pains that you never had before. And you start making very close relationships with doctors. And it's just an amazing thing. I mentioned on Wednesday, perhaps some of you were there, that I had to go to the doctor on Wednesday and I had to have another biopsy because it turns out I have cancer, another little cancer on my skin. And so my first dermatologist said, you used to like the sun, didn't you? And I said, yes, the sun and I were friends. In reality, no. The sun like death is your enemy, you know, because it produces something on your skin, it can, something on your skin called skin cancer. And so I have some removed from my left shoulder. I have some on my face. And he says, oh, and you've got some more we're going to have to deal with after this. And that's not good news. That's bad news. You don't want to hear that. You don't want to hear these things, you know, but that's part of just growing older. That's part of what life is. And so as you grow older, you become aware of the fact that there's something awaiting you. Now, the Bible doesn't call it a friend. The Bible calls it an enemy. But that enemy has been conquered by Jesus Christ. And because the enemy has been conquered by life, you don't have fear of it. Though it's referred to as an enemy, it isn't something you're afraid of. It's not something that you fear entering into. And from that aspect, I agree with my brothers and sisters who will say it's an entrance into something greater, which indeed it is. But as Paul is speaking here, he's speaking of the fact that death is an enemy. Now it says here, he must reign till he has put all enemies under his feet. So Jesus' final act after his 1,000 year reign is yielding the redeemed world to his father, and death is not finally abolished until after the 1,000 year reign of Christ. Now in verse 27, for he has put all things under his feet, but when he says all things are under him, it's evident that he who put all things under him is accepted. Now, when all things are made subject to him, then the Son himself will also be subject to him who put all things under him that God may be all in all. And so God the Father is the exception when all things are put under the feet of Jesus. God is the exception because he is not subject to Christ because he the Father is the one who gave Jesus authority. In Matthew chapter 28 verse 18, Jesus said, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. In John 5, 26, and 27, Jesus said, as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself, and he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of man. So throughout his incarnation, until he presents the kingdom to his Father, he is the servant. When his work is completed, he assumes his former place in harmony within what is called the Trinity. Jesus continues to reign in what is called Trinitarian glory. Now, verse 29, otherwise what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead do not rise at all, why then are they baptized for the dead? This is one of the most interesting New Testament scriptures you're going to find. Baptism for the dead. I want you to see this. I'll read it again and do my very best to confuse you. What will they do who are baptized for the dead if the dead do not rise at all? Why then are they baptized for the dead? Have any of you ever spoken to a Mormon? Raise your hand if you have. I'm interested. The Mormons teach what? They teach baptism for the dead. You know Ancestry.com and genealogical services like that? There are connections to the Mormon. Genealogical services that they have. Mormons believe that people who died without being baptized can receive what is called baptism by proxy. So we'll say my grandfather died, but I'm not sure that he was baptized because they believe baptism is necessary to enter into glory. I, in my grandfather's name, if I were Mormon, would be baptized so that my grandfather could enter into glory. And so the Mormon believes and teaches, and I've had conversations with them concerning this, they believe in what is called baptism for the dead. When you speak to them, they will take it right out of the scripture, 1 Corinthians 15-29. And they will say, well then what's the scripture say? Notice what it says. Why are they baptized for the dead? And so that is something that some of you perhaps have encountered if you've ever talked to or shared with or had conversation with somebody who's of the Mormon persuasion. Is that what Paul is teaching? Is Paul teaching that in order for you to enter into the kingdom you need to be water baptized? Is that what he's saying? What Paul is doing here is he's speaking about something that it's quite obvious the Corinthian church is very familiar with. That is why he includes this practice in his defense of the resurrection. But what is it that he's speaking about when he says baptized for the dead? There are those who believe that Paul is referring to Jesus when he speaks of the dead. And so they would say that the question he's asking is, did it baptize in the name of a dead savior? Jesus would still be dead if not resurrected. And there are those who would say that's what he's referring to. He's referring to Jesus when he speaks of being baptized for the dead. Also there are those who believe that Paul is speaking of receiving baptism on behalf of dead persons. Well that produces a practice based on a single obscure scripture. Suffice it to say nowhere does the Bible ever say you could receive baptism by proxy. Nowhere. When you look at the verses that refer to baptism you see verses like Mark 16 verse 16 where it says he who believes and is baptized will be saved but he who does not believe will be condemned. It doesn't say that if I believe on behalf of somebody else it speaks of a personal faith that I have when I receive baptism. Acts 2.41 says those who gladly received his word were baptized and the same day they were added to them about 3,000 souls. So nowhere does the Bible ever say that anyone receives baptism by proxy. So the simplest answer would be believers are being saved because of the witness of martyrs. That is one of the ancient interpretations of this scripture. They're being saved because of the witness of martyrs. If the dead do not rise why is there such an impact being made through their ministry? People who loved the Lord had a tremendous ministry impact. People saw the way they lived and the way they died. And knowing that the way they lived and died was based on their faith in God through Jesus Christ these martyrs became a great example of what it means to live a life sold out for God. The impact of these people's lives was of such immense proportion that there were people who came to faith in Christ based on the gospel tale as well as the awareness of the lives that these people lived. And because the impact was made through their life that was so significant then as a result of seeing someone living for Jesus Christ it helped to convince me that that way is true referring to the fact that people are receiving baptism because they know of those who loved God and laid their life down in their faith towards him and thus it impacted them and in memory of what these people did which impacted them so much they came to faith in Christ and received water baptism and signified that. And so that's the simplest way to approach that. That again is an obscure verse baptized because they have been influenced by those who lived for Christ and it helped to convert them. Verse 30 Why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? I affirm by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I die daily. If in the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus what advantage is it to me if the dead do not rise let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die do not be deceived evil company corrupts good habits awake to righteousness and do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame. Why do we stand in jeopardy every hour? Why do we put ourselves in such danger if there's no such thing as a resurrection? When you look at the life of the apostle Paul it's a life that is just an amazing life. He speaks concerning the things that he goes through in a variety of passages but one of the places is found in 2 Corinthians chapter 4 and 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verses 8 through 11 Paul says this and I want you to hear this Paul speaking of his life said we are hard pressed on every side but not crushed perplexed but not in despair persecuted but not abandoned struck down but not destroyed we always carry around in our body the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body for we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus sake so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body Paul had what I like to refer to as an eternal framework the things that he went through for him were minor inconveniences Paul was shipwrecked he was beaten he was imprisoned yet he made it his chief aim to take the name of Jesus Christ for his name had never been mentioned he said I don't want to build on another man's foundation I want to take this gospel out and I want to preach this name this name Jesus so that I will hear it and I will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ I want to take this message out and I'm willing to pay the price whatever it may be so there are times that he was beaten there were times that he was actually stoned there were times when he was shipwrecked there were so many times that he went through so much pain you know Jesus Christ was beaten and received 39 stripes and when somebody during the time of Christ would receive that kind of lashing it was called the living death because when you were beaten in that fashion with that kind of nine tails the opening the laceration the beating the loss of blood and shock the dehydration and all that went along with that was like a death penalty and many people died under the lash when Jesus Christ received 39 stripes that was the maximum he received at least 39 stripes which would have been the maximum under Jewish law because Jewish law said that he received 40 stripes saved one 40 was a number of judgment 39 is a number of mercy so judgment is always to be tempered by mercy so Jesus received no less than 39 stripes if you went beyond 39 oftentimes the people the prisoners would be put to death under the lash because they would die through the severity of such beating and so when you read about Jesus and you read what happened to investigate what would have occurred and you know that huge portions of his flesh were ripped off his chest his back it was open it was lacerated it looked like hamburger blood was pouring all over Jesus Christ was losing all of his blood Paul says I received 39 stripes not one time I received 39 stripes three times not just once but a second time and not just a second time but a third time his back must have been totally scarred from the first time that he received those stripes and then he went through it again and then his back was opened up a second time then he went through it a third time when he begins to speak of what he went through guys it's unbelievable to be honest with you the pain that he endured but did he ever stop speaking to the point where he finally got his wish to stand before the Caesar and preach the Gospel I want to stand before him in Rome that's my desire that I might tell the most powerful man on the planet that there's one more powerful than you and his name is Jesus that was the heart of the apostle Paul and so when Paul is speaking concerning these things when Paul is speaking concerning being in jeopardy this is somebody who knew what that means for us let's be honest for us when we go through something for us many times we think persecution is because somebody made fun of us in the neighborhood or they won't eat lunch with me on the job site anymore because I'm a Christian and then we cry ourselves to sleep at night oh how I'm suffering and we really don't understand we just don't get it how that in so many places in so many countries and even in certain pockets here in the United States that it's actually a dangerous thing to present yourself as a Christian as a believer in Jesus Christ that it can be dangerous and even life threatening but what is it that kept Paul moving Paul kept moving in that way because he had what I call an eternal framework in Romans 8 verse 18 he said I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us because he said I'm just passing through because the rejection persecution the beatings the jailings the shipwreck and so many other things that I've endured are just things that are temporary these are things that do not last they're not eternal he had an eternal framework when he says in verse 31 by boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord I die daily by boasting in you I affirm by the boasting in you by seeing fruit and Corinth I need to tell you that strengthens me to continue in my ministry to see God moving in your midst strengthens me to continue preaching the gospel he said in verse 31 I die daily my life is disciplined in every area and that's the fall of the Lord why die daily to desires of the flesh if you could just yield to those desires and be satisfied this would make the most sense for those if they didn't have an eternal framework live for today just live for the day notice what he says in verse 32 he says if in this manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus what advantage is it to me right let us eat and drink for tomorrow we die get as much as you can out of life right now do as much as you can and get as much as you can because frankly you're just worm food you're going to die, you're going to be buried and you're going to be consumed and that's it so just get it all go for the gold do everything that you can to be satisfied now just die just enjoy life and get all you can out of it there are a lot of people by the way that's exactly how they live it's all about them if there's anything that I'm noticing is on the ascendancy and it's been for a number of years now this isn't new and all of you have observed it I'm sure but if there's anything that I see philosophically that's on the ascendancy it's the philosophy of narcissism this attitude of self-love this attitude of getting all that I can for me a narcissist is an individual who was looking into I believe a pool of water and fell in love with the image that he was beholding the image he was beholding was himself and that's where we get the term narcissist from it speaks of self-love it speaks of putting myself before anybody else and narcissism is one of the chief sins if not the chief sin right now that I'm seeing in our society that we live in which is biblically what Paul said would be the sign of the last days when he began to give a list in 2 Timothy concerning how you know you're living in the last days he said men shall be lovers of themselves that's the first thing he says men shall be lovers of themselves and the second thing lovers of money and if there's anything in our society that we can all I think agree on is there is a tremendous amount of self-love and this attitude of self-love is an attitude that says it really doesn't matter how you feel about what I do it's really none of your business as long as I'm happy it's that philosophy do whatever you want as long as it doesn't hurt anybody else then we constantly argue and say nothing I do hurts anybody else I've heard that coming from guys who are committing adultery and they're saying it doesn't hurt anybody it really doesn't hurt anybody no it doesn't hurt anybody except your wife and your children it doesn't hurt anybody except for your your mom and your dad it really doesn't hurt anybody except for your friendships and relationships that you have it doesn't hurt anybody except no the fact is it hurts everybody because sin always does sin always has repercussion and yet we have people who are wrong it really doesn't matter how you feel about my freedoms the things that please me shouldn't really be something you're worried about you have that attitude in the world but you also have that attitude in the church because when somebody is confronted if they're doing something wrong and somebody lovingly says to them I'm concerned for you one of the very first things people will say and I've had it said to me is why don't you just mind your own business in love with gossiping and finally I spoke to her and I wasn't a pastor I was a young believer I was like 23 years old at the time and I spoke to her on one occasion and I said her name was Kathy I can mention her name she's not here right now she's not around she lives in another state but but I mentioned to her Kathy I said Kathy I said you you have a fondness for gossiping I said really it's not right you really shouldn't do that and she said to me when did the Holy Spirit move over and make you God you know she didn't appreciate that and I said oh I've always been God but that's a different subject but that was the whole thing when did you become God when did you become capable of telling me how I should live but I thought that we were to provoke one another to love and good works rather well it is still today and encourage them to live for Jesus I thought that's what holy provocation is is for me to be an encouragement to you to live for Jesus and you to be an encouragement to me to live for Jesus I thought that's how fire keeps being fire how it keeps hot by us continually encouraging one another as we see the day approaching I think that's what Paul or the writer of Hebrews was making was saying when he wrote those words I love you enough to tell you the truth and shouldn't I care enough to help you and I'm more than willing for you to help me but what we live in today guys and you know this is a society that is so caught up with self love that it's very difficult for you to bring a word of correction to anybody in church when I'm teaching and the passage demands a very clear presentation there are so many people who get upset sometimes it's like I'm inside a restaurant and they're making toast and all the toast goes up and springs out of the toaster well when I'm speaking they're bringing up out of the chairs and they're walking out because some things are difficult for them to hear they don't want to hear that I've had that for so many years because I don't take the tact of sharing the word of God and watering it down and try and say what it's saying I used to have a guest I used to speak as a guest in a friend of mine's church whenever he was out of the pulpit he'd ask me to come and he had Thursday night studies so I could go on Thursdays and teach and it happened so regularly where people would get up and walk out then I finally said now listen I was introducing my message and I said now listen I'm gonna say some things today I've had it because every time I come you do and I'm gonna ask you I mean I actually did this I'm gonna ask you would you please just listen to the whole message take its context and listen to what's being said please I said okay you ready about 20 minutes into it somebody gets up they got mad it was the pastor they were metal fire doors and they went out the side it's like going out this side right here they went out the side door metal door and slammed it just to make their point so listen I see self love as something that has been plaguing society and the church for forever and it is a sign that you're living in the last days when you are not with healthy doctrine when a person is not willing to hear out a message when they're not willing to receive what God has for them it's symptomatic of a bad day in the church because people don't want to hear Paul had made it very clear that it isn't one of these attitudes eat drink and be married for tomorrow we die he's saying life is much deeper than that now he goes on and says in verse 33 do not be deceived evil company corrupts good habits my mom used to say show me a man's friends and I will show you the man there's a lot of truth to that it's not 100% accurate of course because that was said about Jesus because they said concerning Jesus this man eats with publicans and sinners and the Pharisees believed basically something that you could catch and if you hang around with sinners then it shows that you are like them and so they actually would point to Jesus and they would say to his disciples why does your master eat with publicans and sinners what they were saying is they were saying the reason he eats with them is because he is like them and so on the one hand it's always true on the other hand it is also true that we are influenced by those who we spend the most time with there's no doubt about that and so when a man or a woman chooses a friend choose wisely because your friend the closest friend you have is also probably your pastor what I am is I'm the guy who stands up here or sits up here and talks about God and people sit out like right now they are sitting out there and listening when they are not counting panels on the wall or thinking things like that texting they are listening but sometimes with maybe a minimum of concentration and really a minimum of attention because there's a lot of things on their mind after all or they may hear something that to them it may cause them to think so they go out afterwards maybe to get some coffee or if it's after church on a Sunday they go out to a restaurant and they sit around a table and perhaps the message comes up in the conversation and something was said that day that may have been a bit provoking maybe even irritating maybe convicting and so what do they do pastor David said this is an actual conversation I'll give you one that I know pastor David said that we probably shouldn't be spending lots of times in clubs well I think that's legalistic because I can witness in clubs and I think he's legalistic because he's telling us that we can't enjoy life did I say I've never said anything like that what I've said is if you go to clubs you're going to hell no I didn't say that either just seeing if you're listening hey most of you heard that what I've said is something like why waste your time going some place when you can go somewhere where you're gonna build your faith why don't you make choices to be where you grow instead of places that are sources of temptation be wise in what you're doing do you think you're gonna go to a club and meet this godly man there as you're dancing I don't think so unless he's holding this bible dancing to John 316 I don't think so it's probably not gonna happen that makes sense to me I've said okay you want to argue about drinking because people say well Jesus made wine when I first got saved that God made the herb and because we called marijuana herb God made marijuana so that we could smoke and make connection with him God also made poison ivy I would say but we don't use it for toilet paper I mean use your common sense man how come you're doing that why are you arguing that that makes sense to me it's nothing rocket science so I learned a long time ago that those who argue their freedoms very often are those who don't even walk in the spirit they're the ones that will normally when you ask them because they're arguing with me and I've had a lot of conversations over the years it's okay to drink I'm not going to hell if I have one drink and they want to argue with me and then you ask them when's the last time you led someone to the Lord when's the last time that you went out and shared your faith with somebody they don't do that they're more busy wanting to go to the club to drink and dance and so I'm not calling them a sinner I'm not saying they're bad even I'm just asking a question where's Jesus in your life and the more you go down with people who think like that you're well what did he say do not be deceived, evil company corrupts good habits it reduces your walk with the Lord it doesn't build you up so let me give you some old man advice it's biblical long time ago many years ago now I began to think in terms of ministry and friendship I have people that at that time especially that I loved very much who were very close to me but I realized that because they didn't really have a heart for the Lord this was before I went into pastoral ministry this was years before I was ordained in the ministry it was just as I was growing up in the Lord I realized that for them liberty meant an awful lot but the liberty that they enjoyed were the sins that I was freed from I didn't want to go back to drinking I didn't want to go back to that life but my friends who had been raised in the church felt that it was okay because under grace I can do whatever I want me I was a drunk and I I was somebody who loved marijuana I didn't like marijuana I loved it it was my sacrament I enjoyed it and I didn't just smoke a joint I would have one behind my ear one in my pocket and I'd be smoking it and I chain smoked marijuana that's what I did I liked it and I didn't drink a beer I drank a six pack and when I finished the six pack I went to a half gallon of wine that's how I drank I did not sit there and say let's have one of these my ties I didn't even know what a my tie was to me let's drink some scotch and that's just the way I was so I get saved and now I've got Christian friends telling me you're in Christ God's grace you can enjoy it don't be in bondage don't be so legalistic I don't know about that and I begin to realize if I go back to that life it's like the pig going back to the mud it's the dog returning to the vomit I've been washed and I've been cleaned I don't want to go back that's what I got saved from and so the thing that was difficult for me was realizing that and this was 40 years ago over 40 years ago where people wanted me to stay in bondage now I understand it when the world does because the world doesn't necessarily want a Christian to have a glowing witness what I had trouble with was my brothers and my sisters who wanted me to be in what I got saved from that I didn't understand and that I still don't understand be not deceived bad company corrupts good morals your friends your friends have such tremendous influence on you that one day you can wake up and you can ask yourself the question I finally woke up and asked myself which was how did I get back here which I did how did I get back here sitting in a reception after my cousin had been married I had been drinking and I was sitting in the front room and they had champagne and I liked champagne and I was drinking it and we used to say I got my buzz on I got high and I'm sitting in there and my head is spinning and two Christians come and sit next to me and say do you know the Lord Jesus Christ and I say yes true story I'm not getting yes slurring my words and they witness did you know that God so loved the world I sure did did you know Jesus died on the cross for you yes he did I'm a Christian I was drunk and they're witnessing and I'll never forget what I told them when they walked away they said ok man we'll see you later and I said here, there or in the air that's what I said and the Lord ripped me he convicted me see my sin was alcohol I got away from the drugs it was alcohol it was alcohol I liked it I liked marijuana but I knew once here, stay away from this it opens the door to other things alcohol you can buy it I'm over 21 nobody can tell me not to that was my problem I didn't drink all the time I stopped drinking but when someone offered me one I'd want a second and then I'd want a third and by the fourth I was starting to get and the Lord worked on my life and one of the things that I'm teaching you right now and all these little silly stories is be careful who you let influence you what I had to learn to do was this I had to learn that following God was more important than anything else and I want to do that I had to learn that I have people I love who are really my ministry and so I would just be aware I would keep my spiritual guard up and I would be aware that they may want to do something or go somewhere that isn't edifying so I had to be ready to say no thank you I'm not going and I don't want to go I had to learn to do that but I also learned I have friends my friends are the ones who don't stumble me my friends are the ones who build me up in my faith my friends are the ones that I can speak to and say you know what I'm going through something could you pray for me I have friends that can say this is what God's word says concerning this let's agree that the Lord will do this in our lives that's a friend and I made a decision a long long time ago to know who my ministry is to know who my friends are because your pastor getting back to that is not necessarily the man who is seated here right now your pastor is the one you're speaking to after the bible study who disagrees with what I've been saying and gives to you what they really think and you listen to them instead of what you've been hearing for the last 45 minutes that's your pastor that's the one speaking into your soul that's the one who's directing your spiritual footsteps all I am is an information giver that person is your pastor you need to know who your pastor is you need to know who's influencing you because I'm telling you the ones who love you the most are the ones who have the most influence and they can talk you out of positions and into theirs simply through love and they're not even using scripture and when they do use scripture it's out of context you hear what I'm saying? it's true what is Paul saying? be careful he's saying do not be deceived evil company corrupts good habits finally awake to righteousness do not sin for some do not have the knowledge of God I speak this to your shame guard yourself against bad company guard yourself against bad messages because the fruit will be a lack of concern for the lost and you will lose your desire to see people saved what's interesting is Paul is saying and it's like this is unbelievable but he's saying in your congregation you actually have people who don't know the Lord why is that? now notice some do not have the knowledge of God he says to your shame why is it? he's saying because they're not receiving the counsel of God they're not receiving the whole counsel that should be setting them free and because you have people who are in church who are very comfortable in church and are not convicted that ought to cause you to be shameful or feel shame because the holiness of God is not evident in the church services and in the body of Christ anytime somebody who doesn't know Jesus feels very comfortable around those who do tells me it's not just the love that people have from because that is a good thing it's a great thing but it tells me that they haven't really had a deep conversation yet with those people to see the difference between what they believe and what the Bible actually teaches that people aren't willing to ruffle feathers there are whole church systems that have been built guys on making sure that the unchurched person doesn't feel uncomfortable in church and so the message of the gospel is never clear conviction is not experienced because if somebody feels convicted they may not come next week so an entire program is established to make the goats comfortable and that's what happens and what the Lord would have us to do is just speak the truth and love because when the word of God goes forth and it's rightly divided then you're going to be able to see what is true and what is not true that sense of discomfort is really an important thing because it helps the person to become aware of where they really stand with God and in that people can actually feel the spirit and be saved but if I didn't love people enough to tell them the truth if I didn't love you enough to say this is what the word says then I'm not a true shepherd I'm not genuine I'm actually just giving people in sin a reason to remain there and what Jesus said he'd do is he said he'd set us free from sin and what that occurs is through the teaching of the word and when the word is divided rightly it actually brings a sense of conviction to the believer because let's face it every message is beyond what we actually live so we're convicted and we say God help me to do that I want to please you so it brings conviction to the believer but it also brings a conviction to the one who doesn't know the Lord and says God truly is amongst these people these people have a sincere faith in something that I haven't embraced yet I need the God that they serve that's how I got saved I enjoyed the music the music was contemporary for my day but when they started talking about needing Jesus Christ coming to faith in him and explain that's the difference between what you're feeling right now and what these people have what it is is these people know Jesus and to me they were saying you only heard of them that's called conviction and so that's why I got saved when I said they know him I've only heard of him I want to know him and that's when I got saved through the truth of the message of the gospel that's how you get saved that's why Paul would say I say this to your shame there are people amongst you who don't have the knowledge of God because there's so much division and discord and so little teaching amongst you right now that you haven't been clear about what it means to follow Christ so God help us to be clear what it means to follow Jesus Christ