Christopher Hudson "Are There Few That Be Saved?"

good afternoon good afternoon [Music] it's the morning good morning good morning it's a blessing to be here with you first I want to say thank you for your prayers thank you for your prayers and I felt a little bit that when a brother Eugene was telling his story about what was the cat's name again tishka I felt that tishka was a personification of myself how she was being plied with charcoal and I'm truly thankful for the care that's been given to me that by the grace of Allah I can stand here before you at this time my brothers and sisters before we open the Word of God together this morning I want to invite you to have a word of prayer with me and I'm asking for your crease just to take a few moments just 60 seconds to be precise I'm asking you to pray earnestly in your hearts truly for the Spirit of God to speak to you very intimately I believe that what we're going to look at in the Word of God this morning is very sober message and it's one that we truly all need to consider for our personal cell so such a time as this but we know that no truth can be understand without understood without the Spirit of God amen and so as it is my tradition I'm going to kneel to pray at this time and if you're inclined to do so I invite you to kneel with me and please just take 60 seconds this is a privilege where I can't need it and just like the camp meetings of old let's pray pray pray and ask for God's hand to be with us so just take this time to ask the Lord to fix in your hearts those principles that you have learned those practical truths that have been presented to you up until this point and that even now as we press forward that the Lord would open our hearts and our eyes that we might behold wondrous things out of his law and when you hear my voice I'll close us out in prayer let's pray father in heaven we thank you so much for the blessing that we have to come before your throne in faith in the name of Jesus Christ we thank you for privileges like this one that we're enjoying right now together away from the cares of this life in this camp this this rule setting where we can hear your voice speak to us in a very clear fashion you've said through your servant that it is in camp meetings like this that you desire to pour out your ladder rain upon your people and so father as your word says ask you of the Lord rain in the time of the latter rain we pray and ask of you that you report your spirit in great measure upon us because we need him and he would come forth to convict us of sin and of righteousness and of judgment and in all things that Christ and Christ alone will be lifted up Lord please look upon me in all of my weakness and frailty not just looking at me weak and thrill physically but Lord the fact that I'm a mind that needs to be cleansed of my pride and my self trust in my self righteousness wash all of these things for my character even now and I'm just praying to be a conduit through which you might port your grace upon your people thank you for hearing this our prayer and for all these things we ask in Jesus name Amen when invites you to open your Bibles we're going to go to the book of Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes and we're going to the third chapter Ecclesiastes chapter 3 and we're going to begin at the seventeenth verse once again we're going to Ecclesiastes chapter three and we're looking at verse 17 please we arrived in your Bibles you can just let me know by speaking out loud like the young man in the back but say Amen the Bible says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3 looking at verse 17 mattify begin with me at verse 16 are you there with me says and moreover I saw under the Sun the place of judgment that wickedness was there and the place of that iniquity was there now when Solomon speaking of looking at the things transpiring under the Sun he's talking about him observing the things that were taking place here right here on planet Earth because everything that takes place under the Sun takes place right here on planet Earth and so as he were surveying planet Earth his eyes fell upon the places of judgment and these are the centers out of which judgment is supposed to go for justice and truth is supposed to be upheld in the land he was looking at the civil governments in the civil judgment halls he was looking at the magistrates and the governors and let's say the prime ministers so to say at his time he was looking at these individuals that had the responsibility of executing judgment in the land to see were these men upholding truth were they upholding justice and that's not what he beheld the Bible says he beheld wickedness obviously this disturbed him as a king a man that had the responsibility of carrying out civil responsibilities but then he turns his place his turns his attention to a particular place and he turns his attention to this particular place because he believes even if I don't see truth and justice being executed in the judgment halls of the land surely I will see truth and justice being executed over here in this place and the Bible says that place was the place of righteousness what is the place of righteousness that he was looking on does anybody have a thought on this okay go with me to the Book of Psalms chapter 119 verse 172 psalm 119 verse 172 what we're going to see here in Psalm the 119 division and the 170 second verse is a definition for righteousness that's all no more no less the Bible says in psalm 119 verse 172 my tongue shall speak of thy word for all thy what Commandments are righteousness so God's universal standard for right doing his universal standard for righteousness is laid out in detail in prints of in his commandment if it's true say Amen is there a place on planet earth that God has committed his Commandments to and they should be or this place should be from which his Commandments his righteousness goes forth into all the earth it's very clear somebody said it say it again it's the church matter of fact go with me Psalm this could revelation Revelation chapter 12 Revelation chapter 12 let's look at verse 17 Revelation chapter 12 looking at verse 17 of course we can look at several other scriptures on this but let's just look at this point in Revelation chapter 12 and verse 17 and I know that many of you familiar with these symbols that were looking at here it says and the dragon that being the devil according to revelation 12 and verse 9 and the dragon was wroth with the woman this being a symbol of the church and went to make war with the remnant of her seed what do they do they keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ so the place of righteousness on planet Earth is the church we are supposed to be the salt of the earth we are the ones whom God has given the Commission to preserve righteousness and truth in the world and so certainly as solomon looks to the church as he looks to the people of god he's thinking to himself I assume even though the civil magistrates may fail in this respect and being people of integrity in carrying out their responsibilities of executing judgment in truth certainly I will see this going forth out of the church but to his dismay did he see that Bible says he saw iniquity so he saw wickedness in the civil the civil government halls of his land and he saw iniquity in the midst of the Church of his time the most disturbing thing about this scene that we see here is that this truth was not only one that could be observed in the time of Solomon it's a truth that we can observe today in our present time the reality is this do you see corruption in the governments of our world today do you see wickedness in the courts do you see wickedness where the Prime Minister is sit where the Kings sit with the presidents it brothers and sisters if we're going to be honest we see wickedness there and if we're going to be just as brutally honest I don't have to single out any particular denomination I can just look at it all as a whole do we see iniquity in the churches of our land today matter of fact the same corruption that we're seeing in the world we can actually behold in the church today the world says it's so cake for a man to be with a man the same way that a man is with a woman and we will define their relationship the same way that we both find a relationship between a man and a woman we will define that as marriage does that did not the court systems of our world say that at least this country and then have you I don't know when you're in your travels as you drive down the road sometimes have you ever seen these churches and they have rainbows on the front of them have you ever seen that little rainbow on the front of the church what's the point of them putting the rainbow there they want you to know that they believe in the Covenant that God delivered to Noah is that is that correct yeah well what is the purpose of them putting that rainbow there they're trying to say this church is homosexual friendly am i right it's LGBTQ friendly friends the reality is every church is supposed to be LGBTQ friendly you don't believe that y'all looking at me what is about the Hudson saying every Church is supposed to be btq friendly adulterer friendly killer friendly be friendly are you getting my point the church was put in the land for the purpose of providing a place for which sinners could come and enjoy the gift of salvation which is in Jesus Christ but the reason they're putting the Rainbows on the front of the churches is because they're saying we accept the practice in our church are you getting my point right now and we can go on and on and on and talk about the corruption we see in the church the tweets that we see coming from the Oval Office we can go on and on and on and talk about the corruption that we see coming from this church from the GC from here you know there are many places that I go and sometimes that's all the brother-in like to talk about did you see what Donald Trump just it did you see what Ted Wilson jested brothers and sisters let me tell you something the truth of the matter is yes like Solomon we if we take the time to observe can see corruption in the world and we can see corruption in the church but when Solomon beheld the iniquity in the church and the wickedness in the world his attention did not stay fixated there the Bible says in verse 17 that he turned his attention to another destination I want you to look with me are you there in your Bibles he said I said in mine heart God shall judge the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work what I gain from looking at these two verses of Scripture is the reality I perceive that was grasped by Solomon himself know whether we know whether it makes no difference whether we're looking at men in the war or men in the church we're looking at men and all men are fallible are you with me brothers and sisters all men whether they're in the world or in the church they are all album all the Bible says all have sinned and come short of the glory of God and many become discouraged when they see corruption coming forth from the government's many become very discouraged when they see corruption coming forth from the leadership of the church but my friends we need not look to men to write the situations that are going on in the world or in the church we need to look to the throne of God because there is only one whom can never fail and it's Jehovah and with this realization Solomon said you know what these men are failing and these men are failing but one day shall come when God shall judge both the righteous and the wicked for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work God is going to take control and dare I say God is totally in control of everything that's going on right now and there was a time there in the courts of heaven for every purpose and for every work and in speaking of that I want you to turn your Bibles with me to a very familiar scriptures Revelation chapter 14 and verse 7 because in Revelation 14 and verse 7 we are told of a particular time that has already come upon us and I know you're all familiar with it I know I have some long-standing seventh-day Adventists here with me the Bible says that the angel that had in his possession the everlasting gospel he said with a loud voice fear God and give glory to him why for that hour of his judgment is come my friends I know this is a familiar truth but it is a familiar truth that we need to have ever present before our minds that hour of God's judgment is not something that will transpire in the near future that is already upon us it is here and in speaking of this work of judgment go with me first Peter chapter four we have many scriptures we're going to look at this morning trying to make up for days I missed with you in 1st Peter chapter 4 I want you to look with me at verse 17 and speaking of this judgment that has already begun in the courts of heaven the Bible says this for the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God and if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God does the Bible say the time has come that judgment might begin at the house of God do you see that in your Bibles perhaps there is a very clear decisive statement that's being maybe the time has come that judgment must begin at the house of God the judgment has to begin in the church and the reason the judgment must begin in the church is because there are some very real legal realities associated with the plan of redemption and this great controversy that we all find ourselves in at this Sun let me explain to you what I'm talking about go with me to a very familiar Scripture we're going to John chapter 3 begin with me at verse 16 I already know that all of you know it by heart so you can just quote it with me for God so loved the world that he was gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but what for God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through him might be saved now I want you to look at verse 18 and I want you to look closely what the Bible says there he that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already because he hath not believed in name of the only begotten Son of God the Bible says he that believeth on him is not condemned when in the mercy of God a knowledge of the truth comes to us and God brings to our attention even as we heard in the message previously when Christ is revealed to us when the love of God appears to us and that he would send his son to die for us that we might partake of eternal life so that we would not have to experience the results that we the results that we deserve for our sin which is death when we come to this knowledge of the fact that the Lord sent his son that God took upon himself humanity to die to restore humanity back into his image and we look at this great sacrifice and with all hearts and tongues we profess that we believe that Jesus was the son of God we believe that he died for our sins and we accept this sacrifice of the Lamb of God as a substitute so that in the presence of God my unrighteousness my sinfulness is not seen but all God will see is the beauty of the character of his son when we make this type of profession what we are doing in essence is entering a not guilty plea in the court of heaven make sense what happens when you enter a not guilty plea in the court unfortunately I know the answer when you enter a not guilty plea you are now entitled to a trial is this true and during this trial evidence is going to be presented for or against your case to determine whether or not you're truly innocent that's exactly what's taking place during the investigative judgment when we make this profession that we believe that Jesus is the Son of God we believe that he's the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of this for our sins is that if we're entering a not guilty plea in the courts of heaven and so in the investigative judgment what's going to be looked at the records concerning our characters the enemy of course we know the devil will present evidence against our case but Jesus Christ by His grace as our intercessor he's going to plead our cases as well am I telling the truth so but what happens if you go before a court and you say guilty are you entitled to a trial no all you're waiting for is sentencing and the execution of judgment period that's why the Bible says look at it John chapter 3 looking at verse 36 very basic truth but I want you to consider it in John chapter 3 looking at verse 36 are you there in your Bibles it says he that believeth on the son shall what he that believeth on the son shall have everlasting life but he that believeth not the son shall not see life but the wrath of God abideth on him so the judgment begins with us why because the church is filled with a bunch of professors who have said I'm not guilty I believe that the land stands as a substitute for me is that you are you a professor churches filled with them that's why the judgment has to begin with us but the scripture goes on to say in 1st Peter chapter 4 verse 17 but if it first begin at us what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God and in case you're missing the point just in that one scripture and you're you're missing the whole you're missing let the context of that particular scripture all by itself God is not actually speaking favourable of the church in that one verse he's not saying the time has come that the judgment must begin at the house of God and it's a good thing that you've professed that you believe in Jesus Christ because those people in the world they don't know who Jesus is and they don't obey the gospel that's not what that scripture is saying the scripture is actually giving us the sense the time is come and the judgments going to begin here in the church and if its first going to begin with us a people who say they believe in God but the reality is the majority of us don't even really believe in the power of the gospel then what's going to happen to those people out there in the world that don't even have a knowledge of the truth and if you don't believe it all you have to do is look at verse 18 because the Bible goes on to say for if the righteous scarcely be saved we're in shall be ungodly and the sinner appeared are you getting the point right now are you all getting the point with me right now he said if the righteous scarcely be saved the Bible didn't say if the wicked if the sinner if the backslider it said the righteous are scarcely going to be saved and that word scarcely in the original language it means almost impossibly by an extreme narrow margin the righteous will be saved the righteous are going to be saved by a narrow margin it's almost like mission impossible for God to save the righteous he said we are the ungodly and the sinner going to appear sober message because it talking about us each one of us right now and why is it that the righteous those whom God has given the commandments to those who know the truth those who are to be upholding righteousness in the land today why is it that we're scarcely going to be saved only by a narrow margin goes me to another familiar scripture we're going to the book of Revelation Revelation chapter 3 Revelation chapter 3 you know the messages to the seven churches and the seventh church being Laodicea which means the judgment of the people pointing to the fact that during this hour we are living during the time period of the investigative judgment of God this message is for us looking at verse 17 without matter of fact for the sake of context let's just begin at verse 14 and unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write these things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the beginning of the creation of God I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot I wish that thou wert cold or hot so then because thou art lukewarm and neither cold nor hot I will spew thee out of my mouth why verse 17 because thou sayest I am rich and increased with Goods and have need of nothing stop right there the first thing that God says characterizes later to see it us talking about us I'm not talking about any other group of people I'm talking about each one of us right now the first thing that God says characterizes us is that we think we're rich we think we're rich why does that have anything to do with the fact that the righteous will scarcely be saved to go with me to the Book of Luke when she look at Luke with me Luke chapter 18 Luke the 18th chapter and I want you to look at the 26 verse with me Jesus had something to say about the rich there in Luke chapter 18 looking at the 26 verse are you there with me in your Bibles it says for it is easier for a camel to go through a needles eye than for a rich man to do what for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God it's easier for a camel to finagle himself through an eagle through a needles eye than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God that doesn't look good so according to this there'll be more camels in heaven than Laodiceans because the righteous will scarcely be saved why because Laodicea we think we're rich Jesus actually utters these words one more time in the Bible I want you to go with me to the Book of Luke Luke the thirteenth chapter yes I know it's the sober message brothers and sisters but it's true Bible says here in the Book of Luke Luke the thirteenth chapter and I want you to begin with me at verse 23 as Jesus was speaking to the multitude sharing with them parables educating them concerning the kingdom of God teaching them lessons on faith using the mustard seed there was one in the midst of the throng listening intently to the words of Christ and there was a conviction that rested upon his heart that forced a question out of his mouth I want you to see what it is verse 23 then said one unto Him Lord are there few that be saved Jesus's response was strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter therein and shall not be able that was a serious answer and a very serious response both very serious this man says Lord are there few that be saved Jesus says five to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter therein and shall not be able you have to think to yourself what even made this man ask Jesus that question are there few that be saved and when you look through that same chapter Luke chapter 13 I want you to look at Luke chapter 13 beginning at verse 1 just look at some interactions that were going on prior to this inquiry being presented to Jesus Christ and Luke 13 beginning at verse 1 the Bible says and they were present at that season some that had told him of the Gentiles are rather the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices jesus said unto them think II that these Galileans were sinners above all Galileans because they suffered such things I tell you nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish or the 18 upon whom the tower of Shalom fell and slew them all thinking that there were sinners above all that dwelt in Jerusalem I tell ye nay but except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish are those startling words he's tellin them twice unless you repent all of you go to perish unless you repent all of your gonna perish and then to put a nail in a shore place he presents to them a parable look at it verse 6 he spake also this parable a certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard and came in sought for fruit thereon and found none then spake he unto the dress of the vineyard and said behold these three years I came seeking for fruit on this fig tree and found none cut it down wide cumber it hit the ground in simple language he was saying listen I planted this fig tree because I wanted to get some good fruit every day I come out here searching this fig tree looking to see if it's born the fruit that I planted it to bear nothing nothing I'm fed up with it let's just cut it down because it's taking up space where we can plan something that will actually give me the fruit that I desire it's taking up space it's compering the ground but look at what the dress of the vineyard says and he answering said unto him let it alone this year also till I saw dig it about and dunk it and if it be approved then well but if not then afterward thou shalt cut it down for three years the owner of the vineyard comes seeking for fruit on the fig tree when he's fed up and ready to cut it down the dress of the vineyard the one whose responsibility is to curate the vineyard care of it he says just give it one more year let's dig it about Duncan if it bears fruit good my friends it doesn't take a whole 360 days for a fig tree to be a fruit am i telling the truth right now it only has one growing season to produce fruit if it doesn't produce fruit in the growing season it's not producing fruit and the group and that growing season let's say it's half a year three and a half years labor is being put into this big tree what do you think this fig tree was a symbol of it's a symbol of the people of God it's very clear and for three and a half years who was the one that was responsible for being the caretaker of the vineyard Jesus Christ three and a half years Jesus prayed he labored he healed he preached he wept he did everything that he could possibly do to ensure that the fig tree would beer the fruit that it was planted to be said at the end if it doesn't bear that fruit it's going to get cut down I believe with all of my heart as the man was listening to those words that came out of the mouth of Jesus Christ he perceived that Jesus empower with speaking a word concerning judgment that was looming over the Jewish nation the same way that judgment is moving over God's present day Israel today and as he heard those words except ye repent ye shall all likewise purse except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish and as he understood that God was investigating the church in his day looking for a people that would bear the fruit that he sought to see borne in their lives and he saw how serious the situation was conviction rested upon him that pushed a question out of his mouth and he said Lord are there few that be saved and Jesus turned around and said don't worry you're going to be a part of the great multitude which is more than the sand of the sea did Jesus say that he didn't make a statement like that he didn't say you're going to be a part of the multitude which no man could number Jesus turned around and said in verse 24 of Luke chapter 13 she's live to intern at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter therein and shall not be able it's almost as if when the man asked Jesus Lord are there few that be saved Jesus turned around and said my friend many are going to be lost many will be seeking to enter in and they shall not be able we're all the word do all of these people go go with me to another familiar scripture Luke chapter 17 Luke chapter 7 Madame Matt Matthew chapter 7 forgive me Matthew chapter 7 in Matthew chapter 7 verse 13 Bible says in 2 ye in at the strait gate why for wide is the gate and broad is the that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat because Strait is the gate and narrow is the way that leadeth to life and few there be that find it my friends one point I want fixed in our minds right now is that God has the ability to save all mankind it is his designed to save all man come when the lamb was slain from the foundation of the world the lamb was slain for all men it was God's the term purpose to save all of humanity from sin but as the scripture says many of many are called but few are what many are called but few choose few who choose and here we have a dilemma I need you to look at square in the eyes because you might be looking yourself square in the eyes I need you to look at square in the eyes with me this morning he tells the man strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter therein and shall not be able then in verse 25 he presents another parable in Luke chapter 13 look at it with me in Luke chapter 13 once again here's another parable Jesus says when once the master of the house is risen up and has shut to the door and he began to stand without anti-knock saying Lord Lord open unto us and he shall say unto you I know you not when she are then shall ye answer and begin to say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou has taught in our streets but he shall say I tell you I know you not when she are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you shall see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourself are thrust out a time is coming we're told when people that are seeking to find entrance when people that are knocking to find entrance and people begin to ask to gain entrance didn't Jesus say ask and it shall be given unto you seek and ye shall find knock and it shall be opened unto you one of those the words of Jesus himself but here Jesus turns around and says many will seek they will knock and they will ask they won't gain entrance something happened something has happened something critical has happened and it's getting ready to happen what's going to happen the master of the house is getting ready to rise up and shut the door now who's the master of the house whom they say Lord Lord open unto us well just go with me to Matthew chapter 7 I'm sure you're familiar with who we're looking at let's see what the Bible says on the issue go with me Matthew chapter 7 we're going to verse 21 in Matthew 7 looking at verse 21 in the words of Jesus himself he says not everyone that saith unto me Lord Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven okay so Jesus is the master whom they say Lord Lord he's the master is the kingdom of heaven the house over which Jesus Christ is master go with me to the book of John were you going to your Bibles John go with me to John John chapter 14 another familiar scripture John the 14th chapter let's begin at verse 1 in John chapter 14 looking at verse 1 once again I know you know the scripture by heart Jesus says let not your heart be troubled ye believe in God believe also in me in my father's house are many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I go to prepare a place for you and if I go to prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be awesome so Jesus Christ our Lord our master right now he's in the courts of heaven and what's he doing he's preparing a place for us in his father's house he said there's many mansions moving up all and if it wasn't true he would have never told us this and there's a specific position of authority that Jesus Christ holds in the courts of heaven in the presence of God as he is seeking to make preparations for us to be with him in his father's house go with me we're going to the book of Hebrews all familiar scriptures I pray hebrews chapter eight in Hebrews chapter eight and were beginning at the first verse Hebrews 8 looking at verse 1 the Bible says now of the things which we have spoken this is the son we have such an high priest which is set at the right hand of the throne of the Majesties in the heavens a minister of the sanctuary and of the true Tabernacle which the Lord pitched and not men so Jesus is the master of his father's house and as our great high priest he is right now at the right hand of the throne of God the Bible specifically says states that he is set there meaning that he is seated at the right hand of the throne of God Word of God states that he's in the tabernacle brothers and sisters that Jesus have the authority to open and close the doors of the sanctuary in heaven as our higher priest has that authority been committed to Christ that he can open the doors of the sanctuary and he can close the doors of the sanctuary what do you say let's look again in our Bibles let's go to the book of Revelation again let's look at chapter 3 let's look at verse 7 the message to the Church of Laodicea the Bible simply states this and to the Angel of the Church of Philadelphia these things saith he that is holy he that is true he that hath the key of David he that openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth in prophecy when one is a key in their possession it is a symbol of authority and until Christ has been committed the authority over the house of David this Authority gives him the responsibility of opening and when he opens the doors no man can shut it but when he shuts the house of David the Bible says no man can do what open it go with me again we're looking at Isaiah Isaiah chapter 22 because in Isaiah chapter 22 and we're going to look at the 22nd verse in symbol we're going to see where this authority this key was placed on the very person of Jesus Christ Isaiah 22 looking at the 22nd verse and here's what our Bibles say and the key of the house of David while I lay upon his shoulders so he shall open and then shall shut and he shall shut and none shall open same key same authority the Bible says it was placed on his shoulder do you know of anything else that was placed upon the shoulder of Jesus Christ by the way what was it the cross okay anything else go to Isaiah chapter 9 Isaiah chapter 9 in Isaiah 9 and verse 6 I know you all know very well it's your Christmas time the description this scripture people like to remember you know we remember certain scriptures for certain seasons have mercy until us a child is born unto us a son is given and the government shall be upon his wife so the government was placed where upon his shoulder Jesus Christ has been given the responsibility over the government of God he's been given the burden of the government of God and he has been given the authority to open up the kingdom of God to whomsoever will but he is also been given the authority to shut the doors of the kingdom of God so that no man can gain access and the scripture says that he will exercise this Authority and shutting the door when he stands up and I know you're all familiar with the verse that I'm going to next in Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1 because the Bible tells us in Daniel chapter 12 and verse 1 and at that time Michael shall do what stand up the Great Prince which standeth for the children of thy people and there shall be a time of trouble such as never once now I want you to think with me the master of the house is soon to stand up when the master of the house Jesus Christ our great High Priest stands up and he closes the doors to the sanctuary the Bible says no man will be able to gain access calamity will break loose on planet earth and there will be many in that hour he'll be standing outside there'll be many in that hour who had not who did not find a place of hiding in the secret place of the most time and they'll be asking for access access they'll be praying they'll be weeping there'll be gnashing of teeth why because the plagues are falling and they'll be saying Lord Lord open unto us but the response will come back I don't know you but do you think they give out they give up they give up without trying to attempt to gain access no the Bible says they present an argument and obviously they think it's a really good argument they say Lord of course you know us we have eaten and drunk with thee and thou has taught in our streets now why is that supposed to be a good argument to gain access saying we have eaten and drank with me and thou has taught in our streets go with me one more time in your Bibles Luke chapter 17 Luke chapter 17 in Luke the seventeenth chapter and we're just going to begin at verse 7 look what the Bible says Luke 17 looking at verse 7 Bible says for which of you having a servant plowing or feeding cattle will say unto Him by and by when he has come from the field go and sit down to meet and will not rather say unto Him go rake make ready wear it I may eat angered thyself and serve me till I have eaten in drunken then afterwards thou shalt eat and drink does he think that servant because he have done the things that were commanded him the answer comes back I trow not in other words I think not and in conclusion it says so likewise ye we have done all those things which are commanded you just say we are unprofitable servants we have only done those things which are our duty to do brothers and sisters when they said we have eaten in drunk in thy presence what they are simply saying is Lord you know us we've been working in the vineyard for you didn't you see the medical missionary work that I did don't you remember when you use me don't you remember when I healed the elbow of his cancer I gave out great controversies 50 every week every week I gave out 50 great controversies my final tally was twenty thousand you don't remember do you don't remember the Catholic preach that priest that I studied into the church you don't remember my friends you see these servants here they're saying which of you having a servant that's working in the field for you after he's done those things that it was his duty to do you give him some special reward they think they deserve a reward how many of us think that we deserve a reward how many of us think that we have given our of our finances selflessly selflessly to the church and we think we deserve to be rewarded for this let me show you pictures let me show you pictures of the orphanage that I paid for and I'm supporting in in Ghana oh I get it you deserve a brownie point how many of us do things and we think that we deserve some type of reward from God these things that we're doing we deserve well done thou good and faithful servant he says I think not these are people that are going to come up to this final hour and think that the works that they perform so-called in the name of Jesus Christ should have gained them ready access into the kingdom of God is that us but they don't stop their argument there because when somebody's desperate they pull out every argument they can pull out they said not only that but I want you to look in your Bibles and look at it closely with me Luke Luke chapter 13 Luke chapter 13 in Luke chapter 13 and we're looking brothers and sisters at verse 26 say we have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou has taught in our streets why would that be a relevant argument thou has taught in our streets it's very interesting about this verse of scripture is if you look up that word streets it's the feminine form of a Greek word which means a broad wide place you can only find that word one other place in the Bible do you know it is Matthew chapter 7 and verse 13 enter ye in at the strait gate for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leadeth to destruction and many there be which go in thereat do you get what's going on now these are a people that thought they were walking with Jesus when in reality all the while they were walking on the broad road that led to destruction Jesus I want you to look at the screen with me brothers and sisters this is from testimonies for the church volume 1 page 127 through 131 speaking of these very same two roads these roads are distinct separate in opposite directions one leads to eternal life the other to eternal death I saw the distinction between these roads also the distinction between the companies traveling them the roads are opposite one is broad and smooth the other narrow and rugged so the parties that travel them are opposite in character in life in dress and in conversation I want us to take this in and really consider all of these different points that are being presented to us because if we would do so with a very open and honest heart as the Spirit of God leads us to be in that specific space of mine right now then we will be able to determine honestly within ourselves on what road we're walking right now it says those who travel in the narrow way are talking of the joy and happiness they will have at the end of the journey their countenances are often sad and often being with holy sacred joy they do not dress like the company in the broad road nor talk like them nor act like them a pattern has been given them a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief open that road for them and traveled it himself in the broad road all are occupied with their persons their dress and the pleasures in the way they indulge freely and hilarity angly and think not of their journey's end and of the certain destruction at the end of the path every day they approach nearer their destruction yet they madly rush on faster and faster oh how dreadful this look to me I saw many travelling in this broad road who had the words written upon them dead to the world the end of all things as that hand be he also already noticed they had these words written on them and during the broad road they looked just like all the vain ones around them except a shade of sadness which I noticed upon their countenances their conversation was just like that of the gay thoughtless ones around them but they would occasionally point with great satisfaction to the letters on their garments calling for the others that have the same upon theirs what letters are we talking about dead to the world the end of all things of that end be also ready so there walking in the broad road but they're telling everybody else around them from time to time you need to have this on your garment too they were in the broad road yet they professed to be of the number who were travelling the narrow way those around them would say there is no distinction between us we are alike we dress and talk and act alike can this said can this be said about you is there anything true about what has been read today concerning yourself my friends the reality is many of us are walking in this broad road thinking that were on the road to glory thinking that were on the straight and narrow path that is that that is bound for the promised land and the reality is we're going in the way of destruction and we might not perceive it the funny thing about this I don't know if you noticed it but it is almost as if the world had more distinction had more discernment rather than those who profess to be in Christ but were actually in the broad way are you getting my point right now these are Christians professedly so walking in the way of destruction telling other people in the world you need to get it right Jesus is coming back and they're looking and saying I don't know what you're talking about have you looked in the mirror lately because the same things you came to work yesterday and said things about your wife that I would never say about my wife there are clothes that you wear that I would never let my children go out of the house wearing there are programs that you watch on television there's money that you spend on video games there are business practices that you engage in there are ways that you talk about people I would never even do some of these things that you do and you're telling me I need to be ready there's a deception that's going on in the church today and the deception is about our own personal condition and the scary thing about it is it almost seems like from this reading that the world has more skill to discernment than we do in this respect I was shown the conformity of some profess a bit keepers to the world all I saw that it is a disgrace to their profession a disgrace to the cause of God they give the lie to their profession they think they are not like the world but they are so near like them in dress in conversation and actions that there is no distinction this is not it doesn't even exist as I saw the dreadful fact that God's people were conformed to the world with no distinction accepting name between many of the professed disciples of the meek and lowly Jesus and unbelievers my soul felt deep anguish I saw that Jesus was wounded and put to an open chain said the angel as with sorrow he saw the professed people of God loving the world partaking of its spirit and following its fashions cut loose cut loose lest he appoint you your portion with the hypocrites and unbelievers outside the city your profession will only cause you greater anguish and your punishment will be greater because you knew his will but did it not my friends to know this everlasting gospel and not to practice it by faith in Jesus Christ is like pouring gasoline on yourself waiting for the return of Jesus this is a fearful thing so brother Hudson where is the hope where is the hope there's a reason why only a few there's a reason why only a few are going to walk on the straight and narrow path there is a reason why the righteous are scarcely going to be saved and Jesus actually gave us the reason right back there in Luke chapter 13 I want you to look with me one more time look at verse 23 Luke chapter 13 and I want you to look at verse 23 but look closely then said one unto Him Lord are there few that be saved is this the question of your heart it should be Jesus's response was this strive to enter in at the strait gate for many I say unto you will seek to enter therein and shall not be able and there is the answer many are seeking after heaven many are seeking after eternal life but only a few will actually strive Jesus says drive men you're seeking after it but only a few are striving for it there's a big difference between striving and seeking see the Bible speaks of it right here go with me again in your Bibles we're going to first Corinthians chapter number first Corinthians chapter 9 first corinthians the ninth chapter in 1st corinthians chapter and i am very familiar scripture the Bible tells us let's begin brothers and sisters are you there with me at verse 25 and every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown but we an incorruptible I love how Paul uses athleticism and people's seeking to be victorious in performing athletic feats as a parallel to the type of discipline and experience that we need to have in our Christian walk now I know all of us here are familiar with the sports arena whether it be running jumping baseball basketball football whatever your sport was each one of us here are familiar with the fact that an Olympian doesn't just become an Olympian you don't just wake up in the morning and say I'm gonna be olympian and then you just become an Olympian I mean how many of you when you were little said I want to be the fastest person in the world like maybe the memory of time you got that new pair of sneakers I have to speak for myself you might have got that new pair of sneakers you put it on and if you figure now I'm going to be faster than everyone everybody has the desire but there's some real discipline that has to go into the reality of that there is no such thing as a person that becomes a gold medal athlete and they don't wake up early in the morning to practice to get into their workout routine the same time in the morning that most of us should be up praying and studying our Bibles say Amen we should be a praying and reading our Bibles there up running working out for what to obtain a corruptible crown many many of these athletes have even taken it upon themselves to have a dietary change am i talking the truth I know they're even eating plant-based diets total but why because they've come to the understanding that it helps them to operate at optimal performance and they don't even like it the truth of the matter is they don't even you know how I know they don't even like it some of them because they have cheat days nobody cheats on something that they love that they have a day and they say today I'm going to eat a hamburger I have a slice of pizza today you don't cheat on something you love but they do it they put themselves under the rigors of this physical discipline so that they can gain a reward that's here today go on tomorrow but when it comes to us an eternal life we don't want to strive for the mastery in Jesus Christ brothers and sisters Jesus says we have to strive if we want to enter in at the strait gate matter of fact I love what Paul goes on to say he says so run I not as uncertainly imagine our race is getting ready to begin they're all on the mark the gun goes off and everyone runs this way and you run that way how ridiculous is that if you're going to run a race should you not know where the finish line is that's the goal that is the objective that's the whole purpose for which you're running the race to get to finish-line am I correct what does that go somebody said heaven is our goal can I can I just add to that being with Jesus in heaven is our goal because heaven wouldn't be heaven without Jesus and so just as my brother said to be like Jesus is what we're seeking to obtain - is that how you run your race daily when you wake up in the morning is that the thing that's before your face today by the grace of God and I will be like Jesus not by might nor by power but by his spirit my objective today is to yield to the will of God that His perfect desires might be performed in my life I will be I Jesus is that the thought that's on your mind when you wake up in the morning every every time when you wake up in the morning the gun goes off you start to erase anew is that the goal I like what he says next he says so fine I'm not as one that beats the ear imagine you get in the ring with the likes of I'll throw up a couple of people out there for the different generations here imagine if you jumped in the rings with the likes of a Muhammad Ali or a Mike Tyson or a Conor McGregor I don't know you I know everybody knows one of those names would you like to get into the ring with one of these individuals no I agree with you but now I want you to think about this so you're in the ring you hit gloves you go to your corner you know the bells getting ready to ring if you were standing in your corner and you know the Bell is getting ready to ring and the thought the last thought in your mind was when this bell rings I'm going to take all of my strengths and I'm going to come out of this corner I'm going to punch him as hard as I can in his elbow what do you think is going to happen next but this is you may die you may die straightway are you with me right now because the objective of these individuals is it's not to play with it's to kill you my friends it's to kill you and the analogy it's not an overreach it's not an overreaching analogy matter of fact it pales in comparison to the reality because every day we actually have to fight this type of fight do you know what fight I'm talking about every day we have to fight a fight you don't fight that is the fight against our own flesh our own soul and I guarantee you yourself your flesh is not trying to play with you the only thing your pleasure is trying to do is kill you from the very time that you are conscious your flesh is trying to take you out straightway do a dead-on-arrival with the knowledge of this reality what's the first thing that you're supposed to do when you wake up in the morning who message me when do we send me a message on facebook how does this become the first thing that we do when we wake up in the morning what's in the frigerator brothers and sisters when we wake up in the morning the first thing we need to do is fall on our knees and when we fight the fight he says we can't fight as one that's beating the air in other words we have to know the target that we're attempting to hit each one of us have a sin or sins that we know are troublesome in our lives these particular darling sins these idols are going to be the very means of our destruction if we do not cooperate with God so that they might be cleansed out of our lives and when I say cooperate I mean submit but when we get up in the morning and we start these we start the fight do we say Lord no please forgive me have blessed me with a good day today give me your power give me your strength amen do we pray prayers and pray prayers that are very clear and specific and say lord thank you for life today father I've been having a struggle with pride I need victory over pride today father I've been having a struggle with my attitude Lord I've been having a struggle with speaking kind words God I've been having a struggle with adulterous thoughts or with pornography god I've been having a struggle with appetite Lord this is my issue today I do not want to succumb to it so by thy grace fill me with thy spirit so that I might have them mastery over the enemy today is that your prayer we have to fight the fight with the certainty of what we're dealing with or we're fighting to lose we have to strive I want to close on this point go with me to the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 12 12 beginning at verse 1 says wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses let us lay aside every weight and the sin which dust so easily beset us and let us run with patience the race that is set before us the races before us God has called us to run it with patience the only way we can do it is if we do two things what are the two things lay aside every weight and the sin which does so easily beset us the Bible does not find the weights as sins but they're definitely things that we need to put away from ourselves and everyone knows that when you're running a race you want to be as light as possible why just draws energy unnecessary energy from you if you have too much weight on you and especially if you're running for time well it takes away from your time are there things in your life that may not necessarily be unlawful but they're taking up time many of us have people in our lives that are just taking up our time we have hobbies that are just needlessly taking up our time and these are things that may not necessarily be unlawful but they're disruptive to you because they're taking up your time it's time to lay aside the weights put away the sin and look to run this race with patience but I love what it says here because if we're striving we can't do it just trying to pump and reform and change the diets and do all these things by ourselves all these reforms are necessary all these things our councils that God has given to us and it does well if we give an ear to the Lord when he speaks to us but we have to realize that these things can be accomplished in our lives in our own mite the scripture says when we're running we have to look unto Jesus he is the author and the finisher of our faith and then there's example set before us in Jesus it says who for the joy that was set before him he endured the cross he despised the shame and he has set down at the right hand of the throne of God it's basically showing us the way he ran his race he endured for the sake of time I'll just elaborate on the next two verses because there's some of my favorites to be honest it says for consider him who endured such contradiction of against himself lest ye become wearied and faint in your minds when Christ left pilots judgement Hall went to Herod judgement Hall came back to Pilate judgement Hall he had stayed over he had stayed awake for so long been beaten and spat upon so much had lost so much blood that by the time they actually physically placed the cross on his being his humanity could be no more his humanity literally fainted under the way humanly speaking he could not endure any more the flesh fainted are you getting the point right now couldn't endure any more but is that our case that's not our case and he took up that cross to gain victory over sin for us is that our case no that's not our case when temptation comes to us you know you want to eat that pizza right now don't you Thor it's ten o'clock at night and I shouldn't be eating the cheese anyway because it's worse than flesh me but there's no one here just this last time person sisters do you realize we just fainted in our minds it wasn't even real no one beat you to a bloody pulp to make you eat the peat you just gave it you just surrendered are you getting the point right now we didn't know what not one of us here has fainted under the physical weight of temptation as in yet the scripture goes on to say you have not yet resisted unto blood striving against sin when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and the weight of the sin of all humanity was placed upon him simultaneously and it was so there was such a heavy burden that we're told in desired ages that he began to dig his fingers into the earth as if he was going to pull up the world but he did all of this because he wanted to bear the weight of our sins that he might gain the victory for us we're told that he began to sweat great drops of blood why why to gain the victory over sin for us and he prayed and the Lord sent his angel to strengthen him we have no excuse we have none because if the Spirit of God was it was able to strengthen Christ so that he could gain victory over all sin for all mankind simultaneously in one stroke then how can we say the Spirit of God is not powerful enough to give us victory over our own personal sins makes no sense it says considering the next time the temptation comes before you I challenge you to consider simply consider what was done on your behalf so that you could gain the victory in that small frame of time just consider I believe with all of my heart it is impossible if we fix our eyes on Jesus and consider who he is what he did for us and what he is now doing for us that we will have to succumb to any sin we take our eyes off the mark and that's why we fall who endured such contradiction of sinners against yourself unless we become wearied and faint in our minds my brothers and sisters this morning my word of encouragement if I can't preach any other message to you this week I just want to encourage you to strive fly by faith in Jesus Christ strive for the mastery by faith because this work of judgment it's going forward and it's soon to come to a close if we were to deal in prophecy sure there are multitude event events that point to the reality that soon the doors of the sanctuary will be closed but the question is when they are shut where will you stand will you be knocking or will you be safe in the Masters house strive not by might nor by power but by his spirit strive looking unto Jesus amen that's the desire of your heart to strive for the mastery in Jesus I just invite you to raise your hand is that your design let's pray Father in heaven lord I thank you for being so faithful and trustworthy men may fail us but you will never fail and you've been so gracious as to alert us of the time in which we live and our great need of Jesus we are people that have been blessed with an abundant we've been blessed with the treasure house of light in truth but we pray that all the truth that you've given us will have a saint defined transforming impact upon our lives that we will move from being simply from sim simply professors to doers of your will this is our desire but we know we can accomplish this in our own ability but as Jesus said with men these things are impossible with what with God all things are possible and so we look to you to finish the work you've begun in us give us a renewed desire this day to strive for the mastery in Christ let nothing be too great are too small to place upon the altar sacrifice that your will might be accomplished in our lives and when temptation comes upon us help us to remember to consider Jesus thank you for hearing this prayer for these things we ask in Jesus name

Channel: Caribou Seventh-day Adventist Fellowship

Views: 15,590

Rating: 4.8745646 out of 5

Keywords: Corruption, wickedness, government, church, Solomon, Ecclesiates 3, Fallible, all have sinned, judgment, Jesus, not guilty, trial, scarcely saved, begin with the church, few that be saved, many will be lost, Lord Lord, narrow, doorkeeper, open and shut, think they are saved, lay aside every weight, looking unto Jesus, Safe inside or lost outside

Id: pqTBYHOsU-8

Length: 80min 34sec (4834 seconds)

Published: Mon Sep 03 2018