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Light Of His Word The Sermons of Pastor Mike Walls Freedom Baptist Church Used By Permission Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. |
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Light Of His Word The Sermons of Pastor Mike Walls Freedom Baptist Church Used By Permission Psalms 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. |
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We are never told where King Agrippa ever was fully persuaded. We could say that he missed heaven by a little. History tells that he and his wife were killed shortly after this conversation with Paul. It is a terrible thought that you could have been saved but put it off for a short period of time and then eternity snatches you into its jaws and you have no other opportunity.
“And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment”
Do you ever wonder how many people will miss heaven by a little? We had a saying as kids about the word “almost.” We would say “almost only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and nuclear warfare.” If you miss heaven by a lot or miss it by a little, you still miss it.
There are the lives of some people mentioned in Scripture who I believe are crying “almost” in hell today. I would like to share their lives with you over the coming weeks so that we may see some of the characteristics of an “almost” Christian.
First
we see the life of Judas Iscariot– He will be called “the unsaved
church member.”
I. JUDAS HAD A NAME THAT HE BELONGED TO CHRIST.
He was numbered with those who were genuine, but he was a phony. In fact, his name is interesting. The name “Judas” means he shall be praised. To think that he was part of the chosen disciples and knowing the rest of the story makes that name sickening.
A. He Was Known As A Disciple And An Apostle Of Christ.
“For he was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry.”
1. He had a Call from the Lord Jesus.
“And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: And Simon he surnamed Peter; And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house.”
At the time of his call by the Lord Jesus, nothing seemed amiss. In fact, even up to the day that he betrayed the Lord, no one except Jesus and Judas himself knew that he was not saved.
2. He even had a ministry. Judas ministered with the other eleven. He did the same miracles, preached the same message and lived the same as the others.
B. There may be some here who have a name that you belong to Christ, but in reality you are lost. You are numbered with those that are saved here at the church. You must understand that it is not what you are called, but rather what you are that is important. You can be known as a Christian or a disciple and still be lost. You can even do good things in the name of Christ and still be lost. Matthew 7:21-23
“Not every one 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. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.”
Many
religious frauds have done much in the name of Jesus but they
never belonged to Jesus. Many have built orphanages
or rebuilt homes destroyed by hurricanes or some other natural
disasters. But without Jesus as your Saviour, you will
go to hell. You miss heaven by just a little.
Just think- Judas had a name that he belonged to Christ.
II. JUDAS WAS IN THE PRESENCE OF JESUS.
In fact, he was with Jesus on many occasions over about a three-year period.
A. He was where the action was going on. Think about some things:
1.
2.
3. Judas heard all of the teachings of Jesus. Think of all of the teachings that he heard. He heard the Sermon on the Mount. He heard the call of the Lord Jesus to those who were hurting such as we see His invitation in the book of Matthew.
“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
4. Judas observed the miracles of Jesus. Thinking of just a few, I could talk of turning the water into wine, the healing of many blind people, and the lepers that came to Jesus. He healed all that came to Him. The only ones He could not heal are the ones who would not come.
5. Judas observed the life of Christ. He saw Jesus living what He preached. He saw the humility of the Lord Jesus. He saw the love of the Lord Jesus. This could go on and on but he missed heaven by just a little.
6. Judas was a witness to the mighty power of God in the person of Jesus Christ. There was no denying that Jesus is God.
B.
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
1. You can be called by Christ without being in Him.
2. You can be baptized in His name without being in Him.
3. You can hear the teachings of Jesus without being in Him.
4. You can observe the miracles of Jesus without being in Him.
5. You can observe the Life of Christ working in the lives of others without being in Him.
6. You can be a witness of the mighty power of God without being in Him.
III. JUDAS OUTWARDLY APPEARED OK.
In fact he appeared OK so much so that he was placed in a trusted position.
“Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, which should betray him”
A. His Deception Was So Great That He Deceived His Fellow Disciples. Not only was he a disciple, an apostle, and a preacher Scripture records that he was given power to preach, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils, but he was also the treasurer. He would have been welcomed into many Baptist churches because he was a member of Jesus’ group of disciples.
B. Having A Position In The Church Does Not Guarantee You A Place In Heaven. I was raised in church. I rang the bell in church as a young person. Sunday School teachers lied to me telling our class that if we would be good, we could go to heaven.
Judas had a name that he belonged to Christ. Judas was in the presence of Jesus. Judas outwardly appeared okay.
IV. JUDAS WILLINGLY BETRAYED CHRIST WHEN THE PRICE WAS RIGHT.
“Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.”
“And he sought how he might conveniently betray him.”
The price was the price of a slave in the Old Testament. In our day, it was only about fifteen or so dollars. It may not have been the money at all. It may have been jealousy of not being part of the inner of circle.
Men and women have sold out for far less. Men have sold out their families for a short period of pleasure. Women have sold out their children for a few moments of fun and pleasure. I was thinking of a young man who is a crack addict. He had everything at one time. He had a family, a great job, a home and so much more. Now he works for a faction of what he could be earning. He does not come to work all the time. He gets high on the weekends many times and does not come to work on Mondays. He is always sick with stomach problems from his crack addiction. All for just that moment of pleasure is his philosophy of life now.
Judas betrayed Christ with a gesture of love and affection, a kiss. I enjoy kisses, especially the ones from my wife. I love it when my granddaughters kiss me or one of the little ladies at the nursing home does. But a kiss was a Middle Eastern custom. Men came together and kissed other on each cheek. This is not my cup of tea. But to think this thing that brings pleasure to so many to be used as a mark of betrayal is beyond my thinking.
In the Christian life there is a truth that is overlooked at times. If you are not real, the truth will eventually come out. 1st John 2:18-19
“Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”
Judas had a name that he belonged to Christ.
Judas was in the presence of Jesus.
Judas outwardly appeared ok.
Judas willingly betrayed Christ when the price was right.
V. JUDAS RECEIVED WARNING FROM CHRIST TO NO AVAIL.
“Now when the even was come, he sat down with the twelve. And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”
There is many a lost church member who has received warning after warning from Christ, but to no avail. Maybe today you have something telling that this message is describing you. That thing gnawing is not a thing but the Lord trying to warn you that you are as guilty of being a phony. What makes it worse is that pride will prevent you from asking for help from the Lord to be saved today. You better think in the realm of today. You and I have no promise of tomorrow or even this afternoon. You may have tied your shoes this morning but the undertaker may be the one untying them tonight.
All Judas would have had to do was refuse to do the deed. But whatever reason, his reasoning was overtaken by his new master- Satan.
Judas
had a name that he belonged to Christ. Judas was in
the presence of Jesus. Judas outwardly appeared ok. Judas
willingly betrayed Christ when the price was right.
He had received the warning from Christ to no avail.
VI. JUDAS’ PROBLEM WAS THAT HE ALLOWED SATAN TO HAVE CONTROL OF HIS LIFE RATHER THAN CHRIST.
I don’t have the time to read the entire portion of his demise but let me show the progression quickly. John 6:70
“Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot.”
“ . . .the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him.
He rejected Christ’s control over his life. The haunting question is this- who has control over your life?
Judas
had a name that he belonged to Christ. Judas was in
the presence of Jesus. Judas outwardly appeared ok. Judas
willingly betrayed Christ when the price was right.
He had received the warning from Christ to no avail.
Judas' problem was that he allowed Satan to have control of
his life rather than Christ.
VII. JUDAS DIED A TRAGIC DEATH.
He had not counted the cost of his choice. Many people look at the cost. All they see is the here and now. What will the cost? Galatians 6:7
"Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."
"For they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind: it hath no stalk: the bud shall yield no meal: if so be it yield, the strangers shall swallow it up."
"But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
A. His deed cost him immediately. Matthew 27:3,4
"Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that."
1. He realized that he had betrayed the very Son of God.
2. He realized that he had been the one who was really sold out.
3. He knew he had sinned but that confession was not repentance but regret. He really regretted he was caught. His act of sin did not allow room for repentance. He had crossed the line. It was the point of no return. How many others said those words?
Pharaoh said those words on several occasions. But he was not repenting. He was regretting that he was caught. Saul said those words on several occasions. He was regretting of being caught in his sin. There were many regrets but no repentance.
B. It cost him physically. Matthew 27:5
"And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself."
Depending upon how well he did up the knot really depend upon how much suffering he did. But the anguish of hanging would have worked on his mind. When he jumped off the thing holding him, the pain would have been immediate. He would have felt his neck broke and death would have come almost instantly. But if his rope were not knotted right, he would have suffocated very slowly. What a painfully death!
C. It cost him eternally. Revelation 21:8
"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death."
For all eternity, he will see that deed that he did. He will see the deal. He will see the money. He will see him kissing the Lord and them taking him away. He will remember the moment that he said he had sinned. But he will know that he is being tormented for eternity for his sin of rejecting the Lord.
Anyone who dies without Christ dies a tragic death. All who go to hell go there needlessly.
Judas
had a name that he belonged to Christ. Judas was in
the presence of Jesus. Judas outwardly appeared ok. Judas
willingly betrayed Christ when the price was right.
He had received the warning from Christ to no avail.
Judas' problem was that he allowed Satan to have control of
his life rather than Christ. His death was tragic.
Conclusion: Judas missed heaven by a little. He was so close to Christ, yet so very far away. You may say that you know Christ today, but the important question is does He know you? Paul told the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 13:5–“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves.”
Don’t just have a name that you know Christ. You need to really come to know Him as your Lord and Saviour.
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