Sermon Transcript
Well, you know, actually it’s been 13 years ago this year that I first set foot in this pulpit. I can remember the first time I came in, Diane and I came in through the education building there and Craig met us and Sunday school was still going on. I was just filling in, you know, Wake Union had lost their pastor just the Sunday before and came in here, came right through there and Earl Pleasants and Terry Aler were standing right here in the aisle talking, skipping Sunday school as usual.
But no, of course we know Terry. He’s at home and Terry’s probably watching. I see we got a new camera up there for YouTube. So Terry, you’ve got a new camera. We’re broadcasting to you this morning. So, I’m sure you’re watching and we sure miss you being here. But yeah, Terry was here and Mr. Earl of course has passed away now. But what an encouragement Mr. Earl was and of course Terry too. He still remains to be an encouragement.
But yeah, 13 years ago, so many things have happened since then. Well, you know, we were here almost nine years total from 2013 till 2023. Joel was here during the time of COVID. So, we took a year and a half off and came back. But so much to remember, isn’t it? I think about all the vacation Bible schools we had and what a wonderful time that was and the construction projects we had. Goodness gracious. Wasn’t that a mess? Boy, all this we replaced all this. We had to move out of here for about a month over in the fellowship hall. Several construction projects we had there.
Mr. Thomas led us in painting this out building back here. I remember that day. I’ll tell you when you get Bard or Mr. Thomas leading a project, you better watch out ’cause they know how to get things done and they keep you moving. Amen. We got an amen from the pastor here. Oh, we had the Wednesday morning services over at the lodge over there with Miss Mary Vilante. Everybody remembers Miss Mary, I’m sure. And you know, Mr. Thomas and Billy Mloud were always there to sing. We always appreciated that.
And so much that took place. We did in-home ministries for those who couldn’t come. We had cornhole tournaments. I think you had one last year too, didn’t you, Bart? Christmas services, the cantatas, the choir, all wonderful memories. How many of you remember the Christmas candlelight service when, you know, we put the Christmas tree over here when Miss Sherry and Mr. Cliff came in right at the time we were just getting started and Mr. Cliff just about knocked the Christmas tree over. Y’all remember that? Carolyn remembers that. Scared me to death. I was sitting there holding my breath and it wouldn’t fall. He got his foot hung up on one of the cords going to the plug there. I remember that.
But the Operation Christmas Childs and I’m glad to see y’all continue doing that. We had so much with that missions rallies we used to go to. I remember there was one that was so cold. We went to, I think Mr. Earl, Miss Audrey, Miss Gracie all came to that one. And I just remember how cold it was. And I think Gracie’s heat had gone out at home. Y’all remember that? And but I remember how cold it was that night.
The Christmas show in Selma. I know. I remember following Mr. Phillip Leonard out down to Selma from here. And let me tell you something, he’s something to keep up with. He took every back road, everything. Had no idea where we were. I just said, “I hope I don’t lose him.” But he got us down there and we enjoyed that Christmas show. It was a wonderful thing. I know Sandy Buyers, you know, she loved that show too. I remember she went with that. Mr. Boyce Nance and Shirley, they went and maybe Carolyn. Carolyn, you okay? Yeah, we had a good group that went down there, but that was fun.
And of course, you know, the biggest thing you remember about any church is the people, you know, and obviously we’ve kind of reconnected here this morning, so many of you, and they’ve met a few new faces here, Wake Union, and that’s good. And, you know, Will and Katherine are here. They’ve never were members. They actually, Will was a member at Ridgerest back when I first started my ministry. That’s Bart’s son. He was just a teenager. He was in our youth group. What youth group we had. It’s good to see Will and Katherine here.
So many I could name names all over the place, I suppose. But I would like to call attention to my pops here. Curtis, he’s back here. And him and mama used to come when I was we were here about once a month. They’re members at Stony Hill. But and my brother Gary is also here. And I’m sure he’s thinking, well, I’m here and we’re all meant to suffer a little bit. So he’s got to hear his brother preach.
But anyway, and I am so glad and tickled that Josh and Stephanie are here. You know, we’re going to be preaching on, pressing forward, and I know this church, Wake Union, the Lord is pressing you on. And Josh is here just for that purpose, to press on with the gospel, to press on with your Christian growth, to grow in the grace and knowledge of Christ. And I’ve worked with Josh on several funerals already and got to know him. He’s a wonderful pastor I know. And continue to pray for him and encourage him because he needs that because ministry is hard. It’s tough. Very tough indeed.
But I guess so many things I could say about memories and that sort of thing. I guess I better stop. I’m going to eat up all my time that I have here this morning. But if you’ll notice there in your bulletin, our subject this morning is pressing forward. We’re going to be initially coming out of the Gospel of Luke 8:4-8 and then verses 11 through 15, pressing forward. I felt like the Lord led me to this subject for homecoming and so this is where certainly we are.
I know we’re coming into football season and I know there’s a lot of football fans out there and I know I love football, especially college football. I try to keep up with that a little bit. It’s changed a lot, hasn’t it? I declare. But what would you think? What would you think if you, your favorite team, received the kickoff and came out on the field to run their plays to score the touchdown and your quarterback calls the signals, he takes the snap, he takes two steps back and he kneels, plays over. He’s down.
Then on second down, he does the same thing. He takes the snap, he takes two steps back and he kneels. You say, “What’s going on here?” Third down, the same thing happens. He just takes two steps back and he kneels. There’s no passing. There’s no handoff. There’s no attempt to go forward to the goal. You’d say, “Well, that wouldn’t be my team for long.” I’m sure a team that doesn’t want to win, a team that doesn’t want to reach the goal, my goodness, every play, you know, and maybe if you look at that quarterback, perhaps he was nervous, perhaps he was afraid of getting hurt. Perhaps he was scared that he was going to be criticized because the play didn’t run well. Maybe he forgot the plays. There’s all sorts of reasons why somebody doesn’t want to move forward.
It happens that way. Sometimes Christian life quite honestly is that way too. Many are just like that, just like this quarterback. And they’re hindered from pressing forward. So what’s holding you back, by the way? What’s holding you back with your relationship with Jesus Christ? What’s holding you back? Could be a number of things, couldn’t it?
Remember, we are pursuing something. We’re pursuing. Nowhere in scripture is it found that when we just when we believe and we come to faith in Christ, that that’s it. Nowhere in scripture will you find that. Matter of fact, in Hebrews 3, this is you don’t have to turn there, but this is just in the introduction here. Hebrews 3:14 says, “But exhort one another daily while it is called today, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” Steadfast to the end.
James 1:25, “But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein, if you look in that perfect law, look in his word and continues, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.” The Lord Jesus Christ told those even as he was encountering the Pharisees who was attempting to trip him up. And as he talked about the father and how he was the father had sent him and the father was in him and he was one with the father all those things he spoke to those who had believed in him there in John chapter 8 and says if you continue in my word then are ye my disciples indeed. If you continue, if you press on, if you move forward, then you’re my disciples indeed.
We’re going to read here in Luke chapter 8 starting here at verse 4 about the parable of the sower. And y’all know the Lord taught this way so many times. He told the stories, heavenly stories, stories that told us a lot about ourselves. We call them parables. It’s a very effective way to teach. And he and there’s no teacher like the Lord Jesus Christ. And it actually describes the hearts of mankind. And the condition of your heart is found here today this morning. None are excluded. You cannot look at this scripture and exclude yourself from it. You and I both are in this scripture. Your condition of heart is here. It’s between you and the Holy Spirit of how you deal with it here this morning as I stand here with the word of God open before me. The Lord puts a magnifying glass upon us so can we see the condition of heart.
So I’m going to read now Luke 8:4-8. After this, we’ll have our prayer. And like brother Jack, I’ll be reading from the authorized King James version. By the way, just a little side note, do you know what the biggest selling book in the history of mankind is? The King James Bible. The King James Bible. So, if you’re holding the King James this morning, you’re holding something very special. And we’re blessed to have a copy of God’s word, aren’t we?
Luke chapter 8, we’ll start with verse four. And when much people were gathered together and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable. A sower went out to sow his seed. And as he sowed, some fell by the wayside, and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it. And some fell upon a rock, and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away because it lacked moisture. And some fell among thorns. And the thorns sprang up with it and choked it. Another fell on good ground and sprang up and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”
Going down to verse 11. Well, actually, let’s read verse 10, too. And he said, “This is where the Lord interprets the parable of the sower for us. Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God.” And remember, this is one thing he’s expounding to us. This is Jesus Christ, the one risen from the dead, the one who is God manifest in the flesh, is trying to tell us something. He’s expounding things we know nothing about. That’s the things of heaven, the things that he’s trying to do and what he’s accomplishing in his redemption plan. It’s given you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to others in parables that seeing they might not see and hearing they might not understand. He’s laying that proving ground down.
Now verse 11. Now the parable is this, the seed is the word of God. Those by the wayside are they that hear. Then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. They on the rock are they which when they hear receive the word with joy, and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation they fall away. And that which fell among thorns are they which when they have heard go forth and are choked with the cares and the riches and pleasures of this life and bring no fruit to perfection. But that on the good ground are they which in an honest and good heart having heard the word keep it. Having heard the word, keep it and bring forth fruit with patience.
May God add his blessing on the reading of his precious word this morning. Let’s go to him in prayer. Father in heaven, we come to you, Lord, knowing that we have lips of clay and tongues of clay. But what a joy it is to impart the word of God. We thank you we have the opportunity this morning to come together as your people and those who are interested in hearing the word this morning. We’re thankful for each and everyone. We’re thankful for the memories that we have here. We’re thankful that things are moving on. And Lord, right now in this moment, we pray that you would give us ears to hear with and give us eyes to see with so we might behold wonderful things out of your word here this morning.
Lord, you do your work. There may be correcting that need to be done. There may be encouragement that needs to be had this morning. There’s all kinds of needs in the hearts of your people here today. You know each and every one and we ask a blessing upon each and every heart. And we know you’re able and you’re ready and that you are the remedy for all the things wrong in our life today. So Lord, let us hear today for it’s in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Causes for not pressing forward. We see here very clearly how the Lord Jesus Christ expounds this. And something that’s very key to our understanding of the parable of course is what the seed is. The seed is the word of God. It’s a very object lesson. He’s showing us and teaching us out of things of out of this life that we understand. We understand something about sowing seed and bringing forth fruit. I know Bart and Angela really understand that. They got a wonderful garden. I’ll tell you that.
But yes, the seed is the word of God. And we know the word of God is quick and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. And if we rightly divide the word of truth, it’s not going to return void. It’s going to do something in the heart and life. It doesn’t come in and do nothing. The Bible is not like reading the newspaper or well there of course there’s not many newspapers around a magazine or whatever. It’s alive. The Bible’s not dead literature. That’s the reason it’s different because he speaks through his word.
But notice there that first reason for someone not moving forth when they’ve received the seed of the word of God is distraction. Distraction of the devil. It says there that when you know the word is sown there, it falls by the wayside and then cometh the devil and taketh away the word out of their hearts. Well, the gospel is hid from them, isn’t it? And Paul talks about that in the Corinthian letters where if the gospel we hid is hid to those that are lost and those whose minds have been blinded by the devil, by Satan. And by the way, the devil and Satan is a reality. Don’t let anybody tell you there’s no such thing as the devil. Lord Jesus said he’s real. He’s there. And I think I’ll take his word for it. But he blinds our minds and we disregard the word of God. We cast it aside. It’s not even it doesn’t take root at all. That’s certainly a distraction and certainly if there’s no root there’s no salvation of course.
And the second there we see there’s no root in the word where we see that those that are sown on the rock they are they which receive the word with joy. They initially say, “Oh, this is wonderful news. The gospel is good news.” And we know that’s what it is. You know, I used to start many services here. I’d say, “Welcome to Wake Union Baptist Church, where the good news of Jesus Christ is proclaimed in truth and love. It is. It’s good news.” And do we receive it and it’s joy. It’s a joyful thing. But listen, there’s a problem here. They believe for a while because it is such a wonderful message. But then in time of temptation, they fall away.
Temptation, persecution even. You know, when you don’t have a root in the word, you fall away because when that sun comes up and it scorches, you know how plants do. If it’s not watered, if it doesn’t have the fertilizer, it’s not have the care, if it’s not weeded, it’s going to fall away. And there’s a lot of people when as soon as they run into trouble in the Christian life, that’s exactly what happens. They fall away. Fall away. Little persecution. Maybe your friends aren’t your friends anymore. And they find out you’re going to church and you’re a Christian and you’re trying to live for Christ.
And then you have the seed that’s sown amongst the thorns. And we know those thorns and the weeds and the briars, they are symbolic of the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And they bring no fruit to perfection. And boy, that’s a big one right there. There’s a lot of people today who know about Jesus, who have heard his word. They were brought up in church. They know the Sunday school stories, but you won’t find them anywhere today. Why? Because of the cares of this world. Because of pleasures. There’s a lot of things to do on the Lord’s day, isn’t it? Rather than come to church, rather than gather with the saints, a lot better things to do, more fun things to do.
And quite honestly, when I was a little boy, if I was given the option, you can either go and play ball today or you can go to church. You know what I’d done? I’d play ball. But you know, when you become a man and you understand the realities of life, you put away childish things. You understand maybe what your parents were trying to do. Things choke out the word, the cares, the pleasures, deceitfulness of riches, the pursuit of riches. And boy, when you get into that trap, when you desire to be rich, you’re laying for yourself many snares and many troubles. We’re told that by Paul in the Epistle of Timothy. Deceitfulness of riches and cares of this life and pleasures keep us away from growing and producing fruit of the word of God.
I know Moses back there way back there in ancient Israel we’re told in the book of Hebrews that oh Moses he chose to suffer when he when he become of age and he understood what was going on. I think he was like 40 years old. When he become of age, he chose rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, for a little while. If you find yourself as one who wants to just enjoy the pleasures of sin today, you can do that. But bear knowing here this morning and be warned that that pleasure is just for a little time, a short time.
Moses saw the truth. Moses is quite a study. By the way, I really encourage you to read and study Moses and the Exodus and what that man went through. What a man he was. He was a man just like us. Boy, he had the trouble though. But he kept pressing forward. I could have preached it on Moses.
And you know something I heard this week. I heard a bit of a song this week that I thought maybe I’d share with you. And there’s a song by Billy Joel. I don’t know how many of y’all know of Billy Joel, but if you grew up when I did, my growing up years were in the 70s and early 80s. Billy Joel was all over the radio. He had many, many songs. And he’s getting to be an old man now. But it was a Billy Joel song that was brought to my attention as somehow I was on the internet here this last week. And it was a song that he wrote called Only the Good Die Young. You probably know that song. Many of you probably hear it in your head right now.
But you know there’s a line in that song and there’s several lines but this is the one I want to share with you. There’s a line in that song that fits right along with the thorns and the briars choking out the word. This is the line old Billy wrote and sang. He said, “I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.” And I said, “You know, unfortunately, there’s a lot of people, a multitude of people who had that same idea. Right now, I want to laugh with the sinners. I don’t want to go to church and weep for my sin or hear about all the sicknesses that we pray for and that sort of thing.”
You know, Billy’s head obviously was a little messed up. I hope maybe he straightened out a little bit, but a lot of his songs, by the way, if you listen to the lyrics, you might not listen to Billy Joel much anymore, quite honestly. But he’s a tremendously talented man. My goodness, musician, vocalist. Good gracious, he was so talented. But he wrote those lines. I’d rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.
Actually, the word of God says opposite. You know what the word of God says about that? Ecclesiastes 7:2, it says, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than go to the house of feasting. For that is the end of all men, and the living will lay it to his heart.” I don’t know, maybe it’s because we get more reality in our life and we deal with life. When you go to the house of mourning, you know, there’s a lot of benefit that can come out of it. A lot of benefit. The Bible tells us that.
But the Lord Jesus Christ tells us that looking back is not an option. When you’re pursuing the things of the Lord, when you’re pursuing the kingdom of God, looking back is not an option. The Lord Jesus Christ said, “Any man that lays his hand to the plow and looking back is not fit for the kingdom of God.” And then he says this with a three-word warning to us. He said this, “Remember Lot’s wife.” Only the Lord Jesus Christ can come across with a three-word sermon and it cut deep. Remember Lot’s wife? If you remember Lot, she turned back and she looked for Sodom. Looked for Sodom.
You cannot lay the Lord Jesus down and just pick him up again at will. And that’s the way a lot of Christians want to live. They want to lay him down when they want to and go about their life in the world and then pick him up again when it’s convenient. But that is not the way the Bible teaches us. Matter of fact, there’s a lot of verses that don’t get a lot of airtime today that maybe we should quote this morning.
Let me just quote a few. The Lord Jesus said in Oh, we’re actually this is 1 John 2:3. This is the Apostle John. Hereby we know that we are in him if we keep his word. 1 John 5:3. This is the love of God that we keep his commandments. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew 7:21, “Not everyone that says, Lord, Lord, but he that doeth the will of my father which is in heaven.” We don’t give those verses a lot of airtime, do we? Who is the family of God? They that hear the word of God and obey.
The Lord Jesus Christ said, “This is the good ground that brings forth fruit.” There’s no doubt about it. Many have thought about quitting. I know many of y’all probably remember Amy Gr. Amy was the song leader when I first came here and she had a beautiful voice. And there’s this Old Testament character, a Levite. He was a musical composer during the time of David. He led music in the temple. He even wrote several of the psalms. His name was Asaph. And I used to call Amy Asaph every once in a while. And she would look at me like, “What? Why do you call me Asaph?” Well, she was the music person, so I called her Asaph.
But nonetheless, Asaph is an interesting character. This is a Bible man here. This is somebody who the Holy Spirit used to write several psalms. He led the music in the temple. And I want you to read the problem, the struggle that Asaph had. And by the way, when you have struggles, boy, it’s a good place to go through this psalm because they’re written out of human experience. It’s coming right out of circumstances of people’s real lives. So, you learn a lot and certainly we learn a lot from Asaph here, but in Psalm 73, he registers a complaint and a complaint that reveals his struggle.
Notice this Psalm 73, we start at verse two. Asaph said this in the power of the Holy Spirit. He said this, “But as for me, my feet were almost gone. My steps had well nigh slipped. For I was envious at the foolish when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For there are no bands in death, but their strength is firm. They are not in trouble like other men. They’re not plagued like other men.” Moving on down, verse seven. Their eyes stand out with fatness. They have more than the heart could wish. They are corrupt and speak wickedly concerning oppression. They speak loftily. They set their mouth against the heavens.
Verse 12. But behold, these are the ungodly who prosper in the world. They increase in riches. This was Asaph’s problem. And it was causing him to slip. Are you slipping today? Kind of like Asaph. Well, listen verse 13. This is the thing we need to be warned of and see and this can happen. He says, “Verily, I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency.” In other words, Asaph is saying, “I’ve come to God in vain. The wicked are prospering. They’re having all the fun. They’re getting all the riches. And here I am. I’m leading worship in the temple and I’m slipping. I’ve come to God in vain. It’s for no reason. I should be doing what they’re doing.” Is kind of the sense of the psalm there.
We know the Lord is kind to the unthankful and to the evil. He sends rain on the just and the unjust and the sun rises on the evil and the good. He certainly does that. But listen to what Asaph says before he even finishes his psalm. Verse 17. Until I went into the sanctuary of God, then understood I their end. He found out what the end of the wicked are. It’s just for a short time. There are consequences to pay.
He says, “Thus was my heart grieved and I was pricked in my reins. So foolish was I, ignorant I was as a beast before thee.” He’s now talking. He’s deriding himself because of his thoughts that he’d come to God in vain. And this is what he says in verse 25. Whom have I in heaven but thee? And there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. In verse 28, it is good for me to draw near to God. I have put my trust in the Lord God that I may declare all thy works. He said, I need to get back to business.
And why did Asaph say those things? Because he was real. He was real. Jeremiah was the same way. Prophet Jeremiah and you know Jeremiah, he was the prophet of the Lord. And you know the Lord raised up prophets in Israel when the nation was declining spiritually when there was a message to be given. And Jeremiah was one of them men and he didn’t hold back. He told it like it was. And that’s what preachers need to do today. And I know brother Josh will agree with that. Preachers need to stand behind the pulpit and tell it like it is.
And that’s what Jeremiah did. And it cost him. It cost him. Oh yeah. They put him in stocks. They put him in prison. They put him in the dungeon. Was threatened with death because he was preaching the truth of God’s word to Israel. But listen to what he says here. This is once again Jeremiah is human just like you and I was. Listen to what he says in Jeremiah 20 starting in verse 7. He says, “Oh Lord, thou hast deceived me and I was deceived. Thou art stronger than I and hast prevailed. I am in derision daily. Everyone mocketh me. For since I spake, I cried out. I cried violence and spoil.” Talking about what was going on in Israel. I was crying out about the violence and the spoil because the word of the Lord was made a reproach unto me and a derision daily.
Then I said, I will not make mention of him nor speak anymore in his name. Jeremiah says, I’m ready to quit because of what it’s costing me. But he couldn’t quit. Why? Because Jeremiah was real. Listen to what he says. He says, “But this is right after he says in verse nine that he’ll not make mention of any more or speak in the name of the Lord.” He says this, “But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones. And I was weary with forbearing and I could not stay.”
He couldn’t quit. Something moved him on. Why? The seed had fell on good ground or we had the same struggles just like you and I did so many times. We’re ready to quit. We’re ready to throw our hands up in the air and say, “What good am I doing?” But oh, when you belong to him, when you’re a part of the family of God, his word is in your bones. You can’t quit. And you know you can’t quit.
Both of these men, Asaph and Jeremiah, were ready to quit, but they couldn’t. They couldn’t deny the work of the Almighty in their life. Why is that? Because they had received something. They had received the seed. They had received salvation. And boy, there’s a lot of things that go along with salvation. One thing I used to teach quite a bit here for nine years, I taught about these words of salvation. Do you remember the great seven words that are gathered up into salvation? You remember what they were? Maybe. Hopefully some of you remember as I go through them. Number one, redemption. Number two, reconciliation. Number three, justification. Number four, forgiveness. Number five, propitiation. Number six, sanctification. Number seven, glorification.
The Bible speaks on every one of those words. And boy, we need to be very familiar with them because boy, if you’re very familiar with those words, let me tell you something. This church will have no problem filling up. It’ll have no problem with singing. We’ll sing and lift the roof. We’ll have to put another roof on the church like we did several years ago. Why? Because we understand what redemption is. We understand about sin. We understand that we stand before a holy God. And by the way, that is the issue. You know that, don’t you? The issue is this. God is light and in him is no darkness at all. And we have sinned against him. We’ve sinned against light. No darkness.
What do we do? Look at the cross, my friend. Maybe I’ve discouraged some of you here this morning. Maybe you say, “You know what? This is describing some of my bad traits. I don’t know.” We all have struggles for sure. But listen, if you want to know God’s attitude towards sin, let me tell you and remind you of this. You look at the cross. If you want to know God’s attitude towards sin. And if he’s going to punish sin, you look at the cross. You see the darling of his heart hanging there as he became that cross really became an altar where the lamb of God sacrificed himself for the sins of the world. He wasn’t dying for himself. He died for you and me because we sinned against him against heaven against the kingdom of God against light itself.
When salvation comes by faith we receive him. We receive his spirit. We receive the father. Christ said, “When you receive me, receive the father.” He said, “Also, I’m going to give you something that’ll hold you until the kingdom of God comes.” And that’s his spirit, the earnest of the spirit, the seal of the spirit. You see, that’s the thing. That’s what makes a Christian. Coming to church doesn’t make a Christian. Carrying a Bible doesn’t make a Christian. What makes a Christian? When you receive Jesus Christ into your heart and life. And it’s a gift. It’s a gift.
But once again, you don’t lay it down after you believe. You continue. You move forward. You go steadfast. Our lives change. We become a new creature. We pursue the kingdom of God. And when we do that, we’re pursuing righteousness. We’re pursuing peace. And flee the ways of the world. And that’s what Paul told Timothy. Flee, flee these youthful lusts. Flee these things that are dragging you behind. Lay aside that weight that so easily besets you and run the race with patience that is set before you, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and is sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Amen.
The good ground. That’s the good ground. The good ground keeps his word and bears fruit. You know, I can say this about many of you here at Wake Union. I know you probably can’t see it, but many of you have borne a lot of fruit. A lot of fruit for the Lord. I was here long enough to see that. To see the genuineness, to see the authenticity. We talked about that in Sunday school. The authenticity of knowing Christ is loving one another.
There are clear goals. And this is where we get to Philippians chapter 3. Let’s read verses 4 to 14 as we glide this thing in for close here. Philippians chapter 3. And Paul comes at it from a different angle. He was a very religious man before the Lord got hold of him. And of course, he had to leave behind all those things as a Hebrew and a Pharisee. Even being religious can cause you not to go forward.
But listen to what it says. Verse four. This is Paul. Philippians 3:4. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh, if any other man thinketh that he hath whereof, he might trust in the flesh, I more. If you think you can trust in your flesh and your works, let me tell you something. Paul says, I can do it more. But listen to what he says about that. He said, “I was circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews, as touching the law, a Pharisee. All these things are wonderful things being back in Israel, of course, concerning zeal, persecuting the church. That wasn’t such a wonderful thing, but he thought he was doing God’s service when he persecuted the church initially, touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless.
But what things were gained to me, those I counted loss for Christ? Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss, for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them as dung, that I might win Christ and be found in him, not having my own righteousness, this is the key right here, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith, that I might know him that I might know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I follow after that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Verse 13. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth, reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
He pressed forward. The goal is clear. Christ is that goal. Knowing him, being hungry for his word and seeking after his word and wanting more and being thirsty for those things of the Lord, seeking those things which are above. But let me warn you, seeking these things will bring difficulty as we’ve already seen in the parable of the sower.
Many don’t really understand about the faith of Christ that we’re destined for trouble. Once again, I stand here this morning. I’m not going to be like some of the TV preachers that promise a chicken in every pot and two cars in every garage and live your best life now and all those things. I’m not going to stand up here and say that because the Bible doesn’t say that. The Lord Jesus says in this world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer. I’ve overcome the world.
And brothers and sisters, if you’re having a little hard time today, it’s just for a short time. It’s just for a short time. Jesus says, “Take up your cross and follow me.” He said that for a reason why there’s trouble, your cross. We have to deny ourselves and take up his cross and follow him. We’re told here by Paul over here in Philippians chapter 1:29. For unto you it is given in behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake. Suffer. We want the blessings. We want to have the stirring worship service. All that’s real good. But then you say what? To suffer.
So be warned. It’ll cost you and it’ll cost you things above whatever you ever thought it could cost. But what counts cost and what cost counts. Dr. Olford said, Stephen Olford, a man that I learned a lot about expository preaching from. He’s actually he was quoting someone else, but he said this, and it’s something good to remember. Only one life will soon be passed. Only what’s done for Christ shall last. It’s a great truth.
So let me ask you, have you received the seed of the word of God? What’s the condition of your heart? Are you moving forward with him? Do you desire the things of Christ that you might know him and the snacks of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings? Is that where you stand? Are you pressing forward?
The alternative, my friends, to this great truth of the word of God this morning is that you will turn away from Christ. And I’ll ask you this. If you turn away from Jesus, who or what are you going to turn to? You know, they did that with Jesus. Was it John six? Many of those that were following him turned away. And Jesus turned to his disciples and he says, “Are you going to also turn away?” Remember what Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.”
We have that today. We have that decision. Seek the Lord while he may be found. Call upon him while he is near. You seek him. You ask, seek, and knock, he will. And you do it out of a true and honest heart, you will always, always, always find him.
Let’s pray. Father in heaven, as we come now to the time of invitation here of our service, our homecoming today, we do pray and ask that you help us to realize the power at our disposal, the precious truths of the Holy Spirit dwelling in the hearts of men and women. We pray that indeed we might press forward, laying aside all these silly things of the world, these pleasures, these riches. Help us to be rooted down, Lord, so that when that trouble does come, that we’ll stay in the faith, that we’ll move forward, that we might know Christ. So Lord, we pray for everyone that’s here this morning. You deal with each heart as each has need here today. For us, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.