The greatest threat to the church of Christ is false teaching. The focus of every local church should be sound teaching. The sound preaching of Christ must be the bedrock of every church and every Christian life. As you walk with Christ, stay true to the word of God.
[0:01] Welcome. Thank you for choosing to listen to this Spirit-filled word by David Inshree. When you catch a word, you have caught God. May you catch a word today that will cause God to change your story.
[0:13] Be blessed. 2 Peter, chapter 2. I want to read from verse 9. The Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptation and to reserve the unjust until the day of judgment to be punished.
[0:28] But chiefly, them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise government, presumptuous are they self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities.
[0:43] Whereas angels, which are greater in power and might, bring not railing accusation against them before the Lord. But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of things that they understand not, and shall utterly perish in their own corruption, and shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to rile in the daytime, spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin, beguiling unstable souls, and hearts that have exercised with covetous practices, cursed children, which, having forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam, the son of Bozo, who loved the wages of unrighteousness, but was rebuked for his iniquity.
[1:48] The dumb ass, speaking with man's voice, forbid the madness of the prophets. These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with tempests, to whom the mist of darkness is reserved forever.
[2:04] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they are leal through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness. Those that were clean escaped from them who live in error.
[2:18] While they promised them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption. For of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.
[2:30] For if after they have escaped the pollution of the world, through the knowledge of our Lord, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning.
[2:49] For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness than after they had known it to turn from the holy commandments delivered unto them.
[3:01] But it is happened unto them, according to the true proverb, the dog is turned to its own vomit again, and the sour that was washed to her, wallowing in the mirror.
[3:14] Here ends the reading of God's holy word. Amen. In our previous teachings, I spoke about the five things that false prophets and their company are like amongst us.
[3:31] Number one, they are as unreasonable animals, according to verse 12 in 2 Peter 2. Number two, they are spots and blemishes amongst the believers, according to the verse 13.
[3:49] And then number three, they are like Balaam, son of Bozo, having forsaken the right way or the straight way and gone for unrighteous gain.
[4:02] And then number four, they are like wells without water, misdriven by storm, in the verse 17. So we have touched on all these.
[4:15] They're looking back again on the verse 15, which are forsaken the right way and are gone astray. You see, naturally, human beings, if we are left without the truth of God coming our way, we are very prone to going astray so long as God is concerned.
[4:38] So human beings, by nature, are prone to going astray from God's way because the scriptures actually say in Proverbs, I think 14, 12, that there is a way that seems right to man.
[4:52] As long as you remain a man, human being, a creature, mortal, there are things that might seem right to you, but the end thereof is death.
[5:03] And a lot of people have experienced that in the choosing of romantic partners. You've chosen romantic partners.
[5:15] She looked very right, he looked very right, but ended up costing you your credit history. your credit rating. Some people, the most pain they have suffered came through the direction they went in romance.
[5:33] Yeah, are you a genuine? Well, you never knew. Because we are human beings, there are things that will come your way, you might think you are making the right decision, but we are very limited, restricted, and not perfect.
[5:48] So we are limited in wisdom. You don't make major choices in life based on how you feel. So, human beings are limited when it comes to our children.
[6:00] And as we grow, sometimes, you see, they tell you, experience the best teacher. Not necessarily so. Because sometimes, by the time you finish learning, you are dead. wisdom. It's better to learn from the experience of others.
[6:19] So, well, let's get on to the text. So there's a way that seems right to man, but the end thereof is death. And it says that, yeah, so, we spoke about how prophets, false teachers, sorry, false teaching.
[6:41] See, false teaching is the biggest threat to any church or Christianity. Not persecution. Persecution actually builds the church. There have been many governments over the years across the generation that have persecuted churches and they are gone and churches are still doing well.
[7:02] You know, so, persecution is not a threat to the church of Christ. What threatens the church of Christ is false teachings. False teachings. False teachings.
[7:13] False teachings. You see, sometimes, false teaching, especially the teachings that look bad from the onset is easy to avoid. But the ones that look good by a little mixture of false, they are the most dangerous ones.
[7:30] So, from the verse two or some where they spoke about how they secretly, clandestinely, sneak teachings. See, it says that who privily, secretly, shall bring in damnable heresies or destructive heresies.
[7:50] They do it secretly. Not plainly. So, the greatest threat to the church of Christ is wrong teachings, false teachings.
[8:01] And so, then, every local church must focus a lot in, focus the congregation, the focus of the congregation on sound teachings.
[8:14] Now, he warned them and said that false teachers will come and there are people who will follow them. And he said, false teachers are like brute beasts.
[8:25] Wow. And he said, false teachers are spots in your feasts. He said, false teachers are like Balaam who focus on gain.
[8:37] and they forsake the right way. And then, false teachers are like wells without water. You are thirsty, you get to the well, no water.
[8:50] These are, verse 70, these are wells without water, clouds that are carried with tempest to whom the midst of darkness is reserved forever.
[9:01] For when, this is what is a bit of elaboration on these wells without water. For when they speak great swelling words of vanity.
[9:13] Great swelling words of vanity. What do you mean? What is vanity? When something is vain, it doesn't lead you in any way. It doesn't lead you in any way.
[9:26] It doesn't really bring desired outcome. So, can you imagine people who are teaching and they have great swelling ways? amazing way of presenting themselves.
[9:39] That's why Paul says that, I did not come to you 1 Corinthians chapter 2 with the enticing words of man's wisdom. In 1 Corinthians chapter 1, it says that the Greeks seek wisdom.
[9:53] The Jews seek sign. So, the Greeks, talking about intellectuals, they want you to say something that appeals to just mere thinking.
[10:05] Jews request a sign and Greeks seek after wisdom. But Paul said, look at the next verse, Paul says that, but we preach Christ, crucified, really looks preposterous.
[10:17] Tell us something. See, so, the strength of the church has everything to do with the Christ in the church. the focus on Christ and the focus says that you have no soul learned of Christ.
[10:33] So, Christ, Christ must be taught and Christ must be preached. It's called the gospel. Called the gospel in the church. And so, Christ-centered preaching is what is called the gospel.
[10:48] Christ-centered teaching is what is called the gospel. And, as we heard on Thursday that we don't just preach a crucified Christ, but we also preach a Christ in session.
[11:02] And, ascended Jesus seated, seated, Hebrews chapter 8 verse 1, on the right hand of majesty on high. I like that phrase so much.
[11:14] Seated on the right hand of the throne of majesty in heaven. He's in session and he's running in the church from that level. So, if you can imagine when Jesus is in session and the portrait of Jesus that is presented to us is like a baby Jesus.
[11:40] No, think about it. A baby Jesus. A baby Jesus. It's like we preach Christ crucified. That's where people must understand the crucifixion.
[11:53] That's how you come in. You come in through the cross. But as soon as you come in you must, see, they didn't preach Christ exalted. They preached Christ crucified even though he has resurrected and in glory.
[12:04] They preached Christ crucified. Now, when we come in the church we focus on the ascended Christ. and we stay on the cross and focus on the ascended Christ and our understanding of Christ in fact, I think Hebrews chapter 2 it says that we see Jesus having been made a little lower than angels crowned with honor and glory.
[12:26] Hallelujah. But we see Jesus who was made who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor. That's the kind of Jesus we see.
[12:37] Jesus crowned with glory but he was made a little lower because he took on humanity. But he didn't stay on earth permanently.
[12:48] He was elevated and we see him crowned with glory and majesty. Hallelujah. And so, it's important to understand that the sound preaching of Christ must be the bedrock of every healthy Christian life and healthy church life.
[13:06] So they speak words of vanity. Vanity. It doesn't take you to where God wants you to be. When the Bible uses the word vain in the New Testament it's talking about void of God's life.
[13:18] Void of the life of God. Void of the manifestation of God. Void of the principles of God. So in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 17 it talks about that you in the times past were gentle were like said for this I say in Testfinder that ye hence for walk not as other Gentiles walk in the what vanity of their minds.
[13:41] So when Gentile here means godless people people who don't have a relation with God they walk in the vanity of their mind. All the achievements and all the things that happens in their life their pastures it's void of the life of God.
[13:56] And so their thinking is void of the life of God. Vanity. In Romans chapter 1 verse 21 it said because when they knew God they gave him not as God neither were thankful they became vain in the imagination.
[14:12] Vain thinking. Vain in 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 18 Thank you Jesus. For as much as you know that you were not redeemed from corruptible things and sovereign and gold from vain conversation.
[14:28] We had a certain vain lifestyle conversation means lifestyle not communication lifestyle vain give us new King James please from aimless conduct that's vain conduct so vain conduct we have been delivered from a vain lifestyle but watch this it said for they speak great swelling words of vanity can you imagine someone is teaching you and it's full of vanity it gives you promises in fact most teachings most of these kind of teachings are shrouded with promises promises of glory promises of greatness promises of testimony all kinds of promises but the core of the message is full of vanity it's vain on the life of God that is why Bible says that they are like wells without water because a preacher when a preacher is preaching the word of God
[15:28] God must be transferred to you but this is somebody preaching and God is void of the life of God empty of God may God deliver us from such in the name of Jesus Christ so it says that where they speak great swelling words of vanity they allure that's another interesting word they allure through the last of the flesh you know the the the value or the strength of bait is in the hunger of the prey because you see you can't use carrots to tempt a lion you can't use carrots no no no no no no no yeah because you are using it as a bait but it doesn't work it doesn't work on lion but rabbit you can't use meat to tempt rabbit but you can't use carrots to tempt rabbits so now watch this they allure through the lust of the flesh because of what your heart has always wanted it's easy to preach to feed that thing so they can lure you so the the another word for allure is entice the greek word sounds something like to entice the way he said to entice to entice bible says that in james chapter 1 verse 14 it says for everyone is tempted but each one is tempted when he's drawn away by his own word desires and word enticed temptation is based on your desire and your desire becomes the point of reference for the enticement yeah entice a man who is very sick in the hospital and struggling for his life you can't use nursing girls to entice him when he's now got extra money and he's bought a very nice car he feels like I need a girl to sit near me their desire is there so preachers that feed our last four desires we have to be very careful about it feeding our last four desires based on what you have always wanted before you came to
[18:20] Christ anyway money money money money money money there was a time there was a wave of money preachers I think early 2000s and late 90s and early 2000s money coming to me now people have confessed that look at your state still I'm not saying that God doesn't bless us but look at these false speeches speak great swelling words of vanity they are through the last of the flesh through much one tonness liberties freedom you are free to do this even though it's not right they don't mind wear anything do anything for your freedom happiness that kind of teaching that said everything at all is okay God understands through much one tonness so they are little through much those who are this is very important those that were clean escaped from them who live in the era so when you come to
[19:28] Christ you have escaped but you have escaped and come and then some preachings are going now beginning to entice you said the false teachings are those who have clean escaped false teachings you see it doesn't have to sound bad but once it deviates from Christ it's getting false once it deviates from Christ and focus on the gospel message on humanity human beings human alleviation of poverty human right social justice all those things are important but let's not make that's not the core message of the church the church cannot now all we preach is alleviation of poverty Jesus even said the poor you always have with you or social housing has become the main message we preach in our church and we are always campaigning social housing social housing now we don't it's no more
[20:31] Jesus those things they will not be bad in themselves but once those things begin to eclipse the message of Christ now falsehood have started invading the church so people don't set out to be false but sometimes the kind of philosophy we allow to generate in our teachers or in our focus is what ends up by the time you realize slightly deviation or slight deviation after a long period of time becomes a major major aberration so it's important to notice that people who have escaped say I have escaped say I have escaped if you are in Christ you have escaped something hallelujah those of us in Christ we have escaped something tell me what have we escaped we have escaped look at verse 19 he said while they promised what they promised them liberty they promised them you know this is how you are going to enjoy life this is how it's some kind of promises of liberty but listen
[21:39] I quoted earlier on Galatians chapter 5 verse 1 Christ has brought us into liberty already Galatians NIV it's for freedom while Christ set you free it's a walk in the liberty wherein Christ has set you free for you brethren have been called to what liberty we have been called where the spirit of the lord is there is liberty 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 verse 17 so we already called into liberty he who the son sets free is free indeed Romans chapter 8 verse 36 Romans chapter 8 verse 32 he said you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free hallelujah so we have been called into liberty now permit me to say these two things liberty Christ when you come into Christ you have come into liberty so that's John 8 36 he who the son makes free is free indeed so when you come into Christ you have actually escaped something and come into liberty it's very important number two now because you have come into liberty what helps us to walk in liberty is the truth of
[22:44] God's word he said you shall know the truth so what you don't know keeps you in bondage you shall John chapter 8 verse 32 and you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you the truth you know the truth you know makes not them makes you it's not the truth they know makes you free the truth you know makes you free so knowing the truth is what entitles you to walk in liberty I quoted earlier on James chapter 1 verse 25 that seeth a man who looks into the perfect law it's the law law of liberty the word of God is a law that brings you freedom liberation liberation human to be a human means you are restricted one way or the other and as you grow in life we pick up some habits that become bondage so you would be sitting very gentle looking very wonderful looking so free but you know you have some bondage somewhere people look so free but yet in bondage you go to the city you see people high powered careers the work wonderful you look nice house nice lifestyle but are not free are not free there are many people who are not free many people are not free in fact if you are not in Christ you are actually not free the freedom we get first is freedom not to sin but secondly freedom from satanic control satanic oppression satanic domination free from the clutches of hell freedom someone shout freedom and it says looking into the perfect law of liberty is what guarantees you freedom and so now
[24:37] Christ has made you free free now to enforce the truth of God's word because when you know the truth you are free not just that the Holy Spirit is also the agent of freedom so now it's the Holy Spirit that enforces the freedom or helps us to enjoy the freedom in Christ where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty so if you feel there is restriction and your marriage is like dragging you down maybe there's no expression of the Holy Spirit in their marriage is it your career is it your family life is it your ministry where the Spirit of God is 2 Corinthians chapter 3 verse 17 it's very important the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit let's all read it aloud from the screen very loud let's go some of you are not reading please let's read like people who believe in liberty let's go one more time now the
[25:44] Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty hallelujah so get busy getting the Spirit of God more around your life expose yourself to where you know the Spirit of God is working and you are exposing yourself to liberty where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty Your prayer that is void of the move of the Spirit doesn't bring liberty.
[26:10] We can pray for you in the name of Jesus. Shaking, shaking, shaking, shaking, shaking. But the Holy Ghost is not in it. Shaking, shaking, shaking. I'm not saying that it's a shouting or the silence, but it's the Spirit.
[26:22] Because it says, John chapter 3, verse 6, whatsoever is born of the Spirit is Spirit. Whatever is born of the flesh is flesh. So if it's a fleshly expression, it's just flesh.
[26:34] It's not going anywhere. It's like Cain's sacrifice. It just didn't go up. Yes. There are a lot of times we can be engaging in so-called spiritual activities, but it's not going beyond the ceiling.
[26:48] Cain, Cain, it's Cain. Cain, Cain. It says they've gone the way of Cain. It's in Jude. The way of Cain. And then Balaam. Cain, Balaam, and the one who bebelled against Moses.
[27:00] Cain, Cain. Cain, war to them, for they have gone the way of Cain. Ran greedily in the era of Balaam for profit. And perished in the rebellion of Cain. These three people, very important.
[27:12] Very dangerous thing to be rebellious, to be greedy, and then trivialize spiritual things. You are going some way. Way, way, way. You remember the way?
[27:23] The way. Let's look at the text again. Verse 19. It says that while they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption.
[27:33] Now, that word servant is slave. So some translations might even, I think, amplify, how does it amplify? Is it? Okay. Even the New King James post. They themselves are slaves of corruption.
[27:46] Did you see that? They are promising liberty, but they are slaves. They are preachers who are slaves. Wow. Slaves of corruption or pollution.
[27:59] Or the Greek word translated, corruption also means defilement in the verse 10. The same word was used, I think, in the verse 10. Defilement. Especially those who walk according to the flesh in the last of, that's a dark word, uncleanness.
[28:13] It's defilement. So they are promising you liberties, but they are slaves of defilement. In their private lives, they are in bondage.
[28:28] They themselves are slaves of defilement. Slaves of defilement. There are people behind church leader, or in church leadership, who are slaves of defilement.
[28:42] Why? Because of their doctrine. Doctrines expose you to a certain level of enslavement. You are either a slave to God.
[28:53] In fact, Jesus puts it this way. John chapter 8 verse 34. Whatever you serve, you are a slave to it. Wow. Jesus has said, this is Jesus. It's not David. This is Jesus.
[29:04] Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is what? Slave to sin. That's why I can't envy an unbeliever. It doesn't matter what you own or what you have.
[29:16] You are a slave to sin. An unbeliever is a slave. And you can be a Christian, be set free, but still have allowed yourself to be enslaved by sin.
[29:26] One, because of the philosophy you are operating your life with. So it says that, and in fact, Romans chapter 6 verse 16 says something similar. Do you not know that to whom you present yourself slave to obey, you are that one's slave who you obey.
[29:42] Whether of sin leading to death or obedience leading to righteousness. Whoever you obey. So some of us, we are happily slaves of God. And I won't allow someone who is a slave of sin to make me feel bad for being a slave of God.
[29:58] No, no, no. And you look down at me and downplay my relationship with God. You are joking. You are lying. You, you, you, you won't have the right to be able to intimidate my pursuit of God.
[30:09] Because you are also pursuing some, the, the, the devil, whatever. Hallelujah. Yes, so it says that, while they promise them liberty, they themselves are servants of corruption.
[30:24] For, of whom a man is overcome, the same is brought into bondage. That's the same thing I was saying. Now, look at the next verse. This is all the same kind of people who, the kind of preachers, using big, big words of promise, swelling, great and swelling with vain words.
[30:40] Like the sperm of God, the seed of God in the teaching. The life of God, the very life of God is missing in the teaching. At best, it's full of ideas and explanation of ideology.
[30:52] For if, after they have escaped the pollution. Oh, oh. Do you remember how we said, I said we have escaped. For if, after they have escaped the pollution that is in the world.
[31:05] The same, that, that's the corruption. The uncleanness that is in the world. Remember, the Bible says that love not the world. Not the things that are in the world. For the, or things that are in the, first John chapter 2, verse 15, 16, 17.
[31:19] For the things that are in the world, the last of the flesh, the last of the eye, the light of life, are not of God. Say, if you love the world, you make yourself enemy of God. In first John chapter 2.
[31:30] And in James chapter 4, verse 4, it said, ye adulteress and adulteresses. Hey. It said, ye adulteress and adulteresses. Don't you know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
[31:42] Why? Because the whole world, according to 1 John chapter 5, verse 19, lies under the sway of the evil one. The whole world, the systems of thinking, the systems that govern the oppressions of the world, is under the sway of the evil one.
[32:01] So we cannot be, as Ephraim, addicted and attached to the idols. So leave Ephraim alone. Who's that chapter 4, verse 17.
[32:11] Leave him alone. He's attached to his idols. May God not say that about us. May God not come to a place and say, leave her alone. She doesn't want to come to church. Leave her alone. Leave her alone. She's attached to her idols.
[32:22] She's attached to her boyfriend. He's attached to his girlfriend. He's attached to something. I don't. Leave her alone. He's attached to worldliness. Leave her alone. May we never come to that position.
[32:33] We're going to love Jesus Christ. So he says that the lust in the world, the corruption that is in the world through lust. Do you remember 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 4? How he says that God has given us this precious promise that we might partake of the divine nature and escape the corruption that is in the world through lust.
[32:54] Through lust. There is corruption in the world through lust. So you see, preaching that feeds your lust is a very dangerous thing. It's bringing you back to slavery.
[33:05] Preaching that feeds lust. Preaching that feeds your carnality. Your carnal instincts. Preaching that is not challenging you to work with God.
[33:17] Preaching that is not bringing you up. He said, I was in the spirit on the last day. And he said, come up here. Come up here. Preaching that is not calling you. Come up. Come up to the mountain. Come towards God.
[33:28] Come towards God. Leave the idols. Leave something behind. And come towards God. That's what the preaching of Christ meant to do for us. To bring us God words.
[33:40] That Christ will increase in us and we will decrease. Any preaching that doesn't increase the intake of God in your life is very dangerous.
[33:54] It's ending and feeding your lust. It's feeding your lust. And we all have lust. Didn't you see in the Bible, James chapter 1 verse 14. He said, each man is tempted by his own lust.
[34:06] Ah. So, not somebody's lust. Your own lust. Wow. Everyone is tempted. When he's drawn away by his own. You own it. Until you die, you still have.
[34:19] We call it the flesh. This flesh. This thing. Has lust. It doesn't matter how spiritual you look. The flesh. You know what I'm talking about.
[34:31] People don't know. People don't know. People don't know the things that you've been struggling with. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We all have lust. That is why we have to be careful exposing ourselves to a certain type of teaching that will be building the lust.
[34:47] Boosting. Lust. Boosting teachings. After church, you feel boosted in your lust. Can you imagine? Lust.
[34:58] Someone, if you want to hear lust, you're only thinking about sexual sins. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Not only that. Lust. Lust. Desires away from God. Lust. Lust. Anything that desire, just you, is not generated by a godly passion.
[35:15] By carnal instincts. So it can even be something basic. Something that might not even be evil in itself. But it still lasts. And so some teachings, for instance, the teachings that overemphasize on gain.
[35:30] Gain. Gain. Material gain. Material gain. Teachings that put undue. It's a problem. It's a problem in our modern day church. Teachings that put undue emphasis on material gain.
[35:42] And self-centered approach to life. About you. You are so important. God loves you so. Most of that message, the love of God. Under it.
[35:54] What the real, the real mindset behind it is about you. So most of the message that overemphasize on how God loves you. How God.
[36:04] It's still making you the center. It's bringing, it's bringing the focus. Who are you? Who are you? Who am I? Who am I for me to think?
[36:16] All I'm thinking about. I'm not happy in life. And so I need a preacher to tell me, don't worry. God loves you. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We need a preacher to tell you, you are a sinner. Get over yourself.
[36:30] Get over yourself. So there are some, there are some teachings that will put too much emphasis on self.
[36:41] They said, Paul told Timothy, that he said, of such, withdraw yourself. Because he said, such people will teach that gain is godliness. Gain is godliness.
[36:53] More money means God is blessing you more. But you haven't changed. You are not even serving more. Nothing to say. More money, God is blessing you. Good job, God is blessing you more.
[37:03] You got married, God is blessing you. So, but there are people who are getting more money and have not got anything to do with God. There are people who are, who are, who are, who are, who are, who are marrying very nice wives.
[37:16] I mean, I mean, nice wives. Sophisticated wife. And good women. Good women are not only in church.
[37:27] God, some of you, you, you, you actually, the same person outside, you have come. So God is now working on us. So, but when you were in the world, you were a very, you were a very bad girl or bad boy. But you have escaped the corruption that is in the world.
[37:42] To last. So, so now God is working on us. Tell somebody, allow me, God is working on me. Tell them, give me some space. Give me some space. Yeah.
[37:53] You have fear. Yeah, yeah. Bear with me for a while. Bear with me for a while. God is working on me. Bear with me for a while. Bear with me for a while. God is working on me. God is working on me. God is working on me.
[38:04] Bear with me for a while. God is working on me. Bear with me for a while. it says that oh this is interesting for if after they had escaped the pollution of the world how do you escape the pollution of the world?
[38:26] through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, did you see that? it's not through laying on offense is laying on offense not important?
[38:37] certainly it is but to escape the corruption and the pollution in the world it is a function of the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ the knowledge, watch this of the Lord and Savior you remember that?
[38:49] Lord and not only Lord and not only Savior Lord and Savior as you know Jesus the more you know Jesus it says that 2 Peter chapter 1 verse 2 it says grace be multiplied to you through the knowledge grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge and 2 Peter chapter 3 verse 18 it says grow in grace in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ so we escape corruption pollution that is in the world through the knowledge knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ does it make sense when Paul said that whatever was gained to me that I count lost that I might know him Philippians chapter 3 verse 9 and 10 that I might know in fact he says that he used the word for the excellent knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ from verse 7 verse 8 indeed I also count all things as lost for the excellence of the knowledge the knowledge of Jesus is super super it's the creme de la creme excellent the excellent knowledge so until you consider knowing Jesus as an excellent thing you are not in the right path or you suffer losses because once you see when you believe something is top excellent you don't mind what you sacrifice to get it but until you believe this thing is the best this thing is the ultimate you won't sacrifice certain things because some things are important like years ago
[40:25] I had a story about a guy and you know to have footwear was luxury and there are a lot of places some places in the world where footwear is not people walk barefooted and it's fine these guys are walking barefooted and I think one day someone decided to do him a favor a family friend or something bought him new trainers very nice one nice trainers he loved it he didn't wear it often so he kept it for a while one day he was going somewhere important so he wore the trainers he doesn't normally wear shoes but he wore the trainers and he was walking and he was feeling so good after he finished the function was coming he just he hasn't gotten home yet but he sat somewhere he took off the trainers he said no it will be dirty so he took off the trainers so he can walk barefooted because he used to be working and you know what happened after about 10 minutes of walking he accidentally stepped into a broken bottle and he cut him deep cut and he looked and said how thank God if I wore this shoe the injury was not a problem it was even a blessing the shoe didn't get cut yeah yes he was happy that hey so if I wore this shoe we should have cut he was happy you see it depends on what you consider excellent it depends on your value system and usually two things when you are growing in life your value systems keep changing when you are a young girl all you care about is hair or other things face when you are a young man most of what you care about is some fast money and girls after they have beaten you and hurt you and say oh women are bad women are bad women are that's after you are about 40 years as you are 40 now what is important to you is your children when you are in your late teens your marriage is not important no no no marriage no no fan
[42:52] I want to enjoy my life I want to live a soft life you know you know that when you are 60 when you are 60 your degree is not the most important in your life yeah not I'm going to get that degree for what it's when you are here so as you grow what's important changes what you deem very important changes as you grow some people when you get to a certain age now your income is the most important thing to you but after a while you realize your income is not important when you hit your 50s your health is more important than your income oh yeah yeah and then once you are in your 70s it's your ability to stand and when you get to your 80s your working instinct becomes very important for you in the same way spiritual things as you grow and your life in church some things who spoke to you where the usher sat you sometimes when you are baby christian where you sit
[44:06] I always want to sit here and you are making so much noise about the seat you didn't get oh you see you are not growing I didn't like the way the choir director spoke to me the usher spoke to me my departmental leader my kid group when I go my friends were not there children children are not always interested in what their friends think there are lots of spiritual children yeah I know you say pastor we are all children of God I know what you mean so let me let me rephrase infants spiritual infants you have been in church for 10 years and yet you are still 10 months in the spirit wearing diapers spiritual diapers because when we listen to your complaint Bible says that when I was a child I spoke like a child I thought like a child and so your thinking your thought pattern or how you think and what you say gives you away whether you are growing or you are still a baby first Corinthians 13 11 when I was a child
[45:09] I speak how you speak will tell us how old you are in the spirit physically sometimes it's kind of different because some people seem to be old but when they speak you think that is still a child yeah okay let's look at the text again for if after they have escaped the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they are again again so you can escape and be entangled again entanglement I know there are people who are born again and you found yourself entangled again in some stuff man yeah I don't want to mention the name of some of the stuff because you know it so you yourself can't mention it for yourself entangled again I've seen so many Christians said for three months I've been fine for six months I was fine for three years I was fine
[46:13] I don't know what has happened I've gone back to this vomit yeah you are saying oh but you know I'm talking about you too there's something you've gone back you look very innocent but I'm telling you it's likely you've gone back to something if you have been in church a while it's likely if you are not growing you'll go back you'll be backsliding gently gently small small small going back to something so he says that we have escaped then we go back again entangled the word entangled in 2nd Timothy chapter 2 verse 4 it says that a soldier this warring should not be entangled doesn't entangle himself with affairs of the world yeah no one engaged in warfare entangles himself with civilian affairs you don't entangle yourself do you remember in 1st Peter chapter 2 verse 11 he said abstain from fleshly lust which war against your soul abstain from fleshly lust war so then don't get yourself entangled into something that is why some of us you might have to cancel some accounts it will be okay for some people but some online accounts you because it keeps taking you back keeps taking you back into entanglement yeah yeah in the past movies to watch movie for you is nothing but something that is x rated like wild stuff if you are if you are watching a movie and it's not x it's not for you you know
[48:05] I'm talking about in the past and now you have escaped say I've escaped I know some people will say because you don't want to look like it's you I know it you just take notice of those who can say I've escaped escaped now watch this so you had problems with movies not that movies were bad but normal movies don't do it for you or you know what I'm talking about it must be something very heavy it must be loaded when you finish you are stared up for different types of functions and now you are in Christ and you you've escaped but your Netflix account is still active so every now and day you want to make use of your money you go and watch some movies but when you watch these watered down movies it doesn't work for you so then you have to upgrade and go up a bit sometimes you just want to stay something little at the edges before you could say jack you have been entangled again entanglement entanglement sometimes when you are trying to come out of entanglement it's quite difficult because by the time you are taking one foot off the other one is moving it's so much so it's not straightforward a hebrews chapter 12 verse 1 that is easily beset is the same thing they entangle you wherefore seeing that we are compased with so great a cloud let us lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset that word beset is the same word translated entangle us it's easily entangled there are sins that easily entangle and you have to lay aside stop pretending like you don't have things that easily entangle you and sometimes you have the feelings it doesn't mean you are bad you are not hypocritical but that thing is there so what should you do expose yourself to sound teachings that will not feed your last most of you know exactly what
[50:25] I'm talking about and you are just genuine towards God but sometimes your flesh your fleshly desires try to get in the way it doesn't mean you are a bad person but it's called human you're just human and if you are not careful to get yourself unentangled or disentangled you end up disgracing yourself and people will say you are a bad Christian it's not that you are not a bad Christian but you didn't watch where you were going you know when you are walking in a field or some place where they let you go to the farm cow where the red cow and you have to watch the line mines before by the time you go back in your car you sold your car with you are not iron so we all have inclinations we have flaws or human weaknesses and you are predisposed towards some things that are not healthy everybody that's why you might hear a pastor has done this some of them are not that bad but they didn't put their boundaries in place for this is serious watch this verse 20 for if after they have escaped it's after you have already escaped if after they have escaped to the knowledge of the
[52:02] Lord and Savior Jesus Christ they are again entangled there in the same thing so you can be born again and end back in what God has delivered you from but you are still a Christian brother this is a Christian sister a Christian brother but you have gone back into pornography you have gone back into chasing other people sons you have gone back into stealing you have gone back into drugs you have gone back into all kinds of things that when you are sitting in church you look like an angel but you know girl last night where you were was no good yeah and sometimes I'm happy you still came to church people who saw you don't think you should don't mind them run towards God run towards God even when you feel upset with yourself run towards God don't be so sick that now I don't want to go to hospital run towards
[53:03] God run towards God because it will tell you you are a hypocrite you are drum it in your ears keep telling you and people say I don't want to be a hypocrite but are you one so then why don't you behave like the one who is not but I'm struggling struggling doesn't mean you are hypocrite struggling doesn't mean you are hypocrite it means that you are human and you are not putting in the right systems none escape you can be a bishop book shop or bishop you can be a pope is only one so I normally leave that out you can be an archbishop a cardinal a prophet a teacher whatever you are you are still human being and so you have to be alert put in the systems that can protect yourself from getting entangled again after you have escaped some of us our weakness is you are too soft on yourself and so you want a gospel that will tell you don't worry
[54:09] God understand and you are still going down down down but God understand God understand wake up wake up from your swam and take some strong actions and defend your future and your destiny in God let's finish this thing hey oh is this in the Bible see see see it says that it's not just the entanglement that is the issue and when they overcome that but their latter end is worse with them than the beginning oh oh Jesus said a story like that in Luke chapter 11 verse 24 downwards he said when a demon leaves a person he goes into arid places and then after a while he comes back to check if the place is garnished and clean and if there's nobody occupying and the condition of the man and the last state of the man is worse than the first
[55:12] Matthew chapter 12 verse 45 the same thing the last state so what am I trying to suggest if you backslide it will get worse what you wear before you got born again what you wear before God saved you what the lifetime you were living which you didn't like and you were having sleepless night you were not a happy person even though you looked happy you were very miserable because your life was not going anywhere you found yourself in church and now for once you can tell I am free I have liberty Christ has set me free please stay there because if you go back you are going to a worse condition it would have been better if you had not saved in the first place he said the last state of that man the same person can imagine and the last state of that man is worse than the first that is what Peter is saying here don't that's why when you are born again be interested in the messages teachings that will help you escape the corruption that is in the world to last be interested in those ones don't make your focus first preaching
[56:26] I feel good about preaching this is the kind of preaching I like I am going to make more money now I am going to get married seven ways to have a successful marriage is all good preaching but if that's all you are listening to if that's all you listen to I really fear for your latter end you have to listen to things that will challenge you move more towards God in your work with God it's more important because what does a man gain if he gains the whole wealth he loses his soul that's why it starts seeking first the kingdom of God Matthew 6 33 and his righteousness and these things didn't say and seek them after God will make sure you have the things if you can prioritize God he will prioritize your gain in life so he says that 21 21 21 it is there brothers and sisters it's right there in plain text in the scriptures black and white it's there for it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness that after they had known it turn from the holy commandments that help us to walk in the way of righteousness turn from the holy commandments that has been delivered unto us don't turn from it turn turn look at this text it's a very powerful text ezekiel chapter 18 verse 24 ezekiel 18 24 those who turn this is when
[58:12] I saw it I said what there are some powerful scriptures in the bible text it it says that but when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness oh oh someone say oh oh it's not good not good not good not gay oh oh a righteous person you are turning away from your righteousness because of the lockdown now you've turned away from your righteousness you who used to go to church now you don't go to church you are sitting at home you have turned away from your righteousness I'm telling you you've turned away from your righteousness if a righteous person turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does shall he live all the righteousness which he has done shall not be remeas you see that's why I tell people you are in church doing well and God there's a prophetic word that you are going to do well and you are going to get married and this is about to happen and you are working towards it then later you turn your back you see all the good things you did to bring it has been forgotten you see you think people think they are doing it for the pastor or for their leader or for their departmental leader no no no no no no he said his righteousness all the things this is a serious one why is this in the
[59:37] Bible that's a good point it's for our learning can you imagine all the righteousness which he has done shall not be oh this this one I know if it you had your way you would rip it out in the Bible what is there you are faithful worshipper faithful giver faithful tither and then you back slide from that oh the other see building a house building project you started and you stopped you've nullified everything yeah yeah finish it up see a police officer stops you for for crossing the red light would you tell him I've always gone the green one green green green green no no does that one one has neutralized all the green obedience your labors will not be in vain the last text here it's very powerful because I told you five points okay so the first one is what brute beast number two is like what sports in our worship number three forsaking the right way number four wells without water number five dogs is there the last verse let's look at verse 22 2nd
[61:09] Peter chapter 2 it's easy to remember 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 20 let's read our laugh from the screen let's go according to the truth the dog has returned to his own vomit again and the son to just summarize it because there's a lot packed in here there's so many scriptures Philippians chapter 3 verse 2 it says that dogs Revelation chapter 22 verse 15 talks about outside our dogs in Matthew chapter 15 verse 26 Jesus said I can't give the children's bread to the dogs what is it about dogs in those days 2000 years ago dogs were some wild animals they were not domesticated like it is now that now if you don't have a dog in your house it's like you're not posh but you know so in those days dogs were not seen as valuable and
[62:10] Jesus in Matthew chapter 7 verse 6 he says don't give what is holy to dogs and don't cast your pearl before hogs so sows sows or hog or pig actually the swine same so he says that they are like they have become if you go back get entangled you have become like we have become like dogs that have returned to our vomit a dog will finish eat all kinds of stuff and then throw it up excuse me if my explanation and then after throw it up turn back and eat it see the way it is quite sorry please sorry I know it's a bit you know but in the spirit that's how angels are saying about some people this girl you're going back to eat again why are you responding why are you replying to his message again why are you texting her back why are you watching angels are saying he's going back the way when you hear a dog is going back to his orbit and eating it up and that vomit goes what it enters inside so it's internal defilement dog represents internal defilement inside is defiled but the pig the saw look at the text again he said dog eat something that enters but pig is not entering and the sour that was washed to her wallowing in the mind so external death all angles internally dirty externally dirty you wash a saw the pig clean it leave it to go back into the mirror make itself dirty again there are some things you shouldn't be found in because you are a
[64:08] Christian you are born again you shouldn't be found in and there are some things that people might you might not be found in but inside some things that you are you are you are eating you are taking in you are watching you are meditating you are meditating heavy retaliation and brutal retaliation bitterness no no no it's like a dog you've gone back you are eating this person what he did to me I will hurt him I will hurt him I will tell you as long as before if I don't pay him back I will never be happy I don't care what anybody thinks listen you are getting yourself internally polluted Jesus said it's not what people eat physically but he said the thoughts of the heart is what makes people dirty so you can look good on the outside and there are some people their behavior will all tick the boxes but inside there's a lot of things going on inside you that was the problem with the Pharisees said they are like white washed tombs they are white on the outside but full of dead men's bones you can easily fall into that category and what causes those the teachings the teachings the teachings the teachings we are meant to be made uncomfortable out of falling back into those kind of stuff you can't be living in sin and living anyhow and expect the teaching of God's word to just keep encouraging you no one of the essence of true teachings or preaching is to comfort the discouraged so bring comfort to the downhearted and make those who are at ease uncomfortable you can't be living in a way or your relationship with Christ is not in his best state and you come to church and feel uncomfortable you shouldn't feel condemned no condemnation is not of God condemnation
[66:04] I don't think I'm qualified that's condemnation it's the devil that condemns Bible says there's now no condemnation for those who are in Christ but when you are in Christ and you are in church and there's something going on in your life you should feel convicted he says that I'm happy that my preaching made you sorrowful for 2 Corinthians chapter 7 said for godly sorrow worketh repentance and does not have to be repented of for godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation so if my preaching made you feel cut in the heart but leads to salvation I don't have to feel sorry about it it doesn't have to be repented of so godly sorrow my preaching made you sorrowful but godly sorrow godly sorrow is necessary when your relationship with Christ is breached you need godly sorrow and there are some teachings that don't produce godly sorrow it's wells without water and so false teachers and their cohorts are like brute beasts spots in our feasts balaam gone as to a way of balaam wells without water and dogs that return to their vomit so this is what has been causing the church a lot of harm and we have to stay away from it and stay true to the true word of god because you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free did you receive something thank you for listening to this message by david entry when god speaks works show and the works will surely show in your life to hear more from david entry follow him on facebook instagram twitter linkedin and subscribe to caris church on youtube don't forget to share and subscribe to our podcast so you're always up to date be blessed