[0:00] This message was recorded at Vision Baptist Church in Alfred, Georgia. It is our prayer that you will be blessed by the preaching of God's Word. Let's take a, if you would, and go in your Bibles with me to Genesis chapter 1.
[0:13] I know you think we're in the book of Mark, but we're going to look at Genesis chapter 1 in just a minute. Now, I want to kind of explain to you this book. Mark is talking about Jesus, and John's just been arrested, and Jesus is beginning to preach the gospel of the kingdom.
[0:30] The gospel of the kingdom. And we're going to look a little bit about that. I tried to explain to you last week that, you know, there's two kingdoms. There's the kingdom of God, and then there's the kingdom of Satan, the kingdom of this world.
[0:41] There's two of these groups going on. So I thought I would kind of take you back just a little bit further and let you dig in just a little bit. And so I want you to see first how dominion over the earth was lost.
[0:56] I'm sure you know these things. It'll all be reviewed, but maybe it'll help you get a picture. Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26, if you would. Genesis chapter 1 and verse 26.
[1:06] If you'll look at that with me. The Bible says, Genesis 1, verse 26. God said, let us make man in our image after our likeness, and let them, Adam and Eve, let man have dominion, dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
[1:33] So God created man in his own image, and image of God created he him, male and female created he them, and God blessed them, and God said unto them, be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the fowl of the air, over every living thing that moves upon the earth.
[1:58] So in the very beginning, God gave man dominion. He was like the crowning creation. He's like the masterpiece of all that God did, and he put Adam and Eve in charge to subdue and to have dominion over the earth.
[2:17] In Psalm chapter 8 and verse 4, the psalmist knew that, and he goes back and repeats much of what you just read. Psalm 8, 4, What is man that thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that thou visitest him?
[2:31] For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and you have crowned him with glory and honor. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands.
[2:43] Underline that. You made him to have dominion over the works of your hands. You have put all things under his feet, all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field, the fowl of the air, the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the sea.
[3:01] So God made man, and he put him in the Garden of Eden in this wonderfully great environment. There was only one rule he was to obey.
[3:13] He needed to decide to obey God and not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. And he was not made perfect. He was made innocent.
[3:23] He hadn't been tried yet. Perfect is when you've been put to the test. He doesn't pass a test, and he loses dominion. Look at the Bible in Romans chapter 5 and verse 12 with me.
[3:35] Romans chapter 5. You can write all this down and look it up later. Adam lost his position, his dominion, when they believed Satan's lie, and they ate the fruit. Now sin and death reign over the earth, not Adam and Eve.
[3:50] The Bible says in Romans 5, 12, Wherefore as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin, so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.
[4:04] Now you know God didn't plan for you to die. Hmm. Did you know God didn't plan for you to die? Did you know God didn't plan for you to suffer and to get old?
[4:15] Did you know right in the middle of the Garden of Eden he put a tree of life, and it was there, and there was no rules against it? The fact is, it was like, there it is, boys. Free access. Just don't bother that one.
[4:26] And they went and bothered that one. And when that happened, he told them, now if you do, I'm putting life over here. I'm putting death over here. If you eat that one, you're living. If you eat that one, you're dying. And man in his rebellion, which is a system of the world, moved.
[4:43] Romans 5, verse 14, death reigned. Romans 5, verse 17, Verse 21, It was Jesus who comes and conquers sin and death and is restoring man to what God originally had for him.
[5:26] So Adam and Eve were created. They were given great honor, great glory. That's what Psalms 8 said. They were given great privilege, and they chose to disobey God.
[5:38] They chose to do what they didn't or they weren't supposed to do. And let me tell you, you chose to do what you wanted to do. That's why you're a sinner.
[5:50] You're a sinner because as a human, you're surrounded by sin. The very idea of sinning is just part of who you are from mommy and daddy all the way down. But when you get your opportunity, you go and say, I don't want to do it God's way.
[6:04] I want to do it my way. And that's how we all became sinners. This is really about that kingdom where Satan rules. Look with me if you would in Isaiah chapter 14.
[6:15] Isaiah chapter 14. Satan's goal all along was to be like God and to have control. Satan's goal all along was to be like God and have control.
[6:26] In this passage of Scripture, he's being called Lucifer. I think you know who that is. The Bible says in Isaiah 14, 12, I want you to take ink pen.
[6:48] You need your Bible open. You're studying your Bible. You're learning about God. You're learning about sin. You're learning about you. Now look at this right here. He says, I will ascend into heaven.
[6:59] Underline that. See, the devil says, Lucifer said, I will ascend into heaven. Then he said, I will exalt my throne. Underline that. I will exalt my throne.
[7:10] I need to be the big shot. I need to be the guy in charge. I need to be the one on top. I will ascend into heaven. That's where God is. I will exalt my throne above the stars of God.
[7:24] The next part says, I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation and the sides of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds. Buddy, I am climbing up by my own bootstraps.
[7:39] I'm making something out of my life. I will. I will. I will. I will. Which is the summation of sin. Then he says in verse 14, I will ascend above the heights.
[7:50] I will be like the most high. But the Bible said, yet you shall be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. So it all starts with this. Beautiful, wonderful creation.
[8:04] And yet we believe that. I believe that God literally created the earth in six literal days. I believe he literally made the animals and the plants.
[8:15] I believe he literally did everything that the Bible says he did. I believe that. Then he put Adam and Eve in there and he said, man, I have made this wonderful garden for you. And there's all these fruits and all these animals are yours.
[8:28] And you're in charge. And you get to enjoy it. I only ask one thing. Don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. There's a tree of life. There's an apple tree. There's a pear tree.
[8:39] There's every other kind of tree. All this garden's full of all this. It's all for you. It's all for you. You get to be ruling over it. You get to enjoy all of this creation.
[8:51] If you can imagine paradise. If you can imagine paradise. If you can imagine everything wonderful that was all given them.
[9:02] And yet they only had to do one thing. His will. That's what you need to write down. All they had to do was his will. Not their will. His will was don't eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
[9:16] But they didn't. They stood in open rebellion to God. And that's where the world is. And when you read the Bible. And you know that as Christians. We talk about we don't want to be like the world.
[9:29] Now that doesn't mean we don't want to be like people. You know. That doesn't mean we don't want to have trees in our yard. It doesn't mean that we don't want to like an animal or whatever.
[9:40] It means a whole system. That started all the way back. I'll show it to you. That started all the way back there. With Adam and Eve in the garden. When they rebelled against God.
[9:51] And said I will do what I want to do. I will do what I want to do. Which is what Satan said. Which is what Adam and Eve said. And which is what caused them to lose the minion.
[10:03] Go with me if you would. To Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. Galatians chapter 1 and verse 4. You need to understand that in biblical terms. This present world is evil.
[10:14] And it's against God. Now we're not talking about fish in the ocean. We're not talking about birdies that are flying in the sky. We're talking about a system that says don't do what God wants you to do.
[10:29] And you'll know who I'm talking about in a minute. Because I want to make it real clear to you. Galatians 1 verse 4 says. Talking about Jesus who gave himself for our sins. Now look at this.
[10:39] Underline it in your Bible. That he might deliver us from this present evil world. That he might deliver us from this present evil world. Isn't that amazing?
[10:51] Talking about this world. Right now. It's evil. And we need to be delivered from it according to the will of God and our Father. Our sin puts us in the same condition as Adam and Eve.
[11:04] Our sin separates us from God. And he died to deliver us. If you got your Bible open. Look at Galatians 1 verse 4 and underline. He gave himself.
[11:14] I messed up and he gave himself. I messed up and he paid the price. And why did he die? And why did he pay the price? That he might deliver us. See that? That he might get us out of there.
[11:26] I need you to picture for one moment this big tyrant that rules over the world of all the people that are against God. And this wicked giant of a horrible person that's got us as captives.
[11:39] Because when we disobey God, we move from the freedom of following God to the captivity of following sin. And he's got us. But Jesus delivers us. Jesus rescues us.
[11:51] Jesus comes into the giant's house. Bops him in the nose. Walks out the door with us. And he delivers us. Because that's what God wants to have happen. That's Galatians 1 verse 4 for you.
[12:02] Look at 1 John chapter 5 verse 19. 1 John chapter 5 verse 19. The Bible says, And we know that we are of God.
[12:13] How many of y'all know you're of God? Say amen. How many of you know you've been born again? You're on your way to heaven. How many of you know you no longer belong to this world, but you belong to that world and you belong to God? Say amen if that's you.
[12:24] And look at this. And the whole world lies in wickedness. There's a whole system here of wickedness.
[12:35] We'll talk to you about it in a second. There's a whole system of wickedness. There's a whole system that says, No God! Yes Austin! No!
[12:46] For anybody telling me what to do? Yes, I do what I want to do. There's a whole system like that. Look at Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 1. Another description of this present rebellion, this world.
[13:00] Ephesians 2.1. And we're going to read all the way down to verse 3. Read what it says. And you hath he quickened that who were dead and trespasses and sin. It means, and you has he made alive.
[13:12] You has he made alive who were dead. You see, when you were in Jesus, you were enjoying life. And you were enjoying freedom. And you were enjoying God and all he had.
[13:23] And when we sin, all of a sudden the shame and the covering of themselves. And all of a sudden they're over here, not in light. Now they're in darkness, not in freedom, but now in slavery. And they're over here and they're dead.
[13:36] That means they're just away from God. They're not enjoying all that. They're over there eating cake and ice cream. And you're over here suffering. That's the whole point of the verse. Look at verse 2.
[13:46] Ephesians 2.2. The Bible says, We're in, in time past. By the way, can I just say, you guys need to understand, you used to do that. Now you need to underline this in your Bible right there.
[13:59] You need to underline this in the Bible. In your Bible, in the times past, you walked according to the course of this world. Now listen to me. This is the world where you walk according to the course of Jesus.
[14:11] This is the world where you walk according to the devil. This is the world where you live in obedience. This is the world where you live in disobedience. That's the world of light. This is the world of darkness.
[14:21] And over here, we used to walk over here. Used to be we wanted to do what we knew he didn't want us to do. We didn't really think in terms of necessarily, I don't want to do what God wants me to do.
[14:36] All we thought of in terms of us, I want to do what I want to do. And this is what I want to do. Hey, I'm not bad. Other people are bad. I'm not bad. I just don't necessarily want to do it that way.
[14:48] I just like doing things my way. And we walked according to the course of this world. Look at it. According to the prince of the power of the air. That's the devil. He's in charge.
[14:58] Over here, he's running the show. Over there, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience. That's not us. There's a whole bunch of junk going on. There's a bunch of stuff just happened in London.
[15:10] People being killed. One of our friends said he heard 10 ambulances going at one time, going all over the city. That's the spirit of this world. That's the spirit of the children that work in disobedience.
[15:21] All of that. Hey, the Garden of Eden wasn't anything like that. That wasn't God's plan. That's not what God had in mind. Verse 3. It used to be that we had our conversation.
[15:33] We lived and acted like they do. Now look at the verse. I need you to look at verse 3. I need you to outline it. According, and the time passed in the lust of our flesh.
[15:44] So here's what we did. If it feels good, do it. If it tastes good, eat it. If you like it, enjoy it. Whatever your body wants, do it.
[15:58] That's the way we used to live over here on this side. Now look at it. We were fulfilling the desires of the flesh. That flesh is... See, that spirit, this is flesh.
[16:08] That's light. This is darkness. That's life. This is death. That's freedom. This is slavery. That's spirit. This is flesh. And before I would be saying, God, what do you want? I want to please you.
[16:19] And over here I'm saying, I want to please me. I want to do like the devil. You know what the devil would say? He'd say, well, I will. I will. I will. I will. I will. Nobody tells me what to do.
[16:31] I got to have a house up in glory higher up than God himself. So nobody tells me what to do. That's really the story. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. We were by nature the children of wrath.
[16:44] You say, what's children of wrath mean? Well, that's love. This is wrath. That's light. And this is darkness. That's life. And this is death. So over here, man, you're doing what's wrong. And you're going to get in trouble for it.
[16:54] Ephesians chapter 2 and verse 3. Now go with me to Galatians chapter 4 and verse 3. Galatians chapter 4 and verse 3. We were slaves. See, that's what happens.
[17:05] You think that drug won't take control. It'll just be fun if you enjoy it a second. You think that illicit sex will never take control.
[17:17] You think you'll just enjoy it for a second. But the problem with sin is it's addictive. And the problem with sin is it takes control. And the problem with rebellion is when you rebel, once you just like rebelling.
[17:30] And once you get your way, you just like getting your way. I grew up on a farm and I rode a horse every day. And there was a saying, you don't let the horse get the bit in their mouth.
[17:43] You know, you got the bit in their mouth, but they'll get it between their teeth. And so what they'll do while they're riding along, they'll reach that and they'll move that bit to where when you pull, it don't hurt. And so when that happens, you ain't stopping the horse.
[17:56] When that happens, you're not in charge. You might be on top until he decides not to let you be on top. And I've had him tell me where to go a lot of times. I've had him run me right next to a tree.
[18:07] And no matter how far I pull my leg in, he knew exactly how close to get my leg and a part of the salad and not his body. And so my daddy said, come down the hill.
[18:18] I was coming down the hill. I mean, I'm running full galop about 40 miles an hour, I guess. It seemed like 150. And I'm coming up and there's some trees in front of me. And he was not happy. I was running him. And he got home quick.
[18:30] And I limped home later. The horse got there and the family said, where's Austin? Well, about an hour later, I come walking out of the woods. I couldn't hardly walk, you know, because he got the bit in his mouth.
[18:41] He got it where he could control. That's where we want to live because sin takes over. Look at the verse. Even so, we, when we were children, were in, look at that word. What's that word?
[18:52] Bondage. Sin takes over. Sin takes over. Sin puts us in bondage. Galatians chapter 4, same chapter 1 verse, a few verses down.
[19:05] Verse 9 says, But now, after you've known God, or rather you're known of God, how would you ever go back to those weak and beggarly elements where until you desire again to be in bondage?
[19:18] It's because it's like some Christians, that you get saved and you're following Jesus. And you're like, I'm following Jesus. But I'm thinking about going back over there. I know they used to beat me a lot. And I know it was terrible.
[19:29] But I think I might like it. He goes, Paul said, I don't get it. You were over there. And I got you out of that. Brought you over here. Now you want to go back over. Don't get it. Don't get it. It's a whole system going on.
[19:41] You need to understand, when he's talking about this kingdom of God, you've got to understand. See, you could easily be reading this and thinking to yourself, okay, okay, okay, what's that mean? What it means is there's this whole group of people over here that are saying, I'll do it my way.
[19:57] I'll live life my way. I'll grab all the guts so I can. I'll make every day count for me. I live for me. On the other side, it's like, hey, I've decided to follow Jesus.
[20:09] Not what I want, but what he wants. Not what I do, but what he would do. It's different. You need to understand. This one I'm about to tell you, this group hates God.
[20:22] They don't like him. They don't just dislike him either. They hate him according to the Bible. By the way, that's obvious on the news.
[20:33] That's obvious. That's obvious in the newspaper. That's obvious in the school curriculum. That's obvious. Look what the Bible says in John chapter 15, verse 18 and 19. John 15, 18 and 19.
[20:47] Jesus said, if the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. Look at that verse. Jesus said to his disciples, now guys, I'm fixing to let y'all go out and preach and do stuff.
[21:03] I don't want you to get the idea that everywhere you go, people are going to be like, there comes a man of God. That's not the way it's going to be treated. People are not going to like you because they ain't never liked me.
[21:14] People hate me, they're going to hate you. People hate me, they're going to hate you. Next verse, if you would, verse 19, look at it. If you were of the world, the world would love you because the world loves its own.
[21:26] The world loves its own, but you're not of the world because I chose you out of the world. Therefore, the world hates you. The world hates you.
[21:38] I need to explain something to you. Being a Christian is like being hated. Being a Christian is a whole system saying, now why do you give that money?
[21:49] Like that guy said, give that money and that offer, but why would you do that and be so stupid? You could buy a boat with what you're spending on time. That's ridiculous. Why can't you have more sex than just one wife?
[22:00] I don't get it. I mean, who's trying to limit you? Why are they doing that to you? I don't like those people. Why can't I do with my body what I want to do with my body? It's my body and I'll do what I want to do.
[22:11] I don't care what God says. Why can't a man be married to a man? I do what I want to do. Don't you see it? That's exactly what's going on. This system over here saying, I get to choose.
[22:24] So what's the world system look like? I think I can show you that. Go with me to 1 John 2, verse 15. I've been trying to, but let's see if I can show it to you better. 1 John 2, verse 15. Here's what the Bible says.
[22:36] Love not the world. Now, when you say love not the world, you're talking about this group over here. Neither are the things that are in the world. Because if any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
[22:51] Now, listen to this. If you love hating God, you can't love God. It's not that hard to understand. You say, well, how do you mean if I love the world, I can't? See, this world hates God.
[23:03] Have you ever noticed, have you ever noticed who they hate? Why don't they hate Muslims? Why don't they hate Buddhists? Why don't they hate Hindus?
[23:14] Why is there one group the whole world hates? Well, it shouldn't surprise you there's one group that said, we're over there. We're going to do it his way. Love not the world.
[23:26] Neither things are in the world. If any man loved the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Next verse, your Bible says, for all that's in the world. Now, what's in the world? This group over here, what's in the world?
[23:37] It's the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. It's not of the Father, but it's of the world. So over here, use the verse, over here, it's what do you want?
[23:50] Flesh. Well, you think you'd rather be married to a man, man to man? Whatever your flesh wants. It's okay. That's what the world says.
[24:02] Oh, you think you'd like to abort a baby or kill an old person. It's okay, whatever the flesh wants. You don't just feel good about it. You think you'd enjoy drugs? Have at it. Man, whatever. You think, no, I'd rather be an athletic person in shape.
[24:15] Good, whatever you like, whatever your flesh likes. We like it. You say you like just to really take care of your body. Well, great. Just whatever. You know, just do whatever you want. Oh, lust of the eyes.
[24:26] What do you like to look at? What do you want? Pride of life. We're going to get that in a minute. I'm going to explain it to you. So it's a whole system over here saying, what do you want? Over here, it's like, this is what the question is over here.
[24:38] What does he want? What does he want? What do I want? Now, which one you reckon is going to get more? If a president comes out and says, what y'all want?
[24:50] I'll do whatever y'all want. He's going to get elected. He's going to have to at least learn how to talk like he'll give you what you want, even if he probably ain't. But the devil's like this. No, I will give you what you want. You like being moral?
[25:02] I'm all for it. You like having a marriage that lasts 100 years? Me too. You like messing around? Me too. What you, just name it, claim it, it's yours.
[25:12] I like it. Over on this side, though, it's like, you don't get to tell me what you want. I'll tell you what I want. We're like, okay, your kingdom, over here, my kingdom.
[25:27] Over here, I decide. Over there, he decides. Verse 17, the world passes away and the desires or lusts are up, but he does the will of God, abides forever.
[25:39] So let me give you some of the things I think the world looks like. Maybe you can write them down somewhere and think about them. Write these down. The world puts men's traditions and philosophies above God and the Bible.
[25:51] So this group over here says, well, what do men like to do? What do men think? On this side, God says, well, I created the earth and I made you and I own you and I'm going to judge you because I'm God.
[26:07] On this side, we're like, I just decided I don't believe in God. Well, what if there's evidence there is God? Who cares? I get to make up my own traditions. I get to make up my own desires, my own plans.
[26:17] The Bible says in Colossians chapter 2 and verse 8 to go with that so you can look it up. It says, beware lest any man spoil you, ruin you, mess you up through philosophy and vain, empty deceit.
[26:29] They're just lying to you and tricking you. Can you imagine a country where there's a lot of hunger and cows are worshipped and can't be eaten and a cow can eat what it wants and you better not hurt a cow because it could be your grandmama.
[26:46] Where did that come from? I'll tell you where it came from. Philosophy and vain deceit after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world and not after Christ.
[26:59] The world system promotes greed and ambition even to the point of force or even war. Now listen to this. You know what the world's about?
[27:10] It's about me getting rich. It's about me getting stuff. It's about me having stuff. It's about me enjoying money. That's what the world promotes.
[27:22] This world promotes vanity and pride. This world teaches as life goes that you seek pleasure and power and pride.
[27:36] This world is about pleasing you. Pleasing self and pleasing you. In Mark chapter 4 and verse 19 the Bible says and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches and the lust of other things entering in choke the word and it becomes unfruitful.
[27:58] You see, you get so many things you want here. You get so many things you want here. Got to take care of my stuff. My stuff. My stuff. My stuff.
[28:08] My job and my stuff. My stuff. I'd like to work God in but my stuff. I'd like to work God in but my pleasure. I'd like to work God in but my stuff, my career, I mean, God's kind of demanding.
[28:24] I mean, I've got a lot of living to do here. This world would have you seek immediate pleasure regardless of long time consequences.
[28:36] Whatever turns you on now, quick, do it. Don't even worry about what's going to happen tomorrow. This world would have you sell your soul to get financial advantage.
[28:47] It doesn't matter. What's it cost? What can I gain? I'll sell myself. I'll sell my wife. I'll sell my children. I'll just sell anything.
[28:58] They've got to take care of me. Got to look out for number one. I'm worried about number one. In Matthew 6, 24, Jesus said, no man can serve two masters because he'll hate the one and love the other or hold of the one and despise the other.
[29:13] You can't serve God in mammon or God in stuff. Or God in anything. My family, my family, my family. Well, that's mammon. My car, my house, my stuff, my retirement.
[29:26] That's mammon. You can't serve both. That's this world. You see, I think we might think to ourselves, well, the world, that's all the prostitutes and the pimps and the drug dealers and the wicked, wicked people that ought to be put on death throne.
[29:40] No. It's just a group of people saying, I'll do it my way. It's just a group of people saying, hey, my money, my time, my week, my life, my children, my wife.
[29:55] Sounds a lot like the devil saying, I will ascend. I will sit in a throne. I will, I will, I will. I think he said it like seven times, I will. It's like, if you said, Satan, what's your favorite song?
[30:07] He said, oh, I called it I will. What's your favorite song? What I want, my way, do it my way. I live life my way. Whatever you want. The world would have you ignore eternity.
[30:22] I mean, we don't really believe that God made the world because they told us he didn't because that'd be a good way to get rid of him, wouldn't it? I mean, if we just got here by accident, then we're going to die by accident.
[30:35] So let's just deny creation. Deny invisible reality. This world would have you never even think about being accountable to God.
[30:49] You should never even think about being accountable to God. This world would have you have a selfish value system. This world system would have you make much of man and little of God.
[31:01] Much of man and little of God. This world system would tell you there's no absolute truth. You're sitting there right now and in your own heart and mind right this very second you're going, this guy's a little over the top.
[31:18] This guy's a little over the top. I don't think I could come back to the church. I mean, he's acting like there's only one way to do it right. Let me tell you, I'm not acting. I really believe that. So just let me be clear.
[31:30] There shouldn't be any confusion here. I can do it my way or his way. I can do what I like or what he likes. I can live for now or I can live for always.
[31:42] And that's what the whole world system looks like. You see, Jesus came preaching the gospel of the kingdom. So here's what the devil did. I'm not going to finish the message.
[31:52] I'm just going to sum up the rest of it. Here's what the devil did. The devil found some dumb people and duped them. He went to Eve and said, You really believe you really believe eating that piece of fruit would ruin your life forever?
[32:09] Oh, come on. Who told you such a foolishness as that? Well, God said I wasn't even supposed to touch it, which God didn't say but it don't matter because now he's already got her on a roll. She goes, he goes, he said we can't even touch it.
[32:24] He said, well, he knows that if you were to do that, you'd be like a God. You'd be like him and he don't want you to be like him. He wants to keep you as a subject because I'm going to make you a subject as soon as you're stupid enough to fall for my ploy.
[32:41] And so she said, but he said if we ate that fruit we'd die. And he said, you'll really live if you eat that fruit. And so Adam and Eve ate the fruit and got embarrassed and humiliated and found out they were naked.
[32:59] They covered the reproductive organs that hid and over here in the sidelines saying something's wrong. I had freedom over there and I don't feel the same way. I felt happiness over there and now I feel guilt over here.
[33:11] And the devil's like, it's because you did what I did. You do what we want to do. And all of a sudden we were meant to live and now we're going to die. We were meant for light and now we live in darkness.
[33:25] We were meant to enjoy all that God had and now we can only enjoy what we can do. So you better build a faster computer. You better buy a faster car and you better get a younger woman.
[33:36] You better do whatever you can because this is all there is according to the devil. Hmm? And you're a slave. So God in heaven said dingbats.
[33:54] easily fooled and deceived. So he put on human flesh and he came and lived among us and never got into the system. Not one time did he ever say I'll do it my way.
[34:08] Not one time did he ever say I'm following my plan. What he said when he got over here was this. Thy will be done. Our father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name thy kingdom come.
[34:20] And then he said I'm going to die and I'm going to pay all y'all sin. I'll pay for every one of you. If you'll trust me I'm going to take you over there. I'm going to deliver you from this kingdom. I'm going to take you over there to God's kingdom.
[34:32] I'm going to give you a new life. Because you were never meant to live like this. You were not meant to live where you needed drugs and alcohol and sex and things and money to stay happy.
[34:46] You were meant to live in pure joy with the Lord. And so the devil says oh I'm the one that gives you freedom.
[34:57] The fact is some of you this very morning think to yourself yeah well if you ever serve God he'll put a lot of limits on you. Are you crazy? He's not the one putting limits. You're just too dumb to see who puts the limits.
[35:12] Maybe that drug dealer told you if you take this drug there will be no limits. But what he really meant was as soon as you take this drug I'll have a lot of limits and a lot of control over you. because he's ruining your life.
[35:24] God's not ruining your life. So Mark chapter 1 John was put in jail. Mark chapter 1 verse 14 John was put in jail and Jesus came preaching the kingdom saying guys it is time for me to rescue you.
[35:40] It is time for me to get you out of the mess and get you into the good stuff. It is time for me to get you out of sin and get you into righteousness. I am here. So repent.
[35:52] Quit doing it your way. Stop doing your thing and believe me and trust me. So you're climbing up the cliff believing if I could just get another dollar if I could just get a better looking girlfriend if I could just and you're climbing and you think the secret to life is what you're reaching for and the Lord offers life but really to get that you have to let go of this rope and trust him to just pull you on up and take care of you but you have to let go of this rope because you really think it's all about you and it's not about you it's about him.
[36:33] He said the kingdom's at hand. I don't have time to show you but by the time we get to the book of Revelation this is what's being screamed across the pages the world that took over and destroyed your lives I'm here now and the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our God and he has taken over.
[36:52] You're here this morning and you're not saved and you're thinking if I were to really get into this thing with serving Jesus it would just put a crimp in my lifestyle. Oh no. It would open up your life.
[37:05] It would give you it would give you what you can imagine. You see it's summed up by the apostle John when he said it this way Jesus has come to give life and life more abundant but the thief the devil has come to steal to kill and to destroy and you can choose you did choose you've chosen to do it your way and the thief is laughing his head off as he steals your joy and steals your life and kills you and destroys you but Jesus is saying I'm here to give you life and give it more abundant.
[37:40] Jesus says come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden you've been trying to figure it out you've been trying to solve the problem you've been trying to get out of the mess come to me all you that labor and are heavy laden I'll give you rest the devil's telling you if you ever serve Jesus he'll put a burden on you that Jesus is saying oh no no no no no no I don't put the burdens I take the burdens I don't put the burdens I take the burdens trust Jesus some of you Christians are kind of like the guy in Galatians when Paul said in Galatians he said you were in bondage and he brought you over and he put you in all this wonderful peace and you want to go back to the bondage why are y'all playing with sin why do you want to go back to the junk that was tearing your life up why do you want to go back over there today's your day to live in freedom today's your day to live in victory because that's what Jesus does for us he delivers us he comes right into the devil's house knocks him in the head brings you out and takes you to freedom and takes you to light he sets you free if you're not saved be saved today repent and believe trust
[38:56] Jesus I could honestly stay on this for a long time more because I don't think you get it if you're not saved you're in a trap if you're not saved he's got you locked up if you're not saved he's torturing you you say well I'm enjoying the torture told you already you're enjoying the torture like the calf that's about to be killed you're enjoying the torture remember the turkey from peru christmas thanksgiving or christmas in peru they have fake turkey at christmas and they fattened that turkey that turkey has got to be thinking lord help me jesus i don't know i'm elected to the best life of all i get more food than all the other turkeys other turkeys looking over saying man how do you get to eat so much he said they ain't just give me something to eat they're letting me drink beer they're buying me beer and on the night before they cut his head off they get him stone drunk till he's falling down they take pictures that's the funniest thing you've seen in your life but they want him to die happy that's how the devil is with you he's like let me give you some stuff because i know what's waiting on you i know what's waiting on you i'll destroy you i'll destroy your wife i'll destroy your children i'll destroy your grandkids i am come that they might have life and have it more abundantly but the thief comes but for to steal to kill and to destroy don't you think it's i'm trust jesus this message was recorded at vision baptist church in alfred georgia for more information log on to www.visionbaptist.com where you can find our service times location contact information and more audio and video recordings