Examine

Yesterday, I received a text message from a dear, dear friend and it was so simple, it just said "Paul Washer - Shocking Message on youtube". Let me tell you about this video. It is from a Youth Conference in Alabama in 2002. It is about an hour long. He preached from Matthew chp 7 verses 13 thru 28. here it is
Entering the Kingdom
13 "Enter through the narrow gate. (J) For the gate is wide and the road is broad that leads to destruction, (K) and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it.
15 "Beware of false prophets (L) who come to you in sheep's (M) clothing (N) but inwardly are ravaging wolves. (O) 16 You'll recognize them by their fruit. (P) Are grapes gathered from thornbushes or figs from thistles? (Q) 17 In the same way, every good tree produces good fruit, but a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can't produce bad fruit; neither can a bad tree produce good fruit. 19 Every tree that doesn't produce good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. (R) 20 So you'll recognize them by their fruit. (S)
21 "Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, (T) but [only] the one who does the will (U) of My Father in heaven. (V) 22 On that day many will say to Me, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons (W) in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name? (X) ' 23 Then I will announce to them, 'I never knew you! Depart from Me, you lawbreakers! (Y) ' [i] (Z)

The Two Foundations
24 "Therefore, (AA) everyone who hears these words (AB) of Mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain fell, the rivers rose, and the winds blew and pounded that house. Yet it didn't collapse, because its foundation was on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of Mine and doesn't act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 The rain fell, the rivers rose, the winds blew and pounded that house, and it collapsed. And its collapse was great!"
28 When Jesus had finished this sermon, (AC) [j] the crowds were astonished at His teaching, (AD) 29 because He was teaching them like one who had authority, and not like their scribes.

Intersting to me because the Bible study that I go to on Wednesday nights is in Matthew. Let me just say that this message that Mr. Washer delivered is intense. VERY Convicting. But convicting in a good way. I sat there when it was done in complete silence. I didn't even want to talk. I went to my children and just stared at them for what seems like hours. Normally when I hear a sermon, I get moved. but I now know that I get moved emotionally. This sermon for me was different. I had a different kind of experiance. It made me sit back and examine myself. I believe that I am saved. Do I believe that I have been living the way God's word tells me to? No. Do I believe that it is ok? Not really. See I know that we are all born sinners, and that even after we are saved we will continue to stray from God's way of life. But when we do, we are to repent of that. I am guilty of rationalizing my sin. OR doing something I know is wrong and then "repenting" of it later. or forgetting to repent. That's crap. I am tired of that. I will not teach my children that they are saved simply because they said a prayer. Look in verse 21. Not everyone who goes to Jesus and says "Lord, Lord will enter into the kingdom of Heaven, only the one who does the will of my Father in Heaven." We are so screwed up. If you invite Christ he will come I firmly believe that. what makes sense to me now is that in the Bible it talks about how God can not associate with sin. WELL, if I am saved...but continue to sin (which I will) and do not repent DAILY or of that....what makes me think that God will not turn from me as He did Jesus when he bore the sins of the world???!!!!!!!!! I am not deligent enough in my repentance. or it is so general "God forgive me of my sins" Sicking to me. That is not true repentance. I do not feel guilty. Guilt is from Satan. I feel convicted. Conviction is from God. I am so tired of comparing myself to other "christians". As a new believer I do/did that alot. I thought "wow if they have a believer for a long time and they do that, well then I am ok. I am walking right" WRONG WRONG WRONG. Examine yourself to SCRIPTURE. Our goal as followers of Christ is to make ourselves a mirror image of Him. that won't ever happen completely because we have sin, Jesus didn't. But, WHY do we conform to the world? Satan has authority over the earth and it is appealing...which is why america is so screwed up....we have completely lost all sense. The church has done it as well.....we don't want to offend anyone...so sermons are almost filtered in a sense. Get uncomfortable people. that's my goal. Get out of my comfort zone and don't be afraid to make others "uncomfortable" by talking to them about God their ETERNITY depends on it. So I will Do it out of Love, just as Jesus did. Otherwise Jesus will say to those...on that day Depart for I never knew you ....Look for that teachable moment and Pray for one. Why not share the Gospel, we are told to go and share.....so why aren't we. Thanks for letting me share. Watch this Paul Washer video on you tube...amazing.....