Bishop Darryl B. Starnes delivered the message this morning Sermon Title: Our Quest Sermon Text: Matt 6: 1-8, 16-21, 31-33 There are four categories of people: Heathens, Hypocrites, Half-Baked, and Holy. Our Quest - what we treasure or seek first determines which one of the four we really are. 1. When we are heathens, our quest is to have things (V 7-8, 19, 31-32). Heathens were gentiles, infidels, and they were not saved. The want things of this world. If you are hostile to religion because you think it will keep you from getting things then you may be a heathen. If you are religious because you think it will get you things, then maybe you are a heathen. Heathens are dangerous because they will use people to get those things. They can change the church chemistry if they infiltrate the church. 2. When you are a hypocrite, your quest is tom impress people (v 1-2, 5, 16). Hypocrites are actors that wear masks to play their many roles. You may be a hypocrite if you are very religious and you are not saved. You want your charitable deeds to be seen by people. Hypocrites are dangerous. In Matthew 23, Jesus did not play with them. They block heaven against people by not allowing people to get to the kingdom. 3. When you are half-baked, your quest is to please yourself (the flesh). (v21) That is what you seek over anything else. Half-baked people are insufficiently cooked. You are saved but immature. You are selfish, self-centered, and self0 absorbed. You are gifted and talented but lack commitment and conviction. Half-baked people are dangerous because they will act like heathens. they will love things and use people to get them. They will exploit people. They will also live like a heathen. They bring shame to Gods name and they bring disgrace to the church. They want the praises of people more than the praised of God. They care about their agenda more than Gods. 4.When you are Holy, your quest is to please God (3-4, 6, 17-18, 20, 33). Please God is what you strive for. Holy - set apart for God and His purpose. You are saved and growing in to maturity and above all else, you want to do the will of God. Being Holy is not looking down on people but it is asking God to have His will in your life. How to tell if you are holy - If you are saved and you love people, if you use things to meet the needs of people, if your charitable deeds are done in secret you may be holy. When you are holy, you seek the praises of God. If you are letting God purify your heart and allowing him to transform our lives, you may be holy. When you are holy, you are harmless. People may think they can take advantage of the holy. God give us wisdom to cease from hurting and stop self-destruction. You are harmless and dangerous to the devil. That is why he sends his greatest attack on the holy. As you grow, God uses us to bring people to Christ so that decreases the devils kingdom. The holy are also dangerous to the corrupt in the church. They bring revival to the church and the corrupt do no like that.
Posted on: Sun, 16 Nov 2014 22:31:49 +0000
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