o “Try Jesus!” If this is your first time joining us, it’s great to have you with us. I would like to thank all the new members for joining “Try Jesus.” Also welcome those in Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, North Carolina, and Arizona.

How many of you have ever traveled to another town, city, state, or nation before? Did you know there are people who have never traveled any further than their zip code? When you traveled, what wonderful memories did you bring home?

Did your traveling experience make you want to stay, or hurry up and get back home? There can always be fond loving memories of traveling away from home. But there will always be no place like home, right?

I’ve heard some pretty unsettling stories from people about the disastrous time they had on their vacation trip. How many of you have ever cut your vacation short and couldn’t wait to get back home?

Many have heard the words, “This is a nice place to visit, but I wouldn’t want to live here.” We’ve also heard the words, “There’s no place like home.” There are many places in our society that are visited but no one likes staying there.

Some of these places are prisons, hospitals, and forests with wild animals. How about Alaska, or Iceland? What about the desert? Did you know there are people who actually moved to places without doing research first?

I can only imagine the false information they may have been given without checking the information themselves. There are many places that travel experts say people should consider visiting and perhaps relocating to.

Some will advise moving to places like Rome, Paris, New York, Cape Town, Brazil, Tokyo, and Istanbul. Have you ever visited any of these places? How was your experience? Did you have thoughts of home, or miss those back home?

Is there one common thing that would keep you coming back to these places? There is something that never changes no matter where you travel around the world, and that is “people.” What do I mean? Well, wherever you have people, things don’t change.

You may have heard me mention the phrase before, “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Yes, there is beautiful scenery to behold all over the world. There are cultures that are different than where you live.

But at the core of every nation, people are physically the same. How so? Well, there’s good in people, and there is bad in people. If we all lived on the moon, would your personality change? You would still need those normal necessities of life to survive, right?

When it comes to changing, the true church of Jesus Christ follows a God who doesn’t change. There are many things in the world that are different today than 50 years ago. But in those 50 years God has not changed.

Let’s bring the word of God in today’s message. “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore, ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6 KJV). When we as humans blow it, we can rest assured we have a God who is constant in Character and holiness.

God does not change as society moves in sin and defiance towards him. He remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8; James 1:17). As we prepare to have leadership changes in our country, Christians should keep their eyes on Jesus.

He is the author and finisher of our faith. In this constantly changing world, born-again believers trust in an unchanging Savior. The world rotates in chaos, corruption, and sin. But God moves in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Spirit.

Even when it seems the church is losing ground in the spiritual warfare before us, we must stay encouraged and know we serve a victorious God over sin and the devil. God is supremely in total control of all world events.

[God is the sovereign creator of the sun, moon, and stars. He gives us good gifts and illuminates our minds to see the goodness in these gifts. As his prized possessions, we are the ones to receive a foretaste of future blessings.]

Jesus spoke words that still apply to those today who waver in doubt and uncertainty. “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33 KJV).

The words of Jesus brings peace and contentment. When you allow him to be Lord of your life, his peace is one of the benefits he gives you. As the world continues to fall apart, God floods his people with peace to endure it.

The peace the world offers, pales in comparison to the internal peace Jesus implants in our heart and soul. (John 14:27-29; 16:1-4; 16:8-11). Christians are never alone in this broken world. Jesus will never abandon you in your most difficult circumstances.

Lock these words in your heart today. He is my peace, who has broken down every wall, he is my peace, he is my peace. Cast all your cares on him for he cares for you, he is my peace, he is my peace.

God is wholeheartedly trustworthy to complete his will and purpose for your life. (Joshua 1:5; 1 Chronicles 28:20; Hebrews 13:5; Philippians 1:6). God has all the bases covered so you make it home. All that Jesus saves, he keeps.

As the church continues to walk on the narrow road in it’s pilgrimage towards home, the enemy will continue to use his attacks to make the church less effective and diluted while destroying unbelievers. (Ephesians 6:10-18; Daniel 7:25; 2 Corinthians 2:8-11).

Even as the persecution increases in 2024, God has promised to give his Kingdom to his holy people, his born-again believing saints. Praise God! He is our all-conquering King! Sometimes you just need to stop and offer praise! Amen?

Victory in Jesus! Remember beloved, the ultimate victory has already been won, we can claim the peace of Christ in the most troublesome times. Amen? Shout to the Lord, all the earth, let us sing, power and majesty, praise to the King!

Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar, at the sound of your name, I sing for joy at the work of your hands, forever I’ll love you, forever I’ll stand, nothing compares to the promise I have in you. Still praising?

This is why the church will not be defeated on its pilgrimage through this world. We are not conformed or shaped by what the world, the states, and our communities are trapped in. (Romans 12:1-2).

There used to be a song connected to a show about something not belonging. Care to guess where these lyrics are from. No cheating from your iPhone. Some of you can ask a relative. It certainly relates to how God runs his Kingdom.

🎶 “Three of these belong together, three of these things are kind of the same. Can you guess which one of these doesn’t belong here? Now it’s time to play our game, time to play our game.”

“Three of these kids belong together, three of these kids are kind of the same, but one of these kids is doing his own thing, now it’s time to play our game, it’s time to play our game. Yeah!” 🎶

These words speak of having fun and playing games. But the life of yourself and your loved ones is no game to be played with. Your soul is highly valuable to God. So valuable, that he sent his only son to be beaten, humiliated, mocked and nailed to a cross.

God did this because (as wide as Jesus arms were spread out) he loves his creation that much. He wants to live in a relationship with you. Not a religious dead, distance one, but a living, breathing, up close and personal one.

Jesus came to save and regenerate your spirit on this side of your life. Not after you leave this world, but before you leave this world. Those who leave this world without knowing Jesus will hear these words.

21} “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. 22} Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name?

and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? 23} And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV).

The song phrases that are above fit with the words Jesus will speak to those who accept his love gift of salvation and those who reject his love gift, eternal life. Dying in this world without Jesus leaves you empty handed and lost for eternity.

31} “When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:

32} And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

33} And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left. 34} Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:31-34 KJV).

41} “Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

45} Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46} And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.” (Matthew 25:41,45-46 KJV).

Please also read aloud to yourself or those who may be in a group with you. (Luke 13:23-30). Reading aloud God’s own words back to him says you are in agreement with what his living eternal word says (Hebrews 4:12-14).

If you read a few more verses past verse 30 of Luke 13, you see that Jesus has all-power over Satan and those who he uses. (Verses 31-34). Jesus told the Pharisees that Herod is a fox. Jesus did not fear that sly and crafty man.

He imparts that same confidence in his born-again followers. 10} “In God will I praise his word: in the LORD will I praise his word. 11} In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me.” (Psalm 56:10-11 KJV). Also, Psalm 118:6; Hebrews 13:6).

Herod was blinded to the fact that

he was being used by the devil and his demons. Unbelievers walk on a road of darkness until they repent and walk on the path of righteousness. You cannot be loyal to the world and loyal to God at the same time.

John, the disciple of Jesus, wrote (inspired by the Holy Spirit) that we should not love the world, neither the things that are in the world. (1 John 2:15-17). Loving the world, trying to save the trees, (while babies are aborted).

For those who think it’s possible to do both, I simply would ask the question, What are the values of God’s Kingdom, if he tells us not to be held in the grip of the worlds vices? Are God’s commandments and wisdom more important to your life?

Do your actions and lifestyle reflect the world’s values or God’s values? Do you reflect Jesus in your home, neighborhood, and nation more than what Satan offers you?

Remember, light and darkness cannot fellowship together. (Matthew 5:14-16; Isaiah 50:10; Ephesians 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 6:14-16). Satan offers a road paved with mirages everywhere. But it ends up costing your soul.

The world has many roads that have been paved into it, right? You can travel on many beautiful roads and behold beautiful scenery. You can also travel on ugly roads with horrible potholes and eyesore neighborhoods.

But as massive as the world is, and there are approximately 8-10 billion souls living on it, there are only two roads of life to walk on. One group is blindfolded the other group can see the finish line. (2 Corinthians 4:3-4; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Acts 7:55-56).

The narrow road Jesus has his church and born-again believers on, eventually will be streets of gold, we walk on, and the glory of God that covers us. (Revelation 21:21-27; 22:1-6).

Notice the road the world ends up on. It has nothing but gross darkness, pits, and a lake of fire. (Revelation 20:10,14-15; 21:8; Psalm 9:15; 28:1; 55:23; Isaiah 38:18; Luke 16:22-24).

We must continue to stand on the truth of God’s Holy Word. We must also understand that God did not create the road of destruction for those who choose to walk on it. After Adam and Eve transgressed against God, the world and their seed became their road.

Those who would repent of their sins found that this road had a cross on it. It carried the only blood that could wash away our sins. Now we must take up the cross and follow Jesus. How so? Just surrender your heart to Jesus, and follow him (Mark 10:17-23).

This passage is more than about money that people focus. Money, in of itself, is not evil. Remember, God allowed many of his followers to gain wealth. Abraham, Job, Solomon, David, just to name a few.

Being on the road of righteousness means not carrying things that you will leave behind at the end of your life. Who was it that wanted to be buried in his car? I forgot the famous person’s name. Maybe you guys can let me know.

[This passage about the rich young ruler shows us that we must not let our possessions or money keep us from following Jesus. If we are not following him faithfully, whatever we grasp tightly will eventually strangle or choke our hearts.]

If he later at the end of his life did not repent, he would end up just like the man in (Luke 16:19-25). Christians believe that when we ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and believe that God raised him from the dead, we shall be saved (Romans 10:8-10,13).

Christians should never allow their minds to be conformed to the worlds way of thinking. (Romans 12:2). Jesus told us many things about the world. One thing Jesus certainly emphasized was that he is the light of the world (John 8:12).

Because the world has rejected this light, they move around in darkness (John 14:17; Isaiah 60:1-3; Jeremiah 13:15-17). Again, Jesus told us many things about the world and its persecution of his followers. (John 15:18-20; 18:36; 1John 2:16-17).

The word world refers to a world system ruled by Satan. We as born-again believing Christians readily appreciate Jesus’ claims that believers are no longer of the world. (John 17:9-16).

My mother would always say, “Sweetheart, the world is going to hell in a hand basket!” When I was younger, I never quite understood that saying, but I knew it meant nothing good was in that hand basket.

I also decided to stay away from all my mother’s hand baskets (Smile). From all the pride, lust, power, and greed in the world spewed out by Satan, these temptations, when conceived, brings forth death (James 1:14-16).

The world, and the timing of Jesus’ return reminds me of a woman who goes through her full term pregnancy. At the end of her pregnancy, she brings forth the most beautiful boy or girl created in the image of God.

The world also has these pangs. But Peter spoke well through the Holy Spirit concerning the demise and end of the world. God promised never to destroy the earth by flood again. But this time it shall be destroyed by fire.

9} “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

10} But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

11} Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

12} Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

13} Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:9-13 KJV).

[Sin has caused all creation to fall from the perfect state in which God created it. The world is subject to frustration and bondage to death and decay. One day all creation (those who confess Jesus as Lord and Savior) will be liberated and transformed.]


🗣📢 Last words: In 2024, Jesus still remains the only way, the truth, and the life, for a dark and dying world. Until Jesus returns, he told his disciples to occupy until he returns. True Christians should remain vigilant and steadfast in spreading the gospel. (Luke 19:12-17).

God has given all of us spiritual gifts to use for the benefit of his Kingdom. Do you want his Kingdom to grow? Are you as concerned for your family, neighbors, and friends going to heaven as you are for yourself?

Again, as I mentioned earlier, Jesus testified that he is the light of the world. Today, if you know Jesus, then he is the light of your salvation. (Psalm 27:1; John 1:1-14).

Jesus was never affected by the attitude of the world. He’s eyes were always on his Father. Being the God-man, Jesus defeated Satan at the cross. However, worldliness can affect us in our sin nature if we as Christians give in to it.

[This worldliness begins in the heart and presents itself by three attitudes:]

A) Craving for physical pleasure and preoccupation with gratifying physical desires.

B) Craving for everything we see. Also, the accumulation of things, bowing to the god of materialism.

C) Pride in our achievements and possessions. Having obsession with our status or importance. When the devil tempted Eve (Genesis 3:6), he tempted her in these areas.

The Holy Spirit was sent to convict this world sin. To convict means “to convince,” “to expose the facts,” or “to refute or cross-examine.” Three important convicting tasks of the Holy Spirit are:

1) Convincing people of their sinfulness to prepare them to seek repentance and God’s mercy.

2) Revealing the standard of God’s righteousness to anyone who believes, because Jesus is no longer physically present on earth.

3) Demonstrating Jesus’ authority over Satan and his ultimate judgment and defeat of all evil. This conviction can convince us that what Jesus promises will come true and give us courage to live out our faith in a fallen world.

So, while you are in this world, what path and road do you want to travel on? The one without any light? Only destruction and suffering await you there. Or do you want the gospel to light your way into eternity?

In this life, we walk through a dark forest of evil. But the Bible can be your light to show you the way ahead, so you won’t stumble as you walk. Today, grab hold of the light to reach your desired destination!

🛐 Here’s a prayer you can pray while maneuvering through this dark world. “Heavenly Father, I thank you for today’s message. Jesus, may your word today help those get off the path of darkness and corruption.

Lord, help those whose feet have taken them to dark places in this world. Many have ended up in ruin and pain. Help them Lord to not turn to the left or the right, but to see you in front of them leading them through all this evil.

You have already laid out your will, plan, and purpose for their life. Help them today to walk in your righteousness and footsteps. Jesus, there is so much brokenness in this world. Help them and other families that are suffering.
 

Please keep families together and united in love inviting you into their trials and tribulations. Lord, I pray for reconciliation of broken lives Satan has crushed.

I pray for each individual whose family has been torn apart by divorce, abuse, abandonment, drugs, alcohol, death, and any other circumstance. I pray that they are able to find hope in you.

I pray for the families that are on the verge of being torn apart by the worlds devilish influence. I pray that you heal and deliver them. I pray for those who don’t have a family.

Let them find a loving, kind, and supportive family who will encourage them. Allow them to find a family within the kingdom of God. Provide them with comfort only you can supply. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”


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🙏 Please remember to pray for the people in Israel. They are God’s people because of his covenant promises to them. (Genesis 12:1-3; Numbers 6:22-27; 24:8-9). ✝️📲 Prayer Line- Text line- 1-412-616-357

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