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April 2, 2024
Steadfast Faith Amidst Trials: The Journey from Fan to Follower on the Road to Easter
Unlock the true meaning of steadfast faith and discover how to rise above the fickleness of human approval in our latest CityLight Church podcast. Embrace the hope of being cherished by an eternal God as we take you on a journey from Palm Sunday's paradox to the enduring truth of Christ's sacrifice. Our reflection on the events of Holy Week serves as a powerful reminder of the fragile nature of human adoration and the significance of an unwavering commitment to spiritual convictions.
Wrestle with the complexities of loyalty and devotion as we dissect what it means to be not just a fan, but a true follower of Christ. Through the lens of Peter's transformation and the tale of Lot's wife, we uncover the virtues of staying true to our beliefs amidst life's trials. Let the anticipation of Easter's message of rebirth and redemption resonate with you as we highlight the importance of holding steadfast to a faith-driven life, even when faced with adversity.
Journey with us as we fortify our understanding of the Gospel's unchanging truths in a world that constantly tests our faith.
Chapters
00:00 - From Fan to Follower
10:30:00 - Importance of Loyalty and Commitment
18:32:00 - Six Tools of the Enemy
32:03:00 - The Cost of Following Jesus
37:31:00 - Kanye West, Faith, and False Doctrine
47:38:00 - The Importance of Sound Doctrine
59:02:00 - City Light Church Podcast Subscription
Transcript
00:00 - Speaker 1
who you're trying to win the approval of so much. They're not gonna be there at your side. You're gonna appear naked before the Alpha and the Omega and you're either gonna have the blood on you or you're gonna be found without the blood. And the scripture says when I see the blood, I will pass over you. His wrath will pass over to the one with the blood of the Lamb, the blood of Jesus, applied to the doorpost of their life, amen.
00:26 - Speaker 2
Welcome to the City Light Church podcast. Thanks for joining us today as we look into God's Word and discover the hope and truth that he has for us. If you want to connect with City Light Church, feel free to visit us at CityLightNYCcom. That's CityLightNYCcom. Pastor Boyan Jancic and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already working in our hearts and minds. As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you are surrounded by His grace and that he has a real hope and a future for you that he has a real hope and a future for you.
01:12 - Speaker 1
Let's begin this Palm Sunday in Matthew, chapter 21, verses 8 to 11. God is going to impart something, his grace, and you're going to leave here better than how you came in. So make your heart like a sponge and expect to receive. Last Sunday, we talked about how Jesus multiple times said in proportion to your faith, according to your faith, be it unto you. So I wouldn't have come all this way those of you online, welcome. I wouldn't have rolled out of bed and logged into YouTube Just kidding Half If I wasn't going to expect to receive something. You came all this way. Expect to receive from heaven, apart from the message that I'll preach, which I believe is inspired by God, but he wants to get other stuff to you. So be greedy. I want to give you permission to be greedy.
02:19
You know the people who got miracles from Jesus in the Bible. They were greedy. They were really greedier, hungrier than the others. Jesus never said oh, look at you Too much. No, they're the ones who got a miracle from him. The blind man shouted and cried and got God's attention, and the others quieted him down, and the Bible says he cried out all the more. He was just a bit hungrier than the rest Zacchaeus. He dangled from a tree it's a short guy, it says that in poetic language Little of stature. So he climbed up a tree and then dangled from a branch to get to Jesus. And Jesus came and saw him and said I'm going to have lunch with you today. What was?
03:16
it about Zacchaeus. All the others were around Jesus, a multitude, but that greedy. You know when I say greedy what I mean. Some of you want to get all technical. The Bible says the greatest. You know what I mean the good kind of greedy, not the Gordon Gekko kind, the good kind. This is the triumphal entry.
03:41
Jesus is coming now, after three to three and a half years of ministry. He's coming into the city of God, he's coming into Jerusalem, it says, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut down branches. These were palm branches, this is why we celebrate Palm Sunday From the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying just shout, multitudes. I want you to understand that Jesus was now the most popular guy in town, a celebrity. He was famous. Multitudes, thousands and thousands Went before and those who followed cried out saying Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest.
04:43
In another gospel it says that when the chief priests, who were so jealous of Jesus's fame and influence, when they heard the people praising him that way, they quieted them and Jesus's response was if they were to keep quiet, these rocks would cry out. And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city shout. All the city, all the city was moved. Once again, very popular, an influencer. All the city was moved saying who is this, who is this? So the multitude said this is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. What an entry, what a reception. Amen, let's fast forward, not five years from then, not even a year from then. Let's fast forward just five days and see what happens. Luke, chapter 23, starting in verse 13. Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, said to them you have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people. Now he's on trial Just five days, you might say four and a half days, later. This is late, late Thursday night, in the middle of the night, early Friday morning. You have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people and indeed, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him and indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by him. I will therefore chastise him and release him, for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast.
06:38
During the feast, the prisoner would be let go. And they all who's they? They all cried out who's they? They all cried out who's they? The same crowd, the same group that five days earlier was crying out Hosanna, son of David, jesus, who was taking off their clothes and laying it at his feet, cutting down palm branches to acknowledge his kingship. That's what the palm branch is, a symbol of royalty and victory and laying it at his feet. Now it's the same crowd.
07:17
What happened? And they all cried out at once saying Away with this man and release to us Barabbas, barabbas. What a character who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion, a riot made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted saying but they shouted saying crucify him, crucify him.
07:45
What is going on here? This is a demonically incited mob mentality. This is a satanically induced mass formation psychosis. The Bible has a lot to say about mobs. Look how easily they were changed. Look how easily they were swayed. You know, you read this and you think this was crazy. What happened back then in biblical times. Wild, that could never be me. Yet what short-term memories people have and so easily forget that four years ago people lost their minds. Normally healthy, emotionally healthy. Normally healthy, emotionally healthy, stable people, just from a couple of days of programming and watching CNN's death-o-meter going just change their whole personalities. Sound team, can you turn my microphone back on some? That I Did. I wish you a happy Palm Sunday already Happy Palm Sunday. Then he said to them the third time why? What evil has he done? I found no reason for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go. But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested, and he released to them the one they requested, who, for rebellion and murder, had been thrown into prison. But he delivered Jesus to their will.
09:35
Other than this mob, mass formation psychosis that was influenced by the enemy himself, what happened here? Because just five days ago they were adoring him. What happened is that they were fans and they weren't followers. I want to ask you a question this morning Are you a fan or are you a follower Because Jesus isn't interested in fans. Have you ever noticed how actually he's so disinterested in fans? He would just keep walking. You get a picture of Jesus walking like a prize fighter coming down the aisle, and all the fans, you know they're not committed to the prize fighter, they just want to be there for the good time. They touch him, just touch celebrity, touch fame. And he didn't pay attention until somebody cried out and cried out with hunger. I don't want to be a fan, I want to be a follower. Amen. I want to be committed, not a fair weather friend.
10:30
I was raised in Queens. I remember when I became a Mets fan. It was in 1986 when they won their last first series, nearly 40 years ago, last first series, nearly 40 years ago. And all my friends, we would all wear the shirt the bright blue, you know, I mean, you can't miss it Bright orange with the cap. And then they won and we were all like Mets all the way. They hadn't won since Next year. And when they won the World Series, I was in fourth grade. Next year, in fifth grade, I was once again a Mets fan. You're only in fifth grade. You think they're going to do it again? They didn't do it again. They never did it again. By sixth grade I forgot all about the Mets. We're in Queens right now. You will meet and you've met them. Not a Mets fan, but a Mets follower. They wear that goofy, bright blue orange insignia everywhere. They're sitting up whatever it's called now Citi Field. I remember it as Shea. They're committed. They're Mets followers. They're not Mets fans. Mark 1450.
11:55
A follower is loyal, no matter the ups or downs. They don't just hang around for the benefits. After this, peter famously denies him three times and disassociates from him three times. Peter, the one who boasted when Jesus prophesied that he would be betrayed. Peter was the first one to say not me, that he would be betrayed. Peter was the first one to say I would not, not me. Three times. That very night, peter had a little bit more of a fan than a follower in him too.
12:36
It wasn't until the day of Pentecost and he was filled with the Holy Spirit that that nonsense, that that lack of commitment, lack of loyalty, was purged out of him. Hey, this is serious to Jesus. That's why he talked about it so much. He said anybody looking back, looking at their former life, is not fit for the kingdom of heaven Anyone who would commit. But there's still. There's a whole story as Genesis, as Lot fled Sodom and Lot's wife turned behind, she still wistfully looked back at the place of sin, her former life, and turned into a pillar of salt. That's there for a reason. Jesus wants commitment, he wants loyalty. He doesn't want fans, he wants followers. So you had the whole crowd that was adoring him turn their backs on him. You had Peter, one of the not just the 12, but the inner three. He turned his back on him and then, according to Mark 14, 15, 50, they all forsook him and fled, all of them. May that not be us, amen. May that not be us, amen. Colossians 1.21, verses 23.
13:49
You know I love, if you were here last Sunday. I was exhorting people. I love a good exhortational message and really that's by nature. I'm an empowerer. I want to tell you who you are in Christ and what you have in Christ. That's my favorite way to preach, but that can't be all I preach.
14:07
Paul said teaching and warning everyone. There has to be a warning. Palm Sunday is usually pretty well attended, so I feel like the Lord said warn them. Now Some people who wouldn't maybe be here warn them. Do you know that two-thirds of biblical preaching is corrective in nature. When Paul was writing young Pastor Timothy he said Reprove, that's corrective, rebuke, that's corrective. And admonish, exhort. And then of course he said With all longsuffering, gently. But reprove, rebuke, get everybody aligned, get everybody on the biblical same page. So this is my loving morning, amen.
14:54
Next week is Easter. We're going to all celebrate. I'm going to tell you how all things are possible to him that believes. Amen. And you can do all things through Christ. With a verse taken out of context no, with Christ. Amen. And you can do all things through Christ. With a verse taken out of context, no, with Christ. Some of you didn't get that, but of course I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But in context Paul was talking about abasing and abounding. He was saying I can go through the ups and downs of life. I can do this and still have joy. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, amen. Some people gain a little weight and they're putting on their jeans. I can do all things through Christ. You want to kind of keep it. We're charismatics, I know we kind of like to stretch the scriptures and how applicable they are. But you want to Syntax matters, context matters.
15:46
And you who once were alienated once and enemies in your mind by wicked works. Yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you. Jesus did this at his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. He did this for everyone who would believe. He did this for you. Jesus did this at his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. He did this for everyone who would believe. He did this for you, to present you holy.
16:11
Say that out loud. I am holy. You're not trying to be holy, you're holy In the eyes of God and in the mind of God. You're holy right now and blameless Shout and blameless Shout. I am above reproach in his sight. Isn't that good news? You could have fallen yesterday. You could have fallen last week. Your emotions are topsy-turvy. Satan has come riding on you now, heaping shame and guilt and condemnation. But in the eyes of God and in the mind of God, if you're looking to Jesus and trusting in him for his righteousness, you are holy now. You are not trying to become blameless. You are blameless now. You are above shame, you are above guilt, above condemnation, above reproach. Amen, hallelujah, yes, let's continue this very empowering verse. Uh-oh, there's that first word, the conditional, if that's right, just taking you on an emotional roller coaster this morning, huh, if indeed you continue in the faith.
17:42
So why is pastor preaching on loyalty and commitment and not being a fan, but being a diehard follower on Palm Sunday? Well, number one, it's really the whole theme and message of Palm Sunday. You can't talk about Palm Sunday and what happened without addressing this, but it's because you have to continue. You know what that tells me? That Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy and knows you and knows you by name and hates you and wants to destroy you. He has an assignment. He wants to get you to discontinue. He wants to get you to stop If you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away and I have seen too many people start off strong and then get moved away and discontinue. May that not be the story with people here at City Light Church.
18:32
In the name of Jesus, lord, we thank you for your saving power. We also thank you for your keeping power that you will wrap your arms of love tightly around us. Oh Lord, I say what Paul said, that I have every confidence that you are able to commit what I have entrusted to you until that day, for everybody here and everybody watching online Hallelujah, what a party we're going to have, hallelujah. But Satan has this assignment to get you to just flake out. And so, on, this Blessed Palm Sunday, I want to present to you six ways, six tools of the enemy that Satan will use in your life to try to get you to discontinue and move from being a follower to just being a fan. For those of you taking notes, let me let all six they're the six Fs. Let me let them out of the bag now.
19:33
Fame, family ties, three fiery trials, four failed prayers, five false doctrine, six fish. Number one oh, you don't want to go fishing. It's not of God, matthew 10.22. Fame you know deep down inside really not that deep down inside, for some of us, it's right on the surface. I'll be the first to admit, apart from Christ, we're like insecure, attention-seeking, needing validation animals who will do anything for a like, and I don't just mean on social media, I just mean for a pat on the back, for a that-a-boy, for a oh. I see something in you. We're so depraved, apart from Christ, and so hungry just to be recognized as I exist and I'm important that we would sell our own soul for a little bit of popularity and a little bit of fame.
20:38
And Jesus addressed this over and over and over again. He said and you will be hated by all for my namesake, but he who endures, he who continues to the end, will be saved. Jesus said something else very, very provocative. He said woe to you when all men speak well of you. Any preacher that's preaching the word of God, that's preaching the uncompromised word of God. The world will hate him.
21:14
And there were preachers that the world liked and the media liked. And then, as soon as they came out with who they really were, they just weren't given a chance before and they said God's word All of a sudden blackballed. They're off, they're done. Who cares? Who cares when you stand before God? Those people who don't even think about you? They're not going to be with you. And even who you think is your close circle, who you're trying to win the approval of so much, they're not going to be there at your side. You're going to appear naked before the Alpha and the Omega and you're either going to have the blood on you or you're going to be found without the blood. And the scripture says when I see the blood. I will pass over you. His wrath will pass over to the one with the blood of the lamb, the blood of Jesus, applied to the doorpost of their life, Amen.
22:05
So this is something that I've seen Satan use to cause people to lose their way Very quickly. They let people at work know, they let friends know, and then the persecution comes, the teasing comes, and then they go hide in a closet. Jesus didn't die in a closet, he died on top of a mount. So just make your peace with that, that when you say yes to Jesus, you're not going to be winning any popularity contests. Amen.
22:42
Now, granted, for too long there's always been Christians who realize this, but then they just make it their identity. So they figure. The inner conversation goes something like you know, jesus said I'm going to be hated, so I might as well just give him something to hate me about. And they become rude and obnoxious and jerky. And then people hate them and they go oh, you know, it's for Jesus' sake. No, it's because you have a rotten personality, you're rude, you're impolite. Is this thing even on? Nobody knows who I'm talking about. Yes, you do. That guy's in your life group, you know, you do. He's getting better. We're praying for him. Right, pastor Moe? You're interceding. We're all works in progress. We're all going to grow, oh Lord.
23:35
Number two family ties, luke 14, 26. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, these are the words of Jesus. Of course he means comparatively speaking. He's saying that your loyalty and your love to me would be so great that in comparison, it looks like you hate your father and your mother. I have to say that because I saw a few teenagers ears perk up when I knew I was walking biblically by hating mom and dad. I knew it. He means comparatively speaking, speaking Big Daddy, what does your shirt say? Super Dad?
24:25
Do you all know the twin story? Pastor Mo's wife, tiffany, just had a child, but they didn't have any scans, they didn't want to know the sex of the baby, and so he texted that day to the staff and in the text he said something like Isn't it amazing, two daughters with the same birthday. So what he meant was his daughter was just born the same day as Isabella. But when I read it real quickly, excited for him, I thought that Tiffany had twins. So I texted everybody, I even texted Pastor Mike. I was like he had twins. And then that seamless card we sent you. You know that was a twins amount, not a single amount, and I mean praise God for the error. But in case you wonder, like wow, they really sent a lot of money. I sent them like wow, twins, and she didn't expect it, she's going to be out of commission. So we sent a thousand dollar seamless card Like that takes a long time, right, but that's the twins amount, not the single amount. That's like praise God, if Pastor Mo shows up to your life group with bags of food, you know where it came from. That lasted for two days. By the way, I was celebrating you. Well, you having twins. You know, tiffany, having twins.
25:52
Back to the Holy Word. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Couple of things. One, I hope you see how serious Jesus is about commitment and loyalty and this isn't like he's some mafia boss who demands total allegiance. This is God who made you, who formed you, and he gave his all for you and held nothing back. Yes, he requires the same in return, amen. Second, because we're talking about family ties. What Jesus is saying is your commitment to me trumps even family.
26:38
This was important to me because I was coming to Jesus at 16 years old and my parents forbid me. We were Greek Orthodox. I wanted to get baptized. They said you cannot go to that church, don't you get baptized in that church? They made fun of that church. They saw it it and you know it wasn't a fancy church with bells and spires and it was a giant storefront with a neon sign that went in and out and said Jesus saves. It's funny how the beautiful church externally never heard the gospel in, but the one with the neon sign that was fizzling in and out saying Jesus saves, that's where I heard the whole council of God and got saved Amen. You know there's a lot more worse things for a 16-year-old to get involved with than going to church and getting baptized. But they lost their minds. It was not like I was going to do drugs. They were acting like I just decided to join the Hell Angels and run away from home. So I rebelled.
27:42
I put God above even family. Let me say this God is a God of order. God is a God of structure. He's a God of hierarchy. Yes, he is. Just look at the way he even organizes his own angels. Everything is organized. Jesus is neat, by the way. You know, when Jesus was resurrected it says, they found his face cloth neatly folded in the corner. Amen, right, it's meticulous, but because he's a God of hierarchy and order, that means there is a way in a family situation where to love one another.
28:21
I know that I must love Jesus more than I love Emily. My commitment is to Jesus first. Emily knows that her commitment is to Jesus first, and when we have that first, then we'll have an overflowing amount of love for one another. That's the order of God. The next one might challenge some people a husband and wife. You were to love each other more than you do the kids, greater than you do the kids. And this Satan loves to mess with this because he'll cause strife between the husband and wife, and then One of the parents or both of the parents will find their emotional outlet in the child and make that child their best friend and just say, well, I don't like him anymore, I don't like her anymore, but at least I have the children. That is a doorway for Satan.
29:04
I know that if I love Emily first, when I come into the house, the kids run Daddy, daddy, daddy. You know what I say. Emily first, I do it with a smile. Emily gets the first one and I go and I kiss Emily. They're like already jumping on me. I want them to see. Emily gets the first kiss, then I go and I kiss them a hundred times and take them to the floor and wrestle with them. But we made that agreement. You love each other, and when we love each other first, the biblical way, then we'll have an overflowing amount of love for the children.
29:37
Hallelujah, number three fiery trials. Mark, chapter 10, verses 29 through 30. Fiery trials. So Jesus answered and said and let me just say this when I say fiery trials, I mean what the Bible calls a fiery trial, persecution. So Jesus answered and said assuredly I say to you there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospels, who shall not receive a hundredfold Amen. A hundredfold, that means whatever you forsake or give up for Jesus, you're getting it back a hundredfold when In heaven someday. No, he said now.
30:40
Now, in this time, is anybody hearing me? I don't know about you, but I counted the cost before I became a Christian. Real talk. One of the first things they told me is you can't have sex before you're married. I'm 16 years old. I said what Totally carnal, totally secular, that was like they told me that I had to walk on the moon. I'm 16 years old, I said what Totally carnal, totally secular, that was like. They told me that I had to walk on the moon. I was like what? That's too much money, I'm 16. I'm like I've been waiting half my life. And you know what the person leading me to the Lord then said if you will follow the word of the Lord, he will make sure you don't miss out on anything and you will get back a hundredfold. And that filled me with faith. And that's when I said all right, with his help, I can do that, because I know I won't be at a loss. He's going to recompense me A hundredfold. Now, in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, we celebrate that this is good stuff. But Jesus says there's going to be a little sprinkling. Remember that guy, emerald so-and-so Bam. Before there was Salt Bae, there was Emerald whoald who, bam, kicked it up a notch and Jesus says there's going to be a sprinkling on your 100 fold return.
32:03
It's all coming with persecution. It'll always come with people persecuting you. Jesus said the servant is not above his master. They persecuted me, they will persecute you. In fact, if there isn't somebody persecuting you, that's a sign that we need to crank up the fire a little bit more. But unfortunately, the way Christianity is being presented and the huge, just cultural pressure, it's that we be liked. You know what the world wants. It wants a castrated, powerless Christianity that just behaves itself as the whole world flaunts and parades its degeneracy around. It wants the church to just be quiet and you behave yourself, don't say anything. That's when the salt loses its savor.
33:01
1 Peter 4.12. By the way, if you're going through it right now, read 1 Peter. It's the great book on suffering. There's three distinct long passages that have to do with suffering as a Christian. Now, this changed my life when I got this revelation In each of those three passages, and then you'll see in every other instance in the New Testament when it talks about suffering, it's actually talking about persecution. Every time, I challenge you study it out yourself, because we're called to the sufferings of Christ.
33:38
What's the sufferings of Christ Persecution? Why is this so important? Because I hear Christians all the time saying they're suffering for Jesus. I can't pay rent. I'm suffering for Jesus. I'm sick in my body. I'm suffering for Jesus.
33:52
I went through my own thing. I wanted to work at Super Walmart. I didn't think I'm suffering for Jesus. I went through my own thing. I wanted to work at Super Walmart. I didn't think I'm suffering for Jesus. I went to the gym and started eating steak two times a day. All of a sudden, the demons left me.
34:08
Good Lord, as Christians we're so quick to rework our theology, get into a freak accident, having a bad week and oh gee, why are you having me go through this? And God's like this. I'm not having you anything. I'm waiting on you to activate my power that I purchased with my own blood Amen. My power that I purchased with my own blood, amen.
34:38
But the suffering that we are called to, we get to enjoy, is the sufferings of Jesus, and that's persecution. Yet when that happens, we think it's strange. That's why Peter wrote Beloved, don't think it's strange Concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings. So if they're Christ's sufferings, that means persecution. Here they fall into three categories being envied, being being persecuted and being misunderstood. Those are the sufferings of christ. If you're suffering in another way, well then resist it with the word of god. If you're suffering in this way, you can rejoice. It doesn't tell you to resist. It says rejoice. Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. You say how do you know, though? He's talking about persecution. I'm so glad you asked.
35:44
In the next verse, and in every one of those instances in Peter, he defines it are shamed if you are bullied, if you are made fun of for the name of Christ. Blessed are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. Hallelujah, hallelujah. We're talking about the tools that Satan uses his weapons. Thank you, lord. We're talking about the tools that Satan uses his weapons. Thank you Lord.
36:20
I don't know what just happened there. You went like this with your jacket and I thought it was my laptop slipping off of the table. That's why I did that. That wasn't like me quickening under the anointing that was me going my laptop oh, it's still right there. Number one fame. Number one, fame. Number two family ties. Number three fiery trials. Number four this is a big one failed prayer. I didn't get what I asked. I didn't get what I wanted. I thought God was Santa and instead I got a lump of coal. I thought he was a genie. He was going to do the whole song. I ain't never had a friend like me.
37:09
Have you all heard the story of Kanye West? A few years back he got saved. No, not that story of Kanye West, the saved. Years back he got saved. No, not that story of Kanye West, the saved story. He gave his life to Jesus, started doing Sunday morning service Concerts all over the country and just a couple of days ago he said he had a problem with Jesus. Let me read to you in his own words.
37:31
Quote I have my issues with Jesus. Can you imagine saying that Kanye West calls out God for not answering prayers? While labeling himself a God? He refers to himself as a God. There's a lot of stuff. Listen to this. This is why Kanye West now has issues with Jesus. There's a lot of stuff I went through that I prayed about and I didn't see Jesus show up", ye said, adding that he had to take the challenges of his personal and professional life into his own hands. So and I love you, kanye, I really do I bless him and I was excited when he got saved, but I held on because one thing I noticed was he wasn't really surrounding himself with godly Christians. He wasn't submitted to a local church or a pastor. He never allowed the Lord to clean up his speech and his mouth, still referred to himself as a God, divorced his wife, married someone else and started posting nearly naked pictures of her online.
38:45
God doesn't do exactly what he wants. Thinking God's like Burger King, your way right away. And then he gets offended and saying I have issues with Jesus. My mic is turned on right. Crazy, kanye. Right? You know how many people I know exactly like this? Do you know how many people I've pastored that? They come in excited. They're the ones hugging and kissing me. When they come up from the baptismal waters Six months later, where are they? Well, god didn't. Are you a fan or a follower? God didn't. Are you a fan or a follower? Though he slay me yet, will I praise him, hallelujah, hallelujah. And yes, I'm still the same guy that last Sunday preached Mark 11, 24.
39:29
And I believe that whatsoever things we desire when we pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them. But some things don't always work out. Do you know what I found the vast majority of unanswered prayers have to do when someone else's will is involved, because God is not going to override somebody else's will. I receive quickest and I receive best from God when it's just me in the equation, like something for me, and I have it in the word. And I receive best from God when it's just me in the equation, like something for me, and I have it in the word and I believe for myself. But when other people's wills are involved, now they gotta. He can push, he can move, he can influence, but he's not going to possess someone on your behalf.
40:09
Those of you believe in God for a mate, take note you can't get upset. You can't be praying the prayer you know. God, I love him so much. Make him love me. No, he's not going to. I mean, if he could make someone do that, he'd make them get saved. Jesus, whenever you start praying that God change someone's will, you could be bordering on witchcraft-type prayers and you don't want to mess with that. That's what witchcraft is. It's the manipulation of other people's wills at its core. It's not green hags over a pot bubble, double toil and trouble or any of that stuff. Witchcraft is manipulation through demonic forces of somebody else's free will. Is this helping anybody? So some prayers also are subject to the timing of God.
41:11
There's some things that I've wanted for years and I believe. But the you know God's FedEx system was. It seemed like it was taking its time, but every time I check in I'd feel like mm-hmm, you're good, lord. I know you say I'm good. It's easy for you to say because you're so good. Like a house, I really wanted a house. Like a house, I really wanted a house For years now. And the Lord, I would check in. And then it all came so quickly. It was like one thing after another. But during the years process of waiting I didn't go. God, where are you? You told me, whatever I want, I can have if I believe I mean some of us. We just gotta grow up I speak to myself grow up and be committed.
42:07
And that scripture that I quoted, that was some crazy Job. Job. He lost his mind there. You know everything the Bible is true, but not everything everyone says in the Bible is true. Job lost his whole family, lost his mind, but he did say even in his insanity, he said something wise Though he slay me, god's not going to slay you, but he's showing you his heart, though he slay me. Yet will I praise him? I want to just say this. I didn't say it in the first service.
42:43
I called my first ambulance in my life. When was that? Friday. It was Friday All the days are. Vivian had a temperature. That's why they're not here this morning. She had a temperature Thursday, wednesday and Thursday very high temperature. Victor woke up I believe he had a 104 or 105. Then I left the house just for a little bit and Emily called up and said it's 106. And I found him passed out. She put him in our bed and then he was in the middle of the rug, passed out. I said call the ambulance right now. The ambulance comes quickly. Never had to call an ambulance before. Now I'm trying to talk to him and he's like ah, he's burning up, so the ambulance comes, they take him away. Now I'm alone with my five-year-old daughter. Emily's gone in the ambulance with Victor.
43:36
Guess the kind of thoughts that are going through my head. This escalated quickly. So of course I pray, I speak the word, I stay strong in the faith by his grace. But of course, the enemy is raging right now and I have the thought like Satan would just love to take him out. What would you do? What would you do? What would you do? It's like satan was like what would you do if I took your son and I'm hearing it.
44:06
And I don't say this to boast, because, god forbid, we ever boast. But I postured my heart as I will trust in the goodness of God. I don't care what happens, god is good all the time. Amen. And once again, I don't say that I don't want to boast. You know who boasted? Peter boasted. Lord, I'll never, ever forsake you, and he was the first one to do so. Never boast in your love for God. Boast in God's love for you. Amen. That's the key. So I'm not boasting. Oh Lord, I'm so committed. No, lord, you're so committed to me, so I'm going to have the right response. Hallelujah, amen.
44:46
By the way, the reason why they crucified Jesus was because of failed prayer. They didn't get what they wanted. The Jews wanted a conquering king, a military leader who was going to redeem them from the Roman occupation. So God gives them that, except different. He's going to redeem you from a worse terrorist than Rome was, from the terrorism of Satan and your own sin, and I'll redeem you back to myself. And they couldn't see it and they got upset and then they shot to crucify him. So of all the reasons I've listed, I'd say this one probably should be the very, very top that people get upset that things aren't working out the way they hoped and then pout their lips at God and slowly, slowly move away. But over time the heart grows cold and the faith wanes, and that's a dangerous place to be in. Amen, number five this is a big one.
45:49
False doctrine, ephesians 4.14 how people become a proverb on the side of the road, how they lose their faith, how they discontinue false doctrine is a big one. And I found that when people don't submit to the word of God, they open themselves up for the enemy to bring a temptation to false doctrine. And it's a temptation. If we don't really love God's word but we see it as oppressive and burdensome, there will always be a door opened up where we will rationalize. We will compromise our way out, really to do our own thing, and then we will get together with other like-minded compromised people and we'll try to recreate God in our own image rather than submitting and saying God, I'm created in, in your image and I'm your servant and I'll do what you tell me to do, say what you want me to say, go where you want me to go. No, no, no, that's too oppressive. So in my world, in my pretend fantasy world, god is okay with fill-in-the-blanks and I'll just do what I want to do because, after all, I love Jesus. No, you're a fan. He's got lots of those Not interested. You've got to be a follower that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
47:38
The Bible says there is such a thing as a spirit of error. This was one of the biggest headaches to Paul was people would get caught up in false teachings and false doctrines. About 10 years ago there was this attack on penal substitution. Don't check out on me because it sounds theological. Let me tell you a little over 10 years ago, almost 15 years ago now, throughout Christianity, there was this attack on this 2,000 year old doctrine called penal substitution. Penal just means punishment. Jesus became our substitute. He took on the punishment that we deserved.
48:13
Correct Sound, biblical yeah, the Bible says he's the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation is the appeasement of God's wrath. This whole doctrine simply says that I am a sinner and, as a sinner, I deserve the holy, just wrath of God. What does that look like? It looks like forever in the lake of fire. However, god loved me so much that he came to earth in the person of Jesus and he stood there on my behalf and he received God's wrath God, the Father's just and holy wrath in my place as my substitute. That sounds good, right, but that was right around in the 2010s, with the mamby-pamby-zation of America, and that just sounded too violent to a lot of the younger Christians. Oh, no, oh. That makes me, oh, no, no, no. That makes me uncomfortable.
49:10
And so you would ask well, what happened at the cross? Well, god forgave the whole world. Yeah, he did forgive the whole world. In potential format. You have to receive that forgiveness. But according to them, no, no, no. Everyone go into heaven. There's no such a thing as hell. So Jesus wasted all that time. He was warning people about hell. He was doing it for nothing. He should have known better. And they said the cross just became a great display of love. And they said the cross just became a great display of love and we lost several people to that.
49:43
You know, when there are doctrines that come and go, just ask yourself is this a part, has this been a part, of 2,000 years of Christian orthodoxy? Wouldn't it be strange if now, 2,000 years in, somebody has a brand new way of doing things? It would be strange, and it is strange and it's happening all the time. Let God be true, in every man a liar, and so good doctrine matters. Good doctrine is important. We have an elder team here, one of the primary responsibilities of our, our elder team. There's a lot of responsibilities. One of the primary ones is to make sure that city light church stays true to the word of god and stays doctrinally sound.
50:26
I've told every single one of them if I come up here and I start spewing unbiblical, not talk to me, challenge me. I want, I want to know, hold me accountable, because what has to come forth in this day and this hour is the uncompromised, eternal word of God, amen, hallelujah. Do you understand? You only have one soul. Do you understand that you will appear before a holy God? If that doesn't cause you, saved or not, to shudder, you've got a problem and I would rather you address it now than in that day. Right now there's still hope. Right now you have a chance. You're so opinionated, you think so highly of yourself, you think you're evolved, you're proud, you're arrogant. You need to repent. And yes, I love you. And because I love you, I'm telling you that Stop making a God in your own image to satisfy your own lustful desires. I'm talking about pure doctrine.
51:25
In this church, we believe Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Because he said so. He said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. We believe in the triune God. We believe that salvation is by grace, through faith alone, hallelujah. We believe that God created them in the beginning, male and female, and marriage is between a male and a female. You say what about if two guys get married? What's that? I don't know what that is. It's something, but it's not. Marriage Never was for 2,000 years.
52:06
I know you've been scrolling on your TikTok 10 hours a day. You've been getting so brainwashed by this new current thing that's happening that you believe 2 plus 2 equals five, but the eternal word of God still believes two plus two equals four. Amen, yeah. And you know what, if you have a problem with me, your problem isn't really with me, your problem is with God that you're insubordinate, that in your heart of hearts you're rebellious and somewhere in that brain of yours you actually think you're more compassionate than Jesus and you can't be more compassionate than Jesus. But what about inclusivity? You sound so cruel. You're a bigot. Call me that, I don't care. You're a racist. Call me that, I don't care.
52:53
You can put whatever nouveau label on me, I don't care. You can put whatever nouveau label on me, I don't care. I know who I am and in whom I have believed. Amen, they will call you every name in the book Jesus. Have mercy. They think they're more compassionate than Jesus? Hey, newsflash.
53:18
Christianity is not inclusive. It's actually very, very exclusive. Jesus couldn't have reiterated that more. You want inclusive? Be my guest.
53:31
He said broad is the highway that goes to hell. That's inclusive. He said broad is the highway that goes to hell. That's inclusive. He said straight and narrow is the road that leads to life eternal. That's exclusive. He didn't say oh, hop in whatever boat you want, the Buddhist boat, the Confucius boat, the Muslim boat and every boat goes across the lake and reaches the same shore. He said no one can come to the Father except through me, my name, what I've done. That's exclusive.
54:00
So you want to play with your eternal soul? Gamble, the one soul that you have, because you seem so evolved, so hip, you're so progressive. Wow, wow, you've been brainwashed. Yeah, you have. When you have listen to me. When the whole world, the Bible, says you are at war with this world system, when the whole world agrees with you. Think about it. You're the one who's wrong. You have a problem when everything you believe, the world, would pat you on the back and say is that a boy? Who do you think is in the wrong? Oh, hallelujah, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, yeah, false doctrine, john 21, 15, the sixth weapon, kind of want to camp around the fifth a little bit more, but let's go on to the sixth worship team, won't you come on up? Hallelujah, hallelujah. I think we've just reached the tipping point. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. I think we've just reached the tipping point and the breaking point. We actually are so patient and so tolerant and I teach and preach love, love, love, but after a while there is so much I can take when you're lying to me and punching me in the face and destroying this great country, this culture, this Christian culture that we have, while all the time telling me you're not. The pendulum is swinging the other way. I'm telling you right now and there's going to come a loving but holy and righteous backlash, amen.
55:52
The sixth temptation is the fish, because it's all about the fishies, baby. What is the fish? Money and career. So when they had eaten breakfast, jesus said to Simon Peter Simon, son of Jonah. Do you love me more than these? What was he talking about? What are these, these fish?
56:19
Because after the crucifixion, when Peter thought, all right, well, that party's over Didn't work out, you know what his first words were I go a-fishing. I'm going to do what I know to do. I'm going back to my career. I got to make some money because there's no more Jesus to multiply the loaves. He was the one that everybody was giving the offerings to. Anyway, I'm not going to raise anything. It's true, it's biblical. Jesus was a money magnet. I've said too many things to challenge some people. Jesus comes back and restores Peter, but he challenges him. Do you love me more than money and career? Do you love me more than these?
57:06
This is something we're talking about ways, the six F's, ways that Satan wants to cause you to discontinue, and one of those ways is, especially in New York City, that golden calf of career and money. One of the ways you can put that in check is consistently submitting your hopes, your dreams, your ambitions to the Lord. Submit them to him. Let him be Lord of every area of your life. Honor God with your finances. That's how you consistently convey to him that money doesn't have a hold on you, but you believe it all belongs to the Lord, and when you do that, he will multiply you even more. And when your career isn't a God, he will bless you all the more. And then you never know. You could be going one way, being successful, and all of a sudden a totally different life change where you get a hundredfold return.
58:00
Hallelujah, just bow your heads with me and close your eyes and say this with me Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for Palm Sunday. You came into Jerusalem, you preached the uncompromised Word of God, you showed your love and you died on the cross to take away all my sins. I believe Jesus, you are my Lord, you are my Savior. Now, help me, lord, in these six areas and beyond. Now help me, lord, in these six areas and beyond, that I would be a follower and not a fan, that I would be loyal and committed. I can't do it alone. I need your help. Cause them to be fiery, cause me to be fiery, in Jesus' name, amen, amen.
58:59 - Speaker 2
Hallelujah. This is the City Light Church podcast. If you've missed any part of today's message or if you would like to find out more about Pastor Boyan Jancic and City Light Church, visit us at citylightnyccom. That's citylightnyccom. Feel free to visit us online or in person anytime. We would love to connect with you. We pray that you have been encouraged today, that you have been reminded how much God loves you and that you are surrounded by grace. Thank you for listening. Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.
who you're trying to win the approval of so much. They're not gonna be there at your side. You're gonna appear naked before the Alpha and the Omega and you're either gonna have the blood on you or you're gonna be found without the blood. And the scripture says when I see the blood, I will pass over you. His wrath will pass over to the one with the blood of the Lamb, the blood of Jesus, applied to the doorpost of their life, amen.
00:26 - Speaker 2
Welcome to the City Light Church podcast. Thanks for joining us today as we look into God's Word and discover the hope and truth that he has for us. If you want to connect with City Light Church, feel free to visit us at CityLightNYCcom. That's CityLightNYCcom. Pastor Boyan Jancic and his team believe that the power of the Holy Spirit is already working in our hearts and minds. As you listen to today's teaching, remember that you are deeply loved by God, that you are surrounded by His grace and that he has a real hope and a future for you that he has a real hope and a future for you.
01:12 - Speaker 1
Let's begin this Palm Sunday in Matthew, chapter 21, verses 8 to 11. God is going to impart something, his grace, and you're going to leave here better than how you came in. So make your heart like a sponge and expect to receive. Last Sunday, we talked about how Jesus multiple times said in proportion to your faith, according to your faith, be it unto you. So I wouldn't have come all this way those of you online, welcome. I wouldn't have rolled out of bed and logged into YouTube Just kidding Half If I wasn't going to expect to receive something. You came all this way. Expect to receive from heaven, apart from the message that I'll preach, which I believe is inspired by God, but he wants to get other stuff to you. So be greedy. I want to give you permission to be greedy.
02:19
You know the people who got miracles from Jesus in the Bible. They were greedy. They were really greedier, hungrier than the others. Jesus never said oh, look at you Too much. No, they're the ones who got a miracle from him. The blind man shouted and cried and got God's attention, and the others quieted him down, and the Bible says he cried out all the more. He was just a bit hungrier than the rest Zacchaeus. He dangled from a tree it's a short guy, it says that in poetic language Little of stature. So he climbed up a tree and then dangled from a branch to get to Jesus. And Jesus came and saw him and said I'm going to have lunch with you today. What was?
03:16
it about Zacchaeus. All the others were around Jesus, a multitude, but that greedy. You know when I say greedy what I mean. Some of you want to get all technical. The Bible says the greatest. You know what I mean the good kind of greedy, not the Gordon Gekko kind, the good kind. This is the triumphal entry.
03:41
Jesus is coming now, after three to three and a half years of ministry. He's coming into the city of God, he's coming into Jerusalem, it says, and a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road. Others cut down branches. These were palm branches, this is why we celebrate Palm Sunday From the trees and spread them on the road. Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out saying just shout, multitudes. I want you to understand that Jesus was now the most popular guy in town, a celebrity. He was famous. Multitudes, thousands and thousands Went before and those who followed cried out saying Hosanna to the son of David, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord Hosanna in the highest.
04:43
In another gospel it says that when the chief priests, who were so jealous of Jesus's fame and influence, when they heard the people praising him that way, they quieted them and Jesus's response was if they were to keep quiet, these rocks would cry out. And when he had come into Jerusalem, all the city shout. All the city, all the city was moved. Once again, very popular, an influencer. All the city was moved saying who is this, who is this? So the multitude said this is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee. What an entry, what a reception. Amen, let's fast forward, not five years from then, not even a year from then. Let's fast forward just five days and see what happens. Luke, chapter 23, starting in verse 13. Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, said to them you have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people. Now he's on trial Just five days, you might say four and a half days, later. This is late, late Thursday night, in the middle of the night, early Friday morning. You have brought this man to me as one who misleads the people and indeed, having examined him in your presence, I have found no fault in this man concerning those things of which you accuse him. No, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him and indeed, nothing deserving of death has been done by him. I will therefore chastise him and release him, for it was necessary for him to release one to them at the feast.
06:38
During the feast, the prisoner would be let go. And they all who's they? They all cried out who's they? They all cried out who's they? The same crowd, the same group that five days earlier was crying out Hosanna, son of David, jesus, who was taking off their clothes and laying it at his feet, cutting down palm branches to acknowledge his kingship. That's what the palm branch is, a symbol of royalty and victory and laying it at his feet. Now it's the same crowd.
07:17
What happened? And they all cried out at once saying Away with this man and release to us Barabbas, barabbas. What a character who had been thrown into prison for a certain rebellion, a riot made in the city, and for murder. Pilate, therefore wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted saying but they shouted saying crucify him, crucify him.
07:45
What is going on here? This is a demonically incited mob mentality. This is a satanically induced mass formation psychosis. The Bible has a lot to say about mobs. Look how easily they were changed. Look how easily they were swayed. You know, you read this and you think this was crazy. What happened back then in biblical times. Wild, that could never be me. Yet what short-term memories people have and so easily forget that four years ago people lost their minds. Normally healthy, emotionally healthy. Normally healthy, emotionally healthy, stable people, just from a couple of days of programming and watching CNN's death-o-meter going just change their whole personalities. Sound team, can you turn my microphone back on some? That I Did. I wish you a happy Palm Sunday already Happy Palm Sunday. Then he said to them the third time why? What evil has he done? I found no reason for death in him. I will therefore chastise him and let him go. But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that he be crucified, and the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed. So Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they requested, and he released to them the one they requested, who, for rebellion and murder, had been thrown into prison. But he delivered Jesus to their will.
09:35
Other than this mob, mass formation psychosis that was influenced by the enemy himself, what happened here? Because just five days ago they were adoring him. What happened is that they were fans and they weren't followers. I want to ask you a question this morning Are you a fan or are you a follower Because Jesus isn't interested in fans. Have you ever noticed how actually he's so disinterested in fans? He would just keep walking. You get a picture of Jesus walking like a prize fighter coming down the aisle, and all the fans, you know they're not committed to the prize fighter, they just want to be there for the good time. They touch him, just touch celebrity, touch fame. And he didn't pay attention until somebody cried out and cried out with hunger. I don't want to be a fan, I want to be a follower. Amen. I want to be committed, not a fair weather friend.
10:30
I was raised in Queens. I remember when I became a Mets fan. It was in 1986 when they won their last first series, nearly 40 years ago, last first series, nearly 40 years ago. And all my friends, we would all wear the shirt the bright blue, you know, I mean, you can't miss it Bright orange with the cap. And then they won and we were all like Mets all the way. They hadn't won since Next year. And when they won the World Series, I was in fourth grade. Next year, in fifth grade, I was once again a Mets fan. You're only in fifth grade. You think they're going to do it again? They didn't do it again. They never did it again. By sixth grade I forgot all about the Mets. We're in Queens right now. You will meet and you've met them. Not a Mets fan, but a Mets follower. They wear that goofy, bright blue orange insignia everywhere. They're sitting up whatever it's called now Citi Field. I remember it as Shea. They're committed. They're Mets followers. They're not Mets fans. Mark 1450.
11:55
A follower is loyal, no matter the ups or downs. They don't just hang around for the benefits. After this, peter famously denies him three times and disassociates from him three times. Peter, the one who boasted when Jesus prophesied that he would be betrayed. Peter was the first one to say not me, that he would be betrayed. Peter was the first one to say I would not, not me. Three times. That very night, peter had a little bit more of a fan than a follower in him too.
12:36
It wasn't until the day of Pentecost and he was filled with the Holy Spirit that that nonsense, that that lack of commitment, lack of loyalty, was purged out of him. Hey, this is serious to Jesus. That's why he talked about it so much. He said anybody looking back, looking at their former life, is not fit for the kingdom of heaven Anyone who would commit. But there's still. There's a whole story as Genesis, as Lot fled Sodom and Lot's wife turned behind, she still wistfully looked back at the place of sin, her former life, and turned into a pillar of salt. That's there for a reason. Jesus wants commitment, he wants loyalty. He doesn't want fans, he wants followers. So you had the whole crowd that was adoring him turn their backs on him. You had Peter, one of the not just the 12, but the inner three. He turned his back on him and then, according to Mark 14, 15, 50, they all forsook him and fled, all of them. May that not be us, amen. May that not be us, amen. Colossians 1.21, verses 23.
13:49
You know I love, if you were here last Sunday. I was exhorting people. I love a good exhortational message and really that's by nature. I'm an empowerer. I want to tell you who you are in Christ and what you have in Christ. That's my favorite way to preach, but that can't be all I preach.
14:07
Paul said teaching and warning everyone. There has to be a warning. Palm Sunday is usually pretty well attended, so I feel like the Lord said warn them. Now Some people who wouldn't maybe be here warn them. Do you know that two-thirds of biblical preaching is corrective in nature. When Paul was writing young Pastor Timothy he said Reprove, that's corrective, rebuke, that's corrective. And admonish, exhort. And then of course he said With all longsuffering, gently. But reprove, rebuke, get everybody aligned, get everybody on the biblical same page. So this is my loving morning, amen.
14:54
Next week is Easter. We're going to all celebrate. I'm going to tell you how all things are possible to him that believes. Amen. And you can do all things through Christ. With a verse taken out of context no, with Christ. Amen. And you can do all things through Christ. With a verse taken out of context, no, with Christ. Some of you didn't get that, but of course I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. But in context Paul was talking about abasing and abounding. He was saying I can go through the ups and downs of life. I can do this and still have joy. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, amen. Some people gain a little weight and they're putting on their jeans. I can do all things through Christ. You want to kind of keep it. We're charismatics, I know we kind of like to stretch the scriptures and how applicable they are. But you want to Syntax matters, context matters.
15:46
And you who once were alienated once and enemies in your mind by wicked works. Yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh, through death, to present you. Jesus did this at his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. He did this for everyone who would believe. He did this for you. Jesus did this at his crucifixion and subsequent resurrection. He did this for everyone who would believe. He did this for you, to present you holy.
16:11
Say that out loud. I am holy. You're not trying to be holy, you're holy In the eyes of God and in the mind of God. You're holy right now and blameless Shout and blameless Shout. I am above reproach in his sight. Isn't that good news? You could have fallen yesterday. You could have fallen last week. Your emotions are topsy-turvy. Satan has come riding on you now, heaping shame and guilt and condemnation. But in the eyes of God and in the mind of God, if you're looking to Jesus and trusting in him for his righteousness, you are holy now. You are not trying to become blameless. You are blameless now. You are above shame, you are above guilt, above condemnation, above reproach. Amen, hallelujah, yes, let's continue this very empowering verse. Uh-oh, there's that first word, the conditional, if that's right, just taking you on an emotional roller coaster this morning, huh, if indeed you continue in the faith.
17:42
So why is pastor preaching on loyalty and commitment and not being a fan, but being a diehard follower on Palm Sunday? Well, number one, it's really the whole theme and message of Palm Sunday. You can't talk about Palm Sunday and what happened without addressing this, but it's because you have to continue. You know what that tells me? That Satan, who comes to steal, kill and destroy and knows you and knows you by name and hates you and wants to destroy you. He has an assignment. He wants to get you to discontinue. He wants to get you to stop If you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away and I have seen too many people start off strong and then get moved away and discontinue. May that not be the story with people here at City Light Church.
18:32
In the name of Jesus, lord, we thank you for your saving power. We also thank you for your keeping power that you will wrap your arms of love tightly around us. Oh Lord, I say what Paul said, that I have every confidence that you are able to commit what I have entrusted to you until that day, for everybody here and everybody watching online Hallelujah, what a party we're going to have, hallelujah. But Satan has this assignment to get you to just flake out. And so, on, this Blessed Palm Sunday, I want to present to you six ways, six tools of the enemy that Satan will use in your life to try to get you to discontinue and move from being a follower to just being a fan. For those of you taking notes, let me let all six they're the six Fs. Let me let them out of the bag now.
19:33
Fame, family ties, three fiery trials, four failed prayers, five false doctrine, six fish. Number one oh, you don't want to go fishing. It's not of God, matthew 10.22. Fame you know deep down inside really not that deep down inside, for some of us, it's right on the surface. I'll be the first to admit, apart from Christ, we're like insecure, attention-seeking, needing validation animals who will do anything for a like, and I don't just mean on social media, I just mean for a pat on the back, for a that-a-boy, for a oh. I see something in you. We're so depraved, apart from Christ, and so hungry just to be recognized as I exist and I'm important that we would sell our own soul for a little bit of popularity and a little bit of fame.
20:38
And Jesus addressed this over and over and over again. He said and you will be hated by all for my namesake, but he who endures, he who continues to the end, will be saved. Jesus said something else very, very provocative. He said woe to you when all men speak well of you. Any preacher that's preaching the word of God, that's preaching the uncompromised word of God. The world will hate him.
21:14
And there were preachers that the world liked and the media liked. And then, as soon as they came out with who they really were, they just weren't given a chance before and they said God's word All of a sudden blackballed. They're off, they're done. Who cares? Who cares when you stand before God? Those people who don't even think about you? They're not going to be with you. And even who you think is your close circle, who you're trying to win the approval of so much, they're not going to be there at your side. You're going to appear naked before the Alpha and the Omega and you're either going to have the blood on you or you're going to be found without the blood. And the scripture says when I see the blood. I will pass over you. His wrath will pass over to the one with the blood of the lamb, the blood of Jesus, applied to the doorpost of their life, Amen.
22:05
So this is something that I've seen Satan use to cause people to lose their way Very quickly. They let people at work know, they let friends know, and then the persecution comes, the teasing comes, and then they go hide in a closet. Jesus didn't die in a closet, he died on top of a mount. So just make your peace with that, that when you say yes to Jesus, you're not going to be winning any popularity contests. Amen.
22:42
Now, granted, for too long there's always been Christians who realize this, but then they just make it their identity. So they figure. The inner conversation goes something like you know, jesus said I'm going to be hated, so I might as well just give him something to hate me about. And they become rude and obnoxious and jerky. And then people hate them and they go oh, you know, it's for Jesus' sake. No, it's because you have a rotten personality, you're rude, you're impolite. Is this thing even on? Nobody knows who I'm talking about. Yes, you do. That guy's in your life group, you know, you do. He's getting better. We're praying for him. Right, pastor Moe? You're interceding. We're all works in progress. We're all going to grow, oh Lord.
23:35
Number two family ties, luke 14, 26. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, these are the words of Jesus. Of course he means comparatively speaking. He's saying that your loyalty and your love to me would be so great that in comparison, it looks like you hate your father and your mother. I have to say that because I saw a few teenagers ears perk up when I knew I was walking biblically by hating mom and dad. I knew it. He means comparatively speaking, speaking Big Daddy, what does your shirt say? Super Dad?
24:25
Do you all know the twin story? Pastor Mo's wife, tiffany, just had a child, but they didn't have any scans, they didn't want to know the sex of the baby, and so he texted that day to the staff and in the text he said something like Isn't it amazing, two daughters with the same birthday. So what he meant was his daughter was just born the same day as Isabella. But when I read it real quickly, excited for him, I thought that Tiffany had twins. So I texted everybody, I even texted Pastor Mike. I was like he had twins. And then that seamless card we sent you. You know that was a twins amount, not a single amount, and I mean praise God for the error. But in case you wonder, like wow, they really sent a lot of money. I sent them like wow, twins, and she didn't expect it, she's going to be out of commission. So we sent a thousand dollar seamless card Like that takes a long time, right, but that's the twins amount, not the single amount. That's like praise God, if Pastor Mo shows up to your life group with bags of food, you know where it came from. That lasted for two days. By the way, I was celebrating you. Well, you having twins. You know, tiffany, having twins.
25:52
Back to the Holy Word. If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters yes, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple. Couple of things. One, I hope you see how serious Jesus is about commitment and loyalty and this isn't like he's some mafia boss who demands total allegiance. This is God who made you, who formed you, and he gave his all for you and held nothing back. Yes, he requires the same in return, amen. Second, because we're talking about family ties. What Jesus is saying is your commitment to me trumps even family.
26:38
This was important to me because I was coming to Jesus at 16 years old and my parents forbid me. We were Greek Orthodox. I wanted to get baptized. They said you cannot go to that church, don't you get baptized in that church? They made fun of that church. They saw it it and you know it wasn't a fancy church with bells and spires and it was a giant storefront with a neon sign that went in and out and said Jesus saves. It's funny how the beautiful church externally never heard the gospel in, but the one with the neon sign that was fizzling in and out saying Jesus saves, that's where I heard the whole council of God and got saved Amen. You know there's a lot more worse things for a 16-year-old to get involved with than going to church and getting baptized. But they lost their minds. It was not like I was going to do drugs. They were acting like I just decided to join the Hell Angels and run away from home. So I rebelled.
27:42
I put God above even family. Let me say this God is a God of order. God is a God of structure. He's a God of hierarchy. Yes, he is. Just look at the way he even organizes his own angels. Everything is organized. Jesus is neat, by the way. You know, when Jesus was resurrected it says, they found his face cloth neatly folded in the corner. Amen, right, it's meticulous, but because he's a God of hierarchy and order, that means there is a way in a family situation where to love one another.
28:21
I know that I must love Jesus more than I love Emily. My commitment is to Jesus first. Emily knows that her commitment is to Jesus first, and when we have that first, then we'll have an overflowing amount of love for one another. That's the order of God. The next one might challenge some people a husband and wife. You were to love each other more than you do the kids, greater than you do the kids. And this Satan loves to mess with this because he'll cause strife between the husband and wife, and then One of the parents or both of the parents will find their emotional outlet in the child and make that child their best friend and just say, well, I don't like him anymore, I don't like her anymore, but at least I have the children. That is a doorway for Satan.
29:04
I know that if I love Emily first, when I come into the house, the kids run Daddy, daddy, daddy. You know what I say. Emily first, I do it with a smile. Emily gets the first one and I go and I kiss Emily. They're like already jumping on me. I want them to see. Emily gets the first kiss, then I go and I kiss them a hundred times and take them to the floor and wrestle with them. But we made that agreement. You love each other, and when we love each other first, the biblical way, then we'll have an overflowing amount of love for the children.
29:37
Hallelujah, number three fiery trials. Mark, chapter 10, verses 29 through 30. Fiery trials. So Jesus answered and said and let me just say this when I say fiery trials, I mean what the Bible calls a fiery trial, persecution. So Jesus answered and said assuredly I say to you there is no one who has left house, or brothers or sisters, or father or mother, or wife or children or lands, for my sake and the gospels, who shall not receive a hundredfold Amen. A hundredfold, that means whatever you forsake or give up for Jesus, you're getting it back a hundredfold when In heaven someday. No, he said now.
30:40
Now, in this time, is anybody hearing me? I don't know about you, but I counted the cost before I became a Christian. Real talk. One of the first things they told me is you can't have sex before you're married. I'm 16 years old. I said what Totally carnal, totally secular, that was like they told me that I had to walk on the moon. I'm 16 years old, I said what Totally carnal, totally secular, that was like. They told me that I had to walk on the moon. I was like what? That's too much money, I'm 16. I'm like I've been waiting half my life. And you know what the person leading me to the Lord then said if you will follow the word of the Lord, he will make sure you don't miss out on anything and you will get back a hundredfold. And that filled me with faith. And that's when I said all right, with his help, I can do that, because I know I won't be at a loss. He's going to recompense me A hundredfold. Now, in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, we celebrate that this is good stuff. But Jesus says there's going to be a little sprinkling. Remember that guy, emerald so-and-so Bam. Before there was Salt Bae, there was Emerald whoald who, bam, kicked it up a notch and Jesus says there's going to be a sprinkling on your 100 fold return.
32:03
It's all coming with persecution. It'll always come with people persecuting you. Jesus said the servant is not above his master. They persecuted me, they will persecute you. In fact, if there isn't somebody persecuting you, that's a sign that we need to crank up the fire a little bit more. But unfortunately, the way Christianity is being presented and the huge, just cultural pressure, it's that we be liked. You know what the world wants. It wants a castrated, powerless Christianity that just behaves itself as the whole world flaunts and parades its degeneracy around. It wants the church to just be quiet and you behave yourself, don't say anything. That's when the salt loses its savor.
33:01
1 Peter 4.12. By the way, if you're going through it right now, read 1 Peter. It's the great book on suffering. There's three distinct long passages that have to do with suffering as a Christian. Now, this changed my life when I got this revelation In each of those three passages, and then you'll see in every other instance in the New Testament when it talks about suffering, it's actually talking about persecution. Every time, I challenge you study it out yourself, because we're called to the sufferings of Christ.
33:38
What's the sufferings of Christ Persecution? Why is this so important? Because I hear Christians all the time saying they're suffering for Jesus. I can't pay rent. I'm suffering for Jesus. I'm sick in my body. I'm suffering for Jesus.
33:52
I went through my own thing. I wanted to work at Super Walmart. I didn't think I'm suffering for Jesus. I went through my own thing. I wanted to work at Super Walmart. I didn't think I'm suffering for Jesus. I went to the gym and started eating steak two times a day. All of a sudden, the demons left me.
34:08
Good Lord, as Christians we're so quick to rework our theology, get into a freak accident, having a bad week and oh gee, why are you having me go through this? And God's like this. I'm not having you anything. I'm waiting on you to activate my power that I purchased with my own blood Amen. My power that I purchased with my own blood, amen.
34:38
But the suffering that we are called to, we get to enjoy, is the sufferings of Jesus, and that's persecution. Yet when that happens, we think it's strange. That's why Peter wrote Beloved, don't think it's strange Concerning the fiery trial which is to try you as though some strange thing happened to you, but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings. So if they're Christ's sufferings, that means persecution. Here they fall into three categories being envied, being being persecuted and being misunderstood. Those are the sufferings of christ. If you're suffering in another way, well then resist it with the word of god. If you're suffering in this way, you can rejoice. It doesn't tell you to resist. It says rejoice. Rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when his glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. You say how do you know, though? He's talking about persecution. I'm so glad you asked.
35:44
In the next verse, and in every one of those instances in Peter, he defines it are shamed if you are bullied, if you are made fun of for the name of Christ. Blessed are you, for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part he is blasphemed, but on your part he is glorified. Hallelujah, hallelujah. We're talking about the tools that Satan uses his weapons. Thank you, lord. We're talking about the tools that Satan uses his weapons. Thank you Lord.
36:20
I don't know what just happened there. You went like this with your jacket and I thought it was my laptop slipping off of the table. That's why I did that. That wasn't like me quickening under the anointing that was me going my laptop oh, it's still right there. Number one fame. Number one, fame. Number two family ties. Number three fiery trials. Number four this is a big one failed prayer. I didn't get what I asked. I didn't get what I wanted. I thought God was Santa and instead I got a lump of coal. I thought he was a genie. He was going to do the whole song. I ain't never had a friend like me.
37:09
Have you all heard the story of Kanye West? A few years back he got saved. No, not that story of Kanye West, the saved. Years back he got saved. No, not that story of Kanye West, the saved story. He gave his life to Jesus, started doing Sunday morning service Concerts all over the country and just a couple of days ago he said he had a problem with Jesus. Let me read to you in his own words.
37:31
Quote I have my issues with Jesus. Can you imagine saying that Kanye West calls out God for not answering prayers? While labeling himself a God? He refers to himself as a God. There's a lot of stuff. Listen to this. This is why Kanye West now has issues with Jesus. There's a lot of stuff I went through that I prayed about and I didn't see Jesus show up", ye said, adding that he had to take the challenges of his personal and professional life into his own hands. So and I love you, kanye, I really do I bless him and I was excited when he got saved, but I held on because one thing I noticed was he wasn't really surrounding himself with godly Christians. He wasn't submitted to a local church or a pastor. He never allowed the Lord to clean up his speech and his mouth, still referred to himself as a God, divorced his wife, married someone else and started posting nearly naked pictures of her online.
38:45
God doesn't do exactly what he wants. Thinking God's like Burger King, your way right away. And then he gets offended and saying I have issues with Jesus. My mic is turned on right. Crazy, kanye. Right? You know how many people I know exactly like this? Do you know how many people I've pastored that? They come in excited. They're the ones hugging and kissing me. When they come up from the baptismal waters Six months later, where are they? Well, god didn't. Are you a fan or a follower? God didn't. Are you a fan or a follower? Though he slay me yet, will I praise him, hallelujah, hallelujah. And yes, I'm still the same guy that last Sunday preached Mark 11, 24.
39:29
And I believe that whatsoever things we desire when we pray, believe that you receive them and you shall have them. But some things don't always work out. Do you know what I found the vast majority of unanswered prayers have to do when someone else's will is involved, because God is not going to override somebody else's will. I receive quickest and I receive best from God when it's just me in the equation, like something for me, and I have it in the word. And I receive best from God when it's just me in the equation, like something for me, and I have it in the word and I believe for myself. But when other people's wills are involved, now they gotta. He can push, he can move, he can influence, but he's not going to possess someone on your behalf.
40:09
Those of you believe in God for a mate, take note you can't get upset. You can't be praying the prayer you know. God, I love him so much. Make him love me. No, he's not going to. I mean, if he could make someone do that, he'd make them get saved. Jesus, whenever you start praying that God change someone's will, you could be bordering on witchcraft-type prayers and you don't want to mess with that. That's what witchcraft is. It's the manipulation of other people's wills at its core. It's not green hags over a pot bubble, double toil and trouble or any of that stuff. Witchcraft is manipulation through demonic forces of somebody else's free will. Is this helping anybody? So some prayers also are subject to the timing of God.
41:11
There's some things that I've wanted for years and I believe. But the you know God's FedEx system was. It seemed like it was taking its time, but every time I check in I'd feel like mm-hmm, you're good, lord. I know you say I'm good. It's easy for you to say because you're so good. Like a house, I really wanted a house. Like a house, I really wanted a house For years now. And the Lord, I would check in. And then it all came so quickly. It was like one thing after another. But during the years process of waiting I didn't go. God, where are you? You told me, whatever I want, I can have if I believe I mean some of us. We just gotta grow up I speak to myself grow up and be committed.
42:07
And that scripture that I quoted, that was some crazy Job. Job. He lost his mind there. You know everything the Bible is true, but not everything everyone says in the Bible is true. Job lost his whole family, lost his mind, but he did say even in his insanity, he said something wise Though he slay me, god's not going to slay you, but he's showing you his heart, though he slay me. Yet will I praise him? I want to just say this. I didn't say it in the first service.
42:43
I called my first ambulance in my life. When was that? Friday. It was Friday All the days are. Vivian had a temperature. That's why they're not here this morning. She had a temperature Thursday, wednesday and Thursday very high temperature. Victor woke up I believe he had a 104 or 105. Then I left the house just for a little bit and Emily called up and said it's 106. And I found him passed out. She put him in our bed and then he was in the middle of the rug, passed out. I said call the ambulance right now. The ambulance comes quickly. Never had to call an ambulance before. Now I'm trying to talk to him and he's like ah, he's burning up, so the ambulance comes, they take him away. Now I'm alone with my five-year-old daughter. Emily's gone in the ambulance with Victor.
43:36
Guess the kind of thoughts that are going through my head. This escalated quickly. So of course I pray, I speak the word, I stay strong in the faith by his grace. But of course, the enemy is raging right now and I have the thought like Satan would just love to take him out. What would you do? What would you do? What would you do? It's like satan was like what would you do if I took your son and I'm hearing it.
44:06
And I don't say this to boast, because, god forbid, we ever boast. But I postured my heart as I will trust in the goodness of God. I don't care what happens, god is good all the time. Amen. And once again, I don't say that I don't want to boast. You know who boasted? Peter boasted. Lord, I'll never, ever forsake you, and he was the first one to do so. Never boast in your love for God. Boast in God's love for you. Amen. That's the key. So I'm not boasting. Oh Lord, I'm so committed. No, lord, you're so committed to me, so I'm going to have the right response. Hallelujah, amen.
44:46
By the way, the reason why they crucified Jesus was because of failed prayer. They didn't get what they wanted. The Jews wanted a conquering king, a military leader who was going to redeem them from the Roman occupation. So God gives them that, except different. He's going to redeem you from a worse terrorist than Rome was, from the terrorism of Satan and your own sin, and I'll redeem you back to myself. And they couldn't see it and they got upset and then they shot to crucify him. So of all the reasons I've listed, I'd say this one probably should be the very, very top that people get upset that things aren't working out the way they hoped and then pout their lips at God and slowly, slowly move away. But over time the heart grows cold and the faith wanes, and that's a dangerous place to be in. Amen, number five this is a big one.
45:49
False doctrine, ephesians 4.14 how people become a proverb on the side of the road, how they lose their faith, how they discontinue false doctrine is a big one. And I found that when people don't submit to the word of God, they open themselves up for the enemy to bring a temptation to false doctrine. And it's a temptation. If we don't really love God's word but we see it as oppressive and burdensome, there will always be a door opened up where we will rationalize. We will compromise our way out, really to do our own thing, and then we will get together with other like-minded compromised people and we'll try to recreate God in our own image rather than submitting and saying God, I'm created in, in your image and I'm your servant and I'll do what you tell me to do, say what you want me to say, go where you want me to go. No, no, no, that's too oppressive. So in my world, in my pretend fantasy world, god is okay with fill-in-the-blanks and I'll just do what I want to do because, after all, I love Jesus. No, you're a fan. He's got lots of those Not interested. You've got to be a follower that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine by the trickery of men in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting.
47:38
The Bible says there is such a thing as a spirit of error. This was one of the biggest headaches to Paul was people would get caught up in false teachings and false doctrines. About 10 years ago there was this attack on penal substitution. Don't check out on me because it sounds theological. Let me tell you a little over 10 years ago, almost 15 years ago now, throughout Christianity, there was this attack on this 2,000 year old doctrine called penal substitution. Penal just means punishment. Jesus became our substitute. He took on the punishment that we deserved.
48:13
Correct Sound, biblical yeah, the Bible says he's the propitiation for our sins. Propitiation is the appeasement of God's wrath. This whole doctrine simply says that I am a sinner and, as a sinner, I deserve the holy, just wrath of God. What does that look like? It looks like forever in the lake of fire. However, god loved me so much that he came to earth in the person of Jesus and he stood there on my behalf and he received God's wrath God, the Father's just and holy wrath in my place as my substitute. That sounds good, right, but that was right around in the 2010s, with the mamby-pamby-zation of America, and that just sounded too violent to a lot of the younger Christians. Oh, no, oh. That makes me, oh, no, no, no. That makes me uncomfortable.
49:10
And so you would ask well, what happened at the cross? Well, god forgave the whole world. Yeah, he did forgive the whole world. In potential format. You have to receive that forgiveness. But according to them, no, no, no. Everyone go into heaven. There's no such a thing as hell. So Jesus wasted all that time. He was warning people about hell. He was doing it for nothing. He should have known better. And they said the cross just became a great display of love. And they said the cross just became a great display of love and we lost several people to that.
49:43
You know, when there are doctrines that come and go, just ask yourself is this a part, has this been a part, of 2,000 years of Christian orthodoxy? Wouldn't it be strange if now, 2,000 years in, somebody has a brand new way of doing things? It would be strange, and it is strange and it's happening all the time. Let God be true, in every man a liar, and so good doctrine matters. Good doctrine is important. We have an elder team here, one of the primary responsibilities of our, our elder team. There's a lot of responsibilities. One of the primary ones is to make sure that city light church stays true to the word of god and stays doctrinally sound.
50:26
I've told every single one of them if I come up here and I start spewing unbiblical, not talk to me, challenge me. I want, I want to know, hold me accountable, because what has to come forth in this day and this hour is the uncompromised, eternal word of God, amen, hallelujah. Do you understand? You only have one soul. Do you understand that you will appear before a holy God? If that doesn't cause you, saved or not, to shudder, you've got a problem and I would rather you address it now than in that day. Right now there's still hope. Right now you have a chance. You're so opinionated, you think so highly of yourself, you think you're evolved, you're proud, you're arrogant. You need to repent. And yes, I love you. And because I love you, I'm telling you that Stop making a God in your own image to satisfy your own lustful desires. I'm talking about pure doctrine.
51:25
In this church, we believe Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father. Because he said so. He said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. We believe in the triune God. We believe that salvation is by grace, through faith alone, hallelujah. We believe that God created them in the beginning, male and female, and marriage is between a male and a female. You say what about if two guys get married? What's that? I don't know what that is. It's something, but it's not. Marriage Never was for 2,000 years.
52:06
I know you've been scrolling on your TikTok 10 hours a day. You've been getting so brainwashed by this new current thing that's happening that you believe 2 plus 2 equals five, but the eternal word of God still believes two plus two equals four. Amen, yeah. And you know what, if you have a problem with me, your problem isn't really with me, your problem is with God that you're insubordinate, that in your heart of hearts you're rebellious and somewhere in that brain of yours you actually think you're more compassionate than Jesus and you can't be more compassionate than Jesus. But what about inclusivity? You sound so cruel. You're a bigot. Call me that, I don't care. You're a racist. Call me that, I don't care.
52:53
You can put whatever nouveau label on me, I don't care. You can put whatever nouveau label on me, I don't care. I know who I am and in whom I have believed. Amen, they will call you every name in the book Jesus. Have mercy. They think they're more compassionate than Jesus? Hey, newsflash.
53:18
Christianity is not inclusive. It's actually very, very exclusive. Jesus couldn't have reiterated that more. You want inclusive? Be my guest.
53:31
He said broad is the highway that goes to hell. That's inclusive. He said broad is the highway that goes to hell. That's inclusive. He said straight and narrow is the road that leads to life eternal. That's exclusive. He didn't say oh, hop in whatever boat you want, the Buddhist boat, the Confucius boat, the Muslim boat and every boat goes across the lake and reaches the same shore. He said no one can come to the Father except through me, my name, what I've done. That's exclusive.
54:00
So you want to play with your eternal soul? Gamble, the one soul that you have, because you seem so evolved, so hip, you're so progressive. Wow, wow, you've been brainwashed. Yeah, you have. When you have listen to me. When the whole world, the Bible, says you are at war with this world system, when the whole world agrees with you. Think about it. You're the one who's wrong. You have a problem when everything you believe, the world, would pat you on the back and say is that a boy? Who do you think is in the wrong? Oh, hallelujah, what was I talking about? Oh, yeah, yeah, false doctrine, john 21, 15, the sixth weapon, kind of want to camp around the fifth a little bit more, but let's go on to the sixth worship team, won't you come on up? Hallelujah, hallelujah. I think we've just reached the tipping point. Hallelujah, hallelujah, hallelujah. I think we've just reached the tipping point and the breaking point. We actually are so patient and so tolerant and I teach and preach love, love, love, but after a while there is so much I can take when you're lying to me and punching me in the face and destroying this great country, this culture, this Christian culture that we have, while all the time telling me you're not. The pendulum is swinging the other way. I'm telling you right now and there's going to come a loving but holy and righteous backlash, amen.
55:52
The sixth temptation is the fish, because it's all about the fishies, baby. What is the fish? Money and career. So when they had eaten breakfast, jesus said to Simon Peter Simon, son of Jonah. Do you love me more than these? What was he talking about? What are these, these fish?
56:19
Because after the crucifixion, when Peter thought, all right, well, that party's over Didn't work out, you know what his first words were I go a-fishing. I'm going to do what I know to do. I'm going back to my career. I got to make some money because there's no more Jesus to multiply the loaves. He was the one that everybody was giving the offerings to. Anyway, I'm not going to raise anything. It's true, it's biblical. Jesus was a money magnet. I've said too many things to challenge some people. Jesus comes back and restores Peter, but he challenges him. Do you love me more than money and career? Do you love me more than these?
57:06
This is something we're talking about ways, the six F's, ways that Satan wants to cause you to discontinue, and one of those ways is, especially in New York City, that golden calf of career and money. One of the ways you can put that in check is consistently submitting your hopes, your dreams, your ambitions to the Lord. Submit them to him. Let him be Lord of every area of your life. Honor God with your finances. That's how you consistently convey to him that money doesn't have a hold on you, but you believe it all belongs to the Lord, and when you do that, he will multiply you even more. And when your career isn't a God, he will bless you all the more. And then you never know. You could be going one way, being successful, and all of a sudden a totally different life change where you get a hundredfold return.
58:00
Hallelujah, just bow your heads with me and close your eyes and say this with me Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for Palm Sunday. You came into Jerusalem, you preached the uncompromised Word of God, you showed your love and you died on the cross to take away all my sins. I believe Jesus, you are my Lord, you are my Savior. Now, help me, lord, in these six areas and beyond. Now help me, lord, in these six areas and beyond, that I would be a follower and not a fan, that I would be loyal and committed. I can't do it alone. I need your help. Cause them to be fiery, cause me to be fiery, in Jesus' name, amen, amen.
58:59 - Speaker 2
Hallelujah. This is the City Light Church podcast. If you've missed any part of today's message or if you would like to find out more about Pastor Boyan Jancic and City Light Church, visit us at citylightnyccom. That's citylightnyccom. Feel free to visit us online or in person anytime. We would love to connect with you. We pray that you have been encouraged today, that you have been reminded how much God loves you and that you are surrounded by grace. Thank you for listening. Make sure that you subscribe to City Light Church Podcast wherever you find your favorite podcasts worldwide.
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