Mothers express the heart and soul of the kingdom of God. Father’s may be the backbone and the footing on which the kingdom of God stands, but mothers represent its inner strength.
 
Where would the church be without the compassion and love of committed mothers?
How would we ever grow and be nurtured without the determination of mothers to grow their children like the Bible says, “…in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men” (Luke 2:52)?
 
When Jesus loved on children saying, “Suffer the children to come unto me and forbid them not, for such is the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:14), He was talking primarily to the disciples who were trying to keep them away from Jesus. However, it was the mothers who brought them to where Jesus was in the first place. It was my mother who insisted that I be brought to church. My dad wanted the same thing, but it was mom who did the work. She was the one who made sure I was washed, dressed, fed, and ready in time for church.
 
Remember what the angel said to Mary, Jesus’ mother?
 
He said, “Do not be afraid Mary; for you have found favor with God.  And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end” (Luke 1:30-33). While not every mother is charged with the responsibility to give birth to and raise God’s one and only Son, all are blessed with the opportunity to birth and raise children who will one day become sons of God through faith in Jesus. Mary got the ball rolling and today our mothers keep the ball rolling.
 
Where would we be today without godly mothers who insured that we would become the children of God?
 
We honor and revere our Godly mothers today. Not all children in the world are as blessed as we are to be brought up in the faith of a mother who knows Jesus and loves Jesus. If more mothers were like our mothers, the world would be a much better place.
 
What would have happened if more mothers in Russia would have been mothers of faith like our mothers?
What would our own country be like if faith and love for Jesus had been the theme on which more mothers raised their children?
 
Remember that old song:
​

God give us Christian Homes,
Homes where the mothers in caring quest;
Strives to show others your way is best,
Homes where the Lord is an honored guest;
God give us Christian Homes.

​ 
We praise God for our mothers today. We pray for our homes that reflect the faith of our mothers. There is much in our culture that fights against the faith of our mothers. They have a hard task. We pray that our mothers will be strong and courageous. We pray that God will be with them and grant them success in building His Kingdom within their own homes.

Signs point to something. The word “Signs” is used 193 times throughout the Bible. The Book of John says, “This beginning of His signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory, and His disciples believed in Him” (John 2:11). This sign was performed at a wedding feast in Cana when Jesus turned water into wine. It pointed to and gave glory to the miraculous power of our Lord.
 
Jesus used signs to give people faith that they might believe in Him, “Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.” (John 20:28-29)
 
So, a sign bears a two-fold purpose:
     First, it points people to Jesus.
     Second, it helps people believe that Jesus is the Son of God so they can be saved.
 
Our church has been talking about a new church sign to put in front of our church that will promote our church name and location, and also display a message that will point people to Jesus. We received a generous donation from a local physician who believes in our church and our purpose to point people to faith in Jesus. Matching his donation, our church raised over $27,000 to purchase and install a sign that will do exactly what the Bible says a “Sign” should do. After much prayer, the generous giving from our members and friends of our church, along with patient cooperation within our fellowship and local government officials, our prayers have been answered. Our new Grace Baptist Church sign is standing and speaking to 22,000 vehicles passing our location every day.
 

 
People sometimes bugged Jesus about signs. They wanted Him to do things to show them what the future might be, or what the kingdom of God would be like. Jesus did not give them signs to please their expectations or ease people’s doubts. He said once, “…an evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; for just as Jonah was three days and three night in the belly of the sea monster, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:39-40)
 
Signs are not to be frivolous, or man centered. Signs are to point toward the truth of the gospel. Signs are meant to serve as a witness to Jesus, who rose from the dead and is now exalted at the Right Hand of God. So will our new sign be. It will be a sign that gives continuous testimony that “Jesus Christ is Lord to the Glory of God the Father.” (Philippians 2:11)
 
I want to praise God today for Phil Callahan, our Chairman of Deacons along with our Deacon Body for their prayers and support in shepherding this project to the point where we now have this beautiful Gospel Sign in front of our property. I thank God for all those who made contributions to the Making Christ Real on Mundy Mill Campaign. Every member and friend of our church who contributed has a stake in the ongoing ministry of sharing the Gospel every day to multitudes of people. Praise God for patient endurance and abiding faith that when we pray and believe, God will hear and answer our prayers according to His excellent grace.

This past Holy Week emphasis and Easter Celebration leaves us with exciting reflections. Our church family held services every day during Holy Week with taking only Thursday off to rest and reflect. Look at the attendance report from the week’s activities:
 

• Monday – Wednesday Holy Week Prayer Services – 60 attending/ averaged 20 per night praying together.
• Good Friday Service – 61 attending to focus attention on the Cross
• Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – 64 total with at least 35 children
• Sunrise Service and Breakfast – 71 attending and fellowship around the table
• Celebration Easter Worship – 83 attending in Praise and Thanksgiving
• Total for the week – 339 to the Glory of God

 
This is our first full week of ministry together since the pandemic began over 2 years ago. When COVID struck our services, we were averaging around 130 per Sunday morning service. Since then, families have moved away. Some have relocated to other churches. Our church, like all others during these circumstances, has been impacted by the interruption of protocols like mask wearing, social distancing, virtual worship services, as well as disruption in fellowship and outreach. 
 
Churches are not meant to be limited to online contact. Churches depend on fellowship and close communion to build relationships grounded in faith and trust in Jesus who is our Savior and Lord. For this Easter week to be our first full week of ministry since COVID began, I believe God gave us an outpouring of His grace and joy as we were free to come together again. Over 300 souls sharing the Glory of Easter together is a true picture of God’s presence among us, “They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all thing in common” (Acts 2:42-44). Easter week was a New Testament, early church fellowship moment. We shared a glimpse of what it must have been like when the early church came together following the ascension of Jesus back into heaven.
 
I also saw God work in a powerful way during our Children’s Ministry outreach and egg hunt at Flowery Branch Park. There were at least 20 out of the 64 attending who were new families with their children. The event was publicized on Facebook and as a result 3 new mothers and children came to share in the activities. Our leaders welcomed them, loved on them, and helped them to feel at home. A birthday group was there and were welcomed to participate. Our members invited their family members with children to come and join in. It was a great in-gathering of people, which reminding me that God is about to rebuild our ministry to children in coming days. I could see Jesus among us loving on children welcoming them into His arms, “Suffer the children to come unto me and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for such is the kingdom of God” (Matthew 19:14). When you have children at church, you have the heart of God.
 
In all, God was among us all week long during Holy Week. I praise God for the evidence of His grace and glory among my dear church and its people at Grace.

“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said…” (Matthew 27:6)

When the angel of the Lord said those three words to Mary Magdalene and to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and to the other Mary, everything changed. Jesus had preached the gospel to the multitudes healing their sick and performing signs and wonders among them, but their lives were still encumbered by their normal worries and cares of life. Jesus had walked on water, but He could not keep Peter from doubting and sinking into a sea of fear and trepidation. He fed the five thousand, but the people were soon hungry again. Jesus told the truth to the Jews about His identity and His mission, but they still passed judgement to crucify Him. Pilate found no fault in Him because Jesus was perfect, yet he washed his hands and allowed the Jews to free Barabbas instead. Without those three words, life would be hopeless. We would be left to deal with all the problems and pain of daily living without the Good News that Jesus is alive.

 
He is Risen!

Those three words changed my life on January 6, 1956. When I trusted Jesus as my Savior as an 8-year-old boy, the risen Christ came to live within my heart. He changed everything. Because Jesus is alive, I have a living Savior “…who walks with me and talks with me and tells me I am His own.”  The Bible says, ​“If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Because He is Risen, Jesus is at home in my heart.

 
He is Risen!
​

He lives inside me and all those who call Him Lord and Savior.

 
He is Risen!
​

Because Jesus is alive, He changes dark days into bright days. Remember what He said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). This world and all those who do not believe live everyday incumbered by darkness and all the stumbling blocks that litter their path. Unbelievers live with stumped toes and bruised shin bones. Things get very painful when you don’t have Jesus to light up your way.

 
He is Risen!
​

We walk in His light, like the Bible says, “…He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).

He helps me carry my burdens and gives me strength to overcome every problem I face. When Jesus walked away from death and the grave, any problem coming my way pales in significance.
 
     How can paying my bills compare with the freedom He achieved when He broke loose from a cold dark tomb?
    How can my burdens be heavy when He carried His own cross and watched an angel roll that 5,000 lb. stone away from the doorway of His burial place?
 
Jesus walked away from death so that every burden and care we have can be overcome in victory. The Bible says, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:55-56)

I was really worried about preaching on the doctrine of God. After all, my mind is finite and God is infinite.
 
     What can I say or think that God has not already said about Himself?
 
Then it dawned on me that I do not have to say anything that God has not already said. As a matter of fact, I better not say anything that God has not already said. All I have to do is repeat and amplify what God has said through the pages of His word. Man, that takes a load off.
 
Let me tell you something that I have learned about God. God is an encourager.
 
     Did you know that about God?
 
Look at Moses. God first appeared to Moses through a burning bush that was not consumed by the holy fire. Picture that! I think I would be encouraged if I saw something like that. Like Moses, I would be encouraged to look closer, “…he looked, and behold, the bush was burning with fire, yet the bush was not consumed” (Exodus 3:3). When Moses looked more closely at this phenomenon, God encouraged Moses again by calling out to him from inside the burning bush, “Do not come near here; remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground” (verse 4). Of course, Moses did as the Lord commanded. When he obeyed God, Moses heard something from God that caused him to humble himself and hide his face, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob” (verse 6). You don’t get any closer to God than that. God personally identified Himself and disclosed his true presence to Moses.
 
It is so encouraging to hear God speak. It is humbling and truly amazing when God causes you to stop what you are doing so you can hear what He has to say. Sometimes God has to break through the clutter of a busy day to interrupt us and get us to listen to Him. God encouraged Moses to stop, look, and listen. When Moses did, God encouraged him beyond his wildest expectations, “Therefore, come now, and I will send you to Pharoah, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel out of Egypt” (Exodus 3:10). Notice that Moses was encouraged to look, then he was encouraged to hear, then he was encouraged to go and do. That is how God works. Seeing, leads to hearing, then doing. But God was not finished encouraging Moses.
 
Moses asked God a good question, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh…?” Moses was aware of his limitations. He knew all too well about his quick temper and stammering tongue. Listen to God’s encouragement, “And God said, ‘Certainly I will be with you…” (Exodus 3:11). Moses would not be speaking for God. He would be speaking with God right alongside him. Moses would become God’s mouthpiece. What a great encouragement to have God with you giving you the words to say.
 
That’s what God always does. He encourages. He shows you something that grabs your attention in His word. When you look a little closer, He speaks to you the truth. When you hear Him speak, He humbles you and tells you what to say. Being encouraged by God is better than ice cream. Hearing Him speak from His word and then turning around and telling others what He has said, is the icing on the cake.
 
Let God encourage you through His holy word. He will show you wonders and marvels you cannot imagine on your own. Then He will give you something to say that will be a great encouragement to someone else.

Today in the morning worship service we welcome a representative of Gideons International. The ministry of the Gideons is solely dedicated to the distribution of God’s word throughout the earth. There is no other organization other than the local church that is so singularly focused on the power of the Bible to bring lost people to faith in Christ, and to make a difference in the affairs of nations throughout the world. I always think of what king David said in Psalm 119, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105), when I think about the Gideons.
 
When I was a teenager back in the dark ages of the 60’s, my Sunday School teacher was the president of the Gideons International organization headquartered in Donelson, Tennessee where I grew up.  Dr. Wendall McClendon would take me with him some Sundays when he was scheduled to preach somewhere. I learned from him to love the Bible. I listened to him preach about the truth and power of the Bible. Between my parents first and their love for God’s word, my Sunday School teachers and their teaching of God’s word, my pastor, W. L. Baker, and his preaching of God’s word, I did not have a chance to develop anything other than respect for, devotion to, and love of God’s Holy Word. I cannot imagine my life without God’s word in it.
 
We will be taking a love offering at the end of the service this morning dedicated to the work and ministry of the Gideons. Pray about what you will give and give generously. God may use your gift this morning through the Gideons International to place the very Bible somewhere in the world that will lead some lost person that you will never meet this side of heaven to receive Jesus as their Savior.

PLAN NOW TO PARTICIPATE
 
IN EVERY PART OF EASTER AT GRACE
 
Holy Week Prayer Meetings – April 11 – 13
Good Friday Service – April 15
Children’s Easter Egg Hunt – April 16
Sunrise Service, 7:00 am – April 17
HE IS RISEN, Hallelujah Worship – 10:45 am
 

I can’t wait to worship the Lord together with you during Resurrection Week at Grace. I know God is going to fill us with the joy of His glory as we praise Him and rejoice in the truth of the empty tomb.

Praise God through Whom All Blessings Flow!

We are seeing terrible pictures these days from the battlefield in Ukraine. War seems always to inflict its worst impact on the innocent. The horrible toll cast upon the children, mothers, elderly, and residents within the cities is a constant stream of suffering and carnage. The refugee total is now approaching 4 million. Those left within the country are facing shortages of food, medical care, and water. We do not see much of the actual fighting between the two armies. What we see constantly is the siege constantly waged upon the civilian population.
 
I have been thinking a lot about what the Bible says the final battle between good and evil in the world will look like. It is known as the Bible between Gog and Magog, “When the thousand years are completed, Satan will be released from his prison, and will come out to deceive the nations which are in the four corners of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together for the war; the number of them is like the sand of the seashore. And they came up on the broad plain of the earth and surrounded the camp of the saints and the beloved city, and fire came down from heaven and devoured them. And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” (Revelation 20:7-10)
 
The good news about this apocalyptic battle is that evil loses and good wins. It will be the battle to end all battles. The devil, who is the author of war, will be overthrown again and the forces of evil will be cast into the pit where they belong.
 
Gog in the Bible is a descendant of Joel of the tribe of Reuben, “The sons of Joel were Shemiaiah his son, Gog his son, Shimei his son” (2 Chronicles 5:4). Gog became a rebel who attacked his own people Israel according to Ezekiel, “Son of Man, set your face toward Gog of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal and prophesy against him and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God, Behold, I am against you, O Gog, prince of Rosh, Meshech and Tubal. I will turn you about and put hooks into your jaws, and I will bring you out, and all your army, horses and horsemen, all of them splendidly attired, a great company with buckler and shield, all of them wielding swords.” (Ezekiel 38:2-4)
 
Magog, on the other hand is a reference to people who lived in northern Asia and Europe. They were known as skilled horsemen and experts in the use of bow and arrow, “You will come from your place out of the remote parts of the north, you and many people with you, all of them riding on horses, a great assembly and a mighty army.” (Ezekiel 38:15)
 
These destructive people rose up against the people of God only to be destroyed by the fury of the Lord of hosts, “…you will come up against My people Israel like a cloud to cover the land. It shall come about in the last days that I will bring you against My land, so that the nations may know Me when I am sanctified through you before their eyes, O Gog…It will come about on that day, when Gog comes against the land of Israel, declares the Lord God, that My fury will mount up in My anger.” (Ezekiel 38:17-18)
 
Do I think that the war in Ukraine is the final battle, the Battle of Armageddon?
 
Not really. I do believe that all war is the work of the devil who seeks to ravage the innocent and destroy all that is decent and good. War itself is evil. The war in Ukraine is simply another terrible unnecessary tragedy that kills children along with people who are innocent. One country beating up on another one simply because they can is a grievous sin. What I do know is that God takes care of His own. God wins in the end and all those who perpetuate the sins of Gog and Magog wind up taking a long hot bath in the lake of fire.

We have temporarily suspended our in-person Wednesday night prayer service until the time changes back on Sunday March 16. While we have not been able to prayer together at church, God has raised up a fellowship of prayer taking place on email, Facebook, and text messaging among our deacons, praise team members, and other church members who have joined with the group. Ongoing prayers and conversations linked to our prayers have been initiated by people who have had surgeries, requests for family members with special needs, along with folks who have called in various prayer concerns. This has been a spontaneous movement of the Holy Spirit. It has grown in numbers of people praying. It has been a blessing to see how God is working among us to both encourage and empower our praying for each another.
 
The Bible tells us that the children of God express their faith through the prayers we pray for each other, “For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have receive a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, ‘Abba Father!’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.” (Romans 8:15-17)
 
The fellowship of God’s people is identified by our praying together. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit prompts us to pray for one another, and when we pray for each other, Jesus Himself joins with us. I’ve heard a lot of “Abba Father!” being raised recently from people within our church as we have shared together in a profound prayer movement given to us by the Holy Spirit.
 
Lives have been blessed because the people of Grace are praying. Folks are recovering from surgeries and medical treatments. Family members are getting the medical care they have asked for and those who grieve over the loss of loved ones are encouraged. This praying fellowship is making a difference as we talk to each other about the deepest needs of our hearts.
 
Think about the potential of this kind of prayer circle. What if we added to our praying for the physical needs among us, prayers for the spiritual needs of people.
 
     What if we added to this fellowship of prayer petitions for lost people we know?
     What might God do if we added to the prayers we direct toward God the struggles people are experiencing with things like depression, heartache, brokenness, and other matters of the soul?
 
Listen again to God’s word, “Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of the righteous accomplishes much” (James 5:16).
 
     What if we loved one another to the degree that we became honest with each other about the pain and suffering taking place inside our souls?
     What if God raised the level of love and trust between us so that we could pray about the private matters of the heart?
     Is it possible for the fellowship of God’s people to become so strong and so trusting that secrets are absorbed into a cloud of prayer and trust that cleanses, renews, and forgives?
 
I praise God that a fellowship of prayer has emerged at Grace. I pray that Jesus will keep it going and make our prayers everything He wants them to be.

​ 
Today, we finish what we started last Sunday morning about the 10 Big Lies the World tells. I was only able to cover the first five last week, so, today we finish with the remaining five.
 
I heard a big lie recently from a national personality who is supposed to be something of a noted leader. He said that what Jesus talked about in loving your enemies and turning the other cheek does not work. His view of the Bible and particularly the New Testament is that it is outdated. He proposed a more aggressive position saying that “It is time for action.” In other words, crush your enemies and eliminate anyone who stands in your way. His was the old “eye-for-an-eye” formula. Talk about outdated.
 
The world’s lies are contrary to scripture. Remember what Jesus said, “I have given them Your word and the world has hated them” (John 17:14). The world simply prefers lies instead of truth. So, try not to become discouraged by the Big Lies the World tells.

     6. A Good Job with a High Salary Provides the Happiness You Need –
 
That’s not so. There are plenty of miserable rich folks who find it hard to go to work every morning. The Bible says, “I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil” (Ecclesiastes 6:1-2).
 
Remember what Jesus said to the Rich Young Ruler, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell all you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven” (Matthew 19:21). God’s treasure includes happiness.

     7. You Can Watch Whatever You Want on the Internet or TV without Agreeing with Its Message –
 
That’s not only a lie; it’s a dumb lie. My mother used to say,

 
You cannot see something ugly and not be impressed with an image of something ugly. The Bible says, “Finally, brother, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is loving, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things” (Philippians 4:13).


          8. You Don’t Need to Discipline Your Children –
 
Society tells you to put a collar on your pet or implant a chip inside the body of that pedigreed animal so you will know where they are at all times, but don’t implant the difference between right and wrong inside your children. You might discourage their creativity if you do. There’s a good word for that lie--BOLOGNA. The Bible says, “Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him” (Proverbs 22:15). When the Bible used the word “Rod,” my mother heard “Switch” from a Forsythia Bush. She would switch my legs chasing me around in a circle while holding onto my arm at the same time. Round and around we would go. My mother believed the Bible rather than the lie the world tells, “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from Him. Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth” (Psalm 127:3-4). Mom wanted her son to become a straight shooting arrow.

    9. You Don’t Have to Study the Bible to be a Christian –  

Can you imagine telling your doctor, don’t worry about studying that MRI or reading up on my cancer? You don’t have to know what you’re doing to be a doctor.
 
How foolish can you be?
 
Yet, some folks believe they can get by in the walk of faith without reading the book of faith. Let’s just put to rest this whopper, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of God” (2 Timothy 2:15). You can be a poor Christian and never open your Bible, but you cannot be a good one apart from the reading and study of God’s word.

      10. Loving Others is Not Important –  

​That’s not a white lie. That one is a black lie straight out of the mouth of Satan himself. Loving others is not an option, it is a requirement—a command, “This is how we know who the children of God are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother” (1 John 3:10).
 
Don’t believe the lies the world tells you. Read your Bible. The word of God always tells you the truth every time.

Truth telling is becoming more and more rare these days. Our world is under the influence of one who delights in spreading tales and untrue fables. Jesus warns us about the tendency our world has to lie and promote untruth, “You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).
 
There are 10 big lies the devil is telling right now. We need to listen to what the Bible says about these lies rather than what Satan wants us to hear:

1. It’s All About You – Take care of number one because if you don’t, no one else will. This lie makes you self-centered and ego-centric. God’s word says, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake, he is the one who will save it”(Luke 9:23-24). The world’s lie is “save yourself.” The Bible’s truth is, “give yourself away.” 
2. A Little Overspending Won’t Hurt You – You can always use plastic. This lie puts you in debt and gives power over you to creditors. The Bible says, “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower becomes the lender’s slave” (Proverbs 22:7). Jesus added great wisdom to our wise management of finances, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Greed is not OK no matter what the world wants you to think.
3. Righteousness is Not as Necessary as it Once Was – Go ahead and do it, you can always ask for forgiveness. If righteousness is not important to God, then the blood of Jesus was shed in vain. The Bible says, “…if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). Think about righteousness as Light. Jesus lived in the Light of God’s righteousness. He is the Light of the world.  Light drives the dark night of sin away. The Bible says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:24). The world’s lie says that it’s OK to live in the shadows. Don’t believe it. Righteous living is still the quality God expects from us.
4. You Can Say Whatever You Think – Truth is whatever I want it to be. Truth is not determined by popular opinion or by the voice of the majority. Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them in the truth; Your world is truth” (John 17:17). Just because you think it or just because you say it, does not make it truth. Truth belongs to God and His truth stands in contrast to the world’s lies. The Bible tells us to control our tongues, “…the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell” (James 3:6). Remember, “Lying Lips Sink Ships.”
5. It’s a Free Country, So Do or Don’t Do Whatever You Please – It’s All About My Personal Freedom. The Bible says, “There are six things which the Lord hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, and lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers” (Proverbs 6:16-19). People are not free to do whatever they please. Freedom comes through responsibility. Jesus said, “…if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Freedom is given to those who love Jesus and serve Him, not to people who do whatever they want. You are free to do what Jesus wants. Your wants need to agree with His wants.

 
Next week I will give you’re the remaining 5 lies the world wants you to believe. Don’t believe them. Let the truth of God’s word guide you. Remember what the Bible says, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).