1 00:00:00,460 --> 00:00:02,980 Welcome to from the pulpit and classic sermons 2 00:00:02,980 --> 00:00:05,200 each week You bring you a different message 3 00:00:05,200 --> 00:00:07,220 for some of history's greatest speakers and the 4 00:00:07,220 --> 00:00:10,020 Christian faith and powerful sermons for modern preachers, 5 00:00:10,220 --> 00:00:13,120 too This week we have Chuck Smith with 6 00:00:13,120 --> 00:00:16,940 his message the danger of compromise Good to 7 00:00:16,940 --> 00:00:24,200 be back It's funny I'd like to talk 8 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:26,320 to you on the subject of the danger 9 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:31,680 of compromise It seems like the enemy is 10 00:00:32,480 --> 00:00:36,280 Always seeking to get us to compromise Somewhere 11 00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:38,320 along the line in our walk with the 12 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:44,740 Lord but here in Exodus chapters 8 and 13 00:00:44,740 --> 00:00:49,440 10 we find that the subject of compromise 14 00:00:49,440 --> 00:00:53,720 is brought up as Moses has gone before 15 00:00:53,720 --> 00:00:58,000 the Pharaoh to demand the freedom of the 16 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,560 people to go into the wilderness and worship 17 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:06,440 God Which the Pharaoh refused saying who is 18 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:07,080 the Lord? 19 00:01:07,640 --> 00:01:10,400 That I should obey his voice to let 20 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:11,240 Israel go. 21 00:01:11,460 --> 00:01:14,780 I do not know the Lord Well, I'm 22 00:01:14,780 --> 00:01:17,320 sure that he saw he ever said that 23 00:01:17,320 --> 00:01:19,560 because the Lord began to show him who 24 00:01:19,560 --> 00:01:22,260 he was and the plagues that came upon 25 00:01:22,260 --> 00:01:27,000 Egypt wiping out the the land and When 26 00:01:27,000 --> 00:01:30,880 Pharaoh saw that Moses was going to be 27 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:34,760 Persistent in the desire and in the demand 28 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,380 that he released the people to go and 29 00:01:37,380 --> 00:01:40,560 worship the Lord He first of all began 30 00:01:40,560 --> 00:01:46,560 to offer suggestions of a series of compromises 31 00:01:46,560 --> 00:01:52,680 and When Satan sees that you have that 32 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:55,640 commitment and you're gonna serve the Lord he 33 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:59,220 so often comes to us with suggestions of 34 00:01:59,220 --> 00:02:03,940 compromise and He follows really basically the same 35 00:02:03,940 --> 00:02:10,240 pattern that he followed with Moses in Exodus 36 00:02:11,070 --> 00:02:17,620 828 we read that the Pharaoh said I 37 00:02:17,620 --> 00:02:21,040 will let you go That you may sacrifice 38 00:02:21,040 --> 00:02:25,040 to the Lord your God in the wilderness 39 00:02:25,040 --> 00:02:29,380 only You shall not go very far away 40 00:02:29,380 --> 00:02:36,120 and pray for me Don't become a fanatic. 41 00:02:36,280 --> 00:02:39,340 Oh go ahead and you know, give your 42 00:02:39,340 --> 00:02:42,400 life to the Lord and all but Don't 43 00:02:42,400 --> 00:02:43,400 become a fanatic. 44 00:02:43,460 --> 00:02:46,920 Don't go very far God forbid that you 45 00:02:46,920 --> 00:02:51,320 should worship him more than in one service 46 00:02:51,320 --> 00:02:54,980 during the week Read your Bible, but don't 47 00:02:54,980 --> 00:02:58,560 make a serious attempt to really know the 48 00:02:58,560 --> 00:03:01,800 scriptures Don't be one of those who are 49 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:06,900 always quoting scriptures Never share your faith with 50 00:03:06,900 --> 00:03:07,300 others. 51 00:03:07,720 --> 00:03:10,100 You might offend them and they might make 52 00:03:10,100 --> 00:03:13,520 fun of you You might believe but try 53 00:03:13,520 --> 00:03:16,500 to keep it a secret You may give 54 00:03:16,500 --> 00:03:18,980 But only that which you can afford to 55 00:03:18,980 --> 00:03:22,740 give never give a tithe You might become 56 00:03:22,740 --> 00:03:28,040 a fanatic about football or basketball and That 57 00:03:28,040 --> 00:03:30,860 the games you can yell and scream when 58 00:03:30,860 --> 00:03:34,080 your team scores a victory But don't show 59 00:03:34,080 --> 00:03:37,260 any emotion over the victory that the Lord 60 00:03:37,260 --> 00:03:40,260 gives to you over sin in your life 61 00:03:41,200 --> 00:03:46,300 Don't become a fanatic You were destined once 62 00:03:46,300 --> 00:03:49,420 for hell But God has turned you around 63 00:03:49,420 --> 00:03:52,160 and now you're headed for heaven, but try 64 00:03:52,160 --> 00:03:55,860 not to show any excitement over it You 65 00:03:55,860 --> 00:03:58,440 were dead in your trespasses and sins, but 66 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,640 now you're alive in the spirit, but try 67 00:04:01,640 --> 00:04:04,460 to keep it a secret There was a 68 00:04:04,460 --> 00:04:07,040 little boy who was going to summer camp 69 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:10,220 and it was a secular camp And he 70 00:04:10,220 --> 00:04:13,300 went to his pastor and told him, you 71 00:04:13,300 --> 00:04:14,980 know, I'm going to go to camp this 72 00:04:14,980 --> 00:04:19,220 next week and I Want you to pray 73 00:04:19,220 --> 00:04:21,100 for me that the Lord will help me 74 00:04:21,100 --> 00:04:25,540 to you know to just live a life 75 00:04:25,540 --> 00:04:28,080 for him while I'm at camp and so 76 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:30,620 the pastor prayed with him and the next 77 00:04:30,620 --> 00:04:34,140 week when The little boy came to church 78 00:04:34,140 --> 00:04:34,460 again. 79 00:04:34,540 --> 00:04:36,520 The pastor saw him and said well, how 80 00:04:36,520 --> 00:04:37,480 did it go Johnny? 81 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,540 And he said oh great pastor, thank you 82 00:04:40,540 --> 00:04:46,880 for the prayer they never found out But 83 00:04:46,880 --> 00:04:49,700 so often I'm afraid that we're like little 84 00:04:49,700 --> 00:04:52,900 Johnny we try to keep sort of under 85 00:04:52,900 --> 00:04:56,340 wraps our Walk with the Lord and we 86 00:04:56,340 --> 00:04:59,260 don't want anybody Making fun of us or 87 00:04:59,260 --> 00:05:03,320 ridiculing us for our trust and commitment to 88 00:05:03,320 --> 00:05:08,560 the Lord There in the 10th chapter verse 89 00:05:08,560 --> 00:05:14,040 10 The Pharaoh offers the second compromise as 90 00:05:14,040 --> 00:05:17,740 he said unto them let the Lord be 91 00:05:17,740 --> 00:05:21,280 so with you as I will let you 92 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:24,780 go and Your little ones look to it 93 00:05:24,780 --> 00:05:29,200 for evil is before you basically, he is 94 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:33,240 saying I'll let you go but Don't take 95 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:37,180 your children Don't let them have to experience 96 00:05:37,180 --> 00:05:40,900 the rigors of the wilderness Do not expose 97 00:05:40,900 --> 00:05:44,360 your children to that Don't force your children 98 00:05:44,360 --> 00:05:48,520 to go Don't deprive them of the pleasures 99 00:05:48,520 --> 00:05:53,280 of Egypt Pat pastor Brian last week pointed 100 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:56,520 out that this history that we have of 101 00:05:56,520 --> 00:06:00,800 their deliverance Out of their slavery and bondage 102 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:05,020 in Egypt was typical history in other words 103 00:06:05,020 --> 00:06:08,680 It is a type of other things Egypt 104 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:12,120 is a type of the world and their 105 00:06:12,120 --> 00:06:16,760 bondage in Egypt is the type of the 106 00:06:16,760 --> 00:06:20,540 bondage that people experience living in the world 107 00:06:20,540 --> 00:06:26,420 and Their Deliverance out of Egypt is a 108 00:06:26,420 --> 00:06:30,160 type of the coming into that new life 109 00:06:30,160 --> 00:06:33,680 in our new relationship with God through Jesus 110 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:38,260 Christ and the typology is very beautiful as 111 00:06:38,260 --> 00:06:40,160 you look at it and as you study 112 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:47,400 it and You may deny yourself and Take 113 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:50,320 up the cross to follow Jesus, but don't 114 00:06:50,320 --> 00:06:54,420 require your children to do so You don't 115 00:06:54,420 --> 00:06:57,180 want them to be different from the world 116 00:06:58,180 --> 00:07:02,480 growing up I Never went to the movies. 117 00:07:02,640 --> 00:07:05,440 My mother was a very beautiful woman in 118 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:10,180 every respect physically and spiritually and For a 119 00:07:10,180 --> 00:07:13,540 time she worked in the movie studios and 120 00:07:13,540 --> 00:07:15,900 she saw the lives of the people and 121 00:07:15,900 --> 00:07:20,060 the stars Behind the scenes the immorality of 122 00:07:20,060 --> 00:07:22,980 the industry and she would never let us 123 00:07:22,980 --> 00:07:25,860 go to movies Where the rest of the 124 00:07:25,860 --> 00:07:28,620 kids in school always went to the Saturday 125 00:07:28,620 --> 00:07:33,980 matinees We always just played ball when the 126 00:07:33,980 --> 00:07:37,920 movie Snow White came out and There we 127 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,840 were living in Ventura and there was a 128 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:43,360 wealthy lady in Ventura Who saw the movie 129 00:07:43,360 --> 00:07:46,260 and felt that every child should see this 130 00:07:46,260 --> 00:07:47,740 exciting Disney movie? 131 00:07:48,580 --> 00:07:53,380 She paid the theaters to Allow every child 132 00:07:53,380 --> 00:07:57,140 in the public school system in Ventura to 133 00:07:57,140 --> 00:08:01,340 go and see Snow White Now I realize 134 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:03,960 that Snow White is a very innocuous kind 135 00:08:03,960 --> 00:08:08,100 of a film But yet the whole principle 136 00:08:08,100 --> 00:08:12,340 of the Industry was such that my mother 137 00:08:12,340 --> 00:08:14,680 did not want us to go and see 138 00:08:14,680 --> 00:08:17,980 even Snow White and so she wrote a 139 00:08:17,980 --> 00:08:21,180 note to the school and Requested that my 140 00:08:21,180 --> 00:08:25,100 brother and sister and myself be excused not 141 00:08:25,100 --> 00:08:28,680 to go to see the film Snow White 142 00:08:28,680 --> 00:08:32,220 and Thus where the rest of the school 143 00:08:32,220 --> 00:08:36,799 all went we did not go and We 144 00:08:36,799 --> 00:08:39,539 sort of stood out, you know kids would 145 00:08:39,539 --> 00:08:42,559 say You know, what's wrong with going to 146 00:08:42,559 --> 00:08:43,380 see Snow White? 147 00:08:43,540 --> 00:08:46,020 well, we really didn't know but we just 148 00:08:46,020 --> 00:08:49,560 knew that it was something that mom didn't 149 00:08:49,560 --> 00:08:53,800 want us to do and So she held 150 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:59,580 her ground Now no compromise The interesting thing 151 00:08:59,580 --> 00:09:02,940 is that today Both my brother and sister 152 00:09:02,940 --> 00:09:04,020 and of course myself. 153 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:07,120 We are very committed in following the Lord 154 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,920 and serving the Lord one of the evils 155 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:15,220 of Israel was they offered their children to 156 00:09:15,220 --> 00:09:19,160 the false God of Molech in sacrifices to 157 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:24,180 Molech Unfortunately today People are doing much the 158 00:09:24,180 --> 00:09:27,980 same thing Sacrificing their children to the God 159 00:09:27,980 --> 00:09:31,860 of pleasure to Molech and Offering them on 160 00:09:31,860 --> 00:09:37,160 the altars to Molech because some Godless Psychologists 161 00:09:37,160 --> 00:09:40,200 has suggested that you should not force your 162 00:09:40,200 --> 00:09:43,340 child to go to Sunday school Let them 163 00:09:43,340 --> 00:09:44,880 make up their own mind. 164 00:09:44,980 --> 00:09:47,180 Do not force them to go to church 165 00:09:47,180 --> 00:09:52,260 and as a consequence So many children have 166 00:09:52,260 --> 00:09:55,880 been lost to the kingdom of God because 167 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,440 we don't want to force them To go 168 00:09:59,440 --> 00:10:01,600 to Sunday school or to go to church 169 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,280 However You force them to eat their vegetables 170 00:10:08,080 --> 00:10:08,680 Why? 171 00:10:09,700 --> 00:10:11,720 Because you know, they're good for them You 172 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,400 know that they need vegetables to be strong 173 00:10:14,400 --> 00:10:16,920 and to be healthy and yet we say 174 00:10:16,920 --> 00:10:18,700 well I don't want to force them, you 175 00:10:18,700 --> 00:10:21,500 know to go to church because they might 176 00:10:21,500 --> 00:10:26,680 resent it and whatever but You see the 177 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:30,640 inconsistency of it, you know It is good 178 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:33,560 for them spiritually if they are going to 179 00:10:33,560 --> 00:10:37,500 be strong and healthy Christians they need the 180 00:10:37,500 --> 00:10:39,360 influence of the Sunday school. 181 00:10:39,600 --> 00:10:42,000 They need to learn the stories of the 182 00:10:42,000 --> 00:10:46,960 Bible and we Say well, you know, you're 183 00:10:46,960 --> 00:10:50,180 going to go like it or not Because 184 00:10:50,180 --> 00:10:54,820 we're not going to compromise our children We 185 00:10:54,820 --> 00:10:59,740 are not just wanting deliverance ourselves But we're 186 00:10:59,740 --> 00:11:01,420 gonna take our children with us. 187 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:03,140 They will go with us though. 188 00:11:03,180 --> 00:11:06,380 It may be a rigorous experience they're going 189 00:11:06,380 --> 00:11:09,460 to be strong by it and They'll grow 190 00:11:09,460 --> 00:11:10,780 as the result of it. 191 00:11:12,900 --> 00:11:20,200 So We know that their eternal destiny is 192 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:23,140 at stake and So we don't let them 193 00:11:23,140 --> 00:11:26,620 make their own choices But as long as 194 00:11:26,620 --> 00:11:31,460 we are able we Encourage and we force 195 00:11:31,460 --> 00:11:34,040 them to follow the things of the Lord. 196 00:11:34,280 --> 00:11:38,240 I used to tell my boys as Long 197 00:11:38,240 --> 00:11:41,160 as you're living in the home that I 198 00:11:41,160 --> 00:11:44,340 am providing Eating the food that I am 199 00:11:44,340 --> 00:11:48,000 providing You're going to abide by the rules 200 00:11:48,000 --> 00:11:51,000 that I make Now the day that you 201 00:11:51,000 --> 00:11:53,360 think that you don't want to live by 202 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,300 the rules of the house Then you're free 203 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,600 to move out and you can live on 204 00:11:58,600 --> 00:11:59,040 your own. 205 00:11:59,140 --> 00:12:01,780 You can pay your own bills you can 206 00:12:01,780 --> 00:12:04,700 Rent your own place But as long as 207 00:12:04,700 --> 00:12:07,580 you're living in the home that I am 208 00:12:07,580 --> 00:12:11,300 providing you're gonna live by my rules No 209 00:12:11,300 --> 00:12:15,760 compromises, you know, I Think that it's wrong 210 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:19,060 to just let the children get by with 211 00:12:19,060 --> 00:12:21,760 doing things that we know are harmful to 212 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:25,620 them Just because we're afraid of offending them 213 00:12:27,890 --> 00:12:34,370 No compromise Moses said to the Pharaoh We're 214 00:12:34,370 --> 00:12:36,470 gonna go and we're gonna take our children 215 00:12:36,470 --> 00:12:42,510 with us Well in verse 24 of chapter 216 00:12:42,510 --> 00:12:46,510 10 the Pharaoh tries again He called unto 217 00:12:46,510 --> 00:12:50,010 Moses and he said go and serve the 218 00:12:50,010 --> 00:12:54,830 Lord Only let your flocks and your herds 219 00:12:54,830 --> 00:12:59,010 stay behind let your little ones go with 220 00:12:59,010 --> 00:13:05,710 you also and Moses said we must give 221 00:13:06,390 --> 00:13:09,690 Sacrifices and burnt offerings to the Lord our 222 00:13:09,690 --> 00:13:12,990 God and our cattle will go with us 223 00:13:13,790 --> 00:13:18,410 because We don't know just what Sacrifices the 224 00:13:18,410 --> 00:13:23,150 Lord will require when we are there Go, 225 00:13:23,430 --> 00:13:27,750 but don't give up your security Don't be 226 00:13:27,750 --> 00:13:32,370 reckless with your future Make sure that there 227 00:13:32,370 --> 00:13:34,970 is always something that you can fall back 228 00:13:34,970 --> 00:13:39,490 on Keep your bases covered Step out in 229 00:13:39,490 --> 00:13:42,310 faith, but make sure that there is a 230 00:13:42,310 --> 00:13:47,510 safety net under you The compromise is something 231 00:13:47,510 --> 00:13:51,430 less than a full commitment Holding back something 232 00:13:51,430 --> 00:13:54,890 for yourself Looking at the story from a 233 00:13:54,890 --> 00:13:56,510 typical interpretation. 234 00:13:56,870 --> 00:14:00,230 It is leaving a part of your life 235 00:14:00,230 --> 00:14:04,370 still in the world But make a clean 236 00:14:04,370 --> 00:14:08,890 break from the world a total break This 237 00:14:08,890 --> 00:14:13,510 was an actuality when Israel Got into the 238 00:14:13,510 --> 00:14:18,810 tough wilderness They began to look longingly Back 239 00:14:18,810 --> 00:14:21,830 at the life in Egypt, but there was 240 00:14:21,830 --> 00:14:24,990 really nothing to go back to They had 241 00:14:24,990 --> 00:14:28,410 developed what you might call a selective memory 242 00:14:28,970 --> 00:14:34,290 They remembered the sensual things We remember the 243 00:14:34,290 --> 00:14:37,890 leeks the garlic and they were saying we 244 00:14:37,890 --> 00:14:40,770 remember the fish Which we ate freely in 245 00:14:40,770 --> 00:14:44,910 Egypt the cucumbers the melons the leeks the 246 00:14:44,910 --> 00:14:49,070 onions the garlic But they forgot the horrible 247 00:14:49,070 --> 00:14:54,030 bondage that they were experiencing the weariness at 248 00:14:54,030 --> 00:14:58,690 night as they Climbed into the their beds 249 00:14:58,690 --> 00:15:03,430 their bodies aching because of the forced labor 250 00:15:03,430 --> 00:15:06,950 The beatings that they had received when they 251 00:15:06,950 --> 00:15:10,210 didn't produce the full amount of bricks that 252 00:15:10,210 --> 00:15:13,690 they were required to make They forgot the 253 00:15:13,690 --> 00:15:16,690 long nights of crying out to God for 254 00:15:16,690 --> 00:15:20,930 help and deliverance It was like God almost 255 00:15:20,930 --> 00:15:25,250 did them a disfavor in Delivering them from 256 00:15:25,250 --> 00:15:30,810 that old life You know some people when 257 00:15:30,810 --> 00:15:34,510 they recount their testimony of coming to Jesus 258 00:15:34,510 --> 00:15:38,110 Christ When they talk about the life that 259 00:15:38,110 --> 00:15:41,650 they once lived in the past The things 260 00:15:41,650 --> 00:15:44,530 they used to do there sometimes is almost 261 00:15:44,530 --> 00:15:47,730 a smack of the lips as they recount 262 00:15:47,730 --> 00:15:51,250 how evil they were How easy it is 263 00:15:51,250 --> 00:15:53,950 to forget the bondage and the misery and 264 00:15:53,950 --> 00:15:57,050 the hopelessness As Paul wrote to the Ephesians 265 00:15:57,050 --> 00:16:00,370 that at that time you were without Christ 266 00:16:00,370 --> 00:16:04,290 Being aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel. 267 00:16:04,830 --> 00:16:08,690 You were strangers from the Covenants you had 268 00:16:08,690 --> 00:16:11,510 no hope and you were without God in 269 00:16:11,510 --> 00:16:15,090 the world easy to forget that God wants 270 00:16:15,090 --> 00:16:16,670 you to have a clean break with the 271 00:16:16,670 --> 00:16:19,490 old life Take with you all of the 272 00:16:19,490 --> 00:16:21,870 things that God has blessed you with Don't 273 00:16:21,870 --> 00:16:23,530 try to hold on to the past if 274 00:16:23,530 --> 00:16:26,630 it had value take it with you Don't 275 00:16:26,630 --> 00:16:30,470 leave anything behind that might tempt you to 276 00:16:30,470 --> 00:16:34,230 want to go back no compromise If God 277 00:16:34,230 --> 00:16:36,610 has blessed you with it take the blessings 278 00:16:36,610 --> 00:16:39,470 with you leave only the sorrow and the 279 00:16:39,470 --> 00:16:44,350 bondage behind There are some people that sort 280 00:16:44,350 --> 00:16:48,070 of emphasize What I gave up to follow 281 00:16:48,070 --> 00:16:50,990 Jesus Christ I think of the words of 282 00:16:50,990 --> 00:16:57,010 that song I worked so hard I Often 283 00:16:57,010 --> 00:17:00,090 boast and say I sacrificed a lot of 284 00:17:00,090 --> 00:17:03,869 things to walk this narrow way I gave 285 00:17:03,869 --> 00:17:06,569 up fame and fortune Lord I'm worth a 286 00:17:06,569 --> 00:17:08,829 lot to thee and then I hear him 287 00:17:08,829 --> 00:17:12,550 say so tenderly I left my home in 288 00:17:12,550 --> 00:17:12,950 glory. 289 00:17:14,940 --> 00:17:19,500 I Counted it, but loss My hands were 290 00:17:19,500 --> 00:17:24,460 nailed in anger upon the cruel cross Be 291 00:17:24,460 --> 00:17:27,420 faithful weary pilgrim the morning. 292 00:17:27,660 --> 00:17:30,400 I can see just take your hand Take 293 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:35,830 my hand and follow Close to me It's 294 00:17:35,830 --> 00:17:38,150 not what I gave up to follow Jesus 295 00:17:38,150 --> 00:17:42,290 Christ It's what I've gained in following Christ. 296 00:17:42,430 --> 00:17:48,920 That is important to me Paul the Apostle 297 00:17:48,920 --> 00:17:53,820 Talked about the things which were once gained 298 00:17:53,820 --> 00:17:57,680 to me I Counted loss for the excellency 299 00:17:57,680 --> 00:18:00,660 of the knowledge of Jesus Christ For whom 300 00:18:00,660 --> 00:18:03,000 I suffered the loss of all things, but 301 00:18:03,000 --> 00:18:06,120 I count them as refuse That I might 302 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:09,400 know him and be found in him not 303 00:18:09,400 --> 00:18:12,160 having my own righteousness Which is of the 304 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:15,080 law, but the righteousness which is of Christ 305 00:18:15,080 --> 00:18:18,120 through faith Not what I gave up. 306 00:18:18,240 --> 00:18:19,220 It's what I've gained. 307 00:18:19,460 --> 00:18:20,880 That's the important thing. 308 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:23,860 That's the thing I like to emphasize the 309 00:18:23,860 --> 00:18:27,420 rich full Abundant life that I have in 310 00:18:27,420 --> 00:18:30,500 Christ as he said the enemy has come 311 00:18:30,500 --> 00:18:34,760 to steal to kill and to destroy But 312 00:18:34,760 --> 00:18:37,740 I have come that you might have life 313 00:18:37,740 --> 00:18:42,840 and that more abundantly And so this beautiful 314 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:46,560 abundant life that we have in Jesus Christ 315 00:18:47,380 --> 00:18:52,180 years ago when I was between my junior 316 00:18:52,180 --> 00:18:56,220 and senior year in college my brother younger 317 00:18:56,220 --> 00:18:59,840 brother myself we decided that we'd like to 318 00:18:59,840 --> 00:19:04,960 see America and drive across and see the 319 00:19:04,960 --> 00:19:07,980 rest of the United States had never been 320 00:19:07,980 --> 00:19:11,540 further than Arizona and Would like to just 321 00:19:11,540 --> 00:19:12,660 see America. 322 00:19:13,500 --> 00:19:17,440 So we Wrote to a lot of pastors 323 00:19:17,440 --> 00:19:20,640 and churches across the country Telling them that 324 00:19:20,640 --> 00:19:22,180 we were going to be in their area 325 00:19:22,180 --> 00:19:25,360 and we would be available to hold services 326 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,440 in their church and it lined up sort 327 00:19:29,440 --> 00:19:33,300 of a series of meetings where we would 328 00:19:33,300 --> 00:19:36,340 have a place to minister as we were 329 00:19:36,340 --> 00:19:39,520 going across the country sort of giving us 330 00:19:39,520 --> 00:19:42,860 an excuse to make this trip and we 331 00:19:42,860 --> 00:19:46,260 started out in his little 38 Ford and 332 00:19:47,240 --> 00:19:54,300 Driving across the country to visit places across 333 00:19:54,300 --> 00:19:57,520 the United States When we were in Toledo, 334 00:19:57,740 --> 00:20:02,420 Ohio we were holding services in the church 335 00:20:02,420 --> 00:20:08,760 there and The Engine began to knock and 336 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,840 we realized that the rod was going out 337 00:20:12,840 --> 00:20:20,380 and so we dropped the motor and we 338 00:20:20,380 --> 00:20:25,180 replaced the rod and the inserts and rods 339 00:20:25,180 --> 00:20:32,340 and Continued our journey Coming home. 340 00:20:32,580 --> 00:20:37,220 We we stopped in Omaha, Nebraska But as 341 00:20:37,220 --> 00:20:40,320 we were coming through council bluffs We began 342 00:20:40,320 --> 00:20:43,920 to hear the rods knocking again and realized 343 00:20:43,920 --> 00:20:46,620 that this little car wasn't long for this 344 00:20:46,620 --> 00:20:51,660 world and so We were having a meeting 345 00:20:51,660 --> 00:20:55,520 in Omaha and we called my dad and 346 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:59,740 said dad having car problems Can you wire 347 00:20:59,740 --> 00:21:02,160 us some money so we can get another 348 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:02,660 car? 349 00:21:02,660 --> 00:21:05,720 To make it home in and so he 350 00:21:05,720 --> 00:21:08,120 wired us some money and we went out 351 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:19,020 and bought a beautiful Cadillac convertible We 352 00:21:19,020 --> 00:21:21,200 decided we might as well drive home in 353 00:21:21,200 --> 00:21:27,320 style But the prices between cars in Omaha 354 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:31,360 and California were such that we figured when 355 00:21:31,360 --> 00:21:33,360 we got to California We could sell the 356 00:21:33,360 --> 00:21:36,600 Cadillac convertible and pay for the trip with 357 00:21:36,600 --> 00:21:38,660 the profit that we can make off of 358 00:21:38,660 --> 00:21:40,820 it So it looked like a good deal 359 00:21:40,820 --> 00:21:42,080 to us and to my dad. 360 00:21:42,180 --> 00:21:45,860 And so we bought this Cadillac convertible to 361 00:21:45,860 --> 00:21:50,120 drive home We made the mistake of driving 362 00:21:50,120 --> 00:21:51,740 it out to the church where we were 363 00:21:51,740 --> 00:21:58,300 holding the meetings So We didn't get much 364 00:21:58,300 --> 00:22:08,740 of a love offering there But 365 00:22:08,740 --> 00:22:12,540 the young guys oh man Did they take 366 00:22:12,540 --> 00:22:13,700 up with that car? 367 00:22:14,020 --> 00:22:16,740 I mean they you know put the top 368 00:22:16,740 --> 00:22:18,700 up and down the windows up and down 369 00:22:18,700 --> 00:22:20,500 and all and it was just a beautiful 370 00:22:20,500 --> 00:22:26,260 car and we just Enjoyed really all of 371 00:22:26,260 --> 00:22:28,920 the attention that we got driving that car 372 00:22:28,920 --> 00:22:34,480 around But When the guys would come up 373 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:38,120 and admire it We didn't say oh, well, 374 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,580 you know to get this car We had 375 00:22:40,580 --> 00:22:42,960 to sell that little 38 Ford with the 376 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:45,700 motor that was you know Knocking and all 377 00:22:45,700 --> 00:22:48,040 and we didn't tell what we had to 378 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:50,660 give up to get it You know But 379 00:22:50,660 --> 00:22:53,520 sometimes people are always talking about what they 380 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:56,520 gave up in order to get the blessings 381 00:22:56,520 --> 00:22:59,640 of God upon their lives Well, I gave 382 00:22:59,640 --> 00:23:01,280 up this or I gave up that for 383 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:01,780 the Lord. 384 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:03,520 Oh in reality. 385 00:23:03,680 --> 00:23:05,440 Give me a break what did you give 386 00:23:05,440 --> 00:23:08,560 up all of the misery and all of 387 00:23:08,560 --> 00:23:10,420 the world and the things of the world 388 00:23:10,420 --> 00:23:13,480 in order to have this rich full life 389 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:17,200 in Christ and I always sort of question 390 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,780 when people are talking about what they gave 391 00:23:19,780 --> 00:23:22,540 up in order to gain what God has 392 00:23:22,540 --> 00:23:26,320 given to us as Paul said, you know 393 00:23:26,320 --> 00:23:31,580 the present Sufferings are not worthy to be 394 00:23:31,580 --> 00:23:35,260 compared with the glory that shall be revealed 395 00:23:35,260 --> 00:23:38,080 in us And so what we gave up 396 00:23:38,080 --> 00:23:41,340 is is nothing it gave up misery gave 397 00:23:41,340 --> 00:23:45,160 up sorrow gave up Bondage to sin and 398 00:23:45,160 --> 00:23:49,380 What have we gained this rich full life 399 00:23:49,380 --> 00:23:50,920 in Christ Jesus? 400 00:23:51,260 --> 00:23:55,240 And so Jesus did not come to strip 401 00:23:55,240 --> 00:23:59,060 you But to give to you as he 402 00:23:59,060 --> 00:24:02,340 said it's the thief that comes to steal 403 00:24:02,340 --> 00:24:05,820 To kill and to destroy but I've come 404 00:24:05,820 --> 00:24:09,540 that you might have life and that More 405 00:24:10,160 --> 00:24:13,700 abundantly and so the joy and the blessings 406 00:24:13,700 --> 00:24:17,280 of this more abundant life that we now 407 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:23,540 experience and know in Christ Jesus Compromise yes 408 00:24:24,260 --> 00:24:26,260 Satan is going to try to get you 409 00:24:26,260 --> 00:24:30,280 to compromise You can go but just don't 410 00:24:30,280 --> 00:24:31,120 go too far. 411 00:24:31,220 --> 00:24:38,720 Don't get carried away Yes you can Commit 412 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:41,260 your life to Christ, but just don't become 413 00:24:41,260 --> 00:24:46,860 a fanatic don't go too far and His 414 00:24:46,860 --> 00:24:53,700 saying to us, of course Don't make your 415 00:24:53,700 --> 00:24:58,960 children have to follow You in your walk 416 00:24:58,960 --> 00:25:01,400 with the Lord let them that have the 417 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:04,840 freedom to do what they please but yet 418 00:25:05,420 --> 00:25:09,140 be careful of these compromises because they will 419 00:25:09,140 --> 00:25:14,560 always Cause you to come short of what 420 00:25:14,560 --> 00:25:18,220 God has in store and what God Wants 421 00:25:18,220 --> 00:25:20,660 for each of us as we seek to 422 00:25:20,660 --> 00:25:26,600 serve him and follow him Compromises are always 423 00:25:26,600 --> 00:25:31,720 dangerous They always leave you with less than 424 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,480 what you could have had had you maintained 425 00:25:34,480 --> 00:25:39,500 and just Continued in that commitment to the 426 00:25:39,500 --> 00:25:39,820 Lord. 427 00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:41,520 It's going to be full. 428 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:43,680 It's going to be complete it's going to 429 00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:45,960 be the Lord all of the way and 430 00:25:47,000 --> 00:25:53,420 You'll never regret not making compromises, but if 431 00:25:53,420 --> 00:25:56,080 you do make the compromise it seems like 432 00:25:56,080 --> 00:25:59,800 it'll always come back and You'll always regret 433 00:25:59,800 --> 00:26:03,920 that day that you settled for something less 434 00:26:03,920 --> 00:26:08,520 Than God's best for you Father we thank 435 00:26:08,520 --> 00:26:11,220 you that you have called us to this 436 00:26:11,220 --> 00:26:15,720 rich full wonderful life in Christ And Lord, 437 00:26:15,840 --> 00:26:19,300 we realize that Satan is constantly coming with 438 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:25,540 compromises Something less than your best but Lord 439 00:26:25,540 --> 00:26:28,580 help us that we will hold to the 440 00:26:29,300 --> 00:26:32,740 position that our life is going to be 441 00:26:32,740 --> 00:26:39,300 completely yours Fully committed to you no compromises 442 00:26:39,300 --> 00:26:43,540 no holding back Lord, but all for you 443 00:26:43,540 --> 00:26:49,100 and Just complete full Commitment to your plan 444 00:26:49,100 --> 00:26:52,480 and your will for our lives Help us 445 00:26:52,480 --> 00:26:56,040 Lord this day to hold firm to our 446 00:26:56,040 --> 00:27:01,380 convictions To not settle for second best But 447 00:27:01,380 --> 00:27:04,560 to press on Lord into the fullness that 448 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,400 you have for us We ask this in 449 00:27:07,400 --> 00:27:10,100 the name of Jesus our Lord and for 450 00:27:10,100 --> 00:27:16,040 his glory Amen You've been listening to the 451 00:27:16,040 --> 00:27:18,800 from the pulpit and classic sermon series This 452 00:27:18,800 --> 00:27:20,940 week you heard Chuck Smith with his message 453 00:27:20,940 --> 00:27:23,560 the danger of compromise Tune in next week 454 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,060 to hear Bill McLeod speak about Jesus training 455 00:27:26,060 --> 00:27:28,800 the 12 on from the pulpit and classic 456 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:29,220 sermons