Eternal Hope Church of God

Eternal Hope Church of God Eternal Hope Church of God in Jasper, Florida. We acknowledge our enormous debt to these faithful people. Our music is a blend of old and new.

Founded in 1913 as the Jasper Church of God, our church is one of the earliest churches in the Church of God denomination. Many fine men and women have been of exceptional service to this church over the past century, each doing their part for the Kingdom of God. The good that is done today by the Eternal Hope Church of God is the result of those blessed men and women--pastors and members--whose p

rayers and labors kept this church alive through good times and bad. We are fully Pentecostal in our beliefs and worship, and believe that holiness is God's standard for living. We believe that the scriptures are inspired by God, and that we can safely and confidently build our lives--and stake our eternity--upon the promises and commandments of the Word of God. You will find Eternal Hope to be a church with a diverse congregation. Along with having very young and not-so-young members in attendance (and ages in between), we are delighted to be a church that is inviting to other races, cultures, and backgrounds. We are a church that seeks to be in unity with the Lord and each other, as well as warm, loving, and inviting to newcomers. We love the old Redback Hymnal, and it's not unusual for us to include a hymn in our song service. We also sing a number of much newer songs. Our goal is to create an atmosphere that is, more than anything else, pleasing and welcoming to the Presence of the Lord. We know that if the Presence of the Lord shows up, more can be done in 30 seconds than the finest doctors, wisest counselors, or wealthiest bankers can do in 30 lifetimes. Jesus is that wonderful! Our vision is simple: We simply preach and present Jesus Christ and Him crucified and risen again. Every aspect of our church--Sunday School, Children's Church, the worship services, the preaching/teaching, and even our fellowship and fun--is centered around Jesus. We know that if He is lifted up, He will draw all men unto Him, and we are thankful that He has been faithful to do just that, bringing us new members and new converts. You'll find a sincere welcome here. Won't you come join us?

08/28/2024

BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS

Everything that Jesus said is meaningful.

Everything Jesus said can bring us insight, enlightenment, revelation, and blessing.

If we heed His words, we can be protected from the wiles of the devil.

We can be rescued from difficult situations that threaten to overwhelm us.

We can avoid falling into a snare.

Best of all, we can be pleasing in the sight of God, and we can make it all the way home.

That’s how wonderful the words of Jesus are.

Today, I want us to look at a passage that Jesus spoke in:

(Matthew 7:15 KJV) Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
(Matthew 7:16 KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(Matthew 7:17 KJV) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(Matthew 7:18 KJV) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
(Matthew 7:19 KJV) Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
(Matthew 7:20 KJV) Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.

NOW, JESUS WOULD NOT HAVE TOLD US TO BEWARE OF FALSE PROPHETS UNLESS THERE WAS DANGER INVOLVED.

Whenever you see a sign that says “Beware of Dog”…you better beware of dog!

And if Jesus is telling us to beware of false prophets, how much more dangerous it must be than even the meanest dog.

Think about it. Why would Jesus say “beware” if there was really nothing to beware of?

If you fail to beware of the dog, it can send you to the hospital. But if you fail to beware of false prophets, these wolves in sheep’s clothing, it can send you to hell! And before you get there, it can wreck your life and damage your family.

IT’S IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THE TERM “FALSE PROPHET” DOES NOT JUST MEAN SOMEONE WHO GIVES A PROPHECY THAT DOESN’T COME TRUE!

There wouldn’t be much need for Jesus to tell us to beware of someone who tells us that God told them something that He clearly didn’t tell them, right?

If someone told us that God revealed to them that there was going to be an earthquake in Jasper, Florida, at noon today, but it didn’t happen, it’s not going to be very hard to discern that we shouldn’t put much stock in what that person has to say.

NO, I BELIEVE JESUS IS WARNING US ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE….

Certainly we should beware of those who make “thus saith the Lord” statements that don’t come to pass.

I am convinced that there are a lot of sincere Christians who have simply “missed it,” and have wound up saying something they might have thought was from the Lord, but wasn’t.

I don’t think Jesus is speaking about the person who is trying to do the right thing from an honest heart and spirit.

If that’s what He was talking about, He could have just said, “Beware of those who tell you one thing, but something else happens instead.”

But He didn’t in this case.

INSTEAD, I BELIEVE HE WAS WARNING US ABOUT “FALSE PROPHETS” WHO CAN SEEM TO HIT THE NAIL DEAD ON THE HEAD.

In such cases, you might not be able to easily detect that something is wrong! They say all the right things. They can seem to make all the right moves.

In fact, Jesus said that they will LOOK like sheep, but will really be wolves in sheep’s clothing!

Do you know what a wolf in sheep’s clothing is? A WOLF! Wolves devour sheep, if they get a chance.

These wolves in sheep’s clothing cannot be detected just by looking at them with human eyes, so Jesus is cautioning us about them.

THE WARNING TELLS US THAT THERE CAN BE SOME “FALSE PROPHETS” THAT FLY UNDER THE RADAR.

They look like Christians. They may even fit right in.

They might seem to hold the right doctrine. They can be very convincing…but all the time they are the devil’s secret agents.

Listen to what Jesus said in:

Matthew 24:5-8 For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Consider that while a few have came and claimed to be Jesus, this warning, I believe, is saying that many shall come and say that, yes, Jesus is the Christ…and shall deceive many.

WOLVES MIX JUST ENOUGH TRUTH WITH FALSEHOOD TO LEAD US ASTRAY.

It is also essential that we understand that not every wolf in sheep’s clothes shows up at the church.

Some of you have experience with wolves in sheep’s clothing in your personal life, on your job, in your home, even!

We can let the wrong person in, giving them access, allowing them to speak into our lives and plant seeds that will destroy us.

We can do this without realizing they are a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

But Jesus gives us a surefire means of identifying them.

Listen to what Jesus says in:

(Matthew 7:16 KJV) Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
(Matthew 7:17 KJV) Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
(Matthew 7:18 KJV) A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.

And listen to this in:

Jude 12: These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

Jesus is letting us know that whatever someone really is…will eventually show up in the kind of fruit they are producing.

Someone is not going to produce heavenly fruit if they are living like the devil.

I LOVE THE FRAGRANCE OF ORANGE BLOSSOMS. I THINK THEY HAVE THE MOST WONDERFUL SCENT IN ALL OF CREATION.

But as wonderful as the blossoms smell, you can’t yet tell how the orange is going to turn out.

You can’t just go on how good the blossom looks and smells.

NOTICE THAT JESUS DIDN’T SAY “BY THEIR BLOSSOMS YOU WILL KNOW THEM.” HE SAID, “BY THEIR FRUIT,” YOU WILL KNOW THEM.

Likewise, there are times when a person can seem for all the world like God’s gift to the rest of us. If they were a fruit tree, we’d no doubt be talking about how wonderful the blossoms look and smell.

But I imagine that everyone here has met some folks that, in the beginning, you thought were really fine folks…only to find out later that the fruit of their lives didn’t turn out nearly so well as their blossoms.

NOW, SOMETIMES, THE HOLY GHOST IMMEDIATELY REVEALS TO US THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM.

In the times when God has checked my spirit about someone, I can’t ever recall Him telling me upfront about just WHY He was warning me.

While I might want to know why first, God wants obedience first!

What if someone you loved were standing in the road and a reckless driver was headed their way? If you urge them to move out of the road, but instead of instantly obeying you, they turned to you and said, “But why?”

If you want to save yourself a lot of trouble, obey God immediately—No! Whatever He tells you to do! It might be GO, STOP, RUN…or it might be “I want you to worship Me with all your heart,” or “I want you to pray right now for someone.”

Whatever He says to do, DO IT!

You don’t have to know why. You don’t have to understand. Just obey the Lord and He can not only keep you from a world of trouble, but He can pour incredible blessings into your life.

He is ALWAYS right. In fact, if you delay in obeying, it can mean disaster!

WHILE GOD SOMETIMES LETS US KNOW IN OUR SPIRIT THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM (A PROBLEM WE CAN AVOID IF WE’LL OBEY), SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO WAIT TO DISCERN THE TRUTH BY OBSERVING THE FRUIT THAT THE PERSON PRODUCES.

James brings out a similar thought in:

(James 3:8 KJV) But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
(James 3:9 KJV) Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
(James 3:10 KJV) Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.
(James 3:11 KJV) Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?
(James 3:12 KJV) Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

James is reiterating what the principle that the Lord spoke to us about fruit.

A good fountain doesn’t bring forth bitter or nasty water.

A tree brings forth the kind fruit that represents the kind of tree that it is.

He is letting us know that if you are filled with fresh water, you aren’t going to bring forth salt water.

Like Jesus, James is letting us know that there is a connection between what we are and what we produce.

If you sometimes bring forth bitter or dirty water, you need to let the Lord send His rivers of living water flowing through you again!

If you sometimes bring forth fruit that is not appropriate, you need to let the Lord prune and purge you.

A PERSON WITHOUT THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS NOT GOING TO PRODUCE THINGS THAT ARE PLEASING TO GOD. LISTEN TO THIS IN:

(Galatians 5:22 KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
(Galatians 5:23 KJV) Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Then, in case you can’t memorize the Fruit of the Spirit, Paul sums it up in:

(Ephesians 5:9 KJV) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

Let’s look how the Bible puts it in:

(Galatians 5:24 KJV) And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Paul is speaking of the Fruit of the Spirit, and he is letting us know that if we want the Fruit of the Spirit to live, some things are going to have to die.

If we have the Holy Spirit in us, we are going to be bearing the fruit that God is pleased with!

I AM A TERRIBLE GARDENER. WHEN IT COMES TO PLANTS, I AM A SERIAL KILLER.

One of the things that I don’t do very well at all is make sure that I have gotten rid of anything that will choke out or kill the plants that I plant.

I planted a garden one time. I don’t even like watermelon very much, but I wanted to plant watermelons.

I got out MOST of the grass. But in time, it was clear that I hadn’t gotten out nearly enough.

And that grass worked to choke out the growth of the watermelons before they got to full size.

My point is that while I had planted some good seed, I had not fully removed, I had not fully killed, the things that were the enemies of those seeds.

Likewise, we can come to church and hear the good Word of the Lord, and yet find that we are not bringing forth good fruit.

Why? Maybe there’s some things in our hearts that need to be rooted out or crucified so that we can bring forth the good fruit that the Lord wants us to produce.

JESUS IS LETTING US KNOW THAT A PERSON THAT DOESN’T BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS SOMEONE TO BEWARE OF.

Let me give you an example that happens all the time.

Some girl falls for some bad boy who brings all sorts of drama and foolishness into her life….

He bears bad fruit, he’s not going in the right direction, but because he shows her a little attention, she fails to beware.

It happens for men, too, of course. You’d be surprised at the foolishness of men who have fallen for the wrong woman.

It happens in churches, too! Someone comes in and sweeps everyone off their feet with their talent or ability, and their blossoms may be beautiful, but no one takes the time to check the fruit.

In fact, sometimes the results often wind up in the newspaper, bringing reproach to the reputation of a church that failed to beware…perhaps even gutting that church.

JESUS WOULD NOT HAVE SAID TO BEWARE UNLESS THERE WAS DANGER!

How do you know them by their fruit?

Well, for one thing, what sort of fruit do they bear?

Is there a high and holy respect for Jesus and His Word?

Is the Fruit of the Spirit visible in their lives?

Are there things that cause you to question the person’s relationship with God?

Is there something that just…doesn’t…seem…right?

HAVE YOU EVER EATEN FOOD THAT IS NOT ALL THE WAY BAD, BUT SOMETHING’S NOT RIGHT?

My wife will sometimes have me take a bite of something, or perhaps smell something she thinks she might have been left out of the refrigerator too long.

Sometimes, I can detect the problem. Sometimes, I can’t quite tell if it’s bad or not.

I can go ahead and swallow it and get sick later.

Or I can BEWARE.

FOLKS, I DON’T LIKE TO WONDER ABOUT SOMEONE’S SINCERITY TOWARD THE LORD, DO YOU?

If I have to wonder about someone, I’m good with assuming that they don’t have a word from the Lord for me.

I KNOW TOO MANY TRUE-BLUE CHRISTIANS—YOU KNOW TOO MANY TRUE-BLUE CHRISTIANS—FOR US TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR LISTENING TO SOMEONE WE AREN’T ALL THAT SURE ABOUT BEING THE REAL THING!

As one advertisement put it, “There’s nothing like the real thing, baby!”

If you’re the real thing, you should not allow anyone to speak into your life or spiritually influence you if you aren’t sure they, too, are the real thing!

HERE ARE SOME OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER WHEN WE ARE TRYING TO DETERMINE THE FRUIT THAT A PERSON IS GOING TO PRODUCE.

You will remember that Jesus let us know that whatever sort of tree a person was, that was the sort of fruit you could expect.

Good trees bring forth good fruit. And corrupt trees bring for evil fruit.

In fact, the way Jesus put it, a good tree CANNOT bring forth evil fruit, and a corrupt tree CANNOT bring forth good fruit.

That lets me know that we can only discern what sort of fruit is going to be produced by looking beyond the blossoms and looking at the life of the person who will be producing the fruit.

Does this person manifest a lifestyle that is like that of the saints?

Does this person allow or do things that you don’t think are pleasing to the Lord?

Is this person consistently out of order or timing when it comes to following the Spirit?

Does this person resist authority in the church, perhaps planting seeds of doubt in your own heart?

Does this person bring attention to themselves…or to Jesus?

Does this person give off a positive reflection of the Lord?

Does this person have some harsh things to say about others or other churches?

Does this person gossip or talk down about others?

I could go on, but I think you understand the sort of things to pay attention to.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DON’T OVERLOOK WHAT JESUS TOLD US: BY THEIR FRUITS YOU WILL KNOW THEM.

Is it the Fruit of the Spirit? Is it fruit that lifts Jesus higher?

Or is it confusion and pain and chaos? Is it something that doesn’t sit right with our spirits?

Jesus tells us to BEWARE!

That voice can come from a person you know…it can come from books you read, shows you watch, music you listen to, and so forth.

If something or someone doesn’t live or act like you believe Jesus wants us to live or act, then BEWARE!

The voices of false prophets want to speak into our lives. But listen to what the Bible says in I John 4:1-4:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

LET THIS SIMPLE SERMON BE A FLASHING CAUTION SIGN. LET IT INSTRUCT US TO BEWARE OF TO JUST WHOM WE ARE LISTENING.

Maybe you see some dangers that you have not given appropriate heed to. Perhaps you realize that some people may be leading you in the wrong direction.

Or maybe you realize that you haven’t given much thought to the sort of fruit you yourself are producing.

We all have people that are looking at our lives. I wonder what they will see in us?

I wonder if, maybe years after we have left this life, we will be remembered as someone who sowed good seed…and brought forth good fruit?

I want the Lord to help all of us to be the kind of Christians we need to be.

And the only kind of Christians we should be are true-blue, real-thing, Christians, following after the Lord with all our hearts.

Listen to this in:

(Philippians 1:11 KJV) Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

AMEN

08/04/2024

ALMOST!

So often—even recently—we have read or heard of Christians who experienced serious failures.

Perhaps they committed adultery, embezzled money, had a drinking or drug problem, or in some way failed God.

They might have given up and went back to the world. They might have lost their church or their followers.

They might have packed up and headed to some distant destination where no one knew their name.

They might even have lost their family.

BUT DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE NEVER HEAR ABOUT?

You know what never seems to make the headlines?

We don’t hear anything about those folks who ALMOST failed, those who ALMOST gave up, or those who ALMOST fell away.

We don’t hear about people who ALMOST gave in to temptation, but God made a way of escape.

We don’t hear about people who were ALMOST swept away by Satan’s flood, or who ALMOST lost their way, but God restored them.

We don’t hear about the scandals that ALMOST took place, had it not been for the Lord’s help.

You’ll never read a church bulletin that says, “This week, the pastor almost decided to quit the ministry, leave his family, and run off with the piano player.”

I WANT YOU TO HEAR A PSALM OF ASAPH. HE WAS A PRIEST WHO HAD BEEN ESPECIALLY COMMISSIONED BY KING DAVID TO BE IN CHARGE OF SINGING WHEN THE PEOPLE WORSHIPPED THE LORD.

If anyone knew of the glory and majesty of God—especially as he ministered to the Lord in song and music, it was King David.

So you know that Asaph the priest had to be someone in whom David recognized a supernatural gifting in song and worship.

Asaph was divinely inspired to compose anointed songs and music.

BUT LISTEN TO WHERE ASAPH FOUND HIMSELF IN:

(Psalms 73:2 KJV) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Asaph had come to a point where he was tottering on the brink of spiritual disaster.

It seems he was almost ready to turn in his resignation as a musician, as a priest, as a man of God.

We are not told what was going on in his life. We just know that he was going through something dark and painful.

All we really know is that he was in a dark place and was ready to throw in the towel.

He was very close to the edge of the abyss, and we know this because he is telling us that he was ALMOST done for…he was very close to gone.

For all we know, he might have already begun to turn away from the Lord. He might have already begun to backslide.

For all we know, he might have been contemplating su***de.

ASAPH SEEMED TO BE AT A PLACE WHERE HE WAS JUST GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS.

I wonder if there is anyone here who knows that feeling of “just going through the motions”?

It’s not like it used to be. And you’re not sure it ever will be again.

WHATEVER THE CASE WAS FOR ASAPH THE PRIEST, HE WAS ALMOST GONE.

One thing is for sure: He had gotten his eyes off of the Lord.

HOW DO WE KNOW? JUST LISTEN TO WHAT ASAPH WROTE IN:

(Psalms 73:2 KJV) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.
(Psalms 73:3 KJV) For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
****
(Psalms 73:5 KJV) They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.

They, they, they, they, they….

Asaph had gotten his eyes on others. He had gotten his eyes on the world.

While he was struggling, it seemed they were all prospering.

While he was going through trials and tribulations, it seemed they were all enjoying life.

IF YOU GET YOUR EYES ON THE WIND, THE WAVES, OR THE WORLD, YOUR EYES ARE NOT GOING TO BE ON JESUS.

In fact, if you get your eyes on anything but Jesus, you are going to have some difficult times.

When your eyes are on Washington D.C. instead of heaven…

When your eyes are on worldly things instead of the One called Wonderful, Counselor…

When your eyes are on the circumstances instead of the Savior…

When your eyes are on the problem instead of The Answer to Every Problem…

Then your eyes are not going to be on Jesus!

BUT I WANT YOU TO HEAR WHAT HAPPENED TO STEPHEN THE EVANGELIST IN THE BOOK OF ACTS.

We are told that Stephen was being stoned to death for standing up for Jesus while surrounded by enemies of the cross.

But even as they were stoning him, as his very life was ebbing away, right in the middle of his ex*****on, his eyes were on Jesus! Listen to this in:

(Acts 7:55 KJV) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God….

God gave Stephen a revelation of glory even as the stones were wounding him, breaking him, killing him—even as Stephen knew that his death was but moments away.

Yet right in the middle of that storm of hatred and violence, Stephen had kept his eyes on Jesus!

No matter what was going on around him, Stephen saw the Lord! Listen to what the Bible goes on to say in:

(Acts 7:56 KJV) And [Stephen] said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

IF STEPHEN HAD HAD HIS EYES ANYWHERE ELSE BUT ON JESUS, I DON’T BELIEVE HE WOULD EVER HAVE DIED WITH SUCH GRACE.

His death would never have been such an inspiration.

Listen to this in:

(Acts 7:60 KJV) And [STEPHEN] kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Oh, what closeness to Jesus he exhibited in these final words of love and forgiveness!

That’s someone who had their eyes on the Lord!

He was doing what the scriptures said to do in:

(Hebrews 12:2 KJV) Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith…

BUT ASAPH, THE WRITER OF THE 73RD PSALM, AS GOOD AS HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AT OTHER TIMES, HAD ENTERED A DESPERATE AND DARK STRUGGLE WHEN HIS EYES GOT OFF OF THE LORD.

Listen again to this in:

(Psalms 73:2 KJV) But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.

Have you ever went through one of those “almost gone” seasons?

THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN LIKE THAT IN THE SCRIPTURES.

His name was Demas.

He had the incredible, once-in-a-lifetime privilege of working side-by-side with the great Apostle Paul.

But despite all of this, the only thing we really know of Demas is that somehow he lost his way.

Somehow, he got his eyes on the world.

Perhaps as he traveled with Paul from place to place, he saw all that the world had to offer, and somehow, he forgot that the pleasures of sin are but for a season.

Perhaps he cringed as he, over and over, witnessed the beaten and battered Apostle Paul wiping the blood from his bruised face after another run in with those who hated the gospel.

Perhaps Demas began to think that there surely had to be an easier way.

Perhaps as they evangelized, Demas noticed that they all were sleeping on dirt floors quite often. Or maybe they had gone to be bed hungry once again, as they worked for the Lord in spreading the gospel.

Somehow he got sidetracked away from the great truth written in:

(James 4:4 AES) …know ye not that friendship with the world is to be the enemy of God? Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

And so, instead of this young man following in Paul’s footsteps and becoming a great man of God—perhaps even becoming the successor to the Apostle Paul—listen to the tragic words that Paul wrote in:

(2 Timothy 4:10 KJV) …Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world….

BUT FOR EVERY DEMAS THAT FORSOOK THE LORD AND WALKED AWAY FROM JESUS, THERE HAVE BEEN THOSE WHO ALMOST FORSOOK THE LORD, WHO ALMOST WALKED AWAY…BUT DIDN’T.

They struggled for perhaps days, weeks, months, or even years of being in that precarious situation of feeling like they were ALMOST gone...

Of feeling like they ALMOST couldn’t go even one more step…

Of feeling ALMOST like completely giving up and, like Demas, forsaking it all.

AREN’T YOU GLAD THAT ALMOST FALLING ISN’T THE SAME AS FALLING?

Aren’t you glad that almost giving up isn’t the same thing as giving up?

How many church members across this nation ALMOST didn’t come to church this morning…but somehow they made it anyway?

How many ministers ALMOST decided last week to give up the ministry, but didn’t…but instead they held on and God lifted them up?

How many Sunday School teachers and other church workers ALMOST told their pastor, “I’m through—I’ve had it!” but instead they came back yet again and faithfully served the Lord?

BUT THEN, ASAPH, INSTEAD OF FALLING AWAY, INSTEAD FALLS INTO THE ARMS OF A GRACIOUS AND MERCIFUL GOD.

He had been on the brink of falling away.

He was almost gone.

His feet had well nigh slipped…until….

“UNTIL.” IF IT WASN’T FOR THAT WORD, I DOUBT WE WOULD HAVE HEARD ANYTHING ELSE FROM ASAPH.

For all we know, if Asaph hadn’t come to that “until moment,” he had composed his final melody, and he had sung his last song.

It might be that he had written his last psalm.

It might be that Asaph intended for this to be his final visit to the Temple.

But that word “until” lets us know that something happened—something changed! Listen to what Asaph said in:

(Psalms 73:17 KJV) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.

Asaph had not been able to get out from under this dark cloud.

Whatever it was, whatever had been creating all this pain, he just couldn’t get any relief, it seemed.

UNTIL…UNTIL…UNTIL…

THINGS CHANGED WHEN ASAPH WENT INTO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD!

It had nothing to do with Asaph going to a certain address or a certain building.

It had nothing to do with entering into the Tabernacle or Temple.

It had nothing to do with going to this or that church.

Plenty of folks go to the church building, but never actually get inside the House of the Lord.

Asaph might have went to the Temple, but it wasn’t about him going to the right building. No, it was about him going to the right PERSON.

THE HOUSE OF THE LORD IS WHEREVER YOU MAKE CONTACT WITH GOD!

Your living room, your kitchen, your porch, can become the House of the Lord!

Wherever God shows up, the atmosphere changes! The glory of the Lord floods the place!

WHAT ASAPH IS REALLY SAYING IS, “I WAS DOWN, DEPRESSED, AND ALMOST GONE, BUT THEN I ONCE AGAIN FELT THE WONDERFUL PRESENCE OF THE LORD!”

“The breakthrough I needed finally took place! I can now feel recovery flowing through me!”

“God touched me again! God came through!”

Fellowship had been restored!

Have you ever had a breakthrough like that? All was dark and gloomy, but then Jesus came and we touched Him!

I have!

BUT IF ONLY WE CAN TOUCH JESUS....

Listen to this in:

(Mark 6:56 AES) And whenever Jesus entered into villages, or cities, or country, they laid the sick in the streets, and besought Him that they might touch if it were but the border of His garment: and as many as touched Him were made whole.

When you touch Jesus, things have to change!

The situation has no choice! The Son of God has come!

SOMETIMES WE TOUCH JESUS, AND SOMETIMES HE TOUCHES US! LISTEN TO THIS IN:

(Matthew 8:2 KJV) And, behold, there came a l***r and worshipped Him, saying, Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.
(Matthew 8:3 KJV) And Jesus put forth His hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

When Jesus touched an unclean l***r, instead of it defiling Jesus, the touch of Jesus cleansed the l***r!

When Jesus touched the eyes of a blind man, sight was restored!

When He touched a dead person, the dead had to live again!

Everyone that has ever Jesus touched was somehow blessed, restored, healed, or forgiven.

WHEN CONTACT IS MADE WITH JESUS, SOMETHING WONDERFUL HAPPENS!

When a whip beat Him mercilessly, lash after lash, tearing His flesh to pieces, healing came flowing to you and me.

When a spear pierced His side, conviction touched the heart of the centurion that held that spear.

When iron nails punctured His hands and feet, salvation flowed freely.

AND WHEN ASAPH WAS TOUCHED BY THE LORD, SOMETHING CHANGED!

Asaph got his song back! He got his inspiration back!

Then he understood that while the pleasures of sin may last for a season, his relationship with God was glorious and eternal. Listen again to:

(Psalms 73:17 KJV) Until I went into the sanctuary of God; THEN understood I their end.

Asaph could then say what the Apostle Paul said centuries later in:

(Romans 8:18 KJV) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

NOW HEAR WHAT ASAPH HAS TO SAY, AFTER HE WENT TO THE HOUSE OF THE LORD:

(Psalms 73:24 KJV) [LORD,]Thou shalt guide me with Thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
(Psalms 73:25 KJV) Whom have I in heaven but Thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee.
(Psalms 73:26 KJV) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion forever.

Asaph had been looking with envy at what the wicked and the ungodly—he wanted what they had!

But when he again experienced the Presence of the Lord, Asaph said, “There is none upon earth that I desire beside Thee, oh, Lord.”

MAYBE YOU ARE IN A SITUATION SIMILAR TO ASAPH’S SITUATION.

Maybe you feel like you’re “almost gone.”

You will learn that God can keep you from falling. Listen to this in Jude 24-25:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.

ASAPH MIGHT HAVE ALMOST FALLEN AWAY, BUT HE DIDN'T!

He might have ALMOST given up…but he didn’t!

He might have ALMOST called it quits…but he didn’t.

LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT ANOTHER “ALMOST.” THIS ONE SHOULD CAUSE ALL OF US TO TREMBLE….

There will be people who “almost” got saved.

There will be people who “almost” gave their lives to Jesus.

When Jesus returns, there will be people who “almost” went when the Lord returned.

There will be folks who “almost” rose to meet the Lord in the air.

They might have intended to go to the altar the very next Sunday.

They planned to start teaching, singing, leading, worshiping, or what have you.

But while they almost made it, while they were almost saved, they were found to be completely lost.

While they were almost persuaded, it was not enough to win them three seconds of heaven.

IF YOU ARE ALREADY SAVED, MAYBE YOU ARE IN AN “ALMOST GONE” SITUATION.

Take a moment to look around you—this church is filled with folks who have been in situations where they were “almost gone,” where their feet had “well nigh slipped.”

I can tell you that there have been times when it felt like that was almost a daily occurrence in my life.

But thank the Lord, there have been millions of Christians have went from “almost gone” to “almost home”!

NO ONE MAY EVEN BE AWARE OF WHAT YOU’RE GOING THROUGH, BUT YOU MAY FEEL UNSURE THAT YOU’RE GOING TO MAKE IT THIS TIME.

Maybe you feel like you just don’t have the strength or willpower to keep going.

You are running on empty—running on fumes.

But Jesus is here. And He can be touched…and you can touch Him!

And you’ll find that He will restore you, refresh your joy, encourage you, lift you, bless you.

He is a God Who can keep you from falling.

AMEN

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408 Palmetto Avenue
Jasper, FL
32052

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