What Does the Lord Want?

1
What Does the Lord Want?

• We will examine some difficult decisions I made.

2
What Does the Lord Want?

• We will examine some difficult decisions I made.
• Please test these things!(1 Thess 521)

3
What Does the Lord Want?

• 1 Thessalonians 521 (NKJV) - Test all things
  hold fast what is good.

4
What Does the Lord Want?

• Paul made a similar choice (Rom 101-3)

5
What Does the Lord Want?

• Romans 101-3 (NKJV) - Brethren, my hearts
  desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they
  may be saved. 2 For I bear them witness that they
  have a zeal for God, but not according to
  knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of Gods
  righteousness, and seeking to establish their own
  righteousness, have not submitted to the
  righteousness of God.

6
What Does the Lord Want?

• The righteousness of God must come first!

7
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference

8
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations

9
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations
• Moral Purity

10
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations
• Moral Purity
• Zeal

11
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations
• Moral Purity
• Zeal
• Activities

12
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations
• Moral Purity
• Zeal
• Activities
• Personal Offence

13
Reasons I Did Not Leave

• Personal Preference
• Friendliness and Associations
• Moral Purity
• Zeal
• Activities
• Personal Offence
• Personal Opportunities

14
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• If I was to choose among the denominations as to
  my preference, I would choose the Baptist Church!

15
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• If I was to choose among the denominations as to
  my preference, I would choose the Baptist Church!
• All who know the Lord know that our choices never
  take precedent over Gods word.

16
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Philippians 34-9 (NKJV) - though I also might
  have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else
  thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I
  more so 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the
  stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a
  Hebrew of the Hebrews concerning the law, a
  Pharisee

17
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church
  concerning the righteousness which is in the law,
  blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me,
  these I have counted loss for Christ.

18
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the
  excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my
  Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all
  things, and count them as rubbish, that I may
  gain Christ

19
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• 9 and be found in Him, not having my own
  righteousness, which is from the law, but that
  which is through faith in Christ, the
  righteousness which is from God by faith

20
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• The decision that I also made was one of faith
  and not that of personal advantage.

21
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Loyalty to Jesus (Mt 624, 33)

22
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Matthew 624 (NKJV) - No one can serve two
  masters for either he will hate the one and love
  the other, or else he will be loyal to the one
  and despise the other. You cannot serve God and
  mammon.

23
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Matthew 633 (NKJV) - But seek first the kingdom
  of God and His righteousness, and all these
  things shall be added to you.

24
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Obeying His commands (Jn 1415,21)

25
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• John 1415 (NKJV) - If you love Me, keep My
  commandments.

26
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• John 1421 (NKJV) - He who has My commandments
  and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who
  loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will
  love him and manifest Myself to him.

27
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Seeking His will in everything! (1 Jn 23-5)

28
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• 1 John 23-5 (NKJV) - Now by this we know that
  we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He
  who says, I know Him, and does not keep His
  commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in
  him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love
  of God is perfected in him. By this we know that
  we are in Him.

29
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Refusing traditions (Mt 158-9)

30
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Matthew 158-9 (NKJV) - These people draw near
  to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their
  lips, But their heart is far from Me. 9 And in
  vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the
  commandments of men.

31
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• Show me and I will do it!

32
What Does It Mean To Believe In Jesus?

• I was taught these things as a Baptist!

33
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• What does the Bible say? (Eph 44-6)

34
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Ephesians 44-6 (NKJV) - There is one body and
  one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope
  of your calling 5 one Lord, one faith, one
  baptism 6 one God and Father of all, who is
  above all, and through all, and in you all.

35
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Can we have our own creeds and gospels? (Gal
  16-10)

36
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Galatians 16-9 (NKJV) - I marvel that you are
  turning away so soon from Him who called you in
  the grace of Christ, to a different gospel,

37
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• 7 which is not another but there are some who
  trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of
  Christ. 8 But even if we, or an angel from
  heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what
  we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

38
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• 9 As we have said before, so now I say again, if
  anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what
  you have received, let him be accursed.

39
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Does it matter if we have different churches?
  (Eph 122-23)

40
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Ephesians 122-23 (NKJV) - And He put all things
  under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all
  things to the church, 23 which is His body, the
  fullness of Him who fills all in all.

41
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• Can we be one and ignore our differences? (Jn
  1720-23)

42
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• John 1720-23 (NKJV) - I do not pray for these
  alone, but also for those who will believe in Me
  through their word 21 that they all may be one,
  as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You that
  they also may be one in Us, that the world may
  believe that You sent Me.

43
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given
  them, that they may be one just as We are one 23
  I in them, and You in Me that they may be made
  perfect in one, and that the world may know that
  You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have
  loved Me.

44
Is Denominationalism Acceptable to God?

• DenominationalismDivision

45
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Origin
• Founded by John Smith in London England, 1607

• .

46
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Origin
• Founded by John Smith in London England, 1607

• Church Jesus Built
• Origin
• Founded by Jesus in Jerusalem in 33 AD

47
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Origin
• Founded by John Smith in London England, 1607
• Name
• Church and members called Baptist

• Church Jesus Built
• Origin
• Founded by Jesus in Jerusalem in 33 AD

48
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Origin
• Founded by John Smith in London England, 1607
• Name
• Church and members called Baptist

• Church Jesus Built
• Origin
• Founded by Jesus in Jerusalem in 33 AD
• Name
• Church of Christ (Rom 1616)
• Church of God (1 Cor 11-2)
• Christians (Acts 1126 1 Cor 110-13)

49
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (1 Corinthians 110-13 NKJV) Now I plead with
  you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus
  Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and
  that there be no divisions among you, but that
  you be perfectly joined together in the same mind
  and in the same judgment. 11 For it has been
  declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by
  those of Chloes household, that there are
  contentions among you.

50
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 12 Now I say this, that each of you says, I am
  of Paul, or I am of Apollos, or I am of
  Cephas, or I am of Christ. 13 Is Christ
  divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you
  baptized in the name of Paul?

51
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Organization
• Local Pastor, board of deacons
• Universally Conventions and colleges

• .

52
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Organization
• Local Pastor, board of deacons
• Universally Conventions and colleges

• Church Jesus Built
• Organization
• Elders, deacons, and members (1 Pet 51,2
  Acts 2028 1423)
• Jesus is head!

53
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Organization
• Local Pastor, board of deacons
• Universally Conventions and colleges
• Rule of Faith
• No difference in OT NT Creeds used

• Church Jesus Built
• Organization
• Elders, deacons, and members (1 Pet 51,2
  Acts 2028 1423)
• Jesus is head!

54
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Organization
• Local Pastor, board of deacons
• Universally Conventions and colleges
• Rule of Faith
• No difference in OT NT Creeds used

• Church Jesus Built
• Organization
• Elders, deacons, and members (1 Pet 51,2
  Acts 2028 1423)
• Jesus is head!
• Rule of Faith
• The NT of Christ (Col 214-17 Heb 86-8 916)

55
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (Colossians 214-17 NKJV) having wiped out the
  handwriting of requirements that was against us,
  which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out
  of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15
  Having disarmed principalities and powers, He
  made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over
  them in it.

56
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 16 So let no one judge you in food or in drink,
  or regarding a festival or a new moon or
  sabbaths, 17 which are a shadow of things to
  come, but the substance is of Christ.

57
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Worship
• Tithing
• Women lead
• Instrumental Music
• Communion seldom observed

• .

58
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Worship
• Tithing
• Women lead
• Instrumental Music
• Communion seldom observed

• Church Jesus Built
• Worship
• Giving (1 Cor 162)
• Men lead (1 Cor 1434)
• Singing (Eph 519)
• Communion observed every Sunday(Acts 207)

59
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (Acts 207 NKJV) Now on the first day of the
  week, when the disciples came together to break
  bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke
  to them and continued his message until midnight.

60
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 1 Corinthians 1015-16 - I speak as to wise
  men judge for yourselves what I say. 16 The cup
  of blessing which we bless, is it not the
  communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which
  we break, is it not the communion of the body of
  Christ?

61
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (1 Corinthians 161-2 NKJV) Now concerning the
  collection for the saints, as I have given orders
  to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also
  2 On the first day of the week let each one of
  you lay something aside, storing up as he may
  prosper, that there be no collections when I
  come.

62
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (1 Corinthians 161-2 NASV) - On the first day
  of every week let each one of you put aside and
  save, as he may prosper, that no collections be
  made when I come.

63
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Worship
• Tithing
• Women lead
• Instrumental Music
• Communion seldom observed
• Work of Church
• Spiritual, physical, and social

• Church Jesus Built
• Worship
• Giving (1 Cor 162)
• Men lead (1 Cor 1434)
• Singing (Eph 519)
• Communion observed every Sunday(Acts 207)

64
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Worship
• Tithing
• Women lead
• Instrumental Music
• Communion seldom observed
• Work of Church
• Spiritual, physical, and social

• Church Jesus Built
• Worship
• Giving (1 Cor 162)
• Men lead (1 Cor 1434)
• Singing (Eph 519)
• Communion observed every Sunday(Acts 207)
• Work of Church
• Spiritual Work (Eph 411-12)

65
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Membership
• Saved by faith alone and then baptized into the
  Baptist church

• Church Jesus Built

66
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Membership
• Saved by faith alone and then baptized into the
  Baptist church

• Church Jesus Built
• Membership
• Faith, repentance, confession baptism for
  salvation (Acts 238 93-11 2216)

67
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Mark 1615-16 - And He said to them, "Go into
  all the world and preach the gospel to every
  creature. 16 "He who believes and is baptized
  will be saved but he who does not believe will
  be condemned.

68
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 1 1 2

69
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 1 1 2
• B B S

70
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 1 1 2
• B B S
• 1 2?

71
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 1 1 2
• B B S
• 1 2?
• B S?

72
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (Acts 238 NKJV) Then Peter said to them,
  Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
  the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
  sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit.

73
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• (Acts 93-11 NKJV) As he journeyed he came near
  Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him
  from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and
  heard a voice saying to him, Saul, Saul, why are
  you persecuting Me? 5 And he said, Who are
  You, Lord? Then the Lord said, I am Jesus, whom
  you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick
  against the goads.

74
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, Lord,
  what do You want me to do? Then the Lord said to
  him, Arise and go into the city, and you will be
  told what you must do. 7 And the men who
  journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a
  voice but seeing no one. 8 Then Saul arose from
  the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw
  no one. But they led him by the hand and brought
  him into Damascus.

75
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 9 And he was three days without sight, and
  neither ate nor drank. 10 Now there was a
  certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias and
  to him the Lord said in a vision, Ananias. And
  he said, Here I am, Lord. 11 So the Lord said
  to him, Arise and go to the street called
  Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for
  one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is
  praying.

76
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Acts 2212-16 (NKJV) - Then a certain Ananias,
  a devout man according to the law, having a good
  testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13
  came to me and he stood and said to me, Brother
  Saul, receive your sight. And at that same hour
  I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, The God of
  our fathers has chosen you that you should know
  His will, and see the Just One, and hear the
  voice of His mouth.

77
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what
  you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you
  waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away
  your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.

78
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Membership
• Saved by faith alone and then baptized into the
  Baptist church
• Apostasy
• Once a man is saved he can never be lost.

• Church Jesus Built
• Membership
• Faith, repentance, confession baptism for
  salvation (Acts 238 93-11 2216)

79
Why I Left The Baptist Church

• Baptist Churches
• Membership
• Saved by faith alone and then baptized into the
  Baptist church
• Apostasy
• Once a man is saved he can never be lost.

• Church Jesus Built
• Membership
• Faith, repentance, confession baptism for
  salvation (Acts 238 93-11 2216)
• Apostasy
• We must be faithful (Gal 51-4)

80
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered

81
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.

82
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.
• All of my family is Baptist.

83
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.
• All of my family is Baptist.
• I do not know anyone.

84
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.
• All of my family is Baptist.
• I do not know anyone.
• But I have been baptized already!
  (Acts 238 191-6)

85
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• (Acts 238 NKJV) Then Peter said to them,
  Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in
  the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of
  sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
  Spirit.

86
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• (Acts 191-5 NKJV) And it happened, while
  Apollos was at Corinth, that Paul, having passed
  through the upper regions, came to Ephesus. And
  finding some disciples 2 he said to them, Did
  you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?
  So they said to him, We have not so much as
  heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.

87
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• And he said to them, Into what then were you
  baptized? So they said, Into Johns baptism.
  4 Then Paul said, John indeed baptized with a
  baptism of repentance, saying to the people that
  they should believe on Him who would come after
  him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they
  heard this, they were baptized in the name of the
  Lord Jesus

88
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.
• All of my family is Baptist.
• I do not know anyone.
• But I have been baptized already! (Acts 238
  191-6)
• The man of faith would ask What would Jesus do?

89
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were several excuses I considered
• I have been sincere.
• All of my family is Baptist.
• I do not know anyone.
• But I have been baptized already! (Acts 238
  191-6)
• The man of faith would ask What would Jesus
  do?
• What should I do about the consequences?

90
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• The same as Moses (Heb 1124-26)

91
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• (Hebrews 1124-26 NKJV) By faith Moses, when he
  became of age, refused to be called the son of
  Pharaohs daughter, 25 choosing rather to
  suffer affliction with the people of God than to
  enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26
  esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches
  than the treasures in Egypt for he looked to the
  reward.

92
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• There were consequences, but no regrets! (Phil
  38-9)

93
Difficult DecisionsThat I Faced

• (Philippians 38-9 NKJV) Yet indeed I also
  count all things loss for the excellence of the
  knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I
  have suffered the loss of all things, and count
  them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and
  be found in Him, not having my own righteousness,
  which is from the law, but that which is through
  faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from
  God by faith