What Shall We Do? — February 23, 2025: full transcript and answers

▶ 0:03 Good morning everyone it’s good to be alive and living for Jesus amen what a hope we have in him he is a near and present help in all our circumstances amen we’re going to be talking this morning about what shall we. Do people came out to meet John the Baptist in the wilderness to get baptized and his response to them or he was talking to them uh about how they need to change he says therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance and of course everybody the world the church we all have to answer that call are we going to repent and that just means to turn from our old ways right 2 Corinthians 5:17 says old things have what passed away all things have become what new God gives us a new heart as we talked about last week when our gentleman got baptized last week we reminded.

▶ 1:13 You we were reminded that God wants to give us a new heart it’s a new promise it’s a covenant that God has for his people it is an unbreakable promise so. Important bear fruits worthy of of repentance amen and so whether you completely not a Christian at all an unbeliever or you are a Christian there’s things that we can repent from we also were reminded last week that uh I can’t remember what the scripture was if it was John or somebody else it says be baptized in it’s a baptism of repentance and so when we go into that water we are saying that we’re going to be baptized submerged. In. Repentance okay not just one part of us not just the foot not just the hand not just one section of our body but our whole man our whole inner.

▶ 2:16 Man we we don’t just say oh I’ll stop murdering those people but I’m going to keep doing this over here we are baptized and submerged our whole man in repentance that means we’re turning away from everything that opposes God’s word do we understand that very important for us and we keep repenting that’s the that’s the wonderful thing about God’s tools you may be a Christian for have have been a Christian for many years you’re still working on things that tool that we have is what. Repentance when you repent God accepts you you can turn from your sin you may may fall again but you can come back to that tool he’s provided called. Repentance every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire so we understand that the goal is for us to produce what fruit those fruits of the what spirit God wants us to love joy have joy have peace.

▶ 3:27 Patience love joy peace patience kindness goodness faithfulness to woohooo gentleness. Self-control those are all the fruits of the spirit that’s how I remember it now a song and so we want to avoid not producing fruit right. And the people asked what shall we do in Luke 3:1 that was their response and that’s what we’re looking into today what shall we. Do uh America day America today is on the verge or uh we are supporting and promoting sin that leads to destruction.

▶ 4:25 Right uh we’re promoting it we’re signing on with it and uh we want to avoid. The penalty that comes with that and so what shall we do is so important that we. Respond and before uh we go into these things I want to preface it with John 3:12 and Jesus said if I speak thank. You thank if I speak of earthly things my wife taken care of me thank you my dear if I speak of earthly things you do not understand how will you grasp. Heavenly uh Jesus gives us a lot of parables examples in teaching his truths right and some of them are natural.

▶ 5:24 Examples um like him being called the son of God it’s a natural examp example for us to understand that he came from God now is Jesus. God. Yes happened he says I’m the son of God I came from God I’m the offspring but he is God he just became. Flesh and so our first response from John the Baptist is Luke 3:1 anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none anyone who has food should do the same and so we’re he’s talking about clothing and food right and naturally yes we do want to help.

▶ 6:26 People um but we do have a problem in America today where people are already getting helped and there’s no requirement to turn from any sin or anything they’re getting helped and enabled to uh uh the government is just taking care of people they’re they’re giving people money uh so it’s it’s kind of tough when uh you’re getting you’re getting heavily taxed and uh then they want you to help it’s like well you know the government’s already handing out everything what do you want me to do here. Uh it’s quite a situation we’re living in Isaiah chap 61:10 this morning you know since you don’t have lesson sheets you got to write notes yourself today. Okay he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness and so when it’s talking about those two tunics it’s talking about being clothed in.

▶ 7:26 Righteousness and so as a Christian you have a responsibility to get clothed in righteousness that means to put it on that means you repent and you start heading to doing what is right in the sight of God amen that’s all throughout the scriptures you know all the kings of of Israel what does it say they did what was wrong and evil in the eyes of the Lord we don’t want to do that right it’s all throughout the Bible we want to do what is right in his sight we want to keep his word and as we’ve talked about. The what are they called the remnant right they keep they keep his commands they follow and that’s what kind of people we want to be and not only do we want to clothe ourselves in that we also want to give it to people.

▶ 8:34 We want to help others do the same it’s not about us oh I’m the good one I’m a good uous no I want you to be doing what is right in God’s sight too amen these guys are newly baptized people that have been Christians for years people that aren’t Christians I want you we want you the church we should want each other to do what is right in God’s sight amen because if you’re doing what’s evil on God’s sight God help you I don’t want you to be in that. Situation you know as a young person you have some decisions you have to make in your future that all of us have had to make are you going to go the way of the world and reap. The harm the hurt that comes from the way of the world or are you going to walk in God’s ways you don’t have to walk the way of the world you can walk in God’s ways you can work you can keep away from the things that are going to drag you.

▶ 9:36 Down it’s your choice and we don’t want you to have to go through all that so we’re here to say hey I got some clothing I got uh something you can wear here to to get on with a good. Life Luke 24: 49 very important without getting clothed with that righteousness the thing that’s going to help you here is this next piece of clothing Luke 24:49 I’m going to send you what my father has promised stay in the city until you have been what clothed with what power from on high it’s important that we go to the Holy Spirit and be what clothed with that power from on high the priests before they went into the tabernacle they put on the priestly garments they were clothed with those garments they put on that Holy Spirit s or you know illustrating the Holy.

▶ 10:41 Spirit it’s important that we understand that we need to seek after this clothing those that reive the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost what did they do before they got it can anybody tell me some somebody say it loud they went and carried in the upper room for 10 days you know we’re going to have to put if you want the Holy Spirit you’re going to have to put some effort into it if it took them 10 days and they’re the disciples that were with Jesus and he’s promising them to their face that he’s going to give the Holy Spirit it’s going to take us some seeking. God. Amen it may not happen right away you know if you ask for it doesn’t happen and you give up we can’t do that we have to keep pursuing it and it’s the same way with every other part of God you can’t just give up because your answer hasn’t come yet you have to keep pursuing and serving God and it’s very important for your young people or people that just got baptized if you want to walk in that uh clothing of righteousness you got to get that clothing of power to help you.

▶ 12:02 Matthew 10:8 freely receive freely give you know uh at the church here our goal people in the church uh parents people that have been around. Uh the core you have been here for years their goal is for you to get the Holy Spirit to get a relationship with God and to clothe yourself in righteousness and clothe yourself in the spirit that is our goal here our goal is for you to meet with. Jesus. Amen that’s why it’s important for us to work with people that walk in that are not used to church they never they don’t even know what church is they come in they’re like they throw stuff at the wall they’re breaking stuff or you. Know let’s our goal is to plug them into Christ.

▶ 12:56 Amen it’s going to take a little p. And of course there’s always a line you don’t cross. Right. Amen. So Matthew chap 10:8 freely receive freely give what we have received in God we also want to freely what give amen it’s true it’s powerful now he also said feed right so in 1 Corinthians 3:2 we are reminded that Paul says I gave you milk not solid food for you were not yet ready for it Paul is saying specifically here he gave the milk of the word right so when John is saying talking about giving the two tunics if you have two tunics give out one of and give people food we’re also want to look at the spiritual aspect and part of that is giving.

▶ 14:04 People the the word of God and Hebrews lays out what those the milk is uh I can’t remember off the top of my head right now but I’ll share that with you when we go to give the milk out to. People right resurrection of the dead uh repentance for dead works you know that’s all basic stuff. Amen I gave you milk and not solid food for you’re not yet ready for it Hebrews chapter 5:12 you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over. Again and so we must. Receive the food from God’s word and also give it to people this is what shall we do this this is our the response God is calling us to do what shall we do this is the question we should be asking what should we do we should be receiving that word and we should be giving it.

▶ 15:12 Out and also reading your Bible expedite expedite this process I encouraged our young people that were getting baptized to read their Bible to start somewhere you have a phone you can download the Bible app you can listen to the Bible you can read the Bible it’s available to us us and we need to take time in our daily uh in in in our daily lives to put God’s word into us and to. Pray it worked for the people in the Bible it worked for. Daniel it worked for. Daniel Daniel sought God three he give God thanks how many times a day three times a day. And he went into the lion’s dead did God was God with him yes don’t we want God with us we need to pursue him we need to seek him.

▶ 16:13 Amen Paul it worked for Paul was God with Paul yes he was with Paul come on folks yes he was with Paul if he’s with these people he’s going to be with us amen amen. Number two what shall we do John replies and he says don’t collect any more than you are required. To John 13:34 love one another love does no harm to a neighbor as citizens in America it is right for us to require that no harm be done to us and to others amen. We don’t require people to believe in Jesus as Christians we don’t say you know as as the church we say you bet you need to repent we’re calling you to become disciples and believe in Christ but if they don’t want to we don’t need to go beat them over the head right that’s their choice but I’m not going we’re not going to put up with people that are harming.

▶ 17:27 Us amen amen we can’t put up with people that are harming. Us harm should not be done harming children harming families that should not be allowed and as citizens of America we need to stand up for those. Truths amen and we have every right to according to the scriptures Proverbs 29 verse2 when the righteous are in authority the people rejoice but when a wicked man rules the people grown and we’re we live through both of these things right or maybe you haven’t the baby over there I don’t know if they if if he. Did where’s our aiden’s not here right how old are you I’m 12 12 oh.

▶ 18:35 Boy Romans 1:26 for this reason God gave them up to vile passions for even their men left natural use of the woman burning their lust for one another men with men committing what is shameful and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due the church is going along with these kind of behavior. And the church should not be they are. Uh they are approving of sin and that’s not acceptable we cannot approve of not assembling we cannot approve of of saying the Bible is a myth we cannot approve of of sharing the wealth from taxes is it’s not right that people you know just tax people on one end and give it to other people that may not be working you know it’s not.

▶ 19:33 Right I can’t stand up here and in good conscience tell you that that’s. Okay we cannot approve as a church of homosexual homosexual. Activity you know a lot of people are against the transgender issue but they’re homosexual gay is there too and that’s still wrong and having sex before marriage is wrong even if it’s head. Sexual that’s all the same. Wrong 1 Timothy verse 1 uh chapter 1 ver 7 desiring to be teachers of the law understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm but we know that the law is good say that with me the law is what. Good and who’s writing. This.

▶ 20:27 Paul who is he writing it to. Timothy Paul the one that everybody says doesn’t believe in the law what did he say the law is what. Good if one uses it lawfully the law is not made for a righteous person but for the lawless and insubordinate and he goes to list out those lawless deeds if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. You know we’re inventing new ways to be contrary to God his word and uh this goes back to do not collect any more than is required the world the church is collecting trying to collect more than is required they’re. They’re they’re approving of sin to to get people to come so that everybody feels comfortable that’s collecting more than was required that’s not right right you can’t do that just to get.

▶ 21:46 Money love does no harm from 2019 to 2023 14,000 minors approximately receive transgender treatments including 5,000 700 surgeries and the rest primarily puberty blockers or hormones is this unlawful in God’s eyes yes is it contrary to sound doctrine do you have a line in the in the Bible anywhere that says anything about puberty blockers no but it’s contrary to what sound doctrine right because Jesus said at the beginning he made them what male and female it’s contrary to sound doctrine. Now does Jesus Christ and his death on the cross give these people an opportunity for restoration.

▶ 22:40 Yes just like every other sin it starts with repentance I’m just bringing these up because these are hurting innocent young people and it’s wrong they are trying to collect more than is due they are they are. Exploiting these young people and hurting them in the process this is harming the next. Generation Exodus 20:15 you shall not steal uh for example I I think many of you have heard a lot of the uh expenditures that are being spent on thing on frivolous things in our government right I don’t know if you’ve heard of the news. Lately uh $81 million just two weeks ago was spent to pay in paid to new york city for migrant services and uh to put that in perspective the average American will pay $600,000 in taxes in their lifetime and so 800 million equates to 135 people their taxes for their life lifetime spent like that.

▶ 24:01 And the government just gets to do what they. Want uh but that’s not true right don’t they have to keep thou shalt not steal don’t they have to obey God’s word too you know is it just the people oh you got to obey oh I thought do not judge judge. Not you’re supposed to be kind while they’re slapping you on the other side. No it goes both ways. Folks they are taking more than what is what. Do just because you are labeled government doesn’t mean you have that doesn’t mean you don’t have to follow the ten. Commandments taxes are funding idle lifestyles illegal immigrants and law breakers.

▶ 24:59 And that’s not right if I don’t pay my taxes I am fined and it hurts my family I can be put in prison right that’s why I have the guy with the gun here and you like oh nobody’s going to come with yeah they do come with the gun because they come and they’ll put you in prison and they’re wearing what a gun and if you say no they’re going to take you to the ground and cuff. You right. Yeah this is exacting more than is required now do we pay taxes is it right to pay yes but somebody’s got to be on the other side saying hey you don’t just get to do whatever you want I saw a meme of a a picture where tax money where they were putting like dollar bills on roads being redone like your money goes to rebuild the roads and then the that was like where you think your taxes are going and then another one said where your taxes are really going they’re just dumping into a fire and letting it burn it’s a joke uh I’m sorry I didn’t I didn’t mean to go conspiracy theory on you.

▶ 26:16 But this is this is true what was. That uh this is just one example I’m bringing up here but there’s a lot of examples it’s important that we uh we speak up they’re exacting more than is required and they’re using that money to fight against us they’re using that money to speak their message that’s not right either Galatians chapter 6:7 do not be be deceived God is not mocked for whatever a man sws that he will also reap for if he sws to the the flesh he will re of the flesh reap corruption but he who sws to the spirit will of the spirit reap everlasting life and that’s what we want you want to reap you want to you want to put your time in your effort into spiritual things as well amen so that you can reap an everlasting life an eternal reward if you invest your time into sin you’re going to get the results of that even if you don’t get it here on earth and those who are living in sin and and doing these behaviors they’re not married.

▶ 27:33 They’re uh having relations not married they’re having relations with people of the same gender and that all has a uh. Consequence. Amen with health care you got to understand that we’re all under the same health care. All right so if the risky people that live risk uh highrisk lifestyles they go do their thing and they’re still covered by the insurance that you’re covered by and so it sends the price of insurance up for you who did not participate in that. Behavior you didn’t participate in. Uh risky behaviors you’re not participating in drugs you’re not parti paying in alcohol have you guys ever went to the house hospital the first thing they’re going to ask you is what do what is your drug.

▶ 28:38 History when’s the last time you drank alcohol when’s the last time you did drugs have you taken marijuana I mean they got 50 questions they’re asking you right it’s all there they want to know are you smoking have you ever smoke what’s your smoke status never smoke smoker didn’t smoke smoked yesterday. You know there’s a risk if you want to live that way there’s a risk there’s a cost you know and you we fill it out say no I didn’t do that no I didn’t do that no I didn’t do that do I get any money. Back no I don’t get any money back I got to pay for everybody. Else is that exacting what it’s du no is.

▶ 29:32 That and so when the government official comes to John the Baptist and he says don’t take more than what is due uh what are what are they saying today they’re just holding their ears and walking. Away do you understand what I’m saying. I looked up the statistics sleeping around uh with somebody that you’re not married to increases your chances of stds by 40. Times forg getting hiv syphilis. Gamadia a married couple that stays. Faithful. Uh their chances are zero if they started out you know with nothing.

▶ 30:28 Amen uh is it that hard to understand are God’s ways good ways. Yeah. Yes and let me put a plugin for the spouses you know take care of your spouse. Right take care of your spouse hopefully you guys know what I mean I got children in the room take care of your spouse take care of their needs all right they’ve got needs they they want to be loved let’s take care of each other it prevents. Harm. Amen so just again here we got to remember that our choices the choices that you make in your life not only are going to separate you from God sin the sinful choices you make but they’re also going to cause uh hurt and harm in your life a health cost in your life you know and unfortunately right now and all the ones that are not participating in that have to bear that price as well.

▶ 31:38 Okay uh if you were living in a different time you’d have to bear your choices and the consequences. Yourself and that is more just because you made that choice it’s important for us to be responsible for our choices you reap what you sow. Deuteronomy. 6:7 the responsibility of education in the Bible is on us. Parents impress teach God’s commands to your what children Proverbs 22:6 train up a child in the way they should go and when he is old he will not depart from it parents we have a responsibility to teach our children not the government even though the government says oh they belong to us no they don’t you see when God created the world he created the world with certain rules and he spoke and what he says is true government doesn’t come in and get to tell you they own your children.

▶ 32:47 Right God’s word is truth let God be true in every what man a liar. So taxes. For uh those who put their kids in a private school or homeschool their kids uh the people that do that are still taxed for public schools right there’s still charged the property taxes that all goes to the public schools they are charged taxes even though they do not put their kids in the public schools that is exacting more than is required do we get it I keep going back to that is more being taken than what is due.

▶ 33:38 Yes and that’s why we’re uh speak about these things that’s why I bring them up I know I I harp on this stuff a lot but we’ve got to start thinking this way and voting this way and speaking this way cuz we’ve got to convince the world out there that these these things are not. Okay cuz they’re trying to tell you to pay your fair share they’re trying to tell you that if you don’t give to the schools if you don’t give to this if you don’t give to that that you are wrong that you’re immoral and that’s not. True you got to remember this when somebody comes at you with you are supposed to pay your money you know pay to caesar what c caesar do well this is not.

▶ 34:32 Due you’re taking more than you. Should you’re abusing. Us and we have a first amendment we get to. Speak and we get to vote and if we can convince people we can tell them get out of here right the only reason why they get to say they what they get to say is because they are in. Charge and they want to shut you.

▶ 35:07 Up 86% of graduate uh 80% 86% graduate but only. 46% in English English language and arts and 34% are proficient or okay yeah let me restate this 46 % are proficient in English language and arts 34% are proficient in math so first of all not everybody graduates and those 86% that do graduate less than half are proficient in English and math this is what we have in our public schools okay the cta is the california teachers association has a $228 million budget which kills vouchers vouchers are uh money that can be given to those that want to put their kids in a public school or um some somewhere else and u they oppose it because they have money to oppose these efforts and there’s a a a big.

▶ 36:15 Uh what is it called what people are talking about school choice right now and they’re very excited about it in the different states but uh it’s happening in different states but california it’s it’s pretty tough because we have the california teachers association that opposes it so again I’m just giving you another example I’m showing you how they’re not getting results here in california yet they are requiring us right they’re requiring they’re taking more than what is due in california from the people do we understand that I want you to understand that we’ve got to have the right perspective effective you know we don’t need to get you know well maybe we do need to get fired up we need might need to get fired. Up Luke 3:14 some of the soldier ask what should we do and it replied don’t extort money don’t accuse people falsely and be content with your pay.

▶ 37:23 Don’t accuse people falsely be content with your pay Philippians 4:11 I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances in whatever case I am in I have learned to be comp there’s certain versions that just say it better I I don’t know why I picked this version Matthew 7:12 do to others what you would have them do to. You so first of all we don’t want to just be accusing each other falsely we can do this in relationship we look at the other person and we start accusing them we don’t have ev any evidence but we are. Accusing uh we also can be content with the little progress or success that we are seeing amen we can be content remember the uh.

▶ 38:22 Oh. Man in the scripture. It says that the wheat’s going to grow and the tares are going to grow just as fast and just as high and God said wait don’t pull them otherwise we’ll pull the wheat up out of the ground so you know we know that we’re going to have opposition right there’s going to be opposition those that don’t want God are are are going to be there it’s important to understand that so we can be content with what God is doing the little that we may receive also in our home we want to be content with our kids making good changes amen we want to be content with our spouse making good changes amen you know maybe they’re not perfect my gosh who is look at yourself what do you think you are you know give people some room and make you know if they’re heading the right direction praise God if they’re making improvements.

▶ 39:29 Hallelujah get down and pray and thank God what you don’t want is regression right you don’t want things getting worse we want stuff headed in the right. Direction if we want our husband to love us if we want our wife to love us where do we start with we start with ourselves if we want that love we want we need to give. Love and same with our children we can’t just expect them to love us we’ve got to love them and that sometimes is a thankless job amen. So the statement is the soldiers came and said what should we do John did not tell them to go throw away your sword.

▶ 40:38 Right he didn’t tell the soldiers to get rid of their uh fighting abilities no uh in the scriptures nehemiah 4:14 fight for your families your sons and daughters your wives and your homes in the Old Testament New Testament Jesus in red letters he says if you don’t have a sword sell your cloak and what buy one buy one so that you can put it on your wall at home so you can be you know a peac you know hey you are going to need to defend. Yourself and so we have people that are opposed to guns gun control all this stuff they’re opposed guns saying the second amendment is bad um and we do have problems where people are abusing their second amendment but you know we should we want to keep that right folks that right is very important that we have very important.

▶ 41:41 Weapons are. Biblical lastly in Matthew 28:19 Jesus says go and make disciples of all nations teaching them to obey everything I have commanded and so we see here it’s important that we are involved we’ve got to make we’ve got to fashion we have to get people uh somehow to become disciples and to become a supporter and follower of Jesus Christ if we are divided we are going to be a distraction if in the church we’re divided when we’re divided against each other and fighting with each other we’re distracting from the goal.

▶ 42:36 Amen we have to be made and fashioned into a supporter. Of Jesus Christ of the gospel and if you if we are not a supporter we need to keep pursuing God until we can genuinely support the goals that God has for us to be effective in this. World and Jesus specifically says how to do it and he says in this to go and and baptize them amen we need to baptize people but also he says teaching them to obey everything I have commanded teaching is very important the world right now has convinced people to their side and and they’ve done it through what.

▶ 43:30 Teaching they have gotten into public schools and they are teaching them their ways they have gotten them in gotten into college and they’re teaching them their ways they’ve gotten on hollywood and every movie every show that you watch and they are teaching them their ways you go to a national park they’re teaching you their opinion. Teaching is very important and we have a a a responsibility to teach what Jesus spoke what Jesus. Said and so if it works for them and it. Does it can work for God’s people and Jesus specifically says that this is very important.

▶ 44:29 They have been great examples to us in advocating for their sin amen do you guys not see that I mean really the world has gotten really good they’re really good at all this and they push their message everything you see every show you watch movie it’s hitting you in the face you go to school it’s hitting you you go to college you know you got to have the mind of Christ to just get through there unscathed I went to co I went to cal state fullerton you know the influence is there the assumption oh yeah you know a million years ago and and you know that’s how things and we evol you know they just assume that’s what you think and they reinforce it they reiterate and they say oh you didn’t you’re not you didn’t come from a public school you don’t know the the basics of this like we got to send you back we need to re-educate we need to brainwash you.

▶ 45:32 Buddy you know I got to college and like where did you come from went to one of my classes they’re like who are you I had a speech class and that guy would say stuff and I would spout out another answer he’ be like he just look at me he’s like my goodness they have really missed the brainwashing with you I normally people are just ride in with what I’m. Saying and I didn’t understand. Him Matthew chapter 7:29 he taught them as one having what. Authority we got to get some what. Authority we got to get some power some strength.

▶ 46:29 It says he what. Taught them as one having authority do we have that. Authority do we have that authority think. Honestly do do you have. That we got to get that authority we got to touch that spirit we got to touch the the river of God we got to get that life into us we got to speak that word with. Authority you know these people come at us with all of their explanation what. No what shall you do don’t exact more than what is due you’ve been exacting way too much from me and my home and my family.

▶ 47:28 Don’t give me no judge notot don’t give me no you know pay my fair share no you cut it. Out these people got us backed up against the wall with all of their their talking. Points because they know that that they repeat these lies we we we we just say oh yeah that’s that’s true and we get quiet. We get. Scared and it’s. True when they got all that money and they got the court system and they can come after you yeah that’s not that’s not. Fun but we got to speak with authority God and I’m saying this and then I got to go and speak with sheep or with authority I don’t know I have to make a decision you know in my other areas of life I got to I’m right there with you folks.

▶ 48:38 Okay it’s it’s not. Easy they bring you to court they the court the counselors talk to you these these licensed people that will uh be nice to you in person but behind the scenes they are railing you. You know I gotta we got to pray for some wisdom folks we go we got to speak this with. Authority. Ah well praise. God John 14:26 the helper the Holy Spirit whom the father will send in my name he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you we need the Holy Spirit amen amen we need that spirit of God moving in us giving us that powerful authority we need that clothing of power amen.