Romans Chapter 16:17-20

The Bible doesn't say if somebody is divisive we'll debate them, argue with them, email them, call them, talk to them, go back and forth with Facebook on them. No, no, that's not what it says. Doesn't say have compassion on them.

It just marks them and avoid them is what it says. I've responded with people who were divisive before by being very compassionate and I figured out why the Bible tells me this because people got hurt that didn't need to. Welcome to Cross the Bridge with David McGee. As the body of Christ, it's important to be unified and with that said, we also must learn to stay away from divisive people. Find out more about this important truth today as Pastor David continues in Romans 16 with a changed life.

Here's David McGee. So let's turn to Romans 16. Now we get to an interesting portion of scripture. Verse 17, now I urge you brethren note those who cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which you learned and avoid them. Paul is telling us here that there's some people to look out for that he's warning us against. Let's read on to verse 18 then we'll talk about these two verses. It says for those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ but their own belly and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.

Now let me take two different routes on this. The first of which be careful what what Jesus when it talks about Jesus Christ, what Jesus Christ are we talking about? We're talking about the Jesus Christ of the Bible and you need to understand that certain people use the name of Jesus. They're not talking about the Jesus of the Bible. When a Mormon talks about Jesus, they're not talking about the Jesus of the Bible. If a Jehovah's Witnesses talk about Jesus, that's not the Jesus of the Bible. Those are not what I would consider denominations of the Christian faith.

They are aberrations of the Christian faith. Now we've got people here that used to be Jehovah's Witnesses that have come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. There's actually a guy who used to be was a Mormon priest for years who's now walking with the Lord. Isn't that cool? Isn't that awesome? That's just way cool.

Yeah. So what what kind of Jesus are these people proclaiming? Let me show and this may shock you but if a Mormon or Jehovah's Witnesses show up at my door, I do not let them in. I don't talk to them. Now on a rare occasion God has said go ahead and share with them.

But you know what? These people are it's another Jesus. I'm not going to invite them in my home to proclaim another Jesus. Now you go Pastor David shouldn't you be sharing scriptures and they're not there to be enlightened. They're not there to be taught. They're there to convert me.

And you know what? By and large that just doesn't work. When somebody's trying to convert you and you try to convert them you're just getting a big argument. Now if God tells me to invite them in and and share scripture with them I'll do it.

But friend you know how many Christians have done that and got their head all filled with trash? Be careful with that. Be careful with that. This this passage is saying avoid them avoid them.

Don't do it. And this understand in the bible there is only one people group that I can find that the bible says avoid. It's divisive people. It says I mean look out for the ways of the world wisdom of the world but as far as people divisive people that's the only ones. Now let me take the other track with this.

God has called me anointed me empowered me to be the senior pastor and teacher of this group. I take that very seriously and so does leadership. And we can agree to disagree on certain things and we're fine. Now certain things we cannot agree to disagree on. If you think there's many ways to heaven we're not going to be able to agree to disagree. That's that's just you know you're probably I mean you can come here and work through that but you know don't come to me going hey you really need to change your way of thinking.

I I'm sorry ain't gonna happen. Not not in regards to many ways to heaven. Now if you think something oh I'll give you an example. I believe in a pre-tribulation rapture. That is the belief that at the beginning of the seven year tribulation we are raptured out. Some of you may believe in a mid-trip or a post-trip rapture mid-tribulation rapture or post-trip that's fine. I'm okay with that. We can agree on Jesus and we can agree to disagree on the tribulation period.

And what happens then okay we're fine with that. But you know years ago I was in I guess I was in John. I was in one of the gospels talking about the tribulation. I went through the verses of why I believe that. I'm not going to do that today because we're not talking about the tribulation really. But you know and I explained it and I said look you can not agree with me but since I'm the teacher and the pastor here you know don't be trying to swim people's heads around and tell them why they should believe like you believe when I've been anointed as the teacher. So I said so please don't do that here. Man as sure as the world right after the service you know I walk out and there's some woman out in the middle of the four year going I can't believe he believes in pre-trip everybody knows it's post-trip I'll tell you why it's post-trip. It's like that's being divisive that's being divisive.

I said don't do it you know. So look you mid-trip post-trip we can agree to disagree and when we're on the way up before the tribulation I'll just explain it to you. But see we can agree to disagree and not be divisive. Now again this thing of being divisive is very and it tickles me when some you know and I used to think like this oh I wish I could be a part of the early church that was just such a glorious thing they didn't have any problems. This is the early church we're not 30 years from the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and people are already messing up they're already causing division they're causing division against Paul. Paul an incredible leader spiritual man awesome heart and he would speak and then people would come by and go you know he's wrong I can't believe he said that you know. Being divisive so don't ever think somebody being divisive is a sign of weak leadership or something's wrong. Titus 3 10 says if anyone is causing divisions among you give a first and second warning after that have nothing more to do with that person.

Strong stuff strong stuff. I'll give you these two verses in the amplified as well it says I appeal to you brethren to be on your guard concerning those who create the sentience and difficulties and cause divisions in opposition to the doctrine the teaching which you have been taught. I warn you to turn aside from them to avoid them for such persons do not serve our Lord Christ but their own appetites and base desires by ingratiating and flattering speech they beguile the hearts of the unsuspecting and simple-minded.

Another Greek definition for the simple mind would be sincere people. What's the life lesson here? Life lesson is stay away from divisive people. Stay away from divisive people. There is always going to be some people that want to be divisive. This church is always going to have people that are divisive and I'm always going to be willing and able to deal with these divisive people. Why? Because the bible tells me to and the bible doesn't say well somebody's to me and divisive you just pat him on the back and encourage him a little bit. That's not what the bible says. Bible says if somebody's being divisive you give them the holy boot of fellowship is what you do. Why? Because people can get hurt and I've seen it here and quite frankly as a shepherd that's when I go from feeding the sheep to protecting the sheep and I take that job seriously and sometimes I get angry when people are divisive.

I don't not because they're hurting my feelings but some people get hurt in these things. Verse 19 says for your obedience has become known to all therefore I'm glad on your behalf but I want you to be wise in what is good and simple concerning evil. Great verse. I want you to be wise in what is good and I want you to watch every wacky discovery channel program you can is what it says. Definitely watch that guy who talks to dead people.

That guy's wacky. The bible says don't do that. I mentioned some other groups today and and I am aware of what their beliefs are and I think we have to be aware to a limited degree of what their beliefs are.

Why? So we can explain what our beliefs are. I was in Jerusalem in a cab there was an Islamic and when an Islamic says they believe in Jesus, ain't the same Jesus. There was an Islamic cab driver sitting beside a Jewish woman and I was in the back seat. It was it was interesting and and the Islamic guy he said you know I believe in Jesus and I probably believe more in Mary than you do and I said well I'm not Catholic so you might have a point there but but but and the Jewish said well I didn't know you believed in Jesus who knew this and she turned to me I said whoa whoa whoa whoa what do you believe about Jesus? Well I believe he's a prophet. I said do you believe he's the son of God? Do you believe he's resurrected? Do you believe he's raised from the dead? Oh no not the same Jesus.

Not the same Jesus. So I have somewhat of a knowledge but I you know what I've read parts of the Quran. I'm not gonna read the Quran.

I don't wanna. I want to read the bible. I've read verses out of the satanic bible. I don't want to read the satanic bible. I want to read this bible. Get to know this book.

Why? What does this verse say? Wise and what is good? Well what's good? This is good stuff.

This is good stuff. I'm not saying that if you read something you're gonna be drawing circles on the floor or doing something weird. I'm saying this book is worthy. More worthy than anything else. More worthy than any other book that's ever been written. This book is worthy to be in to study to dig into to apply to your life and we have to be wise. Matthew 10 16 says behold I send you out of sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. I want to know this book.

I want to know it inside out. I refer to myself as a student of the bible. I will be a lifelong student of the bible. I will never I will never refer to myself as a bible scholar. I will never refer to myself as a Hebrew scholar. I won't do it. Why? Because I'm always going to be learning and the moment I use the word scholar it's like I'm on a platform.

Not going to do it. I'm always going to be as long as I'm breathing I'm going to be studying. I'm going to be in this book. The life lesson here we should know our bibles because it is God speaking to us and it is good. We should know our bibles because it is God speaking to us and it is good. I understand if you know if you're sitting here today well I've tried to read the bible and I don't understand it and you know and if you're sitting in here today and you don't know Jesus as your savior let me explain what can happen if you don't know Jesus as your savior and you begin to open this book this book is deeply spiritual and we're told that the natural part of us the carnal part can't understand spiritual things. So if you don't know Jesus as your savior and you open this up there's going to be a lot of stuff you don't understand. Why? Because you are in your natural state trying to comprehend something that's supernatural. Once you ask Jesus to forgive you of your sins you'll be amazed at how this book opens up and you begin to see stuff.

Why? Because the holy spirit begins to reveal stuff to you and maybe you're sitting there going well I just don't know if I'm I just don't feel very smart and study in the bible. God will give you wisdom. James 1 5 says if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God who gives all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him.

Ask him to give you wisdom. I am pledging to be your partner in explaining the word of God and teaching the word of God. I will pour myself into you. I will pour myself out so that you understand this book. I will be your partner in this and and the Lord will reveal stuff in his word to you.

I promise you. Simple concerning evil. Friend recognize something. There's something in each and every one of us that wants to know bad stuff.

There is. Let me ask you a question. Don't raise your hand.

Don't answer. You're driving down the highway. You see a wreck.

What do you do? Slow down. See what happened. Now as a pastor I sometimes look to see if I can stop pray or do whatever but there is part of us that wants to oh somebody get hurt. That's not good.

That's not healthy. That's something that's in all of us that God here is saying be careful. Be careful. You know you think you want to go study all these aberrations and these cults. Don't do it.

Why? Waste of time. The Treasury Department does something interesting. You know what they do to teach people how to recognize counterfeit bills? You think they show them each and every counterfeit and how no no no they show them the real deal. And they get to know the real currency so much and so well that the moment they see a counterfeit they recognize it.

That's what we're supposed to do. Get to know this book because it is so real. Get to know it so well that the moment some weird hack comes up with something that's unbiblical and anti-scriptural you go oh that's fake. I know that because I know this portion of the Bible says this. Because you know the real deal and you recognize the counterfeit.

Don't study the counterfeits. Thank you for listening to Cross the Bridge. We'll return to David's teaching in just a moment. You know it's often the case that during this time of year many of us will make New Year's resolutions in order to better our life and this year Cross the Bridge wants to help with the Cross the Bridge Every Day devotional book. Cross the Bridge Every Day is filled with 365 days of scripture, David's life lessons and practical applications that will help you find victory in life and encouragement every day of the year.

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The whole book for the whole world. Now let's return to David McGee's verse by verse teaching in the book of Romans. Verse 20. And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Amen. God of peace will crush Satan. Well that certainly sounds violent. What certainly is. Why is the Bible a violent book? We're violent people. We have a warrior part of us. Men and women.

And you know what? It's a good thing. God created us like that. I'm not saying war is a good thing. But the desire to fight for what is right and what is good is a good thing. The desire to stand up in the midst of stuff that's going wrong.

A good thing. Understand there's good and there's evil in the world. Now some people say well why is there evil in the world? If God created evil doesn't that make God evil?

Absolutely not. God created free will. People and the enemy of faith made bad decisions. If I put somebody in a five by seven cell and I say you can go anywhere you want to that's not free will.

They can't go anywhere. If God said okay I want you to choose me and I'm not going to allow you any other choices that's not free will. God says I'll give you choices. I give you choices. God has given you choices. Some of you are saying I want nothing to do with God. You keep saying that. You keep saying that.

You're going to say that with your dying breath and God's going to honor your request and he'll leave you alone forever. You've got choices. Now I'm not talking to like one or two people in here today.

I'm talking about everybody. We all have choices. Sometimes we think well I made a choice for the decision. I made a decision for the Lord 30 years ago.

Great time to make a new one. I make a decision for God every day of my life to serve him, to follow him. That's a decision I have to make every single day. You know why? Because my heart can stray. My mind can stray and you need to understand if you're sitting here today and you're going well if God is so good why do bad things happen? Again first of all we're in a fallen earth.

The second thing is the enemy is very real. And let me give you a short version. In the Garden of Eden, Adam had a title deed to the earth. When he fell, he basically handed that over to our enemy who right now at this present time is in charge of this earth. Now he's on borrowed time.

In other words he's renting the space and at some point the homeowner says you're done. That day's coming. But let's let's talk about it because if you're walking around going well if God's in charge of everything. No no here's what the Bible says and if it's if this is rock in your world this is sound biblical evangelical christian theology.

I'll take you through a couple verses real quick and then we'll close. Ephesians chapter 2 verse 1 says I knew he made alive who were dead and trespasses and sin and which you once walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience. In John 12 31 says now is the judgment of this world now the ruler of this world will be cast out. Calls him the ruler of this world and I if I am lifted up from the earth will draw all peoples to myself this he said signifying by what death he would he would die. John 12 31 now is the judgment of the this world now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Satan has power now.

He has authority. I was talking to somebody one day and you know I talked to some interesting people but this guy was saying yeah I think we're in the thousand-year millennial reign. I said you do yeah yeah I said I don't believe that. He said well I believe we are. I said in the thousand-year millennial reign it says that the devil will be bound up with a chain. The guy said yeah and I said well if you believe we're in the thousand-year millennial reign his chain is way too long because he's still wreaking havoc in this world. But there's coming a day we're born first peter 5a says be sober be vigilant because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. Spiritual battle gang is very real and if you're sitting here today going I believe in God but I don't believe his enemy then you don't believe in God because God's the one that warned you about him. And this spiritual battle thing you know yeah there's some people that are always talking about the battle and they're preoccupied with the battle and maybe they're imbalanced in that way but gang there's way too many people that are not recognizing the battle.

Why? Because it's not always apparent. You know as a young believer going to church I noticed something. Me and my wife Nora we'd get along beautifully all during the week come Sunday morning on the way to church. All of a sudden we'd be arguing about anything and everything. We'd walk in the church in a huff.

Not that any of y'all did that today. But walking there with all kind of just yeah bad attitude. And finally after a few weeks I went to somebody more mature in the Lord and I said why does this happen? He says you're in a battle. I said no I'm on the way to church. He goes you're in a battle.

No I'm just driving to church. No you are in a spiritual battle. The enemy does not want you to receive from God. Gang when you show up here and you start to cop an attitude and you start to focus on whatever. The music, my hair, the shirt, whatever you're you're you're you're your discussion on the way to church or your argument or whatever.

You're in a dangerous place where you might miss what God is trying to say to you. This battle is real. Let me assure you.

Let me assure you it's real. You get to choose who you'll serve. Choose well.

A lot's riding on this one. Because this enemy he's the your enemy. Some of you may be walking in the middle of the night. He's the your enemy. Some of you may be walking with him, serving with him. Says he came to kill, steal, and destroy. He doesn't want you walking in this victorious life. This joyful life. This forgiven life that God talks about.

Now he'll say hey come on come on come on come on I'll hook you up. I got something. But what you trade is not worth what you get. Some of you're finding that out the hard way. But the beautiful thing is today you can make a decision that changes everything.

Final life lesson. We get to choose to worship and follow a God that will lose or to worship and follow a victorious God and we choose every day. Sometimes you follow yourself. Sometimes you follow the world. Sometimes you follow your enemy. All that is leading to a wrong place, a bad place. Sometimes we suffer from our decisions that we make towards those things and sometimes we make those decisions and we try to blame God. Well I thought you were going to give me good life. God says you're making the wrong decisions. Can't bless you in that.

Choose to follow me. You know when we were in school years ago they did something interesting. They had all the answers in the back of the book you know which I thought made homework easy but um I thought it was a bad idea. I'm sure none of y'all looked in the back but but the answers were in the back of the book. Guess what? This bible is the same thing same way.

The answers are in the back of the book. You're wondering what happens in the future. Guess what? Jesus wins. Simple short version of the story. Between now and then are some battles. There's some battles man.

Your friends, your family, your co-workers, people you go to school with. There's battles going on. You choose. Choose who you serve. Exodus 32. Moses stood in the entrance of the camp and said whoever's on the Lord's side come to me. Joshua 24 15 says for me and my house we will serve the Lord. Each and every one of us has to make that decision.

I'm not talking about tomorrow and next week. I'm talking about right now to make the decision to serve God and friend if you come in here and you think well I've listened and you know and I've heard the bible and I'm a little bit closer to making a decision and maybe next week. No no no.

You know what? You're not closer. You're further away. How could you hear about a God that loves you so much that he had the flesh peeled off his back and was crucified because he loves you so much and then say maybe next week.

And then say maybe next week. You're not one step closer. You're one step further away and God forbid that at some point in your future you can sit and hear a message about this love of God and not feel anything at all. But if you're feeling anything today and you sense that God is calling you then you need to respond to that. Friend do you know for sure that your sins have been forgiven?

You can know right now. I want to lead you in a short simple prayer simply telling God you're sorry and asking him to help you to live for him. Now God wants you to pray this prayer so much that he died to give you the opportunity and the ability to ask him to forgive you.

Please pray this prayer with me out loud right now. Dear Jesus I believe you died for me that I could be forgiven and I believe you were raised from the dead that I could have a new life and I've done wrong things. I have sinned and I'm sorry. Please forgive me of all those things. Please give me the power to live for you all of my days in Jesus name.

Amen. Friend if you prayed that prayer according to the Bible you've been forgiven you've been born again. Jesus said he would not turn anybody away who comes to him and he came for those people who knew they needed forgiveness those who were sick not the righteous.

So congratulations friend you just made the greatest decision that you will ever make. God bless you. If you prayed that prayer with David for the first time we would love to hear from you. You can call us toll free at 877-458-5508 to receive our first steps package with helpful resources to help you begin your walk with Christ. When you call ask about this month's special offer featuring David's devotional book Cross the Bridge Every Day. This inspirational book offers 365 daily devotions as well as a detailed topical index to help you grow deeper in your relationship with the Lord. Cross the Bridge Every Day is available now for your gift of any amount. Again the number to call is 877-458-5508 or you can go online to crossthebridge.com. Thank you for listening. We pray that you will join us next time as we continue to cross the bridge.