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Have you counted the cost? of following Jesus. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus? Luke chapter 14 and verse 26, he says, Jesus said, If any man come to me and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his life also, he cannot be my disciple. And whosoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot Be my disciple.
For which of you? intending to build a tower, sits not down first, and counts the cost. whether he has sufficient funds To finish it, have you have you have you counted the cost of what it's like, what it's going to be like to follow Jesus? Let me ask you this as well. What has following Jesus?
Cost you. And if Jesus has cost you something. Why do you still do it?
So, this is Michael Zwick. The phone number is 866-348-7884-866-34 TRUTH. We want your calls. What has following Jesus cost you? And as I was thinking about this, I realized that for a long time in America, it has been pretty darn easy to follow Jesus.
I mean, we live in a Christian nation, supposedly, right? I mean, everybody's going to church, all these things, good things are happening. And hey, the worst that might happen is somebody might make fun of us, somebody might pick on us, or this, that, and the other. But at the end of the day, it's just a little ridicule. What does it really matter?
But I believe those days are coming. to an end. You know, earlier this week, I posted a post on a Facebook page and Somebody didn't like the post and didn't like the fact that I was a Christian or a conservative or anything like that, and they actually published my. My home address, they published my wife's Facebook page. And then a little bit earlier in the week, somebody else didn't like what I was doing, and they threatened to file a complaint against me for the insurance company that I work for.
And I realized that, man, this is not something that usually happens. This is not something that's happened to me a lot, but I see it happening more and more in America. But persecution is not something that is new to the Christian church. It's been happening for the past 2,000 years. I think in the living in America for a long time, it's just been easy for us to kind of escape these things because this is something that happens over in Pakistan.
This is something that happens over in the Middle East. This is something that happens in China. This is something that happens in those third world countries to Christians who are surrounded by different religions like Buddhist or Muslim or whatever it is. And, you know, it's interesting that it's actually happening now. But how do we respond to it?
So I've got a Jeff Sutton out of what part of North Carolina are you in, Jeff? I'm in Meban. In Meban, or that's where that's where I'm from, or if they don't call it Meban, if they call it me, Bane, Jeff, you know they're not from around there, right? That's right. That's right.
Let me ask you this, Jeff. What What has following Jesus, what has it cost you? Oh. Um yeah. Thinking about that as you're talking, I think there's a lot of costs to following Jesus.
think that it has a lot to do with your face it has to do with Um you know discipline There's A ton of things that it can cost you, but but personally, To be a disciple of Christ is all about following Jesus and not following the world. And I think uh in my time is being a believer. That the world tends to Almost overlay, and then it's deciding whether you're going to follow him or follow the world, basically. And there's a lot of traps along that path. But a disciple is someone who just follows Jesus.
It's not the religion of Christianity. per se, but being in relationship a day in, day out. you know, like picking up your cross and following him, prayer. Yeah. being able to be delivered from the sins that plague your life.
And that those things can take years for some people. Have you let me ask you this, have you received any personal either persecution or just really tough times from either other Christians or people who were atheists or agnostics of or another religion, Jeff? Have you dealt with any of that personally? Oh, certainly. I think any time you approached a stranger or you even someone that you may know And your face can be really offensive to someone who doesn't understand.
Um the gospel nor what Jesus came to do. in my time in various ministries over the years, You, I've run into when I stand up for what Jesus would do. You get, you know, persecuted, murdered with words, talked about. Isolated, you know, and you know, those things can be really impactful. to a young believer and someone who's trying to follow Christ.
Uh and do it wholeheartedly.
Well, yeah, so it seems like you've been through some tough times. I remember, Jeff, when I first became a Christian, and I was concerned, of course, you know, what are people going to think of this? And I remember one night we had a few friends out and we were over in Raleigh, and, you know, they started talking about Christianity. They started making fun of it. And I felt like this was my time to stand up and say something.
And I said, well, I'm a Christian. And I remember they almost died laughing. And I remember after it was done, I said, that's it? That's it? Is that it?
But, you know, here's the other thing, Jeff. Let me ask you this: despite the persecution, despite being made fun of, or despite the problems that it may have caused you in your own life of following Jesus, why do you follow Jesus anyways? That's all there is. I mean, if you spend enough time in his word, you spend enough time in prayer and you go through enough situations in life you recognize his handprint on your life. And that day in, day out, like this, that's all there is.
When bad things happen. Yeah, you might can struggle it out for a little while, but ultimately It's surrender and knowing that. That's all there is is Christ.
So for me. It has everything to do with my relationship with him. but also seeing his handiwork in my surroundings. which keeps me focused on the per se, the narrow path The narrow path, that's good. And I know J.D.
Vance just had an interview with Bryce Crawford. And he asked, Bryce asked J.D. Vance, the vice president, he said, Have you seen the hand of God in your life? And he said, Yes. He says, There have been so many things that could not have been a coincidence where I know that it was God was showing me that He was there and He was showing up and showing out in my life.
And, Jeff, I want to thank you for the call. We've got a Bucksman out of Dayton, Ohio. Are you there, Bucksman? I am, Michael. Hey, you're a man after my own heart because it sounds like you've been put through a.
Some serious persecution. I'm sorry to hear that about your wife and your job. Uh but but a I'm going to count it all joy. Amen. That's what the Bible says.
And I'm really proud of you, sir. I want you to know that here in Dayton, Ohio, I'm very proud of you, sir. What have I lost, Busman? That's what you would ask, Michael. Yes, sir.
This is what I've lost. This is what I have lost, sir. I have lost privileges from all six flags amusement parks because I shared the gospel. and uh was kicked out. That cost me over $400 and chances to spend time with friends and family.
I grew up at our local theme park here in Cincinnati, Ohio. It's called Kings Island.
So, if anybody's listening, just know that your brother Busman was kicked out of there. Uh for sharing the gospel. And yeah, and then also, let's see, what else have I lost? I've lost my job. Because I was sharing Christ.
with customers and one of the salesmen got Pretty twerked at it and filed a complaint. And It went up to the, let's see, what else?
Well, Buxman, I want you to hold that thought because we're going to a break. But if you'll stay with us over the break, I want to hear 866-34TRUTH-866-348-7884. We will be right back with Bucksman. What has following Jesus cost you? We want your calls.
We'll be right back with Bucksman. Truth taught. We are back. This is Michael Zwick 866. 34 Truth 866-348-7884.
And before the break, Buxman was telling us that he had actually been kicked out of Six Flags Amusement Park. He said that somebody complained at his job because he was sharing Jesus on his job. And you said there was something else, Bucksman? Oh, yeah, Michael. During the break, I thought of many more, but I'll only give you a handful if you don't mind me listening to them.
Sure. And I'll end with the most painful. But the another one was I have been called Probably 13 times. I think I'm up to thirteen times. Uh, I've had the police called on me for sharing the gospel mainly to.
30 and younger women. Their ages are about 30 and younger. I've just been kind of keeping data analysis on this, Michael, that when I share the gospel, I share it with everybody. Everywhere. Wherever I am.
I mean, we talked about it yesterday with Robbie Dilmore on the program. We've got to get the gospel out. And the cross, before I go into the rest of my list, Michael, the cross is that. The cross is getting in trouble for being Jesus in your community. Getting in trouble.
And that can take all kinds of forms, ladies and gentlemen.
So, Michael, so what happened? I went to my kids' school board meeting. And I was wearing Jesus saves very boldly on my beanie. And I was talking about how they're not allowed to do this and that. uh in the schools and next thing I know I'm getting the letter from the superintendent, who was very Marxist.
And she said, You're you s you frightened us, Busman? And now that we're concerned about you, we will assign a police officer when you're on the premise. or you have to show up here with a police escort. Um and I talk loving. I've quoted the Bible as I've been to several school board meetings as well.
Uh but the most painful, Michael. is my daughter. You know how the Bible said you quoted it in your opening remarks? I did. That you have to love him more than you do.
Your own daughter.
So I've been estranged from my only daughter. I've got two children. And my only daughter indoctrinated by the schools, which is why I was at the school board meetings, being Jesus on behalf of the rest of humanity at that school system and getting order back. She says, Dad, she texts me. She says, Dad, I don't want anything to do with you.
Because of your politics? And watch this. your religion.
So I haven't talked to my daughter in over four years. And I got a word from her grandfather, my now ex-father-in-law. I call him my father and grace. When your in-laws still love you, After the divorce, you call them your parents and grace, your mother-in-law. There you go.
There you go. Mother-in-law. Father-in-law in Grace. Yeah, so I still have a good relationship with my father in Grace. Anyway, he says, I just want to let you know that.
Your daughter said the other day that if you was to give up on being so religious all the time that she'd consider, you know, wanting to see you, you know, maybe have dinner with you. And I told him, I said, Fred, I can't do that. And I cried the rest of the night.
So. This is real cross carrying, folks. And you asked in the beginning remarks.
Well, why do you keep doing it? That's right. Well, I have to quote my brother Peter. Uh Michael, to whom shall I go? Mm.
He has the very words of life. He's the one that's sustaining me. Not these people who hate me because I'm a Christian, a true, ardent, biblical literate. Christian, not a churchgoer. By the way, I get in trouble by church people all the time.
Oh, tell me about it. Tell me about it. I know. Michael, I'll listen to you. I've had the mic for a while.
Go ahead, brother. I'd love to hear. No, well, you know, I'm like, why are these people like this to a fellow believer? And the reason is, is because I discipline myself to walk as Christ walked. That's right.
And these people in churches, they don't like that too much. Go ahead, Michael. I appreciate the time. Yeah, yeah. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, Yea, and all who will live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
You know, Hebrews 11, are you familiar with Hebrews 11, Bucksman? Very much. It's the hall of fame. Yeah, of those in faith. Yeah.
And I'm pulling it up, but I'm sure you remember some of the stuff that they had to go through. Oh, yeah, getting salt into living in goat skins and hiding. And I'm telling you, Michael. I sense that in in some medical way I have to hide.
So that, you know, people won't you know, throw a rock at you or try to hang you on a cross. But yes, I'm very familiar with Hebrews 11. Yeah, in Hebrews 11, 13, it says, These all died in faith, not having received the promises. But having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. for they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country and truly, if they had been mindful of that country from where they came out, they might have had an opportunity to have returned.
That reminds me of what your daughter just said. She said, Dad, if you give up this Jesus stuff, I will consider having dinner with you. And you said, I can't do it. I couldn't do it, Michael. And one of the reasons is, and I don't think we, honestly, I don't think we talk about this enough.
But is heaven, is the afterlife? I think so many churches and so many different places that you look at, they're constantly focused on the here and now. If you follow Jesus, He is going to make your life so much better. I mean, you're going to be rich. You're going to have all these friends.
You know, there's all these good things that are going to happen to you. And let me tell you that following Jesus, I have the peace that surpasses all understanding. When I have tough times, yeah, man. When I follow Jesus, I know that I'm going to be with him forever. I know that this world is not my home.
I know that this is not the end. And one of the ways that I know that is sometimes I have to look at this Bucksman. And if you're listening right now, sometimes I have to look at Revelation chapter 21. And he says, and I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. And he said, and I, John, saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people. And God himself shall be with them and be their God. And here it is, whether it's the tough time that you're going with right now with your daughter or, you know, somebody's being persecuted in another country or something's happening right here. Here it is in verse 4 of Revelation 21. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain for the former.
things are passed away. And I one of my favorite C. S. Lewis quotes was this. And he said something like this.
He said that, you know, you you always hear about how, you know, that Christians are so heavenly minded that they're no earthly good. But what he said was this: He said, The Christians who were the most focused on heaven over the years, whether it was the early apostles, the disciples of Jesus who were willing to be martyred for their faith, whether it was the William Wilberforce over in England or the Christians in America who helped overturn slavery, or whether it was the Christians. I'm sorry. William Carey did the same thing along with Wilberforce. William Carey, I visited his grave site actually.
Yeah, William Carey over in Great Britain did the same thing. They did? Yeah, and he said this: He said, it's over the years, he said it's the Christians who have been the most focused on heaven who have done the most for this world. He said, it's the Christians who have been the least focused on heaven and the most focused on this world who have done the least for this world. And he said this.
He said, focus on heaven and many times you get earth thrown in. Focused on earth and many times you get neither. And so I'm sure you see this and, you know, you were talking about what causes you to do it or what makes you do it. I can tell you one thing that makes me do it, Buxman. We go out at many Saturday mornings out to the Walmart close by and locally, and we go and pray and we preach with people, preach to people, and we share the gospel and give out tracts.
And I was actually kicked out of a Walmart. Over in Burlington, North Carolina, last Saturday. And instead of arguing, I went right up the street. And I went right up the street and I shared the gospel to somebody at the food line, the local food line, and that guy got saved. If I hadn't have been kicked out of the Walmart, the other guy never would have gotten saved.
So, Romans 8:28 is true, and we know that all things work together for good to those who love God and for them who are called according to his purpose. Buckman, thank you for the call. We will be right back after the break, 866-343. All right, guys, what has following Jesus cost you? You know, I was thinking about this over the break, and I was reminded of a story of Boko Haram when they had taken over 200 Christian girls and they gave them the choice.
They said, You can either die for your faith or you can convert to Islam and we'll give you a husband and this and that and the other. And many of them converted. Many of the young girls converted. But there was one girl, her name was Monica. She was 14 years old.
And she said, I will not convert. I am going to stay with my Christian faith because that's what I believe in. And so they said, okay, if that's what you want to do, that's your choice. They buried her in sand up to her head and they stoned her. To death.
And so it's interesting. They asked her father afterwards what he thought about his daughter Monica not converting to Islam. And, you know, he said he was very upset, first of all. He said, but then he said this: He said, I was told that my daughter refused to change her religion. He said, I was told that they dug a hole and buried her from the neck and stoned her to death, the pastor says, to die for the sake of Christ.
That's the happiest thing for me. I'm grateful that she didn't change her religion. She trusted in God. His wife, identified only as Marta, adds, I believe she died with dignity. Monica is now in heaven, but because she refused.
to convert and it reminded me That us as Christians, we have a hope of heaven. We have a hope of eternal life. And yes, it's tough sometimes when somebody dies, but we don't grieve the same way as the world grieves. And we've got a Rick Pearson out of Canada. Are you there, Rick?
Yes, Mike. How are you? Doing well, and you're from Prophecy USA. And, Rick, you've got a new app, is that right? I have a brand new app.
It has all. one hundred and forty T V shows and three hundred and forty podcasts on it. And it has 53 biblical descriptions of why America is in the Bible. Yeah, let me ask you this, Rick. Have you counted the cost of following Jesus?
Yes, and you know, um It really hasn't cost me anything. anything because the advantages far outweigh uh the nonadvantages. Uh I I find following Christ I made a statement once that I'd rather be in the storm in a boat with Jesus than laying on the beach with Satan. And to follow God Is to me the only way you can go. Because When you follow God, He's with you.
When you go against God, you're all by yourself.
So I would recommend whatever cost it might cost you, it's really not a cost at all. Like that young girl, Monica, that gave her life. I mean, she's going to she'll spend eternity rejoicing for that decision. Amen. And I was going to ask you this.
Did you hear the call from Bucksman earlier? No, I did not.
So, Buxman shared a story. He shared about how he was kicked out of Six Flags Park. He was fired from a job. There were some other things that happened. He said, But the most difficult thing that he's ever dealt with, and by the way, this is in Dayton, Ohio.
He's not out of Nigeria. He's not out of China or anything like that. He said, But his daughter, whom he loves very much, Four years ago, said because of his religion, because of his Christian faith, and because of his conservative politics, I'm assuming, she said that she would no longer talk to him. But recently, she heard through the grapevine from her father. From her ex-father-in-law, I guess it was.
He said that if her, he said that his daughter told him. That, hey, if you stop talking about this Jesus stuff. She said that she would consider how. having dinner with him again, and he said, I can't do that. Oh my goodness.
That's a big price to pay. That's a big price to pay. But you know sometimes Mike It's not what you say, it's how you say it. And and I think most people want to see the love of Jesus than hear the love of Jesus.
So sometimes you just you know, the Bible says don't throw your pearls before swine.
Sometimes I think God wants you to just love the hell out of people and let them see Jesus. And a friend of mine said, If somebody sees Jesus, usually they want him. Hmm.
So sometimes I think we have to use wisdom and how we share Jesus. Walking with Jesus and loving on people, I've never yet. Had a person with cancer. refuse the opportunity for me to pray for them. They usually We'll seek Jesus.
But when they're not hurting, they don't want to hear about 'em. Because it's too inconvenient. But you know, when people don't want to hear about Jesus, Sometimes, maybe the wise thing is just show them what Jesus was like and just love them. even in spite of their difficulties, just love them. Just love them where they are.
And let me ask you this: what has following Jesus, Rick, what does it cost you?
Well, when I think of the cost, Mike, I got saved when I was seven years old. And let me share with some of the people out there. I was raised in a Baptist church. You don't drink, don't smoke, don't swear, you don't chew. And my friends were all smoking drugs.
They were getting drunk partying, and I was always the straight guy.
Now I'm seventy two years old. And half of those people have died.
Some of them are in senior citizens' homes right now, and they've smoked drugs all their life. the price you pay for not following Jesus. Is far beyond the price you pay for following Jesus. And and I like I I believe in the fact that Jesus came that we might have life and have it more abundantly. But the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy.
The price that I've paid to follow Jesus has paid me back in great dividends. with with peace in my heart I've never had to deal with drugs. I've never had to deal with alcohol. I've never got a speeding ticket for drunk driving. I I personally Mighty following Jesus Has never been A detriment in my life.
I've always looked back and looked at all the things I avoided. Because he puts a hedge of protection around you.
Now, that doesn't mean everybody will like you. And you may lose some friends, but those kind of friends you don't need. You know, you know, I knew somebody, Rick, and they used to say this. They would say, with friends like that, who needs enemies? Exactly.
But I do want to say this, because you've mentioned this to me before. You're a public figure. I mean, you know, you're on over, you know, well over 100, maybe 200 television stations each week. And you got a revelation directly from the Lord about America being Mystery Babylon. But you said you've really had some people come against you.
Is that right? Yeah. Yes, I've had I've had Christian people. Who do not? Believe that America is in the Bible, and many of them are very large leaders.
Uh have very large churches. And they've been taught at seminary. that America is nowhere to be found in scripture. And I had a revelation when I was 32 years old, and I believe God showed me through Revelation that America was in the Bible in Revelation 17 and 18. in Isaiah 47 and Jeremiah 50, 51.
And I found. That there's 53 biblical descriptions of a latter-day nation called Babylon, and America has met every description.
Well, A lot of those people have rejected my interpretation. But they're not rejecting me per se, they're just rejecting the verses in scripture. That were given by the ancient prophets.
So when Jesus showed up, Guess what happened? the uber religious people. Who interpreted Scripture wrong rejected the author when he was walking right in front of them.
So If Jesus was rejected because of his interpretation and his fulfillment of word, of the word. He said you're going to be rejected too.
Now, you still love those people, and maybe it hurts a bit, but you know, theology is theology. And there's 32,000 denominations. And guess what? They're all divided because of interpretation of Scripture. But as long as your heart Is Is going after Jesus.
Your head cannot understand everything, but as long as your heart is right, that's where God will judge you. Uh Doing unto others is the litmus test. If you're doing unto others as you would have them do unto you. Then you're walking right with Jesus.
So these folks who reject my message. It's okay. They're entitled to their opinion, but you have to preach what you feel God has shown you. And I'll be, I will, the Bible says we will answer for every word. that comes out of our mouth.
And our protocol at Prophecy USA is if the Bible doesn't say it, neither will I.
Well, everything that I'm teaching, I can find it in Scripture.
Some of the people that are coming against us, I can't find one word in Scripture what they're talking about. And neither can they. But God bless them anyway. That's they're entitled to their opinion. And that's.
That's what makes the world go round is a difference of opinions, you know. Yeah, and and I'm supposed to hate them. We're not supposed to hate them. It it is it is a little hard being rejected. Yeah.
But if you want to be like Jesus, you better get used to it because The vast majority of people rejected Jesus. They did. And one of the things that people like to talk about is they say, hey, I want to get revenge. Or, well, somebody did this to me. Thank you.
Somebody did this to me. I want to get them back. But when I read the words of Jesus, he says, You've been told that it, hey, it says to love your friends and hate your enemies. He says, But anybody can do that. He said, If you love those who persecute you, if you love those who hate you, he said, What you're doing is you're putting burning coals on their head, Rick.
And I heard a story about a guy, actually watched a video.
So, this was a real video, a real guy who was almost beaten to death within an inch of his life. By these three Muslims, or whatever. And they found one of them and they said, We're ready to put them into jail. We just have to get, you just have to give us the okay. And the Christian guy said, No, I don't want you to do this.
He said, I want to forgive this man. And that man, whom he forgave. ended up becoming a Christian. And I think what what what the world can't stand is an unbelieving world finds unbelievable when Christians show them the love of Christ. And many times, not always, but many times they say, Hey, I I want the Jesus that you've got, Rick.
Exactly. And you know, Matthew. 511 says Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you. falsely. For my sake, rejoice and be exceedingly glad.
For great is your reward in heaven. For so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.
So a little bit of persecution actually You know, if you bless those people. That are persecuting you, you are actually gaining riches and treasure in heaven.
So that's part of the test of walking with Christ. You're going to get a little bit of persecution. But bless those who persecute you, and you are storing up riches in heaven. That's right. 86634 Truth.
Rick, we'll be right back with Rick Pearson. All right, guys, this is Michael Zwick, 866-34-TRUTH. 866-348-7884. We've got Rick Pearson on the line from Prophecy USA. And Rick, I was looking at this right here.
It's Matthew chapter 5, and it starts in verse 43. He says, this is Jesus. He says, you have heard that it has been said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. He said, but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, and do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be the children of your father which is in heaven. For he makes his son to rise on the evil and on the good, and he sends rain on the just and on the unjust alike.
And I like what he says here, Rick. He says: For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have in heaven? Do not even the publicans or the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more than the others? Do not even the publicans do so?
And he says, Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven, is. Is perfect. And I was thinking about that. I was reminded of another story that I heard from Pastor Chip Ingram about a young lady. She was probably 12 to 14 years old, and she was a Christian, but she was living in a Muslim country, and she had some neighbors that she was friends with.
And all of a sudden, her neighbors found out that there were some radicalized Muslims who were coming in and they were going to kill all the Christians. And they said this, they said, look, they said, this is what we'll do. We're going to get some Muslim clothes for you and we're going to dress you up. And when we dress you up, they're not going to kill you when they come through. And this young girl was just about to do it.
And she remembered the words of Jesus where he said this. He said, If you are ashamed of me, In front of other men, he said, That I will be ashamed of you in front of my Father who is in heaven. But if you're not ashamed of me in front of other men, then I will not be ashamed of my Father in heaven. And she says, I'm not going to do it. And they came around and they killed her.
Following Jesus, Rick. will cost you something. But the benefits are out of this world. The benefits are out of this world, and you know, Apostle Paul says that the disciples overcame. By the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, but every apostle except one.
Was murdered and Paul. Was martyred and had his head cut off, and yet they were the leaders of the Christian faith. And what an example that young girl gave for us. Today. that it would not bow.
to Islam. You know, Mike, we're we're heading in towards Something that's called the tribulation period, and we're praying that there's a pre-tribulation rapture. But according to scripture, there's a lot of people that aren't going to make it. And I think in the tribulation period, there's going to be a lot of heads cut off. There's going to be a lot of testing.
So I think what you want to do is walk in your spirit on this side of the rapture, and maybe you'll get out of the difficulties on the other side of the rapture. but I'd rather pass the test now on a day to day basis And you have to stay in your spirit. And cast down all those fleshly emotions of anger and anxiety and worry. And the Bible says, I will keep you in perfect peace. whose mind is stayed on me.
I think that's really good. And, you know, it's funny. I love it when the Bible teaches us something. But many times, especially in recent years, Rick, the world, the secular world is catching up with the Bible. And they've given studies like, hey, fasting from food is actually really good for you.
We're like, you could have just read the Bible. Or they say things like, hey, not holding a grudge, Rick, against somebody is actually really good for your health. But Rick, these people could have saved themselves a lot of time and just read the Bible. That's true. And the spiritual precepts in the Bible.
Are not to make it hard. They're for our benefit. They're literally for our benefit. You know, when that servant in Matthew 18 would not forgive the other servant his debt, it says the Lord was wrath with him. And delivered him to the tormentors till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my Heavenly Father do also unto you. If you from your hearts forgive not every one his brother. their trespasses. We have to walk. In instant forgiveness, and you know, Mike, that's a very, very Hard thing to do.
in our world today, not to be offended by different people who have different ideas, especially when you see the radical woke concept When people can't even answer what is a woman, and then they blow up at you. And they call you names because you even ask them the question. This is how far we are now in America in the spiritual warfare. We're getting very close to that time where the rapture will take place and God will hand the planet over. To a society that's like in Romans 1, you know, that's just full of reprobate thinking.
Good becomes evil and evil becomes good.
Well, when those evil people come against you, If you want to stay on the good side of God, you instantly forgive them. Realizing that they don't know any better because the darkness has overcome them. And you know what happened, Rick, in Matthew chapter 7? What you're talking about, you know what it is? It's the narrow road.
It's the narrow road. In Matthew chapter 7 and in verse 13 through 14, Jesus said this. He said, Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate, and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter it. but small is the gate, and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
Only a few find it. I remember you told me years ago that you were talking to Oral Roberts and you were talking about how many people he thinks are going to get into heaven. He didn't think it was going to be a whole lot. Is that right? No, we were talking about the rapture.
Okay.
Okay.
And we were saying, how many Christians do you think would be raptured if the rapture took place? A friend of mine asked him that. And he said, you know, maybe 5 or 10% of the Christians. And Because most Christians don't walk, they don't go into that narrow way. They accept Jesus as their Savior.
For fire insurance, But how many are walking and seeking him as Lord of every area of their life? And that takes a lifetime. of sanctification of learning through your mistakes. instant forgiveness. I just had a falling away with a very close friend.
The other day, and the first thing I did was I sent him a letter and I said, You know what? I apologize for saying what I just said, I shouldn't have said that. And I asked him to forgive me. And uh instant Forgiveness, instant repentance. And you know, Mike.
We've all said things we wished we hadn't said because in our hearts, Our hearts are evil. And when you get angry, when you get mad, some of that. stuff in your evil heart comes out of your mouth. And you got to be quick. To to Yeah.
ask for forgiveness, but when somebody else says something to you, you have to be quick to forgive them. And that's walking in your spirit. And that is to walk like Jesus walked is the highest standard of living anyone Can live in. It's a very high standard, but it's possible when we constantly keep our mind on Christ and walking in the spirit. Yeah, that's right, Rick.
And when I hear you saying that, you know, I've gotten to know you for a while now. And yes, you've had some people come against you. Rick, you've had some tough times. You went through a divorce, as did I, and you shared that story, this, that, and the other. But at the end of the day, when I talk to you, Rick.
I sense, I hear in your voice, and I've gotten to know you, and you have a sense of peace. And I wonder if maybe some of that peace comes from the fact that you're not going to hold a grudge against those people who have done you wrong. You're going to forgive them.
Well you know what? I've learned That's the easiest way to walk. Amen. It's the easiest. Like, is it hard to walk with Jesus?
No, if you obey. As soon as you forgive somebody, And you and it all of a sudden the tension leaves. Lord, I give this unto you. I give this person unto you. What that person said, I don't receive it.
I give it unto you, and I forgive them. And all of a sudden, the anger, the anxiety, the frustration, that whole emotional attack, that uptightness, it just leaves you. That's right. It's gone. And that's what that's walking in the Spirit.
Instant forgiveness. And an instant Concession When you open your mouth, and put your foot in it, or you say something you shouldn't have said. And you got to say, Lord, I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
You know, that was something that. Came out of me, and I should not have said that. As soon as you do that, you can walk in instant forgiveness because the blood covers it. And your sins are forgiven, and you're not walking in fear and anxiety. You're walking in love and joy, peace, and in the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
And you know, Mike, that's the way I want to walk every day. That's the way. I want that peace. I want God's peace in my life. But I do too.
And we say, oh, it's tough living the Christian life. But the Bible says it's not the Christian life that's tough. The Bible says in Proverbs 13:15, it says, But the way of the transgressor is hard. The way of the sinner is hard. That's the tough life.
That's the tough life. Yes, we go through tough times, but the way of the sinner is hard. And Jesus loves you if you're listening to this today. My show, If Not for God with Mike Zwick, I'll be on tomorrow at 12 o'clock noon. I want to thank you guys for listening.
And, Rick, if they want to listen to you, they can subscribe to your YouTube channel, Prophecy USA, Richard Pearson, and you've got a new book. Got a new book called America's Josiah Moment. They can get it on Amazon. And you can get us at rickpearson.com and get all of our teaching. It's all for free, Mike.
Thanks for coming on, guys, and have a blessed weekend. Jesus loves you, and He's coming back soon. Bye. To the Yeah.
