If not, go ahead and open up your book to Matthew chapter 6. I'm going to be looking at verse 24. I'm going to read a quick verse in here before I go deeper into what I want to preach about. I'll tell you what I love, Sunday night service. It's one of my favorite services. To be honest with you, I love every service that we can have in this church because, you know, it's a place that we can come and we can fellowship with one another. We can, you know, listen to the Word of God, preach the Word of God, sing the Word of God. And I think that sometimes we take this for granted. Sometimes we don't appreciate what we have here. Because I know one of these days, every single one of us is going to be facing that chilly hand of death. And I know that we're going to wish that we could spend that one more time in church. So listen, don't take this for granted. Listen, I've been at other churches. Let me tell you something, guys. It is sad what I see out there. My own dad's church. I mean, it's just, it's just, there's just no life there. And I just, I get so excited when I come in, I see the kids running around, a baby stealing a snack out of the pew. And it was just, I was like, don't choke on that mint. but it just tickles me to death and we are so blessed. I kind of want to talk about, what I want to focus on this evening is I want to focus on, I kind of been going through something in my life and it's really been the first time in a long time that I've been battling with this. And I know I'm not alone. I know that as Christians, a lot of us deal with this on a daily. But the thing that I've been struggling with is trying to keep my eyes on Jesus Christ and not of this world. And Matthew 6, verse 24, I want to read this real quick. This is like the start of my sermon, and I'm so glad God showed me this, because, you know, as Christians, we try to juggle, you know, our heavenly Father. We try to juggle the earth. We try to, you know, we try to live both. But if you look at Matthew 6, verse 24, it says, no man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will hold to the one and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God. Amenba." And what's amazing about this verse, and when I was reading this verse, this is Jesus talking, this is speaking in red, so you know this is the truth. He's telling us that we cannot serve Two masters. Why? Because you're going to love one more than the other. And this is the battle that I have been dealing with for the past couple of months, for the past year, to be honest with you. Ever since I had Jovi, I don't know why, and I'm not blaming Jovi, but I've just been struggling of trying to give her the best life that I can give her, giving her the clothes, the shoes, all the material things that she wants. Listen, if you are ever with her, do not take her to Walmart. She will grab everything, and if you grab anything from her, she'll scream. I bought two doggy toys for my daughter. Bree's like, what's this? I'm like, she wanted it, she wouldn't let go of it. But I want to just please her. I want to make her happy. I want to just keep her safe. And when I found myself doing this, I started looking to the worldly things. I started thinking, you know what? What can we do to bring more money in our family? What can we do to have this? What can we do to have this? And then thinking, no, my vision, my eyesight would not be on Jesus Christ. I'll put it into the world. And what I love about this verse is that he says, He will hate the one and love the other. And let me tell you something, church, that is so true. When you take your eyes off of God, when you look into the world, you will not look back at Jesus Christ. You would despise him. That's why he's saying you can't serve two masters. You have to pick, you have to pick. So let's go a little bit deeper. I wanna read a chapter out of 1 John. Go to 1 John, we're gonna be looking at 1 John 2. Like I said, this is something I've been struggling with. And like I said, I know I'm not alone. I know a lot of us Christians, this is what we struggle with. But church, we have to pick. When we go into this world, we have to be aware of sinning. We have to be aware of being astray. Church, it is so important that we live our life, our life that shines Jesus Christ. It's so important. Let me tell you something, church. People are looking for something. People are wanting to have hope, and we have it. through the blood of Jesus Christ. So let's look at 1 John. 1 John 2. And I'm going to be honest with you. I'm going to do a lot of reading here. But like I said, when I was reading this, when I was studying this, it was just hitting me, church. It was hitting me. I'm so thankful that when you get into the Word of God, and in case you don't know this, when you get into the Word of God, and you let God take control, the Holy Spirit take control, He will give you the answer, church. He will show you what He wants you to see. 1 John 2, verse 1, My little children, these things I answer you, that ye sin not, and if any man sin, we have affliction with the Father Jesus Christ. That means, listen, we have Jesus. When we sin, we have Jesus. Jesus Christ, He took our place. When we sin, all we have to do is repent to Him, church. And He is the propitiation for our sin, and not of our only, but also for the sin of the world. Verse 3, And hereby we do know that we know Him if we keep His commandment. Verse 4, He that says, I know Him, and keep not His commandment, is a liar, and the truth is in Him. But whoso keepeth his word in him, verily it is the love of God perfect. Hereby know we that we are in him. He that says he about us in him, out himself also to the walk, even as he walked. Let's stop right there. And the reason why I want to stop right here, because when I was reading this, it says, He that says, from verse four, he that says, I know him and keepeth not his command is a liar. Let me tell you something, church. There are a lot of people, and listen, not just outside of this world, but there are a lot of people that are in this church that will say that they know Jesus Christ, that they are a Christian. but they have not given their life to them. Listen church, if you're here this evening and you're one of those people, I'm going to tell you this right now, coming to church is not going to save you. This church that you're sitting on is not going to save you. You have got to give your life to Jesus Christ. You have to give all, everything that you have to Him. Give all your faith, give everything that you have to Jesus Christ. But let me tell you something, church, when you go out in this world, you're going to hear people that call themselves Christian, but the thing you know, they're going to use the Lord's name in vain. He's a liar, church. You're going to hear people that call them, that say that they know Jesus Christ, but they might say something filthy. Guess what? He's a liar. and the truth is not with him. Let's look at, let's keep on reading. Let's look at, let's start with verse six. Let's go back to verse six. He that says he abides in him, I himself also to walk even as his walk. So if we're going to abide in Jesus Christ, we have to walk as Jesus walked. Verse seven, brethren, I write no new commandment unto you. But an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning. The old commandment is the word which ye have heard from the beginning. Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which these things is true in him and in you, because the darkness is passed, and true light now shineth. He that says he is in the light and hate, now listen church, hate his brother is in the darkness even until now. Verse 10, he that loveth his brother and bitheth in the light, there is none occasion of stumbling in him. But he that hateth his brother is in the darkness, walketh in the darkness, and whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes. I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. I write unto you, Father, because ye have known him what is unto you, young man, because ye have overcome the witness one. I write unto you, little children, because we have known the Father. I have written unto you, Father, because you have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young man, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one." Now, let's back up a little bit. There's a lot of reading right there, and I want to kind of break it down a little bit. When we talk about light and darkness, the difference between light and darkness, church, is the light is the presence of God. It is his truth. It is his goodness. And let me tell you something, church. In verse 11, it says, but he that hates his brother walk in the darkness. Well, what does darkness mean? It means absence of God. It means evil. It means living a life that is unrepentant. Church, this is so important that we look ourselves in the mirror and say, where am I at with Jesus Christ? Like I said, I see people so many times where they will walk through the church door, but they have hatred in their eyes. Let me tell you something, church. That person is in the darkness. And if you want light, if you want light, if you want to walk in the light, all you have to do is surrender yourself to Jesus Christ. If you're in the darkness, guess what? You're denying God. You're confusing. You're angry. You're loneliness. Listen, you don't have to feel that if you just give yourself to Jesus Christ. And like I said, there's so many people that are walking in the dark, and you can see that. You can just look at what's going on in this world, and it's all over the place. You see hatred. You see people, you know, cussing each other out. You see people spitting on each other, people just yelling at each other. It's because they're in the dark. And let me tell you something, church. Like I said, if you don't remember this, that's okay, but on Wednesday night, I was talking about our responsibility. We have got to do what we are here to do, church. We have got to do our part. We are walking in the light, we are shining Jesus' light, and we have to tell people about this wonderful gift of salvation. This isn't a gift that is hidden. This isn't a gift that's only for certain people. It's that Jesus Christ, He died for the whole world. But so many times, we just, we want to keep it right here. We want to keep it behind a closed door. Let me tell you something, church. It's so important that when we go out into this world, that we love one another. And once they love one another, I said this many, many times before. That doesn't mean you have to agree with them. There's going to be things in this world that is wrong. There's going to be, you know, things that people want you to do that is against God. You don't have to show them hate. You say, no, I'm not going to do that. Listen, so many times in my life, people would try to convince me to do this or do that. And I had to make a decision. Do I want to walk in darkness or do I want to walk in the light? Do I want to shine? the light of Jesus Christ. I want to be in God's presence. And we have to make that decision. This is going back to Matthew. We can't serve to master. You have to pick, church. You have to pick. So, what is likeness? Presence of God. Truth? Goodness of God. Darkness? Absence of God. Unrepentant? Denying God? angry there's so many people that are angry in this world because that they are walking in darkness and what's so interesting and I don't At verse 12 to 14, it's talking about little child. It's talking about the father, a young man. When I was reading that, I didn't really know what John was talking about. And what he's talking about is just a different spiritual. He's talking about the little children, which is a new Christian. We have to understand, we are all children of God. When we accept Jesus Christ, we are created new. We are a new person. And then you have the father, it says, verse 13, I write unto you, father, because ye know him that is from the beginning, meaning that that father is talking about that Christian that has been a Christian for a long, long time. And then if it goes to, I write unto him, young man, which is just the youth, which is just someone that is growing as a Christian. I write unto you, father, because ye have known, verse 13, him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young man, because ye have overcome the wickedness, the wickedest one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the father. Verse 14, I have written unto you, Father, because ye have known him that is from the beginning, I have written unto you, young man, because ye are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and ye have overcome wickedness. Now let's move on to verse 15. Now this is kind of similar back to Matthew chapter 6. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, just thereof. But he that doeth the will of God abideth forever. Little children, it is the last time. And as ye have heard, the Antichrist shall come. Even now are there many Antichrists. Where be we know it is the last time. Verse 19. They went out from him, But they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out, and they might be manifest that they were not all of us. Now, I'm going to stop right there real quick. Let's look back at verse 15. This is very important, church. Let me tell you something. This is something that I see. I see this every day. He says, love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Now, sometimes, church, we put things before God. We put our family before God. We put our friend before God. We put education. We put our possessions. We put all this stuff. before God, and the reason why we do that is because it feels good. But let me tell you something, church, we cannot put those things, those material things before God, because God is the one that we are here for. Listen, I have seen this time and time again, where people will spend their whole life just working working, skipping every service, not reading the Bible, not building a relationship with Jesus Christ, not accepting Jesus Christ, just so they can get something that's really not that important. They think, well, if I buy this, it will make me happy. But guess what, church? Nothing in this world is going to give you joy but Jesus Christ. Nothing. You can buy all the cars you want. You can go to all the vacation you want. You are never going to feel satisfied. But so many people, they spend their life to try to gather all they can. They spend all their time away from God just so they can put their family before God. you know, their friend before God. They can put, you know, the work, their whole, I mean, and listen, and we all do this. Like I said, this is something that I've been struggling with. Well, I find myself wanting to put my family before God, but let me tell you something, Church, I cannot. God comes first, and everything else comes second. We have got to put God in front of us and follow and remember why we are here. We are here to serve him. We are here to worship him. We are here to spread the gospel to all that needs to hear church. But we get so distracted. We put the worldly thing before us, and we get so distracted. Let me tell you something, Church. I don't have Facebook, but my wife does. And guess who's on it? Me! I'm being a crozier. I'm playing her. I'm just wanting to see what everybody's up to. But why you on Facebook all the time? And to be honest with you, it's because the marketplace, that marketplace, it gets you. I'll tell you what, one day my wife came home from work and she said, hey, I got an awkward message on Facebook because when you're on Facebook Marketplace, there's a little thing that says, is this still available? Send. And my thumb have hit it a couple times on accident. So the first time my wife came to me, she said, hey, someone said, you know, yeah, the truck is still available if you want it. And guess what I did? I blamed it on Jovi. I said, Jovi was playing with my iPad. A couple days later, she come home from work. She said, now this time, I know it was you. And I thought, oh, Lord. I said, what did I do this time? She said, well, a guy that owned an 18-wheeler, that it was available. I was just like, no, no, no, no. I'm sorry. I'm sorry, man. I told her, I said, I'll delete Facebook. But the reason why I want to mention Facebook is because when you get on Facebook, you just, you can see how everybody lives. People, they're not afraid to show you how they live. And I just think it's so sad because you see people just bragging. You see people just like, you know, it's just like, honestly, it makes me sick to be honest with you. Why? Because I don't care. I keep getting on Facebook. I keep, you know, wanting to know what's going on out there. Let me tell you something, Church. What happened is, when I don't put God first in my life, when I start thinking about the worldly things, I start doing research of other things besides things that I could learn about Jesus Christ. For example, a couple nights ago, I would try to get my lessons together, It was 12 in the morning, and I'm thinking, I didn't get to bed. And I thought, you know what? I need to continue on my matches, on my sermon. Well, guess what, church? I just kept getting on my iPad. I just kept searching, searching for nothing. No truck for sale, house for sale. I'm like, I got everything I need. I don't know why I'm wasting my time. But the reason why we can't put the worldly things before Jesus Christ, because it become a distraction. It gets in the way. And I said, I know we're not alone, but it gets in the way. We have got to put Jesus Christ first. Let's continue to talk. Let's continue to read verse 20. Oh, and you know what, real quick, and I'm going to move on. Verse 19, it says, "...they went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us." So what he's talking about is that there are people out there that are saying that they're, and when I say people, I'm talking about, you know, powerful people, people that are preachers or priests, that they're saying that they're preaching the Word of God, but really they're not. Let me tell you something, church, that is a bad position to be in. And I pray to God that I don't ever go down that route when it's all about me and not about Jesus Christ. Let me tell you something, it is so easy for people to follow the wrong person in a church building. Why? Because sometimes people want to go to church and they go, I like that preacher. He makes me feel good. I'm going to be honest with you. If he makes you feel good, he's probably not stepping on your toes. So you might want to just say, you know what? And listen, we are so thankful we have every preacher up here that challenged us. I know they all stepped on my toes multiple times. But there are preachers out there, I mean, there are priests out there that are, you know, waving the pride flag, knowing that it's a sin against God. They don't care. Why? Because they are not in the Father. They're not with Jesus Christ. They are walking in darkness. They are blinded. They are right where the devil wants them to be. Listen, the devil, he's working. He wants to take as many people to that awful place called hell. And let me tell you something, church, that place isn't meant for you. When you go into this world, just tell yourself that you're like, you know what? I need to be the best Christian I can be. I need to be the best follower of Jesus Christ that I can be because I don't ever want to get to my deathbed and say, I hope I make it to heaven. There are so many people that says that, well, I hope I make it. Well, if you hope you make it, you're probably not where you need to be. Church, we have got to look at ourself in the mirror and say, where am I at with Jesus Christ? He's done everything for us. He has given his life for us. But we choose to juggle. We want to just juggle, juggle, juggle. And let me tell you something. We cannot serve true master. We must pick. Let's move on. Let's look at verse 20. But ye have an action from the Holy One, and ye know all things. Verse 21, I have not written to you because you know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie of the truth. Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is Christ? He is Antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father, but he that acknowledge the Son hath the Father also. Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning, If that which ye have heard from him in the beginning shall remain in you, and ye also shall continue in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he has promised us, even eternal life. Listen, I know I say this time and time again, and I'm going to say this to the day I take my last breath. Church, we all know that we're not going to be here forever. And let me tell you something, church, there has been a promise. There's been a promise, and that's eternal life. And what blows my mind is that people don't want it. People are like, nah, I'd rather just not believe. It's like, what are you talking about? Jesus has promised us eternal life with him. Listen, if you think this country is beautiful, imagine what heaven's gonna be like. Just imagine. Listen, one of my dream vacations, listen, I drive my wife crazy about this. I want to go to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It's been on my bucket list for years. It's beautiful. All the mountains and the water and just that, you know, the old Western town, the old Western community. It just, every time I see it, I think, how beautiful is this? But let me tell you something, Church. I also believe that heaven is going to be more beautiful than anything that we can comprehend. It says it in the Bible. We're going to be walking through the streets of God. We are going to be there to worship the One, the One who created us, the One who created the heavens and the earth. Would you not want to be with Him? But we just continue to juggle. We just say, nah, I'll go to church here. I'll go to church here if I feel like it. Let me tell you something, church. You've got to come to church. You need to get into the Word of God. You need to build a relationship like your life depends on it does. or you're going to face the awful, chilling hand of death. And I don't think anybody, and you know what? I honestly believe that people that are in that awful place are begging that you don't go down there. Begging their friends to go down there. Just like with that rich man. He wanted his brothers, he wanted his brothers not to go down there. That's why I believe that there are people down there just hoping that we don't make the same mistake. And you might be here right now saying, you know what Asha, I'm not lost. You're right. You're good. But guess what? You know someone that is lost. There's someone right next to you that you are with every single day. And we don't have the courage just to say, hey, you know, you know anything about Jesus Christ? And guess what? If they spit on you or cuss you out, that's OK. Smile. Smile. You know why? Because I'd rather someone spit on me or cuss me out and get whipped just like Jesus did. He was unrecognizable. Could you imagine the pain that he was going through for us? I would rather deal with that. So you know what? You might hate me forever, but do you know Jesus Christ? Can I tell you about Jesus Christ? He died for you, buddy. He died for you. He's given his life for you. So you wouldn't have to pay the price. He paid the price for you. But we just, nah, we'll just keep moving. And listen, it's our responsibility as Christian that tell people about Jesus Christ. And you don't have to be a preacher to do it. You don't. Just do it. Be a disciple. We're all called to be a disciple. Just go out and do it. Move on. I'm moving on. Okay. Verse 25, we'll go from there. And this is the promise that He had promised us in eternal life. him abides in you and ye need not that any man teach you but as the same anointing teach you all things and is the truth and is no lie and even as it has taught you ye shall abide in him verse 28 and now little children like I said little children that's us he's saying now listen Abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before him at his coming." You know what's amazing about this? Even back then, they were talking about Jesus Christ coming. Let me tell you something, church. We are a lot closer to Jesus coming now than we were then. And so many times we want to test it. We're like, ah, I mean, I've heard people, I've actually heard people say, well, he's not coming in my lifetime. We don't, really? He could come whenever he wants. Listen, they've been preparing us. They've been warning us that Jesus is coming. Have confidence. Verse 29. If ye know that it is righteous, ye that every one that doeth his righteous is born of him. The one thing that I wanted to kind of talk about in verse 27, it says, but the anointing which ye have received from him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you, but as the same anointing teaches you of all these things, and his truth It is no lie. Yes. Okay. So the anointing part is what I want to talk about because some of us, a lot of people, listen, I remember when the first time I learned about anointing, I didn't really know what it was. I've heard people talk about it, but I didn't know what it was. And all it is, Church, is that anointing by God means that we belong to Him, that we are set apart by Him, and we are blessed and devoted to Him. Okay? When we go out into this world, it is so important that we remember, like, hey, listen, He has given us a chance by sending His Son, Jesus Christ. And let me tell you something, church, if you want to be on the right path, walk with Jesus Christ. Be with Jesus Christ. Live your life for Jesus Christ. And I want you to think about your values. I want you to think about what's going on in your life this evening and think about, you know, where am I at with Jesus Christ? I want you to think about that. I want you to be asking yourself, am I giving Jesus Christ all? Have I even given my life to Jesus Christ? Let me tell you something, church, we have to pick. We cannot serve to master. I promise you, and I am a witness to others, that if you live for the world, you reach your goal into this world and try to keep up with the Joneses, I promise you, you will never be satisfied. You're going to want more and more and more. And what's going to happen in church, you're going to have this hole in your heart that is not going to be fulfilled. And only Jesus Christ can fill it up. And let me tell you something, church, my life is more peaceful is more joyful if I just give it to Him. There's so many times, listen, when I'm not living for God, let me tell you something, it's something I gotta work on daily. It's a relationship I have to work on daily, church. If I don't live for Jesus Christ, I get all anxiety, I get all worked up, I yell too much, and I'm all like, ah, you know, I feel like nothing is under control. But let me tell you something, church, everything's in control if you just give it to Him. He's got everything in control. He knows the future. He knows what's best. He knows the path you're gonna go, church. That's why it's so important that we choose and that we choose Him. And the reason why I wanted to read that because it's similar to what Jesus said back in Matthew. We cannot serve to, we cannot serve to master. And let me tell you something, church, and when you do, You're going to pick one over the other, and what's going to happen is, like I said, I've been through this before at church, what's going to happen is, you're going to choose the other thing before God. It's just, I can't even explain it to you. Before you know it, you're putting all the material stuff before God. And in so many times, we walk around, we're trying to figure out, well, how come I can't feel satisfied? How come I don't feel blessed? How come all this stuff? Where you at with Jesus Christ? Who are you serving tonight? And I'm going to tell you right now, if you do not have Jesus Christ this evening, I hate to tell you this, You're serving the wrong master. What you're doing is, you're living in this world, and I'm gonna tell you right now, it's not gonna end pretty. Listen, it's gonna take you to a place that you are not meant to be. It was never made for you. Listen, you are made to be with Jesus Christ. And if Jesus Christ, if he's knocking on your heart this evening, listen, what are you waiting on? What are you waiting on? You waiting on your friend? Guess what? Friends come and go. That's what I learned about life. Friends come and go. I don't care. I have a good friend. That's my wife. The one person I care about. And my daughter. And my second daughter is coming. They're all my friends. That's all I want. Don't worry about your friends. They'll come and go. Don't worry about your workplace. Don't worry, let God take the lead and he'll make everything work out. And listen, I know y'all know my testimony, but I just, I feel led to share this. When, when, when I was diagnosed with Usher syndrome type 2a, I thought my life was over. My, I was done. I went into a depression mode. I did all, I mean, I was just, I was just, I was done. When the doctor said, Asa, you're going to lose your vision. And I'm like, what? I'm 21 years old. I'm just getting my life started. What do you mean I'm losing my vision? And you know, when you turn 30, da, da, da, da, da. I'm like, what? I'm like, what are you talking about? And years after years, I was down in this hole. But the problem was, Church, I was very selfish. Instead of just going, oh, OK, cool. What can I do for Jesus? Obviously, Jesus Christ, he has a plan for me. By just giving all to Him, everything will work out perfect. And let me tell you something Church, it has worked out perfect. Even though sometimes we feel like we're in this rat race, we're just trying to, you know, just get to the finish line. And sometimes we don't just stop and say, you know what, what am I here for? And I truly believe that if, and thank God, thank God I haven't lost all my vision. I just lost my peripheral vision. That's fine. I can't live with my center vision, because why? Because there are people that are completely blind. I couldn't imagine what that feel like. But when I got down so low, I just, the reason why I got down so low, because I just wouldn't turn it to Him. I was the one trying to fix everything. I was the one that was trying to control everything. And let me tell you something, Church. The moment I let go and let God, I know everybody says that all the time, but it's true. When you let go and let God, let me tell you something, Church. He will take care of everything. It's so important that when we go out into this world this week, that whatever you're facing, whatever you're dealing with, the good time, the bad time, that you give it all to Jesus Christ and let Him