Pastor Rev. Steven Wagner Telephone: 573-437-5190

Rt 3, Owensville MO. 65066

NO FREE RIDES TO HEAVEN

Open Door Fellowship

September 7, 1997 a.m.

Rev. Steven Wagner

SCRIPTURES:

(Acts 8:14 KJV) Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:

(Acts 8:15 KJV) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost:

(Acts 8:16 KJV) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)

(Acts 8:17 KJV) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 8:18 KJV) And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money,

(Acts 8:19 KJV) Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost.

(Acts 8:20 KJV) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

(Acts 8:21 KJV) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

(Acts 8:22 KJV) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

(Acts 8:23 KJV) For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity.

(Acts 8:24 KJV) Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.

A. The church is full of people that think they can just get to heaven some other way then the way it takes. They can buy their way, do good deeds, ride someones shirt tail, by chance, but there is no free rides to heaven.

a. Verse 18 says that simon saw, you know alot of people sit in churches and watch God move, they see God do things, they see peoples lives changed, but it never seems to touch the Simons of this world, because they think that they are going to some way get a free ride to heaven.

b. You know Noah when he was building the ark, was surrounded by people that were watching the work of God before their very eyes, they even were inside the ark, even helped on the ark, but would not listen to the preaching of Noah to repent and get ready for the coming of the Lord, and they perished.

(Heb 11:7 KJV) By faith Noah[1], being warned[2] of God of things[3] not seen as yet, moved with fear[4], prepared[5] an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned[6] the world, and became heir of the righteousness[7] which is by faith.

c. There was people all around what God was doing, but the people thought they could just keep doing the same things they had been doing and some day or some how God would forgive them and they would be ok.

(Mat 24:37 KJV) But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

(Mat 24:38 KJV) For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,

(Mat 24:39 KJV) And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

B. Today our churches are full of people just like in Noahs day, they come and sit, and see, and watch, and act like they love the Lord, but there just people that think going to heaven is a free ride, they will make it some how, they think they have people fooled, but they aren't fooling God, and their lives are not producing any fruit. Just like in Ezek the prophet said.

(Ezek 33:29 KJV) Then shall[1] they know that I am the LORD, when I have laid the land most desolate because[2] of all their abominations which they have committed.

(Ezek 33:30 KJV) Also, thou son of man, the children of thy people still are talking against thee by the walls and in the doors of the houses, and speak one to another, every one to his brother, saying, Come, I pray you, and hear what is the word that cometh forth from the LORD.

(Ezek 33:31 KJV) And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

(Ezek 33:32 KJV) And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

a. You see it doesn't matter if you come into his house, and act like you love him, or act like like your going to do his will, or fool the people of the church, or fool yourself, but wheather or not you do what his word says.

b. Jesus put it like this in Rom 16

(Rom 16:18 KJV) For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

C. Jesus ran into this when he was on the earth in John 6

(John 6:26 KJV) Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled.

(John 6:27 KJV) Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

a. The trouble with a lot of christians today is they are laboring for this world. You say no, but where are they on Sundays the day of the Lord, where are they in service for the Lord, where are they in support of the church and ministries, where are they in true worship to God.

(John 6:28 KJV) Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

a. They asked this question just like Simon did, what can we do to gain the things of God? This is what they were really asking.

b. They wanted to find a easy way of abtaining eternal life and the blessings of God without really costing them anything.

(John 6:53 KJV) Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

(John 6:54 KJV) Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.

(John 6:55 KJV) For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.

(John 6:56 KJV) He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.

(John 6:57 KJV) As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me.

a. You see these words if we had time this morning mean a become one together, eating represents a intiment relationship with Christ, His body becomes your body and likewise.

b. It says I live by the Father, so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. Live by Him.

(John 6:58 KJV) This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever.

(John 6:59 KJV) These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum.

(John 6:60 KJV) Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it?

(John 6:61 KJV) When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you?

a. Many today become offended at this message, they sit and smerk, and laugh, and make excuses why they are not living their lives for Christ. But the real reason is they want a free ride to heaven and the things of this world to. They don't want to turn loose of this precious world, the evil things, the desires of their flesh, the desire of this world still has them captive.

(John 6:66 KJV) From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him.

D. Many will fall away in the last days because when Christ pours out His Spirit it will get hot in the kitchen, and people will either get in or get out.

(2 Th 2:1 KJV) Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,

(2 Th 2:2 KJV) That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.

(2 Th 2:3 KJV) Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

a. How about you this morning are you offended at this message.

b. May be your heart is so hard that it doesn't even phase you.

c. May be you think you can listen to this message and do just what you have done before leave the church on Sunday morning and get out there on your jobs and do the same old thing, go right back into your habits, and sins and everything is still the same.

d. The Lord is coming back and you can't buy your way into heaven, you can't work your way into heaven, you can't ride in on someone elses rightousness, you can't just ignore your way into heaven you will have to serve Christ to get into heaven.

II. Repent and serve Christ

A. You must first recognize and then repent

a. Just like with Simon in Acts 8:20-22

(Acts 8:20 KJV) But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

(Acts 8:21 KJV) Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God.

(Acts 8:22 KJV) Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.

B. Jesus Christ loves you today he does not want anyone to perish in their sins, won't you give your life to him today?

(2 Pet 3:9 KJV) The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

a. Christ says we must be born again to enter into his kingdom.

(John 3:3 KJV) Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

b. This means to become a new creature in christ we leave behind the old world. Some christians need to hear this scripture today because they have forgotten what being born again is.

(2 Cor 5:17 KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

c. Its simple to be born again all you have to do is confess your sins and ask God to forgive you and mean it in your heart and you will be saved.

(Acts 3:19 KJV) Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

(Rom 10:9 KJV) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

CONCLUSION:

a. You can't buy salvation

b. You can't work for salvation

c. You can't just be a good old boy

d. You can't get in on some one elses salvation

e. You can't trick your way in heaven

f. You can't take sin into heaven

THERE WILL BE KNOW FREE RIDES INTO HEAVEN ONLY PAID IN FULL TICKETS.

THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN PAY FOR YOUR TICKET IS THROUGH THE GOLD THAT COMES FROM CHRIST AND YOU CAN ONLY BUY THE GOLD THAT COMES FROM HEAVEN ONE WAY. FOUND IN REV.

(Rev 3:14 KJV) And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

(Rev 3:15 KJV) I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

(Rev 3:16 KJV) So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

(Rev 3:17 KJV) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

(Rev 3:18 KJV) I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

YOU CAN ONLY GET THIS GOLD BY GIVING EVERYTHING TO CHRIST NOT HANGING ON TO THE WORLD OR WORLDLY FRIENDS AND HABITS BUT BY GIVING EVERYTHING TO HIM.