Keion Henderson - Out of Pocket Cost

I want to talk about this subject: out-of-pocket costs. Let 's just discuss out-of-pocket costs. Touching three people, say this is going to cost you. You may be seated in the presence of the Lord. Out -of-pocket costs. Now, I need your attention today because I want to help you solidify your position in your faith, not only so you will know what you believe, but also so you will have comfort when you are around people who don’t share your beliefs. In this day and time, those of us who are not solid in our faith are swayed by every wind of doctrine. Every time someone presents a different idea of God, we suddenly become unsure about the God we believe in. You’ve opened so many doors and made so many ways, and so many times you’ve healed me. You 've been better than good to me. Yet, then someone gets on the internet and makes a post in 60 seconds, causing you to question your entire life of faith. You have to stand on the Word of God. Somebody say, «Stand!» I love God too much to let someone post for 60 seconds on Facebook, and suddenly I’m questioning my religion, my faith, and my God. You must be solid in the Word of God. Somebody say, «Solid!» You have to be solid in the Word of God. Notice they told you they saw 2,500 prisoners and only 25 were persuaded because most people are not easily swayed, and it takes the work of the Holy Spirit- even for the 25 who converted from Islam to Christianity, from Buddhism to Christianity, or from whatever religion they changed from. The work of God, the gospel, is a seed. There must be planting, and conversion doesn’t always take place right away. Sometimes you must tell people about God, then walk away and let God do His work. Some of you have family members right now whom you 're worried about. Don 't just keep worrying; keep being a seed. Keep talking about God at the family reunion. Keep discussing Jesus at the dinner table. They may roll their eyes and tell you they don’t want to hear all that Jesus stuff, but then God may allow them to get into an accident, and the first thing out of their mouth will be, «Lord, help me!» Y’all know what I’m talking about! Have you ever seen someone who said they didn’t believe in God? The first time something happens to them, they call on Jesus. There’s something about that name! Hallelujah in this place! Hebrews 10 has great significance for those of us who hold true to the faith. Under the law-that is, the Ten Commandments, the Torah, and the Levitical law, which were present in the days of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob-this is the Word of God etched on the two tablets that Moses broke in anger. Then God instructed him to create another copy. That law, that original law, was present in the days of Melchizedek. The words of those Ten Commandments were clear: «Thou shalt not .» Every time they sinned, the law said they had to make a sacrifice. They had to sacrifice lambs, bulls; that’s why it was said that the blood of bulls would not suffice. Every time they sinned, there had to be a blood sacrifice. It was a treadmill of sacrifice-running in place but making no progress. They would sacrifice week after week. Now, we don’t have to bring bulls for sacrifice; we have to bring cash because, in their economy, bulls were their compensation. When a person would give the first fruits of the land, they gave grain offerings, not coins. They gave animals, not dollars. That 's why they sacrificed that way in the Old Testament. Those animals were necessary for what we will call propitiation and redemption. Now, when you see the word «redemption,» have a lawsuit in mind. Are you with me? When you see the word «redemption,» it means to buy something back. The Lamb of God was given for the propitiation of our sin. Redemption is a cost that must be paid to regain something. What this means is that we belong to God in creation, but because of the fall in the Garden of Eden, Satan became the prince of the air. There was an exchange of property because, due to sin, all of us went to Satan. Now, God had to purchase us back. God, help me in this place today! That 's why the old songwriter says, «I am redeemed; I have been bought with a price.» And what is that price? The wages of sin is death. The reason why Jesus had to die is because the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. When sin entered the world, all of us were supposed to die. God said, «Not on my watch! I’m going to redeem them .» So, I will be the one to make the sacrifice. I will become the Lamb of God and die for the sins of the world. Since He was sacrificed, God says you don’t have to die for your sins anymore; now you have to live for Him. Are you with me so far?