Last time we were together I proposed a very powerful question and that is whether the door of salvation is still open.
The sinner’s prayer, which goes something like, “Lord, I’m a sinner, forgive me of my sin, wash me in your blood, and receive me as your child”, has been developed by theologians, and is not so much an item from Jesus.
I want to ask the question that during the tribulation, which we are now in, has God closed the door of salvation?
Last time we were together, we read from Matthew’s gospel chapter 25 which is about the ten virgins, the five that were wise, that were chosen, and the five that were foolish, that were not chosen.
This parable brings to light that at some point in time, God does close the door on people.
Matthew 25:1-12
Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom.
2 And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.
3 They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them:
4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
5 While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.
6 And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.
7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
8 And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out.
9 But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
10 And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.
11 Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us.
12 But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.
This parable shows that you will be given time to get ready, but if you are not ready when the Bridegroom comes, the door will be shut on you.
Today I would like to use the subject matter of being called a disciple of the Second Coming.
I am examining on whether the door of salvation has been closed.
The Bridegroom is like the second coming of Jesus, and when He comes, if you are not ready, the door will be closed, but those that are ready will be able to go in.
So, let me say now, but I say it with some caution, that the sinner’s prayer will still work, and we can pray it together if you like, but the door of salvation is still open, but barely.
Because we are in the tribulation, which the beginning of the tribulation would indicate that the door has been closed because if you look at Genesis chapter 7, when God opened the windows of heaven and poured out the rain, in the day of Noah, and the fountains of the deep were broken up, and after Noah and his family and all of the animals got on the boat, then God shut the door to the boat, and no one else was allowed to get on. Genesis 7:16
So, I am saying that we are in the tribulation, and since it has started, then normally the door of salvation would be closed, but I’m going to leave it just barely cracked open just a moment and I believe I’m in good stead with Almighty God.
So, even though the tribulation has begun, the door of salvation is still just barely cracked open.
Today I am going to read another parable that Jesus gives in Matthew’s gospel chapter 25 where His decisions are final.
If I’m incorrect by saying that the door of salvation is still partially open, and that people can still get saved, then that is going to be a tragedy, and it is going to be something I will have to deal with the Lord.
But if I am correct, then I would say that you need to get saved, and you need to get saved today.
So, when God shut the door on the five foolish virgins, that was a final decision, and there was no second chance.
I am saying that the door is still open and today I want you to think of yourself as a disciple of Christ of the second coming.
You want to start thinking of yourself as disciples and not just a Christian or a church-goer.
I have no faith what-so-ever in church-goers.
I think the Catholic church has probably had far-greater out-reaches than all of the other churches combined, but the Catholic church has a problem with the pedophilia of the priests. Remind me to teach on this subject sometime because I could do a whole teaching on it an hour every day.
I want to read another parable. This event did not take place, it is a parable.
Matthew 25:14-31
14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods.
15 And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several abilities; and straightway took his journey.
16 Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same and made them other five talents.
17 And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two.
18 But he that had received one went and digged in the earth and hid his lord’s money.
19 After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them.
20 And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more.
21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
22 He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them.
23 His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.
24 Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed:
25 And I was afraid and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine.
26 His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed:
27 Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury.
28 Take therefore the talent from him and give it unto him which hath ten talents.
29 For unto everyone that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath.
30 And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
31 When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory:
This is Jesus teaching about once-in-a-life-time decisions. If you don’t do it right the first time, and you blow it, that’s it.
The man who did not use his talent the right way was cast out into outer darkness where there was weeping, and gnashing of teeth.
So, did Jesus love everybody? Did he give everybody a second chance?
There are people who go around saying that Jesus loves everybody, for instance, Joel Osteen, who tells people that God will always give you another chance, but it isn’t true. That’s not Jesus.
Joel Osteen, T.D. Jakes, Billy and Franklin Graham can say whatever they want, but the bible says something different.
My friends, you need to decide if you are going to be just a church-goer or are you going to be a disciple, and they are not obedient to things that He distributes to them such as their tithing.
And I want to say that though Jesus closed the door and wouldn’t let them five fools in, I’m going to say that at this point the door is still open, and the sinner’s prayer still works.
We can see, and I believe that the door is partially still open.
My assessment is that the sinner’s prayer has been marketed as a marketing tool by many but there has not been a follow through.
If the sinner’s prayer is used only as a marketing tool to get people to join your church, and swell your numbers, and you don’t change the hearts of people with the teaching of righteousness, obedience, and of keeping the Ten Commandments, then that’s like sowing seed on hard ground.
The sinner’s prayer must go along with an in-depth teaching of the word and a contrite heart.
There is a difference between a disciple and a Christian. Disciple comes from the word “discipline”. So, if you are talking about the twelve disciples, you are talking about the twelve disciplined ones.
Why did they have to be disciplined? Because human nature and human emotion runs awry, and those emotions and tendencies must be harnessed.
You must be disciplined to become a disciple.
Not a Christian, but a disciple. You must be disciplined against the wiles of the devil, and from doing whatever you want.
Some of the world’s religions, such as the Hinduism and monks, are far more disciplined than most churches are nowadays. They are the most undisciplined churches you have ever seen, and if you try to discipline them, they will turn on you like a rabid dog.
Even though Buddhists, Hindu’s and Muslims don’t worship the right God, they are disciplined.
So, you want to become a disciple and not a church-goer.
We’ve been teaching about the key servant, the chosen few, the elect, and the first resurrected. We are coming back to that teaching.
We’ve explained the Key Servant, we spent two years explaining the elect, and we spent some time on the chosen few, and we’ve focused on whether you have been chosen to make a mark upon the world.
Stay tuned because I am covering a lot of ground here today.
The Lord told me to ask you whether you have been chosen from the foundation of the world to be a disciple, and to be a member of the elect. You have to look into the right pocket of your heart and see that there is a gold nugget there.
And remember the last time we were together we went over 3 things:
1. Don’t let bad things that happen to you make you think that God has not chosen you.
2. Don’t let your age make you think that God has not chosen you.
3. Did Almighty God establish James David Manning as His servant to help you discover God’s calling on your life?
Remember Mother Teresa took a vow of poverty and there has not been a Christian more notable than her.
Can you say that you are listening to me?
I understand that you may not agree with the way I say things, and I don’t like the fact that you rail against other preachers, but you say but pastor I’m still here.
You are not listening to me daily and telling people about me daily because you want to, but you are here because the truth inside of you is making you do it.
You know that what I have said to you is right.
Just investigate the side pocket of your heart, and you will see that God keeps bringing you back and back again.
Are you a disciple of Christ, and then you keep coming back to listen to me? You cannot change me because I’m not a sissy preacher. If you don’t like the way I talk, well I talk like a man. I say damn and hell like a man. You may think those words aren’t nice, but neither is dying a wretched death. This is not a nice world that we live in, it’s the devil’s kingdom.
What you may discover is that the truth inside of you is calling you to go where the truth is taught.
Do you want to be a disciple? You’ve got to stop being so sensitive.
Have you discovered that you have been chosen?
When Jesus comes back again, I believe I am going to be an elder and a judge and my assignment is to help you.
Don’t worry about your progress or your age.
You have to learn to settle down and recognize that we are living in the devil’s kingdom and he has all of the churches under his power.
Obama belonged to the Trinity United Church of Christ, 8000 members in that church, yet, they are killing people in front of that church. Why? Because the religious organizations don’t bring the truth of righteousness.
You’ve got to become a disciple before you can become a servant of the Lord. To be a servant of the Lord, you are the top of the top.
Church-goers aren’t nowhere near of being a servant of the Lord.
We are in the tribulation. There is no doubt about that. God is beginning to destroy the planet earth. I will get to that and will bring more teachings.
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