Most of us have heard of the book Pride and Prejudice. The name of the parade may have been changed this year to Equality Parade, but we all know that it was formerly called Gay Pride Parade and this whole week is still called Pridefest. Many people out here today are prideful and you are really celebrating because you know the Supreme Court is going to rule any day in favor of same sex marriage. So it appears that you have the pride part and many of you accuse my friends and I of being prejudiced. You call us homophobes. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It’s out of our love for God and love for our neighbors that we come out here witnessing today. The social clubs that join hand in hand with you don’t love you – at least not with godly love. Jesus is the Truth and godly love always, always speaks truth.
But I don’t want to talk to you today about pride and prejudice; I want to talk to you about pride and selfishness. So please listen to these words of Jesus found in Luke 16:19-31: 19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores.
22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.
25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:
28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
Jesus doesn’t tell us what the rich man’s sin is specifically. It could be that the rich man was prideful. Many rich people pride themselves on being a “self-made man.” They want others to see what they have done. Pride is a horrible sin. Lucifer fell from Heaven because He was prideful. Jeremiah 13:15 states: Hear ye, and give ear; be not proud: for the Lord hath spoken. Also, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).
Actually, we can read from this text that the rich man was prideful. He didn’t humble himself. He didn’t cry out to the Creator God, the One True God, no he cried out to Father Abraham. He didn’t say “God be merciful to me a sinner.” The rich man was prideful. He didn’t admit that he was a sinner. He didn’t cry out for forgiveness. He merely asked Abraham to grant him some relief – a mere drop of water. He didn’t beg to get out of Hell; he was just fine being separated from God. By the way, yes David said that even in Hell, God is there (Psalm 139:8). But there is a huge difference between being in the presence and the love of God versus God being present. Those suffering in Hell don’t even feel the presence of God, let alone His love. No, the rich man most definitely was a prideful person.
Does this describe you today? Are you out here celebrating Gay Pride? Are you out here crowing about the impending Supreme Court decision? Are you proud that gay rights is widely accepted in the culture now and Christians all around the country are being forced out of business because they won’t conform to the new norm? Tread lightly. God resists the proud. God is angry with the wicked every day (Psalm 7:11).
The rich man that Jesus talks about in Luke 16 is also selfish. Jesus said that he fared sumptuously and wore fancy clothes. The rich man never once thought about the poor beggar Lazarus whose mouth used to water just thinking about the crumbs that fell from the rich man’s table. But the selfish rich man never once offered Lazarus any food. He never gave a second thought to the beggar outside of his gate except maybe about what a nuisance he was and wondering how he could get rid of him.
Are you a selfish person? Are you so ecstatic about homosexuality being accepted by the majority of Americans that you aren’t giving a second thought to the constitutional rights of Christians that are being trampled all over? Are you so happy in your reveling that you aren’t even thinking about other people? Are you so focused on how you can continue ruining the concept of marriage that eventually the institution of marriage in our country will virtually no longer matter? Are you just as selfish as the rich man that Jesus talked about? Are you self absorbed? Are you self-centered? Is it all about you?
Tread lightly. God says that we are not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. Our focus should be on Christ alone. You see, Jesus doesn’t share the throne with anyone. Yes, He walked this earth 2,000 years ago. Yes, He lived a perfect, sinless life. Yes, He suffered unimaginable, unbearable pain for guilty sinners who repent and trust Him. Yes, He was nailed to the old rugged cross. Yes, God poured His wrath out upon His only begotten Son who bore the punishment that we deserve. Yes, Jesus died on the cross, was buried and rose victoriously from the grave three days later. Yes, He sits at the right hand of God the Father making intercession for His followers. Yes, Jesus is sitting on His throne.
You can’t be saved and share the throne of your life with Jesus. No, He demands all or nothing. He demands that you step off your throne and bow your knee and confess with your tongue that He is Lord. He gave His all for guilty sinners like us and He demands total surrender. If you are prideful and selfish person today, you are lost. I don’t care how good of a Christian you think you are, you are not saved. You are lost and on the broad road to Hell. There is no such thing as a gay Christian. You can be gay or you can be a Christian, but you cannot be a gay Christian. You can be a former homosexual who has repented and put their faith in Christ, but you cannot be a practicing homosexual and be saved.
You also can’t be an active adulterer and be saved. You can’t be practicing fornicator and be saved. You may be out here today and you are just here to show your support for the gay community, but you are straight. Maybe you are living with your boyfriend and you are a professing Christian. If so, then you are just as lost as your gay friends that you are here supporting. You too are lost and on the broad road to Hell. You can’t be a practicing thief or drunkard and be a Christian.
Listen to 1 Corinthians 6:9-11: 9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
So I reiterate once more, you cannot be a practicing homosexual and be a Christian. You cannot be a practicing adulterer and be saved. You cannot be living with your boyfriend or girlfriend and be a Christian, no you are a fornicator. You cannot be a drunkard and be saved. DO NOT BE DECEIVED! The UNRIGHTEOUS shall not inherit the kingdom of God. This list of sinners is not all inclusive, but they were prevalent sins being committed in Corinth at the time Paul wrote these words that were inspired by the Holy Spirit. You can rest assured that God’s Word cannot be broken. If your sin of choice is on this list, you are still lost and headed for Hell.
Please don’t miss verse 11 where it says SUCH WERE SOME OF YOU! But you are washed, you are sanctified, you are justified in the name of Jesus. When the Lord truly saves you, He cleans you up. The Holy Spirit that lives inside you convicts you of sin and unrighteousness in your life. I’m not saying that you never sin again, but God starts working on you about sin in your life when you are born again. Do not be deceived today. Jesus said unless you repent you will likewise perish. Don’t perish in your sins. Turn to Jesus and turn away from your sins.
Do not be deceived, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. You are either for Jesus or against Him. If you still love your sins, then you are hating Him by your actions. Jesus said these people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Do not be deceived today. You either love the pleasures of the flesh or you worship God in spirit. When you are saved, you become a new creature in Christ. You die to your old self and you live in Christ Jesus.
If you are living in open sin today, you are living in open rebellion against God. You have made yourself His enemy (James 4:4). Deuteronomy 32:35 and 39-41 says: 35 To me belongeth vengeance and recompence; their foot shall slide in due time: for the day of their calamity is at hand, and the things that shall come upon them make haste. 39 See now that I, even I, am he, and there is no god with me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal: neither is there any that can deliver out of my hand. 40 For I lift up my hand to heaven, and say, I live for ever. 41 If I whet my glittering sword, and mine hand take hold on judgment; I will render vengeance to mine enemies, and will reward them that hate me.
God says vengeance is Mine. You will suffer God’s wrath and you will suffer it for all of eternity unless you repent and surrender your life to Jesus. Fling yourself from the throne of your life. Humble yourself, bow your knee and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord. Do this today and be saved. Be washed. Be cleansed. Become a new creature in Christ. He will help you overcome your sexual immorality. He will take away your pride and selfishness, IF you turn from your sins and surrender your life to Him. Do this today and be saved.
(This message was lifted up at Pridefest 2015 in downtown Springfield, MO on June 20, 2015)