ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW, THREE TO GET READY, AND FOUR TO GO

ONE FOR THE MONEY, TWO FOR THE SHOW,
THREE TO GET READY, AND FOUR TO GO

By Brother Johnny Campbell

One For The Money (Luke 18:18-25) The Rich Young Ruler

And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
- Luke 18:18-25

There are some sure things that will sink a Preacher: Money, Maidens, and Modernism!

But, sad to say, it's not just the CRAZYMATICS, but I personally know preachers where the only reason they preach is so they don't have to punch a time clock, or get their hands dirty. The Church will be financially scraped, but they will drain every dime of God's money just to support their lazy back ends. They ask their people to sacrifice. but that's not for them! Sorry hound....

Two For The Show (Acts 5:1-10) Ananias And Sapphira

But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles' feet. But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things. And the young men arose, wound him up, and carried him out, and buried him. And it was about the space of three hours after, when his wife, not knowing what was done, came in. And Peter answered unto her, Tell me whether ye sold the land for so much? And she said, Yea, for so much. Then Peter said unto her, How is it that ye have agreed together to tempt the Spirit of the Lord? behold, the feet of them which have buried thy husband are at the door, and shall carry thee out. Then fell she down straightway at his feet, and yielded up the ghost: and the young men came in, and found her dead, and, carrying her forth, buried her by her husband. - Acts 5:1-10

Yes, they are still in the Church today! Show-offs and braggers. "Oh yea, Preacher, we will give so much," and lying all the time. In Mathew 6:2 some hypocrites had trumpet players blow when they gave money. I know of some now that blow over a dollar, so all would know they gave a dime.

Three To Get Ready (Luke 14:15-24) Three Invitations, Three Excuses

And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused. And another said, I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come. So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind. And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled. For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper. - Luke 14:15-24

Notice, a supper was made and the invitation given to these three to make ready for a big supper. But, look at the three excuses:

I have bought a piece of ground Now, you know a man would not buy land sight unseen. There is lie number one.

I have bought five yoke of oxen That's like ten John Deere tractors. Now, he says "I gotta go try them out." There's lie number two.

I have married a wife Lie number three. Boy, there's nothing no worse on God's earth than a hen-pecked, sissified man! "Mommy wont let me visit with Pastor. I gotta baby-sit while Mommy's at Weight Watchers." Believe me. God will never ever use a hen-pecked man. Now. I know a lot of Preachers that use the fifteen qualifications for a Pastor, but they NEVER use 1 Timothy 3:4: "...one that RULETH well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity." I see this a lot. Pastors are paid a salary (by the church) to baby-sit their own kids while the wife runs the roads all day long. I know lots of time I'm in Revival meetings. and the pastor can't go out for lunch, or go visiting, because he is baby-sitting for the wife. But, his salary goes right on. To me that's an expensive baby-sitter! They are using God's money to do it with!

Four To Go (Mark 2: 1-5) Four Dedicated Workers

And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. - Mark 2:1-5

Now, these are my kind of people. They will tear the roof off to get sinners to Jesus! These four got this one ready to go to Heaven, by getting him to Jesus!

GLORY, GLORY, GLORY!!!