The Righteous — Robert B. Thompson

You tonight is with great praise and Thanksgiving or the many many times Lord that you have Helped us and guided us and delivered us Lord. It's a wonderful, and we do praise you and we appreciate your goodness to us Lord.

Especially in the details of our lives the day-to-day problems Lord you help us. The Lord we pray tonight for those in our church are having problems just at this time and the Lord we pray you will clarify.

Lift them up give them wisdom and blessing and deliverance. Lord from every problem. We just look to you you're a great God and so very kind to us Lord. We thank you for your goodness remember and keen of tonight.

Especially Lord it you'll be with her right at this time Lord to give her great grace and peace and your presence Lord in A wonderful way we thank you Lord now help us tonight, Lord. And we'll do just what say what we're supposed to in Jesus name.

Psalm 34 and the Righteous Life

I Felt tonight as I prayed we should continue in Psalm 34. Where I think it's starting tonight in verse 16 of Psalm 34 16 I mean these are just kind of general excitations to righteousness, but there's promises along with them the face of the Lord.

As against those who do evil to cut off the memory of them from the earth. We're seeing so much Evil in America so many things. I think all these people are winning what they're lying and they're stealing and the things they're doing but they're not and God you know it comes to me more all the time that Religion it gets in the way of what God wants the Jewish religions like that the Christian religions like that so we end up instead of Doing what God wants which is to be righteous to be truthful.

To be upright honorable kind and merciful we end up with our religion. And I'll tell you we've made Christ out to be a fire escape. In a fire escape the idea is except Christ, and you won't go to hell.

That's not the gospel. That's not the gospel in fact of course there is a hell. There is a heaven. I understand I understand that well. We know the rich man was in hell. But he wasn't he wasn't in hell because he rejected Christ.

Why was the rich man in hell? Yes in the law under which he was living the Old Testament law. Convince people to be merciful to the poor. That's why I was in hell. He wasn't in hell because he didn't do the religion.

He was in hell because He was stingy, and you know that's one of the greatest mistakes in Christian thinking is we think that What God is after cry. In other words except Christ, and you won't go to hell you know how many know that the Apostle Paul and all the epistles.

They wrote never used the word hell once. I'll tell you another thing that never in the Bible. One time once you know is Christ ever presented as As the escape from hell never. I know that's what we preach.

And it's not scriptural, and I'll tell you why because it gives people the impression that The way you get to heaven is by accepting Christ. And that's that's not in the Bible either. Huh people ought to read their Bible sometimes the hell is for the wicked whether you're a Christian or not is for the wicked and the purpose of accepting Christ Is so he can forgive us our past sins and then help us to live, right?

Repentance, Forgiveness, and Changed Conduct

And if we don't live, right? We're going to go to hell. The Bible says The face of the Lord is against those who do evil. Now accepting Christ does not change that. What it does is when some guy comes to the Lord, and it may be he's lived a rotten life he has.

Maybe You know left his wife or a younger woman, or he's been a liar a thief or Cruel and to get ahead he has hurt people and so on he's been he's seen the poor on him. He hasn't helped him. He's unmerciful.

He maybe has employees, and he doesn't Treat them right doesn't pay them enough. This these are things that God detests. Okay, so there's let's say there's a guy like that and it comes to Jesus. He said Lord.

He gets convicted about his sin, and maybe he's got a heart attack or something he feels well. You know I'm a short-term around here, and I want to make my peace with God so He comes to Christ and Christ forgives his sins he accepts the blood atonement and Christ forgives his sins, so it's just as though he never sinned.

I mean the Lord has that kind of power. Does all the man ever said he's got that kind of power the past is gone. It's under the blood he doesn't have to prove anything he casts himself on God. And says Lord be merciful to me a sinner.

That's the gospel. That's right and the purpose is not Primarily to escape hell although that's part of it, but it's to please God. Let's please God. And I do what's right. You know you did what was wrong and so You do this to please God.

Not that there's a play some games so that you won't be punished for what you've done. I mean repentance includes the idea that I really feel wrong about what I've done. I feel wrong about what I've done and Sometimes when you come to the Lord the Lord has you do restitution.

Do you go back and not always but sometimes? And by the Lord's help you go, and you make things right, maybe you go and tell somebody you're sorry. The way you treated them maybe you Come to your children and say I'm sorry I let you down.

You know I know I left you when you know I ran off and left your mother and left you poor and everything. And now you're grown up your mother's dead and in. And I'm getting old and I'm up there, and I'm sorry for what I've done.

And that's why you come to God. It's because you've done the wrong thing. Not a fire escape. It's not fire insurance. It's life insurance, but it's not fire insurance. But this is where Christianity has missed the mark.

They think okay. It's what you do after that. That makes the difference. Okay, you come and God washes away your sins. All men are the same size at the foot of the cross and God washes away your sins.

Well. What do you do after that? Well, you start reading your Bible and praying and finding out how you're supposed to live. You don't presume on God's goodness, and he helps you he not only forgives you.

But he helps you to be a better person to tell the truth to be honest to work with your own hands. And be quiet and do your business. God helps you. He helps you to change what you're sowing so that what you reap is what you want to reap.

You can't sow sin and reap life so today I Think more often than not. People are presuming on God's goodness on the blood of the cross. They say well, I know I shouldn't do this, but I'll do it and then God will forgive me.

Try that a few times and you're a short-termer you can't play games with God. He's too good. He always wins the game. God is loving. God is merciful but you go presuming on that goodness and that mercy and on the blood of his son and You're in trouble.

I mean make no mistake. Hell is real and it's for the wicked and God did not give us Jesus Christ as a way of Living wickedly and escaping hell and that's the impression that church people have. I know I've been around a long time.

And I know that's what they're thinking in their mind. Well, I know I'm not doing right, but good old Jesus doesn't work that way. It doesn't work that way these these words from Psalms 34 are the promises are good today and The stipulations are good today.

The First Offender Illustration

You know what? It's like it's like a man I've never went out as a boy in in New Haven and West End actually Sheriff Slavin was the high sheriff of New Haven and he started a program called first offender.

And oh, this is many many years ago. We're talking 68 years ago and He started this program called first offender and the idea wasn't let's say a young guy Did something never done anything wrong in his life, but maybe went out and he stole a car.

Or he did something like that and he was caught and he was arrested but his past had been perfect and Sheriff Slavin Wanted a program so that that guy Could learn his lesson. Put the fear of God in him and go out and make the rest of his life.

Okay, and the past would not be dragging around his neck. So everywhere he went he had this record. It's called first offender. Expunger record we've got give the young fella a clean start a wonderful compassionate thing by Sheriff Slavin of New Haven and.

But you see if you have a progress that's kind of like Christianity. That's kind of the way the gospel is. But then let's say this boy stole a car. And he's the kid is 16 and he comes before the judge and the judge has mercy on him.

He turns it over to Sheriff Slavin to put him in the first offender program. We'll just wipe it out give this boy. A fresh start, okay. Wonderful, but let us say that the following week. He steals a car again.

Hey. Now you're not talking about a first offender. You're talking about somebody that you've got to get a little more serious. So maybe the judge says well, he's been open up brought up his father left him.

He's only got his mother the poor kid. What we'll do is we'll put him on probation for two years. A son by all that's holy you better shave off. Get him out of here for I changed my mind. Two weeks later steals another car he comes before the judge here in County next.

Next I'm gonna see what I'm saying. Well, it's that way with God. You don't Figure that he's gonna be a first offender every time you come, but that's what Christian people do and they don't shape up.

And as or as a result. Our religion our Christian religion has got a bad name because people say they're full of hypocrites the churches are full of hypocrites and. Actually, we're no worse than the people in the world they're not doing any better.

They're not doing any better, but you see they expect more from us because we go to church they're doing the same thing. They know it. You want to find out how a Christian should live. Don't ask another Christian because they'll talk to you about grace.

Ask an unsaved person. Go in a bar go down a skid row sitting up. Stool next to somebody there and say how do you think a Christian should live? They'll tell you He shouldn't be here. That's right. He should be a decent person.

Do you tell the truth, but they're all hypocrites. I had a boss once and he is a Christian fine Christian. He cheated me all the time. He cheated on the job. You did cheated on his specters around him all the time.

Didn't pay the help who needs it. Pass the wine. Yeah, tell me I've I Haven't been a wino, but I've done enough with drunks to know how they do and how they think. And a skid row in LA. They know they know what's right.

Letting the Light Shine Through Good Works

And that's why Jesus said let your light so shine before men. That they may see your good work and instead of that we go out and give them the four steps of salvation. Now is it time to do that if God gives you a ministry of personal work.

And you've got that ministry, and you've got that burden, and that's the thing to do. What the world is. I mean there's been so much gospel preached in the United States of America. That man has got the world saved five times over, but the people don't.

Serve God they don't it doesn't make the Liar tell the truth. He goes to church and lies in church. He does the four steps of salvation, and he keeps on lying well. It's no good and God is through with it, and he's sick of it in our nation's ready for judgment because of it.

Yes, sir. Our nation's ready of judgment because of that very thing the Jews did the same thing when Jesus told about he says here you're tithing on your herbs. You know your tea leaves out and divide them up so as you can give a tenth of the church and he says you omit judgment mercy and faith and You say to your son if you say Corban which means that whatever service you might have expected from me mother and dad I'm giving it to the temple.

And he doesn't have to help his father and mother anymore because of this thing called Corban and Jesus brought up sure about it so the Jews Substituted religion for what God wants which is honesty and mercy and The Christian Church has done this precise same thing so there's nothing like religion to ruin your character.

The truth hey Sandra. That's good preaching. That's right now we smoked out Sandra the face of the Lord is Against those who do evil and accepting Christ doesn't change that. Accepting Christ gives the first offender program it gives you a Chance to get your back together, and then he helps you he gives you his Holy Spirit.

And he helps you gives you the church gives you the elder to help you to do what to quit doing evil. What is evil? Like I said being unmerciful cheating the help. James talks about that says won't you rich man?

Because the cries of the laborers have come in your ears. He said your riches are going to turn into cancer. So James said yeah, he says the cries of the laborers that you've defrauded have come into the ears of the Lord of Hosts.

Compassion for Laborers and the Poor

I Remember one time. I was in a place now is this lady. She is a school principal and I was directing student teachers what it was and This lady had a beef about the Mexican laborers. You know they're out there, and they expect to get so much money in there, and I looked at her.

I Looked at that lady, and I thought you never pick cucumbers in the heat I have. I know what that's like nine hours a day down the lob Meyers farm in Chula Vista picking green beans picking cucumbers.

Hoe and corn man you're back in there. Let's burn black then look at this thing sitting in a desk talking about the Mexicans. It's a wonder. I didn't say something, but I was representing the university as a You know supervising student teachers.

I kept my mouth shut, but I thought lady you want to go out there sometime. Get on your knees and go around and pick cucumbers. See how you like it in the Sun all day. People are like that they're on they're unmerciful, but hallelujah.

The Temporary Triumph of Wicked Rulers

There's something better. All right. The face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off the memory of them from the earth. Always makes me think of Hitler because I was a boy when he was going so strong.

And I'll tell you he had his pocket battleships. And he had his luftwaffe, and he had all these things going. I swear it looked like he was going to win the war you know he came within an inch of Conquering Britain he Britain England water, and I were over there a few months ago as you know and we have been There you can still see the results of the war.

They're still living it. They're still living Dunkirk over there. I mean, they're still rehearsing it and rehearsing it and they have museums where you go and you go through the castle where they are they Commanded where the vice-admiral commanded the evacuation of Dunkirk.

You know they evacuated over 300 ,000 men practically the entire British army and they got down where there was seven days food left in England and They were not able To defend themselves as hit that Hitler crossed the channel in the meanwhile Hitler had command of the French coast because he came down on a pincer movement Wiped out the French army and nearly wiped out the English army.

He did they lost 10 ,000 men crossing the channel just from the mess that was there. But they saved the British expeditionary force three over 300 ,000 men. But they were equipped and they knew it and Hitler was Massing his forces on the French border ready to cross the channel and the English knew they were going to fight street-by-street because all they had was What the men that they had that it didn't have enough food didn't have enough weapons at a home guard and some of them had old rifles and some of them had spikes, you know, and they're gonna hold they're gonna Defend England street-by-street, but Hitler had them.

He had them. He come with an ace of Wiping out England. Hitler did he was going strong and something happened. There wasn't anything anybody did and it was a God evidently Decided to save England and give it another go and I don't think he'd do it again now the shape they're in now morally but he did and Hitler decided he was going to invade Russia and he changed his mind and he backed off and went off in another direction and gave England a chance to regroup and then Hitler and then Churchill did a few little tricks and so did FDR Behind the back of the American people and got America into the war on England's side.

There's a lot of shenanigans went on there between Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt but anyway, I finally threw America into the war and so then. Then they managed to smash the Axis powers. I thought of that many times when I was a boy.

It looked like Hitler was going to win. But it's just like it says to cut off the memory of them from the earth. I remember after the war they couldn't find Hitler. They couldn't even find his body. I think they finally identified somebody from dental records.

But how totally you know one moment he's it looks like he's going to do what Napoleon couldn't do which was conquer the whole world England and then then he'd have Europe then eventually be after the United States and Then all of a sudden they can't find him.

So God's word holds true and all the wicked we see today. They're boasting themselves and they're gonna do this and they're gonna do that and China and Russia and Iraq and Iran and all the rest of them.

God may use them to punish us for our sins. But the wicked will never finally win. Never. That's what it's telling us. Don't worry about the wicked just you act righteous and God will take care of the wicked.

There's nothing going to change that and I've lived long enough to see it. Praise the Lord, there's an old saying maybe you've heard it. Time wounds all heals. That's true. All right. The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them.

Worthiness, Perseverance, and Answered Prayer

Now we think well the Lord hears us because we're nice. The Lord hears you when you're doing what you're supposed to and I talked about that Sunday. You want God to save your family. Live righteously?

Live righteously. Just being a churchy religious isn't going to do it. You live righteously and the Lord will hear you when you pray. Yeah, we've said we've gone so overboard on the grace thing. There's a saying that no one's worthy, but Christ, you know about five times in the New Testament.

It commends us to be worthy. Did you know that walk worthy of the kingdom. Walk worthy of your calling? But you may be counted worthy of the kingdom. Second Thessalonians the first chapter you say well I'm not worthy.

Christ is worthy. I know Christ is worthy and more worthy than any of us. But he wants you when you when he saves you and heals you and forgives your sins. Then he wants you to start acting in a way that makes him proud.

Oh I'm a sinner. I can't help myself. You most certainly can. Straighten up as a Paul said in 1st Corinthians 15. I'll wait to righteousness and quit your sinning. Absolutely. Absolutely, and that's good preaching to say amen.

And a minute the righteous cry out. And you mumble something if you want something from God cry out. Let the Lord know what it is. Say Lord, I need help. Then he'll hear you come down and see what the commotion is.

Blow the trumpet in his ear. Yeah, we'll do a little number on your harmonica. Let God know you need help. That's Persuaded and if you're living it God, I'll hear you it'll send help from the sanctuary boy.

And can he help the righteous cry out. The Lord hears them and he delivers them from almost all their troubles. Praise the Lord. Is that right Jonathan? What does it say up there? And he hears them and delivers them from what what does it say all like this powdered soap?

All all their troubles. Larry you got any troubles. All their troubles. Tony you got any troubles. All their troubles. I know brother big doesn't have any his righteous all their troubles. Let's stand on.

It's just as true as John 3 16. You know what the Lord loves optimism. And you know we get banged in the head so much in life. And there's one trouble you go from trouble the trouble it seems instead of from grace to grace you go from trouble the trouble trouble the trouble.

And it can make you pessimistic. Pretty soon you read that verse. Well. He really he delivers you from quite a few of them. That makes it pessimistic. Listen. Hang in there. When God says all he doesn't mean pretty near all.

He means all keep your optimism up there. The reason you're having the trouble you have is because God is shaping your Personality and if he didn't give you trouble you wouldn't pray. You get so foolish nobody could stand you you get giddy.

When you get trouble the purpose of it is is so God can hear your little voice chirping. It's to make you pray. But the promise is all so you keep your optimism here. I am 74 and I'm optimistic and I've got kicked in the head so many times.

It's pitiful. They wear out their shoes kicking me in the head, and I'm still optimistic. Yes, sir, because I know. Eventually, I'm not gonna have any trouble. Wasn't today, but tomorrow. Because it isn't true.

John 3 16 isn't true, and I'm hanging in there. Yes, sir. I'm getting younger every day the Lord He delivers them from all their trouble and then marvelous whoa what a promise better than money in the bank.

Comfort for the Brokenhearted

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and Saves those who are crushed in the spirit. There's a good verse on that in Matthew 5 verse 4 and the archangel up there in the sound booth will get us. Matthew 5 4 maybe you never noticed this.

Maybe you lose this. Blessed are those who? Mourn now. Isn't that interesting? That that's that's a part of God's personality is to bring down the high and pull up below. He just enjoys doing that. And I think King David knew that and that's why as rich as he was and my goodness the man was a billionaire as Rich as David.

King David was he come to the Lord and say this poor man this poor man cried. The Lord heard him in other places says the rich he sent empty away. Blessed are those who mourn. And somewhere in Ecclesiastes says it's better to be in the house of the dead than at a party, you know.

It's a good idea when you see people that are mourning. Then carry on worse than them that will make them feel better. If there's anything that kills people when they're feeling bad. It's for you to go around with a big grin on your face telling them that if they had faith, they'd be all better.

They feel like kicking you out of the house. You want to make people feel better then get down lower than where they are. Hey boy, by the time you get through they'll be so busy trying to make you feel better.

They'll feel better themselves. And God will hear you when you come to God with a broken heart and a crushed spirit. He hears you said I don't want to like that. He'll cheer you up. Blessed are Those who mourn.

No other reason to be comforted other than that you're mourning. He just loves to do that. So if you're down tonight to where you have to look up to see the bottom. You're a real good candidate to be cheered up.

Amen, that's the sermon on the mount boy. That's one of the big ones. You know, that wasn't Jesus speaking. I only knew that. You know that did you it's the father. Because Jesus said the words that I speak unto you.

I do not speak of myself the father who Sent me. He does the works that that's the word of God Almighty. That's your creator talking to you. Blessed are those who mourn says the father. Well, they shall be comforted and back in Psalm 34 the Lord is close to the broken heart.

Saves those who are crushed in spirit. It kind of reminds you of the ninety and nine doesn't it here? You've got ninety and nine little woolies Grazing and you've got one that's out hanging over the cliff and the shepherd leaves the ninety and nine and goes After the one that's a strike.

That's God's way. The rich he sends empty away. If you don't need anything God says well, I'll go pay attention to somebody who does a Righteous man may have many troubles. Amen. Being righteous doesn't mean you won't have trouble.

I'm here to tell you You've had trouble. Many of the afflictions of the righteous the King James says the same verse. But again, we have it the Lord delivers him from them all. We had a situation that arose this afternoon a telephone call From a relative and it seemed like just another mess.

I Said Oh Lord, I just praise you. I know you're gonna bring this out. Why an hour later was all solved. That's me. It's amazing. So way if instead of getting frantic and Cursing people you just go to the Lord.

He's got ways of working these things up. Yeah, where's the problem what's over. I don't know it's going so don't forget to pray. He protects all his bones. Not one of them will be broken and I want to show you a peculiar thing here That gives you some real insight into the Bible if you look at.

No, where is it? Where is that one? Those are it was here. Yes, it's John 1936. John 1936 only show you something unusual here and to give you insight into something that went on in the life of Jesus.

Now here's a verse in Psalms 34 Psalm Verse 20 he protects all his bones. Not one of them will be broken. Don't look up here and Verse 36 these things happen now what it's talking about is that Christ died before the other two men.

There's a thief on each side and he died quickly wasn't worn out. He'd been up all night in Pilate's Hall. It was exhausted. Beat down. He died the two thieves Lived and so it was the eve of the Sabbath Friday night so The they wanted to take down the crosses.

Because they didn't want him up on the Sabbath day. So what the soldiers did they came along and they broke the legs of? One thief and they broke the legs of the other because they're going to take him down.

They don't want to take them run off. So they broke their legs. I mean things were rough in those days when they came to Jesus. He was already dead. And pilot marvels. He's already dead. He already died and so.

These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled. Scripture in the 34 son. Not one of his bones will be broken. Now, what does that tell us? We know that many a righteous person. Good Christian has got a broken leg skating or something.

It isn't here. So it tells us that the scripture is written first to Christ that's written first to him. The promises In Psalms and in other places are first to Jesus and there to us only as we are co-heirs with Christ.

They are written about Jesus and when Jesus was a boy, you remember he was in the temple. He was 12 years old and he was reasoning with the doctors of the law. Some of these men 60 years old studied the Bible all their life.

And here's a 12 year old boy in there asking them questions. Teaching them from the scripture and the reason is because the scriptures written about him. And that's why they couldn't break his legs on the cross.

Because of the 34 son because Christ is righteous. And so it had to be fulfilled. Isn't that something? Do you ever think of Jesus reading the scripture and a burning in him as he realized and then reading about that?

He was going to be crucified for our sins and beaten for our healing and so on and realizing them. But that's going to happen to me. That's going to happen to me. That's the way that man lived. He was a hero.

Terrorism is strong courageous. Okay, are we with us? Evil. Will slay the wicked. The things they do will kill them. You think about homosexuality, you know. Gay people are no worse than anybody else.

You know, it's a sin. It's condemned in the Old Testament is condemned in the new. Both of them say that Homosexuality is worthy of death both the Romans the first chapter and then in the law and Leviticus.

Homosexual man lies with man is with a woman as you don't even put him to death in the New Testament. Romans chapter 1. Paul says that Speaking of a homosexuality and other things as those who do such things are worthy of death.

Well, we know their sinner is just like anybody else no better and no worse. They're not any worse than some of the gossips about his brother. It says in Romans 1 the gossip is worthy of death. So we're not singling out homosexuals for judgment because they're no worse no better than any other sinner, but.

Sin, Bodily Consequences, and Moral Conduct

Their sin destroys them their sin destroys. Oh, you hate to see a poor devil. He's 35 years old dying of AIDS. You know, that's not a good way to go. And the same thing is true of any sexual promiscuity.

It used to be herpes general herpes and before that it was gonorrhea and a whole bunch of other stuff. Syphilis. Wasn't a big one. I mean people went blind from syphilis. Before they had penicillin people went insane from syphilis.

One of the great composers I can't remember his name, but he he went blind from. It wasn't the one you know, he's a composer of symphonies, but not as well known as most of them. I can't recall his name but He contracted syphilis was common before they were able to treat it.

It did in a lot of men in the English Navy, I mean there's not much they could do about it. I didn't pick it up when they visited the islands and Polynesia and so on. It's a terrible thing terrible price to pay.

For a few moments of passion now with modern medicine, they've got them almost all controlled. Herpes can be controlled. They cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Some of them can be cured except AIDS and AIDS keeps Mutating and mutating and mutating and now we've got another one.

We've got. What's this liver one? Hepatitis B and so on it's transmitted through bodily Fluids and it's supposed to be fatal if you don't catch it and it's common. I mean, this is woes, discourage, but AIDS is wiping out people in Africa by the millions by the millions.

Well, even abusing your body by smoking. You pay the price. Pipe smoking, cancer of the lip, cancer of the tongue. Cancer of the tongue, that's something to avoid at all costs because your tongue swells up in your mouth and then you can't talk.

Terrible thing, you know, if you've ever had a canker sore on your tongue. How worrisome it is. Imagine cancer, you get that from pipe smoking. So God's smoking all of them. Because God is, as they used to say, if God wanted you to smoke, he'd create a chimney in your head.

God didn't mean for it to be, you can't picture Jesus Christ smoking, you know. And it defiles the temple, but it's like it says, evil slays the wicked. I mean you die from this. That's so big a killer.

Smoking is, we've got all this suing the Tobacco companies, all because of the disease. It's a killer. Booze. How many people have died from booze or killed others with it? So anytime you're off on these, and doing things like this, the evil itself.

The evil has the potential to harm you. To harm you, evil slays the wicked. The foes of the righteous Will be condemned. When you are Living a righteous life. People will attack you. But they will be condemned.

One way or another Judgment will come down on them, either from God or from other people now. They will attack the righteous. Now, there's a famous Foursquare evangelist, Leslie Kegel. Well, he's a big wheel over in Sri Lanka.

And he has a gift of miracles and healing and so on, and we've heard Leslie preach. Well, we just got an email, Foursquare got an email from him. A Buddhist Buddhist lady. Came to him with cancer of the uterus.

And he prayed for her, and she was healed. And now her husband's getting out a contract on his life. And her husband has contact with the underworld, and he knows it. So the Foursquare is asking prayer for him, but you see what he did was a righteous thing.

I mean he healed this lady. You can imagine the joy of the lady. Cancer of the uterus, and imagine her joy, and her husband's response is to try to kill this guy. But he'll be condemned. You go after the righteous.

Righteousness, Persecution, and God's Redemption

And eventually it will catch up with you one way or another. It will catch up with you. You live a righteous life. You can be religious until you're carrying around a cassette in every pocket. And you won't be bothered too much, but you turn away from evil.

And you'll be persecuted either on the job or by church people or by your relatives because you're not carousing like them. You turn away from evil, and you will be persecuted. The Bible says he that departs from evil makes himself a prey that is P-r-e-y is a prey of the vicious.