PICK A SIDE

MATTHEW 12:22-30

Pastor Rick Jackson

This is not some inconsequential choice. This is not picking who to root for in a football game and you really don’t care who wins. This is “put on your big boy pants” and choose a side. This is your eternal soul. Or if that is settled, this is a matter of loss or gain at the judgment seat of Christ. This is holy decisions that affect not only your eternity but the eternity of others as well.

 

This is Moses standing in the gate of the camp saying, “Who is on the Lord's side? let him come unto me.” {Ex. 32:26]

This is Joshua challenging Israel to serve God as he declares, “And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” {Joshua 24:15]

This is Elijah facing 450 false prophets and putting the question to Israel, “How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him.”  [1 Kings 18:21].

This is Jesus in our text explaining you can’t be for Him and for the Devil, “He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.”

It is not hyperbole to say it again my friends, PICK. A. SIDE.

 

I. PICK A SIDE KNOWING THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES:

1. It’s Christ & Salvation or None Other [Acts 4:12]

Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

2. It’s Light or Darkness [Col. 1:12-14]

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

3. It’s Heaven and Hell in the Balance [Rm. 6:23]

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

II. PICK A SIDE KNOWING THERE ARE EXPECTATIONS:

 

1. The Expectation to Serve Christ [Rm. 6:22]

But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

2. The Expectation to Show Forth Christ [1 Peter 2:9]

But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

3. The Expectation to Share Christ [Mt. 28:18-20]

And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

 

III. PICK A SIDE KNOWING THERE IS NO OTHER ALTERNATIVE:

There are no other alternatives because to not choose, to not pick a side, is in fact, picking a side. If you choose to not put out a fire you are in effect choosing to let the fire burn.

1. You must Pick a Side – Life or Death [Deuteronomy 30:19, Jer. 21:8]

-I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:

-And unto this people thou shalt say, Thus saith the Lord; Behold, I set before you the way of life, and the way of death.

2. You must Pick a Side – God or Satan [Mt. 4:8-10]

The devil taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them; And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me. Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

3. You must Pick a Side – Good or Evil [Proverbs 14:22, Amos 5:14-15, Rm. 12:9, 21; 3 Jn. 11]

-Do they not err that devise evil? but mercy and truth shall be to them that devise good.

-Seek good, and not evil, that ye may live: and so the Lord, the God of hosts, shall be with you, as ye have spoken.

-Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate: it may be that the Lord God of hosts will be gracious unto the remnant of Joseph.

- Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

-Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

- Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good