Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening, Feb. 25, 2001, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.

LET’S GO OUTSIDE THE CAMP

By Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, Georgia

Scripture Reading: Hebrews 13:7-17

Text: Hebrews 13:13

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

Introduction: I want to warn you ahead of time. This message is going to be preached in two parts. Jesus is WITHOUT, or OUTSIDE, the camp. If you Sunday morning Christians ever want to grow in the Lord like you SHOULD, you NEED to come back tonight and hearthe rest of this message.

The expression, “without the camp,” occurs 22 times in the word of God. Outside the camp was a place of reproach, according to our text.

Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.

The word, “reproach,” means blame, rebuke, disgrace or shame. Outside the camp is a place of shame, but that is where Jesus is. If we are going to “go forth therefore unto HIM” we MUST go, according to the verse, “without the camp.” Jesus was reproached and slandered. He was not respected by the public.

I believe one of the curses of Christianity today is the desire to have a “respectable Christianity.”

Too many preachers want to be thought of as businessmen. We are not businessmen of this world; we are men of God!

By the way, based on what the Bible says about him, what do you think would be the subject of a “devotion” brought by John the Baptist if he had been invited to the White House during Bill Clinton’s administration? I believe he would have preached against fornication, adultery, lying, stealing, and murder!

Too many churches want their Christian schools to be highly respected by this world. That’s why they seek some sort of “accreditation.”

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

Do you remember the story of Abraham and his nephew, Lot? Abraham had fellowship with God. He had the power of God upon his life. He was called “the friend of God.” On the other hand, Lot had fellowship with the men of Sodom. The Bible says that he looked toward Sodom. He then pitched his tent TOWARD Sodom. He finally moved INTO Sodom and ended up sitting in the gates of Sodom, which is a place where the elders of a land sit. You remember the story, too, and how it says that Lot lost everything dear to him.

Luke 16:15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.

According to the above verse, anything that the world really respects and admires is something that God holds in disdain:

Large, ornate buildings – They will all burn up someday
Riches – God calls them “filthy lucre.” God uses gold for PAVEMENT in the New Jerusalem!
Intellect – Child prodigies are honored. I would rather honor someone who is saved and loves God even if he is a 50-year-old with the intellect of a FIVE-year-old!
Physical strength – The largest, strongest muscles of a man are his legs, and God is not impressed.
Psalms 147:10-11 He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man. 11 The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
Physical beauty – Miss America, etc. All the beauties grow old and die. The host who sang, “Here She Comes, Miss America,” got old and had to be replaced. All of this year’s candidates for Miss America will be candidates, in 75 years, for “Miss Dry as Dust Graveyard, USA.”
Proverbs 31:30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.

Outside the camp means that we are

Outside the RELIGIOUS camp. That’s why we won’t be participating in the Billy Graham crusade that’s coming to our city. Billy Graham for years has tried to pretend that Catholic churches, which teach lies about salvation, Mary, hell, the Pope, etc., are CHRISTIAN churches.
Outside the POLITICAL camp. I’m glad that Republicans are in the majority. I’m VERY glad that Bush is in the White House instead of Al Gore. However, I’m not a Republican; I’m a Christian.
Do you know that no major political party campaigns against liquor? The lottery? Union strikes?
Outside the SOCIAL or MONEY camp. Brethren, I want a church where the rich people and poor people can
- SIT together
- SING together
- SHOUT together
- SERVE God together!

Now for the message … I want to bring some thoughts on HOW to GET “outside the camp.”

In order to get outside the camp with Jesus

I. LET’S PREACH AN UNRESPECTABLE SALVATION

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

A. It’s too simple for some people

1. Man is not too BAD to be saved; he is too PROUD.
2. A person must humble himself and become as a little child in order to be saved.
3. We are attacked for preaching “easy believism.” I do not believe in easy believism; I believe in EFFORTLESS believism.

B. It’s too SURE for some people

1. God provides a KNOW-so salvation.
2. An old woman in Vidalia, Georgia told me that she did not know she would go to heaven if she died, but when I asked her if I could show her from scripture that she COULD know, she said, “I’m not sure that YOU know, either.”

C. It’s too SECURE for some people

1. I was witnessing to an old Church of God preacher years ago. He said, “If I believed what YOU believe, I wouldn’t have anything to worry about!”
2. Believers HAVE, present tense, ETERNAL life!
3. Once saved, ALWAYS saved!

A Bible salvation is never going to be respectable in this world. Worldlings will not respect it until they first get saved!

In order to get outside the camp with Jesus,

II. LET’S PROMOTE UNRESPECTABLE SCRIPTURES

Acts 26:24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad.

Some people don’t respect the old King James 1611 Authorized Version Bible because

A. Our Bible is different

1. It is different from the philosophies of our society.
2. According to the Bible, abortion is MURDER.
3. Sodomy, or homosexuality, is a wicked ABOMINATION.
4. Living together outside of marriage is ADULTERY or WHOREMONGERY.
5. An alcoholic is a DRUNKARD, not someone with a disease.
6. It is different from the new “perversions.” They all unite against it in a number of areas, where they pervert true doctrine … but that is another sermon.

B. Our Bible is dogmatic

1. It is the AUTHORIZED Version.
2. Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.
3. It is not my way or the highway at this church; it is the BIBLE way or the BROAD way, which Jesus said leads to DESTRUCTION!

C. Our Bible is divisive

1. It divides between God’s way and Satan’s way.
2. It divides between righteousness and unrighteousness.
3. It divides between salvation and religion.
4. It divides between obedience and disobedience.

Most people in this world don’t respect the word of God. If you want to go outside the camp to Jesus, go outside the camp with this Book! Love it, learn it, and live by it!

In order to get outside the camp with Jesus

III. LET’S PRACTICE AN UNRESPECTABLE SEPARATION

2 Corinthians 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

A. In appearance

1. Deuteronomy 22:5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
2. Men should wear pants and ladies should wear dresses.
3. The only places that breeches are mentioned in the Bible talk about MEN wearing them!
4. Guys, take out the earrings, take off the necklaces, and get rid of the lace on your underwear!
5. Ladies, get out of the jeans, put on a dress, and wear lace all over!
6. You say, “Preacher, can’t my wife wear pants for pajamas?” Sure she can. And you can wear her bra and panties for pajamas!
7. You say, “Preacher, I don’t like you talking like that!” If more preachers would tell it like it is in the church house, I believe we wouldn’t have had so much wickedness in the WHITE House, I believe.
8. Men should get haircuts and wear short hair! Get your hair cut off the ears and collar, and tapered in the back, fellows! Be soldiers for the Lord. Ladies should get their hair trimmed, styled, and wear long hair! The devil has gotten us fooled to the point that we have gotten this BACKWARDS in our society!
9. 1 Corinthians 11:14-15 Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him? 15 But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.
10. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

B. In activities

1. Don’t spend casual, idle time at places where Jesus is not welcome!
2. Don’t get involved in ANY activities that would cause you to miss even ONE church service!

C. In associations

1. Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.
2. Be choosy about who is going to be your COMPANIONS — among your COWORKERS among your NEIGHBORS among your CHURCH MEMBERS and yes, even among your RELATIVES
3. Your companions will make you or break you.

In order to get outside the camp with Jesus

IV. LET’S PERFORM SOME UNRESPECTABLE SOUL-WINNING

Acts 17:6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;

I’m talking about
PERSONAL soul-winning
PERSISTENT soul-winning
PASSIONATE soul-winning
POWERFUL soul-winning

“Outside the camp soul-winning”

A. Exposes sin

1. The first thing a person needs to know in order to be saved is that he is a sinner against God!
2. You don’t brag on people to get them into heaven. You tell them they are wicked!

B. Exalts the Savior

1. The gospel is about JESUS.
2. Our soul-winning must CENTER around THE GOSPEL. We should explain the gospel, but we must major on the gospel!
3. A man called me from New York last night. We talked for an hour (on his dime) about this very subject. He had read my book on “The Sinner’s Prayer” and was very disturbed about the perversion of the gospel in modern, “respectable” soul-winning.

C. Enrages society

1. The spirit of this world will applaud you if you feed the world, clothe the world, and comfort the world.
2. The spirit of this world will ATTACK you if you endeavor to CONFRONT the world, CONVICT the world, and CONVERT the world!

D. Expects success

1. Psalms 126:5-6 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. 6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
2. Respectable soul-winning is contented with only “sowing seed.”
3. If all you do is sow seed, and you never see anything come up and LIVE, you’re doing something wrong!!! Do some REAL soul-winning!