| Skeleton sermon — add your own meat and SUCH |
A Man Called Such
by Brother Johnny Campbell
Now you know the story that the Gibeonites had tried to deceive the Israelites, and they got caught. So, Joshua had a job for the men to do that had always been a woman’s job.
Please turn with me to Joshua chapter nine and lets look at two verses. (21, 27)
| Joshua 9:21 And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. Joshua 9:27 And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose. |
Notice. Drawers of water. That’s a woman’s job. This was to humiliate the Gibeonites! These men carrying water would stand out like John Wayne acting in a dress, or President Bush doing a State of the Union Address with his favorite tutu on. Boy, would they stand out! Everybody would point and giggle!
Please turn to the Luke 22:1
Now this is Holy Ground! This is Christ’s last night on planet earth. This chapter is so important that John’s Gospel took four chapters to tell about. Chapters 3-17!
Notice that Satan entered into Judas, the slimy, slithery, slime ball, snake to betray Jesus Christ! Remember; the crowd that wanted Christ dead didn’t even know what he looked like. That’s why Judas said he would betray him with a kiss so they would know who to arrest.
Jesus begins to tell his disciples to prepare a place for Him to have the last supper with them for the Passover. In verse eight, Jesus sends Peter and John. Now, in verse nine, notice the question mark; Where wilt thou? What’s the address? Or, what’s his name? How do we find this man to know where to have this last supper? Remember, Judas is there listening, taking in all the information to betray Christ. All he needs is the address, or the mans name, then he would snitch, and there never would have been a Gethsemane.
Now, Jesus knows Judas is there listening, ready to strike! Like the serpent that he is, waiting for this man’s name or address.
But, our Lord did something different. He never told his name or address. But, says in verses ten – twelve, “look for a man doing woman’s work, carrying water. He will have a water pot on his head.” Jesus is saying, “I am not going to give you his name or address.
But look for a man with a water pot on his head.” He would stand out like a sore thumb, like a Catholic Priest trying to act straight!
Now, this man’s name not being mentioned could have driven me crazy! WHO is this man?
He was a friend of Christ, but his name was hidden because of Judas. Jesus protected his friend by not giving his name or address. Now, this man’s name not being mentioned could have driven me crazy
I went to my Strong’s Concordance first. Number 1170 says no need to mention his name, What? What? No need to mention his name?
Then, A.T. Robertson’s Word Study says he was a man called “Mr. X.” What? what then? I called college after college. They had no idea! It was eating me alive about who this man with the water pot is or what his name was! Why is his name being hidden? Somebody help me! Months passed by. Nobody could help me! No commentary! Now,
Ivor Powell had more than anybody, But, still, no name!
I know that God will not withhold anything from his Child, so I found him in Matthew 26. I found out that he is kin to me, and he is kin to you also! Read these two verses of the same story of the Last Supper of that night that Christ was betrayed.
| Matthew 26:17-18 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying unto him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover? And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples. |
Look! Jesus said to go into the city, and you will find a man called SUCH. Look, SUCH A Man! There is the name, right there! A man called SUCH! That’s his name; SUCH! I got him!
Now, let’s find him in the Bible. Let’s look for such.
I Found Out That
I found out that old SUCH was a SINNER – First Corinthians 6:9-11
| 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 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, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. 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. |
Look at verse 11.
“and SUCH were some of you.” So, now I see that Such was a sinner. And so are we. All have sinned. So, we are kin to Such, through Adam, None good, no not one! Amen!
I found out that old SUCH was SENTENCED to die – John 8:5
| John 8:5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? |
Now, Moses and the law commanded us that SUCH should be stoned.
Not only did we learn that such was a sinner, but now that old Such should die! Hey! We are all sinners and deserve to die! The Law of Moses condemned us all to die. But, we settled out of court! Amen! Amen!
I found out that old SUCH got SAVED – Acts 2:47
| Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. |
Oh, Such was a sinner, and was sentenced to die, but old Such got saved!
See there. Old Such is now registered with the saved! Glory, Glory, Glory!
He was in a Church that was Praising GOD. Ninety nine percent of Christians say, “What’s that, praising GOD?” When you get to Heaven, GOD will have to put you in a beginners class because you haven’t done it here, you hound! You belong to those old, cold, dead, ice box churches, with Jack Frost as the pastor. God help your backslidden heart!
Now, just how did he get saved (now this isn’t for the Hyles boys) – Acts 2:38
| Acts 2:38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. |
The first word says REPENT. Oh, I know that you don’t believe that a man has to REPENT, but it’s still Bible! Not just “believe,” stupid! The devil believes, but he isn’t saved! Nowadays all this crowd that doesn’t believe in repenting believe in is baseball, buses, and bubblegum.4,000 saved a year, and have a membership of 25. What a joke!
I found out that old SUCH finds out he is a WORSHIPER – John 4:23-24
| John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. |
The Father seeketh who? SUCH! SUCH, to what? Worship!
Old Such was a sinner, was sentenced to die, then old Such Got saved! Now GOD, according to verse 23, is looking for SUCH to worship him! Do I hear an Amen? A Glory to God? How about a Shout? A jump? Well, turn a cartwheel! Do something beside sitting there! Hey! God is looking to not only save you, but to do what man was created for: WORSHIP!
I found out that old SUCH, sad to say, BACKSLID – Galatians 5:19-21
| Galatians 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. |
Notice the seventeen works of the flesh. Now, I don’t know what sins that Such got involved in. But, I do know that he is mentioned in verse 21. I do know, however, that Such belonged to a good Church
Look at Galatians 6:1
| Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. |
Brethren, if you’re SPIRITUAL, you will go after SUCH. Oh, I wish I had the space to preach just here for about 0ne hour! The Baptist Pharisees have run off and hurt more people on this Earth, than Bin Laden ever has! These “Taliban Baptists” have got to go!
(6)I found out that old SUCH backslid, but NEVER LOST HIS SALVATION – Revelation 20:5-6
| Revelation 20:5-6 But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. |
Did you hear what I said? Never lost it! Look, the second death has no power over SUCH! He IS still saved, though he backslid! Born once, die twice! Born twice, die once!
I found out that old SUCH will be LEAVING this WORLD REALLY SOON – 2 Corinthians 12:2
| 2 Corinthians 12:2 I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven. |
Now, old Such was a sinner, was sentenced to die, got saved, became a worshiper, then, like all of us, backslid, but never lost his salvation. Now I find that old such is like us. He’ll be leaving this world really soon!.
Who is caught up into the third Heaven? Old SUCH, that’s who!
That’s the whole Christian experience in A MAN CALLED SUCH.
The last time I found old Such, I remembered that man was a sinner, sentenced to die, got saved, became a worshiper, got cold in his experience, belonged to a good Church, who went, found old Such, and restored him to fellowship. But, even though he backslid, he never lost his salvation! Lastly, the SECOND DEATH has no power over him! Then one day, he is caught up into the Third Heaven! That’s where GOD lives, and so will you and I, if we learn the lesson of A MAN CALLED SUCH.
The Bible says, in Philippians 2:29, that Such had a good reputation. What about you? I know most preachers want the reputation, but don’t, because of how many they have hurt in their ministry. God help us!
The old song says, “Christ died for SUCH a worm as I.” You can read my testimony. I was SUCH a sinner!
Check this out: Old Such has a sister called MUCH…
Please contact me. I can deliver this message in it’ entirety to your congregation, as I have all over the country. It is also available in audio.