Wisdom Invites Us to the Truth

 Wisdom's Invitation

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 9

 Without a doubt, the Bible is the place to find "wisdom" and "understanding" of the things in our lives today and the things going on in this world.

 We can see much of God's wisdom in His creations, especially in the nighttime sky. However, we can also see the great wisdom of God in childbirth, new life, and all of His other creations.

He created humanity; we did not come from monkeys.

The theory of evolution is the doctrine of atheists!

 The Bible tells us that "wisdom" is the principal thing, or the most important thing, for understanding the things of this world and of course God's World to come.

 Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

The Bible says that without wisdom, we cannot even apply our hearts to understanding.

 The Bible tells us where to find this wisdom:

 Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 So, what are these 7 pillars of wisdom so that we can build our house of understanding?

 Let's jump right into our lesson today.

 *****Pro 9:1 Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:

 James, the Half-Brother of Jesus, gives these seven pillars of wisdom to us:

 Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 1) The wisdom from Heaven and God is first "Pure":

 In other words, these 7 pillars of wisdom must first be built upon Jesus Christ:

 Jesus Christ is our foundation for wisdom:

 Mat 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 Remember, it is not Peter that is the "Rock," it is what Peter had just said!

 Mat 16:16 And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

 This can happen only one way:

 Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

 Without the purity of Jesus Christ, the other pillars will fall.

 2) The wisdom from God is next "Peaceable":

 The Bible says:

 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2Ti 2:5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

2Ti 2:6 The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

 3.) The man of wisdom must next be "Gentle":

 Every child of God must be a gentleman or gentlewoman.

 Again, the Bible says:

 Tit 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.

 4) The man of wisdom must next be "Easy to Be Entreated":

 This is being reasonable when it comes understanding the Word of God.

 2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

 5) The man of wisdom must next be "Full of Mercy and Good Fruits":

 This is always helpful and considerate!

 The Bible says:

 Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

 6) The man of wisdom must next be "Without Partiality"

 The word "race" is not in the Bible. The word "tongues" meaning languages suggests only other cultures, and "race" is irrelevant!

 The Bible says:

 1Ti 5:21 I charge thee before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without preferring one before another, doing nothing by partiality.

 7) And the man of wisdom must be without "Hypocrisy"

 Again, the Bible says:

 1Pe 2:1 Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,

1Pe 2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

 Being a Christian is not putting on a show, but "It Is" being sincere in speech and our actions.

 We must be "doers of the Word," not hearers only!

 There is no "Wisdom without the Lord," and your house of "Wisdom" will fall without these "Seven Pillars"!

 Here again, we see wisdom in the sense of a female, and King Solomon shows us two females, or we could say hostesses serving up a meal to guests in their homes.

 As we are filled with the Holy Spirit of Jehovah, we also have the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 Isa 11:2 And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.

Isa 11:3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the LORD: and he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

 With the wisdom of God as described by James, the stepbrother of our Lord Jesus, we begin to see that wisdom is the source of life-giving nourishment.

 The woman of wisdom is the builder and the dweller of a beautiful house who has prepared her meal and sends her maids out to invite guests.

 The woman of folly is pictured as a lewd woman who sits on a chair at the door of her house and lures passersby to come to her, and she has also prepared her feast.

 True wisdom is revealed in the Lord Jesus Christ: Col 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;

Col 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

 *****Pro 9:2 She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table.

Pro 9:3 She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city,

Pro 9:4 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Pro 9:5 Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine which I have mingled.

Pro 9:6 Forsake the foolish, and live; and go in the way of understanding.

 All those who lack wisdom are searching for something, but they do not understand what it is.

 They do not know that they need this wisdom to live, but are easily influenced by foolishness.

 To accept the woman of wisdom is to have life and have it more abundantly; pleasure is not mentioned.

 To accept the woman of folly means to enter into the realm of the dead. Pleasure is mentioned so she can hide the death that is in the end.

 The woman of wisdom addresses all those who are without discernment to all who would attend.

 2Pe_3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.

 Those who accept the invitation of the woman of wisdom, which results in a major life change.

 They choose to forsake their foolish ways of the world and go in a different direction.

 It is called to repent.

 Wisdom's house is not on the path to destruction but upon the road of life.

 Those who are simple are those who are foolish, who are traveling on the road to destruction and every foolish way.

 To accept the woman of wisdom is to make a choice.

 To accept the foolish woman to remain on the path they are already traveling on the road of pleasure that leads to death.

 *****Pro 9:7 He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

 Who are those who will now be called foolish? Those who reject the wisdom of God!

 They are the scorners.

They are the wicked souls of mankind.

 2Ch 36:16 But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy.

 There is no remedy for those who reject the wisdom of God.

 Pro 15:12 A scorner loveth not one that reproveth him: neither will he go unto the wise.

 As we have found out, not many will accept the truth of the Messiah.

 Not many will accept the truth of God.

 Most people will refuse to change their lifestyles just because we tell them they must be saved.

 They will get angry, and God's messengers, and we know that Christian persecution is on the rise.

 Mat 24:9 Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake.

 They remain lost because they refuse to believe that they are lost!

 There is only one path to tru life, and there can only be one path!

 Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

 Then how are we to continue as the messengers of God?

 *****Pro 9:8 Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.

Pro 9:9 Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.

Pro 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

 1) Do not reprove or rebuke a mocker, someone who is unteachable and filled with pride.

 The Lord Jesus said: Mat 7:6 Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.

 2) Rebuke only those who humbly acknowledge their sinful condition and accept that they need to repent of their sinful ways.

 3) Instruct the wise, and they will grow wiser. This is discipleship.

 4) Teach the righteous, and they will seek to know more.

 5) We must all know the beginning point of wisdom, which is the fear of the Lord. We must trust the Lord as we begin a personal relationship with Him. We begin to know by experience as we see what He has done in our own lives.

 Wisdom will reward its messengers.

 *****Pro 9:11 For by me thy days shall be multiplied, and the years of thy life shall be increased.

Pro 9:12 If thou be wise, thou shalt be wise for thyself: but if thou scornest, thou alone shalt bear it.

 We must be real with ourselves! Every person will bear the consequences of the choices they make in this life!

 Wise choices will produce good fruit.

 Foolish choices will result in decay and death.

 For all those who accept wisdom's invitation will receive sweet fruit.

 One of the rewards for accepting this wisdom is long life, many days, and additional years.

 Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

 Pro 3:16 Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand, riches and honour.

 Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

 We do not know how many more days or how many more years are still in the hands of God, but we know they all are.

 Jas 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.

Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.

 Pro 10:27 The fear of the LORD prolongeth days: but the years of the wicked shall be shortened.

 We can be sure that the wisdom from Heaven will enrich every day we have left upon us.

 What do we know for sure?

 1) The Lord Jesus is building a house for all those who accept Him.

2) Our Father's house can hold many mansions.

3) The Lord has extended an invitation to anyone who believes in the marriage supper of His Son.

4) The Lord Jesus Christ is the embodiment of wisdom.

5) Every believer is commissioned to deliver the Lord's message to the world.

6) Every believer can expect to be persecuted in this world.

7) The way of the foolish is death!

 *****Pro 9:13 A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.

Pro 9:14 For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city,

Pro 9:15 To call passengers who go right on their ways:

Pro 9:16 Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him,

Pro 9:17 Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.

Pro 9:18 But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.

 The woman of Folly, the foolish, also has her house.

 This woman is loud, boisterous, and noisy.

 She is naive and gullible, and lacking in judgment.

She is prone to pitfalls. just like those who are taken by her.

She knows nothing.

She is ignorant of the truth.

She does not have good sense.

She is ignorant of the fear of the Lord.

 She sits in her doorway to lure in her prey.

Her house sits on a hilltop, so she can be easily seen.

She loves to be seen and heard as passersby go past her.

Her house is neither spacious nor is it safe to enter.

She has prepared nothing for those who enter.

She is lazy and selfish.

She is always on the lookout for her next victim.

She always sits in the best location.

She calls out to all who pass by, even those who are minding their own business.

She invites them all into her house of doom, especially those who are trying to find her.

She lives on the road to destruction.

She especially tries to distract those who ignore her.

She finds many on this road to destruction who do not know where they are.

She targets those who are simple and lost.

She entices them all with her secret sin.

 Her folly fulfills all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Wisdom is a life built upon the "Fear of the Lord" and the repentance from our sin nature!

 Folly is a life built upon the rejection of the Lord.

 Jesus gives us a description of the sin that cannot be forgiven: Jhn_16:8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Jhn_16:9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;

 Folly is a deceptive harlot and an unworthy wife.

 She serves only water and makes it thrilling by the fact that she has stolen it.

 There is no substance in her drink, nothing of lasting value.

 There is good reason to believe that these things speak of immorality, but we will not go there for now.

 She is wicked and immoral, and those she traps are doomed to Hell.

 So, we can see this lesson is about the choices we make in this life.

 The woman of wisdom and the woman of folly are both trying to capture souls.

 If we choose wisdom, we will live wisely by building our lives around the "Fear of the Lord".

 We will turn away from all paths to destruction.

 God will reward us!

 If we choose folly, we will build our lives around sin, we will reject the Lord Jesus, and we will continue traveling that road to destruction.

 We will remain separated from our Creator and our God!

 The only choices that we need to make are:

 1) Choose wisdom.

2) Choose Christ Jesus.

Choose Life.

 Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 We should know that Satan is the king of folly.

 Satan offers nothing to those caught up in his grasp.

 He is a thief and a counterfeiter and a murderer.

 He takes what he steals from God and then corrupts it.

 He will tell the same lies that he told Eve.

 Gen 3:3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.

Gen 3:4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:

Gen 3:5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 We need to be aware of the choices we make in this life and just choose our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Amen.

Instructions From heaven

 A Father's Instructions

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 4

 We know that if we hear what the Lord has to say and listen to it just once, then this is enough, and we should abide by it.

In last week's lesson, we saw that we must submit to all the Word of God, not just comply with it.

 As we read the Book of Proverbs, we will see that the Holy Spirit teaches us by repetition.

 Once is enough, but when we see a matter repeated over and over, then it must be important to the Lord that we have a clear understanding of that Scripture.

 We must agree with the Word of God to have a clear understanding of it!

 We are to read, to listen, and to pay attention to what is being taught.

We must understand the Word of God as God’s commands and not God’s suggestions.

We must know that the Word of God is wisdom.

We must recognize that there are numerous benefits to possessing the knowledge and wisdom of God.

We must know that there is great danger in rejecting the wisdom of God, our Heavenly Father.

 There are some things that our Heavenly Father hates, and we must stay away from them!

 Pro 6:16 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him:

Pro 6:17 A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,

Pro 6:18 An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,

Pro 6:19 A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

 These are things we must avoid as we follow in the path of Jesus, and we should treat this chapter as words from our Heavenly Father and not King Solomon.

 *****Pro 4:1 Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.

Pro 4:2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law.

 I find that I am better prepared on Sunday if I read the Scriptures out loud so that I can hear them at the same time.

 We must, as the children of our Heavenly Father, read these instructions as they came from Him because they did come from Him.

 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 The word "hear" in this Scripture means far more than to hear the Word of God; it also means to observe and to obey what our Father is saying to us.

 Solomon may have received these words from his father David, and David may have received these words from his father Jesse, but Heaven was the source of these words and was delivered by the Holy Spirit.

 We know that all the Law of Moses also had their beginning in Heaven.

 These words we have now are intended for all generations that exist and those in the future that remain.

 Psa 1:1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

Psa 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 The word "good" in verse two means "in the wisest sense".

 It is good doctrine because it came from Heaven.

 Jas_1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 *****Pro 4:3 For I was my father's son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother.

Pro 4:4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live.

 This verse speaks of the historical record of King Solomon and being the child of promise, but it also speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 2Sa 7:12 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom.

2Sa 7:13 He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.

 Bathsheba knew her son was to be King of Israel.

 Mary, the mother of Jesus, knew her child was in some sense the child of the Living God.

 She had been told by the Angel Gabriel that her son would be the Savior of the world.

 She may not have grasped the complete meaning of these things, but she pondered them in her heart.

 Luk_2:19 But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.

Luk_2:51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.

 We know the remainder of the family of Jesus did not believe what they heard about Jesus, only His mother.

 Mrk_6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

 The more we know of the Lord Jesus Christ and live in faith, the more we will enjoy a long and happy life.

 The key to our lives is our faith in the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the actual image of God’s wisdom.

 *****Pro 4:5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.

Pro 4:6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.

Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

Pro 4:8 Exalt her, and she shall promote thee: she shall bring thee to honour, when thou dost embrace her.

Pro 4:9 She shall give to thine head an ornament of grace: a crown of glory shall she deliver to thee.

 Without the wisdom of our Heavenly Father, we will never have the right understanding of life as we live in this wicked world.

 Without obedience to the Word of God, we will perish.

 That word get means to buy wisdom and understanding if we have to. Money is not nearly as important as the wisdom of God.

 Pro 16:16 How much better is it to get wisdom than gold! and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver!

 Getting wisdom is not a once-and-for-all decision; it is a lifelong process!

 Getting wisdom requires an ongoing commitment.

 Wisdom must be used, but it must also be sustained.

 We may lose a lot of things we have had in our lives, but we must hold onto the wisdom of our Heavenly Father and apply it to our lives every day and not allow it to slip away.

 We know what happened to King Solomon; he turned away from his father's advice and turned away from our Heavenly Father's commandments.

 We cannot allow the wisdom we have strived to get from our Heavenly Father to just slip away!

 God's wisdom will protect and watch over us if we abide by it!

 Wisdom is personified in the Lord Jesus Christ, no matter what gender is referred to in this passage.

 2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:

2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 Wisdom is also personified by the Church, which is the Bride of Christ, if we hold onto the wisdom of God

 Wisdom is the principal thing because wisdom begins with the "fear of the Lord".

 Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 How can this be explained? Eph 1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

Eph 1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

 Jas 3:17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.

 The wisdom of God will bring favor to those who get it.

 The wisdom of our Heavenly Father is an ornament of His "Grace".

 The wisdom of our Heavenly Father will bring a "crown of glory to the victor".

 These principles are intended to be taught to children by their Christian parents.

 The home is the right place to teach the wisdom of God to our children, and then make sure they go with us to a Bible believing church.

 They will not learn it in schools, which will only teach them the ways and wisdom of this world, which will come to nothing.

 Spiritual training needs to begin in the early years of a child's life.

 The father has a special role in the Spiritual leadership within the family!

 *****Pro 4:10 Hear, O my son, and receive my sayings; and the years of thy life shall be many.

Pro 4:11 I have taught thee in the way of wisdom; I have led thee in right paths.

Pro 4:12 When thou goest, thy steps shall not be straitened; and when thou runnest, thou shalt not stumble.

 For years, many a person has wasted time and money seeking the truth for a long life.

 The Word of God explains the truth in a few simple words. Receive the truth of the Word of God and hold to it.

 We simply must choose the right path of life and stay on the path.

 Mat 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:

Mat 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

 We must travel the way of wisdom rather than the world's path to destruction.

 Will we live a life of submission to the Lord, or will we be slaves to the Devil and to sin?

 We will all get an opportunity to choose one way or the other, and it helps a great deal to know the truth of our Heavenly Father.

 We must understand that our flesh will lead us to join the foolishness of this world.

 This is the path of destruction.

 The wisdom of our Heavenly Father will lead us down that path which leads to life, "eternal life" in that Heavenly Home of our Heavenly Father.

 *****Pro 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

Pro 4:14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 

Pro 4:15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.

 We should understand that the "wisdom" of our Heavenly Father does not just give us a good life.

 The "wisdom" of our Heavenly Father is life!

 Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 It is not the quality of life, but life, eternal life.

 Taking hold of the "wisdom" of our Heavenly Father is a matter of life and death!

 If we do not choose the "wisdom" of our Heavenly Father, we are certain to face eternal death!

 1) We must heed this warning from our Heavenly Father.

2) We must never let go once we know the wisdom of God.

3) We must keep and guard the Word of God,

4) We must never start down that path to destruction.

5) We must not veer to the left or the right nor follow the ways of evil men.

6) We must avoid that wicked path altogether.

7) We must not even go near that wicked path.

8) We must go in the opposite direction from all evil.

9) We must move past that wicked path and continue on the path of righteousness.

 *****Pro 4:16 For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall.

Pro 4:17 For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence.

Pro 4:18 But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Pro 4:19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.

 We sometimes just do not think much about the wickedness of this world.

 If we believe the Word of God, then we need to believe what God says!

 1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.

 Only those who are committed to the truth of the Word of God are not wicked, though none of us are perfect.

 Why do we fail so often? Because all the rest of the world is lying in wickedness!

 We belong to our Heavenly Father, and the rest of the world belongs to the Devil.

 2Ti_2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

 We may try to see some goodness in those who are lost, but we must know that at any time the Devil will use them for one of his wickedly sick purposes and they will be unable to resist him.

 Mrk_10:18 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

 Those who are lost, their lives revolve around sin.

 We know this because we were once just like them until we met our Savior.

 Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

 They eat a steady diet of sin!

They drink the wine of violence!

 The color of their wine is the same color as blood.

 We see these things increase in our world today.

 There is no comparison between the life of a true Christian and that of the lost.

 There is a perfect day in our future, but for the lost and wicked, there is only the life turmoil now and a future of eternal torment.

 Joh 1:4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 Joh 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

 The way of the lost is in darkness!

 Even the Bible says there is pleasure in sin for a season, and many of the lost hunt for that pleasure all their lives and never find it again because they remain in the darkness of the Devil.

 Heb 11:25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

 All of these take great pleasure in sin that, in truth, has made them captives of the Devil.

 *****Pro 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.

Pro 4:21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.

Pro 4:22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Pro 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

 Here we see our Heavenly Father almost begging us to hear what He has to say.

 This is the loving concern for us that He always shows us.

 We must listen closely to what God has to say to us. He always has our best interests in mind.

 Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

 We must pay attention to what God is saying to us.

 Jesus Christ said: Jhn_14:27 Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 We cannot just listen to what the Lord is saying, we must act upon it. We can do that only if we keep the Word of God in the midst of our hearts.

 God's wisdom is like life-giving blood; it flows through our bodies, giving us new life that we never knew before.

 2Ti_1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

 What is our heart like before we meet Jesus?

 Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:

Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man:

 A fact of life is that out of our hearts come the issues of life, our moral conduct.

 The wisdom of God will purify our hearts, and if our hearts are pure, our lives will be pure.

 Ezk_36:26 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.

 This is why we are to guard our new heart above all else.

 A wise person will recognize the importance of keeping wisdom in the heart!

 These wise people are the Body of Christ!

 When our hearts become the fountain of moral life, then our moral life will be the fountain of our conduct, which everyone sees.

 When we hear corrupt talk around us, we need to get as far away from it as we can.

 *****Pro 4:24 Put away from thee a froward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.

Pro 4:25 Let thine eyes look right on, and let thine eyelids look straight before thee.

Pro 4:26 Ponder the path of thy feet, and let all thy ways be established.

Pro 4:27 Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 A person with a dark heart will spew ungodly words and evil speaking, and we should not trouble our ears to hear such filth.

 The Lord Jesus makes this very simple for us to understand.

 Mat 12:34 O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

Mat 12:35 A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.

Mat 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.

Mat 12:37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.

 If there is no evil in our hearts, no filth will spew out of our mouths!

 Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

 We need to take the words in the Word of God about the New Heaven and try to visually see what it looks like, and then focus our path on the entrance gate, and as we complete our walk in this life, the vision of that place will become brighter as we walk in that direction, not veering to the left or the right.

If we keep our focus upon Jesus, we will find the entrance to heaven because He is that entrance.

 If we spend our time looking around trying to see some evil, we will surely see it.

 Remember David on the roof of his mansion, just looking out to see what he could see, and there it was right in front of him. A beautiful woman with no clothes on probably innocent to his stare.

 There is no profit in our looking to see how evil our world is; we must know that it is because the Word of God says it is, and keep our focus on the Lord Jesus Christ, who will lead us to His Father's mansion.

 We need to remove all the stumbling blocks out of our pathway and walk on the glory road that ends in New Heaven.

 If we stay focused on these things, we will not see things on the left or the right that might deceive us!

 These are the same things we must teach our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren.

 God has sent us an invitation to join Him around His glorious throne, and we would be foolish not to want to be there with Him!

 This is the prize we seek.

 It is the glory of God that will blind us from the path of evil if we just listen to Him and obey Him!

 Amen

Wisdom Has Its Rewards

 The Rewards of Wisdom

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 3

 We know that the Book of Proverbs is a collection and compilation of true, divinely inspired, wise sayings, and they are unquestionably Scripture.

 2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

 We should know that many of these Proverbs existed as a teaching tool long before King Solomon

 Num 21:27 Wherefore they that speak in proverbs say, Come into Heshbon, let the city of Sihon be built and prepared:

 1Sa 24:13 As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

 We should understand that all genuine truth, regardless of its human origin or proclaimer, has God as its ultimate source.

 Ecc 12:10 The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.

Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.

 We should understand that if God can speak through a donkey, He can cause some truths to come from a pagan human being, if He chooses.

 2Pe 2:15 Which have forsaken the right way, and are gone astray, following the way of Balaam the son of Bosor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness;

2Pe 2:16 But was rebuked for his iniquity: the dumb ass speaking with man's voice forbad the madness of the prophet.

 God still loves all His created beings but insists that they become believers. Who's to say He did not put words of wisdom in their mouths?

 It was the Holy Spirit who decided which proverbs would be included in the Scriptures, just as every other Word, Passage, and Book.

 There are many other proverbs in this world, but the Holy Spirit decided these were important to the believer.

 Most scholars have said it was Solomon who assembled this Book of Proverbs as directed by the Holy Spirit.

 Solomon wrote: Pro 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

Pro 1:6 To understand a proverb, and the interpretation; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 We have this verse of prophecy: Pro 1:23 Turn you at my reproof: behold, I will pour out my spirit unto you, I will make known my words unto you.

 God also says this to all unbelievers: Pro 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

Pro 1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

 If we seek true wisdom, then we will also find the Lord! Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

 Pro 2:9 Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path.

 Pro 2:22 But the wicked shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.

 It is very hard to view these three chapters as one lesson, but this is the way of our lessons.

 *****Chapter 3 Verse 1 My son, forget not my law; but let thine heart keep my commandments:

Pro 3:2 For length of days, and long life, and peace, shall they add to thee.

 We should clearly understand that God does not desire our compliance with all the Word of God, but God requires us to submit to all the Word of God.

 Obedience without submission is compliance.

We must submit all the Word of God because we know it is the truth.

God is not some tyrant trying to force His ways upon us.

Just to be compliant because someone says so, shows we still have a rebellious spirit.

 These are so-called believers who, though the outward action is present, rebellion is still in their hearts, and their prayer life will never amount to anything fruitful.

 Chastisement may drive the child of God to compliance, but it takes love to drive the child of God to submission without rebellion.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is treated as the Son of God as a member of the Holy Trinity. Not three Gods but the three persons in the One God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

 As adopted into the family of God, He is our Heavenly Father. This is why He speaks to us as His dear children!

 If the God of all creation sees us as His dear children, then why in the world would we rebel against Him?

 We talk a lot about the Ten Commandments, and we know that the Jews were given 613 commandments in all, but the truth is that all the Word of God is commandments written to us in love.

 Our Heavenly Father will never force us to recognize Him as our Father, but it is the wise thing to do.

 The Laws of the Father are the same laws of the Son.

 Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

Joh 14:22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

Joh 14:24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.

Joh 14:25 These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.

 Our life span upon this earth is really not very long. As I grow older, I feel the call of my Heavenly home, but as I have reached the age to see my Great Grand Children and the things going on in this world, I know they need me as long as the Lord leaves me here. I think most of us feel the same way.

 To be honest, we have not left such a great world for our grandchildren and certainly not our great-grandchildren.

 I am already experiencing verse two and have been at peace for a while now. I'm certain I'll end up in New Heaven and am prepared to go whenever the time comes.

 This is why submitting to the Lord is far better than trying to keep up with a bunch of laws.

 My God, my Heavenly Father has promised mercy because of His great love, and mercy means I will never see His wrath upon me.

 Mercy means I will not receive the punishment for my sin that I deserve but will receive the "Grace" of God instead.

 *****Pro 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake thee: bind them about thy neck; write them upon the table of thine heart:

Pro 3:4 So shalt thou find favour and good understanding in the sight of God and man.

 Listen as our Heavenly Father teaches us.

 "Mercy without truth is like a great rain in a desert place that is not a blessing because there are no plants that need its nourishment".

 When we receive the mercy of God, it means we are not getting what we deserve, eternity in Hell, which is a real place.

 For those who believe in Heaven but doubt a place called Hell means they have rejected the truth. Both places are mentioned in the Word of God.

 Our Heavenly Father exhorts each of us to grab hold of His mercy and His truth and never let go.

 That mercy and that truth came to us in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Truth means things we can rely on, and we can rely on the truth of the Gospel!

 God has proven He loves us as He has made a way for us to miss out on His wrath.

 Our obedience to His Word proves we love Him!

 The obedience of the Christian is the outward behavior of each Christian's inner devotion to our Heavenly Father.

 The terms binding and loosing to the Jew mean permitting or forbidding or declaring anything to be forbidden or permitted.

 What are the benefits of being obedient to the Word of God?

 We will find favor and understanding with our Heavenly Father.

 The favor of God is God's "Grace," which means His good will, His acceptance, and the many benefits that come from these things.

 When we devote ourselves to the Lord, we will remain true and faithful to Him.

 Love and faithfulness are to be worn like precious jewels in a necklace.

 To the Jew, the throat is the life of every person. Mercy and truth are tied to the throat, so mercy and truth are to become a part of our every breath.

 We bind them to our neck and then we write them in our heart!

 This means that we know that the Word of God is to become a major part of our lives.

 Heb 10:16 This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;

Heb 10:17 And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

 Even as a child of twelve, our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated these rewards in His life.

 Luk 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

 We can do none of these things until we have submitted ourselves to God!

 God wants to see our love for Him with His own eyes!

 God wants us to demonstrate our love for Him by being obedient to Him!

 1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

 Without this faith in Him, we can never please our Heavenly Father.

 Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 *****Pro 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

Pro 3:6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

 Today, most people trust in their own understanding, even though most of that understanding comes from media sources that have forgotten the truth and have allowed politics to dictate their beliefs, much of which comes from hatred.

 Just look at Microsoft News, and ninety percent of it is distorted news who do everything it can to go against our duly elected President.

 People do not get to learn on their own understanding because all we get is a distorted worldview.

 The truth of the Word of God is so easily seen as it teaches us how to live in a mind at peace with this world, because we are no longer a part of this world.

 When we acknowledge our Heavenly Father, He knows it.

When we love our Heavenly Father, He knows it.

When we trust our Heavenly Father, He knows it.

When we accept the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, He starts a building program in the New Heaven.

 This applies to every minute of our lives, at home, at work, at church, and in everything we do.

 The enemies of Israel came against King Asa and Asa called upon the Lord: 2Ch 14:11 And Asa cried unto the LORD his God, and said, LORD, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O LORD our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O LORD, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

 Every day we go out to battle in this world, we need to say, "Help us, O Lord our God, for we rest upon thee and in thy name, we go out into this lost and dying world with the Gospel".

 We can do this if we are devoted to Him and His Word!

 Our path is the same path that our Lord Jesus walked.

 Our understanding will be darkened by our sinful nature if we depend upon our own understanding.

 Eph 4:18 Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:

 We can walk in the darkness, or we can walk in the Light of Life.

 Jhn_8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

 *****Pro 3:7 Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.

Pro 3:8 It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

 Self-confidence can be a good thing, but when we put our own confidence above the truth of the Word of God, then we will fail.

 Any wisdom against the wisdom of God is wrong, and it is sin.

 Isa 5:21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!

 We should always seek the direction of God in everything we do!

 We are also able to see that our moral condition and our physical self are closely linked together!

 Godliness is profitable for all things.

 1Ti 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

 When we have a reverent fear of the Lord, it builds our relationship with Him, and we can see His promise, we will live healthier lives here on earth and in eternal life when we reach His home in New Heaven.

 Godliness means we hate evil and the evil ways of man.

 To be self-sufficient is to be arrogant and self-righteous.

 If we wish to conquer the challenges of this life, we have to cry out to the Lord God for His help and His wisdom.

 Pro 2:5 Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.

 Every command that God gives us is for our well-being in every dimension of this life we live now.

 Sin will rob us of time we can spend with our families and enjoy this life as we prepare for that eternal life.

 That word naval actually means the neural chord we were attached to when we were in the womb of our mothers.

 If we belong to the Lord God, our Creator, our naval chord is now attached to Jehovah God and He will moisten the marrow of our bones.

 Psa 63:5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:

 We can say all these things and do all these things, but there is a way we can prove to the Lord, we love Him.

 We can bless Him as He has blessed us.

 It's called self-sacrificing.

 *****Pro 3:9 Honour the LORD with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase:

Pro 3:10 So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.

 This means more than just tithing, which we are all called to do.

 Our first fruits are to be presented to the Lord in gratitude and thankfulness to Jehovah.

Our first fruits are to be the best we have.

 Trusting the Lord with all our hearts includes our wealth and our substance.

 Fearing the Lord extends to His commands about finances and material things.

 These things honor God because they show our submission to Him.

 When we give our best instead of our leftovers, it glorifies our Creator.

 Many leftovers of our meals go out to feed animals, so we do not have to wonder how God feels when we try to give Him our leftovers.

 Our first fruit must be a token of our gratitude to the Lord for the blessings that He has already given to us.

 When we are willing to give God the best that we have, which includes our time, it is really just a trial of our faith.

 Ask Abraham how he felt when God told him to give up his son?

 God says to prove Him: Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

Mal 3:11 And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, and he shall not destroy the fruits of your ground; neither shall your vine cast her fruit before the time in the field, saith the LORD of hosts.

Mal 3:12 And all nations shall call you blessed: for ye shall be a delightsome land, saith the LORD of hosts.

 Can I say I have received a gift from God that was not special, and a thing I needed?

 God will do for us what only He can do!

 2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.

 We could say that giving to the Lord is our supreme act of faith.

 We must also know that we are only human, and humans are made from dirt, and we will fall under Satan's temptation on occasion.

 We cannot make excuses but own up to our failures and ask or sometimes beg for forgiveness.

 *****Pro 3:11 My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:

Pro 3:12 For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

 None of us likes any sort of punishment.

 No child of God can love pain or loss.

 None of us looks forward to the knife of the surgeon.

 We must completely understand that God not only rewards His children and prefers to do so, but He is also a loving Father who will discipline us. It is called chastisement.

 As long as we remain in this sack of flesh that we wear, we will make mistakes, and we will need discipline.

 If we are or were parents, we understand this clearly.

 If we are being disciplined by the Lord, we must understand it is because He loves us.

 None of us enjoys discipline, but we are to submit obediently to God's hand of discipline.

 As we travel that narrow path to Heaven, we will need His guidance, and we already know that the Lord Jesus Christ is the door to the entrance into the glory world.

 He is not the doorway but the door.

 Jehovah God never gets angry with His children; He corrects us!

 Job 5:17  Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 

Job 5:18  For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 

 As God is our Heavenly Father, we are part of His family, so it is discipline of a family and not like as school or prison.

 Heb 12:6  For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 

Heb 12:7  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? 

Heb 12:8  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. 

 We can understand the word "bastard" as those born of the world and have Satan as their father.

 2Co 4:3  But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 

2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

 We show our trust in the Lord by just believing what He says.

 Rom 8:31  What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? 

Rom 8:32  He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? 

 *****Pro 3:13  Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding. 

Pro 3:14  For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold. 

Pro 3:15  She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 

Pro 3:16  Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour. 

Pro 3:17  Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. 

Pro 3:18  She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her. 

 We should know that just like precious metals and precious jewels, wisdom is to be found.

 We must diligently seek God's wisdom!

 We can see that God's wisdom will bring happiness.

 Happiness is the result of being in God's favor!

 God's wisdom has much more value than silver. Silver is used to make musical instruments in Heaven.

 God's wisdom is much more valuable than gold. Gold is nothing but paving material in Heaven.

 God's wisdom is much more valuable than jewels. Jewels are used as wall decorations in Heaven.

Out of everything we might ever desire, wisdom will make us richer than any money ever will!

Instead of seeking some magic potion for long life, the only potion that will work is the wisdom of God.

God's wisdom can bring honor.

God's wisdom can bring happiness and peace to our lives.

God's wisdom is truly the tree of life here on earth and will lead us to our new home in the New Heaven.

Wisdom is truly the source of life!

Wisdom brings happiness to God's people.

Amen

Sharing the Love of the Lord

 Collection and a Conclusion

 Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 16

As we finish our study of the Book of 1 Corinthians, we should keep in mind that someone had written a letter to the Apostle Paul about things going on in the Church at Corinth, and the Apostle Paul had written or dictated to a scribe the answers to their questions and had sent this epistle in the hands of Timothy a young preacher to get this church headed in the right direction.

All the epistles of the Apostle Paul are written to the Church established by the Lord Jesus Christ and are, in fact, the written Word of God established by the Holy Spirit.

  It should have been clear to the Church in Corinth that it was from that first church in Jerusalem that the source from which all the blessings of the Gospel had flowed.

 It was fitting for the early church to help the poor people of the first church in Jerusalem if they were able.

 Gal 2:9 And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Gal 2:10 Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do.

 As we saw in Chapter 13, the Book of Love, the lovers of God give freely to Him. If we have the love of the Holy Spirit, then we will give to the Church.

 What had the Lord Jesus said? Act_20:35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.

 Psalms 41: Psa 41:1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

Psa 41:2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies.

Psa 41:3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness.

 Pro 19:17 He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the LORD; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.

 The Lord Jesus is serious about this: Mat 25:34 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

Mat 25:35 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Mat 25:36 Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Mat 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

Mat 25:38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Mat 25:39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

 Every child of God, even if they are poor, is also a saint of God!

 At this time, it was the poor Christians in Jerusalem who struggled the most.

They were being persecuted by the members of Judaism and fellow Jews.

 In Jerusalem was a sharp contrast between the rich and the poor, with the saints of God being the poorest of the poor.

 Jas 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

 It is said many times that God will provide our needs, and many times He expects the Church to help in this matter.

 Remember this was to help the saints of God in the church at Jerusalem and not a handout to all the poor, even though at times we can help them, but the Church comes first. It is the Church that has the promises of God!

 This was to be a special gift for the poor in the church at Jerusalem, which we would call today a love offering.

 Paul had given these same instructions to other churches he had established.

 It had been thirty years since the church at Jerusalem had begun to practice the common ownership of goods, but this thing had soon ceased.

 Many believed this had failed and caused widespread poverty among the Jewish Christians.

 Whatever the cause, the believers in Jerusalem were in desperate need of help.

 God has a special place in His heart for those who give unselfishly!

 Heb 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.

 What is being a good steward? 1Pe 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

 *****1Co 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.

1Co 16:2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 This lesson is clear: the Church is to help meet the needs of the poor believers.

 Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 We can also see from this Scripture that the churches gathered together on Sundays, the first day of the week.

 The Jews met on Saturdays as commanded in the Laws of Moses, but the Church has no such command, and the Church meets on the Lord's Day. The church can also gather again on any other day, for where two or three are gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, we can have church.

 Rev_1:10 I was in the Spirit on “the Lord's day”, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

 It was on Sunday when the Lord Jesus Christ walked out of that grave.

 Joh 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

 It was on Sunday that the Apostles gathered after the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Act 20:7 And upon “the first day of the week”, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

 Paul preached on the first day of the week, which is Sunday.

 Notice the believers were not to make occasional offerings; they were to give regularly, every Lord's Day, on the first day of the week.

 They all were to give, even the poor were to give as they were able.

 2Co 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;

2Co 9:13 Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

2Co 9:14 And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.

 It is giving that builds a strong fellowship among believers, as verse 14 states.

 Any offering that was made was to be kept at God's storehouse.

 2Ch_31:10 And Azariah the chief priest of the house of Zadok answered him, and said, Since the people began to bring the offerings into the house of the LORD, we have had enough to eat, and have left plenty: for the LORD hath blessed his people; and that which is left is this great store.

 During the week, these believers were to lay up what they could and deliver it to the storehouse when they gathered together.

 Today, this would be the treasury of the church.

 Mal 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.

 *****1Co 16:3 And when I come, whomsoever ye shall approve by your letters, them will I send to bring your liberality unto Jerusalem.

1Co 16:4 And if it be meet that I go also, they shall go with me.

 Notice that those who were to handle this money going to Jerusalem were to be hand-picked by the church.

 This offering was to be handled very carefully.

 They must choose men of character.

They must be men whom the church could approve and “trust" to handle the money.

They were to be men whom the Apostle Paul could commend through letters of commendation.

 Paul would write letters on their behalf to the church in Jerusalem.

 If Paul could not go with them, he would write letters of introduction for them.

 This was something that was done so brothers could be received as brothers in the Lord and not as strangers.

 Act 18:27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace:

 Rom 16:1 I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:

Rom 16:2 That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.

 That phrase "your liberality" means the things we talk about in Chapter 13.

 If this offering were not voluntary, it would mean nothing to the Lord and bring no reward to this church at Corinth.

 It was not to be a gift of obligation but rather a gift of brotherly love for one another.

 Paul himself would not touch this offering so he could remain above reproach at all times.

 Even if his schedule allowed him to make the journey to Jerusalem, those men would be personally delivering that offering to the believers in Jerusalem.

 *****1Co 16:5 Now I will come unto you, when I shall pass through Macedonia: for I do pass through Macedonia.

1Co 16:6 And it may be that I will abide, yea, and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whithersoever I go.

1Co 16:7 For I will not see you now by the way; but I trust to tarry a while with you, if the Lord permit.

1Co 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

1Co 16:10 Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.

1Co 16:11 Let no man therefore despise him: but conduct him forth in peace, that he may come unto me: for I look for him with the brethren.

 We must know that there is always a need to keep in touch with God's people.

 All of us need strengthening and building up from time to time.

 This world will wear us down, and it is just going to get worse!

 We see here that God does not always want us to do as we plan to do.

 God's will must be the rule of our lives as we minister for Christ!

 God is not too busy with all the things He does to not get personal with us.

 We are wrong when we do not listen to Him!

 Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him "who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will":

 We must understand that all things are brought to pass by the will of God!

 God has a purpose for each one of us, and also as a group!

 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, "but according to his own purpose and grace", which was given us in Christ Jesus "before the world began",

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

 What the Holy Spirit is saying is "it's our time to shine" as we are brought into the plan God has had from the beginning, way back before Genesis.

 No one upon this earth is as wise as God!

 We can only be wise if we yield to the will of God!

 Rom 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!

Rom 11:34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

Rom 11:35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again?

Rom 11:36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

 God does as He pleases, but everything He does is the right thing to do!

 God does not adjust His plan according to events that happen upon this earth!

 Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

 1) There is the directed will of God; these are the things God actively brings about.

 He creates. Isa 45:18 For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else.

 He controls this universe. Dan 4:35 And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and no one can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

 He establishes rulers and governments. Dan 2:21 And he changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings: he giveth wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding:

 He calls those to be saved. Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

 2) There is the permissive will of God.

 This means that even though God has determined all things, He may do them Himself, or He may bring them about through secondary causes.

 Sinful acts do not frustrate the plan of God; they just cause us to suffer the wrath of God. God does not ever cause sinful acts!

 Man is responsible for all sinful acts that happen in this world.

 All the things that God created have one purpose: they are designed to reveal the glory of God!

 Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

Psa 19:2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge.

Psa 19:3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

 Our Lord Jesus died, was buried, and has risen and returned to Heaven because this was the plan of God for our redemption.

 Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

Act 2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.

Act 2:25 For David speaketh concerning him, I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved:

Act 2:26 Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope:

Act 2:27 Because thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.

 The Apostle Paul knew he could return to this church in Corinth only if it was in the will of God for him to do so.

 At this time, they had Timothy, a young preacher who preached just as Paul did, and they would get the truth of the Gospel.

 We would rather run our own lives, but once we recognize these truths of God, we know it is best to yield to His will for us, as did the Apostle Paul.

 As we learned from Chapter 13, Paul expressed love rather than division.

 *****1Co 16:19 The churches of Asia salute you. Aquila and Priscilla salute you much in the Lord, with the church that is in their house.

1Co 16:20 All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss.

1Co 16:21 The salutation of me Paul with mine own hand.

 We should understand that this Christian family of Aquila and Priscilla was greatly involved in establishing the churches in Corinth and in Ephesus.

 They were also Paul's partners in a trade that provided Paul with the funds for his journey. He accepted very little help from the churches.

 They had established a church in their own home.

 Many churches have begun in the humble surroundings of someone's home.

 Gethsemane met first in the home of a church member.

 A holy kiss is the kiss of peace that should reign in all the churches of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Rom 16:16 Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.

 The body of Christ is supposed to be one body, but we know that is not the case in today's world.

 We are all supposed to be followers of the Lord Jesus Christ!

We all have the same Heavenly Father.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

We are all supposed to have the same Scriptures. There is only one true Word of God!

We are all going to the same New Heaven and New Jerusalem.

We are all filled with the same Holy Spirit.

 We have to wonder why we do not act like it.

 Paul's signature on these epistles was a sign of the authenticity of the Word of God coming by the Holy Spirit.

 2Th 3:17 The salutation of Paul with mine own hand, which is the token in every epistle: so I write.

 Anathema in this passage means that those who do not love the Lord Jesus Christ are objects of hatred, from disgust to all holy beings. They are guilty of rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ and deserve condemnation.

 They have exposed themselves to the sentence of "everlasting destruction” from the presence of the Lord, which is what Maranatha says.

 The word Maranatha means the Lord Jesus is coming, and He will judge all those who have made Him seem meaningless in this world, all those who are Anathema.

 God is very serious about how we treat His Son!

 Amen

The Resurrection of the Church

 The Gospel and the Resurrection

Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15

 The word "Gospel" means "Good News". There is only one Gospel!

 The Gospel is described in many ways:

 Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

 The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

 Act 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 

 The Gospel of the Grace of God.

 Mar 1:1  The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 

 Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, "lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them". 

 The glorious Gospel.

 Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, 

 The Everlasting Gospel.

 This church at Corinth, like many churches today, is confused about the resurrection of believers.

 This resurrection concerns our bodies, no matter if they are in the grave, have been burnt to ashes, thrown into the ocean, or eaten by some wild animal.

 Some were denying the resurrection of the body.

Some were following false teaching, claiming that it occurred at the time of our death.

Some just said God couldn't resurrect our old bodies when God made us from the dust of the ground to begin with.

 There is nothing too hard for God!

 Paul said this was a simple thing for God when He showed the power of resurrection by raising His own Son from the dead.

 We do not need any other proof!

 *****1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

 No matter where the Apostle Paul preached, he included the resurrection as part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 We cannot take our stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ without standing on the fact of His resurrection and our resurrection.

 Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

 Paul had said earlier that he was not able to preach the meat of the Gospel to these Corinthians, but he did preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a major doctrine and principle of our salvation and our resurrection.

 We, as the Church, need to pay particular attention to this chapter.

 Eph 1:17  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 

Eph 1:18  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

 We should understand that we will see our Heavenly Father face-to-face, and we will be in a glorified body, and that body will be a version of the body we had when we were upon this earth.

 1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 Paul is declaring these things again to these Corinthians as if they had never heard them because they had not remained with them.

 We must live by faith in the Word of God.

 We already know that without faith, we cannot even please God.

 Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 We are being saved by the same Gospel that was presented to these Corinthians!

 We must hold fast to the Gospel.

 When we take a stand as a Christian, we are standing upon the truth of the Gospel!

 Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

 *****1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

 The first act of the Gospel was that Jesus Christ died for our sins, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.

 Isa 53:5-8, Daniel 9:26, Psalms 22, Zec 12:10, Gen 22.

 All these Scriptures teach us the death and resurrection of our Savior, God's Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the first thing that should be preached because with His death, He paid for our sins.

 Paul is saying that these are the first words that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 

 Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 

Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

 The death of Jesus Christ was the substitute that Our Heavenly Father allowed for payment of our sins.

 Jesus died as our sacrifice.

Jesus died as our ransom.

Jesus died as our propitiation.

Jesus died according to the Scriptures.

 Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 

 Joh 1:45  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 

 He was wounded for our transgressions.

He was despised and rejected by men.

 *****1Co 15:4  And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 

 The second fact of the Gospel is that the Lord Jesus died and was buried, and He rose again on the third day, just as the Old Testament had testified.

 We should understand that there were many witnesses to these events; they were not done in the dark or hidden from sight.

 There are still those today who say there was no resurrection because there was no actual death.

 We need to just pay attention to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the truth, and it is our faith that saves us and our faith that pleases our Heavenly Father.

 Jesus Christ did die a human death. No one buries a man who is alive except a murderer.

 If Jesus had not been buried, then there could be no resurrection.

 The empty tomb is still evidence that the Lord Jesus arose from the dead!

 It is the resurrection of Christ Jesus that proves that our bodies will also one day rise from the grave, and our tombs will be empty no matter how our bodies were buried, scattered, or remain in some urn, or thrown in the ocean.

 The resurrection proves that the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, the Living God!

 There is no other power anywhere upon this earth that can raise people from their death!

 Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

 The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is our Savior.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is the Spirit of Life.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is no liar.

 Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

 Psa 16:10  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

 The resurrection proves that Christianity is real!

The resurrection proves that our Heavenly Father accepted the work that His Son Jesus did for our reconciliation, our salvation.

 When the Lord Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, it was a prayer that His death would bring life through His resurrection.

 His Heavenly Father heard His prayer!

 Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

 His resurrection was essential in the plan of God for us to receive the Holy Spirit.

 Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

 There was an empty tomb.

There was the shape of the linen wrappings. Those wrappings still retained the shape of the body. The Lord Jesus had passed right through those wrappings.

 Remember Lazarus: Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

 The graveclothes of Jesus had remained in that empty tomb with the napkin folded and laid aside, which meant He would return.

 Then some witnessed seeing Him after He arose.

 *****1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

 Peter, who had denied the Lord, now became one of the greatest witnesses for the Lord.

 The Lord appeared to the remaining Apostles. Judas at that time was already dead having committed suicide. There were twelve Apostles after his death.

 Then there were five hundred witnesses at one time who could testify to seeing the resurrected Christ.

 Then the Lord appeared to James, His stepbrother, who would be the Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem.

 It is then that the family of the Lord Jesus Christ found out that their stepbrother was telling the truth all along.

 He later met Paul on the Damascus Road. Paul became the twelfth apostle hand-chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 And Paul preached:

 *****1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

 Still today, some unbelievers deny the resurrection of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We know that the Lord was one hundred percent God, but He was also one hundred percent human. That human body did die, but God cannot die. He has always existed!

 Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

 Isa 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 

 There may be many things I do not understand and cannot explain, but the resurrection of my Savior has enough witnesses to make me a believer, and I have enough faith to accept all the Word of God as the truth.

 BUT:

 *****1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

 If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then there is nothing to Christianity.

 Most of this world believes in some supernatural being, and that being would not be much if it could not bring a human body back to life.

 The message of the Gospel is the "good news" of our resurrected Savior, who is the God of the Bible and the God of all truth.

 Since the God of the Bible raised the Lord Jesus Christ back to life, He will have no problem raising all the bodies in the future that He wants to raise.

 Jesus said to his disciples after He had risen Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 

Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 

Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 

 I will live forever in the presence of the Lord!

I will have a personal face-to-face relationship with the Lord!

I will be made perfect and serve the Lord face-to-face in a New Heaven and a New Earth!

I do know that I know all these things are true!

 The Lord Jesus died to free me from death and all other believers, and His Father raised Him, so He will raise all those who have been freed from death!

 1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy, hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 

1Pe 1:4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 

1Pe 1:5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

 *****1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 

1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

 Christians whose bodies are in the sleep of death is a principle that we must reject as impossible!

 The goodness, the faith, the love, the tenderness of that Saint of God cannot be dissolved into nothing.

 God simply will not allow it!

 Since Jesus Christ rose from His death, then that old body of that saint of God that is asleep in Jesus will also rise from that grave!

 That old body will not only rise from the dead, but it will be glorified just as the body of Christ is glorified.

 The Lord Jesus did not have to take His earthly body back to Heaven with Him, but He did.

 He could just as easily have gone back in His Spirit, but He chose to take that earthly body with Him.

 If the Lord Jesus Christ did not arise from that grave, then neither will we. It is just that simple.

 Why do we question God so much when He expects us to have faith?

 The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ goes hand in hand with our own resurrection!

 If all we have is hope in this life, then certainly we will be miserable as we grow older in years.

 If we have served the Lord as He commanded and suffered for it, then we have endured something false.

 But now Jesus Christ is risen!

 1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

1Co 2:14  But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 

 The fact is, we will live in the New Heaven with our Redeemer in our glorified bodies throughout eternity.

 Since we are in our old body that is now glorified, we will be known by sight, just as we will recognize those who have gone before us by sight.

 Where is our faith? 

 We should be very clear if it is possible to live in the presence of God, and it is, then the human body must first undergo a radical change. Th

 1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

 *****1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 If we are not settled on this issue of our bodies, then listen as Paul tells us how these things will take place.

 The human body is flesh and blood. It is a physical body and not a spiritual body that will be needed in the New Heaven.

 This body is made of earthly materials and substances, not spiritual materials and substances.

 This body must be completely remade!

 The bodies we have today are made to live in this physical world and dimension.

 This physical body is made for the kingdoms of this world and not to inherit the Kingdom of God.

 We cannot inherit eternity as we are; a change is necessary!

This means those who have gone on to meet the Lord and their old flesh was left behind and, includes any who are alive when the Trumpet sounds, and we will all meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

1Th 4:17  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds, it will not be for salvation, but the Lord will take this time to issue rewards for the work that was done on earth.

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

 The workman is saved the work itself is burned with fire.

Both the living and the dead will receive newly created bodies.

These things will happen quicker than can be seen clearly and will be invisible to those who will remain on earth during the tribulation period.

We should not worry, as the Lord Jesus said, the Lord's children will hear that trumpet!

These things are absolutely certain!

The trumpet will sound.

The Lord's saints will hear it.

The dead shall be raised incorruptible.

We shall be changed.

These things will take place in the twinkling of an eye.

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

The resurrection of the damned will take place over a thousand years later than the Rapture of the Church.

*****1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

The nature of our old bodies is corruptible, but the nature of our new bodies will be uncorruptible!

You do not have to tell a senior citizen about how his body is deteriorating, and his days are getting shorter, and a day of death awaits us all unless the Lord Jesus returns soon.

We are all waiting for our heavenly body that will live throughout eternity.

We know that if we are going to live with God, then these old bodies must change!

*****1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

This change of our bodies will swallow up death, as it will not exist in our new bodies.

The grave will no longer be in our future.

This is the victory that was promised by Jehovah long ago.

Isa 25:8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 

It is sin that gave death its power, and the New Heaven is a place where there is no sin and there will never be any sin.

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Sin will now be erased from the picture.

It is laws and standards that show us our shortcomings.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Yes, Lord, I believe you.

When we have been perfected by the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no law hanging over our heads.

With no law, there will be no condemnation!

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

*****1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

It was the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that proved He had the power over death.

It is through Him and Him alone that we can be resurrected from our death!

His perfect righteousness overcomes sin and sin's penalty; it condemns sin!

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Those who are afraid of the Holy Ghost will find that He is our greatest gift after salvation.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

These things should encourage us all as we live for Jesus Christ.

These promises are to all those who believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! These are promises!

We must stand on the truth of our Lord, unmovable!

Unyielding.

Unshaken.

Undisturbed by what goes on in this world around us.

We must work harder for those we love and those we meet.

Our labor will not be in vain!

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. 

Amen