The True Church

 Receivers and Responders

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 1

We go from the Books of James written by James the half-brother of the Lord to the writings of the Apostle Paul but Paul assured us that we know that it was the Holy Spirit who directed all the Scriptures.

Every chapter, every verse, every word given to us by the Holy Spirit are to make the Church to be strong.

The world will claim every building with a steeple is a church but we know only those groups of true believers make up the true Church.

The Church is not a building, the Church is all those who are trying to follow in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ and His truths!

The true Church has Preachers and Pastors who are faithful to the true Church by remaining faithful to the truth of the Word of God.

A strong church is a church that has accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah, the same Messiah who will return to first take His children home and then deal with this wicked world and complete the promises He has made to Israel.

The true church is founded on the oneness of God in His three persons, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

There is no true church if that congregation does not accept the trinity of God!

*****1Th 1:1  Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 

If we cannot understand the truth of this scripture then we do not understand the Love of God!

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

All other places that gather together are not part of the true Church unless they accept this truth!

They are only a man-created gathering, no matter what they call themselves!

The Lord was discussing this with His disciples before He was crucified.

Mat 16:15  He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? 

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

Mat 16:17  And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. 

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. 

Now the Church is not built upon Peter but the fact that the Lord Jesus is indeed the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!

The true Church possesses God gifts of "Grace" and "Peace".

We know that "Grace" is the sum of all the blessings that God the father bestows on us through Jesus Christ. Grace is God's love and favor to us who are certainly undeserving of it!

We know that our Lord Jesus by God's "grace" is the death of His Son for all believers, in fact for all sinners.

We should know that peace is more than the absence of hostility and disorder: it also denotes good health and harmony with nature, and inward wellbeing.

This peace came through the blood of the cross.

Eph 2:14  For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 

Eph 2:15  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; 

Eph 2:16  And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 

Eph 2:17  And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. 

Eph 2:18  For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. 

The peace comes only by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit gives us these words of truth.

Paul as a Church builder never departed from this truth about our Savior but built upon it, just as we are to do today.

Silas and Timothy were with Paul when the Church at Thessalonica was established and the Holy Spirit always showed that Paul was not alone and that he traveled with others who had the same faith that he had.

Again we will see that prayers are the strength of the Church.

*****1Th 1:2  We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 

1Th 1:3  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 

A strong Church is a praying church!

A true Church is one whose prayers reach into the throne room of God!

Mat 21:22  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive. 

It is our duty to be thankful for the personal benefits we receive from God but notice it is better to be thankful for the good of others.

Paul knew his own strength came because of all those churches praying for his success.

We need to pray for all the missions of our church because they need those prayers and we will still receive those benefits from God.

Our prayers must be a work of our faith or they are useless!

Remember what we learned from James, "faith without works is a dead faith".

We show our love to Christ by what we do for Him willingly!

We must take prayer seriously because it is the power behind the true Church!

Our faith in Jesus Christ will stir us up to do a work for God.

The stronger our faith, the more we can accomplish in the name of our Lord Jesus!

We must never get over the fact that we have been saved from a burning Hell!

Just as faith stirs the Church to do a work of God, "love" stirs the Church to labor, or we would say to get busy serving the Lord.

We know this work can be tiring but when we do get to rest, we will rest satisfied that we are working in the name of our Savior.

One day that true rest will come and our labor on this earth will be over.

Our faith works, our love labors, our hope patiently suffers all things!

We should remember our rewards come from the labor we have done in this life.

*****1Th 1:4  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

What does this election mean?

1) Election means that we as believers are elected and chosen by God to be His beloved people.

God has called each of us out of this world and away from our old life of sin and eternal death.

Being in the will of God means we are now separate and set apart for God's use!

2) Election means we as Christians are all in the same family because we have the same Father.

We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and we are to hold each believer close to our hearts.

We are family because of our faith.

1Jn 3:1  Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 

When we look upon another Christian, we must see them as an object of God's love!

We are all brethren because we are all the object of God's "Grace".

When visitors come into our Church, they should be able to see that our members act like the beloved of God.

They should see clearly that each member treats each other member as the beloved brethren of God.

The "Gospel" is not just a bunch of words written down on paper!

*****1Th 1:5  For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

1Th 1:6  And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 

What is the greatest trait of the Christian? We believe the Word of God and it is this language that we speak. It is the language of Heaven!

The "Gospel" came in power! Not miraculously but persuasively because it came from the heart of God.

The "Gospel" came to us by the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth.

When Paul preached, he was not concerned if he were a good preacher or not.

When Paul preached his only concern was sharing the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is only in these terms that the Holy Spirit can do His work of conviction.

God honors His Word and His Word only!

If we do not believe the Word of God is from Heaven, then we cannot stand before any group in the power of God!

Even as teachers we have no power unless the Holy Spirit is with us and He will not be with us if we have no faith in God's truth!

Those that believe that our creation came in the process of evolution, have no power.

Those that believe that we are not to teach against sin as described in the Bible, have no power.

Those that believe that the Word of God is not the complete truth, have no power.

Those that say the Jesus is not the Messiah who is coming again, have no power.

The truth of God must be taught by example!

Those that are chosen of God are the same ones who have accepted the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The "Gospel" cannot be received without joy!

Our afflictions come by some man, but our joy comes by the Holy Spirit!

The "Gospel" will always bear fruit!

We must all guard our lives to be sure we are following in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ.

*****1Th 1:7  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 

1Th 1:8  For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 

How were these Thessalonians examples of the Apostle Paul?

In their faith.

In their hope.

In their brotherly love.

In their good works.

We must not get caught up in what will people think of us!

It is not a terrible thing to be seen as a peculiar people!

The Church at Thessalonica became an example to other believers.

The new established church was so committed to the Lord Jesus Christ that their testimony spread all over Greece and then all over the known world.

This shows us that the Lord will use us if we just given Him control through the Holy Spirit.

This church was not afraid to show their faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We must understand that if we do not have the Spirit of Jesus Christ in us, then we do not belong to Christ!

Rom_8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.

Having the Spirit of Christ in us will show up in our daily life.

This is one of the greatest testimonies of witnessing in all the Bible.

Our greatest work we can show to those around us is that work for Jesus Christ.

Rom 10:17  So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 

Rom 10:18  But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 

When we speak with the voice of the Lord, His message will spread everywhere.

Psa 29:4  The voice of the LORD is powerful; the voice of the LORD is full of majesty. 

When we do not speak with the voice of the Lord then we are not in the will of God!

When our church does not speak with the voice of the Lord, then we need to close the doors of the church and go home because we are not who we say we are!

*****1Th 1:9  For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 

The world sees the Bible as just a book of fables as they serve their idols of this world.

The Christian sees the Bible as the revelations of the True and Living God who lives in Heaven.

Jer 10:10  But the LORD is the true God, he is the living God, and an everlasting king: at his wrath the earth shall tremble, and the nations shall not be able to abide his indignation. 

Jer 10:11  Thus shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth, even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens.

Exo 3:14  And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you. 

Once we have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we have turned from the idols of the world to the True and Living God.

This is the time we begin standing on the truth of the "Gospel".

We might try to clean our lives up by ourselves but we will find this is impossible. We cannot reform ourselves!

We cannot turn away from idols and seek God.

We must turn to God first and then with God's help and God's strength we can repent and turn away from idols.

It is after we accept the truth of the Gospel that we can repent and be baptized.

Idols are dead images of some imaginary beings, but my Savior, My God is alive and will never die!

Conversion means we have turned completely around.

We begin to hate the things we loved and love the things we hated.

Conversion is to turn to God distinctly by an act and deed of our mind and our will because we see the truth of creation.

We begin to see that there is a purpose to our being on this earth.

This lost world will worship anything and those who say this is not true worship themselves and this is the worst of all false worship.

Every person has an opinion of what God is and what God is like and what God allows and what God does not allow.

The lost world will take these ideas and make themselves an imaginary god out of wood, or silver, or gold, or some other object of this world.

Others just have a picture in their minds of what a god should be.

Some have made this planet to be their god.

Others have made the stars or some alien to be their god.

So an idol is any image created in the mind of man other than the God who gave us the Scriptures that reveal the truth.

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 

Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 

Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

Many of those in Greece had heard of the man Jesus and knew the truth of His crucifixion but were acceptable of His resurrection, but when they heard of His return they sought Him out for the truth.

You see, it is God's Son who is returning to earth, the One who died for us all.

We that know the Lord want to be acceptable to Him and live with Him forever.

This is the reason we are waiting upon the return of Jesus Christ so we can go home and leave this wicked world behind.

Joh 14:2  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 

Joh 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. 

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know. 

*****1Th 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 

How do we know that the Lord Jesus is coming to take us home?

Because God raised Him up from the dead.

By resurrecting Christ Jesus God proved he is the God of all power and not some imaginary God.

God proved He has the power to raise all the dead in Christ.

God proved that He is going to do everything that the Lord Jesus has taught us.

The truth; God will raise some to eternal life but some will be raised to eternal death.

Eternal death is to be separated from the Living God for eternity, which is what they wanted and strived for, but it will be a terrible thing.

By turning to the Living God we will escape the wrath of God that is coming to this world.

Since all the world has now turned against Israel, including my own nation we can see that this day of God's wrath is very close.

Gen_12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

The USA has just come under the curse of God by the works of administration that is in office today.

God will reward those who are in rebellion to His Word with eternal death!

The world is already condemned but all those who turn to God in any nation from idols that are all imaginary can still be saved.

I can assure you that you do not want to see the wrath of an angry God toward those who reject His Son!

Rom 1:18  For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 

Amen

Furthering the Gospel of Jesus Christ

Joy in the Furtherance of the Gospel

Book of Philippians 1:1-17

The Church at Philippi had been established by the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and it was the first Christian church established in Europe.

We should not forget it was from Europe that the "Gospel" found its way to these United States to form a nation where the people could freely worship the Lord Jesus Christ, the God of the Bible!

We offer the freedom to worship but, the Constitution declares the freedom to worship the Lord Jesus Christ which at that time was being denied to those in Europe.

This is the Church that was established in the house of Lydia. This was a place of great poverty yet, this was first New Testament church to provide financial aid to Paul for the furtherance of the "Gospel" wherever he was.

So, as we study these epistles, we should consider that Paul was writing first to the Church itself (the Body of Christ) and secondarily to the Pastors and the church leaders.

*****Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

Paul did not introduce himself as an Apostle to this church, they already understood this to be true. The greatest title any Christian can have is "Servant"!

God did not save us to be His servants, God saved us to be an integral part of His family. As part of the family of God we are to be servants to and of the Church and each other.

This is the task our Savior chose for us all to follow!

Luk 22:25 And he said unto them, The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them; and they that exercise authority upon them are called benefactors.

Luk 22:26 But ye shall not be so: but he that is greatest among you, let him be as the younger; and he that is chief, as he that doth serve.

Luk 22:27 For whether is greater, he that sitteth at meat, or he that serveth? is not he that sitteth at meat? but I am among you as he that serveth.

To be a Holy Ghost filled servant to the Church in the ways of Jesus Christ, is the only way to Sainthood. All other ways are fake!

It is the Saint that is eternal, the offices of bishop and deacon are only temporary and of this earth!

The Word of God never uses the word "Saint" to refer to just a select group of people!

Heb 10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

BUT, a "Saint" can only be sanctified by holding to the truth of God's Word!

Joh 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

Joh 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Joh 17:18 As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world.

The term "Bishop" is used throughout Paul's epistles an elder of the church. This is a person that in some way has oversight in the functioning of the church and it is the entire Body of Christ that is to appoint such persons.

In fact, Jesus Christ said He was the Bishop of our souls, because it is only Jesus that has oversight over our souls and is the Chief Shepherd of the Church!

1Pe 2:25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.

1Pe 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

Also, a fulfillment of the Old Testament Scriptures:

Psa 23:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

Psa 23:2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

Psa 23:3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

The Deacon is the servant inside the Church to help meet the needs of the Body of Christ. They can also be messengers, or even runners.

What did Peter say? Act_6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, "and serve tables".

This is the reason that the first deacons were elected and again they were elected by the "Body of Christ", not the apostles, for a specific purpose and it was never to try to dictate the ways of the Church.

Peter said to "wait on tables" a servant to the Body of Christ.

It is the Pastor who is to lead the Church in the ways of Christ Jesus and it is the "Body of Christ" that is to approve all church leaders and deacons". Of course, the Pastor must be involved in all these things!

1Co_14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

It is by God's Grace that the Church has been given this opportunity or better said, "the privilege" to take on the work that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us to do, until He returns.

It should clear to us all, we live in the time of God's "Grace"!

*****Php 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church has three main functions:

1) Assemble as the Holy Ghost filled Body of Christ to worship our Father in Heaven, Jehovah God, in spirit and truth.

2) To instruct, "born again" believers in the truth of the Word of God. Makes "babes in Christ" to be "mature Christians".

3) Make disciples of the mature Christians, to take the Word of God and the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" out into the highways and byways and the uttermost parts of this earth!

There is no doubt that Paul had Timothy with him to instruct a young preacher boy in the ways of the Church.

After all these things are working as directed, then and only then can the Church be a real help to the communities and to our nation!

All these things come by the "Grace of God"!

It is only the "Born Again" child of God that can be at peace with God, our Father, and that peace only through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is because of God's "Grace" that we have been given this privilege!

*****Php 1:3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

The true Church has delight in all things that the "Gospel" brings. This cannot happen in any place where the Word of God is not accepted for the complete truth.

God is a loving God but he is also very serious about the words He has given to us!

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

How can anyone ignore what God says at the risk of their name being removed from the Book of Life?

Rev 20:15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

It is only because they are servants of Satan!

If the entire body of Christ would quit giving in to society and politicians and this lost world, then there could truly still be a furtherance of the Gospel even in our time which is fast coming to an end!

We must remain steadfast to the truth of the Scriptures, no matter what others say!

We are already on the winning side, it is the enemy that must change their ways!

God being who He is, simply cannot fail and He certainly cannot be defeated!

We as Christians sometimes get downhearted and weary in well doing but we must never think we are the only ones in the battle.

Paul thanked God because Paul knew that this Church in Philippi was in this battle with Him!

I hope the missionaries supported by our Church always feel that we will be with them and supportive of them!

When we cannot help them financially we can certainly help them with our prayers of "faith"!

*****Php 1:4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

We are wrong if we do not pray for our church every day! Not just our local church but for all the "Bride of Christ"!

If you love the Lord Jesus Christ enough to trust Him with your soul, then we are all in the family of God, living for Christ and sharing Christ with those that cross our path and if none cross our path then we need to seek them out.

Remember Christ died for His enemies!

We sometimes make Christianity to be a burden when Christianity is all about the Joy of the Lord!

We are to pray for those that we know and even for those we do not know!

The "fruit of the Spirit is joy"

Gal_5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Eph_5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

The Holy Spirit does not give one-person Joy and another "truth"

When the Holy Spirit moves in, He brings all His fruit with Him and shares all that fruit with us.

It is a privilege to be filled with the Holy Spirit and He will never leave us but we still need a refilling every day.

It is also a great and sometimes misunderstood privilege to go into the throne room of God with our request!

When prayer becomes a duty rather than a privilege how can we ever expect an answer to our request?

A prayer of duty is a prayer that lacks "faith" and without "faith", we simply cannot please God!

If we cannot please our Father in Heaven, then we have wasted the blood of Jesus that has washed us from our sin!

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 simply cannot allow our mood to interfere with our relationship with the Lord! The Lord is always the same, He never changes, a great example for each child of God!

The Apostle Paul was in fellowship with all the churches that he had planted. We should still be in fellowship with all these apostles and we do that when we follow the Apostles Doctrine and not something altered by some other human.

Act 2:41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.

Act 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Why the Apostles Doctrine? The Lord chose these men to start the New Testament church!

Anyone who teaches you that we are to depart from the Apostles Doctrine is telling you a lie!

We need to accept the Apostles Doctrine in the Church and accept the Prophets of God as the voice of God!

What are the doctrines of the Church? (The Church, all those who have accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior)

The entire Word of God rightly divided and in context!

These are the true things of the Church in the days of the Apostles and these things are still the truth today!

These things bring joy to the Church and a joyful church will hold a people who are in complete fellowship with one another!

*****Php 1:5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The mark of fellowship is a partnership. We are all (the Body of Christ) in this thing together!

Denominations are a man-made obstacle to decrease the strength of the Church!

What is the key to our fellowship?

The "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ! The salvation plan of the Lord!

There are so many places that have rejected the truth of God that there is very little fellowship in the Church of today.

The one thing that brought the church together to begin with was the work of Jesus Christ!

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.

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;

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

The Church must never be ashamed of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ! (It seems that the modern-day Church has become ashamed of the only Savior of this evil world) They have forgotten that our Savior, is also our Redeemer, the One who has "Justified" us before our Father in Heaven!

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.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

You cannot be a true Church and be ashamed of any part of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

There is no justification to those who reject the Word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Christian fellowship begins with a Spiritual bond with our Father in Heaven and His Dear Son!

All these things must hold true to be called "The Church"!

If we cannot commit our faith and our lives to the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ there will never be fellowship in the Church!

The Church is in fellowship when we all live the same kind of life, doing the same kind of things, living, serving, bearing witness to the truth of the "Gospel"!

Why is the Church so weak in this world today? We have lost fellowship with the Holy Spirit because we have lost fellowship with each other!

The modern-day church has rejected the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and teach some other man-made doctrine of humanity!

God says the only New Age Movement that will bring salvation, is the Old Age Movement of Jesus Christ!

Jer 6:16 Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein.

Jer 6:17 Also I set watchmen over you, saying, Hearken to the sound of the trumpet. But they said, We will not hearken.

Jer 6:18 Therefore hear, ye nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them.

Jer 6:19 Hear, O earth: behold, I will bring evil upon this people, even the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not hearkened unto my words, nor to my law, but rejected it.

Why do so many think God has changed, when it is impossible for God to change.

Mal_3:6 For I am the LORD, I change not;

It is also impossible for God to lie!

Heb_6:18 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

How can any so-called body of believers, believe that God has some new salvation plan that will include those who refuse to give up their sin?

It has never been this way.

This is the lie of all false religion which all such things.

Not happening!

As believers, we must be confident in the truth of the Scriptures!

Once saved, God fills and seals us with His Holy Spirit!

2Co_1:22 Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.

Eph_1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

Eph_4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

The Holy Spirit will never leave us and He will remain in us, even when the Lord Jesus returns to take us all home.

The Lord Jesus causes us to be "justified" and the Holy Spirit will begin to "sanctify" us and that work will not be complete until the Lord returns to "Glorify" us!

This the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who once begins His work in us, will perform it until He returns!

We should clearly understand God will never begin a work within us and then quit because some of us, (as I am), hard to work with!

It is always we that quit on God and not God that quits on us!

Therefore, it is called "Grace"! God's Riches At Christ Expense.

*****Php 1:7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

We must remember what the Lord has said!

2Co_12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

As the Saints of God, we must persevere under all conditions! We must persevere in the truth of God's Word, there is no other way!

What had God said of the Apostle Paul?

Act 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

Act 9:16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

Was it our God that caused the pain and affliction of the Apostle Paul? That answer is no. It was this world that hates the truth that caused Paul to suffer so very much.

The Lord just knew this would be true!

The entire church will share in the afflictions of the Apostle Paul when we share the truth of the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

So many so-called places of worship are giving in to the world and refuse to believe that the "Grace" of God is still sufficient to meet the needs of the Church.

Any body of believers who cannot or refuse to persevere in the truth of the "Gospel" are set for doom and failure and they will be held accountable for those, they take with them!

The same Saints who can persevere in these times, are the same Saints who are sealed in victory!

The entire "Body of Christ" must be closely bound to the Word of God and the Doctrines of the Apostles, including the Apostle Paul.

We must remain in "harmony" with the truth of God!

God does not change and neither should we. "We are to always hate sin"! Every "Born Again" child of God must repent of their old lifestyle!

A drunk cannot remain a drunk.

A murderer cannot kill.

A gay person must adhere to the Word of God.

The gender those were born in will remain their gender until the day they die.

No doubt those who cling to the truth will suffer in this world but if we suffer together, we can bear one another's burdens.

Gal 6:2 Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

Yes, the law of Christ is love but salvation cannot come to those who refuse to repent their personal sins!

We cannot love someone into Heaven, they each have to deal with God in a personal manner and then obey what God has said!

We must remain partners in the "Gospel" and not some altered version or some perversion of the Word of God!

When our Church leaders are imprisoned and mistreated, it is not time to abandon the "Gospel"!

It's pass the time to buckle on the "armor of God" and go to war!

God says this:

Rom_12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

This means that it may not always be possible!

If we cannot defend the Lord Jesus Christ, then how can we say we love Him?

We must take the "great commission" of the Lord seriously!

Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.

Mar 16:16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

It is those who refuse to believe they are damned, who will be the true enemy of the Christian Soldier!

We must remain partners in Christ!

We must remain partners in "Grace".

We must remain partners in the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

We must remain partners in the Love of God!

*****Php 1:8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

Php 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

We must clearly understand the love of God.

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

There is no salvation to anyone who rejects the Lord Jesus Christ!

To accept the Lord Jesus Christ is to accept that He is certainly God in the flesh!

This "faith" will bring this same love that we are to show to one another.

We must also clearly understand that "love" in the Scriptures is never about feelings!

Love in the Scriptures is about acknowledging the Love of Christ!

Love in the Scriptures is about the knowledge of one another.

Those we love are those we want to know in a personal relationship.

God has intended, from the time of Adam and Eve to work toward a personal relationship with each of His created human beings.

That work was completed by the Lord Jesus Christ and those who believe in the "work that the Lord has accomplished" (for our personal relationship with our Creator) will spend eternity with Him!

Those that reject the work of Jesus Christ will spend eternity in the only other place that exists and that is the "burning Lake of Fire", for this world we live in now, will not exist forever!

If we strive for that personal relationship with our Creator, then we would be very foolish not to try to please Him!

The more we love the Lord, the more we will try to please Him!

The more we love each other, the more we will encourage each other in the Lord.

It is only by that love that we can become pure and pure means: cleansed from sin, unstained by the ways of this world, with our eyes focused on the Lord Jesus Christ!

Another way to remain close to each other is to pray for one another!

Love grows in prayer!

God's love, embraced with "faith" is the power behind the Christian life and the power behind our prayers!

This is the love that will be evident to the world!

Many will accept what they see but many will reject this love as a fallacy, and nothingness, but we must never be discouraged.

True "faith" cannot exist without love!

The Scriptures are our pathway to the knowledge of the truth, doctrinal and even practical.

Judgment in this verse means perception. We must be able to discern good from evil.

We must understand the sin of immorality and that it has no place in society and certainly not in the Church.

Judgment here is discernment! Discernment is the act of distinguishing the truth from those things that are false, according to the Word of God.

It is love, based upon our "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, that we can obtain the knowledge and the judgment of the Christian life!

*****Php 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Php 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Discernment is the power within us to perceive the differences of things and ideas and their relationship to our daily walk with the Lord.

Some ideas may seem worthy of our time, until we test them and find they are not worthy of the Lord.

Things that are excellent are the things that go beyond our own thoughts of good.

Things that are of great value can be used in our own mission for the Lord.

Things that are complete are without the aid of other things in the sense of being Christ like.

Anything that could become a stumbling block to another brother or sister in Christ must be avoided!

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

True discernment means we will choose only those things that are acceptable to the Lord!

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

There are no fruits of righteousness that do not come through the Lord Jesus Christ!

What is expected of the Christian life?

1) The Christian must bear fruit.

Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

2) We must bear the fruits of righteousness.

Jas_3:18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.

3) We must bear inward and outward holiness.

Eph_4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Heb_12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

We must also understand that not every bad thing that happens to Christians is a hindrance to the Gospel!

*****Php 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

Php 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

We should understand it was the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ who had led Paul to go to Rome.

Act_19:21 After these things were ended, Paul purposed in the spirit, when he had passed through Macedonia and Achaia, to go to Jerusalem, saying, After I have been there, I must also see Rome.

Act_23:11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

God will never begin a mission just to end it suddenly!

All God ask is we lead the Christian life and discern good from evil!

The imprisonment of Paul which first seemed to defend his Roman citizenship had become known as connected to Jesus Christ because it was!

Paul was no ordinary prisoner; his own captivity was a witness for Jesus Christ!

Sometimes our circumstance can overwhelm us when the Lord's intent was for these things be for His benefit!

We cannot allow ourselves to be defeated! A defeated Christian is useless to the Lord and a banner to display for our enemy.

The Apostle Paul could not claim to be innocent as was Christ Jesus but Paul was certainly imprisoned without having committed a crime!

His crime was preaching the salvation plan of the Lord!

Can you just imagine being a soldier chained to the Apostle Paul with each soldier being constantly relieved and another to take his place? The ones the Paul witnessed to, could not escape to get away from him.

It was not very long before the work of Christ to die for our sins was broadcast throughout the military of Rome.

Paul was then housed in his own house under guard and could receive all those who would hear the "Gospel".

It would not be long before Paul would stand before the supreme court of Rome and teach them the "Gospel".

Paul spent 2 years under these conditions.

Paul did never grumble or complain.

Paul did never question God and wonder why.

Paul did not become defeated and fall to pieces.

Paul did not ever curse God nor give up his "faith" in Christ.

Paul remained confident even in bondage.

Paul took this opportunity to spread the "Gospel"!

These things even encouraged the many who came to visit Paul to boldly preach the Gospel.

The truth is Christian persecution has never been able to stop the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

2Ti 2:9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

When we allow our circumstances to interfere with the spread of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ, we are causing our own selves harm along with those who have not had the opportunity to meet and know the Lord!

The name of Jesus, the Messiah, was being mentioned in all of Rome.

*****Php 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

What is the truth? The motives of all those who preached and taught the Word of God were not all pure!

Some preached about Jesus Christ only because they are envious of those who preached the truth.

Some were even envious of those who twisted the Word of God and tickled the ears and had a massive following.

Even in bondage the Apostle Paul was preaching in places that reached even into the government of Rome and envy ruled some of the other preachers, even for this thing.

Many of those preached to undermine the influence of the Apostle Paul on the Christian Church!

Gal 1:6 I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

Gal 1:7 Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.

Gal 1:8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

Gal 1:10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

But there were also those who became bold enough to come out of their closet and preach because of the love of Christ!

*****Php 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

Php 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

There are still those today who preach the Word of God only out of concern for their own pocketbooks. They have no love for Christ and they have no love for those lost souls.

Some still refuse to deliver the sincere milk of the Word of God and still deliver the baby's formula!

1Pe_2:2 As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

Many of them may preached the truth, but not with a pure heart!

The Word of God preached with anything other than a pure heart has evil intentions!

It was because Paul was in bondage that these men were bold enough to come out in the open, yet they would twist these things around to say that Paul must be in bondage for some reason other than preaching the "Gospel".

They made Paul out to be the leader of some new sect that went against the truth of God!

Without a doubt, the true Christian of today is seen as some religious sect that go against the reality of a peaceful society.

What is the truth of God? We have the ministry of truth!

2Co 4:1 Therefore seeing we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we faint not;

2Co 4:2 But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God.

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.

2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

What is the truth of preaching the "Gospel" out of envy? The "Gospel" is never to be about earthly riches.

(We must always support the truth)

1Co 9:16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

1Co 9:17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.

1Co 9:18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.

1Co 9:19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.

We must preach and the teach the truth of the "Gospel" without ever feeling ashamed at what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for each of us!

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.

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Anything other than "faith" in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ will not satisfy our Holy God!

Amen