A Test of Our Faith

 Appointed to Affliction

Book of 1 Thessalonians Chapter 3

The Bible is clear concerning the fact that God's people will suffer persecution!

We may not like it but it is a fact and we need to be prepared for it.

The persecution of Christians takes place all around this world we live in.

It is not that God causes our suffering, but God does have a purpose in our suffering.

In fact, the suffering of the Christian is another way that actually proves that the Bible is true.

The suffering of each Christian is a test of faith!

The one main thing that is needed in the Church today is a strong faith!

The is a faith that honestly knows the Lord Jesus Christ and knows what it is to be walking with Him day by day, trusting Him.

Walking means we are not to be standing still but growing in our faith.

Chapter three verse one.

*****1Th 3:1  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 

1Th 3:2  And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

Paul only spent three weeks in Thessalonica before he had to leave because his life was threatened.

It was a group of unbelieving Jews who were trying to stop the growth of Christianity so, Paul was anxious to know how this Church was doing and he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to confirm this new church full of babes in Christ.

Paul was now alone in Athens Greece.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit can do His greatest work in us when we are alone.

It is a sad thing that this world is determined to stamp out and destroy the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

What is this world so afraid of?

Paul may have been in Athens but his heart was still in Thessalonica.

Timothy was like a son to Paul, but at the same time a brother in Christ and a great man of God.

Every true preacher is concerned about the establishment of believers not because of the truth of God, but simply because this world is so full of hate for the Lord Jesus Christ.

This new church was standing its ground against the Devil.

We can see that it is a must that we stand by our faith, or this world will try to walk all over us.

The one thing true in Athens was that Paul saw the whole city given to idolatry.

It is this thing that stirred up the Apostle Paul.

Then, Paul went into the Jewish Synagogues and preached at the market where there were many philosophers speaking on all types of subjects.

It is always a good time to get busy serving the Lord!

Timothy had the same concerns for the church in Thessalonica as did Paul.

Before the Lord Jesus Christ, this world had nothing firm to base their lives upon. This world had no solid foundation to place their faith.

Many of them had good intentions, but these intentions could not prosper in a land full of lies and deceit.

The "Gospel" gives us a sound foundation for a moral life where we can grow in the "Grace of God".

We all need encouragement from time to time and this is what Timothy gave to that church in Thessalonica.

Persecution is not going away, in fact it will get worse, but our faith will carry us through it all.

No amount of persecution can change the fact that our souls are saved and will be in Heaven in the end.

*****1Th 3:3  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. 

We should be able to see that the same afflictions that make us better Christians will harden the heart of a sinner.

An example in the Bible are the plagues of Egypt every plague caused the heart of Pharaoh's to harden even more.

1Pe 4:12  Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 

1Pe 4:13  But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

When we are recognized as someone trying to be like Jesus Christ, then this should make us feel good and even bring joy to us because this is should be our goal until the day we die, to be more like Jesus.

As our faith endures such afflictions, it will make us to be stronger and purer Christians!

God may give riches to some in this world, but the stores of Heavenly treasures are far greater than anything on this earth and are set aside for God's children when they go home.

2Ti 4:18  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 

Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 

Every Christian will suffer some from the afflictions that come from this world, because this world hates the Lord Jesus Christ even though there is no reason to do so.

The only things Jesus ever did was all good things. Jesus never did one bad thing!

*****1Th 3:4  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 

1Th 3:5  For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain. 

There was a direct attack upon the Apostle Paul to destroy him.

It began with rumors and lies. These people felt if they could destroy the reputation of the Apostle Paul that they could destroy the early Church.

This is impossible!

They forgot what Jesus said: "and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it", referring to the Church.

It is impossible for this world to destroy God's Church!

The shameful treatment of God's people will only stir up the wrath of God.

There may come a time that the Church will speak with martyrdom but it has not yet.

The truth is that we should not be moved by these afflictions.

We must understand that we are not of this world and this is the way this world will treat all aliens.

Joh 15:19  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. 

The Christian is hated because we point out the sin and the lies and the immoralities of this world!

The Christian is hated because we live in world where everyone wants to be their own god.

The world believes that a true God should fulfill all their desires no matter their own personal behavior.

The truth is God is love, but God is also "just" and God "demands righteous behavior"!

This is what the world rebels against the most.

As Christians, we must keep in mind that it is Satan who is behind all afflictions aimed at believers.

The truth is, that Jesus Christ died for our sins so that we would not perish in a sinner's hell.

It is Jesus Christ who gives us the privilege to live with Him in Heaven.

We must not give in to the temptations of this world!

Our faith is the key to life everlasting in a place that the word paradise cannot describe sufficiently.

*****1Th 3:6  But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: 

A wise man once said, “As cold water is to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.” 

A strong faith is a faith that gives an excellent testimony!

Timothy brought relief to the Apostle Paul. Those believers were standing fast in their faith in Jesus Christ.

They were continuing to study the Word of God, and to pray and to worship together.

They were witnessing for Christ as the opportunity arose and His promise of eternal life.

Joh 6:28  Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 

Joh 6:29  Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent. 

They were meeting the needs of those in the Church who had a need.

They remembered the one who had set them on the path of righteousness, the Apostle Paul and had a longing to see him again.

What is the message of our Church?

We have faith that will stand fast in the face of opposition.

We have a faith that demonstrates the love of God.

We have a faith that longs for the fellowship with our Pastor.

We have a strong faith in the truth of God.

*****1Th 3:7  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 

1Th 3:8  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 

What is the greatest motivation we can give to our Pastors?

Our own faith in the truth of God that he preaches!

The Apostle Paul was in Corinth at this time and he was facing fierce persecution against him and the new church in Corinth.

Again, it was that group of Jewish religionists that had stirred up much trouble for Paul and early Christians especially those Jews who had converted to Christianity and were excommunicated.

They had dragged Paul before a Roman court.

Many believe that some threat or some savagery happened to Paul at this time that is not recorded, and it brought great affliction to the Apostle Paul.

This good news of the faith of the Thessalonians had brought great comfort to Paul, the comfort he desperately needed.

The strong faith of the Thessalonians stirred renewed life and purpose to the ministry of the Apostle Paul and those with him.

Paul had been discouraged but not defeated!

Paul was stirred to share Jesus Christ as never before.

This church of the Thessalonians were a testimony to the Apostle Paul.

They were suffering persecution and they were remaining steadfast to the Lord.

They were a great example of the true Church.

As we go about serving the Lord we never know when our own faith and our own strength in the Lord are needed to help some other believer.

We must always stand fast in our faith in the truth of the Gospel and in all the Word of God.

Our faith will certainly help our Pastor as he goes about answering his own calling to serve the Lord.

If we stand fast in our faith we will grow more to be like our Savior!

Php 1:27  Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 

The heart of Paul was touched by the actions of these Thessalonians.

*****1Th 3:9  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God; 

1Th 3:10  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Paul's grief had turned to joy.

A wise man wrote: Of all the emotions and affections of the soul, love is the only one we can interchange with God.

We can try to love Him like He loves us!

God has that perfect love a love that we need to seek and show to Him.

This is love that comes from the heart. 

We can show our joy to God by fervent thanksgiving.

There is never a day that we should not be thanking the Lord for what He has done in our lives!

Paul prayed earnestly that he could return to this Church and preach to them the meat of the Gospel.

We never have so much knowledge in the Word of God that we cannot learn more!

We never have so much faith that we cannot increase our faith.

We never have so much love that we cannot increase our love.

We can also pray continuously for our brothers and sisters in Christ and for the men of God who carry God's message to the world.

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Pastor!

The more we get busy serving the Lord the more joy we will see in our Church.

The more people who get saved in our community the more joy we will see in our community.

It is a joyous feeling to know you have missed out on Hell.

I know it was for me.

You just want to be around people like that.

This is one of the greatest testimonies of the true Church.

Why would anyone want to be around a bunch of sad sacks?

A sad church is a miserable church!

Like my Pastor says, "who wants to be around a bunch of people who are mad because they are saved"?

The relationship of the Pastor to his people is so close and vital, that they have within their power to make his life happy or they can make his life miserable. 

A good Pastor will not stay in a miserable church!

The church in Corinth was at that time full of problems and it was telling upon the Apostle Paul so of course he had a great yearning to be with a people who had joy in their salvation.

It took some time, but the church at Corinth did become a good church.

A true church will have sympathy for the lost, a faith that is rock solid, a steadfastness to the Word of God, and a spirit of joy for missing out on Hell.

Another thing every church needs is to grow in the Spirit and Grace of the Lord.

A church that is standing still is losing ground and may stumble and fall at any time.

Php 1:25  And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 

Php 1:26  That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Paul had a great goal of making every Christian perfect for the Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul had a Pastor's heart but God called him to be an evangelist and church planter.

The goal for the Christian Church is for every Christian to come to a unity of the faith in Jesus Christ!

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 

Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 

Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 

In some churches the Lord Jesus Christ is no longer present so they have no Holy Ghost power!

*****1Th 3:11  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. 

For the true Church to be stronger then, we must be sure about God and know who Jesus Christ is!

It is God alone who can fill the desires of His servants!

How do you see God?

God is the Supreme and Matchless being in our universe, the Supreme Intelligence, the Creator and Maker of all things, the Giver and the Sustainer of Life and of everything else. The person who dwells everywhere in Perfect and Supreme Power, Knowledge, and Being.

Some people only think of God as someone who lives in Heaven, in outer space somewhere, and does not really care what is going on in the world.

In fact God is much, much more!

God is intimately involved in our lives.

God is actively involved in our lives!

God is not only in Heaven, but He is also right here with us!

God is our Heavenly Father!

How do you see the Lord Jesus Christ?

The Lord Jesus Christ has existed eternally in Heaven and loves us enough to become our Lord.

The Lord Jesus Christ who loved us enough to come to this earth in the person of Jesus, the Jewish Carpenter from Nazareth.

The Lord Jesus Christ who is the promised Messiah and the Savior of this world.

It is this God who Paul prayed to and it is this same God who we are to pray to.

If this not your God then you are wasting your time praying!

It is only this God who can direct our ways!

He is also the Lord of love!

*****1Th 3:12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 

Love is what this world needs and not that lustful existence that is in our world today.

Every believer needs love!

Every believer needs to show love!

Every believer needs to grow in love!

We need to grow in love toward all mankind and not just love for each other.

In the Bible it is called "agape" love.

The English language has only one word for love to describe affectionate experiences whereas the Greek language has four.

1) There is "eros", a passionate love. This physical love between the sexes, the patriotic love a person has for his nation, or the ambition of a person for power or wealth. Eros can be a good love or a bad love.

2) There "storge" love or affectionate love. This is the love that exists between a parent and a child and between a loyal citizens and a trustworthy ruler.

3) There is "phileo" love or endearing love. Phileo love is the love between a husband and a wife for each other. Of brothers and sisters, and sometime close friends.

4) Then there is "agape" love. A selfless and sacrificial love. Agape love is a love of the mind, of reason and of will.

Agape love loves a person who is undeserving of that love. Agape love is love for a person who is unworthy of that love.

Agape love is the love God has for us. Agape love is the love Christ Jesus demonstrated on the cross.

Rom 5:6  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 

It is the love for unworthy sinners.

Rom 5:8  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 

It is the love of God for undeserving enemies.

Rom 5:10  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. 

Selfless agape love is a gift of God.

There is no agape love without a relationship with Jesus Christ because this is the love that comes to us by the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will not come into us without a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 13:13  And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. 

After our salvation and prayer, the next greatest gift we get from the Lord is agape love.

Without the love of God, He would certainly be that distant God who would not care what we are doing at any time but He loved us before we even knew Him.

1Jn_4:10  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn_4:19  We love him, because he first loved us.

The result of this love is that we will be presented unblameable before God when the Lord Jesus returns to take us home.

*****1Th 3:13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 

The great result of God's love is that the Lord Jesus will present His Church unblameable before God His Father when we meet Him in the clouds.

The Lord Jesus as our Advocate will stand before His Father and say, "these are the ones I have been telling you about".

The Lord Jesus will confirm our relationship with Him!

No one else has the power nor the right to present us before God, than our Redeemer.

That word unblameable means that we will be without a blemish and without a spot, free from fault and free from blame.

We will be free from all the charges that Satan has brought against us.

If it our Savior who is the only One who can make us unblameable before God!

If Jesus Christ, the Son of God, does not have the power nor the desire to present us before God, then we are all doomed.

Jesus is the only One who has ever risen from the dead to live for evermore.

Yes, the Lord raised some from the dead when He was upon this earth, but they later had to die again.

He will present all those who died in Christ.

He will present all those who lived until the Rapture of the Church.

We will one day not too far into the future be presented face to face to the Almighty Living God.

This is the promise of God Himself.

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. 

We know our Lord does not ever break His promises!

Amen

Faith Is Still the Key

 The Servant's Victory

Book of Mark Chapter 16

The Lord Jesus Christ expressed victory for every believer with the fulfillment of His resurrection!

Jesus Christ had predicted His resurrection on several occasions, but His disciples never really understood Him.

Most of this world still does not understand the reality of the resurrected Christ today!

Mat 16:21  From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 

Mat 17:22  And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men: 

Mat 17:23  And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Mat 20:18  Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, 

Mat 20:19  And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Mar 8:31  And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 

Mar 9:31  For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. 

Mar 10:33  Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: 

Mar 10:34  And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again. 

Luk 9:22  Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. 

Luk 18:32  For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: 

Luk 18:33  And they shall scourge him, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. 

We also see that the Lord Jesus specified that He would rise again on the third day showing His omniscience and His obedience to the Word of God.

All the Gospels stress the "physical" resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

There were many witnesses to His resurrection.

Joh 20:1  The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:2  Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. 

Joh 20:3  Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. 

Joh 20:4  So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

Joh 20:11  But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, 

Joh 20:18  Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her. 

Mat 28:9  And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 

Mat 28:10  Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me. 

Then there were the two witnesses on the road to Emmaus.

Then the ten disciples in the upper room.

Then the eleven disciples a week later.

Then the disciples who decided to go fishing.

Then eleven disciples in Galilee, where Jesus had told them He would meet them there.

Then the disciples in Jerusalem.

Let us see what Mark wrote by the Holy Spirit.

The actual words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luk 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 

Luk 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 

Luk 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 

Luk 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 

Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

Let us analyze what John wrote:

Joh 20:7  And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. 

We know one meaning is that when Jesus placed His napkin aside as this verse states means, that He will return.

There is another meaning.

As John wrote he described this napkin as being still rolled up.

This napkin was retaining the circular shape as though the head of Jesus were still in it but lying in a place by itself. It was detached from the rest of the wrappings, but the shape of this head piece and the wrappings tell us that the body of Jesus passed through those wrappings and left them undisturbed.

The Body of Christ had certainly risen even through His death wrappings.

The Body of Christ, the true Church, those alive and the bodies of those in the grave, may truly rise very soon, as we witness the signs going on in our world today!

The atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ reached its climax when He arose from His death!

The Rapture of the Church will be the climax of the period of the Grace of God and period of the Jews will begin.

The Apostle wrote:

Rom 1:1  Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 

Rom 1:2  (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 

Rom 1:3  Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 

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: 

Let us pick back up on our lesson with verse nine.

*****Mar 16:9  Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils. 

Up until this moment no human eye had seen our risen Savior.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered death.

The Lord Jesus Christ had conquered the grave.

The Lord Jesus Christ proved that life "by Him" had no ending!

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Giver of 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.

God is not the God of the dead!

Later the Apostles taught the "Gospel" as the truth of the Word of God and it is, but they taught the resurrection of Christ as fact, because they were eyewitnesses to the resurrected Christ!

They became bold in the preaching to the Gospel because the "Good News" is a fact!

The key to the New Testament is the fact that the Apostles were eyewitnesses to the death and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, the true Messiah!

If you look into the scrolls of the Catholic Church, the Sinaiticus and the Vaticanus you will see that these are two of the many verses that were left out so Bibles translated from those altered scrolls do not include these words of the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that sin is sin and we sometime try to decide which one sin is greater than another as we try to hold on to our pet sins but this is not the complete truth.

The sin of lying will be treated the same as the sin of murder though there may be different degrees of suffering for some sins.

If we look at Mary Magdalene, we see a sinner just like we are all sinners.

Rom 3:23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Mary felt that the Lord Jesus had forgiven her so much more than others because she felt her sins had been so great.

In fact, this Mary should be an example for us all in her devotion to the Lord after she was forgiven.

It is said that Jesus had cast out seven devils from her.

What do we see of this Mary, she was not afraid to be seen as a believer!

Mary stood by cross through the whole ordeal of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus.

Mary was even present when the Lord Jesus was taken down from that terrible cross, another witness to His death.

Mary was the one who led in the preparations for the embalming of His body over the weekend.

Mary was the first to visit the tomb after the Sabbath.

Mary refused to leave the tomb after Peter and John verified that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

Mary was a precious saint of God who was truly devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ making her a great example for us all.

The Lord Jesus took the time to comfort His devoted follower before He met anyone else.

These things make Mary Magdalene a great witness to the death and resurrection of our Savior and a loving friend of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Joh 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. 

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ died in our place for our sins, He had no sin.

To be a Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus Christ arose from that death to live evermore and to show each believer that death has no power over us and we will live evermore with our Savior and our Redeemer.

To be Christian is to know that the Lord Jesus is forever with us in the hour of our need, meeting every need and responding to our love for Him.

To truly be a Christian is to do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ in all His ways and be in the will of God for our own lives.

*****Mar 16:10  And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.

Mar 16:11  And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not.  

In the fulness of believing faith, Mary hurried back to Jerusalem to inform the eleven disciples of what she had discovered at the tomb of Christ.

They were still mourning over the loss of not only their Lord but also their dear friend.

They just could not find the faith to believe what Mary was saying to them.

There is no doubt they were also mourning for every time they had let down the Lord Jesus Christ.

There was also mourning because they did not know what to do now, seeing their leader was gone.

Mary came with faith that the Lord Jesus had done what He said He would do!

We need to understand that the things that Jesus said He would do as written in the KJV, He did accomplish.

Rom 4:23  Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him; 

Rom 4:24  But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead; 

Rom 4:25  Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification. 

All the prophecies that led to the coming of the true Messiah are fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The disciples of the Lord Jesus had not believed Him when He said these things would happen, so they did not believe Mary Magdalene.

It is probably more that they could not understand rather than could not believe.

They insisted that this true believer then had to be a liar even though they highly valued her.

We should realize that as Christians today, we are not the only ones who have mourned for Christ Jesus!

We are not the only messengers who have been rejected, but we are sure beyond any doubt that the Lord Jesus arose from that tomb!

In our hearts we do not care what all the doubters believe!

We need to show the faith that this Mary had and have no doubts about our Savior!

If this happen and there was a need for a courtroom, there is more evidence that Jesus arose from His death than most any other historical event, yet the world doubts the truth of God.

Most of this world will remain lost because of this doubt.

Remember:Mat_7:14  Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

Once these disciples knew the truth then they would die before they would renounce their faith in the truth of the Gospel.

This says a lot about the truth of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

They were slow to believe, but once they knew the truth, they could not be unconvinced and neither should we!

We have to stand on the truth of the Gospel simply because we know it is the truth!

If we want to mourn and weep let us mourn and weep for those who reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul wrote:

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: 

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. 

1Co 15:8  And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time. 

Paul could write these things because he knew they were the truth!

The Lord Jesus knew all these things would happen so; He began to show Himself to them.

*****Mar 16:12  After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country.

Mar 16:13  And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.  

We should understand that one of the proofs of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is the immediate unbelief of His disciples.

They had to be convinced of the truth of the resurrection.

Once they realized this truth, they never doubted the Lord Jesus ever again.

All but John died because they could not be convinced otherwise.

They could have rejected the truth of the Messiah and lived!

There was a distinct change in the appearance of our Savior after His resurrection!

He was the same and yet not the same.

They knew the voice of the Lord Jesus this had not changed.

The Lord Jesus bore the marks of His crucifixion on His hands, His feet, and His chest.

He ate with His disciples, He had conversations with them, and He blessed them and yet He was not the same.

The body of our Messiah was no longer subject to the laws of space and time!

He came and went as He so chose!

One moment He was with them and another moment He would vanish out of their site.

This is what happened on the road to Emmaus. (Book of Luke 24:13-35)

Christ Jesus made Himself known to a select group of people.

We can understand these words of the Apostle Paul if we let this sink in.

2Co 5:10  For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; "that every one may receive the things done in his body", according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. 

Paul was referring to the glorified body of our Lord Jesus.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that we would all appear with Jesus and be like Jesus when the Lord Jesus returns to claim this world.

Col 3:3  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 

Col 3:4  When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, "then shall ye also appear with him in glory". 

Again Paul was talking about this glorified body that the Lord Jesus showed to the Apostles after His resurrection, the same body He went back to Heaven with.

**The Lord Jesus had come to this earth as Spirit and took on the form of a new baby to make a point that we all must be "born again" in His Spirit.

**The Lord Jesus grew to adulthood to reach the age when He would begin His ministry.

We are to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Savior so we can become a servant of the Lord and be in His will, which is our ministry.

**The Lord died to show us that death had no power over Him and He rose again to prove it was true.

Once we are faithful believers, we know that death has no power over us ever again.

**The Lord Jesus raised Himself in a glorified body to show us that at the moment of our death, there will be no death, but we will begin a new everlasting life and it will be in a glorified body just like that of the Lord.

The difference is, He will show His battle scars and we will be brand new!

Though He was glorified, He was still the man Christ Jesus with all His individual characteristics.

This is the body He returned to Heaven in so we can all be alike body wise in Heaven but we all will still be different.

We should never listen to anyone who tries to get rid of the form of Christ or substitute some vague image of Him as the truth.

The Apostles were not confused and they were eyewitnesses!

The "Body of Christ", the Church will one day soon resemble Jesus Christ's resurrection body when we return with Him.

Joh 3:34  For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. 

Joh 3:35  The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. 

Joh 3:36  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. 

The Lord Jesus continued to show Himself to His disciples. 

*****Mar 16:14  Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. is victory over death.

There are two major hindrances to being a true witness for Jesus Christ.

1) Unbelief.

2) The hardness of the heart.

The Lord Jesus Christ scolded these disciples for both of these things.

They had not believed the words He had taught them!

They had witnessed the power of God for about three years and there was no excuse for their unbelief.

They had seen His power over nature and disease.

They had witnessed His power over death when He raised up the daughter of Jairus and Lazarus and others.

They had witnessed the sinless life of Jesus, His purity, and His holiness. The Lord Jesus Christ was without sin therefore death had no power over Him!

They had been taught time after time that He was to die and be raised again.

They had rejected the testimony of His resurrection!

Their hardness of heart to not even believe other disciples was a very serious problem that they had to overcome!

We are all to be disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ to spread the truth of our Holy God!

These things had to be dealt with!

The cause of unbelief and the hardness of the heart is the misinterpretation of Scripture and the misinterpretation of words of Jesus Christ which today we see them in red letters if we want to.

All the Scriptures are the Word of God!

2Ti_3:16  All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

They refused to see Christ as the suffering Savior and could think only of Him as the conquering King and He will be this too when it is time!

They refused to see the Kingdom of God as a Spiritual Kingdom, thinking only of a physical kingdom, which takes place as the Millennial Kingdom of Christ, which is a temporary thing, at least for only one thousand years.

They simply did not understand the death, the burial, and the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Until these things were understood completely, they could not be given the "Great Commission".

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

All the Word of God is to be treated as the commandments of God and the "Great Commission" is as straight-forward as can be said.

The Lord used very few words but this command cannot be misunderstood.

The Lord was teaching this thing to His disciples.

If you are a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ then you are also a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ!

That word preach is used here and it means to declare the truth of God!

It means for us to declare the truth of God, especially the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The "Gospel", meaning the "Good News" of the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done for our salvation.

The Lord Jesus has done all the work and we are to believe and proclaim what He has done for us, including all the world.

Though most of the world will ignore the Gospel, the world still needs to hear what the Lord has to say, because He is the Lord of Life!

That word preach, does not mean that only those who are called to preach are to share this message, but every child of God is to share the "Gospel" message.

We are not to preach our own thoughts about the Gospel.

We are not to preach our own ideas about the "Gospel".

We are not to preach humanistic or man-centered beliefs about the 'Gospel".

We are not to preach what world religions think about the "Gospel",

We are not to preach what philosophers think about the "Gospel".

We are to preach the "Gospel", just as it is revealed to us by the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God!

This is the Divine work that has been assigned to us.

No Christian is exempt from this duty.

None of us are excluded from the privilege and honor of taking part in this work given to us by our Savior!

The "Gospel" must be heard and it will do its own work!

The "Gospel" must be carried out into all the world.

The Great Commission was given to all the Church, to every believer!

Notice that the Lord Jesus does not give us a list of reasons why we cannot do this command.

In other words there are no excuses for anyone!

It is a permanent commission given to every believer, in every generation to do, until the Lord takes us home or He returns to take us all home on the day of the Rapture.

What is the truth to those after they have heard the Gospel?

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

What the world has a tough time believing is the fact that we are all doomed from the day of our birth.

We may look down at an innocent baby and say how can this child be a sinner, but it does not take many days until we see the truth as that child begins to lie.

We see that baptism is mentioned in this passage and we know that baptism is not part of our salvation in the sense that it is necessary.

What we must understand is, that being baptized is being obedient to the Word of God!

In the sense of that obedience, it is then necessary as becomes part of our beliefs.

We believe in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ that He has done for our salvation, the "Gospel" and we believe in the truth of all the Word of God and in this context the Lord Jesus says we must be Baptized.

To be baptized is a sign of our belief!

Baptism is an act of obedience to God's demand just as belief is an act of obedience to God's demand.

We should also know that believing also includes, repentance, while obeying the "Gospel".

To be saved we must believe the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

If we then believe, then God demands that we be baptized!

It could be said that how can a person be saved if that person immediately rebels against being baptized?

If we are saved, then God expects obedience to all the Word of God!

This is where the so-called progressives are failing today!

If that obedience does not exist, then that salvation does not exist!

Jas 2:17  Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. 

Jas 2:18  Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. 

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. 

Jas 2:20  But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?

Every saved soul who believes in the Lord will not have a problem in obeying all the Word of God!

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; 

Obedience is then tied to our salvation!

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.

It is by faith alone that we are saved but after that salvation then there are some works to do and baptism is that first works as is making a public confession of our sin.

We are all sinners saved by the "Grace" of God.

None of these things mean we can never fail; we will certainly fail in our service to the Lord!

We will fail, but we will not continue in sin.

We will get up out of our sin, ask God for forgiveness, and follow the Lord even more diligently.

Is it possible to be saved without following the Lord Jesus Christ which is the meaning of being a Christian?

Those who are lost are those who do not believe the Gospel!

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.

We should ask ourselves just what does this belief "in Him" really mean?

Not being baptized is not a reason that is mentioned for a reason for salvation.

What we need to understand is, that believing is making a commitment to the things that God says, the infallible Word of God.

A person is not saved if they do not believe, which is a rejection of what God says!

To believe is a Spiritual event!

To be baptized is a physical event!

The Lord Jesus then is saying in verse sixteen, that when a person is saved and filled with the Holy Spirit they will not fail to be baptized unless they are physically unable to do so.

The moment of salvation is not at the time of salvation, but is at the time of believing!

A true believer will then be baptized and be obedient to all the Word of God!

This thing is not that confusing and each believer must work through these things with the help of the Holy Spirit.

Php_2:12  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

It is our Savior who started His work of salvation in us, but we are to carry it to the end with the help of the Holy Spirit and following the Word of God being obedient to it!

*****Mar 16:17  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; 

Mar 16:18  They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. 

To all those who are saved and have not grieved the Holy Spirit by ignoring the Word of God, then they will be able to work through the power of the Holy Spirit!

The pure fact of witnessing for the Lord Jesus Christ is the fact that it cannot be done under our own power, but only with the power of the Holy Spirit!

Our world has always been a dangerous place and it is even more so today.

Dangers come not only from the enemies of the Church but also natural calamities.

And we must not forget what the Word of God says.

Eph_6:12  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

It is these things that are the most dangerous and it is also these things that we hear every day that are Israel's enemy!

Now we must not get confused.

There will be some who become martyrs.

There will be some who will suffer major persecution, but God will not allow all His children to die, except in the fashion of the Rapture.

Things will not always be smooth for believers even here in America!

The point God is making is that as God's people carry out the "Great Commission", God will make some of His power known to this world.

Many of these things mentioned here were necessary when the Church had its beginning but the Lord did not mean they are all needed today.

Some are to plant seeds.

Some are to water and nourish those seeds.

Some will receive the seed and believe immediately.

Some will reject the seed and never receive the truth of God.

We know that even in the time of Paul the speaking of tongues, which have always been about known languages and not some gibberish trying to imitate this power that was given to the first Apostles and a few others in the beginning of the early Church.

1Co 14:21  In the law it is written, With men of other tongues and other lips will I speak unto this people; and yet for all that will they not hear me, saith the Lord. 

1Co 14:22  Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, "but to them that believe not": but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe. 

We now that Paul also seemed to have power over serpents at one time.

Act 28:3  And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. 

Act 28:4  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live. 

Act 28:5  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm. 

No evangelist has this power over serpents today.

Snake handlers are not preachers of the truth!

We can also be sure if we test God and drink any substance that could kill us then it probably will.

Today we have the complete text of the Bible and it is the Bible, the Word of God that has the power needed to reach the dark soul of each sinner!

Faith is still the key to salvation that still comes by the Grace of God!

Faith is a distinct relation between the lost soul and the believing soul! 

The triumph of the believing soul is that it can now live through the power of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is safety in "faith" in Jesus Christ and it is eternal!

Psa 91:14  Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 

Psa 91:15  He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 

Psa 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. 

There is safety in the Church if we remain in the Church.

Heb_10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Amen

God Never Changes His Plans

 Remembering Israel's Past

Book of Deuteronomy Chapter 4

As we look back in the history of Israel and their escape from Egypt, we should understand that even on foot the journey from Egypt to Kadesh on the outskirts of the River Jordan, was only an eleven day journey and it took Israel forty years to make this journey.

Deu 1:2  (There are eleven days' journey from Horeb by the way of mount Seir unto Kadeshbarnea.) 

Deu 1:3  And it came to pass in the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, that Moses spake unto the children of Israel, according unto all that the LORD had given him in commandment unto them;

This is the difference between obedience and disobedience even among God's people!

As Christians remembering our past can be painful but also joyful at the same time.

It is sad to recognize how sinful we were, but joyful to know that God has enough "Grace" to forgive us of our sin.

Rom_5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

When we look at our past with clear eyes, we can utterly understand that the news of what Jesus Christ has done for us, is certainly Good News.

We serve a merciful God who is also full of "Grace"!

There is one God who is also our Creator and to Israel, He is Jehovah and to the Church He is the Lord Jesus Christ the true Messiah who came down from Heaven to die that we might have eternal life.

As Christians the one most important thing we must do after we are saved, is to snuggle up to Jesus and stay as close to Him as the hem of His garment.

We need the Lord in our lives much more than we can know!

We must never forsake our Savior as Israel forsook Jehovah, and traveled in the wilderness for forty years.

The journey of the new nation of Israel to their Promised Land in type means, "it will not be easy to be a Christian", but the rewards of obedience to Him are out of this world.

So, we must not just read the Word of God we must study the Word of God.

2Ti 2:11  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 

2Ti 2:12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 

2Ti 2:13  If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: "he cannot deny himself". 

2Ti 2:14  Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers. 

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

I know when we pray being filled with the Holy Spirit, God does speak to us in our heart and relays that into our mind and we know we have heard from the Lord.

It is a true saying that "I know that Jesus lives because I just spoke to Him, and I know He heard me".

But these Israelites heard the actual voice of God.

Even though we rarely take notice that God is still doing miracles today, these twelve tribes of Israel were eyewitnesses to many miracles, yet they denied the truth of Jehovah God.

When the Lord commands us, He is actually telling us His commandments are better for us and this is why we should obey.

In other words it is good for our health here on earth and later in Heaven if we will just be obedient to all the Word of God!

When we have that understanding, then it is rather easy to tell others what the Lord has done for us and this is what we are to do!

When we study the Old Testament, we realize that God never broke one promise nor any covenant with Israel, and since He never changes, it is the same for the Church if we continue to be obedient to Him.

We know for sure that when we make requests that are known to God, He will respond to that request!

He may say "yes", He may say "no", or He might say "now is not the time", He may even say "I have something better for you", but He will respond to every prayer that reaches Him in Heaven.

Our job is to live our lives so that our prayers can be heard in Heaven!

Isa 58:9  Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 

Isa 58:10  And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 

Isa 58:11  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 

It is a great privilege to take our burdens to the Lord, but when we do, we must certainly leave them there!

Moses declared unto this nation of Israel the truth of God, and they should have listened just as the Church needs to listen to what God has to say today, no matter what part of the Bible He is speaking to us from!

*****Deu 4:31  (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them. 

Deu 4:32  For ask now of the days that are past, which were before thee, since the day that God created man upon the earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the other, whether there hath been any such thing as this great thing is, or hath been heard like it? 

Deu 4:33  Did ever people hear the voice of God speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou hast heard, and live? 

The Creator of all we see here on earth and what we can see in the heavens declare the glory of God!

As stronger telescopes are made and sent into the heavens, we see a never-ending array of God's creation and we need to stand in awe of His mighty power.

We should also understand that according as the speed of light, there are still great lights in the heavens that have not been seen and when they are seen it does not mean they are something new.

This information is ignored because it makes the earth to be young earth and not billions of years old.

Why would such a powerful God pay close attention to the people He created, we might not ever understand that, but He does!

I am sure that He does not call us "birth persons" and "non-birth persons" as we see our government is pushing for us to use instead of boy or girl or male or female. Such foolish people insist that God makes mistakes and I know He cannot make mistakes!

God works for those who love Him!

It is not just anybody who can brag and say, "my God works for me" and He does!

This same powerful God will still humble Himself and stop what He is doing long enough to listen to me when I speak to Him.

The greatest enemy of our prayer life is our lack of faith!

Luk 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. 

Luk 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 

Luk 18:8  I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? 

The Lord is the only true multitasker!

He can listen to me and many others and still keep His creation moving along according to His plan.

God never has to alter His plan!

My God is not afraid to reveal Himself to me!

My God will also act on my behalf in a world that rejects Him!

Heb 4:14  Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 

Heb 4:15  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 

Heb 4:16  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

What was the reality of God in removing the children of Israel from Egypt?

*****Deu 4:34  Or hath God assayed to go and take him a nation from the midst of another nation, by temptations, by signs, and by wonders, and by war, and by a mighty hand, and by a stretched out arm, and by great terrors, according to all that the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes? 

Deu 4:35  Unto thee it was shewed, that thou mightest know that the LORD he is God; there is none else beside him. 

We must understand that God alone has the power to conquer the enemies of life and there are many enemies ready to take control of our lives.

Temptation may be our greatest enemy as it was to Israel!

These children of Israel had witnessed with their own eyes the formidable power of God.

All the way back to the time of Adam there was no evidence that God would deal with a nation as He had dealt with this band of slaves.

We could say that only Adam and Eve had ever heard the voice of God until He spoke to Israel.

Gen_3:8  And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

God spoke out of the midst of a fire to Moses, yet Moses still lived.

Exo 3:1  Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the backside of the desert, and came to the mountain of God, even to Horeb. 

Exo 3:2  And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. 

Exo 3:3  And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great sight, why the bush is not burnt. 

Exo 3:4  And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. 

God spoke from the midst of a fire to this entire nation of Israel to give them the moral laws.

Exo 20:1  And God spake all these words, saying, 

Exo 20:2  I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

No other nation could brag of such a thing as Israel could!

God had shown great signs in the plagues upon Egypt.

Jehovah God is certainly a merciful God.

Yet this same merciful God is a consuming fire to His enemies.

And in the future, not too far off, the enemies of God will be destroyed by this consuming fire.

And yet, this consuming fire can be a refining fire in our hearts to remove the dross and impurities of our sinful lives causing us to be "Born Again" into a new life.

Why had God done all these things in eyesight of Israel? So Israel would know there is a true Living God!

Why does God do what He does? He wants everyone in this world to be saved!

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.

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.

You see the Lord God is the only Living and True God, the Sovereign Majesty of the Universe, (Jehovah Yahweh), which also makes Him a God of discipline, correction, and holiness!

*****Deu 4:36  Out of heaven he made thee to hear his voice, that he might instruct thee: and upon earth he shewed thee his great fire; and thou heardest his words out of the midst of the fire. 

God gives His commandments in order for us to know right from wrong! 

These are commandments and not suggestions and they are all for our benefit in order for us to live a joyous and productive life upon this earth and a glorious life when He calls us home to Heaven.

These things are not that hard to understand when you come to know Him as your personal Savior!

We would be wrong to think that He will not correct us when we are disobedient!

There is no one more faithful to the things He says than the Lord God Almighty!

There is no one who keeps all His promises as does the Loving God!

It is the faithfulness of God that gives us hope for eternal life!

Death has no real meaning to the child of God, and He wants us to be as His dear children!

Apostasy is the abandonment of our Christian Faith!

The title Christian comes from being like the Lord Jesus Christ!

All those who have abandoned the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ are living in "Apostasy"!

Just as these Israelites began to fall away from Jehovah God, we see today the Church is "falling away" as the Apostle Paul taught and this is a sign of the soon coming of the Lord.

2Th 2:1  Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him, 

2Th 2:2  That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. 

2Th 2:3  Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; 

2Th 2:4  Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. 

Everything we see going on in our world today is building to this climatic event just as it was for Israel for their own apostasy.

We can believe that the "Man of Sin" is about ready to stick his ugly head onto the world scene if he has not already.

God and God alone have the power to conquer all His enemies who can empower His people to victory.

Victory over our own sin, victory in our lives and that victory will lead us to eternal life in the "Glory World".

It was the nation of Israel who was chosen to bring forth our Savior just as He chose the land now called Palestine for them to live!

*****Deu 4:37  And because he loved thy fathers, therefore he chose their seed after them, and brought thee out in his sight with his mighty power out of Egypt; 

Deu 4:38  To drive out nations from before thee greater and mightier than thou art, to bring thee in, to give thee their land for an inheritance, as it is this day. 

Notice also that this same powerful Holy God, is the God of Love!

1Jn_4:8  He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn_4:16  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

When you know Him in a personal relationship you can feel this love!

God proved His love to Israel by leading them out of slavery and bondage.

Egypt can be understood as a symbol of what the world is today.

We should be able to see easily that nations even in the USA are all trying to make slaves of their people and succeeding.

God hates slavery and He removed the tiny nation of Israel out of slavery and the survival of Israel over all these years is enough proof the God is still on their side!

God does not save from a distance. God remains close to His people even when He does not have to!

God alone has the power to conquer all our enemies and He does not need some mighty army to do so.

We know that God had chosen Abraham, then Isaac, and Jacob and He never took His eyes away for their children.

It’s like this today! God chose His only begotten Son the Lord Jesus Christ and all those who accept Him become the children of God and He will never take His eyes off His children.

All He ever ask of us is obedience!

Most all the mighty nations of Canaan Land fell before that ragtag bunch of Israelites when they were obedient to God. 

In fact, the problems they have today with those called Palestinians are the result of disobedience all the way back to the time of Moses and Joshua when they rebelled against the commands of God.

It is the same for us today. Our lives are joyful and peaceful when we come to know our Savior, but when we decide to do some things our own way, we will see failures and some of these things we will carry with us the rest of our days.

It is best just to have faith in the Word of God and be obedient.

*****Deu 4:39  Know therefore this day, and consider it in thine heart, that the LORD he is God in heaven above, and upon the earth beneath: there is none else. 

Deu 4:40  Thou shalt keep therefore his statutes, and his commandments, which I command thee this day, that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, and that thou mayest prolong thy days upon the earth, which the LORD thy God giveth thee, for ever. 

The entire Bible is the revelation of God. God revealing Himself to the world!

He could have chosen many ways, but this the way He chose.

After we recognize this then it behooves us to be obedient. Even through the many translations, the Word of God still has a simple message. 

Just be obedient to God because He is all knowing! He knows the ending at the same time as He knows the beginning.

There is only One Living And True God and it does not matter what unbelievers think or say. They are wrong!

We must always understand, God does not intend for us to argue with the Word of God, the truth is the truth, and we have the truth.

Why are we to keep His commandments, it is quite simple? That it will go well with us!

This means in this life but also in that everlasting life to come if you accept the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation.

The Bible is the wisdom for every nation and should be accepted as such.

When we obey the Word of God, we get the blessings of God and just like last week when we studied Balaam.

There is no one that can take away the blessings of God except God Himself!

The Bible will elevate the national character of any nation, and this was once true in the USA, but now our government has kicked God out of government, schools, the laws and about everything else and when God is asked to leave, He will leave.

God will not stay where He is not wanted!

It is the duty of each and every Christian to have a close personal relationship with God!

We are then under obligation to teach those things to our young!

Israel had to relationship with Jehovah. 

In contrast those Gentile nations each had their own different god and most all of them had many gods and much of these things were debased forms of human passion and immorality.

God wanted Israel to be a nation of Priests and a Holy nation the same as the Church today.

Exo 19:6  And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel. 

And the Church:

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 

1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. 

We are royal because of King Jesus.

We are peculiar because we are obedient to God and not to this world.

We love Him so we praise Him.

He gives to us "Mercy" and "Grace".

A perfect relationship.

Rev 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years. 

It only gets better!

Amen

God's Grace and Christian Service

 The Gospel of Grace and Christian Service

Book of Romans Chapter 12

What is Christian service?

After God has shown to us His Mercy and Grace and saved us from His wrath, we must choose to receive what He has done for us by Jesus Christ, and we must begin our walk of obedience with Him!

We should understand that we will serve this world, or we must accept what the Lord Jesus has done for us and serve Him. 

We cannot have two masters!

Luk 16:13  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. 

We must remain faithful in our service until the Lord returns to take us home!

Luk 12:42  And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 

Luk 12:43  Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 

Luk 12:44  Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 

Luk 12:45  But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 

Luk 12:46  The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 

Luk 12:47  And that servant, which knew his lord's will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. 

Luk 12:48  But he that knew not, and did commit things worthy of stripes, shall be beaten with few stripes. For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more. 

Luk 12:49  I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? 

Even as Christians serving with a purpose, we must never think too highly of ourselves!

The Apostle Paul describes this for us.

Act 20:18  And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 

Act 20:19  Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 

Act 20:20  And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 

Act 20:21  Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 

There is a particularly good reason to be good servants of the Lord.

Col 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; 

Col 3:24  Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. 

Col 3:25  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons. 

As Christians we have a purpose in this life when before the Lord found us, we were miserable and without purpose!

*****Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 

Another way of saying these things to say we must be devoted to the Lord for the work He has done for us to get us saved.

Christian devotion means:

2Co 4:16  For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 

2Co 4:17  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

A Christian doing a work for the Lord will stand out in this world, especially in this day that we are hated so much.

Act 4:13  Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. 

Act 4:14  And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. 

We owe the Lord all our body can give to Him.

We owe all our energy to the Lord.

All our thoughts need to be on our service to Him!

We live in a world that desperately needs to get right with God!

The way to do this is clearly revealed through the Lord Jesus Christ!

Our "faith" in the work of Christ Jesus is counted to us for "righteousness".

It was the same for Abraham of the Old Testament.

Rom_4:3  For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.

Rom_4:13  For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.

Gal_3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.

We are to give our bodies to God while we are still alive!

Sin destroys the body!

We are Born Again now having a new soul.

We are filled with the Holy Spirit of God and need a refilling daily.

God demands we give Him our body for His service.

We are not to do our own thing.

We are not to dedicate our bodies for our families even though this should be a close second.

We are not to dedicate our bodies to our jobs or our possessions.

We are to give our bodies to God to do with them as He pleases!

Living sacrifice means a constant and continuous service.

Living sacrifice means wherever our body is located.

Living sacrifice means without our own desires but for the desires of God.

Living sacrifice means living for God!

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

We give our bodies to the Lord because it pleases Him, and we always want to please our Heavenly Father!

2Co 5:9  Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 

What is it that we must give with our bodies? Our Reasonable Service.

God does not ask us to do unreasonable things!

Reasonable means: rational, logical, intelligent.

Service means: worship, ministry.

We once used our minds and bodies in sin!

God now demands we use our bodies and our minds for His glory once we belong to Him!

Humanism says to worship your body. 

No matter what we do this old body will not last forever.

God says give Me your body and I will return to you a new glorified body!

God came to this earth and took Himself a human body when He could have chosen any of His creations or made Himself a new creation.

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. 

When the Lord Jesus died and was resurrected, He took that same body to the glory world.

Now as we live and breathe and are Born Again, our body is home to God's Holy Spirit.

1Co 6:19  What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? 

1Co 6:20  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's. 

When we see Jesus, we will get a view of what our own glorified body will look like.

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.

All this will begin when we are more like Jesus Christ daily!

*****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. 

The word conformed means to be fashioned after. Made agreeable to or suited to.

That word world means the way this world operates and serves itself. 

This world is corruptible, so it has corrupted itself!

We see this everywhere in our world today as corruption has taken over this world!

I never would have thought our own government could sink so low as to be in the corruption we see today.

We can say that corruption loves corruption because it is never ending!

As Christians we are to stay as far away from the things of this world as we are able.

We do these things by renewing our mind to have the mind of Christ which is a servant’s mind.

This world is built upon lies!

What is the truth?

The world itself and everything in it will pass away, but the child of God cannot pass away!

1Co 7:31  And they that use this world, as not abusing it: "for the fashion of this world passeth away". 

If we are in the will of God, we are right where God wants us to be!

2Co 4:18  While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

It is the will of God that we be saved!

1Th_4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

It is the will of God that we are obedient to His Word!

1Pe_2:15  For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men:

It is the will of God we have eternal life!

1Jn_2:17  And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

It is the will of God that we try our best to be more like Jesus Christ. This is the meaning of being Christian!

Act_11:26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Eph 3:14  For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Eph 3:15  Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 

There is no wisdom in the governments of this world, especially those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

1Co 2:6  Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: 

1Co 2:7  But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

1Co 2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. 

We are to be transformed into the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Those that reject the Lord are corrupt.

Those that reject the Lord are reprobate.

Those that reject the Lord are carnal.

Those that reject the Lord have been blinded by Satan.

Those that reject the Lord are empty and vain.

Those that reject the Lord think only of this world and are alienated from God and are His enemies.

Humanity has become defiled!

Tit 1:15  Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. 

Tit 1:16  They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate. 

As Christians we must be transformed to prove to God, we love Him!

Rom 8:6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 

Rom 8:7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 

Rom 8:8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 

We must become a humble servant to the cause of Jesus Christ!

*****Rom 12:3  For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 

Rom 12:4  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 

Rom 12:5  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

As Christians we are to think highly of ourselves as God's children and future residents of the New Heaven, but we must know that we are no better than anyone one else saved or lost. 

We are just better off because we know our home is in Heaven because we know we are saved from the wrath of God!

We must always be concerned about our humility!

We must not become conceited.

We must not become prideful.

We must never be arrogant.

We must think soberly which means in one's right mind because we have the mind of Christ and think as He did and as He does.

1Co_2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

What we now possess and what we are, comes from the Lord.

It is God who gave us a measure of faith to believe, and it is God who helps us to grow our faith!

Without this "working faith" we could never be one of God's servants!

This includes the gifts and abilities God has given to us for the purpose He has given to us.

This includes increased faith and drive and confidence to go about the work God has given us to do.

This includes the desire to serve the Living God!

God offers so much more, but He will only give it to us one measure at a time, so we are never overwhelmed with the task that is before us.

Remember God gives all these things along with His guidance, but all results come by Him.

We cannot cause someone to be saved these things are in the hand of God.

We are to just be busy about the work He has given us to do!

God does the ploughing, we do the planting, God does the reaping!

We should remember, the Church is the body of Christ and just as our human body there are many distinct parts of the body of Christ.

The Lord Jesus Christ is the Head, and we will find our task as some other part of the body.

Not everyone can be an arm or a leg.

Not everyone can be the heart or the lungs.

We should be able to see what part of the body of Christ we are and do this work with all our heart!

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. 

Jas 4:10  Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. 

No matter our place in the Body of Christ we should always be praying for more faith to serve in that position!

Psa_84:10  For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.

We must know that our faith grows according to our belief in the Word of God!

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

This includes the study of God's Word.

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

******Rom 12:6  Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 

Rom 12:7  Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 

Rom 12:8  Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 

God gives to us many physical gifts as we serve, but much more important are the Spiritual Gifts.

A Spiritual gift is a God-given ability given to each believer.

All Spiritual gifts come by the Holy Spirit who lives in each and every believer.

These are separate from the "Fruit" of the Spirit, but together they make each child of God a force to be reckoned with.

Each Spiritual gift is given for Spiritual purposes.

The Fruit of the Spirit is given to every believer to make us be more like Jesus Christ!

All the gifts of God come according to God's "Grace".

The modern-day prophet is of those who preach the Word of God.

The Word of God we have today is complete so there is no need of prophets. We just need to hear what God has given to us and in some cases to make sense of the Word as it relates to the other Scriptures.

There is no one to try to interpret what God has already made interpretation of!

2Pe_1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

The modern-day prophet keeps the Word of God in the context it was written and makes application to our lives today.

The Word of God does not change, the circumstances of our lives may change, but the answers God gives to us, work in any lifetime!

The Living Word is the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Written Word is by the Holy Spirit both given to us by God the Father.

No one can be a prophet of God without first having accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

The gift of ministry is what the remainder of God's children have been called to do.

This is the heart of the servant to minister to others!

This is one of God's children being willing to turn their attention to others and not themselves.

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. 

The gift of teaching is the ability to try to ground all God's children to the truth of the Scriptures.

Not only does a Church need a great Prophet or Pastor, but the Church need teachers also willing to search the Word of God for God's answers to life. 

We cannot teach until the Holy Spirit has taught us!

We all need to be in one mind and in one accord with the Word of God.

After all if God said it and the Holy Ghost preserved it, then it must be important!

The gift of exhortation could be said to be the gift of motivation, but it includes much more.

It takes this gift to get us to be busy about the work the Lord has given us to do.

Every Pastor should have this gift.

Every Pastor should be able to teach.

The Lord Jesus put it this way:

Mat 28:18  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. 

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 

Mat 28:20  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

To the Pastor the Holy Spirit put it like this:

2Ti 4:1  I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 

2Ti 4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 

2Ti 4:3  For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 

2Ti 4:4  And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

If you want to know the truth, then we can see that this time has come where no one really wants to hear the truth of the Word of God.

The gift of giving means sharing our earthly gifts with the Church and the ministries of the Church to promote the cause of Christ and in this can rewards be earned in Heaven.

Giving to charities will never gain you a reward in Heaven unless given to Christian based charities!

The gift of ruling is simply the gift of being a leader, working in the administration of the Church.

It could also be said the ability to work in government for the cause of Christ Jesus.

It takes a great zeal for the cause of Christ and there is no room for laziness and there is certainly no room for compromise.

We are never to compromise the Word of God. 

It must stand as it is written!

Many in government fail in this greatly!

The gift of mercy can be seen in those Christians who are full of forgiveness and compassion.

Every child of God is called to have the gift of mercy by the Lord Jesus Himself!

Luk 6:36  Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. 

Even knowing all these things and practicing them according to gifts given by the Holy Spirit, we must do our best to be like the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is a personal drive to be a Christian and be a part of a group of Christians!

*****Rom 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 

Rom 12:10  Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 

Rom 12:11  Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 

Rom 12:12  Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 

Rom 12:13  Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 

The Lord Jesus Christ made this really easy for us.

Mar 12:29  And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: 

Mar 12:30  And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. 

Mar 12:31  And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. 

We see that this is a commandment!

The Holy Spirit decided we need to understand this and explains what Jesus is saying so we can be clear on the Word of God.

We are to love one another without being hypocrites!

We must be completely free of selfish motives.

If I tell you I love you, then I had better be sincere for the Holy Spirit to acknowledge what I say.

These words must never be used just to get a reaction from that person!

We must understand that we must have this love for the saved and for the lost.

Mat 5:43  Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 

Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 

Mat 5:45  That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 

We show love by hating evil! 

This is a hatred with intense feelings, but love must remain for that one who did that evil.

Sounds impossible but it is not.

The Lord Jesus Christ died for us while we were still His enemy!

We must fight against evil!

We show love by fighting against evil and hating all things evil.

Job 28:28  And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. 

Jas 4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin. 

We fight against evil when we cling to that which is good!

We are to desire the absolute best for all those we meet and those we know.

We are to love our brothers and sisters in Christ with that special love that Jesus showed!

Eph 4:32  And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. 

If we have that feeling that we have already reached perfection and these things are too far from us, then we become a larger part of the problem in the Church!

We are to honor, reverence, and respect even esteem, all of God's children.

We can just imagine a house of God where these things were as important as salvation!

Php 2:3  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 

Php 2:4  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. 

We are to serve the Lord and not each other, but by serving the Lord, we will serve each other!

We must not be lazy in the things of Christ!

We must show due diligence in the work of Christ.

We must be earnest and not hesitating in our Christian life for Christ!

That word fervent means to be hot for the work of Christ.

Remember what Jesus said of the last days where the Church has become lute-warm rather than fervent.

We see this today in the modern church.

The Church has lost its fervent spirit and has given in to the world.

Heb 5:11  Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing ye are dull of hearing. 

Heb 5:12  For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 

We are to serve the Lord Jesus until He returns to take us home with the same zeal we had when we were first saved.

Not only these things, but we must conquer our trials and not allow our trials to defeat us.

God manages trials in only two ways:

1) He can remove that trial we are going through, and He does sometimes.

2) More often than not, God just goes through that trial with us so we can learn some valuable lesson.

Our job is to endure that trial while it affects our life!

We win most all battles with prayer!

We must be ready to pray at all times!

1Ch 16:11  Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.

And last but not least, we are to give to the cause of Christ!

This has nothing to do with the tithe which is a command of God.

These are love offerings.

The more God provides to us the more we should be charitable to others.

To be safe with our giving then it should go through the Church and the ministries of the Church.

Most monies given to the charities of the world end up in pockets of some person and did not serve the charity or the cause of that charity.

We must be hospitable to all when that time arrives.

1Pe 4:9  Use hospitality one to another without grudging. 

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. 

Widows have often been in the plan of God, but there are rules.

1Ti 5:10  Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work. 

Most of our Christian ladies would be acceptable and many do need help.

If we claim to be Christian, then we should certainly act the part. 

We do not learn this in the world, we learn these things from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit will call upon us to be obedient when the time comes!

Amen