What Goes on at the Potter's House

God's Sovereignty over All Nations

Book of Jeremiah Chapter 18

A message I love dearly. The Potter's House. The main ingredients of the Potter's House are the wheel, the potter, and the clay to be molded.

We must understand that every message from the Prophet Jeremiah was given to him by the Lord!

Every time Jeremiah spoke, he spoke the words of the Lord.

Had Jeremiah spoken his own words, he would have spoken against the Lord.

Jeremiah wept because he knew that whatever Jehovah said was the complete truth and Jeremiah had a great love for his nation and its people. Even then he did not love them as much as the Lord did.

We may never understand what the Lord is doing but we just must understand that what the Lord is doing is the right thing to do!

So, let's go with Jeremiah down to the Potter's House.

*****Jer 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,

Jer 18:2 Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words.

We must clearly understand that the work of the potter, even when those earthen vessels can be beautiful, they are fragile and easy to destroy. It is the same with human life!

The most wonderful of all God's creations are the human beings but we are very fragile and very easy to destroy.

In many cases the Potter can take that broken vessel made of this earth and put it back together as something brand new!

There are many things that we do not understand such as, why is there so much evil and wickedness in this world?

Why does God allow this evil to continue, when He certainly has the power to put a stop to it all?

The thing we must understand about the Potter is that his creations are under direct control!

The Lord has the sovereign right and the absolute power to save or to condemn as He chooses because He alone is God.

It is this same sovereign God who sets the standards for His creations to be saved or to be condemned.

Because of the "Mercy" of the Lord, He is never impulsive in His actions nor is He unreasonable in His request!

Our Lord is neither a dictator nor is He a tyrant!

He is just a loving God who expects righteousness because He is righteous in all His actions whether we agree or not!

We do not have the intelligence to say our Creator has done wrong or has done right according to our own expectations.

The LORD is holy in all the things He does!

We can all learn some valuable lessons down at the Potter's House!

*****Jer 18:3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.

There is not one living person nor any religion, including evolution and atheism, that cannot understand the work of the Potter!

What did Abraham ask?

Gen_18:25 That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right"?

I can tell you today that the Potter, our Lord will always do right because He does not know how to do wrong!

Doing wrong is something that is very far from the Lord.

Humans are the greatest of all God's creations and He tolerates us enough to offer choices and He respects the choices we make.

He will still allow for our repentance when we have made the wrong choice. How can anyone find fault in the ways of the Lord because there are none!

The prophet Jeremiah was not to miss this important lesson and the Holy Spirit intended for us all to visually see this lesson from the wheel of the Potter.

If we cannot see it here, then maybe we need to take a trip to the potter's house that exist today. The same lessons can still be learned!

Rom 9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

Rom 9:21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Even today there are craftsmen who make pottery basically the same way it was done in the days of Jeremiah.

There is the potter, the wheel, and his clay that he has chosen for a certain result.

Jeremiah was watching as the potter found a flaw in the work he was doing, and he looked to see if he had made a mistake when he saw a flaw in the clay and he had to start over again.

In the Potter's eyes every piece of clay contained its own individual master piece and He would make and remake each piece of clay until was satisfied that what he made was a true jewel of craftsmanship!

Then the Lord said to Jeremiah.

*****Jer 18:5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,

Jer 18:6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.

We must understand that we are all a creation of the Master Potter and we are certainly to be a work of His own hands.

The Lord can do to people, to communities, and to nations as He pleases and remember it is the goal of the Lord that every single individual to come into a personal relationship with Him.

Sometimes people reject the truth of the Lord, but we as the children of the Lord are still to be witnesses of the truth.

Sometimes our communities reject the truth of the Lord, but we as the children of the Lord still are to be witnesses.

Sometimes our nations reject the truth of the Lord, but we as the children of God are still to be witnesses.

It is our job to witness and pray in the locations the Lord has placed us and it is the Lord who will send the Holy Spirit to convict those who have heard the Word of God and the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ!

It is the Almighty God who truly holds all His creation in the palm of His hands!

Sometimes our clay is so full of debris that the Potter must break us and start over again. In fact, when we reach that point that we are broken down completely, this is when the Potter does His greatest work!

We must certainly keep in mind that what God does today is in preparation for His Master work in the future and He just allows and prefers us be a part of it!

It is the Scriptures that take us through the history of Israel, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Phoenicia, Greece and Alexander the Great, and Rome and the circle continues until it has reached back to Israel.

We are nearing the end of the Church Age and the Lord's next move has been taught by most all the prophets of the Old Testament, beginning with the Birth of Christ.

God does not create robots, or machines that would automatically praise and worship Him, so it should be obvious that the Lord is preparing those who choose to live with Him throughout eternity!

Act 3:19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;

Act 3:20 And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:

Act 3:21 Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.

And the truth of God as I have said, allows more than one chance to accept that what He says is true. In fact, until the day you die a physical death, you will have an opportunity to repent and be saved as long as you have not stepped over God's red line of forgiveness. Even God has a "Red Line" that must not be crossed. There is a sin unto death!

1Jn_5:16 If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.

1Jn_5:17 All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.

God says just leave all these things in His hands and just tell as many as you can about the truth of the 'Gospel"!

Rom 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Rom 10:11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

Rom 10:12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

This truth will never change! Why would we think we could ever interfere with God's ultimate plan!

*****Jer 18:7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;

Jer 18:8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.

We should also understand that the wrath of God comes when we least expect it.

Luk 17:24 For as the lightning, that lighteneth out of the one part under heaven, shineth unto the other part under heaven; so shall also the Son of man be in his day.

Luk 17:25 But first must he suffer many things, and be rejected of this generation.

Luk 17:26 And as it was in the days of Noe, so shall it be also in the days of the Son of man.

Luk 17:27 They did eat, they drank, they married wives, they were given in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark, and the flood came, and destroyed them all.

Luk 17:28 Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded;

Luk 17:29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all.

The Lord teaches us to watch and He teaches us what to watch for, so we can know when an Age is about to end.

I firmly believe we are nearing the end of the Church Age because of the things we have already seen happen in our world and continue to happen.

The thing that is also true is the fact that when the Lord is chastising, He is craving for repentance, so He does not have to do the things He says He will destroy.

Anything that our Lord God does is out of love for His children. When God is your Father you can better understand all these things.

Again, the Lord gives us "Free Will" to make the choices we make, and the Lord will honor our choices and the Lord will spend some time teaching us why we made the wrong choice before He fulfills the things He said He would if we reject His words!

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

We do not have the right to question the things that God does! We should never question the Lord's intelligence!

God does not owe us an answer to every question we ask Him! In fact the Lord does not owe us an answer to any questions we have.

The Lord says who He is and that should be enough, but He loves us too much to stop there!

*****Jer 18:9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to build and to plant it;

Jer 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

As a people how can we deny that there is a power revealing itself in the changes and the choices of human history. There is a power shaping the course of this world until it reaches that place where He has decided.

When some unexpected calamity strikes down an individual sinner, most people see this as the "judgment" of God, but it may not be judgment at all.

We cannot deny that "providence" asserts itself in human affairs.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Heb 1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

Heb 1:8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Heb 1:9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

Heb 1:10 And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands:

Heb 1:11 They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment;

Heb 1:12 And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

It cannot be denied that our Divine Potter has total control of His creation.

*****Jer 18:11 Now therefore go to, speak to the men of Judah, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I frame evil against you, and devise a device against you: return ye now every one from his evil way, and make your ways and your doings good.

We are also foolish if we cannot see that our God, our Lord, is all about repentance!

Our Lord would have everyone to be saved so He says, "Return Return". God has so much love for all His creation that He almost begs us for repentance.

God has established "free will" but He has also established "judgment" both are His laws that must be enforced. This thing we must believe!

We can trust the Word of God to be true!

It is the law of repentance that brings "salvation"!

Eze 18:21 But if the wicked will turn from all his sins that he hath committed, and keep all my statutes, and do that which is lawful and right, he shall surely live, he shall not die.

If we choose to reject and deny the LORD, cursing His holy name, we will certainly face "judgment" and be condemned!

Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

What did the people of Judah say?

*****Jer 18:12 And they said, There is no hope: but we will walk after our own devices, and we will every one do the imagination of his evil heart.

The greatest problem we have in ourselves is, we refuse to believe that we cannot save ourselves!

It is these types that are hopeless and beyond repentance and the Lord knows who these people are, and He will recall the Holy Spirit from them and also His conviction.

These people know themselves that they are then on their own and without God!

They let the Prophet Jeremiah know he was wasting his time and again we see a reason for this Prophet of God to weep for his nation.

Carnal minds will continue to search for life’s answers in this world, where no such answers exist!

It is only by "Grace" that we can escape from the condemnation of this world!

It is only by "Faith" that we can have peace with God!

Many people are looking for salvation of another kind and another place, that simply does not exist!

So, history will certainly repeat itself on the Day of the Lord!

Gen 6:5 And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

Gen 6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

Again, we see that word "therefore".

*****Jer 18:13 Therefore thus saith the LORD; Ask ye now among the heathen, who hath heard such things: the virgin of Israel hath done a very horrible thing.

God said to Jeremiah, ask all those in the world who worship false gods if they would leave such a God as Jehovah!

If you are searching this entire world for a God who makes such promises as the Lord, one cannot be found.

The Lord presents us with a book of Scriptures that describe all His desires and all His actions and never leaves out the terrible times of His people, when others would.

Jehovah by His actions and by His Word shows that He is the only true Almighty God!

Mat 23:37 O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!

The virgin Israel has certainly done a terrible thing!

*****Jer 18:14 Will a man leave the snow of Lebanon which cometh from the rock of the field? or shall the cold flowing waters that come from another place be forsaken?

We have gotten totally confused when we can forsake a greater good for something much less.

Pro 25:25 As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.

We serve a God who has unlimited resources why in the world would we forsake our God for some false object that has no resources at all!

The worst thing that can happen to a military unit is for the enemy to get behind it and cut off its supplies.

When we forsake the true God of all "Grace" we have allowed Satan's false gods to come between us and our true God!

We have cut ourselves off from the fountain of living waters!

Jer_2:13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.

Jer_17:13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters.

When has nature changed her ways to suit the politics of any people!

The Lord God Jehovah will never change His ways to satisfy any one group of people nor for any or all people.

What was the verdict for the Judah of this day?

*****Jer 18:17 I will scatter them as with an east wind before the enemy; I will shew them the back, and not the face, in the day of their calamity.

What is the sinners doom, those who reject God's Divine Government?

They are guilty of idolatry.

They have rejected the "Mercy" of God.

They have become enemies of the Gospel.

They have forgotten the truth and traded it for lies.

They will see the wrath of God and if they do not repent. Then they will perish to a life that is not life but a place of eternal doom!

Amen!

Let's Pray!

God's Mercy Toward Israel

God's Mercy Toward Israel

Book of Isaiah 14

If we study the Book of Isaiah chapters 13-19 we would see beyond any reasonable doubt that Jehovah God is in charge of all the nations of this world. This does not mean that God causes evil governments, it is the people themselves that cause these things to happen.

In the prophecies of Isaiah we see one nation after another receive the rebuke of the Lord for their rebellion against Jehovah God and for their sinful lifestyles.

We see nations that trust in their riches and reject God.

We see nations that trust in their military might and reject God.

The truth is, in the day of God's "Judgment" none of these things can save them, all these things will be useless! In fact God will "Judge" individuals just as harsh as He will "Judge" these nations!

Remember nations do not end up in Hell, people do!

God is seeking a close personal relationship with each and every individual and then for those individuals to gather together to change this world according to the Word of God.

The hope for salvation lies in "repentance"!

When the Lord returns for the Second Time to set up His Kingdom up upon this Earth, only those who are willing to turn to Him to worship Him alone will escape His final wrath.

The Church will already be in Heaven at this time!

These prophecies of Isaiah were not just for those nations of that day, but are for all people in every age!

Throughout these prophecies God offers the opportunity for salvation but only according to His Word of truth. No one can enter the Kingdom of God by their own personal rules!

The truth is, the Word of God is never bound by time!

Rom 15:4  For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.

1Co 10:11  Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.

So let's begin:

*****Isa 14:1  For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land: and the strangers shall be joined with them, and they shall cleave to the house of Jacob. 

There is nothing confusing about this Scripture! So why is it so rejected by this world we live in?

When the Lord returns to end the "7 years of Tribulation" and the "time of Jacob's trouble", He will then have mercy on Jacob.

The name Jacob refers to Jacob "the supplanter" but who would at that time make supplication to the Lord.

Hos 12:2  The LORD hath also a controversy with Judah, and will punish Jacob according to his ways; according to his doings will he recompense him. 

Hos 12:3  He took his brother by the heel in the womb, and by his strength he had power with God: 

Hos 12:4  Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us; 

Hos 12:5  Even the LORD God of hosts; the LORD is his memorial.

This will take place immediately and during the time, after God has put down the false religion and the false economies of this world:

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.

Rev 14:9  And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand, 

Rev 14:10  The same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation; and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb: 

Isa 21:9  And, behold, here cometh a chariot of men, with a couple of horsemen. And he answered and said, Babylon is fallen, is fallen; and all the graven images of her gods he hath broken unto the ground. 

The false religions inspired by Satan have fallen. (Every religion that has rejected Christ and the Word of God)(is fallen)

The false economies and governments inspired by Satan have fallen. (the world Satan used to tempt the Lord Jesus)(is fallen)

Those that choose the Beast and his unholy trinity will be destroyed but those that refuse the Beast and repent will be accepted by the Lord and dwell in the Kingdom of the Lord!

The Jews will return to the Lord:

Zec 2:12  And the LORD shall inherit Judah his portion in the holy land, and shall choose Jerusalem again. 

Zec 2:13  Be silent, O all flesh, before the LORD: for he is raised up out of his holy habitation. 

Many Gentile nations will repent and join these Jews:

Zec 2:11  And many nations shall be joined to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people: and I will dwell in the midst of thee, and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto thee. 

The Church will return from Heaven with the Lord, as He causes these things to happen:

Rev 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. 

Rev 19:12  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. 

Rev 19:13  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. 

Rev 19:14  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. 

Rev 19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev 19:16  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. 

And we should notice it is not Israel that will just take over as the head nation of this world, "it is those remaining nations of this world that will put Israel in that place as lead nation of the world!

*****Isa 14:2  And the people shall take them, and bring them to their place: and the house of Israel shall possess them in the land of the LORD for servants and handmaids: and they shall take them captives, whose captives they were; and they shall rule over their oppressors.

Over and over again God has delivered His people from captivity and when the Lord returns they can never be placed in captivity again!

The world that has kept them in captivity will see that they get back home, as did King Cyrus, and Israel will rule over it's own oppressors, the Gentile world! It's called "Mercy"!

Deu 7:6  For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. 

Deu 7:7  The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: 

Deu 7:8  But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 

Deu 7:9  Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations; 

Deu 7:10  And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face. 

The Lord will always do what He says He will do!

Isa 49:22  Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. 

Isa 49:23  And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers: they shall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth, and lick up the dust of thy feet; and thou shalt know that I am the LORD: for they shall not be ashamed that wait for me.

Isa 60:14  The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 

And who is behind this complete change of the Gentile nations? It is the LORD! the unchanging "I AM" of the Bible.

*****Isa 14:3  And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve, 

Isa 14:4  That thou shalt take up this proverb against the king of Babylon, and say, How hath the oppressor ceased! the golden city ceased! 

Isa 14:5  The LORD hath broken the staff of the wicked, and the sceptre of the rulers. 

I do not believe there is anyone who can say that they have had no sorrow in their lives.

To the Christian when we know we have unrepented sin in our lives we will always become sorrowful.

The truth is where sin abounds, "grace" much more abounds but is this a license to sin? No, God forbids this!

Rom 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

Rom 5:21  That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Rom 6:1  What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 

Rom 6:2  God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 

Rom 6:6  Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

**Even knowing these things, when we feel that sorrow for our sin, we can still feel gratitude knowing that God can and God will and God does forgive our sin!

Many people have sorrow because of physical ailments that seem to interfere with their daily life, myself included.

But as the Lord told the Apostle Paul, "My Grace is sufficient" for all your pain and suffering.

So what is the answer for sorrow? Trust in the Lord!

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

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

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

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

As we go through these Scriptures we will notice that it seems that this King of Babylon seems to be separated from the rest of mankind!

We will see that he is someone destined for a very distinct "judgment".

In reality we can understand this person as our oppressor! It can be anyone who has oppressed us in our service to the Lord, but it can also mean that one who has oppressed all God's people, Satan, the Devil.

The truth of God is this:

1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 

1Jn 4:5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 

1Jn 4:6  We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 

There are no enemies of God that are ever superior to God's children!

Rom 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

What does God teach the children of Israel? Their masters will one day become their slaves! Those that oppress them shall be made to help them!

How can these things take place? Because God will one day break the staff of the wicked and there will be no more evil rulers in fact there will only be the government of God, who will rule in "righteousness".

In the time of Babylon, God used Cyrus to break the backs of Babylon.

In the near future God will use His own "Ensign", the Messiah, who will settle all these things.

Psa 125:3  For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity. 

We know that Satan is that great oppressor but we do not ever have to fear what he may do to us.

Rev 2:10  Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

As we will see, this oppressor is filled with pride and arrogance against the Lord and His people.

We also see that this oppressor thrived on riches in his golden city!

*****Isa 14:6  He who smote the people in wrath with a continual stroke, he that ruled the nations in anger, is persecuted, and none hindereth. 

This evil person would strike out at people in anger, with a continual stroke.

This evil person would trod down nations in his wrath and his unrelenting evil.

Rev 12:12  Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time. 

What does God say? This evil person would be persecuted himself and no one can stop this from happening!

Rev_20:3  And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.

Rev_20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

It is obvious that this King of Babylon and his golden city is in fact a clear type of Satan and his influence upon this world!

It is also a fact that this passage will apply to anyone who does such things and lives such a wicked and cruel life. In fact all such things will come to an end at the return of the Messiah!

Rev 14:8  And there followed another angel, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. 

This is the only time when the whole world will be at rest!

*****Isa 14:7  The whole earth is at rest, and is quiet: they break forth into singing. 

Isa 14:8  Yea, the fir trees rejoice at thee, and the cedars of Lebanon, saying, Since thou art laid down, no feller is come up against us. 

There are many singers in our world today singing their own songs and the songs of others but when old Satan is cast into the "Burning Lake of Fire" the world that remains will break forth into singing in joy.

In fact, Isaiah loves this idea so much, that he includes it many more times.

Isa 44:23  Sing, O ye heavens; for the LORD hath done it: shout, ye lower parts of the earth: break forth into singing, ye mountains, O forest, and every tree therein: for the LORD hath redeemed Jacob, and glorified himself in Israel. 

Isa 49:13  Sing, O heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O mountains: for the LORD hath comforted his people, and will have mercy upon his afflicted. 

Isa 54:1  Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD. 

Isa 55:12  For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. 

This world we live in now will go through a complete change!

All the foreign invaders and oppressors who entered Palestine desired to have the trees of Lebanon, until they are practically destroyed but even these trees will rejoice because there will never be another taken down when the Messiah set's up His kingdom on this earth!

There will also be no nations anywhere that will ever have to succumb to foreign invasion.

*****Isa 14:9  Hell from beneath is moved for thee to meet thee at thy coming: it stirreth up the dead for thee, even all the chief ones of the earth; it hath raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. 

Isa 14:10  All they shall speak and say unto thee, Art thou also become weak as we? art thou become like unto us? 

It is impossible that there can be any happiness in Hell, but when old Satan is cast into Hell there will be many already there that will be stirred to know that he also did not escape the wrath of God.

It is a fact that those in Hell already are all believers but there is no escape from that turmoil! They cannot be prayed out of Hell nor can they be bought out of Hell!

They will still get the opportunity at the White Throne Judgment to defend themselves but the Lord will not find their names in the Lamb's Book of Life and they will suffer their eternal fate knowing that even Lucifer was not able to escape.

Rev_19:20  And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Rev_20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Rev_20:14  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.

Rev_20:15  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

We must keep in mind Satan is just a creation of God, who has fallen from God's "Grace". He holds no power over God!

God has just allowed or it should be said, God has used Satan to prove to all what is good and what is evil and what He expects from His creations.

It was pride that brought the downfall of this created creature of God!

*****Isa 14:11  Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee. 

Isa 14:12  How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! how art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! 

Isa 14:13  For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north: 

Isa 14:14  I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High. 

Isa 14:15  Yet thou shalt be brought down to hell, to the sides of the pit. 

We can see that in fact, King Belshazzar, the last king of Babylon was in fact a type of Satan but these Scriptures refer to Satan, the Beast of the Book of Revelation and not Belshazzar.

"In his own", mind Satan is the most wonderful and most beautiful of all God's creations. God did create Satan in perfect but he also had the freedom of choice. Adam was also created in perfection with the freedom of choice.

The truth is, each and everyone of God's creations were made with a specific purpose in mind and Satan was just a failure and God tossed him out of Heaven to make use of him on earth.

Only those who remain perfect can abide in Heaven! Thank God for His "Grace"!

The Lord Jesus was also a witness to this event:

Luk 10:18  And he said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven. 

In the end, Satan will be cast out of this world also and into the Burning Lake of Fire:

Joh 12:31  Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. 

Satan will also face God at the "Judgment":

Joh 16:11  Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged. 

Why did God really pour Himself into the flesh of Jesus Christ?

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

Pride was Satan's downfall!

The noise of his viols is what Satan uses to entice our children. This is a reference to music. Secular music and music of praise to the Lord are two entirely different things!

Satan can only bring death, those worms are reference to the "maggot".

No doubt the thought of the grave brings the thought of corruption and Satan is the most corrupt of all God's creation. Those maggots will not only be spread under Satan but they will cover him. He who walked upon the luxuries of this earth will then be the uttermost of filth.

All Satan has accomplished is to bring weakness to the nations in sin and filth!

Why will these things happen? Because Satan feels in his heart that he should be more exalted than the Lord God!

It is a fact that the angels are aware that God will exalt the humans above the angels in the near future and this does not sit well with Lucifer who exalts his own self above our Holy Father.

What does God say to us?

Pro 16:18  Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

How has this affected the world of the rich and powerful?

Rev 18:7  How much she hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously, so much torment and sorrow give her: for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. 

What is the truth of Satan and his works?

Satan will go to Hell. He will humbled to a miserable life for eternity!

The sides of the pit of Hell are the most dismal part of the darkness of Hell!

Ezekiel wrote:

Eze 28:8  They shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the deaths of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. 

Eze 28:9  Wilt thou yet say before him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. 

The only thing Satan has had going for himself these thousands of years since his creation is, the fact of his denial. Even today the existence of Satan is denied.

Satan will not show himself until he appears as the Antichrist during the seven years of Tribulation when he will have a taste of victory that is short lived!

The truth is he will be exposed for what he is, "nothing but trouble"!

*****Isa 14:16  They that see thee shall narrowly look upon thee, and consider thee, saying, "Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake kingdoms"; 

Isa 14:17  That made the world as a wilderness, and destroyed the cities thereof; that opened not the house of his prisoners? 

Satan will be observed as being dead and many will look upon him. Some will look to make sure he is dead and others will look upon him in unbelief that he did not have the power he so boasted of, but all will fear the Lord who has done this thing!

Psa 64:9  And all men shall fear, and shall declare the work of God; for they shall wisely consider of his doing. 

Psa 64:10  The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

The truth will be out, the thing that Satan has tried to accomplish is to destroy God's creation! The world is just too blind to see the truth!

Satan has blinded mankind with power and riches knowing these things only lead to destruction!

Satan has hindered the work of the Lord.

Satan has made many Christians useless in the work of the Lord.

Satan has caused his evil to reach into all the high places of governments and commercialism.

We need to remember our battle is not with each other or with any human, our battle has always been against the work of Satan!

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. 

Satan is none other than a liar and a deceiver and those that worship him are just as bad!

Joh 8:44  Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. 

Even most evil people are buried today but Satan will not be honored in any such manner.

*****Isa 14:18  All the kings of the nations, even all of them, lie in glory, every one in his own house. 

Isa 14:19  But thou art cast out of thy grave like an abominable branch, and as the raiment of those that are slain, thrust through with a sword, that go down to the stones of the pit; as a carcase trodden under feet. 

Isa 14:20  Thou shalt not be joined with them in burial, because thou hast destroyed thy land, and slain thy people: the seed of evildoers shall never be renowned. 

No doubt King Belshazzar was denied an honorable burial!

A mausoleum may have been prepared but it was not used, in fact his dead body just lay unburied.

In fact he was treated somewhat like Queen Jezebel when she was trodden down by the chariot of Jehu!

As we study the 7 years of Tribulation, we know of 3 and one half years when the Anti-Christ will be exalted and then the last 3 and one half years, (The Great Tribulation), when he will bring ruin to this world.

Mat 24:21  For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. 

All of King Belshazzar descendants were destroyed so it is very unlikely that there have ever been any descendants of Nebuchadnezzar as some have claimed.

In truth all those who have worshipped Satan, the Beast, will be slaughtered!

*****Isa 14:21  Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities. 

Isa 14:22  For I will rise up against them, saith the LORD of hosts, and cut off from Babylon the name, and remnant, and son, and nephew, saith the LORD. 

Isa 14:23  I will also make it a possession for the bittern, and pools of water: and I will sweep it with the besom of destruction, saith the LORD of hosts. 

The offspring of Satan will never be mentioned again after this time.

The world that Satan has inspired will be totally destroyed.

The false religions that come about because of Satan's influence will also be destroyed.

The truth is, the old city of Babylon did indeed become a desolate place.

The city of Babylon that exist now is in a different location and has never reached the fame of the old city and it never will.

The old city of Babylon is now a marsh with the remnants of some old buildings.

The truth is, the Lord Jesus Christ has already destroyed the power of Satan, the Devil.

1Jn 3:8  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 

The Lord did this at the Cross on Golgotha's hill!

What does Satan use to bring people into bondage?

Greed, Pride, Smoking, Drinking, abusing Drugs, Profanity, Illicit sex of all kinds, Sensual pleasures, Fleshy Passions, Shoplifting, and Theft, Laziness, Indifference, and Overindulgence, just to mention a few.

Because the Lord Jesus came the First Time to die for our sins, "all" these things can be forgiven!

The one thing that cannot be forgiven, is to not believe on the work that Jesus Christ has already done to release us from Satan's bondage!

Those that believe that the Lord Jesus can be a Savior but not be a Destroyer do not read the Scriptures!

If the works of Satan are not destroyed then "God's Mercy" cannot be accomplished!

This is why we live in God's time of "Grace" today to allow time for us all to decide.

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 

Those that refuse to "come to repentance" will suffer the fate of Satan!

When the Lord returns the Second Time He will destroy the works of the Satan, the Devil.

Rev 20:10  And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 

*****Isa 14:27  For the LORD of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? and his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back? 

There is not one who can turn back the hand of God!

We can choose to believe God or to believe Satan.

It's called making a choice, I have made my choice already.

I choose Christ!

Questions?

Let's Pray!

Why Suffer Alone?

Comfort In Suffering

Book of 2 Corinthians Chapter 1


In this epistle we get to see some of the personal side of the Apostle Paul. Paul may have been the greatest Christian that ever lived but Paul was just a human and a servant of the Lord.

Paul underwent the strain and the stress of his ministry just as every minister of the "faith".

Troubles within any of the churches troubled the Apostle Paul and the troubles in this church at Corinth nearly crushed him.

The message of this wonderful book of the Bible is to endure the trials and tribulations of being a Christian and proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ even more than before!

So lets begin:

*****2Co 1:1  Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia:
2Co 1:2  Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

It's important for us to realize that God has a will and a purpose for each of us. Therefore God has an intelligent and free personality.

God's will is the "Force" behind all forces.
God's will is the "Law" behind all laws.
God has a will in relation to each of us and it is on an individual level!

In other words God has a purpose in relation to our existence!
God has a purpose in relation to our mission in life!
God has a purpose in relation to our conduct in this life!

It is God's will that we live without immorality in our lives!

We must consider that immorality is anything that goes against the commandments of our Holy God.

Injustice, dishonesty, fraud, slander, intemperance(which is due restraint), lewdness(which is indulgence in lust; fornication or adultery and other such things), idolatry and all crimes are immoralities!

We also see that God is the source of the believer's call!

Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
Joh 15:17  These things I command you, that ye love one another.

Paul was called to be an Apostle (messenger) sent from God.

Paul was called to be an ambassador, a witness, a teacher, a preacher, a missionary, a minister of the Word of God.

We as believers do not serve because we choose to serve the Lord.

We serve God when we answer His call, then God will provide us with the necessary tools for His purpose to be fulfilled!

God is the source of all things and God is the source of our brotherhood and sisterhood in the Church because He is our Abba Father!

We should also clearly understand that the call of God does not make us superior to any other person, lost or saved, it just makes us "one who has answered the call "of God!

We serve not because we are better persons, we serve simply because God has a work for us to do. If He did not have this work then He would take us all home the moment that He saved us!

God gives us opportunities, to reach out to our loved ones, our friends, and anyone who crosses our paths!

This is because of His "Amazing Grace"!

So then God is the source of the Church!

It is brothers and sisters, all called of God, all on equal standing, all with individual gifts of God's choosing, all called the "Saints" of God, who make up the Church!

Because it is only God who is the source of "Grace" and "Peace"!

1Co 1:4  I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;
1Co 1:5  That in every thing ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge;

It is this wonderful God of Grace, that we owe our blessings!

*****2Co 1:3  Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort;
2Co 1:4  Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

You see God does not just call us and provide the things we need to serve but God knows being a Christian is not always an easy thing to do.

God then is also the "Father" of Mercy, and Compassion, and the God of Comfort!

These are the Scriptures from which we get the title of our lesson today.

We should understand the gifts and the tools God gives us for His service are not a one time thing and if we use those things wisely God will continue to provide.

Our blessings come from the Ones we bless!

After all, a stream flows from the fountain!
A beam of light, emits from the Sun.
Our blessings, come from the One who is our Blessor!

Mat 13:12  For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.

God is the "Father of Mercies" because His nature toward us is as a "Father" and not as a God!

And mercies is plural because God's mercies will be continuous throughout all our lives.

God is truly the God of "Comfort".

In our Scripture the Greek word used for "comfort" is "parakleseos".

In Bible Study we know that the Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost) is the "paraklete" which is the same word as "parakleseos".

What does the Lord Jesus say to us?

Joh 14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; "whom the world cannot receive", because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18  I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.

Here we have the Lord Jesus speaking of the Father, and the Comforter which is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Trinity is always involved in our comfort.

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

This is why He is the God of Comfort!

From the "Comforter" comes the strength, the relief, the support, the solace, the consolation, and the encouragement, among all the power of a Holy God.

How do we know these things are true?

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.

Rom 5:8  But God "commendeth his love toward us", in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Rom 5:9  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

God gave His Son to die for His enemies, no greater sign of mercy is known to man!

It is God's nature to be as a "Father" more than a God!

The word "tribulation" means to be weighed down and eventually pressed and crushed.

This is a picture of a burden being much to heavy for us to carry.

God knows all these things and as Creator, The Holy Spirit can create "Comfort" out of nothing!

God does not ever ask us to bear His burden alone!

God does not keep us from "tribulation" but He comforts us in that tribulation!

God is never off in the distance, or some place far from us, but is actually walking along side of us as we go through this life, if we will walk with Him!

Here again we have Jesus Christ as our example!

*****2Co 1:5  For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.

Many people read this Scripture and do not take it very serious!

The truth is there is no one that suffered more than Jesus Christ. Some may suffered some things the same but no one has suffered all the things that Jesus suffered in His short life time.

What we know about Jesus?

**Jesus was born to an unwed mother who never one time thought about aborting Him, even though she was uncertain about her future husband.

**Jesus was born in a smelly stable, in unsanitary conditions.

**Jesus was born to parents who where very poor.

**Just as soon as Jesus was born, an evil government searched for Him to destroy Him.

**Because baby Jesus escaped by His parents, babies in a whole region were slaughtered, He had mental anguish all His life beginning with this thing.

**Jesus could not be settled in a safe home until there was a change in the leaders of government.

**Jesus was finally raised in a place that the entire world despised.

**Jesus lost His earthly adopting father at an early age and was raised by a single mother.

**Jesus had to support his entire family until they grew able to support themselves.

**Jesus began His ministry having no home, not even a place to lay His head.

**Jesus was hated and opposed by all religionist.

**Jesus was considered insane.

**Jesus was considered to be demon possessed.

**Jesus was opposed by His own family.

**Jesus was rejected, hated, and opposed by most all who heard His message.

**Jesus was betrayed by a friend.

**Jesus was forsaken by all His friends.

**Jesus was tried and convicted of treason even though He was innocent of all charges.

**Jesus was executed by crucifixion, the worst possible death.

**How about the mental anguish of know all these things would happen to Him all His days.

These are just some of the things we know about!

Jesus Christ knows exactly how we feel at any given moment because He personally experienced every situation!

The cross we bear in this life cannot compare to the cross that Jesus bore yet we are still to bear our own cross.

The sufferings we suffer are not the same as Christ's, yet we will certainly suffer.

God takes great pains in teaching us His salvation plan.

We truly do not have a careless Father!

The truth is, in the Book of Ephesians God tells us to put on our armor. Having once been a soldier I know that when I put on my armor I am preparing for war!

Before we buckle on our Christian armor, we need to understand some of the things we will face.

Eph 6:11  Put on the whole armour of God, "that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil".

Eph 6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, "that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day", and having done all, to stand.

The Lord Jesus Christ designed the armor we are to wear and without it we will fall to the enemy!

*****2Co 1:6  And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

We must remember we carry the most important message that this world needs to hear and the enemies of God will do all they can to stop us from doing this!

This is not for our own good but for theirs!

AND, God has a specific purpose for allowing our suffering.

In this Scripture we see that suffering and being comforted serve the same purpose. They are both for consolation and salvation!

God uses these things because they work, they are effective in the work that God has called us to do!

Salvation is freely given and only requires our faith. Even that faith is provided by the Lord!

Just as Jesus Christ suffered and died to be raised to new life, then we must realize we will go through some of these same things.

Being "Born Again" also means we will suffer in many of the same ways Jesus suffered.

Paul also wrote:

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.
Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Certainly it will bring some fear to see how our Lord suffer and knowing we will also, but the benefits of our salvation far out weigh our suffering.

Remember it is because God is working in us for His own pleasure!

Paul explains that he also has suffered.

*****2Co 1:7  And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.
2Co 1:8  For we would not, brethren, have you ignorant of our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that we despaired even of life:

As Christians we will not go through the 7 year Tribulation Period but that does not mean we will not suffer some tribulation in our own life time.

We should clearly understand God uses our suffering to see if we have made a real confession of faith!
Our suffering unites us in fellowship with all other Saints of God who are also suffering.
Our suffering will mold us more and more into the character of Christ Jesus.
Our suffering will stir up other believers.
Our suffering will encourage other believers who are also suffering.

The Apostle Paul explained this to the Philippians:

Php 1:29  For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Php 1:30  Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

God uses our suffering to stir up "consolation"!

We as Christians certainly cannot bless God for our salvation and then curse God when things are going against us.

As true believers, we must "trust" the Lord no matter our circumstances!

Jesus said part of the work of the Holy Spirit(Holy Ghost) was for our "consolation".

It is the Holy Spirit that brings "spiritual refreshment" when it is needed!

Rom 15:13  Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

God will never forsake us, He will be with us in good times and bad times!

He will be with us in our suffering and in good health.
He will be with us when we are rejected and when we are accepted.
He will be with us through our tribulations as well as when we are honored.

Rom 8:16  The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Rom 8:17  And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

When others see us endure our suffering it can be a great encouragement to them!

When all these things are considered, God insist that we suffer with the right attitude.

As the "Body of Christ" we are all to be busy in sharing God's comfort with each other

Php 2:1  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,
Php 2:2  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

What is a lifetime of suffering compared to an eternity of joy!

And we should understand, when our pastor just cannot seem to be everywhere we think he needs to be, we should understand that it is not really his fault, as like Paul, he is sometimes "pressed out of measure".

The Apostle Paul suffered even times thinking he would die before his work was finished.

*****2Co 1:9  But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead:
2Co 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

We know that God is not the cause of our suffering but sometimes God does allow great suffering but never more than we can handle or He will provide a means of escape.

There truly are some great missionaries today and we have been blessed by those that come from our own church but the Apostle Paul was also a great missionary.

BUT, It is wrong for us to measure greatness as only God would know such things!

When we look at the life of the Apostle Paul we see a man who suffered greatly just because he preached the Word of God!

We may ask why does God allow these things to happen but one thing is sure. When we understand the need of salvation we also understand that we cannot save ourselves.

Suffering is the proof of that. None of us would suffer if we could somehow avoid it but we cannot!

Suffering teaches us all that we are helpless to save ourselves!

Just as Paul said, we all have the sentence of death within ourselves because "the wages of sin is death" and there is only death when we trust only in ourselves for our salvation!

We must have the presence and the help of God if we want to conquer our sufferings. God has already given us the victory!

The Lord Jesus proved that He and only He, had the power to raise the dead. If we think back to the time of Abraham and Isaac, this is the only reason that Abraham even considered killing his own son because God had made such a promise that He would have had to raise Isaac from the dead to fulfill that promise. Isaac was Abraham's only son.

Gen 15:3  And Abram said, Behold, to me thou hast given no seed: and, lo, one born in my house is mine heir.
Gen 15:4  And, behold, the word of the LORD came unto him, saying, This shall not be thine heir; but he that shall come forth out of thine own bowels shall be thine heir.
Gen 15:5  And he brought him forth abroad, and said, Look now toward heaven, and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them: and he said unto him, So shall thy seed be.
Gen 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

You see if we do not have the "faith" of Abraham then we will worry to much about our own suffering and be useless to God, but knowing that even if we perish in our suffering our God has the power to raise us back to new life our suffering can be overcome!

You our suffering allows us to trust daily in God's deliverance!

Read again verse 10:

2Co 1:10  Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us;

There is another great thing that our suffering accomplishes.

It shows our need to pray for each other!

*****2Co 1:11  Ye also helping together by prayer for us, that for the gift bestowed upon us by the means of many persons thanks may be given by many on our behalf.

There is no doubt that our "closet prayers" in "faith" are the most powerful tools we have as Christians but the second most powerful tool maybe "corporate prayer".

Corporate prayer is when the "Body Of Christ" is united in prayer!

The Apostle Paul stated "by the means of many persons" thanks may be given on our behalf.

God is well pleased when He sees His church praying but He is also well pleased when He sees those that have received His help acknowledge that fact.

The greatest result of all these things is the fact that the message of God continues to be preached in our world!

*****2Co 1:12  For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

We should remember that the Apostle had been criticized and accused of many things and he will address most of those things in this and the following Scriptures.

Many had said that Paul was not an Apostle at all.
Many had said that Paul damaged the image of the church to much to be a part of the church.
Many had said that Paul only preached for money.

There are a long list of accusations of the Apostle Paul.

BUT, Paul said because of all these things, he could rejoice!

The Apostle Paul had kept the "Gospel" simple!

He had preached the "Gospel" in sincerity and not as some Bible scholar, even though Paul possessed much knowledge for he was also a Bible scholar!
He had preached the "Gospel" consistently no matter where he had been.
Paul had preached the whole council of God and not some butchered up version of the "Gospel"!

There can be no doubt that Jesus Christ had chosen Paul to be an example for all those that would follow him in the ministry!

Jesus explained these things to another servant Ananias.

Act 9:15  But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
Act 9:16  For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

What is the truth of all those that are called into the ministry of the Lord?

They are called by the "Grace" of God.
They should realize to be in the ministry, is their duty.
They can live the happiest of life above all others in this world.
They must never be afraid to do their duty in serving the Lord.
They are to realize that God is well aware of their shortcomings and imperfections!
They should know that they will be hated, and accused by most of this world.

Who are those who are called?

1Pe 2:3  If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
1Pe 2:4  To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
1Pe 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

These things are all our duty!

Ecc 12:13  Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14  For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

And Paul continues:

*****2Co 1:13  For we write none other things unto you, than what ye read or acknowledge; and I trust ye shall acknowledge even to the end;
2Co 1:14  As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.

The Apostle Paul had a pure conscience.
The Apostle Paul was not nagged by the guilt of sin.
Paul lived a simple life, he was not a hypocrite.
Paul wrote the truth of God and not some fable nor some made up doctrine.
Paul was just as much an Apostle as the other 11.
Paul knew it was by the "Grace" of God that we are saved and then shown how we must live righteously!

God's Word teaches us how to live!

God sent His Son, Christ Jesus, to show us a living example of how we are to live!

Paul lived by these things and Paul knew all our joy would be fully realized at the return of Jesus Christ!

*****2Co 1:15  And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
2Co 1:16  And to pass by you into Macedonia, and to come again out of Macedonia unto you, and of you to be brought on my way toward Judaea.
2Co 1:17  When I therefore was thus minded, did I use lightness? or the things that I purpose, do I purpose according to the flesh, that with me there should be yea yea, and nay nay?

Paul did not say one thing and mean another. Paul had written a harsh letter to answer some questions in what we call 1 Corinthians.

Paul had intended to go to Corinth to appear in person rather than write 2 Corinthians but as we all know God by the Holy Spirit is to be our Guide and Paul spent more than 2 years in Ephesus.

We should clearly understand, we must guard against making promises that we cannot keep. When we do not do what we say we will do, we will be looked upon as being indecisive, wavering, and untrustworthy which will certainly harm our testimony.

James wrote: "Jas 1:8  A double minded man is unstable in all his ways".

This is the way the world will look upon us when we do not do as we say or as the Word of God says.

This may be the one of the main faults of Christianity today, we do not walk the talk!

*****2Co 1:18  But as God is true, our word toward you was not yea and nay.
2Co 1:19  For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in him was yea.
2Co 1:20  For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.

None of us can do everything we say! We say things in the flesh, meaning well but we do not know what tomorrow will bring.

The one thing Paul was most consistent in, was his preaching and in God's message.

This is an absolute must for us all!

The truth is the Lord Jesus Christ was always consistent throughout His life time on this earth.

Joh 19:6  When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him.

The Word of God is consistent through it's entirety!

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

The Lord Jesus Christ was and is the absolute truth!

All the promises of God are sure!

All the promises of God are "Amen" because "Amen" glorifies God! Amen means "yes indeed"!

Paul was just as much in Christ as all the other Apostles!

*****2Co 1:21  Now he which stablisheth us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God;
2Co 1:22  Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.
2Co 1:23  Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth.
2Co 1:24  Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand.

What are the facts?

1) We are "saved" by God's Grace!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast.

2) We are also "established" by God's Grace!

Php_1:6  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

The truth is we are saved by "faith" and we must live everyday in "faith" because we must depend on God for protection and strength,

God accomplishes this when we fills and seals us with His Holy Spirit!

In most every case an anointing means consecrated with oil, set apart for God's use.

The Book of Revelation speaks of those that wear the number 666 but once saved, we will wear the seal of the Holy Spirit and that seal can never change!

The oil used in the Temple was set apart for God's use!

Pure olive oil was used in the lamps of the Temple and it was obtained by "beating" the oil out of the olives.

BUT, The Holy Spirit can be grieved:

Eph 4:30  And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.

AND, The Holy Spirit can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities:

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.

AND, The Holy Spirit can be vexed by our rebellion:

Isa 63:10  But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

BUT, the Holy Spirit will always remain the Oil of our own light!

Exo 27:20  And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always.

The Holy Spirit is our anointing and He will guide us in this life and He will always lead us to Jesus!

Joh 14:26  But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, "and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you".

That word "earnest" means this is our guarantee, our down payment, our security deposit, our first installment, on the promises of God!

The Holy Spirit, (Holy Ghost), they are the same, is our personal guarantee from God of eternal life!

Paul had been under a personal attack by this church and he was the center of the controversy that had been going on in this church.

It had broken Paul's heart to inflict such censure to this church so he knew he stood no chance of ministering to this church in person and instead wrote this great epistle.

You see a good preacher is a helper of people and not a lord over them. He is also not a substitute for their pain!

You see it must be the Church, "the Body of Christ" that must be the enforcer of God's discipline but only according to the Word of God.

This church was not to take a stand because of Paul, they were to take a stand by their "faith" in the Word of God!

Paul was saying unless this Church stood firm in the "faith" then he could not be a minister to this church.

No pastor or preacher can do their job in a church that ignores the Word of God!

We as Christians are to seek the "joy of the Lord"!

1Th 2:19  For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Our Pastor is our "helper of joy" not our helper in salvation!

Jesus Christ is the only Savior and He does not allow helpers!

Pastors are helpers in the application of salvation and helpers of our joy in Jesus Christ, by unfolding the Word of God to us all!

Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:
Rom 9:23  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,
Rom 9:24  Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

Questions?

Lets Pray!