Do You Reject the Lord Jesus Christ

 Rejection of Jesus

 Book of Luke Chapter 20

 

I believe this is the saddest title of any lesson.

 Who has the highest authority over us? Is it the world? Is it the Word of God?

 God is Himself the highest authority in Heaven and on Earth, but He has also given unto His Son authority on earth to forgive sins.

 Mat 9:6  But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 

 To execute Judgment: Joh 5:27  And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

 Jesus confirmed these things: 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. 

 We can only be complete if we are in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Col 2:10  And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: 

 1Pe 3:22  Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him. 

 Col 1:15  Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: 

Col 1:16  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 

Col 1:17  And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. 

 When we reject the Lord Jesus Christ, we have no right to the riches of Heaven!

 If we reject any part of the Word of God, then we have rejected His Son, Jesus!

 What is unbelief?

 One man wrote: "For it denies the sovereignty of divine mercy: it sets at nought the infinite merit and value of Christ’s blood and righteousness".

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

 That word damned means, sentenced to everlasting punishment in a future state of existence in Hell and without God.

 Attacking the Lord Jesus Christ will only lead to your own damnation.

 The so-called authority of Israel at that time had no interest in the truth!

 *****Luk 20:9  Then began he to speak to the people this parable; A certain man planted a vineyard, and let it forth to husbandmen, and went into a far country for a long time. 

 This parable was directed toward Israel, but the intent is aimed at false religion and liberal theology everywhere.

 The Lord Jesus directed this parable at the people of Israel, but Jesus knew that all the leaders, both politically and spiritually, were standing within earshot of His words.

 The Lord Jesus was speaking a message of repentance, but those who refuse to repent only get angry, and it is the same today, probably worse.

 They get angry at anyone who even thinks they need to change the way they live.

 This one thing is destroying many churches today!

 To be clear, it was God who created this world, and there is enough evidence to prove this is true, but it is also rejected.

Not proven wrong, just rejected!

We, the people of this world, have allowed charlatans and corrupt leaders to lead the people in a false history of our world.

Every time you hear the words millions of years you are about to hear a lie!

 Our world is so full of the lies of evolution that it cannot survive much longer.

 We simply cannot base life upon lies and continue to exist as informed people!

 We may not know what a "longtime" really means, but we do know that about the year 2033, it will have been about two thousand years since the Lord Jesus went back to Heaven and is prepared at any time to return, to first take His Church out of this world, and then bring judgment on all unbelievers.

 That vineyard is the nation of Israel, but it could also mean this entire world.

 Isa 5:1  Now will I sing to my wellbeloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My wellbeloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill: 

Isa 5:2  And he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein: and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes.

Isa 5:3  And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard.

 God leased this vineyard to the world, but also to Israel.

 Joh 15:1  I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 

Joh 15:2  Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 

Joh 15:3  Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 

Joh 15:4  Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 

Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.

 The husbandmen are to be the responsible leaders of this world, but also the spiritual leaders of Israel.

 The owner is God, and it has always been God!

 God owns all His creations!

 Mal 2:10  Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers? 

 God wants all His people to serve Him with joy!

 *****Luk 20:10  And at the season he sent a servant to the husbandmen, that they should give him of the fruit of the vineyard: but the husbandmen beat him, and sent him away empty. 

Luk 20:11  And again he sent another servant: and they beat him also, and entreated him shamefully, and sent him away empty. 

Luk 20:12  And again he sent a third: and they wounded him also, and cast him out. 

 What are the seasons? Gen 8:22  While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease. 

 The season in this Scripture would be harvest time.

 There is a great harvest time coming, and it is not far off: Jas 5:7  Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 

Jas 5:8  Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 

 There is a day of accounting coming to everyone who lives upon this earth.

 God will send His servants to collect. Fruit is expected. It is a time for payment of those sins that are not under Grace.

 Each one of us will have to pay our dues!

 Gal 6:8  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Gal 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

 We all owe a debt that we cannot pay, but there have been many mighty works done on Israel's behalf, yet they still reject the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Even though the Church is experiencing the great falling away, it does not bode well for this world in the coming judgment.

 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;

Every church should ask itself, “Are we part of that great falling away from the Word of God?”!

 God sent many prophets to Israel, and most of them were mistreated and most of them were murdered.

 This world will never be able to shut the mouth of God!

 There are just too many leaders upon this earth who want to rule this world, and God will allow that to happen very soon when He allows the Antichrist to claim this world as His own.

 Most of this world deliberately rebels against God!

 Even the Antichrist will see that this world just does not want a supreme leader.

 People just want to live as they wish and be free to do as they please.

 The only thing that can change this attitude is the truth of our Creator.

 God has shown much patience to this world, but for God to be God, He cannot allow rebellion to continue forever!

 God is the God of the second chance and even the third, as I well know personally, but this will not continue indefinitely.

 Notice the number three, which is common in periods.

 King David was offered a choice between three days of pestilence, three months of defeat, or three years of famine.

Jesus Christ was three days and three nights in that tomb.

Families are in groups of three: father, mother, and children.

Gideon's army was divided into three groups.

The third angel of Revelation, with a third part of the world destroyed,

There are other places in the Scriptures.

 Notice, after the third servant, the Lord of the vineyard sent His Son.

 If we say this parable is about Israel, then the truth is that Israel had lost sight of their calling from God.

 Gen 12:2  And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 

Gen 12:3  And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. 

 Israel began living a life for itself and against all other nations.

 The Lord Jesus, the Messiah, came to remind them of the truth of God, and He was rejected and murdered.

 God's patience ran out for Israel at that time, and He promised another chance after the tribulation period.

 Jer_30:7  Alas! for that day is great, so that none is like it: it is even the time of Jacob's trouble; but he shall be saved out of it.

 God had said: Isa 48:9  For my name's sake will I defer mine anger, and for my praise will I refrain for thee, that I cut thee not off. 

 *****Luk 20:13  Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. 

Luk 20:14  But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. 

Luk 20:15  So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them? 

 The Lord Jesus was asked a question as we began this chapter: Luk 20:2  And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? 

 Here we see that the Lord Jesus is giving His answer.

 We know that this parable was another teaching lesson for the Pharisees because God never has to use a backup plan. God is omniscient and knows what we are going to do before we do it.

 If we accept that the Lord Jesus Christ is the "beloved" of God the Father, then we need to accept that God the Father also loves each Christian in the same manner.

 Joh 17:23  I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. 

Joh 17:24  Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world. 

Joh 17:25  O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee: but I have known thee, and these have known that thou hast sent me. 

Joh 17:26  And I have declared unto them thy name, and will declare it: that the love wherewith thou hast loved me may be in them, and I in them.

 We should understand that many of these religious men of Judah knew well that the Lord Jesus had certainly fulfilled many of the prophecies of the Messiah but sin, greed for position, esteem, power, and security kept them from acknowledging that Jesus was truly the Messiah.

 The Lord Jesus Christ made this claim that He truly was the Son of God and many of them knew that it could be true.

 They were so lost in themselves that they thought they could kill God's Son without repercussions.

 What were some of those pieces of evidence?

 1) The Old Testament prophecies.

2) The testimony of John the Baptist.

3) The claims of Jesus Himself.

4) The miracles that they had witnessed.

5) The signs of the times.

 It is these same reasons, these same proofs, that we know we are in the end times now.

 Why did God punish these Jews in 70 AD? God knew these things were true!

 So, they plotted His death.

 The parable says they reasoned among themselves.

 They thought they could seize the inheritance of God's Son.

 We know that this is the same thoughts of Satan, the Devil.

 Mat 12:14  Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. 

 Joh 11:53  Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. 

 What was Israel's sin? In rejecting the Lord Jesus Christ, they were rejecting God's sovereignty over Israel.

 What is the world's sin today? The world is rejecting our Creator and our God.

 The world is trying to shut God out of His own vineyard!

 To murder God's Son was the worst crime of human history.

 1) The Lord Jesus was predicting His own death.

2) The Lord Jesus Christ volunteered to die.

 Jesus knew what lay in His future, and He could have escaped His death if He chose to do so.

 We forget sometimes that the Lord Jesus was 100% God, but He was also 100% man.

 The man's side of this union could have run off and hid himself, but He had given himself to the Lord.

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

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

 What would God the Father do?

What did God the Father do?

 *****Luk 20:16  He shall come and destroy these husbandmen, and shall give the vineyard to others. And when they heard it, they said, God forbid.

 The vineyard (world) will be destroyed.

The vineyard (world) will be given to others.

 God's vineyard will not be left uncultivated; it will not be left untended to bear no fruit.

 What did God tell Adam before his sin? Gen 1:28  And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

 For these Jews, it was in their mind that there was no chance that they would be rejected by God, they were God's people, but they were wrong.

 The judgment for rejecting the Son of God will be the most tragic and extreme judgment in all the universe.

 Joh 15:5  I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 

Joh 15:6  If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 

 Then the Lord Jesus said to them, you need to read your Bible.

 *****Luk 20:17  And he beheld them, and said, What is this then that is written, The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? 

Luk 20:18  Whosoever shall fall upon that stone shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder. 

 What is the surest proof that judgment is coming? Scripture.

 Mat_21:42; Mrk_12:10-11; Luk_20:17; Act_4:11; Eph_2:20-22; 1Pe_2:4-8

 The prophet Daniel wrote: Dan 2:34  Thou sawest till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and brake them to pieces. 

Dan 2:35  Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, and the gold, broken to pieces together, and became like the chaff of the summer threshingfloors; and the wind carried them away, that no place was found for them: and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain, and filled the whole earth. 

 What did the prophet Isaiah write? Isa 8:13  Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. 

Isa 8:14  And he shall be for a sanctuary; but for a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offence to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. 

Isa 8:15  And many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken. 

 What was once a vineyard will now become a building: 1Co 3:9  For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. 

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

 These rulers of religion at the time of Jesus are the same rulers of religion today, and rejected the fact that God is building the Church and this Church is established on the foundation of the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the way, is God the Son, the beloved of God the Father, with the full power of God the Holy Spirit.

 God's people have become a Temple rather than a vineyard.

 It is the foundation stone of the Church, Jesus Christ, on which we are to build our lives!

 The Pharisees of today and all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ reject the destructive power of the Stone against flesh and blood, but they will be crushed by the power of God.

 Those whom the Stone of God, Jesus Christ rolls over will be utterly destroyed, permanently!

 This is what God says and not what I say.

 Pro 11:4  Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death. 

Pro 11:5  The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness. 

Pro 11:6  The righteousness of the upright shall deliver them: but transgressors shall be taken in their own naughtiness. 

Pro 11:7  When a wicked man dieth, his expectation shall perish: and the hope of unjust men perisheth.

 There was no way that these wicked men were going to accept what the Lord Jesus had just told them.

 The whole world wants to destroy Jesus Christ, which is impossible!

 *****Luk 20:19  And the chief priests and the scribes the same hour sought to lay hands on him; and they feared the people: for they perceived that he had spoken this parable against them. 

Luk 20:20  And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor. 

 How do we know we are in the last days? Just as Luke writes in this Scripture, the world is seeking to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Right now, they can go no further because there are just too many people who would stop it.

 The chief priests and the scribes knew exactly that this parable was intended for them.

 The Lord Jesus is that Stone that is rejected by these leaders.

 God the Father has made the Lord Jesus the chief cornerstone of the Church!

 He who falls or stumbles on the Lord Jesus Christ and rejects Him will perish.

 The key to Heaven is the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Rom 9:32  Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone; 

Rom 9:33  As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

 The religious leaders of Judah had been silenced by the truth of God and His Son.

 They could not destroy Jesus on that day, but they made plans to do so as soon as possible.

 What does the Devil do? He sends forth spies who claim to be justified.

 They are in every working church today, and they have caused many local churches to close their doors.

 Why does the government hate Jesus so much? The Lord Jesus does not allow power or position to influence Him and the ways of Scripture, and he expects this to be the same in every church.

 The intent of the Separation of Church and State in our own Constitution was to keep the government out of the Church, not the reverse of it used today.

 It was never intended to keep the Church out of the government.

 Liberals are trying to make our Constitution useless, and we cannot allow that to happen.

 The Church must vote for the truth of God and stay out of politics.

 The liberal world will try anything to accuse God of not keeping His own Word.

 We should understand that hypocrites are good at using flattery about the preaching of God's Word.

 They give false testimony while they reject everything about God's Messiah.

 The liberals believe they can trip the Lord up by using trick questions.

 We see this same thing in our own government whenever they question a righteous man or a righteous woman.

 Solomon said there is nothing new under the Sun, and it is true.

Ecc_1:9  The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.

These same liberal Pharisees set out to destroy the Lord Jesus and our Creator, but they failed.

The Pharisees of today are determined to destroy the Lord Jesus Christ, but they will also fail.

Just as they try to destroy the way of life of the Christian, they will fail.

God simply will not allow it!

 Amen

The Church Must Deal with Moral Virtues

 Wisdom's Instructions on Moral Virtues

 Book of Proverbs Chapter 18

 We can say that virtue is acting according to the "Will of God" for our lives.

 The Bible tells us that only fools walk outside the will of God!

 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.

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

 1Pe 4:2  That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. 

 Each of us must come to understand what the will of the Lord is!

 Eph 5:17  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 We should come to an understanding that:

 1) We should stand in awe of our Creator, who is wise, powerful, and loving.

2) We can entrust our entire lives to our Almighty God.

3) We can rejoice in the wonder of His salvation.

4) We can rest in peace while the world goes through turmoil after turmoil.

5) That God holds people accountable for their sin.

6) That God opposes the pride of mankind.

 Man, in his pride, desires to run his own life and refuses to recognize that God is God of all creation, but He has a humble Spirit.

 We must avoid having a sinful attitude.

 We must understand that the Book of Proverbs declares that fools walk a path of death.

 *****Pro 18:1  Through desire a man, having separated himself, seeketh and intermeddleth with all wisdom.

Pro 18:2  A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Pro 18:3  When the wicked cometh, then cometh also contempt, and with ignominy reproach.  

 There are many interpretations of this verse, but the most accurate interpretation seems to be that people who think only of themselves, who are selfish and antisocial, are fools.

 They are foolish because they have a great desire to live as they wish, but they will meddle in the affairs of all others.

 We are to separate ourselves from the world: 2Co_6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

 We are not to live a life like an isolationist, which is foolish behavior!

 Gen 2:18  And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. 

 We are social people, and we will not develop properly by self-discipline in solitude.

 To depend upon us for all things is not beneficial, and it is not good, but to do this while we intermeddle in the business of all others is downright sinful.

 Pro 20:3  It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling. 

 Pro 21:24  Proud and haughty scorner is his name, who dealeth in proud wrath. 

 What is being obstinate? It is stubborn, having only your own opinion, your own purpose, your own resolutions.

 Not yielding to reason nor in arguments. Having your own way at the expense of all others.

 This fool has no desire to listen to what others have to say, as they have made up their minds that they are right and everyone else is wrong.

 They are interested in only their own opinion.

 They will not listen to the arguments of others.

 They are so full of pride in themselves that they want to impress others with what they have to say.

 These are not people who should be allowed to stay in the Church.

 The Church is far better off without wicked people in the Church.

 This is not to say that we should police all who come into the doors of the Church, but the Bible does say we will know them by their fruit.

 One pastor said that these are blessed subtractions.

 Wicked people may contribute to some organizations but not to the Church.

 They bring contempt to the Church.

They bring ignominy or shame to the Church.

They bring reproaches or disgrace to the Church.

 They will also bring this same damage to themselves and to their families, unless they repent.

 It is the wisdom of God that will bring blessings.

 *****Pro 18:4  The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Pro 18:5  It is not good to accept the person of the wicked, to overthrow the righteous in judgment. 

Pro 18:6  A fool's lips enter into contention, and his mouth calleth for strokes. 

Pro 18:7  A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul. 

Pro 18:8  The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. 

 It is the mouths of those who fear the Lord that will edify the Church.

 Pro 20:5  Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out. 

 Joh 4:14  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

 In contrast, if that wicked person is allowed to stay in the Church, then there will be problems.

 Pro 10:11  The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life: but violence covereth the mouth of the wicked. 

 When we accept this person, we are showing partiality and not considering the right and wrong of it.

 Anytime we show partiality to the wicked, we are wrongly judging the righteous man!

 These wicked people may seem to be very wise in the Scriptures, but so was Satan.

 Mat 4:6  And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone. 

Mat 4:7  Jesus said unto him, It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God.

 The Bible teaches us against such things.

 Psa 82:2  How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 

 This wicked person may be the richest man in the congregation, but we are to act according to the Word of God.

 These things have divided many Houses of Worship today.

 The Bible says we are never to show partiality to the wicked, nor are we to speak against the righteous and the innocent.

 Fools bring on most of their problems because they cannot control their speech.

 In most cases, it is their quarreling over matters we consider evil that sets them apart from the Church.

 Many churches today are accepting the testimony of certain movements when there is no repentance, which goes against the Word of God, when the Word of God is the foundation of the Church and not the words of man.

 God calls for repentance!

 Jhn_3:3  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Jhn_3:7  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

1Pe_1:23  Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.

 Many denominations are quarreling over these things today when the Lord Jesus says, "ye must be Born Again".

 When we throw the Lord Jesus out of the Church, we have no Church!

 We are warned: A fool's mouth ends in destruction!

 Their senseless, uncontrolled words will be their downfall.

 If they could keep their mouths shut, they might even fool the Church.

 Pro 17:28  Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.

 Talebearers or those who go around whispering about others also cause divisions in the Church.

 We call it gossip, and it will destroy the reputation of the righteous man.

 Spreading rumors inside the Church is an abomination to the One we come together to worship.

In fact, the reason we gather together is to worship the Living God!

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

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

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

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

 We must avoid selfish attitudes and sinful words that hinder our relationships with our brothers and sisters in Christ and cause division in the Church.

 We are to love one another and seek our security in the Lord, who is the foundation of the Church.

 *****Pro 18:9  He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. 

Pro 18:10  The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe. 

 Being slothful is being lazy, being idle, and it is destructive!

 Those who are wise are people who trust in the Lord Jesus Christ for life now and eternal life in the future.

 This is a never-ending life of "Grace".

 Fools trust in themselves, some in their wealth, and others in this corrupt world.

 I used to think our own government, no matter which party was in charge, would be far above corruption, but I now know this is not so after seeing the Democrats do everything they could to destroy are nation and our Republic.

 Things are getting worse just as the Lord has said.

 2Ti 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 

2Ti 3:14  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 

 We can blame a lot of these problems on the Church because the Church has become weak and lazy, and slothful.

 The Church has become a great waster of the work the Lord Jesus has done to save us!

 Many in the Church purposely tear down rather than build and preserve the Gospel.

 This is why God will first judge the Church before He judges the world.

 God will separate the goats from the sheep in the House of God, and the goats know who they are, but the sheep have become far too docile to take a stand on the Lord Jesus and the Gospel.

 We can trust that our Lord God knows what He is doing and run to Him for safety.

 God is The Almighty God.

He is the great I Am Yahweh.

He is Jehovah.

He is the Lord God.

He is wonderful.

He is the everlasting Father.

He is the Prince of Peace.

He is our Counselor.

He is the High and Lofty One.

He is the Lord Our Righteousness.

He is Emmanuel.

He is the Alpha, the Omega, the beginning, and the End.

He is my Savior and Redeemer.

He is my Strong Tower of safety.

He is my Rock and Fortress.

 Those who reject these things are fools.

 *****Pro 18:11  The rich man's wealth is his strong city, and as an high wall in his own conceit. 

 There are not enough riches in this entire world that can save those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ from the wrath of my Heavenly Father.

 The rich think that their wealth can save them from anything, and they are wrong when it comes to the wrath of God.

 1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life. 

 To all others, the Holy Spirit says.

 *****Pro 18:12  Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. 

 The rest of the world seeks salvation in their own abilities.

 That word haughty means proud and disdainful with contempt for all those who trust the Lord.

 They are proud people who trust only in themselves.

 In their own strength, in their own intelligence, in their own abilities.

 As fools, they will not even be able to stand against the storms of this life, and it will break them.

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

 *****Pro 18:13  He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.

 We must first hear the whole story before we can speak to a matter.

 Only a fool thinks he has all the answers!

 This is being arrogant and putting yourself above others.

 A wise man will wait until he has heard the whole story of the matter and then see if he can help in some way.

 Only God and His Word have all the answers to life!

 *****Pro 18:14  The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

 Our spirit can only sustain us if we live according to Christian principles.

 Christian principles give us the strength to look past our troubles to our future, and this will make all our troubles bearable.

 Pro 17:22  A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones. 

 Those who are deep into depression and despair are difficult to rescue.

 *****Pro 18:15  The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge. 

 God has no respect for those who are ignorant except for the fact that He will send someone to tell the ignorant the truth so they can decide for themselves.

 If a person desires to avoid harm to body, mind, and soul, then that person must acquire knowledge both in relation to things of this world, which are material, and seek spiritual things that are from Heaven.

 Most of us who have tasted the wisdom of God are now trying to find out more.

 We know we need to grow in wisdom, but it requires our faith, our belief in the truth of God!

 Jas 1:5  If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 

Jas 1:6  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 

Jas 1:7  For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 

 If we truly begin a search for wisdom, it will lead us to fear of the Lord, the place of true wisdom.

 1) Our hearts must be dedicated to obtaining this knowledge.

2) Our ears are open to receive this great knowledge.

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

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

 Our security can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

 Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ have nowhere else to turn for lifesaving knowledge!

 They are open to all the destructive forces in this world, which is the domain of Satan.

 Eph 2:1  And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 

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

 Only those who are filled with God the Holy Spirit is secure in this world and the world that is to come.

 2Co 4:10  Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. 

2Co 4:11  For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. 

 God has a purpose for everything we face in this life, every problem and every difficulty.

 This does not mean He causes all our problems; that is what Satan does.

 We must keep our focus on Heaven and not on our problems!

 2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

 When we become too ashamed to ask for God's help, we will suffer more than we could have.

 Our Heavenly Father does much more than just listen to us; He will answer every prayer that reaches into Heaven.

 We must live our lives in such a fashion as to make sure our prayers reach Heaven, and it begins when we have the "Fear of the Lord".

 We must never seek an unfair advantage over others, because God will not allow it.

 We must seek that God's righteousness is at work in us as we go about the business of serving the Lord!

 God's wisdom will affect our behavior toward others!

 *****Pro 18:16  A man's gift maketh room for him, and bringeth him before great men. 

Pro 18:17  He that is first in his own cause seemeth just; but his neighbour cometh and searcheth him. 

Pro 18:18  The lot causeth contentions to cease, and parteth between the mighty. 

Pro 18:19  A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle. 

 It is a proven fact that generosity and politeness have opened many doors.

 There are two kinds of gifts, the gift of selfishness and the gift of kindness.

 A man sometimes bestows a favor on another to get back something of a higher value. This gift is a bribe.

 Bribery is the cause of much corruption in our world.

 The true children of God will not offer bribes, nor will they accept them!

 The gift of kindness is the true gift and is the real power.

 It makes room for the giver in the heart of the receiver, and it bringeth him before truly great men. Great men recognize and honour the generous.

 We may be able to use gifts here on this earth to help open doors, but we never need gifts to go before the Lord!

 The door of access to our Heavenly Father is always open to His children!

 We must be very careful when we hear something that seems bad about someone.

 God's children must hear both sides of each story.

 The first one to plead their case usually seems right. When we hear from the first side, we often feel that the first one to plead their case seems right, and we are quick to take their side.

 Our neighbor may come and judge us for our quick reaction without hearing the story from the other side.

 Our judgment may be different once we have heard from the other side.

 We may have to demand cross-examination of both parties before we can know the truth.

 In the Bible, the casting of lots was used to find answers and make decisions, and they had every faith that God would be involved.

 Pro 16:33  The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD. 

 As true believers, we should be able to settle disputes just as peacefully as they did; we supposedly have the mind of Christ and have the Holy Spirit living within us.

 We should never turn to the world for help!

 As we witness to the lost, it is important that we argue and defend the truth of the Scriptures before all whom we may face, giving exactly what God has said and the meaning of it.

 As Christians, we are wise to do everything we can to prevent conflicts in the Church before they arise.

 Once it has taken place and relationships are harmed, it will be hard for them to be restored.

 People who are angered and hurt are difficult to win back.

 These things divide churches if not solved before they get out of hand.

 We see that to please God, we must make it clear that we cannot be bought; we are not for sale.

We must never take sides based on partial information.

We must handle differences of opinion according to the Scriptures.

We should do everything we can to live peaceably with others.

 *****Pro 18:20  A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled. 

Pro 18:21  Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

 There is sometimes great power in the words that we say.

 We need to think before we speak and try not to wound the spirits of those around us.

 Some people indeed make their living speaking words, and most of them do not care what they say if it gets a laugh or causes some dispute.

They just laugh at those who do not think the way they do

 It is far better to seek to encourage and build up people.

 We are commanded to show respect for each other.

 Heb 10:24  And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:

 What we say comes from the heart, so impure words come from an impure heart.

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

 Each of us is responsible for our own spiritual growth.

We are responsible for getting our children headed down the right path.

Pro_22:6  Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

The families of our nation are failing in this command of God.

If we keep our minds focused upon the Lord, we will think right.

Php 4:8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

There is certainly death in the power of the tongue, but there can also be life if we think before we speak.

The great example we have before us is the Word of Life, the Love Letter that God has given to us.

God just speaks, and things happen.

God does not speak bad things because it is out of His character and goes against His goodness, but He does not hesitate to tell us the truth of this world and the world that is to come.

*****Pro 18:22  Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. 

When we find that wife that God designed for us, we know we have a good thing.

This is also pleasing to our Heavenly Father, and He will bless this marriage.

Unfortunately, not every wife is a good wife, and not every husband is a good husband.

To be honest, we will not know how to choose a good wife until we become children of God.

Besides salvation, the choosing of a good wife is one of the most important decisions we will make in this life.

What does God actually say: 2Co 6:14  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 

We should understand that God ordains each marriage for life, so we must be wise when we are searching for a wife.

1Co 7:10  And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 

1Co 7:39  The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.

These things go for the husband also.

If our marriage does not work out, we must be careful to observe the Word of God and allow God to decide if we need another wife or another husband.

God is very good at leading two people together and making it a blessing.

*****Pro 18:23  The poor useth intreaties; but the rich answereth roughly. 

In the Bible, the poor are those because of circumstances beyond their control, cannot work to support themselves.

God has very little pity on those who can work but are too lazy to do so.

God has very little pity on those who cannot work because of sin.

Eph 4:28  Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. 

Those whom God has allowed to become rich are to help those who are poor.

1Ti 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 

1Ti 6:18  That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 

1Ti 6:19  Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

How to use our resources is another thing we need the wisdom of God to do righteously.

*****Pro 18:24  A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. 

We should understand that one true friend is far more valuable than many who just claim to be our friends.

The one who gave us our first cigarette was not our friend.

The one who gave us that drink of alcohol was not our friend.

The one who gave us drugs was not our friend.

The one who talked us into doing something foolish was not our friend.

A true friend will stick by you no matter the circumstances.

Even in this, we have the Lord Jesus Christ as our example because He is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

It is the Lord Jesus Christ who died in our place so we can live an eternal life.

Nothing can separate us from our Savior!

Rom 8:35  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 

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. 

God bless the Word of God that gives us such great wisdom from the only source of true wisdom.

Amen

The Privilege of Being in the Family of God

 The Privilege of Adoption into the God's Family

 Book of Galatians Chapter 4 Verses 1 through 20

 Our lesson does a great job of presenting the truth of Faith and the Grace of God and being adopted into the family of God.

 All our lessons have been good this quarter.

 I may go a little bit differently today as I usually do.

 We know some churches of Galatia were teaching that a person could be saved by the Law, the Law being the Laws of Moses.

 You know that title itself should tell us that the law was lacking.

 The Bible is best stated as the Revelation of Jesus Christ.

 These churches had allowed some Judaizers to come in with a false teaching and they had turned from the teaching of "faith" by the Apostle Paul.

 They now felt they could be saved by being good, doing their best, and being religious.

 Being religious means people who have given themselves to religion and are so influenced by it that they are different from the world.

 Christianity means we are a follower of the teachings of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith!

 Christianity is a personal experience with our Savior!

 We should all do our best to be good according to the Word of God.

We all should be faithful in worshipping God and in a good church.

 We must not think this is the means of our salvation!

 The Bible is very clear and forceful, that doing these things does not save a person!

 When we get alone with God, “are we” speaking to Him as a maturing Christian or as a baby Christian?

 He knows what we are and none of us can be perfect until we meet Jesus when He returns, and He will return!

 If we ever want to get to Heaven, we had better know that we must be perfect, and perfection only comes with a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Mat 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 In the Lord's Sermon on the Mount, He explained the big difference in just obeying the Law and the truth of God.

 There is a big difference between obedience and holiness!

 The big difference in being a Christian is, “we do not need a written list of laws because we have the Holy Spirit living within us” and He will put His laws in our minds and write them down in our hearts.

 Heb 10:15  Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 

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

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

Heb 10:18  Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. 

 In the Lord Jesus Christ, we have the perfect conception of love, and this is what He wants from us.

 *****Gal 4:1 Now I say, That the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;

Gal 4:2 But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.

 Under Roman law, a child was an infant until they were seven years old and were a child until they reached the age of twenty-five.

 During this time a bondservant would be the one to teach that child or be responsible for taking that child to the tutors or a schoolmaster.

 During this time, these children “had no say so in the affairs of their father” even though they were heirs to whatever their father owned.

 In this, they were no different from a bondservant who would never be an heir.

 Only after maturity does this person become a true heir and then lord of that property of his father.

 Even if that father no longer lived that guardian or governor would direct that heir until he reached the proper age, and the heir had no power to make those decisions concerning his inheritance.

 The father could and would determine that period of time before that heir had the authority over his own inheritance!

 We can see that even though this son was an heir and a future lord, he was no more than a slave until that time set by his father.

 Caesar had ruled that under the Gallic tribes of Galatia, the father had sole power of life and death over his wife and children.

 *****Gal 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:

 There was a time when the entire world was under bondage to one nation, or another as described in the Book of Daniel.

 Daniel 2 Verses 37 through 44.

 To the Jews, this bondage meant the sacrifices, the rituals, and the sacrifices of the Old Testament that directed all the facets of Jewish life.

 It meant philosophy and the traditions of men, and their teachings.

 It meant the ordinances, rules, and regulations of men, including the oral law.

 It meant all the laws of the Old Testament.

 It was impossible to keep all those old laws.

 Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

 Gal 5:1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

 All things of religion will choke the life out of Christianity if we allow it!

 The elements, of the world mean the things of this world that we use to get right with God and try to secure the favor of God.

 This also includes anything we can use to justify ourselves to God, anything we can do through our own efforts, and we will never get close to God doing these things.

 But there came a time when God decided it was time to change the things that brought us under bondage to this world.

 *****Gal 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Gal 4:5 To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

 The fullness of time here represents the time that our Heavenly Father decided to begin the Church Age and end the Age of the Law as the schoolmaster.

 The Age of Grace began.

 Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

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

Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

 We can say the fullness of time is the time appointed by God and was foretold by the true Prophets of God.

 We should know by now that Jehovah God is in control of all the things in this world.

 This world lives every day under the providence of God!

 God's preserving and governing of all, by means of second causes.

 Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.

 The Lord Jesus Christ is the glue that holds His creation together!

 When the first part of our Savior's work was completed, He went back to His throne in Heaven until the Church Age reaches its fulfillment and then He will return.

 Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

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.

 There should be no doubt that we are in these last days.

 The Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to deliver this world from sin!

 This was His sole purpose, and He completed that work.

 Today Jesus Christ walks “in our bodies” until He returns to Redeem us.

 Jesus was not some angel!

 The first coming of Christ was not by chance!

 Jesus Christ came in the timing set aside by God the Father!

 He did not come one day early, and He did not leave one day late. He is always on time!

 Jesus Christ was born of a particular person, at a particular time, in a particular way, and under a particular system, the Law.

 Jesus was subject to the same system in which He came to save all the world from it.

The world had been specially prepared for His first coming!

 The Law had done its work.

The world was full of spiritually starved people ready for a change.

The world was at peace under Roman rule.

The world was under the Greek language making communication possible no matter where you went.

The Romans had built roads everywhere making travel easier.

 God's messenger, John the Baptist, was in place.

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

Mar 1:2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

Mar 1:3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

 Heb 9:26 For then must he often have suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.

Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

Heb 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

 Why did Jesus come? He came to redeem God's people!

 God's people are all those who have "faith" in the work of Jesus Christ!

 Every believer becomes the adopted sons and daughters of God!

 *****Gal 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Gal 4:7 Wherefore thou art no more a servant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

 When we trust in the work of Christ for our salvation we receive the Holy Spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit.

 Paul asked these Galatians: Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 These people knew they had never felt the presence of the Holy Spirit until they heard the preaching of the Apostle Paul.

 Because we have the Spirit of Jesus living within us, God looks upon us as His sons and daughters.

 What is the first thing we should do?

 2Co 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

2Co 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 We cannot allow the remnants of our past to influence our new life!

 That unclean thing is what is called an idol.

 As we come out from the world we begin to meet our true family, the family of God.

 As we have learned earlier, the Holy Spirit is somewhat like a downpayment on our eternal life, until Christ returns to take us home.

 We become heirs and sons because of our faith in Jesus Christ and the Grace of our heavenly Father!

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

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

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

 Then the last time will be the day of the Rapture of the Church, the end of the Church Age.

 Chapters 2 and 3 and the first verse in Chapter 4 of the Book of Revelation.

 The word adoption means to place us as God's sons and daughters, and He will never release us back into this wicked world.

 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.

 For many days now, we will be telling ourselves we just want to go home.

 Rom 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Rom 8:23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

 We are no longer servants to this sinful world.

 *****Gal 4:8 Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.

 I believe every one of us agrees with this verse.

 There is no God but Jehovah who can change one thing on this earth!

 When we look back on our old lives before our faith in Jesus, most of us do not like who or what we were.

 We may have had knowledge of God, but we did not know Him in a personal way, and this is what God wants from us, a personal relationship.

 We did not know life until we met Jesus!

 We served the false gods of this world until we met Jesus!

 Many of us worshipped that almighty dollar because the things of this world are only idols.

 Eph 2:12 That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Eph 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.

 We were in bondage to the things of this world.

 Now we know better so, why in the world would we ever want to go back into that lost world?

 *****Gal 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

Gal 4:10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.

Gal 4:11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain.

 It is a privilege to know the truth of God, a privilege we had better not abuse.

 We should also understand that God knew us before we were even born on this earth.

 In some places in the Bible, it shows that God talks to us while we are in the womb of our mothers.

 God will not do for one that He will not do for another! Only He knows what is best for us.

 It is a humbling fact, that God cared enough to send someone to us to tell us about Jesus and the Gospel.

 There is nothing in this world that can give life.

 Heb 7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

Heb 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, “but the bringing in of a better hope did”; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

 The Apostle Paul is not condemning the observance of these things but teaching them that God will never justify them for observing these days.

 Bondage to these things forfeits the liberty of the Gospel!

 We are not bound to observe any ritual of any church.

 The only things Jesus said for us are Baptism and the Lord's Supper, but even these things cannot justify us.

 We do these things because our Lord did these things, and He said to follow Him.

 So, we follow Him in Baptism, and we partake of the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him.

 Paul knew that these churches in Galatia were about to turn back to the Law and Paul was doing His best to tell them how foolish this was.

 Every religion in this world is a religion of works!

 People trying to please their god making these religions, religions of works.

 The only thing that pleases God is "faith" in the work of His Son for our salvation!

 Once we decide that we need to do something to make God love us, we are headed for trouble.

 Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

 We are walking a dangerous path when we turn our backs on God!

 When we speak to some in the church who seem to be losing their faith, we must remember they are still our brothers and sisters in Christ and the children of God.

 *****Gal 4:12 Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all.

 Paul has not been too harsh to these churches because they are still family notice the word brethren.

 This is an example for us all. Our own Pastor preaches hard, and some may not always agree with the message, but we had better remember that he is a minister of God called to preach the messages God has given him by the Holy Spirit.

 He is also a brother in Christ who is in the same family as all God's children.

 If He does not preach God's message, then he will answer to God.

 If we do not listen to that message and apply it to our lives, Jesus may remind us of that when we meet Him in the clouds.

 Every message is real when it matches what God has said in the Scriptures.

 We do not have to abide by any message that goes against the Word of God!

 Paul was being criticized for his messages of truth when it was the Judaizers who had the false message.

 Even now Paul did not treat them as his enemies.

 Paul assured them that they had not injured him, they had only injured themselves.

 God gives us this time after our salvation to earn rewards given to us when we get to Heaven.

 These rewards are far more than the promised Mansion and eternal life.

 We can even be blessed as we witness for the Lord Jesus Christ here on earth.

 God has all these things in mind when He sends a message to our Pastor for him to preach to us.

 *****Gal 4:13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.

Gal 4:14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.

Gal 4:15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

Gal 4:16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?

 Even on a bad day when our pastor is feeling bad, he will always give us the truth of God!

 Our Pastor is never ever our enemy!

 Paul had a physical affliction that bothered him from time to time and he asked the Lord to remove it, and the Lord said to him, "My Grace Is sufficient" for it to overcome your weakness.

 When a true man of God is preaching full of the Holy Spirit, God's power to him will overcome all his deficiencies.

 It is the message that is important, not the physical condition of that man of God!

 When Paul first came to these people he was welcomed with open arms.

 It was the legalism of the Judaizers that made things change.

 This is what a false message does. It will cause friction in that body of believers.

 Many a church has split for these same things.

 1Ti 5:17 Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

 Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Tit 3:9 But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain.

Tit 3:10 A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;

Tit 3:11 Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.

 Verse 15 also hints to us that the physical problem that Paul had was with his eyes.

 The people who reject the truth of Jesus Christ are outside the church.

 We are not to hate them, but we must know this fact and witness to them if we are able.

 Notice it said if you have witnessed to them at least twice then you are not obligated to go that person a third time but someone else can go.

 It was the Judaizers who were religionists who were Paul's true enemy and the enemies of the Church!

 *****Gal 4:17 They zealously affect you, but not well; yea, they would exclude you, that ye might affect them.

Gal 4:18 But it is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing, and not only when I am present with you.

 Notice Paul did not mention names. Everyone present knew who Paul was referring to.

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

 All those who pervert the Gospel of Jesus Christ are false teachers!

 We must always be on guard and reject false preachers and teachers.

 These Judaizers were very zealous in their work, trying their best to reconvert as many of the Jews as they could and convert any Gentile to Judaism who listened to them.

 They did not care if they got saved or not.

 Their goal was to stop Christianity in its tracks.

 Most of the world is trying to do the same today but this is impossible!

 The very first thing they will try to do is to discredit that Pastor (preacher) who teaches the truth.

 False teachers try to focus people on the law, work, effort, rituals, sacrifice, and rules.

 False teachers reject the Grace of God.

 Today false teachers claim some imaginary powers that they do not have and work for the money they can get from those who trust them.

 Today God does all healing without the help of some mediator.

 The power of healing belongs to God Himself and He does this work through prayers!

 The true preacher seeks to focus people on this Almighty God who gave us a plan for salvation.

 It is His plan and there is no other plan than His that will work!

 God's plan works only through the Lord Jesus Christ. These are His conditions, and we must not question His plan!

 The Lord Jesus said: Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

 Jesus also said: Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

 Rom 10:3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

 Those who deny the truth of Jesus Christ are all antichrists!

 2Jn 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

2Jn 1:8 Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.

2Jn 1:9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

 *****Gal 4:19 My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you,

Gal 4:20 I desire to be present with you now, and to change my voice; for I stand in doubt of you.

 We as a church should welcome those Evangelist and Missionaries who preach the truth and in our church our Pastor makes this selection, and this is the way it should be in every Gospel church.

 There is only one Gospel!

 The true preacher seeks only to help believers.

 The true preacher considers all believers as his dear children.

 The true preacher will guard the church from error.

 The true preacher’s heart is tender and warm, protecting and providing for the church.

 Most people think of a growing church as one that adds many new members, but the truth is a growing church is a church growing in its relationship with Jesus Christ and His Heavenly Father who becomes our ABBA Father

 Nothing else in this world is more important than our relationship with our Savior.

 These are the same ones who are God's children!

 Amen.

Oh, Foolish World

 Salvation by Grace Through Faith

 Book of Galatians 3:1-9

 If we are not firm in our beliefs right now, then we need to learn as the Apostle reintroduces the Doctrine of Salvation to these Galatians.

 We must understand that we can have the most solid church in the world, but if we allow one false preacher or teacher to come into our church with his false message, it will cause confusion to one or more of our brothers and sisters, and it may take months to straighten out the mess they leave behind.

 Salvation comes to us only through God's " Grace" and only through our "Faith" in Him!

 Faith is accepting that the Word of God is true! Not just a few words but all His Word. Not just certain Words but all His Word! Not just the red letters, but all the letters.

 If we get confused by the red letters, which are the very words of Jesus, then get a Bible written all in black ink.

We can remember “grace” as “God’s Riches at Christ's Expense”.

 The Spirit of Jesus, God's Holy Ghost caused all the Scriptures to be written according to what God wanted to say.

 All the writers were like typewriters with the Holy Spirit leading their fingers to the right keys or as the printer with God inserting all the letters of type.

 From last week's lesson, we read:

 Gal 2:16  Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, “but by the faith of Jesus Christ”, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: “for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified”. 

 Paul has already taught these Galatians that no one can keep those 613 Jewish Laws to God’s satisfaction, nor can any man-made law save anyone.

Our own government writes biased laws that will never accomplish anything.

 Every Jew sought “righteousness” through those old laws, and this is the reason that they had to bring a sacrifice to the High Priest which brought forgiveness for one year only.

 The next day after that sacrifice they were already guilty of sin again.

 There is only one way to meet God's demands, and it is by "faith" in the work of His Son, the Messiah, who has completed to save us.

It is easy to say God’s demands or God’s commands when everything God does is for our salvation and eternal life.

Jehovah God has never been unrighteous!

 Any doctrine that makes the death of Jesus Christ unnecessary for our salvation is irreverent toward our Heavenly Father and revolting to Christians who know better!

 These Galatians had taken their eyes off of Jesus and looked to the world for the truth, and many a church has done this today.

Just look at how many places of worship closed their doors and refused to celebrate the birth of our Savior. The Church is the Body of Christ.

It is a shame that we cannot celebrate our Savior which began with His miracle birth!

In order to die for our sins, God had to pour Himself into a body of flesh that could die and then resurrect from that death because God simply cannot die, but He raised Himself to show us the power of His resurrection.

 To bewitch is the work of a Sorcerer!

 It is believed that these Judaizers were influential Jews who were gladly accepted into the Church in Antioch and were immediately given positions of authority and their full intention was to destroy the Church and grow Judaism.

 It was intentional.

It was revolting.

It was wicked.

It was Devilish.

It is clearly seen that our teachers and preachers need to be vetted or well-known for the truth before they are allowed to teach in any church or any place of worship.

 We had better realize that religious rituals have saved nobody.

 We had better know that a false doctrine only opens the gates of Hell and there is no escape.

 There is no such place as purgatory and those who believe only put some so-called priest in a new luxury car as I saw in Mexico as they wear holes in the collection boxes trying to pay God to move that soul from a so-called purgatory to Heaven.

 *****Gal 3:1  O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you? 

 That word “foolish” means; void of understanding sound judgment.

 In Scripture it means wicked, sinful, acting without regard to Divine Law or the Glory of God.

 It can also mean proceeding from depravity.

 One of the most stupid things we can do is to leave the Church after we have heard and understood the truth!

 The Greek word that was used also meant to be foolish or unwise.

 The Apostle Paul was just saying, why have you Galatians allowed these people to come in and rob you of your happiness?

 The "Good News" of Jesus Christ brings happiness when any news of this world will rob us of our happiness!

 It is the errors of this world that totally ruins our lives and our future lives!

 The simple way that Jesus has made for us to get to our real home just seems too hard for many people and they falsely believe they must have to do something to earn it when there is nothing we can do but be obedient to the Word of God, all the Word of God.

 2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. 

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him. 

 So many people believe that we need to hear from some great mighty man of God such as the way that the Catholics see the Pope, to be able to understand the simplicity of salvation that they just cannot imagine a God so humble that He would die for them.

 In truth, we do not have to understand it, for who can explain "Grace"?

 Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God!

 Without God's "Grace," there is no saving power.

 One of the greatest Scriptures in the entire Bible says:

 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.

 False teaching can stop all salvations in every place of worship!

 It was the Law that placed Jesus Christ upon that cross!

It was love that kept Him there.

It was "Grace" that made Him do all these things.

 God would have sinned Himself had He not died for His creations!

 When those fancy-mouthed religionists came to the Church in Antioch it was to put a stop to Christianity, and they could have succeeded if not for the power of Grace.

 Grace still means: God's Riches At Christ's Expense.

 Errors deceive people and when those errors are intentional, they will destroy you!

 The word bewitched means to fascinate, or cast a spell, to mislead or deceive.

 The Judaizers were very capable, persuasive speakers with dynamic personalities.

 They had charisma as some would say.

 These are qualities I sometimes wish I had, but in reality, if you get any knowledge from these things I say every week then you got them from the Holy Spirit because I do not possess those qualities.

 I just try to go where the Lord leads me.

 When those Judaizers spoke, the things they said just made sense to  these baby Christians.

 When they said, you need to keep such and such ritual, it just made sense.

When they said, surely there must be some work that needed to be done, it just made sense.

When they said God had certain laws for us to obey, it just made sense.

 It all sounded reasonable and logical, but it was all false teaching!

 God said we might never understand His "Grace", and we may never understand the amazing love of God!

 We do not have to completely understand "Grace", we just have to have "faith" that what the Lord Jesus did for us was what is needed for us to be saved.

 Be sure to understand that if not for Jesus, we would have certainly seen the wrath of God on our person.

 We will never understand the wrath of God without a complete understanding of God's holiness.

 Since God is a Holy God then those around and near Him must also be holy!

 God cannot be near sinners for very long because in our flesh we can never be holy unless we are a home for the Holy Spirit.

 All those who do not have the presence of the Holy Spirit in them will feel the wrath of God!

 The Word of God tells us that showing His wrath is the proper thing for Him to do at sinners.

 Isa 5:24  Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. 

Isa 5:25  Therefore is the anger of the LORD kindled against his people, and he hath stretched forth his hand against them, and hath smitten them: and the hills did tremble, and their carcases were torn in the midst of the streets. For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.

 The truth is error will lead us away from Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit will only lead us to the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The elements of love and compassion are always connected to God's anger and He would rather show these than His anger, but His anger is promised if there is no repentance.

 When Paul preached, he preached the straight truth that Jesus Christ took our place on that cross and by this action, He took away all our sins and put them upon Himself.

 Jesus Christ bore the punishment for everyone who has ever lived and forever who will come in the future until He returns to take us home.

 Why is it so hard to understand that God sent His Son into this world to die for us?

Why is it so hard to believe that God expects all His creation to understand this?

Why is it so hard to believe that God took their faith and love in His Son and accepted them for their righteousness?

 Over eighty percent of this world believes in some god, I just believe that my God is the most powerful of them all and that He would never lie to me about anything.

 If this makes me to be a fool, then so be it but my God says they are the ones who are fools!

 Just how do we receive the Holy Spirit?

 *****Gal 3:2  This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? 

Gal 3:3  Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh? 

 Just how do we receive the Holy Spirit?

Just how do we begin our Christian Walk?

 There is one thing all believers know and the believers in the churches of Galatia knew it too: no person earns, wins, or merits the Holy Spirit of God!

 We are too polluted and with all the news about "climate change," we all know something about pollution and what it means to us today.

It amazes me that people want to clean up this earth but do not want to clean up their lives!

 We all fall far too short of the glory of God to get anywhere near the Holy Spirit!

 Even when sinners are doing nothing at all, their minds are usually in the gutter or they are planning their next sinful act.

 If we go back to the very day that we got saved, we know that it was by faith that we received the Holy Spirit because there is no law in the Bible that allows for this to take place!

 We know by what happened in our own heart that God took our faith and counted it for righteousness and the Holy Spirit moved right on in.

 Since the Holy Spirit has moved in there no evil spirit can ever move back in because the Holy Spirit is far too powerful to allow that to happen.

 We may not be what we could be by complete obedience to the Holy Spirit and for certain we can grieve the Holy Spirit, but He will never leave us neither will He forsake us.

 Jhn_14:16  And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

Jhn_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.

Jhn_15:26  But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

Jhn_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

 These are all things that the Holy Spirit will do when He enters into us!

 He will not enter into us without our faith in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has done to save us.

 Those who question if there is such a God will know the answer to that question once they accept the truth of Jesus.

 Every person must hear the glorious message of "Faith"!

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

 Each believer can only grow and be perfected after that person has preached the Word of God to them.

 The hearing of "faith" is the only way a person can ever become acceptable to God!

 The Holy Spirit is God's gift to each believer!

 This gift cannot be earned.

This gift cannot be won.

The Holy Spirit can only be given and can only be given by Jehovah God!

 The Holy Spirit is given at the moment of our salvation, and the Bible refers to this giving as what we would call a down payment.

 Eph 1:13  In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

Eph 1:14  Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

 In the days of the depression people would put back what they called "earnest" money to be used in an emergency or maybe a downpayment on an item they sorely needed but could not afford.

 The word earnest in the Greek meant a pledge or token given as assurance of the fulfillment of a promise.

 As a believer, we need to focus our love, our attention, and our life upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

 Without this, we cannot be accepted by God the Father.

 Php 3:20  For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 

Php 3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. 

 These Galatians had already suffered greatly because they had first accepted Christ.

 *****Gal 3:4  Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. 

 If we do not know now, we will suffer because we have placed our faith in the God of the Bible, Jesus the Messiah.

 This happened immediately to the Jews for forsaking Judaism.

 They suffered ridicule, abuse, isolation, and persecution from any Jew who knew them beforehand.

 Since this suffering had already taken place for believing the truth, they would surely look foolish if they turned away from the Lord Jesus so, they suffered in vain.

 If they repented and came back to Christ,  then this suffering would have not been in vain.

 In fact, every Christian who turns away from this world and turns toward Jesus the Messiah will still suffer today.

 Such things as "denying self" would at first bring some suffering.

 "Taking up our own cross" and following the Lord Jesus would have suffering.

 Just "separating" ourselves from this world will bring suffering, even today, especially in certain countries.

 The Lord Jesus said many of our rewards and blessings would come from this action against us.

 Mat 19:29  And every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life. 

 Then Paul asked these Galatians again just how did you obtain the Holy Spirit?

 *****Gal 3:5  He therefore that ministereth to you the Spirit, and worketh miracles among you, doeth he it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

 We can be sure that we will receive nothing from God unless we have this "saving faith"!

 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. 

 I know we see this Scripture a lot, but we need to realize just how important our faith is.

 No one would climb aboard an airplane if they did not have the faith that it was safe to do so.

 In fact, no one could even sit down in a chair if they did not have enough faith that chair would hold them up.

 Faith is important to us in our everyday life, but it is most important when we put that faith in the hands of the Supreme God!

 Our faith is not what it is, our faith is what it does!

 Our "Faith" does the necessary work so that we do not have to do any work for our salvation.

 A wise man once said; "The only thing I can give to Jesus toward my salvation is a dirty rotten sinner".

 We know that the Apostles of Christ had some power to heal along with some other powers shared with them by the Holy Spirit, but it always was built around faith.

 So, these Galatians had seen some miracle healing and some other miracles.

 Act 14:8  And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother's womb, who never had walked: 

Act 14:9  The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, 

Act 14:10  Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. 

 Now we must not be confused about these powers the Holy Spirit shared with the Apostles. 

Today we have the complete Canon of Scripture, and these powers are not given to men.

 We should be able to understand that miracles did not happen at random throughout Scripture but occurred in three major periods.

 1) In the days of Moses and Joshua.

2) In the days of Elijah and Elisha.

3) In the days of Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

 There were select miracles outside the scope of time, but not many.

 During this time of Jesus and the Apostles, miracles were given to authenticate a message!

 God gave enough of His power to these men and in these periods only, along with a New Message, the “Good News”.

 Miracles came in the time of the New Testament to validate the New Message given by Jesus Christ to the Apostles.

 With the completion of the canon of Scripture the need for miracles as validating a sign disappeared.

 Any miracle associated with the Word of God today is done by God Himself!

 The gift of miracles is much broader than the gift of healing.

 The gift of miracles would also mean "power" or "a work of power".

 There is also a distinction between miracles and the gift of miracles.

 Still, the ability of any individual to perform miraculous acts ceased with the Apostolic Age.

 God does times still answer the prayer of a believer but this is His choice and for His reasons, but He does not do this through a medium of another person.

 Those who claim such power today are false preachers and liars!

 Again, God may heal in response to prayers, and He does I am living proof!

Even when God allowed this power to a few men, we should remember that God did not heal every person including the Apostle Paul.

 2Co 12:8  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 

2Co 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong. 

 Paul admitted that he was stronger under God's power than he would have been if God had healed him, and it is the same for most all of us. I know it is for me!

 There is no longer a need for any of the powers given to men because we have the full Canon of Scripture given to us by the Holy Spirit and it is the Holy Spirit who provides the things we need working through the truth of the Gospel and our "Faith".

Remember there was a city where even Jesus could not perform any major miracle because they had no faith.

Mar 6:4  But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. 

Mar 6:5  And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. 

Mar 6:6  And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching. 

Next Paul gives us the example of Abraham.

 *****Gal 3:6  Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 

Gal 3:7  Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

 All Abraham needed was the "Word of God" and "his faith" in it!

 Abraham was justified by his faith alone!

 What is the truth?

 It was the Word of God that promised Abraham the "Good News" of the Messiah even though it could not happen during his lifetime.

It was the Word of God that told Abraham that the Law puts man under a curse.

It was the Word of God that promised that only the Messiah could redeem Abraham from that curse.

 Abraham was the founder of the Jewish nation, but Abraham was a Gentile!

 It was Abraham who was the first Ambassador of God. He left the only home he knew and was searching for a new home, a Promised Home.

 Abraham left a place where many gods were worshipped and Abraham began to worship the One True God, Jehovah.

 Abraham's one work was for him to follow the Word of God and have faith in the Truth of God. Abraham had to believe, and he did.

Not many of us would have been like Abraham yet we frown on the few times that Abraham failed God.

 Abraham left his family, his friends, his job, and his nation to go to a place he had never seen nor ever heard of.

 Abraham believed God and he was judged righteous for that one reason!

 Abraham had no law to follow the laws of Moses had not been given!

 Abraham simply believed what God told him!

 We should know that God did not give these same promises to anyone else.

 Rom 4:16  Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all, 

Rom 4:17  (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. 

Rom 4:18  Who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be. 

 Abraham's faith preceded his obedience to God, and it is the same for us today.

 *****Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed. 

Gal 3:9  So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham. 

 God promised the Gospel to Abraham many years ago and Abraham knew he would never see its completion, but Abraham was looking out for his children at a time when Abraham did not have any children.

 Abraham trusted God to give him children from a barren woman!

 To Paul, the Scripture was the Word of God just as we believe today, and it is true.

There was no Bible for Abraham to place his faith.

Abraham had a voice in his head or some vision to place his faith.

 The Scriptures declared the Gospel truth from the time of creation!

 It was by Abraham's faith that he was justified because Abraham was not a perfect man and none of us can be until we believe and God accounts that faith it for our righteousness.

 Abraham did finally have one son who was Issac, a miracle birth.

 When we study the Word of God, we will see that the events in the life of Isaac were a parallel to the life of Jesus Christ.

 1) Isaac had a miraculous birth:

 Gen 15:2  And Abram said, Lord GOD, what wilt thou give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? 

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. 

 2 Isaac (was delivered) Isaac was to be offered up as a sacrifice.

 Heb 11:17  By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son, 

Heb 11:18  Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called: 

 3) Isaac was delivered from death by a miracle of God.

 Gen 22:10  And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. 

Gen 22:11  And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I. 

Gen 22:12  And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me. 

Gen 22:13  And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son. 

Gen 22:14  And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen. 

 Heb 11:19  Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure. 

 So today, as we witness for Jesus Christ, it is the truth of the Gospel that will win every lost soul.

 We do not need to change it but teach it as it is the truth of God.

Salvation still comes by Grace through Faith in the promises of God found only one place in the Scriptures given to us by the Holy Spirit who lives in every Christian.

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ still walks this earth in the body of every Christian.

Amen