Growing Into a Mature Church

 The Gift of Edifying

 Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 14

 

 Edifying is the building up of Christian knowledge.

 Edification is the process by which we, as believers, are built up. We are becoming advanced in knowledge and holiness.

 1Pe_1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

1Pe_1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

 Without holiness, we will never get to see the Lord Jesus face to face!

 Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 

 Rom 14:19  Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

 1Pe 3:12  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. 

1Pe 3:13  And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? 

 We already know that "Love" is the number one gift we must seek, but after this, we should seek to prophesy, evangelizing the Word of God.

God calls each individual who He makes His Pastors, and Preachers, but we can seek the ability similair to this to be more able to witness for the Gospel and it is called evangelism.

We are all, every child of God is to be an evangelist. An evangelist is those who proclaim the "good news" of salvation effectively.

 Prophesy, as used here, does not mean foretelling of things to come other than the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is no need for prophets today because we have the completed Word of God and there will be no new prophecies.

 Prophesy, as used here, means to open and apply the Scriptures to our lives under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

God calls those He wants behind the pulpits of the Church. All others place themselves and are not God called.

 We should understand that all the gifts of the Holy Spirit are to be used for the work of the ministry of Jesus Christ.

 We are to use the Word of God to help desperate people in this world we live in to see a new life.

 Desperate people are those who do not know the salvation plan of God and will perish without this knowledge.

 Every human being will get an opportunity to say "yes" or say "no" to our Heavenly Father.

 We should keep in mind that there are always some people who feel their gifts and abilities make them better and more favored and privileged than others.

 As we know, the gift of tongues is especially subject to pride and super-spirituality because it involves a heavenly utterance as opposed to ordinary human language.

The Holy Spirit would never give everyone in the church the same gift of tongues!

 Since chapter 12, the Apostle Paul has been speaking of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. All gifts come by the Holy Spirit, and He decides what gifts we need as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 12:11  But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. 

1Co 12:12  For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. 

1Co 12:13  For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. 

 Some people may have natural talents, but these are different from the gifts of the Holy Spirit even though these talents should also be used for the cause of Christ.

 We know that the gift of tongues speak of languages and not some language of angels or any other Heavenly figure.

 *****1Co 14:1  Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. 

 Love in the Church will always be the number one gift of the Holy Spirit.

Every child of God is to possess the love of God!

 Remember God is love!

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

 The Holy Spirit is God, so the Holy Spirit is love.

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

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

 The Holy Spirit produces love in every believer!

 The next we should desire from the Holy Spirit then would be "prophesy" which is the ability to spread the Gospel as commanded by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 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.

 There are no greater gifts of the Holy Spirit than these two!

 As far as the gift of tongues, listen to the Apostle Paul.

 *****1Co 14:2  For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. 

1Co 14:3  But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. 

1Co 14:4  He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 

1Co 14:5  I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying. 

 In reality, the gift of tongues was only for our benefit, and remember, tongues always speak of a known language.

 Act 2:6  Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 

Act 2:7  And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans? 

Act 2:8  And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born? 

Act 2:9  Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites, and the dwellers in Mesopotamia, and in Judaea, and Cappadocia, in Pontus, and Asia, 

Act 2:10  Phrygia, and Pamphylia, in Egypt, and in the parts of Libya about Cyrene, and strangers of Rome, Jews and proselytes, 

Act 2:11  Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God. 

 The gift of tongues in the Book of Acts and the Book to the Corinthians were the same.

 Even if you know many languages it is still a lesser gift.

 1Co 13:8  Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 

 The foundational gifts for the edifying of Church are: Apostle, Prophet, evangelist, pastor-teacher, and teacher.

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

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

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

 Tongues are not foundational gifts of the Church and were never meant to be.

 If anyone speaks in the Church, they must be understood if that message is to edify the Church!

 *****1Co 14:6  Now, brethren, if I come unto you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you, except I shall speak to you either by revelation, or by knowledge, or by prophesying, or by doctrine? 

1Co 14:7  And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped? 

1Co 14:8  For if the trumpet gives an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle? 

1Co 14:9  So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air. 

1Co 14:10  There are, it may be, so many kinds of voices in the world, and none of them is without signification. 

1Co 14:11  Therefore if I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be unto him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh shall be a barbarian unto me.

1Co 14:12  Even so ye, forasmuch as ye are zealous of spiritual gifts, seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church. 

 There are two specific problems with tongues in the Church.

 1) Tongues do not communicate in the Church apart from some other gift, which is "interpretation".

 1Co 14:13  Wherefore let him that speaketh in an unknown tongue pray that he may interpret. 

 Those sitting in the pews would not know what was being said and could not profit from the message, which is the job of the speaker for them to understand.

 The speaker is to share some revelation of the Holy Spirit or some knowledge, or some teaching given to him by the Holy Spirit.

 This can be proven by musical instruments, which must have a distinct sound, or that sound is meaningless.

 A military trumpet must have a specific message for the troops to understand.

 A person must speak words that are understood, or his message will mean nothing to those listening, who came to hear what God had for them on that day.

 There are many languages in our world, and each language has its own distinct speech.

 If a foreigner speaks to me and I do not understand, then I am a barbarian, dumb and senseless to him, or He is as a barbarian, dumb and senseless to me.

 We are to have zeal for the gifts of the Holy Spirit, but tongues should be at the bottom of the list, still considering that tongues is all about language and not about some unknown language.

 If we are not servants to our particular church, then we cannot help our church to grow in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and our eternal blessings.

 2) The second problem is that tongues do not communicate even in prayer without "interpretation".

 If we get into our closet and pray to our Heavenly Father in some unknown language, no doubt He will know what is in our heart, but when I pray, I want to be concise because prayer is just too important.

 If someone is chosen to pray from the congregation and that person speaks in some unknown language, how is the congregation to know what is said without an interpreter?

 The truth is that tongues will not continue until the return of our Lord. Those who learn what the Bible says will stop the speaking of tongues themselves as they learn the truth.

 In truth, tongues were a part of the miraculous era of Jesus Christ and the Apostles and were necessary along with the gift of miracles as an authenticating sign of the Apostles.

 Since we now have the complete Word of God, these things are no longer needed, and the Holy Spirit will not give these gifts to God's people.

 1Co 14:20  Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 

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

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

 Tongues were a sign to the unbelieving Jews and, in this sense only were used only for evangelism.

 When unbelieving Jews would enter into any assembly and hear people speaking in foreign languages, it was a sign to them from Jehovah.

 Isa 28:11  For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. 

Isa 28:12  To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. 

 This sign should have led them to the Messiah, but they would not listen.

 You want to get on the wrong side of the Lord?

 Be the cause that someone walks in off the highways and hedges and thinks the whole church is mad because they cannot understand what is going on, and they leave and go to Hell because they never returned.

 1Co 14:23  If therefore the whole church be come together into one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those that are unlearned, or unbelievers, will they not say that ye are mad? 

 Worship must be orderly, showing the love of God!

 *****1Co 14:26  How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

 We should understand that the gifts given to us by the Holy Spirit are for the edifying of the people of God, who are the Church.

 The Church is not some building but the people of God, those who love the Lord Jesus Christ and are trying to follow in His ways.

 There is only One Church, the Body of Christ!

 This Scripture gives a view of just how divided this group of people was.

 Each one of us must prepare ourselves before we go to the House of God.

 We all have questions that we would love for the Lord our God to answer.

 We should never go before the Lord empty-handed!

 When in our daily lives we are made more aware of what the Lord Jesus Christ has given to us then He by our own mouths would love for us to tell Him about it.

 We could call this a testimony, and we all should have a testimony of what the Lord has done in our lives after we confess to Him our sins and invite Him into our hearts.

 He loves to hear from us how the Words of God have affected us.

 When we attend the gathering of the Church with these things, we will notice our heart is filled with Him.

 Sometimes may feel empty, and we want a refilling of the Holy Spirit and the message God has for us on that day we gather together.

 At Corinth, everyone came with something, but the services had degenerated into utter disorder and mass confusion.

 They all wanted gifts from the Holy Spirit that attracted attention much more than the gifts used to edify the Church and each other.

 They were neglectful of the Church order!

 Some had a hymn of praise.

Some had some doctrine they wanted enforced.

Some had a hidden mystery they wanted to reveal.

Some had an interpretation peculiar to themselves.

Some had some utterance in a foreign language.

 None tried to promote common welfare for all their brothers and sisters in Christ.

 Everyone was talking and doing their own thing.

 This was a church in disorder!

 To the visitor who came into the church, they heard nothing to tell them they needed a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 The thing that made matters worse was when they all tried to speak in some unknown language.

 If these things did not stop, this church would never be effective in the work the Lord Jesus Christ has given us all to do.

 Every child of God with a personal relationship with Christ Jesus has the same job, and it is to tell others about the salvation plan of God through His Son Christ Jesus and what He has accomplished in our lives.

 We attend Church to be edified by the Holy Spirit, and we must hear His message and apply it to our lives outside the Church.

 *****1Co 14:27  If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. 

1Co 14:28  But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God. 

 We know that every word in this epistle came by the Holy Spirit.

 We know that the word tongues is always interpreted as languages.

 The Holy Spirit says no more than three people in the service were to speak in tongues and them not at the same time.

 There was to be nothing out of order and no confusion.

 There was always to be an interpreter, or no one was to speak in tongues (languages); they were to remain silent.

 The person who spoke was to have the gift of tongues.

 This was not some person who stood up with an impulse from the Holy Spirit that the person could not resist.

 The one who stood up to speak had control of his words because he had the gift, and he could control what he was saying.

 Those who stood up saying they had a message from the Holy Spirit in some gibberish did not have the gift of tongues.

 No one could interpret such unknown words!

 It would be hard to stop this sort of thing in a place where this takes place, but that place is to follow the Word of God, which is the Divine Truth.

 This type of tongues, which is some unknown tongue, will only edify the person who is speaking it, as no one else will understand what is said.

 The gift of "interpretation of tongues" involved the supernatural ability of someone in the assembly to interpret a foreign language, and that language would be translated into words for the people who were present to understand.

 It was not a gift to translate some unknown language spoken on that day, which is impossible for people and not of God.

 Since we now have the complete Word of God, the gift of tongues, along with the gift of miracles, is no longer given by the Holy Spirit.

 God has given us the complete Bible, all the Word of God we need, and miracles happen through prayer and some intervention by God's Angels.

 If there were more than one man called of God to preach in that service, then they would take turns, and the other one would judge the words of the speaker to see if he followed the truth of God and the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, the Gospel.

 *****1Co 14:29  Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. 

1Co 14:30  If any thing be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. 

1Co 14:31  For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. 

1Co 14:32  And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. 

1Co 14:33  For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints. 

We should understand that the preacher has one job and one job only, and that job is to edify their brethren.

2Ti_4:2  Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

What Word: 

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

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

Did you know it is a sin to despise the Word of God?

1Th 5:20  Despise not prophesyings. 

We are to listen closely to the preaching.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 

1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 

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

Every true preacher has a message from the Holy Spirit and will contribute to any church.

If the Holy Spirit lives within the man of God, he will know how to bridle his tongue until he gets his chance to preach.

All of us who sit in the pews are to hold fast to the truth of God!

1Th 5:21  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

1Th 5:22  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

We are not to accept everything we hear unless it is the truth of God.

Keep in mind, most of those in this church in Corinth did not have a copy of the Word of God, it was being written by the true men of God.

Today, here in the USA, we all have our own copy of the Word of God, so we can know that that preacher is speaking the truth or not.

When we accept the truth of God, we will be at peace and we will not be confused about anything that the Holy Spirit has given to us!

The next subject has caused some division in the Church just as it did in Corinth.

*****1Co 14:34  Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. 

1Co 14:35  And if they will learn any thing, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in the church. 

This chapter has been about the speaking of tongues, which, remember, are languages.

Next, this chapter has been about order in the Church.

We are never to take Scripture out of the context when it is given to us by the Holy Spirit.

Some believe that the women in this church were using tongues more than the men, and even this was causing the church to be divided.

This is not the only place Paul addresses the women in the church:

1Ti 2:11  Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. 

1Ti 2:12  But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. 

The family is the model of what the Church should be.

Eph_5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;

This Scripture was written for the turmoil of that time that was happening in Corinth.

Whatever this passage is saying, it is not saying that women are barred from participating and sharing their own gifts in the Church.

Act 2:17  And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams: 

Act 2:18  And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:

Act 21:9  And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.

This word prophesy means to speak under Divine inspiration.

I believe that women should not teach a men's class, and I also believe that a man should not teach an all-women's class.

Paul had already recognized the fact that women could come under Divine inspiration.

1Co 11:5  But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven. 

1Co 11:6  For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered. 

1Co 11:7  For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

Without good, godly women, most churches would fail to exist.

Paul then asks the church if they had received some special revelation on all these matters.

*****1Co 14:36  What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only? 

1Co 14:37  If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord. 

1Co 14:38  But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant. 

1Co 14:39  Wherefore, brethren, covet to prophesy, and forbid not to speak with tongues. 

1Co 14:40  Let all things be done decently and in order. 

We should understand that no lost person can receive a Divine revelation from God until they have first come under Holy Ghost conviction from the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We must also understand that there will never be a Divine revelation to anyone that goes against the Word of God that we already have!

There will always be those who think they are God's greatest gift to mankind and to the Church.

There will be those who say they have some truth that no one else has.

Those who say they have some special insight.

Those who say they have some special revelation.

Those who say they have some special understanding.

All these are liars who are full of pride, and all puffed up about themselves.

Only the Lord Jesus Christ is the source of the truth and not some man or woman.

Many church groups say they are far above all others.

They, too, are deceived.

We should understand that the Books of the Bible from the Apostle Paul are the commandments of God, just as the Red-Letter words of Jesus Christ.

The speaking of tongues should have already left the Church and be non-existent, but it lingers on in certain denominations, even though they now have the truth of God, but they are not our enemies; they are dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

It is the preaching of God's Word that is the greatest of the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

The Church is to conduct its business of leading the lost to Christ in an orderly fashion, but the Church is not to be so orderly that it becomes stiff and cold!

The congregation is to participate, and it is not limited to singing and the giving of offerings, but also testimonies, praise, and a good Amen from time to time.

Psa_47:1 O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

1Ti_2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

All those who reject the truth of the Apostle Paul are rejecting the truth of God.

Amen

Jehovah's Miracle Working Prophet

 God's Prophet of Miracles

 

2 Kings 2:9-14, 4:1-7, 6:1-7

 What is making a commitment?

 The act of pledging yourself to God and entrusting yourself to God.

 Before Elisha became the powerful prophet that he was, he spent some time with the Prophet Elijah.

 Elijah was somewhat like a father to Elisha, and Elisha was a devoted servant to Elijah.

 We must have this relationship with our Heavenly Father, and we do this while trying to be more like the Son of God, Jesus Christ.

 Elisha made a commitment to Jehovah and Elijah.

 2Ki 2:5  And the sons of the prophets that were at Jericho came to Elisha, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the LORD will take away thy master from thy head to day? And he answered, Yea, I know it; hold ye your peace. 

2Ki 2:6  And Elijah said unto him, Tarry, I pray thee, here; for the LORD hath sent me to Jordan. And he said, As the LORD liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on.

 The Prophet Elisha refused to leave the side of Elijah.

 Now it was not Elijah who called Elisha to be a prophet of Jehovah, it was Jehovah who had called him through Elijah.

 1Ki 19:16  And Jehu the son of Nimshi shalt thou anoint to be king over Israel: and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room. 

 We can all love and cherish our pastor, but this will not make us preachers.

 We must be called of God!

 Elijah knew his time had come to leave this earth, and God did this in a special way.

 Elijah had used many ways to test the commitment of Elisha, and Elisha had passed every test.

 It was Elisha who would spend the final moments alone with his beloved prophet.

 For more than twenty years, the Prophet Elijah had witnessed to the nation of Israel.

 Elijah had the power of God upon him.

 *****2Ki 2:8  And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 

2Ki 2:9  And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.

2Ki 2:10  And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.  

 Somewhat like Moses at the Red Sea, Jehovah parted the waters of the River Jordan so his two prophets could cross on dry ground.

 On this very day, Elijah would be raptured out of this world in full view of Elisha.

 I say raptured because what does the word rapture mean?

 The word rapture means to be "caught up".

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

 Before the Tribulation, Jesus Christ will descend from Heaven, catching up the Church to be with Himself while the tribulation is unleashed on a world that refuses to repent and is full of unbelievers once the Church is gone.

 The seventh week of the prophet Daniel is an outpouring of the wrath of God!

 Dan 9:27  And he shall confirm the covenant with many for one week: and in the midst of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease, and for the overspreading of abominations he shall make it desolate, even until the consummation, and that determined shall be poured upon the desolate. 

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

Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters. 

 The Tribulation is described in the Book of Revelation from Chapter 6 through Chapter 16.

 Rev 19:2  For true and righteous are his judgments: for he hath judged the great whore, which did corrupt the earth with her fornication, and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hand. 

 That word “whore” means the false Church and those who reject our Creator, especially those who know the truth of God but have rejected Him.

 Elisha asked Elijah for a double portion of the Holy Spirit that powered Elijah.

 He knew he could not replace Elijah.

 Elijah did not have the power to grant such a request because his power came from the Spirit of Jehovah.

 In those days, the firstborn son in a Hebrew family was granted a double portion of any inheritance if they were found worthy.

 Then, without any warning, Jehovah claimed His servant, Elijah.

 *****2Ki 2:11  And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven. 

 We must know that our lives are in the hands of the Lord to do as He pleases!

 1) God knows when our work is done.

2) Death seems so low, but in fact, we are elevated to a higher service.

3) We are elevated, dignified, and glorified.

4) We do not enter into soul sleep or an intermediate state; we go to another world we call Heaven.

 Elijah was carried up by the power of God.

 When our Lord Jesus went back to Heaven, He went under His own power.

 Elijah was taken up as in the rapture.

 Jesus Christ just went back to Heaven, where He came from, to sit at the right hand of God.

 The Lord Jesus is coming again first to Rapture the Church into the clouds and then to this earth at the end of the tribulation period of seven years.

 Elisha saw with his own eyes that God’s people are all surrounded by angels.

 2Ki 6:17  And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha. 

 *****2Ki 2:12  And Elisha saw it, and he cried, My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the horsemen thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own clothes, and rent them in two pieces. 

2Ki 2:13  He took up also the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and went back, and stood by the bank of Jordan; 

2Ki 2:14  And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over. 

 Jehovah had used the Prophet Elijah to demonstrate to Israel that it was Jehovah who had the true power over Israel.

 He will do the same with the Prophet Elisha, and it is these things that we must learn from the Old Testament.

 If we cannot commit ourselves to our God, how can we ever overcome the obstacles that Satan will put in our path of righteousness?

 1Co 4:1  Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 

1Co 4:2  Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 

 Faithful is another word for commitment!

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

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

 Elisha's first call was to pick up the fallen cloak of Elijah.

 Elisha was to replace the great Prophet Elijah.

 The next proof to Elisha was the parting of the River Jordan.

 This was an act of faith that he had received the power of God as he had desired.

 Elijah had promised the fulfillment of this request, and God had allowed it to take place.

 There were some eyewitnesses to this event, and they needed to see if Elisha truly had the power of God upon him.

 Elisha began his ministry, and we will see more miracles from this man of God than from any other prophet of God.

 *****2Ki 4:1  Now there cried a certain woman of the wives of the sons of the prophets unto Elisha, saying, Thy servant my husband is dead; and thou knowest that thy servant did fear the LORD: and the creditor is come to take unto him my two sons to be bondmen. 

2Ki 4:2  And Elisha said unto her, What shall I do for thee? tell me, what hast thou in the house? And she said, Thine handmaid hath not any thing in the house, save a pot of oil.

 Just as it is today, women who have lost their husbands or never had one to begin with will struggle to raise a family.

 Many of them are like this woman who was married to a preacher, and all of a sudden, he had died, and he died owing money to a ruthless man.

 We also see that these sons of the prophets did not separate themselves from society but had families and had family life.

So, this was something that God did not require. In fact, the Church is to be  a close-knit family, just as all families should be,

 This woman was left with a son and a small pot of olive oil and no money to pay the creditor.

 The Jewish law of that time demanded that debts be paid, but God had His demands.

 Lev 25:38  I am the LORD your God, which brought you forth out of the land of Egypt, to give you the land of Canaan, and to be your God. 

Lev 25:39  And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: 

Lev 25:40  But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile: 

Lev 25:41  And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. 

 No Jew could be made a slave by another Jew according to the Word of God because they all had been slaves in Egypt.

 We also know that the Word of God was abused then as it is today.

 The Prophet Elisha knew what was going on here, and so did Jehovah, who watches over us all.

 *****2Ki 4:3  Then he said, Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few. 

2Ki 4:4  And when thou art come in, thou shalt shut the door upon thee and upon thy sons, and shalt pour out into all those vessels, and thou shalt set aside that which is full. 

2Ki 4:5  So she went from him, and shut the door upon her and upon her sons, who brought the vessels to her; and she poured out. 

 There are times when we will have a heavy need, and the Lord Jesus reminds us of what to do.

 Joh 16:23  And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you. 

Joh 16:24  Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full. 

 Elijah was now gone to Heaven, so this woman turned to Elisha and Elisha said: “Go, borrow thee vessels abroad of all thy neighbours, even empty vessels; borrow not a few”.

God said: Go to your neighbors and get all the containers that they will let you have.

 This woman took her small vessel of olive oil and began pouring it into the borrowed buckets, pitchers, and any other containers until they were all full, and she still had her vessel of olive oil.

 When God offers His gifts, we must never be the reason that His gift falls short.

 As this oil is a type of the Holy Spirit, we must understand that it is never a question of the amount of oil; it is always a question of the empty vessels that need to be filled.

God has enough of His Spirit to fill every human being upon this earth and keep them full!

 2Co 4:7  But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. 

2Co 4:8  We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair. 

2Co 4:9  Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; 

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's oil can never run out!

 We must take advantage of His offer to help us.

 If this woman had a lack of faith and just gotten a few containers, her sons would have still had to serve the creditor, and she might not have ever seen them again.

 Notice also that this thing was to be done behind closed doors.

 This was a woman with a lot of faith.

 *****2Ki 4:6  And it came to pass, when the vessels were full, that she said unto her son, Bring me yet a vessel. And he said unto her, There is not a vessel more. And the oil stayed. 

2Ki 4:7  Then she came and told the man of God. And he said, Go, sell the oil, and pay thy debt, and live thou and thy children of the rest. 

 We must understand that being poor is not necessarily a disgrace.

 Being poor, we can sometimes better understand the gifts of God.

 We could say that the Bible is the poor man's book because God certainly remembers the poor.

 A poor woman with a devout heart can be the greatest prayer warrior in the Church and many are.

 Psa 68:5  A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation.

 Psa 10:14  Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. 

 God's heart is full of compassion for those who cannot help themselves and who depend on Him to meet their needs.

 What did this poor woman do?

 1) She informed a true man of God of her situation and sought his counsel.

2) She sought the help of her neighbors, humbly asking for assistance.

3) She sought privacy, giving God all the glory.

4) She got involved in the remedy, pouring the oil herself.

5) She had faith that God would meet her need.

 Jesus said: Mat 6:33  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. 

Mat 6:34  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. 

 We should understand that every circumstance we face in life could be a test and a means of Christian growth, whether they are good or bad.

 To be honest, we can grow more during our bad times than our good times if our faith stays rock solid.

 Indeed, we cannot have a testimony until we are tested.

 The Bible is a lot of things to a lot of people, but it is surely a testimony of God's power to help and to defend His people.

The Old Testament is full of things that God did for His people, and we know we serve this same God today.

 *****2Ki 6:1  And the sons of the prophets said unto Elisha, Behold now, the place where we dwell with thee is too strait for us. 

2Ki 6:2  Let us go, we pray thee, unto Jordan, and take thence every man a beam, and let us make us a place there, where we may dwell. And he answered, Go ye. 

2Ki 6:3  And one said, Be content, I pray thee, and go with thy servants. And he answered, I will go. 

 The place where these sons of the prophets gathered to study the Word of God had grown too small, and they wanted to build a bigger place on the shores of the River Jordan.

 Notice that every man was to join in the construction of this new building.

 Even Elisha would be with them.

 By building this new place to worship near the place where they gathered the lumber, they would not have to transport these materials to the other place.

 We can see that the Word of God was still working in the places of the Northern Tribes of Israel.

 *****2Ki 6:4  So he went with them. And when they came to Jordan, they cut down wood. 

2Ki 6:5  But as one was felling a beam, the axe head fell into the water: and he cried, and said, Alas, master! for it was borrowed. 

2Ki 6:6  And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim. 

2Ki 6:7  Therefore said he, Take it up to thee. And he put out his hand, and took it. 

We may wonder why this story is in the Bible, but God has His reason for every word He gives to us.

We can understand Church growth.

We can understand the members of the Church helping with the construction.

We can understand the head prophet or the Pastor joining in with the work.

A united Church can accomplish so much more than a divided Church!

What is the purpose of a miracle of God?

We know that miracles did not happen at random throughout Scripture but occurred mainly in the days of Moses and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, and Jesus Christ and the Apostles.

There are a select few that happened outside this time, but not many.

Miracles were given to authenticate God's message.

God enabled His messengers to perform miracles to substantiate the new message they were given.

The word "miracle" means "power" or “work of power".

Today, God does not work through a person for miracles to happen.

God may answer a prayer of a believer that requires a miracle, or He may perform a miracle in the life of a believer again as an answer to prayer.

So, a believer's prayer is the most powerful gift we have today.

Here in our passage, we see that an axe-head called “the iron” came off the ax handle and fell into the River Jordan.

This man had borrowed this ax from his neighbor, and by Jewish Law, he was responsible for it.

Iron tools were precious and scarce on that day.

This happened often with the axes of that day.

Deu 19:5  As when a man goeth into the wood with his neighbour to hew wood, and his hand fetcheth a stroke with the axe to cut down the tree, and the head slippeth from the helve, and lighteth upon his neighbour, that he die; he shall flee unto one of those cities, and live:

Elisha asked him in what part of the river it fell, and he showed him.

The River Jordan is not a clear river.

In this miracle, Elisha threw a stick down into the river and the axe-head did swim to that stick and that man reached down a picked up the axe-head.

For that man, this was quite a miracle.

Joh 3:27  John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. 

This man had lost this axe-head while he was faithfully serving the Lord.

As servants of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must walk carefully before the Lord and take inventory of our tools lest we lose something that we need.

Without this axe-head, this man could only watch others' work, and there are far too many of these types in the Church already.

If we honestly lose something and own up to it while doing the work the Lord has given to us to do, then God can recover what we lost and get us back into the race, as the Apostle Paul would say.

Amen

Are You Living in the Flesh

 The Flesh Versus the Spirit

 Book of Galatians Chapter 5 Verse 19 through 26

 Many people will not like what I say, but when we die, we finally shed this flesh that has hindered our relationship with Jesus Christ.

 It is then buried till it returns to the dirt God made us from, or more so today it is burnt in an oven till it is nothing but ashes.

 What had Paul said in last week’s lesson?

 Gal 5:17  For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 

 I believe our soul says "good riddance" to that sack of flesh at our death.

Our flesh is the cause of most of our pain!

 The works of the flesh show us just how strong the flesh is!

 Sin is first committed in secret, but by and by will work to the surface and advertise itself in shameless publicity.

 In the First Century all the Rulers such as Tiberias, Caligula, Nero, Domitian were monsters of vice and cruelty, and they only got away with it because the people they governed were equally corrupt.

 We can say the same about the Biden years he was not only corrupt and could not have gotten away with it, if all those around him were not also corrupt.

 Our nation will suffer for years because of this just as we do because of this flesh we live in unless we get the help of the Holy Spirit.

 *****Gal 5:19  Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 

Gal 5:20  Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 

Gal 5:21  Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. 

 After we are "born again" into the family of God we are expected to be more like Jesus Christ and Jesus would never have done any of these things written in this Scripture.

 Adultery is being sexually unfaithful to a husband or wife. It can also be looking on a man or woman to lust after them.

It does not matter if it is in person, in magazines, in books, on the beaches or anywhere else, it is all adultery if you are married to a wife or husband.

 Fornication includes all forms of immorality and sexual acts. Premarital sex, adultery, and it also includes looking upon a man or woman to lust after them, in person, in magazines, in books, or anywhere else. We can be attracted to the opposite sex without lusting after them.

 Uncleanness is moral impurity. Doing things that dirty, pollute, and soil life.

 Lasciviousness is filthiness, indecency, shamelessness. Unrestrained evil thoughts and behavior. Giving in to lustful desires.

It is those who know no restraint. Those who have sinned so much that they no longer care to hide their wrong. They become slaves to filthy words, induced body movements and immoral handling of people.

 Idolatry is the worship of idols, whether mental such as false gods, or made by man's hands.

It also includes to worship of ideas and devoting time and energy to something other than God.

Now it does not include enjoying the life God has given to us as long as do not put things before our worship of Him.

 Witchcraft also known as sorcery, the use of drugs, or of evil spirits to get control over the lives of others or even over your own life. It would include astrology, palm reading, seances, fortune telling, crystals and any other form of witchcraft.

 Hatred is enmity, hostility, animosity. It is hatred that lingers for a long time, a hatred that is deep within. We have seen many express this hatred for our new president.

 Variance is strife, discord, contention, fighting, struggling, quarreling, wrangling against another person to get something such as a position, or promotion, or property, or recognition, doing whatever it takes to get what he is after.

 Emulation is jealousy, desiring to have what someone else has.

 Wrath is a burst of anger, indignation, a violent explosive temper with explosive reactions. Boiling emotions but these things do not usually last.

 Strife is conflict within yourself, struggling to cope and including a party spirit.

 Seditions are division, rebellion, standing against others, splitting off from others.

 Heresies is rejecting the fundamental beliefs in God, Jesus Christ, the Scriptures, the Church. Holding on to some teaching  which is not true.

 Envying goes beyond jealousy. It is wanting the things some other person has and begrudging the fact that they have them. That wants those things taken away from that person and wants that person to suffer because they have lost the things they cherished.

 Murders is to kill; to take the life of another person and it includes abortions for the sake of getting rid of that child.

It is God who made us and it is only He that has the rights to our living and our death.

When we take away God's right then we deserve God's punishment which is death.

We must still understand the Providence of God. Nothing happens without His knowledge, and He allows it to happen, or he does not allow it to happen for His own purpose.

 Drunkenness is taking drink or drugs to affect your senses for lust or pleasure. Intoxicated, using drugs seeking to loosen moral restraint for bodily pleasure.

 Reveling is carousing around, indulgence, and pleasure, wild parties, drinking parties, indulging in feeding the lust of your flesh. Orgies.

 And all such things that are like these things that are named!

 God has already judged those persons who do these things or take part in these things that they will not inherit the Kingdom of Heaven less they come to Jesus and repent of those things.

 God is righteous and He expects us to live righteous lives to be accepted by Him.

 People say they are saved.

Some people even go to a church or some so-called church of false teaching.

They may even talk about Christianity and defend their beliefs.

 However, they go out and live their lives like they always have giving in to the flesh.

 They forget that being Christian is trying our best to be like Jesus Christ!

 Many of them feel that God will forgive them no matter what they do, and he will but there must be repentance.

 Many of them think they have already done enough so that God is pleased with them.

 Most people believe that God will just accept them no matter how they live their lives.

 God is not some Father who allows His children to do as they please.

 Grace is not a license for God's people to do wrong!

 God's New Heaven is made for true believers.

 If we cannot do our best to live a pure and righteous life, we will not inherit the Kingdom of God!

 Rev 21:27  And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. 

 All those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior are then filled with the Spirit of Jesus and will live accordingly.

 There should be a great difference in a true Christian from their old life that is in the past.

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

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

 As Christians we cannot be perfect as long as we are in these bodies of flesh but having the Holy Spirit living within us we should be more like Him.

 He gives us the strength to repent of our old lifestyle and here He gives us this passage.

 Notice immediately He says the "fruit" and not the "fruits" of the Spirit.

 We should have not just one or more of the traits but all of these traits.

 Love: the Greek word used here is "Agape" .

This is brotherly love like that love our Heavenly Father shows to us. It also includes affection.

This love is not distinct but includes all the rest of the things that are mentioned here.

 One of the greatest problems in our nation, in our world, and even in our churches, is that there is no natural affection for one another anymore. Hatred is in far too many spots in our lives today.

 Rom_1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

2Ti_3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,

 We should have a natural affection within us for all the people of our world and that should include goodwill and benevolence for one another.

 Joy: The Greek word used here means cheerfulness, calm delight, gladness, in fact exceedingly glad. This is not a selfish emotion but as the Sun whose rays warm gladden all people.

 We must understand that being a Christian is not a set of facts. It is not a list of good deeds.

Being a Christian is a disposition of the heart.

 Peace: The Greek word used here is being at true peace with us resting on the knowledge of our future and our true hope in the truth of God.

 Longsuffering: Brings us that dreaded word patience.

 One of the greatest uses of God’s patience was in the days of Noah that while Noah built the Ark that saved eight people Noah also preached to the world of that day around him for one hundred and twenty years and no one believed the Word of God.

We can also say the same for God today. There is really no other prophecy left that needs to be fulfilled before the "Rapture" of the Church, yet God patiently waits for that last soul to be saved before the return of the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ to get His Gentile Bride.

 1Pe_3:20  Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.

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

 If God can be so patient, then how can we not be the same?

 Gentleness: all these words describe our Savior, but this word gentleness is so wonderful. When we read the Gospels, we cannot help but see the gentleness that the Lord Jesus showed to all the innocent. He showed true kindness to those He touched with His life while He was upon this earth.

 Tit 3:3  For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 

Tit 3:4  But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, 

 Faith: Faithfulness does not doubt God!

Faithfulness does not begin with God and then back off!

Faithfulness does not walk with God then give in to the lusts of the flesh!

Faithfulness begins with God and continues with God!

 We should ask ourselves are we trustworthy enough to get into God's New Heaven!

 1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

 Meekness: Once we realize just how great is our God then we should have no problem submitting to God and realizing just how tiny we are in comparison. Meekness means we understand the "Providence of God", His preserving and governing of all things. If we are going through something we do not like, then God has His reasons and we need to learn from each event and come out stronger.

 Eph 4:1  I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 

Eph 4:2  With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 

Eph 4:3  Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 

 Temperance: Every time we see temperance everyone always goes to alcohol which the Lord says do not even look at.

 Pro 23:29  Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? 

Pro 23:30  They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. 

Pro 23:31  Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. 

 Temperance here means self-mastery over all the indulgences of the flesh, self-control in all respects in this life.

 1Co 9:25  And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things.

 If we have read the Bible, we know that there are no written laws against doing any of these things.

 Laws are never made for those who obey the laws! Laws are written for those who break the laws. It seems our government is confused about this.

 1Ti 1:9  Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 

1Ti 1:10  For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine; 

1Ti 1:11  According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. 

 What is the difference between a Christian and those in the world?

 *****Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 

 The Lord Jesus Christ took our flesh with its sin and it was nailed to the cross with Him and we are now to wear His righteousness as our flesh.

 If we truly belong to Jesus Christ there will be a noticeable change from what we were!

 We become the property and the possession of Jesus Christ.

 We come to Christ to be delivered from our enslavement from sin, from death, and from judgment.

 We want to be saved from our flesh of this corruptible world.

 Paul says: Rom_8:13  For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

 To mortify is put our old flesh and the deeds of that flesh to death the day we accept the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior.

 No Christian should be doing the same old sins they were doing before their salvation.

 This is the greatest problem in the church today along with many behind the pulpits who were never called of God.

 The seminaries have forgotten the truth of God and are become useless in the work God has given us to do.

 Crucifixion is a lingering mode of death, and it may take us all awhile to yield to the Spirit but it does not take long because the Holy Spirit is all powerful.

 We are to be dead to sin.

We are to crucify the old man.

We are to abolish the whole body of sin with its passions and its lust!

 This death is a condition of our New Birth!

 The Holy Spirit lives within each Christian and being a Christian is being like Jesus Christ.

 *****Gal 5:25  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is a person of the Holy Trinity which is our God, so if we live to God let us walk in the Holy Spirit.

 2Co 5:15  And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again. 

 Rom 14:7  For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 

Rom 14:8  For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's. 

Rom 14:9  For to this end Christ both died, and rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. 

We only have a short time to be usable to God, we need to live as the Holy Spirit directs us to live and He will never direct us back into sin.

*****Gal 5:26  Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. 

We all stand on level ground at the cross. God will direct our lives for His purpose the remaining of our days if we are willing to giive Him contrrol.

If God does not call us to something specific, then we already have the Scriptures which gives us our directions.

We should be very careful not to grieve the Holy Spirit.

Envy is not a fruit of the Spirit but is a great sin that will tear us down and make us useless in the work of God.

In everything we do we are to give God the glory!

Amen

How To Stand Before A Holy God

The Persistent Servant

Book of Mark Chapter 7

We could say our lesson today is about true holiness. It seems that not much is said about holiness today. 

I know my Pastor mentions holiness often but it is not mentioned much anywhere else.

What does God say about holiness?

Heb 12:14  Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 

1Pe 1:15  But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 

1Pe 1:16  Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

The basic meaning of holiness is "to be set apart" or "separation".

Holiness is the greatest attribute of God because it is consistent with everything that He does!

Many people say that God is a God of love, which He is.

They say a God of love would never allow anyone to go to Hell and we would certainly not see His wrath.

God is a God of love, but above that He is Holy and we are to be holy.

It is God's holiness that dictates His actions toward the unholy not His love!

This being true, then how could we ever think that we should not also be looked upon as holy.

We cannot even worship the Lord properly without being able to raise holy hands!

1Ti_2:8  I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

It is holiness that keeps God distinct from all His creation.

It is holiness that says God is exalted above all His creation in infinite majesty!

Our Holy God is separate from all moral evil and sin!

Holiness points to the Lord's majestical purity!

It is because Jehovah is morally pure, that He cannot condone evil or have any relationship with it!

God's holiness has nothing to do with His love for us!

I love all my family but I cannot make them accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and without this they will never see Heaven.

Psa 11:4  The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men. 

Psa 11:5  The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. 

Psa 11:6  Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. 

The Lord's deity is that He is holy, entirely set apart and separated from sin and sinners.

The most common name for God's Spirit is the "Holy Spirit" because He is certainly Holy!

This indicates to us that "holiness" is the primary attribute to the Holy Trinity, the Triune God!

How could we ever think we could stand before such a Holy God? There is only one way!

Heb 10:19  Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 

Heb 10:20  By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 

As we grow in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ, we must cleanse ourselves of all the filthiness of this world and we cannot do that without the Holy Spirit.

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.

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Our lesson today shows how important it was for the Lord Jesus to teach the disciples about holiness and how important it is for us to practice holiness today.

*****Mar 7:14  And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand: 

The Lord Jesus had just finished teaching the Pharisees the wrong in their traditions.

Mar 7:13  Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye. 

Traditions make the Word of God have no effect!

Many people are satisfied that they are right before God, when they put ceremonies and confessions in the place of the righteousness of the heart and a life walking with Jesus Christ.

Ritualism is disastrous to holiness!

People have to reject the Word of God to keep their religious traditions, and God will never be pleased with those who teach these things and those who do these things. 

So, the Lord Jesus says listen and understand what He is about to teach.

We must understand that all impurities within us come from the heart and unless the heart is cleansed from the inside, there is no amount of cleansing from the outside that can cleanse our soul and make it holy enough to be in the family of God!

We are not defiled by what enters into our bodies!

We are defiled by what comes out of our hearts!

What is in our hearts will make it into our minds and we will react to it!

*****Mar 7:15  There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man. 

Mar 7:16  If any man have ears to hear, let him hear. 

Notice how the Lord Jesus emphasizes how important it is for us to realize this.

We must hear what our Lord has to say and then we must understand it!

Just like many are today the disciples were spiritually dull.

They were slow to learn what these things meant in their service to the Lord Jesus Christ!

Things that enter by the mouth, which should be food and nourishment, do not defile us.

To defile is to make unclean.

To defile is to make impure.

To defile is to pollute.

To defile is to corrupt.

What we eat or drink does not defile us!

Therefore eating with unwashed hands cannot defile us, at least not spiritually.

There is no connection to what we eat and our spirituality!

This does not mean that eating certain foods or drinking certain drinks are sometimes wrong.

Surely, we are to be conscious of the things we eat or drink as they relate to our good health.

It is a sin to eat till we are obese!

But there is no morality or virtue in the food we eat!

The Lord says, it is what we do with things, what our heart does, that makes us either good or bad, spiritual, or carnal!

1Co 8:8  But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. 

We must understand that the traditions of men make the Word of God of no effect!

Ceremonialism substitutes washing with water for the purity of the heart!

It substitutes the traditions of the elders for the commands of God!

So many today look at the Word of God as suggestions to live by when what God says are God's commands.

We need a clean heart to serve God and this cannot be done without the intervention of the Holy Spirit who brings with Him the mind of God!

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

1Co 2:15  But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. 

1Co 2:16  For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 

Unless we understand what, the Lord Jesus is saying, we may never understand the whole plan of Gospel salvation.

This is the reason, upon our confession of "faith" and our "repentance" led by the Holy Spirit comes to each child of God, at the first, rather than at the last so, we can understand the Gospel Message and grab onto our salvation.

Since the Holy Spirit will never leave us nor forsake us, then we can never lose our salvation!

The Holy Spirit will never live inside a wicked soul!

No tradition and no ceremonial offering can make these same promises!

It took a while for the disciples who followed the Lord daily to realize what the Lord was saying, and it takes a while for disciples today, and many remain babes in Christ because it is almost too simple to believe.

*****Mar 7:17  And when he was entered into the house from the people, his disciples asked him concerning the parable. 

Mar 7:18  And he saith unto them, Are ye so without understanding also? Do ye not perceive, that whatsoever thing from without entereth into the man, it cannot defile him; 

Mar 7:19  Because it entereth not into his heart, but into the belly, and goeth out into the draught, purging all meats? 

Sometimes we need a little more explanation on the things of God and it is the Lord Jesus Christ we need to go to for those answers.

We will come to realize that there are no unimportant questions that we can ask the Lord!

We must understand that the Lord Jesus is talking about our moral state and not necessarily our physical state.

Some of the Pharisees were offended by what the Lord Jesus was saying and this bothered some of the disciples.

We need to understand that the truths of the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be compared to the religion of traditionalist!

Christianity cannot be compared to religion at all! They are two different things!

It was Peter who asked the question and then the Lord's response.

Mat 15:15  Then answered Peter and said unto him, Declare unto us this parable. 

Mat 15:16  And Jesus said, Are ye also yet without understanding? 

Mat 15:17  Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 

Mat 15:18  But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 

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

Mat 15:20  These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. 

Mark was Peter's disciple and very close to him, and would never try to make Peter look bad.

Mark usually went straight to the point without adding much of his own thoughts.

We should understand that the Sermon on the Mount had already taken place at this time, and the Lord Jesus had not left anything out about purity and impurity.

As far as nourishment for the body, it is that part that goes out in the draught that purifies what remains.

The body had separated the needed part from the unneeded part, so the part that nourishes the bodily system is already moving through the bodily system doing what God designed the body to do to sustain life.

It is by this process that our life preserving blood is formed!

What the blood does not need passes away by the draught.

Jesus teaches us that no food, of whatever kind, when received with thanksgiving, can make us spiritually unclean making any meat that is consumed clean.

The Jews would not eat pork and many other things but even pork received in thanksgiving would not make them spiritually unclean but they have never understood these things.

This was a new thought to the disciples, but also easily understood even though maybe not well received.

These things eaten entered into the belly and passed out of the bodily system.

In truth: Act 10:15  And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. 

It is the things that enter into the heart not the stomach that makes us unclean!

*****Mar 7:20  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 

Mar 7:21  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 

Mar 7:22  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 

Mar 7:23  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

As we read the Scriptures, we will see that references to the heart can mean the major organ of our body and also to the most important part of each person, man's most innermost being.

Our heart can be said to be the center of our life!

The heart is our inward life and contains the inner man or some would say the real man.

1Pe 3:4  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 

We see that once Peter understood all these things, he was no longer the old fisherman, but He became the leader of men who would turn this world upside down.

Of course this includes women and most of us realize that the inner most life of women seems to be more tender than that of a man.

It is the heart that determines what we do whether good or bad!

The heart is the source of our reasoning.

Mar 2:6  But there were certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts,

The heart is the source of our understanding.

Mat 13:15  For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 

The heart is the source of our thinking.

Mat 9:4  And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? 

The heart is the source of our desires.

Mat 5:28  But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 

The heart can also be the source of our spiritual being!

Our conscience: Act 2:37  Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? 

Our will: Rom 6:17  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 

Our faith: Mar 11:23  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 

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

But also of evil: Jer 17:9  The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? 

What is the progress of sin within us?

1) Sin begins with our human nature, within, but out of the heart.

2) Sin develops in our minds in evil thoughts. We all have evil thoughts that we do not know where they came from, but from our sin nature.

3) Sin is expressed in the things we do that go against the Word of God!

Evil thoughts are things that should not guide us because they are wrong, they are wicked, and they are immoral.

These are things we see in the world around us and our mind just cannot shake them all off because they are carnal.

They must be replaced with thoughts that are uplifting and edifying and we get these from the study of the Bible, preaching of the truth, and open prayer with the Lord as our guide along with the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

Our thoughts can be sin against the commandments of God!

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

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

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

Rom 8:9  But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 

Rom 8:10  And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 

2Co 10:5  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

2Co 10:6  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

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.  

**Adultery is unfaithfulness. We think of a man and his wife when we hear of adultery.

Adultery includes lusting after someone else other than our spouse, even if the act of adultery never takes place.

Adultery includes lusting after someone even in a picture this is why porn leads to sin.

We commit spiritual adultery when we forsake the Lord Jesus Christ and lust for the ways of this world!

**Fornication includes all forms of immoral and sexual acts!

It is the will of God that we abstain from fornication!

1Th 4:3  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 

Going against the will of God is sin!

**Murder is taking the life of another person.

Murder is sin!

The Bible says that whosoever hates his brother is the sin of murder. So hatred then is sin and the same as murder.(1 John 3:15)

God says, "thou shall not kill".

**Thefts. 

To cheat someone is stealing from them.

To cheat someone is stealing whether we do it according to the law or against the law.

**Covetousness.

We have seen this word a lot in the last couple of weeks.

Covetousness is the lust for more.

It is like a starving appetite for something that we do not have or we cannot have.

It includes not only possessions, but also power, pleasure, and fame.

Covetousness is a lust and craving so deep that a person finds his happiness in things, rather than in the God of the Bible.

This is what makes covetousness idolatry and such a terrible sin!

 Again, we see that these are things that come from the heart so, it is these things from the heart that defile us and not the things we eat or drink.

A polluted heart is our greatest enemy!

 We are not unclean because of the things we have; we are unclean because of what we do with those things.

Our hearts will lead us to sin against God unless the Holy Spirit can regenerate our heart.

Tit_3:5  Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Regeneration is making something anew!

The source of evil within us before we met the Lord Jesus Christ was our heart!

Evil comes from our heart and it is the heart that dictates what is on our mind and then how we use our bodies!

If we multiply this evil by a number of about eight billion, which is close to the number of people in this world, we can see that we live in an evil world.

Only a small portion of these 8.1 billion people have a new heart regenerated by the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit!

Today, our judges can only judge the acts of the body not the sinfulness of the heart.

In today's world, a person who has never broken the law is seen as a perfect person but this is not how God sees us.

Society fails to see that somehow a man's heart needs to be reborn.

Only God can see these things!

This is the problem that is solved by the work of the Lord Jesus Christ!

Amen 

We Must Be Heavenly Minded

 The Servant's Disciples

Book of Mark Chapter 6

In the time of Jesus upon this earth every teacher had his own company of disciples.

There were two types of disciples who followed the Lord Jesus Christ.

1) A disciple of Jesus Christ would be someone who believed in Him though they remained where Jesus found them, but they confessed their allegiance to Him and testified of His Grace.

2) Then there was the inner circle the Twelve whom the Lord Jesus later called the Apostles.

These were called to forsake their old lives and follow Jesus wherever He went and aided Him in His ministry and they were also trained to carry on His work after He was gone back to Heaven.

The Lord Jesus had been in His ministry for a little more than a year when He again came to Nazareth, His hometown, the place where He had been raised.

The Lord Jesus had not attended any of the Rabbinical schools that were available at that time and the elders of Judaism were astonished at His doctrine, His wisdom, and especially His mighty works, His miracles.

They all knew He was but the stepson of a Carpenter, and His mother was Mary, whose fidelity was questioned, and that He had four stepbrothers and more than one stepsister all fathered by Joseph.

Joh_8:41  Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God.

Mat 13:55  Is not this the carpenter's son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? 

Mat 13:56  And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things?

They rejected the Lord because He was not from their own inner circle!

The Lord Jesus stated: 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.

The Bible says: Joh_1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

Not only were the towns people rejecting Him, but His own brothers and sisters were rejecting Him.

His mother knew the truth!

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

All the town of Nazareth turned their back on Jesus the Messiah!

We know He soon left never to return again because these things hindered Him from doing any mighty work.

He did lay His hands on a few sick folks and healed them.

The Lord Jesus marveled at their unbelief.

What is the truth? The sinner cannot understand nor endure the saint of God, not then and not now!

It is obvious that there is no room for Jesus in the places where Satan rules!

God's greatest blessings cannot come without "faith"!

There was in fact no excuse for their lack of faith because many had known Him from a child and that He had been a perfect child.

They should have at least listened to what the Lord Jesus had to say, but they were too caught up in their own sin!

This is the way of the world today.

The world's people are afraid of the Gospel because they might have to give up their sin! 

Those that heard Him teach had heard the truth of the Scriptures and had witnessed His wisdom and His moral authority.

Jesus was right down the line with the Word of God, as we would say.

Because there were some questions in His family, of His origin, and the fact that He had not attended rabbinical schools, they just rejected Him.

Jesus just went to other villages and towns and taught there, anywhere where people would listen.

They could then make their own choices.

It is fatal to reject the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus had prepared the chosen twelve disciples for their first mission assignment.

The Lord Jesus did not send them out unprepared.

*****Mar 6:7  And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; 

These men are those whom the Lord had called to walk and associate with Him, to live with Him, to constantly be in His presence.

This is what Jesus expects of us and all the Church today!

We will one day live in His presence evermore!

By being with Him, they could see how the Lord Himself walked with God!

This is the only way we can be like Him.

We must walk with Him.

We must associate with Him.

We must live with Him, Spiritually.

We must constantly be in His presence by gathering with others who walk with Him.

Mat_18:20  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

At the first, the Lord Jesus had taught only to the Jew and this is whom the Lord would first send His disciples.

The Lord wanted His disciples to feel comfortable with people of their own nationality, rather than first send them to the Gentiles.

The Lord sent them out two by two so they did not have to travel alone.

This is an idea still used by the Church.

This was not necessarily for their protection for He would protect them.

This again, was to keep them in their comfort zone to travel with someone they knew pretty well.

There was another important reason; "Every word was to be established"!

Mat 18:16  But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. 

They also were sent out with a dose of the power of God.

Mat 10:1  And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. 

You see, no one can have this power unless given to them by the Lord Jesus Christ!

You cannot go to some school to learn these things!

They were also given the power to preach the Kingdom of God.

They were not to preach any other message!

Luk 9:1  Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. 

Luk 9:2  And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Why did Mark not mention these other things?

It seems that Mark is writing to the Gentiles about God's true Servant to them.

The Gentiles needed to be aware of the unclean spirits that lived amongst them, and their need to be cleansed in the eyes of God.

Thank goodness the Lord included the Gentiles in His ministry.

What is the central purpose of our Lord Jesus Christ?

To conquer our spirit of evil by giving us His Spirit? To destroy the works of the Devil that is within us!

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

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

Each disciple was to follow the commands of the Lord Jesus Christ, just as we are today!

The Bible is not a book of suggestions, it is a book of commands!

*****Mar 6:8  And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: 

Mar 6:9  But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats. 

What Jesus was saying was "just go as you are".

We are never to try to be something that we are not!

We can see the words, humble and simple, proclaimed in the words of our Lord.

1) They could take their staff, which was a shepherd’s staff which did allow them some protection, but it was also a symbol of a hardworking and simple people.

2) They were to take no scrip "or we would say a wallet", no bread, and no money to buy bread.

They had to have faith that the Lord would provide these things as needed.

3) They were to wear sandals to protect their feet and provide some comfort. The wearing of those sandals also meant they had not been deprived of the simple things of life. To be barefoot would mean they were in search of gifts to help them.

The Lord says He will provide all our needs. We should never appear that He has not done this!

4) They were not to wear two coats.

The Jews in the days of Christ wore two principle garments. An interior coat, sometimes called a tunic and a more costly exterior coat or a cloak. This cloak was used not only as a jacket or overcoat, but also as a covering to sleep under at night if they had to spend the night outside.

As a rule a Jew had at least two complete suits in his possession that he might be able to change often.

As missionaries for Christ, to have this second suit of clothing could display extravagant and wasteful spending.

The whole idea is that a servant of God is to live a simple and humble life just most as ordinary people live.

Why? We are to be heavenly minded!

Col 3:1  If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 

Col 3:2  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Heb 11:14  For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

Heb 11:15  And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

Heb 11:16  But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

As the servants of God, our minds should be centered on the "preaching of the Gospel" and telling everyone we see about the love of Christ Jesus.

We must show that we are dependent on the Lord Jesus Christ to provide our needs!

*****Mar 6:10  And he said unto them, In what place soever ye enter into an house, there abide till ye depart from that place. 

Mar 6:11  And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. 

The disciples were not to show they were desperate. In whatever place that accepted them, they were to remain with that host until it was time to go to some other town.

They were not to seek more comfort or luxury. There are always those of good reputation and those of bad reputations in every place.

A worthy host would have good morals. Living with someone who did not have good morals, would jeopardize the message of the Gospel.

2Pe 2:6  And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrha into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, making them an ensample unto those that after should live ungodly; 

2Pe 2:7  And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 

They were to reach out to these people but not stay with them.

Christians should always be careful in choosing close friends!

A worthy host was a person who had the fear of God!

A worthy host would be hospitable.

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

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

Simply put, the disciples were not to seek out the wealthy or the leading citizens as host.

They were not to seek out the best accommodation.

The good people in any town are usually known, especially in the time of Christ when most people traveled by foot.

We know the things that happened to Sodom and Gomorrah are true or they would not be mentioned!

This period in the time of Abraham teaches many things that we see today.

People who will use violence to have things their way at the cost of all others are not good people!

We see today, where a small percentage of people try to dictate the rules for all of society.

We see an industry that is filled with this sort of people and they have great influence on a government, who also have low morals and immoral leadership and councilors.

This is the standard of our nation today!

Remember the Bible uses the people of Sodom and Gomorrah was an example of the worst sinners throughout God's creation.

It all boils down to God creating human beings for higher goals than these sinful things!

The example of the burning of Sodom and Gomorrah is an example of suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. 

Those people are still burning today because the fire of God never goes out!

How can we expect God to be different in His treatment of America or at least in the places where these things are taking place?

Jesus says with authority, that it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for these places doing the same thing today.

All I can say is that we have been warned!

So, these twelve disciples went out and preached repentance, a word that sinners want to ignore and still say they are believers.

*****Mar 6:12  And they went out, and preached that men should repent. 

Mar 6:13  And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them. 

A missionary's work is to break up the fallow ground so the Gospel Seed can be planted!

What we see is, that no servant of God is to have his own message!

We are all called to repent!

Act 17:30  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 

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

Repentance is necessary for receiving the Holy Spirit!

Act 2:38  Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

We have seen many who have prayed the sinner’s prayer, but they never repent of their old lifestyle, which means the Holy Spirit did not move in to them. 

The Holy Spirit will not live in such a person who is not sincere. Remember God sees within the heart of all!

This was the Apostle Paul's message:

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

Failure to repent will lead to the "Judgment" of God!

Rev 9:20  And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk: 

Rev 9:21  Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

We should be ashamed if we cannot change our lifestyle and walk with Jesus Christ!

2Co 7:9  Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 

2Co 7:10  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death. 

We must repent to be in the family of God!

The Holy Spirit will help us to repent and be Born Again, but the Holy Spirit will not move in unless God looks into our heart and sees the faith that is required  in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This is not complicated!

While preaching this message in those cities, the disciple also ministered to the people and cast out evil spirits.

They ministered to the body and the soul!

They ministered to those who were sick and also to those who were suffering and hurting.

When we see "Oil" in the Bible it is a symbol of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit has all the power of God and there is no sickness He cannot heal!

The Holy Spirit allows us to concentrate on the truth of the Scriptures.

Those who are hurting and suffering with pain do not have good concentration. The Holy Spirit can solve this problem, but these things are in our hands and it is called "FAITH"!

Oil is also a symbol of God's care, God's comfort, and God's joy, of His "mercy" on us.

Heb_1:9  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The fame of Jesus began to spread and even some of those in government became afraid.

King Herod was stricken by his own conscience.

How did King Herod see his guiltiness?

1) Herod had a guilty conscience because of an inadequate religion. He did want to hear the preaching of John the Baptist, but he never yielded to his conscience. He had kept John locked up for over a year, without hearing his message of repentance.

2) Herod had a guilty conscience because of his partying and his drunkenness, along with suggestive and passionate dancing.

3) Herod had a guilty conscience because he would seek social approval, above honoring God and respect for the Word of God.

Remember all Jewish Kings had a copy of the Word of God.

4) Herod had a guilty conscience because he was afraid of what people might say.

We can see these same things in Washington D.C. today and in many other governments.

We need the fame of Jesus to spread in our government today!

We need our government to read the Word of God and not just talk about a few passages that they use and do not understand.

It seemed that everyone had an opinion of the Lord Jesus Christ just as they do today, but not many seek the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ!

John the Baptist was murdered because of a woman's vengeance! 

John the Baptist stood firm on the Word of God and it cost him his life!

It could happen to any of us or all of us today, but we must stand firm on the Word of God no matter the situation we find ourselves in.

If we have work to do God will save us!

If our work is complete, we can go on to Heaven where none of these things can ever happen!

*****Mar 6:30  And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. 

Mar 6:31  And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat.

Mar 6:32  And they departed into a desert place by ship privately.  

The disciples returned and gathered to the Lord Jesus Christ.

They reported what they had done and what they had taught.

Jesus knew the first thing they needed was rest, but the rest they needed could not happen where they were.

The Lord Jesus took them to a deserted place where they should rest physically.

We know this is true because our own pastor cannot find rest at home with his family and he and his family have to travel to places where he is out of contact range.

Even if some people knew where he was going, they would make sure to be there before he got there and he would then get no rest.

We have to make sure our pastor gets the rest he needs!

There is great danger in not taking time to rest for every one of us!

We may never understand all of God's creation, but the earth spins upon its axis to bring the stated seasons, but also because it gives us a time to rest.

Our minds need to take time to look away from things we are doing and to things that do not occupy our minds for more than a moment!

It is not the work of God's servant alone that makes us tired, we must make sure to take time to be alone with God, and sometimes other people will not allow us this time.

We need to have a good reason to disturb the man of God who is busy with the work of the Lord, especially in his times of rest!

We should be able to see how the Lord will care for His children!

We must know that while we try to do the work God has given us to do, we must still take the time to sit down at the feet of Jesus in a quiet place!

A wise man once wrote: "The flame of devotion will not burn very long or very bright, unless you have oil in your vessels with your lamps".

Without rest, the body slowly dies and we shorten our life spans or we reach a point where we can just no longer go.

God said we are to enjoy our lives and we will not without taking time to rest!

Our journey from Earth to Heaven need not be a dull life, but a life of joy and excitement.

We can also fine refreshment in Bible reading if we stick to it!

True rest does not come if there is no true work!

Overall, we must put God first and overwork takes away from us being able to serve God with all our heart so, it is then sin not to take time to rest so, we can be at our best!

Amen