The Resurrection of the Church

 The Gospel and the Resurrection

Book of 1 Corinthians Chapter 15

 The word "Gospel" means "Good News". There is only one Gospel!

 The Gospel is described in many ways:

 Mar 1:14  Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 

 The Gospel of the Kingdom of God.

 Act 20:24  But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 

 The Gospel of the Grace of God.

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

 Rom 1:16  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. 

 The Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 2Co 4:4  In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, "lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them". 

 The glorious Gospel.

 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, 

 The Everlasting Gospel.

 This church at Corinth, like many churches today, is confused about the resurrection of believers.

 This resurrection concerns our bodies, no matter if they are in the grave, have been burnt to ashes, thrown into the ocean, or eaten by some wild animal.

 Some were denying the resurrection of the body.

Some were following false teaching, claiming that it occurred at the time of our death.

Some just said God couldn't resurrect our old bodies when God made us from the dust of the ground to begin with.

 There is nothing too hard for God!

 Paul said this was a simple thing for God when He showed the power of resurrection by raising His own Son from the dead.

 We do not need any other proof!

 *****1Co 15:1  Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 

1Co 15:2  By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.

 No matter where the Apostle Paul preached, he included the resurrection as part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

 We cannot take our stand on the Gospel of Jesus Christ without standing on the fact of His resurrection and our resurrection.

 Heb 10:23  Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) 

 Paul had said earlier that he was not able to preach the meat of the Gospel to these Corinthians, but he did preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is a major doctrine and principle of our salvation and our resurrection.

 We, as the Church, need to pay particular attention to this chapter.

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

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

Eph 1:19  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 

Eph 1:20  Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 

Eph 1:21  Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 

 We should understand that we will see our Heavenly Father face-to-face, and we will be in a glorified body, and that body will be a version of the body we had when we were upon this earth.

 1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

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. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

 Paul is declaring these things again to these Corinthians as if they had never heard them because they had not remained with them.

 We must live by faith in the Word of God.

 We already know that without faith, we cannot even please God.

 Heb 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. 

 We are being saved by the same Gospel that was presented to these Corinthians!

 We must hold fast to the Gospel.

 When we take a stand as a Christian, we are standing upon the truth of the Gospel!

 Jas 1:21  Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

 *****1Co 15:3  For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 

 The first act of the Gospel was that Jesus Christ died for our sins, fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament.

 Isa 53:5-8, Daniel 9:26, Psalms 22, Zec 12:10, Gen 22.

 All these Scriptures teach us the death and resurrection of our Savior, God's Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 The death of the Lord Jesus Christ is the first thing that should be preached because with His death, He paid for our sins.

 Paul is saying that these are the first words that he received from the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Co 11:23  For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 

 Gal 1:11  But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. 

Gal 1:12  For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

 The death of Jesus Christ was the substitute that Our Heavenly Father allowed for payment of our sins.

 Jesus died as our sacrifice.

Jesus died as our ransom.

Jesus died as our propitiation.

Jesus died according to the Scriptures.

 Luk 24:25  Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: 

Luk 24:26  Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? 

 Joh 1:45  Philip findeth Nathanael, and saith unto him, We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, did write, Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph. 

 He was wounded for our transgressions.

He was despised and rejected by men.

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

 The second fact of the Gospel is that the Lord Jesus died and was buried, and He rose again on the third day, just as the Old Testament had testified.

 We should understand that there were many witnesses to these events; they were not done in the dark or hidden from sight.

 There are still those today who say there was no resurrection because there was no actual death.

 We need to just pay attention to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is the truth, and it is our faith that saves us and our faith that pleases our Heavenly Father.

 Jesus Christ did die a human death. No one buries a man who is alive except a murderer.

 If Jesus had not been buried, then there could be no resurrection.

 The empty tomb is still evidence that the Lord Jesus arose from the dead!

 It is the resurrection of Christ Jesus that proves that our bodies will also one day rise from the grave, and our tombs will be empty no matter how our bodies were buried, scattered, or remain in some urn, or thrown in the ocean.

 The resurrection proves that the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, the Living God!

 There is no other power anywhere upon this earth that can raise people from their death!

 Rom 1:4  And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: 

 The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is our Savior.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is the Spirit of Life.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is no liar.

 Mat 12:40  For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 

 Psa 16:10  For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 

 The resurrection proves that Christianity is real!

The resurrection proves that our Heavenly Father accepted the work that His Son Jesus did for our reconciliation, our salvation.

 When the Lord Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, it was a prayer that His death would bring life through His resurrection.

 His Heavenly Father heard His prayer!

 Heb 5:7  Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared; 

Heb 5:8  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; 

Heb 5:9  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; 

 His resurrection was essential in the plan of God for us to receive the Holy Spirit.

 Joh 16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 

Joh 16:8  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 

Joh 16:9  Of sin, because they believe not on me; 

 There was an empty tomb.

There was the shape of the linen wrappings. Those wrappings still retained the shape of the body. The Lord Jesus had passed right through those wrappings.

 Remember Lazarus: Joh 11:44  And he that was dead came forth, bound hand and foot with graveclothes: and his face was bound about with a napkin. Jesus saith unto them, Loose him, and let him go.

 The graveclothes of Jesus had remained in that empty tomb with the napkin folded and laid aside, which meant He would return.

 Then some witnessed seeing Him after He arose.

 *****1Co 15:5  And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 

1Co 15:6  After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 

1Co 15:7  After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 

 Peter, who had denied the Lord, now became one of the greatest witnesses for the Lord.

 The Lord appeared to the remaining Apostles. Judas at that time was already dead having committed suicide. There were twelve Apostles after his death.

 Then there were five hundred witnesses at one time who could testify to seeing the resurrected Christ.

 Then the Lord appeared to James, His stepbrother, who would be the Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem.

 It is then that the family of the Lord Jesus Christ found out that their stepbrother was telling the truth all along.

 He later met Paul on the Damascus Road. Paul became the twelfth apostle hand-chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 And Paul preached:

 *****1Co 15:12  Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 

 Still today, some unbelievers deny the resurrection of the human body of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 We know that the Lord was one hundred percent God, but He was also one hundred percent human. That human body did die, but God cannot die. He has always existed!

 Psa 90:2  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 

 Isa 44:6  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 

 There may be many things I do not understand and cannot explain, but the resurrection of my Savior has enough witnesses to make me a believer, and I have enough faith to accept all the Word of God as the truth.

 BUT:

 *****1Co 15:13  But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 

1Co 15:14  And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 

1Co 15:15  Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. 

 If Jesus Christ did not rise from the dead, then there is nothing to Christianity.

 Most of this world believes in some supernatural being, and that being would not be much if it could not bring a human body back to life.

 The message of the Gospel is the "good news" of our resurrected Savior, who is the God of the Bible and the God of all truth.

 Since the God of the Bible raised the Lord Jesus Christ back to life, He will have no problem raising all the bodies in the future that He wants to raise.

 Jesus said to his disciples after He had risen Luk 24:38  And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? 

Luk 24:39  Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. 

Luk 24:40  And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. 

 I will live forever in the presence of the Lord!

I will have a personal face-to-face relationship with the Lord!

I will be made perfect and serve the Lord face-to-face in a New Heaven and a New Earth!

I do know that I know all these things are true!

 The Lord Jesus died to free me from death and all other believers, and His Father raised Him, so He will raise all those who have been freed from death!

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

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

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

 *****1Co 15:16  For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: 

1Co 15:17  And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. 

1Co 15:18  Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. 

1Co 15:19  If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. 

1Co 15:20  But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 

 Christians whose bodies are in the sleep of death is a principle that we must reject as impossible!

 The goodness, the faith, the love, the tenderness of that Saint of God cannot be dissolved into nothing.

 God simply will not allow it!

 Since Jesus Christ rose from His death, then that old body of that saint of God that is asleep in Jesus will also rise from that grave!

 That old body will not only rise from the dead, but it will be glorified just as the body of Christ is glorified.

 The Lord Jesus did not have to take His earthly body back to Heaven with Him, but He did.

 He could just as easily have gone back in His Spirit, but He chose to take that earthly body with Him.

 If the Lord Jesus Christ did not arise from that grave, then neither will we. It is just that simple.

 Why do we question God so much when He expects us to have faith?

 The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ goes hand in hand with our own resurrection!

 If all we have is hope in this life, then certainly we will be miserable as we grow older in years.

 If we have served the Lord as He commanded and suffered for it, then we have endured something false.

 But now Jesus Christ is risen!

 1Co 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 

1Co 2:13  Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. 

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. 

 The fact is, we will live in the New Heaven with our Redeemer in our glorified bodies throughout eternity.

 Since we are in our old body that is now glorified, we will be known by sight, just as we will recognize those who have gone before us by sight.

 Where is our faith? 

 We should be very clear if it is possible to live in the presence of God, and it is, then the human body must first undergo a radical change. Th

 1Pe 5:10  But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. 

1Pe 5:11  To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. 

 *****1Co 15:49  And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. 

1Co 15:50  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. 

1Co 15:51  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 

1Co 15:52  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

 If we are not settled on this issue of our bodies, then listen as Paul tells us how these things will take place.

 The human body is flesh and blood. It is a physical body and not a spiritual body that will be needed in the New Heaven.

 This body is made of earthly materials and substances, not spiritual materials and substances.

 This body must be completely remade!

 The bodies we have today are made to live in this physical world and dimension.

 This physical body is made for the kingdoms of this world and not to inherit the Kingdom of God.

 We cannot inherit eternity as we are; a change is necessary!

This means those who have gone on to meet the Lord and their old flesh was left behind and, includes any who are alive when the Trumpet sounds, and we will all meet the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds.

1Th 4:13  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 

1Th 4:14  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 

1Th 4:15  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 

1Th 4:16  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

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. 

1Th 4:18  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

When we meet the Lord Jesus in the clouds, it will not be for salvation, but the Lord will take this time to issue rewards for the work that was done on earth.

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

 The workman is saved the work itself is burned with fire.

Both the living and the dead will receive newly created bodies.

These things will happen quicker than can be seen clearly and will be invisible to those who will remain on earth during the tribulation period.

We should not worry, as the Lord Jesus said, the Lord's children will hear that trumpet!

These things are absolutely certain!

The trumpet will sound.

The Lord's saints will hear it.

The dead shall be raised incorruptible.

We shall be changed.

These things will take place in the twinkling of an eye.

Joh 5:25  Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 

Joh 5:28  Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 

Joh 5:29  And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 

The resurrection of the damned will take place over a thousand years later than the Rapture of the Church.

*****1Co 15:53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 

The nature of our old bodies is corruptible, but the nature of our new bodies will be uncorruptible!

You do not have to tell a senior citizen about how his body is deteriorating, and his days are getting shorter, and a day of death awaits us all unless the Lord Jesus returns soon.

We are all waiting for our heavenly body that will live throughout eternity.

We know that if we are going to live with God, then these old bodies must change!

*****1Co 15:54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 

1Co 15:55  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 

1Co 15:56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 

This change of our bodies will swallow up death, as it will not exist in our new bodies.

The grave will no longer be in our future.

This is the victory that was promised by Jehovah long ago.

Isa 25:8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 

It is sin that gave death its power, and the New Heaven is a place where there is no sin and there will never be any sin.

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Sin will now be erased from the picture.

It is laws and standards that show us our shortcomings.

Joh 11:25  Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 

Joh 11:26  And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? 

Yes, Lord, I believe you.

When we have been perfected by the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Christ, there will be no law hanging over our heads.

With no law, there will be no condemnation!

Rev 21:4  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

*****1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

It was the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ that proved He had the power over death.

It is through Him and Him alone that we can be resurrected from our death!

His perfect righteousness overcomes sin and sin's penalty; it condemns sin!

Rom 8:3  For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 

Rom 8:4  That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 

Those who are afraid of the Holy Ghost will find that He is our greatest gift after salvation.

Heb 2:14  Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 

Heb 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. 

These things should encourage us all as we live for Jesus Christ.

These promises are to all those who believe the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ! These are promises!

We must stand on the truth of our Lord, unmovable!

Unyielding.

Unshaken.

Undisturbed by what goes on in this world around us.

We must work harder for those we love and those we meet.

Our labor will not be in vain!

1Pe 1:13  Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 

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

Amen

The Word of God is True

 The Coming of That Day

Book of 2 Thessalonians Chapter 2

We must understand that the best approach to what the Bible says is, to take every passage as its literal meaning, compare Scripture to Scripture and refuse to make claims that the Bible does not make.

There are some things that the Bible says that cannot for certain be understood. 

It is these places and all the rest of the Bible we are to accept by faith!

It is like the Holy Trinity; I cannot explain and the Bible does not try to, but I know it is real.

I know there is God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, and they are all one person, one God.

I know a virgin named Mary found favor with God and had a child named Jesus. 

Isa_7:14  Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

I cannot explain it but I know it is the truth.

I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is that One sent down from Heaven to save us. (Immanuel)

I know that eye witnesses saw the Lord Jesus ascend back to Heaven.

I cannot explain it but I know it is the truth.

I know when the Bible speaks of the "Day of the Lord" it does not mean one single day in history.

The "Day of the Lord" covers a long span of time and some significant events that will take place.

There is a terrible time of trouble coming to this world we live in!

There is a day when the wrath of God will fall upon all the wickedness, all the meanness, and all the filthiness of mankind.

This day is not that far off because we are seeing the signs, but as Christians we are not to fear the "Day of the Lord".

Our hopes are for the future and not in the present!

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

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

We know that the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this world.

1) To gather His Church.

2) To bring the wrath of God to all unbelievers.

But we are not to think of wild and unreasonable notions concerning His return.

We must not be troubled by the return of Jesus Christ. To the Church this is the best thing that can happen to us. We will be going home!

These saints of Thessalonica were being persecuted so badly that they thought the "Day of the Lord" was taking place at that time.

Many thought that the tribulation years had already begun.

There were some who claimed that some spirit or some angel had revealed to them that the "day of the Lord" had begun already.

They were listening to some false preacher calming to be the Messiah.

He claimed that he had received some special word that no one else had.

He claimed that that he had heard in a letter from Paul that the "Day of the Lord" was taking place.

Many believers became shaken in mind and troubled by all these things as they strived to believe in the Apostle Paul.

The important thing for all believers is, to look forward to the day the Lord gathers His Church and not to the judgment that comes later because the Church will not be a part of that judgment.

It is far more pleasant to focus on the day we go home to Heaven than the "day of judgment" that does not concern the Church.

Heaven is a beautiful place where we can rest from the persecutions of this world!

It is those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ who should be shaken in their minds and troubled.

1Th 5:9  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

1Th 5:10  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

We must be careful not to get caught up in false teaching, and anyone who says they have a special revelation from God, because God will never go against His Word that He has given to the Church.

There will not be any prophecy in the Church Age other than the Word of God that we now have!

We are not appointed to the wrath of God, but to the salvation that God has presented to us!

We must not be deceive by some false prophet or some false preacher at any time.

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

There are two events listed here from the Apostle Paul.

1)The first event to launch the day of the Lord will be a great falling away of believers from God.

In fact that phrase "falling away" means "apostasy", "revolt" "rebellion".

Many from all over the world will be rebelling and revolting against God.

Before the Lord returns there will be a great day of apostasy, a great day of deception.

Just yesterday I read where the United Methodist Church were meeting to see if they could reconcile their differences as more than half of those had given in to the LBGTQ agenda, even having some leaders who were prophesied to be part of the gay movement and welcomed them all.

Now it is true that the Church is to welcome all who come but they are to accept the Lord Jesus Christ as the Messiah and "Repent" to become part of the Church.

This may not be what the Apostle Paul was referring to but it is involved in this thing somewhere.

We simply cannot fall away from the truth of God.

For some man to decide he was really a woman. He is saying that my God made a mistake which is impossible.

For woman to say that she is really a man. She is saying that my God made a mistake and that is impossible.

For groups to give in to this they are calling God a liar and my God cannot lie!

Before the Lord Jesus will return to this earth there will be a great apostasy and I believe we are beginning to see this now in our lifetime.

What did Jesus teach us? Mat_24:34  Verily I say unto you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled.

2) The second event that will launch the "Day of the Lord" will be the revelation of that man of sin, the son of perdition, the Antichrist himself.

This means that the Antichrist is on our planet somewhere today.

This Antichrist is a man of sin though he may first seem to be the savior of this world from climate change, war, and politics.

This means that the Antichrist will be that "son of perdition". He will be so evil he will actually be that son of doom! Doomed to destruction.

This means that the Antichrist will not just be another evil world leader that we see so often, but the Antichrist that has been prophesied.

He will come out into the open after hiding for such a long time, working his way through the politics of this world.

The evil that such men from our past that have caused, will not compare to the evil the Antichrist will bring.

Men such as Hitler, Stalin, and other dictators who themselves slaughtered millions of innocent people will be nothing compared to the Antichrist.

Those days will be like the days of Noah before the flood came.

Those will be like the days of Lot when the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.

Mar 13:14  But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 

What does this wicked man do?

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

What are the traits of the Antichrist?

1) He is the "man of sin". All he knows is sin and lawlessness. He idealizes sin. He is the ideal sinner. He will fulfill the dreams of Satan.

He will lead a revolt against our Holy God and the world will follow him.

2) He is the "son of perdition". Perdition means doom and destruction.

He is the son of the most violent doom and destruction this world will ever see.

He is the son who deserves his own doom more than anyone who has ever lived.

He is the son of the Devil himself, the father of all doom and destruction.

3) He is the "opposer" of all that is called God.

He is the opponent of Jesus Christ and all believers.

He will show no love, no mercy, no grace, and no justice, but especially to those who profess the name of Christ.

4) He is the one who "exalts himself" above everything that God stands for.

He will lift himself above everybody that is alive in his day, in an antagonistic way.

All people will be his subjects or they will be killed or suffer severe consequences.

5) He will claim to be God.

He exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped.

He will attempt to sit in the rebuilt Temple as God to be worshipped as God.

Many people worship science and technology today and the Antichrist will use this to his advantage with some great miracle within his power.

He will lead the governments of this world into war with God.

There will be a one world religion based upon the rule of the Antichrist by the False Prophet.

There will be a one world government.

There will be a false peace for a season.

Remember Rome brought peace through destruction and fear, the Antichrist will do the same.

We must teach these things in the Church!

*****2Th 2:5  Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 

When a false preacher gets into to any church his message will always confuse some in the pews because people just refuse to study the Bible.

The Church must understand the truth of the Antichrist and it must be taught in the Pulpit and the Sunday Schools.

Just as Paul had to be careful what he said because he was a Roman citizen and Rome would silence those who spoke against it, it will be the same with those who speak against the Antichrist in his day.

So today is the day we must teach these things about the Antichrist.

The Lord Jesus will certainly return to gather His Church to Him. There will be a "Rapture" of the Church.

The Lord Jesus will return to this earth and that great and terrible day will come and it is sooner than most people want to believe.

The Antichrist will arise upon the world scene maybe just before the "Rapture of the Church" but certainly after the Church has been removed.

After the Church is removed by the Rapture, this world will turn into the most evil and wicked place that ever existed and the Antichrist will use this chaos to his advantage to make a false peace.

Remember the Church will be gone but Israel will remain and Israel will realize how wrong they had been about the Scriptures.

Rom_10:19  But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.

Rom_11:11  I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy.

*****2Th 2:6  And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 

2Th 2:7  For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 

2Th 2:8  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 

It should be clear that there will be a historical appearance of the Antichrist. His time is set and he will appear before all the world.

Right now there is some power that holds back the appearance of the Antichrist.

Once this power is taken out of the way then the Antichrist will be revealed.

Notice it says, "taken out of the way" and not "taken away" there is a significant difference in these two statements.

If this power of restraint is completely removed there would be no power of good left in this world.

So this power will only step aside enough to allow the Antichrist to present himself to this world.

This power is so strong that He can control events in this world.

In fact, this person is so strong that He knows the exact day to step aside to allow the Antichrist to appear.

So, just what is this restraining power? In the early Church, those people thought that Rome was this restraining power but this cannot be true simply because Rome's dominance is long gone.

It is not the power of the law because every nation has different laws.

The restraining power can be nothing but the power of God, through the Spirit of God, who came to this earth when the Lord went back to Heaven.

Joh_16:7  Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

Joh_16:13  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

That word mystery refers to the mystery of lawlessness that works secretly in our world but when the Holy Spirit is taken out of the way then this mystery of lawlessness will no longer be in secret.

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

Those principalities, those rulers of darkness and that spiritual wickedness will finally be seen by this entire world.

Why do we do so many rotten things as we live and grow older?

That "mystery of iniquity" is that unseen, unknown power which is in our world dedicated to evil working against the will of God.

This is the thing that corrupts everything it touches causing misery in God's creation.

When did it begin?

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

Rom 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: 

Who is this Antichrist?

Dan 11:36  And the king shall do according to his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself above every god, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of gods, and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished: for that that is determined shall be done. 

Dan 11:37  Neither shall he regard the God of his fathers, nor the desire of women, nor regard any god: for he shall magnify himself above all. 

It is the Holy Spirit (Holy Ghost) who is the power behind the Church!

There should be no doubt that there is an Antichrist that is in this world, he has not revealed himself because the Holy Spirit will not allow it yet to happen just yet, but the Holy Spirit will take Himself out of the way of this Wicked man when the time is just right.

In the last days, when the time is just right for the Antichrist to rise, God is going to remove much of His restraint upon lawlessness and lawlessness will run rampant over this earth.

Men again will be allowed to do their own thing and live as they desire.

Men will get their wish and live without the influence of God.

Mat 24:10  And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. 

Mat 24:11  And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. 

Mat 24:12  And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. 

The Church will already be in Heaven, the Rapture having taken place, and the influence of the Church will be no more on this earth.

The Holy Spirit will still be within each believer in Heaven, but the Holy Spirit will begin another work here on earth.

The Lord will make quick work of the Antichrist!

The Lord will destroy the Antichrist with the brightness of His coming.

How will the Antichrist deceive so many?

*****2Th 2:9  Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 

The Antichrist will carry on the activities of Satan upon this earth.

He will be the embodiment of Satan.

He will carry on all the lying power and signs and wonders of Satan.

He will carry out the activity and work of Satan on this earth.

Satan will energize him.

He will be totally surrendered to Satan.

All the unbelievers will think they have reached heaven upon this earth, but even the wicked do not approve of all wickedness.

He will bring a false peace to this earth for three-and one-half years.

He may make a way for all to have food and adequate provisions.

Rev_13:18  Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

He may solve the problems of health insurance, employment, homelessness, energy, and other problems, because Satan is the one who caused those problems to begin with.

He will then claim supernatural power for himself, his government, and his science and the last three-and one-half years will begin.

He will cause the world to worship him as god.

Mat 24:15  When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 

No man can be god because that grave will make him to be a liar!

When the Antichrist insist that he is god many will rebel against him because they do not want any sort of god to worship.

This world will live in a lie for only a brief time because it has rejected the truth of God.

*****2Th 2:10  And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

We should understand that any follower of the Antichrist has rejected the truth already.

To receive is to welcome and no one at that time will welcome the truth, they will not want to hear any truth and we are almost there today.

This truth is the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

They do not want a way to be saved.

They do not want a way to escape death.

They do not want a way to live forever and ever.

They do not want a way to live a victorious life.

They have chosen to suffer at the hands of the Antichrist and Satan the Deceiver.

Joh 8:23  And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. 

Joh 8:24  I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins. 

God will cause them to believe every lie of the Antichrist.

*****2Th 2:11  And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 

We live today in a nation where there has been a persistent rejection of truth.

This behavior destroys the sense of the truth so much that it results in a fatal error.

The lies against the truth become the truth to those who reject the truth.

In other words they believe the lies are the truth.

This is the America we live in today!

Does this mean that God misleads unbelievers? 

That God deceives people?

That answer is no and a thousand times no.

No person is deceived apart from their own will.

No person is deceived against his will.

A person is only deceived because he chooses to reject the truth of God.

We need only to look at the lies of evolution to see how lies have changed our world.

Unbelief is governed by the laws of sowing and reaping.

If a person sows’ unbelief and deception, he will reap unbelief and deception.

Gal 6:7  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 

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

It is because people reject the truth of the Gospel that they will suffer strong delusion because of their actions, and they will believe the lies of the Antichrist.

Those who reject the Word of God will go further and further astray as we see in our own nation today.

So, God will use Satan as the means to punish them!

The Lord Jesus said to just leave them alone: Mat 15:14  Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

All the followers of the Antichrist will be those who are deceived about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The tragedy of this situation is that a person cannot reject Jesus Christ and expect things to stay as they are.

The truth will always prevail in the end!

God loves His Son too much to see Him rejected because of what He has done for the salvation of this entire world.

The "judgment" of the unbeliever is also drawing closer each and every day!

*****2Th 2:12  That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 

All the followers of the Antichrist will be damned to Hell.

All those without the love for the truth will naturally believe a lie when it comes because there is no other choice for them!

People love their sin so much that will hold on to it even if it means they will spend eternity in Hell.

Go back and look at the sin of Adam.

Gen 3:17  And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 

Gen 3:18  Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 

Gen 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

It is the instinct of sinful man to flee from God and His truth!

When the wickedness of sinners is known of God, they will attempt to hide from the truth.

The Lord Jesus came to this earth for this reason.

Joh_15:22  If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

This world cannot expect God to overlook its sin, especially those who take pleasure in unrighteousness.

Any person who rejects the work that our Savior has done for our salvation cannot expect God to overlook the dishonor done to His Son!

The world is full of sin!

1Jn_2:16  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

These are the things that Satan has used since the time of Adam and Satan has never had to change his ways.

When the Antichrist shows up the world can expect for him to use these things to become its new world leader.

Man loves himself and himself alone and refuses to show true love to anything else but himself and this is the downfall of mankind.

Job 15:16  How much more abominable and filthy is man, which drinketh iniquity like water?

Psa 52:3  Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 

Psa 52:4  Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue. 

Psa 52:5  God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah

These are the same ones who will cling to the Antichrist like he is some sort of god when he is nothing.

God will allow the Antichrist to lead this world for seven years and it will be a terrible time to live upon this earth, but Hell is even worse.

Amen

We Will Reap What We Sow

 Samuel's Farewell Sermon

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 12

Of all the tributes we can offer to the Lord, obedience to His Word is the greatest thing we can do to show the Lord that we love Him!

The next best thing we can do is to repent our sins. 

Repent means much more than saying I am sorry.

To repent is a complete change of mind and a change of direction to mean walking as the Lord walked, walking with the Lord.

The next thing would be a faithful service in whatever we do in the ministry of the Lord.

We trust the promises of God because we know of God's faithfulness to His Word!

God is faithful!

1Co_1:9  God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

Fellowship with the Lord consist of the knowledge of His will for us, and an agreement with His design for this world, which means a world built around families with mutual affection conforming to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Church is a group of families that worship together as the family of God.

Job 22:21  Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

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

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

1Jn 2:6  He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked. 

1Jn 1:6  If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 

1Jn 1:3  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 

1Jn 1:4  And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 

This has been the goal of our Lord Jesus since the first day of creation.

Gen 1:26  And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. 

Gen 1:27  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 

It is sin that breaks our fellowship with the Lord!

It is sin that is destroying our world, not climate change!

We must be faithful to the Lord once we know the truth!

Samuel had now become an old man and in all his days, he had been faithful to the Lord while being truthful to all of Israel.

Samuel would spend his last days on earth preparing the people of Israel to live under a monarchy.

Saul was now the first King of Israel.

Once both sides had repented, the people and the new king, they both could live a life of faithful service.

For the new government to succeed, the people would have to faithfully serve the Lord and faithfully fulfill their calling upon this earth.

Samuel preached this message to all of Israel and the to new King of Israel who was sitting within the voice of Samuel.

*****1Sa 12:1  And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you. 

1Sa 12:2  And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day. 

Samuel closed his ministry before the people.

As Samuel was stepping aside, he stressed the necessity for King Saul to be faithful to Jehovah God as he had been.

Our success comes from our ability to remain in the will of God all our lives, or from the day we repent and return to the Lord.

Samuel talked of his own righteous life, not bragging, but as an example of the expectations he had for King Saul.

Samuel declared to the people that he had done exactly what they asked him to do, to give them a king to rule over them.

We know that God was the ruler of Israel so, to now have a king would be a terrible step backwards.

Samuel had lived a righteous life since he had been called at the age of twelve.

Samuel had executed justice to Israel all his days.

In order for Israel to prosper, King Saul would have to be faithful and execute true justice and we know that politicians are not really concerned for the people as they say, but most are more concerned with their own bank account.

Israel could have chosen the two sons of Samuel, but they were not considered to be like their father. 

We do not know much truth about these two sons.

We do know that Israel was determined to have a king and that king like the kings of other nations, many of which they had destroyed or conquered.

Samuel knew he was too old to continue doing the things he had done all his life.

We all reach this time in our lives where we just cannot do the things we used to do.

Would Saul be a faithful king? We know that answer is no because we can read of his history.

Samuel had never stolen, or cheated, or oppressed anyone.

Samuel had never taken a bribe from the rich and powerful.

Samuel was not guilty of any wrong and if someone thought so, he would immediately make it right.

The people of Israel agreed with Samuel.

We know that King Saul was present as Samuel described his life, and we can just imagine what he was thinking.

Samuel had lived righteously, and this is what the Lord expects from each of us!

To be like the Lord Jesus Christ, we would have to be a lot like Samuel.

For Saul to be a great king, he would have to be a lot like Samuel.

1Co 15:57  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

If we have the victory the Lord has given to us, then we need to abound in the work of the Lord!

1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 

Samuel reminded all these people that it was the Jehovah that had gotten them out of the slavery of Egypt and not some man.

*****1Sa 12:6  And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt. 

1Sa 12:7  Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. 

We see in America that many groups are insisting that the history of America not be taught in our schools.

History is about facts.

Certainly, there are parts of our history of which we are not proud.

Certainly, slavery is one of those things.

It was not slavery that built our nation!

Slavery in America came from human trafficking which still exist today, and it needs to be stopped.

The pure fact is, more money can be made trafficking humans than can be made by illegal drugs.

The slavery of Israel came about by the ruthless kings of Egypt.

It was Jehovah God who put an end to this slavery!

It was Jehovah God who called and brought forth Moses to lead this people.

It was Jehovah God who put Aaron the first High Priest in place, and this would continue except for the changes that took place with Zadok.

Zadok was still in the family line of Aaron and was a Levite.

The family line of Eli would be stopped by the Lord Himself.

These children of Israel had become blind to the workings of the Lord and the same thing is taking place in America today.

I do not see how the Catholic Church can defend such people as Biden and Pelosi and some others, knowing that the stand they take goes against the Word of God.

There are many so-called Christians in politics and most everyone of them go against the truth of the Gospel, and they are proud to say so.

What kind of ruler would Saul be?

If he trusted the Word of God and used it to rule these people, he would do an excellent job.

If he ignored the Word of God and rejected Jehovah, his kingdom would fail and we can read what happened because God included it in the Scriptures.

The leaders we have in America today will go down as the people who destroyed the only free society on this planet, and it is intentional.

Corruption cannot be stopped; it must be removed.

2Pe_2:19  While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.

What was the most disturbing history of these people?

They had consistently forsaken the Lord! 

They had turned away from the Lord and lived their own lives as they wished, doing their own thing and this is the recipe for failure.

The Lord had judged them and chastised them, and they lived this way until they cried out to the Lord with great promises, which they would not keep.

If you want to know true history, then it is easy to see that our Lord has saved and delivered all who turn to Him by faith!

Today, that faith must be in the Lord Jesus Christ and this faith can remove anyone from any bondage of sin and wickedness, and all other bondage, such as drugs, alcohol, the gay lifestyle, homosexuality, immorality, depression, hatred, false worship, and any other bondage of sin.

This is the promise that God makes, and He has never broken a promise!

These things were just as true in the days of Saul, but his life led to failure.

Samuel continues with some history:

God had sold them into the hands of Sisaro, to the Philistines several times, and the King of Moab.

They had cried out and the Lord had sent men such as Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah and others.

God had sold them into the hands of the King of Ammon, and they had not recognized the fact, that God had delivered than many times and they asked for a king.

*****1Sa 12:12  And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king. 

In all these deliverances, it had been the Lord God who had delivered them who is much better than any king!

Samuel told Israel you already have a king, and He is the Lord God of all creation, there is no greater king than the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know the Lord Jesus Christ will return to this earth to be King of the Jews, and He will bring all of us with Him to rule and reign upon this earth for one thousand years, and I believe this is true.

If we reject the Lord and ask for some human ruler, we are committing a serious sin, it is called idolatry.

Every time someone votes for a Democrat today are voting for the policies of the Democrats and they are exposing themselves to idolatry, because the policies of the Democrats have rejected the Word of God. 

I know this sounds political, but it is only the truth.

It is the same for Progressives.

It is the same for many Republicans.

If we refuse to vote, we are just as guilty because we are only helping those who are against the Lord.

It is the same for anyone who goes against the Word of God!

We will be judged for all the things we do in this lifetime!

Israel had rejected the rule of the Lord by rejecting the Word of God.

They had turned away from the Lord and we must not fall into this trap, and it is a deadly trap.

They now faced God's terrifying judgment!

America is now facing God's terrifying judgment!

This is what Samuel's last sermon was telling these tribes of Israel, yet they still chose idolatry.

Samuel says these are the things you know that are true of the Lord your true King, and now you can see the one you chose to replace Him.

*****1Sa 12:13  Now therefore behold the king whom ye have chosen, and whom ye have desired! and, behold, the LORD hath set a king over you. 

If you have chosen Lord as your ruler, you have chosen a Theocratic form of government in your heart.

Why in the world would we ever choose some human ruler who does not follow the Lord?

This is what Samuel was asking Israel.

Saul was a giant of a man in his physique as compared to the average Israelite.

Saul was less than a grasshopper when compared to the Lord the true King.

God had proven throughout the brief history of this nation that He was their Savior.

He was their Provider.

He was their Protector.

He was their Guide through the wilderness called life.

He is the same in all these things for each Christian today!

To ask for a king like all those other nations was a terrible thing to ask for.

Sometimes God will give us what we ask for just to teach us a lesson!

It would have much better to ask for a king, "after God's own heart", which would have been much better.

This is the same choice we should all make when we get the opportunity to choose.

Those in power today are trying their best to take this freedom to choose away from us, along with many of our other freedoms.

*****1Sa 12:14  If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God: 

1Sa 12:15  But if ye will not obey the voice of the LORD, but rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall the hand of the LORD be against you, as it was against your fathers. 

What is the truth of God? If we will fear the Lord, serve Him, and obey His voice, which is the written Word of God, and not rebel against the written Word of God, which is a commandment for us and our rulers, and continue to follow the Lord, things will go well for us and our nation.

But if we rebel against the truth of God then, shall the hand of the Lord be against us.

We know our Lord never changes and He will not treat America any different than He treated Israel during these times of rebellion.

You cannot be a Christian and want some wicked ruler to rule over you!

Then Samuel says, just take a look at some small portion of the power of God.

*****1Sa 12:16  Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes. 

1Sa 12:17  Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king. 

1Sa 12:18  So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 

1Sa 12:19  And all the people said unto Samuel, Pray for thy servants unto the LORD thy God, that we die not: for we have added unto all our sins this evil, to ask us a king. 

These people realized that they had only added to their sins against God.

You know, we can get forgiveness of our sins if we are sincere in asking for forgiveness.

In Israel's case, they may have realized they were wrong but guess what, they still had Saul as king, and he would turn out to be an ungodly king.

There are a few men in the Bible that God would do things at their request but not many and not often.

We know of Moses and Joshua and the Lord had his own reasons each time.

We need to realize that our Lord is a Mighty God, with unlimited power and not some puny false god.

We will reap what we sow.

How can we ever expect some puny arm of flesh to replace the arm of God!

Is God showing the world that He can change the face of the heavens and persecute us with storms such as what is called "climate change"?

He did it once to Israel, why not do it today, to show this world which is so full of sin and idolatry?

We are in our own peril if we reject the power of the God of the Bible!

The Lord certainly has the power to bring judgment upon any people or all people at the same time!

For Israel it was an exceedingly rare thing for rain during harvest time, and we can be sure they lost a part of that harvest.

We know how destructive thunderstorms can be!

This sermon from Samuel had led the nation of Israel to confession.

Do we need a Samuel in America today to lead us to the point of confession of our sins, well this is not true because we already have the Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins and who has given us the truth, and few are listening to His Words.

The truth is, rejecting the Lord will bring judgment against us!

If we forsake the Lord, forget, ignore, and neglect the Lord, we will face the judgment of God!

This also is the truth of the Scriptures!

People just do not want to hear the truth, because they are raised in a world where the truth is not important because we live in a world based on lies, beginning with evolution.

We must walk a righteous walk before God, no matter what this world is doing!

2Pe 2:9  The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished: 

*****1Sa 12:20  And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart; 

1Sa 12:21  And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain. 

1Sa 12:22  For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people. 

There is only one answer to the problems we face today, and it is to return to the Lord and to serve the Lord with all our heart!

If we have confessed our sins then, we can do this if we then repent and walk away from the lies of this world, and turn to the truth of the Lord.

The biggest problem people have today is that they do not want to give up their sin.

Almost everyone has a pet sin that they refuse to give up!

Sinners just do not want to repent and without repentance there is no forgiveness!

When sin becomes the most important thing in our lives, we are traveling on the road to damnation!

The Lord will not forsake any people who are committed to Him!

The Lord will not forsake any people He has made promises to.

The Lord Jesus will not forsake Israel because He has made  promises to them.

The Lord will never leave us, nor forsake us, because He is bound by His promises to us.

You see our salvation is not on our own merits.

Our salvation has always depended upon the mercy of God and the promises He has made!

You see, if the Lord fails to keep even one promise, then His honor would suffer in this world.

The Lord must deliver Israel or He will be found to be a liar.

The Lord must deliver the true Church of He would be found to be a liar.

If the Lord God of this world does not keep His promises, then His Word is useless.

It is never too late to repent and return to the Lord while we are living.

It is impossible to repent after death!

The Lord made Israel His people.

The Lord made the Church His chosen people!

Then Samuel mentions prayer.

We immediately see that we sin against the Lord if we do not pray for sinners!

Samuel promised to pray for and to teach Israel all the days that remained in his life.

We must be intercessors for our children.

We must be intercessors for all our family, and it is a sin not to.

We must be intercessors for all sinners.

The key to our relationship with the Lord is to serve Him in truth that comes from the heart!

*****1Sa 12:23  Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way: 

1Sa 12:24  Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you. 

1Sa 12:25  But if ye shall still do wickedly, ye shall be consumed, both ye and your king.

You know, if the Lord does nothing else for us after we are saved, He has already done much more than we deserve by saving us from a burning Hell.

The Lord also wants to bless us in this life, but we must have a personal relationship with Him.

We must respect the Lord who is also the Creator of all we see, and all we cannot see in this universe.

We should understand that the new King Saul was present during this sermon from Samuel and heard every word he spoke.

Then Samuel issues a final warning to all of Israel, but this applies to all leaders in this world and to all believers.

If we continue to sin, we will be judged and chastised by the Lord!

For Israel many were destroyed until ultimately, they were exiled from the Promised Land.

This is why the return of Israel to the Promised Land was such a momentous day in fulfilled prophecy!

We should understand that the problem with Israel was not to have a king who would go out and win battles for them.

The problem with Israel was internal and it was spiritual!

The problem with America is not that America is still the most powerful nation on earth, at least for the time being.

The problems in America is internal and they are Spiritual.

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

America will have to return to God and repent, to have a better future just as Israel will have to do.

Israel has the promises of God, America does not, only the believers do.

No king and no leader are powerful enough to stop the hand of God in judgment!

There is no approach to God that does not begin with repentance!

Much of the Church has forgotten this.

We must turn away from sin, in order to come face to face with the Lord!

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

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

The Word of God cannot be denied!

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

Amen

The Negligent Father

 A Father's Negligence

Book of 1 Samuel Chapter 2

We can describe negligence as being in the habit of not doing what you know needs to be done.

Either from carelessness or intentional. Both these things stem from laziness.

Jas_4:17  Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.

As High Priest and as Judge, Eli knew exactly what the Word of God taught in these situations.

Eli would Judge other people for things he refused to do himself.

This is a big problem with the judicial system today.

Judges judge other people for things they allow themselves to do or simply because of political beliefs, even if they go against written law.

Our court system is becoming a joke, just like the FBI, the CIA, and the DOJ, all these things caught up in corruption.

The Jewess society had become a cesspool of depravity and corruption just as we see today in America.

The Book of Judges describes lawlessness, immorality, violence, compromising the Word of God, and a permissive lifestyle.

If we study the Book of Judges, we see where it describes homosexuality, wife abuse, child abuse, murder, kidnapping, polygamy, greed, idolatry, and civil war between the different tribes of Israel.

Sounds just like the many things we see in America today, because of corruption in our government and the compromising of the Church.

When our government, our schools and much of the so-called Church, fall into sin and commit wickedness (anything that goes against the Word of God) it is a terrible tragedy.

Corruption is so engraved in our government today we may not be able to stop it, but we know these are things that the Bible describe to us that come about in the last days.

The America we once knew may be gone forever and most people do not seem to care.

When our Church leaders become as sinful as the world, then we see the chaos that exists today and we see it all over the world, especially in America.

Eli, God's High Priest had fallen into the wickedness of his sons, because he knew about it their wickedness and had done nothing about it.

They had turned the House of God into a House of Belial.

*****1Sa 2:12  Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.

Belial means wicked, worthless people. 

People who did not know the Lord. 

People of whom God had saved from their own foolishness many times.

These two sons of Eli were an example of how low the children of Israel had sunk in their relationship with Jehovah God.

This could be why Hannah would have offered her own son Samuel to the Lord.

She could see what her world was turning into, a world of wickedness. We saw these same things today.

We see the America we love turn into a wicked and corrupt nation because of greed and corruption.

God cursed the house of Eli, and we may soon see the curse of God on some such people any day now.

1Sa 3:11  And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle. 

1Sa 3:12  In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end. 

1Sa 3:13  For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not. 

1Sa 3:14  And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever. 

We see how easy it is for the children of Satan to infiltrate the House of God!

Their sin was bad enough for the punishment they would receive, eternal damnation but their greatest sin was the fact they kept other people from coming to the House of God.

They were the children of Satan, yet they worked in the House of God.

They perverted the design of their office by making it for their own benefit.

They served their own lust.

They were despots making their own laws in the House of God and disregarding the Word of God.

They were adulterous.

They brought contempt to the House of God.

The office they held was Holy, but their character was corrupt!

They touched sacred things with unworthy hands.

There is a great enormous difference between what is spiritual and what is official, and we see this in many so-called places of worship today.

On the outside dressed in the attire of a Priest they seemed in tune with God.

On the inside they were full of corruption and death.

Every teacher in the House of God should pay attention to this passage in the Bible and see the importance of living the truth of God and teaching the truth of God.

We also see it is possible for someone to have a pulpit and to have no God; to have a Bible and no Holy Ghost!

It is within the power of the Church to rid the Church of such people! God proclaims to His children this power!

A man's character is on display within the Church. 

Our standard is now and will always be the Lord Jesus Christ!

The wickedness of these two men was shameful.

*****1Sa 2:17  Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD. 

Corruption in the priesthood causes profanity in the people.

Mal 2:8  But ye are departed out of the way; ye have caused many to stumble at the law; ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi, saith the LORD of hosts. 

Mal 2:9  Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people, according as ye have not kept my ways, but have been partial in the law. 

They did not respect nor regard the God of the House of God!

They desecrated the offerings that were being made to the Lord.

They insisted on receiving the choice meat that belonged to the person presenting that offering.

They sometimes insisted upon some raw meat before the Lord received His portion.(This was the meat that was to be burned as the sweet aroma to the Lord).

They insisted on some of the fat that was clearly prohibited by the Lord. (The fat also was to be burned as part of the sweet aroma before the Lord)

They were willing to commit violence to obtain the best meat for their own families.

The Lord had given to Moses the precise instructions on how these offerings were to be presented and how this meat was to be divided between the Lord and the priests!

They turned the House of God into a house of ill repute!

These two sons of Eli had sunk to great depths of wickedness and many a minister to the house of God have sunk to these same depths of sin!

Remember the murder of the Lord Jesus:

Mat 27:20  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 

We must understand the great judgment of the Lord that will come upon these people!

They will face the Lord at the White Throne Judgment where they will be sentenced to eternal damnation!

In between all these things, we continue to read where Hannah continued to check on her son and bring him coats and other things when they came for the yearly sacrifice.

But we also see that Eli knew all the wickedness of his two sons.

*****1Sa 2:22  Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation. 

Eli had heard of all the things his sons were doing.

Eli had failed his own children!

Eli had become unfit to manage the office of High Priest and as Judge of Israel.

We see that women who came to worship the Lord were corrupted.

We will see that there is nothing more provoking to God, than to profane the House of God and His Holy Word!

We know that sexual immorality existed in most all the ancient religions.

No where in the Bible do we see these things approved of God.

In fact, the only sexual activity approved of the Lord is that of one man and one woman who are married according to the Word of God.

Worship at the Tabernacle in Shiloh had begun to resemble the pagan worship centers of the Canaanites, but God would not allow these things to go unpunished.

Eli would make a feeble attempt to correct his sons, but he was simply too old and too feeble, and his words were insincere.

*****1Sa 2:23  And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people. 

1Sa 2:24  Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD'S people to transgress. 

1Sa 2:25  If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them. 

What is the absolutely worse thing we can do as Christians? Be the cause of someone else’s sin.

Now these two men were not God's children because they were the children of the devil.

They had no respect for the house of God.

Their sin was against God and Him only, and no one could intervene for them.

Eli's sin was not only that he reproved them too gently, but that all he did was to rebuke them verbally and did nothing to stop them when it was within his power to do so.

He had the Word of God to guide him, and Laws of Moses were precise in these things, and he was the Judge of Israel and High Priest, but showed partiality because they were his own sons.

We should understand God does not accept our weakness as humans as an excuse for sin!

This should be understood by the punishment upon Eli, it was severe.

We can only conclude that weakness is then sin!

We must never be too weak to do the right thing!

We should remember the time of Aaron and his two sons.

Exo 28:43  And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. 

There is no one who can come to our defense when we sin against God!

God will certainly be the Judge of those who sin against Him. 

It is known today as the White Throne Judgment, and it is real!

But Samuel continued to grow in the Lord and grow in favor of those who met him.

*****1Sa 2:26  And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men. 

Samuel grew up at the Lord's House. This is the same place we can grow.

Samuel grew in the Lord's sight. The Lord was pleased with Samuel. We too are to grow in the Lord's sight. He has His eyes on all His children.

Samuel grew by the Lord's Grace. We can only grow in the Grace of the Lord by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Samuel grew to serve the Lord. This is our one and only job. To serve the Lord and He will teach us.

God sends His messenger to Eli.

*****1Sa 2:27  And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house? 

1Sa 2:28  And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel? 

1Sa 2:29  Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people? 

1Sa 2:30  Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed. 

1Sa 2:31  Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house. 

1Sa 2:32  And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever. 

1Sa 2:33  And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age. 

1Sa 2:34  And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them. 

We know there is a sin unto death and to Eli, this weakness as Judge and High Priest of Israel was his sin unto death.

God sent a messenger to tell Eli of his punishment. He had already been warned.

Notice this messenger was a prophet, and he was precise in using God's actual words.

In the title "man of God" this prophet joins the ranks of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and many others.

This prophet challenged Eli and his sons to remember the history of the priesthood.

God had chosen Levi and it had begun with Aaron.

They were to follow the righteous ways of Aaron and not their own ways.

Today, all leaders of the Church are to follow the Lord Jesus Christ and not their own ways.

Then, this prophet pronounced the charges against Eli and his sons.

They showed disdain for the Tabernacle, the offerings, and the sacrifices.

They profited off the people by theft of the choice parts, even Eli was guilty in this sin.

Eli had eaten these things knowing what his sons had done.

The prophet of God then passed God's judgment.

1) The house of Eli would be cut off from the priesthood.

2) His descendants would be held in low esteem and condemned.

3) His descendants would live only short lifespans.

4) His descendants would witness the blessings of God on the ones that replaced them.

5) The descendants of Eli would live in sadness and grief and die in the prime of their life, none living to old age.

6) Eli's two sons would both die on the same day.

We should understand every human being will be judged for the things they have done while they lived!

The judgment of the world will take place!

Eli's sons did not believe in this judgment, but it still took place and they both died on the same day.

The one thing all humans know is that one day we are going to die!

It is during this time of life that we can decide where we will spend eternity.

Many people do not believe in the afterlife, but this is like believing that all the things we see on this earth and in the heavens, all came from an accident.

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

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

2Th 1:6  Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; 

2Th 1:7  And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, 

2Th 1:8  In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: 

2Th 1:9  Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; 

2Th 1:10  When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. 

God only does things that are righteous!

God is faithful and He expects us to be faithful!

*****1Sa 2:35  And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever. 

1Sa 2:36  And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread. 

We see the promise of the Priesthood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This promise would be first fulfilled with Samuel, then Zadok, and then the Lord Jesus Christ with an unending priesthood.

He would be a very special priest.

He would be obedient doing exactly the Word of God.

His priesthood would last forever.

Everyone in this world would come and bow down to Him.

Fulfilled first in Samuel.

1Sa 3:1  And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. 

Fulfilled next in Zadok.

2Sa 8:17  And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe; 

2Sa 8:18  And Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over both the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and David's sons were chief rulers. 

Ultimately fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Supreme High Priest.

Php 2:5  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 

Php 2:6  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 

Php 2:7  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 

Php 2:8  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 

Php 2:9  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 

Php 2:10  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 

Php 2:11  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Amen

The Ministry of Deacons

 The Ministry of Deacons

Book of Acts Chapters 6 and 7

One of the greatest statements in our lesson today is that Satan will change his tactics according to where he sees weaknesses in the Church.

The greatest weakness in the Church as I see it today, is that the modern Church has begun to reject the infallible truth of God and has begun to accept the world's interpretation of the Word of God.

As Christians, we know that we will not be able to have a good understanding of God's Word without the Holy Spirit living within us!

If lying and hypocrisy are allowed to live within the Church, the Church will cease to be "the pillar and ground for the truth"!

1Ti 3:15  But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. 

1Ti 3:16  And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory. 

The truth of the Word of God is that "it is the mystery of Godliness", and this truth is rejected by the world we live in today.

We must clearly understand that God will not allow these things to go on indefinitely.

Remember God's plan moves right along as we see all these things unfold before our eyes.

We must never forget the command of 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. 

As the Church begins to grow in Jerusalem, God will take this command and the errors that Satan is bringing upon the Church, and He will cause some changes in the direction of the Christian Church in Jerusalem.

Remember the Church in Jerusalem had not been obedient up to this time. Spreading the Gospel was only done locally.

These are all things the Church of today is to learn so these same mistakes are not made again.

The Book of Acts teaches us about the beginning of the Church, and we are never so far advanced that we cannot learn from the Book of Acts and all the Word of God.

Remember what God has said: 2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

God has said what He means, and God means what He says! 

We are not to interpret the Scripture!

We pick up our lesson with the Church begins to grow:

*****Act 6:1  And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. 

Here we see that the Church began to grow in numbers, but is this a true measurement?

Church growth should not be measured by the amount of people who attend nor by the number of people who join the Church as we will see.

Church growth must be measured by those who have accepted the complete Word of God and live their lives accordingly.

Only then can these certain ones become witnesses to the truth of God and therefore witnesses and missionaries to the world.

As missionaries and witnesses who speak the truth of God.

We are all to be missionaries in the place where God has allowed us to live!

"It is our job to just speak the truth of God and God will do all the work from that point on.

Isa 55:11  So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and "it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it".

We need to have this clear understanding of the Word of God and just be obedient witnesses and allow God to do what God does which is.

"God can save anybody, anywhere, at any time"!

Act_2:21  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Moving on, we see that there were some problems that comes when the people of the Church do not accept the complete Word of God.

Do not be fooled "murmuring" means problems.

We see here the clash of two distinct cultures.

Hebrew women:  We should understand that men and women are on equal ground when it comes God and salvation.

In the Hebrew culture the men were the bread winners, and the women took care of the household and even then, they would contribute in every way possible in caring for their families.

It was the Hebrew family that was to take care of these mothers when her husband died and many times this did not take place.

God had given clear commands on this issue.

This became something that the Church took upon themselves to do.

As the Church grew from being for the most part Jews of Hebrew descent, it began to absorb mothers who were Jews of Greek descent.

We should understand the conquests of Alexander the Great had changed the culture of the entire world.

These changed people were known as Hellenists.

Alexander the Great encouraged his soldiers to take wives from the lands that were conquered and with the other things that he did, Greek culture was spreading like a wildfire around the known world at that time.

Even the Romans had adapted the Greek culture in many ways.

Governments always believe they know better than the average person.

Along with these things, philosophy and intellectual pursuits were the rage amongst these conquered peoples.

It is easy to see the clash that was bound to happen between these widows.

The Hebrews were more accustomed to the ways of Jerusalem, and the ways of the Law, than the Greeks and this would cause a conflict.

The Apostles tried to take care of these matters and it was hurting them in the pulpit.

Peter produced the answer.

So is born the "Deacon".

*****Act 6:2  Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. 

Act 6:3  Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. 

Act 6:4  But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

The word or title Deacon means to minister or to serve as a minister.

This is not a Minister in what many refer to a Pastor or Preacher but knowing the Word of God was certainly a requirement.

This is not to say the Pastor is not minister also because God has called the pastor or Preacher to do as he is led.

The Deacon should be able to manage day by day matters and the more serious events they can bring to the Pastor.

The Pastor is in charge of the things of the Church.

In this instance the subject was the care of widows.

The Apostles addressed these same issues.

If we want to help our Pastors, then we need to shoulder the majority of the visitations of our Church and our elected Deacons and committee people should shoulder this responsibility as they are able.

The Deacons need to study this passage.

They are not to be rulers as they are to be more like a waitress as Peter has described them.

We see that number seven and we should realize the seven is a perfect number so it could take more than seven in some churches, and it could take less than seven in some churches, but it should never be less than three in my opinion.

What were the keys to choosing these men?

"Honesty, full of the Holy Ghost, the wisdom of God".

The wisdom of God is knowledge of the Scriptures

They must be appointed by the Body of Christ!

There must be proof of their faith!

Their job was to take the minor things off the shoulders of the Pastors and Preachers.

If a problem needed to go to the Preacher, then it should go these Deacons first.

The preaching of the Word of God is far too important to not give our Preachers time to prepare!

The Church then then be made aware of these things before they occur!

*****Act 6:5  And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch: 

Act 6:6  Whom they set before the apostles: and when they had prayed, they laid their hands on them.

We should notice a few things here. This Church in Jerusalem has met as a group in unity. The biggest part of these are Jews who left Judaism to become Christian.

Some were so bedded in Judaism that they thought Christianity was just a growth from Judaism, but this was never true.

To be Christian is to love and trust the Lord Jesus Christ and the Christian Church stands alone in this world as teaching that the Lord Jesus Christ the only means to ever get to Heaven.

It takes a personal relationship with Jesus to get to Heaven!

There are so many who reject this truth at their own peril!

This is not something we should brag upon; it is just the truth of God and the truth of the Word of God!

This Church acted out of love and humility.

No one spoke up at this time because of hurt feelings.

The Apostles had not denied that this was a problem, and it was the Apostles who brought forth the remedy provided by the Holy Spirit and this was the first qualification for such men, "to be noticeably filled with the Holy Spirit"'

A Church cannot survive in this world if it is not a Holy Ghost (Spirit) filled Church!

It was the Grecian believers who seemed to be having the problem and God begins training the Church to manage all the problems that would come against the Church until the end of what we call time.

Act 1:8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and "ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth". 

It was persecution that was in the near future for this Church, and it was time to prepare.

Problems in the Church can only be solved when the Church works as one unit led by the Holy Spirit!

The Church must be rooted in love for each other with the love of God!

Our Pastors must be given the time to prepare a message they have received of God, or "they will try to give us a message they have made up themselves" and that Church will fail.

It was the Church that chose these men not the Apostles!

Stephen was the first of these men chosen. Why? He was a man full of faith and full of the Holy Ghost (Spirit)!

Notice also it appears that Stephen was a Hellenist himself as were all these new Deacons that are mentioned.

In fact all these men had met the qualifications set down by the Apostles and these qualifications should still be the same today as any church chooses its officers and Deacons.

We had met Philip earlier, but this is not Philip the Apostle but Philip the evangelist.

Act 21:8  And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 

Philip was a great preacher and spoke boldly as persecution of the Church began.

The Holy Spirit traveled with Philip as He does with al Christians but there are no miracles performed by the evangelist of today.

They bring with them the promise of salvation a healing of the soul.

It is Jehovah who is the source of all miracles, and He allowed some men to take credit for these things during the time of the early Church

Act 8:5  Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. 

Act 8:6  And the people with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. 

There are no men in the modern Church who can actually perform such miracles today, no matter what some claim!

Next came Prochorus who we know nothing more about. Tradition says he could have become the Bishop of Nicomedia.

Next came Nicanor. We also know nothing more of this man. Tradition says he died in the early persecution of the Church.

We should also keep in mind that there are many men and women who are working in the background of every church, not ever seeking recognition but who keep the Church moving in the right direction.

Next came Timon. Timon is also a Greek name. In reality all these seven men may themselves have been Hellenists.

Parmenas another man that the Bible offers no more information.

Last comes Nicolas which the Bible adds was a Gentile who had converted to Judaism and now having heard the truth became a Christian also forsaking Judaism.

After these men were chosen, they were then presented to the Apostles who ordained them for the work that was given to them.

Notice this ordination was done in view of the Church because it was an official ceremony!

The Church set these men apart.

The Church prayed for each of them and the work they had been chosen to do.

The Apostles, the Preachers, laid their hands upon them in ordination.

The "laying of the hands" was a significant symbol for God's blessing!

Mat 19:13  Then were there brought unto him little children, that he should put his hands on them, and pray: and the disciples rebuked them. 

Mat 19:14  But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven. 

For healing: Mar 5:23  And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live. 

Mar 5:24  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 

For imparting the Holy Spirit: Act 8:17  Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. 

Act 8:18  And when Simon saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money, 

Act 8:19  Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. 

We still see the laying of the hands in ordaining and commissioning men to the ministry!

What were the results?

*****Act 6:7  And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of the priests were obedient to the faith. 

1) The Word of God increased as never before because those who preached the Word of God were not hindered trying to solve every little issue that came up in the Church but concentrated on the message of God.

2) The Church grew not just in numbers but also in knowledge of the truth of God which is far more important.

In many mega churches today the "Good News" of the Word of God is rarely mentioned. Witnessing the truth of God is not even mentioned.

3) Many new Preachers and Pastors were reached for the work of the Lord Jesus Christ. These things are the job of the Church and will always be the job of the Church. So many churches have forgotten this today!

We do not need seminaries training our preachers, this is God's job!

Seminaries have ruined too many men of God today!

Gal 2:19  For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 

Gal 2:20  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 

Gal 2:21  I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. 

At the death of Stephen persecution came to the Church!

It is at this time that God reminded the Church to be obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

We must observe these things as commands.

We understand that the Lord Jesus Christ is sitting at the right hand of God, but we see something amazing in this passage as the Lord stands up in honor of His martyr Stephen!

Stephen preached a sermon exposing the truth to the people of Jerusalem and Judaism.

When they had heard the truth, it brought conviction.

*****Act 7:54  When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.

1) They had heard that their father Abraham was called of God before he was circumcised, before the Law was given to Moses, and before the Temple was built, which they had so high regard for.

2) They heard that Moses and Joseph had not been treated very well by their own fathers they so bragged about. There was not devotion in their hearts, there was only persecution because of the truth

3) They were reminded how their fathers behaved in the wilderness after receiving the Law they so bragged about keeping.

4) They were reminded how their fathers had fallen into idolatry over and over again. Just because Solomon had built the Temple they so bragged about, the Lord Jesus Christ cannot be bound to any temple nor to any building or place upon this earth. We can build immaculate places to worship the Lord, but we are fools to believe we can trap the Lord Jesus within walls nor to any religion.

5) They were reminded that it was their own fathers that persecuted and slew the very Prophets of God and it was they who were the betrayers and the murderers of the men God had sent to teach them the truth.

6) They were reminded that it was they, themselves that could not keep the Laws they so cherished!

The results: They were cut to the heart. Sometimes the truth will cut you to the heart. They were filled with anguish. They felt great pain. They became uneasy.

They became  full of anger and indignation and Stephen became the object of their wrath. They began to show their hatred for the truth, and they were the bigots not Stephen.

How did Stephen react to their hatred?

*****Act 7:55  But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, 

Act 7:56  And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. 

Stephen may have been aware of what was going on around him, but his focus was upon the glory of God.

Joh_17:5  And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

You see when we rebel against God the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, we can become disturbed and tormented and it is then that we must make a choice.

Do we accept or reject the truth of Jesus Christ? When we accept the truth of the Lord Jesus then and only then can we be delivered from this sin filled world!

Once we know the Lord Jesus as our Savior, where else could we look but to Heaven!

This world shows no heartfelt sympathy to us. The Lord Jesus Christ came to this place called earth and bled and died for our sins just so we could spend eternity with Him in Heaven.

When we know the Lord, and this earth casts us out, then we know Heaven waits to receive us.

This is the truth of peace in our lives!

In the Book of Isaiah Chapter 6:1 through 13 we can see how this glory of Heaven is described, but Stephen sees this and something even more spectacular.

Rev 21:23  And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. 

The Lord of Glory stands to His feet. The same Lord who had been rejected by this world stood up to receive His child with open arms.

1Co_2:8  Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

While those who were stoning Stephen to death were seeing victory.

While those who were just spectators saw an atrocity, one way or the other.

Stephen saw deliverance!

You see God is always present when one of His children is caused to suffer by this world!

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. 

Stephen was a man always filled with the Holy Spirit and he clearly understood what that meant while rocks and stones hit his weak body.

1Ti 1:16  Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting. 

We can believe that what Stephen saw we will see just before we make this same trip to Heaven.

Those in the graves whose soul is already in Heaven will get to see the glory of God as they speed toward Heaven.

Glory, Glory, Glory, Lord God almighty.

What those who knew Stephen saw was a great testimony left behind for all the world to see.

Those who hated Stephen's testimony saw something else but there would be one sinner who would never forget this day.

*****Act 7:57  Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, 

Act 7:58  And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. 

Law abiding citizens became murderers this day and the ultra-religious smiled as these were taking place.

We should know that the Holy Ghost is always busy.

We must know that all persecution is rebellion against God!

Those who lead in the persecution of Christians and those that follow them are acting against the Lord and not against that believer!

Rom 1:28  And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 

Rom 1:29  Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 

Rom 1:30  Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 

Rom 1:31  Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 

Rom 1:32  Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. 

They became murderers free to roam this earth because this earth was on their side!

This is the world we live in today and it is only going to get worse until the Lord returns.

This is the first time that Saul of Tarsus is mentioned in the Bible and this event makes an impression upon him. 

*****Act 7:59  And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. 

Act 7:60  And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep. 

The soul of Stephen went to Heaven, his body is buried somewhere in Jerusalem awaiting the call of the Lord.

We must remember as Christians we will suffer the trials of persecution, some much more terrible than others.

Remember Stephen called out for the Lord's help, Stephen certainly felt the pain.

What we witness is the "grace" and the "strength" to endure these trials and many did become martyrs and there may be many more before the Lord returns in the clouds and calls us out of here.

The Lord wants us all to be with Him right now:

Joh 14:1  Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 

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

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

Stephen was depending on the Lord Jesus as he says "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit".

Why? Because he knew this truth.

2Co 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 

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

Then Stephen shows that loving caring spirit for all as he says, "lay not this sin to their charge".

The truth is that death brings life to all those who love the Lord, and we should have no fear of death.

Just recently I tried to make my doctor understand this as I rejected my last Chemo treatment.

What did Stephen then do?

He fell asleep in Christ and all his pain was over and the Lord met him in Heaven and then returned to His throne awaiting the next saint of God.

Amen