The First Church Council

 Paul's Participation in the Jerusalem Council

 Book Galatians Chapter 2 Verses 1 through 10

 From Chapter 1 we learned that the Apostle Paul's preaching of Salvation by the "Grace of God" had met much criticism, but this criticism was mainly from the Jewish religion.

 This criticism had reached a point where it was determined that the Church leaders would come together to make a final decision on this matter.

It had been the Jews known as Judaizers, who had called for this council hoping the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem would side with them.

 Though there were many Church councils over the years, the first Jerusalem Council was the most important.

 What we find is that our old friends the Pharisees are stirring up trouble again.

 In reality, there was a large number of Pharisees who accepted Jesus as the true Messiah after His death and resurrection.

 In fact, this would be a natural result for an honest-thinking Pharisee.

 Most of the Pharisees were looking for the Messiah to come.

 The Pharisees knew the Scriptures better than the average Jew.

 When the Apostles proved that Jesus was the Messiah from the Scriptures, the Pharisee was bound to see the evidence.

 If a Pharisee had an honest and open heart he would be convicted by the Holy Spirit as much as any other Lost Soul.

 However, the Pharisees would tend to see Jesus as the fulfillment of Judaism, not a replacement of it.

The Pharisees would see Jesus as an addition to the Law of Moses, not replacing it.

The Pharisees would see Jesus as adding belief to their rituals, not replacing them.

The Pharisee would see Jesus adding Baptism to the ordinances, not replacing the ordinance.

 Because the Pharisees had extensive training and had made a lifetime commitment to the keeping of the Law, oral and traditional, they would be very slow to give up the Law.

 They would be very slow to rely on the Righteousness of Jesus the Messiah and not the righteousness of the Law.

 But we do see where some of them made a complete break with Judaism.

 It is these things that caused the First Council of the Church.

 Act 15:5  But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses. 

Act 15:6  And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.

 We will immediately be able to see that the question at the Council in Jerusalem had grown much greater than circumcision from the Church at Antioch.

 The question at Jerusalem became "does a man have to keep the whole law to be saved" and accepted into the Church?

 We would be wrong to believe these questions have disappeared today!

 1) Can a person earn favor with God? Or do they receive the favor of God?

2) Are they acceptable to God because they keep the Law? Or are they saved by confessing that they have broken the law and are dependent entirely upon the Lord Jesus Christ?

3) Do we work to make ourselves righteous or do we cast ourselves upon the righteousness of Jesus?

4) Do we pray to the Lord saying Lord I come on my own righteousness, or I come on your righteousness?

5) Do we pray Lord I come with my own package of works, or I come seeking your mercy and grace?

6) Do we pray to the Lord I came to be praised for my own works, or do we praise the Lord because He did all the work?

7) Are we to receive glory because we have done good, or is the glory to be lifted to Jesus for who He is and what He has done?

8) Is the Lord Jesus God, who came down from Heaven to save us or not?

 Martin Luther broke with Catholic Doctrine on some of these same issues!

 Rom 1:17  For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 

 Do we believe what the Bible says or not?

 Luther came to realize that works have no part in our salvation.

 It is a fact that there are no works to do to receive the Grace of God but there are some works that should happen after salvation.

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

 We need to study every question that is asked about salvation in order to properly lead someone to the Lord!

 *****Gal 2:1  Then fourteen years after I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and took Titus with me also. 

 At the end of last week's lesson, Paul had returned to his hometown of Tarsus and then to Antioch Syria where the first Church outside of Jerusalem had been established.

 Now in the first verse of Chapter Two, Paul is returning to Jerusalem for the first council of the Church and fourteen years have passed.

 This first council at Jerusalem could easily have stopped the Church before it ever got started.

 The Apostle Paul was faithful to give a full account of the Gospel he had preached among the Gentiles, who were still known as Heathen to the Jews, indicating a lower class of people.

 Paul preached that Christianity must be free from all mixture of Judaism.

 This would have seemed ungrateful to some because even the Lord Jesus was a Jew.

 Joh 4:21  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 

Joh 4:22  Ye worship ye know not what: "we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews". 

 Notice Jesus claims to be a Jew just like the disciples who were with Him.

 We should understand that Christianity is the New Testament, the New Covenant, God has made with all the people of Earth.

 We should also notice that Paul was very careful and going to extra pains, to list his contacts with the Church in Jerusalem.

 It had to be understood that the Doctrine of Salvation that Paul preached had come from Jesus Christ and not from the leaders of the Church of Jerusalem.

 It was for the benefit of the Jews that these precautions were made and not so much for the benefit of the Gentiles.

 Paul was not going to change the way he preached so easily.

 Likewise, the Jews were not going to accept the Gentiles so easily.

 We must also understand the other Apostles had to recognize that the calling of the Apostle Paul had met the basic qualifications for being an Apostle being called by Christ Himself.

 Paul's calling and his service had now proven itself for fourteen years.

 Paul did not enter Jerusalem to answer his critics. 

Nothing that happened in Jerusalem would change the calling of Paul, because Paul was God-called and not man-called.

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

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

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

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

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

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

 *****Gal 2:2  And I went up by revelation, and communicated unto them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to them which were of reputation, lest by any means I should run, or had run, in vain. 

 Paul's intent was for him to defend his work in the Gospel.

 If the other Apostles disagreed with Paul, it would not have changed Paul's calling. 

God intended for the Church to survive at all costs.

 What had Jesus told to Peter?

 Mat_16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

 I think it is almost every message that our Pastor says he will not back down, and we had better be prepared to stand with him.

 No preacher is to run in vain!

 Every evangelist, Pastor, preacher, and missionary, must preach the "Gospel" and only the "Gospel" and he must build upon that ministry as the truth and it is.

 We are not to allow ritual, rule, ceremony, or law to be added to the Gospel!

 People are saved and people grow only by the Gospel, the "Good News" of God's love for the world, His creation!

 Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

 *****Gal 2:3  But neither Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised: 

Gal 2:4  And that because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage: 

Gal 2:5  To whom we gave place by subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you. 

 We must never be intimidated into giving up the truth of the Gospel as our own government has been trying to do lately!

 There are as many so-called preachers who have only enough truth to be called a man of God when they are lost as Job's Turkey and causing damage to the Church and they don't care, they just buy themselves another Jet plane or they write another book but we can be sure they will answer to God.

 There is only one Gospel and there will never be a modern version because God never changes!

 The Lord Jesus Christ will never come back to this Earth, (His Creation) to face another cross!

 The Apostle Paul's version of the Gospel is still the Gospel that saves!

 There is only one "Gospel" and there will never be another "Gospel" that is the "Good News" for mankind!

 The 'Gospel" of the "Grace" of God and "Grace Alone" that Paul preached did arouse many of the Jews.

 Every practicing Jew was circumcised when they were eight days old and they leaned heavily on the Law of Moses all the days of their lives.

 When they accepted the truth of Jesus Christ, they still refused to reject Judaism.

 In their minds the Lord Jesus only changed a few things and Judaism was still the key to life with Jehovah.

 They proclaimed that every Christian would first have to become a practicing Jew.

 Only after becoming a Jew could, they then accept the teachings of Christ and be baptized.

 Paul rejected this and Paul was right even though Paul was a practicing Jew.

 The Church would have failed before it got started if this had been true.

 The Jews were shocked that Paul taught such a thing.

 These Jews were called Judaizers.

 It was determined by these Judaizers that Paul could not have gotten his message from Jehovah, and they were wrong.

 If anything is added to the Gospel, then it is no longer the Gospel.

 If anything is taken away from the Gospel, then it is no longer the Gospel.

 Jehovah was very serious about this!

 Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: 

Rev 22:19  And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

 Paul took with him Barnabas and Titus who were fellow workers with him in the Gospel.

 Barnabas was a Jew who had been converted in Jerusalem.

 Titus was a Heathen Gentile, and he was not about to become a Jew.

 Titus had never been inside the Jewish Temple, and he had no desire to enter into it.

 Titus had not been circumcised!

 Titus had not committed himself to the Law of Moses nor the rituals of Judaism.

 Titus was a perfect example of salvation by "Grace Alone".

 Titus had answered the calling of Christ to become a Preacher.

 Judaizers are just "Legalists".

 Legalists are those people who add to the salvation plan of God.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of Judaism and the teachings of Christ.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of the Muslim and the Koran, and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 Christianity is not now and never will be a blend of Hinduism and the teachings of Jesus Christ.

 In fact, Christianity can only be the "Good News" of Jesus Christ and nothing but salvation by the free gift, of the "GRACE" of God.

 Though many Jews even today are impressed with Jesus Christ, they will not give up their religion for Him and therefore they cannot be saved.

 This was the first great battle for the existence of the Church!

 This is the message of Christianity!

 Legalism still exists today along with many of the teachings of a false Gospel, which is not the Gospel.

 *****Gal 2:6  But of these who seemed to be somewhat, (whatsoever they were, it maketh no matter to me: God accepteth no man's person:) for they who seemed to be somewhat in conference added nothing to me: 

Gal 2:7  But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; 

Gal 2:8  (For he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles:) 

 The Christian Preacher and teacher must defend the "Gospel" before any and all persons or they are not who they say they are.

 We as Christians must ask ourselves:

 1) Are we seeking the approval of church leaders over the approval of God?

2) Are we seeking the call of the Church or the call of God?

3) Are we seeking favor of the church or answering the call of God?

4) Are we seeking to build a reputation or seeking to serve God who called us?

 How many of us add our own ideas, our own rituals, our own rules instead of the Pure Gospel?

 God treats all of us alike!

 God has no favorites, He loves you as much as He loved the Apostle Paul!

 Everyone in Heaven are there because they are saved by the same Gospel that Paul preached!

 Every true Preacher, Pastor, Evangelists, or Missionary are called by the same Lord!

 *****Gal 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision. 

Gal 2:10  Only they would that we should remember the poor; the same which I also was forward to do. 

If we take notice, we will see that the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem did not agree with those Judaizers nor could they, as the Judaizers had hoped they would.

On the contrary they stood with the Apostle Paul!

They saw firsthand that Paul had indeed been called of Christ Jesus to preach the Gospel.

They saw that Paul had been called to preach the truth just like every other man called of God.

They saw that Paul had been called to preach to the Gentiles.

This means that everyone called of God, are called with a specific purpose in mind.

Every person called of God is called to preach to the poor just they are called to preach to the rich still having the same message.

Paul promised to try to help the Church in Jerusalem because every Christian who felt the same as Paul would be excommunicated.

James the step-brother of the Lord Jesus was the lead Pastor at the Church at Jerusalem.

James and Jude both the step-brothers of our Lord did also write a book of the New Testament being lead by the Spirit of Jesus their step-brother.

Are we going to have faith in God or are we going to trust what man can do for us?

Amen

The Gospel

 The Origin of the Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1 verses 11 through 24

 The Word "Gospel" is the English word used to translate the Greek word for "good news".

 The Greek word for the English word “Gospel” is “evangelical”, so the writers of this “good news” are best known as Evangelists.

 In reality, the word Gospel means the proclamation of pardon, mercy, and peace in and through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 If the word "Gospel" is used in any other way, it is a false gospel.

 All those men who are partakers of its saving Grace, who are commissioned to preach it, are to be considered beautiful.

 Isa 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!

 In the New Testament "Gospel" has two shades of meaning.

 1) The actual message of Jesus Christ.

 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.

 2) It is the story told about Jesus after His death and His resurrection, in the Scriptures like we are studying today.

 *****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.

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the embodiment of the Gospel!

 Without the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no Gospel, period.

 To certify is to declare that the Gospel is the truth of God's Son and, therefore the truth of God!

 The Gospel is not in agreement with the ways of man, nor the values of man!

 The Gospel is on a much higher plane!

 In verse 10 from last week, Paul proclaimed: "Am I seeking the favor of men or God". "Do I seek to please men or to please God" being "God the Son Jesus Christ", "God's Messiah".

 Verse eleven continues, with people saying that Paul did not follow the Lord Jesus when He was alive on this earth, so how could he possibly know any Gospel?

 They say Paul was teaching a man-made Gospel taught by a misguided man, speaking of Paul.

 Paul the Apostle Preached what was given to him by Jesus Christ Himself!

 The word “revelation” means a truth that is shared by God with man, a truth that man never knew.

 The "Gospel" Paul preached was given to him by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.

 The Gospel is God's wisdom not the wisdom of this world and we can include the time we live in today.

 The world's wisdom includes many approaches to finding the truth and the meaning of life and the many approaches to finding the problems of evil and death, but these things have eluded the world and are unable to be found.

 The world's wisdom is full of lies and theories.

 The wisdom of the world says there is no God. He does not exist.

 Way back in time, as far back as the mind can go, something, some element, some molecule, some atom, some gas has brought forth all the things we see today.

 To some, the wisdom of the world says God may exist, but after creating all the things we see, has moved on to do other things having no concern for the things He made.

 The wisdom of this world says that God may exist, but He used evolution to create all the things we see which is still a fantasy.

 These are just some of the things we go up against as Christians, when we reach out to those who are lost!

 1Co 3:19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

1Co 3:20 And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.

 The Gospel is not a human thing, it did not originate with man as many say.

The Gospel is not the "good news" from some men as they say.

The Gospel is not to be preached as a message handed down from one generation to the next.

 The Gospel is to be preached as the single fact that Jesus Christ did reveal Himself with the truth of His life, the truth of His death, and the truth of His resurrection.

 These Galatians had asked themselves: did Paul preach the truth of Jesus Christ or not?

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

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

 1Th 2:4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

 There are not as many who believe that all the things of this world happened by accident as the world confesses and it is time they stood up and listened to the truth before it is too late.

 Paul did not ever try to hide his past life!

 Our past life is not remembered in Heaven, but we will be reminded of it by our enemies, and it would not hurt for us to look back and see how far the Gospel has removed us from our past life. We are new creatures because of the Gospel.

 *****Gal 1:13 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

Gal 1:14 And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

 If we look at Paul's life before He met the Lord Jesus upon the Damascus Road, we will see the terrible things he did to the Church.

 We could say it was nothing short of a miracle that could account for the change that had taken place in the life of Paul.

 Paul wrote: Php 3:7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Php 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Php 3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

 The Apostle Paul had a radical change of life!

 When we read the Scriptures, this is clearly seen!

 Paul had launched his attack on the Church at the death of Stephen.

 Paul had been a supreme example of self-righteousness.

 Paul became an example of the true Christian.

 Paul had blazed a path for Christian persecution.

 Paul now blazed a path for the salvation of the Lost.

 The Lord Jesus set Paul apart and called him by His "Grace".

 Paul began to believe that God had called him even before his birth.

 *****Gal 1:15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace,

Gal 1:16 To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood:

 Paul began to believe that he was now doing what God had intended for him to do from his birth forward and he was.

 Every Christian should realize that we are now in the will God had for us from the beginning of our lives, just as He did the prophet Jeremiah.

 Jeremiah became a prophet of God, and we become witnesses for the Lord Jesus Christ.

 All those who have been called to separation from this evil world understand what Paul is saying here.

 God has a plan for all of us and that plan began at our birth, but most of us were like Paul, we did not realize it until we met Jesus.

 Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

Php 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

 Paul reminded others of the same.

 2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

 The source of our change was the purpose of God!

The means of our change was His calling by the Holy Spirit.

The result of that change is that we might teach Jesus Christ to the Lost.

 For Paul, his job was to reach the Gentile world that God had included and not just the Jews!

 Thank you, Lord God for I was once a heathen, but now one of your children.

 I was never worthy of your "Grace"!

 The job of the Apostle Paul was to be a vessel to reveal Jesus Christ!

 We must understand that we are not called just to come to know Jesus Christ, we are also called to make Christ known to others.

 We must bear witness to what Jesus Christ has done in our lives.

 God has given us all the Gospel to study and to preach.

 The world needs to hear the message of Jesus Christ not the message of wicked men.

 It is every day now that we can still hear the crying and the moaning because a wicked president has been defeated.

 America should be ready to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

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

 2Co 4:5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake.

2Co 4:6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 Only Jesus Christ has the message that the world is seeking the answer to!

 How to live forever!

 Far too many people wake up in Hell who spent their lives and their finances, searching for the means of eternal life having rejected the Gospel, the “Good News” of our Savior.

 Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.

 Paul was called by the Lord Jesus and then taught by the Lord Jesus Christ how to teach the world about Him.

 *****Gal 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus.

Gal 1:18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode with him fifteen days.

Gal 1:19 But other of the apostles saw I none, save James the Lord's brother.

 The spread of the Gospel was beginning to produce real fruit and much of the world did not like it.

Just like today, Satan cannot stand to see the Truth of God, the Gospel, to take fruit in our world and he will do everything he can to stop it.

I have never heard so many lies as they are told today about the true Church.

If those who hinder the spread of the truth of God did not have our biased news sources under their wings, they could not cause the havoc that they do.

I cannot understand why this world is so afraid of Jesus Christ!

Now I am nothing compared to the Apostle Paul, but what was he guilty of?

Paul was attacked from every side and the only thing he had done was to tell the truth to a world that cannot stand the truth about a man named Jesus who spent just a few years going about doing good.

Paul’s real guilt was that he had become a Christian and had forsaken Judaism though Paul still kept the Laws of Moses.

What were they afraid of?

The Lord Jesus did not just declare to be God, He was and is God in a world where many have multiple gods and the most evil have riches which is their god.

How can the world be mad about Jesus when the entire world has their gods whom they worship?

I tell you why, it is because the world is afraid of the truth and those who get richer every day. After all, there are great riches in wickedness and immorality.

They went after Paul because Paul proclaimed the power of the Gospel and was a living example of a Christian. 

God said: (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.

The world is afraid that there might be a real God!

You see the Bible from the true Received Text, is filled with the actual words of God!

Paul was not lying because Jehovah God cannot lie!

Heb_6:18  That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us:

In fact, the only thing that is impossible for Jehovah God to do is to tell a lie!

Paul knew this and every child of God had better know this and the lost world will find out that the Word of God is all truth.

Now if this frightens you, then all you need to do is to have a personal conversation with Jesus.

Some call Him God, but I call Him Savior, and I call Him Friend, and I call Him Father just as the Apostle Paul did!

Paul continues:

*****Gal 1:21 Afterwards I came into the regions of Syria and Cilicia;

Gal 1:22 And was unknown by face unto the churches of Judaea which were in Christ:

 We look at and hear of all the things that are going on in Syria today and we can say that for a period of time, there was some great churches in Syria.

 I might not should say it, but Syria went to pots since the Muslims have maintained rule.

 Paul had to leave because there were so many who threatened Paul's life.

 They brought Paul down to Caesarea and then to Tarsus which was Paul's home town and he had many friends and family there.

 It is this Tarsus where Barnabas had found Paul to get Him back into the functions of the Church at Antioch, Syria.

 Act 11:25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

Act 11:26 And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

 It is around this time that a great famine came to the world, the parts ruled by the Romans, during the time of Claudius Caesar.

 This is exactly what happens when there is war!

 The militaries of Rome caused great destruction in the fields and those who fought against them could not tend to their fields to raise crops.

 Those men who cause war are foolish!

 Only those who build the armaments and make the bullets and war machinery get rich.

 Those who hold great riches usually finance both sides the, enemy, and those who fight by necessity, and their riches grow immensely.

 Paul took advantage of his time in Tarsus and the surrounding areas.

 This is what Jesus told all of us to do: Luk 8:39 Return to thine own house, and shew how great things God hath done unto thee. And he went his way, and published throughout the whole city how great things Jesus had done unto him.

 Paul was treated with respect in his hometown, and they listened to what great things the Lord had done in Paul's life.

 *****Gal 1:23 But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.

Gal 1:24 And they glorified God in me.

 There will always be those who will see the change that a relationship with Jesus Christ can bring.

 Those who know the best are usually our family and some of them will listen to our testimony.

 Maybe some of our childhood friends will listen to our testimony.

 We can be certain that those in and around Jerusalem had heard of the changes in the life of Paul, who was still Saul to them, until they heard his story.

 In most cases, those who love us will glorify God who can make such great changes in people.

 The Lord Jesus commanded every Christian to do this; Mat 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

 We will do this if we show the love God has shown to us through His Son Jesus!

 Amen

Grace is Still the Way to Heaven

 Danger of a Different Gospel

 Book of Galatians Chapter 1

 The people native to Galatia were emotional, impulsive, and changeable people.

 They were fickle, impetuous, arguing, loud, boastful, and immoral people.

 They had a love for the strange, the curiosities, and the unknown.

 They were attached to a false religion that was a worship of nature, and these types of people are all over the world today, nature lovers.

 Galatia was an area that had a heavy population of Jews who were staunch in the religion of Judaism.

 There were also many Greeks who had a strong Hellenistic influence.

 Hellenists were normal people who spoke the Greek language.

 Some Jews were also called Hellenists because they had settled in foreign countries and had adopted the prevalent form of Greek civilization.

 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. 

Another verse says.

 Act 9:29  And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

 These were Jews who had become Greeks in their beliefs.

 We can also find them at the first Church in Antioch.

 Act 11:20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus.

 Some of these were also true Greeks who had become proselytes of Judaism.

 We can see that Paul knew beforehand that planting a Church in Galatia would be no easy task.

 It is only the Gospel that has such power of conversion because it is the truth!

 The message of the Book of Galatians will pierce the heart of any generation.

 The message of the Book of Galatians will also stir Christians to action if we understand its message.

 *****Gal 1:1  Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Notice Paul immediately establishes that he is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and God the Father who had raised the Lord Jesus from the dead by the power of the Holy Spirit.

 Paul introduces Galatia to the triune God.

 What was Paul's commission?

 John 20:21  Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

 What is the Great Commission?

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

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

 The phrase "and is baptized” simply means "making a public profession of faith".

 We can add this commission as Paul saw it.

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

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

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

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

2Ti 4:5  But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. 

And Paul continued.

2Ti 4:7  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 

 This message of Paul extends to every man called by God to preach.

 Next Paul tells us who gave him his commission:

 (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;) 

 Paul states that no man gave him this commission but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself after God the Father had raised Him from the dead.

There would have been no need to preach a Gospel if God the Father had not raised Jesus from the dead!

 We serve a living Savior!

Our God is alive because He is the Almighty Living God.

 What did God tell Moses?

 Exo 34:5  And the LORD descended in the cloud, and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. 

Exo 34:6  And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, 

Exo 34:7  Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 This is the God who we serve!

But notice if ignore this God that Moses saw, then we more than likely send our children, our grandchildren, and our great-grandchildren to Hell also.

 If that man standing behind the pulpit of any church does not have the same calling as the Apostle Paul, then he does not deserve to be called pastor, preacher, evangelist, or any name associated with the calling of Jesus Christ!

 These Galatians needed to understand this as well as those who were once Jews.

 Some are called by the Holy Spirit to be Preachers, Pastors, Evangelists, and Missionaries for sure, but every child of God also has a commission given to us by the Lord Jesus Christ.

 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. 

 Mar 5:19  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. 

 Col 1:27  To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 

Col 1:28  Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 

Col 1:29  Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. 

 There should not be any doubt that we are all called to be witnesses for the Lord our Savior, Jesus Christ, God's Messiah.

 It was a painful moment when Paul first became aware that some counterfeit preachers, who were Judaizers, questioned the validity of his calling, but Paul was strong in the Lord and full of the Holy Spirit.

 How can a counterfeit preacher judge anybody’s calling, but they do because they belong to the true counterfeit Satan?

 It was they who had no calling at all except for Satan's calling.

 *****Gal 1:2  And all the brethren which are with me, unto the churches of Galatia: 

 The Preacher of God must be recognized as the Lord's man by all Christian believers!

 Paul was not alone; he had some Christian believers with him who agreed with everything Paul preached.

 Timothy and Titus were probably part of those with Paul and there were others.

 Paul knew that there was safety in numbers.

 Paul never forgot that He was a member of the Church.

 Paul spoke out to the Churches of Galatia with not a word of praise or privilege.

 All the other Churches, even the Corinthians received a kinder salutation because they had not "erred concerning the faith" as had these Galatians.

 The word Church was used for:

 1) A body of believers, "the entire congregation of Christian people dispersed throughout the world".

 Paul was not the only one who was spreading the Gospel at this time, Paul was the one who was writing the Bible as the Holy Spirit led Him.

 Mat 16:18  And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon "this rock" I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 

 2) The word Church could also mean a particular congregation under the same ministry of God's Word.

 1Co 16:1  Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 

 3) The word Church is also used for those who assemble in one Church to worship the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

 It should also be very clear that all around the world some gather together to worship some god, but not the Lord Jesus Christ, they are not part of the Church, and neither should they be called a Church.

 The news sources have a field day when every building they see where people gather is called a church when this is not true.

 If we are not the brothers and sisters of the Lord Jesus Christ, then we are not part of the Church!

 If we are not in unity with the Word of God, we are not part of the Church!

 True brothers and sisters in Christ have a deep rich bond and relationship when that bond is with Jesus Christ.

 We should be clear when we attack the preacher who preaches the truth of Jesus Christ, and then we have given up our privileges in the Church.

 It is the Word of God, the entire Word of God, from a legitimate translation of the original Scriptures, that the Church is based upon and there are no additions, and it cannot be modernized because if God gave a new Word today it would be a replica of the Word, He has already given to us.

 There are no errors in the true Word of God!

 The Word of God is true in every generation and the Word of God will be here when most all the world is gone.

 The Word of God is alive.

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

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

 A true Christian will defend every other Christian and come to the aid of brothers and sisters when they are attacked when they are declaring the truth of God.

 And then came Grace.

 *****Gal 1:3  Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, 

 To be sure there would be no Church and no believers without there being first the Grace 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.

 2Co_13:14  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.

 This verse perfectly describes the true Christian!

 It is Grace that is the gift of God!

 Eph_2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

 Tit_2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

 It is the Lord Jesus Christ who is the person who came by Grace, He is the living picture of God's grace!

 It is because of the Grace of God that we can find peace in this world!

 Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 

 Act 15:11  But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. 

 There should be no doubt that we are saved by the "Grace of God"!

 That grace comes to us in the form of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 *****Gal 1:4  Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:

Gal 1:5  To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. 

 Here is another place where we can see the will of God! 

It is the Will of God that we be delivered from this present evil world.

 It is the will of God that we are delivered from sin, and this was done by the sacrifice of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus, God's Messiah.

 We cannot talk about being pardoned without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about justification without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about the acceptance of God without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about eternal life without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about salvation without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ.

We cannot talk about God's "Grace" without mentioning the atoning death of Jesus Christ!

 Our salvation depends upon the voluntary act of Jesus, our blessed Lord, to "reconcile" His Heavenly Father to us and to be a sacrifice, not only for our guilt but also for all the actual sins of all mankind.

 Oh, What a Savior!

 The Father gave a Son. The Son gave Himself!

 The Lord Jesus did not merely denounce our sins, this would have been a mockery, Moses and all the Prophets had already done this.

 His death was for our sins!

 This was the Job of Paul and every preacher since Paul, to explain the difference!

 Many have failed to make this clear.

 The Lord Jesus had the power to die for our sins and He had the power to resurrect from that death.

 The Lord Jesus gave Himself for us because we needed to be washed in his blood!

 Rom 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 

Rom 3:25  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 

 To God be the Glory forever and ever. Amen

 When the world looks up to that glorious nighttime sky, most of them take no notice of it because they believe it happened by accident, but if you really look, you have to see the Glory of God.

 God the Father does little things all the time and He always has, but they go unnoticed, but when God the Father does something big, He wants all the world to take notice.

 God wanted all the world to see the truth of His Son Jesus!

 Our Heavenly Father did these things that He might deliver us from sin and this present evil world!

 The world was evil in the days of Jesus, and it has gotten very much worse today, but for those who believe in the truth of God, our sins have been paid for we are sin-free.

 Paul said all these things to cause these churches at Galatia to remember that they were saved by the Gospel of Jesus Christ and that there is no other gospel, period.

 *****Gal 1:6  I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel:

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

 When we need to be praising God, we see America going against the Word of God because people have forgotten the truth of God which says we are to "love one another".

 What is wrong with America?

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

2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

 Before we get to verse six, we see that Paul has presented the truth of the Gospel in the previous verses.

 We just cannot afford to allow false teachers into the Church!

 There is no other Gospel than the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ!

 When any church departs from the faith, they are no longer a church, they are just a group of people gathering together for no means except to fall into Satan's trap!

 After learning the truth of the gospel by the grace of God, Judaizers had come and given them a false gospel which was not the Gospel.

 God loves us so much that He has provided a way for us to become righteous and acceptable to Him and this is the only way.

 There will never be another way to get to Heaven than going through the Lord Jesus Christ and there are still thousands of people who think there is another way.

 This is the only way God has shown His love to us where it is meaningful.

 We cannot be justified in any other way than by the grace of God than comes by the Lord Jesus Christ

 God will still love us when He sends us to Hell, but He has to judge sin!

 Martin Luther said, "From Christ who called you in grace".

 Grace is the Lord's free and unmerited favor and goodness, as opposed to all notions of salvation by moral or ceremonial righteousness.

 The person who turns away from the Gospel is not turning away from a set of beliefs or principles, nor a church.

 That person has turned away from God who sent His love to that person.

 John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

John 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

 We cannot throw away this scripture and then say we are saved!

 *****Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. 

Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. 

 Sometimes that false teacher only has to add a little addition or leave out a little truth and it becomes a false Gospel.

 It is the same as some teacher intentionally subtracting a truth of the Gospel.

 Col 2:8  Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 

 I think this is the teaching that is going on in many so-called churches today.

 It is evident what God feels about these teachers, they will be accursed.

 Accursed means separated from the will of God who they are separated from, and suffering even more than the Lost on "Judgment Day"!

 You have to ask yourself why anyone would do such a thing, and the only answer is the Devil.

 2Co_11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

 Anyone preaching a false Gospel is one of Satan's demons or Satan himself.

 We must understand that the "Gospel" is more important than the Apostle Paul even though the Apostle Paul was probably the greatest Christian who has ever lived.

 The "Gospel" is greater than all the angels in Heaven. Even if an angel came from Heaven and preached another Gospel, we would have to reject him.

 The "Gospel" is greater than any man who has walked upon this earth and any man who does so in the future.

The truth of the "Gospel" is settled and cannot be changed here or in Heaven!

 The preachers of any false gospel are doubly cursed. This means they will be sent to the hottest part of Hell!

 *****Gal 1:10  For do I now persuade men or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. 

The Judaizers came into the churches of Galatia suggesting that Paul preached only one side of the Gospel and there was room for their false preaching, which was the Laws of Moses.

This is the same thing going on today where the false church is told that there is more than one way to get to Heaven.

Paul taught that there is no Gospel other than what they had heard from him, which is the truth.

There can only be one truth!

These are the same questions we ask ourselves today!

We should ask ourselves; "What has been the effect of the Gospel on my life"?

"Have I been redeemed" out of this world, a world that will pass away, into a place that is supposed to be the grandest of all places?

Do I live according to the will of my Heavenly Father?

Paul asked himself if he was to satisfy men or to satisfy God.

Paul came to the conclusion that if he indeed pleased men who had not heard the Gospel then he would not be a servant of Jesus Christ.

We can learn so much from the actions of the Apostle Paul!

John and Peter came to the same conclusion.

Act 4:19  But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye. 

Act 4:20  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard. 

1Th 2:4  But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 

It is the same with our own Pastor Preacher Sam.

It is His job to preach the truth of the Gospel even if we do not like the message!

We must understand that the Gospel has some hard truths.

The Lord Jesus asks us to put our faith in a man we have never seen who claims to be God when the world at that time killed because they said He was a fake.

Jesus asks us to believe in a place that we cannot even imagine the glory of.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians;

1Co 13:9  For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 

1Co 13:10  But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 

1Co 13:11  When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 

1Co 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 

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

Which is a love greater than just being affectionate, it is closer God’s love

I do not believe Paul was a self-made man of God,

I do not believe that Paul used the Gospel as a way for an income.

I do believe Paul sought to please God and not man.

I do believe Paul proclaimed the true Gospel.

I do believe that Paul had a radical change of life.

Our goal must be to be more like Jesus, and this begins just as soon as we accept Him as our Savior.

Php_3:21  Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.

What is the Gospel truth?

1Pe 1:18  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 

1Pe 1:19  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 

1Pe 1:20  Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 

1Pe 1:21  Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. 

So, it boils down to faith!

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

Paul admitted that once he was a man-pleaser, a time when he sought the approval of man for his actions.

Paul now said because the Gospel had changed him, he no longer sought the approval of man but the approval of God.

Paul said honor, position, and wealth were no longer important to him.

Paul now wanted one thing and one thing only: the favor and the approval of God!

2Co_5:17  Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Amen

Let All Who Have Breathe Praise the Lord

Let Heaven and Earth Praise the Lord

 Book of Psalms Psalm 148

 The phrase "praise ye the Lord" has been used twenty-five times and only in the Old Testament.

 The phrase "praise Him" has been used twenty-two times and only in the Old Testament.

 The phrase "praise the Lord" is used thirty-two times in the Old Testament except for one verse written by the Apostle Paul which says.

 Rom_15:11  And again, Praise the Lord, all ye Gentiles; and laud him, all ye people.

 When we try to grasp the Greatness and the Glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, we find that it overwhelms us so much that, we wonder why He would even have thoughts of us.

 Many people believe that He could have just set all His creations in order and then gone off to do godly things or created other people on another planet.

 We know that He did not create any other people, and Adam and Eve did not look like they came from apes, nor did any of their descendants.

 Evolution played no part in creating plants, animals, or people.

 What puzzles evolutionists so much is that Adam possessed far more intelligence than the people of today.

 We are getting dumber as a whole, not smarter, as time passes by.

In fact, most all our Colleges and Universities teach philosophy and not things that America needs to compete in this world.

 This Psalm is known as the joy-song of creation.

 This Psalm calls on all the things in the Heavens and Earth to praise our Lord Jesus our God.

 Everyone from the lowest to the highest, no matter where they are located, is called on to Praise the Lord.

 This is the God who made us and there are no other Gods! We are called upon to adore our Creator.

 Scientist have spent their lives studying God's creatures and many of those creations are so complicated in their structure, that they cannot figure them out this was God's plan to show these doubters that there had to be a Maker, a Creator.

 It is wicked men who have caused so many of God's creatures to no longer be with us.

 Most of the time, it is the goal to be rich that is destroying our planet, and all our government can do drive our nation into obscurity because it is afraid to go after the real polluters.

 I do not believe this will change under our new President!

 Fifty-seven companies cause eighty percent of pollution, and no one is speaking of changing their ways because of money.

 That last twenty percent (us) no matter how hard we try can change the pollution of this world.

 Those who make so much money off of pollution and those who accept bribes to be quiet about what they do are not going to change.

We just need to praise the Lord!

 What is praise? The word praise comes from the Latin word "pretium" which is "price" or "value".

 True praise consists in a sincere acknowledgment of real conviction of worth.

 How can we not praise Him?

 Rev 4:11  Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created. 

 Rev 5:12  Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

 We need to be honest in our praise of the Lord, He knows when we are not sincere.

 These things are another battle for Him, and we are just to praise His Holy Name!

 The Lord Jesus Christ will come to this world just in time to save it!

 It is not because He cannot make all things new because He will, He will save this world because there are still people upon this world that can be saved.

 We should know that as long as people are alive if they pray that sinner's prayer in truth, they will be saved.

 *****Psa 148:1  Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights. 

 You can bet the cherubim and the seraphim; the angels all praise the Lord constantly.

 We are certainly fools if we do not praise our Maker!

 When we grasp the greatness, and the glory of the Lord, how can we not praise our Creator?

 It can be said that we are created to praise the Lord!

 There is no excuse for us to not adore our Savior!

 All our praise must be directed at Jehovah, the "I AM" of the Old Testament, who in the flesh is the Lord Jesus Christ of the New Testament.

 God said: "I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living"

 All of Heaven does certainly praise the Lord.

 *****Psa 148:2  Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.

 Not one of the Lord's Creatures in Heaven is exempted from praising their Creator and their God.

 Not even Gabriel nor Michael is exempt from praising the Lord of Host.

 The angelic army will praise their Commander, who is the Lord of all the hosts of Heaven.

 Let us just get real, every part of everything that was created by the Lord will praise Him!

 *****Psa 148:3  Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.

Psa 148:4  Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens. 

 The Heaven of heavens is the home of the Lord.

 The lower heaven is the place where the birds fly and where the clouds that hold the waters bring rain.

 The middle heaven is the space where all the stars and all the planets are located.

 There are only three heavens and if we look at the vast expanse of the second heaven we can just wonder how vast is the Heaven of heavens.

 One thing is certain this Heaven of heavens cannot be reached by spacecraft!

 It can only be reached by loving the Lord Jesus our Creator and believing in the work He has done for our salvation.

 On the day of the Rapture, all those lifeless bodies in their graves will go to Heaven faster than any spacecraft.

 All the places of God's creation are commanded to praise the Lord.

 Psa_33:9  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

 Most people have forgotten that all the Lord has to do is speak things into existence.

 The world had better realize that all the Lord has to do is speak and this world can be destroyed.

 Rev_1:16  And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.

Rev_19:15  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

Rev_19:21  And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.

 All these scriptures tell us of the power of God that He only has to speak things into existence, and he can also speak things into destruction.

 Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

Psa 33:7  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses. 

Psa 33:8  Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. 

Psa 33:9  For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. 

Psa 33:10  The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect. 

Psa 33:11  The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations. 

 How could we ever believe that we can step into Heaven and not praise the Savior who freed us from the chains of sin?

 I have news for you, we are saved to praise and worship our Maker among our other duties.

 *****Psa 148:5  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created. 

Psa 148:6  He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass. 

 It is our creation that gives us a reason to praise our Creator.

 For those who say it is then better to not be created, I can tell you that Heaven will be far greater than any place you have ever seen and you should want to go there for its beauty and where you can find the life that the Lord wanted us to have from the beginning.

 What does God actually say:

 Pro 8:32  Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. 

Pro 8:33  Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. 

Pro 8:34  Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. 

Pro 8:35  For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. 

Pro 8:36  But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death. 

 The Lord is serious about all those who want to be with Him.

 *****Psa 148:7  Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps: 

 When we see this verse we need to accept as it is written.

 Gen 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 

 Psa 104:26  There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein.

 All of the earth must praise the Lord.

All that is in the Seas must praise the Lord.

 Psa 74:13  Thou didst divide the sea by thy strength: thou brakest the heads of the dragons in the waters. 

Psa 74:14  Thou brakest the heads of leviathan in pieces, and gavest him to be meat to the people inhabiting the wilderness.

 We know that there are places in the Oceans where there are depths that are deeper than the highest mountains that can be seen, these are those places that are called the "deeps".

 The deep is the deepest part of the Seas and these are the places where the largest animals in the Seas play out of sight most of the time from the people.

 Some people are privileged to see them come to the surface on occasion.

 Most people write them off as non-existent.

 Psa 104:4  Who maketh his angels spirits; his ministers a flaming fire: 

Psa 104:5  Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever. 

Psa 104:6  Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment: the waters stood above the mountains.

 Psa 33:6  By the word of the LORD were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth. 

Psa 33:7  He gathereth the waters of the sea together as an heap: he layeth up the depth in storehouses.

 No one has been to the deepest seas so only God knows what lives in those places.

 Psa 33:13  The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men. 

Psa 33:14  From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.

 Some things have been proved by mankind:

 Pro 8:28  When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:

 These are the same waters that burst forth in the days of the flood.

 Gen 7:11  In the six hundredth year of Noah's life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, the same day were all the fountains of the great deep broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened. 

 These waters returned to their place at the command of God.

 Gen 8:3  And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. 

 We know that the waters of the deep can be both constructive and also destructive.

 These waters can also be a blessing.

 Deu 8:7  For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; 

 It is only the Lord God, the Living God that can control these waters of the great deep.

 Psa 95:2  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 

Psa 95:3  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. 

Psa 95:4  In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 

Psa 95:5  The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. 

 We are in the season of Thanksgiving now and we can see why we need to praise the Lord while offering Thanksgiving to Him.

 *****Psa 148:8  Fire, and hail; snow, and vapour; stormy wind fulfilling his word: 

Psa 148:9  Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars: 

Psa 148:10  Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl: 

Psa 148:11  Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth: 

Psa 148:12  Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children: 

Psa 148:13  Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven. 

 We humans are the most stubborn creations that God has made!

 All the other of God's creations will gladly praise Him.

 They understand that He is the God of all creation.

 In verse eight we see the Psalmist calls upon all of the natural elements of weather to praise the Lord.

 All these elements can merge together at the command of the Lord.

 There are "laws of nature" but they too are the creations of the Living God.

 They will certainly do His bidding if He so chooses!

 After the weather, the elements, all the elements of the earth will offer praise to the Lord.

 Then all land animals, all the birds, and the insect world will offer praise to the Lord.

 Then the most stubborn of all of them!

 The various rulers of this world, all the people, the princes, those considered to be next in line to rule, and all the judges.

 Then the young generation and the old generation are left behind, all these are called to praise the Lord.

 Why should humans offer praise to the Lord?

 1) The Lord Jesus Christ is the only true and Living God!

His glory is above all of His creation!

His name is above and greater than all universes and greater than the earth and the heavens.

 Notice that all the universes and there are many, and many more unseen, but they have less value than the Earth and the people of Earth.

 2) There is no one more powerful than our Lord!

 Psa 148:14  He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD. 

 In the New Testament, the Horn represents strength.

 Luk 1:68  Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, 

Luk 1:69  And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; 

 That exalted horn is the Lord Jesus Christ.

 He is the praise of all His saints. These are not those saints chosen by the Catholic Church; these are all those who have accepted the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 These also include the children of Israel who in the last days will join the Church.

 In other words, everything that God has created is to offer up praise to the Lord!

 Those who have received the salvation gift of the Lord should be praising the Lord the loudest and the longest.

 Just so we know, God's most powerful creatures the Angels, long to understand salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

 1Pe 1:12  Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into. 

 Only the saints of God can praise Him for His redeeming love, a love so great that He sacrificed His Son for us.

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

 Praise ye the Lord

 Amen

There is Hope in the True God, the Lord Jesus Christ

 Hope for the Persecuted Soul

 Book of Psalms Psalm 143

 The phrase it "came to pass" is used 457 times in the Bible which teaches us these things that we are so afraid of may come, but they will not stay, they come, and they will pass on out of our lives.

 Most of us can say that every obstacle we have faced in our lives has come to pass on out of our lives.

Some of them may leave scars, but they cannot keep us out of Heaven!

 We must completely understand that the faithfulness of God makes it impossible for God to go against the covenant He has made with us.

 God has revealed Himself as the God of mercy and forgiveness, and He can never go against these things.

 So, we can boldly plead for mercy and if we are living a righteous life, then that mercy will come.

 What is the truth?

 1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

 The prayers of every saint today are just as important to God as those prayers David prayed in his day.

 *****Psa 143:1  A Psalm of David. Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 

Psa 143:2  And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 

 We see David in another crisis because his life was filled with danger.

 We cannot link this Psalm to any one particular thing that happened in David's life.

 David knew at this point in his life, that if he did not get God's help he might die, or some terrible thing might happen to him.

 I believe every one of us have had this same feeling.

 1) David appealed to God to hear his prayer.

2) David appealed to the faithfulness of God.

3) David appealed to the righteousness of God.

 David knew he needed a quick answer from God.

 It seems that we need to know more about the characteristics of God, and we must never ask God to go against His own characteristics.

 We cannot know these things unless we study the Bible!

 We should shape our prayers according to God's characteristics, as did David.

 We must never ask God to be unfaithful to His Word!

 We can plead to God for His help and sometimes we need to pray and fast, to show God that we are serious.

 When we are in a real crisis God already knows this.

 Prayer is not merely a self-improvement exercise that is good for us, whether God hears our prayers or not.

 Prayer is a real plea made to a real God!

 God is always faithful to do just as He has written down in His recorded Word.

 Our faith in Him, is the key to every answer we get from Him.

 We must remember that if we ask for forgiveness of our sins, then there is no record of our sins in Heaven.

 Psa 103:12  As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

 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 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

 We will pay for our sins, but God has already forgiven us of our sin, and He will not remember them.

 These are the only things God forgets.

 God does this because He chooses to do so because our sins are under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ

 God's memory is perfect, but He just chooses to forget our sins!

 Because God has chosen to forget our sins we have missed out on the judgment for our sin.

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

 David was in the same shape as we are, but sometimes we have a lack of faith, and we will think that God still has something that He will punish us for.

 Faith is still the key to a perfect relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son because they are both the same!

 *****Psa 143:3  For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 

Psa 143:4  Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 

 We must understand that our enemy is vicious!

 Our enemy wants the worst possible evil to happen to us!

 Our enemy wants us to die in some evil situation that will make us an embarrassment to God!

 David felt like he was just thrown out onto the street to be trampled alive.

 We must understand that our adversaries, who are led by Satan, want us dead and useless in the work the Lord has given us to do.

 Satan will do everything he possibly can to cause us to lose our testimony!

 Satan would kill us in a split second if the Lord allowed him to have access to us.

 We may feal like Satan is about to take over our lives, but our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will always save us, as long as it is true faith.

 We know from the Book of Job that Satan needs God's permission to attack us and if we think we are in the class of Job, then we are not, but God loves as much as He loved Job.

 Certainly, we will face persecution, and certainly, we will call upon the Lord for help, but most of the problems we will face in our lifetime are of our own making and we may need the Lord's to help us in those situations also.

 We must understand that our enemy is powerful, and we cannot face him alone, we need the Lord to fight all our battles, and He will, if we remain faithful.

 If the Lord permits us to dwell in the darkness of the dead, then He will surely bring us into His Light and cause us to dwell with those who are enjoying eternal life in Heaven.

 We should understand that we are already in that realm of eternal life now as we exist here on earth.

 We are already on our journey to Heaven because we can never die even though we will shed this useless flesh that we live in today.

 Lam 3:24  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.

 We know that King Saul had banished David from Judah, and it was felt by David, and when he thought about these things it broke the heart of David.

 We are wrong to sit and mull over our circumstances, when the Lord has shed His light on our future!

 We have a marvelous future ahead of us and nothing in this world can change that fact.

 God cares too much for us to allow those things that are pressing heavily on us to remain on us.

 God does not want us to suffer stress in these crises that come into our lives.

 We must remember God has a job for us to do and He wants us to be busy doing this job.

 When our burdens are too heavy for us to bear God knows, and He will take those burdens away from us if we ask Him in faith.

 Psa 55:22  Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. 

 1Pe 5:6  Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: 

1Pe 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you. 

 God is our Father, and we are his sons and daughters, He will not allow His children to suffer very long.

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

 God has enough "grace" to see us through every obstacle in our path!

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

 We sometimes wait until we are deep in trouble before we call upon the Lord, but we should call upon the Lord when we first see trouble coming our way!

 In fact, we need to be in constant communication with the Lord God!

 God has a plan that cannot be altered and if we have a part in that plan, and we do, then we cannot fail and the trouble we are in will cease to exist.

 *****Psa 143:5  I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 

Psa 143:6  I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah.

 I love those worship services when it seems like I can just reach us and touch God.

 So, sometimes we just need to think back on what God has already done and know that He is still All Powerful.

 God will do whatever it takes to fulfill the glorious plan He has for us!

 God had anointed David to be the King of Israel and David would soon be the next King of Israel.

 1Sa 16:11  And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither. 

1Sa 16:12  And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he. 

1Sa 16:13  Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 

 This is God's plan not David's plan and God's plans never fail!

 David had a burning desire to know that God would answer his prayer.

 Nothing would satisfy David, but the presence of the Lord!

 We must keep in mind that there is nothing too hard for God.

 Jer 32:27  Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there any thing too hard for me? 

 There is nothing that God cannot do but go against His character.

 God rescued Israel once long ago and God's plan for Israel is not yet complete.

 God had called Abraham and made a covenant with Him.

God had placed Joseph into Egypt so Israel could be fed during a drought.

God had raised up Moses to deliver Israel from Egypt.

God had caused a great miracle at the Red Sea.

God had brought Israel through the wilderness.

God had led Israel into the Promised Land.

 For David, God had already given Him victory over Goliath.

God had anointed David to be the next King of Israel.

 We can see that God's plans simply do not fail!

 We can be sure that God will rescue Israel again so, His plan can be completed as He has it written down.

 David had said that His soul was thirsting after God as a thirsty land.

 David's distressing situation had drained every last drop of life out of Him.

 His soul was parched and cracked like dry earth that was in a drought.

 We simply need to get our mind off of our own circumstances and remember God's power and God's faithfulness to obey His promises.

 What God has already done for us is nothing compared to what God is going to do for us!

 When we dwell upon things that seem to be impossible, we must know that the word "impossible" is not a word that God uses because nothing is impossible for God!

 Isa 40:25  To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. 

Isa 40:26  Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. 

Isa 40:27  Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? 

Isa 40:28  Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 

 There is nothing that God cannot do, if He so chooses.

 God did not give us the Bible to show His failures because there are no failures of God in it!

 David kept praying:

 *****Psa 143:7  Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 

Psa 143:8  Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 

 After expressing his thirst for God David resumed praying about his crisis.

 David had pressed the Lord to answer quickly, and David was becoming more desperate because David was afraid God would be too late answering his prayer.

 God will not fail when our spirits fail!

 God does not know how to fail; failure is not part of God's agenda!

 The truth is, if we have God's countenance we live, but if God turns His back on us, we will die!

 When the Lord looks with favor upon our efforts we prosper, but if God refuses to look upon them, we labor in vain.

 God will not look upon sin!

 We cannot cause God to rush because God always knows what is going on in our lives and the Holy Spirit has already told Him, He just knows.

 Psa 139:4  For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. 

Psa 139:5  Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. 

Psa 139:6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. 

Psa 139:7  Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? 

 We should understand that Divine loving kindness is the root of which all other blessings come.

 We could say that God's love is the fountain from which all blessings flow!

We all desire to walk in the way that the Lord has chosen for us.

 Psa 5:8  Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face. 

 David would worship Jehovah daily but in the morning hours and many times God spoke with David in that time and here David desires that the Lord would speak to him as He did in those morning worship services.

 David was desperate to hear from God, but we cannot make demands of God.

 Why was David so desperate? Look again at verse three.

 "For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead"

 David felt like he could lose his life at any time!

 We know that it is God that knows when our life will end, no one else.

What was the best thing David could do?

*****Psa 143:9  Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 

Psa 143:10  Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 

Psa 143:11  Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 

Psa 143:12  And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant. 

At the first sign of trouble, we need to flee unto God to hide us from our enemy.

**Psa_17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Psa_27:5  For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psa_64:2  Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity:

All these Psalms were attributed to David, so we see David had prayed for Jehovah's help many times.

What does God teach us? God teaches us that sometimes we need to sort of pester Him to get an answer from Him.

God wants to know how sincere we are.

Luk 11:5  And he said unto them, Which of you shall have a friend, and shall go unto him at midnight, and say unto him, Friend, lend me three loaves; 

Luk 11:6  For a friend of mine in his journey is come to me, and I have nothing to set before him? 

Luk 11:7  And he from within shall answer and say, Trouble me not: the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give thee. 

Luk 11:8  I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth.

Importunity means persistence, especially to the point of annoyance.

David prayed that God would keep him out of the hands of his enemies.

What prayers will God surely answer?

God will teach us His will for us!

God will also deliver us for His namesake!

The Lord is glorified when it is proved that He is true to His Holy Name!

One of the reasons people are powerless in prayer is because they do not pray specifically.

When we pray in general terms and not specific terms, we are thoughtless and effortless.

God already knows why we are praying we need to be specific.

God already knows our needs we need to be specific, describing them to God.

God knows how desperate we are to evade our enemies, and He will answer in time, but He knows exactly what the right time is!

We know that in David's early life King Saul was trying his best to kill David or have him killed and we know David needed the Lord to rescue him and He did.

Again, we need to make specific requests in our prayers!

Most of the time in our prayers we just need God to show us His love!

We cannot be fervent in our prayer life if our requests are general and not our specific needs.

If we put ourselves in David's shoes, we would have panicked far more than David did.

When we desire God's help, we need to cry out passionately to Him.

We must clearly understand that God wants to answer our prayers!

We would like to think that God would only answer those prayer that are good for us but I believe He will allow us to get some things that are bad for us so we can learn some valuable lesson.

His will for us is for us to do His will for us and most all of it is written down and all we have to do is study the Bible to know His will.

In the end God wants us to be obedient to His Word, live godly lives, and spread the Gospel and enjoy the life He has given us.

Amen

God Will Honor His Words

 God's Promise to Honor His Word

 Book of Psalms, Psalm 138

 This is the beginning of a group of Palms written by David, and they will remind us of some of the troubles that David went through.

We will also see that this prayer of David concerns the prophecy of the return of Jesus Christ.

 We should know that trouble will either bring out the best in us or the worst in us.

 Serious troubles in our lives can be used to test to see how we will respond. 

God does not cause our troubles, but He will use them to teach us from time to time.

None of us like serious troubles, but God says they are a part of our Christian growth.

 How does the Bible describe troubles?

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

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

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

 What is God's remedy for trouble?

 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. 

Joh 14:4  And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

 Let us see these things that affected David.

 ****Psa 138:1  A Psalm of David. I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee. 

 David is writing to the Lord God Jehovah as He always does.

 We cannot be saved unless we praise the Lord Jesus Christ with our whole heart!

We cannot be Christians unless we make a public profession of our faith as David describes in this Scripture.

 We must stand face to face with the might of the wickedness of this evil world.

 Eph_6:13  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, "to stand".

 We know that it is Satan who controls the wickedness of this world, and those little gods are the gods that David is referring to.

 Satan continues to flash money in the face of those who believe Him, and we know that it is money that is the root of all evil.

 1Ti_6:10  For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

 Those who are lost and rich will seldom come to God, but those who have been saved, but leave the church because of some sum of money like an inheritance, we may be able to entice them with the truth of the Scriptures to come back to the Lord.

 The so-called gods of this world need to hear us continuously praising the Lord God Jehovah in their faces.

This is what riles them up when we speak the truth of God.

They cannot stand the truth.

 Only then will the power of Jehovah go before us in a show of strength.

 We must stand boldly in our own nation and other nations if we get the opportunity.

That opportunity we have today is our vote and we must vote according to Christian principles from the Word of God.

It is really quite simple! Take each candidate and put them in as a character in the Bible and see how they match up.

 We know that money is the root of all evil, but there are still the idol worshippers of Buddha, Mohamed, and the many other little gods of this world.

 *****Psa 138:2  I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. 

Psa 138:3  In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul. 

 When David prayed, he would do his best to face toward Jerusalem.

 Even though the word temple is used here, the same Greek word "hekal" is used for temple and also used for tabernacle.

The object is still that David prayed toward Jerusalem.

 The Temple was not yet built, in fact, it was not built in David's time.

 For the Church, we have the Holy Spirit within us so we can pray anywhere.

 David lists five different reasons for worship:

 1) Because of the Lord's lovingkindness. (His unfailing covenant of love)

2) Because of the Lord's faithfulness and truth.

The Lord is always true to Himself.

The Lord is always true to His character.

The Lord is always true to His attributes.

The Lord never changes so we can trust Him to always do right.

All these things make the Lord absolutely trustworthy.

3) Because the Lord has exalted His Word above all things even Himself.

4) Because He answered David's prayers.

5) Because the Lord revived David's soul (strengthened him, encouraged him, and made David bold in the Word of God)

 When we are surrounded by trouble, we find it hard to praise the Lord.

 Sometimes this is because of shame, which is a sin, but also for fear of our lives.

 We must do our best to be truthful to the Holy Spirit who lives within us and remember the power of God.

 We are never to blame God for the circumstances that we face, we live in a wicked world whose god is Satan, and it is getting worse.

Most everyone you meet will say that our world is getting worse as far as the treatment of people.

 Just remember that God is with us at all times and God hears us when we cry out to Him!

 When we are around other gods, then it is a pretty good time to praise the Lord for, He is the Highest and we should praise Him.

Satan will take His bunch and flee rather than tangle with God because he knows his time is short.

 *****Psa 138:4  All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth. 

Psa 138:5  Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.

 Many things will take place before the Lord sits upon the Throne of David!

 The two witnesses of the Book of Revelation Chapter 11 will appear and do the things described in that Chapter.

 The Antichrist will make war with those two witnesses and he will kill them, but they will not stay dead.

 Rev 11:9  And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. 

Rev 11:10  And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoice over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another; because these two prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. 

Rev 11:11  And after three days and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them, and they stood upon their feet; and great fear fell upon them which saw them. 

Rev 11:12  And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them, Come up hither. And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud; and their enemies beheld them.

 Then there will be a great earthquake, and I believe it will affect the entire world, but in Jerusalem, it will be terrible.

 Rev 11:13  And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. 

Rev 11:14  The second woe is past; and, behold, the third woe cometh quickly.

 Before the Lord Jesus sits upon the Throne of David all the Trumpet woes of the Book of Revelation will have taken place and we can be sure that those kings who are left will fall upon their knees before the Lord Jesus Christ as the Almighty God steps down from Heaven and steps upon this earth at the same place where He had left from on the Mount of Olives.

 Rev 11:15  And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. 

 This is the time when this world will hear the words of God directly from His mouth.

 This is when the answer to David's prayer will take place.

 The entire world will sing in the ways of the Lord Jesus Christ for Great is His Glory!

 *****Psa 138:6  Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. 

 Before King Jesus does anything else He will rescue the poor and the helpless.

 This would probably be those who had refused to take the number of the beast.

 Rev_13:17  And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

 The Word of God says:

 Psa 57:15  For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 

 To the Proud, the Lord says:

 Isa 2:10  Enter into the rock, and hide thee in the dust, for fear of the LORD, and for the glory of his majesty. Isa 2:11  The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the LORD alone shall be exalted in that day. 

 David prayed earnestly for the rulers of the earth to believe the Lord.

 We should know that David prayed these things, but they would not take place in his day, but the Lord God Jehovah has stated when He will return to this Earth.

 Not in David's day and maybe not in our day but surely in the day of our children or grandchildren.

We will see that the disciples of the Lord wrote down exactly what the Lord Jesus said about these events to come.

 Mat_24:33  So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

Mrk_13:29  So ye in like manner, when ye shall see these things come to pass, know that it is nigh, even at the doors.

Luk_21:31  So likewise ye, when ye see these things come to pass, know ye that the kingdom of God is nigh at hand.

 What things were these men talking about?

 Certainly, Christian persecution is on top of the list of things that will take place just before the return of the Lord Jesus.

Mar 13:9  But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. 

Today the Lord Jesus is on this earth in the bodies of believers, but soon He will return to Earth Himself, but many things will take place just before His return.

The entire world will hear only one Book of Truth when the Lord Jesus speaks with His own mouth the Words of God.

The saints of God will return with the Lord and there will be only one Gospel.

We can see that David prayed the same as we pray, that God's Kingdom to come to Earth.

Mat 6:10  Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

This is what the Lord Jesus told us to pray. 

Many things will certainly take place before this day happens, but it will happen.

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. 

Jesus is coming back, and we can be sure of it!

*****Psa 138:7  Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. 

Psa 138:8  The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. 

David reminds us of another Psalm:

Psa 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 

We see that David had more faith than most Christians today.

God wants us to have a good life, and He will see to it that we do if we would only trust Him!

It is easy to see that our world is falling apart which lets us know that we are getting closer to the Day of Christ.

God will not allow our troubles to overtake us if we snuggle up to Him in these last days.

If we would just remember that this is the Lord's fight, our job is to spread the Gospel until the day He takes us home.

Psa 60:4  Thou hast given a banner to them that fear thee, that it may be displayed because of the truth. Selah

That banner is our faith.

We must also remember why the Lord will save us; it is because the Lord loves us.

Psa_136:26  O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

We may not understand everything but one thing we must know is, that all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ, worship some other god who is a false god.

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

2Jn 1:10  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: 

It is not a time to be against Jehovah God!

It is time to be busy with what the Lord gave us to do!

And above all never give up!

Amen