Podcasts about lord jesus himself

Bearing the Fruit of Christ (3) (audio) David Eells – 4/30/25 I'm going to pick up where I left off in part 2 and continue speaking about bearing the fruit of Christ in part 3. The “love” chapter in 1 Corinthians has a lot to say about perfection and, while we won't delve too deeply into all of that now, I would like to point out a couple of things there to you: (1Co.13:9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; (10) but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. Notice, “when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” What is he talking about? A lot of people say, “Oh, this is talking about the Gospel, when He came”; or “When Jesus comes again.” No, he's talking about you. You put away childish things “when that which is perfect is come,” as you mature. (12) For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face…. There it is, right there. “When that which is perfect is come,” you see in the mirror clearly, “face to face,” Jesus Christ. As we are told, But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit (2Co.3:18). We see Jesus face to face by faith now, but the more we grow, the more we see Him maturely, purely and perfectly. It's definitely not talking about the physical coming of Jesus. It's talking about Him coming in you. And he goes on to say, (1Co.13:12) … Now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. And we were fully known before the foundation of the world. Remember, Jesus says to those who don't arrive at any form of fruit, “I never knew you” (Mat.7:23). He didn't know them before the foundation of the world. But Paul says, “When that which is perfect is come, I'm going to know, even as I was fully known.” He's talking about you coming into the pure, true revelation of Christ. (1Co.13:13) But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three: and the greatest of these is love. We're coming into His image, we're looking into His love, we're coming into His faith and we're coming into His hope because it's all been given to us from the foundation of the world. God is going to finish the good work He started in us. We should continue to hold fast the glorying of our hope firm unto the end because this is His plan. We're just entering into it. First, with our understanding, because we have to know what to exercise our faith in, we have to seek the Word to know what our opportunity is. Then, once we're convinced of the Will of God, we can stand in the faith and stay firm. If a person is not convinced that something is the Word of God, they're not going to be able to endure in their faith unto the end. They're not going to be patient in their faith to receive perfection, as James 1 says. We need to be convinced from the Scriptures that it's the Will of God for us to be perfect; what the Bible calls perfect, not necessarily what men call perfect. That's why I like to look at a lot of Scriptures and study them. I don't have to be a great preacher because God already said it very well. So I think that as we continue to look at what He said and put that in our heart, He's able to bring it to pass through our faith. He'll bring it to our remembrance, and faith cometh of hearing and hearing by the Word. (1Co.2:6) We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown (or “perfect”; it's the same word): yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought. The rulers of God's people didn't understand this wisdom, either. Remember the Pharisees, reputed to be the leaders of God's people, who were supposed to be leading God's people in the Word, didn't know it or Him. (7) But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, [even] the [wisdom] that hath been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds unto our glory: (8) which none of the rulers of this world hath known; for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Amazingly, the leaders of God's people did not know this hidden mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” but those poor, ignorant disciples walked with Jesus. They had this mystery of the Kingdom. The leaders of Judaism crucified Him, but those simple men had this revelation because they walked with Jesus. And history is going to repeat. I tell you right now that the majority of the leaders of Christianity will do exactly as they have done throughout history. They will lead God's people astray. They don't understand the mystery that has been hidden for ages. Paul spoke about “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” That's the real and true Gospel. It's our opportunity to come into perfection, and the leaders don't understand it. Once again, they will crucify the Lord of glory. (Heb.6:6) … They crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. They will do it again because history always repeats: (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Because they don't know the Lord, they don't know this mystery and don't understand perfection, they will come against the ones in whom Jesus lives. They will crucify Jesus again in our day because history always repeats, so that we have “the word of prophecy [made] more sure” (2Pe.1:19). The word of prophecy made more sure is the Word of God. The Bible is teaching us how the history of Christianity, which is a prophecy, will be fulfilled in our day. We just have to read and see what has already happened to know what will happen. There's been a cycle for God's people, as we just read in James chapter three, the cycle of life. Well, we're coming to the last cycle here, and the history that happened in the days of Jesus is going to be repeated. The Lord spoke that to me many years ago – that everything that happened in the time of Christ and His disciples, in the time of the Gospels and in the Book of Acts, is going to happen again. Today, however, it will take place on a worldwide stage, with the New Testament people of God, who are worldwide. Do you want God's perfection? He is the One Who is going to manifest His sons in these days. (Rom.8:19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. And what is the manifestation of the sons of God, except Christ, the Son of God, manifested in you? That is perfection. This is God's promise. We don't live anymore; Christ lives in us. That's “the good confession in the sight of many witnesses” (1Ti.6:12). This is what the world is waiting to see. The world sees a lot of lukewarm Christians and, for that reason, they don't have much respect for Christianity. But, if they see Christ, you know “the sons of this world are for their own generation wiser than the sons of the light” (Luk.16:8). They see right through a lot of things Christians don't see. They see the hypocrisy in God's people. With our busy life we need to remind ourselves regularly of the principles of perfection through Christ: (Heb.5:11) Of whom we have many things to say, and hard of interpretation, seeing ye are become dull of hearing. (12) For when by reason of the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need again that some one teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of solid food. (13) For every one that partaketh of milk is without experience of the word of righteousness; for he is a babe. (14) But solid food is for fullgrown (or “perfect”) men, [even] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. What is “solid food”? I remember the Lord saying, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me” (Joh.4:34). The meat is not just to understand, but to do His Will. The people who are on the “milk” are people who have not experienced “the word of righteousness.” To put it another way, they have not experienced walking in it, obeying it and doing it. But solid food is for the mature. Mature people are able to take the Word and put it to use. It's being manifested in their actions, in their will, in their motives, and so on. It's for “perfect” men. Here is a similar verse: (Rev.3:1) And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars: I know thy works, that thou hast a name that thou livest, and thou art dead. (2) Be thou watchful, and establish the things that remain, which were ready to die: for I have found no works of thine perfected before my God. Last time we saw that the works were only perfected in the people who were being perfected. Of course, imperfect or immature people cannot do perfect works. So He's condemning this group of people because, according to their works, they have “a name that … livest,” which is obviously “Christian,” but they're dead. These people are not living up to the name that was given unto them, and their works are not perfect. He said, “I have found no works of thine perfected before my God.” (3) Remember therefore how thou hast received and didst hear; and keep [it], and repent. God expects perfect works out of His people. We know we were perfected by Christ at the cross and now we're walking into it because it's our opportunity; it's ours to lose, too, by the way. What are works? Galatians chapter five speaks about the “works of the flesh” (verse 19) and the “fruit of the Spirit” (verse 22). Why compare the “works of the flesh” with the “fruit of the Spirit,” unless the fruit of the Spirit is also the “works” of the Spirit? The truth is that the fruit of the Spirit is our works. It's a manifestation of the Spirit through us. If we are Spirit-led, we will have Spirit-works. (Rom.8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. Let me remind you of one of the verses that we emphasized earlier: (Luk.8:14) And that which fell among the thorns, these are they that have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of [this] life, and bring no fruit to perfection. In Galatians, we have the fruit of “perfect works” and in Luke we have “perfect fruit,” so, as we see, these are synonymous terms here. We have learned that this word “perfection,” or telesphoreo, actually means “to bring to completion or perfection, with the end in view.” In other words, we have discovered that, as we “calleth the things that are not, as though they were” (Rom.4:17), as we viewed the end and claimed the end, that it was ours! (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord (which is the end in view), are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. We see here the end in view is Jesus in us. the power by we are receiving what God gave to us at the cross, which is perfection. “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” We've received this by faith and this gives us the power and ability to enter into it “from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit.” Another verse that talks about arriving at the end that you've viewed as yours is (1Th.5:23) And the God of peace himself sanctify you (talking to Christians) wholly (holoteles, which means “perfection or completeness, unto the end”); and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved entire, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (24) Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. There is perfection. The Lord promised to do it because “faith is assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen” (Heb.11:1). As we believe and as we walk by faith, we arrive at that end in view, which is Christ Himself. God will bring it to pass. The Lord Jesus Himself said, “According to your faith be it done unto you” (Mat.9:29). We are trusting Him to bring us to that place. The most important thing is not to walk by sight, not to see your natural face in the mirror, but to accept what the Lord did for you. Repent when you see anything contrary to the face of Christ. Repent and turn your heart toward Him in faith. He will do the work. So, what is perfection? What is maturity? What is full salvation? What is the end in view? (Luk.6:40) The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when (notice its “when,” not “if”) he is perfected shall be as his teacher. Who is the teacher here? Jesus! Notice that when he is perfected he shall be as his teacher, so we have something wonderful to believe for, don't we? (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. The Lord is the One Who's going to do this, but it's through our faith, and even that's a gift from Him. We have to renew our mind to see the gift of Jesus Christ that God has given to us. We're accepting His free gift, not on the grounds that we've earned it or have any ability or power to partake of it, but on the grounds that God has given Him to us, as a gift. And now Jesus is telling us that when we are perfected, we'll be as our Teacher. This tells us that it's very important who our teacher is. If we make religion our teacher, we're going to fall far short. If we make a certain denomination our teacher, we're only going to go to that level and we're going to stop, because they won't let us go beyond them. They'll judge us pretty harshly if we try. But if we make Jesus, the Word of God our Teacher then we can come into that image. So the best thing to do is to dig and study the Word, to find out exactly what it is to be like Him and to be a disciple. The disciple is not above his Teacher. He promised that a disciple, when he is perfected, shall be as his Teacher. Not all people called Christians will ever be perfected, but disciples will, because they're learners and followers, mathetes. They study the Master. They want to walk as the Master walked. Notice the promise is “when.” But that's for a disciple. There are many, many Christians, but not many disciples. Jesus made conditions for discipleship, and we need to study those conditions, too. Here's a similar verse: (Mat.10:24) A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord. (25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his lord.  Again, an awesome word that the Lord has given unto us. Many people would call that blasphemy, but the Lord Himself is the One Who spoke it and therefore we must speak it to confess Him and His power. We see that Jesus is “the firstborn among many brethren” (Rom.8:29), who also will become sons and daughters of God. We, too, are being “born” into His image: spirit, soul, and, ultimately, body. (Mat.10:25) It is enough for the disciple that he be as his teacher, and the servant as his Lord. (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. To abide in Christ means to be coming into that place where you are walking as He walked, more and more. You're growing in the image and stature of Christ, and you're coming into that place. Let me also point out another verse: (Joh.8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever…. So there are some who are considered bondservants who will not enter the Kingdom; they will not be “in the house for ever.” They will not have eternal life because they're also bondservants of sin; only “the son abideth for ever.” Therefore we must be sons by faith or by manifestation. “Faith is accounted as righteousness.” There's a difference between a bondservant and a son. Let me explain something to you that the Lord explained to me. Every son is a bondservant and every son serves his Lord diligently, but not every bondservant is a son. A son is a special relationship. This is the heir we're talking about; they're not just a slave. Servants serve for one reason; sons serve for quite another reason. Sons want to promote their father's kingdom because they're also heirs of that kingdom, and they want to please their Father. He's their Father! Bondservants serve, many times, because they have to. Sometimes it might be just fire insurance to them. But to a son, it's different; it's personal when you're a son. And there are far fewer sons than there are bondservants. We see here that the bondservant is not going to abide in the house forever, but the sons abide forever. A son is a servant who has that relationship to the Father. I'd like to further point out the difference between a servant and a son: (Gal.4:1) But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all. Let's say that all who are called Christians are heirs. Some are children, and some are more and more manifesting sonship. Right now, he says, so long as the heir is a child, he's no different than a bondservant, even though, in reality and according to position, he's lord of everything. God has given us perfection at the very beginning of our walk. It's a free gift He's given unto us, and because we accept it by faith, we walk more and more in that position. What is perfection? It's Christ, it's sonship, it's the manifestation of the Son in you. This is God's plan. Reconciliation is an exchange of Christ's life on the cross for your life. “Reconciliation” means “an exchange.” God has given you His life and His blessings and taken your curse and your sin and put it upon the cross. Now we are entering into this because we believe in this. (Mat.9:29) … According to your faith be it done unto you. The Lord is manifesting this in us freely because we believe that we've been given sonship and not just the position of a servant. Here's another confirmation: (Pro.29:21) He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child shall have him become a son at the last. Servants and children are equal, but the end result, which we're looking in the mirror to see, is sonship.  (Gal.4:1) But I say that so long as the heir is a child, he differeth nothing from a bondservant though he is lord of all; (2) but is under guardians and stewards until the day appointed of the father. That's true; we all start out in kindergarten, which is a lot of religions out there. They are just kindergarten. The Lord told me one time that religions are like playpens that are meant to be outgrown – we're supposed to climb over the bars. They build all kinds of bars around you to keep you in, but you can outgrow them. You can be mature, but in the meantime, there are “guardians and stewards” who keep the baby from getting in trouble. (3) So we also, when we were children, were held in bondage under the rudiments of the world. “Rudiments” here means “elements.” The Greek word stoicheion means “first principles in a series.” Many people are really hung up under the “first principles,” as we read in Hebrews chapter five. They're staying right there; they're not moving from the “first principles.” But if you stay there, you're not going to grow up, and you won't bear fruit. Some people are going around in little religious circles with the same old things, not stretching forth to grow in the fullness of the Word of God. (Gal.4:4) But when the fulness of the time came, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, (5) that he might redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. (Heb.7:19) (For the law made nothing perfect)….If you're under the Law, you'll never come to perfection. We're all in a relationship with God, brethren. Grace is the right relationship. We need His grace and His power to work in us. The Law is actuated by our own works, but we receive grace through faith, and then God works the work in us. (Php.2:13) For it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. We need to get out from under the Law, otherwise, we'll always stay a child and bondservant. (Gal.4:6) And because ye are sons, God sent forth the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, Abba, Father. Now, what does “because ye are sons” mean? The answer is here: (Gal.3:25) But now that faith is come, we are no longer under a tutor. (26) For ye are all sons of God, through faith, in Christ Jesus. (Rom.8:19) For the earnest expectation of the creation waiteth for the revealing of the sons of God. That's the manifestation of the sons of God. This is the son of God by faith. We're sons of God by faith because now, in the New Testament, out from under the Law, we're justified by faith in believing that we don't live anymore – Christ lives in us. (Eph.1:4) Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blemish before him in love: (5) having foreordained us unto adoption as sons through Jesus Christ unto himself, according to the good pleasure of his will. Remember, He that delicately bringeth up his servant from a child Shall have him become a son at the last (Pro.29:21). This comes from both the Jews and the Romans. They had a procedure whereby they would adopt servants in whom they had particular pleasure, maybe if they didn't have a child of their own. They would adopt them as sons, the point being that the word for “child,” teknon, only emphasizes a birth, but the word “son,” huios, emphasizes a particular relationship with the Father. There are many people born into the Kingdom, but they never manifest sonship. They remain children all their lives. They never mature and don't bear fruit. If they believe the Gospel they will bear fruit. One thing that keeps children from bearing fruit is the Law, living under legalism. This is illustrated here: (Gal.4:7) So that thou art no longer a bondservant, but a son; and if a son, then an heir through God. So we see that, by faith, we are no longer bondservants; we're no longer children. We're sons because we come out from under the Law and into grace to enter into this. (8) Howbeit at that time, not knowing God, ye were in bondage to them that by nature are no gods: (9) but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly rudiments (there's “first principles” again), whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again? (10) Ye observe days, and months, and seasons, and years. (11) I am afraid of you, lest by any means I have bestowed labor upon you in vain. They were going back under the Law and seeking to be justified by the Law, through their own self-efforts to keep the Law, instead of by faith. (Gal.3:11) Now that no man is justified by the law before God, is evident: for, The righteous shall live by faith. So our life comes from faith. Now Paul was worried because going back under the Law cannot manifest Christ in us and it is not the nature of Jesus Christ to begin with. The Law is just “our tutor to bring us to Christ.” He has to take us from that point on. (Gal.4:19) My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you (in other words, until sonship is formed in you). You're a child if you're under the Law in any form. If your religion is putting you under legalism, whether it's the legalism of the Old Testament Law or their own laws, rather than being able to follow the Spirit, you're going to stay a child. You're never going to grow up. He goes on to talk about the “son of the handmaid” and the “son of the freewoman”: (21) Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law? (22) For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, one by the handmaid, and one by the freewoman. Now that's clear. If you're under legalism, you're not free to hear the voice of Christ and follow Him, and to submit to all that Scripture has to say – not just the little box that your religion has made for you. It doesn't matter whether it's man's legalism or of your own church rules, or even as far as going back under the Old Testament Law. You're not free, and you're not justified by faith like that. Paul goes on to talk about the difference between the sons of the handmaid and the sons of the freewoman. Sons of the handmaid are servants; sons of the freewoman are sons. He warns us in the next verse, (30) Howbeit what saith the scripture? Cast out the handmaid and her son: for the son of the handmaid shall not inherit with the son of the freewoman. Yes, they were both children of Abraham, but Paul is making a type and a shadow here to show us that the bondservant who is not a son will not have the eternal life like the son will. The devil has a lot of people walking in bondage, thinking that they're justified by their works, thinking nobody else is obeying this particular part of the Law but them and they're seeking to be justified by that. They're not free and it's sad. (Rom.8:14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. The Spirit of God is not going to lead you back under the law, a covenant that God never made with you. The Spirit of God is going to lead you under grace because you are justified by faith. If you can't find your doctrine in the New Testament, brethren, be careful. And if you're twisting the New Testament to fit the Old, be careful because the New is the fulfillment of the Old. The Old was a parable, a type and a shadow of the New. You don't want to go back under the type or the shadow. You want to live under the fulfillment and that is, “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Gal.4:31) Wherefore, brethren, we are not children of a handmaid, but of the freewoman. Yes, that's exactly right by faith, not necessarily by manifestation, but by faith. So we need to repent. If you are listening to men who are dragging you back under a Law, you need to repent because this is going to stunt your growth. You will be called a son of the handmaid and not of the freewoman. You'll be a bondservant, but you'll never be a son. A bondservant is a child, the Bible says. We're waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God. The whole of creation waits. The whole purpose of God is to create His children into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. That's the manifestation of the sons of God. There are false doctrines about the manifestation out there and some are scaring away people from the very words “manifestation of the sons of God,” but it's in the Book. It was taught by the Lord and by the apostle Paul. We need an understanding of what “manifestation of the sons of God” means, which is what we're entering into. I'd like to point out that John says exactly what we read in Galatians: (Joh.8:34) Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Every one that committeth sin is the bondservant of sin. (35) And the bondservant abideth not in the house for ever: the son abideth for ever. “Ishmaels” do not have eternal life; “Isaacs” do. We are the seed of promise, through Isaac. Ishmael wasn't; that was a work of Abraham. By type and shadow, we understand what this means. The Parable of the Talents is very clear: (Mat.25:14) For [it is] as [when] a man, going into another country, called his own servants (these are not the people of the world; these are the people of the Kingdom), and delivered unto them his goods. (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one; to each according to his several ability; and he went on his journey. So he gave forth his talents, and he expected them to bear the fruit of this. (16) Straightway he that received the five talents went and traded with them, and made other five talents. (17) In like manner he also that [received] the two gained other two. (18) But he that received the one went away and digged in the earth (in the flesh), and hid his lord's money. (19) Now after a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and maketh a reckoning with them. (20) And he that received the five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: lo, I have gained other five talents. (21) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (22) And he also that [received] the two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: lo, I have gained other two talents. (23) His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will set thee over many things; enter thou into the joy of thy lord. (24) And he also that had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art a hard man, reaping where thou didst not sow (This man is like those who claims Gods works were their own, For the Lord did sow the gift unto them and He expected them to bear fruit.), and gathering where thou didst not scatter (But He did scatter); (25) and I was afraid, and went away and hid thy talent in the earth (He consumed the gift for his flesh.): lo, thou hast thine own. (26) But his lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I did not scatter; (27) thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the bankers, and at my coming I should have received back mine own with interest. So when the Lord returned, He judged the two who brought forth fruit and they entered into the kingdom and were blessed abundantly. But he also judged the servant who had only one talent and didn't bear any fruit: (28) Take ye away therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him that hath the ten talents. (29) For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not, even that which he hath shall be taken away. (Mat.25:30) And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. The unprofitable servant who doesn't bear the fruit, the servant who doesn't manifest sonship 30-, 60- and 100- fold, is cast forth into the outer darkness.  They took the one talent away from that person and gave it to the servant who had 10 talents. Remember that because we're going to see it again. In other words, if you have fruit, you'll get more. If you have less, you'll get less. So, great talents have been given to us through the promises, and we should bear their fruit. Matthew gives us another parable that ends up in the exact same place: (22:2) The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a certain king, who made a marriage feast for his son. Jesus. The marriage feast is the time when the Bride and the Groom celebrate for seven days, while on this earth.  We see that He invited the Jews to come to that marriage feast, but they mostly refused and mistreated His servants, as happened then. So He sent his armies to destroy their city in 70 AD. He turned away from them and invited strangers, speaking of the gentiles in the Church now. At that time, when the Jews were rejected because of their unbelief in Jesus Christ, He turned and invited the Church, the early Jewish Christians and the gentiles, to His marriage feast. However, the time is coming now when many gentiles will have worldly excuses not to go to the marriage feast and they also will be rejected as the parables show. And then a remnant of the Jews will return. The marriage feast, by the way, is at the bride's home (on earth). At the end of the seven day feast is the marriage supper which is at the Groom's home (in heaven). All are escorted by the wise virgins. The marriage feast was seven days, and we have seven days/years called the Tribulation period that's coming. That will be our marriage feast, where the Bride and the Groom are going to feast upon the bread (the Word of God) and wine (the nature of Jesus Christ). (Lev.17:14) … For the life of all flesh is the blood thereof…. There's going to be a great feast in the last seven days – the last seven years; a great feast upon the very nature and life of Jesus Christ and upon the true Word of God. Jesus will attend as Groom and teach in the Man-child body. We read on: (Mat.22:11) But when the king came in to behold the guests, he saw there a man who had not on a wedding-garment. The wedding garment is the brilliant garment that's given to the Bride in Revelation 19:8. That garment is described as lampros, “bright”, and is described as “the righteous acts of the saints.” whereas the leukos, “white,” garment was on all the rest of those invited to the marriage feast (Revelation 19:14). If you don't have on one of those garments, which represent various stages of manifesting sonship or the righteousness of God, then you're going to be rejected. God is not going to accept people who are justified by works or by the Law. Self-righteousness is not the kind of righteousness He wants. He wants the righteousness of grace through faith. (Mat.22:12) And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding-garment? And he was speechless. (Because he was lied to by religion.) (13) Then the king said to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and cast him out into the outer darkness; there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. (14) For many are called, but few chosen. Notice there are many people called who are not going to be putting on the wedding garment. The chosen are the people who are wearing the wedding garment. The previous parable we just read gives the same ending, but in that case, the one with the one talent lost his talent, his reward. His reward was instead given to the servant who had the 10 talents. Trust the Lord. Read your Bible and don't trust in any man. Hold fast. Be willing to give up your old life. Be perfect, in the Name of Jesus.

Title: Love and Honor Text: Acts 20:36-38 FCF: We often struggle having a good relationship between leaders and followers. Prop: Because the relationship of the Elders to the church must be one of love and honor, we must devote ourselves to love and honor one another. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 36. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Over the last couple of weeks, we have had longer sermons covering Paul's final exhortation to these Ephesian Elders. So, this week I am giving you a break and a chance to digest everything before we celebrate easter next week. This will certainly be a shorter sermon, but there are still many things we can glean from this text. Last week Paul concluded his thoughts toward the Elders of Ephesus. He serves as their template and commands them to shepherd the flock of God well. His last words express a great truth spoken by Jesus Himself, it is more blessed to give than to receive. They must be givers, spending themselves for the sake of the flock which God purchased with the blood of Christ. What follows is the response. What does Paul do after saying all these things, and what do the Elders do after hearing all these things? In this we see a pattern emerge. Just as Paul is a Pastor to these Pastors, so his example and their example serves as a pattern for our Elders and our church to follow. Let us stand to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most gracious Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, our Great Shepherd. He laid down His life for His sheep. He knows His sheep. His sheep hear His voice. He prayed… not for the world, but for all those lambs whom You gave to Him. He protected them. He Loved them. He made them vessels of honor. Now Father, Your Spirit has appointed undershepherds to continue shepherding while Christ is physically absent from us. We know that Jesus is always with us, but we also know that the Spirit is now our comforter and counselor and that He has equipped men called Elders to shepherd your precious lambs. May we be grown in this text to be a church who holds the right relationship between these Spiritually appointed men and those whom they have been given to shepherd. May we have a ministry where mutual love and honor is given to each other. Show us this in Your Word today we ask in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] Throughout all of God's creation, there are several examples of relationships He has made that are symbiotic. For instance, clownfish dwell inside sea anemones which protects them from predators while living there, the clown fish cleans the anemone of parasites. Remora fish attach themselves to sharks and whales eating scraps of food from when their host eats. In exchange they clean the shark or whale of parasites. Bees collect nectar from flowers pollenating and reproducing the plant in the process. These animals need each other to survive. The very first humans were created to be two halves of the image of God. It could be said that Husbands and Wives need one another in a symbiotic relationship of sorts. Today we will see that this entity God created called the church is also in a symbiotic relationship. The Elders and the church exist in a symbiotic relationship of mutual love and honor – because neither can exist without the other. At least not for long. Let's look at this relationship as it is displayed in the epilogue of this meeting between Paul and the Ephesian Elders. I.) The relationship of the Elders to the church must be one of love and honor, so Elders must pray for the church. (36) a. [Slide 3] 36 - And when he had said these things, i. Because we had to divide Paul's final exhortation message into two, it would behoove us to review even for a few minutes what Paul said. ii. The text this morning provides to us this opportunity, as it references that everything that follows is after he said what he said. iii. First Paul walked them through his own personal example among them. iv. How he was humble and gave of himself through many tears and trials to teach them all that God had revealed through Christ and calling all men to repentance and faith. v. In the same way they needed to be blameless and do the work of an Elder to share the gospel and teach thoroughly all that God had revealed. vi. Second, Paul charged them to dutifully and diligently shepherd the church. He told them to do this because the church has been given infinite value in the blood of Christ and because false teachers are coming who will destroy them. vii. And since they had received freely from God and from him, they must give of themselves freely, even to the point of supporting those who are destitute among them. Teaching them and encouraging them so they can be givers and not just takers. viii. Because as Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. ix. After Paul said all this… he continues to instruct them as to what kind of Elders they should be, but he does so by demonstration. b. [Slide 4] he knelt down and prayed with them all. i. The final component of what it means to be an Elder, is to be a man of prayer. ii. In a sign of humility, Paul kneels down and prays with them. iii. This probably means that Paul knelt first to pray and that they joined with him. iv. Luke does not give us the content of his prayer, but I don't think it is a stretch to assume that his prayer consisted of both praises to God and also deep and tearful pleas for God to preserve and protect the ministry in the church in Ephesus. v. That God would guide and lead the Elders and that He would prevent doctrinal error from destroying the unity and the effectiveness of the Ephesian church and the impact they would have on the rest of the province of Asia and beyond. vi. In this he demonstrates how leaders, who are truly caring for the body of Christ, are to be men who spend time in earnest prayer for God's people. vii. Truly, without God we are nothing. viii. Knowing that they are but undershepherds who do not have all the answers, who are not able to administer and guide of their own strength, being humble and meek, Elders must seek the Lord in all their duties. For it is only by His strength and will that anything accomplished will endure. c. [Slide 5] Summary of the Point: In this final epilogue, ending the 3rd missionary journey of Paul and closing out the mission to the city of Ephesus, we see Paul's relationship with the Elders through the lens of this final scene with them. After exhorting them and warning them of the challenges which they will face, Paul prays with and for them before he departs. This illustrates for us that the proper relationship between the Elders and the church is one of love and honor. One way that the Elders express love and honor to the church is to pray earnestly for the sake of the church. This shouldn't be surprising to us. In the book of Acts we saw already how the apostles created the office of Deacon in order to allow themselves the freedom to focus on prayer and the teaching of the Scriptures. Since the office of Overseer inherits several functions of the apostolic gift, we might expect the roles of an Elder to mimic that of an Apostle. And one of those roles on display is to pray for the church. So, we Elders must also pray earnestly for our people. In this we express love for them and honor to them as the flock which God purchased with the blood of His Son. Transition: [Slide 6(blank)] But since this relationship is one of mutual love and honor, what is the role of the church toward the Elders? II.) The relationship of an Elder to the church is one of love and honor, so the church must appreciate their Elders. (37-38) a. [Slide 7] 37 - And they began to weep aloud and falling on Paul's neck, they were kissing him, i. In the last two verses of chapter 20 we have the general response of the Elders to Paul's exhortation and closing prayer. ii. All of the Elders present began weeping aloud and falling on Paul's neck. iii. This is an idiomatic expression for hugging or embracing. iv. Why are they crying so much, hugging and kissing Paul? v. Some of why they were weeping no doubt had to do with the threat of false teaching that was coming to Ephesus. vi. Some of it was due to the great weight being placed on their shoulders to lead like Paul did. vii. Some of it was the revelation that some of them would become false teachers in the future. viii. But the primary reason for their tears is pointed out to us by Luke. b. [Slide 8] 38 - being in agony especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again and they were accompanying him to the ship. i. They are weeping because of what Paul suggested to them that they would not see his face any longer. ii. Perhaps they thought this meant that Paul would die soon. I don't think Paul thought he was going to die, only that he would not enter into ministry with them again before he did. iii. They were hugging him, kissing him, and weeping in agony over this. iv. Just as Paul served as an example to these Elders on how to be Elders. So now, these Elders serve as an example to the church on how to love and honor their Elders. v. Therefore, this is the appropriate response of the congregation to an Elder who has served well and is retiring or is approaching death. vi. The congregation should know what a great gift godly leaders are to their assembly. vii. They should know this to the point of giving honor to those who serve well. Honor, respect, submission and love. viii. We see their love and honor of Paul expressed in their desire to see him to the ship and spend every last second they could with him. ix. Some scholars suggest that “accompanying him to the ship” is an idiom suggesting that these Elders put into practice what Paul had taught them and gave him many provisions for his trip to Jerusalem. x. What an amazing expression of gratefulness for his service to them as an apostle. c. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Once again we see that the relationship between the Elders and the church which is illustrated in Paul's relationship to these Elders, is one of love and honor. These Elders know of Paul's love and honor for them. In turn, they loved and honored him. As he turns to Jerusalem to face whatever the Lord has in store for him there, the Elders embrace him, kiss him, and provide for him and his journey. This illustrates the church's love and honor of their Elders by being grateful for them. Elders who serve well are worthy of honor. And those who labor long in leadership and the study of the word are worthy of double honor. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC, and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 10] Over the last several weeks Paul has been the example that Luke sets before us of what constitutes a godly church leader. We've seen how godly church leaders prioritize the spiritual instruction of God's people. We've seen the character qualities an Elder must possess in order to lead, chief among them being blamelessness. We've seen that Shepherding God's flock is the primary role of an Elder which includes both their protection from false teaching by rooting them in truth and also their physical care. And today we pivot slightly to show the mutual relationship of love and honor that ought to exist between the Elders and the church. Elders who are excellent shepherds show love and honor to the church by praying for them and with them. And the church shows love and honor to the Elders by appreciating them and their efforts. But let me express some more tangible applications for us today from this tiny little sermon. 1.) [Slide 11] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the relationship between the Elders and the church should be characterized by love and honor. a. Paul is the Pastor of these Pastors. b. He demonstrates who they should be and what they should do for the church. c. In this sense, we see the mutual relationship of love and honor between the church and their leaders. d. We've seen the great care that Paul put into these men. We've seen his heart for them, his passion for them, his sacrifice for them. They must go and do the same. e. And if they do, the church should and must respond like these Elders did to Paul. f. The church should show love and honor to them by appreciating their heart, their passion, and their sacrifice as they care for their souls. g. The relationship between our Elders and the church should look like the relationship between a husband and his wife. h. This shouldn't shock us since the relationship between a husband and wife should look like the relationship between Christ and the church. i. And the Elders are undershepherds and stewards of Christ's church until He returns for her. j. So in many ways the Elders have responsibilities that Christ would perform if He were here among us bodily. k. But no matter how many years you've lived on this earth – it is difficult for us to imagine a form of leadership or government that we could love and honor. l. In fact, it seems like we can pendulum swing far and wide when it comes to our view of leaders. More on that in a moment. m. But the picture that the Bible paints for us concerning the Elders/Pastors or Overseers and the church body itself is one of mutual love, honor, and even dependence. Neither can exist without the other. Elders have nothing to lead if the church is absent and the church is rudderless and disunified when they do not have Overseers. n. As difficult as it may be for us to do so – we must affirm and even seek to have this relationship between the Elders and the church. o. But what are some ways we get this wrong? 2.) [Slide 12] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that Elders must be served without question or treated with constant suspicion. a. In a perverted sense of honor, some churches view their pastors or overseers as leaders who have absolute authority over their lives. i. They obey whatever their Elders say without question as if the Lord Jesus Himself had said it. ii. Now although Elders are undershepherds and do tend the flock of Christ, we do not for one instant consider this flock ours. We know that you all are His, because He purchased you with His precious blood. Why do we know that so well? Well, because He had to purchase us the same way. We are mere sheep. iii. We also have absolutely no authority to command you to do anything except what the Scriptures have said. iv. This does not mean that our advice and counsel is meaningless or should be easily ignored or dismissed – but it does mean that on anything we advise that is not a command of the scriptures, it is at its best wise counsel and not a command. v. For example. 1. The Elders may NOT come together and absolutely forbid a member of the congregation from dating another Christian from a different congregation. Now the Elders may advise, based on what we know of the person, whether it would be wise to enter into a relationship pursuant to marriage with them. But we cannot forbid it. Why? Because we do not have a command from the scriptures. 2. But the Elders may come together and absolutely forbid a member of the congregation from having premarital sex, also known as fornication. Why are the Elders permitted to do this? Because this is what the scriptures teach. We are merely commanding what the scriptures have commanded. 3. Some may say – if that is all that is happening, why must the Elders command anything at all? 4. Well, that is our role! Our role is to preach and teach what the scriptures say. Not just from the pulpit but in the counseling room, in your living room, in your car, over the phone and everywhere where we give counsel, we must give the whole counsel of the Lord. And not just when it is palatable for the church, but in season and out of season too. Whether you are going to like it or not is irrelevant. It is our job to bring to bear all that God has said concerning the situation you are in. 5. We are not adding our authority to scripture but we are drawing your attention to what God has said and we must also be his earthly executives making sure His will is known to all and to a certain degree… followed. 6. You see the Lord has given us (the church) the keys to the kingdom. This means that whatever we bind on earth will have been bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. When two or three are gathered in His name He is with us. Helping us. And when we find a member refusing to obey the commands of God… this is when we execute church discipline. First in private exhortation and correction but eventually in excommunication. 7. The Elders then are to enforce the commands of Christ upon His church. We rebuke, reprove, correct and instruct to thoroughly equip God's people to do all that He has commanded them to do. And to a certain degree – as much as we are humanly able – we, in gentleness, see to it that Christ's instructions are followed. b. Another abuse we often have when it comes to leadership is to have a persisting and underlying sense of suspicion and distrust toward them. i. Now certainly I would be a fool to combat this by pretending there is no such thing as ungodly leaders. ii. Of course there is. iii. Not only in the political realm but even in the clergy there have been several examples of leaders abusing their authority and lording over their people. iv. But just because someone is in leadership does not automatically make them worthy of suspicion. v. Elders should be trusted, loved and honored until there is some reason that they have provided to suspect something different. vi. There is no reason to withhold your trust from Elders simply because they are in a position of authority. vii. If the COVID pandemic taught us anything it is that people don't very much like being told what to do. And they will only go along with being told what to do for so long before they push back. Why? Because people are suspicious of their government leaders – and to be honest, those in government have earned that suspicion. viii. But godly Elders are not the same as government leaders. Especially in a small country church like ours. My friends there is no power here worth manipulating you for. There is no money here worth bilking you out of. And let me tell you something, there are a lot of easier and quieter and more fulfilling ways to gain authority than being an Elder of a church. If I wanted power with few headaches… Elder isn't the right choice. ix. Don't be suspicious of your Elders. Especially when they haven't given you a reason to be. x. What must you do instead? 3.) [Slide 13] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” The church must love and honor their Elders by being grateful for them and submitting to them. a. Elders who lead boldly, who are godly men, who possess truly blameless character, who are apt to teach, and strong in their faith, should be trusted, loved and honored. b. Putting your trust in Jesus means that you obey Him. The Lord actually says that if you love me, you will keep my commandments. c. And although it is to a different and lesser degree, the Lord makes it plain in Hebrews 13 that if you truly love your Elders, you will submit to their authority so that they may watch over your souls with joy. d. One way you show love to your Elders is by submitting yourself to our authority. i. As I have already said, the Elder's authority extends only as far as the Scriptures allow. ii. You should trust your Elders and submit to our authority out of a heart of love for us so that we may be joyful in our responsibility to help guide you safely to heaven's shore. iii. Go willingly and passionately with us. e. Secondly, you show honor to your Elders by being grateful for our wise and godly leadership and teaching. f. How do you show gratefulness? i. Well, in Paul's case these men fell on his neck, kissed him, and wept over his leaving. They even potentially gave him provisions for his long trip to Jerusalem. I'm not saying that is THE way – I am saying that is what they did. ii. But let me make some suggestions. iii. First, it would be wise to be thankful to the Lord. Express thankfulness to God for wise and godly leadership. Ask for His blessing on our lives and that He would keep us and preserve us in our role. Do this in your family devotions and family worship times to let your children hear that you are thankful for our sacrifice. iv. Second might be to express gratitude to the Elder personally. A card, a phone call, a gift, a strong handshake. Especially when a particular Elder has helped you through a difficult trial or has devoted extra time to your family. It is wise and even obvious to express heartfelt thankfulness to that particular Elder. Let him know that you appreciate his sacrifice for you. Even doing so toward his wife and children. Knowing that they too have had to sacrifice his presence among them so that you could be ministered to. v. Finally, you might express gratefulness publicly. You might pray a prayer of thanksgiving at a family gathering, in a church service, or express a praise during prayer request time. You might make a special service or event to honor our sacrifice and service. g. Let me clear the air really quickly. Every single Elder in this room today has been absolutely squirming at the mention of every single way you could express gratefulness. And I felt REALLY uncomfortable saying it too. h. You need to understand that I am saying this not because I want to, but because the text so obviously leads us to that conclusion. i. The Elders and I, when we met yesterday, did not spend one second complaining about how you all don't submit to us or how you are an ungrateful bunch and never appreciate our sacrifices. j. Let me read that again. k. The Elders and I, when we met yesterday, did not spend one second complaining about how you all don't submit to us or how you are an ungrateful bunch and never appreciate our sacrifices. l. I wrote that last sentence the day before we met. That is how confident I was that it wouldn't happen. And I was right. m. Why was I so confident that we wouldn't do that? n. Because we don't do that. o. The reason we are squirming today at the mention of these practical ways you can show your gratitude for us…is because WE DON'T DO THIS FOR YOUR GRATITUTDE. p. Which is exactly the reason you should express your gratefulness to us. q. Ugh – I hate saying it. But it must be said. I am holding my nose up here saying it. r. Show love and honor to your Elders by submitting and expressing your gratefulness to us. s. Yuck! t. Ok moving on. Let's beat up the Elders now. 4.) [Slide 14] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” Elders must love and honor the church by praying for her. a. My brothers. b. I have continued my quest this year to pray through our membership directory every week. c. It isn't enough. I've had to add more times of prayer. I've had to start praying immediately after hearing a request to make sure that I do actually pray for it before the next week rolls around. d. Understand, I don't hold myself up as the standard – I am simply giving a testimony of what it has done for me. e. I have grown in my love for these folks over the last couple years and I think that is because I pray for every member by name, every single week. I pray for everything I can think of regarding that member. f. I just walk around this room with my membership directory in hand praying for every name in it. g. Some weeks it takes over an hour to get through. h. I usually do this on Tuesday and hit my 8000 steps by noon.

Return of the Man-Child (8)  (audio) David Eells – 4/16/25  Father, in Jesus' Name, we thank You so much, Lord, that we can fellowship around Your Word. We know and trust in Your Word that is going to reveal to us those things that we need to know for the days to come and things that will enable us to cooperate with You in this process of sanctification and holiness, and also in the ministry of the Lord. We thank You that the Lord Jesus is coming in His people in order to fulfill in His Church that which You stated You would do from the beginning. We thank You, Lord, that You have taught us that what has been shall be, so that we can see how history repeats and see how wonderfully You have told us in the Word exactly what You are going to do. In the name of Jesus, Amen.  Well, we left off in Matthew 4, where we saw wonderful things that God is going to repeat in our day. The Lord had told me that everything that happened in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts would be repeated in our day, except that the cast of characters would be multiplied many times over, as more people are born into the world. The same thing has happened in history, but now it just happens with more people.  Let's pick up right after Jesus was anointed and had been tempted of the devil. Note that the Bible speaks about a “great light” that He was going to bring into the world, especially the world of God's people. (Mat.4:12) Now when he heard that John was delivered up, he withdrew into Galilee; (13) and leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the borders of Zebulun and Naphtali: (14) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, (15) The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, Toward the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles, (16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light, and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. What could this light be other than the Lord Jesus Himself? Not only that, but what the Lord Jesus was sharing with people was the command to repent and believe.   Light is necessary in both of these areas if we want to walk in the Kingdom of God. We are walking out of one kingdom and into another. We are walking out of the kingdom of the world, much like walking out of Egypt, and we are walking into the Kingdom of God, which means under His Lordship and guidance. I believe the next verse begins with a revelation of that. (Mat.4:17) From that time began Jesus to preach, and to say, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.  That just happens to be a perfect quote from John the Baptist, who said, Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (Mat.3:2). Of course, John went on in verse 7 to say to the Pharisees, who were coming to be baptized because it was a politically correct thing to do, (Mat.3:7) Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? (8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance (What does someone who has repented look like? What kind of fruit should they have?): (Mat.3:9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father … Don't a lot of Christians say the same thing? “Hey, I'm a Christian; I had my experience with the Lord years ago and accepted Jesus as my personal Savior.” Yes, but do you have fruit worthy of repentance? I believe that the light is going to come to the Church, which has not even understood what repentance means. The first thing Jesus did was to take up where John left off. You notice that when we left off in verse 12, He realized that John was delivered up, and that's when Jesus came into this particular area of the country where they said they saw great light. Like John, He said, “Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Repentance is necessary for the next revelation, which is the Gospel of the Kingdom. For those who repented, Jesus shared the Gospel of the Kingdom, the Good News of the Kingdom of God.  My friend Xavier once went to share with an apostate preacher who was living in fornication. He had the “greasy grace” that says, “It's okay; the Lord will forgive me. That's what the Gospel is all about, right? Forgiveness.” But no, that's not it. That's just a part of the Gospel. There is forgiveness, and then there is sanctification. Forgiveness is just a way to have a relationship with God until sanctification has done its work. There was another man in this church who recognized that the preacher was a sinner, but he told Xavier, “It would be wrong for you to judge him.” Of course, Xavier was sharing verses with the man, and the truth is that, yes, there is judgment. There is judgment in the Church. John the Baptist was judging when he said, “Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance.” He wanted to see their repentance. He did not want to see somebody say they were sorry and then continue on in their debauchery. The word “repentance” is metanoia, which means “to change your mind; to go the other way.” We have the authority to do this. We have the authority to change our mind and go the other way because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took away our sins; He delivered us out of the power of darkness; He made us free from sin. (Heb.10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.  When Xavier and I spoke about this, here's one of the verses I shared with him: (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? What Kingdom of God is he referring to? The Kingdom of God is where God rules over you. It's not some place you go to after you leave this earth. It's some place you enter into when you repent. Notice what he's saying. (1Co.6:9) Or know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived (there is much deception out there concerning this): neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with men, (10) nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. Where are you to inherit the Kingdom of God? Here and now. As a matter of fact, some people are waiting to go to Heaven to inherit the Kingdom of God. They will never see Heaven if they wait. You have to enter the Kingdom of God here and now, and you enter it through repentance and faith. Faith gives you the blood covering and repentance gives you the opportunity of entering the Kingdom. Without repentance, you cannot enter the Kingdom.  John the Baptist came in order to preach repentance to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord in their life. The Lord does not come into your life without repentance. If you received the first-fruits of Christ, which is a born-again spirit, and do not go on to get a born-again soul through your obedience to the truth (1 Peter 1:22,23), you are going to be an unprofitable servant. A “servant” refers to someone who has come to Him in one form or another. You will be an unprofitable servant who is good for nothing but to be cast out and trampled under the feet of men and cast into outer darkness. (Mat.5:13) Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost its savor, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out and trodden under foot of men. (Mat.25:30) And cast ye out the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness: there shall be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth. Now notice what he says in the next verse. (1Co.6:11) And such were some of you: but ye were washed (He is saying, “Some of you people were in these same sins, but you were washed.”), but ye were sanctified, but ye were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God. The Lord demands repentance for you to enter into His Kingdom, which is where He is King over you. That's how you enter His Kingdom.  If you look elsewhere in 1st Corinthians, Paul said somewhat of the same thing. (1Co.5:3) For I verily, being absent in body but present in spirit, have already as though I were present judged him that hath so wrought this thing. Paul judged him. Was he wrong in that he judged? No. Paul had the Spirit of God and what he wrote here was from the Spirit of God. He judged him because this man was in willful disobedience, had not repented of his sin, and had not believed the Gospel. If you believe the Good News that Jesus took away your sin, then your faith has power to walk away from anything. Everyone who believes can repent and walk away. Belief is not merely mental assent, like it is in most of the Church. (1Co.5:5) To deliver such a one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh (I would say that's judgment! He is turning him over to the curse.), that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. People will repent when they are turned over to the devil. This is very common. If you want to know why you are living under that curse, you should question whether or not you are in willful disobedience or whether you have repented of everything and are walking by faith because the devil does a great job of bringing people to repentance. Many people come to the Lord because of what the Lord permits the devil to do.  (1Co.5:6) Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump? (He means that, in the Body of Christ, there are people who are fornicators, liars, and thieves.) (1Co.5:7) Purge out the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump (“Purge out the old leaven”; in other words, get rid of them.), even as ye are unleavened. For our passover also hath been sacrificed, [even] Christ: (1Co.5:8) wherefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (9) I wrote unto you in my epistle to have no company with fornicators; (10) not at all [meaning] with the fornicators of this world, or with the covetous and extortioners, or with idolaters; for then must ye needs go out of the world: (11) but as it is, I wrote unto you not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such a one no, not to eat.   Well, this parishioner who was not in the fornication, but was saying that you could not judge the pastor who was in it, was saying, “Hey, Jesus ate with publicans and sinners.” But Paul tells you here quite clearly, “If any man that is named a brother be” in one of these sins, no, not to eat with him. It is not only abstaining from eating with him physically, but spiritually, as well, because he's talking about keeping the Feast of Unleavened Bread. We eat when we study the Word of God. Jesus said, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the Sadducees (Mat.16:6). In other words, “Don't eat their leaven; don't partake of their doctrine.” Paul goes on to say, (1Co.5:12) For what have I to do with judging them that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? So there was judgment; there was judgment from John the Baptist and judgment from Jesus, concerning people who are in willful disobedience and do not want to repent and believe the Good News that they don't have to walk in their sins anymore.  Clearly, there is judgment from the Bible, and that pastor and parishioner were trying to condemn Xavier for judging willful disobedience and lack of repentance when he was merely showing them what the Father had said in His Word. Look at what the Lord says in Ezekiel. (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life … How is it judgment when you say, “Hey, that's fornication and you can't enter the Kingdom like that”? They say, “Oh, but I'm saved.” No, you're not saved, as long as you walk in willful disobedience. You are not in the Kingdom. “Be not deceived,” Paul said, but speak “to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life.”   (Eze.3:18) When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thy hand. So God is saying, “If you don't tell them they're sinning, if you don't tell them, ‘Look, you can't enter the Kingdom of Heaven (which has to be entered here, by the way), while you are in willful, outward immorality,' then I will require his blood at your hand.” It's the very opposite of what those people say. They do not want to repent, so they try to condemn the person who brings the message.  Notice, the Lord said, “When I say to the wicked.” We just read what God said to the wicked. You can tell anybody what God said to the wicked, whether you are judging or not. That's a moot point. The question is, are they going to enter the Kingdom by repentance? Or are they going to try to shift the blame over on you? The truth is, He says to have no company with them, to cast out the old leaven. If a person will not confess his sins but try to justify them or think that they are acceptable in the sight of the Lord because of the blood of Jesus, there is no hope for him. By the way, Jesus' blood does not cover willful disobedience. (Heb.10:26) For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more a sacrifice for sins, (27) but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and a fierceness of fire which shall devour the adversaries. It says, If we walk in the light (Walking in the light is not walking in sin. Everyone would agree with that.) as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another (He tells you, “Don't have any fellowship with people walking in willful disobedience.” Period.), and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanseth us from all sin (1Jn.1:7). That's a wonderful promise! If you will repent and believe and walk in the light, He will cleanse you of that sin. (1Jn.1:8) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. (9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  If a person doesn't want to confess his sin and wants to justify himself and hold onto his sin and wants to blame you for condemning him or bringing Scriptures showing where the Father has condemned him, then this person is not going to have any part of the Kingdom of God. The Lord says it very plainly, and we have to tell him the exact truth here concerning this. The light of the Gospel has to come. The true light of what repentance actually means is going to be brought on the scene here pretty quickly, folks. The overwhelming majority of Christianity don't understand what repentance is. They don't have any hope that repentance could actually deliver them from their sin and that they will not have to worry about that sin or walk in that sin anymore because of what Jesus did at the cross. He took their sin and nailed it on that cross. You do not have it anymore. Repentance and faith are necessary.  Back to where we were in Matthew, we found that Jesus took up where John left off. The next thing He does is to go out and gather His disciples. (Mat.4:18) And walking by the sea of Galilee, he saw two brethren, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishers. (19) And he saith unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you fishers of men. (20) And they straightway left the nets, and followed him. (21) And going on from thence he saw two other brethren, James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them. (22) And they straightway left the boat and their father, and followed him. Jesus has just begun His ministry here. The people whom He was going to were seeing a great light and He was gathering together His “elders” of the Church. He was raising up His forefathers of the Church, like Jacob raised up the 12 patriarchs, who were the elders of the Church. As you know, from here on out, He carried them with Him, demonstrating to them the truth of the Gospel by His works of healing, delivering, setting free, etc., so that they could live in the Kingdom of God.  In the Kingdom of God, all the promises come to pass; the Kingdom of God is where God rules. We pray; Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth (6:10). When God's Kingdom comes on Earth, it is as it is in Heaven. Is there any sickness in Heaven? Are there any demon-possessed people in Heaven? Is there anybody lacking in Heaven? The provision of God's Kingdom is total and complete in this earth, and we want to enter into it because that's where all of God's provision is. (Eph.1:3) Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ. He's blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.   As we enter into Christ, we have all these spiritual blessings that God has in His Heavenly Kingdom. He is gathering up His disciples, with whom He is going to walk, and send them forth into a much broader path than He could walk in. They, in turn, were going to raise up disciples who were going to do the same thing in a geometric progression that was going to bring a great revival. This is a type and shadow of the Man-child ministry that's coming, in whom Jesus is come to be manifested. Jesus raised up disciples in whom He was manifested here, and the same thing is going to happen in our day. Disciples are going to be raised up as forefathers to the Church of our day, except there will be many more because the Man-child is not an individual, but a corporate body.  It goes on to say, And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom (Mat.4:23). So He preached repentance, and then He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom. What is the Gospel of the Kingdom? Gospel means “Good News,” the Good News of the Kingdom. The Good News is that you can enter into God's Kingdom on Earth through repentance and faith. Well, God's Kingdom is where God rules in your life, and this is the Good News, that you can walk in obedience to God; you can walk in the Kingdom of God, under the leadership and rulership of God. The reason we know that you can do this now is because of what Jesus did at the cross. He made reconciliation: He took your sinful life and nailed it on that cross, and He gave up His Life. Do you believe it? Do you believe that He sanctified you on that cross? That He washed you on that cross? That He delivered you from sin on that cross? The Bible says in Romans 6:18 that He made you free from sin. He delivered you.   See, here is the great light that is going to come. Most of the Church believes that the only opportunity you have is forgiveness from God, and that is the beginning, but that is not the great revelation that God's people are going to get. They already know that. The great revelation is that the Bible is actually true. Jesus actually did deliver you from your sin; He actually did heal your body; He actually did deliver you from the curse; He actually did deliver you out of the power of darkness. Hallelujah! He did this. This is going to come as a sudden shock to a lot of people, but the Gospel is actually true; it's not just a nice saying, but it's actually true.  I want to backup a little here. (Mat.4:16) The people that sat in darkness Saw a great light (He was talking about His people), and to them that sat in the region and shadow of death, To them did light spring up. He's referring to walking in the light, which was what Jesus was about to show them. He was about to show them that they can walk in the light and be delivered of their sin, washed of all unrighteousness (1 John 1:7-9). This is the Good News that most of the Church has never heard. Oh, they have heard the Gospel, but they didn't realize it was really true. They never had any faith, only mental assent. Folks, He is talking about the nature of sin, about delivering you out of the power of darkness. It does not have any power over you. That is an awesome revelation that's going to come to the Church through the raising up of this Man-child ministry and disciples who walk in the steps of Jesus Christ.  Then Jesus went out to demonstrate this by “preaching the gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of disease.” Most of the Church does not understand that you have a right to healing, that you are not under the curse because you are a new creation. They don't understand that old things have passed away and all things have become new (2 Corinthians 5:17). They don't understand that you have been delivered of sin (Romans 8:2) and God accounts you righteous through your faith in Him (Romans 4:3), your faith in what the Bible says. It needs to be real faith. This is the light, the sudden revelation that a lot of the Church is going to get and that some of you have already received.   (Mat.4:23) And Jesus went about in all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of disease and all manner of sickness among the people. (24) And the report of him went forth into all Syria: and they brought unto him all that were sick, holden with divers diseases and torments, possessed with demons, and epileptic, and palsied; and he healed them. (25) And there followed him great multitudes from Galilee and Decapolis and Jerusalem and Judaea and [from] beyond the Jordan. He was demonstrating the Gospel that these people were not guilty anymore, demonstrating that God was forgiving them by healing them and delivering them of every curse that came upon them. Those curses came because of their disobedience to God and also because of the sin they inherited when they were born. They were born into sin. Some people say, “Well, God made me this way.” What does that have to do with anything? You were born in sin, you came into this world with the nature of sin, and so you say, “Because I was born this way, I'm supposed to keep it”? That will not float, folks. In the Kingdom of Heaven, you need to repent of this.  Let's read more of how Jesus demonstrated the Gospel. (Mat.8:16) And when even was come, they brought unto him many possessed with demons: and he cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all that were sick: (17) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our diseases. He carried His disciples with Him and demonstrated to them how to minister and administer this Gospel of the Kingdom. Everyone who repented and believed could have these gifts because they were no longer under the curse, as they were no longer under sin. That's the Great News of the Kingdom. God not only forgave them, He washed and cleansed them, He healed them, He delivered them, and He took away every other form of the curse. It was just like the Passover. The Passover was the Death Angel, the Destroyer, passing over them because they actually had the blood upon the doorpost (Exodus 12:23). How do you get the blood upon your doorpost? The Bible is pretty plain about that. (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 his Son cleanseth us from all sin. The blood of Jesus cleanses us of all sin. Walk in the light. You take those steps in the light because of repentance and God will wash you, cleanse you and deliver you.  We see here something that is going to be fulfilled in our day on a much larger scale. The Man-child ministry is going to go forth to deliver, heal, bless, and demonstrate the Gospel. Not only that, there will be the saving of souls who are in bondage to sin, which many of you have experienced, but many more are going to experience that. Do you know how we know this is going to be repeated? Because this was a repetition in itself; this had happened before. You ask, “When did it ever happen before?” Well, go back and look in the Old Testament because in Hebrews 3, the author compared Moses' house and Christ's house. There is a comparison because Moses was the Man-child in his day and he did the exact same thing that Jesus did, even bringing the same Gospel.   Let me show you how we can see that. I know that it's in the types and shadows, but when it's pointed out to you, you can see it. For instance, when Jesus was anointed, the Bible tells us that He was given the throne of David, His father (Luke 1:32). Jesus was to rule over Israel, and His anointing was compared with the anointing that David had to rule over Israel. That is what's happening to Moses here. (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro (whose name means “His excellence”), his father-in-law … Why is Moses' father-in-law called “His excellence”? Because his father-in-law was also the Father of the Bride. Is that not still true today? Exactly so. Moses was keeping the flock. Remember, David was keeping the flock before he was anointed to be king. Moses was doing the same thing.  (Exo.3:1) Now Moses was keeping the flock of Jethro, his father-in-law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock to the back of the wilderness, and came to the mountain of God, unto Horeb. (2) And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned … Moses saw this sight and wanted to go investigate and when he did, he stepped onto holy ground, meaning he became holy. The Lord told him to take his shoes off, that he was standing on holy ground, and Moses did not want to be separated from holiness (Exodus 3:5). He was holy before God, and this is where he got his ordination to lead his people out of bondage in Egypt. As a matter of fact, the Lord said, And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land (Exo.3:8). “I am come down.” Is that not what the Lord said in Hosea 6:2-3? He said there that He would come as the latter rain on the morning of the third day, and that's exactly what's going to happen. The Lord is coming down to deliver His people out of bondage in Egypt, which is a representation of the world.  (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel … That's the first thing the Lord told Moses to do, the same thing Jesus did. He gathered the elders of Israel. Who was Israel? Israel was Jacob and Jacob raised up 12 patriarchs, which is exactly what Jesus raised up, 12 patriarchs. So there you have it. It's a perfect parallel here. “Go and gather the elders of Israel.” Why? It's because they were to walk with Moses, just like those elders walked with Jesus. The Gospel had to be demonstrated; the power of God was demonstrated to them. They were to walk in the same path.   (Exo.3:16) Go, and gather the elders of Israel together, and say unto them, the Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, hath appeared unto me, saying, I have surely visited you, and [seen] that which is done to you in Egypt: (17) and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt … There it is. He's going to deliver them from the curse of Egypt, the affliction of Egypt. He had said, “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians.” Who are the Egyptians? The Egyptians are the old man, the old flesh, the bondage to the flesh. What He's saying is, “Look, I'm going to deliver you from the god of this world (that is, the old man, the flesh), and I'm going to deliver you from the curse because you've been obeying them both.” That is the Gospel of the Kingdom, which is what Jesus was preaching.  (Exo.3:17) And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Amorite, and the Perizzite, and the Hivite, and the Jebusite, unto a land flowing with milk and honey. These were the “ites” that represented the old man, the same thing the Egyptian represented, which was the one who had brought them into bondage. You are not supposed to be in bondage to your flesh anymore. The Lord has already delivered you at the cross; it has already been done. He has already accomplished it. That's the Good News of the Kingdom. Why is God bringing them into the Promised Land? He's doing it in order to put to death those people who were ruling in the land. The Israelite was to rule in the land, not these people. He brought the Israelites in there for the purpose of putting them to death. Most Christians today want to live with the old man, but when Israel did that and let the enemies stay in the land, they became thorns in their side for the rest of their life. So the Jews did not inherit all of the land the Lord gave them, and they lived under a curse, under warfare, because they did not obey God. He said, “You take up your sword and go in there. I will be with you. You put them to death and take their house to live in and raise up your crop, your fruit in that land” (Deuteronomy 7). That's the Gospel.  (Exo.3:18) And they shall hearken to thy voice: and thou shalt come, thou and the elders of Israel, unto the king of Egypt, and ye shall say unto him, the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, hath met with us (As if He had not been there all along! Actually, He came down in a much mightier way than He had ever done in the 400-odd years that they had been in bondage, and that's how He is about to come today. He's about to come in a more powerful way than any of us have ever experienced, for the purpose of delivering His people out of Egypt and out from under the god of this world.): and now let us go, we pray thee, three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God. They had to serve God in the wilderness. Moses was taking the elders of Israel with him at this time, just as Jesus was, and demonstrating unto them the Gospel.  Here is the gathering of the elders again. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel. When Jesus gathered the elders, He was not gathering together the apostates. He started all over, which is what He is going to do this time as well. He is not going to the apostates, but He will start all over with some new, humble people who did not go to Bible school. He is going to raise them up. Paul is one of those who obviously went to Bible school, but He had to prove that He could do it, and He did. But what is represented by Moses and Aaron here? We're looking at a parallel of what Jesus did and now we see Moses and Aaron, but it had said earlier, And thou (Moses) shalt speak unto him (Aaron), and put the words in his mouth (Exo.4:15). Moses was to put the words in Aaron's mouth? That's a little like what the Lord does to us, which is what He's about to say. (Exo.4:15) … And I will be with thy mouth, and with his mouth, and will teach you what ye shall do. (16) And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people; and it shall come to pass, that he shall be to thee a mouth, and thou shalt be to him as God.   Interesting. He is likening Moses to God, like Jesus was to God. Now let me say, if a Man-child comes in our day, Who is it Who is going to be with him, putting words in his mouth? Jesus, Who is God! Moses is being used of God, and Aaron is being used as his prophet to speak his words, to do his work, and to take the staff that he did to do the miracles. In this case, we're seeing Aaron as the Man-child and Moses as Jesus in the Man-child or behind the Man-child to do the works. (Exo.4:29) And Moses and Aaron went and gathered together all the elders of the children of Israel (This is much like Jesus did; His Father God was in Him doing the works. Jesus was the spokesman, the mouthpiece; He gathered together His disciples and did the miracles, and Aaron is doing the same thing here.): (Exo.4:30) and Aaron spake all the words which the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and did the signs in the sight of the people. So it was Aaron speaking the words and doing the works, just like Jesus did.  “Aaron” means “bright” or “illumined.” He represents the glory of God shining out of a person, like this says: (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. There are three glories: star glory, moon glory, and sun glory (1 Corinthians 15:40-41). It gets brighter and brighter and brighter. This is the shining forth of God in His people. He is coming in “Aaron,” His first-fruits. Jesus was called the first-fruits (1 Corinthians 15:20), and there is a first-fruits in our day. David also represented the first-fruits and Joseph, as well. It is not the only fruits, just the first-fruits. He is planning on doing this with His whole Body. (Exo.4:31) And the people believed: and when they heard that the Lord had visited the children of Israel, and that he had seen their affliction, then they bowed their heads and worshipped. This was a monumental time in their history because they were about to be delivered out of bondage to the old man, the Egyptian, Pharaoh, the god of this world, and to the curse they were under because they were serving them.  (Exo.5:4) And the king of Egypt said unto them, Wherefore do ye, Moses and Aaron, loose the people from their works? … Some people think you have to put up with your “works” the rest of your life, that there is nothing you can do about it because you're always going to be a “sinner saved by grace.” That is an anti-Christ gospel. They were setting the people free from their works, from their service to the old man and to the devil, who is the god of this world that ruled over them, like Pharaoh did. They were being set free and the devil did not like it. “Get you unto your burdens.” In other words, “Get back under the heavy weight of your burden.” (Exo.5:5) And Pharaoh said, Behold, the people of the land are now many, and ye make them rest from their burdens. This is what the Lord brought us out of bondage for, to enter into His rest and to cease from our own works, the works of the flesh. We do not serve the flesh anymore. We serve the spiritual man now. This is the Gospel of the Kingdom, and it sets people free. Even the devil had to admit that they were setting them free from their works.  (Exo.6:9) And Moses spake so unto the children of Israel: but they hearkened not unto Moses … You cannot set someone free unless they believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. Moses came there to set the Israelites free. God ordained him on Mount Horeb, representing the Kingdom of God, to go and bring them out of bondage and take them to that mountain, too, but they had to believe him first because the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth (Rom.1:16). (Exo.6:9) … But they hearkened not unto Moses for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. God had to do a work in them before they could actually receive this light of the knowledge of the Kingdom. (Exo.6:10) And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, (11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt … The word “Pharaoh” means “temple of the sun.” He was God to the Egyptians. They believed he was divinity, believed that he was the sun god. Pharaoh was not the Son of God and not even a close facsimile to the Son of God, but he was usurping God's position over the people of God.  The devil does that today. He usurps the position of the Son of God over the people of God, and they do not know that the one they're serving is the devil. They don't know that they're serving the old man that serves the devil, which is the Egyptian. We know that the Egyptian represents the old man because when the Israelites went through the Red Sea, Paul called it a “baptism.” In the baptism, the old man died in the Red Sea, and the Israelite came up on the other side; the new man, the spiritual man came up out of the water. The carnal man died and the spiritual man was made alive, so we know this parable is true. (Exo.6:11) Go in, speak unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, that he let the children of Israel go out of his land. Do you suppose this Man-child is going to have this same authority to tell the devil to set God's people free? Well, Jesus was doing it. He commanded the devil to loose them; He commanded the sickness to come out of them; He delivered their mind from the fogginess of their fallen state. And, yes, this is what not only the Man-child but the witnesses and the elders who are raised up by the Man-child are going to do. They're going to have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil,” and it's going to happen.  (Exo.6:12) And Moses spake before the Lord, saying, Behold, the children of Israel have not hearkened unto me; how then shall Pharaoh hear me, who am of uncircumcised lips? Does the devil have to listen to you when you tell him to turn people loose if they do not believe? No. When you preach the Gospel and they believe it, only then do you have the authority to say, “Turn them loose, devil.” This is exactly what Moses complained of. He was saying, “Hey, they don't believe me yet, so why would Pharaoh listen?” (Exo.6:13) And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and gave them a charge unto the children of Israel, and unto Pharaoh king of Egypt, to bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt. That was their ordination, their command from God, Who said, “Bring them out.   You have the authority to do this.” Jesus had the same authority, by the Isaiah 61 anointing, which Luke 4:18 also speaks about. (Isa.61:1) The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me; because the Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening [of the prison] to them that are bound. Who were they bound to? They were in bondage to their old man, in bondage to the devil, and they were living under the curse. Jesus took care of all three and that was all involved in the Gospel of the Kingdom. Now we know that Moses, too, was dealing with the Gospel of the Kingdom and trying to get those people to believe what he said. Praise the Lord!  (Exo.12:21) Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel (I'd like to point out to you that these elders were with him exactly as the disciples of Jesus, all the time, and he was demonstrating to them the Gospel. Actually, here is the Gospel in a nutshell.), and said unto them, Draw out, and take you lambs according to your families, and kill the passover. We're told that they had to eat all of the lamb (Exodus 12:8-10) and that the blood was to be put on the doorposts (Exodus 12:7), so that the Death Angel, the Destroyer, would pass over them and smite the Egyptians (Exodus 12:13). Jesus said, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves (Joh.6:53). Most of the Church is refusing to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus Christ. The Bible says, The life of the flesh is in the blood (Lev.17:11). They are refusing the life of Christ through unbelief. Moses is not able to exercise any authority over Pharaoh because of their unbelief. Jesus was the bread Who came down out of Heaven (John 6:51) that gives life to the world, and that was His Body, the Word of God.  We are also told this: (Exo.12:15) Seven days (that is the last seven “days”) shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses (This is the house that we live in. There shall be no leaven, no polluting the pure Word of God.): for whosoever eateth leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. This is a dire warning to God's people that during the Tribulation period, you cannot continue onward believing the doctrine of these apostate religions. (Mar.8:15) … Take heed, beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod, too, because there are many who are worshipping the government. They're worshipping their country, their nation; they're pledging allegiance to a wicked, worldly nation. This is not to say that you aren't supposed to submit to them in every way, except when God tells you to do otherwise. Your allegiance is to the Lord, and you will bow to no one else. We see here that Moses was leading them to partake of the body and blood of Christ, and this was causing a Passover so that they did not have to live under the curse. Praise be to God!  (Exo.12:29) And it came to pass at midnight, that the Lord smote all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh that sat on his throne unto the first-born of the captive that was in the dungeon; and all the first-born of cattle. (30) And Pharaoh rose up in the night, he, and all his servants, and all the Egyptians; and there was a great cry in Egypt; for there was not a house where there was not one dead. In every house there was one dead. So if we are the house, there has to be one dead, and that's the old man. He is the firstborn of Egypt, born of the flesh, born of the world. He is dead and we know that he is dead, and we are free because of what Jesus did at the cross because we were crucified with Christ. The Lamb was slain here, but the Bible says, we were crucified with Christ and it is no longer we who live, but it is Christ Who lives in us (Galatians 2:20). That is the new man and that is how faith in the Gospel works. We continue to believe what the Bible says, that, “Yes, this old man is dead. He was put to death, so I don't have to serve him anymore because he is dead, and he was crucified with Christ. Now the new man lives and rules in me.” That new man is Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col.1:27). We behold with unveiled face as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, and are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit (2Co.3:18). Like Aaron, who was the “brilliance,” the shining forth of the Lord in him, so the people of God will be.  (Exo.12:31) And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, get you forth from among my people, both ye and the children of Israel; and go, serve the Lord, as ye have said. Pharaoh finally gave up, and the devil is going to turn God's people loose. The god of this world, the sun god, the one who imitates the Lord and usurps His authority over God's people, is going to turn them loose, is going to obey the command of Moses. When does that happen? It happens when they, “the people,” believe they're no longer in bondage to Satan because the Gospel, the Good News of the Kingdom, is the power of God to save the one who believes. It's the power to save them from the old man, from the devil, and from the curse. You will be delivered of those three things when you believe and continue to walk in the faith of the Gospel that sets free.  (Exo.17:5) And the Lord said unto Moses, Pass on before the people, and take with thee of the elders of Israel; and thy rod, wherewith thou smotest the river, take in thy hand, and go. (6) Behold, I will stand before thee there upon the rock in Horeb; and thou shalt smite the rock, and there shall come water out of it, that the people may drink. And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel. Here, Moses was still demonstrating the power of God's provision for God's people. Jesus multiplied the fishes and the loaves, and here Moses was still demonstrating it with the authority and the power of God to the elders and the people. (Exo.18:12) And Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, took a burnt-offering and sacrifices for God: and Aaron came, and all the elders of Israel, to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law before God. Praise the Lord!   This is, once again, Jesus raising up His elders and the Man-child in our day, raising up the elders to be free from the bondage of Satan and free from the bondage of the flesh. The harvest started getting bigger and bigger, and more and more people started coming into the Kingdom, just as it was also said about Jesus. (Exo.24:1) And he said unto Moses, Come up unto the Lord, thou, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel; and worship ye afar off: (2) and Moses alone shall come near unto the Lord; but they shall not come near; neither shall the people go up with him. As you know, Moses went up on the mountain and was caught up unto the throne of God. This is the first mention of the 70 elders. He had already mentioned them, but now He refers to them as the “seventy.”  We have already discussed Jesus raising up the elders, but He also raised up the 70. (Luk.10:1) Now after these things the Lord appointed seventy others, and sent them two and two before his face into every city and place, whither he himself was about to come. (2) And he said unto them, The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he send forth laborers into his harvest. Obviously, the 12 were not enough. This was a great revival for many hungry people; there was a need. Even with Moses, his father-in-law Jethro had said, “You're going to kill yourself trying to serve all the people by yourself” (Exodus 18:14-18). Then Jethro gave Moses the wisdom from God to raise up elders unto the people to judge them, meet their needs, and so on (Exodus 18:19-26).   Jesus said, Go your ways; behold, I send you forth as lambs in the midst of wolves (Luk.10:3). (4) Carry no purse, no wallet, no shoes; and salute no man on the way. (5) And into whatsoever house ye shall enter, first say, Peace be to this house. (6) And if a son of peace be there, your peace shall rest upon him: but if not, it shall turn to you again. (7) And in that same house remain, eating and drinking such things as they give: for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Go not from house to house. (8) And into whatsoever city ye enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you: (9) and heal the sick that are therein, and say unto them, The kingdom of God is come nigh unto you. The Kingdom of God is where people are healed, delivered, prospered, blessed, delivered from sin, etc.  (Luk.10:10) But into whatsoever city ye shall enter, and they receive you not, go out into the streets thereof and say, (11) Even the dust from your city, that cleaveth to our feet, we wipe off against you: nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God is come nigh. That is judgment; He brought judgment. These people brought judgment upon the ones who refused the Gospel. They cleaned their shoes off as a judgment against them. Don't believe that God did not do something about that because He goes on, (Luk.10:12) I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable in that day for Sodom, than for that city. (13) Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works had been done in Tyre and Sidon, which were done in you, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. (14) But it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the judgment, than for you.  God bless you, saints! Just remember, the Good News of the Gospel of the Kingdom is about to be preached with mighty power, and a great revival is going to go forth from it. God bless you! 

Title: Love and Honor Text: Acts 20:36-38 FCF: We often struggle having a good relationship between leaders and followers. Prop: Because the relationship of the Elders to the church must be one of love and honor, we must devote ourselves to love and honor one another. Scripture Intro: [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to Acts chapter 20. In a moment we'll read from the Legacy Standard Bible starting in verse 36. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. Over the last couple of weeks, we have had longer sermons covering Paul's final exhortation to these Ephesian Elders. So, this week I am giving you a break and a chance to digest everything before we celebrate easter next week. This will certainly be a shorter sermon, but there are still many things we can glean from this text. Last week Paul concluded his thoughts toward the Elders of Ephesus. He serves as their template and commands them to shepherd the flock of God well. His last words express a great truth spoken by Jesus Himself, it is more blessed to give than to receive. They must be givers, spending themselves for the sake of the flock which God purchased with the blood of Christ. What follows is the response. What does Paul do after saying all these things, and what do the Elders do after hearing all these things? In this we see a pattern emerge. Just as Paul is a Pastor to these Pastors, so his example and their example serves as a pattern for our Elders and our church to follow. Let us stand to give honor to and to focus on the reading of the Word of God. Invocation: Most gracious Father, we thank You for sending Your Son, our Great Shepherd. He laid down His life for His sheep. He knows His sheep. His sheep hear His voice. He prayed… not for the world, but for all those lambs whom You gave to Him. He protected them. He Loved them. He made them vessels of honor. Now Father, Your Spirit has appointed undershepherds to continue shepherding while Christ is physically absent from us. We know that Jesus is always with us, but we also know that the Spirit is now our comforter and counselor and that He has equipped men called Elders to shepherd your precious lambs. May we be grown in this text to be a church who holds the right relationship between these Spiritually appointed men and those whom they have been given to shepherd. May we have a ministry where mutual love and honor is given to each other. Show us this in Your Word today we ask in Jesus' name… Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] Throughout all of God's creation, there are several examples of relationships He has made that are symbiotic. For instance, clownfish dwell inside sea anemones which protects them from predators while living there, the clown fish cleans the anemone of parasites. Remora fish attach themselves to sharks and whales eating scraps of food from when their host eats. In exchange they clean the shark or whale of parasites. Bees collect nectar from flowers pollenating and reproducing the plant in the process. These animals need each other to survive. The very first humans were created to be two halves of the image of God. It could be said that Husbands and Wives need one another in a symbiotic relationship of sorts. Today we will see that this entity God created called the church is also in a symbiotic relationship. The Elders and the church exist in a symbiotic relationship of mutual love and honor – because neither can exist without the other. At least not for long. Let's look at this relationship as it is displayed in the epilogue of this meeting between Paul and the Ephesian Elders. I.) The relationship of the Elders to the church must be one of love and honor, so Elders must pray for the church. (36) a. [Slide 3] 36 - And when he had said these things, i. Because we had to divide Paul's final exhortation message into two, it would behoove us to review even for a few minutes what Paul said. ii. The text this morning provides to us this opportunity, as it references that everything that follows is after he said what he said. iii. First Paul walked them through his own personal example among them. iv. How he was humble and gave of himself through many tears and trials to teach them all that God had revealed through Christ and calling all men to repentance and faith. v. In the same way they needed to be blameless and do the work of an Elder to share the gospel and teach thoroughly all that God had revealed. vi. Second, Paul charged them to dutifully and diligently shepherd the church. He told them to do this because the church has been given infinite value in the blood of Christ and because false teachers are coming who will destroy them. vii. And since they had received freely from God and from him, they must give of themselves freely, even to the point of supporting those who are destitute among them. Teaching them and encouraging them so they can be givers and not just takers. viii. Because as Jesus said, it is more blessed to give than to receive. ix. After Paul said all this… he continues to instruct them as to what kind of Elders they should be, but he does so by demonstration. b. [Slide 4] he knelt down and prayed with them all. i. The final component of what it means to be an Elder, is to be a man of prayer. ii. In a sign of humility, Paul kneels down and prays with them. iii. This probably means that Paul knelt first to pray and that they joined with him. iv. Luke does not give us the content of his prayer, but I don't think it is a stretch to assume that his prayer consisted of both praises to God and also deep and tearful pleas for God to preserve and protect the ministry in the church in Ephesus. v. That God would guide and lead the Elders and that He would prevent doctrinal error from destroying the unity and the effectiveness of the Ephesian church and the impact they would have on the rest of the province of Asia and beyond. vi. In this he demonstrates how leaders, who are truly caring for the body of Christ, are to be men who spend time in earnest prayer for God's people. vii. Truly, without God we are nothing. viii. Knowing that they are but undershepherds who do not have all the answers, who are not able to administer and guide of their own strength, being humble and meek, Elders must seek the Lord in all their duties. For it is only by His strength and will that anything accomplished will endure. c. [Slide 5] Summary of the Point: In this final epilogue, ending the 3rd missionary journey of Paul and closing out the mission to the city of Ephesus, we see Paul's relationship with the Elders through the lens of this final scene with them. After exhorting them and warning them of the challenges which they will face, Paul prays with and for them before he departs. This illustrates for us that the proper relationship between the Elders and the church is one of love and honor. One way that the Elders express love and honor to the church is to pray earnestly for the sake of the church. This shouldn't be surprising to us. In the book of Acts we saw already how the apostles created the office of Deacon in order to allow themselves the freedom to focus on prayer and the teaching of the Scriptures. Since the office of Overseer inherits several functions of the apostolic gift, we might expect the roles of an Elder to mimic that of an Apostle. And one of those roles on display is to pray for the church. So, we Elders must also pray earnestly for our people. In this we express love for them and honor to them as the flock which God purchased with the blood of His Son. Transition: [Slide 6(blank)] But since this relationship is one of mutual love and honor, what is the role of the church toward the Elders? II.) The relationship of an Elder to the church is one of love and honor, so the church must appreciate their Elders. (37-38) a. [Slide 7] 37 - And they began to weep aloud and falling on Paul's neck, they were kissing him, i. In the last two verses of chapter 20 we have the general response of the Elders to Paul's exhortation and closing prayer. ii. All of the Elders present began weeping aloud and falling on Paul's neck. iii. This is an idiomatic expression for hugging or embracing. iv. Why are they crying so much, hugging and kissing Paul? v. Some of why they were weeping no doubt had to do with the threat of false teaching that was coming to Ephesus. vi. Some of it was due to the great weight being placed on their shoulders to lead like Paul did. vii. Some of it was the revelation that some of them would become false teachers in the future. viii. But the primary reason for their tears is pointed out to us by Luke. b. [Slide 8] 38 - being in agony especially over the word which he had spoken, that they would not see his face again and they were accompanying him to the ship. i. They are weeping because of what Paul suggested to them that they would not see his face any longer. ii. Perhaps they thought this meant that Paul would die soon. I don't think Paul thought he was going to die, only that he would not enter into ministry with them again before he did. iii. They were hugging him, kissing him, and weeping in agony over this. iv. Just as Paul served as an example to these Elders on how to be Elders. So now, these Elders serve as an example to the church on how to love and honor their Elders. v. Therefore, this is the appropriate response of the congregation to an Elder who has served well and is retiring or is approaching death. vi. The congregation should know what a great gift godly leaders are to their assembly. vii. They should know this to the point of giving honor to those who serve well. Honor, respect, submission and love. viii. We see their love and honor of Paul expressed in their desire to see him to the ship and spend every last second they could with him. ix. Some scholars suggest that “accompanying him to the ship” is an idiom suggesting that these Elders put into practice what Paul had taught them and gave him many provisions for his trip to Jerusalem. x. What an amazing expression of gratefulness for his service to them as an apostle. c. [Slide 9] Summary of the Point: Once again we see that the relationship between the Elders and the church which is illustrated in Paul's relationship to these Elders, is one of love and honor. These Elders know of Paul's love and honor for them. In turn, they loved and honored him. As he turns to Jerusalem to face whatever the Lord has in store for him there, the Elders embrace him, kiss him, and provide for him and his journey. This illustrates the church's love and honor of their Elders by being grateful for them. Elders who serve well are worthy of honor. And those who labor long in leadership and the study of the word are worthy of double honor. Conclusion: So, what have we learned today CBC, and how then shall we live? Doctrinal Takeaway: [Slide 10] Over the last several weeks Paul has been the example that Luke sets before us of what constitutes a godly church leader. We've seen how godly church leaders prioritize the spiritual instruction of God's people. We've seen the character qualities an Elder must possess in order to lead, chief among them being blamelessness. We've seen that Shepherding God's flock is the primary role of an Elder which includes both their protection from false teaching by rooting them in truth and also their physical care. And today we pivot slightly to show the mutual relationship of love and honor that ought to exist between the Elders and the church. Elders who are excellent shepherds show love and honor to the church by praying for them and with them. And the church shows love and honor to the Elders by appreciating them and their efforts. But let me express some more tangible applications for us today from this tiny little sermon. 1.) [Slide 11] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that the relationship between the Elders and the church should be characterized by love and honor. a. Paul is the Pastor of these Pastors. b. He demonstrates who they should be and what they should do for the church. c. In this sense, we see the mutual relationship of love and honor between the church and their leaders. d. We've seen the great care that Paul put into these men. We've seen his heart for them, his passion for them, his sacrifice for them. They must go and do the same. e. And if they do, the church should and must respond like these Elders did to Paul. f. The church should show love and honor to them by appreciating their heart, their passion, and their sacrifice as they care for their souls. g. The relationship between our Elders and the church should look like the relationship between a husband and his wife. h. This shouldn't shock us since the relationship between a husband and wife should look like the relationship between Christ and the church. i. And the Elders are undershepherds and stewards of Christ's church until He returns for her. j. So in many ways the Elders have responsibilities that Christ would perform if He were here among us bodily. k. But no matter how many years you've lived on this earth – it is difficult for us to imagine a form of leadership or government that we could love and honor. l. In fact, it seems like we can pendulum swing far and wide when it comes to our view of leaders. More on that in a moment. m. But the picture that the Bible paints for us concerning the Elders/Pastors or Overseers and the church body itself is one of mutual love, honor, and even dependence. Neither can exist without the other. Elders have nothing to lead if the church is absent and the church is rudderless and disunified when they do not have Overseers. n. As difficult as it may be for us to do so – we must affirm and even seek to have this relationship between the Elders and the church. o. But what are some ways we get this wrong? 2.) [Slide 12] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that Elders must be served without question or treated with constant suspicion. a. In a perverted sense of honor, some churches view their pastors or overseers as leaders who have absolute authority over their lives. i. They obey whatever their Elders say without question as if the Lord Jesus Himself had said it. ii. Now although Elders are undershepherds and do tend the flock of Christ, we do not for one instant consider this flock ours. We know that you all are His, because He purchased you with His precious blood. Why do we know that so well? Well, because He had to purchase us the same way. We are mere sheep. iii. We also have absolutely no authority to command you to do anything except what the Scriptures have said. iv. This does not mean that our advice and counsel is meaningless or should be easily ignored or dismissed – but it does mean that on anything we advise that is not a command of the scriptures, it is at its best wise counsel and not a command. v. For example. 1. The Elders may NOT come together and absolutely forbid a member of the congregation from dating another Christian from a different congregation. Now the Elders may advise, based on what we know of the person, whether it would be wise to enter into a relationship pursuant to marriage with them. But we cannot forbid it. Why? Because we do not have a command from the scriptures. 2. But the Elders may come together and absolutely forbid a member of the congregation from having premarital sex, also known as fornication. Why are the Elders permitted to do this? Because this is what the scriptures teach. We are merely commanding what the scriptures have commanded. 3. Some may say – if that is all that is happening, why must the Elders command anything at all? 4. Well, that is our role! Our role is to preach and teach what the scriptures say. Not just from the pulpit but in the counseling room, in your living room, in your car, over the phone and everywhere where we give counsel, we must give the whole counsel of the Lord. And not just when it is palatable for the church, but in season and out of season too. Whether you are going to like it or not is irrelevant. It is our job to bring to bear all that God has said concerning the situation you are in. 5. We are not adding our authority to scripture but we are drawing your attention to what God has said and we must also be his earthly executives making sure His will is known to all and to a certain degree… followed. 6. You see the Lord has given us (the church) the keys to the kingdom. This means that whatever we bind on earth will have been bound in heaven and whatever we loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. When two or three are gathered in His name He is with us. Helping us. And when we find a member refusing to obey the commands of God… this is when we execute church discipline. First in private exhortation and correction but eventually in excommunication. 7. The Elders then are to enforce the commands of Christ upon His church. We rebuke, reprove, correct and instruct to thoroughly equip God's people to do all that He has commanded them to do. And to a certain degree – as much as we are humanly able – we, in gentleness, see to it that Christ's instructions are followed. b. Another abuse we often have when it comes to leadership is to have a persisting and underlying sense of suspicion and distrust toward them. i. Now certainly I would be a fool to combat this by pretending there is no such thing as ungodly leaders. ii. Of course there is. iii. Not only in the political realm but even in the clergy there have been several examples of leaders abusing their authority and lording over their people. iv. But just because someone is in leadership does not automatically make them worthy of suspicion. v. Elders should be trusted, loved and honored until there is some reason that they have provided to suspect something different. vi. There is no reason to withhold your trust from Elders simply because they are in a position of authority. vii. If the COVID pandemic taught us anything it is that people don't very much like being told what to do. And they will only go along with being told what to do for so long before they push back. Why? Because people are suspicious of their government leaders – and to be honest, those in government have earned that suspicion. viii. But godly Elders are not the same as government leaders. Especially in a small country church like ours. My friends there is no power here worth manipulating you for. There is no money here worth bilking you out of. And let me tell you something, there are a lot of easier and quieter and more fulfilling ways to gain authority than being an Elder of a church. If I wanted power with few headaches… Elder isn't the right choice. ix. Don't be suspicious of your Elders. Especially when they haven't given you a reason to be. x. What must you do instead? 3.) [Slide 13] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” The church must love and honor their Elders by being grateful for them and submitting to them. a. Elders who lead boldly, who are godly men, who possess truly blameless character, who are apt to teach, and strong in their faith, should be trusted, loved and honored. b. Putting your trust in Jesus means that you obey Him. The Lord actually says that if you love me, you will keep my commandments. c. And although it is to a different and lesser degree, the Lord makes it plain in Hebrews 13 that if you truly love your Elders, you will submit to their authority so that they may watch over your souls with joy. d. One way you show love to your Elders is by submitting yourself to our authority. i. As I have already said, the Elder's authority extends only as far as the Scriptures allow. ii. You should trust your Elders and submit to our authority out of a heart of love for us so that we may be joyful in our responsibility to help guide you safely to heaven's shore. iii. Go willingly and passionately with us. e. Secondly, you show honor to your Elders by being grateful for our wise and godly leadership and teaching. f. How do you show gratefulness? i. Well, in Paul's case these men fell on his neck, kissed him, and wept over his leaving. They even potentially gave him provisions for his long trip to Jerusalem. I'm not saying that is THE way – I am saying that is what they did. ii. But let me make some suggestions. iii. First, it would be wise to be thankful to the Lord. Express thankfulness to God for wise and godly leadership. Ask for His blessing on our lives and that He would keep us and preserve us in our role. Do this in your family devotions and family worship times to let your children hear that you are thankful for our sacrifice. iv. Second might be to express gratitude to the Elder personally. A card, a phone call, a gift, a strong handshake. Especially when a particular Elder has helped you through a difficult trial or has devoted extra time to your family. It is wise and even obvious to express heartfelt thankfulness to that particular Elder. Let him know that you appreciate his sacrifice for you. Even doing so toward his wife and children. Knowing that they too have had to sacrifice his presence among them so that you could be ministered to. v. Finally, you might express gratefulness publicly. You might pray a prayer of thanksgiving at a family gathering, in a church service, or express a praise during prayer request time. You might make a special service or event to honor our sacrifice and service. g. Let me clear the air really quickly. Every single Elder in this room today has been absolutely squirming at the mention of every single way you could express gratefulness. And I felt REALLY uncomfortable saying it too. h. You need to understand that I am saying this not because I want to, but because the text so obviously leads us to that conclusion. i. The Elders and I, when we met yesterday, did not spend one second complaining about how you all don't submit to us or how you are an ungrateful bunch and never appreciate our sacrifices. j. Let me read that again. k. The Elders and I, when we met yesterday, did not spend one second complaining about how you all don't submit to us or how you are an ungrateful bunch and never appreciate our sacrifices. l. I wrote that last sentence the day before we met. That is how confident I was that it wouldn't happen. And I was right. m. Why was I so confident that we wouldn't do that? n. Because we don't do that. o. The reason we are squirming today at the mention of these practical ways you can show your gratitude for us…is because WE DON'T DO THIS FOR YOUR GRATITUTDE. p. Which is exactly the reason you should express your gratefulness to us. q. Ugh – I hate saying it. But it must be said. I am holding my nose up here saying it. r. Show love and honor to your Elders by submitting and expressing your gratefulness to us. s. Yuck! t. Ok moving on. Let's beat up the Elders now. 4.) [Slide 14] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don't naturally do or aren't currently doing?” Elders must love and honor the church by praying for her. a. My brothers. b. I have continued my quest this year to pray through our membership directory every week. c. It isn't enough. I've had to add more times of prayer. I've had to start praying immediately after hearing a request to make sure that I do actually pray for it before the next week rolls around. d. Understand, I don't hold myself up as the standard – I am simply giving a testimony of what it has done for me. e. I have grown in my love for these folks over the last couple years and I think that is because I pray for every member by name, every single week. I pray for everything I can think of regarding that member. f. I just walk around this room with my membership directory in hand praying for every name in it. g. Some weeks it takes over an hour to get through. h. I usually do this on Tuesday and hit my 8000 steps by noon.

Return of the Man-Child (5)  (audio)  David Eells – 4/2/25  We've been exploring what it means that everything that happened in the Gospels and in the Book of Acts is going to happen again, except it will be on a worldwide scale, and the cast of characters will be multiplied. So we've been looking at the characters to see what they will do in their corporate bodies in our day. We need prayer.   Father, in the name of Jesus, we ask You to be with us this day, to open our understanding, to lead us, to guide us, to give words of wisdom and knowledge that will reveal Your Will to us. Thank You so much, Father. You are our guide, our wisdom, and we thank You so much for leading us in this Bible study. Amen  Let's back up to where we left off. We saw that Herod, as a type of the Beast, was attempting to destroy the Man-child and actually did murder many “man-children” in Bethlehem (which means “the house of food”). We also saw that, as a type and shadow, the Lord told us, A voice was heard in Ramah, Weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; And she would not be comforted because they are not (Mat.2:18). When we were looking at the text in Jeremiah 31:15-20, the words “they are not” did not mean physical death. It meant spiritual death because Rachel's children had been taken into Babylonish captivity. They were in bondage to the Beast, and they were not serving God but serving the Beast. The Beast was their head and ruler; it was ruling over them. (Rom.8:13) For if ye live after the flesh, ye must die; but if by the Spirit ye put to death the deeds of the body, ye shall live. (14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. So spiritual death is definitely what is being pointed out here in this text. There was no physical death involved in the original text of Jeremiah. It's very interesting that, in all of our lives, the Beast has to die. If it does not die, we are not free to follow the Lord.  The very next two verses give us more clues. (Mat.2:19) But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, (20) Arise and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead that sought the young child's life. Notice again the word “they,” meaning more than one person. That may point to the fact that Herod represents in our day a corporate body, but we know from this that Jesus was ready to come out of His wilderness and start His ministry when Herod, the Beast who ruled, was dead. I believe that's a type and shadow for us in our day.   It goes on to say, And he arose and took the young child (Note that He is still being called a “young child,” the same as He was called when the wise men came.) and his mother, and came into the land of Israel (Mat.2:21). He had to come out of His wilderness to do that. He came from Egypt, a type of the world, through the Sinai Peninsula and the wilderness there, and into the land of Israel. And Jesus was coming out of His wilderness from Chapter 4:1 on down, where He came from His personal wilderness to His ministry. This may be the exact same type. We noticed that Moses, David, and Jesus all had a perfect parallel.   (Mat.2:22) But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither; and being warned [of God] in a dream, he withdrew into the parts of Galilee, (23) and came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets, that he should be called a Nazarene. This is rather interesting. We've seen many revelations about a baby being born in a type of the Man-child, yet the baby was born very mature and alert and grew up very quickly. We've seen quite a few of those and I think we see in this text that this is true. It refers to a “young child” in verse 21, and it's still talking about that young child for the next two verses.  But immediately following this, it says, And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea (Mat.3:1). That's intriguing; what happened to all those years in between? John the Baptist was only six months older than Jesus, so in Matthew 3:1, Jesus had to be almost 30 years old. You could not start your public ministry to the congregation until you were 30. That was the law. The text jumps from Jesus as a young child all the way to “in those days” with John the Baptist starting his ministry at age 30, and it makes you think, “Well, that Man-child must have grown-up very quickly.” Do you suppose this was a type and shadow of what is going to happen in our day? That the Man-child will be birthed and then immediately be caught up to the throne? In Revelation 12:5, the baby was born and then he was caught up to the throne of God; then he was leading the woman through the wilderness, which appears pretty fast. Clearly, God is shortening the time span that it takes because we don't have a lot of time for Jesus in the Man-child to grow up.  At any rate, John the Baptist's ministry was very short, starting when he was 30 years old. Six months later, Jesus was anointed to preach the Isaiah 61 anointing message, and He was 30 years old, so Matthew 3 is actually between when John the Baptist began his ministry and when Jesus began His. (Mat.3:1) And in those days cometh John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea, saying, (2) Repent ye; for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. That was proven by the great signs and wonders that God did in the midst of them, to show them that the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand. In other words, the Kingdom where God rules and where He reigns over the curse, over the devil, and over the flesh was at hand. It's obvious where the Kingdom of God rules because He does signs and wonders.  John the Baptist had a relatively simple ministry, which was the preaching of repentance. It did not seem that he ever went into much deep doctrine. He preached, “turning from your sins,” yet he had a very anointed ministry and he was, according to Jesus, the greatest of the Old Testament teachers “born of women” (Matthew 11:7). Jesus also said he that is but little in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he (Mat.11:11), meaning John the Baptist was the greatest of the old order ministers before the former rain came. Jesus came with the former rain, and that brought the Kingdom. So John was the greatest born of women up until that time.  I believe that we have just such a corporate body of preachers coming right now, who will probably be considered the greatest from among the former rain, before the latter rain comes, because now the former rain is the old order and we're coming to the latter rain. Some of you are seeing this program down the road, and all this is history, but at the point we are now, this revival is starting with the John the Baptist ministry and is yet to happen. We're on the very brink of it, and it is going to be a corporate body of people around the world who are coming to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. (Mat.3:3) For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. Obviously, without repentance, you cannot do that. If you want the Lord to live in you, it will not happen without repentance. John the Baptist was preparing hearts to receive the Lord Jesus and to receive the Man-child in our day. History is repeating.  (Mat.3:4) Now John himself had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his food was locusts and wild honey. (5) Then went out unto him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about the Jordan. This sounds like a great revival, doesn't it? I did learn that “all” was not all because the Lord said that the Pharisees and the Sadducees rejected for themselves the counsel of John, being not baptized of him (Luk.7:30). So “all” here means all of the elect, not all of the people. The Jews understood that very well because they believed in election. They believed that they were the elect people, the “chosen” (which is the same word, eklektos), people of God, and that God did not choose anyone outside of them.  Well, it's still the same today. (Mat.22:14) For many are called, but few chosen. God does call “many” unto Him, but not all are called, and of those whom He calls, He still chooses only those who bear fruit. The first thing people need is repentance, and I believe that we will see this preaching of repentance through some very anointed men of God, men who have the former rain anointing. And it's going to start a great revival, as in this passage where you see people coming out of their “churches” and going into the wilderness to meet John. (Mat.3:6) And they were baptized of him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. That's a good sign of repentance, when people confess their sins. Every great revival starts out that way, and a great anointing falls on people to be grieved over their sinfulness and to repent and confess their sins.  (Mat.3:7) But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said unto them, Ye offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? John was very hard on their preachers, wasn't he? That got him in a lot of trouble – and Jesus, as well. No doubt that the same exact thing is going to happen in our day because the leadership of the churches has been leading them astray for a long, long time. (Mat.3:8) Bring forth therefore fruit worthy of repentance: (9) and think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Notice that it says we are to bring forth fruits. It hasn't been very long since I was confronted by a preacher who told me that he had repented of various abominable things that he was doing. He said that he had gone to God and asked God to forgive him, and he was forgiven. I said, “Well, that's fine, but that's not repentance because repentance is changing, and you're still in the middle of a crime spree.” So you have to change your mind because that's what “repentance” means; it means “to turn and go the other way.” That preacher didn't know what repentance was because he was not doing it. That's what John is saying here: “Bring forth fruit worthy of repentance.” There has to be fruit of repentance.  There has to be fruit showing in your actions that you are changing your mind, and John demanded that, even of these religious leaders. Obviously, some of them put on a show for the people. (Mat.3:10) And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees … Amen! That was true in John's ministry, and it will be true in ministries today, that the axe is at the root of the trees. By Matthew 13, Jesus was saying that those religious leaders were reprobated, saying, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but unto them it is not given (Mat.13:11); and that He had blinded their eyes (Matthew 13:13). (Mat.3:10) And even now the axe lieth at the root of the trees: every tree therefore that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  (Mat.3:11) I indeed baptize you in water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you in the Holy Spirit and [in] fire. And Jesus did just that; He brought the baptism of the Holy Spirit and was the first one of the former rain to receive, according to type, the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In fact, He received it in the verses immediately following these that we're studying. (Mat.3:12) Whose fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor (The fan was used to blow away the chaff, which was useless, and to leave the heavier grain, which is the fruit that God was after.); and he will gather his wheat into the garner, but the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire. The chaff represents the old man, the carnal man, the fiery trials that we go through to burn up the old man and leave nothing but the spiritual man. Notice that John preached to “make His paths straight” and here Jesus is cleansing the people.  There is a text that speaks of this differently. (Mal.3:1) Behold, I send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, will suddenly come to his temple (That represented Jesus, but it also represents the Manchild because this is a repetition of history. The word “temple” here means His body. (Heb.10:5) A body didst thou prepare for me.); and the messenger of the covenant, whom ye desire, behold, he cometh, saith the Lord of hosts. (Mal.3:2) But who can abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner's fire (That is the fire to burn up the chaff.), and like fullers' soap: (3) and he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi. Remember, the sons of Levi were the only ones who did not bow to the golden calf, the image of the Beast. They were the true ministers of the sanctuary.  He also said that He had called us to be a kingdom of priests (Exodus 19:6), so really all of God's true people are priests because we have an offering of fire to bring forth and we present our bodies as a living sacrifice on that altar of the fiery trial. That is the crucified life. That is what Jesus called taking up your cross and following Him, for you to be His disciple (Matthew 16:24). (Mal.3:3) And he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, and refine them as gold and silver; and they shall offer unto the Lord offerings in righteousness. (4) Then shall the offering of Judah and Jerusalem be pleasant unto the Lord, as in the days of old, and as in ancient years. For our day, He's talking about New Testament spiritual Judah and Israel and the New Jerusalem.   (Mal.3:5) And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, and against the adulterers, and against the false swearers, and against those that oppress the hireling in his wages, the widow, and the fatherless, and that turn aside the sojourner [from his right,] and fear not me, saith the Lord of hosts. God is going to judge quickly those hanging around His people who are walking in their sinfulness. He will be very protective of His holy Church in these days with Ananias and Sapphira-like judgments on people trying to sneak in, acting as though they are Christians while they are not. So far, it's been difficult to keep that from happening, but the Lord says that He will put an end to it. Praise God! He is going to have a holy Church.  (Mat.3:13) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. (14) But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? (15) But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer [it] now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. Obviously, we need to be baptized, or put to death, by the washing of the water of the Word (Ephesians 5:26), a crucifixion of the old man, which is what it's all about. It behooves us to do this. Jesus went through this before He came to His anointing, which is very important. (Mat.3:16) And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; (17) and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Jesus was baptized in the Spirit here; He was anointed in order to start His ministry.   And we're also told this in (Luk.1:31) Behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (32) He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Most High: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: (33) and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. So Jesus came to be anointed to take David's throne. That's what this anointing was about; it was the king's anointing. All the kings received this anointing when they took their position. Right after Jesus was filled with the Spirit and before going into His wilderness, it says, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, Because he anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor (Luk.4:18). Jesus was 30 years old when this happened. This anointing of the Spirit started His public ministry and goes right along with history.  Joseph was 30 years old, according to Genesis 41:46, when he stood before Pharaoh and received the kingdom, and David was 30 years old when he began his ministry, which is very interesting. All these types of the Man-child were 30 years old. (2Sa.5:3) So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel. (4) David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. Forty is the number of tribulation. (5) In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months; and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah. Jesus came to sit on David's throne. Jesus was anointed King of kings and He reigned over the true tribes of Israel. The apostate tribes did not recognize Him, but the true tribes did. Those who were born of God recognized Him immediately. He merely walked by His disciples and said, “Come, follow Me,” and they dropped their nets, left their business, left everything, and walked after Him. Now that's a strong calling! They just followed Him.  Well, what was the first thing that David did after he was anointed? (2Sa.5:6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem … It wasn't called Jerusalem then. (1Ch.11:4) And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. It wasn't called Jerusalem until they conquered it. (2Sa.5:6) And the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites (which means “to trample down” or “trodden under foot”), the inhabitants of the land, who spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither. Jerusalem had to be conquered before it could be called Jerusalem, before it could be Zion. It was in the hands of the pagans, in the hands of the old man, the Jebusite. We know from Revelation that Jerusalem is the Bride, but she did not start out as the Bride; she started out as a pagan, as an unbeliever, and was converted and became the Bride. Jerusalem, before David conquered it, was Jebus.  David's job was to take Jerusalem, to show his men how to conquer and take Jerusalem. With the coming of the Man-child ministry, which is also a Davidic ministry, the first thing that's going to happen is that they'll be conquering Jebus. They're going to raise up Jerusalem again – not old Jerusalem; they're going to raise up New Jerusalem. Paul spoke about it in Hebrews 12, but then there was a great falling away, and this place represented holiness, the place of safety, the Bride. It represented the only place the Beast could not conquer, and it represented the Philadelphia church because it was the only one that escaped the hour of trial from the Beast kingdom. Here, we see that the Jebusites were telling David, “You'd better get rid of the blind and the lame, or you can't come here.” In other words, nobody who is blind and lame can take Zion. It represents the Bride, who is not blind and lame. She is spotless and blemishless because she has overcome some things, especially being lame, which represents being crippled or not being able to walk right with the Lord. And she has overcome being blind, which represents not being able to see, understand, or discern the truths of God.  So they said, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither; thinking, David cannot come in hither (2Sa.5:6). You know, some people do not think it's possible and, in fact, there are a lot of preachers right now who are saying that it's not possible for you to be an overcomer. They say that you just have to settle for being “a sinner saved by grace.” The old man does not think that it's possible for you to conquer him and have this place become Zion, the holy city. (2Sa.5:7) Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. (8) And David said on that day, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites, let him get up to the watercourse, and [smite] the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul … The lame and the blind represent the apostates. Of course, the Jebusite represents the old man, and David and his men represent the spiritual man who must conquer Zion. We've been called to do that, and David is telling them that the way to do it is to “get up to the watercourse and smite the lame and the blind.” Put to death the old apostasy in your life. Two rivers fed Jerusalem, and David's men used those rivers to get into Jerusalem.  The place of the watercourses was where the water drained out of Jerusalem, akin to the sewer system. Instead of scaling the walls, they could go up the sewer. They probably smelled pretty bad by the time they got in there to take their sword and go to work, but that's what he was saying. Though most of this was probably river water, they still had to go against the current that was coming out of Jebus, so they were “going against the flow,” so to speak. And that's the way it is with us. Everything we do is contrary to the world: what they think is the right way, we think is the wrong way; what they think is up, we think is down. If we humble ourselves, God will exalt us. At any rate, David was teaching them that the way to conquer the city and the lame and the blind was through the water. (2Sa.5:8) … Wherefore they say, There are the blind and the lame; he cannot come into the house.  (2Sa.5:9) And David dwelt in the stronghold, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward. He is talking about the ramparts of Jerusalem, so David built Jerusalem. He was the one who started building the “New Jerusalem” at that point. Jesus was doing the same thing. What Paul described with, ye are come unto mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem (Heb.12:22) … and to the spirits of just men made perfect (23), was what Jesus was building. I've shared with you a revelation the Lord gave me many years ago, where He showed me the tower in the midst of what was depicted as the New Jerusalem and He was giving it to me, revealing to me that my ministry was to build this tower. I found that Micah 4:8 spoke of Jerusalem as “the tower of the flock,” and it was the kind of tower that they actually built in those days in the midst of those cities to preserve them from invading beast armies. Jerusalem was just that; it was a place of safety where, if beasts invaded, whether from Babylon or Assyria, the people could flee into the broad walls and be protected.  David was building the tower of the flock here. (2Sa.5:10) And David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him. I have found this language referring to only two people in the Scriptures, where it says, “waxed greater and greater.” It spoke of David, and it spoke of Mordecai, whose name means “little man” or “man-child.” Mordecai was the same type as David; both of them were the Man-child. Mordecai's job was to raise up the Bride, Esther, and save the people of God from the Beast, Haman. Basically, this is the same thing that David did. He raised up the Bride, Jerusalem, and defended the people from one of the Beasts, the Philistines. David's first job was to conquer the Jebusites and take their city away.  In thinking about this, I'd like to share with you a revelation we received concerning the same thing. This is Pamela Orr's revelation, and she received it in January 2010. My notes are in parentheses.  In a dream, I was in a house that is safe and secure. I have no desire or plans to leave this house. (Pamela is a part of our broader UBM Fellowship safe-house, but also, I believe that this is referring to Zion, and she had no plans to leave.) To my amazement, though, there are people leaving. … I'm given to know that there are many who do not return. (This is necessary because the sons of perdition and the Jezebels and the rest of the tares who have come in amongst God's people cannot be a part of this Zion, as I will show you shortly. The only people who entered Zion were the ones who conquered the lame and the blind, and it became Zion, the holy city, because they were the only people there. The Jebusites were driven out. The carnal Jebusites are leaving Jebus so that it may become Zion. They're being conquered. Zion is the Bride. Praise the Lord!   I remember her brother Mark Fritz, who is a part of our fellowship, asked the Lord when he first met us about the church he was currently attending. God answered that it was Pergamum, which was the third church of Revelation that was caught up in the Nicolaitan error. So Mark asked the Lord about UBM, and the Lord said, “The sixth church.” So he counted and found out that the sixth church was the Philadelphia church, which is the Bride, the one that escapes the hour of trial under the dominion of the Beast, and the name means “the love of the brethren.”)  There are locks on this house, a whole row of them, probably seven or more, but I didn't count them. (This is a very secure place, like Zion, which was called “the stronghold of Zion.” We're all supposed to be climbing Mount Zion to enter into the presence of the King. The throne is on Mount Zion; the Temple is on Mount Zion; His presence is there.) These locks are high up in the wall. We can't touch them or tamper with them; they are a fixture of the house. (The key to enter is high up with God. It is not with man.) Some, if not all, of these locks are specific to profiles. For example, there is the ‘age 18-and-over' lock. I'm given to know that when a certain lock turns over, then no one fitting this profile will ever again be allowed to enter the house. (I thought about that and felt that the Lord was saying that God gives more grace to the immature and innocent. He does not impute iniquity to them, but the further they go in their walk, the more they are held accountable. (Luk.12:48) to whomsoever much is given, of him shall much be required, so when people become accountable and they do not walk in their accountability, then they will be out of there. They will not have a position in that house.)  As I watch these locks turn, as if of their own accord, I realize that when the final lock has been turned, no one else will be allowed to enter. (That's the way it is with spiritual Zion, folks. Many years ago, I saw in a vision our ministry starting in Pensacola as a Zion, the Tower of the Flock, the Bride. I know that this is going on around the world with people who are desiring earnestly to be obedient to the Scriptures, live the crucified life before their Lord, and walk in the grace of God. (Mic.4:8) And thou, O tower of the flock, the hill of the daughter of Zion, unto thee shall it come, yea, the former dominion shall come … When David took Jebus and it became the stronghold of Zion, the City of David, that was their stronghold. That was where the dominion started, right there. It said the former dominion was going to return to Zion, the Tower of the Flock, the Kingdom of the daughter of Jerusalem. Note that the former dominion is not going to return to Jerusalem, but it's going to return to the daughter of Jerusalem or, in other words, to New Jerusalem. God is once again, in our day, going to raise up a David who will raise up Zion once more as the stronghold, the Bride.)  (In this New Jerusalem Zion, the wicked were not allowed, as Scripture says. (Isa.52:1) Awake, awake, put on thy strength, O Zion (So it is coming to its former dominion.); put on thy beautiful garments (These garments are righteousness, purity and holiness.), O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean. A New Jerusalem is started that does not allow any of the wicked. You can only do that with a spiritual city. In any physical city, you're going to have all kinds of people there, some of them good, some of them bad. But in this spiritual city, there will not be anybody unclean. That's what these locks are all about; they're to find out who is walking in purity and to keep out the rest. As I said, with knowledge comes responsibility, so the further you go, the more that's expected of you. When David first became king as a type of the Man-child, he taught his overcomers how to take the stronghold of Jebus from the Jebusites, representing the old man. Then Jebus became Zion, the City of David, a type of the Bride following the Man-child at the beginning of the Tribulation.)  (Father is cleaning house and will keep the evil ones out of His safe-house. Praise the Lord! As John said, He that hath the bride is the bridegroom (Joh.3:29). Soon, many, by their own evil nature, will not want to associate with the righteous for fear of alienating their Beast associations. God is separating here, and He is going to make His heavenly Zion a place where only the righteous will want to go. They will have had to conquer the lame and the blind to get there. They will have had to overcome. David's mighty men were sent by David to take Zion, and they took it. Jesus did the same thing with the disciples He raised up, who were His mighty men. Praise God!)  Speaking of entering this safe-house, people are entering. (The righteous are entering because they are the only ones who can come into this safe-house, the New Jerusalem.) Others are trying to enter, but the “bad guys” don't seem to make it past the door. (Praise the Lord! That is awesome. This is just like Ananias and Sapphira; they tried to enter, but God took them out.) And each bad guy gets done-in by the next bad guy. The bad guys get progressively worse, too. (2 Timothy 3 speaks about how bad the Church is going to get in our day. Verses 1 through 6 are pretty rough, and then it says, But evil men and impostors (KJV: “seducers”) shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived (2Ti.3:13). This is true in the Church today because that's what he was referring to. He wasn't talking about the world.) The second-to-last bad guy is sort of a handicapped or perverted or dwarflike individual with short little legs like tree trunks. (Here is a perverted dwarf. I see one thing here, spiritually speaking: those who do not measure up to the stature of the fruit of Christ are not going to be permitted in Zion.)  This is where it gets awful. The final bad guy (the Beast) begins to compress, squeeze, or fold this dwarf-like individual until he murders him. (Spiritually speaking, those who have not yet experienced the crucified life will have help from the Beast to go to their cross and to manifest death-to-self. Those who do not measure up will need crucifixion in the world. How do we grow up into Christ? Jesus said, He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it (Mat.10:39). You do not gain your life unless you lose your life, so growing up is a matter of the crucified life. If we do not accept it, we cannot grow up. If we do not accept it, we cannot put away the blindness and the lameness and cannot expect to go into Zion. Remember, we are told, for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean (Isa.52:1).) The evil nature of this final bad guy was beyond description. (That is the Beast.) I can only say that I could almost feel this individual's sick joy and satisfaction in pressing the life out of the other poor sucker. (She is talking about the apostate Christians, I believe. Many of the apostate Christians are going to be saved because of the crucifixion that the Lord puts them in. His fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing-floor; and … the chaff he will burn up with unquenchable fire (Mat.3:12), but He will have something in the midst of that which will be holy and precious.)   (Not everyone will be sanctified. Some people just get worse in tribulation. One thing that helps people to be able to come to Zion in the midst of tribulation is to know what God is doing. He is doing something for them. He is putting to death their old flesh, which cannot enter the Kingdom. By the Word of God, you learn how to cooperate with God, and then you see that this is a victory, not a failure. If the Church receives a lot of this prosperity doctrine and they do not believe that they are ever going to go through anything, any trouble, any tribulation, then these things come upon them as a shock, and they think that God has forsaken them. They are tempted to fall, and many do. So there has to be knowledge for the people to understand that God is doing a good thing with them and that they need to go through this, that they're privileged to go through this, and that they can have eternal life in the Kingdom. That's what the Man-child is coming to do; that's what Jesus came to do. Spiritually speaking, that's what David was doing. He was teaching men how to overcome the blind and the lame, teaching them how to take Jebus.) Even though I was horrified and sickened at the depravity, I was still safe in the (UBM) house. (Praise the Lord! Because God has a safe-house. He really does! I know that many people think that this is heresy, but that's not true. God has His safe-house.)  This same story is in 1 Chronicles. (1Ch.11:4) And David and all Israel went to Jerusalem (the same is Jebus); and the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, were there. (5) And the inhabitants of Jebus said to David, Thou shalt not come in hither. Nevertheless David took the stronghold of Zion; the same is the city of David. (6) And David said, Whosoever smiteth the Jebusites first shall be chief and captain. And Joab the son of Zeruiah went up first, and was made chief. (7) And David dwelt in the stronghold; therefore they called it the city of David. (8) And he built the city round about, from Millo even round about; and Joab repaired the rest of the city. (9) And David waxed greater and greater; for the Lord of hosts was with him.  Yes, and what was the next thing David did? He brought the Ark of the Covenant. (1Ch.13:3) And let us bring again the ark of our God to us: for we sought not unto it in the days of Saul. The Israelites had been following after the flesh of Saul. That's why they got destroyed, and that's why Saul died. But David said, “No, we have to follow the Ark of the Covenant.” (1Ch.15:1) And [David] made him houses in the city of David; and he prepared a place for the ark of God, and pitched for it a tent. The word for “tent” is the same word for “tabernacle.” (2) Then David said, None ought to carry the ark of God but the Levites … Absolutely! Who else can carry the presence of God but the priests of God who have offered their bodies as living sacrifices? They are the ones who are holy; they are the ones who are the temple of God.  If you read further, it says, And they brought in the ark of God, and set it in the midst of the tent that David had pitched for it (1Ch.16:1). We know that God said He was going to raise up again this tabernacle. (Act.15:14) Symeon hath rehearsed how first God visited the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name. (15) And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written, (16) After these things I will return, And I will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen; And I will build again the ruins thereof, And I will set it up: (17) That the residue of men may seek after the Lord, And all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called. So now we're talking about raising up a tabernacle of David, which represents the portable temple, for the wilderness, but also the portable temple of the Church. Once again, we see that there is a David coming for the Church, and that's the Lord Jesus Himself, Who is the Son of David, Who was sitting upon His throne.  But the Bible also says, David shall never want a man to sit upon the throne of the house of Israel (Jer.33:17). There is a body in whom the Lord Jesus comes. The Son of Man came in the son of David 2000 years ago, and the Son of Man is coming in a spiritual Son of David today, a corporate Body called the Man-child ministry. Jesus is going to minister to His people, to raise up, once again, the Bride, the New Jerusalem. “He that hath the bride is the bridegroom,” as John said when he pointed at Jesus. He will raise up the Bride, the New Jerusalem, which is protected from the Assyrian Beast. When the Beast tried to conquer Jerusalem, God killed 185,000 of them and they left it alone (2 Kings 19:35). Folks, I tell you, the same thing is going to happen again. God is going to protect His Bride.  For instance, in the Book of Esther, there was the Bride, and there were also the people who were threatened by the Beast. Haman, the Beast, had been given authority to destroy the people of God (Esther 2:10-11), but Mordecai and Esther had been given authority to save the people of God (Esther 8:8). There were two contrary commands given, but they have their purpose and that is to make us decide whom we are going to serve, the Lord or the Beast.  Rachel's children fell into captivity of the Beast, and they were counted as dead, like the parable in Matthew 2:18, of the children of Bethlehem. It physically happened, but it was also a parable of things to come. In our day, many people are going to follow the Beast. They will take the mark of the Beast, which is a sign of his ownership, and these people will die. They will not bear the fruit of the Man-child, as Jesus did. Once again, we see that God is just going to repeat history, and Matthew 2 is going to be fulfilled, as well as Matthew 3. All the types of the Man-child are running in perfect parallel. Joseph was 30 years old, Jesus was 30 years old and David was 30 years old when they started their ministries, and they basically had the same job to do. It was shown in a slightly different parable each time, but it was the same job to be done.  Now the Man-child ministry is spiritually going to be 30 and it's going to start by building the New Jerusalem. Praise be to God! First, however, the Jebusites have to lose their grip and be conquered. And we need to know how to conquer this old man so that we can scale the heights of the City of God, the mountain of His holiness, and enter into His Presence. That is what the Word will do, and that is what the new anointed leadership is going to do for us. They are to teach us how to cooperate with God's work in our lives and be happy about it. Let's face it: if you don't know what God is doing, you're not happy about it. As soon as you get revelation, you can enjoy going through tribulation because you know that the Lord is getting you ready for His Kingdom, the manifestation of eternal life. Praise God!  Father, we thank You, in Jesus' name. Please open our eyes and make us joyful in cooperating with You in this process of sanctification, in becoming that holy, spotless, and blemishless Bride that You always wanted. Thank You, Father, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus Is The Way - Humility To Glory (5)  (audio)  David Eells – 3/30/25  I'm going to continue with our study on Jesus is the Way – Humility to Glory and talk with you today about who and what is blessed of God and what it truly means to be blessed.   Father, in the Name of Jesus, we ask that You open our understanding. Help us, Lord, to retain the things that You say to us. We need the Holy Spirit to bring to our remembrance everything, Lord, to protect us, to guide us, and to give us wisdom in the days to come. We hold fast to that promise because we need so much, Lord, that Your Spirit will bring these things to our remembrance again. Thank You, Lord, for blessing our minds. We know that our minds were created to be much more useful than they have been under the curse. We also know that according to Galatians 3:13, Jesus bore the curse for us and, therefore, Lord, we know that You're working to restore our minds today. We thank You for that, Lord. Father, we want to understand what Jesus did for us. We want to be able to exercise faith in Your Will. And in order to know Your Will, we need to have knowledge, Lord, so we ask You to open our knowledge and give us understanding, in Jesus' Name. Thank You, Father! Praise You, God!   Now some people may be wondering, “David, what does that word ‘blessed' actually mean? What is it to be ‘blessed?'” So let's go first to Deuteronomy 28 because the first 14 verses speak of that, and we can translate these into what they mean for us in our day.   (Deu.28:1) And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God (“Hearken” there is the Hebrew shama meaning “to hear and obey.” Not just be hearers of the Word but be doers of the Word {James 1:22}.), to observe to do all his commandments which I command thee this day (We know that the Lord has given us commandments in our Covenant, too. We need to be diligent to study them and obey them, and we know that by faith, God's Grace gives us power to do just that.), that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all the nations of the earth. This not talking about our physical nation where we live; this is talking about our spiritual nation. We are the nation of Israel. We who have been born again and believe in the sacrifice of Christ, according to Romans 11, have been grafted into the olive tree called “all Israel.” So we are Israel, not physical Israel, but spiritual Israel.     (Deu.28:2) And all these blessings shall come upon thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God. (3) Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. (4) Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy beasts, the increase of thy cattle, and the young of thy flock. (5) Blessed shall be thy basket and thy kneading-trough. That was very important to them in those days, and this could translate into a few different things for us today, but basically, this was their livelihood and their food.    (Deu.28:6) Blessed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed shalt thou be when thou goest out. (So whether you're coming or whether you're going, meaning just about everywhere you are, you're going to be blessed.) (7) The Lord will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee… Now, we know that our enemies are both natural and spiritual, and Paul tells us this in (Eph.6:12) For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers of this darkness, against the spiritual [hosts] of wickedness in the heavenly [places]. The Lord has promised us victory if we will “hearken” diligently unto His Voice, meaning if we will keep His commandments.     (Deu.28:7) The Lord will cause thine enemies that rise up against thee to be smitten before thee: they shall come out against thee one way, and shall flee before thee seven ways. In the midst of the trial, “hearken” unto the Word. Accept the good report, and the devil won't know what to do with you, and neither will your physical enemies (Numbers 13:30). Our physical enemies come against us as persecutions and a matter of crucifixion, so the best thing to do is lay down your life. Stop trying to save yourself by man's methods. Put your trust in the Lord and “hearken diligently” unto His Word.    (Deu.28:8) The Lord will command the blessing upon thee in thy barns, and in all that thou puttest thy hand unto; and he will bless thee in the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. (9) The Lord will establish thee for a holy people unto himself, as he hath sworn unto thee; if thou shalt keep the commandments of the Lord thy God, and walk in his ways. (10) And all the peoples of the earth shall see that thou art called by the name of the Lord; and they shall be afraid of thee. Wow! That certainly doesn't sound anything like Psalm 2, where we are told all the nations are going to come against God and against His people. Let's look at that.     (Psa.2:1) Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, [saying,] (3) Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us. And it's a far cry from what Jesus said in (Mat.24:9) Then shall they deliver you up unto tribulation, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all the nations for my name's sake. Instead, the Lord says the nations will fear you if you hearken unto His Voice.     (Deu.28:11) And the Lord will make thee plenteous for good, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy ground, in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers to give thee. (12) The Lord will open unto thee his good treasure the heavens, to give the rain of thy land in its season, and to bless all the work of thy hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. That's certainly contrary to what a majority of people believe about the Will of the Lord nowadays: “thou shalt not borrow.” The Lord says you'll lend, but you won't borrow, and that's part of the blessing, saints. If you hearken unto His Voice and believe what He says, He will provide your needs.     (Deu.28:13) And the Lord will make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if thou shalt hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do [them,] (14) and shalt not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand, or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them. “Other gods” there is the word elohim, and many, many people today choose to follow another “Jesus” of their own making.  Paul complained about that even back in his day, didn't he? (2Co.11:3) But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve in his craftiness, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity and the purity that is toward Christ. (4) For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we did not preach, [or] if ye receive a different spirit, which ye did not receive, or a different gospel, which ye did not accept, ye do well to bear with [him]. And if we follow after something other than the commands of God, He's not making any promises about blessing here. The blessing comes from our finding the Will of God in the Word and then walking in it through faith.    So who is it that receives the blessing of God? Let me remind you of the text we were studying last time in Matthew 5. (Mat.5:1) And seeing the multitudes, he went up into the mountain: and when he had sat down, his disciples came unto him: (2) and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying … (4) Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Evidently, the people who are obedient “to the Lord thy God,” who do His Will, and seek to be submissive to His commandments, are a people that mourn. Now how could that be? In what way is mourning righteous and just? The thought that comes to my mind is that the first thing we need to mourn about is our own life. As David said, “I will not be satisfied until I awake in thy likeness” (Psalm 17:15). The first thing we have to mourn about is not manifesting the Life of Christ.   James also speaks about this. (Jas.4:6) But he giveth more grace. Wherefore [the scripture] saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble. Grace is all we need to walk with the Lord. We've learned that grace is His favor in our life; His favor makes us able. He's putting in us the desires that we need and giving us the power that we need. Grace is all we need, and God says He gives it to the humble.     (Jas.4:7) Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (8) Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded. (9) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. (10) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall exalt you. In whatever ways the Lord reveals to us that we're walking contrary to His commandments, that we're not hearkening unto His Voice, that we're not representing Jesus Christ to the world as true Christians, we have something to mourn about. And it should be grievous to us to not walk in His Steps because that's what it is to “abide in Christ” (1 John 2:27- 28; 2 John 1:9; etc.). It should be grievous to us to be anything contrary to the Will of God.    Of course, repentance always precedes faith. Faith alone won't overcome our own lack of repentance, and repentance is what mourning is all about. However, after we mourn what the Lord shows us about ourselves, we need to be careful not to spend too much time in condemnation. We confess our sin to the Lord, He forgives us, and then He cleanses us from it. (1 John 1:9) We need to go from there to faith. We need to reckon ourselves to be dead unto sin but alive unto God (Romans 6:11). So you repent and you mourn because of what the Lord shows you in your life, but He doesn't reveal everything all at once, or He would overwhelm us with grief. Thank God, it's “line upon line; here a little, there a little” (Isaiah 28:10). Otherwise, we probably would never come to faith because we would be overcome with condemnation. So He's very merciful. He leads us through our promised land to conquer one enemy at a time.     This reminds me of a vision my wife received in which she and her sister were standing underneath an apple tree, and worms were hanging out of the apples, just eating away at them. So my sister-in-law got a can of pesticide spray and started broadcasting it over the whole tree, but my wife said, “No, that won't work.” She took the can from her sister and told her, “This is how you do it.” She sprayed each one of those worms in the mouth, and as she did that, she realized that they were all little serpents, not worms. And, of course, that's what we have to do. We attack these things one at a time as the Lord shows them to us, and the first thing we have to change is our mouth as we're told in (Rom.10:10) for with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. We have to put that wickedness to death. We have to use the Sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God (Ephesians 6:17).    And what does God promise us if we humble ourselves in His sight, if we cleanse our hands and are afflicted and mourn concerning this problem, and turn our laughter into mourning? He says that He will exalt you. Humbling ourselves is the first step. Yes, we can be grieved over other people's sins, and there's a place for that, but first, we need to get the board out of our own eye, so we can see clearly to get the mote out of our brother's eye (Matthew 7:3-5; Luke 6:41-42). Certainly, we can cry out to the Lord to give us the grace to humble ourselves, because working in us to will and to do of His good pleasure is something that comes from Him, too (Philippians 2:13). It's not a case of picking ourselves up by our bootstraps. We're not deceiving God by mourning over something that we don't feel. He knows if our repentance is sincere or not. The Lord wants to give us a conviction of sin. He wants to put that mourning in our hearts concerning sin. He wants us to hate sin as He hates sin (Psalms 1:5,5:5-6; Romans 1:29- 32; etc.)     Needless to say, there is a place of mourning because of the persecutions and the tribulations that come upon us through the wicked people around us. Jesus told us in (Luk.6:21) Blessed [are] ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed [are] ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh. (22) Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company,] and reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. We don't see that as a blessing, but it's listed here as one of God's blessings because when we're hated of the world, that means we're loved of God. If we weep because of what we're giving up in the natural, because of persecutions that we're suffering and enduring for Christ's sake, persecutions that we endure because of the crucified life, this is good.  The Lord is going to bless us for this.   Going on, He says (Luk.6:23) Rejoice in that day, and leap [for joy]: for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for in the same manner did their fathers unto the prophets. (Luk.6:24) But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. (25) Woe unto you, ye that are full now! for ye shall hunger. Woe [unto you,] ye that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. It's better to weep and mourn now, while the world is rejoicing, while the world's been given the high hand, so to speak.     We're heading into a time when, other than the judgments that are falling upon them, the world is going to think they have everything going their way. They will be given authority over the saints to bring them to their crosses. You and I are going to be hated; we're going to be ostracized. They will cast out our names as evil, and God says we can certainly mourn over that, but He also says to rejoice because your names are written in the Lamb's book of life (Luke 10:20; Revelation 20:12,15; etc.) and your reward is great in the Kingdom of Heaven. Hallelujah!    (Luk.6:26) Woe [unto you,] when all men shall speak well of you! for in the same manner did their fathers to the false prophets. There is a time coming of much weeping and mourning, but He also commanded us in the midst of that to rejoice and leap for joy because, when the world hates you, that means God loves you. You're on His side, and you're on your way to His Kingdom. When we're loved of the world, and we love the world, then we're departing from God.     Let's look at another good example of what God considers to be righteous mourning. (2Pe.2:6) And turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes condemned them with an overthrow, having made them an example unto those that should live ungodly (God's judgment is coming upon the wicked, but, at the same time, He will save those who are His.); (7) and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked… If we're not grieved by and mourning over the wicked life of the people around us, it's because we don't have the conviction of God in our hearts. The Lord Jesus wept over Jerusalem. (Luk.19:41) And when he drew nigh, he saw the city and wept over it, (42) saying, If thou hadst known in this day, even thou, the things which belong unto peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes. He was grieved at the hardness of heart in the people to not receive His Words from the Father.     It's right for us to be grieved because of the people around us who won't listen, won't submit to God, and who won't be convicted of sin, just as Lot was “sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked.” “Lasciviousness” is their license to “unbridled sensuality and excess.” Basically, it's their license to do what they want to do, and even among Christians, this is common. Their doctrines that promote lasciviousness and permit a person to live any way they want to live while still thinking that they are a disciple of Christ and are going to heaven are common. This is a strong delusion among major portions of Christianity, and it's just not the Truth. It's a deception that comes to people who are living after their own lusts and being bribed by self-will to please their flesh. Lot was sore distressed seeing this in the people around him, and we should be grieved today over people who call themselves “Christians” yet who walk in this way with the Lord.    (2Pe.2:7) And delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed by the lascivious life of the wicked (8) (for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed [his] righteous soul from day to day with [their] lawless deeds): (9) the Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment… That is so true! People wonder why they're living under a curse, and it's because they have turned the grace of God into lasciviousness (Jude 1:4).     They're living the way they want to live, and they're paying the penalty for their unrighteousness because the blessings come upon the people that “hearken to,” that “hear and obey,” the “voice of the Lord thy God.” The blessings come upon the people who are diligent to keep His commandments. This should be highly motivating for us to get into the Word to find out what the Will of God is and come out from under the curse. Yet, sadly, multitudes of people have insulated themselves with lascivious doctrines that permit them to live the way they want.    We know that Jesus wasn't talking about what we loosely call “Christians”; He was talking about “disciples,” which means “learners and followers.” We need to lead people into discipleship, but if they desire to live in the lusts of their flesh, they will believe and promote these flesh-pleasing doctrines. And I tell you, the “Lots” in this world will be grieved. They will mourn. They will be distressed over these kinds of things. The text says that it “vexed [his] righteous soul,” but the Greek basanizó translated as “vexed” is actually “tormented, tortured.” It tormented Lot's soul to see the “lascivious life of the wicked.”     The lasciviousness being spoken about here is not referring to the wicked because we know that's how the wicked live. It's talking about those who are promoting the lifestyle among Christians, and the rest of the text agrees with that. (2Pe.2:9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptation, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment unto the day of judgment; (10) but chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion… The Numeric Bible states the word here for “dominion” is “lordship.” These people “that walk after the flesh” despise anybody ruling over their lives. They just want to do what they want to do, which is why they despise dominion, whether it be the dominion of those whom God has sent to be leaders or the dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. They would rather make up their own mind about what the Scripture says and their own “Jesus” that smiles upon their lifestyle.    (2Pe.2:10) But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement, and despise dominion. Daring, self-willed, they tremble not to rail at dignities: (11) whereas angels, though greater in might and power, bring not a railing judgment against them before the Lord. These self-righteous people, here, are the ones that are going to persecute the saints. They're self-righteous in their religion, and they rail at people who are dignities. The Greek word dóksa, translated there as “dignities,” actually means “glories; majesties; brightness.”     And who are the glories being spoken of here? (2Co.3:18) But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit. As we manifest Christ to a greater and greater degree, we grow from glory to glory: from star glory to moon glory, to sun glory. Paul pointed out the three different bodies that are given to the people who manifest the different glories (1 Corinthians 15:35-49). We grow into these glories, and the closer you get to Christ and manifest His life, the more that religious people will rail at you and come against you. But remember this: the fact that some people hate you is a good sign, and the Lord says to “leap for joy.”     (2Pe.2:12) But these, as creatures without reason, born mere animals to be taken and destroyed, railing in matters whereof they are ignorant, shall in their destroying surely be destroyed, (13) suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you… Some people are actually trying to deceive us. They're “pretend Christians.” They live in the world because they love the world, but they like to “talk the talk” when they're among Christians. They're sons of perdition hidden in the midst (John 17:12; 2 Thessalonians 2:3) whom the Lord is going to reveal for what they truly are.     And they love the hire of wrong-doing because they've been bribed by their flesh, which they love to please. (2Pe.2:13) Suffering wrong as the hire of wrong-doing; [men] that count it pleasure to revel in the day-time, spots and blemishes, revelling in their deceivings while they feast with you; (14) having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; enticing unstedfast souls; having a heart exercised in covetousness; children of cursing; (15) forsaking the right way (We can see here that he's talking about people who profess Christianity.), they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing… Yes, just as Balaam did, these people love the pay, love the advantage gained by wrong-doing.    So, whom did Jesus cry over? It was God's people because they wouldn't come to Him (Luke 19:41). He grieved over them, saying, (Luk.13:34) O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, that killeth the prophets, and stoneth them that are sent unto her! how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen [gathereth] her own brood under her wings, and ye would not! Much of our grief, too, is for Christians. It's for lost loved ones that we've prayed for to come into the Kingdom. It's like the grief that Lot felt about the people being led astray around him. If we have a holy heart and we are seeking to be pleasing unto the Lord, then we will be convicted by the Word of God, and we will feel the same thing.     (2Pe.2:15) Forsaking the right way they went astray, having followed the way of Balaam the [son] of Beor, who loved the hire of wrong-doing; (16) but he was rebuked for his own transgression: a dumb ass spake with man's voice and stayed the madness of the prophet. (17) These are springs without water, and mists driven by a storm; for whom the blackness of darkness hath been reserved. (18) For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error… That's very true. Many so-called “pastors” preach wonderful words, but they're enticing people with lascivious doctrines. They're full of greed for tithes and offerings, but they're just filling churches with tares, as Peter says. (2Pe.2:3) And in covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose sentence now from of old lingereth not, and their destruction slumbereth not.    We've studied and taught a lot about sanctification. We've been given warnings that there is a great falling away coming for those who are enticed away by lasciviousness (2 Thessalonians 2:3; 1 Timothy 4:1). Nothing will be able to stand above the water in the flood that's coming except for those that are righteous. They are walking with the Lord, and they have grace and faith. Nothing else is going to preserve God's people in the days to come.    (2Pe.2:18) For, uttering great swelling [words] of vanity, they entice in the lusts of the flesh, by lasciviousness, those who are just escaping from them that live in error; (19) promising them liberty, while they themselves are bondservants of corruption; for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he also brought into bondage. Multitudes of Christians are in bondage in Babylon! They may think that, through their knowledge of Christ, they've come out of the world and they've escaped the corruption in the world, but in reality, they've just been brought into bondage again with something that is not Christianity.     (2Pe.2:20) For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the last state is become worse with them than the first. When people come back into bondage and they stay there, they become worse than the people in the world. They still walk in wickedness, yet they justify themselves because now they're self-righteous. They have knowledge but they're rejecting that knowledge. They're worse in God's eyes than the people in the world, and they're going to suffer greatly.     (2Pe.2:21) For it were better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after knowing it (So these people have knowledge.), to turn back from the holy commandment delivered unto them. When somebody has knowledge and yet they continue to do the things that are contrary to that knowledge, they're a deceiver. We just read, “their deceivings while they feast with you” (2 Peter 2:12). These people are deceivers, and the Bible says, (Jas.4:17) To him therefore that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.    (2Pe.2:22) It has happened unto them according to the true proverb, The dog turning to his own vomit again, and the sow that had washed to wallowing in the mire. This is heartbreaking! Great judgments are coming to the nations soon, and it's going to take away multitudes of people who consider themselves to be Christian. And because they don't have the mark of God, multitudes of Christians are going to take the mark of the beast.     (Rev.13:16) And he causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead; (17) and that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that hath the mark, [even] the name of the beast or the number of his name. (18) Here is wisdom. He that hath understanding, let him count the number of the beast; for it is the number of a man: and his number is Six hundred and sixty and six. However, we also see the people that have the mark of God in (Rev.14:1) And I saw, and behold, the Lamb standing on the mount Zion, and with him a hundred and forty and four thousand, having his name, and the name of his Father, written on their foreheads.     Ezekiel also talks about God judging who is righteous and who is not righteous, based on whether they mourned and were grieved over the ungodliness that they saw around them. Let's look at that text first. (Eze.9:4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. Again, we see this is not talking about the sin in the world, but the sin in the church. And the people that are marked in the forehead because they “sigh and cry over all the abominations,” are the people that are going to escape the wrath of God, the judgment of God, that's coming.     Chapters 5, 6, 7, and 8 repeatedly mention the “abomination” and the “desolation,” all leading up to chapter 9 and the mark of God. In chapter 8, we even see the image of the beast. And notice, when we read these chapters, how we don't find the theology that we hear in Christianity nowadays. In every case, the “abomination of desolation” described is God's people walking in the flesh in the Temple. They are the flesh man, and they are the beast ruling in the Temple of God. This is what God calls an “abomination.” And what does He give them for that? Desolation. The holy people of God grieve for them; they grieve for these people who walk abominably before the Lord.    (Eze.8:1) And it came to pass in the sixth year, in the sixth [month]… Notice that these chapters are leading up to a time that's identified with six-six, and in the next chapter, six men come with their slaughter weapons in hand. That's six-six-six. And what does this identify? It identifies the end time, the time of the beast, the time of the abomination of desolation (Daniel 9:27; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14). Now remember, in the New Testament there is no temple made with hands that God is interested in or concerned about being holy (Job 4:19; Matthew 26:61; Mark 14:58; etc.) It's the Temple “made without hands” that God requires and expects to be holy (Acts 7:48; 2 Corinthians 5:1; Hebrews 9:11; etc.), and this is the only temple that can have an abomination of desolation.   Only the Temple of the Body of Christ can have an abomination that “maketh desolate,” because every other temple out there is desolate. God has departed from them. He will never again dwell in temples made with hands, and so they are desolate (Acts 17:24). But we are the New Testament temple; we can become desolate, “twice dead, plucked up by the roots” (Jude 1:12). That's the temple we need to be concerned about.     Paul told us, (Php.2:12) So then, my beloved, even as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; (13) for it is God who worketh in you both to will and to work, for his good pleasure. And Peter exhorted, (2Pe.1:10) Wherefore, brethren, give the more diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never stumble: (11) for thus shall be richly supplied unto you the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It should be the Lord Jesus Christ Who lives in us and Who manifests His holy Life in us.     Returning to our text in Ezekiel, God asks him (Eze.8:6) … Son of man, seest thou what they do? (All throughout these texts, it's always “what they do” and that's the abomination.) even the great abominations that the house of Israel do commit here (So the “beast” in the Temple is the corporate body of these people that walk in the flesh and are in rebellion against God.), that I should go far off from my sanctuary? (Or, in other words, “leave it desolate.”) but thou shalt again see yet other great abominations. (7) And he brought me to the door of the court; and when I looked, behold, a hole in the wall.     (8) Then said he unto me, Son of man, dig now in the wall: and when I had digged in the wall, behold, a door. (9) And he said unto me, Go in, and see the wicked abominations that they do here. (10) So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts… This is just as Solomon said in (Ecc.3:18) … It is because of the sons of men, that God may prove them, and that they may see that they themselves are but as beasts.    Peter was given the same revelation. (Acts 10:11) And he (This is Peter.) beholdeth the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great sheet, let down by four corners upon the earth: (12) wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts and creeping things of the earth and birds of the heaven. (13) And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill and eat. (14) But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common and unclean. (15) And a voice [came] unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, make not thou common. Then Peter was given the understanding that God was speaking to him of the Gentiles, because all lost people are beasts, and so he preached the Gospel to Cornelius and his family (Acts 10:34-48). So we can see clearly from these texts that the “abominable beasts” in the Temple of God are these people who walk in the flesh.    Back to (Eze.8:10) So I went in and saw; and behold, every form of creeping things, and abominable beasts, and all the idols of the house of Israel, portrayed upon the wall round about. (11) And there stood before them seventy men of the elders of the house of Israel; and in the midst of them stood Jaazaniah the son of Shaphan, every man with his censer in his hand… Those 70 men are the Sanhedrin. They were the corporate body of the false prophet that ruled over the people of God in Jesus' day, and God calls this the “abomination.” (12) Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the elders of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in his chambers of imagery? (There's the image of the beast in the Temple.) for they say, the Lord seeth us not; the Lord hath forsaken the land. (13) He said also unto me, Thou shalt again see yet other great abominations which they do. Again, notice there is no individual man.     There is a corporate body committing these abominations that make desolate, and that body is not only the priests; it's also the people. (Eze.8:14) Then he brought me to the door of the gate of the Lord's house which was toward the north; and behold, there sat the women weeping for Tammuz. (Tammuz was a false “Jesus” worshiped by Babylon. God is saying that in the midst of the Temple are those who worship “another Jesus” {2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 1:6}.) (15) Then said he unto me, Hast thou seen [this,] O son of man? thou shalt again see yet greater abominations than these. Well, this chapter goes on to speak of abomination after abomination, all committed by the people of God in rebellion against the worship of the true God. In their idolatry, they were creating gods after their own liking and in their own image.    (Eze.9:1) Then he cried in mine ears with a loud voice, saying, Cause ye them that have charge over the city to draw near, every man with his destroying weapon in his hand. (2) And behold, six men… That's the third six. This represents the beast, and all throughout history, the Lord has given the beast charge over God's people when they were in rebellion. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Media-Persia, Greece, and Rome each had authority over God's people in their day. Today we have a revival of Rome and, just as the Lord gave those earlier beasts authority over His people, He is going to do that again because the beast is in the Temple and there has to come a desolation.   In 70A.D. God brought the Roman armies into Jerusalem to slaughter those who hadn't already slaughtered each other. Multitudes of the Jews were so full of the beast that they were killing each other off, and when the Romans came into Jerusalem, they just finished the job. [Editor's Note: Referenced from The Works of Josephus, translated by William Whiston, Hendrickson Publishers, 1987.] But, once again, it was the corporate body of the wicked in the Temple that was an abomination to God, and so He destroyed both them and their Temple.    (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men came from the way of the upper gate, which lieth toward the north, every man with his slaughter weapon in his hand… The Hebrew word for “slaughter weapon” is also translated “battle-ax,” and who does God call His “battle-ax”? Let's look at that. (Isa.10:5) Ho Assyrian, the rod of mine anger, the staff in whose hand is mine indignation! (6) I will send him against a profane nation (This is Israel.), and against the people of my wrath will I give him a charge, to take the spoil, and to take the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. (7) Howbeit he meaneth not so, neither doth his heart think so; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few… (Well, the Assyrian beast thought this was their great idea to plunder Israel, but God says, “No, no, I put it in their hearts,” and He called these people His “ax.”) (15) Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith?… The Assyrians thought it was by their own might, but God says, “No, I gave you the strength to do this, and I sent you against these vain, abominable people, to judge them and bring them to their cross and, hopefully, to repentance.”     Truly, we're going to see a repetition of history come upon us in our day, although people with their lascivious doctrines teach that this is something which is only going to happen to little Israel far away from them. They refuse to understand that Christians are New Testament spiritual Israel. They are blind to the corporate beast body coming upon Christianity.     (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen… I believe this is Jesus in the Man-child. Revelation 12 tells us the man-child ministry is coming in the end times, and it's coming again like Moses, like Jesus, to show God's people the correct way. What the Man-child teaches is going to separate the sheep from the goats. It's going to define who is going to be judged and who is not going to be judged.     (Eze.9:2) And behold, six men; and one man in the midst of them clothed in linen, with a writer's inkhorn by his side. And they went in, and stood beside the brazen altar. (3) And the glory of the God of Israel was gone up from the cherub, whereupon it was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man clothed in linen, who had the writer's inkhorn by his side. (4) And the Lord said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem (So notice that He is not bringing judgment upon the world. He's bringing judgment upon God's house, upon those who profess to be His people.), and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry over all the abominations that are done in the midst thereof. Does it grieve you that God's people have been so led astray, so deceived by their leadership, and so lured into sin by their own self-will? Now listen, nobody can be deceived by another man if they don't first have a lust to live in that way and accept these false and lascivious doctrines.    People are going to be self-deluded and self-deceived because, just like Balaam, they love the hire of wrong-doing. They love to please their old flesh. And they're being bribed by the flesh to accept a doctrine, a teaching, a lifestyle that is permitting the old man to live. Saints, we're here to live the crucified life (Matthew 10:38; Mark 8:34; Luke 14:27; Hebrews 13:13), and if we don't lose our life, we won't gain our life (Matthew 16:26; Luke 9:25).    (Eze.9:5) And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite… He is speaking to the beast here, the six men. Six is the number of the beast, and six is the number of man. In fact, the sixth chapter of the sixth verse of the sixth book in the New Testament talks about the old man. (Rom.6:6) Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with [him,] that the body of sin might be done away, that so we should no longer be in bondage to sin.    (Eze.9:5) And to the others he said in my hearing, Go ye through the city after him, and smite: let not your eye spare, neither have ye pity; (6) slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark … Now the mark being spoken of here is the mark of the Lord, and it identifies those who are members of the body of Christ, just as the mark of the Beast identifies those who are members of the body of the Beast. Jesus said there are only two men in the earth, Christ and anti-Christ (Matthew 24:40; Luke 17:36). The truth is that people love to identify themselves as “Christian”, but these marks will prove in the coming days who really are Christians and who are not.     (Eze.9:6) Slay utterly the old man, the young man and the virgin, and little children and women; but come not near any man upon whom is the mark: and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the old men that were before the house. (In other words, they've lived longer, and they know more, so they're more guilty than anyone else.) (Eze.9:7) And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. Great destruction is coming against Christianity because it doesn't reflect what was given to us through Jesus Christ. We are to (Jud.1:3) … contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered unto the saints. The faith of our day won't count because religion has turned people away, through their own lustful desires, from true discipleship. (1Jn.2:6) He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked. “Discipleship” is walking in the Master's Steps, and that means a disciple studies their Master to walk as He walked.    (Eze.9:7) And he said unto them, Defile the house, and fill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and smote in the city. (Eze.9:8) And it came to pass, while they were smiting, and I was left, that I fell upon my face, and cried, and said, Ah Lord God! wilt thou destroy all the residue of Israel in thy pouring out of thy wrath upon Jerusalem? Well, we know this is coming again because it says in (Ecc.1:9) That which hath been is that which shall be; and that which hath been done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. The Israelites were types and shadows of the end time, and a great falling away will happen just as the Bible says (2 Thessalonians 2). And notice this is old Jerusalem receiving judgment. This is the old city and the people that belonged to it. This is not born-again Jerusalem.    Then in (Eze.10:2) And he spake unto the man clothed in linen, and said, Go in between the whirling [wheels], even under the cherub, and fill both thy hands with coals of fire from between the cherubim, and scatter them over the city… In other words, he brings judgment. The Man-child ministry is coming to bring judgment upon the city of God. These judgments are going to cleanse it of the goats and cleanse it of the tares. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke words that separated the goats from the sheep, separated the wheat from the tares. His Words brought judgment in His day, and the ministry of the Manchild will do the same in these days, but the people that will escape are the people who have been, and are going to mourn. They are the ones that are blessed, according to Jesus. While the world is rejoicing, they will mourn because of the great wrath and the judgment of God upon the people that call themselves “Christians.” They will mourn because of the great falling away of the people who had no faith.     We need to see and understand that the judgment that's coming is going to prove who has faith and who does not have faith. The judgment that's coming is going to prove who is a believer and who is not a believer. The wilderness tribulation for Israel was to prove whether they had faith or not. And, of course, Joshua and Caleb, who had faith, went to the Promised Land (Numbers 32:12). They didn't have to die in the wilderness because they had faith. They believed in the Lord. They spoke His Word, and they didn't die like the men who spoke the bad report, they spoke against the Lord and died in the wilderness (Numbers 26:65). Once again, today we are coming to a “wilderness” that God is going to use to prove who is truly of Him and who is not. The Word of God is going to separate the sheep from the goats. We need to put the Word in our hearts so that we have the conviction of Jesus Christ, so that sin is sinful to us, so that the rebellion of rebellious people grieves us.     Father, in the Name of Jesus, we're asking You, Lord, that You convict those “Christians” who have created a religion and a doctrine that pleases them because they don't have to give up anything. They don't believe they have to live a sacrificial life; they don't have to deny themselves; they don't have to take up their cross. Lord, we ask that You convict them mightily and that You bring them to You, Father, in the Name of Jesus. Thank You so much, Lord. Amen.  Now, I'd like to share some other scriptures about the blessings that will come from the Lord for those who have mourned, as we've been discussing. When the Man-child ministry begins, Jesus is coming with His reward!  Zion, the Bride, has gone through their time of mourning and warfare to get rid of their sins and their enemies within. To get rid of the leaven. Jer.9:17 Thus saith Jehovah of hosts, Consider ye, and call for the mourning women, that they may come; and send for the skilful women, that they may come: 18 and let them make haste, and take up a wailing for us, that our eyes may run down with tears, and our eyelids gush out with waters. 19 For a voice of wailing is heard out of Zion, How are we ruined! we are greatly confounded, because we have forsaken the land, because they have cast down our dwellings. 20 Yet hear the word of Jehovah, O ye women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth; and teach your daughters wailing, and every one her neighbor lamentation. 21 For death is come up into our windows, it is entered into our palaces; to cut off the children from without, and the young men from the streets. 22 Speak, Thus saith Jehovah, The dead bodies of men shall fall as dung upon the open field, and as the handful after the harvestman; and none shall gather them.     23 Thus saith Jehovah, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches; 24 but let him that glorieth glory in this, that he hath understanding, and knoweth me, that I am Jehovah who exerciseth lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith Jehovah. 25 Behold, the days come, saith Jehovah, that I will punish all them that are circumcised in their uncircumcision: 26 Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, (All of the faction) and all that have the corners of their hair cut off, that dwell in the wilderness; for all the nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in heart.    Zec.12:10-11 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplication; and they shall look unto me whom they have pierced; and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his first-born. 11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.  Psa.35:11-17 Unrighteous witnesses rise up; They ask me of things that I know not. 12 They reward me evil for good, To the bereaving of my soul. 13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I afflicted my soul with fasting; And my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother: I bowed down mourning, as one that bewaileth his mother. 15 But in mine adversity they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together: The abjects gathered themselves together against me, and I knew it not; They did tear me, and ceased not: 16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, They gnashed upon me with their teeth. 17 Lord, how long wilt thou look on? Rescue my soul from their destructions, My darling from the lions.  The sorrow of persecution and crucifixion is now turning into joy for those of the remnant Bride. Est.4:1-3 Now when Mordecai knew all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes, and went out into the midst of the city, and cried with a loud and a bitter cry; 2 and he came even before the king's gate: for none might enter within the king's gate clothed with sackcloth. 3 And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.   Est.9:20 And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21 to enjoin them that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22 as the days wherein the Jews had rest from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to gladness, and from mourning into a good day; that they should make them days of feasting and gladness, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor. (Down goes the DS and religious factions.) Isa.40:1 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem; and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she hath received of Jehovah's hand double for all her sins.    Psa 30:2 O Jehovah my God, I cried unto thee, and thou hast healed me. 3 O Jehovah, thou hast brought up my soul from Sheol; Thou hast kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit. (Like Joseph, who came out of prison to the lies that were told about him by the harlot, to rule and preserve the people through the tribulation famine.)    4 Sing praise unto Jehovah, O ye saints of his, And give thanks to his holy memorial name. 5 For his anger is but for a moment; His favor is for a life-time: Weeping may tarry for the night, But joy cometh in the morning. (Here is the joyful saints again) 6 As for me, I said in my prosperity, I shall never be moved. (But through much tribulation shall we enter the Kingdom) 7 Thou, Jehovah, of thy favor hadst made my mountain to stand strong: Thou didst hide thy face (As in the crucifixion of Jesus the Man-child type.); I was troubled. 8 I cried to thee, O Jehovah; And unto Jehovah I made supplication: 9 What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? shall it declare thy truth? 10 Hear, O Jehovah, and have mercy upon me: Jehovah, be thou my helper. (Been there)    11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing; Thou hast loosed my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Jehovah my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever. (Joy of the David's and the Bride.)    Joh.16:20-24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, that ye shall weep and lament (Because Jesus was crucified), but the world shall rejoice: ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. (Because He is coming again in the Man-child reformers.) 21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow (This is the Woman Church in Revelation 12 in our day.), because her hour is come: but when she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for the joy that a man is born into the world. 22 And ye therefore now have sorrow: but I will see you again (in the Man-child reformers of Rev.12), and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no one taketh away from you. 23 And in that day ye shall ask me no question. Verily, verily, I say unto you, if ye shall ask anything of the Father, he will give it you in my name. 24 Hitherto (Meaning until this time) have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be made full.    Psa.30:1-12 A Psalm; a Song at the Dedication of the House. (Representing the true house of God, not that of Babylonish captivity) A Psalm of David. I will extol thee, O Jehovah; for thou hast raised me up, And hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. (This is the David Man-child but also Joseph the Man-child was resurrected from prison, like Jesus the Man-child was, to rule those who lied about him.)  Isa.61:1 The Spirit of the Lord Jehovah is upon me; because Jehovah hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2 to proclaim the year of Jehovah's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; 3 to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them a garland for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of Jehovah, that he may be glorified…  6 But ye shall be named the priests of Jehovah; men shall call you the ministers of our God: ye shall eat the wealth of the nations, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves. 7 Instead of your shame ye shall have double; and instead of dishonor they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess double; everlasting joy shall be unto them. 8 For I, Jehovah, love justice, I hate robbery with iniquity; and I will give them their recompense in truth, and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 9 And their seed shall be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples; all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which Jehovah hath blessed.  10 I will greatly rejoice in Jehovah, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with a garland, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. 11 For as the earth bringeth forth its bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord Jehovah will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.     Isa.51:3 For Jehovah hath comforted Zion; he hath comforted all her waste places, and hath made her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of Jehovah; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.  Isa 51:11 And the ransomed of Jehovah shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. 12 I, even I, am he that comforteth you: …    Isa.57:15-18 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. 16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit would faint before me, and the souls that I have made. 17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him; I hid my face and was wroth; and he went on backsliding in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him: I will lead him also, and restore comforts unto him and to his mourners.      Isa.66:10-14 Rejoice ye with Jerusalem, and be glad for her, all ye that love her: rejoice for joy with her, all ye that mourn over her; 11 that ye may suck and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations; that ye may milk out, and be delighted with the abundance of her glory. 12 For thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will extend peace to her like a river, and the glory of the nations like an overflowing stream: and ye shall suck thereof; ye shall be borne upon the side, and shall be dandled upon the knees. 13 As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem. 14 And ye shall see it, and your heart shall rejoice, and your bones shall flourish like the tender grass: and the hand of Jehovah shall be known toward his servants; and he will have indignation against his enemies.    Isa.12:1-6 And in that day thou shalt say, I will give thanks unto thee, O Jehovah; for though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away and thou comfortest me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Jehovah, even Jehovah, is my strength and song; and he is become my salvation. 3 Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 4 And in that day shall ye say, Give thanks unto Jehovah, call upon his name, declare his doings among the peoples, make mention that his name is exalted. 5 Sing unto Jehovah; for he hath done excellent things: let this be known in all the earth. 6 Cry aloud and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion; for great in the midst of thee is the Holy One of Israel.    Rev.21:2-4 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of the throne saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he shall dwell with them, and they shall be his peoples, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God: 4 and he shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more; neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more: the first things are passed away. 

We read the central portion of Baruch (3:9-4:8), understanding its mysterious words about Wisdom in light of Deuteronomy 3:11-14, Romans 10:5-13, 1 Cor 1:30-31. The prophet saw Wisdom in the Law, but also glimpsed the time when Wisdom would visit us as a human being, the LORD Jesus Himself.

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Isaiah 7: 10-14; 8: 10; Rs psalm 40: 7-8a.8b-9.10.11; Hebrews 10: 4-10; Luke 1: 26-38TODAY'S GOOD NEWS The theme for our meditation today, the Solemnity ofthe Annunciation of the Lord is: Today's Good News. In the current trendysocial media-based short videos, we are always given the answer to thequestion: "What are today's words?" The person being questionedalways gives answers in the form of nice words to hear, expressions offriendship, motivational statements, and inspiring exclamations.  For example, when you watch and hear a motivationalstatement in this manner, "Stedfast in your faith, never give up, becausea day's hardship is enough for a day," and at that very moment you aredepressed and disappointed by a certain problem, you will be comforted andcalm. You will restart your day by being excited and joyful again.  In our time, audio-visual and digital-based socialmedia is running hand in hand with the creativity of the human generation ofmedia users who are increasingly expanding and advanced. The preaching anddissemination of the good news can be done by as many people as possible withtheir own abilities and creativity. In this connection, the event of the Annuncitationof the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of Nazareth who was appointed as theMother of God and Jesus the Savior of the world born through the womb of Mary,should be the main motivation for us to always share the good news, the joyful words,and the wonderful story of salvation among us. Basically, God Himself is the giver and sharer of thejoyful news of the mysteries of His glory to us. This Solemnity of theAnnunciation is one of the God's revelations of His glory. It is this act ofGod that we must continue in our daily lives, when we are the ones who conceivethe good news and bring them to the world or our own presence that becomes goodnews for the people around us. The question would this: what is the content ofgood news can we share? For us the people belong to Jesus Christ who are sentas His witnesses in the world, the content of today's good news that we bringis of course the Lord Jesus Himself. Words, expressions, and statements thatcontain goodness to comfort and strengthen must be acknowledged as inspirationfrom God, and not from Satan or any particular evil spirit. Ghosts do not haveauthority to spread the good news of God. We, as individuals and as a community, should bringthe name of Jesus, His actions and teachings as the glad tidings that weproclaim to others. As the scriptures say, we are indeed salt and light for theworld today. God is the glad tidings, we are the bearers.Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O Almighty God,enable us to be true bearers of joyful news in today's world. Our Father who artin heaven... In the name of the Father ...

We've forgotten how to fast, and it has not only cost us the potency of our prayers and profound benefits to our bodies but has ultimately disconnected us from a practice essential to the faith of the early saints and to our Lord Jesus Himself. Pastor Reward Sibanda shares from his book, "How to Fast: Rediscover the Ancient Practice for Unlocking Physical, Emotional, and Spiritual Renewal." Faith Radio podcasts are made possible by your support. Give now: Click here

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Hebrews 4: 12-16; Rs psalm 19: 8-9.10.15; Mark 2: 13-17 WASTE BECOMES A BLESSING   Our meditation today has the theme: Waste Becomes a Blessing. Creativity that continues to happen in processing waste into blessings has become commonplace. Waste such as plastic and metal tend to increase day by day, and this sooner or later endangers human life and the environment. So there is a local, national, and global movement to recycle the waste.   There is a parish youth group making a multi-storey shelves to put flower pots on it. They were divided into 6 groups, so there were six shelves made. The material for the shelves was aqua packaging plastic collected from various places. The size, as well as the design of the shape of the shelves depends on the creativity of each group. The important thing is that each shelf is a place to accommodate 20-30 flower pots.   Finally, that youth's creativity succeeded in giving a new scene in the parish yard and rectory. The parish garden becomes very interesting to look at. The creativity made is for the parishioners a blessing for the entire parish. Useless plastics have been turned into a beautiful part of the garden for the good of all parishioners. That creativity inspires families to make their own in their own homes.   What happens with wastes turn into a blessing, an example for us to make a spiritual empowerment on the way to salvation. The primary mission of Jesus Christ on earth is to save us and the whole world from sin and death. Because of the spirit of this world and the power of Satan and its kingdom, our lives and the entire contents of this world are in seclusion and darkness. Every time we are tempted by the Evil One and end up falling into sin, our personhood and life become garbage. In the presence of the Lord we are rotten garbage.   So the Lord Jesus Himself says, "I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." He comes to meet us in a state of rubbish, call us, cleanse us, and include us in His works. We rejoice when He comes to us with God's mercy, which means we are deeply loved and made significant.   Therefore there are those who become apostles, like Levi the son of Alpheus, some who become apostles of the nations like Paul and some who become like each of us today, as members of the one Body of Christ. Looking at and reflecting on each of us at this time, realize that we are always trash when we sin, but God also always turns us into blessings when we regret, confess and repent. Let us pray. In the name of the Father... O God, forgive us our mistakes and do not put us in temptation. Hail Mary full of grace... In the name of the Father...

God's Word for Today11 Dec, 20241 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly.- Prov 15:1-2 ESV THE STRENGTH OF SOFT WORDSIt is a paradoxical statement to say “A soft answer is strong”, is it not? A soft or gentle answer can diffuse a potentially explosive situation of seething anger or wrath. The word translated "wrath" here means rage. This is the kind of volatile anger that eventually leads to physical conflict. When we're insulted or angry, the natural course of action is to become furious, also. We do reciprocate the other person's rage with similar rage, don't we? Sadly, our reaction of rage with harsh and hurtful words will make matters worse. Harsh responses only cause the enraged person's anger to escalate resulting tor hostility.However. a cool temper refuses to fight fire with fire. This is the response of a wise person answering gently, and his gentle words extinguish the fire. At least, a gentle response will give no more fuel for anger to burn. A calm and polite response can ease out a great deal of tension to further argument. This response of godly wisdom and thoughtfulness comes out from a clean and regenerated heart.[Mat 12:34] Paul tells us not to avenge ourselves, but to know the Lord will repay the wrong. The believer's responsibility is to show kindness to an enemy: "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good" (Romans 12:20,21).Solomon observes that the wise person complements knowledge by speaking wisely. His wise speech persuades others to pursue and gain knowledge. The fool, however, speaks foolishly. It is so natural for them to say things thoughtlessly so this reveals their lack of knowledge. Our example of a wise person is none other but the Lord Jesus Himself. He possessed all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:3) He astounded people with His wise words. At 12 years old, Jesus manifested His wisdom when He conversed with the teachers in the temple. "All who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers."[ Luke 2:47] Later in life in His hometown Nazareth, Jesus taught those who were present inside the synagogue. Subsequently, they "were astonished, and said, 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works?'" (Matthew 13:54). Jesus has no formal education yet He amazed people for He knew the Scriptures.Today, let's not neglect the word as Jesus did. May as the psalmist, we say;“ Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me.I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation.”[Psa 119:97-99]Watch in YouTube: https://youtu.be/lPuuvKVODmgListen and FOLLOW us on our podcast Spotify: http://bit.ly/glccfil_spotify Apple Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-applepcast Google Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-googlepcastAudible Podcast: http://bit.ly/glccfil-audibleFollow us on various media platforms: https://gospellightfilipino.contactin.bio#gospellightfilipino#godswordfortoday#bookofProverbs

We’re grateful to God on this Thanksgiving Day not just because we’re bound to be thankful in view of all He has done for us, but because the Lord Jesus Himself makes us grateful through the message of His saving life and death. We are grateful for the Good News only through the Good News. Jesus is the Vine, and we are the branches. Unless we abide in Him, we cannot bear fruit including the fruit of gratitude.

Ephesians 5:22-24 Much controversy surrounds the word submission in modern culture. Somehow, the word has become negative and connotes inferiority or weakness. Nothing could be farther from the truth! Biblical submission is evidence of Spirit-power and was modeled by the Lord Jesus Himself. Moreover, it is an essential component to the success of any group.

Delivered by Father Peter Tukan, SDB from Salesian Don Bosco Gerak in the Diocese of Labuan Bajo, Indonesia. Jeremiah 26: 1-9; Rs psalm 69: 5.8-10.14; Matthew 13: 54-58 THE CONSEQUENCES OF NOT BELIEVING   The theme for our meditation today is: The Consequences of Not Believing. During his life and especially his work as a missionary far from his own country, Father Anthony always taught his people to believe in God's providence. For him, by believing all questions and problems in life will find answers. On the other hand, if humans and believers begin to decline and lose their faith in God, their lives will begin to enter a phase of dangers and loss of divine blessings.   Once upon a time, when he returned from his visit to a village, Father Anthony met a farmer, a father who had five sons. He told the Father that his faith in God was beginning to decline. Why? After his third child was born as a boy, he really hoped and prayed that his next child would be a girl. In reality, his fourth and fifth children were all boys. He began to doubt God's intervention in him and his family life.   “Boys and girls are equal in the presence of God,” the Pastor responded, “they are human persons entrusted by God that we must accept and be grateful for.” Then the Pastor asked, “What about your older children?” The farmer answered somewhat sadly, “They are the ones causing trouble in the house. They like to fight and their lives are far from discipline and good manners. They do not listen to their parents.”   Father Anthony convinced the farmer by saying, “You must return to believing in God unconditionally, and you must change your view of family and having children. You must not differentiate between boys and girls.” The Pastor saw a glimmer of hope on the father's face. He seemed to regret his attitude so far, which had begun to doubt God's providence. His faith seemed more shaken than simply surrendering to God and remaining grateful.   The illustration above is enough to give us a warning that the consequences of a lack of trust or disbelief in the form of danger, accidents and difficulties come by themselves. God allows that to happen. Living by trusting God unconditionally has given us space to receive grace after grace. However, when that trust begins to fade and become smaller, grace begins to not come and that is a direct result of lack of trust or distrust.   Just as the Lord Jesus Himself treated people in His hometown who did not believe in Him, He will also do the same to anyone among us who fades or even loses his trust in God's providence. Actually, believing in God is quick and easy for us to do, because we just use our mind, awareness and will. However, what is a challenge and a difficulty is our ability to consistently maintain that trust in God. Therefore, we must always pray so that our faith will be strengthened and become mature.   Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Lord, increase our lacking faith and strengthen our weak faith. Glory to the Father and to the Son ... In the name of the Father ...

Broadcast 4085 Listen to today's audio: streamglobe.org/aud4085 Watch today's Vidoe: streamglobe.org/vid4085 Hebrews 2:3-4 (NKJV) how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, 4 God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will? Suzanne had a hard time discerning false prophets from true ones. She observed that some of the false prophets had become very smart by embracing ‘holiness' doctrines. But she had a personal encounter with one of such holiness preachers and realized he was as greedy and filthy as the rest. She also realized that most of the false prophets were not interested in winning souls for the Lord, they were only interested in the money. We can see from today's Bible verses that salvation was first preached by the Lord Jesus Himself, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him (His disciples who echoed His gospel). In Matthew 9:35 and Luke 8:1, we see that the Lord Jesus went to different towns and villages teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom. We also see that His disciples did the same. Many wonder what gospel message Jesus and the Apostles preached since Jesus was not yet crucified? Well, Jesus preached the message of salvation. What makes a person receive eternal salvation is believing that Jesus is Lord (the Christ of God, the Messiah). Even before Jesus died on the cross, people were being saved through believing in Him. We see in Luke 19:9 that Jesus said salvation had come to the house of Zacchaeus [because he believed in Him]. Before and after His death and resurrection, believing that Jesus is Lord was the key to salvation. The resurrection was God's token proof that Jesus is Lord. The Jews crucified Him because He said He was the Christ (the Son of God, the King of the Jews). But God raised Him up on the third day as proof that He is indeed the Christ (Lord, Anointed One, the Messiah). The gospel we preach today now includes this vital truth—that God raised Jesus from the dead (see Romans 10:9). In John 4, we are given a rare peek into the content of the gospel message that Jesus preached while He walked the streets of Israel. We see Jesus preaching to the Samaritan woman, and their conversation headed up to Him revealing to her that He is the Messiah (see John 4:25-26). The woman believed in Him and even invited others to come and see the Christ (see John 4:29). Whether then, or when the Apostles preached, or today, the gospel message has been about bringing people to receive the Lordship of Christ Jesus. People who receive the gospel live under the Lordship of Christ. That's why they repent of their old ways that do not align with life under Christ's government. Go into today remembering that God confirms His gospel with signs and wonders, miracles and gifts of the Spirit. The next time you want to discern whether a prophet is false or not, look at the fruits of his ministry (Matthew 7:16). Is he raising people whose allegiance is to Christ (this shows by their lives of submission to the Lordship of Christ) or is he raising people whose true allegiance is to him and to mammon? Prayer: Heavenly Father, please help me be a true minister of Your salvation. Stretch out Your hand to confirm Your word in my life with signs and wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen. —Abraham Damilola Arigi   If you wish to start receiving Streamglobe Devotional early every day, join our WhatsApp channel through this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/LFbRirvMpPC1KmzfDpr0bO   Bible In 1 Year: I Kings 10-13 (in today's audio)   Streamglobe is interdenominational. Kindly share this devotional and let's touch lives together. Listen to our 24/7 Radio here: www.streamglobe.org

It's Friday, June 28th, A.D. 2024. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard at www.TheWorldview.com. I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Adam McManus Laos officials arrest pastor and 5 Christians On June 22nd, village officials in central Laos arrested Pastor Mum and five other Christians as they prayed in preparation for worship services the next day, reports Morning Star News. Sirikoon Prasertsee, director of Human Rights Watcher for Lao Religious Freedom, said, “The arrests took place on Saturday at Mr. Mum's home. They are currently being imprisoned in Xaibouathong District prison.” After Pastor Mum put his faith in Christ in 2019 upon experiencing God's healing, he established a church that worshipped freely in his home According to Open Doors, Laos is the 21st most difficult country worldwide in which to be a Christian. Please keep Pastor Mum and the other five Christians in your prayers. Biden gave confusing answer on economy Last night in Atlanta, President Joe Biden, the Democrat, debated former President Donald Trump, the Republican, on CNN ahead of the November 5th presidential election. With Jake Tapper and Dana Bash as co-anchors, the set up was unusual. Unlike most presidential debates, there was no live audience.  Plus, during the answer of one candidate, his opponent's microphone was turned off which prevented any interruptions. (You can watch the entire 90-minute debate or read the debate transcript through special links at www.TheWorldview.com.) Out of the gate, the hosts asked about the economy.  Biden championed the redistribution of wealth and then became confused, reports LifeSiteNews.com. Listen. BIDEN: “What I'm gonna do is fix the tax system. For example, we have 1,000 trillionaires in America, I mean billionaires in America. And what's happening? They're in a situation where they, in fact, pay 8.2% in taxes. If they just paid 24%, 25% -- either one of those numbers -- they raise $500 million dollars, billion dollars I should say, in a 10-year period. We'd be able to wipe out his debt. “We'd be able to help make sure that all those things we need to do -- child care, elder care, making sure that we continue to strengthen our healthcare system, making sure that we're able to make every single, solitary person eligible for what I've been able to do with the, with the COVID, excuse me, with um, dealing with everything we have to do with, uh..  Look, we finally beat Medicare.” Trump claimed that illegals will bankrupt Social Security and Medicare JAKE TAPPER: “Thank you, President Biden. President Trump?” TRUMP: “Well, he's right. He did beat Medicare. He beat it to death and he's destroying Medicare. Because all of these people are coming in. They're putting them on Medicare. They're putting them on Social Security. They're going to destroy Social Security. This man is going to single-handedly destroy Social Security. “These millions and millions of people coming in. They're trying to put them on Social Security. He will wipe out Social Security. He will wipe out Medicare. So, he was right in the way he finished that sentence. And it's a shame. What's happened to our country in the last four years is not to be believed.” Trump speaks out in favor of Abortion Kill Pill Dana Bash asked about the Abortion Kill Pill which 63% of mothers who abort their children use instead of surgical abortion today. BASH: “This is the first presidential election since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. This morning, the court ruled on yet another abortion case, temporarily allowing emergency abortions to continue in Idaho. “Despite that state's restrictive ban, former President Trump, you take credit for the decision to overturn Roe v Wade which returned the issue of abortion to the states.” TRUMP: “Correct.” BASH: “However, the federal government still plays a role in whether or not women have access to abortion pills. They're used in about two-thirds of all abortions. As President, would you block abortion medication?” TRUMP: “First of all, the Supreme Court just approved the Abortion Pill. And I agree with their decision to have done that. And I will not block it. “If you look at this whole question that you're asking is 51 years ago. You had Roe v. Wade, and everybody wanted to get it back to the states. Everybody -- without exception, Democrats, Republicans, liberals, conservatives -- everybody wanted to back -- religious leaders. “And what I did is I put three great Supreme Court justices on the court, and they happened to vote in favor of killing Roe v. Wade, and moving it back to the states. Now the states are working it out. If you look at Ohio, it was a decision that was an end result that was a little bit more liberal than you would have thought. Kansas, I would say the same thing. Texas is different. Florida is different, but they're all making their own decisions right now. And right now, the states control it. That's the vote of the people.” In Psalm 139:13-14, David says to God, “For You created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Biden championed abortion, then fell apart President Biden, who has campaigned on his commitment to codify Roe v. Wade into law, took issue with Trump's victory lap over Roe v. Wade's defeat. BIDEN: “It's been a terrible thing what you've done. The fact is that the vast majority of constitutional scholars supported Roe when it was decided, supported Roe. This idea that they're all against it, it's just ridiculous. And this is the guy who says the state should be able to have it. We're in a state where in six weeks, you don't even know whether you're pregnant or not, but you cannot see a doctor and have him decide on what your circumstances are, whether you need help. “The idea that states are able to do this is a little like saying, ‘We're gonna turn civil rights back to the states -- that each state has a different role.' “Look, there's so many young women -- including a young woman who just was murdered, and [Trump] went to the funeral. The idea that she was murdered by an immigrant coming into, they talk about that. But here's the deal. There's a lot of young women to be raped by their, by their in-laws, by their spouses, brothers and sisters. By, it's just, it's just ridiculous. And they can do nothing about it. And then they try to arrest them when they cross state lines.” BASH: “Thank you.” The age of the candidates, and their golf games, were addressed Dana Bash raised the issue of age with both candidates. This is how Trump responded. BASH: “Former President Trump, you would be 82 at the end of your second term. What do you say to voters who have concerns about your capabilities to serve?” TRUMP: “Well, I took two tests, cognitive tests. I aced them, both of them as you know. We made it public. He took none. I'd like to see him take one, just one, a real easy one. Like go through the first five questions. You couldn't do it. I took physical exams every year. I'm in very good health. “I just won two club championships, not even senior, two regular club championships. To do that, you have to be quite smart, and you have to be able to hit the ball a long way. And I do it. He doesn't do it. He can't hit a ball 50 yards. He challenged me to a golf match. I think I'm in very good shape. I feel that I'm in as good a shape as I was 25, 30 years ago. Actually, I'm probably a little bit lighter.” BASH: “President Biden?” BIDEN: “I'd be happy to have a driving contest with him. I got my handicap, which when I was vice president, down to a six. By the way, I told you before, I'm happy to play golf, if you carry your own bag. Do you think you can do it?” TRUMP: “That's the biggest lie that he is a six handicap of all." BIDEN: “I was at an eight handicap.” TRUMP: “Yeah, I've seen his swing. I know your swing. Let's not act like children.” BIDEN: “You are a child!” Presidential historian: “Most disjointed, least substantive, most dishonest debate” Appearing on “News Nation,” presidential historian Chris Stirewalt offered this analysis. STIREWALT: “In the 64 years of presidential debates, I feel pretty confident that I can say this is the worst one that has ever been done. The most disjointed, the least substantive, the most dishonest. I'm sure the only one that involved a debate about golf handicaps, fat jokes, and somebody calling somebody ‘Brandon.' This was a real low watermark. “I will say that no incumbent has ever done as poorly as Joe Biden did. In 1976, Gerald R. Ford got tangled up talking about Poland and Soviet domination of Poland. And it probably cost him a full term as president. It probably cost him that election. “And I'm here to tell you that what Joe Biden did tonight in the first hour of that debate, if he stays in this race, we will look back and say that the strategy by the Biden campaign to force an early debate and put Donald Trump front and center, and get this revved up, was a catastrophically bad strategic choice.” Why two Montana teens gave $100 and $25 to The Worldview Last night, I talked to a 17-year-old named Amos in Montana who gave $25 to help fund The Worldview. AMOS: “The money I contributed came from a job I have for our family business. People hire us to carry off their junk or just stuff they don't use anymore. We take it mostly just to the dump or, if we can, resell it or take to the thrift store. We like to do that too.” Amos told me what he likes about the newscast. AMOS: “I like the updates on the persecuted brothers and sisters around the world. It encourages me to pray for them more.” Plus, he mentioned the greatest moral issue of our time. AMOS: “I appreciate the updates on legislation concerning abortion in the U.S. and around the world. It helps me to pray for good leadership more. So, my prayer is that God's love for life would be upheld in our country.” I also spoke to a 13-year-old named Dahlia who lives in Helena, Montana. DAHLIA: “I like how you add Bible verses to some of your stories that you tell.” She decided to give $100. DAHLIA: “I have been listening to The Worldview for a long time and I would be sad if it stopped. So, when I decided to give some money, one hundred dollars is just what came to my mind.” Dahlia makes money by playing her violin at the Helena, Montana Farmer's Market every Saturday. DAHLIA: “People passing by usually give me tips in my violin case. I play about an hour at a time, for four hours. Over the course of four hours, I usually get around a hundred dollars of tips. And that's what I decided to donate to The Worldview.” In Acts 20:35, “The Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'” 32 Worldview listeners donated $15,977.47 And finally, toward our $84,000 final goal by 5:00pm central this Saturday, June 29th, 32 Worldview listeners stepped up to the plate to help fund our 6-member news team for another fiscal year. Our thanks to Thor, age 12, in Pleasantville, Tennessee who gave $9, Tirzah, age 10, in Pleasantville, Tennessee who gave $11, Oliver in Santa Maria, California who gave $20, as well as Steve in Mission Viejo, California, Leslie in Florham Park, New Jersey, and Rick in Vista, California  – each of whom gave $25. We're grateful for Rob in Annandale, Virginia who gave $25.47 as well as Margaret in Howell, Michigan, Michelle in Sparta, Michigan, and Emily in Hutchinson, Kansas – each of whom gave $50. We appreciate Tiveria, age 16, and Tikvah, age 16, -- both of whom are from Pleasantville, Tennessee, and gave $60 each, Tony and Jennie in Palmdale, California who gave $75, as well as Nancy in Ketchikan, Alaska, Evan in Marietta, Georgia, Emmilee in Center Point, Iowa, Patricia in Blackfoot, Idaho, and Elisha in Paris, Texas – each of whom gave $100. We were touched by the support of Frederick in Kennesaw, Georgia who pledged $10/month for 12 months for a gift of $120, an anonymous donor in San Antonio, Texas, Amy in St. Cloud, Florida, and Serge in Simpsonville, South Carolina – each of whom gave $200. We're thankful to God for Heidi in Elsenham, Essex, England and Julie in White Hall, Maryland – both of whom gave $300 as well as Dean in Paulden, Arizona and Patricia in Blackfoot, Idaho – both of whom pledged $25/month for 12 months for a gift of $300. And we appreciated the sacrifice of Nathan in Shokan, New York who pledged $31/month for 12 months for a gift of $372, an anonymous donor in Kailua Kona, Hawaii who gave $500, Rochester in Willow Springs, Missouri and Reese in Henrico, Virginia – both of whom pledged $50/month for 12 months for a gift of $600 each, Vivia in Florida City, Florida who gave $1,000, and Phillip and Christine in Belton, Texas who gave $10,000! Those 32 donors gave $15,977.47.  Ready for our new grand total? Drum roll please. (sound effect of drum roll) $80,138 (audience cheering) We just need to raise $3,862 to cross the finish line! Wow!  We are so close!  Toward our $84,000 goal, we are just $3,862 short. Can you help us cross the finish line?  We need to find just 1 person to pledge $100 per month for 12 months, 2 people to pledge $50 per month for 12 months, and 4 people to pledge $25/month for 12 months. We need you to respond by 5:00pm central tomorrow night, Saturday, June 29th. Time is ticking. (ticking sound effect) Go to TheWorldview.com, click on “Give,” select the dollar amount you'd like to donate, and click on the recurring monthly tab if that's your wish. Ask God what He wants you to give to this newscast that proclaims Jesus Christ as our standard for Truth. It would be my great honor if I could return to these airwaves and announce that the body of Christ helped to fully fund The Worldview newscast 6-member team for the next fiscal year.  If you haven't made a donation yet, please do so today! Close And that's The Worldview on this Friday, June 28th, in the year of our Lord 2024. Subscribe by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com. Or get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

Signs of the times as revealed in the Holy Bible by the Lord Jesus Himself as He taught, warned, instructed and encouraged His disciples.

On her wedding day, Gwendolyn Stulgis wore the wedding dress of her dreams. Then she gave it away—to a stranger. Stulgis believed a dress deserved more than sitting in a closet collecting dust. Other brides agreed. Now scores of women have bonded on her social media site to donate and receive wedding dresses. As one giver said, “I hope this dress gets passed from bride to bride to bride, and it just gets worn out and is in tatters at the end of its life because of all the celebrating that’s done in it.” The spirit of giving can feel like a celebration, indeed. As it is written, “One person gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed” (Proverbs 11:24–25). The apostle Paul taught this principle in the New Testament. As he said his goodbyes to the believers in Ephesus, he gave them a blessing (Acts 20:32) and reminded them of the importance of generosity. Paul pointed to his own work ethic as an example for them to follow. “In everything I did,” he said, “I showed you that by . . . hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus Himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’” (v. 35). Being generous reflects God. “For God so loved the world that He gave” (John 3:16). Let’s follow His glorious example as He guides us.

So what are you looking forward to in 2024? Here's a suggestion: How about the return of Jesus Christ? The Apostles Paul, Peter, John and even the Lord Jesus Himself encouraged us to be watchful and to wait expectantly for the Lord's return. And if we truly lived this new year waiting for our “Blessed Hope” there's no doubt it would have a great impact on how we live our life in 2024. So join us the first weekend in January as we kick off the New Year with this reminder: “our salvation is nearer than when we first believed!”

Jesus warns about two major events that will happen before He comes back to take the Church away. Is HAMAS clearly in the last day's prophecies? Will Israel survive the onslaught? In these last days, we have witnessed several things that align with the prophecy spoken by the Lord Jesus Himself. No doubt, love has grown cold among many in the world, and many in the church. Jesus said it would and so today, stay tuned as we learn more about last-day events and where we are on the timeline that is coming to life before our very eyes! Listen now to “A Changed Life” To request a FREE Copy of Jane's book, “The Weapons of Our Warfare” and info for the video teachings, just email us at: info@revivethefire.netIf this type of content is what you like to hear and desire to help us stay online, please consider giving to this ministry. https://donorbox.org/revive-the-fire-ministriesTo learn more about this ministry or to book Jane for an event, go to www.revivethefire.net#israelwar #rapture #prophecySupport the show

Walk In Heavenly Places By Faith (8)  (audio) David Eells – 10/4/23  What Is Perfection?  David Eells  A believer is accounted perfect by faith! He claims his perfection by faith (Heb. 10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. As he walks in this faith, God is able to manifest perfection in him. If the unbelieving apostate Christian claims that he is always going to be a sinner (contrary to God's word) he will have what he says according to Jesus. (Mar. 11:23) Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou taken up and cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that what he saith cometh to pass; he shall have it. (24) Therefore I say unto you, All things whatsoever ye pray and ask for, believe that ye received them, and ye shall have them. (Mat.8:13) And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; as thou hast believed, [so] be it done unto thee. (Mat.9:29) ...According to your faith be it done unto you. The same thing can be said of Sanctification or Holiness.   Study and see if these things are not so. There is no more important study if we want to grow up in Christ for "as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee". We must believe only the Word. The "seed" in the text of parable of the Sower is sometimes "sperma" in Greek. Jesus said that the seed is the Word. Only the seed of the Word can bring forth the fruit in our heart. It is God's sperm and brings forth after His kind, but only in the good ground. Jesus said some would be "a hundredfold". This is not souls won by us for this crop is grown in our heart. (Mat.13:23) And he that was sown upon the good ground, this is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; who verily beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Mat. 13:19) When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, [then] cometh the evil [one], and snatcheth away that which hath been sown in his heart. This is he that was sown by the way side. If we believe man rather than God we will miss the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Php. 3:12) Not that I have already obtained, or am already made perfect: but I press on, if so be that I may lay hold on that for which also I was laid hold on by Christ Jesus. (13) Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold (I.e. He has not yet manifested perfection.): but one thing `I do', forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, (14) I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Pressing forward to manifest perfection,) (15) Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye are otherwise minded, this also shall God reveal unto you. This is perfect by faith. Perfection is ascribed to:   Noah: (Gen. 6:8) But Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah. (9) These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, [and] perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.   Jacob: (Num. 23:21) He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob; Neither hath he seen perverseness in Israel: Jehovah his God is with him, And the shout of a king is among them.   David: (1Ki. 11:4) For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not perfect with Jehovah his God, as was the heart of David his father.   Asa: (1Ki. 15:14) But the high places were not taken away: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect with Jehovah all his days.  Job: (Job 1:1) There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil.   Zacharias and Elizabeth: (Luk. 1:6) And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.   Perfection is implied concerning many others:   Enoch: (Gen. 5:24) and Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.   Elijah: (2Ki. 2:11) And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, [there appeared] a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, which parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.   Daniel: (Eze. 14:14) though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Jehovah.   Scriptures relating to perfection:   (Gen. 17:1) And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, Jehovah appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be thou perfect.   (Deut. 5:32) Ye shall observe to do therefore as Jehovah your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.   (Deut. 18:13) Thou shalt be perfect with Jehovah thy God.   (Josh. 23:6) Therefore be ye very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left;   (1Ki. 8:61) Let your heart therefore be perfect with Jehovah our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.   (1Chr. 28:9) And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind.   (1Chr. 29:19) and give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for which I have made provision.   (Job 9:20) Though I be righteous, mine own mouth shall condemn me: Though I be perfect, it shall prove me perverse. (21) I am perfect; I regard not myself; I despise my life.   (Psa. 18:32) The God that girdeth me with strength, And maketh my way perfect?  (Psa. 37:31) The law of his God is in his heart; None of his steps shall slide.,  (37) Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright; For there is a [happy] end to the man of peace.   (Psa. 101:2) I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way: Oh when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.   (Psa. 106:3) Blessed are they that keep justice, And he that doeth righteousness at all times. (Psa. 119:1) Blessed are they that are perfect in the way, Who walk in the law of Jehovah. (2) Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart. (3) Yea, they do no unrighteousness; They walk in his ways.   (Psa. 119:96) I have seen an end of all perfection; [But] thy commandment is exceeding broad. (Pro. 2:21) For the upright shall dwell in the land, And the perfect shall remain in it.   (Mat. 5:6) Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.   (Mat. 5:48) Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Mat. 19:21) Jesus said unto him, If thou wouldest be perfect, go, sell that which thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. (Luk. 6:40) The disciple is not above his teacher: but every one when he is perfected shall be as his teacher. (1 Cor. 2:6) We speak wisdom, however, among them that are fullgrown: yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nought;   (2 Co. 7:1) Having therefore these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Co.13:9) For we rejoice, when we are weak, and ye are strong: this we also pray for, even your perfecting. (2 Co. 13:11) Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.   (Eph. 4:11) And he gave some [to be] apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12) for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: (13) till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ;   (Php. 1:10) so that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offence unto the day of Christ; (11) being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God. (Php. 2:15) that ye may become blameless and harmless, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom ye are seen as lights in the world.   (Col. 1:21) And you, being in time past alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, (22) yet now hath he reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and unreproveable before him. (Col. 1:28) whom we proclaim, admonishing every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ;   (Col. 2:9) for in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily, (10) and in him ye are made full, who is the head of all principality and power: (11) in whom ye were also circumcised with a circumcision not made with hands, in the putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ;   (Col. 3:14) and above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness. (Col. 4:12) Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, saluteth you, always striving for you in his prayers, that ye may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God. (1Th. 3:10) night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face, and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?;   (1 Th. 3:13) to the end he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. (2 Tim. 2:1) Thou therefore, my child, be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Tim. 3:17) That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work. (Heb. 6:1) Wherefore leaving the doctrine of the first principles of Christ, let us press on unto perfection; not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,;   (Heb. 10:14) For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified. (Heb. 13:20) Now the God of peace, who brought again from the dead the great shepherd of the sheep with the blood of an eternal covenant, [even] our Lord Jesus, (21) make you perfect in every good thing to do his will, working in us that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Jas. 1:4) And let patience have [its] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.   (Jas. 1:25) But he that looketh into the perfect law, the [law] of liberty, and [so] continueth, being not a hearer that forgetteth but a doer that worketh, this man shall be blessed in his doing. (Jas. 3:2) For in many things we all stumble. If any stumbleth not in word, the same is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also.   (1 Pet.5:10) And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. (1Jn 2:5) but whoso keepeth his word, in him verily hath the love of God been perfected. Hereby we know that we are in him;   (1Jn. 3:6) Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither knoweth him. (7) [My] little children, let no man lead you astray: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous: (8) he that doeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. To this end was the Son of God manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. (9) Whosoever is begotten of God doeth no sin, because his seed abideth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is begotten of God. (10) In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.   (1Jn. 4:12) No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us; (1Jn. 5:18) We know that whosoever is begotten of God sinneth not; but he that was begotten of God keepeth himself, and the evil one toucheth him not.    Rivers Of Living Water  Samuel Fire - Mid 2019 (David's notes in red)  I sought deliverance of spirits I did not know much about, but knew they were not Christ and they had to go. A brother and sister who follow Christ, led me through deliverance with scripture, and I confessed and repented of any sin related to these spirits. As they prayed and I felt these spirits leaving, in my mind I was praying in the Spirit in Tongues, thinking of The Lord Jesus. I went over the thoughts of my deliberate and intentional complete life giving to Christ in the baptism I had, and scriptures such as “His Blood removes all spots and blemishes, washed whiter than snow”. In a state of relaxing to not hinder The Lord to do as required, I did not want to restrict Him in any way; it was at this moment I started to have a vision.  Throughout this vision I spoke out loud what I saw immediately to the two next to me. I first saw what seemed like a covering or a sheet, completely obscuring my eyesight to only see a clouded view of white light. I couldn't see any dimensions, just this white light with no variance or tone difference. There were not any floors, or structures; completely just blank white area everywhere I looked and perceived. Faintly, very far off, much like the distance of stars at night; a red, similar to a traffic light stop signal color slowly came into view. It came closer and brighter, and eventually was as close to me as though across opposite to me but not that it was within arm's reach. Because I was calling out everything I saw to the fellow brother and sister, I heard them speak out, “Command to confess ‘Is Lord Jesus come in the flesh?'” This I did, as I remember also the scripture regarding this, to test all things unto God.   As soon as I spoke out this, the red light withdrew. It departed very quickly, almost instantly. I then only saw the white area and resumed to think on The Lord, but was confused and thought, ‘What is going on?' Then, a really beautiful blue color appeared, similar to a midday clear sky blue. This was immediate and filled all in front of my peripheral view and came very close to where all I could see was this vibrant blue light. I immediately said, ‘Confess Lord Jesus is come in the flesh.' The most soft and sweet voice replied, “Yes, My Child come.” I felt and saw this light seem to reach out a hand. I was very hesitant and very cautious. The last thing I wanted was to interact to go where any evil things try to trick me. It was though this light knew what I thought.   I remembered the time I came to Christ and was sure this is the Lord Jesus Himself. I was amazed and knew that this was just like the feeling I had when I had a revelation of God and the Lord Jesus. (I received a HUG that was from Christ.) He then ‘smiled' at me, as I only saw a blue light form, and He gently lifted His other ‘arm' and pointed ahead. I looked ahead to where He pointed and the view changed as the white light lifted and I saw hills of beautiful clean green with few bushy trees dotted around. It felt He pointed at a particular tree at the peak of a hill and to go to this spot. So, not knowing I moved there and seemed to sit down and rest under the shade and lean on the trunk. My view changed to look down a hill to a river which had a forest of trees along side of it. This river was so clean that I could see the bottom. I felt so compelled to run down and jump in. (Rev 22:1-2 And he showed me a river of water of life, bright as crystal, (Representing the pure Word) proceeding out of the throne of God (In our heart) and of the Lamb, 2 in the midst of the street thereof. And on this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, (The tongue of the righteous) bearing twelve manner of fruits, yielding its fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.) The pure word flowing from the heart of the pure will bring life wherever it goes.) Upon nearing close to the river's edge there were other beings, whether they were other humans or angels I have no idea. (Others also partaking of the pure Word) They were all playing and splashing and being very happy and playful. All I could see was happiness and hear laughter all around. Smiles and joy were on everyone. Full of energy and excitement I just ran into the river and plunged in completely submerging under that every part of me was under the water. (The Baptism of the death of self) Coming out I then felt very strange like a very young child, around 9 years of age. I had this urge to run over to everyone I saw nearby and play ‘tag' and touch everyone I could out of shear excitement and joy to be among everyone there. (We must become as little children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Mat 18:3 and said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye turn, and become as little children, ye shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.)  Then the vision faded and stopped, and I saw in the physical, but the feeling of it all was echoing and I had difficulty in focusing on the two brethren next to me. I was in such joy as though all this ‘dirtiness' left, and I felt truly loved and accepted.   Please know of all my love to all who read this. Know and believe He loves you more and He can show you this. Praise be to The Lord of Hosts and King of kings forever. Glory, Honor and Might to Him for Our Father for all eternity!    Journey To God  Anonymous 2/24/23 (David's notes in red)  My heart desires to be as close to God as possible, and I want it all the time but there's always things trying to prevent it, and I wondered why. Then I felt this in response:  I saw a very long straight road that went up and down hills and it was sometimes flat.  (I felt that this meant that He is always here with me every moment and He is everywhere all at once, but to obtain the relationship and closeness that I want with Him, permanently and every second it is a journey to get there. The long road is the journey to be as close as possible to our Father and Jesus, although it seems so far away in time, in God's eyes it already IS. The hills are different trials and bumps in our walk, but we always want to stay on the right and only path to our Father, no matter what trial, tribulation or distraction comes our way.)  The sky was blue, and the sun was shining and there were many trees on either side of the road. But there were also houses and animals and so many things on either side. (There are so very many distractions in the physical and spiritual that try to hinder us from seeking His presence every moment and going deeper into Him. In the vision although God's creation is beautiful it can also become the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and pride of life. It can be a distraction because it is all passing away and all that matters right now is going further into Jesus and with our Heavenly Father. The houses, views, animals etc. all represent different distractions and these lusts.)  (1Jn 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the vainglory of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.)  Further in the distance where the straight road was going was a large body of water like the ocean but just before that there was a large amount of bush that could only be accessed by walking. (I felt that the bush that can only be walked through and not driven through, is walking with Jesus and great tribulation and/or greater dying to self. Not being able to drive is letting our Father guide us and have control of our lives or letting Jesus take control. If we let Him take control when going through the trials, He will guide us to Him, and the right way and we won't get lost. But if we try to guide ourselves or go our own way, we can get lost, hurt or worse, we will die before our time. So many things can go wrong when bushwalking; snakes, tripping, etc. and it's hard to see far because of the bush everywhere. But God is high above and can see all and more than we can see, so we need to pray for His wisdom and knowledge and understanding.)  Above the water, I saw the Father watching but as if He was waiting for me. (I felt the water represents fully dead to self and fully manifesting the Word, rivers of living water, and resurrection life. The Father above all, is seeing, watching and waiting for all His plans and precepts to play out or manifest. I felt once we get through the road, bush, and the water, we will be even closer to Him than we desire or could imagine, every moment permanently. We want to be as close to Him as possible every single moment, but it is a journey for us to get there and for every part of our soul and body to get there. God put the desire in us to want to be with Him and to be even closer to Him, as He wants us to be with Him and as close to Him more than we want it.) (This journey is a faith walk as described above.)  The sun is always shining bright. The Son is always showing His light, to all who walk on the earth, have the chance to choose His way, His life. (The Son's light allows us to see the path to God and how to get there just as the light of the sun shows the road, bushes and path and bush and the Father above. If it was all dark and without the sun, we couldn't see the pathway. Just as without the light of Jesus' Word and the light He made through His sacrifice, we couldn't see the way to the Father.) (Jesus is the Light; He is the Word of God and the path of righteousness which He leads us on. Psa 119:105 NUN. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, And light unto my path. Psa 43:3 Oh send out thy light and thy truth; let them lead me: Let them bring me unto thy holy hill, And to thy tabernacles.)  (The people that get distracted on the journey, can still look over and see the path and the right way because Jesus already prepared it, and His light shows it. But they choose to still look away from the path and to look at the distraction. People come along and point them to the right path, and they look over the right way for a little, because the Son is still shining, they can still see it, but they continue to not choose the right way. But they can see it as everyone in this earth can see the light, Jesus in the spiritual just like they can see everything when the sun is out in the physical.)    Surrounded In A Shell  Anonymous 3/12/23 (David's notes in red)  I saw myself with this shell all around me, it was black and looked like hard plastic and it reminded me of plastic containers, however rather than being a rectangle shape it was a weird shape to fit my physical form. (This hard shell could be our own creation of a protective barrier we place around ourselves from being hurt by the world, caused by rejection and pain from others, fears, etc. It represents the old nature of man, the flesh. It is hard like the outer shell of a nut, or clams. It is black from a life of sin before being saved by the Lord.)   I saw the Lord grab the shell and rip it off me so quickly and easily and it felt like a Band-Aid quickly being ripped off. Although the shell was really hard and thick and in the natural, it would be hard to cut it, let alone to rip it, but it was so easy for the Lord. (We can't succeed or be set free from evil or our past heritage in our own strength. Only Jesus has the power and strength to remove all the evil from our lives and set us free from our sins by His finished work at the cross! It is His grace and faith in the Gospel that truly saves us!)  All the shell fell to the ground and all that was left of me was my form as a glowing warm light. (Christ in you, the hope of Glory!)  Col 1:27 to whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:  (Only faith in the good news has power over sin. Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me: and that life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.)    Where The Heart Is  Marie Kelton 8/12/22 (David's notes in red)  The Lord gave me an open vision of my spirit man walking in my old home. (This body) All the lights were on. As I got to the hallway everything went dark, the light was only shining where I was standing. The vision changed and all the lights were on again. The Lord was standing at the front door on the inside. (The Lord comes into our hearts to live, and He is the Light of the truth. Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock: if any man hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Joh 1:4-5 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in the darkness; and the darkness apprehended it not.)  I saw there was arguing in the house. I knew the Lord wanted to heal me from all that went on while I was there. I had asked the Lord why in the vision, was I at my old home; I heard, “Home is where the heart is.” (Jesus and our Father live in our hearts when we get saved and our home is not of this world but the Kingdom of Heaven. Joh 14:23 …If a man love me, he will keep my word: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. Joh 17:16-17 They are not of the world even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth: thy word is truth.  The Lord knows all the thoughts of our hearts. He wants us to surrender our old self life and the past to Him and put it all behind us, so He can heal every wound. When we are saved, we become a new creature in Christ, and we belong to Him by the sacrifice of His redeeming blood. With our hearts surrendered to Him through faith, we have a right to grace opens the door to all the healing benefits.)  (Psa 147:3 He healeth the broken in heart, And bindeth up their wounds. Psa 34:18 Jehovah is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart, And saveth such as are of a contrite spirit.  Php 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before. Isa 43:18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. For they have passed away in Christ.)    Printer-friendly version     © 2017 UBM | Unleavened Bread Ministries. All rights reserved.    [ Fair Use Notice ]

This Sunday Pastor David shares a message entitled,"I Love God's Peace!" The understanding of who you are in Christ will affect you and impact your world.  In a day and age of spiraling mental health issues, believers have a wonderful resource at their disposal. We have the power of God's Word, the ministry of the Holy Spirit and the Lord Jesus Himself, who is our Peace, interceding for us. This Sunday we will look at the power of God's Peace - the understanding of Shalom through the lenses of God's Word. Listen and be encouraged by this word!

Introduction      Previously, Saul had been persecuting Christians. But his efforts to crush them were frustrated, and the gospel spread further and further. In this pericope, Luke recorded Paul's conversion (Acts 9:1-19). Paul gave personal accounts of his conversion in Acts 22:4-21 and 26:12-18. It was at Paul's conversion that he personally saw the Lord Jesus (1 Cor 9:1).   Text      Luke opens this section, saying, “Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, 2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem” (Acts 9:1-2). Saul, contrary to his tremendous education, was spiritually blind and was serving as an instrument of Satan to attack the church. The believers here are called disciples of the Lord (Acts 9:1) and belonging to the Way (Acts 9:2; cf., Acts 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22). In this pericope Luke will also use the terms saints (Acts 9:13), and brother (Acts 9:17). Later they will also be called Christians (Acts 11:26).      Saul thought he was doing God's will in chasing down Christians and arresting them and bringing them back to Jerusalem. According to Warren Wiersbe, “Like many others of his countrymen, he stumbled over the Cross (1 Cor 1:23) because he depended on his own righteousness and not on the righteousness of God (Rom 9:30–10:13; Phil 3:1–10). Many self-righteous religious people today do not see their need for a Savior and resent it if you tell them they are sinners.”[1] Damascus was 135 miles north of Jerusalem and a seven-day journey. It's thought that there were as many as forty Jewish synagogues in Damascus at this time. That there were Christians in Damascus shows how quickly the gospel message was spreading. The Christian gospel was proving effective.      It was during the time when Saul was persecuting Christians that the Lord interrupted his life for the better. Luke states, “As he was traveling, it happened that he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; 4 and he fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?'” (Acts 9:3-4). Later, Paul described the light as occurring at noontime (Acts 22:6), and being brighter than the sun (Acts 26:13). Paul also said that when the Lord spoke to him, it was in Hebrew (Acts 26:14). The flash of light startled Saul and he lost his balance and fell to the ground. It's true that God sometimes knocks us down so that we'll look up. Saul then heard a voice saying, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (Acts 9:4b). This statement is theologically rich, for it shows that an attack upon a Christian is an attack upon the Lord Jesus Himself. This adds significance to the understanding that when we are spiritually baptized into Christ, we become part of His spiritual body, the church, and are one with Him. How we treat other Christians is how we treat the Son of God.      Saul did not understand who he was talking with, “And he said, ‘Who are You, Lord?' And He said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). Saul called Jesus Lord (κύριος kurios), which was more than a show of respect (i.e., sir), and meant he understood he was talking with God. What a shock it must have been for Saul to hear the words, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5a). This second reference to Saul's persecution against Jesus reinforced His identity with Christians as part of His body. But rather than destroy Saul, Jesus treated him in grace and sent him on a mission, saying, “get up and enter the city, and it will be told you what you must do” (Acts 9:6). Wiersbe states, “Some thirty years later, Paul wrote that Christ had ‘apprehended him' on the Damascus road (Phil 3:12). Saul was out to arrest others when the Lord arrested him. He had to lose his religion before he could gain the righteousness of Christ.”[2]      Luke follows on, saying, “The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one” (Acts 9:7). Saul's traveling companions were dumbfounded and speechless. They'd heard the voice, but saw no one. Later, when recounting his conversion, Paul said, “those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me” (Acts 22:9). I take it to mean Saul's companions heard the words of Jesus but did not grasp the significance of what was being said. Next, we're told, “Saul got up from the ground, and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing; and leading him by the hand, they brought him into Damascus” (Acts 9:8). The aggressive and hostile Saul appears here as a docile lamb who had to be led by the hand like a little child. His physical eyes had been closed, though his spiritual eyes were opened. And once in the city, we're informed, “And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank” (Acts 9:9). No doubt Saul's Pharisaic theology was rocked to the core. All he thought he knew about God was shaken to the foundation. His theological presuppositions were smashed and now he had to rework his entire theological framework from the ground up. The three days Saul spent in Damascus waiting on the Lord were probably filled with many theological reasonings.      Luke shifts his account and introduces us to a man named Ananias whom the Lord would use as a conduit of His truth and grace. Luke states, “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and the Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.' And he said, ‘Here I am, Lord'” (Acts 9:10). Here, Ananias is presented as a willing servant of the Lord who responded positively when called. Luke recounts, “And the Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, so that he might regain his sight'” (Acts 9:11-12). In this situation, the Lord told Ananias that Saul was praying and that he'd already received a vision from the Lord that Ananias was coming to him. Ananias' going to Saul was so certain to happen, that God told him it would come to pass, even before he called upon Ananias to go. Ananias had positive volition and the Lord selected him because He knew he would do as he'd been directed. Luke's account reveals God working at both ends of these events and orchestrating the outcome that He desired.      But there was hesitation by Ananias, as Luke tells us, “But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much harm he did to Your saints at Jerusalem; 14 and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name'” (Acts 9:13-14). Ananias spoke honestly with the Lord about his concern. Ananias had heard about Saul and the harm he'd done to the Lord's saints, and that he also operated with the authority of the Sanhedrin to arrest God's people. Luke informs us, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name's sake'” (Acts 9:15-16). Here, to be chosen (ἐκλογή ekloge) denotes divine selection. Saul did not choose God. God chose Saul; and He chose him to salvation, service, and suffering. And Saul displayed positive volition and obeyed the Lord; not only in the moment for salvation, but also for a lifetime of service. Saul was one of those people who trusted Christ as Savior and at the same time submitted to Him for a lifetime of service. Concerning election, God is sovereign and people have volition. The Lord calls His people to Himself, and they respond positively in faith.      Saul's calling was to a lifetime of suffering for Christ, as the persecutor would become the persecuted (2 Cor 11:23-29). Upon hearing this, Ananias did as the Lord directed. Luke states, “So Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit'” (Acts 9:17). Laying on of hands was a form of identification. In this way, Paul was personally identified with the Christians he'd been persecuting. The touch would have brought comfort to Saul, as a human touch does. And, Ananias called Saul his brother, which was an expression of faith by Ananias, as well as a word of relief to Saul. Here was grace in both the touch and the word. The Lord who had met Saul on the road to Damascus was the very one who had sent Ananias to him that he might regain his sight. Sometimes the Lord works directly in the lives of people, and other times works through secondary agents to accomplish His will. Jesus could have spoken directly to Saul (as He'd already done), but instead, chose to speak through Ananias, His divinely appointed representative. And by God's power, Saul's sight was restored. Saul was also “filled with the Holy Spirit”, which meant God Himself had welcomed Paul into His family and empowered him for his new mission. After Ananias had spoken with Saul and laid his hands on him, Luke tells us, “And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized; 19 and he took food and was strengthened” (Acts 9:18-19a). God worked through Ananias to touch the life of Saul, who, in turn, has touched the lives of millions of people. The godly actions of one person can change the course of world history for the better and bring many people to faith in Jesus. After Saul regained his vision, his first act was to be obedient by way of water baptism. Saul's water baptism preceded his caring for himself, as we are told that after he had been baptized, he then “took food and was strengthened” (Acts 9:19a). Thomas Constable wrote: "Saul later wrote that immediately following his conversion he did not consult with others about the Scriptures but went into Arabia—and later returned to Damascus (Gal 1:15–17). “Arabia” describes the kingdom of the Nabateans that stretched south and east from Damascus beyond Petra. Damascus was in the northwest sector of Arabia. After Saul's conversion and baptism, he needed some time and space for quiet reflection and communion with God. He had to rethink the Scriptures, receive new understanding from the Lord, and revise his Pharisaic theology."[3] Conclusion      The Central Idea of the Text is that Saul set out to destroy the church at Damascus, but the Lord stopped him, humbled him, saved him, and called him into Christian service by means of an obedient disciple named Ananias. Personal Application Though people may violently rage against God's church and His children, it is the Lord who sovereignly determines whether they are permitted to have their way or not. Stephen was allowed to face a martyr's death with honor, but the Lord overruled the intentions of Saul and put a stop to his madness. Rather than kill Saul for his violence against the church, the Lord of grace called him to salvation, Christian service, and a lifetime of suffering for the name of Christ. Though saved by grace and effective in Christian ministry, Paul never fully overcame his sense of shame for having persecuted the church of God and four times mentioned his lifestyle prior to his conversion (Acts 22:4-5; 26:9-11; 1 Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13). When attacked for our faith, the Christian is “never to pay back evil for evil to anyone” (Rom 12:17), and is commanded “never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written ‘vengeance is mine, I will repay' says the Lord” (Rom 12:19; cf., 2 Th 1:6). There is no place for violent retaliation in the Christian life, as the Lord Himself will execute vengeance in His time and way. The Gospel      If you are here this morning without Christ, without hope, and without eternal life, I want you to know that when Jesus was on the cross, He had you personally in mind as He bore your sin and paid the price for it. He died and paid the penalty for your sins so that you would not have to. Scripture reveals, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8), and “Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God” (1 Pet 3:18). The good news for us is that “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor 15:3-4), and if we place our faith in Him as the only Savior (John 14:6; Acts 4:12), we are promised forgiveness of sins (Eph 1:7), eternal life (John 10:28), and place in heaven forever (John 14:1-3). I “beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God” (2 Cor 5:20). Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 438. [2] Ibid., 439. [3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable's Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Ac 9:18.

The Lord Jesus Himself to a bridegroom who will return in glory. We don't know the time or the hour, but are we ready? True believers must be prepared for His return with great watchfulness and devotion in every season and circumstance.

What do you look for in a leader? For generations, God’s people hoped for a leader to take them into battle. They wanted a problem-solver, winner-take-all, charismatic leader. Instead, God gave someone they did not expect...His Son Jesus. In direct contrast to the characteristics of popular leaders then (and now), Jesus was known for humility. In Philippians 2, Paul focuses on the need for the Philippians to complete his joy by being united. Paul knew that if Christians were to live a worthy life (1:27–30), they had to turn from “selfish ambition or vain conceit” (2:3) and be unified through having the same mind, same love, and being one in spirit and purpose (v. 2). This is a leadership task easier said than done! Ask any coach, CEO, or mother about the challenges of getting everyone on the same page and united with one another. Paul’s solution was learned from Jesus: Lead through humility. We know that humility means considering others above ourselves (v. 4). But humility is easier to define than to do. Paul Paul points to the ultimate example of humility, the Lord Jesus Himself (vv. 5–11). Many scholars label these verses as the “Hymn of Christ.” Experts believe early Christians sang or recited these words during worship gatherings. The poem touches on Christ’s preexistence, incarnation, death, resurrection, and ascension. These verses are rich in theology, but we should not miss Paul’s purpose in penning these words. He wants the Philippians to be united, and the only way they will ever accomplish that is to model their lives after Jesus. As we examine the lives of unlikely leaders in Scripture, you will find that they all exhibit humility. As we put interests of others before ourselves, we too can be an influential leader for Christ. >> You may not realize it, but you are a leader. God wants you to be His representative as you unite the people you work with and live alongside them. Lead like Jesus through humility.

The final week of our sermon on the New Testament book of Philemon called "Reset". Big Idea: Paul models substitutionary atonement for Philemon, a picture the Lord Jesus Himself modeled when He paid our debt on the cross. I. A Model of The Gospel's Tenets (vs. 17-20) v. 17 - “So if you consider me” - literally “if, therefore, me” Paul appeals to Philemon to change his view of Onesimus; to view him through a different lens. No longer is he a runaway slave. He is now a returning “beloved” brother (v. 16). Paul says treat him in the same manner that Philemon would treat his friend and mentor, Paul. Vs. 18-19 - Look at the words “charge” and “repay.” It's transactional. It's that simple. No emotion is needed. Paul says in Onesimus has wronged Philemon, stolen anything, damaged anything, Paul literally says he'll cover the bill. This is penal substitutionary atonement… We have a sin debt we can't pay. So, Jesus went to the Lord on our behalf and said, “Father, if they owe you anything, I will repay it.” v. 19b - “to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.” Let's unpack this. Paul isn't saying that Philemon owes Paul his life or soul. That, always and forever, belongs to Jesus. But, Paul did, most likely, share the gospel and disciple Philemon, so Paul seems to be asking for a little latitude on behalf of Onesimus. RC Sproul says this about grace, “It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace. Grace by definition is undeserved. As soon as we talk about deserving something we are no longer talking about grace; we are talking about justice. Only justice can be deserved…God never “owes” grace….God reserves for Himself the supreme right of executive clemency.” MERCY - God withholding that which we do deserve (His wrath). (EPHESIANS 2:1-6) GRACE - God imputing that which we do NOT deserve (His forgiveness). (EPHESIANS 2:7-9) V. 20 - Philemon forgiving and reconciling with Onesimus would be a “refreshing” of Paul's spirit. When we forgive and reconcile, the Lord is refreshed. Also, the house church is refreshed to see a display of selflessness and unity. II. A Model of The Gospel's Triumph's (vs. 21-22) Vs. 21-22 - Valuable theology is found here. We see the correlation between knowing the scriptures, and doing what the scriptures command. Paul is confident that the grace he once showed Philemon can and will be replicated in his encounter with Onesimus. One day, Paul hoped to be released from to come back to Colossae and see how things turned out. V. 21 - Paul knew that Philemon probably just needed a little perspective, and that he would most likely go far beyond what Paul is asking. That kind of trust is somewhat scarce in our society these days. III. A Model of the Gospel's Testimony (vs. 23-25) You do know that people watch us, right? We profess to be Christians, and they want to see if we're willing to put our figurative (and sometimes literal) “money where our mouths are.” They want to know that we don't just preach the gospel, we give testimony to it! vs. 23-24 - These are names…and names mean things. These men are also watching to make sure Philemon lives the gospel he proclaims. Let's introduce you to these men (hat tip to my seminary president, Dr. Danny Akin, for the assist with these biographies): 1) Epaphras was from Colossae and certainly well known to Philemon (Col. 1:7-8; 4:12-13), but now he is imprisoned alongside Paul in Rome. Paul sees Epaphras as he sees himself, not as a prisoner of the Empire but as a prisoner “Christ Jesus.” He is where he is because he is captive to Christ. 2) Mark is John Mark, author of our 2nd Gospel. Formerly, like Onesimus, he had been useless (Acts 15:38), but now he was useful both to Paul and the Lord (see esp. 2 Tim. 4:11). 3) Aristarchus was a close associate of Paul possibly from Macedonia (Acts 19:29; 20:4). He had traveled with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2). Colossians 4:10 calls him Paul's “fellow prisoner.” Tradition says he was martyred in Rome during the persecution under Nero (MacArthur, 230). 4) Demus is honorably mentioned here and in Colossians 4:14. However, 2 Timothy 4:11 informs us that he deserted Paul, “because he loved the present world.” 5) Luke is “the dearly loved physician” (Col. 4:14) who penned the 2 volume work Luke-Acts. Some believe he may also have written Hebrews. He traveled with Paul, helped care for him, and became a dear and faithful friend. He was the only person with Paul in the last days of his 2nd Roman imprisonment as he waited execution (2 Tim. 4:11). These men, then, stand with Paul on behalf of Onesimus. Paul knew they were faithful and trustworthy, and so did Philemon. Their “vote” in favor of Onesimus would have carried significant weight. As a matter of fact, these men are nearly an identical rendering of the greetings to the church at Colossae. Philemon knew these men. Their vouching for Onesimus would carry weight. v. 25 - I love how Paul ends here. He ends the way he began this letter…with Jesus.

The final week of our sermon on the New Testament book of Philemon called "Reset". Big Idea: Paul models substitutionary atonement for Philemon, a picture the Lord Jesus Himself modeled when He paid our debt on the cross. I. A Model of The Gospel's Tenets (vs. 17-20) v. 17 - “So if you consider me” - literally “if, therefore, me” Paul appeals to Philemon to change his view of Onesimus; to view him through a different lens. No longer is he a runaway slave. He is now a returning “beloved” brother (v. 16). Paul says treat him in the same manner that Philemon would treat his friend and mentor, Paul. Vs. 18-19 - Look at the words “charge” and “repay.” It's transactional. It's that simple. No emotion is needed. Paul says in Onesimus has wronged Philemon, stolen anything, damaged anything, Paul literally says he'll cover the bill. This is penal substitutionary atonement… We have a sin debt we can't pay. So, Jesus went to the Lord on our behalf and said, “Father, if they owe you anything, I will repay it.” v. 19b - “to say nothing of your owing me even your own self.” Let's unpack this. Paul isn't saying that Philemon owes Paul his life or soul. That, always and forever, belongs to Jesus. But, Paul did, most likely, share the gospel and disciple Philemon, so Paul seems to be asking for a little latitude on behalf of Onesimus. RC Sproul says this about grace, “It is impossible for anyone, anywhere, anytime to deserve grace. Grace by definition is undeserved. As soon as we talk about deserving something we are no longer talking about grace; we are talking about justice. Only justice can be deserved…God never “owes” grace….God reserves for Himself the supreme right of executive clemency.” MERCY - God withholding that which we do deserve (His wrath). (EPHESIANS 2:1-6) GRACE - God imputing that which we do NOT deserve (His forgiveness). (EPHESIANS 2:7-9) V. 20 - Philemon forgiving and reconciling with Onesimus would be a “refreshing” of Paul's spirit. When we forgive and reconcile, the Lord is refreshed. Also, the house church is refreshed to see a display of selflessness and unity. II. A Model of The Gospel's Triumph's (vs. 21-22) Vs. 21-22 - Valuable theology is found here. We see the correlation between knowing the scriptures, and doing what the scriptures command. Paul is confident that the grace he once showed Philemon can and will be replicated in his encounter with Onesimus. One day, Paul hoped to be released from to come back to Colossae and see how things turned out. V. 21 - Paul knew that Philemon probably just needed a little perspective, and that he would most likely go far beyond what Paul is asking. That kind of trust is somewhat scarce in our society these days. III. A Model of the Gospel's Testimony (vs. 23-25) You do know that people watch us, right? We profess to be Christians, and they want to see if we're willing to put our figurative (and sometimes literal) “money where our mouths are.” They want to know that we don't just preach the gospel, we give testimony to it! vs. 23-24 - These are names…and names mean things. These men are also watching to make sure Philemon lives the gospel he proclaims. Let's introduce you to these men (hat tip to my seminary president, Dr. Danny Akin, for the assist with these biographies): 1) Epaphras was from Colossae and certainly well known to Philemon (Col. 1:7-8; 4:12-13), but now he is imprisoned alongside Paul in Rome. Paul sees Epaphras as he sees himself, not as a prisoner of the Empire but as a prisoner “Christ Jesus.” He is where he is because he is captive to Christ. 2) Mark is John Mark, author of our 2nd Gospel. Formerly, like Onesimus, he had been useless (Acts 15:38), but now he was useful both to Paul and the Lord (see esp. 2 Tim. 4:11). 3) Aristarchus was a close associate of Paul possibly from Macedonia (Acts 19:29; 20:4). He had traveled with Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2). Colossians 4:10 calls him Paul's “fellow prisoner.” Tradition says he was martyred in Rome during the persecution under Nero (MacArthur, 230). 4) Demus is honorably mentioned here and in Colossians 4:14. However, 2 Timothy 4:11 informs us that he deserted Paul, “because he loved the present world.” 5) Luke is “the dearly loved physician” (Col. 4:14) who penned the 2 volume work Luke-Acts. Some believe he may also have written Hebrews. He traveled with Paul, helped care for him, and became a dear and faithful friend. He was the only person with Paul in the last days of his 2nd Roman imprisonment as he waited execution (2 Tim. 4:11). These men, then, stand with Paul on behalf of Onesimus. Paul knew they were faithful and trustworthy, and so did Philemon. Their “vote” in favor of Onesimus would have carried significant weight. As a matter of fact, these men are nearly an identical rendering of the greetings to the church at Colossae. Philemon knew these men. Their vouching for Onesimus would carry weight. v. 25 - I love how Paul ends here. He ends the way he began this letter…with Jesus.

Ephesians 6:14 — There is only one gospel. According to Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, other gospels are lies. In a day of misinformation, counterfeits, and charlatans, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones brings a voice of Biblical discernment. In this sermon on Ephesians 6:14 titled “The Truth of God,” Dr. Lloyd-Jones demonstrates how Paul's authority to declare these truths came from the Lord Jesus Himself. Paul neither received or learned it by human teaching, but from God. John, Peter, and the other apostles wrote in an equally authoritative manner. They were men to whom the mystery of the gospel was directly and personally revealed by the Lord Himself. The canon of the New Testament is the revealed truth of God. The apostolic teachings are not men trying to understand life and reality — that is philosophy. Rather, these men told with confidence God's revealed truth. All that is necessary to life and wellbeing, for death, and after is found within God's truth. The fundamental position of the Bible is that humanity cannot attain knowledge of God apart from the revelation and work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus affirmed there is no way to know the truth of God apart from revelation, for God hides it from the world and reveals it as He chooses. The truth is hidden from the prideful who are confident of their own knowledge. All must become like little children toward God's revealed truth to have their “loins girt about with truth.”

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock, And established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth-- Praise to our God;" There is no doubt that Psalm 40 was written by David, but when he wrote it is another matter. Some place its composition during his outlaw years when he was the special object of King Saul's hate. For a number of years David must have felt that he was in a horrible pit of disappointments and even despair. It was during this time that he told Jonathan, Saul's son, that “there was but a step between me and death” (1 Samuel 20:3). In other words, David felt like he was only one step away from being killed by Saul. No matter how hard he tried to get out of this “horrible pit” of his troubles and suffering, his loneliness and despair, he would slip and slide right back into it. David must have felt like a person who would not be able to make any progress out of a pit of wet and slippery miry clay. Do you feel like this is where you are today? Well, then this Psalm is for you! But this Psalm could just as easily have been written during the time of the Absalom rebellion when David had to flee for his life. He had to wait patiently for the LORD to reach down and lift him up out of a terrible time in his life. The words of Psalm 40 themselves, of course, are prophetic. They are picked up and quoted by the Holy Spirit in Hebrews 10:5, as speaking primarily of Christ. Along with Psalm 41, this is a Messianic Psalm predicting the crucifixion of Christ. These two Psalms conclude the first book of the Psalms. This is also a proper psalm to follow Psalm 39. All of these psalms go together; that is, you will note a continuity. But this Psalm is quoted in the Epistle to the Hebrews in a most remarkable way. In this Psalm the One who celebrates in praise and thanksgiving the Resurrection, the triumph and Ascension, is the Lord Jesus Himself. This is truly a Messianic psalm. It reveals that the death of Christ was not a defeat at all. It was a great victory. When He says, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry," He is referring to His cry from the cross. Hebrews 10:5-9 quotes 40:6-8 and applies the passage to Christ. Some see the birth of Christ in verse 7, His sinless life in verse 8, and His sacrificial death in verse 6. However, it was first of all a psalm about David and his needs and how the Lord met them. Verses 1-5 picture his deliverance during the dangerous exile years, and verses 6-10 describe his dedication as the new king. Verses 11-17 appear to be a record of his prayer for personal forgiveness (v. 12; see 38:3-5 and 39:8-9) and victory over his enemies following his coronation. It does seem that verse 16 is a royal prayer for God's blessing on the nation. You find verses 13-17 repeated in modified form in Psalm 70. From whatever experiences led to the writing of this psalm, David learned some valuable lessons and he gives us three important instructions to follow in the difficult times of life. First, we should praise God for all He has done (vv. 1-5). We should give God all that He asks (vv. 6-10). And we should trust God for all that remains (vv. 11-17). We live in a broken world and no doubt many of us today can relate to this Psalm. It is my prayer that truly we will “wait patiently for the LORD” to lift us up and set our feet on the Solid Rock of Ages, the Lord Jesus Christ! God bless!

     In the church age, Christian spiritual service is connected with the priesthood of every believer (1 Pet 2:5; Rev 1:6). A priest offers worship to God and service to others. In the OT—before the Mosaic Law—few priests are mentioned. Melchizedek functioned as the king/priest of Salem (Gen 14:18-20; cf. Heb 7:1), and Reuel/Jethro (Moses' father-in-law) as the priest of Midian (Ex 2:16-21; 3:1). Job served as the priest over his household, offering sacrifices for the sins of his family (Job 1:5). Most people worshipped and served God as non-priests.  Men such as Noah, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob built temporary stone altars and worshipped God directly (Gen 8:20-21; 12:7; 13:18; 26:24-25; 35:1-7). Before the Mosaic Law, it appears that sacrifice and worship was personal, simple, did not require special attire, and was not tied to a specific geographic location or facility.      After Israel was delivered from the bondage of Egypt, God established the Hebrews as a theocratic nation among the Gentile nations of the world. God originally intended the whole nation to be a kingdom of priests, saying, “and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation” (Ex 19:6). However, because of the sin of worshipping the golden calf (Ex 32:1-35), God took that privilege from the nation and confined the priesthood to the descendants of Aaron, and the Levites were their assistants (Num 3:1-10; 18:1-7). God required that priests could not have any physical defects (Lev 21:17-23), and restricted the age to twenty-five to fifty (Num 8:24-25). The priests were originally associated with the tabernacle for their service and later to the temple, and special clothing was required both for the priests and the high priest. Throughout the years of their priestly service they were required to: Be holy in their behavior (Ex 19:6; Lev 10:1-3). Provide daily maintenance of the tabernacle, courtyard and sacrifices (Num 3:5-8; Deut 17:1). Teach God's Law to others (Lev 10:8-11; Deut 31:9-13; 33:8-10; 2 Ch 17:7-9; Ezra 7:10; Mal 2:7). Offer sacrifices for sin to God (Lev chapters 4, 9, 16). Adjudicate legal matters (Deut 17:8-13; 19:16-17; 2 Ch 19:8-10). Preserve the tabernacle and temple (Num 18:1-7). Inspect persons, animals, and fabrics to make sure they were clean (Lev 1:3; Deut 15:21; Lev 13-15). Receive the tithes (Num 18:21, 26; cf. Heb 7:5). Pronounce God's blessing on the nation (Num 6:22-27). The High Priest was the supervisor of all the other priests, and had to be a direct descendant of Aaron (Ex 28:1; Num 18:1-7). The High Priest was to: Provide divine guidance (Urim and Thummim; Num 27:21). Perform official duties in the Holy of Holies once a year (Ex 30:6-10; Lev 16).      Israel and the Church are both the people of God, but function under different directives. Biblical distinctions reveal that Israel is a nation (Ex 19:6), but the church is not a nation (Rom 10:19). God's program for Israel focused on the land promised to Abraham (Gen 12:1; 15:18; 17:8), whereas the church is called to go out to many lands (Matt 28:19-20; Mark 16:15; Acts 1:8). Israel was mentioned throughout the Old Testament and recognized by other nations (Num 14:15; Josh 5:1), but the church was a mystery not known in the Old Testament (Eph 3:1-6; Col 1:26-27; cf. Rom 16:25-26).[1] Israel was under “the Law” of Moses (John 1:17), whereas the Church is under the “Law of Christ” (1 Cor 9:21; Gal 6:2). Israel had a priesthood that was specific to the tribe of Levi (Num 3:6-7), whereas all Christians are priests to God (Rev 1:6). Israel worshipped first at the Tabernacle and later the Temple (Ex 40:18-38; 2 Ch 8:14-16), but for Christians, their body is the temple of the Lord and they gather locally where they want (1 Cor 6:19-20; cf. 1 Cor 16:19; Col 4:15). Israel offered animal sacrifices to God (Lev 4:1-35), but Christians offer spiritual sacrifices (1 Pet 2:5; cf. Rom 12:1; Heb 13:15). Israel was required to tithe from the produce of their land (Deut 14:22-23; 28-29; Num 18:21), but there is no tithe required from Christians, only a joyful attitude when giving, “for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Cor 9:7).      The death of Christ on the cross fulfilled the Mosaic Law and ended the OT animal sacrificial system and the Aaronic priesthood (John 1:17; Rom 6:14; 8:3-4; 10:4; 2 Cor 3:1-13; Gal 5:18). There is no specialized priesthood today, and the Catholic Church—or any organization—is not justified in creating a priestly cast within the body of Christ. Now, in the church age, every Christian is a priest to God (1 Pet 2:5, 9; Rev 1:6), and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 3:16; 6:19). The Christian becomes a priest at the moment of salvation. This is the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, for “He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father” (Rev 1:6; cf. 1 Pet. 2:9). Peter writes, “you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Pet 2:5). The functions of the Christian priesthood include: The continual giving of the body for service to the Lord (Rom 12:1-2). The sacrifice of praise for worship (Heb 13:15). The doing of good works and sharing with others (Heb 13:16). The sacrifice of personal life for the benefit of others (Phil 2:17; cf. Phil 1:21-26; 2:3-4). The walk of sacrificial love (Eph 5:1-2; cf. 1 Pet 1:22). Giving financially to support ministry (Phil 4:18). Confession of personal sin to God for restoration of fellowship (1 John 1:6-9).      The practice of the Christian priesthood begins when the believer surrenders his own body as a “living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship” (Rom 12:1). Unlike the OT sacrifices which surrendered their life once, the Christian life is a moment by moment, continual surrender to God. This spiritual service is performed primarily within the body of Christ toward other believers for their benefit. Rather than offer the sacrifice of animals, the Christian is called to offer spiritual sacrifices. When Paul writes about giving ourselves as “a living and holy sacrifice” to God for “spiritual service” (Rom 12:1), he does not leave his reader guessing as to what he means, for one has only to continue reading in Romans chapter 12 to understand his practical application. A few verses later the Apostle provided practical application to his statement when he wrote about Christian service to others within the church. Paul wrote, “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly: if prophecy, according to the proportion of his faith; if service, in his serving; or he who teaches, in his teaching; or he who exhorts, in his exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness” (Rom 12:4-8). And Peter wrote, “As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Pet 4:10). This is love set in motion for the benefit of others. It is taking what God has given to us, spiritually or materially, and giving it freely for others to be blessed. This is consistent with what Paul writes elsewhere when he states, “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others” (Phil 2:3-4). From where does Paul learn this way of thinking? He learned it from the Lord Jesus Himself. Paul wrote: "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Phil 2:5-8)      Jesus is our prime example of a priestly life that has been surrendered for service to God. Jesus' life was given for the blessing of others. Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). And elsewhere He stated, “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Several things may be said about Jesus' willingness to surrender His life to His Father. Dr. Lewis Sperry Chafer states: "First, Christ was willing to go where His Father chose. He was at home in the glory. It was His native environment; but He came into this world with a mission and message of grace. “God had an only Son and He was a foreign missionary.” Such was His Father's will for Him and His attitude may be expressed by the familiar words: “I'll go where You want me to go, dear Lord.” Second, Christ was willing to be whatever His Father chose. “He made Himself of no reputation.” He was not only willing to lay aside the garments of His glory, but He was willing, as well, to be set at naught, to be spit upon and to be crucified. That was the Father's will for Him and His attitude may be expressed in the words: “I'll be what You want me to be.” Third, Christ was willing to do whatever His Father chose. He became obedient unto death, and in so doing, His attitude may again be expressed in the words: “I'll do what You want me to do.”[2]      As Christians, we look to Jesus as our primary role model. Jesus sought to glorify the Father in every regard, and this meant living in accordance with Scripture and being willing to go and do whatever was required of Him. No doubt this brought joy, and at other times sorrow. The primary purpose of life is to glorify God, and this is accomplished as learn and live God's Word and advance to spiritual maturity. Chafer states: "Yieldedness to the will of God is not demonstrated by some one particular issue: it is rather a matter of having taken the will of God as the rule of one's life. To be in the will of God is simply to be willing to do His will without reference to any particular thing He may choose. It is electing His will to be final, even before we know what He may wish us to do. It is, therefore, not a question of being willing to do some one thing: it is a question of being willing to do anything, when, where and how, it may seem best in His heart of love. It is taking the normal and natural position of childlike trust which has already consented to the wish of the Father even before anything of the outworking of His wish is revealed."[3]      The priestly life of service to God and others belongs to every Christian. It is a life of sacrifice for the spiritual and material wellbeing of others, especially those within the church. More so, it begins when the believer decides to commit his/her life to God, to love kindness, to walk humbly, and to pursue righteousness and goodness in all things.   [1] A mystery (musterion) is something “which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets” (Eph. 3:5). Paul then states what that mystery is, “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Eph. 3:6). [2] Lewis Sperry Chafer, He That Is Spiritual (Moody Press: Chicago, 1918), 87. [3] Ibid., 88-89.

CBS News discovers a new, dangerous conspiracy theory and ABC News does the “mostly peaceful riot” meme. Yeah, how could people ever harbor such bizarre and dangerous thoughts about the WEF? I hope John Kerry will set them straight!https://twitter.com/RNCResearch/status/1615395129606406155?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1615395129606406155%7Ctwgr%5E870148308d6a1cc63c337288469744ae19af58f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.powerlineblog.com%2Farchives%2F2023%2F01%2Feverybody-wants-to-rule-the-world.phpIf not Captain Ketchup, perhaps Klaus himself! https://twitter.com/TPostMillennial/status/1616441180291584001At least there were no “peaceful riots” in Davos . . .https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1617020906504609792How can journalists not see what is plainly a fact? So many factors play into this, I contend the core of it is Spiritual Blindness, they have removed themselves from The Source of Truth. There is also this, though, the dumbing-down of American college students. The IQ of the current class of college graduates today is what the IQ of high school graduates were in the 60's! That dynamic makes it easier for people to write pieces in the Politico where they pretend that the Lizzie Warren established Consumer Fraud Protection Bureau--designed to operate with NO control by Congress, to even their budget and NO control by the Executive branch--is “our financial system.” What does God say?The Lord Jesus Himself told us that He needed God The Father!John 5:19“Jesus gave them this answer: ‘Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.'”How much more do we need God?

This week's episode introduces a key player in the formation of the church: Paul, the persecutor-turned-apostle by the Lord Jesus Himself. Join Pastor Tom Marcis, Vicar Aidan Moon, and our guest Pastor Douglas Bergelin as they continue to discuss the church's movement across the world in Acts. See how the Lord spread the good news of salvation to all people.

Good morning to you, it is Monday morning, 3rd of October, 2022 and this is your friend, Angus Buchan, with a thought for today.“Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent…”Acts 18:9Then we go straight to Acts 23:11:“But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, [b]“Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”A very important directive. The Bible tells us that the Lord Jesus Himself, spoke directly to Paul at night in a dream - a vision. He did not send an angel because of the importance of this commandment. By the way, this is the very scripture, Acts 18:9, with which the Lord Jesus called me to go out and testify, to speak up and preach the Good News to a dying world.On the 17th of November 1989, while spending time in my prayer-room, the Lord Jesus Christ spoke to me clearly. Not audibly but in my heart and told me not to be afraid but to speak and not hold my peace. From that moment onwards, I started to go out and hire halls, stadiums and open spaces - to speak the Gospel to the 'whosevers'.I just want to clarify something, its not easy, it takes a lot of faith to stand up in a public place and to declare, sometimes to a hostile crowd, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that there is no other God. It is becoming progressively more difficult these days to preach the Word of God openly. There is a big call for political correctness. You can't just say this and that... I want to tell you that there are some nations, if you preach from the text found in John 14:6, where Jesus says: “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That scripture verse would be enough for someone to be arrested and put in jail. It is a calling. Do you know something? We are all called to tell people about Jesus Christ. Many years ago, I was invited to a little town to preach. From the first night, it started on a Friday night, I could sense in my spirit that it was going to be a tough one. First of all we were invited to a hotel, then the food was late and people were drinking heavily. By the time the food came, the people were half-sleeping and some were under the weather. Then I had to stand up in an open place and speak - I preached my heart out. I made an altar call and no-one responded, I will never, ever forget it. That night I couldn't sleep, I tossed and turned and I said, “Lord, I have got a farm, I am a successful farmer, I don't need to do this!” And then the next day I said, “But I will carry on, Lord.” And then we had the breakthrough.Sometimes it looks like nothing is going to happen and then you have an incredible breakthrough. Keep telling people about Jesus.God bless you and goodbye.

The Philippians, like all local church congregations, were imperfect people and dealt with their imperfect flesh, including selfishness. The apostle Paul exhorted them to something better: humble selfless service, seeking unity with other believers in Christ. Sound impossible? Look to our example: the Lord Jesus Himself. If we know the transforming power of Christ, then […]

In today's lesson, the Lord summarizes a disciple's function, purpose, and role. Studying the Beatitudes we've learned how Jesus told the disciples how to get their sinful hearts right before a holy God. Now Jesus tells us what to do with our imperfect righteous lives. In other words, Disciples are to be a witness to the world. You are the plan if you're a Disciple of Jesus. So today's lesson includes a directive from the Lord Jesus Himself. What is it? And how do you apply it to your lives today? Let's find out!

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 "8 Concerning this I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might leave me; 9 but He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you [My lovingkindness and My mercy are more than enough—always available—regardless of the situation]; for [My] power is being perfected [and is completed and shows itself most effectively] in [your] weakness.” Therefore, I will all the more gladly boast in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ [may completely enfold me and] may dwell in me. 10 So I am well pleased with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, and with difficulties, for the sake of Christ; for when I am weak [in human strength], then I am strong [truly able, truly powerful, truly drawing from God's strength]." We are all vulnerable but that doesn't mean we are weak. For the Lord Jesus Himself tells Paul that His power is perfected in our weakness. Your moments of vulnerability are the perfect time for God to work miracles. Allow Him to do so today so that you can be blessed! I love you all and be blessed in Jesus name! Enjoy the YouTube version here and join the family: https://youtu.be/xJYz_2_ouW8 If you would like to join us for bible study, bible study is on Friday nights from 7:30pm - 9pm CST. To get the link, please feel free to message us at perceptualpneumaministries@gmail.com.

What does it mean to “live as a Christian?” We hear that question asked all the time. And we hear various answers, too. Many of them erroneous. I read recently on a meme something to the effect of “I don't reject Jesus' teachings, I just can't accept the behavior of those who profess to be living them, but aren't.” That can seem to be a scathing indictment for those who truly DON'T understand what the Bible says about most things, but embrace what they have told the Bible says, without looking at it themselves. The next two podcasts will examine this question. The apostle Paul—anointed by the Lord Jesus Himself in Acts chapter 9 as His “Chosen vessel”—was very familiar with this question. Paul could be counted on to instruct new Christians on how to apply their faith and how important it was to reflect Christ's character, in particular as a testimony to those we seek to reach. Modern theologians call this “practical theology,” or defining how it is we are supposed to apply the teachings of the Christian faith and manifest them in our own lives. So, I want us to take some stock of our lives and consider the magnitude of the faith walk God has set us on.

Why doesn't God answer our cries for help, deliverance, and healing? Ever ask that question? Why does He sometimes lead us into situations of difficulty and danger? Why does our knowledge of Scripture and our knowledge of the promises that he's given us seem inadequate? Why does God seem to ignore our grief, our sorrow, and our pain? Why does He choose to deliver some but not all? Some He heals. Some He doesn't. And finally, why does He allow evil man to prevail over his children? These six questions are answered in John Chapter Eleven. They're answered with an ultimate answer, the primary answer. And then there's a secondary answer that goes along with it. And we're going to look at these as we go through this chapter, but do hope that you walk away strengthened, encouraged, and nourished. The focus of the first six verses is the Lord Jesus Himself. John 11:1 says, “A certain man was sick, Lazarus of Bethany, the town of Mary, and her sister, Martha. It was that Mary who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped his feet with her hair, whose brother Lazarus was sick. Therefore, the sister sent to him saying, Lord, behold, He whom you love is sick. When Jesus heard that, He said, “This sickness is not of the death, but for the glory of God that the Son of God may be glorified through it. Now, Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was.” Jesus gives us the ultimate answer to all the questions in verse four when He says, “This is for the glory of God.” I want you to think about your problems, your difficulties, your anxieties, whether personal or national. And I want you to consider that what's happening is for the glory of God. God permit things to happen in our lives that are not good. God allows people to do things in this world that are not good, that are evil. But we need to understand that He is working in and through all those things for an ultimate purpose. Salvation comes only by Grace through faith in Jesus Christ, and only in Him alone. Especially if you've been left behind, learn about "The Simplicity of In John 11:7-16 we see the focus shift to the disciples, and it says, “then after this He said to the disciples, let us go to Judea again.” This presents a problem for the disciples. “The disciples said to him, Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone you, and you're going there again?” Are you going to walk right into danger? “And Jesus answered and said, ‘Are there not 12 hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, He does not stumble because He sees the light of this world.' Have you ever stopped and thought that when you stumble over what's happening in your life, maybe you're not walking in the light? The secondary answer is here: “I am glad, for your sakes, I was not there, that you may believe.” Could I ask you a question? Do you think the disciples were already believers I think they were already believers? Of course, they were. They had already believed in Jesus Christ. They had already believed that He was the Messiah. They believe that He was the one that was promised. Jesus basically tells them that what's happening is for their benefit. “That you may believe.” Could I suggest to you that though you're a believer, you need to keep on believing. We need to keep learning and we need to keep growing because salvation faith is not living faith. You trusted Christ at that point where you saw him as the savior of your soul, the savior of the world. You trusted in him. You believed in him. Unfortunately, too many believers think that's all it takes. But that's not going to carry you through life. You're going to have to keep believing and keep believing and constantly be growing. Why does God lead us into a difficult and dangerous situation? The solution for you and I, the solution for the doubts the fears, the anxieties of the disciples (who have now pretty much resigned themselves to go die with Jesus), are all answered by His word, His plan, and His purpose for our life.

Christ's imminent Coming has 2 purposes, which are accomplished at the same time: *(1) He will come suddenly to bring judgment upon the earth, and at the same time, *(2) He will rescue His people from that coming judgment, before it begins. This is Dual Imminence, which means the TRIBULATION will begin on the same day as the RAPTURE. The foundation for this doctrine of Dual Imminence is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself. In this video, Derek starts a systematic survey of the prophetic teaching of Jesus, and shows how Dual Imminence is a major feature of His teaching. First, we look at Jesus' first teaching on His Coming in Luke 12:35-48, then Luke 17:22-36, compared with Matthew 24:37-39.

Christ's imminent Coming has 2 purposes, which are accomplished at the same time: *(1) He will come suddenly to bring judgment upon the earth, and at the same time, *(2) He will rescue His people from that coming judgment, before it begins. This is Dual Imminence, which means the TRIBULATION will begin on the same day as the RAPTURE. The foundation for this doctrine of Dual Imminence is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself. In this video, Derek starts a systematic survey of the prophetic teaching of Jesus, and shows how Dual Imminence is a major feature of His teaching. First, we look at Jesus' first teaching on His Coming in Luke 12:35-48, then Luke 17:22-36, compared with Matthew 24:37-39.

Christ's imminent Coming has 2 purposes, which are accomplished at the same time: *(1) He will come suddenly to bring judgment upon the earth, and at the same time, *(2) He will rescue His people from that coming judgment, before it begins. This is Dual Imminence, which means the TRIBULATION will begin on the same day as the RAPTURE. The foundation for this doctrine of Dual Imminence is the teaching of the Lord Jesus Himself. In this video, Derek starts a systematic survey of the prophetic teaching of Jesus, and shows how Dual Imminence is a major feature of His teaching. First, we look at Jesus' first teaching on His Coming in Luke 12:35-48, then Luke 17:22-36, compared with Matthew 24:37-39.

Rev. David Appold, pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Paducah, KY, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Acts 9:1-19. Saul's hatred for Christians had only grown since Stephen's death. He was on his way to Damascus with official authority to imprison more Christians when the Lord Jesus Himself stopped Saul in his tracks. Jesus revealed Himself in blinding light to Saul as the One whom Saul had been persecuting. By this, Jesus preached the condemning Law to Saul, who had to be led into Damascus due to his blindness. The Gospel would be proclaimed by a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord gives great honor to the ministry He established by making use of His preachers. Jesus assured Ananias that Saul would bring His name before all nations. Ananias heard the Lord's command in faith and went to Saul as a brother. He pronounced absolution upon Saul and laid his hands on the blind man so that his sight was restored. Saul was promptly baptized as his welcome into the family of God. “To the End of the Earth” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Acts. In his second volume, St. Luke records all the things that Jesus continued to do through the ministry of His Church. By the end of the book, the proclamation of the Lord's Word that began in Jerusalem grows all the way to Rome. By God's grace, even now, that same Word is proclaimed to us.

We continue our series on "What's it going to be like in Heaven" with the song "Heaven of Rest" Written in 1889 by Henry Lake Gilmour who was born in the United Kingdom in 1836. This song pictures the sinner seeking a safe Harbor, and he presents the Lord Jesus Himself as that.

On this Wednesday in Holy Week, we pray for God's grace to accept joyfully the sufferings of the present time, because our Lord Jesus Himself gave His body to be whipped and His body to be spit upon. Wednesday in Holy Week, from The Book of Common Prayer.

In Luke 11:1, Jesus' disciples made a request to learn how to pray. We see from this request  that effective prayer has to be learned. The disciple asked, “Lord, teach us to pray.”  After witnessing Jesus pray, he saw his own inadequacies in the area of prayer and realized that he needed to be taught by the Master, the Lord Jesus Himself. Join us in this episode as we discuss the need to be taught to pray and how we are able to learn this discipline.

“After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven. And the first voice which I heard was like a trumpet speaking with me, saying, "Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this." Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in heaven, and One sat on the throne." The Lord Jesus Himself gives us the divine outline of the book of Revelation in the first chapter when He told John to: “Write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after this” (1:19). In chapter one, John wrote and described the vision and experience he had with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself there on the Isle of Patmos. In chapters two and three, John wrote about the “things which are” as he pen the seven letters to the seven literal churches of Asia. Now as we come to chapter four through the end of the book, John writes about the “things which must take place after this” (4:1). In Revelation 1-3, the word church has occurred again and again, in fact nineteen times. From here on you will not find the word church mentioned. But now the church goes off the air -- there is no mention of it. It has gone off the air because it went up in the air; it was caught up in the air to meet the Lord in the air. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18) The church has gone to heaven -- that is what has happened to it. The church is not a name but a definition of those who have trusted Christ in this age. The word church is ekklesia in the Greek; which means "a group of people called out of the world." When the church arrives at its destination in heaven, it loses the name by which it was known in the world and other terms are used to describe it. We are going to see it in chapter 4 as twenty-four elders, representatives of the church in heaven. We are also going to see the church in heaven as a bride, coming down to her new home, the New Jerusalem. It is my view that the church will be raptured before the seven year tribulation takes place on planet earth. Revelation 4:1 indicates this when John sees a door opened in heaven and he hears a voice calling him to come up! And the first thing John sees is a worship scene in heaven. True spiritual worship is perhaps one of the greatest needs in our individual lives and in our churches. There is a constant emphasis today on witnessing for Christ and working for Christ, but not enough is said about worshiping Him. To worship means "to ascribe worth" (Rev. 4:11; 5:12). It means to use all that we are and have to praise God for all that He is and does. Heaven is a place of worship, and God's people shall worship Him throughout all eternity. Perhaps it would be good for us to get in practice now! A study of Revelation 4-5 will certainly help us better understand how to worship God and give Him the glory that He deserves. Before God pours out His wrath on earth, He gives us a glimpse into glory and permits us to hear the worshiping creatures in heaven as they praise God. Two aspects of their worship are presented for our instruction and imitation. In chapter 4, we find the host of heaven worshiping God as Creator. "You are worthy, O Lord, To receive glory and honor and power; For You created all things, And by Your will they exist and were created." (Revelation 4:11) In chapter 5, we see the multitudes worshiping the Lamb as Redeemer! “And they sang a new song, saying: "You are worthy to take the scroll, And to open its seals; For You were slain, And have redeemed us to God by Your blood Out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation,” (Revelation 5:9) God created us to be worshippers! May the Lord help us to fulfill our purpose and worship Him now!

The children of Israel allowed themselves to be duped out of part of their inheritance because they were taken in by some deceiving -ambassadors- who lied to them and tricked them into making a covenant with them - despite the Lord's command to destroy all the wicked Canaanites. --It is strange to think that the Israelites got into this mess because they repeated a failure that they had just recently made in the matter of their attack upon Ai - they did not pray to the Lord and seek His guidance before making their plans and decisions. --The Christian life must be a life of prayer. A prayerless Christian misses out on so much blessedness. Without prayer and the reading of the Word, true communication does not exist between the Lord and our souls. --As a part of the Body of Christ, we ought to be lifting one another up in prayer - following the example of our Lord Jesus Himself, Who is repeatedly depicted in the Gospels as spending much time praying for His people-

The only time-piece for His end-of-the-age program that God reveals is the nation of Israel. The Lord Jesus Himself told us that the re-birth and restoration of Israel after its 1900-year exile was a sign to watch for.

“And He said to them, “Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” For there were many coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.”Mark 6:31We must be so careful that we don't get so busy that we don't spend time with our Heavenly Father. Do not even let the work of the Lord Jesus become more important to us than the Lord Jesus Himself. Speaking to a large group of ministers of the Gospel, dynamic young men in a very big church in Durban a few years back, I asked them a question?“If the Lord said to you today: “I never want you to preach another sermon in your life, would you still serve Him with the same passion?”Well, the auditorium went quiet...Jesus must be our first priority, always! Spending time with our Heavenly Father in a quiet place, then later on with the masses of people who desperately want to hear the good news. Otherwise, we have nothing to say! We must be careful that good works do not keep us from God works.What do we always say - A good idea is not always a God idea!First the mountain and then the ministry. First, time spent hearing from Father God, then the work of the Lord.Do you remember that amazing Christian writer, C.S. Lewis? He wrote a book called “The Screw Tape Letters.” It is a fictional book about a senior devil or demon, talking to a junior demon, instructing him how to destroy the Christians. He says: “Keep them busy, take their minds off God. Let them go to church, let them praise and worship but don't let them get involved with Jesus. Get them living a compromised life, don't allow them to make commitments... Water down the Gospel, take their minds off God.”Folks, we have got to be so careful these days, that Jesus Christ is our priority. That is why the Lord took the disciples away up the mountain. He saw they were so busy doing good works that they didn't even have time to eat.A very good friend of mine, Juergen Buehler, who is the President of the Christian Embassy in Jerusalem told me once, that he was 'shattered' when he asked a prominent speaker: “Are you having good quiet times?” and this man said, “I don't have time anymore to have quiet times. I am too busy preaching the Gospel.” That is a dangerous sign, that man will never complete his task because he is going to 'run out of petrol', as they say. That engine will not run without the Holy Spirit.Spend time up the mountain today and you will see that your day will go so much better.God bless you and goodbye.

Someday, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, the Lord Jesus Himself will descend from heaven and with a voice that sounds like a war trumpet call His church from the earth to be with Him forever. Until that moment, Jesus is before God's throne as our advocate, our Great High Priest. Come learn more from this passage Dr. McGee called one of the most thrilling sections in the Word of God.