THEMES
FOR THE WEEK:
By
Trevor Davis
www.soundingthealarm.com
April
10, 2011
1.
The
Faithful Church:
Those who feared the LORD
spake often with one another...and discern between the righteous and
the wicked, between him that serves God and him that serves him not.
Malachi 3:16-18
16Then
they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD
hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before
him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.
17And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I
make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own
son that serveth him. 18Then shall ye return, and discern between the
righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that
serveth him not. Malachi 3:16-18
A.
The Lord of the true Church assembles His people together as a good
Shepherd. He is their Head, their Master and Lord. He has bought them
by His own blood in laying down His life, bearing their sins and
fulfilling all righteousness. This is Jesus Christ the King of Kings.
He is directing His loving lambs and making a way for them to have
fellowship together outside the camp of the religious world. They
bear His reproach having renounced this world and its ways in order
to follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. They hate their spiritual
garments spotted by the world. They do not desire the things of this
age. They love their Lord and hear His voice. These are the works of
His hands, created unto good works of faith initiated by God Himself.
B. I have been enjoying fellowship with these type of
believers. I am making note here how the Lord for over the last year
has allowed me to meet a few others who are called out unto Him. We
are of the church of the wilderness. It has been very encouraging to
meet people that believe and love the Lord. We may live hundreds or
even thousands of miles apart, but yet we relate with one another
from the heart, mind and spirit.
C. Today I cite the text
above from Malachi 3 since this describes what God is doing right
now. There is indeed a difference between him that serves God from
him that serves Him not. The call goes out still today, though the
hour is late, for all those who have wandered from the Lord to
return. Come back to the Lord. Return, repent and believe on Jesus
Christ. Lay down your life. Deny yourself. Pick up your cross and
follow Jesus. This is the way of eternal life. But to feignedly be
religious and seek this world and your own self-centered desires will
not lead you into eternal life but eternal damnation. No one can have
two masters. You can not love two gods. Multitudes, multitudes are in
the valley of decision. Chose this day whom you will serve.
Jesus
Christ, yourself, or some other false god?
2.
God Is Determining Who Loves Him
A.
Here
lies the most crucial fact. Do you love the Lord? Yes or no?
B.
Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments”. If
you love the Lord then you will obey Him.
(True:
when you love someone you do not deliberately offend them)
C.
What people talk about reveals what they love. Matthew
12:34 and Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart
bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil
treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the
abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.
D.
Jesus wants to know why people say Jesus is their Lord when they do
not obey Him. Luke
6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I
say?
3.
Religious Corruption Within the Church World
A.
A
“wonderful” (appalment horror) and horrible thing is
committed in the land
Jer.
5:30 A wonderful and horrible thing is committed in the land
Jer.
5:31 The prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests bear rule by
their means; and my people love [to have it] so: and what will ye do
in the end thereof?
ASTONISHING!
Horrible!
Jere
2:12-13 For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me
the fountain of living waters, [and] hewed them out cisterns, broken
cisterns, that can hold no water.
In
Jeremiah’s day, the religious system was corrupt. Yes, most of
the prophets' days the religious system was corrupt. False prophecy
was attributed to God but was indeed lies. The false prophets
promoted the spiritual leaders, the 'priests'. And the religious
masses went along with the whole corruption and loved it so! This is
the case today in the religious world. It is horrible, absolutely
horrible and astonishing.
B. In Jesus' day the religious
system was also corrupt. He came to His own and His own received Him
not.
John
1:11
C.
Jesus said that they, the Pharisees and scribes, did not love the
Father as proven by how they did not love the Son. He said they did
not have the Word of God abiding in them, what God was saying, as
proven by how they did not receive Jesus' message.
John
5:42-43 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. I am
come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall
come in his own name, him ye will receive.
And,
John
5:38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent,
him ye believe not.
4.
The Kingdom of God Is Not Here Or There...
Luke
17:20-21 The Kingdom is within you (disciples)
A.
God does not endorse any institutional form of religion. The gospel
is not a religion. It is the power of God unto salvation to them that
believe. The true church is an assembly of the righteous that abide
in Jesus Christ. The church is the spiritual habitation of God
Almighty through the Holy Spirit. It is not made by hands. It is not
formed by men. It is the work of God through faith. Eph
2:21-22 In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto
an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for
an habitation of God through the Spirit.
Mar
14:58 We heard him say, I will destroy this temple that is made with
hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands
Isaiah
66: God is looking for men who are broken, contrite and tremble at
His Word. These are those He will inhabit and not a building of
stones.
Lively
stones: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an
holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God
by Jesus Christ. 1Pe 2:5
B.
Men make religion. God establishes His Kingdom. Which will you
choose?
C. Jesus Christ is the Head of the Church. His body
are those who submit to His lordship. His body are those whom He has
called. They are those who follow the Lamb wheresoever He goes. Rev
14:4-5 ...These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he
goeth...
D.
The false “church” is the opposite of the true church.
It is a whitewashed sepulcher that appears beautiful on the
outside, polished, engraved; but is filled with dead man’s
bones, corruption, defilement, death and stench.
Jesus is not the
Lord over this false church. He is not the love of their soul. The
false church does not submit to Him nor do they love Him. They love
the world and their sin. They refuse to hear Him that speaks from
heaven. They are actors acting religious but deny Him by their deeds,
doctrines and lusts. The false church glories in the things that are
detestable. The false church glories in their flesh. They glory in
man.
E. The Lord said the Kingdom of God is “among you”.
Jesus was speaking to His disciples. The Kingdom of God is where
believers believe and submit to the King. This submission is
displayed in power as outlined in scripture. God works in various
manners and administrations as the Spirit wills. There is a many
membered body of Christ with Jesus as the Head. In the church of
Jesus Christ, there are no other kings are great ones other than the
Lord Himself.
F. “F” for False. The False Church
gets an “F” from the Lord Jesus. They refused His
reproof. They tolerated Jezebel who said she was a prophetess and
taught to eat things sacrificed unto idols. She taught to go ahead
and commit fornication both spiritual and physical. The False Church
does not reflect Jesus. It does not love Him or seek Him. They do not
desire the return of Jesus the King. They are His enemies in that
they resist His voice and promote all that He came to destroy.
G.
Denominationalism is Schismatic. Is Christ divided?
1Cor
1:11-13 Contentions, schisms and divisions by naming followers after
men.
5.
The Enemies of the Cross of Christ Philippians
3: 18-19
A.
Paul the apostle wrote of those who opposed the cross of Christ. He
had warned many times about this issue, and repeated it in
Philippians 3:18 stating he wept
over
this.
It is a great tragedy that certain ones would be enemies of
Jesus due to the loss of their life in eternal judgment.
It is a
tragedy also that they influence so many in following their ways in
opposing Jesus. Think about this.
B. Enemies of the cross of
Christ are governed by their natural appetites. “Whose god is
their belly”. Phl 3:19
C. Enemies of the cross of Christ
governed by carnal worldly pursuits as lust of the
eyes—covetousness;
lust of the flesh—as opposed to the
crucified life, herein being an enemy of the cross;
and they are
largely seeking the pride of life—which is prestige, prominence
and superiority over others.
These three lusts are the sins of
the world:
|
According
to Paul, they glory in their shame. (Things they think are great,
admirable and esteemed are actually an abomination in the sight of
God--Luke
16:15 ...for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination
in the sight of God.
D.
The true church of Jesus Christ is not of this world nor is it
governed by the ways of the world. They have been delivered and
translated out of darkness into His Kingdom. Col
1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son:
E.
The Word of God CONTRASTS the Religious Church World.
Reading the
Word of God with a submissive prayerful heart will show the contrast
between what the Lord has said and what the religious church world
has done in His name.
I encourage you to read for yourself
these texts:
Matthew
23: Jesus Himself chides hypocritical actors of religion for their
love of the praise of man, titles, accolades, esteem, place of honor,
special religous garb, much speaking, pseudo prayers, appearances and
the like.
Mat
20:25-28 ...And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your
servant:...
F.
“F” for Failure:
Consider this analogy: Take a
jetliner and remove one part at a time, first the engines, then the
wings, then the landing gear and so on. When does the jetliner cease
from being a jetliner? When would you decide not to fly on board? At
what time is it unsafe for travel?
How
far removed from the Word of God can the “Church” be and
still be the “Church of Jesus Christ”?
This
is looking at the church
world at
how foreign it is to the Word of God.
Is Jesus truly Lord over the
church world?
Is the Word of God promoted?
Is the voice of the
Spirit sought and heeded? Or is it censored and ignored?
Is what
is esteemed truly of God and His Kingdom? Or is it of the world that
passes away?
Is righteousness promoted in the fear of the LORD? Or
is sin whitewashed and excused in the desire to make the world
comfortable in the midst?
Is the fear of the LORD present?
Is
the Lord present?
Is the LORD building the house? Or is it man?
Is
the flesh crucified? Or is the flesh alive and well?
Are the
leaders servants? Or are the leaders kings on thrones of glory?
Are
disciples being made? Or are worldly religious ones maintained?
Are
the people “led by the Spirit”? They that are led by the
Spirit are the sons of God.
Is Jesus Lord?
Question:
What are those who are not led by the Spirit of God?
Romans
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God.
There
are so many contradictions that are excused away in the name of
status quo and belonging to the church today. God calls all of us out
of the world and unto Him. Will you follow Jesus?
Count the
cost. Come outside the camp and bear His reproach. We have no
continuing city but we seek one to come.
Hebrews
13:12-14 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with
his own blood, suffered without the gate.Let us go forth therefore
unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no
continuing city, but we seek one to come.
6.
Be Found In Him!
Philippians
3:9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is
of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the
righteousness which is of God by faith:
A.
Our one and foremost desire should be that we are in Jesus Christ. We
each have to be crucified to our own life and buried; in that we may
be raised by the Spirit of God unto new life in Jesus Christ. Our
flesh is crucified and its lusts, ways and passions. Then, through
faith in the operation of God we live unto God. This is New Testament
faith. Do you see how this contradicts today's religious “Christian
world”?
B. The preaching of the cross is the power of
God unto those who believe. Believing in this gospel activates the
power of God to deliver you. Believe the gospel of Jesus Christ! Pick
up your cross, deny yourself and follow the Lord. Come outside the
camp.
C. “Christ, who is our life”. These are not
just semantics or mere words. He must be your life. When the Father
sees you, He should see His Son Jesus Christ being formed in you.
This is a daily walk. A daily dying that we may live in Him.
D.
Jesus' Followers Follow Jesus. Those who don't---aren't. Period.
E.
God is not looking for us to do things for Him. He is looking for us
to abide in Jesus and His fruit will abound unto His pleasure. It is
God in you doing the work, not your flesh. The flesh is unprofitable.
The flesh has no good thing. The flesh stinketh to God. Put it away
and put on Jesus Christ. Herein is the way we offer to God spiritual
sacrifices that are acceptable to Him.
7.
President Obama of the United States is Declared to be the “Leader
of the Free World”.
A.
It is important to keep our eyes and ears open to observe and watch
the events of our day as Jesus told us. Watch and pray. Observe. Keep
your heart sensitive to the Lord.
B. Note there is a world
leader today that has been called such titles as “Leader of the
Free World” as well as “president of the
world”.
President
Obama of the United States of America declared to be "Leader of
the Free World"
Google:
Search on Obama as Leader of the "Free World"
Obama
is "President of the World" per CNN
8. THE “GOSPEL”:
Gospel in scripture
"gospel"
in scripture: A wonderful read of what this is and does
A.
True gospel versus false gospels and “other” gospels.
B.
How beautiful are the feet of those who publish the gospel.
C.
The gospel brings peace, life, deliverance, glory, grace, joy, truth,
power...
D. The Everlasting Gospel proclaimed in the last
days.
Rev
14:6-7 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the
everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and
to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people, Saying with a
loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his
judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and
the sea, and the fountains of waters.
April 3, 2011
1.
Faith: Faith
in Jesus Christ and the gospel.
A. Faith is not mental knowledge.
Faith is in the realm of the spirit. Faith is fruit of the
Spirit.
Gal
5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering,
gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law. 24And they that are
Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25If
we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26Let us not
be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one
another.
B. Faith is not in the
natural-carnal-fleshly realm. This is why religion
does not operate in faith.
For the most part, the religious
world operates
in the natural world. (Contrast
with the original church as recorded in Acts)
Consider
this text:Ga
5:16-21 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil
the lust of the flesh. 17For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit,
and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to
the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18But if ye
be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19Now the works of
the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication,
uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred,
variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21Envyings,
murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell
you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do
such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God
This
text contradicts the Church
Growth Movement and
its 'seeker-friendly' motif. Promoting and marketing a “church”
as a secular religious social club encourages people to remain in
their sin. When the standard and proclamation of the Word of God is
promoted instead it brings conviction by the Spirit of God whereby
people can repent and have faith in Jesus as the Deliverer. Those who
walk in the spirit will not walk in the lust of the flesh as verse 16
says above. The Spirit and the flesh are opposites as verse 17 says.
However,
the works of the flesh are clearly stated and those who walk in these
ways “shall not inherit the kingdom of God”, Galatians
5:21.
Ancient
Israel and Judah did the same thing when they had false prophets
promoting the false priests which therefore encouraged the people in
their sinful ways.
Ezekiel
13:22 Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad,
whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked,
that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life:
C.
The true atmosphere of worship to God should be one of the fear of
the LORD. Humility, worship, purity, holiness, abiding faith in Jesus
Christ. The masses still view the building of where church is as the
temple of God. God does not dwell in temples made by hands. He is
looking to dwell in people that are abiding in Jesus Christ. The body
is the “temple of God” in New Testament faith. The
collective gathering of believers creates the habitation of God that
He dwells in by faith. Here again is another example of the
misunderstandings of the people that make up Christendom. When the
people are in adoration of their Lord and abide faithfully in Him,
the presence of the LORD is manifested in great glory. His presence
is made known through many displays of power and glory through His
people. Conviction and revelation into the knowledge of God is
fostered among the people. Do you see how this is so different than
the church clubs of our day? Which is it that you desire?
D.
It is not led by the Spirit of God and hence they are not the sons of
God.
Rom
8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God
They do not have the
power of God nor His presence therefore they rely on their own
inventions, tactics and programs. Make sure you can perceive the
difference between the activity of the Spirit of God from religious
activity of man. One is activity of dead works not of faith, and the
other are works wrought by God, through faith, in abiding hearts of
the faithful. God is looking for obedience to His voice. This is
faith. God is not looking for people manufacturing deeds on His
behalf from their imagination. That is not faith.
E.
Religious
activity is largely driven
by money. The love of money is the root of all evil. 1Timothy
6:10.
Note
Jesus anger with the moneychangers as they were buying and selling in
the temple of God in Jerusalem. John
2:14-17---And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and
doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a
scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the
sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and
overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these
things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And
his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house
hath eaten me up.
Scripture
on "filthy lucre"--not to be in the "church"
F.
Faith in Jesus Christ and the gospel activates the power of God. See
Romans 6 and 1Peter 1:5
"Power
of God" in various texts--the gospel, the cross, Jesus Christ
and more
The
power of God is what delivers us from the power of sin and
death.
Romans
6: The gospel and its power of deliverance
G.
Are you going to live a religious life or one that is of the Kingdom
of God? One is in the natural. The other is supernatural. One is for
self; the other is for the Lord through the Lord.
H.
Recognize that the gospel of Jesus bearing upon Himself the sins of
the world and dying upon the cross, being buried for three days and
raising again is not religion. This is not a religion. It is the
power of God unto salvation. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I.
Man has made religion; not God. Jesus does not endorse religion. He
has said that the Kingdom is not here or there but it is among
you---those who believe and submit to Him, there is where the Kingdom
of God is demonstrated.
The
Kingdom is not here or there but is within you--Luke 17:20-21
2.
Come to a conclusion that the “church
world” is
corrupt (for the most part):
A.
People have to come to the conclusion from the Lord that the church
world is not of Him on the basis of the contradictions.
“Unless
the LORD build the house they labor in vain that build it.”
Psalms
127:1
B.
People have to decide to come
out (definition
of church) and
be separate to the Lord. He then leads them as the good shepherd into
good pastures and still waters. He will unite them with others of
like faith and spirit.
Lexicon:
Definition of Ekklesia--"church" in English
3.
Unification of World Religion
A.
Today,
the religious leaders of the world are uniting with unbelievers with
false gospels and religions in order to synthesize the mindset of the
populace. The goal is to unite the world into one. It is an old idea
that is satanic.
B. Consider Babylon. Genesis
11: Babylon Babylon
sought to build a name for itself, build into the heavens, exalt
itself, nothing to be impossible as they agreed together against the
LORD. This is the same spirit that drives the desire for the One
World Government.
C. See message on corrupted religion as
'skyscrapers': The
Demise of the Pharaoh’s Palaces
D.
See transcript the ALARM: Read
about the coming Deception: The ALARM transcript (4-2-2005)
4.
Map and directions-
A.
Be careful
who influences your understanding of the things of God. God is to be
your teacher! Not man. Look this up in the Word.
Psalms
71:17--O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I
declared thy wondrous works.
Psalms
119:102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught
me.
My
lips shall utter praise, when thou hast taught me thy statutes.
B.
Would you go to a satanist to teach you the Word of God? Would you go
to someone who is immoral in their lifestyle to teach and influence
you in the things of God? Would you have someone from the other side
of the world give you directions to where you are needing to go?
“No”.
Yet, so many professing Christians let
ungodly people with ungodly doctrines shape and influence their
beliefs in the faith. The danger is that what they value and esteem
is generally foreign to the Kingdom of God. Do they not promote what
they
deem is good, important and
of value?
C. Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their
covetousness and said that God knew their hearts. What was esteemed
in the eyes of man was an abomination in the sight of God. Luke
16:14-15: And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these
things: and they derided him. And he said unto them, Ye are they
which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for
that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight
of God.
D.
The values of the church world are worldly. They esteem things that
are not of God. They operate according to these principles and lusts.
E. George
Barna and Marketing of the Church: Professional
statistician entering the world of religion for greater profits:
That
is the title! Marketing
of the Church: What they never taught you about church growth.
George
Barna: Book--Marketing the Church
Do
you believe that Jesus Christ the Head of the church approves of
marketing religion? Yes or no?
F. The Church Growth Movement:
Numbers are everything. To Christ, discipleship is everything.
Those
who are with Him are called, chosen and faithful. They are tried and
their garments are white. Rev
17:14 These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome
them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are
with him [are] called, and chosen, and faithful.
G.
As in the days of apostate Israel and Judah as recorded in scripture,
the peoples had forsaken the LORD and did not truly know Him though
they continued in religious activities. They had become like the
heathen nations around them and were not abiding in the call of
separation. The same is true for the most part of the religious
church world today.
Isaiah
1
The
SAD STORY: The Broken Heart of God and the one-sided relationship
5.
Being led by the Spirit of God
A.
They that are led by the Spirit are the children of God.
What are
those who are not led by the Spirit of God?
Shouldn't the church
of Jesus be led by the Spirit of God?
Romans
8:14: For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons
of God.
B.
'Whose “church” is this anyhow?' How is the Head?
C.
Being prepared for the coming of Jesus Christ; or, being prepared for
the antichrist. Which is it?
6.
You must be born again, you must be born from above.
This
was the first thing Jesus told Nicodemus the ruler of the the Jews
and master over Israel per
John 3. If you are not born again,
then those who are born of God will seem as the wind that you can
hear its sound but not know from when it comes or where it is going.
You will not have the capacity to perceive, understand or know the
kingdom of God. You must be born again. You must. You absolutely must
be born from above.
John
3:3 You must be born again to see the Kingdom of God. (Please read
the whole chapter for amazing revelation)
7.
Fleshly Efforts Equal Fleshly Results.
A.
Carnal Efforts Equal Carnal Results. Worldly Efforts Equal Worldly
Results. All of these efforts are USELESS to the Kingdom of God. What
is flesh is flesh. What is spirit is spirit.
John
3:6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born
of the Spirit is spirit.
B.
Worship God in spirit. The true worshipers worship God in truth and
in spirit.
John
8:23-24-- But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers
shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father
seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship
him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.
8.
The enemies of the cross of Christ:
Paul was weeping in this
reality that there were MANY who were the enemies of the cross of
Christ. Their end is destruction:
The
Enemies of the cross of Christ
Paul
was writing the Philippians to note those who followed his example of
godly life and manner of service to the Lord.
”Mark them”
he said. “ Mark them which walk so as ye have us for an
ensample.”
Note:
For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
whose
end is destruction,
(1.)whose God is their belly, Their
god is their belly. They are driven by earthly appetite not
heavenly or spiritual. They eat not the EVERY WORD THAT
PROCEEDETH out of the mouth of God. They feast only on “bread
alone” in violation of Matthew 4:4.
(2)
and whose glory is in their shame,
(What
they think is valuable and esteemed is an abomination in the sight of
GodeLuke 16:15
.
What they glory in is actually shameful)
(3)
who mind earthly things. (They
are earthly, sensual and devilish. They are of the world.
They love the things of the world and abuse the fashion of the
world. The are in the flesh. They are carnal. All
of this is enmity against God.)
Philippians
3:17-20
17Brethren,
be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have
us for an ensample.
18(For
many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that
they are the
enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose
end is
destruction,
whose God is
their belly,
and whose
glory
is
in
their shame, who mind earthly things.) 20For
our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the
Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
8.
THE ABSOLUTE MOST IMPORTANT THING: Be found in Jesus Christ--
A.
Paul said, “Being
found in Him; not having
my own righteousness which is by the law, but that which is in
Christ, the righteousness that is by faith.
B.
Verse 10 shows the power through faith...power of resurrection,
fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable to His
death...vs 11 that I may attain to the resurrection.
C.
Paul was saying he prayed he would be found in Jesus. That is the key
issue. Our life must be the very life of Christ. We are to be
crucified and buried. Raised by the Spirit of God walking in newness
of life. We are to be yielding to the life of Christ unto
righteousness. When the Father sees us, He should see His Son. This
is supernatural.
9.
God is allowing the sin to increase.
A.
He is allowing the rebellion to escalate. God is putting this into
the hearts of the leaders to exercise His will in these last days.
They will succeed in bringing about the Beast System, the economic
system that requires a mark, as well as the worship to the image of
the Beast. All those who are not in the book of life of the Lamb will
take this mark.
10.
Love the truth or else.
A.
Our world today can take it or leave it regarding what is the truth.
We are lied to constantly by the world and its media. God is the
exact opposite. It is important to cut off the lies lest they
influence you on a subliminal level.
God will send strong delusion
that those who have had pleasure in unrighteousness would believe the
lie.
2
Thessalonians 2:10-12 10And with all deceivableness of
unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the
love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11And for this cause God
shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
12That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had
pleasure in unrighteousness.
11.
The heart is the issue:
A.
God reveals truth to the humble child-like ones. God hides the truth
from the wise and prudent but reveals it unto the babes.
Matthew
11:25-26 At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O
Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things
from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Even
so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight.
B.
God chooses the weak and foolish things to confound the wise and
strength of man's flesh: The preaching of the cross is weak and
foolish. What is your response to the proclaiming of the cross of
Jesus?
1Cor
1:17-31 The most crucial base focus of true ministry. The ministry of
proclaiming the cross and glorying in the Lord.
1Cor
1:17-31 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of
none effect. 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish
foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will
bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the
wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath
not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21For after that in
the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by
the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the
Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we
preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the
foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is
stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not
many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are
called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to
confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the
world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and
things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no
flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ
Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and
sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
C.
Let God reveal the truth as you study His Word. It is a prayerful
spiritual activity in the realm of the spirit. It is not a head
mental exercise. The mind must be submitted to Christ. Do not let
carnal men teach you. God must be your teacher. Would you let a
satanist teach you? Would you let one who denies Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, who came in the flesh teach you?
Read
1John 2. Antichrists and false teachers that deny Jesus as the
Christ, the Son of God who came in the flesh.
12. Prophecy is a
sealed book:
The
prophecy is sealed unto the end. The Word of God as well as the
prophecy are unsealed for the righteous. They are humble, obedient
abiding ones. God conceals the truth from the wise and prudent but
reveals it unto babes.
Do not rely on the carnal opinions of
others in past times instruct you in your understanding of the Word
of God and prophecy.
Some things we will not understand until
the time it is to understand. Do not put blinders on your
understanding. Stay pliable and teachable before the Lord.
Daniel
12:4 Seal up the book until the time of the end...
The wicked
shall not understand but the righteous shall understand... Daniel
12:10
13.
What we can
see now:
A.
There is a world government now. There is a form of it which you can
see, touch and hear. It is in the world making war in the name of
peace. It is going forth establishing democracy just like the ancient
empires of Greece and Rome.
B. Do not ignore the obvious.
What is the most powerful nation in the world? What is the most
powerful empire in world history? Who is the president of the
world?
C. What are religious leaders doing now in influencing
through marketing the masses? Note the synthesis of world religions
by these leaders. Note their associations with New Agers, mystics,
Jesus deniers and the like.
D. The “deception” is
here now.
14.
Jesus Followers Follow Jesus
Simple
as that.