Keep the Gospel Simple

February 27, 2023 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Gospel Plain and Simple

Book of Acts Chapter 15

What does God say about the “Gospel of Jesus Christ”? God says to keep it simple.

What upsets God the most? Changing the meaning of His words!

Rev 22:18 For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:
Rev 22:19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

This passage is ignored more than any other passage in all the Bible by those who want to argue over the Word of God.

People are always saying; God did not mean what He said, but God always means what He says, and God also says what He means!

While most of the Apostles were still living and even some of the family of Jesus were still living, there was a council called in Jerusalem by the first church that was established in Jerusalem.

What was the end result of this great council?

That mankind is saved by the “Grace” of God through “Faith” alone, period!

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There is to be nothing added to the Grace of God or it would not be “Grace”!

These certain men, Pharisees, were not opposing the Apostle Paul, though it was Paul they pointed their fingers, they were opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ.

They were opposed to Christianity!

If you are opposed to the Lord Jesus Christ, then you cannot be saved!

Is a ritual or ceremony necessary to be saved? No! Salvation is by “Grace”.

Does each individual have to accept the whole Law of Moses before they can be saved? No! Salvation is by “Grace”.

No matter how solid the Church congregation is, Satan will do his best to cause confusion in the Church.

If even one false preacher is allowed to preach in a Christian Church and he preaches a false doctrine, there will be someone in that group of Christians who then have doubt in some doctrine of the Lord Jesus Christ and they will cause confusion in the Church.

1) All preachers must be screened before they are allowed to preach because some are false prophets.
2) All God’s people must be settled on the Word of God and the Doctrine of Grace!

What is the “Doctrine of Grace”?

Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God toward all mankind and is displayed in His care for us.

In reality by the operations of the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) exercises moral influence on man through His special revelation, that sin is restrained, order is maintained in life, and righteousness is of God.

It is by God’s “Grace” those general blessings, such as rain and sunshine, food and drink, clothing, and shelter, which God imparts “indiscriminately” in what manner seems good to Him.

Mat 5:45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

Psa 145:8 The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
Psa 145:9 “The LORD is good to all”: and his tender mercies are over all his works.

This same Grace and goodness of God extends to all mankind.

God does not play the “bias” or the “race” game!

Those that believe that God has a part in all the bad things that go on in this world should know that God is good to all people!

Rom 2:4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

It is the “Goodness” of God that allows the “Grace” of God, so there can be only one Savior.

1Ti 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.

It is the same Holy Spirit who holds back the unrelenting sin in the world until all mankind gets an opportunity to be saved!

2Th 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
2Th 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

When the Holy Spirit is removed at the Rapture of the Church, then the “Grace of God” will cease for seven years and those who rejected the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ will begin to understand just what “Grace” meant.

The “Grace of God” is an opportunity for us to claim God’s “Goodness”! We may not have this opportunity for very much longer!

“Grace” involves the truth of the Word of God!

Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

In our Chapter today we get to see the first battle of Satan trying to make a mockery of God’s Grace.

We get to see how “legalism” first stuck its ugly head up trying to enter the Church and it did.

*Act 15:1 And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren, and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved.

If legalism had infiltrated the early Church the whole character of Christianity would have been changed and the Church would certainly have failed!

Legalism destroys the love of God!

Gal 5:2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
Gal 5:3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
Gal 5:4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
Gal 5:5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
Gal 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

1) There had already been problems with the unbelieving Jews and we will see this continue.

2) There had already been problems with unbelieving Gentiles and this will continue and we see that it has.

3) Now we get to see problems within the Church by members who get confused by false preachers.

Confusion destroys churches!

The Church began to have problems between the Jews and the Gentiles.

These Jews, these Pharisees, had accepted the true Messiah, the Savior of the world but under the one condition that the Gentile nations would become Jews.

Judaism is full of “ritual” and “ceremony”. In Christianity, salvation is by “the “Grace” of God with no ritual and no ceremony.

Even today this false doctrine still creates havoc in many churches!

These men from Judea came to the Church in Antioch Syria and mixed with true believers and taught their own ideas because these ideas are not in the Word of God.

There are far too many false preachers today who preach their own ideas of salvation and who reject salvation is an act of God’s Grace.

We are wrong to teach any doctrine not in the Word of God!

We are wrong to listen to the doctrines of some man!

God has made sure that a Bible is available to every Christian so we can know the Word of God ourselves!

These false preachers and false teachers were Pharisees so, they were well versed in the Scriptures of the Old Testament, but the New Testament was just being written as the Church grew.

The Apostle Paul wrote about half of the New Testament, with the Apostle John and Luke both writing a good bit of the New Testament and a few other writers including Peter, Jude, and James both the stepbrothers of the Lord Jesus Christ.

If what these men said was considered to be important, it would certainly cause confusion in this young Church and they would certainly be upset.

It is these things that cause churches to split and many have over these very things.

Legalism can destroy the Church!

When we feel like our eternal fate is at stake, we can get confused if we ignore “salvation by Grace”.

Notice, these men did not say the all Christians should undergo these rituals to be obedient to Scripture, or to please God, or to the please the Church, or to show your love for God, or some other things.

These men said we must all go through these rituals and be circumcised “to be saved”!

They said it was these rituals that brought salvation and not the “Blood of Jesus Christ”.

God’s “Grace” plus any ritual is false teaching.
God’s “Grace” plus man’s own hand is false teaching.
God’s “Grace” plus man’s own work is false teaching.
God’s “Grace” plus anything is false teaching!

Grace saves us, because of God’s love!

God’s love brings God’s “Grace”.

Circumcision was only a “physical sign” that a Jewish man was a follower of the One True God.

It was a “sign” that Jewish man believed the promises God made to Abraham and to Israel.

Circumcision is just “a sign” and has no salvation value!

Faith had to come before circumcision!

Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.

Even Abraham had faith before he was circumcised!

The Jews made much more out of circumcision than God intended, and this is what ritual and ceremony can cause.

Circumcision was never a sign of righteousness!

Gal 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

Col 2:11 In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:
Col 2:12 Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.

Any man, woman, or child, who is “Born Again” by the Spirit of God, then become God’s New Creatures!

Joh 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

2Pe 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

God saves only those whose, body, mind, and soul, are focused upon His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

Baptism is just being obedient to the Lord Jesus Christ and has nothing to do with salvation!

We are all baptized by the Holy Spirit to be “Born Again”!

Every Christian must stand up against any teaching that goes against salvation by the “Grace” of God through His Son the Lord Jesus Christ!

*Act 15:2 When therefore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them, they determined that Paul and Barnabas, and certain other of them, should go up to Jerusalem unto the apostles and elders about this question.

Many of the Jewish converts were still zealous for the Law.

In reality, the Laws given to the Jews are good to live by.

The Ten Commandments are still considered the moral law and we should observe them.

The Jews were given 613 laws that pertained to every facet of their lives and those laws have not been rescinded.

These laws were given to the Jews and God has never said they would lead to salvation!

It is true that if someone could keep all 613 of these laws, they would be considered righteous, and righteousness is part of salvation.

The fact is, that there has never been a single human being that has kept all 613 of those laws and to break even one brings the sentence of death.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:
Rom 3:11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

The Lord Jesus Christ is the only person who kept all 613 of those laws, proving His own righteousness.

Because most of the Apostles were still alive at this time and still in Jerusalem, then Jerusalem was the place where these things would be settled.

We should understand that this issue was critical to Paul because he was the Apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul’s commitment to the Lord would not allow him to waste time in useless argument and neither are Christians to argue the Word of God with non-believers!

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2Ti 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

There must never be useless arguments over what God has said!

2Pe_1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All arguments over what God has given to us in His Word are useless!

The Church at Antioch was not seeking for the Church at Jerusalem to enlighten them on the Doctrine of Salvation, they already knew where they stood and this church would have separated itself from the church at Jerusalem rather than give in to false doctrine!

The Church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas:

1) Because all the Apostles needed to be on the same page.
2) If the Apostles agreed it would carry a great weight in spreading the Gospel.
3) A declaration by the Church at Jerusalem would provide a great weapon in evangelism.

Many rituals were observed at the Church at Jerusalem because it was a church full of converted Jews, but if the Church would reject ritual salvation with a strong verdict, then salvation by “Grace” alone would be greatly strengthened.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus, a Gentile did travel with Paul and Barnabas and Titus completely understood the outcome of this council was particularly important.

The Church won this first battle because the Church adhered to the truth of God!

The Church can win every battle if we all just cling to the truth of the Word of God!

As Paul traveled to Jerusalem he preached in as many churches as he could.

*Act 15:3 And being brought on their way by the church, they passed through Phenice and Samaria, declaring the conversion of the Gentiles: and they caused great joy unto all the brethren.

It is important for us to consider that when the new Churches had witnessed the preaching of the Apostle Paul they knew they needed to use great effort to keep him preaching in as many places as possible.

It is the same for any church that has a great preacher, that church needs to help in getting his sermons to as many other places as possible.

We do this well here at Gethsemane but we can still do better.

Obviously we need to help all our missionaries as best we can!

Persecution had driven many believers to Phenicia.

Act 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

There may have been a church there, but they were not involved in missions.

The Church at Samaria had been established by Philip and Peter, and John.

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

Act 8:24 Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.
Act 8:25 And they, when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem, and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.

Still these churches were not involved with missions and were excited to hear what the Lord had done on Paul’s first journey.

There was excitement even in Jerusalem.

*Act 15:4 And when they were come to Jerusalem, they were received of the church, and of the apostles and elders, and they declared all things that God had done with them.
Act 15:5 But there rose up certain of the sect of the Pharisees which believed, saying, That it was needful to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.

Salvation by the Lord Jesus Christ is certainly enough to cause excitement in any church, it is certainly “Good News”.

This excitement is what the “Good News” of the Gospel can cause.

There are always questions about the simplicity of salvation and there will always be those who reject this simplicity.

Rom_12:8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.
2Co_1:12 For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.
2Co_11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

It is by a lack of “faith” in the truth of God that people want to add to the Word of God!

These Pharisees who had accepted the Lord Jesus as the true Messiah was a natural result after the Scriptures were explained to them!

Once their eyes were opened to the truth of Christ they were bound to see the evidence in the Old Testament Scriptures.

If they were honest and open in their hearts, then the Holy Spirit would certainly have convicted them, and they could have been converted from Judaism to Christianity.

Christianity is not a growth from Judaism! Christianity stands alone as the only means of salvation!

Most of these Pharisees saw Jesus as a fulfillment of Judaism and not a replacement.
Most of these Pharisees saw Jesus as an addition to the Law and not replacing the Law.
Most of these Pharisees saw Jesus as an addition to their rituals not replacing them.
Most of these Pharisees saw Jesus adding baptism to the ordinances and not replacing those ordinances.

The Pharisees who had a lifetime commitment to the Law would be very slow to give up the Law!

They would be slow to accept the “righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ”!

In Antioch, the question had been “does a man have to be circumcised to be saved”?

All of a sudden in Jerusalem, the question became “does a man have to keep the whole Law to be saved”?

This is the story of legalism!

These people are never content until they keep adding to the Word of God and the simplicity of God’s Grace making a mockery of the truth of God and His Son and even the Holy Spirit who declared the Word of God to be only from God and not from man.

2Ti_3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

**We should ask ourselves, what can we do to gain favor with God, when we know that God is no respecter of persons. We must accept His Son.

Act_10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:

When we insist in a works doctrine, we call God a liar!

**We could ask ourselves what kind of work will make us righteous when God says that none of us are righteous nor can we be, again making God a liar.

Rom 3:10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

Do we come to the Lord with or own package of works, or do we come seeking the “mercy” of God?
Do we come to the Lord to be praised for our works, or do we come to praise the Lord for what He has done for us?
Do we receive the glory of God because of our own goodness, or is God’s glory given to us because of the glory He has given to His Son?

When the Apostle Paul stood before these elders and the church, he declared what the Lord had done and not what he (Paul) had done.

God will only save mankind by “Grace through Faith” because God is the only One who can accept us into His family!

What were these Pharisees doing? They were tempting God!

“They had the gaul to ask God to declare Himself” when God has already given us His Word!

It was now time for the Church to act on these things.

The answer to these things would either stop the Church or the Church would grow in Spiritual Knowledge.

We already know that it is impossible for this world to stop the Lord’s Church!

*Act 15:6 And the apostles and elders came together for to consider of this matter.
Act 15:7 And when there had been much disputing, Peter rose up, and said unto them, Men and brethren, ye know how that a good while ago God made choice among us, that the Gentiles by my mouth should hear the word of the gospel, and believe.
Act 15:8 And God, which knoweth the hearts, bare them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, even as he did unto us;
Act 15:9 And put no difference between us and them, purifying their hearts by faith.
Act 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?

The Church at Jerusalem met together. The Apostles, the Elders, and the congregation, because the importance of this decision is far too important to ignore.

Notice the Apostles were not being Lords over the Church.

The Elders were not being Lords over the Church.

We see there was much disputing, so all sides were represented. No one was ignored or silenced!

The biggest problem with the Pharisees is that they had for many years been legalistic in their approach to God and they had caused much harm to Judaism.

The Apostle Peter hit the nail on the head when he said, “Why Tempt Ye God”.

It is God the Holy Spirit who moves into each child of God and brings salvation to each individual.

These Jews nor these Pharisees had ever been able to keep all those 613 laws, so why would they ever demand the Gentiles to be obedient to those same laws to gain salvation.

Those old laws were never about “Righteousness”.

Those laws were just a measuring stick to teach us all the path to righteousness.

Gal_3:24 Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal_3:25 But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

Then the Apostle Peter speaks, and all the religious world need to listen to what he said.

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

It was not the Law that saved all those in the church at Jerusalem, it was God’s “GRACE” and it is God’s “GRACE” that opens the door to salvation.

Peter said in so many words: “If our beliefs and hopes are the same as theirs, why should the Gentiles be urged to adopt observances which form to us no ground for our own hope of salvation”.

You see it was God alone who saved the Gentiles!
It was God alone who saved the Jews!

It is God alone who can forgive sin!

Salvation can come from no other source and this “Grace” comes only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Cornelius and his house had believed the Word of God while Peter was still preaching and by “Faith” the Holy Spirit had moved into each believer.

No law was involved but the Law of Grace!

Only God knows our hearts.
Only God can bear witness to our faith.
Only God can send the Holy Spirit.
Only God could send the Holy Spirit to the Jews and to the Gentiles.

His name is Jehovah.

It is by “faith” that moves the hand of God! Not any ritual and not any ceremony and not anything called religion!

Peter knew that no Jew had been able to keep all those Laws and one failure brought the Judgment of God.

These Pharisees also knew this was true!

Peter knew one more thing, “Why do we question the Word of God”, it is extremely dangerous to question the actions of God!

All mankind is saved in the exact same way, and this is not ever going to change!

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Rom 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Rom 3:25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
Rom 3:26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.

There is only one salvation source for the world God created and it is by the Lord Jesus Christ.

*Act 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silence, and gave audience to Barnabas and Paul, declaring what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them.

It was God alone who verified the message of salvation by “Grace” with miracles and wonders, not points and arguments!

Those miracles show clearly that God approved the message of the Apostle Paul and Barnabas.

God keeps the message of salvation simple because He does not want anyone to stand up in the Judgment saying, “God, you made salvation too difficult for me”.

It is the truth that makes us free!

Paul preached to these same people on a later date.

Gal 3:1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?
Gal 3:2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
Gal 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?

Legalism runs rampant in many a church today because “false prophets” push it.

It is only the Church who can put a stop to this foolishness by trusting the Word of God!

Amen

Will God Bless a Nation

July 23, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

God’s Blessings to Obedient Nations

Book of Isaiah Chapter 60

We should all understand that there is no one more secure than those who place their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ!

The truth is, in the last days of human history, the Lord Jesus Christ will return to set up God’s Kingdom on this earth for 1000 years!

It is after this that God will create a New Heaven and a New Earth for all His people and the history of this world will be over and no other books will be written about this earth, it will not exist as a place for the living!

Rev_19:3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Rev 21:1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Throughout history, the city of Jerusalem has been destroyed time after time but it has always been rebuilt.

There was the Assyrian destruction, the Babylon destruction, and the devastation by Rome recorded in the Bible and many battles surrounding Jerusalem since that time.

The nation of Israel is so tiny, one would wonder why it is constantly in the news today.

It is really very simple. Most all this world hates the God of Israel and not Israel itself!

It astounds me that so many in America ridicule the Christian because of our faith in Jesus Christ and say we all worship the same God. If that is so true then why is the Nation of Israel always under the attack of all Muslim countries?

The truth is Jerusalem will continue to be the focus of the world, simply because of what God says and the rest of the world trying to stop what God said He will do! They will find that this is impossible!

If everyone in the world truly believe we all worship the same God, then why does this entire world try to end the future of Jerusalem as described by the Word of God.

What does God say?

Rom_3:4 God forbid: yea, “let God be true, but every man a liar”; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

What else does God say?

*****Isa 60:1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee.

It is said that in the East that the Sun does not rise as we understand the rising of the Sun. In the East, the Sun leaps above the horizon.

When those people feel it is time for sunrise, then suddenly it is already up in all its glory.

We should clearly understand that this is the same way the Lord will return. When we know that we live in the last days before the Lord returns at any moment the Glory of the Lord will appear in the Eastern Sky.

Why the Eastern Sky? So, the world will clearly see that the Messiah is much brighter than the Sun He created!

Of course, we also know that the only thing that will happen before this day is, the Lord will meet the Church in the clouds!

Rom 8:18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Rom 8:19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

1Th 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
1Th 4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
1Th 4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

There is still coming a day when Jerusalem will be lit by the glory of God and in New Jerusalem there will be no darkness at all.

The world seems to think that light comes before darkness but this is backwards and this has always been backwards.

God brought light into a dark world!

Gen 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.
Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

And why will the Lord appear in all His glory and bring a new light to Jerusalem because again after the Church has been removed, this world will be in total darkness, not because the Sun does not shine but because this entire world will be in the darkness of sin and depravity!

God again will bring light to darkness, when He brings the glorious Light of the Lord, into this dark and evil world!

*****Isa 60:2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.

We may think of New York City as the one point of light in this world but the fact remains that it is the city of Jerusalem that is the one point of light on the entire surface of this earth!

Jerusalem is still known as the city of God!

Even those of Islam and other false religions, call Jerusalem the Holy City!

Psa 68:15 The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan; an high hill as the hill of Bashan.
Psa 68:16 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever.

What did Moses ask of God?

Exo_33:18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory.

How did God respond?

Exo 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

God did not say to Moses, let me show you how powerful I am.
God did not say let me show you all my infinite wisdom.
God did not say let me show you all my glorious possessions.
God simply said to Moses, “Let Me Show You My Goodness”!

The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ is God’s Goodness, (Good News) and God’s Goodness comes from God’s “Mercy”!

The “Glory” of God’s goodness is seen in the “gift” of His Son!

When the Sun arises in the morning, it will always show God’s creation in it’s true colors.

When the Son of God first came to shine His Light upon this earth, He opened our eyes to the truth of the Word of God!

We should clearly understand that the Church has no light of its own, that Light is of Jesus Christ!

We will see that again darkness will cover this earth after the “Rapture” of the Church and again this earth will be covered in spiritual darkness.

Just as Egypt lay in “thick darkness” by the words of Moses, the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.

When Jerusalem is lightened again by the Lord, the glory of God will shine from King Jesus on the throne of God!

Again, the Lord will arise upon this earth and His glory will be centered on the city of Jerusalem. (Zion)

We know that the Lord ascended from the Mount of Olives and this same place is where He will return.

The Book of Leviticus describes this event.

Lev 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people.
Lev 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: which when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces.

It is Jerusalem that is destined to first receive the Light and the Glory of God, when the Messiah returns but the whole world will be witnesses!

There is nothing that can stop the return of the Lord because it is destined by God Himself!

Isa 59:20 And the Redeemer shall come to Zion, and unto them that turn from transgression in Jacob, saith the LORD.

Rom_11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:

God has made this “Covenant” (this guarantee) with the children of Israel.

Isa 59:21 As for me, this is my covenant with them, saith the LORD; My spirit that is upon thee, and my words which I have put in thy mouth, shall not depart out of thy mouth, nor out of the mouth of thy seed, nor out of the mouth of thy seed’s seed, saith the LORD, from henceforth and for ever.

But many Gentiles will also flow into the City, lit by the Glory of God!

*****Isa 60:3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
Isa 60:4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.

It is the “Glory of the Lord” the King of kings, the Lord of lords, that will draw all nations to Jerusalem!

The Millennial Kingdom will be a time of worship and centered in Jerusalem it will be the place of worship!

It is these Gentiles who make sure that the “remnant” of the Jews gets back home.

This could also mean that some of the Jews will carry dear Gentile friends to be with the Lord, just as Oriental mothers carried small children on their hip with their arm around them to keep them from falling.

This could also describe Jerusalem as the Mother of all the children of God!

In any case, it is the flow of God’s people that remain after the 7 years of tribulation and the wrath of God, into the Holy City!

The Holy City of Jerusalem will not only be the center of worship but it will also be the center of world-wide commerce!

*****Isa 60:5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

Once we are enlightened by the Word of God, our eyes can be opened to the truth!

The eyes of God’s chosen nation will be opened and they will flock to the truth of God!

Hos 1:11 Then shall the children of Judah and the children of Israel be gathered together, and appoint themselves one head, and they shall come up out of the land: for great shall be the day of Jezreel.

Rom 11:15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?

The entire world left after the 7-year Tribulation Period will flock to the “City of God”!

Isa 2:2 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

Those that cannot come by land will come by sea along with all commerce by sea.

We know that most of the wealth of this world is now used for evil purposes or hoarded for personal gain but in the time of Christ, all the wealth of this world will finally be used to promote the truth of God and the care of those who have a great need.

The wealth of this world will be used in the service of the true Church!

What cannot make it by sea will come by land!

*****Isa 60:6 The multitude of camels shall cover thee, the dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; all they from Sheba shall come: they shall bring gold and incense; and they shall shew forth the praises of the LORD.
Isa 60:7 All the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together unto thee, the rams of Nebaioth shall minister unto thee: they shall come up with acceptance on mine altar, and I will glorify the house of my glory.

It could be said that this not only represents the world financial system, operating under the leadership of the Lord but we can see that this area represents those that remain of Ishmael being turned to Christianity and those that remain of the daughters of Lot.

They all shall show praise to the Lord. Notice this is Jehovah, the Holy God of Israel and not those imaginary gods they had been led to believe!

The truth is there will be no one in the world of that day, who will be homeless.
No one will be naked in need of clothes.
There will be no one starving for lack of food.

There will never again be a famine of the Word of God!

Repeatedly we also see the descendants of Ishmael return to the Lord.

We should also understand that these animals are not brought to the Lord for sacrifice but to be included in the service of the church!

All people will gladly present their offerings to the Lord!

The Lord does not need anything we have but He will always accept offerings that come from the heart!

And then “Who are these fly as a cloud”?

*****Isa 60:8 Who are these that fly as a cloud, and as the doves to their windows?

In fact, has we have seen in other lessons, those that would return to Jerusalem are in such a great number, they are compared to the clouds.

Heb 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Those that come to the Lord will be as the gentle dove!
They will be loving.
They will be harmless.
They will be meek and humble.
They will return as if they had lost their mate and had found Him again.
The dove mates for life and so does the true Christian to the Lord Jesus!

*****Isa 60:9 Surely the isles shall wait for me, and the ships of Tarshish first, to bring thy sons from far, their silver and their gold with them, unto the name of the LORD thy God, and to the Holy One of Israel, because he hath glorified thee.
Isa 60:10 And the sons of strangers shall build up thy walls, and their kings shall minister unto thee: for in my wrath I smote thee, “but in my favour have I had mercy on thee”.

Just as in the days of Solomon, all will try their best to sit at the feet of Jesus and hear His wisdom.
Just as in the days of Cyrus, it will be the Gentile world that will finance the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple for another time after the wrath of God.

Even much greater than the wrath of God, is His mercy!

During the Church Age, we actually live in the day of God’s “Mercy”!

God has provided a means for eternal salvation for each and every believer because of His “Mercy”!

God will restore Israel because of His “Mercy”!

These are the two promises God has made with His created humans and He just ask us to trust Him and why not, what in this world is so promising as the Word of God!

Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There have been many kings who have tried to take Jerusalem throughout history who have tried to make the city of Jerusalem the dominant capitol of this world and they have failed.

These include Solomon, Cyrus, Darius, Artaxerxes, Alexander the Great, Constantine, Theodosius, Charlemagne, just to name a few that we may know, but when the “King of kings” sits on the throne of Israel the city of Jerusalem will truly become the “City of Peace”!

During the time of the Messiah here on this earth for those 1000 years, God will rule with a “rod of iron” that is used with “Mercy” and “Grace”!

Therefore, the gates of the city of Jerusalem will be continuously open!

*****Isa 60:11 Therefore thy gates shall be open continually; they shall not be shut day nor night; that men may bring unto thee the forces of the Gentiles, and that their kings may be brought.
Isa 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

During the 1000 years of the Millennial Kingdom, this world will actually know what peace is all about!

There will be no fear of enemies entering the City of Jerusalem nor any other city.

When I was growing up, we could roam anywhere and were safe in doing so.
Those days will return for the children born during the Millennial reign of the Lord!

All who seek the Lord will be able to see Him in person!

Those who are poor will kneel, side by side by those who were kings at the feet of the Lord.

There will be no disagreement with anything that the Lord will do or what the Lord will say!

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

Many call New York City the city that never sleeps and it is sin that keeps this city awake but Jerusalem, when the Lord Jesus sits on the throne, will never sleep because of righteousness!

There will be no lawlessness at all because, all who will not serve the Lord will perish!

Those who say that a loving God would never do such a thing are fools who ignore the truth of God!

Psa 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Psa 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Psa 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

There only be one law and that will be the Law of God, in fact it will be much like Heaven on Earth now under the direct law of God.

The Lord Jesus died on Calvary’s cross because He was rejected! During the Millennial reign of Christ all those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ will be removed from this earth and will perish!

Jerusalem will be a place of beauty!

*****Isa 60:13 The glory of Lebanon shall come unto thee, the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box together, to beautify the place of my sanctuary; and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Isa 60:14 The sons also of them that afflicted thee shall come bending unto thee; and all they that despised thee shall bow themselves down at the soles of thy feet; and they shall call thee, The city of the LORD, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

We know the Temple of the Lord will have been rebuilt and Jerusalem will be a place of beauty!

It can be said that similar materials used to build the Temple of Solomon will be used to build this new Temple, some say the Temple described by Ezekiel. (Ezekiel 41-42)

This Temple will also be a place of reverence, for our Lord Jesus will honor this Temple with His presence!

The truth is, it was many of the Jews who persecuted the Church and since these have been converted even they will serve in the Church and accept the Lord Jesus Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords!

There will also be Gentiles of many nations who will do the same!

Jerusalem which is now home to most every religion on the face of this earth, will again be known as the City of the Lord, The Zion of the Holy One of Israel!

The city that has been called so may names such as barren and desolate, will become a true thing of beauty.

In truth, the door of salvation has been wide open since the Messiah, Lord Jesus Christ first came to establish His Church!

The world is just so full of darkness that most cannot find the doorway to Christ, because of the darkness of sin in their lives!

Mat_7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

God will soon execute judgment upon all that is evil and all darkness will be removed and the way to the Lord will be clearly lit!

Some things will still never change:

1) Access into God’s presence is still only granted to those who call on the name of Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ is “that Gate”, “that Door” that leads to eternal life!

Joh 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

2) Access into God’s presence is granted only to those who now know the truth of God’s Word, this will never change!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

3) Access into God’s presence is only allowed to those who turn away from sin and turn toward the Lord. (Repent)

Heb 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus,
Heb 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
Heb 10:21 And having an high priest over the house of God;
Heb 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water.

These things will never change in any age since the time of Christ.

And the city that has seen so much turmoil since the time of King David will then become the City of Peace!

*****Isa 60:15 Whereas thou hast been forsaken and hated, so that no man went through thee, I will make thee an eternal excellency, a joy of many generations.
Isa 60:16 Thou shalt also suck the milk of the Gentiles, and shalt suck the breast of kings: and thou shalt know that I the LORD am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer, the mighty One of Jacob.

Zion was once forsaken by her Maker, as a wife is forsaken because of her adulteries.

Jer_13:27 I have seen thine adulteries, and thy neighings, the lewdness of thy whoredom, and thine abominations on the hills in the fields. Woe unto thee, O Jerusalem! wilt thou not be made clean? when shall it once be?

It must be that same Maker who would make Zion an eternal excellency and a joy for many generations!

Jer 30:17 For I will restore health unto thee, and I will heal thee of thy wounds, saith the LORD; because they called thee an Outcast, saying, This is Zion, whom no man seeketh after.
Jer 30:18 Thus saith the LORD; Behold, I will bring again the captivity of Jacob’s tents, and have mercy on his dwellingplaces; and the city shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof.
Jer 30:19 And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small.
Jer 30:20 Their children also shall be as aforetime, and their congregation shall be established before me, and I will punish all that oppress them.

God will always do what He says He will do and it is this very thing in which we must place our “faith”!

Now, the wealth of the world will be used to promote the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ centered upon Zion, Jerusalem!

*****Isa 60:17 For brass I will bring gold, and for iron I will bring silver, and for wood brass, and for stones iron: I will also make thy officers peace, and thine exactors righteousness.

Time and time again, the gold of the Temple had been stolen or given away and replaced with brass and so with the silver and the other valuables but now all these things would be returned to do what they were intended to do!

Jerusalem has gone through so many hands and devastation all these years that in reality much of the world hates this city.
Even today not many, including many Jews, even want Jerusalem declared the capitol city of Israel.

In the day of the Messiah, Jerusalem will become the most prized possession of all the citizens of this earth and all the nations of this world will provide to make this so!

All the government of the world, will be centered in Jerusalem and true peace will be the theme of the government and righteousness will be the law of the land!

Righteousness is not only doing things right but it is doing things that are morally right!

Righteousness is the character of God!

Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

For 1000 years this world we live in now, will undergo a major transition.

*****Isa 60:18 Violence shall no more be heard in thy land, wasting nor destruction within thy borders; but thou shalt call thy walls Salvation, and thy gates Praise.

The truth is there will be no prisons, no jails, no police officers and no need for a military because there will be no violence in the streets when the Lord sits on His throne in Jerusalem.

Isa 2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Isa 11:6 The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
Isa 11:7 And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
Isa 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.
Isa 11:9 They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.

Isa 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
Isa 35:9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
Isa 35:10 And the ransomed of the LORD shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

This will be a world that has repented because it will only have in it a people who have repented and returned to the Lord!

The prophecies of God will continue to be fulfilled!

Isa 9:6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Isa 9:7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Salvation comes by the purpose of God through the Lord Jesus Christ!

It was the Lord Jesus Christ (Messiah) who came to this lost world to restore those who would commit themselves to Him to that harmony of God which had been lost because of the sin of Adam! (Disobedience to the Word of God)

Salvation is our wall of protection because it is assured by the Lord!

Praise is our gateway into the presence of God!

God warns us today to think about these promises before it is too late:

Psa 50:22 Now consider this, ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
Psa 50:23 Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God.

To be saved is to live in the “Glory” of the Lord forever!

*****Isa 60:19 The sun shall be no more thy light by day; neither for brightness shall the moon give light unto thee: but the LORD shall be unto thee an everlasting light, and thy God thy glory.
Isa 60:20 Thy sun shall no more go down; neither shall thy moon withdraw itself: for the LORD shall be thine everlasting light, and the days of thy mourning shall be ended.

Without the darkness that sin has brought to this world all who have committed themselves to the Lord during the Tribulation period will see a new light!

Gen 1:2 And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.
Gen 1:3 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.

That Light was the Son of God at that time and it will be the glory of the Son of God who will light up this world in the 1000 years He will sit upon His earthly throne!

Eze 43:2 And, behold, the glory of the God of Israel came from the way of the east: and his voice was like a noise of many waters: and the earth shined with his glory.

Just as light enters a dark room, The Lord Jesus Christ will scatter all the darkness of this world, leaving no place for it to hide there will not even be a shadow of darkness.

There will be no ignorance of the Word of God. The truth of God will be constant and there will also be no shadow of change in God’s Word!

What we find if we look is, that the Word of God is consistent from the Book of Genesis through the Book of Revelation and we have never seen our God change in anything that He has said or that He has ever done.

This will always be true!

When all the world does the right things according to the Word of God, we will once again know the paradise of God!

*****Isa 60:21 Thy people also shall be all righteous: they shall inherit the land for ever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.
Isa 60:22 A little one shall become a thousand, and a small one a strong nation: I the LORD will hasten it in his time.

Once again, the world will be a people planted by their Creator, the work of the hands of God!

Gen 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
Gen 2:8 And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed.

In truth, we all as sinners have realized that pain and sorrow are the only fruits of sin. Once sin has disappeared all sorrow will go with it!

I have said many times that we cannot truly enjoy a good day until we have been though a bad day.
We will never know the truth of joy until all sorrow is gone from this world!

When the Lord Jesus Christ was upon this earth the Church began with 12 fishers of men and by the end of the 1000-year Millennial Kingdom it will have grown into a strong nation!

None of these things will find their completion until the Lord returns, first to take His Church out of this world and second to rid this world of sin!

When it is time, the Lord will come quickly!

What is the Lord waiting on?

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

The Lord will not return until that very last soul is saved to end the Church Age!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

Praising God For His Goodness

January 4, 2015 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Praise God For His Goodness

Psalm 107

We have seen the need to praise God for His glory, for His forgiveness, and for His patience along with many other reasons but there could be none of these things without the goodness of our God!

Goodness can best be described as loving-kindness.

Loving-kindness is the English translation of the Hebrew word “chesed”.

This Hebrew word appears 249 times in the King James Bible.

This word can best be described as the faithfulness of God, despite our unfaithfulness, and is part of God’s character of “mercy”!

This is the love that God has for us and this love remains constant regardless of any circumstance we may be going through!

No matter how extreme things get in our lives, God is able to deliver us through those things.

We all know that old saying “That if God takes you to it, then God will take you through it”.

The theme for this Psalm can be found in the very last verse.

Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Let’s begin:

*****Psa 107:1 O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

One of the three things that we have that we can give to the Lord is our thanksgivings. This is the least of all things that we can give Him and it cost us nothing but the time to say thanks for what God has done in our lives.

We offer up our moans and groans to the Lord continually and He does not mind this, but to say thanks is to worship Him!

What is the greatest character of our God? The greatest character of our God is that He is good!

If our God was not good, He would not teach sinners the way to get close to Him.

Psa 25:8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way.

God wants us to conform to His own image because we were created in the image of God.

God gave us our example of “goodness” when He gave us His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Just as our God is from everlasting to everlasting, so is God’s mercy from everlasting to everlasting!

God will always be good!

It is on ly because God is “good” that we can be redeemed!

*****Psa 107:2 Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
Psa 107:3 And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.

If God has redeemed you from the penalty of death, then you need no other reason to praise the Lord for His goodness.

We should say so in our prayers but this verse says we should declare God’s goodness publicly.

In fact we should tell everyone we see just how good God has been!

Redeemed still means to be purchased!

The redeem are all those that have been purchased out of the marketplace of sin, the slave market of Satan!

There was only one payment that was suitable for this purchase.

1Pe 1:18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
1Pe 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

If you have been redeemed, then you need to praise God for His goodness!

Salvation is not in a feeling, but if you feel you have been redeemed then you need to say so!

Who is our enemy?

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
1Pe 5:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

When we lose track of who our real enemy is, we will then become enemies ourselves to this world we live in.

We are not the enemy, we are the redeemed who are to tell the world just how good our Redeemer is!

Gathering will always follow redeeming.

No matter what divides us in this world, or what location we live on this earth, The Lord will gather us all into one “Body of Christ”.

There is only One Lord, one faith, and one baptism by the Holy Spirit, and therefore only one “people” of God!

So as we gather in our local assemblies, let the redeemed of the Lord say so.

God has placed us in such varied locations, and from such varied backgrounds that there is always some lost soul that we can relate to.

1Co 6:11 “And such were some of you”: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

*****Psa 107:4 They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
Psa 107:5 Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
Psa 107:6 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
Psa 107:7 And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.

Lost, hungry, thirsty and exhausted can be used to describe all those lost in sin, we know that, because most all of us were once that same way.

Once we realized our own condition, we cried out to the Lord and to be redeemed is to be delivered.

Delivered means released from the bondage of Satan but it also means rescued and made free.

Delivered means we know we have no home in this place, our home is in Heaven and Jesus has gone there to prepare us a place. Our home is with our Lord!

What is the right way while we are still in this place?

There are many wrong ways but there is only one right way!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

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

The Lord will never lead us from one wilderness to another, He will only lead us to the city of God!

Psa 46:4 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High.
Psa 46:5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

How can we not praise God for His goodness?

*****Psa 107:8 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Over and over again we are reminded that we need to praise God for His goodness because we have been redeemed.

We also need to praise God for His providence.

God created a perfect world.

Gen 1:31 And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.

God made a way for salvation.

Psa 34:8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

God’s plan of salvation will succeed.

Php 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

God has nothing but good things in His plan for us.

Gen 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

And we have been redeemed so that we may also do good to the children of men!

Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

It is the goodness of God that brings with it, our satisfaction.

*****Psa 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

There is deep satisfaction in having received the goodness of God.

A longing soul, is a searching soul.

I do not know about you but when I was lost I just could not be satisfied, I was craving something that I was not aware that I was missing.

I did not understand why, until I found the Lord Jesus Christ.

God did not just fill my soul with common things but He is continuing to fill my soul with His goodness.

Those who do not know Him or reject Him cannot know these things.

*****Psa 107:10 Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
Psa 107:11 Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
Psa 107:12 Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
Most of us look upon those in prison as deserving the circumstances they have caused themselves to be in.

BUT, We have a Savior who loves us no matter how far we have fallen from His grace!

God wants to reach out to those in darkness.

God wants to reach out to those that sit in the shadow of death.

God wants to reach out to those that are bound in the afflictions of this world.

God wants to reach out to all those that are bound by the iron chains of Satan.

God even wants to reach out to all those that rebel against the Word of God and withstand the Holy Spirit.

God has given this job to us, we are to reach out to the lost!

Until someone reaches them with the Gospel, God will keep them busy.

God will humble them under His mighty hand.

God will crush their haughty spirit.

God will crush their pride.

God will bring them to the point of submission!

God will do all these things because of His love and because of His goodness because God wants them to cry out to Him for salvation.

God is always ready to save!

*****Psa 107:13 Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. Psa 107:14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

As long as the lost feel that the answers will come from this world they will not yield to the Holy Ghost. We that are saved know this very well.

It is so sad that God practically has to force a confession out of us!

Humans will simply wallow in misery for some reason but as soon as that point is reached and we cry out to the Lord, He will save us.

God will immediately send relief from our distresses.

God will never again allow us to be locked in Satan’s prison.

Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

How can we not praise God for His goodness?

*****Psa 107:15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.

Once we understand the good-news of Jesus, that He died so that we can be redeemed, how can we not praise God of goodness?

How can we not brag on our God?

The Lord can break the strongest chains that kept us bound to Satan.

Jesus said:

Joh 8:36 If the Son therefore shall make you free, “ye shall be free indeed”.

Sin makes bondage.

Truth brings freedom.

Freedom comes by Jesus Christ!

Those that reject this truth are fools!

*****Psa 107:17 Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
Psa 107:18 Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
Psa 107:19 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.

Many of our sicknesses today are brought about by foolish acts. The disease of aids and other sexual transmitted diseases may top the list but we could also include drunkenness, smoking, gluttony, diabetes, and much of our heart problems just to name a few.

Many of our lusts and passions are our own downfall!

There are way to many of us who have caused ourselves these things and then foolishly continue doing the same old things.

Fools usually bring trouble upon themselves!

It is a fact that most people will lose their appetite when they are sick and many are so nauseous that they cannot even hold the food they try to eat.

Many of them die but many more of them come close to death before they cry out to the Lord.

Those that think that the Lord is not the Healer are also fools!

The Lord not only saves us out of our troubles, He can save us out of all distresses.

How does He do this?

Prayer is as important when we are sick as when we are healthy, God always has His ear turned toward His children.

*****Psa 107:20 He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
Psa 107:21 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.

It is also a fact that only our Savior can also break addictions, erase bad memories, and restore broken relationships!

Medicine can be used in the healing process but man is not healed by medicine alone.

Just as God spoke our world into existence, when God speaks the Word, we can also be healed.

We have proof of this in the scriptures:

Mat 8:5 And when Jesus was entered into Capernaum, there came unto him a centurion, beseeching him,
Mat 8:6 And saying, Lord, my servant lieth at home sick of the palsy, grievously tormented.
Mat 8:7 And Jesus saith unto him, I will come and heal him.
Mat 8:8 The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.
Mat 8:9 For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.
Mat 8:10 When Jesus heard it, he marvelled, and said to them that followed, Verily I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.
Mat 8:11 And I say unto you, That many shall come from the east and west, and shall sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 8:12 But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 8:13 And Jesus said unto the centurion, Go thy way; and as thou hast believed, so be it done unto thee. And his servant was healed in the selfsame hour.

We are foolish to forget the power of the Word of God!

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

We are foolish to forget the fulfillment of God’s Word!

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

God will do these things because of His goodness!

Many a person have prayed to be healed of God, making all sort of promises, and after that healing soon forget the promises they made.

It always seems that when ten are healed seldom will more than one return to praise the Lord.

Luk 17:12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
Luk 17:13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
Luk 17:14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
Luk 17:15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
Luk 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
Luk 17:17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?

We are so foolish when we do not show our Great Physician the gratitude that He deserves.

The one thing we can surely offer is our thanks as He requires little else!

If we would do more, then we should tell all others just how good our Savior really is!

*****Psa 107:23 They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
Psa 107:24 These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
Psa 107:25 For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.

Since the time of Adam’s sin, mankind has had to work by the sweat of his brow to earn a living.

To be a mariner was a hazardous job because the sea held so many mysteries as it still does.

In that day, sailors were said to be “going down to the sea” but in our day sailors sa they “sailing the high seas”. This is because of the difference in safety in our day.

We can be sure that if there had not been great profit for those that ventured out on the oceans there would have been no seagoing vessels in that day.

No where in the scriptures do we read of men taking great pleasure on the seas.

Mariners were admired in the days of the kings of Israel.

It was these mariners sailing the great oceans that could view vastness of God’s creation.

In the middle of the open sea there are no distractions from the land. The skies could be observed in all their majesty.

The vastness of the oceans themselves were a wonder and we can just imagine the first sight of the great whales and the sea creatures.

There would be storms that would come up all of a sudden and then there would be great calms when not even a wisp of air stirred the sails.

And there would be the great waves.

*****Psa 107:26 They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
Psa 107:27 They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits’ end.
Psa 107:28 Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

At one moment the small ships of that day would be climbing a wave and see nothing but the open skies and the next moment traveling down a wave and appear to be sailing straight into the deep.

The sailor would be tossed to and fro and stagger like a drunk man.

To the first time sailor they would be at their wit’s end, to the experienced sailor they knew there was no escape from the raging seas.

Many a sailor of that day knew they were at the mercy of the sea and did not possess the skills to overcome their peril.

They were all very glad to reach their destination.

But are we not all like a ship in the midst of the great waters of life?

Is not the weather fouler to some than others?

Is it not God who makes the arrangements for all human affairs?

Are not many souls shipwrecked everyday?

But there is an answer to these turmoils of life!

Heb 6:19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil;
Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

The mistake we make most of the time is that we wait until we reach our wit’s end before we call upon the Lord.

Prayer is good when we are sick.

Prayer is good when we are bound by afflictions.

Prayer is good when we have gone against the Word of God.

Prayer is good when we are on the sea of affliction.

And God can even hear us in any storm!

Why do we not trust the goodness of God and just stay in constant contact with our Savior?

Oh, we are truly a foolish people.

*****Psa 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
Psa 107:30 Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.

When we are at our weakest is the exact same time that we can be at our strongest.

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2Co 12:10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

There are the trials of life that we must endure but there is also the grace of God that will also endure and God’s grace cannot ever fail.

God loves to come to our rescue!

When God sees our weakness He sees an opportunity to show us His goodness and His great power.

When we feel most secure, Satan sees an opportunity that we may trust in our own power.

God’s way is not to remove our trials but to give His strength during that trial.

We have no testimony until we have been tested!

We can appreciate this verse if we have ever been through a trial in this life that has overwhelmed our ability to cope with it.

We can be glad when that storm in our life has passed on by.

We will one day reach our Heavenly haven and all our trials will all be over!

How can we not praise God for His goodness?

*****Psa 107:31 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
Psa 107:32 Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

Praising the Lord cannot be just reserved for our private prayers, we must praise him for His goodness when we gather in worship of Him.

When we have found peace by the comforts of God then it is a great privilege to brag on our Lord for what He has done.

Psa 66:16 Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.

It is Jehovah God who is in control of this earth and all the things in all His creation.

*****Psa 107:33 He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
Psa 107:34 A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
Psa 107:35 He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.

Because of the providence of God there have been many a city that no longer exist or are ghost towns.

There are even nations that have ceased to exist.

There are more than 400 ghost towns in America alone.

There are ghost cities where the gold ran out, or the water ran out, or by landslides or earthquakes.

As God deals with rebellion, He will sometimes take away the things that bring the greatest assurance.

It is our God that controls the productiveness of this earth.

God will make fruitful places barren and make barren places fruitful.

When God judges, He will take away things that are important to us.

When God is merciful, He will make even the barren place to produce what is needed.

We need to look no further than Israel to see that a barren land has now blossomed like a rose.

*****Psa 107:36 And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
Psa 107:37 And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.

We also know that America, was once a great waste land, and was established by people seeking to proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ and now those that are hungry and oppressed seek to make America their home.

God has a reason and a purpose behind everything that He does.

Act 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation;
Act 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us:

The main intent of the Lord is putting the right people, in the right place, that they will have the opportunity to seek Him and be saved!

This world we live in may have made great strides in education, and the arts and sciences, and even transportation but none of these things have changed the fact that there is still only One Savior and only One Redeemer.

Christianity since the time of Jesus Christ has only one purpose and only one message!

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

This the greatest blessing we can receive in our lifetime.

*****Psa 107:38 He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.

It is only by God’s blessings and God’s goodness that mankind can be truly happy.

God told Adam and Eve to be fruitful and multiply and they did.

This command has not changed.

Those that believe this earth we live on cannot feed the people that God allows to be on it at any given age do not have enough faith to be saved.

When things get unbearable in one place God may be saying move on to a more suitable place.

*****Psa 107:39 Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.

As we have seen, Israel’s ups and downs were a direct consequence of her sin and repentance of that sin.

Why are we to think differently in our own lives and our own nations?

Those that seek the Lord are blessed.

Those that reject the Lord are eventually brought low!

As we see the number of Christians diminish in number we must know that we are in the latter days of the Church Age.

2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

If we open our eyes, we can see all these things but we can also see the goodness of the Lord with those same eyes.

*****Psa 107:40 He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
Psa 107:41 Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.

In most all cases it is the rulers in place or the laws and regulations in place that causes the starvation of people.

It is our God that allows certain ones to be in power in the governments of this earth.

Rom 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.

All those that would see their nation prosper would seek the hand of God!

All those that make themselves out to be something that they are not will be put down.

God has no respect for Kings and Rulers.

If they cause God’s people to suffer they in turn will also suffer.

On the other hand all those that know they are spiritually poor will be raised unto comfort and happiness.

They will be added to the family of God!

No amount of suffering in this world can compare to the peace of knowing the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior!

*****Psa 107:42 The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.

If we would just allow the Word of God to rule in our lives we would see the hand of God in every action of this world.

God does not cause evil to happen, that’s what Satan does, but Satan has been allowed to do his thing at least for the time being.

If we could see the evil that goes on around us, we would see a very frustrated Satan who has never been able to completely have his way and he never will.

Satan is as much a pawn in God’s plan of salvation as are all of God’s created beings.

God gives us choice!

The power of choosing is something we all have and when we choose righteousness we will stray from iniquity.

Choice is taking great care in what we select.

Choice is skill in selecting what is preferred.

Choice is preferring life over death.

Misery follows bad choices and iniquity, rejecting the Word of God will cause our downfall.

Those that are wise will see the hand of God in everything in this world and know Who to choose.

*****Psa 107:43 Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Being wise means, when we can see the hand of God working from the first day of creation and all the days of our lives.

What did Jesus say?

Mat 7:24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
Mat 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

That rock is the Lord Jesus Christ!

If we cannot see goodness in everything that God does, then we need to take a hard look at our own lives because God does not do evil things.

Questions?

Let’s Pray!

LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD

Taking time to read the Bible

The Goodness of God

Keep the Gospel Simple

Will God Bless a Nation

Praising God For His Goodness

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