Separated To the Lord

March 19, 2022March 19, 2022 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

The Separation of Israel

Book of Leviticus Chapters 11:44; 18:2 through 5; 20:22 through 26

The most important thing we need to know after our salvation are the desires of God.

It is called being in the will of God.

The most important and certainly the safest place we can live our lives is being in the will of God!

This begins when we know the difference between clean and unclean in the eyes of God.

We should understand that God knows things that we cannot know!

What does God expect from His children?

Joh 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
Joh 13:35 By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

This was the Lord Jesus Christ speaking directly to His disciples and future Apostles, who were to give this same message to give to all believers.

The truth is, God expects us to live in a certain way!

God expects us to live far different from the ways of this world!

The world should be able to see the differences between the people of God and the people of this world.

The thing much of the Church have forgotten is, that God’s people are to live Holy “lives” and there are no exceptions and no compromises!

This means taking care of our bodies as well as our spiritual life!

Christians are to bear a strong testimony that they follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and obey the commandments of a Holy God!

*Lev 11:44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

What were these children of Israel to do?

1) They were to sanctify themselves. They were to avoid uncleanness because we serve a Holy God and they belonged to God.

We know that God does not ever change, and this is the same for the modern Church of today.

Uncleanness today means to avoid the filth of this world and we live in a filthy world around filthy people.

Just look at the trash that is deposited along our roads, in our lakes, and in our oceans for one example.

In this day of Israel, Egypt was the land of idolatry and animal worship, and the world of today is still full of idolatry.

It can be said that the only way to be in communion with God is by holiness.

Rom 6:19 I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
Rom 6:20 For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
Rom 6:21 What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
Rom 6:22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

We must not defile ourselves!

We defile ourselves when we commit any type of sin. All sin is an abomination to the Lord.
We defile ourselves when we have a filthy heart.

Eze 43:8 In their setting of their threshold by my thresholds, and their post by my posts, and the wall between me and them, they have even defiled my holy name by their abominations that they have committed: wherefore I have consumed them in mine anger.

Jas 3:6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.
Mat 15:19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:
Mat 15:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.

Just because we live in this world does not mean we are to act like we are part of this world!

*Lev 18:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Lev 18:2 Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, I am the LORD your God.
Lev 18:3 After the doings of the land of Egypt, wherein ye dwelt, shall ye not do: and after the doings of the land of Canaan, whither I bring you, shall ye not do: neither shall ye walk in their ordinances.

Notice how God presents Himself here. He says, “I am the LORD your God”.

God is saying “I am Jehovah” I am Yahweh, your One and only God.

The Lord our God then says, “You Must Live a Life of Separation from this wicked world”!

It has been obvious for us to see that the “moral” foundation of our societies is crumbling and pushed by our governments to do so.

If you challenge this, you are labeled a bigot and a racist.

Immorality weakens a person.
Immorality brings down desires to the level of wild animals!
Immorality corrupts humanity to live on the level of animals when God has made us to be far more than just animals!

Once relationships between people are destroyed, unkindness, abuse and lawlessness become the rule of society and we see these things are increasingly happening every day.

In fact, we could call Chapter 18 of the Book of Leviticus, “The Laws That Govern Sexual Behavior”.

The Children of Israel were taught and told not to behave as the Egyptians nor the Canaanites which were immoral societies in that day of Moses.

When we call ourselves Christians, we are saying that the Lord Jesus Christ is our God, and it is He and Jehovah and the Holy Spirit who are the three persons of the Holy Trinity. Not three separate persons but One God. The Lord our God!

In this instance Egypt and Canaan are placed in the category of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Israel had just left Egypt and were about to enter Canaan Land.

Three times in these five verses we see God proclaim, “I am the Lord your God”.

He wants us to be clear on His stance on immorality!

All through the lands of Egypt and Canaan Land, disgusting sexual activity took place including sodomy, bestiality, and homosexuality in illicit, unnatural acts of depravity.

We see an entire world returning to these ways today and it is demanded that we accept it!

As Christians, we will never accept these things and nor should we.

We should believe God!

We must never sink to this level of abomination!

God tells this new nation of Israel in that day and all Christianity in our day, that we must avoid this lifestyle and be obedient to the Word of God.

1Pe 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;
1Pe 4:2 That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.
1Pe 4:3 For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries:
1Pe 4:4 Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:
1Pe 4:5 Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.

It is a fact that the world thinks we are strange to not agree with them on these matters.

These things do not concern freedoms, these things concern the absolute rebellion to the Word of God!

God does not give us a choice; He absolutely demands that we avoid the lifestyle of the world around us today!

*Lev 18:4 Ye shall do my judgments, and keep mine ordinances, to walk therein: I am the LORD your God.
Lev 18:5 Ye shall therefore keep my statutes, and my judgments: which if a man do, he shall live in them: I am the LORD.

If you are a Christian, you must comply with all the Word of God.

God will keep His covenants with us only if we are obedient to the Word of God, all the Word of God!

As our Savior who washed us in His blood, He has every right to make such demands!

We should understand that we must live a life of separation and obedience to the Word of God.

We must certainly not seek some perversion of the Word of God that would allow such things as these which in fact should be obvious that God would never permit such things to be part of Christianity.

We must never follow the immoral and perverted practices of this world!

Joh 15:18 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.
Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
Joh 15:21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.
Joh 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.

We must always obey the laws and the decrees of God, but just because we hate those things, we are never to show hatred to those who do such thing.

They are our enemies, but God says to feed our enemies and besides food we need to feed them the pure Word of God.

We must live moral, sexually pure lives before our Righteous God!

We must understand that God is always obedient to His own Words!

God will never deviate from the things He has written down in the Scriptures and it would be wise for us to get a translation of the Scriptures that come from the Received Text and not those that come from the “already perverted” Catholic Text.

Joh 8:51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.

Rev 22:10 And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand.
Rev 22:11 He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.
Rev 22:13 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
Rev 22:14 Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

God gave all nations a guide to ensure fairness in laws. It was called the Ten Commandments, the moral law.

Many nations once based their own laws upon these Ten Commandments for centuries, but in this day these Ten Commandments have become too burdensome for most of them.

These Ten Commandments are just as important today as they were to the nation of Israel as they entered into Canaan Land.

We must understand that “justice” must be executed upon this earth.

Without “justice” all forms of lawlessness, violence, and sexual perversion would run wild throughout the earth.

Well guess what, we see it happening right before our eyes!

We see little true peace.
We see little true security.
We see much selfishness.
We see much immorality.
We see a world where rogue nations are allowed to kill and maim innocent people.

We see these things have ripped the moral fabric of most all nations.

We see that the family has taken such a beating that most of them are ripped apart just because of these things.

Drug and alcohol abuse run rampant.

Robbery, theft, assault, and murder are daily in every nation and every county in these United States and our government does not seem to care because our government wants it this way so it can step in with Communism and Socialism as is happened in Europe.

Today we live in a world of false religion.
Today we live in an Immoral Age.

There is still only one thing God’s people can do!

*Lev 20:22 Ye shall therefore keep all my statutes, and all my judgments, and do them: that the land, whither I bring you to dwell therein, spue you not out.

We have to obey God in order to escape God’s Judgment!

We must keep all the statutes of God!

A statute in the Bible is a law that comes directly from God.
A law that He mentions Himself.

We must keep all the judgments of God!

A judgment in the Bible means God has examined the facts and God has decided which way leads to the truth and that is the way we are to follow.

A judgment can also be the sentence that exist for breaking God’s Law.

God knows those who do the truth of the Word of God!

Mat 7:21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Mat 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
Mat 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

It should be obvious that if you are child of God, Born Again by the Blood of Jesus the true Messiah, we should live a life of separation from this wicked world!

God condemns those who do not obey His Word!

Jas 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

We must live our lives separated from the wickedness of this world!

God spued most of the residents of Canaan Land out of their countries to make room for the nation of Israel.

God may spue many of the residents of the United States out because they live and allow wickedness to continue.

This Covid Plague may be part of that spewing.

*Lev 20:23 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them.

There is no clearer message than this one how God feels about immorality and the gay lifestyle.

Abhor means extreme hatred.

Abhor means to despise.

Canaan Land was full of this sort of immorality, and it was for this reason God allowed for the destruction of its people.

God had given these nations four hundred or more years to repent of their wickedness.

Gen 15:16 But in the fourth generation they shall come hither again: for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full.

God hates the things that are going on in the United States at this time and going on in most European Countries, yet people still ask God for His blessings.

There is only one way to obtain the blessing of God!

2Ch 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The Church must avoid involvement in these practices and certainly not compromise on the Word of God.

If God abhors something, then the Church should also hate these things.

God could give our land to someone else!

*Lev 20:24 But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.

This is why God gave all the land of Canaan to Israel and there should be no question about it today.

Who judges Israel these days? The nations that allow these same things to go on in their own nations and many of the Arab nations that are descendants of Ishmael, Esau, and the sons of Keturah.

Israel had to be obedient to Jehovah before He allowed them to take Canaan Land and they never completed this task because of a lack of faith.

We that call America our home could see this change in our lifetime.

America was also a land that flowed with milk and honey, but there are no reasons for God to bless America today.

As Christians we must be able to discern between clean and unclean in our day-to-day behavior!

This was the way given to Israel to escape the “Judgment” of God.

God had given Israel specific food laws that governed clean and unclean animals.

They could only gain physical cleanliness by eating the right foods!

In that day of Moses without ways to preserve meats, these food laws offered protection from diseases and unhealthy bodies.

These things also showed the world that they were separated to God.

Obedience to these things were key to their relationship with Jehovah God.

In fact, obedience to the Word of God is still the key to our relationship with our Heavenly Father!

This new nation of Israel had to obey those food laws to teach them the difference of clean and unclean, but the Church does not have to obey those food laws, but we must obey all the Word of God, “rightly divided” and still know the difference between clean and unclean.

1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

If we cannot be holy in the eyes of God, then we are failing in our relationship with Him!

*Lev 20:25 Ye shall therefore put difference between clean beasts and unclean, and between unclean fowls and clean: and ye shall not make your souls abominable by beast, or by fowl, or by any manner of living thing that creepeth on the ground, which I have separated from you as unclean.
Lev 20:26 And ye shall be holy unto me: for I the LORD am holy, and have severed you from other people, that ye should be mine.

We must live a holy life to escape the “judgment of God!

Why because God is Holy, and we have the mind of Christ.

God called us to set us apart from this world.

The Church is God’s special possession!

We belong to the Lord!

We are a member of God’s household!

We must never bring disgrace unto the family of God.
We must never bring shame to our brothers and sisters in Christ.

We must live holy lives while we live amongst those who live in the damnation of God.

2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.

Why would we not want to be more like the Lord Jesus Christ?

Amen

God Is Working Behind The Scenes of This World

February 7, 2021 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Providential Provision for Israel (God Has This Plan)

Book of Genesis Chapters 41 through Chapter 45

We do not have to study the Scriptures long, until we will realize that the Lord is working behind the scenes in His created world to make sure there is a positive ending.

The plan of God is amazing!
The plan of God is sure!
The plan of God is unstoppable!

God knows what is best for each of us and He will actively work in our lives if we are willing to allow Him to do so.

Why does God do these things? Because He cares!

1Pe 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
1Pe 5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

If something is bothering you, then you need to go to the Lord!

He wants to hear about it even though He already knows what is going on in your life.

You want to be in the family of God? Then you need to be in the will of God!

Mar 3:35 For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

We cannot be a part of this world and be in the will of God!

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

The Lord will never give you something to do without He goes before you to prepare your way!

We know that Jehovah had told Abraham that Israel would spend 400 + years in a foreign nation and leave that nation with a great substance.

We now know that these things began when God moved Joseph into position.

Now we may not agree with everything Joseph had to go through, but we do know the Lord was with him and kept him safe while He trained Joseph to be second in command of Egypt the most powerful nation of that day.

Joseph is now in prison because he would not give in to temptation from the wife of Potiphar.

These things began with dreams and it would be dreams that would bring Joseph before Pharaoh.

*Gen 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.

If we do not see anything else, we had better see the power of God behind the political world and the governments of the world.

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.

Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

God never puts rulers in place to do bad things!

Joseph had now waited a long time for his deliverance, but he knew it was coming, he just did not know when.

It is the same for the Church today. We are bought and paid for by the blood of the Lamb of God. We are awaiting on the Lord to take us home!

We should also be able to see that it was not for Joseph’s sake that he was called out of prison, it was because a mighty Pharaoh had a need that he did not understand.

Joseph recognizing this made himself presentable. As God’s children we should never look like the world.

Joseph was not recognizing the Pharaoh’s power he was recognizing God’s power!

The world of that day needed the blessings of God to survive just as it is for the world today. We live in a dying world!

Pharaoh does not beat around the bush, he needed answers to these dreams that he did not understand.

Notice also Joseph is just as calm in the presence of Pharaoh as he was in the prison.

*Gen 41:15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it.
Gen 41:16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

Joseph listens calmly as Pharaoh make his case, and the reason he had asked to see Joseph.

There was no one in all of Pharaoh’s council who could interpret this dream of Pharaoh and this man had enough sense to not let it go.

To Pharaoh this thing seemed too important to let go and he was right.

In this dream was not just the plan to feed the family of Israel, but to feed all of Egypt and much of the world of that day.

We should understand that there is never a day that God does not make sure there is enough food to feed the world.

It is the governments and rulers who allow for people to starve to death!

Joseph takes only a moment to tell Pharaoh that he does not have the ability to interpret dreams, but it is the God of the Hebrews, who only can interpret these type of dreams!

In other words there was no false god that could have such an ability!

Psa 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant.

Pro 3:31 Envy thou not the oppressor, and choose none of his ways.
Pro 3:32 For the froward is abomination to the LORD: but his secret is with the righteous.

The world simply cannot see nor understand the truth!

Joh 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

2Co 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God;

Joseph clearly understood things that many Church members do not understand today!

Pharaoh then tells Joseph his dream and the Lord gives Joseph the proper interpretation.

*Gen 41:28 This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.

This message was for Pharaoh not Joseph or the children of Israel.

It would be Pharaoh who would have to make the right decision after he heard the interpretation of his dreams!

By showing Pharaoh the answer to these dreams, Joseph is now accepted as a Prophet of the Hebrew God, Elohim.

It was only later that God said He was the Great “I Am”.

We must also understand that there is no “science” in interpreting the Word of God.

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

This is the message Joseph gave to Pharaoh as did Daniel.

Dan 2:27 Daniel answered in the presence of the king, and said, The secret which the king hath demanded cannot the wise men, the astrologers, the magicians, the soothsayers, shew unto the king;
Dan 2:28 But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;

No government leader should be swayed by his councilors until he knows he has the truth. If he is not satisfied with their answers then he will need to go outside that group of people and there is no better man to go that the true man of God.

I do not need to know what my government says, I need to know what my God says!

For all those who think that “science” must confirm or agree to the Word of God for the Word of God to be true are only foolish.

Just accept a literal translation of the Word of God, “rightly divided”!

Science changes as time goes by but the Word of God never changes because the truth will always be the truth.

*Gen 41:29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:
Gen 41:30 And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land;
Gen 41:31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.

Remember how Moses became God’s Prophet to Pharaoh well we see that Joseph had set the example as Joseph was now God’s Prophet to Pharaoh.

It is a fact that God has the power to give His servants understanding and insight!

God still does this today, but He uses His written Word to tell us of our future so there is no need for prophets.

God tells us to study the Word of God.

2Ti 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

If our new president needs some insight of the things of our world, and he does, then he should just study the Bible just as God told all the kings of Israel and all rulers then and today.

It is not enough to swear upon a book you have never read!

What was soon coming to Egypt? A famine such that has never been seen by the people of Egypt and the surrounding lands but before this occurred there would be seven years of plenty above what was normal.

Decisions have to be made in the good years because bad years always come.

In other words, we need to prepare for that bad day because it is certainly coming!

Again God had to get Jacob and his family to come to Egypt and it would never have happened without this famine!

Did God cause this famine? No, God does not do bad things! He does allow them to take place!

We must repeat this over and over. God does not do bad things, but He does allow many of them to take place!

It is Satan the Deceiver who caused this bad thing to happen.

Now do not get me wrong, God does have some rules as God told the children of Israel.

Deu 11:16 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;
Deu 11:17 And then the LORD’S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

Could God have stopped this thing? Yes, and He will explain it all to us one day!

Again, it was Satan trying to destroy the path to the Messiah and he will try many more times before the Lord is born in Bethlehem.

Seven years is nothing in the plan of God and remember God has written it all down for us to see that the only path to eternal life with Him is through and by the Lord Jesus Christ!

When God takes the time to tell us what is about to happen, He does this so we can prepare for the worse.

Today God tells us what will happen if we do not believe what He says, and we are fools if we do not take the Word of God serious!

When God repeats Himself, then we can expect things to happen soon!

The famine that was coming would wipe away all the good thoughts of those years of plenty.

These things were certain!

*Gen 41:32 And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Notice how the Holy Ghost now gives us a Biblical study tool.

When God has to repeat Himself then we can be sure these things will happen soon!

God repeats Himself because of His “Mercy”. If God warns us one time then that is enough, but because God loves His creation, He repeats Himself many times.

Joseph could speak boldly because he was speaking the truth!

It is the same with every true Prophet in the Scriptures. They speak boldly because they speak the truth! The Word of God is that truth!

Joseph was so sure he then goes on to teach the most powerful man in the world of that day just what to do.

We will see that this Pharaoh was a pagan, but he did have some intelligence.

*Gen 41:38 And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

Joseph had told Pharaoh that he needed a man who knew how to get Egypt through these 14 years.

Obviously, this wisdom came by the Lord, but we can see this young man named Joseph was certainly a special young man.

This man in charge would buy up one-fifth of all the grains that were harvested in those seven years of plenty.

Remember these were seven years of plenty so the crops would be greater than in a normal year.

All this grain would be stored in many cities safe and secure from the elements and with the seal of Pharaoh.

It would be much easier to handle the distribution of this food when the time came to do so.

This food would be held in reserve, unused for anything else, but those seven years of famine.

By this Egypt would be secure from economic collapse during the coming famine.

God has the power for our voices to be heard at His timing!

God will provide the wisdom that we need as He promises!

Psa 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.

Psa 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.

Pro 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Pro 2:6 For the LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

If we belong to the Lord and are following in His Will, He will give us understand and wisdom and speak through us, but we must have “faith”!

if we make ourselves available to the Lord, He will use us! God loves volunteers, ask Isaiah.

Joseph did not shy away though he stood before the earthly ruler of the world on that day.

Joseph knew that it was Elohim who was the God of all power and we are all puny in any power we think we have.

*Gen 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:
Gen 41:40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
Gen 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

This free advice, given to Pharaoh was sound advice, in fact, so sound that even if the famine did not come the government of Pharaoh could not lose have control of such a valuable commodity.

Joseph was a man with the gift of God, the spirit of wisdom.
Joseph was free of selfishness.
Joseph was not plotting for advancement.
Joseph was pure used of the Holy Spirit.

Pharaoh was the sinner.
Pharaoh was rich and had need of nothing, or so he thought. (Reminds us of the last Church Age)
Pharaoh began to see that there was a God that he did not know about.

If Joseph had just interpreted the dream and said nothing else, Egypt would not have survived because Pharaoh lacked the wisdom to do the right thing.

If Joseph had not been selected to make sure these things were handled properly then Egypt would not have survived.

God was not so much set on the survival of Egypt as he was the survival of Israel, and this will never change.

The world needs to wake up to this fact today!

God knows what will take place at all times now and all future times, as long as time last!

Joseph had come out of the prison one day because he was requested by the Pharaoh of Egypt.

Before this day was over Joseph was wearing the signet ring of Pharaoh that was used to for signing public documents.

Joseph then began to wear a coat of fine linen. See even the coat made by his father Israel was a picture of prophecy!

He also wore a gold necklace, a badge of rank, indicating his rank and authority.

Joseph also had the privilege of riding in the state chariot.

A Pharaoh would have two chariots. One the state chariot, the other a war chariot.

There would be someone crying before him which said, “bend the head, bow the knee”.

Joseph would be treated as royalty, as long as this Pharaoh lived and maybe longer as long as the family of this Pharaoh lived.

We know it was over 400 years before a wicked Pharaoh wanted to destroy Israel by making them all slaves.

*Gen 42:6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

Joseph was now Governor over all the land of Egypt.

All merchantmen from every nation had to appear in person before Joseph to buy or to sell.

Remember Israel (Jacob) was a very rich man, who sent his sons to do business in Egypt, but Joseph had no responsibility to sell them anything.

After 22 years Joseph and his brothers were again face to face and according to the early dreams of Joseph, they bowed the knee with their faces toward the earth.

Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.
Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

His brothers did not yet know this was Joseph and they did not recognize him with his new coat and position.

And Joseph did speak roughly to them as they had to him.

We see that nothing can stop the plan of God for He influences many rulers of this world and sets them all in power, though we may not understand why certain men become rulers or why they do what they do.

The survival of the nation of Egypt and maybe many other nations depended upon Joseph, but also the survival of Israel and his family was now in the hands of Joseph.

The world thinks things just happen by accident because this is the teaching of evolution!

The pure fact is, that all the things of this world happen according to the “providence of God working in our lives”!

There are no accidents!

Very seldom if any at all, does things happen to people unless someone breaking some law or someone involved was breaking a law.

Even trips and falls happen because we are reckless and stubborn.

Think about it and you will know this is true.

It is God who holds all life in His hands, and He knows what will happen to each of us daily and in our future.

God is under no obligation to extend the life of any of us!

God and God only, knows those who will return to Him!

Isa 55:6 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:
Isa 55:7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
Isa 55:8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
Isa 55:9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

God knows those who will return to Him just as well as He does those who will never turn to Him!

Joseph finally had to tell his brothers the truth.

*Gen 45:3 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.

When you have been concealing the truth for 22 years and the reality of that truth confronts you, you will not know what to say.

Num 32:23 But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out.

It is by the providence of God that the truth will surface and lies will be exposed.

Yes, it will happen in our own government sooner, or later, not because I say so, but because God says so.

Joseph could no longer hold back his emotions.
Joseph had received “Grace” so now he offered “Grace”.
Joseph understood why all things that happened to him, happened.
Joseph never took his eyes off of the Lord God Almighty.
Joseph understood what forgiveness really means!

Rewards can happen upon this earth, though most of our rewards will take place when we meet Jesus in the clouds.

Joseph’s rewards were not his position nor his riches in Egypt.

Joseph’s reward was being reunited with his family!

In this instance, by typology, Joseph is a type of our Heavenly Father!

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.

1Ti 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
1Ti 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
1Ti 2:6 Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.

God did not create Hell for humans, Hell was created for the Devil and his fallen angels.

Mat 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

2Pe 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;

Jud 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

If you end up in Hell, it will be because you have rejected the truth! There is a place called Hell!

Joseph must yield to his love for his family.

*Gen 45:4 And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.

Joseph had always loved his brothers and never understood why they did what they did.

It took 22 years and a great distance for these 10 men to know love for their brother.

Joseph forgave his brothers because Joseph realized that the hand of God was involved in his purpose.

Joseph was treated badly by his brothers because of envy, jealousy and hatred because that this is what they had seen all their childhood days.

They had now spent 22 years seeing how this thing had affected their father and they were more mature.

If we study the Scriptures, we see that Joseph had reacted with love toward his brothers just as the Bible teaches.

God had not caused these men to mistreat their brother Joseph.
God had not caused Joseph to be sold into slavery, but God used it to further His plan for Israel.
God had not caused all the things that had happened to Joseph while he was in Egypt, but God had been with Joseph every moment of his life and caused him to prosper in all the things he had done.

Joseph wanted his brother to come closer to him because there were some things the Egyptians did not need to know, and Joseph wanted to put them at ease.

God wants us all to be just as forgiving as He is!

Mar 11:24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
Mar 11:25 And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
Mar 11:26 But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

Joseph had forgiven them.

They knew what they had done and after reminding them just to show he was Joseph, not much more needed to be said.

Forgiveness shows love!

*Gen 45:5 Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

When we realize that we are in the plan of God, and He has His hand upon us, we get to see the bigger picture. Somewhat like God sees His plan in action.

These brothers needed to establish some trust now that they had been reunited and the first step was forgiveness.

Jealousy, envy, bitterness and hatred had to be put aside for God’s plan to become real.

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,

When we look back at all the foolish things and serious sin, we have done all our lives, we can become discouraged, but Joseph did not want his brothers to feel this way.

God can bring good out of every mistake and God has more forgiveness than we have error.

But we must repent and repent still means much more than saying “I am sorry”.

There must be some action in our repentance.

These ten brothers were forgiven by Joseph and it was time for them to get together and save this family that God intended to build a nation from.

They were just a small part of the nation of Israel that exists today.

Joseph was sent before his family to make preparations, by the hand of God!

Psa 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
Psa 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
Psa 105:18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
Psa 105:19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
Psa 105:20 The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
Psa 105:21 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
Psa 105:22 To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
Psa 105:23 Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
Psa 105:24 And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

One of these days we will wake up and see that God knows what He is doing.

He has given us a purpose.
He has given us commandments.

Our one and only duty is to obey!

Ecc 12:13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Lets let God be God and stay out of His way, while we are obedient to do what He has called us to do!

Joseph told his brothers that this famine had just begun, and it was going to get worse.

This is the same message we have today.

The persecution we see today is going to get worse before the Lord takes us home!

Amen

Precious Memories in Perilous Times

April 8, 2018April 22, 2018 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

Precious Memories

Book of 2 Timothy Chapter 1

As we begin the 2 Book to Timothy, we should understand that several years had passed since Paul had written the first Book to Timothy. Paul had first written to Timothy while he was in Laodicea.

At the time Paul wrote this second letter to Timothy, Paul was imprisoned in Rome and he was sentenced to death. At this time the death penalty came by beheading and Paul would soon face this judgment with a smile because he knew he was going home to be with the Lord.

This time Paul was charged for inciting an insurrection against the Roman government. This will probably be the charge that will be used against Christian preachers if the Democrats get back in office, here in America.

Paul was writing this letter at a time when Christianity was banned in Rome and all Christians found and sentenced to death.

We should understand when we read the Book of 2 Timothy we are reading the very last words of the Apostle Paul!

We will see that like a prophet. Paul knew that perilous times were coming for all!

*****2Ti 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus,
2Ti 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Paul knew what would soon take place in his life and he wanted Timothy to understand that he would see him again.

What will we see from the Apostle Paul is that, he would maintain his dignity as a man called of God right to the very end.

This letter to Timothy will seem to be a personal letter between he and Paul, but the Holy Spirit decided that even we of today needed to understand what Paul was saying here.

This letter is another of what we call the pastoral epistles, which are written to answer questions about church organization.

This is another letter from Paul by the Holy Spirit, teaching us how to act in the House of God.

One thing is very clear, only those called of the Lord Jesus Christ will have a ministry in the Christian Church. This is a personal calling from the Lord Jesus Christ to that person who is called.

That one who is called, is called to walk in the will of God, remembering that it is the will of God that every living soul be saved.

1Ti_2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

Eternal life comes only by Jesus Christ! Eternal death comes to all that reject the Lord Jesus Christ!

Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

God’s plan is really very simple, have faith in the works Lord Jesus Christ, and be at peace with God forever!

Joh 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
Joh 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

When we meet Jesus, we will be meeting the God of all creation!

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”.

Jesus left little doubt that He was the Mesiah, come from God!

In all the Scriptures we do not find one harsh word about Timothy. The fact that Timothy was saved at an early age, that he was able to do so good in the ministry of the Lord. He was saved young and he was led by true Christians all his life.

Timothy shows us the importance of discipling our young people with the truth of the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

*****2Ti 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

What did Paul have? Paul had precious memories of the time he had spent with this young man who was also called of God.

Paul leaves us with the importance of disciple training, covered with much prayer. We must realize that is not about self because the Lord will take care of that.

It is about that prayer life for someone besides ourselves!

We must understand that God has given us this wonderful privilege to pray for those who are disciples!

Prayer is important for everyone but, when we do not zero in on our young people, we are neglecting the future of our church!

We should be thinking of our young disciples in our morning prayers and our nightly prayers and everything in between!

We should remember what Jesus said:

Mat 21:21 Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.
Mat 21:22 And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, “believing”, ye shall receive.

We need to pray that God would move all the evil things of this world (drugs, alcohol, smoking, etc.) out of the way of our young people.

Maybe we to need to shed a tear for our children!

*****2Ti 1:4 Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may be filled with joy;

No doubt that when Timothy heard that Paul had been arrested again and sentenced to death, he shed tears for Paul who had taught him so much and had also been like a father to him.

We also see Paul who is sentenced to death, for preaching the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ, was at peace with his death, and trying to comfort Timothy.

Timothy was strong in his faith and strong in his courage, yet he was still tender. We should remember the qualifications of a Pastor and Timothy met all these qualifications.

Timothy was young man who was not afraid to stand up for the Lord, yet he was still tender and compassionate, and not afraid to show his tender side.

It is this powerful man of God, who had brought joy to the heart of the Apostle Paul!

Not many realize that after the martyr’s death of the Apostle Paul, Timothy remained Ephesus, where sometime later he was also died the martyr’s death, because he preached the whole council of God without being ashamed of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Psa 119:63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

Timothy was never afraid to call Jesus his Savior! Timothy is a great example for young and old.

*****2Ti 1:5 When I call to remembrance the unfeigned faith that is in thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I am persuaded that in thee also.

As Paul was remembering the faith of Timothy, he also remembered the strong faith of his grandmother Lois and also the strong faith of his mother Eunice.

Here we see the fruit that can come from those mothers and grandmothers, who teach their children the truth of the Word of God!

Unfeigned faith is a faith that is not counterfeit. It is not hypocritical. It is real faith. It is sincere faith. It is based upon God’s love for his church!

Lois and Eunice had that faith, that could move those mountains out of the way for this young man named Timothy!

We can see how the Christian family can produce fruit for the work of the Lord!

It seems that in every period of the history of the church, it is the church women who have been more open to the conviction of the Holy Spirit and pass these things down to their children!

It is in these last days that Satan will use all his power to destroy the family, in his attempt to destroy the church.

We must remember what Jesus has said.

Luk_18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?

Once the church is taken out of the world, during the time of the great falling away, there will not be much faith, if any, left upon this world!

It is only those parents who have dedicated their lives to the Lord and walk in Christ Jesus everyday, who have a chance to pass these things on to their children!

Pro_22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

God would not say this if it were no true!

Even as strong as Timothy was, Paul knew that every Pastor needs to be encouraged from time to time.

*****2Ti 1:6 Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.
2Ti 1:7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

The biggest problem we face in the church today, is that God’s people have let their fire go out!

We will certainly endure abuse, if we claim the Lord Jesus Christ!

We already know that this world we live in will never get better than it is right now!

2Ti_3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

Still, like Timothy, it is not time to quit on God!

We need to take a poker and stir up the fire that is within us, so our flame can shine brighter.

There was no indication that Timothy’s fire was getting dim and about to go out!

The Apostle Paul was on death row and he wanted Timothy to know his fight was finished and he would soon be going home.

It would be Timothy who would carry the torch of freedom until he too had fought his good fight.

The truth of these things is, if the Lord has given us a task, then we are to remain in that task until we go home to be with the Lord!

We must not ever forget that He has promised to provide our needs always!

Rom 12:5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.
Rom 12:6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith;
Rom 12:7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching;
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.

If we are afraid, we must know that fear is a word that is not in God’s dictionary!

God gives us the gift of active power, so that we are not afraid to speak up for Jesus!

God gives us the gift of speculative power, so we can think right, and discern right from wrong.

No need to fear what man can do to us, if they kill us we just wake up in Heaven.

No need to fear the trials we face every day, because we are on the winning side, look in the back of the book.

No need to fear what the world says about us, they are on the losing side, also in the back of the book.

God gives us the Spirit power if we just ask, but power is not needed if we are not in the fight!

God gives the Spirit of love for everyone we see, if we just show it. The agape love of God, as our own Father!

God gives the Spirit of a sound mind when we have the mind of Christ!

1Co_2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

With these gifts of the Holy Spirit, plus all the fruit of the Holy Spirit, how could we ever be ashamed of our Savior?

*****2Ti 1:8 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

Makes me want to say, just jump in this battle and stay as close to Jesus Christ you can!

We can actually call this section “Ashamed”!

Why must we never be ashamed of the Lord Jesus? Because it is He who holds the power of the Almighty God for salvation, but only for those who believe!

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

It is a fact that cowardice is a bad thing. To a soldier it could lead to his death or imprisonment.

To the Christian who refuses to get into the war against evil, it could mean an early death because, to be in the will of God is the safest place for any Christian to be.

Thank goodness our God is in the soul saving business!

Being ashamed of our Savior, is showing doubt that our Lord Jesus Christ does not have the power of God.

We are nothing without Jesus Christ!

Why would anyone be ashamed of the “Gospel” when it actually does bring “Good News”!

The Gospel answers every question concerning sin and it is the remedy for fallen man!

We must never be ashamed that our God came to this earth to die!

We must never be ashamed of the blood of Jesus Christ, that washes away all sin.

We must never be ashamed of the virgin birth!

We must never be ashamed of the cross that Jesus bore.

We must never be ashamed period.

We must never be ashamed to take our stand on the “Gospel” of the Lord Jesus Christ!

When we cannot take a stand on freedom from the bondage of sin, then nothing else can satisfy that question of just “who am I”.

When we cannot live for Jesus, we will certainly die for Satan!

Joh 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

We must never be ashamed of persecution. Paul said to Timothy, do not be ashamed of my imprisonment”!

It should be an honor, for a Christian to be so much like Jesus that he is imprisoned!

It should be an honor to speak the words of Jesus and be imprisoned for it!

This shows the weakness of those in charge who are so afraid to hear the “Gospel” because one: some know the Word of God is so powerful that they would suffer because of God’s message and two; they are denying the truth to live in their own little false world of misery.

For the Christian, this is the only world that we can suffer in, we will not suffer at all in Heaven.

Though the non-believer they may or may not suffer much in this world, but they will suffer an eternity of unreal suffering in Hell!

God sends His message to this world in order for those bound for Hell can repent and join Him in Heaven.

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.

My question to all those that reject the Word of God, why don’t you leave the Christians alone!

Why be so afraid of God’s Word?

Joh 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world.
Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

To a world that can believe in aliens and UFOs, why can you not believe in the supernatural, our Heavenly Savior.

I’m not sorry that I am called a Christian, I am sorry that so many just do not believe!

*****2Ti 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
2Ti 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:

Some people say we use the word saved to much, but this is the word that works for me!

I am saved. I am preserved, I am protected, I am redeemed, I am delivered from the sin of this world.

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;

When you speak of salvation, you cannot get around the fact that Jesus Christ is the Author of salvation!

It is a fact that God has a purpose for everything that happens in this world. God does not do bad things, but He allows bad things to happen if they suit His purpose and His plans.

What is God’s Purpose?

Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Now we know that everything in this world happens according to this purpose which God is so bold to give to us that we would know, and we can rest on the surety of these words!

If you are not in Jesus Christ, you simply will not be gathered when the Lord comes to take us home. This is known as the rapture of the church. These things are true because God says they are true. Now who do you trust?

Col 1:26 Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
Col 1:27 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

We have a hope that is much better than a guarantee when we place all our faith in the works of the Lord Jesus Christ!

There is absolutely no reason those in the Lord Jesus Christ should be uncertain about their salvation.

There is absolutely no reason that we should fear death as a Christian because we will be going home!

Over and over the Scriptures will lead us to Jesus Christ as our Savior, not just some other man but truly God come down from Heaven to die just so we can be saved.

Yes, I like that word saved!

It was also the work of the Lord Jesus Christ to abolish the death that Satan uses to hold onto his followers.
There are far too many of these followers who have come out of the woodwork to declare they worship Satan to their own demise!

Evil abounds, but God has more “grace” than this world has “evil”!

To be a believer ,we had to be bought from Satan’s slave market but many more are left behind that we need to reach with the “Gospel of our salvation!

1Jn 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
1Jn 4:13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1Jn 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1Jn 4:15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, “God dwelleth in him, and he in God”.

What is the only method to become a preacher of the Gospel?

*****2Ti 1:11 Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

Paul was appointed to preach by the Lord Jesus Christ, there is no other way to be a true preacher of the “Gospel” do not be fooled by nay sayers.

Paul was appointed Apostle by the Lord Jesus. The only way to be an Apostle was to have been selected by The Lord Jesus Christ seeing Him with his own eyes. For this reason, there can be no more Apostles, Paul was the last.

**Paul was appointed to be the Preacher assigned to the Gentiles.

The God called, Jesus Christ chosen, Holy Ghost filled preacher, is the person who is chosen to go forth and proclaim the message of King Jesus!

The main message will be that Christ has abolished death, followed with that He has brought life and immortality to those who believe upon Him!

What has happened to our preachers of today? They ignored this message or have they forgotten who Jesus is, or are they to ashamed to preach the truth?

**Paul was appointed to be an Apostle because he was sent by the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle is to go where ever he is sent with the message that “the King is Coming” and that sooner not later and speak the message he was given by the Lord.

It is the job of the Apostle to make known the business of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The business of our Savior was to do all the work necessary to provide his subjects a means of eternal life with Him and His true angels!

**Paul was appointed to be a teacher.

It is the job of the teacher to teach the curriculum that they have been assigned without changing it in any way. The Teacher will teach the whole council of God with diligence and perseverance!

Paul understood the hazards of what he had to do.

*****2Ti 1:12 For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

The biggest problem with the Christian of today they make God out to be powerless and not able to fulfill His promises, which is very foolish if we just look around to what God has created for us!

When we have been justified (just as if we had never sinned) how can we think God is not able to fulfill His promises?

God says those He has justified will escape eternal death (the wrath of God) only if they have faith!

Rom 1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
Rom 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

Psa 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

There is no one (no one) who could have given us these majestic heavens but The Lord God!

It is so very foolish to think these things came about by some accident. The only thing accidents have ever brought is destruction!

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

I along with the Apostle Paul are not ashamed of our God of glory!

In fact, the Lord Jesus Christ came to this earth to reveal the power of God!

God is independent of His being, because everything God is (His virtues, His decrees, His works, His causes, all God’s character) depends on Him!

There is absolutely nothing God cannot do but sin. God is who He says He is!

Exo 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.

I too am persuaded that God can save my soul and that I will join Him when I die!

We must commit ourselves to the work of the Lord! Why?

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

We are kept by the power of God!

The Apostle Paul was very sure that judgment was coming but he was also very sure this would take place sometime after he was gone on to Heaven!

Paul was also very sure that when he met Jesus in the clouds, he would have to give an account of himself after his salvation, because all the things Paul had done by persecuting the church before he was saved had been forgiven and God would not remember these things against him.

Even as we see the things of this world get even more evil, we must still hold fast to the Word of God!

*****2Ti 1:13 Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

Because the nature of humanity is corrupt and sinful, we cannot always trust that we can know the truth of their words.

This is not so with God. The Word of God is good for our health here on earth and eternal life when we join the Lord!

The only sound words that we can depend on come from the Lord!

When we start doubting the words that tell us the truth of our Savior, then we are not clinging to the truth!

No false doctrine comes from sound words which are the words that Jesus Christ our only Savior has brought to us from God the Holy Spirit!

When we doubt the Word of God we are calling God a liar.

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

It is impossible to truly believe upon Jesus Christ if we reject in any way the truth of Scriptures!

Joh 20:30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
Joh 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

The Holy Spirit has decided that the words He has given to us. are all we need to trust in the Lord for eternal life.

We have the truth and the results of the truth.

When it comes time to hear the Word of God, we can believe that it is true, beyond all doubt and yes Jonah was swallowed by a real whale!

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

The Word of God brings so much truth many people spend too much time trying to find fault in the Word of God.

We must hold fast to the form of sound words!

*****2Ti 1:14 That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

We should understand that trust works both ways with the Lord. We are to trust in His Words and He will trust us to take those words to someone else, so they also can make the choice to accept or reject the truth of God.

The world just does not understand that God wants everyone in this entire world to get an opportunity to compare His truth to what the world has to say about health, love, life and purpose!

We as Christians have the words of life, how can we not share it?

We must also understand that if God has something that affects humans then He will choose another human to do it.

The only humans who can do this thing must be filled with God the Holy Spirit!

In fact, the only good thing upon this world is the Word of God!

What is the greatest truth of the Word of God? It is all about Jesus Christ!

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

1Jn 5:7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.

Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.

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.

There should be no doubt in the Christian, of what these things mean!

It is our Holy God the Father that gives us the Gift of Life and that gift comes by “The Word”, God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ!

So, we can hold fast the gifts God places in our hands.

*****2Ti 1:15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.

We should pay very close attention to what the Holy Spirit is saying here.

The Apostle Paul was arrested a second time and sentenced to death at the hands of Nero, just for preaching the truth of the Scriptures.

Phygellus and Hermogenes had travel with Paul since Paul was in Asia.

Most all those of Asia abandoned not only Paul but also the Lord and when we say no to God, we are committing sin.

Certainly, Rome was a dangerous place to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but God would take something bad and make good come from it!

Php 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Php 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

These things being true Phygellus and Herogenes both from Asia not being arrested with Paul abandoned him and took with them others from Asia.

This was a sad time for Paul, but he never gave up and the Lord never left his side just as He said, He will never forsake us.

Paul was not ashamed of the “Gospel” and this showed in these words given to Him by the Holy Spirit.

Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

There was one who stood by Paul and he became a very special help to him!

*****2Ti 1:16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
2Ti 1:17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.

Onesiphorus was a Christian from the church of Ephesus where Timothy was being sent.

While Onesiphorus was helping Paul, his family back home was without their father, and Paul prayed for mercy for this household and Paul was making Timothy aware of this family who may also have a need.

Onesiphorus came many times to visit Paul and while he was there he would cheer Paul up, and it also reveals to us the Paul may have spent some time with this family when he was in Ephesus.

This may be all we know of this man Onesiphorus, but it is obvious that he was a Christian who was not ashamed of the “Gospel” and he was a true friend to Paul.

Pro_18:24 A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.

No doubt that the name of Onesiphorus had been written in the Lambs Book of Life.

*****2Ti 1:18 The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

Not one of us deserve the mercy of God!

To ask God to show mercy is not so much to ask God to be good as it is to show we have a forgiving God.

I believe when Paul says, “that day” he is referring to the day of the “Rapture” when we will all face the Lord Jesus Christ, at the Bema Seat!

We must never abandon our brothers and sisters in Christ, no matter the circumstances, we are all bound together by the blood of Jesus Christ and we must never bring shame to His name!

Heb 13:3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.

There will never be a day, while we live upon this earth that we will not need the mercy of God!

Amen

God’s Plan is to Bless His Children

November 26, 2017November 26, 2017 / Bobby Mayfield / Leave a comment

God’s Plan for Blessing His Children

Book of Ephesians Chapter 1:1-12

The Apostle Paul always reminds us that he was living and acting under the control of a power from on high. The Divine will of God!
In fact, to share Paul’s beliefs is the means of a strong and effective Christian life!

We will notice also that by the power of the Holy Spirit, Paul knew, these letters, these epistles, were not just intended for these Churches of his day but, to all Christians everywhere and in all the ages until the return of Jesus Christ.

In fact, the Apostle Paul was part of God’s plan for blessing His children!

Paul was writing to the faithful in Christ Jesus, all the Saints of God in all ages!

This will not change in this epistle to the Ephesians.

The Book of Ephesians reveals to us a deeper knowledge into the “grace” of God!

The Book of Ephesians will also give us another look at God’s plan for this world.

Let’s begin:

*****Eph 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Eph 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are not only to be “saints”, which is clearly misunderstood in our world, but also the “faithful”. We are to be faithful saints!

To be faithful is to obey the truth of Jehovah God. This means all the Word of God and not bits and pieces that we choose to obey!

Isa 25:1 O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.

Who then are the faithful?

First there is Jehovah God.

Deu 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
Deu 7:10 And repayeth them that hate him to their face, to destroy them: he will not be slack to him that hateth him, he will repay him to his face.

God is faithful in His love and He will be just as faithful in His wrath.

Next there is the Lord.

Rev 1:5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,
Rev 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

So, then we as the saints of God are also to be faithful.

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

We cannot be in fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ, without being faithful to the things of our Father in Heaven!

No one can live in God without being a channel for God, by Jesus Christ!

The Lord Jesus Christ is God’s “Grace” poured out onto this world we live in!

2Co 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2Co 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2Co 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2Co 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

If you need a blessing from God, then you better know His Son in a personal way! Amen and Amen!

*****Eph 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:

What is God’s greatest blessing? It is when God can bestow His blessings upon His children!

God will allow some earthly blessings to those who know His Son, but God’s greatest blessings are spiritual and heavenly and not of this world!

Before we go any further we need to know the word “Grace”.

What is “Grace” in the Word of God?

1) The “Gospel” is the “Grace of God.

Act_20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

2) The application of the “Gospel” and it’s saving power to our lives is also the “Grace” of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

3) Everything that comes by Jesus Christ is the “Grace” of God!

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

Rom 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

4) Grace then is certainly the unmerited favor of God!

Eph 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

“God’s Riches at Christ Expense”.

Before Jesus Christ came into this world, God did bless His people with material things. Abraham received land, wealth, and fame.

These are still the same things all the world seeks after today!

We know that as Israel first grew it misused and hoarded up these things refusing to share even amongst themselves and certainly not with any other nations.

These things always go against the will of God and Israel was warned many times and then punished many times.

The great change when the Lord Jesus Christ came, is that God deals with mankind in spiritual things with spiritual blessings.

Heb 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,
Heb 1:2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;

It should be obvious that spiritual blessings can only come by the Holy Spirit!

It is the Holy Spirit who is the major force in our world against evil!

It is also the Holy Spirit who brings forth the act of salvation to the believer! (We call this Holy Ghost conviction)

Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

So, let’s look at this word “chosen”.

*****Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

We can only come to one conclusion as we read this Scripture. God chooses only those who are in Jesus Christ!

Without Jesus Christ you cannot be the “chosen” of God! (let this sink in)

Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.
Joh 14:18 I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.
Joh 14:19 Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also.
Joh 14:20 “At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you”.
Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

God wants us to be with Him. God has wanted us to be with Him since before He laid the foundations of this universe!

Why did God create mankind, the answer is right here in His words?

We can only be holy and without blame, by embracing the righteousness of Christ, because we have no righteousness of our ourselves and then we must be endowed with the Holy Spirit.

This is our only means of being blameless! Amen

Col 1:21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
Col 1:22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:

When God first created all things, we should notice though things were good and some even very good, not one of them was perfect.

In the end, when the Lord returns to claim His church, when we meet Him in the clouds, we will have finally reached perfection!

Our perfection can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ! Amen

Because we are chosen to be made perfect through Jesus Christ we are hated by this imperfect world!

Joh 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

So, let’s look at that word “predestinate”.

*****Eph 1:5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

According to Calvinism, God calls only those He has predestined to eternal life ( our own choice is not involved). He renews their spirit (Not the Holy Spirit moves into, not sealed with the Holy Spirit) and then draws only those to Jesus Christ, so in this way salvation is entirely by “grace”.
A free gift to only those God has selected Himself as He created them. This is a false belief and therefore a false doctrine!

They believe, God then justifies just these believers, declares them righteous (not the righteousness of the Lord Jesus) and adopts them into His family and sanctifies them. (this is a false belief)

They believe, saving faith, is a gift of Christ Jesus. Repentance is a doctrine to preached along with faith. Good works are the fruit of true faith. (this is a false belief)

What then is the truth?

The truth is, God has not determined that just certain ones will be saved and the remaining will abandoned to the Lake of Fire!

God has determined that only those who have(chosen) and (accepted), “by faith”, in the work of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation will be saved and all those who reject the work of the Lord Jesus Christ will be destroyed!

God would not be God if He specifically chose certain ones for salvation and certain ones for damnation!

God has given this choice to us to make freely only after knowing the truth!

The truth is, God calls, and we are the ones who must make the choice!

Therefore, the church is the “Elect”, those who have elected to place their faith in the work and the promises of Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures say, we are predestined but only by Jesus Christ to Himself!

The Scriptures say, we have no righteousness of our own,(our righteousness is as filthy rags) we must be seen as having the righteousness of Jesus Christ by accepting Him as our Savior!

It is Jesus Christ who will present His “bride” to His Father in Heaven.

It was not God who prearranged this marriage contract with those that He chose!

Jesus Christ did not just die for the few believers, Jesus Christ died for all the sin in all the world, past, present and future!

Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Joh 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
Joh 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

None of these Scriptures in this passage of John point toward Calvinism, in fact these Scriptures destroy Calvinism!

God has only chosen those who have accepted “His” Son and are filled with “His” Spirit!

It is only these who are adopted in the family of God, having been removed from the family of Satan, that are the “Bride of Christ”.

Being adopted, we then have direct access to the throne room of God.

It is only the believer who will become an adopted brother or sister to Jesus Christ with freedom to enter in the Heavenly Mansion of God!

God is so full of “Grace” that it is over flowing, but it is only by Jesus Christ that this “Grace” can be applied to the believer!

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.

God’s “Grace” is in fact His glorious free love for His Son and those of His Son.
God has accepted each believer who is washed in the blood of His Dear Son, He loves so much!

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.

*****Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Those that cringe when they hear the word blood, should not forget that it is through the death of Jesus Christ, who shed all His blood, just so we who believe could be saved. It is the beloved who are saved!

We were slaves in bondage to Satan who directed us according to his will.

We were unable to redeem ourselves to buy our freedom from him because it would lead to eternal separation from God, our Creator.

In the time of the Scriptures, a kinsman could redeem a member of his family if he was able to pay the debt that was owed.

We know the wages of sin is death. The Lord Jesus Christ claimed the right of the kinsman redeemer and paid the debt, which was His own death that we all can be free from the bondage of Satan.

Heb 2:15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Heb 2:16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
Heb 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Heb 2:18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.

We are redeemed from the guilt and the power of sin through the blood of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ!

We have been forgiven all the sin we have ever had in our lives and forgiven from all future sin until the day God calls us home!

Psa 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Psa 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.
Psa 103:13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.
Psa 103:14 For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust.

We can see that the only thing that may exceed or at least match the “Grace” of God is the “Mercy” of God!

*****Eph 1:8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;

We must understand that we cannot be saved unless we are called. (Holy Ghost conviction)

This the work of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit then freely gives us enough wisdom and prudence to understand God’s process of salvation.

It is only at this time when we have enough knowledge to make a right choice!

Prudence is the ability of judging what is the best choice.
Prudence is conforming to the rules of reason, truth and morality.
Prudence says, being blessed of God can come only by faith in the “Gospel” of Jesus Christ.

Those who have Spiritual wisdom are in the habit of being prudent!
Those who have worldly wisdom will usually make the wrong choice.

Therefore, it is so important to openly show or teach the word of the “Gospel” to those under Holy Ghost conviction!

God will give us enough understanding to know what to do.

Rom_12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

If not for this measure of faith we would never understand the mystery of God’s will!

What is God’s will? (It is certainly not what the Calvinist teach)

1Ti_2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

God will make this little mystery known before we make our choice.

*****Eph 1:9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

We should understand when we see the word mystery in the Scriptures, it will not be something mysterious and difficult to understand.

A mystery in the Scriptures is just something God did not show to the Old Testament Saints.

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

We already know that God is always on time, when the time came to unlock the truth that He was ready to reveal to humanity.

We know that Israel had rejected the idea that Jehovah would also be the God of Gentiles, so God put Israel aside until the fulness of the Gentiles would come to Him in what we call the “Church Age”.

Rom 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.

After the rapture of the Church God will return to deal with the salvation of Israel.

Israel had missed the first opportunity to know the redemption of Christ and we should be aware, that the cause of this was the false ministry of the leaders of Judaism of that day.

It is God’s will that everyone will be saved! This has not been the case of the past and will not be the case in the future.

There will always be those who reject the truth of God!

Jehovah God has an eternal purpose and plan for this world and it is His good pleasure to bring it about.

Why do we have so many that teach the Scriptures by dispensation? Verse 10

*****Eph 1:10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:

Some say the method according to which God carries out His purpose towards man is called a dispensation.

Others say God’s method of carrying His purpose is by His covenants.

The key to dispensation is maintaining a consistency in literal interpretation and maintaining a distinction between Israel and the Church.

The truth is, God has set seasons in which He will accomplish His will and His purpose!

Ecc 3:1 To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:

Ecc 3:17 I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

God has certainly appointed seasons of His will and purpose, just as He has appointed the Summer, the Winter, the Fall, and the Spring of each year.

God has an eternal purpose and plan for this world and He moves at His own pleasure and His own time.

God designs time as He sees fit to fulfill His purpose!

We are foolish to believe that God waits too long for certain things to take place!

We may totally understand the Word of God, but we will never know the seasons which He chooses to keep to Himself!

We must learn to be patient!

The truth is, there is coming a day when God will gather in one, all things in Christ Jesus!

Though “the rapture of the church” is a small part of this gathering, this is not speaking of the “Rapture” which will have already taken place.

Through the ”Gospel” we are first gathered individually and united with God through His Son.
God next gathers those individuals at His own pleasure, whether it be by age, or illness, or other means.
At the Rapture, God will gather all the “Body of Christ” that remain at His coming.
In the Millennial Kingdom, Christ will gather those who remain after the 7 years of Tribulation upon this earth.
At the end of this 1000 years, the fulness of time upon this earth, God will gather all things in Heaven and on this earth and place them in the New Heaven and the New Earth.

There will certainly be a climax to this world we live upon now!

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.

All these things will be gathered in Jesus Christ!

This world simply refuses to believe that world history lies in the hands of our Righteous God!

In this Scripture that word “dispensation” means stewardship, or better understood “house-management”.

We must realize that God has placed into the hands of Jesus Christ, the management of God’s Spiritual Household!

1Pe_2:5 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.

Our entire Cosmos, God’s creation, is as a house under the management of God and God has placed all these things into the hands of Jesus Christ!

When death and Hell have been removed and evil will be no more, a new and perfect world will be established for the Lord Jesus Christ and all His followers!

It is the Lords “spiritual house”, the Holy Ghost filled children of God who will join with the angels who elected to stay with Christ who will move on into an entirely new creation!

Until this time we are to go about the work God has given us to do through Christ!

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

We are all missionaries, if not one of these, for the work of the ministry!

*****Eph 1:11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

God lives in the eternal world, which we call Heaven and even Heaven will be made new.

God took only 6 days to create the heavens and the earth that now exist but what did Jesus say?

Joh 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
Joh 14:2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
Joh 14:3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Joh 14:4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

How wonderful will this new place be?

1Co_2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

We know that only God knows what we need for a life in eternity, so God foreordained what He would do, for those who had the faith to believe in His Son.

God has made each believer to be His own son or His own daughter and His own most cherished possession, (His jewels).

So, we must also realize that our everlasting joy is a free gift of God.

Certainly, God will always be God, but the New Heaven and the New Earth will be created for the pleasure of each believer.

Just as a father should for their own children, God has implied that He will protect, care for, improve and enjoy His inheritance as much as we will enjoy being with Him throughout eternity! Amen

The New Heaven and the New Earth will be perfect because a perfect God will have made all things perfect even the believer!

God does things as He pleases, and it has pleased God to do these things!

Who can we obtain such an inheritance?

Mar_12:30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.

Those who can love the Lord in this manner!

It’s called “faith”!

It is only by “faith” that we can believe!

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Amen!

LESSONS IN GOD'S WORD

Taking time to read the Bible

The Plan of God

Separated To the Lord

God Is Working Behind The Scenes of This World

Precious Memories in Perilous Times

God’s Plan is to Bless His Children

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