Bro Gary Weds PM 3/30/11

Bro Gary Weds PM 3/30/11

Revelation 4:11 KJVR

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

The preceding verses describe God on His throne and liken Him to a red diamond.  I read that every six or seven years diamonds double in value.  Serving God and knowing His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit of God has brought us to a position where we can say, “Sweeter gets the Journey Every day.” 

Wingate song– “When I first heard of Jesus …”  

When we first heard, we didn’t have much of a concept of God.  As we serve Him we realize again and again that He is of yet more value.

The scripture describes God on His throne in His beauty, power, and strength; surrounded by a rainbow vibrant in color.  There are seven colors to the rainbow.  The red has an ardent glow for you and me, the orange, the green, the yellow, the indigo, and violet.  We see God on His throne with the promises of Jesus Christ surrounding Him.

About the throne was the sea of glass and in Rev 15 you see the 24 elders on the sea of glass.  The Holy Spirit of God is there and God’s people stand on the open word of God.  We want to always see ourselves and the snares.  We not only want to see the snares, but we want to know the answers to the snare.  

Many people are packing around the trap that the enemy has got them in.  They drag it along and it has crippled them; yet they don’t get to the Spirit of God that will loose them.  Thanks be to God for the Holy Spirit of God that will illumine our path.

God wanted us to know that the Church is alive.  As we sang, my heart hurt to think of How God was dealing with DO Teasley. (Page 140 in the Evening Light)

Sing my soul and all within me, sing until the clouds remove
Witnessing unto my spirit that the Lord our God is love.

– He didn’t have to go the way he went.  God gave him song after song and tried to help him.

When the enemy comes to lead us away from Christ, remember that you don’t have to go that way.  

I thank God for my forefathers, for people that have stood true to God.  Thank God for those that when the enemy said that there was no way out and they might as well give in said, “I’m not going to do it.”

I think of Abraham and when his nephew was in Sodom, he interceded.

Many interceded for us, some in the thought of future generations.  Don’t you fail to intercede for the one that you are burdened for.  There is nothing impossible with God.  Let us intercede for souls, let us have God real and alive in our midst so that when we are gone there will be those that have come into our midst and had God witness that He is real and alive to them.

There were seven lamps burning.  As many times as the Holy Spirit of God has been grieved, men and women have done despite to the grace of God.  It is wonderful that the Holy Spirit of God is alive today and witnessing to the hearts of the redeemed.  Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God.  Let the Holy Spirit of God lead you and gently check you when you find yourself going down the wrong path in your mind or your actions.  It is trying to gently check you as you would gently check a child.

There were living creatures that had eyes and wings.  We need to have an attitude that “God if you will grant me discernment then I will only use it to help souls.”  We need to have discernment to know what is working on us first.  Discernment is not suspicion.  It is the eye of the Holy Ghost witnessing that “That is not right.”

These living creatures had wings.  May God help you and me to be willing to go anywhere if He leads us.   May we be willing to go to the down and out and anywhere that God is leading.  There will be those that will make us uncomfortable; we don’t need to be afraid to go where he is leading.

We need boldness to come before God to ask a miracle of God.  He whom we are requesting of is abundantly able.  A lion has a desire.  God created each of us with a desire for God, a desire for souls, a desire to edify and to be edified.  

The calf represents labor and sacrifice.  

1 Thessalonians 1:3-4 KJVR

(3)  Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

(4)  Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

At this exact season the church at Paradise is involved in a work of faith.  Whether the brochure is accepted or rejected, we are looking to God to work.  We came to church by faith; we’re expecting God to meet with us.  

It was a work of faith to pray this morning.  It didn’t matter how we felt when we woke up; we prayed and read the scripture.  It was a work of faith in God. 

A labor of Love has a fragrance, a spice, and an atmosphere, a taste that is altogether different than a forced labor.  The attitude of God is: I love you and I love souls.  I’m preparing this lesson, this meal, writing this letter, helping the saints, out of love.  God I want a word to speak from a heart of love.

A word from God is what I want.  If it is a word of encouragement then let it be out of love.  If it is a word of warning, let it be out of love.  A lot of things have happened in this region that make us feel responsible to warn people.  There is a line that can be crossed.  You may think that God would never turn anyone away.   Let me tell you the other side of that: People get themselves in such a shape that they cannot get to God.  

We’ve all had someone speak a word of warning to us.  “Be careful there.”  It takes sacrifice and work on the speaker’s part.

God help us to have the work of faith, the labor of love and patience.

Among the four living creatures that John saw was the face of a man.  It is a deliberate choice for mankind.  There are many people that say, “Oh I love Jesus.”  We make a deliberate choice not only to say it but to do and keep our self clear.  

We make a deliberate choice to seek God for wisdom.  Jesus taught us to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.  It is a deliberate choice to let God lead us, to not only read but to study the word of God.

The flying eagle represents among other things having a vision.  God give us a vision.  It also represents having renewed strength.  When you get tired, don’t get under any accusations, get under the sunlight and let God renew and refresh you.  

An eagle is a storm handler.  It either goes through the storm or it allows the storm to raise them above.  May we know how to not allow the storm to handle us but we handle the storm.  We get to the chosen destination whether we go through or rise above the storm.  

The eagle is a marvelous teacher; it teaches its young to fly.  God help us to be good teachers.

Revelation 4:7-8 KJVR

(7)  And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

(8)  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

Revelation 4:9-11 KJVR

(9)  And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

(10)  The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

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

Bro Gyme Sunday Night Bible Study – The kingdom of God – 3/27/11

Bro Gyme Sunday Night Bible Study – The kingdom of God – 3/27/11

The Word of God will ever be the same throughout eternity.  When you begin to serve God it brings stability because He is always the same.

We did a lesson in Salmon, Idaho and I started with where we came from.  Grandma and Grandpa Kelly were called out of Babylon.  They didn’t come out to an organization.  They came out to start a work.  I’m blessed because I’ve been a recipient of those benefits.

Revelation 2:11 KJVR

(11)  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.

What my Grandparents saw that they didn’t like where they were was men taking over the church.  When men begin to take over the church then it leaves God out of it.  The people there came to my Grandpa and said, “Doris no one believes like you do.”  He said, “There are seven thousand that have never bowed their knee to Baal.  I just don’t know where they are.”

The Word of God always lines up with the Spirit of God.  The question is not whether God talking to us; the question is whether we are willing to listen.

1 Peter 2:9 KJVR

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

John 1:9-12 KJVR

(9)  That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

(10)  He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

(11)  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

(12)  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

When we come to the light, to the truth of the word of God, He gives us power to become the son’s of God.

We must be born again.

John 3:2-5 KJVR

(2)  The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.

(3)  Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

(4)  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?

(5)  Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.

This birth is a spiritual birth not a literal birth because we are born into a spiritual kingdom.

Ephesians 5:26 KJVR

(26)  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,

This scripture shows that we must be born according to the scripture, this birth includes a washing according to the Word.  We must gain entrance to the kingdom of heaven how the word of God says; we will never enter in any other way than the Bible way.  It doesn’t make any difference what kind of organization people belong to or how many people agree with them. The only thing that will make us a part of the kingdom of God is obeying what the Word of God says.

Luke 3:2-5 KJVR

(2)  Annas and Caiaphas being the high priests, the word of God came unto John the son of Zacharias in the wilderness.

(3)  And he came into all the country about Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins;

(4)  As it is written in the book of the words of Esaias the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

(5)  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low; and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth;

God will make a way for us so that we can receive the kingdom of God.  God will take out of the way the things that would hinder us from getting saved.

The baptism of repentance (verse 3) – baptism is a type of cleansing.  Repentance is how we receive cleansing from God.  We must repent in order to receive the cleansing from God.

God did not desire to see any lost.

2 Peter 3:9 KJVR

(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.

God has made a way that all could be saved.  There is not any that need be lost.  

This is a spiritual kingdom.  

Luke 17:20-21 KJVR

(20)  And when he was demanded of the Pharisees, when the kingdom of God should come, he answered them and said, The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:

(21)  Neither shall they say, Lo here! or, lo there! for, behold, the kingdom of God is within you.

Acts 2:47 KJVR

(47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

There is no book that your name can be in or the hand of a certain person that you can shake that will add you to the church of God.  There is no one that can add you to His church other than God.  And the blessing is that no one can take you out except God.

Matthew 4:17 KJVR

(17)  From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.

When we repent, we come to God and say, “God I’m really sorry for all my sins and I want to turn from them.”  Your heart desire is to never return to the life of sin again.

If you are just giving “lip service” then you know somewhere in your heart and mind that you’re going to go back out and return to the life you’re repenting of.

2 Corinthians 7:10 KJVR

(10)  For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.

When God cleaned me up, I didn’t have an emotional high.  I knew I was serious and God made a change.  People that just want a Band-Aid for how they are living and don’t want to change are not going to receive anything from God.  When we have godly sorrow and come to Him and repent, then He cleans us up.

Romans 14:17 KJVR

(17)  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.

This is a kingdom.  It has rules; God rules in this kingdom.  It has subjects; it has a head and that is Jesus Christ.  It is a spiritual kingdom; it is not a building or a location.  It is righteousness, it is peace, and it is joy in the Holy Ghost.

Galatians 6:15 KJVR

(15)  For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature.

It is being a new creature that lets you know you’ve gotten saved.  When I went to that altar and then got up, God changed me.  Old things passed away and all things became new.

2 Corinthians 5:17 KJVR

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

Salvation has 5 meanings: deliverance, help, safety, victory, and health

Luke 4:18 KJVR

(18)  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Do you remember what it was like to be a captive?  So many are in bondage to alcohol or sin of whatever kind, Jesus came to bring deliverance to the captives.

The world breaks people’s hearts, He was sent to heal the broken heart and to set at liberty them that are bruised.

1 John 5:4 KJVR

(4)  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

We can have righteousness that over comes the world and we can have peace.  The peace we receive only comes through salvation.

Hebrews 4:16 KJVR

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

I had the idea before I was saved that I got from watching those that I knew of the saints.  (I wanted to be like my grandma Kelly She was always happy.)  I thought that God’s people just have it easy and when I’m saved, I’m going to be on easy street.  

Life can be tough whether we’re saved or not saved. But we have help from God when we are saved.  God helps us through the difficult times so that we don’t have to be bitter but can actually be made more sweet by the tough things that we go through.

Psalms 12:5 KJVR

(5)  For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the LORD; I will set him in safety from him that puffeth at him.

3 John 1:2 KJVR

(2)  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

When we think of health we often think of healthy bodies.  The health salvation brings also means that we can be sound in our mind.  We can have healthy appetites.  We can have opinions that are free from any mixture of error.  God can help us to have a sound mind, sound emotions, be emotionally stable, and have help always.

2 Timothy 1:7 KJVR

(7)  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

2 Corinthians 10:5 KJVR

(5)  Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

It all comes down to obeying Christ.  God dealt with me when I got saved.  Because I was a babe in Christ, He fed me baby food.  He didn’t give me a hard teaching to figure out.  He told me that I needed to read my bible morning and night and I needed to pray.  

God doesn’t expect any more of us than what He shows us.  We don’t have to be worried about a bunch of rules when we get saved.  God has rules, He sets definite boundaries but he only gives us what we are able to take in.  He leads us and directs us, as He gives light He makes it simple.

As we read and pray and we have our devotions, He teaches us what we need to know.  We are not accountable to what He hasn’t shown us.  He is a faithful God.

Hebrews 5:8-9 KJVR

(8)  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

(9)  And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;

In order to stay saved, we must walk in the light that He shows on our pathway.  He is the author of salvation to all them that obey Him.

Sis Teri Sunday School 3/27/11

Sis Teri Sunday School 3/27/11

Matthew 5:14-16 KJVR

(14)  Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

(15)  Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

(16)  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Isaiah 62:1-3 KJVR

(1)  For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.

(2)  And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.

(3)  Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.

Can we say that we are that?  Individually can we look and see that we are a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord or is there something tarnishing that light?

Isaiah 62:6-7 KJVR

(6)  I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

(7)  And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.

Make mention of the Lord - We are the Lord’s remembrancers; we are to be a witness of Him to others and tell them of the Lord’s righteousness and of His power and of His salvation.  We need to carry the doctrine out to others and be willing to tell what may not be popular.  We also need to hear what the Lord has to say to us measure to it and not desire a watered down doctrine.  

Isaiah 62:8-10 KJVR

(8)  The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured:

(9)  But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness.

(10)  Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.

We need to gather out the stones, those things that are hindering us in our lives.  We cannot be sympathizing with those that have stones in their lives that need to be gathered out.  

Those things that have been there a long time and should not be there become comfortable and they hurt when they are removed.  Those stones are stumbling blocks and they weigh us down and block out the light.  We cannot have them there.  

Those stones are flesh; they are of the carnal man, they can be our own desires and ideas that are contrary to the word of God.  Flesh clouds the light.  It is like the suet that builds up on the glass of the lamp and makes it so that the light cannot get out as it should.

A “standard” in Strongs Concordance is defined as something lifted up; it is a flag that is rallied around in battle.  The Word of God is our standard.  Jesus said, “if I be lifted up, I will draw all men to me.”  Jesus is the Word of God. 

Isaiah 62:11-12 KJVR

(11)  Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.

(12)  And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.

Philippians 2:1-16 KJVR

(1)  If there be therefore any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies,

(2)  Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

(3)  Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.

(4)  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.

(5)  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

(6)  Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:

(7)  But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:

(8)  And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

(9)  Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

(10)  That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

(11)  And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

(12)  Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

(13)  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

(14)  Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

(15)  That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

(16)  Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

We need to be likeminded with Christ.  We need to carry the message out and if there is anything that hinders or takes a more important spot in our lives then we need to remove the stone.  

It is easy to submit to the pastor and the Word of God and the body when it is what we agree with.  When it crosses what we want, it is more difficult.  In our literal job when our boss tells us something that we don’t agree with, we cannot just go our own way and push past his direction.  By the same token, We must show forth the righteousness of God and have a vision of what God wants us to do.  As a servant, we cannot break rank and be disobedient to the Word of God.

Isaiah 2:2-5 KJVR

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

(3)  And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

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

(5)  O house of Jacob, come ye, and let us walk in the light of the LORD.

If we want to be a light to the world, we must walk in the light of the Word of God.

Matthew 4:23 KJVR

(23)  And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Matthew 28:18-20 KJVR

(18)  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

(19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

(20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

He gave us a command to go, but we don’t have to be alone; He promised to be with us.

There will be opposition.  Opposition doesn’t’ relieve us of the responsibility of going out and carrying the message.  

Eph 6:18  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;

Eph 6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

Eph 6:20  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

Paul wanted them to pray for all the saints and to pray for him too.

We are ambassadors for God.  An ambassador is sent from one country to another to help maintain communication and peace between the two countries.  We are here to make peace, to get people to be at peace with God.  Sin keeps people from being at peace with God.  We’re here to take the message of holiness to people so that they can be at peace with God.

Colossians 4:5-6 KJVR

(5)  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

(6)  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

As we go about our day, we need to always be ready to be a witness to those around us.  Our speech can be such a hindrance.  As we go about our day and things happen, we need to show forth Christ in all our actions and speech.  We don’t want to show forth the flesh.

1Pe 3:15  But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

1Pe 3:16  Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.

We want to be sure that any bad report of us that goes to others is a false report.  Live so that we can say in complete honesty that, “That is a false report.”

1 John 1:1 KJVR

(1)  That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;

It must be a personal testimony.  Our testimony must be our personal experience what we have seen, what we have looked upon, what we have handled.  This is what we must carry out to others.  We don’t want people to gather with us and lift us up; we want them to be children of God and a part of the family of God, the goal is to introduce them to the Father.

1 John 1:2-3 KJVR

(2)  (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

(3)  That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

John 4:28-30 KJVR

(28)  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,

(29)  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?

(30)  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.

John 4:39-41 KJVR

(39)  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.

(40)  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

(41)  And many more believed because of his own word;

She brought them to Jesus and they believed because of His Word.  We want people to get to God so that they know for themselves that this is true.  So that they experience for themselves what we’ve experienced and know that it is true.

Titus 2:11-13 KJVR

(11)  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

(12)  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

(13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

The Spirit of God has already talked to people; He is faithful.  They often don’t recognize why they are uncomfortable and dissatisfied with what they are doing or how they are living. 

Titus 2:13-15 KJVR

(13)  Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

(14)  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

(15)  These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

If people get offended by the truth, don’t let it silence you.  We cannot let it silence us, that is their only hope.  

Luke 24:44-49 KJVR

(44)  And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.

(45)  Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

(46)  And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:

(47)  And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

(48)  And ye are witnesses of these things.

(49)  And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

We need the Spirit of God working through us in order for us to carry this message out.  They were cowering in the upper room until the power of God came upon them.  When they received the Spirit of God they didn’t stay up in the upper room preaching and holding holiness meetings.  They went out and preached.  The Spirit of God was more powerful than the fear that they’d had before.

Mark 13:10-11 KJVR

(10)  And the gospel must first be published among all nations.

(11)  But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost.

We will not be successful in our own strength.

Streams in the desert 1, Feb 24^th
John 10:41 “John did no miracle but all things that John spoke of this man were true.”

John’s main business was to bear witness to the light. 

Be willing only to be a voice, heard and not seen, a mirror whose surface is not seen because of the glorious reflection of the light. 

At my death, I would prefer to have no great stone raised above my grave but simple souls gather and say, “He wrought no miracle but I was led to Christ through what he taught.”