Monday, September 30, 2013

Brother Davis Sunday Morning 9/29/13



Brother Davis Sunday Morning 9/29/13

The everlasting Gospel:

Rev 14:6  And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,
Rev 14:7  Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

It is no deep dark mystery.  The everlasting Gospel doesn’t have to be decoded for us or unraveled.  It was a bit clouded in the day of the prophets.  I sometimes wonder how much they understood of what they wrote that is so good to us.

Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

Sin taken care of is told clear back there.  It was proclaimed back there and attained clear down here.
Isaiah 55 is the same.

Thank God for the Gospel that was written clear back there.  It is still good news for you and for me.  I don’t know how much they were able to partake of back then.  Jesus when he came said, “I am the bread and the living water.  All you need in your heart I have for you.”

Whatever was mystery and what we needed to know, the gospel revealed.  Aren’t you glad that it is that way?

Eph 3:9  And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Thank God for that ‘which once was a mystery but now is revealed’.  It is not hid away or un-understandable, it can now be understood. 

I think of a co-worker that had an alcohol problem that asked if I could help him.  I thought it might be a plumbing problem that I could help him with.  I went to his house and he said, “I am not here for you to fix a pipe, I have a spiritual need.”  He was a kind of man that you would not even think would think of his spiritual man. 

I talked him into coming to my house and he was very much under the influence already.  My father-in-law and my mother-in-law were there and this man got right down and prayed.  As ignorant as he seemed to be, and as I thought he was, he knew that he had a spiritual need.  God speaks to hearts.

I appreciated the testimony that Brother Kinden brought this morning of how the enemy was determined to take his soul (thank God there were those that were burdened) and God brought him out.  Thank God for it.

I think of those that are privileged to be under the truth as a child.  As long back as I can remember there was no confusion as to what the Lord came for.  I well knew that there was a heaven to gain and a hell to shun.  Thank God for His mercy.  Justice could have shut me out but mercy intervened. 

I didn’t know anything about drugs or any of that but I was dirty, rotten, and no good inside.  The everlasting gospel is a gospel of mercy.

Eph 2:4  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

The grace and mercy of God! Thank the Lord!

Eph 2:6  And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

This is where we are this morning.  The fellowship that we have and can enjoy with those that are of like mind and heart, how good it is!

Peter addressed his letter to those that had obtained like precious faith.  Each one that has experienced salvation has like precious faith.  This good news of the gospel is ours to enjoy and to share.

It is human nature to want to pass on news, especially good news.  Paul got after some that were not carrying good news. 

If you use those modern ways of communication, then let it be good news.  You can call and say, “The Lord gave me this scripture today.  He brought this song to my mind this morning.”  And you can sing a bit to your neighbor.  Thank the Lord for good songs. 

Sister Marilyn gave me an old song book.  She took one song for a choir song and passed it onto me.  I sat down Wednesday and looked over about fifty songs and the next day did the rest of it.  I’m glad that singing has been forever a part of the worship of God. The first song that may have been registered is Moses’ song of deliverance.

I remember the first time that I heard, “He lifted me out.”  And we rejoiced in that song.  It wasn’t in the hymnal yet but in another book.  About four or five years after it was written I heard a duet sing it and it was a blessing clear back then and is today.  Every congregation where the good news is going forth we lift our hand to “He Lifted Me Out.”

“There Is Music in My Soul”, I thank God for that song.  Brother Bill Cornelison has taught his children and grandchildren to sing they set aside a day and they get together and sing. 

I had a recent battle with laryngitis again.  I couldn’t speak.  How glad I was when I had my voice back.  I love to sing.

I’m speaking of a gospel of mercy and grace:

Psa 86:5  For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

This is our God!  He is plenteous in mercy.  We think of a song that a sister in our congregation used to sing, “That is just like Jesus.” 

Psa 103:4  Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

God is so caring of us.  He did not have to do what He did for you and me, but thank God He did.

Psa 103:8  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

He doesn’t say, “If you hadn’t have been quite so bad…”  He is plenteous in mercy and forgives all.  How good it is to be forgiven and know that everything is under the blood.  How good that is!

Psa 103:11  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

1Pe 1:3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

We sing the song, “We have a hope in our soul.”  We sing it as we think of eternity.  This hope does a lot for us right here in this life too.  “According to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope…”

It is sad to think of how many there are that do not have a hope.  Brother Kale is moved anytime he hears of a suicide.  “Surely someone could have reached that soul.”

My hope is in God.

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;

It is not earned; it is not by works.  Thank God for His mercy.  The good works come after we are fixed up.  Holy living is something that our pastor stresses.  We can have a good message about what God has done and how righteous we are, but if it doesn’t do something for you personally right in your heart than what is it worth?  We have a righteous God and He made a way that we can be righteous.

A holy God will not accept something less from someone that is saying that they are serving God.  He says in His word, “Be ye holy for I am holy.”  It is not wrong to say, “Church of God, be like God.”

Tit 2:11  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

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.

Thank God for sending Jesus.  It is the best thing that happened for this world.  How we might explain the grace of God appearing to all, obviously we are expected to do what that verse says, live soberly righteously and godly in this present world.  We must mean business in serving God.

Thank God we can do it, we can be like Jesus if we will and we must be.

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.
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.

It is for everybody.  We are thankful for that.  We are also thankful for the power that the Gospel brings.  We read in Titus how we are supposed to live and thank God we can do it.

“You shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you.”  Some people are unseemly in how they want to demonstrate the power of God.  Paul said to do all things seemly, in order.  When Ananias prayed for Paul to receive the Holy Spirit, there was no such demonstration there.  It didn’t happen to Paul and it won’t happen for you and me.  It is power to live right and to live for Christ Jesus that God gives.  It is power through His strength.

1Co 1:18  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

Many people discount the gospel:  “That is for people that are weak that need a crutch.  It is not for real intelligent strong minded people, it is for others.”  Thank God it is for everybody.

Some, that think they have it all and have it together, down inside they don’t have it together and are so far from it.  So far, that some take their own life.  You hear their history and you wonder, “What was the problem?”  They didn’t have the Lord.

To us that are saved the preaching of the Gospel is the power of God: the power to live holy.  There is power in the blood.  Many like to sing the song, “Power in the Blood.”  Our version is a little different than the traditional one: 

There is power in the blood to save from sin,
To bring the peace of God where guilt has been. 
A new and happy life will then begin,
There is power in the blood of Jesus.”

A little farther in the song it says:

To save the soul to day, wash every sin away,
There is power in the Blood of Jesus.

The Word has specific instruction for how to receive it.  How often we say to a seeking soul, “Look right here.”  Open the bible to first John chapter one, “Look right here and read this:”

1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

He forgives that which is back there and cleans us up so there doesn’t have to be any more sin over here. 

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

How much is all?  All is all.  Thank God for it.  It is to any soul.  It is to that man that is so near death and has no doubt heard the gospel.  I am sure the family has heard the gospel.  I remember times when they heard.   God is faithful.  He speaks to hearts. 

Our cry to God often times is “Let them think about that back there when God spoke to their heart.”  My message and Brother Kelly’s message, your message as you go to friends and loved ones:

“There is help, there is hope.  Believe it and receive it.  If you don’t have the Lord or know that you are saved, you can know.”

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Brother Kale Neely Saturday Night 9/28/13



Brother Kale Neely Saturday Night 9/28/13
Jon 1:1  Now the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the son of Amittai, saying,
Jon 1:2  Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before me.
Jon 1:3  But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD, and went down to Joppa; and he found a ship going to Tarshish: so he paid the fare thereof, and went down into it, to go with them unto Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.
Jon 1:4  But the LORD sent out a great wind into the sea, and there was a mighty tempest in the sea, so that the ship was like to be broken.
Jon 1:5  Then the mariners were afraid, and cried every man unto his god, and cast forth the wares that were in the ship into the sea, to lighten it of them. But Jonah was gone down into the sides of the ship; and he lay, and was fast asleep.
Jon 1:6  So the shipmaster came to him, and said unto him, What meanest thou, O sleeper? arise, call upon thy God, if so be that God will think upon us, that we perish not.
Jon 1:7  And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.
Jon 1:8  Then said they unto him, Tell us, we pray thee, for whose cause this evil is upon us; What is thine occupation? and whence comest thou? what is thy country? and of what people art thou?
Jon 1:9  And he said unto them, I am an Hebrew; and I fear the LORD, the God of heaven, which hath made the sea and the dry land.
Jon 1:10  Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said unto him, Why hast thou done this? For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the LORD, because he had told them.
Jon 1:11  Then said they unto him, What shall we do unto thee, that the sea may be calm unto us? for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous.
Jon 1:12  And he said unto them, Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.
Jon 1:13  Nevertheless the men rowed hard to bring it to the land; but they could not: for the sea wrought, and was tempestuous against them.
Jon 1:14  Wherefore they cried unto the LORD, and said, We beseech thee, O LORD, we beseech thee, let us not perish for this man's life, and lay not upon us innocent blood: for thou, O LORD, hast done as it pleased thee.
Jon 1:15  So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.
Jon 1:16  Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice unto the LORD, and made vows.
Jon 1:17  Now the LORD had prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

Jonah was obviously a fugitive from God.  He was considered a righteous man and a prophet.  But he decided that he had better ideas than God, esteeming his own ideas higher than God’s.  There is no such thing. 
Gen 4:6  And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
Gen 4:7  If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
Gen 4:8  And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
Gen 4:9  And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother's keeper?
Gen 4:10  And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Gen 4:11  And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand;
Gen 4:12  When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.
Gen 4:13  And Cain said unto the LORD, My punishment is greater than I can bear.
Gen 4:14  Behold, thou hast driven me out this day from the face of the earth; and from thy face shall I be hid; and I shall be a fugitive and a vagabond in the earth; and it shall come to pass, that every one that findeth me shall slay me.
Gen 4:15  And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

We see here another fugitive from God.  “If you do well shall you not be accepted?”  This is the same for all of us.  Unrighteousness prevailed in Cain’s life so that God did not accept his sacrifice. 

What is the common thread between Cain and Jonah? their own way, the way of self and of sin.  If we harbor sin and the desires of self in our heart and exalt them above the desires of God then we are harboring a fugitive. 

The very people that are most active in holding up placards against some things that are wrong in the world, if there is sin in their heart, then they are a part of the cause.  Sin is gross.  It is ugly.  We don’t want it in any way exalting itself against God.  If we do then the outcome will be ugly.  Sin and self have a price. 

We would like to get this message out to this country.  There are people that think that they are helping things and are standing against gross wrongs but if there is sin in their hearts then they are a part of the problem.

God sits as a purifier of the sons of Levi.  That is his fixed position.  We are spiritual sons of Levi.  He is always sitting there purifying you and purifying me.  If there is ever a time that we decide that we don’t want to be purified, then we are harboring a fugitive. 

God knows what is right and good for us.  We trust Him.

We see a fugitive condition in people in the world today.  Whatever condition that people find themselves then it is a condition that comes from the heart. 

There are certain things that God has marked for the fire.  You may not know it yet because God will only reveal what you can handle.  He is fair that way.  What would it have done to us if as soon as we got saved He opened a big scroll for us that listed all the things that we needed to change?  It would have overwhelmed us. 

The way of the saint is progress.  It is uphill.  Never level.  If it is level then you are actually going down.  It is an upward way.  If we are harboring a fugitive then the gravity of that will take us down. 

We must fear because there are things that are destined for the fire.  If we relinquish them well, then our lives will be better for it.  If we harbor them then we are harboring a fugitive.  God‘s fire was never designed for us.  It was designed for the devil and his angels.  If we make ourselves a part of the devil’s design then we put ourselves in the fire.

Psa 66:18  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

If I sympathize with sin in any way then God will not bless me and He will not hear me.  Some in the world suppose that gain is godliness.  They think because of the outward gains they are blessed of God.  We cannot make such a supposition.  Godliness is godliness, nothing else.

We need to get rid of that fugitive and stay rid of it.

2Co 11:13  For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.
2Co 11:14  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
2Co 11:15  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

We know that regardless how people try to cover, hide, or minimize, if sin is in the heart then it will find its way out.  Usually it will find its way out of the mouth. 

Whoever is not gathering with me is scattering.  When does the divide come between gathering and scattering?  When we let the flesh have control. 

‘Of your own selves will some rise up and draw disciples after themselves.’  All I have to do to cause division is to draw disciples to myself and then I begin to go down and draw you after me.  It is just a step in causing division.

2Co 11:1  Would to God ye could bear with me a little in my folly: and indeed bear with me.
2Co 11:2  For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
2Co 11:3  But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.

He was concerned because they were vulnerable to accepting another gospel than was already given.  They wanted a gospel that would more or less leave them bound in their sin.

There are many times that the gospel comes across the pulpit very simply.  Doting about questions is a dangerous phenomenon that some do. The Gospel of Christ is very simple and crystal clear.  God’s chapter Romans 6 and Romans 8 are simple and clear.  Did you know that people are basing their experience not on those clear chapters, but on the one that is sandwiched in-between? 

Paul put chapter seven between these clear chapters for a reason.  He wanted people to know how it was when he was under sin.  It was not his testimony when he wrote it.  How could it have been when he wrote chapter six and chapter eight around it?  People will ride that chapter right to the judgment.  They think they have license because they can question. 

‘Lord, Lord didn’t we roll up our sleeves and work for you and in your name have drug rehabilitation and do this and that device in your name?”  He said, “I don’t know you.  You have done all these things but you have done iniquity.  You are harboring a fugitive.” 

Paul knew that it was bad in his time but hear how he addresses our times:

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2Ti 3:2  For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2Ti 3:3  Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2Ti 3:4  Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Denying what power?  the power to cleanse from all the above without exception.  If we deny that power it is as if we deny that Jesus even came.  He said, “It is finished.”  He defeated sin.  He defeats sin in every one of our lives if we accept His power.

This is the condition we see prevailing because people are harboring fugitives.  God wants all sin gone and He wants the saint perfected.  He wants us to come to that adult Christian state that He has for us.

Rev 18:1  And after these things I saw another angel come down from heaven, having great power; and the earth was lightened with his glory.
Rev 18:2  And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

The reason this is so is because seven women are taking hold of one man and saying, “Let us eat our own bread and wear our own apparel and only let us be called by thy name so that we are not called pagans which we are.”

We have pagans in our world today; they have sensuality right at the top of the list.  People are harboring these fugitives:  “I am doing so many things right surely they are balancing all these little things.” 

One fugitive will over balance all their sacrifices.  If the fire of God is absent, no matter how good what you do is; it is nothing.  Every good deed you do is defiled by the little foxes that spoil the vine and rob the fruit. 

We need not dote about that question.  We need not create questions.  The Bible is very clear:  Babylon is a refuge for sin among sympathizers to sin.  The state they are in is a state of being sinners. 

If we sympathize with sin we are partakers with sin.  This makes us a sinner.  If we have one sin we are under the power of then we are a sinner:  We are not a saint or a Christian, we are a sinner. 

Babylon is a refuge for fugitives among sympathizers.  This is why she is a hold for every foul and unclean spirit in the world.  If you have heard of something unclean then it is there.  There could be do-gooders that do good all around but if you have heard of something unclean then it is there. 

Babylon has become a harbor for fugitives.  We are living in perilous times but thank God we can still make it through.  All the devils in hell cannot stop us.

Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
Gal 1:9  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

There are a lot of people today that are accursed of God.  They are standing behind pulpits and yet are accursed of God because they are harboring a fugitive.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Notions and ideas whisper in the ears of the saints and are also false prophets.  You can sit right there in the pew and think, “He doesn’t know what he is talking about.” 

There are other forms of doting about questions, “The truth is grey and that cuts me slack.”  No it is not and no it doesn’t.  The truth still holds us to the straight and narrow way and we can still make it. 

Those among truth are generally not persuaded away by people but instead by a notion.  “Believe not every spirit but try the spirits.” 

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
1Jn 4:4  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

If you deny that Jesus accomplished what He came to accomplish than you are denying Him.  If you say that He cannot cleanse you of something than you are denying Him.

We had a casualty to reason in our congregation.  They listened to a very seemingly reasonable voice that reasoned so well that it reasoned them right out of His plan of salvation.  That person did not try the spirits.  That spirit was not confessing Christ. 

To a seemingly lesser degree a spirit can come and say, “The pastor preaches deliverance from all sin but I have this in my life that I cannot seem to get the victory over, I guess I will just live with it.”  That is the same spirit of antichrist and will end you in hell.

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

We would like to have every person in this nation hear this verse.  Sin is not a necessary evil.  If that is so in any degree then Jesus died in vain.  I don’t believe it a bit.

Luk 1:72  To perform the mercy promised to our fathers, and to remember his holy covenant;
Luk 1:73  The oath which he sware to our father Abraham,
Luk 1:74  That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Luk 1:75  In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.

Anything less than this is a reproach.  We need not live under that reproach.

Pro 28:13  He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.

Thank the Lord for those that will not cover the fugitive but will confess and forsake.  They are blessed.  The more individuals you have taking this action the more blessed the nation.

Heb 3:13  But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

People come among us and confess holiness and seem to say and do all the right things.  Yet there is a friction and religious pride there.  Selfish pride in any form is sinful and divisive.

Pro 6:27  Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned?
Pro 6:28  Can one go upon hot coals, and his feet not be burned?
Pro 6:29  So he that goeth in to his neighbour's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent.

This goes for any sin.  Sin is sin and it defiles.  We can relinquish that sin thank God.

Gal 5:24  And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

Thank God when we got saved we did away with that sin.  We realized that we were no longer serving sin but were going to serve the Lord.  We were made a new creature and were able to perform to a degree the will of God.  We came to realize that we needed to be sanctified to continue to live it.

Rom 13:14  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

After we are saved and sanctified then there will be occasions that we are given the opportunity to follow the flesh.  God saves from sin and is able to keep from sin.  Thank God that there is not only grace for salvation but also grace to be kept. 

A man that swears to his hurt and changes not.  When I came to the Lord for justification I swore to my own hurt in this form, “I’m not going back to the lust of the flesh.  No more of the treats that stink, only the treats that the Lord gives me.” Then I came to the Lord for sanctification.  There again I swore to my own hurt and I am not changing. 

I have sworn to the hurt of this flesh and I am not going to change.  God honors that.

Php 3:7  But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.
Php 3:8  Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,
Php 3:9  And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Php 3:10  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;
Php 3:11  If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Php 3:12  Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Php 3:13  Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Php 3:15  Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Anything that would exalt itself against the knowledge of God I have cast down by the grace of God.  I have sworn to my own hurt and I will not change.  I will lay those things off.

What we think is good, our own righteousness, is wood, hay, and stubble and it will burn.  It is my own righteousness. 

His resurrection is powerful.  The power that can cause Jesus to rise from the dead can raise us to new life.  It is powerful.  The life we now live is by the grace of the Son of God.

This one thing I do:  this is the policy and mind frame that we must all have.  Paul had a past that he put away when he left sin.  He was talking about anything that he needed to put away. 

Who am I and who is God?  How do I compare to God?  We must know these vital truths.  This is what the Spirit of God makes clear:  Kale, there is a bit of impatience that comes to the surface.  I am sitting as a refiner; I am going to scoop it out. 

He sits right next to you, a privilege.  He puts on the fire and the dross comes up and he takes it out.  “This impatience is a residual from the old man, get rid of it.” 

“I press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.”  God is there to reveal if there is any way that we have that needs to go.

People find new truths that take away from the Gospel plan.  This is not the Gospel way.  The Gospel builds upon itself.  Any so called truth that comes along that causes us to not walk according to the same rule is not a truth.

2Co 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

There are always conditions to be met and a part that we play:  “Come out from among them.”  If it has been our habit to get rid of anything that is revealed as unclean, then we are blessed.  If there is ever a time that we put a question mark where God has put a period then we are defiled.  If they are bad then they are bad if they are defiled then they are defiled.  We can be a child of the king!

2Co 7:1  Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

It is either to perfect holiness or to be consumed by the flesh.  The way of the saint is always onward and upward.  We never hit a plane. 

Son 2:14  O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock, in the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet is thy voice, and thy countenance is comely.

God designed that there be such intimacy between Him and his people that we are beholding Him and He is beholding us. 

1Jn 3:2  Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
1Jn 3:3  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

If we haven’t been in the habit of conforming and walking in the light all along then there will be no miracle that happens at death. 

We need to be in the habit of crying out to God, “Search me O God and lead me in the paths of righteousness.”

Son 2:15  Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines: for our vines have tender grapes.

The fruit of the Spirit is rare in the world, not among the saints.  The saints are rare.  The fruit is to be guarded jealously.  Get the foxes out of your life.  Take care of that fruit.

Any little foxes that would spoil our fruit or our progress as saints we want to purge out.  What you don’t purge yourself of will become an idol.  If you don’t relinquish what He says to relinquish then you are putting that thing in His place.  Nothing is worth that, nothing.

It amounts to making provision to the flesh.

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.

The lord is rehearsing the last day and everyone that has a King James Bible in this land can be warned.  He is faithful.  If He said that only those that do His will, will be in the Kingdom of Heaven then it must be possible.  Otherwise this is an unfair passage.

Many:  if He said many than it must be many. 

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.

‘Prophesied’ means preaching and teaching.  The question comes down to: Who knows whom and how?  Does God know you?  The question is not: Do you know God?  You say you know God; does He really know you?  You say, “I know Him to the point of salvation.”  Does God know you to the point of salvation? 

People will say, “I know you; we have been rolling up our sleeves and working like troupers.”  He says, “I don’t know you like you say that you know me.  Depart from me you that work iniquity.” 

If people would take that to heart and realize, “I am not going to heaven because I am harboring iniquity in my heart.”  I hope that you decide to be on the right hand, because you don’t want to be on the left hand.  You can be on the right hand.

There have been those that sit right in the church of God pews and are harboring a fugitive.  They may have been saved, but there came along something that whispered in their ear and they took on a notion and soon were harboring a fugitive. 

Heb 12:25  See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:

These are heavenly sayings.  I can have a new creature experience so that I just want to do what is right.  I don’t have to corral the carnal nature.  What are we doing with these things?  If they did not escape how shall we escape?  We don’t want to cut any corner do we?

Heb 12:26  Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.

He is shaking up heavenly places.  He is shaking His people.  He wants to shake any earthly baggage that we may have off of us. 

Heb 12:27  And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb 12:28  Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
Heb 12:29  For our God is a consuming fire.

We may every one have the kind of grace it speaks of in verse 28.  We can all have the grace whereby we each may serve God acceptably.  Our God is a consuming fire.  Our righteous God created hell for the enemy and his projects.  If we make our self the project of the enemy then whose fault is it if we burn in the fire?

If we accept God’s judgment than all that is hindering us will be shaken off of us.  If we reject it then what God prepared for the dross will be our eternal destiny.  To be wise is to make right decisions to the best of our ability.  May God help us each to be wise and do so.