"The Right Place, The Right Message, The Right Time" for learning the "Good News" of Jesus Christ.
Consider what we say, and the Lord will give you understanding in all things...
The Ransom...Jesus gave his life. In Matthew 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Jesus gave his life: they didn't kill him. He gave his life. I am reminded of that during the Easter season when we have an Easter drama here at the church. And as the soldier took the spear to pierce Jesus' side, I thought about the blood and the water that came forth out of his side there that day.
BEING MADE FREE
That blood and that water has washed away the sins out of our life. You see, sin reigns in our mortal body. The only way to get free from that is through Jesus. Whom the Son hath made free, he is free indeed. So, if you want to be free, you have to accept Jesus Christ.
NOT EVERYONE FEELS THE SAME ABOUT JESUS
Now people that have been raised to know the Lord and have been taken to a Christian Church all their life may not think a whole lot about it. But not everybody feels the same way that a Christian does about Jesus Christ. Some people will tell you he was a prophet but they don't believe that he was anything else. Some don't really believe that he was the Son of God on earth.
WE HAVE HOPE OF ETERNAL LIFE
When Jesus Christ was hanging on the cross I'm reminded of the Centurion as the day got dark there, and Jesus gave up the ghost. He said, "Truly this was the Son of God." Well not just because that Centurion said it but Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from the earth I will draw all men unto me." That is when he was lifted up on that cross. It give us this hope because once he died and he resurrected, we have a hope of eternal life. So it is through his shed blood that we have the remission of sins.
In Romans 5:12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:.
Let me stop right there for just a second to explain what this ransom did.
OUR NATURAL LIFE WILL END
You see our natural life that we live in, it is going to come to an end. The Bible said in Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:.
The natural life is not really what he is speaking about here. The spiritual life is what we get from Jesus Christ with the ransom. The natural life and the death that passed upon all men, for all have sinned: death came by sin. When Adam transgressed the laws of God, we were all sold under sin. Romans 5:13 (For until the law sin was in the world: but sin is not imputed when there is no law. 14 Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over them that had not sinned after the similitude of Adam's transgression, who is the figure of him that was to come.
This death came upon the world. Our natural life is going to go away. Jesus didn't bring his natural life when he came. The ransom that he paid was for this death. Had he not had a reason to give his life, it would have been death without a cause. He took away the imputed part. We are not accounted for our sins when we come to Jesus Christ.
ABOUNDING GRACE
Romans 4:1 WHAT shall we say then that Abraham our father, as pertaining to the flesh, hath found? 2 For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God. 3 For what saith the scripture? ABRAHAM BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS COUNTED UNTO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. 6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works, 7 Saying, BLESSED ARE THEY WHOSE INIQUITIES ARE FORGIVEN, AND WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED. 8. BLESSED IS THE MAN TO WHOM THE LORD WILL NOT IMPUTE SIN.
The only way that we can do that is through the blood of Jesus Christ. The only way that our sins cannot be imputed where we don't have to give an account for our sins is through the blood of Jesus. Now, do we continue in sin that grace may abound? No, God forbid. We don't continue in sin just because the grace of God is there.
Are you bearing the marks of Jesus so the world can see Jesus in you? Our whole motive today is to lift hearts and to cause people to know that Jesus Christ is the Lord. Whether people want to admit it or not, there will be a day that every knee will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
THE GREAT MESSAGE
I want to get that message out to people before it is too late. If God has to bring his destruction in his wrath for you to see that then it is too late. So, we want people to know that Jesus Christ is alive. He came here, died, resurrected, and went back to the Father.
TRAITS
Most people have someone that they resemble or act like. I have traits like my granddaddy, and people tell me that I remind them of him. I was thinking about that, and I want people to see Christ in me.
My granddaddy was a great man of God, and a great man of faith. He believed that God was going to give him a home in heaven someday. That is what I believe.
BEARING THE MARKS OF THE LORD
I want to be like Apostle Paul when he talked about his body bearing the marks of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have Christ in your life then you ought to be happy about that.
PAUL WAS CONVERTED
In Galatians 6:14 reading down, Apostle Paul was speaking to these people about circumcision and how he had been converted. You know, a lot of people, they don't believe salvation through Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul, he believed in the law of Moses, and he live the straightest sect of religion...a Pharisee. But when he was converted, he was converted to Christianity...he was converted to Christ and not the law of Moses.
THE END OF THE LAW
When Jesus Christ came, he brought about the end of the law for those that believe. Today that is what Paul was talking about here. There was a lot of people that knew Paul from his early days where he had persecuted and wasted the Church of God. He had taken and crucified people even Stephen when he was accused. Saul at that time was there having him accused and standing for that. When he died, he was there standing for that.
SAUL
The Lord converted Saul as most of us may know. He was on his way to Damascus to bind all that called upon the name of the Lord. He had rich authority of the king. You see, just because the world has authority that doesn't mean God can't control. He had rich authority of the king to bind all that called upon the name of the Lord. As he was on his way, God shined a light down from heaven, and he fell to the earth. God chose this man to bring the light to the Gentiles and that is what Apostle Paul had been doing when he was speaking here.
GRACE PLAN
In Galatians 6:14, he is talking about how he had given the light of Jesus Christ in the grace plan that people didn't have to live according to the circumcision anymore. That is what Paul was preaching about here:
"But God forbid that I should glory,"...Now many people in the world, all they look for is their own glory, in their own ways and what they have obtained. And, we measure people by how much they own...for instance, how nice a car they drive or how big their house is or how much money they have in the bank...none of these things matter to God.
BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Matthew 6:33, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." All of God's possessions can be yours for the taking if you will only ask. God has given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness.
LAW OF MOSES
Paul was preaching and teaching these people about Jesus Christ and how they didn't have to live according to the law of Moses any more. He said, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, ". That was the only thing Paul wanted people to see.
There was a point in time in Paul's life when he and Barnabas had healed an impotent man later on in the Bible. The people thought that Paul was some great god, and they wanted to offer sacrifices upon Paul's behalf for what he had done...this man had been healed. Paul wouldn't have it, and he rent his clothes and went back to them and he told him, "I am a man of like passion as you are".
HONOR AND THE GLORY OF GOD BY THE CROSS OF JESUS CHRIST
He didn't want them offering those sacrifices for his glory in his praise. If there is any glory to be done, it is done to the honor and the glory of God by the cross of Jesus Christ. That is what he said there, "But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
This subject can be watched in its entirety by clicking on "A MOMENT OF TRUTH" with PASTOR STONEY KISER" titled "BEARING THE MARKS OF THE LORD- PART 1 via YOUTUBE.
"Consider what we say, and the Lord will give you understanding in all things."
This is not presented as a definition of the tithe, or as an explanation of the Tithing System. Those have been covered at length by other writers. At some point I may make references to the history of the tithe, only in so far as the reference has relevance to answer the question posed. The question presupposes that there are those who teach, preach, and believe that the New Testament Christian is expected or required to PAY tithes. This paper will answer this and other questions related to tithing.
1. The first mention in the Bible of the tithe was when Abraham gave a tenth to Melchizedek.
Genesis 14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.
Note two things; Abraham did not PAY, he GAVE!
The Law wasn't given to Moses for another 450 years!
2. God intended the tithe for the Levitical priesthood.
Numbers 18:21 And, behold, I have given the children of Levi all the tenth in Israel for an inheritance, for their service which they serve, even the service of the tabernacle of the congregation.
The tribe of Levi had no inheritance. (No means of sustaining themselves.)
Their only concern was the Temple and its priesthood.
3. As the forerunner of Christ, John was the last prophet God used as the only oracle to speak to His people.
Luke 16:16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it.
As Gentiles were added to the church, they knew nothing of the Law of Moses. They could not be expected to observe laws they were unaware of.
4. Peter asked the sect of the Pharisees how they could expect Gentile converts to keep laws that neither them nor their fathers had been able to keep.
Acts 15:10 Now therefore why tempt ye God, to put a yoke upon the neck of the disciples, which neither our fathers nor we were able to bear?
The Pharisees were trying to impose a standard they themselves could not keep.
5. Paul tells the Romans and us that believers have a new covenant between God and His people.
Romans 10:4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.
Christ is the end or fulfilling of the law.
6. Here we see the difference between the new and old covenants.
2 Corinthians 8:1 MOREOVER, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Mac-e-do'-ni-a; 2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. 3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; 4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints. 5 And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
The Macedonians first gave themselves to God and the ministry.
7. Paul begins to outline the principles for New Testament giving.
1 Corinthians 16:1 NOW concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Ga-la'-ti-a, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.
Consistent, faithful giving.
Offering Plate Example
8. This is the essence of New Testament giving.
2 Corinthians 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. 7 Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.
Cheerfully!!
Envelope for Donation Insertion Example
9. Luke for the first time in the New Testament describes the generosity and compassion of the new converts.
Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Jo'-ses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus,37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles' feet.
10. The Council at Jerusalem endorses and mandates the general precepts for the new believers.
Acts 15:22 Then pleased it the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to An'-ti-och with Paul and Barnabas; namely, Judas surnamed Bar'-sa-bas, and Silas, chief men among the brethren: 23 And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in An'-ti-och and Syria and Ci-li'-ci-a: 24 Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment: 25 It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, 26 Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 27 We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. 28 For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; 29 That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Notice, no mention of the tithe!!!!
(All verses are from the Kings James Version of the Bible.)
If we ever need to know anything, it is the
truth. And, the truth is that Jesus Christ is the Saviour. He is the
Saviour of the world. (Little) 1 John 2:1 said it like this, "My little
children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any
man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for our's
only, but also for the sins of the whole world." That is the truth.
Jesus Christ died for us to be saved.
MANY PEOPLE DO NOT BELIEVE JESUS AS A SAVIOUR
So many people in the world today does not
believe in Jesus as a Saviour. So many people think, perhaps he was
just a prophet or someone that was just born in the eastern part of the
world.
Friends, he came here born of a virgin Mary.
God caused him to be here. And, because of the truth we suffer a lot of
times. But, there is one good thing about it. Jesus said in Timothy
2: 12, "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him:"
If you truly believe in the Lord Jesus as your
Saviour, there is something greater for you than what the world is going
to receive. That greatness is the goodness of God.
God made a covenant before and to Abraham, Isaac
and to Jacob. God made a covenant with the children of Israel. God
has made a covenant with you. He has made a promise to you today. If
you will do his commandments, you can have everlasting life.
BECAUSE OF THE TRUTH, WE SUFFER
Because of the truth, we suffer persecutions.
We suffer loss of friendship. People perhaps who were our friends at
one time may turn their backs on us when we turn to God...when we turn
to Jesus. That is nothing new. Jesus said, "If the world hates you, it
is because they hate me."
If you love the Lord and you turn your heart and
life over to Jesus Christ because of the truth, you will have to
suffer. You will have to go through life laying down the filth of the
flesh and suffer for his sake.
LOVE THE ONE AND DESPISE THE OTHER
I want to take my text in Saint John 8:31, "Then
said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my
word, then are ye my disciples indeed;" 32 And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free. That sounds awful good and easy.
What is it that he makes you free from? Many people want to claim that
they can hold onto the world with one hand and to God under the other
arm. You see people walking around with a bible. I used to hear the
preacher say, "They've got the bible tucked under one arm, and the world
under the other." We can't go that way. You have to either love the
one and despise the other or cleave to the one and hate the other.
You can't walk with Jesus Christ
and like the elements of the world.You
can't have the pleasures of this world.I think about Moses when his mother went and hid him.You know Pharaoh was out to kill all the
children there.She had went and hid
Moses in the flags of the river. The bible said that he was raised in the
house of Pharaoh but he chose rather to suffer the affliction when he became of
years.
THE WAY OF SUFFERING
In Hebrews 11:24,''By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God,".
There is suffering that we have to do because of
the truth. Because of what God has put in his word, you are going to have to suffer.There are going to be people that won't have
much to do with you anymore.Don't think
strange about that.That is just a trial that
you will have to go through.You will be
tempted.You will have times that you
will want to go back and do the things that you did when you were in sin.Those things will come to you.
Satan will try to
destroy you and cause you to want to go back into those things. But, just as
Moses chose rather to suffer those afflictions with the people of God than to
enjoy the pleasures of sin for that season (it just a very little time)... the more we get into this, you will understand what I am talking about
when I say it is just for a season...in just a little time because the
covenants of God are forever.They are everlasting forever and ever.God's promises are true but Moses chose
rather to suffer those afflictions with the people of God than to enjoy the
pleasures of sin for a season.
YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH
Now, I want to get
on into St. John 8:32 (Jesus said), "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free."33 They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of
sin.I will ask you today…what are you
serving?Who do you serve?What do you look to?What is Lord of your life?Is Jesus Christ Lord of your life? John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth,
and the life: no man cometh unto the
Father, but by me.
The only way you can
get to God is through Jesus Christ, and you have to obey his word.You have to obey the truth.This truth that we are talking about is a way
of suffering.It is a way of laying the
filth of the flesh aside.It is a way of
knowing how you ought to live and living according to God in the spirit.
WHAT IS LORD OF YOUR LIFE
What is Lord of your
life today?Does sin reign over
you? Does sin cause you to do things
maybe that you are ashamed of?Is your
life full of sin that causes you not to want people to come around at certain
times because you are afraid of what they think about you?
If so, let Jesus
come into your heart.Let the truth come
into there, and believe him.Believe that he is the way of salvation...of deliverance.Jesus is the way. I want to read the 34th verse again.
34 Jesus answered
them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of
sin. 35 And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth
ever.The 36th verse says, "If the
Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
GOD CAN MAKE YOU AN OVERCOMER
When Jesus Christ
does something…when God does something, you don't have to worry about it.He can cleanse you.He can make you whole.He can make you to where the filth and
the things that you lived in your life, (the things that you just couldn't seem
to lay aside), he can make it to where
you can overcome those. But, only through him. I think about what the Lord
said that through God…Acts 17:28 "For in him we live, and move, and have our being;". It is
God that allows us to do the things.
I have quoted this
many times, Job 12:10 "In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of
all mankind."When I was a child I used
to hear the pastor say it kinda like this, "All God has to do is snap that brittle thread
of life of yours, and it is over for you."
Man is as the flower of the grass.His time is short and then it witherth
away.
LIFE IS BUT A VAPOR
Our life is but a
vapor and if we don't take that truth of Jesus Christ and apply it to our
heart, they is nothing I could say here today that will help you.If you don't accept the word…if you don't
accept the truth and know within yourself that God is in your heart and in your
life… that Jesus Christ is in you…that your life is hid with Christ in God…if
you don't get to that place, nothing I say is going to do you a bit of
good.All that it is going to do is bind
the tares.And, we don't want to be in
that crowd.
We want to be in that part
where he said that we would shine forever.That the righteous would shine as the sun in the kingdom of the Father
forever.If you will, listen to this
preacher today.Lay aside the filth of
the flesh.Come to Jesus.
Matthew 11:28 Jesus said,
"Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you
rest.There is rest from the sin that
you are in.There is rest from that and
today if you do know the Lord as your Saviour, (Galatians 4:12) Brethren, I beseech you, be as I am; for I am as ye are: ye have not injured me at all. 13 Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first. 14 And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus. 15 Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it hadbeen possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me. 16 Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth?
DON'T GET ANGRY WITH THIS PREACHER
Today, if I am speaking to
you as a sinner...if you are living in sin, and you haven't laid it aside please don't get angry with this
preacher for telling you this.I don't
want to become your enemy because I tell you the truth.I want to speak this to you in love because I
want you to make it to heaven.I have
set my goal to go to God's heaven and that is where I intend to go.God made this earth when he put Adam
here.He didn't intend for man to have
to till the ground and sweat the way he does today.He didn't intend for the woman to have to
bear the children with pain.None of
those things would have happened.
God had a perpetual
mist to come up and make the earth to grow, and that would have been awesome but Adam listened to his wife, and his wife
listened to the devil.And, that lie that he
told caused sin upon the earth.
BY THE OBEDIENCE OF ONE SHALL MANY BE MADE RIGHTEOUS
Romans 5:19 For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.Today, that is what I want you to have.I want you to have that righteousness.I want you to have that peace, that love, and
that joy that Jesus Christ gives us.
Even in Christ Jesus we suffer but it is a glorious suffering because
the suffering of this present time is not worthy to compare with the glory that
shall be revealed in us. When Jesus Christ comes back to this earth, things will be worth it all.It will be worth it all after a while.
May God bless you is
my prayer.Let this word find a resting
place in your heart.
In Matthew 3:9, "And think not
to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto
you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto
Abraham".
God had made a promise to Abraham that he would be heir of the world. Romans 4:13 "For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith."
One of my favorite passages is Genesis 13: 14, "And the Lord said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: 15 For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever."
SALVATION
Why is that such an integral part of my life? It is because that is what salvation is all about. It is about the promised land that God has given to us. Galatians 3:29 And if ye be Christ's, then are ye Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. That promise today is not just to the natural seed of Abraham but it is to us the Gentiles. That is what John was saying right there in the ninth verse. He said, (Matthew 3:9 - I'll read the last part) "for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones (these stones had a "s") to raise up children unto Abraham." The first part: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father:
Just because they were the natural seed of Abraham didn't mean they were the only ones that were going to receive that because he said, "God is able of these stones"...these stones were the Gentile race. Thank God for that.
IT ALL CAME THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST
Where would we be if God had not turned to us. It all came through the blood of Jesus Christ. God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. Verse 10, "And now also the ax is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. 11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, (speaking of Jesus Christ) whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:.
What John did was only unto repentance. What Jesus did was to cleanse us. When we repent we can actually be cleansed. Everything can be washed away. Thank God for Jesus Christ.
You know, God had blessed Job with many blessings in life. It was amazing the things that Job had. Job was a perfect man and was upright. Job 1:1, "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
HOW TO GET GOD'S BLESSINGS
If you want God's blessings, Job Chapter 1:1, will let you know how you can get them. You've got to be an upright person. Proverbs 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. That is what we want to be is perfect with God. The only way we can do that is through Jesus Christ and by the baptism of the Holy Ghost.
Back to these stones, Job had went through a lot in life. Everything that he had to suffer, all of the pains that he suffered was a lot. He had lost a lot of his family. He lost a lot of his blessings that he had. God had given him many sheep, the camels were about three thousand. He had five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses and a very great household. He had a lot in his life but there was some destruction that came Job's way. He lost all of his children. He lost all of his cattle, sheep and the houses that they lived in.
He had gotten to the point that he just wanted to die. He wanted God to take him out.
FRIENDS TRIED TO CONSOLE JOB
Three of his friends actually tried to console him but one in particular, El'-i-phaz came and brought him encouragement. This is what he told him in Job 5: 17 - 24...Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty: 18 For he maketh sore, and bindeth up: (you can see he was trying to tell him that God might take this away,and you may be going through a problem today) he woundeth, and his hands make whole. 19 He shall deliver thee in six troubles: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. 20 In famine he shall redeem thee from death: and in war from the power of the sword. 21 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh. (this man was about to tell him something very special.)
22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. 23 For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field: and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with thee 24 And thou shalt know that thy tabernacle shall be in peace; and thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.
I hope the verse (23 "For thou shalt be in league with the stones of the field:" has captured your attention. This "league of the stones of the field"...he was in a certain group that was called for a certain purpose.
From Part 2 of "These Stones" with Pastor Stoney Kiser
God had told Abraham
that his seed would be heir of the world. I believe that is where
heaven will be when it is all said and done. He said he would take the
curse off of the earth and that the throne of God would be in it. So,
if you want to make heaven your home...you need to be heir of the world.
You need to be joint heirs with Christ.
You people that are teaching and preaching that Jesus is coming back here and set up a Kingdom are preaching false doctrine and misleading good honest people. I am taking this matter to heart. I am going to set forth in this little book to prove my statement is true. Daniel 2nd Ch., 44th verse: "And in the days of these kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed: and the kingdom shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever."
This was speaking of the four world-wide kingdoms that ruled in succession before the days of Christ. The Chaldean Kingdom, Persian Medes Kingdom, Grecian Kingdom, and the Roman Kingdom which was ruling when Jesus was born. Luke 2nd Ch., 1st verse: "And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed." You know according to what you see now that the world-wide kingdom has been destroyed. There was a natural kingdom that ruled the entire world when Jesus was born. There is no natural kingdom ruling the whole world at this present time. There isn't but one world-wide kingdom now and this is a spiritual kingdom. This kingdom came on the day of Pentecost and it will stand forever.
You will find in Luke 11th Ch., 21st-22nd verses, "When a strong man armed keepeth his palace, his goods are in peace: But when a stronger than he shall come upon him, and overcome him, he taketh from him all his armor wherein he trusted, and divideth his spoils." You know this strong man has been bound and his spoil has been divided. The spiritual kingdom is what did the job.
In Matthew 3rd Ch., 1st-2nd verses, "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Ju-dae'-a, 2 And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." "Is at hand" doesn't mean two thousand years in the future. Matthew 4th Ch., 17th verse, "From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." Mark 1st Ch., 14th-15th verses, "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
When you honest people read what I have to say don't you begin to try and hold on to the theory that the kingdom is yet to come in the future, because this is false doctrine.
Luke 16th Ch., 15th-16th verses: "And he saidth unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it."
If you are honest at heart you are bound to confess that what I have written is the truth. Ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free. Luke 17th Ch., 20th-21st verses, reads like this: "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."
It is a strange thing to me that with the word of God to go by so many people that claim to be right are going contrary to the word. The Pharisees are still looking for the kingdom to come. They are looking for something that can be seen with their natural eye. You can't see the kingdom of God; it doesn't come by observation. It is within the saints of God. All you can see is the fruits they bare. The real saint of God abstains from all the appearances of evil. You know there aren't many on this earth that do this. This is the reason there won't be many saved. Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, that leadeth unto life; and few there be that find it.
St. John 18th Ch., 36th verse: "Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence." I know all you people that have your life in the natural kingdom would like for Jesus to rule a natural kingdom. But His kingdom is not of this world. He told you He was no more in the world. You people that are looking for a natural kingdom to be ruled by Jesus Christ are sadly mistaken. You will accept the man of sin as your lord. As you will find in II Thessalonians 2nd Ch., 4th verse, "Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he, as God, sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God."
Jesus is not coming back to this earth until after this man of sin brings all false religion under his rule. The Lord will destroy him by the sword of his mouth and by the brightness of His coming.
Romans 14th Ch., 17th verse, "For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." The Lord has told you in His word that the Holy Ghost was not a natural thing. Are you righteous? If so, this is what the Holy Ghost is. Have you got peace? If you have, this is what the Holy Ghost is. Have you got joy? This is what the Holy Ghost is.
If you haven't got these things, don't claim to have the Holy Ghost. The Lord never sent the Holy Ghost into the world to trouble you, but to comfort you. Jesus said, "Whatsoever house you enter in, if the son of peace be there let your peace remain, and heal the sick that are therein. If the son of peace be not there let your peace return."
St. John 14th Ch., 27th verse: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither be afraid."
You people surely can see from all these things I have written that I am trying to show honest people the truth. I can't make you believe, but trust you will consider what I have said and the Lord will give you understanding.
*All verses are from the King James Version Bible.
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From the Little Book Titled:
NOTICE TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
By C.T. Pratt - Founder of the Church of God of the Union Assembly
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