In Spirit and in Truth

About the Author

Diane Jurino is a Spirit-filled Christian who resides in Erie, Pennsylvania. She is the mother of three grown children, and four grandchildren. Her professional background is in Copywriting, Sales, Advertising, and Marketing. She has developed and conducted custom training courses in Human Relations, Communications, Personal and Professional Development.

Disclaimer:

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations in this volume are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Dedication:

John 8:32 "And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

May the God of all truth bless you richly in the knowledge of His Son, Jesus Christ.

Preface

1Timothy 4:1 "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;"

It was predicted that men would go astray from the truth in these last days and be caught up in a spirit of dead religion that has a form of godliness but no power in it. We have all been affected by worldly philosophies and heretical doctrines to some extent or another, and our genuine faith in the saving power of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection has been contaminated.

However, we are quickly approaching the consummation of all things, and we are permitted no leeway in what we believe in the future. We have to seek the Lord for the truth, and His alone, in these critical days that lie ahead. We are being held to much higher standards of accountability than ever before, and He is purging us of all that pollutes us and setting us free for all time.

We will be sanctified to enter the Kingdom of God when it is ushered in on the earth. All evil will be expelled from God's presence. We will be schooled in righteousness rather than fables. We must reject all man-made traditions and false dogma, and embrace the truth of our redemption. We should loose the shackles that have bound us in lies and prepare to receive eternal life.

1Corinthians 1:30 "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:"

We are to believe the indisputable doctrine of Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection. Through Him, we are sanctified in the truth and receive redemption and justification for our sins. Our right standing with God is restored and we inherit all the promises of sons and daughters of the Most High. Our covenant of peace with God is reinstated and we are deemed righteous in His eyes.

The Lord is tearing down all dead religious strongholds and exposing their lies. So too, we are individually responsible to search out the powerful knowledge of Him and His Word in the Bible as our source of all truth. There will be no more anti-Christ gospels preached that entice men into freewheeling lawlessness and rebellion or minimize the conviction of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Galatians 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."

All hypocritical, controlling, religious spirits that would dominate men in the name of God will be eradicated from the face of the earth once and for all. Christ Himself will soon return to destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in His coming wrath. He will take vengeance on all enemies in the pulpit who have perverted the Gospel message and altered the truth in any way. They will have their share in the eternal lake of fire.

There will be no separation between God and man ever again. The Lord will turn the captivity of His people for all time and actually dwell in our presence. He will uphold universal principles of spiritual truth and righteousness that will not be compromised in any fashion. All those who believe in Him, walk in love and obey His commandments will enjoy peace and prosperity, joy and unity, safety and security in the Kingdom of God.

Introduction

Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our SaviourJesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."

The Lord is setting us straight for all time; the truth cries out to be heard. We must relinquish all hedonistic materialism and reject man-made theology and get back to the basics of our faith. We are to have no other gods before Him. Nor are we to buy into religious myths, fables or doctrines of demons. We are to believe and teach the uncompromised truth of the Gospel message - Christ crucified and resurrected - so all men might be set free and turned towards righteousness.

We must walk in love for the Lord and for others and satisfy the full requirements of God's law. We should sanctify ourselves in the flesh, soul and spirit and grow in spiritual maturity, until we reach holiness and perfection. We should lay down our personal goals and ambitions, and adopt the Lord's plan and purpose for our lives as our very own. We have eternal destinies that will be fulfilled in the days to come, and we have no time for any distraction from the truth.

Exodus 34:14 "For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name [is] Jealous, [is] a jealous God:"

Those who have been engaged in idolatry of any kind will be forced to repent and turn back to God or perish. He is a jealous God and will not permit anyone or anything to have preeminence over Him in our lives. We must renounce all of our worldliness and focus on Him and Him alone. We should cleanse ourselves of all defilement and embrace sound doctrine. Only those who believe the truth and obey the commandments will receive blessings in the Kingdom of God.

Jesus Christ will judge both His church and the nations with the same fair and equitable standards of righteousness and justice. He will no longer tolerate the perpetrators of religious lies that have led men astray for so many years. He will eliminate all those who have seduced others with seeker friendly sermonettes that minimize sin and ignore God's moral absolutes. He will destroy all man-made traditions that promote legalism, invoke bondage and demand servitude.

The Lord desires a personal relationship with His people, unfettered by materialism or religious traditions that glorify men rather than Him. It is His greatest desire that all men would turn to the truth and be reconciled to Him. He wants to be our Father and dwell with us for all of eternity. He will provide all our needs generously and abundantly. There will be nothing that separates us from Him in the future; all barriers between God and man will soon be eradicated forever.

Job 15:34 "For the congregation of hypocrites [shall be] desolate, and fire shall consume the tabernacles of bribery."

The Babylonian world religious system is failing. Pretended piety and sanctimonious shows will not impress the Lord in the days to come. Only the righteous who walk in love and do the will of the Father will enter into God's Kingdom when it comes to the earth realm. Those who have watered down the Gospel message or altered it for their own selfish reasons will be severely punished. The Lord will not permit His people to be blinded to the truth any longer.

There's a major shake up coming for many of our churches. Hypocrisy will be exposed and all heresy will be revealed. Those who have manipulated others and perverted the truth will be removed from positions in leadership. Their methods and motives will be obvious to everyone. They will no longer lead God's people into perdition. They will be replaced with shepherds after the Lord's own heart, who teach the simple truth that changes men's lives as nothing else can.

Everything that is taught will line up with the Word of God in the Bible. Jesus Christ will be glorified as our Lord and Savior, as He deserves. There will be no gray areas of possible distortion that pollute or dilute God's Word. The Gospel message is not for rent, sale or lease. It is not to be negotiated or compromised in any way. It is an "all or nothing" proposition. You either believe the truth and gain eternal life, or you succumb to lies and are eternally damned.

2Timothy 4:18 "And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve [me] unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen."

The glory of God is being poured out all over the face of the earth in these last days. God's power is manifesting in miraculous signs and wonders that will improve men's lives as never before and attract them to our faith in great numbers. We are evangelizing the entire world with the message of Jesus Christ's victorious death and resurrection. The full end-time harvest of souls is being gathered in and baptized in the one, true faith, as the Lord desires.

Truth is overcoming all lies of the enemy that deceive and control men in the name of religion. The Lord is destroying our idols, delivering us from the evils of false doctrine and releasing us from bondage right before our very eyes. We will be vindicated and set free in the truth for all time. The destruction of all dead forms of religion is a sure sign that the return of Christ is very near and the establishment of the eternal Kingdom of God is imminent.

Heaven will be ushered into the earth realm with awesome power, and all evil will be destroyed. Christ will return to judge both the righteous and the unrighteous. Only He can determine who receives rewards and punishment. Believers will be free to enjoy eternal life and all of its blessings, while those who have rejected the Lord will be excluded from His Kingdom. The Lord will have a people that worship Him in Spirit and in truth for all of eternity!

Chapter 1 - The Babylonian World System

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

Gross darkness covers the entire world and all its people today. We are exposed to defilement, death and destruction all around us. We are deceived at every turn and thwarted in our efforts to find meaning and purpose for our lives. We are fearful and perplexed, tired and weary, oppressed and depressed. The enemy of our souls is severely attacking us and we do little or nothing to resist his efforts. We are too caught up in our worldliness to even notice or break free.

Satan is wreaking havoc on the earth because he knows that his time is short. He will do anything to blind men to the truth of the Gospel message. He wants to play us out of position, so that we are tempted to sin and abdicate our faith. He whispers that there is no God and that we can do anything that we like and get away with it. Deep in our hearts and spirits, we know that we are not right with our Creator and we need to reconcile ourselves to Him once and for all.

But we have strayed far from our God and His way of doing things. We ignore moral absolutes and believe blatant lies instead of the truth. Every man does his own thing, with little or no regard for his neighbor's needs. We are not walking in love and unity, as we ought to be. We have permitted chaos and confusion to come in and disturb the peace and order of our lives. We violate God's commandments at every turn and we are becoming licentious and rebellious.

The people of God are supposed to shine in the midst of darkness; we have to repent of our stubbornness and sin or perish in the meantime. The Lord's glory is about to break forth all over the earth and fall on His people. We cannot be drawn in by the gloom and doom that surrounds us. We must sanctify and prepare ourselves to be vessels suitable for His purpose. We have eternal callings and divine destinies; the entire world is looking to us for a righteous example.

1John 2:15-17 "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."

Unfortunately there is too much of the world in the church today. We have lost our influence over society. We do the very same things that the unbelievers do. We lie, cheat and steal; we commit adultery, fornication and get divorced. We glorify men rather than God and worship material things. We look down on others because they have no faith or it is a different version than ours. We are cruel and judgmental and have lost our first love, as it was predicted that we would do.

Contaminated by false religious doctrines, we have turned to heresies instead of worshipping the one, true God. We have all but abandoned Him, yet we selfishly wonder where our blessings are. We mistakenly think that the Lord should provide for us regardless of our sin. We fail to repent and get back to the basics of our faith in the Word of God. We are stubborn and rebellious and doomed to total destruction by the Babylonian world system that threatens to overtake us.

We have permitted the pride of life and lusts of the world to contaminate our thinking and control our behavior. We are so caught up in just surviving, that we have compromised our standards and abandoned our faith and trust in almighty God. He has become subordinate in our list of priorities, and we have ignored our role as His sons and daughters. We must reassess our position and get back to the basic fundamental truths that distinguish us from the world.

Titus 1:15-16 "Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny [him], being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate."

We profess to know God, but our behavior is contradictory to His way of doing things and being right. We have defiled ourselves with worldly values and false religious doctrines. Our minds are clouded to the truth and our consciences are seared. We have become lawless and reprobate in our thinking, and our behavior mirrors that of the unrighteous. If we continue as we have been we will be subject to severe punishment and relegated to permanent separation from our God.

This is all about to change as the Lord confronts our wickedness and purges it from us. He will turn our captivity and draw us back to Him and the promised blessings of the Kingdom of God that will soon be ushered into the earth realm. We will finally know the truth, and it will set us free for all time. We will repent of our hard heartedness and disobedience; rejoice in all that God has planned for us; and assist Him in bringing heaven to the earth as He has planned.

The glory of the Lord is about to manifest in His people. While we were once disobedient and estranged from Him, we will soon be reconciled again. He will show Himself strong on our behalf and encourage us in the truth. We will acknowledge our salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ, and walk in love, peace and unity with others. We will make His name a praise among men, and He will fellowship with us for all eternity as He desired from the foundation of the world.

Exiled to Babylon

Jeremiah 29:10 "For thus saith the LORD, That after seventy years be accomplished at Babylon I will visit you, and perform my good word toward you, in causing you to return to this place."

The Lord allowed His chosen people of old to be overcome by their enemies because they were worldly and backslidden. They refused to surrender to His will and follow His guidance and direction for their lives. They turned to false prophets and errant priests, rather than to the one and only God. They strayed far from the truth, worshipped other gods and violated the sabbath, all of which was an abomination to Him. Their sin brought calamity on them - war, famine, plague and dispersion - and lost them blessings.

While God gave them ample opportunity to repent of their defilement and appropriate His perfect plan for their lives, they were stubborn and hard-hearted. They violated their covenant relationship with Him. They ignored His warnings, refused correction, and suffered dire consequences as a result. He finally permitted the pagan Babylonian ruler, Nebuchadnezzar, to destroy their way of life and take them captive. They were exiled from their land for seventy years, since they had been defiant and rebellious to their God.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end."

Not all of God's people abandoned their faith in Him. There were some who still adhered to the truth, and these He was able to bless during their captivity. Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah were four Jewish lads who gave Him all the honor and glory that He deserved. They refused to bow to pagan gods or eat defiled foods from the king's table. They were able to give strong testimony on behalf of the Lord, and positively influence the Babylonians.

God gave them great favor in the court of the king and they exalted Him in the midst of their enemies. He showed Himself strong on their behalf. He protected them from all harm and delivered them from the fiery furnace and the ravaging lions. Our God was with them in all things despite their adversity. His greatest desire was to free His people and reconcile Himself to them. He did not totally abandon them for all time in Babylon, but He did permit them to see the consequences of their actions.

The Lord was able to touch the hearts and minds of the vulnerable Jewish people and convict them of their sin, so that they finally repented and called out to Him once again. He ultimately turned their captivity; returned them to their land; and restored what had been taken from them. However, they suffered a great deal for their disobedience in the interim. Their relationship with God was never totally reconciled and the Lord still yearns for His chosen people.

Worldliness Instead of Godliness

Colossians 3:5-6 "Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: for which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:"

That should be a stern example to us today. We are also worldly and openly defy our God. We have forgotten that we are walking, talking, spirit beings having human experiences. We ignore our Creator - the Father of all spirits - and refuse to follow His absolute moral truths. We lust after false gods and permit our carnal desires and selfish ambitions to dictate our consciences. We do not position our inner spirit man in ascendancy to our flesh and our soul.

Ours is a jealous God; He desires close, intimate relationship with us above all things. It is not His will that anything take precedence over Him in our lives. He wants to be our total focus and the provider of all of our needs. His way of doing things and being right far exceeds anything that the world has to offer us. His blessings are far more desirable and permanent, than the temporary satisfaction and fading pleasure we get from our material covetousness and blatant carnality.

We must renounce all sins and get back to the basics of our faith. We cannot be greedy or succumb to sexual sins and uncleanness of any type. Our Lord should be our first love that we cherish above all others. He desires that we love Him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and that we love others as we love ourselves. We have to control our emotions and discipline our desires, so that we obey all of His commandments as we have been taught.

The Lord will not close His eyes to our sinfulness. He has wrath stored up for those who are disobedient to Him. We cannot be both worldly and spiritually minded. We must make the choice to sanctify ourselves and overcome the world, our flesh and the devil. Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we can prevail in all things. It is possible for us to walk in the Spirit instead of our flesh. We should strive for holiness and perfection, just as God is holy and perfect.

Exodus 20:3 "Thou shalt have no other gods before me."

It is possible to make false gods out of anything that holds our attention disproportionately. If we put anyone or anything above God in our lives, we are engaged in covetousness and idolatry. If we refuse to listen to the voice of the Lord and go our own way, we will be victims of our own ignorance and become spiritually backslidden. We will eventually become slaves to whatever captures and holds our attention, either for the short term or for all of eternity.

We cannot be so wrapped up in the creation itself that we forget the Creator God who gave us all things freely to enjoy. We have to put our lives in perspective and remember that we were formed spirit beings with souls and bodies. If we neglect our spiritual development and indulge our flesh and souls, we will become imbalanced to the point that we are carnal and worldly. This displeases God, separates us from Him and leads us into spiritual destruction.

Without Him in our lives, we are pitiful and powerless to withstand the oppression of the enemy. His protection is vital to our well-being and gives us the safety and security that we need. We require the Lord's guidance and direction, so that we can succeed in all that we do. But if we openly deny our God and deliberately transgress His laws, He will be compelled to abandon us to unrighteousness. He will never override our free will or force Himself on us.

2Timothy 4:3 "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"

It is difficult to sanctify ourselves in the truth and put our lives in order. We must have sound teaching and get back to the basics of our faith. We should study the Word of God and follow all of His commandments to us. While this may seem difficult at first, it is ultimately in our best interest. If we become lazy or impatient, we will be tempted to disobey the truth and succumb to lies instead.

There are many false teachers who would lure us from the truth and make a spoil of us in today's world. They do not care if we are eternally damned, as long as we financially support them. We have to fight the good fight of faith and cling to what we know is sound doctrine. The Word of God will keep us on the right track and we have discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit to detect all error.

We cannot deviate from the truth of the Gospel message or we will be lost in darkness and deception. There is only one God and He has a wonderful plan for our lives. We must believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and all He did for us. We have gained eternal life and all of its blessings. We should walk in love and righteousness, so that we always have a close, personal relationship with God.

Idolatry

1Corinthians 10:14 "Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry."

We have no excuse; we know the truth. We are to have no idols or false gods. Yet we continue to insult our God by putting anything and everything before Him. We worship the creation instead of the Creator and we deify inanimate objects, that only decay and are destroyed over time.

Our eternal salvation is at stake because we refuse discipline. We are hedonistic and worldly; we foolishly think that this life is all that exists. Materialism has replaced true spirituality. The Lord calls out to us, yet we still neglect to acknowledge Him and change our behavior, as we should.

We have homes, vehicles, televisions, stereos, computers, gaming systems and telephones that now serve as our worldly gods. They are only a few things that consume our time and lure us away from our faith, yet we glorify them rather than the one true God who created the entire universe.

Our desires are spiraling out of control as we struggle to keep up the race for more material goods and possessions. We sell our souls for the latest fashion trends and electronic gadgets. God is patiently waiting for us to come to the end of our selfishness, so that He can truly bless our lives.

He wants us to have all the temporal and spiritual blessings that He has to offer us, but we must be disciplined in their use. We cannot become so out of balance that we put things before God and His people. We must remember why we are here and discover our eternal destinies.

Life is not an amusement park, as some would be inclined to think. We were created in the very image and likeness of God to impact this earth for good. We have an important work to do; we must take up the ministry of Jesus Christ and draw all mankind to the truth of the Gospel message.

2Kings 17:12 "For they served idols, whereof the LORD had said unto them, Ye shall not do this thing."

We are guilty of idolatry and worship false gods of money, sex, drugs and alcohol. Our lives are vicious circles of desire, greed and acquisitiveness. We are carnal, materialistic and covetous. We lust after our flesh instead of walking in the Spirit. We are seekers of pleasure rather than God. We make no time for Him unless we need something that we can't provide for ourselves.

Entertainers and sports figures are deified instead of the one true God and His Son, Jesus Christ. Recreation takes the place of worship in our lives. We gamble and deal in games of chance, rather than pay our bills or minister to the poor. We are bad stewards of our resources and we never have enough to meet our needs. Yet we expect God to bail us out of all our bad decisions.

We turn to Him in desperation, when our own efforts have failed us. But the heavens have turned to brass because we are selfish and insincere, and we have neglected to develop our relationship with Him. We have become hard-hearted and callous to His guidance and direction. The Lord is under no obligation to provide for us, if we are rebellious and disobey all of His commandments.

Greed and Covetousness

Jeremiah 6:13 "For from the least of them even unto the greatest of them every one [is] given to covetousness; and from the prophet even unto the priest every one dealeth falsely."

We are greedy and oppress those less fortunate than ourselves, regardless of how our actions impact others. We lie, cheat and steal to get ahead. We envy and imitate the rich and powerful, who have little, if any, moral compunction. We walk in selfishness instead of love and compassion. Our needs and wants are endless; we are shallow, materialistic and covetous.

Our economy is unstable and our future insecure, yet we still want what we cannot have. Unemployment and crime rates soar; men are becoming desperate and lawless. We live in constant fear that others will take what we have or destroy us in their anger and malice. Trust is a thing of the past, yet we do not even recognize that we now have fear-based mentalities.

Many live off of credit spending and fail to pay what they owe. We are being consumed by our own greed and devoured by our creditors. Our expenditures exceed our income and we drive ourselves into unnecessary debt due to covetousness. We have no one to blame for our circumstances other than ourselves; our bad habits have become our downfall.

We are callous to one another's needs and charity is not even named among us. Every man looks out for himself and few care for others. We are greedy and power-hungry and ignore those who suffer poverty and lack. We have a strong sense of entitlement and expect that things should just be handed to us. The truth is that we do not even appreciate all that we do have.

Luke 12:15 "And he said unto them, Take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth."

Christ warned us of the dangers of covetousness and materialism. He reminded us that life is so much more than what we possess. He exhorted men to seek the Kingdom of God, rather than the things of this world. However, we have forgotten His teaching and are backslidden.

We ignore the Lord's commandments to us and have abandoned His ways in favor of our own. Our hearts are hardened and our consciences are seared. We are prime targets for the enemy to move in and destroy us, because we have no divine guidance and protection in our lives.

Honor, character and integrity are things of the past. We steadfastly refuse the truth and we are doomed to spiritual destruction. We go from bad to worse and our lives are slipping out of control. We have been overcome by our transgression and almost consumed by our desires.

We are worldly and focus our energy on acquiring endless material possessions. We refuse discipline and indulge every carnal whim and fancy. We spend our time in the pursuit of fun and pleasure, rather than in the search for eternal truth and the knowledge of our higher calling.

The Lord forbids all of these practices and He is calling out to us to realign our priorities and turn back to Him before it's too late. However, if we are stubborn and rebellious, He has no alternative but to abandon us to our own devices and permit us to suffer adverse consequences.

Rebellion

1Samuel 15: 23 "For rebellion [is as] the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness [is as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from [being] king."

Our rebellion in little things eventually opens us up to even more serious sins. Disobedience to God's laws and moral absolutes is the norm today. Men lack boundaries and limits in their lives. Anything goes in modern society; our moral fiber is rapidly deteriorating and we experiment with all sorts of evil practices. We have become very much like the heathen nations, and we are setting ourselves up for possible extinction due to our lack of honor and integrity.

We may dabble in the occult and consult psychics, mediums and fortunetellers. We are spiritually hungry and desperate for the truth, yet we refuse to seek God. We encourage polytheism in our efforts to promote diversity in our culture. We permit pagan religious practices to replace the worship of the one true God. We too easily forget that our forefathers established a nation in covenant with Him, dedicated to the eternal truth and total liberty that only the Bible declares.

Our people have abandoned the one true faith and resorted to secular humanism instead. We are defiant, selfish and spiritually corrupt, yet reluctant to repent of our evil ways. We will face a harsh judgment for our wickedness, unless we wake up and restore the Lord to the prominence that He deserves in our lives. We must show Him reverential fear, deference and respect or He will bring judgment on our nation for its lawlessness, as He will do with all the unrighteous.

Proverbs 17:11 "An evil [man] seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him. "

Rebellion is a serious sin and we will be held strictly accountable for it. We all know the truth; it has been made readily available to us in the Word of God. We are not a heathen nation that has an excuse for our ignorance. Our country was founded with religious freedom as one of its fundamental liberties. We have a responsibility to seek God and establish a relationship with Him. How we choose to do so remains our choice, but we must acknowledge Him as our source.

We can no longer live our lives as we have been. We must get back to the basics of our faith and stir up our moral consciences. We need to examine our goals and reevaluate our priorities. We must repent of all our idolatry, false religion and rebellion and ask the Lord to forgive us. We desperately need His input in our lives and His guidance and direction. He is merciful and compassionate, and wants nothing more than to fellowship with us and provide for all our needs. If we repent from our hearts and turn towards Him again, He will forgive us and touch our lives.

However, He cannot bless us if we are indulging ourselves or rebellious in any way. We must follow all of His commandments and walk in love and unity as we have been taught. If we minimize the impact of sin on our lives, we will become so licentious that we tolerate anything. The Lord's way of doing things is the only acceptable standard that we should follow. Deliberate disobedience brings the curse on us. We cannot be lawless or we will be overcome by our sin.

Lies and Seductions

2Peter 2:3 "And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

Perhaps we flirt with man-made traditions that make us feel good about ourselves, but avoid the mention of sin and its penalty. They may downplay eternal rewards and punishments. They seem innocent enough, but are serious digressions from the truth. In reality, they are the manifestation of evil, mind blinding spirits that would rob us of our salvation and lead us straight into perdition.

Charismatic individuals, who appeal to our pride, egos and human reason, promote these social gospels that deviate from the truth of God's Word. They do not truly care for us, nor do they have our best interest at heart. They are greedy, power hungry and controlling. They usually want our money and attention, but destroy our very souls in the process of making themselves rich and famous.

They try to convince us that God is so open-minded that anything goes in our lives. They may promote such controversial issues as gay marriage and abortion. They usually minimize the importance of following all of God's commandments to us, and allow secular humanism to control their doctrines. They believe that there are many ways to seek God and often deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

These false teachers victimize God's people, but they will not remain unpunished. The Lord will take vengeance on all enemies in the pulpit who deceive and exploit His people. He will judge them severely and rescue us. Very soon now all playing fields will be leveled as the Lord ushers in His Kingdom. Christ will destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in the wrath of His coming.

Jeremiah 14:14 "Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of nought, and the deceit of their heart."

False teachers have flimsy credentials and do not even know the real Gospel message. They have no formal training. They make up their own religious doctrine and rules as they go. Their teachings are insidious to our spiritual welfare and will lead us into damnation rather than into eternal life. They speak only lies and deception to us, yet we tolerate their tactics because we are ignorant of the truth.

They claim to have heard from God and speak prophetic words, but their hearts are far from Him. They do not walk in love, mercy and compassion for others, nor is the genuine power of God demonstrated in their lives. They are charlatans that victimize God's people and try to consume them with reports of bogus visions and false prophecies. Countless numbers of Christians are seduced by their words, adversely influenced and led into perdition.

The Lord will not blink the eye at satanic seductions of His people for much longer. He will hold every false teacher accountable for the souls that he or she has led astray. There will be harsh judgments for those who come in God's name, only to pillage those who are unsuspecting. Their evil schemes will soon become obvious to all and they will ultimately be destroyed in the wrath of Jesus Christ's coming.

Proverbs 14:25-26 "A true witness delivereth souls: but a deceitful [witness] speaketh lies. In the fear of the Lord is strong confidence: and his children shall have a place of refuge."

If we embrace pseudo-theologies instead of the one true faith, we will be doomed to captivity as were the chosen people of old. We will become entrenched in darkness and deception. We will reach a point where we can longer separate truth from fiction, and be totally overcome by lies and false doctrines.

We will expose ourselves to needless demonic oppression in our lives and be left as prey to the enemy for total spiritual destruction. We will ultimately be subject to harsh judgment by the Lord Himself for our foolishness and error, and lead lives that are desolate of meaning and truth, purpose and direction. We must have a reverential fear and respect of the Lord.

Our very lives are at stake. We must seek the truth that sets us free. Christ died to save us from our sins and restore us to right standing with God. We must believe in Him; sanctify ourselves of all sin; follow the commandments; and walk in love, as we have been taught. Then we will be righteous before God.

We have an obligation to seek the truth and insist on accurate teaching that is based on the Word of God. We should never arbitrarily accept man-made traditions and false doctrines that deviate from the one true Gospel message. There is no other way to approach God except through the cross of Jesus Christ. It is only through our faith in Him that we can be saved.

A Form of Religion

Galatians 6:7-8 "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

Maybe we try to fool ourselves into thinking that we are in good standing with God. We sandwich Him into a small slice of weekend time between our recreational events and work schedules. We try to find the shortest, most comfortable church service that exists and get our "feel good" ticket punched for the week. We think we are being righteous and holy, but our God is not mocked.

We go to casually socialize with others, sing a few songs, doze, daydream and participate as little as possible. It's more important to us that we are seen by men, rather than be sincere seekers of the truth. Maybe we throw a few dollars in the collection plate, so that others will think we are generous. The truth is that we have only wasted our time and effort in simply "playing church."

Convinced that we have fulfilled our total duty to the Lord in just a few hours, we expect Him to meet all of our needs on demand. We wonder why our lives are so messed up for the rest of the week. We are sick, tired and threatened with poverty; our jobs are in jeopardy; our families are in chaos and confusion. We are a people lost in sin and darkness; we have no moral strength or conviction.

We have abandoned our first love and we break all the commandments. We are insincere in our personal relationships with God and with others. We pretend to be righteous, but our behavior mirrors that of the heathen. We are proud, self-centered, covetous and wicked. We fail to repent and renounce all our sinfulness, and the Lord has no choice but to leave us to our own devices.

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

We have a form of godliness with no power in it. We go through the motions of "practicing religion," but our hearts are far from our God. We relegate Him to the least amount of time and effort that we can spend and still appear respectable to our peers. We are insincere and make a mockery of true worship. Our lives are devoid of spiritual power and meaning as a result.

The Lord knows our hearts and despises our pretense at worshipping Him. He knows that we are selfish, proud and ungrateful, boasters and blasphemers. We have broken covenant relationship with Him and we will suffer the consequences. Our hearts and spirits are not in right standing with God, and we are not showing Him the deference and respect that He deserves.

We fail to put Him first in all things and walk in love with our brothers. We do not diligently keep His commandments and our righteousness is but a sham. If we repent and turn from our wickedness, we will be restored to our right standing with God and He will blot all our sin from His memory. We are responsible to walk in the truth and be godly examples to others.

James 1:21-25 "Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth [therein], he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

We have no excuse for our behavior. We have become worldly and licentious and it must cease. We have abused our privileges as the children of God and forgotten Him as our first love. We have to get back to basics and realign our priorities. We cannot have false gods, errant teachers and rebellious spirits and hope to please our Creator.

We know the truth and are responsible for walking in the light of it. We must turn back to God and walk in righteousness and love or be denied into His presence. We should be doers of God's Word and not hearers only. It is one thing to know the truth and act on it with an occasional slip in behavior, and quite another to deliberately violate it.

We cannot be lawless and rebellious and hope to please God. He will turn His back on us if we fail to keep His commandments. He will abandon us if we continue to abandon Him as we have done. Our lives will become superficial, without meaning and direction. We will miss out on His blessings, and be excluded from His Kingdom.

We have a serious choice to make. We can be reconciled to our God or suffer eternal damnation. We must repent of all our sinfulness and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ with zeal and fervor. We are new creatures in Christ and can appropriate divine strength and power to overcome all our worldliness by the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1: 26-27 "If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world."

Religion is distinctly different than relationship. Our heavenly Father wants us to fellowship intimately with Him in Spirit and in truth. He is not overly impressed by our religious practices because they have become shallow and meaningless to Him. We are to be continually righteous and walk in love as we have been taught. We cannot be both worldly and spiritually minded. We must approach the Lord sincerely with hearts and spirits that seek to serve Him and His people in unselfish love.

It may very well be that we have good intentions and gather together to worship the Lord with other believers. But perhaps we are self-righteous and gossip or start rumors in our fellowships. Maybe we feel superior to others and hypocritically judge and condemn their sins, but overlook our own transgression. Although we may not be truly mean-spirited, we are still guilty of sin. Regardless of our motives and methods, we will be held accountable for our lack of love and true righteousness.

Sins of the mouth such as gossip and bickering lead only to strife and division. We cannot succumb to carnality in our relationships. We must walk in love and unity with fellow believers. We are to be at peace with all men, to include unbelievers, wherever possible. Our love is what distinguishes us as the sons and daughters of God, and we must deliberately guard it. In the critical days that lie ahead, the Lord will call on His church to fulfill their divine destinies and demonstrate His love to others.

The commandment of love is not optional; we are to follow it at all times. Either we repent and realign our priorities, or we will be devoured by our own bad habits and evil ways. We will consume one another in our hatefulness. We have a serious responsibility to reassess our lives and recapture our missing values, or we will be permitted to destroy ourselves in the process. The Lord will never impose Himself on us or violate our free will. The choice is up to us; we can turn back to God or be damned.

The Lord's Controversy With His People

Hosea 4:1-2 "Hear the word of the LORD, ye children of Israel: for the LORD hath a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because [there is] no truth, nor mercy, nor knowledge of God in the land. By swearing, and lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out and blood toucheth blood."

We break all of the Lord's commandments and we think that He will disregard our blatant disobedience. He cannot and will not ignore our lawlessness and rebellion and blink the eye at our sin. We will face a fearsome judgment for all of our wickedness and be removed far from His presence. He cannot abide evil of any kind and He grieves when His people go astray. He is ever calling out to us in His infinite love, mercy and compassion. We must repent and turn back to our God or be severely judged.

We have managed to all but totally eliminate God from our daily lives, and we face severe consequences for our actions. We have taken Him out of our schools and government operations. He has no place in our homes or in our businesses. There are more bars, nightclubs and gambling casinos than churches in our communities. We think that God is out to ruin our fun, so we avoid Him wherever and whenever possible. He has no choice but to withdraw His blessings from our lives until we come to our senses.

We debate the truth and dally with removing "In God We Trust" from our money and try to alter our Pledge of Allegiance and our National Anthem to exclude all references to Him. We view the Ten Commandments as if they were offensive instead of life changing. We don't even own a Bible, much less read the Word of God as we should. We think that attending church is a waste of time and old-fashioned. We neglect to honor the Lord and give Him all the deference and respect that He deserves.

We forbid prayer in our schools and then we wonder why our children are going astray. We have failed to give them moral absolutes, sound guidance and direction. We have an entire nation of young people who are unhappy, confused and rebellious. They are a lost generation without purpose or meaning in their lives. Their parents are far too busy and pre-occupied with their own problems to give them the attention that they require. Neither parent nor child acknowledges our Creator or His way of doing things.

We trade wholesome moral values and common decency for selfishness and greed. Our businesses and government operations are amoral and corrupted from within. They are ultimately doomed to destruction. We plot and scheme to get ahead, and devour our peers in an effort to promote our own self-interest. We are consuming one another and developing hard hearts and seared consciences. We have lost our first love and abandoned godly principles. God sees it all and has a serious controversy with His people.

Our Wake-Up Call

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

Once a strong nation under God, our country is now threatened from within and without by heathen terrorists. We are in an economic shambles; we live off of credit spending and we are devoured by our lenders. People are losing their jobs, their homes, their self-respect and even their sanity. We feel that God has abandoned us, or that He never existed at all.

The truth is that we have all but forsaken God of our own free will; we have insulted and ignored Him, and denied His supreme deity. He is not impressed by our pretended piety. We have put Him in a nice little box of our own making, yet we have no personal relationship with Him. He is not able to manifest Himself in our lives, because we do not invite His input.

We have transgressed God's laws and violated His moral absolutes. We have worshipped false gods and expect Him to tolerate it. We refuse to believe the truth and we are spiritually bankrupt. The Lord will not force Himself on us, nor is He under any obligation to forgive our sins or provide for our needs, if we are deliberately rebellious and disrespectful to Him.

If we will repent from the heart and renounce our sins, the Lord will be merciful and compassionate to us. He will hear our penitential prayers and relent in His punishment for our sins. It is His greatest desire to fellowship with His people and provide for all their needs. He is waiting for us to come to our senses, so that He can bless us once again and heal our land.

Psalm 40:4 "Blessed [is] that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."

If we truly want our country to prosper and remain strong, we must repent and turn back to God. We need to pray for our leaders and our people, so that their minds would be open and their hearts receptive to all that the Lord wants to teach us. We should fight to keep God's name prominent among us and welcome Him into our homes, schools, businesses and government.

It is time for us to get back to the fundamental truths of the Bible that once made this country great. We are God's chosen people, but we must walk in His ways. He desires intimate fellowship with us, so He can bless us as He did our founding fathers. We must put Him first in all things and acknowledge our salvation through Christ's death and resurrection on our behalf.

Our Lord and Savior laid down His life for us, so that we could be set free from our sins and enjoy eternal life. All that we must do is repent of our sin; believe in Him; confess our faith; and embrace righteousness and truth. God loves us and desires that we have a close relationship with Him. We should keep all of His commandments and walk in love for Him and for others.

Ezekiel 37:26 "Moreover I will make a covenant of peace with them; it shall be an everlasting covenant with them: and I will place them, and multiply them, and will set my sanctuary in the midst of them for evermore."

We have a covenant with the Lord as long as we respect our faith and act on it. Our thoughts, attitudes and behavior must all line up with the truth explained in the Bible as the Word of God. We have no excuse for not following the Lord's commandments to us. They are reasonable and attainable for each of us. We should examine our hearts and repent of all our unrighteousness.

The Lord wants to be our God and provide all our needs in abundance. He will prosper us and restore our peace and honor among all men. He will soon take up residence with His people on the earth, and we must sanctify ourselves to dwell in His holy presence. We should welcome His purging fire and put Him first in our lives. We must walk in righteousness and love for others.

If we fail to do so, our country will continue to decline in moral strength until we are consumed by our sins. We will be relegated to the plight of those disobedient nations all over the world. We will experience curses instead of blessings, and our fundamental liberties will be jeopardized. If the Lord removes His merciful protection from us, we will be totally devoured by our enemies.

Repentance From Idolatry and False Religion

Ezekiel 37:23 "Neither shall they defile themselves any more with their idols, nor with their detestable things, nor with any of their transgressions: but I will save them out of all their dwellingplaces, wherein they have sinned, and will cleanse them: so shall they be my people, and I will be their God."

The Lord is ever ready to forgive and forget our sins of idolatry, worldliness and false religion. He wants to turn our captivity and restore all that has been taken from us. He desires our intimate relationship with Him more than anything else. The Bible tells us that He will actually blot our iniquity from His memory. If we will sincerely repent and turn away from all our worldly idols, avoid false teaching and get back to the basics of our faith - prayer, meditation and the study of God's Word - we will be spared eternal punishment and enjoy the blessings of health and prosperity instead.

We must believe that His Son, Jesus Christ, came to the earth to save us from our sins. Christ died for us, was buried and resurrected from the dead to give us eternal life. If we repent of all our sin, accept Him as our Lord and Savior and confess our faith in Him, we will be saved. We are then baptized into our faith and the process of regeneration begins. We are literally changed from the inside out and our lives are never the same. The subsequent baptism in the Holy Spirit assures us that we will hear from God on a regular basis and mature in holiness and perfection, just as He is holy and perfect.

There is but one true faith and that is readily available to all men. We should examine how we live our lives on a daily basis, and resolve to walk in the eternal light versus the darkness. If we obey Christ's law of love and reverence the Lord as we should, we will be on track. If we love others and place their needs on an even plane with our own, we will be deemed righteous before God. If we strive for spiritual gifts as much as we do material things, our lives will turn around for the better. If we pray and meditate on the promises of God, we will have hope and confidence, peace and joy.

Zechariah 2:7 "Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest [with] the daughter of Babylon. "

Zion is a type and shadow of the church in Biblical terms. We are to be in the world, but not contaminated by it. The Lord wants His people delivered from all forms of Babylonian world values, that keep men in bondage and separated from the simple truth of the Gospel message. We have a serious obligation to get our priorities right and in alignment with God's will. We must put God before everything and everyone in our lives. We should have no false gods or idols of any kind. These will distract us from the truth and interfere with our loving and serving Him.

We are to follow the Lord's commandments and walk in love and peace with all men wherever possible. We should put others' needs on an even plane with our own. We should forgive and forget all wrongs done to us, and be willing and obedient to share our resources with those who are in need. We are to believe the basic fundamental truths that the Bible - the Word of God - teaches, and those alone. We should not even flirt with the traditions of men that deviate from our faith, because these only corrupt and confuse and will lead us into total spiritual destruction.

Getting it Right

Micah 3:11 "The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, [Is] not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us."

While the Lord will indeed take vengeance on all enemies in the pulpit one day soon, He still expects us to stand up for our rights and privileges as His chosen people. We should be highly insulted that anyone would attempt to perpetrate lies in place of the true Gospel message. We have a responsibility to seek the uncompromised truth and avoid all defilement that comes from pseudo-theologies. We have been given spiritual discernment to detect all ungodly theories and doctrines of demons, and we must resist and expose false teachers that attempt to deceive us.

They mistakenly think that the Lord will tolerate their misbehavior and close His eyes to their attempts to manipulate and coerce us. Nothing could be further from the truth. He will soon eradicate all evil off the face of the earth, and those who pervert the truth and teach others false doctrines will be held strictly accountable for their actions. No one who misleads others in the name of religion and causes men to be separated from their God will ever enter into His Kingdom. The Lord will make certain that they receive their eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

We should never ever tolerate prophets for hire or those preachers and teachers who bilk God's people out of their money and resources in return for spiritual favors and false promises. The Gospel is not for rent, sale or lease. It is freely available to all men, just as it was in the days of Jesus Christ. The gifts and manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God will be diminished and leave those who are greedy and oppress others. These false teachers will be operating in the flesh and their tactics will become obvious to all men, so that they are avoided wherever possible.

False religion is worse than none at all because it insults the Lord and ridicules true spirituality. Each of us must make the decision to establish a personal relationship with our God and adhere to sound Biblical doctrine. We desperately need to know the truth that sets us free, and should never settle for less. Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins and give us eternal life. We should be grateful and imitate His laid down life. If we do so, our own lives will improve and we will experience hope for the future. If we walk in love for God and others, we will be blessed.

Isaiah 65:16 "That he who blesseth himself in the earth shall bless himself in the God of truth; and he that sweareth in the earth shall swear by the God of truth; because the former troubles are forgotten, and because they are hid from mine eyes."

We must relinquish all of our idols and reevaluate our priorities. We cannot be greedy and materialistic and hope to impress our God. He desires truth in our inward parts and a people that earnestly strive for a personal relationship with Him. He is not demanding, but He is beckoning to us. He wants to deliver us from everything that interrupts our fellowship with Him.

The Lord is dismayed that His people are caught up in doctrinal errors and pseudo-theologies that glorify men instead of Him. He wants a people that will worship Him in Spirit and in truth for all of eternity. He is not impressed by our pretended piety or our false religions that cause us to go astray. He wants us to return to the fundamental Bible truths that set men free.

We are saved and justified by our faith in Jesus Christ, and Him alone. We should avoid all man-made traditions that deviate from the truth of the Gospel message and attempt to lure us into perdition. We cannot earn eternal life or purchase its benefits. It is a free gift made available to all men; we overcome by the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony.

If we keep all of the Lord's commandments and walk in love for Him and for others, we will remain continually righteous in His eyes. We are joint-heirs with Jesus Christ to all the covenant promises. We are guaranteed eternal life through our faith in Him, and we will be blessed beyond our wildest imagination when we inherit the Kingdom of God and all of its benefits.

1Timothy 2:5 "For [there is] one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;"

Blessings of righteousness are for all who believe the truth of the Gospel message. There are no spiritually elite who are more favored of God than others. That is a lie from hell created to manipulate men into thinking that they needed a mediator between themselves and God. We have one Mediator and High Priest, Jesus Christ, who is accessible to all who believe in Him.

Christ died to save us from our sins and provide us with life in abundance. We are not alone and struggling in this world. We do not have to make our way against all odds. Jesus always makes intercession for us with His Father and will provide all that we need to be healthy, happy and prosperous. If we repent of all our rebellion and depend on Him, the Lord will never let us down.

We can relate to God only through the work of the cross. Our redemption has been complete and we are now in right standing with Him. When the Lord sees us, He sees Jesus in all of His righteousness. We can approach the throne of grace with any need and know that it will be met. We are actually sons and daughters of almighty God and seated with Christ in heavenly places.

Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are set free in the truth. Christ is in us and with us to do His perfect will. We have inherited eternal life and all its benefits and we will soon enter in to His Kingdom, if we are righteous and walking in love as we have been taught to do. Our lives will be full and meaningful once again and we will dwell in the very presence of our God forever.

Topics for Discussion

1. Describe the Babylonian World System
2. Worldliness vs. Godliness
3. Idolatry, Greed and Covetousness
4. Rebellion
5. A Form of Religion
6. The Lord's Controversy With His People
7. Repentance From Idolatry and False Religion

Chapter 2 - Dead Religion

Mark 7:6 "He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with [their] lips, but their heart is far from me."

Some of us mistakenly believe that we are really holy because we attend church regularly or tune into religious programming on television or radio. However, we may embrace seeker-friendly sermonettes that dilute the Gospel message to flatter men rather than glorify our God. We follow self-appointed teachers, prophets, priests and apostles into pomp, ceremony and perdition.

Maybe we recite long litanies and memorized prayers that mean little to God. We burn candles and incense before Him and participate in meaningless rituals that can be likened to sorcery. We pray to angels and saints and expect that our prayers will be heard. We deify the clergy over the one true God and we downplay the doctrine of Christ's death and redemption on our behalf.

Perhaps we attend churches that have their own versions of the Bible and twist doctrinal truths to suit their own agendas. They purport to have an inside track to salvation, but end up consuming us with all their man-made rules and regulations. They want us to be proselytes and promoters of their own brand of wickedness, and they boldly seek converts anywhere and everywhere.

The Lord has seen all our dead religious practices and He is appalled by our hypocritical pretense at worship. We give lip service to our faith, but our hearts are far from God. We have no intimate personal relationship with Him, and we do not seek His guidance and direction for our lives. We have deviated from the truth of the real Gospel message and succumbed to overt lies instead.

Lamentations 2:14 "Thy prophets have seen vain and foolish things for thee: and they have not discovered thine iniquity, to turn away thy captivity; but have seen for thee false burdens and causes of banishment."

It could be we are searching for spiritual manifestations such as words of prophecy and dramatic signs. We want the power of God to show up, but it has to be on our terms. We might be seeking Holy Ghost goose pimples and emotional highs. However, if we do not adhere to sound doctrine, we will be eternally doomed regardless of what efforts we make at practicing religion.

The Lord is not in the midst of supernatural manifestations that glorify men rather than Him. Only the Holy Spirit can determine what spiritual gifts are administered to God's people. They are always given for the benefit of all men, without fee or gratuity. We should be most wary of those who purport to have special gifts, but are motivated by greed and the desire for power.

False prophets deliver rose-colored pictures of our future, irrespective of our relationship with the Lord. They mislead us into thinking that all is well with our God. They deliberately avoid confrontation, so that they can glean our favor and receive offerings and honoraria from us. They flatter our egos, but they don't encourage us to repent, sanctify ourselves and seek God's will.

Psalm 26:5 "I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked."

Desperate for the truth, we may go to church every day or several times a week, like religious groupies. Our lives are in chaos, confusion and disorder, if we have a form of godliness but no power in it. We are horribly misled if we are following man-made traditions and religious superstitions rather than the Word of God. There is but one truth and that will set us totally free.

The Lord is calling out to His people in love and mercy. He wants to deliver us from religious doctrines that deceive us and pollute our faith. He desires an intimate relationship with us. We must seek the truth in the Bible as the Word of God and put Him first in all things. We should love Him with all our hearts, minds, souls and strength and love our neighbors, as we love ourselves.

In addition, we must keep all of His commandments and renounce all of our sins. We cannot be deliberately rebellious and please our God. He desires truth in our inward parts and wants us to be humble, sincere and contrite in heart. We should carefully guard our righteousness and seek His guidance and direction for our lives rather than the approval of men who may be in error.

Contrary to what many believe, the Lord is not always found in churches, synagogues or man-made temples. He resides in the inner man of the heart in all those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and walk as He walked. Our God is not so concerned about where we worship Him, but that we do so in Spirit and in truth. He wants us to be in personal relationship with Him.

Hypocrisy

Matthew 23:28 "Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity."

Although we make quite a show of practicing religion, the Lord is not impressed with sanctimonious showmanship. He wants us to be genuine in our faith and righteous in all of our ways. We are more concerned about how we appear to others, rather than how we appear to our God. However, He knows our intentions and insists that we repent from our hypocrisy and pretense.

We are often controlling and religious, and deem ourselves better than others. We refuse to listen to messages that confront our sin and we steadily deny our moral responsibility. We do not follow the Lord's commandments, and our hearts are far from Him. We fail to put God first in all things and walk in love. We do not treat our neighbors with affection, compassion and respect.

The Lord sees the inner man of the heart and desires that we be humble and contrite, sincere seekers of truth and teachable in His ways. Only Jesus Christ can determine if we are truly righteous and eligible to enter into the Kingdom of God. He will reward those who keep the commandments and love others as we were taught. Those who are deliberately evil will be eternally punished.

Anyone who makes a habit of criticizing and condemning others is operating in a hypocritical spirit. Those who gossip and malign others are guilty of a lack of love. If we cause strife and division in our personal relationships for any reason, we are guilty of unrighteousness. We must be extremely careful that we strive for peace with all men, believers and unbelievers, wherever possible.

Job 36:13 "But the hypocrites in heart heap up wrath: they cry not when he bindeth them."

The spirit of hypocritical religion is more damaging than no faith at all, because it deceives men into thinking that they are at peace with God. Our righteousness is determined by our faith In Jesus Christ, and in Him alone. We cannot receive eternal life unless we adhere to sound doctrine and appropriate the life-changing truth of His death and resurrection on our behalf.

It is only through faith in the atoning work of Christ Himself, that we experience righteousness at all. We have grace with God and are restored to right standing with Him, through no merits of our own. We enjoy sonship privileges and can approach Him at any time. He will always answer our prayers and treat us as He would treat Jesus. The Lord will meet all our needs in abundance.

We should never regard ourselves as superior to others, or suppose that we are in better standing with the Lord than another. That is simply not true. Our righteousness is not determined by any of our works. The Lord desires that all men come to a full knowledge of the truth. He loves each of us with a deep, abiding love and is infinitely patient and merciful to all mankind.

Matthew 23:25 "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess."

Hypocrisy is demonic in origin; it blinds our minds and hinders our salvation. It seduces us into thinking that we are righteous and holy in and of ourselves, but God is not mocked. He wants us to worship Him in Spirit and in truth, with sincere, contrite hearts and teachable, pliable spirits. He expects us to walk in love at all times, and to be meek and humble in our relationships.

Jesus Christ Himself condemned all the hypocrites that He encountered, because they drove others away from God with their heavy demands and unreasonable expectations. They convinced men that He was unapproachable. They had myriads of rules and regulations. We should eliminate any hypocritical tendencies we might have which negatively influence others.

Furthermore, we should never tell anyone that God is punishing them or withholding His blessings when they experience misfortune. He is a loving and merciful God, and does not give us adversity to teach us anything. Pain, oppression and suffering come from Satan, the enemy of our souls. Our disobedience and sin give him a legal right of entry to negatively affect our lives.

We often bring pain and suffering on ourselves due to our own sinfulness. The wages of sin are death, if have not made Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. When we make Him Lord of our lives, we are released from the curse of death to eternal life. Our faith in Him assures us we are in right standing with God. If we walk in love and follow all the commandments we will be blessed.

Psalm 1:5 "Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous."

Hypocrisy is a grievous sin and the Lord will not overlook it. There are many self-righteous individuals who gloat when others miss the mark and are tempted to sin. They mistakenly believe they are above punishment for their own behavior. The Lord will not tolerate a lack of love or righteousness in His people. We are to draw all men to Him rather than repel them.

Our God is not waiting for us to mess up so that He can punish us, as some would have us believe. He rejoices when we are doing well and grieves when we fall. He is ever ready to forgive us when we make mistakes, as long as we repent from a sincere heart. None of us is more righteous than another; we all fall short of the glory of God and need His mercy and compassion.

There are many who are first now, who will be last in the Kingdom of God, because of their self-righteous attitudes and critical judgments of others. If we wish to dwell in the presence of the Lord, then we must sanctify ourselves of all controlling, religious spirits. We should share the Gospel message with all men in love, and pray for and encourage them in their search for truth.

The Lord desires that no one perish for lack of knowledge. We should spread the good news of Jesus Christ and urge men to be reconciled with God. He has a deep, abiding love for all mankind and desires that we build a personal relationship with Him. Religion is not the same as true spirituality. Religion only mimics the genuine relationship God desires with His people.

He wants to fellowship intimately with us without any barriers between God and man. He is not distant or forbidding, but loving and kind. The Lord wants to provide all our needs and share in the intimate details of our lives. If we are sincere and humble in our relationship with Him, He will give us all good things and teach us His ways, so that we can be successful in all that we do.

A Spirit of Religion

2Peter 2:1 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction."

Simply because a teaching has been around for a long time, doesn't make it an accurate Biblical truth. There are many religious traditions that are man-made and have deceived men for centuries. They started out innocently enough as myths and fables, but have progressed to the point that they are totally heretical and threaten our salvation. We should avoid these doctrines and expose them as the lies that they are. They will destroy our faith and lead us into destruction.

Jesus Christ is the Head of His church, and we are His Body on the earth. We have the privilege to worship God without religious fanfare and ceremonial mysticism. Our relationship with the Lord has been restored for all time. We need no priests or ministers to mediate for us or to forgive us our sins. Our Lord and Savior intercedes for His people and teaches them all that they need to know about righteousness. He alone deserves all of our praise, worship, honor and gratitude.

It may be that we have good intentions and simply follow the religious teaching that we received as children. We mistakenly think that we are being obedient to God by following in our ancestors' footsteps, even though they were deceived. We are now adults and we are responsible to seek the truth for ourselves. If we believe lies, participate in meaningless rituals and pray to false gods, we are doomed to spiritual death. We must seek the truth and adhere to sound doctrine.

Matthew 6:5-8 "And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites [are]: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him."

The Lord does not want us to recite long litanies and memorized prayers that mean nothing to us or to Him. He wants us to have intimate conversation with Him when we pray. Prayer should be sincere and heart-felt communication with God. We should speak and listen for His response. He knows our needs even before we ask Him, and delights that we share all that we think and feel with Him. We should never pray hypocritically for the sake of being heard or seen by men.

We should pray continually throughout our day and maintain close fellowship with our God. We do not need to be in a church setting to have real and meaningful communication with the Lord. He is always available to listen to our thoughts and requests. He dwells in each of us, if we have made Jesus Lord of our life, and He is eminently approachable at any time and in any place. Prayer, praise and worship can all be conducted in private as well as in a corporate setting.

Ephesians 5:11 "And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]."

We are to pray to no man, living or dead; that is simply not scriptural. We are to pray to God alone as our Creator and the source of all our needs. We do not need statues, altars, or incense and rituals of any kind to come boldly before the throne of grace for every need. We have the Blood bought righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself that assures us of right standing with God. He is our Mediator and High Priest, readily accessible to all who believe in the power of His redemption.

If we repented of our sins and confessed Christ as Lord and Savior, we are born again in our spirit man and reconciled with God forever more. There is no longer a separation between us. We have right standing restored to us through our faith in Christ. We enjoy true Christian liberty and we can approach the throne of grace with every need. In fact, we are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself, as His very own sons and daughters.

The Lord is not confined to churches, synagogues and temples that are of man's making. He is everywhere, and intimately present in our lives if we have made Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. When we are born again and baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, our bodies become the very temples of God. We can worship Him in Spirit and in truth anywhere and everywhere. Our lives should be a fragrant offering to Him and a continuous tribute to His honor and glory.

Legalism

2Corinthians 11:20 "For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour [you], if a man take [of you], if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face."

Perhaps we are steeped in the man-made rules of denominationalism or embrace various religious sects that are popular from time to time. We may be involved with secret societies or cults that appear to serve God, but really serve Satan. We follow men of questionable repute into perdition. They entice us from the truth and we actually permit them to influence our lives.

Like lost sheep, we go astray following the whims and fancies of individuals who don't even care about us. We are misled and misguided, confused and perplexed. We have digressed so much from the truth, that we don't even remember the basic tenets of our faith. We too easily forget that Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins and rose again to bring us eternal life.

Our Savior came into this world to liberate us from fear and dread. We no longer have death as a penalty for our sins. We enjoy true Christian liberty. We should never submit to man-made rules and regulations that separate us from our God and cause us to be in bondage of any kind. Christ's victory over sin, death and the grave has provided us with life in abundance.

We subject ourselves to needless religious bondage by following the rules of men that make sincere worship of the Lord a mockery. We subscribe to every popular religious theory that comes along in hopes of impressing God and acquiring His favor. In the process, we end up insulting our Creator Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, and forfeiting our Blood-bought freedom.

2Timothy 4:4 "And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."

We think we are pleasing God when we follow all our so-called church rules and regulations. We are being kept in bondage and exacting servitude, blinded, coerced and powerless. Yet we are afraid to challenge what we are taught. In many cases, we are subjecting ourselves to religious lies and the doctrines of demons. These will bring spiritual darkness and destruction on us.

There is but one God and His truth in the Gospel message. We should be very cautious when we hear of a new sect or denomination that purports to have an inside track to salvation. The only way to God is through the cross of Jesus Christ. No blend of secular humanism with science and fable will gain eternal life for us. We either believe the truth or we will perish for all eternity.

The people of God are being caught up in heresies and man-made traditions that deviate from the truth as we have been taught. We have to get back to the basics of our faith and repent of all our foolishness. The Lord is beckoning to each of us, "Be much with me." He wants to turn our captivity, deliver us from evil and gather us in to the safety and security of the Kingdom of God.

Anti-Christ Spirit

1John 4:1-3 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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."

Many believe that the Anti-Christ is a man that will be the devil incarnate, who wreaks havoc all over the earth in these last days and brands us with tattoos that read "666." I believe that anti-Christ spirits now dwell in many human forms that would defile and mislead God's people. Every supposed minister of the Gospel who glorifies himself rather than God, and leads men into chaos, confusion or religious bondage of any kind, is an accurate depiction of Anti-Christ in the Book of Revelation.

Anti-Christ spirits try to seduce us into thinking that we are righteous, despite the fact that we are not walking as the Lord would have us walk. They excuse sin and minimize the repercussions of it. They often deny the deity of Jesus Christ and elevate themselves to positions of authority with God's people when they are not divinely ordained or anointed for service. Their primary goals are profit and control and they stop at nothing to deceive us. They perpetrate various lies to coerce and manipulate us to do their will.

They are truly dangerous and demonically driven to blind men to the truth. The good news is that Jesus Christ defeated the devil and all his minions with His victory over sin, death and the grave. He restored dominion over the earth back to men. We do not have to put up with lies and deceit of any kind that comes wrapped in a "religious package." Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we can detect all error and deliberate falsehoods and banish them from our lives before they cause us harm.

Ezekiel 13:22 "Because with lies ye have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should not return from his wicked way, by promising him life: Therefore ye shall see no more vanity, nor divine divinations: for I will deliver my people out of your hand: and ye shall know that I am the Lord."

Every seducing spirit that would violate our free will, attempt to keep us is in bondage and harsh servitude is of the devil. Anyone that alters the truth of the Gospel message and twists it to his or her own advantage is operating in an anti-Christ spirit that will be exposed and abolished by the Lord Himself. All motives of power and greed that would seduce others in the name of religion will be revealed in the days to come and be severely punished. Those who mislead and exploit others will be consumed; all needless oppression and persecution of God's people will cease.

The Lord is holding us to much higher standards than ever before. A minister of the Gospel must be beyond reproach in what he teaches others. He should reflect the mercy, love and compassion of Jesus Christ Himself. It is critical that the Word of God itself be preached without compromise or alteration. No seeker-friendly social gospels that flatter men, instead of revealing the truth, will be tolerated. Secular humanism, hedonistic materialism and religious egomania will never replace the power of Jesus Christ's death and resurrection to save men from their sins.

The Gospel will be preached to the entire world. All men have to be confronted with the truth. They must believe that Christ died to save them from their sins, and that He rose again to give them eternal life. There is no other way to God except through the cross of Jesus Christ. We either accept the truth or we will perish. We must additionally be born again of water and the Holy Spirit in order to enter into the Kingdom of God. We should be baptized in our faith and ask the Lord to send His very own Spirit to us, so that we can grow and mature as His sons and daughters.

False Teachers

2Corinthians 11:13-15 "For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 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."

There are many so-called Christians in the world today that appear to have a form of religion but do not have a personal relationship with God. Their hearts are far from Him; they do not worship Him in Spirit and in truth. They walk in prideful, haughty, elitist spirits rather than genuine love for God and for others. They are self-righteous, religious, and criticize and condemn others.

They fancy themselves as "ultra holy" and often confer all sorts of self-appointed church titles on themselves that are meant to impress men and manipulate them. They may have no formal religious training or even be well schooled in the truth of God's Word. Yet they set themselves up as church leaders and spiritual advisors. Their motives are basically pride, profit and control.

These individuals are from the synagogue of Satan. They disguise themselves very cleverly, so that it is difficult to detect their error. They may be extremely intelligent and persuasive of speech. One thing that they lack is sincerity and the manifest power of God in their lives. They do not heal the sick or cast out demons of any kind. They could never raise the dead back to life.

Psalm 101:7 "He that worketh deceit shall not dwell within my house: he that telleth lies shall not tarry in my sight."

Sometimes they rise to leadership positions in our churches. Other times, they merely wait in the wings and seize every opportunity they can to influence others and impress them with their so- called spiritual gifts and dogmatic opinions. They offend us and cause strife and division in our fellowships. They are blight on the Body of Christ and should be purposely avoided at all times.

These individuals serve as enemy agents to get God's people off track and confuse them. They entice men with false promises and pervert the Gospel message. They glorify themselves rather than God, yet purport to have a special relationship with Him. The truth is that He does not know them. The Lord Himself will expose their lies and hold them strictly accountable for their actions.

One day in the very near future, He will expose all workers of deceit and punish them in the lake of fire. He has vengeance in His heart for anyone who has exploited His people. There will be safety and security in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will supply all of our needs, both temporal and spiritual. All men will know our God and worship Him in Spirit and in truth as He desires.

Matthew 23:13 "But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in [yourselves], neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in."

These false teachers are often judgmental and criticize those who do not believe as they do. They impose heavy yokes and burdens on others that they themselves ignore. They are hypocritical and self-serving. They are pretentious and religious, but lack God's power in their lives. They do not preach the truth of the Gospel, nor do they work miracles on His behalf. They are wolves in sheep's clothing that are out to destroy the Lord's people.

They teach men that God should be feared and dreaded, and that He punishes and dominates us, rather than lovingly encourages us to seek a personal relationship with Him. They impose all sorts of man-made rules and regulations on their followers. They try to convince us that the Lord sometimes ignores our prayers and that He allows bad things to happen to us to teach us a lesson. These are lies from hell and total perversions of the truth.

It is not the Lord's desire that any man perishes or is excluded from His Kingdom and its eternal blessings. Salvation through faith in Jesus Christ is available to all men everywhere without prejudice. None of us is inherently worthy of God's favor, but He makes redemption available to each of us. It is only through the operation of the Holy Spirit that we can learn the truth, be sanctified and attain godliness and perfection in our walk with the Lord.

Theft by Deception

Matthew 10:7-8 "And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give."

The people of God have become prey for the enemy in every area of our lives. We have been duped, deceived, and bilked out of our resources by charlatans from the synagogue of Satan. They lie in wait to oppress us when we are at our most vulnerable point. They promise us that our lives will improve if we accept their religious theories and financially support their efforts. They want us to help propagate their lies and underwrite their deceptive practices, so that others are led into spiritual destruction.

Sometimes we make contributions to our churches, thinking that this will somehow buy us God's favor. We often tithe and make sacrificial offerings out of fear, rather than devotion. We are coerced into a false sense of financial obligation by those who minister to us. They manipulate us to part with our money. The truth is that God does not need our cash, and Jesus never took up a collection during all His time in public ministry. Freely He gave of Himself, and freely men received.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ - to include prophecy, healing and deliverance - is not for rent, sale or lease. Those who purport to have supernatural gifts should be extremely careful that they do not extort money from God's people. The Lord will severely judge and punish anyone who exploits others in any way. He is particularly displeased with charismatic chicanery that mimics true spiritual manifestations. False prophets and supposed healers will soon be exposed as the lying thieves that they really are.

2Peter 2:19 "While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage."

It is one thing to contribute to the spread of the true Gospel message in mission fields around the world, and quite another matter if we are supporting local enemies in the pulpit. We should not promote erroneous religious doctrine, nor should we support it with our finances. We will be held accountable if we are proponents of lies that cause men to be held in bondage. The Lord expects us to use discernment and discretion in the use of our money at all times.

False teachers are very crafty and experts at coercion and exploitation. They often try to convince their followers to support their ministries with large gifts and offerings. They promise them spiritual blessings and favor for their financial commitments, even though they cannot deliver on these promises. The Lord is the source of all blessings, and He never extorts cash from us in return. He supplies all of our needs in abundance - generously and unconditionally.

We should always seek God's direction in our giving. He may have us tithe and make offerings to individuals who preach the uncompromised Gospel message. Perhaps He wants us to support various charities or contribute to the needs of the poor and disadvantaged. Whatever the Lord directs us to do with our finances is His prerogative. He supplies our needs and expects us to be good stewards of our wealth and distribution channels for His material resources.

Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?"

We must beware of religious mercenaries who travel between churches and are really just false prophets and errant teachers. They make their way into our fellowships and cause great harm to God's people. They attempt to influence us with so-called visions and words from God that they purport to receive. They may try to lead us in directions that are opposite of what the Lord has planned for us. They are often liars and manipulate us into supporting their fake ministries.

Their thoughts and behavior are not what the Lord desires in His teachers and ministers, although they make quite a show of pretended piety. They pray long and hard, but God is not mocked; He desires that we have sincere, contrite hearts and teachable, pliable spirits no matter who we are. He holds His teachers more accountable for the truth than the average believer. If a prophet has not heard a confirmable word from the Lord Himself, he has no authority to speak it.

Each of us can receive our own word of prophecy and direct revelation from our God. We can and do hear from Him on a regular basis. All we must do is pray and seek His wisdom, guidance and direction for our lives. Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, He will reveal all that we need to know. There is never a time that we should be without the Lord's input. He will always take the time to reach out to us in love, mercy and compassion and fellowship intimately with us.

Charismatic Chicanery

Mark 13:22 "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if [it were] possible, even the elect."

We should beware of false prophets that run rampant in the world today. They often have a unique twist on the Gospel message and purport to hear direct from God. The truth is that He does not know them. They are of the synagogue of Satan himself. They lie, cheat and steal from us in the name of religion, but their hearts are far from God and His way of doing things. They work bogus signs and wonders to attract our attention, but God is not the source of their power.

False prophets want us to believe that the power of God operates in their lives, but they cannot replicate the genuine truth. They make quite an ostentatious show in practicing their religion. However, they do not heal the sick, cast out demons or raise the dead, as only the righteous are able to do. They do not preach the full Gospel, nor do they promote salvation of men's souls unto eternal life. They seldom, if ever, point us to the Word of God for guidance and direction.

They are anti-Christ pretenders who make fools out of sincere seekers of truth. They conduct sacrilegious religious services that make a mockery out of true praise and worship. They are entertainers at best, but poor excuses for men of God. They try to convince us that they hear straight from heaven and that we need their teachings and their intercession to save our souls from damnation. They deny Jesus Christ with their very conduct and He does not know them.

Matthew 24:4 "And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you."

It is easy for us to be deceived by charismatic individuals that put on religious dog and pony shows. They are very crafty and almost convince us that they are the real thing. They say that have had prophetic dreams, visions and angelic visitations. They may be eloquent speakers and gifted writers. They go to great lengths to persuade us of their authenticity, but we should be suspect and put a halt to their practices. They are often anti-Christ in spiritual orientation.

They claim to hear from God and have an inside track to salvation. They try to convince us that He wants us to do certain things that may not always be in accordance with His will or His Word. Their advice is often shallow and worldly and can lead us into spiritual destruction. We must be very wary of their words and seek the Lord Himself for confirmation in all things. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth, so that we can be sure that we heard from God.

Hebrews 2:3-4 "How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard [him]; God also bearing [them] witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?"

Some charismatic individuals claim to have genuine gifts of healing and prophecy. They make their way from church to church in an effort to solicit fees, gifts and offerings to support their so-called ministries. They make elaborate claims to have heard from God and say that they possess special spiritual gifts. They are full of fanfare and act much like circus entertainers.

No mixture of hype with sanctimonious showmanship should be permitted to seduce us into abandoning our genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He did for us. Jesus was the "real deal" and any purported minister of the Gospel that tries to pervert His teachings or merchandise His ministry outreach methods will be destroyed in the wrath of His coming.

Our Lord and Savior worked healing signs and wonders to attest to the truth of what He taught us. He did not engage in the miraculous to draw attention to Himself or to beguile those who followed Him. Jesus never worked miracles as a crowd pleaser. He simply manifested the anointing power and authority of God to confirm that He was genuine and specifically sent to us.

There is no evidence in the scriptures that Christ or His followers ever charged fees or accepted gratuities for their service to mankind. We should be very suspect of charismatics, who abuse their power to extort monetary offerings from the people. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is not to be contaminated in any way, nor should it be mass-marketed for the benefit of the greedy.

The Search for Truth

Jeremiah 3:15 "And I will give you pastors according to mine heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding."

The Lord anoints, and only He appoints, who should guide His people in their search for the truth. Many so-called ministers of the Gospel would do well to resign their positions before they lead more men to destruction and invite a harsh judgment on themselves. The Lord will no longer blink the eye at false teachers and self-appointed religious clerics with anti-Christ tactics. He abhors anything that leads His people astray; it is not His desire that any man should perish.

He will replace all charlatans and enemies in the pulpit with shepherds that truly care for His flock and teach the unmitigated truth of the Gospel message. They will walk in divine power and authority, and draw many to the faith with their godly example and sound preaching. They will minister healing and deliver the afflicted and demonically oppressed. They will usher God's people into His Kingdom in unprecedented numbers, and enjoy the rewards of righteousness for all time.

1John 2:27 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him."

If we have been born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit, we really have no need that any man should instruct us in righteousness and godliness. We can personally seek the Lord's will and direction for our lives. He will lead us and guide us, and fill us to the overflow with His knowledge, truth, wisdom and understanding. It would be in our best interest if we sought direction from the Lord direct, rather than rely on human teachers that can twist spiritual truths.

We can no longer ignore the Lord's moral absolutes and disobey His commandments. We will soon face a fearsome judgment for our rebellion and lawlessness. None of us will be able to withstand His wrath if we continue behaving as we have been. We should seek His presence, His way of doing things and being right more than anything else. His Word in the sacred scriptures is His final authority, and it teaches us all that we need to know to serve Him effectively.

Every sincere believer that sanctifies Himself for divine service is capable of preaching the Word of God and working miracles, signs and wonders to attest to our faith. In the days ahead, the Lord will confer His anointing power and authority on ordinary men, women and children who desire to expand the Kingdom of God and bring in the end-time harvest of souls that is necessary. We will preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead as Christ did.

Romans 8:27 "And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what [is] the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to [the will of] God."

The Holy Spirit will convict us of all our sins and strengthen us to sanctify ourselves of all that is worldly. He will lead and guide us into all truth, so that we abide with the Lord at all times. Our relationship with God and His Holy Spirit is paramount. We need direction that only the Lord can provide. We have eternal callings and divine destinies that must be fulfilled in the days to come. It is critical that we hear from our God directly and be obedient to do all that He asks of us.

The Lord insists that all of His followers walk in mercy and compassion for others, and share the powerful truth of the Gospel message with all men. He wants our motives and methods to be beyond reproach, so that we can be living testimonies to His love and kindness, mercy and compassion to all of mankind. Each of us should be walking in full authority and persuading all men to embrace the truth, so that they can join us in the Kingdom of God and inherit eternal blessings.

If we have been born again and baptized with water and the Holy Spirit, then the Lord dwells in each of us to the fullest extent possible. He works in us and through us to impact the lives of others. We can all share our faith and work miracles, signs and wonders in God's name, if we have completely sanctified and consecrated ourselves for His holy purpose. We are capable of healing the sick, casting out demons and even raising the dead as Christ did during His ministry.

We Have Serious Responsibilities

Isaiah 33:14 "The sinners in Zion are afraid; fearfulness hath surprised the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?"

The Lord is not placated by our religious intentions. He is not into our pomp or ceremony. He is not impressed by mysterious ritual or meaningless recitation of memorized prayers and long litanies. He can see right through pretense into the inner heart of a man and determine who is sincere. He will destroy all false religion that has kept His people in bondage and exacting servitude. He will abolish all Babylonian religious practices that are hypocritical and meaningless to Him. He will have a people who will all worship Him in Spirit and in truth in the days ahead.

We were created for intimate fellowship with our God. He wants our heart-felt devotion and our obedience to His will. He desires open, honest communication with us, and strict adherence to His guidance and direction for our lives. He expects us to seek the truth by asking Him for wisdom, knowledge and understanding. He wants us to search out what He has told us in the Bible, as the Word of God. It is not His will that we be led astray into lies and eternal damnation. We have discernment available through the Holy Spirit to detect falsehood and openly rebuke it.

Romans 16:17 "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."

We are to be walking in love and unity with one another as believers in the Lord, Jesus Christ. Anyone who tries to stir up strife and division among us with unsound doctrine should be avoided. We all know the truth that has set us free. The Holy Spirit abides in each of us, and leads and guides us. We must cleanse ourselves of all that defiles us in any way. We are to believe the uncompromised Gospel message; Christ died to save each us from eternal damnation. It is only through our total faith in Him that we are eligible to receive eternal life and all its many blessings.

All hypocritical religious spirits will be destroyed in the wrath of Christ's coming. He abhors anything that deceives His people. He is our only true standard for righteousness, and all self-righteousness will be revealed as a sham. We will all be judged one day in the very near future. It would be wise for us to examine our consciences and reevaluate our priorities. Only those who know the truth, walk in love and do the will of the Father will enter into the Kingdom of God, while those who have led His people into perdition will all be destroyed in the lake of fire.

2Samuel 22:31 "[As for] God, his way [is] perfect; the word of the LORD [is] tried: he [is] a buckler to all them that trust in him."

The Bible is the yardstick by which we should measure all spiritual truth. If a doctrine does not line up with the Word of God and give glory to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and acknowledge His death and resurrection, then it is a false teaching that should be exposed and avoided at all costs. There is no way to approach God except through the cross of Jesus Christ.

The truth of the Gospel message is readily available to each of us. However, it involves our personal effort to search it out and make certain that it is true. What we allow into our minds, eyes, ears and hearts must line up with what God Himself teaches us in the sacred scriptures. This information will impact us in all that we think, say and do and affect our eternal salvation.

Ephesians 5:8-13 "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them]. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

We are responsible to walk in the light we have, and we will be held strictly accountable for what we believe. We should seek the truth with all our strength and never settle for second best. We have wisdom and discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit to sift through religious lies, man-made traditions and doctrines of demons. He will lead and guide us, so that we are never deceived or confused ever again.

We have the right and the responsibility to refuse lies and insist on the truth. We must be very wary of what we put in our minds, hearts and spirits. We should resist all teaching that defiles us and threatens to lead us into damnation. We should expose false teachers and charismatic charlatans and warn others of their motives and methods. We should never accept any religious practices that glorify men over God.

We should believe and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ crucified and resurrected, and help to destroy all Babylonian religious systems that hold men in needless bondage. The Lord will bless us for our boldness and empower us to work miraculous signs and wonders to attract others in support of our faith. It is His greatest desire that all men be reconciled to Him and believe the truth that will set them free for all eternity.

Getting Back to the Basics of Our Faith

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin [is] death; but the gift of God [is] eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

All men have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. We cannot make restitution for our sinfulness through our own efforts. The wages of sin are death, and without faith in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we will suffer spiritual and physical death. The Lord sent His very own Son into the world, so that all men might be saved through Him. Jesus was our mediator and our sacrificial victim. He paid our sin debt, so that we would not have to suffer death as a penalty for our sins. He was the innocent Lamb of God and the only fitting substitute for us.

Christ was totally sinless and perfectly obedient unto death. He took on all our transgression, as if it were His very own. He laid down His life of His own volition, and was the perfect sacrificial offering for the sins of all mankind. His obedience unto death provided us with a divine exchange of sin for pardon. He restored us to right standing with God for all time, and His resurrection from the dead is our guarantee of eternal life. If we believe in Him with all our hearts and confess Him as our Savior, we will be saved and born again as new creatures in Christ.

Romans 6:4 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life."

We should then be baptized with water as an outward sign of the inward change that takes place in us. We become dead to sin and the process of spiritual regeneration begins. Our minds will be renewed in the truth and our behavior totally transformed. We can then ask the Lord for the baptism in the Holy Spirit and He will give it to us. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth and convict us of sin if we miss the mark. We will develop spiritual attributes that are like those of God Himself, so that we can grow in godliness and become holy and perfect.

The Lord desires a people who are pure and innocent. He wants us to be sanctified in the truth and genuine in our praise and worship of Him. He never asks us to do anything that violates our free will or makes a mockery out of true worship. He is interested in our sincere love and devotion, not blind obedience out of fear and constraint. His heart is always open to His people; we need not do anything special to attract His attention or glean His blessings. He wants to be a Father to us and supply all that we need to be happy, healthy and prosperous.

Jesus' victory over sin, death and the grave is our assurance of victory over all forms of false religion. He made an open show of Satan and all his principalities and powers, the Bible tells us. The enemy was defeated at the cross and he has to relinquish all his attempts at mind control that create chaos, confusion, strife and division among us. We should expose all religious lies that would deceive us and separate us from one another. We should be unified in our faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and fellowship as brothers with all who believe in Him.

2Corinthians 5:17-18 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things [are] of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; "

The Lord created us for ongoing, intimate fellowship with Him. That plan was disrupted in the Garden of Eden and He was compelled to develop an alternate plan of reconciliation. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, into the world to save us from all our sins and restore us to right standing with Him. Christ died and rose from the dead to give us all the blessings of eternal life.

Jesus was sinless and perfect and He taught us a basic fundamental truth in His law of love. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Christ did not come to abolish the Ten Commandments of the law. He came to fulfill them and simplify them for our understanding, so that we could fully obey them at all times.

Following the Lord's moral absolutes is not optional for us. We must avoid all teaching that excuses or minimizes sin in favor of doctrines of universal salvation. Many are called to the Kingdom of God, but only those who are righteous and walking in love will actually enter in. The Lord is not obligated to endorse any gospel that encourages lawlessness and rebellion.

If we do sin and miss the mark, we must repent from the heart and renounce our sin. If we are sincere, the Lord will be merciful and compassionate to us and forgive us once again. He will even blot our sin from His memory and reinstate all of our blessings for righteousness. We have become new creatures in Christ and our right standing with God should never be in question.

Romans 13:9 "For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if [there be] any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

The total requirement of the law is satisfied in the law of love. When we put God first in all things and love others as we love ourselves, we are deemed righteous before God and will not even think to break any of the Ten Commandments. Sin offends God and hurts others; if we walk in real love for the Lord and for our fellow man, we will not sin and transgress any of God's laws. That would violate Christ's law of love and be deliberately rebellious.

We will walk in personal integrity and comply with the Lord's will for our lives. We will examine our consciences and evaluate our thoughts, motives and behavior to see if they line up with God's Word. We will grow in spiritual maturity and imitate the laid down life of Jesus Christ Himself. We will cultivate spiritual attributes and be focused on the Lord and others rather than ourselves. We will praise and worship God with unfeigned love, as He deserves.

The Lord desires that we offer up our lives in sacrificial service. In the days to come, ordinary men, women and children will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom under the anointing power of God Himself. There will be no more deviation from the truth. All men will know the Lord, from the least to the greatest. His people called after His name, will walk in the miraculous and heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead back to life again.

Babylon Is Doomed To Destruction

Revelation 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 Lord is dispatching His angels to root out all evil on the face of the earth, even prior to Christ's return. They are gathering His elect from all over the world in preparation for the coming of His Kingdom to the earth. He is calling out the Body of Christ, His end-times army, to overthrow all demonic strongholds that would impede its progress.

All Babylonian religious strongholds will be destroyed in the wake of God's powerful, sweeping advance. False teachers will be exposed as the anti-Christ charlatans that they really are. Mankind will finally be delivered from the man-made traditions that pollute and control them, and embrace the fundamental truth of the Gospel message.

The Body of Christ will preach the uncompromised Word of God that has the power to save men unto eternal life. They will encourage everyone to repent of their sins and be baptized in the one true faith. If men are sincere and ask the Lord for His Holy Spirit, they will be able to comprehend the truth and change their lives for the better.

It is comparatively simple to walk with the Lord in a close, intimate relationship. We must simply repent of our sins, submit our lives to Him and strive for righteousness in all that we think, say and do. If we embrace the powerful truth of the Gospel message, we will be saved to eternal life and inherit the blessings of the Kingdom of God.

Psalm 119:104-107 "Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments. I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto the word."

We must make the decision to embrace the truth rather than lies. We may have been misled and misguided in the past, but we are now set free. We have an obligation to sift through all that we have been taught, and reject anything that does not meet the test of sound doctrine. The Word of God is our ultimate authority, and lights our path towards righteous living.

In the days to come, Jesus Christ and the power of His death and resurrection will be preached to all men, with miraculous signs and wonders manifesting to attract them to the truth. There will be mass healings and many captives set free from enemy oppression. The dead will be raised back to life as a dramatic sign that God loves us and wants what is best for us.

The Holy Spirit of God will move over the face of the entire earth and convict men of their sins. He will lead them and guide them into all truth, and facilitate their understanding of key Biblical doctrines. Men everywhere will be set free in the truth, so that they can enjoy eternal life and all of its benefits in the Kingdom of God when it comes to the earth realm.

Psalm 33:12 "Blessed [is] the nation whose God [is] the LORD; [and] the people [whom] he hath chosen for his own inheritance."

The Lord is calling out to His people to be a holy nation in and of itself, but we must first cleanse ourselves of all defilement of the body, soul and spirit. It is critical that we sanctify ourselves and prepare to meet our Creator. We have divine destinies that will be fulfilled in the very near future and we must be consecrated and dedicated to the Lord's eternal plan and purpose.

The end-time harvest of souls will be brought in and even the nation of Israel will be converted and baptized into our faith. All the nations of the world will be impacted, as their governments are restructured and reorganized to adhere to Kingdom principles of fairness and equality for all men. There will finally be peace on the earth and men will walk in genuine love and unity.

God will show Himself strong on our behalf and turn our captivity right before our eyes. He will usher us into His Kingdom for all of eternity, so that we might enjoy blessings instead of spiritual darkness and oppression. He will actually take up residence with His people, and we will enjoy an intimate relationship with Him as He intended from the very foundation of the world.

He will be a God to us, and we will be His people called after His holy name. The Lord will soon be at the center of our lives, not an after-thought. We will worship Him in Spirit and in truth for all eternity. Every man will know God, from the least to the greatest. He will be glorified on the earth as He is in heaven, and we will give Him all the thanks, honor and praise that He deserves.

Topics for Discussion

1. Describe Dead Religion
2. Hypocrisy
3. A Spirit of Religion
4. Legalism
5. Anti-Christ Spirit
6. Getting Back to the Basics of Our Faith
7. Babylon is Doomed to Destruction

Chapter 3 - Fundamentals of Our Faith

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

We eventually come to realize that we are not right with our God and we search for a more meaningful relationship with Him. If we are truly sorry for all our sins and determined to have new and improved lives, the Lord will have mercy and compassion on us. He will lead and guide us into salvation through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ, and His atonement for all of our sins.

None of us is inherently worthy to receive our salvation, but the Lord purposes that we all be reconciled to Him. We have our redemption made available to us by the grace of God. We must believe that Jesus Christ died to save us from our sins, and that He rose again to give us eternal life. We are saved only through our faith in Christ, not by any of our works in the flesh.

It is possible for us to be at peace with God and have a close, personal relationship with Him. It is His greatest desire to fellowship intimately with us. We were created in His very own image and likeness to spend all of eternity in His presence. However, there is no way to approach God except through the cross of Jesus Christ. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

Salvation by Faith in Christ

Romans 10:8-10 "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, [even] in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is simple to understand, yet powerful for changing lives. God so loved us that He sent His only Son to the world, so that those who believe in Him might have eternal life. However, those who deny Christ will receive eternal condemnation. We must make the all-important choice to accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, so that we no longer have death as a penalty for all of our sinfulness. Christ came to deliver us from the curse of death.

We should repent of our sins and turn towards God in an effort to reconcile ourselves with Him. We must believe in our hearts that Jesus Christ was God made man, and that He died for us and rose again from the dead. If we do believe, and confess Him with our mouths as Lord and Savior, we will be saved. He died to restore us to right standing with God and to give us eternal life. When we are born again in our spirit man, we become joint-heirs with Christ to all the promises for righteousness and we are baptized with water as a sign of our spiritual rebirth in Him.

Our relationship with God ultimately becomes personal and intimate. We are treated as His very own sons and daughters. We are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself. When the Lord sees us, He sees Jesus in all of His righteousness, and we can go boldly to the throne of grace with every need. If we have faith that God hears our prayers, we also know that He will answer them and supply everything we need in our lives.

We are able to honor Christ's life and death through the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. When we bless the bread and wine and partake of it reverently, as if it were the Body and Blood of Christ Himself, we commemorate His suffering and death on our behalf. This is a fitting tribute to our Lord and Savior and communion can be taken corporately or in the privacy of our own home, as long as we are sincere and respectful. Christ encouraged us all to participate in this rite in remembrance of Him. We should do so prayerfully, with love and gratitude in our hearts.

Heirs Of Eternal Life

John 17:2 "As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him."

Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, the unspotted Lamb of God. He laid down His deity and took on human form during His time on the earth. Although He was perfect and without sin Himself, Christ paid our sin debt with His death on the cross, and provided us with a divine exchange of sin for pardon. This is the doctrine of the atonement, and if we believe in it, we will be saved unto eternal life with all its blessings.

If we sin after having received our salvation through Jesus Christ, we have the obligation to repent and renounce our sin. If we do so sincerely, the Lord will immediately restore us to right standing with Him. He will even blot our iniquity from His memory. We will walk in all the fullness of our blessings for righteousness. The Lord will hear all our prayers and provide all our needs as if we had never sinned.

Religion will never impress God, but relationship does interest Him very much. He created us for intimate fellowship with Him and desires that all men come to know the truth that sets them free of dead religion to have a personal relationship with Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. He wants our day-to-day devotion, not a weekly attempt at placating Him. His primary goal is to have us know Him as our Creator and Father.

The Lord does not want to manipulate our lives or force Himself on us. He makes salvation available to all men, but does not compel them to receive it. He wants us to willingly choose righteousness over sin. If we do believe in Jesus Christ and all that He did for us, we will never have to experience any separation from God. We will live forever in His presence. However, if we reject the truth, we will be eternally damned.

Titus 3:7 "That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

Jesus Christ died so that we don't have to suffer the penalty of death for our sins. We are restored to right standing with God because of His perfect obedience on our behalf. We have become heirs to eternal life and better promises than our ancestors ever had. It may be difficult to believe, but we are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself. We are the sons and daughters of almighty God and we can approach the throne of grace with any need.

We become new creatures in Christ and the work of regeneration begins in us. Our minds are renewed in the truth and our behavior is totally transformed so that we become more Christ-like. As we mature spiritually, our relationship with God becomes stronger and He is able to reveal our divine destinies to us, so that we can receive all the power and authority He intends. We partner with Him in reaching out to others and share our faith with them, so that they can be set free.

Sin no longer reigns over us; we overcome the world, our flesh and the devil. Spiritual matters become more important to us than material things. We keep all of the commandments and walk in love as the Lord expects of us. We grow and mature in the things of God and are grateful for His favor. We put Him first in all things and treat others, as we ourselves hope to be treated. We walk in the Holy Spirit rather than our flesh, so that we can do the works that Jesus Christ did on the earth.

Children of God

Galatians 3:22-26 "But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. But before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster [to bring us] unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster. For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus."

All men have missed the mark and fallen short of the glory of God. Without our faith in Jesus Christ, we are doomed to eternal damnation for our sins. We are without hope and permanently separated from our God. We are obligated to live by the Old Testament law, which was our schoolmaster. It was so detailed and intricate that no man could attain to its perfection.

The law was created to keep men on track and to prevent them from straying from the standard that God expected of them. It was a guideline for daily living that was so stringent, that it was impossible for them to follow it to the letter. It involved intense cleansing rituals and mandated that specific sacrifices be made for various sins, but it never restored true righteousness to men.

It is only by our faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement for all of our sins that we are saved. We are actually children of God by faith. We have a royal family that provides all our needs and protects us from all harm. We are no longer bound by the works of the law, but enjoy true Christian liberty. We can communicate with our Father and His Son any time we choose.

We are seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself. We go boldly to the throne of grace and make all our needs known as sons and daughters of the living God. We need not beg or grovel for attention. The Lord is ever ready and willing to hear from us. Our relationship is strong and intimate; we can share our innermost thoughts and feelings with Him.

Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together."

We are the children of almighty God, if we accept that Christ died to redeem us from our sins and give us eternal life. We are joint-heirs with Him and have rights and privileges. We are seated with Him in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself. We can approach the throne of grace at any time and for any reason, and the Lord will hear our prayers. We are no longer estranged from Him in any way.

We have favor with God through the merits of His Son, Jesus Christ. We relate to our Father through the work of the cross. Christ's death restored our right standing with God once and for all, so that there is no longer a separation between God and man. We are deemed righteous only by our faith in Christ, and that alone. We receive great and wonderful promises as a result of our faith, and we are blessed in all we do.

However, we cannot ever take our salvation for granted. We must sanctify ourselves of all worldliness and sin. We should lay down our personal lives and present our bodies as living sacrifices to the Lord in service to Him and His people. We must keep all of His commandments and walk in love. We have eternal callings and divine destinies that must be fulfilled, so that we can share in Christ's honor and glory.

One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism

Ephesians 4:4-6 "[There is] one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who [is] above all, and through all, and in you all."

It is possible to know and understand our God; He wants to share Himself intimately with us. However, we cannot develop a clear understanding of His nature and all of His characteristics, unless we comprehend the concept of the Holy Trinity. God is three distinct and different personalities in one integrated godhead - Father, Son and Holy Spirit - all at the same time. The Holy Trinity is a unified whole; God is one Supreme Being with three separate parts.

He is Father, Son and Holy Spirit simultaneously. His power and glory fully permeate each of His identities. God the Father is our Creator; Jesus Christ is our Redeemer; the Holy Spirit of God is our Comforter and Counselor. The Lord wants us to understand the different aspects of His character, so that we can relate to Him as our God at all levels. There is no more separation between God and man. The triune God actually dwells in us in all fullness, if we are born again.

Believers are all one with Him and in Him - we are one Body in Christ. God Himself took up residence in our spirits when we made Jesus our Lord and Savior by faith. His death and resurrection brought us eternal life. There is no other truth under heaven by which men must be saved. When we are born again and confess Christ as Savior, we should be baptized with water in the one true faith, to symbolize our death to sin and our brand new lives in Christ.

Romans 6:4-8 "Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with [him], that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:"

Baptism with water is critical to our salvation experience. It is an outward sign of an inward change that takes place in us, when we are saved and born again in Jesus Christ. It signifies that we willingly submit ourselves to the same rite that Christ Himself did. The waters of baptism cleanse us from our sins and serve as a reminder to remain sin free and righteous at all times.

When we are baptized, we die to ourselves and are raised to the newness of life. We become new creatures in Christ and He actually dwells in us in all His righteousness. We imitate His laid down life and walk in love for God and for others. We renounce all known sin, mature spiritually and strive for holiness and perfection, just as the Lord is holy and perfect.

Our eternal destinies are revealed to us, and we desire the things of God more than the things of the world. We lay down our carnal desires and soul ambitions in favor of the Lord's will for our lives. Our minds are renewed in the truth and our behavior becomes completely transformed. The process of regeneration takes time and will be ongoing in us until we see Christ face-to-face.

Colossians 2:12-13" Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;"

We have been redeemed from the curse of the law through our faith in Christ and His victory over sin on our behalf. We have been baptized with Him unto death and raised with Him to eternal life. We have rights and privileges that we have not even begun to explore. We also become eligible to enter in the Kingdom of God and enjoy all its blessings for righteousness.

Our right standing with God has been restored for all time. We have an intimate relationship with the Lord and we can approach Him on a very favorable basis. The Bible tells us that we are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself. We are sons and daughters of God, legal heirs to better covenant promises than our ancestors had.

We can go boldly to the throne of grace with every need and be assured that we are heard. No need is too small, nor any problem too great. The Lord will assist us in all that we require to lead healthy, happy and prosperous lives. He will empower us to be successful in all that we do. We will have favor and grace with Him all the days of our lives and into eternity itself.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

We can also ask the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and He will freely send it to us. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us into all truth. We may receive our supernatural prayer language and God's very own Spirit will fill us with all Spiritual fruit. Among these are love, faith, joy, peace, temperance, meekness, goodness and longsuffering. Spiritual fruit will enable us to overcome our fleshly desires and soul ambitions, so that we walk in total victory in every area of our lives.

It is possible for us to grow in spiritual maturity and godly behavior to the point that we attain holiness and perfection, just as God Himself is holy and perfect. We must walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh, and the Lord will purge us and cleanse us of all unrighteousness. We will eventually achieve total spiritual perfection as the Kingdom of God is ushered in on the earth. We will actually dwell there in the presence of God Himself, and nothing evil can co-exist with Him.

John 3:5 "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."

We should be baptized in our new faith with water and the Holy Spirit in order to enter the Kingdom of God one day. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward change that takes place in us, when we make Christ our Lord and Savior. Water baptism is simple, yet imperative for the new believer. It signifies that he is cleansed and dead to sin, buried with Christ and risen in the newness of life. The baptism with the Holy Spirit is also essential for the new believer to receive.

If we ask the Lord to send His Holy Spirit to us, He most definitely will do so. His very own Spirit will overshadow us and completely indwell our spirit man, impacting our lives for all eternity. We may receive our spiritual prayer language. We can then pray in other tongues and make direct spiritual contact with the Lord. The Holy Spirit of God will convict us of sin, and lead us and guide us into all righteousness. He will reveal all truth to us. Spiritual fruit will eventually emerge in our lives and enhance our relationship with God and with others.

We receive Spiritual manifestations, gifts and callings that enable us to optimally serve the Lord and His people. If we develop them to their fullest, we will become spiritually mature and walk like Christ Himself walked on the earth. We have eternal destinies that will be fulfilled in the very near future, and we must sanctify ourselves of all that contaminates us. Our righteousness will never be in question if we aspire to holiness and perfection, just as God is holy and perfect.

Titus 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;"

The process of regeneration takes time. We are literally changed from the inside out. After we are born again, our spirit man takes ascendancy to our flesh and souls. Our minds are eventually renewed and we are transformed from glory to glory, as we walk with the Lord in close fellowship. However, we must continually sanctify ourselves, renounce all sin and strive for holiness.

We all miss the mark from time to time, and fall short of the glory of God. The good news is that we have unmerited favor - justification by grace - through our faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His death and resurrection. We enjoy undeserved mercy and compassion from God despite what we may have done in the past. We need only repent and believe, to be made righteous.

The Lord understands our human frailty and is quick to overlook our shortcomings. If we do sin after having received such a great salvation, we should always be quick to repent and turn from all our unrighteousness. God will forgive us and restore us to right standing with Him. He even blots our transgression from His memory and reinstates all of our blessings as before.

It is possible, through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God at work in us, to remain sin free and strive for holiness and perfection just as God is holy and perfect. The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and leads and guides us into all truth. Spiritual fruit grow and develop in us to permit us a closer walk with God. Spiritual manifestations, gifts and callings enable us to serve others.

Justification by Faith

Romans 3:22-28 "Even the righteousness of God [which is] by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth [to be] a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; To declare, [I say], at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus. Where [is] boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith. Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law."

The doctrine of salvation is critical for our understanding. We are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ, and by that alone. We cannot earn righteousness by the law or through our good works. We have grace with God, and through our faith in the redeeming work of His Son our sinfulness is no longer an issue. If we have made Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, we will have eternal life.

When God see us, He sees Jesus in all of His righteousness, because we were bought with His very own Blood sacrifice in atonement for our sins. He sees us as perfect and sinless and we are able to enter into His presence on a regular basis. We can fellowship with Him intimately and have all of our prayers heard. The Lord provides all of our needs and sustains us in all we do.

However, we cannot ever be deliberately rebellious and transgress God's law. We must follow all of His commandments and protect our righteousness at all times, so that we remain in right standing with Him. If we miss the mark and fall short of God's glory, we must earnestly repent of our sin and renounce it. The Lord is merciful and compassionate and will gladly forgive us again.

Sanctification should be our ongoing goal. We cannot be both worldly and spiritually minded. We must make the important decision to crucify our flesh and subdue our souls, in favor of the Lord's eternal plans for us. If we are emptied of ourselves, He can fill us with His very own anointing power to serve Him in the critical days that lie ahead, before heaven is ushered into the earth.

Galatians 2:16 "Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified."

We are not justified by works of the law; we enjoy perfect Christian liberty. We have been set free from the power of sin to destroy us and separate us from God for all time. We should no longer feel unworthy or ashamed. We are under no guilt or condemnation; we are justified by our very faith in Christ, and by that alone. We don't have to do anything special to approach the Lord; we can do so with clear consciences. He is eager and willing to hear from us.

The Lord delights in fellowshipping with His people. He created us in His very own image and likeness to be His companions for all of eternity. Contrary to what some may believe, our God actually wants to be involved in our daily lives and communicate with us on a regular basis. We are His very own sons and daughters, and He is proud of us. He will supply all of our needs; sustain us in all that we do; and empower us to be successful in service to all of mankind.

We have grace in all that we do. When we miss the mark and make mistakes, we can ask God for forgiveness once again. He is ever ready to hear our penitential prayers if they come from sincere hearts. If we repent and turn from all evil, He will forgive us and reinstate all our rewards for righteousness. We are covered by the Blood of Jesus Christ Himself. The Lord treats us with love, mercy and compassion, and blots all our sin from His memory.

Fear, Doubt and Unbelief

Hebrews 10:38 "Now the just shall live by faith: but if [any man] draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him."

We have eternal destinies as the children of God. We are to walk as Christ walked on the earth, and do what He did during His ministry. The Lord wants to freely supply all that we need - both spiritual and temporal requirements - for all eternity. All that we must do is believe in God and trust in His provision, to enjoy all that heaven has available to us. He will never leave us or forsake us, and He showers us with blessings in abundance to meet every need.

Our faith assures us that we can ask God for all that we require. However, there are times when our prayers are not answered as quickly as we might like them to be. We may become afraid, begin to doubt and slip into unbelief. At times such as this, we must discipline ourselves to have continued faith and patience, so that we can indeed reap our promised rewards. We should persevere in prayer, and actually believe that we have what we ask even before it manifests.

So too, it can be intimidating to think that the Lord has a calling on our lives to serve Him. He will never assign anything for us to do that He doesn't equip us to handle totally and completely. His anointing power and authority is conferred on any believer that has consecrated himself for its use. The Lord can and will use anyone who is willing and obedient. He will have us preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead.

Romans 4:20 "He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;"

The Lord hates fear, doubt and unbelief because they are opposed to our faith. They come from Satan, the very enemy of our souls. He is out to steal our blessings and destroy us, if at all possible. He comes at us through our minds and emotions and even through other people. If he can get us off track and into erroneously thinking that God does not care for us any more, he may be able to disturb our faith to the point that we abandon our trust in God and turn away from Him.

The good news is that the devil is a totally defeated foe; Christ made an open show of him with His victory over sin, death and the grave. All we must do is enforce that defeat in our own individual lives. We can and should take dominion over every effort of the enemy to oppress us by doing spiritual warfare of our own. We can rebuke and bind him with our words of faith; cast him out of all our affairs; and loose a multitude of blessings that he would otherwise steal from us.

The promises of God are more powerful than any doubt, fear and unbelief that the enemy can ever hand us. We should focus on the Lord and all that He has promised us, to see tangible manifestations of His goodness in our lives. He will never leave us empty-handed or cause us to be ashamed for our faith. We can totally rely on Him to keep His word and make good on all He has planned for us. We give the utmost glory to God when we trust Him and walk in total faith.

Faith With Works

James 2:17-20 "Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"

The stronger our faith grows, the more mature and Christ-like we become in our spiritual lives. Christ did not come to abolish the law, but to fulfill it during His life on the earth. He taught us to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength and to love others as we love ourselves. If we walk in genuine love, we will fulfill the total requirement of the Old Testament law without having to adhere to its stringent demands and excessive cleansing rituals.

We are justified by our faith in Jesus Christ, and by that alone. However, we cannot simply rest on our laurels and wait for God to do good things for us. We must step out in faith and claim all of our Blood bought promises for righteousness. We are sons and daughters of the most high God. We have power and authority conferred on us through our faith in Jesus Christ. We should walk the earth just as He did, doing good to all men. We have divine destinies to fulfill and we must be about our Father's work.

Faith without works is a dead faith. We must continuously strive for godliness by walking our faith out in our daily lives. If we see others in need, we should provide assistance any way that we can. We should be loving, merciful and compassionate and treat all men, as we ourselves would hope to be treated. So too, if the Lord asks us to do something, we should be quick and obedient to respond. After all that He does for us, it's the very least that we can do for Him.

James 2:24 "Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only."

We have divine callings and eternal destinies that must be fulfilled. We are the Body of Christ on the earth. We will spread our faith and work miracles of healing and deliverance. We will preach the Gospel and work miraculous signs and wonders to attract all men to our faith. We need not ever fear that we will be incapable of doing what is required of us.

The Lord will give us a full anointing of Christ's very own power and authority to do the seemingly impossible in the days ahead as we complete His ministry on the earth. All that we must do is be sanctified for His use and be willing and obedient to His guidance and direction. We should follow His example and do only what we are told to do, and speak what we are asked to speak.

The Body of Christ will restructure and reorganize all world governments, so that they line up with Kingdom principles of righteousness, fairness and justice for all men. There will finally be peace and order on the earth and men everywhere will learn to walk in love and unity. The Lord's laws will eventually be written in their minds and hearts for all time.

We will restore all of creation back to its original beauty and balance and regulate the climate, so that there are no more natural disasters. We will destroy all enemy strongholds that interfere with our work or impede our progress in ushering in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will be with us in all we are assigned to do and we will fulfill our divine commission totally and completely.

Unity of the Faith

Ephesians 4:13 "Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:"

If all believers walk in love and unity with one another, we can do great things for the Lord and dramatically change things on the earth even before Christ returns. We can accomplish a great deal in working cooperatively as a team. If we are willing to lay down our fleshly desires and abandon our own personal goals in favor of the Lord's eternal plan and purpose for our lives, we will help to restore all of creation and bring peace and order to the earth.

As we grow in our faith and successfully overcome all worldly distractions, we will walk more in the realm of the Holy Spirit of God and grow in spiritual maturity. We will be vessels sanctified for God's use. The Lord will be able to work through us mightily in ushering in the Kingdom of God on the earth. We will impact the entire world through evangelization of our faith and the performance of miraculous signs and wonders that will attract all men to our God.

If we are found to be consistent and trustworthy, we will be empowered with Christ's very own anointing to do what He did on the earth. We will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover. We will cast out demons that oppress men and even raise the dead back to life again. We will bring in the full end-time harvest of souls that is required for entering into the Kingdom of God, and overcome all demonic strongholds that would impede our progress.

We have been given the keys to the Kingdom of God and they are designed to operate through our mouths. With our power-packed words that are like those of Christ Himself, we will bind and cast out all demonic influence in the world that oppresses and exploits mankind. We will release a multitude of blessings everywhere, so that heaven can be ushered in as planned. We will prepare the entire earth for Christ's return to rule and reign in His everlasting Kingdom.

Psalm 133:1 "Behold, how good and how pleasant [it is] for brethren to dwell together in unity!"

The Lord insists that we are righteous and walk in love for Him and for others at all times. It is essential that there be unity in the Body of Christ in the days ahead. We have to forego all denominationalism and reject man-made traditions in favor of the truth. We must overcome our doctrinal differences and look for the ties that bind us together. We cannot present a unified front if there is strife and division of any kind among us.

We must seek our commonality of interest and esteem others as better than ourselves. We all have unique spiritual gifts and manifestations that are required to strengthen the entire Body of Christ. We are equally important to the Lord's eternal redemption plan and purpose. We must rise up as a Body; intercede for our brothers and sisters in Christ; support and encourage one another to fulfill our eternal callings and divine destinies.

There is much at stake on the earth right now, and we cannot be involved in disputes with one another. We should be unified under the guidance of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and walk as He walked on the earth during His ministry. We must be found preaching the Gospel, healing the sick, casting out demons and even raising the dead when He returns to us. This will be the climax of our spiritual walk and our greatest hour.

Sharing Our Faith

1Corinthians 2:5 "That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God."

Men in the world think they are wise and have knowledge of all things, but they are totally misled if they think that they can live without faith in God. Our faith is not like worldly wisdom that can be overturned or refuted in an instant; it has the ability to change lives forever. The power of God Himself resides in our faith and we have an obligation to share it with all men.

It is only through our faith in the atoning work of Jesus Christ Himself that we can be saved and have eternal life. While we were once doomed to eternal damnation for our sins, we now have hope and confidence for our future. We will never be totally separated from our God ever again. So too, we will not have to suffer the penalty of death for our sinfulness. We have been delivered from the curse of the law; we enjoy true Christian liberty.

Our lives now are totally different than they were before we were saved and believed in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We were once weak, pathetic and pitiful, but now the power of God is available to us so that we can be successful in all we do. Our faith motivates us to serve the Lord and His people in sincere love and accomplish great things for the Kingdom of God.

Hebrews 4:2 "For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard [it]."

It is not the Lord's desire that any man should perish for lack of knowledge of the truth. We are His voice on the earth. We are obligated to share the good news of Jesus Christ with all those with whom we come in contact. While they may not receive our words with faith of their own and profit from them, we can at least make the truth available. We can share our testimony of what God has done in our own lives and perhaps persuade them to be converted and baptized.

If we are sincere believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, we should not be ashamed of sharing the Gospel message with others. It is our distinct privilege and sacred responsibility to do so, and we should be open and honest in our teaching. We should share the basic tenets of our faith in all their simplicity; they have the power to change men's lives for all time. Persistence always pays off in winning souls to the Lord, and evangelization can even become second nature to us.

Philemon 1:6 "That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus."

Our testimony to others need not be rehearsed or structured. It should be spontaneous and sincere. We can communicate with people at their level of understanding, by simply explaining how our lives have changed for the better because of what we believe. We can tell others how we acted before we believed in Christ and the power of His death and resurrection. We can contrast how we are now, compared to what we were like before we developed our faith. The difference is striking and will impact their lives.

We should explain that every good thing in us comes from God Himself. He is the author and finisher of our faith. We can do all things through Christ; without Him in our lives, we are powerless over the world, our flesh and the devil. The best testimony of all is to walk in love and compassion for others. We should put their needs and feelings on an even plane with our own. That way we will become living gospels for Christ's Kingdom on the earth, and win many souls to salvation in the truth by our example.

Faith That Changes Things

Mark 11:22-24 "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive [them], and ye shall have [them]."

Christ came so that we would be delivered of our sins and experience life in abundance to the overflow. He taught us to have a total, comprehensive faith in God to provide all our needs. He wants us to depend on Him rather than on ourselves. He said that if we will pray faith-based prayers, that the Lord will indeed answer all our requests and supply all our needs in abundance.

Our faith has to be a vital driving force in our lives. If we truly believe in the Lord and the power of His promises, we will have faith in all our situations and circumstances. We must believe that we receive from Him, and act as if we already have our answers to prayer. We should walk in faith at all times, in total confidence that the Lord will provide all our needs even before we ask Him.

Jesus even said that our words hold power in and of themselves for manifesting what we desire. After all, we were created in God's image and likeness, and with words He created the entire universe. If we wish something to materialize in our own lives, we should speak it forth. If we do not doubt, but have pure, child-like faith, it will indeed appear. We can have whatever we speak.

2Corinthians 4:13 "We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;"

Our words are containers of power and possibility. We must speak our faith into action. We will be held accountable for every idle word that we speak; we cannot afford to speak negativity into our lives or the lives of others. The Bible says that by our words we are either condemned or justified. We must be extremely careful to say only what God says about our circumstances.

We should never do what those in the world do. They discuss all their problems and lament over their shortcomings. They take ownership of everything evil that happens to them and that gives it more power to bring destruction in their lives. We have a great and glorious God that supplies all of our needs. We must have faith in Him and focus on the answers to our problems.

The Lord has said that He will never leave us or forsake us. He promises to be with us in all that we do every day of our lives. We should believe what He has told us and rely on Him totally and completely for everything that we require. He will never leave us empty-handed or ashamed for our faith in Him. We should have total confidence that He will provide for us for all eternity.

Our faith must be backed up by action. For example, I can always pray and ask God to meet a need, but I also have a responsibility in that area. I must believe that I receive what I ask for and declare it to be a reality. I have to act as if I already have the answer to my prayers. I should have hope and confidence that God backs up my faith-based words that line up with His will.

Proverbs 18:21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit therof."

It is always critical to have faith and speak it into reality. If I speak only positive words over my situation and circumstances, then positive things will result. However, if I speak fear, doubt and unbelief, I will see negative results. We cancel out our positive confessions with subsequent negativity. We should concentrate on the solution rather than the problems that we face.

We should never discuss our problems with anyone, if we can help it. That gives them added power to destroy us. We must purposely focus on the solutions and believe the many ways that the Lord can and will bless our lives. He has promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, and that He will be with us in all that we experience, both good and evil. Our heavenly Father created the entire universe. There is no problem or perplexity that He cannot solve.

If we wish to have powerful, victorious lives, then our minds and our tongues have to line up with what God thinks and says about us. If He declares us to be His sons and daughters, then we must start acting with divine power and authority, just as He does. He wants us to believe and speak His promises at all times, and we should discipline ourselves to do what He would do.

Spiritual Decrees

Job 22:28 "Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways."

Positive decrees are powerful for manifesting good in our lives. The Lord will always support our faith-based prayers and words that line up with His will and His plan for us. It is always His will that we prosper and be in good health, even as our souls prosper. For example, we can speak words that promote both health and financial blessings for us and be assured of receiving them.

If we have health issues, we should declare the Word of God over our lives and speak forth these or similar words of healing that come straight from the Bible itself. "Jesus bore my infirmities and carried my diseases, and by His stripes, I was healed" or "The same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in my mortal body." The Lord is our Healer and will restore us to good health.

When we have financial needs, we should speak God's promises for prosperity over our lives, knowing that they will indeed manifest. We should say something like: "My God does supply all my needs according to His riches in glory" or "I am prospered coming in and going out" or "Everything I put my hand to prospers." We will indeed prosper and be in health, even as our souls prosper.

Whether we need personal blessings of health and prosperity or spiritual blessings to share with others, we can meditate on the Word of God for our needs and speak it forth in faith. Our words will indeed manifest right before our very eyes, and we will see the power of God activated by our voices. However, we should make certain that what we speak lines up with the Word and the will of God.

We cannot be frivolous or selfish and expect God to deliver everything that we demand. He supplies our needs, not our greed. He will never support covetousness in our lives. We should align our thinking with His very own, and be sure that we ask for practical solutions to our problems. He will supply all the basic needs that we require, according to His riches in glory through Christ Jesus.

Visualization With Decrees

Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he."

When we meditate on the Word of God, we form mental pictures of what He has promised to us. We can take these mental pictures a step further and actually see manifestations of them in the natural realm if we purposely focus our concentration on them. This meditation and mental imaging is possible through the operation of the Holy Spirit at work in us to do His will in our lives.

It is possible to use our spiritual gift of positive mental imaging and actually generate what we want to see manifest in reality. We should combine that creative visual picture with faith-based words and then decree what we want to appear in the natural realm. If we pray and ask the Lord to back us up, He will always grant our requests, if they line up with His will and with His Word.

For example, if I need a job, I should both decree and visualize myself at work in my new position. If I need financial help, I should speak forth decrees of prosperity and actually envision myself with the necessary money in my hands. If I am sick, I should speak wellness and see myself healthy. If I have any material or spiritual need, I can both decree and visualize it to occur.

If we are consistent, and do not deviate from the Word and the will of God, we can help manifest extraordinary results in our lives through our positive decrees and detailed visualization. We can produce all sorts of desired results by putting our faith in action. We should act as if we already have what we need, and be totally confident that the Lord will support us in our efforts.

2Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) 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;"

We must carefully guard our thoughts and words, because they have inherent power to influence our lives for good or for evil. We should line up our thinking with what the Word of God says about our situations and circumstances. We have to discipline our minds and our mouths to believe and speak only what God says, and decree positive results into reality in our lives.

Decrees of our Biblical promises, coupled with faith-based prayers and creative mental imaging, are powerful for generating good results. When we have any need, we should boldly approach the throne of grace and ask the Lord to meet it. He wants to be our total source; He will never leave us empty-handed, but always backs up our faith with His very own power. He will supply us with all good things and enable us to be successful in all that we do.

Our lives should be testimonies to the power of God that works in us by faith. We should not judge with our eyes, but believe what God promises to us. Our faith changes things in our lives for the better. If we have real faith, and act on it, then anything can become a reality to us. As long as it lines up with the Word and the will of God, we will see it manifest in the natural.

Walking by Faith

2Cointhians 5:7 "(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)"

Walking by faith is exciting and fulfilling; it thrusts us into the "God space." The Lord wants us totally dependent on Him, and delights in our faith and confidence in His provision. He has all the resources of the universe at His disposal, and will supply all our needs in abundance. He has promised us that He will be with us always, and will never leave us or forsake us.

We have a blessed hope for the future that has yet to manifest. We will soon enter into the Kingdom of God on this earth. If our faith does not waver, we will actually see God face-to-face and dwell in His very presence. He will provide all our needs even before we ask Him. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, joy and gladness, health and longevity in God's Kingdom.

The dead in Christ will be raised again to join us in Kingdom living. We will finally be reunited with all of our loved ones. Our bodies will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye, as we put on glorious, resurrection forms that are free of disease and decay and live forever. We will be perpetually young and strong and serve the Lord with limitless energy and vitality.

There will be nothing evil that defiles us and enters into the Kingdom of God. We will live free of fear and molestation. All men will have safety and security, since Jesus Christ will rule with a rod of iron and strictly enforce Kingdom principles of righteousness and justice. Satan will be banished to the bottomless pit and all evil will be punished in the eternal lake of fire.

The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and boast of us to all creation. We will assist Christ in judging both men and angels. We will be appointed kings and priests of God, and rule and reign over the nations. Our God has promised us that we will have the heathen for our inheritance, and that all men will eventually learn to walk in love and unity with one another.

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

The Kingdom of God is a pending reality; it is not a myth or a fable. We live in a world without end, and God's will is coming to the earth realm as we have prayed for thousands of years in the Lord's Prayer. Our God will deliver us from all evil and dwell with us for all eternity, as He has promised us in His Word. Life will be a veritable paradise for all believers in the very near future.

We should envision life in the presence of God and focus all our thoughts and energy on the coming of His Kingdom. We should earnestly pray that heaven is ushered in on the earth and decree it to manifest. We must make ourselves available to assist the Lord in His eternal plan for our redemption, and walk by faith in all that He asks us to do to usher in the Kingdom of God.

If we have faith in God and in all of His promises, then we will see supernatural results in our lives. All that we must do is be sanctified for the Lord's use and dedicated to bringing heaven to the earth, as He has planned. If we are willing and obedient, we will be instruments of change. We can partner with the Lord and improve things in our world, even before Jesus Christ returns.

Luke 9:62 "And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."

If our faith is strong and does not waver and turn into doubt or fear, we will be successful in all that we do in the days ahead. We will bring in the full number of souls in the end-time harvest and work miracles of healing and demonic deliverance for all men. We will even raise the dead back to life again, so that we all might enjoy life together in the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

The Body of Christ, operating in the mountain-moving faith of Christ Himself, will restructure all world governments to line up with Kingdom principles of fairness and justice for all. We will bring peace and order back to the earth, so that all men can live free of fear and molestation. They will walk in love and unity, as the Lord has intended from the foundation of the world.

All of creation is waiting for the revealing of the sons of God to set it free to enjoy the same liberty that we experience. We will help to renew and re-create all of nature so that there is no decay and destruction any longer. The climate will be regulated, so that it is temperate and predictable again. The plant and animal kingdoms will be in harmony with one another and subject to man.

We will deliver the Kingdom of God to Jesus Christ on His return and help Him judge both men and angels. We will eradicate all evil off the face of the earth and see Satan bound in the abyss. We will enjoy many rewards for our faith and righteousness, and have the heathen nations for our inheritance. We will also share in Christ's very own glory and rule and reign with Him.

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

We will be blessed among all men and enjoy many temporal and spiritual advantages in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will relate intimately to us, and provide all our needs from the vast resources that the universe has to offer. He will boast of His Body and His Bride to all of creation and take vengeance on all our enemies. We will walk in love and unity with all men and dwell in the very presence of God Himself. We will have joy, peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity for all of eternity.

The Lord will wipe away all our pain and sorrow from our memories. We will no longer remember all the struggles that we went through to protect our faith in Him. All that defiles us will be far removed from the Kingdom. Only fairness and justice will prevail for all of eternity. Jesus Christ will be a righteous King and rule and reign with a rod of iron, to protect His people from all evil and defilement. All those who have led men astray from the one true faith will be banished to eternal punishment in the lake of fire.

Life in the Kingdom of God will be idyllic for both God and man. There will be no more artificial barriers or separation of any kind between us. The people of God will be released from all forms of religious bondage and legalism to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. No man will have to teach us about Him or His ways. Everyone will know Him intimately. We will keep all of His feast days and sabbaths, as He desires. His laws will be written in our minds and hearts, so that we walk in love and righteousness.

We can only imagine how wonderful our lives will one day be in God's Kingdom. It will be heaven on the earth, as we have been promised. We will long enjoy the works of our hands and dwell in beautiful homes that house our large families. The dead in Christ will be raised from the dead to live with us for all time. We will have glorious, resurrection bodies that are impervious to disease and death. The Lord will take an active role in our lives as our Father. We will give Him all the praise, thanks and honor He deserves.

Topics for Discussion

1. Salvation by Faith in Christ
2. One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism
3. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit
4. Justification by Faith
5. Faith With Works
6. Faith That Changes Things
7. Walking by Faith

Chapter 4 - Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life

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

Any dogma of faith or religious doctrine that is not centered on Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior is a false teaching that should be avoided at all costs. It is simply not a spiritual truth, but merely an opinion, theory or man-made tradition that has enticement, entrapment and bondage of men as its ultimate goal. False teachings are demonic and oppressive and will destroy us mentally, emotionally and spiritually. We should expose them as lies and warn others of their danger, so that they can be set free.

There is no way to gain eternal life and experience salvation from our sins other than through an accurate knowledge of the truth. We can approach God only by way of the cross. Christ came to the earth realm to set all of mankind free from all their sins, for all time. Through His death, He restored us to right standing with God. With His resurrection, He brought us the guarantee of eternal life. He taught us His law of love and gave us a divine commission to do the very same works that He did while on the earth.

We all have righteousness and holiness available to us, if we will believe that Christ was the Son of God and that He died and was raised for our benefit. We must renounce all our sins and be transformed as sons and daughters of the living God. We have eternal callings and divine destinies to fulfill. We should sanctify ourselves of all worldliness and walk as Christ Himself walked the earth. Through the operation of the Holy Spirit, we can be regenerated into powerful demonstrations of the glory of God.

Hebrews 9:14 "How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

If we sin after having received such a great salvation, we are still covered by the Blood of Christ. We have the privilege and responsibility to repent and seek forgiveness once again. We should openly renounce our sin and ask for God's pardon. He will restore us to right standing with Him and reinstate all of our blessings. He actually blots our sin from His memory and gives us His grace, or unmerited favor. When the Lord sees us, He sees Jesus in all of His righteousness.

Our righteousness is determined by our faith in Jesus Christ and His perfect atonement for our sins, and through that alone. However, we must put our faith into action and walk it out in our daily lives. Faith without works is a dead faith. We should walk in love as Christ Himself walked, as a demonstration of all that we believe. We will receive eternal rewards for our righteousness and receive many blessings as a result of our dedicated service to the Lord in the days to come.

The Doctrine of the Atonement

Romans 5:11 "And not only [so], but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement."

Sin requires payback or atonement for transgression, regardless of how serious it is. In the Old Testament, men were expected to abide by the law and make sacrificial offerings in atonement for their sins, in order to receive absolution. They required a priest as mediator in their dealings with God. They had to offer the blood of pigs, sheep, calves or goats as a sin offering at least once a year, and more regularly if they committed certain offenses. It is important to note that animal blood sacrifices never truly paid their sin debt or restored them to right standing with God.

In order for total reconciliation to be made, mankind required a more significant sacrificial offering to be made on our behalf. That is why the Lord arranged to send His very own Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth realm. He served as both mediator and sacrificial victim just for us. He alone was totally righteous, and the perfect Lamb of God that was needed for the payment of our sin debt - past, present and future. Christ served as the sacrifice for all of our sins, so we would not have to suffer the penalty of sin, which is death. Through His atoning death, we receive eternal life.

We have grace, unmerited favor, with God. We do not have to do anything special to get His attention or be worthy of His blessings. He considers us to be His very own sons and daughters, and we are joint-heirs with Christ to all the rewards for righteousness that Jesus will one day receive. Very soon now, the Lord will boast of us to all creation as we usher in the Kingdom of God. He will vindicate us before men and angels and take vengeance on all our enemies. We will have praise and glory for our former shame and even be appointed kings and priests of God.

1John 2:2 "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world."

Christ took on all our sin debt as if it were His very own. He became a sacrifice for us, in full atonement for all of our transgression. His shed Blood provided us with a divine exchange of sin for pardon and contention for peace. There is no other way to relate to God except through the cross of Jesus Christ. His sacrificial death assures us of our right standing with God. We can now approach the throne of grace without fear and condemnation of any kind. We are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself.

When we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, it may seem like He died just for us. Although we are particularly aware of what He did for us individually, we must remember that His death atoned for all the sins of all humanity. There is no sin too hideous, no individual too incorrigible that the Blood of Jesus will not cover and provide atonement. Every man, woman and child on the face of this planet can repent, be saved and born again in Christ, regardless of what they have done or not done in the past. The Lord desires that we all be saved unto eternal life.

It is relatively simple to be born again in our spirit man. If we repent of all our sin, believe in our heart that Jesus died for us, and confess with our mouth that He is our Lord and Savior, we will be saved unto eternal life. Then we can be baptized with water as an outward sign of the inward change that takes place in us. We can also ask the Lord for the baptism of the Holy Spirit, and He will gladly grant it to us. God's Spirit will actually come and indwell us so that we can grow in holiness. He will convict us of our sin and lead and guide us into all truth.

Faith and Confession

Romans 10:9-10 "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Our faith in Christ should not be simply mental assent; it should be proactive. If we believe in our hearts that Jesus died for our sins and was raised from the dead, we must proclaim that with our mouths. If we confess Him as our Lord and Savior, we will be saved. There is no other way that we can have eternal life except though total faith in Christ's redemption for us, and through the words of our testimony. That starts the regeneration process in our lives.

Our minds are renewed and our behavior is eventually transformed so that we begin to resemble Christ Himself. None of that is possible except through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God at work in us to change us. We should pursue our sanctification at all times. We must crucify our flesh and subdue our souls, so that we can strive for holiness and perfection. When Christ returns we will be like Him and see Him face-to face in all His glory.

1Peter 1:23 "Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever."

Jesus Christ was the Word of God made man. If we believe that He died to save us from our sins, then we are born again in our spirit man and restored to right standing with God for all time. There is no more separation between God and man. We are able to approach the Lord as often as we desire. He stands ready to hear all our prayers. There is no good thing that He will withhold from those who love Him.

This doctrine of atonement is a powerful spiritual truth that changes men's lives as nothing else can. Righteousness is imputed to us by our faith in Christ. We are delivered from death and destruction to life and light. We experience blessings instead of curses, and walk in the very newness of life. We have peace with God, hope and confidence for our future.

Our heavenly Father has a wonderful plan in place for our future well-being. He will bring heaven to the earth realm, so that He can dwell with us for all of eternity. We will experience peace and prosperity in His presence in the Kingdom of God. There will be no more oppression or exploitation of mankind. The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies. We will have safety and security instead of fear and dread.

The Lord will meet all of our needs in abundance. All men will share fairly and equitably in all the vast resources that the universe has to offer us. We will have no poverty and lack in our lives. There will be no conflict, war or insurrection. Jesus Christ will rule with a rod of iron to make certain that nothing evil enters into His Kingdom to defile His people.

The Doctrine of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:20-26 "But now is Christ risen from the dead, [and] become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man [came] death, by man [came] also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming. Then [cometh] the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy [that] shall be destroyed [is] death."

The punishment of death - spiritual and physical - came on all of mankind when Adam sinned in the Garden. Jesus overcame sin, death and the grave with His powerful resurrection from the dead. He defeated the devil for all time and stripped him of his power to hurt and destroy us. He restored dominion over the earth back to men. We now walk in hope and confidence for our future. We are at peace with God and heirs to eternal life.

Death is a heinous enemy to mankind. Had Christ not died and risen again, we would all be doomed to death as punishment for our sins. But Jesus stripped death of its power for all time with His resurrection from the dead. He destroyed its sting; and we will all enjoy eternal life because of that. The same Holy Spirit of God that raised Jesus from the dead gives life to our mortal bodies and will raise the dead back to life again when Christ returns.

Christ is the first of those who are raised from the dead. It is only right and fitting that He would precede us into glory. All the dead will be raised at His coming and stand in judgment before Him. The faithful will receive glorious, resurrection bodies that never disease or decay, and enter into the Kingdom of God. We who are alive will also be changed in the twinkling of an eye and put on the imperishable, so that we live forever in God's presence.

1Corinthians 15:55 "O death, where [is] thy sting? O grave, where [is] thy victory?"

The very same explosive power, called "dunamis," that the Lord used to raise Jesus from the dead, will one day be used to change our mortal bodies in the twinkling of an eye. We will put off all decaying flesh that is subject to corruption and death, and trade it for glorious, resurrection bodies that are impervious to disease and decay and live forever in the Kingdom of God.

Our bodies will be totally metamorphosized in their very essence, so that we escape the penalty of physical death for all time. We will put on incorruptible life forms that are like that of Christ Himself. The Bible says that we will see Him face-to-face and be like Him in every way. We will live long and strong in His very presence.

In the days ahead, the Body of Christ, comprised of believers from all over the face of the earth, will be empowered to heal the sick and destroy enemy strongholds of all types. We will even raise the dead back to life again. At that point, all enemies - including death - will have been put under Christ's feet, and He will return to rule and reign in His Kingdom for all eternity.

1Peter 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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."

One day very soon, our redemption will be complete when Christ returns to change our mortal bodies to be like that of His very own. We will all be changed in our very essence, so that we are no longer just flesh and blood. We will put on the imperishable form, so that we are like Christ in every way and see Him face-to-face. Our glorious, resurrection bodies will be undefiled by disease and decay.

It is only through this evolution that we can have eternal life and avoid total physical destruction, which is the just penalty for our sins. Because of Christ's death for us, we will live forever in His presence. Until then, we are kept by the power of God and we should prepare ourselves to enter into His Kingdom. We must sanctify our flesh and subdue our soul, so that we can become holy and perfect.

New Creatures in Christ

Colossians 2:12 "Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with [him] through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead."

Christ submitted to the rite of baptism Himself. Even though He was totally pure and sinless, He was baptized in the River Jordan at the beginning of His public ministry as an act of submission and consecration to His Father. At that point, He was also baptized with the Holy Spirit. He is our role model for righteousness and we should also choose to be baptized as He was.

We are baptized with water as an outward sign of the inward change that takes place in us when we are born again in our spirit man. Baptism signifies that we have been buried with Christ unto death, and risen again with Him to the newness of life. We actually become new creatures in Christ and our lives change for the better. Our water baptism consecrates us to the Lord.

The most important aspect of water baptism is the symbolic act of cleansing that it represents. Our old man dies to self and we are born again through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God. The regeneration process begins in us, so that we grow and evolve in Christ. Our minds are renewed and our behavior is transformed, so that we become godly in all we think, say and do.

Galatians 3:27 "For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ."

Christ is the firstborn of many sons and daughters, the Bible tells us. We actually "put on" Christ and all His attributes when we are born again and baptized. We emulate His laid down life and can actually walk as He walked on the earth. We are His Body in this world since He has returned to the Father, and He cannot function in ministry without us.

We received a divine commission from Him to share our faith with others and work miraculous signs and wonders in His name. We can preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, heal the sick, cast our demons and even raise the dead back to life again. We are like Him in every way and He imbues us with His very own power and authority to do good for others.

Our water baptism assures us that we can also receive the baptism in the Holy Spirit. All that we must do is ask the Lord for His Spirit and He will indeed comply. Once we have received the Holy Spirit, Spiritual fruit will begin to emerge in our lives that help us grow in holiness and spiritual maturity. Our goal should be to walk in the Holy Spirit at all times.

Philippians 1:11 "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

We are changed from glory to glory as we walk with Christ as new creatures in Him. The fruits of righteousness begin to manifest in our lives as we demonstrate our love for God and for others. We are generous and kind, patient and good, forbearing and forgiving all men. We share what we have with those in need, and pray for those who need intercession.

Our thoughts, attitudes and behavior are all above reproach as we serve the Lord with joy and gladness. We are living testimonies to His power and goodness, and readily share our faith with all those with whom we come in contact. We are yielded vessels for the Lord's use and we present our bodies as living sacrifices, as is only our reasonable service to Him.

None of what we accomplish can be done without the operation of the Holy Spirit at work in us. He is our Counselor and will guide us into all righteousness and truth. If we sanctify ourselves, we are given manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God for the benefit of all mankind. These enable us to walk in the supernatural and minister to others just as Christ did.

We will become ambassadors for the Kingdom of God and treat all men with love, mercy and compassion, as the Lord desires. We will preach the Gospel with power and conviction and heal the sick of all their diseases. We will cast out demons and set men free of enemy bondage. We will even raise the dead back to life as Jesus Christ did when He walked the earth.

Sealed With the Holy Spirit of Promise

Ephesians 1:13-14 "In whom ye also [trusted], after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory."

When we confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, we begin a wonderful journey in the spirit. We become new creatures in Christ and are literally changed from the inside out. Our minds are transformed and renewed in the truth. We experience sanctification from fleshly desires and worldly ambitions through the subsequent baptism of the Holy Spirit. We are actually sealed with the Holy Spirit, protected by God and preserved from evil until the return of Christ.

The direction of our lives changes for the better and we desire spiritual gifts more than we do material things. Spiritual fruit begin to appear in us and emerge to make us strong in the Lord and the power of His might. They help us to mature and be more like Christ in our thoughts, words and deeds, and enhance our relationship with God and our effectiveness with others. Eventually we learn to walk in the Spirit instead of our flesh and become godly in all that we do.

The baptism in the Holy Spirit in simply an earnest down payment of what we can hope to receive in the future. We will have a divine inheritance with all the saints. Our mortal bodies will be redeemed and changed to be like Christ's very own. We will enter into the Kingdom of God and dwell in the presence of the Lord. He will supply all our needs in abundance. We will experience peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity for all of eternity.

Romans 8:1 "[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

We should imitate the laid down life of Jesus Christ Himself and sanctify ourselves, so that we are under no guilt or condemnation. If we walk in the Holy Spirit, we will have love for the Lord and for others and strive for holiness and perfection, just as the Lord is holy and perfect. We must serve Him with joy and gladness in all that He asks us to do. He has a wonderful plan in place for our complete redemption.

We receive our spiritual gifts and callings and the Lord reveals our divine destinies to us, so that we can become all that we were intended to be. We will do the actual works of Jesus - and even greater works - and impact the entire earth even before Christ returns. We will operate in the supernatural realm as sons and daughters of almighty God. If we sanctify ourselves of all carnality and subdue our selfish soul ambitions, the Lord will give us a full anointing of His very own power and glory.

We can then walk the earth as Christ did, working miracles, signs and wonders for the benefit of all mankind. We will put all enemies, including death, under Christ's feet. We will reorganize entire nations and teach them Kingdom principles of righteousness and justice. We will bring peace and order to the earth and restore all of creation back to its original beauty and balance as we usher in the Kingdom of God.

The Mind of Christ

1Corinthians 2:12-16 "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ."

The natural man is not capable of understanding the ways of God, because he is not spiritually oriented and lacks supernatural insight and understanding. God's words are mere foolishness to him because he lives in darkness and deception. However, once he completely submits himself to God and takes Jesus Christ to be his Lord and Savior, spiritual matters become easier for him to apprehend and apply to his own life. He walks in a new type of clarity that only Christ can provide.

It is possible for each of us to know and understand the deep mysteries of God that impact us for all eternity. We have the very mind of Christ, if we are believers in Him. We can comprehend the basic tenets of our faith and know all deep spiritual truths that the Lord would reveal to us. We have spiritual discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit, so that we can fully grasp what God has done for us and what He desires to accomplish though us.

We understand how our salvation was effected through Christ's atoning death on the cross. We are able to envision the powerful scope and magnitude of His resurrection and ascension. We revel in the fact that He overcame sin, death and the grave, and took back dominion over the earth from the devil, so that men would have total authority restored to them. We discover our rights and privileges as heirs with Christ to all the promises of God and we walk in our divine destinies.

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee."

Believers have access to supernatural capabilities as a result of their relationship with Jesus Christ. He lives in us to do His will and can accomplish great feats on the earth due to our cooperation and willingness to serve Him. We can walk exactly like Christ walked during His earthly ministry, if we are fully yielded to the Lord and sanctified for His purpose. Jesus is our Head, but we are the Body of Christ on the earth now that He has gone to be with the Father.

We should think like Christ thought, say what He said and do what He did. We can have total trust in Him to lead and guide us, as we usher in the Kingdom of God on the earth. We should imitate His laid down life and develop an all-encompassing love for the lost and forsaken. We are destined as He was, to set men free in the truth and deliver them from all forms of bondage and oppression. We can teach them how to walk in righteousness and love and serve God.

Christ will equip us to do all that we must do to bring heaven to the earth realm. We can rely on Him for all that we need. Hosts of ministering angels will back us up, so that we are in total protection and fully successful in completing His ministry before He returns to rule and reign in His Kingdom. We will accomplish the seemingly impossible if we keep our mind on Christ and stay true to His purpose. The entire earth will be prepared for His return.

All of creation will respond to our commands and be re-created to its original beauty and balance. The climate will be regulated. Plants and animals will be subject to man once again. We will restructure all world governments, so that peace and order prevail on the earth. All those who exploit and injure others will be stripped of their powers. Mankind will finally be set free to seek the Lord and His way of doing things, so that they can be totally blessed.

A Better Covenant

Hebrews 8:6 "But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises."

As heirs with Christ, we inherit better promises than our ancestors had. We can approach God without guilt, shame or condemnation. Our right standing with Him has been restored for all time. So too, we know that we will have what we ask of Him if we pray in faith. He always hears our prayers and grants our requests. We can believe that we receive all good things from God.

We are actually seated with Jesus in heavenly places and commune with the Lord on an intimate basis. He supplies all our needs abundantly, according to His riches in glory. We are in covenant with Him and enjoy all the privileges of sons and daughters. Christ Himself is our mediator and role model for victorious living, as we overcome the world, the flesh and the devil in our lives.

So too, we share in an everlasting covenant of peace with God that Christ has established for us. We will one day enter into the Kingdom of God for all of eternity. The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and boast of us to all creation. We will experience peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity and dwell in the in the very presence of our loving God.

There will be no evil that hurts or defiles us in any way in Christ's Kingdom. He will rule with a rod of iron to make certain that Kingdom integrity is maintained at all times. He will take vengeance on all our enemies and vindicate us before men and angels. Jesus Christ will personally bind Satan in the bottomless pit, so that he can never oppress or exploit God's people ever again.

Romans 10:4 "For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

Christ came to fulfill the law. His Blood sacrifice was the total atonement that was required for our sin for all time. Our righteousness is by faith in Christ and ensures us that we are eligible to enter into the Kingdom of God when it is ushered in on the earth. We will actually see our Lord face-to-face and dwell in His very presence. We will have peace and prosperity, health and length of days, joy and pleasure for all eternity. The Lord will meet all of our needs in abundance.

There is no good thing that the Lord will withhold from His people. He will provide all of our needs from the vast resources that the universe has to offer. We will be blessed beyond our wildest imaginings and share in Christ's very own honor and glory. The people of God will be elevated to positions of power and prestige for all of eternity. The Lord will take an active role in our lives, and we will fellowship with Him without the artifice of religion to interfere in any way.

We will walk in love and unity with both men and angels. No evil will defile us ever again; the Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and protect His people from all harm. We will have safety and security in God's Kingdom. He will boast of us to all creation, and we will be kings and priests of God. We will be just rulers and capable teachers of all men, and have the heathen for our eternal inheritance. We will rule and reign with Christ over all the nations of the world.

Saints in Light

Psalm 97:10 "Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked."

Christ not only came to this world to save us from our sins, but also to deliver us from all the works of the devil. He spoiled powers and principalities with His victory over sin, death and the grave. We need no longer fear that we will be misled by the enemy and experience spiritual destruction. We know the truth that has set us free for all time.

All those who repent of their sins, believe in Jesus Christ, and confess Him as their Lord and Savior will be saved to eternal life. The Lord will not abandon His people if we are sincere in our faith. He will turn our captivity and take vengeance on all our enemies. No evil will harm us if we take refuge in the Lord and walk in the light, as we should.

We must carefully guard our faith from worldly contamination and sanctify ourselves in the truth. We should walk in love and keep all of the commandments, as we have been taught. If we are continually righteous, we will overcome the world, our flesh and the devil. We will walk as Christ Himself walked and serve the Lord and His people.

Colossians 1:12-14 "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated [us] into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, [even] the forgiveness of sins:"

We should be eminently grateful that the Lord has seen fit to deliver us from all false teaching and provide us with the truth that sets us free. We are now in the light, as Christ Himself is in the light. We have freedom and hope for the future. We are able to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, without fear or constraint of any kind. We enjoy true Christian liberty. We have an inheritance with all the saints that we can expect to receive in the days that lie ahead.

The Kingdom of God with all its promises for righteousness becomes available to us. We will have eternal life in the spirit and in the flesh. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, love and unity, joy and pleasure forever more in God's Kingdom. The Lord will supply all of our needs in abundance even before we ask Him. We will be rewarded for our faithful service, and we will dwell in the very presence of God and fellowship intimately with Him for all eternity.

Jesus Christ will take vengeance on all our enemies and destroy all those who have perverted the Gospel message and attempted to lead His people into perdition. They will be severely judged and eternally punished in the lake of fire. Only the truth will prevail in these last days as we preach the Gospel. All men who follow the one true faith and seek baptism with water and the Holy Spirit will be made righteous through the Blood of Christ and set free forever.

Ephesians 1:18-23 "The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what [is] the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set [him] at his own right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all [things] under his feet, and gave him [to be] the head over all [things] to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all."

We are saints in light - sons and daughters of almighty God Himself. We have eternal callings and divine destinies that will be fulfilled in the days to come. We will usher in the Kingdom of God in all its power and glory. The very same dynamic, resurrection power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead will be given to us, so that we can serve the Lord in these last days.

The church is the actual Body of Christ that will take back the earth and everything in it for our Lord and Savior. We will restructure the entire planet and prepare it for Christ's return to rule and reign in His everlasting Kingdom. Nothing will be impossible to us; we share in Christ's very own anointing power and authority to do good wherever we go, in whatever we do.

We will spread our faith all over the world and set men free from all forms of oppression and bondage. We will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to give mankind hope for the future. We will heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead, as Christ Himself did when He walked the earth. We will destroy all demonic strongholds that interfere with our progress.

Everything that we do will be instrumental in bringing heaven to the earth realm, so that all things can be united in Christ. We will not abuse our power or be self-serving in any way. Christ will lead and guide us as the Head of His Body. We will one day share in His very own honor and glory. He will appoint us as kings and priests and we will rule and reign with Him.

Divinely Commissioned

Mark 16:15-16 "And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned."

We share in Christ's very own anointing. We are empowered to do what He did on the earth and serve the Lord in righteousness. We are to spread our faith and testimony to others, and convert all men to a full knowledge of the truth in the days to come. We should baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, so that they will receive eternal life.

It is critical that we evangelize souls and bring in the end-time harvest that is required. The Kingdom of God will not be ushered in until all of mankind has been given the opportunity to hear the Gospel message. It is not the Lord's desire that any man should perish for lack of knowledge in the truth. He doesn't want anyone condemned or excluded from Kingdom blessings.

Men from every tongue and nation of the world will be saved, converted and baptized into our faith. Everyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be gathered into the Kingdom of God. The Lord will have a people that love Him and worship Him sincerely in Spirit and in truth. His laws will be written in our minds and in our hearts for all of eternity.

Mark 16:17-18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."

There are certain signs that follow all believers in the Lord, Jesus Christ. We receive the gift of spiritual tongues. We can speak in our supernatural prayer language and communicate directly with the throne of God. We can lay hands on the sick and they will recover.

We can set men free of enemy oppression of all types, and walk in total dominion over all matters in the earth. We can serve the Lord will full power and authority, and nothing will in any way harm us or impede our progress in ushering in the Kingdom of God.

All that we do in the name of Jesus Christ with a full anointing of His power will be successful. We can work miracles, signs and wonders as His followers. We have been given divine authority to walk as He walked on the earth and preach the Gospel message to all men.

Mark 16:19-20 "So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God. And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen."

Authority is simply delegated power. Christ delegated His very own divine power for doing good to us who believe. His ministry was complete once He transferred His authority and assigned His duties to us. The Bible tells us that Christ was the firstborn of many sons and daughters. We are now authorized to act in His place, to say what He said and do what He did.

We are His hands, feet and voice on the earth. We are responsible to pick up where He left off and do the works that He did for all of mankind. He ascended into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God, which implies that He rested from all His efforts. He is waiting until the fullness of time is complete, and then He will return to rule and reign in His Kingdom.

In the days ahead, it will be possible for all believers to do the works that Jesus did on the earth. We will receive a full anointing of His very own power to do good. We will evangelize the entire earth. We will perform miraculous signs and wonders to demonstrate the power of God to all men. We will heal the sick and raise the dead, and destroy all enemy strongholds.

The Lord will be with us in all that we are asked to do. He will confirm His Word with powerful manifestations of His glory, so that all men are attracted to our faith. We will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God and bring in the full end-time harvest of souls all over the earth. Everyone whose name is written in the Book of Life will be called into the Kingdom.

Dedicated to His Service

Romans 12:1-5 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think [of himself] more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, [being] many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

We are to present our bodies as living sacrifices in service to the Lord. We should lay aside all fleshly desires and personal ambitions, and consecrate ourselves for His purpose in the days ahead. We must do our part so that heaven comes to the earth, as we have prayed for so many years in the Lord's Prayer. We have key roles, eternal destinies that will soon be revealed to us.

Believers are the Body of Christ on the earth - His hands, feet and voice. We are responsible to pick up His ministry where He left off and preach the Gospel of the Kingdom of God to all men, so that they can receive eternal life and all of its blessings. We are to demonstrate the love, mercy and compassion that Christ displayed in our dealings with others.

Every member of the Body of Christ has a different role and function that complements the operation of the whole Body. Each of us is important to one another and to the Lord. None of us can boast because our gifts and callings come from the Lord Himself. They are to be used for the benefit of all of mankind and in important service to the Lord in the critical days that lie ahead.

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

As members of the Body of Christ on the earth, we should be walking in total love and unity with one another, with Christ as our Head. We can accomplish much more if we work cooperatively in the days to come, rather than if we are functioning individually. We have divine callings and a unified purpose that must be fulfilled in ushering in the Kingdom of God on the earth. We are partnering with the Lord in implementing His eternal redemption plan.

Believers will walk in the miraculous in the days to come and put all enemies under Christ's feet, as planned. We will destroy enemy strongholds that would impede the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth realm and set men free from all bondage and deception. We will restore all of creation to its original beauty and balance. We will help to reform and reorganize all world governments to line up with Kingdom principles of fairness and justice for all men.

Restoration and Reorganization of the Earth

Romans 8:19-22 "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope. Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

All creation is waiting for the sons of God to be revealed, so that we can help to restore what has been lost in nature since the fall of Adam. The plant and animal kingdoms will line up with the Word of God and be in harmony with man again. We will take back control over the climate and eliminate all natural disasters that have plagued and frightened mankind over the years.

Heaven will be ushered into the earth realm with all of God's power and glory manifesting. We will be the Lord's hands, voice and feet on the earth and consecrate ourselves to His plan and purpose. We will be empowered to work all sorts of miraculous signs and wonders that will facilitate the coming of the Kingdom, so it can be delivered to Christ once and for all.

We will accomplish the seemingly impossible in the days to come. The Body of Christ will speak powerful words of re-creation to the entire planet and the Lord will send His ministering angels to back us up with His very own power and authority. The entire earth will be renovated and restored to its pre-satanic state, as the Lord has planned from the foundation of the world.

1John 3:1-2 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 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."

The Body of Christ will help to restructure and reorganize world governments so that they line up with the fair and just principles of the Kingdom of God. We will restore peace to the earth and put an end to all oppression and exploitation of men. We will help to punish all the ungodly and their ungodliness when Christ returns, and rule and reign with Him.

We will soon be appointed kings and priests of God. What we bind on earth is bound in heaven, and what we loose on earth is loosed in heaven. It will be increasingly important that we learn to judge all matters as Christ Himself does. We will help Him judge both men and angels when He returns. That will require us to think like the Lord thinks and be fair and just.

Christ Himself will reveal us to be the sons and daughters of God and boast of us to all creation. He will take vengeance on all our enemies and give us glory and honor for our former shame. This will be our greatest hour, the climax of our eternal destinies. We will be generously rewarded for all our service to the Lord in ushering in His Kingdom on the earth.

The Lord will supply all our needs in abundance even before we ask Him. We will have peace and prosperity, safety and security, joy and pleasure, health and longevity in the Kingdom of God. We will see the Lord face-to-face and actually dwell in His presence. He will be a God to us, and we will be His people that worship and praise Him for all eternity.

Prepare the Way of the Lord

Psalm 115:16 "The heaven, [even] the heavens, [are] the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men."

Before we receive our inheritance in the Kingdom of God, we have important work to do in preparing the earth for heaven's arrival here. We must appropriate our total dominion over all matters that Christ has provided for us. We should rise up as His Body and bring peace and order to the planet in preparation for the coming of His Kingdom and eternal rule and reign.

We must do our part to eliminate all the chaos and confusion, decay and destruction that have presided since the fall of Adam and Satan's rise to power. We must tear down all demonic strongholds that interfere with heaven coming to the earth and defeat the devil once and for all time. We have been given total dominion and authority over the earth and everything in it. If something needs changed, we have the authority to do it and all of heaven will back us up.

The Lord is waiting for us to fulfill our destiny and usher in His Kingdom. We will not be evacuated from the earth, as some believe. We have an important function in these last days that must be completed. We are the sons of God that will take back the entire planet and set mankind free in the truth, so heaven can be ushered in to the earth with divine power and glory.

Jeremiah 1:10 "See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."

The Body of Christ will bind all satanic influences over men and nature that wreak havoc in this world and prepare the way of the Lord, Jesus Christ. We will take back control over all the world governments' political and economic matters. We will restore all of nature to its original beauty and balance. Everything will line up with the Word of God and His express will for mankind.

If we follow the Lord's guidance and direction, we will overcome all evil with good as He intends. We will work miraculous signs and wonders to draw all men to the truth, so that they are set free. We will heal the sick and deliver all captives of enemy oppression. The dead will be raised back to life again, and the awesome power and glory of the Lord will manifest all over the earth.

We will teach all men how to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth. We will destroy all forms of Babylonian religion that have kept them in bondage to lies and deception for so many years. All false teachers will be stripped of their power to hurt God's people and lead them astray. Men everywhere will know the truth and turn towards their God and His Son, Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 56:1 "Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation [is] near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed."

Christ will soon return to rule and reign in the Kingdom of God. He will judge both men and angels and root out all evil from the face of the earth in the wrath of His coming. His righteousness will be revealed as the standard by which we should live our own lives. He was the firstborn of many sons and daughters, the Bible tells us. We will become like Him in every way and even be kings and priests of our God.

As the Body of Christ on the earth, we should imitate His laid down life and walk in sincere and humble service to the Lord in the days to come. If we do so, we will share in His very own honor and glory. We must begin to practice a new standard of righteousness without compromise or deviation from the goal of holiness and perfection. We should walk in the Spirit, instead of the flesh, and appropriate divine power.

We will be judged according to the same fair and equitable standards that Christ will use in judging all men. Our lives must be above and beyond reproach in the days ahead, so the Lord can depend on us to usher in His Kingdom according to His eternal purpose. It is His desire that all mankind be persuaded in a knowledge of the truth. Our eternal rewards will be based on our faithful service to the Lord and to others.

Topics for Discussion

1. The Doctrine of the Atonement
2. The Doctrine of the Resurrection
3. Faith and Confession
4. Sealed With the Holy Spirit
5. Saints in Light
6. The Divine Commission
7. Restoration and Reorganization of the Earth

Chapter 5 - Righteousness and Godliness

Genesis 15:6 "And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness."

None of us is righteous in our own strength. We all miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God. We must appropriate the righteousness of Jesus Christ and believe in all that He did for us. We have a Blood bought privilege to approach our God without fear and condemnation of any kind. If we are born again, we are considered righteous.

Our faith in God is counted as righteousness in us. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. We must believe that God exists and seek His truth in all matters. His way of doing things and being right is the absolute standard for moral living. He knows the end from the beginning, and His guidance and direction are critical to success in our lives.

If we are obedient and do not deviate from the precepts of our faith in Christ and His atoning work on our behalf, we will be deemed righteous before God. If we sanctify ourselves and lay down our own selfish desires and personal ambitions, we will walk as Jesus Christ walked on the earth, and grow in godliness and spiritual maturity.

We should be rooted and grounded in our faith at all times and walk in the Holy Spirit of God instead of our flesh and souls. Sanctification should be our primary goal in the days ahead as we usher in the Kingdom. We cannot be both worldly and spiritually minded; we must make the choice to follow the Lord and cooperate with His plans for us.

Deuteronomy 6:25 "And it shall be our righteousness, if we observe to do all these commandments before the LORD our God, as he hath commanded us."

Our righteousness is demonstrated by our willingness to submit to the Lord's commandments to us. They are intended for our benefit, and will always keep us on track. They are never heavy, oppressive or burdensome. They are easily understood and attainable by all men. The total requirement of the law can be summed up in the law of love that Christ Himself taught us.

The Lord desires that we put Him first in all things, and love Him with all our heart, mind, soul and strength. In addition, He wants us to love others as we love ourselves, and follow all of His commandments to us. If we walk in love for God and for others, we will be able to keep all of the Ten Commandments of the law and remain righteous before God in our individual lives.

While we should never try to impress God with good works, He does expect us to be obedient and willing to assume all duties that He assigns to us. He desires to partner with us in ushering in His Kingdom on the earth. We have eternal callings that are vitally important to His plan and purpose. We should make ourselves available to assist the Lord any way that we can.

The Basis for Our Righteousness

Romans 10:3-4 "For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. For Christ [is] the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth."

We were once bound by all the requirements of the Old Testament law, through which no man could be made perfect. We were responsible to make atonement for our own sin and adhere to strict cleansing rituals. Since Jesus Christ came to the earth as an expiation and propitiation for our sins, our sin debt has been paid and our righteousness has been restored for all time.

His agonizing suffering and death paid for our transgression, so that we might have our right standing with God restored. We were redeemed from the curse of the law since Christ was made a curse for us. His victory over sin, death and the grave brought us eternal life. We are once again in covenant relationship with God, as was intended from the very foundation of the world. If we have faith in Christ and His redemption on our behalf, we are deemed righteous.

As believers in Christ, we can now approach the throne of grace without guilt and condemnation. We are able to fellowship with the Lord and experience His grace and unmerited favor in every area of our lives. If we sin and miss the mark after having received so great a salvation in Jesus Christ, we can repent and renounce our sin and be restored to right standing immediately.

However, we cannot deliberately transgress God's law and get away with it. Lawlessness and rebellion are serious sins and can affect our lives for all of eternity. We must be sincere in our relationship with God and continually sanctify ourselves of all carnality and selfish soul ambitions. We are to be spiritually minded rather than worldly thinking. If we walk in the Holy Spirit, we will overcome the world, our flesh and the devil and be continually righteous in the Lord's eyes.

Romans 5:17 "For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.)"

Where all men were once penalized due to the transgression of Adam, now all have the potential to be saved through the merits of Christ's death and resurrection. We were damned at one time, but we are made righteous and have eternal life available to us through our faith in Jesus Christ. We have become joint-heirs with Him to all the promises of God that accompany our faith, and enjoy many current blessings and future rewards for our righteousness.

We know that we can approach the throne of grace with every need and be assured that the Lord will hear our prayers. So too, if we pray in faith, we know that we receive all good things in accordance with the will of God for our lives. The Lord wants us totally dependent on Him, and He will not leave us empty-handed. He will supply all of our needs in abundance according to His riches in glory. That gives us great hope and confidence in Him.

The Lord will strengthen us in the power of His might, so that we can walk as overcomers in all matters on the earth. We will be successful in all that we do because He leads and guides us into all righteousness in Him. We will become ambassadors for the Kingdom of God even before it is ushered into the earth realm. Our lives will be testimonies to the entire world to the power and glory of God at work in us and through us for the benefit of all mankind.

2Corinthians 3:18 "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord."

It is possible for us remain in right standing with God and actually attain holiness and perfection, as we grow and develop in spiritual maturity. We go from glory to glory, the Bible tells us. We can successfully overcome the world, our flesh and the devil and reign in life through the power of Jesus Christ. We can be totally victorious over all evil and become more like God Himself. We can grow in godliness and be righteous examples to all men.

As we receive our spiritual callings and revelation of our divine destinies in the days ahead, we will be amazed at how the Lord plans to use us in fulfilling His eternal redemption plan. He will have us witness to our faith all over the world and draw all men to Him, so that they can be saved and have eternal life. We will be empowered to walk as Christ Himself walked on the earth and heal the sick, deliver the oppressed and even raise the dead back to life.

We will take control of all world governments and realign them according to Kingdom principles of righteousness and justice for all men. There will eventually be peace and order on the earth, so that heaven can be ushered in with all of its glory. We will restore all of nature back to its original balance and beauty. The climate itself will be regulated so that there are no more natural disasters. The plants and animals will be in harmony with mankind.

None of this will be possible if we operate in our own strength or are insubordinate in any way. The Holy Spirit of God Himself will facilitate our work in the days to come. If we are willing and obedient to serve the Lord and His people and sanctified for His use, then we will have a full measure of His anointing power given to us. We will destroy all demonic strongholds that hold God's people in bondage and take back the entire earth for the Kingdom of God.

Crucified With Christ

Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."

When we give our lives to Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are born again in our spirit man. He actually comes and takes up residence in us, and we begin to imitate His ways. We grow more loving and peaceful and reach out to others, as we may have never done before. Our lives become more orderly and purposeful, and we willingly embrace our calling. We do the good works that Jesus did and glorify Him on the earth.

We sanctify ourselves and freely take up our cross and follow Christ in our daily lives. We no longer live; He lives in us to do His perfect will. We present our bodies as living sacrifices and we dedicate ourselves to divine service. We lose our self-lives, but we gain eternal life through our faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins. We have present and future rewards for our righteousness and godliness. We have become heirs to better promises than our ancestors had.

The Lord communicates with us regularly, and meets all of our needs for guidance and direction, wisdom and understanding. He reveals His truths to us and shows us the deeper mysteries of our faith both clearly and comprehensibly. He gives us divine inspiration and His very own empowerment to be successful in all that we do on His behalf. We can perform miraculous signs and wonders and win many to our faith.

2Peter 1:3 "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that [pertain] unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:"

We have eternal callings and divine destinies that will play out in the critical days ahead. Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God we can lead virtuous lives and demonstrate the Lord's glory all over the face of the earth, as He desires. He will confer His very own anointing power on us, so that we fulfill His eternal redemption plan in the world prior to Christ's coming. We will walk in the supernatural realm; perform many signs and miracles; and impact the entire earth for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

The Lord enables us to accomplish mighty feats on His behalf if we walk in faith and total sanctification of purpose. We must continually strive to lay down our fleshly desires and selfish soul ambitions and adopt His eternal plan for our lives as our very own. Christ will work in us and through us to achieve His will. We have important roles to fulfill that will positively impact the world in every way. We will preach the Gospel, heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead back to life again as Christ Himself did. We will speak to seemingly impossible situations and they will yield to our faith-based words.

We are here for a reason; we are not without purpose and direction. We are called to glory and virtue; we have significant callings that await us. Life is so much more than what it appears to be. We have hope of future rewards that we will share in, and goals and dreams that have not even begun to emerge. With God's help, we will do great things on the earth and change men's lives as never before. We will make outstanding contributions in every field of expertise, and demonstrate our faith in all that we say and do.

Transformation and Regeneration

2Corinthians 5:17 "Now if any man be in Christ, He is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

We become recreated spirit beings when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. We are changed from the inside out, and transformed into entirely different creatures. Our minds and spirits are renewed in the truth. The process of regeneration begins to operate in our lives and will be ongoing, until we reach spiritual perfection and meet Christ face-to-face in His Kingdom.

Our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors change when we are born again and baptized in the Holy Spirit of God. We desire the things of God more than the things of the world. We purposely strive after holiness and spiritual maturity, and we become eager for knowledge of the deeper mysteries of God. We ask for wisdom, revelation knowledge and increased understanding.

When we are sanctified for the Lord's use and willing and obedient to His direction for our lives, we are given spiritual gifts and manifestations that can be used for the benefit of others. We walk in the supernatural realm and assume our divine destinies. Jesus Christ was the firstborn of many sons and daughters; we must take our place as the sons of God on the earth.

If we lay down our own personal ambitions and agendas, the Lord can use us to impact others' lives for good. We must assume our important roles in His long-term plan and purpose for the redemption of all mankind. We will join in love and unity with fellow believers to effect positive and permanent changes in the earth, in preparation for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

Titus 3:5-7 "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; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life."

We receive special insight and discernment through the power of the Holy Spirit. He is our Counselor and leads and guides us into all knowledge of the truth. We are given the gifts and manifestations of the Spirit of God and begin to operate in them. Spiritual fruit begin to emerge in our personal lives and help us to become godly and effective in our dealings with others. We now walk in the power of the Holy Spirit of God instead of the weakness of our flesh and souls.

None of this happens because we are inherently worthy of it. Salvation is a free gift of God, made available to all men equally. It is only by His mercy and grace that any of us are saved and transformed. We cannot accomplish any of this through our own efforts. Our righteousness and godliness are impossible without our total faith in Christ, and the positive influence of the Holy Spirit of God. Without God, we can do nothing, but with Him all things are possible to us.

We can never be righteous and holy in and of ourselves. No man can boast of righteousness through his good works. None of us is better than another. We all miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God from time to time. His mercy and compassion extend to each of us. The Lord is ever ready to forgive us and restore us to right standing, when we sincerely repent and renounce all our sins. We must strive for holiness and perfection, just as God is holy and perfect.

Godliness

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

We are not to be worldly in any way; we are to put our spirit man in ascendancy to our flesh and soul. When we were born again in Jesus Christ the process of spiritual regeneration began and will culminate in our developing godliness. It is ongoing, and requires us to be proactive. We are not automatically changed when we are baptized into our faith. Our sanctification requires that we continuously lay down our fleshly desires and soul ambitions and become more disciplined.

We can actually mirror the attributes of God Himself, if we discipline our lives. We should always walk in the Holy Spirit instead of the weakness of our flesh and souls. As we grow and mature in the deep things of God, and spend more time in His presence we will become godly ourselves. Our goal should be to pattern our lives after that of Jesus Christ and imitate His attitude, words and behavior. Jesus only said what the Father told Him to say and did what He was told to do. We, too, will speak the words of God and see dramatic changes occur all over the earth.

We will grow in spiritual maturity by developing the fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. We become loving, peaceful, joyous, meek, good and gentle with practice and determination. We should put the Lord and others first place in our lives, and dedicate ourselves to humble service. Our goal should be to become holy and perfect just as God is holy and perfect, so that we can enjoy a closer relationship with Him. We will dwell forever in His presence and He cannot abide with evil.

1Timothy 4:7-8 "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself [rather] unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."

God's people are redeemed and delivered from the legalism, false religion and man-made traditions that once held us in bondage. We now choose to believe the truth. We have the freedom that only righteousness with God produces. We are able to live our lives in close intimacy with Him and enjoy all His promised blessings. As we grow and mature in our walk with the Lord, we will increase in godliness and become more Christ-like in our behavior.

We can practice godliness in our daily lives without being pretentious or religious. God is real and expects us to be sincere and genuine in our relationship with Him and with others. We must strive for sanctification from our fleshly desires and soul ambitions. We are able to acquire the Lord's very own divine attributes - called Spiritual fruit - and cultivate these in our lives, so that we will eventually become holy and perfect, as He is holy and perfect.

If we walk in love, mercy and compassion for others, we will be patient and kind in our dealings with all men. We will treat others fairly and equitably, as we ourselves would like to be treated. We will be generous and supportive to them in their needs, and quick to forgive and forget all wrongs done to us. We will be living testimonies to the power and love of God at work in us, so that others may be won to our faith by our righteous and godly example.

Universal Call to Righteousness and Godliness

1Kings 8:61 "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."

We should strive for holiness and spiritual perfection in our walk with the Lord. He is not impressed by our good intentions; He is concerned with the inner man of the heart. We must always keep His commandments. They are never heavy or burdensome, but were created in our best interest. If we walk in love, we will not sin or hurt God and others in any way. It will not even cross our minds. We will put God and others first, and think less of our own needs and desires.

However, we can't be so heavenly minded that we are of no earthly use. We should never be religious or controlling in our dealings with others. Pretended piety will annoy the Lord and turn people off. We should not criticize and condemn others for doing the very same things that we have done in the past. We should be merciful and compassionate to their plight. We should be patient and persistent in wanting the best for them, just as the Lord Himself has desired it for us.

If we are self-righteous, legalistic and demanding, we will never please God or influence others in a positive way. The Lord hates dead religion and He will not tolerate it in His people. None of us is righteous through our own merits; we are all covered by the Blood of Christ. Our faith in Him justifies us, and that alone. We can never hope to impress the Lord with our works or good intentions. He desires truth in our inward parts and He will purge us of all our hypocrisy.

We must lead by godly example and use gentle persuasion rather than harsh, controlling attitudes to win others to the Lord. We should never attempt to override their free will. We ought to treat them, as we ourselves would also hope to be treated. We should be thankful that we have overcome our own shortcomings. But for the grace of God, we would all be lost in sin for all time. The Lord has shown us love, mercy and kindness; we should do the same with others.

2Corinthians 13:11 "Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you."

We should not look for ways to make spiritual "brownie points" with God. He is not flattered by our sanctimonious showmanship or impressed by pretended piety. He wants us to be sincere in our faith and be genuine in our devotion to Him. He knows whether we are being real or simply putting on a front. It is His greatest desire that we choose to be loving and obedient of our own free will, rather than serve Him out of fear, constraint or obligation of any kind.

We must work at developing our relationship with the Lord through prayer, meditation and the study of His Word. As we grow in intimacy with Him, our behavior will improve to the point that we will not desire to sin in any way. His loving kindness will touch us deeply in our spirits. Our love for others will be a spontaneous overflow of our love for God Himself. We will reach out to all those we meet with fair, just and equitable treatment towards all men.

We will walk in real love, as we grow spiritually and mature into holiness and perfection. We will promote peace and unity with all men, despite our individual differences. We will search out ways to better relate to others as we grow and develop spiritually. We will desire the best for others, as we do for ourselves. We will share what we have and be patient and forgiving of all wrong done to us. This will please the Lord and be a powerful testimony to our godliness.

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

It is not God's will that any man should perish. He wants every man, woman and child on the earth to come to a full knowledge and understanding of the truth. His invitation to eternal life in abundance is open to one and all. We have a distinct privilege and serious responsibility to make the Word of God available to all men regardless of who they are or what they may have done and believed in the past. No person is too incorrigible to be saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ.

If we have faith and confidence in God, then we will spontaneously share that with others. We need not have a formal plan or agenda. We can give real life testimonies to Jesus Christ and His saving power. Evangelization should be a way of life for us, so automatic that we don't even think about it. If we truly love the Lord, then we will want what He wants and do what He asks of us. Freely have we received the truth, and freely should we share it with all those we meet.

We must lead by a godly, loving example. Men will imitate our righteousness and turn towards the Lord and embrace the truth of the Gospel message. Our behavior must be above and beyond reproach if we wish to be proper witnesses of our faith. We should glorify God in all that we think, say and do. Very soon now, all men will know the Lord; no one will have to be taught His ways any longer. His laws will ultimately be written in our minds and hearts for all of eternity.

In the interim, all men will look to us as they would to Jesus Christ Himself. They will be watching our behavior to see if it lines up with what we teach them. We must be consistently righteous and godly in our interactions with others. We cannot be hypocritical if we want to lead others to the truth. Our very lives should demonstrate the Gospel message in a clear and relevant way. We should be role models to others in wholesome Christian living, ever real and genuine in our faith.

Judgment For Righteousness

2Chronicles 6:23 "Then hear thou from heaven, and do, and judge thy servants, by requiting the wicked, by recompensing his way upon his own head; and by justifying the righteous, by giving him according to his righteousness."

Jesus Christ will soon return to judge both men and angels. No one will escape His scrutiny or avoid His universal judgment. It will be irrefutable, final and permanent. The righteous will inherit eternal life and all of its blessings in the Kingdom of God, and the rebellious will have their share in the eternal lake of fire. He will take vengeance on all the enemies of His people.

We face the imminent judgment of Jesus Christ Himself. He will judge both great and small, to include the living and the dead. Only He is able to determine who is righteous among us and who is walking in iniquity. Our unfeigned love, deep faith and perfect obedience will ensure us that we are eligible to enter the Kingdom of God when it is ushered in on the earth.

If we are loving, obedient and fulfill the Lord's will in all situations and circumstances, we will be found righteous and acceptable by Kingdom standards. However, if we deliberately choose sin as a way of life, we will be permanently excluded from God's Kingdom and subject to eternal punishment. The choice is ours and has serious long-term ramifications for our lives.

2Corinthians 6:14 "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"

We should walk circumspectly in everything that we do, as we will be judged by stringent standards in the days to come. We should guard ourselves against all evil and avoid the temptation to sin. That means that we may have to acquire new habits and develop healthier relationships in our lives. We can no longer do the things we once did and get away with them. We are held accountable for every thought, word and deed that does not line up with the Word.

We may have to sever our intimate ties with men and women in the world for a time and a season, until we grow in faith and discipline. If we are to become holy and perfect, as the Lord is holy and perfect, we should spend more time developing our relationship with Him than with anyone else. We should focus our time and attention on prayer, meditation and the study of God's Word. We are responsible to walk in the light we have and be godly examples to others.

We cannot be so spiritually minded that we are of no earthly use. We are to be in the world as a role model to others without being religious or hypocritical in any way. We must emulate the laid down life of Christ Himself and walk as He walked. He was warm and affectionate towards all men, but also very selective in developing His intimate relationships. His disciples proved their loyalty to Him, encouraged His work and were devoted companions in His earth walk.

Promised Rewards for Righteousness and Godliness

2Peter 3:13-14 "Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

Righteousness and godliness should be our aim, as we seek the Lord's way of doing things rather than our own. Sanctification must be our ongoing goal if we would live forever in the presence of the Lord. He is holy and perfect and cannot abide with evil or defilement of any kind. We must lay down our fleshly desires and purge ourselves of all ambitions of the soul. We are to be without spot or blemish and blameless at the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

We have a blessed hope and confidence for the future. Very soon now, the Lord will bring heaven to the earth in the Kingdom of God. He will turn our captivity once and for all. Our bodies will be changed and live forever, free of disease and decay. We will experience peace and prosperity, as He meets all of our needs in abundance even before we ask Him. We will enjoy fellowship and unity with all men and dwell in the very presence of God Himself for all eternity.

All earthly kingdoms will be absorbed and reorganized in the Kingdom of God. If we are faithful and true to His calling, we will actually serve as kings and priests of our God. We will rule and reign with Jesus Christ. We will have the heathen for our inheritance and be just rulers and able teachers of God's people. He will boast of us to all creation and we will share in Christ's very own glory. We will receive honor and praise instead of our former guilt, shame and condemnation.

1Timothy 6:11-12 "But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

Hypocritical, self-righteous individuals will have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Idolaters and the covetous will never enter into His presence. All those who worship false gods and embrace doctrines of demons will be excluded. Those who have perverted the Gospel message in any way and led men astray will be eternally punished. Anyone who has persecuted God's people or held them in spiritual bondage will be held accountable and cast into the lake of fire.

We are to fight the good fight of faith and proclaim the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the nations of the world. The Lord desires that all men come to a full knowledge of the truth. We have been called to eternal life, not darkness and deception. We should share our testimony with others and persuade them to repent and be baptized in our faith. The redemption of Jesus Christ is available to all men everywhere without prejudice, and will lead to the blessings of eternal life.

If we are good stewards of our faith and pursue righteousness and godliness in our daily lives, we will have many blessings and rewards in the Kingdom of God in the very near future. The Lord will provide all our needs in abundance and confer honor and glory on us instead of our former shame. We will rule and reign with Christ Himself and have the heathen for our inheritance. We will even be kings and priests of our God, and judge both men and angels in His Kingdom.

Psalm 58:11 "So that a man shall say, Verily [there is] a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth."

There will be no evil present to mar life in the Kingdom of God in any way. Christ will destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in the wrath of His coming. No one and nothing that defiles will enter into God's presence. Jesus Christ will decide who resides in His Kingdom and enjoys its blessings. He will determine who is righteous and godly, and walking in obedience.

The righteous will inherit eternal life and all of its blessings, while those who have done evil will be punished for all of eternity. The Lord will destroy all those who have injured others in any way or prevented them from turning to Him. Everyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be saved, despite the efforts of the ungodly to lead them into perdition.

Many who are first now will be last in the Kingdom of God. The Lord is not mocked or easily fooled. He will take vengeance on all the enemies of His people. Those who are hypocritical, religious and controlling individuals will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. Anyone who has perverted the truth of the Gospel message will be excluded from God's Kingdom for all of eternity.

Matthew 5:3-11 "Blessed [are] the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed [are] they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed [are] the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed [are] they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed [are] the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed [are] the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed [are] they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when [men] shall revile you, and persecute [you], and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake."

The Lord sees the inner man of the heart and it is His deepest desire to have an intimate relationship with those who are pure and undefiled. We should guard our righteousness and diligently work to be godly in all that we think, say and do. We must be loving at all times and put the Lord before anything and everyone else, if we wish to dwell in His presence for all eternity.

Only the humble and sincere in spirit will enter into the Kingdom of God and enjoy its blessings. The meek will inherit the earth, not the influential and powerful. There will be no oppression or exploitation of God's people any longer. We will enjoy safety and security for all time. We will walk in love and unity with others, and there will finally be peace and equality on the earth.

There will be no more defilement or persecution for our faith. The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and vindicate us before men and angels. He will boast of us to all creation and we will share in Christ's very own honor and glory. Our names will soon be a praise on the earth and the Lord will appoint us as kings and priests, so that we can rule and reign with Christ forever.

Even our bodies will be changed into incorruptible, glorious, resurrection forms in a twinkling of the eye. We will enjoy Kingdom life, and be in harmony with the plant and animal kingdoms. We will actually help to re-create and restore all that was lost in nature since the fall of Adam. The earth will be as it was in the Garden of Eden, a perfect dwelling place for man and God to enjoy!

Topics for Discussion

1. The Basis for Our Righteousness
2. Crucified With Christ
3. Transformation and Regeneration
4. Righteousness
5. Godliness
6. Judgment for Righteousness
7. Rewards for Righteousness and Godliness

Chapter 6 - The Nature and Operation of the Holy Spirit

Luke 11:13 "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?"

There is a spark of the divine in every human being on the face of the planet; it simply lies dormant until activated. We were created in God's image and likeness to be with Him for all of eternity. However sin interrupted that relationship. That is the very reason that the Lord sent Jesus Christ to save us from our sins and reconcile us to Himself once and for all.

When we were born again and baptized in water, we became eligible for the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God, as well. We must sanctify ourselves and be receptive to the Holy Spirit, then ask Him to indwell us in all His fullness. He will gladly accommodate us and take up residence in our spirit, so that we develop a more intimate relationship with God and become more like Him in every way.

We may receive the gift of supernatural tongues as evidence of the presence of God's Spirit in us. We can then choose to communicate with the Lord more directly and effectively through our spiritual prayer language. We will also eventually receive the manifestations of the Holy Spirit of God, so that we have all good spiritual gifts with which to serve others.

Spiritual fruit will soon manifest in our lives, so that our relationships with the Lord and His people are improved. We will develop attributes very much like those of God Himself. We will have increased faith, love, peace and joy. Goodness and gentleness will emerge in our character; we will also acquire meekness, temperance and longsuffering, so that we become more humble and patient.

Exodus 35:31 "And he hath filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship;"

When we receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit, our lives are significantly changed. We are transformed into spirit beings, who desire wisdom, understanding and knowledge of the deeper things of God. He can and will share all good spiritual things with us if we desire them. We can communicate with the Lord direct - human spirit to Holy Spirit. We can hear from Him quickly and clearly, so that we can immediately respond to His words and obey His commands.

The Holy Spirit is our connector to the divine and enables us to walk in the supernatural realm of unlimited possibility. He fills us with the very character and attributes of God, so that we can assume our roles as His sons and daughters. All of creation is waiting for us to be revealed, so that we can set it free. We will bring peace and order to the entire earth.

The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and tells us when we have missed the mark of true holiness. He gives us spiritual discernment to know right from wrong. He leads us and guides us into all truth and encourages us to fulfill the will of God in our lives. The Holy Spirit comforts us in our sorrow, and gives us the peace of God that passes understanding. He strengthens us in our faith and empowers us to be holy and perfect, so we can overcome the world, our flesh and the devil.

Spirit Beings

1Corinthians 3:16 "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and [that] the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?"

We have discernment through the Holy Spirit of God. It goes without saying that we should search out the truth and avoid all false doctrines. We cannot have any other gods in our lives. We must put the Lord first in all things and seek His way of doing things and being right. We should purge our flesh and discipline our soul. We must walk in the Spirit and strive for holiness.

We are privileged to know the truth. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are actually the temples of God on the earth. He dwells in us in all of His fullness and His Spirit permeates our entire being, leaving us changed in every way. While we were once lost in sin, darkness and deception, we are now filled with righteousness and light and share in God's power and glory.

We were created for a specific, divine purpose; we are spirit beings having a human experience. We are in the world, but not really of it. We walk in the supernatural realm, as well as in the natural. We accomplish great things for the Lord as long as we discipline ourselves and remain in the Spirit. Only sin can interrupt that; the Holy Spirit will take leave of an unclean vessel.

Ezekiel 36:27 "And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do [them]."

We must remember to follow all of the Lord's commandments to us and walk in love as we have been taught. We should put our spirit man in ascendancy to our flesh and souls and protect ourselves from worldly contamination. We are temples of the Holy Spirit and we should walk circumspectly in all that we think, say and do, if we wish to receive the Lord's anointing power.

The Lord manifests Himself in our lives in surprising ways. He works in us and through us to attract others to our faith. We can lay hands on the sick and they will recover. We are able to cast out demons and set men free. We can even raise the dead back to life again. We are His hands, feet and voice on the earth and we are responsible to impact lives for good in everything we do. We must actively pursue peace and restore order on the earth.

It is critically important that we sanctify ourselves of all known sin and unrighteousness on a daily basis. We must consecrate our lives to the Lord's eternal redemption plan, if we would be of any use to Him in serving others. If we are willing and obedient, we can fulfill our divine destinies as the children of God and change the world for good even before Christ's return to the earth.

Romans 8:9-16 "But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

Men in the world, who do not know Christ as their Savior, walk in the flesh and are subject to death as a penalty for their sins. They are under the curse, and everything that they do leads them to physical and spiritual destruction. However, we walk in the Holy Spirit of God as believers, and overcome our flesh with all of its corruption and sin. We are led by the Holy Spirit in all situations and circumstances. We can be totally victorious in this world and in the next.

When we made Jesus Christ the Lord of our lives, the same resurrection power that raised Him from the dead became available to us. We were spiritually reborn and became new creatures in Christ. The born-again man or woman is a new species of human being that walks in the supernatural realm of God, instead of in the weakness and sinfulness of the flesh. We now have eternal life available to us, and we become joint-heirs with Christ to all the promises of God.

We walk in newness of life; we are spirit beings in fleshly form. So too, when Christ returns, our mortal bodies that are susceptible to disease and death will be changed in the twinkling of an eye to glorious, resurrection bodies that will live forever in the presence of God on the earth. There will be no sickness or infirmity in God's Kingdom. Death will be a thing of the past. All men will live long and strong, enjoying all the blessings that the Kingdom has to offer us.

Our human spirits bear witness to the fact that we are the children of God. We call our Creator "Abba" or "Daddy." We have an intimate relationship with Him. He is our Father and provides all of our needs - both temporal and spiritual. We know the truth and have confidence that He will lead and guide us in all that we do. We are not alone; we have Christ in us, working through us to do all good things. Our bodies have literally become temples of the Holy Spirit.

2Corinthians 3:17-18 "Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord [is], there [is] liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord."

The Spirit of God in us changes things in our lives; we have true Christian liberty. That does not give us license to sin, after we received our salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement for our sins. It simply means that we have rights and privileges that, for the most part, remain untapped and underutilized. We go from glory to glory in our walk with God.

We can approach the Lord with every need, regardless of how large or how small it might be. We know that if we ask Him, that He will meet all of our needs abundantly. We can pray and intercede for others, and know that He always hears our prayers and grants our requests. We are glorified in God in every respect; He stands ready to back us up in all that we do.

The awesome power and glory of God will manifest in our lives in the days to come. We will take back the entire earth for the Kingdom of God. We will have extraordinary energy and limitless authority to do good. We will destroy all demonic strongholds that impede our progress or interfere with our work. The Lord will move mightily through His people who walk in the Spirit.

1Corinthians 2:10-12 "But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

Mundane knowledge will not sustain us in the days to come. We will require revelation knowledge to fulfill our destinies, as we should. We receive wisdom and understanding of the deep things of God through the power of His Holy Spirit. The Spirit of God teaches us all things and we are enlightened, so that we can be successful in all that we do on the Lord's behalf.

Eternal destinies mark us as the very children of God. We are world-changers and walk as Christ Himself walked on the earth. We receive directives from the Lord to minister to men's lives and effect permanent, positive changes for them. We can work supernatural miracles of healing and deliverance and proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God to them, so that they are set free.

We have total dominion over the enemy and all of his efforts to oppress and destroy us. We can bind him by the operation of the Holy Spirit and plead the Blood of Jesus over all our situations and circumstances. We have protection through the merits of Christ Himself, and we can stop any demonic interference that would impede the coming of the Kingdom of God to the earth.

Praying in the Spirit

Romans 8:26 "Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Sometimes we are so perplexed and burdened in our spirit man, that we simply do not know how or what to pray. It is then that we should pray in tongues, so that the Holy Spirit can make intercession for us and we can receive the revelation that we need. Our prayers will be more effective and bypass our minds and human reason, getting right to the heart of the matter.

When we pray in the Spirit, we communicate directly with the Lord Himself and build up our spirit man. There is no interference when we use our supernatural prayer language. The enemy cannot contaminate our prayer lines, since our spirit is in direct connection with God's Spirit. We can make our needs known and hear back from the Lord more accurately.

We will need that sort of relationship with God in the days to come, if we will successfully serve Him. Only He knows the day and the hour for the return of Jesus Christ. He will have to lead and guide us, as we proceed to usher in His Kingdom on the earth. It will be critical that we hear from the Lord clearly and obey immediately, so that we can fulfill our destinies.

1Corinthians 14:14 "For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also."

We should pray in the Spirit and build ourselves up in the Lord. We need clear, concise direction from Him that is only available through close, personal communication. We need to hear from God direct, so that we can properly serve Him at all times. It is imperative that we pray often in our spiritual prayer language, so that we are immediately responsive and obedient to Him.

Prayer in tongues is often our only option, since our minds can become cluttered with fear and anxiety. We should pray in tongues and with our human understanding, so that we will always hear from God despite what circumstances we face. It is not so important how we pray, but it is critical that we do so at all times, so that we will know the express will of God in all situations.

If we are righteous and godly, the Holy Spirit of God will dwell in us richly. We will imitate the laid down life of Jesus Christ and do the things that He did during His earthly ministry. We must strive to continually walk in the Spirit and crucify our carnal desires and selfish soul ambitions. We should consecrate all of our efforts to God's eternal redemption plan and purpose for our lives.

1John 4:13-17 "Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit."

The nature of God is love, and those who walk in love dwell in God and He dwells in them. He has given us His very own Spirit, so that we might be like Him in all respects and successful in all we do. The Lord expects us to love Him with all our being, and love others as we love ourselves. We are to imitate the laid down life of Jesus Christ and say and do what He did on the earth.

It is important to note that when Christ came to the earth, He laid down His deity and all of its privileges and walked as a mere man among us. Yet He was sinless and perfect in every way. He was in close communication with His Father at all times and was blessed with strength and endurance as a result. Nothing Jesus did could have been accomplished without obedience.

Christ walked in the Holy Spirit of God continually. He always did what the Father told Him to do, and spoke only what He was told to say. He was in constant prayer and meditation, so that He would know the Lord's express will in all situations and circumstances. His relationship with the Father was deep and intimate, and He was anointed with God's power to do good works.

If we pray in the Spirit and guard our righteousness at all times, we will be strengthened in our spirit man, just as Christ was when He walked the earth. We will be in continuous, intimate communication with our God and He can give us vital information that we require to serve Him optimally in ushering in His Kingdom. Praying in the Spirit is vital to our overall effectiveness.

Sowing and Reaping to the Spirit

Galatians 6:8 "For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting."

The lusts and desires of the flesh and the selfish ambitions of the soul are all corruptible and lead to death. We must discipline ourselves and put the Lord first in all things. When we put our spirit man in ascendancy to our flesh and soul, we walk in the newness of life.

Ever since we embraced the truth of the Gospel message, we have experienced transformation in our lives. We no longer want and need the same things that we did in the past. Our very thoughts and words have changed, and our behavior is actually becoming godly.

We are new creatures in Christ and operate in the supernatural realm of infinite possibility; the miraculous is real and attainable to us now. If we sow to the Spirit, we will also reap in the Spirit and walk in the power and glory of Christ Himself, doing good to all whom we meet.

Walking in the Spirit is a fine-tuned balancing act that we perform. It requires discipline and commitment. We have to purposely choose spiritual things over natural ones. If we crucify our flesh and subdue our souls, we will be able to walk in the Spirit successfully.

1John 3:24 "And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us."

The Spirit of the living God dwells in us if we keep all His commandments and walk in love. If we put our spirit man in ascendancy to our soul and flesh, we will receive an anointing of the Lord's very own power and authority to change the entire earth for good.

Never are we permitted to deliberately sin or transgress God's laws. We are always expected to keep the Lord's commandments to us. They are never too difficult for us, but rather, are intended for our ultimate well-being and our spiritual perfection.

Christ came to fulfill the old law, and instructed us in His law of love, which reduces all of the Ten Commandments into two basic precepts. None of them has been eliminated; Jesus Christ only simplified them for our understanding and compliance.

We are to love the Lord will all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. This is the sum total of the law, and if we observe it, we remain in right standing with God and literally dwell in His very own Holy Spirit.

If we walk in love for the Lord and for others we will not sin in any way. Genuine love leads and guides us into all righteousness in Him. It keeps us on a straight and narrow path that will produce permanent spiritual and temporal blessings in our lives.

The Fruit of the Spirit

Ephesians 5:8-10 "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord."

While we were once lost in darkness and deception, we are now in the light of the Lord. We know the truth and it has set us free for all time. We do not need the artifice of religion to impress our God or be righteous in His eyes. We have the Blood of Christ that has made us acceptable to Him. Jesus Christ actually lives in us to do His perfect will and we are new creatures in Him.

We eventually become more like God Himself, since He actually dwells in us and we dwell in Him. The fruit of the Spirit begin to emerge in us after we are baptized in the Holy Spirit of God. These are spiritual attributes that lead us into all goodness, righteousness and truth. If we strive to remain sin free, they will grow until our entire lives are noticeably transformed.

Spiritual fruit will enable us to better relate to God and to others. They will empower us to walk in the supernatural realm, in unselfish love and humble servitude. They make us more effective and successful in every area of our lives. They are visible signs that we are maturing spiritually and aspiring to holiness and perfection, just as the Lord is holy and perfect in every way.

Galatians 5:22-25 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit."

We can develop spiritual attributes that are like God's very own characteristics. Spiritual fruit will manifest in us, as we continue in our walk with God and grow in spiritual maturity. We can always trust Him to provide us with all good things. For example, if we walk in love, we will experience peace and joy in our lives. If we develop our faith to the fullest, then we will have hope and confidence before God and please Him with our boldness.

If we are patient and longsuffering, we will be able to relate better to others, and forgive and forget any wrongs done to us. If we are gentle and good, we will be compassionate to others' needs and treat them with respect. If we are meek, we will be humble and sincere servants to others and inherit the earth as has been promised to us in God's Word. If we are temperate, we will crucify our flesh and soul and lead simple lives of discipline and prayer.

Spiritual fruit positively impact our lives, so that we can be more like God in every way. They help deepen our intimacy with Him. They enable us to serve the Lord and others with increased effectiveness and facilitate our spiritual growth and maturity. They are vital to our spiritual and temporal success. If we work at cultivating Spiritual fruit in our lives, we will walk in the Spirit rather than our flesh, and please God in everything that we do.

The Spirit Of Life

Romans 8:1-2 "[There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death."

We have been set free from the law of sin and death. We experience the newness of life in Jesus Christ. No longer bound by sin, we are free from guilt, shame and condemnation in our relationship with the Lord. We have gained eternal life and enjoy many rights and privileges as the children of God. We are joint-heirs with Jesus to all the promises of righteousness. We have an even better covenant than our forefathers had. We are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the right hand of God Himself.

Whatever we require to be healthy, happy and successful, the Lord will accommodate us. We can approach the Father for any need and know that it will be met abundantly. If we intercede for others in prayer, He will always respond affirmatively. If we desire revelation knowledge or better understanding, He will provide all that we ask of Him. It is His greatest desire to supply all of our needs and be our complete source for all good things in our lives, both temporal and spiritual.

When we miss the mark and fall short of God's glory, we are able to repent and ask for His forgiveness once again. We need not make sacrificial offerings to atone for our sins. We are not under the curse of the law or subject to death as a penalty for our sin. We simply go boldly to the throne of grace and ask for pardon. If we are sincere, the Lord will promptly restore us to right standing with Him and reinstate all of our blessings as before. He will even blot our sin and transgression from His memory.

However, we never have the right to be deliberately disobedient and violate any of the commandments. We are to be uncompromisingly righteous and loving in all that we think, say and do. The entire human race is looking to us for example, and we should lead them by our godly actions. We are sons and daughters of the living God who will release all men from their bondage to sin. If we are holy and perfect, we will have full protection from all evil and impact the entire earth.

Proverbs 4:23 "Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life."

Through our faith in Christ we have gained eternal life with all of its promises. If we concentrate on spiritual things rather than worldly matters, we will reap many blessings now and in the days to come. However we cannot be double-minded. We must diligently guard our hearts and protect our minds and spirits from contamination by false religious doctrines and man-made traditions.

We know the truth of the Gospel message; we should not permit anything to taint that. As believers, we have responsibilities and privileges. We cannot afford to be lax in our faith or sloppy in our walk with the Lord. We have to crucify our flesh and subdue our souls and strive for holiness and perfection, just as God is holy and perfect. We are the very sons and daughters of God and should reflect His glory.

None of that is possible without the operation of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Holy Spirit will lead and guide us, and fill us with divine attributes that are like those of God Himself. If we fully surrender our lives to the Lord, He can do a great work in us and through us to impact the entire earth for good. His anointing power will fill us to the overflow, if we walk in His Holy Spirit instead of our flesh.

Walking in the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-18 "[This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law."

The spirit of a man is ever at war with his flesh and his soul. There is continual temptation to step out of the Holy Spirit and into carnality. However, it is possible to crucify our flesh and subdue our selfish soul ambitions and put our spirit man in ascendancy. If we have been born again and baptized with water and the Holy Spirit of God, we will reign victorious in life.

We should emulate the laid down life of Jesus Christ. He put the work of the Kingdom before His personal needs and desires. He was totally obedient to the Father, and said and did only what He was told. Christ accomplished all that He did because He put His spirit man in ascendancy to His flesh and soul. He did not operate as God on the earth, but as a perfectly disciplined man walking in full divine power and authority.

If we walk in the Spirit instead of our flesh, we will not even think of gratifying our carnal desires or fulfilling our own selfish goals and ambitions. We will seek the Lord's plan and purpose over our own, and lead humble lives of love and service to others. God's power will manifest in us and through us, as we sanctify ourselves and dedicate our lives to Him in sacrificial service.

If we empty ourselves of all carnality and selfish soul ambitions, we will appropriate divine power in our lives to overcome all obstacles. We will tear down demonic strongholds that have held mankind in bondage and oppression for so many years. We will bring peace and order to the earth and establish Kingdom principles of fairness and justice for all. We will deliver all creation from death and destruction.

The Body of Christ will be a powerful force to be reckoned with, and totally successful in all that we are assigned to do. We will usher in the Kingdom of God with manifest power and glory, so that all the world will be astonished and give praise to God as they should. We will judge both men and angels; be appointed kings and priests of God; and even rule and reign with Christ as promised.

Romans 8:4 "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

We will accomplish the seemingly impossible if we are anointed of God and walk in the Holy Spirit instead of our flesh. In the days ahead, ordinary men and women who walk in the Spirit of God will heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead back to life. We will bring in the full harvest of souls that is required before the Kingdom of God comes to the earth.

Those who walk in the Spirit in divine power and authority will restructure and reorganize world governments to line up with Kingdom principles of peace and equality for all men. We will help to restore all creation to its original beauty and balance. The plant and animal kingdoms will be subject to us. All of nature will comply with our directives and be in total harmony again. We will speak to seemingly impossible situations and they will yield to our authority.

While it may seem difficult to walk in the Spirit, we must remember that this is exactly what Christ did while He was on the earth. Since we are His Body - His hands, feet and voice - we will also be able to eventually walk totally in the spirit realm. This will enable us to accomplish mighty feats on His behalf and usher in the Kingdom of God as He intends we do.

The Anointing Teaches Us

1John 2:27-28 "But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be shamed before him at his coming."

We have received a full anointing in the truth by the power of the Holy Spirit of God. We will not require any human instruction in all that we are asked to do. The Lord Himself will lead and guide us into everything that we require to be successful for His purpose.

He will download revelation to us on a need-to-know basis. Everything that He tells us will be valid and purposeful, and relevant to our individual calling. He will grant us special insight into the details of His eternal redemption plan and we will do all that He asks of us.

The anointing power of the Holy Spirit of God that abides in us will convict us of any sin in our lives and comfort us in our times of trouble. It will lead and guide us in the days ahead, so that we can successfully operate as Christ did on the earth, in selfless service to others.

We must be continually walking in love and unity with other members in the Body of Christ. We can accomplish a great deal more by working cooperatively, than we could if we functioned alone. We should always intercede for others and encourage one another in our faith.

Ephesians 4:21 "If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:"

Jesus Christ will be our Commander In Chief and tell us when to move, and what to say and do as we usher in His Kingdom. We should be tuned into the voice of God, rather than the voices of men who may lack wisdom and understanding regarding our divine roles.

It is critical that we communicate directly with the Lord, and be quick and obedient to respond to His guidance and direction. We cannot do our own thing or be insubordinate in any way, if we would be of useful service to the Lord in the important days to come.

When Christ returns, He should find us doing His work on the earth as He did during His ministry. We should be preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, healing the sick, casting out demons and even raising the dead back to life again as He Himself did.

If we are faithful to His divine commission to us, we will be amply rewarded in the Kingdom of God. Jesus will share His very own honor and glory with us. We will judge both men and angels and rule and reign with Him for all of eternity as kings and priests.

Manifestations of the Spirit of God

1Corinthians 12:7-12 "But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ."

The Lord distributes the gifts and the callings of the Holy Spirit at will to each believer as He sees fit. He knows the end from the beginning, and determines what manifestations of the Holy Spirit will benefit us most in our individual lives. He decides who will receive words of wisdom and words of knowledge to share for the betterment of others. He calls the prophet to office and determines what type of revelation He wants shared with His people.

He makes healing and the working of miracles available to us, according to His plan and purpose and to demonstrate His power. He gives the discernment of spirits to some men, and supernatural tongues to those who are receptive. He always arranges for an interpreter to be present for the edification of the entire group. There is but one Holy Spirit of God, with many diverse gifts, callings and manifestations given for the benefit of all believers.

It is important to note that gifts of the Holy Spirit should never be offered for rent, sale or hire. The Holy Spirit will take leave of unclean vessels and these greedy individuals will ultimately be stripped of their influence over others. Those who charge fees or expect gratuities for their service to others will be severely judged and punished when Christ returns. They will be on the outside looking in when the Kingdom of God is ushered into the earth.

Joel 2:28-29 "And it shall come to pass afterward, [that] I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit."

There will be a miraculous outpouring of God's very own Holy Spirit in the days to come, as we prepare to enter the Kingdom of God on the earth and deliver it to Jesus Christ at His coming. Any person that willingly dedicates his life to God will be a candidate for receiving spiritual gifts and callings that will enhance his performance in service to the Lord and to others.

We will dream prophetic dreams and have detailed visions of what is to come. The Lord's glory will be poured out over all the earth to get mankind's attention and attract many to the truth. It will not be unusual to see small children or older people prophesying and ministering healing and deliverance to large crowds of people. Men and women alike will be used in ministry to others. The Holy Spirit of God can and will operate through any willing and obedient vessel.

Our background and talents will have no bearing on our effectiveness for the Lord in the days to come. All we must do is be yielded to His plan and purpose. We should sanctify ourselves for His use, and be found trustworthy of functioning in His anointing power to perform miracles of all kinds. The extent to which we lay down our own lives, will determine our overall effectiveness.

Sharing the Spirit of Truth

John 3:34 "For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure [unto him]."

It is critical that every believer learns to share his faith with others in these last days. We are the Lord's voice on the earth, and we are obligated to spread the truth. The Lord wants to make eternal salvation and blessings available to all men. There is a full number of souls that must be converted and baptized before the Kingdom of God is ushered in. This is called the end-time harvest of souls and precedes the coming of heaven to the earth realm.

The Lord will equip the Body of Christ with a full anointing of His very own power to evangelize the entire world, so that no one will perish for lack of hearing the truth. While we cannot override their free will and make others believe as we do, we can at least make the truth available and understandable to every man, woman and child on the face of the planet. We can become living gospels of the Kingdom of God in all that we think, say and do.

Our lives will be demonstrations of spiritual power and authority. We will walk in miraculous signs and wonders to attract all men to our faith. They will be in awe as we minister healing and deliverance to all who are sick or oppressed of the devil. We will even raise the dead back to life again, so that they can join us in enjoying Kingdom blessings for all of eternity. Everything that we do will glorify God and promote the coming of His Kingdom.

We will not have to beat others up with our Bibles or invoke heavy rules and regulations on them. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is powerful and convicting in and of itself. God so loved us that He sent His only Son to be the atonement for all of our sins. If we repent and believe in Christ, we will be saved unto eternal life. We need only confess our faith, be baptized in water and with the Holy Spirit to enter into the Kingdom of God for all time.

Matthew 10:20 "For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you."

Our evangelization will be easily accomplished by the power of the Holy Spirit that works in us and through us. The Lord Himself will unveil the minds and reveal the hearts of our listeners, so that we will be able to persuade them with His very own words of love and conviction spoken through us. We will be actual testimonies to the power of God at work in our own lives, if we share what He has done with others.

The Lord Himself will speak through us to all men as we spread the Gospel of the Kingdom. He will gently convict them by the power of the Holy Spirit, so that their hearts are touched and they repent from their sins. He will teach them the truth, and many will be converted and baptized into the one, true faith. All we must do is make ourselves available for His use. We will speak powerful words straight from God, that change men's lives as never before.

We will be given a healing anointing and deliver many from sickness and disease, and work creative, restorative miracles. We will perform many signs and wonders in Jesus' name, to include demonic deliverances. It is promised that we will even raise the dead back to life. We will say what God says and do what He tells us. All we accomplish will be by the power of the Holy Spirit of God at work through us.

Topics for Discussion

1. The Operation of the Holy Spirit
2. Spirit Beings
3. The Fruit of the Spirit
4. The Spirit of Life
5. Walking in the Spirit
6. Spiritual Manifestations, Gifts and Callings
7. Sharing the Spirit of Truth

Chapter 7 - Power in the Truth

James 1:18 "Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures."

God created man in His very own image and likeness. He spoke powerful words that manifested into reality and formed an entirely new species of creatures that were fashioned like Himself in every way. He predestined us to be His sons and daughters on the earth from the foundation of the world, and He desires that we fellowship with Him in ongoing truth and increasing intimacy.

While sin separated us from Him for a time and a season, the Lord had an eternal salvation plan prepared that would reconcile Him to us once and for all time. He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to the earth realm to teach us His way of thinking and being right, and to serve as the perfect atoning sacrifice for all our sins. Through our faith in Christ, we have eternal life.

When we confess Jesus as Lord and Savior, our very own words testify to the truth. Through our faith in His atonement for all our sins, we have received total forgiveness. We are freed from the curse of the law and no longer have death as a penalty for our sins. As long as we are righteous and walk in love, we have favor with God and enjoy an intimate relationship with Him once again.

Romans 8:29 "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."

Jesus was the firstborn of many sons and daughters, the Bible tells us. We are joint-heirs with Him to all the promises of God for righteousness. We will share in His eternal honor and glory, and rule and reign with Him in the Kingdom of God. We will judge both men and angels and be appointed kings and priests of God. Our heavenly Father will boast of His children to all creation.

We are spirit beings having a human experience, which tests and tries us to see if we will be obedient to the Lord and all that He asks of us. We will one day be judged by our works in the flesh to determine our righteousness and our eligibility to enter the Kingdom of God with all its blessings. We should walk in love, keep all the commandments and fulfill God's will for our lives.

The people of God are chosen and elect for divine destinies. We have been set free from all our carnality and selfish, soul ambitions to serve the Lord with total integrity of purpose. We should imitate the laid down life of Christ Himself and sanctify ourselves, so that the anointing power of God can manifest itself in our lives. We will revolutionize the entire world in the days to come.

Strength in Our Spirit Man

Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;"

Christ not only died to save us from our sins, but He also gave us simple instruction how to be righteous before God and retain our right standing with Him. He gave us the law of love to rule our lives, and keep us walking in peace and unity. He made arrangements to send us the Holy Spirit of God, who would continue to lead us into all truth and spiritually strengthen us.

Our spirit man is strong in the power of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We can do all things through Him. We should pattern our lives after His very own and walk as He walked on the earth. We have eternal destinies that will be revealed in the days ahead. It is critical that we assume our role in the Lord's eternal redemption plan and do what is required of us, so that the Kingdom of God can be ushered in.

Jesus gave us His divine commission and told us we should fulfill His ministry and do what He did on the earth. He wants us to love others as we love ourselves, and share our faith with them so they will be free. We are expected to heal the sick and cast out all demons. We will even raise the dead back to life again, if we recognize our authority and exercise our God-given power.

Psalm 119:142 "Thy righteousness [is] an everlasting righteousness, and thy law [is] the truth."

The Lord's standard of everlasting righteousness is not difficult; His law of love is the truth. He requires that we follow His commandments and walk in love for Him and for others at all times. If we are obedient, we will serve God and His people with joy and gladness as He desires.

Our love for Him will spontaneously overflow into our relationships with others and influence all that we say and do. We will regard others as we do ourselves, and be loving and kind, generous and merciful. We will minister to others freely and walk in love, peace and unity with all men.

There is power in the truth. The law of love determines our righteousness and should always be obeyed. Even if others do injure us, we should purposely walk in love and forgive and forget all wrongs done to us. The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and vindicate our rights.

All playing fields will be leveled as we usher in the Kingdom of God. Only the uncompromisingly righteous will dwell there for all of eternity. Many who are first now, will be last because they refused to obey God's laws and walk in love for Him and for others, as we were taught.

We need not worry that we will be excluded from Kingdom blessings if we follow all of the commandments and love God and others, as we should. We must continually sanctify ourselves of all carnality and strive to be holy and perfect, just as the Lord is holy and perfect.

Galatians 5:13-14 "For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only [use] not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, [even] in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

We will not even think to sin and transgress God's law if we walk in love and righteousness, as we should, because that would hurt others and be a violation of the law of love. We are simply expected to love the Lord and show Him all the deference and respect that He deserves, and treat others, as we ourselves would hope to be treated. The requirements of the law of love will then be fully satisfied and we will experience true Christian liberty.

Without walking in love and sanctifying ourselves for His purpose, we will never see the glory of God manifested in our lives. If we cannot even follow His law of love, we will not be assigned more critical tasks in ushering in His Kingdom. The Lord will not entrust His power and authority to those who operate in the weakness of their flesh. He requires that we exercise right judgment and discipline ourselves in the use of His awesome anointing.

It is vital that we walk in the Spirit and cultivate Spiritual fruit in our lives, if we would be entrusted with the anointing power of God in the days to come. We should be patient and humble, meek and forbearing. We should forgive all wrongs done to us, and walk in peace and love with all men wherever possible. Our self-lives must be laid down, in favor of the Lord's eternal redemption plan. We have eternal destinies that will soon be revealed.

Knowledge of the Truth

Psalm 51:6 "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden [part] thou shalt make me to know wisdom."

We were created for a specific purpose; we have divine destines and eternal callings. We can know all spiritual truths, and they will set us free from the bondage of sin and the decadence of worldly living. If we will accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, and believe that God raised Him from the dead so that we would have eternal life, we will be set free for all time. We will experience improvement in every area of our lives and overcome all hindrances.

No longer steeped in darkness and deception, we can walk in the light and receive guidance and direction from the Lord Himself. He will lead us by the power of His Holy Spirit and never leave us or forsake us. He will provide all of our needs, both spiritual and temporal. We can approach the Lord with any concern and acquire His wisdom and revelation knowledge for solving even the most complex problems that trouble or perplex us.

The Lord desires truth in our inward parts. He wants all men to be humble and contrite in spirit. He can easily detect hypocrisy. Only those who are sincere seekers of truth and uncompromisingly righteous will enter into the Kingdom of God and enjoy life in His presence for all of eternity. Those who are insincere or defy the Lord and injure His people will be punished in the lake of fire. Now more than ever, it is critical that we seek the truth and walk in it.

Psalm 145:18-19 "The LORD [is] nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry and will save them."

Our God is real and approachable. As long as we show Him all the deference and respect that He deserves, we can cry out to Him at any time and for any reason and He will save us. He is not a forbidding God, but a God of love, mercy and compassion. It is His greatest desire that we develop an intimate relationship with Him and rely on His providence for all our needs.

If we diligently seek the Lord in all matters, we will receive many current benefits and eternal rewards. We can approach the throne of grace with any petition and know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that our prayer will be answered. We can ask the Lord for wisdom, understanding and a full knowledge of the truth, and He will grant it. He will withhold no good thing from us.

The Lord wants us to serve as ambassadors for His Kingdom. It is vital that we seek His guidance and acquire insight into His plans and purposes for us. We need to remain in close, intimate communication with Him in the days ahead, so He can disclose our eternal destinies to us. He will empower us for success in every area of our lives and never leave us or forsake us.

Psalm 25:5 "Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou [art] the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day."

The Lord reveals His secrets and all His mysteries to those who truly love and respect Him as their God. When we strive to please Him more than anything else, He will amply reward us for our efforts by sharing knowledge of eternal truths with us. But we must desire revelation into His way of doing things and being right above everything else in our lives.

We were created for intimate, ongoing fellowship with our God. Now that our sinfulness is no longer an issue, the Lord can groom us to become more like Him in every way. He will lead and guide us; teach us His just, fair and equitable standards of judgment; and empower us to serve Him in ways that we have only dreamed that we could do before now.

It is critical that the Lord prepares us for our future roles in the Kingdom of God. We are kings and priests in training, and we will have many nations to rule and govern. We must be well schooled in righteousness ourselves, if we are to be capable teachers of God's people. We should seek the Lord's guidance and direction in all that we think, say and do.

Discernment of the Truth

Psalm 119:95-106 "The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: [but] I will consider thy testimonies. I have seen an end of all perfection: [but] thy commandment [is] exceeding broad. O how love I thy law! it [is] my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they [are] ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies [are] my meditation. I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste! [yea, sweeter] than honey to my mouth! Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way. Thy word [is] a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. I have sworn, and I will perform [it], that I will keep thy righteous judgments."

If we keep all of the commandments and walk in love as we have been taught, we will be continually righteous in God's eyes. His law is not burdensome, but intended for our well-being. It will keep us on the right track, so that we are never deceived or mislead ever again. The Lord wants us to know the truth, so that we can defeat all of our adversaries who try to keep us in bondage. If we know the Word of God, we will have power to resist evil.

The Word of God is the only standard of righteousness that we should follow in our pursuit of spiritual truth. Man-made traditions are often heretical and will lead us into overt sin and spiritual decadence. There are many false teachers and self-proclaimed prophets that have their own agendas, and corrupt the Word of God for their own selfish purposes. They will be carefully scrutinized, held accountable for their actions, and ultimately destroyed.

However, we have a serious responsibility to discern the truth for ourselves. God's Word is readily available to us. We need only open our Bibles and read it, to see its power influence our lives. We have no excuse for not knowing the truth. It is accessible to every man and woman on the face of the earth. Through the power of the Holy Spirit of God, we can readily understand the truth in the Bible and apply it to our own individual situations.

It is our handbook for righteousness and offers the answer to every perplexity that we face. The scriptures offer us guidance and direction and an accurate knowledge of God's will for our lives. Through our understanding of them, we can prevail in all matters. The Word reveals God's mysteries and explains His way of doing things and being right. It exposes all lies and false teachings, and it shows us the path that we need to take to receive eternal life.

We have been set free in the truth so that we can pursue our relationship with God unfettered by man-made traditions and heretical doctrines. We must earnestly guard our faith because the enemy is ever at work to mislead us and cause us to doubt the Lord and question His promises to us. However, our God never lies or deceives us. We can be confident that we will lead and guide us by the power of the Holy Spirit into the blessings of the Kingdom of God.

1John 2:20-21 "But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth."

We now know the truth, and it has set us free. Christ died to save us from our sins, so that we are in right standing with the Lord. If we dedicate ourselves to His eternal plan and purpose for mankind, we will be privileged to serve Him in miraculous ways in the days to come. We will receive a full anointing of His power to evangelize all men and work miracles, signs and wonders as we usher in the Kingdom of God.

We will convert many to an accurate knowledge of the truth, just as we ourselves have discovered it, and they will also be baptized in our faith. Supernatural manifestations will follow us everywhere we go, as we lay hands on the sick and cast out demons of all types. We will destroy all enemy strongholds that impede our progress. We will even raise the dead back to life, as Christ Himself did when He walked on the earth.

We will take control over all demonic influences that have wreaked havoc on the earth for so many years. We will be strong and powerful to do good, and effect positive changes in the earth. We will reorganize world governments, so that they line up with God's perfect will. We will restore all of creation to its original beauty and balance, and take total dominion over all of nature and the plant and animal kingdoms.

The Truth Perfects Us

Psalm 85:10-11 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed [each other]. Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven."

Although we may aspire to spiritual maturity, holiness and perfection, we often fall short of the glory of God and make mistakes. While we may not intend to do evil, we still sin and miss the mark. It is beneficial to have absolute standards of moral and spiritual behavior. These keep us on track and going in a positive direction that pleases God. The commandments serve as sound guidelines for daily living. They are not unreasonable or oppressive; they help us maintain our righteousness.

Regardless of how great or how slight our transgression is from God's law, sin is still sin and it requires payback. We are covered by the Blood of Christ, but that does not permit us to be deliberately rebellious. We have to repent of all wrongdoing and change our ways. We should ask the Lord for forgiveness and make any necessary restitution to others. If we are sincere, He will always be merciful and compassionate to our human frailty, and restore us to right standing with Him.

It is the Lord's deepest desire that His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, so that all things can be united in Jesus Christ as He has planned from the beginning of time. Only righteousness and peace prevail in heaven; there is no evil there. It should be our goal to bring mercy, truth, righteousness and peace to the earth realm in all that we think, say and do. We have the responsibility to restore peace and order to the world, so that the Kingdom of God can be ushered in with all its power and glory.

1Thessalonians 2:12-13 "That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

The more we discover spiritual truth, the less inclined we will be to sin at all. Knowledge is power, and the truth sets us free to enjoy real Christian liberty in our lives. The Word of God is the source of all truth for us. It is sharper than any two-edged sword and cuts right to the heart of every matter. It is the yardstick by which we should measure the truth and validity of all spiritual doctrine. Anything that we see, read or hear must line up with the Word of God itself.

Knowledge of Biblical truths will enrich and mature us in the deep things of God. The Word will motivate us to become more like God Himself, and to desire His way of doing things and being right rather than our own. The Word of God works in us to help us grow in wisdom and understanding, and provides us with keen insight and spiritual discernment in all matters pertaining to life. It offers us the solutions to all the problems and perplexities that confront us. It is the standard that we should use in evaluating everything.

The Word of God has inherent power in and of itself to work miracles in our lives. If we meditate on all the promises of God that are in the Bible, we will have our faith, hope and confidence dramatically increased. We will develop a new appreciation for all that God has done for us and be perfected. The Word will inspire, edify, motivate and equip us to fulfill the call of God on our lives. It will empower us to overcome all things, as it never returns void.

2Corinthians 4:2 "But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God."

We will never mislead or deceive others by distorting the Word of God and polluting the Gospel message, if we know the truth and walk in it uprightly before God. To do so would prove us to be outright rebellious. It is one thing to misinterpret the scripture because of its complex nature, and quite another matter if we deliberately twist and manipulate it for our own personal advantage. We should treat the Word of God as a sacred treasure and be very careful not to add to or subtract anything from it.

The Word often interprets itself and the more we read and study it, the clearer it becomes to us. There are many translations of the Bible that are readily available for our understanding. Although the King James version may be among the most popular, it could very well be that another version works better for our reference. We should be certain that we choose a Bible that facilitates our comprehension and understanding, so that we use it regularly as a reference tool and guideline for daily living.

Babylonian religion is based on falsehood that openly challenges the Word of God and its truth. There is no other standard by which we should evaluate truth, other than the Bible itself. Although it may have been repeatedly translated since its original writing, and some discrepancies may have occurred as a result, it is still the inspired Word of God. We are required to maintain total integrity in teaching and sharing Biblical principles with others at all times. We are guilty of grievous sin if we manipulate the truth.

Disobedience of the Truth

Romans 1:18 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;"

Without the Lord, we lack guidance and direction, meaning and purpose for our lives. We are responsible to seek God's eternal truth and accurately apply it to our behavior. Deliberate rebellion is a serious sin and the Lord will not overlook it. He will withdraw His presence from those who contend with Him, because they develop reprobate minds that lead to all sorts of unrighteousness. They will miss out on eternal blessings and experience many curses instead.

The Lord desires that we always seek wisdom, knowledge and an accurate understanding of the truth. We are responsible for the light we have and compelled to walk in it at all times. There are moral absolutes that we must always follow. If we refuse to do so, we will develop hardened hearts and seared consciences. Blatant disregard for the truth subjects us to darkness and deception, and these will ultimately lead to our total spiritual destruction and eternal damnation.

It is only by the Blood of Jesus Christ that we were made righteous and restored to right standing with God. We cannot earn or buy our salvation with good works and religious practices. We are justified by our faith in Christ, and that alone. We must protect our righteousness by walking in love and following all of the Lord's commandments. If we do so, we will be living testimonies to the validity of the Gospel message and be eligible for Kingdom life and all its blessings.

2Thessalonians 2:10-12 "And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness."

The enemy is always at work to blind our minds to the truth and hinder our salvation. While he does indeed have limited power to oppress us, we can also withstand his efforts. We should submit ourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee from us. We should study the Word of God and search out its meaning to determine what is relevant for our own lives. If we pray and ask God for wisdom, knowledge and understanding, He will gladly accommodate us.

We cannot be saved from our sins and have eternal life without a sincere belief in the truth. Unless we believe in the doctrine of Christ crucified, resurrected and glorified, we will perish. There are many men and women that have every opportunity to hear the Gospel and still reject it. The Lord will never force Himself on us. The decision to embrace the truth is ours alone. If we deliberately reject the Lord and His way of doing things, we will be eternally damned.

Men should alter their lives in accordance with God's Word and always walk in righteousness and love. We should adapt our behavior to coincide with what the Lord teaches us. If we refuse right thinking and walk in sin and darkness, we will be subject to punishment for all time. We will be on the outside looking in, while those who accepted and submitted to the truth in this life, will enjoy eternal blessings in the Kingdom of God when it is ushered in on the earth.

Romans 2:6-9 "Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;"

There are eternal ramifications for our disobedience. The Lord is under no obligation to provide for those who contend with Him. We need His blessings to be successful in life. Without Him, we are powerless and pitiful; our lives lack meaning, purpose and direction. We subject ourselves once again to the curse, when we are deliberately lawless and disobey the Lord.

While God is infinitely patient, compassionate and merciful, there will come a time when He no longer permits us the opportunity to repent and be saved from our sins. If we have repeatedly refused His truth and rejected Him and His way of doing things, we will experience anguish and tribulation for our rebelliousness. The Lord will permit us to be destroyed.

On the contrary, those who obey the Lord and seek after righteousness will be eternally rewarded. They will serve Him in joy and gladness, and walk in love in all that they think, say and do. They will lay down their lives as sincere and humble servants and please God. Obedience is not too difficult for us; the Lord's commandments are easily understood and attainable to all.

We have serious decisions to make in our lives. Will we choose blessings or curses? The truth constrains us to walk in love and be righteous in all our dealings with others. If we deliberately refuse to follow God's commandments and continuously rebel against all His wishes, we will endure eternal punishment for our disobedience and be tormented to death in the lake of fire.

A Spirit of Error

1John 4:6 "We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error."

It is relatively easy to determine who is walking in truth and who is walking in error. We have discernment through the Holy Spirit of God and can evaluate all things pertaining to godliness. If we have intimate fellowship with others, it is usually because they embrace the same spiritual values and moral absolutes that we do. We know that they are of like precious faith.

If we perceive contention in our relationship with others, it may very well be that they do not adhere to God's Word or follow His commandments. Those who know God receive us and hear our words, as if they were the words of God Himself. The Word of God attracts men of faith, but it appears foolish and confuses those who walk in darkness and deception.

We should not be intimately involved in relationships with unbelievers. Bad company makes for loose morals, and another's way of thinking could possibly subject us to temptation and sin. We should be role models to all men, and intercede for their salvation. There will come a day that we can renew our fellowship with unbelievers, once they have embraced the truth.

Matthew 22:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God."

While we can have a working knowledge of God's truth and all that it entails, it is still possible to be in error from time to time. Sometimes we mentally accept something, yet it doesn't penetrate deep in our hearts and spirits. We must study God's Word diligently to be approved, and remain teachable and pliable to His guidance if we would know the truth that will set us free.

There is power in the Word of God; it holds the secrets to eternal life. If we will become sincere seekers of spiritual truth, the Lord will assist us in facilitating our comprehension and promoting our understanding. There is no excuse to be confused or in error; we have sound doctrine readily available, and we can always seek revelation from the Holy Spirit for confirmation of all things.

The Word of God often confirms itself. There may be several Biblical references concerning any individual topic. We can know the truth at all times by searching it out in the Word and asking the Lord Himself for confirmation. He will always reveal whatever we need to know, so that we can accurately apply Biblical principles to our lives and be successful in all we do.

Proverbs 19:27 "Cease, my son, to hear the instruction [that causeth] to err from the words of knowledge."

While those who pervert God's Word have a serious obligation to correct their ways, we also have the responsibility to separate truth from fiction. There is never a time that we should be confused; we have spiritual discernment available to us. We can search the scriptures to determine what is true and what is false, based on God's Word to us that is easily understood.

We can also seek the counsel of the Holy Spirit of God and evaluate what we have heard or been taught. It is critical that we put only accurate information in our minds. What we read and hear goes down deep into our hearts and eventually comes out of our mouths and manifests in our behavior. If we believe lies, we will be in error and susceptible to temptation and sin.

If we listen to erroneous teaching or embrace false doctrines, that can actually interfere with our walk in the Spirit. We become slaves to whatever we accept and adopt in our lives. If we permit error to creep into our minds, hearts and spirits, it will subject us to spiritual bondage and destruction. We should believe the uncompromised Word of God that changes our lives forever.

Power in Spiritual Truth

Luke 4:18 "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"

The truth produces power in our lives. It keeps us on track and walking in righteousness and blessings. It sets us free from darkness and deception and shows us the path to eternal life. There is simply no reason to entertain false doctrines or follow the traditions of men; they only keep us in bondage and interfere with our service to the Lord and to others. They may even affect our eternal destinies and prevent us from entering into the Kingdom of God altogether.

If we seek God's truth above all things, we will be vessels sanctified for His purpose. The Lord is able to accomplish great things through a people that are yielded to Him and walking in love, righteousness and truth. We can do nothing good and meaningful for God in our own strength. It is only by the anointing power of His Holy Spirit that we can produce good results. With God all things are possible, but without Him we are powerless, pitiful and ineffective.

In the days ahead, we will be called to do the seemingly impossible in the fulfillment of the Lord's eternal salvation plan. He will have us evangelize great numbers of souls in His end-time harvest and baptize them into our faith. We will lay hands on the sick and see miraculous healings. We will deliver captives of the enemy free from oppression and affliction of all types. We will even raise the dead through the operation of God's power and glory at work through us.

Zechariah 4:6 "Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This [is] the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts."

This will not be a friendly takeover of the planet; we will meet with great demonic resistance. The enemy does not want to see the Kingdom of God ushered in, as planned, because he will be an outcast for all eternity. We must resist him in all his efforts to impede the coming of heaven to the earth. Christ Himself will ultimately return to bind him in the bottomless pit, so that he can no longer oppress and defile God's people in any way. No evil will enter into God's Kingdom.

Satan is the father of all lies and he delights in leading men away from the truth. He wants them to believe that there is no God and there are no eternal rewards or punishments for their actions. If he can succeed in blinding men to the truth, he can deter many souls that are intended for the Kingdom of God. We should bind him with our words of faith and cast him out of all our affairs on the earth. We have been given total dominion over the enemy and he is already a defeated foe.

Knowledge is power. The more we read, study and meditate on the Word of God, the more knowledgeable in the truth we will become. That will strengthen us in our spirit man and enable us to be a more effective witness to others. We cannot properly share our faith unless we are armed with the truth and schooled in sound doctrine. The power of God Himself is inherent in His Word. We should use our Bibles as tools of righteousness and weapons of warfare, as they are intended.

1Corinthians 6:14 "And God hath both raised up the Lord, and will also raise us up by his own power."

The Body of Christ will utterly annihilate the devil and defeat all of his attempts to blind men to the truth. We will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom with power and conviction, so that men everywhere have an opportunity to hear the truth and act on it. We will work miracles, signs and wonders to attract others to the Lord. We will heal the sick, cast out all demons and even raise the dead back to life again through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God at work in us and through us.

We will successfully tear down all demonic strongholds that have kept entire nations in chaos, conflict, bondage and defeat. We will help to reorganize and restructure all world governments to line up with Kingdom principles of fairness and equality for all men. We will restore all of creation to its original beauty and balance. We will overcome all natural elements and take control of the climate and the plant and animal kingdoms, so that they are in total harmony with man.

The Spirit of God will move in us and through us to bring peace and order to our world. Our very own words that line up with the Word of God will effect miraculous changes in our surroundings. We will speak only what the Lord tells us and see dramatic results. The Word of God never returns void and will accomplish all that is intended. We should carefully guard our minds, hearts and tongues, so that we believe and speak only God's Word into our situations and circumstances.

John 1:12-13 "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: Which were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God."

All believers are conceived of God's will for a specific divine purpose that encompasses eternity. We will receive a full impartation of His very own anointing power and authority without measure, so that we can fulfill His will on the earth. All that we must do to be effective in our tasks, is to be willing and obedient vessels that are yielded to Him. He will lead and guide us in all we are required to do to fulfill His eternal salvation plan and set men free for all time.

We are called and chosen by the Lord for eternal destinies that must be fulfilled in the days to come. We must be obedient to the call of God on our lives. We were born again of water and the Holy Spirit of God Himself. We walk in the newness of life and have supernatural wisdom and strength. We are a new species of creatures. We are walking, talking spirits. We are the sons and daughters of the living God who will inherit and inhabit His glorious Kingdom.

The Kingdom of God will be ushered into the earth realm by the Body of Christ with explosive power. We will be vessels sanctified for His purpose, to perform many miraculous signs and wonders. The Lord Himself will empower us to do all that is required on our part. He will boast of our accomplishments and generously reward us for our efforts on His behalf. We will actually rule and reign with Christ as kings and priests, and share in His glory for all eternity.

Serving God in Truth

Deuteronomy 13:4 "Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him."

There are moral absolutes that we should follow; these commandments are not negotiable, but are totally attainable by all men. God has made it very simple for us to be converted and baptized into the faith of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He makes plain what He considers righteousness and clearly defines sin for our understanding. He is not out to deceive or confuse us in any way; He has only our best interest at heart. We should reverence the Lord and serve Him in righteousness and in truth, with honesty and sincerity.

The Lord requires our help in ushering in His Kingdom. We are the Body of Christ on the earth, the very sons and daughters of God. If we sanctify ourselves for His purpose, we will have a full anointing in His power and authority to do good. We will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom, heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead back to life again, just as Jesus did when He walked on the earth. We will tear down all demonic strongholds that impede our progress or interfere with heaven coming to the earth realm. We will cleave to the Lord, knowing that in Him lies all the power we need to totally defeat the enemy.

We will prepare the way of the Lord, so that Christ can return to judge both the living and the dead. He is the only righteous judge, who will reward righteousness and punish sin. It's that basic. We each have an opportunity to seek the truth and embrace it. Our free will permits us to choose life or death, blessings or curses. God's truth in His Word is a constant; the only variables in salvation are our willingness to accept the truth and apply its power to our lives. We have the responsibility to choose good over evil at all times.

1Samuel 12:24 "Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great [things] he hath done for you."

We are to reverence the Lord in all that we think, say and do. Ours is a great and mighty God capable of both creative and destructive power. He blesses His people that He loves and trusts, and destroys His enemies with a vengeance that is unmatched in the entire universe. It is a fearful thing to fall under the judgment of almighty God. His way of doing things and being right is the absolute moral standard by which we should operate in our own lives. We must take our sanctification to an entirely new level, so that we can be suitable vessels for His anointing power.

We have eternal destinies to fulfill and we must walk in the Spirit and in truth to be successful in all that He assigns us in the days ahead. The Lord deserves our loyal and devoted service. We should serve Him in truth with all our hearts and partner with Him in ushering in His Kingdom, as He desires. He will never ask too much of us; we will always be able to accomplish whatever He assigns us. We can have faith and confidence that He will supply all that we need, so that we prevail in all we do. He will never leave us or forsake us; we are His people called by His name.

Hebrews 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:"

We will make significant changes on the earth in the days to come. The Gospel will be preached in all the nations of the world, so that no man has an excuse for denying the truth. We will heal all sickness, pain and suffering and release men from all sorts of bondage and oppression. We will even raise the dead back to life again, so the power and glory of God is demonstrated for all to see. All world governments will be restructured to line up with Kingdom principles of fairness and justice. All creation will respond to our direction and be released from decay and destruction.

We will soon fulfill our eternal callings and divine destinies as the sons and daughters of almighty God. We can expect many wonderful rewards for our faithfulness when heaven is ushered into the earth. We are future kings and priests, and we will share in Jesus Christ's very own honor and glory. We will be elevated to positions of prestige and prominence in the Kingdom of God. We will judge both men and angels and rule and reign with Christ Himself over all the nations of the world. The Lord will boast of us to all creation and fellowship intimately with us for all eternity.

Topics for Discussion

1. Strength in Our Spirit Man
2. Knowledge of the Truth
3. Discernment of the Truth
4. The Truth Perfects Us
5. Disobedience of the Truth
6. A Spirit of Error
7. Power in Spiritual Truth

Chapter 8 - The Judgment of All Things

Jeremiah 23:5 "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth."

Jesus Christ is the only righteous judge of all men. He was perfect in all of His ways and He is the only one qualified to render fair and equitable judgment of others. He will judge the great and the small, the church and the nations, all the living and dead. No one will escape His scrutiny or avoid His judgment; it will be permanent and irrefutable.

If we are deemed acceptable to Him, we will be eternally rewarded in the Kingdom of God when it is ushered in on the earth. If we have missed the mark, and walked in darkness and sin, we will be on the outside looking in and endure eternal punishment.

The return of Jesus Christ is imminent. He is returning to destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in His coming wrath. He will take vengeance on all our enemies and banish Satan to the bottomless pit, so he can no longer oppress God's people in any way. Christ will tolerate no evil around His people; He will expel it from His Kingdom forever.

Christ will rule and reign as a righteous King with a rod of iron, to make certain that there is fairness and justice in the Kingdom of God. All men will eventually come to know the Lord and walk in love, peace, and unity with one another as we have been taught.

We will abandon all forms of dead religion that have separated us from our God and embrace a personal relationship with Him, as He has always desired. He will dwell with us for all of eternity and take an active role in our lives as our Creator, Provider and Father. The Lord will finally have a people that worship Him continually in Spirit and in truth.

Revelation 21:27 "And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither [whatsoever] worketh abomination, or [maketh] a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life."

Our God will destroy all forms of false religion that have tormented His people over the years and held them in bondage and servitude. He will abolish the anti-Christ spirit that has deceived them. He will personally confront all those who have led His people astray and caused them to deviate from the truth and to sin against Him in any way.

Ours is a fair, yet vengeful God and He will punish all who have led men away from Him and the Gospel of His Kingdom. He will liberate His people and persuade them in the truth. All those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life will be saved and baptized in our faith.

There will be nothing that defiles us in God's Kingdom; all evil will be punished in the lake of fire. Christ Himself will rule and reign over us and make certain that Kingdom principles are strictly enforced. There will be fairness, justice and equality for all believers. We will be appointed kings and priests of God and have the heathen for our inheritance.

The Lord Himself will dwell with us and bind up all our wounds. No one will harm us ever again. Nothing will separate us from the love of God. His laws will be written in our minds and hearts, so that we always obey them. Only righteousness and truth will prevail in the Kingdom of God.

The Only Righteous Judge

Deuteronomy 32:4 "[He is] the Rock, his work [is] perfect: for all his ways [are] judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right [is] he."

We should accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and be set free in the truth. Once we are baptized into the faith, we will also be eligible to receive the Holy Spirit of God that takes up residence in us. The Spirit will convict us of sin and lead us into all righteousness. The fruit of the Spirit will emerge in our lives and help us to mature spiritually and grow in godliness.

God never blinks the eye at sin. He expects us to walk in love and righteousness, as we were taught. We must continually strive for sanctification in our body, soul and spirit. Our goal should be to aspire to holiness and perfection, since we will soon dwell with God in His Kingdom. He cannot be associated with anything or anyone that is evil and defiling in any way.

It would be an egregious breach of justice if we expected the Lord to disregard our iniquity. We are righteous only by the Blood of Christ. If we have accepted Him as Lord and Savior and walk in true righteousness and love, we will be deemed eligible to enter into His Kingdom for all eternity. If we have been rebellious and deliberately sin, we can expect punishment.

There is a time coming when no more second chances will be given to men. It will one day be too late to repent and turn towards salvation through belief in Jesus Christ and the atoning Blood of His sacrifice on our behalf. The Lord is drawing a line in the sand that no man can cross. The time to act is now! We must repent of all known sin and renounce it once and for all.

2Timothy 4:1-2 "I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine."

We cannot plead ignorance any longer. The truth is readily available for all men in the Bible as the Word of God. We have the responsibility to believe sound doctrine and walk in righteousness and love as we have been taught. We will all face judgment before Jesus Christ and give accountability for our actions. We cannot be self-righteous and expect the Lord to overlook sin.

Jesus Christ is the only one capable of rendering righteous judgment of both men and angels. He alone was totally perfect and sinless, and our standard for righteousness in all matters. He is a God of truth and totally just. The Lord will decide who among us is deserving of eternal rewards and who is subject to punishment in the lake of fire. His judgment will be irrefutable and final.

Christ will judge the living and the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous. He is no respecter of persons and will judge each of us according to our works in the flesh by the same fair and equitable standards. If we have been saved and are totally righteous, we will enjoy eternal life. If we have been stubborn and rebellious and chosen evil over good, we will be eternally punished.

We must share our faith with all of mankind, so that no one perishes for lack of knowledge in the truth. The Gospel of the Kingdom is powerful for changing lives and drawing all men to the Lord. If we plant the seed, the Holy Spirit will convict them of their sins and Christ Himself will give the increase. Almighty God will successfully reap the entire end-time harvest of souls.

Psalm 89:14 "Justice and judgment [are] the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face."

Christ has earned the right to judge all men and determine their eternal destinies. He came to the earth as a mere man and laid down His deity during His time here with us. He was sinless and perfect, the unspotted Lamb of God. His very own Blood was the only suitable sacrificial offering that could be made for the atonement of our sin debt. He paid the ultimate price just for us.

Jesus was human in every respect, and He is ever merciful and compassionate to our frailty. He understands the pressures that we face and the temptation to sin that oppresses us. His victory over sin, death and the grave is our assurance of eternal life, despite the fact that we are still in the flesh and subject to carnality. Through Christ, we can experience the newness of life.

We are now recreated spirit beings through our faith in Jesus and the hope that His resurrection bought us. We have free will and the opportunity to choose good over evil. We can demonstrate our love for the Lord and for others, and satisfy the total requirements of the law. We can put our spirit man in ascendancy to our flesh and soul and do what Christ Himself did here on the earth.

While it may not be easy to walk in the Spirit, it is indeed possible. We must face the fact that we will be subjected to a fair, yet exacting judgment one day. The Lord will judge the living and the dead, the righteous and the unrighteous, the church and the nations. If we wish to enjoy eternal life and all its blessings, our thoughts and deeds should correspond with the truth.

Judgment for Kingdom Eligibility

John 3:5 "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."

Only the righteous will spend all of eternity with the Lord. Everyone evil and defiling will be eternally punished. Men must repent of their sins and turn towards the truth of the doctrine of Jesus Christ and His salvation. They must be born again - of water and the Holy Spirit - in order to enter into the Kingdom of God when it comes to the earth.

There is no other way that we can be saved from eternal damnation. It is not the Lord's will that any man perishes. Salvation is a free gift to all men, and we should make others aware of its benefits to them. The conversion process is simple, yet effective. It's all about making a quality decision to trust Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Men must choose to believe the truth in their hearts and testify to their faith with their mouths. If they do, they will be saved to eternal life.

Our baptism in Christ assures us that we can also receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit and grow in godliness. We will be strengthened in the power and might of God when the Holy Spirit indwells us in all His fullness. Our lives will be transformed, as we make holy and healthy choices that lead to life and light instead of death and darkness.

We should continually sanctify ourselves of all carnality and selfish soul ambitions and walk in the Spirit instead of our flesh. Through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God, we can become spiritually mature and godly. Our minds are renewed and our behavior totally changes to resemble that of Christ Himself. So too, our mortal bodies will one day be changed and put on the imperishable. We will be like Christ in every way and see Him face-to-face in His Kingdom.

1Corinthians 6:9 "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God."

No evil of any kind will be permitted in God's Kingdom. Certain sins are particularly heinous to the Lord. Among these are sexual sins, thievery, extortion and idolatry in all its many forms. If we put anyone or anything above God in our lives, we must sincerely repent. If we compromise our righteous principles in any way, we will be severely judged for our evil ways.

If we lead others away from the Lord into sin and destruction, we will be eternally punished in the lake of fire. We dare not persuade anyone to follow heretical doctrines or man-made traditions. We must share the uncompromised Gospel truth with all men; encourage them to repent from their sins; and seek the Lord for His guidance and direction in their lives.

It is critical that we renounce all our sins, particularly those that offend God the most. He is holy and perfect. If we are to dwell with Him for all eternity, we must sanctify ourselves from anything and everything that defiles our flesh, soul or spirit before Him. We should strive for spiritual maturity and His very own holiness and perfection, so we can enjoy eternal life.

The eternal blessings we receive in the Kingdom of God far out weigh the responsibilities that we have. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity for all eternity. We will dwell in the very presence of our God and walk in love and unity with all men. The Lord will boast of us to all creation and take vengeance on all our enemies.

Mark 10:15 "Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein."

The Lord wants us to be innocent and trusting. Children are not controlling or power hungry. They are guileless and speak the truth in all matters. We should emulate their honesty and purify ourselves, as they are pure. We should get back to the basics of our faith and learn to rely on God in all situations and circumstances. We must be humble, sincere children of God.

Sanctification is possible for each of us. We must purposefully lay aside all defilement of the flesh and soul and walk in the Spirit. We should feed on the truth of the Word of God, and then we will be set free. We must seek the Lord's will for our lives and be in tune to His guidance and direction for us. We should desire spiritual gifts more than material things.

We have the promise of a wonderful future in the Kingdom of God. All that we must do is have simple, child-like faith, so that we can enter into the presence of God. We should be continually righteous and be mindful of the needs of others. We will assist the Lord in ushering in His Kingdom, if we remain faithful, true and obedient to His guidance and direction for our lives.

Judgment of the Household of God

Psalm 119:30 "I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid [before me]."

Eternal judgment will begin with the household of God. All believers are being scrutinized as never before, to see if we meet the necessary standards for eligibility that are required to enter the Kingdom of God. We should judge ourselves so that we do not need to be judged by God. We should assess our motives and behavior to see if they line up with the truth.

We must carefully examine our consciences to make certain that we do not worship any idols in our lives. We have to be absolutely sure that the Gospel message that we believe and preach to others is the uncompromised Bible truth. We cannot entertain doctrines of devils or be seduced by man-made traditions that excuse sin and glorify man rather than God.

The Lord is a jealous God and He insists that we put Him first in all matters. We must realign our priorities to line up with the will of God for our lives. We should correct any covetousness or materialism that we may be involved in. God must take preeminence in all things and be honored and glorified, as He deserves. We cannot put anything or anyone above the Lord.

If we do sin and fall short of the glory of God, we should be quick to repent and renounce all our sinfulness. The Lord grants us grace in our time of need, and shows mercy and compassion to us. We will soon dwell in the very presence of God Himself, and nothing evil can be associated with Him. We should strive for holiness and perfection, just as He is holy and perfect.

Proverbs 21:3 "To do justice and judgment [is] more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice."

While we should present our bodies as living sacrifices for the Lord's service, He desires that we

are righteous and just more than anything else. Faith in Jesus Christ brought us right standing with Him, so that we can fellowship with Him on an intimate basis now. We are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places at the very right hand of God Himself.

We should walk in love for God and others and keep all of His commandments. We should be loving and fair in our dealings with all men, and be kind and generous to them as the Lord is to us. We should be quick to forgive and forget all offense, just as God does. It is imperative that we be at peace with all men wherever possible - believers and unbelievers.

If we judge others, we must use the same standards of judgment for ourselves. We are not to be hypocrites; none of us is more righteous than another. We should never criticize or condemn others for their sin. We all miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God at times. His mercy and compassion extend to each of us, and He is ever willing to forgive us our sins.

Zechariah 8:16 "These [are] the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:"

We should speak the truth in love to all men and share our faith as the Lord arranges our contacts. We must never fail to treat others, as we ourselves would hope to be treated. We should be patient, kind and gentle in our dealings with all those with whom we come in contact. We ought to persuade men in the faith and tell them how much God loves them.

We must be humble and sincere, yet determined in our evangelization efforts. It is the Lord's desire that we preach the Gospel of the Kingdom to all the world, so that men, women and children everywhere have an opportunity to be converted, saved and baptized in our faith. It is not His will that anyone perishes for lack of knowledge in the truth.

We must never be judgmental or critical of others. That serves no purpose but to turn them away from the truth. God is love and He wants us to be loving and kind to all men, even if they respond negatively. We should be living examples of righteousness through our goodness and patience. We must practice our compassion, just as the Lord does with us.

Righteous Judgment of Others

Romans 2:1-6 "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds:"

The Lord is infinitely patient and merciful to all men. He is forbearing and longsuffering. He knows our human frailties and is compassionate to us in our weakness. We must show the same attitude towards others with whom we come in contact. We should judge no man unless we are willing to be judged by the very same standards of righteousness. All of us miss the mark and fall short of the glory of God at times.

We are kings and priests in training for reigning. We must learn the same fair and equitable standards for judgment that Jesus Christ Himself uses. We will one day assist Him in judging both men and angels. But we're not there yet ... We still have a great deal to learn about righteousness ourselves. We should attempt to practice righteous judgment in all matters, yet always seek the Lord's direction in our judgment.

If we would be just rulers and able teachers of all men in the Kingdom of God, then we must devote ourselves to learning the truth that is in the Word of God. We must be obedient ourselves, so that we can instruct others in Kingdom principles of righteousness. We should be humble, sincere servants of others. We will become living testimonies to the power of God at work in us, if we fully submit ourselves to Him.

1Corinthians 6:2-3 "Do ye not know that the saints shall judge the world? and if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life?"

Our very lives must be above and beyond reproach if we would evaluate the righteousness of others. We should lay down all our fleshly desires and personal soul ambitions, and walk after the Holy Spirit instead of the flesh. We should be holy and perfect, just as God is holy and perfect. We should lead by example in everything we think, say and do.

It is possible to judge all matters pertaining to life, but avoid passing judgment on other men. We are to use our own spiritual discernment to determine right from wrong, but we cannot force our standards on others in any way. Each of us is accountable for our actions to the Lord direct. Only Jesus Christ can determine whether or not we are being righteous.

The conviction of sin is the responsibility of the Holy Spirit. We have no right to criticize and condemn others for their shortcomings. We have all fallen short of the glory of God and will continue to do so, until Christ returns to fully redeem us. Judgment of others without prerequisite spiritual authority will subject us to punishment for our lack of love.

Matthew 5:19 "Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach [them], the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven."

One thing we can and should judge above all others is what we put in our own minds and hearts. We must never succumb to false doctrines of demons or man-made traditions that lead us away from the truth. We are responsible to walk in the light that we have and share it accurately with others. Everything that we believe must line up with the Word of God itself.

We should never be arrogant or proud of our accomplishments, to the point that we boast of them and criticize or condemn others. We were once lost in sin, just as many others are now lost. But for the grace of God, none of us would be saved from our sins. We should be infinitely patient in dealing with others and persuade them to follow the Lord's guidance and direction.

It is critically important that we share the uncompromised truth with all men. We cannot minimize the impact of sin on their lives. We should encourage them to adhere to the commandments and strive for righteousness in all they do. Each of us needs to go up higher in our walk with God and attempt to be holy and perfect, so that we can dwell in His presence.

While our spiritual maturity takes time and is assured us through the operation of the Holy Spirit, we must still strive for improvement. We should walk circumspectly in all that we do. None of us will escape judgment for our actions in the flesh. We must show the Lord all the deference and respect that He so rightly deserves and treat others, as we would like to be treated.

Matthew 7:1-2 "Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

We should judge others by the very same standards of righteousness that we use to judge ourselves. None of us is yet perfect, and we must be lenient with those who are new to our faith. We should always try to be understanding and sympathetic to their struggles. It is hypocritical to talk the talk, but walk as mere men in the weakness of our own flesh. If our behavior is holy and perfect, then we are qualified to judge others just as Jesus Christ Himself does.

Since we all make mistakes and fall short of God's glory, we should be patient and kind in our dealings with others. We should be merciful and compassionate to their needs without compromising God's absolute moral standards in any way. We should pray for them and encourage their spiritual growth and development, rather than focus on their shortcomings. No one is too incorrigible to be touched by the love and mercy of God.

The Lord is able to bring all of us up to His standards of righteousness in a heartbeat. The Holy Spirit leads and guides us into all truth. He will be our divine empowerment to reach spiritual maturity, holiness and perfection. We go from glory to glory, the Bible tells us, and we will all supernaturally reach the full stature of Jesus Christ one day in the very near future. The Bible tells us that we will see our Lord face-to-face and be like Him in every way.

Judgment of the Nations

Isaiah 43:9 "Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the people be assembled: who among them can declare this, and shew us former things? let them bring forth their witnesses, that they may be justified: or let them hear, and say, [It is] truth."

The Lord is even now contending with the nations of the world in judgment. He has absolute standards for righteousness and justice that must be obeyed. He expects all leaders to be fair in their dealings with His people; He will no longer tolerate oppression or violence on the face of the earth. He is making swift decisions and sweeping changes that will impact all world government for good. It is His deepest desire that men walk in peace and unity.

We see visible signs of God's judgment throughout the entire world. He prospers those nations that walk according to His way of doing things. He withholds blessings from those who are unrighteous in their dealings with others. When the Kingdom of God is ushered into the earth realm, it will swallow up all worldly kingdoms and governments, and Christ will rule and reign as a righteous and just King over all the tongues and nations of the world.

He will enforce Kingdom principles of fairness, righteousness and justice for all men. Those nations that are prone to contention, engage in open conflict and injure others will all be removed from the face of the earth. There will be nothing that defiles that ever enters in to the Kingdom of God. The Lord will set up godly rulers over His people, so that they dwell in peace and prosperity, safety and security - free from fear and molestation for all of eternity.

Jeremiah 4:2 "And thou shalt swear, The LORD liveth, in truth, in judgment, and in righteousness; and the nations shall bless themselves in him, and in him shall they glory."

Every knee will soon bow, as men everywhere give honor and glory to Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All the nations of the world will pay Him homage and go up to Jerusalem for the Lord's feast days. Even the country of Israel will acquiesce, and be won to our faith. They will be taught the truth and evangelized, just as all the unsaved are redeemed and justified.

Many Jews will acknowledge Christ as their long awaited Messiah, and mourn the fact that He had to die at the hands of their unjust leaders. They will be converted and baptized into the Christian faith in the days to come. The Lord will rejoice in His reunion with His chosen people, and we will all dwell together in peace and unity in the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

Believers from every tongue, race and nation in the world will populate the Kingdom of God. All those who walk in righteousness and love and do the will of the Father will receive eternal life and its many blessings. There is a full number of believers that must be called in to the Kingdom. Everyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life will ultimately be saved.

Deuteronomy 32:43 "Rejoice, O ye nations, [with] his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, [and] to his people."

Christ will soon return as King of kings and Lord of lords to set matters straight on the earth for all time. He will not be a meek and mild Lamb of God this time. There is vengeance in His heart to destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness. He has seen all the oppression and suffering of His people and He will vindicate their rights before men and angels. No evil will remain unpunished by our Savior.

There are many nations of the world that will be blessed in the days to come. Their governments will be restructured and reorganized according to Kingdom principles of fairness, justice and equality for all. Their people will all know the Lord and give Him the gratitude, praise and honor that He deserves. God will reward them for their righteousness and offer them many blessings in return for their faithfulness.

The Lord will provide the needs of His people in abundance. He will bless us with all the resources that the universe has to offer. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, health and longevity, safety and security. He will avenge the blood of His people and destroy all evil off the face of the earth. All men will walk in harmony with one another and with all of nature. Nothing will hurt or destroy in God's Kingdom.

Judgment of False Teachers

Matthew 7:21-23 "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. 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? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity."

The Lord is not fooled by pretended piety and sanctimonious showmanship. He can spot a phony very readily. Jesus Christ will determine who among us is a reputable teacher and minister of the Gospel. He will not tolerate the Word of God to be compromised in any way. He will root out all dead religion and eradicate it from the face of the earth. False teachers will be carefully scrutinized, judged and punished because they led many souls into spiritual defilement.

Pastors who have abdicated their roles and permitted their sheep to go astray after other gods will be reprimanded. False prophets who have been motivated by greed and power will all be exposed. Those who have coerced and manipulated us with their self-righteous rules and regulations will be cast into the eternal lake of fire. All hypocrites and those who criticize, condemn and judge others will be judged themselves and excluded from God's Kingdom.

Only those who have been uncompromisingly righteous and walked in love for God and for others at all times will enter into the Kingdom of God. Christ will tolerate no defilement or pollution of any kind in the presence of His Father. We will live free of fear, oppression and exploitation for all eternity. All men will know the truth from the least to the greatest of us. We will have the Lord's laws written in our minds and our hearts, so that we always walk uprightly before Him.

Isaiah 59:3-4 "For your hands are defiled with blood, and your fingers with iniquity; your lips have spoken lies, your tongue hath muttered perverseness. None calleth for justice, nor [any] pleadeth for truth: they trust in vanity, and speak lies; they conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity."

Many who were once first, will be last when the Kingdom of God is ushered into the earth. The Lord will judge the iniquity of these so-called ministers of the gospel and take vengeance on them for their sins. Ours is a jealous, protective God and He does not want His people to suffer. When they are misled and confused, they are prey to the enemy. Satan is out to destroy them and rob them of their salvation, but he will not be successful in separating God from those He loves.

The people of God have suffered from false religions and man-made traditions for far too long. They have been seduced by demonic doctrines that led them into chaos and confusion. Some of them have even experienced such extensive defilement, that it could lead them into total spiritual destruction. False teachers have innocent blood on their hands, and will suffer severe and lasting punishment for their wickedness and lies in the eternal lake of fire.

The Lord Himself will rescue His people and gather them into His Kingdom for all eternity. Very soon now, all men will have had an opportunity to hear the truth of the Gospel message. They will not be seduced into false doctrines any longer; they will believe the unmitigated truth of Christ crucified and resurrected to save them from their sins for all time. They will be set free to be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, and redeemed from the curse of the law to eternal life.

2Peter 2:1-3 "But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not."

All anti-Christ spirits that deny Jesus Christ came in the flesh to save us from our sins will be abolished from the face of the earth. Our Lord and Savior will no longer be insulted and ignored. Christ came to redeem us from the curse and restore us to right standing with God. His death on the cross freed all men for all time. His resurrection from the dead is our guarantee of eternal life. Christ's victory over sin, death and the grave is our assurance that we will also reign in life.

There will be harsh and permanent penalties for those who have perverted the truth and diluted the power of the Gospel message. All those who have held others in spiritual bondage will be removed from power. They will be banished upon Christ's return; He has vengeance in His heart. He will destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness. There will be many hypocritical Christians who have lured others into spiritual lies and false teachings that will also be eternally punished.

Only those who have been good stewards of the faith and led others into the truth will be eligible to enter into the Kingdom of God as kings, priests and just rulers of all men. These individuals will carefully protect the integrity of God's Word and share it accurately with others. They will be sincere seekers of truth, who apply its power to their own lives. They will walk in perfect Christian liberty and enjoy many eternal rewards for their righteous service to God's people.

Nahum 1:2 "God [is] jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and [is] furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth [wrath] for his enemies."

False doctrines, damaging heresies and man-made traditions will all be exposed as the lies that they really are. Men will no longer be condemned or controlled by self-righteous hypocrites. Only the truth will be preached in the days to come. People everywhere will have the Gospel of the Kingdom preached to them with power and conviction. They will have the opportunity to hear the message of Christ crucified and resurrected. They will know the truth and gain eternal life.

The love and mercy of God will be revealed as believers evangelize the entire earth and bring in the full end-time harvest of souls. They will demonstrate the Lord's compassion by healing the sick and delivering the oppressed from various demonic influences. They will even raise the dead back to life again. There will be such a visible manifestation of God's power and glory that men will seek His truth with all their hearts, and ultimately be converted and baptized in our faith.

Ours is a jealous God; He loves us so much that He grieves for anyone who is misled and perishing for lack of knowledge. It is not His will that any man is excluded from His Kingdom and damned to eternal punishment. However, He is also a vengeful God and will take action against all our adversaries who have twisted the Gospel message, so that His people have been separated from Him. He will strictly judge and severely punish all those who have misrepresented the truth.

Bringing Down Babylon

Hebrews 12:25-29 "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: Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven. 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. Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God [is] a consuming fire."

The Lord hates all forms of dead, Babylonian religion that have injured His people over the years. Many have been martyred for the one true faith. Others have been needlessly oppressed due to false religion that promotes servitude. Some have been beguiled by lies that excuse sin altogether. Anti-Christ doctrines will be exposed and eradicated, and all their proponents will be punished one day soon. The Gospel of the Kingdom, that sets men free for all time, will prevail.

There's a major shake-up coming all over the face of the earth, so that what cannot be shaken remains in the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ Himself is about to return to destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in the wrath of His coming. No longer the meek and mild Lamb of God, He has vengeance in His heart to punish all of His enemies. Those who have kept others in religious bondage and separated them from the one true God will be utterly destroyed.

Those of us who have believed the truth and shared it with others will be eternally rewarded in the Kingdom of God. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, health and longevity, love and unity in the presence of almighty God Himself. He will provide all of our needs, both temporal and spiritual. We will share in Christ's very own glory and rule and reign with Him. We will judge both men and angels; be just rulers and teachers; and have the heathen for our inheritance.

2Timothy 4:1-5 "I charge [thee] therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away [their] ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry."

All believers have the distinct privilege and sacred responsibility to share their faith with others, and help to destroy all forms of religious strongholds that hold men in bondage. The entire world is shrouded with darkness and deception; the enemy lies in wait to destroy God's people. We must share the authentic Gospel message with all with whom we come in contact. If we fail to do so, they may never get another opportunity to hear the truth and be set free. It is critical that we accept our call to evangelization. It is our eternal calling and divine destiny as sons of God.

The Gospel of the Kingdom must be preached to all the world, so that men everywhere have access to eternal life. They must personally make the all-important decision of embracing the truth over lies. In the days to come, God's power and glory will be readily visible to all mankind. They will be most receptive to the truth, since we will walk in miraculous signs and wonders. The power and glory of God will be obvious, so that men will be attentive to what we teach them. The Lord will spread His message of eternal salvation to all of mankind most effectively.

It will be impossible for them to deny our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the doctrine of His salvation and resurrection. The light always overcomes darkness and the eternal truth will prevail over all demonic lies. All men will have an opportunity to know the Lord, from the least to the greatest of us. His laws will be written in our minds and in our hearts, so that all believers walk in love and righteousness. There will no longer be a separation between God and His people. We will be reunited with Him for all of eternity. We will worship Him in Spirit and in truth as He desires.

We should dedicate ourselves anew to spreading our faith, so that the end-time harvest of souls is reaped in its fullness. It is not the Lord's will that any man should perish for lack of knowledge. He has an exact number of believers that He desires to be brought in, whose names are written in the Book of Life. Then, and only then, will He permit heaven to come to the earth realm, so that all who believe the truth enjoy eternal life and perpetual blessings in the Kingdom of God. There will be peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity for all God's people.

Vengeance on All Our Enemies

Isaiah 63:4 "For the day of vengeance [is] in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come."

Christ is returning as a mighty conqueror; He will destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in the wrath of His coming. His feet will touch down on the Mount of Olives and cause a global shaking, as the world has never seen. All evil will be obliterated in His awesome presence. The dead will be raised and the redemption of our bodies completed in the twinkling of an eye.

The Kingdom of God will level all playing fields once and for all. The Lord has heard the cries of His people and He has vengeance planned for all those who have oppressed and exploited others in any way. He is judging us individually with the same fair and equitable standards for all. He will reward the righteous and destroy the ungodly, as He has promised that He will.

Christ's judgment will be comprehensive, irrefutable and permanent. He will not tolerate evil around His people any longer. The righteous will inherit eternal life and all of its blessings in the Kingdom of God. They will have peace and prosperity, safety and security. All those who have injured His people in any way will be cast into the lake of fire and subject to eternal punishment.

Nothing evil will ever be present in the Kingdom of God. Christ will rule with a rod of iron and make certain that Kingdom integrity is preserved. His people will live totally free of fear and molestation. Life will be pleasant, joyous and peaceful. We will experience love and unity in all of our relationships and actually dwell in the presence of almighty God Himself for all eternity.

Isaiah 35:4 "Say to them [that are] of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come [with] vengeance, [even] God [with] a recompence; he will come and save you."

We need not worry that we will suffer from oppression and exploitation forever. The Lord has a perfect plan in mind for the redistribution of power. He will remove those who have injured others from positions of leadership, and replace them with kind and just rulers of His own choosing. They will be like Christ in every way. Only the humble and sincere will rule and reign with Him in the Kingdom of God.

Those who have been faithful to the Lord and obedient in the service of His people will share in Christ's very own honor and glory. We will judge both men and angels and be appointed kings and priests of God. Justice, fairness and equality for all men will prevail in the Kingdom. The Lord will restore all that has been taken from us and make certain that no one ever interferes with our relationship with Him.

Kingdom residents will receive joy and pleasure for our former sorrow and pain. We will be blessed in abundance; the Lord will anticipate all our needs, spiritual and temporal, even before we ask Him. We will experience peace and prosperity, instead of poverty and lack, conflict and contention. Nothing that defiles us in any way will be tolerated; all evil will be expelled from the presence of God and His people.

All men will know the Lord - from the least to the greatest of us. His laws will be written in our minds and hearts for all eternity, so that we are continually righteous and walk in love, peace and unity. We will have a personal relationship with our God, unfettered by man-made traditions and religious rules and regulations. He will actually dwell with us and we will give Him all the praise and honor that He deserves.

Topics for Discussion

1. Jesus Christ as Righteous Judge
2. Judgment for Kingdom Eligibility
3. Judgment of the Household of God
4. Judgment of the Nations
5. Judgment of False Teachers
6. Bringing Down Babylon
7. Vengeance on All Our Enemies

Chapter 9 - In Spirit and in Truth

John 3:16-21 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God."

It is the Lord's deepest, heart-felt desire that all men be reconciled to Him and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, so that they can be set free in the truth. There is simply no other way that they can have eternal life and all its blessings. They must repent of their sins and be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, in order to enter into the Kingdom of God for all eternity.

We should share the Gospel in Spirit and in truth, so that men everywhere have an opportunity to be saved. All that we need do is tell them about our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what He did for us. If we preach the power of the cross, we will see many come to salvation in Him. However, those who deliberately choose darkness and deception over light and truth will be condemned.

Those who walk in the light of Christ will be loving and righteous in all that they do. They will be rewarded for their faithfulness and have eternal blessings in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will provide all our needs in abundance and be a personal God to us. He will actually dwell with us and take an active role in our lives, as He planned from the foundation of the world.

There will no longer be a separation between God and man, as there has been in the past. Our faith in Christ assures us that we have our right relationship with the Lord restored for all time. We can fellowship intimately with Him as His very own sons and daughters. He will be a Father to us as He always desired, e always desireHe and supply all that we need to be healthy, happy and prosperous.

Ephesians 4:20-24 "But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness."

When we accepted Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we put off the old man and all his worldliness and were born again in our spirit man. We began a regeneration process that will be ongoing until Christ Himself returns. Our minds are renewed in the truth and our behavior is eventually transformed so that we become righteous and godly in all that we do.

Jesus taught us eternal truths. He came to fulfill the Ten Commandments of the law and summed up the total requirement for righteous living in two basic precepts. We are to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul and strength, and love others as we love ourselves. If we follow the law of love diligently, we will not sin and hurt God or others in any way.

We will put the Lord first in all things and reach out to all men with love, mercy and compassion. If they have spiritual needs, we will pray for them and encourage them in their faith. If they lack temporal blessings, we will share our material resources. We will be patient and understanding, and forgive all offenses, so we can be at peace with one another.

Believers are new creatures, born of heaven's plan to redeem all of mankind and reconcile us to God. A spark of the divine indwells us, so that we need not ever be separated from our God. We must carefully protect our righteousness and strive for holiness and perfection in our walk with the Lord, so we can spend all of eternity with Him in the Kingdom of God.

The Spirit of Truth

John 14:15-17 "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; [Even] the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you."

Some people believe that the Holy Spirit of God comes on us when we are born again and accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. While this is true to some extent, there is an even more intense spiritual experience that we can have. The Lord's Spirit will actually overshadow and indwell us totally and completely if we invite Him into our lives.

If we are born again and sincere in our quest for truth, we can ask for the baptism of the Holy Spirit of God. The Lord will always honor our request and His very own Spirit will take up residence in us, so that we can overcome the world, our flesh and the devil. We may be given our supernatural prayer language, so that we can communicate with the Lord more directly.

We will eventually receive Spiritual gifts and callings that enable us to serve others in astonishing ways. The Lord administers these Spiritual manifestations to those whom He can trust to serve mankind. He may give us gifts of healing and prophecy. To others, He may grant the working of miracles. Still others receive revelation for sharing with His people.

John 16:13 "Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come."

It is possible for us to have a direct connection with the divine. Through the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we become one with God. His Spirit permeates our very being, so that we can hear clearly and directly from Him. The Holy Spirit will reveal all that we need to know to be effective and successful. He speaks the words of God, so that we can readily understand them.

The Holy Spirit of truth convicts us of sin and leads and guides us into all righteousness. We must keep all of the commandments and walk in love as we were taught. We are actually temples of the Holy Spirit and we should sanctify ourselves continually. The fruit of the Spirit will begin to emerge in our lives, so that we grow in godliness and develop in spiritual maturity.

Spiritual fruit will permit us to better serve God and others. They will greatly enhance our ability to be all that we can be in service to our God. They are our link to the supernatural and mirror the very attributes of God Himself. They will subtly, but surely, transform our behavior so that we can develop in holiness and perfection, even as the Lord Himself is holy and perfect.

We will have faith, peace, hope and joy to strengthen us in our spiritual journey. Goodness, meekness and gentleness will cause us to be more sensitive to the needs of others. Temperance and longsuffering will discipline us, so that we have patience and endurance under all situations. The Holy Spirit will even show us things to come, so that we are prepared well in advance.

He is our Guide, Counselor and Comforter. He will never leave us or forsake us. He solves even the most complex problems for us. He gives us the peace that passes understanding and encourages us to develop in our faith. We hear from the Lord through His Holy Spirit, that bears witness with our very own spirit, and teaches us all that we need to know about righteousness.

Romans 8:16 "The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:"

If the Holy Spirit of God dwells in us, then we know that we are the very sons and daughters of God. We were created in His image and likeness for a specific purpose. The Lord wants to fellowship with us for all of eternity and provide for all our needs as He has promised us. We will share in Christ's honor and glory, provided that we also share in His ministry on the earth.

We have eternal callings and divine destinies that are about to be revealed. We will partner with the Lord Himself in ushering in His Kingdom on the earth. We need not be extraordinary in any way for God to use us. He will provide all that we need to be successful in our service to Him and to others. He will actually empower us to walk in the supernatural in the days to come.

The Lord wants to reach out to all mankind and show them His love, mercy and compassion, and reconcile Himself to them, as He has desired from the foundation of the world. He will work through us to heal the sick, cast out demons and even raise the dead back to life again. All that we must do is be fully consecrated for His use and we will impact the entire earth with His love.

Sanctified in the Truth

John 17:17-19 "Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world. And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth."

Jesus Christ prayed that we would be sanctified in God's truth and consecrated for His holy purpose. If we crucify our flesh and forego all worldly ambitions, we will be suitable vessels for His anointing power to manifest through us. We will receive a full impartation of Christ's very own power and authority to do His work on the earth in the days to come.

However, we must continually renew our minds in the truth and walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh. We should renounce all sin and be quick to repent when we miss the mark and fall short of God's glory. We ought to be immediately responsive to the Lord's voice, and tune out all distractions that would interfere with ushering in the Kingdom of God.

If we pursue love, peace and unity with fellow believers, we can accomplish great things for the Lord and quickly and expediently usher in the Kingdom of God, as we are supposed to do. If there is strife and division in the Body of Christ, we will not be effective. We should walk in love and righteousness at all times and diligently adhere to His Word.

Christ has commissioned us to finish His earthly ministry where He left off. He has promised us that we will do even greater works than He did. We must release all men from bondage to dead religion, and persuade them to believe the Gospel of the Kingdom. We will set the captives free and destroy all attempts of the enemy to blind them to the truth.

Psalm 33:4-6 "For the word of the LORD [is] right; and all his works [are done] in truth. He loveth righteousness and judgment: the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth."

The Lord loves righteousness and sound judgment. He desires that we always walk in love and adhere to His commandments. He wants us to be good and gentle with one another, and reflect His glory all over the face of the earth. With mighty words, He created the entire universe. We must be very careful that our words line up with His very own.

The Lord will eventually reveal our eternal callings and divine destinies to us. He desires to partner with His people in redeeming all of mankind. He will assign us to do the works that Jesus did on the earth, as we usher in the Kingdom of God. We will preach the Gospel message, heal the sick, cast out demons of all types and raise the dead back to life again.

Our very words will mirror the authority of God Himself. They will be awesome powerhouses that speak life and light to the entire world. With words, we will set men free for all eternity, and with words we will bind all the enemy's attempts to wreak havoc with God's people. We will rebuke sickness, death and oppression and release blessings to all of mankind.

World governments will be restructured and reorganized to line up with Kingdom principles of righteousness and justice for all men. We will speak peace and order on the earth and prepare the way for the Kingdom of God. We will restore all creation back to its original beauty and balance and take dominion over the climate, plants and animals.

We will not have to be ordained by men to fulfill our divine destinies, as we should in the days to come. The Lord will confer His very own anointing power and authority on us to do good. We will overcome all evil by the power of God that works in us and through us. If we are totally sanctified in the truth as Jesus Christ was, then we will revolutionize the earth.

Putting on the Incorruptible

John 3:5-6 "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. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit."

It is a basic tenet of our faith that we must be born again and baptized in order to enter into the Kingdom of God and have eternal life. Christ showed us, by example, that we must be baptized with water and in the Holy Spirit just as He was during His public ministry. We now realize that we are spirit beings having a temporary human experience on this earth as Jesus did.

We are human in very way, yet we walk in the Holy Spirit of God Himself. We exhibit divine attributes as we go deeper in our relationship with the Lord and acquire Spiritual fruit in our lives. We are living temples of the Holy Spirit. God works in us and through us to minister to others. We are His ambassadors on the earth and reach out in compassion to all mankind.

While we are elect and chosen of God for eternal destinies, we still cannot neglect our personal sanctification. We should purposely lay down all that defiles us and interferes with our service. We cannot be both worldly and spiritually minded. We must control our carnality and forego all selfish, personal agendas in favor of the Lord's eternal redemption plan.

We have important roles to fulfill in the critical days that lie ahead, and we can't be insubordinate in any way. We will have to be perfectly obedient to the Lord's guidance and direction and move when and how He tells us. Christ is the Head, and we are His Body in this world; we must operate as one powerful unit and take back the entire earth for the Kingdom of God.

Nothing that we do will be done in our own strength. Everything will be accomplished in the spirit realm. We will perform miraculous feats through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God that works through us. The anointing of Jesus Christ Himself will empower us to evangelize the whole world and destroy all demonic strongholds that have kept mankind in bondage.

1Corinthians 15:50-53 "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal [must] put on immortality."

If we are in the flesh instead of our spirit, we will never enter into the Kingdom of God. God Himself is Spirit and all who dwell with Him will put their spirit man in ascendancy to their flesh and soul. We must crucify our flesh and walk in the Holy Spirit in order to enter God's Kingdom.

We cannot be carnal or worldly in any way if we wish to spend all of eternity with our Creator. The Lord is holy and perfect and He cannot relate to us if we are contaminated by our flesh and souls. We must fully sanctify ourselves at all times and repent and renounce all our sinfulness.

So too, our fleshly bodies that are corruptible and subject to disease, decay and death will have to be changed to be like Christ's very own resurrection body. We are promised that our redemption will be complete when He returns. We will all be changed in the twinkling of an eye.

Our new, glorious, resurrection bodies will live forever, impervious to disease and death. We will be perpetually young and vigorous, and serve the Lord with vitality and strength. Even the dead in Christ will be raised to put on new imperishable bodies, so that they can enjoy eternal life.

We will see our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, face-to-face and be like Him in every way. He will boast of us to all creation and we will share in His very own honor and glory. All men will look up to us, as we judge both men and angels and rule and reign with Christ Himself for all eternity.

Walking in the Light

1John 1:6-7 "If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 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."

Christ lives in us; we know what constitutes righteousness. It will be vital that we walk in love and unity with others of like precious faith and commitment to the Lord. We can accomplish a great deal more if we work cooperatively. Our attitudes and behavior must be beyond reproach in these last days. We will be living examples of the power and glory of God at work in our own lives and godly role models for others, if we walk in unselfish love as we are commanded.

The Holy Spirit will take leave of unclean vessels. We cannot be both spiritually minded and worldly in our thinking. We have to sacrifice all, to get all that the Lord has for us. We have eternal destinies that will play out in the days ahead; there are serious ramifications to our being willing and obedient to the Lord's purposes for us. We must make the critical choice to follow our God at all costs, knowing that we will have a generous reward for our faithfulness.

We must continue to cleanse ourselves of all defilement on a regular basis, and dedicate ourselves to the Lord's eternal redemption plan. We will be entrusted with His anointing power, and that requires our total consecration to His purpose. If we sin and fall short of God's glory, we must be quick to repent and turn from our sin back to righteousness again. The Blood of Christ will continue to cleanse and perfect us, until He returns to receive His eternal Kingdom from us.

Ephesians 5:6-8 "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:"

We were once all lost in sin and darkness due to our disobedience. We followed men of ill repute into perdition and risked spiritual destruction for our foolishness. However, when we were born again and saved from all our sins, we came to the light of the Lord. We now know the truth, and we have been set free for all eternity. We are the children of light.

The Lord desires that we become spiritually mature and strive for holiness and perfection. We must continue to lay down our fleshly desires and forego our personal soul ambitions in favor of His plan and purpose for us. We have a covenant of peace with God, and if our hearts do not condemn us, we can assume we are deemed righteous before Him.

The Holy Spirit will convict us of all sin and lead and guide us into the truth if we give Him full sway in our lives. We can walk in the Spirit instead of our flesh and soul, and be suitable vessels for the anointing power and authority of God to operate through us. However, we must make a concerted effort to remain righteous and sanctified for the Lord's purpose.

There is no excuse for us to be confused or led astray by false doctrines ever again. We know the truth, and the Holy Spirit of God confirms it. We are responsible to walk in the light that we have and share the truth with others in love and humility. It is not the Lord's desire that any man should perish. We must preach the Gospel of the Kingdom over the entire earth.

We will gather in the full end-time harvest of souls and set many free in the truth. They will no longer be in bondage to religious rules and regulations. We will teach them how to worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, as He desires. Countless numbers will come to know the Lord and enter into His Kingdom. His laws will be written in our minds and hearts for all time.

Psalm 25:8-10 "Good and upright is the Lord: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. All the paths of the LORD [are] mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies."

We are obligated to share our faith with others, as the Lord directs us and arranges our contacts in the days ahead. We are to be actively engaged in bringing in the full end-time harvest of souls that is necessary to usher in the Kingdom of God. Our lives should be living testimonies to the power of God at work in us, so that men will turn to the truth and be saved.

It is critical that we persuade all men to reconcile with God. It is His greatest desire that they will come to repentance and be saved through their faith in Jesus Christ. We should demonstrate His love, mercy and compassion without compromising His moral absolutes in any way. Our job is to plant the seed of truth and let the Holy Spirit convict them of their sin.

We should never criticize others for their failings. We all fall short of the glory of God and miss the mark. Were it not for the atonement of Jesus Christ, none of us would be saved from our sins. As it is, the Lord desires that all mankind have an opportunity to repent and be converted to the truth. We should patiently, yet diligently, share the Gospel of the Kingdom.

The Lord desires that we remain meek and humble, sincere and contrite in heart at all times. We should never flaunt our faith or beat others up for their sin. God is consummate love and those who walk in His ways are loving and kind to others. We will win more people to the Lord with our righteous example than by scolding or threatening them with punishment.

The Chosen Ones

Deuteronomy 7:6 "For thou [art] an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that [are] upon the face of the earth."

The Lord has called us from the beginning of time to be His family and to enjoy a close, intimate relationship with Him. It is His deepest desire that all men come to a full knowledge of the truth and embrace Him as their God. He desires our fellowship and righteousness more than anything else. There is but one God and He deserves all our deference and respect; we owe Him our heart-felt devotion, all of our gratitude, honor and praise. He delights in the sincere praises and attention of His people.

Our God wants to be our Father and Provider for all of eternity. He will generously supply all of our needs from the vast resources that the universe has to offer us. We will enjoy peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity for all of eternity. There will be no more oppression and exploitation; no man will defile us with lies that threaten our salvation. We will know the truth and walk in love and righteousness with others as we have been taught to do.

The Kingdom of God promises to be the answer to all of our prayers. The Lord will actually dwell with us as He has promised. He will provide all that we need, both spiritually and temporally, and fellowship intimately with us, as He planned from the very foundation of the world. Dead religion will one day be a thing of the past and replaced with personal relationship, as the Lord intends. We will not be defiled or enslaved by the artifice of religion any longer. We will be free to love and be loved by God.

John 15:16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and [that] your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."

We are not estranged from our God in any way. We are not bound by religious expectations or held in spiritual bondage of any type. We were created in the very image and likeness of God and have divine attributes like His very own. We are the Body of the Lord, Jesus Christ, and we walk as He walked on the earth. We have perfect liberty and full spiritual authority over all things.

We have eternal callings and divine destinies as the sons of God. The Lord has granted us the distinct privilege of ushering in the Kingdom of God and drawing all men to the truth. In the days to come, we will preach the Gospel and bring in the full end-time harvest of souls that is required before heaven is ushered in. We will minister to the sick and dying and set men free of oppression.

We will reorganize all human governments to align with Kingdom principles of fairness and justice for all. We will restore peace to the earth and prepare the way for Jesus Christ to return to rule and reign in His Kingdom. Whatever we need to accomplish the tasks that the Lord assigns us to do will be given to us. We will have legions of ministering angels that back us up in all that we do.

We will be revealed to all of creation as the sons and daughters of God, so that we can set it free from satanic turmoil, death and decadence. We will speak to nature and regulate the climate, so that it is temperate and conducive to life in all forms. There will be no more natural disasters that threaten us. The plant and animal kingdoms will be recreated to be in harmony with man.

We can ask anything in Jesus' name and the Lord will give it to us. He will supply all our needs in abundance, so that we fulfill our divine destinies and implement His eternal redemption plan. Nothing will be impossible for the Body of Christ as we usher in the Kingdom of God. We will tear down all demonic strongholds that interfere with us and take dominion over the entire earth.

The Anointing Brings Freedom

Luke 4:18 "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,"

Jesus Christ came to this earth as a mere man, but He was anointed of God above all others to serve the Lord and His people. He preached the Gospel of the Kingdom of God, healed the sick, cast out demons of all types and even raised the dead back to life. He set all captives free, so that they could enjoy life in abundance as He had promised them.

The very same anointing that was on Jesus is available to the Body of Christ today. We need only sanctify ourselves, so that we can be suitable vessels for His power to manifest through us for the benefit of others. We have been given a divine commission by Christ Himself to set men free of all forms of oppression that bind them in weakness.

We cannot do anything in our own strength. However, through the operation of the Holy Spirit of God at work in us and through us, we can accomplish great feats. We will do the work of Jesus Himself and have the same astonishing results. We will heal the sick, cast out demons and raise the dead, so that they can enter the Kingdom of God with us.

Nothing will be impossible to us if we are functioning in our delegated, divine power and authority. We will destroy all demonic strongholds that would interfere with heaven coming to the earth. We will reorganize world governments, so that peace and order prevail on the earth. We will restore all of creation and establish balance in nature again.

Isaiah 10:27 "And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."

The anointing of Jesus Christ removes burdens and destroys yokes. We are to set men free in the truth and deliver them from every form of oppression and bondage. If we sanctify ourselves totally and completely, we will walk as Christ Himself walked on the earth and have a full measure of His very own anointing power and authority to do good wherever we go.

Christ has promised us that we will do the works that He did on the earth, and even greater works, since He has gone to be with the Father. He will imbue us with awesome power to change the earth and everything in it to line up with Kingdom principles of righteousness, fairness and justice for all. We will ultimately set men free of all sorts of oppression and exploitation.

There will be no bondage of any kind that remains to hurt God's people. We will be liberated from all that has kept us in fear, weakness and sin. The Gospel of Jesus Christ will be preached everywhere, so that all men can be set free in the truth. Men, women and children from every nation will be gathered in to the Kingdom of God in unprecedented numbers.

Isaiah 58:6 "[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"

There will be no more legalistic rules and regulations that keep men in bondage and fear of damnation. False doctrines will soon be a thing of the past. The enemy will no longer blind men to the truth. We have been set free through our faith in Jesus Christ and His atonement on our behalf. Christ has destroyed all yokes and removed all burdens far from His people.

We will obliterate all forms of Babylonian religion and loosen the bonds that keep men in exacting servitude. False teachers will be exposed as the charlatans that they really are. They will no longer seduce men with heretical doctrines that enslave them in lies and sin. The Body of Christ will lead men into the truth and overcome all barriers that separate them from God.

The anointing will be available to us, so that we are successful in all that the Lord assigns us to do. We will preach the Gospel of the Kingdom in all its power, and cause many to repent and be baptized in our faith. We will heal the sick and cast out demons of all kinds. We will even raise the dead back to life again and demonstrate the Lord's love, mercy and compassion.

There will soon be peace and order established on the earth that can never be disturbed ever again. The Kingdom of God will be ushered in with awesome power that overcomes all forms of evil with good. Men will soon be able to enjoy the freedom for which they were created. They will be able to fellowship with God for all of eternity as His very own sons and daughters.

Released From Bondage

Acts 14:22 "Confirming the souls of the disciples, [and] exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

There is no way to enter into the Kingdom of God except through much tribulation. We will have to take total dominion over the enemy and all of his attempts to interfere with us or impede our progress in ushering in God's Kingdom. He will not willingly acquiesce to our demands. We will have to bind him in all of his efforts and cast him out of our affairs once and for all. He must concede to our authority because we have it conferred on us by Christ Himself.

All of heaven will back us up in our stand to take back the earth and everything in it for the Lord, Jesus Christ. We will have legions of angels to assist us, as we preach the Gospel and evangelize the full numbers of souls that must be gathered in. So too, the Body of Christ will take control of all world governments, so that men everywhere are free of fear, oppression and exploitation. There will finally be peace and order on the earth, as the Lord desires.

We will prepare the entire planet for Christ's righteous rule and reign for all of eternity. All evil will soon be abolished and punished in the lake of fire. The creation itself will be restored to its original beauty and balance. We will take dominion over all the plants and animals and even regulate the climate, so that there are no more natural disasters that threaten mankind ever again. Life in the Kingdom of God will be a veritable paradise for both God and man to enjoy.

Isaiah 14:3 "And it shall come to pass in the day that the LORD shall give thee rest from thy sorrow, and from thy fear, and from the hard bondage wherein thou wast made to serve,"

The enemy of our souls will no longer torment us or tempt us to abandon our faith. He will soon be vanquished to the bottomless pit by Christ Himself. We will finally be set free of all doctrines of demons that have threatened our salvation. There will be no more artificial barriers between man and God. We will be privileged to see our Lord face-to-face, as He is. We will be like Him in every way and share in His very own honor and glory.

Very soon now, heaven will come to the earth and we will rest from all of our labors for all of eternity, as we have been promised. We will not be in bondage to anyone, nor subject to religious domination of any type. We will no longer have to teach men about the Lord. All those who dwell in the Kingdom will know Him and have His laws written in their minds and hearts. All men will eventually walk in love or be excluded from the Kingdom.

We will not remember the pain and suffering we experienced for our faith. The Lord will blot out all unpleasant memories from our minds. We will have joy and gladness and enjoy peace and prosperity. There will be righteousness and love in God's Kingdom and all men will thrive in His presence. We will have a personal relationship with our God that is ongoing and intimate. He will boast of us to all creation as His very own children.

Romans 8:15 "For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father."

We are sons and daughters of the living God. We will spend all of eternity in His loving presence. He will provide all of our needs in abundance from all the vast resources that the universe has to offer. We will be blessed beyond our wildest dreams and give the Lord all the honor, thanks and praise that He deserves. No one will have to persuade us to worship the Lord and obey His laws. We will all be righteous and walk in love, as we were taught.

The people of God will enjoy perpetual blessings for their faithfulness. They will join with angelic hosts in praising God for all eternity. He has made wonderful provisions for His children. The Kingdom promises us peace and prosperity, joy and gladness, health and longevity, love and unity. We will experience only good things in the actual presence of our God.

Nothing that defiles or oppresses God's people will ever enter into the Kingdom of God. Jesus Christ will destroy all the ungodly and their ungodliness in the wrath of His coming. He has vengeance in His heart for all that has been done to hurt and confuse us. He will rule with a rod of iron to make certain that no evil harms us in any way. We will live free of fear and molestation all the days of our lives and share in His very own honor and glory.

True Christian Liberty

John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law and all forms of Babylonian false religious systems. We now know the truth; we enjoy true Christian liberty. As long as we follow all of the Lord's commandments to us and walk in love, we are deemed righteous in His eyes and eligible to receive eternal life and all of its many blessings.

Loving God should not be painful or burdensome to us; He is not to be feared or dreaded. He loves us with a deep, abiding love and has a perfect plan in mind for our eternal well-being. He is bringing heaven to the earth realm, so that all men who believe in Him and His Son, Jesus Christ, can dwell in love and unity with Him for all time.

The Gospel will be preached around the world, so that all men have an opportunity to hear the truth. Everyone whose name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life will enter into the Kingdom of God. The Lord knows who His beloved are, and He will not be satisfied until all who love and serve Him are gathered in to His Kingdom.

Galatians 5:1 "Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage."

We have had adequate warning. We should not become enslaved by idolatry, humanism or dead religion ever again. We now know the truth that sets us free for all time. Christ died and was risen from the dead, so that all men might have eternal life and dwell in the presence of God in His everlasting Kingdom. We possess true Christian liberty and are heirs to great blessings.

As long as we walk in love and keep all the Lord's commandments to us, we remain righteous in His eyes and enjoy an intimate relationship with Him. We can approach the throne of grace with every need and be certain that everything we require will be given to us. We should seek the Lord for His guidance and direction, so that we can properly serve Him in the days to come.

We have eternal callings and divine destinies that must be fulfilled before the Kingdom of God is ushered in. We must complete Christ's ministry on the earth as He has commissioned us to do. We will actively demonstrate the love, mercy and compassion of God to the entire world. Men everywhere will be touched and positively impacted by our humble service and discipleship.

Very soon now, heaven will come to the earth, and we must prepare ourselves. We will be kings and priests of our God and rule and reign with Christ for all eternity. We will be leaders of all men. We cannot be caught up in anything that defiles us; all evil will be rooted out of God's Kingdom. We should worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth and adhere to sound doctrine.

Deuteronomy 4:2 "Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish [ought] from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."

It is critical that we spend time in the Word of God and consult the Bible as our final authority in all matters. Everything that we are taught must line up with the truth. We have discernment by the power of the Holy Spirit. We should seek the Lord's guidance and direction, rather than the tutelage of men. We have a responsibility to believe the one true faith, and it alone.

The people of God must follow all the commandments and walk in love so that we are continually righteous and eligible to enter into the Kingdom of God. We must share the truth accurately with others, so that they have an opportunity to repent, be saved and baptized in our faith. We cannot add to the Word of God or subtract from it; its integrity must be maintained at all times.

We should expose false teachers and destroy all attempts of the enemy to hold us in religious bondage of any kind. All the ungodly and their ungodliness will be destroyed in the wrath of Christ's coming, and be eradicated from the face of the earth. Our captivity will be turned once and for all, and we should give the Lord all the thanks, praise and glory that He rightly deserves.

The Lord has a genuine love for His people and He will not be satisfied until He can demonstrate that to them on an intimate, ongoing basis in the Kingdom of God. He has a great and wonderful redemption plan in mind that will soon be implemented. He will provide all of our needs even before we ask Him. He will soon take up residence with us and be our God for all of eternity.

Religion vs. Relationship

1Timothy 6:12 "Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses."

We should teach others the unadulterated truth. God loves them and desires that they be born again and saved unto eternal life. They must accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and be baptized in water and the Holy Spirit. They cannot be saved without turning towards the truth of the Gospel message. It is purposely simple and basic for their complete understanding.

There is no other God but the God of the Bible, and His Son, Jesus Christ. To dispute otherwise is not only foolish, but a waste of time and energy. The truth speaks for itself. We should avoid all senseless controversies over pagan deities, man-made idols and human traditions. These are moot points, since we already know the truth that has set us free for all time.

We should focus our attention on the one true God - a God of power and love, righteousness and peace, justice and judgment. Our faith should be an actual way of life for us, not just a Sunday morning experience. We should worship the Lord in Spirit and in truth, all day every day. He must always be the center of our attention, and not simply an after-thought.

Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"

The Lord is not interested in religion; He desires relationship. He wants a people that are truly loving and respectful. We were created in His image and likeness and we cannot ignore our spirituality and be fully alive. We should get back to the basics of our faith and seek a personal relationship with God. We must learn to be genuine, innocent, pure, humble and contrite in heart.

God desires a people that relate to Him with no interference of any kind. He knows and accepts us as we are and personally reveals His character and attributes to us. None of us is inherently worthy to fellowship with the Lord. The Blood of Jesus Christ assures us that we can approach the throne of grace at all times, regardless of who we are or what we may have done in the past.

We are justified by our faith in Christ and our right standing with God is restored for all time. We are actually seated with Christ in heavenly places. When the Lord sees us, it's as if He sees Jesus Himself. We are His very own sons and daughters, and can lay claim to great and precious promises. He will never leave us or forsake us; He is with us in everything that we do.

As believers, we have inherited eternal life with a wonderful future ahead of us in the Kingdom of God. The Lord will supply all of our needs, both spiritual and temporal. He will be a Father to us and actually dwell in our presence, as He has promised. We will soon experience peace and prosperity, safety and security, joy and gladness, health and longevity for all of eternity.

James 1:27 "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world."

We are to be in the world, but not of it. That means that we are to remain unspotted and free of all worldly contamination. We should be seekers of God rather than seekers of pleasure. We should walk in love and be charitable towards others. The Lord supplies all our needs in abundance. He expects us to share our time, talents and material possessions with those who lack the blessings that we have. We are to be distribution centers for God's resources to all men.

The law of love requires that we put our faith into action and put God first in our lives. We are to show Him all the devotion, deference and respect that He deserves. It also mandates that we treat others with love and kindness, warmth and affection as befits the children of God. We are to minister to the needs of others, as we ourselves would hope to be treated. We should be merciful and compassionate and pray for one another. We should be patient in our dealings with others, and forgive and forget any offense that is committed against us.

We are obligated to share our faith with all men. It is not God's will that any man should perish for lack of knowledge of the truth. Many are in bondage to sin and at risk of eternal damnation. If we fail to share the Gospel with them, we will be held responsible for their demise. There is a full number of souls that must be brought in during these end days; evangelization is our primary obligation. Light always overcomes darkness and the truth will win out over all enemy lies.

While we should always fear and reverence the Lord, we must be very careful that we do not turn others away from God by making Him seem forbidding and unapproachable. The Lord is not a distant and demanding God. He is a God, first and foremost, of love. He is ever merciful and compassionate to His people and sympathetic to their plight. He is patiently waiting for all men to turn towards Him and accept His love and forgiveness. It is His greatest desire to reconcile Himself with us, as He has planned from the foundation of the world.

1Corinthians 2:9-12 "But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed [them] unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God."

The Lord has a wonderful redemption plan in mind for His people. All those who believe in His Son, Jesus Christ, and walk in righteousness and love will be gathered in to His everlasting Kingdom. Very soon now, we will be reunited with our God, as planned from the foundation of the world. He will provide all of our needs and actually dwell with us, when heaven itself is ushered in to the earth realm.

The dead in Christ will be raised again and we will all have new, resurrection bodies that live forever free of disease and death. We will build homes for our families and enjoy all the bounty and beauty of the creation. No man will attempt to manipulate and control us ever again. The Lord will take vengeance on all our enemies and make certain that we are free of fear, oppression and exploitation.

We will share in Christ's very own honor and glory as His Body and His Bride. We will judge both men and angels and He will boast of us to all creation. We will rule and reign with Christ and enforce Kingdom principles of fairness and justice for all men. Nothing that is defiling will ever harm or disturb us again. All evil will be punished in the lake of fire and Satan will be bound in the bottomless pit.

There will be peace and prosperity, safety and security, joy and gladness for all of God's people in the Kingdom of God. Everyone will be righteous and loving; His laws will be written in our minds and in our hearts. We will keep all of His sabbaths and celebrate all His feast days, as He desires. We will praise the Lord and give Him honor and glory, with no barrier separating our God from His people.

Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth

John 4:23-24 "But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth."

Those who are sincere seekers of the truth will come to full awareness and worship the Almighty in Spirit and in truth in everything that they do. They will not be seduced by false doctrines that water down the Gospel message and attempt to change the Lord into a God of their own making. They will accept Him as He is, in all His power and glory, and continually acknowledge His presence in their lives as more important than anything else.

The Lord is a jealous God and He desires that we put Him before anyone or anything else. We cannot have false gods or worldly idols that distract us from our relationship with Him. If we continually seek the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness, the Lord will supply all that we require in abundance. We will not have to make our own way, or provide for our own needs. Our heavenly Father has all the resources of the universe stored up for us.

We should be involved in continual, reverent worship of the Lord. As we walk in righteousness and godliness and seek to serve Him and others with all our hearts, we will please Him with all that we think, say and do. We will dedicate ourselves to His holy purpose and present our bodies as living sacrifices for His eternal redemption plan. We will be consecrated for our divine destinies and walk in the very power and glory of God Himself.

The Lord will be with us in all that we are called to do. He will assign legions of ministering angels to back us up, so that we are totally successful in ushering in the Kingdom of God. He will confer His very own anointing on us so that we can overcome the world, our flesh and the devil in all that we do. We will take charge of all human governments and realign them according to His will. All of creation will respond to our words and be in balance.

It will not be necessary for us to follow men in our search for truth in the days to come. The Lord Himself will lead us and guide us by the power of His Holy Spirit. We will know all that we need to know to properly serve our God and worship Him as He desires. We will have an intimate relationship with Him as our Father, and He will provide all our needs as He has promised. He will boast of us to all creation as His very own sons and daughters.

Ephesians 4:6 "One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all."

Our heavenly Father is not unapproachable as some may think. We are able to relate to Him on a personal, ongoing basis. God Himself dwells in us and we are temples of His very own Spirit, created in His image and likeness. We come from royal lineage if we have accepted Christ as our Lord and Savior. We can enter the throne room of heaven at any time and for any reason, and He will always make time for us and accommodate all our needs.

The Lord desires a people that relate to Him without the artifice of religion. He is not a distant God that requires our homage out of fear and dread. He desires our unabashed love and willing devotion to Him. He does not want us to worship out of obligation or constraint, as some people believe. He wants intimacy with His people that are called by His name, and He will settle for nothing less than our full attention and sincere affection for Him.

Very soon now, heaven itself will be ushered into the earth realm, so that there is no longer a separation between God and man. The Lord desires that all men will come to the truth and be reconciled with Him for all of eternity. He will be sorely grieved if any soul is lost to perdition. However, there will be some who continually reject Him and His way of doing things. Sadly enough, they will be lost for all time and remain on the outside looking in.

Ezekiel 37:27 "My tabernacle also shall be with them: yea, I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

The righteous will shine with the light of Christ and be gathered together to enter the Kingdom of God, as we have been promised. Nothing and no one that defiles God or man will ever trouble us again. Jesus Christ will rule with a rod of iron to make certain that Kingdom integrity is never violated in any way. There will be peace and prosperity, safety and security, health and longevity, joy and gladness for God's people for all of eternity.

The Lord has plans to come and take up residence with us in the Kingdom of God. He will dwell in our very midst, as He has always desired. He will relate to us intimately as His sons and daughters and provide all of our needs in abundance as He has promised. He will take an active role in our lives and we will commune with Him face-to-face. We must prepare ourselves for our future and develop our personal relationship with God now. He is eager and willing to embrace us as His very own family.

When the full number of all those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life has been called into the Kingdom of God, the Lord will usher heaven into the earth realm as He has promised us. Life will never be the same again. There will be no artificial barriers that separate us from Him. He will be a Father to us, as He has always desired. We will be blessed beyond all our expectations, and totally free to worship Him in Spirit and in truth!

Topics for Discussion

1. The Spirit of Truth
2. Sanctified in the Truth
3. The Anointing Brings Freedom
4. Released From Bondage
5. True Christian Liberty
6. Religion vs. Relationship
7. Worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth

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