Transcript: Christian Wake Up Call: Answering God's Call to Upright Living

Music Music As I was seeking the Lord for a word to bring you today, I kept hearing what I believed the Lord to say. Sound the trumpet of the forthcoming times and warn my people to be ready for these days. And give them hope for their future in the promises I have already given. So that they do not become weary of well-doing and neglect their duties and responsibilities to me. So out of obedience to the Holy Spirit and my Lord Jesus Christ, I am going to bring you a word that is vital to the body of Christ. It is a wake-up call for many of us. As Christians, it is important to our physical well-being, but mostly it is vital for our spiritual well-being. Let's open our Bibles and begin to read in Acts 2.16. Acts 2.16. But this is what was spoken of by the prophet Joel. blood and fire and vapor of smoke, the sun shall turn into darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord. Well, these scriptures are talking about the last day harvest. Yes, there is going to be a great move of God. But verse 20 says that after God pours out his spirit, the sun shall be turned into darkness before the coming of the great and awful day of the Lord. Where and how do you and I fit into God's scheme of things in these days that many are calling the last days? These days will be all about Jesus Christ and about its coming in all power, in all glory with the armies of heaven riding with him. Jesus Christ is coming for his bride. I ask you today, are you personally preparing for that day? Scripture declares, the Holy Spirit says, today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion during the time of testing in the desert. What a warning to us all. We're living in the days where there is much apostasy in the church. I hope you heard that with the urgency in which I said it. We are living in days today, right now, where there is much apostasy that is permeating the church, dear ones. We have gotten away from the simple foundational truths and principles of God's word, which leads us into the meat and the very depth of Christ's mysteries and secrets through the revelation of precious Holy Spirit spoken of in Paul's prayer in Ephesians 1.17. There is a present move in the church which is affecting many, many unsuspecting and ignorant and uninformed Christians under the guise of an apostolic reformation. These people use buzzwords like DNA, dominion, God's chosen ones, seven mountain theories, and their interest in New Age religion is extended along with unusual and much conversation about angels and so on. They believe that God lost control of the earth in the Garden of Eden to Satan when our first parents sinned. And their belief is that the church must rise up and take it back and put the enemies of God under their feet. This is totally contrary to God's word. Jesus declares throughout the New Testament that he has been given all power and all authority by his Father in heaven. Paul's epistle in 1 Corinthians 15, 24 declares, after the end comes, the completion of time, When he, Jesus, delivers over the kingdom of God to the Father. Hear that. Jesus delivers the kingdom to God the Father after rendering inoperative and abolishing every other rule and authority and power. For Christ must be king and reign until he has put all of his enemies under his feet. so we see who has been given all power all authority and who will put what under his feet you see this group of apostles have formed strategies and plans and have appointed individual territories and subsequent authority over these cities and states they believe that they must take over the world for Christ. And to do this, they take over their homes, the church, schools, government and policies, the media, arts and entertainment and sports, and finally commerce, science and technology. They believe that until they conquer this earth, Jesus cannot come back, And he's held in heaven until they do. This move has claimed over 100 million Christians around the world at this present time. And it is highly organized. And their intent is to take over the world for Christ, they say. We also live in a day and time where we have as a church set a whole raft of records. I don't believe that we have seen since the 1500s records be set for the most financially corrupt age in the church as we have it today. There was an era or age in the church where you could have your sins erased out of God's ledgers for cash. We don't do that today. But with our setting up ATM machines in our churches between the pews to provide convenience for our churchgoers, our mass mailings, business reply envelopes, four-colored brochures, professional mass marketing and fundraising campaigns, and sermons on stewardship, the pastor has already become one of the best marketing specialists and promoters that puts the world to shame. The world even comes to the church to see how we do it. And we say, it is God. Many of these Christian leaders live in a materialistic world and comfortable mansions ranging from one to three million dollars and have no shame in their extravagant way of living. But we have more and more men and women walking the earth today with doctorates in theology than any other age of time. And there are endless reams of papers and books written on endless varieties of subjects. An age that produces men and women who deliver mind-boggling sermons on the how-to doctrines of prayer or how to live this Christian way of life and how to know God, how to worship God, but yet know very little of its deeper experiences for themselves. we live in an age where a great many of the people in the church and its leaders really do not know jesus christ in a real and deep and intimate way for many their lives behind the pulpit and what they preach is contrary to their secret way of life which god exposes in its proper time Referential and obedient fear of the Lord is a lost path for a great majority. And we as the church talk about chasing God and being God lovers and being passionate about Christ and have written many books on these subjects, but have only produced sterile, sophisticated and passionate gestures towards God who know very little of Jesus Christ in death. we as the church seem to look for the gifts and the anointing and run somewhere for the presence of God we seem to want to run somewhere to have hands laid on us so that some kind of ministry or gift that will be imparted to us instead of looking for the one and the only gift that God gave to the world, and that is the Son, Jesus Christ. We seem to want to run quickly to the altar to receive a blessing instead of the one who blesses us. We've gotten so far away from the true mission and purpose of the church, and that is to point people to Jesus Christ. Instead, we draw them to all the activities and the galas that will keep them entertained and feeling good about church. This approach to church doesn't provide the loving care and nourishment that God intended for his leaders to carefully equip and build up his precious church. Now, having given you some of the real and raw facts and conditions of the church today, I ask you, what are you doing to prepare yourself for these days that lie right ahead of us? I'm sure most of you are aware the condition of the world today. America is a nation who is dying in her sleep. Our United States of America stands on the brink of going broke and also is faced with a battle for her freedom as a nation under God, as the war is on to make her come under the banner of socialism and next-step communism. Our Christian freedoms and God-given rights, according to the Constitution, are hard fought for as the war wages on. And never have we in the United States of America been faced with such challenges as we are faced with today. We could easily, at any given moment today, be like Pakistan, without food, medical help, and all the necessities of life. Our brothers and sisters in the Lord there and many pastors and church leaders say that they had lost everything, including the seed to plant next year's crop. They have no food, no clothing, no shelter. And as I said in a moment, we too could be there because of lack of true leadership in our nation. these precious people live in a nation where living out their christian faith is very difficult because it is a muslim nation and these people were told during this disaster in pakistan that if they would convert to the muslim faith they would be given provision but they refused and instead go without food without clothing or shelter because they refused to renounce jesus Christ. Dear ones, what can we look forward to in this time? What promises do we have? There is a prophesied time to come that scriptures call a great falling away that will occur during the last days. Over 12 years ago, an article in a leading Christian magazine stated that over the last 10 years at that time, 112 million Christians in the United States have left the church and are wandering around. And since that date, it is now 22 years later. How long is long in God's time frame? When will Christ return? I don't know, and you don't know either. But we have warnings in scripture that tell us to be ready at all times because Jesus will come like a thief in the night. We have the warning as well in 2 Thessalonians 2.3 which declares, let no one deceive or beguile you in any way for that day will not come except the apostasy comes first unless the predicted great falling away of those who have professed to be Christians has come. We know according to the book of Matthew 24, where it speaks about the terrible time of tribulation in the end times, that there will be earthquakes, natural disasters, and so on, besides the great falling away, that these signs and happenings indicate the return of Jesus Christ. As we have discussed, there is a great apostasy being set up, and I might add that it is not including only one segment of the church, but it is crossing all denominational lines. It began with the Pentecostal and or charismatic denomination first, and then and now is spilling over into others with their agreement and consent to lead their flocks in the same direction. Will you be one of those in these end times whom God will not pass over as he passes out the gift of ministry and anointing to be effective in the last day harvest? The book of Matthew 24 speaks about these last days and the great harvest that will take place. Matthew 24, verse 11. And many false prophets will rise up and deceive and lead many into error. And the love of the great body of people will grow cold because of the multiplied lawlessness and iniquity. but he who endures to the end will be saved and this good news of the kingdom the gospel will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then will the end come how can we be sure that we are in god's will and will be included as one of those who will be instrumental in bringing in the lost and equipping them in this great harvest if we should live until that time. Look with me, please, in Ephesians 1.3. The word declares, Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Verse 4. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will, to the praise of his glorious grace which he has freely given us in the one he loves. Verse 7. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. He has made known to us the mysteries of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment to bring all things in heaven and on the earth under one head even Christ Verse 11 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him, who works everything out in conformity to the purpose of his will, that we who are the first to hope in Christ might be for the praise of his glory. Did you know that these verses are declaring that you and I were chosen by the Father in the past, long before the creation of the world? And that means that the Father saw you and me before we even existed. He loved you, dear one, when you existed only in his eternal idea. What love he has for you. This great love of God was all the while reaching through the eternal ages of time, never once lessening or wavering, until he laid a hold of you and redeemed you by his son's precious blood for such a time as this. Chosen by the father in the past and redeemed by the son in the present. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. God chose us for salvation and sanctification before the foundation of the world to make us in his image and likeness and has presently given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realm. Verse 4 says that while he himself was in the planning stage, he had chosen us in him. He predestined us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. All of this springs from the infinite love of God's nature because he loves us. I don't know about you but this thrills me and excites my spirit and because of the reality of his truth the Holy Spirit begins to witness the revelation of this as a truism which is more real than life itself God loves me he chose me and he predestined and adopted and called me he has washed me free from my sins and in his own blood to be holy and blameless in his sight And he has a plan for my life. He has a plan for your life, too, as you live in Jesus Christ, his son. These things will only happen, dear ones, as we truly live in Christ. And if you don't understand what living in Christ really means, then please do your homework and be a good student of the word. Jesus Christ is the head of his precious church, and he shall have the bride whom he died for because he had a promise from his father. Apostle Paul, in these scriptures that we have just read, prayed and thanked God for the people. He prayed that God would show them just who Christ really is and what he has really done for them and what he has provided for them. and most importantly, who they are in him. Dear ones, we are the body of Jesus Christ, the only true and living God. We are in covenant with him and each other. We are in a new gospel era. And we need to understand truly the verse in Ephesians 1. Typically, when people hear that God has predestined them, They first think about the work that he has for them to do. They think about the action or the doing before the conforming. And mistakenly, many ignorant Christians run out to do something for God, even if it's wrong. I call it putting the cart in front of the horse. Instead, they need to reread these verses and see first things first. God called us, chose us, predestined us, he elected us to first be made in his image and likeness according to his plan. He works out everything in our conformity to the purpose of his will, that we might be for the praise of his glory, that we might be truly, true worshippers of him. But this will never happen, precious ones, if you never sit at your master's feet. And neither can you know his plan or will for your life. If you never sit long enough for the wonderful work of conformity or sanctification to take place, you will never learn to hear his sweet and tender voice. Sitting at his feet does not speak about passivity, quite the contrary. Paul said to Timothy, son, study to show yourself approved of God. I believe we can really see the parable of the ten virgins here. There was a time when they were all asleep. But the difference is, when the call came, that clarion call, the five wise virgins kept their lamps full and they had extra reserve of oil on hand. the keeping our lamps full signifies the pure light of jesus christ that causes the light of holiness to shine forth from us holiness represents the beauty of the lord and this is called the truth the oil represents the holy spirit's presence and anointing the oil typifies the Spirit's wisdom and righteousness. Everything of the Spirit points and directs us to Jesus Christ. And God will use people like this. As your soul dies to its own fleshly desires and turns itself humbly to obey the great and living God because of deep love and respect for him, then the light of God's holy conformity in your life is kindled and becomes radiant and it shines forth before God and men to accomplish what it is purposed to do. This is a wise place to be now in this present moment. And not only that, it will last into eternity and provide you a place at the bridegroom's table at the marriage supper of the Lamb. and this is what we are predestined to become the bride of Christ and this is why we were called and chosen we are to be a reflection of him we've been called to be holy in our conduct the ultimate goal of our election is that we might bring praise and glory to God and be known as true worshippers of God Jesus saw you first in his eternal idea before the ages of time began. And then he reached through the eons of time, never once wavering, never once lessening his determination until the moment that he caught your attention and gave you the unction in your spirit that you needed his son, Jesus Christ, and he laid a hold of you. He saw you as part of the bride whom he loves very much. But Jesus will not marry anyone who does not really love him. Most wonderful love story of this quest to the father to find a bride for his son is found in Genesis 24.1 in the account of Abraham calling his trusted servant, Eleazar, who is representative of the Holy Spirit, who went searching for a bride for his son Isaac, who is representative of Jesus Christ himself. And these scriptures tell us when Eleazar found Rebecca, he described her as very beautiful and attractive. She was chaste and very modest. And this is the kind of bride that Jesus Christ will have. She will be beautiful in his holiness. She will be chaste and she will be modest, not in dress and demeanor only, but also in her inner thought life and the way that she expresses herself in her outward conversations. This servant, once he knew that Rebecca was the one chosen for Isaac's bride, he lavished her with gifts. And then he asked her parents for her hand in marriage on behalf of his master's son. The key to this whole story that we are discussing lies hidden in verse 58 of this chapter. And it is when Rebecca's family asked her, Are you willing to go with this man? And she answered, Yes, I will go. Dear ones, when you accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, You not only received the best gift ever, but you made a commitment to follow him. You received the clarion call to come forth out of the darkness and follow the lamb wherever he goes. Me too. And the Holy Spirit, just like Eleazar, lavishes God's elect with gifts and promises and blessings. And the love story between Isaac and Rebecca is wonderfully profound. The love that they had for each other is the kind of love that Jesus Christ has for his bride. She follows him because she loves him dearly. And he jealously protects her. you were asked from the beginning of your call, your invitation to come to Christ. Will you go with this man? I ask you, have you been following the lover of your soul, your bridegroom, with a burning love for him and a passion that is full of hunger and thirst that will not rest or be quenched? Song of Songs. Chapter 1, verse 4. The maiden says to her lover, draw me after you. We will run after you. The king has brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice in you and be glad. We will extol your love more than wine. The upright love you. The maiden in Song of Songs says, we will run after you. Once the love for her, her lover was awakened in her inmost being, her spirit and soul is the we. They desired his righteousness and love more than anything else. And she ran after him. Another place in this book, she says in Psalms 5.8, If you find my beloved, tell him that I am sick from love, simply sick with longing to be with him. do you long for his righteousness and justice in your life more than anything else do you have this longing in your heart to be alone with your jesus just to spend time with him in fellowship his justice is his correction the lord disciplines those whom he loves and these kinds of people are very teachable they learn to love the rebuke of the lord And you see, God will use people like this to impact his kingdom for Christ's sake. People like this, who have a constant and continuous ardent zeal for the lover of their soul, will not have to worry about being deceived or falling away into error in these days that lie ahead, because they have been like young Timothy, who have taken the word serious and studied to show themselves approved by God and are prepared for what may come. These have learned to walk in the Spirit and are growing in maturity and quickly discern the holy from the profane and will not compromise their place of standing in Christ. God will use willing vessels like this to touch people right around them. And there is such a need in the world today, precious ones. We don't have to have a worldwide known ministry to be effective for Christ's kingdom. We just need to have a deep love for Jesus Christ and his Father and be obedient to do what we know we should do. Fellowship with your Creator is the most important thing in yours and my life right now at this time. And developing an intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ through his Holy Spirit will usher in every promised blessing intended for this earth life and will also open every door to ministry that God has for you to do. With this kind of relationship with God, he can trust you with the greater things. The bride is the one who truly loves the lover of her soul. Will you tarry for him? While you tarry, will you keep your lamp full? When Peter gave the scripture in Acts 2.17 about the spirit being poured out, there were initially 500 who were waiting for it to happen, but only 120 tarried for it. And once the spirit was poured out, Peter then connected it to repentance for those who would then afterwards receive it. When the crowd asked Peter what they must do to be saved, Peter said, repent and be baptized, everyone, in the name of Jesus Christ. It's still the same today. Those who repent and tarry for the Lord to fulfill his good work in them while he prepares them for the work ahead will be involved in this promised end-time ministry that we read about in the book of Isaiah, in Daniel, the Gospel of Matthew, the Book of Acts, the Book of Revelation. As was stated, we are in a new Gospel era where this prophecy is slated to happen in great magnitude as such as the world has never seen before. What things at this time are you holding on to that prevent you from coming into a deeper experience with your Christ? I ask you, are you willing to tarry for Jesus, precious one? Is serving Jesus weighty upon your heart? Do you long to see the loss brought into the fold of the Father? How do you and will you fit into God's eternal plan? Prophetically, do you know what God has purposed for you to do specifically to impact his kingdom? since predestination stands closely connected with this sovereignty of god could you at this present moment be standing on the threshold of a kairos moment in your life where eternity and your reason for being meet and intersect for such a time as this just as it did for example with moses or daniel or paul jael deborah or esther who was born for such a time as this are you walking in that call now to some degree or extent even though you are still in the making and molding of the Lord good work in you Do you need a paradigm shift or a course correction to get outside your box and let Christ be Christ in your life? You know, we're talking as well here in certain terms that the Bible describes as making your calling and election sure. predestination speaks about the fullness of time or the appointed time predestination and election seem to go hand in hand and i want to give you encouragement in what you can do in a focus and preparation for being in the will of god and walking in his spirit for such a time as this for many of you you are in a great time of transition and you know god is doing something wonderful and new in your life. For some of you, you are being awakened in your spirit as to the reality of the Holy Spirit's presence and power. And you feel such a stirring in your spirit. And in a way, you could say that you feel very pregnant and full with something new. Can't put a finger on it. God is transitioning you into a new level in him and showing you some of his wonderful mysteries and secrets that you've been crying out for in your prayer time with him. The first thing I would like to say to you is don't get stuck in your transition. The first thing we do when we are in transition is to start doubting God and what he has shown us or spoken to us. For many, you know that God is increasing your tent pegs and stretching you to believe him for the greater spiritual assignments. But so many times we allow the fears to enter in when we think about the natural, about how could God possibly bring all this to pass? How will the provision come about to do the things that God has been asking me to do? Doubt after doubt seems to come in wave after wave. One day you are completely confident about it, The next you fall into hopelessness and impatience and start demanding that God give you the answers right now. Anxiety wants to rule. All the emotions come into play during these times. And quite frankly, precious one, this pleases the Lord because he allows us to see ourselves as we really are. Will you have faith and trust God and learn to wait on him so we can bless you? You know, Isaiah 30, verse 18 says, Yet the Lord still waits for you to come to him so he can show you his love. He'll conquer you to bless you, just as he said. For the Lord is faithful to his promises. Blessed are those who wait for him to help them. God is desirous to conquer your heart completely so that he may own you entirely so that you may hear his voice succinctly and obediently carry out his will. And you'll find that through this Christian journey, there are things that you can do to make these times of transition easier. God has given us prophetic promises to propel us forward and upward into another level in him. But you must believe in these promises and start declaring them over your life, Even when the enemy comes to tell you that you have no future or no matter what it looks like, it tastes like, smells like, or any other physical sense or emotion that wants to rule in the moment. If you want to walk in and do what God has specifically designed for you to do to impact his kingdom, then you must dig your own ditches. the book of 2nd Kings 3 16 God ordered all of the people of Israel Judah and Edom to dig ditches so that his power and blessing might be seen as he would send it their way now the blessing of water came rolling forth from a distance they could not see they obeyed by digging the ditches and God brought the water to water their animals provide the water for their crops in their own needs You see, you cannot sit idly by and wait for God to move, but you must get busy and dig. That means dive into God and his plans for your life and be obedient in what he is showing you to do at this moment of time. I believe ways that you can prepare to receive God's blessing and power to stand in these uncertain days ahead and also prepare for the ministry that he has for you. are these certain areas that he has impressed upon my heart as being very important in his eyes for the true success of any spiritual life in coming into a deep and true fellowship with him and also to be approved by him for any real ministry that he has for you and me. The first area in God's heart is, first, work on and develop and maintain an intimate fellowship with Jesus Christ, your shepherd, and stay close to him. Model yourself after Jesus. Learn to love what he loves, hate what he hates. Stay close to Jesus by developing daily contact with him through the Holy Spirit in your time of devotions, in the word, through prayer and meditation and worship. This will be the first ditch that you will want to dig. This daily fellowship with the lover of your soul will determine the road and success of your future in God. Develop a vibrant prayer life. It is vital that it be living and active. Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you in your intercession, and when you do, you will find that he will come and join you and kiss you with his wonderful presence every time. Many people hit and miss on this one. Instead of sowing time and developing a one-on-one spirit-to-spirit fellowship with their God, they compromise and reason with themselves. The God knows their hearts and busy schedules, so they throw God a kiss on the way out the door and give him a little hand clap here and there. How empty, how vain and futile, and how shallow. Hosea 10.12 declares, Sow for yourselves seeds of righteousness. Precious ones, everything worthwhile will cost you something and Jesus Christ is worth it all. So second area to dig is Jesus was orderly in his life and ministry. And this order is demonstrated in the sheer fact that he was God and fully man. And this order exemplified itself in the way that Jesus conducted his life and ministry on this earth. Since God is a God of order, that means that he hates disorder and confusion of every kind. We all know the author of those. Before Jesus will open a door for you or me to walk in our God-given call, he will require that we first understand this fact. And if you do not understand this principle of divine order in your life, you will miss walking in the very best that God has for you. in everything that Jesus did. He did it to please his father in heaven. What Jesus did on the earth determined his success as our savior and king. And we too, in order to please our heavenly father, must resemble his son in every way. That is, in purity of our motives, honesty, sincerity, and all that we say and do. And you and I are to grow into full age, or better said, we are to become mature and complete in Christ. Jesus is looking for this kind of maturity in everything you and I do and touch. It does not just pertain to the spiritual, but also to the physical. I can tell you, not only does God want divine order in your spiritual life, but he wants it in your physical life too. And this means order in your family, order in your household, order in your workplace, order in your business. and as you begin to take concern and care and responsibility for the things around you and the things that God has blessed you with, mainly because it is the right thing to do, then the spiritual manifestation of this perfection begins to blossom and show forth as the beautiful internal fruit of change that is taking place in you as well. the way you live your life speaks volumes for the divine order and structure in both your spiritual life and also in the natural and i'm not talking about being compulsive obsessive here amen maybe we can see and understand in a small way at this point after jesus has risen from the grave he unwound the grave clothes and left them neatly folded in the tomb i don't know about you but this really speaks to me. And this fact has changed my life in so many ways, both spiritually and in the natural to see and understand that when our precious Savior had suffered such brutal and horrendous beatings, died and went to hell on our behalf and fought for our freedom so that we would not have to go there. The Holy Spirit then raised him from the dead and Jesus awakens in the tomb and he unwound the grave clothes about his head and then he neatly folds it and leaves it lying there. Divine order and structure in your way of life will be one of those main points that goes along with developing and maintaining an intimate fellowship with your Savior. And the third point here is be sure to keep your word. Many people dig their own ditch off the tried and true path with this one. They never move to the new level because they are careless with their words. God absolutely hates it when people say they'll do something and do not keep their word. God promises us that his word will not come back void to him. He is telling us that we can depend on what he says he will do. Proverbs 30 verse 5 declares, every word of God is true. Dear ones, when you tell somebody that you will do something, keep your word. It should be able to depend on what you say you will do. And this very point and neglect of it is the cause and reason for many Christians to never walk in their God-ordained calling. And if you are unable to keep your commitment, call the individual in advance and explain your reason, and if you can, fulfill your commitment at a later date. And the fourth point here is make sure that you do not have even one trace, a hint or thread of manipulation in your life. This is called sin. Manipulation is as witchcraft. Say what you mean and mean what you say. Many people never come right out and ask for something they might like you to do for them or for something that they need. but they will say it as a suggestion or try to set you up in a crafty way to get what it is that they want from you. Surely, one cannot expect God to bless if this practice is being used. It is underhanded, deceitful, and detrimental to anyone's spiritual growth and it will only bring spiritual poverty. The fifth ditch to dig is apply the principles of God's word in your daily conversations. Let your conversations be uplifting and wholesome. Do you have a habit of gossiping, but call it concern? Do you use the excuse to share somebody's fault or sin or weakness with others and say, well, it's a prayer focus? If so, you need to bring that issue into right order and perspective and stop it at once. God hates gossip and slander so much that he even says that this will be one of the reasons that people will not enter into heaven. Are you careful with your words in regards to ensure that you do not cause division with them by twisting something someone has said? there's an old saying that says sweep your own doorstep first self-deception is a horrible sin dropping careless words that cause division is as bad as witchcraft the intent is evil and produces dissension in the body of christ and some need to really check their hearts on this one sixth point how are you doing with the issue of spending your time what kind of ditches are you digging for yourself on this one remember digging the ditches was the means by which god would send his blessing and power into your life do you spend your time wisely psalms 90 verse 12 declares Teach us to number our days and recognize how few they are. Help us, O Lord, to spend them as we should. Do you make it a practice of taking care of your daily responsibilities? First, to your Lord and having daily communion and devotions with him, and secondly, to your family and home. I've learned that making good use of my time included self-discipline. And when I worked outside the home, my husband Lee and son Aaron both had responsibilities in helping to keep the house and the yard in good order. We all shared in this labor. This, again, is one of those primary principles in the natural, that if we can't take care of the little things in our daily living, God will not bless us with the greater things, which include his ministry assignments to further his kingdom. them the seventh ditch to dig is to not make excuses do not make excuses and you'll want to be sure to reverse this one if you have any weakness here many dear Christians miss out on so many blessings and will not be allowed to walk in God's power because they make excuses for weaknesses and their shortcomings rather than admit and work on them. The Lord gave my husband Lee a profound dream regarding this very subject. In the dream, the Lord showed an individual who was dancing with others in a far distance outside the outer court. Lee heard the Lord say, unauthorized. Then he heard the Lord say 96 excuses. The individual could not enter into the inner court of the temple because of all of their excuses. No matter what way you turn the number 96, it is still 96 no matter what way you turn it. How tragic. Many people are in the outer court thinking they in God will and are only dancing their way into perdition because all of their flimsy excuses and reasons why they cannot do what they know they ought to do Making excuses will not account for anything in God's book, dear ones. And this too is like shooting yourself in the foot. The eighth ditch to dig in your times of transition is welcome those whom God sends your way to help you. Be teachable when they appear. We were not meant to make these transitions on our own accord, but God has always used his people to help us to take that step to the next level. Samuel the prophet was sent to help assist David and give him the word of the Lord that he was to be a king. And Samuel also anointed David as Saul's successor. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, was overwhelmed with the news that she would be carrying the Messiah in her womb, Elizabeth released a prophetic blessing over her. The body of our Lord Jesus Christ has many precious members who are gifted and wise counselors and intercessors, even prophets who can speak into your life. There are many encouragers who are there to help you through your time of transition too. Just make sure that those whom you listen to will not tell you just what you want to hear. Choose those who are mature in the Lord and walk in the Spirit. And those who are mature will speak about the real issues in your life to help you transition to the next step. And don't get mad at them for speaking the truth. You only shoot yourself in the foot and will stay right there and will never move on. All of these points are really speaking about letting go of your past. and the Lord told me to give you hope for the future and his promises. I believe these simple points from the heart of God will bring freedom to many of you who have been struggling with poverty in so many areas of your life. Spiritual and physical poverty will rob us of the blessings and power of God in our lives. Precious one, as you truly learn to live in Christ, You are a new creature predestined to be made in our Lord Jesus Christ's image, likeness, and character. We sometimes get caught in a spiritual limbo because we've been holding on to the past, whether they be memories or habits or relationships, and even those things that seem to give us security and comfort. Can you rest in the peace of knowing that God knows your final end? he has committed himself to leading and guiding you and helping you make every transition you need to make along your christian way as you live in his son jesus christ second corinthians 1 20 says the promises are yes and amen in him he'll be with you even if you're faced with walking through any valley of the shadow of death his rotten staff will comfort you if you follow him and obey him and live in him, he will not leave you at the door of the outer court with your 96 excuses. Fight for your promises. Transition is always a vulnerable time, and it always seems to require some kind of spiritual warfare on your behalf. It requires much prayer. It requires faith and believing what God has spoken to you and promised you. The enemy is a thief, and he wants to steal your inheritance. I encourage you to wield the promises of God like a two-edged sword. And Satan tries to stand in the doorway to block your coming through into greater levels that God has for you. He tries to thwart and devour your promises. But learn to stand. Take up your God-given rights and advance into your spiritual calling with the help of Holy Spirit. Paul said to Timothy, God gives prophetic promises to literally propel us into our future. Declare them over your life. God's word will break every satanic resistance if you will believe in them and actually live in them by implementing these points and taking them seriously as from the very heart of God. They will help prepare you spiritually for the days that are coming upon this nation, but also for the transition into your God-ordained office and call to prepare you for the ministry assignments that he has for you to do to impact his kingdom for Christ's sake in these last days. Will you learn to tarry, dear one, as you wait for Jesus? Will you keep your lamp full and trimmed with the extra oil? Your spiritual life depends on it. If you do, you will not fall into the air of apostasy, but you will recognize it and flee far from it. God may even use you as a trumpet to sound the alarm and warn others. one of the promises that we are all waiting on is in the last days god says i will pour out my spirit on all people let us be praying and interceding for god to pour out his spirit without measure upon this dying world harvest is white and the workers are few let's make sure that our own hearts are prepared and right before god so that we too may be privileged to be a worker in this day and hour. This last day pouring out of God's spirit will not be about any man's doctrine, but it will be all about Jesus Christ and his coming in all power and glory with the armies of heaven riding with him. Jesus is coming for his bride. I leave you and I challenge you with this last question. Will you be ready when he comes for you? The warning to us in this message is to be aware of the great error and apostasy that is being set up today and make sure that you know what your Bible says about such matters that are being perpetrated upon the church. If it were possible, even the very elect could be deceived, the word says. And know that because you might hear well-known names involved, doesn't mean that they couldn't be wrong and possibly be walking in error. Stay close to God. Stay in his word and keep your eyes fixed on Jesus Christ, who is coming very soon. The End truth of life, we learn that this world is not our final resting place. As genuine believers, born again and blood-bought by the precious lifeblood of Jesus Christ, we are gradually advancing in comprehension and growing into something much greater than understanding the laws that govern this physical earth. There is certainly something much greater in store for those who are living within the bounds of another world that lies beyond. 1 Corinthians 2, verses 8 through 10 tells us, none of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written, no eye has seen, no ear has heard, No mind has conceived what God had in store for those who love him, but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Bible tells us what will eventually become of this earth in 2 Peter 3.10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and the works that are in it shall be burned up. Yes, the very one who spoke the whole world into existence will be the very one who will give the call for the sinful, evil, and wicked world to melt and be burned up altogether. Proverbs 8.27-36 describes the one who called the world into existence for the habitation of mankind to be graciously redeemed back to his creator. Verse 27. And his decree that the waters should not transgress across the boundaries set by his command, when he appointed the foundations of the earth, I, wisdom, was beside him as master and director of the work. And I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always, rejoicing in his inhabited earth and in delighting in the sons of men. Verse 32. And now therefore listen to me, O you sons, for blessed and happy to be are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it. Blessed and fortunate is the man who listens to me, watching daily by my gates and waiting at the post of my doors. Verse 35, for whoever finds me wisdom finds life and draws forth and obtains favor from the Lord. But he who misses me or sins against me wrongs and injures himself. All who hate me love and court death. Verse 27 says, when he prepared the earth, I was there. When he drew a circle on the face of the deep. Wisdom speaking here is no mystery for the one who knows his God and Savior. John 1.1-3 defines and identifies the one who was by his father's side as the spokesman or the word which brought the unseen into a visible realm, which is now the world in which we presently live today. Verse 1. In the beginning before all time was the Word, Christ, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God himself. He was presently originally with God, and all things that were made and came into existence through him, and without him was not even one thing made that has come into being. Jesus Christ is clearly wisdom at his Father's side. Many growing Christians wrestle with the understanding of belonging to a spiritual world. You see, modern science, with all of its capabilities of peering into outer space with super telescopes and the seismographic equipment to see below into the Earth's crust, these man-made methods cannot bring one into understanding because they are of the physical realm and not of the spiritual realm. As a Christian, we are a citizen of two worlds, the earthly and the heavenly realm. Because we are citizens of two worlds, we must learn how to walk by faith in a world that requires we walk by sight. When God told Abraham to go to another country, he knew not where he was going, but he went on to walk by faith, knowing that God was leading him. Paul in Hebrews chapter 11 verse 24 tells us that Moses was aroused by faith when he had grown into maturity and became great. He refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter. Verse 25, because he preferred to share the oppression, suffer hardships, and bear the shame of the people of God, rather than to have a fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life. He considered the contempt and abuse and shame born for the Christ, the Messiah who was to come, to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward, the recompense. We too, like Moses, must see the invisible if we are to overcome the pull of the world. For the world, seeing is believing. This was the sin and the fault of Thomas. He had to see the wounds of Jesus to believe. Thomas was not present when Jesus first appeared to his disciples after his resurrection. But upon hearing of Christ's appearance to his disciples after the resurrection, Thomas said, unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hands into his side, I will not believe. And this is why he was called Doubting Thomas. Thomas had walked, as the other apostles did, walking with Jesus for three years, who was the master and creator of the world. For a genuine Christian, believing is seen. This principle of faith must be applied to our relationship to the heavenly throne of God. Though we have not seen the sanctuary, yet we believe what the word of God tells us about it. We realize and understand that God is not worshipped in temples made with hands. Acts 7 verse 48 declares, However, the Most High does not dwell in houses and temples made with hands. As the prophet says, verse 49, heaven is my throne and earth is the footstool for my feet. What kind of house can you build for me, says the Lord? Or what is the place in which I can rest? Was it not my hand that made all these things? Even though we call the church building a place where we meet the house of God, we know that God does not live in that building or that place, but rather he lives in the people who truly love God with all of their hearts, who come to worship the Lord within those walls. 1 Corinthians 3.16 declares, Do you not discern and understand that you, the whole church at Corinth, are God's temple, his sanctuary, and that God's Spirit has his permanent dwelling in you, to be at home in you, collectively as a church, and also individually? The beauty of this whole spiritual picture seen and heard in song and also in the word of God. A lyric and wonderful old church hymn sung in all denominations says, On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. We have to remember that Jesus is that rock, and he is the solid foundation on whom we base our faith and trust in the promise of eternal life. 2 Samuel 22, verse 3 declares, My God, my rock, in him I will take refuge, my shield and horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge, my Savior. You saved me from violence. I call on the Lord, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. We see in that the rock or stone that came down and crushed the proud image of a man in Nebuchadnezzar's dream in the book of Daniel, chapter 2, 34, declares, you, O king, saw, and behold, there was a great image. This image which was mighty and exceedingly great brightness stood before you, and the appearance of it was frightening and terrible. Verse 32, as for this image, its head was of fine gold, its breast and its arms of silver, its belly and its thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet partly iron and partly of clay, baked clay of the potter, verse 34. As you looked, a stone was cut out without human hands, which smote the image on the feet of iron and the baked clay of the potter and broke them to pieces. You see, the statue was not permanent. It was struck on the feet by a rock, not cut out by human hands. Daniel interpreted the king's dream by telling him that this statue was dazzling because of the metals of which it was made. It made the king appear insignificant when he stood next to it. The dream showed that Nebuchadnezzar's empire would be ruled over by the Gentile kingdoms, which would rule over the land of the Philistines and the people of Israel. Nebuchadnezzar had made arrogant boasts about all that he had achieved by his own power. He was stricken at the height of his power by God's judgment and was driven out of office and found himself living with the beasts of the field and eating grass. like the oxen. The stone that was cut out without human hands represents the one who is not of human origin, but is of a supernatural realm. God had a plan at the beginning of time that his only begotten son born of a virgin would enter into the world and willingly sacrifice himself upon the cross for the salvation of all those who would accept him as savior and live within the mandates required for attaining the goal of eternal life. Jesus is the one who is that rock and the foundation of the goal of our salvation. In Luke chapter 6, 46 through 49, listen to what Jesus says regarding being the rock himself. Why do you call me Lord? And do not practice what I tell you. For everyone who comes to me and listens to my words in order to heed their teachings and does them, I will show you what he is like. Verse 48. He is like a man building a house who dug and went down deep and laid a foundation on the rock. And when the flood arose, the torrent broke against that house and could not shake it or move it because it had been securely built and founded on a rock. Verse 49. But he who merely hears and does not practice doing my word is like a man who built his house on a ground without foundation against the torrent burst and immediately a collapsed and fell and the breaking and ruin of that house was great. Jesus gives us insight in a figurative analogy as to what is meant by hearing and doing and heeding his words. To hear Jesus' words and sayings means that we are going to pay attention, great attention, in hearing the word because his teachings are not teachings of men, but they are teachings of God himself. They are holy doctrines. And when we hear Christ's holy teachings, we want to hear with understanding like the wise man who built his house on the rock. Many hear, but they still remain ignorant of understanding, because they do not keep the precious truths and doctrines tucked away in their hearts like King David, who loved God's word above anything the world could offer. David in Psalms 119 verse 127 declares, Therefore I esteem all your precepts concerning all things to be right, and I hate every false way. Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 3.5 that people who build on sand have a form of godliness but have no power of God working in their hearts that bring the need of change for inheriting eternal life. 2 Timothy 3.3 They will be unloving and unforgiving. They will slander others and have no self-control. They will be cruel and hate what is good. They will betray their friends and be reckless, be puffed up with pride and love pleasure rather than God. They will act as religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that. All that we have seen in the Old Testament accounts We're depicted in the natural or the material world, but we're pointing to the day and the time when the mighty Savior of mankind came, and that spiritual world will open up in the hearts and lives of the redeemed, the precious masterpiece who loved him with all of their hearts, minds, and souls. Jesus, our rock, would set up his temple within the inmost secret part of those who truly love him. Now, Jesus comes into our hearts. It is not outside or of the material body where this change takes place, but it is inside the heart and soul and begins to shine the light of truth by the power of the Holy Spirit. In the material world, there are many difficulties to deal with. Psalms 34.19 declares, Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of all of them. Psalms 34.17 comforts us with this promise. The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them and delivers them from all of their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and will save those whose spirits are crushed. Many are the troubles of the righteous, but the Lord will deliver him out of all of them. So although we live in the natural world, we are not a part of it, Scripture tells us. This is saying that we are not a part of the devil's evil distractions, his deeds, and sinful pleasures that make up the natural man and his way of life. Yes, we may have difficulties and troubles in our walks, but the promise is God will deliver us out of all of them. At the time an individual was truly saved, the Holy Spirit of God entered into their lives to be their teacher, their guide, and their comforter. And this in essence tells us that the Holy Spirit is the source and standard of all spiritual things that form and shape us into the pattern of Jesus Christ. This is the beginning of development of the spiritual man or woman. The Holy Spirit begins to witness the truth of God's word within their inmost being to say, This is the truth and this is the way. Walk you in it now. In contrast, in 1 Corinthians 2, beginning in verse 13, we see in Paul's epistle that the natural man cannot perceive or understand the spiritual things and matters of God Almighty. Beginning in verse 13, these things we also speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15. But he who is spiritual judges all things, yet he himself is rightly judged by no one. For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. Verse 14 again says, The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. What we have been talking about, and what the scripture tells us, is that there is a contrast of those who live in two worlds. One is in the natural realm without the Holy Spirit, and the other is living in the spiritual realm guided by the Holy Spirit. As the disciples who followed Jesus for three years later became apostles, we see their struggle as they grew in understanding and wisdom of the Lord. Peter was impetuous in the scenario where he grabbed a hold of Jesus and rebuked him when the Lord told him that he would suffer at the hands of the elders. Matthew 16, verse 23. Jesus turned on Peter and said, Get away from me, you Satan. You are a dangerous trap to me. You are thinking merely from a human point of view and not from God's view. Peter was a distraction, an interference in the Lord's work and labor for the good of mankind. You know, sometimes we think that we are doing good, but the natural man interferes with what God Almighty deems to do for the good of all mankind who have ears to hear. You see, living in the realm of the Spirit takes faith, and it's all about following the lead of the most important one called Precious Holy Spirit, who is given to all genuine believers in Jesus Christ. Jesus makes himself real to those who earnestly seek him with all of their hearts. He does this through the indwelling of his Holy Spirit. If we live in the realm of the Holy Spirit, we belong to Christ. And if the Holy Spirit truly lives in you, he directs and guides you in every aspect of your life. You just want to please him in all and everything that you do and say. Apostle Paul tells us in Romans chapter 8 verse 9, But you are not living in the life of flesh. You are living the life of the Spirit. If the Holy Spirit of God really dwells in you and directs and controls you. But if anyone does not possess the Holy Spirit of Christ, he is none of his, does not belong to Christ, is not truly a child of God. Verse 10. But if Christ lives in you, then although your natural body is dead by reason of sin and the guilt, the Spirit is alive because of the righteousness that he imputes to you. God the Holy Spirit directs us to do good. He is building righteousness in us, not unrighteousness. And this says that we will not sympathize with sin or evil in any way. You see, when we do sympathize with sin, we become a part of it, and we actually agree with it, and moreover, we interfere with what God intends to do in somebody's life that we've interfered with because we may have felt sorry for them. In following Jesus Christ, we are not practicing a fruitless set of principles, but we are following the King of kings and ruler of the eternal realm who makes us truly alive and fit to live in his kingdom because we have preferred to live by his righteous principles and standards now. God's great kingdom, his eternal kingdom, is not some man-made ideal, or some ethereal fog-like realm far away in the upper atmosphere of the clouds. You see, eternity is for real, and having experiences in things of God is a spiritual gift from God. Understand His Word, His ways, and personal experiences are ways that the Holy Spirit encourages us to keep digging deeper in the Word until we hunger for more and truly taste and see that the Lord is good. And this becomes our preference for our daily spiritual manna or food. And this is the place that God wants us to live. This is the spiritual realm or world that the Holy Spirit little by little leads us into. It is a wonderful place called living in Christ or walking in the Spirit. We grow into spiritual maturity on this path. This place of living won't be found in the natural world. Though the kingdom of God is unseen by our natural or physical eyes, we can know it as a spiritual reality through personal experiences that we gain through growing in understanding the word of God, and at times that the precious Lord witnesses something profound to our spirit. Jesus said that being alive in the Holy Spirit is like responding to the wind. We can't see the Spirit who is like the wind. We can hear the wind and feel it and see its effects all around us. To the extent that we grow and mature in godliness, the greater the spiritual reality becomes to us that the unseen world that awaits us is far greater than what this place called earth offers us. 1 Corinthians 2.5 declares, What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceive, what God has prepared for those who love him, God has revealed it to us through the Spirit. Let us learn while we dwell on this planet earth that what is unseen in the spiritual realm will one day be worth reaching for. We'll rejoice on the day that we leave this world and enter into the heavenly realm where our dear Savior will receive us for being faithful servants as we had dwelt on this earth No one or nothing can save you or me. Only Jesus saves. I provoke you with the question, do you live in the realm of the Spirit or not? Romans chapter 8 verse 9 says, You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed, did you hear that word? If indeed the Spirit of God lives in you, and if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. The emphasis of Jesus' promise to us are spiritual and do not belong to the material world. In John chapter 15, verse 19, Jesus tells us that we do not belong to this world. He says in verse 19, if you belong to the world, the world would treat you with affection and would love you as its own. But because you are not of this world, no longer one with it, but I have chosen, selected you out of this world, and the world hates, detests you. Jesus has chosen us out of the world and chosen us to be his followers. He has separated his chosen ones out of this world society and placed them under the government of his holy commands and laws. The one who now lives in Jesus Christ is not influenced by the principles from men of the world. They are now empowered by the world of the eternal realm and carry the flame of love from God Almighty and live by his commands to live righteously in his holiness. The genuine believer in Jesus Christ receives blessings directly from the throne room of God. Ephesians chapter 1 verse 3 declares, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. This tells us that every spiritual blessing is showered upon the genuine believer for spiritual enrichment needed for the attainment of eternal life. These spiritual blessings are appropriated by faith. Since they are a promise, they've already been bestowed upon believers. An example is just like Joshua was leading the Israelites into the promised land. He was not to ask for the promised land since God had already promised it to him, but rather he was to go and enter into the enjoyment of that promised provision and take it by faith in what God had promised. in Matthew chapter 11 verse 12 Jesus tells us as believers that our promised land is the eternal kingdom of God and is to be taken by force in verse 12 and from the days of John the Baptist until the present time the kingdom of heaven has endured violent assault and violent men seize it by force as a precious prize to share in the heavenly kingdom is sought with the most ardent zeal and intense exertion. This means all those who are in earnest and serious in their zeal, in single-minded commitment with the help of precious Holy Spirit to enter into the gates of eternity will do it with a fervent love for their Savior. Yes, these blessings and promises are found in the spiritual realm and not in the material world. One world is seen and the other is unseen. These blessings and promises are spiritual and are not material. They are eternal and not temporal. They are all attained by burning ardent love and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and by living in the commands of the word found in the Holy Scripture called the Bible. Thank you. Whenever I read in 1 Corinthians 2.9 that no eye has seen nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him, My spirit becomes excited. My spirit is enlivened and aroused by the Holy Spirit's prompting. No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. this eternal truth holds a present and future tense connotation in it but the rest of this truth found in verse 10 says but God has revealed it to us by his spirit what our eyes have not seen nor our ears have heard have not yet entered into our hearts but God has prepared and made ready for those who love him Dear ones, all who truly love the Creator of the universe, who hold Him in deep affection and reverence and promptly obey Him and gratefully with holy gratitude recognize the benefits that He lavishly bestows and pours out upon us. You see, this is speaking of the hidden wisdom of God. This is not a wisdom that comes from the world. This wisdom teaches quite a different kind of knowledge than that which one acquires through their minds, assimilating facts and figu