Transcript: Living for Jesus: Balancing Earthly and Heavenly Realities

Music Music As believers in Jesus Christ, we live in a world that is very material, and as we grow in understanding in this precious 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 8-10 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 conceded 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. When he prepared the heavens, I-Wisdom was there. When he drew a circle upon the face of the earth and stretched it out among the firmament, when he gave to the sea its limits, 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 chapter 1 verses 1 through 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 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 borne 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 a 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, 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 worshiping 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 is 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 chapter 3 verse 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 needed change for inheriting eternal life. 2 Timothy chapter 3 starting in verse 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 were depicted in the natural or the material world, but were 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 chapter 34, 19 declares, many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of all of them. Psalm 34 verse 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 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 8.9 says, You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh, but are in the realm of the Spirit, 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's 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 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. There is a question that we must all seriously ask ourselves in this day and hour, where the times are growing more evil and the earth is groaning for the return of Jesus Christ. This question I present today is, am I unquestionably and without a doubt of any kind living in the light of God's truth? King David said in Psalms chapter 4 verse 6, he said, there are many who say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us. well what David was speaking of here are the hindrances to God people ability to live in the light of his presence And what David was speaking about was not a glowing or a cheerful state of feeling which are devoted to spiritual matters or subjects, but rather he was speaking about something that is more substantial and more real than mere feelings. You see, feelings are a part of our senses that are ever varying in their ability to maintain clarity and perception or stability. You see, our unrenewed feelings and emotions are likened to the ebb and the flow of the ever-changing tide that rushes in and it rushes out. And what David was speaking about in this verse is the practical carrying out of the events and situations of everyday life, which lie nearer to the foundation of our profession of faith than any other thing that is the very condition of our eternal being in the consciousness that we should each individually be displaying in a closer walk with the great God, the living God at all times than to any other thing or person. And what David is showing when he says in this verse is the wish of the foolish worldly people. There are many who say, who will show us any good? Lord, lift up the light of your countenance upon us. You see, foolish worldly people sitting in the pews of church every week are saying, Who will show us good? Who will make us be able to see good? Who will make me happy? David, in verse 7 and 8, gives the bottom line as to what makes these foolish people happy. He says, Desired was plenty of the wealth and the abundance of the world in order to enjoy these things that would delight their senses and make them happy. Their question was, who will show us good? Who will make us to be able to see good? Who will make me happy? Sadly, these do not have the desire to draw near to God. Only God can truly bring them joy and peace. Only God could give what we truly need in the time of crisis and want. These live outside of God's will and His provision. They have their eyes fixed on everything else but on God. They have no problem living without Him. In fact, they go to church weekly out of duty and have hopes that this outward exertion or effort will somehow appease God and make him happy. Thus, it may invoke his favor and blessing when they call upon him. The fact remains here. They're only looking for the blessing and good that comes from God. They are not looking for God or look to be near or close to him, but look only for what he can give them. The people in our scripture whom David was speaking about were people who were supposed to belong to God, but their eyes were blinded to the things of God because they had adopted the false gods of the people around them. In 2 Corinthians 4.18, Apostle Paul says, Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen, for the things that are visible and temporal, brief and fleeting, but the things that are invisible and deathless and everlasting, Our lesson is that we must look with eyes of faith further than we can see with the eyes of our senses, dear ones. when these people were looking for the good or for those who would make them happy or make them see good they were in effect only looking for the outward and present good intangible and touchy things like good food, good drink, good homes, good jobs good things and stuff that would make them happy in the moment but you see Without having the only one true and good God in our lives at all times, there will be no real living joy or peace in our hearts. And no matter how many things or how much stuff we have, these cannot and never will fill the place in the human heart that God intended and promised to give everlasting joy and peace to all who would seek after him with all of their hearts, with all of their souls, all of their mind and their whole being. God had set David aside for himself and by his distinguishing favor upon David, he marked him as a favorite. David in return sets himself apart by the distinguishing character he portrayed in his zeal and love for God. David throughout these few verses is saying that these people were looking for anything good that is anything worldly good but he personally was not willing to offer any part of his heart or soul to these empty things so David and his friends were in agreement in their choice of literally choosing God's favor as their joy And those who choose to be near to God are easily recognizable by their daily practices, their words, their deeds, and their choices, and also by their prayers. These prayers do not have to be long and lengthy, but the faith, the sincerity, the fervency in them move God to bring the answers because his favor rests upon them, because they live in the light of his countenance. In 1 John 1.7, the apostle declares, if we are really living and walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another. and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, removes us from all sin and guilt and keeps us cleansed from sin in all of its forms and manifestations. John's testimony in this chapter concerning the reality of the person and doctrine of Jesus Christ and the purpose for which he gives his testimony is to make it unquestionably clear that God is light and no one can have fellowship with him who does not walk in the light. Those who do walk in the light are cleansed from all unrighteousness by the blood of Jesus Christ. In verse 7, he says, but if we're really living and walking in the light as he himself is in the light, we have true unbroken fellowship with one another. The blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, removes, it cleanses us from all sin and guilt and keeps us cleansed from all sin in its forms and manifestations. John's statement says, if we walk in the light. You see, the word if is a conditional word. The word implies that this will be the only way that God's principle of holiness will be derived from him. If we live in the light or the truth of God's word without wavering, we are living in God's holiness and his righteousness. And this means that we are continually enjoying the revelation of God's truth and we're enjoying life with him. We're enjoying fellowship with one another. We are enjoying personal communion with God and he with us. and those who are experiencing the wonderful, deep and divine things of God have conversation with them and God with them. And the heart of God and the heart of this kind of individual have intersected. They've come together in a continual holy correspondence. The latter part of verse 7 says, the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son cleanses it, removes us from all sin, and keeps us cleansed from sin in its forms and manifestations. You see, the wonderful and glorious all-sufficiency of Christ's blood and his passion that led him to die on the cross for each and every one of us has purged our consciences from dead works. this means that he's cleansed us and he continues to cleanse us to keep us clean to keep clean what has been made clean and being made clean from all sin is what every believer should look for and this is truly a right that we have and we should expect and this is what we must have in this life in order to be prepared to meet our God and this is what it will take to attain eternal life. Jesus Christ is not partial, and he wants above all else for us to be saved and cleansed from all sin. In Psalms 51 verse 7, David cried out to the Lord and said, Purify me with hyssop, Lord. I shall be clean ceremonially. Wash me, and I will in reality be whiter than snow. Make me to hear the joy and gladness and be satisfied and let the bones which you have broken rejoice. In Mark 1.41, Jesus was moved with compassion and pity when the leper kneeling before him said, Lord, if you're willing, make me clean. And Jesus reached out his hand and he touched him and he said to him, I am willing, be made clean. Notice the light of truth that went before this man. He was found in a kneeling position before the very one who had called himself the light of the world. Jesus is the personification of divine illumination, dear ones. this man kneeled and inclined his face to the ground in a token of deep humiliation and earnest prayer. The only one who is called the light of the world and is the perfect fountain where all spiritual understanding can illumine one's eyes to see his greatness and supremacy is called Jesus Christ. because of the leper's acknowledgement of Jesus' almighty power, he then received an answer to his prayer. His cry was, make me clean. And Jesus said, I will be made clean. Here was the most manifest proof of Christ's divine power at work. No one but God can work a miracle such as this. The exertion of Christ's power is a supernatural display of his divinity. And again, because of the leper's acknowledgement of Jesus' almighty power, he then received an answer to his prayer. He had an illumination of the light of Christ and his faith soared to the highest heights. He appealed to Christ's love with sincere words saying, Lord, if you will. You see, these words were filled with ability to heal him. And the leper moved Jesus to compassion and pity and finally to action, which brought the healing. Jesus proves at once that he is the light of the world. His infinite love and unlimited power shows by his words an act of compassion and pity for the poor and needy in heart in their body, soul, and spirit. In the scripture that we had read earlier in 1 John 1.7, this time we're going to back up a few scriptures and catch verse 5. In 1 John 1.5 This is the message which we have heard from him and are now reporting to you. God is light. There is no darkness in him, no darkness at all, no, not in any way, so that if we say we are partakers together and enjoy fellowship with him when we live and move and are walking about in darkness, we are both speaking falsely and do not live and practice the truth which the gospel presents. Verse 7 If we are really living and walking in the light as he himself is in the light we have true unbroken fellowship with one another and the blood of Christ Jesus his son cleansed removes us from all sin keeps us cleansed from sin in all of its forms and manifestations. God is light There is no darkness in him at all And if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness then we are not telling the truth and do not live or practice what the light of truth teaches us There is a true and real conclusion to be gleaned from this message that John was desirous to impart to his readers And this conclusion is for those who are real and earnest in their profession and life in Jesus Christ, and to the opposite spectrum, to those who profess to be followers of Christ but are only vain seekers of the light of truth and have only entertained it. These are those who say that they have fellowship with him but they walk in the dark. You see to walk in the dark is to live and walk in ignorance and pretend to have religious experiences when in fact their lives are empty and full of self-deceit. They live impure lives with a thought life that is most profane. It has never been renewed by the one who is called the life and light of the world. Apostle John is not afraid in verse 6 that they who profess to enjoy fellowship with Christ but move and live in darkness are liars. They do not practice the truth which the gospel presents. They contradict God and distort the light of the truth because there's no real communication with God. And listen to this. There is a lack of honest and open conversation with their brothers and sisters in Christ. If we walk in the light, then we're going to have true fellowship with one another. We will be honest and upfront with one another because the light of the gospel of the truth cleanses us from all sin. We have nothing to hide. We have no reason for wearing a mask of pretension. We have no need to present ourselves as having arrived and doing everything just right. You see, the conviction and consistent satisfaction of finding that place of nearness to God now drives you to continually seek the light of his truth and walk in honest and open fellowship with one another. Only the blood of Jesus as we've seen in our scriptures cleanses us from all sin. It is sin that keeps us in the dark, blind, deaf, and dumb. A conformity to God's spirit and practicing what you learn in light of the gospel of grace demonstrates your fellowship and communion with God. And only those who walk in the light of truth show that they know God and that they have embraced God's Holy Spirit. The Spirit of Truth's divine image is engraved upon their spirit and soul now. And when this happens, then you can truly have honest and open and genuine fellowship with your brethren. This fellowship won't be mixed with half-truths and lies. You see, half-truths are the most dangerous because they're the most seductive form of delusion. The half-truth which is presented usually excludes the suspicion of deception. A lie is a lie and all liars according to the gospel says these deserve eternal death. You see, walking in the light of the truth cleanses us of all sin. Walking in the light of God's truth results in three major things. 1. You will be without a doubt and unquestionably be leading a life of holiness and purity. Let me say that again. Walking in the light of God's truth results in three major areas or things. 1. You will be without a doubt and unquestionably be leading a life of holiness and purity. Ephesians 1.4 declares as even in His love He chose us He actually picked us out for Himself as His own in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy, consecrated, set apart for Him and blameless in His sight even above reproach before Him in love and this is saying that the great end and design of God's choice in choosing us is that we should be holy as He is holy. You see, when God originally picked us out, it's not because He foresaw that we would be holy, but rather it was because He was determined to make us holy through His Holy Spirit. And all who are called and chosen and privileged to this way of life must see and understand that their personal sanctification leads them to eternal life. It's by faith. In other words, this is the only way to salvation, dear church. Willingly setting yourself aside from all sin with the Spirit's help is a direct result of the divine love of God at work in your life. and only here can we stand before the Father without blame. Our holiness cannot and will not be acceptable to God if it is just merely an external and outward show and appearance. It's a lie. It's a facade. But rather it will be acceptable if it is real and is the direct result of the pure and honest internal change that results and stems from the love of God and is shown towards our fellow man. This kind of love is the key ingredient and principle for all true holiness. Let me say it again. This honest internal work that's taking place in your hearts is a direct result, or it is not, and stems from God, from the love of God, and is shown as well towards our fellow man. This kind of love is the key ingredient and principle in all true holiness. Called to be holy is God is holy. This is pure love on God's part because we had no claim or we did not have any hand in this at all and furthermore we really didn't deserve it. To be chosen and called to holiness is the highest moral excellence in the divine nature and character of the almighty creator. The light of this truth should never be defiled or profaned in any way. It should be realized and taken serious in our Christian walk. And we should stand before our Father without fear and give Him thanks for the love that He has for us. And that was before the foundation of time. He chose you, dear one. It was according to His good pleasure. The good pleasure of His will that He saw you personally before the foundation of time. may I ask you a personal question at this time how are you honoring this truth in your own life thus far in your Christian walk are you allowing the spirit of holiness and truth the freedom in your life to make you holy are you leading a life of holiness and purity at this time are your actions and deeds towards your fellow man honorable Or do you fillet people with your rudeness and unkind words because you feel justified to do so? Are your words true and pure, or are they filled with lives and half-truths? What about your thought life? Are you taking captive of the impure, unclean, and vile thoughts? many Christians live in the realm of their minds therefore they're governed by chance rather than the internal renewal of God's Holy Spirit and being governed by chance leaves people struggling with conflicting forces they're at work in their thought life many have a thought life ruled by a demonic spirit they struggle with doing the right thing because they've never really given themselves over to Christ and the work of His Holy Spirit. They are just moved with hatred and jealousy and unkindness. They are envious of others' joy and prosperity and the favor that God shows them. They live in the dark but pretend to live in the light. Now the second major thing that happens when you are found walking unquestionably in the light of truth. The unrenewed or unregenerate individual will never be able to discern truth from error or the holy from the profane. Only those whose minds are truly being renewed by the light of the truth will be able to discern all error and betrayal to the holy scripture. In 1 Corinthians 2.9, it is written, Eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed them to us through his Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows these things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the spirit of God. Verse 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that we have been freely given to us by God. 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, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. You can never know the truth of God if it were not for the fact that the Spirit of God illumines the eyes of your spirit to see it. The spirit of a man, or better called the human spirit, knows only the things that are common to man. He's conscious of all the schemes and plans and purposes that pass through his own mind. But the Spirit of the Lord knows all the counsels and determinations of the great Supreme God who knows everything. And as the Holy Spirit is given to every true Christian, He literally lives in the soul of that individual. The Spirit knows all things of God. he reveals the truth of God to sincere and genuine Christians who are endeavoring and allowing the Spirit's work in their inner being to uproot and cast out every vile sin and every thought and word and deed that oppose the truth. And as a result, there should be a purity of heart, of mind and soul that begins to radiate forth from that individual. There should be a kindness, a sweetness, an honesty in that new nature. Just as the Apostle exampled the new nature of this way of life, so should we each do so as a proof that God's Spirit lives in and is at work in our souls. You should have a clear and undefiled understanding of what is right and what is wrong or evil, first in your own life. you should have a clear knowledge if you are living up to the truth in God's word it should be clear and it should be made known to you and if you can't discern this fact for yourself then you will not have a clear spiritual view of the truth versus air in the way others live and also may be presented in the gospel and as I had said the unrenewed or unregenerate individual will never be able to discern the truth from air or the holy from the profane because their eyes cannot be illumined by the light of God's truth. Paul said in Ephesians 1.17, you heard this verse many, many times, I always pray to God, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that he may grant you a spirit of wisdom in revelation, of insight into mysteries and secrets, in the deep and intimate knowledge of him by having the eyes of your heart flooded with light so that you can know and understand the hope to which he's called you and how rich is his glorious inheritance in the saints, his set-apart ones. So what the eye is to the body, the soul then is the understanding of God's truth. The eye is not the light itself, dear believer. It cannot discern anything but only that by which the spirit of light and truth gives to the understanding of a hungry heart after God's truth. You see, people who say that they want to please God will be found obeying him, not in just a few things, but in everything. They'll trip over themselves to do so. They will hate the fact that they trip and fall. They are not going to hang on to the same sins year after year. No, rather true seekers of God's truth are those who are being highly influenced by the understanding of the spirit of wisdom and revelation. You see, without this influence of God's Holy Spirit, no man or woman would ever become wise unto salvation. any more than anyone who has never had the divine and supernatural illumination of the light of God's truth shine abroad in their poor, blind, and wretched heart to convince them and convict them that they are eternally lost without Jesus Christ as their Savior. Now, the third and final proof to know whether or not... You're living unquestionably in the light of truth is that you are enjoying the comfort that the paraclete or your helper gives you as you journey along on your Christian path. And that is, do you exude or emanate the joy which this way of life is meant to impart to those who are sincere and earnestly endeavoring to embrace and keep? David said in Psalms 94 verse 19 O Lord, in the multitude of my anxious thoughts within me Your comforts cheer and delight my soul Here David is in effect saying O Lord, in the multitude of my grief, my sorrow and trials You've been my consolation It is like he is saying, while I have been deeply meditating on your wondrous grace and mercy, the divine light of your truth is broken like the dawn upon my soul and I have been filled with delight. For you and me today, this is to be our comfort too. We have been given the precious gift of God's Holy Spirit, who has the task of coming alongside us to give us strength and encourage us and give insight to enliven our spirits as to the joys of walking unquestionably in the light of God's truth. This is to be a consolation to us and a support that results from the gracious work of our indwelling Comforter. His work is to make it unquestionably clear to you that you have a big part in cooperating with Him in this salvation walk. His part is to make it unquestionably clear to you and me that as we cooperate with Him, He will assure us of our Savior's love. And when you are genuine and real about this way of life, He imparts the Father's divine and supernatural peace and joy in your heart. He imparts also the knowing in your spirit that you find God's way of life preferable to the old way that you used to live before you came to Christ. And with all these new comforts in this new way of life, you truly begin to turn away from sin. You now hate sin in your life as much as your comforter hates it. In fact, you hate it so much that you turn away from it because you prefer the light over darkness now. Jesus said in John 12, 35, You will have the light only a little while longer. Walk while you have the light. Keep on living by it so that darkness may not overtake you and overcome you. He who walks about in the dark does not know where he goes. He's drifting. And while you have the light, believe in the light. Have faith in it. Hold on to it. Rely on it. That you may become sons of the light and be filled with the light. Jesus said these things and then he went away and he hid himself from them. He was lost to their view. The seriousness of this way and walk in the light is that if an individual is not taking his call serious, Jesus' spirit will not remain with them. Jesus said walk in the light because you will not always have the light with you and this is saying to us that while the truth of God's word is being spoken be serious and follow and obey the light of the truth because it is only the light where the revelation is illumined in your heart Jesus will abide with you forever and this is true but he will not continue abiding with those whose hearts are self-deceived and hardened due to sin and disobedience and worldly pleasures. And these shall be left in the thickest darkness and they shall not see the true light of the bright and morning star. Scripture says in the last days people will run to and fro trying to hear or see God but they will not because they didn't care to allow the Spirit's work leading them into the light of God's truth didn't take root in their heart. They didn't care to live unquestionably in the light of the knowledge of God's word. You see, you've heard it many times. Only the truth will set you free. Jesus made a profound statement in the parable in Matthew 21, 43 when he said, I tell you for this reason, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to people who will produce fruits of it. If those who listen to the light of the truth of Christ's gospel are not pricked in their hearts with the conviction and repentance, it will be cut off and left in the dark. It's like if we do not believe in him now and are not obeying him now, but only go through the motions of Christianity, then all that will be left will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. without producing the fruit of repentance, then we will only stand before the great judge without proof of our confession of living unquestionably in the light of his truth. Isaiah 57 verse 8 declares, Behind the door and the doorposts, you have set up your idol symbol as a substitute for the scripture text God ordered. Deserting me, you have covered and ascended and enlarged your bed, and you have made a fresh bargain for yourself with the adulterers, and you love their bed where you saw a beckoning hand or a passion-inflaming image. You see, behind closed doors, these professors of the faith deceived themselves and others into believing that they were living in the light when in fact they were living in the darkness of their own lies and their deception and perversion, impure thoughts. They had other idols rather than loving God with all of their hearts and souls and minds, their entire being. They were and or are apostate liars. They had the word of God plastered to their walls but only allowed a trickle of his truth to dwell in their hearts. They had too many molten images in their hands and in front of their faces, in their minds with all of the entertainment. And today this is found in the way of electronic gadgets, movies, computers, games, and every other form of entertainment. This idolatry comes in the form of people, places, and things. and nevertheless these all speak of spiritual adulterous intercourse and is designed to show the love people have for other forms of idolatrous worship and the extent of their unfaithfulness to God. God and his son get a pittance of their time and this is called living in the dark dear ones. Giving God just a little of your time, a pittance of your time is called living in the dark. Or we can even give God a whole lot of time and remain in the dark because it's not with sincere reason that we are doing it, but it's only out of duty. If God's Son is the light of our lives, then He is able to be the sum total and source of all wisdom, all knowledge, and holiness in our lives. In Him, there is no darkness or ignorance nor imperfection. In Christ Jesus there exists no sin or misery. This is not to say we're not going to have trouble, but we have been given the help to see us through those troubles and trials that we run into. From Christ, as the giver of the true light, there's only wisdom, there's knowledge and holiness that is received by every honest and sincere soul who seeks after him with all of their heart, with their entire being. And this is the greatest message of the gospel, dear ones. Yours and my lives must depend on the light of Jesus Christ's crucial and excellence, especially his wisdom and holiness and wonderful joy and peace. Darkness implies spiritual ignorance, imperfection, sinfulness, and misery. living unquestionably in the light of Jesus Christ is the purest and most useful and most important attribute for all true seekers who are endeavoring to live a life of perfection or maturity in the divine nature of the eternal living God God Almighty is to the human soul what the light is to the world without the radiant light of the sun the world would be a dismal dark and dank place. And without the indwelling of God's precious Holy Spirit uprooting sin in our lives, His all-penetrating and radiant light would be nothing to our faith in Christ and the regeneration of our souls. This Christian way of life would truly be empty indeed and the word of God's truth would be a dead letter as we would read it. We go through it out of duty because we've got to. There's no power to it. But we do it out of duty. We would have no authority and would have no influence in our souls. It would be like a journey through the wilderness, like a howling and empty wasteland full of evil and terror and confusion. There would be no hope. no wonder then Apostle John was given this word to deliver to us as the first and greatest foundational truth when he delivered it in the opening of his letter in 1 John 1 verses 1 through 10 this is the greatest and most important message for all of us to heed and take heart in this time that remains either before God decides the day and hour of our last breath or the day where he is coming very soon in the not too distant future where he will rapture or seize away those who have been unquestionably living in the light of the gospel truth. Let us not remain in the dark where we may have weaknesses. Let us not be guilty of thinking or supposing that we have no sin or guilt or have no further need of the precious blood of Jesus Christ to atone for our sins. 1 John 1.9 declares, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sin and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. By doing this, we will truly begin to live in a deep sense of knowing our guilt and our impurity and helplessness, our weakness and our sin. And then we will truly begin to appreciate the very one who died for us and made this awesome atonement as God's means and way of divine justice so that his Father can now be just and merciful to all who are unquestionably living in the light of his Son's gospel of truth. Thank you. There is one thing for sure as I had said. We each have an appointed time in which we will travel through the valley of the shadow of death alone. This journey will definitely be a spiritual one and no doubt there will be some emotion mixed in with it too. After all, when you know that you know that you know where you are going, you can just imagine the excitement that has been pent up after going through the transition from this earth life and finally stepping into the eternity of eternities. King David gives us a clue in this home going when he says by starting out in Psalms 23, The Lord is my shepherd. This means in this life the Lord has been David's shepherd. If the Lord has been leading and guiding us in this life, then he will be our shepherd in death also. And this is also saying that the Lord had provided for David's every need in this life, giving him joy and peace and strength and rest. A good shepherd will do this when we are truly complying in obedience to his will and his ways. So then David knew as he approached death, he could depend on God's goodness in comforting him and his assurance as he laid up on his deathbed and even in walking through death's dark valley. You may ask yourself, why is this woman preaching about the subject of death? couldn't she find something more cheerful to speak about? Well, let me tell you, as I was before the Lord the other day seeking the subject he wanted me to speak about, I was going through scriptures and praying and waiting for an unction from him and it came so simply and easily. I heard precious Holy Spirit's still small voice so easily say, speak about the valley of the shadow of death. And as the song says, Oh, the joy that floods my soul, nothing should be more pleasing to us than when we know we are on track with God's will in any given matter. Well death is a subject that nobody really cares to discuss It is like one of those taboo things that most people just wait for the time when it falls upon them and they find themselves in the dark floundering around and wrestling with fear and all of the unknowns and the what-ifs as they struggle through their last day or days, rather than have a pre-preparation and a forethought in the fact that we each will face the shadow of death alone one day. Dear ones, this is saying that all of our strength in these days and time will be to the point where we will have to totally lean on the arm of our precious Lord Jesus Christ. And this transition on this side of heaven may be the greatest test that you or I will ever face. It may include spiritual dryness because the test on your health may be great. And it may include demonic attacks that will test your spiritual stability and will be a consuming beast if you are not spiritually mature. We never know in what ways God will bring our final tests on this side of heaven as we begin our spiritual journey into the world hereafter, as we walk through death's dark valley. David said, I will fear no evil. So this is saying that evil is a great possibility as we venture through this time. But please know, this will be a time of testing beyond our own ability and more than any other time in our lives. David also said in verse 4, that the Lord's shepherd's rod and staff will comfort him. I think only David could have written a psalm or a song like this since he was a shepherd himself as a young man. But he knew by experience the cares and the tender affections and the kindness that a good shepherd must have towards his flock. And he knew the importance of protecting his flock against the wolves and the foreboding dangers that would suddenly come upon them. Now the shepherd's presence with his flock would bring them comfort. And in our case, God's word and his spirit's presence will bring us comfort. Jesus' rod under which we will pass will mean that we are counted as holy unto him, as described in Leviticus 27. That is again in Leviticus 27. And the tithe of the herd or the flock, whatever passes under the herdsman's staff, by means of which each tenth animal, as it passes through a small door, is selected and marked, the tenth shall be holy unto the Lord. In another reference, prophet Ezekiel speaking to Israel says, I will cause you to pass under the rod of the covenant, and I will bring you into the bond of the covenant, and you shall be once more claimed as the Lord's property, and in all things devoted to his service, being marked by his special providences and manifestations, showing his kindness and favor. Being personally counted as the Lord's covenant people. His rod is the instrument by which he counts us as holy unto him. And if we are marked and counted and considered holy unto him, then his staff will comfort us on this final journey through Death's dark valley. He will drive away all the dogs and the demons that come up and attempt to scatter us from him or endeavor to cause us worry or concern and yes, even fear. It is a comfort to us personally when it comes time for us to die knowing that God will take notice of us because he knows all who are truly his and he will rebuke the evil one and he will guide us with his rod and sustain us with his staff. In Psalms 110 verse 2 the scripture says The Lord will send forth from Zion the scepter of your strength. Rule then in the midst of your foes. It is so precious to know that we have been given these kinds of promises and assurances from God. These are all a part of his covenantal promises, dear church. God's word is called the rod of Christ's strength. and there is more than enough in his word to bring comfort to each and every one when it comes time for them to die. Knowing also that underneath supporting us are his everlasting arms of love. Deuteronomy 33, 26 declares, There is none like God, O Jerusalem, Israel, who rides through the heavens to your help and in his majestic glory through the skies. The eternal God is your refuge and dwelling place and underneath are the everlasting arms of love. He drove the enemy before you and thrust them out saying, Destroy! The Lord's everlasting arms of love will lead and support us through this dark valley right into eternal life. We will not be like so many of millions Millions who will experience quite the opposite and will find themselves losing out on this precious gift of eternal life. You see, this newness of life is derived from Jesus Christ who is eternal life himself. And this is why the very essence of our salvation comes from him, belongs to him, is in him. This is a gift from God. He doesn't owe us a thing. This life belongs to those who have been faithful on the earth and have been inseparably connected with eternal life beyond this earth. 1 John 5.12 tells us, He who possesses the Son has that life, and he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. so when Jesus was praying to his heavenly father right before he was going to literally lay himself upon the cross on our behalf he gave the bold statement of responsibility to you and me when it comes to apprehending this precious gift of eternal life Jesus said in John 17 verse 3 this is eternal life it means to know to perceive, to recognize, and become acquainted with and understand, you the only true and real God, and likewise to know him, Jesus, as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah, whom you have sent. In these few words, Jesus gave the ultimate and grand design of understanding understanding when it comes to apprehending eternal life for which he alone is empowered to give. The great end for faithful and true Christians is an eternal gift. And the only way to attain this gift is knowing, obeying, and doing all in Christ's name. The future of perfection of this life in Christ will be the intimate knowledge of God and his son. And those who are brought into this divine union with Christ will have a life of communion with him in Christ. They will live with Christ. They will dwell in Christ. And David says of this earth life in Psalm 17 verse 15. As for me, I will continue beholding your face in righteousness, in rightness, in justice, and right standing with you. I shall be fully satisfied for when I awake to find myself beholding your form and having sweet communion with you. Oh, you see, nothing but God can satisfy the desires of the soul, dear ones. Your soul is to be filled with vibrancy of his spirit and only he can meet and gratify these desires. And it is done by restoration. And this is why Jesus said it is necessary and obligatory for each and every one of us to know him and his Father intimately. The very first subject and desire of our wonderful Father in heaven is to make each and every one of us his human creation in this world into the very image and likeness of his son. And realize this, please. This was the only way that David could converse with God face to face in his day. It was by this way only where he was capable of the most intimate union with God because he was filled with the holiness of God and was reaching into another realm hungering after the righteousness of God to perfect his soul. David knew that this was the only way that he would satisfy the Father's heart. The God of infinite beauty and perfection and purity was filling all the powers and faculties of David's soul and yet David still cried out for more. King David was able to glimpse the awe-inspiring and breathtaking light of the divine spirit of God. And he knew that his happiness on this earth depended on that fact, that his soul needed to be restored to the divine spirit of God's likeness and image. And he knew that if his soul was not restored back to life during the time of his earthly stay, he would not awaken out of the sleep of death and sin. He knew that he would not see his Lord face to face when he awakened in the life hereafter. You see, to be created in the newness of God's image is to be created in his righteousness and true holiness. And David says in verse 15 again, As for me, I will continue beholding your face in righteousness and in justice, in rightness and right standing with you. I shall be fully satisfied for when I awake to find myself beholding your form and having sweet communion with you. So if this is heaven, then heaven is sweet communion with God and his son Jesus Christ forever. The knowledge of God and Jesus leads to eternal life. And Jesus gives you and me the way by which we may attain it and that is by the knowledge of him. To truly know Jesus as our creator is to love him and obey him, dear ones. And it is to submit to him and to trust him as the one who owns and rules our lives. It means that you must devote yourself to him because there is no other way. He will not allow other gods or idols in our lives before himself. He demands to be first and foremost in our lives. No pretenders or counterfeits or precious idols. That is anything or anything that would steal your attention and time away from true devotion to him. It's just not acceptable. nothing would be acceptable in this way for some and many people who purport to be Christians the road to the valley of the shadow of eternal death and loss was because they had other gods and idols before them they had no real interest in God and his son they only feigned or pretended to have interest in him and these are known as spiritual adulterers or prostitutes or as Jesus called them foolish virgins in John's gospel. We are told that there is terror and dread in the valley of the shadow of death for those who do not know their Savior. We see this in Job 24 verse 15. Job 24 verse 15. The eye also of the adulterer waits for the twilight saying, no