Transcript: Following Jesus: Faithful Servants of the Master

Music As I was pondering the horrible situation worldwide in this year of 2022 and giving thought as to how our loving Creator Father God was going to deal with all of the wolves who are rampant in this day and hour with dishing out immorality and perversion within the church and also the cabal despots who worship Satan and are orchestrating and promoting another fake pandemic in order to force the nations of the world into what is called one world government. Many call this a conspiracy theory, But I am here to tell you to wake up and do your homework on this stark reality that in the world and in the church, the church where you possibly sit every Sunday, these things are happening. This government the cabal is endeavoring to organize would be called a Marxist regime under the complete control of a handful of demented elites who are crazed, power-hungry fools who want to rule the world and everything in it and make no mistake, that includes you and me also There is a mix and confusion in what is right and that which is wrong in this world today Let it be said, those who have ears to hear, this is all purposeful in their intent to break down the moral standards of true Christianity within our nation. Dear Church, there is a wicked scheme behind their madness, and it is time to wake up from your slumber and decide who is your master and who it is whom you serve at this present time. Time is short, and the time is now. It is time to examine your own life and conscience regarding your relationship with your Savior who dearly loves you and died for you personally before the foundation of time. Think about that. God the Father said to God the Son, I give you this one, my Son, to share in the joy of eternal life with us for all of eternity. In Titus 1, verses 1 and 2, the word declares, I, Paul, a bondservant of God and an apostle, a special messenger of Jesus Christ the Messiah, to stimulate and promote the faith of God's chosen ones and to lead them on to accurate discernment and recognition and acquaintance with the truth, which belongs to and harmonizes with and tends to godliness. Verse 2, resting in the hope of eternal life, life which the ever truthful God, who cannot deceive, promised before the world or the ages of time began. Verse 2 declares that even before the world was created, before the foundation of time, God promised eternal life. And since God does not lie, this promise is the evidence of assurance that we may be saved and authorized as genuine believers in Jesus Christ to cherish any hope of salvation. The promise is not made to all individuals, dear listener But this promise is for those who have truly repented of their sins And have believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior And cling to and obey Him until their last breath on this earth In order to be saved from eternal damnation It is time to understand that God loves you and saw you even before you were being formed in your mother's womb. I provoke you to wake up, dear believer, and see what is happening all around you in this day and hour. There are so many voices and lies feeding our ears which are meant to bring confusion, doubt, and fear, and ultimately take us off the path, the straight and narrow road that leads to perdition. The path or narrow road which God requires his followers to take will lead us into the place where we can discern his voice and recognize truth in all situations because he assures us that he will never leave us nor forsake us. Schools and universities are teaching racial hatred and pitting black people against white people and white people against black people. They are teaching sexual perversion in the lower grades by bringing gross and impure demonstrations of transvestites committing acts of sexual lewdness and gross bodily gyrations they call dancing in kindergarten classrooms. And get this, they bust the children into gay bars where these precious little ones are forced to see the immoral acts of these demented people. There is a big movement in the schools to confuse children and young people of their gender identity. This is where they teach them that they can change their gender identity and choose to be what they want to be in regards to being either male or female. This whole outrageous plan is done only, I say only, for the sick purpose of creating a genderless society where people are considered all the same without distinction. Some states will even take children away from their parents if they interfere with the child's choice. How horrendous and appalling. The Cabal is a religious organization made up of Satan worshipers, and Satan hates God's supreme masterpiece of all creation called human beings. The cabal is a Luciferian society of Satan worshippers. Satan hates you, and his sole aim in yours and my life is to take us into hell with him. Church leaders, unbeknown to many in their congregations, have joined the satanic cabal by accepting payment to make their members take the insidious COVID vaccines which have killed many around the world and also have permanently injured millions with excruciating pain and disabilities. These pastors and leaders tell their congregations that they cannot attend church if they do not take the vaccines. And let me tell you this, if they are accepting payment from the government in insisting the congregation takes the vaccine, They too, as well as the cabal, have made Satan their master by going along with the wicked plan to murder people whom God Almighty has created. They are all complicit with crimes against humanity. Did you know that these vaccines were touted or endorsed to save lives but were masterminded by wicked Satanists to murder people? Did you know that before the virus was released around the world to do its dastardly crimes against humanity, these sick, demented people schemed the evil plan and already had patents on the vaccines? Ezra 9.10-11 declares, And now, our God, after all this, what can we say for ourselves? For we have thrown your commands to the wind, The commands you gave us through your servants and prophets? They told us the land you're taking over is a polluted land, with the obscene vulgarities of the people who live there, and they filled it with their moral rot from one end to the other. Wake up, dear listener. The aim of the vaccines is to eliminate by murdering the populations of the world to where only 500 million worldwide will inhabit it. The evil intent of this plan is called the Marxist Socialistic Government System, which is basically communism. Under communism, you must understand that the central government is completely in control. All economic resources are publicly owned and controlled by the government. Individuals hold no personal property or assets. Only the rich elite who serve Satan the devil will rule over the people with fear and tyranny. Economic production and distribution is intended to meet all basic human needs and distributed to the people at no charge. But understand again that all people work in factories and some kind or another of agricultural fields. People barely eat by to make a living in this system. Social class is abolished. The ability to earn more than other workers is almost non-existent. Religion is effectively abolished and condemned. You see these demon-possessed despots orchestrated and committed crimes against humanity with their plans to murder millions of innocent people for the savage and ruthless satisfaction to appease the one in whom they serve, and that is their master, Satan the devil. They actually worship Satan as their master. And let me tell you about crimes against humanity. There are many crimes against humanity, including extermination, murder, enslavement, torture, imprisonment, rape, forced abortions and other sexual violence. Crimes against humanity involve persecution on political, religious and racial and gender grounds, forcible transfer of populations, enforced disappearance and inhumane acts of knowingly causing pain and suffering. Was saying all of this, dear listener, anybody who was associated with or participating in a questionable act or crime, such as trying to suppress the facts, further the crime in disinformation, such as the news media, or participating in a crime against humanity in any way, in any fashion or form, is guilty of a crime against humanity, and is deserving to face the highest penalty and punishment of the law in a military tribunal. Proverbs 28.2 declares, When there is moral rot within a nation, its government topples easily. But with honest, sensible leaders, there is stability. This is certainly what we are seeing in our beautiful land of the free and home of the brave called the United States of America. 2 Peter 2, verses 17 and 18 declares, These men are useless as dried-up springs of water, promising much and delivering nothing. They are unstable as clouds driven by a storm wind. They are doomed to eternal pits of darkness. They proudly boast about their sins and conquest, and using lust as their bait, they lure back into sin those who have just escaped from such wicked living. You see, in our world today, the irrefutable and undeniable fact is that no one can serve two masters. Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 6, verse 24, No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will stand by and be devoted to one and despise and be against the other. You cannot serve God and mammon, deceitful riches, money, possessions, and whatever is trusted in. Every human being born into this earth lives in two worlds. Did you know that you have two worlds within you? One of the worlds we live in is a material world, and the other is an invisible spiritual world operating within through the visible. Conflicts between these two worlds often occur, and choice seems wise according to the appearance. But one finds that appearance or outward facades are not always wise choices at all. It is easy for us to fall victim to life's illusions of those things that are not real, but are in fact like a facade or false impressions or a figment of the imagination. at first we seem caught between what we mistakenly discern and see around us as real and genuine in contrast to something that God says is far more real as we grow in spiritual maturity and godly wisdom to discern the reality of the spiritual realm whereas Holy Spirit teaches us the truth standing between the two worlds the believer in Jesus Christ needs to come to the place where they commit themselves to only and completely to one world. Jesus in John chapter 8 verse 23 declared to the Jews gathered around him, You are from below and I am from above. You are of this world, of this earthly order. I am not of this world. In the next verse Jesus tells the hostile Jews that they would die in their sins. in verse 24. And that is why I told you that you will die under the curse of your sins. For if you do not believe that I am he whom I claim to be, and if you do not adhere to trust and rely on me, you will die in your sins. In this verse, our Lord made it clear by saying that these people would die in their sins if they reject him as the one who would bear their sins. He said, I am. And that is, dear listener, is one's only hope for salvation if we choose the only one who can save us from eternal death. People will miss their only hope for salvation if they reject the Lamb of God who came to offer them hope of eternal life. to further declare in Joshua chapter 24 in verses 15 through 21, the people of God were straddling the fence, and the day came when God gave them an ultimatum or a choice when he said through Joshua, then decide today whom you will obey. Will it be the gods of your ancestors beyond the Euphrates or the gods of the Amorites here in this land? but as for me and my family we will serve the Lord and the people replied we would never forsake the Lord and worship other gods for our Lord our God is the one who rescued our fathers from their slavery in the land of Egypt he is the God who did mighty miracles before the eyes of Israel as we traveled through the wilderness and preserved us from our enemies when we passed through their land verse 18 and it was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living in the land. Yes, we choose the Lord, for he alone is our God. But Joshua replied to the people, You can't worship the Lord God, for he is holy and a jealous God, and he will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake him and worship other gods, he will turn upon you and destroy you, even though he has taken care of you for such a long time. But the people answered, We choose the Lord. You have heard yourself say it, Joshua said. You have chosen to obey the Lord. Yes, they replied. We are witnesses. All right, he said. Then you must destroy all the idols that you own. And you must obey the Lord God of Israel. And the people replied to Joshua. Yes, we will worship and obey the Lord alone. Today, just as in the day of Joshua. The time comes when those professing to be a follower of Jesus Christ need to recognize the outward show of Christianity is a mere illusion or false impression and belief and need to realize and grasp the awesome fact that what is not apparent to them is far more real because they are called to live by faith in Jesus Christ God through Joshua, faithful Joshua, called the people to make a choice that day in the wilderness as to who they would serve and call their master. Did you know that all people are without excuse in believing that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior and ruler of all things and the only one who offers eternal life? In Romans chapter 1 verses 19 through 21, Apostle Paul declares, That which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness because God himself has shown it to them. Verse 20, For ever since the creation of the world, his invisible nature and attributes, that is, his eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made his handiworks. So men are without excuse altogether, without defense or justification. Because they knew and recognized him as God, they did not honor and glorify him as God, and or give him thanks. But instead, they became futile and godless in their thinking, with vain imagination, foolish reasoning, and stupid speculations, and their senseless minds were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools. professing to be smart, they made simpletons of themselves. It is true that many today are considered fools on their way to perdition because they think they are smarter and wiser and more powerful than God Almighty who created them. They are created beings who have hardened their hearts against the loving God who created them for a purpose. Ecclesiastes 3.11 declares, He has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also planted eternity in men's hearts and minds, a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages, which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy. Our dear Holy Creator God has planted eternity within each and every heart born into this earth. This is saying that every person has a sense of something that is eternal and a desire to know the eternal significance of what they must do to grasp a hold of it. Even a little child knows the difference between what is right and wrong. This quest, dear listener, is to grow into a deep-seated desire with a compulsive drive to know God because he is created in God's image to appreciate the beauty of his creation and recognize him as their master and savior and their only God. God created man with an inborn inquisitiveness and capacity to learn how everything in their experience can be combined and integrated to make a whole. So as believers in Jesus Christ, we live in a world that is very materialistic. And as we grow in understanding in this precious truth of life in Jesus Christ, we learn that this world is not our final resting place. We are as pilgrims walking or journeying through this life, this earth life. Philippians 3.20 declares, 1 Peter 2.11 declares, Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul. In Hebrews chapter 13, verse 14, Paul says, For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. You see, as genuine believers born again, 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. In 1 Corinthians 2, verses 8 through 10, the word 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 nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. But God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. You see, it is only by God's Holy Spirit within our inner temples that we can understand and grasp and appreciate what God has revealed to us by his Holy Spirit, which concerns the spiritual world and life beyond which awaits us. 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 will 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. 2 Peter 3, verses 12-13 tells us, And while you wait and earnestly long for, expect and hasten the coming day of God, by reason of which the flaming heavens will be dissolved, and the material evidence of the universe will flare and melt with fire. But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promise, in which righteousness, uprightness, freedom from sin, and right standing with God is to abide. Proverbs chapter 8 beginning in verse 27 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, eye wisdom was there and when he drew the circle upon the face of the deep and stretched out the firmament over it, 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. And then I, wisdom, was beside him as his master and director of his work, and I was daily his delight, rejoicing before him always. Verse 31. Rejoicing in his inhabited earth and delighting in the sons of men. Now therefore listen to me, O sons, for blessed, happy, fortunate, and to be envied are those who keep my ways. Hear instruction and be wise, and do not refuse or neglect it. Blessed and happy and fortunate to be envied is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoever finds me, wisdom, finds life, and draws forth, and obtains favor from the Lord. Verse 36, but he who misses me or sins against me and injures himself, all who hate me love and court death. Verse 27 says, when he prepared the heavens, I was there. He drew a circle on the face of the deep. You see, wisdom speaking here is no mystery for the one who knows his God and Savior. And this kind of Christian believer has made Jesus Christ alone his master and Lord. John 1.1-3 defines and identifies the one who was by his father's side as a spokesman or the word which brought the unseen into the visible realm, which is now the world in which we presently live in. In the beginning, before all time, was the Word, Christ. And the Word was with God. And the Word was God himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through him. And without him was not even one thing made that has not come into being. Jesus Christ is clearly wisdom at his Father's side. Growing Christians wrestle with the understanding of belonging to a spiritual world. Modern science, with all of its man-made methods and capabilities of peering into outer space with super telescopes and seismographic equipment to see below into the earth's cross, cannot bring anyone into understanding the things of God because they are of the physical realm and not the spiritual realm where the eternal Father dwells. As a Christian, we are citizens of two worlds, the earthly and the spiritual heavenly realm. Because we are citizens of two worlds, we must learn 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 beginning in verse 24 tells us that Moses was aroused by faith. When he had grown to maturity and become great he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter because he preferred to share the oppression, suffer hardships, 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 the shame born for the Christ, the Messiah, who was yet to come to be greater wealth than all the treasures of Egypt, for he looked forward and away to the reward, the recompense. Well, we too, like Moses, must see the invisible if we are to overcome the pull of the world. Moses walked by faith in God alone. He was single-focused. Moses did not care to live his life in a fleeting enjoyment of a sinful life which brings the judgment of an eternal death sentence at one's last breath on this earth. Apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 5, verse 7, we walk by faith. We regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things with trust and holy fervor. Thus we walk not by sight or appearance. Well, Jesus tells us that we can't serve two masters in Matthew's gospel on Sermon on the Mount. So a true believer cannot serve both God and money. Jesus tells us that where our treasure is, there our hearts will also be. He instructed us and he urged us to store up treasures in heaven where it will last forever. If God is our Father and His Son Jesus Christ are our treasures, and we have these treasures in our hearts and affections, then our treasures will be focused on the things above. An earthly-minded individual proves that his treasure is below, or earthly. Whereas the heavenly-minded person shows that his treasure lies above in the promises, which are yes and amen in their Lord and Master Jesus Christ. In 1 Timothy 6, verses 9 and 10, Apostle Paul tells us what one of the greatest sins of temptation that becomes the downfall of many people, yes, even professing Christians, who claim that Jesus Christ is their Master and the one in whom they serve. Verse 9, But those who crave to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, into which many foolish, useless, godless, and hurtful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction and miserable perishing. Verse 10. For the love of money is the root of all evils, and it is through this craving that some have been led astray and have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves through with many acute mental pangs. Dear listener, anything that enslaves or dominates our attentions away from our first love Jesus Christ will lead us away from complete devotion to him and truths found in Holy Scripture alcohol sex, pornography power, lust and money are all masters of many professing Christians who sit in the churches today and who lead two lives and even those who stand behind the pulpits Romans chapter 6 verse 16 declares Do you not know that if you continually surrender yourself to anyone to do his will you are the slaves of him whom you obey whether it is to sin which leads unto death or to obedience which leads to righteousness right doing and right standing with God Paul said it A master is anything that dominates our lives Jesus' call to Matthew on the day that he was passing by was to follow him. Jesus called him and he said, follow me. So Matthew got up and he followed him. Matthew, the tax collector, obeyed the words of his creator. And he got up and walked away from the extravagant wealth and dirty business dealings he was involved in. Jesus called Paul a well-known religious man who was considered successful by the Pharisees Jesus said in Acts 9 16 I will show him how much he must suffer for my name you see the Bible is full of those who gave their lives for the sake of living a righteous life in Jesus Christ and for his sake to further the gospel truth so that others could become a part of the family of God and live life eternally with him. All of these and those since that time who were touched by the miraculous power of the Holy Spirit to have their eyes supernaturally opened up to see and understand the awesome truth of scripture and now serve Jesus Christ as their master and their Lord. Jesus describes himself as a jealous God in Exodus 34 verse 14 which means that he guards what is rightfully his. Did you know that you became a child of God when you have true salvation in God's own Son, Jesus Christ, within you? Just as a parent is jealous over his child's safety and welfare, God is a jealous God for us because we need him, and he needs nothing from us except our commitment to make him first in everything in our lives. in Mark chapter 12 verse 30 we see this clearly when we are told and you shall love the Lord your God out of and with your whole heart out of and with your soul and your life and out of and with all of your mind with your faculty of thought and your moral understanding and out of and with all of your strength this is the first and principal commandment you see the Lord Jesus Christ wants all of your heart not just a part of it. God wants all of yours and my adoration and worship, dear church. And those who serve another master, such as the devil, money, or physical vices, or desire fame and fortune, but yet pretend to be believers in Jesus Christ and lead others in that way, they rob themselves and the multitudes whom they influence. When Jesus said to follow me, His demand or claim to us is absolute He bought us with his precious blood dear listener He delivered us from our former master saint the devil He doesn share his glory or his throne with anyone You must decide wholeheartedly this day what master you will serve if you are wavering in and out of true commitment to the one who will have no lukewarm followers in his family and army. If you attempt to serve two masters, You will have divided loyalties because two cannot walk together unless they be agreed, because serving two masters demand and lead one down two separate paths. Only with the help of the Holy Spirit can anyone remain devoted and faithful to one master. The Holy Spirit is given to true and genuine believers in the faith, And he gives divine supernatural empowerment to overcome every temptation the evil one might present. True followers of Christ are described in 1 Peter 2, beginning in verse 9. But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you might declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God. Once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Dear friends, I urge you as aliens and strangers in the world to abstain from sinful desires which war against your soul. Verse 12. Live such good lives among the pagans that even though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Verse 13. Submit yourselves for the Lord's sake to every authority instituted among men, whether to be a king or supreme authority, or to governors who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God's will that by doing good you shall silence the ignorant talk of foolish men. Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil. Live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone. Love the brotherhood of believers. Fear God and honor the King. Dear listener, the time is now to ask yourself, as I have asked myself as well, Which master do I serve? Who am I in Jesus Christ? Am I walking in sin at this present time? Do my former sins still please my flesh? Do I fantasize in my mind about sinful pleasures? Do I truly love the Lord Jesus Christ with all of my heart, my soul, my mind, and everything that is within me? Why are these questions necessary to ask oneself? You see, it is because the chains of sin and bondage are broken when one sees their weakness and preferences in the light of truth and then truly repents of them and begins to live in the light of Jesus Christ, their Master. It is only in Jesus Christ we'll have true liberty and peace and purpose and the promise of eternal life, dear listener. John 5, verse 24 declares that we are passed from death to life. You see, in this world today, as we discussed, in the opening of this word, there are many things happening in the sick and dying world to where if one does not have the discernment of the precious Holy Spirit who was given to us as a child of God, We will be deceived into believing the many lies and deceptions that are being poured out on humankind all over this earth today. The cabal, as I mentioned in the beginning of this message, is a worldwide agenda of those who worship Satan the devil and endeavor to take ownership of the world and especially humankind, whom our loving Father has created for his own eternal pleasure and glory, in having multitudes of those whom he would call his very own children. Satan the devil hates God and his children. This is why he is trying to change the gender description between male and female into what is called gender neutral or gender fluid or any other name that takes away with what God our creator created from the very beginning of time when he created male and female or man and woman. Let it be known, in Genesis chapter 1 verse 27, the word declares, So God created man in his own image, in the image and likeness of God he created him, male and female he created them. You see, Satan the devil hates what God created in his image, and this is why he uses demented, sick-minded people to carry out his plan in taking as many into hell with him when he is cast into the lake of fire forever, where he will exist no more, but will feel torment and suffering forever and ever. And this is why the cabal is desperately trying to shut down anything that is related to Christianity. Shining Light 7 Ministries is one of those many Christian ministries or organizations who have been removed from YouTube, GodTube, BitTube, and many other sites who are endeavoring to silence the life-saving truth of Jesus Christ, the one true Master and Savior of the world. Wake up, dear listener. Much is happening in this world today, this evil world, and your only hope of eternal life is found in a love relationship with your dear Savior, Jesus Christ. You must stand continually and be ready to obey the Lord's will in anything and everything without compromising the righteousness that is found in Jesus Christ. The time is now for that decision to be made. We are promised dark days ahead, but it is only in Jesus Christ where we will live in the true light of truth, where we are promised a life in eternity if we are faithful to the end. We know as true believers in Jesus Christ who wins in the end. Hallelujah. do you? Read the end of the book if you aren't sure. God never lies, and he always keeps his promises. May God Almighty have mercy upon us all. Thank you. Today we are going to look at the wondrous miracle of the renewal or the transformation of the mind of the individual who seeks hard after the creator of this universe. I say this is a miracle because it is. It is a divine supernatural miracle of the transformation of the individual thinking that comes into right order according to the will of God through the power of the Holy Spirit. Paul speaks of the transformation or renewal of the mind, but we must remember that there is a difference between the mind and the brain. Let's look at Romans 12, verses 1 and 2, and see what the apostle tells us. I appeal to you, therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of all the mercies of God To make a decisive dedication of your bodies, presenting all your members and faculties as a living sacrifice, holy, devoted, consecrated, well-pleasing to God, which is your reasonable, intelligent service and spiritual worship. Verse 2. and perfect in his sight for you. Paul tells us that we need to be transformed by the renewal of our minds, by the new ideals and attitudes, and the perfect will of God. Prophet Jeremiah, in chapter 17, verse 10, declares the word of the Lord, saying, I, the Lord, search the mind, I try the heart, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doing. Only the Holy Spirit of God can bring about this change of heart or the mind. And this is why we say this renewal or transformation is a supernatural happening. It is because God is involved in this divine miracle of changing the carnal thinking or thought life of the individual who is seeking after the Lord Jesus Christ. In searching out the difference between the mind and the brain, I have found that most of the scientists and philosophers and thinkers believe that the brain and mind are one and cannot be separated, while many others believe without a doubt that they are separate and individual. While the brain is considered to be a physical thing, The mind is considered to be mental. The brain is an organ, but the mind isn't. The brain is a physical place where the mind resides. It is a vessel in which the electronic impulses that create thought are contained. With the brain, we coordinate our moves, our activities, and transmit impulses. The brain is made up of nerve cells and blood vessels, whereas the mind is not like that. The brain has a definite place in the head, but with regard to mind, it is only supposed to be in the brain. We can see and touch the brain where that is not possible with the mind. We can ponder on what's happening all around us, what is scheduled for the day, and what possibly might happen in the future. The mind is the manifestation of thought, perception, emotion, determination, memory, and imagination that takes place within the brain. The mind is often referred to, especially, to the thought process of reason. It is the ability to understand. The mind is the awareness of consciousness, the ability to control what we do and know what we're doing and why we are doing it. The brain then, according to various modes of study, is what the mind thinks with. Someone said a man with a bad mind and a good brain is dangerous. He is like a clever devil. Well, when a person comes to the knowledge of Jesus Christ and by faith is saved, they don't get a new brain. They get a new mind. That is the mind of Christ. Satan the devil blinds and distorts your mind with lies and perversion. As Solomon said, for as a man thinks in his heart, so is he. Proverbs 23, verse 7. You see, this scripture in Proverbs speaks volumes in the importance of a man or woman's thought life. This is saying that a man is as his thought life dictates. This is saying as well that a man can have control over his thoughts. This tells us too that God helps him in the exercise of that control when he is sincerely seeking after God. And this tells us what we are inwardly. We demonstrate that to both God and man. In other words, a man's inmost thinking is the true indicator or gauge, which records and manifests and points out his character. In Genesis chapter 6, verses 5 and 6, the scripture declares, The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination and intent of all human thinking was only evil continually. And the Lord regretted that he had made man on the earth, and he was grieved in his heart. In this Genesis 6 scenario, we see that God destroyed the entire world because of the imagination of men's thoughts, of their hearts, was only continually evil. God had to eradicate an entire generation because of their thought life. The wickedness of man springs from his thought life. As we read and grow in the understanding of scripture, we see that it is vital for every aspect of our being that is our spiritual, mental, and emotional being, part of us, that we gain control over our thought life. The word of God speaks volumes about the mind and having control over it. Chapter 6, verses 7 and 8 declare, Do not be deceived and deluded and misled. God will not allow himself to be sneered at, scorned, disdained, or mocked by mere pretensions or professions, or by his precepts being set aside. He inevitably deludes himself who attempts to delude God. For whatever a man sows, that and only that is what he will reap. Verse 8 For he who sows to his flesh, his lower nature, sensuality, will from the flesh reap decay and ruin and destruction. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Whatever we sow in our mind or heart, that is exactly what we will reap. There is a saying that says, garbage in, garbage out. What you choose to believe, you will do. We do not act upon things we do not believe. We act upon things that we do believe. I want to declare and give hope for those who are sincerely seeking after God. and might be presently struggling to gain control with their thought life. You know that this is the very reason that Jesus Christ came into this world. He came to save sinners. And this wonderful life in Jesus Christ begins with faith on the believer's part. Romans chapter 10 tells us, So faith comes by hearing what is told and what is heard comes by preaching of the message that came from the lips of Jesus Christ, the Messiah himself. So the new believer in Christ believes what is told in the word of God and has faith that Jesus will deliver him or her from the bondage of their thought life. It must be understood to begin with We must have a regenerate mind And let look at what Apostle Paul word to the Corinthians tells us That is 2 Corinthians chapter 4 beginning in verse 3 that even if our gospel, the glad tidings, also be hidden, obscured, and covered up with a veil that hinders the knowledge of God, it is hidden only from those who are perishing and only obscured to those who are spiritually dying and veiled only to those who are lost. Verse 4 For the God of this world has blinded the unbelievers' minds that they should not discern the truth, preventing them from seeing the illuminating light of the gospel of the glory of Christ the Messiah, who is the image and likeness of God. For what we preach is not of ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves merely as your servants, slaves, for Jesus' sake. Verse 6, For God who said, Let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts, so as to beam forth the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the person and is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. We know, of course, that Satan is the god of this world. But why is the gospel hidden from those who are lost then? And what is exactly the enemy trying to do in his determination to keep people from seeing? Well, let's look at those various words that Paul makes his point with in the scripture. Veiled, perishing, blinded, darkness versus the light, glory, image, shine, knowledge in the face of. we see Paul paints a picture here showing the darkness contrasted against the light. Jesus said in John chapter 8 verse 12 I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life. Clearly Jesus is the light of the world. In 2 Corinthians chapter 4 verse 6 For God who said, let light shine out of darkness has shown in our hearts so as to beam forth the light for the illumination of the knowledge of the majesty and glory of God as it is manifest in the person and revealed in the face of Jesus Christ. Think about that. What this verse is saying to you personally and to me. we see that as a human being we do not hold power over the light of Christ illuminating the knowledge of the truth in our mind or hearts if God the Father had not loved humankind so very much and taken the initiative to command the light to shine out of darkness we would all be walking in the darkness of our minds committing every sinful pleasure that would send us all directly to hell. 2 Corinthians 4 describes the unregenerate mind, the mind of those who have not been transformed by the gospel of Christ but remain dead in their trespasses and sins. It is hard for us to think of ourselves as having been dead before we came to know Christ. We can all reflect back to when we were dead in our trespasses and sins. We thought we were just fine, thank you. You see, the lost person sees himself as alive and those who follow Christ pretty much as dead. They're a weird, a lost cause, and they use Jesus like a crutch. So they think. But God sees it all differently. in Ephesians chapter 2 verses 1 through 3 the word declares and you he made alive quickened when you were dead slain by your trespasses and sins in which at one time you walked habitually you were following the course and fashion of this world were under the sway and tendency of this present age following the prince of the power of the air You are obedient to and under the control of the demon spirit that still constantly works in the sons of disobedience, the careless, rebellious, and unbelieving who go against the purposes of God. Verse 3, among these as well, you once lived and conducted yourself in the passions of our flesh, our behavior governed by our corrupt and sensual nature, obeying the impulses of the flesh and the thoughts of the minds, our cravings dictated by our senses and our dark imaginations. We were then by nature children of God's wrath and heirs of his indignation like the rest of mankind. King James Version uses the word quicken. A closer look at the word quicken, that whenever we see the word quicken, it means to be made alive. Something dead that is now brought back to life. A mind that is dead to God and to spiritual reality cannot see reality as God sees it. You see, unregenerate souls are dead in trespasses and sins. This is God's word. All those who are in their sins are dead in sins. And this includes all sorts of sins. Habitual sins. Sins of the heart. Sins of life. Sin is the death of the soul. And Paul continues, whatever that prevails, there is loss and absence of all spiritual life. Sinners are dead in a state where they are cut off from God, who is the very fountain of life. That is eternal life. Satan is the prince of the power of the air. Without true salvation, people walk about, walk around with a corrupt mind. Satan is battling to control the thought life of every person, young and old, all over the world. Satan is controlling the thought life of so many due to social media, due to technology, music, movies, and so forth. but thank God he sent his son Jesus Christ into this world and commanded light out of the darkness for light to shine out of the darkness of one's soul is because they want Jesus Christ to take control over their thought life first and foremost importantly a person must be saved or born again in order to have their minds renewed. And this is a personal choice. This is not herd mentality. Jesus said in John 3, verse 3, he said, Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Did you notice that Jesus said, they cannot see? They cannot see the kingdom of God? Satan blinds the mind. Without the new birth, none of us would be able to see spiritually. And this is they cannot perceive or understand the spiritual truths because they are not truly saved. Romans chapter 12 verse 2 explains, Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. This transformation of the renewal of the mind comes with salvation. And it is by faith in Jesus Christ that we can see. Your mind and seeing and your true and genuine salvation are all intertwined. As we saw in 2 Corinthians 4, verse 4, Satan has blinded the minds of those who do not believe, pulling the veil of darkness over the mind unless a ray of gospel truth penetrates the dark, murky recesses of the soul and frees it from its prison and darkness. The devil wants to imprison mankind in the dark. He doesn't want God to illuminate the light of the truth in their souls. Romans chapter 8 verses 6 and 8 tells us that to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Verse 7, because the carnal mind is enmity against God, for it is not subject to the law of God, nor can it be. So then those who are in the flesh cannot please God. True salvation gives us a new mind or heart. We who have been saved now can have the mind of Christ. We supernaturally and miraculously are privileged to have a new mind. This is the divine work of the Holy Spirit within a yielded heart who has submitted itself by faith to the Lord's will. In Proverbs chapter 4 verse 23, God tells us, keep your heart with all diligence for out of it springs the issues of life. We talk a lot about our hearts. The scripture tells us to guard our hearts. Do you know that this scripture is really saying and is connected to control over your thought life? Hebrews 4.12 declares, thoughts and purposes of the heart. Hebrews 4.12 overall shows the power of the word of God in a believer's life, but it also reveals how closely related our thoughts and emotions are. God wants us to have single-minded devotion to him. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11 verse 2 and 3, I am zealous for you with a godly eagerness and a divine jealousy for I have betrothed you to one husband to present you as a chaste virgin to Christ. But now I am fearful lest that even as a serpent beguiled Eve by his cunning so your minds may be corrupted and seduced from wholehearted and sincere and pure devotion to Christ. Satan's plan is to steal people's minds from single-minded devotion, which is due to the Almighty Creator. We are to love the Lord with single-minded sincerity and loyalty. Jesus must be number one in my life, because a divided heart means a broken relationship with Him. Wow, think about that. If a person does not have single-minded, devoted heart, which focuses on God and his will and plan for their lives, then scripture says they're not saved. There is no salvation in a broken relationship with Jesus Christ. The bottom line in this message today is that the battle people face and have begins in their mind. It is said that the mind is the battleground of Satan the devil. Everything begins in the mind. And this is why we spend so much time on speaking about the mind. 1 Corinthians 10, verse 3 declares, All of them ate the same spiritual, supernaturally given food, and they all drank from the same spiritually supernatural given drink. For they drank from a spiritual rock which followed them, produced by the sole power of God himself, without natural instrumentality, and the rock was Christ. Verse 5, nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn along the ground in the wilderness. Verse 6, now these are examples, warnings, admonitions for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did. Paul is really telling us there is a war but it is not a war in the flesh we're in a battle for the control of our minds and today there is so much going on in the world that our minds can be subtly distracted away from keeping and guarding our hearts or minds from the precious word of God which is like a lamp unto our feet remember as a person thinks so is he and we act upon what we believe. The word of God tells us that our weapons of warfare are not physical. 2 Corinthians 10, beginning in verse 4. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, weapons of the flesh and blood, but they are mighty before God. For the weapons of our warfare are not physical, weapons of flesh and blood, but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds. Inasmuch as we refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the true knowledge of God, and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ, being in readiness to punish every insubmortinant for his disobedience when your own submission and disobedience are fully secured and complete. Think about this. If the renewal of our minds or hearts is a miracle brought about by the eternal living God, then he gives us spiritual weapons of warfare to defeat the evil one. No, as is Satan the devil. Satan, again, attacks the mind. we have been given the mandate in this word to pull down every stronghold that sets itself up in our minds against the word of God we do this because it is in keeping with our devotion to God Almighty we do this because God has commanded light to shine out of darkness of our hearts and he's quickened and inspired the knowledge of the truth to now be a reality in our hearts This is God's supernatural power working in your heart. And if you believe the truth of God's word and the promises he has given you in the Bible, then you must fight to keep and embrace those truths in your heart and mind until the very end of your life. You and I cannot compromise the truth. Remember, our hearts, our minds, have to be renewed by the knowledge of the Holy Spirit every day. Our hearts and minds are the center of our thoughts and emotions to this knowledge and truth. Let us keep our focus in the end days. And let us praise and always give thanks to God for his loving kindness. and our Savior who died for us and for his promises that he keeps us to the very end if we are faithful to him and to his commands in the living word of God. God's living word will never fail us. It lives forever. If you believe this with all of your heart, your faith in Jesus Christ is living and active and empowered by precious Holy Spirit to bring you home safely to the evening. Trinity of Eternities. Many people today, not only Christians in the United States of America, but all over this earth, are aware of the changing times that are bringing not only increasingly and severe adverse weather conditions with earthquakes, unprecedented snowstorms, unparalleled floods, tsunamis, but also famine and plague and cholera and increasing sickness. And now all of these are catching the whole world's attention. And with these, many governments of many nations are toppling. and crumbling. And yet, do not top the list of what seems to those who are alert and keeping their lamps filled to be God's righteous judgment on the earth. But also, we are presently seeing what the prophet spoke about and Jesus foretold in warning in the Gospels of Matthew 24, verse 4 through 24 about wars and rumors of wars and nations rising up against nation and kingdom against kingdom. The Middle East at this present day and time is in great upheaval and is very volatile to say the least with uprisings and protests. And Israel stands surrounded by their enemies on the left and the right. The word of God tells us to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The book of Amos 4.12 declares to every reader, prepare to meet your God. These sobering words certainly will attract the eye of any reader who happens to be studying this particular passage. Amos 4.12 proclaims, therefore this is what I will do to you Israel, and because I will do this to you, prepare to meet your God. You see, this God that Israel was going to have to come to terms with and have this critical encounter with was not any God, but this is the only one true and almighty God who created heaven and earth and all that is in it. Prepare to meet your God or Maker in these passages of Amos is speaking about the righteous justice or judgment of God through any one of the major calamities coming to a people for the sole purpose of producing genuine repentance because of their continuous rebellion and failure to observe his righteous standards and laws that he had required them to live by as a way of life. Their obedience and submission to God would have brought many promises and blessings to pass, especially the promise of eternal salvation if they would have obeyed his word. But instead, all of God's previous warnings to them produced no such effect on them, and for this reason they must prepare to meet their God. This meeting was not going to be an altar call for salvation or for a revival, but instead they were going to come face to face in meeting his judgment. Israel would be helpless before him because he is the sovereign, omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent God. And there is no escape from his wrath. At this point, nobody will be able to plead their ignorance or innocence before the only righteous judge, because by this time everyone will have been given fair warning and witness. Jesus declared in Matthew 24, verses 4 through 8, Watch out that no one deceives you, for many will come in my name claiming, I am the Christ, and will deceive many. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. And all of these are the beginning of birth pangs. Verse 9. And then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death. And you will be hated by all nations because of me. At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Verse 12, Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. Jesus is speaking of the end of the time the time of the end or the end of the age that will be coming upon this whole earth throughout these few verses and there is a time when each and every person alive will meet his maker and will come to have a pineal encounter with God pineal means face to face with God Peniel was the name of the place where Jacob saw God face to face and wrestled with him until he obtained the blessing that he so desperately sought after. Jacob's Peniel encounter and blessing of the Lord freely gave him the peace he needed when he met his brother Esau, who was waiting beyond the river to kill him and take revenge upon him and his whole family. And not only did the Lord give Jacob peace, but he also gave him eternal life and life abundantly. John 10.10 declares, The thief comes only to steal, to kill, and destroy. And I have come that they might have life and have it to the full. Esau was likened to the thief who had come to destroy the Lord's inheritance. But the Lord diverted the enemy's plan and softened Esau's heart towards his brother, and they made amends with one another and lived by each other with a fair distance between them. It was at Peniel that God claimed Jacob's life, and it was here also that he was consecrated unto the Lord for his purposes. This encounter with God for the righteous will ultimately be very rewarding with eternal blessings that are incomprehensible. This consequential and preeminent reward is solely due to the fact that these righteous ones live productive, holy, and upright lives on the earth by not only sowing seeds of righteousness in their own lives, but also in the lives of those in their realm and sphere of authority around them. But for the rebellious and disobedient, it is quite another story with an end that is promised in Scripture, with eternal death and gloom as their fate for all of eternity. Hebrews 10.26-27 declares, If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sin is left, but only a fearful expectation of judgment and a raging fire that will consume the enemies of God. Revelation 20.15 tells us, us, if anyone's name is not written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Prepare to meet your maker. In all actuality is not something that any of the rebellious and disobedient will have a choice or a say in when this time comes. This time of the Lord's coming will come suddenly and instantly without warning. And this is what Scripture calls a suddenly. Many Christians will be left behind at the time of the rapture, but they will meet their Maker face to face in the horrible judgment that they will experience through the great and horrendous tribulation that Jesus warns about in these Scriptures in Matthew 24. For these who are left behind, Their mere belief in the existence of the deity was not enough to produce the lively faith and change of heart to bring about the conformity to God's will, which he demands for all who are called his children. Those who go to their death before this time will still have a face-to-face encounter with him in one way or another. You see, each and every Christian is required by God to build something for his kingdom. All true believers, according to 1 Peter 2.9, are called to be priests. Then we should do nothing to alienate ourselves from him or pollute or corrupt ourselves and making ourselves unfit for his use. we should carefully avoid what will defile his temple and that is our souls and prostitute what is sacred to him what you or I build from him dear one will be put to the test of his fire at the day of judgment to see what will remain look what Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3.10 according to the grace the special endowment for my task, of which God bestowed on me, like a skillful architect and master builder, I laid the foundation, and now another man is building upon it. But let each man be careful how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ. But if anyone builds on the foundation, whether it be with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, or straw, the work of each one will become plainly and openly known and shown for what it is. For the day of Christ will disclose and declare it, because it will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test and critically appraise the character and worth of the work of each one. And the work which any person has built on this foundation, any product of his efforts whatever survives this test he will get his reward verse 15 but if any person's work is burned up under the test he will suffer the loss of it losing his reward though he himself will be saved but only as one who has passed through the fire do not concern yourself 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 and collectively as the church and also individually. Verse 17. If anyone does hurt to the temple of God or corrupts it with false doctrines or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy and sacred to him. In that temple, you, the believing church and its individual believers, verse 15 says, If any person's work is burned up under the test, he will suffer loss of all, losing his reward, though he himself will be saved, but only as one who has passed through the fire. This verse is making it very clear that these people will barely be saved because they were unwise builders. They mix air with truth and defile their temples and others with what they are speaking in this mix. And this is saying that only the mercy of God will allow them within the gates of heaven. But they will lose the reward and will live in the very lowest part of heaven with never seeing the beauty and the splendor of what Scripture speaks about. They may be saved, but they will lose their reward. And verse 17, in contrast, says, If anyone does hurt to God's temple or corrupts it with false doctrines or destroys it, God will do hurt to him and bring him to the corruption of death and destroy him. For the temple of God is holy and sacred to him. And that temple is the believing church and its individual believers. You see, the people involved in this verse, verse 17, have gone beyond what those in verse 15 speaks about. These people have presented deadly error and corrupt teachings and are called deceivers. These people went beyond those in verse 15 to a more deadly stage of error. The Aaronic priests were doomed to die if they violated the temple. And so it is with the Christian who violates the temple of God, both their own and collectively the church at large. These will perish eternally. The verses in Matthew 7.21 are also very fitting here. Jesus says, I will have to say to those on that day, depart from me, you wicked servant. I never knew you. I say many, many will be surprised on this day when they meet their maker. They were so deceived because they lived a life of compromise and presumption. They joyfully received the attaboys and the flatteries and the cheers from those whom they were leading and thought God was pleased with them and also that they might be prospering with financial gain and prosperity. But consequently, many have built multi-million dollar mansions for themselves and lavished themselves with all the luxuries that go along with that lifestyle. And don't forget that God in His Word says that He will give us the desires of our hearts. And for these, this was their desire. But the day of reckoning comes for each one of us, and we will stand before our Maker without cheers, without the hurrahs, without the standing ovations and the shouts of how great we were. But instead, we will stand alone before the great judge, and we'll be told to open up our mouths and give him account of what we did with our time and our money and our ministry. All will be accountable to God. All of us will be accountable. And all will have to give him account on this day. We should be concerned with what we are doing in building in the kingdom of God. And it first begins with us. Are we diligent to pray for the lost? Do we meet with our maker each day and sow his word joyfully into our hearts as fresh manna that sustains us throughout the day just as physical food does to our physical bodies Do we have intimate relationship with our Maker? What are we sharing with others as far as God's Word is concerned? Is it pure in its nature, according to Scripture, or is it mixed with your own ideologies and opinions? Will your house survive the fire of your testing on the day of judgment when you meet your maker on that day, when he tests the worth of what you have done and built? Do you reach out to encourage the down and out and the sick and the oppressed? Do you pray for them? Do you bless people with your mouths or do your words bring cursing? Do you speak to those around you and mention the name of Jesus? Or are you ashamed of him and his name? Just as any manager is accountable to give answer to his supervisor, so will all of God's people be accountable to stand before him and give answers of the way that they fulfilled their responsibilities. You see, if your faith is not influencing your heart and conduct towards an upward call to know God and His Son, Jesus Christ, to have deep and intimate fellowship with them through the leading and drawing of the Holy Spirit, then you might just as well have stayed in your lost and heathen state. In other words, if your spiritual condition does not change and you stay where you are in your nominal Christianese compromise, then your faith is a dead faith that did not produce the fruit that God's word promises to bring when one is blood bought, blood washed and sanctified through their obedience to Christ's commands and precepts. These unproductive, rebellious and disobedient people will meet their makers suddenly and before they know what has happened to them they will be cast into the burning lake of fire and will have regrets with gnashing of teeth before them for all of eternity. Matthew 13 verse 40 declares, Just as the Darnell weeds resemble wheat, is gathered and burned with fire so it will be at the close of the age, the Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of offense, persons by whom others are drawn into error or sin, and all who do iniquity and act wickedly and will cast them into the furnace of fire and there will be a wailing and gnashing of teeth. Verse 43 And then the righteous, those who are upright in right standing with God shine fort