Unlocking the Power of the Gospel Within Us

The message is called Secret Treasures Within Human Vessels of Clay, about finding rare gems and precious stones.

These treasures are found by digging deep and working hard, and they are perfect and endure forever.

The individuals mining these treasures must constantly have their hearts purified by these awesome, timeless treasures.

Jesus Christ is the pearl of great price, the Word of God, and the one who spoke all things into existence.

The The message that I bring you today is called Secret Treasures Within Human Vessels of Clay. There is a special treasure that is entrusted only to those who are willing to dig deep for these ancient jewels, which are called extraordinarily uncommon. It is like a deep mine where these rare gems and precious stones are found, and only those who are willing to dig deep and work hard will find them. One cannot scratch on the surface to find these treasures, but only diligence and hard work will surface these beauties. Another thing, those who find them are told that the work is joyful upon finding these precious jewels. Once these gems are found, they need no extra work in purifying or polishing them because they are perfect and endure forever. But the individuals mining these treasures must constantly be having their hearts purified by these awesome, timeless treasures, in order to appreciate and guard them, because there is a thief who comes to kill, steal, and destroy, because these gems are so beautiful. There is ultimately one rare, indescribable, precious, priceless gem who is called the Pearl of Great Price, and his name is Jesus Christ. Jesus is also known as the Word of God. By the above-mentioned of the rare gems, which are found by digging extremely deep, is the Word of God. And this Jesus Christ is the very one who spoke all things into existence and framed and hung the world into place by his very words and commands. Psalms 33.6 declares, By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, and all of their hosts by the breath of his mouth. Hebrews 11.3 says, By faith we understand that the worlds during the successive ages were framed, fashioned, put in order, and equipped for their intended purpose by the Word of God, so that what we see was not made out of things which are visible. Jesus is the pearl of great price. He is the Word of God. Jesus, as the pearl of great price, must be found where pearls are found. They lay very deep in the eternal depths of God's eternal wisdom. prophet Isaiah says that we seek inquire for and require the Lord while he may be found claiming him by necessity and right call upon him while he is near apostle Paul gives warning that if we do not seek after the precious author of salvation whose words in the gospel pages are likened to precious inestimable beautiful life-saving gems we shall perish. Hebrews 2, verse 3 How shall we escape, appropriate retribution, if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation, as now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever? For it was declared at first by the Lord himself, and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real Apostle Paul, with his statement, How shall we escape? is referring to the previous chapter which shows the greatest danger of one neglecting their so great a salvation. Jesus Christ tasted death for everyone. There could be no other way without his death, burial, and resurrection by which he destroyed the devil's plans and authority over God's children who live in Jesus Christ. And because of his father's great love, he's jealous over his son's honor and also jealous over the redeemed children of our Lord Jesus Christ. How shall we escape is saying that those who before us in the Old Testament dispensation had fewer privileges than we have who are invested with the privilege of being born in the time of the New Testament dispensation. The preceding chapter showed that God spoke to them in different ways, either by his own voice, such as he spoke to Abraham and Moses, or by the angels and prophets. When they fell under the displeasure of their maker and often were punished with painful and looming death, the scripture says to us today, How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation provided and proclaimed to us by the Son of the living God? Their offense to God was very great, but our offense to God is indescribably greater. The Jewish dispensation was provided for the Jews alone, but the dispensation meant for the Christians was for all of mankind. Salvation for Christianity, with all of its privileges, is called salvation. Because when Jesus Christ came, he brought the heavenly light into the world. And this light, once it is received into the hearts of men, saves and delivers them from the kingdom of darkness. It saves them from ignorance, error, superstition, and idolatry, and provides all the necessary means to free them from the power of guilt and the contamination of sin. That is why this is called so great a salvation when it is compared with that which is granted to the Jews. This precious treasure, called the truth, that is beyond description, is revealed to those who open their hearts to it and obey it. It's a demonstration of the almightiness and the divine power of God in vessels of clay. Dispensation is defined as a period of time under which mankind is answerable to God for how it has obeyed the revelation of God which it has received. The Jewish dispensation referred mainly to the body, an outward demonstration of man's washing, the external cleansing of the flesh. But the blood-bought, blood-washed child of God in Jesus Christ refers to the inward state of the believers, an ongoing purification of the heart, soul, and also cleansing of the conscience from dead works. Paul says, how shall we escape appropriate retribution if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to so great a salvation as it is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever, for it was declared at first by the Lord himself. those who neglect it not only oppose it but they outrightly persecute their so great a salvation they do not have any regard for the precious truth of the light they do not take it to heart and consequently their hearts and minds are not changed by it nor have the God given revelation of the privilege of living in the world beyond that promises a place of perfect eternal joy and bliss. Hebrews 2.3 How shall we escape appropriate retribution if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation as it is now offered to us, letting it drift past us? Can I tell you these words are speaking to those who have heard the words of truth in the church and out of the church? These cannot escape the coming judgments of God, not only because they oppose his will and commandments, but because the sin against the cause and means of their deliverance. Because they do not accept the loving kindness of their maker, they perish. Hebrews 3, 7 and 8 declare, Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, today if you hear his voice, do not harden your heart, as it happened in the rebellion of Israel and their provocation and embitterment of me in the day of testing in the wilderness. Verse 13 declares, Instead warn, admonish, urge, and encourage one another every day, as long as it is called today, that none of you may be hardened into settled rebellion by the deceitfulness of sin, by the fraudulence and stratagem, the trickery which the delusive glamour of his sin may play on him. Hearing the voice of God in verse 7 is figurative of the authority of God in his word. The groundwork of this work so far has been leading us to see in God's word that Jesus Christ is the pearl of great price and he is the one that we should be diligently seeking after. and that the rare gems and precious stones are figurative for the word of God. Jesus Christ is the word of God. Proverbs 21 verses 20 and 21 declare, There are precious treasures and oil in the dwelling of the wise, but a self-confident and foolish man swallows it up and wastes it. He who earnestly seeks after and craves righteousness, mercy, and loving kindness will find life in addition to righteousness, uprightness, and right standing with God and honor. 2 Corinthians 4.7 tells us, however, we possess this precious treasure, the divine light of the gospel in human frail vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a precious treasure indeed, and it is our unspeakable privilege that we are entrusted with the word of God, which is powerful and likened to a two-edged sword in its divine power to accomplish the thing that it was sent to do. There is an abundance of treasures and wisdom and knowledge contained within its truths, and it is only revealed and imparted as divine revelation to those who hearts and souls are hungry for God's precious and pure righteousness. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a treasure indeed. On earth there are many treasures, but this treasure is incomparable and profitable for the attainment of eternal life. The gospel is a spiritual and invaluable treasure. Job 28 verses 12 and 13 tell us, But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the hiding place of understanding? Man knows not the price of it, neither is it found in the land of the living. You see, no price could be put upon this precious truth found only in Jesus Christ, in the gospel pages of the Bible from the front to the very ending of the book, which all points to the King of Kings and his eternal kingdom. These precious, timeless treasures are costly. No price could be put on them like a man puts on gold or silver. The price of this truth's cost came by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world is not privileged to know this precious life-giving truth. No matter how hard they try to find it, they will not exceed. Ecclesiastes 16 and 17 says, When I applied my mind to know wisdom and to see business activity and painful effort that take place upon the earth, how neither day nor night some men's eyes sleep. When I saw the work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun, because however much a man may toil in seeking, yet he will not find it out. Yes, more than that, though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, yet he will not be able to find it out. I'm reminded of those. the world considers its great genius minds, which includes the likes of Stephen Hawking, Albert Einstein, Da Vinci, Michelangelo, Galio, Isaac Newton, and so on. I have shared the story of Albert Einstein before in how his nurse asked him a very important question at the end of his life. The individual sharing the story says that the nurse enjoyed sharing the story and this author writes, I enjoyed recounting it too. She was, in fact, the last person to have had a conversation with Einstein. The nurse had wheeled Einstein over to the hospital window to admire the view of the little round garden from the bedside window. Professor Einstein, do you think God made the garden? He replied, Yes, God is both the gardener and the garden. To which the nurse replied, Oh, I had not thought of it that way. To which Einstein replied, Yes, I've spent my whole life just trying to catch a glimpse of him at his work. As Einstein lay on his deathbed he asked only for his glasses his writing implements and his latest equations he knew he was dying yet he continued his work in those final hours of his life while fading in and out of consciousness he was working on what he hoped would be his greatest work of all it was a project of monumental complexity it was a project that he hoped would unlock the mind of God. I want to know God's thoughts. I'm not interested in this phenomenon or that phenomenon Einstein had said earlier in his life. I want to know God's thoughts. The rest are details. We just read the verse in Ecclesiastes 8.17 when I saw the work of God that man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun. However much a man may toil in seeking, yet he will not find it. Yes, more than that, though a wise man thinks and claims he knows, yet he will not be able to find it out. You see, our verse says that no matter how hard an unbeliever endeavors to find out the ways of God, they shall not be successful. even though he is wise and intelligent in the things in the natural realm and thinks that he's laid hold of things that pertain to God yet they still remain in the dark God's wisdom, work and ways are far beyond man's ways and out of reach for the carnal minded man and woman in vanity they boast of their discovery of laying a hold of God's knowledge and wisdom in Romans chapter 11 verse 33 declares oh the depths and the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God how unfathomable are his judgments how untraceable, mysterious, indiscoverable are his ways his methods and his paths verse 34 for who has known the mind of the Lord and who has understood his thoughts Or who has ever been his counselor? Or who has first given God anything that he might be paid back? Or that he could claim a recompense? From him, and through him, and to him are all things. For all things originate with him and come from him. All things live through him. And all things center in and tend to consummate and to end in him. To him be the glory. In reality, they do not understand it and cannot comprehend it because they do not fear God and have not submitted their wills to his ways nor his commands. I was reminded of another verse as I was studying and constructing this message in Isaiah 55 verse 7. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Let him return to the Lord, and he will have love, pity, and mercy for him. And to our God, for he will multiply to him his abundant pardon. Verse 8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, my ways are not your ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways. and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. This is a very powerful verse. In studying the word wicked, as it is applied in this verse, I was amazed with greater clarity in how God views those who stand apart or oppose him with their backs to him by their disobedience to his precepts and do not accept his offer for salvation and who he considers wicked. In this verse we are told what is necessary in order to seek God and return to him. The first step for the sinner is to forsake his ways. The sinner must abandon all of his sinful preferences and corrupt practices. God says his thoughts are not our thoughts and our ways are not his ways. Anything that opposes God in our thoughts, deeds and actions, A sinner must know that they cannot gain his blessing or his favor. What mercy of God to invite the sinner back to himself in order to know the precious truth that awaits them if they return back by repenting of their sin. Imagine, dear one, when God the Father declared in the word, My word shall not return unto me void. It is saying that his word goes forth throughout the world and hits the hearing of an individual who inclines their ear to listen to it. This is the power of God going to work in their souls and captivating their hearts and minds to willingly conform to the truth that they are hearing. This is a miracle of understanding, a revelation of something that is supernatural and comes from above. This is life-saving truth that is not to be taken lightly. What awesome and excellent power of God that keeps the heart and mind in the knowledge and the revelation of Jesus Christ through hope and divine grace. Scripture tells us he's chosen the weak things of the world to confound the wise of the world. the first 12 chosen disciples of Jesus are prime examples of this scripture these men came from rough and crude lifestyles and backgrounds but a few years later these men held the greatest treasure of all within their hearts, hallelujah they carried the life of Jesus Christ within their human vessels of clay the will of the heavenly father is that Jesus Christ would come to dwell within mankind and be expressed through earthen vessels. Apostle Paul declares this truth in Colossians 1, verse 26. The mystery of which was hidden through the ages and generations from angels and men, but is now revealed to his holy people, the saints, to whom God was pleased to make known how great for the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Jesus Christ and among you, which is Christ within and among you, the hope of realizing the glory. Verse 28, Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing in all wisdom comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God that we may present every person mature, full grown, fully initiated, complete and perfect in Christ, the anointed one. The realization and revelation of the mystery of Christ in you is life-saving understanding that this is a precious privilege in knowing and living God plan that he loved me so much chose me out of the billions of living souls to put an extraordinary heavenly treasure into an ordinary common vessel made out of the dust of the earth. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. So that the attention of God will go to the contents of the precious treasure and not to the vessel that carries it about. This is so that the excellence of the power of God may be known that it is of him and not of us. And this is why Paul says in 2 Corinthians 2.15 For we are the sweet fragrance of Christ which exhales unto God discernible alike among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. The sweet fragrances likened to the smell of that pleasant smell of incense and figuratively means their labors and lives were acceptable and pleasing to God. Because the treasure of the knowledge of the truth that was at work in their lives both among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing is an example of the scripture would be like when Joseph was in prison. His life was a savor of death to the baker who lied, but a savor of life to the butler who told the truth. So it is for us too. We are a sweet savor unto God if we are fulfilling his will in faithfully living and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. God already knows those who are being saved, and he knows those who are perishing. And this is why Paul says in Corinthians 2.15, We are the sweet fragrance of Christ, which exhale unto God, discernible alike among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. Paul says in essence, that precious treasure that is held in high esteem by the individual who has revelation of it and regards it above all things and all truths is being saved by remaining firm in their faith under every pressure that Satan sends their way to fall back into sin. 2 Thessalonians 2, verse 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit miracles, signs, and wonders. And then every sort of evil deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refuse to love the truth and to be saved. Can I tell you that salvation is not a one-time deal? But every day we are moving towards our final salvation. 1 Peter 1, verse 5 declares, those who are being guarded, garrisoned by God's power through your faith, till you fully inherit that final salvation that is ready to be revealed for you in the last time. Eternal salvation, dear ones, is our goal. Colossians chapter 2 verse 1 declares, For I want you to know how great is my solicitude for you, how severe an inward struggle I am engaged in for you and for those believers at Laodicea and for all who are like yourself have never seen my face and known me personally. Verse 2. For my concern is that their hearts may be braced, comforted, cheered, and encouraged as they are knit together in love, that they may come to have all the abounding wealth and blessing of assured conviction of understanding and that they may become progressively more intimately acquainted with and may know more definitely and accurately and thoroughly that mystic secret of God which is Christ the Anointed One. Verse 3 In Him all the treasures of divine wisdom, comprehension, insight into the ways and purposes of God and all the riches of spiritual knowledge and enlightenment are stored up and hidden. I say this in order that no one may mislead and delude you by plausible and persuasive and attractive arguments and beguiling speech. in Jesus Christ is where all of our treasure for eternal life resides all knowledge all power all revelation eternal salvation all wisdom all healing everything we need to apprehend the priceless gift of salvation 2 Corinthians 4-7 again says we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. God entrusts this treasure in us that will last forever. This treasure again is the divine light of the knowledge of the truth, of the author of that truth, and it's none other than Jesus Christ, the pearl of great price. once we have grown in wisdom and knowledge of this awesome privileged treasure we've learned to guard it with all of our might through the help of the Holy Spirit who God has given to guide us into all truth there is a reverence for God that is unshakable when one sins they absolutely hate it they have loved life more than death they love the author of life and treasure his truths The pearl of great price is priceless. He must be sought after with all diligence and with persistence and utmost resolution of heart and soul. My objective in this word today is that my tongue would be like that of a ready rider in the ear of every attentive listener. and that the reality of God's precious truth that you presently understand would be so guarded and protected in your hearts that you would absolutely hate present sin in your life and seek the great want and need and necessity of Jesus Christ in your life even more than you presently know at this time with greater longings after him. The Lord God Almighty is looking for faithful hearts whom he can trust with his precious treasure, and that is the word of God. Like I said at the beginning of this word, it is like a deep mine filled with priceless gems, and it takes time to dig for these treasures. And when we find them, we will guard them so that the thief does not come to steal them from us. Remember, God takes us through the fires of trials and sufferings so that we can better receive these priceless treasures into our lives. The word of God does not need purifying, but our hearts and souls must be cleansed every day so that we can readily appreciate these priceless gems and live them. 2 Corinthians 4.7 says, However we possess these precious treasures, the divine light of the gospel and frail human vessels of earth, that the grandeur and exceeding greatness of the power may be shown to be from God and not from ourselves. We are altogether insufficient in our strength to accomplish what is necessary to apprehend our final goal in life. And that is the goal of eternal life. All power is from God and not from ourselves. All glory for all success in our lives or vessels of clay belong to God and not to us. Praise God. All glory be to Him. The following is a broadcast recorded live with Patricia Evans from Shining Light 7 Ministries. May the Lord bless your ears to hear and your heart to receive as you listen to God's holy word. There is a famous quote. He said, the time is coming when men will go mad. And when they see someone who is not mad, they will attack him saying, you are mad and you are not like us. Anthony's words seem to parallel several prophetic scriptures in Deuteronomy, which were partially fulfilled in their day, but yet will come to complete fulfillment in a future time. Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 28 tells us, The Lord will smite you with madness and blindness and dismay of mind and heart, and you shall grope at noonday as the blind grope in darkness. You shall not prosper in your ways, and you shall only be oppressed and robbed continually, and there will be no one to save you. Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 33 declares a nation which you have not known shall eat up the fruit of your land and all of your labors and you shall only be oppressed and crushed continually so that you shall be driven mad by the sights which your eyes shall see. It seems today that we are seeing these things coming to pass in certain ways with the invasion of other nations endeavoring to take over many aspects of the freedoms that America has known and been known for. We live in a time in this year of 2020 in which it seems that the prophetic word about people going insane or mad is coming to pass right before our very eyes. We live in a day and an hour in these United States of America where we are seeing the attempt to undo what we have loved and cherished as patriotic citizens. citizens and that is the freedom of rights that our nation is known for and the reason for so many people from other countries who have immigrated to this land legally as did my grandparents from Italy and Ireland many many years ago. We are seeing and witnessing in the year of 2020 the undoing of law and order, the disrespect for genuine and legitimate authority, the hatred and insolence for our police, and the call to undo the necessity of police enforcement, and yes, fathom this, the call to do away with prisons in these United States of America. The unrest in some of these states in our union is being allowed by the burning of police precincts and police vehicles, the burning and destruction of businesses and homes, and the terrorizing and purposeful killing of innocent people and bystanders, all in the name of peaceful protesting? There is even an evil, illegal underground army in our nation who have been assigned an insidious contract on killing police and law enforcement personnel. There has been what many are calling the COVID-19 virus crisis as being a forerunner of biological warfare, and that is only an experiment. It is said to see how fast the disease might spread and infect whole populations. There are rogue groups located everywhere around the world who feel absolutely no responsibility for the welfare of people in any part of this earth who will now begin to experiment with deadly pathogens on whole populations. The world is presently in a crisis state, and governments around the world have gained control through fear and lockdown mandates over the COVID virus. People are homeless on the street and hungry because they've lost their jobs and homes. Authorities have shut down businesses, and some states in the United States arrest people for not wearing a mask. but let murderers, criminals, and felons out of prison because they might contract the virus by being contained within the prison walls. Many people in our nation spin with confusion as to the bewilderment of why such awful injustices are allowed to take place in our beautiful nation, land of the free and home of the brave. As was stated previously, there is an underground army in the United States that has been formed by the rich elite in this nation and supported also by other wealthy elitists in other countries for the purpose of bringing America down with the intent of a takeover agenda of making her a socialist or communistic nation. This is the bottom line for what we see in this whole rotten plan of chaos, burning of businesses, homes, murder, and biological warfare that we are now experiencing in our country at this present time. Madness seems to incite more madness and insanity. people need is a cause which is generated by an underground wealthy elite madmen and women who hide behind the cloak of innocence and pay the murderers and felons that they have let out of prisons and also the dangerous foolhardy who have no apparent fear or foresight of their deadly actions as they follow the lead of the narrative of these sick-minded people. In Isaiah chapter 5, verse 20, the prophet declared, Woe to those who call evil good and good evil and put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and prudent and shrewd in their own sight. And also verse 23, who justify and acquit the guilty for a bribe, but take away the rights of the innocent and righteous from them. A woe is pronounced in the word of God as an exclamation expressing warning, grief, pain, deep sorrow, an affliction to the evil and wicked conniving of people who think they can outsmart the great creator God. Wicked people who are devising evil plans of destruction will be met one day by their almighty maker and will be called to give account of their unjust actions and deeds in the day of their great judgment. Jesus pronounced a woe on two cities in the gospel of Matthew and Luke. And these woes were aimed at the evil lawyers, the unrighteous scribes and Pharisees who were devising their evil plan to kill him. And also on Judas Iscariot who betrayed him for 30 pieces of silver and a kiss. Judas was a betrayer. Judas was a lover of money. We have many betrayers sitting in the churches today and also standing behind the pulpits who profess to be a follower of Jesus Christ, but in fact are hypocrites and wolves in disguise whose hearts and souls have never been renewed by the cleansing power of the living God. Ephesians 5 verse 23 tells us Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her so that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of the water of the word, that he might present the church to himself in glorious splendor, without spot and wrinkle, or any such thing, that she might be holy and faultless. We have many Judases who are betrayers sitting in the seats of government, who are called judges and those who hold government offices in every state of this United States of America, who have taken an oath to uphold the integrity of the Constitution and that of their position, whether it be the President of the United States or a governor, a mayor, city official, a policeman, sheriff, or justice of the peace. They have promised an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States of America, which when cited and completed ends with so help me God. It must be noted in many states and branches of government they've managed to remove so help me God from their promise or oath to uphold the law in their position. They are serving in that seat of government. The phrase so help me God is the affirmation to serve with honesty and integrity and is a solemn commitment, but betrayers give themselves away by refusing to make this commitment to the people and before God Almighty. Furthermore, and most importantly, you must understand as a believer in Jesus Christ, along with this bottom line for betrayers, endeavoring to destroy and bring America down is greed, but mostly it is the hatred for the righteous things of God. This is saying that within the realm of a communistic government, Christianity is eradicated and forbidden. Christians who live in nations where governments are socialistic or communistic experience the abolishment of Christianity and even imprisonment or putting to death the believers in Jesus Christ. And this is Satan's biggest plan in using these wicked people in this great conquest or coup, just as he tried when he endeavored to overthrow the great and mighty eternal God and was cast out of heaven. Satan is busy behind the scene in any chaos in the world as he works through evil-minded people who scheme and endeavor to put to death the most wonderful, greatest, precious masterpiece God has ever created and that is humankind, whether it be through instigated chaos or man-made viruses and pandemics, bio-warfare or wars. People with evil minds and hateful, greedy intentions are called the enemies of God. In the Old Testament, when Israel disobeyed God and forsook him, they were called evil doers or workers of iniquity. The eternal God and creator has given a remedy for every individual living on this earth in past times and even today. In the Old Testament, God spoke through prophet Ezekiel in chapter 36, verse 26, saying, I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you, and I will take out your stony heart and give you a tender, responsive heart, and I will put my spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations. So this scripture tells us that this new heart comes only by one's attachment to Jesus Christ upon a true salvation experience. The stony heart is the unregenerate old nature that came with us from birth as a result of the sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, in the garden. Only the Holy Spirit who was given to the new believer in Jesus Christ can change a stony heart which is an unaffected nature of the human soul The Spirit of God alone can give us new appetites new passions and a loving heart In the scripture that says, I will put a new spirit in you, this tells us that precious Holy Spirit will renew our minds and enlighten our understanding and give us correct judgments and godly wisdom. He will give us a will that is after God's will and not after our own hardened will that is only concerned with me, myself, and I, but rather is concerned with other people and their welfare as well. a heart of flesh represents the new heart that can feel the love of God and longs to please God in every way with a longing to represent him with a purity and a reverence towards him this new nature or new heart and love for God is not a doing of our own wills but it is a supernatural or a divine miracle it is not man generated but it is from god's holy spirit who heard the call and the need of the individual who knew there was more to this earth life and knew there was life beyond this earth and this is saying that a person who answered the call of salvation was pripped or convicted in their hearts and soul of the sinfulness of their own lives they reached out to God and he answered them this is God inspired dear listener this is the miracle of the new creation in Jesus Christ this is called the call of salvation this is called the light of eternity that God puts within each individual born into the earth. Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 11 declares he has made everything beautiful in its time. He 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. the scripture says i will cause you to walk in my statue meaning not only to believe my commands but to reverence my commands and precepts and avoid every appearance of evil you see this new heart was prophesied by prophet ezekiel who was foretelling the coming of jesus christ who alone was able to make possible in mere creatures of clay that is humankind to have a new heart because his holy spirit would live within them and give or work in them and give them the mind of christ jesus said before his death in john chapter 14 verse 15 if you love me you will obey me you will obey what i command and i will ask the father and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever the spirit of truth the world cannot accept him because it neither sees him nor knows him but you know him and he lives with you and will be in you jesus said the world cannot accept it and neither sees him or knows him. They refuse to see to know Jesus by virtue of his creation. And the Holy Spirit has spoken to them through other people who have witnessed Jesus to them either in word, deed, or action. Jesus' spirit now lives within redeemed individuals and leads them in the way of all truth. He gives them this desire now to follow him and represent his nature and character, which is love, kindness, and respect for all people because they are made in the image and likeness of Almighty God. Jesus also said in John chapter 13, verse 34, A new command I give you, love one another. I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another. Jesus gave this new commandment to those who follow him. This commandment is that we love our neighbors as we love ourselves. beloved john the apostle in first john chapter 3 verse 10 declares by this is made clear who take their nature from god and are his children and who take their nature from the devil and are his children no one who does not practice righteousness who does not conform to god's will in purpose thought and action is of God neither is anyone who does not love his brother his fellow believer in Jesus Christ 11 for this is the message the announcement which you heard from the first that we should love one another verse 12 and not be like Cain who took his nature and got his motivation from the evil one and slew his brother. And why did he slay him? Because his deeds, activities, and works were wicked and malicious, and his brothers were righteous. They were virtuous. Verse 13. Do not be surprised and wonder, brethren, that the world detests and pursues you with hatred. The old nature in the old regenerate cell could not truly love anyone. This old nature is in conflict with the new nature. The old nature of the human soul is like the pig or the raven which look for something unclean on which to feed. But the new nature in Jesus Christ is like the analogy in scripture of the sheep and the dove which long for those things that are clean and holy. indeed there is a struggle that goes on within the life of the believer the unsaved knows nothing of the battle because he does not know the holy spirit who will help guide and lead him in order to overcome the old rotten nature this old nature is miraculously transformed into a beautiful soul with a caring heart and the mind of Christ. In John chapter 17, verse 6, Jesus was praying to his heavenly Father, and he said, Father, I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours. You gave them to me, and they have obeyed your word. And now they know that everything that you have given me comes from you. and I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you and they believed that you sent me. You see, only Jesus gives us a new nature, a new spirit. And now this new person in Jesus Christ truly makes conscientious effort to conform to Jesus' commands found only in Holy Scripture. The Holy Spirit lovingly lives within you now and awaits for you to cooperate with him while he teaches you about the mind of Christ and his will for your life. This is an implanted divine, supernatural love that grows for God and also for all whom God has created. Yes, that even includes the unlovable people that God puts within our path. In 1 John 4, verse 20, the beloved apostle tells us, If anyone says, I love God, and hates, detests, abominates his brother in Christ, he is a liar. for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen and this command this charge this order this injunction we have from him that he who loves God shall love his brother fellow believer also every generation of the time since Jesus Christ came and walked on this earth and was crucified on the cross of Calvary for the salvation of those, all those, whomsoever would choose him as their hope of glory. People have refused his generous offer and gift of eternal life that is found only in him. It is for this reason. We have what has been outlined in this message at the beginning with people who exhibit violent and cruel-hearted hatred towards others because their minds have never been miraculously renewed with the love and the kindness of their savior who loves them and died for them. They have been given the choice and they refuse the truth and the love for their creator who made them and has a plan for their life this new beginning of a hope for these evil minded people could begin with simply coming before the lord god almighty with a sincere repentant heart for their sinful ways jesus is the light of the world who would shine his truth and love in their hearts if they would submit to him. God speaks through prophet Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11. He says to them for I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you not to harm you. Plans to give you a hope and a future and then you will call upon me and you will come to me and pray and I will listen to you and you will seek me and find me when you seek me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back from captivity. But without a true and sincere confession of one's sinful past, they will never know the plans for their lives that God has for them individually. They will remain among those who are called workers of iniquity and will continue with a distorted self-absorbed mind that plots their next evil plan thinking of themselves as normal in the eyes of the world. in micah chapter 2 verse 1 the prophet declared woe to those who devise wickedness and work evil on their beds then the morning dawns and they perform it because it is in the power of their hand but understand this they remain without excuse before god upon their judgment day and they will remain with their mad sick insane troubled minds repeating again it is very true what saint augustine said many years ago a time is coming when men will go mad and when they see someone who is not mad they will attack him saying you are mad you are not like us in Romans chapter 1 beginning in verse 19 the word declares since what may be known about God is plain to them because God has made it plain to them for since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities his eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse Verse 21 For although they knew God they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened Verse 24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another they exchanged the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the creator who is forever praised Amen verse 26 because of this God gave them over to shameful lust even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones in the same way men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another men committed indecent acts with other men and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion verse 28 further since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of god he gave them over to a depraved mind to do what ought not to be done they have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, depravity, and they are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice. They are gossips, slanders, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful. They invent ways of doing evil. They disobey their parents. They are senseless, faithless heartless ruthless and although they know God's righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death they not only continue to do these very things but approve of those who practice them this is the word of the Lord his word never comes back void it stands forever and it will remain forever it is true there is a great creator who decides the times and seasons of people's lives and the events of the world as we know it in our day today our time job 14 5 declares by the word of the lord man's days are determined you have decreed the number of his month and have set the limits he cannot exceed yes there are rich people and poor in every walk of life in the world who have confidence in their own mental ascent and are rich in their own self-conceived ideals but are not rich in their relationship with God Almighty Jesus gave the parable of such people in luke chapter 12 verse 19 in the parable the man says to himself i'll sit back and i'll say to myself my friend you have enough stored away for years to come now take it easy eat drink and be merry verse 20 but God said to him you fool you will die this very night then who will get everything you work for verse 21 yes a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth and not have a rich relationship with God. Although there are many in the world who deny and hate the one, the only awesome God, who is in control of all things, even in their very lives, yet they cannot stop the fact that time marches on towards the prophesied events that are slated to come to pass as God's all-powerful word lays out in the holy book of life called the Bible. Every individual one day will meet with their maker and stand before him and give account of their lives, good or bad. The wicked-minded people will actually gnash their teeth, which means they will be so filled and full of hatred, that this foaming, living hatred for God and for mankind, if they can't contain it. Gnashing of teeth is a phrase that Jesus used to portray the futility of the wicked-minded people who will be judged by God in their time of judgment. And this is a mental derangement of a sound mind, a preference for evil, the evil side of life, which includes lying, cheating, and deceitfulness. Simply described, this is the mind of Satan and includes all of his works of deception. These people's hatred and insanity will be an exhibition of enraged dementia against the joy that they see in those who are truly filled with joy, have love for God, and endeavor to live upright lives in his son Jesus Christ. As mentioned in this message previously, God has provided through his son Jesus Christ the remedy for overcoming a troubled and anxious mind that gives the only way to be sane and filled with joy and peace as we live in an uncertain world today filled with hatred, war, perversion, and disease that are thrust upon whole nations in this earth by greedy, wicked people seeking to enrich themselves with money, fame, and fortune. Jesus tells those who will listen in John chapter 14 verse 1 do not let your hearts be troubled trust in God and trust in me also and verse 27 he says peace I leave with you my peace I give you I do not give to you as the world gives you do not let your hearts be troubled and don't be afraid In Romans chapter 12, verse 2, the instruction of our chief apostle says, do not be conformed to this world, to this age, fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs, but be transformed, changed by the entire renewal of your mind, by its new ideals and new attitudes, so that you may prove for yourselves what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect is in his sight for you ephesians chapter 4 verse 22 commands us to strip yourselves of your old former nature the old man the old person the old self put off and disregard your old unrenewed self which is characterized by your previous manner of life and becomes corrupt through lusts and desires that spring from delusion and be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude. Put off the old nature and regenerate self creating God's image, God-like in true righteousness and holiness. Verse 25, therefore rejecting all falsity and being done now with it, let everyone express the truth with his neighbor. For we are all part of one body and members one of another. You see, God has made provision for all people everywhere to be saved from insanity, anxiety, and hatred. if only they will heed the word of God found in the Holy Scriptures. There are two trees in which all people are given to choose from, the tree of life who is Christ and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil which belongs to Satan and the devil. People who purport to be a Christian need to answer this question for themselves. Did or has my decision for Christ changed my life? Have I been following false prophets or teachers who teach a false doctrine which produces false righteousness? Do I follow those who magnify themselves and not Jesus Christ in their purpose to exploit people for personal gain and some other cause rather than build Christ in people lives All people who believe in any false doctrine such as Buddhism New Age religion humanism Scientology and so on will never experience a changed life because only Jesus Christ brings change that is eternal. Unfortunately, some people will not realize this until it's too late although they have had clear witnesses from people all along in their walk on this earth jesus told us in john chapter 16 verse 33 i have told you these things so that in me you may have perfect peace and confidence in the world you have tribulation and trials and distress and frustration but be of good cheer take courage be confident certain undaunted for i have overcome the world i have deprived it of power to harm you and have conquered it for you hallelujah philippians 4 7 declares in the peace of god which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Jesus Christ. Again, only in Jesus Christ. That is the only place where true peace and joy in this world in which we live today will be found and more so for all of eternity. It is a clear fact according to scripture that people who go on in their pride and offensive sinful lifestyles refuse god's wonderful offer of eternal life through his precious son jesus christ death burial and resurrection they will experience the worst kind of pain and torment and agony forever as they are cast into outer darkness with their excruciating self-inflicted physical and mental agony for which there is no comfort that money could buy nor words that they could ever take back it is too late at this point in time it is just too late the lamb of god the innocent one would have been your friend and would have also loved you and ruled your life and saved you but now it is just too late cry not aloud for the lord to save you? It is too late. Look what you have brought up on yourselves now, oh wretched, stubborn, prideful soul. It is just too late. We would like to hear from you if this message has touched your life in some way, either by encouragement, healing, deliverance, or simply if you've been enlightened by the word of God in an area of understanding in your Christian growth. Contact us and remember, your information will be kept strictly confidential. May our Lord Jesus Christ richly bless you this day. This message you are hearing today is called, Is Your Name Written in the Book of Life? It was prompted as I was reading in Paul's epistle, Philippians chapter 4, verses 2 and 3. I was amazed at the correlation of the book of life and an argument between two godly women who co-labored with Paul in ministry, but yet were being singled out for the serious issue of conflict and dispute that had developed between them. My amazement at the mention of the correlation was found at the reference at the end of verse 3, which was giving tribute to these two women and yet contrasting those who were fellow workers with Paul as well, whose names were called out as to being in the book of life. Reading in Philippians chapter 4, verses 2 and 3, Paul says, I entreat and advise Iodia and entreat and advise Syntishi to agree and to work in harmony with the Lord. And I exhort you too, my genuine yoke fellows, to help these two women to keep on cooperating, for they have toiled along with me in the spreading of the good news, the gospel, as have Clement and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are in the book of life. As I said, my amazement, and yet could say possibly was a revelation in the moment, that Paul was making reference at the correlation between the women's unresolved contention, whatever it was, and the names that were recorded in the book of life at the end of his statement in the ending verse. I believe the first place we need to look for answers is in Paul's opening words in Philippians 4.2. Paul said, I entreat and advise Iodia and Sintenshi to agree and work in harmony in the Lord. In music, if one is off key, there will be no harmony. In fact, it will be as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13, verse 1, in reference to a particular gift we may have. If we have not love, we are only as a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. In Romans chapter 12, verse 16, the chief apostle declares, Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, snobbish, high-minded, exclusive, but readily adjust yourself to people and things and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourselves or be wise in your own conceits. Since Paul's exhorting and possibly life-saving words to these women in our opening verse was to agree and work in harmony, I believe we should look seriously at the key words and meanings. Harmony in Greek means same mind, like-minded agreement. it literally means for the church to think the same thing. The same thing will always relate back to God and his commandments for his true followers. In Job 22 verse 21, the treasure lies therein for us. The word declares, submit to God and be at peace with him. In this way, prosperity will come to you. So boiling it all down, for a growing, mature believer in Jesus Christ, this word tells us that we first form a bond of perfection or maturity with Jesus Christ by submitting to him and to his word before we can come together in agreement or work in harmony in the church and prosper with our fellow brethren. Prospering is one of the fruits of revival and restoration. It's prompted by love for God, dear church. Blessings of peace and unity follow because of obedience to do God's will. And scripture tells us in John chapter 6, verse 35, that Jesus prospers in that he always does the will of his heavenly father. Jesus was in full agreement with his Father's will. And since he is our pattern for this new covenant way of life, we must learn to mirror him as he mirrored his Father on this earth as our example. Jesus was highly exalted and now sits at the right hand of God, and he will come again in all power and authority to this earth once again to judge it as the Lion of Judah. Saying it again, this bond of love for every true believer first begins with God before we are able to literally think the same thing and have the same mind in the church with our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. Harmony means to dwell together in unity or agreement. believing and living the very word of God and his commands is our new way of life. Colossians 3 verse 12 instructs us, Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy, dearly loved, clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Verse 13, bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you, verse 14. And over all these virtues, put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. You see, unity and harmony are and mean the same thing. These two words are the outgrowth of a loving and mature relationship with God and his son Jesus Christ. Paul's command to these two women was, I entreat and advise them to agree and work in harmony in the Lord. This is saying that something had happened between them in their relationship, as they had previously worked side by side with Apostle Paul in their co-labor with him. Other synonyms for entreat and advise are beseech, implore, beg, command, insist. This doesn't sound like a suggestion from Paul for these two women to get their act together and made right, does it? Paul had received word of these two women's immature behavior while he was in prison. The apostle further says these two had toiled and labored at his side while he was in the city of Philippi, and they were actually instrumental in the starting of a home group there. He was employing them and actually commanding them. According to other biblical translations of the Greek words used for entreat and advice, which again means to be of the same mind in the Lord. Now, this tells me that not being in the same mind in the Lord, there was a major disagreement and dispute that was getting out of hand since the leadership had apprised Paul of their differences while he was in prison. And one of the major and main teachings and themes of Paul in his epistle was about unity among believers. Paul actually had to call on a trusted yoke fellow to intervene in the midst of this major disagreement that was bringing disruption in the church at Philippi. Paul had previously regarded these women's faith, their steadfastness and loyalty with such great joy and satisfaction. So we can possibly assume there was no false teaching, no division among them on this important and imperative subject regarding doctrine. So the only thing we can assume by scripture then is that Paul was distressed over the lack of harmony between them, which could have amounted and arisen from anything from petty personal differences which were not kept under control and handled and settled between them in a mature way. Nevertheless, Paul beseeches them to give up their differences and to live at peace with one another in the Lord. He gives them the order to reconcile with one another and bring their dispute to an end. In other words, hear this, in other words, to live in dispute and sinfulness is not worthy or representative of those who are in the Lord, who have been redeemed by Christ, whose lives should be representatives of a serious, determined effort to please and obey the one who died for them. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 1 describes Apostle Paul's memorable prayers as he prayed regarding another dispute in the household of Chloe. I urge and entreat you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in perfect harmony and full agreement in what you say, and there be no dissensions or factions and divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in your common understanding and in your opinions and judgments. Verse 11. For it has been made clear to me, my brethren, that those of Chloe's household, that there are contentions and wranglings and factions among you. Again, here Paul must speak to the church about their lack of unity and mutual love for one another. This has always been a subject throughout Paul's epistles. As I previously said, one of Paul's main and major themes through his epistle was regarding unity among believers. To speak the same things, stand opposed to speaking different and conflicting things, which is evidence where different opinions are held and expressed. Paul is asking that they all be in harmony and full agreement in what they say in regards to what they have been taught by him and others who have been sent out with the message of salvation found only, hear this precious church, found only in Jesus Christ. Any disruption, regardless of conflicting controversy in regards to doctrine or any other subject creates contention and division in the church. Even petty differences can grow into a mountain of nothingness which could cause people to lose out on eternal life because it is spearheaded by pride and immaturity. When Paul wrote the mandate that the brethren be perfectly joined together, this speaks of anything that is in need of repair, that which is in disorder, that which is being properly restored or mended. It means to settle controversies, to produce harmony and order. Wow, all that again means being perfectly joined together. Bottom line here means that you and I and every professing believer in Jesus Christ has the option and will to use in the synergistic work of the Holy Spirit who is given to each of us to refuse to exercise our own opinion on what I think is right or good in defense of guarding a point on a particular subject or bringing continuing disruption and disorder when it is condemned and breeds disharmony. Apostle Paul in our main scripture discussed thus far desires that the brethren be united in unity, that every member in the church should be content in their standing and place in the body of Christ as they grow and mature in the knowledge of our Lord. Jesus said in Luke 6.40, A pupil is not superior to his teacher, but that everyone, when he is completely trained, readjusted, restored, set to right and perfected, which means maturity, will be like his teacher. And since Jesus is our ultimate example and pattern and given of the new covenant commands that we should follow, we should be led by faith in his example to produce harmony with one another. May I remind you again that the title of this word today is called, Is Your Name Written in the Book of Life? Today dissension, disagreement, distorted and perverted abominable doctrines have permeated the church of the living God to the point that is absolutely disgusting and sickening to the very nostrils of God. The body of Christ should look like a healthy proportioned body or resemble a well-oiled machine that is working in perfect harmony with all of its components doing their part. The Church of the Living God is called to be of one mind according to the truth found in Scripture as they represent the glory of God in the Church and the very one who died for them. The two disagreeing women who were considered co-laborers with Paul in preaching the gospel were being admonished to fall back into line with what they preached. We have a saying that says, practice what you preach. It can be in time, if the battles of the wills between them kept escalating, that they could have lost out and possibly their names could have been blotted out from the book of life. Their dissension and quarreling with one another could bring division to the church. And so it is today. It doesn't matter what the issues are. Dissension, division, and arguing are condemned by God and his word. These two women are examples of many along the generations of time, right up to our moment in history this year in 2019. Apostle Paul spoke of the differences of being led by the Spirit and producing fruit, and also works of the flesh, which is also called acts of the sinful nature. In Galatians 5, verse 18, Paul declares, If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious. Sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery, idolatry and witchcraft, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy, drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness. Verse 23, gentleness and self-control. Against these there is no law. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. You notice that Paul said, those who live by the works and acts of the sinful nature will not inherit the kingdom of God. Okay, I know at this time, some hearing this word are going to fall apart and say, once saved, always saved, or my name can never be removed from the book of life once I make my confession of faith. But I tell you, this is no small matter. To think that once saved, always saved is one's insurance to inherit eternal life is self-deception big time. But let me say this. Never does God's word allow for brethren to argue, fight amongst one another, or to pervert the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, or any other matters in the church. In Philippians chapter 2, verse 12, Paul says, and pure, children of God without fault, or in a crooked and deprived generation in which you shine like stars in the universe, as you hold out the word of life in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. The command here to us is to work out our own salvation with fear and trembling. Working out one's own salvation doesn't sound like a one-time confessing Christ as Savior and makes salvation a sure thing to where eternal life is an altogether certain place. Furthermore, the command here is that you and I as believers in Jesus Christ walk by the same rules that Paul laid down for hearers in his day in order for your salvation or mine to be completed by being fulfilled with love and the fruit of the Spirit until the day Christ comes for us. The selection of Paul's words, fear and trembling, warn us of the danger of aborting our call due to sinful practices and compromising the truth of scripture for error rather than fulfilling the perfect will of God in our lives. Fear and trembling warn us to guard our hearts, to not grow weary in doing right when confronted with difficulties and trials or temptations. This tells us to watch and pray and constantly lean on the Holy Spirit who will faithfully lead us on the straight and narrow path. If one is not yoked with the Holy Spirit, Satan will surprise and devour the negligent ones, and their light and life will become extinct for having grieved him. James chapter 5 verse 9 declares, Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the judge is standing at the door. Philippians chapter 2, verse 2 instructs, Then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you should not only look to your own interests, but also the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. If the church then represents the same attitude of its founder, Jesus Christ, then she needs to loo

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