Internet Church Service – February 1, 2015

This week’s sermon title:
The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ.
The Lord teaches us to test the spirits.
Includes Q and A following class.

Today’s Sermon Message:
The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ.
The Lord teaches us to test the spirits.
Includes Q and A following class.
Video & Audio

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

# # # # # # # #

from - Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

Here I Am To Worship – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Hymn #2

His Eye is on the Sparrow – Partial Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church
and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon

The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ.
The Lord teaches us to test the spirits.
Includes Q and A following class.

TO VIEW THE SERMON: Right click the link above, a small window will open then left click either “Open in New Window” or “Open in New Tab” and the church service notes page will open, it has three options in the upper right side of the page, right click the link titled “download mp3” and just like before, select either Open New Window or Open New Tab to open the MP3 player, this will leave the notes page open so you can move back to it, so go back to the notes page to follow along in the notes, the streaming audio should begin automatically in your default audio/video player (like, Windows Media Player).

If you need to leave the service, when you come back, to move the MP3 player forward, press and hold the left click down on the player progress bar where you see the little arrow under the time on progress bar and move your mouse forward

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

His Name Shall Be Called Wopnderful – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Weekly Bible Study – January 26, 2015

Heaven. Part 2

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

Heaven. Part 2


OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

Heaven. Part 2

LUK 16:19-21, “Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living [living in splendor or luxury every day]. And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid or thrown down at his gate, covered with sores, [cancerous ulcers], And longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.”

Lazarus demonstrates the principle of being happy or content without having anything at all. For example, are you happy or content with your wages?


LUK 3:14b, “Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages.”

Secondly, are you content with handling problems with people?

2CO 12:10, Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

Thirdly, what about the situation that you are in right now, are you content?

PHI 4:11, Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Number four - what about money, not just your wages but money?

HEB 13:5, Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,

LUK 16:22, “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom [or Paradise]; and the rich man also died and was buried.

We begin to see what eternity is like beginning with verse 23.

LUK 16:23-28, And “In Hades [or Hell] the rich man lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he [the rich man] cried out or screamed and said, ‘father Abraham , Have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool off my tongue; for I am in agony in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your life you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus bad things; but now [in eternity] he is being comforted here, and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great chasm fixed, in order that those who wish to come over from here to you may not be able, and that none may cross over from there to us. And he said, ‘Then I beg you, And he said, ‘Then I beg you, father, that you send him to my father’s house For I have five brothers that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

The rich man thinks that Lazarus should and would have been able to testify to the reality of this unseen world and the need to believe on the Lord jesus Christ, which he and his brothers had probably mocked together. So, before, the rich man pleaded for mercy; now he’s begging. Lazarus never pleaded for mercy, nor did he beg at all.

Therefore, the rich man should have taken notice of Lazarus, enduring all that suffering and not complaining. And by contrast, I’m sure he probably gave his relatives thousands and thousands of dollars, and they still complained. Lazarus being tossed at the gate of that mansion was the last call for salvation to the rich man and probably his family. Because I’m sure the five brothers saw Lazarus lying there too. Lazarus was the evangelist at their gate. You never know what kind of people or what sort of people God will use at the gate of someone’s life or heart. So, Lazarus’ pulpit was that gate. And again, Do you have a gate or one if you do, what is yours? Everyone saw “how” he suffered and “how” he didn’t complain. And they must have known he possessed something far greater than what they had. Yet they all walked by Lazarus daily without giving heed to that final message.

Now, all five brothers are unbelievers. And so the rich man didn’t want his brothers to also die and end up in torments with him.

LUK 16:28 For I have five brothers that he may warn them, lest they also come to this place of torment.’

Therefore, during his lifetime, the rich man should have taken notice of Lazarus, enduring all that suffering and not complaining. Lazarus being tossed at the gate of that mansion was the last call for salvation to the rich man and his family. I’m sure the five brothers saw Lazarus lying there, too. You never know what kind of people or what sort of people God will use at the gate of someone’s life or heart. That’s why some of you have the gift of mercy or exhortation so that you can minister and are there for others.

So, Lazarus’ pulpit was that gate. Do you have a gate, if you do, what is yours? Many people and angels saw “how” he suffered and “how” he didn’t complain. And they must have known he possessed something far greater than even what they had. Yet they all walked by Lazarus daily without giving heed to that final message. And the rich man didn’t want his brothers to also die and end up in torments with him.

LUK 16:29-30, “But Abraham *said, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them hear them.’ but he said, ‘no, father Abraham, but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent!’”

The word repent is the future active indicative of metanoeo which means to change your thinking or mind about Christ.

Upon hearing the Gospel and before anyone believes, he must first change his mind about Christ.

LUK 16:31 “But he said to him, ‘if they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded even if someone rises from the dead. “this means that once negative volition gets locked in, nothing will change it.


This also means that the Word of God is infinitely more powerful than any miracle. A messenger from the dead could say no more than what is said in the scriptures, nor say it with more authority.

Even in Mat 27, we do not read that when some believers had come from the dead and appeared to many that there was a revival and that many people became saved.

MAT 27:51-53, And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split, and the tombs were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.

Notice that we are not told that there was a tremendous revival because of this.

1CO 15:1-10, Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles; and last of all, as it were to one untimely born, He appeared to me also. For I am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

Still we do not read of a fantastic revival. However, we do read of one in Act 2, when Peter taught the word of God.

ACT 2:36-47, Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do? And Peter said to them, Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children, and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God shall call to Himself. And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation! So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. And everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together, and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions, and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. And day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The scripture is now the only powerful way of God making known His mind to us, HEB 4:12. And it is a great presumption for us to prescribe any other way. The apostle Peter put it like this in 1PE 1:23, for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and abiding word of God.

What our Lord taught here was soon after verified in the unbelieving Jews, who would not hear Moses and the prophets, or Christ and the apostles, and then would not be persuaded, even though a Lazarus rose from the dead.
Instead they consulted to put our Lord to death, and would not be persuaded by him even though he also rose from the dead.

JOH 11:41-45, And so they removed the stone [this was at a differnt Lazaarus’s grave]. and Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank thee that Thou heardest me. And I knew that Thou hearest Me always; but because of the people standing around I said it, that they may believe that Thou didst send Me. And when He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.” Many therefore of the Jews, who had come to Mary and beheld what he had done, believed in Him.

However, even though our Lord did all of these things, many still did not believe.

JOH 12:42-43, Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God. .

On the other hand, we do have a passage which describes what should take place because of a miracle.

In ACT 20:10-12, when Eutychus was raised to life, the people that were present continued to listen to the apostle Paul teach doctrine because they did not become preoccupied with the miracle of raising someone from the dead. However, this is illustrated by the importance of the communication of Bible doctrine over the performance of miracles. And that is to be the true purpose of a miracle.

ACT 20:7, And on the first day of the week, when we were gathered together to break bread, Paul began talking to them.

The term here for talking is dia legomai in the Greek, it does not mean to preach on Sundays, it does not mean shouting and crying out words void of any content! The term dia legomai - means a verbal analysis or teaching. And actually, this was a four hour service! In the ancient world they did not meet in the day, they met in the evening! So, the service which we have before us is a service which started in the evening probably around 8 pm. And as we are going to see, this service will go to well after midnight.

So, Paul began talking to them, or rather he taught them, intending to depart the next day, and he prolonged his message until midnight.

Apparently they were in some kind of banquet hall in an upper room. Generally, the banquet halls and the upper rooms were over a tavern or an ancient night club. And, the upper-rooms were filled with open windows so that one could sit on the window and listen to the message while looking outside when the pastor got boring. In fact, we have a young man who is sitting in the window and who is about to fall asleep and fall out.

ACT 20:8-9, And there were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a certain young man named Eeutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.

With many lamps there was a lot of heat, and therefore the condition and temperature were conducive to sleep! Which is why a good learning center is a cool room with bright lights.....when it gets warm and dim, drowsiness sets in. So, Eutychus is about to die. He dies because he falls out of a window after falling asleep while the pastor was teaching.

And as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor, and was picked up dead.

Here is a congregational member that has died because he fell asleep while the pastor was teaching! A crisis has taken place in the church service. One of the young people has fallen out of the window and died. The message is temporarily discontinued and Paul goes down to see the young man.

ACT 20:10 but Paul went down and fell upon him and after embracing him, he said, “do not be troubled, for his life is in him.”

When Paul went down he did something that Elijah and Elisha did known as resuscitation. Resuscitation means to be revived or to recover, to be brought back to life to one’s original form (to die again). It is different than resurrection because resurrection changes you into a different form and you will never again die. So, “Paul went down and fell upon him.” This is the same thing Elijah and Elisha did in resuscitating a young boy. Elijah did it in 1KI 17:21. Elisha did it in 2KI 4:34. In other words, what Paul did is learn from the Bible how certain men raised people from the dead and followed in their footsteps.

Before he could do anything he had to quiet down those emotional folks among the crowd who were freaking out.

ACT 20:11, And when he had gone back up, and broken the bread and eaten, he talked with them a long while, until daybreak, and so departed.

They all went back up to church and partook of communion and Paul taught for a long while in an informal manner. And notice, how long they talked. “Until daybreak, and so departed.”

ACT 20:12 And they took away the boy alive, and were greatly comforted.

And the reason why they use the word alive is because he was dead. They were truly comforted once they saw the value of the power of God.

HEB 11:6, And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Internet Church Service – January 25, 2015

This week’s sermon title:
The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. A memorial service. The secret behind the Lord's testing.

Today’s Sermon Message:
The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. A memorial service. The secret behind the Lord's testing.

Video & Audio

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

# # # # # # # #

from - Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

He Hideth My Soul – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Hymn #2

He Is Lord – Partial Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church
and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon

The Sword of the Spirit manifested in the life of Jesus Christ. A memorial service. The secret behind the Lord's testing.

TO VIEW THE SERMON: Right click the link above, a small window will open then left click either “Open in New Window” or “Open in New Tab” and the church service notes page will open, it has three options in the upper right side of the page, right click the link titled “download mp3” and just like before, select either Open New Window or Open New Tab to open the MP3 player, this will leave the notes page open so you can move back to it, so go back to the notes page to follow along in the notes, the streaming audio should begin automatically in your default audio/video player (like, Windows Media Player).

If you need to leave the service, when you come back, to move the MP3 player forward, press and hold the left click down on the player progress bar where you see the little arrow under the time on progress bar and move your mouse forward

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

He Leadeth Me – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Weekly Bible Study – January 19, 2015

Heaven.

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

Heaven.


OPTION: If you would prefer to go directly to the Grace Bible Church website to read this study message, all verse reference links are active there (but not hover active) and Enlarged Text is also an available option – right click the above link then left click “Open Link in New Window” or “New Tab”

Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

To look up other “terms”, go to:

Alphabetical Listing

BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

Heaven.

We will now begin the Doctrine of Heaven. Let’s begin with some definitions and descriptions.

Webster’s new world dictionary describes Heaven as “the dwelling place of God and His angels, variously conceived of as the place where the blessed will live after death.” It also describes Heaven as a “place of great beauty and pleasure.”

Believe it or not, recent polls indicate that approximately seventy-five percent of the American people believe in Heaven. Unfortunately, many of these people don’t know much more about Heaven than this description from a dictionary. But the Bible is filled with specific facts about Heaven. For example, Heaven is said to be a glorious place in ISA 63:15 which calls it “God’s holy and glorious habitation.”

So glorious that only almighty God could conceive the absolute perfection of this eternal paradise which He has prepared for His children. Heaven is so magnificent that it is far beyond anything any of us could ever contemplate or imagine. Now, some of the things I’ll be teaching are merely speculations from comparing some scriptures with others. For example, according to the Bible there seems to be some way that the fallen angels can prohibit space travel or travel from Heaven to the earth, this is taught in DAN 10:1-13.

DAN 10:1-5, In the third year of Cyrus King of Persia a message was revealed to Daniel, who was named Belteshazzar; and the message was true and {one of} great conflict, but he understood the message and had an understanding of the vision. In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning for three entire weeks. I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks [note, 21 days] were completed. And on the twenty fourth day of the first month, while I was by the bank of the great river, that is, the Tigris, I lifted my eyes and looked, and behold, there was a certain man dressed in linen, whose waist was girded with {a belt of} pure gold of uphaz.

As you will see in this passage, this was an angel sent by God.

DAN 10:6-13, His body also was like beryl, his face had the appearance of lightning, his eyes were like flaming torches, his arms and feet like the gleam of polished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a tumult. Now I, Daniel, alone saw the vision, while the men who were with me did not see the vision; nevertheless, a great dread fell on them, and they ran away to hide themselves. So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength. But I heard the sound of his words; and as soon as I heard the sound of his words, I fell into a deep sleep on my face, with my face to the ground. Then behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. And he said to me, “O Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he had spoken this word to me, I stood up trembling. then he said to me, “do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding {this} and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words. but the prince of the kingdom of Persia [one of the angels of darkness that represented the Persian Empire] was withstanding me for twenty one days; then behold, Michael, one of the Chief Princes, came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia.


These type of battles have taken place in the spirit world and because of this, when a person dies they will immediately see the smiling faces of angels waiting to escort them to Heaven. Just as they did for Lazarus in LUK 16:22 “Now it came about that the poor man died and he was carried away by the angels to Abraham’s bosom [a reference to Paradise];

This brings us to a passage we will spend some time on concerning Heaven in Luk 16:19-31 which is not a parable, but is a true story. Parables never mention proper names. Furthermore, parables are always identified or explained as parables. The narrative in LUK 16:19-31 describes the first and second compartments of what is known as Sheol in the Hebrew or Hades in the Greek. And there are three perspectives are given in this passage:

1) The perspective of life, verses 19-21.
2) The perspective of death, verse 22.
3) The perspective of Sheol or Hades after death, verses 23-31.

This was an historical account given by our Lord prior to His death, burial and resurrection. Verse 19 introduces a wealthy unbeliever.

LUK 16:19 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living [living in splendor or luxury every day].

Here was a very wealthy unbeliever! There is nothing immoral, wrong, or sinful about being rich. That is an evil philosophy which has extended into Communism and has now even become a part of the political forum in this country. However, there are certain problems connected with being rich and having an abundance of possessions, just as there are certain problems connected with being poor. In other words, there are no set of circumstances in life that are free from problems. There is no excuse for the rich lording it over those less fortunate, and there is no excuse for the poor envying the rich. When a nation has rich people, it means that nation follows the principles of free enterprise, which are a part of the laws of divine establishment. Therefore, having wealth in a nation is a good and healthy sign that the nation is doing well and right, rather than poorly. In fact, the idea of redistribution of wealth is an evil that enslaves the masses, as illustrated by those under the domination of the Russian experiment since 1917. One of the great problems of being rich is to ignore the fact that there is life after death. Many become self-indulgent, and forget MAR 8:36-37, “What shall it profit a person if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? Or what shall a person give in exchange for his soul?”

So they give no thought to eternity and life after death. Yet time is just a drop in the bucket compared to eternity.

ECC 7:12 For wisdom is protection just as money is protection, But the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the lives of its possessors.

In ECC 10:19, When Solomon said, “Men prepare a meal for enjoyment, and wine makes life merry, and money is the answer to everything......he was speaking in a cynical way! Hence, the tendency of the wealthy person is to ignore the fact that only through personal faith in Jesus Christ can an individual have eternal life, “what shall a person give in exchange for his soul?” In other words, there is no way you can buy your way into Heaven. Jesus Christ purchased our salvation on the cross, as taught by the doctrine of redemption.

This myth and lie was actually promoted by the Roman Catholic church and in their own Bible, in which they promote prayers and offerings for the dead, it says in Tobit 4:11, For giving money delivers from all sin, and from death and will not permit the soul to go to darkness. Money cannot buy eternal life, happiness, love, or virtue. It is not true that you are happy because you have money or miserable because you are poor. Happiness and misery are not based upon one’s economic status. This is one of the great myths in the time in which we live.

People with very little can be extremely happy; people with very much can be very miserable, and visa versa. Those who lust for money become a slave to money. But those who acquire wealth through the grace of God have discovered how to make money their slave.

But the person who regards money as his #1 priority in life becomes a slave to money. We have noted many times, the concept of the priority principle. Priority number 1 should be Bible doctrine. Therefore, you concentrate on whatever is your #1 priority. Then you organize your life around priority #1. Therefore, you organize your thinking around priority #1. This determines the outcome of your life.

Now, if your number 1 priority is money, then you concentrate on money. You organize your life around money. You organize your thinking around money, and this determines the outcome of your life.

1TI 6:10, for the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang.

Now, the rich man in verse 19 spent all his concentration, time, and life on self-indulgence. Therefore, MAR 8:36-37 says to him, “What shall it profit a person if he gains the whole world and loses his own soul? For what shall a person give in exchange for his soul?” So, the most important things in life cannot be purchased with money, such as eternal life, +H or sharing the happiness of God, love and virtue. And again, those who lust for money become slaves to money, and it’s one of the worst categories of slavery in the world. This principle applies to power as well. Those who lust for power are slaves to power, but those who acquire power through the grace of God can enjoy it without abusing it or stepping beyond their capacity for it.

MAT 6:24-25, “no one can serve two masters. For he will either hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [the god of riches]. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of the needle [small gate in the main gate through which only a man could pass] than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.”

Rich people and poor people are saved exactly the same way, by faith in Jesus Christ. So why is this true? Because the rich man tends to be preoccupied with himself and his life on this earth to the extent that he has forgotten about eternity. He is not interested in Jesus Christ.

So the Lord says in LUK 16:19, “Now there was a certain rich man… Notice that the rich man is simply identified as a certain man and the poor man, Lazarus is called by name! This is to testify that the spiritual order of things is contrary to the worldly. In the world, the names of the rich are known, but the names of the poor are either not known or, if known, are counted as unworthy to be particularly noted. Now, this man is described as dressing well and living in luxury. There is nothing wrong with dressing well and there is nothing wrong with luxury as such. In fact, the very one who Lazarus will be carried to is Abraham, who had been rich in flocks, and in herds, and in all possessions while on earth.

So, there is nothing wrong with dressing well and there is nothing wrong with luxury as such. There are some problems with wrong emphasis on status symbols of life, money, power, success, approbation, pleasure, material things, luxury, social life, sex, health; i.e., anything that takes precedence over Bible doctrine. The wealthy unbeliever enjoys life so much that he forgets about death and eternity. He forgets HEB 9:27, which says, “It is destined for mankind to die once, but after this the judgment.” So this rich man lusted for wealth and became the slave to wealth.

LUK 16:19, “Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, and lived in luxury every day.”


There are some interesting analogies here: The rich man is covered with purple and fine line; Lazarus is covered only with boils and sores. The rich man eats expensive and magnificent food; Lazarus desires to be fed with crumbs. The rich man has numerous servants to attend his every need, Lazarus has only dogs to lick his sores. However, eternity changes all of this around! So, much for the rich man!

As a slave to money and pleasure, he had no time for the Gospel until it was too late. Verse 20 introduces a suffering believer.

LUK 16:20, “And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid or thrown down at his gate, covered with sores, [cancerous ulcers],”

Lazarus had been thrown there and left there until he died. Lazarus had been thrown or cast at the rich man’s gate, and he would lie there until he died. When our Lord gave this message, Lazarus was already dead. If Lazarus were still alive at the gate of the rich man, the perfect tense of ballo would have used. Lazarus was helpless and couldn’t move from that spot. In this narrative, we see the great cruelty of man toward helpless man. In fact, that is the attitude today, people are very cruel, man’s attitude toward man is one of great cruelty. And when people are helpless or infirm or older they are treated with great cruelty. Sometimes that cruelty is neglect and sometimes that cruelty is persecution....but it is a tragic thing.

Evil people and those under the influence of evil can be very cruel! Hence, this was cruel and unnecessary treatment. It was violence against the weak and helpless. Lazarus had been tossed there out of cruelty by a mob. In fact, the mob didn’t like Lazarus, and the mob didn’t like the rich man. Evil men do not discriminate; they despise the rich, the poor and the helpless.

LUK 16:20, “And a certain poor man named lazarus was laid or thrown down at his gate, covered with sores, [cancerous ulcers],

And there is a definite parallelism between Lazarus and Job. Both were mature believers facing evidence testing, but with different results.

a) Job lost and regained in time; Lazarus lost and regained in eternity.

b) Both were covered with sores and ulcers.|

Hence, both Job and Lazarus had loss of health and were maltreated by people because they were repulsive to the eyes of the beholder. Both Job and Lazarus had loss of health, but again there was a difference. Job recovered his health and lived a long time. Hence, Job emphasizes living grace in evidence testing. Lazarus never recovered his health and eventually died.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Internet Church Service – January 18, 2015

This week’s sermon title:
The mystery of the Gospels concerning the Sword
of the Spirit. John Ch 6.

Today’s Sermon Message:
The mystery of the Gospels concerning the Sword
of the Spirit. John Ch 6.

Video & Audio

Please join us as we fellowship in the Word of God, listen to
Christian Music, Pray in Christ’s Name and Praise the Lord
in our Hearts and Minds.

ALL ARE WELCOME!!

# # # # # # # #

from - Romans 8:38-39

Thank you for joining us for today’s worship service. Please enjoy the music before you watch and|or listen to today’s message.

TIP to enlarge the print hold down the “Ctrl” key on your key board, while it is being held down, move your mouse forward until the desired print size is just right for you. To return to normal screen size, reverse the process (some will see a % in the lower right corner of your screen, normal is 100%)

The lyrics have been provided so you can sing along with the artist in your mind and soul; imagine that the artist’s voice is your voice. I’m not a very good singer myself so I often get the lyrics for some of my favorites and sing along in my mind and soul, this way it’s as if I’m doing the singing to the Lord; try it.

Hymn #1

God So Loved – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Hymn #2

Grace with Grace Greater Than Our Sin – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is— you have trusted in Him for eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to take-in God’s Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge your sins privately to God the Father.

1 John 1:9 says—“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” NKJV (New King James Version)

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is faith alone in Jesus Christ alone:

John 6:47 says: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” NKJV

Notice again what John 6:47 says, “he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life.” It doesn’t say, “will have”; it says, “has.” Therefore, the very moment you believe Jesus Christ’s promise of everlasting life, you have it (it’s really just that simple), and it can never be lost or taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God’s Word, if there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Lectionary

The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of the heart. (Heb. 4:12) GNB-UK

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living, so that the person who serves God may be fully qualified and equipped to do every kind of good deed. (2 Tim. 3:16-17) GNB-UK

Do your best to win full approval in God's sight, as a worker who is not ashamed of his work, one who correctly teaches the message of God's truth. (2 Tim. 2:15) GNB-UK

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Opening Prayer
(Do your best to make it your own – below is a sample prayer)

Heavenly Father, we pray that we will all be richly edified by Your Word today and that You will make what we study today clear to us. We pray that all participants in this service as well as those who review it at a later date will be edified and blessed by today’s message. We pray this in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen

Our guest Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church
and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

This ministry is non-denominational and is dedicated to teaching the Word of God from the original languages and making it available at no charge throughout the world.

Today's Sermon

The mystery of the Gospels concerning the Sword
of the Spirit. John Ch 6.

TO VIEW THE SERMON: Right click the link above, a small window will open then left click either “Open in New Window” or “Open in New Tab” and the church service notes page will open, it has three options in the upper right side of the page, right click the link titled “download mp3” and just like before, select either Open New Window or Open New Tab to open the MP3 player, this will leave the notes page open so you can move back to it, so go back to the notes page to follow along in the notes, the streaming audio should begin automatically in your default audio/video player (like, Windows Media Player).

If you need to leave the service, when you come back, to move the MP3 player forward, press and hold the left click down on the player progress bar where you see the little arrow under the time on progress bar and move your mouse forward

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

If you wish to use it, right click the link and in the drop-down box, left click the "Open Link in New Window"; when the new window opens, reduce the window size of both the on-line bible and the slideshow and configure them to be side-by-side. Also, the window opens to John 3:16, click the word “more” below the verse, you will then see two online bible columns, Use the column on the left as it is set for the NASB95, at the top of the column where you see John 3:16 in the search box, type the book and verse the Pastor asks you to go to a particular Bible verse, e.g., 1tim 5:21, or eph 3:10, etc., then click “Enter” on your key board. You can use the “right column” if you wish for a different bible version but you’ll need to type in the verse you want each time as I directed you for the column on the left side.

Hymn #3

Great Is Thy Faithfulness – Lyrics in Video
(You can skip the commercial if there is one)

CLOSING PRAYER:
(Again, below is a sample prayer, do your best to make it your own)

Heavenly Father, we pray that the Holy Spirit will make what I’ve learned today clear to me, for I pray this in my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s name. Amen

If you have any questions that are pertinent about today’s message, please don’t hesitate to ask, you are welcome to ask them via a private message or by a reply in today’s post. However, sometimes questions can be real short but require a much longer answer in order to give an adequate answer. If I don’t think that the question is able to be answered quickly I’ll reply back telling you that I’ll research it and get to you with the answer (it may even be a few days as I’m a little slower than I used to be). Please don’t let what I’ve just said make you hesitate to ask questions.

I want to thank all of you who have attended this Sunday service as well as those who will view it at a later time or date.

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can instantly receive eternal life: Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.

Testing CSS

ACT 20:28

Weekly Bible Study – January 12, 2015

The Equal Opportunity under election and the Conclusion. Part 12

PLEASE READ FIRST

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: If available on the website you're viewing this on, a few links (i.e., those without an already written scripture quote or brief explanation) are hover pop-up active, meaning the scripture reference will just pop-up if you hover your cursor over it (don’t click on the link, just hover your cursor over it), they work best using the Firefox browser – pop-ups in Internet Explorer, Chrome & other browsers only appear for a few seconds at best. If you don’t have Firefox (or hover pop-ups aren’t available on the website you’re viewing this on), that’s OK, move your cursor off and on the link until it is read; or left click the link which will open the verse at the online bible; or you can always use your Bible to look up the verses.

Prepare yourself for learning the Word of God!

Before we begin, if you are a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ (that is; you have believed [trusted] in Him for His promised gift of eternal life), it is important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so take a moment to name, cite or acknowledge (confess) your sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father).

1 John 1:9 says: "If we confess our sins, He (God) is faithful and just to forgive us our sins (known sins) and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [unknown or forgotten sins]." NKJV (New King James Version) [italics added]

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior (that is, believed in Him for eternal life), the issue for you is not to name your sins; the issue for you is to have faith alone in Jesus Christ alone for eternal life:

John 6:47 says: "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." NKJV [italics added]

Notice again what Jesus said in John 6:47: "…he who believes in Me (Jesus Christ) has everlasting life." It doesn't say, "will have"; it says, "has." Therefore, the very moment you believe in Jesus Christ for His promise of everlasting life, you have it (it's really just that simple; nothing more and nothing less), and it can never be taken away from you (John 10:28-29). Furthermore, the gift (Ephesians 2:8c) of everlasting life (also called eternal life in scripture) is available to every human being; there are absolutely no exceptions.

John 3:14-18 says: "¹⁴ And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, ¹⁵ that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. ¹⁶ For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. ¹⁷ For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. ¹⁸ He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." NKJV

Let us now bow our hearts and take a moment to prepare for worship and learning God's Word. If there is any known sin in your life, this is the time to just cite it privately to God the Father with your thoughts directed towards Him. With your head bowed and your eyes closed, you have total privacy in your mind and soul:

Study to show yourself approved to God!

Grace Bible Church
Robert R. McLaughlin Bible Ministries

The Tree of Life is a weekly teaching summary:
God’s Word is Wednesday, Friday and Sunday mornings

STUDY TITLE:

The Equal Opportunity under election and the Conclusion. Part 12.


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Terms & Abbreviations used:

PPOG = Predesigned Plan of God
Human Good = Evil + Good Deeds while not in fellowship with God
OSN = Old Sin Nature
TLJC = The Lord Jesus Christ
SSE = Spiritual Self Esteem
PVTD = Positive Volition Towards Doctrine
+H - The Happiness of God
NVTD = Negative Volition Towards Doctrine
Doctrine = Bible Truth

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BEGIN BIBLE STUDY
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture quotes and references
are from the NASB – New American Standard Bible

The Equal Opportunity under election and the Conclusion. Part 12

MAT 5:43-48, You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax gatherers do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

The righteousness of God has demanded, ever since the moment of our salvation, that the justice of God sustain our life even through every stupid mistake and every dumb decision we ever make. We noted that we are not blessed because we give, or witness, perform Christian service, or because of anything we can do or anything we are.

God blesses us only because we have His righteousness indwelling us and therefore His integrity is never compromised. We are saved by grace through faith, and we are sustained by grace. Three verses come to mind here:

EPH 2:8-9, For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast.

Time after time, a question comes up in the scripture, why do the wicked prosper?

David said in PSA 37:7, Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

Psa 73 is a Psalm that describes some of the frustrations that many believers have had at times.

They make positive decisions and then see friends, family members and relatives making negative decisions and getting ahead in life and receiving prosperity. So there’s a frustration that can actually take place, because things are not working out in their life and then they see certain people, namely the wicked, or those who could care less about God, prospering.

PSA 73:1, A Psalm of Asaph.

Asaph was one of the finest and chief musicians in Israel.

He wrote about ten songs and so this is said to be a Psalm or a Song of Asaph, a fine and chief musician in Israel.

And so he sings PSA 73:1, Surely God is good to Israel, To those who are pure in heart!

This type of thinking that “God is good to His people,” is very important especially when you’re going through something and you don’t know how that thing is going to turn out. When you’re going through adversity in time or disaster, remember:

Even if you don’t understand what you’re going through remember God is good to His people. Then in verse 2 he describes for us how he almost slipped.

PSA 73:2, But as for me, my feet came close to stumbling; My steps had almost slipped.

How?

PSA 73:3, For I was envious of the arrogant, {As} I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

The word envious means jealous I was envious. It starts out with envy in the soul and then turns into jealousy. I was envious or jealous of the arrogant, as I saw the prosperity of the wicked. Note that there are certain people who prosper even though they are wicked. And one of the main reasons is found in ur main passage in Gen 17, blessing because of association with a mature believer. And so he says, “For I was envious or jealous of the arrogant as I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”

You see what he was doing, he was looking too much at one thing: their present condition, he saw what they had right now, but he forgot their future. He saw what God had given them. God in His Grace actually will allow the wicked to prosper on this earth. One of the reasons is because this is their Heaven. And God loves them so much. He sent His uniquely born son for them but they rejected Him.

However, His impersonal love, loved them. He sent His Son to die for their sins and they rejected Him so this is their only form of prosperity. This is their Heaven. Once they die they suffer in the eternal lake of fire and so in God’s grace, He blesses them and lets them have some enjoyment, because He’s a just and righteous God. And therefore in MAT 5:45b, He causes His sun to rise on {the} evil and {the} good,

So, there are reverisionistic believers and unbelievers who cheat and lie and steal and who are criminals and who would do what they can to get ahead and they can get more than you.

And that’s what happened to this individual, he saw the prosperity of the wicked.

PSA 73:3, For I was envious of the arrogant, {As} I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

What did he see? He saw their outward display of prosperity. He saw what they had. Some of us do that as well. We see what people have. A New car, new home, better job, fine clothing, no problems with the finances, everything going right. We look at what they have, but we only see their outward display. We don’t see the discomfort and lack of content in their soul. Wu don’t see when they go to sleep at night that they have all these riches and all these things and all this form of prosperity, but there’s something missing in their soul.

They don’t have that peace that goes beyond understanding (PHI 4:6). Most of you would be shocked if you could trade places with a millionaire, or a person who has everything going for them. You would be shocked at how fast you would say, “I want to come back to my life, I don’t want to trade places with them.” Because of their discomfort that they have in their soul inwardly.

PSA 73:4, For there are no pains in their death; And their body is fat.
Now, he doesn’t know whether or not there are no pains in their death. He’s just thinking like many do.

Many people think that if you have money, if you have prosperity all your problems are solved and that’s not true at all. When it says that “their body is fat.” it means that their strength was from their riches and they were really healthy. In the ancient world, prosperity was manifested by the strength of the human body being healthy and prosperous through the physical body. Remember that this is the thinking of the individual who almost slipped. He almost slipped away from God. He said, “There’s no pain from their death,” everything goes right, but look at what I’m going through. You can see a little bit of arrogance coming through. But, you always need to remind yourself of something, you have something in your soul that money cannot buy, a peace that you can go through a tragedy, disaster, sickness, and still say, “I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in.” You cannot buy true contentment.

PSA 73:5, They are not in trouble {as other} men; Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Remember again that this is the thinking of the individual that almost totally slipped away from that which was important, the plan of God. He says, “They (the wicked) are not in trouble as other men; nor are they plagued like mankind.” There are some things about the wicked who prosper or people who have riches. They don’t have to be concerned about where there next meal is going to come from. They don’t have to be concerned about who’s going to pay for the insurance, for their health insurance, who’s going to pay the car payment. They don’t have to worry about those things and the ordinary domestic and personal troubles that we would have as naturally minded individuals or people who are not rich.

PSA 73:6, Therefore pride is their necklace, the garment of violence covers them.

They think they’re something. In other words, they wear their own pride and their own violence as jewelry and they want everyone to see “Look what I’ve got. Look what I am. Get out of my way.

PSA 73:7, Their eye bulges from fatness; The imaginations of {their} heart run riot.

When it says, “Their hearts run riot” it refers to fact whatever their heart wants, they get, because of their riches. Solomon said this in ECC 2:10, And all that my eyes desired I did not refuse them. I did not withhold my heart from any pleasure,

He said this when he was miserable. He was the most miserable person in the world at this time and he said, “All that my eyes desired, I did not refuse them.” How would you like to have at your resource anything you want, anything you could buy?

PSA 73:8-9, They mock, (They usually make fun of what other people have or don’t have) and wickedly speak of oppression; They speak from on high. They have set their mouth against the heavens, And their tongue parades through the earth.

They speak from on high refers to their arrogance. They usually say, “I could care less about God.” People think that what they say is very important. what they say parades through the earth. It’s like a parade accepted as mankind’s tremendous wisdom because of their so-called success. In other words, when it says, “They have set their mouth against the Heavens.” They deny God. They reject God.

They attack God. There’s the “I Will” syndrome of Satan. And, what they say is considered by human viewpoint to be wisdom and success.

PSA 73:10, Therefore his people (a reference to the wicked who prosper, they always have people because of their riches) Therefore his people return to this place; And waters of abundance are drunk by them.

In other words, they recruit more wicked people like themselves and teach them to do the same things.

PSA 73:11, And they say, “How does God know? And is there knowledge with the Most High?”

They deny the Omniscience of God, reject His Doctrine.

PSA 73:12, Behold, these are the wicked; And always at ease, they have increased {in} wealth.

Everything goes right for them. They can buy their way out of things. They get accused of a crime, they buy their way out. They have a need, they buy there way out. They need something, they buy it. Whatever it may be, they buy it. In their carnal security, they become very powerful and mighty.

The writter began to look at what people had overtly instead of what he had and that’s why he almost slipped. And that’s why he almost slipped.

Look at PSA 73:13, Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure, And washed my hands in innocence;

Have you ever thought that? This is crazy, I’m following God. I’m taking in Doctrine, it’s all vanity.

If you lie and steal and cheat and get ahead, or if you lie and steal and cheat, you can get the job. If you’re honest, you don’t get the job. It’s all vanity. I try to do the right thing. I try to be honest with people. I try to love people and level with them and along comes this conniver, this deceiver and he just lies and he gets everything. Sometimes this is the thinking of those believers who are trying to do right things, but who do not see immediate results.

PSA 73:14, For I have been stricken all day long, And chastened every morning.

This may be true for a believer who is under divine discipline, because of rejection of God’s plan for his life, but this is not the norm and standard for those in God‘s plan. We’re not stricken all day long, or chastened every morning. If we have positive volition, we’re not. But we are stricken and chastened if we have negative volition.

PSA 73:15-16, If I had said, “I will speak thus,” Behold, I should have betrayed the generation of Thy children meaning that he knows that the answer is not to become wicked so he can prosper. When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight.

So, I’m trying to make godly decisions and everything’s going wrong. And here’s Jack, my neighbor cheating, lying, stealing and getting ahead and everything’s going right. “When I ponder to understand this, it was troublesome in my sight.” However, please notice the first word in verse 17.

Until. “Until I came into the Sanctuary of God;” that’s a good place to go when you have a problem. “Then I perceived their end.” Once he came back into the sanctuary or the place where God’s

Word was taught, his eyes were opened again to the truth. You see, that’s what happens to a lot of people. They live in the world, in the cosmic system. Everything goes wrong and all of a sudden they come back to church and they go, “Oh yeah!” And, that’s what happened to the writter of this Psalm.

Once he came back to the sanctuary or the place where God’s Word was taught, his eyes were opened once again to this truth. A light came upon him and he withdrew from the ways of the world and drew toward, drew near toward the ways of God. When things are not going right in your life, that’s a time to draw near. If everything’s going wrong in your life say, “I better get to class right now, things are not working out and I know God is on my side, I need some enlightenment. I need to hear what the Spirit says to the church.” This man was starting to say, “The wicked are better than the Godly.”

Until he came back into the place where God’s Word was taught. And, then he said, “Oh yea! That’s right.” His eyes were opened. He saw truth. The light came upon him. When he was living in the ways of the world, the darkness came upon him. When he came back to the ways of God, the light shined upon him and gave him a direction. And, then notice what verse 18 says.

PSA 73:18, Surely Thou dost set them in slippery places; Thou dost cast them down to destruction.

They were standing on a smooth place (everything’s going smooth for them), but always remember something smooth places can be very slippery. Sometimes we think everything is going smooth, but the smooth place can be very slippery. And, they may be standing on a smooth place, but all of a sudden that place that they’re standing on is very slippery.

JER 23:12, “Therefore their way will be like slippery paths to them,

They may be prospering right now, but slippery paths are going to follow.

ECC 8:11, Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.

They keep doing it, because they think they’re getting ahead, they’re getting away with it. They’re not.

The Lord says, “There’s a year for their punishment” meaning every person who is anti God and has negative volition has a year assigned by God for their punishment.

PSA 73:19-20, How they are destroyed in a moment! They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors! Like a dream when one awakes, O Lord, when aroused, Thou wilt despise their form.

In other words, When the person awakes, the dream is forgotten quickly so will the wicked and their prosperity. Their prosperity will be forgotten very quickly as well. You have something far greater than any rich man could ever, ever buy and never forget that.

PSA 73:21-22, When my heart was embittered, And I was pierced within, Then I was senseless and ignorant; I was {like} a beast before Thee.

Notice what he says. “I was senseless and ignorant; I was like a beast before thee.” The word for “beast” is the Hebrew word behemah which refers to the water ox or the hippopotamus and it means a plump colossus of flesh which is an emblem of colossal stupidity. That is the definition of behemah, a plump colossus of flesh, which is an emblem of colossal stupidity.

PSA 73:23, Nevertheless I am continually with Thee; Thou hast taken hold of my right hand.

I don’t care if things are going wrong. I don’t care if I don’t have that money. I don’t care if I don’t know what my future is all about. “I am with thee; You have taken hold of my right hand.” Even though he has failed and he thought all these negative thoughts, he doesn’t let his failures keep him away from God.

PSA 73:24, With Thy counsel [your doctrine] Thou wilt guide me, And afterward receive me to glory.

He knows that afterwards, even after this dark way of faith, God will still receive him.

PSA 73:25-28, Whom have I in heaven {but Thee}? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For, behold, those who are far from Thee will perish; Thou hast destroyed all those who are unfaithful to Thee. But as for me, the nearness of God [being near to God in fellowship with Him] is my good; I have made the Lord God my refuge, That I may tell of all Thy works.

What a beautiful Psalm.

“I am with you God and I could care less if things are not going right at this time.”

The following link is to a good news message describing how one can receive eternal life:
Ticket to Heaven, it was written for anyone not absolutely certain about their eternal future.