Weekly Bible Study, January 2, 2023 "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power."

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links 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), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown and forgotten sins];” NKJV [New King James Version]; we call this REBOUND; read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? REBOUND

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, 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 simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.

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

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 3:14-15, 16, 17, 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 McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

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

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

Weekly Bible Study, January 2, 2023, "For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power."

We are now back in the book of Romans where we see so many fantastic doctrines having to do with the Sovereign will of God and the free will of man co-existing together.

For this is a word of promise: “At this time I will come, and Sarah shall have a son.” And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, It was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” (Rm 9:9-12)

We have noted that this was contrary to the protocol of the Jewish race because the younger was to serve the older. In the ancient world, in patriarchal times, the elder son enjoyed the privileges of precedence in the household and at the father's death received a double share of the inheritance and became the recognized head of the family, as it is stated in Num 8:17.

The apostle Paul then asks the normal question most individuals would have.

What shall we say then? There is no injustice with God, is there? May it never be! For He says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.” (Rm 9:14-17)

The phrase for the Scripture says to Pharaoh, is a reference to Pharaoh Amenhotep the Second, a Pharaoh was an Egyptian king or tyrant. Then a quotation taken from Exo 9:16 in Rm 9:17, “For this very purpose I raised you up,” which means I (the Lord) have caused you to continue in history. Here was a person who was anti-Israel to the core. A person who was very evil, and yet the Lord said, “I have caused you to continue in history.”

When we find ourselves in danger, whether personal, national, or international, we need to realize that these things are permitted to continue in history so that the power of God may be demonstrated through us. Many times in human history God has demonstrated His power by means of some evil ruler, (such as Nero, Stalin, Hitler, Hussein). Nero - killed his mother, set Rome on fire, blamed Christians, raped his sister, put on animal skin heads. Stalin - a street fighter, a pirate, a crime lord and a murderer known for killing more innocent people than Hitler.

Adolf Hitler - what more can we say as he killed not only 6 million Jews but also anyone he concluded as not being a part of the super race. In our day and age Saddam Hussein. And so many times in human history God has demonstrated His power by means of some evil ruler. Many times in human history God has demonstrated his power by means of some evil people. Many times in human history God has demonstrated His power by means of believers who are negative toward Bible doctrine. Of course this is simply another way of saying, “God uses the wrath of man to praise Him" (Psa 76:10).

By means of the hardness of Pharaoh's heart, God is going to demonstrate His power in such a way that it will have an effect on two entire generations. I want you to think about this because you all need to realize what the apostle Paul said in 2Co 3. You are a walking epistle.

Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, as some, letters of commendation to you or from you? You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts. (2Co 3:1-3)

By means of the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart, God is going to demonstrate His power in such a way that it will have an effect on two entire generations. As we will see, also an effect on the entire world. Here, the Exodus generation and the generation that followed.

This also affects many individuals throughout the world. Remember that there is a doctrine called the doctrine of Heathenism = which teaches that if anyone in any part of the world, no matter how geographically isolated, At the point of God consciousness expresses in his soul a desire to know God, and a desire to have a relationship with God, then God will provide, some way and some how, that information. Whatever it takes, the person will have the opportunity to hear the gospel and to respond. Apparently there was such a situation in the time of Pharaoh Amenhotep the second. He, in the eighteenth dynasty, controlled all of the area of the Middle East. He was a very powerful king. He was the king of Egypt.

Egypt, at that time, dominated all the Middle East and most of North Africa. Therefore, there was a large number of people under the control of the eighteenth dynasty. In that area there was a tremendous number of people who were positive at the point of God-consciousness. Instead of God using the internet or satellite radio, or television, He used the hardness of one man's heart to get the Gospel message and His power throughout this region. This is a perfect illustration of the divine decrees or that which God has determined to happen, bringing glory to God even through man's negative volition.

Our human limitations constantly restrict our ability to know and understand God. Think with me for a moment. What kind of people can God use to accomplish His purpose?

The Lord has made everything for its own purpose, even the wicked for the day of evil. (Pr 16:4)

The Lord will allow some wicked person in your life to do things spitefully to you for the purpose of making you stronger spiritually.

I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things. (Isa 45:7)

God will allow some sweet sincere do-gooder in your life to do things spitefully to you for the purpose of making you stronger spiritually. The Lord will even use the wickedness of people and angels to bring His plan and purpose to pass.

For the wicked is reserved for the day of calamity; they will be led forth at the day of fury. (Job 21:30)

You know it's very easy to control an angry person and even the Lord does that as they are led forth in the day of fury. This is also the meaning behind Psa 76:10 in the Jerusalem translation which says; man's wrath only adds to Your glory. The Lord will actually use the evil and the wickedness of man to reveal His glory to the orld. Remember the woman caught in adultery and the wickedness of the self-righteous Pharisees. God used the wickedness of self-righteousness to magnify His grace. We saw it in Gn 50:20, with the evil and jealousy of Joseph's brothers.

The Lord will use the hardness of an unbeliever's heart and the hardness of a believer's heart to bring glory to Himself. Inevitably the Lord will be glorified even when men perform the greatest evil of which they are capable of performing. 2Co 13:8 says, for we can do nothing against the truth, but only for the truth. This is why I am a firm believer in the principle of divine appointments and the timing of God by noting the Doctrine of the open door.

Point 1. Definition. An open door refers to the grace opportunity related to giving meaning, purpose, and definition to your life.

It is an opportunity that results in happiness and blessing for the person who fulfills the plan of God. Since your salvation, you have the opportunity to become an anonymous invisible hero of this decade through historical impact. This is why we need to learn from the Philippian believers as Paul pointed out in 2Co 8.

Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability they gave of their own accord, begging us with much entreaty for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God. (2Co 8:1-5)

Point 2, the First Door of Opportunity in Scripture Is the Door of Salvation.

"I am the door, if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out and find pasture [logistical grace provision for the believer in Christ]." (Jn 10:9)

Anyone can walk through this door because salvation is available to all. It requires no merit for you to walk through a door. And when they had arrived and gathered the church together, they {began} to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. (Ac 14:27)

The door of faith or the open door of salvation is available to every member of the human race in every generation. All kinds of people can walk through a door. Good people, bad people, moral people, amoral, immoral, ignorant, smart etc.

Therefore, all kinds of people can be saved. No one is ever too evil or to sinful to be saved. There are no limitations, all you have to do is walk through the door and this is a great illustration of the non-meritorious function of faith in salvation.

The first opportunity in life is the open door of salvation......it's open to everyone..... "Whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." This is totally apart from human merit

You don't have to say, "Look God I'm going to wait until I straighten out my life and then I'll accept Christ as Savior." it's a door that you can walk through right now.

Point 3. The second door of opportunity in life is the door of communication of truth. This door is related to the three categories of truth: The laws of divine establishment, the gospel, and Bible doctrine. In 2Co 2:12 Paul is speaking, Now when I came to Troas or Troy for the gospel of Christ and when a door was opened for me in the Lord. In other words, there was great opportunity for evangelism and the communication of Bible doctrine.

Paul was a prepared man and God provided the hearers. Paul did not use gimmicks to gather a crowd. Many preachers today use gimmicks and that's because they are not prepared......God uses prepared people. Col 4:3 "Also, at the same time praying for us that God would open a door to communicate the mystery of Christ."

So, the open door in these passages indicates the communication of some form of doctrine.

Communication of all three categories of truth are related to the open door.

Category number 1, the laws of divine establishment for the entire human race.

Category number 2, the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ for Unbelievers.

Category number 3, Bible doctrine for believers. There is the open door of service,

1Cor 16:9, "For a wide door, even effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries."

Please notice that there is much "cosmic opposition" to the truth. The open door of service is when you see a need and God gives you the opportunity of fulfilling that need.

The open door of service it can refer to rendering financial help to others, Ac 11:29; 2CO 9:12-13; Rm 15:31. It can refer to personal help rendered to individuals in leadership positions, Ac 19:22; Rm 16:1-2.

It is God giving certain members of the body of Christ direction to identify the unmentioned needs involved in the local assembly and to do something about it.

Such people can be counted on in the most adverse circumstances and for the widest variety of service and God opens the door for these believers to go through.

Point 4. The third door of opportunity in life is the provision of the PPOG and its resultant historical impact. Rev 3:8

"I know your deeds [your production]. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power or insignificant strength, and have kept or guarded My word, and have not denied My name.

The fact that the PPOG is available to you is the greatest opportunity for historical impact that individual believers have ever had in any dispensation of history. His open door demands spiritual aggression on the part of the positive believer living inside the PPOG.

Point 5. The Fourth Door of Opportunity in Life Is the Door of Rebound and Recovery.

God has a door for the believer involved in apostasy. Rev 3:20 "I have stood at the door with the result that I keep standing at the door and knock repeatedly [this is the warning discipline stage of the spiritual life.] If anyone hears My voice and opens the door [rebound], I will come into him and have dinner with him and he with me [fellowship]. "The open door of opportunity is related to recovery from the cosmic system through the rebound technique.

Point 6. There Are Open Doors in Heaven. Rev 4:1 teaches the open door of the rapture of the church. Rev 4:1 After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, "Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things."

That's the open door of the Rapture. In Rev 4 and 5, the church is in heaven while in Rev 6-19, the tribulation occurs on earth. Then there is the open door of the second advent.

At the end of the tribulation a door opens in heaven and the Lord Jesus comes back with the Church

Rev 19:11 teaches the open door of the second advent, quoted from Psa 24:7-10.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war.

Psa 24:7-8, Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O everlasting doors, That the King of glory may come! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, The Lord mighty in battle.

Psa 24:9-10, Lift up your heads, O gates, And lift {them} up, O everlasting ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah.

So, we have the door of the Second advent mentioned in a very dramatic way in Psa 24:7-10.

Point 7. How to know the doors that God opens up in your life. First of all, we begin with that very simple principle in 1Co 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace,

The open door is determining the will of God for your life, related to both specific and general things, by the operation of your own thinking in the application of doctrine.

On the other hand, divine discipline and human disaster is usually God closing the door that you're trying to go through. Discipline and disaster is God saying, "No, you are not in my will, do not go through that door." The only way to know positively what doors you should go through is to understand Bible doctrine and metabolize it.

You cannot know the will of God apart from knowing the word of God. There are categories of doors that God will open up in your life.

a. First of all, there is the open door of learning doctrine so that you can know what God wants you to think.

b. Secondly, there is the open door of the operational will of God or what God wants you to do.

c. There is also the open door of location or the geographical will of God which is where God wants you to be.

d. Then there the open doors of permission which are not a part of God's perfect will for your life.

He will open them up because of your persistence in trying to knock them down, this is known as the permissive will of God.

The permissive will of God says that God permits certain things to happen because God has given free will to man, so that man would be a rational creature who would resolve the angelic conflict.

You can know the viewpoint, operational, and geographical will of God for your life only by having maximum doctrine in your soul and going through the doors that God opens for you. You receive divine discipline for not knowing the right answer and being outside of god's will.

Point 8. How to know the doors that God opens up in your life. And we noted a very simple principle in 1Co 14:33 God is not God of confusion but of peace, You can know the viewpoint, operational, and geographical will of God for your life only by having maximum doctrine in your soul and going through the doors that God opens for you.

Point 9, Classifications of the open doors of God.

a. The directive open doors are the same as the desires of God for your life, as in Num 22:12.

b. The permissive open doors are those doors that God permits you to go through but it is not God's desire, as in Num 22:20.

c. There are also the open doors that you're forced to go through because of the overruling will of God which is that Jesus Christ controls history, as in Num 23:5, 8, 23, 25-26. Therefore, these open doors can be declared under four principles.

1. They are directive, God has a plan for your life and opens the doors if you desire to fulfill that plan.

2. The open doors are determinative and conclusive, God has permitted non-meritorious volition to bring us to the place of blessing or discipline.

3. They are permissive doors which are open because negative volition to bible doctrine is permitted, but divine justice provides discipline.

4. They are also preventative, providing doctrine, establishment laws, and discipline to keep human volition in the will of God.

Point 10. The academic concepts behind the open doors of God.

Knowing what doors God has opened for you depends on the perception of doctrine and then its application.

This principle of Bible doctrine in the soul is found in Psa 32:8; Isa 58:11. Psa 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.

The pure thoughts of doctrine, not the deceptive thoughts of man, are the basis for understanding what doors God is opening in your life.

Pr 3:1 My son, do not forget my teaching, #But let your heart keep my commandments;

Pr 3:2 For length of days and years of life, And peace they will add to you.

Pr 3:3 Do not let kindness and truth leave you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Pr 3:4 So you will find favor and good repute In the sight of God and man.

Pr 3:5 Trust in the (Lord) with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding.

Pr 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Rom 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

The filling of the Holy Spirit is a part of God opening up doors in the spiritual realm.

Eph 5:14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

Eph 5:15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise,

Eph 5:16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

Eph 5:17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Eph 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Spiritual growth causes you to know more of the open doors of God, 2PE 3:18; HE 11:7.

2Pe 3:18a but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Point 11, the mechanics of the open doors.

a. God will open doors through prayer, Lev 11:9, Col 4:3. “Knock, and it shall be opened to you".

Col 4:3 praying at the same time for us as well, that God may open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery doctrine of Christ,

b. God will open doors through objective thinking of Bible doctrine.

c. God will open up doors through providential circumstances, e.g. the people we meet.

d. God will open up doors through the filling of the Holy spirit and humility.

e. God will open doors up through fellowship and comparison of spiritual data with other believers.

f. God will even open up doors through disaster.

"For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate My power." Rm 9:9-17; 2Co 3:1-3; 8:1-5.

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 1, 2023; Money and Sex, Just add Power and you have the Unholy Trinity.

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

ALL ARE WELCOME

from - Romans 8:38-39

Hymn #1

Hymn #2

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown and forgotten sins];” NKJV (New King James Version); we call this REBOUND; read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? REBOUND

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 to God; the issue for you is to believe by faith alone in Jesus, The Christ alone for eternal life [salvation] and you will be saved [receive Eternal Life] the very micro second you believe in Him:

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 [Num 21:4-9], even so must the Son of Man be lifted up [the cross], 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 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:

Our Pastor-Teacher is:

Robert McLaughlin - Grace Bible Church and Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Terms used by RMBM

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.

OPTIONAL: On-line Bible – NASB95

Sermon

NOTES

Unlike the bible study, these notes are not just for reading without watching the video. These notes are more designed to follow along during the sermon and to bring up the “hover pop-up scripture references;” if just hover doesn’t work, do a “control-left-click,” if that doesn’t work then look them up in your Bible) when the Pastor asks everyone to turn to that passage in their bibles.

Internet Church Service – January 1, 2023; Money and Sex, Just add Power and you have the Unholy Trinity.

Let's Talk About Sex, Part 16, The Conclusion.

Exo 20:14 "You shall not commit adultery" = fornication, prostitution, homosexuality, human sacrifice, group sex, demonism, rejection of authority, cultural degeneracy, bestiality, lesbianism, incest, masturbation, merchandising sex, etc.

Is the Phallic cult still around today?

Nehushtan = the Jews made an idol out of the means God used to deliver them and therefore rather than worshipping God they worshipped the means, the bronze serpent.

They were too much in bondage to the ways and the things that God operated in that they missed out on the Blesser because they were occupied with the blessings.

Here King Hezekiah got rid of the local fertility shrines, smashed the phallic stone monuments, and cut down the sex and religion Asherah groves.

He pulverized the ancient bronze serpent that Moses had made; at that time the Israelites had taken up the practice of sacrificing to it they had even dignified it with a name, Nehushtan (The Old Serpent).

The main problem here is that they worshipped the means rather than the person, TLJC [The Lord Jesus Christ].

We all have our little idols of God built right into our soul and if God does something to upset our little idol, or box, or concept, then our idol becomes the judge rather than the promises from God in the promise land.

Prin-Whether or not you enjoy victories over the giants in your promise land depends upon the type of information that you allow within your soul.

Lk 8:18 "Therefore take care how you listen; for whoever has, to him shall more be given; and whoever does not have, even what he thinks he has shall be taken away from him."

Mr 4:24 "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides.

Isa 11:3 "He will delight in reverence toward the Lord, And He will not judge by what His eyes see, Nor make a decision by what His ears hear;

Rm 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this cosmos or cosmic system of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

Practically everything that goes on in the world, the cosmic system wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important has nothing to do with the Father.

The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out but whoever does what God wants is set for all eternity.

If they had been of us, they would have stuck it out with us, loyal to the end. In leaving, they showed their true colors, showed they never did truly belong.

John says, "I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies."

Psa 101:7 He who practices deceit shall not dwell within my house [Satan dwells – in human viewpoint and demonic influence]; He who speaks falsehood shall not maintain his position before me.

David said that he had his eyes on the "salt of the earth people," the faithful of the land, they're the ones David wants to work with.

Mt 17:20b "For truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you.

The merit is not in the faith you have but the merit depends upon the One you are having faith towards, and therefore, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Mt 19:26 Jesus said to His followers; "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Mr 9:23 And Jesus said to him, "'If You can!' All things are possible to him who believes."

Mr 10:27 Looking upon them, Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God."

Lk 1:37 "For nothing will be impossible with God."

Who are we to say what will change and what will not?

Sometimes we need to go back to our child-like days as children for a moment; 2Co 11:3.

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.

We should never allow ourselves to have a border and say, *** "He works within here, but not out here."

Num 11:23 And the Lord said to Moses, "Is the Lord's power limited? Now you shall see whether My word will come true for you or not."

In Job 11:7, one of Job's close friends, Zophar the Naamathite said to Job , "Can you discover the depths of God? Can you discover the limits of the Almighty?"

There is a little book of prayers that children have written God - "Dear God, who drew the lines around all the States?"

Who drew those lines around all your needs, your goals and your dreams?

Who limits God in your life?

Who limits the influence Bible doctrine?

Who limits the work of God in your life?

Have you drawn God out of what you are going through in the promise land?

Is your concept of God, Nehushtan?

The bronze serpent was the means, which God used to reveal His Son to the congregation of Israel.

Jer 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for prosperity and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope [K.J.' says] "to bring you to an expected end.]

With the worship toward the bronze serpent, the Jews completely missed out on the whole point or the doctrine behind this phenomenon because they put God in their little box.

They began to elevate and worship the means that God used to reveal Himself rather than God Himself.

They elevated the bronze serpent so much so that later on the bronze serpent became an idol or a snare to the congregation of Israel, 2Ki 18:4.

They made an idol out of that which God used to deliver them and heal them.

They put God in their little box and their little box became the object of their worship.

The Lord has a way of smashing and humbling us just when we think we have arrived and we've got is all down pat and it's our way or no way, Heb 12:27-29.

"Is your God is too Small?"

"Do you have Him in a box?"

Pr 14:12 There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

Important principle: When arrogance becomes disenchanted with the idol it has created, then arrogance seeks to destroy the idol.

One of the most devastating forms of arrogance is to idolize someone who communicates doctrine then destroy him when he teaches something you disagree with.

This is very devastating because the person who does always confuses the communication with the communicator.

When the communicator says something or does something to let you down then you end up rejecting the communication of doctrine.

The smart believer accepts the doctrine and ignores the communicator.

1Sa 8:7 And the Lord said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

Lk 10:16 "The one who listens to you listens to Me, and the one who rejects you rejects Me; and he who rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me."

Destruction of a pastor-idol who teaches doctrine means rejection of Bible doctrine.

Rejection of that doctrine means rejection of God's plan, God's purpose and God's will for your life.

Prin-Occasional disappointments with friends, loved ones, husbands, wives, children, bosses, pastors, coaches, etc. is normal but disenchantment or disillusion with a self-manufactured idol is destructive.

This is when the individual becomes proud and over estimates what he ends up worshipping, whether it is a place, a person or a thing!

When the believer is losing in the PPOG [predetermined plan of God] and the PSD [problem solving devices], he or she accumulates garbage in the soul.

This garbage in the subconscious is related to certain defense mechanisms such as suppression, repression, dissociation, and denial, and garbage in the stream of consciousness related to idealization, role model arrogance, and unrealistic expectation.

When faced with certain commands on how to deal with sexual sins and the giants in their promise land, they are mature enough to fulfill their very own personal sense of destiny.

Notice then that a cult reveals one's obsession with whatever type of power or influences that are controlling the individual.

When the writer talks about marriage and sex under the title of the "marriage bed being undefiled," that immediately in the next verse he talks about money.

Heb 13:5, that your "lifestyle is to be free from the love of money, not flee from money, but flee from being in love with money and instead being content with what you have;"

Money and sex --- just add power and you have the "Unholy trinity" what most people live for, money, sex and power, and end up worshipping and serving them as idols.

"What should your mental attitude be toward money be?"

It's alright to think of the different ways money can be your servant rather than you being its slave but you can't afford to fall in love with it.

Mt 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon [money].

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.

Psa 73:3 For I was envious of the arrogant, As I saw the prosperity of the wicked. They are not in trouble as other men; Nor are they plagued like mankind.

Psa 73:16-17; When I pondered to understand this, It was troublesome in my sight until I came into the sanctuary of God; Then I perceived their end.

Ecc 11:1 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Isa 55:1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.

Lk 3:14 And some soldiers were questioning him, saying, "And what about us, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Do not take money from anyone by force, or accuse anyone falsely, and be content with your wages."

Lk 16:14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things, and they were scoffing at Him.

Jn 12:6 Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.

2Ti 3:2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy,

Message Bible -- Job 31:24 "Did I set my heart on making big money or worship at the bank?

(MB) Pr 16:16 Get wisdom it is worth more than money; choose insight over income every time.

Pr 22:1 A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich; a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

Pr 23:23 Buy truth don't sell it for love or money; buy wisdom, buy education, buy insight.

A cult is not necessarily devotion to a "god" as such, but it can also be devotion to an idea, especially one set up by the "god" of this world, Satan himself.

Main key = define the invisible battles that take place within the believer as well as not letting anything control you to the extent that it hinders and takes the believer away from fulfill the PPOG and their very own P.S.D.

Rm 7:14 For we know that the Law is spiritual; but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin.

1Co 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes.

The same power bestowed upon the humanity of Christ which allowed Him to endure the cross is the same power that is available to you and I today.

When our Lord was hanging on the cross, that same power would not allow Him to react to the crowd who said in Mt 27:40 "You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross."

Everything that led up to the cross, all the terrible arrogance and torture that our Lord endured, He did so because He used the divine power made available to Him.

Isa 53:7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth.

Is 52:14 His appearance was disfigured more than any man, And His form more than the sons of men.

Psa 22:14 I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me.

Mat 27:46 "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?" that is, "My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?"

Heb 9:14 Through the eternal Spirit, Christ offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

When it was all over, He had demonstrated the fact that under the power of God the Holy Spirit, you and I can bear anything in the entire world!

Hymn #3

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 of their eternal future.

Weekly Bible Study, December 26, 2022, The opposite of the invisible heroes – invisible betrayers.

Scripture References, Word & Phrase descriptions: the “Logos Reftagger” scripture links 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), when finished reading, hover your cursor off the scripture reference link. If the Reftagger pop-up doesn’t show all the verses, left click on the “More” button in the Reftagger pop-up window and it will take you to the online bible. If RefTagger pop-ups don’t work on your computer, that’s OK, try right clicking the link then open in new tab or window; or if that doesn’t work, you can always use your Bible to look up the verses. Word or Phrase definition links may not have a website that opens.

Preparing yourself for the study of God’s Word

Before we begin, only 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) John 3:16, John 6:47 as a few examples; it is very important to prepare yourself to learn God's Word so the Holy Spirit can teach you as to what your reading or hearing is true or false. To be taught by the Holy Spirit you must be filled with the Holy Spirit which means abiding in Christ. To place yourself in fellowship with God the Holy Spirit [also called abiding in the Christ], take a moment to simply name, cite or acknowledge [confess] your known unconfessed sins privately to God (i.e.; with your thoughts directed only to God the Father). Why? Because you cannot grow spiritually if you’re not abiding in Christ [in fellowship with Him] when you take in bible truth.

1 John 1:9, says: “If we confess [meaning to simply name, cite or acknowledge to God the Father] our sins [known unconfessed sins], He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins [known sins] and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness [all unknown and forgotten sins];” NKJV (New King James Version); we call this REBOUND; read the full doctrine as to “why” we need to use 1 John 1:9 to grow spiritually. Left click the following link to learn more and fully understand the doctrine of Rebound; which answers the question, why do I need to keep confessing my sins all the time? REBOUND

If you have never personally believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the Son of God, the promised Messiah, 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 simply exercise faith alone in Jesus Christ alone eternal life; when you do, you will instantly receive Eternal Life: John 3:16, 5:24, 6:47, 20:30, 31.

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

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 3:14-15, 16, 17, 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 McLaughlin Bible Ministries

Doctrinal Statement

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

Alphabetical Listing of Terms & Abbreviations used:

STUDY TITLE:

Weekly Bible Study, December 26, 2022, The opposite of the invisible heroes – invisible betrayers.

The opposite of the invisible heroes deals with the invisible betrayers. I say invisible because most traitors use deception as their power to mislead those who are naive or stupid. Pr 19:5 tells us what inevitably happens to the betrayer when it says, A false witness will not go unpunished, And he who tells lies will not escape.

It’s interesting that the betrayal of Judas was a shocker to the other eleven apostles, after all he was the Church treasurer.

In fact, look at Jn 13:27, And after the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Jesus therefore said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” Now no one of those reclining {at the table} knew for what purpose He had said this to him. For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast” or else, that he should give something to the poor. (Jn 13:27-29)

Twenty centuries later the Bible’s account of Judas’ treachery still raises all sorts of questions, several of which we don’t know the definitive answers to. But as we consider this passage, let’s not spend as much time speculating about what we don't know, as trying to understand what we do know about Judas. Today, his name is used in a negative connotation. To be called a Judas is a derogatory belittling name.

It’s also interesting and a part of the betrayer’s agenda that they have knowledge of where the one that they are betraying are. For example, TLJC [The Lord Jesus Christ] would spend His Nights on the Mount of Olives (Lk 21:37-38).

Now during the day He was teaching in the temple, but at evening He would go out and spend the night on the mount that is called Olivet. And all the people would get up early in the morning {to come} to Him in the temple to listen to Him. (Lk 21:37-38)