[0:00] I greet you in the name of Jesus this morning, the Son of God, the one that you've been singing about, glory to God.
[0:14] And, you know, we, thinking of India and thinking of other places, we realize that we are but a small part of the Church of Jesus Christ and believers all over this world.
[0:49] You know, I'm not quite sure where we're going yet, but I'm going to start with a verse in Hebrews 11, just kind of, this verse kind of jumped out at me here a little bit ago this morning.
[1:12] It says, but without faith it is impossible to please Him. You know, pleasing God is a very important matter, is it not?
[1:33] Without faith it is impossible to please Him. For he that cometh to God must believe that He is, that He is a reward of them that diligently seek Him.
[1:47] You know, as we think of this, you know, many people will tell you that they believe in God.
[2:02] Some people will say they believe in our God, but we believe in the one true God. And what does it mean to believe in Him?
[2:15] You know, there's so many people that will say they believe in God, but they don't really trust God with their life.
[2:40] I believe what God wants, what He desires is that we give our all to Him and we trust Him with our lives. And we believe in chapter 10, verse 38 says, now the just shall live by faith.
[3:00] But if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. The just shall live by faith. And you know, Hebrews 11 is known as the faith chapter.
[3:13] And if you read through this, you know, let's just read verse 7 here. By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
[3:38] Here we have one verse that talks to us and tells us about Noah. And he says, Noah was warned of God.
[3:50] You know, and the Bible does not really record that God came to Noah on a regular basis and encouraged him and told him, yeah, you know, it is actually going to happen.
[4:02] You know, keep going. You know, keep building this. But Noah heard from God and it took him 120 years to build the ark.
[4:14] How many of us would be faithful if we heard from God one time and we would, you know, even 10 years, 20 years.
[4:25] How many of us would follow that word without another affirmation, without another confirmation that this is what God meant?
[4:38] You know, it's the nature of humanity to doubt the past, to doubt the word that was given.
[4:55] You know, Noah, if he would have built the ark for 50 years and finally would say, you know, this looks like an endless job. How in the world are we ever going to get this done?
[5:09] Well, you know, is it actually going to happen? Is there going to be a flood? I haven't heard from God for 40 years. I haven't heard from God for 50 years. I mean, do you think, boys, do you think this is actually going to happen?
[5:25] I think that's how a lot of people, probably a lot of us would be today. Probably how we are. But Noah, warned of God, of things not seen as yet.
[5:43] You know, it didn't even rain in that day. It didn't, in that time, the earth was moistened with, you know, with dew and so on.
[5:55] It was not, it didn't even rain as we know it. It says, he moved with fear.
[6:08] He prepared an ark to the saving of his house. By the which he condemned the world. You know, the Bible tells us Noah was a preacher of righteousness.
[6:25] I believe that probably one of the reasons it took so long to build the ark is because Noah was preaching and telling the people and warning them of judgment to come.
[6:39] And he was telling them that the world is going to perish. Noah was a preacher of righteousness. And you could be saved if you would believe and you would come and join us in the ark.
[6:55] Noah, a preacher of righteousness. It says, he built the ark to the saving of his house by the which he condemned the world.
[7:09] Noah, walking in obedience to God. What did it do? What did it do? It condemned the world. It condemned the mockers.
[7:22] It condemned the unbelievers. It condemned those that, you know, we don't know, but can you imagine how people treated Noah and mocked him and railed on him and all that?
[7:42] It says, Noah condemned the world.
[7:52] And he became heir of the righteousness which is by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed.
[8:14] And he went out not knowing whither he went. Can you imagine the Lord telling you, go to Missoula, get on I-90 and head out.
[8:27] Well, I'll tell you which way to go when you get to Missoula. You get to Missoula and, hmm, oh, okay, all right, here we go. But we still don't know where we're going. Abraham called to go somewhere, but he didn't know where.
[8:51] But he was obedient. You know, I believe that obedience, obedience is the essence of faith.
[9:06] Obedience is the outworking of our faith to God. You know, James says, what does James say? He says, in chapter 2, verse 17, Even so, faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.
[9:30] Faith without works is dead. You know, if a man does not have works, you know his faith is not alive.
[9:43] It's just words. It's just vain words. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works. Show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.
[9:58] You know, it seems to me that Brother James lived in a day like we do, when people were saying, I have faith, but their life did not show that they had faith.
[10:10] Because notice what he says here, you show me your faith without your works. Go ahead and show it to me. Prove to me that you have faith.
[10:21] And then I will show you my works by my faith. Yes. And he talks about Abraham.
[10:35] Was not Abraham justified by works when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? See, as thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect.
[10:57] Faith made perfect by our life, a life of obedience, a life of fruitfulness, a life lived to the honor and glory of God.
[11:18] Verse 26. For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. So what is our foundation for faith?
[11:33] You know, talking about faith, what is our foundation for faith? You know, God, well, Hebrew says that we must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
[11:56] We all believe in a God. We all believe that God is alive, and that he is almighty, and that he is the eternal God.
[12:08] And without faith, it is impossible to please him. It says, if we will come to him, we must believe that God is, and we must believe that he will reward those that diligently seek him.
[12:32] Now let's read in Hebrews 11, verse 1 and 2. By faith is, now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
[12:46] For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
[13:04] By faith we believe in an eternal God. By faith we believe that God has all things under his hand.
[13:16] By faith we believe that God created the worlds out of what? Out of, that he just spoke the word and they were created.
[13:29] You know, and, there's a lot of things that we don't really understand. You know, that's why there's people that ask questions and we don't really have an answer for.
[13:46] And the reason is because we believe it by faith. And without faith, those people can't really believe. They can't see why.
[13:59] They can't see how. So that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.
[14:12] are God. So when God says, when God says that he will do something, we just say, yes Lord.
[14:33] Right? Right? You know, I want to turn this a little bit and I want to look at the foundation of the church.
[14:55] and it is, you know, we, our foundation as believers is founded in the Lord Jesus Christ and our faith in him.
[15:10] I want to go back. I want to read a couple verses in Isaiah. In Isaiah 28. In Isaiah 28. In Isaiah 28.
[15:40] Verse 16. Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation.
[15:58] He that believeth shall not make haste. We all know that this is a prophecy of Jesus Christ. That God will lay in Zion a chief cornerstone.
[16:17] And we will look at this for a little while. But this cornerstone is Jesus Christ. Christ. And God said, He will lay this stone and it will be a tried stone.
[16:32] It will be a foundation. It will be a cornerstone of a sure foundation. He that believeth shall not make haste.
[16:45] Now, a cornerstone. Just think with me a little bit about a cornerstone. When you start a building and, you know, the most important thing is the corner.
[16:58] And there's one corner where everything else is measured off of and everything else is built from that corner. That corner needs to be accurate and it needs to be right and it needs to be exact.
[17:16] And that's who our Lord Jesus is. You know, let's read the next verse. It says, Judgment also will I lay to the line and righteousness to the plummet.
[17:27] You know, you stretch a line and, and that, and they, you know, they didn't used to have levels like we do but they hang this plummet and then they stretch this line and they come out and they, and they set their stones, their corners, and their foundation in that way.
[17:47] But Jesus, the chief cornerstone and he is a sure foundation and judgment, judgment. Why judgment?
[17:59] You know, the kingdom of God brings judgment to this world. You know, remember Noah. It says that, that he condemned the world.
[18:15] He condemned the world by his righteous life and by his building the ark. He condemned the world round about him.
[18:26] Judgment. God was setting up judgment. Every time Noah was out there building the ark, the world was reminded of judgment. And, you know, I expect it took the divine protection of God to protect Noah because, you know, if the whole world was wicked and Noah and his family were the only ones left righteous, don't you think they hated Noah?
[18:59] Why, he was the only man. Oh, I'm sure there were some other righteous people yet, you know, maybe at the beginning at least, but by the time that Noah entered the ark, they were all gone.
[19:14] But, so Noah and his family, they reminded the wicked of the righteousness of God.
[19:26] And that's how it is for us today. As we walk in the power of God, this world is convicted of their sin, of their, of the righteousness of God and their own wickedness.
[19:45] And yes, they can still come to our Lord Jesus if they will. I want to read a verse, Psalm 118, 22.
[19:59] the stone which the builders refused is become the headstone of the corner. And this verse is quoted in Acts and the Pharisees are told that this is what you did.
[20:21] The stone which the builders refused, the Pharisees, the chief priests, the elders of the Jews, they refused Jesus when he came.
[20:32] And so in doing that they fulfilled this prophecy and they refused the headstone of the corner. This is the Lord's doing.
[20:43] It is marvelous in our eyes. This is the Lord's doing. You know, the work of the Lord is a marvelous work.
[20:55] It was marvelous when Jesus came. And it is still marvelous in our day. And how is it? How is it marvelous?
[21:07] It is because of the life of God living within us in His church. I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone.
[21:22] Now Acts chapter 4 is that verse. I just want to pick it out here so we can see how the apostles used it when they were before the council.
[21:43] Acts 4.9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole, be it known unto you all and all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole.
[22:12] This is the stone which was set at naught of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.
[22:31] You know, the day we live in, people don't like this verse. They explain it away, and they say that there's many ways to heaven. There's many ways, and all religions lead to the same place, and they do not.
[22:47] Jesus is the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved. These men, they obviously did not like what they heard that day, but they did eventually let them go, but they commanded them not to preach or teach in the name of Jesus.
[23:11] The name of Jesus. What a great name, and what it means for us. Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
[23:26] The words of Jesus, Jesus spoke that. This word, this Bible will not pass away. It will not pass away.
[23:37] It will stand forever. Today, people are trying to make this word optional, but it's not optional. It's the word of God, and it will stand forever.
[23:48] Let's turn to Ephesians chapter 2. Verse 19, Now therefore, ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone.
[24:21] This foundation, the foundation of the apostles and the prophets, and Jesus is the chief cornerstone, in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord, in whom ye also are built together, for inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
[24:46] So as we, as we are born again, and we're members of this church, we're members of the body of Christ, then we are built together for inhabitation of God through the Spirit.
[25:02] We are a part of this building. Jesus, the chief cornerstone, the apostles and the prophets, the foundation, and now we are built into that wall somewhere as lively stones we will see in Peter in just a few minutes.
[25:20] But we are a part of this great eternal building, the church of Jesus Christ, the temple of God. We are built together for a habitation of God through the Spirit, the Spirit of God that dwells within our hearts.
[25:43] It's a very part of our God. Our God lives within us. Hallelujah. Now, Peter, 1 Peter chapter 2.
[25:57] He talks here in chapter 1 of how the prophets in verse 10 in chapter 1 of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched diligently who prophesied of the grace that should come.
[26:27] searching what or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify when it testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glory that should follow.
[26:44] The Old Testament is full of prophecies of our Lord Jesus Christ and how he will come and that he would be crucified, that he would be killed and give his life and also of the glory that should follow.
[27:00] And notice what he says here. He says in verse 11, the Spirit of Christ which was in them did signify.
[27:12] The Spirit of Christ was in these prophets and spoke through them and prophesied through them and wrote this book through them.
[27:26] You know, we're thankful we have the New Testament but the apostles and the early church when they went preaching they preached out of the Old Testament.
[27:46] Yes, they did. The gospel, the New Testament is contained in that Old Testament. It's a precious word of prophecy.
[28:01] But they prophesied of the glory that should follow, the glory that should follow the suffering of Christ. And what's he talking about? He's talking about Pentecost and how the Spirit of God would come.
[28:17] That was all prophesied in the Old Testament. And then the next verse, in verse 12, unto whom it was revealed that not unto themselves but unto us they did minister the things which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven which things the angels desire to look into.
[28:50] you know, you know, the church of Jesus Christ, you know, it, the Bible calls it a mystery.
[29:03] It calls it a mystery. mystery. And I'm going to read this verse in Colossians. You know, the verse I just read here tells us that even the angels desire to look into this.
[29:19] But in Colossians chapter 1 verse 26, even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations but now is made manifest to his saints to whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles which is Christ in you the hope of glory.
[29:48] This great mystery that the prophets prophesied about but they didn't really understand it all. The great mystery that the angels desire to look into.
[29:59] What is it? It is Christ in us. The hope of glory. Hallelujah. You know, you know, can we, can we appreciate the greatness of our salvation?
[30:16] The awesomeness of almighty God living in our hearts. yes, yes, and we are a vital part of his kingdom, a vital part of his church.
[30:39] Verse 15, 1 Peter 1, 15, but as he which has called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation, because it is written, be ye holy, for I am holy.
[30:55] If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear or in reverence.
[31:08] for we were not redeemed with corruptible things, but incorruptible by the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.
[31:23] Verse 22, seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, an unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently, being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
[31:51] Incorruptible seed, the seed of Christ that was birthed within us, it was put within us when we were born again, and it is incorruptible, it cannot be defiled, and it must not be defiled, but he commands us to live a holy life, for all flesh is as grass, the glory of man, as a flower of grass, and it withereth, and it fadeth away, but the word of the Lord endureth forever.
[32:32] wherefore, because of all these things, because we are born again of incorruptible seed by the word of God, because we now have eternal life, because we will live forever, because we have God dwelling in our hearts, laying aside all malice, all guile, all hypocrisy, and envies, and evil speakings, lay aside that old life, put it away, have nothing to do with it, but live the new life, as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word, that he may grow thereby, if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious, to whom coming is unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God and precious,
[33:40] Jesus, chosen of God and precious, ye also as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, and holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, here we have it, us, as lively stones, living stones, living stones, in the temple of almighty God, and what is our purpose, to offer up, to be a spiritual house, and offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ, we serve a great king, we serve a great king, and he is worthy of our best, and he is worthy of more than we can give him, wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, behold,
[34:41] I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, he that believeth on him shall not be confounded, if we will believe in Jesus, and if we will trust him with everything, it says we will not be confounded, we will not be confused, we will not be dismayed, he will not, he will not disappoint us, he will not leave us, but he will always be with us, and he will answer, yes he will, unto you therefore which believe he is precious, but unto them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient, whereunto also they were appointed, you know, you know,
[35:47] I have to think, there's a verse, I think it might be in Ezekiel, where it says, talks about, about how the way of the children of Israel, how they were led astray, and now their way is as on a mountain path, and it's wet, and it's slippery in the dark, God said that through the prophet to them, and here he tells us, that this rock, this stone, he is a stone of stumbling to those that are disobedient, that's the New Testament version of that, those verses in Ezekiel, I believe, but ye are a chosen generation, we are a chosen generation, we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people, a peculiar people, we talked about that last week, or a couple weeks ago, a peculiar people, why are we peculiar?
[37:06] Because God lives within us, that's why, that's why, God lives within us, you're different than the whole world, everybody around you, out there in the world, why?
[37:22] Because God lives in you, that's who we are, the people of God, the people of God, he lives within us, a holy nation, a peculiar people, that ye should show forth the praises of him, the praises of God, who has called you out of darkness into his marvelous light, hallelujah, marvelous, it's a wonderful, wonderful life.
[38:11] Go to Matthew 16, verse 13, Jesus asked his disciples, whom do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?
[38:29] And they said, some say thou art John the Baptist, some Elias, others Jeremiah, or one of the prophets, he saith unto them, but whom say ye that I am?
[38:44] You know, it's the same with us today, who, you can, you know, it doesn't matter who those people out there say that Jesus is, what matters is that who I say that he is, who do you say that Jesus is?
[39:03] Jesus said, but whom say ye that I am? Peter answered, thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed art thou Simon Barjona, for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father, which is in heaven.
[39:27] And I say unto thee that thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. What is Jesus saying here?
[39:41] He said, flesh and blood hath not revealed it to you. How did Peter know it then?
[39:52] It says, but my Father, which is in heaven. You know, Peter had received the divine revelation that day, that he knew, he knew in his heart, that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God.
[40:15] And when Jesus asked, he spoke it, and he said, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.
[40:30] You know, I believe that this kingdom, this church that we're talking about, it is, it has a sure foundation.
[40:42] And we've been talking about that foundation. for us to be a part of this church, to be a part of the church of Jesus Christ.
[40:54] We need the same revelation that Peter had that day, that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.
[41:05] And, you know, it's so easy to say those words, but you just think about it. the Son of the living God, the Almighty God, the God that created heaven and earth, the God that knows everything.
[41:24] He knows where we were last night. He knows what we did yesterday. He knows it all. He was watching. He was pondering the path of our feet. Why did he go there?
[41:36] Oh, yeah, okay. God is watching. He knows where we're at. But, this Almighty God, Jesus is his Son, and he came to this earth, and the kingdom of God is built upon revelation.
[42:04] It is built by people who have received divine revelation revelation by the Holy Ghost.
[42:14] That is how the kingdom of God functions. That is how it progresses. That is how it moves on. That is how the work of God is accomplished by the revelation from God by the Holy Ghost.
[42:36] It is divine revelation revelation is the key to the kingdom. It is the key to the kingdom of God.
[42:50] It is how, you know, you know, in John, in the gospel of John, it says, as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God.
[43:05] Romans 8 tells us that those that are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. This is how we become a son, is to have that open communication that he can lead us and he can use us and he can do with us as he desires.
[43:27] Revelation. Revelation from the throne of God by the Holy Ghost. this personal experience with Jesus Christ, the Son of God by the Holy Ghost.
[43:52] He is revealed, he is acknowledged and by it we confess that he is the Son of God.
[44:05] we need a revelation of the glory and the vastness of Christ. You know, the Apostle Paul, toward the end of his life, what did he say?
[44:23] He said, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus that I might know him and the power of his resurrection.
[44:36] The Apostle Paul, after writing all these verses, all these scriptures that we read all the time, and yet, oh, that I might know him, that I might know him.
[44:52] It's a continual walk with him, continual revelation. revelation. The gates of hell cannot prevail against it.
[45:15] If God has brought revelation into your heart of who Jesus is and the awesome, greatness of Christ, the gates of hell cannot prevail against it, but you will stand against those gates of hell when they come, their onslaught, their attack.
[45:46] You will be victorious. You will be victorious. You will be victorious. You will be victorious. You will be victorious.
[45:57] now, turn with me to 1 Timothy chapter 3. I want to look at another aspect of the church here.
[46:07] 1 Timothy 3, 14.
[46:18] These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly. 2 Timothy 3, 15. But if I tarry along that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
[46:40] And without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
[47:01] verse 15, if I tarry long that you may know how to function in the church of God.
[47:22] In the house of God, which is the church of the living God, and the church of the living God is what?
[47:34] It is the pillar and ground of the truth. Now think with me a little bit. What's he saying here? That the church, the church is the pillar and the ground of the truth.
[47:53] You know, Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. The Holy Ghost is the spirit of truth. Truth. What is truth?
[48:05] You know, and how is this? Well, forever thy word is settled in heaven. It's settled there, and it will not change.
[48:19] But on earth, men try to change the truth all the time. But God, God has his church here on this earth. And what's this church supposed to do?
[48:32] It's supposed to hold the truth. The church is a pillar and the ground of the truth. What's a pillar? What's the ground of it?
[48:45] You know, I believe it's a foundation. The church is what God works through here in this earth.
[48:57] Here in this world, God works through the church. And if it were not for the church, there would be no way for the truth of God to function here.
[49:16] Isaiah tells us of a day when truth has fallen in the street. Those that follow righteousness are made a prey. Men call right wrong and wrong right, and we're living in that day and such a day as that when truth no longer matters.
[49:38] Truth has fallen in the street. You go to Washington, D.C. and you find truth, you'll have a hard time. But the church of Jesus Christ is the foundation for truth here on this earth.
[50:03] It's God's beachhead here in this world holding forth the banner of truth in this dark world.
[50:22] It's the foundation that God works off of. You know, here we are. We're gathered together, and God is in our midst.
[50:34] But this week, I don't know where we all will go. We're going every direction. Some of us are a little further than others. others.
[50:47] But God desires the glorious light of the gospel to shine through each one of us, and that he can show forth his truth to a lost and a dying world.
[51:00] Are we standing in that truth? Is God, God, can God trust us and depend on us with this truth that he has entrusted to us?
[51:24] He entrusted it to us. You know, God's plan.
[51:34] That's God's plan. It's the church of Jesus Christ. Take the truth of the gospel to this world.
[51:45] Stand on the truth of the gospel. Today, we see men compromising. We hear men say, well, yeah, so this new convert, we told him what the Bible says and now he has to make up his mind how he's going to live.
[52:09] You know, it shouldn't be a choice. It's one choice. It's the word of God. It's not something we decide. We've decided to follow him.
[52:21] We've decided to live by this word. We've decided to be a child of God.
[52:32] The decision is made. The decision is not when I read something whether I want to accept it or not. The decision is yes. When I read it, it's yes.
[52:52] without controversy, great is the mystery of godliness. This mystery, God manifested in the flesh, justified in the spirit, and dwells within us as the church of Jesus Christ.
[53:21] now in Peter, you know, I just want to get a couple verses here. You know, I mentioned how people want to decide whether they live this word.
[53:45] In 2 Peter chapter 3, he talks about, you know, he starts chapter 3 with, you know, there's scoffers walking after their own lust and saying where is the promise of his coming?
[54:11] And he goes on through this and talks about that this world will pass away.
[54:22] It will pass away. In verse 7, he says, the heavens and the earth which are now, that's what we live in now, they are by the same word, they are kept in store.
[54:36] In other words, the same word of God that created this earth, that word is holding it. but the day is coming when that word will be taken away and judgment will come.
[54:51] It says, he says here, it is kept by that word. It is but this world, it's reserved under fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
[55:13] verse 11, verse 9, the Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness, but is now long suffering to usward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
[55:32] You know, there's a wonderful verse, God is not willing that any should perish. God is waiting, giving yet opportunity for all humanity, for all who will to come to know him.
[55:47] But the day of the Lord, it will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.
[55:59] The earth also, and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat.
[56:29] Nevertheless, we, according to his promise, look for a new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness, wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent.
[56:46] Here is his admonition for us today concerning all this. Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless, and account that the long suffering of our Lord is salvation, even as our beloved brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to be understood.
[57:26] understood. I find it interesting that Peter himself said some of the things that Paul wrote are hard to be understood, but he doesn't leave it with that.
[57:40] He says, which, they that are unlearned and unstable rest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction, creation.
[57:55] Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware, lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ, to him be glory, both now and ever.
[58:20] Amen. this word will stand forever.
[58:34] This word will not change. It will not go away. It will stand forever, and those that explain it away, those that make this word optional, notice what Peter says here.
[58:56] He says, they do it to their own destruction. They do it to their own destruction. And he admonishes us to beware lest we fall from our own steadfastness.
[59:18] A clear warning, and there are so many warnings all through the epistles. Warnings that we not drift away, that we not become lukewarm, that we not slip and fall from our commitment to our Lord Jesus Christ.
[59:43] He says, grow in grace. How will we grow in grace? How will we grow in knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ? It is first by reading this word and also by revelation of the Holy Ghost.
[60:03] The Spirit of God just opening up this word to it. Yes. yes.
[60:14] Yes. The Spirit of God will never lead outside of this word.
[60:30] You know, there's a deception out there. People say, oh, they don't want to read too much of the word because it takes away from what they receive of the Holy Ghost.
[60:44] I'll tell you, it hinders. If you don't read this word, it hinders you from receiving from the Holy Ghost. What those people are receiving could very well be an evil spirit posing as a spirit of light.
[61:03] the Spirit of God works through his church and he is yet here, but someday he will be taken away, be taken out of this world.
[61:26] I believe when the Holy Ghost is taken, the church goes with him. Thessalonians gives us just a little glimpse of that.
[61:39] Second Thessalonians 2 talks about the end time and a falling away in the antichrist.
[62:00] and he says, verse 6, and now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. For the mystery of iniquity doeth already work.
[62:15] That spirit of antichrist, it's out there and we see it working all the time. Only he who now letteth will let until he be taken out of the way.
[62:28] you know, I believe what he's saying here is just simply the spirit of God is here on this, on the earth, in the world, in his church.
[62:44] It's his foundation that he works through. But someday the spirit of God will be removed, and this world will be a totally demon possessed world.
[63:11] Let us stand. Let us be faithful. Let us continue. Let us grow in grace.
[63:22] in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let's pray. Lord, we thank you for this so great salvation.
[63:37] Lord, we thank you for the life, your life that you have put within us by the Holy Ghost.
[63:49] And Lord, I pray, help us to live in such a way, Lord, that you can bring revelation into our hearts.
[64:04] Lord, that you can use us. Lord, that you can speak to us and through us. Lord, that we can receive from your spirit.
[64:19] revelation of your will, revelation of your word, that you can open up your word to us and teach us, Lord.
[64:34] Lord, help us to be all you want us to be. We pray in Jesus' name.
[64:46] Amen. Kindle P for wir