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Bibleline by line, here got to word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. Here gots truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida. Clearly declaring the gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. You can reach us toll-free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations may be made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage.

We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, and that today’s first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family. You know, sometimes you say things that don’t mean. Sometimes you mean things you don’t say. And sometimes you say things you wish you hadn’t said. And sometimes you say things and it’s taking the wrong way. You ever had to have them? Well, somebody always trying to help me out in the ministry.

And I appreciate them. You know, they send me little tidbits of this and little tidbits of that, you know. Anyway, I hope y’all are having a wonderful year so far. And have y’all heard anything about it? the elections or anything like that. So debates or, you know, somebody running for president and all that kind of stuff. Anybody hear anything like that? We do have some serious elections coming up in Florida is a close state. I mean, it is very, very important.

But anyway, let me read something to you. You know, these are some statements because it’s similar to the book of Proverbs. Now we’re not gonna go to Proverbs. We got a few other places we’re gonna run to. But whenever you study Proverbs, Pro and Verba means more than meets the eye, you see one thing and it says that, but there’s another meeting sometimes in there that sometimes we don’t always see. A statement where there’s a will, you know, you say, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Well some people say, where there’s a will, there’s a relative. Or where there’s a will, I want to be in it. that can be good and that can be bad. Another statement, do not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience. Think about it. Some people, just like if they run for office, they know how to play down and dirty. One time was talking to my son and he says, Daddy, he says, I know all about that street life out there.

He says, I know how to live on the streets. I know how to, because it’s like it’s another language, it’s another way of living. There’s people who know how to do that. So there’s another part of the world. I don’t know anything about. So you have to watch that people don’t pull you down into where they are and then beat you with experience. So you’ve got to be smart, be wiser. The last thing I want to do is hurt you, but it’s still on my list.

But it’s the last thing. Dan likes that one. Then hearing the lights that. Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak. It’s also the reason why you have two ears in only one mouth. So you should listen twice as much as you speak. Good point. If I agreed with you, both of us would be wrong. I love it whenever you can say a lot in a few words. It’s called when I used to speak in ranch I used to teach the college kids how to tell jokes.

Brevity is the soul of a joke. The shorter you can make it. I don’t like it when somebody’s gonna tell me a joke and it goes on and on and on. I said get to the punchline. I ain’t got all day. Tell me the story. You got to tell it. But they go on and on and they can take a joke that takes about five seconds to tell and they can work it into about two or three minutes. We never really grow up.

We only learn how to act in public. War does not not determine who is right, only who is left. There’s a little bit of something. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in the fruit salad. You may be considered, well, I know a lot about the Bible, but if you don’t know how to apply it and where to put it, then you’re not very wise. Wisdom is the application of knowledge. So it’s not just a matter of learning the Bible is the application of the Bible.

So to say, well, I’ve been to the Bible 10 times. times. Oh, I’ve been going to church for 30 years. Have you ever noticed there’s some Christians who’ve never applied it, never grown up yet? Well, we’ll move right along. Evening news is where they begin with good evening and then proceed to tell you why it isn’t. To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research. A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops.

My desk is a workstation. I’m not gonna explain that. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out I just wanted to paycheck. Isn’t it what it’s all about really? You just want to be happy making your money. You just want to make your money your way. And that’s how you determine your career. Anyway, whenever I fill out an application in the part that says in case of emergency, notify I always put doctor. I didn’t say it was your fault.

I said I was blaming you. Now there is a difference. I’m not sure what it is, but I’m sure it’s there somewhere. Don’t you enjoy a little brevity, a little brevity. Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman. How many of you say this morning I have a clear conscience? Careful. I also noticed nobody quickly raised their hand. You’re in fear this morning. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy memory.

I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn’t work that way, so I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness. Have you ever thought about, I’m just gonna do what I want to do, and then I’ll just ask God to forgive me and everything will be cool. Don’t go that way. This preacher does not approve of that. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You only need a parachute if you want to guy died twice. Did y’all get that?

Good. Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with. I used to be indecisive. Now I’m not so sure. You ever hear somebody say, you can’t be sure about anything. Are you sure about that? You’re never too old to learn something stupid. You would think the older we lived, the longer we lived, we’d be smart enough not to do such stupid things all the time, to be sure of hitting the target. Shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

Like the guy that’s you know he’s 70 years old and he’s working at Burger King. This is where I’ve always wanted to be. Because this is where I am, this must be what I hit. This must be what my goal was. Some people don’t have clear guidance for their life so anything will do. When you don’t know where you go in any road will do and it’s better to aim at something and miss to name it nothing and hit it.

Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine. Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian anymore than standing in a garage. It makes you a car. Hospitality is making your guests feel at home, even when you wish they were. When tempted to fight fire with fire, remember the fire department usually used water. A word of wisdom. The early bird may get the worm. But the second mouse gets the cheese. Now you’ve had your warm-up session.

Take your Bible and turn me to the book of Matthew, chapter five. I just wanna mention a few things to you that I hope will be a blessing to you. Some things you already know, I mean, what can I teach you people that you don’t know? Y’all know everything. But Matthew in chapter five, You know that the Lord is going to reward you when you get to heaven. We all teach that. We know that, we understand that, we believe that.

But sometimes in the process of time, we kind of lose sight that before glory is suffering, before praise is suffering, before Your honor is suffering. So which comes first? Suffering, then glory. When Christ came into the world, what did He do first? He suffered, and the next time, glory. So keep the thought in mind. First we have to labor and suffer in this world for His Kingdom, and then later God is going to reward. bless is going to give you praise, honor, and glory.

So here in Matthew and chapter 5, look at their in verse 10, blessed are they which are persecuted. Blessed are they which are persecuted. I don’t mind being persecuted. I just don’t want the person who did it to me to get away with it. Right? We want revenge. We want to get even. And so that’s where you could forfeit the rewards that you could have got by enduring the persecution. Now you may not enjoy the persecution, but we are told in his word to endure it.

But he says, blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness, say for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye when man shall revile you or mock you, make fun of you, rib you. You know, I’ve thought about running for president, But after watching all these debates, I think I’ll pass. You realize what they have to go through, the scrutiny? They’re mean. They’re ugly. And it makes you think twice, don’t they? Sometimes you wonder, well, what is the truth?

And they cast questions and doubts on just about anybody. They don’t have to prove anything. All they got to do is just say it. Now you prove it didn’t happen. But it says here in verse 11, Blessed are ye when men shall revow you and persecute you shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my say in other words because you’re serving the Lord and you’re seeking to do what’s right and You are persecuted for it. He says and you did it for my sake.

He said I got something for you In verse 12 you ought to underline this word see that word rejoice rejoice Now, when should you start rejoicing when we get to heaven and get all those rewards? I believe that you and I are supposed to rejoice when? Now, because you know what’s coming down the road. And see, it doesn’t matter what people say and do. You can rejoice now and you know that’s where you can have a lot of happiness in life.

Because you know that what just happened maybe wasn’t good. And your happiness isn’t dependent upon happenings, but you know that I’m going to get rewarded for this if I handle this correctly. If I have the right attitude, you realize that most people don’t have a good attitude, they have a prideful attitude, they have a me-only attitude. Whenever what kids get in line when they’re going to school, I don’t know why it is. Somebody always thinks they have to be in front of the line.

I don’t mind if they get behind me. I just got a bad case of not me, I just, you know, me only. Man, I guess that’s the way it is. Have you ever noticed when we have the food in the auditorium sometimes? I have no clue how it is that I always work out to be in the front of the line sometimes. I didn’t plan it that way. Somebody has to have prayer. Now, Larry, that busted out too. He shouldn’t have done that.

You know you’ve been on the internet and it’s going all over the world. His name is Larry. But rejoice, rejoice and get this. Look at the last part of that verse. Rejoice and be exceeding glad for great is your reward where? In heaven. So that means that in order for me to get rewarded for that persecution or those things that people say against me, somebody has to be watching. Somebody has to be keeping the books. Did you realize that your heavenly Father watches everything?

Don’t you think that he knows how you’re being treated and that you can still have a good attitude? It doesn’t seem like whatever happens because you know that when I get to heaven, God’s going to reward me for whatever I’ve gone through and persecution or whatever it might be. And so here it makes the statement for so persecuted day, the prophets which were before you. Now, you just read about that in the book of Acts on Wednesday night. How that you have prosecuted all the prophets before you.

So it’s a good verse to always remember. Remember he talks about seeing your good work. When he talks about you being salted the earth and the light of the world, It’s referring to lost people or the world seeing your works. See what he says there in verse 16. Let your light so shine before men. Now this light to shine before men is the response of what people do to you. It’s how you’re handling it that causes them to see something better, something different.

If you’re going to live like a lost man, I don’t think you’re going to be honored. But he says, let your light so shine before meant that they may see your good works. You see, what they were doing was not good, but your response is good or supposed to be good. And then he says, and glorify your Father, which is in heaven. Always be willing to give credit and honor to the Lord What God’s done for you, but God is pleased when you suffer and you praise him for it.

It’s because you know God’s going to reward you and it can help your attitude while you hear. Otherwise you’ll just be a Christian with a bad natitude and that’s not what the Lord wants. Looking first Peter in chapter one first Peter chapter one This is a familiar verse But it’s good to look at renew your You knew your mind one more time. First Peter chapter 1, as you know, we’ve talked about in verse 4, that when you’re saved, you’re saved from something to something.

You’re saved from hell to in verse 4, to an inheritance and sin corruptible and undefiled that faith, if not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith and the salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. So you were saved by grace and your kept saved by grace because you put your faith in what Christ did for you. So you rejoicing that. You’re glad you know you have eternal life. And despite everything else that happens, you know you’re going to heaven.

But now look what he says in verse 6. Wherein ye greatly rejoice. You can rejoice about that, your salvation. What we just read in the book of Matthew chapter 5 about greatly rejoicing and be exceeding glad because of your life. This period of time God’s got us to live. You know you’ll influence more people with a good attitude than you will with a bad attitude, with a smile on your face more than a frown on your face. You get what he says in verse 6.

We’re in you greatly rejoice though now for a season. See this little period of time that we have to go through, this is just a little period of time. And we’re supposed to be found faithful. And it has rejoiced there now for a season. If need be, ye are in heaviness. If need, you ought to take that word need and underline it. Did you know thateanor various times in your life that God knows what you need? Did you know that he knows that you learn a lesson?

God knows when you need a trial or a testing. Did you know that? Did you know that God could be the one that’s actually disciplining you, disciplining you? There’s a lot of people I like to disciple. And when they don’t do this, I try to follow up and help. You’re always doing that. Did you know that God, your heavenly Father, is doing the same? He knows more about what you need than you know. And so sometimes he knows you need a rebuke, you need a testing, you need to be humbled, you are filled with pride or jealousy or envy or bitter.

God knows. And did you know that God can work things out, that where time he gets through with you, he can so humble you and you say, Lord, I’m so sorry I should have done that. God knows what he’s doing. You lift yourself up in And in pride and God will put you down. You humble yourself and God will exalt you. And if you don’t get exalted like you think you should, does God know that? Can you just go ahead and be faithful and have a right kind of addict only because you know God is going to take care of it.

And I get to heaven, God’s going to reward me. You win in the long run. You win. But look what he says. He says here in this verse, We are in heaviness through manifold temptation. In other words, there’s things that weigh you down. There’s always problems. Every one of us has assets and liabilities. All of us do. And God is always working in our lives. It doesn’t stop. Just because next month I’ll be 70 doesn’t mean that that’s the end of it.

I finally reached my peak and everything’s wonderful from then on. I hope so. I don’t think so though. And then in verse seven, the trial of your faith. Been much more precious than of gold, which perishes though it be tried with fire might be found on the praise, honor, and glory win at the appearing of Jesus Christ. So the time is coming, just always look for that and believe that because it will happen. First Peter chapter four, just look at it very quickly.

First Peter chapter four. And you’ll notice there’s a few verses here really, really sharp. 1 Peter 4, look in verse 12, where it says, Beloved, thank it not strange concerning the, and you ought to underline these two words in your Bible, fiery trial, which is to try you. You see what’s coming this year? You really want to know. This year, there’s going to be some fiery trials to try you. Did you know God can try your faith with success or with failure?

With help and without help? You see, the man who I was reading in the paper this morning, how, is talking about some of these presidential poor folks and all their millions that they’ve got, millions. And they’re trying to help us, I guess, make our million like they did. No, I’m not sure. But there’s some people that have a lot of money, but you know they can struggle and be just as miserable as a poor man. But what he says here, he says this, don’t think that it’s some strange thing that’s happened to you because these things happen to all of us.

You just get different testing at different time. Aren’t you glad we all don’t have the same thing hit at the same time. So that some of us have done learn the lesson, we can help the other one. And then you helped her. And then later on, she has to help you and then just everybody needs each other. That’s why God designed it. But in verse 13, he says, but and here’s that word again, rejoice, rejoice. And as much as you are partakers of Christ’s suffering that when his glory shall be revealed, you may be glad also with an exceeding joy.

See, you’re supposed to know and believe this and so you just kind of like reach out to the future because you know God’s Word is sure and you know you’re going to be rewarded and God’s going to be pleased and that makes you happy now, I’m satisfied, I’m pleased. And so it doesn’t matter what anybody says or does, you just keep doing what’s right. And it doesn’t matter whether you have good health, bad health. You got money, no money.

You just be faithful between you and God. Believing that God is watching and taking notes and keeping the books, is it going to take care of everything? And you’ll win in the long run. That’s what the meter word of God is saying. Of course you can go ahead and you can read a lot of that because the book of Peter is talking about sufferings. He just happened to see some of it, you know, the sufferance of Christ. And so he got a good, good view.

Look in Romans in chapter eight and verse 18, Romans and chapter eight. Romans chapter eight and verse 18, this is talking about you and me serving the Lord. It’s talking about us being mature, sons of God. See up here in verse 14, first of all, for as many as are led, led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons or the maturing sons of God. So you begin to grow when you begin to let the Lord lead you and realizing the Holy Spirit is living within you and he’s going to lead you into sufferings.

when Christ went up into the mountain, he says, and he was led by the Spirit into the mountain to be tempted by the devil. The Holy Spirit led him there. It was God that led Moses and the children of it into the wilderness. What up to the Red Sea? And look at all the problem they have, but who led them that way? The Lord. Why should you and I be exempt? Why should we be exempt? If God loves me and God loves you, he ought to give us the same opportunity, don’t you think?

Don’t you think God wants us to prove our love and faithfulness to him just like, well, he gave that opportunity to everybody else? Why should we be exempt? So let God use you. Let God have the freedom to do in your life whatever he wants to do without any lip. Well, I complain, well, I bad attitudes and just look to the Lord and trust Him. But anyway, he says on verse 18, for I reckon that the sufferings of this present, present time are not worthy to be compared, not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

See, there’s a present time and there shall be glory. Now you go through it now, knowing and believing that it will be worth it all. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you were blessed by today’s message. Part 2 of this teaching will conclude with tomorrow’s broadcast. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Bibleline and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing tool free 1-800-576-3771.

That’s 1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again or to obtain a free download of any of our Bibleline programs, just go to our homepage at BibleLineMinistries.org and click on the Radio Broadcast link. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Our Sunday morning services begin at 10-30 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcast of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org.

Thanks for joining us on Bibleline, and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed. Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon, and just keep looking up.