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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s 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 message will be a blessing to you and your family.

You and I know that we do not have to love God to go to heaven. We’re going to heaven because God loves us. And God didn’t put any stipulations on that I had to do anything in particular, if I trusted him, he would say he would keep his word. So I didn’t have to make any promises or pledges or stop anything, join anything, nothing. And I think that’s a wonderful thing that God would love us that much, and he does.

He loves us that much that he would give us the eternal life as a gift. But believe it or not, there are some things that God said that if you love me, if you love me, there’s so much more for the Christian if you love him. Now nobody can make you love somebody. You can’t force that. It’s got to be of your own will, your own volition, your own decision. You see, God even asked Christ as Peter three times, do you love me?

Well, if he had to love him to go to heaven, then of course the answer would have had to be yes. But if it didn’t leave Peter, it didn’t have to love the Lord to be saved. But his obedience, or disobedience, is, looks like it’s so linked to this little word called love. If you love me, serve me. And if you serve me, him will my Father honor. So there is some things that God will do for somebody who loves him.

And he wants us all to love him, but not everybody does. So look there in the Romans in chapter 8. You know your favorite verse or one of your favorite verses. It does make this statement. As we know that God has prepared many things, God even uses the word pre-determine, predestination. It means God has determined certain things. God has prepared something. He has determined before the foundation of the world that if I trusted him as my Savior, I would be based on me trusting Christ as I would be justified just if I never seen.

And that I would be someday glorified. And that day in God here, but in the eyes of God, it’s a done deal. So God prepares many things. Now we often believe that this is the day that the Lord hath made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. Now there’s a good possibility that that statement that he makes even refers to the resurrection of Christ. But this is the day that the Lord has made and I should still rejoice and be glad in this day because I should believe that every day is a prepared day.

It didn’t just happen. There’s something that God has prepared for this day. Now, here in Romans in chapter 8 I want you to look there in verse 28, and we know, and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God. And I believe that there’s a good possibility that all things that he’s referring to is all those things that he’s mentioned from the beginning of chapter one up to this point and beyond. Because it not only says, yes, we have all sinned, we’ve all come short of God’s glory.

And that’s bad. Yeah, but it’s good. Because Christ came and died on the cross and paid for all the sins of the world. And we said, well, that’s good. It’s good. No, but it’s bad if nobody’s ever heard the message. So it is the will of God that God gave us the privilege of telling everybody in the whole world. Now, that’s That’s good. No, that’s bad because not all of God’s children do it all. So there’s good and bad.

But you and I are supposed to believe that because of the battle that we go through in chapter 6 and chapter 7 that we get the power of the Holy Spirit in chapter 8. And all these things work together, even this old nature of mind, this old sinful nature, even God leaving me with an old sinful nature. If I love Him, can work to my good. Even leaving me here in this all sinful world. If I love the Lord and will serve the Lord, everything that’s wrong in the world can work together for my good.

Because see, all those things put pressure upon us. Their trials, their tribulations, their heartaches, despair, you name it. But don’t all those things work to our advantage if we love the Lord, we’re supposed to believe that. So notice what he says here, for good that love God to them, who are the called according to his purpose. So God has a purpose just in our life and we should rejoice in that. And if there’s a purpose, that means God has some things prepared.

God has prepared some things for us. I want you to take your Bible and look there in the book of Matthew chapter 20. Matthew and chapter 20. Matthew chapter 20 and looking verse 23, everyone would love to be used by the Lord. You want God to use you? I want God to use you. I want God to use me. And how he uses us is the influence that we have in other people’s lives. Sometimes we demonstrate love and sometimes we have to rebuke.

But even when we have to rebuke it should be because we love them. But look what he says in verse 23, and he said unto them, ye shall drink indeed of my cup and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with. But to sit on my right hand or on my left is not mine to give, but it shall be given to them for whom it is in this little word. I want you to underline it because it shows you that God has prepared some things.

God has prepared and it seems like God has prepared some things for those that love Him. Those that love Him will get something, will get more. Now that’s mentioned in the book of in chapter 14, 15, 16, when he talks about we should love him, we should love him. And so he’s given us reasons why we should. And one of the greatest reasons that we have for love in the Lord is because he loved us. And love should respond to love.

But it would be a great thing if everybody was on the same page with the Lord. But that’s not the case. I want you to look there at Matthew 25, Matthew chapter 25, and look there in verse 34. Matthew 25 and verse 34. And you’ll notice, yes, when Christ comes back and He sets His kingdom up, and He actually rules here. Well, there’s some things that God has said in His Word and promised, and we often hear that little phrase, interthou unto the joy of the Lord, enter thou into the joy of the Lord.

So it’s something we’re going to enter into this joy. Now while we’re here in this world we’re supposed to be joyful about all things, rejoice always, but sometimes our rejoicing is in what we know is coming down the road because sometimes the things that we’re now going through is It’s hard to rejoice hard to be glad and thankful, but he says in verse 34 Then shall the king say unto them on the right hand come a blessed of my father Inherit the kingdom Prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

It’s a place is Joy is Prepared for you you see We know that living in this life we we like to prepare for that which might happen down the road But we have something that God said he has prepared for down the road and as we live our life We should be preparing for the inevitable a lot of times people live with this idea, you know I’m gonna die one day So they have life insurance. Or if something happens to you, I made out a will.

I’m going to one of these days. And so you prepare. Well, there’s some things that God has also prepared. And I’ve wondered, I guess, you know, I just wonder how good it’s going to be. If he just revealed just a little bit, just how much has God really got in store for us? Things in this world can totally fall apart. We can be so excited one minute and so helpless and hopeless the next. Well if our hope is in the Lord, everything that I believe that happens to a child of God if he loves him, loves the Lord.

has prepared some things and he wants you to trust him and just walk with him and you don’t have to figure it all out. You just have to just stay close to the Lord and see what God’s got for you. But look what he says here in that verse. He says, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. You’re talking about God looking down the road. He was looking down the road. in verse 41, then shall he say also unto them of the left hand, depart from ye, ye cursed into everlasting fire.

And here’s another word, prepared, prepared for the devil and his angels. You see, I don’t think we understand how good it’s going to be for us. And I don’t think that the people,-who are lost in going to hell, think it’s going to be that bad. I think the good is going to be so it’s going to blow our minds. And I think the suffering and the torments of hell is going to be something that’s totally surprising that they didn’t think it was going to be that bad and it will be.

So anyways, you go through and you studied the Word of God, you find out that God has prepared things down the road. Now if we can look into eternity and see that God has prepared something for us when we leave this life, whether you’re going to heaven or whethertaining to hell, there’s things that God has prepared. Is it possible that God has prepared this day for our good, for our our our good. Now if we look at this day from the eyes of God there may be something good about this dayportation that God has us.

Look in the book of Luke. Luke chapter 1, Matthew, Mark, Luke, Luke and chapter 1. There was a man that was going to be born and God even prepared in advance his name and told his dad, says, you call him John, you call him John. And so here comes John. And He was going to be a special individual. And look what he says in verse 17, And he shall go before him in the spirit and the power of Elijah.

He says to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children. Evidently, there’s a time when the fathers’ hearts are not towards their children. They really maybe don’t care about their kids or they don’t care enough to discipline or love or correct or be the right example. Sometimes they don’t know because they weren’t taught themselves. But one of the things that John was going to do is turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just and get this last statement to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

You see, he was going to preach a message for people to prepare, Hey, the Messiah is coming on the same. The King of Israel is coming and straighten up, do right. The King is here and they should understand, Hey, this is the time of the Lord’s visitation when the Lord visited the earth. When he came to see us, have you ever had company come to see and you want to straighten up the house. Sometimes you don’t want company to come because you don’t want to clean up the house.

You got to make the bed, you got to wash the dishes, you got to scrub the floor, and the husband has to watch TV. And you got to do all this work because you’re preparing because you want it to look good, you want it to look right. You want them to think this is the way it always is. And of course they know better. to make a people prepared. For the Lord. Let’s just say this. The reason you studied the Word of God or come to church, to meet with other Christians is to prepare your heart to serve the Lord.

That’s why we need one another. We pray for one another. We encourage one another because they’re supposed to be doing the same thing for us. To prepare a people for the Lord. Are you ready? Are you ready to meet God? I mean, really ready to meet God. I mean, you may know Christ. you’re saving, you have eternal life, you’re going to heaven when you die, but are you really ready to meet Him? Or are you scared to death? Are there things in your life you think I need to straighten this up?

I’ve got to correct this. I wish I hadn’t have done this and that and the other. Maybe some things you need to get taken care of in advance. But anyway, looking John 14, the Gospel of John in chapter 14, John 14, and looking verse 2, John 14 and verse 2, you’ll notice that the Lord in talking to his disciples, he made a statement, let not your heart be troubled, evidently they were. And no doubt they worried, and they had a lot of fear because you’ll find throughout Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John he’s always having to rebuke him a little bit.

And so this is what he says to him, let not your heart be troubled, you believe in God? Believe in me. Trust me. Trust me. Trust me. You see, God is somebody that’s way up there, far away. But see, the Holy Spirit lives within us. He’s right here. And so therefore you and I are living in the presence of God. He says in verse 2, in my father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you and you ought to underline it.

I go to prepare. I go to prepare. I want to get a place ready for you. I go to prepare a place for you. And then what’s what he said? And if I go and prepare a place. Now that’s looking down the road. God is simply getting things ready for us. It’s hard for us to believe that God so loved the world, that He actually prepared a place for us. And sometimes you think, no, maybe when He went to the cross, He was preparing a way for us.

Because He says, I am the way, the truth and life. He went to prepare a way for us. Because without Him going to the cross, there is no way. That’s why He says, I am the way, the truth and the life. is no other way to get to heaven and to the Father except through Christ. And so He says, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am, there you may be also.

It seems like He’s thinking about us. You read in 139th Psalm where He talks about when He says, you are fearfully and wonderfully made. And how many are the thoughts that he has toward us? God said, in heaven, thinks about us. Wouldn’t it be nice to know that this morning God was waiting for you to wake up? God was thinking about you. So God has prepared some good things for you today. Now sometimes we get out of bed and say, something bad is going to happen to me today.

Something’s going to go wrong today. What are many things that can go wrong today? Well, how many things could go good today? Still alive. He’s got a pulse, he’s got a purpose. But I want you to see this. Look there in the book of first Corinthians. First Corinthians in chapter two. Now you know this verse, I’ve covered a number of times. But in first Corinthians in chapter two, I just want you to look there in verse seven, first of all.

He says, but we speak, the wisdom of God in a mystery. even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory, which none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. If they had known, really knew, who Jesus was, they may not have crucified the Lord of glory. But doesn’t the Bible say that he was crucified before the foundation of the world? You know there are some things that God has not revealed because it could have changed the plan of God and what needed to be accomplished and prepared.

And so by Christ going to the cross He was preparing a way for us to have eternal life, to be with Him forever. You see if God had revealed everything to His disciples they would probably have tried to prevent his death. Didn’t Peter try that? All he did was just cut off the high priest’s ear. I guarantee you, he was aiming for more than a near. And Jesus puts his ear back on. See, there’s some things that God has to hide from our eyes, but he wants us to trust him.

God in his wisdom has seen fit that this day it’s not sufficient for us to know everything that’s going to happen. Because if we knew it, we could have to be able to do it. everything that would happen, we would probably try to alter it or change it. He just wants us to do right and trust Him. Otherwise you’ll be trying to manipulate everything that God wants to accomplish in your life and that’s not good. But what is good is the next verse where it says, I have not seen, ear have not heard, neither has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for them and there’s those last words that love him.

See there’s some things that God has for those that do love the Lord and I think it’s important for us to keep that in mind but I want you to see this real quick look there in the book of Jonah the book of Jonah. Jonah, this is around page 943, there’s no school for reference Bible, and find Obadiah you’ll find Jonah next. And then you’ll have Micah, Nahum, Abhaykah, and some of those books. It’s sometimes hard to find these little bitty books in there, and I understand that.

Sometimes I try to find it, and I feel so embarrassed I can’t find some little book, I’ll forget what side it’s on or what page, you know. But anyway, in Jonah, you know the story of how God had prepared to send a man to Nineveh because God wanted the people to hear a message. Because God was going to destroy Nineveh if they didn’t hear this message and make the right decision. Whatever that decision was. Did Jonah want to go?

No. All right. But was it the will of God that Jonah go? Yeah. So God had a purpose for Jonah. And God told Jonah what he wanted him to do. So because God told Jonah what he wanted him to do, what he wanted him to say, where he was to go, Jonah said no. We got a problem. See, he tried to alter the will of God. Now God couldn’t let it go, but the purpose must have been great. So even though Jonah ran the wrong direction, God says there in verse 7th and chapter 1, it says, now the Lord had, and here’s that word, prepared, prepared a great fish.

God had Jonah have an appointment with a fish. And so when Jonah and the fish met, the fish swallowed Jonah. Why did God prepare the fish to be at the right place at the right time? Because he had a rebellious servant on his hands. You say, well this This is just a coincidence. That’s not what it says. It says here, He prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah. That’s why He did. So God was working in Jonah’s life, even though Jonah was running from God.

If you run from God, I assure you, God is still going to work on your life and in your life and through your life. did not even affect the men that were on the boat? Sure did. Now notice something else. He goes through here and he says about these things that he prepared but just very quickly. I think it’s so important. Looking verse 6 of chapter 4 verse 6 of chapter 4 where he says, and Lord God prepared a God and made it to come up over Jonah.

So who did this? Even a Lord. See if God is so concerned about our life, the little things that you wouldn’t think are important could have been sent by God. And the big things as big as a way are could have been sent by God. You see, God can use big things and God can use little things. God has prepared this day. I can assure you he’s already got tomorrow prepared to. And God knows what’s coming down the road.

And if you decide I’m just going to rebel against God, do my own thing. Go for it. If you think you can outrun God, have fun. Jonah tried it, he could outrun God. And God prepared something that was waiting for him. He didn’t know it was going to get that bad. And now something so simple as a little gourd that God said here at Leggen, made it to come up over Jonah. Not just anywhere, it was where Jonah was.

You see, God knows where we are, he knows what we’re going through. we’re going through, he knows how we feel. Jonah was still very upset with God because God spared the people and he says, God, I knew you was gracious that you’re gonna be kind. See what it says down there in verse 1? Verse 2 he says, for I knew that thou are the gracious God and merciful, slow to anger and of great kindness. I know all that about you.

That’s That’s why I knew you weren’t going to destroy those people because of the way you are. Yeah, but look what God had to do in Jonah’s life. And Jonah has a bad attitude and God’s going to have to deal with him. But now notice what he says in verse 7. So the God comes up and gives him some shade. Oh, thank you Lord. And then verse 7 and God prepared a worm. Now listen, the little things of life, and you know that if God can use a gourd and God can use a worm, God can use you.

And you’d be surprised at sometimes the people that God will send into your life. Now if God would give a man like Jonah all this attention, do you think God is going to give you any? Or just let you do whatever you want to do and he’s not interested in you. I believe God is interested in every last one of us. And there may be some things that God will have come along even today that will irritate you. He might even use a person or an incident.

So you don’t never know, but you should know and believe that there is a God behind the that’s working and we even his will in my life. And if I love him, all things work together for good. Isn’t God good? Now can you think of anything God has done for you that’s good so far today? You shouldn’t be able to think of something. We often God is so good. God is so good. God is so good. God is so good.

God is so good. He’s so good too. Everybody but me. He’s so good to me. We at Bibleline would like to extend a free offer to those who support this ministry financially. This month we are sending a free copy of the book, The Gospel Driven Man, for a donation of any amount. It is a small way that we can show our appreciation for your support of this radio program. Without your thoughtful gifts and prayers, we would not be able to remain on the air.

The book explains the basic doctrines of the Bible and can help you to be more confident in leading people to Christ, and for understanding the driving principles of the gospel itself. So during the following month, we would like to send to you a free copy of the Gospel-Driven Man by Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold for a donation of any amount to Bibleline. Our mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634, and don’t forget to include your mailing address. Thank you again for your continued support and prayers in helping us bring the clear Gospel message to the world.

Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. 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. 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. We’re leaving that the Lord is coming soon. Just keep looking up.