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Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, here God’s truth FreeBSD 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 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

Look at number two. Number two. Things the will of God will do for you. There’s things that if you do the will of God, it will do for you. Look in James chapter 4. James chapter 4. This is on page 1309, 1309. If you want to have true meaning to your life, well, then you are looking for the will of God for your life. So where do you find the will of God? In the word of God. So the more you read and study it, you’ll find all kinds of things.

All you have to do is just start obeying what you already know to be true. In other words, if you were to sit down and make a list of all the things you know that’s right to do and start doing it, it becomes a path of righteousness. And then you’re on the right path. Just start doing all the right you know to do. But why should God give you more light when you don’t walk according to the light you already have?

It won’t work. You have to obey light to get more light. In other words, if I was going to cross a river and there’s all these stones in there, well, if I get on this stone, well, then I can get on the next stone. And if I get on that stone, well, then I can reach that stone. And so there’s scriptures that God puts as we walk through life, getting us from one side to the other side. But see, if I reject that stone, that truth, well, then I don’t need that other one.

And if I reject that, I don’t need that one. And see, a lot of people are in darkness and they don’t know where they’re going because see, when you start disobeying truth that you already know, then why should God give you more truth? Sometimes I have people come and say, I mean, they say, Yankee, I’ve got this problem, and I just need some help. And I say, well, what do you already know? No, tell me they know this and this and this.

Are you doing that? Well, no, no. Then I can’t help you. I can’t help you. If you won’t do what you already know to do, then I can’t help you giving you more stuff. I says, you start obeying the truth you already know and then God will let you see and understand and He can guide you. It’s a lot easier to guide, to steer a car that’s moving than one that’s sitting still. Why should God guide the car when it’s not moving?

It’s when you start obeying and start moving, then God can guide you and it’ll worked that away. But look here in verse 13, go to now, ye that say, today or tomorrow, we will go into such a city and continue there a year, buy and sell and get gained. The old American way, capitalism. Wherefore you know not what shall be on the moral. But what is your life? It is even a vapor that appear it for a little time and then vanishes away.

You realize how short life is. You know, I woke up one morning and I looked in the mirror and I saw an old man. I said, you’re 73 years old and I thought, man, alive in seven years, I’ll be 80 years old. Now, I used to think 50 was old. Until I got 49. Then 50 wasn’t that old. John 50’s old. How close are you John? And then I thought 60 was old until I hit 59. Then the same thing with 69.

But you know it happened so quick. It seemed like I walked. We have training them. Betty put up some pictures in our hallway. And I go by there and I had this one young picture of me. I mean, I must have been about 30 years old and I had black curly hair and I looked at that and I thought, I go in there and look in the mirror. Look at that picture. I’m going to look at that mirror. It ain’t the same guy.

I made a mistake one day with some lady that came here the first time and she walks in the bookstore and she had my book in her hand and I thought, that’s pretty neat. She looked at me and she said, who is this? I said, that’s me. She said, no. I mean, really. He came and sat down in the church service and I were pointing to the rock. You might remember that. I fear you all remember that. Some of you all like to forget something.

She was sitting right there. She laughed. She thought it was fun. It hasn’t been back though, but you don’t live long. Life is like a vapor, a pure for a little while and then vanishes away. So while we’re here for such a short time, doesn’t make sense just to go ahead and serve a Lord. Don’t argue with God. Don’t fight with God. That’s why when I tell kids to come to college, don’t fight with it. I don’t want to fight with nobody.

This is where we are. This is what we do. You’re like what we have. Fine. If you don’t, there’s another school that’ll let you do whatever they want to do. But this is where we are. This is what we’re about. People to come to church here, this is what we do. This is how we are. And we want people to lack it. But it’s whenever you get to the place where everybody wants to try to change everybody. Let God change people.

heard that statement, you know, when he comes to catch him, we catch him in God cleans them. Catch him. I can’t clean fish. I eat fish, but I don’t like, it’s one of the reasons I don’t like to catch him because I don’t like to clean them. I despise cleaning fish. How many of y’all love cleaning fish? There’s a few of you, the love cleaning fish. So if y’all catch any fish, you can bring them to them and they’ll clean them for you.

But I don’t mind catching them. I love catching them. But notice what he says here in verse 15, for that you ought to say, if the Lord will, we shall live and do this or that Lord willing, Lord willing, by the grace of God, by the grace of God. Because we don’t know if God’s going to take us home today or all the plans that we make may never be come to fruition. We may be cut short. We have no clue.

But look at the next statement there. It will bring enlightenment to your mind and look there in the book of Psalms. Look back there in Psalms 25. Psalms chapter 25. Psalms 25 and look in verse 14 because it will bring enlightenment to your mind. You’ll be able to understand some things that you wouldn’t have understood if it hadn’t been for what the Lord has for you. And so here in verse 14, but let’s just start to in verse 12 because these two verses ahead of this is really good.

First of all, what man is he that feareth the Lord? Him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. In other words, as you’re serving the Lord and as you are in the way, doing the will of God, God will lead and guide you and he will teach you. You see it’s the hard-hearted. It’s the rebellion. And think not that that man shall receive anything of the Lord, according to James chapter 1. So if you will do that, you’ll be surprised.

Now look in verse 13, his soul shall dwell at ease. And his seed shall inherit the earth. The secret, the secret of the Lord is with them that fear Him and He will show them His covenant or show Him His Word. If you will do what God wants you to do, God can reveal His will to you. A lot of people want God to show them His will so they can look it over and see whether or not they approve and want to make any amendments to it.

Now God says, you go ahead and commit yourself. You desire My will. You do what I want you to do and God says, I will lead you as you go, I will teach you.” You see, that means you’re willing to trust the Lord to reveal, to lead, to guide you. But not so that you can decide as you go, Lord, show me everything that you want. Remember with Abraham that the Lord led him out into a land he had no idea where he was going.

And that’s about the way it is in the Christian life. You don’t know where you’re going to end up. But you just know that you can trust him and so you trust him and you walk with him. And sometimes there seem like a lot of dark days and a lot of problems and heartaches. Remember, sometimes God leads you into a lot of… Remember, sermon I preached not long ago? Well, four or five years ago. It was on dead ends, dry holes, and detours.

When he led the children of Israel out of Egypt, there was a dead end. Who led him to that dead end? God did. He led him right to a dead end. He let her out to the rich and couldn’t get across. Now what are they going to do? And then Fayro’s army’s coming up behind him. Who boxed him in like that, the Lord? And then he told Moses, I’ll never forget Charles and Heston standing there. He says, stand still and see the salvation of the Lord.

You remember him saying that? Children have done your spine. I love it. And all of a sudden the water starts splitting and open like that. Remember, they would have never seen that. They would have never been part of that story if God hadn’t let him into the dead end. Because somebody says, look what he has done to us. Let us out here to die in the wilderness. And then when he got across, first thing comes along as, we don’t have any water.

to dry hole, no water, and then bitter water in the place. And God says, strike the rock, and water comes out of a rock, a miracle. And he says in the book of Corinthians in chapter, that rock was Christ. It’s a symbol, it’s a type. God was teaching them all kinds of things, but God led them, and God knew they were hungry at times. And God knew they were thirsty, But he led him into all that stuff. And then he says, because of the enemy in a certain place, he led him another way, because he knew that they would be disheartened because of the enemy.

And so God, wisdom, he led him another way. He led him the long way. Sort of a shortcut, he led him the long way. All because God knows what’s best. So in your Christian life, you learned lesson from reading all those Old Testament stories, sometimes God will lead you into a boxed-in canyon and you have no way of getting out. And so it seems like those four walls are closing in on you. Then it looks like the Lord and you see His hand moving for the lights where you’re going to turn off the light, and God’s going to cut off the lights.

And you’re afraid it’s going to get dark. So you don’t doubt in the dark what God gave you in the light, God wants you to shine and walk according to the truth that you learned. What do I do when I don’t know what to do? Trust the Lord. Trust the Lord. He won’t fail you, but he’s going to try you and he’s going to test you. And so there’s going to be time when it seemed like it’s a dry hole.

Have you ever tried to do something that seemed like He just come up empty. You know, He talks about being faithful in season, out of season. In other words, when things are productive and everything seems to be going great and it seems like there’s time when it’s dry spells, nothing. And it’s discouraging. And He said, well, I must be out of the will of God. Well, maybe God led you right where you are and you’re not out of the will of God.

It’s just that you don’t understand. And you’re to be taught patience. It means you’re not getting something you want when you want it. Patience, patience. So anyway, we listen and learn, and some people listen, never learn. Turn over there to the book of Hebrews in chapter 13. Hebrews and chapter 13. Hebrews 13. And look down there in verse 5. In verse 5, the Bible tells us that God will give us comfort. Doing the will of God will give you great comfort because it gives you great peace.

In verse 5, let your conversation or your behavior, your manner of life, be without covetousness. Be content. It’s hard to be content if you’re covetous because you didn’t know that. Be content with such things as you have. It’s one thing to have what you want, nothing to want what you have. What you have, do you want it? What if you only had tomorrow what you thank the Lord for today? Oh, what would you have tomorrow? If you only had what you think that tomorrow is not a good thing.

import today. Would you have less tomorrow? Learn to be thankful in all things for everything because this is the will of God. Now look what he says, for he have said, I will never leave the norfer safety. What’s the greatest thing you could ever go through life with, the Lord? So if you had a choice of having the Lord or a million dollars, what would you choose? It’s easy preaching ain’t it? Sure you would. Would you really? Would you have the Lord or a million dollars?

Which would you choose? That’s tough. Or would you be able to make that decision like that? If you go through life, what would you rather have? Would you rather have that There are a lot of friends. Choose the Lord over friends. Lord over of wealth and popularity and fame. Because see, all those are things you can lose.

But you can’t lose the Lord. He said, I’ll never leave you and never forsake you. So if that’s the truth, then the greatest thing you could ever have is the Lord, and that’s the one thing you cannot lose. So you should be happy all the days of your life. Right? Because you can lose a lot of things. And we are. Eventually, one of the day, we’re going to lose it all. You’re going to lose that body you have. You’re going to lose it.

It’s going to go away. You know, Peter came in the office while they go and he gave me a good statement. We was talking about John John’s song, about, you know, the face of those that never witnessed a two of their friend or so. He sang a song not long ago about when you get to heaven and you see all the faces of all those people that were reached because of your life. The influence that you had. But then he says, but you don’t find where God ever wipes the tears away from the man that goes to hell.

You do about the Christians that go to heaven. He said, our wife, we all tears from their eyes. But it doesn’t say that about those that go to hell. And it’s a good thought. He almost made me cry, so I’m glad he walked out of the room. But it is so important. We are so blessed to know the Lord, to know that we have eternal life. And look what he says in verse 6, because he’ll never leave me and never forsake me.

therefore I don’t have to fear any man.” What he says. So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Why is he my helper? Because as you go through life, you need help. You’re always gonna need help. That’s why he says, call upon me, talk to him. And you’re gonna have problems, trouble, talk to him. Where’s it saying the Bible that we are to come to the throne of grace, the throne of grace, that we may obtain grace to help in time of these.

I know it’s in the Bible somewhere. Hebrews 4 16, who said that? Who said that? Okay, Mildred said that, good Mildred. Look there in Hebrews 4 and verse 16. Very good, Jesse. Everyone’s in a wild Jesse gets a good one in there. Verse 16, let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. God didn’t say you weren’t gonna have need. He said, but I’ve got a throne set up, especially with that.

It’s like having an escrow account. You know, when you need it, it’s waiting on you and you go get all you want. Wow, that sounds good. So the Lord teaches us it. Now look at number three there in your notes. Things the will of God wants from you. And it’s very simple. We’ve covered parts of this before, especially in Romans in chapter 12, verse 1 and 2. He wants our dedication. He wants us to yield our bodies to Him so He can use us for whatever He wants.

God doesn’t want us arguing and fighting with Him. That’s just a waste of time, waste of energy. And you’re going to lose anyway. So, Jew ahead and just yield to the Lord. And then he makes a statement, let her be there, your sanctification, 1 Thessalonians 4-3, that your sanctification, talk about these vessels, these bodies that we have, for this is the will of God concerning you that your body is to be set apart for the Lord. And so the Lord teaches us that.

But looking 1 Thessalonians 5, 1 Thessalonians in chapter five. 1 Thessalonians 5, and this is on page 1270 in the Old Schofield Reference Bible. And you notice there’s a verse here that says in verse 18, and everything, everything, give thanks. For this is the what? The will of God. And so it is the will of God for you and I to give thanks in Christ concerning you. This is the will of God. And then you’ll see there in verse 23, and the very God of peace sanctify you holy.

And I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved, blameless to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. God has a will for us and He wants us as His children to walk according to His will. Now how do you do that? Look at number four, finding the will of God. Let her eat, study the word of God because study the word of God. Second Timothy 2, 15. Anybody who can quote that verse, who can quote?

Yes, go ahead Trent. Hey that’s our first year student over here. would be hand. I mean, that’s his mother would be proud of him. And I won’t even tell her about them cornflakes either. Let her be desired to follow truth regardless of where it may lead. If you’ll just serve the Lord and follow truth, don’t worry about how or where it’s going to end up.

When I made up my mind years ago, I’m just going to serve the Lord and wherever he leads, I will follow. I had no idea I’d be going to Colorado. I had no idea I’d ever gone to Minnesota or to Georgia. And I definitely had no idea I ever wanted to have been Florida. I had no idea. I did not plan it. I did not even desire it. But God can give you desires as you go and change you and guide you.

And you’d be surprised what God may have for you down the road. And they said, well, I’ll never do that. I’ll never do that. Don’t you ever say that? God may wind up having you do exactly. So we said that in college, you know. I’ll never go to Siberia and then they go to Siberia. So I decided, I’ll never go to Hawaii. And I didn’t. I was hoping the Lord would leave me, you know, a place like that, but it just never worked out.

So here I am in Florida. Florida is almost like Hawaii. Just not a, not any mountains around here or anything like that. Sand dunes, a couple of those I saw. But look at the next letter C, seek counseling from wise men, Proverbs 24-6. Pray all the time, always stay dependent upon the Lord. And if you will, remember this, pray in and talk to the Lord, and if the Lord answers your prayer and if the Lord leads and guides you, he’ll never lead you into trouble.

He never leads you contrary to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit is holy, not unholy. So the Holy Spirit will never lead you to do something unholy or ungodly. So understand those simple little things. I come to do thy will of God. Thank for a moment. If God asked you, are you here to do my will? What would you say? I am here. What are you doing here on this earth? What are you doing in this world?

What’s your purpose? What’s your goal? Yank, what are you doing here? I am here to do the will of my father. Peter, what are you here for? I’m here to do the will of my father. Bob Gilbert, what are you here for? I’m here to do the will of my father. Yeah. And all of y’all and all of y’all and all of y’all. I’m here to do the will of my father. So, the more all of us do the will of the Father, the better we’ll get along.

Right? Because it shouldn’t be in the conflict. We’re all here to do the will of the Father. And there is no jealousy and envy and bitterness in the Godhead. There’s unity and there’s peace. Could love and there’s joy. Look up here. Letting his hand represent you and me and this, while it represents sin, we all have sin on us. Now God says that he loves us, but he hates what we do wrong. He says, for us to pay for this sin is eternal separation from God in hell.

To go to heaven, we have to be perfect as righteous as God, and none of us are perfect, none of us are righteous. We have all sinned and come short of God’s perfection. So God says, you can’t save yourself. Your good works are not good. All of your good works are as filthy rags. So this hand represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord God in the flesh. He came into this world because he loves us, hates our sin because it separates us from him.

So Jesus Christ who had no sin didn’t have to die. So he took all of our sins, paid the Father on the cross, came back from the dead and said, if we would believe He did it for us, He would put that payment on account. We go to heaven on what Christ did for us. A body has now prepared me. For what? For this reason so that He could pay for our sins, took our sins in His own body on the tree so that He could give us as a free gift everlasting life.

Let’s pray, shall we? With his bow and eyes closed and no one looking around. If you’ve never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do so. So right where you’re sitting, if you’ve never done it, would you do it right now? Just talk to the Lord, Lord, I know I’m a sinner and I believe Christ died, God, believe me, paid for my sins. And I’m going to trust him right now as my Savior. When God said, if you would, He would save you and give eternal life.

You that are watching by the internet, the only thing you have to do, well, it’s the only thing you can do, is to be honest and say, Lord, I’m a sinner because nobody’s perfect. And I believe that when Christ, you died, I believe you died from me, paid for my sins. And I’m going to accept that payment. You are that payment. And you said, you’d never leave me and never forsake me and promise me eternal life if I trust you.

And friend, if you’ll do just that much, That’s all you have to do, where you believe He did it for you. And if you’ll believe it, He said He would save you, give you eternal life, and you can know that you’re going to heaven whenever you die. I pray that makes sense to you and that you will. Our Father, we thank You so much for the opportunity you’ve given us to read, study your word, and Father, help us day by day, little by little, as we walk with You, trusting You to lead and to guide us because of the study of Your Word.

In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. Are you a new listener to Bibleline? Do you enjoy the teachings of Dr. Arnold? Well, if you’ve never contacted us before, we want to give you Dr. Arnold’s book, The Gospel Driven Man. Every day we receive many emails from folks who have questions about repentance and salvation, about faith in works, and about how to share the Gospel with friends and loved ones. This book, The Gospel Driven Man, covers all those topics, and we want all new listeners of Bibleline to receive a free copy.

There’s no obligation, no donation necessary, simply call us at 1-800-576-3771 or write to us and request your free copy of the Gospel-Driven Man. The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. 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. God up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. leaving that the Lord is coming soon. Just keep looking up.