Audio Archives – Pastor Yankee Arnold

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. You know the Lord tells us to be faithful in season out of season when it seems like everything’s going great or when it’s going bad Oh God has required of you and I to be found what? Faithful just faithfully do what you can with what you have where you are and there some days it seems like man It’s guys that limit then sometime.

It looks like you’re below of the surface of the ground and a grave is nothing but a a ditch that’s open on both sides and you just walk in slowly. So anyway we have the responsibility to look in verse 6. The husband meant that labor must be first part-takers of the fruit. In other words, now this is a person who does, you know, sowing and reaping. Somebody that takes care of the vines, somebody who has some fruit that they’re concerned about.

You and I ought to understand that there’s a great responsibility that we have to sow the seed, which is the word of God. And if we sow the seed, you and I, we should expect to reap. We should expect results. But the results are not what we’re judged by. God is going to reward us for the sowing. We’re not responsible whether or not people come in. We can’t make a person trust the Lord. When you and I get to heaven is did you sow the seed.

Did you sow the seed? You see, one sows, one waters. God’s the one that gives the increase. God’s the one that saves the soul. I’ve never saved a soul. You’ve never saved a soul. The teenagers go, I don’t Friday night sow and they’ve never saved anybody. The Lord saved them, but they sowed the seed. You and I are supposed to sow the seed. So yes, there is a responsibility that God’s given to each and every one of us to be a husbandman, to take and not only produce the fruit but be concerned about the fruit that we have.

I should be concerned about the people in the church. He should be concerned about the teenagers and the Reformers’ unanimous. I want everybody responsible for somebody. The question is, who are you responsible for? Is there anybody that you watch in guard and try to protect and help and encourage, or you don’t really have anybody? Who’s the individual that’s serving the Lord today because of you? Can you find an individual who is serving the Lord because of you? Do you think you should have anybody?

How much time do you need? It would be wonderful, but it’s something we strive for. But the numbers is not in our control. But we are to be found faithful, and God says to go forth weeping, bearing precious seed, and you shall doubtless come again rejoicing. I believe when He talked about go forth weeping, it means all the heartache and the problems that you may have to go through to reach a person. because every time I witness to somebody, I’m not crying.

Why would you tell me to cry? I don’t. So why are you crying? Well, that’s the only way I can do it. No, I got to cry. No. It’s some of the hardaches and the problems you go through to be found faithful to keep doing what you’re supposed to be doing. And God says sooner or later, you’ll reap. And the fruit that you have is so enjoyable. And God says must be first partakers of the fruit. See this in verse six.

He says be first partakers of the fruit. You see the fruit when you have fruit, it becomes something that you enjoy. Something you enjoy. I enjoy, given the gospel, I enjoy when I see people trust the Lord. The Bible talks about I have no greater joy than to see that my people or my children walk in truth. First John 2, I have no greater joy than my people walk in truth. So you have a joy. joy and it’s the people that you reach, the ones that you train, lives that have been affected because of you.

This is why we, when so this is why we teach the word of God, this is why you’re to be an example on your job at home with anybody you can. You are to use and allow the Lord to use the power of influence of your life in other people. Now look what he says, He makes a statement in verse seven, consider what I say. Think about it, think about it. And the Lord give the understanding in all things.

And then He tells them, there’s something I want you to remember. And then I got something I want you to endure down in verse 10. Because there’s all kinds of things that you have to go through. And you may not enjoy all of these. Down in verse 12, there’s something you may have to suffer. Well, but always understanding that he abideth faithful, he cannot and will not deny himself. You see, what if I don’t do all of this? Am I still saved?

Yeah? I’m still saved. And if I even get to where I deny the Lord, the right to use me for his honor and glory. He can’t deny himself. He still knows me even when I don’t want to claim him. And that’s the foundation that we have, see there in verse 21 or verse 19. Nevertheless, the foundation of God’s standards sure having this seal, the Lord knoweth them that are his.

Does God know you? Do you know the Lord? Now, the knowledge that you have about God is supposed to do something to us in our life. Now, the next thing is that you and I are supposed to be students, students of the Word of God. Because see, you’re not gonna be a good son and grow correctly without knowing the will of the Father. And you’re not going to be a very good soldier if you don’t know the rules, man.

You don’t know what you’re supposed to do or not do. You don’t know how to fight the battle. So you’ve got to study the Word of God in order to know all of these things. And you have to know the Word of God to know how to wrestle against the devil and the things of this life, the lust of the flesh and the pride of life. There’s all kinds of things you and I have to have to fight against.

And then to be a good vine man, somebody knows how to produce the fruit, learning how to win souls, how to protect yourself so that you’re not caught by every wind of doctrine that comes along. So all these things are important. And as he says up here in verse 15, looking verse 15, he says, study. So that means you’re to be a student. Every one of God’s children should study, study the word of God. Now in the book of Ecclesiastes it says that Studying is a weariness of the flesh.

If you don’t, if you have a problem going to sleep at night, read the word, you’ll get real sleepy. Because the devil don’t want you to, you know, study the word. So he’ll let you go to sleep. But learn the word of God study to show thyself a workman. So you and I know that we’re supposed to be a workman working for the Lord. So you study what the word of God says, and he says here in verse 15, study to show thyself approved unto God a workman that need if not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word, rightly dividing the word of truth.

And there’s some things that you and I are not supposed to do. You’ll see if you’re trying to build yourself up strong, there’s some thing that you should not do. In other words, if you want to improve your health, there’s certain foods that you ought to eat, and there’s probably some foods that you ought not eat. Now this is a dangerous territory to get into. If you really wanna make people mad, talk about what you eat and don’t eat.

But anyway, you and I know that if you wanna, for example, lose some weight, there’s certain things that you have to do. And, like as one person, we’re pretty large and they went to the doctor and he says, if I get this little suction, he says, how much is that going to set me back? He says about three feet. But there’s a price to pay. Everybody has to determine for themselves just what you want for yourself. When it comes to spirituality, you can’t feed yourself the food from the Word of God and then feast upon the flesh.

It won’t work that way. In other words, you cannot feed upon the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life and expect to be spiritually strong. You can’t go to church on Sunday and get spiritually fed and then eat junk food from the world the rest of the week and expect to be strong. You need to feed upon the Word of God all the time, all the time. Every day you should be running scripture through your mind.

Because if you’re a child of the king, you should use the language of the court. You should know how to use the Word of God, a workman, rightly dividing the Word of God. You should know how to use the Bible. You can have a knowledge of the Bible, but not a working knowledge of the Bible. You can know every salvation verse, and not know how to use them. You can know all kinds of verses in the Bible about serving the Lord, but know how to put it together to help somebody.

Because see, there’s the difference between having, it’s like having some tools, you know, to build a house. You got the toll, but you don’t know how to use them. It’s one thing to have knowledge, but not a working knowledge. The knowledge doesn’t work for you. Wisdom is knowing how to take knowledge and apply it to experience. And so you’re not wise just because you know the word of God. You’re wise when you apply the word of God. And rightly dividing it.

So this is what God wants. But there’s other things that you have to watch that you don’t destroy what you’re trying to build. Hold your place right there. Look there in the book of Galatians. Just turn over there to the book of Galatians real quick. And notice in Galatians in chapter two, because if you don’t get it, you’ll end up repeating it and not knowing that you’re doing it. See there in verse 17? Verse 16 tells us that yes, you are saved by faith and faith, alone Christ alone, and that you’re justified by the Lord and not by the works of the flesh.

So in verse 17, but if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves are also found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin, God forbid. For if I, and hear those two words, build again, The things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. For I through the law am dead to the law that I might live unto God. If I am seeking to be saved by my works, but I say I’m trusting in the Lord, well, why am I trying to save myself or keep myself saved by my works?

Because by trusting Christ, I just destroyed the purpose of the law on me in the sense that I have fulfilled the law the law can’t touch me because I’m dead to the law. If I’m dead to the law, why am I placing myself back under the law if I’m dead to the law? Because the law can’t touch a dead man. So to live under the law, trying to be justified by the law is to build something again that was destroyed.

So here in 2 Timothy, in chapter 2, he says in verse 16, Sean profane and feigned babbles, they will increase under more ungodliness. That works concert what you’re supposed to do. See all these other things we mentioned, this is what you’re to do. Well then, there’s some things that will hinder you from doing that. So I don’t like to always tell people, you know, what kind of music to listen to. I just try to use a simple little gaze for myself.

It should be to the Lord, for the Lord, and to the bough the Lord. And so it shouldn’t be unclean, it should not be immoral and so forth. So there’s certain things that will help you to think right so that you can be stronger. You can listen to other kind of things that makes you think wrong. So music can determine how a man thinks. So if you want to make somebody mad, start telling them what music they can and cannot listen to.

Because people often think, well, it’s my business. I’ll do whatever I want to do. You mind your, now mine mine. And yet there’s certain music that will destroy you spiritually because it feeds the flesh. So can you discern for yourself the kind you should that will build you spiritually and the kind that will destroy you? When we had a college, I used to tell the teenagers, this is the way it is. And there’s things you will listen to and there’s things you will not listen to.

as long as I’m the president of the college. Because I don’t wanna build you up here and then you destroy yourself over here. Why should I waste my time? I have discerned over a few years what bills and what destroys. But people need to learn their own discernment. If you come long enough, you should be able to take the word of God and say, you know, this is what I’m listening to and this isn’t right. This is not gonna build me stronger in the Lord.

It doesn’t matter if you enjoy it. It doesn’t matter, well, it’s what I like. How does it help you spiritually? What does it cause you to think? So there’s other issues involved that you may not wanna think about, because, well, I’ve been doing it all my life and I’m not gonna change, whatever you want. But there’s a God in heaven that knows you could have been a lot spiritually stronger than you have been. And then maybe some of the problems that you have in your life is because you’re not thinking spiritually because of what you feed your mind.

Same thing can happen on television, movies, all these things. There is no limit to it. But you know as a wrestler, there’s something trying to pin you down and you wanna be wiser. So he says here in verse 18, who concerning the truth have aired, so they knew the truth, but they’ve aired from the truth And they’re saying things that is not true. How would you know if it’s not true if you don’t know the word of God? So it’s the will of God that you studied the word of God so that you can make wise decisions.

So you can discern. And that’s why he makes the statement during the last part of verse 19. Let everyone that name of the name of Christ depart from iniquity. Turn from sin. Every child of God should because sin that will keep you from being the kind of a son you ought to be. Sin will keep you from being the kind of a soldier you ought to be, the kind of a raster you ought to be, the kind of a husband when you ought to be, all these things, the student, everything is affected because of sin.

Betty’s dad had in his flyleaf of his Bible. This book will keep you from sin or sin will keep you from this book. sin will keep you from this book or this book will keep you from sin. So you got to make up your mind. Do you want to be a stronger Christian? Then you shouldn’t always be saying, well, I don’t see anything wrong with this. I don’t see anything wrong with that. Yeah, but what does God see? You see, the issue is not what you see.

It’s what God says. And you try to make decisions. Now, is this going to help me spiritually? Or is this helping me to be stronger in the flesh? Which is feeding what? And you need to be surprised how it affects the attitude that you have. And so he says there’s certain things that we ought to be. One of the other things that you and I are supposed to be, we’re supposed to be a vessel, a vessel that’s fit for God to use.

So he says there in verse 20, in a great house they’re not only vessels of gold and of silver, but vessels of wood and of earth. Some to honor, some to dishonor. Now do you want to be a vessel of honor or a vessel of dishonor? You wanna be a good soldier or a bad soldier. You wanna be a good son or a bad son. A good wrestler, bad wrestler. A good husband and bad one. You wanna be a good student of the word of God or a poor one.

You see, there’s choices that we make. And then he says, in verse 21, if a man therefore purge himself, so that’s a personal responsibility, is something that you and I have to decide. It’s not something God decides. It’s what we decide. Just like winning people to the Lord of witnessing. That’s the decision you and I can make. You see, we don’t have to wait for the Holy Spirit to lead me to witness. I’m just waiting on the Holy Spirit to lead me to witness.

So if, because I don’t want to witness in the flesh, huh. Don’t that sound spiritual? I don’t want to witness in the flesh. I’m gonna wait until the Holy Spirit leads me. No, we already have a command to witness to every person. You depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead you as you go and as you talk, but to go, to talk. That is a command. So you and I are supposed to depend upon the Holy Spirit to lead us as we go.

But if you wait until the Holy Spirit tells you, okay, now I want you to go over there and witness to this one. Or if somebody asks me, I’ll tell them. How long has it been since somebody come up to you and says, would you please tell me how to go to heaven? Would you please tell me? Now you may have a few. But how many? So far, I maybe have had one or two. But that’s only after they’ve heard me speak someplace.

And so he makes a statement here in verse 21, if a man therefore purge himself from that, he shall be a vessel unto honor, a vessel unto honor. So there’s honorable vessels and there’s dishonorable vessels. If you want to be a vessel of honor, he says, do this. And then he says, you shall be sanctified and meet or fit for the master to use. You know why God doesn’t use some of his children? They’re not fit to be used.

They’re not fit. And then he says here in verse 22, flee also youthful lust, follow righteousness, faith and charity and peace. With them, see those two words you ought to underline it, with them that are doing the same thing. And then he says in verse 24, And here’s another word, the word servant. You see, all these things tells you what kind of a servant you want to be, but you ought to be a servant. You are to serve the Lord.

And in serving the Lord, you have to serve people. I used to think, you know, serving God isn’t bad as people. I can’t stand. If you try to figure out how to serve the Lord without serving people, try to figure it out. It’s not that you can just go on the backside of some mountain, in some place and it’s just me and the Lord. Yeah, God doesn’t want it to be just you and him. He said, I want you to go talk to him.

I want you to talk to him. I want you to witness going to all the world preaching God to every creature. God wants us to be with people. Come together. And so that’s what the will of God says. And you see, if you don’t learn how to do all of these things, remember the devil is gonna try to pin you, trap you and you’re taken captive by him at his will. He can just manipulate you and trick you and deceive you and you ain’t got a chance.”

That’s why he says down here in verse 25. He says, “…in meekness instructing those that opposed themselves.” No other word to fight against themselves. Get this. If God per-eventual will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth so that those people who don’t know the truth don’t believe the truth. We’re talking about mainly God’s people. You’re able to get them to see and understand and get God’s people to serve a Lord. And then he says, and that they get this may recover, may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil.

In other words, the devil’s got him penned. And you want to learn the word of God that you can help people to get out of that hold. You see, there’s hold that people have when you wrestle and they try to get you where you can’t move. And the devil does that with God’s children. Now, I don’t know if he’s got you in some hold or not, but you know, there’s things that you can’t do. You can’t do why? The devil has told you you can’t do it and you believe the devil or do you believe God when he says, I can do all things to Christ which strengtheneth me.

So it’s a choice that we make but be wise and understand. And the last part of it says, who are taken captive by him at his will. If you do not study the Word of God and you do not clean up your life and become a vessel fit for the master to use, you will be an unclean vessel fit for the devil to use. And so instead of God using you, the devil will use you. Look up here. This hand represents you and me.

The wallet represents sin. It’s all the bad things that we do. God says that he loves us, he hates our sin. Because we committed the sin we have to pay for it, and that is eternal separation from God. So since everybody sins, everybody’s in the same boat. We’re all condemned. We’re all guilty. So there’s nothing that a man can do to make himself pure, to make himself perfect. It’s impossible. But heaven, see heaven is perfect. God is perfect. To live forever with the Lord, you’ve got to be perfect.

Well, where you aren’t? So how are we going to get there? God says, your sins won’t let you in. I can’t let you in because of that. Plus, you’ve got a payment to make, and that’s eternal separation from God in hell. So it don’t look very good for us. God says it’s impossible for a man to save himself. This hand represents Christ. God in the flesh came into the world because he loves us. Now he hates what we do wrong because it separates us from him.

So Jesus Christ took all the sin of all the world, paid for it on the cross, came back from the dead. And God said that if we would believe that he did it for us, he would put the payment he made to our account, and we get to go to heaven on what he did. See, there’s no tricks to that. There’s no gimmicks to it. It’s a gift. It’s totally free. I trust that Christ is my Savior, God gave me eternal life.

When I explained this the other day at the funeral, even with the joke, there was about 10 or 12 at Trustee Christ’s Savior. Because you see, there’s power in this message, and when they hear it, and you don’t know where you’re going to die, and you hear it for the first time, you mean I can go heaven when I die? Being that I don’t have to promise anything, stop anything. Just like I am, I can accept Christ as my Savior, and He’ll give me eternal life, and I get to go to heaven, that’s true.

You say, well, what if I do something wrong tomorrow? You will. It’s paid. What if I do something really bad? It’s paid. It’s what if I do something right before I die? It’s paid. How many of your sins did he pay for? All of them. They’re all paid. There won’t be one sin for you to pay for. You see, you say you don’t deserve it. I know, nobody deserves it. That’s why it says by grace, are you saved through faith that not of yourself.

It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. Best news in all the world. Let’s pray, shall we? Friends, if you’re here this morning and you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, would you just talk to the Lord? See, you don’t make a mistake this way. Only the true and living God can know what you’re thinking. I don’t know what you’re thinking. I can’t read your mind, but I do want you to trust the Lord.

I want you to go to heaven when you die. So right now, if what I said made sense, you say, I want to go to heaven and I believe Christ died on that cross and paid for my sins and I’m going to trust him right now as my only hope of going to heaven. Pray, God said, if you would believe that he did it for you, he would save you and give you eternal life and you get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you.

So it heads by nice to anyone at all. So yes, preacher, that made sense to me. And I’ll trust Christ as my Savior this morning, and I’d like for you to pray for me. Would you just slip your hand very quickly and put a wrap back down? The end was all. Just slip it up very quickly and put a wrap back down. Remember, there’s no gimmick to it, no tricks. Over and done with when you make that decision. Anyone at all?

Let’s pray, shall we? Our Father, we thank you so much for all you’ve done for us for the study of you, we’re in. Bless each one in Christ’s name. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 toll-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 Bible line 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. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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.

If I was to ask you, how many of you in here want to serve the Lord? You trust that Christ is your Savior, but do you want to serve the Lord? Not without a fight. Not without a fight. If you really want to serve the Lord, not without a fight. If you want to do right, it’s going to be a fight. Take your Bible and turn to the book of Genesis and chapter 3. Genesis chapter 3. time you cover something like this, you’ve got to start at the beginning.

You would think that if I wanted to serve the Lord, the devil would be afraid to bother me and God would make everything easy for me and because I want to do right, everything ought to be a piece of cake. But it’s not that way. The devil ain’t going to leave you alone. You have a problem sometimes in your discernment. You don’t always know what’s right. You and I get deceived so easily, so quickly. Here in the book of Genesis, everything was going along fine.

And he was a perfect couple that had a perfect environment and something went wrong. But anyway, they were told not to eat the fruit of a certain tree. Well, lo and behold, they did. Adam blamed it on his wife. The wife blamed it up on the serpent. And so the Lord had to whip all three put a curse on all of them. So you and I have been battling ever since the whole human race because of what happened back then.

And they knew to do right and they didn’t do it. Now you and I had been there in the garden we wouldn’t have done that, right? We wouldn’t have done that. But isn’t it true that you still know what’s right and what’s wrong and you still do wrong on purpose? You ever get mad on purpose, angry, envious, filled with jealousy. Every one of us have a battle. There’s a fight. I want you to look at verse 14. And the Lord God said unto the serpent, because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field, and upon thy bellish thou thou go, and doth shalt thou eat all the days of thy life.

And I will put immity, that means war. I’m going to put war between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed. It shall bruise thy head, thou shalt bruise his heel.” In other words, there are several things that you could look at. Many believe this is the first prophetic verse in the Bible, a reference to the time that Christ will be on the cross, and that the battle comes down between Satan and Jesus Christ. And so therefore, even though Jesus Christ was on the cross, Christ took His heel, crushed the head of the serpent, but He bruised His heel, but He destroyed the serpent.

So it is true that when Christ was on the cross, He destroyed the power of the devil. He had victory over sin because they didn’t get him. He had victory over the world. They didn’t get him. And He had victory over the devil because He came back from the dead. Satan was defeated. So there’s a lot of truth to this prophetic scripture. But there’s also something else I believe that needs to be looked at. Not only was there to be a woman that was to be born in time, the woman had a son.

And that was Jesus Christ. But it says between thy seed and her seed. It did not wait until that time. There’s also a battle that goes on between the seed of a woman and the seed of the devil. And they have been warned against each other. It’s called the Battle of the Ages. No battle has ever lasted this long. It started in the garden and the battle is still going on. Now take your Bible and turn to the book of 1 John, 1 John, all the way over there in the New Testament.

1 John in chapter 3. The Lord tells us, you and I, to love one another. Okay, that’s the talking part’s done, but not without a fight. You know you cannot love somebody without a fight. You fight on everything that you do. There’s a battle. There’s something inside of you that tries to keep you from demonstrating love. It should be the easiest thing in the world, just to love everybody. But something somebody says or does could cause you not to want to love them.

Instead of loving them, you can hate them so quickly. You have to fight. It’s always a battle. Wouldn’t it be neat if every man loved his wife all the time, the way he should? But especially in the beginning of marriage, there’s always this rocky part of the road where they learn how to to give and take a little bit, call the adjustment period, always learning how to adjust. Like I said, sometimes people when they get married is kind of hooking up a racehorse to a jackass.

Somebody’s got to speed up or somebody’s got to slow down. There’s got to be some kind of an adjustment made. Well, here in 1 John chapter 3 and verse 11, look at what it says, For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain. Cain was the son of Adam and Eve from the very beginning. Look at this. It goes all the way back to the very beginning, first child ever born.

I don’t want you to love like he did. Not as Cain who was of that wicked one. Well, who’s the wicked one? Well, if you read through here, we find out that the devil is the wicked one. in verse 10. In this the children of God are manifest and the children of the devil. So you’re talking about those children that are the children of the devil. Well who in the world are the children of the devil? Have you ever seen one?

When Christ was here in the book of John chapter 8 verse 44, he says ye are of your Father the devil. He was a murderer from the beginning. Well who did Satan murder? He murdered Abel. He just did it through Cain. He got Cain to do his dirty work. There’s always been this battle. Somebody is using you. You’re being used. When you get angry and bitter and envious, fill of jealousy and that hateful speech. Somebody’s using you. You need to understand that.

The Bible says that when you’re born into this world, you have the seed of the serpent within you and you are a child of the devil. God is God and he is the Creator, but he’s not your father and you’re not born into his family until the day you accepted Christ as your Savior and you were born into God’s family. And then you had the seed of the woman. The seed of the woman was Christ. Christ came from Mary and through Christ who has no sinful nature, but when you’re born of Him, you have His nature placed within you.

So you have a human nature, you’ve got a sinful nature. Christ had a human nature, but He didn’t have a sinful nature. But Christ had a human nature and a divine nature. You and I have a human nature and a sinful nature. And then when we trust Christ as our Savior, God gives to us divine nature. When he makes the statement, not as Cain, looking for a call of again, who was of that wicked one, that means that Cain was of the devil from the very beginning.

Yes or no, yes he was. And he murdered his brother and he slew his brother and where for slew he him because his own works were evil and his brothers righteous. You say, well now what made the difference. God says, I want you to bring a blood sacrifice. And Abel did. He believed God. Cain did not believe God. He brought the works of his hands. So he was trying to save himself by his works and able through a sacrifice because he believed what God said.

So it’s looking at the works of an individual. One believed God and one did not believe God. your first fundamentalist and your first modernist in the Bible. And in verse 13, Marvel not my brethren, if the world hate you. Now we know that according to the scriptures here, he was a murderer from the very beginning. And the Bible says that he had the seed of the devil within him. You also read in the book of Ephesians in chapter 2 where it says we are rebellious by nature, the children of the devil and that’s why we war the way we do.

We have a nature that is identical to Satan’s. You and I have a nature within us that’s identical to Satan. You said, I don’t believe in the devil. You have a nature identical to Satan. And that’s why it’s so hard and difficult for you to believe what God says, what the Bible says to believe truth. Because the devil doesn’t want you to believe the truth. So you are going to have to fight all the way with this other sinful nature that’s within you.

So lo and behold, you trusted God. your Savior, God did not take away that old sinful nature that you have. I want you to take and go to the book of Galatians and chapter 5 Galatians and chapter 5. And look there in verse 16, verse 16. This is what the Lord tells us to do. This I say then walk in the Spirit and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. The reason is because you still have the lust of the flesh because you still have an old sinful nature, it’s in your body.

You trusted Christ as your Savior, you are born of God. But this new birth that was born of God does not sin. It is righteous, it is perfect. There’s nothing wrong with it. So you have within you these two contrary natures and they fight all the time. There is nothing that you’re going to do for God without a fight, without a battle. In verse 17, for the flesh lusts against the Spirit, the Spirit against the flesh. Flesh, first birth, spirit, second birth.

They are contrary to each other because one is sinful and the other one is perfect. And therefore they fight all the time. Two natures contrary to each other, they can never work together. So inside of you, you have these two contrary natures, they’re always going to be fighting against each other. There can never be peace inside of you. There will never be peace between these two natures. You’ll have to fight all the days of your life. Now you can surrender and just give in and let the old sinful nature totally control your life.

If that’s what you want, go ahead. But even you can’t surrender without a fight because the new birth will fight against the flesh the flesh against the new one. So when you want to do that which is wrong, there’s going to be a battle. When you want to do right, there’s going to be a battle. You see, you’re going to have a fight either way. Some of you sit in here and you know Christ is your Savior. You may want to leave your wife or your husband and go to another and you don’t because you’re fighting.

It’s a fight. Are you capable of committing every sin in the book? Yes. How come you haven’t done it yet? Because there’s another part of you that says, no, that’s wrong. And yet, don’t you want to serve the Lord with all your heart and be enricious, obedient to God? You say, yes, I do. But why don’t you? Because there’s a part of you that doesn’t want you to and will fight against you doing it. It’s the battle. Look, there in verse 17, in the end, where it says, and these are contrary, the one to the other so that you cannot do the things that you would.

In other words, you cannot do the things that you would, can’t mean, well, walk in the Spirit, but then He turned around and said, well, you can’t, because He won’t let you do it. You can’t do it. Well, I want to walk in the flesh. Well, you can’t do it because it says right there so that you cannot do the things that you would. You would walk in the. Well, you can’tCatal. You would walk inHEAD.Against Rohingvantage.UGClaus. Stop what He’s talking about.

context. It means so that you cannot not do the things that you would without a fight. You ought to take right beside that word would and write out those words without a fight. You can’t walk in the spirit without a fight and you can’t walk in the flesh without a fight. If you’re God’s child there’s going to be a struggle on the inside of you. Now sooner or later you may give in but not without a fight. It’s always going to be a battle.

And if you have walked away from God and you’re not right with the Lord, there’s still something on the inside of you that keeps battling with you because you know what’s right and you’re not doing it. And the Holy Spirit living within you is going to prick your conscience. And if you don’t respond sooner or later, you’ll harden yourself, become stiff-neck As the Bible says, sear your conscience as with a hot iron. In other words, so scar your conscience that it has no feeling, no sensitivity, where it doesn’t bother you anymore.

Now, he goes down to here and says, so that you cannot do the things that you would without a fight. And then it names these various things. Look in verse 19. The works of the flesh are made known. Look in verse 22. 22. The fruit of the Spirit is made known. So if you was to read The works of the flesh, and then you read the fruit of the Spirit, which one would you like to have for your life?

You say, well, I like to have love not without a fight. You won’t get it. Well, I want joy not without a fight. I want peace not without a fight because the flesh is going to try to keep you from having love or showing love and all those wonderful things. Look there in chapter 6 and verse 1. Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, flesh, you which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of maintenance.

So whenever it’s talking about here you are and you want to serve the Lord, you serving God means you serving God in the spirit of verse 22, love, you serving God in the spirit of joy, you serving God in the spirit of peace, in the spirit of long-suffering, in the spirit of gentleness, in the spirit of goodness, in the spirit of faith, in the spirit of temperance. You serve God that way. See there in verse one, it says, in the spirit of meekness, in other words, having this kind of attitude so that whenever you are trying to restore someone who is fell in the flesh, You want to restore someone in this kind of a spirit, the spirit of meekness.

It’s a choice, but you can’t do that without a fight. You say, I just want love. Okay. How do you get it? Not without a fight. You’re not going to have it. Because you see, you have a part of you that old flesh nature is going to war against you. The flesh does not want you to show love. Does it want you to have joy? it want you to have peace. Why? Because there’s no peace to the wicked. Sayeth the Lord.

And the old sinful nature that you have, that old man, doesn’t have peace. Doesn’t want you to have peace. Doesn’t have joy. Doesn’t have love. Doesn’t have all these wonderful things. And doesn’t want you to have them. And if you want that, you’re going to have a battle in your life. It’s going to be a war. And so the only place you can become spiritually strong is from a spiritual book. So the Holy Spirit in dwells you in order to teach you God’s Word.

So as you learn the Word of God, you can become spiritually stronger. And the flesh says, I don’t want you to read the Bible because if you read the Bible, you’ll get spiritually strong. The flesh says, I don’t want you to go to church because if you want to church you hear the word of God and you become spiritually stronger. The flesh doesn’t want you to pray because if you did you become spiritually stronger and the flesh doesn’t want you strong.

He can’t whip you if he lets you get strong. So he fights you and some of you give in to the devil and you have no victory in your life and you don’t have the fruit of the spirit that you’d like to have. It’s always going to be something that you heard about, and some people claim to have it, but it escapes you. It’s not real. It’s just a figment of the imagination, just a pie in the sky, but it’s not real.

It is real, but it’s a choice. A choice on which side do you want to win, but it’s going to be a fight. It’s going to be a battle. But these are some meanings of the words that are listed in Galatians in chapter 5, verses 19 to 23. But when he talks about the works of the flesh, this is what you will produce if you let the flesh that lives within sight of you, that all sinful nature control your life.

He says, walk in the spirit, you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh. You may still have these desires, but you don’t have to fulfill them. Sin is the fulfillment of these desires. You see what I have? I have wrong thoughts sometimes. Just don’t fulfill them and learn how to control the thought because if you don’t control thoughts sooner or later they’ll become an act. That’s what you have to guard against. Letter A, adultery, y’all probably say, what in the world is that?

Adultery, violation of the marriage bed, a crime or a civil injury which produces or may introduce into a family aspirius offspring. Is it the word of God that says adultery is wrong? The flesh will tell you there’s nothing wrong with it. Everybody does it. That’s the flesh. The flesh says everybody does it. If it feels good, do it. Whatever you want to do, nobody has a right to tell you how to live your life. What about God? I am not a judge.

I’m not trying to judge anybody. I’m just telling you what the judge said. The judge said it’s wrong, but the flesh will lie to you. Always to see it’s so battle that you go through. Look down at letter E, idolatry, the worship of idols, images or anything made by hands or witches, not of God. One day I was still a student at Fort Bobble College. But this young man, Richard Hordmel, had trusted Christ’s Savior. He was the little old 150 pound quarterback for Miami.

Miami High. And I was given devotions for them and teaching them the Bible. And lo and behold, they were winning all their football games. But I didn’t play much attention to football, but they became the national champs. I mean, the high school football championship for the nation. And one day he says, can I have you talk to my mom? I says, I like to talk to my mom. He says, my mom’s Catholic. He says, and, you know, we’re Cuban.

And I says, well, I’ll talk to him. I went up to his house. After I got off the work, they picked me up. I didn’t have a car at the time. And so he picked me up and took me to their house. Went to the house and she, trust the Lord, just right off the bat. Just, but she could speak some English. And the grandma mom was sitting there, but she didn’t understand the English. And Richard looked at me and he says, can you explain this to my grandma?

I says, in Spanish? He says, no, you just tell me what to say and I’ll tell her. So I said, all right. I went through the whole hand gesture, let this hand represent you and me. I went through every bit of it. And he would translate it into the Spanish and he talked to his 84 year old grandma. And she was a staunch Roman Catholic. And I said, Esther, she knows where she’s going. She died. He asked her. She took her head.

No. I explained the gospel. He explained the gospel. She trusted Christ as her savior. She got up, walked out of the room. She went into another room and she came back and she put some things down on the, the end table, coffee table. Went back in the room, came back with some more. She put some more things out there. And she looked at me and she says, what about all of these things? She had little statues, all kinds of statues.

And I says, the Bible says, they have eyes, but they see not. They have mouths, but they cannot speak. They have ears, they cannot hear. And I says, and God says in Psalms, they that put their trust in them are like them. I says, you don’t need those things anymore. because you can talk directly to your heavenly Father. She took everyone of those things and walked in there and threw them in the trash. And she had just heard the gospel for the first time.

Stunt, that’s the power of the gospel. People who never heard the gospel before. It didn’t take 10 times talking to her. I didn’t have to talk to her twice. One time she heard it, she understood, she trusted Christ, she was her savior, and she could see the error and so much. Idolatry, you can worship money, you can worship your wife, you can worship your kids. anything that comes between you and God is an idol. It can be sports, it can be a job, it can be a land, it can be a car, it can be anything that keeps you from God.

There’s nothing wrong in having things, but when those things come between you and faithfulness to God, it’s an idol. You’re worshiping something other than God because God doesn’t have a priority in your life. You wanna use God as a backup if something happens in your life. then you’ll cry out to God and say, God, deliver me because I’m in trouble. But as soon as you get out of trouble, you don’t need him no more. You put him back on the shelf and live your life the way you want to live.

That’s spiritual adultery. It’s idolatry. It’s wicked. And the flesh won’t tell you that. But you come to church and you listen to the Bible, and lo and behold, the Bible will tell you those things. The next thing is witchcraft. The practice of witches, sorcery, enchantments, or enhancements. I enter course with the devil powers more than natural. I’ve had somebody ask me, well what about all this Harry Potter stuff? I’ve never read one of the books, don’t care too. Anything of the supernatural that leads toward the idea of magnifying witchcraft and those things, I got wicked, period, don’t care for it.

Don’t like it, because the flesh loves it. A lot of times you can find out if something’s good or bad, just find out what does the world think about it. If the world loves it, it might not be good. Check it out, find out. Don’t just, well, there’s nothing wrong with it. Says you or says God. God says in his word, you don’t even talk about some of those witchcraft things. He says, stay away from it. And yet we magnify it and plant it into the minds of little kids.

It’s all harmless. No, it’s not harmless. There are witches. It is a wicked thing. The Bible says this is an abomination And then he wanted nothing like that in the nation of Israel. I don’t have a hobby horse, they’ll have an axe to grind. I just made a promise to God years ago, I’ll try to teach truth as I understand it. I care not about anything else. I don’t care how people accept it or if they reject it. That’s between them and Lord.

I’m going to try to do my dead level best, teach the book and explain it. Look at letter N, envying, mortification experienced at the supposed prosperity and happiness of another. Ill will let others on account of supposed superiority. In the words you begin to envy somebody, I always say this, don’t try to keep up with the Joneses, just wait and catch them on their way back. Drunkenness, intoxication, a state in which a person is overwhelmed or overpowered with spiritless liquors, so that his reason is disordered and he staggers and walking.

I have never experienced drunkenness. You said you deprived all your life. Yes, I have. I haven’t had the first hangover. I haven’t woke up bombing at all over the place. I haven’t been in the intoxication unit trying to dry out. I’ve missed all of that. Yes, I have. I’ve had a clear, cut thinking mind all these years. I’ve had better health all these years. You run a risk. You play a silly little game. If you believe in just a little social drink and never hurt anybody, yeah.

I saw a lot of these here, social drinkers. And the more they drink, the more social they get. You should never do anything that would do anything to your mind where you can’t think and be responsible for your actions. You’re running a risk. Now the flesh will tell you the opposite. You’re gonna fight. If you want a little godly life, a righteous life, it’s a battle. Fight it, fight it, fight it, fight it all the days of your life.

When you look at the fruit of the spirit, oh my goodness, look at this thing. Love, love, joy, peace, look at the word peace. In a general sense, a state of quiet or tranquility, freedom from disturbance or agitation, applicable to society, to individuals or to the temper of the mind, heavenly rest, the happiness of heaven. In other words, a little faith will take a soul to heaven, but great faith will bring heaven to the soul. In serving the Lord, we are supposed to do things in the spirit of long suffered, in the spirit of joy, in the spirit of love and the spirit of peace, the spirit of goodness.

Because you see, these are things you demonstrate to other people. You say, well, I just thought these were things that I’m supposed to have. If you had it, then you’d not be a problem showing it, right? So then living for the Lord, walk in the Spirit. Walking in the Spirit means you allow the Holy Spirit to demonstrate these qualities through you. These are things that God wants us to have in our life. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr.

Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you 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 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

I wanted to talk to you about how to pray for a missionary, but as we read some of these, I want you to think of how can this apply to me? Remember, we always want to, even when you read scripture, how can I learn from this? What can help me to be a better Christian? And believe it or not, there may be some of you sitting here right now, And you’re thinking, I believe the Lord might want me to be a missionary.

I just might want to be a missionary. Well, I got news for you. You are a missionary, even if you didn’t know it. You’re either a missionary or a mess. You’re either going to the mission field or you should be part of the mission field. If you’re not reaching somebody, somebody needs to be reaching you. We used to have a sign on the back door back there as you walked out, entering the mission field.

Wouldn’t it be a good sign to have it back here over the door as you’re now entering the mission field? So every one of us needs to understand the importance of being a missionary. Now take your Bible and turn with me to the book of Matthew chapter 28, Matthew and chapter 28. These are scriptures that you and I have read many, many times. We know them well, but I wanted to just show you three things from these verses. One is our right, one is our responsibility, and one is our reason.

You see there in verse 18 in Matthew chapter 28 page 1044 in an old Schofield reference of Bible. It says in verse 18, And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. You realize that if it’s all been given him, he has it all. He is the authority. That’s where you and I receive the right to do what we do because he is the source of authority. And all other power is under his power.

When it talks about obey the powers that are over you, that means also government are supposed to obey God. supposed obey God. He made the world, he made people, he’s the one that has the right to set the laws. And so some of them he’s written in our hearts and some were written on stone. And we have now the word of God written. In verse 19 where he says, go ye therefore and teach all nations. Now why should I go?

Because of the authority, the authority of who he He is, and what He says to do. He’s in charge. He has the right, the power, the authority to tell us what to do. So He makes a statement here in verse 19, go ye therefore and teach all nations. Not some of them, all nations. And then He makes a statement in the book of Mark 16, talk about, preach the gospel to every creature. So it’s the will of God that we preach the gospel to every person and every nation on the earth.

who gave us the right to do that? God, there is no power greater than that. So he is the authority. Now you may have to suffer consequences seeking to get that done. There might be people in places that says, no, you can’t do that. But we still have a responsibility and we got to find a way to get it done and stay alive if possible. Now in verse 20, because see, That’s our responsibility. Go. And baptize, when it says baptizing them, this is something that we do, then this would always be water.

If it’s not what we do, then chances are it refers to the baptism of Holy Spirit. But here it makes a statement in verse 20, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And then when it says, and lo, I am with you always the reason that I should go, and the reason that I should do such a dynamic thing, such a challenging thing. The greatest thing in all the world is because the reason look who’s with me.

And he says, I’ll never leave you and never forsake you. So I know that over the years I’ve seen a lot of missionaries go to the fields and I’ve seen a lot of them come back home. And many times because people at home don’t keep supporting them and then they have to give up and come home because they have responsibilities and most of them cannot work on the foreign meals. Now what I want you to do is just take a look at the page that I gave to you, how to pray for a missionary from A to Z.

Now as you go down through here don’t you dare try to apply any of this to yourself. Don’t even look at this with the idea that you know that might be good for me too. You know always think it’s somebody else, it’s always somebody else. But number one there, as you go to ABCD all the way down through. There’s a nice little word that kind of helps us to apply to a missionary. But remember, in reality, you are a missionary.

It’s just what kind. Are you full time? Just part time. On the job, do you know a woman that just stays in harm and does her work, she’s a missionary because of the way she does her work. And she’s on a mission, even if it’s helping her husband accomplish what he does. Even if she just talks to the neighbors and wherever she is, and kind of a testimony she has when she goes to shop and all the things that she does, everybody is a testimony of what the Lord has done for them.

So keep that in mind. Unknowing, pray that the missionary will labor under the power of the Holy Spirit, because if it’s His work, we want His power. We wanna do what God wants us to do with our life. Isn’t that a wonderful statement? I think it’s a great statement. You know, the Bible even talks about the Apostle Paul. made the statement, pray that I may open my mouth with boldness. See that number two, pray that the missionary will speak the word of God with boldness.

We have missionaries that are on the foreign fields. They’re all of the world and they need to be bold. But sometimes we get intimidated. Don’t you get intimidated? Don’t you get a little afraid, a little scared? Even to hand out a track. I talked and challenged this one guy to pass out tracks and so he He would always put tracks in the bathroom behind the mirror. If you ever tear that building down, somebody’s gonna find the track. But at least he was doing something.

And you’d be surprised, I’ve gone into restaurants around here and I go into the restroom and lo and behold, there’s one of our tracks laying there on the sink. And in other places. Somebody’s been here, and Kilroy was here. No? A missionary been here. Chances are, when you see these little tracks that we have, somebody from Calvary Community church has been there. And because, see, y’all are sowing seeds all over. Everybody’s sowing seeds. Somebody even asked me about these Christmas cards.

You know, last year Gary made up a little Christmas card, but it was another way just to get the gospel out. And then he did it one on the people dying. It’s another way. Always trying to find a way to get it done, But to pray that God will help them to be bold. To know what you’re doing, who you are, the message you have, and to trust the gospel. Trust the gospel that when you give it, it will do something to people.

Believe in that message, it’s a powerful thing. The next statement, pray that the missionary will find comfort when discouraged. There’s no place like the foreign mission feels to get discouraged. you’re away from home and you don’t have relatives there with you, you don’t have mama or grandma there and sometimes when they have children it’s a very difficult thing. I just finished talking yesterday to Irene. Irene is the mama of Paula that’s down in Brazil and of course they’re trying to get rid of it because they want to go down there and see the kids and to see the other grandkids and so There’s always something that comes up and there’s always problems and there’s somebody that may pass away and it might throw a cog in the wheel.

But when you don’t get to see your grandkids for a while, that’s hurt. And I know, I used to see them every other day or week. Now it’s six months. That’s too long. But when you’re on the mission field, you get very down, you get very discouraged. And if you think and things are moving so slow and people are not responding, what it can do to you? So anyway, whenever you’re praying and you say, I don’t know what to pray for the missionary, don’t let bless our missionaries.

I know that that’s good, but be a little bit more specific and say, Lord, maybe they’re discouraged. And I pray that they can be confident because of somebody to go and visit with them or send them something special in the mail or write them a nice letter of encouragement. And a lot of time we just out of sight, out of mind. And so people don’t think about those things. The next statement, pray that the missionary will send God specific directions in his ministry.

Because you’re always seeking to find out what is it that God wants me to do, the right direction. You see, a lot of us are willing to go where God wants us to go. We just don’t know where it is sometimes or how to get it done. Now as I’m reading some of these things and make me a little comment here and there, there isn’t anything in here that you can gain some knowledge for yourself is there. I mean you wouldn’t ask the Lord to do that for you too would it.

I mean when you stop and think about the people in the church here do you think it’s a possibility? lo and behold they might be a little discouraged or you might need some direction or somebody else needs some direction and you say I just I need to pray for this person this person. So it’s not just for the missionary on the foreign field. It’s also for every person who’s trusty Christ’s Savior who needs some direction in their life. Do you know the reason we try to have ranch or camps and things like trying to help teenagers have some direction?

Because see they’re fixing to make some of the most important decisions of their life. Because when they’re young they have so many desires and desires are coming and going and they get just sometimes they can’t make up their mind. And they’re going to be choosing a guide that they’re going to be hooked up with for the rest of their life? Think of how critical that is. Or the education that they receive for the purpose of their life, do kids need help.

And that’s why us older adults are supposed to try to give them some directions. And the way you give sometimes directions is the direction you’re going. How are you doing with the Lord leading you? Do you believe that you’re doing what God wants you to do with your life. Very, very important. Look at the next statement. Pray that the missionary will send someone to encourage the missionary. That’s why even among you, you may not think it’s that important, but just sometimes by the sweet, casual word that you say to somebody can so encourage them.

You know one of the encouraging things I think of our church here is that we do have a time and sometimes you have to watch it doesn’t just become you know this is what I’m supposed to do when we have greet one another. Here are those famous words greet one another and what do you usually do huh? Stand right there don’t move or you can get out of your seat and go meet somebody who said Well, I’ve already met everybody.

Do it again. It breaks the monotony of your own self-centeredness. You got to think about somebody else. And you shake somebody, you realize that I’ve had some people tell me, says, I can’t believe it. I walked into that church and 15 people shook my hand because of what we do. They like a warm, friendly church where you smile. Do you think, oh, I’m glad to have you. We’re just thrilled. We’re so excited. Or can you, you know, put a little spring in your step and walk up to somebody and say, hello, my name is in.

What is your name? I’m glad to have you here. Have you been here many times? Oh, about five years. On Sunday night, I had a guy, and I talked to him in the coming on Sunday morning. He always come on Sunday night. He came on Sunday morning and nobody knew him. I said, how long have you been coming? He said eight years, but he just come on Sunday night and somebody else, they come on Sunday morning. So they never, and never the two show me.

But anyway, look in the next statement, pray that the missionary will guide their children in the way they ought to go. Did you know that a lot of times people judge you by how your children are doing? And sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not. But today it’s not just the family that’s raising their children. Everybody’s having a part raising their kids. But don’t you remember what Hillary Clinton said that you’ve got to have it takes a village to raise a child.

But… Today, TV’s raising our children, and sometimes humanist educators are raising our children, and teaching them things that we don’t want them to learn. And so, mom and dad, they see them just a little bit in the morning when they ship them off the school. They come home at night, and then everybody’s tired, weary and worn, and they doing this and that and that. And so, by the time, you know, what was your name again? Dad, I’m your son.

Oh, and you don’t know each other. You never spend time with each other. But anyway, you need to pray for the children’s mission, their kids, because it is such a difficult, see, if I was the devil, if I was the devil, no, I’m not. Some people think I am, but I’m not the devil. But if I was the devil, and if I couldn’t get the man of God, I’d try to do what I could to get to his wife.

Because you see, he’s not gonna do too much if I can discourage her, because see, she will do everything in her power to discourage him. And whenever I get her, I can get him. But if I can’t get her, I’m going to go after the kids. Because see, it’s a system that always works. And so the devil is going to work on children, goes after those young kids and then try to get those teenagers. Because he, that is something that the parents really love.

And sometimes for the sake of their children, they begin to change or to alter things and their steadfastness with the Lord. And so they don’t want to offend their kids now. But wouldn’t it be great if the daddy loves the Lord, the mama loves the Lord, the children love the Lord, and everybody just served the Lord together? Wouldn’t it be me? Where the devil can’t get at that family. That would be the ideal, but in most cases it’s not.

And a lot of missionaries struggle on the foreign fields. Their kids don’t have others strong kids that know the Lord, love the Lord’s a lot of times they don’t have a youth ranch ministry or they don’t have a Christian school and so they struggle. Always pray concerning that and always keep in mind. Pray for your own kids too. Look at the next statement. Pray that the missionary will live each day to glorify the Lord each day every day to glorify the Lord.

The next one, humility, develop a sense of humility and reject pride. If there’s anything that God hates, it’s pride. It’s when you begin to develop the ability to see how great and wonderful you really are. And you begin to exalt your talent or your boldness, your ability. Over your dependence upon the Lord. In spite of everything, you and I should keep it in mind. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, we couldn’t do anything. If God didn’t protect us, we wouldn’t even be here.

God has been good to us. Make sure that in your life you’re giving God the credit for whatever God does through your life. Because see God in heaven, he knows how you think and he knows how you feel. And just because a person may talk proudful and so forth doesn’t mean he is. humility is a position of the mind, not a position of the body. You can bow at the altar, as some would say, or at home, but God’s more interested in do you bow your will to His will.

Pride is when you seek your own way. Humility is when you humble and do the will of God. So do what God wants you to do. And so if you’re humble, so you always want to pray that missionaries and everybody else humbles themselves before God and not to try to give God directions and leadership. You see, the truth serving the Lord is always yielding to the leadership of the Lord, to do whatever God wants you to do with your life.

That’s what God wants. Look at the next word, the insight. We’ll see people and things from God’s perspective. See, there’s always these two perspectives, the divine perspective and the human perspective. Where you see things from God’s viewpoint, and you see things from man’s viewpoint. Now, because you and I, we trusted Christ as our Savior, so we have a spiritual part of us that’s divine. And we have a human spirit, and so we have a human perspective. So we see sometimes things from different perspectives.

So what you have to do as a child of God, try to see everything from a divine perspective. So the regardless of what goes on, and I’m going to cover a little bit about this tonight, concerning the will of God. Because when something really goes wrong, bad, I mean, you consider it as really bad. At that point, at that moment, you still have to ask, what is the will of God? . . 2 . . . . . .

For me at this point in my life, when everything seems to be falling apart, am I then still supposed to yield my will? Am I still supposed to seek the will of God? Regardless of what’s happening at every moment in my life. I believe it is true, but that’s another sermon for another time. Oh, look at the next statement. Joy, pray that the missionary will be full of the joy of the Lord in all situations. Because even though a lot of things go wrong, and you may not walk around all the time with a big smiley face, you can have the joy of the Lord in your heart.

Because you know that regardless of your inability, you know about God’s ability. And that the one who has all the power in the authority gave me the right to do what I’m doing. He told me to do what I’m doing. And therefore I will do it and trust the Lord for the outcome. So I can’t see how everything is going to develop down the road. So you learn to walk with the Lord and God is going to bless you.

And doing that is what brings you to personal joy. See God says, my joy I give, no man can take it away. And so if he can’t take it away, then the only one that can get rid of the joy of the Lord is yourself. So you can be as happy in the Lord as you choose to be. Happiness usually comes from happenings. And if it happens according to your likes, then you’re happy. And if that doesn’t happen according to your desires, then you’re not happy.

So there’s a lot of people who are happy and unhappy, happy, unhappy, unhappy, unhappy. But a Christian, regardless of what’s happening, can have joy because he knows I am doing the will of God for my life. And that satisfaction that you have between you and the Lord, no man can give it and no man can take it away. That’s what causes the Christian to be stable. So when you pray for missionaries, you want to pray that not only do they do that job that are supposed to do, the work of the Lord, but they can also have the joy of the Lord.

Look at the next statement. We’ll continue to be filled with the knowledge of God. You see, if your outflow supersedes your intake, then your outflow will be your downfall. If you’re always giving and never taking in, you’re going to come up dry. You see, you have to have water in the well in order to draw water out of the well. So that’s why you as a child of God must always be reading and studying the word of God. Always be talking to the Lord.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. So if you don’t have the strength in the Christian life to maintain a good Christian walk with the Lord, it’s because there’s something missing. You’re not going to the right well to get the right water, the strength that you need. And if you do, then you will have what you need to sustain you. So as the Bible talks about the knowledge, and he talks about in 1 Peter talking about growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So God wants us to continually keep learning, keep learning, stay in the book. And you’ll be surprised as you get on down the road a few more years, that a lot of the things that you might not even thought about, scripture will come into your mind. It seemed like just the right time. And it says, the Holy Spirit shall quicken your mind so that you can know the things that are of God. And the Holy Spirit’s main responsibility is to teach you about Christ.

He said, he doesn’t talk about himself. He talks about the Lord. So you study the word so that you can continue to grow in the grace of our Lord. Look at the next word, love. The missionary will be a vessel through which God love flows. How do you know God loves you? Because, and you always say, well, because of what Christ did on the cross for us. All right, if you didn’t know what Christ did on the cross for you, you would not know that God loved you.

That’s how God proved his love. He sent his son to die to pay for our sins so that we don’t have to pay for them. So how is the world out there going to know that God loves them? Well, that love has to flow from somebody to somebody. You are the channel, the vessel that God wants to use to flow that love through you. To another person, to the lost man. And the lost people will never know about the love of God if you don’t tell them about the love of God.

So it’s the love that you and I have for him that’s supposed to motivate us to tell him about his love. And that’s why I made this statement for the love of Christ constraineth or motivate us because we thus judged that if one died for all, then we’re all dead. that they which live should not live unto themselves, but unto him who died for them and rose again. So the purpose of my life is the life of the one who died for me.

So it’s clear in the word of God. Look there at the word motivation. Sometimes I feel like I’m motivated beyond my ability to perform. I want to do more and more than I’ve ever done in my life. I feel like with all 50 years experience, I should know more. I should be wiser. Shouldn’t I be wiser? I would think I’m supposed to be, but when the body doesn’t want to go, well, the mind should make up for it. See before, I had a little wisdom, but boy, the old body was rare to go.

I had what you call an a reckless abandonment to faith. it boils down to is I did a lot of stupid things. I would just do it and say the Lord is going to bless. Phew, I didn’t worry about nothing. So I knew a little bit and I did a lot and a lot of mistakes and a few things right. But as you get older the body came to it so you try to make up for the lack of the ability in the body and the wisdom that you have.

So now I should make wiser I should be smarter than I’ve been. And then you make some decisions, you think, now, what did I do? I was talking to somebody just recently. I said, you know, I thought, you know, would it be neat just to have a motor home and travel around the country and go where you want to go and do whatever you want to do? You know, just retired, just do that. Stop and think about it. Wouldn’t it be a nice way to live?

And lo and behold, here I am. I told my son, sell my motor home. I guess I’m going to stay here for a while. And we’re going to try to start a Bibleline Institute. So we’re going to try that. So I guess I’ll be here another year anyway. Well, however long it takes to do all this stuff. Because I see such great potential here. I saw that when I first came down here and I still see it. I mean, the way y’all respond and y’all are so teachable and you just love the Lord and you’re just willing to do whatever has to be done.

And you can’t get that anywhere. So I guess when you found a good fish and you know, you might just keep fishing for a while. 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 two 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 toll-free, one, 800-576-3771.

That’s one, 800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again, or to obtain a free download of any of our Bible and 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. How are you doing with the Lord leading you? Do you believe that you’re doing what God wants you to do with your life? Very, very important. Look at the next statement. Pray that the missionary will send someone to encourage the missionary. That’s why even among you, you may not think it’s that important, but just sometimes by the sweet, casual word that you say to somebody can so encourage them.

You know one of the encouraging things I think of our church here is that we do have a time and sometimes you have to watch it doesn’t just become, you know, this is what I’m supposed to do when we have greet one another. Hear those famous words, greet one another and what do you usually do? Huh? Stand right there. Don’t move. Or you can get out of your seat and go meet somebody who says, well I’ve already met everybody, do it again.

It breaks the monotony of your own self-centeredness. You’ve got to think about somebody else. And you shake somebody, you realize that I’ve had some people tell me, says, I can’t believe it. I walked into that church and 15 people shook my hand because of what we do. They like a warm, friendly church where you smile. Now, do you think, I’m glad to have you. We’re just thrilled. You’re so excited. Or can you, you know, put a little spring in your step and walk up to somebody and say, Hello, my name is, and what is your name?

I’m glad to have you here. Have you been here many times? Oh, about five years. On Sunday night, I had a guy and I talked to him and they come in on Sunday morning. He always come on Sunday night. He came on Sunday morning and nobody knew him. I said, How long have you been coming? He said eight years. But he just come on Sunday night and somebody else, they come on Sunday morning. they never and never the two show me.

But anyway, look in the next statement, pray that the missionary will guide their children in the way they ought to go. Did you know that a lot of times people judge you by how your children are doing? And sometimes it’s good, sometimes it’s not. But today it’s not just the family that’s raising their children. Everybody’s having a part raising their kids. Don’t you remember what Hillary Clinton said that you’ve got to have, it takes a village to raise a child.

But today, TV is raising our children and sometimes humanist educators are raising our children and teaching them things that we don’t want them to learn. And so mom and dad, they see them just a little bit in the morning when they ship them off the school. They come home at night and then everybody’s tired, weary and worn and they’re doing this and that. And so by the time, you know, what was your name again? Dad, I’m your son. Oh, and you don’t know each other.

You never spend time with each other. But anyway, you need to pray for the children’s mission, their kids, because it is such a difficult to see. If I was the devil, if I was the devil, no, I’m not. Some people think I am, but I’m not the devil. But if I was the devil, and if I couldn’t get the man of God, I’d try to do what I could to get to his wife, because you see, he’s not going to do too much if I I can discourage her because see, she will do everything in her power to discourage him.

And whenever I get her, I can get him. But if I can’t get her. I’m going to go after the kids. Because, see, it’s a system that always works. And so the devil is going to work on children. Goes after those young kids and then try to get those teenagers. Because he, that is something that the parents really love. And sometimes for the sake of their children, they begin to change or to alter things. And they’re steadfastness with the Lord.

And so they don’t want to offend their kids now. But wouldn’t it be great if the daddy loves the Lord, the mama loves the Lord, the children love the Lord, and everybody just served the Lord together? Wouldn’t it be me? Well the devil can’t get at that family. That would be the ideal. But in most cases it’s not. And a lot of missionaries struggle on the foreign fields. Their kids don’t have others strong kids that know the Lord loved the Lord a lot of the time they don’t have a youth ranch ministry, or they don’t have a Christian school, so they struggled.

Always pray concerning that and always keep in mind. Pray for your own kids too. Look at the next statement. Pray that the missionary will live each day to glorify the Lord each day every day to glorify the Lord. The next one, humility. Develop a sense of humility and reject pride. If there’s anything that God hates, it’s pride. It’s when you begin to develop the ability to see how great and wonderful you really are. And you begin to exalt your talent or your boldness, your ability, over your dependence upon the Lord.

In spite of everything, you and I should keep it in mind. If it wasn’t for the grace of God, we couldn’t do anything. If God didn’t protect us, we wouldn’t even be here. God has been good to us. Make sure that in your life you’re giving God the credit for whatever God does through your life. Because see God in heaven, he knows how you think and he knows how you feel. And just because a person may talk proudful and so forth doesn’t mean he is.

Humility is a position of the mind, not a position of the body. You can bow at the the altar, as some would say, or at home, but God’s more interested in do you bow your will to his will. Pride is when you seek your own way. Humility is when you humble yourself and do the will of God. So do what God wants you to do. And so if you’re humble, so you always want to pray that missionaries and everybody else humbles themselves before God and not to try to give God directions and leadership.

You see, the truth serving the Lord is always yielding to the leadership of the Lord, to do whatever God wants you to do with your life. That’s what God wants. Look at the next word, the insight. We’ll see people and things from God’s perspective. See, there’s always these two perspectives, the divine perspective and the human perspective. Where you see things from God’s viewpoint, and you see things from man’s viewpoint. Now, because you and I, we trust that Christ is our Savior, so we have a spiritual part of us that’s divine.

And we have a human spirit, and so we have a human perspective. So we see sometimes things from different perspectives. So what you have to do is a child of God, try to see everything from a divine perspective. So regardless of what goes on, and I’m going to cover a little bit about this tonight concerning the will of God because when something really goes wrong, bad, I mean you consider it really bad, at that point, at that moment you still have to ask what is the will of God for me at this point in my life.

When everything seems to be falling apart, am I then still supposed to yield my will, am I still supposed to seek the will of God? Regardless of what’s happening at every moment in my life. I believe it is true, but that’s another sermon or another time. Oh, look at the next statement. Joy, pray that the missionary will be full of the joy of the Lord in all situations, because even though a lot of things go wrong and you You may not walk around all the time with a big smiley face, you can have the joy of the Lord in your heart.

Because you know that regardless of your inability, you know about God’s ability. And that the one who has all the power and the authority gave me the right to do what I’m doing. He told me to do what I’m doing. Therefore I will do it and trust the Lord for the outcome. So I can’t see how everything’s going to develop down the road. So you learn to walk with the Lord and God is going to bless you. And doing that is what brings you to personal joy.

See God says, my joy I give, no man can take it away. And so if he can’t take it away, then the only one that can get rid of the joy of the Lord is yourself. So you can be as happy in the Lord as you choose to be. Happiness usually comes from happenings. And if it happens according to your likes, then you’re happy. And if that doesn’t happen according to your desires, then you’re not happy. So there’s a lot of people who are happy and unhappy, happy, unhappy, unhappy, unhappy.

But a Christian, regardless of what’s happening, can have joy because he knows I am doing the will of God for my life. And that satisfaction that you have between you and the Lord, no man can give it and no man can take it away. That’s what causes the Christian to be stable. So when you pray for missionaries, you want to pray that not only do they do that job that you’re supposed to do, the work of the Lord, but they can also have the joy of the Lord.

Look at the next statement. We’ll continue to be filled with the knowledge of God. You see, if your outflow supersedes your intake, then your outflow will be your downfall. If you’re always giving and never taking in, you’re going to come up dry. You see, you have to have water in the well, in the draw water out of the well. So that’s why you as a child of God must always be reading and studying the Word of God. always be talking to the Lord.

The joy of the Lord is my strength. So if you don’t have the strength in the Christian life to maintain a good Christian walk with the Lord, it’s because there’s something missing. You’re not going to the right well to get the right water, the strength that you need. And if you do, then you will have what you need to sustain you. So as the Bible talks about the knowledge and he talks about in 1 Peter talking about, growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So God wants us to continually keep learning, keep learning, stay in the book. And you’ll be surprised as you get on down the road a few more years, that a lot of the things that you might not even thought about, scripture will come into your mind. It seemed like just the right time. And it says, the Holy Spirit shall quicken your mind so that you can know the things that are of God. And the Holy Spirit’s main responsibility is to teach you about Christ.

He said, he doesn’t talk about himself. He talks about the Lord. So you study the word so that you can continue to grow in the grace of our Lord. Look at the next word, love. The missionary will be a vessel through which God love flows. How do you know God loves you? Because, and you always say, well because of what Christ did on the cross for us. Alright, if you didn’t know what Christ did on the cross for you, you would not know that God loved you.

That’s how God proved His love. He sent His Son to die to pay for our sins so that we don’t have to pay for them. So how is the world out there going to know that God loves them? Well, that love has to flow from somebody to somebody. You are the channel, the vessel that God wants to use to flow that love through you to another person, to the lost man. And the lost people will never know about the love of God if you don’t tell them about the love of God.

So it’s the love that you and I have for Him that supposed to motivate us to tell Him about His love. And that’s why I made this statement, for the love of Christ constraineth or motivates us because we thus judge that if one died for all, then they were all dead, that they which live should not live unto themselves but unto Him who died for them and rose again. So the purpose of my life is the life of the one who died for me.

So it’s clear in the Word of God. Look there at the word motivation. Sometimes I feel like I’m motivated beyond my ability to perform. I want to do more and more than I’ve ever done in my life. I feel like with all 50 years experience I should know more. I should be wise. Shouldn’t I be wiser? I would think I’m supposed to be. When the body doesn’t want to go with a mind… Should make up for it. See, before I had a little wisdom, but boy, the old body was rare to go.

I had what you call an a reckless abandonment to faith. What it boils down to is I did a lot of stupid things. I would just do it and say the Lord is gonna blap. I didn’t worry about nothing. So I knew a little bit and I did a lot in a lot of mistakes and a few things right. But as you get older, the body can’t do so you try to make up for the lack of the ability in the body and the wisdom that you have.

So now I should make wiser decisions. I should be smarter than I’ve been. And then you make some decisions and you think, no, what did I do? I was talking to somebody just recently. I said, you know, I thought, you know, wouldn’t it be neat just to have a motor home and travel around the country and go where you want to go and do whatever you want to do? Just retired, just do that. Stop and think about, wouldn’t it be a nice way to live?

And lo and behold, here I am. I told my son, sell my motor home. I guess I’m going to stay here for a while. And we’re gonna try to start a Bible-lying institute. So we’re gonna try that. So I guess I’ll be here another year anyway. Well, however long it takes to do all this stuff. Because I see such great potential here. I saw that when I first came down here and I still see it. I mean, the way y’all respond and y’all are so teachable and you just love the Lord and you’re just willing to do whatever has to be done.

And you can’t get that anywhere. So I guess when you find a good fish and hold you might just keep fishing for a while. Anyway, motivation, motivation, trying to challenge and motivate people to do the thing that God wants them to do. Now, no, everybody in this room is motivated. Everybody’s motivated. You’re motivated to do what you want to do. Our problem is trying to get you motivated to do what we want you to do. you ever tried to have somebody do what you want them to do and you get frustrated when they want to do their own thing.

So what you try to do is since you, you know, you always heard you can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink, but if you put a little salt in his oats, it’ll make him thirsty. So you tried to create an environment where people want to serve a Lord. And so you’re trying I’m trying to make him a little thirsty. Do you have a thirst to do something great for God? Can’t you see that we’re running out of time?

Look at the world today. Aren’t you glad you’re not going to have to stay here forever and never in this whole world? But why we’re here? Let’s see how much we can accomplish in a short period of time. And God bless us. But we need to be motive. Why do we want to do that? Because of who he is and what he has done and what he commanded. So we have his authority and we have the right to do it.

And so we have some results. It’s going to come one day when God’s going to reward us for all that and what we’ve done for him. Look at the word needs. Pray that the missionary will realize that in Christ all needs will be met. Not all of our wants, all of our needs. What do you really need? You said I need a million dollars. Oh come on, really? You really need a million dollars. Well I need this, I need that.

All you really need is to be faithful. Well I got cancer, all you need is to be faithful. Cancer is not the issue. I need a job that’s really not the issue. all you need to do is be faithful. You bolt it all down. Moreover, it is required in the steward that a man be found faithful. You see, when the apostle Paul was thrown in a prison, he might say, hey, I need my freedom. No, all he had to do is be faithful.

Him getting out was beyond him. Whenever he was going to have his head chopped off, now he could say, You know, I need my head. No, you just need to be faithful. Government’s high whether or not he needs his head or not. You see, whenever people join the military, it’s the government’s job to supply everything they need, everything. All they got to do is just report for duty. They don’t give orders. You and I, now, when we have certain needs that we call needs, we need to understand that our greatest need might be that we need a need.

It’s the needs that we can’t supply sometimes, that we go to the Lord and say, Lord help. I’m in trouble. Help me speedily. I was like the way David said that in Psalms. Help me speedily, like right away, like now. And you’ll find out that God will meet your need. And he says, come to the throne of grace that you may find help in time of need. So there are times that we need this we need that. But what you need in the midst of all of those things, make sure you stay faithful to the Lord that you do not dishonor God.

That regardless of what you’re going through, that your testimony is above reproach, that you do right. And God said He will bless you because of that. Let’s cover one more of these here. Pray that the missionary will seek opportunities to share the gospel called an open door. You see, there’s times when God will open doors And there’s time when God will shut doors. And if God opens a door, no man can shut it. And if God closes the door, no man can open it.

As a child of God, you and I are to seek the open doors that God opens. But when the door is closed, you and I are not supposed to get sledgehammers and try to break it down. But if God opens up the door, and sometimes you don’t see an open door, what do I do? Well, if I had somebody who’s going to learn how to clean the house, they might need to start off in a small room. I’ll get cleaned up the closet.

Well, what do I do after cleaning? Don’t worry about that. You just be faithfully clean the closet and close the door on them. Now when you get that clean, then I’ll see how you did. I’ll make you let you clean another room. And when you clean that room, I’ll make you let you clean another room. And you can’t see that in a bigger room, in a bigger room, in a bigger room. Start by faithfulness in little things. Because God says, if you’re not faithful in that which is little, you will not be faithful in that which is much.

If you can’t be faithful with a hundred dollars, you won’t be faithful if you had $5,000. If you can’t be faithful with $5,000, you won’t be faithful if you had a million dollars. You’re faithful if you’re faithful. It’s part of your character. It’s really who you are. So these are some things and we’ll cover the rest of this here another time. But keep your notes, okay? You will keep those and you’ll bring them back, right? I know you will.

And be praying for our missionaries and that God will richly bless them. And because we pray for them as we should. Take your Bible and turn to the book of 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 11. Just want to mention a couple of things to you. Remember, once you have trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, that means you believe that He died on the cross paid for your sins and you are going to trust Him as your only hope of going to heaven, you are saved.

You have eternal life, your God’s child. As a child of God, God wants us to keep our lives clean. And so different people are on different levels in their understanding. There’s different stages of maturity. Not everybody is at the same place at the same time. It would be wonderful if they were, but they’re not. And so we need to be patient with those that don’t know as much and then expect more from those that do. And so whenever we have to sometime rebuke somebody, it’s because of what we think they are spiritually.

Some people don’t know, and so you have to be a little bit softer, but then there’s other people that are a little further along in the Lord, and so you might have to be a little bit more stern. And the Apostle Paul talks about that. He said, I wish I could change my attitude in the way it is right now. He says, less when I come, I have to be sharp with you. He doesn’t want to be that way.

So you need to be patient with people who are now where you once were, but to love each challenge and motivate each other to do the right thing by you doing the right thing. You see people often follow our examples of what we do more than by what we say. So therefore we are always being scrutinized. You’re watching me and I’m watching you. And what do you expect from me? Well what do I expect from you? I expect that I’m going to find fault in you and you’re probably going to find fault in me.

And so, therefore, we love each other in spite of those things, right? And we forgive one another, right? And because of that, God says, forgive one another even as God has for Christ’s sake forgiven us. So, we look back to what He did as our example. He is our example. And because of what He did for us, we should be willing to do for other. Now, Christ was willing to die for us, but for us, He asked us to live for Him.

So I know there’s people in the problem, oh, we willing to die for the Lord. Well, God didn’t maybe ask you to die, ask you to live for Him to sacrifice yourself and what you want, what you want to be, where you want to go, everything, but you’ll do it for Him, because He means more and more to you than anything else in the whole world. But here in 1 Corinthians in chapter 11, it makes a statement in verse 28, let a man examine himself.

He said, well, what is he looking for? Anything that might cause irritability between you and your heavenly Father. Anything that causes your Father maybe to look the other way. Some reason that God may not bless you because of something that you’re doing or saying or thinking. You know what it is. You know what it is. So you talk to the Lord and confess it. Lord, I’m a sinner. I’ve trusted you with my saving. I’m your child, but my thoughts have not been right.

My words have not been right or my actions have not been right and tell God about it. And you talk, he says, confess your sins to the Lord. And he is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you from all and righteousness. So that’s the will of God for his children. Let’s pray, shall we? Our Father, we thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us, for giving us the free gift of eternal life. And Father, we ask your blessings upon each person here.

As we think about, yes, the missionaries, but also each other in our own selves about how to apply these things because we are missionaries and help us to do right and to honor you, to examine our lives and father to talk to you about those things that maybe a hindrance in our walk with you. With your head still bowed and your eyes closed, no one looking around. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, then friend right now with heads bowed and eyes closed, you can do that.

All you have to do is just be honest and say, Lord, I’m a sinner. And I believe Christ died and paid for my sins. And I’m going to trust him as my only hope of going to heaven. For in God’s it, if you would trust him, he would save you and give eternal life. And you’re that no Christ is your Savior. Don’t you take just a moment and talk to the Lord? And those things that we talked about this morning, is there anything that you need to talk to the Lord about?

You know, maybe he wants you to be a full-time missionary. Maybe he wants you to get some schooling. Maybe he wants you to go to some foreign fields. I don’t know. I’m not God. But I know that God will speak to his word and I want you to do and to be whatever God wants you to do. Our Father, we thank you now for this time together. Blessed is we remember what you get on the cross for us. In Christ and we pray, Amen.

You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach by the line 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 Bible and 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 1030 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

All of you brought your fliers back from last week that I gave you, because I gave them out last week and so you don’t get a new one this week. But I do have something I want to share with you. So if you have those notes from last week on how to pray for missionaries, the reason that’s so important is because you are one. You are a missionary. You may be a home missionary, but you are a missionary. If you’re not a missionary, you’re a mess.

You’re supposed to either be a missionary or a mission field. You’re supposed to either be reaching somebody or somebody should be reaching you. Don’t that make sense? Cause if you’re not reaching somebody, somebody needs to reach you to convince you that you should. And so we’ve gone through some ABCs and got all the way down to even the open door. But I do want you to see here, Of course, in Scripture, don’t have time to cover everything, of course.

But why right here? Look there in the book of 1 Corinthians in chapter 16. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 16, you’ll notice the apostle Paul had a lot of things going on and he depended upon people. And he says here in verse six, And it may be that I will abide Yay and winter with you, that ye may bring me on my journey whether so ever I go. In other words, I might come and spend the winter with you.

How’d you like to have company call you up and tell you that? And then when I get ready to leave, you can help take and send me on my journey. Isn’t that bold? We see Paul had led these people to the Lord and he expected things from them. And he had no problem laying on them the responsibility that was theirs. And then notice what he says here, this is a tremendous verse in verse 9, for a great door and effectual is open unto me.

And there are many adversaries. In other words, there’s a great opportunity, but a lot of problems. Anytime you and I decide to serve a Lord, you might as well speak, you may have an open door, but that doesn’t mean that it’s going to be a free-sailing. You’re going to have problems. Any person who wants to serve a Lord must understand the devil is going to do everything in his power to keep you from doing what you’re supposed to do.

It’s not going to be a free ride. Elevation is a free ride all because Christ paid for but now that you have eternal life in your God’s child It is the will of God that you serve the Lord and if you’re gonna serve the Lord that there is a price to pay And the devil is gonna try to discourage you somehow. I do recommend that if you’re not here on Wednesday night To get a copy of the last three Wednesday nights on Depression you said well, I’m not depressed if you get discouraged You’re depressed.

If you think of quitting, serving the Lord, you’re depressed. If you were talking about being burned out, then you’re depressed. So you need those messages that would really help you, I believe. So you and I know that as a child of God, we are going to have open doors. God will open the doors for us, but that doesn’t mean there’s not going to be problems. And sometimes those problems convince us, well, we should have done that. done that. I shouldn’t have done that.

A lot of people who committed themselves to go to the mission field believe in this is the will of God for me and then problem after problem after problem and so they said well I guess it must not be the Lord’s will because of all the problems. Not necessarily. Be wise. Now take your Bible and turn to the hundredth Psalm, the hundredth Psalm. And you’ll notice down there where it has the word, thankful heart, thankful heart. This is one of the key ingredients of staying happy and serving the Lord.

Learn to have the joy of the Lord. Whenever you consider yourself, are you a joyful individual? or pretty much are you a down and outer. I mean, do you carry a smile on your face or you usually have a frown on your face? If somebody looked at you, what they think, you’re filled with the joy of the Lord, or you’ve got a real problem. How do they read you? Well, look here at the 100 Psalm. First time I ever heard the 100 Psalm was my wife quoted it.

And I couldn’t stand it. I forgot what we were, and somebody said something, and she just quoted the 100 Psalm. I think it was at a North Side Baptist Church, but it was back in about 1961 to something like that. And anyway, she just quoted the verse of the whole Psalm. But anyway, look there at this verse. In verse one, make a joyful noise unto the Lord when everything is going your way. You know what he says? No, make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands.

The Lord’s God wants everybody everywhere to praise the Lord. And then look what he says in verse 2. Serve the Lord with gladness. Come before his presence would sing. You know, it’s hard to do that when you’re always down and discouraged and so forth. I think I’ve been beddy this morning. Every time I come into the church here, I either come in that door or I’ll come in this door, and I’ll sing. There’s just something about walking in this place.

I just wanna sing. And Lord, well, it’s always the best when nobody else is here. Because sometimes I forget about other people being here, but anyway, it’s just I love to sing. I used to go out kind of every year, and once in a while I’d take my son with me. And after about an hour or two, he said, Daddy, you’re not gonna get anything. I said, why? He said, because you gotta stop singing. I’m going through the woods.

I got my gun with short end. Just a singing till you could hear me a mile away. I get on top of those mountain peaks. See out there, we go hunting. We go looking for the animal. Here you wait and the animal comes looking for you. That is not my way to hunt. I like to go out there in the woods and trips you all over the place and looking, trying to find one, sneaking up on one. I don’t want one sneaking up on me.

I want to sneak up on it. But anyway, I loved to hunt and I had to figure out I got to be quiet. Maybe that’s why I’ve only got one elk in 18 years. But I got a lot of deer. They like my singing. But here in this verse, looking verse three, And know ye that the Lord, He is God. It is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves. I’m a self-made man. Well, you quit too soon.

And he says, we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. And look at those two words, be thankful unto Him. bless his name. Why? For the Lord is good. It’s a good song. This is a tremendous song. We’re coming up on Thanksgiving and a lot of people are not thankful to the Lord. Remember, I made a statement not long ago that what if you only had tomorrow what you were thankful to the Lord for today?

You may not have much tomorrow, but since you have so much today, be thankful for it. Don’t whine about what you don’t have and how something didn’t work out. But think of how many things do work out. And how many things that you do have that you ought to be blessed in to thank the Lord for it. Verse 5, for the Lord is good. His mercy is everlasting and his truth endures to all generations. You see, if this is the way I’m supposed to be, this is why we pray for the missionaries that they will stay thankful on the foreign fields.

Because it’s so easy to get down and discouraged. And that’s why if we take on a missionary and we help them, we want to continue to do so. I would hate for our admissions given to go down to where they’re not getting enough and they’re counting on it. You know, they depend upon it. So I’m thankful that we’ve done what we’ve done and you all have been tremendous in that and I thank the Lord for you. But anyway, once you look at another statement here, the unsaid pray that the missionary will remember and you ought to underline this primary goal primary goal.

The primary goal, keep the main thing, the main thing. And it’s so easy to get so busy doing so many things that you never have time to share the gospel with anybody. I get thrilled every week just listening for the report to come in from Friday night, so winning. And they never know, sometimes they’ll have 15, sometimes they’ll have 20, sometimes they’ll have 25, one night they call it had 28. And then they blew me clean out of my lounge chair last night Friday night.

Peter calls up and he says they had 77. That’s the teenager and I said, how many went 100? He said they had about 11, something like that, that went so winning. And they had a tremendous time and they hit a hot spot. You ever go fishing and you just hit a hot spot. And then sometimes you go fishing and you get a couple of little bites and then you move to another in a couple of little bites or you finally pull one in, one little one in and then nothing else.

And then sometimes you just hit into a school of them and you just go wild. Well, they hit some teenagers at a park or something like that, at a carnival. So praise the Lord for that. And but those are the kind of things I’d love to hear about because see, when everything else is all over and all the problems that you have, when you get to heaven and those people are gonna be there because somebody went and told them how to have eternal life.

That’s a wonderful thing. Some of you don’t know that believe it or not. We did have a wedding here on Friday afternoon, 4.30. And I’d been talking to this couple for a good while, almost a year. So we made sure that they trusted the Lord. And I said, no, I don’t do a wedding unless I explain the gospel and that there’s no problem. And so, but at a wedding, I don’t use a raise of hand, but I try to make it clear.

But I had come in and there was a guy sitting right back there right exactly where Ishmael is sitting. And I walked in and I looked at him and he was there to run the sound so the girl was gonna sing, you know. And so I walked by him, I said, Hey, how you doing? And he said, I’m doing fine. I said, you’re here early. He says, I gotta run that sound thing for the girl that’s coming to sing.

I said, well, can let me ask you a question. I said, what kind of a church do you go to? He says, I don’t go to church. He says, I’m an agnostic. I says, an agnostic. So that means without knowledge. I says, that means you don’t have enough evidence to make a decision. You see, yeah, that’s it. That’s it. I says, well, let me run two things by you. So anyway, I haven’t you always heard all your life?

that Jesus Christ down on the cross and paid for all the sins of the world. It’s the eye I’ve heard that. I said, let me ask you another question. I said, if he paid for all of our sins, I said, why are you going to go to hell? Why would I go to hell if he paid for it? And he’s just like a blank stare. You know, most people, they never think this through. They don’t think about that. I says, it’s because you don’t believe he did it for you.

I talked a little bit more, and he just lit up. He trusted Christ’s Savior. He was thrilled. By the time he walked out of here, he’s both arms like this year, you know. We give him CDs. I gave him a hang, linsed him a little CD on, how permits your salvation. I think it’s great. So we gave him that one, gave him some tracks and the church flyer and all that. And you never know, he just loved it. Show up here sometimes, do you?

But it is important. We have been given a wonderful, wonderful message. And it’s the most powerful thing in all the world. But the primary goal is still always so winning. Look at the next statement. And that is the victory. Pray that the missionary will know victory in spiritual warfare because you see almost all of our problems are spiritual problems of how you handle it. And if you’re spiritually strong, you can face anything. It’s just that problems reveal how weak we are sometimes.

And missionaries on the foreign field, they got to go through the same thing. But sometimes they don’t have, you know, they can’t huddle around with all the people who know and understand what they’re going through because they’re on the foreign field. And sometimes they don’t have, you know, the friendship, so the fellowship with other people that are, you get a deep knowledge of God’s Word and can really be a blessing to them. So that’s why little notes and things like that can always help them and pray for them.

So it’s a very important thing. The other thing is weariness. Now we know nobody here gets weary. I mean these are not things we would apply ourselves, right? But weariness, they get bogged down doing petty things, little things. And this used to just irritate me to no end. Because I would rather, rather, just my wallet in my hand and preach the gospel all the time. But it’s, that’s not reality. You still got to do all these other things. Your car still breaks down.

You got to go get gas. I hate getting gas. I despise stopping and getting gas. I feel like it’s the biggest waste of my time. But then I realize if I don’t get gas in this car, this car’s not going to go. I don’t go. I don’t go. So I got to do that. I really now, I do enjoy eating, but I hate stopping and taking the time for eating, but I do it because I know I got to eat or I die.

and I don’t want to die yet. And I tell Betty, I says, honey, it’s a shame to have to take a bath. I’m just going to get dirty again. I hate shaving. I don’t like to shave. And I got to shave every, I said, honey, I don’t want to shave that she says you’re the preacher. Honey, but I don’t want to shave. She says it’s your image. Oh, this image. And I got to shave. And sometimes I just, I hate to shave.

And as much as possible, I don’t like coats and ties. But all these things are things that I have to do. But it doesn’t mean I have to enjoy doing them. The Bible says endure all things. It did not say enjoy all things. Well, it says say rejoice always, so I try to find a way to do that. But you and I, it’s so easy to get weary and well doing. Just keep on doing what’s right. And some things you just got to remember the priority, keep the main thing, the main thing.

The other thing that I wanted you to mention to you, and I want you to take your Bible and look at this, look in the 139th Psalm, the 139th Psalm. Because this is where you talk about your X-ray vision, X-ray vision. Now you and I may not have the X-ray vision, but I know somebody who does. He can see everything, everybody, everywhere. And body he really knows us. But look how he prayed here, David did in 139th Psalm, look in verse 23.

And you want to do this, and you want the missionaries to always keep examining themselves. See in verse 23, search me, oh God, and know my heart. Try me, means test me and see if I’m not real. But test me. Know my thoughts, my thoughts about God, about the mission field, everything that I’m doing, my motives. And then he says here in verse 24, and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the path of everlasting.

In other words, I wanna do what’s right, but I know I have a wicked heart, and I’m trusting in looking to you to reveal things to me that I may not be aware of so that I can make the right decision. And that’s something that all of us needs to do. The next thing is to be yielded to the Lord. And if you read the sixth chapter of the book of Romans, you’ll find the word yield, yield, yield, yield, all the way through it.

So you’re to submit yourself to the Lord, not fight the Lord. The word zeal down here, it talks about that in the book of John in chapter two, about the zeal of the Lord have eaten me up. And why Jesus got kind of, you would say, been out of shape because of sin, the money changers in the temple and all the things that they were doing and what’s going on. And he says, you’ve taken and made the house of prayer into a den of thieves.

Anyway, he got upset, but there’s a zeal, a zeal that you and I ought to have in serving the Lord. See, it’s one thing to have the zeal, the desire to want to do something and then you don’t have the knowledge to do it, at least a frustration. But if you had the knowledge to do everything but no zeal, then what’s good is the knowledge. So you want the knowledge and you want the zeal, the desire to want to do something with your life, to love the Lord, to serve the Lord and to fight a good fight.

Now I gave you these two poems because I wanted to read to you because the statement, the Steiner and the last one that the missionary will be a flame in the wind, a flame in the wind. So a few years ago I wrote a couple of little poems. One is called the Flame in the Wind to Dr. Curtis Hudson. Dr. Curtis Hudson had an opportunity to speak together preaching these sort conferences. And he got his doctor from Florida Bible College and the man was clear on the gospel and he He took a stand and he suffered some persecution from a lot of independent fundamental Bible even missionary minded Baptists too.

And they really took him to task because he would come out in the sword of the Lord that salvation. It’s very simple, very clear, just believe no turning from sin and explain repentance. And he would take things right out of the personal evangelism handbook and put it in the sword Lord. It went all over the world. Well, there’s a lot of preachers that preached that and they didn’t like that. And he told them about lordship salvation. You don’t make Christ the Lord and the master of your life in order to be saved.

Well, they didn’t like that. And so Dr. Hudson took a strong stand. And he was sixty years old and found out he had cancer. I was preaching with him in March, not for God the year, but it was in San Antonio, Texas. And he had just finished up speaking at night and Tuesday night. And he got a phone call that he had to leave that his dad had just passed away with bone cancer. Three months before he had just buried brother with bone cancer.

And so he got in the car and it was raining and it rained all the way on him. He had to drive from San Antonio, Texas. He went through Murphy, Berb, Tennessee, picked up his wife and then headed on over there to Carolina, I think, someplace. Anyway, he got over there, did the funeral for his dad and his wife, sweet woman, she says, Curtis, don’t you think you need to be checked? Honey, I’m fine. I’m healthy. and he was, he looked sharp.

He was 60 years old, but he really looked good. And we played golf together, and he didn’t have a pain, he didn’t look bad, he felt great. And she just wasn’t let up, and she just kept hammering him. And so finally, when he came down here to Florida to preach, he went to see the doctor. And when he went to see the doctor, the doctor looked at him and says, do you realize you’ve only got about six months to live?

And he’s sitting there looking at the doctor and he feels fine. He says, you’re eating up with cancer. And of course, you know what that does to the woman? Well, it shocked the man too. So he went on this crashed diet. I mean, he started eating carrots. Me and Betty went by the same one time. He was sitting out on the back porch and he had some horses down there. That beautiful little ranch house up there in Murfreesboro. And he’s sitting out there and he has a bowl of oatmeal.

This bowl of oatmeal was huge. So he’s eating all this oatmeal. Then we saw a basket full of carrots. And I said, well, those are for the horses. He smiled and says, no, they’re for me. He was eating so many carrots, even his skin turned yellow. And he was doing everything he possibly could to try to counteract the cancer, but he had waited too long. He bought a little time, but two years later he passed away. And so I wrote this.

I had a beautiful little plaque, had a little flame on it, you know, flame in the wind. What went you out to see? A reed shaken by the wind? Not this man from Tennessee to the spirit only would he bend. my friend what went ye out to hear? The gospel of grace made crystal clear. Salvation by grace is the gift of God. Rewards are earned, but rebellion the rod. The eyes of God ran to and fro through a man with a heart of fire, a burning passion to reach the lost and make this blaze the saints desire.

The flame has died down, but sparks shot up to descend, blown upon by the breath of God to produce more flames in the wind. The sword of the Lord was the power of the pen, but Dr. Curtis Hudson was the flame in the wind. A living sacrifice on the altar was laid, hot coals from the altar in revivals were made. Oh Lord, this offering was burn up for his reword shall be great, but his salvation was free. But anyway, Dr.

Hudson was a good friend. He loved the Lord. And you often wonder, you know, why do what they’re doing now that they’re in heaven, you know, like Hank, now he’s up in heaven. I wonder what know what they’re doing, or can they really see and know what we are doing down here. Or if we lead somebody to Lord, are they still jumping and hollering and yelling and shouting all over heaven? I don’t know, but I believe it’s a joyous occasion.

And, but see, whether or not in this life you are appreciated doesn’t really matter. It’s whenever you leave this world and you get to heaven. Your father says, well done, thou good and faithful servant. When God puts his praise, honor, and glory up on you for what you’ve done and all the sacrifices you made. Do you think it’s going to be worth it then? I think it’ll be worth it. On the back of this, I wrote a little poem about a guy named Ray Stanford.

Do you ever heard of him? I had the opportunity at the time that I had wrote this point. It was just a couple years before this. Ray was 79 years old at the time. I had him come up to Georgian because we had the TV ministry. I said, Ray, I said, I got a camera right here. And I said, I’d like to just interview you. I just want to ask you some questions and you just answer them. and I said, just to put it all on tape.

I said, because someday down the road it might be worth having and to let people know because you know, you’re not going to live forever. He says, I’m only 79. Yes, sir. And I said, I want to do this. I said, would you mind if I did it? He says, no, let’s go for it. So anyway, he came to the church and we had a little table set in there and and we had the camera set and I don’t remember who run the camera.

Did you do it? My wife did. And so I’m sitting there and I’m talking back and forth with Ray and by the time we got through, we had a couple hours of just going through everything. And as I know of, well, I know it’s true. I’m the only one that has it that have all of this documented about race, Stanford, how Ranch got started, about the Jim Tingen story, how the college got started, the church, and all these things.

I got it all on tape. And I have spent quite a few hours getting it edited down to where I could present it. So it’s in four parts. The first part, I’m I’m going to show it tonight. And I want you to hear the interview, what was said. And because you see, the reason it’s important is because whether you know it or not, it’s your heritage. Ray Stanford is the one that led Dr. Hank Lindstrom to the Lord. Dr.

Stanford is the one who trained me. And everything we’ve done since then because of what we learn from this man. 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 two 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 toll-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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 Bibleignindustries.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. Almost all of our problems are spiritual problems of how you handle it. And if you’re spiritually strong, you can face anything. It’s just that problems reveal how weak we are sometimes. And missionaries on the foreign field, they got to go through the same thing. But sometimes they can’t huddle around with all the people who know and understand what they’re going through because they’re on the foreign field.

And sometimes they don’t have the friendships or the fellowship with other people that are to get a deep knowledge of God’s Word and can really be a blessing to them. So that’s why little notes and things like that can always help them and to pray for them. So it’s a very important thing. The other thing is weariness. Now we know nobody here gets weary. I mean these are not things we would apply ourselves, right? But weariness. They get bogged down doing petty things, little things.

Now this used to just irritate me to no end. Because I would rather, rather, just my wallet in my hand and preach the gospel all the time. But it’s, that’s not reality. You still gotta do all these other things. Your car still breaks down. You gotta go get gas. I hate getting gas. I despise stopping and getting gas. I feel like that’s the biggest waste of my time. But then I realize if I don’t get gas in this car, this car is not gonna go and get car, don’t go.

I don’t go. So I gotta do that. I really know, I do enjoy eating, but I hate stopping and taking the time for eating, but I do it because I know I gotta eat or I die. And I don’t wanna die yet. And I tell Betty, I says, honey, it’s a shame to have to take a bath. I’m just gonna, I’m just gonna get dirty again. I hate shaving. I don’t like to shave. And I gotta shave every, I said, honey, I don’t wanna shave this.

She says, you’re the preacher, honey, but I don’t want to shave. She says, it’s your image. Oh, this image. And I got to shave. And sometimes I just, I hate to shave. And as much as possible, I don’t like coats and ties. But all these things are things that I have to do. But it doesn’t mean I have to enjoy doing them. The Bible says endure all things. It did not say enjoy all things. It says, say, rejoice always.

So I try to find a way to do that. But you and I, it’s so easy to get weary and well doing. Just keep on doing what’s right. And some things you just got to remember, the priority, keep the main thing, the main thing. The other thing that I wanted you to mention to you, and I want you to take your Bible and look at this, look in the 139th Psalm, the 139th Psalm. So this is where you talk about your x-ray vision, x-ray vision.

Now you and I may not have the x-ray vision, but I know somebody who does. He can see everything, everybody, everywhere, and body he really knows us. But look how he prayed here, David did in 139th Psalm, look in verse 23. And you want to do this, and you want the missionaries to always keep examining themselves. in verse 23, search me, oh God, and know my heart. Try me, means test me and see if I’m not real. But test me.

Know my thoughts, my thoughts about God, about the mission field, everything that I’m doing, my motives. And then he says here in verse 24, and see if there be any wicked way in me and lead me in the path of everlasting. In other words, I want to do what’s right, but I know I have a wicked heart and I’m trusting in looking to you to reveal things to me that I may not be aware of so that I can make the right decision.

And that’s something that all of us needs to do. The next thing is to be yielded to the Lord. And if you read the sixth chapter of the book of Romans, you’ll find the word yield, yield, yield, yield, all the way through it. you’re to submit. Yourself to the Lord, not fight the Lord. The word zeal down here, it talks about that in the book of John in chapter two about the zeal of the Lord have eaten me up.

And why Jesus got kind of, you would say, been out of shape because of seeing the money changers in the temple and all the things that they were doing and what’s going on. and the house of prayer into a den of thieves. Anyway, he got upset. But there’s a zeal, a zeal, a zeal to have in serving the Lord. See, it’s one thing to have the zeal, the desire to want to do something, and then you don’t have the knowledge to do it, at least to frustrate.

But if you had the knowledge to do everything. Then what’s good? So you want the knowledge and you want the zeal, the desire to want to do something with your life, to love the Lord, to serve the Lord, and to fight a good fight. Now I gave you these two poems because I wanted to read to you because the statement, this diner and the last one, that the missionary will be a flame in the wind, a flame in the So a few years ago, I wrote a couple of little poems.

One is called The Flame in the Wind to Dr. Curtis Hudson. Dr. Curtis Hudson, I had an opportunity to speak together, preach in these short conferences. And he got his doctor from Florida Bible College and the man was clear on the gospel and he took a stand and he suffered some persecution from a lot of independent fundamental Bible He was going to leave a missionary in mind to baptize too. And they really took him to task because he would come out in the sword of the Lord that salvation is very simple, very clear, just believe no turning from sin and explain repentance.

And he would take things right out of the personal evangelism handbook and put it in the sword of the Lord. It went all over the world. Well there’s a lot of preachers that preached that and they didn’t like that. he told about lordship salvation. You don’t make Christ the Lord and the master of your life in order to be saved. Well, they didn’t like that. And so Dr. Hudson took a strong stand and he was 60 years old and found out he had cancer.

I was preaching with him in March, not for God the year, but it was in San Antonio, Texas and he had just finished up speaking at night and Tuesday night. And he got a phone call that he had to leave and that his dad had just passed away with bone cancer. Three months before he had just buried his brother with bone cancer. And so he got in the car and params it was raining and it rained all the way on him.

He had to drive from San Antonio, Texas. He went through Murphy, Burke, Tennessee, picked up his wife and then headed on over there to Carolina, I think someplace. Anyway, he He got over there, did the funeral for his dad, and his wife, sweet woman, she says, Curtis, don’t you think you need to be checked? Honey, I’m fine. I’m healthy. And he was, he looked sharp. He was 60 years old, but he really looked good. And we played golf together, and he didn’t have a pain.

He didn’t look bad. He felt great. And she just wasn’t let up, and she just kept hammering him. So finally, whenFU came down here glared of the preacher, he went to see the doctor. And when he went to see the doctor, the doctor looked at him and says, do you realize you’ve only got about six months to live? WARN and he said in there, Looking at the doctor, it feels fine. He says, you’re eating up with cancer. And of course, you know what that does to the woman.

Well, it shocked the man too. So he went on… He went on this Christ diet. I mean, he started eating carrots. I mean, but he went by the same one time. He was sitting out on the back porch and he had some horses down there. That beautiful little ranch house up there in Murfreesboro. And he’s sitting out there and he has a bowl of oatmeal. This bowl of oatmeal was huge. So he’s eating all these oatmeal. Then we saw a basket full of carrots.

And I said, well, those are for the horses. He smiled and says, no, they’re for me. He was eating so many carrots, even his skin turned yellow. And he was doing everything he possibly could. To try to counteract the cancer, but he had waited too long. He bought a little time, but two years later, he passed away. And so I wrote this. I had a beautiful little plaque, had a little flame on it, you know, flame in the wind.

What went you out to see? A rejaken by the wind? Not this man from Tennessee to the spirit only would he bend? Oh, my friend, what went you out to hear? The gospel of God. make crystal clear. Salvation by grace, just the gift of God. Rewards are earned, but rebellion, the rod. The eyes of God ran to and fro to a man with a heart of fire, a burning passion to reach the lost and make this blaze the saints desire.

The flame has died down, but sparks shot up to descend, blown upon by the breath of God, to produce more flames in the wind. The sword of the Lord was the power of the pen, but Dr. Curtis Hudson was the flame in the wind. A living sacrifice on the altar was laid, hot coals from the altar and revivals were made. O Lord, this offering was burn up for thee. His reword shall be great, but his salvation was free. But anyway, Dr.

Hudson was a good friend. He loved the Lord. And you often wonder, you know, what they’re doing now that they’re in heaven. You know, like Hank, now he’s up in heaven. I’m not wondering what in the world they’re doing. Or can they really see and know what we’re doing down here? Or we lead somebody to Lord, are they still jumping and hollering and yelling and shouting all over heaven? I don’t know, but I believe it’s a joyous occasion. And, you see, whether or not in this life you are appreciated doesn’t really matter.

It’s whenever you leave this world and you get to heaven and your Father says, well done, thou good and faithful servant. When God puts his praise, honor and glory up on you for what you’ve done and all the sacrifices you made. Do you think it’s going to be worth it then? I think it’ll be worth it. On the back of this, I wrote a little poem about a guy named Ray Stanford. You ever heard of him? I had the opportunity at the time that I had wrote this poem.

It was just a couple years before this. Ray was 79 years old at the time and I had him come up to I said, I got a camera right here and I said, I’d like to just interview you. I just want to ask you some questions and you just answer them. And I said, just to put it all on tape. I said, because someday down the road, it might be worth having and to let people know because, you know, you’re not going to live forever.

He says, I’m only 79. Yes, sir. I’m only 79. Yes, sir. And I said, I want to do this. I said, would you mind if I did it? And he says, no, let’s go for it. So anyway, he came to the church and we had a little table set in there and we had the camera set. I don’t remember who run the camera. Did you do it? My wife did. And so I’m sitting there and I’m talking back and forth with Ray and by the time we got through, we had a couple hours of just going through everything.

And as I know of, well, I know it’s true. I’m the only one that has it that have all of this documented about race, Stanford, how ranch got started, about the Jim Tingen story, how the college got started, the church, and all these things, I got it all on tape. And I have spent quite a few hours getting it edited down to where I could present it. So it’s in four parts. The first part, I’m gonna show it tonight.

And I want you to hear the interview, what was said. And because you see, the reason it’s important is because whether you know it or not, it’s your heritage. Ray Stanford is the one that led Dr. Hank Lindstrom to the Lord. Dr. Stanford is the one who trained me, and everything we’ve done since then is because of what we learned from this man. But many people never met the man. They don’t even know what he’s like. And so every time I would come to Florida, I would always go buy and see Ray.

We’d take him out to eat and so forth. And we was just over there recently for Betty’s birthday. We rode over there and took him out and got something to eat. And he’s been here, I think, a couple of times. So y’all have got a chance to see him and meet him. But now this is when he was a little bit younger. His mind a little bit sharper and his response a little bit quicker. And I think you would enjoy.

Because this is what challenged and motivated guys like me and Dr. Lindstrom and thousands of other guys To me, he was the greatest soul winner I have ever met and I’ve been around for a while I’ve met dr. Hank Lindstrom But he’s no Ray Stanford Wally Marillo Lee Patton all these guys that I’ve gone to Florida Bible college with but we were no Ray Stanford. And after all these years, when I go sit with him and he starts talking and he’ll get on a rabbit trail and then he’ll chase a rabbit on that trail, but every one of his rabbit trails are great because it didn’t matter what trail he was on, it was always about the Lord and always about serving the Lord and getting something done.

But anyway, this is something that I wrote for Dr. Stanford on his 85th birthday. But this is talking about the flame in a wind. You see, it wasn’t long ago before when y’all heard about the fires out there in New Mexico and how it was coming into Texas and all the things that were burning, they tried to figure how to stop and then they had them hit in California and all. You see, a fire has to have something to burn up.

And if you don’t have something for it to burn, it dies. And so a flame in the wind. And so it’s like the Holy Spirit is the wind. And we’re the flame. And if we don’t cause something else to burn, then we die. And that’s what’s so important about Ben, a flame in the wind. I’ll tell somebody else, all I want to do is just be an arsonist. I just want to go around the world starting fires. But I’m talking about a different kind of fire, of course.

Don’t have the law come and get me yet. Dr. Clifton L. Fowler, when he was in Denver, Colorado, started the Rotmont Bible College. When I went out to Denver, Colorado, the man that I wound up working for was Archie Yetter, and he became the president of Rotmont Bible College. He served with Dr. Clifton L. Fowler. And I thought, instance is a strange world, that I can go all the way to Colorado with no plan, no design of mine at all.

And I wind up getting to be an assistant pastor to a man that’s straight and clear on the gospel. Now he didn’t have much zeal or fire, but he had truth. But you can have a car on the right road in the right lane, but no gas in the car. And some people just don’t have any motivation, but he had gotten up in years. Anyway, so there is connection there, but Clifton Elphahler, when he retired, he moved to Florida.

That’s when he met and led Dr. A. Ray Stanford to the Lord. It’s a while story. Look there, Clifton Elphahler presented the good news. To A. Ray Stanford, who could not refuse the free gift of salvation that he could not lose, then dedicated his life to Christ for God to use. The battle was fierce in the midnight sky. Planes were filled with men who were willing to die. With two engines gone from artillery fire, the will to live became their greatest desire.

See when Ray was in the Air Force, he was the pilot and he flew these bombers and he had all these men that was in there and they shot out both the engine and it was going down and he got concerned. A race Stanford knew the Lord real well. He’d go to heaven but his friends to hell. He prayed to the Lord to see them through and vowed to witness to his entire crew. When the war was over, Ray renewed his vow.

The time to serve the Lord wasn’t later but now. Ray and Sue by faith took a chance and began the ministry of Christian youth ranch. Now, will you hear all the stories about this on the videos? Very good. With youth in mind, he made the gospel clear to when souls to Christ year after year. Thousands upon thousands and perhaps a million more were reached by Ray Stanford, and he reached heaven and shore. When I first wrote this and I read it to Ray, he says, what do you mean?

I ain’t dead yet. Anyway, that was almost ten years ago. I don’t know if the guy’s going to live forever. I don’t know. He’s supposed to die somewhere along the line. I mean, because that’s my poem says he dies. You know what I’m going to do. But anyway, A. Ray Stanford went throughout the land with a Bible under his arm and a wallet in his hand. For the sake of the gospel, Ray always took the time to explain salvation from Ephesians 2, 8, and 9.

When he turned 85, he was very much alive in his quest for the souls of men. His one desire as a burning fire was to be God’s flame in the wind. No faults are listed against the heroes of faith that are mentioned in Hebrews chapter 11, though a man is God’s child and sends all the while all sins are forgiven in heaven. For the men of old, when dead and cold, is no greater than a lump of coal. But the second birth when it leaves this earth is greater than purest gold.

Now, there’s some spiritual teaching in there. I don’t know if you’ll catch it, but it is there. Ray touched my life as no other man. He taught me God’s Word in the gospel plan. His success and failures made my schooling complete, learning lessons of submission and lessons of defeat. Ray was my friend for almost 40 years. I witnessed the rise, the fall, and the tears. battle is over, his race is run, Jesus Christ will reward him for the work he has done.

And so when I read that last little thing to race says, I’m not dead yet. I’ll figure, but one of these days is going to die and then I got my poem already wrote. So when I wrote the Jim Tengen’s story and dedicated it to Ray when we had the 90th anniversary, and you’ll notice all that’s in the Jim Tingen story and this poem’s in there too. Anyway, he meant an awful lot to me. There’s certain people that will mean an awful lot to you and if you’re gonna thank them, thank them now.

I was at the hospital last night and I was talking to this one individual and I says if you really understand it you trust Christ is your Savior. I says make sure that you tell your loved ones. I says, one of the greatest joys that I have is I know that my wife has trusted Christ as Savior. She told me. I says, my kids, they know the Lord. My grandkids, they’ve trusted Christ as Savior. I said, it’s good to know.

And I made the statement to the individual. I said, let me ask you a question. I said, if you were to die, and Let’s just pretend that your wife was to ask me to do the funeral. I says, where do I tell people you went? I mean, let’s just pretend. Now here’s this funeral and your casket there. And I said, where am I supposed to tell people you went? He says, can you tell them I go, I’m going to heaven.

I says, okay. I says, you understand? He says, I understand. So anyway, I think it’s great to tell people and your loved ones that you trust in Christ as your Savior. There are some people who trust the Lord, but they never know if their husband has, or if the wife has, or if the kids have. Like it’s something, we don’t want to talk about that because it might cause an irritation. And we, you want them to die? And nobody knows.

And if they don’t, don’t you want to tell them or explain it? So I think the best thing to do is just, man, let the redeemed of the Lord say so. If you’re saved, say it. I’m saved. I have eternal life. I have trusted Christ as my Savior. And I know that I’m going to heaven whenever I die. And I think it’s the most important thing that we can never do. So anyway, look up here. I know this is something y’all have seen before, but you can see it one more time.

Let this hand represent you and me. And the wallet represent a whole of our sins. God says that He loves us. Now He hates our sin, but He loves us. And I’m so glad of that. God loves me. But He doesn’t like what I do wrong. Doesn’t like what you do wrong. And to pay for sin is eternal separation from God in a place called hell. I want people to know there is a place called hell, but God loves us and wants us to go to heaven.

And to go to heaven we have to be perfect as righteous as God. And God says nobody’s perfect. Nobody’s righteous. Because of sin, say we can’t get in. So God says you cannot earn eternal life. You can’t work your way to heaven. It’s not by your good deeds. You see, you don’t have to join a church to go to heaven. You don’t have to give money to go to heaven unless you gave it here. No, that’s not true. You don’t have to give money to go to heaven.

There’s nothing you can do by your good deeds that will get you into heaven. This hand represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord, God and the flesh. He came into the world because he loves us. cause he loves us. He hates our sin because it separates us from him. So Jesus Christ who had no sin didn’t have to die. But because he loved us and hates our sin, he took it, paid for it on the cross, came back from the dead and said that if you and I, if we would believe it, he did it for us.

He would put this payment to our account and we get to go to heaven on what Jesus Christ did for us. Now that’s the best news in all the world. If I offered you my wallet and you accepted you’d have an empty wallet. If I offered you my watch and you accepted, you know what time it is. If Christ walked in here right now and offered you eternal life and you accepted you would have eternal life and if it’s eternal life, it would last Forever and if it lasts forever and all you send your page, where would you go when you die to heaven?

So can you know you’re going to heaven before you die? Yeah, boy, that’s the best news in all the world. Let’s pray. Shall we? If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior friend, I can’t think of a better time than right now You don’t have a guarantee you that tomorrow will ever come. But why not right now? In the quietness of this moment, just between you and the Lord, what, just talk to the Lord. And say something like this, Lord, I know I’m a sinner.

I’ve done things wrong, but I know you love me. And you sent your son, Jesus Christ, to die, to pay for all my sins. And I believe he did it for me. And I’m gonna trust him right now to take me to heaven whenever I die. And friend, God said, if you would believe that he did it for you, Hit put that payment to your account and you get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you Would you believe that if you’re making that decision?

I’d like to have prayer for you I’m not gonna ask you to stand up. I’m not gonna embarrass you. I’m not gonna ask you to come forward or anything like that I don’t want anything from you. I just want you to receive the free gift of eternal life And I like to know it because I like to have prayer for you And I do it with heads by so that you’re not put on the spot Is there any one of all this morning say yes preacher that made sense to me I want to be certain of the one to heaven when I die and I’d like you to pray for me in closing Would you just slip you hand it very quickly and put it right back down if you’ve never done before but you’ll do it right now Just slip it up real quick.

You want it all. Yes God bless you sir God bless you Anyone else you can slip you hand it very quickly put it right back down There’s no gimmicks to this no tricks to it. I Won’t probably know your name. I I just want to know that what I said made sense to you. Anyone else before we close? Our Father, we thank You so much for all You’ve done for us. We’re thankful for the free gift of eternal life.

We ask Your blessings upon the individual indicated by an uplifted hand that they would trust You as Savior. By doing so they become Your child and You’ll never cast them out, never lose them. The Father, because of all that You’ve done for us, we’re to let the redeemed of the Lord say so. Lord, we want to be used so that others can hear the gospel. Thank you so much for this ministry and all that it stands for is rich heritage.

In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. 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. 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 toll-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 believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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.

to the book of Philippians and chapter 4. Philippians chapter 4, the message today is a war on worry. You may not know this, but it is true that many Christians worry. Well that’s a little bit about what I want to talk about. You were not born worrying. Worrying is just like whether it’s smoking or drinking or you know it’s an acquired habit you learned out of that and so many people have practiced until now they are experts at worry you may not know that you’re worrying and you may not even think that worrying is a bad thing or that worrying is really a sin worry will reveal many things about you and I I have worried and therefore I am an expert on worry.

I do it all the time. Despite what I know, I still worry and I can’t figure out how to just totally stop worrying completely. I guess as long as I’ve got this old body that I’m living in, I might be doing just a little bit of it. But I want to help us anyway with the scriptures. Philippians chapter 4, Paul has wrote this while he’s in prison. So this is what we call a prison epistle. And notice how happy the guy seems to be.

You might be a little bound and discouraged because of where you would be if you were in prison. But he makes a statement there in verse 4, Rejoice in the Lord always. And again I say, Rejoice. Does that sound like a testimony of a man who’s having a pity party for himself? Not exactly. And then you look there in verse 10. But I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me has flourished again.

So there’s things that happens in a person’s life that causes things not to flourish. Sometimes it seems like there’s droughts in your life. And you wonder where the next meal is coming from or the money is going to come from the pay for this or if you’ll ever get well or you know there’s all kinds of things. So we have many, many things in this life that we can worry about. But you know one thing I never worry about anymore?

I never worry about where I’m going when I die. There was a time I worried about that. But did you know that once you have trusted Christ’s Savior and God gives you eternal life and you become His child, if you really understand it, you really don’t have to worry about it anymore, do you? Because you know you have eternal life. You know that you’re going to heaven and you know that you can’t change it and you know that God can’t change it because eternal life was a gift.

It was free. God gave it to you and you accepted it and you have eternal life. You’re God’s child. You’re going to heaven. I never worry about that anymore because I’ve got God’s word on it. Well, what if you had God’s word on other things, you know, concerning life? What you wouldn’t have to worry about that either, would you? The trouble comes is because we don’t know what God says about many other things that pertain to life. So what if we did?

What I want you to see there in verse 10. When he says, I greatly rejoice because there’s certain things that he’s learned and one was not to worry. He learned not to worry. Look at verse 10, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again, wherein you were also careful but you lacked opportunity. Then in verse 11, not that I speak in respect of what, for I have learned how to worry.

Is that what he says? I have learned how to worry. No, he doesn’t say that. I have learned in whatsoever state I am, they’re with to worry. You see, you could take the words peace and content, we’ll cast those out of the Bible and put the word worry in the place of it and you’ll see how ridiculous it sounds. the reason we don’t have peace. And the reason we’re not content is because we are worried. We worry about a lot of things.

And look what he says in verse 12, I know both how to be a based and worried, and I know how to abound and worry. Everywhere I worry. And in all things I worry. I’m instructed both to worry and to be hungry, both to abound and to worry and to suffer need and to worry. Do you see anything wrong with what I said? And yet, how many times we do worry about a lot of things that God says that we need to pray about?

So as you read these scriptures, you see that that’s not what it says and it’s just the opposite. That’s a sign of growing in the Lord when you can have peace of God. You see, you have peace with God when you trust it, Christ is your Savior. But the peace of God is what God gives to you on a daily basis when you rely upon Him and you trust Him. Looking verse 13, I can do all worrying through Christ.

Christ is going to strengthen me, they help me to worry more and more. It doesn’t say that. So there is something that’s totally opposite of all of that. But we worry about losing our health, losing our job, losing the loved one, losing somebody’s affection, losing, you name it, and we worry. But there’s some wonderful things that God has given to us. worry is like a rocket chair. It gives you something to do, but it won’t get you anywhere. It never solves a problem.

It’s dragging the past that you can’t do anything about into the future and ruining this perfectly good given day that God’s given to me. Worry is the interest paid on trouble before it comes due. And so some people just worry about everything. They’re worrywarts. words. Have you ever heard someone say, I am worried sick over and then you put the word in there? Because we don’t know the answers of some things in life and so we worry about things.

We won’t say it’s worry and worry can produce a lot of stress in a person’s life. One person says, if it wasn’t for stress, I wouldn’t have any energy at all. They just Work under stress all the time, that’s what keeps them going. Worry is a sin that can literally make you sick. Consider the stress-related illnesses. Heart attacks, worry can do that. Worry can produce high blood pressure. Worry can produce ulcers. Worry can produce insomnia. Worry can produce headaches, strokes, immune system malfunction, suicide.

Stress can do all of that. And stress is because you’re worried about someone. You see, you don’t have to worry about anything you put in God’s hand, but you will not say, I’m not, I’m trusting the Lord. I’m trusting the Lord. And then you worry yourself sick. You’re not trusting the Lord. You’re saying the words and you can be, have you ever seen an alcoholic in denial? They just don’t believe that they’re an alcoholic or a drunkard. They deny it.

They deny all the symptoms. And yet there’s Christians that deny the symptoms. They’re under a lot of stress and they’re worried sick, but they won’t say, no, no, no, no, no, I’m trusting the Lord. No, you’re not because worry is a sign that you’re not worry is a sin and you will never have The freedom the liberty that you ought to have until you recognize it for what it is If you’re sick and tired of been tired and sick you need hope help and healing Remember God is the great physician and he has just the right prescription for his children The text in Philippians in chapter 4 and verse 6 and 7, looking verse 6, says, Be careful for nothing.

That word careful means be anxious for nothing. Be, don’t be worried about anything. He says, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known unto God. And then he says, and the peace of God. If you don’t do what God says do in His prescription, then you’re not going to have the results of it. How many people are having to get prescription drugs? Don’t worry again. But you know, when it comes to spiritual healing, God has a prescription that He’s wrote out.

And all you have to do is take two pills a day or do whatever it says do and the peace of God will be with you. It means it will annihilate worry. So there are symptoms that we have and there’s a prescription that is a cure. Here are four steps from these verses of how to get from worry sick to worry free. Now everybody would like to say, well I don’t worry, I’m not worried about anything. And then but the stress Well, show symptoms in their life sometimes that they are.

Constraint is a command. The text says, be careful for nothing. Nothing. Means don’t worry about anything. Not some things are justified. No, don’t worry about anything. That doesn’t mean you’re not concerned about how this comes out of that. But I’m talking about, you know, concerned about, you know, you got to work so you can pay bills, you got to do that. You do all the things you can. But worrying to make you sick, that you can’t do anything about God’s as a sin.

Worry is not a disease. You need catches from somebody. But if you hang around people who worry all the time, it won’t be lumped, or you might be just worried just like they are. Because a person who has a particular problem, like a person who gossips, like the hang around people who gossip, and they feed each other information to let you know they really love gossiping. But if you say, do you believe in gossip? Oh no, I hate gossiping.

And then they just mention things to people, you know, this is just a prayer. But they gossip. Gossip is a sin. There’s a lot of things that are sinned, but we overlooking say, well, that’s not it. We deny it. We’re is not a disease unless you consider sin a disease. It is not an uncontrollable condition. I can’t help myself. How many times have I heard of you? Well, I just can’t help myself. Well, maybe you can, but God can.

Now will you let God help you? can help us in every area of our life. The word worry comes from two Greek words which means to divide the mind because there’s a part of your mind that says trust the Lord and there’s another part of the mind that says worry worry worry worry worry well a double-minded man is unstable in how many of his ways all of his ways did you know worrying about one thing can contaminate the peace of mind you had in everything else.

Worry is a sin and sin is like leaven and leaven is like the Bible says a little leaven, leaven it the whole up. So a little worry can destroy a lot of peace of mind. He can keep you from sleeping at night. He can cause a lot of stress-related illnesses in your life, in your physical body. All those things can happen. Yeah, I’m word sick and many times that relates into physical problems. In the Bible it makes this statement.

Let me read this to you first of all. The word it says here, you will be dominated between positive or negative thoughts. Success starts in the mind but so does worry. All your success and failures begin right up bear as a man think of so is he so you have to learn how to think you can think positive or you can be negative some people it doesn’t matter you know isn’t the sunshine beautiful today well you could have seen it this morning it was clouds everywhere and I know that it’s a sunshine it right now it’ll be raining in a minute they have something negative to say I don’t care what it is and then And there’s some who are just positive.

And this daddy had a little boy, and a little boy was just so positive about everything. It was just positive. He said, I’ll knock some of that positive out of you, but he was always negative. He took him out there and he says, now, please knock that manure out of this barn. And so the little boy got out there and he started and his daddy checked down in about fifteen minutes and the little boy’s a humming and a whistling and a singing and throwing manure everywhere.

He says, what are you doing? What are you so happy about? Shelton manure. He said, well, this much manure, there’s got to be a pony around here somewhere. But all depends on how you look at life. You can be negative all your life or you can be a little on the positive side. John, chapter 14, verse one says, let not your heart be troubled. Says you believe in God, believe also in me. God said, let not your heart as your mind.

Don’t let it be troubled. Don’t worry. And the answer was, you believe in God, believe in me, trust me, trust me. I know we’ve had president and said, look, just trust me. That’s enough to cause everybody to worry. Just trust me. You can trust the Lord. The Lord will never fail. The Lord won’t let you down. You can be as happy as you want to be. Without changing circumstances or anything. You see, happiness is a state of being. It’s the way you are.

You can choose to be happy or you can choose to be sad and everyone of us do. You are as happy as you really want to be because nobody can make you happy and nobody can steal it from you if you don’t want them to. You can be mad angry bitter happy joyful if you want to be whatever it take take your pick it’s your choice and worry worry is a sin. There are 400 references to peace with 100 in the New Testament.

Most of Paul’s letters start and end with a reference to peace. God wants his people to have peace, peace of mind. And if you’re peaceful in your mind and your spirit, you know, you can be so happy, you can be joyful, you can be so rejoicing all the time about everything like I said, rejoice always. And again, I say rejoice, confess, worry as well. the sin. First John one, I said, if we can s our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and the cleansers from all unrighteousness.

Ain’t that what it says? All right, that’s to the Christian, not to the lost person. That’s to the person who knows they have eternal life. They’re going to heaven when they die. And they’re a great is worry of sin. If worrying is a sin, then should you confess your sins to God. You shouldn’t should confess. You’re a worry to God. And there’s a reason. And you need to understand it from God’s point of view. Don’t say, well, I just can’t, it’s just the way that I am.

Stop all that. Listen to what God says. Don’t excuse yourself. Don’t make allowances for yourself. Always be seeking to be what God wants you to be, watching your attitude. Worry shows a lack of trust in the Lord. Yes or no? It shows a lack of trust in the Lord when you worry. If you are dominated by sinful, worry, fear, anxiety, you are thinking too much about yourself. One of the biggest things that helped me to be a soul winner, to talk to people about where they’re going to spend eternity, is when I stopped thinking about me and started thinking about them, you think about yourself and you’ll be scared to death.

What are you scared of? Them? Or what it does to you? Or how are they going to respond? or you’re going to be rejected, or what are they going to think about you? It’s all about you. It’s all the reason we want to be afraid. Our fear is what causes us not to do the thing that we should, but that means you’re not trusting the Lord. We think about ourselves. We become intimidated. And it can keep you, enrob you of the greatest things in life.

The first step toward victory is to recognize and confess, worry as sin. Worry is emotional atheism. You heard me say many times, many Christians liveWisconsin though God fell off his throne and he can’t get back up. No. God is alive, God is real. He is on the throne and he does work and heotal and he can do what he promised he will do. Worry is emotional atheism. It means to some extent I don’t believe God. I don’t trust God.

God’s gonna fail me. He’s gonna not gonna come through. So we worry because now if that’s all true that it’s It’s all depends on me and I can’t handle it. And it’s just too much pressure. That’s the last straw and I can’t handle anymore. I’ve had so many people say, you know, I can’t handle it. I’ll shut up. You can too. You and the Lord, by yourself know God said He will not put upon you anything greater than you can bear.

Yes or no, than He won’t. You don’t have any problem big enough to break you. But many people are broken. Not because of the problem, but because of their weakness to trust the Lord. Worry is an indication that we think God cannot look after us. Perpetual uneasiness is symptomatic of prayerlessness. No one can pray and worry at the same time Rosenstein. Now, which SHARES you doing? You can’t worry and pray at the same time. Well, I prayed about it.

And then you worried? No, you didn’t pray about it. You said the word, but you didn’t pray. Pray me, I’m casting all my cares upon the LordGil. Well, if you did that, then what are you worried about? Let’s see, we say the words, where our Christianity becomes mechanical. It’s not really alive. It’s not a personal God that I really believe in, but we have so much to learn from the Lord’s Word. Look at this. And this is so important.

The last part of this statement, unbelief is a what? Sin and a sin is to be confessed. So if worrying is a sin, it has to be confessed, but you have to see it as that. The next statement, worry actually vandalizes the body. What does that mean? Sometimes somebody might vandalize your home or your car, but isn’t it a shame when a Christian vandalizes their own body? the words you are destroying yourself, hurting yourself. And that’s why you will not be a happy Christian, you will not be Revis Christian, you will not be a victorious Christian because you’re mutilated and vandalizing yourself.

This not the world is doing it to you, you do it to yourself and how you accept things. Now get this statement. Worry actually vandalizes the body. You’re emotional and spiritual well-being has an effect on the body. Have you ever had doctors tell you that? Has doctors ever told you that worrying is not good for you? Stress is not good for you? You never had a doctor tell you that? They will. Just ask them. And that’s why sometimes there’s nothing they can do, no medicine they can give, they can cure it.

Because the problem is not. The nor- The normal thing because it’s a spiritual problem. Things that happen because of the mind. That controls the brain that works the parts of our body. Three keys for lasting change. The renewing of your mind. Any visions in chapter four talks about put off the old man, put off the old behavior. Or there’s something to put off. That’s repent, change your mind, reconsider. You don’t want to be the way you were your Christian now, but you have to renew your mind.

Verse 23. And that is be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Appear, how you think? God doesn’t want you to think like a normal individual who lives in the flesh in the world because that’s not youropri of God. You’re a citizen from heaven and your destiny is fixed. You’re going to heaven whenever you die. And you’re here temporarily as long as God has a ministry for you and you’re to accomplish that which God intended. And until then, let God have His way with you.

Don’t challenge God. Don’t rebuke God. Trust Him. Believe it. And let God do whatever God wants to do. He can be free to bring into your life or out of your life whatever he wants, and it won’t bother you, you can accept that. And then you’ll begin to grow as a Christian. If not, it’ll make you bitter because you’ll get hurt. You didn’t get what you wanted. Your expectations were not met. You’re not all that you thought you ought to be.

We’re not interested in what you want. We’re interested in what God wants. You see, there’s a conflict of the wheels. There’s a lot of things you want out of life. Maybe you wanna do or be or go or whatever it is. Yeah, but then there’s something over here. Oh, what does God want? And these two make the trash. And that’s why you can have peace of mind if you’ll just say Lord, whatever you want. Let’s find what they need.

And you can have peace. But if you don’t, you’re gonna be totally disarray and despair because it may never work your way. Learn to trust the Lord. And the third thing is replace. You gotta put on the new man, which was created in righteousness and true holiness. So there’s something to put off, change your mind, something to put on. And God says, if you learn this, it can truly help in your Christian life. You can’t change the past, but you can ruin a perfectly good day by worrying about it.

Have you ever had a wonderful day that God gave to you? And then you ruined it by bringing up the past that you can’t do anything about it. And you can be just, listen, You can rehash things that happened long time ago. And did you know you dwell on it long enough and it’ll make you insight just as mean and bitter and hateful as it did 20 years ago? And ruin this moment. Now you think that’s what God’s will is for you?

This is why you gotta forgive, forget that it go dwell upon that which God wants you to have. There’s problems in life, but the problems are not supposed to make us totally filled with despair and stress and worry and to what’s sick and we can’t move and operate because of it. Cast your cares on Christ. 1 Peter 5, 7, when he says, cast all your cares upon him for he cares for you. You believe that? Then you believe that, then you can trust on.

If you take everything and put it in God’s hands, you’ll see God’s hands and everything that you put in his hands. Ask God to lift the weights off your soul. Have you done that? You don’t think he will? See many people figure this way. Why pray when I can worry? Is there anything wrong with that? It’s supposed to be why worry when I can pray. The second thing, if it’s too small a matter to pray about, it’s too small a matter to become a burden.

You should never think that your problems are too big, God can’t do anything about it, or too small that God’s not gonna be concerned. Both are an insult to God. God just pray about how many things. All things, pray all the time. aques. Have a good time. Alright. Alright. p. I’ll see you in a second. Good night. I’ll see you in a week. Okay. That’s it. Good night. Hey. Good night. I’ll see you again in a few days. Yeah.

Okay. Let’s go ahead and turn. Okay. Good night. Good night. Good night. Okay. Let’s go ahead. Alright. I don’t have time to read that. I was going to read the words of that song. What a friend we have in Jesus. You ought to just read the words of that song. We sing it, but you ought to just hear the words. What a friend we have in Jesus. All our grief and so forth to there. And then talking about casting our cares upon the Lord.

And all the word that we do because we do not take it to him in prayer. So awesome song. Carry confidence in your countenance. Give God thanks for what you do. pray for in advance over you receiving it. Gratitude and praise confirmed that you are trusting in the Lord. Thanksgiving and praise are an antidote to worry. If you look at that verse when he makes his statement verse be careful for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving.

When you pray to God and you’re asking God for something then it says give thanks before you get the answer. Give God thanks for what you prayed before you ever get it because don’t you thank you well but rejoice not so much in what God is going to do or what God is going to answer but rejoice in the fact that I have a God who heard my case and I’m gonna leave the righteous judge the options are open they’re all his he can do anything he wants he can say yes he can say no he can say wait a while and his answer is sufficient for me, that’s all I wanted was to hear it with a God who could do something about it and I’m going to trust Him with a result.

Now tell me if that won’t give you a peace of mind. It lies beyond the power of an individual to make things work because you’re limited. You don’t have all the answers. You can’t do everything. But there’s a God who does, he does know and he cares. Chronic warriors make the mistake of waiting for their circumstances to change before rejoicing. You take a piece of paper right down all the blessings you can think of as a tonic for your soul and see if you can think of anything that God has done for you that you can rejoice about and be thankful for.

Learn to be thankful. It’s hard to be a worrier when you’re thankful and you’re praising the Lord for what He’s done in your rejoicing and the right thing. What are you going to worry about? It will give you a peace of mind that your husband can’t give it to you, the wife can’t give it to you, the kids can’t give it to you. Nobody can give to you. This is between you and God because it’s the peace of God.

It’s a personal thing. Otherwise the Bible is just a book. It’s a mechanical thing and it’s not a living, vivacious personal book that gives you a relationship with Christ that nobody else can. In the Christian life you live by faith or you don’t live at all. When you cease to live by faith you cease to live. Do you know God says a child of God is not only saved by grace, He is to live by faith. And if He lives by faith, then that’s the only way you can live as a Christian.

Poor God is to live by faith. Well, if you’re not living by faith, you’re not living. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

We’re going to talk about something that all of you know about a little bit anyway, and that is the story of Christmas. But a little bit different perhaps, because everybody wants to know, well, what is truth? What is truth? What does Christmas mean to you? Well, I want you to go ahead and take your Bible and turn to the book of Isaiah chapter seven and verse 14. And while you’re doing that, I want to share with you a little bit about in very short period of time.

I did not have any clue what Christmas was about except Santa Claus. I’ll have to be honest with you. My mother and dad, I never saw them in a church. I never saw them read a Bible. And I never heard them have prayer in our home. So I I wasn’t raised in a Christian environment. And so I didn’t know anything about Jesus Christ. I’d heard the words, but it was always when my dad was drunk and he would swear and think like that.

And that’s the truth. Cause I didn’t go to church, I didn’t hear stuff about the Bible. But I did hear about Santa Claus. Isn’t that amazing? Every little boy and girl all I hear about Santa Claus. And I hope I’m not gonna ruin anybody’s Christmas here this morning. I hope not. Anyway, we used to take and go out into the field and we would chop down a little old pine tree and me and my sister, we weren’t that old.

So we just did the best we could and took two boards and put a nail through the bottom of it and stood up in the corner. But we always wonder how come some of the rich folks, and we didn’t live around rich folks, we lived around poor folks. But you’d go to school and you’d always hear about what other kids had gotten, and we didn’t get much of anything. And so we wanted us a good Christmas. So we had a meeting with my dad and told him that what we wanted.

And we laid it all out. We didn’t want a lot just to know something. Anyway, my dad guaranteed us that this Christmas was going to be different. We were going to have the most of any kid in the whole world. He said he was just going to wait until Santa Claus came up. He’s going to shoot Santa Claus. Gonna kill him and get all of the presents and bring them home. And we was going to have the best Christmas anybody has ever had.

Now we didn’t care about the next year and Santa Claus being dead and things like that. We didn’t care. I want to know this Christmas I’m going to get something. And so we got some of my dad’s old Prince Albert tobacco cans that he had laying all over the yard. You know when we cut up the little linings out of them and got you made some silver strips and put them on there. And they got some popcorn and run it through the popcorn and put it on the tree.

And they got some pine cones. See, back in those days, you had to do all of this on yourself. You know, you didn’t go out and store and buy these things. You just did it. But anyway, Christmas morning, we could wait. We ran in there and there wasn’t nothing under the tree. But nothing. Zero. And you’re talking about three heartbroken kids. We were. And we cried, oh we cried. And I was only 15, maybe I was 16.

All right, I was only maybe five or six. I mean, if the truth be told. Anyway, we finally got my dad, you know, because he finally come back home, he was drunk. Oh, he was drunk. And he was staggering all over the place. He went out in the front yards and he was sitting beside this tree. And he still had a drink. He was just drinking. So we went out there to him and we were still crying. We were very upset.

And my dad, he promised us, he swore. He says, kids, I’m telling you, I’m telling you the truth. I saw him coming over and I shot at him, but I missed him. And there were three little dumb kids. We bought that. It wasn’t my dad’s fault. He couldn’t help. He couldn’t, you know, Santa could have been way up to high in the sky. But I never did really have a good feeling about, you know, Christmas. And lo and behold, one day I finally found out the truth.

One that somebody wasn’t real and I never heard about Jesus until I got a little bit up in age and I began to understand a little bit more. Started coming to me slowly. But I had so many questions and I had doubts and I want to know if there is a true and living God why don’t he reveal himself? You know why don’t he show himself? Say hey there’s God. little that I know, he did. He had already done it 2,000 years ago.

You see, Jesus Christ coming into the world is God’s way of revealing Himself. Jesus was not the normal man. Jesus had a miraculous birth. And so as you go through and you read and you study and you find out like in Isaiah 7, in looking verse 14. Look what he says there in verse 14. Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Be holy virgin shall conceive and bury son shall call his name Immanuel. Now Immanuel is an untranslated Hebrew word which means God with us.

God that made the heavens and the earth is going to do something like what? into the world and take upon a flesh body like ours. You see, the thing that was going to make him so different from everybody else is that he would live a perfect life. He would have no sinful nature. He wouldn’t do anything wrong. One thing you can say about all the people born into the world, we have all sinned. We all are in the same boat.

And we all think wrong, say wrong, do wrong, we make mistakes, we have faults and flaws, we worry, we fret, we’re in despair, and that’s because we’re human. And lo and behold, a child was going to be born. But what I want you to do is I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Matthew, in the book of Matthew. Now in this Christmas story, I want to talk to you about several things. One in Sunday school we will talk about Mary, her part in the Christmas story.

And during the church service this morning I’m going to talk about the Christmas story but it’ll be about John and his part in the Christmas story. And tonight I’m going to talk about Joseph and his part in the Christmas story. So in the book of Matthew and chapter Matthew chapter one. And notice in chapter one, you will see something a little bit different in the book of Luke. But chapter one says, and so and so, see that in chapter one?

Look in verse two. Abraham begat Isaac. Isaac begat Jacob. And Jacob begat and begat begat and forgot. All the way through these, it’s always they begat begat begat. But whenever you read over there in the book of Luke, when it talks about another genealogy, it says the son of the son of the son of. Here they are born because the Father, Father doesn’t. But over in the other one, it’s used a different phrase. It uses the son of the son of.

And because there’s a line over there that’s a little bit different, but if we have time, we’ll take a look at it. But right now, I want you to look there in Matthew chapter 1 verse 18. And verse 18, it says, if there is any truth in the Bible, if it is the Word of God, if you read it and you can kind of get a grasp of it, it lets you know the truth. In verse 18, now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise.

when as his mother Mary was a spouse to Joseph. Now, you’ll notice, says his mother, but it doesn’t say his father. Doesn’t say he, his father was Joseph. And that’s very important because Jesus did not have an earthly father that fathered him. Now, that’s why when it comes down through here and it says his mother Mary, but then say, but he didn’t think about his father. She was engaged to be married to Joseph, this young woman, and the Bible said 700 years in advance that a virgin was going to have a child.

Now it’s worded in the book of Jeremiah chapter 31 that who had seen such a strange thing as this that a woman shall encompass a man. But what’s neat is is without having a man, father the child. So it says here, she was going to have a child and she was already engaged. Now, generally when they were, they committed themselves to an engagement period, it could last a year. And he was supposed to get everything ready and prepared and so forth.

But they were looked upon as a husband and a wife, though they haven’t come together. They had not touched each other. And so he says here, Mary was espoused Joseph before, yet at before they came together. She was found with child of the Holy Ghost. In other words, the child that was in her was not because of a human man, it was because of the Holy Spirit. And that is explained a lot clearly in the book of Luke where the Holy Spirit shall overshadow thee.

And so the Holy Spirit placed the seed within the woman and Jesus Christ was to be born. So anyway, look at this in verse 19. Then Joseph, her husband, being a just man and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privately. Now let’s just suppose for a moment. Have you ever considered all the problems that God causes?

And here you are, a sweet little say, 17 year old little Jewish girl. You know the Lord, you love the Lord, and you just want to serve the Lord and be whatever God wants you to be. Isn’t that wonderful? And now the Holy Spirit comes and lo and behold, hey, I got some news for you. You’re going to have a baby. And she said, how can I have a baby saying, I know not a man. I mean, she understood that, hey, takes two to tango.

Something’s wrong with this picture. And lo and behold, she’s now going to have a child. How would you, and just picture for a moment, and for you men, it’ll be a little bit more difficult. Pretend that you’re pregnant. You’re going to have a baby. And you’re in love with this man, and you’re going to get married to this man. And lo and behold, he finds out, hey, I didn’t do that. Who did this? Do you realize the shame, the disgust, the fear, all these things that goes into the mind of an individual?

And how would you like to explain it to your mom and dad? A mom, I got a problem. I need to talk to you about. Sooner or later, somewhere along the line, there’s explanations that you have to be given because it’s not normal for a woman to have a child unless she’s married to a man or somebody taking advantage of her. So, how would you like to be in this? Now who created this problem? Who created the problem? God, God created this problem.

And look what she had to go through and live with, And here’s Joseph, the man she’s married to were going to be married and they were under their engagement, his fossil period. And he’s willing to put her aside, not to make her a public example. I guess because he really loved her. So evidently he did not know and understand how this could be. So what happens, and verse 20, But what he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared into him in a dream.

Saint Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take into thee, Mary, thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. Now he has to believe this story, this dream. He’s got to believe this. Would you have believed it? Do you think for a moment that people back in these days weren’t skeptical about what was said and done? I mean, how would you like to be Mary? And look what the Lord said. But there’s a difference between Mary and John the Baptist and his folks.

I’ll show you that in a little bit. Yeah, we have time. But it says that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. It’s of God. God did this. And now here’s a woman that’s pregnant. And the man, how would you like to be Joseph at this time? I mean, you would, how much would it take for you to really believe her story? And he said, God had to intervene because the normal thing is to question and to doubt.

Because you see, what just happened to her doesn’t happen to everybody. This has never happened before. This will never happen again. This is only one time in the world. This will ever happen. And it happened to them. And so he says in verse 21, And she shall brainforth a little girl. No, she shall brainforth a son, and get this, shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. So right from the very beginning, Joseph was even told what his name would be and the purpose of him being born.

So Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, Jehovah, Yasha, he is the one who saves, he keeps, and protects, and defends. This is why in the Old Testament, God over about 2,000 years gave prophecies, telling in advance what was going to happen and where was he supposed to be born in Bethlehem, Afrata. As it says in the book of Micah chapter 5 and verse 2, about Bethlehem, Afrata, though, though, there’ll be little among the thousands of Judea. Yet out of these shall he come forth, that is to be ruler in Israel, who’s going forth of been from old to everlasting.

The one that’s going to be born never had a beginning, never has an ending. That’s why John the Baptist said afterward, he says, He that cometh after me was before me. Good stuff. But anyway, look what he says here. And he makes a statement in verse 23, Behold, they quote the scriptures that we just read just a moment ago, Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son, thou shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is God with us.

But when it says up there, Behold, a virgin shall be with child. After she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit, she was still a virgin. A virgin shall be with child. She was a virgin before and she still is. Joseph had never touched her. Here’s a young woman gonna have a young man. And verse 24, then Joseph been raised from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord had been him and took unto him his wife and knew her not, till she had brought forth her firstborn son and called his name Jesus.

So this is how the story begins. But there’s a little bit more to the story. Take your Bible and I’ll turn over there to the book of Luke, to the book of Luke, and chapter one, Matthew, Mark, Luke. And I want you to look there in verse 26, Chapter one of Luke and verse 26. Now this was an expected baby. This was a prepared baby. This was a prophesied baby. This was a perfect baby. My parents thought I was the perfect child.

Not really. Did you know that my dad really wanted to put me in a burlap sack and throw me in a river and drown me? That is the truth. My mom would just wouldn’t let him. He would have done so. Anyway, as we’ll move in right along. Here in Luke chapter 1, look down in verse 26. And in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth. Now, they were from Bethlehem, see, but they came up there to the Nazareth and they lived in Nazareth, but they had to go to Bethlehem toward the taxes.

But anyway, verse 27, to a virgin espouse to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David. Because you see he had to be on the line of David to claim the throne of David. So after all these years, you know, there’s King David and he had some sons and Nathan and Solomon and the line goes on down and lo and behold, a down in the future, you know, a thousand years later. There has to be a man born of the right line, and there has to be a woman born of the right line of the right family.

And they had to live in a right place because the sun has to be born in a certain city that’s mentioned over 700 years in advance. Coincidence? Not by the hair of my chinny chin chin. This is the word of God. And it’s truth. And look what he says here. It makes the statement in verse 28. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hey Ola, thou that are highly favored. The Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women.

I don’t believe she was the blessed above women, but among women, but she was blessed because many of the women wanted to be the one that would bring the Messiah into the world. And she has this honor. And verse 29, and when she saw him, she was troubled at his sayin’ and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. I mean, when’s the last time you saw an angel? It’s so all it’s my husband. Then you married and then he turned into the little devil, right?

We would just let that alone and just stay with this here. Let me look at that. So it says here in verse 30, And the angel said unto her, fear not merry, for thou has found favor with God. favor with God. That means favor to have a child. In verse 31, and behold thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, shall call his name Jesus. He shall be great. Now look what it says about this child she’s going to have.

Now she didn’t make this happen. Joseph didn’t make this happen. But this is what happened. He shall be great, shall be called the Son of the highest, and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David. He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there shall be no end.” Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be? See, I know not a man. And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee, therefore also that,” And you ought to underline these two words, holy thing shall be born of thee shall be called the son of God.

And behold, by cousin Elizabeth she has also conceived a son in her old age, and this is a six month with her, and when they got together and they one heard it and the The babe leaped in the womb talking about John the baddest before he was born because he, they were cousins, Mary and Elizabeth. And so she had gone to see her. And don’t you think those two ladies really had some things to talk about? I mean, one, a miracle because she was a virgin and the other one, she was an old woman.

But it doesn’t say she was an old woman. It says that Zachariah was an old man and his wife. what he said to Yana. And my wife is well stricken in years. I’m an old man. Why didn’t he just say, I’m an old man. She’s an old woman. Because even back then they knew psychology a little bit. And knew I better not say it like that. She’s just stricken in age. But anyway, she’s all kind of good stuff found in the Word of God.

Take your Bible and just turn over there to another good scripture. Let me just read this down here for you. It says in verse 39, and Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with hasten to a city of Judah, entered into the house of Zachariah and saluted Elizabeth, came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost because she was going to have a baby too.

I mean a miracle of all miracles. I’m going to preach that sermon a little bit later. Verse 40, and she spoke out with a loud voice and said, blessed are thou among women. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Wouldn’t it be great if all women believed that today? The fruit of the womb. And do you believe that it would have been okay for Mary to have an abortion? No. What about Elizabeth? Should she have had an abortion? No.

I don’t believe that that is a wise thing to do. But look what he says here in verse 45. And blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. God is going to perform all that he said he’s going to do. You see, He hadn’t told many things in that, then last part of the chapter here in chapter 2. And as Zechariah is rehearsing the things about his own son, and he’s talking about all the promises that God had made and the covenant that he had made and the, the Jacob, his father and all these things, it just overwhelms things.

BIST! Is it? It’s happening in their day. And they knew the visitation of the Lord. You know when the Bible says in Luke chapter 19, when God was going to destroy the nation of Israel, it was because they knew not the day of his visitation. When God came to earth. It’s like, you know, a visitor coming to your house or somebody coming to church. The Lord says in the Old Testament, I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming, here I come.

And He told them where He would come, the year He would come and how He would come. And lo and behold, He shows up and the Bible says He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. They didn’t know Him. And so because of hardheadedness, people we fused to believe. And yet he gave them all this revelation, the prophecies, and lo and behold, here he is. And they would not believe the truth.

So I want you to look there in verse 46. And look what Mary said. Now this is the mom. Mary says, my soul does magnify the Lord and my spirit has rejoiced in God my what? Now you ought to underline those last two are my Savior. You do not need a Savior if you have no sins to be saved from. You don’t need a Savior if there’s no hell to be saved from. So the Bible says that Mary said, in so many words, indirectly, I am a sinner.

And she also says, I’m going to a place I need to be saved from. It means that Mary could go to hell. It means that when she understood, she says, this is my Savior. The woman is going to have a child that’s going to save her. Why? Because this was the be the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world.

What an awesome story. You know, a man couldn’t make up a story like this. And then how do you tell the next guy 200 years later to add a little bit more to it? And then how do you tell the next guy down the road, add a little bit more information so that after a couple thousand years somebody is born that fulfills all those things to the T and does Does it miss a lick? Can it just happen? Is it just a coincidence?

They were just lucky guesses? Or could it be possible that there really is a God in heaven that knows what’s going to take place before it ever happens? 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 two 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 toll-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 six 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline. Everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. she shall bring forth a son and get this, shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins.” So right from the very beginning, Joseph was even told what his name would be and the purpose of him being born. So Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, Jehovah, Yasha, he is the one who saves, keeps and protects and defends.

This is why in the Old Testament, God over about 2,000 years gave prophecies, telling in advance what was going to happen. And where was he supposed to be born? In Bethlehem, Ephrata. As it says in the book of Micah chapter 5 and verse 2, about Bethlehem, Ephrata, though there will be little among the thousands of Judea. Yet out of these shall he come forth that is to be ruler in Israel who’s going forth have been from old everlasting. The one that’s going to be born never had to begin and never has an ending.

That’s why John the Baptist said afterward he says, he that comeeth after me was before me. Good stuff. But anyway, look what he says here. And he makes a statement in verse 23, behold, they quote the scriptures that we just read just a moment ago. Behold a virgin shall be with child and shall bring forth a son. I shall call his name Emmanuel which being interpreted is God with us. But when he says up there behold a virgin shall be with child after she was impregnated by the Holy Spirit she was still a virgin.

A virgin shall be with child. She was a virgin before and she still is. Joseph had never touched her. Here’s a young woman gonna have a young man. And verse 24, then Joseph been raised from sleep dead as the angel of the Lord had been him and took unto him his wife and knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son and called his name Jesus. So this is how the story begins. But there’s a little bit more to the story.

Take your Bible, and I turn over there to the book of Luke, to the book of Luke, and chapter 1. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and I want you to look there in verse 26, chapter 1 of Luke and verse 26. Now this was an expected baby. This was a prepared baby. This was a prophesied baby. This was a perfect baby. my parents thought I was the perfect child, not really. Did you know that my dad really wanted to put me in a burlap sack and throw me in a river and drown me?

That is the truth. My mom would just wouldn’t let him. He would have done so. Anyway, as we’ll move in right along. Here in Luke chapter 1, look down in verse 26, and in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God into a city of Galilee named Nazareth. Now they were from Bethlehem, see, but they came up there to the Nazareth and they lived in Nazareth but they had to go to Bethlehem toward the taxes. But anyway, verse 27, to a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph of the house of David because he had to be on the line of David to claim the throne of David.

So after all these years, you know, there’s King David and he had some sons and Nathan and Solomon and the line goes on down and lo and behold, down in the future, you know, a thousand years later, there has to be a man born of the right line and there has to be a woman born of the right line, of the right family. And they had to live in a right place because the son has to be born in a certain city that’s mentioned over 700 years in advance.

Coincidence? Not by the hair of my chin, chin, chin. This is the Word of God and it’s truth. And look what he says here. He makes a statement in verse 28. And the angel came in unto her and said, Hey Ola, thou that are highly favored, the Lord is with thee, blessed are thou among women. I don’t believe she was the blessed above women, but among women. But she was blessed because many of the women wanted to be the one that would bring the Messiah into the world and she has this honor.

And verse 29, and when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying and cast in her mind what manner salutation this should be. I mean, when’s the last time you saw an angel? It’s so all it’s my husband. Then he, you married him, then he turned into the little devil, right? We would just let that alone and just stay with this here. Let me let it. So it says here in verse 30, “‘And the angel said unto her, “‘Fear not, Mary, for thou hast found favor with God.'”

That means favor to have a child. In verse 31, “‘And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb “‘and bring forth a son, shall call his name Jesus. “‘He shall be great.'” Now look what it says about this child she’s going to have. Now she didn’t make this happen. Joseph didn’t make this happen. But this is what happened. He shall be great, shall be called the son of the highest. And the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David.

He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom, there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, how shall this be? See, and I know not a man. And the angel answered and said unto her, The holy go shall come upon thee and the power of the highest shall overshadow them. Therefore also that,” and you ought to underline these two words, holy thing shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

And behold, thy cousin Elizabeth, she has also conceived a son in her old age. And this is a six month with her. And when they got together and one heard it and the babe leaped in the womb talking about John the baddest before he was born because he they were cousins, Mary and Elizabeth. And so she’d gone to see her and don’t you think those two ladies really had some things to talk about?

I mean one, a miracle because she was a virgin and the other one, she was an old woman. But it doesn’t say she was an old woman. It says that Zachariah was an old man and his wife. This is This is what he said to Yannan. And my wife is well-stricken in years. I’m an old man. Why didn’t he just say, I’m an old man. She’s an old woman. Because even back then they knew psychology a little bit. And knew I better not say it like that.

She’s just stricken in age. But anyway, she says all kind of good stuff found in the Word of God. Take your Bible and just turn over there to another good scripture. Let me just read this down here for you. It says in verse 39, And Mary arose in those days and went into the healed country with hasten to a city of Judah, entered into the house of Zachariah and saluted Elizabeth, came to pass that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb.

And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost because she was gonna have a baby too. I mean a miracle of all miracles. I’m gonna preach that sermon a little bit later. Verse 40, and she spoke out with a loud voice and said, blessed are thou among women. Blessed is the fruit of thy womb. Wouldn’t it be great if all women believed that today, the fruit of the womb? And do you believe that it would have been okay for Mary to have an abortion?

No. What about Elizabeth? Should she have had an abortion? No. I don’t believe that that is the wise thing to do. But look what he says here in verse 45, and blessed is she that believed, for there shall be a performance of those things which were told her from the Lord. God is going to perform all that he said he’s going to do. You see he hadn’t told many things and that’s the last part of the chapter here in chapter 2.

And as Zechariah is rehearsing the things about his own son and he’s talking about all the promises that God had made and the covenant that he had made and the Jacob his father and all these things, it just over weapons thing. This is it. It’s happening in their day. And they knew the visitation of the Lord. You know, when the Bible says in Luke chapter 19, when God was going to destroy the nation of Israel, it was because they knew not the day of his visitation.

when God Came to earth. It’s like, you know, a visitor coming to your house, or somebody coming to church. The Lord says in the Old Testament, I’m coming, I’m coming, I’m coming, here I come. And He told them where He would come, the year He would come, and how He would come, and lo and behold, He shows up. And the Bible says He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not.

They didn’t know him. And so because of hardheadedness, people we fused to believe, and yet he gave them all this revelation, the prophecies, and lo and behold, here he is. And they would not believe the truth. So I want you to look there in verse 46. And look what Mary said. Now this is the mom. And Mary says, my soul does magnify the Lord. And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my what? Now you ought to underline those last two are my savior.

You do not need a savior if you have no sins to be saved from. You don’t need a savior if there’s no hell to be saved from. So the Bible says that Mary said, in so many words indirectly, I am a sinner. I am a sinner. And she also says, I’m going to a place I need to be saved from. Means that Mary could go to hell. It means that when she understood, she says, this is my Savior. The woman is going to have a child that’s going to save her.

Why? Because This was the be the sacrifice for the sins of the whole world. What an awesome story. You know, a man couldn’t make up a story like this. And then how do you tell the next guy 200 years later to add a little bit more to it? And then how do you tell the next guy down the road add a little bit more information so that after a couple thousand years, somebody is born that fulfills all those things to the T and does it miss a lick.

Can it just happen? Is it just a coincidence? They were just lucky guesses, or could itStage be possible that there really is a God in heaven that knows what’s going to take place before it ever happens? Because see, if you can believe this story, you can believe anything. I don’t have a trouble even with the book of Genesis because it says in the very first verse, in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And because I believe in God, I can believe that God can create the heavens and the earth.

I don’t need any proof. I don’t need any facts. Because inwardly I know the world is here and I didn’t do it. And neither did you. And I don’t believe that something can come from nothing. When’s the last time you ever seen something created by nothing? And yet the world is here. So how did it happen? I believe the Bible. And that is my foundation to bone everything else that comes from it. But look what he says here. In verse 48, for he hath regarded and you ought to underline these two little words, low estate.

You see, Joseph and Mary, they weren’t rich folks living high on the hog. They were not somebody that was, you know, like today, maybe run around with all these things all over them. And like the pope does today, no. Jesus Christ was born in a stable or in a little cave a manger with the animals. Mary wasn’t rich. They couldn’t even afford to stay in an end. If they did have it, they couldn’t pay the price or they said there was no room in the Lumia.

And whenever Jesus was to be circumcised, it says they offered two small pigeons. That’s the sacrifice for the circumcision of poor folks. The rich folks would offer a bull or you know on up catam. But look what he says. In verse 49, for he that is mighty have done me great things and holy is his name. And this is how she began to understand some of the things. Did you know that Mary did not understand everything was going on?

Because it says that she would She died in verse 56 and Mary abode with her about three months in return to her own house, but it says that she had some things that she would try to ponder these things in her heart because she did not fully get all of the things that was going on. And the Lord tells us in chapter 2, not chapter 2, look in verse 1. Down through here is a brief little story of more background, but just give what it says here.

In verse 1, and it came to pass in those days that there went out of decree from Caesar Augusta that all the world should be taxed. And this taxon was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria, and all went to be taxed everyone into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth unto Judea and unto the city of David, David, which is called Bethlehem. Now Bethlehem is a place called the House of Bread.

This is where he was going to be born. This is the prophecy that’s written over in the book of Micah in chapter 5 verse 2. But it says here, they went there because they had to pay taxes. So then God used government decrees and all of us this goes on to accomplish his will. And it amazing. And yet how did she get there? Well, she just jumped on the train and they, you know, or maybe she took a plane, you’re talking about almost 100 mile trip.

I mean, it’s a long way. And so they had to come all the way down there. And so she’s pregnant, probably riding on a donkey all that way. And how would you feel when all this is going on if this was happening to you in your life? It seemed like this happens wrong and that happens wrong. Now we’ve got to go do this. We’ve got to do that. And don’t we complain a lot? Just read about the first family here.

I mean, this is the ideal family, two godly individuals that love the Lord, want no problems and look what’s happening there. Like you think about talking about being shook up. Oh, it was all shook up. Anyway, the child was to be born in verse six. And so it was that after they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. She brought forth her firstborn son, wrapped him in swelling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the end.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. At low the angel of the Lord came upon them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them, and they were so afraid. The angel said unto them, fear not, for behold I bring you good titans of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior, not a trailblazer, Not a Daniel Boomer or a Davy Crockett, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.

It shall be a sign unto you. You shall find the Baberact and Swatling clothes, land in a manger. Suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly hosts praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace, goodwill toward Ben. And it came to pass as the angels were gone away from them in the heaven. The shepherd said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem and see this thing, which has come to pass, which the Lord hath made known to us.

And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph and the baby lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the say, and which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But look at verse 19, but Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen as it was told unto them.

What a wonderful, wonderful story. And the Bible tells us that in all of these things, God even told Mary some other things. In spite of all the other things that were happening in their life, there was an old man that wanted to see the salvation of God. He wanted to see the Redeemer before he died. And so he patiently waited, but he believed that it was near. And when he saw the child, the Bible says, this is the one.

Now I can rest in peace. And it’s a wonderful thing. Look what he says here in verse 30 of chapter 2, for mine eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. See, this was all prepared in advance. This is not accidents happening. God can use the wickedness, the deceitfulness, the evilness of man to accomplish his purpose. God can use evil governments to accomplish his purpose. God knows what he’s doing. And then he says in verse 32, this child, this child, I’ll just mention in the book of Isaiah, a light to lighten the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel.

So you got the Gentiles and Israel told about this child. Before he was even born. And yet when they saw this child, they knew because the prophecy is written in advance and it was to fulfill the promise that God had made. See, God made a promise to Abraham. Saying, and they shall all families of the earth be blessed. And as it says in the book of Galatians in chapter 3 and verse 8, and the scripture for seeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, priests before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, in thee, Tommy Christ, shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

through faith, preached before the gospel under Abraham saying, in thee, Tommy Christ, shall all the families of the earth be blessed. So, justification of the heathen, God made a promise that everyone would be justified by faith and faith alone because of the payment this child will become. We talk about will you accept the payment Christ made for you. Jesus was the payment. Jesus coming back from the dead. That is the proof of payment. He is our living receipt and he is alive forever more.

He’ll never come again, never make another payment. But when he came the first time, he lived a sinless, a perfect life and was able to voluntarily choose to die for the sins of the whole world. And all He wants us to do is to believe He did it for us. How simple can you get? Aren’t you glad it’s not hard and complicated? You don’t have to join the church to go to heaven. You don’t have to give any money to go to heaven.

You don’t have to change your life to go to heaven. All you have to do is believe that that one that was born of a virgin died and paid for all of my sins and was buried and came back again from the dead and I believe that he did it for me. And God says, when you believe it, you have eternal life. But as he talks here, Simeon, I want you to notice something that he says. He says in verse 30, Joseph and his mother marvel at those things which were spoken of him.

Simeon blessed them and said unto Mary, his mother, behold this child, this child is set for the fall and the rise and again of many in Israel. People are going to accept Him or reject Him. And people are going to believe Him or not believe Him. And in makes a statement also there in verse 35, Yay, a sword shall even pierce through thy soul also. How do you think Mary felt on the day when she saw her son pierced with a spear in the side?

And this is still Mom. Oh, that’s her son, but she’s still mom. And to watch what happens to her son and knowing he had done nothing wrong. Even if he’s to be the payment for the sins of the world, you know, there’s a bond between a mom and the son. And notice what he says here, Yay, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Did you know that when you listen and you hear about what Jesus Christ did on the cross for the sins of the world, do you realize how just the teaching of this causes a man to search his own soul?

And that’s why a person comes to the conclusion, you know, I need, I need Jesus Christ. I need to believe on him that he died and paid for my sins. It causes a person to have that discernment through the gospel that I have sinned against God and I’m condemned. I’m not perfect. I’m not righteous. I’m not good enough to go to heaven. I need a Savior and Christ is the only Savior. And when we trust Him as our Savior, He gives us as a free gift ever lasting life.

But God used this woman to bring this child into the world and in the name verse 40, I want to close with this verse. And the child grew and wacked strong in spirit, feel with wisdom and in the grace of God was upon him. And this is a, a wonderful story that also goes down to verse 52 and we’ll cover that at a different time. Alrighty, that’s enough of the story of Mary. Anyway, look up here. This hand represents you and me.

The wallet represents sin. while we all have sin on us. God loves us, but He hates our sin. For us to pay for the sin is eternal separation from God. And since we’ve all sinned, we’re all condensed. We’re all in the same boat. Nobody’s any better than anybody else. To go to heaven, you have to be perfect. As righteous as God. But nobody’s perfect. Nobody’s righteous. Because of sin, we can’t get in. So how am I going to get there?

A body has not prepared me. Jesus Christ came into the world with born of a woman. As the Bible says in due time… Christ was born right on schedule and he lived for 33 and a half years without sin. And he chose to die for our sin because he loved us. Pated on the cross came back from the dead. One payment forever. Never have to be done again. And he did it 2,000 years ago. When he was on the cross, you were on his mind and he paid for your sins.

Now he says, will you believe he did it for you? If you believe he did it for you, he would give you as a freak gift everlasting like you get to go to heaven Oh what he did if you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior if you never believed it that he did it for you You’re not saved You’re not a Christian. You will not go to heaven. It’s that simple That’s why it’s so important for you Will you trust Jesus Christ in him alone as your only hope of one to heaven and once you trust him you are saved and you never have to do it again.

If you trusted Christ, you’re Savior six months ago, you don’t have to do it again. If you trusted Him 20 years ago, you never have to do it again. If you trusted Him as your Savior last week, you don’t have to do it again. You can only get saved one time. He can only give you turn like once. He can only save you from hell once because He paid for all of your sins when he came the first time.

Let’s pray, shall we? If you’re here this morning, and perhaps you never trust the Lord, why not just talk to the Lord and say something simple like this? For I know I’m a sinner and I realize I cannot save myself. I want to go to heaven, and I believe you died on that cross and pay for my sins. And this morning, right now, I believe you did it for me and I’m trusting you as my Savior. And friend, God said, if you would believe just that much, He would give you as a free gift everlasting life and you get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you.

I’m going to ask in just a moment to raise your hand, raise your hand as not Savior. It just lets me know that what I said made sense to you. And you say, I’m preaching that made sense to me and I will trust Christ right now and I’d like you to pray for me. We’ll just live in it very quickly and put our right back down. Let’s go, bless you, man. Don’t you trust Christ as Savior? It’s eternal life and He’ll never cast you out.

Anyone else before we close? Our Father, we do thank You so much for all You’ve done for us. We’re thankful for this time of year when people’s hearts and their minds are toward perhaps more spiritual things, hopefully, because of Christ. Though they celebrate His birth, we pray that they’ll understand why He came. realize the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ. And so we thank you so much for all you’ve done for us, for the one that indicated that they would trust to Savior this morning.

And followed by doing so, you’d guarantee eternal life that you’ll never cast them out and have a bosom. Bless each one here. In Christ name we pray, Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 toll-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 Bible 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

The Book of Isaiah, chapter 40, Isaiah chapter 40, the story of John the Baptist, which is part of the Christmas story. So when you look here in the book of Isaiah in chapter 40, you’ll find that there’s an interesting statement made here in verse 3. Verse 3 says, The voice of him that cryeth in the wilderness, prepare ye the way of the Lord. Make straight in the highway or the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be exalted in every mountain and hill shall be made low, the crooked shall be made straight in the rough places plain, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”

Now this is a reference to John the Baptist. You see he was was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. He was about six months before Christ and they were cousins. And so John the Badgers had a very unique ministry. He was just the voice of one crying in the wilderness. And he was sent to bear witness of the light that Jesus was the true light that light of every man that cometh into the world. So he had an awesome ministry.

Jesus says there’s never been a man born a woman like John the Baptist. Anyway, notice in verse 6, look what he says about the voice. The voice said cry and he said, what shall I cry? All flesh is grass and all the goodness thereof is as the flower of the field. The grass with with the flower faded because the spirit of the Lord brought upon it. Surely the people is grass. The grass withereth, the flower faded, but the word of our God shall stand forever.

Jesus Christ is the word and the word was made flesh. The word was going to be revealed. The glory of the Lord has come to visit mankind. And the Bible says that John says all flesh is as grass and all of us are the same. We all live and we all die, but there’s one that’s going to be born. He is the Word and He will live forever. And then He says in verse 9, Oh Zion, that bringeth good tidings.

Get the up into the high mountains, oh Jerusalem, that bringeth good tidings. You see, when John the Baptist showed up, he was preaching some good titans and good things. Lift up thy voice with strength, lift it up, be not afraid, say unto the cities of Judah, and you ought to underline these three words. What was John the Baptist going to say about Jesus Christ when he was born into this world? He says, I’m just the voice of one crying in the wilderness, behold your God.

You see, Jesus Christ was God manifested in the flesh. And scriptures tell us that there’s nobody like Him. There’s no birth quite like this one. Jesus Christ was who He claimed to be. Now, since He is different, very unique, special, I wanted to just this morning, share with you some thoughts about this John the Baptist and something that was going to take place. But take your Bible now and look in the book with Jeremiah. go to your right to Jeremiah and chapter 31.

Jeremiah chapter 31. And just look there in verse 15. Verse 15. Because you see, when Jesus Christ was born. The angel of the Lord appeared unto Joseph and says, take the child down into Egypt. When you take him down into Egypt, I’ll let you know when to bring him back. I’ll bring your word. But Herod came in and killed all the children that were two years old and under. And there was a lot of weeping and wailing. And this is why this verse 15 is referenced to in the book of Matthew, talking about that moment.

In verse 15, thus saith the Lord, a voice was heard in Rehma. Lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel weeping for her children. He refused to be comforted for her children because they were not. All these children that were killed, because he Herod was trying to kill one little baby boy and think about it. What difference can one little baby make? I mean, what difference can one little baby been born in the world? What can it do?

Well, this was no usual baby. This was an unusual baby. This was the Son of God. And for a woman to have a child without a man, that would take America. Well, it did. Look down there in verse 22. Verse 22, How long will thou go about? O thou backsliding daughter? For the Lord hath created a new thing. Now if it’s just a woman having a baby, it’s nothing new. But for a woman to have a baby without a man, as it says, created a new thing in the earth, a woman shall compass a man.

This was an unusual man that was born. John had a very unusual ministry. Take your Bible and turn to the book of Luke in chapter one, the gospel of Luke and chapter 1. Luke chapter 1. And look there in verse 5. Verse 5 says, there was in the days of Herod the king of Judea a certain priest named Zachariah of the course of Abya and his wife was the daughter of Aaron and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the law, O Lord, blameless, and they had no child because that Elizabeth was barren, and they both were now well-stricken in years.

So here’s these older folks, well-stricken in years, and God is going to do another miracle. You see, God is going to allow these old folks to have a young man. I don’t know if I would want another young man, but they’re gonna have a young man. And this is going to be an unusual child too. In verse 11, I want you to look in verse 11, is it? And there appeared unto him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense.

When Zachariah saw him, he was troubled and fear fell upon him and the angel said unto him, Fear not, Zachariah, for thy prayer is heard, and thy wife Elizabeth shall bear a son. And Zachariah said, I prayed that prayer 40 years ago. I don’t believe in his age he was probably asking the Lord for a child. But the Lord heard the prayer, and Elizabeth had been praying for a child, because she was excited that the Lord had taken away her approach from among men.

See down there in verse 25, the Lord has taken away my memory approach among men. This old couple, they might have been wanting the child, but I think they probably prayed when they were younger. But you know, you never know when God’s going to answer that prayer of yours, that you prayed four years ago and God will wind up coming, it comes around. You see, God doesn’t forget your prayers. That’s what’s interesting. But I’m glad I have had some of my prayers not entered yet.

But look what he says He says in verse 13, the angel said unto him, fear not zechariah, for thy prayer is heard, thy wife Elizabeth shall bear thee a son, and thou shalt call his name John. So the Lord’s even telling them what to call him, that you’re gonna have a son, a child is gonna be born. In verse 14, and thou shalt have joy and gladness. Many shall rejoice at his birth, for he shall be great in the sight of the Lord.

shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He shall be filled with the holy goes, even from his mother’s womb. Many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God, and he shall go before him in the spirit and the power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just. Get this, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord. In other words, this child has a great ministry.

God said, I want to use this child as the forerunner of my son. And he has got a ministry of turning the hearts of the fathers to their children. And to proclaim, yes, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and you’ll see that in chapter two of Luke, but it also makes this statement. It says, He shall turn the hearts of the children of Israel unto the Lord their God, not just the fathers to the children, but the children of Israel to God.

And He says to prepare people for the Lord. God is sending His Son into the world and He wants Him to be the megaphone, the voice that runs ahead of them and tell them, hey, He’s coming, He’s coming, He’s coming. So we had a tremendous ministry, a very unique ministry. Nobody had ever had this ministry before to tell people about the Lord coming on the scene. Look what he says in verse 18. Now Zechariah is hearing what the angel of the Lord has said.

But now remember whenever it was told to Joseph, Joseph believed what God said. And he told Mary, Mary believed what God said. But the old codger has a problem. He said, no, wait, wait a minute. So he says in verse 18, And Zacharias said unto the angel whereby shall I know the, how do I know this is true? Did he have any questions or doubts? He said, I’m an old man. My wife is well stricken in years. How are we going to have a young man?

Well lo and behold. The angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel that standeth in the presence of God, and am sent to speak unto thee and to show thee these glad titans. This is good news, good news. And behold, in verse 20, thou shalt be dumb and not able to speak until the day that these things shall be performed because, because thou believe us not my words, which shall be fulfilled in their season. God see has his own timetable.

You see this couple they had prayed for a child years before I believe because now he’s questioned whether he can even happen now. And because he was wondering how can this happen? How can this be? How do you think Mary felt whenever God told us that you’re going to have a child without a man? Oh really? What would you have thought? And so in verse 21 the people waited for Zachariah because, see, he was taking too long in the temple.

You don’t take that long to do his service in this course that he had. And he says, and he carried so long in the temple. When he came out, he could not speak unto them. And they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple before he beckoned unto them and remained speechless. Came to pass that as soon as the days of its ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house. those days his wife Elizabeth conceived and hid herself five months saying, thus hath the Lord dealt with me in the days wherein he looked on me to take away my reproach among men.

We talked in Sunday school about how Mary, a young woman that’s never had a relationship with a man could have a child and how would you like to behave with the explain that’s sticking out in your tummy out there and you’re not married. And explaining it to mom and dad or to your neighbors. You know, God sometimes puts us in very strange predicaments. He produces a lot of problems in our lives. It was so bad that even Joseph had to go into Egypt a fear of his life.

Who produced that problem? Oh, God did. See, God doesn’t mind producing problems in your life because he knows how to solve the problems in your life. That’s easy when you understand that. This one you don’t think he does or he will. So Elizabeth is going to have a young man. She’s going to have a young man. Now as you go down through this, I want you to look there in verse 57. Verse 57, the birth of John the Baptist.

John the Baptist. Now Elizabeth, full time, came that she should be delivered. She brought forth the Son. And her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her. Isn’t that wonderful that Lisa was standing by her? They believed her story. This is Elizabeth. How does an old woman explain to somebody, I got a child, you mean from that old man?

You realize just all the problems that can be created by the Lord doing these miraculous things? Anyway, he says here in verse 58, and her neighbors and her cousins heard how the Lord had showed great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her, and it came to pass that on the eighth day they came to circumcise the child. And they shall call him Zechariah after the name of his father. And his mother answered and said, not so. He shall be called John.

Nobody in the family was called John. Daddy was Zechariah. My name is Jakey. I haven’t figured out what my kids never called their kids janky. I Was with a guy yesterday, and I says I’m glad to meet you. My name is Jakey Just looked at me. I said well you’ve heard of Yankee Doodle. Oh, yeah. I said that was my dad He did what y’all did. He just laughed it How did I ever get stuck with that? I’ll never know when I get to heaven.

I’m gonna say Lord why But in verse 61 and they said unto her there is none of thy kindred that is called by this name They made signs to his father how he would have him called and he asked for a writing table and he wrote saying his name is John and they marveled all and his mouth was opened immediately. Remember he’s been his mouth been shut for nine months. There was a little piece of quite a run house.

At least he didn’t have to do much explaining because he couldn’t talk. Verse 65, fear came on all that dwelt round about them and all these sayings were and noise abroad throughout all the healed country of Judea, and all they that heard them lay them up in their hearts, saying, what manner of child shall this be? What kind of a child is Zachariah gonna have here? What kind of a child is this gonna be? You could say the same thing about Jesus, what kind of a child is this going to be?

And so it says in verse 67, his father, Zachariah, was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied. That means he was controlled by the Holy Spirit. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he had visited and redeemed his people. Remember now, he had promised this over and over again in the Old Testament. What is happening right now is simply the fulfillment of many scriptures. Why is it always fulfilled and fulfilled? And it is written, because we are hard headed and stiff night.

We wanna know how do I know this is true? because they had the Old Testament Scriptures. The last book in the Old Testament was written over 400 years before this happened. 400 years of silence. So all those Old Testament books go way back. And there it is. It’s written in those scriptures. And they still have those scriptures today. When Jesus came, he quoted many of those Old Testament scriptures. How did they do that in advance? Because God told them, This is what will happen.

This is what will happen. This is what will happen. And they wrote it. They could not make it happen. And the one that wrote it couldn’t fulfill what they had wrote. It was always far enough out of their reach that they couldn’t manipulate things. Isn’t God wonderful? But God is patient and He allowed in His perfect timing. For this whole couple, I have this miraculous child. And this child was going to be different from a lot of other children too.

He only lives for one reason. He’s just to be a voice of one crying in the wilderness. As a forerunner of Jesus Christ, to get people ready, the Lord is coming behind me. And so He would baptize in water if they believed the preaching that He gave. That is that they should believe on Him from God have sent. They weren’t to believe on Him. He wasn’t anything great. In other words, he says, I must decrease and he must increase.

Look what he has here. He now goes into the Old Testament and he shows things that you and I, if we read them, we may not see it. But remember, even when Simeon had seen him, he says, behold the salvation of the Lord. Talking about a person, he is the salvation of the Lord. The redeemer of the Lord. here is your notice in verse 69 and hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David.

Because he says in verse 17, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began, that we should be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all that hate us to perform the mercy promised to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, the old which is swear to our Father Abraham, no, with everything God promised God fulfills. And yet look how many years down the road it took. A long time.

And now it’s happening just like God says. And also you find in the book of Luke in chapter 19 where he talks about that God says because of your rebellion, because you did not believe that Jesus Christ was God who came to visit the house of Israel. He says the country of Jerusalem the temple the wall is all going to be destroyed And it happened just like he said it would Just a coincidence. No, this is God. Everybody wants to know if there is a real true and living God Why don’t God reveal himself?

He did He told you how he would do it in advance Wouldn’t that be the best way to do it? If he just showed up right now and you say I’m God God? What if I told you I was? Would you believe that? Why? I mean, don’t I lie, God? You aren’t incorporating it all. But with the Lord, see, He was told exactly He had to be of the line of David, of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem.

All these are prophecies in advance. And He says, before He came on the scene, John the Baptist would come on the scene and be the voice crying in the wilderness and talking about the salvation of the Lord from Isaiah chapter 40. Coincidence? Not a coincidence. It’s also found in the book of Malachi. But notice, he makes a statement down here in verse 74 that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life and that thou child shall be called the prophet of the highest.

For thou shalt go before the face of the ill or the the Lord. See the scriptures keep talking about Jesus Christ being God. You cannot deny that. And when it says in the Old Testament in the book of Isaiah and chapter nine and verse six and the government shall be upon his shoulder and he shall be called counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the prince of peace. Jesus is called God, the everlasting father. How can you have an everlasting father if you don’t have an everlasting son?

So if you’re going to be an everlasting father, you had to have an everlasting son. Jesus Christ existed before this world came into being. It says, all things were made by him, and without him was not anything made that was made. So that means nobody made him. He’s always existed. You see, it’s hard for people to understand how God could have always been. But can you fathom the idea that you will always be? Just think from this point on, you can’t explain before, but you will always be.

And you’re going to be somewhere. That’s why I’m so glad that I know I’m going to be with the Lord. I’m going to have eternal life and I’m happy. But notice these three things here. There’s about three things mentioned here real quick. I just want to show you this. The verse 77, he’s going to take and say, to give knowledge of salvation, down in verse 79, to give light, and also the last part of 79, to guide our feet, to give knowledge of salvation.

See, people need to understand that when he’s talking about this one that comes after me, he is our salvation. He is our righteousness. He is our wisdom. He is our sanctification. Whatever we need, He is it. Have you ever seen in the back of cars, I always say, Jesus is the answer, Jesus is the answer, and you think, well, what was the question? But Jesus is the answer, but you gotta know what the question is. You see, to go to heaven, He is the way.

When it comes to what is truth, He is the truth. What about eternal life? He is the eternal life. That’s who He is. He is the answer to everything. He is the solution to all the problems in this world. Did you know that all the problems we’re having in America, he is the answer. And if there’s anything the world today doesn’t want, and majority of the people in America don’t want, it’s Christ. And yet he’s the solution. Because what if everybody in America would just trust Christ as their Savior and really understand it, really believe it, and started loving each other, the way we should and treating each other the way we should?

Daddy’s would love their moms, the wives. And the wives, they might love their kids. And nobody rebag us. And stop all this divorce and all this shacking up and everything else is going on. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of our politicians were honest? I know, that’s asking too much. This is why Jesus Christ could not come today and to be born in Washington, D.C. because they would have trouble finding three wise men. And we’ll move right along. I could go further than happen on the internet.

But in verse 79, to give light to them that said in darkness. You see, there’s those that are in the nation of Israel, see there in verse 77, unto his people. Then in verse 79, to those that were in darkness and don’t have the truth. You see, Israel had an advantage because they had the word of God. They had the prophets. But there’s others that don’t have a clue. And sometimes I love taking the gospel to those that have never heard it before.

And when they hear it and they understand how they can have eternal life and know they’re going to heaven when they die, man, they just kind of light light up because they see the light. And it makes so much sense to them to hear it, to see it, believe it. And the last part of verse 79 says, says, and to guide our feeds, see, after you know the Lord. Did you know that if you would let the Lord guide your steps, did you know it leads to peace and joy and happiness?

In this life, so many people are in such great turmoil and such despair. If they only knew the Lord and loved the Lord and walk with the Lord, You’d be surprised what God can do. And guess what he says in verse 80 now. And the child grew, talking about John DeBantis, whack strong in spirit was in the desert till the day of his showing under Israel. Now this is what John DeBantis was to do. Now take your Bible and look in the gospel of John.

The gospel of John chapter one. Gospel of John in chapter one. He is from verse 6 to verse 15 talking about Christ the light of the world. He is the light of the world. Verse 29 and 30, he is the Lamb of God. Who said so? Well, that John fella. Now, the one that wrote this is not the same John. This is John the Apostle John the Beloved. This is John who lived a long time and wrote also the book of 1st and 2nd, 3rd John in Revelation.

And so that’s a different John. He was a young man that leaned on Christ. This John the Baptist. John the Baptist. See there in verse 5, there was a man sent from God whose name was John. Now the ministry begins. What was the purpose of John’s ministry? Well, it was talking about the Lord. You see, what I’m talking to you about right now, this is really the Christmas story. The Christmas story isn’t just about his birth. The Christmas story is about his death more than his birth.

Believe it or not. 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 toll-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, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. Everything God promised God fulfilled. And yet, look how many years down the road it took. A long time. And now it’s happening just like God says. And also you find in the book of Luke in chapter 19, where he talks about that God says, because of your rebellion, because you did not believe that Jesus Christ was God, who came to visit the house of Israel.

He says, the country of Jerusalem, the temple, the wall is all going to be destroyed. And it happened just like he said it would. Just a coincidence knowing this is God. Because everybody wants to know if there is a real true and living God, why don’t God reveal Himself? He did. He told you how he would do it in advance. Wouldn’t that be the best way to do it? If he just showed up right now and he’s, hey I’m God.

I told you I was. Would you believe that? Why? I mean, don’t I like God? Don’t incorporate in it all. But with the Lord, see, He was told exactly He had to be of the line of David, of the tribe of Judah, born in Bethlehem. All these are prophecies in advance. And He says, before He came on the scene, John the Baptist would come on the scene and be the voice crying in the wilderness and talking about the salvation of the Lord from Isaiah chapter 40.

Coincidence? Not a coincidence. It’s also found in the book of Malachi. But notice, he makes a statement down here in verse 74 that he would grant unto us that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life. and that thou child shall be called the prophet of the highest. For thou shall go before the face of the ill or the the Lord.”

See the scriptures keep talking about Jesus Christ being God. You cannot deny that. And when it says in the Old Testament in the book of Isaiah and chapter 9 and verse 6, and the government shall be up on his shoulder and he shall be called counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting father, the Prince of Peace, Jesus is God, the everlasting father. How can you have an everlasting father if you don’t have an everlasting son? So if you’re gonna be an everlasting father you had to have an everlasting son.

Jesus Christ existed before this world came into being. It says all things were made by Him and without Him was not even made that was made. So that means nobody made him. He’s always existed. You see, it’s hard for people to understand how God could have always been, but can you fathom the idea that you will always be? Just think from this point on, you can’t explain before, but you will always be, and you’re going to be somewhere. That’s why I’m so glad that I know I’m going to be with the Lord.

I’m going to have eternal life and I have it. But notice these three things here. There’s about three things mentioned here real quick. I just want to show you this. The verse 77. He’s going to take and say to give knowledge of salvation down in verse 79 to give light and also the last part of 79 to guide our feet. To give knowledge of salvation. See people need to understand that when he’s talking about this one that comes after me, he is our salvation.

He is our righteousness. He is our wisdom. He is our sanctification. Whatever we need, He is it. Have you ever seen in the back of cars, you always say, Jesus is the answer. Jesus is the answer. You think, well, what was the question? But Jesus is the answer, but you’ve got to know what the question is. You see, to go to heaven, He is the way. When it comes to what is truth, he is the truth. What about eternal life?

He is eternal life. That’s who he is. He is the answer to everything. He is the solution to all the problems in this world. Did you know that all the problems we’re having in America? He is the answer. And if there’s anything the world today doesn’t want, and majority of the people in America don’t want, it’s Christ. And yet he’s the solution. Because what if there’s a problem? everybody in America would just trust Christ as their Savior and really understand it, really believe it and started loving each other the way we should and treating each other the way we should.

Daddies would love their moms, the wives, and the wives, they would invite love their kids and nobody rebigures and stop all of this divorces and all this shackin’ up and everything else is goin’ on. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of our politicians were honest? I know, that’s asking too much. This is why Jesus Christ could not come today and to be born in Washington DC because they would have trouble finding three wise men. And we’ll move right along.

I could go further than happen on them. But in verse 79 to give light to them that said in darkness, you see, there’s those that are in the nation of Israel, see there in verse 77 unto his people. Then in verse 79 to those that were in darkness and don’t have the truth. See Israel had an advantage because they had the word of God. They had the prophets. But there’s others that don’t have a clue. And sometimes I love taking the gospel to those that have never heard it before.

And when they hear it and they understand how they can have eternal life and know they’re going to heaven when they die, man, they just kind of light light up because they see the light and it makes so much sense to them. To hear it, to see it, believe it. And the last part of verse 79 says, and to guide our feet. See, after you know the Lord, did you know that if you would let the Lord guide to your steps, did you know it leads to peace and joy and happiness?

In this life, so many people are in such great turmoil and such despair, if they only knew the Lord and loved the Lord and walked with the Lord, You’d be surprised what God can do. And guess what he says in verse 80 now. And the child grew, talking about John DeBantis, whack strong in spirit was in the desert till the day of his showing under Israel. Now this is what John DeBantis was to do. Now take your Bible and look in the Gospel of John, the Gospel of John, chapter one.

Gospel of John in chapter one. He is from verse 6 to verse 15, talking about Christ, the light of the world. He is the light of the world. Verse 29 and 30, He is the Lamb of God. Who said so? Well, that John fella. Now the one that wrote this is not the same John. This is John the Apostle John the Beloved. This is John who lived a long time and wrote also the book of 1st and 2nd, 3rd John in Revelation.

And so that’s a different John. He was a young man that leaned on Christ. This John the Baptist. John the Baptist. See there in verse 5, there was a man sent from God whose name was John. Now the ministry begins. What was the purpose of John’s ministry? it was talking about the Lord. You see, what I’m talking to you about right now, this is really the Christmas story. The Christmas story isn’t just about his birth. The Christmas story is about his death, more than his birth.

Believe it or not. Because see, if he was just born, that’s not the end of it. All you know is a baby was born. But by his death on the cross and his resurrection from the dead, Now you and I know. Otherwise he would have been Justin if he never came out of that grave. It’s the death, barrel and resurrection of Christ. That’s what we depend upon to get us to have him. I’m not trusting a baby that was born in a crib, but I know it was Jesus and I believe that with all my heart.

But if he had not done anything else, it wouldn’t have saved his soul. You see, he has to live and go under all the testings of the law and earned the right to be our near kinsmen so that he could redeem us. But look what he says. In verse 6, there was a man sent from God whose name was John. The same came for a witness. To bear witness of the light. He was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. And he says, to bear witness of the light that get this, and you are on the line.

Why did John do what he did? And what message did he have? What was the purpose of his life? Get this. All men through him Christ might be leave. That was John the Baptist’s message. So he preached to get everybody to believe on Jesus Christ. Isn’t that what we’re supposed to be doing today? See, the message hasn’t changed. It’s still the same. And the reason we preach that people can see the light is so that they might believe that he is the Christ, the Son of the living God.

And that by believing you may have life through his name. That was the purpose of the whole book of John. Now look what else he says in verse 8. He was not that light. So you and I are not the light. He is the light. And while he was here, he said, I am the light of the world, but whenever he left, he says, now, ye are the lights of the world. And you and I are the salt of the earth and the light.

So we’re supposed to let people see the Lord through the gospel message. You see, the gospel message itself is a portrait of God. You cannot see God, but the only way you can see God is through his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ has revealed him, has manifested him. And so whenever we give the gospel, we’re giving you a portrait of the face of the son of God. So that you by hearing the gospel will know what God is like.

Without the gospel, you can’t see God. Because the gospel lets us see a lot of things, not only about ourselves, but about Him. You see, whenever you tell somebody the gospel story and simply put, it goes like this. There’s four points of that refers to the man, to us, and there’s three that refers to the Lord. And this helps us to see what we’re like and what God is like, because unless you understand yourself, you don’t understand God. Because you see, you have to see how bad you are to see how good he is.

This hand represents you and me. And the wallet represents sin. We all have sin on us. But we don’t see how bad that is. It’s not that bad. Of course, when everybody’s doing it, we’re not that bad. So God gave the law so that we can kind of compare. Oh, God is righteous and He showed me the law and the law says thou shalt not thou shalt not thou shalt not and we did. So we see how bad we are because of the law of God and God says the wages of sin breaking his law of perfection and his righteousness we of all sin and come short of the glory of God.

So the pay for that is eternal separation from God in hell. And the Bible says you and I cannot earn eternal life, we cannot work our way to heaven, we cannot save ourselves. All of that is bad news. I’m a sinner, that’s bad, gotta go to hell, that’s bad, gotta be perfectly go to heaven, that’s bad, can’t earn my weight, that’s bad, boy, there’s a lot of bad news. But when I understood that Jesus tries who is God in the flesh, who had no sinful nature, couldn’t sin, would live a perfect law under the same law, but he never broke a law.

No one could find any fault in him. He was that holy thing that was born into the world. And so Jesus Christ had no sin, and he lived for 30 years without any sin. He said, who convinces me of sin no one could. Only witnesses against him were false witnesses. So Jesus Christ had no sin, therefore he didn’t have to die. But because he loves us, he took all the sin of all the world, and he paid for it on the cross.

Came back from the dead and said that if you were life, we would believe he did it for us. He would put this payment to our account, and we go to heaven on what he did. See Christ coming into the world and dying for the sins of the world, that’s good news. Coming back from the dead, that’s good news. If we simply believe he did it for us, I believe alone, that’s good news. And I can know I have eternal life and know I’m going to heaven, that’s good news.

That’s why the gospel is good news and that’s why we want to give it. But you’ll notice when he says in verse eight, he was not that light but was sent to bear witness of the light. That was the true light which light of every man that cometh into the world and he was in the world and the world was made by him and the world knew him not. Then he says in verse 11, he came unto his own and his own received him not.

But as many as, what he says, as many as received him to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. Give what he says. Anyone who will simply believe it and trust him can have eternal life, can be born into his family. Because look at the next verse. In verse 13 says, which were born, get this, not a blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man.

You see, your new birth, you have to be born again, to be born into God’s family. You can’t wish it to be done. You can’t will it to be done. You can’t work it to be done. It’s only by God. The new birth isn’t something of the old birth, making it happen. What that means is you don’t get the new birth and get to become a child of God and go to heaven when you die because of something you can do.

It’s nothing you can do is an ongoing thing for the rest of your life. If I’m good enough and if I work hard, if I try my best, no. I was talking to a lady last night and I asked her, I said, man, where are you going to go in your dying? She said, oh, I’m going to heaven. I said, are you sure? I am positive 100% sure I know that I’m going to heaven when I die. Now you would think that she probably knows the Lord, right?

I says, is there anything you could do that could keep you from going to heaven? Lots of things. I says, is it possible you could do those things? Well, of course it’s possible. I said, how can you sit here and tell me, you know, positive, again, a shout out, you’re going to go to heaven when you die. And yet there’s a possibility you could do all these bad things and still go to hell. Can you see my reasoning? But you know, there’s some people that are blind, they cannot.

See, if I’m really trusting Christ as my Savior, He can give me eternal life today and keep me saved. If He can forgive me of everything I’ve already done, why can’t He already forgive me for the one I’m going to do? He did it for that way, why can’t He do it that way? I mean, if it’s free, it’s still free. Have you ever heard somebody on the TV and they’re advertising on them? Absolutely free! Absolutely free! Oh, you got to do is buy these two tires and these two tires are absolutely free.

Try going in there and getting those those two tires. Try it. Well, they are free if you’ll buy… No, no, no, no, no. You said they’re absolutely free. I think some people think that’s the way God is with the gospel. When God says free, I think He means free. Nothing. You don’t have to earn it. You don’t deserve it because grace is just the opposite of deserving it. Some people can’t believe that, you mean all you got to do is trust Christ as your Savior and you’ll give eternal life and you can know that you’re going to heaven and your dying.

Well yes, you can’t tell me you can just trust Christ as your Savior and go out here and be bad and do all these sins and still go to heaven when you die. Why can’t I tell you that? It’s the truth. I don’t have a right to change what God says just because I don’t want people to live in sin. I believe that and I try to live as God as I know how. I believe that when you trust Christ as you’re saving, you become a child of God.

I just also believe that if you’re a child of God, you ought to live like it, but not to get to heaven, but because you’re going to heaven. I’ve got three children, the hard way, one wife. My three children born into my family. They’re always my kids. When they do something wrong, I don’t say, get out of here and go to hell. I’m through it. No, no, no. I say, come on in. Come on in. And then I show them how much I I love them.

But I love them anymore. I’ll kill them. When you trust Christ as your Savior, you become a child of God. And when God becomes your Father and you become His child, He won’t ever cast you out, never lose you for no reason. But because He’s your Father, He will chase and discipline you. He will correct you. But He can’t send you to hell. I couldn’t go to hell if I tried. I haven’t tried. But I can’t go there. to heaven is the best news in the world.

But look what he says in verse 14. And the word was made flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. And this is the word that’s mentioned all the way back in the book of Isaiah in chapter 40. Because He says, all we are like grass of the field and we’re all going to die and fade away. But the word is coming and He lives forever.

And whenever you read in the book of Peter and talks about it in chapter 1 and verse 22 and 23, It makes a statement that the Word of God, we are born by the Word of God which liveth and abideth forever. Verse 15 says, John bear witness of him, cried saying that this was he of whom I speak. He that cometh after me is preferred before me. And get this and you ought to on the line these words, for he was before me.

a man, John, testify in that this man that he’s prophesying that’s coming right after him was referred before him because he was before me. That’s why they had a problem with when Jesus says, your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day. And he said, what do you mean? You’re not even 50 years old. How can you say that Abraham rejoiced to see your day when you’re not even 50 years old. Before Abraham was, I am. Jesus Christ, he is the Lord.

He is God. So when you reject Christ, you’re rejecting God to create the heavens and the earth. Because remember, he made the world. See there in verse one, just look at it real quickly. In the beginning was the Word. And the Word was with God and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God and all things were made by him or without him was not anything made that was Well anyway, look there in chapter 1 and verse 18, no man have seen God at any time.

The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. Jesus Christ reveals God. I used to make the state be known. People know, prove to me there’s a God. What am I supposed to do? Get up there and get a holy God and pull him down and say, there he is. I have come to the conclusion that every time I do this, I am reaching up there and bringing God down for people to see Him.

And whenever you see that Jesus Christ was the Son of God, and you see that He died on the cross and paid for all of your sins. And when you see that He came back again from the dead, and when you see how good He is to give you as a free gift everlasting life. When you see all of that, you’ve seen God. Because you see, it’s the story that lets you see, I’m a sinner, I’m wicked, I’m undone, I can’t save myself, I’m condemned, I’m hopelessly lost.

And look what Christ has done for me. He shows me mercy, I don’t get to go to hell. He shows me grace, I get to go to heaven. He shows me forgiveness. I don’t pay for any of my sins. You see, I wouldn’t know any of that if it wasn’t for the gospel story. So you’re seeing what God thinks about sin. You’re seeing what God thinks about you. He loves you so much that he was willing to do all of this for us.

And then you get to see how perfect he is and right to see is and how holy he is. The love of God. The power of God. You see, whenever you hear the story, you’re getting a picture of God. And what messes up the picture is when you try to add human works to the message. When you try to add to what God does, it’s like taking a rim, Brant, and you want to add some finishing touches on it.

I think it will look better for a little bit of this. And you say, well, I think, oh, yeah, all you got to do is trust Christ to Savior, but you also got to go to church. you got to get some money, 20% inflation. And you got to do all these good deeds. See, when you start adding on like that, you’re ruining the image of God because you distort the gospel. The gospel in its purity gives you the clearest picture you’ll ever see of God Almighty.

And then whenever it comes over here in John chapter 1, look at verse 29, The next day John seeeth Jesus coming unto him, and he says, Behold the Lamb of God, which Take of the way the sin of the world. In verse 30, this is He. Of whom I said, after me, come with a man which is befurred before me, for and he says it again, he was before me. So here’s John the Baptist down at the river, he’s baptizing and Jesus Christ shows up.

And so he says to the crowd, Behold the Lamb of God, which take of the way the sin of the world. Do you think John the Baptist understood what he was saying? This was the Lamb of God, that God sent into the world to be the sacrifice of the sins of the whole world. That’s the only way our sins can be taken away. He did it for us. Best news in all the world. Look at me just one more time.

You and me, sin. We’ve all sinned. We’ve all come short of God’s perfection, but he loves us. He loves you. And he sent his son Jesus Christ, God’s son, end to the world because he loves us. He hates our sin because it separates us from him. So Jesus Christ took the sin, paid for it on the cross and came back from the dead. He said, if you will believe it, that I did that for you, I will put this payment to your account.

And you get to go to heaven on what he did. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son. The whosoever, believe it than him, should not perish but have everlasting life. Will you believe he did it for you? Let’s pray, shall we? If you’re here this morning and you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, would you just talk to the Lord right now and say something simple like this? Nobody can hear your thoughts. You can’t make a mistake.

Only the true and living God can hear you. He knows your mind. Why don’t you say something like this, Lord? I don’t understand it all. I got questioned. I even got some doubts. I know I’m not perfect. And I heard that Jesus died and paid for my sins. And the best I know how, right now, I will accept Jesus Christ as my Savior. I believe He died for me. And friend, if you will believe that, And you will trust him.

God says he would give you right now as a free gift ever lasting life Would you trust him? I’m gonna ask in just a moment for a raise of hand raising your hand doesn’t save you It just lets me know that you understood what I said And you’re saying yes preacher that made sense to me and this morning I’m trusting Christ to take me to heaven whenever I die and Friend I’d like to know it and I like to have prayer for you But this is what I preach for I want to be a help.

I want to be a blessing. And if you will trust Christ as your Savior this morning, and you wouldn’t mind letting me know, so I can have prayer for you. Would you just slip your hand very quickly and put a right back down? Anyone at all? Just slip it up real quick. Yes, God bless you, sir. God bless you, man. Anyone else? Just you can put it down. If you trust Christ right now as your Savior, God saves you right now and gives you eternal life.

Father, we thank you so much for those that indicated by an uplifted hand that they would trust Jesus Christ as their Savior. And by doing so they become your child. You’ll never cast them out, never lose them. That when they leave they can say, I know I’m going to heaven because this morning I trusted Christ as my only hope of going to heaven. Well we just ask your blessings upon each one here because we want more people to trust your Savior and we want to be used.

And we want to do it through music and through the message. In Christ and we pray, Amen. You have been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 toll-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, 33-6-3-4. Our Sunday morning services begin at 10-30 and at 6 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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. your Bible and turn to the book of Ephesians. The book of Ephesians, the book of Ephesians, there’s a portion of the scripture I want you to see because when you take the book of Ephesians in the New Testament, there’s a lot of similarities between the book of Joshua in the Old Testament. See, in the Old Testament, it was a story about victory, fighting the battle, winning the territory, conquering the land, God years in Joshua.

And there it talks about the angel of the Lord appeared with a sword in his hand. Well, when you come to book of Ephesians, this is where the Christian learns to fight a spiritual warfare. So these two books, one of the Old Testament, one of the New Testament, kind of help you to understand each other because the one is physical, this one is spiritual, but you learn how to fight the spiritual battles that were in, how to serve a Lord.

You may not know this, but one of the greatest things that will help you in serving the Lord is understanding the Lord’s supper, why we do it, and how that if you will faithfully do what the Lord asked us to do concerning the Lord’s Supper, did you know that you will stay a strong Christian? You’ll keep strong in your Christian life. If you’ll always think about what it means and why we should do it, examining yourself and applying it and how to look back and forward and inward and upward and so forth, it will help you in your Christian walk.

Now here in the book of Ephesians in chapter 6, look in verse 10. Here he talks about the the warfare that we are going to have and that which we need. In verse 10, finally my brethren, be weak in the Lord. No, no, be strong. Did you know being strong in the Lord is your choice? You can be strong or you can be weak. Remember at the Lord’s Supper, when he talks about because of their disobedient, he says many are sick and weak.

So being strong or being weak is a choice for the believer. And if you’ll do the things that will make you strong, you’ll be strong. If you do that, which makes you weak, you will be weak. So he makes a statement here in verse 10, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. Strong in the Lord. You and I know, and we covered this last week, God is invisible. Right? God is invisible. Now, let’s just pretend.

Peter, do me a favor. Go over to that wall and just stand there for a second. Now, I want you to know that Peter Amato, he is now, he’s the Lord. Okay? But he is invisible. He’s invisible. You can’t see him. Okay, and because you can’t see Him, you don’t know where He is. But see, I can see Him. I got special glasses. I can see Him. I know where He is. So therefore, He’s not invisible to me. You can’t see Him.

You don’t know where He is. He could be here. He could be 10,000 miles away. Or maybe He’s light years away. I mean where is heaven anyway? But he’s invisible and we can’t see him. So how close am I to the Lord? Well, it depends on where is he at? Remember, I can’t get any closer to the Lord depending on if he’s on earth or he’s up there. Because I’m here and I can’t leave earth yet. Peter, come over here halfway.

Lo and behold, I am getting closer to the presence of the Lord. He’s right there. You see, sometimes in our Christian life, we think that God, because He’s invisible, He’s way out there somewhere floating in the cosmos, sitting on a throne up there on the other side of the galaxy, you know, light years away. Well, if that’s true, there’s a problem. And I’ll show you in just a second. Come up here and stand right here. Because he’s invisible, the Lord could be this close to me.

Couldn’t he? He could be this close to me. And I wouldn’t know it because I can’t see him. You and I are supposed to live our lives as though the Lord is right there with you. and he said, I’ll never leave you and never forsake you. Say that. See there? I told you, say that. So if you’ll never leave me and never forsake me, wherever I go, I can’t see him. He’s there. So I don’t know about you, but I like living in the presence of the Lord, believing that he is right there beside me.

All right, thank you. God is invisible. Now, if He’s invisible, think for a moment, there would be no advantage, no purpose in saying that God is invisible if He is a thousand light years away. Why? I couldn’t see Him anyway. If He wasn’t invisible, I wouldn’t be able to see. Because Now see, I can’t see that far. I can barely see to the back of the room. So telling us that he is invisible must be because he is close enough to be seen.

He’s close enough to be seen if he allowed you to see him. I believe the Lord is close by. I believe also that the armies of the Lord are all around us. I believe also that there are angels in this room. Why? Because God’s Word says so. I like that myself. Take your Bible and turn to the book of Acts, Acts in chapter 7. Acts in chapter 7, somebody had just finished preaching a tremendous message, tremendous sermon. And because he preached such a great sermon, they were going to kill him.

That’s That’s why I do everything I can, not to preach a real super sermon. I just want to be mediocre, lest somebody get carried away. In verse 54 it says, when they heard these things, they were cut to the heart and they gnashed on him with their teeth, but he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And verse 56, and said, Behold, I see the heavens open and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

Now, wherever God was, wherever heaven is, is it on the other side of the world in which we live? Or is it really in this world where we are? See, that’s interesting. Yeah, I know it’ll blow your mind. When every says, and I saw heaven open and I saw the Lord, did he see him with the natural eye? Did you realize that if he saw him with the natural eye, but that’s better than the Hubble telescope been inside of your eyes?

Not only could he see wherever God is, if it’s past he saw wherever heaven was. But since this other world is like an invisible world, we can’t see it. What if it’s closer than you think? We had been translated from the darkness, the kingdom of darkness, according to Colossians chapter 1, and translated into the kingdom of his dear son, the kingdom of light. Well, when did that happen? When I trusted Christ as my Savior. But I never left here, but I’ve been translated into another kingdom.

You see, I’m part of two kingdoms. One, the kingdom of darkness, my old flesh birth, but God gave me a new birth born of God. Now, I am living in this world, but God is invisible, the spirit world invisible. We can’t see. When Christ was here, did Christ cast out demons? When others could not see or hear, he did. But where were they? Right here. And there’s things that happened that Jesus could see in here and know and understand that you and I would have a big problem with.

So I look at this and I think in verse 15, they stone Stephen’s calling upon God saying, Lord Jesus received my Spirit, knowing that He could see Him and God can hear Him was because His eyesight improved or God wasn’t far away at all and He just simply opened up the windows of heaven and He could see. You know what I thought about one time? Let me just throw this out to you. It’ll knock your socks off. We talk about the Holy City, the Holy City, 1500 mile high wind long.

Big city. May God have solid gold. Oils of Jasper, streets of Pearl and all that said, gates of Pearl. What if it’s just right up there? What if it’s just right up there? But you can’t see it because it’s invisible. What we do in our mind is because we can’t see any of these things, it’s in another who world someplace, but God has the ability to open up the windows of heaven. How far? Where was it?

See, I look at some of these things and I think there’s more than meets the eye. So I want you to take your Bible and look in 2 Kings, turning the Bible to 2 Kings. In the Old Testament, 2 Kings in chapter 6. There’s a little story here that the king of Syria, in verse 8, ward against Israel. But every time he would cancel his service about what he was going to do, the children of Israel would respond in advance.

So he called him and said, hey, look, we got a problem. There’s somebody here’s a spy, somebody’s telling them what we’re going to do and where we’re going to be. So he says in verse 11, therefore the heart of the king of Syria was in short trouble for this thing. He called a servant instead of them, will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel? Hey, somebody’s for the wrong king. Somebody’s on the wrong side.

Well, what was wrong? Because the man of God, Elisha, knew what was going to happen before it took place. He knew where he was going to be, and he would warn them in Israel and lo and behold, it’s just blowing this guy’s mind. He thinks he’s got a spy on looking for 12. And one of his servants said, none my Lord O King, but Elisha, the prophet. That is in Israel. He telleth the king of Israel, the words that thou speaketh and thy bedchamber.

In other words, here is a man of God, Elisha. He’s telling them what you’re thinking in your bedchamber. So they So they said, well, let’s go get Elisha. So the army gets together and they’re going to see Elisha. Look in verse 13. And he said, go and spy where he is, that I may send and fetch him. And it was told him, said, hey, he’s in a place called Dotham. Verse 14, therefore it sent he thither, horses and chariots and a great host, and they came by night.

Encompest the city about. When the servant of the man of God was risen early and gone forth behold and host, compass the city, both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas my master, how shall we do? Mine would be what shall we do? Or this is along the line of how then shall we live? Hey, we got a problem here. We’re surrounded by the army. of Syria and they got horses and chariots and were surrounded, what are we going to do?

The man of God saw something that his servant did not see. And look what he says. In verse 16, and he answered fear not for, and you get the they that be with us are more than they that be with them. And Elisha prayed and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw and behold the mountain was full of horses and cherries of fire round the body of Elisha.

There was another army there. There was another army there. An invisible army. them very same mountains, horses, chariots, an army. They were already there, but the servant of Elijah didn’t see them. Now Elijah could see. So this protection that God has for us, is it that they were in another world somewhere? They were right here in this world on the very same mountains where they were. And God simply made him visible to the man’s eyes. It would probably scare you to death if God revealed, cause you to see a lot of things that’s going on in this room right now in the spiritual realm.

God says that the prince of the power of the air who is the devil, rule of spiritual wickedness. He has a hierarchy or a chain of command. And so there’s battles going on. You read the book of Daniel and you’ll find out that there were times when Daniel would pray and he would take sometimes three weeks for his answer to his prayer, there, because there was a spiritual war going on behind the scenes. But it wasn’t happening up there somewhere, way off.

It’s right here. Did you realize that in the book of Isaiah when it says in chapter 6, verse 1, in the day that King Yuziah died, I saw the Lord. And I I wonder now did God just give him the vision to see something that was right there with these these horses and these cherries They were there they were right there. It’s just they can’t see them and Can those that were visible? Just ride right through those that were invisible You remember when Christ was here did not he after his resurrection Go right through walls.

He went right to a wall appear and disappear at will. When that scares your death. Did you know that man can’t think of anything greater than what’s already revealed in the Word of God? This stuff is potent. Open your eyes. Now we are supposed to do it by faith, believing what God says. See, I believe that the Holy Spirit indwells me. Not because I feel the spirit, but because the Word of God tells me so.

When I believe that he’ll never leave me and never forsake me, I believe it because that’s faith. I take God in his Word. God’s Word says so. When I hear that, you know, we’re supposed to be in the presence of the Lord. And when we have the Lord’s Supper, is the Lord supposed to be present? There’s something else going on that we don’t see and understand. You can’t see everything that happens. So being invisible has no meaning if it’s a person is light years away because I wouldn’t be able to see him anyway.

Why tell me if they’re invisible? If Peter was 10 miles away from here, I still wouldn’t be able to see him. But to say he’s invisible is for a reason because he must be close by. And he’s invisible so that we can’t see. There’s things that God doesn’t want us to see, but he wants us to believe and take him by faith. So whenever I talk to the Lord, I used to think my prayers had this zillion-mile marks that they had to go on.

You know, something. Wherever he got in on the other side of all the light years, you know, my prayers don’t have to make a trip because the one I’m talking to lives within me. He lives within me. He knows my thoughts. I can talk to the Lord. And since that you’re in the presence of the Lord. When you leave and you kind of look up into the sky a little bit, Just picture for a moment, pretend that right up there, out of your eyesight, says a throne, and there’s a God, and he’s watching.

And whenever Stephen was stoned, he looked up and he was able to see, and Jesus is standing up. Do you believe that everything that happens might have only fathers watching? Did you know that it might help you to think more carefully about the things you say and do when you know that well he’s right there, he’s right there watching me? Sometimes we think out of sight, out of mine. Do you believe the Lord is close to you walking with you?

And we’re supposed to live like we’re in the presence of the Lord. I think so. Go back to the book of Ephesians, the book of Ephesians. And look there in chapter 6. And look what he says in verse 11. Now you’ll also find part of this battle that went on in chapter 2 of the book of Ephesians. We’re time passed, you walked according to the course of this world. And by nature did those things that are rebellious. Abbot God, who was rich in mercy, saved us by grace, and delivered us from the kingdom of darkness and planted us into the kingdom of his dear son.

So he makes a statement here in verse 11, put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. That means the devil is real, the battle it is real. And I just want to show you this before I forget, it’s a wonderful portion of scripture. Look there in chapter 10 of 2 Corinthians. Hold your place there in Ephesians, but look there quickly. 2 Corinthians in chapter 10. And notice the battle that Christians are in.

See, we do not battle with battle with hand grenades and, you know, vazookas and tanks and, you know, ours is a different kind of a battle. You see there in verse 3, for though we walk in the flesh in a body, we do not war after the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds, casting down imaginations in every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing into captivity, get this every thought to the obedience of Christ.

We want to fight a battle for the minds of man. We have to win him here. We don’t win him here. We can’t win him. All of your success and all your failures are begins in the mind. Your actions are a byproduct of the way that you think. You want to raise the level of your life than raise the caliber of your thoughts because it’ll be in direct ratio. So the more you learn about the things of God your life will take care of itself.

But our battle is a mental battle. It’s a spiritual battle. That’s why God wants us to learn spiritual truth, the word of God, that helps you and I to know how to think because if the devil can defeat you, he’s going to defeat you and how you think. And that’s why the Bible says our battle in verse 4, the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty through God to the pulling down of stronghold. The devil wants to get a stronghold on a piece of territory that’s in your mind.

And that’s why you want to take and have every thought brought into the captivity of Christ where you learn to think the way God wants you to think. The devil is after us. You don’t see the devil. You don’t see his little demons So that means they’re not real. Because they’re invisible, they must be in another world somewhere. Or maybe they’re right here. Maybe they’ll even follow you home today from church. You and your husband just came in the church.

You’re all happy about the things of the Lord. Did you know you could be in a knockdown drag out before you get to the house? Or you got up this morning and says, honey, we’re going to church today. And you know that you have all these good intentions and you could have started a war before you ever left out of the house. But when you walk in those doors, you say that can’t happen. Yes, it can. And you don’t think, and you think it’s just your husband.

You think it’s just your wife. You think it’s just those kids. There’s something else behind the scenes that you and I are supposed to know. There is another enemy. And he wars against us and tries to turn us against each other. The devil is alive and well on planet Earth. And he makes the statement going down through here in the book of Ephesians in chapter 6. There’s things to take that you might be able to stay, but I just want to see this one verse.

Verse 12, will you wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities? This is in chapter 6 verse 12, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. There’s There’s another world been lived, and it’s a wicked world. It’s a spiritual world. Spiritual battles going on, and they’re right here, and we’re in the crossfire. You see, there’s the armies of the Lord, and there’s the armies of the devil. And I believe that if I can see and understand this, it’ll make me more aware not to prejudge people too quickly.

But to understand there might be a devil involved here. There might be some demonic work going on a little bit. There could be spiritual battles going on in people’s minds. And sometimes it seems like everything is fine. All of a sudden, just great depression just comes upon you. And you just feel so oppressed and you can’t explain it. You don’t know what to put it on there. And so you start looking for a reason. It could be a spiritual warfare going on.

And I believe it’s important. your Bible and I turn to the book of 1 Corinthians in chapter 11. 1 Corinthians in chapter 11. And you’ll notice, see there in verse 30, a 1 Corinthians chapter 11, for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep. Or, that’s because they were disobedient, but what if you did obey? What if you do what God wants you to do? And you do take the Lord’s Supper and you examine your life and you confess things between you and God that ought to be taken care of.

And let’s say you do the things that are right. And for this cause many will be strong and spiritually healthy and very vibrant and alive for the Lord. When you start getting down in the things of God and you just think quick, quick, there’s only one that wants you to quick serve God. And you don’t want to do You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message.

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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, Believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline. Everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

your Bible and turn to the book of Hosea. Chapter 11, Hosea chapter 11, and verse 1. So Hosea chapter 11 took away way back here in the Old Testament out of all these books. There’s a little verse. And when you read it, you think, well, I know what that means. See there in verse 1, when Israel was a child, then I loved him and called my son out of Egypt. So we know that according to the Old Testament, that Israel, Jacob and his twelve kids, eventually all wind up going down into Egypt.

And we also know that 400 years later they came up out of Egypt. So God called his son out of Egypt. And most times whenever we see something like that, we think, well that’s the total meaning of that verse. And then sometimes you’d be surprised, there are so many verses in the Word of God that we have not even yet fattomed. We haven’t come close to understanding the depths of the Word of God. I don’t know if we’ll ever in this lifetime understand it until we get to heaven.

And maybe doing the millennium, we’re going to read the scriptures and we’ll be so enlightened. We’re going to see so much and we’ll wonder, why did I see that? Why did I see that? It’s so clear. It’s right there. Just like we can read the Bible and see some of the Old Testament prophecies and wonder why didn’t they see it? There’s probably people that are already in heaven right now saying, why in the world. Can’t you see that? It’s right there in front of them.

Well, take your Bible and turn to the book of Genesis, the book of Genesis in chapter 37. Genesis chapter 37 and look in verse 1. Now we know there’s Abraham, Isaac and in Jacob. Jacob had 12 sons. But out of those twelve sons, there was one of them that Daddy loved an awful lot. Maybe he loved him more than he should have. Maybe he set the stage for a little bitterness or jealousy and envy within the other children. That happens in families sometime when never one child thinks that he’s favored among the others or above them.

And so you get jealous and fill with a little envy because you think, oh, that’s daddy’s little pet or mummies little pet. And then whenever mom and daddy’s not around, you want to beat up on that little pet. Now I know that didn’t happen in your family. I know that. I know that. But I did have a sister that was daddy’s little pet. Very I tell you, I still have memories to this day. So anyway, if you look there in Genesis in chapter 37, look at verse 1, and Jacob dwelt in the land where in his father was a stranger in the land of Canaan.

These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, been 17 years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren and the lad was with the sons of Billhead and with the sons of Zilpa, his father’s wives, and Joseph brought under his father their evil report. Now Israel, Jacob, he loved Joseph more than all of his children because he was the son of his old age and he made him a coat of many colors. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Who started that? You see, Joseph hadn’t done anything wrong. And his sons, well because of Daddy. And so, Daddy didn’t know maybe that what he was doing was stirring a pot. Did you know that God can use the evil, wicked ways of a man? to accomplish his purpose. God can use what people say and do. And in this family problem that they had right here, God still was able to work his will. And even though somebody else might treat you wrong in an evil way, God can use it for his honor and his glory.

And God can still protect you in the midst of all of this. But look what he says in verse 5, Joseph dreamed a dream. He told it to his brother and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Here I pray you this dream which I have dreamed. So he was known as the dreamer. He was a dreamer. And so they say, Hey, the dreamer cometh when I saw him coming in the field because he had dreams.

Was it Joseph’s fault that he had dreams? The other night, right before I went to bed, God bless my little darling wife, she made me something that I love, peach cobbler. Oh, I love peach cobbler. I sat there in my chair and she said, now here’s a surprise for you. I accidentally got some on my cheek and tongue like to slap my face to death getting at it. And I was, I was eating that bowl of peach cobbler. Oh, it was good.

You know that night I had a million dreams. I couldn’t say it was a natural dream. It was snapshots. I went like I was going through a slide show. One picture, another picture, another picture, another picture. And I couldn’t concentrate anything and I saw these snapshots all night long and couldn’t remember a thing. I was worn out the next day. So last night I had another bow. But anyway, there’s times when it’s worth it. It’s just worth it. But I’ve had dreams that, you know, sometimes I can remember and sometimes I can’t remember.

But he remembered his dream. Who gave him the dream? God gave him the dream. God know that giving him the dream was going to cause family problems? God already knew that. You’re sometime you wonder, well, why did God let something like this happen to me? Or God let this happen? And we question the things that happens in our life. Did you know that might be God is working in your life? And he just didn’t tell you in advance and he’ll allow things to happen.

And he knows what you’re going to do and he knows how people are going to respond how they can react all of that. And then sometimes you’ll see down the road how God has worked and weaved in your life and done some wonderful things. Now here in Genesis I want you to look there in verse 28, look in verse 28. It says, then they’re passed by meeting the night of merchant men and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit because his brothers were selling him.

They wanted to get rid of him. They weren’t going to kill him. And now they’re just going to sell him. And they drew him and lifted him up Joseph out of the pit, sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites 20 pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph into Egypt. See, this is how in the beginning God got the whole nation, the whole family down there because he had one guy, one little 17-year-old boy, and allowed this to happen to him. And to be separated from his parents, his brothers, they hated him, and to think what he went through.

And it wasn’t his fault. He hadn’t done anything wrong. Remember we talked about this morning, about some of the things that happens in people’s lives and Joseph and Mary. We think everything is just supposed to go so smooth and everything is supposed to work out just perfectly. Sometimes in our minds the things that don’t work out is what God wanted to do. They didn’t work out for us, but it doesn’t mean that everything was shot and that you’re a total failure.

You may just be an individual that God is using to accomplish His purpose because God has a plan. If we study the Bible, we’ll find that out that God has a reason for you living. And that God is working in your life, whether you see it or you don’t see it. So he goes through here and he makes the statement, but look in chapter 39 now, chapter 39, and look in verse 1, verse 1 down to verse 3, and he says, and Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar, and officer Pharaoh, captain of the guard and Egyptian, A brought him of the hands of the Emishlights, which had brought him down the other.

And the Lord was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian. And his master saw that the Lord was with him, and that the Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hands. So I kind of call this the land of prosperity. He didn’t know when he was so by his brothers and taken down into Egypt and all the things that happened to him that God was with him.

And all he had to do was just serve the Lord and do right. God had a plan. And I want you to look there in chapter 41, chapter 41, and look in verse 51, verse 51. Now Joseph has, oh, gotten married and had a couple kids. And sometimes as you study the 12 tribes, you don’t always see the tribe of Joseph. He had two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. And you’ll always keep reading about Manasseh and Ephraim. And look what he says here in verse 51, and Joseph called the names of the firstborn Manasseh.

For God said he had made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house. God has helped me to forget. He didn’t because he remembered his brothers. He remembers his dad, but he caused him to forget over the hurt or even the bitterness and all the things that you have that builds up inside of you when someone wrongs you. But look what he says. In verse 52, and the name of the second called He Ephraim, and you ought to underline this phrase because it’s an awesome phrase, because this is the land of persecution, because He was persecuted.

And He was even persecuted when He first went down into Egypt and the things that He suffered because of, well, somebody’s woman. And He had to take and coat and He had to run. He was placed in prison and all of that He went through, and yet He didn’t deserve any of those things. Have you ever thought to yourself, this isn’t fair? This just isn’t fair. You haven’t been reading the Bible lately. Doesn’t say anything about being fair. It’s about God being just and right and having the authority to use you in any way he wants to.

He is God. And look at the last part of this verse. For God had caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. fruitful in my affliction, the land of my affliction. So you see, there’s the land of prosperity and the land of persecution and the land of preservation. Look in chapter 45, chapter 45. And look here in verse 5, verse 5, in verse 5, and we’ll read down to verse 8, but in verse 5, now therefore be not greed because now time has passed by.

Lo and behold, yes, Jacob was in a place of famine. There was no rain, there was no crop. And so therefore they were starving, they needed food. And so they heard that there was food in Egypt. So they came down to Egypt, He sent a couple of his kids and they go down there and while it wasn’t long, Joseph recognized them. He knew who they were. And he remembered what they had done. They didn’t know who he was at first until the second time he came down and he revealed himself to them in the Bible says he sobbed.

He just sobbed. Just broke down a whip. Well, wouldn’t you have? See, he still loved them. them. They’re still family. And God used it in such a way to break their hearts and their will and cause them to be humbled because they knew that he had the power. He could have killed every one of them. And it wasn’t long before he even got Jacob to come down, daddy. But look what he says here in verse 5. Now therefore be not grieved nor angry with yourselves that you sold me, hither, for God did send me before you to preserve life.

God sent me here. For these two years hath the famine been in the land, and yet there are five years in the which there shall neither be hearing of nor harvest. And God sent me before you to, and here’s that word, preserve. This is the land of preservation. And then He makes the statement, apostarity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Verse 8. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but you are done the line, those two little words, but God.

Sometimes we say and do things, things that we don’t mean to say, we don’t want to say, and yet we do them. And sometimes we feel so rotten inside. And yet it might have been something that God wanted, but you can’t sometimes always put your finger on it. Sometimes people may treat you in a certain way and you don’t know why they did what they did. Because God may be working something. Don’t be too quick to jump the gun.

Don’t be too eager to kill somebody. Don’t be so quick to be mean and ugly with somebody. You see, there’s factors involved that you and I are not aware of and that we can’t control and sometimes other people can’t control. Because there’s things that happen. God can use everything for His honor and glory. You must believe, and I’m supposed to believe that God’s on the throne and He’s working out as well. See, the greatest thing you can ever do is to trust Christ as your Savior.

After you trust Christ as your Savior, decide to serve the Lord. And if you decide to serve the Lord, then expect God to interrupt your schedule. to use you any way he wants to for his honor and glory. But look at that last part again, in verse eight. So now it was not you that sent me hither but God, and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh and Lord of all his house and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Now look in verse 13, and ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt. And of all that he ye have seen, and ye shall hasten, and bring down my Father hither.” And so they did, and it wasn’t long before they were all one big, happy family. Isn’t that wonderful? They were all back down there in the land of Goshen, top part of the Nile right next to the Alexandria, where we call it the day. I’ve been there.

And you cut a good land of Goshen. Well, that’s what it is, the good land of caution. Somebody’s talking about that. Holy Moses. No, Moses wasn’t holy in that sense, but Moses was a good man, I’ll admit that. Take your Bible and turn now to the New Testament. We know that Joseph here in the Old Testament was used by God to get the son down into Egypt. And then he tells him, when you go up out of Egypt, you remember to take my bones with you.

or a hundred years later, they did. Now take your Bible and turn to the New Testament. Matthew chapter one, Matthew and chapter one. We have a little story about another man named Joseph. And guess what Joseph was in the New Testament? He was a dreamer. He was a dreamer. You’d be surprised how many dreams he had. You see, if it hadn’t have been for some of those dreams, his life would have taken a different course altogether. You see, he was engaged to a woman, and that engagement peers was supposed to be long enough and guaranteed by the mom and dad, hey, my daughter is a virgin.

Well, she became pregnant, and he began to have what we call doubts, and then dreams, and then a decision. But first of all, he had his doubt. You say, I didn’t think he doubted it. Let’s just look at it. Looking, verse 18. Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise. When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph, her husband, been a just man and not willing to make her a public example was minded to put her away privately.

Why? Because he’d have to believe that she’s pregnant and it wasn’t him. Now what would you think? What would you think? The normal thing to think. This was before his dream. And then he had a dream. And in this dream, God told him the plan. Told him what was going on. Told him that, yes, she’s going to have a child, but that child. He’s of the Holy Ghost. Did you know that he believed it? He really believed it. He believed what it says.

Look in verse 20. While he thought on these things, behold the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream. St. Joseph thou son of David. Fear not to take into thee, Mary thy wife, for thou shalt, that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost, and she shall bring forth the Son and call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. ends. Verse 24, then Joseph, been raised from sleep, had made a decision.

He did as the angel of the Lord had biden him. He took unto him his wife. So he didn’t put her away. He took her and became as was supposed the husband or the father of Jesus. Now Now remember this morning I mentioned to you that whenever you look in Matthew chapter one, it’s so and so begat, so and so begat, so and so begat. But now take your Bible and just turn real quickly over there to the book of Luke, the book of Luke.

And you’ll notice in the book of Luke and chapter four, excuse me not four, chapter three, first mistake I’ve made, you know, five minutes. Now in verse 23, in verse 23, and Jesus Himself began to be about 30 years of age, being and get this as was supposed. People thought Joseph was the daddy, as supposed the son of Joseph, which was the son of Helai. Now this we believe that he was really, Helai is Mary’s dad and he’s the son in law.

See doesn’t say here that he begat Jesus. This is the son of, the son of, the son of. And you go all the way down through here and look down there in verse 31, which was the son of Malia, which was the son of Mina, which was the son of Matata, which was the son of Nathan, which was the son of David. And so it’s going through and showing a genealogy. But this is from Mary’s side, because you see, Mary also was of the line.

And whenever we read over there in Matthew while ago, it talks about Joseph of the line of David. And here is talking about, see, Mary is of the line of David. But it’s through Nathan, and in the book of Matthew, chapter 1, it’s through the line of Solomon. But because later on down the road, there was a curse put upon the line of Jeccanias saying that he would not have any of his seed to set up on the throne of Israel.

That’s why Joseph could not have been a king. He hadn’t been for that. He could have claimed the throne. Joseph, he was in line. But there was a curse put up on the line, and none of them could be king. So unless God intervened some way, there would not be a king in Israel. But anyway, as you go through and you read and you study and you find out some of these things, it’s really interesting how that God kind of puts all these things together.

But it’s not done in such a way just to satisfy curiosity seekers. But somebody that looks and they read this thing and they say, well, now why did they do that? Now why did they do that? God was looking for reasons and trying to put things together because you know everything has to perfectly dovetail. The Word of God cannot contradict itself and so it causes you to really take a look at it. But he did what he did because God intervened and gave him a dream.

I think it’s amazing that you know here it was 1500 years in advance and you’ve got a man named Joseph that was going down into Egypt. Now here it is in the New Testament, in the first book, in the New Testament, you have Joseph going down into Egypt with his son. But look what he says here in verse 11 of chapter 2, Matthew chapter 2. And in verse 11 it says, and when they were come to the house, because you see By the time the wise men got there, they didn’t come to the manger scene.

That there was, this was not a domain. This was at the house and the child was about two years of age. And he says, and they saw the young child and they were in the house. No, sith, when they come into the house. This is not outside the house at a stable and a manger and all the animals. Now that’s the way we see the mangers scene, but that’s really not the way it happened in the Bible. But look what he says, and they found the child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him and when they had opened their treasure they presented unto him gifts, gold and frankincent and murah, and get this in verse 12, being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod.

Why? Didn’t Herod say, when you have found the child, bring me word again that we may come and worship him also? Do you really think that he really wanted to worship him? There’s a God in heaven that knows that Herod had evil in his man. And so God caused him to… See, if God didn’t intervene at times in people’s lives, you’d be surprised what would have happened. There’s time God may intervene in your life. Did you ever want to go someplace and get there quick and it seemed like everything goes wrong?

The car breaks down, the radiator messed up, and you think sometimes, Lord, that didn’t have to happen. I mean, surely that didn’t have to happen. And yet God knows what he’s doing. You and I will enjoy life if you’ve just learned to enjoy the ride. Don’t pick God apart. Don’t try EDITION God explain everything to you. Enjoy the trip. It’s part of the tripupdated on a vacation and something happens goes wrong. Enjoy the trip. Not just the destination. It’s like life.

Enjoy life. Not just well when I get this, I’ll be happy. when I get that I’ll be happy like it’s at the end of this at the end. No, I don’t want it at the end of anything. I want to enjoy it as I go. I have really enjoyed my life. I was telling Betty this the other day. Well, I was telling her today. I says, I don’t know if you really think about it. I don’t all the time.

I says, but you stop and think, honey. We have pretty good health. And God’s given us a good ministry. And we’re sitting here eating some good food. And we’re here in Tampa, Florida. And we’re, can drive down here and overlook the bay, drive a little bit further, you can see the beach. And just look how good God’s been. You don’t realize they’re having 18 degree weather up there. We’re down here with a sunshine almost all the time. Isn’t God good to us in our old age if you want to call 70 old age?

I don’t. I think we’re just hitting to the top of the peak and it could last for a long time on the top of this plateau. 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 toll free, 1-800-576-3771.

1-800-576-3771. To listen to today’s message again or to obtain a free download of any of our Bible line 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. For 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. live today and every day. Believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. But look what he says here in verse 11 of chapter 2, Matthew chapter 2. And in verse 11 he says, and when they were come to the house, because see by the time the wise men got there, they didn’t come to the manger scene. That was, this was not a domain, this was at the house and the child was about two years of age.

And he says, and they saw the young child, and they were in the house. when they come into the house. This is not outside the house at a stable in a manger, in all the animals. Now that’s the way we see the mangers scene, but that’s really not the way it happened in the Bible. But look what he says, and they found the child with Mary his mother and fell down and worshiped him, and when they had opened their treasure they presented unto him gifts, gold, and frankincent and and get this in verse 12, being warned of God in a dream, that they should not return to Herod.

Why? Didn’t Herod say, when you have found the child, bring me word again, that we may come and worship him also. Do you really think that he really wanted to worship him? There’s a God in heaven that knows that Herod had evil in his man. And so God calls them to see if God didn’t intervene at times in people’s lives. You’d be surprised what would have happened. There’s time God may intervene in your life. Did you ever want to go someplace and get there quick and it seemed like everything goes wrong?

The car breaks down? The radiator messed up? And you think sometimes, Lord, that didn’t have to happen. I mean, Surely that didn’t have to happen. And yet God knows what he’s doing. You and I will enjoy life if you’ve just learned to enjoy the ride. Don’t pick God apart. Don’t try to make God explain everything to you. Enjoy the trip. It’s part of the trip. I’m on a vacation and something happens goes wrong. Enjoy the trip. Not just the destination.

It’s like life, enjoy life, not just, well, when I get this, I’ll be happy. When I get that, I’ll be happy. Like, it’s at the end of this, at the end, no, I don’t wanna, at the end of anything. I wanna enjoy it as I go. I have really enjoyed my life. I was telling Betty this the other day. Well, I was telling her the day. I says, I don’t know if you really think about it. I don’t know all the time.

I says, but you stop and think, honey. We have pretty good health, and God’s given us a good ministry. And we’re sitting here eating some good food, and we’re here in Tampa, Florida, and we’re going to drive down here and overlook the bay, drive a little bit further, you can see the beach, and just look how good God’s been. You don’t realize they’re having 18 degree weather up there. We’re down here with a sunshine almost all the time. Isn’t God good to us in our old age If you want to call 70 old age, I don’t.

I think we’re just hitting to the top of the peak, and it could last for a long time, the top of this plateau. One day, and this is the truth, I was going through Louisiana. And every once in a while, I like to stop at a golf course and just play around the golf. You know, I kind of have to exercise a little bit and enjoy some things. There’s a lot of things I don’t do, but this is just one of the things I enjoy.

So I got out of the car, and I went in there, and I paid, and I went out there and put my clubs in the back of my, no little golf carton. And this one little old man walked up to me and says, they told me to join you. Oh, okay. I says, you’re walking? Yes. You’re carrying your bag? Yes. I thought this little old squirt is walking and carrying his bag. And here I am riding in a golf cart and I’m out there for my exercise.

I hate it when somebody puts me on a gill trip. this guy hadn’t said anything really wrong, but it should bothered me. So I said, well, if you’re going to walk on, I might as well walk too. That was a dumb thing to do. But anyway, I said, okay, so I got my club. My bag weighs about 10,000 pounds. So we went to the first tee and this guy, little old man, I mean, little old dried up P-vine. And he got up there and he put his ball down there and he come back and he hit the ball.

He never looked up to see where it went. He just hit the ball and then he put his club in his bag and then he stepped to the side and he went like this. Well, he had hit it about 150 yards right down the middle. But I’m gonna take this guy to school. It’s time for him to go to school. I took out my driver. I’m a young whopper snapper. I killed that ball. And it went, did you know the harder you try to hit the ball, the more crooked it goes?

That’s the truth. I couldn’t for some reason, I could not hit a straight ball. And this guy was just hitting it 150 down the middle. Do you know after about three or four holes, I was like, this guy’s beating me. The guy is beating me. This old man is whooping me. I was so humiliated. So the harder I tried to worse, I got it. I thought, I couldn’t even hit the ball at all. I couldn’t even putt. So I hit a one hole.

I put it out there a long ways, right in the middle. And I went over there and got my clubs and I went, he got up there, he didn’t say a word. And I know he didn’t go and hit it no more than 150 yards. He didn’t hit it no more than 150 yards since we started. And he just hit it. Same way, he hit it. took his club, put it into the bag. And that ball just went out there and it hit the cart path.

And bounced, and bounced, and bounced, and bounced, and bounced. And it came off the cart path and he was just a couple yards right in front of my ball. Do you realize that whenever we finish nine holes, he says, I thought, I’m going to get this guy on the next nine. I’ll get him on the next nine. So I think he’ll get tired. I’ll get him on the next nine. He says, this is all I’m playing. I thought, don’t quit.

You can’t quit. But he quit. And then he got through, he says, you know, he says, I’m 98 years old. I says, what? He said, I’m 98 years old. And then he started to walk off and he turned back and looked at me. He says, and I’m blind in one eye. I wanted to wrap that driver around his head. I didn’t even witness to the guy because he was golf. And I thought, I’ll get him on the back nine.

I was planned again. I was fit to be tied. I am forever the loser to a 98 year old man that was blind in one eye. That is humility. When somebody can humble you in such a way, but look what he says here. You have to have sometimes God intervene to teach you something you may not want to learn. Do you realize that was probably 30 years ago? And I will remember that story for the rest of my natural life in verse 13, when they were departed.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, arise and take the young child and his mother and Flea into Egypt and be thou until I bring thee word, for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. So does God know what Herod wants to do to this young child? Yes. So God had to intervene into Joseph’s life through a dream and tell him, says, look, you need to flee. Now, that means that Joseph and Mary, look after all they’ve had to go through, and getting down to the place where the child was finally born.

And then they’re a couple of years, now he’s got to flee again. Because now they know that there’s a child and he’s to be the king of Israel, and Herod is after him. So he tells them that they’re going to have to leave and go down into Egypt. Now look what he says here in verse 15. and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled, which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet that we read while ago, over in the book of Hosea, chapter 11 and verse 1, where it makes the statement, out of Egypt have I called my son.

Now, when we read that verse in the Old Testament, we probably would never have gotten that truth out of that verse. But because it’s quoted here and yet it happened back there and yet out of Egypt have I called my son but we always think well that’s whenever God brought Egypt, I mean Israel out of Egypt and it did happen but you see there’s more to it than that. That’s why when you read the study the Bible sometimes you think well now I understand what it means and then you go back and you read it again and you’ll get more out of it than you got the last time.

You can read it again and get something outside of it. There’s no limit to the knowledge that’s hidden in these scriptures. It’s a treasure house. God says, search for his wisdom as a man would search for silver and gold according to Proverbs in chapter 2. It’s an awesome book. Looking for 16, then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding, well wait a minute, didn’t God know that look, you know, If you wise men don’t go back to see Herod, you’re going to make him mad.”

Well, it seems like everybody makes Herod mad. And he wants to kill. So he killed a whole bunch of little babies. Look at this. And so he sinned forth and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coast they’re off from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently acquired of the wise men. didn’t God know that Herod would kill all those babies? Why would God let it happen? He could protect his one son by sending him down into Egypt and let how many other babies die?

Were there hundreds of them? Was there a thousand of them? Who knows? I don’t know. But the Bible talks about it and it’s mentioned in the Old Testament. Rachel weeping for her children. Looking for 17. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet saying, in Rehma was there a voice heard, lamentations and weeping and great morning. Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted because they are not. Now, just hold your place right here, but look in the book of Genesis in chapter 35, just real quick, in Genesis chapter 35.

Genesis chapter 35, and look there in verse 16. And notice it goes all the way back even to something like this. It’s not one of the notes that you find there, but in the book of Genesis in chapter 35, looking verse 16, and they journeyed from Bethel, And there was but a little way to come to Ephra. And Rachel travail, and she had hard labor. It came to pass when she was in hard labor that the midwife said unto her, fear not.

Thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass as her soul was in departing for she died, that she called his name the only. Then his father named him Benjamin. In verse 19, Rachel died and was buried in the way to Ephra, which is Bethlehem. Now, remember in Micah chapter 5 and verse 2, though there will be little among the thousands of Judean, yet out of the Bethlehem Ephra time. The same place, Rachel Bethlehem. The weeping and there’s a lot more that goes into all these scriptures that reveal so many things that we do not see on the surface.

That’s why you can forever study the Word of God and never come to the bottom of it. It is truly a treasure house house of wealth. Go back there to the book of Matthew. And now when talking about Rachel weeping for her children. Now that’s a scripture that’s found there in the book of Jeremiah chapter. 31. I referred to it, I believe this morning in Sunday school, so we won’t look at it at this time. But now look in verse 19, when Herod was dead, behold an angel of the Lord appeared in another dream to Joseph in Egypt.

You know, it’s almost like if you would go back there and remember the story of the other Joseph in the first book in the Old Testament and the Joseph in the first book in the New Testament And you can see some of the similarities and things. You know, even this Joseph who was supposed to be the father of Jesus. And we know he wasn’t, but he was still a good man. He was a just man. He was a righteous man.

He was an obedient man. He was a faithful man. And yet he would take and leave everything that he had and take his wife and his child. he obeyed the Lord and went down into Egypt and stayed there until Herod was dead and then he came back and then the Lord had to appear to him again in a dream. Not only when to tell him to come back but another dream in verse 22 where it says in verse 21, I want you to see this, and he arose and took the young child and his mother and came into the land of Israel.

But remember, they came out of Egypt. You will bring my son out of Egypt. Look at the last part of verse 20, verse 20, saying, Arise, take the young child and his mother. Go into the land of Israel, for they are dead which sought the young child’s life. See, God knew they would try to kill this baby. Well, I mean, it’s just one little old baby. What can this baby accomplish? Isn’t it amazing that if Jesus Christ was not the Son of God?

Why does almost everybody in the world know this child? Everybody knows the name of Jesus, just about everybody, and all the nations of the world. Good or bad? Look how many churches there are that bear his name, and how many Christians that say they know him and bear his name of been a Christian and claim it to be a Christian if Christ is not anybody but other than just a man. And yet he didn’t live very long. He only lived to be about 33 and a half years old.

He never wrote a book in his lifetime and he never left the land of Israel. He didn’t travel the world and look what he was able Look at the reputation of this man. There’s more songs about this guy than all the others all put together. More books written about this one man. He says that if all the things that he has done were written in a book, the libraries of the world cannot contain all the stuff. And we think we are really understanding the Bible.

Do you think you really know the Bible? I don’t know nothing compared to what’s in this book. One day we’re going to find out what the Bible had to say and how much is not even seen and taught. This is one deep book and it’s loaded with wealth that we won’t appreciate, I don’t think, in this lifetime. Look in verse 23 and he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth But he was warned of God over and over and over and God spoke to him Innovation He had a dream.

He had a dream You ever have a dream? I Have dreams about what I’d like to do with my life and then God has something he wants me to do and sometimes they don’t agree Sometimes I have lived long enough to see that things I wanted 20, 30 years ago comes back around and it just blows my mind sometimes. How that God will give me what I’ve thought about and talked about years ago. Remember the little story about Zachariah and his wife Elizabeth and how that they had prayed for this child and God said, I’ve heard thy prayer.

Oh, well Lord I prayed that 30 years ago about this child business. And isn’t it a wonderful story? I mean when you stop and you think and you sense all these things and you can begin to… To enjoy reading and studying about because you don’t know what you’re going to come up with next and what God’s going to say. Hey, did you ever see that word before? Did you ever see that? Did you ever think about this? And you’ll learn some great new truth from what the word of God says.

But Joseph was used greatly by the Lord. I want you to look at a verse with me. Look in Matthew chapter 13. You’re right there in Matthew. Looking Matthew chapter 13. Matthew chapter 13 and look there in verse 13. verse 53, verse 53. In verse 53 it says, And it came to pass that when Jesus had finished these parables, He departed thence. And when He was come into His own country, He taught them in their synagogue. In so much that they were astonished.

Now He’s back in His hometown. He’s back in His own country. You know where He was raised? In so much that they were astonished and they said, wince, dust this man, this wisdom, and these mighty works. Verse 55, is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? I mean, who is this guy? Where did he learn how to do all of this stuff? Because Jesus, he didn’t do anything until it was time when he had 30 years of age.

And look what he says in verse 50, say, and his sisters, verse 55, his brothers, and he says in verse 56, Winston hath this man all these things. Where did he learn all of this knowledge? Remember even when he was only 12 years old, Jesus was able to astound the doctors of law and give him a Bible education. Wouldn’t you have loved to have listened to him when he was only 12 years old and he could astound them? I think it’s awesome.

I already do. Look in John 642, John chapter 6, John chapter 6 and verse 42. It says in verse 42, and they said, they said, is not this Jesus the Son of Joseph? See, it doesn’t say here as supposed. This is a fact that they believed. So if he was the Son of Joseph, whose father and mother we knew. Well, it appears that maybe Joseph is still alive. How is it then that he said, I came down from heaven.

We know his mother and father. But see, they didn’t know that Jesus was born of a virgin. But he was born of a virgin. So Jesus was not just your average day kid. What would have been like, do you think, to have Jesus born into your family? And then find out later, he was the Son of God. He knew my mind. You know the Bible says that his own brothers and so forth did not believe on him until, I believe it was after the resurrection.

Scary stuff. But nobody was able to find anything wrong with him in his life. ever wondered, I’m going to Jesus ever got a spanking. You know, if he did, they must have been wrong because he couldn’t done anything wrong. They must have thought he should have done something and he didn’t do it and probably his brothers and sisters blamed him from something. I had a ton of that. But anyway, hope you enjoy the little lesson on Joseph. There’s just an awful lot of stuff about the Christmas story that you just sometimes don’t think about.

And it’s just usually just a typical thing. So I thought you would enjoy you, but Mary and John the Baptist and Joseph. This hand represents you and me while it represents sin. We all have sin on us. God loves us. H. What we do wrong, he hates all of our sin. And the Bible says that we have all sinned come short of God’s perfection. See, heaven is perfect. We’re not. We’ve come short of God’s perfection because of sin we can’t get in the wages in his death.

And God says, you cannot earn eternal life. You cannot work your way to heaven. That’s why we all needed a Savior. This hand represents Jesus Christ. He came into the world. He had no sin. He was perfect. Born of a virgin. And the reason is because he, that way he didn’t have an earthly father, he didn’t have a sinful nature. We all have sinful natures, and that’s why we do wrong. He didn’t have one. And he came into the world and he took all of the sins of all the world upon himself, and he died and paid for them and came back from the dead, and said, if you’ll believe that he did it for you, that he would put this payment to your account, you get to go to heaven on what Jesus did for you.

You can’t earn it, you can’t work for it. Eternal life is the gift of God, not a works list, and you may should boast. Well, if it’s eternal life, how long would it last? Forever. When I was 18 years old, I accepted Christ as my Savior. He saves me from hell. That means I can’t go there. I can’t go there today. I can’t go there tomorrow. because he paid for all of my sins. I don’t have any sins to pay for.

He paid for them. Do I deserve it? No, I don’t deserve it. But it just shows you how much he loved me that he did it all. Doesn’t matter how bad you’ve been or how bad you will be. He loves you that much. And if you will believe he did it for you, he would give you the free gift of eternal life and you can know that you’re going to heaven whenever you die. Let’s pray, shall we? I pray that you’ve all trusted Christ as your Savior, but I don’t know the hearts of anybody.

I’m not like the Lord, I don’t have that ability. But I would like to know if what I said made sense to you, if you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, did you understand that you’re not going to go to heaven, that you will spend an eternity? Inhale, if you don’t trust Christ as your Savior? So there’s a great penalty for not accepting Christ. But if you do believe that He did it for you and you trust Him right now, then God said He would give you as a free gift everlasting life.

Never cast you out, never lose you. Best news in all the world. In just a moment I’m going to ask for raise your hand. Raise in your hand doesn’t save you. It just lets me know that what I said made sense to you and you said in preacher that made sense to me and tonight I will trust Christ as my Savior. And I do it with head, bow, nice, close so that no one will be embarrassed. So in the quietness of this moment is there anyone at all say yes that made sense to me.

When I will trust Christ as my Savior, yes, God bless you, sir. You can put your hand down. Anyone else, just slip it up very quickly by that. You mean, yes, pray for me. I will trust Christ right now. I want to be certain I’m going to heaven when I die. I realize I can’t earn it. I can’t work for it. That is a gift. Would you trust them? Anyone else? Our Father, we thank you so much for your love for us, for all your watch, care, and your provision, and how you move and work in our lives.

Sometimes even when we don’t see it, we don’t understand. But Father, if we read the stories in the Bible, we know that there’s an unseen hand, the providence of God working in our lives. In and through people and circumstances, we thank You Lord for the individual that indicated by an uplifted hand that they would trust You as Savior tonight. By doing so, they become Your child, Your child forever, that You’ll never cast them out, never lose them, that they can know they’re going to heaven because of what you did on the cross for them.

We ask the blessings upon each person here and we thank you for all that you’ve done and what you’re going to do in Christ’s name. Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Bible 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 learn more about your life, visit our website at www.beadaholique.com to purchase beading supplies and to get design ideas! 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

Thank you, Bible. Turn to the book. Revelation, the book of Revelation. You said, oh good, we’re going to talk about the book of Revelation. No, you don’t like the book of Revelation, do you? I figured you did. But the title of my message tonight, you know, I’m always having fun trying to figure out a title. What did I speak on? This This is called the devil and the divine, the devil and the divine. As you know, last few services I’ve talked about the story of Christmas.

We talked about Mary and then we talked the story about John the badness. And tonight we talked about the story of Joseph. And so tonight we’re still talking about the Christmas story. You know who else was also there when Jesus was born? The devil. In case you didn’t know that the devil was there when Jesus was born. And did you know the devil has to work through people just like God works through people? The devil also works through people.

And so the devil, he always has to get you to believe a lie. And the Lord can’t lie. So he can only tell you the truth. So who do you think should be the most powerful, the one that tells you the lie or the one that tells you the truth? Don’t answer that. And as you and I live our life, there is the truth and there is the lie. Do you realize how easy it is to tell a lie?

don’t even have to work at it sometimes. It’s so easy. But trying to be honest and tell the truth, regardless of the consequences, sometimes it gets a little on the rough side. But this is a little bit about what we’re going to talk about. But in the book of Revelation in chapter 12, look there in verse 1, Revelation chapter 12 verse 1, and there appeared a great wonder in heaven, A woman clothed with the sun and the moon under her feet and upon her head a crown of twelve stars.”

Now many believe that this is talking about the nation of Israel and the twelve tribes. And I believe that also. In verse 2, and she been with child cried, Trevalen in birth and pain to be delivered. I guess sometimes when you think about a woman having a child, I’ve heard of the call of, you know, they have a dry birth. In other words, the water-sacked bus and then it’s got to be a driver and it’s excruciating pain. I would have no clue.

That’s only what I heard. But do you know in the Old Testament from the time that Israel became a nation, as the years go by, you’ll notice that it seems like Israel was down in Egypt. know in a certain period of time until the law came like you know a child born in Israel has got to go to about 13 years and they’ve always known the law and then call a bar of misfund and they’re responsible for themselves and so on.

And it seemed like okay now they’re supposed to accept that responsibility and as you go on through time it’s just like a a person laid out in the length of time. But when Jesus Christ came, there was no word from the Lord. Four hundred years of silence. And then all of a sudden Jesus came on the scene. Israel was under persecution. It was a bad time. But look what he says here in verse three, talking about the devil, Satan.

There appeared another wonder in heaven and behold a great red dragon having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns upon his heads. Now you and I know who this red dragon is. And if you’ve got a question about who it is, well, just look down here and you’ll see it in verse nine. See in verse nine. And the great dragon was cast out that old serpent called the devil and Satan, which deceived with the whole world. He was cast out into the earth and his angels were cast out with him.

So in verse nine, let you know that all those names is talking about the same one. Now Jesus has got a lot of names, but it’s all talking about the same one. But notice up there in verse 4, look in verse 4, and his tale drew the third part of the stars of heaven, which we believe are angels, and did cast them to the earth, and the dragon stood before the woman, which is Israel, and we know that the dragon is the devil, which was ready to be delivered, and then you are on the line this part, because this is part of the Christmas story, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

So the devil desired to devour the divine when it was born. But I wrote down a little statement and I’ll read it to you. Satan wanted to devour Christ all his life. You see, it’s not just that the devil wanted to get him when he was born. He stayed after him all his life. Did Jesus have any problem with the devil later on in life? Yeah. Take a Bible and look in Matthew in chapter Matthew and chapter 2. We looked at a part of this the other night when we talked about Joseph and the dreamer.

But in Matthew chapter 2, if you look there in verse 13, the devil uses people to accomplish his will. This is why sometimes when you can’t explain it, it seems like all of a sudden people turn. They change and can be sweet one moment and ugly the next. Yes, sometimes it’s because we have our own sinful nature, but sometimes there is a devil that you cannot see behind the scenes and he uses people. Look at verse 13, and when they were departed, talking about the wise men that came to see Christ, behold the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, say, and arise and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt and be thou there until I bring the word.

For Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.” Now we read over there in the book of Revelation, chapter 12, that the devil sought to devour Christ from the day he was born. And now he sees that Herod is doing his dead level best and he wants to kill all the children. But what was he doing? You see he was stabbing at one baby trying to hit the one baby. Look what he says in verse 14, when he arose he took the young child and his mother by night and departed into Egypt.

And was there until the death of Herod that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophets saying out of Egypt, shall I have I call my son? Then Herod when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men was exceeding wrath and sin for slew all the children that were in Bethlehem. I had someone ask me just today at the Tampa Bible study. So why did God let a little three-year-old girl that I know about die of cancer, a three-year-old girl die of cancer?

You know, those are tough things to understand, let alone accept. And so then I told them about the little girl that we saw at the hospital that has leukemia. I said, sir, did you know that when Jesus was born, there was a lot of little babies two years old and under. And And it says that there was weeping because their children had been killed. What wrong had those children done? None. What wrong had their parents done? None. But you see, everyone is going to die.

Some will die from cancer, some may be from leukemia. Some will die because they got too old. And you’re going to have cancer or high blood pressure, cholesterol, strokes. You name it, it doesn’t really matter. But sometimes I believe God knows what’s ahead for the people before they ever live their lives. And God in His wisdom may allow them to die early than to live long and suffer longer. I don’t know. I’m not God, but I do know this.

I know that God cannot make a mistake. I know that God cannot do wrong. So therefore, I do not question why God does what He does. I don’t want to be so foolish as to think. I understand more and therefore I can set in judgment upon the Almighty. God forbid. But there’s a lot of people that do and they get mad and bitter at God as though God did something wrong. And you as a Christian must be very careful that you don’t believe or think for a moment that God has done something wrong.

And you want to take it out on God and not be faithful or not trust Him or not talk to Him and not walk as close as you are to as though God failed you. God doesn’t fail. God doesn’t sin. God doesn’t do anything wrong. And so if God allowed all these little children to die, then God has a higher purpose. See, God was protecting one little baby, but that one little baby wasn’t just a normal individual. This was a unique baby.

This baby that God spared and let live lived to die for the sins of the world. So you and I need to understand that and believe that. Look in Matthew chapter 4. Matthew chapter 4. You don’t find a lot about the childhood of Jesus. Oh, there’s a few books that have been out. No, the lost books of the Bible and things like that. You’ll be better, you just stick with the Bible. But notice here in chapter 4 verse 1, has the devil left Jesus alone?

Has he left him alone? No, here he comes again. And he says in verse 1, then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he was afterwards hungry. Now, Now, to be tempted of the devil, remember, the devil is seeking whom he may devour, and he wants to devour me, you, even the Son of God. So the devil is always looking for a weakness, a weakness in your life.

That’s the reason you study the Word of God so you can be strong in your defense, so that you can protect yourself from the devil. The devil knows what areas of our lives we are weak. Do you think the devil knew that Jesus had an eight for a long time? And the devil knew that he was hungry? And the devil knew, hey, all I gotta do is this, you know, uses as an opportunity.

So I want you to understand, so that you know when the devil tempts you and you wanna do the will of God, The devil says, I can feed you. I can feed you. You just do whatever I tell you to do. You see, if you are who you claim to be, the son of God, all you gotta do is just command those stones and they’ll be turned into bread. Aren’t you hungry? Aren’t you hungry? You see, the devil knows that you and I have desire.

Did Jesus have a desire for food? He says he was hungry, I mean he was hungry. He wanted to eat something. The devil also knows you and I and knows us very well. Now he was talking about the Son of God, who didn’t even have a sinful nature. But you and I, we do have one. So if the Bible says this, the devil walks to and fro throughout the earth, seeking whom he may devour. I was going to preach a sermon one time called out of the jaws of the lion.

You know, really build it up how that I have been in the jaws of the lion where the lion had me in his jaws was ready to chop down on me, ready to kill me, eat me up devour me. And by the grace of God, he comes down and he delivered me from the snare of that devil. Don’t you think that would be a pretty good sermon? Do you know what he’s trying to do with Jesus? He’s trying to get him in the jaws of the lion.

He wants to devour him. He wants to get Jesus to make a mistake and to hit him when he’s weak. Because if he can get him while he’s weak and get him to sin, he can’t be the payment for our sins and there would be no one else. All the devil has to do is get him to commit one single sin. And then we won’t have a savior. There’s be no body that could down that cross and pay for our sin.

For God so loved the world that He gave us what? Only begotten Son. There was no body else that could do it. So Satan has a plan. Did you know that Satan has a plan for your life? Yes, God has a plan for our life, but so does the devil. And the devil wants to devour you so that you and I cannot do anything effective for the Lord. So he makes a statement here. And verse three, and when the tempter came to him, and I know it says for and when, it doesn’t say if, it’s when.

The devil will come, not if he does, but when he does. The devil is after you and he’s after me. He walketh about seeking whom he may devour and he’s waiting for you to be weak in certain areas of your life. And that’s why you have to guard every area of your life all the days of your life you have to be on guard. And you can’t let down. Now, I want you to see this in verse three when it says, the tempter came to him.

So the devil is after you and he’s coming to see you. And he’s going to use whatever it takes to tempt or to lure you. But notice what also he says in verse 11, then the devil, and you ought to underline that word, then the devil leave with him. And behold, angels came and ministered unto him. So the devil will come and the devil will go.

And you think, well, he’ll never bother me again. Oh, he’ll be back. He’ll be back. You can count on it. He will be back. Also, the thing I want you to see if you’ll look there in Matthew chapter four. In chapter four, notice in verse six. and saith unto him, if thou be the son of God, cast thyself down, for it is written. See, the devil knows scripture. The devil can quote scripture. He shall give his angels charge concerning thee, and if their hand they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou shalt dash thy foot against a stone.

And the worst, hey, go ahead and pull yourself off that temple. Because the angels are going to watch over you and not even allow you to stub your little toe. Now, you understand with us in life, there’s one desire that we all have. One desire is for food and sometime we’ll do almost anything to make money to buy food. There’s another thing that all of us want. We want protection. And see, that’s one of the reasons why everybody likes to have insurance.

What is insurance for? Protection in case, you know, in case. Because it’s so hard and difficult to trust God that we can’t see, but if I know I got this policy and I make my payments, and then if something happens and goes wrong, I got a policy. Guaranteed, they got to take care of my health, they got to take care of my car, they got to take care of my house if it burns down. And so we want protection and some protection is not bad.

But it’s like the devil saying, look, you just do whatever I tell you. I’ll protect you. I see, I’m already the one telling you, you can do this because see, the angels are not gonna let you get hurt. I’m telling you truth. I’m telling you the truth. But see, he was deceptive. The Bible says, do not tempt the Lord thy God. don’t tempt God by being so stupid and foolish. I was told that hard times comes to all of us.

And because of these hard times, it’s kind of rough to go through. But it’s worse when you’re stupid. Do you find yourself doing stupid things? For example, somebody’s always trying to help me out in the ministry. They gave me this. And I thought, this can’t be real. I mean, nobody is this stupid, but then maybe they are. Recently when I went to McDonald’s, I saw on the menu that you could have an order of six 9 or 12 chicken nuggets.

I asked for a half dozen nuggets. We don’t have a half dozen nuggets. He said, the teenager, you don’t. We have six, nine or 12. So I can order a half dozen nuggets. But I can order six, that’s right. So I shook my head and ordered six nuggets. Now there’s some people that are just plain stupid. No, I was checking out at the local Walmart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine.

I picked up one of those little dividers that they keep the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn’t get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the divider looking at all over for the barcode and couldn’t find it. Not finding the barcode, she said to me, do you know how much this is? I said to her, I’ve changed my mind, I don’t think I’ll buy that today. I’ve been in the store and I’ve seen those things there, but I had no clue it a long time ago what they were for.

But this wasn’t written about me. A woman at work was saying put in a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the internet and they kept asking for a credit card number so she was using the ATM thingy. Now some of y’all, if you don’t do anything with a computer, you won’t get that. This one says, I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car.

do you need some help?” I asked. She replied, I knew I should have replaced a battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can’t get into my car. Do you think they would have a battery to fit this at the store over there? I said, I don’t know. Do you have an alarm to? I asked. No, just this remote thingy. Handing it, she answered, and handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manly unlocked the door, I replied, why don’t you drive over there and check about those batteries?

It’s a long walk. Some people forget you got a car key, but you punch the button. That really messed my car up because mine don’t work anymore. I have to use the car keys. Several years ago, we had an intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and says, I’m almost out of typing paper. What do I do? Just use paper from the photocopier, the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the copier and proceeded to make five blank copies.

By the way, she was brunette. A mother calls 911 very worried about and asked the dispatcher if she needs to take her kids to the emergency room. The kid had eaten ants. The dispatcher tell her to give the kid some men a drill and he should be fine, the mother said. But I just gave him some ant killer. This dispatcher rushed him to the emergency. I mean, if you could eat some ants, give them some ant poison, right? it’ll kill the ants.

Can you imagine that a parent would be that dumb? But listen, in this life there’s a lot of people doing a lot of stupid things. Here we are in, you know, 2000 years since Christ, everybody’s got all the evidence they need to verify that Jesus Christ lived upon this earth. and look at the effects of this one man after all these years. He was divine and the devil has lied to so many people for all these years trying to get people not to believe him.

And then for those that do trust Christ’s Savior, look how many lives the devil is ruining because God’s children won’t trust their heavenly Father. It’s enough to make you weep. But you know, here in verse 6, it’s like the devil says, look, you look to me and you trust me, I’ll feed you. I’ll satisfy that hunger desire. You look to me and I’ll take care and I’ll protect you. I’ll protect you. And so did you know that a lot of the problems that the nation of Israel had is, is because they look to Egypt or to Syria.

They look to other people for help instead of looking and trusting the Lord. And that’s why the Lord says the eyes of the Lord, the Lord to run to and fro throughout the old or whole, are looking for a person whose heart is right between him so that God could be strong on his behalf. God, just looking for somebody to trust him. See, God wants to lead you. God wants to provide. God wants to feed. God wants to protect.

God wants to do these things for us. And then we do everything, but look to him and trust him. You see, if the devil did that to Christ, that’s why the devil does that to us. Look what else he says here. You see there in verse eight. Again, the devil taken him up into a exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. You see, Satan will do whatever he has to offer you the world if you only serve him.

And God can make the other side of the, you know, the fence looks so green. And you say, well, I’m on this side and I’m serving the Lord in things like I’ve never had so many problems in my life until I started serving the Lord. I know in the other side, look so green. Well, if I just did what the world wanted me to do, I could have this and that and the other boy, look what I could have had.

Look what I could have been. I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender. And so people just wander from the Lord because there’s a devil and he lures. He lures because he lies. He deseces. And we can look to the Lord and we can trust the Lord because God knows what he’s doing. 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 two 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 by the line and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll 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 Bible line 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. 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

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. you 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

Here we are in 2000 years since Christ. Everybody’s got all the evidence they need, the verify that Jesus Christ lived upon this earth. And look at the effects of this one man after all these years. He was divine. And the devil has lied to so many people for all these years trying to get people not to believe him. And then for those that do trust Christ as Savior, look how many lives the devil is ruining because God’s children won’t trust their heavenly Father.

It’s enough to make you weep. But you know, here in verse 6, it’s like the devil says, look, you look to me and you trust me, I’ll feed you, I’ll satisfy that hunger desire. You look to me and I’ll take care and I’ll protect you. I’ll protect you. And so did you know that a lot of the problems that nation of Israel had is because they look to Egypt or to Syria? They look to other people for help instead of looking and trusting the Lord?

And that’s why the Lord says the eyes of the Lord, the Lord to infrow throughout the old or whole or looking for a person whose heart is right between Him so that God could be strong on His behalf. God’s just looking for somebody to trust Him. See, God wants to lead you. God wants to provide. God wants to feed. God wants to protect. God wants to do these things for us, and then we do everything but look to Him and trust Him.

You see, if the devil did that to Christ, that’s why the devil does that to us. Look what else he says here. You see there in verse 8. Again the devil taken him up into exceeding high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them. You see Satan will do whatever he has to offer you the world if you only serve him. And God can make the other side of the, you know, the fence looks so green.

And you say, I’m on this side and I’m serving the Lord and things like I’ve never had so many problems in my life until I started serving the Lord. I know in the other side, look so green. But if I just did what the world wanted me to do, I could have this and that and the other boy. Look what I could have had. Look what I could have been. I could have been somebody. I could have been a contender.

And so people just wander from the Lord because there’s a devil and he he lures. He lures because he lies. He DC’s and we can look to the Lord and we can trust the Lord because God knows what He’s doing. Look in Matthew 8, Matthew and chapter 8. And look at verse 28, Matthew chapter 8 verse 28 real quick. And when He was come to the other side and to the country of the Gurgaon, he says they’re met him to possess with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce so that no man might pass by that way.

And behold, they cried out saying, What have we to do with the Jesus, thou son of God? See, even the demons knew who he was, or thou come hither to torment us before the time. So they knew they were going to be tormented, and they knew that there was the time and they know the time is not yet. You think the devil knows more than you give him credit for? I think the devil probably knows a lot about the Bible.

Remember he knew those versions, he could quote them to Christ. And some people are so impressed because some lost preacher out there, he can quote the Bible. The devil can quote it too. But you’ll notice as you go down through here. And it says in verse 30, and there was a good way off from them, a herd of many swine feeding. So the devils besought him saying, if thou cast us out, permit us, allow us to go away into the herd of swine.

And he said unto them, go. they were come out, they went into the herd of swine, and this is where devils came from. And behold, the whole herd of swine ran violently down a steep place into the sea and perished in the water, and they that kept them fled, went their ways into the city, told everything, and what was befallen to the possessed of the devils. And behold, the whole city came out to to meet Jesus because they were so impressed.

Do you believe the devil is going to do whatever he can to keep people from hearing and believing that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God? See the demons knew that. Jesus wanted the people to know that. But you see, the demons went into the swine. The swine went over the cliff and fell into the water and the old round. The people that owned them ran into the city and told them what happened. The whole city comes out there and they say, we don’t want you in our country.

We don’t want you. You’ll see somebody done told them some tales. They were more interested in those swine than their own souls. Then listen to what Jesus tries to say. You see, not everybody is going to love you. Christ had been rejected, lies told on Him, all kind of deception that goes on. There isn’t anything that you and I have faced that Jesus Christ, He doesn’t know about it. In all points, without sin, attempted as we are. So it’s all in the book.

Look in John 13, the gospel of John, and in chapter 13, this is the last Passover. As you read through the gospel of John, you’ll notice it says, his hour has not yet come. His hour has not yet come. His hour is not yet come. And then lo and behold, it says, hey, his hour has come. On verse one, now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come, that he should depart out of this world under the Father.

Having loved his own, which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. supper being ended the devil, having now put into the heart of Judas’ carrier, Simon’s son, to betray him. Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hand, and that he was come from God and went to God. See, Jesus knew what was going on. Jesus is the one who told Judas is what so ever thou do us do quickly. But do you believe that the devil knew what was going on?

And the devil is going to try to turn people away from him and was going to use Judas as an individual, give him money in which he would betray the Son of God for the purpose of killing him, for the purpose of having him killed, the devil. You know that God is able to take even the works of the devil and use it for his own and glory to accomplish his purpose. That’s why you and I or suppose just read the Bible, believe it, and we’ll have an idea what’s going on in our own lives.

You see, when you don’t believe the Bible, you cannot understand your life. But when you begin to read it and grasp some of these things that God talks about and how God works, the limitations of the devil, but what He does, what His goal is, and you’ll find out that the devil was doing everything possible to devour the Son of God. But what wrong had He done anything wrong? Now, take a Bible-looking book of Luke, chapter 22. Luke, chapter 22.

Luke 22 in verse 31. Verse 31, and the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan is going to leave us all alone now. He’s tired of messing with us. So we got to pre-sailing from here on in. No, Jesus is still having problems because of the devil. See, if the devil can’t get the Lord, he’s going to go after his disciples. If the devil can’t get you, he’s going to try to go through your wife. He can’t get your wife.

He’s going to try to go through the kids. Can’t get the kids go through your boss. Whatever it takes, he doesn’t stop all the days of your life. Don’t think, well, he, all the devil was after me 20 years ago. He still is. But look what he says here in verse 32, but I have prayed for thee that thy faith fell not and when thou art converted. See, I believe a lost man gets saved. And then after you’re saved, I believe that you can have your life converted or changed.

Anyway, that’s another story. And when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. So did the devil, is he still at it? Still after? Yes, he is. Still trying to do the damage. You see, Peter was in the jaws of the devil. Judas was in the jaws of the devil. And he’s a lion seeking whom he may devour, and he’s just about taking down, I know some Christians right now that are in the jaws of the devil, and they’re fixing to be devoured.

They’re at the point where they’re ready just to give up, I don’t care anymore. And they cease to fight. You see, how did you get trapped by that old lion a devil. Believe in a lie. How do you get free from the lion? Believe the truth. He says, know the truth and the truth will set you free. But if you don’t believe the truth, you’ll believe the lie and to believe a lie is to be in the jaws of the devil.

Some Christians never figure this out. So how do I get out of the jaws of the devil? Believe the truth. You just start taking everything that you know that is right, that is truthful and believe truth and acting and thinking and talking the truth, believe truth. And truth will set you free from all the lies, the deception, the deceit, the despair, the anguish, all the things of discouragement, the depression that we’ve talked about before. It’s all because of your attitude toward the Lord.

So have you been in the jaws of the lion lately? And it seemed like he’s just about gotcha. And then by the grace of God, you believe what God says and you hung on to his word. This is why it’s so important for a Christian to learn words or verses in the scriptures that you can hang on to, that you believe. You don’t know how God’s going to do it, but you just believe it and you keep believing and you just stay right and keep doing right Because you know God is going to walk you through this.

Take your Bible and turn very quickly to the book of Isaiah, chapter 11. The book of Isaiah and chapter 11. Is it where in the world are we going now? Well, see, it’s referred to in the book of Matthew about Jesus Christ have been a branch because he’s the tender branch that grows up, the root out of the dry ground. And in chapter 11 in verse 1 is a reference kind of like toward that. And just a couple verses before we quit here tonight, but look in verse 1.

And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse. And a root or a branch shall grow out of his roots. This is a reference to Jesus Christ coming from the line of Jesse. You see, Jesse was the father of David, and this is where it comes from. Verse two is an understanding about the character of the one that’s going to be born, and it’s a reference to Jesus Christ. So this is talking about the Lord down through here.

Now, take your Bible look in the book of Isaiah 53, Isaiah 53, you’ve probably never seen this before. And look there in Isaiah 53 verse 1, who hath believed our report and the home is the arm of the Lord revealed. The arm of the Lord is Christ, the right hand, the power of God, and He’s going to be revealed. And he says, who in the world is going to believe this? This is written 700 years before Christ ever came.

And in verse 2, for he shall grow up before him as a, and you ought to underline these little words, tender plant, as a root out of a dry ground. This is talking about Jesus Christ being born into the world, coming into this world. He is divine. He not just your average, every-go type of individual. This is the Lord Himself. Take your Bible, look over there in the book of Romans in chapter 1. The book of Romans in chapter 1.

Page 1191. See, on Wednesday night, it’s Bible study. We study the Bible. So you need to have a Bible, mark your Bible, Learn these scriptures in book of Romans chapter 1, look in verse 3. He’s talking about as the Apostle Paul when he goes to Rome he says, God has given to me a wonderful message and separated me unto this message, the gospel of God in verse 1. He said in verse 3, concerning his son Jesus Christ our Lord which was made get this of the seed of David according to the flesh.

So Jesus Christ coming into to the world is to be the seed of David. So he comes from David according to the flesh. Get this verse four, and declare to be the son of God. He is according to the flesh from the seed of David declared to be the son of God with power, according to the spirit of holy men by the resurrection from the dead. So Jesus Christ is to come from the line of David, of the seed of David, according to the flesh, because he had a physical body, a body has to have prepared me.

And yet he’s also called the Son of God. Now that does get interesting. Now take a Bible and look in the book of Matthew in chapter 22. Matthew and chapter 22. Matthew chapter 22, and look at verse 41, verse 41. I love this little portion of the scripture, this little quiz is a pop quiz. Because everybody had tried to find some way of trapping Jesus and they tried to ask him some trick questions as though you could ask him a question he couldn’t answer.

So in verse 41, while the Pharisees were gathered together. Jesus says, Hey, I got a question for you. He says in verse 42, saying, What think ye of Christ the Messiah? Whose son is he? Isn’t that a good question? It’s him. But he said, Whose son is the Messiah? They said unto him the son of David. He said unto them, how then the David in spirit call him Lord? How can David, if he came from David, how can David call him Lord?

Isn’t that a good question? And that’s not all of it. Look at the rest of the verse, verse 44. The Lord, Eloharity, the Lord Jehovah, said unto my Lord. This this is what David said, the Lord said unto my Lord, the one that came from him, sit thou on my right hand till I make thine enemies thy footstoom. If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? That’s a man that’s awesome. And Jesus is giving this little pop quiz.

That’s a good question. Hey dig this Messiah guy that’s supposed to come. Oh, who son is he? David. Well, how can David call him Lord if he’s his son? And how can David say the Lord has said unto my Lord? The one that came from me, the Lord? I love there has to be a sense of humor here in verse 40 and no man was able to answer him a word neither dirt any man from that day forth ask him any more questions I wouldn’t have either look in Matthew 15 Matthew in chapter 15 Now, we talked about him being a tender plant.

Growing up as a root out of a dry ground, he came from Jesse, when he called about the rod of Jesse, something comes from Jesse, David, and yet the root of tender plant. And God’s Word says, every plant, every tree, that God Didn’t plant he’s gonna cut down see there in verse 13 But he answered and said every plant which my heavenly father have not planted shall be rooted up Every plant that my father have not planted Shall be rooted up What does that mean?

Take your Bible looking Matthew And you’ll see a little connection. Look in chapter 3 of the book of Matthew. When John the Baptist was baptizing the river Jordan, and it says in verse 7, when he saw many of the Pharisees and the Sadducees come to his baptism, he said to them, O generation of vipers who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come. for their forefoot, meet for repentance. Think not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham to our Father.

For I send you that God is able of these stones to raise up children and Abraham. And now also get this, the axe is laid unto the root of the trees. Therefore every tree, which bringeth not forth good fruit, is hewed down and cast into the fire, every tree. And the Bible says every tree that God did not plant, he is going to root it out. And here he’s talking about every tree that doesn’t bring forth good fruit. You’re going to chop it down.

Well, that’s interesting. Take your Bible and look there in the book of Matthew chapter 7. Matthew chapter 7. And you’ll notice in in Matthew chapter 7, in verse 15, there’s a scripture about false prophets. False prophets have a false message. And people who believe a false message go to the wrong place. Isn’t that simple? You understand that. So he says here in verse 6, you shall know them by their fruits by the things that they say, because a false prophet has a false message.

So what did he say? the fruit of their mouth. Look what he says in verse 7, even though every good tree, bringeth forth good fruit and a corrupt tree, bringeth forth evil fruit. Good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. Understand what he’s saying. If a tree is a good tree, it can’t bring forth bad fruit. If it’s a bad tree, it can’t bring forth good fruit, impossible. So what kind of a tree are you?

If you have one sin, and this is a reference to all the people on the earth, all have sinned and because we’ve all sinned, we’re all going to die. We’re all going to be cut out. We all die because we all have sin. So God came looking for righteousness. And He says, my righteous branch. There is a righteous branch. And that was at one little branch that came up, that root out of the dry ground. He was righteous and He was the only one that God the Father had planted.

And it had no sin and it didn’t have to die. So Jesus Christ is the righteous branch, the righteous tree, and He brings forth the good fruit on the tree. Jesus is the only good tree. All the rest of us are bad trees because we’ve got bad fruit. And so it’s not the fruit problem, it’s the root problem. And that’s why when you and I accept Christ as our Savior. We are born from the seed of the Word. That came from the righteous tree.

My new birth came from the good tree. And therefore I have a new birth and my new birth does not sin. And it cause it cannot sin. It cannot die. The one that you see that commits all these sins is that bad tree that came from a bad root, from a bad seed. And that’s… my old sinful nature. And one of these days, this bad tree is going to die, but that which came from the new will never die.

This is why Christ came into the world to pay for all the sins so that you and I could be born again, a new birth. And God says, once we believe, trust Him as our Savior, He gives us as a free gift of everlasting life. And we get to go to heaven on what Christ did for us. Look up here just quickly. This is you and me, and this is sin. We all have sin on us. God loves us.

H.R.C.N. but He loves us. But you see, because we’re born in this old world with an old sinful nature, we’re all bad trees because we’ve got bad fruit, because we’ve got a bad root. And because we’ve all sinned, the weight of the sin is death, so we all have to die. All the trees that God didn’t plan are going to be cut down, so we’re all going to die. And God says to go to heaven, you have to be perfect as righteous as God, and we’re not.

So no man can save himself. This then represents Jesus Christ. He came into the world, the only begotten of the Father. He had no sin, a tender plant, and it grew up as a green tree. No sin, didn’t have to die. Righteousness, the righteous branch. So Jesus cries who had no sin didn’t have to die. He took the sins of the world upon himself and died for us. Came back again from the dead and said that if we would believe that what what he did was for us and believe in the Word.

He is the Word. Then God would give to us as a free gift to everlasting life. We have a new birth from a new seed. And therein we’re able to form the righteousness that God wants. Now you may not, but you can. And when we get to heaven, God’s going to reward us for what we’ve done for Him. hope all of this makes sense. Can you know? Can you follow what I’m saying? Very good. Let’s pray, shall we? Our Father, we thank You so much for all You’ve done for us.

We’re thankful that even at this time of year we can think about who Christ is and what He’s done. And we just pray, Lord, Your will, to be done in the lives of each person. Well, it’s so much we want to do for You. And I know that you love us and you want us to do right. More than our desire to want to do it. We want to please you in everything that we do. And follow we just commit ourselves to you.

This church belongs to you. We’re just your people. We just want your blessings. In Christ name we pray, Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 toll 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 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 broadcasts of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org.

Thank you for joining us on Bible Eye 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. Here God’s truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of CalvaryShar 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.

The Bible tells us that God has already judged the world. For 1500 years he had given to the nation of Israel his law, but he had also given the light of understanding, of conscience to the Gentiles, also where they could know that there is a God because of His creation, because of conscience being able to reason that if there is a world, there has to be a God. That is assumed. Even when we read in the very first words of the Bible, God does not explain God.

He just simply starts off with the very first verse in the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. It is assumed that the nations of the world, the people of the world, know there is a God. But instead of seeking God and letting even their conscience, which has a little bit of light, guide them To God, they refused that. So whether it was because of the word that was revealed to Israel, or the world that is revealed to the common mind, everyone has found themselves to be guilty before God.

Because God has judged the whole world. Now take your Bible and turn to the book of Romans in chapter 3. And he makes a statement there in verse 9. Now Now we know that what things so ever the law sayeth, it’s safe to them who are under the law, y’all get this, that every mouth may be stopped. Because whatever God does, it must be right. And God must be just justified in the eyes of everybody that whatever God did, it was right.

So God has to always vindicate Himself and prove to the world that what God did was justified and God’s going to do that. This is the only main reason for the Grey White Throne Judgment so that every lost man will get a day in court and present his cause. And when it’s all over with, there won’t be anything for them to say and the Bible says and they will be cast into the lake of burning fire. Now get what he says here.

In the last part of this verse he says that every mouth may be stopped all the world. The word all if you don’t have it on the line you should. All the world may become guilty before God. So if you are found to be guilty it means that courts already been held. It’s already been held. has already declared this to be true. And so therefore this is a judicial decision as a judge would make in a courtroom. Thou art found guilty.

And if you had a jury trial and how does the jury find the defendant guilty innocent, every man is a liar. Look in verse 4 of Romans in chapter 3. God forbid you let God be true. Every man a liar. Everybody’s a liar. I know we don’t like to admit that we ever told a lie, but we have. And God says every man is a liar in a thousand ways. But God says in this verse all the world may become guilty before God.

Now look in verse 20. Therefore… If the sentence has already been rendered, then there’s nothing that the defendant can do to justify himself, cause courts over. Courts over. It’s in the words, it’s like a judge saying that you are guilty and you’re just waiting for that. Nothing that you do now is going to change the judge’s mind. It’s final. Now the day we have the court of appeals and this appeal matter appeal and so forth and they said on death for over 20 years You think God’s like that?

God’s not like that God makes a decision and he has said the whole world is guilty and because the whole world is guilty Therefore there’s nothing that you can do to deliver yourself from that verdict Now, this is why God sent his son Look in verse 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight Because there’s nothing that you can do the verdict is over. It’s your guilty and you got to pay And he says for by the law is the knowledge of the sin that is how we know that we are a sin Now these are simple verses that we’ve covered many many times now take your Bible and turn it there to the book of John chapter 3 John and chapter 3 The Gospel of John is a book that’s very simple, very good, easy for anybody to understand.

It’s one that I guess more people of trusted Christ is Savior from than any other book in the Bible. I always recommend the Gospel of John to a person who has just trusted Christ. I say read it and then we get through, read it again, and then we get to read it again. If you don’t get to any other books in the Bible, just read the Gospel of John. because Gospel of John is so easy and simple for a person to understand.

So many great truths. Now look at John 3 16, a verse you’re very familiar with, but look at it. He says, for God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever it be, leave it then Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Now you said, well everybody’s heard that verse. There are people who’ve never heard the verse. The first time I heard the verse, I was 18 years old. Now think about that. You think everybody’s heard that.

I was 18 for I ever heard that verse. Get what he says in verse 17. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world. Why? The world was already condemned. So Christ didn’t come down here to prove to everybody about all this bad wickedness that everybody’s doing. He came to save the world. I believe very strongly that as a person that is sent into the world, like it says God sent his son, well the Bible also says he sent us into the world.

Well if God didn’t send his son into the world to condemn the world, then why should I go into the world to condemn the world? The homosexual is going to hell not because he’s a homosexual. the man that drank, he’s going to help not because he drank him. All those are the results of him being a sinner. That’s not an issue to me. We’re supposed to love the person, not their sin, and they don’t have to stop their sin in order for us to love them more or even for God to love them more.

That’s a love the world. And he came saying it’s not to condemn the world because they’re already condemned. But we can let them know that they are condemned. Because they have not believed Not because of the things they’re doing because then whenever you point out all the sins that they’re now doing We’re giving the impression you got to stop before God will save you and I disagree with that Though I want people to live good and righteous and so forth, but that’s not the point when you’re talking about salvation Look there in verse 17 When he says for God sent out his son into the world to condemn the world But that the world through him might be what might be safe.

So he came to save. Not to condemn, but to save. It’s not good to always try to point out all the wickedness that people are doing. Most of the, all you got to do is put your center and everybody. I think most people, they know that. I’ve only met a couple of people in my whole life that thought they were perfect.

And this guy, he says, he says, if you ever met anybody that’s perfect or heard about anybody being perfect, he says, oh, yeah. He says, my wife’s ex-husband. Look at verse 18. Verse 18 says, he that believeth on him is what? Not condemned, but get this. But he that believeth not is condemned when? He is already condemned. So he’s not going to hell because of any particular sin that he’s doing. Those, all those things that he does is because he is a sinner.

That’s what he is. That’s just the fruit on the tree. We don’t have to get him to pick the fruit off the tree before God will save him. No. But get what he says. He is condemned already because he have not, what, he have not believed in the name of the only begotten son of God. This is, this is why. a man’s condition because he hasn’t believed not because of all the bad things are doing Hitler didn’t go to hell because he killed six million Jews or however many millions he killed that’s not why what the hell if he went to hell because he didn’t believe on Christ didn’t trust Christ saw them who sang if he was the trust Christ’s savior where would he go they go to heaven and nothing else matters I mean for the world yes I mean that’s terrible what happened and

And those some have been lost. I mean, but if they trust Christ, they’re safe. They’ll go to heaven when they die Despite everything they’ve ever done. It’s hard sometimes for us to believe it, but that’s that’s grace That’s because God loves them Remember you and I don’t looking things exactly the way God does God loves the people we despise and we hate I Hope there’s nobody like that in your life But he makes a statement verse 19 and get it and this is the condemnation that light is coming to the world because men love God.

So God has given us the light so that people could see there’s a God that loves you. And I told the man I said I would rather let him know God loves you. And instead of trying to condemn everybody because of all the bad things that they do, maybe they have done a lot of bad things. And I went down one day to the ball game they were having down there and they had all these tailgate parties. And I had never been to one.

And I saw, I mean, but you know, for the most part, yeah, there were some people down there drinking. That was a little fan of mine. You know, but for the most part, people were just having a good time. Those are having fun. They were eating same food that I eat. And some of them were even drinking some of the same stuff that I drink. But to put a blanket, they’re all bad. No, they’re not. There’s a lot of good people doing a lot of good things.

And there’s a few people that will do some things that are not good. We, I believe, have a tremendous message that people could only hear it and understand and let them know about the love of God. And to me, this is what Christmas is about. Now, take your Bible and turn to John chapter five and verse 24. John chapter five and verse 24. See, you were condemned already. say judicial decree from the judge, God. After you trust Christ as your Savior of the same God that says once you are guilty, you’re condemned, but you trust Christ, you’re saved from the condemnation and then this same God has already decreed you can never be condemned again.

In other words you can’t be tried for the same crime twice. I was judged because I was a sinner. I can never be judged for that again. We even have laws in our country that says the very same thing. And this is why he says here in verse 24, verily, verily I say unto you, hear that, heareth my word, believeth on him, that sent me half right now, present, tenth, everlasting life, and shall not come into to condemnation. You can’t be condemned in the future because that would be double jeopardy.

You can’t do that. It is God that says it but is past from death in the life. God has already given you eternal life. He can’t condemn you. This is why it’s such a wonderful thing to know that you have eternal life and to know that you’re going to heaven when you die and understand why. I know sometimes people say well all you know is John 3 16. Well if that’s all that I new and the seven steps in the hand gesture.

That’s a tremendous message and that’s a lot to know and there’s like I don’t think I’d ever run out of people to talk to. But it’s understanding all these other things in the Bible that make you strong enough to keep doing that and keeping it simple and clear because you really believe it. But as you notice from this verse 24, shall not in the future ever be condemned again. You will never come into condemnation. That is And right along with you can know you have eternal life, half ever, you have this.

You can’t be condemned. You can’t go to hell in the future. Take your Bible, look at 2 Corinthians in chapter 5. 2 Corinthians in chapter 5. And this verse is a tremendous truth. Great truth. I never really understood this verse until I heard Dr. Stanford speak on it about a thousand times. I mean, he was always hitting this verse. I’ve read the verse, but I didn’t get out of it what he got out of it until I listened to him.

And then he had to say it over and over again for me. I see what he’s saying. Look at verse 21, where he had made him to be sin for us. He knew no sin. Christ, you know Sam, that we might be made the righteousness of God. Now let me ask you a question concerning Christ. Can Christ go to heaven? Why?

That’s why Christ is going to heaven. He’s perfect. What if you were in Christ? If He goes you go because you’re in Him. If Leon is driving his little red pickup truck down the highway going to Culver If Mrs. Campbell gets in the truck wherever Leon goes She’s going why she’s in the trunk When you are in Christ You get to go where he goes Because that’s where he is you’re in him now This is a simple illustration. I’ve given it before but I want to show you something This is me see there got Yankee on it.

That’s how you know it’s me and this This is Christ So whenever you trusted Christ as your Savior God Put you where in him and The Holy Spirit sealed you in in Christ. And then the Bible says that Christ is in God. So now, where am I? God the Father can see the Son. And whenever He looks for me and He finds me, He finds me in Christ. And Christ is in the Father. and I am sealed in Him.

This is a positional truth. This is what happens when you trusted Christ as your Savior. He says that you are in Him. Now get the last part of the verse. Be made the righteousness of God those two words. very important in him. So me going to heaven is me being in Christ. So Christ says salvation is Yankee needs to be into my life. We have people today that are saying that if you want to go to heaven you have to have Christ in your life.

You need Christ in your life, Christ in your life. And I’ve asked Christ to come into my life for salvation. No is is that Christ wants you in his life and Then you get to go and enjoy his life where he is That’s the different story that salvation Now whenever we’re talking about Serving the Lord God left us in this world in this world. I I live in this body. So Christ wants to be where? In me Christ in me.

In this life I am supposed to live. Christ wants to live his life through my life. That’s service. Salvation is that Christ wants me in his life. That’s a position of truth that cannot change. But Christ living his life through you down here in this world can change moment by moment. Because you see, it’s not that he is any less, it’s that I am not letting him live his life through me in this life. So as a Christian do I want Christ in my life?

Yes, but I want Christ to live his life through me. When I get to heaven, I will be in his life, not eternal life. When you trust in Christ your Savior, you are placed in Him. And He says He’ll never cast you out, never lose you. You are in the Son, sealed by the Holy Spirit, and the Son is in Christ. How can you ever get out of here? You can’t. You’re sealed. You’re ready to be delivered. you’re going to heaven when you die.

Now that’s the good news. Now take your Bible and turn to the book of Philippians in chapter 3, the book of Philippians and chapter 3. I am in Christ to live there. Christ is in me to live here and some people get it mixed up and they think that I just got to get Christ in my life to go to heaven. No. Because here you’re talking about Christ helping you live your life or you’re living your life for certain things for Christ and that that’s not salvation.

So you have a lot of Christians, people I should say go in the church, live in good lives, doing things for Christ and so forth and never trust Christ to take them to heaven. Because salvation is Christ allowing you to enter and to him his life. And that’s how you get eternal life. Now here in Philippians in chapter three, look what he says in verse nine. And be found in him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God, by faith.

And be found where? in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith. How did you get there? By faith alone, believing that what Christ did was for you. You here can never be condemned. That’s your position in Christ. You’re safe and it can never be changed. Never be altered. can never undo this. Over here, Christ in your life may have control of you at one time and not another because it depends upon you yielding to the one who lives on the inside of you.

This is why we often say, greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Satan in the world, Christ is in you, greater is He that is in you. So if you let the Lord, who lives within you, have the right to live through you because you yield to Him, you have the power to defeat the one that’s in the world that’s greater than you. And you can have power over the temptations of the flesh, the trials and tribulations, and anything the world has to throw at you because Christ is in your life in this world here, now you can have victory.

But many of God’s people have no victory in their Christian life, but they can. Now get what he says in verse 9, be found in him not having my own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God by faith. So God will give you his righteousness. Jesus Christ can go to heaven because he’s perfect. All right. If you’re placed in Him, then you’re in Christ and He’ll never cast you out and never lose you.

And you get to go because of what Christ did for you. See, this is a message that none of them never heard this. That man and his family they left. And so this young black couple, they got up to leave. And when they got up I says, and she was laughing about something. And I said, I don’t know what you’re laughing about it but it must be good and she slowly is. I said I got something good for you too.

I said you know that little thing I gave you that little piece of paper? I said let me, I said you got two minutes don’t you? I said yeah. I said sit sit out. They came and they sit down at my table and so when they said down I said come on let me show you something. Let me show you how you can know that you’re going to heaven. I said can I ask you? I said do you know that you’re going I’m going to heaven.

I said, what about you? He said, yeah, me too. Oh, this is great. They’re all Christians. I said, is there anything that you could do that could keep you from going to heaven? She said, well, yeah, that’s why you got to go to church and do the best you can. Were they really trusting Christ? No. They had the right words to start with, but they weren’t trusting in the way they lived. And she said that this is why we have to go to church.

And she says, and that’s why she said, and I pray and I try to do right. I said, well, what if you don’t? Well, then you don’t get to go. I said, let me talk to you. So I pulled out my wallet and I went through the hand gesture and I explained the gospel how they can know they have eternal life by trusting Christ’s Savior. And I says do you understand what I’m saying? She said yes, I do Look at what she said and I told him all about Robert coming to our church.

I invited them to come I said he needs somebody to come in here Set with him and says I said I’d love to have you come and I said this guy is one of the biggest dudes You’ve ever seen your life. I said he lifts weight. He’s big and solid kind of bill like myself Anyway, I enjoyed talking to them and I I said, where are you right now? Will you trust Jesus Christ as your Savior? And I said, yes, I will.

Now I looked at the guy and I said, what about three? He says, I won’t do it. I said, if you trust Christ right now, what would you have eternal life? Now listen, it’s right of everything else you think about. And even with all the stores and you can buy all kind of stuff and people will, and there’s nothing wrong with that. But the greatest gift you can give to anybody is the explanation of how to have the gift of eternal life.

And one of his shame for year after year after year to go by, and there’s nobody that you’ve ever talked to, find a victim. I sat down deliberately and asked the Lord, though let me talk to somebody. Then I had to take advantage of an opportunity. And sometimes it works. Sometimes it don’t. But at least you try. I’m sure that if you really try, You can find one person just, they didn’t know I was a preacher. I didn’t tell him I was a preacher till afterwards, but you can do it because it’s just the good message.

It’s a good news. It’s the greatest story in all the world. Go for it. Try it. You’ll like it. And to see something that would be tremendous. But anyway, keep it in mind. Salvation is not me having Christ in my life, but Christ having me in his life. Service is me having Christ in my life here. So I am in Christ to live there and Christ is in me to live here. Doesn’t that make sense? I thought of that last night sitting downstairs.

All of us admit that makes sense to me and I wrote that down and I knew you’d like that. Didn’t you like that? Because it does, so it makes sense. I’m always trying to find out a simpler way to say something because anybody can be hard and complicated. I want people to understand what I’m saying, and I want to be cleared simple, and I hope that makes sense to you. With headbound eyes closed and no one looking around, ask the Lord that in the next couple weeks, you will take the time, somehow, some way, and find someone to talk to, not just give them a track, let it be a door that you open up, but talk to somebody.

Nobody even has to know it. Find one person, come by themselves, talk to a little kid, But anybody somewhere, and it’s the greatest thing that you’ll ever do. Father, we ask Your blessings upon us. We thank You for all You’ve done for us. We thank You for these people, our church, and Father, ask Your blessings upon each and everyone. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. 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. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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. Our 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.

Today’s message called when God became a man, when God became a man. I think that’s a wonderful title of a good sermon. It’s that time of year when we talk about that very thing, when God became a man. Now we have people that want to become God. There was an angel that wanted to become God one day and he turned out to be the devil. I believe that we ought to just let God be God. And that’s it.

I know sometimes we wonder, you know, where is God? Where’s God? Can you find him anywhere? I’ve had people that says, I don’t believe there is a God. I don’t believe there’s a God. So well, if you don’t believe there’s a God, then you ought to be able to go everywhere all at the same time to prove that God isn’t there. So before you can intellectually really state for a fact that God is not God because you can’t find him.

He might be where you aren’t. So can you actually say you have been everywhere all at the same time because he might be there? So you can’t say that. Do you know everything? If there’s anything that you don’t know could be the knowledge of God. So until you can say you know everything, You can’t say there is no God. Duh? I hate it when somebody says that. Turn in the Bible to the Book Occupations of Luke. The Gospel of Luke and chapter one.

Luke chapter one. And look what the scripture says about this event. I’m just going to read one verse so they got a long way to go. You’ll know there in Luke chapter one in verse 35. And the angel answered and said unto her, the Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the highest shall overshadow thee. Therefore also that holy thing, which shall be born of thee, shall be called the Son of God. Now, he’s also titled the Son of Man.

Son of Man means that he came from man. Son of God he came from God. So he is called the son of man, he is a man, and he is God in the flesh. And he’s called that holy thing. Every one of us, when we’re born into this world, we are an unholy thing. We’re all sinners. We’ve all sinned. We’ve come short of perfection. He didn’t come up short of perfection. He is perfect. No sinful nature. He did everything right.

Take your Bible, look there in the book of Luke in chapter four. It would be great if all the people of the world could see that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. But look what he says here in verse 34 of chapter four. These are unclean devils, angels, fall of angels, demons. Say and let us alone, what have we to do with thee? about Jesus of Nazareth, or thou come to destroy us? I knew thee who thou art, the holy one of God, the holy one of God.

He wasn’t just a man. Jesus was the holy one of God. Now turn in your Bible to the book of Hebrews, the book of Hebrews, and chapter 10, Hebrews and chapter 10. And look there in verse one. Hebrews chapter 10 verse 1, make sure you read your Bible. This is a Bible church. We believe the Bible and believe everybody ought to read the Bible and you ought to check it and make sure that what the preacher said is in the Bible.

And verse 1 says, for the law, having a shadow of good things to come and not the very image of the things can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year, continually make the comers, they’re unto perfect. So you have here in this one verse some awesome statements that the sacrifices in the Old Testament that they made Never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year Continually make the comers there unto per it could make them perfect So the Bible says see to go to heaven you have to be perfect and none of the sacrifices ever made in the Old Testament ever made anybody perfect So that means that nobody has ever been saved by the law The sacrificial law the ceremonial laws of the moral law nobody has ever been saved made perfect by the law Get what he says now

because of that but in Those sacrifices there is a remembrance again made of sins every year in other words every year They have to make these same sacrifice the high priest has to go into the holy of holies and offer a sacrifice for him and for the sins of the people, because it never paid for sin, never made anybody perfect. Well, look what he says now in verse 4. For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins, not possible, not possible.

So that means that all those sacrifices, it was impossible to pay for sin. verse five, where for when he come into the world? Oh, we’re on another subject. Well, look what it’s talking about. He said, sacrifice and offerings thou would have not, but a body has not prepared me. A body has not prepared me. See, when Jesus came into the world, Mary was used of the Lord to prepare a body for God to live in. Jesus Christ is God upon the earth.

He is manifested in this body. And this body was a holy body, a perfect body. It had no sinful nature because it had no earthly father. The Holy Spirit came upon Mary and placed the seed within the womb of Mary and that holy thing came from God and God prepared a body for a son to be born in. So we have now a man walking around in a perfect body with no sinful nature and he never did anything wrong.

There’s only been one person like that in all the world bool and it just happens to be Jesus Christ and he says a body has to stop preparing me but why did he prepare that body for him. Now take your Bible, look in John chapter 1 and verse 14. The gospel of John chapter 1 and look in verse 14. In verse 14 says, and the word was made flesh. This is on page 11, 14, oh, let’s go for a reference Bible.

Verse 14, and the word was made flesh, dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. God brought this son into existence. It’s flesh. Now Jesus already existed from the foundations of the world. He’s always been. In the book of Isaiah it says, and the government shall be upon his shoulders. But he’s talking there about unto us a child is born and a son is given and the government shall be upon his shoulders and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor of the mighty God the everlasting father of the Prince of Peace.

How could he be called the everlasting father unless you have an everlasting son? Well the son is just as old as the dead. But that’s another story but look what he says in verse 1 of John chapter 1. And though in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. And all things were made by Him that was made. And without Him was not anything made that was made.

He was in the beginning. And the Bible says that He came into the world with their inverse 10. He was in the world. And the world was made by Him. So this Jesus, we’re talking about this one that’s being born made the world. He created all things. And without him was not anything made that was made. He made it all. And he says here, and his own knew him not, on in verse 11. He came into his own and his own received him not, but to as many as received him to them gave he the power to become the sons of God, even to those who believe on his name.

And he’s talking about the word that is God was made flesh. That means made flesh means he tabernacled among us. In the Old Testament the Chicana glory came into the tabernacle. Here it tabernacle in this flesh God in the flesh. That’s what we call the incarnation. He is in the flesh That’s when John the Baptist saw him and says behold the lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world Why did he have to come? Well, this is why that he might die See God is a spirit and God cannot die so He came into the world and took upon him a body and in this body he He became like a man He became flesh God in spirit could not die be that he might be our near kinsman Possessed the right to redeem the human race through his payment.

In other words, he had to be a man to die for a man God would not accept the sacrifice of animals. It could never take away sin You see, the reason Jesus could pay for our sins is because He had none to pay for. We’re all indebted for our own. That’s why I can’t pay for your sins because I got to pay for mine. And you can’t pay for somebody else’s because you got to pay for yours. So with the needed somebody that was perfect and there was only one.

That was Jesus Christ. A body has stopped, prepared me. We call it the birth of Jesus Christ. But remember, he wasn’t born into the world just to be born so that we can worship the birthday of Jesus Christ. What’s more important that he came to die on the cross. And there’s a lot of people who worship a babe in a manger but reject a man on the cross. And it’s wrong to do so. And that he might claim the throne of Israel.

He is the king of Israel. He that is born king in Israel. Behold, there’s born unto you this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. He is the Lord. He is Jehovah. He is God in the flesh. So when you think about Jesus Christ, what do you conjure up in your mind? Is He just a good man, good prophet, good teacher, trailblazer? What is He? He’s God in the flesh. I would not serve a man and worship a man that’s no better than I am.

But this man was God in the flesh. That changes everything. That changes everything. Look at number two and turning your Bible to second Corinthians in chapter eight. Second Corinthians in chapter eight. This is an awesome statement. When you stop and think about this, we have people in this world. that will kill in order to get money, to be famous and popular and all those things.

Think about this. Here’s Jesus Christ in heaven before the world began. He has all the honor, all the glory, all the wealth anybody could ever want. And look what the Bible says that he did. Look there in verse 9, for ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was what? Now when he was born into this world, he didn’t have much, he didn’t run around in the Mercedes or Rolls Royce, I don’t even know if he He had a soup dub camel.

He didn’t spend the nights at Ramada Inn, and you know, he didn’t village in. He didn’t have none of those things. And yet he is God in the flesh. He had everything you would ever want. Live forever, perfect place. All the wealth in the world. He can make anything he wanted. God and what does he do? He comes into the world and is born as a baby and a manger and a manger. Now you would think we would be born in a palace.

I ought to be born in a palace. Look who he is, but in a stable. Doesn’t sound too healthy to me, sanitary. But look who he was. Jesus Christ came into the world and left everything, gave up everything. Look at the last part of this verse. Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich. That’s why he did it. He wants you to be rich. He wants me to be rich.

But we were poor. And just think, this one man is able to come into this world and make everybody rich. Say, boy, if I had a million dollars, I’d make everybody rich. No, you wouldn’t. You’d hoard it up, waste it, squandrate, unless you earned it. What would you do if you had a million dollars? But look at the notes here. He brought from heaven all that he needed to pay the debt. Well, we men, when he came and he came then to the world to pay for our sins, did he bring money?

No, because that wasn’t the payment for sin. Well, what did he bring? He just brought himself. Why? That’s all he needed was himself. He came into the world to do something that only he could do. It was a payment that only he could make. He came. He didn’t have to bring anything with him. I know there’s a store in the Old Testament about a guy that was a… called Naaman? The Syrian? Is that his name? And when did you see Elijah?

Because the little maid told me, you know, when he came from Syria, he brought all of the people and he brought camels and he brought jewelry, gold, silver, he had all these raimans, he had all kinds of stuff because he had to come. This is what is going to cost for him to cure me in my leprosy.

When Jesus came into the world, he didn’t bring anything. He was going to give himself. That was the payment that was needed. And that’s why by himself, he purged our sins. By himself no help from nobody. That’s why there’s nobody who can save you Jesus Christ He did it all Look at the letter B the wages of sin was dead all he needed with life That was not indebted Because the payment for sin is death all he had to do is bring his life here and be willing to give it to pay for that payment.

And that’s what He did. Look at number three. Why He became sin? Why He became sin? Now I want you to look at this first because it’s very good. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3. Hebrews chapter 1 and verse 3. The Lord says that in the Old Testament times, many ways through many prophets, He said He had spoken in and times pass unto the fathers by the prophets. But it says in verse two, it happened these last days, spoken to us by his son.

And look what he says in verse two, I want you to see this verse, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. In other words, God the father, he made all these things through his son. It says the sons, the one that did it all. All things were made by him. And without him was not anything made, that was made. And verse three, get this, this is a powerful verse, who referring to Christ, being the brightness of his glory, his perfection, God’s perfection.

The express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had, and you are to underline these two little words, when he had with my help, when he had by the church, no, He had by himself, by himself, it just purged our sin, sat down because the job was done. The job was completed, finished. When he died on the cross, he says, it is finished. Now, there’s nothing anybody else had to do for the payment of sin.

He paid for all of the sins of the world so that everybody in the world should have eternal life and go to heaven. And all that you have to do, all that I have to do, is believe that when Christ did it, He did it for me. And if I believe He did it for me, that payment is put to my account. By faith alone in Christ alone, you have the free gift of eternal life. Now take your Bible and turn there to the book of 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians and chapter 5. 2 Corinthians chapter 5 and verse 21. Verse 21 says on page 12, 33, he says, for he, God hath made him Jesus Christ, who knew no sin. get to be sin for us, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God. All right, so Jesus Christ comes into the world and he’s perfect. I’m not. I have sin.

So God will not allow sin in heaven, but he will allow righteousness in heaven, Because that’s a perfect place. So Jesus Christ, this hand representing Christ, and this hand representing Me. I have sin, he has righteousness. So the Bible says that if I will believe that Christ paid for all of my sins, on the cross came back from the dead. The pavement is made. When I believe Christ did it for me, God gives to me His righteousness. Now if I have His righteousness, that makes me as righteous as God.

I go to heaven on what He did. He became sin for me. Now He didn’t sin. He became sin. He took every sin of every person in the whole work paid for sin on the cross. Once and for all. Never has to be done again. So whenever you and I believe that Christ did it for us, He gives us His righteousness. here’s the thing to remember in Romans chapter 3. Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. So when He gives me His righteousness, what He’s really doing is giving me Himself.

I’m going to heaven because I am in His Son. I’m going to heaven because I am in Him. He is my righteousness. I don’t have righteousness. Now, while we’re right here, take your Bible and look there in the book of Philippians in chapter 3. The book of Philippians, real quick, is such an important verse that you need to see it. Philippians chapter 3 and verse 9, verse 9, you and I have sinned. God says, do not be found on the day of judgment, trusting in your righteousness to get you to heaven because God says you don’t have any righteousness.

There is none that doeth good, no not one, all have sinned and come short of God’s perfection. So no man can save himself. So the Bible says, Jesus Christ came…? into the world. He is perfect. He is righteous. God says to go to heaven, you have to be as perfect as righteous as Christ in order to live for all eternity. So give what he says in verse 9. And be found in him not having my own righteousness which is of the law and he’s trying to earn it, work for it.

But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. So there is a by works righteousness and a by faith righteousness. By works you’re trying to earn it. God says don’t be found trusting in your works to get you to heaven. He says but trust in his righteousness, he will give you his righteousness be found in Him. Having His righteousness, that’s why we get to go to heaven. That’s why Christ came into the world.

Now look at number four. Number four, why He became the first fruits of them that slept. Turn in your Bible the first Corinthians in chapter 15. First Corinthians in chapter 15. This is the resurrection chapter in the Bible has an awful lot to say about the resurrection. And if you’ll notice here in 1 Corinthians, I want you to look there first of all, in verse 2.

Because he’s talking about how he declared unto him the gospel, the good news. So Christ came into the world. Where’s the good news in that? Christ died on the cross. Where’s the good news? He was buried. Well, where’s the good news? Well, he came back from the dead. Why is that good news for me? Did you know there’s a lot of people who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ and are not going to heaven? A lot of churches talk about it every week.

They talk about the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ and haven’t got a clue where they’re going to go when they die. That’s because they haven’t heard. Why did he do it? Most people think, but he did that to help me to live better so I can get good enough to go there. He said, help give me the strength and the grace that I need to walk that straight and narrow way. And if I do it long enough, I’m going to make it someday.

Praise Jesus. is not why he can’t. He’s not a trailblazer. And they’re like Daniel Boom and Davy Crockett blazing their trail and now boy he’s going before me and I got a stack. No, for example. You’re right in the middle of the ocean. Can’t swim. Hey, oh, oh, oh. I come by my little motorboat and I say, what’s the problem? I’m drowning. I can’t swim. I said, look, it’s only 1500 miles to the coast of America. You just do the best you can and try hard, but you’ll make it.

Now, was I a savior? No, I wasn’t a savior. Well, what if I pull up alongside of them and I said, look, there’s a lesson on 10 easy lessons on how to swim. Just read those lessons and follow those and you’ll learn how to swim. Now, see what a good deed that was? But am I a savior? No. What if I come up alongside of him and I jump out of the boat and I say, now watch what I do.

And you do exactly like me and I do the dog paddle, the breath stroke and the back stroke and everything. I mean, I can give it all. And I give him his, you know, two minute lesson. Now you do just like me and head in that direction and you’ll make it. Now I might be a good example. That might be a good way, sure, and you know, trailblades, but that’s not a savior. Okay, well, what if I come up there in my little motorboat and I reach over there and I get him a pile of water, put him in the boat and take him 750 miles and kick him out and say, now you make the risk of the way by yourself.

Not a savior? No. I need to take him out of the water, take him all the way to the land. When I trusted Christ as my savior, I’m trusting Him to take me all the way to heaven. And He’s the only one that can get me there. I don’t help. I don’t do the dog paddle. I don’t do the breaststroke. I don’t retain any lesson on how to swim. I trusted Him as my Savior 50 years ago in a little old living room and it never has to be done again.

My going to heaven, totally 100% depends on Him. I’ve had people say, why don’t you pray for someone, so he’s almost saved. You’re either 100% saved or 100% lost. 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 two 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. When he died on the cross, he says it is finished. Now, there’s nothing anybody else had to do for the payment of sin. He paid for all the sins of the world so that everybody in the world should have eternal life and go to heaven. And all that you have to do, all that I have to do, is believe that when Christ did it, he did it for me.

And if I believe he did it for me, that payment is put to my account by faith alone in Christ alone. You have the free gift of eternal life. Now take your Bible and turn there to the book of 2 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians and chapter five. 2 Corinthians chapter five and verse 21. Verse 21 says on page 12, 33, He says, for He, God, hath made Him, Jesus Christ, who no no sin, get to be sin for us, to be sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God.

All right, so Jesus Christ comes into the world and He’s perfect. I’m not. I have sin. So God will not allow sin in heaven, but He will allow righteousness in heaven, because that’s a perfect place. So Jesus Christ, this hand representing Christ, and this hand representing mania, I have sin, He has righteousness. So the Bible says that if I will believe that Christ paid for all of my sins on the cross came back from the dead, payments made. And I believe Christ did it for me.

God gives to me His righteousness. Now if I have His righteousness, that makes me as righteous as God. I go to heaven on what He did. He became sin for me. He didn’t sin. He became sin. He took every sin of every person in the whole work paid for sin on the cross. Once and for all. Never has to be done again. So whenever you and I believe that Christ did it for us, He gives us His righteousness. But here’s the thing to remember in Romans chapter 3.

Jesus Christ is the righteousness of God. So when He gives me His righteousness, what He’s really doing is giving me Himself. I’m going to heaven because I am in His Son. I’m going to heaven because I am in Him. He is my righteousness. I don’t have righteousness. Now, while we’re right here, take your Bible and look there in the book of Philippians in chapter three, the book of Philippians, real quick.

It’s such an important verse that you need to see it. Philippians chapter three and verse nine. Verse nine, you and I have sinned. God says, do not be found on the day of judgment, trusting in your righteousness to get you to heaven. Because God says, you don’t have any righteousness. There is none that doeth good, no not one, all have sinned and come short of God’s perfection. So no man can save himself.

So the Bible says, Jesus Christ came into the world. He is perfect. He is righteous. God says to go to heaven, you have to be as perfect as righteous as Christ in order to live for all eternity. So get what he says in verse nine and be found in him not having my own righteousness, which is of the law that he’s trying to earn it. Work for it. But that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness, which is of God.

by faith. So there is a by works righteousness and a by faith righteousness. By works you’re trying to earn it. God says don’t be found trusting in your works to get you to heaven. He says but trust in his righteousness. He will give you his righteousness be found in him. Having his right to that’s why we get to go to heaven. That’s why Christ came into the world. Now look at number four. Number four, why he became the first fruits of them that slept.

Turn in your Bible to 1 Corinthians in chapter 15. 1 Corinthians in chapter 15. This is the resurrection chapter in the Bible. Has an awful lot to say about the resurrection. And if you’ll notice here in 1 Corinthians, I want you to look there first of all, in verse two, because he’s talking about how he declared unto him the gospel, the good news. So Christ came into the world. Where’s the good news in that? Christ died on the cross.

Where’s the good news? He was buried. Well, where’s the good news? Well, he came back from the dead. Why is that good news for me? Did you know there’s a lot of people who believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, and are not going to heaven. A lot of churches talk about it every week. They talk about the death, the burial and the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and heaven got a clue where they’re going to go when they die.

That’s because they haven’t heard. Why did he do it? Most people think, but he did that to help me to live better so I can get good enough to go there. He’s a help give me the strength and the grace that I need to walk that straight and narrow way. And if I do it long enough, I’m going to make it someday. Praise Jesus. That is not why he can’t. He’s not a trailblazer. You know like Daniel Boom and David Crockett blazing a trail and now boy he’s going to pour me and I got a…

No, for example. You’re right in the middle of the ocean. Can’t swim. Help, help, help. I come by my little motorboat and I say, what’s the problem? I’m drowning. I can’t swim. I said look it’s only 1500 miles to the coast of America. You just do the best you can and try hard, but you’ll make it. Now, was I a savior? No, I wasn’t a savior. Well, what if I pull up alongside of them and I say, look, there’s a lesson on 10 easy lessons on how to swim.

Just read those lessons and follow those and you’ll learn how to swim. Now, see, what a good deed that was? But am I a savior? No. What if I come up alongside of him and I jump out of the boat and I say, now watch what I do. And you do exactly like me and I do the dog paddle, the breath stroke and the back stroke and everything. Oh man, I can give it all. And I give him his, you know, two minute lesson.

Now you do just like me. And head in that direction. And you’ll make it. Now I might be a good example. example. That might be a good way, sure, and you know, probably, but that’s not a Savior. Okay, well, what if I come up there in my little motorboat and I reach over there and I get him a pile of water, put him in the boat and take him 750 miles and kick him out and say, now you make the rest of the way by yourself.

Not a Savior? No. I need to take him out of the water, take him all the way to the land. When I trusted Christ as my Savior, I’m trusting Him to take me all the way to heaven. And He’s the only one that can get me there. I don’t help. I don’t do the dog paddle. I don’t do the breaststroke. I don’t retain any lesson on how to swim. I trusted Him as my Savior 50 years ago in a little old living room and it never has to be done again.

My going to heaven totally 100% depends on Him. I’ve had people say, well, I don’t. I don’t just pray for so-and-so. He’s almost saved. You’re either 100% saved or 100% lost. Nobody goes to hell. Well, I was only 10% more now automated. You’re either saved or you’re lost. You’re either trust them or you don’t. I’ve had people say, have you trusted Christ? I’ve been a Christian all my life. No, you have it. Nobody is better Christian all their life.

There has to be a day when you were saved. A day when you were born in the God’s family. You might not remember the exact same thing. and the hour and so forth like that. No, I can’t. You may not. But there has to be a day when you trust the Christ as your Savior. And if you don’t know of such a day, I would. You know, I just, I didn’t say it all my life. No, you know, there has to be a time when you trusted the Lord.

You may not remember all that, but you know, I recall there was a time when I put my trust in Him. I believe Christ died on that cross and He paid for my sins. You’re not raised a Christian. I mean, just because you were, you know, you walk into a garage and make you an automobile. I can go a long way with that tip, but I’m not going to. But it’s so important for a Christian to realize that foundation, as we’re talking about in San Diego, has to be rock solid.

I know I have believed in Christ and my salvation is secure and that I’m going to heaven whenever I die. But Christ came back from the dead. And when he came back from the dead, why is that so important? Because he can’t save anybody if he’s still dead. And he says he’s coming back someday. Well, he can’t come back if he didn’t get there. That’s why it’s also important because you see, it hinges upon the fulfillment of his promise, his word.

He says that he would die, and in three days he’d come back from the dead. And if he doesn’t, he’s a liar, and if he’s a liar, he’s not God, and our sins were never paid for. But he did come back from the dead. Now I want you to see this. Here in 1 Corinthians in chapter 15, look in verse 20, but now is Christ risen from the dead and become the first fruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man also came the resurrection of the dead.

The first man there in verse 21, for since by man came death that’s Adam. By man Christ also came the resurrection of the dead. For in verse 22 says, for as in Adam I’ll die even so in Christ shall all be made alive. So whenever anybody born into the world as a son of Adam, we all have a sinful nature. We all die. All those who trust Christ as Savior, well they made alive. So I’ve been born twice. Once from the line of Adam, to my mama and daddy and their mommy and daddy and all the way on down goes all the way back to Adam.

But 50 years ago in a little old 11 room in Athens, Georgia, I trust it, Christ is my Savior. So my new birth only goes back 50 years. The other one goes back a longer time. But Christ came back from the dead and He is the first fruits. It means that He’s the first one to come back from the dead, but He came back on His own power. You see, all the other ones had to be raised, but He said, I have the power to lay down my life and the power to take it up again.

And he says that he is the one that died, that little kernel of corn, and because of that, there’s going to be a harvest someday. And that’s where you and I come in. One of these days the graves are going to open and we’re all going to be caught up to meet the Lord in the year. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Look at number five. Why he became the author of eternal salvation, eternal salvation, not temporary salvation.

Look there in Hebrews chapter 5, Hebrews and chapter 5. These are some very, very good verses. You see, you need to understand this so that you can defend your faith. As you witness to people, there’s people going to challenge you and ask you to prove that in the Bible and you’ll be able to say, in the Bible it says in blah blah blah blah and you know your book. It is the will of God for God’s children to know the word of God.

You’re supposed to know this book and you’re going to answer to God on why you don’t know it. Knowledge is power and this is the power that you need for your Christian life. This is the power you need to witness. Knowledge. Knowledge is power. So he says here in Hebrews And chapter 5, look what he says here in verse 8. Verse 8, though he were a son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered. Now we’re talking about Christ as a man.

And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation. You see, for something to be eternal, it has to be perfect. So when he became the author of eternal salvation, he became the author of a perfect salvation. You see, the salvation that God has has to make you perfect, or it doesn’t help you. When I trusted Christ as my Savior, my new birth, I was just like that holy thing. I was born without a sinful nature, my new birth.

Not my first one. My first one has a sinful nature. That’s when you see. But I got another one that you can’t see. It’s a new birth born of God. It’s a holy thing. And because of that, I have a perfect salvation. I am a perfect child of God. It has no sinful nature. It cannot sin. And if it can’t sin, it cannot die. And that’s why when you’re perfect, you can go to heaven. Only perfect people get to go to heaven.

not good people, perfect people. So when you trust in Christ as your Savior, your new birth is perfect in the Lord. And now God wants you to grow, to become mature in the Lord. But He makes a statement. He says here in verse nine, being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation under all them that obey Him. He said, Oh, I knew there was a catch to this. The word obey here means to all those that believe him.

Take your Bible and just turn to the book of Romans in chapter 10. Romans chapter 10. So important to see this. Romans chapter 10. And notice there in verse 16. 4, they have not all obeyed the gospel to those that obey Him. How do you obey the gospel? believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. So to obey the gospel is to do what the gospel says. Believe it. He that believeth hath everlasting life. And God will never cast you out and never lose you.

Look what else he said. For Isaiah said, Lord, who hath what’s that word? Believed our report. So obey and believe is what it’s talking about. So when Christ became the author of eternal salvation to all those that believe the gospel. So when you believe it, you’re saved forever because it’s perfect. There’s nothing that can stop it. God says, he’ll never cast you out. He said, I’ll never lose you. You have eternal life and if it lasts forever, then where are you going to go when you die?

And all your sins are paid. He says the sacrifices made in the Old Testament could never pay for sin. And they continually did it year after year. He says, but a body has not prepared me. So he came. He made one payment for sins forever and it’s all done. Take your Bible and look there in the book of Hebrews, chapter 10. Hebrews and chapter 10. You see why you need a Bible at this church? We use the Bible. We want people to know what God says, and that’s more important than anything else in the world.

There’s a lot of churches that they don’t even use a Bible. Well, you’re going to feel kind of naked around here. It’s like in the whole wild west days when you went out and didn’t have a pair of guns on your hips, you know. You just were ready to go out and face the world. You’ve got to have a sixth gun. Well, you need a Bible here in Hebrews in chapter 10. Look what he says there in verse 10.

And verse 10 makes a statement, by the which will we are sanctified, made pure and holy, through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once from. So we celebrate Christmas. Christmas is when God took on flesh. A body was prepared and he never sinned and so for 30 years until he began his ministry, which is what the priests had to do in the age of 30. He began his ministry for three and a half years and nobody could find any fault in him.

Nobody. That’s why Christ made the statement, which one of you can ventist me of sin? If I sin, name it. Now, none of us can do that, can we? Would you say to your wife, I ain’t never done anything wrong? I am Mr. Perfection. I’m goody-goody two shoes. Could you say that? Could your wife say that? I don’t think so. You know, it’s amazing. The women can really, they can go shopping all day and all night long and never get tired.

Never wear out and a man he can go to a store and he got to find a bench to set on on or Something there let me go drink and coffee at our cafe while you finish up and when we get to weird Tires can be worn out. He got a bit of energy left and a woman’s just all wear on left And she’s ready to go and spend some of them. I Have no idea where that came from you know So there’s got to be a point there.

I have no clue what it is all Look in verse 12, verse 12, but this man, this man, after he had offered one sacrifice, four sins for how long? Forever. Sat down on the right hand of God. In other words, it’s done. Payments made, finished. There’s nothing for anybody to do. The payment has been made. Now look in verse 14, for by one offering he had perfected for how long? them that are sanctified. Those who have trusted Christ the Savior, you have been made pure and holy and set apart.

You belong to the Lord. I belong to the Lord. In God’s eyes, I know this is hard for you to accept. I’m perfect because I’m in Christ. Now you take Christ away and I’m just as bad as you. What do you think I was going to say? God says that we have all sinned and comes sort of God’s perfection but once you trust Christ the Savior in Christ you’re good to go. You’re good to go. I’m ready to go.

And that means from now on I’m good to go. I can’t go to hell. I can’t go to hell today. I can’t go to hell tomorrow. I can’t never go to hell. I can’t go to hell if I tried. I haven’t tried but I can’t go to hell because he gave me a perfect salvation. I am sanctified forever. He had perfected all those that believe this good news. Now, take your Bible and turn to these last two verses. I’m just going to have you look at these last two verses.

You’ve probably never seen them before Ephesians chapter 2, Ephesians chapter 2, verse 8 and 9, this is on page 1251 in an old school for a reference Bible. Now look at the verse, this is the reason for Christmas. If you’re going to celebrate Christmas, celebrate the gospel. That’s what it’s about. That’s the good news. The good news is not that he came and was born. The good news that he died and came back from the dead, paid for my sins.

So in verse 8, 4 by grace are you saved? See, God can’t save you by your works. No man’s good enough. You have to be perfect. That’s why the church can’t save you. Giving money is not going to make you any better than you already were. You have to be perfect to bring forth perfect works. A center, bring forth sins. We have to be good to bring forth good works. He says, there is done good. All have sinned to come short of the glory of God, of the perfection of God.

So he says here, for by grace are you saved through faith, that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast. All that we can do is brag upon what Christ did for us. But no man can take credit for his salvation, because he cannot and did not save himself and he did not even help. He by himself paid for our sins. By himself, I like that in Hebrews chapter one verse three, by himself.

That’s powerful. Anyway, look up here. This hand represents you and me. The wallet represents sin. While we all have sin on us, God loves us, but he hates our sin. For us to pay for the sin is eternal separation from God. And since we’ve all sinned, we’re all condensed. We’re all in the same boat. Nobody’s any better than anybody else. to go to heaven, you have to be perfect. It’s righteous as God. But nobody’s perfect, nobody’s righteous. Because of sin, we can’t get in.

So how am I gonna get there? A body has not prepared me. Jesus Christ came into the world with born of a woman. As the Bible says, in due time, in due time. Christ was born right on schedule and he lived for 33 and a half years without sin. And he chose to die for our sin because he loved us. Paid for it on the cross came back from the dead. One payment forever. Never have to be done again.

And he did it 2,000 years ago. When he was on the cross, you were on his mind and he paid for your sins. Now he says, will you believe he did it for you? If you believe he did it for you, he would give you as a freak yet everlasting life. You get to go to heaven, oh what he did. If you have never trusted Jesus Christ as your savior, if you never believed it, that he did it for you, you’re not saved.

You’re not a Christian, you will not go to heaven. It’s that simple. That’s why it’s so important for you. Will you trust Jesus Christ in him alone as your only hope of one to heaven? And once you trust them, you are saved. And you never have to do it again. If you trusted Christ of your Savior six months ago, you don’t have to do it again. If you trusted Him 20 years ago, you never have to do it again.

If you trusted Him as your Savior last week, you don’t have to do it again. You can only get saved one time. He can only give you turn like once. He can only save you from hell once because He paid for all of your sins when he came the first time. Let’s pray, shall we? Every head bound, every eye closed, no one looking around him. If you’re here this morning, and perhaps you never trust the Lord, why not just talk to the Lord and say something simple like this?

Lord, I know I’m a sinner, and I realize I cannot save myself. I want to go to heaven. And I believe you dattle that cross and pay for my sins. And this morning, right now, I believe you did it for me, and I’m trusting you as my Savior. And friend, God said, if you would believe just that much, He would give you as a free gift of everlasting life and you get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you.

So it hits by a nice close and no one looking around. I’m gonna ask in just a moment to raise your hand, raise your hand as not Savior. It just lets me know that what I said made sense to you. And you’re saying, preach that made sense to me and I will trust Christ right now and I’d like you to pray for me. We’ll just slip in it very quickly the right back down, then we’ll all just accomplish them.

Once you trust Christ as Savior, it’s eternal life, and you’ll never cast you out. Then when else before we close, just live it up real quick, but right back down. Our Father, we do thank You so much for all You’ve done for us. We’re thankful for this time of year when people’s hearts, and their minds are toward perhaps more spiritual things, hopefully because of Christ. Though they celebrate His birth, we pray that they’ll understand why it came. They realize the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ.

And so if we thank you so much for all you’ve done for us, for the one that indicated that they would trust to savor this morning. And followed by doing so, you guarantee eternal life that you’ll never cast them out and have a losing. Bless each one here. In Christ name we pray, Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, A teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message.

If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach by the line and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll 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. 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.

every day, believing that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

I love this time of year. I think it’s good because people think about giving and receiving. You know, sometimes you have to be on the receiving end. There are some people who never like to receive anything they like to do the giving. But you know if nobody accepted anything, there’d be nobody giving anything. Somebody has to receive. Sometimes there’s a pre-job that had people do special things for me and all I can say is just, you know, thank you.

My wife and I do thank you for, you know, cards and kind words and phone calls and special little gifts at times that people give to us and we’re thankful and we don’t take it for granted. And we’re thankful for the ministry that God has given to us here at the Calvary Community Church. But anyway, if you have your notes now, what makes it so great? I love to tell the story of the greatest story ever told. Some of these things I’d share with you before, but I wanted you to have a copy of it.

Because me, one of the greatest verses in the Bible is John 3 16. It says, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Proverbs chapter 30. Proverbs and chapter 30. There’s a verse here that asks a bunch of questions. Everybody likes to ask questions. We always want to know why, but the Lord puts some in his word here, says, who?

Who? So you notice in Proverbs chapter 30 and look there in verse 4. verse 4. And verse 4 says, Who hath ascended up into heaven or descended? Good question, isn’t it? I know someone who did. He asked another question, who hath gathered the wind in his fist? I know who who can calm the storms? He asked another question, who had bound the waters in a garment? I know who established the ends of the earth. And then he says, what is his name?

And what is his son’s name? If thou can’t tell. So even here in the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament There’s a question about God, his name, and what is his son’s name? Well, I think he just, he was a chip off the block. He has a name just like his daddy. Some people get him all mixed up. You look at this little baby down here and looks just like his daddy. Got same hair, do everything. But then whenever you think about Jesus Christ, he has a name just like his daddy.

his father. So I know who he is. And I know his son’s name. But didn’t it a good question to ask back here before he was ever born. Now, I want you to take your Bible and turn to your right to the book of Isaiah chapter seven, the book of Isaiah, and chapter seven. Now, Proverbs was about 1000 years, 1000 years before Christ ever came. But in the book of Isaiah, oh, about 700 years before Christ came. It makes another statement here in verse 14.

Verse 14 says, work for the Lord himself shall give you a sign. Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a son. Some people say, well, that just means a young woman. That’s not a sign most young women do have a child. But a sign is a woman who has never been touched by man. They have a child. That’s mentioned over here in the Old Testament before he ever came. And he says, Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son shall call his name Emmanuel.

So God, see, he had a son before he was ever born in this world because he says, what is his son’s name? Well he had to have one in order to know his name. And then look there in Isaiah chapter nine and look in verse six where it says in verse six, for unto us a child is born unto us a son is given. The child is born into this world, but he was already a son of God before he came into the world.

And this was written 700 years in advance. And the government get this. This is prophecy. The chow will be born, the sun will be given, he’ll die on the cross. The government shall be upon his shoulders, he’ll rule and reign. And his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. What a name! Of the sun has a name just like his daddy. You know when Christ came into the world, he even talked like his daddy and lived like his daddy, walked like his daddy.

He was a spitting image of his dad. The Bible says in Hebrews chapter 1 verse 3, the express image of his father. He could even go as far as to say, when you’ve seen me, you’ve seen my dad. How can he be called the everlasting father without an everlasting son? So Jesus Christ existed before He came into this world. Mary was used by God to bring the child into the world. This is the most awesome story in the world.

When you stop and think, the greatest story ever told. Look there in the little box that I have there. And look whenever you tell the story about what Jesus Christ did on the cross. The Bible tells the greatest stories ever heard, but it takes all these stories together to tell the story of what Christ did on the cross. Heaven tells of the greatest splendor ever imagined. Hell tells of the greatest horror that ever produced fear in a man. This story involves the greatest number of people, the whole world.

It was 4,000 years in the making. It is still being told. It is the greatest love story ever told. The putting of Christ to death was the greatest display of wickedness ever recorded in human history. Because look what the world did to a perfect man that never did any wrong. No fault was ever found in him. This is truly an awesome story and one that we ought to be thankful that we know that someone told us about. I want you to look there in Romans in chapter 1 and verse 16.

Romans chapter 1 and verse 16. This is one of the statement of faith that we read every Sunday where it says in verse 16, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein, that means in this message, in this gospel, there’s something that you need to see. righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith. I believe like the Apostle Paul says, I am ready to preach the gospel to those that are at Rome also.

That’s in verse 15. So he was given the gospel and he believed it. And so by faith, he was saved. So you tell that message, that wonderful story to someone else, and they hear it, and they believe. So from faith of one to the faith of another to the faith of another to the faith of another, and right on down the line, not only from faith to be saved, but faith to grow, faith to tell, to believe what God’s Word says about it.

In this message is the righteousness of God revealed. Look there in chapter 3. Chapter 3 makes the statement in verse 21. But now, now the righteousness of God without the law is manifest or revealed. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets. In other words, they told about this righteousness that would come. That would be made available to any person who would accept it and they would be given the righteousness of God. Oh, what if God walked into this room and was willing to offer you his righteousness and that would be good enough to go to heaven on?

God said, I’ll let you go to heaven on my righteousness because your righteousness is not good enough. If you had to earn your way to heaven, You’ll never be good enough. That’s why most people do not know where they’re going to go when they die because see they think that they’re going to heaven and if they don’t measure up they won’t make it so they have this emotional roller coaster of yes I am no I’m not yes I am no I’m not yes I am no I’m not they don’t never know for sure.

For 50 years I can be able to say absolutely, dogmatically. I know I have eternal life. I know I’m going to heaven whenever I die because God gave me His righteousness. His righteousness is Christ. Christ is my righteousness. Look what He says here in verse 22, even the righteousness of God, which is by faith of Jesus Christ, which is unto all. And upon all them that believe, look up here, his righteousness, his perfection is unto all, but it’s only upon those that believe.

Now God says in his word in chapter three, in verse 36, that he that believeth on me hath everlasting life, but he that believeth not shall not see life, but the wrath of God is upon them. So would you rather have the wrath of God or the righteousness of God? It’s your choice. You see, his righteousness is what makes this such good news. Christ came into the world. Yes, born to die for our sins so that God could give to us his righteousness.

So it’s in reality, it’s like God stands up here and offers you his son. And if you accept his son, you will have a payment for your sins. He was the payment. When you accept Christ, you have the righteousness of God put to your account. So his righteousness is unto all, but it’s only upon those that believe. Now look again there in chapter one. And you’ll notice there in verse 18 for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven.

You know, those two things are mentioned right here following the declaration of the gospel. I am not ashamed of this message because this gospel message, this good news of why Christ came, it shows you the wrath of God against sin. And so when Christ took upon himself all the sin of the world, it showed the wrath of God against sin, but it shows the righteousness of God. came back again from the dead and offers to you and me his righteousness.

And that’s good enough for you and I to go to heaven on. So yeah, it’s the greatest story in all the world. Look at number eight there on your notes. The greatest promise ever given. God promised that they heal them. That’s the lost people. You say, you’re here this morning. You say, Am I a heathen? If you’re lost, you are. Don’t you realize who I am? Yeah, you’re a heathen. If you have not accepted Christ as your Savior. If you are not saved, if you have not trusted Christ as your Savior, you’re not a Christian, you are a heathen.

Now, I know we often think about the heathen. Well, that’s those people that’s, you know, on some dark continent and they don’t know and they’re running around in loin cloth and they’re totally ignorant and everything else. No, a heathen can be the most intellectual person in the world. But if he’s without God, he’s a heathen. That’s how God sees you. So God says that if you don’t know that you’re going to heaven when you die, God says you’re not.

You don’t know the way. So to be justified by faith, we have to believe in the death. in the barrel and the resurrection of Christ. It does not say that we had to believe in the birth, but I believe in the birth. I believe in the virgin birth. I believe that Jesus Christ was who he claimed to be and that I have eternal life because of what he’s done for him. But in the past, God made a promise to Abraham that he would save by faith, that a man could not save himself by his works.

And this was 430 years before God ever gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. So God did not give the law to be saved. He already promised that he would save by faith alone. And that’s only way a man could be saved. So that was the greatest promise that’s ever been made. That God would justify I was a heathen. I was a heathen. I was lost by faith alone. All I had to do is believe that when Christ died, he died for me and I trusted him as my savior.

Look at number nine during your nose. Number nine is the greatest law ever given. See, that’s what makes this the greatest story because everything about it was so great. What makes it so great? Well, greatest promise that God ever gave was that He was saved a man by faith. And He made it to Abraham and yet He had to have His Son make it possible for Him to keep His promise. You see, if Christ had never come into the world, God could not have kept His Word.

He could not have kept His promise to save a man by faith if Christ had not died and paid for his sins. Because he, God, made a law, a righteous law. And in that law, it says, the soul that sineth shall die. Now, why you’re in Romans, look there in chapter 3. Romans chapter 3, Luke now in verse 19. Now we know that what things, However the law saith, it’s safe to them that are under the law and get this, that every mouth may be stopped and you’re to underline all the world become guilty before God.

God made a law that condemned the whole world. What a law. That’s the greatest law that’s ever been given. God’s law, all every nation makes laws, every state legislature, county, city, but He made a law that governed everybody in the whole world. Never been a law like that law. That’s the greatest law that’s ever, all the laws in America are cause of the laws that God gave. By the way, they’re still in effect. They were never given to save anybody.

Christ did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law. The law is still wrong to steal. It’s still wrong to lie. It’s still wrong to commit adultery. It’s still wrong. God didn’t say it’s not wrong anymore. like the laws, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, it’s still wrong. It’s still a sin. And it says, thou shalt make unto thee no other graven images. Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hard mind, body, soul, and strength.

That’s still a command. It’s just a man can’t keep it. Man can’t fulfill the law. But that doesn’t make the law bad. Romans 7 says that The law was perfect. The law is spiritual. The law is good. Nothing wrong with the law. What’s the problem? You and me, we couldn’t keep it. And because the law condemned everybody, what did God give the law for a man to be saved? No, he already promised all he had to do is trust Christ to save you.

But see, people won’t trust Christ if they think they can save themselves. So God gave the law to lead us to Christ. The law was never given to save a man. Can’t save a man. Look at number 10. Number 10. The greatest son ever born was given. I’ve got two sons. One’s here and one’s in heaven. Love both of my sons. My sons, I think, were pretty good. But not a one of them was perfect. All they were close.

I think my grandson is. It doesn’t matter how much we love them, they’re not perfect. Just beautiful little baby down here is not perfect. They’re gonna find out in very soon. That little baby has a sinful nature. Got it from the mother. Just joking. Believe it or not, I believe it’s passed on by the daddy. Who hated to admit that. but the greatest law brought the greatest condemnation that the whole world becomes guilty. So that’s what helps make this the greatest story.

Everybody in the world needs a Savior. This is this wonderful? Everybody needs a Savior. We’re all in the same boat and God’s in His Son and He’s the only one that can save. He was the only one that was innocent. He was the only one that didn’t sin. So he’s the only one that didn’t have to die. But he chose to die because he loved his father and he made this statement in John chapter 14 verse 31. He said that the world may know that I love my father even so I do.

In the The word Christ says, I’m doing what I’m doing because I want the world to know how much I love my father. Now he loves us, but it was God love for us that sent his son. And because his son loved the dad so much he’d do anything his father asked. So he was willing to die for us because he loved his father and he died on the cross. came back from the dead. And God says that all those who come to him, he will give to the Son.

It says, Analynn, know why he’s ever cast him out, and now he never lives them. You have eternal life, and you get to go to heaven whenever you die. Pretty good news. Pretty good news. Take your Bible and turn there to the book of 1 John and chapter 4. 1 John chapter 4. First John chapter 4, look there in verse 9. God is love. God in order to prove love must have an object of love. He needed to have something that he can show that he loves.

And he created a man and a woman, Adam and Eve, put him in a garden and all the world and the beautiful garden was made just for them, just for mankind because he loves us. But Adam and Eve, if they had never sinned, would never have known the love of God like you and I know. It was because of sin and God permitted sin and all the wickedness it comes because of sin because it gave the Lord an opportunity to prove to us that He loves us by doing something for us we could not do for ourselves.

So there has to be something so bad that He had to save us from. Something so bad would want to be saved from. We could just say, I wish that I could just be annihilated and there’s nothing else and I don’t know why exist anymore. In other words, think of how many years went and I wasn’t around. I didn’t exist. I didn’t miss anything because I wasn’t here. Wouldn’t be neat if you could just say, okay I’ve had enough, stop the the earth, I want off and I don’t exist anymore.

If it all go through that, then death may be within it all. And that’s it. But we know according to the Bible, death doesn’t end it all. There is an eternity, and God tells us about a place called hell, and tells us how terrible it is, how wicked it is, how hot it is, how long it is. The suffering, the smoke of their torment, I’ve sinned it up forever and ever, and they have no rest day nor night. They’re like one three stars and they’re Mr.

Blackness forever. There has to be the most wicked thing in all the world in order for us to appreciate the love of God Because he’s got to save us from something we couldn’t save ourselves from and God allowed all of this wickedness and so forth to prove that he loves us You say well, I may approve just the opposite didn’t you not looking correctly? You see you and I don’t have to spend eternity in hell You can accept the love of God or you can reject the love of God.

He that believeth on him, God gives us His righteousnesses upon him. He that believeth not the wrath of God’s all in him. It’s a choice. This made sense to me 50 years ago. So I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. I know that I have eternal life and I know that I’m going to heaven when I die. No. Hearing your notes, there’s a few of the things that’s mentioned here. The greatest event in human history was the cross. And mainly that time of the death and the barrel and the resurrection of Christ is all tied in together here.

There’s nothing like those few short years that Jesus came into the world. world. Now you stop and think there’s a lot of people who have tried to rule the world. And you can name it, know Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, and all the rest of them all the way down through time, Napoleon and Alexander. They all wanted a rule world. And they all ruled by force to conquer, to kill, to threaten, terrorize. We have people today who want to take and terrorize the world.

Will it kill anybody and everybody as long as they can dominate and win, conquer the world. And yet the Bible talks about come desire of nations come. This desire of peace and joy and happiness. This is the Lord. The desire is Christ. The desire that you and I have to live forever. Eternal peace and joy. All that we want, that’s Christ. That’s what you’re really desiring and how many people live their whole lives. Chasing soap bubble, the dream, and they don’t want anything to do with Jesus.

And here’s what you’re looking for. 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 Bible line 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. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 Bible line 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. God made a promise to Abraham that he would save by faith, that a man could not save himself by his works. And this was 430 years before God ever gave the law to Moses on Mount Sinai. So God did not give the law to be saved. He already promised that he would save by faith alone.

And that’s the only way a man could be saved. So that was the greatest promise that’s ever been made, that God would justify a heathen and I was a heathen, I was lost by faith alone. All I had to do is believe that when Christ died he died for me and I trusted him as my Savior. Look at number nine there in your notes. Number nine is the greatest law ever given. See this is That’s what makes this the greatest story, because everything about it was so great.

What makes it so great? Well, the greatest promise that God ever gave was that He was saved a man by faith. And He made it to Abraham, and yet He had to have his son make it possible for him to keep his promise. You see, if Christ had never come into the world, God could not have kept His Word. He could not have kept His promise to save a man by faith if Christ had not died and paid for His sins.

Because you see, God made a law, a righteous law. And in that law, it says, the soul that sineth shall die. Now, why you’re in Romans, look there in chapter 3. chapter 3. Ruth now in verse 19. Now we know that what things, so ever the law, sayeth, it’s safe to them that are under the law and get this, that every mouth may be stopped and you’re to underline all the world become guilty before God. God made a law that condemned the whole world.

What a law. That’s the greatest law that’s ever been given. Was God’s law, all every nation makes laws, every state legislature, county, city. But he made a law that governed everybody in the whole world. Never been a law like that law. That’s the greatest law that’s ever, all the laws in America are cause of the laws that God gave. By the way, they’re still in effect. They were never given to save anybody. Christ did not come to destroy the law but to fulfill the law.

The law is still wrong. The steel. It’s still wrong to lie. It’s still wrong to commit adultery. It’s still wrong. wrong. God didn’t say it’s not wrong anymore. Like the law is going, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, it’s still wrong. It’s still a sin. And it says, thou shalt make unto thee know other graven images, thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy hard mind, body, soul, and strength. That’s still a command. It’s just a man can’t keep it.

Man can’t fulfill the law. But That doesn’t make the law bad. Romans 7 says that the law was perfect, the law was spiritual, the law is good, nothing wrong with the law. What’s the problem? You and me, we couldn’t keep it. And because the law condemned everybody, what did God give the law for a man to be saved? No, he already promised all he had to do is trust Christ to save you. But see, people won’t trust Christ if they think they can save themselves.

So God gave the law to lead us to Christ. The law was never given to save a man. Can’t save a man. Look at number 10. Number 10. The greatest son ever born was given. I’ve got two sons. One’s here and one’s in heaven. Love both of my sons. My sons, I think, were pretty good. But not a one of them was perfect. All they were close. I think my grandson is. It doesn’t matter how much we love them, they’re not perfect.

This beautiful little baby down here is not perfect. They’re gonna find out in very soon. That little baby has a sinful nature. Got it from the mother. Just joking. Believe it or not, I believe it’s passed on by the daddy. Ooh, I hate to admit that. But the greatest law brought the greatest condemnation that the whole world becomes guilty. So that’s what helps make this the greatest story. Everybody in the world needs a savior. Isn’t this wonderful? Everybody needs a savior.

We’re all in the same boat. And God’s in his son and he’s the only one that can save. He was the only one that was innocent. He was the only one that didn’t sin so he’s the only one that didn’t have to die But he chose to die because he loved his father and he made this statement in John chapter 14 verse 31 He said that the world of may know That I love my father Even so I do In the words Christ says I’m doing what I’m doing because I want the world to know how much I I love my father.

Now he loves us, but it was God love for us that sent his son. And because the son loved the dad so much, he’d do anything his father asked. So he was willing to die for us because he loved his father and he died on the cross, came back from the dead. And God says that all those who come to him He will give to the Sun It says an alan know why’s ever cast them out and I’ll never lose them You have eternal life and you get to go to heaven whenever you die pretty good news pretty good news Take your Bible and turn there to the book of 1 John and chapter 4 1 John 4, 1 John 4, look there in verse 9.

God is love. God in order to prove love must have an object of love. He needed to have something that he can show that he loves. And he created a man and a woman, Adam and Eve, put him in a garden and all the world. And the beautiful garden was made just for them, just for mankind, because He loves us. But Adam and Eve, if they had never sinned, would never have known the love of God like you and I know.

It was because of sin, and God permitted sin, and all the wickedness it comes because of sin, because it gave the Lord an opportunity to prove to us that He loves us by doing something for us we could not do for ourselves. So there has to be something so bad that He had to save us from. Something so bad would want to be saved from. We could just say, I wish that I could just be annihilated and there’s nothing else and I don’t know why exist anymore.

In other think of how many years went and I wasn’t around. I didn’t exist. I didn’t miss anything because I wasn’t here. Wouldn’t be neat if you could just say, okay, I’ve had enough. Stop the earth. I want off and I don’t exist anymore. If it could all go through that, then death maybe would end it all. And that’s it. But we know according to the Bible, death doesn’t end at all. There is an eternity and God tells us about a place called hell and tells us how terrible it is.

How wicked it is. How hot it is. How long it is. The suffering. The smoke of their torment. I’ve sinned it up forever and ever. And they have no rest day nor night. They’re like wondering stars in the Mr. Blackness forever. There has to be the most wicked thing in all the world in order for us to appreciate the love of God. Because he’s got to save us from something we we couldn’t save ourselves from. And God allowed all of this wickedness and so forth to prove that He loves us.

You say, well, I may have proved just the opposite, didn’t you not looking correctly? You say, you and I don’t have to spend eternity in hell. You can accept the love of God, or you can reject the love of God. He that believeth on Him, God gives us His righteousnesses upon Him. He that believeth not the wrath of God’s all in him. It’s a choice. This made sense to me 50 years ago, so I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior.

I know that I have eternal life and I know that I’m going to heaven when I die. Now, hearing your notes, there’s a few of the things that’s mentioned here. the greatest event in human history was the cross. And mainly that time of the death and the barrel and the resurrection of Christ is all tied in together here. There’s nothing alike, those few short years that Jesus came into the world. Now you stop and think there’s a lot of people who have tried to rule the world.

And you could name me, no Hitler, and Stalin, Mussolini, and all the rest of them, all the way down through time, the Polianel and Alexander. They all wanted a rural world. And they all ruled by force to conquer, to kill, to threaten, terrorize. We have people today who want to take and terrorize the world. Willing to kill anybody and everybody as long as they can dominate and win, conquer the world. And yet the Bible talks about come desire of nations come.

this desire of peace and joy and happiness. This is the Lord. The desire is Christ. The desire that you and I have to live forever. Eternal peace and joy. All this that we want, that’s Christ. That’s what you really desire and how many people live their whole lives. lives chasing soap bubble, the dream, and they don’t want anything to do with Jesus. And he’s what you’re looking for. He’s always been there. You need the Lord. God has so designed this world that there is nothing in this world that can bring the peace that joined the happiness like the person of Christ.

Christ. The Bible says that this desire of nations that he will come and one day as King of kings and Lord of Lords, he will rule the world. And he will rule for a while as the rod of iron. But see, he rules because he is a God of love. You and I are not supposed to serve the Lord because we’re afraid He’s going to beat us up, though He can, but because we know He loves us. And our lives are supposed to reflect our love for Him.

So as we study the Word of God and we see these things, and He makes a statement here in verse 9, and this was manifested, the love of God toward us because that God sent His only be gotten son into the world that we might live through him. And live through him means to have eternal life, not just the length of life, but the quality of life. And this life is in his son and he did have the son have life and he did not the son of God have not life.

These things have a written unto you that believe in the name of the son of God that you may know that you have eternal life. So you and I can know that we’re going to heaven whenever we die. And him dying on the cross, when you stop and think about all the histories of the world, the kingdoms of the world, and they all give recognition to the date when Jesus Christ was born into this world. It’s either before Christ or after Christ.

Anyway, they want to cut it. It’s because of him. And yet he only lived maybe 33 and a half years. One little old fellow that was born. Let’s just pretend he wasn’t God. Why is all of this about a man? If he was just a plain, ordinary, normal man, look how many people are meeting today to sing about this man. To worship this man, look at the books that have been written about this man. Look at the nation of America that was founded on the principles of this man, if he was just a man, what a man!

But he was God. And you’re not going to go to heaven because you believe he was a good man, or a great man, or that he was a prophet. You must understand he is God in the flesh, God. And he that have seen the Son have seen the Father. He says, I and the Father are one, were the same one.

You and I in this life would probably never understand at all. But when Jesus Christ went to the cross, He had made the statement, I am the light of the world. And the Pharisees says, chapter eight, John, he said, you’re not the light of the world. Thou bearst record of thy and I record is not true.” He says, I’m the light of the world. He says, and when you put me on the cross, you’ll know who I am. My Father will tell you who I am when you put me on the cross.

And when Christ was put on the cross, the Bible says that the veil in the temple was rent from the top to the bottom. The Bible also says that when the light went out, darkness was upon the face of the earth, when He was on the cross. The Bible also says that the rocks were torn in two, and many of the saints would slip arose and came out of His grave after the resurrection. Because he says, I am the way, the truth, and the life.

And Christ says, when you put me on the cross, my Father will tell you who I am. I told you I am the resurrection. I told you I was the way. And that veil was ramped from top to bottom as the only way into the holy of holies and to the very presence of God. He says, I am the light of the world. And they didn’t believe that. and got through the main switch of heaven and all of the universe went dark.

I believe Jesus was who he claimed to be. I don’t believe a dying man on the cross could make those things happen. I believe. I believe. Look at the last statement I have there. The Father’s testimony bears witness that Jesus was truly the Son of God. I can’t make other people believe it. I just know that it made sense to me. And I didn’t understand a lot about the Bible. I really didn’t know the Bible. I had never heard of John 3 16 until that night when I was 18.

My father-in-law showed me John 3 16 and told me the story. The greatest story I’d ever heard in my life. I did not know that Jesus was the Lord. I did not know that He died for me. I did not know that I could have eternal life. I did not know I could be certain of going to Heaven when I died. I did not know I could become a child of God. I did not know that He could be my Father.

I didn’t know. I didn’t know that. But after that night, I knew it. He told me the greatest story ever told. Since you’ve trusted Christ as your Savior, have you ever told the greatest story in the world? What about all the people that’s never heard? Do you talk to people about football, basketball, girlfriend, boyfriends, talk to them about Christmas and all kinds of things. Have you ever told the greatest story in all the world where they can understand it?

A lot of people have never heard. They’ve never heard. Look up here just a moment. This hand represents you and me and the walla represents sin. Now we are all born into this world and we’re all sinners. And because we are sinners with an old sinful nature, we bring forth sin. And everybody sins. So we’re all in the same boat, everybody in the world. Now God loves the whole world. Now He gave His law, the greatest law. and it condemned everybody.

So nobody could save themselves. Nobody was exempt from the law. It condemned the whole world. The whole world is guilty. So God says, you cannot save yourself. That’s why Christ came to show you how much He loves you. So Christ came into the world because God so loved the world. So He sent His Son, born of a virgin, had no sin, took upon flesh, tabernacle among us. And the Bible says that because He loved us, He took our sins and paid for them on the cross, came back from the dead.

And God said, if we would believe that He did it for us, He would put this payment to our account and His righteousness, though it’s under all, it’s only upon those that believe it. Now you say, well, I don’t believe that. Then His righteousness is not put to your account. You won’t have to worry about going to heaven. You won’t go. You don’t have to believe it. But you will go to hell. You will go to hell. If that’s what you want, that’s what you can have.

It’s not because anybody makes you do it. That’s your choice. You can laugh at it. You can mock it. You can do anything that you want. It’s not going to change the fact that God loved you and he offered it to you and you rejected it. You should allow it. I’ll think about that down the road. If you died today, that was a decision today. No decision is a decision to wait. That’s a decision. Well, I plan on getting right, you know, down the road right before I die.

I had a girl call me the other day. Well, she’s my cousin. She’s about my age. She says, Yankee, I was just thinking about you and thought I’d call you. I said, well, great, I appreciate that. I said, well, how are you doing? She says, well, I got one foot in the grave and the other one on the banana peel. She says, I said, it’s that bad, hon. She says, it’s that bad. She says, I’ve smoked all my life.

She said, you can’t quit. She said, I’ve tried. She says, I’ve already lost one lung and I’m losing the other one. The doctor says, I’m dying of cancer. She said, all because of smoking. I said, well, I lost my mom because of it. I lost my two sisters because of it. And I says, I buried probably 2530 of my relatives. It all died from it. My dad died from it. I says, a lot of people just get hooked on it and they can’t quit.

I says, but do you know where you go in your diocese? Oh, yes. I had led her to the Lord years ago. I said, release. I said, I’m going to be coming up to Georgia in a week. I said, maybe I’ll get a chance to come by there and see you. And it’s a joy to, yeah, you lead them to the Lord. But you want so much more for people, but you can’t make people. You can’t live their lives for them.

You can’t make them make decisions. people do what they really want to do. If you really want to quit, you will. If you don’t, you won’t. That’s how simple it is. Because if you just don’t know, I don’t need to know. You can decide. Are you trying to tell me that God of heaven, the Holy Spirit, and living and dwelling within you can’t give you the power that you need to stop something, do something? That’s a cop out of I have ever heard it.

You can do what you really want to do. and you will when you really make up your mind and you won’t until then. I’m not God, I don’t play God in people’s lives, but I don’t fall for the stuff. It doesn’t excuse us. That’s the flesh, that’s the flesh. God says you can control it. Yes, I can’t. Yes, you can. I can’t. Yes, you can.

Dr. tells you you’re dying of cancer unless you quit smoking and you’ve got to quit within a week. Dr. Quit! My sister right before she died, she’d gone to the hospital and the doctor told her. I don’t want you coming back into this hospital if you’re not going to listen to me. He says you’re dying of cancer. He says you won’t quit your smoking. She said if you don’t care about your life, he said there’s nothing I can do for you.

And she says, I don’t think I can wait for a doctor to UCHIJ. Anyway, the doctor told me that she’s not to come back into this hospital. It wasn’t long here’s my sister again. Says, I thought I told you not to come back. And let you quit your smoke. She said, I quit. He says, when did you quit now?

And then she’d she she’d get in the bathroom and sneeze. She goes out and sneeze. It weren’t when they were quit. When I owe the God bless my sister, my sister’s in heaven. I’d rather her smoke here than smoke later. Aren’t you glad God loves you in spite of with a problem? I don’t care about your sins. He did something about sin. One day whenever you leave this whole world, and that whole body of yours, he will have totally delivered you.

Your new body is not gonna have any of that problem. Right now it’s a battle and you go through it, and not sympathize with it because of it. And it’s rough in the heart, I know. But that doesn’t know the fact. God loves you. He paid for everything you’ve ever done, or ever will do. And he says that if you’ll believe he did it for you, he’d give you eternal life as a gift. You get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you.

Let’s pray, shall we? Never hit by on every enclose, no one looking around. If you hear this morning and you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, God loves you. He sent His Son to prove it. He died and paid for your sins. All you have to do is the only thing you can do. We believe He did it for you. If you don’t, the wrath of God abides upon you. If you believe it, the righteousness of God is given to you.

It’s under all, but it’s only upon those that believe, where you believe it. With heads bowed nice and closed, if you say, yes, that made sense to me. And preacher this morning, I believe Christ died for me, and I’m going to trust Him as my Savior. Now, if you’ve never done it before, would you do it right now? If you’ve already trusted Christ, you’d say, you don’t have to do it again. But if you have never done so, and you say, that made sense to me, I can see it’s a gift.

It’s free. I can’t earn it, can’t work for it. I know I can’t deserve it. So by grace, I accept it. I believe he did it for me. And so friend, would you believe he did it for you? And God said, he’d give you the free gift of eternal life. Would you just slip your hand out very quickly and put a right back down? I’m not going to stand, have you stand up? I’m not going to embarrass you. It’s overdone with when you make a decision.

But if you hear this morning, you say, that makes sense to me. And I want to be certain of going to heaven when I die and pray to God once they pray for me. We’ll just slip your hand out very quickly. You don’t want it all. Just slip it up very quickly, but it’ll rip back down. Our Father, we thank You so much for this time together. We thank You for Your blessings to us. We thank You for the free gift of eternal life made available to us because of the death, the sacrifice, the substitution, and the repayment of Your Son, in whom we’re thankful.

In Christ’s name we pray, Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 six o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcasts 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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.

Take your Bible and turn to the book of Psalms. The book of Psalms, you and I are very fortunate that there was a day when God looked down. And when He looked down, He came down. And when He came down, He laid down. When he laid down He reached down And then when he reached down Because he sat down and one day he’s gonna put down There’s a simple little outline about What God did? Hearing the book of Psalms the 14th Psalm it says in verse 1 the fool has said in his heart, there is no God.

Question, do you believe that God still sent his son to pay for the sins of this fool? He did? He sent him to pay for the sins of the fool, of a fool. A lot of fools in this world. There is no God. They are corrupt. They have all done Abandba works. There is none that doeth good. You know, some verses are similar here to the book of Romans in chapter 3. Look in verse 2, the Lord and you ought to underline these two words here.

They look down. The Lord in heaven looked down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. And what was the conclusion. Here’s God in heaven and he’s looking down upon the earth, sees all the people on the earth and he can see everybody in the whole world in a moment of time. If the devil can do that with Christ and show him the kingdoms of the earth of the whole world in a moment of time, don’t you think God can?

And as he surveys the whole earth, he says they’re all gone aside. They’re all together become filthy. There is none that doeth good. No, not One not one. I Am glad that we have a God that one day looked down and when he looked down and saw the conditions of this world You know what he said? He says I don’t want to get involved Is that what he said? No, he didn’t say that You know you and I are like that sometime we see a lot of people with a lot of personal problems of all kinds And we don’t want to get involved in one of the reason because we got enough of our own We can’t solve everybody’s problems But we know somebody who can help people and can solve people’s problems You see the biggest thing is you can just get people to the

Lord So maybe God wants to use us to get people to the Lord because God does want to get involved in people’s lives Can you believe that? That’s why he tells us to get involved in people’s lives. I think it’s a good thing. It’s a worthy thing. Look there in your Bible to the book of John, the gospel of John, and chapter 3, the gospel of John, chapter 3. John chapter 3, and look in verse 31. See, the Lord, he saw the the private of man and how bad we were.

He saw the death and the plague and everything that stops man as we go through this life. And he also can see the destiny of all the people that do not know him because he’s God. But here in John chapter 3 it says in verse 31, He that cometh from above is above all. So not only did He look down, see? He came down. He looked down and he came down. He that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth, He that cometh from heaven is above all.

And what He hath seen and heard that he testified and no man receiveeth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set that God is true, for he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God. For God giveeth not the Spirit by measure unto him, the Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things unto his hand. He that believeth unto son hath everlasting life, and he that believe if not the Son shall not see life of the wrath of God, abideeth upon Him.

So God sent His Son. God came down. That’s what John 3 16 is really about. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. So yes, God looked down and God came down. And you and I know why he came down. He came for a reason. Not a lot of reasons, just one main reason. He was born that he might die. Take your Bible and turn there to the book of John chapter 10.

The book of John in chapter 10. And you’ll notice here, a simple little verse. Look there in verse 17, verse 17, where it says, Therefore it doth my father love me because I, and you ought to underline these two, lay down. I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man take it from me, but I lay it down of myself. So Jesus Christ, who is God, he looked down, and he saw the condition of man, and then it says he came down.

That’s why he was born into the world, that he might lay down his life for you and for me. So I want you to take and look at this in 1 John in chapter 3, 1 John in chapter 3, and look in verse 16. This is 1 John 3 16, not John 3 16, but in verse 16 it says, hereby perceive we the love of God because, and here’s those words again, he laid down his life. This is supposed to reveal to you and I how much God loved us Because from God’s viewpoint, as He looks at man, He says, all are corrupt.

All are corrupt. All have sinned. All have gone astray. No one seeks God. And so He came down into the world. And He died on the cross. And He laid down His life for all those people that He saw. Because God is able to see all the people in all the world at one time and He could send his son to die on the cross to pay for all the sins of all the world and hereby perceive We the love of God that he laid down his life For us, but now notice the other part of the verse This is kind of a little strange to me But the love that we have is revealed not by just the love we have for the lost man, but here he says in the last part of it, and we ought to lay down our lives.

But then he says for the lost man, he says for the brethren, maybe it’s to get more brethren or for the purpose of having more brethren. But evidently, you know, from God’s point of view, God knows how much could be accomplished if just God’s people loved each other and one of the best for each other. You know why I want to have a camp? It’s not so that I can find something to do because I’m bored. I know what camp does for the people.

For the brethren, did you know when you start getting involved in other people’s lives and you want the best for them, it straightens up your own life. Your life will not get straightened out until you get connected to other people trying to help them spiritually. That means you should want all the other adults in the church, all the teenagers that are God’s children, you want the best for them and the best thing they could ever do is learning how to work together.

Peter was talking about one little girl and the change in her because she trusted Christ as Savior and has such joy and she was intermingling with other people. And sometimes these kids, that’s how they make friendships. Getting out there, slapping each other with pain, getting dirty, knocking each other into the water. All the fun kind of things that they have, that builds relationships, it builds friendships and causes them to want to be around each other. You know what it’s like not to be liked, not to be involved, to think or to feel that nobody cares whether I live or I die.

It can’t give people a chance to show somebody you care about them because it takes time to give the people. When you do that, you’re laying down your life for somebody else. you’re giving them the most valuable thing you have time, because see, that’s what life is made out of. When you waste time, you waste life. So when you invest time, you’re saving your life. And that’s why Christ says, if you will lose your life, for my sake and the gospel, you will find your life.

And most people never find a real purpose in living. So as he looked down and came down and laid down, you and I are supposed to be looking through the eyes of the Lord. And as you and I look through his eyes, remember, we have been seated in the heavenly. We look down and we’re supposed to come down and we’re supposed to lay down our lives because, see, we have somebody that set an example for us, and there are a lot of God’s children who just don’t want to get involved in doing anything.

Everything takes time, and you know your life is so valuable to you, and you don’t have time to serve God, because he’s serving God, serving people, and a lot of people don’t have time to serve people. They live only for themselves, and they will not give up or sacrifice their time because they feel like I am worth so much more. They’d rather have people serve them instead of them serve others. Remember what Christ says, even the Son of Man did not come to be ministered unto but to minister to give His life a ransom for many.

So this is what God’s Word says and I believe it’s something that we ought to do. Take your Bible and look in the book of Hebrews in chapter 1. There’s a great verse here, I like this verse. Hebrews chapter 1, but look in verse 1 to verse 3. He laid down his life and then whenever he laid down his life, you know the Bible says that when he went back into heaven that he sat down. Do you know why he sat down?

It was finished. because the work was done. It is finished. Now you and I are trying to set down and rest and we haven’t finished our job yet. We’re not in heaven yet. We’re supposed to work while it is day because they come the day when no man shall be able to work. So we work while we can, as long as we can. So here in the book of Hebrews in chapter 1, looking verse 1, God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time pass unto the fathers by the prophets.

Happen these last days spoken unto us by his son, whom he hath appointed air of all things, by whom also he made the world. Who, being the brightness of his glory and express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself surpassed the deal. over in this done with. When he had by himself purged our sins and you ought to underline these two little words, he sat down. Set down on the right hand of the majesty on high because the work was done.

The work was done. And also, while you’re right here, look there in Hebrews in chapter 10. Hebrews chapter 10. And you’ll notice it says this once again. See, the reason that you and I can rest in the Lord is because the Lord did the work. And he sat down because there was no more that needed to be done. We’re supposed to accept the work that Christ did for us. Now that’s for salvation. So you and I are going to heaven because we accepted the payment that Christ made.

When He says it is finished, means the payment for the sins of the world was paid for. It was over and done with. And look what He says here in verse 12 of Hebrews chapter 10. But this man after he had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, well what did he do? down. He sat down on the right hand of God. Now there are scriptures that talks about God being on the right hand and then talks about the Son being on the right hand.

So Hannah, I can both of them be on the right hand. Is it possible that he is one in the same? Interesting. When we get to heaven will we see three of them on three thrones or is it just one? I believe there’s only one true and living God. And explain it, can’t do it. Try it for years. I can’t make people see it because sometimes I can’t see it. All of you is all kind of types in trying to explain it.

But it’s something we’re going to have to see when we get to heaven. Is there one or is there two or is there three? He said, well, I think it won’t matter what you think. You can’t prove anything. That’s why when we get to heaven, we’ll see it, and we’ll know, and we’ll all understand. You see, God says secret things belong to the Lord, and we can only know that which He hath revealed, and He has not revealed everything.

I want you to take your Bible and turn to Matthew in chapter 14. Matthew chapter 14, you got Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And you know there’s a story here about a storm that came up. The disciples were told to get in the boat and go across the sea of Galilee. And the one that started this thing was the Lord. See there in verse 22? And straight way Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship. Who did? Well Jesus did.

to do what? To go before Him onto the other side.” Well, He sent the molar to the way. So it was His idea. He told Him what to do. Well, did they do it? Yeah, they did it. In verse 23, and when He had sent the molar to the way, He went up into a mountain apart to pray. And when the evening was come, He was there alone. But the ship was now in the mist of the sea, in its seven miles wide and 1400 miles long.

This is one wide sea. It’s a pretty good side sea up there. and see of Galilee. I preached on it many times. I really have. And so it’s in the evening and they’re out there in the middle of the storm because it says there in verse 21. But this ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves, for the wind was contrary. Oh, wait a minute. Who sent them in the midst of this storm? Jesus. Well, didn’t he know there was going to be a storm?

Well, if he’s God, he knew. He knew there’s going to be a storm. He knew exactly what was going to take place. And he sent his disciples right in the middle of it. And he knew who, what was going to happen? He knew what they were going to think. In verse 25, and in the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went unto them, walking on the water. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea. They were in trouble saying, it’s a spirit.

They cried out for fear. But Jesus said unto them, it is, it is I, be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou bid me come into the on the water, he said, come. When Peter was coming out, down out of the ship, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. But when he saw the winds boasters, He was afraid and beginning to sink. He cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth His hands.

That means He reached down. He reached down and pulled Him up because He was already sinking. You know there’s a psalm in the Old Testament. But in the 40th Psalm, it makes the statement of that. The Lord reached down and lifted me up out of a horrible pit, set my feet upon a solid rock. And when He set him up on a solid rock, He establishes going and put a new song in His heart. And all that because it was God who reached down.

Now, it’s not because you and I have been able to do all these great and wonderful mighty things that cause Legislator to love us so much more than somebody else. God does love us. And if it wasn’t for the Lord who did the reaching, you and I would not be saved. It is his arm so short that he cannot reach. That he cannot save us, but he can. And the Bible says that he can reach down and he can save us.

Well, you know, there’s the Scripture in 1 Thessalonians, Chapter four verse 13 to 18. Now we know that he’s coming back again. He’s going to come. He’s going to raise the dead bodies of believers. And he’s going to rature out all of those who are still alive. And the Bible says he’s going to reward us when we get to heaven. That’s what we have to look forward to. And the Lord says that He’s going to put down all of His enemies.

Look there in 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians chapter 15. 1 Corinthians chapter 15. And just look there in verse headquartered. And He says, then come of the end. When He shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, Even the Father, when He shall have, and you are the land these two little words, put down, all rule and all authority and power. And you’re going to put all of His enemies under His feet. In other words, when it’s all over with, everyone is going to bow the knee and confess So the glory of God the Father, that Jesus Christ is the Lord.

It’s going to be too late for them, but for you and I, it’s still good if we would realize who He is, that He looked down, He came down, and He laid down, and then He sat down, and then he reached down, then he put down. But he’s coming down again, and he’s going to take us out of here. We’re supposed to live by faith believing that. And as a child of God, we should be doing exactly the same thing.

You see, because not only does God want us to be saved, and to go to heaven, and he wants us to have all the rewards. You see, whenever you really love the brethren, you want them when they get to heaven to have all the rewards they could have got. That’s why, as a child of God said, we should want every one of God’s children to serve the Lord. We want them to be involved. And the only way you can get some people involved is to be involved, to do something, to have a ministry, to get your hands dirty, to get involved in people’s lives.

And yet there’s a lot of people that will never do it. I wish I could get a hold of them and just shake them real good. But I realize that’s not going to give me anywhere. So I am thankful for the ones that do. So I spend all my time, most of my time with the ones that want to be faithful and try to disciple the ones who will follow. You see, you can’t disciple people who won’t follow you.

You can only disciple those who follow you. At one time, a lot of Christ’s disciples turned and went away. And so he turned to his own disciples and he says, will you also go away? And Peter made that statement, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life. We believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus says, not all of you, not all of you. One of you is a heretic, an unbeliever.

One of you is because Peter didn’t know everything. We all, yeah, Peter is always doing it, always putting his foot in his mouth saying things that he shouldn’t say. I’m glad we don’t have anybody like that today. People just don’t do that anymore. But anyway, I hope that that won’t help with just a little bit. Look up here. This hand represents you and me. This book represents sin. We all have sin on us. God loves us. He hates our sin.

And because of all this sin, it has to be paid. And the wages of sin is death. That’s why we all have to die. But God loves us. He wants us to go to heaven. And to go to heaven, you can’t take your sin with you. You have to be perfect as righteous as God. And nobody’s perfect. Because of sin, we can’t get in. And God says, your good works will not pay for your… Bad deeds. Good works don’t pay for bad deeds.

This hand represents Jesus Christ, he’s the Lord. God in the flesh came into the world because he loves us, hates our sin, because our sin separates us from the Lord. So Christ took our sins, paid for them on the cross, and came back from the dead, sent it into heaven and sat down. The work was all done. It’s finished. Payment made in full. You see, the only thing you and I have to do is accept the payment he made for our sins.

He’s already made the payment. All we have to do is accept it. That’s free. That’s simple. That’s grace. It means you don’t earn it. You don’t deserve it. It’s free. Mercy and grace. What a wonderful thing. Let’s pray, shall we? If you’re here tonight or watching by internet, I pray that you would right now believe that God does love you. And yes, he looked down and he sees you. He sees all the rebellion that we have and the desires to go our own way.

God says there’s none righteous, no, that’s one. So because of what he saw, he came down and did something about it. He got involved, couldn’t get any more involved than what he did. He laid down his life. As he laid down his life, he did it for everybody. Came back from the dead, sent it into heaven, and sat down on the right hand of the Father. And then he reached down his hand for you and for me. Have you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior?

Will you trust Him to save you? If you will, God said He would give you the free gift of eternal life, and you’ll get to go to heaven on what Christ did for you. So his bow nice close, no one looking around. Is there anyone else say, yes, I will accept Jesus Christ as my Savior and preach I like you to pray for me. Would you slip your hand very quickly in the right back down? Is there anyone at all?

Yes, right where you are, you too. All you have to do is believe it. God loves you that much, and He’ll give you the free gift of eternal life. And you can know you’re going to heaven when you die. Our Father, we thank you so much for this time together. The opportunity just to study Your Word get some thoughts here and there. And follow the way I asked your blessings upon this ministry. We got good people. Help us to plan wisely and do all that we can.

While we can, to get involved in people’s lives in Christ’s name we pray, Amen. 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. 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 six o’clock on Sunday evening. Live broadcasts 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 surpr sound and we will be changed.

Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

I want to explain a few things to you because of the times in which we live, because of what’s going on in the world. And there’s something that I really enjoy, and that’s studying prophecies of the Scriptures. I can’t say I have it down perfectly. I think I’m close. When it comes to the gospel and how you get to heaven, I think I’m dead on the money. But there’s a lot of things that we may not totally fully understand.

And that comes with trying to decipher what the word of God says when it comes to things in the future. Now we know that one-fourth of the Bible is pre-written history where God tells us what’s going to take place before it happens. The reason God does that, Coronizia 48, is because we’re hard-headed and stiff-necked. So God says that if we see what He said is true, it’s because He told us first. He says, this is what’s going to happen.

So I enjoy studying. I believe there is a difference between the Holy Covenant that God gave and the covenant that’s being made by the Antichrist. They’re not the same one. And I believe that it helps when you distinguish between the two. I believe that is something that’s going on at this present time, even with the United Nations. If people only understood and believed what the Bible said, that it is true, where God made a promise to Abraham, I will bless them that blessed thee.

I will curse them that curse thee.” That’s a simple little thing. And yet look how many nations have turned against one little nation. Not just the air of nations. Almost all the nations of the world. And I believe America is this close to turning against Israel. I do not believe at this present time that Israel feels that America is truly standing with them. may be behind them, but we’re far behind them. They wanted somebody to stand with them. And I think they have let the world know that we don’t stand with Israel, not like we ought to stand with Israel.

And it’s going to cause a lot of trouble because God is going to lower the boom. I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Genesis chapter 12. Now We’ve covered some things about the last couple of Sundays about Genesis and some of those things, but this is just a little bit different. And I want you to see there in chapter 12 of the book of Genesis. Can’t go any further back than Genesis, but it’s the only book I’ve got in my body.

It’s the first one I’ve got. So there isn’t another book back there. Well, I do want you to look there in Genesis chapter 12 and verse 1. Now the Lord, L-O-R-D, Jehovah, He is the only God. There is no other God. And Allah of the religion of Islam is not God because the true and living God has a son. And Allah, their God, doesn’t have a son, so it’s not the same God. We’re not even close on what we believe with the religion of Islam.

You need to know that. Otherwise you can so easily be swept in by all the things that you hear, and people will attack that tiny little nation and those people. I think they need to be very careful. But he made the statement here, now the Lord God had said unto the Abram, from get thee out of the country and from thy kindred and from thy father’s house unto a land that I will show thee. And I will make thee a great nation and will bless thee and will make thy name great, thy shalt be a blessing and I will bless them that bless thee, curse him that curses thee, and indeed shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

So God made a promise. God made a covenant with the nation of Israel. Now look there in Genesis chapter 15. In Genesis chapter 15, And look there in verse 18, verse 18, In the same day the Lord made a covenant with Abraham. Sin unto thy seed have I given this land from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates. Now whether anybody likes it or not, who made this world? God did. and he can give it to whoever he wants to.

He made it. Now, he made it promise to Israel and the people, but he also made a covenant concerning the land. Hosea talks about how that they will part his land, that is not the will of God, where they will divide the land of Israel. That land, or that anybody likes that it don’t like it belongs to Israel because it belongs to God and God gave it to him. Now having said that, take your Bible and turn to Daniel chapter 2, the book of Daniel and chapter 2.

Now I believe these are some references to the Holy Covenant given by God. There’s another covenant that is going to be made. It is not the same covenant. Now here in Daniel chapter 2, Nebuchadnezzarid had a dream. Many of these things I’ve covered before, but there’s a little bit different angle that I want to hit it from. In verse 31, Daniel says to King Nebuchadnezzar, Thaloe king saws and behold a great image. This great image, whose brightness was excellent stood before thee, and the form thereof was terrible.

This image’s head was a fine gold, his breast and his arms of silver, belly and his thighs of brass, legs of iron, feet part of iron and part of clay. Thou sawst till that a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet, were of iron and clay and break them in pieces. Then was the iron, one, clay, two, brass, three, silver, four, gold, five, broken the pieces together and become like the chap of the summer threshing floors.

And the wind carried them away, and that no place was found for them, and the stone that smote the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth. Now, that is what Nebuchadnezzar saw. It calls him a nightmare because he didn’t understand what it meant. He was going to kill all the wise men. The soussays, the magicians of Babylon. What Daniel was considered to be one of those wise men. He wasn’t ready to die yet. He goes to the Lord, the revealer of secrets, and says, hey, what’s going on?

God told him. in the Hebrew. And he told him. And so he comes to see the king. He says, okay, he says, can’t your musicians and all your soussayers and your wise guys, can’t they tell you? He says, I know what the dream is and the interpretation. I know what it means. Now you and I have seen these verses before, talked about them. We know that it’s a reference to the various kingdoms upon the earth, the nations that will rule over Israel and the times in which they will do so.

And he tells Nebuchadnezzar, he says, Thou art the head of gold. See they’re in verse 37. Dao king are the king of kings, for the God of heaven hath given thee a kingdom, power and strength and glory. God gave it to you. And were so ever the children of men dwell in the beast of the field, and the fouls of the heavens hath he given into thy hand and hath made thee ruler over them all, thou art this head of gold.

Now of course, Nebuchadnezzar didn’t know that God was working behind the scenes. He didn’t know that God had raised him. up. You see, God always finds just the right branch that He’s going to use to whoop His people. They were a rod in the hands of God. And then God, after He uses them, will get another rod and whoop them. And then another rod and whoop them. Because people don’t do what God says do. All nations on the face of the earth are under the all-watching eye of God.

God’s the one that raises up and God can put down. America did not come to be without the knowledge of God. Man didn’t produce all of this. There’s a God behind the scenes that raised up our nation and God raised up that little obitination of Israel and promised them that as long as you serve me and obey me I will bless thee and protect thee and will put none of the diseases of the Egyptians upon you and Israel would have had no worries whatsoever.

But if you rebel against me, he said, I’ll bring a nation from afar who speaks a language you don’t understand. And I’ll drive you into all the nations of the year. Isn’t it amazing that twenty-five hundred years they’ve been driven all over the place, but they’re still a people. They’re still a people, kind of a type of the eternal security. That once you trust Christ to save you, his child forever. And there will always be the nation of Israel, a remnant, and so they have existed.

And isn’t it amazing that in our lifetime, well I will say in 48, if you were around at that time, Israel becomes a nation. Coincidence, I don’t think so. Not if these verses are true and God is behind the scene and God’s in charge. Last time I heard he was. Then he talks about, yes, there is the head of gold. And then just picture, there’s a big old man standing up here. Like Peter, a big old man standing up here.

And there’s the head of gold, then there’s the, the major and the Persians. And then the belly of brass and then the east and the west and the divisions of the Roman Empire. And then you have these ten toes down on the foot. We often try to explain this according to a timetable. We always lay the body down. Because it kind of time, you know, so you can understand it a little bit better. But let’s just pretend the body is laying up here on this table.

All right, we have gone through Babylon. They have come on the scene and now they’re off the scene. Then the means and the Persians came in. Now they’re off the same. And then the Greek Empire, now they’re gone off the same. The Roman Empire, now they’ve gone off the same. And between the ankles, we just chop his feet off. And we move his feet way out there. How far? I don’t know for sure. Been 2000 years so far. Because you see, those 10 toes, the Bible says that when Christ comes back, He is going to hit those toes.

Now understand, the Bible says that when Jesus Christ comes back in power and great glory at the end of all of the Gentile nations that have ruled over Jerusalem from Babylon on down. Now there was two before that, the Assyrians and the Egyptians. Now Christ comes back here in power and great glory. When he comes back, those ten nations will be ruling during this period of time, a short period of time. These other ones have ruled for several hundred years.

This one, seven years. This is the 70th week of Daniel. And God says that when he comes back, he is the stone cut out of the mountain without hands and he is going to smite the ten toes and destroys all of these, but it says together. So as we lay the body down and go through the various steps. And then the process of time, Babylon came and gone. The Medes and the Persians came and gone. The Alexander and the Empire came and gone.

And the Roman Empire came and gone. And then we had 2,000 years since Christ, because when Christ was here, the Roman Empire was in rule at that time. So the Jews were taken out of the land at the fall of the temple in 70 AD. And so the Bible says that they have been out of the land and will be out of the land for about two days. According to the book of Hosea, two days they return. So now they have returned and become established again as a nation.

Now the Bible is not a bunch of guesswork. It does speak specifically about specific things. Sometimes we don’t get all the pieces together, but we get enough of it to get a good idea that in the times in which we live, and we are right here, this is where we are on the timetable that God has laid out in his word. So we know what has happened and we also know what is going to take place. The next thing is for the rapture.

That’s those who have trusted Christ as Savior, caught up to meet the Lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. And so there’s these kingdoms that have come, but the ten toes were separated from the body and they’re way out here in the future and they are going to have this seven-year period of time because they are the ones that will be ruling when Christ comes back but it says He destroys all these nations together.

Look there in verse 35, then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the silver, the gold, broken to pieces and you ought to underline or circle that word together, together. So I believe there’s a good possibility even after 2,000 years, those very same nations in some form or another, there’s a good possibility they will be existing during this period of time. Not per se the same power but look there in the next scripture. Look at verse 44. Verse 44.

In verse 44 it says, and in the days of these kings, these ten kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Arlica, appear. In the days of these ten kings will the God of heaven set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed. And and the increase of his kingdom, there will be no end to it. Now this is just a thousand years here, but there’s a new heavens and a new earth, and that kingdom will last forever.

So God has made a promise. Now you think, well that’s way out there in the future, way out there in the future. If Christ came today, this is only seven years away, this is just seven years away. If He came today, Now, this morning in Sunday’s school I talked a little bit about the seven feasts that are mentioned in the book of Leviticus chapter 23. The first four is the spring feast and the last three are the fall feast.

These are all feasts of Israel. None of these feasts were given to the church. Even though there are things that mentions about what they represented, taught great truth. Truth that we are able to enjoy because of what God’s done for the nation of Israel. Even though Christ dying on the cross was a, that’s the Passover. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. So when Christ went to the cross and shed his blood and became sin for us, well don’t we look to the cross for our salvation even though we’re doing this period of time, yes.

But the feast days were strictly Israel. We do not celebrate any of those feast days now because we are now looking at something very important. I believe that the Pentecost was the last of the spring feast and that this feast of trumpet is the first of the fall feast. You and I are in between these two Jewish feasts. This is the church age that had been put in here. Now you could take this all out of here and just take this and slide it right up against it.

And scripture would flow right into it. Then we go from the ring face right into the fall feast. But we have these three things that will come into the future. You’ve got the one here, you’ve got the one here and you’ve got the millennial rain coming upon the earth. The Feast of Tabernacles was whenever they were in the Old Testament, say they lived in the love tents. And Christ is going to come back and to reign. So you and I know that when Christ comes to the earth, He comes to rule, to reign, and all the kingdoms of the earth will be consumed under His leadership.

This is why the Bible talks about, and every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that He is the Lord to the glory of God the Father. All nations, big, small individuals, will all submit to His authority, and He will rule and reign. Now, go back here to the book of Daniel in chapter 2, verse 44, and in the days of these kings, shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which get shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom Then shall not be left to other people, but it shall break in pieces and consume, get this, all these kingdoms, as though all these kingdoms will be existing during this period of time.

Now, like the body is laying down, but now it’s standing up, and when the stone hits the toes, it destroys all Gentile ruling power over the nation of Israel. Think about the impossibility of this. Do you ever watch sometimes the United Nations and some of those that will be given some of those speeches? And most of it is the hate crime. What if they get some of these guys for hate crimes? And can you imagine the stupidity of some of these guys that are on human rights councils?

They’re the last people that ought to be on the human rights. They’re the one that’s going the damage. the murders, the dictators, the killers, and they’re on there, well we’re gonna make sure that everybody does right. How did they get there? I see faults in all this. I think the United Nations ought to be kicked out of America. We ought not give them a dime. And I don’t see why in the world we’re supporting any money to any of these nations that don’t love us.

not force, then you’re against us. Now why support your enemy? Anyway, I’m not running for office. Just thought I thought that out there. No charge. But you might as well know a little bit about where I’m coming from. But now look what he says there in verse 45, for as much as thou sought that the stone, which is Christ, was cut out of the mountain, which is Israel, and that it break in pieces, the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver, the goal.

It says, the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass here after and the dream is certain the interpretation thereof is sure. This is what is going to take place. Now take your Bible and turn to Daniel chapter 7 Daniel chapter 7 and look at verse 13 Daniel chapter 7 and verse 13. This is a a little bit of a picture for you to see what is going to take place. And I saw in the night visions and behold, one like the son of man came with the clouds of heaven, came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him.

And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom and all people, nations and languages should serve him. So we know that the Bible talked about somewhere along the line, there’s somebody going to come on the same and all the nations are going to come together and they’re going to serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. This is not the Antichrist. This is the Lord Jesus Christ. And his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away and his kingdom, that which shall not be destroyed.

So there is one coming, which all the nations of the earth are going to eventually give all their power and support behind Jesus Christ when he comes. There will be a judgment of the nation and Christ himself will rule over the nations of the earth and believe it or not. Israel will be the greatest nation upon the face of the earth. Look at it right now at the impossibility of all the nations 180 something or something like that. Away up there, all these nations that are against Israel.

And you would take a miracle for that to change. Well, it will. It will definitely be one. But they are going to change. And they are going to come around to God’s way of thinking. And the Bible even says this in 17th chapter of Revelation that God has put into the heart to turn the hearts and so forth of the people to fulfill His will. So during the tribulation period when all these nations come together and God says, I am going to put a hook into the jaws of Russia and pour Russia down and her allies are going to come together but that’ll take place toward the earlier part and there is going to be a great war when I was in Israel.

I had some of the guys with Senator I would talk you know and he says do you know we have more gold and silver in the Dead Sea. Not enough this is true but it’s the lowest part in the earth and that which is weight goes down and he says we have more gold and silver and the Dead Sea and other kinds of of minerals that’s more wealth than all the world put together. Anywhere else in the world, they got more of it right there, that they have oil.

Now remember, it makes us say, as your shell dip is tote in oil, Israel has oil, but that’s in Genesis. Nobody believed that anymore. But Israel has oil. Israel’s now found not only oil, but they’ve also found gas, natural gas. Russia is going to come down. against Israel, one of these days. I believe very soon. Israel is sitting ready to have to do some damage to somebody because here’s the reason. God made a holy covenant, a holy covenant, and they are not willing to honor that holy covenant that God gave to Israel.

They don’t care about it they don’t honor it. One of the things you’ll hear from the Prime Minister of Israel is that they need to recognize Israel’s right to exist, the right to life, the right to be a nation. We see the Palestinians and the Americans, they want to destroy the nation of Israel. They don’t want peace with Israel. They want a piece of Israel. But that’s not what God’s talking about. And God said, I’ll bless them, that blessed and cursed and that cursed.

And you say, well, look how the Arabs have been blessed. It ain’t over yet. Don’t judge too quickly. God knows what He’s doing. Now look in verse 21, verse 21, it makes the statement in verse 21, I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints prevailed against them. Now this is during this period of time right here, the tribulation period. Because he most of the scriptures as you study the Old Testament does not refer to between the Pentecost and the Rapture.

This is church. So as you study Old Testament, Scripture, prophecy, most of it has nothing to do with this period of time where we are. It deals with here and here because of what the Old Testament prophets saw. This is a mystery that they did not see and totally understand. There were hints toward it but not full recognition. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tepa, 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 toll 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 Bible and programs just go to our homepage at Bibleline ministries dot o rg 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 40-8-11 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. Do you ever watch sometimes the United Nations and some of those that will be given some of those speeches? And most of it is a hate crime What if they get some of these guys for hate crimes? And can you imagine the stupidity of some of these guys that are on human rights councils?

They’re the last people that ought to be on a human rights They’re the one that’s going the damage. They’re the murders, the dictators, the killers. And they’re under, well, we’re going to make sure that everybody does right. Whoa, how did they get there? I see faults in all this. I think the United Nations ought to be kicked out of America. We ought not give them a dime. And I don’t see why in the world we’re supporting any money to any of these nations that don’t love us.

You’re not forced, then you’re against us. Now why support your enemy? Anyway, I’m not running for office. Just thought I thought that out there. No charge. But you might as well know a little bit about where Ifund coming from. But now look what he says there in verse 45, for as much as thou sought that the stone which is Christ was cut out of the mountain which is Israel and that it break in pieces, the iron, the brass, the clay, the silver and the gold.

It says, the great God hath made known to the king what shall come to pass here after and the dream is certain the interpretation thereof is sure. This is what is going to take place. Now take your Bible and turn to Daniel chapter 7. Daniel chapter 7 and look at verse 13. Daniel chapter seven and verse 13. This is a little bit of a picture for you to see what is going to take place. And I saw in the night visions and behold one like the Son of Man came with the clouds of heaven came to the ancient of days and they brought him near before him.

And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom and all people, nations and languages should serve him. So we know that the Bible talked about somewhere along the line, there’s somebody going to come on the same and all the nations are going to come together and they’re going to serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion. This is not the Antichrist. This is the Lord Jesus Christ. and his dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not pass away and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

So there is one coming which all the nations of the earth are gonna eventually give all their power and support behind Jesus Christ when he comes there will be a judgment of the nation and Christ himself will rule over the nations of the earth and believe it not. Israel will be the greatest nation upon the face of the earth. Look at it right now at the impossibility of all the nations, 180 something or something like that, away up there, all these nations that are against Israel.

And you would say, well it would take a miracle for that to change. Well, it will. It will definitely be one. But they are going to change, and they are going to come around to God’s way of thinking. And the Bible even says this in 17th chapter of Revelation that God has put into the hearts to turn the hearts and so forth of the people to fulfill His will. So during the tribulation period, when all these nations come together, And God says, I am going to put a hook into the jaws of Russia and poor Russia down.

And her allies are going to come together. But that’ll take place toward the earlier part. And there is going to be a great war when I was in Israel. I had some of the guides that was sent around with talk, you know. And he says, do you know, we have more gold and silver in the Dead Sea. Not enough, this is true.

But it’s the lowest part in the earth. And that which is weight goes down. And he says, we have more gold and silver in the Dead Sea and other kinds of minerals. That’s more wealth than all the world put together anywhere else in the world. They got more of it right there that they have what they have. They have oil. Now remember it makes us say, as your shell dip is toe in oil, Israel has oil, but that’s in Genesis.

Nobody believed that anymore. But Israel has oil. Israel’s now found not only oil, but they’ve also found gas, natural gas. Russia is going to come down against Israel one of these days, I believe very soon. Israel is sitting ready to have to do some damage to somebody because here’s the reason. God made a holy covenant, a holy covenant, and they are not willing to honor that holy covenant that God gave to Israel. They don’t care about it, they don’t honor it.

One of the things you’ll hear from the Prime Minister of Israel is that they need to recognize Israel’s right to exist, the right to life, the right to be a nation. We see the Palestinians in the air, they want to destroy the nation of Israel. They don’t want peace with Israel. They want a peace of Israel. But that’s not what God’s talking about. And God said, I’ll bless them, that blessed the encursed and that cursed the, and you You say, well, look how the Arabs have been blessed.

It ain’t over. It ain’t over yet. Don’t judge too quickly. God knows what he’s doing. Now look in verse 21. Verse 21, it makes the statement in verse 21, “‘I beheld and the same horn made war with the saints, prevailed against them.” Now this is doing this period of time right here. the tribulation period. Because most of the scriptures as you study the Old Testament does not refer to between the Pentecost and the Rapture. This is church. So as you study Old Testament scripture prophecy most of it had nothing to do with this period of time where we are.

It deals with here and here because of what the Old Testament prophets saw. This is a mystery that they did not see and totally understand. There were hints toward it, but not full recognition. But look what he says here. In verse 22, until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom. So when Christ comes back here, all of the saints, we that are gonna come back with the Lord, and the saved comes out of the tribulation, period, we are gonna possess the kingdom.

we are going to rule and reign with Christ. We are. So there might not be a lot that we’ll do between now and then, but I don’t like to use the rapture as an escape from responsibility while I’m here. I believe that we still ought to do all the right that we know to do because, did you know, we could be totally wrong on our timing? I would like to read the Bible and it says on September the 28th in the evening at six o’clock I will return in the year 2011.

Now that would have settled it, wouldn’t but he didn’t do that. So we have been guessing at the year for over 2000 years and he may come this year and he might not come this year. As you study the New Testament books you’ll find out that it doesn’t tell us to look for any other particular signs. It was always he could come back at any moment, any moment. Because see, I don’t, I don’t, I don’t care when he comes back.

Just do it soon. But I do enjoy living at this time because man, I can’t hardly wait to get to the newspaper, to hear the news at night, to see what’s going on. What else is happening that’s exciting? Now, if you don’t know any of this stuff, you could be scared to death. You don’t know what’s gonna happen. But if you do understand some of this stuff, man, it is exciting to you. How many of you are relating to me?

How many of you understand what I’m saying? Well, you raise your hand. Let me have you all ain’t got a clue. No, no, no, I can’t. But this is something that we’ve been teaching and we believe this could happen very, very soon. And yes, the rapture could take place this week. And the part that hurts about all of this is, is Steve Yank going into the hospital on Thursday. They give him a new heart. He’s back here waving his hand.

He might not even need it. But if Saturday shows up and we’re all here next Sunday, don’t you come in here weeping and wailing the national teeth? The Lord promised him he did not. He didn’t say when he was coming. I know the time of the year that I think it might be and I like to believe that that’s when it’s going to be But I can’t put it in concrete and say definite because I do not want to at any time Say God who can’t come back today Because you know this is not the piece of trumpet.

I mean this is not right. I mean I can’t come that out. Yes, he can And he’s God. And I don’t know exactly what he’s going to do, and whether or not this really will be the date because this starts this. But how do I know there’s not really maybe a little time in it? I don’t know. I just believe that when this comes out, that starts the 70th week of Daniel because of the timing and how God lays out everything.

But I might be wrong. Haint me be right that I might be wrong. I don’t know. Well, one of these days it’s going to happen. That’s the important thing. Now, what I want you to do is look there in verse 23. Thus he said, the fourth bee shall be the fourth kingdom upon the earth. Babylon’s already off, which shall be diverse from all kingdoms and shall devour the whole earth shall tread it down and break it in pieces. Now, right now, see, we have where one thing hits in one country and it affects everything.

When it’s stock markets bottom out here, it affects the whole world. This whole world is so unified together that it’s pathetic. I don’t like it and I don’t like America losing its sovereignty. And I don’t like it whenever we’re so affected by whatever happens to happen someplace else that affects us to where we’re devastated. But that’s the way it is. Looking verse 24, and the tin horns out of this kingdom or 10 kings. Remember the the bees that had the 10 toes?

All right, everything has happened except the last one, the one that has the 10 toes. The 10 toes is during this period of time because Rome took it up there. And that was the legs of the after the the Grecian Empire. So that’s already been done. The next one, the last one is 10 toes, the 10 king, the 10 horn. That’s right here. Now, he makes the statement in verse 24 and the 10 horns out of this kingdom are 10 kings that shall arise and another shall rise after this, which we believe is the Antichrist, because they will give their power to this Antichrist.

So that is what is going to come. Take your Bible now and look in the book of Daniel chapter 9 verse 27. Daniel chapter 9 verse 27. Verse 24 talked about the 70th week of Daniel. Those 70 weeks are 70s. So that means there’s 490 years total. And there’s a time limit in this talking about going up to the time of Christ, which would be 69 weeks or 483 years. The temple was about 7 weeks in building. That was 49.

So that’s why it’s mentioned in there. Now, when he makes the statement up here that the Antichrist is going to come, and you’ll notice in verse 25, Messiah the Prince. So the Messiah, the true Messiah, the true Messiah is called the Prince. He’s coming, but then it says that he is going to be cut off, see there in verse 26, and after three score and two weeks shall the Messiah be cut off, but not for himself. That’s when he went to the cross and he was killed.

And then the people of the Prince, the people who are against Christ before the anti-Christ in the future, he is going to come and he is going to make war. He’s going to take over, but he’s going to do it in a different way than what you and I would think that a man would be able to get into power. I’m sure you that in a second here. So anyway, you’ll notice they’re in verse 26. After three scoring two weeks, I’m a sabbie cut off but not for himself and the people of the prince shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.

Now this happened whenever Rome came in and they destroyed the city and so forth and it’s been down ever since. We’re looking for the time when the temple will be rebuilt. So how in the world do you think Israel today would ever get any Arab country to agree to let them build a temple on Mount Moriah? And they don’t even have to tear the other one down. When I first went there 25 years ago, I walked up on that thing and I looked around and I looked at the Eastern Gate and I stood there and I looked at Mount Zion.

And I said there’s the Eastern Gate right on the other side I didn’t even been there before and I had clues and it’s sealed up which the Bible says in Ezekiel It would be and there it is it’s all sealed up and I said that thing has to be right to the north of it Because it has to line up. I believe the exit door and The sides of the north the sides of the north is that the side of it on The north side faces north, but east faces toward the mountain toward mountain right right toward the Eastern Gate and so that’s the way that Messiah is supposed to come in but anyway that’s another sermon but I am excited but I had questions about how are we ever going to get the nations of the world to accept the fact that we need to have a temple built upon that temple

mount because the Antichrist is going to go into the temple and claim himself that he’s God where’s the temple so it has to be built something has to have happened. Something drastic has to happen to make the Arab nations and the United Nations authorize a treaty where this can all take place. So therefore I believe there’s a good possibility something devastating is going to take place and Israel is going to take and deal very harshly with something very soon that’s going to drive them to the table and they’re going to willingly let Israel do what Israel wants to do in order for them to get their Palestinian state.

Just remember, you heard it right here. I don’t know when. I don’t know exactly how. I can’t put a date on it. But because I know the Bible, I know what has to happen and what has to take place. So it’s going to come. Now, in these scriptures, it says they’re in verse 27, and he, the prince of the people, the antichrist, the one that they will exalt that represents them is going to confirm the covenant with many for one week that seven years.

That’s the seven years right here. And it’s going to be the worst period of time the world has ever known. Isn’t it true that even right now Israel wants peace? I listened to Benjamin Netanyahu the other night on he would been interviewed and he says they want peace. They’ll do almost anything for peace except stop the building in the West Bank and all that side and outside of Jerusalem. But they want peace. But they want them to recognize their right to exist.

And so see how that plays out. Now take your Bible looking at chapter 11 very quickly, chapter 11. One of the things we know about this last world leader and remember they’re generally far prophecies and near prophecy, one that’s happened soon. And when that happens way in the future, history repeats itself. So God can give one prophecy and parts of it will happen soon and another part of it will happen later. Now look there in verse 20 of chapter 11, then shall stand up in his estate and Yoda on the line these words.

This is what he will be mostly about. A razor of what? But a razor of taxes in the glory of the kingdom, but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger nor in battle. Verse 21, And in his estates shall stand up, a vile person to whom they shall not give the honor of the kingdom, but he shall come in. And here’s that word, Yom to underlying it. Peaceably obtained the kingdom by Yom to underlying the word, flatteries, and with the arms of the flood shall there be overflown from before him and shall be broken and ye the in your underlined that phrase the Prince of the Covenant.

See there is the Holy Covenant that God gave to Israel concerning the people and the land. There is a peace treaty that must be made by this world council and given a sovereignty to Israel but it’s not the same covenant because this is one they make in this one they break. And so it says in verse 22 the last part of verse 22 the prince of the covenant. Turn the page if you got an old school for a reference Bible and you’ll notice what he says here in verse 28.

Then shall he return into his land with great riches and his heart shall be and you’re the underlying disphrase against the Holy Covenant. They are against Israel’s right to exist. They’re against Israel’s right to the temple site, against Israel’s right to the land. And so they are against the Holy Covenant, the Holy Covenant, the gun God gave. Now, look up there in verse 30. It says, for the ships of Chittim shall come against him, therefore he shall be agreed in return and have indignation against the Holy Covenant.

So how he do he shall even return and have intelligence. with them that forsake the Holy Covenant. And then down in verse 32, I believe this is their covenant where he says, and such as do wickedly against the covenant, shall he corrupt by flatteries. Now all these things are mentioned throughout the scriptures here, but trying to separate between the covenant God gave and the one that they make. And they will make a covenant, but they will break the covenant because of what they want to do.

they will, this will not eliminate the desire of the Arab nations to destroy Israel and to totally annihilate them. And if it was not, if it was not for the Lord coming back when he does, no flesh will be left alive. God says that it is possible for man to destroy man from the face of the earth. Well, where am I going to be while all this is going on? Well, the Lord is coming back just for me.

See, this is going to be the worst part of time in the whole world. And the Lord, He loves me so much. He don’t want me to go through that. So He’s going to come back and get me. And He says, if y’all want to go, He’ll take y’all too. But He’s coming back for me. I am his pet child. But if you want to go, then you’ll have to do what I did. And I trust the Christ is my Savior.

Do you see why you need to trust the Lord? You see, this is in the scriptures, and you’re talking about watching the evening news. This is like reading tomorrow’s newspaper. The Bible is true. Do you think it’s just a coincidence that all these things are going on, and yet the Bible told about this all these years in advance. It ought to cause a person to have a great respect for this book and a bite. You know, maybe God knows what he’s doing.

Maybe God still is in charge. And I believe that we’re living at a very, very exciting time. I wish I could just start on the Sunday morning and just teach the book of Daniel in a revelation without stop. This non-stop. But y’all couldn’t handle it song. I want you to know this. You need to know how to be sure. You’re going up here. You need to know for sure that you’re going to heaven whenever you die. A lot of people don’t know this.

They don’t understand it. But there’s only one way to get to heaven, not two, not three. And I don’t go your way. You don’t go my way. We go God’s way or we don’t go at all. This hand represents you and me. The wallet represents sin. We all have sin on us. God loves us. He hates what we do wrong. You can understand that. You got children. Don’t you love your children? Yeah. Do you love what they do wrong?

Well, no. Aren’t you married? Say, yeah. Well, look, don’t you love your husband? You just don’t like what he does wrong. Don’t you love your wife? He just don’t like what she does wrong. So, mine doesn’t do anything wrong. Okay? God says we have all sinned and come short of God’s perfection. And the Lord says to pay for the sin is eternal separation from God. So, God cannot allow us into heaven with sin because that would make heaven imperfect.

So, we can’t go. That’s why we need a savior. God says you cannot save yourself. Because all of the good works you could ever do will not make you perfect. It’ll not make you good enough to go to heaven. So the church, and I’m glad you came this morning, but I hate to tell you, you could join our church, but it won’t get you to heaven. And if you gave some money today, thank you, but it can’t get you to heaven.

None of your good works will get you to heaven. Won’t even help. There’s only one way to get to heaven. This ends with Jesus Christ. He is the Lord God in the flesh. He came into the world because He loves us. Now He hates what we do wrong because it separates us from Him. So Jesus Christ Who had no sinned and have to die. But because he loves us, he took our sins and died in our place. It means he paid for my sins.

See, if he paid for my sins, what it means is I don’t have to. It means that I don’t have to go to hell and pay for one sin because he paid for all of mine. So did Christ die for you? Yes. But the payment seat is not put to your account unless you believe he did it for you. So see how easy it is? All you have to do to go to heaven is to be lead that he did it for you.

He did it for you. You’ve heard it. He died on the cross. Just believe He died and paid for you. See, there’s a God in heaven that says, I will save all those that believe I did it for them. Can’t get any simpler than that. Has nothing to do with your language? Has nothing to do with your skin color? Has nothing to do with your language? It says, yes, it’s free. It’s for whosoever. So God says, whosoever, believe it.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe anybody. If you’ll believe it, you will not perish. You will not go to hell. It means I don’t have to pay for one sin. You mean, of all the bad things I’ve ever done? Yeah, I’ve done a bunch. I might even go a whole bunch before I’d get out of here, but they’re all paid. I had a man tell me this just yesterday. He says, you mean to tell me that if I still do things wrong, I still go to heaven?

Yeah. That’s a true way to put it, but yes, it’s true. So it’s up to you as an individual where you believe it. made sense to me. Let’s pray, shall we? Every head, bottom, every eye, close, and no one looking around. If you have never trusted Christ as your Savior, would you trust Him this morning? I’m not gonna have you forward, I’m not gonna embarrass you, but right where you’re sitting, you said, the preacher, that made sense to me, and I will accept the payment Christ made for me.

And preach, I’d like for you to pray for me in closing. If what I said made sense, would you do it right now? Not gonna embarrass you. But if you trust Christ right now, God saves you and I’d like to have prayer for you. And so I’m asking you, would you let me know? Would you just slip it up very quickly? Just slip your hand up very quickly and say, by that, I’ll trust Christ as my Savior. Yes, God bless you.

Okay. Anyone else before we close? Our Father, we thank you so much for this time together. Bless each one for being here, especially the one indicated that they would trust you as their Savior. trust you as your Savior. We ask your blessings upon us, upon our country, and what we do pray for that little nation of Israel and Jews around the world. And Father, I pray that you would put a hedge about them and protect them and help us as a nation here in America to do right by the nation of Israel.

Because Father, we believe that if we honor them, you’ll honor us. But if we cursed Him, you’ll curse us. That’s a covenant you made. And Father, we don’t do this because somebody deserves it, but because you promised it. So thank you so much for all you’ve done for us. Give us a good day and good service tonight. Christ and we pray. Amen. 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. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach Each 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 Bible line 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 believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

Take a Bible, turn to the book of Acts, and chapter 8, Acts chapter 8. Monday morning, I went to the bank to get my little card corrected with a pin number. I’m sure y’all might have had to do that at a time. The little lady in there says, well have a seat, so I had a seat. And she smiled and she looked at me and she said, And what is your New Year’s resolution? I really hadn’t thought of a New Year’s resolution.

And so I said, I just want to tell more people how to have the free gift of eternal life by simply accepting Christ as their Savior. She looked at me. She says, well, go for it. There were still people in line, but we had a little time. So I proceeded to tell her how that you can have eternal life as a free gift. When I got through, I said, does that make sense to you? She said, yes, it does.

She had a big smile on her face. I said, well, right now, will you trust Jesus Christ as your only hope of going to heaven? She said, yes, I will. And then she laughed. I said, what are you laughing for? She says, if my priest could see me now. I thought it was so funny because you know, some things you can’t make happen. You just don’t plan it. And so I said, you made my day. She said, you made mine.

So it’s a good way to start the new year off, I guess. But here in the book of Acts, we have in chapter eight, a very interesting story. We have the story of a man named Philip who is on fire. I mean, he is newly elected Deacon and he’s just approaching away. Of course, you know, we’ve already lost even. He died in the previous chapter. So now we have a story about the introduction of somebody named Saul. Now this is not King Saul of the Old Testament, this is a new guy.

And he was a young man. And the Bible says that when Stephen was being stoned, they laid the clothes at a young man’s feet and he was consenting unto his death. In other words, it means with his approval. See there in verse 1, Saul was consenting unto his death, gave his approval. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem. we know. This was not called the First Baptist Church. It probably was not called the Catholic Church.

It wasn’t called the Pentecostal Church. It was the Church. There was only one Church, which was at Jerusalem, and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Now remember in the book of Acts in chapter verse eight where he says, and the Holy Spirit shall come upon you and you shall be witnesses unto me, and you shall receive power that you may be witnessing in Jerusalem and Judea and Samarion are the most parts of the earth.

Well, this is what has happened in Jerusalem and now it’s going to spread. And now we’re going to be talking about in, you know, Samarion and so on, and then into the uttermost parts of the earth. But it was because the children of Israel did not listen to this last big plea where Peter had preached to them, and then Stephen had preached to them, and they just didn’t want anything to do with it. And they commanded that they not teach or preach in the name of Jesus Christ.

Well, they did it anyway. They were greatly persecuted. Peter put him prison. Stephen was stoned to death. And now we have another young man who was doing everything in his power to kind of put his clamps down on this new church that’s coming on the scene and all these people that believed this. And they actually believed they were doing God a favor. They thought that what they were doing. Paul tells it later. They thought they were doing the will of God.

But they weren’t. And as you read through here, you’ll find out that yes, there’s some people who think they’re doing what God wants them to do and they’re not doing it. But He makes a statement here in verse 2, and devout men carried Stephen to his burial and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, cause chaos entered into every house and hailing men and women and committed them to prison. This is what Saul was doing.

You say, who is his Saul? Well, whoever he was, he was a bad guy. I mean, this is a guy you don’t want anything to do with. You don’t want to mess with this man. Because he had authorization to take men and women and put them into prison, kill them. I mean, he was a terrible man. You know and I know that there’s no way God could ever use a man like that, right? Now in verse four it says, therefore they that were scattered abroad went everywhere preaching the Word.

So the apostles were still in Jerusalem. The people were scattered abroad. Sometimes God may scatter you abroad and send you someplace else and uproot your life and close down this job in order to force you to do something. God knows what he’s doing and he spreads us out sometime because sometimes we just get lacked a day’s ago taking things for granted. And you got your nice little nest egg and you feel comfortable. And sometimes God wants us to get out of our comfort zone.

And so he kind of put those sharp little sticks in the nest so that little iglets are no longer comfortable. So they’ll learn how to fly. And so the mama, Elo, put them on their back and take them way up high and then dump them off. And then they’ll, what’s the one? And they learn how to fly. But that’s how they learn. that’s how we learn. So sometimes you’re just too comfortable. Things are too easy on you. So God’s got to shake up your life a little bit.

Well, he knows what he’s doing. But it says in verse 5, then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, preached Christ unto them. Now here’s Jerusalem. You would say down to Jerusalem would be south of Jerusalem. But down from Jerusalem could be in any direction because Jerusalem was up on a high mountain and Samaria was north. So they had to go there and Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ unto them. So we know what he preached.

He preached the Lord. We’ll know later how much he understood. And the people with one accord and gave heed unto those things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. So he was able to do all kinds of miracles. People were impressed. It was validation upon the message they were preaching. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them and many taken with palsies and that were lame, were healed, and there was great joy in that city.

already talked about in an earlier chapter where it talks about they had great grace and great power and great fear and now great joy. So whenever you do everything that God says to do the joy is because you’ve done what God says to do in spite of the fear because God’s given you power and God has saved you by grace. So we have all that we need to really enjoy life. Now if you’re going through life right now and you’re not enjoying life itself that God given to you, something’s wrong.

But it’s not God and it’s not the world. You say, well, we were just born at a bad time. This is a bad time to live. Well, I think you’ll find out that Jacob and all of his sons, that was a bad time to live. They had a good idea. Egypt. They all were born at a bad time. Moses? Well, he was born at a bad time. They were killing all the little boys, remember? Jesus, well, he was born at a bad time.

There’s always been bad times. It’s just we have the same God, same yesterday, today, forever. He doesn’t change. And so there’s things that God wants us to know, to do, to learn. And so He says, you and I, believe it or not, can have great joy in this life. If they had great joy because of what they heard Him preach, what they saw Him do, well stop and think. That was 2,000 years ago. Should our joy today be any less than if He became here yesterday?

And we saw everything that he did. And we heard the great gospel, how you could have eternal life and be sure of going to heaven when you die. Why should I be any more happier at that moment than they were at that moment? Can’t we enjoy serving the Lord today? You’d be surprised. I’m not going to ask. How many of you sitting right here right now are miserable because you’re not happy. And you don’t have that joy. And you can be down and discouraged, depressed, and everything’s going wrong in your life.

No, it’s not. Everything is not going wrong. You don’t understand life. You say, you just don’t know what I’m going through. I don’t have to know what you’re going through. I know that God knows what you’re going through. And you’re supposed to know that God knows what you’re going through. And you know that I know that you’re supposed to know that you’re trusting the Lord. and that you know that I know, that you know that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord, to those who are called according to His purpose.

You know that I know that you know that. So you’re supposed to have great joy in all things. In verse 9 there’s a nice little story here. Now as we read through this little story that deals with a guy named Simon, It seems like this man, well, he might be saved, well, he might not be saved. Well, if he was saved, he wouldn’t have said what he did. And if he was saved, what did this happen? So evidently he wasn’t saved.

Well, you can really get confused. I am so glad that I’m here to remove that confusion. If you have a clear conscience this morning, it’s because you have a fuzzy memory. I just heard that recently. Verse nine, first nine. But there was a certain man called Simon, which before time in the same city, used sorcery and bewitched the people of Samaria, given out that himself with some great one, to whom they all gave heed. From the least to the greatest saying, this man is the great power of God, and to him they had regard, because that of long time he had bewitched them with sorceries.

But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Then Simon himself believed also, and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, behold, in the miracles and signs which were done. Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Sumerian had received the Word of God, they sinned unto them Peter and John, who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

For as yet he was followed upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon saw that through land on of the apostles’ hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. So you give me this also, this power, that on whom soever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hath thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.

Thou hath neither part nor lot in this matter, for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God, if perhaps the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceived the thawart in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me that none of those things which you have spoken come upon me. And they when they had testified and preached the word of the Lord returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages of the Samaritans.”

What a story. Now the question comes down is, was Simon saved or was Simon not saved? Because if he was saved, then why did the apostles say all these things? And there’s a lot of people that say that he was, and there’s people who think that he wasn’t. So which way is it? Well, you and I know and we’re supposed to believe that whenever you trust Christ as your Savior, your saved from hell. You’re saved forever. And that once you believe it, you have it, and you have the free gift of eternal life.

But look what he says there in verse 20, when Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. And in verse 22, repent therefore of this thy wickedness and pray God if for half the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee. Well, it don’t look like he was a saved man. There are many who have written a lot of books on Simon the Sorcerer, and there have been groups that have gone into other territories after this incident here, and Polycarp and a lot of others have, Church Fathers have written about this even up until the third century.

And so it appears that this man was a wicked man and he was able to levitate. Come on off the floor. And one of them says that there was an Ephesus and he was levitating and going all the way up in the air. And the Apostle Paul was there and the Apostle Paul broke the spell and he fell, broke all of his legs and so forth. Now that’s a story. But there’s a whole bunch of them. I mean, this guy was really well known for his sorcery.

But whether they were stories or whether or not it was because of this is the same guy or another guy or maybe it was his son. I I don’t know I wasn’t there. I really don’t care. And I very seldom like to use external sources as validity to believe in what the scripture says. Now, if I didn’t know anything about history, anything about the church fathers and what they said because some of them say things that are true and some things not so true.

So how do you know? Well, let’s just take a quick look at this. When it makes a statement in verse nine and 10, is talking about a certain man, his name was Simon. The one that they referred to Simon Marcus is the name that people refer to him and he was a very wicked man and even went into Rome and all kind of stuff. But anyway, which before time in the same city, he used sorcery, be which the people and the people thought he was somebody special and that he was a man of God.

See in verse 10? And in verse 11, and to him they had regard because that of long time he had bewitched in with source reason. And when they believed Philip, so here’s a man having somebody come and in and cutting into his prophets. You see, the apostles did what they did. You know, they never charged anything. But these kind of people, they always charged money. You had to pay them. And they could be witched things. And yet there has to be in whether we lack it or not.

There is another world being lived at the same time that we’re living ours. There is a spiritual world. There is a wicked spiritual world. The Bible talks about Christ casting out demons. We can’t do that if they don’t exist. They do exist and they are real and they are still here today. There is a force that you and I I cannot see the principalities and the powers and so forth that God talks about and while we need our armor in the book of Ephesians in chapter 6.

So the man was able to do these things, they seed the people, but the people when they heard the gospel, one of the things that I have done over the years, I have never tried to cast out demons out of anybody. Never have. I just try to win people to Christ. Because if I can get them to trust Christ as their Savior, the Holy Spirit involves them. And I don’t have to worry about it. Now it’s just a matter of getting that person that knows the Lord to serve the Lord, to live for the Lord.

You can be demon oppressed but not possessed. A lot of different. But let me mention this to you. In verse 12 where it says, and when they believe Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name Jesus Christ, they were baptized both men and women. Now in this verse, if we take this literally as we found in other verses in the book of Acts, Peter preached Christ, they heard, they believed, and if they believed, then they were baptized.

Well, if that’s what happened to them, it also says in verse 13, then Simon himself believed also. Now, if we doubt Simon’s belief, we’ll have to doubt all the others that believe. Because either one is true, or both of them is true, or both of them are false. If they did believe, and the Scripture says, Simon himself believed, also just like the others. So if he did believe, and was baptized, Is it possible that he was saved just like the others?

Now, because of what happens later, there’s doubts cast upon whether or not he was really a safe man. And it’s because of what he said. But I think if you look at it real close, it may not be as bad as you think. Anyway, we’ll take a look at it and see. This is why we call it, you studied the Bible, you’ll look at it and see, now, what could this mean? What does this mean? Now, when he makes the statement of the verse 13, and Simon himself believed also, and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip and wondered, beholden, the miracles and signs which were done.

So he was doing those things before, but he was doing it by the devil. Now he’s walking with them, and he continued with them. He saw the miracles and things like that. Now, I’ll have to admit, let’s say we’re back in the Bible times, and Peter over here, this is now Philip. This is Philip. He has come down and he’s doing all these things. Now, I don’t know about you, but if I can see somebody doing all these miracles, I do too.

I want to do that. Wasn’t it true that when Jesus walked on the water, do you remember somebody says, let me walk on the water? Why? Because he wanted to walk on the water. Just because somebody didn’t want to walk on the water didn’t know that somebody did want to walk on the water. If I had been there and I was in the boat, I would have said, I was just going to do that. I could have done that.

I don’t know if I’d have got out of the boat, but I said that. But now, if he believed and he was baptized, and evidently by Philip, look what he says there in Acts in chapter 8, and look there in verse 35. is now talking to another man. Then Philip opened his mouth, began at the same scripture and preached unto him, Jesus. And as they were on their way, they came to a certain water and the eunuch said, here, here is water.

What death hinder me to be baptized? What would hinder him from being baptized? Here, verse 37, Philip says, if thou believeth, with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. So he commanded the chair to be still, and they backed up. So he said, what would he mean to be in baptized? You must believe on Jesus Christ. Well, now, he just preached the word down there in Samaria.

And the people believed it. And when they believed it, they were baptized. And in the scriptures, just simply says, Simon believed also. So whatever they did, he believed what they believed, just like they believed. So if you doubt his salvation, you’ll have to doubt all the other ones that said they believed. Because they were baptized because of what they believed. Simon was baptized because of what he said he believed. So why shouldn’t I think that he was saved? Well the thing that causes the problem is something that happens afterwards.

So let’s take a look at it. So we have here in verse 14, when the apostles which are at Jerusalem heard that Samaria, Yoda Andalandis, had received the Word of God. So we’re saying that they did believe it. They received it. And so we’re supposed to believe that he was preaching the gospel because it says he went everywhere preaching the word talking about the gospel and people believed the message. And so he says here in verse 15, who when they were come down prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Ghost.

For yet he was falling upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. So this was in what we called a transition period because it was finishing up of the dispensation of law, which ended, I believe, around the time of the fall of the temple in Jerusalem and the Jews were scattered. But the church began on the day of Pentecost and so in this period of time here you have a transition period where they’re going from law to grace, Judaism, Christianity, and so they were able to do signs and gifts and miracles and so forth during this period of time to confirm the Word.

You You see, Philip couldn’t say, now I want all of you all to take your Bible, look in the book of Ephesians 2, 8, and 9. He couldn’t say take your Bible, look in 1 John 5, 13. He used the Old Testament scriptures that knew hadn’t been written yet. And so, but they were able to take the Old Testament scriptures and preach the truth and preach the gospel, whereby they could have eternal life. And so this is what was going on.

And the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. But remember this, when Jesus in chapter seven of the gospel of John, verse 39 says on that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried. Saying, if any man thirst led him coming to me and drinking as the scripture half saith, out of his belly shall come, stream to live in water. And it says, and this is the key of the Spirit which they that believe on him should receive.

for as yet Christ had not yet been glorified. And the Holy Spirit would come upon all those that believe. So as time goes on, there was no Holy Spirit given. It was given to them on day of Pentecost, and then after that, then they would lay hands on them. And then after all the miracles and signs and the transition periods of it, when you simply believe you received the Holy Spirit. And so you’ll find this several times in the book of Acts.

It’s a transitional book until So everything is done, and then when we have the complete Word of God, you don’t need all of that stuff anymore. And so that has been removed. It’s no longer sufficient. Now here he makes a statement. In verse 18, when Simon saw that through land on of the apostles’ hands, the Holy Ghost was given, he offered them money. Now I do not see this as him trying to buy salvation. He was talking about something else.

He’s talking now about this power. Remember, he’s had power to do things. He wants this power. And it’s not talking about salvation. It didn’t say Simon did not ask for salvation. He says in verse 19, saying, Give me also this power that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. This is what he was asking. I don’t, I think it’s a different issue than salvation. But if I doubt his salvation, then I have to doubt all the salvation all the other people that believed also.

And his baptism meant nothing, then the other people’s baptism didn’t mean anything either. And in verse 20 says, but Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee because thou hast fought, something they’s thinking, that the gift of God may be purchased with money. But is this the gift of eternal life or the gift of God as you find in the book of Acts in chapter 2, where it makes a statement in in verse 38 says, then Peter said unto him, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

So here he’s talking about receiving the Holy Ghost. So this gift is not something you can buy. When you and I trust Christ is saved, the Holy Spirit is free. But there because of the transition, It was to validate the word which they spoke and the miracles and things that they were able to do. And so it made the statement in verse 21, they’ll have to neither partner a lot in this matter. For thy heart is not right in the side of the God.

In other words, this isn’t something that you can buy. You can’t buy this. But I don’t believe he’s talking about being saved. It doesn’t say that. I can make it say that. I can twist it around a little bit and say that that’s what he means. Now, I believe that just like this, for example, you may have trusted Christ as your Savior. You know you’re going to heaven when you die. But does that mean you automatically serve God? No.

You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tapp of 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 Bible line, and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. So this was in what we call a transition period because it was finishing up of the dispensation of law which it ended, I believe, around the time of the fall of the temple in Jerusalem and the Jews were scattered. But the church began on the day of Pentecost. And so in this period of time here, you have a transition period where they’re going from law, to grace, Judaism, Christianity.

And so they were able to do signs and gifts and miracles and so forth during this period of time to confirm the word. You see, Philip couldn’t say, now I want all of you all to take your Bible to look in the book of Ephesians 2, 8, and 9. He couldn’t say take your Bible looking first John 5, 13. He used the Old Testament scriptures that knew hadn’t been written yet. And so, but they were able to take the Old Testament scriptures and preach the truth and preach the gospel whereby they could have eternal life.

And so this is what was going on. And the Holy Spirit had not yet been given. But remember this, when Jesus in chapter seven of the gospel of John, verse 39 says on that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried. Saying, if any man thirst led in coming to me and drinking as the scripture hath saith, out of his belly shall come stream to live in water. And it says, and this is the key of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive.

For as yet Christ had not yet been glorified. And the Holy Spirit would come upon all those that believe. So as time goes on, there was no Holy Spirit given. It was given to them on day of Pentecost. And then after that, then they would lay hands on them. And then after all the miracles and signs and the transition periods of it, when you simply believe you received the Holy Spirit. And so you’ll find this several times in the book of Acts.

It’s a transitional book until everything is done. And then when we have the complete word of God, you don’t need all of that stuff anymore. And so that has been removed. It’s no longer sufficient. Now, here he makes a statement. In verse 18, when Simon saw that through land on of the apostles’ hands, the Holy Ghost was given, He offered them money. Now, I do not see this as Him trying to buy salvation. He was talking about something else.

He’s talking now about this power. Remember, He’s had power to do things. He wants this power. And it’s not talking about salvation. It didn’t say Simon did not ask for salvation. He says in verse 19, saying, give me also this power that on whom so So over I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. This is what he was asking. I think it’s a different issue than salvation. But if I doubt his salvation, then I have to doubt all the salvation of all the other people that believed also.

And his baptism meant nothing. Then the other people’s baptism didn’t mean anything either. And in verse 20 says, but Peter said unto him, thy money perish with thee because thou has fought something they’s thinking. the gift of God may be purchased with money. But is this the gift of eternal life or the gift of God as you find in the book of Acts in chapter 2 where it makes a statement in verse 38 says, then Peter said unto him, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sin, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Ghost.

So here he’s talking about receiving the Holy Ghost. So this gift. It’s not something you can buy. When you and I trust Christ’s Savior, the Holy Spirit is free. But there, because of the transition, it was to validate the word which they spoke and the miracles and things that they were able to do. And so, it made the statement in verse 21, they’ll have to neither partner a lot in this matter. For by heart is not right in the side of the God.

In other words, this isn’t something that you can buy, You can’t buy this, but I don’t believe he’s talking about being saved. It doesn’t say that. I can make it say that. I can twist it around a little bit and say that that’s what it means. No, I believe that just like this, for example, you may have trusted Christ as your Savior. You know you’re going to heaven when you die. But does that mean you automatically serve God? No.

Can you still, as a believer, be rebellious and be filled with bitterness and gall and hatred and jealousy and envy. Yes, you can. You can have all those things. And he’s talking about the way he was thinking. His thinking was wrong. And you can get to where you want what somebody else has. You want somebody else’s power. Everybody seems to think the other side of the fence is greener. Somebody always has the other job you wished you had. They had the money you wished you had.

They have the help you wished you had. They have the looks you wished you had. Or you have the husband I wished I had. Or you have the wife I wished I had. Or you have the kids I wished I had. And very few people are ever content with what they have. And so they’re always living this way, their whole lives. But he says here in verse 21, they’ll have neither part of it. This isn’t your decision. In verse 22, change your mind therefore of this wickedness.

Pray God if perhaps the thoughts of thine heart may be forgiven thee. I don’t believe this is talking about one thing, one sin, a thought, a deed, concerning something that was wrong. Now we already know about An anisinsa far. They were in the church and they sold their property and they brought it, But they simply gave the impression they gave it all and they didn’t. And so they just dropped dead because of it.

Is it possible for children of God to make ungodly decisions, to say things wrong, to do things wrong, to covet things they should not? Yes they can. And I believe that’s the case here. For I perceive the tower in the gall of bitterness and in the bond of iniquity. Because he used to have all that praise and that honor and that glory. And he’s given all that power up and maybe trust Christ’s Savior and he wants to be able to do what they’re doing.

I don’t know. I do a lot of things I don’t know. I don’t have to know. But just by reading this, if I’m going to doubt his salvation, then I also have to doubt all the other ones up there in verse 12 where he says, but when they believe Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, Christ. They were baptized, both many women. Then Simon himself believed also. No, either he did or he didnjury didn’t.

And if that’s good enough for all these other places where it says just believe, well then why would he put it in here? Because if he didn’t really get saved, he shouldn’t have said he believed, but it says he did. So as you go down through here, in verse 24, then Simon said, pray ye the Lord for me that none of those things which you have spoken come upon me. And I think he’s talking about God chasing her judgment upon him because of the way he was thinking and what he was desired, even though it was inward thing.

And so he made the statement, when they had testified, preached the word of the Lord, returned to Jerusalem and preached the gospel in many villages and the Samaritans. Now, here with Philip and the Ethiopian, this is an awesome story. Now, we know that in Ethiopia, I’ve been in Egypt and I’ve seen a lot of Ethiopians. I preached a whole bunch of them, several about four or 500 of them went at one meeting. And I had several hundred of them trust the Lord.

And Ray Stanford got so filled with jealousy, he said, I want to do it too. So they got him another three, 400, and he preached to them and I stood there and I watched. Ray Stanford, he was 85 years old, and he preached the importance hard out. And he only had just a little bit of money. He didn’t have much at all. But before the end of the meeting, He had given all of his money away, every bit of it.

And so we went to a restaurant to get something to eat and raise it. I’m not hungry. We went later and got something to eat and I’m not hungry. Said, right, why aren’t you eating? Yeah, I’m just not hungry. I said, Ray, I want to ask you a question. Do you have any money? Any kind of lord has had a little business? I said, what happened to you money? He’s a Yankee, he said, all these poor people, they had come across from the Sudan and Ethiopian, they just didn’t have anything and they were just so hungry.

And they started and I said, I just couldn’t do it. I can’t eat this food and know there’s starving. I gave him all my money. The man who took us over there, old was he burning, he was hot. He couldn’t believe it, he jumped all over Ray for doing that. He says, they’re unlimited. He says, you shouldn’t have done nothing like that. So anyway, we helped re-out for the rest of the trip. But that’s Ray Stanford. He just had a compassion and it didn’t matter to him.

That gave everything he had. I mean, we still had some time to go. He had died. He didn’t start the death. But he just, it didn’t matter. But anyway, this Ethiopian head come to Jerusalem to worship. And now he’s on his way back and it says that he was the treasure for the Queen there. And the angel of the Lord spake on the Philip and said, arise and go toward the south unto the way that goeth in from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

He arose and he went and behold a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority. Under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians and had the charge of her treasure and had come to Jerusalem for the worship was returning and sitting in his chariot. He He read Isaiah the prophet. So here’s a man that’s reading the book of Isaiah, and he’s in a chariot. He’s returning. And in says, in verse 29, then the spirit said unto Philip, go near and join thyself to this chariot.

This is almost a hundred miles away. He’s got there in Samaria. Great revival going on. God knows there’s one man down in the middle of a desert, in his chariot, going through the desert. Lord knows exactly where He is. And it says that Philip ran to him. Look what he says there. In verse 30 says, and Philip ran. Philip ran. God told him what to do and he did it. You know a lot of us we just won’t do what God says to do.

We’ve got to wait. You know delayed obedience is disobedience. Delayed obedience is disobedience. But Philip it says here, join this man. Look what he says there in verse 29. The Spirit said unto Philip, go near, join thyself to this chariot. Philip ran to the to him and heard him read the prophet Isaiah and says, says, understand it what thou read it. Now, you know what we’re reading? We’re reading the greatest stories in all the world. There’s a lot of stories in the world, but these are stories of so winning.

It’s just people telling people how to have eternal life. You may not think that that’s the greatest thing in the world, but it is. There isn’t anything greater than telling people how to have the free gift of eternal life. We’re all going to die. And the question is where are you going when you die? Where are you gonna go when you die? I told you this last week, I got to repeat it one more time. A lady had called the church.

Mike answered the phone. And when Mike answered the phone, this lady says, oh, I’m sorry, I have the wrong number. He says, you don’t, maybe you don’t have the wrong number. He says, do you know where you’re going when you die? And she says, oh my God, it’s the funeral home. Well, it’s not the funeral home, But it is the question that we asked around here. So he says here, go near and who told me, I’ve failed to do this, the Holy Spirit.

You see, the Holy Spirit will lead you to witness and lead you as you witness. You see, we already know to go. It was easy for the Lord to guide Philip because Philip was already moving. When you’re already serving the Lord and you’re willing to go wherever God wants you to go, It’s easier for the Lord to guide you. Why steer a card that’s not, the motor’s not running. You’re not going anywhere. And you’re saying, Lord, lead and guide me.

Why, you’re not moving. You’re not going to wear. It’s easier to steer a card that’s moving. And so he says here in verse 31, and he said, how can I accept some man should guide me? This is what people need, somebody to guide them. All we’re trying to do is, So winning is leading a person to Christ. You’re gonna lead this person to the Lord. That’s so winning, leading somebody to the Lord. And God wants to use us to bring people to Him.

We can’t save anybody, but it is the will of God that we serve Him. So He says here in verse 31, He says, How can I accept some magic guide me? He desired Philip that he would come up and sit with Him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, he was led as a sheep to the slaughter. Like a lamb done before his ears, it’s so open he not his mouth. This is Isaiah 53. Isn’t that amazing that he would go all the way back?

that he would go all the way back and he’d be reading. I wonder why he wasn’t reading John chapter 3. It’s a lot easier to understand. There was no John chapter 3. All they have was the Old Testament. And so they used the Old Testament to preach the gospel. And he says here, who’s this talking about? See in verse 33, in his humiliation, his judgment was taken away and who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth.

They can understand And that from the Old Testament reading, his life is taken away. And the unique answered Philip and said, I pray the of whom speak at the prophet this, of himself or some other man. Then Philip opened his mouth and began at the same scripture and preached unto him Jesus. And as they were on their way, they came unto certain water. The unique said, see, here is water. What did the hinder me to be baptized? Now being baptized does not save anybody.

Water baptism will not wash the dirt off your neck. If you don’t use soap with it. Water is a pitcher of the death-barreling resurrection of Jesus Christ for you. You see, whenever you stand in the water, it’s like a pitcher of Christ on the cross. When you go under the water, the pitcher of your burial. When you come up out of the water, the pitcher of your resurrection. When you believe that Christ died on that cross and that He was buried for you you and came back again from the dead.

That’s why your baptized in water is taking a picture. And that’s why the picture doesn’t save you. Water baptism doesn’t save. It’s a picture of your salvation. That’s why you only get baptized if you’re saved. And God forbid all those people and all those churches and the parents that think that their little baby is going to be safe and secure and go Go to heaven because they’ve been baptized. Baptism is always after you believe, never before you believe. Baptism is why they call it Believer’s baptism.

You get baptized in water because you believe that when Christ died on that cross, He did it for you. And if you don’t believe He did it for you, then you’re not to be baptized. So baptism is only for the believer. That’s why He says, What does the hinder me to be baptized?” And Philip says in verse 37, “‘If thou beleavest with all thine heart.” You may. Now tell me this little child, now a little child, would you like to be baptized?

Googoo. Do you believe with all your heart? Googoo. And you baptized that little baby. What did that little baby tell you that he believed that Christ died on the cross and paid for all of your sins? And that little baby grows up That’s what I’ve been baptized. I’ve been salminized, pasteurized, fortified. That has nothing to do with salvation. So being baptized is after you believe. You’re saved because you believe that when Christ died on that cross He paid for all of your sins.

And you’re going to go to heaven whenever you die. See, this man here, was he in the church when he got saved? No. He’s out in the middle of a desert, riding along in a chariot. You don’t have to be saved in a church. You may be saved anywhere. That’s why you can lead people to the Lord anywhere. You read the stories in here and you’ll find out most of these people were saved, not in a church. They were saved outside.

Why? Because the people were scattered everywhere and where everywhere they went, they told the story of how to have eternal life. And that’s why you’ll find out books written like the book of Romans. It says your faith is heard and spread throughout the world, because there’s people that have been reached all over the world from people from maybe even the Calvary community church. Would that be great? Because of the radio or because of the internet? But look what he says here.

He says in verse 37, if thou believe us with all thine heart, thou mayest, and he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and he commanded the chariot to stand still, and they went both down into the water. Now wouldn’t that be dumb? To get totally wet like that when all you had to do was take a little cut and throw it on the head. Why should I get wet? All I got to do is reach down there and get some water in the hand and throw it on top of his head.

The heart baptized. Is that how you bury people? I got a little dirt. That’s it. He’s buried. I don’t think so. And baptism is a picture of your burial. . . . . . . . . . Fair real. And so when you baptize, says they both went down into the water and they baptized them. Did the baptism save? No, they did that because it was already saved. Not to be saved. So no water baptism has ever saved anybody.

Never will. Have I been baptized? Yes, I have been baptized. I baptized one man one time. him under. For some reason or other he got scared and he grabbed a hold of the plexiglass that went across there so people could see, you know, and he was down like this. And as I went down there he grabbed a hold of that thing because it scared the death. Anyway, I pushed him on the air and I said, I got everything under but the hand.

Did you know that he got cancer in that right hand? And he knew it was because he didn’t baptize his hand. You say, is that true? That’s true. True story. But anyway, I can tell you some stories that are very funny that have had happened. Some I would like to forget. In verse 38, he commanded a chariot to stand still, he went down. But now notice this in verse 39, and when they were come up out of the water.

What does it say? And when they were come up out of the water. Now how would anybody have a problem with understanding? I don’t know if you just pose a sprinkle or not. Well what does it say? What did he do? Baptize him. They went down into the water, come out of the water. Can you understand that? Some people can understand it. And so he says in verse 39, the spirit of the Lord called away Philip and the eunuchs saw him no more and he went on his way complaining.

What’s the word? Rejoice scene because you know my sins are forgiven. I’m going to heaven. Look when God saved you and gave you eternal life weren’t you thankful? Well aren’t you still saved? Why shouldn’t you still be thankful? And yet there’s people going on, always whining about something down in the mouth. Always thinking Jonah, he came out of it. But Philip was found at Azotas and passing through. He preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea. But isn’t this a good, so winning story of individuals?

Some people will do right. Some people won’t do right. You may have trusted Christ as your Savior, your God’s child. If you don’t serve the Lord, you still get to go to heaven when you die. That’s called grace. You don’t deserve it. Grace means you don’t deserve it. But if you do serve the Lord, He’ll reward you when you get to heaven. And you’ll enjoy life a lot better. God designed all this. But remember, as a child of God, you have a choice.

When you’re born into God’s family, you are His child. Now you have a choice. You can be an obedient child child or a disobedient child. If you’re an obedient child, God will bless you here. Reward you there. You still go to heaven. If you’re disobedient, God will beat the tar out of you here. Maybe take you home before your time and you’re not going to be happy and you’re not going to have a peace and a joy that you ought to have.

So you as a child of God, You better serve the Lord and you better do right because you’re heavenly Father though He’ll never cast you out and He’ll never lose you. You haven’t got an idea how bad and severe God can chase in you. You cannot live as you please after you get saved. Or you can live as you please but you can’t get away with it. Or you can live as you please but remember God is gonna chase in you.

Like I said before you can choose how you’re going to live and God can choose how he going to beat the Torah out of you. Isn’t that fair? Are you still saved? Yeah, you’re saved. You’re going to heaven because of what Christ did. And I hope you serve the Lord because of what He means to you. But I don’t serve the Lord to get to heaven. I serve the Lord because I’m going to heaven. Makes so much sense to me.

I hope it does to you. Look up here. This hand represents you and me. The wallet represents sin. We all have sin on us. Everybody is a sinner. all done things wrong. And the Bible says that you and I committed to sin we have to pay for it, and that’s eternal separation from God. But to go to heaven we have to be perfect as righteous as God and you and I know nobody’s perfect like God. Let’s see heaven is a perfect place.

God is perfect. You have to be perfect to go there. Well then who gets to go? Nobody. God does something for us. Nobody will be in heaven. So what did he do? You see, you and I, we can’t pay for our sins. It’s not the things that we do. It’s not by money. It’s not by good works. It’s not by joining the church. It’s only one way for you and I to get to heaven. Jesus Christ, this hand represents Jesus Christ.

He’s the Lord God in the flesh came into the world because he loves us. Hates our sin because it separates us from him. So Christ took all the sin, paid for it on the cross, came back from the dead, and says that if you and I, if we’ll believe that He did it for us, He would give us the righteousness we need to get to heaven on. You see, when Christ came into the world, He was perfect. He was righteous.

You and I are sinners. So Christ, He took all of our sins upon Him. When you and I believe that He did it for us, and we accept this payment He made, He gives us His righteousness. If God gives me His righteousness, that makes me as righteous as God. I’m going to heaven on His righteousness, so in God’s eyes, I’m perfect. He paid for all my sins. All of them, not most of them, all of them. I’m going to heaven because of what He did for me.

He died in my place. All my sins are paid. There’s not one sin that can condemn me to hell. I can’t go today. I can’t go tomorrow. I can never go to hell in artificer. That’s pretty good news. Let’s pray, shall we? If you’re here this morning, you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior. Would you trust Him? Would you simply just believe that when Christ died, He died for you? You’ve heard it. He loves you. It’s something you can do.

It’s not over your head. You’ve heard it. He loves you. It’s something that you can do. It’s not over your head. ITHIS IS SO SIMPLE, GOD JUST WANT YOU TO BELIEVE WHAT HE DID WAS FOR YOU, THAT HE PAD FOR YOUR SINS. IF YOU’LL BELIEVE THAT HE DID IT FOR YOU, GOD SAVE YOU AND GIVE YOU THE FREE GIFT OF ETERNAL LIFE. YOU CAN KNOW THAT YOU’RE GOING TO HAVEN WHEN YOU DIE. IF YOU WILL, TRUST CRISIS YOUR SAVEW THIS MORNING, I’D LIKE TO HAVE PREPHERE FOR YOU.

But you just slip your hand over it quickly and put it right back down. It’s in with it all. Just slip it up real quick and put it right back down. By that you mean, yes, pray for me, I will trust Christ as my Savior this morning. I want to be certain of going to heaven when I die. It won’t at all. If you have trust that Christ is your Savior, your God’s child. As God’s child, serve the Lord, do right.

There’s a lot of people that’s never heard the free gift of eternal life. Let God use you. How shall I accept some man guide me, somebody out there needs you? Father, we thank you so much for this time together. Thank you for your word you’ve given us. We’re thankful for these stories that you put in your word so that we can understand what they did and how it happened. Give us encouragement, give us boldness. We’re thankful for it. Bless each one.

Bless each one. Christ and we pray, amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, A teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. If you have enjoyed our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ, you can reach by the line and pledge your support to keep us on the air in your area by dialing toll free. 1-800-576-3771. That’s 1-800-576-3771. ,,,,,,,, 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. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline Everywhere, every time, 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 to be a part of the Bible. 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 can see what has happened in the last 40 years in our country since the Bible was kicked out of the schools and prayer out of the schools and abortion made legal and all these things. It is really taking our country downhill. And mainly because we rejected God, we reject the Bible, we reject the Ten Commandments or anything it has to do with law.

And so the Bible says the law is good if it’s used lawfully. But to use the law as a means by which to get to heaven, then that’s an unlawful thing. The Bible says the law is not made for a good man. The law is not made for righteous man. The law is made for those who break the law. What the penalty is for breaking the law. They understand what the requirements are for righteousness. believe in our country, they should know what is right and what is wrong.

But why some opposed the 10 commandments? And you’ll see this has been done all over, but I want you to know really what it says. Christ did not come to destroy the law. He came to fulfill the law. So keep that in mind. The 10 commandments contains the God’s moral law, which is embedded in man’s conscience to give him a sense of justice and realization that he is not perfect and falls short of what he ought to be. So this is one of the reasons that a lot of people do not want the hanging of the law around because many kids, many teachers in school, many living in moral life and want to want to want to hang out laws upon a wall, they don’t because it’s a rebuke to those.

It’s just like if you want to live in sin, you don’t want to go to church because you want to live a righteous life, you want to learn what is right and be around people that are seeking to do that which is right so you can get strength and encouragement from them. So it’s a good thing. But there’s nothing wrong with the law. If we say that you cannot legislate morality. Well, the 10th Amendment says God’s moral law, that is morality.

It’s what’s right. So what are people going to legislate in morality? Well, this is where we’re slowly getting to in our country is they’re legislating in morality, making immoral acts legal, making it lawful, making it moral, and then making a law for those that don’t agree with it, they’re the one that commits the crime because if you don’t agree with their lifestyle and say anything against it, you’re the one that’s wrong. This is where it’s coming to. About 3,jriwal years ago at Mount Sinai, God gave to Israel through Moses the Ten Commandments.

Many people today do not know that the Ten Commandments are a very important part of Scripture, Exodus 20, and the Christian faith believe it or not though the law was given to control the flesh passions of man once a man trust Christ is Savior he’s no longer as seen by God in the flesh so he’s no longer under the law the law was to control the first birth the flesh the lost man and once a man trust Christ is saved the Bible says we’re no longer under the law but we’re under the law of love therefore if we love God, then we will fulfill everything the law says.

So the greatest power is the law of love because love has its own set of laws. But you can try to keep the 10 commandments and have no love whatsoever and therefore you cannot keep it because of the imperfections of man. Commandments one through four deal with man’s relationship to God. These are basic and affect all other relationships. In other So where’s the first thing in a person’s life is to make sure things are right between you and God.

And then this will take care of itself. But you see, things are not right between you and God, then this won’t matter. This is where you have all your troubles. I swear, I believe that almost all of people’s problems is because they’re not right with God. The problem that a man and a wife have in their relationship because one of them is not right with God. Because if you’re right with God, you can solve everything. If in a church, if everybody’s right with God, all this takes care of itself between one another.

be, it’s because somebody’s not right with God. Same thing in our country. So these relationships are important, mainly our relationship to God and then our relationship to one another. Thou shalt have no other God before me. The Lord Jehovah is the only God. He never permits any rivalry for we are His creation. Along to Him there is no other God. He is the only God. And this is mentioned throughout the book of Isaiah very, very strongly over and over again.

There is no what the God beside me. He says he will not share his glory with another. There is no other God. There’s only one true in living God. The true God has a son. You should have your faith firmly planted in the Word of God. Number one, some imagine that there are other gods and worship cows or other animals or a particular river or tree or so forth. In the other, a lot of this has been done. They got thousands of gods.

Cows can walk the streets and they can’t kill this animal that man. You step on that bug that could be aunt Lucy, and so you just can’t do a lot of those things. They worship stuff that are not true. Some worship the earth. Others look to the stars or to the horoscope for guidance. It’s a shame for a Christian and the reader horoscope in the newspapers every day. You stop that trash. That’s junk. Don’t even start it. A few worship the mind, or man’s intelligent.

Many worship many other things, like cars, boats, clothes, bank account, positions, entertainment, popularity, accomplishments, all these things. If you put them between you and God, then God says that’s idolatry. Anything comes between you and God becomes your God. The second commandment thou shalt not make under the any graven image. God is the Spirit, therefore it is blasphemy to seek to confine him to objects or things. By bowing or praying to statutes, images, crucifixes and so forth. Their idol, now get this here, this is in the book of Psalms.

Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not eyes, have they, but they see not. They have ears, but they hear not. Nose is have they, but they smell not. They have hands, but they handle not. Feet have they, but they walk not. Neither speak they through their throat. They that make them are like unto them so as everyone that trusts us in them. Should you worship little statues and say these little statues represent something between you and God so that’s heresy.

Leave that junk alone. But I think you have to be very careful that you don’t find yourself thinking that some little statue that you can pray to or put them on the dash of your car. Is anybody got a religion that they can do that? And though this little thing is going to protect them, you’re right. It won’t. Third commandment, thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain. You remember I told you that I thought Jesus Christ was a cuss word.

I did not know that was God’s name. I didn’t know it was a reference to the holiest person that’s ever been born into this world. I did not know that. I thought Jesus Christ was a cuss word. And that’s because all I ever heard was Jesus Christ being used in slang or asking God to damn either people or items or objects or anything. There was always asking God to send something to hell. I don’t believe that it’s right. I believe that it’s wrong.

The Bible says, let not filthy communication proceed out of thy mouth. filthy communication proceed out of thy mouth. That’s why it’s not good to tell dirty jokes. To say things that you ought not say, always guard in your tongue. But God is holy, therefore reverence must caeterize all speech using his name. The words in vain means idle. Nothing meant by it or irreverent. Some vent their frustration or anger by using God’s name, then defend it by saying, oh, I didn’t mean anything by it.

That is the purpose of this command. Everything you say should something be meant by it. The things that you think something is meant by it. Everything means something. Be careful. God’s name should only be spoken or written in a meaningful, respectful manner. The Lord’s example prayer begins, our Father which art in heaven, and I call it the Lord’s example prayer, it’s not the Lord’s prayer. The Lord never prayed this prayer. It was an example given to us by which we could learn.

How our Father which art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Do hallowed God’s name means to reverence and to make his name special. Jesus Christ should be very, very special to you. I am very offended when people take his name and use it as profanity and curse. I’ve stopped quite a few people who are let them know that I did not appreciate that. And wondered whether or not I was going to get punched for it, but I have been known to let my views be known.

The Fourth Commandment, remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. The Sabbath day is a Saturday. It was a day that God rested from the work that He had done. He made the heavens and the earth six days rested on the seventh day. This is the only commandment that you do not find in the New Testament that tells us to keep. That was to Israel. He given to them as a command in the book of Exodus in chapter 20.

Everything else out of the other nine are in the New Testament given by Christ or in the Epistle telling us that we need to do those things and understand those things. But there is none about the Sabbath. It’s the only one. But he says to them, because God created all things, ancient people, no doubt, knew that the seventh day was to be holy. Israel also knew that manna did not appear the seventh day. At Sinai, God commanded Israel to keep the Sabbath day holy by resting from unnecessary work.

The only thing that was supposed to do that day was not supposed to work. It wasn’t a day of worship. You say, you’re not supposed to worship on the Sabbath. Well, I didn’t say worship, or you’re supposed to worship the Sabbath. No, it just you didn’t do no work on the Sabbath It’s the only thing you did not work, but I’m glad that we’re not under the Sabbath law anymore the fifth commandment honor thy father and thy mother that Thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee this means the honor thy father my mother as long as you Are at home You think it means for the rest of your life?

I Believe you should always honor your mother and father That means that you don’t always necessarily do what they want you to do, but you do what they would be honored By you doing right you honor your parents by doing right? under all circumstances and I believe even though my mother and I was dead my dad’s dead I Still should honor my parents by how I either think or remember them or use them in illustrations Whatever, but never for shame or to put down to low rate or anything like that about your parents Our first relationship is with our parents.

To honor means the child obeying his parents with a respectful attitude. When a child grows up and does not obey his parents, he usually has problems with others and especially those in authority. Adults are to continue to honor their parents by showing respect and concern for their welfare. See, there is a great movement on today in secular humanism to do away with all of these laws because they don’t want to do this. They want to be able to, if they want to, abort the children, murder the babies, or to have euthanasia to do away with their parents.

So laws will be passed. We can do away with them and we can do away with them. Just think if they would just eliminate all the people in all the nursing homes, just let them all die give them a shot. There’s people that want to do this. I believe it’s wrong, but that is what is coming. The other thing here, this command includes a promise that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God give us thee.

It is repeated in Ephesians chapter 6, honor thy father and mother. See that’s not done away with just because you know that was under the law. Well this is repeated in Ephesians. You’re still an honor thy father, but that it may be well So would they refer to exactly the same promise, the same scripture to the law, but this is not for salvation, and the law is good if you use it lawfully. This promise includes things going well for them in life.

Many things will happen better for you because of the way you treat your parents and your grandparents. Sixth commandment thou shalt not kill. This short command teaches the sanctity of human life. man was created in God’s image. Every human soul has word, has value. We talk about the value of human life. Human rights is because we’re actually taught from the Bible that every person has the right to life, the right to liberty, the right to pursue happiness. As long as it doesn’t violate the right to somebody else, a person should be free.

We’ll see there’s a multitude of countries around this world that do not believe that. And Their goal is to take away your right, and I believe we have a responsibility to defend those rights. Now we are not murdered because we defend ourselves against those who are trying to take our life. Israel’s law was he that smiteth a man so that he die shall be surely put to death. And the murder shall surely be put to death is repeated three times in Numbers 35.

Israel’s law commanded capital punishment and history proves it to be a strong deterrent to murder. If you take somebody’s life, premeditated murder, and then by government they take your life, life. You can’t tell me that’s not a deterrent to crime because you’ll never do it again. If you listen to the news and you hear about these people who are serial killers, multiple persons that have died because of somebody killing not just one person but a maulter to people. And then when we catch them we let them go to prison and we keep them bearing them in the room and board for the rest of their life and take care of their medical care and all that for the rest of their life.

We reward them. We don’t punish them. It’s better to do it God’s way. When someone accidentally or unintentionally kills another person, that is manslaughter. And to kill someone in self-defense or in defense of other people such as war is not murder. The Old Testament relates many wars that Israel fought to protect the nation from enemies. That’s different. Seventh commandment, thou shall not commit adultery. This commandment emphasizes the sanctity of marriage and the home. Adultery is always a terrible home breaker.

What a man and wife is married, adultery destroys the home more than any other single thing there is. Those are the money or power or whatever you want to call it, but adultery. Between And one or the other is what destroys the home. It is sinful, it is wicked, and people need to guard themselves. But who so committed adultery with a woman lacketh understanding? He that doeth it destroyed his own soul. Talking about you destroyed your life because you’ve lost the purpose of your life because of how the marriage is supposed to be the picture of a man’s salvation.

That a man and a woman together for the rest of their life is a picture of when you trust Christ is your Savior that you’re joined together with the Lord for eternity and is never to be severed. But lo and behold, because of a sinful nature, because people have a hard heart and they refuse to do things God’s way. Yes, there’s always the consequence. But then whenever there is, there are consequences on top of consequences and it plants within it the seed of destruction and it’s not wise.

But Jesus said, whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her have committed adultery with her already in his heart. By this Jesus said adultery can begin when the eye stimulates the desire. Proverbs 7 and 10 says, speaks of the attire, the apparel of a hearted. And let me just give you this one on this. Many young girls or innocent women do not realize that immodest attire such as suggestive, revealing, provocative, or vulgar clothing can tempt the opposite sects to adultery, sexual improprieties, or even rape.

Now I’m not saying they’re all totally ignorant, but a lot of them I think are. The Eighth Amendment, Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not steal, emphasize the sanctity of personal property. You see, if you don’t steal, that means that I’m not allowed to steal from you through government either. People’s property belongs to them. Much of what is going on in our country today is thievery. It’s called illegal plunder. It means the politicians by a stroke of the pen by voting can take your money from you and give it to somebody else.

That’s stealing. Nobody ever gave our government the authority to take our money from us and use it for unlawful means. And much of the things that are done in our country are just that. Most of the giveaway programs and so forth. It means the people who work take care of the people that don’t work, not wise. Our Constitution doesn’t state that, it’s not in there anywhere. I then read through the Constitution. I then studied the Constitution. I’ve taught the Constitution.

It’s not there. So what did I get all of this here from? Because of the ignorance of the common man. He doesn’t know. This is why they don’t want our kids today to be totally educated. Because you cannot enslave educated thinking, reasoning people. You can only do it to people who are not knowledgeable. That’s why people who do not know the truth of the gospel can be enslaved and a false gospel. That’s why the majority of churches are not clear on the gospel.

They don’t have the truth, the purity of the gospel. People become enslaved to religion and never really trust Christ if they’re Savior and they think that what they’re doing is going to get them to heaven and that won’t save them. The ninth commandment thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor, emphasizes the sanctity of another person’s reputation. Do you believe that you have the right to destroy another person’s reputation without cause? That’s a shameful wicked thing to do because you’re trying to destroy somebody else’s character.

But a person’s character is what they are in the dark, their reputation is what they are in the light. God commands us to speak the truth in all manners. To bear false witness is what they are in the light. God commands us to speak the truth in all manners. is more inclusive than just lying. For Baron false witness includes various types of deception, whether or without words been spoken, because then you’re not just saying a lie. But whenever you say something deceptive about somebody else is not that you just told a lie, you’re trying to destroy somebody else in the process.

And then you’re planting seeds in somebody else that will spread that gossip to somebody else and somebody else says a lot of difference. So God says, put away the lion. Speak every man truth with his neighbor. Ananias and Sephara lied about money they gave to the church. When asked separately about the amount they each lied, that day Ananias dropped dead, later his wife. The church quickly learned that God judges those who lie. Does God know when we lie? And even though we lie, don’t correct it, there’s a God in heaven that’s still gonna judge you because you did not correct the lie.

We often think, well, it’s really bad if you wait here and kill somebody. Yeah, and if you rob a bank, but sometimes we don’t think twice before we spread dirt on somebody, or try to ruin somebody’s character, their testimony, or so in seeds of discord, and don’t even think of the fallout, the consequences of it, and it needs to be looked at very carefully. Be careful how you use your tongue, because God will judge you accordingly. The 10th commandment thou shalt not covet, emphasizes the sanctity of the human heart for God.

God wants our hearts to be contented and satisfied with Him. When we want anything so badly that it disturbs our inner peace, we violate the command thou shalt not covet. It’s in God’s hands, just forget it, and go on. And see if God will bless us because we seek to do what’s right and on down the road, maybe God will give us all back. But things are in God’s hands and learn how to trust Him. It doesn’t mean you get everything you want.

Sometimes you want things that are good. You can desire the right things for the right reasons. But you have to wait. Sometimes God leads us by the supply of something or the withholding of something. Some consider coveting to be merely wanting something or someone that belongs to a friend our neighbor, but it could be an item in a store, a catalog or on the internet. Jesus said, beware of covetousness, for a man’s life consists of not in the abundance of the things which he possesses.

The way to victory over coveting is to let God control what we want. It’s what you want, things that you believe that God would want you to have. And then if that is true, then trust the the Lord to give it to you in God’s time. The Ten Commandments reveal God’s perfect character and man’s faulty character. It shows you how sinful man is because we break the law. When he says, I shall love the Lord thy God with all thy hard mind, body, soul, and strength.

We don’t love God that much. We don’t love God only. But the Bible says that we should. Number one, they convince us that we are sinners, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. The law lets us know we’ve come short of God’s perfection. So we understand the purpose of the law. Should we do away with that? No. Whenever I talk to a lost man, I’m always using the law. The law requires us, we have to be perfect to go to heaven.

The Bible says so. And because we haven’t, we’ve broken God’s law and the wages of sin is death. Well, that’s the law. That’s the law. So I use the law with a lost man to show him what God said. And then I use Christ to show them that he’s the only way to be saved. So the law leads a man to Christ that he might be justified by faith. The law brings conviction to the soul and creates a need to be forgiven.

For that reason, some people oppose the The Ten Commandments been posted on walls or graven in public places. Why? Because the Ten Commandments makes a person painfully aware of his failure to be what he ought to be. And therefore, he senses in his heart a deep need that he cannot meet. Because if a person is realistic to himself… I’ll see you in the next one. He knows that there’s a requirement that he comes short of and he feels like totally frustration.

He can’t meet it. So why even try? And if they only knew that there’s a way, but they don’t know that. But just because of what it brings to the mind of a man, doesn’t mean that you do away with the law. No, you give them with a solution, the answer. What was our school master to bring us unto Christ that we might be justified by faith. No one is saved by keeping the law or by doing good work.

But does that make the law bad, evil? No, the law is good. There’s nothing wrong with the law. We don’t use the law in order to save ourselves, but the things that are mentioned in the law, the Bible says, if a man loves one another, you fulfill the law between you and your brother. If you love God, a love will take care of itself between you and God. The Ten Commandments have never rescued a perishing soul, nor started a person on the road to heaven, but they hold up a standard of perfection for us to measure ourselves by.

This is how we know we have come short of the perfection of God’s glory because of the righteousness of the law. And when the person sees himself guilty before a holy God, and hears that Christ paid for his sins at Calvary, he is often ready to accept Jesus Christ as a Savior for forgiveness and an eternal home in heaven. So I used the law to explain to a person their need. Jesus summarized the last five commandments as, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.

The apostle Paul wrote New Testament believers, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet, and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this say and namely thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.” That’s in Romans 13, not the Old Testament. And that’s those laws that we just talked about. So when Christ came to fulfill the law, the problem with the law was that with us is not the law, it was the weakness of man to keep it.

But when we love one another’s we should, we shouldn’t want to kill somebody. If we love the way we should, we won’t want to steal from them. If we really love them, we wouldn’t want them to commit a adultery because that would bring the chasing of God upon them and upon us. Why would you want God’s chasing upon somebody or upon yourself? So it’s better to do what God says. You have to guard your testimony at all times and put in the Lord first.

I hope that helps you to have a little bit better understanding of the law. It’s not a bad thing. And God not a big old bad bloodthirsty God appeared in the Old Testament, trying to get everybody. God got up this morning on the right side of the bed, and he’s looking over the banners of heaven, and he says, I got something good for you today. We always think he’s got it in for us. God ain’t got it in for us.

God is a good God. He’s a wonderful God. He’s a loving God. 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. 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 rate that 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 broadcasts of our services may be seen by clicking on the Calvary Community Church link at BibleLineMinistries.org. Thanks for joining us on Bible Eye, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 Bibleignmenistries.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.

All right, take your Bible and turn to the book of Hebrews and chapter 6, Hebrews chapter 6. Sooner or later, you are going to have to deal with this passage of Scripture. And the reason is because the Scriptures here has something to say that is very easily, well twisted, because it seems to say, well, something along the lines that you can lose your salvation and that you might have to get saved again. And so many people use these verses and so you need to know how to explain them to keep yourself from doubting their questions.

So if you notice the title of it is a study in Hebrews chapter 6 verses 4 through 6. And the first word there are harmonetics. That’s the art of biblical interpretation. In other words, there’s a whole book and lecture that I’ve taught many times on the subject hermeneutics, the arbabar of biblical interpretation. How do you understand the Bible? And so there’s certain things that you’re supposed to do to help you to understand what it’s talking about. And once you learn certain things, they help you to understand the scriptures.

So let’s read there in Hebrews chapter 6, look there in verse 1. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection, not land again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and a faith toward God. Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of lannell of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, of eternal judgment, and this will we do, if God permits. For it is impossible for those who are ones enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come, if they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance, seeing they crucified to themselves, the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

And then he uses an illustration that we’ll look at in just a moment that kind of explains the teaching that’s going on here. The book of Hebrews so that you know, you should always try to find out who is the scriptures talking to, and to understand that the scriptures does not contradict itself. In other words, the teaching in one place will not contradict another situation or another place, if it’s talking about the same subject, talking about the same thing.

Now you can take parts of scripture all over and make it say whatever you want to but not any context. A lot of people just try to make it say whatever they want and sometimes I’ve had people, they’ll ask me says, what do you think about this verse? And I’ll tell them what I think about that verse. Yes, but, because they don’t want to accept that answer, they want it to be a different answer so their conscious doesn’t bother them that if they violate that verse.

So they want to know another verse that makes them feel better. And so that’s why even if you go to Bible college you might study for four years, it’s just to teach you how to study the Bible. Doesn’t mean you come out with, you know, you’re a Bible now and you know everything. It just gives you certain things to study for the rest of your life. But the reason this is important because Because Hebrews is written to believing. Israelites, believing Jews.

These are people that are of the nation of Israel. They’ve trusted Christ as Savior and they still have that inclination of the law that they’ve been doing all their life. It’s just like you and I here. We go to church, don’t we? Yeah. And we read the Bible, yeah. And we’re baptized in water, yeah. But we don’t do those things to be saved. But because we are saved, there’s things that we do. But there are some people they get into teaching that, you know, that’s what you got to do to be saved or to stay saved.

Well, they were doing the same thing on the law. And so they had gotten their messages mixed up. And so it’s so easy to be saved by grace. And then because of air in your theology or teaching, you can believe the wrong thing and begin to teach a message that you were not saved by. But are you still saved? Yeah, you still be saved. But can a Christian teach a false message? Yes, you can teach a false message and still be saved.

But it’s not the will of God and there might be a little chastion coming your way. So we’re supposed to watch ourselves and guard our testimony. So here in the book of Hebrews when he makes the statement and what usually causes the problem is is when it says they’re in verse six, if they shall fall away. Now, look there in your notes at the top of the page there where I have always interpret difficult passages with clear passages. You don’t do it the other way around.

You and I know that salvation is the gift of God. So therefore it’ll never be my works. And since you know that it’s not by works, You know that salvation in the scriptures will never be kept by works. So you know that whatever it seems to say, it cannot say that you’re saved or kept saved by your words. It’s impossible because that would contradict the clear teachings of scripture that a man is saved by grace. If he saved by grace, he is kept by grace.

That means you didn’t earn it to get it and you can’t earn it to keep it. It was given to you as a free gift and you keep it as a free gift. You didn’t do any good works to get it and you don’t do good works to keep it. And your bad works didn’t keep you from getting it and bad works can’t take it away from you. But once you understand that, then you can read the Bible and understand a lot of other scriptures and say, Why not?

I can’t mean this. It can’t mean that. So you eliminate certain possibilities. The next statement there, always compare scripture with scripture. Know this verse. And if it seemed like it says something, check that verse. Because you know that it has to be in agreement. And if you understand it, it will help you as you rightly divide the Word God. Always considered to whom a book is written. So this is the book of Hebrews. So it must be written to who?

Hebrews. All right, they’re saved Hebrews and there’s lost Hebrews. I wonder what kind we’re talking to. We’re talking to those that know the Lord. These are saved individuals. And I preached to sermon the other night on the let us, let us, let us, let us. And and I’m not going to repeat that sermon. But it’s written to those that believe on the Lord. So whatever these verses are saying, it’s saying to those who know the Lord that cannot lose their salvation, so they can’t get saved again.

So you got to find out, okay, what is it saying? And so when someone says, these are those that comes right up to the door of salvation. They’re right there at the door. But they don’t get to go in. No, that’s not what it’s talking about. Now you could use the illustration in the Old Testament where the children of Israel is there in the wilderness and they get right up to the promised man and they didn’t get to go in.

Well, they didn’t get to go in, but that’s not talking about heaven and hell either. The Bible does talk to us about as a child of God going on to maturity. And while a person may be a child of God, it doesn’t mean that they’re automatic, you know, qualified to teach the word of God. So as time goes on, you ought to be learning the word so that you can teach the word. So look there in Hebrews in chapter five and verse 11, of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered or explain senior dull of hearing.

For when for the time you ought to be teachers. So we’re talking to those who ought to be something that they’re not. It didn’t say you ought to be saved. No, you ought to be lost. No. It’s talking to those who know the Lord, but are not serving the Lord. They’re not growing in the Lord. They’re not able to teach the Word of God yet. You have need that one teach you again, which be the first principles of the oracles of God.

In other words, you got to relay the foundation. Not get saved again, but teach you the simple basic things that you need to understand as a child of God so that you can grow. You don’t have to get a person saved again. And so he says there in verse 13, for every one, now we’re talking to believer. Now we’re talking about lost people. The believer, he says in verse 13, that everyone that uses milk is what? Unskillful in the Word.

So evidently we must be talking about something about, in the book of Hebrews, about a person becoming skillful in the Word of God. And that they were not skillful. In other words, they could not rightly divide the Word of truth. So you may be saved. And you’ve had a Bible for 20, 30, 40 years, but you’re not mature enough to know how to make it work for you. So you don’t just need a knowledge of the Bible, you need a working knowledge of the Bible.

And that’s why he says there, and you look at that verse in chapter 4 and verse 12, for the word of God is quick. I mean, it’s alive. And it’s powerful, and it’s sharper than any two-edged sword. So the thing that lies between a child of God a man of God is the word of God in between. So as you grow in the Lord, you are to mature in the Lord so that you can teach the word of God.

So at this point in your Christian life, can you teach the word of God? So I’ve been saved for 30 years. It’s not the question. These people could have been saved for 30 years, but they were still unskillful in the word of righteousness and they were still considered babes in the Lord. And he’s, well, I know this, I know, but do you have the knowledge of the Word of God that you can teach forth the Word of God? Look what else he says.

In verse 13, everyone that uses milk is unskilledful in the Word of righteousness. He is a babe, but strong meat belong to them that are mature, full age. Those who by reason of use, See those three words, that’s very important. See, if you want to grow in the Lord, learn to use the knowledge that you now have. And if you will use the knowledge that you have, God will give you more knowledge. And when you get more knowledge and then you use that, then you’ll grow and God will give you more.

But if you don’t use what you have, then you’ll lose what you have and you can’t remember the scriptures. You have to, wow, you can’t remember it. it will not be there. So you study the Word of God so that you can use it, and then if you’ll use it, God will give you more because He’s leading you and you’re growing in the Lord. Part of the problem of these, He says, you can’t go to maturity unless God permits you to go.

You say, how does God keep me from going there? He doesn’t give you more light. You may read the Bible and not gain anything. You can go to church and not get why because you’re not walking according to the light you have. And God says there in chapter 6, in verse 3, and this will we do. What will we do? We will go on to maturity if God permits. And why wouldn’t He permit it? Because if you’re not obeying the light that you now have, why should God give you more light?

The more light you get without using it or applying it will only blind you then you can’t see it all. And so that’s why you’re to line up on line, precept upon precept. Here a little, there a little, you’ll learn little by little. God doesn’t allow a man to learn it all at one time. You have to get a little by little and then you have to apply it, then you get some more, and then you apply it, and you grow that way.

And so this is what God’s talking about. See there in verse 14 of chapter 5, where it makes a statement, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern. So you part of your growing in the Lord and maturing in the Lord is your ability to discern. That means you can decide and understand what’s right and what’s wrong. Look back there, just notes. Always consider the context of the passage. So we understand these verses if we eliminate the chapter division and just look at the context.

What are we talking about? Are we talking to the lost men on how to get to heaven? Are we talking about a Christian on how to discern the word of God? A Christian that needs to grow into Lord, a Christian that needs to be maturing in the Lord, a Christian that ought to be able to teach the Word of God. So when you put it in that context in the last part of that, or chapter 6, will make a little bit more sense.

You can understand it. So you always got to consider the context. Look there in your notes where I have number one, three things the author is warning us about. And this is what it says. Now we’ve got to find out what it means. Number one, consequences have fallen away. Whatever that means, there’s consequences. If they shall fall away. So there’s a consequence. The second point, what would happen if they fall away? It’s impossible to renew them. Now you can’t deny that scripture says that.

Why is it impossible? Seeing they crucified to themselves, the Son of God afresh. Again. So what does that mean? Cause that’s what is stated in these verses. And so when you don’t keep it in its context, then you will let your mind run wild and you’ll leave the context and you’ll use imagination and you’ll run hither and dither and go wherever you want to go and try to figure out what it’s talking about. But maybe it’s explained right here where you are.

A lot of times what you find written in a book will be explained in that book, not all the time, but a lot of time the answer is right there. So we know we’re talking to the believers and what they needed to do. Why shouldn’t we go on to maturity? And if I go on to maturity, it means that I haven’t lost my salvation. And if I haven’t lost my salvation, then you don’t have to try to get saved again.

And the reason you don’t have to get saved again is because you didn’t get lost. Just because you did not grow in the Lord and mature in the Lord doesn’t mean that now that’s a sign you never really were saved. No, it doesn’t mean that. It means your babe. Because once you’ve trusted Christ as your Savior, you’re saved forever. Your God’s child forever and that will never change. So number two, there are four views of this chapter. One, a Christian can lose a salvation and there’s people who teach you can lose your salvation.

Number two, a mere profession and not possession of salvation. You’re saying you’re saying but you’re not really saved. Ah, that’s a good possibility. So you can be a Christian and in Lucius salvation. Or maybe you’re somebody who says you’re a Christian and you’re not really a Christian. And the third one is hypothetically, if a Christian could lose their salvation, there is no provision for repentance. Number four, a Christian who falls away is warned of be disqualified for service and blessings now in future reward.

So there’s a bunch of options that you can say, well, this might be, well, this might be. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of God’s people all agreed on what the Word of God says, but that don’t happen? I wouldn’t be great if all the preachers in the world all preach the same gospel. If it is the gospel they are. It’s just that most of not preaching the gospel because the gospel and the test of the gospel is grace.

If it’s not grace, it’s not the gospel. If it’s not eternal, it’s not the gospel. So the gospel has to be free and it has to last forever. And if anyone of those is missing, it’s not the gospel. So it has to be free or it’s not the gospel and it has to be forever or it’s not the gospel. So is the message that people are preaching? Is that what they’re saying? When you tell people that they have to turn from their sin, then it’s not free.

You’ve got to make Christ the Lord and Master of your life, then it’s not free. If there’s something you have to, you’ve got to go to church and live a good life, then it’s not free. Okay, so it is by grace and it’s free. Okay, if it It is free, then it has to be forever. If it’s really free, it has to be forever. And if it’s not forever, it wasn’t really free. Because they took it away from it because you weren’t willing to pay a price on how you lived.

So then it’s got to be free. It has to last forever. Or either of those, it is not the good news of the gospel. Don’t you all understand what I’m saying? I mean, this is the crux of the matter. Majority of preachers do not understand this simplicity. They just don’t get it So anyway Look at number one up there under that a Christian can lose his salvation if this was true. They could not be saved again Why because if they shall fall away it is impossible to renew them again in the word let’s just pretend for a moment you are a saved man and And then because of whatever, now you’ve lost your salvation for whatever reason, then it says you can’t get saved again because it’s impossible for those.

That had been once enlightened and have pasted the heavenly gift and all this stuff. And then to lose it or to fall away, if that means you lose your salvation, then it also means you can’t get saved again because it says right there. If they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance because everybody knows you got to repent to be saved. Well, that could be one of those views. But is that what it’s saying that you can be lost after you’re saved?

And if you can be lost after you’re saved, then it’s also saying you can’t get saved again. Oh boy. And yet how many people preach that, but they never preach that you can’t be saved again. They believe you can get saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost. And you just hope you died when you were saved. But you never know for sure. So I don’t believe that’s correct. The second point was a mere profession and not possession of salvation.

Is this just people who are claiming to be saved but not really have ever trusted the Lord? And the reason they say that because they just taste it. Just taste it. See what it says in verse 4? For it is impossible for those who are once enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift. Well, if you just taste it, it means you didn’t fully partake of it. Well, the next part of the verse says, and we’re made what? Partakers.

So it’s those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. That’s also mentioned in the book of 1 Peter in chapter 2. Taste and see that the Lord is good. But since it’s right here in the book of Hebrews, look there in chapter 2. Look in chapter 2 and verse 9, where it makes a statement, But we see Jesus who has made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor that he by the grace of God, and you are on the line this, should taste death for every man.

Now when he tasted death, do you think did he really die? Yes. He just says he suffered for the suffering of death. And when he tasted death, that’s, have you ever tasted tribulations and trials? Yeah, I just tasted it, but I didn’t go any further than that. It means that you really did go through trials and tribulations. Jesus really did die. And so for those who have tasted the Lord is those who have trusted Christ as their Savior. And you know you have eternal life and you have been enlightened and you have been partakers of the Holy Spirit living within you.

This is the saved people not lost people. This isn’t talking about those that those they’re professing but they’re not real. No, this is talking about real Christians. You ever heard the phrase, you got to be a born again believer Or a born-again Christian? What are the kindnesses? Or you’ve been really saved or gloriously saved? Yeah. Like the guy laying up in this casket. He’s an atheist. All dressed up nowhere to go. Whatever your shame. All dressed up nowhere to go.

But he’s really dead. Now this guy over here in this other casket, he’s just dead. But this guy’s really dead. This guy’s saved, but this guy’s really saved. Now, look there in Hebrews chapter six. So he talks about those in verse four, I believe he’s talking to those that believe on the Lord, and why it’s impossible for those who have been once saved in verse six, if they should fall away to get saved again. And the reason why couldn’t they get saved again?

Well, because that means that Christ would have to die again. Because the only way that a man could be saved and then lost is because it means there had to be a sin that Christ didn’t pay for. So Christ paid for all of your sins, and this is how most people believe it. Christ paid for all of your sins up to the time you believe. Then after that, you’ve got to keep getting forgiveness for all of these individual sins as you commit them.

And if you die before you got convicted, so that’s it, none, you’ve got to go to hell. Either Christ paid for all of my sins, or He’ll have to come back every day to take care of mine. Or did he do it all at one time? It’s appointed unto every man once the die and after this, the judgment. So if Christ is going to die for a man, how many times must he die? One time. Because a man only dies once.

So when a man dies, that’s the end of his life. So when Christ died on the cross for me, he paid for all of my sins. And so the only way that I could lose my salvation is to commit a sin that Christ didn’t pay for. And then if he didn’t pay for that sin, well the only way I could ever get saved again is for Christ to come back afresh, anew, and pay for that sin. Well then, if I commit another sin and then I’ve got to die, well now he got to come back and pay for that sin.

And then I can get saved again. And then if I commit another sin, then I lose my salvation. Then I got away from him to come back and pay for that sins I can get saved again. Well, if this rate Christ would never get off the cross. I mean, how many times would He have to do this? Now, in the Old Testament they had to do it over and over and over again, but Jesus, He’s different. He’s one time for the sins of the whole world and people can’t believe this because it’s so So simple, it’s too easy.

I mean, people say, well, that’s just too easy. That’s just too easy. What if it’s so easy? Why can’t you believe it? You mean you believe it’s hard? What’s this? It is my glasses. So what are that? Does it have a pair of glasses? No, no, no, that’s too easy. Believe hard. Mmm. How do you believe hard? I guess by making it hard to believe. It’s supposed to be something that every person in the world can understand. Even children can understand it.

Going to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It means it must be something that every person can understand. It didn’t say because of what based upon their education, how smart and intelligent they are because this is hard and complicated now. Now even a child knows something that’s free. It’s free. God loves you. God loves you. Kids can understand that. So here, if you look there in your notes, on the second thing, are these believers or unbelievers?

So what are they? Are these believers or unbelievers? These are believers. are believers, once enlightened and to illuminate their mind and have tasted the heavenly gift. So this is talking to believers and we’re made partakers of the Holy Spirit. And so as you go down through here you can see I’ve got some verses in here that talks about been partakers and partakers and so forth. So the conclusion is that this is clearly to the Christian. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tappa, 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 toll-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 Bible and 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 believe in that the Lord is coming soon and just keep looking up

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline, Bibleline Here God’s word on Bibleline Everywhere, every time Here God’s truth on Bibleline Welcome 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 a 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 concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all of God’s people all agreed on what the word of God says? But that don’t happen. Now wouldn’t it be great if all the preachers in the world all preach the same gospel. If it is the gospel they are. It’s just that most are not preaching the gospel.

Because the gospel and the test of the gospel is grace. If it’s not grace, it’s not the gospel. If it’s not eternal, it’s not the gospel. So the gospel has to be free and it has to last forever. And if anyone of those is missing, it’s not the gospel. So it has to be free or it’s not the gospel. And it has to be forever or it’s not the gospel. So is the message that people are preaching? Is that what they’re saying?

When you tell people that they have to turn from their sin, then it’s not free. You’ve got to make Christ the Lord and Master of your life, then it’s not free. If there’s something you have to, you’ve got to go to church and live a good life, then it’s not free. Okay, so it is by grace and it’s free. Okay, if it is free, then it has to be forever. If it’s really free, it has to be forever. And if it’s not forever, it wasn’t really free.

Because it took it away from because you weren’t willing to pay a price on how you lived. So then it’s got to be free. It has to last forever. Or either of those, it is not the good news of the gospel. Don’t you all understand what I’m saying? I mean, this is the crux of the matter. And majority of preachers do not understand this simplicity. They just don’t get it. So anyway, look at number one up there under that.

A Christian can lose his salvation. If this was true, they could not be saved again. Why? Because if they shall fall away, it is impossible to renew them again. In the word, let’s just pretend for a moment, you are a saved man. And then because of whatever, now you’ve lost your salvation for whatever reason, then it says you can’t get saved again, because it’s impossible for those that have been once enlightened that are pasted the heavenly gift and all this stuff, and then to lose it or to fall away, if that means you lose your salvation, then it also means you can’t get saved again because it says right there, if they shall fall away to renew them again unto repentance because everybody knows you got to repent to be saved.

Well, that could be one of those views, but is that what it’s saying? That you can be lost after you’re saved. And if you can be lost after you’re saved, then it’s also saying you can’t get saved again. Oh boy, and yet how many people preach that, but they never preach that you can’t be saved again. They believe you can get saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost, saved and lost, and you just hope you died when you were saved.

But you never know for sure. So I don’t believe that’s correct. The second point was a mere profession and not possession of salvation. Is this just people who are claiming to be saved but not really have ever trust of the Lord. And the reason they say that because they just past it. Just taste it. See what it says in verse 4? For it is impossible for those who are ones enlightened and have tasted of the heavenly gift. Well if you just taste it, that means you didn’t fully partake of it.

Well the next part of the verse says, and we’re made what? Partakers. So it’s Those who have tasted and seen that the Lord is good. That’s also mentioned in the book of 1 Peter and chapter 2. Taste and see that the Lord is good. But since it’s right here in the book of Hebrews, look there in chapter 2. Look in chapter 2 and verse 9, where it makes a statement, but we see Jesus, who has made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death.

Crowned with glory and honor that he by the grace of God, and you ought to underline this, should taste death for every man. Now when he tasted death, you think he would. Did he really die? Yes. He just says he suffered for the suffering of death. And when he tasted death, have you ever tasted tribulations and trials? Yeah, I just tasted it, but I didn’t do any further than that. It means that you really did go through trials and tribulations.

Jesus really did die. And so for those who have tasted the Lord is those who have trusted Christ as their Savior and you know you have eternal life and you have been enlightened and you have been partakers of the Holy Spirit living within you. This is the saved people not lost people. This isn’t talking about those that those they’re professing but they’re not real. No this is talking about real Christians. You’ve heard the phrase you’ve got to be a born-again believer or a born-again Christian.

What are the kindnesser? Or you’ve been really saved or gloriously saved? Yeah. Like the guy laying up in this casket. He’s an atheist. All dressed up nowhere to go. Whatever your shame. All dressed up nowhere to go. But he’s really dead. Now this guy over here in this other casket, he’s just dead. But this guy’s really dead. Well this guy is saved, but this guy is really saved. Now look there in Hebrews chapter 6. So when he talks about those in verse 4, I believe he’s talking to those that believe on the Lord and why it’s impossible for those who have been once saved in verse 6, if they should fall away to get saved again.

And the reason why couldn’t they get saved again? Well, because that means that Christ would have to die again. Because the only way that a man could be saved and then lost is because it means there had to be a sin that Christ didn’t pay for. So Christ paid for all of your sins, and this is how most people believe it. Christ paid for all of your sins up to the time you believe. Then after that, you’ve got to keep getting forgiveness for all of these individual sins as you commit them.

And if you die before you got convicted, so that’s it, none, you’ve got to go to hell. Either Christ paid for all of my sins, or He’ll have to come back every day to take care of mine, or did He do it all at one time. It’s appointed unto every man once the die and after this the judgment. So if Christ is going to die for a man, how many times must he die? time because a man only dies once.

So when a man dies, that’s the end of his life. So when Christ died on the cross for me, he paid for all of my sins. And so the only way that I could lose my salvation is to commit a sin that Christ didn’t pay for. And then if he didn’t pay for that sin, well, the only way I could ever get saved again is for Christ to come back afresh, anew and pay for that sin. Well, then if I commit another sin and then I’ve got to die, well, now he got to come back and pay for that sin and then I get saved again.

And then if I commit another sin, then I lose my salvation. Then I’ve got to wait for him to come back and pay for that sin so I can get saved again. Well, if this rate, would never get off the cross. I mean, how many times would he have to do this? Now, in the Old Testament, they had to do it over and over and over again, but Jesus, he’s different. He’s one time for the sins of the whole world, and people can’t believe this because it’s so simple.

It’s too easy. I mean, people say, well, that’s just too easy. That’s just too easy. What if it’s so easy? Why Why can’t you believe it? You mean you believe it’s hard? What’s this? There’s my glasses. So what are that? There’s a pair of glasses. No, no, no, that’s too easy. Believe hard. Mm. How do you believe hard? I guess by making it hard to believe. It’s supposed to be something that every person in the world Can understand. Even children can understand it.

Going to all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. It means it must be something that every person can understand. It didn’t say because of, well, based upon their education. How smart and intelligent they are because, you know, this is hard and complicated now. Now even a child knows something that’s free. It’s free. God loves you. God loves you. kids can understand that. So here, if you look there in your notes, on the second thing, are these believers or unbelievers?

So what are they? Are these believers or unbelievers? These are believers. These are believers, once enlightened and to illuminate their mind and have tasted the heavenly gift. So this is talking to believers and we’re made partakers of the Holy Spirit. And so as you go down through here, you can see I got some verses in here that talks about been partakers and partakers and so forth. So the conclusion is that this is clearly to the Christian. Now, go back to verse one, look in verse one.

Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto maturity, perfection maturity. Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead work. So what is salvation? Repentance is not trusting in your works to get you to heaven, but Christ. So repentance means you don’t trust in your works and you trust in Christ. So it is required in Scripture that every man must repent. It means not to trust in the flesh, but in the Lord. And so you can’t and you will not trust in the Lord until you have come to the conclusion, I cannot save myself by the flesh.

I can’t save myself by my works. So I don’t trust in my works. I’m trusting in Christ. And when a man supposedly really understands that, then you have ceased from your labor of trying to earn something because you know it’s free and you already have it. Makes sense to me. So that’s why he says, leaving the gospel You don’t have to try to get a man saved again. We will go on to maturity if God permits, and God will permit if you will believe what his word says.

See, there’s many promises in the Word of God. But see, if you don’t believe the promise of God, then you will not go forward. And he used the Old Testament illustration of the children of Israel that had been in the wilderness and they came to Cady’s Barnia and they were going to go into the promised land and they sent in some spies. And they came back with a evil report, 10 out of 12 did, except Joshua and Caleb. Joshua and Caleb says, hey, we can do it.

God promised him. Boom, boom, boom. We’re ready to go. They believe the promise of God. 10 of them didn’t. Those 10 convinced the whole nation, hey, we can’t do it. They’re children. they’re in their giants in the land and we’re going to die. So they didn’t believe the promise of God. And so they didn’t get to go into the land because of unbelief. You cannot grow in the Lord until you believe what God’s word says. Now you believe them to get saved.

Now believe it to grow. As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him. How did you receive him? By faith. How do you walk? By faith. So it is the will of God for you to know the word of God so that you might know the will of God. And as you learn the word of God and begin to grow in the word of God, you’ll find yourself maturing in the Lord and you’ll be able to discern right from wrong.

See, the last thing you want is always somebody else telling you what’s right and wrong in the Christian life. what you can and cannot do, or you should or should not do. Don’t you want to learn how to walk between you and the Lord? Well, I haven’t depend on somebody else always tell you. Then grow up. Grow up. Mature, haven’t you seen children that never seem to learn? And they become wild when they become teenagers? Of course, unless you’re mowing always come to church anyway, and she’s 17 years old now.

She’s had a birthday, right, Mo? today, but she will mature into a beautiful lady and… God’s got all kind of great, wonderful things down the road for her as long as she keeps walking and seeking the Lord’s will. And that’s the same it is for anybody, but some people just don’t seem to mature. I know adults that haven’t matured. They haven’t grown up yet. Still lack like a bratty teenager. So God’s word tells us that this is what the story is, and so He says there in verse 6 that if they shall follow it to renew them again and to repent and see and they crucified to themselves, the Son of God, of fresh and put them to an open shame.

I don’t believe this wise for God’s children to live in sin for what Christ died for. And I believe that it is the will of God for God’s children to walk and to serve a Lord and to do right because I believe it’s like slapping Christ in the face for a child of God to rebel against what he did for them. Anyway, that’s another sermon, but I want you to see these couple verses. He uses now an illustration that I think a really good super.

Looking in verse 7, for the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh off upon it, bringeth forth herbs, meet for them by whom it is dressed, and you ought underlined this phrase, receiveth blessing from God. And then he talks about the earth also in verse 8, but that the earth which beryth thorns and briars is rejected and is nigh unto cursing, whose end is to be burned. But beloved, we are persuaded better things of you and things that and you ought to underline these two words, a company salvation.

So there’s things that God wants you as a child of God to do in your life. So He uses the illustration of a piece of ground. Let’s say I’ve got 10 acres of ground. I work that ground and I sow seed and then I, you know, water it and fertilize it and all that. And know me, I’ve got me some beautiful crop on my piece of property. Now, the land is one thing and what is produced is another. And so I can see the blessing of God on that piece of ground.

But you see, it didn’t do it by itself. And like this one man, he had a preacher come see him and was trying to get this old man to realize how wonderful God is. And he says, you know, look at this beautiful piece of land God gave to you. Yeah, yeah. Look at all that crop you got out there. Look how good God did. Look what God did. And he went on and he founded this soul farmer. He says, you should have seen it when God had it by himself.

You should have saw that piece of land when God had it all by himself. You are the land, but there’s a certain amount of effort and work that you’re supposed to put into it. And if you will do with that land, what God wants, there will be blessings to receive. You are a Christian, and if you will apply and sow and water and you’d be surprised what you might be able to produce in your life and to see the blessings of God upon your life.

But if you don’t and if the farmer doesn’t, you know, tall as land, doesn’t do anything with it, just let it go, it will naturally bring forth briars and thorns. Fruit takes effort to let it go in a run wild. The same thing with your life. You may know Christ is your Savior. And you can either be a piece of land that can produce the fruit of the Lord, or you can be a piece of land that brings forth nothing but briars and thorns.

And I can guarantee you, you’re not going to like the briars and the thorns. And you’re going to waste your life. And all of that is, as the Bible says, hay, wood, and stubble. Or you can bring forth gold, silver, and precious stones. So this is what the Lord is talking about, and I believe it’s all in contact. It makes perfect sense. So you see there again in verse 7, With that understanding, now look what he says, for the earth which drinketh in the rain or the Christian that drinks in the Word of God, bringeth forth herbs or fruit and receive a blessing from God.

So easy it is. And in verse eight, and that Christian that doesn’t sow or drink in the Word of God, then he’s not going to sow and he just lets his life run wild. You’re going to bear thorns and briars and it’s rejected because God’s going to have to chase you. So by the time you get through going through all of this and you get to Hebrews chapter 10, it talks about cast not away your confidence which hath great recompense of reward.

He says, but you’re to live by faith, taking God at his word. And then he says in chapter 12, those that do not do what God says to do with their life, God says he’s going to have to chase them in discipline. And they’ll be tears. And the chasing for the present seem not to be joyous but grievous. But afterwards it yielded forth the peaceable fruit of righteousness. So there’s saying God wants in your life, and if you put it in his context, it’s just light reading a nice beautiful little story is nothing wrong with it.

You start trying to twist this and say, well, this is talking about something else. Then the whole meaning is lost. The truth of these scriptures were totally be lost because you apply them to something else that doesn’t even reply to. So then he makes a statement here in verse 9, but beloved. We talk into believers or not. Yeah, be loving. We are persuaded a better things, better than what? Then briars and thorns. There’s something better for the Christian. And the thing is to study the word of God so that you know the word of God so that you can grow in the Lord and learn how to trust the Lord and do what God wants you to do so you can have the peaceable fruit of righteousness in your own personal life and not only that, what you can produce in the world in the lives of other people.

So then he says in verse 10, for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love. So when it’s talking about your work and your labor of love, do you think that will refer to salvation or service? See how simple? Service has to do with works. It’s how you live. But when it talks about salvation, it always has to be free. So I’ve already trusted Christ as my Savior. He gave me eternal life. I became His child.

That was free. Now He’s talking about what I produce with my life. Now, do you want fruit on your land, or do you want briars and thorns? And if you got briars and thorns, and as you walk about on your life, you’re going to find yourself being pricked over and over again, and you’re going going to hurt yourself. But look what else he says in verse 10, for God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name in that ye have ministered, and you’re going to land this to the saints.

Now, is it supposed to be Christians’ medicine to the saints or the lost man, minnesting to the saints? It’s believers that minister to the saints and do minister and get this. And we desire that every one of you do show, show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end, the end of your race. To you reach that place in maturity where you can bring forth the fruit that God wants to produce in your life. And in verse 12, that you be not slothful.

This is to the Christian. He’s talking about his walk in the Lord. Be not slothful, but followers of them, who through faith and patience inherit the promises. And then when you get to Hebrews chapter 11 and the Old Testament saints and the promises that they have somewhere, all of it ties together. But don’t get away from the simplicity. Salvation is always the gift of God. And once you are saved, you cannot lose your salvation. There is no sin that I can commit that can send me to hell.

Christ died for my sins so that I don’t have to pay for them. And now because I am his child, it is the will of my Heavenly Father that we serve the Lord. Look up here. This end represents you and me and the wallet represents sin. We all have sin upon us. God says that He loves us. He hates our sin. And for you and I to pay for sin is eternal separation from God in hell. But God loves us and wants us to go to heaven and to go to heaven We have to be perfect as righteous as God because heaven is perfect God is perfect and we have to be perfect to go into heaven But we can’t because of sin and God will not allow us in the heaven Remember the sin is not just the sin that I commit.

It’s the sin nature. That’s within me I could take this away and I still can’t get in Because you see the sin nature is still inside of me. I committed this because I am a sinner So God has to give me a new birth, not change me, not change me, and I send him to church and do all a good deed. God has to give me a new birth. So this hand represents Jesus Christ, he’s the Lord God in the flesh.

He came into the world, he has no sin, no sin nature. So he has no sin. But Christ, because he loves us and hates our sin, it says that he hates it because it separates us from him. So what Christ did for us, He took our sins, paid for it on the cross, came back from the dead and said, if we would believe it, He would give us His righteousness. And if God gave me His righteousness, then I would be as righteous as God.

Can I go to heaven if I’m as righteous as God? Well, yes. That’s a righteousness that God gives to me by faith in what He did for me. And God says, once you trust Him, He’ll never cast you out and never lose you. news in all the world. Let’s pray, shall we? With every head bowed and every eye closed and no one looking around, if you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, right now why not just talk to the Lord and say something simple like this?

Lord, I know I’m a sinner. I don’t understand it all, but I know that I’ve done things wrong. I believe that Christ died, paid for my sins, and I’m going to trust Him this morning. It’s my only hope of going to heaven. Friend, I’m not going to have you forward. I’m not going to embarrass you. But right where you’re sitting, if what I said made sense. Would you say, yes Lord, I will trust Christ as my Savior right now.

And friend, by doing that, God will give you eternal life as a free gift. And they’ll never cast you out, never lose you. And you can know that you’re going to heaven when you die. Would you believe it? Would you trust Him? If you’ve already trusted Christ as your Savior, do you see the responsibility? How that all of us as God’s children are responsible to preach the gospel. One way or another, find a way, because one day we’ll all stand before the Lord and give an account of ourselves.

Let’s pray, shall we? Our Father, we thank you so much for all that you’ve done for us. We’re so thankful that eternal life is truly a gift. It’s free and it lasts forever. And Father, we ask now your blessings upon each person here, help us as your children, to realize that yes, we got a piece of land, our lives, and we can either bring forth fruit or bring forth briars and thorns. The Lord according to your word, you desire better things of us.

Things that accompany salvation doesn’t replace salvation. It’s just a company. We’re thankful for your word in Christ’s name we pray. Amen. You’ve been listening to Bibleline, a teaching ministry of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida with Dr. Ralph Arnold. We pray that you are blessed by today’s message. 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 toll 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 home page 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 1030 and at 6 o’clock on Sunday evening. 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. Friends, 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.

This transcript was generated automatically and may contain errors.

Bibleline Bibleline, here God’s Word on Bibleline, everywhere, every time. 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 first part of this two-part message will be a blessing to you and your family.

Take your Bible and turn to the book of Romans the book of Romans and chapter One Romans in chapter one. I Got an email yesterday and I thought I would read this letter to you Because it was a letter That shares her testimony of 40 years ago See one thing it’s good about if you live long enough enough, you see the results of it down the road. And it’s very encouraging. You know, sometimes the pastor wonders if anybody ever really listens and learns from what he has to say.

Because you know, when you’re on that little perch, everybody takes a shot at you. Everybody demands you got to be perfect or they turn you off. And you’re going to offend people so easy. I never try to offend anybody, but I do because I’m a person. I’m a human being. I have a sinful nature. I say, I do things not always perfect. Christ was here and He was perfect and you won’t believe this, but He offended people. So I like to know when somebody’s blessed because of your life or your ministry.

So she wrote this to me. At the age of eight, I recall a night my father came home from one of his many hunting trips. I was always very excited when he returned because he often brought me a gift. This particular trip included several men from our church who ventured west to Colorado to Hanout and Mule Deer. On Sunday morning, the men took a break from hunting and attended a church service in the mountains of western Colorado. his return, I sensed an unusual amount of excitement from my father.

This was interesting because he was typically such a calm man. Soon he became apparent that the heightened excitement my father exhibited was not coming from the number or size of mule deer he encountered on the trip. But from a preacher he heard doing that Sunday morning service. The only thing that more intriguing to me that my father’s excited state was the name of the preacher, Yankee. I just kept thinking what’s a Yankee doing in Colorado. I thought they were Northerners.

As was my usual practice, I clung to every word that came from my father’s mouth. So as he proceeded to share his excitement with me, I began to envision this young, tall, handsome, dynamic preacher, where they message about going, I didn’t write that now, where they message about going to heaven. Growing up in the church, nothing seemed unusual about a preacher talking about heaven. But it was uncommon to hear Dad explain how Yankee told them they could know they were going to heaven.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but in the years to come, This preacher with a strange name would split our church congregation right down the middle. You unite another group of new believers, change many of ourURRENT lives here on earth, and share a message that would affect us for all eternity. She didn’t mention that I also got boycotted, black-balled, and two major denominations one year after I left Florida of a college. But anyway, that’s another story. Yankee was invited to our small town of Dora Lake.

Minnesota, to share this special message with our church. Doing one of his early visits, he prompted questions in my young mind about my eternal destination. A short time later, while fishing with my father on the Big Fort River in northern Minnesota, I asked him this question, if Yankee is right and we have to be perfect to get to heaven, how am I going to get there if I keep doing things wrong? And since I still get spankings, I know that I do things wrong.

Very brilliant kid, huh? It was then that my father explained to me that I do things wrong because I inherited this sinful nature from Adam and Eve. He reiterated Yankee’s message of salvation by grace. When he explained that I cannot escape that sinful nature by doing good things, it is only by believing in the payment Jesus made on the cross that God would give me or see me as being perfect, sinless and able to enter this perfect heaven, even though I didn’t always do everything right here on earth.

I cannot pinpoint the exact moment that I trusted Christ as my Savior. I imagined it was shortly after that memorable moment with my father in that beautiful river in northern Minnesota. Bottom line at some point known only to God, I pieced it all together and it made perfect sense to me a small but inquisitive child that God had given his perfect son to pay the complete sin debt for me so that I could spend eternity with him. So this message of salvation by grace preached by Yankee Arnold many years ago to a group of rough bearded hunters from northern Minnesota is one that continues to amaze me.

Even now, some forty years later, the clarity of the gospel makes its way into every conversation between my father and me. I am eternally grateful to Yankee and the women or the woman behind the man, his ever dedicated wife Betty, for the sacrifices they have made throughout their lives to share the clear gospel with so many. They have planted seeds throughout the country, if not the world. Seeds that the Lord has watered result in countless numbers of individuals, knowing what certainty, even though they are challenges in this world, they have absolute assurance of the eternal destination.

No greater gift could ever be given than the message of salvation to the grace of God. you to my Father Jim who not only accepted the message of salvation by grace, but realized the importance of sharing the good news with his family. And that’s a good story. She sent that to me yesterday because she wrote it about her, how she came to know the Lord. She couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment, but in my mind, I remembered the exact moment.

I was riding in the pickup truck with her dad, and she was sitting between us. She was eight years old. And on the way to the church, door like church, on the way there I explained it to her. And she finally understood. Anyway, I emailed her back and I told her that, 40 years ago, when you get to heaven, do you realize that you’re going to see the faces of the people that you want to Christ, to see the faces of the people because of your concern and what you sacrifice to get the gospel to people, whether through money or prayers or individual talking.

There won’t be anything greater. Paul says, ye are my crown of glory. You are my joy whenever he sees you at the coming of Christ. That’s gonna be the most important thing you’ll ever experience in your life. To know that there’ll be people in heaven because you shared the greatest story in all the world with him. So I want you to take your Bible, look there, a verse that we read every Sunday morning, the book of Romans in chapter one and verse 16.

Look what it says, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith, as it is written, the the just shall live by faith. What two great verses in the Bible. And whenever you think about those verses, you think of how simple everything is that God made.

And I want you to think about this. Of all the messages there are in the world, of all the books that have been written, there is no story as great as this story. There is no message more powerful than this story. That’s why you and I are supposed to love it. And Paul says, I’m not ashamed of the gospel and it didn’t stop there. I’m not ashamed of the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So it’s not just anybody, it’s a particular individual. So number one, if you keep any notes on the back of your bulletin, you can write it down because I’m not ashamed because of the person of the gospel, the person, because she is not just anybody. This person is the Son of God. This person is God. And so it’s the good news about what God says. And it’s something that you and I are supposed to love and we’re supposed to tell.

So it’s not about what, it’s about who, it’s about this person. And that’s why If the devil can, he’ll get you to do anything, talk about anything except this person. Because we cannot talk about the gospel without talking about the person. And when I’m not ashamed of the message, it’s because I’m not ashamed of the person. And if you’re ashamed of the person, you will be ashamed of the gospel. And a lot of God’s children, I think, are ashamed to tell the message.

And I don’t understand why. I can’t fathom that yet. But I do believe there’s some things that we need to remember. Without Christ, see, there is no gospel. And there’s several words that we talk about all the time. And yet without Christ these words have absolutely they have no meaning. You see, there would be no such thing as there is no power. See, a man needs to be saved, but there’s no power if there’s no Christ. Without Christ there is no power to save anybody.

You see, without the gospel of Jesus Christ, you and I can’t know God. You may know there is a God, But you can’t know God, except through this story. This is the story that lets us know what God thinks about his attributes. It talks about the perfection of God, why we need to be perfect, how holy, how just, how righteous. All these things about God that you and I need to know about. And then because of Christ we know about justice and law and mercy, compassion, forgiveness.

All those things about God you and I will not know, except through the story of the gospel. You see there’s a word it’s called salvation. You realize there is no salvation without Christ. There is no righteousness without Christ. There is no gift without Christ. There’s no justification without Christ. So without Christ, there’s no life. There’s no eternal life without Christ. But with Christ, we have all these things, but you take Christ out of the equation. There is nothing left.

And as far as this life goes, there’s nothing worth living for. That’s why so many people are so hopeless in their lives. They don’t have anything worth living for. And you can be so discouraged and so in despair. But if you had something that was worth living for, it gives meaning to everything else in life. There’s a purpose there that drives you on. So the first thing I wanted you to see is simply in this verse. I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the person.

I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ. I know whom I have believed, and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. The second thing is the power of the gospel. I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power. This message is the most powerful message in the world. There isn’t anything with greater power than this message. It is the dynamite of God. This little story, you see why the devil fights the gospel and the clarity of the gospel, he’s trying to dilute its power where it cannot save by adding works to it, diluting it, Mixing it all up, confusing people.

That’s why you and I have to strive for the defense of the gospel. Where we know that man cannot save himself and therefore only through Christ can a man be saved. It’s so important. You see chapter 1, chapter 2, chapter 3 of the book of Romans, paints a picture of how terrible man is, how wicked man is, how that when he knew God, he did not honor him as God. That became vain in their own imagination and brought God down to man and worship creation instead of the Creator.

And talked about all the wickedness that people do, men with men and women with women and all the sins and the wickedness and talked about how that he gave the law to Israel and they violated it. Nobody ever kept the law. Talk about the Gentiles and by creation itself, given to man the power of reason with conscience and yet he fails, cannot even live up to that knowledge that he has that there is a God and a seek God.

And then by the time you get to chapter 3, let’s just see just how wicked man is. There’s none righteous, not one. There’s none that seeketh after God, not one. There’s There’s none that doeth good, not one. Let God be true in every man a liar.” And as he says in his word, so I say these things to them that are under the law, that all are guilty before God. All have sinned and come short of God’s perfection, pretty pitiful sight.

So there isn’t any man or woman ever lived good enough to be saved. So God paints a black picture for all of mankind. And then, but God. But God. But God has the power of salvation. I’m not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the person. It is the power of God. Think of all the power that will be needed. Now there was tremendous power used in creating the heavens and the earth. A man can’t be saved without the power of God.

It means that man cannot save himself by his power. salvation is by God’s power. He’s the only one that has the power to save you. And if he has the power to save you, he only has the power to keep you saved. Because when you’re saved, you’re saved from something to something. To an inheritance, it’s incorruptible and undefiled that fate, if not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God on the salvation. You see, God is the only one that has the power to save a man.

That’s all wrapped up in that little store that we call the gospel, the Good News, of how a sinner can be made righteous. It’s going to be justified before a righteous holy God. And there is no other message that can accomplish this. No religion can do this. Only the book, the Word of God. So Christ is the answer. We hear it all the time. The next thing I want you to understand is it is the power It is the power of God, for I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation.

The only power that can save us is in this message. There’s a story and a man must hear it and he that heareth my word and be leaving on him that sent me that everlasting life. The power to save, that we brought that before, the penalty of sin, the power of sin in our life now, and one day to be saved from the very presence of sin. You think the word salvation in the Bible is one of the most important words in all the world, to be able to stand and say, oh yeah, I’m an American.

I’m an Arnold. I’ll be great. I’m saved. I am saved. Not going to be. I am saved. I mean, I’m not going to hell. I am a saved man. That is more important than anything else in the whole world. It’s more important than that job you have or the job you don’t have. I’m saved. I’m saved. My sins are all forgiven. I can never go to hell from this day forward. Never. I’m saved. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, and I’m saying so.

I am redeemed. I am saved. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of God on the salvation. You see why is that important? Because see, that’s the purpose of the power. What’s the purpose of the power to save? And I have been saved. It’s the one of the greatest words in the whole world. You can say, I’m a man. You can say, I’m a woman. I’m 70 years old. I’m 30 years old.

I’m saved. There’s nothing better than that. There are no words better than those words. I’m saved. I’m going to heaven when I die. And you stop and think of how many people in this world they cannot say that. They can’t say that because they don’t know that. They never heard this message, this most powerful message in all the world. Oh, they’ve heard religions. They’ve heard that you’ve got to earn your way to heaven by your good works, and that’s not the good news.

The good news is, is he died on the cross and paid for my sins to give me eternal life as a free gift, and I get to go to heaven on what he did for me. That’s the best news in all the world. The next one I wanted to mention two years, because I’m not ashamed because of the plan of the gospel. What’s God’s plan? What’s the purpose and the power? What’s the plan? The plan doesn’t go in all the world until people keep the 10 commandments that go to heaven, to qualify to be good enough.

The plan was that whosoever was the word, believe it. What a simple plan. That’s too easy. You may not have all the things that talks about the person of Christ and everything that He did and who He was. They come into this world and all the power of God that it takes and the purpose of God. The plan is just the man got to believe that’s all, and yet the power that’s in that. It’s the power to save a person, the power to save a person.

You see, that’s God’s plan. The plan is that all that people have to do is the only thing they can do is believe it. You see, sometimes we try to get things so complicated. God made it simple. And He says, all that a man has to do, the only thing that he can do, is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved. So simple. You know what I’m encouraged by. The other night I had James call me up and he says, Pastor, we had somebody trust the Lord.

Reformers unanimous. That is so neat. That is so neat. And then Peter calls me up and tells me that they had some people trust the Lord Friday night or Thursday night, Friday night so with him. And I don’t know, 10, 15, something like that. But I think it’s just so great. And different ones that I’ve heard of y’all that are going out and you talk to people. And And you never know who’s going to talk to somebody next. Edgar said that he was in the hospital, and his chaplain came in, her, and he says, do you know where you’re going, you die?

She said, well, I hope I’m going to heaven. So he explained the gospel to her. Don’t you think the chaplain ought to know where they’re going when they die? How can you bring great comfort and hope and so forth to people? And they ain’t got to clue where they’re going when they die. Isn’t it true that you might die? I mean, you go to the hospital, you know there’s a possibility. You might not come out, there’s a possibility. But isn’t it wonderful to know that you can give people this hope, this joy?

And the only way you can do that is by telling them that message. Now, if I was a devil, I don’t care what you do with your life, as long as you don’t talk to people. You see, that’s what really is the crux of the matter. the hardest part is just getting started, getting started. But you’d be surprised how many opportunities God gives to us. I don’t take advantage of all my opportunities. I’m gonna have to answer the God for that.

I do get a few here and there, but I realize that’s why I want the radio and I love to have a TV broadcast. I just want people to hear it and understand it. And they may trust the Lord and He go to heaven when they die. Because sooner or later everybody dies. Everybody dies. And we’re a big understanding. 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 two 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 Dye-Link 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 six 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.