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How God uses various peoples in the world to work out His plan
Fred R. Coulter—May 13, 2017
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Very glad that you're able to be here; we can understand you—speaking of Andrew Moses from Malaysia—more this year than last year. Maybe next we'll be able to understand you completely. We're happy that you're younger than 50-years-old. All of us gray heads around here—and there are a lot of us—it's about like running a 440 race. It's divided down into 110-yard segments. You run four laps. A lot of us are getting close to the end of the 4th lap.
That doesn't make any difference concerning God. What God has for us is so great that it's very difficult for us to comprehend it. That's why we don't!
We're going to have a special service this morning. Just like Andrew said, God will provide! God is doing fantastic things to prepare for the return of Jesus Christ. So likewise, in each one's lives, and in serving the brethren, God makes it evident that there are men in serving the brethren who need to be ordained as elders and as deacons.
1-Timothy 3:1: "Faithful is the saying, 'If any man aspires to be an overseer…" An overseer is much like a coach. The coach instructs the team on what they need to do to win the game. We have our Instruction Book. The General Manager is God the Father and the Executive Manager is Jesus Christ, Who is the Head of the Church. What we are to do as elders is to:
- read the Bible
- teach them the Word of God
- know it's true
- teach the brethren what they need to know
and God provides the Spirit to bring it all together so we learn. This is how God does things.
He desires a good work. I'm sure he's going to find out it's work. When you look at the churches in Rev. 2 & 3, He doesn't judge them by their faith, He judges them by their works, because their works reflect their faith.
Verse 2: "Now then, it is obligatory that the overseer be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, serious-minded, respectable, hospitable, skillful in teaching; not given to much wine, not a bully, not greedy for selfish gain; but kind, not a quarreler, not a lover of money; one who rules his own house well, having his children in subjection with all respect; (For if a man does not know how to rule his own household, how will he take care of the Church of God?) Not a novice, lest he become conceited and fall into the same condemnation as the devil. It is mandatory that he also have a good report from those who are outside the Church, lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil" (vs 2-7).
So, it also tells us that those of us—in general all of us, we're to be strong in the Lord and resist the devil—who are elders and deacons, we must be faithful in everything! We're also going to have ordination of two deacons.
Verse 8: "In the same way also, the deacons who serve must be serious-minded, not hypocritical, not given to much wine, not greedy for selfish gain; holding the mystery of the faith with a pure conscience. And let those who meet the qualifications also be proved first; then let them be appointed to serve, if they are found to be blameless. Then it also talks about their wives, and so forth. Let the deacons be husbands of one wife, ruling their children and their own households well. For those who have served well acquire for themselves a good standing and much confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus? (vs 8-13).
Paul says he's writing these things and he's going to try to come to them shortly. Here we are how many hundreds of years removed from that and the Church of God still goes on. There are occasions, however, that God deals with many people in many different situations.
Remember when the Church first started, they thought it would be all just to the Jews, because the kingdom was to Israel. Then God revealed to Peter, who went to Antioch, here there were a lot of people believing that they never expected to believe.
We're coming to Pentecost pretty quickly. That pictures the resurrection! I think we're all in for a great surprise because the apostles died in faith not knowing how long it would be. True to what Jesus said, 'The gates of the grave would never prevail against the Church,' and it hasn't.
There have been many attacks, but there has always been the faithful ones to stand for God! So, this is what we need to look for and see the fruits and know that things will be in good hands. If these men will come forward please:
Thomas Fannin—grew up in the Church—we're going to ordain him as an elder. Then we will have two deacons: Mike Flake and Ernest Bird[transcriber's correction]. We'll take care of Tom first. This is really a wonderful thing for Tom's father—Marlin Fannin—and a tribute to how he raised his family.
(prayers of ordination)
I strained my hip about a week ago so I have to be on a cane for a while. I'll be about another two or three weeks. Other than that I'm doing pretty good. I'm getting older, but hopefully I'm going to get younger.
I've been reading a book, Big Agenda: President Trump's Plan to Save America by David Horowitz. Very interesting book! He must be doing a lot of things right, because the whole political system is against him. I do think that he has been put there by God because there is more time for the things that need to be done. It's not yet God's time to send Christ back to the earth, because He has a bigger agenda! If Donald Trump thinks his agenda is big, what about God's agenda?
We're going to read something very interesting and ask: How will this be done? One time it was said, when they had a circulation of 8-million a month on the Plain Truth magazine, that was a warning to the world. Really? And they would quote the Scripture here:
Matthew 24:14: "And this Gospel of the Kingdom shall be proclaimed in all the world for a witness to all nations…" All the world and all nations.
- Is the Word of God true? Yes!
- Does God mean all nations? Yes!
That means each and every one! How is that going to be done and is the Church the main vehicle to do it or is God the main vehicle to do it? This is a big work that requires more than the little flock!
Mark 13:10: "And the Gospel must first be published among all nations." The Church has never done that because it requires more resources than the Church has.
Since translating the Bible, you are familiar with William Tyndale. He was the first one to translate the Bible from the original Greek and Hebrew into English.
- Who's been publishing the Bible?
- The Church?
or
- Other people that God is dealing with?
God does not exclusively work with His Church for many of the things that are necessary to accomplish His will. That doesn't mean they're called to salvation, but that means they're called to do a work that God has for them to do.
The work of the Church is to perfect the brethren! Yes, we are to preach the Gospel to the world, but how can we preach the Gospel to the world unless they first get the Word?
So, first had to have the Old Testament completed. How many years did that take? Centuries! Next, He had to have the New Testament preserved. Of course, the apostles didn't have a clue what they were going to do.
You've heard me cover Acts 1 before. There are things that are prophecies that God is going to fulfill. How far did the original 12 apostles go? By foot? By donkey? By horse? By boat? How many people did they reach? Very few!
Obviously, what Jesus told them here in Acts 1 was a prophecy. Do you think they had a clue as to what it was? No! Remember, the most knowledge that they had during the whole ministry of Christ was the 40-days after the resurrection of Christ when He opened their mind to the Word of God.
When you start reading the Word of God, especially in the Old Testament, to understand the prophecies of Christ, how are you going to know some that are not obvious, but apply to Christ, unless your mind is opened? Same way with every one of us! Remember the day when you were studying the Bible and 'the light went on'? You said, 'Oh, that's what that means!' Yes, but you have the Bible first.
Notice how far it's going to go; Acts 1:6: "So then, when they were assembled together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You restore the kingdom to Israel at this time?'"
It doesn't matter what a person may think, what did Jesus say about knowing when He was going to return? You find a Scripture in the Bible that says it'll be around 2,000 years. Not there, because here's why:
Verse 7: "And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father has placed in His own authority.'"
So, when is Christ returning? When the Father says, 'It's time to go, Son.' Not until! Jesus further said no man knows. While He was on the earth, He said not even the Son. There are variable factors that you find in the book of Revelation that shows no one can know the day or the hour.
How many times have we selected the year? Did it happen? No, because God has a bigger agenda to do first!
Verse 8: "But you yourselves shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and unto the ends of the earth."
- How far is that?
- What does that include?
- Will the Church do it?
or
- Will the Church follow what Christ is doing after Christ has done it?
Remember when Paul came to Corinth. He went into the synagogue and preached for quite a while. Finally Timothy and one of the others came to him. Then they had a knockdown, drag-out, you talk about a real Sabbath.
Have you ever seen where the politicians are fighting in the legislature? That's what I think that synagogue battle was about. They had a knockdown, drag-out because he preached Christ. Here he was in Corinth and he prayed and said, 'Oh, Lord, I don't have a microphone. I don't have an outlet. I don't have electricity… No, he didn't!
- How many people did he reach?
- How many people were in the synagogue?
Paul was rejected wherever he went. He was ready to leave Corinth. Then God appeared to him in the night and said, 'You stay here because I have many people in this city.' Think about that.
Did Paul have a clue as to who they were? No! But He said, 'I have many people.' Why?
- Who does the calling? God!
- How does He do it? By those who are seeking God!
Remember the account of Cornelius, the centurion, an Italian. He was there during the time of Jesus' preaching, during the time of the beginning of the Church. Did the apostles know anything about Cornelius? No! He was friendly to the Jews. He even had a little prayer place where he went and prayed to God.
What happened? God sent an angel and said, 'Cornelius, I want you to go to Simon the tanner's house and you will find Peter. He will come and tell you everything that I want you to know.' You know the rest of the story.
What was the first thing that Peter said, right after Cornelius bowed down to him and said, 'Hallelujah, the first pope is here.' He didn't! He said, 'I'm a man like you and God has shown me that no man is common or unclean because God is no respecter of persons.' What a revelation to the Jews! The Jews have not gotten over it since then to this day.
What did God tell Elijah? He got all scared after the 150 prophets of Baal were killed. God answered his prayer in a great miracle. It was told him, 'Be careful, Jezebel is out to get you.' He said, 'I have to get away. I have to run away.' So, he ran down to the mountain there and crawled in the cave. He said, 'Oh, I'm alone; just me.'
God didn't appear in the earthquake. God didn't appear in the wind. God appeared in the still small voice and said, 'Elijah, get over it. I've got 7,000 men that have not bowed the knee to Baal.'
- Did he know a single one of them? No!
- Who was doing that work? God!
- How does God do it? God has seven eyes, called the seven Spirits of God!
That's how God starts it! Remember God says He's a heart knowing God of every human being on earth, if He needs to do. He knows when a sparrow falls.
Just because we don't see God, just because we don't have the ability to see what God is doing, because that is all on a spiritual level and Jesus Christ is directing it.
Revelation 1:4: "John to the seven churches that are in Asia… [a projection clear down to our age] …Grace and peace be to you from Him Who is, and Who was, and Who is to come; and from the seven spirits that are before His throne."
Rev. 5 says they are the eyes of the Lord going to all the earth. How does that work? I don't know! That's under the control of God. It says in 1-Chr. 15 that 'the eyes of the Lord go to and fro through the earth seeking those who are seeking Him.'
How did God know about Cornelius? Because He heard his prayer and Cornelius was seeking God. One of the seven eyes came back and said, 'Lord, look at this.' So, God sent an angel and said, 'Go get Peter.'
Let's talk about how God is going to go to the whole world. It's going to be an amazing thing and it is happening right now.
(go to the next track)
Here is a prophecy of the state of the world at the end-time. Many other Scriptures fill in: Isa., Ezek., Zech. and Rev. This sounds like the nightly news.
Psalm 2:1: "Why do the nations rage and the people plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together… [Ever heard of the United Nations? Ever heard of one-world order?] …against the LORD and against His Christ, saying…" Do they not have all the religions of the world and strike out Christianity? Yes, indeed!
Verse 3: "Let us break Their bands asunder and cast away Their cords from us." 'We don't need God. We are sufficient unto ourselves.' God's going to have a few things to say to them! In the meantime, we'll see, God is working in spite of them. He must fulfill those Scriptures that we read. The Gospel must be preached in all the world to all nations. Is that inclusive? Everyone? Unto the ends of the earth!
Verse 4: "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath… [ever heard of the wrath of God? Rev. 16!] …and in His fury He terrifies them. 'Yea, I have set My King upon Zion, My Holy mountain'" (vs 4-6). That's when Christ steps on the Mount of Olives.
Just think of everything that God has to prepare the world for, for the return of Christ. When He does step on the Mount of Olives, we'll be with Him. The Mount of Olives is going to split in two. There are going to be great and fantastic things happen in this world.
Verse 7: "I will declare the decree of the LORD. He has said to Me, 'You are My Son; this day I have begotten You.'"
Here is something to understand concerning the Old Testament. We have a perfect example right here. Perfect example of talking about the last days, the return of Christ, and then the begettal of Jesus. The Old Testament is here a little, there a little, line upon line, precept upon precept. You have to put it together. There are other examples you can see of the same thing where it will talk about the Millennium, then it will talk about Jesus' first coming.
Verse 8: "Ask of Me, and I shall give the nations for Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Your possession."
How is God going to do it? How is He going to do it for the whole world? We have a foretaste of it. God always uses the technology that's available. When radio came in to use, was it used to preach the Gospel? Yes, indeed! television? Yes! the Internet? Yes! Now the Internet is going to be a fantastic thing, as we will see. It's quite a thing that God is moving men to do for the sole purpose of witnessing to the world as He promised and prophesied. It's going to be awesome.
Psalm 65:8: "And the inhabitants of the furthermost places of the earth stand in awe of Your signs… [How's that going to work?] …You make the beginning of the morning and the evening to rejoice. You visit the earth and water it…" (vs 8-9). God provides everything.
Notice there has to be preparation for this, but this blends into the Millennium. Psalm 67:7: "God shall bless us, and all the ends of the earth shall fear Him."
- How are they going to know about God?
- How are they going to forsake their idols?
- How is this going to be done?
Jeremiah 16:14: "'Therefore, behold, the days come,' says the LORD, 'that it shall no more be said, "As the LORD lives, Who brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt"; But, "As the LORD lives, Who brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands where He had driven them." And I will bring them again into their lands that I gave to their fathers. Behold, I will send for many fishermen'…" (vs 14-16).
It talks about the Millennium. Now then it talks about the preaching of the Gospel.
"…says the LORD, 'and they will fish them. And afterwards I will send for many hunters, and they will hunt them from every mountain and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks…. [What does this sound like? Rev. 6] …'For My eyes are on all their ways… [remember the seven eyes of God] … they are not hidden from My face, nor is their iniquity hidden from My eyes. But first I will repay double for their iniquity and their sin because they have defiled My land, they have filled My inheritance with the dead bodies of their abominable things.' O LORD, my strength and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction…" (vs 17-19).
Remember that verse. What did Jesus say about the time of the end? That if He didn't return no flesh would be saved alive. So, buck up, let the Lord be your strength, because we're going to be living through a lot of difficult times.
I know one woman she relates to me that every morning before she begins praying she reads Psa. 91—'hide me.'
"…the Gentiles shall come to You from the ends of the earth, and shall say… [Why are they going to say this?] …'Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and there is no profit in them'" (v 19).
What's going to make the Gentiles get rid of their gods? What have they done to Christianity? They've made Christianity their religion by bringing their gods into it! Here now they're going to come to another conclusion.
Verse 20: "Shall a man make gods to himself when they are not gods? 'Therefore, behold, I will make them know; this time I will cause them to know My hand and My might; and they shall know that My name is the LORD'" (vs 20-21). Quite a thing!
Here's what God is going to make known through all the things that take place when Christ returns:
Isaiah 40:25: "'To whom then will you compare Me, or who is My equal?' says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, Who has created these things…'" (vs 25-26).
One thing God is doing right now that's going to magnify this verse fantastically, how many have heard of the Hubbell Telescope? Did you know that they're making another one? The man who is doing it is James Webb, so it's called the Webb Telescope. It is 100-times more powerful than the Hubbell. Think on that!
- Who is directing the men to get it done?
- Who has given them the knowledge to put it together?
- God!
- Why is He doing it?
When those pictures come from that Webb Telescope, 100-times bigger than Hubbell, can you imagine the things that we will be able to see that glorifies God as Creator? What a witness to every atheist, every religionist who doesn't really believe in God as Creator!
As I mentioned at the conference, Duncan MacLeod has a new booklet done. We're going to publish it when I get back. It's entitled, Is the Bible Credible? He's going to have a sequel to that. How strong is independent free moral agency, even in the face of the greatest odds? They won't change! They admit it takes a Creator, 'but we don't believe in Him; we're so smart, we don't need God. And how all of that out there works, we don't know, just happened.'
The message from God is if you want to believe that way, then you create your own dirt and you make your own big bang and let's see how you do.
Verse 26: "Lift up your eyes on high, and behold, Who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number?…."
How many galaxies do they estimate there are now? Trillions! They've taken so many pictures out there is space, there's this dark area out there in space. They wanted to know 'what's out there in this place we can't see anything.' So, they put the Hubbell Telescope on it for 10-12 days. They brought it back and developed the pictures and it blew their minds. Where they saw nothing, that focusing in on it revealed galaxies that don't even give light to the earth for the naked eye to see.
What's it going to be times 100? Before God does something, He sends a witness, a warning! What a witness that is going to be. How is He getting it up there? He gave the knowledge for rockets. So, it's going to get up there. He's got a couple of other things in mind too that He's going to do. Church isn't doing it; God is doing it! He's using other men to do it.
"'…He calls them all by names by the greatness of His might, for He is strong in power; not one fails. Why do you say, O Jacob, and O Israel you speak, 'My way is hidden from the LORD and my cause is disregarded by my God?'…. [God's answer]: …Have you not known?…." (vs 26-28).
How many Bibles are there in the world? Just a little old thing that we're doing with our websites, we are now reaching close to half a million visitors a month to our websites, since we changed it from cbcg.org to truthofgod.org—plus the Bible:afaithfulversion.org
Now it looks like we're going to put everything on YouTube. That's just the little bit that we do. Brethren, pray for all the Churches of God as well. We want them to do well. We want them to preach the Gospel. We want them to do the preaching.
There are some Protestants that do some preaching, which is Truth. Remember God said that 'if the prophets of Baal would speak to My people My Word, I would honor that' (Jer. 23). So they're doing some.
We're going to see God is providing other things that are going to make it really fantastic and great.
Here is a good example, Romans 10:5: "For Moses wrote concerning the righteousness that comes through the Law, 'The man who has practiced those things shall live by them.' But the righteousness that comes through faith… [from God] …speaks after this manner: 'Do not say in your heart, "Who shall ascend up to heaven?"….'" (vs 5-6).
Deut. 30, God said, 'You don't have to send someone to heaven to get the Word of God, because it's right there in your own language. You don't have to go across the sea to find it, because I'm sending it to you.' That has been done, not by the Church, but by men who have been dedicated to God to do it.
Verse 7: "''Or, "Who shall descend into the abyss?"'(that is to bring Christ up from among the dead.) But what does it say? 'The Word is near to you, in your mouth and in your heart.' This is the Word of faith that we are proclaiming" (vs 7-8).
How can that be? Where the Word of God has never been? If it's never been there, then God has got to send it! How many here know 4,000 languages? None!
Verse 9: "That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved." But there's a whole lot more that has to be connected with this verse which is what? Repent and be baptized and walk in newness of life.
If this is all we needed, that's all that would be in the Bible. We wouldn't need any more. So those who say that's all you need, say the rest of the Bible is in vain, but it's not in vain. Jesus said, 'The words I speak to you they are Spirit and they are Life.'
Sidebar: That's why when you study, you learn and learn. You go back and re-study and you learn more. Every time you come back and re-study something, after you have been continuously studying, you bring more knowledge to that verse. You have it in your mind and you begin to make more connections. That's how it gets in your heart.
Verse 11: "Because the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in Him shall not be ashamed.' For there is no difference between Jew and Greek, because the same Lord of all is rich toward all who call upon Him…. [How can they call upon Him?] …For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved" (vs 11-13).
- it doesn't tell you when
- it doesn't tell you who
- it doesn't tell you where
Of course, we have the knowledge and understanding of the second resurrection. Why is the second resurrection necessary? Because God didn't give the Word of God the way we have it today going clear back in history. God closed their minds so they wouldn't understand. So therefore, there's a second resurrection.
Verse 14: "How then shall they call on Him in Whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without preaching?" Good question.
This is a prophecy. This is God preparing many things for the end-time yet to be fulfilled, which may take a whole lot longer than we have figured. We don't know.
Verse 15: "'And how shall they preach, unless they be sent? Accordingly, it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who announce the Gospel of Peace, and those who announce the good news of good things!'"
- What is the good news? The Gospel!
- Where is the Gospel contained? In the Word of God!
Verse 16: "But all have not obeyed the Gospel because as Isaiah said, 'Lord, who has believed our report?' So then, faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. But I say, did they not hear?.... [how many didn't hear, so this is yet a prophecy] …Yes, indeed, for it is written, 'Their voices went out into all the earth; their words went out even to the ends of the habitable world'" (vs 16-18). Did that happen during Paul's day? No!
When he wrote this, he didn't know how long it was going to be till Christ would return. So therefore, this is a prophecy. Is that happening today? Whether in contention or in Truth, is the Word going out? Many different avenues? many different venues? many different ways?
You heard me talk about this organization in New Mexico, called, Faith Comes By Hearing (faithcomesbyhearing.com). Think on this: God has caused the Bible to be translated in every major language, 450 the whole Bible. That's the Gospel, published. Did He say it's going to be published among all nations? The New Testament in about 1800 languages and the Gospel of Mark in 2200 languages. However, there are over 4,000 languages. How is God going to get it to them? He said all nations.
They have a witness whether they will respond or not. That's up to them. God's responsibility is to get it to them. Their responsibility is to respond.
This organization in New Mexico has a special way of getting the Bible to them that is because of the modern technology we have today. They are bringing the different ones who understand those close to 2,000 languages. Many of them do not have a written language, only verbal.
They are translating verbally and recording the translation of the whole Bible, putting it on a special format and speaker that can be played anywhere in the world without any electricity from an outside source.
They have a little bar on top for solar energy. It can go to the end of the earth in their language. They can hear the Word of God. Think of that!
The Church couldn't do that. We don't have the money. We don't have the finances. Besides, in getting the Bible out there, even though it may not be as correct in translation as we have here in the Faithful Version, it contains the Word of God that is plenty enough for them to know. They're receiving it like gangbusters. So that's something! God is using that organization.
- Is God blessing that organization?
- Is He blessing the ones who are doing the translating? Yes!
- How does He do it? He probably sends His Spirit to be with them to accomplish it
That doesn't mean they're converted.
It shows you how far some of this goes. This magazine was sent to me by Leon and Carol Ritchie, called, The Record, from the American Bible Society. Headline here, The Bible Comes to Life in Rwanda (Spring, 2017, Pg 8). How about that? And other places like that.
Can you imagine having something about this big, this long, this tall, right in there the whole Bible and probably other things too that someone can take to a little village back out in the jungles, which none of us would know anything about, and sit down there and push a button and they will the Gospel.
- Is that a witness to them?
- Did God send it?
They didn't have to go to heaven to get it. They didn't have to dig a hole in the earth to get it. God sent it! God uses that technology to do it.
(Same magazine) It talks about these people in Southwestern China. (China's Spiritual Harvest, Record, American Bible Society, Spring, 2017, Pg 14). How would you like to be a farmer there? The hills come up and they have rice paddies everywhere. It is the Chinese Lisu people, finally have the entire Bible in their heart language. They were 100 years translating it. How many times have you heard me say America's the only place in the world that the Gospel can be preached, from the only place in the world where there's enough finances to have enough money to do it.
- You think the French would do it? No!
- You think the Germans would do it? No!
- England, maybe a little bit
- You think they could do it in Egypt? No!
- Could they do it Pakistan? No!
Here China took 100 years to get the translation, but they got it. Now what are they going to do with it? Can God call people? Can God send His Spirit, like He did to Cornelius?
Christ is the One Who is the Head of the Church and Head of getting all of these things out. Don't you think it's kind of arrogant and stupid for little churches, even though the biggest one thought it was the biggest thing in the world, to proclaim outrageous things of what great works they have done, when God has sent the technology now so that He can fulfill His Word to the world.
The greatest event is yet to happen—the return of Christ. How is that going to be? It's going to be something! You don't want to be sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of tea.
So, the American Bible Study is reaching out with these things. God is calling us to share His treasures with all His people. Quite a thing! Bless the next generation with God's Word. How many are converted that are doing this? We don't know! There may be some. Has God raised them up to do this work, to get it out? From America!
Remember the sermon I gave when the first colony at Jamestown, Virginia, when they all got off the boat. {note sermon: How God Works With National Leaders} They really believed more in God, even though they were Protestants. They got off the boat, took their wooden cross and stuck it in the ground. They all gathered around and dedicated this continent to preaching the Word of God. Did God answer that prayer? Is it still being answered? Yes, indeed!
I do not think that anybody anywhere can say they know the Bible, even if they study it all their life. I can tell you this, I'm still learning; you're still learning. I was reading this one day and it dawned on me when I read it. Here's the Babylon the Great and the martyrs of Christ:
Revelation 17:6: "And I saw the woman drunk with the blood of the saints… [those are the ones who were truly converted] …and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus…"
These are those who believe in Jesus, follow many precepts of the Bible, but they are not part of the Church. That's why there are two categories.
- Are there people willing to give their lives? Yes!
- How many have been killed in the Middle East?
I tell you, that's the bloodiest place on the face of the earth. Here's a magazine called, The Voice of Martyrs. They are a witness to all of those who are out to kill them. Then they show a picture of some women and children. Do you know what's happening with some of the older Muslims in all of these countries with all the blood, guts and gore?
There's an article in here where there are those Muslims who are going to the worldly Christian churches to get away from all the hatred of Mohammadism. Whether they're converted or not, depends on whether they believe God and repent and are baptized. But if not, it's preparing the way for something great that God is going to do. So here they are.
Then they quote 1-Thessalonians 1:2: "We give thanks to God always concerning all of you, making mention of you in our prayers. Without fail, we remember your work of faith, and your labor of love, and your endurance in the hope of our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father" (vs 2-3).
How about all of those that have been killed in Iraq? How about those 25 men that they showed on television where the ISIS agents took them out on the beach, all dressed in red, made them kneel down on the sand and whacked off their heads? Martyrs for Jesus! They won't be forgotten.
Most of them may be in the second resurrection. We don't know. That's God's judgment! He has to make the judgment.
I want to cover something else. How many have heard of Space-X? You know what their plan is? The government never figured this out. That's why it's better for commercial to do it. The first stage of the rocket they have figured out how to retrieve it to use it again. What do you know about that? They have a special project and I think God is inspiring it. I think God is giving the technology for it.
How many here have a cell phone? I'll put my hand down, I don't. If you go to afaithfulversion.org you can have a free download of the whole Bible into your smart phone. How close is the Word of God to you with that?
Someone's going to say, 'Lord, you never let me know what was going to happen.' He'll say, 'Did you have a smart phone?' Yes! 'Did you have the Bible on it?' Yes! 'Did you read it?' No! 'That's not My fault. I got it to you right in your hand.'
You talk about fulfilling the verse that says you don't have to go to heaven, you don't have to go down to the middle of the earth, it's right in your hand. That's another way of putting it.
God is the One Who has given that technology so that it will be out there. It's not through the Church. The Church uses it and many other organizations, but the Word goes out and those that are going to be converted and seek God, the seven spirits of God are going to let God know who they are and draw them. The Father will bring them and that's how they will be able to come to Christ.
The nature of church is changing. You're not going to be meeting in buildings, except on special occasions. The whole world is going to become so violent and terrible that the only way you're going to do it is in your home, on your phone, on your computer, whatever you have.
Look at how much is there that occupies the Word of God that's on what we would call the Internet. Space-X has a special program. Their program is:
Elon Musk's space program will deliver high-speed internet to the world in 2019 using more than 4,000 satellites (dailymail.co.uk).
Now you know why a church couldn't do it. We're the poor. How much money do you have? Anybody here want to write a check for $100-million to help finance one satellite?
- Space X wants to launch initial test satellites by the end of this year
- firm plans to release satellites in installments between 2019 and 2024
- it would increase the number of satellites in orbit by over 300 percent
- Internet speeds could reach one gigabit per second—100 times faster than now
Do you suppose that God could keep all of those in the orbit they need to, even during the Tribulation so that people would be able to understand what's happening?
Have you ever wondered how Rev. 7 is going to be fulfilled? After they see all the signs and wonders, and the heavens departing as a scroll, they're going to know it's from God. How are they really going to know it's from God? They can see it! But could it be that they have all heard through the ways of God bringing a witness to all nations, and to the whole world? It says here 144,000! How are they going to know enough to repent? Never thought of that! So you have the 144,000. That's just the down payment on that part of conversion. Look what happens after that.
Revelation 7:9: "…a great multitude, which no one was able to number, out of every nation and tribe and people and language…" How is that going to happen? Because God's big agenda is going to get it done! Isn't that something? I don't know about you, but that makes my spine tingle just thinking about that.
They will have had the Word of God that their other generations before them never had. It will prove that God is no respecter of persons. All of the generations before them, who lived and died and didn't have it, will still have it in the second resurrection. How's that for a giant plan?
With us we're the ones who are going to bring the Kingdom of God with Christ. That's why we're here. We're here in training to become the sons and daughters of God. That's why we're here!
Scriptural References:
- 1-Timothy 3:1-10, 12-13
- Matthew 24:14
- Mark 13:10
- Acts 1:6-8
- Revelation 1:4
- Psalm 2:1-8
- Psalm 65:8-9
- Psalm 67:7
- Jeremiah 16:14-21
- Isaiah 40:25-28
- Romans 10:5-18
- Revelation 17:6
- 1-Thessalonians 1:2-3
- Revelation 7:9
Scriptures referenced, not quoted:
- Revelation 2; 3; 5
- 1-Chronicles 15
- Revelation 16, 6
- Psalm 91
- Jeremiah 23
- Deuteronomy 30
Also referenced:
Book: Big Agenda: President's Plans to Save America by David Horowitz
Booklet: Is the Bible Credible? by Duncan MacLeod (coming soon)
Sermon: How God Works With National Leaders
Articles:
- The Bible Comes to Life in Rwanda, Record, American Bible Society, Spring 2017
- China's Spirit Harvest, Record, American Bible Society, Spring, 2017
- Elon Musk's Space X Will Deliver High-speed Internet to the World in 2019 Using More than 4,000 Satellites (dailymail.co.uk)
FRC:lp
Transcribed: 6-23-17
Formatted: bo—7/9/17
Copyright 2017—All rights reserved. Except for brief excerpts for review purposes, no part of this publication may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without the written permission of the copyright owner. This includes electronic and mechanical photocopying or recording, as well as the use of information storage and retrieval systems.
