Day 2—Feast of Tabernacles 2018

God the Father Qualifies Us

Godly character must be developed with the Spirit of God and the Word of God

Fred R. Coulter—September 25, 2018

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Greeting, brethren! Welcome to the Feast of Tabernacles!

The whole Bible is teaching us about the Kingdom of God, the kingdoms of the world and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. The Old Testament focuses on the nations, not only Israel and Judah, but different nations of the world that are directly interfacing with Israel, plus other nations of the world.

We know that when the apostles began preaching the Gospel, they were preaching it from the Old Testament. Let's see that the New Testament brings about the King Jesus Christ and those who are going to be serving with Him as rulers in the Kingdom of God. How do they become rulers? This is all is very interesting.

Let's see two prophecies from the Old Testament: one from the Law (Deut. 18), then we will take one from the Psalms. We've already covered a good number out of the Prophets. All of these foretold the coming Kingdom of God and the rule of God on the earth.

Deuteronomy 18:15—Moses speaking: "The LORD your God will raise up unto you a Prophet from the midst of you, of your brethren, One like me. To Him you shall hearken, according to all that you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, neither let me see this great fire any more, so that I do not die.' And the LORD said to me, 'They have spoken well what they have spoken'" (vs 15-17).

That is they were well intentioned. What God has is a plan so great, reaching out so much further involving everything that He has in His plan that is absolutely magnificent and spread throughout the whole Bible. The main thrust of the Old Testament is the physical nations. The main thrust of the New Testament has to do with who is going to rule with Christ! We'll that this is very fascinating study today.

Verse 18: "I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, One like you… [Moses] …and will put My words in His mouth…."

What did Jesus say about His words? I do nothing of Myself, but what the Father has commanded Me this I speak! What I see Him do, this is what I do! This verse is the fulfillment of this.
"…And He shall speak to them all that I shall command Him. And it shall come to pass, whatever man will not hearken to My words, which He shall speak in My name, I will require it of him" (vs 18-19). This is a prophecy coming from the Most High coming through Moses representing Christ.

Verse 20: "But the prophet who shall presume to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die."

Let's see another prophecy in the Psalms. This is very interesting from the point of view that this is a Psalm about the crucifixion of Christ. Remember what we have read that 'Jesus endured the cross despising the shame for the joy that lay before Him' (Heb. 12).

Actually, that was shown in Psa. 22. The first part of it talks about the suffering Jesus on the cross and how He died and the mocking and everything like that. But here is a continued prophecy of what He would do, and this refers right back to the Prophet (Deut. 18).

Psalm 22:22: "I will declare Your name to My brethren…" All those who are baptized and have the Holy Spirit of God are called the brethren of Jesus Christ! Quite a prophecy!

"…in the midst of the congregation I will praise You" (v 22). That has to do with the resurrection on Trumpets on the Sea of Glass. He's going to praise God for all He did for all of those in the first resurrection.

Verse 24: "For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; and He has not hidden His face from him, but when he cried to Him, He heard." See your calling, brethren, that not many wise… See how that ties in with the New Testament.

Listen, brethren, the Bible is the most fantastic, absolute marvelous book in the whole world. This is why God has caused it to be published more than any other book in the world, as a witness to everyone:

• to those who are in the world
• to those who hate God
• to those who are 'religious'
• to those who are in the Churches of God

All of it together!

Verse 25: From You comes my praise in the great congregation… [the resurrection] …I will pay my vows before those who fear Him. The meek shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek the LORD shall praise Him; may your heart live forever" (vs 25-26).

Now here's a prophecy of the Kingdom of God, v 27: "All the ends of the earth shall remember and turn to the LORD… [during the Millennium] …and all the families of the nations shall worship before You, for the kingdom is the LORD'S and He rules over the nations" (vs 27-28). That's quite a thing!

Let's see something else that is interesting, and perhaps one of the most misunderstood sections of Scripture that the Protestants don't understand. One that they turn to, to say that 'everything in the Old Testament has been done away.'

Matthew 11:11—talking about John the Baptist: "Truly I say to you, there has not arisen among those born of women anyone greater than John the Baptist. But the one who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he."

That's quite a statement! Think about that! What does that mean?

Verse 12: "For from the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven is taken with a great struggle… [sound like Matt. 7, narrow is the gate and difficult is the way that leads to life] …and the zealous ones lay hold on it."

This shows that the ones who are going to be in the Kingdom of God are those who are zealous enough:

• to lay hold of it
• to understand it
• to draw close to God

Verse 13 is the famous verse that Protestants look to, to say that the Law and the Prophets have been done away:

Verse 13: "For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John." That means that the Law and the Prophets were the authority from God up until John the Baptist. That was the final authority!

Verse 14: "'And if you are willing to receive it, he is Elijah who was to come.' The one who has ears to hear, let him hear" (vs 14-15).

Then Jesus goes on to show that there has to be the keeping of the Law, and now He's revealing a higher standard. Let's see how Jesus began His ministry in Galilee. The Law and the Prophets were until John, now the greater authority is the Kingdom of God, or the Kingdom of Heaven.

Why? Because the standards are so much higher! Now it's not just going to Israel and Judah, it's going to the whole world. Remember that God took them into the 'promised land.' What did God tell the apostles through Jesus Christ as He ascended to heaven for the last time? Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all nations!

So, here's how Jesus started out His ministry in Galilee; Mark 1:14: "Now, after the imprisonment of John, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom of God"—not the kingdom of Israel or the kingdom of Judah!

Verse 15: "And saying, 'The time has been fulfilled… [at the appointed time it began] …and the Kingdom of God is near at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel.'"

Notice how much different that is from the letter of the Law, the Old Testament. The Gospel is the teachings of God about who is going to be in the first resurrection, and who is going to be serving with Christ. It also tells us many interesting things about what we will be doing.

Matthew 4:23 has to do with the preaching of the Gospel: "And Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and every bodily ailment among the people. Then His fame went out into all Syria; and they brought to Him all who were sick, oppressed by various diseases and torments, and possessed by demons, and lunatics, and paralytics; and He healed them. And great multitudes followed Him from Galilee, and Decapolis, and Jerusalem, and Judea, and beyond the Jordan" (vs 23-25).

Let's see what Jesus preached, and this becomes a greater authority. What we will see is the Old Testament preached about your outer conduct and how you live with your neighbor and what you do in relationship to God and the temple sacrifices and all of that. It had somewhat to do with the mind and your thoughts, but not like the New Testament!

One of the things that's important to understand concerning the Old Testament and the nations, rulers and people is: What was the greatest problem even among the kings of Israel? Even among David and Solomon? Character!

Now the focus is not on your behavior outward in the letter of the Law as the most essential thing, it is:

• What is your thinking?
• What is in your mind?
• How is your attitude?

Which brings up the thing of conversion! That's the fundamental difference between the Old Testament and the New Testament. By the way, we all know that it has nothing to do with doing away with the Law and the Prophets, or nothing to do with doing away with the Law.

It has to do with making the Law greater, making the Law spiritual and helping everyone to develop the kind of mind that is necessary to be in the first resurrection. Right after that we have Matt. 5 and Jesus was teaching His disciples who came to Him.

Under the Old Covenant it had to be physical circumcision from the tribes of Israel. They were ones who went into the land. Now in the New Testament it goes to the whole world, and it's entirely different.

John 1:9: "The True Light was that which enlightens everyone who comes into the world." God gives them the spirit of man and that gives man thought, function as a separate individual being.

Verse 10: "He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, but the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him" (vs 10-11). That's the whole story of the Gospel as the world toward Christ. Think about it! Isn't that the way it is even to this day? Yes, indeed!

Verse 12: "But as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become the children of God…"

That's far different than being just the children of Israel or Judah. To be the children of God goes right back to the promise given to Abraham (Gen. 15). If we are Christ's we are Abraham's seed and heirs according to the promise for the spiritual seed!

"…even to those who believe in His name; who were not begotten by bloodlines, nor by the will of the flesh, nor by the will of man, but by the will of God" (vs 12-13). We find on into the book of John:

• Who is the One Who draws us? God the Father!
• How do we come to the Father? Through Jesus Christ!

All of this is the preaching of the Gospel, and the Gospel then is more powerful than just the Law and the Prophets alone.

Matthew 5:2—after the disciple came to Jesus: "And He opened His mouth and taught them, saying."

Here are the spiritual conditions necessary to enter into the Kingdom of God or Kingdom of Heaven, as Matthew writes it, meaning the kingdom is coming from heaven. Not that they're going to the kingdom in heaven, but the Kingdom of Heaven is coming to the earth and is also called The Kingdom of God!

Verse 3: 'Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted" (vs 3-4). Keep in mind 1-Cor. 1 about our calling.

Verse 5: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." That goes back to Psa. 37 where is says four times inherit the earth.

Verse 6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled." We read in Psa. 22 that the zealous… God wants us to put our full effort into what He has called us to do. It is so important what He has for us to learn:

• to teach us
• to lead us
• to help us develop the character

so we can become the kings and priests in the Kingdom of God with Jesus Christ! Since it's so important here's what you need to do, and this is why you heard it said:

• prayer and study
• living God's way
• keeping the Sabbath
• keeping the Holy Days
• understanding the plan of God
• building the Word of God 'a little here and little there'
• seeing the depth of God

Remember what Jesus said to the disciple in John 6: The words that I speak to you are spirit and life, and the flesh profits nothing! That all ties in with:

Verse 6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall find mercy" (vs 6-7). That's why God calls those whom He calls!

• we need mercy
• we need forgiveness
• we need understanding

Then we are told and taught by Jesus that 'you also need to be merciful to those who have difficulties, and you need to be forgiving. We want our sins forgiven before the very throne of God in heaven above. Think about what an absolute marvelous blessing that is.

Verse 8: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The whole process of the conversion is to purify the mind and the heart, to prepare for the spirit mind that comes at the resurrection.

As spirit beings—and that's what it would have to be—they shall see God. Remember what it tells us about seeing God (Rev. 22)? We shall see His face!

Verse 9: "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God." These are the brethren of Jesus Christ!

Then it talks about the other things that will happen to us, and it also says that Jesus said He didn't come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill.

This covers many things in Matt. 5-7 concerning the character traits—the love, the obedience, the yieldedness to God—that we need to have to become the sons of God! He starts right out there and tells us.

Verse 48 is where God telegraphs the whole plan of God in one verse, that the rest of the New Testament and the Bible tells us how this will be done. God is not going to have those who are going to be kings and priest ruling under Christ to be lacking in the character they need as spirit beings to rule the way that God wants the rule.

Verse 48: "Therefore, you shall be perfect…"—or become perfect! This is telling us that conversion is a process. Think about that for a minute! We'll cover this a little bit later.

"…even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect" (v 48). What a goal!

That's why I showed you on Day 1 the four-minute clip that Donald Trump showed to Kim Jong Un, and how willing he has been. There's been a lot of work behind that that they've been doing. For months and months hundreds have been working on this. So, let's see what happens. It's the same thing.

Kim Jong Un is despised; he's a murderer/killer, but can he repent enough to turn around his nation? Can he be inspired enough to want to change? Not for conversion, but just enough to help his people! That would be an amazing thing indeed! Notice what God holds out for us:

• this is why we are to be zealous
• this is why we are to hunger and thirst
• this is why we are to grow and overcome
• this is why we need to develop the mind of Christ

How on earth are we going to rule on the earth if we don't have the spiritual mind of Christ coming from the spirit of God and the laws and commandments of God written in our heart and mind. Verse 48: "Therefore, you…"

• whoever you are
• wherever you are
• whatever you are doing
• however young or old you are
• however weak or strong you are
• whatever you know or don't know

"…shall be perfect, even as your Father Who is in heaven is perfect" (v 48). That's one of the greatest verses in the Bible. Think on that!

How are we to yearn for the Kingdom of God in our prayers? God wants us to be focused:

• on the kingdom
• eternal life
• love and Truth
• serving the Father
• serving Christ
• zealous
• growing
• overcoming

We will see that when we do, God is reveals things to us that have been hidden from other generations and ages. An amazing calling!

That's why being in the Church of God is not like having a 'religion' and being in the fake Christianity of the world.

Concerning prayer He says, Matthew 6:5: "And when you pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, in order that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward"—they have been seen

Verse 7: "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions…" Let's understand something about repetitions: we are to be constantly praying about whatever we're praying about in our prayers until the prayer is answered. Those are not "…vain repetitions…"

"…as the heathen do…" (v 7). You hear the chants of the Buddhist, and what they're trying to do is bring peace to their minds and get evil thoughts out of their minds. Never happen! It takes the Spirit of God to do that!

That's why that when we pray we're not to use "…vain repetitions…."

Verse 6: "But you, when you pray, enter into a private room; and after shutting the door, pray to your Father Who is in secret…"

What did Job say? Now I know that I can withhold no thought from You! That's why you pray to the Father in secret.

• He knows
• He hears
• He understands

We have a great High Priest in heaven above—Jesus Christ—the High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. This also telegraphs what's coming later, that we have direct access to God the Father and Jesus Christ through prayer, through Christ! Amazing! An Amazing thing!

Think about the earth and everything that is in it, everything that God created. That's hard to do. You look at a globe and you see how much water there is, and how there's more water under the crust of the earth than there is in the oceans. How God has made everything for us so that we can live, move and have our being in God.

We need to come to understand that we need God in everything that we do. That's why it talks about the Kingdom of God is preached and that the Kingdom of God has come upon you when you hear the Word of God.

"…and your Father Who sees in secret shall reward you openly" (v 7)—in His time and in His way, if it is according to His will!

Don't do as the hypocrites, "…for they think that by multiplying their words they shall be heard. Now then, do not be like them; for your Father knows what things you have need of before you ask Him" (vs 7-8).

Someone always says, 'Why ask Him if He knows?' Because He wants to know if you really want them and need them, and will receive them God's way!

Satan comes along and says, 'I'll give it to you,' just like he did to Christ. Did Satan not offer to give Christ the world, all the kingdoms of the world, and the rulership of them? But what did Satan require? That Jesus bow down and worship him!

Those people who fall for Satan's counterfeits don't realize that they're worshipping Satan. God will take care of it. Now, understand that in praying, not every answer from God is yes, because God answers prayers according to:

• our attitude
• our heart
• our need

Verse 9: "Therefore, you are to pray after this manner…" Here's the outline. Notice why the Kingdom of God is above the Law and Prophets, though the prophecies in the Law and Prophets prophesied about what would come with the Kingdom of God. But it could not have ever been fully developed unless:

• Christ came
• called the 12 apostles
• inspired them to write what they wrote
• called the Apostle Paul and all of the others

So that we would have the complete New Testament! So, you have to see the whole building of the whole system that God has for us.

"…'Our Father, Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name" (v 9). God's name is Holy, and that Holy name is the Father! Everything comes from God, everything that there is. Everything that we have God has given to us, so we pray to the Father!

• Holy is Your name, Father
• You're a God of love, mercy, truth, kindness, goodness and power
• You're a God Who punishes the wicked and rewards the righteous
• You're a God Who places the angels around us so we're protected

All of those things become part of our prayers. After we acknowledge God the Father and Jesus Christ:

Verse 10: "Your kingdom come…" We've been praying that for a long time, but it isn't here, yet. What does that mean in our lives toady? That we are under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God, and we are living with God's Spirit from the Father and from Christ in growing and overcoming!

Verse 10: "Your kingdom come…" in our lives so that we can grow and overcome to enter into Your kingdom when Jesus returns. Isn't that what the whole Feast of Tabernacles is all about? Yes, indeed!

"…Your will be done…" (v 10). A great thing to understand. Our will is not the will of God, God's will for us. What did Jesus say? I of Myself, coming from Me, can do nothing! But what the Father does, and the will of the Father, this I do!' Likewise with us! That's why we have the Bible and everything that we have!

"…Your will be done on earth… [and everything that You're doing on the earth and in our lives] …as it is in heaven" (v 10). Is everything in heaven going God's way? Without a doubt, it surely is!

Verse 12: "And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." That one of the most important things for us as brethren together.

• we be kind
• we be understanding
• we be merciful
• we be forgiving

But we also be strong in the Lord and don't give into sin! All of those things are combined with our behavior. You see how this prayer is also a character developing mechanism, an outline that God has given to us so we can be in contact with God and be the sons and daughters of God and rule with Christ.

Verse 11: "Give us this day our daily bread." For today with all of the modern conveniences we have, we are overloaded with food and things. But what's going to happen when that doesn't continue?

Jesus said in Deut. 8, 'When you have eaten you're full, and you live in sealed houses, everything you have is blessed, then you forget God! What is the sin of the Laodiceans? They don't remember God like they really should!

Verse 11: "Give us this day our daily bread." Know this: every breath of air you breathe, every morsel of food you eat, every drop of water you drink comes from God!

Verse 13: "And lead us not into temptation…"—trials; we have enough without being led into them, and God rescues us from all of them.

"…but rescue us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom…" (v 13). Again, the kingdom; it starts out with the kingdom and ends with the kingdom.

"…and the power and the glory forever… [into the ages of eternity] …Amen" (v 13).

Then He gives a little bit here about how you need to forgive! If you don't, then God won't forgive you.

(go to the next track)

Sidebar: There are some companies that say, 'Our most important product is…' Let's do that with the New Testament, and the most important thing to become a son or daughter of God is character. That comes:

• by love
• by mercy
• by obedience
• by forgiveness
• by yielding to God

All the things that are in the New Testament so that we develop the mind of Christ!

We also know that it is the Father Who draws us and brings us to Christ. It's also Christ Who paves the way for us to go the Father, so it's a joint thing that They do together. That's why we are here and are brethren of Christ. Notice what is all involved with this.

Colossians 1:7: "Even as you also learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ for you; Who has also informed us of your love in the Spirit" (vs 7-8). Love is the most important thing:

• love that is strong
• love that is true
• love that is not just maudlin
• love that is strong in Lord

Verse 9: "For this cause we also, from the day that we heard of it, do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding."

• that's a summary of why we pray and study
• that's a summary of why we do what we do
  • we are to learn
  • we are to grow

All of these things are for when we are sons and daughters in the Kingdom of God and are teaching people on the earth. To begin with those who survive through the Great Tribulation:

• we can teach them
• we can show them
• we can help them come to God
• we can help them be healed
• we can help them to learn about God

We are qualifying for those things through God the Father! "…with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding"—not carnal understanding.

Let's see how Paul explains this. It's very important so that we understand:

• what we learn
• what we know
• what we do
• what we understand

all comes from God, in spiritual understand, not carnal understanding!

1-Corinthians 2:9: "But according as it is written, 'The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.'" Keep that in mind!

• whatever we understand comes from God
• whatever knowledge that have when we put the Bible together and God gives us understanding

That comes from God; it doesn't come from us! Look at all the theologians in the world that study a lot of things in the Bible, and even write a lot about it and have a religion and denomination. But:

• Do they have the understanding of God? NO!
• Why? Because they don't love God!

In Col. 1 their love for God is why they were growing and overcoming, so they could have the knowledge and spiritual understanding. That's what we need, and that's why we're here for the Feast of Tabernacles,

• to grow in grace and knowledge and spiritual understanding
• to really learn and grasp the meaning of what it's going to be like to be in the Kingdom of God

The first thing that is required is the love of God and character of God, and all of the spiritual things that put it all together.

For those who love Him, v 10: "But God has revealed…" God gave the understanding, not us!

• we do have to put it together
• we do have to work
• we do have to be zealous
• we do have to apply ourselves

"…revealed them to us by His Spirit…" (v 10). Totally different from the way that people lived in the Old Testament. That's why the Kingdom of God is preached from John the Baptist forward. The Law and the Prophets are there; they never go away. They're never going to be abolished! But now God wants us to put the spiritual understanding that He has of the Law and the Prophets into practice. A lot of that is defined in the New Testament for us.

"…for the Spirit searches all things—even the deep things of God" (v 10). Don't we want to understand as much about:

• the Word of God
• the Bible
• the plan of God

as we can, so we can prepare and do the things that are pleasing to God in His sight! That's what it's all about!

Verse 11: "For who among men understands the things of man except by the spirit of man, which is in him? In the same way also, the things of God no one understands except by the Spirit of God." That's why, brethren, we're not to get all exalted about:

• how much we know
• how we're important for this or that

or

• that God has to do this or that for us

because we are special of ourselves! NO! If there's anything special it's because God has given it to us through His Holy Spirit. We need to have the same attitude that Jesus had: I do nothing of My own self! Spiritually speaking, that is true! "…no one understands except by the Spirit of God."

Verse 12: "Now, we have not received the spirit of the world… [which comes from Satan] …but the Spirit that is of God, so that we might know the things graciously given to us by God." That's what the New Testament is all about! How much has God given to us?

Verse 13: "Which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Holy Spirit in order to communicate spiritual things by spiritual means. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually discerned" (vs 13-14).

Now, here is Paul's prayer for all of the brethren, and this prayer applies to us. The Word of God is living, spiritual and goes beyond generations, family lines and human will.

Colossians 1:9 "…ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthily of the Lord" (vs 9-10). We saw how our attitude has to be there in Matt. 5 with the blessings.

"…unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God" (v 10).

• Is the knowledge of God infinite?
• Is the knowledge of God spiritual?
• What are we going to learn after the resurrection?

That's something to contemplate! We won't know until we get there!

Verse 11: "Being strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, unto all endurance and long-suffering with joy."

That's how we can go through difficult times. But if we are not strengthened by God, when difficult times come crushing down on us, we may not be able to handle it. That's why we have to always be growing in grace and knowledge.

Verse 12: "Giving thanks to the Father, Who has made us qualified…"

• Who qualifies us for eternal life?
• Who qualifies us to receive knowledge?
• Who qualifies us to have spiritual understanding?
• God the Father!

That's amazing to think!

"…for the share of the inheritance… [in the Kingdom of God] …of the saints in the Light; Who has personally rescued us…"(vs 12-13).

Remember Matt. 6, rescue us from the evil one! Didn't Jesus pray that in John 17: I pray not for the world, but I pray for them that You keep them from the evil one, and sanctify them with Your Truth!

Truth comes from God. Being sanctified means that we're being made Holy. We are called 'Holy brethren.' I mean, this is amazing and mind-blowing when we understand it.

"…personally rescued us from the power of darkness… [Satan the devil who is deceiving the whole world] …and has transferred us unto the kingdom of the Son of His love" (v 13). This means that the Kingdom of God—God the Father and Jesus Christ—is where we're headed! That we go by what God wants us to do, not by what the world wants us to do.

In that sense, while we live in the world and we have to obey the laws of the land, we are truly under the jurisdiction of the Kingdom of God. The spiritual application of the laws of God in our life as directed by the Father and the Son.

Verse 14: "In Whom we have redemption through His own blood, even the remission of sins." That goes right back to where we started in Psa. 22: the sacrifice of Christ, His shed blood, forgiveness of sin, all of that!

Verse 15: Who is the image of the invisible God, the Firstborn of all creation." Some people read that and say that Jesus didn't exist until He was born of the virgin Mary. No! That's not it means! Here's what it means:

No other human being in the history of all eternity, because it's only a one-time event, was actually the Son of God by begettal of the Father. He willing divested Himself of His glory to become a pinprick of life, to be impregnated in the womb of the virgin Mary, and then born as a baby, a human, fully human.

When He was born, what does Matt. 1 call Him? The firstborn of Mary! Since He was God manifested in the flesh, was not His human life greater than any other human life going clear back to everyone who has ever been born? Yes! So therefore, he is "…the Firstborn of all creation" for those who are going to be the sons of God. No other firstborn is greater than He in the flesh.

Verse 16: "Because by Him were all things created, the things in heaven and the things on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether they be thrones, or lordships, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by Him and for Him. And He is before all, and by Him all things subsist. And He is the Head of the Body, the Church; Who is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead…" (vs 16-18).

What does this tell us? Jesus was firstborn of Mary. He was the only human being to be begotten directly by God the Father, as Jesus was, which makes Him the Firstborn of the creation of all human beings. Then He became our Savior by living and dying and sacrificing His life, laying it down, and then He was raised from the dead, and He is the Firstborn from the dead.

What else does this tell us? Jesus was born again! This verifies that our first birth is by water and our second birth is by spirit. We are called The Church of the Firstborn (Heb. 12).

Amazing how all of this comes together! It's just mind-boggling! All of this is in the Bible, and it's spiritually understood. It's in every Bible everywhere, anyplace in the world. There are those who are so hateful of God they say it's full of lies. They can't understand it because of the 'religion' that they have.

"…so that in all things… [pertaining to the plan of God and all human beings] …He Himself might hold the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell" (vs 18-19). That all has to do with:

• why we're here
• where we're going
• how God is doing it
• the meaning of the Feast of Tabernacles
• what it's going to be like to rule the world with Him

But we must have the character first!

Let's understand something important about the Old Testament and the prophecies in the O.T. concerning what we are covering now and what is written in the New Testament. I want you to understand how vitally important that all of this is. This is something, as we read, that God the Father grants us the understanding, the spiritual meaning, because we love Him and keep His commandments.

How many people in the world really do that? Not very many, because it says, 'Many are called but few are chosen!' A lot of the world won't believe anything and will reject it and go their way. Remember that at the beginning of every epistle there is God's blessing that is written down first, so that when we read it and understand it, we will be blessed with understanding and Truth.

1-Peter 1:1: "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the elect strangers scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia; who have been chosen according to the predetermined knowledge of God the Father…" (vs 1-2).

In other words, what God laid out in His plan before He created the world! Think about what we've been called to.

"…by sanctification through the Spirit… [that's how we're made Holy] …unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you" (v 2). That's what God wants us to have.

Verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again unto a living hope…"—that we will live forever! As the promise of Jesus was, those who believe in Him shall not taste of death forever.

With that one sentence you have to take the other Scriptures and insert the resurrection. Die in the faith, but you won't stay dead forever. There it is, right there!

Verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who, according to His abundant mercy, has begotten us again…"—because you were begotten by your father when you first came into existence. Now our heavenly Father begets us and we become His future spiritual children.

But jut lit the newly begotten life in the mother must grow, change and overcome physically and be ready to be born at the proper time. Likewise, the resurrection—being born again—is going to be at the set time!

"…unto a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead; unto an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us… [Christ is going to bring it to us] …who are being safeguarded by the power of God through faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you yourselves greatly rejoice; though for the present, if it is necessary,you are in distress for a little while by various trials" (vs 3-6).

We all have them! Here's why we have them; v 7: "in order that the proving of your faith, which is much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is being tested by fire, may be found unto praise and honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ"—at His return and revealing Himself to the world at the first resurrection.

• Peter saw Jesus
• the apostles saw Jesus
• they lived with Him
• they walked with Him
• they were taught by Him

But not us!

Verse 8: "Whom, not having seen, you love…" that can only be a spiritual love that comes from God the Father and Christ Himself.

"…in Whom, though at the present time you do not see Him, you believe, and rejoice with unspeakable joy, and filled with glory"—as much of the glory of the Holy Spirit can be in us to give us hope, joy, etc.

Verse 9: "And are receiving the end of your faith—even the salvation of your lives." A receiving—day by day—a prophecy to the future resurrection.

How important is what we are going over to you? To what has gone on in past ages? Remember when Daniel wanted to know when all of these things would take place, God answered him, 'At the time of the end the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand!' The wise are the few who are called to the first resurrection! Think about that!

Verse 10: "Concerning which salvation the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you have diligently searched out and intently inquired."

Like Daniel, 'Lord, what will be the end of these?' God told him through the angel, 'It's not for you to know. Go your way, Daniel, you're going to make it; you'll be in the Kingdom of God. But you're not going to understand this before you die.'

Here's what they were doing with the Scriptures, v 11: "Searching into what way and what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which was in them was indicating, testifying beforehand of the sufferings of Christ, and these glories that would follow; to whom it was revealed that, not for themselves, but to us they were ministering these things, which now have been announced to you by those who have preached the Gospel to you by the Holy Spirit, sent from heaven—into which things the angels desire to look" (vs 11-12).

Those are amazing statements! Jesus said the same thing. Let's see that what we are covering here today contains many of the secrets or mysteries of God! The world doesn't understand, cannot understand, will never understand, because they won't obey!

We've gone over Matt. 13 many times; this is fantastic! This is one of the most important chapters in the New Testament—The Parable of the Seed:

Matthew 13:10: "And His disciples came to Him and asked, 'Why do You speak to them in parables?' And He answered and said to them, 'Because… [here's the reason that we understand anything]: …it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven, but to them it has not been given.'" (vs 10-11).

You tie that into all the other Scriptures that we just read in 1-Peter 1, that is a profound, astounding understanding! Whatever we have has been given to us! Paul wrote, 'What do you have that you didn't receive?' How do we understand? By comparing Scripture with Scripture through the Spirit of God to serve Him and love Him! He gives us the understanding!

Verse 12: "For whoever has understanding, to him more shall be given…" If we study and pray and keep growing in grace and knowledge, we'll increase in that grace and knowledge, because God will give more. Isn't that what Jesus said? What does that mean that we're something of ourselves? Of course not!

"…and he shall have an abundance, but whoever does not have understanding, even what he has shall be taken away from him" (v 12). That is an amazing statement! Think on that for a minute! How important is what we're doing in:

• loving God?
• serving him?
• keeping His commandments?
• keeping His Sabbaths?
• keeping His Holy Days?
• keeping His Feasts?
• loving God with all of our heart, mind, soul and being

This is something, brethren! These are all the things that are necessary to have God qualify us, to enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.

All of these things develop the character that God wants us to have. As kings and priests, rulers and administrators in the Kingdom of God we must have character, and character must be developed with the Spirit of God and the Word of God! It doesn't come any other way to us as human beings, because God designed that that's the only way it's going to come.

Verse 13: "For this reason I speak to them in parables, because seeing, they see not; and hearing, they hear not; neither do they understand."

Why is that? Isa. 29 is quite astounding even though they have the Bible. I've been checking up on TBN and all the ministers there, and they go along and quote Scripture that's really nice, but they can't really get beyond relationships and try to overcome the sin within. But they really don't understand the Bible or the Truth because Jesus said that they don't understand.

Isaiah 29:8: "It shall even be as when a hungry one dreams, and behold, he eats… [in his dream] …but he awakes and his soul is empty; or as when a thirsty man dreams, and behold, he drinks; but he awakes, and behold, he is faint and his soul is longing. So shall it be with the multitude of all the nations who fight against Mount Zion." Prophecy of our end-time!

Isn't it amazing to understand prophecies that the world cannot. Here's why:

Verse 9: "Be stunned and amazed! Blind your eyes and be blind! They are drunk, but not with wine; they stagger, but not with strong drink, for the LORD has poured out upon you the spirit of deep sleep, and has closed your eyes; He has covered the prophets and your rulers, and the seers. And the vision of all has become to you like the words of a book that is sealed, which they give to one who is learned saying, 'Please read this,' and he says, 'I cannot, for it is sealed.' And the book is delivered to him who is not learned, saying, 'Please read this,' and he says, 'I am not learned'" (vs 9-12). Here's why, and we'll see that this is spoken of by Jesus in Matt. 13:

Verse 13: "And the LORD said, 'Because this people draws near Me with their mouth…" Ninety percent of the people say they believe there is a God!

Sidebar: To believe God is to love and obey Him. If you believe in God, James says that's what the demons believe, and they know their fate.

"…and with their lips honor Me, but their worship of Me… [think about that with the Catholics, Protestants, Jews] …is made up of the traditions of men learned by rote, and their fear toward Me is taught by the commandments of men." That's why they don't understand. Therefore, God says:

Verse 14: "Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do again a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder, for the wisdom of their wise ones shall perish, and the wisdom of their intelligent ones shall vanish"—behold Washington, DC! London, England! Paris, France! Germany! All the nations of world!

Do they have any real understanding of what is right? Look at the mess that is created because men:

• reject God
• reject the Truth of God
• reject the commandments of God

Verse 15: "Woe to those who go deep to hide their purpose from the LORD!…." Isn't that what has happened? Ever heard of the 'deep state'? It's amazing how the Bible is so accurate!

"…And their works are in the dark…" (v 15). Think about all that's going on with these investigations trying to find the truth, and know one is really willing to give all the truth so that they can be convicted and removed. Sad state of affairs!

"…and they say, 'Who sees us? And who knows us?' Surely, you have turned things upside down!…." (vs 15-16).

Get rid of God and embrace all the fake religion of Satan the devil and the sexual morays that he preaches. His way and attitude and they bow down and worship him (Rev. 13). The whole world worships Satan. Stop and think about that! That may sound like an outlandish statement. If you're really not worshipping the true God in spirit and truth—as He has shown we have to do (John 4)—and you have a 'religion' and you go to church, synagogue, or cathedral, and you've got all the other pagan religions of the world in their stupidity and nonsense.

• Do any of them understand anything? Maybe some, a little!
• Do they understand what we are talking about here today? No!

"…Shall the potter be regarded as the potter's clay; for shall the work say of him who made it, 'He did not make me?'…." (v 16). Isn't that what the atheists say?

Sidebar: How can everything that there is come from nothing? What do they say? There was the big bang! Was the bang nothing? or Was it something? They don't even understand what they're saying! Think of that! Everything came from nothing, but it all came from the 'big bang.' Well, isn't the 'big bang' something? If everything came from the 'big bang,' it didn't come from nothing! They don't know how to think!

"…Or shall the thing formed say to him who formed it, 'He had no understanding?' (v 16).

This is amazing! See how great and marvelous the Word of God is! God is so great that He will give us understanding if we yield to Him. Not get all lifted up and thinking that we're important people, or thinking that God has got to do this or that for us because of this or that.

Keep this in mind, and the Bible shows this: When you get old, do not make presumptuous and arrogant mistakes, because it will end in disaster!

Tomorrow—day 3—we will see some other things on how we become kings and priests, and administrators serving cities and people, and what we will be doing!

Scriptural References:

• Deuteronomy 18:15-20
• Psalm 22:22. 24-28
• Matthew 11:11-15
• Mark 1:14-15
• Matthew 4:23-25
• John 1:9-13
• Matthew 5:2-9, 48
• Matthew 6:5, 7, 6-10, 12, 11, 13
• Colossians 1:7-9
• 1 Corinthians 2:9-14
• Colossians 1:9-18
• 1 Peter 1:1-12
• Matthew 13:10-13
• Isaiah 29:8-16

Scriptures quoted, not referenced:

• Hebrews 7; 12
• Genesis 15
• 1 Corinthians 1
• Psalm 37
• John 6
• Revelation 22
• Deuteronomy 8
• John 17
• Matthew 1
• Revelation 13
• John 4

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/15/18

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