Created Relationships #3

(FOT Day 5)

Fred R. Coulter—September 25, 2021

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Greetings, brethren! Welcome to Day 5 of the Feast of Tabernacles 2021.

It's been very enlightening the things that we've been able to learn to do, how we're going do it. We will cover some of that today, and more of it tomorrow, as well. There's so much that's going to be done during the Millennium.

The Church of the Firstborn, the firstfruits of God, are going to have direct, personal involvement in teaching the people, and direct, personal involvement with Jesus Christ:

• Who will be King
• Who will be Lord
• Who will be God

Not just manifested as in the first time He came!

Just imagine what that New Jerusalem is going to be like! Don't let anyone cause you to believe that the description of a temple in Ezek. 40 onward is the Millennial Temple! That would be so puny, so small that it would be incredible.

Remember, as we have covered, when we come back with Christ to the earth and come to the Mount of Olives split in two and raise up. There's going to be a tremendous tabernacle That is going to be the central government of the world. The central religious center of the world.

Isaiah 4:5: "And the LORD will create over every dwelling place of Mount Zion…"

Remember that Jesus said that He's going prepare a place for us, as well. Here are dwelling places. We don't know who all is going to be there, but we know that:

• Christ is going be there
• Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there
• Moses and Elijah will be there

Who else will be there? I imagine that:

• Mary will be there
• the apostles will be there

But they will also be ruling over the 12 tribes of Israel judging them, as Jesus said.

Think about how huge this will be. This is actually a tabernacle. That is fitting to have that for the Feast of Tabernacles.

"…and over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night; for over all the glory shall be a canopy" (v 5).

A big, huge canopy covering Jerusalem; it's going to be awesome! It's going to be the most beautiful place on earth. We'll be able to go there and get instructions, worship Christ. Think about that! When you come to understand it, and we look at the things for the Feast of Tabernacles we have been called to a great and marvelous thing.

Verse 6: "And there shall be a tabernacle for shade by day from the heat, and for refuge, and for shelter from storm and rain."

Let's also see what else God has done to make all of this happen. We know that with the plan of God there are the stages of it through all the Holy Days. But Christ is the central figure past, present—whatever age anyone lived in—and future, whatever ages are to come in the future.

What Christ did when He came was to do things that ill include the whole plan of God, and He is the central point of it.

Remember where we left off yesterday, that Christ by Himself offered Himself for the forgiveness of our sins. Also, we need to expand our thinking. All those in the future during the Millennium, and then we come to the Last Great Day with all of those who have been in the past. So, Christ's coming was greater and had more implications of things of the plan of God than people have understood.

Why is that? Because God came in the flesh! That's what Paul wrote (2-Tim. 3) God manifested in the flesh for the very purpose of opening the door for salvation for all people, past, present and future!

We will see a little later that Paul wrote that God revealed to all the prophets and all the apostles things that were not revealed until the point that God revealed it them, which must have been in the 60sA.D. So, God doesn't reveal everything all at once, and the fulfillment of these things covers more than just what we think.

Too many times in fighting the daily battles that we have, in overcoming the sin within, in resisting Satan the devil, we get so focused in on that that we forget the greatness of the plan and calling of God.

All the leaders of the world would like to know what these things are that we know, but they don't know! They won't know because they are blinded. As we have seen with some messages coming up to the Feast of Tabernacles, they want to get out into space, way out into space! They act as if they have no limitations. But they haven't thought it out.

In order to be able to travel in space, you've got to be a spirit being! So, there was a time when God was planning what has manifested to us in His Word. He and Jesus Christ were there together.

It is important to understand what God is really given us with:

• His Spirit
• His Truth
• His Word

2-Timothy 1:7: "For God has not given us a spirit of fear…"

That's what's in the world today, the spirit of fear ruled by Satan the devil. Satan will be gone during the Millennium.

"…but of power…" (v 7).

• the power to overcome
• the power to pray to God
• to receive power from God with His Holy Spirit

"…and of love…" (v 7).

And love is the key thing of everything that God is doing! The love of God! God looks way beyond things in time and space, that it's difficult for us to comprehend. The most we can comprehend is what's in the Word!

"…and of sound-mindedness" (v 7). Think about that for a minute! When we're in the world, it doesn't matter:

• who we are
• where we are
• how smart we are
• how dumb we are
• male or female

makes no difference!

We're not sound-minded because out in the world they don't have the Holy Spirit. Look at everything out there, it's all going wrong! God has called us to make it all right when Jesus sets up the Kingdom. Think about that! The Feast of Tabernacles is also a time for us to get as many glimpses of spiritual truth about what we will be doing in the Kingdom of God as we can.

Verse 8: "Therefore, you should not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner…"

What happens when someone goes to jail? First thing you do is say that he/she deserved it! But you don't know, you weren't there. Here's Paul—a great apostle of Jesus Christ—waiting death in chains.

"…but jointly suffer with me for the sake of the Gospel, according to the power of God, Who has saved us…" (vs 8-9).

• we have been saved from our sins
• we are being saved in the process of growing and overcoming
• we shall be saved at the resurrection and changed from flesh to spirit

"…and called us with a Holy calling…" (v 9). A calling so magnificent that what we understand of it, even the maximum amount, is nothing but just a little bit!

Think about what it's going to be like when we're resurrected. Then God begins to reveal:

• how we are to live as spirit beings
• what His plan is
• what we're going to do

Amazing! Think on that!

"…not according to our works, but according to His own purpose…" (v 9).

Remember that God is love and His whole purpose is in love to create [#1]His Family, [#2]then save all the nations, as many as will repent!

"…and grace…" (v 9)—the personal direct relationship that you have with God the Father and Jesus Christ, which allows for:

• the forgiveness of sin
• closeness to God
• answered prayer

All of that is a part of grace!

Remember that when God says something, it is as good as done, even though it may take centuries to accomplish.

"…which was given us in Christ Jesus before the ages of time" (v 9),

Why do I go over that? Because it helps us to understand that what God is doing is so meaningful and powerful! He has called us and chosen us; we're :

• the called
• the chosen
• the faithful

To work under Christ, to carry out His plan, first of all on the earth in what Rev. calls the thousand year period—or the Millennium.

Let's read some verses that we know very clearly, because all of these are a part of what God is doing in order to prepare for the execution of His plan at a time that it's to be taken care of. Here we come from before the ages of time to the beginning of the world:

John 1:1: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with the God, and the Word was God."

Sidebar: In the Greek there's no definite article for God in that phrase: "…the Word was God." But there is the phrase before it: "…the Word was with the God…"

The Jehovah Witnesses say that Jesus is less than God. They put a small 'g' there—"…the Word was God." and put an 'a' in front of it so that it reads: a god! That's completely wrong!

The reason that there's no definite article there—because if there were a definite article there it would be referring back to the God, so you couldn't identify Christ as God if there were a definite article to make it say the God. It would be the God, the God in the Greek would be referring one to the other.

It was written this way to show that there are two who are in the Godhead, one the Father and the other one Jesus Christ.

Verse 2: "He was in the beginning with God"—because They were planning everything together

Verse 3: "All things came into being through Him…" Everything that there is! Whatever you see and the things you don't see, and some things you never know of at all.

"…and not even one thing that was created came into being without Him" (v 3).

So, all you top scientists out there who believe in evolution—which shows you are as Rom. 1 says, 'fools'—

• whatever you do
• whatever you work on
• whatever theory you have

God make it all! So, IF you think that you're important, THEN

• you create your own dirt
• you create your own molecules
• you create your own life

So we can look at you and say, 'You're God!' You can know for sure that the last laugh is coming, then they will understand how stupid they have been!

No one has a sound mind unless they have the Spirit of God!

Verse 4: "In Him was life, and the Life was the Light of men."

Everyone who has the spirit of man in him came from the One Who was called Jesus Christ. That's given at conception, so therefore, abortion is murder!

When He came into the world He was the light of the world, but the world is in darkness because of Satan the devil. During the Millennium all of that is going to be removed.

Verse 9: "The True Light was that which enlightens everyone who comes into the world"—past, present, future! Everyone who comes into the world! And with created relationships we have:

• husband and wife
• father and mother
• brothers and sisters

All of that is under God!Each one has their created relationship that if they yield to God, God's going to help them to grow, change and overcome.

Verse 10: "He was in the world, and the world came into being through Him, but the world did not know Him."

• they rejected Him
• they killed Him
• they followed Satan the devil instead of God

Verse 11: "He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him; but as many as received Him, to them He gave authority to become the children of God…" (vs 11-12).

Right there in that one verse tells you the heart and core of the whole plan of God, to become the children of God. Why do you think we're made:

• in the image of God?
• in the likeness of God?

that we have:

• abilities?
• a mind?

God gave that to us!

"…even to those who believe in His name… [that's getting into conversion here] …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).

Stop and think about that in relationship to what we're going to be doing in the Millennium. God is:

• teaching us
• preparing us
• leading us
• helping us to grow in grace and knowledge
• to learn
• to understand

That's through everything we experience!

• all the trials that we go through
• all the blessings that we receive
• all of the correction that comes from God

is so that we can be perfected for the resurrection!

Then once we're perfected in the resurrection, we're going to teach the whole world God's way.

• no more war
• no more fighting
• no more division

We'll talk about tomorrow how God is going to handle it when there's sin, because God is not going to take away free moral agency.

Verse 14: "And the Word became flesh… [we know how that was with Mary, etc.] …and tabernacled among us…"—dwelt temporarily among us!

He wasn't baptized until He was 30-years-old. Then He had a 3-1/2 year ministry and that was it! But God raised Him from the dead, and He sits at the right hand of God now to carry on the work of the Church. Think how important that is. Think how necessary it is for all of us in the Church, and for all the elders to teach the brethren to know the Word of God and to grow and overcome.

We are here to facilitate that the brethren grow in grace and knowledge. We're not here to rule over you. We're not here to be your masters! We are here so that we all can become the children of God!

"…and we ourselves… [all the apostles] …beheld His glory…" (v 14).

When did they see that? When Jesus took Peter, James and John up on the Mount of Transfiguration and He was transfigured before them!

"…the glory as of the only begotten with the Father, full of grace and truth" (v 14).

It's important to understand this here in relationship to what we need to do. We're going look in many places in the book of John how Jesus yielded to God the Father all the time; what He did and what He said. This gives us a guidepost for what we're going to be doing in teaching the brethren in the Millennium, and how we need to carry it out, because:

• we're not going to be doing it according to our own will
• we're not going to do it according to our own thoughts

NO!

• we've got to have the mind of Christ
• we've got to have the authority of God
• we've got to have the wisdom of God

Right now, what God is doing in our lives is preparing us for that!

Let's see how far reaching the things of Jesus are. Remember three things: past, present, future!

Verse 29: "On the next day, John sees Jesus coming to him, and he says, 'Behold the Lamb of God… [it's interesting what John knew] …Who takes away the sin of the world'"—which includes all of the sins!

What is that sin? It goes back to Adam and receiving the law of sin and death within his own members—which is there as Paul writes about—through all generations, which Jesus took upon Himself to take away the sin of the world!

Let's also see something that's going to be a mainstay of everything we teach during the Millennium. Remember those three things: past, present, future!

John 3:14: "And even as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness…" The serpent is a type of Satan and sin!

Why does John refer that to what Christ did? Because His crucifixion is what's going to get rid of Satan, forgive sin, get rid of sin!

If it's being "…lifted up…" it's being crucified! That's symbolic of crucifying all sin, again: past, present and future!

"…in the same way it is ordained that the Son of man be lifted up" (v 14). That was startling to Nicodemus! Why? Because there has to be that perfect sacrifice!

Verse 15: "So that everyone… [past, present, future] …who believes in Him may not perish, but may have everlasting life."

That's the whole purpose of the Millennium!To help all the nations and all of the people to see how wonderful that God's way is:

• how great His Ten Commandments are
• how fantastic it is with His Holy Spirit
• how great the Family of God is

in serving all the people in the Millennium

• to teach them
• to train them
• to help them

Think about that! Everyone, past, present and future! But those in the past never had a chance, so that's why we have the Last Great Day.

Verse 16: "For God so loved the world… [How? Past, present and future!] …that He gave His only Begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in Him…"

The Greek means believes, and believing continuously. It's not that you just profess His name. That's not enough; you must believe and continue to believe, and this kind of belief leads to:

• repentance
• obedience
• love
• faith
• hope

"…may not perish…" (v 16)—that's the correct translation!

It's not shall not perish or should not perish. It's may not because it all depends on the individuals—yours, mine and everybody else's—free moral agency that we love God and keep His commandments and willingly serve Him.

"…but may have everlasting life" (v 16).

John 5 is quite a chapter, indeed, and reveals a lot. What Christ did, and it tells us what we must do now, and what we must teach the people in the Millennium to do.

Jesus healed the man who had an infirmity for 38-years and told him to take up his bed and walk. It was probably like a sleeping bag. Of course, that was against the traditions of the Jews. They took the Scripture from the Old Testament that says 'you shall not carry a burden on the Sabbath.' A sleeping bag is not a burden!

So, they were all mad because they accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath. Then Jesus gave them some very important lessons that they needed to learn, and we need to learn, and all the people in the Millennium need to learn.

God is not interested in sacrifice and petty little human laws. He's interested in love and truth, and in His Laws. What Jesus did in healing the man with the infirmity was absolutely what was right on the Sabbath Day. As a matter of fact, it may have been the Feast of Trumpets. Very possible! We don't know, but it just says 'a Feast of the Jews.'

We're going to learn what we need to learn for our part so that we can better understand how we need to be preparing ourselves with the Spirit of God and His Word for the resurrection and serving the people.

(break@38:17)

Let's learn the lessons we need to learn. God's way is not a religion!

• it's a way of life
• it's a way of love
• it's a way of truth

In this life we need to learn it so that when we enter into the Kingdom of God and are transformed from flesh into spirit, and God gives us whatever work He wants us to do in His Kingdom, that it will be based on the right thing, which is the love of God! In the Gospel of John God tells us how much He loves us.

In the world today, the problem is that a lot of people like to play religion, they like to say that they belong to a church and 'we're faithful in our Sunday-keeping, and have the greatest time with all the holidays, etc.'

They don't even understand how far removed from God that they really are. We know that, but we need to know what we need to do. Here is the thing that we need to pray about every single day.

• What is the greatest thing that we can do toward God, for God, and for ourselves?
• What is the greatest thing that He wants us to do toward Him?

Matthew 22:36—a doctor of the law asks Jesus: 'Master, which commandment is the great commandment in the Law?' And Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind'" (vs 36-37). Mark 12 adds with all your strength!

That's the key most important thing that there is. It's not a matter of wisdom, not a matter of how much you know, it's a matter of: Do you really love God?

In the world they like to claim the love of God and say that's it's unconditional. God is saying that it is conditional! That's why we need to pray about it every day, brethren, because we're looking at some tough times coming down the road, and we're going to be looking at things that are difficult to understand.

Problems will come into our lives that we will think: 'Why is this so bad?' Remember what Jesus went through! He went through it because He loved God! Likewise with us!

This Feast of Tabernacles helps us all to draw close together; we'll talk about loving each other in a little bit, because that's also necessary. How can we love each other if we don't love God first?

Now the man who was healed went and told the Jews that Jesus was the One Who healed him.

John 5:16: "And for this cause, the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill Him…"

Jesus said, 'There's coming the day that they think that they're doing God's business when they kill you.' That day is coming because of the hatred of the world and the hatred of Satan the devil.

"…because He had done these things on a Sabbath…." (v 16).

Verse 18: "…the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, not only because He had loosed the Sabbath…"

He loosed the Sabbath; He didn't break it. The King James translating it that way is completely misunderstanding the Bible.

"…but also because He had called God His own Father, making Himself equal with God" (v 18). If You're the Son of God, You are equal with God after the resurrection!

Verse 19: "Therefore, Jesus answered and said to them, 'Truly, truly I say to you, the Son has no power to do anything of Himself…" Same way with us! We need to learn to:

• trust God
• rely on God
• love God

All of those things, so that whatever we do we do in the name of God and we do it right, in a way that's helpful, in a way that's good.

This also means that as the Son He had no power to do anything of His own! Christ relied totally on God the Father! We rely totally on God the Father and Jesus Christ.

"…but only what He sees the Father do…." (v 19). So, there was communication between Jesus and the Father!

"…For whatever He does, these things the Son also does in the same manner. For the Father loves the Son…" (vs 19-20). Think about that! That's why we have to love God first!

"…and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing…." (v 20).

Think about how much God has shown His people, for each one of us, because we love God! That's quite a thing to understand. He shows us what He's doing, and is not the Feast of Tabernacles, and what's going to happen at that time, is that not what God wants done, and we become integral part of it as the sons and daughters of God? Yes, indeed!

"…And He will show Him greater works than these, so that you may be filled with wonder. For even as the Father raises the dead and gives life, in the same way also, the Son gives life to whom He will" (vs 20-21).

That's why, every day, 'not my will be done, but Your will, God!' That's all a part of loving God.

Verse 22: "For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son."

Why? Because He took on flesh and became a human being! He knows what it's like. He's been tested in every point just exactly as we are, yet, without sin (Heb. 4).

• He understands what it's like to be under temptation
• He understands what it's like to suffer through the difficult times

That's why He's been given all judgment!

Verse 23: "So that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. The one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father Who sent Him."

Quite an interesting thing! We're going to see some very important points here that are absolutely essential. This is what we're going to be teaching the brethren. Why I'm going through all of these things is so that we, during this Feast of Tabernacles and after we leave here and go home, we'll have a closer relationship with God, so that we can attain to what God wants us to do.

That's the whole purpose of it, so that we can all attain to the first resurrection and serve God in serving the people during the Millennium. Think about serving them during the Great White Throne Judgment. What a great thing that's going to be!

Verse 24: "Truly, truly I say to you, the one who hears My Word, and believes Him Who sent Me, has everlasting life and does not come into judgment; for he has passed from death into life." That means that you:

• have repented
• been baptized
• received the Holy Spirit
• are growing in grace and knowledge
• are living in the love of God
• are loving God yourself

and God loving you! All of that! That's what God wants. We don't come into judgment or condemnation. But the resurrection, which is life!

Verse 25: "Truly, truly I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God; and those who hear shall live." All the dead!

That's shows you the great power of God! All the dead—past, present and future!

Verse 26: "For even as the Father has life in Himself, so also has He given to the Son to have life in Himself; and has also given Him authority to execute judgment because He is the Son of man" (vs 26-27).

That's telling those scribes, Pharisees and priests and awful lot. Here they are standing there, condemning Him and wanting to kill Him. Here's what Jesus is telling them, that He's the Messiah and He is here doing the will of God, and you hate Him.

Verse 28: "Do not wonder at this, for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves shall hear His voice and shall come forth: those who have practiced good unto a resurrection of life…" (vs 28-29).

The good that we do is the good of God! Not good that we think is good, and try it make it the Word of God!

"…a resurrection of life… [eternal life] …and those who have practiced evil unto a resurrection of judgment" (v 29). This has two categories:

The Second Resurrection

• they lived their life in sin and have not had their sins forgiven, but they haven't committed the unpardonable sin; they will be raised to a physical life for an opportunity for salvation
• the incorrigible wicked who have committed the unpardonable sin; they will have the judgment given to them and will be cast into the Lake of Fire

There's an awful lot here in the Gospel of John.

Verse 30: "I have no power to do anything of Myself…"

Greek 'ek'—of—which means He had nothing that He could initiate from His own personal being. No power to do anything.

Unless what Jesus is doing is with the power of God so that in turn those who receive that will be able to enter into the Kingdom of God. He does nothing on his own!

"…but as I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father Who sent Me" (v 30). That's quite a thing!

Think about our daily prayer (Matt. 6). How does it start out?

Matthew 6:9: "Therefore, you are to pray after this manner: 'Our Father, Who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name; Your Kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven' (vs 9-10).

That means in your daily life! That's why daily prayer is so important. Daily prayer helps us to understand not to live our own lives with our own will, but use our will power and free moral agency to choose God's way!

• to love God His way
• to do things His way

That's what Jesus is talking about in John 5!

John 5:37: "And the Father Himself, Who sent Me, has borne witness of Me. You have neither heard His voice nor seen His form at any time."

We know—and this is also proof—that this is the Lord God of the Old Testament was Jesus Christ and not the Father.

This is a very important thing in v 38; think about this, and ask yourself: Do we do this the way that God wants? or not?

Verse 38: "And you do not have His Word dwelling in you, for you do not believe Him Whom He has sent."

Think about that for a minute. What is the New Covenant to have it written in our heart and mind? IFit's written there THEN we believe it. We believe it unto salvation unto the resurrection so that we can be there with Christ and save the world!

In order for God to save the world, He's got to have all of those in the first resurrection there to help Him do it. How important is that?

Verse 39: "You search the Scriptures, for in them you think that you have eternal life; and they are theones that testify of Me."

There are 356 places in the Old Testament that refer to Jesus Christ! Maybe even more!

Verse 40: "But you are unwilling to come to Me, that you may have life." Remember that the only way you have life, the only way you have Truth is through Jesus Christ!

Verse 41 is a very important verse for us. In the days that we are living in, with the way it's going be coming down, we have got to be spiritually strong:

• with God's Spirit
• with God's Word in us
• with resoluteness
• with determination
• with love, faith and belief

Verse 41: "I do not receive glory from men."

Look what happened when the Church did that! What happened? How did God correct it? It no longer exists! How's that for correction? Then Jesus makes quite a statement, and this tells you how much God knows about us:

• our intentions
• our thoughts
• our attitudes

And also what we'll be able to know about those whom we are teaching and helping. It's going to be quite a thing! That's why we need to learn of Jesus now! Think about the future when we're going to be in the great Feast of Tabernacles when Christ returns.

This was a problem in the Church. If it wasn't a problem within the Church, then why did God destroy it?

Verse 42: "But I have known you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves." Do we?

Remember where we started: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and being. They devolved everything down into 'a religion,' works and traditions of men. They didn't love God!

• they loved themselves
• they loved their friends
• they loved their works
• they loved their traditions

Like one man who conversed with a rabbi, he told him—this was Roy Assanti, our office manager in Australia—'if you didn't have all of these traditions you and I would believe virtually the same.' The rabbi's answer was, 'If we don't have our traditions, we have nothing!'

Think about that; that's quite a statement! You don't have God; you don't have the love of God, because you cling to your traditions! You can apply the same thing to Protestants, Catholics, independents, whatever.

Verse 43: "I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; but if another comes in his own name, you will receive him. How are you able to believe, you who receive glory from one another…" (vs 43-44).

Think about that in relationship to our teaching the brethren during the Millennium. How are they going to be able to believe unless we're teaching:

• the things of God?
• the will God?
• the love of God?
• the Truth of God?

"…and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?" (v 44).

Notice what He said; a complete spiritual dagger in the heart:

Verse 45: "Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, in whom you have hope." Everything was Moses, Moses, Moses!

Verse 46: "But if you believed Moses, you would have believed Me; for he wrote about Me. And if you do not believe his writings, how shall you believe My words?" (vs 46-47). Got to have the whole Bible!

This is what we're going to be teaching, and this is what we need to be doing now. The point I want us to all understand is, that what we do now is going to affect what it will be then.

John 6:57: "As the living Father has sent Me, and I live by the Father… [that's what He did completely] …so also the one who eats Me shall live by Me"—referring to the Passover! Live by God!

John 12:47: But if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects Me and does not receive My words has one who judges him; the Word, which I have spoken, that shall judge him in the last day" (vs 47-48). He made it clear:

I'm not here on My own, these are things that I have thought of Myself, but these are from the Father!

Verse 49: "For I have not spoken from Myself; but the Father, Who sent Me, gave Me commandment Himself,… [direct from God] …what I should say and what I should speak." Same way with us today, and this is what we need to understand!

Verse 50: "And I know that His commandment is eternal life. Therefore, whatever I speak, I speak exactly as the Father has told Me"—because there's no other way to receive eternal life!

John 14—we know this is on the Passover night, but this is talking about what's going to happen in the Millennium.

John 14:2: "In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were otherwise, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you." Think about that relationship to:

• how you live your life
• how you serve the brethren
• what you do in your life
• how you pray
• how you study
• everything that you do

God is preparing a place for us! A place!

Think about how good that's going to be. On the Last Great Day we're going to cover about New Jerusalem. That sounds like a pretty great place to live!

Verse 3: "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; so that where I am, you may be also."

This is what we need to learn now. This is what all the brethren, elders—everything about it; whatever we try and do. Something that looks good, but not defined as something we should do, that's going to lead to trouble.

Verse 6: "Jesus said to him, 'I am the Way… [there's no other way] …and the Truth…"

• the more you study the Word of God
• the more you understand the Truth that's in it
• the more that you're going to understand what's in there for us

"…and the Life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" (v 6). No one is going to the Father unless it's done God's way!

Then He says and makes it very clear, and I know that we cover this on Passover and I know that we cover it at other times, but I want you to think of it in terms of the Feast of Tabernacles:

• our keeping it now
• for each one of us individually coming into the Kingdom of God

So that we can really yield ourselves to God and how important it is! How we never, never, never want to lose this.

Verse 23: "Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me…" Love God, love Christ! How do you love Christ?

• by doing what He says
• by believing what He's teaching
• by loving Him
• by loving the brethren

"…he will keep My Word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him" (v 23).

That's something to really sink your mind into. With the Spirit of God you have the Spirit of Christ for the mind of Christ, and we the Spirit of the Father, which is the begettal for eternal life!

"…make Our abode…"—dwell with us! That's what's in us now. So, let's use that. Let's everyday drink in of it through study, prayer, yieldedness to God.

John 15:1: "I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman."

Verse 4: "Dwell in Me, and I in you…." Here we have the Father dwelling in us, Christ dwelling us, working both ways!

"…As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, but only if it remains in the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you are dwelling in Me" (v 4). We add Christ and the Father are dwelling in us!

Verse 5: "I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who is dwelling in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; because apart from Me you can do nothing"—of a lasting spiritual nature!

You may be able to do some things, but they're not in accord with God. IF they're not in accord with God and Jesus and the Word of God, THEN why are we doing it?

Notice that He gives a warning; this warning is given so that we will remain in Christ.

Verse 6: "If anyone does not dwell in Me, he is cast out as a branch, and is dried up; and men gather them and cast them into a fire, and they are burned…. [that's going to be true] … If you dwell in Me, and My words dwell in you…" (vs 6-7). You're dwelling in Him and His Word is in you!

"…you shall ask whatever you desire, and it shall come to pass for you" (v 7). God will answer your prayers.

• sometimes the answer is no
• sometimes the answer is yes, but
• other times the answer is yes perfectly

Verse 8: "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples."

Think about that in the Millennium! God gives us our assignments and we know what we're doing and practicing the things of God, teaching the things of God, bearing much fruit. Think of the fruit that's going to come during that time. Think about how it's going to be. Those entering into the Kingdom of God during the Millennium, what a great joy that's going to be. Satan is nowhere around.

The only problem with sin that we will have is the law of sin and death will still in human beings. There will be some, as we'll find out tomorrow, who will not want to do what God wants. We will find out what happens with them.

Verse 8: "In this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; so shall you be My disciples."

Notice that here's what we want. Here is what we need to rely on, and this is what we're going to teach during the Millennium. It's going to be so totally different from anything we have knowledge of today that there's no comparison.

Verse 9: "As the Father has loved Me… [that's perfect love] …I also have loved you; live in My love"—which comes from the Father! How is that expressed? The first visible way is:

Verse 10: "If you keep My commandments, you shall live in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and live in His love."

That's what God wants, and that's what the whole Millennium is going to be based upon:

• love
• truth
• righteousness
• goodness
• joy

All the wondrous things of God! Things we can't even imagine that will be done and can be done.

God is going to be glorified! Christ is going to be glorified! God's plan that was from before the ages of time is going to unfold and become greater and greater!

Eph. 1 tells us how much God is involved in our lives, and how we need to respond to God, which in turn will help us be:

• more converted
• more loving
• more yielded
• more doing the will of God

which in turn at the resurrection will give us the ability to really help the brethren and the people!

This is something, the whole first chapter, but we don't have time to go through the whole chapter. But so that we understand what God is doing…

Ephesians 1:1: "Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus… [way beyond time and space down to our day] …Grace and peace be to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" (vs 1-2).

May that be with us during this Feast of Tabernacles. May this be the greatest Feast that we have ever had, spiritually speaking!

Verse 3: "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly things with Christ." That is a prophecy of things in the future, but the heavenly things are:

• the Holy Spirit of God
• the Truth of God
• the love of God

All of that that we have now! I want you to think about this; look around and see each one of us, and God is the One Who has done it. Think about it!

Verse 4: "According as He has personally chosen us…"

• Who first draws us? The Father!
• Who teaches us? God!
• How does He teach us? With His Word and His Spirit!

"…for Himself before the foundation of the world…" (v 4).

That is those whom He chooses He has the plan worked out before the foundation of the world.

"…in order that we might be Holy and blameless before Him in love… [what a thing that is] …having predestinated us for sonship…" (vs 4-5).

• that's why we're here
• that's why we're in the Church
• that's why we keep the Sabbath
• that's why we keep the Holy Days
• that's why we keep the Passover
• that's why we love each other
• that's why we do the things we need to do
  • because God loves us
  • because God has chosen us

So that we will be there in the Kingdom of God to teach the rest of the world!

"…to Himself through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of His own will" (v 5).

Verse 13: "In Whom you also trusted after hearing the Word of the Truth, the Gospel of your salvation; in Whom also, after believing, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise."

That's what here today to do; to stir up the Spirit of God in you. To have a broad, big picture of what God is doing, and how He is doing it.

Verse 14: "Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory." This is the inspiration of God being revealed to us!

Verse 15: "For this cause…"

• for the cause of everything that God is doing
• we're here for the cause of the Millennium
• we're here for the cause of learning to grow in grace and knowledge
• we're here because we love God
• we're here because we love each other

"…I also, after hearing of the faith in the Lord Jesus that is among you, and the love toward all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers" (vs 15-16).

Now here is what we need, and what we need to learn from this day:

Verse 17: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you… [this is what God wants to give to us] …the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him. And may the eyes of your mind be enlightened… [to understand] …in order that you may comprehend what is the hope of His calling, and what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the inner working of His mighty power, which He wrought in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead…" (vs 17-20).

Brethren, on this 5th day of the Feast of Tabernacles, let's understand how much that we can grow in grace and knowledge and understanding:

• by loving God and doing the will of God
• by being faithful
• by yielding to God
• by continually going forward
• by continually yielding to Him

Scriptural References:

• Isaiah 4:5-6
• 2 Timothy 1:7-9
• John 1:1-4, 9-14, 29
• John 3:14-16
• Matthew 22:36-37
• John 5:16, 18-30
• Matthew 6:9-10
• John 5:37-47
• John 6:57
• John 12:47-50
• John 14:2-3, 6, 23
• John 15:1, 4-10
• Ephesians 1:1-5, 13-20

Scriptures referenced, not quoted:

• Ezekiel 40
• 2 Timothy 3
• Romans 1
• John 5
• Mark 12
• Hebrews 4
• Matthew 6

FRC:bo
Transcribed: 7/19/21

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