In The Beginning (Obey God)

Introduction

This week is a special week in that we’ve got uh uh our gospel meeting beginning right now. Steve Neemaier is here from the Indianapolis area, uh, and he’s going to be reading our lessons. And uh I’ve got a few comments made before he gets up and speaks the sermon this morning, but all I can say right now is hold on.

You’re gonna hear some powerful truth. Steve and I have known each other for a long time. Before we get started, let’s go to God’s word. Our Father in heaven, we’re thankful for you. We’re thankful for your son Jesus, and we’re thankful for that great hope that we have who is dead. We pray, Father, that we’ll always strive to live our lives right in your sight. And Father, the only way we can know what is right in your sight is by knowing your word, by knowing your will. We pray, Father, that as your will is presented to us, as we read your will, we pray that we dedicate our lives in the service of and be the Christians that you would have us to be. We pray that you’d be with Steve, not only this morning, but this week, that only your truth will be told.

We pray that you give him the strength and the courage to complain the things that he would have us to do. Watch over us all in Jesus’ name. Amen. Amen. Steve.

It’s good being with you all. I’ve been looking forward to this and appreciate the opportunity to be here. We’re gonna be talking about living a transformed life this week. And it starts with the fact if I was to ask you, if you’ve if you are a member of the Lord’s body, the New Testament Church, go back and remember how it was when you heard the truth and you decided to obey it. Keep that on your mind. We’re going to talk about in the beginning, living a transformed life in the beginning. As we think about life, we think about everything has a beginning, doesn’t it? And our life as a newborn babe in Christ had a beginning. So I want us to think about some things. Let’s see.

Well, I’m going to. There we go. There it is. I want to think about the fact of a biblical heart. If I was to ask you to point to your biblical heart, where would you point to? Thank you. Yes, right back here. The biblical heart is made up of three different areas of the that we would call it. It’s made up of the will, emotions, and intellect. And one of the things that happens with the biblical heart is we have to have all of those converted to Christ. The intellect, the will, and the emotions. And when you think about that, in my Proverbs 23, verse 26, my son give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways. But one of my favorite passages for all of us, especially for a father giving his son or daughter a talk, is as for you, my son Solomon, this is David talking, know the God of your father, serve him with a loyal heart.

Notice this, a loyal heart, a willing mind. The Lord searches all hearts and understands all the intents of the thoughts. If you seek him, notice the terms. If you seek him, he will be found by you. But if you forsake him, he will cast you off forever. So when we think of these things, we have to think about we’re born, and when we’re born, we’re born pure. As we grow older and we learn to stand things, we start being tempted and we fall to temptation. And that means we’re separated from God. And then the great invitation that Jesus gave was to come into me all you that labor and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. When we think about these things, I ought to put that up there.

We think about take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. What’s that last sentence say, J.R.? My yoke is easy, and my burden is life. What’s that mean? Is there a yoke and a burden to bear, Sean? So there’s a cost. How many of us were told there was a cost to obeying Christ before we were baptized? There is a cost to do that. In fact, when we look at it in Luke the 14th chapter, Jesus talks about who goes to war or who builds a house without counting the cost of that. And we know about cost, don’t we? If we were going to build a house, we want to know the cost.

You go out to buy a car, you want to know the cost. We want to know what the cost of things are. There is a cost of serving. In Acts the 7th chapter, verses 54 through 60. Stephen there was being stoned, and that was his cost of serving Christ. And one of the most powerful verses that I know of in the Bible is when it says, Stephen looked up into heaven and saw Jesus standing on the right hand side of God. Standing, probably saying in my mind, this is just me putting my words to what Jesus was doing. Is saying, Stephen, you can do this, endure this. I’ve been through it, you can take care of it. I’m with you. If it costs your physical life, I’m with you for eternity.

And I think about that and think, that’s the cost. And do I know about those costs? And then I think about this. I think in Matthew the seventh chapter, verses 21 through 27. Jesus teaching there on the Sermon on the Mount. He comes to the end of that wonderful passage, those passages of teaching, and he says something like this, and this needs to reign with us, especially as we make up some points right after we read or discuss this. It says, Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. But he that doeth the will of my Father. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? Have we not cast out demons in your name?

Have we not done many wonders in your name? And I will say to them, Depart from me, ye that work iniquity, I never knew you. What sad language to hear. I never knew you, but we were doing all these things. So there’s something else that goes on. So then later on, what he says is, Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. The rains came down, the floods rose up, the winds blew, and the wise man’s house stood firm. Therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine and doeth them not, I will liken him to a foolish man. Who built his house upon the sand, the rains came down, the floods came up, the winds blew, and the foolish man’s house went flat.

1. Whosoever Heareth These Sayings of Mine

So when we think of those things, we have to give some thought to the fact that Jesus is saying there’s something to do. First of all, let’s break that down. Take your Bibles out. We’re gonna, and we’ll have some comments at the end that you can make. But I’m a firm believer that we’re gonna go through scriptures first, and then we’ll make comments later. But when you think about the very first thing Jesus says, therefore, whosoever heareth these sayings of mine. And so when we linked about hearing, in Matthew the 17th chapter, verse 5, it was on the transfiguration. Peter, James, John are there, and of course Moses and Elijah. And Peter in his enthusiasm says, Let us build three tabernacles. Before he could get all of that out, a voice from heaven said, This is my beloved Son, hear ye him.

That is what has gone away in our society today. Listening to Christ in the words of Christ. In John 12, verse 44 through 50, Jesus tells us something that I think it’s a passage of scripture we overlook sometimes. He actually is going to talk about his purpose of coming to the face of the earth in a different light than what normally we would think. We would think, well, John 3 16, for God so loved the world, he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth on him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world. And that would be true. But notice what Jesus says in John the 12th chapter.

He begins in verse 44. He says, Jesus cried out and said, He who believes in me believes not in me, but in him who sent me. That’d be God the Father. He who sees me sees him who sent me. That’d be God the Father. I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in me should not abide in darkness. We’re in darkness in sin, the light of the world is come, and that’s Jesus. And if anyone hears my words and does not believe, it kind of goes with Matthew 7, does not believe, I do not judge him, for I do not come to judge the world, but to save the world. Then he clarifies what he’s talking about. He who rejects me and does not receive my words, has that which judges him.

The word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority. This is where we get confused. Notice what Jesus is saying? I’ve got the words, and they’re going to pertain to something that’s more important than anything else, and it’s not my words. I’m speaking words from my Father. Powerful language that Jesus Himself is saying. And he says, Not on my own authority. Then he says, But the Father who sent me gave me a command, what I should say, what I should speak, and I know that his command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told me, so I speak. So when we talk about hearing, we’re talking about hearing the words that God sent Jesus.

Now, when we think about that, we have to think a little bit over in John the 16th chapter. Because God sent Jesus to say these words. And then we look at Jesus telling in John the 16th chapter to his apostles, I’ve got to go away, and it’s to your benefit that I go. And when I go, I will send the helper to you, and he will direct you into all truth. Jesus has said it before, I am the way, the truth, and the life. He will direct you into all truth. Well, what is truth? If I just asked you for a definition of truth right now, what would you tell me truth is? Somebody. Okay, I’m old. Got to sorry, Connie, I mentioned I was old.

Tell me a little bit more. What’s truth? The word of God. Word of God. Dave? It’s absolute. The word of God is right, absolute right. It’s that which agrees with final reality, and the final reality is that God’s word. So that is correct. It’s the word of God. So he says it’s going to guide you into all truth. Now understand something. We’ve taken truth to mean something else today in our society. Man has taken truth and made it relevant to whatever I believe in my heart. That’s not truth. Truth is that which agrees with final reality, which is the word of God. So when we look at these things in 2 Peter, if you go over, you think about well, the apostles had the word. What did they do with the word?

What was going on with the Spirit being here? Well, we find Peter makes a great comment to us in 2 Peter 1 16. Says, We did not follow cunningly devised fables when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received from God the Father honor and glory for which such a voice came to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved son in whom I’m well pleased. We heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with him in the holy mountain, transfiguration. And so we have the prophetic word confirmed. The prophetic words confirmed. What are you talking about, Peter? The words of God that Jesus brought has been confirmed by the Holy Spirit.

We have that word confirmed. And we go on down, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Knowing this first, now here it is. No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. So Romans 10 17 says, So faith cometh by hearing, hearing by the word of God. So here is what we need to know about hearing. There are only certain things that will lead us to the will of God, and that is the word of God that we have to learn from. We have to understand that it’s the word of God.

2. And Doeth Them

We have to heed to those words and obey those words. It doesn’t come from a creed book, it doesn’t come from some man’s doctrine. And that’s going to signal out some of the religious world. We have to understand God sent his son to wiggle out those that say, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? Have we not cast out many demons in your name? Have we not done many wonderful works in your name? Depart from me, I never knew you. Wait a minute, they were religious in the world. They may be in family in the world, they may be in these different things, but they were not hearing and doing what they should be doing. So when we think about the second part of that, whosoever heareth thee say is of mine, and doeth them, obey them.

So we just start with the simple one. In Mark 16, 16, Jesus said, Go into all the world, teach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them, right? And so that he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved, he that believeth not. Let’s stop right there. That doesn’t mean just getting wet in a baptistry. It means we are baptized according to Scripture. It means we believe the right sayings. It means we have followed the right doctrine. It means we have been taught and heard what we’re supposed to do. We’re to obey that doctrine, we’ll see here in just a minute. Matthew 28, 18, 20, it’s the other part of Matthew’s account of the Great Commission. John 14, 12. And you take a look at John 14, and of course, the most extensive teaching of Jesus in the upper room and around the Garden of Gethsemane is the fact in John 13, 14, 15, and 16, and 17.

But notice in John 14, 12, Jesus said, Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in me, the works that I do, he will do also. Greater works than these he will do, because I go to my Father. So to begin with, what we need to understand is we need to hear the sayings of Jesus. Then we need to do them. In Romans 6, 17 and 18, it says, He that has obeyed that form of doctrine. What form of doctrine are we talking about? The words of Jesus that he died to establish, that God sent him to do. So that’s the form of doctrine. So when you think about this, in John 6, or in 1 Corinthians 15, 1 through 8, Paul told the church at Corinth, I’m going to now tell you about the gospel.

And this is what he proclaimed to them about the gospel. And when we think about what he says, we might say, well, he didn’t cover everything of the gospel. He covered the basic things we need to know of the gospel when he said this. Moreover, and notice what he says, brethren. Brethren. Moreover, brethren, who are you? You’re the ones that have obeyed the gospel, the same gospel I’ve obeyed, and you’re the ones that I’ve taught. I declare to you the gospel which I preach to you, which also you received, and which you stand, by which also you are saved. What are we saved by? The gospel. Whose words are those? Jesus, brought from God, given by the Holy Spirit for us to understand. What’s that mean?

Not everyone says to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven. It rules out people that would say that they’re religious, but they’re following this doctrine or that doctrine. There’s only one doctrine to follow. There’s only one scriptural baptism to follow. There’s only one way to do things, and that’s according to the way of the words of God that He sent through Jesus that was presented by the Holy Spirit that we have in the written word today. So when we think of those things, in John 6.66, after Paul went through 1 Corinthians 1 15 through 8, John 6.

3. I Will Liken Him to a Wise Man

You know, I think about that and think how sad that is. But I’ll tell you something else. I think and I think I admire those disciples for saying, I can’t handle it. I can’t do it. And I’m walking away. I don’t like it. I don’t like the sound of that, but at least they weren’t going to play the lukewarm hypocrite part. They walked away from it. And I think about when Jesus says, Whoever heareth these things of mine and doeth them, I will liken him, notice this, to a wise man. Now, if we were coming up to meet your son, and you didn’t introduce Robert, or and I met Ryan on his own. But you know, J.R. didn’t say, now here’s Robert, he’s the most foolish son I’ve ever had.

That’s not how we introduce people, is it? My son, he’s pretty wise. Let me tell you what he’s done. Can you imagine Jesus trying to introduce us sometimes? Here’s Steve. I wish I could say he was as wise as he thinks he is. He’s kind of foolish. Now look at this and think to myself, when we talk about wisdom, we talk about people who know the scriptures, who are wise in the scriptures, who study the scriptures. In fact, in John the 16th chapter, look over there as Jesus’ teaching again, right before he dies, verses 31 through 33. And we think about the words of Jesus. Think about he’s getting ready to go to death, and he makes these comments. He says, Do you now believe? Jesus asks.

Do you now believe? Indeed, the hour is coming, yes, it has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave me alone, and yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I am not alone because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you. Notice this, that in me ye may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. How many of us want heaven on earth? We don’t like anything going bad. We want a good life, we want to live it, and we want to live it a long time, and we don’t want any hardships or anything in this. On Tuesday night, we’ll be talking about seeing God basically in the storms of life.

But Jesus here is telling us there is tribulation in this world. This world is not our home. This world is a temporary place for us to walk through to prepare ourselves for the place called heaven. And Jesus brings that out, and wisdom tells me, I’ve got to think about that. In 2 Timothy 2, 15, some of your scriptures will say, Be a show thyself approved, others will say, Study. And in that he’s saying, rightly dividing the word of truth, rightly dividing the word of truth. Sometimes I think, brethren, we need to pray more for wisdom to rightly divide the word of truth. Because the word of truth is not being rightly divided. And when we look at that, Jesus is saying, There’s a way to rightly divide the word of truth, and I will liken him to a wise man.

But in 1 Corinthians the 15th chapter, again, later on in that chapter that Paul talked about, I declare to you the gospel. Notice what is written in verse 50 beginning. Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruption or corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the death the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

This needs to be in our minds constantly. This life is temporary, and I want to congratulate every one of you in here, including me, on the fact that we’re going to die. We’re going to die. We don’t come to realization we’re going to die. In the last several weeks, we’ve had numerous funerals. We’ve had four funerals to attend in one week. We’re going to die. We’re not going to live forever. I don’t care if you visited the fountain of youth. I don’t care how much Botox you’ve had on your face. I don’t care anything about that. You’re going to die. And you better start thinking about your spiritual self instead of your physical self. You’re going to die. It’s going to happen. But let me tell you about this.

Jesus is telling us, You’re going to die, but your final victory is, O death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. And I start concentrating on all the physical things of life, it can make me lose my hair. When I start concentrating on the fact that this life is short and temporary, and I think about Jesus has overcome death, and he says, Death, where is your sting? It’s just a sting. And it’s nothing compared to the fact that there’s victory after that through Jesus the Christ. I look at that and say to myself, Glory, hallelujah.

4. Who Built His House Upon the Rock

I need to be wise enough to understand that. But not only does Jesus say, therefore, whosoever heareth these sins of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. Now I can tell you this is the one we don’t like to hear. Because this means we got to do some building. And if anything I know of in my years of service to the Lord, that I sometimes get lazy building. Do you ever get lazy building? Building that life, building what he wants us to build on the rock. Sometimes we get worn out. Sometimes we get weary in well doing. But if you notice over in 2 Peter 1, there’s a passage of scripture there that Peter talks about.

And it doesn’t talk about giving up. It talks about constantly moving forward. In 2 Peter, the first chapter, he says this. In a well known passage, by the way, he says, but also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith, go back up to heareth. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Add to your faith, virtue, and the virtue knowledge. We’re building. We’re building on the rock. It never stops. To knowledge, self-control. That means knowledge means I’ve got to constantly be studying. I’ve got to constantly keep my mind. And okay, if any of you remember the O.J. Simpson trial years ago, they had sidebars. When I step too far over there, it’s going to be a sidebar for a second.

Knowledge.

We have reduced, and you’re going to hear this in the next lesson too. We have reduced the amount of time we come together as Christians to worship God. And that means more pressure is on us to increase our knowledge at home. Study our knowledge. Have our brothers and sisters in for Bible studies to increase our knowledge. And brethren, when you take away the times to increase your knowledge, your faith that comes by hearing gets weaker and weaker and weaker. Or stays stagnant. You’ve got to have more knowledge. We both need knowledge. Now I will tell you this. I’m not a Bible scholar. I wish I knew much about the Bible as Brother Sean did. He could present it as well as he did. But I will tell you this.

We have operational knowledge of the Bible. And that’s what every one of us needs to do. All of us are not going to be scholars of the Bible. We can have an operational knowledge of the Bible that’s deep that we can teach others about the Word of God. We’re not all going to be able to speak Greek. And that’s okay. But we can have a knowledge. If we study to show ourselves approved, and we use wisdom, and we constantly are building on our knowledge. How many of you read through the Bible? You don’t have to show me a hand, but very popular is read through the Bible in a year, right? You’ve seen those things. Can I make a suggestion to changes that a little bit?

It’s going to take a little bit more time. Read one book a month and make your notes on that book instead of just reading a passage of scripture. Study that book for that month. I know you’re going to say, well, there’s 66 books in the Bible. That’s five and a half years. But in five and a half years, you will know those things. You won’t be just, I’m reading again what I read last year, and I don’t know what I read last year. It sounds familiar. Study those scriptures. And young people, parents of young people, have them read the book of Ecclesiastes every month on top of the book they’re making notes of. Young people, the book of Ecclesiastes is a book that tells you you want to try it, don’t work.

I’ve already tried it. Solomon says you don’t need to make any any doing it. That’s what we need to teach our young people is the answers to the questions already in the scriptures. And Paul says, add to your knowledge, self-controlled, self-controlled, perseverance, perseverance, godliness. I’ve got to persevere. I’ve got to last. I’ve got to keep going. I’ve got to keep moving. To godliness, brotherly kindness. That’s hard. Brotherly kindness is hard. You know, I hear people say, I’ve got a personality conflict with brother. Brother J.R. I’ll pick on you. You’re right here for Sean’s over there. I’ll get him now. I’ll get you before it’s all over with Ralph. I got a personality conflict. Okay, go to the scriptures and tell me where it says personality conflicts.

Brotherly kindness is brotherly kindness. Love one another. There are times, if you’re married for any time at all, you’ll find that sometimes you don’t like that person you’re married to, but you still love them. Sometimes like leaves, and you have to come back sometimes. I’m sure my wife will tell you, Oh, there’s a lot of times I don’t like Steve. But then he comes back, and I love him, but I stayed to love him. Brethren, we’ve got to love one another, not talk bad about each other, not tear each other down. We’ve got to love one another. It’s brotherly kindness. It’s part of building on the rock. And Peter brings it out right here. He says, To godliness, brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness, what’s right next?

Love. Love one another. Love one another.

I want you to think about that. We got off the plane yesterday, and the flight attendant says, Y’all have a good day in Orlando? I love you all. She didn’t know us to love one another. She didn’t know us at all. That was just a statement. I’ve got a question for you. Does this side of the auditorium know this side of the auditorium? And does this side of the auditorium know both sides of the auditorium? Do you love one another? Your brothers and sisters in Christ. You’re the family of God here at South Bumby. Are you building on the rock and brotherly kindness and love is there? That’s exactly what Peter is talking about and what Jesus has been talking about. Then he says this. Now notice this, this is building.

For if these things are yours, so we stop. Self evaluation of 2 Corinthians 13 5. Let’s stop. Are they in you? Are these things in you? That’s the beginning with the biblical heart. Are these things, can you do these things? Are they in your heart to do these things to constantly grow? Because he says, if they are in you and slightly, does the scripture say slightly in you? But they’re in you and do what? What? What’s that, JR? Abound. Are you building on those to abound? If you’re having trouble with a brother or sister in Christ and personality conflict, are you working on it? Are they abounding to try to get over that? Are you abounding in your labor of the Lord’s work? Abound. For he who lacks these things is short-sighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his sins.

That’s pretty powerful. You know what that is? We quit building on the rock and we started building on the sand. That’s what that is right there. Then he goes on and says, This. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. Never stumble. For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. If I was to say, how many of us want to go to heaven? I would hope all our hands would go up, right? Now we might have some say, Well, I want to go, but not today. Why not today? Why not go today? Abundantly abound, everlasting kingdom, moving forward.

We are building on the rock. And 1 Corinthians 15 58, a great passage. Therefore, my beloved brethren, this is after he’s just said about the resurrection, about said the victories in Jesus, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, immovable. You know what the next part of that passage says? It’s a word we just used a minute ago. Always. Somebody said it. Abounding? Absolutely. What’s that mean? Abounding. We’ve heard it from Peter. Now we’re hearing it from Paul. Always abounding, building, increasing, growing, always abounding so that you know that your labor, building, your labor is not in vain in the Lord. Abounding in our what we call the Christian graces of faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, brotherly kindness, godliness. Abounding, steadfast and immovable, abounding, building, solid rock. If you don’t stop, if you stop building on the solid rock, you’re going to weaken the foundation, and it’s going to be sand.

5. You Do This, There’s a Reward

So we look at these things and think to ourselves, what’s he saying? He’s saying, You do this, there’s a reward. In Matthew 7, the reward was the storms came, and the wise men’s house stood firm. That was the reward. He was able to withstand whatever was coming his way. But when we think about the reward of obeying and enduring, Hebrews 9 27, there’s our congratulations. It’s appointed for man wants to die, and then the judgment. How many of us are scared of meeting God right now? Don’t have to raise your hand, but just think if God was to say, I’m calling you home now. How many are scared to meet him? What does 1 John 5 13 say? And I’m not going to quote it for you.

I’m going to let you turn there. I want you to know what that says. 1 John 5 13. You there, Dave? Do you think that you can believe in the name of the Son of God? That you may know that you have wise. And that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. That we can know we have what?

How many of us said, Do you want to go to heaven? You would say, I hope so. What’s John just telling us? We can know that. How do we know that? Believing, obeying, building on the rock. That’s what Jesus is saying. It’s what John is saying. Know that. We sometimes are the most miserable people in the world when we should be the most joyous. Come into Sunday morning services. We’re going to use you now. Hi, I’m Steve Neyer. Tell me who you are again. I’m Ralph Klein. I knew that. But what if Ralph came up to me and said, Hey, you come to me and say, Hey, I’m Ralph Klein. Say. Say, I’m Ralph Klein. I’m Ralph Klein. I’m Steve Nimer. I’m going to him. I’m Christian.

Glad to be here. That’s how we treat coming to the Lord’s services. We’re going to be with brothers and sisters in Christ. We’re going to study God’s words. We can know we have eternal life. Brethren, it’s time we start living like we know we can have eternal life. It’s time we understand that we can build on the rock and that Christ came with the words of God. The Holy Spirit has revealed those words to us. We can be guided into all truth. And we are miserable. We have to talk about brotherly love and kindness and attendance at services. I’m telling you, we are the most unorthodox people sometimes in the world. And I mean that sincerely. We’re confused. We have the Word of God. We have salvation in our hands because of the mercy and grace of God Almighty through his Son Jesus Christ.

And we have trouble getting along with one another. We have trouble attending services. We have trouble building on the rock. Brethren, these things should not be sold. So we look at this and think we’re going to die and then the judgment. And then Paul says over in 2 Thessalonians, very encouraging words there. In fact, he talks about comforting each other with these words. And I think about that. How much comfort do we get sometimes when we look at these passages of scripture and put it into our own lives of how wonderful it is? But in 2 Thessalonians 1, verses 3 through 12, Paul talks about things. He says, We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren. It is fitting because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you abounds toward each other.

Brethren at Thessalonica, Thessaloniki is it’s called, brethren, you are abounding in your love and faith. Sean, if you would go out to hold a gospel meeting and you say, I’m from South Bombey, what would it do to you if somebody said, Brother, I heard they are abounding in the love and the faith and the work of the Lord down there? Whew. That’s us. That’s what we should be doing, abounding in the work of the Lord and faith. Building on that rock. Then Paul goes on, and he says, This we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all persecutions, tribulations that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.

Sin it is since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. Rest with us, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not obey God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. He finishes that up with this. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord from the glory of his power. When he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, are we saints? Philippians 1 tells us we are with his saints to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.

Therefore we also pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you. That’s what we’re to do, glorify Christ in us. We are to be the shining light, reflecting the light of Christ. That’s what we’re to do. And you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. We go on down to first Thessalonians 4. We won’t read that. But as Paul is talking about the second coming of Christ, a brotherly and orderly life, and things along that line, he finishes up the comments with, Therefore, comfort one another with these words.

Conclusion

And then we look at Revelation 20. Names written in the book of life, and only those written in the book of life can be saved. So when we think about our beginning of a transformed life, and we’re many years beyond when we obeyed the gospel, we need to go back and look at the things that remember the cost, remember what we’re to do to hear his word, to do his will, to constantly use wisdom and applying his scriptures and to build on the rock, because the reward is tremendous for doing so. And there’s no tears in heaven. So when we think of that, and then you’ll see me, I’ll end every sermon sermon or lesson with this: the plan of salvation. Now I’ve done a lot of talking, and we got 10 minutes, right, Dave?

Is that what you told me? Ten minutes before the trapdoor opens up up here in Offical Down. Any questions or comments or thoughts? Yes, Dave.

And then went along a lot of operational or applied knowledge. And it makes me think of the commercial about holiday ends. You know, uh, somebody giving advice on how to do surgery. Right. No, I stated a holiday in last night. It’s kind of like us to where if you’re going to do surgery on someone, and that person says, Have you done this before? No, but I read a book. We can read all day long, but we have to have that will to apply. Exactly. You’re right, Dave. We’re all going to be thorough scholars, and we’re not going to be excellent people in Greek and all this, but we’re going to know how the scriptures operate and what Christ did for us and how we teach others.

The big thing is, how many of us are scared to meet somebody new? And this is okay to talk about it. How many of us have a little hesitancy of trying to teach someone the gospel when we think we don’t know enough about it? Operational knowledge of the scriptures, if you obeyed it, why can’t you teach them what you obeyed? You can do that. We all can do that. Teach them what, but how many times, yes, go right ahead? Oh, you can finish. I thought I was going to ask another question based on the idea of operational knowledge. Yes. We’re at times, as you would uh describe in we did each other is like we seem to be the saddest people at times. Right. No, there are situations where people are dealing with maybe certain illness over years at a time, and these things were to the point that it’s sometimes hard not to show.

So, in terms of the operational knowledge of God’s word, what would be some of the things that we say of the people and in these situations? That are constantly suffering, right? Great question. Alright? Give me some ideas that y’all think. That’s a great question. How do we deal with people who are suffering long suffering with issues, health issues, maybe even more than that, troubled issues in the family, things like that? Long period of time, how does operational knowledge handle these? What would you say to them? Yes, sir, Gerald. Well, you mentioned in John 1633, the things I spoke to you are that in me, you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But being good cheer, I’ve overcome the world. Alright, so what you would apply that knowledge and say, look to Christ, right?

Now, take anyone else, because that’s good. Let’s just hold that, right? We’re going to hold that right over here in the left hand. Anyone else got a comment? How would you handle that? Yes, sir. Go right ahead.

Yes. Yes.

Experience everything for our sin. You might as well try to miss with God, but at the end of it all, let’s go. Dear God and keep his commandments, for that’s the whole duty of man, right? Alright, very good. Any other comments? This is one of the hardest things for us to grab a hold of, and I appreciate the question. The biblical heart, if it’s right, no matter what the sickness is or the conditions are, will say Jesus is my comforter. I will find comfort in Jesus. I may suffer on the face of this earth. Jesus said in first in the Matthew 11th chapter, didn’t he? My yoke is easy, my burden is light. This life has got tribulation. And what we need to do is to comfort one another with the words of Jesus and what’s going to happen.

We don’t talk a lot. Yes, go right ahead.

Alright, go right ahead. Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. That’s operational knowledge of the scriptures right there. That’s when you look up and say, I know the scriptures have got another passage somewhere. I may have to look in the concordance, I may have to look some. That’s operating operational knowledge is what J.R. said. Operational knowledge is what the brother back there said. Operational knowledge is when you can look at it and say, I don’t know all the Greek, I don’t know all this, but I know where to find scriptures that will comfort me at times of trouble.

Yes, John. Steve, this may be easier to say for those of us who are not living in that type of suffering. Yes. But I think it’s important for us to prepare ourselves for a time in the future where we might suffer and not be able to get relief. And what I’m thinking about is uh we need to count our blessings and realize that there’s always somebody that’s worse off than me. There’s there’s many, many things in our lives that even though we may have this affliction that uh God has blessed us so richly in many other ways. And it’s easy when we’re down to think about woe, woe is me, I’m down. But when we look around us at the people in our lives and the other blessings in our lives, we should have great joy.

That’s exactly right. That’s a good point. Yes, sir. Just briefly Luke 4 when Christ is tempted from Satan’s. Yep. Responded with scripture. Respond with scripture. So I’m going to tell you a story. I know, yes, John, go right ahead, brother. I was also thinking about there’s a whole book in the Bible that deals with this, which is Philippians. Yes. Philippians use the word joy when any other New Testament book. And the interesting thing about that is when the writer Paul wrote it. He was suffering. He was suffering. He had lost his freedom. He was being treated unjustly, and yet he continued throughout that book, talks about rejoicing, joy. Why? Because he was content in Christ. In Christ. Relationship with Jesus is the key, real everlasting joy.

Absolutely. So I’m going to tell you a story. Last weekend, I had seven lessons with young adults, 40 and under. One of those, and I went around, we had a lesson on this is your life. And I went around about every one of them and gave them their name and said, Now you tell me about your life. One young lady, she was sitting right up here, and we know her well, we know the story. She said, I am in remission of blood cancer. She’s 18, 19 years old. I said, Yes, you are. She said, God has been good to me. I said, Hold it right there. God is good to you. Now I want to tell you about a Kelsey Harris. Kelsey Harris was 16, was her great niece.

She had cancer. She came up with the slogan, Life is more happy. Life is happier when you’re life is better. Life is better when you’re happier or something like that. But she did work in St. Jew with people and they would say, Don’t you know you’re a patient here? And she would say, I’m okay. I’m with God. I’ll help these other ones. Case Kelsey lost her life. The Lord gave her eternal healing. So when I think of situations like you brought up, the Lord’s either going to give us eternal healing with glory. Hallelujah for that. Or he’s going to give us physical healing so he can give us eternal healing on the earth. Now look at that and say, it’s in our attitude to how we handle it.

An attitude is a simple thing. This is just my definition of attitude. A ability of T to think in turn using divine example. What did Jesus say? I’m going to be alone, but I’m not alone. God is with me. What’s Stephen say? I see Jesus standing on the right hand side of God. What Paul say in 2 Corinthians 12 when he prayed three times that the infirmities would be taken from him when the Lord said, My grace is sufficient for you. He said, I just consider it to be a light infirmity and infirmity. Brethren, I’m telling you, that’s a great question. I appreciate it. But what I saw in this congregation was people using operational knowledge of the scriptures. Who probably didn’t think we don’t know what operational knowledge is.

We just experienced it. That is, if you can’t find it, you think about it. And you may like Ecclesiastes, a great book to bring up. It’s one of those things, or Philippians. It’s one of those things that comes to your mind. 2 Corinthians 16. The thought process that somebody’s worse off than we are. You look at that, and I think to myself, all of those things fit with whosoever heareth these things of mine and doeth them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house upon the rock. When the rains came down, the storms of life, the floods came, terrible things happened, the winds blew. What happened to the wise men’s house? Stood firm. Why? His faith, his knowledge, his belief was built on the rock, solid rock foundation of Jesus Christ.

Brethren, that’s where our rock needs to be. Our faith needs to be built on that rock, and we will withstand the storms of life.

Yes, Dave. Our focus this year is being transformed. Last year it was a good foundation. And this those two go together so solidly in what you’re saying. Great, great point. It does. Thank you for your comments. Looking forward to being with you. I want to get to meet all of you. If I don’t remember your name, I’ll call you Hey U.S. Whatever.

Thank you.