Bless The Lord, O My Soul - Thanking God For Good Health

Temple Baptist Church - 11-15-2015

Psalm 103:1-3

Introduction:

A.  Psalm 103 is one of my favorite portions of Scripture because it so vividly describes the goodness and grace of God to His children. 

1.  We took a look at David “Blessing The One Who Blesses.”  What a wonderful thing it is to bless the Lord who blesses us daily in so many ways.  Blessing the Lord is something that we determine to do in spite of our circumstances.

2.  We took a look at David blessing the Lord for His great forgiveness.  God is a God of mercy and grace; He is a God of loving-kindness.  We thanked God for the forgiveness of sin, both positionally (which is eternal and produces salvation) and practically (which is continual and produces fellowship). 

3.  This morning, I will preach on a subject that I have never used for an entire sermon: good health!  I want to take a short look at one of the greatest blessing that you can ever expect to have in this life: good health!  The word “health” is found 17 times if you have the right bible, the King James Bible. 

a)  The word “health” is found only 14 times in the Revised Version.

b)  The word “health” is found only 11 times in the ESV, the so-called bible that so many people now hold dear. 

c)  The word “health” is found only 11 times in the American Standard Version. 

d)  The word “health” is found only 9 times in the Modern King James Version.

e)    Notice with me that in the modern versions from the Catholic Text (Wescott-Hort Text), the number of references decline. 

B.  I guess, to the liberal scholar, the Word of God is in a transitional state!  Good health is not quite as important to the liberal as it is to the conservative?  I am going to let it go at that because this is not a study on the travesty of the new versions.  Let me say that Good Health is important to God as well as to the believer.

C.  Our bodies are the Temple of the Holy Ghost and, as we respect the church house, we should respect our bodies. 

D.  Five lessons concerning good health:

1.  Good Health is a blessing.  Good health is the will of God for the most part.  I understand that some people are born with health problems and that is the will of God for their lives but most of us were born with good physical bodies.  I watch our little children and every part of their bodies work right.  As you get older, they do not work as well.  If you have good health and your body reasonably works right, you are blessed! 

3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  (The key words of this verse are “prosper” and “”prospereth.”  It means to do well and to be so progressively.  To continue in good health.)

1.  God wants you to prosper spiritually – “even as thy soul prospereth”  I want to look at the last part of this verse first because of the words “even as.”  Spiritual prosperity brings about the first two prosperings. 

2.  God wants you to prosper materially – “that thou mayest prosper”  God wants us to prosper financially.  Not to be rich but to have sufficient to eat, drink, and to enjoy the things of life.  I am not preaching a Prosperity Gospel but God wants us to enjoy life.  Ecclesiastes 2:24 There is nothing better for a man, than that he should eat and drink, and that he should make his soul enjoy good in his labour. This also I saw, that it was from the hand of God.

3.  God wants you to prosper in physically – “and be in health”  God gave us our bodies to take care of.  These vehicles must carry us for many years and, as any good automobile or tool, must be maintained.

2.  Good Health can be taken for granted.  Never let a day that is good go by without blessing the Lord for your good health and a body that has little pain.

Psalms 71:9  Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth.  (Growing old is not for wimps!  As you get older, you do not take good days for granted.) 

3.  Good Health is fragile.  Sickness, disease, accidents, and foolishness can change how your body performs.  David said that there was but a step between him and death.  There is just a breath between having good health and declining health.  One step between having a body that works and having something break through accidents or sickness that makes life more miserable physically.  “Life is fragile, handle with care!”  That saying was on a reflective sticker on my hard hat when I worked in the mines because so many things underground could change things.

Philippians 2:27  For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.  (Our health can change with one beat of the heart.  I have pastored a long time and have buried them from a still birth up to old age.  Sickness, accidents, and death are no respecters of persons.)

4.  Good Health can be enhanced.  Through proper diet and physical exercise, we can strengthen our bodies.  There are things that we can do to, as much as lies within us, enhance our quality and quantity of life. 

a.  Our mental state is important.  Proverbs 16:24  Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones.  (Poor mental health will ruin good physical health!  “For as a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” makes a good application here.  Mental health and physical health go hand-in-hand.)

b.  Our diet is important.  Acts 27:33-34  And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.  (34)  Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.  (If God made it, we can eat it.  It is not the food that eat that so often hurts us but rather the amount.  I hear of all of these crazy diets, all of which are extreme in nature: low fat, low carb, etc. which tell you that you can lose weight fast do not work well.  In grade school, we took a Health Class which told us that all food groups were necessary each day for good health.  Now, eating meat is a cause of cancer?  Get a life!  Leave my grill and smoker alone.) 

c.  Our exercise is important.  1 Timothy 4:8  For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.  (I know that we zero in on the last part of this verse but the first part says that bodily exercise profits.)

5.  Good Health can be destroyed. 

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  (8)  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  (So many people, saved and lost alike, shorten their lives  because of sin.  This principle of sowing and reaping brings about a blessed life or one of corruption.)

a.  Sin can destroy one’s health - 1 Corinthians 3:17  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. (Young people expect to feel good and every part of their body work right but, too often, even their health and well-being fail.  Accidents, sickness, or abusing the body can be costly and permanent!  The old saying, “If I knew I was going to get this old, I would have taken better care of myself,” stands true.  Obesity, drinking, smoking, doing drugs, sexual impurity, etc. destroy these marvelous bodies that God has given to us.)

b.  The Word of God can prosper one’s health - Proverbs 4:20-22  My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.  (21)  Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.  (22)  For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.

Conclusion: 

1.  The first mention of health is found in Genesis, the Seed Bed of the Bible:  Genesis 43:27-28  And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Isyour father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive?  (28)  And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance.  (Abraham lived a long, fruitful life and was in good health.)

2.  The last mention of health is found 3 John 2  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  (God’s will for our bodies has never changed!)

Them Which Are Asleep

Temple Baptist Church - 11-8-2015

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Introduction:

A.  There are many times when Paul addressed the possible ignorance of God’s people on certain subjects. 

1.  Paul’s desire was “I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren.”  I would never presume for a moment that the saints of Temple Baptist Church would ever be ignorant in these areas but, as our children grow up, they must be biblically taught just like you and me. 

2.  Our taking certain biblical doctrines for granted can lead to those subjects no longer being preached upon and us raising a new generation that is ignorant on biblical doctrine.  There is nothing actually wrong with ignorance as the word refers to someone who has not been taught. 

3.  I think it was Will Rogers who said, “Everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.”  I may have the quote wrong but the precept is right. 

B.  Paul, in verse 13, deals with an event that we will all face if the Lord has not returned in our lifetime.  I will not use a lot of verses on death because it is a subject all too real to us older folks.

Genesis 2:17  But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Genesis 3:19  In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

C.  The question must be answered: Does man have only temporal life or does man have life after death?  There are several different viewpoints that I want to address in this introduction:

1.  There is the viewpoint of the atheist or agnostic that man dies as the dog dies (never more to have a conscience state) and the body goes back to dust.  Their reasoning is that everything came into existence through the Big Bang and Evolution.  Their perspective is that man is just an animal of higher intelligence instead of Divine design.  This is the fool of Psalms 14:1 which says, “The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good.”

2.  There is the viewpoint of the unsaved man who believes that there is a God but chooses not to place his/her faith in Him.  This individual is not a fool but is certainly foolish!  Their perspective is that of “no hope.”   They understand that they will never see their loved one again and mourn with great loss.

3.  There is the viewpoint of some who believe that, if you are not one of their number, your body goes back to dust and your soul is annihilated by God. 

4.  There is the viewpoint of some that when man dies, their soul sleeps in the grave until such a time as God resurrects both it and the body. 

5.  There is the biblical viewpoint (which is the correct one) that, when man dies, the body goes to the grave and the spirit back to God who gave it.

Ecclesiastes 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

D.  There is much misunderstanding concerning the subject of death.  The words “sleep” and “asleep” found in the Bible are confusing to the casual reader as the answer can only come through rightly dividing the Word of Truth.  We read here that the lost have no hope but those of us who are saved have a living hope that is eternal.

1.  Every person who has ever been on this earth has eternal existence.  God breathed eternal life into the body of Adam.  That life that God gave to Adam came from God and will never cease.  It was not just physical life as the Bible says that Adam became a living soul.

Genesis 2:7  And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.  (Living means to preserve, revive, or to keep alive.  Our life is derived through the life that God gave to Adam.  God does not need to breathe the breath of life into each of us.  The word “breathed” means to inspire or inspiration.  God breathed out, which is expiration, and breathed in to Adam, which is inspiration.  Inspiration means to infuse.  As God once inspired or infused life into the Bible, it remains inspired to this day through preservation.  Thus it is with man, God infused life into Adam and it remains infused in mankind through preservation.)

2.  As the soul and spirit of the saved will always be alive with the Lord, the soul and spirit of the unsaved with always be alive in hell.

3.  To be absent from the body for the saved is to be present with the Lord.  2 Corinthians 5:8  We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

4.  To be absent from the body for the unsaved is to be present in hell.  Luke 16:22-23  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;  (23)  And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

E.  In our verse for tonight, we find several things:

1.  The Surety of Death.

Ecclesiastes 12:7  Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

1 Corinthians 15:22  For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

Romans 5:12  Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Hebrews 9:27  And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:

2.  The Sorrow of Death.  Notice the difference between the death of two of David’s sons.

a.  The sorrow of those who have hope – “that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.”  Psalms 23:6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

b.  The sorrow of those who have no hope – “which have no hope”  Hebrews 2:15  And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.

3.  The Sweetness of Death.

a.  Sweet to the Lord - Psalms 116:15  Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.

Job 14:14-15  If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.  (15)  Thou shalt call, and I will answer thee: thou wilt have a desire to the work of thine hands.

b.  Sweet to the Saint - Philippians 1:21-23  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  (22)  But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  (23)  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Bless The Lord, O My Soul - Thanking God For His Great Forgiveness

Temple Baptist Church - 11-8-2015

Psalm 103:1-3

Introduction:

A.  Psalm 103 is one of my favorite portions of Scripture because it so vividly describes the goodness and grace of God to His children.  Last week, we saw David “Blessing The One Who Blesses.”  The expression of a man’s soul towards our loving Lord.

B.  This morning, I want to begin preaching on our thankfulness for all of His benefits.  Benefits could be described as extras.  On a secular job, these would be family insurance, retirement benefits, holidays and personal days off, or extra pay for working one’s birthday.  The Lord has given us many “benefits” to go along with a future in heaven with Him.

C.  The first benefit that David mentioned is that of the forgiveness of sin.  How wonderful it is to have experienced the forgiveness of sinfulness that brings about a settled peace in the heart.  David knew much about forgiveness!  He knew where he was when the Lord found him and how greatly that he had failed the Lord after being saved. 

D.  I want to look at forgiveness in two different areas that we need to be familiar with.

1.  The Greatest Love that we can ever know: The forgiveness that brings salvation.

2.  The Greatest Longsuffering that we can ever experience: The forgiveness that brings restoration.

1.  The forgiveness that brings salvation. 

a.  Like all men, David was a sinner that needed to be saved.  Though he came from the family of Jesse, a godly man, his being born into a good family was not enough to save him.  Nothing is said concerning when David was saved but, somewhere in David’s childhood or youth, he placed his personal faith in what the Messiah would one day do for him. 

b.  In the 23rd Psalm, David referred to the Lord as “my Shepherd.”  The forgiveness of salvation is eternal!  He ended that Psalm with the words, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.”

c.  Salvation has always been the “goodness and mercy” of God.  There has been a heresy preached for years that salvation was faith plus works in the Old Testament and also after the Rapture of the Church. 

d.  Salvation began in the Garden of Eden when the goodness and mercy of God came to Adam when Adam would not come to Him.  Adam and Eve’s salvation came through God’s sacrifice of atonement and the promise of the coming seed of the woman, the Messiah—the Christ of God.

e.  Ephesians 2:4-10  But God, who is rich in mercy (The Mercy of God), for his great love wherewith he loved us (The Love of God),  (5)  Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)  (6)  And hath raised us up together (The Power of God), and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:  (7)  That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.  (8)  For by grace are ye saved through faith (The Grace of God through Faith Exercised); and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:  (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast.  (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works (The Change that God makes in the Saved), which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

2.  The forgiveness that brings restoration.  As we all do, David failed the Lord greatly.  Sinfulness breaks our fellowship with the Lord and brings about our chastening.  When I think of David’s sinfulness, confession, and restoration—my mind goes to Psalm 51: David’s penitent prayer after his sin with Bathsheba and against Uriah the Hittite.  These verses confession, forgiveness, and restoration correspond with the New Testament.

Psalms 51:2-4, 7-12  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.  (3)  For I acknowledge my transgressions : and my sinis ever before me.  (4)  Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,and be clear when thou judgest … (7) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  (8)  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.  (9)  Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.  (10)  Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.  (11)  Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. (12)  Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

1 John 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

a.  The confession of sinfulness.  “I acknowledge my transgressions”  Before the forgiveness of restoration can come, openness and confession must be made.  “IF we confess our sins!”

b.  The forgiveness of sinfulness.  “purge me … wash me”  When we ask for God’s purging of sinfulness, He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  What a blessing to have the load of sin taken away and restoration made full. “He is faithful and just to forgive our sins.”

c.  The results of restoration.  “Clean … whiter than snow … to hear joy and gladness … a clean heart … a right spirit … restore unto me the joy of thy salvation.”  What a blessing to have a right relationship with our wonderful Lord!  “And to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Conclusion:  The first benefit is forgiveness!  Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to give to me the forgiveness that I need.

The Devil’s Doctrine

Temple Baptist Church - 10-28-2015

2 John 7-11

Introduction:

A.  I gave this message the title “The Devil’s Doctrine” for this reason: everything God is or God says is being either denied or twisted by Satan’s deceivers. 

1.  In the Garden of Eden, Satan used the serpent to change God’s Word and has used men ever since.  2 John speaks of these deceivers either not having or not abiding in the Doctrine of Christ.  The Doctrine of Christ or Christology is the most important doctrine found in the Bible. 

2.  Jesus Christ is the Center and Executor of God’s plan of the redemption of fallen man.  I do not want to take the time during this series on 2 John to deal with the Doctrine of Christ in detail as that is a study in itself but it is important to know what John means in verse 9.

B.  Everything that God has ever done for mankind has been through Jesus Christ, by Jesus Christ, and for Jesus Christ.  **Colossians 1:12-29.

C.  The Devil’s Doctrine is any doctrine that changes or discounts the Biblical account of the Person or work of Jesus Christ!  It matters not what denomination, church, or preacher who does this as they are doing the work of Satan! 

1 Timothy 4:1  Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Peter 2:1-3  But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  (2)  And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.  (3)  And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.

D.  What is the Doctrine of Christ?  A full explanation would take years as it would be a course in Systematic Theology.  I am preaching through the Book of 2 John, not teaching Bible College so:

E.  Here is a quick and simplistic overview of The Doctrine of Christ:

1.  Who Jesus Christ was: 

a)  He was Eternal and Self-sufficient.  Jesus the Christ has always been eternal God. He is Eternal and Self-Existent. Jesus Christ as God always existed in eternity past. He is not dependent upon anyone else for His existence. He is the uncaused cause.  John 1 declares that Jesus Christ was in the beginning with God and was God. 

John 1:1-2  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  (2)  The same was in the beginning with God.

b)  He was Jehovah God of the Old Testament.  The great I AM.  He was not  just the Son of God, He was very God!  He appeared many times in the Old Testament in what are called:  Theophanies, Christophanies, Anthropomorphisms (representation of Christ in inanimate forms such as the Burning Bush and the Rock of Horeb). 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

c)  He was the Creator of all things.  John 1 declares that He was the Creator of all things.  He is life and gives life.

John 1:3  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

2.  Who Jesus Christ became: 

a)  He became man, the virgin born Son of God. 

Matthew 1:23  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

b)  The Hypostatic Union:  the union of two natures, human and divine: 100% God and 100% Man.  As God, He could not be tempeted (James 1:13) but, as man, He was tempted (Matthew 4:1).

John 1:14  And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

c)  He was the sinless Son of God.

Hebrews 7:26  For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

3.  What Jesus Christ did:

a)  He became sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:21  For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

b)  He died a substitutionary death of the cross for the sins of the world.

1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

c)  He is the ONLY way of salvation.  Many denominations teach salvation through baptism, good works, sacraments, the church, Mary as co-redemptrix with Christ.

John 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Acts 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

John 10:9  I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

d)  He physically died.  Some teach that Christ swooned and, pretending to be dead, was carried away by his disciples.

John 19:33  But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:

e)  He was buried and rose again bodily according to the Scripture.  Some teach that it was a spiritual resurrection and not a bodily one.

Matthew 28:6  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

f)  He ascended back to heaven.

Acts 1:9  And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

4.  What Jesus Christ is doing: 

a)  He is our High Priest.  He offered His blood on the Mercy Seat.

Hebrews 9:11-12  But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;  (12)  Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.

b)  He is our Mediator.  He is the only Mediator between God and man.  Roman Catholicism teaches Mary as co-mediatrix with Christ.

1 Timothy 2:5  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

c)  He is our Intercessor.  He ever liveth to make intercession for the saints.  Roman Catholicism also teaches that Mary makes intercession for the saints.

Romans 8:34  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.

5.  What Jesus Christ will do:

a)  He will come in the Rapture for His Church.  This is a pre-millennial, pre-tribulation return. 

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  (16)  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:  (17)  Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

b)  He will come in the Revelation to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

Revelation 19:11  And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

Revelation 20:6  Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

c)  He will sit on the Great White Throne to judge the unsaved.

Revelation 20:11-15  And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.  (12)  And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.  (13)  And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.  (14)  And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.  (15)  And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

d)  He will make a new heaven and a new earth.

Revelation 21:1-5  And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  (2)  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  (3)  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.  (4)  And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.  (5)  And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

e)  He will dwell eternally with His people.

Revelation 21:3  And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.

F.  What are we commanded to do concerning these deceivers?

1.  For those who knock on our doors.  These are the cults: Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, Seventh Day Adventists, etc.

a. Do not allow them to come into your home.  2 John 1:10a  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not intoyour house.

b.  Do not argue with them.  Proverbs 19:27-28  Cease, my son, to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge. (28)  An ungodly witness scorneth judgment: and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.

c.  Do not say God bless you to them.  2 John 10b-11  Neither bid him God speed:  (11)  For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

2.  For those who we encounter outside of our local church.  These are those of “Christendom” who profess to know Jesus Christ but have not the Doctrine of Christ.

a. Try them with the Word of God.  1 John 4:1-3  Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.  (2)  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  (3)  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

b.  Turn away from them.  2 Timothy 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

c.  Remain separate from them.  2 Corinthians 6:16  And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

3.  For those who are within our local church.   These are the ones who are a part of the “falling away” of 2 Thessalonians 2.  They are the hardest kind to separate from because they have been or supposedly have been a part of us who still believe the Doctrine of Christ.  These feast with us while constantly nibbling at the foundations of truth.

a.  Rebuke them.  Titus 1:13  This witness is true. Wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith;

b.  Mark them.  Romans 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

b.  Reject them.  Titus 3:10  A man that is an heretick after the first and second admonition reject;