Tag: Apostolic Life Cathedral

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Bible Teaching

Image & Likeness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 5, 2024 | 7 pm

1 Thessalonians 5:23-24, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (24)  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”

Man is made up of spirit, soul, and body: see handout[1]

As Christians and ministers, we must understand the tri-part nature of man in order to help people at the root (the source) of what has plagued them for years (sometimes their lifetime).

Genesis 1:26-27, “(26) And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.  (27)  So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”

God created Man in His Image and Likeness:

  • Image = Total Man (trichotomy)
  • Imago Dei = “Image of God”
    • Spirit = Transformed, New Creature, Born Again. This is where the Holy Ghost dwells. If unregenerated the spirit is empty of God’s presence and open to demonic spiritual attack.
      • Proverbs 20:27, “The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”
      • When you receive the Holy Ghost, both your spirit and God’s Spirit are hermetically sealed together until the judgment seat of Christ.
    • Soul = Mind, Will and Emotions. Subject to attack by tormenting, oppressive spirits through the thought life. Your mind sets your will. Your emotion is a direct result of your mindset.
      • The Battleground: “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12).
      • 2 Corinthians 10:3-6, (3) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:  (4)  (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)  (5)  Casting down imaginations [carnal reasoning and fleshly calculation], and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;  (6)  And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.
    • Body = Subject to attacks by spirits of infirmity (weakness and disease) through improper habits of health, nutrition, safety.
  • Likeness = goings and doings (choices we make)
    • Free will
    • Man, in God’s Image, chooses the likeness he pursues
      • Mark 12:13-17, “(13) And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.  (14)  And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not?  (15)  Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.  (16)  And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar’s.  (17)  And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.”
      • Whose image is on you, and what likeness do you display?
    • Why does a man do the things he does?
    • A key to life is to learn to accept responsibility for your actions: the likeness you choose.

PLEASE NOTE![2]

Unless there is an open door, evil spirits cannot freely attack. We do not pick up an evil spirit while walking down the street.

Many have opened the door before they were filled with the Holy Ghost and when the spirit level of God is low in their natural life, satan starts invading their mind.

Why? The spirit of the man has allowed the Holy Spirit of God to become low in their life.

You, through the power of the Holy Ghost, have the right to evict all unwelcome guests to your body, soul and spirit.

This brings us to the point of renewing your mind. We renew, or refresh, our body by sleep and nourishment.

Likewise, we need to renew our mind in the Holy Ghost. This can best be accomplished through prayer and praise.

Ephesians 4:22-24, “(22) That ye put off concerning the former conversation [lifestyle = goings and doings] the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; (23) And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (24) And that ye put on the new man, which after God [Image of God] is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

The mind cannot maintain a common relationship with the Lord if the heart, for instance, holds to things, such as resentment, bitterness and hatred. Body, soul and spirit must be purged to maintain a productive spirit level.

“The Holy Ghost can only flow through you as pure as you are in your body, soul and spirit.” –Johnny Garrison

A sick body naturally can come under attack spiritually. God wants us to maintain body, soul and spirit to the very best of our knowledge.

We all will be held accountable for what we know to do.

There is a strong link between sickness and sin, or sickness and fear (anxiety), which manifests itself in what has been called “psychosomatic disorders” (mind-body).

James gave us an antidote for these issues:

(13 )Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  (14)  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:  (15)  And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.  (16)  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much (James 5:13-16).

Christians who have obey the Word and God and follow Jesus with an undivided heart bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.

That obedience is the best revenge of our past disobedience when we were the servants of sin.

As Christians we have a choice regarding whose Image and Likeness we choose to carry and model: Romans 6:15-23

(15)  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

(16)  Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?

(17)  But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

(18)  Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

(19)  I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

(20)  For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.

(21)  What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.

(22)  But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

(23)  For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

When you decide to carry the Image and Likeness of God you live in victory because of these truths:[3]

  1. You are separated from the power and enticement of sin: “How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” (Rom. 6:2).
  2. You are alive unto God: “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:11).
  3. The finished work of Calvary satisfied the demands of the Law and payment for our sin: “Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ…” (Romans 7:4).
  4. Sin no longer has control over you: “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.” (Romans 6:12-14).
  5. There is still a battle going on between the Law of God and the law of sin, which presents a choice between the Image and Likeness you choose: “For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin” (Romans 7:22-25).
  6. The Law of the Spirit is more powerful than the low of sin and death: “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death…. For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live” (Romans 8:1-2, 13).
  7. The victory Christ purchased for you helps you to approach every temptation from a position of victory: “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:…And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 1:19-21, 2:6-7).

[1] Notes: Dr. Joe Nelson. Techniques of Counseling 1. Parkersburg Bible College. Fall 2001.

[2] Ibid. (italicized parts are directly quoted from the PBC notes from the textbook on page 101)

[3] Ibid. p. 105-106.

Categories
Bible Preaching

God’s Extraction Plan

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 17, 2024 | 6:30 PM

Jesus has an initial extraction plan to “seek and to save that which was lost,” and then to extract those He initially extracted (called out) from the sinful world to rise up and be with Him in Heaven.

Text: Acts 2:46-47

(46)  And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

(47)  Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

The word “Church” (ekklesia) means “a calling out.”

The Church then is an assembly of people who have been called out of the sinful world.

We have in this assembly tonight men and women who were responded to the call of Jesus and were extracted and brought into a place of safety – the Church.

80 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament

The Church is universal – international. In fact, the last 7 times “Church” is mentioned in the New Testament Jesus is speaking to multiple churches: Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, Laodicea (Rev. 2-3).

Then we read this passage from John in Revelation 4:1, “After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.”

“Come up hither” is when the church is called out the second time to be with Jesus in Heaven.

Called out to be called up!

1 Corinthians 15:50-58

(50)  Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

(51)  Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

(52)  In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

(53)  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

(54)  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

(55)  O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

(56)  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

(57)  But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

(58)  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

Called out and called up!

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

(13)  But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

(14)  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

(15)  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

(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.

(18)  Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Called out of the sinful world

Jude 1:21-23, “(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  (22)  And of some have compassion, making a difference:  (23)  And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”

  • Some have questions and need to be  convinced by the Spirit and the Word.
  • Others we snatch from Hell’s flames as God delivers them from sin.
  • There are those to whom we show compassion and in a less aggressive manner we see them call out to God and they are saved from Hell as well.
  • You don’t have to be stained by sin to love a sinner to Jesus.
  • Just be intentional in God’s Extraction Plan.

God is intentional in His daily work to save people: “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”

  • Intentionality of daily life – don’t become a robot
  • Hebrews 12:1-2, “(1) Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,  (2)  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
  • 1 Jn. 3:8b, “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.”
  • Out intentionality is necessary:
    • Psalms 100:1-5, “(1) Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.  (2)  Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.  (3)  Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.  (4)  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  (5)  For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
    • Isaiah 12:2-3, “(2) Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  (3)  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.

God’s Extraction Plan involves ALL of member of the CHURCH working together:

Kelly Doss:

  1. Homeless man in need of a place to sleep last night.
  2. Ebony let him stay with her.
  3. Anita picked up Ebony and Kelly this morning for Sunday School.
  4. He wept in the car saying he needed a change and family.
  5. Anita told him, “We (ALC) can be your family.”
  6. Bro. Robbins read a verse about being free. Kelly related to it because of his own run-ins with the law.
  7. Bro. Daniel sang a song about being free.
  8. Before she went to teach her class she told him, “Jesus wants to do something for you today. Be willing to lean into that.”
  9. He came to the front and Gary Keesee prayed with him as he repented.
  10. Gary then went to his pew and talked with him about baptism, then took him to the baptistery.
  11. Bishop Harper prayed over Kelly.
  12. I baptized Kelly in the name of the Jesus Christ.
  13. Kelly came out of the water speaking in tongues as he was filled with the Holy Ghost.
  14. Everyone had a separate but necessary part to play in God’s Extraction Plan.

Are you ready?

Luke 12:40, “Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”

John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.”

Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Categories
Bible Teaching

Jesus Is Alive Today

Apostolic Life Cathedral | March 3, 2024 | 10:00 AM

John 4:1-43
(1)  When therefore the Lord knew how the Pharisees had heard that Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John,
(2)  (Though Jesus himself baptized not, but his disciples,)
(3)  He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
(4)  And he must needs go through Samaria.
(5)  Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.
(6)  Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour.
(7)  There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink.
(8)  (For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.)
(9)  Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans.
(10)  Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
(11)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
(12)  Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
(13)  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
(14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
(15)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.
(16)  Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither.
(17)  The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband:
(18)  For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly.
(19)  The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.
(20)  Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.
(21)  Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father.
(22)  Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews.
(23)  But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
(24)  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
(25)  The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things.
(26)  Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.
(27)  And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her?
(28)  The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
(29)  Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
(30)  Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
(31)  In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat.
(32)  But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
(33)  Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat?
(34)  Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.
(35)  Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
(36)  And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together.
(37)  And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth.
(38)  I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours.
(39)  And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did.
(40)  So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
(41)  And many more believed because of his own word;
(42)  And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.
(43)  Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Lunch Time

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/11/2024 | 10:00 AM
Categories
Bible Preaching

No Time to Waste, Get It Done – Bishop Edwin S. Harper

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 6:30 pm
Categories
Bible Preaching

A Complete Work

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/4/2024 | 10 am

John 5:2-9, 14

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath….14  Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

Notice:

  1. Impotent = to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless, to be weak in means, needy, poor, sick.[1]
  2. The impotent folk waited for another to help them.  They were looking for a Savior
  3. A certain man = we don’t know his name, whether he was married, what his infirmity was, or his age, only that he was in that infirm condition for 38 years.
  4. vs. 6, “Wilt thou be made whole?” = Other translations read:
    1. NASB, “Do you wish to get well?” – removes the importance of the word “whole”
    2. RSV/ESV, “Do you want to be healed?”
    3. NEB, “Do you want to recover?”
  5. The man’s restoration back to wholeness relied on his obedience to the command of the Lord.
  6. Whole = sound, of a man who is sound in body to make one whole (i.e. restore him to health), metaphorically: teaching which does not deviate from the truth.[2]

Consider the reality that many in our churches are:

  • Religious, but not saved
  • Churchy-fied, but not sanctified
  • They holler, but are not holy
  • Speak in tongues, but don’t allow the Holy Ghost to direct their lives
  • Come to the altar, but don’t give their whole self to God
  • Satisfied with less than purity, holiness, morality, complete transformation

Wilt thou be made whole? 

Do you really want to be complete?

Are you really seeking God in every aspect of you life?

Have you truly tried to clean up all the deficits of your personality, nature, urges?

Have you really tried to present yourself to God as “a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Ro. 12:1)?

Are you really striving not to be “conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Ro. 12:2)?

Do you really want to stop doing what’s ungodly?

Do you really want to please God and obey His Word?

Do you want to be made whole?

Philippians 1:3-7, “(3) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,  (4)  Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,  (5)  For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;  (6)  Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:  (7)  Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.”

God is here to do A Complete Work in you…

[1] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Astheneo. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

[2] Thayer and Smith. Greek Lexicon entry for Hugies. The KJV New Testament Greek Lexicon.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Standing Tall On Your Knees

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/21/2024 | 10 am

Daniel 6:1-28
(1)  It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;
(2)  And over these three presidents; of whom Daniel was first: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage.
(3)  Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
(4)  Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
(5)  Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
(6)  Then these presidents and princes assembled together to the king, and said thus unto him, King Darius, live for ever.
(7)  All the presidents of the kingdom, the governors, and the princes, the counsellors, and the captains, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a firm decree, that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
(8)  Now, O king, establish the decree, and sign the writing, that it be not changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(9)  Wherefore king Darius signed the writing and the decree.
(10)  Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
(11)  Then these men assembled, and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God.
(12)  Then they came near, and spake before the king concerning the king’s decree; Hast thou not signed a decree, that every man that shall ask a petition of any God or man within thirty days, save of thee, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered and said, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which altereth not.
(13)  Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, which is of the children of the captivity of Judah, regardeth not thee, O king, nor the decree that thou hast signed, but maketh his petition three times a day.
(14)  Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him: and he laboured till the going down of the sun to deliver him.
(15)  Then these men assembled unto the king, and said unto the king, Know, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, That no decree nor statute which the king establisheth may be changed.
(16)  Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spake and said unto Daniel, Thy God whom thou servest continually, he will deliver thee.
(17)  And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that the purpose might not be changed concerning Daniel.
(18)  Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.
(19)  Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions.
(20)  And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions?
(21)  Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever.
(22)  My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
(23)  Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
(24)  And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
(25)  Then king Darius wrote unto all people, nations, and languages, that dwell in all the earth; Peace be multiplied unto you.
(26)  I make a decree, That in every dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel: for he is the living God, and stedfast for ever, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed, and his dominion shall be even unto the end.
(27)  He delivereth and rescueth, and he worketh signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who hath delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
(28)  So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.

Categories
Bible Teaching

Times Like This?

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 1/28/2024 | 10 am

Esther 4:13-14, “Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape in the king’s house, more than all the Jews.  For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father’s house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?“

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Voice of Holiness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 2/6/2024 | 7 pm

Text: Psalms 24:3-4                                        

“Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Psalms 15:1-5

(1)  LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill?

(2)  He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart.

(3)  He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.

(4)  In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.

(5)  He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.

The “hill of the Lord,” “His holy place,” “thy tabernacle,” and “thy holy hill,” all refer to the hill of Zion, or Mount Zion, which is where the Temple was built in Jerusalem.

It is a type and shadow of the Church. The Church is that body of Christ established in Acts 2, and the building Jesus built on top of the great mountain. So, we can also read the passage this way:

“Who shall ascend into the Church of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy Church?  He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

I want to draw your attention to that phrase: “nor sworn deceitfully,” and the flowing phrase found in Psalm 15, “speaketh truth in his heart.”

I am teaching tonight on this topic: The Voice of Holiness

2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1

(14)  Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion [fellowship, partnership] hath light with darkness?

(15)  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?

(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.

(17)  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

(18)  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

 (7:1) Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Perfecting holiness is a lifelong process.  There are no shortcuts. 

Holiness is a continued work of sanctification, as the Holy Spirit of God perpetually prepares you for a holy purpose:

“But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1:15-16).

Holiness is an essential element of spiritual maturity and is measurable by our actions, thoughts, and speech in relation to what we know. 

You are responsible for what you know, and that includes the principles related to holiness, which is why the satan want to keep you blind in order to keep you spiritually immature.

Spiritual maturity is measurable by your behavior and the habits that you develop according to your understanding of God’s Word and His principles.

Habits and conduct develop character.  The spiritual character of Christ will not be formed in you if your conduct and habits are not developed in relationship to what is holy.

What you do reveals your true character.

For this reason, how you talk, your speech, is also an indicator of your spiritual maturity and holiness.

James 3:1-12

(1)  My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation.

(2)  For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

(3)  Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body.

(4)  Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth.

(5)  Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!

(6)  And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

(7)  For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind:

(8)  But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

(9)  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

(10)  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

(11)  Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

(12)  Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

The Voice of Holiness

I remind you, “Holiness” means “a sacred place…dedicated thing…hallowed…holiness…holy…saint…sanctuary.”[1]

According to Vine’s Expository Dictionary, in the New Testament, there are two words for holy and holiness and each is important to having a full understanding of the perpetual work of holiness working in your life as the Holy Spirit of God prepares you for a holy purpose”

  1. Hagiasmos – “Holiness, which in most cases is rendered sanctification.  It means separation to God.”[2]
  2. Hagiosune – “Denotes the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct.  This, along with His resurrection from the dead, is what marked Jesus as the Son of God. He was without sin.”[3]

Hear that again: Holiness is “the manifestation of the quality of holiness in personal conduct.”

This includes your voice. The conduct of your tongue.

This is why the late Bill Sciscoe defined holiness as “the amount of the character of Jesus Christ displayed in you, and we’re all at different levels” of spiritual maturity.

Pastor Fairburn reminded me today that in Judaism there is an entire area of teaching regarding the sin of speaking evil, which is known as Lashon Harah.[4]

Part of this teaching says that you need to be careful about passing judgment on other because inevitably you be tempted in the same thing that you verbally judged and spoke of someone else doing.

One Jewish teacher, Rabbi Mendel Kessin, says that “lashon harah (speaking evil) brings prosecution by Satan and shortens one’s life.”

If this is true, then is not only wise to guard your tongue when  tempted to speak, or judge someone else, but it may be healthy for you to just be quiet.

“Discretion is your friend.”[5]

“(5) If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. (6)  But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed” (James 1:5-6).

Proverbs 8:12, KJV, “I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions.” ESV, “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.”

Know when to speak and when not to speak.

The Voice of Holiness refuses to align itself with the devil by joining his prosecuting team as a fellow accuser of the brethren.

Revelation 12:10, “And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.”

Join the Advocate’s side: “(1)  My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (2)  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world” (John 2:1-2).

“God casts a vote for you, the devil casts against you, but you cast the deciding ballot.”[6]

“Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth” (Romans 8:33).

Learn to be still…

Psalms 4:4, “Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.”

“…be still…” = “to be silent, be still, wait, be dumb, grow dumb”[7]

Try this: “Stop Talking!”

Study to be quiet…

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, “(9) But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  (10)  And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;  (11)  And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;  (12)  That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”

To labour and strive[8] to keep still, to refrain from meddlesomeness or speech, hold peace.[9]

It is not easy, but practicing The Voice of Holiness is well worth the effort when you see how it pleases the Lord and brings His peace into the situation.

Romans 14:10-13

(10) But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.  (11)  For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.  (12)  So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.  (13)  Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in his brother’s way.

Matthew 7:1-2, “(1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.  (2)  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”

Luke 6:37-38, “(37) Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:  (38)  Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”

1 Corinthians 11:31-32, “(31) For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.  (32)  But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.”

Matthew 12:34-37, “(34) O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.  (35)  A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.  (36)  But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.  (37)  For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

Make sure that your speech today doesn’t judge you on the day of judgment.

 1 Peter 3:8-12, “(8) Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:  (9)  Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.  (10)  For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:  (11)  Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it.  (12)  For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.”

Colossians 4:2-6, “(2) Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;  (3)  Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  (4)  That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.  (5)  Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.  (6)  Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Living the principle of The Voice of Holiness will prepare for you an open door of utterance to reach people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Consider this…

2 Peter 2:9-10 

(9) The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:  (10)  But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. The word rendered “dignities” here, (δόξας doxas,) means properly honor, glory, splendor; then that which is fitted to inspire respect; that which is dignified or exalted. It is applied here to men of exalted rank; and the meaning is, that they did not regard rank, or station, or office – thus violating the plainest rules of propriety and of religion

[1] Strong’s. Brown-Driver-Briggs. H6918.

[2] PI. 8304 – Perfecting Holiness, Lesson 1 Notes

[3] Ibid.

[4] Aaron Fairburn. Notes from a series of text messages with him on 2/6/2024. 

[5] Anita Kuntzman

[6] Elwood Fleming.

[7] Brown-Driver-Briggs. H1826.

[8] Strong’s. G5389.

[9] Strong’s. G2270.

Categories
Bible Teaching

The Humility of Holiness

Apostolic Life Cathedral | 12/3/2023 | 10:00 AM

The Humility of Holiness

Isaiah 6:1-8, “(1) In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.  (2)  Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.  (3)  And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.  (4)  And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.  (5)  Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.  (6)  Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:  (7)  And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.  (8)  Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.”

Deuteronomy 17:12-13 “(12) And the man that will do presumptuously, and will not hearken unto the priest that standeth to minister there before the LORD thy God, or unto the judge, even that man shall die: and thou shalt put away the evil from Israel.  (13)  And all the people shall hear, and fear, and do no more presumptuously.”

Exodus 21:14, “But if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar, that he may die.”

Isaiah 57:15, “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.“