Wednesday Night Bible Study

and praise the Lord everyone. >> The Bible said in that day they shall say, "Praise the Lord." And we're going to be saying, "Praise the Lord and going to continue to praise him." And may I say, it's great to see each one of you in the house of the Lord tonight. Glad to see folks that love the study of the word of God. And we want you to know that we are delighted to have you with us tonight as we will continue to study God's word. Tonight we're going to we'll be continuing the study that we've been on for some time. It'll be from a just a little different angle and a different uh thought. But tonight I'm going to entitle this study tonight the mother of us all better things than that. Father, we thank you for the privilege of being in the house of God tonight. We thank you for the precious saints of God and the family of God that's with us tonight. I pray that you will anoint the lips of clay with the spirit of God. Give what you would have spoken in this service. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Galatians chapter 4 and we're going to read verse 24 through 26. Which things are an allegory? For these are the two covenants, the one from Mount Si which genderth the bondage which is Aar. And this Aar is Mount Si in Arabia. and answerth to Jerusalem, which now is and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. Those uh three verses establish something very important. And let me read the verse again. rather slowly and as we look at it and examine to see what is in it for us today. Galatians 4:24, which things are an allegory, for these are the two covenants, the one from Mount Si, which gender which genderth to bondage, which is Aar. For this Aar is Mount Si in Arabia, and answerth to Jerusalem, which now is and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. Now this establishes something very important that there was a a a great debt owed by others that are not of the covenant a a a debt to Jerusalem. But there's another group of folks. But Jerusalem, which is above, is free, which is the mother of us all. The above scriptures calls to the attention the difference between the sons of Abraham, one by Hagar, the bond woman, which was according to the flesh, and the other by Sarah, who was not only barren, but beyond the age of bearing children. Notice Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all married to women who could not bear children. I think there was a a reason for this and it wasn't a happenstance accident, but I think the reason is if you notice Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all married to women who could not bear children. God wants us to know without a doubt that his church is a miraculous church. >> These women according to the flesh could not bear children. They were barren until a miraculous move happened in their body and they were all able to bear children. And I there's something that I think we need to understand that God's church has something that no other church has and that is it's a miraculous church. It's a church that's born uh out of a miracle. No man started it and no man can stop it. Jesus said, "Upon on this rock, I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Let's quote that again rather slowly. My church, his church is built upon the foundation, the rock and and nothing in this world can come against it. His church is is is on the rock and he is that rock. Notice Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are all married to women who could not bear children. God wants us to know without doubt his church is a miraculous church. And I hope we never forget this fact that the church is not an organization. It's an organism. It's something that's alive. It's something that's growing. His church is his body and it's a living creature that is his the church is the body of Christ and he is the head of that body. Revelation 21 and2. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Now then, this this new Jerusalem that we're talking about now, John saw the new Jerusalem coming down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. When we talk about Jerusalem today, we're not talking about that that city over there in the Middle East that so many people love to go and and visit and say, "I have been there." But we're talking about the body of Christ, the church of the living God, that new Jerusalem. I have never been to uh the uh ho holy land so-called. I'll say that because uh the lands whether it's holy or not, what makes it holy is when God is there. But I've never been there. But I want you to know my name is written in that new Jerusalem. And one of these days I'm going to get to see that new Jerusalem. I I I'll I have no plans in getting a ticket to go over and and God bless you for going and everyone that's gone tells about how great it is and what a wonderful experience and I I concur with and that's great. But I I tell you now, uh my wife and I will never go to that Jerusalem until they build a bridge to get there. She when when she flies to the new Jerusalem, it's not going to be in an airplane. It's going to be a plain air ride for her. Uh notice Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, they manifested the fact that the church was going to be a miraculous church. And I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven prepared. Now, we're talking about that new Jerusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Now, if we're going to be in that church and and we are that earthly church that that is going to be called the New Jerusalem, we've got to be adorned like a a bride is adorned for her husband. And when when they I've performed a lot of wedding ceremonies down through the years and and I've never performed one yet that they there wasn't a lot of a real tension because everybody wants to look just right. The bride's going to be dressed beautiful in her beautiful white gown and and the attendance. It's going to be a very special occasion. Well, I want to tell you something. This great occasion that I'm talking about now has never been equaled in all eternity. And you and I are going to be in that wedding supper one of these days when the trump sounds and the dead in Christ rise first. And then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds. >> With them in the clouds to meet the Lord. Oh, hallelujah. I get thrilled every time I talk about that. Uh, and a lot of folks don't don't get the point on that. But the trumpet of God shall sound and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then if it should happen tonight, the dead would rise first, and then you and I that's ready to go would rise to meet them in the clouds. And then we'll meet the Lord in the air. After we meet our loved ones, after we meet each other, then there's going to be a meeting in the air when we meet the Lord Jesus Christ, and there's going to be our husband, and we're going to be the bride. Oh, hallelujah. All right. Uh, Revelation 21:9. And there came unto me one of the seven angels, which had the seven vials full of the seven last plagues, and talked with me, saying, Come, hither, I'll show thee the bride, the lamb's wife. Come, I want to show you the bride, the lamb's wife. And he carried me away in the spirit to a high mountain and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God. Hebrews 12, starting at verse 20. For they could not endure that which was commanded. And if so much as a beast touched the mountain, it shall be stoned or thrust through with the dark, and so terrible was the sight that Moses said, I exceedingly fear and quake. But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaketh better things than that of Abel. He's speaking better things than was spoken to Abel. We'll get to more of that a little later. And he said in Genesis 4:10, "And he said, what hast thou done? The voice of thy brother's blood crith unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother's blood from thy hand. Revelation 5:9. And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof. For thou was slain, and has redeemed us to God by the blood out of every kindred and tongue and people and nation, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on earth. Now, you see, Abel's blood brought revenge. Christ's blood blood brought redemption. Abel's blood caused Cain to run. Christ's blood caused us to reign. Thank God for that blood. Thank God for the blood. Thank God for the old songs that Oh, thank God for the blood. Thank God for the blood. Let me tell you something. We must not forget that great lesson of the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanses us. Now then he we've established his church how it came about. It came about through the the blood of of Jesus Christ and what the Bible speaks of it being the new Jerusalem. And now then we started a message and I want to get plug back into what I was preaching. He he he's got a church and he gave the church a gift. And let me read to you the gift that God gave this church. Ephesians 4:11. And he gave some apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers for the perfecting of the saints. For the perfecting of the saints. That just let the let the word speak for itself. It needs no explanation. uh for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. This is why God gave us pastors, prophets, evangelists, and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ. Now when we when we or anyone presumes to reject or or receive fail to receive these leaders, you're rejecting a gift from God because God gave these to us. Backsliders need pastors. Jeru uh Jeremiah 3:14 and 15. Turn, oh backsliding it, children, sayeth the Lord, for I am married unto you, and I will take you one of a city and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion. Turn, oh, backsliding or backsliding children. Now, in this, I read something very wonderful. God knew above everyone else that there was going to be backsliders, but he provided for the backsliders. Oh, turn backsliding children, sayeth the Lord, for I'm married to you. Would you notice that he's claiming us as his spouse, as his marriage partner, even though we have backsliden, he hasn't cast us off, but he's calling us back into fellowship with him. Aren't you glad of that close relationship we have with Jesus? Now, some of us, I've seen folks that that are are too frivolous. I I won't I'll admit that first of all, folks who who are too frivolous and and don't take their position in God serious enough, but I've seen those that that feel like they're just living on thin ice. There's just a a thread holding you on. Oh, let me tell you something. He said you was in his hand and no man can pluck you out of his hand. You're going to have to let yourself go. You're going to have to sin your way out of his hand because he's not going to turn loose of you because we are his bride. Backsliders need pastors. And I will give you pastors according to my heart which feeds you with knowledge and understanding. That's why God gives us pastures according to his heart which feeds you and with knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass when ye be multiplied and increased in the land in those days, sayeth the Lord. Now, we we touched on this last Wednesday night. And there's something very very important in this verse. You got to look at it closely. When you be multiplied and increased in the land in those days, sayeth the Lord, they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Neither shall it come to mine, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done anymore. Now you see in those days the the ark of the Lord was a very important thing and you remember when they uh were told to go across through the wilderness headed to the promised land the priests didn't know the way the Levites didn't know the way but they took the ark of God and the ark guided them through the wilderness. It it led them to where there was water. It led them to where they needed to go. That's how important the ark of God was. Now then, he said, "There's going to come a time when you're multiplied and increase in the land. In those days, sayeth the Lord, they will say no more the the the ark of the covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mine." Now the reason for that is he has replaced the old physical ark that was covered over and had the angels overshadowing it, overseeing it. But there's something more important than that arc. You he said you won't mention that anymore. You won't talk about that. You won't look to that for guidance because I am going to give you something else. And that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of God. Now, he's already told us who Jerusalem was. The church is the new Jerusalem. And now then, what's going to take the place of that ark? And the reason we're not going to refer to the ark every time we need, we've got a church. We've got pastors and teachers and leaders that God has anointed and put over us to be our leaders and guides. They can lead. They'll lead us through the wilderness. They'll lead us through the sunshine and through the shadows. That's what the pastors are for. Somebody say, "Praise the Lord." And he gave some pastors. And it shall come to pass when you be multiplied and increased in the land. In those days, sayeth the Lord, they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Neither shall it come to mind. Neither shall they remember it. Neither shall they visit it. Neither shall that be done anymore. Now, what is being promised by God through the prophet Jeremiah is there's going to be a a new day that you're going to have something more precious than that physical ark. You're going to have something more precious than the system of of the old covenant. He's got the reason for that. The reason for that, we've got a new high priest. We've got a glorious Lord that came down from heaven. He left his throne in glory and came down a and wrapped himself in flesh in the womb of a virgin girl named Mary. And he was born a fleshly man. But that fleshly man was God in flesh that came and walked in this earth and he remained totally sinless. And the time came that he paid the the allimp important price on Calvary for our sins when he gave his blood for each one of us. At that time they shall call Jerusalem the throne of the Lord and all the nations shall be gathered unto it to the name of the Lord at to Jerusalem. Neither shall they walk anymore after the imagination of their evil heart. He's talking about a new day when when we're going to receive the baptism of the Holy Ghost. We're going to be born again and we're he's going to take the sin out of our lives and he's going to take the desire for sin out of our lives and makes us something special. Notice God uses the example of an unfaithful wife being put away and then becoming another's wife and then remaries her first husband to put in perspective the wretched state of his people. how deplorable, how reprehensible this situation is. God says, "Even though you're in such a terrible shape, God said, I'm going to take you back and give you pastors who will teach you knowledge." Oh, glory. None of us can claim uh spotless sinless lives that we he said if any man say he has not sinned he's a liar and we none none of us can claim to be sinless but you see he he is the perpetuation for our sins I am married unto you and I will take you one of a city and two of a family God is searching out of church. He's going to have a church. Notice what God is saying is though your numbers have been decimated, you've been scattered, I'm still married to you, and I will give you pastors according to my heart, which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding. I don't know how you feel about what I just read. But to me, there's something that just is so thrilling and exciting to my heart. What God says that though we've been decimated, though we've been scattered, and though we may be few in numbered, God is going to take us back and he's going to give us knowledge. He's going to give us pastors according to his heart and give us knowledge and understanding. And it shall come to pass in those days, saith the Lord, they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the Lord. Neither shall it come to mine, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done anymore. Oh, hallelujah. Oh, hallelujah. I I don't many many many many years ago as a young man. I didn't know what romantic love was. I say, "How do you know you're in love?" I'd ask different ones, "How do you know when you meet the one that that you love?" it. I had different explanations and and some of them that you know you'll feel this way and that way and the other. But I I never knew until I found the one that made me forget all others. I knew it. Nobody had to tell me what love. I can't tell you what love is. I can't tell you how you're going to feel. But I know how I felt. And after 70 How long has it been, honey? I painted myself in a corner. How long? That's how long it was. I didn't hear. But anyway, long enough that your hearing goes and and you don't hear. Well, but I want my sight's not that good either, baby. I can't read. I can't read your Oh, it might be 120 or it might be 30. I don't Oh, so so much. Well, it's it's great. It is great. And it shall come to pass in those days, sayeth the Lord, you shall say no more the ark. No more what is love. No more uh who the who's the most beautiful girl, the most beautiful girl in the world. I found her. I found her. And that's what that's one wonderful. I haven't wrote a song. She's a beautiful lady. She's in her 80s, but she still seems like 20 to me. Her hands may be wrinkled, but her in her eyes there's a twinkle and a smile that still excess. Hey, I better get back to And it come and it shall come to pass in those days, sayeth the Lord, they shall say no more the ark of the covenant of the Lord, neither shall it come to mind, neither shall they remember it, neither shall they visit it, neither shall that be done anymore. And while I'm on that that other lovely subject, u I went up to Berserville, North Carolina, and that's where she lived. And that's way way back in the mountains. That's over Iron Hill. Go through Blofer's Glory and and some of the other places. But but any anyway, I went up there and we went to a little restaurant there in Bakersville and and um there was two or three boys around the cash register and you could see they were talking. I think she had she had dated one or two of them and they were over there talking and looking back at us and and and one of the the the the biggest dispute, the biggest quarrel we ever had in our relationship. The boy moved his mouth something up something, said, "Are you engaged?" And she held up her hand and to show that she didn't have a ring on. That was not the right thing to do. That was not the right thing to do. Well, a lot of things transpired in that around that one event because I I was I was I was offended when she when she held up her hand that she didn't have a ring. I was offended so bad that I went to the jewelry store and I bought a ring on credit. I paid it out in payments. She didn't know it at the time, but I didn't much didn't didn't let much time go by that I got that ring and and I put it on her finger and I I wasn't going to have that mistake made again. Well, we're talking about our relationship with the Lord. We are the uh we are his bride and he is the groom. And that's what we're talking about tonight. Hebrews 9 and1 then ver the first covenant had also ordinance of divine service and a worldly sanctuary for there was a tabernacle made the first wherein was the candlestick and the table and the shoebre which is called the sanctuary. And after the second veil, the temple, the tab, the tabernacle, which is called the holiest of all, which had the golden sensor and the ark of the covenant, overlaid roundabout with gold. Now, I I I had this printed out for a purpose. Notice how how valuable and how beautiful and how precious is this altar we're we're talking about. And this tabernacle, which called the holiest of all, which had the golden sensor, and the ark of the covenant, overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had mana, and Aaron's rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant, and over it the cherubams of glory, overshadowing the mercy seat of which we cannot now speak particularly. Now let me explain this just a little bit. Which had the golden center of the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold wherein it was the golden pot that had mana. There was a a a golden pot inside this ark of the covenant that was filled with mana. And that was the food that was uh that was provided miraculously. when God was providing for his people. He didn't just send a truckload just but every morning there would be something on the ground like frost and I don't remember where I got this that it was it was like a certain flavored cookie but it was a a delicious food that every day they could go out and pick it up and eat it daily. But now if they tried to can it to put it in in jars or buckets or it would get wormy. They they couldn't they had to get a fresh supply every day. Every day they'd go out and there would be the food for them. Which lets us know one thing that the Lord is providing for us on a daily basis. Uh the Lord's prayer. We we pray that our father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Now, there is something in that little line right there that that hits me that we need to call to our attention. Did you know if you will not forgive anyone that does you wrong, if they repent, did you know God will not forgive you if you don't? And I got scripture for that. You you must be willing to forget. Now, we're going in a broad scope here in the things that we are we are we are teaching u but this is part of it also. and over it the cherubams of glory shadowing the mercy seat. Now learned the hard way how to respect the ark of God because when it was shaken and as the result one of the animals pulled on the carp and and he stumbled and he reached and touched it to to study the ark and the Lord killed him. The woman caught the act of adultery as the result of a stumble. She did not get struck dead, but she found merc of the mercy seat and lived because of the of the mercy of Jesus Christ. The likeness and the comparisons all are pointing to the glorious liberty of a new dispensation. Amos 9 and9 for lo I will command and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations. Like as corn is sifted in a sie, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. Uh the prophet Amos is reminding us of how uh particular and how faithful our God is. For lo, I will command and will sift the house of Israel among all nations like a as corn is sifted and said, Ye shall not the least grain fall upon the earth. God has got a fine s. He and he's not going to let you go. If you leave him, it's going to be you leaving him. It's not him going to leave you. God through his church and his pastors is sifting through the rubble and the ruin of broken, destroyed lives looking for a saint. And he's still looking today. And you may think that you've got too many thoughts, but you haven't. He knows how to cleanse and take care of us. Matthew 18:12. How thank you if a man have a hund sheep and one of them be gone astray. Doth he not leave the 90 and nine and goeth into the mountains and seeketh that which is gone astray. And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoicth more of the sheep than of the 99 and none which were not astray. I'll I'll don't think I'll ever forget the story my father told me that he's he was out of a family of several boys and girls and and one of their one of his brothers was was the rest reckless wild type person and he got to running with another older guy and and and he led him astray and and he was gone for for months and months and months. They didn't know where he was. Didn't know what had happened to him. Didn't know if if if he was dead or alive. But my dad said one one evening late it was uh falling getting dark and they heard something coming down the road singing a song and it was my uncle M that had run that had run away and been gone so long but dad his my grandpa said Victor listen I I recognize that That's his m that's that's my son. And they ran down the darkened road to throw their arms around him and give him a welcome home. And what I'm telling you tonight that no matter how far you've drifted, no matter how far you've gone, he's looking for you. and he's given you pastors to lead and guide and give you the knowledge of the Holy Ghost. Would you stand your feet with me, please? John 10:1 and 12. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is a hireling and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleth, and the wolf catches