Feast of Tabernacles 2021: Character and the Kingdom of God

[Music] well brethren if jesus required the same qualifications for the saints who will rule with him as does this nation what standards would we need to meet and we're going to kind of compare a little bit before we get into the meat of the sermon uh you know what about if god places us over this particular nation now we know this is the nation of manasseh but we of course uh have called the united states of america which unfortunately and this year especially we're not quite united so we are america but and we know that the positions already taken by one of the original apostles but what if you know we were given that responsibility well according to this nation standards we would need to be at least 35 years old now how many of you are 34 or younger let's see a show of hands 34 you guys are disqualified so uh just write that off now i'm just talking about this world standards well uh you know if we begin cutting the resurrection also be about one year old or less so uh that would kind of disqualify most of us but physically speaking uh there are many who are 35 or older also we need to be a resident for 14 years i think that probably will work for most of us uh in this nation but there are some unstated requirements for example we would need experience this is what is recommended again unstated but normally followed we need experience in government or in high military reign how many of you have had held elective offices okay how many of you have not held elective offices disqualified uh you know you're on the wrong track i think most of us are not high in the military either as far as uh experience another one is ability to raise large amounts of money so how many are able to raise large amounts of money you know like millions of dollars see a show of hands disqualified our political beliefs must fit in for a major party now of course right now the major party is not god uh although he is in charge of all things uh but as far as on this earth it's the politics among men and so that wouldn't work out very well either now personal characteristics mental stability hey we're working on that so you know hopefully we'll get to that point uh mental and emotional stability uh to be rulers uh with christ skill in debating and fielding leading questions from reporters well you know we are learning to give an answer for the hope that lies within us and certainly we know that uh the apostles had to do that and they were talking about the hope of the resurrection now it's kind of interesting individuals might bring out well what are going to be persecuted for well it's kind of interesting they were persecuted not necessarily for keeping the sabbath at the beginning now prophecies show that that might be later on here and we've we've suffered job persecution other type of things but it's interesting that you know the when the church uh established by jesus christ started out they were in jewish communities and so they were persecuted for the truth of the gospel that jesus christ is king the hope of the resurrection that some of the religions did not believe in and so it's kind of interesting uh that why you know why individuals are persecuted for certain reasons so again we're answering according to the hope because we believe we're going to become part of the very family of god when jesus christ returns and it'll be easier to answer these questions when satan is out of the way who influences the world what other attributes do human beings exalt in their leaders well one is ability and accomplishment you might turn to first kings chapter 11. this is actually uh referring to solomon uh in this particular uh situation but solomon uh who you think would have you know because of god giving him uh wonderful wisdom but uh he was impressed with human valor and industriousness we are familiar with the name jeroboam now what did solomon say about jeroboam what's interesting he says the man jeroboam was a mighty man of valor and solomon seeing that this young man was industrious made him an officer over all the labor force of the house of jacob so solomon was very impressed with this individual who had valor and a can-do attitude they got things done and eventually god allowed this man jeroboam to become king of israel but what did he do with this impressive aspect of human nature well this jeroboam changed the time of god's feast from the seventh month to the eighth month so if we were living in the time of jeroboam's reign you know hopefully not as god's people we would still maintain the truth but in general individuals would have been keeping the feast a month later because he changed it because he didn't want them to go back to jerusalem to keep the feast with those people he made shrines on the high hills he set up two golden calf idols one in the south and one in the north and then he appointed in place of levites to be the teachers and priests the lowest of the people to be priests that's mentioned in first kings 12. so was he qualified because he was had a man of valor and again industrious was he qualified in god's sight well what god told us about jeroboam in first kings 14 he says you have done more evil than all who were before you and i will bring disaster on your house and we find that throughout the book of kings chronicle jeroboam became the low benchmark for all the kings coming after him because they had mentioned well this other king you know he follow after the sins of jeroboam you know i hope none of us uh you know have that kind of reputation uh you know has a low mark in god's church uh we don't want that but uh this man who was even uh impressive to king solomon uh turned out to be one of the worst leaders there in israel other leaders were chosen for their appearance and impressive stature uh you know saul describes king saul was described in 1st samuel 9 as young goodly and towering over over other men and you know human beings you know we are kind of impressed uh with a large stature that's very manly and masculine and yet what did saul accomplish with his impressive stature as king let's turn to first samuel chapter 15 at first samuel chapter 15 and we'll begin here in verse 10. up there first samuel again 15 verse 10 let me make sure i get to the right chapter there we go he mentions here now the word of eternal came to samuel saying you notice this is uh what god looked upon saul as being i greatly regret that i have set up saul as king for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments and it grieved samuel and he cried out to the lord all night so here it was again an individual that looked humanly very very impressive as a leader and you know there are some individuals that kind of have that appearance they they kind of seem like they should be a king or they should be a very much uh you know a leader i remember we had uh one teacher an ambassador at college uh he he was very tall very impressive and he even bragged he had a bible and he called it the nephilim bible because it was so big and yeah he was impressive but again uh unfortunately he did not continue uh with with the work of god but he was impressive uh as a human being well going on in verse 13 samuel went to saul and saul said to him blessed are you of the eternal i have performed the commandment of the eternal and samuel said well what then is the bleeding of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen which i hear because you know god had commanded saul to to uh to not keep these animals but to uh to kill them and so basically uh if we put it in a more humorous way samuel said well then this is a miracle uh all these dead animals are are still you know light lowing and and uh mooing and and uh you know it's incredible well saul said well they have brought them from the amalekites for the people spared the best of the sheep and the oxen to sacrifice to the eternal your god and the rest we have utterly destroyed so what he was saying well god i know i didn't quite obey and it's really their fault not mine they did it however we had good motivation uh you know we wanted to to uh you know save these to to co honor you uh god well samuel said uh to saul in verse 16. he said when you were little in your own eyes were you not head of the tribes of israel and did not the eternal anoint you king over israel and so there was a time when when saul was was humble now i know in the uh sermonette mr rupert uh rupert mentioned uh dr uh uh lynn torrence and it was kind of interesting uh dr torrance he was a pretty commanding figure at as one of the teachers not not he's not big in stature but because of all of his experience and the war and enduring captivity and his faithfulness to god's work uh you know he was he was very well respected and i remember one feast of tabernacles that he he was in the audience and i think he was scheduled to give his sermonette and the minister giving the sermon you know uh went by his seat and said listen uh you know because of of your reputation and experiences if you would like a lot more time in your sermon that not a problem and uh he he was very humble he said no no you're you're the pastor and here here this pastor was one of his students he said no you're the pastor you take the time i'm i'm i'm just here to serve and again it just showed a an example of humility that that individual had so dr torrance uh was spiritually impressive in the various ways and saul apparently started out that way very humble and so he said as again he continues uh verse 18 now the eternal sent you on a mission and said go and utterly destroy the sinners the amalekites and fight against them until they are consumed and we have to realize some of these societies were horrible to the extreme i mean sacrificing their own children to the gods and you know terrible immorality violence and so on it's uh oftentimes what we're beginning to see in our societies today and then so as god instructs samuel to say why then did you not obey the voice of the eternal you know why did you use your human reasoning to disobey god you know why did you swoop down on the spoil and do evil in the sight of eternal and saul as he continues here i said to samuel but i have obeyed the voice of the eternal and gone on the mission on which the eternal sent me and i brought back agag king of amalek but i have utterly destroyed the amalekites but the people took the plunder sheep and oxen the best of the things which should have been utterly destroyed but they had a good reason to sacrifice to the eternal your god in gilgal so samuel said has the eternal as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the eternal he says behold to obey is better than sacrifice and to heed to listen you know to be teachable than the fat of rams for rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft now you might want to think about that you know it's kind of interesting uh that uh certainly in our nation uh you know that that american independent spirit and so on that has been mentioned i think probably several times uh during the feast but uh there are people who again will will rebel will justify you know again going against government and so on and yet on the other hand they would be horrified uh to be accused of witchcraft or the occult and here it's equated to the to the same thing well why well witchcraft is basically of satan the devil but do you realize rebellion is as satan the devil you go back to isaiah 14 ezekiel 28 and you realize that that was a problem with with satan as a leader among angels and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry because you have rejected the word of the eternal he has also rejected you from being king so again uh we we see that saul with his impressive stature you know he didn't really accomplish of what a leader should in god's sight human beings if they have a choice want someone who is impressive either physically or in personality or in influence but they want that kind of a leader now if a nation doesn't have a choice well then leaders are forced on them and again that's usually by the deceit or by violence and uh and uh force in that regard so uh you know that's the way the world chooses leaders but what do we learn from these examples how will god determine uh who will rule with christ in his kingdom now we've already heard a lot in this feast of tabernacles i really appreciate the messages i've been hearing but we've already been hearing about you know servant leadership again a tremendous aspect of leadership and of course and then we heard also again the the path to peace again the rejoicing of looking forward really really embracing uh what god has to offer and being thankful and not not you know looking back at this world but looking forward to what god has to offer but what i want to again talk about in this particular sermon is character and the kingdom of god character and the kingdom of god now what does god require in those who who will rule with christ and be leaders over nations and cities well again uh let's turn to first samuel 16. first samuel 16 and verse 6. uh we we learned something about how god really picks leaders in his government physically and spiritually and certainly we can look upon this uh in the future as well first samuel 16 and verse 6. uh we we know just noted earlier that saul was disqualified but here in verse 6 so it was when they came that he looked at eliab this is against samuel and said and samuel said surely the eternal anointed is before him and apparently eliab was very impressive as a future ruler but notice what god said but the eternal said to samuel do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature because i have refused him but notice this for the eternal does not see as man sees for man looks at the outward appearance but the eternal looks at the heart so as we sit here during this feast of tabernacles as future leaders in the kingdom of god that's you women as well and our young people coming up as they mature and grow what is god looking at in you god looks at the heart now it goes on here in this example so jesse called a minidab and made him pass before samuel and he said neither has the eternal chosen this one and then jesse made a shama pass by and he said neither has the eternal chosen this one and then jesse made seven of his sons passed before samuel and samuel said to jesse the eternal has not chosen these and so samuel said jesse are all the young men here you know i'm not seeing the one and god's not revealing the one he chose and he said well the remains yet the youngest and there he is keeping the sheep and samuel said to jesse send and bring him for we will not sit down till he comes and so he sent and uh brought him in and now he was ruddy uh with bright eyes and good looking so it's not wrong that had those characteristics and the eternal said arise anoint him for this is the one and then samuel took the horn of oil anointed him in the midst of his brothers and the spirit of eternal came upon david from that day forward so samuel arose and went to rama so again it's very interesting how how god again looks at a human being that he wants to be a leader and god looked at david's heart now david was human and he had faults and he made mistakes but there was a consistency that he always repented always sought his god and trusted in his god you know god saw that in his heart and it's kind of interesting as we sit here you know god could have called others out of the billions of human beings in the world and yet here you sit well what is it god is seeing in you that he has not seen in the billions yet you know why are we first fruits well god has looked on the heart and maybe if our hearts were not perfect through his spirit he is he is making our hearts the appropriate uh characteristic for so we could be qualified in that regard well let's turn to acts chapter 13. in the book of acts chapter 13 and verse 21 again referring back to uh david um make sure i mean yes acts 13 verse 21 afterward they asked for a king so god gave them this is uh you know referring back to the history of the the uh israel here and so saw the son of kish a man of the tribe of benjamin for 40 years god gave them and when he had removed him he raised up for them david as king to whom also he gave testimony and said i have found david the son of jesse a man after my own heart and notice the next qualifying statement who will do all my will and so discussing again leadership we find david's main name comes up again because of his attitude and his character that he had a willingness to submit himself to his very creator god now when another was to replace judas as one of the 12 apostles remember jesus christ till the till told the the apostles each one of you will be ruling over a tribe of israel and yet judas disqualified himself and there was someone else to be replaced so acts chapter 1 and what did god look at acts chapter 1 and verse 24. you know uh you know the apostles think well we need another fisherman uh maybe a better fisherman uh you know or maybe they think well we've we've covered fishermen and tax collectors and so on uh you know let's let's see if if maybe there's another man who has a different profession uh kind of give us balance no they prayed and said you owe eternal or o lord in this case referring now to jesus the christ who know the hearts of all show which of these two you have chosen uh you know they learned a lesson here you know these apostles they realize it's not who we choose it's whom jesus christ and god the father would choose so show which of these two you have chosen there were two individuals varsity mercedes or bursarbus and matthias and apparently equally qualified uh in regard to uh their their their uh experiences and their attitudes so again you choose who you have uh uh want to take part in this ministry an apostleship uh from which judas by transgression fell the night might go to his own place and they cast their lots and the lot fell on mathias and he was numbered with the 11 apostles so again when two had equal qualifications god who sees the heart uh chose accordingly now what about the other eleven were they chosen in this way let's turn back to luke chapter six luke chapter six and verse 12. now it came to pass in those days that jesus went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to god and what do you think he was discussing what was he praying about well again it doesn't specifically state here but it's pretty obvious when you go to verse 13 that he was discussing whom god the father wanted to be the twelve and even god the father understood that one was going to betray christ so that was also i'm sure taken to consideration you know judas but i'm sure that jesus christ just as was back in the time of david and others that you know god the father uh you know look look on the hearts of these individuals uh who do you want to uh to work with to help them to be the kind of leaders they need to be uh to be the original 12 that he would found his church and they would be the first leaders of that church who do you want there and who will be have been ruling over the nations of israel when jesus christ would return in great power and glory as king of kings so when it was day after all night in prayer discussing these matters with god he called his disciples to himself and from them he chose twelve whom he also named apostles so we're getting a glimpse of how god looked on leadership whom he wants to put in particular positions of power and authority in a right way in luke 22 and verse 24 luke 22 verse 24. you know there was a also a dispute among them as to which of them should be considered the greatest and that's part of human nature i know i think mr hiltenberg kind of went through this as well in his a very fine sermon on servant leadership but you know that's part of the human nature it starts out young you know who can you know when you're really little well who can ride your bicycle faster and over more obstacles than uh you know your your friend you get in school and who has the better grades and yeah there's always this competition who's the best in the class who's the best athlete who you know going on and on it goes and uh they were no dif they were human but it's interesting god can work with this you see you know god looked on the heart he said just because you know they had the heart that the father wanted to be you know future leaders in his kingdom uh realize that in the human realm god works with us we we do fall short we have lessons to learn again that's one reason why we have the feast of tabernacles and the weekly sabbaths you know the annual feast to keep in mind with god's plan but again to inspire and encourage us to keep growing uh to keep using the hearts that god has given us well he said to them the kings of the gentiles exercise lordship over them and those who exercise authority over them are called benefactors and i think there's actually even a title of some of these gentile leaders ahead and uh you know that is impress i'm sure that through the the years there are individuals who maybe didn't like the kings over them uh you know there were kings of assyria ashurbanipal and others and then you have the in nebuchadnezzar over babylon and then you had cyrus and then over uh you know the greek alexander the great then the four kings after him and then you have the caesars over there in the roman empires and i'm sure they're individuals who really didn't like them as far as their personalities but they were impressed again with their power and authority and they would bow down to them and of course from the gentiles perspective the rulership that uh when whatever we give to the populace they better appreciate it and they probably consider themselves uh boy it weren't for our leadership you know uh the the people would fail you know i'm sure that's the way human nature would be well verse 26 jesus said don't imitate what is impressive to the gentile world you know don't look for leadership lessons uh from the gentiles now maybe you could get lessons on what not how not to rule uh be saying don't imitate them you know don't imitate the caesars the herod's and so on uh although herod's uh you know technically were running over israel but there were some gentile issues with them uh he says don't do that but not be not so among you or but not so among you on the contrary he who is greatest among you let him do as the younger and he who governs as he who serves most is a different heart in in this world oftentimes the leaders have desire for power and authority again we have seen that uh during this covet 19 crisis uh where where leaders over cities you know that we probably don't even you know wouldn't otherwise even know their names frankly even if we lived in the community but probably you know we don't know who the councilmen were and council women and so on and all of a sudden now they exercise power and authority over our lives and uh so he's saying don't don't be like that if you're governed be humble you know like you're the younger one and you have a lot to learn and you're willing to learn and be teachable and heal governs in the sense of you know motivating your motivation is to serve and to do what is really and would be a blessing to whom you are ruling over for who is greater he who sits at the table or he who serves well is it not whom he who sits at the table and christ was referring to himself no he really is the greatest and yet i am among you as the one who serves you know the word became flesh he emptied himself so he could serve humankind to pay for our sins and to make it possible that we could live for eternity in the very god family god the father the most high gave his only begotten son that we should not perish if we believe in him and so the very god family have they have that attitude and spirit he says you are the ones who have continued with me in my trials and i bestow among you a kingdom just as my father bestowed one upon me that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of israel so it is fascinating that here christ is helping them to understand this is how you're going to rule in the world ahead this is how you're going to rule over manasseh or people what we call americans uh you know this is how you get maybe ruling over ephraim you know canada and the united kingdom over in australia new zealand now this is how you're going to rule over the other tribes of israel france and others and so it was servant leadership with with a right heart with a godly spirit notice one of the supreme examples of christ's character but before we get there let me just turn to hebrews chapter one jesus the christ i think one say version of the bible words this way jesus christ was stamped impressed with god's own character you know there are many different dif uh definitions of character i am sure but it was basically what you are or what is your you are becoming and it's again what you are thinking what your actions are just who you are uh for bad if you've bad character then what you are uh is pretty much uh evil in that way if you have good character then you are a blessing to other people but hebrews chapter 1 verse 3 who referring to jesus christ who being the brightness of his glory another referring to god the father he knows and the express image of his person again as i said it's it's the express stamp or impress of god's very character and nature and upholding all things by the word of his power when he had by himself purged our sins and sat down at the right hand at the majesty on high you know what makes jesus christ qualified to be over all the creation under god the father is because he has the character the nature of the very god family of his father in luke chapter 4 luke chapter 4 and verse 1 with that character notice how he approached some of those severe temptations and i'm using this as an example this kind of gives us an idea of what we're talking about in regards to character and what we're trying to do is not develop human character i mean there are art benefits by the way to just normal human character if it's right and good but we want just like jesus christ to be stamped and impressed with god's character and nature and here's how it shows in what christ did in verse 1 then jesus being filled with the holy spirit returned from the jordan and was led by the spirit into the wilderness being tempted for 40 days by the devil now he fasted 40 days and 40 nights to draw close to god obviously and god the father was helping him i'm sure putting you know the the thoughts and helping him to again uh be very close to god's will character nature and christ was emmanuel god with us by the way and in those days he ate nothing and afterward when they had ended he was hungry and the devil said to him if you are the son of god command this uh this stone to become bread and notice the way he did it you know notice the character if you are and what normally would with human beings you know i mean what would happen if one of the brethren came in here well if you are a deacon if you are an usher what would be your what would be your uh reaction of course i am you know i've been ordained a deacon or i've been appointed unsure how dare you question my authority now it's interesting with godly character that didn't phase jesus christ he knew who he was and so he didn't let that goad him into doing something rash you know you know wouldn't it be thought well i'll prove who i am i will turn this stone into bread no what jesus said he said in verse 4 it is written man shall not live by bread alone but by every word of god yes you know that i could have done that but you know i want to you know live by every you know the wholeness of god's purpose and will his laws his ways then the devil taking him up into a high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world so there may be obviously a vision involved here because he said all the kings of the world in a moment of time and so maybe he uh you know saw the asiatic nations what we you know what we'd call japan china uh what became those nations or maybe even the nations in south and central america at that time those peoples but he showed them all the kingdoms in a moment in time and the devil said to him all this authority i will give you and their glory for this has been delivered to me and i give it to whomever i wish well there was uh you know maybe truth and falsehood in that statement uh as we would analyze it but therefore if you will worship before me all will be yours what's the temptation well can you imagine listen i i know you're going to have to die and suffer see even the angels kind of know those kind of prophecies and you don't have to go through all of that you know you are born to be a king well i'm giving you you know what you are eventually going to have anyway but you can have it now without the pain and suffering and the glory and so wouldn't that be tempting but with with godly character you know jesus christ who who again part of that character is always following the will of the father and again seeing the overview of god's word and the you know knowing the end from the beginning he said answered and said to him get behind me satan for is written you shall worship the eternal your god and him only shall you serve he's i'm not you know with that character i am not going to trade uh loyalty uh to god the father to a temporary loyalty just to avoid pain and suffering i'm going to do what is right i honor the father he is the most high god and that is never going to change in my mind and my actions and then he brought him satan brought him to jerusalem sat him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him if you are the son of god throw yours throw yourself down from here and then satan quotes scripture and that's why you know it's something to learn that individuals can quote certain scriptures but are they abiding by the whole context and putting in the other scriptures which give understanding of those things well no satan didn't do that he did quote a scripture it is written he shall give his angels charge over you to keep you and in their hands they shall bear you up unless you dash your foot against a stone so see i'm quoting scripture now you know satan is saying to christ you know how can you fault that you've got to do what i say and jesus answered and said to him it has been said you shall not tempt the eternal the lord your god so that's what you're doing you know you know did christ have the faith to be he did you know he could have done that and the angels would have caught him but he realized uh that's testing uh that's not what god wants you know there's more to the picture and so again jesus christ with character with the mind and nature of god was able to address all of these and these are only three of the temptations there were others i would not mention here how satan was trying to test or prod or trying to see the weaknesses frankly into the nature and character of jesus christ but now when the devil had ended every temptation he departed from him until an opportune time so satan never gives up but it gives an example when we talk about godly character of how we can face different temptations or situations let me test are we going to follow the will of god are we going to live by not just part of god's word but the whole of god's word that's very very important because i know that there are individuals who you know they're very good at certain parts of god's word but they somehow ignore the other part uh you know in the case what i know we've been dealing with recently uh government mr ames uh talked about that this year would be a test of government well that's part of scripture and he understood that from his many many years in the church of god uh as an evangelist and as a a spokesman or a preacher on tomorrow's world telecast and he understood that that's one part of a scripture that some people would ignore during this time of crisis and so he warned us about that and so again just like jesus christ we're learning to have the heart and the nature and character of christ we want to again not just live by only part but the whole context and and as as much as god's spirit enables us to do to discern uh the whole of the mind of god hebrews chapter four hebrews chapter 4 and verse 14. seeing that we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens jesus the son of god let us hold fast our confession for we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses but notice was in all points tempted or tested as we are and notice the character the heart yet without sin you know what a probably the best uh you know kind of one brief description of godly character that we can be attested and try under all circumstances but with with the mind and character of god we would never sin we would never depart from god's nature of love and wisdom in law in dr meredith's booklet the holy days god's master plan he writes during the millennium god's laws are to be written in the hearts and minds of his people all over the earth for god's laws express his very character the character he demands that we develop in order to be kings and priests forever in his kingdom this blessing will be afforded to all mankind during the wonderful feast of inn gathering the 1 000 year reign of christ here on this earth and revelation 20 tells us blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection overseas the second death has no power but there shall be priests of god and of christ and shall rule with him a thousand years and so all true christians should be preparing now to learn and practice god's law and his way of life so they will be able to teach these things to others in christ's soon coming world government again during this feast of tabernacles you know we have an opportunity in a very special way to to learn and practice you know having the heart of god the mind of god the character of god and even on the miniature golf course we can do this and avoid temptation but how does god develop his character in us you know those children who have grown up with parents in the body of christ have been placed in a very special category because they've had the influence of god's holy spirit not yet necessarily ready for you know that full repentance in baptism again we have to mature a while before we can get a grasp even physically of these kind of things much less spiritually but they've grown up under the influence of god's spirit and they have heard the teachings of the bible and even you know our small children as you know maybe they're sleeping even during services now but it's probably entering in their minds uh you know that type of thing and so they're learning and this so they have been uh they have begun on a great foundation uh to learn about the mind and nature and character of god how god's character becomes part of our very nature comes when the father calls us to jesus christ now that's how it really begins i said many of us have maybe come from a different background and have been pretty good people uh you know growing up even apart from god's church i mean you might have uh cared for your neighbor you didn't kick your dog you know you you tried to live a pretty moral life but when we talk about god's character you know being able to not sin under any kind of circumstances or issues you know that would make us perfect leaders under him that nature comes when the father calls us to jesus christ and many of us you know grew up in a protestant background or catholic background or maybe an agnostic background maybe no religion but finally when god the father calls we began to to realize that not only did god exist he was the god of the bible the god of creation we began to realize the bible was inspired and told of events from the beginning to the end and it had the laws of god and the teachings of the creator god and he established his body the church and then it showed how to identify that and then god led us to that and then god granted us repentance you know the willingness to say hey we are deficient you know we would like to have you know fully the mind and heart of god but we fall short and so we repent and we want to totally surrender to god we want to be different we want to have god's mind and nature and then we are conquered by him and we have a desire for his character and his nature and the way he thinks and so we are no longer seeking our own ways but god's ways even then even after again baptism and seeing god's spirit it's a matter of growth and overcoming but that's the journey we're on just as mr crystal mentioned the journey to peace we're all along that journey we're also in a journey to develop the heart and mind of jesus christ we no longer again are seeking our own ways but god's ways this is the love of god that we keep his commandments this is what john says in first john 5 3 and his commandments are not burdensome and again when you think of even just the ten commandments you might think well isn't that bert well no because you don't want anyone else to violate those commandments toward you you think about that you know you take the the last six in particular if you're a parent don't don't you want your children to to honor you you know you you don't want your children to dishonor and hate you and you don't want someone to murder you you don't want someone to uh you know commit adultery with your husband your wife you don't want anyone to steal from you or to bear false witness against you or to covet you know what you have rightfully have so they're not burdensome when you look at that way they are laws of love and wisdom in acts chapter 2 and verse 36 acts chapter 2 verse 36 what god requires and he can require it because he can lead us to these things by the way you know think about it you know god doesn't require anything of us that he will not help us to accomplish and fulfill therefore let all the house of israel know verse 36 acts 2 that god has made this jesus whom you crucified both lord and christ he's the anointed savior and he is your boss and your lord now as god the father drew them to christ and god grant them repentance notice what happened now when they heard this they were cut to the heart now not everyone who hears this word responds the same way there are individuals who hear what these people heard what you have heard and they haven't come to repentance they haven't been willing to surrender and be conquered by god didn't affect them in the same way but god if god led you so it you affected were affected that way and so and said to peter and the rest of the apostles men and brethren what shall we do then peter said to them repent and let every one of you be baptized and that's again it's very interesting this age there are a lot of people who think well we can be close to god and we don't need to be baptized we don't need to be baptized or we can look back and we were baptized in the catholic church or sprinkled or baptized in the protestant church maybe by immersion but what did we know of god's laws what did we repent of did we really surrender to god where we conquered and oftentimes the answer is no so we were dunked we are immersed but we weren't baptized in the sense that god is talking about here and so many of us were again baptized the right way with the right spirit the right attitude the way god wanted us to be and in the name by the very authority of jesus christ the remission of sins and then it says you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit that was promised again to you and to your children to all who are far off as many as the eternal or as lord our god will call so again what a wonderful way that god helps us to begin developing his nature and character and from that time again we imbibe in god's word the bible to learn the laws the principles the wisdom the examples of good and bad leaders the history of mankind cut off from god and of course the prophecies of the future that describe then how jesus christ will bring blessings to the world and how the saints will rule with him with their attitude their heart their wisdom their abilities now how does this make us qualified to rule with christ let's turn back to exodus 18 exodus 18 and verse 19. we know that moses had difficulty you know he was receiving and following the will of god he was as the bible describes him as the meekest of a man and he was willing to listen to the the will of god he made some mistakes and uh god corrected him on those things but in verse again here in exodus 18 verse 19 listen now to my voice and this is i believe his father-in-law was counseling him i will give you counsel and god will be with you uh stand before god for the people so that you may bring difficulties to god in other words you you keep the office and the authority you have and your relationship with your god however in addition though you shall teach them that is certain men the statutes and the laws and show them the way in which they must walk and the work that they must do they're saying again we're staying on the foundation staying on the path as as god trains and qualifies moreover you should select from all the people able men so ability is good such as fear god men of truth hating covetousness and play such over them to be rulers of thousands rulers of hundreds rulers of fifties rulers of tens and let them judge the people at all times and again then it will uh be that every great matter they shall bring to you every small matter they themselves shall judge it will be easier for you and they will bear the burden with you and so again moses did this and god again blessed that counsel and in a sense that's what we're training to be you know we're going to be over a certain responsibilities and you know even the kingdom it may be that uh you know we we are at a certain level and said well uh we need to counsel with moses maybe council with king david maybe counsel uh with the apostles and uh and then see we work together as a team even for eternity well god approved of this kind of these leaders to be uh ruling with moses but again notice the character that is is talked about here and of course how much more for those who will be deeply converted hopefully as we are in this day and age these are attributes that we can use in a very practical way uh right now in our local areas and at the feast of tabernacles again here are some of the these attributes being teachable willing to be taught god's laws and principles you're not arguing about why we can't keep them but we're being taught them and i'm saying what's what's the context how these things work in various circumstances of what they mean how they how to apply them and being humble to follow the way that we are instructed and they instruct us and to be dedicated to the work that we must do now isn't that what we have been learning in the church of god you know to to preach the gospel support the work of the preaching the gospel to all the world as a witness to do the warning message and to grow in the very mind and nature of god himself and so being teachable acts 15 i don't want to take the time just want to just briefly relate to that but again here was a situation where uh you know the church was incensed at a at a impasse in regard to circumcision and you have had individuals who would have basically almost staked their lives that even the gentiles needed to be circumcised and then there were others he said no we've seen how god works the principle of circumcision absolutely is true but physically speaking we've seen god give the holy spirit to those who are not and so you have individuals on both sides both totally convicted uh that one is right and the other was wrong but the church was teachable so in acts 15 at jerusalem decisions made that those that said that uh you know the gentiles don't need to be circumcised physically uh and the implication they would certainly uh you know be spiritually circumcised that is repentant and follow god's law and especially deal with those areas uh very critical to them and what was happening and it just didn't end jerusalem they sent letters to all the churches and so all the church all the brethren had to be teachable no matter what side of the fence you were on you had to be taught so that's a very important part of leadership and for eternity we're going to have to be able to say god the father we respect you whatever decision you make whether you know i think that way or not that's the way we're going to go and i'm going to to be willing to follow i'm going to be willing to follow jesus christ and those that he has appointed in leadership positions and we're going to be dedicated to the work whatever that may be for eternity in your kingdom ability was mentioned that means being able to apply and practice what has been learned and we we get experience from that in various uh chances to serve during the feast a godly fear was mentioned respecting and standing in awe of god believing and having faith that what god instructs us to do will work and having total confidence in his plans and his purposes and is that fear of god that respect toward god that is the beginning of wisdom and understanding and then hating covetousness the attitude of outgoing concern and the way of give not yet again we had a whole sermon on servant leadership was basically saying hating covetousness these are the very attributes of true christians and they illustrate the character it takes to rule with jesus christ psalm 15 just one last psalm in this particular psalm here in the book of psalms we find here in verse 1. interesting description eternal or lord who may abide in your tabernacle isn't that what we're learning you know we want to be there so who will be there will we be there who may be dwelling in your holy hill well notice these characteristics he who walks uprightly that means righteously it doesn't mean that i mean you've got you're walking on two feet uh in that sense no he who walks uprightly and works righteousness you know according to god's law his mind his nature his character and speaks the truth in his heart and god's word is truth so we're going to have god's word in our mind in our hearts he who does not backbite with his tongue rather than backbiting and and being critical and and in that sense uh that we have god's mercy he knows that you know like a father he pities his children and we we pray for one another even when we fall short we try to encourage each other and think the best nor does evil to his neighbor nor does he take up a reproach against his friend in whose eyes a vile person is despised we we we do uh recognize of what is evil and what is vile but he honors those who fear the eternal he who swears to his own hurt and does not change he who does not put out his money at usury in other words we we are very compassionate about the plight of the poor and others and nor does he take a bribe against the instrument innocent he who does these things shall never be moved you know that's the type of character that god's developing in his people today and god tests the qual these qualities in us while we live in this world god is working with us to meet his qualifications you know even though we don't meet the world standards none of us would qualify to run for president or to probably any other office of government in our nation but god is working with us to meet his qualifications to be rulers on this earth under jesus christ and god has given us repentance so that we reject the false standards of this world and seek god's ways he forgives our sins and weaknesses as so that we are free to pursue the way of righteousness that god has given us his holy spirit so we should be growing in his mind and nature i mean the very laws of god are being written in our minds and in our hearts as exemplified by the fruit of that spirit god has given us a work to do so we can learn to identify with and follow god's plans and purposes god has given us tests and trials so we could be tempered and proven uh in regard to our faithfulness and our obedience and god is giving us experiences in judgment and discernment so that we can eventually be able to judge or manage the world as kings and priests when we become fully born sons of god in the resurrection again that includes all of us here we will have the godly character and ability to use our great divine power to rule christ throughout the millennium and into eternity so again god is giving us instruction and encouragement saying that yes we can qualify to rule with christ over all nations of this earth you know we are being qualified to to again have these wonderful offices i said even though you know the world doesn't see it that way god does and again as as we uh you know leave here this afternoon this sermon remember god is looking on the heart and god is looking at our hearts but he's helping us to have the very heart of eternal god so again when we think of the feast think in terms of god's kingdom and character that's what god's developing in us [Music] you

Channel: Living Church of God

Views: 324

Rating: 5 out of 5

Keywords:

Id: Q8tv-kIz_LE

Length: 70min 34sec (4234 seconds)

Published: Tue Sep 21 2021