Monday, August 22, 2022

A Morning Bible Study - Are You Preparing For God's Kingdom?

by Leonard V Johnson


On our short Welcome video we announce that the kingdom of God is coming soon – are YOU prepared!? And how we can help open your eyes to the light of Christ! Because of MOST IMPORTANCE is Jesus Christ. The fact that we teach the living Word of God, the Truth of God, and we help try and explain to you the awesome Plan of God. And we do this here at the Church of Jesus Christ Online Ministries all from the comfort of your home – via the Internet. With our hundreds of video sermons, online booklets, along with articles on our website – www.owensborocojc.com.

Will You be one of our Lord Jesus Christ’s servants in His kingdom!?

Are You Preparing to RULE WITH CHRIST!?

And certainly, it begins with repentance, proper baptism, the laying on of hands, and the receiving of the gift of God’s Holy Spirit. One then becomes a true Spirit-begotten child of God – a true Christian. And then, we MUST OVERCOME, and spiritually grow in God’s grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – and in His very character.

Let us begin to properly understand.
1) Even though our Lord Jesus was and is the very Son of the living God and possessed the Holy Spirit without measure, did He still have to learn obedience to God!?
“though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. 9) And having been perfected, He became the Author of eternal salvation TO ALL WHO OBEY HIM, 10) called by God as High Priest ‘according to the order of Melchizedek’” – Hebrews 5:8-10.

Let us walk and follow our Savior Jesus Christ’s example – learning obedience through our suffering – which perfected Him. Let us always strive to be perfect – through and with God’s Spirit – Matthew 5:48.

Did He overcome and resist the temptations of His carnal flesh, this present evil age, and Satan the devil!?

Our Lord Jesus Christ’s exemplary life – certainly during the 3 ½ years of His earthly ministry – was not a life of ease, and it certainly did not entail flying around in a personal Falcon Fan jet, or even a Gulfstream II! His life was filled with constant trials of every kind! Yes, our Lord Jesus Christ knew what real tribulation was!

’ These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you WILL HAVE TRIBULATION; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ – John 16:33.

And, it is SO IMPORTANT for us as true Christians to overcome that He reiterates this to His Church SEVEN TIMES!
2) So, Jesus Christ overcame during His human life and was BORN AGAIN by a resurrection. Where is He presently seated!?
Soon, our Lord Jesus Christ is coming “with ten thousands of His saints, to execute judgment on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way” as King of kings and Lord of lords to take over the kingdoms of the earth – to establish the GOVERNMENT OF GOD! If you will reject the way of Satan the devil and overcome, He will grant you to sit with Him on His throne – which He currently resides on in the THIRD HEAVEN! – Revelation 3:21.

Have all angels, principalities, and powers been made subject to Him under His Father!?

“ … through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22) who has gone into Heaven [the Third Heaven] and is at the right hand of God, angels and authorities and powers having been made subject to Him.” – 1 Peter 3:21, 22; see also Ephesians 1:20-22 and 1st Corinthians 15:27.
3) How great and awesome is the authority that our Lord Jesus Christ has already inherited!?
After our Savior, Master, and Elder Brother ascended to the very THRONE OF GOD, the very seat of the Government of the entire universe, He sent His Spirit. And, about fifty days later – “when the Day of Pentecost had fully come” the Spirit of God descended upon them in A.D. 30/31! Then, “having been built on the FOUNDATION of the apostles and prophets [of the Old Testament], Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Cornerstone” – Ephesians 2:20 – He built His Church. “In whom the WHOLE BUILDING, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord” which is composed of those called and begotten children of God who have received, and with whom is dwelling God’s Holy Spirit – they are the spiritual temple of God.

Now, the head of Jesus Christ’s Church is not – and never has been – any man, but it’s always been the living Jesus Christ!

And again, here we reiterate – LOOK TO JESUS, NOT MOSES! A God-inspired sermon that literally got Minister Michael C. Garrett persecuted by a great many!

“ … whom He has appointed heir OF ALL THINGS, through whom also He made the worlds.” – Hebrews 1:1-2.

Notice how the New English Bible has translated this amazing verse: “But in this the final age [H]e has spoken to us in the Son whom [H]e has made heir to the whole universe …”! – Hebrews 1:2, NEB.
4) In His kingdom to come will our Lord Jesus Christ be the only inheritor to not just rule on earth, but also His vast known universe!?
Notice this glorious promise - “just as Abraham ‘believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’ … For if the inheritance is of the law [meaning, the Jewish customs], it is no longer of promise; …” – because the Old Covenant has been replaced with “a better covenant” – “ … but God gave it to Abraham by promise.” And he says in Verse 21 – “Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22) But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” Verse 26 – “For you are all [children] of God through faith in Christ Jesus. 27) For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. 28) There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither [bond] nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29) And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” And, what was that promise!? Romans chapter 4, verse 13 – we read it – “For the promise that he [speaking of Abraham] would be the HEIR OF THE WORLD …” That promise was made to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph – “through the righteousness of faith.” And that promise was also made to all of us!

We will be co-rulers, joint heirs with Him!

“The Spirit [itself] bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God. 17) and if children, then heirs – heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, …” – Romans 8:16, 17.

We, true Christians, are heirs – joint heirs with Jesus Christ. And, God willing, are destined to inherit and help rule EVERYTHING which the LORD God has created – whether visible or invisible – when we too are BORN AGAIN at the sounding of the LAST TRUMP! - cf. Revelation 11:15-19.
5) Does God’s living word tell us what His resurrected servants the prophets and the saints will be doing for the FIRST THOUSAND YEARS in His kingdom!?
’ And he who OVERCOMES, and KEEPS MY WORKS until the end, …’ – either upon death or the resurrection unto life – “ … ‘to him I will give power over the nations 27) ‘He shall rule them with a rod of iron; They shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessels’ – as I also have received from My Father; and I will give him the Morning Star.’ – Revelation 2:26-27.

The Morning Star being Himself – see Revelation 22:16.

“and He has made [or, rather “will make” – I add editorially] us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father; to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” – Revelation 1:6, NASB.

Notice chapter 20 of the Book of Revelation – of REVEALING –

Verse 4 – again from the Hebrew/Greek Key Word Study Bible; the New American Standard Bible“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls [psychÄ“, meaning “life”] of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their FOREHEAD and upon their HAND; and they came to life and REIGNED WITH CHRIST FOR A THOUSAND YEARS.” – Revelation 20:4.

Now, in short, as Minister Michael C. Garrett writes, “There are quite a few places - Revelation 13:16-17; Revelation 14:9-11; Revelation 15:2; Revelation 16:2; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:4. Six references in the Book of Revelation where it refers to the ‘mark of the beast.’ Now, the term ‘the mark’ – if you look up in your concordance or your lexicon under your Bible study helps – it describes an actual something. An actual thing – a symbol. It’s not a concept or an idea.” 1

And again, here we reiterate – If God says something more than once, it is worth paying ATTENTION! In His living word, when you see something repeated over and over, you NEED to realize that God is truly trying to get you to wake up and to understand that this thing is EXTREMELY IMPORTANT!

God’s living word clearly shows us, brethren, that we will receive – God willing – positions of rulership on this earth as “priests” – teachers. And, that the 144,000 will receive administration positions in the very assistance to Jesus Christ our soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords over all the kingdoms of this present evil age – see “Who Are the 144,000?”

These positions and responsibilities are in addition to the gift of eternal life –

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Romans 6:23.

So, we MUST overcome, spiritually grow, prepare and develop, for our service to our “HUSBAND” (Revelation 19:7-9). All Spirit-begotten children of God are now in training for significant positions in helping Jesus Christ teach and rule in the world tomorrow His Way.

’ And behold, I AM coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to everyone according to his work.’ – Revelation 22:12.
6) Does our “spiritual works” in this life determine our reward in His kingdom!?
’ For the Son of Man will come in [or rather – with] the glory of His Father with His angels, and then He will reward each according to his works.’ – Matthew 16:27.

There is a vast difference between being “saved by grace,” and “rewarded according to WORKS.” And, to properly understand, you need to understand just what “salvation” is, and just what “reward” actually means.

We just quoted the Apostle Paul explaining what the wages – or the consequences – of sin is. He said, “the wages of sin is death.” He didn’t say, the wages of sin is ‘burning in hell and being tormented forever and ever.’ Or, being in ‘limbo.’ Or, some other –

I recall when I was five living next to reincarnationists or something like that – and their son, who was about my age, had sat on an ant pile outside, but wouldn’t kill any of the ants that had swarmed his body and were stinging him – because he was taught by his parents that ants were his reincarnated relatives! Well, no, ‘the wages of sin is DEATH!’ “…but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We are not immortal. We are inherently temporary.

What is meant by ‘each according to his “works”’!?

I believe it’s incumbent upon me to briefly explain here just what our Lord Jesus Christ means – using His living word – of “works.”

There were some of the Gentile converts there at Corinth that wanted to be followers of the Apostles Paul, or Peter, and others of Apollos. Yet, the Apostle Paul – as we do - points us to be followers of JESUS CHRIST!

“Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers through whom you believed, as the LORD GAVE TO EACH ONE? 6) I planted, Apollos watered, BUT GOD GAVE THE INCREASE.” – 1st Corinthians 3:5-6.

Our beloved Paul was showing them, and by extension – us, that he and Apollos were mere humans, and that it is God that increases the fruit of the Spirit – which includes spiritual GROWTH.

He continues – “So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but GOD WHO GIVES THE INCREASE.” – vs. 7.

“Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor.” – vs. 8.

So, our “works” do earn wages – either good or bad. Evil works earn eternal DEATH – cf. Revelation 21:8. Righteous works earn a position or a reward in God’s kingdom -

But, make no mistake – “For by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and that NOT of yourselves; IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD, 9) not of works, lest anyone should boast.

10) For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” – Ephesians 2:8-10.

If God willing, we make it into God’s kingdom, it will be by the GRACE OF GOD, undeserved – as God’s GIFT. Yet, our spiritual good works, as instruments in God’s hands, which He uses in His WORK ON THIS PLANET, is the most important work or activity on earth today! And, it contributes greatly to our individual and personal spiritual GROWTH!

So, again our Lord Jesus Christ does the ‘works’ within us! And the FOUNDATION did not come by our works! It was God’s doing! He GAVE us the FOUNDATION to build upon. And that FOUNDATION is CHRIST JESUS! – Christ In Us – cf. 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 4:19; Ephesians 3:17; Colossians 1:27 – by the Holy Spirit! Yet, we must continue to build upon that Foundation. We must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” – 2 Peter 3:18.
7) By what principle can we – of ordinary ability and humbleness - qualify to take on far greater responsibility in His kingdom!?
’ He who is faithful in WHAT IS LEAST is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11) THEREFORE if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon [wealth, assets], who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12) And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?’ – Luke 16:10-12.

We learn to rule and teach – and be trusted by others – by being faithful and conscientious in whatever we do – living by God’s Law and His living Word.

What will our Lord Jesus Christ say to those who have been faithful over the little that He has entrusted to their care!?

’ After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them. 20) So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21) His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. ENTER INTO THE JOY OF YOUR LORD.’ – Matthew 25:19-21.

As Minister Guy LaMar has stated previously – we too believe that Satan the Devil and his minions are viciously attacking and placing obstacles in the way of this ministry. Making it difficult to minister to our brethren and friends. But, the LORD our God is seeing us through. And, at this moment in time has blessed us with a few things – and we MUST be faithful servants over these few things. We all need to cling to our heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ to see us through! For even the one who considers that he or she only has a little can qualify to rule over much – in God’s kingdom!

Again, this wonderful parable by our Lord Jesus illustrates the fact that we will be rewarded according to our spiritual works. But it also illustrates another point – our LORD God’s complete fairness in rewarding His servants – taking into consideration their own limitations – e.g. not everyone has the finances to build or rent a church building.
8) In what way did this lord, who represents our Lord Jesus Christ, divide up talents!?
Now, as He teaches us in His Parable of the Talents; as well as Him speaking of the glorious kingdom of God – if you’ve been given God’s Holy Spirit, you’ve been given a great amount! – whether you have more or less of His Spirit – you’ve been entrusted with great wealth!

’ And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to EACH ACCORDING TO HIS OWN ABILITY; and immediately he went on a journey.’ – Matthew 25:15.

Now, we, dear brethren, are a very ‘special people’ – whether we realize it or not – we are the children of God, we are the chosen ones – the ones who possess God’s revealed truths. And, it’s vitally important that we use this great wealth – and stir it up! But, notice that the quantities were not equal. The amounts were given according to each servant’s ability.

The Greek word translated “talents” is talanton, meaning “weight and monetary unit” 2 which pictures spiritual gifts. God knows some have more ability, aptitude, education, personality, strength, or better opportunities than others.
9) What did the servants do with the talents given to them before their lord returned and settled accounts with them!?
’ Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17) And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18) But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money.’ – Matthew 25:16-18.

Jesus Christ’s kingdom will be in relation to what the Apostle Paul wrote concerning the Church of God:

“And God has appointed these in the Church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps [or rather, helpers], administrations, varieties of tongues [or rather, languages]. 29) Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30) Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues [or rather, different languages]? Do all interpret?” – 1 Corinthians 12:28-30.

So, in this respect – God’s chosen children – His firstfruits – are (and shall be in His kingdom) “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, …” “it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, …” – 1 Peter 2:9; 1 John 3:2.

And, as I say to Father God and our Lord Jesus always, “I would be blessed and happy to just have the privilege to shine Your shoes, of which I am not worthy.” – cf. Luke 3:16.

The servant who was given five talents doubled his spiritual gifts. Likewise, although the servant with two produced less in number than the one with five, he also doubled what he started out with. He did as well in proportion to his ability.

10) In what capacity is our Lord Jesus now serving true Christians?

“Seeing then that we have a great High Priest [and be thankful for that every single day of your life!!] who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our [profession, our covenant, our agreement with God]. 15) For we do not have a High Priest …” - the English translation here is very distorted; what it’s saying is WE HAVE A HIGH PRIEST who can sympathize with our weaknesses, who can be touched by all of our problems. Because He too, as a human being, was “in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” – and in doing so, He qualified to relinquish the power of Satan the devil over our lives. We are no longer under the power of Satan the devil, we are no longer under the prospect of eternal death. But now we’re under the rulership of the great High Priest Jesus Christ, and He is offering to us - all of us – eternal life! Not just help in the age to come, but blessing and help in this age! Notice what Paul said in Verse 16 – “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” – Hebrews 4:14-16. It's truly breathtaking, exciting, and an incredible calling! A glorious and wonderful future!

Are You Preparing for God’s kingdom!? □

1) Garrett, M.C., The MARK of the BEAST, 24, Oct. 2019, pg. 15.
2) “about 57 to 80 lbs.; a talent of silver was about 6,000 days’ wages (denarii) of a common laborer and a talent of gold was about 180,000 days’ wages, often implying a vast, unattainable amount: - talents.” Strong’s #5007.

Scriptural Index:

New Testament - Matthew 5:48; 16:27; 25:15-21; Luke 3:16; 16:10-12; John 16:33; Acts 2:1; Romans 4:3, 13; 6:23; 8:16-17; 1 Corinthians 3:5-8; 12:28-30; 15:27; 2 Corinthians 13:5; Galatians 2:20; 3-18-19, 21-22, 26-29; 4:19; Ephesians 1:20-22; 2:8-10, 20-21; 3:17; Colossians 1:27; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:14-16; 5:8-10; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 3:18, 21-22; 1 John 3:2; Jude 1:14-15; Revelation 1:6; 2:26-27; 3:21; 11:15-19; 13:16-17; 14:9-11; 15:2; 16:2; 19:7-9, 20; 20:4; 21:8; 22:12, 16.

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