The Deception Coming on the Earth

Well, thank you, Mark. My activity coordinator reminded me that I forgot to read an announcement, so here it is. Pre-teen campers and staff members, please remember that camp applications for Camp Buckeye are due in just three short weeks. You can find the application at uic.ucg.org. If you need a printed copy, please see Mrs. Thomas. Also, if anyone is interested in donating towards the Camp Tuition Fund, please see Gene Weber within the next week so that he is able to distribute funds to those who could use the subsidy for camp costs. So if you can help out in that area, we would certainly appreciate it. Finally, it says, for those who would like to donate towards the Arts and Crafts class this year, BJ is looking for scrap wood cut into various shapes and thicknesses, for example, squares, rectangles, triangles, circles, dowel rods, one for each of the projects this year. Pieces no larger than eight inches would work best. It's amazing to see what the children can create out of an assortment of wood pieces. So again, if you can help in that area, please see BJ Thomas. Well, happy Sambaath once again! Today, I would like to discuss a prophetic warning about a universal event that is going to occur before the return of Jesus Christ. It's an event that will confuse and deceive many, not only in the world, but also in the Church, particularly some in the Church, because of an orientation that they have will be very susceptible to this end-time event. Paul talked about this event and the individual behind it in one of his letters to his congregations. Word came back to Paul that some were saying in this congregation that Jesus Christ had already returned. What do we call that? Well, Mr. Thomas calls that someone's personal agenda. You've probably heard me say that so many times. You're tired of me saying that phrase, but it's really nothing new. It's been going on since the very beginning. People get their pet ideas. They get their personal pet doctrines, and they begin teaching it as if they know what they're talking about. And this occurred in a congregation called Thessalynchia.

So word came back to Paul. People were saying that Christ had already returned, and he wanted to clear up any confusion and give the brethren a strong warning. We need to be aware and heed the same warning today as Paul told this congregation in Thessalynchia. Let's turn there to 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1-12. I'm just going to read through it at this point without a whole lot of comment. Then we will take a look at some other scriptures regarding who and what this individual is. Then later on we'll go back and go through these verses in a little more detail. 2 Thessalonians 2, verses 1-12. Paul is saying here that something significant and actually horrifying from a perspective of God's way of life occurs, must occur, before the second coming of Jesus Christ. It's important that we understand this because some of us may be alive when this event literally occurs on earth. So let's pick it up here, chapter 2, verse 1. Again, I'll read it without a whole lot of commentary at this point. We'll be going into the verses a little deeper later on. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, that is when Jesus Christ returns, gathering to Him is part of the resurrection, at His return. We ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? Give us a little bit of context. Paul had founded this congregation through his missionary journeys, and he had to leave suddenly. He was kind of forced out of town. He caused a mini-riot, which Paul was often blamed of doing. And so he had written the first letter to the Seth Thessalonians. He sent people to the congregation. They came back and reported that all was well. And then he wrote this second letter because he found out that some within the church were saying that Jesus Christ had already come. So he's covering ground here that he says that he taught them personally when he was among them. He says, so do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? And now you know what is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth and destroy with the brightness of his coming. The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish because they did not receive the love of the truth that they might be saved. And for this reason, God will send them a strong delusion that they should believe the lie that they may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness. A pretty powerful commentary there by Paul talking about a rather horrific end time event that's going to occur before Jesus Christ returns. It says here that it's Jesus Christ himself who will destroy at his coming this son of perdition, this man of sin. Now we know that this is a powerful religious figure who rises up at the end time to deceive the world, and as Paul tells us here, including some who are in the Church of God.

Before we go to these verses in more detail, let's learn more about this individual because this individual is actually one of the beasts spoken of in the book of Revelation. So let's go to Revelation chapter 13 and verse 11 and learn a few more things about the quality of this son of perdition, this man of sin, this religious authority, this religious figure.

Revelation chapter 13 verse 11.

It says, then I saw another beast coming out of the earth. Previously, John had discussed the first beast, which is a political authority, a political leader. Then he sees another beast coming out of the earth here in verse 11. And he had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon.

You see, he's a counterfeit Jesus Christ. He looks like a lamb. He's got the two horns of a lamb. If you're not perceptive, then you can be deceived. But if you are perceptive, as soon as he opens his mouth, he sounds like a dragon. He's not humble. He's not mild like a lamb. He has viciousness.

He is a false Christ. So he had two horns like a lamb. He spoke like a lion. And he exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence and causes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. That was a former resurrection of the Roman Empire that had been healed. Here is another resurrection, and we need to understand that there is a relationship, a close intermarriage between this religious figure, who is given authority and power from the first beast, and the government authority and figure, also known as the first beast, that they're working together here.

They're working in harmony. Verse 13, he performs great signs so that he even makes fire come down from heaven on earth in the sight of men. That's pretty impressive. And he deceives those who dwell in the earth by those signs which he was granted to do in the sight of the beast, telling those who dwell in the earth to make an image to the beast who was wounded by the sword and lived. He was granted power to give breath to the image of the beast, and the image of the beast should both speak and cause as many as would not worship the image of the beast to be killed.

So, even has the ability with an inanimate wooden idol, or idol that is inanimate, doesn't have life and gives it life, so that it literally speaks. This is pretty impressive, and this will certainly impress the world. Let's read verses 12 and 13 from the New International Version. Again, I want to emphasize how they work so well together.

He says, he exercised all the authority of the first beast on his behalf, and made the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose fatal wound had been healed. And he performed great and miraculous signs, even causing fire to come down from heaven in the full view of men.

Let's understand who these beasts are. Who is the first beast? This is a political leader who represents a group of nations that have combined to dominate the earth, but they're being used by Satan to resist the return of Jesus Christ.

We believe that this will be centered in Europe, that this will be a conglomeration of the European Union, that will be the final resurrection of the Roman Empire, and that they will come to great strength, and they will come to attempt to dominate the world. Who is the second beast?

Well, the second beast, like the first, is also a tool of Satan who uses his religious position and his authority to influence humankind to worship the first beast. He's a skillful deceiver. He is directly manipulated and empowered by Satan.

And for the first time in hundreds of years, this cultural marriage between government and religion will be united to resist the will of God and to try to resist the return of Jesus Christ. Let me make a few statements about recent history. Until about 300 years ago, do you realize in most of the world that governments and religions were always on the same page?

Look at the history of Europe in the Middle Ages. Wasn't there one dominant church that was always working with the kings or the emperors and the nations of Europe? And that's what most of human history has been about. It was only about the time of the founding of the United States, which had a Declaration of Independence, and whose Constitution said that there is a wall of separation between government and religion, that what we see in a lot of the world today has become the norm. But until that period of time, it was common for government and religion, one central religion, to work together to dominate the masses, to dominate the people who lived in their kingdoms. And once again, this powerful force will be reunited, this concept of government and one central religion working together, and they will be guided by the prince of the power of the air. Now, so let's go forward and learn a little bit more about this man of sin in Revelation, Chapter 19. If you'll turn there with me, a few chapters, Revelation, Chapter 19. John continues to write, And I saw the beast, he's referring to the first beast here, the governmental power, the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him who sat on the horse, this is regarding Jesus Christ, and against his army. And I might add that his army includes the saints who were resurrected as he comes to earth. And the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two, that is the first beast in the false prophet, which is the man of sin, the son of perdition, the false prophet who worked those signs, these two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. The rest were killed with the sword, that's the rest of their armies, were killed with the sword was preceded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse, that's Jesus Christ, and all the birds were filled with their flesh. Let's talk a minute about the mark of the beast. What is the mark of the beast? Well, the mark of the beast is a mark of disobedience towards God. It could be something physical and literal. It could be something like a personal identity number that every human being on earth will be given. It could be microchips embedded under our skin. But it could be something as simple as a cashless society in which you depend on digital technology to give you even the ability to buy something or sell something.

And if you're not on the right list, you are denied, kind of like the IRS. Right? So it could be something as simple as a digital society that is able to control what you are able to buy or sell or how you are able to even conduct your life, how you are able to function within society. Verses 16 and 17 talk about the mark on the right hand and the foreheads. You know, the hand and the forehead represent one's actions, your hand, and your forehead represents your thoughts, respectively, which should be dedicated to obeying God. But in this case, this mark of disobedience towards God could just be symbolic of the fact that people are disobedient against the law of God both in the way that they think and both in the way that they act, their actions. So it could also be figurative in that sense, whether it is something literal or whether it is something figurative. And it could also be tied into the fact that everyone will have to worship on a particular day of the week that is not the Sabbath and be forced to. It could be that as well. Whether it is figurative or literal, we know that this mark of the beast is a mark of disobedience towards God. Now, combining the description of this second beast with what we previously read in Revelation 13 gives us the understanding that this individual is a miracle working. False prophet. I've known a lot of false prophets in my lifetime, but I've never known one who could perform miracles except maybe sucking money out of people's pockets. It was about the only miracle that it seemed to be able to perform. But this truly is a miracle working false prophet, literally able to bring fire down from heaven, able to take an inanimate icon or an image and bring it to life so that it speaks and people worship it. That's pretty powerful. That's dabbling in the dark side. And of course, we know that both of these beasts are influenced by Satan the devil. They're engaged in a work of deception on the earth. The second beast, which again is the false prophet, causes the world to worship the first beast, who was a political ruler. We saw that. And we need to understand that they work together. They have a relationship like a marriage. They both need each other to rise to the greatest level of power and deception in the work that they do. The second beast exercises all the authority of the first beast.

And yet there is another title regarding this false prophet, also known as a man of sin, also known as the son of perdition. Let's go to 1 John 4. And beginning in verse 1, we'll see that John has another title for this individual and for all those who came before it, who to a lesser degree were also against Christ, known as an antichrist.

1 John 4, beginning in verse 1.

John writes, again, he's also the author of the book of Revelation, so we shouldn't be surprised with this connection.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits. How do you test the spirit? You see what its fruits are. Are its fruits the works of the flesh? Then it's a false spirit. It's an evil spirit. If the fruits are selfish, self-absorbed, manipulative, it's false. It's evil.

When you test the spirit and you see the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then you know it's a good spirit, that it is a spirit of righteousness. Test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this, you know the Spirit of God, that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.

When the Spirit says, yes, Jesus Christ walked on the earth, and he lived the life of a man, and he shed his blood so that sins could be forgiven, and he died, and he became the ultimate Passover. That's a good thing. We know that coincides with what Scriptures tell us.

Verse 3, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the Spirit of the Antichrist, whom you have heard was coming and is now already in the world. So that concept, that ancient concept, the prince of the power of the air, was already influencing the world, and unfortunately also influencing the Church. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. Jesus Christ is in you because of the gift of the Holy Spirit. Verse 5, they are of the world, therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us, and he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error. Now, John is subtly referring to the Roman Empire and its pagan influence. Remember that Caesar himself claimed to be a god. The Antichrist is someone who is, as the word says, against Christ, against the teachings of Christ. He may even be masquerading as Jesus Christ. There is a direct line pointing to Satan who deceives the world. We know that in Revelation 12, verse 7, it says that the dragon was enraged and went to make war with the rest of her offspring, speaking to one of the women in the book of Revelation, who keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. Again, that's Revelation 12, verse 17. So we see that this same individual can be referred to as an Antichrist or the ultimate Antichrist, as the son of perdition, as the man of sin, as the false prophet, that these are various terms used for the same end-time influence that will deceive the whole world, and sadly, even some within the Church of God. So with this kind of background, now let's go to 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, and we'll look at those verses in a little more detail.

2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, verse 1. Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with Him, we ask you not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled either by spirit or by word or by letter as if from us, in other words, as if it comes from an authority, as though the day of Christ had come. Paul was concerned that there were unbiblical ideas, there were doctrines of men, deluded people who were acting like they know what they're talking about. We have a common phrase for those people today. We call them blogs. All right? There are many people writing articles, making comments, trying to shake the brethren up, trying to rattle them, trying to make them shaken in mind or troubled by their own personal doctrines or ideas of men in order to draw attention to themselves. The more some things change, the more they remain the same throughout human history.

So he was concerned that these ideas were disturbing the congregation, and they can if we let them. The same kind of things can happen today. Verse 3, Let no one deceive you by any means, for that day will not come unless the falling away comes first. Notice it doesn't say the great falling away, which is kind of a mythical phrase that the church had in the ages past.

Unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. Do you not remember that when I was still with you, I told you these things? Now, it's interesting, the son of perdition, the only other place in Scripture where this phrase is used, is in John 17, verse 12, and it refers to Judas Iscariot, a traitor.

So, sometimes these individuals even come from the inside and then persecute the church. But Judas Iscariot, who was a type of antichrist, I might add, was also called the son of perdition in John 17, verse 12. Those who reject the gospel and plot to destroy the church of God on earth. The falling away is a spiritual drift from the legitimate truth of God. And I say legitimate truth of God because the truth of God that comes from this, not from articles, not from blog posts, not from Josephus, not from some guy who lived in the fourth century, not from anywhere else but from this book.

This is the legitimate truth of God and not what just some men say is the legitimate truth of God. And as time goes on, the world will become more secular and rely on government instead of God. Many in the church, and I can see it happening already, will begin drifting away from gathering on the Sabbath, drifting away from maintaining the values of God, drifting away into a very materialistic or secular view of who and what God is and what the church is.

And in this environment, the Son of Perdition will rise up, and some people are going to be very vulnerable to a delusion. This coming man of sin represents the ultimate of evil and rebellion against God. Other than Jesus Christ and God the Father, no other biblical figure makes the claim that He is literally God.

Have you ever thought about that? Now, historically, there have been political and religious leaders who claimed to be a God. Pharaoh claimed to be a God, but the Egyptians had other gods. Caesar claimed to be a God, but the Romans had other gods. This individual claims to be the God. God. And that's what makes it rather unique. There have even been some in history who claimed to be vicars, who claimed to stand in place of God.

The word vicar, which I think the Catholic Popes began to use about 800 AD, the word vicar in Latin means substitute for. Substitute for Christ, the vicar of Christ. But this individual is unique in that he literally claims to be God. And the deception that this man works will be worldwide, and it will include virtually everyone except the elect, who are wise enough to understand and perceive that he looks like a lamb on the outside, but what comes out of his mouth is evil and is against God's way of life.

Now, what about the temple? What about the Scripture where it says here that this individual would be set in the temple of God, showing himself that he is called God? Traditionally, we have believed this is a literal temple rebuilt in Jerusalem by the Jewish people for their own particular worship before the Middle East is invaded by this governmental power. Here's what the Spousater's Bible Commentary says regarding this. It says, quote, This individual opposes and exalts himself over everything that is called God or is worshipped. His direct and determined opposition to the true God will be a leading figure of the continuing apostasy. It says that this evidently is a Jewish temple to be rebuilt in Jerusalem in the future.

And this, of course, refers to Daniel 9, Daniel 11, and Matthew and Mark and a few other Scriptures. So we have always traditionally believed that it is literally a physical temple that will be rebuilt in Jerusalem. And there are a lot of religious Jews who would love to have a temple built in Jerusalem. The only thing holding them back is an Islamic mosque sitting on the same location.

And that's kind of been slowing them down and holding them back. But that is what we believe about this individual sitting in a temple. Verse 6, let's read it here. And you know what is restraining that he may be revealed in his own time.

So what is restraining this individual? Well, it could be referring to Christ. Christ himself holding back world events until the Gospel is preached to the whole world, until certain things occur before the restraining is over, and all of this is allowed to come to fruition. It could also be as Revelation 12 and verse 7 says, There was a war in heaven, and Michael and his angels fought the dragon and cast him down to earth. And his angels were cast out with him. So it could be Michael, an archangel, that is restraining this individual from rising until the right time, as it says here in Scripture, his own time.

Verse 7, For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work, only he who now restrains will do so until he was taken out of the way. And the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of his mouth, and destroy with the brightness of his coming. Verse 7 refers to the mystery of lawlessness already being at work in Paul's time. The word for law here, of course, lawlessness, is anomia. And it means a willful opposition to the law of God or a sinful person.

This figure is an individual who serves the power of lawlessness. Again, he looks so righteous on the outside, he looks like a lamb, but his heart is evil and corrupt, and what comes out of his mouth as he speaks is evil and corrupt and lawless. We know, of course, 1 John chapter 3 and verse 4 says, Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. Again, referring to this mystery of lawlessness that was already at work in Paul's time. Let's take a look now at verse 9.

So let me ask a question, and then we'll answer it. Here's the question. We live in the Western world. It's drifting toward secularism, isn't it? I refer to our world today as a post-Christian culture. We've moved beyond Christian values, and now we're adrift, the Western world. Why would the world be attracted to an individual who claims to be God? Considering the pounding that religion takes in our culture today, people mock it, you have pedophile priests, you have televangelists that are scandalists, and people don't take religion seriously in the Western world today.

I think in Great Britain, the last figure I saw is only 4% of people go to church on Sundays in Great Britain. I mean, we live in a pretty secular world today. Why would they be attracted to an individual who claims to be God? Why would any religious figure have any credibility in the eyes of the world at that time?

Well, the answer to that question is because of the incredible power that this individual has to perform wonders and miracles. I mean, everyone will be astounded. Their jaws will drop.

When they see a mannequin literally come to life and speak words. When they see fire coming down from heaven. When they see other unbelievable miracles occurring in front of them. These wonders and miracles, they're a great lie. They're fostered by Satan the devil, and the world is entranced into a strong delusion. For me, it's real easy to see how this can happen because I've seen so many people follow mere men in their lifetimes.

People, if you would follow a mere man, how easy is it going to be to be sucked into someone who can perform miracles? It's very easy to happen. Verse 10 speaks of unrighteous deception on those who receive not the love of the truth. It's spiritual salvation that is the subject of this verse. Too many people don't love the truth enough to allow it to change their lives.

I've known too many people in the church who don't love the truth enough to allow it to change who and what they are. They want the thrill that comes from knowledge, but they don't want to do the hard work, the work through the Holy Spirit to change yourself from what you were into what you can become. They simply love knowledge because it makes them feel superior.

Instead of overcoming, too many people focus on over-talking. The end result of this man and his work is spiritual shipwreck for those who heed his teachings and worship his ways. There are so many that are going to be susceptible to buying into this because they don't understand that our calling is about becoming a new creature in Christ.

It's not about this pet doctrine and this idea and this theory. Ooh, look at this this week and look at this this week and everybody else is wrong but me. It's not about any of that baloney. It's about becoming a new creature in Jesus Christ. That's the most important thing of all. Verse 11 centers on a message to the believer on unmistakable terms. A believer is subject to the deception unless he or she holds on to the truth of what salvation is all about with a powerful love.

Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24 and verse 12 that after he talks about false prophets rise up, he says, The love of many would wax cold and this is cold towards their fellow man and cold towards God. So to recap what we have read here, the second piece of Revelation, the false prophet, also referred to by Paul as the man of sin or the son of perdition in 2 Thessalonians, he is the final antichrist and through signs and lying wonders he sends out a strong delusion on the earth and even deceives some of the believers in Jesus Christ.

So how can we protect ourselves from being deluded? How can we protect ourselves from being deceived? There's no miracle here. Paul answers it in the next couple of verses. He tells us everything we need to know. Verse 13, But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. You see, here's the key. Paul commended the believers for their understanding that their calling was through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. Sanctification is the process of becoming holy. Sanctification is not knowing everything. It's not being a know-it-all.

It is the process of becoming holy, moving away from the works of the flesh into developing the fruits of the Spirit. Sanctification is being transformed into a new creature in Jesus Christ.

So the first way that we avoid being gullible or susceptible to this is to avoid those who spend their times on tangents, on their own pet doctrines and theories. Some are in a constant quest for knowledge and truth, but they demonstrate the same problems and sins they had 40 years ago. Instead of dealing with who and what they are, which is the hard stuff, it's so easy to distract yourself with over this and this little pet thing and this idea and this knowledge and this truth, where the heart and core of Christianity is changing who and what you are. On Judgment Day, you don't get a test to see how well you know Hebrew. On Judgment Day, you don't get a quiz to see if you followed a certain man or know some mythical inspired order of the Bible. These are not questions that you are asked on Judgment Day. You will be asked what you did with the Holy Spirit and the talents that you were given. Did you transform your life? Did you show love towards others? Did you serve your God and your family and your brothers and sisters in Christ and your community with a godly passion? Were you a positive ambassador for Christ or a spiritual hermit clinging to your own false ideas and doctrines of men? That's what we're going to be asked on Judgment Day. What we did with what God gave us, not how much we know. Verse 14, To which he called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle. I'm going to read this from the New International Version.

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. Now, there certainly comes times when the church, and I've seen it a number of times in the church, when the church has had to change a doctrine, has had to see that they were doing something wrong, and has had to change a practice or a belief or a doctrine, and the church will occasionally do that, as Christ reveals to it that it is necessary. But the church has, as I'll read from the New International Version, So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter. The church has teachings. What are some of the teachings or traditions that we should hold on to?

One of them that I'm cleanly aware of is called coming to Sabbath services and worshipping on the Sabbath with people of like mind. Why do we come to services on the Sabbath? Because God tells us in the book of Leviticus that it's a holy convention. I've said this before, I've used this analogy. As a salesman, I went to many conventions, and you know what? I never went to a single convention. There was no one in a convention hall because everyone was in their hotel rooms. No, a convention means you gather together to do something. That's what a convention means. That's a teaching and a tradition that we hold dear. Another tradition we have is regarding the Scriptures as our absolute source for the will of God. We don't hold men as our absolute source, not articles of men as an absolute source, not someone's agenda, not a new truth or an old recycled lie. It's got to come from here. And if it doesn't come from here, it's just someone's opinion and nothing more. It's just that simple.

Verse 16, he says, Now may the Lord Jesus Christ himself and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. So once again, Paul, after discussing who this individual was, is telling us how we can be inoculated from falling prey to this antichrist that will rise up. I want you to notice that they were to be established in a certain way in what their foundation is. The first one, he says, The second thing he mentions is every good work. What is a good work? A good work means doing something positive, not talking about doing something positive, not dreaming about doing something positive. It means doing something positive. It means accomplishments, results, not excuses and fault-finding. And we make the efforts to have the Kingdom of God seminars and do all the things that we do because we believe we have been called to be part of a good work. Let's go to Hebrews 10, verse 23. I hope we understand that our life and our calling is one of God's great works. God wants to do a great work in your life. And spiritual growth is tied to participation in a spiritual community. You don't get to choose your physical or spiritual family. The Father chooses who the family members are. And yes, some of the brethren are more lovable than others. I understand that. But we all need each other. With all of our quirks and idiosyncrasies and differences that we have, we truly need one another.

Hebrews 10, verse 23 says, Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering. For he who promised is faithful. That's Jesus Christ and his promises of salvation and eternal life are sure.

And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. It shouldn't surprise us that Paul is the author of Hebrews. The same word is used, the good works from Thessalonians. And he says, good works again here in the book of Hebrews. Again, what are good works?

They are positive demonstrations of action, of doing something. Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together as the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the day approaching. For if we sin willfully after we've received the knowledge of the truth, and I might add that the fourth commandment is remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. But again, if we sin willfully after we've received the knowledge of the truth, it no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment and fire indignation which will devour the adversaries.

I'd like to give a recap here. Why do we meet on the Sabbath together? First, in Leviticus, God tells us this commanded convention to be attended every seventh day by his chosen people. That's one of our traditions. It's a tradition because it comes from here. That's why it's a tradition. Secondly, as Paul states in Hebrews, we worship together to encourage and motivate each other to grow, stretch outside of our comfort zones, challenge ourselves to do more and be more than we are today. That's why we assemble together. We need a community to share our beliefs and our trials and our talents with.

There is, and I'll just kind of be honest with you here, there is a phrase that I have heard that absolutely burns me up. And the phrase that I hear, I have heard, is a comment that I'm not being spiritually fed. Well, let me tell you about being spiritually fed. Here's what spiritually fed is. Spiritually fed is the gift of assembling with God's people and worshipping your Creator on the Sabbath day. And if not, another word is said that day.

You should leave here or leave anywhere refreshed and energized and thankful for the privilege of worshiping God. And after that, if you don't think you've been spiritually fed, I pity you because you don't get it. It's not about being entertained. Every minister I know works very hard to create insightful, sometimes even passionate subjects to talk about. But we are not here to entertain anybody. Spiritually fed is something that happens on the inside and it's tied to your attitude. And it's tied to the fact that we are appreciative and thankful for the opportunity to go on the Sabbath day and worship God.

And if not, another word is said, we should leave here spiritually fed. So if someone tells you they're not spiritually fed, don't buy into that. That's silly. It's nonsense. And it's certainly not biblical. Let's go to Ecclesiastes chapter 4 and verse 9. Another reason why we assemble on the Sabbath day.

The author of the book of Ecclesiastes. I actually read this a couple of weeks ago in another context just to see if you were paying attention. Chapter 4 and verse 9. Two people are better than one because together they have a good reward for their hard work. Yeah, do we have to drive a lot of miles to get here? You bet. We have people that live way in the east side of Cleveland, that travel all the way across town just to come here. And thank you. And God bless you for doing that. Yeah, it can be work.

It can be expensive to go to go to Sabbath service. It can take a big period out of your day and eat up a lot of gasoline and have wear and tear on your car. Thank you for making that commitment. They have a good reward for their hard work. If one fails, the other can help his friend get up. But how tragic it is for one who is all alone when he falls, there is no one to help him get up. Do you see why we need community?

Do you see why we need each other? Again, if two people lie down together, they can keep warm. But how can one person keep warm? Though one person may be overpowered by another, two people can resist one opponent. A triple-braided rope is not easily broken.

So you see why we come together? Why God, from the very beginning, instituted that his Sabbath was a time in which all of his chosen people would gather someplace together and worship him and celebrate the Sabbath together as a family. You know, if a triple-braided rope is not easily broken, how about a 50-strand braided rope like we are here today? How else can we protect ourselves from being deluded and deceived if we're not working together? If we're not pulling together to have those good works that Paul talked about in two different places, and to share the good word with each other and to do what God has called us to do, how else can we protect ourselves from being deluded and deceived?

One other thing. We can focus on God's other great work. That is the commission that Jesus Christ gave his church. Matthew 28, verse 16. If you'll turn there with me. Matthew 28, verse 16. Personal growth is wonderful, and God has given us His Holy Spirit to help us to be on a journey of personal growth. Because our marriages should be improving. Our relationship with our children should be improving. Our relationships with our neighbors should be improving. Our relationship with God should be getting better and better and better.

That's the kind of life that we've been called to. And that's good. But God just doesn't want us to be all about the inside. He doesn't want us to become selfish. He doesn't want us to become like a bunker mentality and just think about ourselves and my own growth, and it's all about me. God doesn't want that. He also wants us to do something that is outgoing, that teaches us to serve, that teaches us to give.

Matthew 28, verse 16. Then the eleven disciples went away to Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed them. And when they saw Him, they worshipped Him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, BAMPTIZING them in the name of the Father and the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.

Amen. This is what you and I are privileged to be part of. You know, many people no longer really want to do this in a serious way. Some have convinced themselves just putting their website up out of 350 other million websites that exist, that that is aggressively preaching the gospel.

That's fine. I don't happen to believe that. Others want to poach brethren from other church organizations because they don't have the zeal and dedication to preach the gospel. They just want to leech off of someone else's work, some other church's work and investment, that bring people into the faith. I don't buy into that either.

I believe that we are called, until the church is literally stopped by the antichrist or whatever it is, that we are literally called to preach the gospel in every way that we possibly can. Some organizations, the only printed literature they have is their offering envelope. We happen to believe that there are a lot of senior citizens who don't have access to the Internet and who appreciate receiving something in the mail that they can read because we're making that investment. We are making that commitment along with the Internet, along with television, along with the Kingdom of God seminars, because we believe what Jesus said. And we believe this is our vocation. And rather than selfishly sitting around with a bunker mentality and complaining about everyone because they don't have all the truth that I have is to miss out on something that God called us to do that's wonderful. We've been called to do something that helps change people's lives. If you could just hear the excitement of the two women who called me this week who want to come to the Kingdom of God seminar. One old gal said to me that, yes, I've gotten three or four invitations previously. She's even counting them. And I just haven't been able to make it. But I've had a stroke and I can't drive, but I really want to come. Brethren, that's what it's all about. It's about reaching out and giving the good news of the Kingdom of God to everyone who the Father is allowing to respond to it. So let us be committed to doing the work that God has given us to do. The fields are ripe for a harvest. Will the crops rot in the fields because the laborers don't want to do hard work anymore? Because the laborers have come to be deceived into thinking that just knowing something equals doing something? I don't think so. I encourage you to be part of something that's bigger than you, bigger than me, bigger than all of us. That something is the privilege of being part of a work that is preaching the coming Kingdom of God. Don't stray from the truth or from your spiritual family. Bloom where you're planted. And don't allow yourself to become a victim. If you've ever seen the wild kingdom or those nature shows and they show a lion. One of the things that a roaring lion loves to pick off are stray and confused animals who have left the herd. Who through distraction, through whatever, there they are all alone. The herd moved over here and here they are grazing all alone. And they don't have a chance against that lion. And in a spiritual sense, if we leave the herd, if we leave the flock of God, if we allow ourselves to be distracted from what is truly and really important, then shame on us. May we be strong. May God bless us. May God bless this congregation. And may we have a very productive Kingdom of God Seminar next Sabbath. Have a wonderful Sabbath day.

Amen.