Evil Is at the Door, but an Even Greater Hope Is Beyond

Brethren, evil is at the door. The truth has been rejected, and there is much deception all around us. As we turn to Isaiah 5, verse 20, people today call evil good and good evil. Satan is really on the prowl, and he wants to destroy the family. The nuclear family is the beginning of society, is how God is developing his family into eternity. So Satan hates the family, and there is a complete attack on the family. That is evident, and that is a fact.

The problem is, people today have rejected the truth. They have accepted a lot of deception, and there are so many lies out there that sometimes you don't even know what is true and what is not true. Turn with me to 2 Thessalonians, 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, 2 Thessalonians chapter 2, and I'm going to read verse 10 and 11.

It's talking about this man of sin that will come up, this lawless one. And in verse 10, And with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth. There is no love for truth in the society. I don't have to go through you and itemize where that is evident. You listen to the news, you listen to the media. It's just bombarded you with complete disrespect for truth. It's complete. And then he says that they do not receive the love of the truth, that it might be saved.

And for this reason, God will send them strong delusion that they should believe the lie. Whatever that lie at the end time will be, obviously could be the breakaway of the family, could be that God doesn't exist.

But it's just that this false prophet is the God, whatever the lie is. It's all around this deception from Satan. People don't love the truth. They've neglected the truth. In Matthew 24, Christ highlights how there will be many false Christs and false prophets. Turn with me to Matthew 24 verse 24. Matthew 24 verse 24. For false Christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive. If possible, even the elect. There will be a lot of deception, and there is already, but there will be more.

A lot of deception. False Christs and false prophets. If you think a little bit more about Christ, the word Christ, meaning the anointed one, Christ is going to come to rule the world, you could say false Christs are like false leaders, leaders that say, we will save the nation. And false prophets, under today's context, you could talk about false religious leaders, false pastors and ministers and things like that.

So what are we going to have is a lot of people claiming they're going to bring peace to the nation. They're going to resolve all the world's problems. And that's what the beast power in the end will do, ultimately. And false religions, and that's what ultimately the false prophet will do. So there's strong delusion. There'll be a lot of this. And Paul then emphasizes that's not a surprise. If you turn with me to 2 Corinthians 11, 2 Corinthians 11, verse 13 and 14, Paul says, don't be surprised that this will happen.

2 Corinthians 11, verse 13 and 14, for such are false apostles. I'll just put it like false ministers of Jesus Christ saying that, yeah, I'm a minister of Christ. I believe in Christ. It says there'll be many false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ, transforming themselves into ministers, pastors of Christ.

But they're not. And then it says, and no wonder, verse 14, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. You see, Satan, that's what he does. He's got a master degree. In fact, a doctorate degree, quote unquote, just in a little bit of anecdotal way, he's got a doctorate degree, interception. He deceives the whole world. And we've got to be careful. We've got to be careful that we're not deceived. In the previous epistle to the Corinthians, that's in 1 Corinthians, also in chapter 11, 1 Corinthians, chapter 11, Paul says, starting to read in verse 1, he may tithe me.

Follow Paul. By extension, follow those that are indeed imitating Christ. Not just by word, but indeed. And then he goes on and says in verse 2 and 3, Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I've delivered them to you. You see, God is consistent. God doesn't change. His value system is the same. And he says, but I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ. The head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God.

God is consistent. There's a certain chain of authority that God has put in to serve, not to dictate, not to be evil, to serve. And the example is the family. The family is the ideal training ground for God's children. And so, brethren, evil is at the door. Evil is at the door. You know, it's not far away. It's right here, right here. Could be any moment that everything will just blow out of proportion.

It's frightening, brethren. I don't have to go and detail all the bad news because you bombarded with all these bad news every day. And please don't think, as Christ mentioned, about that servant that said, oh well, the Lord is delaying His coming. Oh, no, there'll be another. I mean, we always thought like this. So, brethren, it's never been like this. It's never been like this. Evil is at the door.

But I want to focus, brethren, that there is an even greater hope, greater than the evil that is to come. There is a greater hope beyond us. And we've got to look beyond today. You've got to look beyond what's coming. You see, it's very easy for us to get bogged down with our problems, our suffering, our issues. And we start asking questions. Maybe why does God allow it? Why? Why? It's not fair. Why? But we have to understand, we have to have a slightly better vision of God's plan for us, for mankind. In other words, what is God's purpose in all this? What is man? Who is man? And what is our purpose? You see, people in society are confused. They are confused. There are many questions. There are many doubts. There is much deception. And all these things, these doubts, this deception, this lack of truth, destroys our trust in God, in other words, our faith, and destroys our hope, which is our anchor for the future, an anchor that keeps us anchored in the right way.

Satan wants to destroy God's plan. Now, he knows that he can't destroy it because he knows he's lost because when Christ died and was resurrected, Satan lost it. He lost the war. That's it. He lost the war. But he can try his best to get you and I to not make it.

He wants to destroy the family, God's family. And one of the ways is to destroy for us to lose focus of the hope that we have. And the greatest hope that you and I have is what God has got planned for you and I to be in his family. We need to try and do our best to visualize that and not forget about it.

God has a plan to bring many sons to glory. You read that in Hebrews chapter 2 verse 10. He's the author of salvation to bring many sons to glory through Christ. That's the plan.

And he tries continuously, Satan tries continuously, to destroy our vision. Even when Christ was baptized, the very first thing Satan went is to try and discourage and dishearten Jesus Christ as a human being. Because as we heard in the sermonette very clearly, he was a human being. Complete man. Sure, he emptied himself of all his power, but he was still God. He's still God. He still had that authority, but he didn't have the power. So you think about it, it's like a leader of the nation that is in civilian clothes at the beach, in Bermuda's or in sandals or whatever it is, he's not in his uniform. He doesn't have the power with him because he doesn't have all the buttons that he can press to do things or whatever. But he still has that authority. That's why Christ said, if I wanted, I could call on the Father and to bring millions of angels here and deliver me. He had the authority. When demons came and said things, he said, get out! And they left. He had the authority, but he didn't have the power. He's quite correct. But the point is, the thing that Satan wanted to do was to create doubts in this now human being that had just been baptized. And you read that first in Matthew 3 verse 13, Matthew 3 verse 13, which shows the section when Christ was baptized. Matthew 3 verse 13 through 17. Matthew 3, that's when he was baptized. And then we read, and then Jesus came from Galilee to John, that's John the Baptist, at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. And John, John the Baptist, tried to prevent him, Christ, saying, I, John the Baptist, need to be baptized by you, and you are coming to me.

But Jesus answered and said to him, permit, permitted to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness. Now imagine if Christ was not baptized, there would be some person who says, I am imitating Christ, and I don't need to be baptized, because that would happen. So to fulfill all righteousness was necessary for Christ to be baptized, so that we cannot say, well, I'm like Christ, so I don't need to be baptized. We need to fulfill all righteousness. And when he had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water, and beyond the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and a lightning upon him. As it is, for instance, described in Acts 2 on the Day of Pentecost, the Spirit of God came down, and those disciples there on the Day of Pentecost received God's Holy Spirit. And so at that moment, that's, in a sense, a symbol of Pentecost receiving God's Holy Spirit. And so we, and then suddenly a voice came from heaven saying, this is my beloved Son. He knew I'm well pleased. This is my beloved Son. In whom I'm well pleased. I'm well pleased.

And you know, in the very next chapter, Christ went into the wilderness, and he was tempted. And you look on the temptation, you read that in chapter 4, verse 1, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil, and when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, after he was angry, and when the tempter came to him, he said, if you are the Son of God, if you are the Son of God, you see that doubts. If you are God's children, if you believe in God, command this, and Christ said, it is written, man shall not live by bread alone, by by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. And then you read in verse 6, and it says, and he said to him, if you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it's written, he shall give his angels charge over you, and in their hands they shall bury you up, lest you dash your foot against stone. Yes, that was a scripture for Christ, but he wasn't going to fall in the trap because he said, it is written, you shall not tempt the Lord your God. You see, Christ was the Son of God, and so you and I are the children of God.

And so we see through this begettle and birth process that God is bringing many sons and daughters into his family. You see, Satan hates the begettle and birth process. That's why he said, if you are the Son of God. You see, the angelic realm, the angels, are called sons of God. You read that in Job. But they are not the begotten sons of God. They are not the begotten sons of God. Turn with me to Hebrews chapter 1. Hebrews chapter 1, and we're going to read, starting in verse 4. Hebrews chapter 1, starting in verse 4. Having become, it's talking about Christ sitting at the right hand of God, having become so much better than the angels, as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they, the angels. Look at verse 5. For to which of the angels did he ever say, you are my son, today I have begotten you?

The angel, the angelic realm, are not begotten children of God. Oh yeah, they are his children. Like you could say, well, some, for instance, as an example, some beloved pet animals of yours. Well, this little cat is my child, or this little dog is my child. But they're not your begotten children.

And again, it says, continuing in verse 5, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

You see, angels have a different purpose. As you read in Hebrews, a little bit lighter on the same chapter, in verse 13, it says, but to which of the angels has he, that's the father, ever said, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.

Verse 14, are they, you know, it was the angels, not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who, that's you and I, who will inherit salvation. Angels are there to minister to us. In a sense, they are our servants. They dare to serve us.

And this is important for us to understand. And in this society, there's a lot of evil. There's a lot of evil. And just in between brackets, God hates evil. God hates evil. God hates everything that is arrogant and self-proclaimed. And Satan said, as you know, as you read in Isaiah, I will be like the most I God, arrogant and self-proclaimed. But God is calling us to be His children. God has a great plan for each one of you. And in fact, for all human beings, even if they're not called yet. God has a plan for everybody. And you and I need this hope. It is so important. Turn with me to 1 John chapter 3, and we're going to read verse 1. 1 John chapter 3, and let's read verse 1. Behold, what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God. You and I today are the children of God.

If you are the children of God, you are the first fruits of God today.

And continue reading. Therefore the world does not know us because it did not know Him. Verse 2, Beloved, now we are the children of God. Now you and I are the first fruits of God. Now you are the children of God.

And it has not yet been revealed what we shall be. It has not yet been revealed what we shall be. But we know that when He is revealed, that's when Christ comes, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. When Christ comes, at the resurrection, or for those of you and I that are alive at that moment, will be changed, will be transformed. Into spirit beings. We're not now spirit beings, but we are now the children of God. But not yet how we look like at the resurrection.

We shall be like Him. In other words, we will then be the first fruits. If we're faithful till the end. You see, because you and I can lose it. Not because God is going to abandon us. I'll never leave or forsake you. But because we could forsake Him, we got to remain faithful till the end. Those that are with Him that is coming are called and chosen and faithful. We have to be faithful till the end.

Verse 3, And everyone who has this hope, brethren, this is a hope that we will be like Christ, purifies Himself just as He's pure. We are going to work with the help of God's Holy Spirit, the Helper. We're going to work through what it's called sanctification. Sanctification for obedience, as you read in 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 2, because it's a sanctification of the Holy Spirit. In other words, once you and I are baptized, once you and I have been begotten by God's Holy Spirit, once you and I have been fathered by our heavenly Father, we are the first fruits unto God. But we're not yet what we shall be.

We have to be faithful till the end. That's why we read in James chapter 1 verse 18.

Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of His creatures. He brought us forth similar to begettle, similar to bringing us forth by the word of truth, by the truth of God's Word, by the promise, by the calling, by the preaching, by us being baptized, by us fulfilling that word, that we might be today a kind of first fruits.

Because you and I are not yet what we shall be. You see, we are kind of first fruits. We are the first fruits unto the Lord, to the Lord. But we are kind of first fruits because we're not yet the first fruits when we will be changed into spirit beings. The understanding of the spiritual begettle and birth process is very important. How is God working out this plan to bring many sons and daughters into His family? How? Through the begettle and birth process. Not as created beings like the angels, but we are procreated through the begettle and birth process. And this process requires growth to maturity, like parents teaching children. It requires growth to maturity.

Let's look a little bit more in 1 John 3 verse 9. 1 John 3 verse 9. Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for his seed remains in him, and he cannot sin because he has been born of God. This is a very important scripture, and we need to understand it clearly because there's duality. The word born, whoever has been born of God, the word born is the Greek word 10801080, Gennau, procreated, fathered of the father.

You and I have been procreated for the first time when your physical dad's seed impregnated the egg in your physical mother, and you were conceived, as we call it. You were Gennau'd. You were begotten for the first time, physically speaking.

So in other words, you were brought forth, you were conceived by the father, physically speaking, by your physical father. Your physical father did not have to do anything else because, let's say, for instance, let's say he was serving in a military, and then he left to some other country, and he didn't come back till the child was born. That physical father child that was born was the son of that just recently born child, because he fathered that child when at the begettle stage. And then that embryo had to grow in the mother's womb over a period of growth and maturity till it reached, on average, nine months so he could be born at a certain degree of maturity. Now, let's read this again in 1 John 3, verse 9. Whoever has been begotten of God, because that's the word again now, begotten of God, fathered by the heavenly father, does not sin. We'll come to that in a moment. We'll come to that in a moment. For his seed, the word seed in Greek is word 4690, 4690, and that word is sperma. He's seed, God's seed, which by analogy is like the male seed. God's seed conceived, begotten again, was begotten again, was regenerated. You read scriptures, we have been regenerated. It was begotten again. How? By receiving God's Holy Spirit after baptism upon the prayer with the laying on of hands by God's minister and Christ then, as John the Baptist said, is the one that baptizes us with the Holy Spirit. The minister does not baptize you with the Holy Spirit. The minister baptizes you in water. Then the prayer, asking God to fulfill the promise of the father because he wants us to be his children, therefore through that begettle process he needs to beget us and to fulfill all righteousness Christ set that example and we receive our Holy Spirit at that moment.

But the point here is, in verse 9, does not sin for his seed remains in him and he cannot sin because he has been begotten or born of God. Ultimately he will be born if he remains faithful till the end, of course. But the father has fathered him and that process has started. If you read the context, look at verse 10. In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God. The key word is practice righteousness. Also, if you read verse 7, it's talking about little children, let no one deceive you, who practices righteousness. And so in verse 9, when he's talking about it does not sin or cannot sin, that means it does not practice sin, does not live a way of sinning practicing because, you know, in 1 John says, if you say you have no sin, you're a liar. But your desire and intent is not to sin. Your desire and intent is not to practice sin. That's why Paul in Romans 7 says, I have the swore in me, I find in me the thing that with my mind I want to serve God, but there's a law in my members that I'm struggling against. You remember that at the end of Romans 7. Who will deliver me from this? I thank God through Christ. And that's why then in chapter 8 verse 1 he says, therefore there's no condemnation.

You see, because we are not living in a practice of sin when we be gotten, because we've got God's DNA between the inverted commas, God's only Spirit, we've got a bit of God's DNA in us, and now that DNA, spiritual DNA, is working our minds and you and I don't want to practice sin, and you're overcoming, overcoming, overcoming. Until you get to a point at the resurrection, God says, I know he's faithful. You will not go back, and you and I have a spiritual body, not a physical carnal body, a body that then cannot sin. As a Spirit being, you will not sin.

And so you see in verse 9, whoever's been born of God does not sin. In the first Begettles stage, before the final resurrection, the resurrection that he's now changed to Spirit being, is not practicing sin. But when he actually is born of God, he will not sin. You see the duality, and in the context you can see that very clearly. You see, it's not revealed yet what we shall be. You see, it's like we had in the sermonette, you know, that you have this little flower that grows, there's the seed, but it hasn't sprouted yet. It hasn't become this new man, this new person, this new spiritual being. But we're growing, and we have to overcome. Turn with me to 1 Peter chapter 1, 1 Peter chapter 1, 1 Peter chapter 1 verse 22.

1 Peter chapter 22. Since you have been purified, you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit, in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently of a pure heart. You see, once we've been begotten, we receive God's early Spirit, because early Spirit is in us, and we need to now apply godly love for one another with a genuine pure heart. Verse 23, having been born again.

You see, that's where people get confused.

Because we're being begotten again. We're not yet born. But we're begotten again. We've been conceived again. The first conception was physical from our physical dad. The second conception is spiritual by our spiritual dad, when you and I receive God's early Spirit.

Having been born again, not of corruptible seed, the corruptible seed that when you and I were begotten for the first time, that human seed perishes. If you leave that seed out, after some hours, it will die. It corrupts. God's early Spirit is incorruptible. He says, we have been begotten again, not of corruptible seed, but incorruptible. God's early Spirit does not perish. It's incorruptible through the Word of God, which lives and abides forever. Because all flesh is His gross and all the glory of man as the flower of the grass, the grass withers and its flower fades away. But the Word of the Lord endures forever. Now this is the Word which by the Gospel was preached to you.

You see, the spiritual, begettle, stroke, birth process is very important for us to understand.

And this is a great hope you and I have, that we are really going to be children of God. Like He is. Look back to 2 Peter, just a few pages ahead. 2 Peter, chapter 1, verse 2, 3 and 4. 2 Peter, chapter 1, Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. As His divine power. What is His divine power? God's Holy Spirit. That's God's divine power. That's God's power, God's DNA, God's essence, as divine power has given to us all things. God's Holy Spirit gives us all, let's call it, spiritual tools that you and I need to overcome, to grow spiritually to overcome. That pertain to life, eternal life, and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue. By which we have been given to us exceeding great and precious promises. God is giving us exceeding great and precious promises.

That through these you might be partakers of the divine nature. We're going to have the divine nature. Finally, as spirit beings, fully. That means as spirit beings, we will not sin. We will fully have the divine nature. Yes, we try now to grow, to mature towards that divine nature.

Having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust, we will not corrupt anymore. We'll live eternally. And then if we just read verse 10 on the same chapter, verse 10, a little bit further down, therefore brethren be even more diligently to make your call an election sure. You have been called. Many are called if you are chosen. Yes, you have been chosen. You have been elected. How you've been chosen? By responding to the calling. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. In other words, you'll never leave God's church. You will be in the kingdom of God. For so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of God. In other words, the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. So we need to be diligent. It's not guaranteed. From God's side, it's done. Everything is guaranteed. But what is not guaranteed is that you and I don't give up. We must not give up.

Oh, Satan is going to bring evil illnesses, problems, discouragement, whatever he's going to bring. But you and I have to remain faithful till the end. That's why it says in Romans 8, Romans 8, verse 15. Romans 8, verse 15.

Romans 8, verse 15.

For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear. So don't be anxious. Don't be fearful. God's spirit is not a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and of a sound mind. But you have received the spirit of sonship, as it should have been translated. You are not an adopted person. Oh, you could translate the word heothesia to adopted. But that is not the correct meaning for us today. The correct meaning is that you and I have been begotten sons of God. You are really children of God. You are sons of God. It's a spirit of sonship, not adoption. A lot of people say, oh well, this cat is my adopted son. The thing is, the cat will always be a cat. But you have been begotten by God, and you will be changed from a human being to a God-family being as a child of God. And that's why it says, by whom will cry, Abba, daddy, daddy. That's what Abba means, daddy, my father. The spirit itself, or himself, God's only spirit itself, bears witness with our spirit. That is the spirit of man in man. You see, God's spirit is the seed. The spirit of man in man, in analogy, is the spiritual ovum. And God's spirit impregnates the spirit of man in man, in you, and that is a witness. God's spirit, working with my spirit, bears witness that we are the children of God. And if children then is, is of God. We're going to inherit Godhood. Let's just call it that way. Not at the level of God, not at the level of Christ, a lot less, but it will be of the same form, of the same kind of beings which cannot sin.

If, only two letters, but such a powerful word, if indeed we suffer with him. There is suffering. There is pain. What did Christ do wrong? Nothing. Oh, it was so unfair that he had to die on the cross. But he did it for you and I. We have to suffer for us to be better people and also to help healing the nations because suffering is because of sin. And so we will be in that family. We are filling the sufferings of Christ, of the body of Christ, like Paul himself said, I fill the sufferings of Christ because Christ never had XYZ disease or whatever. But we as part of the body of Christ, the body of Christ has suffered every single disease and depression and emotional difficulty, etc. And we as spirit beings will be able to love and care and understand and have compassion for other people that come into the world tomorrow with terrible pain, having been, for instance, through the great tribulation. We will be able to have compassion for them and that we may also be glorified together with God. Look at verse 28 through 30. And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are cold according to His purpose. You and I are cold according to His purpose. Yes, you love God and you're cold to His purpose and everything will work out for good for you.

For whom he foreknew, he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son. God knows what is God in mind for you and is predestined you and I and the whole of mankind to be children of God. But some, he wants to be there first. That he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Christ was the firstborn among many brethren. The world firstborn is protocos, Greek 4416, protos, primary importance in the words first produced, cost being produced, born, brought forth. So as you read in Colossians chapter 1 verse 12, Colossians chapter 1 verse 12, verse 13, giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inerrantess of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of his son, of the son of his love. In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. Christ was the firstborn over all creation. He was the first born. Now it doesn't say first begotten. He was the firstborn. Protocos. It's not protoganal. It's protocos, firstborn. And to confirm that you read in verse 18, he is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead. You see, Christ is the firstborn from the dead.

So Yah is saying he is the first one that came from human being and became a spirit being. That's what it was. Christ is the firstborn. You and I are now begotten again. But we're not yet part of that resurrection.

Resurrection reveals the plan of God. 1 Peter 1, 1 Peter 1, verse 13. 1 Peter 1, verse 13.

1 Peter 1, verse 13. Therefore, gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope. Rest your hope. Protect your mind. Don't allow junk into your mind. Be sober. Rest your hope fully upon the grace which is brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children, not conforming ourselves to the former lusts as in your ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in your conduct because it is written, be holy for I am holy because we got a great promise.

We got a great word and promise from the Father. Evil is at the door, but an even greater hope is beyond today. Are we preparing ourselves? Like when Joshua came into the Promised Land, he was told, act courageously, be, have courage. Brethren, we have the sacred trust. God, as entrusted as the responsibility to be an example to the world, to be alight, is calling you to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, to be alight to the world, to fulfill the responsibility that God has entrusted on you and I, to preach the gospel by living it, by living it, by being a witness in living hope, not giving up. This is a wonderful hope of the ages which awaits us. And to conclude, I just want to read 1 Timothy 6. 1 Timothy 6.

1 Timothy 6.

We're going to read verse 20 and 21. Oh, Timothy, there was Paul writing to Timothy. Think of it, he's writing to you and I. God, what has been committed to your trust? God's truth has been committed, has been entrusted to you and I. Avoid all these little ideas that'll come up, which falsely so-called knowledge, but by professing it, by following those ideas, some have strayed concerning the faith. May God's grace be with you. Amen.