In View of These Things, What Manner of People Ought We to Be?

In this sermon today, I want to bridge from the Feast of Tabernacles into going forward as we face the challenges that lie before us in this present evil world.

So we shall begin with reviewing many of the messages that we heard, just a line or two, about in summary. And we title today, in view of these things, what manner of people ought we to be?

What manner of people ought we to be? The messages of the feast should have indelibly stamped upon our minds the urgency of the times in which we live. The world desperately needs the restitution of all things that you read about in the book of Acts 3, verses 19 through 21.

The whole creation needs to receive the deliverance that will be wrought by the sons of God, as you read about in Romans 8, verses 18-19 along in there. Because this world, indeed, does groan for the manifestation of the sons of God. The world desperately needs the God-ordained family structure to be restored throughout the world.

This world desperately needs to be taught the way of God, the truth, path to love, joy, and peace. The world desperately needs to know who the true God is, who Christ is, and the roles of God and Christ in bringing us to eternal life and bringing the hope of eternal life and peace to the whole world. The whole world needs to be relieved of suffering and pain. So much suffering, so much pain in the world. Therefore, the world desperately needs godly leadership. No matter who you are, where you are, whether you're living alone or living with one person or you're living in the traditional family structure, we need leadership at all levels. The world is entered into a terrible time of trouble. It will never be the same, of course, and we know that so many events have happened, so many of the sacred traditions, values of the nation have crumbled and are being trampled on every day. There's no question that the peoples of the world are at war on many fronts, and they are filled with anxiety and fear. So the news abounds with war and rumors of war, and every evil that can possibly be conceived. Where will the next shoe drop? Will it drop on our block? Will it drop on our doorstep? Will it drop in the middle of town, in a crowded area? Will it drop in the world's largest cosmopolitan center? So we have heard this and much more in the sermons at the feast. So in the view of all the challenges that lie before us, what manner of people ought we to be? The apostle Peter asked this very question, if you would turn to 2 Peter chapter 3. Unless you look at 2 Peter chapter 3, it is one of the most relevant chapters, I think, for us at this present time, in this present evil age. In 2 Peter 3 verse 1, This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you, in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance.

So the feast should have motivated us, should have stirred us up, should have put us in remembrance in many different ways of being ready to inherit the kingdom that is prepared for us, as you heard in the special music, that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior.

Knowing this, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, and saying, where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue, as they were from the beginning of the creation. For this, they are willingly ignorant. Yes, let's put God behind us. Let's put him out of remembrance.

Then notice verse 8, But beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. Time, the short of that is, time is somewhat meaningless to God as we mark time. But, as it says, the eternal is not slack concerning his promises. Verse 9, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness, but his long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night.

And we'll read that from different perspectives here this afternoon. It says, The Lord will come as a thief in the night at a time you least expect. Yet, so many people think that they know exactly when. If you knew exactly when, the only benefit that would be would be as a motivator to stir you up, to encourage you to be ready because the time is short. It will come a thief in the night in which the heavens shall pass away everyone with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, and the earth shall, and the earth also, and the works therein are going to be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. So the things that we read about here in 2 Peter chapter 3, as well as all of the things you heard at the feast, and all of the things that you see going on in the world today, and with all the things, knowledge that you have, this rhetorical question, what matter a person's ought you to be to all holy conduct and godliness? So what manner of persons ought we to be in view of all these things? What are our goals, your goals, my goals, and plans for meeting the challenges that are before us? The fees should be a pivotal experience in your life. The trumpet is sounded, the handwriting is on the wall. He who hasn't hear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says.

It is the wise who will understand and heed the yay butters, the scoffers, the critics, the gainsayers will remain just that. Let's look at Daniel 12, verse 10.

Daniel is one of the few books in the Bible that gives you a countdown from a specific event that occurs before the end of the age. Notice in the midst of that what he says here in Daniel 12, verse 10. Many shall be purified and made white and tried, and the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand, but the wise shall understand.

So one of the great things that you're admonished to do in the book of Proverbs is to seek wisdom, to be wise. Also look at Revelation 22, verse 11. So here we are in the last chapter of the Bible, in Revelation 22, verse 11. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still.

It is so difficult for people to get out of the ruts that they are in. We tend to try and tread in the same ruts day after day, week after week, month after month, year after year. Before you know it, a decade has passed and nothing has changed. So we need to really wake up. He that is unjust, let him be unjust still. And he which is filthy, let him be filthy still. And he that is righteous, let him be righteous still. And he that is holy, let him be holy still.

So the admonitions in the Bible are quite clear that we need to be wise and serpents. Harmless as does, and we need to be wakeful. Let's look at James's definition of what wise people will be doing and what they're like. In fact, he asked this very question, who is wise? Look at James, chapter 3. James chapter 3 and verse 13. James 3 verse 13. Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? Who is he? What's he like?

Let him show of a good conversation or conduct his works with meekness of wisdom. The wise will understand, the others will not.

But if you have bitter end being and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth, this wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where end being and strife is, there is confusion in every evil work. That is not the work of a converted person. That is not the work of a person who is ready to inherit the kingdom. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure.

It is unfeigned. It is not faked. It can't be really faked. The wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, easy to be, entreated, full of mercy, and good fruits, without partiality, without hypocrisy, and the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace. And so, peace is one of the great themes of the millennium. But we are admonished to make peace now. If we can't make peace now, chances are we won't be there. If you wait till next year to get your house in order, you may not be at the feast next year. This coming year is going to be one of the most trying years in the history of humankind. As the time-tested sacred traditions of the past continue to crumble before our very eyes, and we see all these things going out on, at the same time, God is sifting out. He's sifting the wheat in the chafft before His judgment seat. He is indeed sifting out the hearts of men, the hearts of women. Where are you? Where do you stand? You remember in Luke it says, will He find the faith on the earth when He returns? It's going to be more difficult, I think, than a lot of us even imagine.

Satan's strategy has not changed since the Garden of Eden to the present day. That is, to deceive humankind into thinking that he can take the easy way out. There are no shortcuts to the kingdom of God. Enter in at the straight gate, the straight and narrow gate, and few there be that are finding it.

Broad is a way that leads to death and destruction, and many go therein. Straight is a gate, narrow is the way. I am the door, Jesus says. There is not other name given under heaven whereby men must be saved. So Satan's strategy has not changed from the Garden of Eden to the present day.

That is, to deceive humankind into thinking he can take the easy way out, the way of so-called liberty, and then destroy them. This is summarized by the Apostle Peter. We go back to 2 Peter once again, this time in chapter 2.

2 Peter chapter 2, and we'll start in 17. These are wells without water, those described in the preceding verses, likened to Satan and the demons, clouds that are carried with a tempest, to whom the midst of darkness is reserved for ever. When they speak great swelling words of vanity, and vanity can mean just temporary, lasting a short time. I want my thing now. Why wait? They allure through the lust of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escape from them who live in error.

Basically, this is talking about people who are really attending church and knew the truth at one time. We'll have quite a bit of that in the message today. While they promise them liberty, and of course we have been even jude when he was writing, says, you know at first I was going to write to you concerning the common salvation, but then I found it necessary to remind you of the faith once delivered.

Because there are teachings that go on, that toss people to and fro, and people seem to be wanting to hear some new thing. As if there's some nugget out there somewhere in the world that's greater than the pearl of great price. There is nothing greater than the pearl of great price. While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption, for of whom a man is overcome of the same as he brought in bondage. For if after they have escaped the volutions of this world through the knowledge of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter in is worse than the beginning.

To be better is just about to read to never known the truth. For it had been better that they not have known the way of righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them. But it has happened unto them according to the proverb, the dog has returned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. We must never let that happen to us. Let's just briefly review some of the behaviors that will be extant in the church before the day of the Lord. One is similar to what we read in James 3 about who is a wise man.

In James 3 we read where there is in being strife, there is every evil work. In Matthew 24, let's go there, verse 9, when the heat is really on people, and of course people have experienced this in wartime, of betraying one another, even betraying family members, when the Gestapo knocked on the door, are there any Jews here? When the Gestapo, using that in the figurative sense, knocks on the door, say, are any people of the church of God here?

In Matthew 24 and verse 9, then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted and shall kill you. You should be hated of all nations. Why would you be hated of all nations? Because the two witnesses and whomever are going to peel away all of the veneer that covers the evil in this world, and it's evil far beyond what you can even imagine.

Be afflicted and shall kill you and shall be hated of all nations for menames sake. And then shall many be offended and shall betray one another and shall hate one another. Be offended. One of the things that I keep trying to emphasize is this relationship with God and Christ.

That we are in it for eternal life. We're not in it for vain glory or anything else like that. And if we don't inherit the kingdom, then it's all in vain. No matter how high you might achieve whatever this world has to offer, if you're not in the kingdom, so what? You lived, you died, you had your thing now.

Now notice further here, we'll continue reading, many false prophets shall rise and shall deceive many, and because iniquity, lawlessness shall abound. The love of many shall wax cold. Iniquity shall abound. The love of many shall wax cold. Everybody else is doing it, whatever it is. And so why can't I? It must be all right, making God over into your own image, doing, saying what you think you want to do, and yet saying, well, it must be all right with God. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world as a witness unto all nations, and then the end shall come. Now we skip to verse 45. Verse 45, we're focusing on our standing more than anything else. Of course, there's meat in between all of this. In verse 45, who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom the Lord shall make ruler over his household to give him meat and dew season. And that's what we strive to do, is to give you meat and dew season, spiritual food. He who has an ear, let him hear. Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Barely I say unto you that he shall make him ruler over all his goods. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delays his coming. Like we read from 2 Peter chapter 3, the scoffers will come and say, where is the promise of his coming? We've heard this for decades now. We really need to change the culture here, and we really need to do what we need to do.

We need everybody to be able to be what they can be. The only way that you can be successful is life. If you make it into the kingdom, that is true success. Be able to achieve your God-ordained potential, which is to become a member of God's family as a glorious radiant spirit being, because Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15, 50, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God. But, and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, my Lord delays his coming, and shall begin to smite his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with a drunken, the Lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looks not for him, and in an hour that he's not aware of. He's so focused on trying to get his thing now. And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him this portion with the hypocrites. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then, should be no chapter break, this Olivet prophecy includes all of chapter 24 and 25. In fact, I think it's the first verse in 26, and it ends the prophecy. Then, when all of the things are going on in 24, then shall the kingdom of God be likened unto the ten virgins, the story of the ten virgins, of five ready and five not. In 2 Thessalonians, another great requirement, as we enter the end of this age, in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 9, we must be ever mindful. As you heard in the sermon now, taking the sword of the Spirit with us, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God, to eat and drink a bit, to feed upon it, to love it, to love it more than we love our own lives. 2 Thessalonians 2, 9, even him whose coming is after the working of Satan, with all power and signs and lying wonders, the beast, and will all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish because they receive not the love of the truth that they might be saved.

You have to develop what I call your own love affair with the truth. Nobody can develop it for you. You can know every wit of every, quote, the Bible by memory, every verse. But if you're not becoming as God is and loving the truth, it's all in vain. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion. Who sends it? God shall send them strong delusion. Draw an eye to me, I'll draw an eye unto you. And for this cause, God shall send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie that they all might be damned who believe not the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

See, loving the truth. Loving the truth is tantamount equal to loving life. For John 6, 63 says, the words I speak, Jesus speaking, the words I speak, they are spirit and they are life. So to love the word of God is to love life.

Another thing that we're warned some will be doing is quenching the spirit. Verse Thessalonians 5 verse 19 says, quench not the spirit. The spirit and the word of God lays upon your mind a conviction, a knowing within that you should do a certain thing.

And if you don't act upon it, it is sin. Because it says clearly, I believe it's James, he who knows to do good and does it not, unto him it is sin. In 1 Timothy chapter 4, we see that some give heed to seducing spirits, demonology.

Believe me, demons are active and present. They seem to be more intelligent than they were in times past. In 1 Timothy 4 verse 1, now the spirit speaks expressly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines, teachings of devils. Speaking lies and hypocrisy, having their conscience, their knowing within, seared with a hot iron. When the conscience is being seared, you're going against it. You're quenching the spirit. You know to do something else. You know to do better, but you don't do it. And then it gives some examples of how the spirit can be quenched. Of course, there are many, many other ways. Another thing, if you look at Isaiah 30, and I hope that we don't fall into this trap of wanting the ministry to just speak smooth things, to smooth everything over, and not really tell it like it is. One of the things that I really so noticed at the feast in Panama City, when they had the children's choir to give the special music, I don't think I've ever seen so many kids on stage at the feast that were 12 and under. There were a lot of them, I would say, somewhere in the 70s, maybe the 80s. And then another thing you would hear during services were actually babies crying. And there were quite a number of babes in arms, and a lot of young people.

And as I've said before, I think based on what I am seeing with our young people, we have great potential, but they have to be fed, they have to be nurtured. And of course, the main place is in the home. So you look at Isaiah 30, we don't want to fall into this trap. Verse 8, now go write it before them in a book or in a table or tablet, note it in a book that it may be for the time to come forever, that this is a rebellious people that will not hear the law of the Lord, which say in their hearts, see not, and to the prophets, prophesy not unto us, write things, speak unto us, smooth things, prophesy deceits. Who would ever come to that point? And then, of course, we all should be very familiar with the letters to the seven churches because those seven letters contain much information with regard to what we need to be doing.

The Bible provides testimony in the parable of the ten virgins. The Bible provides testimony in the parable to the ten virgins to the fact that at the end of the age, 50% of the people who have lamps symbolic of your heart and mind that should be filled with the Holy Spirit, the lamps not filled with oil, symbolic of the Holy Spirit, that only 50% will be ready when the bridegroom knocks on the door. That's the Word of God. That's not me saying that.

That's what it says.

Our own statistics show that well over 50% of the people who were baptized have left the church with an average tenure of 15 years. 15 years and then go your own way. Now, many reasons are given as to why the above statistics, the sad statistics, why those statistics are etched in the annals of the history of the church.

I believe one of the dreadful reasons why so many people have left the church through the years centers on the fact they came into the church for the wrong reasons.

They thought knowing somewhat about the future, knowing somewhat about the future, what it holds, and having knowledge of form and some knowledge of the truth could be equated with conversion. It cannot be—now, it's necessary that you have a certain threshold of knowledge, but a certain threshold of knowledge in and of itself is not the criteria. You look now at 1 Corinthians chapter 8. See, the Corinthians were really hung up on spiritual gifts, and especially speaking in tongues.

Of course, in chapter 12, Paul explains spiritual gifts. But notice what it says here, 1 Corinthians 8.1, Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge.

Knowledge puffs up, but charity, agape, love edifies. And if any man thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. And that includes all of us.

We see through a veil dimly darkly now, but we do have enough knowledge to know which way to go.

People come into the church for the wrong reasons. They thought, knowing somewhat of the future, what it holds, having some knowledge, some form of knowledge, what's the main thing? It's not. Conversion is the main thing. I believe the main reason why people drop out is because they do not really understand who God and Christ are in relationship to their very existence. That is a weighty statement. If you grasp the full meaning, it will pursue it a little. In other words, they don't understand who created them and why they were created. Satan, who is the master of deceit, has deceived the whole world into believing that humankind evolved through an evolutionary process. It is taught as fact from the highest institutions in the land to kindergarten students. Logically, if that were true, that is, if we are here because of evolution, humankind would be continuing to evolve and make the world safe for all of God's creation. But what do we see? The Bible says that evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse. No, we're not the result of any kind of evolutionary process. According to the apostle Paul, Satan has blinded the minds of humanity as a whole, and humanity has rejected God from the Garden of Eden to the present day. Now we want to look at Romans chapter 1. One of the greatest indictments of the civilization apart from God is described vividly, more vividly than probably we would ordinarily dare to do in just our ordinary daily lives. The words of the apostle Paul, Romans 1.19, "...because that which may be known of God has manifest in them, for God has showed it unto them.

For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse." Especially what God is doing in the spiritual realm of bringing sons and daughters to glory in his family parallels to a large degree what is taking place in the God-ordained family structure. "...for the invisible things of him..." we read that in verse 21, "...because of when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful, but became vain in their imaginations." Vain in their imaginations, thinking up various plots and strategies, "...and their foolish heart was darkened, professing themselves to be wise, they became fools." It says in the Psalms that the fool says there is no God, "...and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible men, and the birds and four-footed creatures and creeping things. For for God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lust of their own hearts to dishonor their own bodies between themselves, who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the creator of the creation, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections, for even the women did change their natural use into that which is against nature.

And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lusts one toward another. Men with men working that which is unseemly and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was fitting. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind to do those things which are not convenient. It is not even polite to talk about, it's not fitting to talk about in normal conversation. You can read the rest of the chapter.

The Bible is very clear. You won't get a better description or a more poignant, pointed description than you get right here from God's Word. See, they don't understand Hebrews 11.6.

He who would come to God must first of all believe that he is, that God exists, that he is the one who created us in his own image. They don't understand the great questions of life. Who is God? God is our Father. What is God? God is Spirit. What is his purpose? To bring us into his family of spirit beings. Corollary to that, man. Who is man? Man is made in the image of God with certain faculties akin to God. What is man is made from the dust to the ground, a great gulf between man and God. But with the purpose of and the potential of being spirit beings and the family of God.

See, each one of us needs to be able to answer these questions with understanding. You may be able to intellectually answer these questions, but have we internalized them to the depth of our being? What they mean as to how you view life and how you conduct yourself and have they been transmitted, taught to our children?

To know and understand without it affecting the way you view life and live it is called intellectual assent to the truth. If you do a survey, I just out on the street, do you believe in God? Oh yes, I believe in God. But what does that really mean when it gets down to it?

You look at James, that's where I'm turning now, to James chapter 2 and verse 19. See this intellectual assent to the truth. Even the devil has intellectual assent to the truth. Even the demons recognize Christ as the Son of God, whereas some of the Pharisees and religious leaders of the day would not confess that he was the Son of God because of jealousy.

In James 2 and verse 19, you believe there is one God, you do well. The devils also believe and tremble. Then it goes on to say, but will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? So do we really accurately assess, evaluate, take note of our spiritual state? I believe it's high time that we stir up the spirit that was given to us by the laying on of hands. Let's notice the admonition, if you would turn to 2 Timothy 1, the admonition that Paul wrote to Timothy concerning stirring up the spirit. This word, stir, is somewhat like the word is used for friction. In fact, it can be used for friction. It's like when you strike a match, when you rub the match head against a rough surface, to stir up, to make hot.

In 2 Timothy 1.6, wherefore I put you in remembrance that you stir up, that you make a flame, you become fervent, stir up the gift of God which is in you by the putting on of my hands, you receive the Holy Spirit. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love, and of a sound mind. Be not therefore ashamed of the testimony, the witness, the report of our Lord, nor of me, his prisoner, one of the prison epistles, Paul's in prison. But be you partakers of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us, called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose, his own purpose. And that purpose is that of bringing sons and daughters to glory and grace, divine favor which was given us in Christ Jesus before the chronos time began. Focus on what we need to be doing now in view of the times in which we live. We must be watchful, wakeful. Let's notice the exhortation that once again we go to the Apostle Peter's writings in 1 Peter, this time, chapter 5 and verse 8. In view of, see, in view of all these things, what manner of people ought we to be?

Peter asked that question, we read it from 2 Peter chapter 3. Here, in view of these things, this is 1 Peter 5 verse 8. 1 Peter 5 verse 8. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil as a roaring lion walks about seeking whom he made of our. Don't kid yourself he wants you. He wants you personally and individually, whom resists steadfast in thy faith. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, Romans 10 verse 17. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, resists steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. Be wakeful, be watchful, be on guard. Now, let's notice the exhortation of the Apostle Paul along these lines in verse Thessalonians 5 and verse 1. Verse Thessalonians 5 and verse 1 is similar to the Olivet prophecy, other places that Paul writes similar to this, of the day of the Lord, don't let it come upon you unawares. 1 Thessalonians 5 verse 1. But of the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that are right unto you. I mean, how many decades have we heard it? Many. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord, Hekorakihemera, day of the Lord, Hekorakihemera. Same word that's used in same three Greek words that are used in Revelation 110 where John says, I was in the spirit of the day of the Lord.

Not on the Lord's day, the Sunday, but for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. For when they shall say peace and safety, there is coming some kind of pseudo peace. And when they say safe and peace, peace, then sudden destruction comes upon them that surveil upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. Will we escape? Will I escape? Will you escape? But brethren, you are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.

That's one of the great messages of the end times. Don't let the day overtake you as a thief in the night. Don't let the knock on the door at the midnight hour, as in the parable of the ten virgins, find you with that oil in your lamp.

We are the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

You know, I'm reminded there what David says. Your word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet. Therefore, let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober. Watchful, wakeful, Satan walks about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for enhelment the hope of salvation. That permeates the whole head. Hope, the helmet of salvation. What does that mean in practical terms? It means that you clearly always have the big picture of the kingdom of God burning in your mind and heart. For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to attain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. In view of all these things, and a lot more, as we heard in the sermonette, we must put on the whole armor.

As it says there in Ephesians 6.10, we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against wicked spirits in high places. If we're going to be overcomers and win the battle of faith, we have to put on the whole armor of God. And above all, taking the shield of faith, whereby you'll be able to quench all the fiery darts of Satan, which means that if you know and know that you know that which comes against you, the fiery darts of Satan will fall harmlessly away.

Taking the shield of faith, taking the sword of the Spirit, praying always, we must never become double-minded and waver in our faith. God, who is faithful, has promised. He will take care of us all the way through. So let us note the precious words that Paul wrote to Titus. Titus chapter 1. This is part of the helmet of salvation, the big picture of this promise. It's right here in verse 2. We'll start in 1. Titus 1.1. Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect and the acknowledgment of the truth, which is after godliness, in hope of eternal life. Take hope, which is a helmet of salvation. Always, that is there. You know what I'm here for? I'm here for immortality. I'm here to gain entrance into the kingdom of God in hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began. And we have talked about how ancient the plan of salvation really is.

With God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son, perfectly fulfilling the roles, making it possible for you to be an heir of God and join heir with Jesus Christ. It's Romans 8, 17.

So, brethren, let us never waver as we return to daily living in this present evil age.

So, let's close this afternoon with a few verses in Hebrews chapter 10.

Great admonition here that, to some degree, summarizes many of the things that we have said and more, and to keep these things in focus. Hebrews 10 verse 19. We have talked about that Hebrews 10, 19, 20 along in there shows you that you can live the day of atonement every day. That is, you can go into the Holy of Holies before the throne of God, 24, 7.

Hebrews 10, 19. Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which he had consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, his flesh, and having a high priest over the house of God. And I hasten to add Hebrews 7, 25, which says, he's able to save us to the uttermost, seeing that he ever lives to make intercession for us. High priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart and full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water, which is the Word of God. Let us hold fast that profession of our faith without wavering, for he is faithful that promised. And let us consider one another to stir up each other unto love and to good works, forsaking, not forsaking, not forsaking, the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as we see the day approaching. Now to verse 35. Cast not away, therefore, your confidence, which has great recompense of rewards, for we have need of patience, that after we have done the will of God, we might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not wait. Now the judge shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who draw back under perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of the soul, the very life essence and entrance in the kingdom of God. So, brethren, let us go on from here after having our batteries recharged, rejuvenated with our festival experience. Let us carry these words forward in making our calling and election sure.