Vision

The title today, Vision, subtitle, Are You Being Led by God? We talk about vision in various ways in the Church. The most often quoted scripture generally is Proverbs 29, verse 18. Let's turn there to Proverbs 29 and verse 18. There is so much Proverbs, of course, is called the Book of Wisdom. I have quite the outline and study on the Book of Proverbs, which I might Xerox for everybody and give to them. Just so much there on Christian living and all the great principles of life. In Proverbs 29 and verse 18, where there is no vision, the people perish. We're going to especially look at the word vision, and we're going to especially look at the word perish. But he that keeps the law, happy is he. So happiness is contingent, according to the Book of Proverbs, upon obeying God. The Hebrew word for vision is chazon, and it basically means a prophecy or direction from God, as used in the following verses. Once again, it basically means a prophecy or direction from God. Here came the Word of God to certain prophets. In 1 Samuel chapter 3 and verse 1, this expression, no vision, is used about three times in the Bible and other places. The Word of God was scarce, or something along those lines. In 1 Samuel chapter 3 and verse 1, And the child Samuel ministered unto the Eternal before Eli. Remember Eli and his sons were evil, and Eli refused to correct them. And the word of the Eternal was precious in those days. There was no open vision, no word or special direction from God during those days. Look at Lamentations 2 and verse 9. Lamentations, after the prophet Jeremiah, in Lamentations 2 and verse 9, the lament over Jerusalem and what had happened to her as a result of her sins. In Lamentations 2 and verse 9, her gates are sunk into the ground, he hath destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and her princes are among the nations, the law is no more, her prophets also find no vision from the Eternal. When you have no vision from the Eternal, no word or direction from God, it is a sad state of affairs. Now we need to look at the word, perish. You might be surprised at what that word really means. The Hebrew word here translated, perish, is parah, or maybe parah, the Hebrew word is used 16 times in the Old Testament, and is translated as it is here, perish, only one time. So perish is somewhat of a secondary meaning to the word parah. Strong definitions for parah are as follows, to lead, to act as a leader. To let go, to let loose, to ignore, let alone. To let alone avoid, neglect. To loosen, to be let loose, be loosened of restraint. And of course, when you, there is no direct word from God or vision from God, the people are loosened from restraint. Another meaning, to cause, to refrain, to show lack of restraint. To let loose restraints. And obviously, in periods of time in which there is no word or vision from God. Now what this is talking about is not so much what we think about vision of what do you see in one sense down the line, but it's part of it. But where there is no word or direction from God, then the people lose restraint. So the Hebrew word, this verse could read, when there is no vision or direction from God, the people lead, or they are loosened out of restraint. In other words, if God doesn't lead, the people lead. Hence, the title of the sermon, Vision. Are you being led by God? Do you have the vision from God? Thus you could say that they perish because there is no direction or word from God. And we have seen how vulnerable people are when they are without a shepherd. And the Bible talks about sheep without a shepherd, easily scattered, and that kind of thing.

Note what Jesus says in Matthew 15.14. In Matthew 15, verse 14, Jesus really takes the scribes and Pharisees of his day to task because they were teaching for commandments, the precepts of man. Matthew 15.1, then came to Jesus' scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem's saying, and they began to criticize the disciples for not washing before they ate. Now the Pharisees were not of the priestly class, but what they did, since they were not the priests, were direct descendants, supposed to have been from Aaron and in the tribe of Levi. So what the Pharisees did, they declared that all Pharisees are priests and that their house where they abide is like the temple, and you have to be ceremonially clean in what you do in the temple or in the household. So you had to wash up to your elbows before you ate. And they were taking Jesus to task and the disciples because of that.

I'm not going to read that whole, but that's the introduction. And then we come down to verse 12. Then came his disciples, said unto him, Know you that the Pharisees were offended after they heard this saying. But he answered and said, Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Of course, as it says in the Psalms, unless the Lord shall build this house, the weary builders toil in vain. If God is not behind it, if it is having to do with the spiritual, and if God is not the one who is building it, it is in vain. Every plant which my heavenly Father hath not planted shall be rooted up. Let them alone. They be blind leaders of the blind, and if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. So we can ask ourselves, are we of the blind, or do we have the vision? Do we have a clear vision of the kingdom of God? And are we willing to seek the kingdom of God with our whole hearts? There are many metaphors that can be used for the kingdom of God. Let's go to Matthew 13, back in a few pages here from Matthew 15, where Jesus Christ likens the kingdom of God or the kingdom of heaven to different things. We're going to read one of those here in Matthew 13 and verse 44.

In Matthew 13, 44, Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure, hid in a field, the which when a man has found, he hides, and for joy thereof goes and sell all that he has, and buys that field. Of course, the lesson here, as we shall note, and we'll go a little deeper into it, is that we must be willing to give up all and forsake all, if necessary, to enter into the kingdom of God. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a demerchant man seeking godly pearls, who when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Of course, the kingdom of God cannot be bought with silver or gold, but you must be, as the man in this parable, be willing to give up everything you have to enter into the kingdom of God. Do you have that vision of the kingdom of God burning brightly in your mind to the point that you would be willing to give up everything that you have for the kingdom of God? In baptismal counseling, we go over Luke 14, beginning with verse 26, Count the cost. Many men come to me wanting to be my disciple, love not less, father, mother, yea, even his own life. He's not fit, be called my disciple. It goes on talking about building a building or going to war. You have to count the cost, and you'll be able to finish it. Of course, when it comes to what we're involved in, once God has called you and called you into this marvelous light, revealed Himself to you, you really don't have...you only have two choices. You're either going to follow it and follow through with it, or you're not. One is to choose life, the other is to choose death. Remember the rich young ruler that came to Jesus, go to Matthew 19. Here are a few pages to Matthew 19. 16, the rich young ruler came to Jesus, as we read here, Matthew 19 and verse 16. Behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?

What good thing shall I do to have eternal life? Jesus said, if you would enter into life, keep the commandments. And He said, which commandments? And Jesus quotes some of the commandments. Then the young ruler, you can read the succeeding verses there, said unto him, Well, I've done this for my youth. What else do I yet lack? And Jesus said unto him, If you would be perfect, then go and sell all your goods and give it to the poor.

And the young man went away sorrowful because he had great goods. He cannot rend his goods, much less his heart. And much more is required than just intellectual assent to the truth.

Eternal life is a gift from God, but there are conditions for receiving the gift. Now, forward into Mark 1, over a few pages into Mark 1. This verse we're going to read here is basically the theme, the take-off from the idea of holding the kingdom of God seminars in Mark 1, verse 14. Now, after Jesus was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand, repent you and believe the gospel. So here is one condition, of course, for receiving the gift of eternal life, and that is to repent. What do you repent of? You repent of your sins. What is sin? 1 John 3, 4. Sin is the transgression of the law, and keeping the law is to love God. 1 John 5, 3. For this is the love of God, that we should keep His commandments, and His commandments are not grievous. And so, as we read from Proverbs 29, 18, happy is a man. That obeys that it keeps the law of God.

You must repent of your sins, and you must do the doctrines of Hebrews 6. We would turn there. In Hebrews 6, we have what are called the foundational, fundamental doctrines of Jesus Christ. People will ask you, well, what are the doctrines of your church? And some are quick to jump out to clean and unclean meats, or to various tithing principles, or other things that they might say.

And some of those things the Bible, of course, does talk about that we should do for our own good benefit. But the basic, foundational, fundamental aspects of entering into the Kingdom of God.

Remember once again what the book of Hebrews is about. Comparison and contrast of the Old Covenant with the New Covenant, the various aspects, especially the calling, the priesthood, the sacrifices, and the reward. Old Covenant, New Covenant, showing how much greater the New Covenant is than the Old Covenant. And Paul wrote this, apparently late in his life, not all of that long before Jerusalem was destroyed by the Roman armies, preparing them for the time in which there would be no temple in Jerusalem.

There would be no animal sacrifices. You would not go to the temple to maintain your relationship with God and be ceremonially clean. There was a different way now. And he was urging them to embrace the New Covenant and the great promises of it. The New Calling, priesthood, sacrifices, promises. Hebrews 6.1, therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ. The word doctrine, diascalia, in the Greek means the teaching. Therefore, leaving the teachings of Christ let us go on to perfection.

So one of the great teachings of Christ was to go on to perfection. Of course, we're familiar with Matthew 5.48, which says, Become you therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect. Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ let us go on to perfection. Now, perfection, if you were to put this in hierarchical order, of which comes first, perfection would begin with repentance, and it would go across all of these. And it's a continuing process. So the first thing, what did Jesus come preaching? Repent. The time is fulfilled for the kingdom of God is at hand. So what is the first principle?

Not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works. That's where it begins. Repentance from dead works and of faith toward God. You have to have faith in the sacrifice of Christ for the remission of sins that are passed in order to receive the gift. The doctrine of baptisms and of laying on of hands. Those first four are so important. They're all important. The doctrine of baptisms. There are three baptisms that are mentioned in the Bible. The baptism by fire, which John the Baptist talked about, those who do not repent.

Baptism you don't want. The baptism by water, which man can perform. And then the baptism of the Holy Spirit. 1 Corinthians 12, verses 12 and 13. Verse 13 says, By one Spirit are you all baptized into one body, whether you be bond or free.

You're baptized into one body. So there's one baptism into the body of Christ, and that baptism comes from the Father. The Holy Spirit, the prestige from the Father, comes to us in the name of Christ and shed abroad on us through Christ. The doctrine of baptism, laying on of hands and of resurrection. Of course, after you come up out of the baptismal waters, you are to live the resurrected life, the new life, the resurrection of the dead, and of course, the great resurrection and birth in the family of God, and of eternal judgment.

Of course, every person that has ever lived will face judgment. And this will we do if God permit. So here we have the very foundational fundamental requirements for receiving the gift of God and entering into the kingdom of God. Now let's go to Matthew again, Matthew 18. Matthew 18. And notice what Christ says here as another requirement.

Do you have the vision of the kingdom of God and that which is required to enter into life and to have eternal life in the family of God, in the kingdom of God? In Matthew 18.1, at the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Of all the things the kingdom of God is about, this is not it.

Who is the greatest? In fact, this is probably at the very end of the totem pole. In fact, it's not even on the totem pole. And Jesus called a little child unto him and set him in the midst of them and said, Verily I say unto you, except you be converted and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Of course, you have the Philippians too, let this mind be in you which was in Christ. Let each man esteem others better than themselves.

Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So we should ask ourselves, are we, am I, one of the blind, being tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, running to and fro, thinking you might hear some new thing here or there that will enhance your vision of the kingdom of God? Is that where it is? Today there is no clear voice that says, this is the way, walk you in it. Instead, what do we have? What do we have today? And if such a voice does cry out, this is the way, walk you in it, it is immediately attacked with a vengeance that defies description. They jump on it, the pundits jump on it like wild dogs on raw meat, and there's nothing left. Remember the definition of parish, where there is no vision or direction from God, the people lead, and this can lead to their destruction.

Of course, some people get immediately upset about that. We all have to lead in our own lives. I believe that many have come to the point in the Church of God at the present time that they are mature enough, they are so well grounded and founded that they're not going to be led astray by every wind of doctrine, not tossed to and fro. They know and know where they stand. And regardless of what man does, you have a clear vision of the kingdom of God, and you are pressing toward the kingdom, and nothing is going to throw you off course. You are bound for the Promised Land. On Jordan's stormy banks I stand, bound for the Promised Land, and nothing, not even stormy Jordan or anything else, is going to stand in the way. The people of the world today are being encouraged to express their opinion on any and everything you can name through the various social networks. They tweet about everything under the sun. Some good, some bad. Notice Jeremiah 23, 16. Jeremiah 23, verse 16. If you're a tweeter and you're a godly tweeter, well, keep on tweeting, I guess.

This is the way the world... I'm about to describe the way the world is working, and one of the reasons why. There is no vision, and the people are leading themselves and encouraged to lead themselves. Of course, when everyone leads, no one leads, and this is the precursor eventually of anarchy, where more and more the government steps in to protect you, and people more and more cry out for protection, and as they cry out more and more for protection, the more and more they lose their freedoms. And eventually it will come to the point to where there will be one world religion, and if you don't bow down and worship the beast, then you can't buy or sell. If you don't receive the name and number of the beast and the mark on the hand or the forehead, you can't buy or sell. And if you don't worship the beast, you're set to be killed. In Jeremiah 23, verse 16, Thus says the Eternal of hosts, Harken, not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you, they make you vain. They speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the Eternal. So when we begin speaking, we need to make sure that it is in conformity with the Word of God. And there are people who always wanted to lead, who always wanted to be out front, who always wanted to receive the recognition that they thought that they never received in this world. You see, what is this life all about? This life is about being in the Kingdom of God. You were created, the reason you were born, is to be in the family of God, to be in the Kingdom of God.

The social climate of the day and the conditions that have been brought about in the Church through various heresies and divisions have provided the people who have this mentality a platform to broadcast their views. The ultimate result of the people leading is described twice in the book of Judges. Go to Judges 17, verse 6. Judges 17 and verse 6. It has come the time I gave a lecture at the GCE on the importance of sound doctrine, in which I urged the ministry to cry aloud, Spare not, lift up your voice like a trumpet, show Israel her sins and Jacob her transgressions, to not be intimidated, not to be kept in a state of intimidation, to boldly proclaim the Word of God. When all is said and done, each one of us is going to answer to God, not man, and thankfully we are going to answer to God. I'd rather have God judge me than man.

And I hope we can all say that because God knows the intents of our hearts. I don't know what I said, but I want Judges 17 and verse 6. In those days there was no king in Israel, but every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And so it was up and down, up and down. Captivity didn't come along a judge who would willing to obey God and humble themselves and obey, and God would deliver them from their captors, and they would repeat the cycle again. For 400 years, for 400 years, they repeated the cycle. And you look at the last verse in the book of Judges. Here's how the book of Judges closes.

In Judges 21 verse 25, In those days there was no king in Israel, every man did that which was right in his own eyes. And you have the prophecies in Isaiah that talk about, don't speak to us true things. Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits. Or you have in 2 Timothy 4 verse 3, Preach the word, be instant, end season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, with all long-suffering and doctrine, for the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine. But with itching ears shall be turned to fables. And of course the shepherd, the minister, that does not bring the word of God in direction from God to his congregation and try to stir up the Spirit within the people of God. I have the phrase, stir up the Spirit and set your congregations on fire. Of course, I can't do it personally. All I can do is try to encourage you to stir up the Spirit within and set yourself on fire. So we have the people of the world. They are being encouraged to express their opinion on any end of the world. So we have the people of the world. They are being encouraged to express their opinion on any and every thing you can name. And it's in the newscast, send us your opinion. And some of it is so trite, it is unbelievable. So if you want to be led by God, you have to seek God. Look at 2 Chronicles 15 and verse 1. This is one of the times that the people of God sought Him. In 2 Chronicles 15 and verse 1. So we begin to get down to how do you have the vision and how do you seek God and how do you receive the Word of God. I've emphasized from time to time what it says in James 1, verses 19-21. Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and to receive the engrafted Word of Truth with a perfectly teachable heart. In 2 Chronicles 15.1. In the Spirit of God came upon Azariah, the son of Oded, and he went out to meet Asa and said unto him, Hear you meet Asa and all Judah and Benjamin. The Eternal is with you while you be with him, and if you seek him he will be found of you, but if you forsake him he will forsake you. Now for a long season Israel has been without the true God and without a teaching priest and without the law. For a long time they had been without guidance and direction from God. In other words, they had no vision. They had no vision, they had no direction and guidance from God. But when they in their trouble did turn unto the eternal God of Israel and sought him, he was found of them. And in those times there was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in, because there was no vision, because there was no word and direction from God. Thus the people were leading and they were perishing.

There was no peace to him that went out nor to him that came in, but great vexations were upon all the inhabitants of the countries. I would say that great vexation is upon all the inhabitants of the countries of the world this day, no matter where you look. And nation was destroyed of nation and city of city, for God did vex them with all adversity. Mashurah Sa'd continues to kill his own countrymen because they came on wanting him to bring about reform. He refused reform. They wanted him to go. He refused to go. He rolled out the military in tanks. He is killing people with tanks and guns. According to the UN, 9,000 plus of his own countrymen have been slaughtered. Men, women, children, innocent, guilty, whatever, they're being killed. Of course, that situation continues to rage. Be you therefore strong, therefore let not your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded. And when Asa heard these words in the prophecy of Oded the Prophet, he took courage and put away the abominable idols out of the land of Judah and Benjamin. And the eternal that was before the porch of the house of Benjamin and out of the cities which he had taken from Mount Ephraim, and renewed the altar of the eternal which was before the porch of the eternal. So they really weren't having services in the temple, apparently. Every man just going his own way. No word or direction from God, similar to what you have in this nation today.

And he gathered all Judah and Benjamin and the strangers with them out of Ephraim and Manasseh and out of Simeon, where they fell to him out of Israel in abundance. When they saw that the eternal his God was with him. When people understand that you are really seeking God and willing to obey God and willing to follow him and follow his principles, some think, oh well, if we do that, people will be offended. They will go somewhere else. Well, maybe some will. But those who really know God won't. So they gathered themselves together at Jerusalem in the third month and in the fifteenth year of the reign of Asa. And they offered unto the eternal at the same time of the spoil, which they brought seven hundred auctions, seven thousand sheep. They entered into a covenant to seek the eternal God of their fathers with all their heart and with all their soul, that whosoever would not seek the eternal God of Israel should be put to death, whether small or great, whether man or woman. And they swore unto the eternal with a loud voice and with shouting, and with trumpets, with coronets, and all Judah rejoiced at the oath. For they had sworn with all their heart and sought him with their whole desire, and he was found of them. Seek him while he may be found, call upon him while he is near.

And the eternal gave them rest round about. And also concerning Makah, the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove, and Asa cut down her idol and stamped it and burned it in the brook of Kedron. But the high places were not taken away out of Israel, so they didn't make a clean sweep. You know, it is time that we made a clean sweep in the Church of God. Nevertheless, the heart of Asa was perfect in all his days, and he brought into the house of God the things that his father had dedicated, and that he himself had dedicated silver and gold and vessels. And there was no more war under the five and thirty-fifth year of the reign of Asa. So you see what people get when they really set about, they made this covenant to seek God. So how do you really seek God? Let's go to Psalm 15. Let's look at some verses now about how you receive the vision, the direction from God and seek Him. In Psalm 119, I would ask all of us this week that is coming up to carefully read Psalm 119. Psalm 119, the longest chapter in the Bible.

It is an acrostic. Each one of the psalms begins with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet.

You have these sets of eight within it. So you have eight times twenty-two, 176 verses.

In Psalm 119 verse 9, Psalm 119 verse 9, Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed thereto according to your word, With my whole heart have I sought you, everything of God seeking you. O let me not wander from your commandments. Your word have a head in mine heart that I might not sin against you. So to a large degree, it begins with hiding the Word of God in your heart. It continues through verse 16. One of the things about Psalm 119 is that there are all of these command verses in which the psalmist is crying out to God and in essence saying, Make me do it, God! Make me do it! Take me by the nape of the neck, and don't let me go. Make me do it! Blessed are you, O Eternal, teach me your statues. With my lips I declared all the judgments of your mouth. I have rejoiced in the way of your testimonies as much as in all riches.

So precious is the Word of God, I'd rather have that than all riches. I will meditate in your precepts. That is one of the main ways whereby you can determine beforehand and think about what if so and so does such and such, how am I going to respond? What am I going to do?

I will meditate in your precepts and have respect under your ways. I will delight myself in your statues. I will not forget your Word. Now continuing in Psalm 119, let's go to verse 97.

All of us are somewhat familiar with these verses here. In Psalm 119, verse 97, and we've seen this, it's one of my favorite hymns. O how love I your law! It is my meditation all the day.

You through your commandments have made me wiser than my enemies, for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers, for your testimonies are my meditation. If you really want to come to understand the Word of God, be able to rightly divide the Word of Truth and to apply it, then meditate on it. I understand more than the ancients because I keep your precepts. I refrain my feet from every evil way that I might keep your Word.

I have not departed from your judgments, for you have taught me. How sweet are your words unto my taste, yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth. Through your precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.

Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. I would encourage you to read all of Psalm 119 about seeking God. How does God lead?

We talk about vision, being led by God, and having the Word of God in direction in our lives. God leads us through His Word and through His Spirit. We have to be in tune with His Word and His Spirit. Look at Romans 8 and verse 14. In fact, one of the identifying signs of a child of God is to be led by the Spirit of God. If you aren't led by the Spirit of God, we could always say what I just said. Of course, many times, many days, I have to repent what I just said, what I just thought. That's not the Spirit of God. That's not the Spirit of God. That's something else. Please forgive me. In Romans 8, 14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

So let's note verses from the Psalms as the Psalm has sought God and God's leadership and direction. Let's go back to Psalms. We're going to read five or six verses here, different Psalms. Let's go to Psalm 5. Psalm 5.

In Psalm 5 and verse 8, what are we talking about here?

These verses from the Psalms, talks about how the Psalm has sought God's leadership and direction, so that they would have vision and be led by the Spirit and Word of God. To be led by the Spirit and Word of God.

I'm having a little trouble with those classes. In Psalm 5.8, lead me, O Eternal, in your righteousness, because of mine enemies. Of course, righteousness is defined in Psalm 119 and verse 172, all your commandments are righteous. Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness, because of mine enemies, make your way straight before my path. We don't want to go in the way that is broad and leads to death. We want to go in the straight and narrow. Psalm 25, verse 5. We're just going to read here five or six verses here in Psalms about God leading us. In Psalm 25, verse 5, Lead me in your truth. Sanctify them through your word. Your word is truth. John 17, 17. Lead me in your truth.

For you are the God of my salvation.

On that I do wait all the day.

Verse 4, Show me your ways, O Lord. Teach me your paths. And continually in the Psalms, we have this communication like this. The psalmist is having a conversation with God and saying various things about my tendencies to do this or that. But make me do it. Teach me your way. Don't give up on me. And continually you're reassured in the Psalms that God will not forgive, give up on you if you continue to seek Him. Seek me and I'll be found. Psalm 27, verse 11. Psalm 27, verse 11. All of these verses have lead in them. Psalm 27, verse 11. Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path. And I love that hymn. Teach me your way, O Lord. Teach me your way. When I am old and gray, teach me your way. A beautiful, beautiful hymn and psalm. Psalm 31, verse 3. Psalm 31, and verse 3. Psalm 31, verse 3.

For you are my rock and my fortress. Therefore, for your name's sake, lead me and guide me. We're talking about receiving this vision, this leadership from God, so that He is the one that is leading us. We're being led by His Spirit and His Word. And we're not leaving it up to ourselves, and we're not leaving it up to anybody else.

We know and we know that we know that we are being led by God. Psalm 43, verse 3. Psalm 43, and verse 3.

In Psalm 43, verse 3.

Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Your word is truth. Your word is a light unto my path and a lamp unto my feet. Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me unto your holy hill, where God dwells, and to your tabernacles. Psalm 61, verse 2. The last one we'll read. Here, the Psalm is filled with this kind of instruction. And in Treaty of God, Psalm 61, verse 2.

From the end of the earth will I cry unto you when my heart is overwhelmed, when the troubles flood in, when you seem like you can't go another step.

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For you have been a shelter for me and a strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in your tabernacle forever. I will trust in the covert, the covering of your wings. For you, O Eternal, have heard my vows. You have given me the heritage of those that fear your name. You will prolong the king's life in his years as many generations. He shall abide before God forever, O prepare mercy and truth, which may preserve him. So will I praise you, your name forever, that I may daily perform my vows. One of the greatest vows that we can pay unto God is that of thanksgiving. Regardless of your age, whether you are 6, 66, or 106, you must have a clear vision of why you were born. This great truth of the purpose and plan of God is the one that Satan hates more than any other. When Satan was able to make the inroads in the church beginning in the late 80s and 90s, concerning a perverted teaching of the nature of God, he was so happy. So happy. From the Garden of Eden to the present day, humans are taught to believe that they have an immortal soul. They are taught to believe that God is a trinity. The best you can do is to go to heaven and partake of some beatific vision or something ethereal, ephemeral kind of state of existence.

And if they do preach Christ, it is a distorted view of what the requirements are for receiving the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God. We have shown from the book of Hebrews the basic foundational doctrines. They are taught that all they have to do is to believe on the name of Jesus and you'll be saved.

There are no requirements for receiving the gift of eternal life in the kingdom of God. Only believe. The devils believe and tremble, yet they will not obey. So they deny that the wages of sin is death. The vision of the kingdom of God must become more and more real to each one of us. Satan is definitely intensifying his attack on all the peoples of the world. All the peoples of the world. They are being deceived and seduced into a dizzying frenzy of anxious care that is paradoxically coupled with pleasure seeking. When humans lose focus and their vision as to why they were created, they will eventually be destroyed. Where there is no vision, the people perish. The people lead and it will lead to destruction. They are tearing to various forms of escapism. Don't you find it disgustingly interesting that as world conditions and plight of humanity continues to deteriorate, the more and more evidence and the more and more avenues of escape the more and more avenues of escape that are presented and provided for the people. The mass media is bought and paid for by the multinational corporations, except basically for local news and some local advertising. It's now turned to stories about heinous crimes and the celebrities and what they're doing. And that kind of thing with tiny little snippets about what is really happening in the world. The Internet is about the only source that provides news about what is really going on in the world. And yet there are people who are hired, who specialize in misinformation, and they write long stories and they do blogs that are filled with lies trying to get you to believe whatever it is. So the propaganda war is being waged continually. Cyberwarfare is not just hacking into your database or whatever it is. It also is filled with misinformation. But there are movements underway to drastically curtail the Internet. China has already severely censored it for their citizens to drastically curtail it, even shut it down, or for sure censor it in the name of national security. But we must not let any of these distractions cloud our vision of the kingdom of God and that we must do whatever is necessary to receive the pearl of great price, eternal life in the kingdom of God. Mark writes in Mark 8.36, What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and yet lose his own life essence? Satan knows that if he can undermine and continue to deceive humankind on the purpose and plan of God, that he has a much better chance of destroying them. So what I'm urging us here today is we must keep the big picture burning brightly in our hearts and minds and put on the helmet of salvation, which is hope. A part of the armor of God that's described in Ephesians 6 is the helmet of God. And then in 1 Thessalonians 5.8 it says, Put on the helmet of God, which is hope. See, that which permeates the mind and being. Paul says that we have hope only in this life. We're of all men most miserable. But if we understand the plan and the purpose of God, and our minds are permeated, saturated with that vision of the kingdom of God and what we are going to become in the kingdom of God, kings and priests ruling and reigning with God and Christ, forever and ever participating in setting up and establishing the kingdom of God on this earth and bringing liberty to the whole world so that they will be freed from fear, ignorance, superstition, and the dogmas of man. You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. And if the Son make you free, Jesus Christ, you shall be free indeed. That's what the Bible says. So let us continue to keep our eye on the goal and push forward to the kingdom of God. Let's keep the big picture burning brightly in our minds and hearts. That is, that vision of ruling and reigning with God and Christ in the kingdom of God.