“CARES, RICHES, and PLEASURES”
FD05.0407
scottSTANLEY
(For purposes of clarity, brackets [ ] indicate either the author's paraphrase of scripture or editing for transcription.)
OPENING REMARKS
In our study today, I want to talk about cares, riches and pleasures – what are the things that prevent us from growing in our understanding... and I want you to also recognize the fact [that] there are two levels of our understanding that we have to be on. One is doctrinal; the other one is the emotional... to heal the emotional problems that we have. “Doctrinal” understanding would be truths about God, truths about Christ – the doctrinal truths we carry that the Lord can take to heal us emotionally, to help us see the value He places on us, and then to help us see our own shortcomings and the struggles that we have daily to walk in love. You know, “love” has to be defined and then we need to apply those truths to our own lives after we see the love of God.
Now, where did I get the words “cares, riches and pleasures”? They come from the parable of the sower, found in Luke, chapter 8, and when Christ begins to explain the parable of the sower, in verse 11 it’s key that we understand [that] the “seed” is the word of God (Luke 8:11). The sower goes forth sowing seed, speaking truth… and four types of ground. The seed is the word of God, but now remember, I believe the people getting this study (and not everyone who listens to it) will be on this level. But some of you who listen to this are beyond the doctrinal thing – you understand [that] God loves you. Whether you’re realizing it in your life is another thing, but you understand [that] He loves you. Knowing that truth allows the Lord to begin working on your personal things – the things that make you tick... what makes you you. The “seed” is the word of God – in verse 12, you have those that are by the wayside. Verse 13: Those that hear but they’re on the rock – they “hear” but have no root. And verse 14: Now this is where I’m taking the study:
Luke 8:14
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and [they] bring no fruit to perfection.
Notice, we're talking about the word spoken to us and it says that we're “choked.” What happens when you choke on something? You can't swallow it, and when we talk about the spoken word, this is something spoken to you that you cannot receive because of the cares, riches and pleasures in your life. No fruit will be brought to perfection because we choke on the cares, riches and pleasures of our lives when the Lord reveals something to us – talking about personal things, not doctrinal things... personal things. We shut out the voice of God when He tries to reveal something to us. “Cares, riches and pleasures” choke the word and no fruit is brought to perfection.
Now, before getting any further into the study, it's important that you have spent some time listening to the teleconference entitled “Two Gods,” because the concepts laid out in that study are essential, building into what we're going to talk about today... leading us into what we're going to talk about today. So, take some time, get those concepts listened to – understand where I'm coming from, and we'll begin this study.
CARES
Luke 8:14 – the “thorns” represent cares, riches and pleasures and I want to key on “the cares of this life” first. Remember, we're talking about choking – as the Lord brings something to us, we can't swallow it because of cares, riches and pleasures, and when I think about the cares of this life, I think of Proverbs 18:14, a scripture that we've quoted many, many times:
Proverbs 18:14
14 ¶ The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit [or a broken spirit] who can [lift that up... who can] bear [it... who can carry it]?
For the spirit of a man to sustain his infirmity, I want you to recognize that the spirit of the man does not create the infirmity, it sustains the infirmity. So let me describe some situations: Let's say you find out tomorrow that you've lost your job – you've been fired. Let's say that you find out tomorrow... you go to the doctor and find out you have cancer. Let's say that your child disappears and suddenly you realize they've been kidnapped. You see, I'm using extreme situations because that helps me understand better what I'm trying to tell you. All of those things create fear – it can turn into anger, certainly worry – a variety of stresses come upon us. For me, those are the cares of this world: How am I going to make it financially? We all have our list... and the spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity. You see, that fear, that worry, the anxiety, the stress sustains the infirmity.
When I think of Jesus Christ going to work and being told, “You're fired,” I can see Him shrugging it off and leaving... or being told He has cancer... I can see Him shrugging it off – why? Because He knew who He was: He is the Son of God, and He knows that His Father would be right there with Him. He knows that anything that happens to Him is going to be in His Father's hands and I don't look at Him having the stress we would have simply because of the knowledge He carries, and the way wisdom is applied in His understanding... the confidence that He has according to who He is and how much His Father loves Him. But we are learning those things and growing in our understanding of those things, and the cares of this life can overwhelm us – whether it is divorce or money, or you name it. Like I say, we have our list, we all have our cares and your spirit, depending on how you trust God, will sustain that infirmity... as you worry over it and fear because of it and have anxiety because of it, you're stressed out because of it. So let's say somebody finds out they've lost their job and you walk in with a message of, “Well, God loves you. Don't you understand what happened at Calvary ? Don't you know Calvary manifests the love of God to the world?” You see, the cares of this life choke that word – the cares of this life cause them to not receive what you're saying. If you could come to them on a different level and meet them where they are, you could then help them in the situation they're in now, [and] then later express the love of God – and I know that Christ’s' healings did that for them.
If you could come in and offer them something that would give them hope toward that cancer, hope toward finding their child, hope financially... you would be on a different level with them – the level that they could hear you – and bring something into their life in a positive way, and then ultimately they do need to understand what happened at Calvary. They do need to understand all of the doctrinal issues that are causing them to live in confusion, but if they can't hear you, you're wasting your time. You know, I think of what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 13, where He is describing “love” – and we quote this all the time talking about ourselves, how if you're not living in love, you become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. Well, if you found out tomorrow you had cancer, you might begin to wonder… What is God doing to me? I thought He loved me. And to start telling somebody about God when they don't have the background you and I do, it is like sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal – it's like hypocrisy. So, meet them on the level they're on, then give them the truth of God's love – help them see something bigger, something better, something more wonderful, because we certainly do have that message.
And remember, the cares of this world are choking God's word in our lives – you see, that's really the point of this study. It isn't everyone around us – it's us. What is it you're worried about? What is it you're concerned with that you cannot hear God? I think it would be easy to make a list of people who are having major problems, and those problems cause us not to hear. The ultimate answer is coming from the Father, but the cares of this world choke out His voice and, of course, it's easier to see it in another person, but you want to recognize: This could be happening in me – I could be so concerned about finances, I could be so concerned about relationships, I could be so concerned about health, that God is not able to get through to me to help me learn to trust, express the truth of God's love.
RICHES
Now, going back to Luke 8:14, after “cares,” we have “riches” – we choke on God's word because of our riches. A definition for “riches” would be those things that you hold to be truth. Whether it's true or not is beside the point – if you hold to it as being true, those are your riches, and we want, of course, the true riches from God, but sometimes we have our own devising, our own things that we think to be true. We carry our own riches, and I think in the past we have keyed on the negative enough that I would like to key on the positive... understanding what the true riches are, and then we can see the negative, and see on what we choke.
Looking at the true riches, I would like to read to you from Proverbs, chapter 14, and I want to just chain some verses together for you, taking from the old and adding new to it and rolling it all up – trying to make this into something practical, and something that you can easily see. But, you know, anytime you get into the scriptures with the Lord giving us His understanding, there's always depth in there. Proverbs 14, I want to read verse 24:
Proverbs 14:24
24 ¶ The crown of the wise is their riches: ... the foolishness of fools is folly.
OK, the crown of the wise is their riches. Look at verse 18, Proverbs 14:18:
Proverbs 14:18
18 ¶ The simple inherit folly: but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.
It's evident that the “crown of riches” God is giving us is in the knowledge that we're accumulating – but what knowledge? Let's take these things over to James 1, so we can get this information down – James 1:12:
James 1:12
12 Blessed is the man that [endures] temptation [why?]: ... when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord [has] promised to them that love him.
The “crown” equals our riches, equals our knowledge that we learn, that we gain through enduring temptation. Remember in Hebrews, though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience through the things which He suffered – and what I'm understanding: We know that people learn by means of experience, and as we go through the experiences of life, learning to apply love, learning to walk in humility, learning to be patient and kind, and so on, applying the love of God, we enter into situations where the Lord is teaching us through our trials, and that knowledge accumulated is the “crown” of the righteous. You see, He is giving you a crown, and we see the “crown” is the riches, the “riches” is the knowledge – the “crown” is knowledge gained as we endure temptation. But now, let me add one more to this – now this was the big one for me, this was the one that I began to see something I had never seen before. This is back to Proverbs, and look at chapter 12, and I'm going to read verse 4:
Proverbs 12:4
4 ¶ A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that [makes] ashamed is as rottenness [to the] bones.
Now it’s obvious I want to key on the first part of this. “A virtuous woman is a crown,” A virtuous woman is a crown... A “crown” for the righteous is their riches – their “riches” equals their knowledge. Their crown is the knowledge gained as they endure temptation, and the virtuous woman is the crown. You see, put all that together. Remember, Revelation 17, the very last verse: That “woman” is the city. Proverbs 25:29: A “city” is a mindset. At the end of this world, you’re either going to be in “New Jerusalem” or “ Babylon ” – both are “cities”; both are mindsets. “New Jerusalem” is the virtuous woman – it is that “city” of New Jerusalem that the Lord is trying to create in us... and I’ve got to quote Galatians 4:26: Jerusalem which is above, is the mother of us all. All right, now, let’s stay on this level together – the city of New Jerusalem is “the habitation of peace,” that’s what “ Jerusalem ” means. And we know the Beatitudes lead us into a “bringer forth of peace” – someone who can bring forth peace from the inside out. The Beatitudes – Remember in Matthew 5: Blessed are the poor in spirit... That’s how He begins – that’s the first step. You see, the opposite of riches, recognizing you don’t know the answers:
Matthew 5:3-5, 7-9
3 ¶ Blessed are the poor in spirit: ...
4 Blessed are they [who] mourn [for where they are]: ...
5 Blessed are the meek: [they’re the ones who will] inherit the earth.
7 Blessed are the merciful: ...
8 Blessed are the pure in heart: ...
9 [The last...] Blessed are the [bringers forth of peace, those who have entered into New Jerusalem]:
Now, I put in past studies how this is a picture of the spirit of a person who gives up and comes to the Lord – quits fighting it, and you come to the Lord poor in spirit, mourning for where you are, manifesting meekness, hungering and thirsting for God’s understanding, you see. And He can bring you to the place where you are a bringer forth of peace, hence, this description of Jerusalem is the attitude you’re in when you’re born from above – this is the attitude you’re in, I should say, not when you’re born from above but when you’re converted… But we lose this attitude when we pick up the great sword and begin to try to understand the bible ourselves.
Well, He wants to bring us back to this first attitude, and He wants us to marry it. He wants us to come into harmony with this again and remain in this place – and you know, I dare say, someday when we meet Jesus Christ, this is the attitude you’re going to see Him in, because this is the attitude of the redeemed. You have to be in this attitude if God is going to teach you anything – this is what Jerusalem means. This is why “ Jerusalem is the mother of us all,” it is the virtuous woman, it is what we are learning as we go through our trials. We’re learning to be poor in spirit, mourning, meek, hungering and thirsting, merciful, pure in heart and peacemakers. But I want to take this to Isaiah 62, and just read these verses now, having this understanding, being on this level with you – Isaiah 62, let me begin at verse 1:
Isaiah 62:1-9
1 ¶ For Zion 's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem 's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness [of it goes] forth as brightness, and the salvation [of it] as a lamp [burning].
2 [The nations will] see [your] righteousness [now, he’s talking about the city of Jerusalem ], and all kings [will see your] glory: and [you’ll] be called by a new name [How about New Jerusalem?] which the mouth of the LORD shall name.
3 [You’ll] also be a crown of glory [Now I want you to put those two words together – the crown and the glory – you’re going to be a crown of glory, because remember, we are called through the gospel to inherit the glory of Jesus Christ, or to obtain the glory, and we’re going to talk about that “glory” in a minute. But Jerusalem is [a] crown of glory] in the hand of [YAHWEH], and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God.
4 [You’ll] no more be termed Forsaken [because see, all of us did that – all of us were in that attitude and forsook it: Ephesus lost it’s first love]; neither shall [your] land any more be termed Desolate: but [you’re going to] be called Hephzibah, and [your] land Beulah: for [YAHWEH delights in this attitude], and [this is what is going to be married...]
5 [Because] as a young man [marries] a virgin [or possesses a virgin], so shall [your] sons [possess you. Jerusalem which is above is the mother of us all – you’re going to marry your sons]: and as the bridegroom [rejoices] over the bride, so shall [your] God rejoice over thee. [This is the attitude that causes the Father to rejoice, when we walk in this attitude.]
6 ¶ [I’ve] set watchmen upon [your] walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,
7 And give him no rest, till he establish, and ... make Jerusalem a praise in the earth.
8 The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give [your] corn to be meat for [your] enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink [your] wine, for the which [you have] laboured:
9 But they that have gathered it [will] eat it, and praise [YAHWEH]; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of [your] holiness.
Now listen, let me tell you what happens to me when I read this... let me go ahead and finish this – verse 10:
Isaiah 62:10-12
10 ¶ Go through, go through the gates; prepare ...the way [and remember, the “gates” are the gates of understanding... prepare the way] of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; [and] lift up a standard for the people.
11 Behold, [YAHEWH has] proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ... to the daughter of Zion, [Your] salvation [is coming]; ... his reward is with him, ... his work [is] before him.
12 And they [will] call them [who?], The holy people [those people set apart from the world in their understanding of the Father], The redeemed of the LORD [those who have been cut loose from the lie]: and [you, Jerusalem will] be called, Sought out, A city [that is] not forsaken [anymore].
There’s no way that I could read this text to a single TV evangelist and be understood, because they take this as literal as can be, and look at that literal city of Jerusalem and apply all of these verses to that. I’m telling you, it is the mindset of humility that God is talking about. This is what we were in when we came to Him – this is what He wants us to be in when He returns. He wants us to marry this mindset of humility before God – someone that peace springs up from the inside... you live and you walk in peace. This is the opposite of the “riches” of the wicked. When you’re walking in this place, you can receive from God what He has to teach you, but if you’re walking in the unsanctified riches, you choke on what God is bringing you. Now let’s go back to Proverbs 14, we’re still talking about Jerusalem above... we’re talking about the virtuous woman, and I want you to look at Proverbs 14:24 :
Proverbs 14:24
24 ¶ The crown of the wise is their riches: ...
“Crown” – that number is [5850] in the Hebrew... [5850]... the verb of “crown” is [5849]. Every Hebrew word is rooted in the verb. Now listen, the verb means “to encircle” or “to compass about.” Now consider, a “crown of gold” ... you are a king – “gold” is the faith of Christ; God is going to put a crown of gold – it will encircle your head. See, it goes all the way around your head – it encompasses your head, and remember, the crown is the riches, the riches is the knowledge; the knowledge is the experience gained as you go through your trials. The virtuous woman is the crown; the virtuous woman is New Jerusalem, it is seen in Matthew 5 – in the Beatitudes... there’s our chain. Let’s take those thoughts to Jeremiah 31, and in Jeremiah 31, I want to read verse 22. This entire chapter needs to be read, but I want to key on verse 22 for now:
Jeremiah 31:22
22 How long [will you] go about, O thou backsliding daughter? [YAHWEH has] created a new thing [where?] in the earth [what is it?], A woman shall compass a man.
Now this word “compass” is [5437] – it is a different number, but it has the same meaning – it means to surround. “A woman will surround a man,” and what I have just described to you is the sanctified of it. Why in the world is it a new thing? Well, turn back to Revelation 13, and in Revelation, chapter 13, I want to read verse 2... here we go:
Revelation 13:2
2 And the beast which I saw was like ... a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth [was] as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his [ability], his [throne], and [his] authority.
The pride and unchanging attitude is empowered by the dragon – the “dragon” is diablos, and that is where the world is. They are not getting their power from God – they’re getting their power from the dragon and, in Revelation 17, who is it riding on this beast? It’s the harlot, it’s the whore that is carried by this beast. You see, we’ve gone through looking at Jerusalem , looking at the opposite. The “woman” compasses the man – this is a new thing, because what has been happening forever is the dragon, the dragon has been empowering humanity, and it is the adversity within each one of us. There’s a new thing in the earth that God is creating, and He has given His mindset a new name – New Jerusalem, Jerusalem which is above; Jerusalem which is the mother of us all; Jerusalem which is the wife of the covenant. You see, those are all new names as far as I’m concerned, when I have looked at the city of Jerusalem . If you are not in that mindset, you’re going to choke when the Lord reveals something concerning you.
Now, we’ve all like I say, dealt with the doctrinal things we’ve gotten this far. If you’ve gotten this far with the doctrinal things, you’ve gone a long way, but now it’s time to be healed and you cannot be healed if you cannot see the problem. And you cannot see the problem if you’re not listening to the Lord. Cares, riches and pleasures – we’ve just looked at the “riches.”
PLEASURES
OK, the next part of this study deals with pleasures – taken from Luke 8:14. We choke on the cares, riches and pleasures of this life, and looking at this word “pleasures” – [2237] in Strong’s, I want to take you over to James 4. Now, in James, chapter 4, the same word [2237] has been translated as “lusts,” and for me, there is a major difference between a pleasure and a lust... and I think the word is better translated “pleasures.” Now, we’re talking about unsanctified pleasures because I want you to look at what James states here – let’s look at James 4:1:
James 4:1
1 ¶ From whence [or from where] come wars and fightings [in] you? [King James put “among”... but let’s make this personal. Where do wars and fightings come from that are happening in you?] come they not [from here], [your pleasures] that war in your members?
Now, something that just jumped out at me when I was doing this study is this “pleasures that war” – now think about it, pleasures that war in your members. First of all, when we talk about “members,” this word is used in the New Testament, talking about parts of the body... it’s used when it says that we are the body of Christ, we are members one of another, but it’s also used in Colossians 3, and let’s read this quickly before I get into this “pleasures” – Colossians 3, let’s start reading at verse 5:
Colossians 3:5-8
5 ¶ Mortify [or put to death] your members which are [on] the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil [desires], and covetousness, which is idolatry:
6 For which things' sake the wrath of God [comes] on the children of disobedience:
7 In ... which [you] also walked some time, when [you] lived in them.
8 ¶ But now ... put off all these; anger, wrath, malice [or saying things to hurt someone’s feelings], blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.
So I want you to see the way Paul is using “members” here: Put to death your members on the earth. So, when you come to James, where do wars and fightings in you come from? They come from your pleasures that war in your members. Well, off the top of my head, when I think about pleasures that war in my members, to simplify it, I would say it is those things you do that you know you shouldn’t do – pleasures that war. And let’s take it even further, what about somebody saying something to you, and you want to turn around and just hit them right in the mouth – slap them? You want to turn around and say something in a malicious way. See, pleasures that war – that would be pleasurable to me to slap you – that would be pleasurable to say something hurtful... pleasures that war in your members.
Where do wars and fightings in you come from? The pleasures that war – wars and fightings... something you want to do that you know you shouldn’t do; something that would be pleasurable to you and you know better than to do it, and it creates the war and the fighting, that tugging that’s happening inside you. So, I want to read this the way the King James has it – I want to read this all the way down to verse 7, and then we’re going to continue this, but I want to point out some things. First we’ve got to read the way the King James has stated it... verse 2 – James 4:2:
James 4:2-7
2 [You] lust, and have not: [you] kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: [you] fight and war, yet [you] have not, because [you] ask not.
3 [You] ask, and receive not, because [you] ask amiss, that [you] may consume it upon your [pleasures].
4 [You] adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
5 Do [you] think ... the scripture [says] in vain, The spirit that [dwells] in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he [gives] more grace. Wherefore he [says], God [resists] the proud, [and gives] grace [to] the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil [or diablos], and [he’ll] flee from you.
Now, I want you to take a pencil and circle these three things: In verse 1 – “lusts that war,” or “pleasures that war;” verse 5 – “the spirit that dwells in us lusteth enviously” ... the spirit that dwells in us, because that’s what he’s talking about – pleasures that war... the spirit that dwells in us lusteth enviously. The next one is verse 7: “Resist diablos.” That word “devil” is diablos and we know from Revelation that it’s the dragon, it’s the serpent, it’s adversity – now think about it: pleasures that war, the spirit that dwells in you, and the adversity in your heart. By the grace of God we’re going to lead away Azazel – the angry god and be done with it, but these are pleasures that war – diablos, adversity. Now, I want to go back and I want to read these verses again, and I want to put some meaning to it to help you understand. Let’s start at verse 1 again:
James 4:1-10
1 ¶ [Where do] wars and fightings [in you come from]? [don’t they] come from your pleasures] that war...? [You see (verse 2)]
2 [You] lust, and have not [What if I said: You lust and have no peace]: [you] kill [Now, when I see this “kill” I think of Hebrews 6:6, how people crucify Christ – they kill the voice, the conscience... they quiet the conscience. Now listen, whether or not this is what these verses are referring to is beside the point. I know what I’m telling you is true – you lust and have no peace; you kill the voice of Christ...], [you] desire to have [your own way], and [you can’t] obtain [that peace]: [you] fight and war [inwardly], yet [you] have [no peace], because [you] ask not [you’re not taking this to the Lord, seeking His understanding of it].
3 [You] ask [when you do ask], [you] receive [no peace from Him], because [you’re asking that you might consume it on your pleasures]. [Verse 4: ]
4 [This is the way the world lives – it’s the enemy of God...]
5 Do [you] think [it’s vain that the people who wrote the book warn you], [that] The spirit that [dwells] in [humanity lusts enviously]? [That is a warning...]
6 [God will give] more grace [when you’re going through your struggles; He will impress you [with] what needs to be done and what not to do]... God [will resist] the proud, [He’ll give more] grace unto [those who are] humble.
7 Submit yourselves ... to God [and] resist [that adversity that’s in your own heart], ...
8 Draw nigh to God, [He’ll] will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands ...; and purify your hearts, ...
9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: [Listen, we’ve been reading humility, mourning, weeping, affliction – you’re reading the Beatitudes here... This is the way to the kingdom – be afflicted and mourn and weep.] let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he [will] lift you up.
What you have in this chapter is a description of what creates the stress and the things inside of you... the things you know you shouldn’t do – yet you enter right into it; you ignore, you kill out the voice of Christ. You enter right into doing what you want to do – you go on automatic. But if you would resist diablos, you see, God can draw nigh to you – He can give you more grace, and if you humble yourself to walk with God, He can better teach you to receive His truth. Why does the word of God choke us? Cares, riches, pleasures – what pleasures? Pleasures that war. Look in James 3, let’s read starting at verse 13, and you’ll see why James says what he does in chapter 4 – James 3:13:
James 3:13-17
13 ¶ Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him [show] out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if [you] have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This [kind of] wisdom [is] not from [the Father], [this kind of wisdom] is [coming from yourself ... it’s] earthly, sensual, [and demon-like]. [Now listen, two gods – when you close your eyes and go anywhere in your universe, there are always two gods there: One thinks he is all-knowing, the other one is the true God – He is all-knowing. The wisdom that’s coming from self is earthly, sensual and demon-like.]
16 [Anytime you have] envying and strife ... there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is [coming] from [your Father] is ... pure, ... peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, [it’s] without partiality, [it’s] without hypocrisy.
So, do you see why he says what he does? So then, where do the fightings and wars come from in you? It’s because you’re listening to the other god... and look at the last verse of chapter 3:
James 3:18
18 ... the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
You see, Jerusalem – the habitation of peace.
CLOSE
In conclusion of this study, I would like to invite everyone over to the web site to check out our conferencing page and listen to the latest studies that we’re recording every week. Also, I’d like to invite you to join – you can go to the conferencing page and get the phone number and the pin number to join every Saturday at 12 P.M. Eastern time. We have a long way to go. Those of you who have been getting the studies and keeping up with them, seeking the Lord for a deeper understanding, you have come a long way – but we have a long way to go.
You know, when I say that, I think what I feel in my heart is not that it’s so long of a way, but it’s up a steep hill. We’re climbing to the top of Zion – we’re ascending up, and the higher we get, the steeper it gets... and I think walking in present truth is where we need to be, and the most present truth is found in the conferencing studies – because those are done weekly, and throughout the week these studies are prepared and then given on the weekend. I think it’s something all of us need. It also helps if you participate – if you can call in and share your thoughts, but you don’t have to. You can call in and just listen, but I know there are people all around the world downloading those studies, and I know that what we are sharing is being heard by people that we can’t even imagine – we really don’t know where this is going... to whom this is going to, I should say.
But, we need one another, we are the body of Christ – members one of another. All of us need to share with each other – all of us need to be open. All of us need more – don’t ever be satisfied with where you are, but always live with the intentions of growing and glorifying God more and more, because we have that capability, don’t we? As human beings, we can grow more in the likeness of Christ and be more like our heavenly Father every day. I just want to say God loves us and we are His children, and we need one another. Try to participate in the conferencing and download the latest studies. Write me, call me, e-mail me and maybe I can send you the studies on one disc – on MP3 files, and take the time to seek the Lord.