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April 2002 Summary
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Date/Teacher
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Audio Format Available
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04-07-2002
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Derek McCammon - That I May Know Him
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04-14-2002
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Derek McCammon - Salvation Vs Inheritance
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04-21-2002
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Derek McCammon - Stand Fast In The Lord
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04-28-2002
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Joe Russell - A Psalms 106 Perspective on Today
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Let’s be honest. Who knew Christ better than the
Apostle Paul? Yet, why does Paul in Philippians 3:10 say “That I may know Him...”? Look at the 14 New Testament books God used Paul to write which
include Hebrews, Romans, and Galatians. These books demonstrate a very deep understanding by Paul of the salvation that is in Christ. Paul knew Christ
better than anyone for he knew Him for over 30 years. So then what was Paul referring to in Philippians 3:10? The word that had been given to Israel was
now being followed by a new calling given specifically to Paul by direct revelation from God. Paul calls it “The Mystery” in Ephesians 3:9 and
Colossians 1:25-26. This body of truth is specific for our faith obedience today. Consequently, when Paul talked about “getting to know Him”, he
wasn’t talking about salvation or any other core fundamental truth in scripture, but rather, getting to know the God-man Christ Jesus. After all,
the greatest question of the ages is “who is God?” Paul was given the
responsibility of delivering this calling to whosoever will listen. With this calling, there are specific rewards and
inheritances seperate from those promised to Israel. We find some of these to be a seperate resurrection as stated in Philippians 3:11 (also known as the out-resurrection). This resurrection has the living rise before the dead whereas in 1
Thes 4:16-18 and 1 Cor 15:22, the dead rise first. The Mystery is a calling into the “Kingdom of His Dear Son” vs the
“Kingdom of Heaven” on earth. These differences (as well as many others) all are set forth by Paul. This is what Paul
was saying... that he might know God and His highest calling. In the end, he states in 2 Tim 4:7-8 (KJV) “I have fought a
good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith...” Click here to listen to the lesson on
04-07-2002.
Salvation vs. Inheritance. Paul often talked about exchanging things of the flesh for Christ’s
righteousness. This was a common theme in the previous dispensation as demonstrated in Matt 16:24-27 (KJV) ”Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him
deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.” When comparing salvation with
inheritance, it’s very important to understand that both are seperate topics and have different
requirements. Our works has nothing to do with salvation yet works has everything to do with
inheritance. Your inheritance is determined by your calling and your response to it. There are
many callings in scripture and it’s our responsibility to learn our specific calling and it’s
inheritance. For instance, there was a gospel in 1 Cor 9:14-27 that Paul referenced with rewards. 1 Cor 9:17 (KJV) “For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will,
a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.” Yet this gospel, calling, and reward is different from the one Paul
mentions in Col 1:21-28 (KJV) “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” What is this perfection that Paul is saying every man should have? Certainly
not sinless perfection because we no that no one is righteous, no not one. This perfection of the saint is achieved by the
christian being found faithful and obedient to the calling that God has for them. In this manner, your inheritance is
determined by your response to your call. There is never a point in which we arrive since our pursuit for “perfection”, i.e.
the pursuit of our calling, is the constant life long study, walk, and adherance to our calling. The lesson on 04-14-2002
encourages you to learn more about your calling. Listen here to the lesson on 04-14-2002.
Stand fast in the Lord. Paul gives us a challenge to stand fast. There are two ways to
stand, either stand you own way, or stand God’s way. It’s not automatic when you become
saved. Standing in the Lord has got to be a relection of what God has given you to stand with.
For example, Cain and Abel both took a stand, however, one was acceptable unto God and one
was not. Our conduct or behavior is what precedes our stand. As we take a stand, we are to
do so with one spirit, one mind, and one calling that God has set before us. Standing fast isn’t
popular with the world as Noah and Job discovered. When you stand, the world will deliver
abuse, yet we are to stand fast. Daniel is another example where he stood fast and purposed
in his heart not to eat of the kings meat so he wouldn’t defile himself. This stand was sure to
bring on the jailors wrath, yet Daniel abided faithful. God’s word is what disciplines our desire to stand. The lesson on 04
-21 encourages us to put on the mind of Christ. Click here to listen now.
A Psalms 106 perspective on today. Psalms 106 is a passage that recaps much of the
nation of Israels failure to stick with God’s plan and take matters into their own hands. Often
this course of action provoked God to anger and often wrath on their nation. As you read this
passage today, much of the same thoughts apply to the American demise. Although God does
not deal with America as a nation like He did with Israel, many principles still apply to a nation when they pursue those
things which please God vs. provoke Him to wrath. The lesson on 04-28 takes you through Psalms 106 with a mind on the
present state of America. How long will God hold out before His wrath is poured out upon the ungodly? It’s food for thought. Click here to listen now.
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