|
 The Eternal Purpose of God.
According to Ephesians 3:7-11, Gods intent is to demonstrate His wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms. Further, this demonstration is
according to His eternal purpose, which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. God calls this demonstration “the mystery” and He puts
Christ on center stage in the leading role. Co-starring with Christ is The Church (which is His body). If God were in the movie business, His
current release would be called “The Eternal Purpose of God” brought to you by the “Manifold Wisdom Studios”. Since God calls His current
release “the mystery”, there are some common elements of a mystery that may help explain His
eternal purpose. These are: 1) A crime or problem that needs solving, 2)Suspense or secrecy, 3)Evidence or Clues, 4) Suspects, and 5)Good guys
and bad guys. The lesson on 02-02-2003 uses a movie analogy to explain the eternal purpose of God and goes through the five elements of a mystery
with supporting scriptures. It ends with describing our role in the movie and
asking the question, “ Do you have a bit part in God’s eternal purpose or will you take a more active role?”   Click here to listen now.  Be sure and download the handout to review while you listen.
 Resurrection - Part 4.
Within the Pre-Millenial view, there are three “rapture” timing theories. This
consists of a pre-trib, mid-trib, and post-tribulation rapture. The most popular position for the
placement of the rapture is the Pre-Tribulation view, however, this view has the least scriptural
support. The Pre-Tribulation believers are looking for the eminent return of Christ. The Mid
-Tribulation view raptures the believers 3.5 years into the tribulation (half way through he seven
year tribulation). This would coincide with the abomination of desolation which reveals the
Antichrist at the end of the false peace and prosperity. The Post-Tribulation view is the least
popular but has the most scriptural support. This view identifies the rapture to coincide with the last trump identified in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 (KJV) “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all
sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the
trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” The
only last trump in scripture occurs from the seven trumps identified in Revelation 8:6 (KJV) ”And the
seven angels which had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound.” The last trump of this series occurs in Revelation 11:15-16 (KJV) “And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great
voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of
his Christ; and he shall reign for ever and ever. And the four and twenty elders, which sat before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God,” This is at the end of the tribulation. The lesson on 02-09-2003 teaches on the
three views for the rapture timing and is the fourth in a series. Click here to listen now.
 Resurrection - Part 5.
What does our resurrection body look like? The Corinthians were skeptics as was explained in 1 Corinthians 15:35 (KJV) “But some man will say, How are the
dead raised up? and with what body do they come?” These skeptics have a hard time accepting the resurrection as demonstrated in 1 Corinthians 15:12 (KJV) “Now if Christ be
preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?” Paul was dealing with worldly intellectuals who were having a problem dealing with
this truth. Paul knows that the resurrection is the bedrock of Christianity as he emphasizes in 1 Corinthians 15:19 (KJV) “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most
miserable.” The answer to the question “how does God raise the dead?” is never given in
scripture. God tells us there is a resurrection but not how he does it. The “how” question is for
the foolish skeptics as shown in 1 Corinthians 15:36-38, 54 (KJV) “Thou fool, that which thou
sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body
that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain: But God giveth it
a body as it hath pleased him, and to every seed his own body...So when this corruptible shall
have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”. The lesson on February
16, 2003 is the fifth lesson in a series on resurrection. Click here to listen now.
 Preach The Word.
It is increasingly rare to hear Scripture quoted in public, partly because of legal
constraints, but largely because the Bible has become unfamiliar territory. Pollster George Gallup Jr.
refers to us as a "nation of biblical illiterates." Although 95 percent of Americans profess a belief in
God, only 4 in 10 know that Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Only 3 in 10 teenagers know
why Easter is celebrated. Only 3 in 10 Americans admit they look to Scripture for truth. The lack of
Bible knowledge is a christian epidemic of tremendous consequences. Without the word, it makes it
easy to stray from God’s will in our lives. David knew the importance when writting Psalms 119. He wrote in Psalm 119:9-11 (KJV) “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking
heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander
from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” It’s no difference with
christians today. We are called to study the word to be approved unto God (2 Timothy 2:15). What is the conequence of
scriptural ignorance? Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:1-5 “I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who
shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn
away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work
of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.” The lesson on February 23, 2003 shares some insight into this problem . Click here to listen now. You may also read the handout while you listen.
|
Audio Lessons for this Month
