#2155 0719 15P

            After this life, what is next—is the question we should ask and to which we must have the correct answer.  Jesus says Matthew 24:42 “Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.”  It is a timely warning because He informs us that every life continues forever after this life John 5:29 “And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation.”

            We must absolutely know what the next existence is after this life—because there is an eternal existence for every soul following this life—a resurrection to life; or a resurrection to damnation—one or the other.  Revelation 14:11 “And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.”

            We can know and there is a plan whereby we can escape all that is coming on a rebellious and wicked world.  God had clearly stated His plan of life in His Book of Truth so that our names will be in the Book of Life, but we have to read and heed and live that Truth.  Revelation 21:27 “There shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.”

            Living the Truth of the Bible, and being prepared to meet Jesus by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, is not just saying we believe, but it is living God’s Truth in practice, like anyone would do who truly believed in the power of Christ’s Atonement on the cross.  It does not matter how we say God’s Truth, but it has to be His truth and we have to live it.  John 14:15 “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

            When we decide to live God’s Truth, spiritual growth, right decisions, and Christ-like responses will be made through the power of the Holy Spirit concerning everyday situations.  We first have to decide to obey Christ’s commands as they are written in the New Testament.  Luke 9:62 “No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”

            There is to be no thought of going back to the ways of no faith in God like the world lives.  Hebrews 6:4 “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again to repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

            Many church ministers are quoting Bible verses, but are following the world, rather than trusting God in believing faith.  Since they do not live by faith themselves, they are not teaching others to trust God—for healing, finances, protection, injustices, and all other faith issues.

            Jesus conquered Satan’s power on the cross—so there is no excuse for not trusting on God’s divine power.  Galatians 6:7 “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked.”  The average religious message heard over the radio or read online does not speak on the subject of full obedience to Christ, nor do they teach that a true believer must be willing to follow the instructions in Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount Matthew 5, 6, and 7.

            Most ministers do not trust God for finances, so they do not teach others to do that.  They do not trust God for protection under the Blood of Christ, and they reject God’s divine healing plan of faith in the Atonement of Christ.  To not trust God for money, protection, healing, justice, or any other life issue, is blatant unbelief, and unbelievers do not receive the Holy Spirit, so they are not inspired to teach God’s divine Truth.

            Most religious organizations own real estate—which Jesus taught against, and they trust on laid-up money in banks—in opposition to Jesus’ instructions to place our treasure in heaven by giving our money to the poor Matthew 6:19.  Church leaders today take responsibility for and sign insurance policies to protect their financial assets—instead of trusting God in faith for protection and provisions.

            Most ministers agree to hospital care at the first sign of health problems, and they sue each other in court for any injustice against them—rather than placing the matter in God’s hands according to Romans 12:19 “Never avenge yourselves.  Leave that to God” Deuteronomy 32:35.  Owning real estate, laying up treasure on earth, buying insurance, hiring a lawyer, and trusting in the medical world is not the teaching of God’s Truth and will not get anyone into heaven!

            Every part of our life must be in God’s hands for His control—every part!  Our attitudes, responses, and decisions must be scriptural and according to the Word of God.  We can be scriptural in these things, because the Holy Spirit is given to anyone who is willing to believe and willing to accept God’s Truth as their standard of living.

            We know God wants everyone 1 Timothy 2:4-6 “to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all.”  The unchanging Truth that God had written so that the world could know it, believe it, and live it, is for anyone of any nation willing to learn.

            The apostle said Romans 16:25-27 “Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery [God’s Truth] kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen.”

            There are millions of religious organizations giving millions of religious messages in churches, printed in books, heard on radio, or published on Web pages, but most fall short of the eternal Truth from the living God.  Millions of people are deceived by Satan to accept a teaching that does not include the full counsel of God on vital issues of faith and trust.

            Such religious messages do not give New Testament financial teaching on how to use money but not store up money for the future—nor do they teach on divine healing and how to trust in believing faith on the Atonement blood of Christ without using drugs, medicine, or hospital care.

            These ministers do not teach about trusting God to avenge wrongs without hiring a lawyer, nor do they teach how a person should obtain what is needed without going into debt; without accepting Social Security; and without having laid-up cash reserves.  They do not teach about claiming divine protection without the use of weapons, human devices, or insurance policies, and they do not teach that our responses to difficulties in this life is an indicator of our faith for eternal life.

            Any religious message must be inspired by the Holy Spirit and come from Scripture—where God clearly explains His divine plan for protection, provisions, finances, health, healing, and having the sin nature replaced by His divine nature—through His teaching us.  New Testament teaching is to be our standard of living.  If a minister is not speaking that, then he is not giving God’s Truth, because Malachi 3:6 “I am the LORD, I change not.”

            With most churches, those heading the ministry, follow the ways of the world for protection, finances, healing, injustices, etc.  They do not live a life of trust on God themselves, so they do not teach their listeners about trusting God in faith for things in this life.  Many say “Lord, Lord,” but Jesus explained Matthew 7:21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven”—the will of God is to trust Him in faith.

            Any individual who does not really believe God, and does not really trust God in faith, but who follows the unbelieving ways of the world, would not be able to teach anyone else God’s Truth.  The Holy Spirit is the One who enables us to understand and teach the full Truth from God’s Word.  Jesus said that He is John 14:17 “the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.”

            God’s full Truth can be known by first deciding to believe.  2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “If, however, the meaning of our Good News has been veiled, the veil has been on the hearts of those who are on the way to perdition, in whom the god of this [world] has blinded their unbelieving minds so as to shut out the sunshine of the Good News of the glory of the Christ, who is the image of God.”

            The divine principles of truth that God inspired to be written, and which He reveals to anyone who is willing to believe, cannot be changed.  No matter who is speaking a message, or how they word it, the message would have to be according to Bible teaching and example for it to be the unchanging Truth from God.

            Jesus said John 14:6 “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.”  If anyone is not teaching their listeners about trusting in faith on the divine power of God, then they are not giving the same Truth Jesus gave, and they are not inspired by the same Holy Spirit Who inspires all true believers.

            When we have the Holy Spirit, we can respond to things according to the Word He inspired.  The Holy Spirit within is all the spiritual light anyone would need to live a righteous life of faith in Christ and to be prepared for Heaven.  Acts 4:12 “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

            Teaching people to trust God for everything in life—including spiritual growth by faith in Christ, is required.  God is waiting to teach us how to live by faith in the Atonement of His Son, but we have to make the choice and we have to be willing to learn.  Hebrews 12:14 “Persistently strive for peace with all men, and for that growth in holiness apart from which no one will see the Lord.”

            God is waiting for our response, and He wants to teach us what we need to know about Him, His Son, and the Holy Spirit.  God is waiting to train us to meet everything according to His Word, but we have to allow Him to do it.

            Teaching people to live by faith in Christ, and to trust God for salvation, can be said in many different ways, but God’s Truth always remains the same, because He never changes.  God is our Deliverer, Protector, Supplier, Avenger and Healer—if we are willing to place our trust on Him.  A believing trust on the Atonement of Christ is the true Christian life—it is God’s Eternal Truth.