WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST?

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen window

 

422 - WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST?

December 9, 1975

Henry F. Kulp 

 

II Timothy 2: 7 - 13 Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things. Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel: Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound. Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Paul, in II Timothy is concerned with the deposit that God has given him. This is the special deposit that God gave to him. It is called the mystery or the secret and it has to do with the dispensation of God, and the Gospel of the grace of God. 

1/ Paul’s great concern is that Timothy would take a stand for this truth, for Paul is going to die. He wants Timothy to stand for it and then pass it on to men who have the gift of teaching and are faithful. 

2/ Verse 3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

He compares them with soldiers, and the soldier is to be steadfast, unmovable. Then he compares him to an athlete who knows discipline. But then with the farmer who has great patience, but then he adds another principle. The farmer must be first partaker of the fruits. The word, first, is PRO-TOS that means a file leader—the first of the group, and the word, fruits, is benefits or profits. So even though we will suffer if we stand for the truth, God has guaranteed us benefits. Therefore we should be glad to suffer for this truth. 

3/ This is a very interesting verse and one we must spend some time with. It is the Greek word, NO-EH-O and it is present, active imperative. And it means you are to consider and concentrate. 

4/ However, if you look at the English word, consider, it comes from a Latin word that has to do with the stars, and you put the word, CON, in front of it, and it means WITH THE STARS. In the days that Paul wrote this, many men would not start out on a journey without considering the stars for guidance. There are those today who believe the stars and the planets shape our destiny. Those folks are constantly looking at horoscopes. Astrology is one of the most foolish things that man has ever invented. The stars and their constellations are not constant today. Man today talk about the dawning of the age of Aguarius. But in China it is the day of the dog. With many this is a religion, and how foolish they are. You read your horoscope for guidance and you will read of double talk that is truly amazing. 

5/ Do you know what the word, disaster means? It is an ill star. Some people will not move until their stars are just right. 

6/ The word comes to us with the idea of LOOKING UNTO THE STARS FOR GUIDANCE. But Paul tells us we are to concentrate on what he says. Here is a guiding principle. WHAT I SAY. You don’t consider the stars, you consider what I say.

 

7/ It is active voice—that means, you must do this, you must initiate the action, you must concentrate on what Paul says, and it is imperative mood, and it means it is a command. You don’t take it, or leave it, but you must obey it. 

8/ Now, we have something that is very interesting. If we consider what Paul says, the Lord will give you understanding in all things. Let’s make a comparison with another verse. 

Luke 24: 45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,

Here, Jesus Christ in His resurrection is talking to His disciples, and He, the Lord, opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures. If God doesn’t open your understanding you might as well forget it. The word, give, is in the future tense, and so you must first hear Paul, and then the Lord will give you understanding. For who opened their understanding? The Lord. Who will open your understanding? The Lord. It is not a matter of brilliance that a man may possess. 

9/ If this were not written by the Holy Spirit, you would say, what a boaster! Let me give you another Scripture that teaches this same truth. 

I Corinthians 14: 37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

If you want to be spiritual, you listen to me. 

10/ I am going to say something very bold this morning, and I hope you will consider it in the light of the Scriptures. If you don’t consider what Paul says, the Lord will not give you understanding. You can see how mixed up the church world is. Someone called me up this week and said she was just saved, and why were there so many different teachings among believers. The answer is right in front of you.

11/ The word, understanding is very interesting. It is SOON-A-IS. And it means, the junction of the streams or where all the streams come together. So it means to fit together, to bring it together, you must listen to Paul. Actually, the word means, mental putting together. 

12/ If you want to understand your Bible there are four things you must do. 

1/ II Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  All Scripture is by inspiration of God. All Scripture holds together by the inspiration of God. 

 

2/ Then we must put three principles to work. 

a/ We must test the things that differ. 

Philippians 1: 9, 10 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ. We must recognize there are different things taught in the Bible, and until we see the differences, we will not have understanding 

b/ II Timothy 2: 15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

We must rightly divide the Word. After we see the differences, we must rightly divide the differences. Put them where they belong in the right places. We must see the earthly program of Israel, where God is king, and then we must see the church the Body of Christ which is Heavenly. 

c/  We must compare spiritual with spiritual, and then we must bring the whole together.

13/ Verse 8 Remember that Jesus Christ of the seed of David was raised from the dead according to my gospel:

Paul starts with the word, remember. This is very important for word for memory and forgetfulness play a big part in the experiences of he believer.

Psalms 106: 7, 13 Our fathers understood not thy wonders in Egypt; they remembered not the multitude of thy mercies; but provoked him at the sea, even at the Red sea. They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel:

After Israel was brought out of Egypt they lusted after the things of Egypt and they remember the leaks, onions, garlic and fish, and they wanted to go back. 

14/ They forgot their bondage, what slavery was like, but remembered the eating. And they forgot all that the Lord had done for them. 

15/ Ephesians 2: 11, 12 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world:

Paul wants us to remember our bondage. He wants you to remember what you came out of. 

16/ Timothy is asked to remember, two particular facts about the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are to be vital in his ministry. 

1/ Jesus Christ was of the seed of David. 

2/ He was raised from the dead.

 

17/ These two truths were the center of attack and denial. Those who said that Jesus Christ was not a real Man, and they denied He was raised from the dead. These teachings are even with us today. Look at the sects around you.

18/ Just look at II Timothy 2: 17, 18 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

They were teaching spiritual resurrection—not a literal physical one. 

I Corinthians 15: 19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Paul says if Christ is not resurrected from the dead we are of all men most miserable. This must be believed. 

19/ These two facts are embodied in the hope of Israel and the hope of the church the Body of Christ.

1/ Compare Acts 2: 29 - 31 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulcher is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in her, neither his flesh did see corruption. Christ is to sit upon a throne in a physical, resurrected body is a necessity for the hope of Israel.

2/ Romans 1: 3, 4 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh. And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead: Here, Paul says our hope depends upon Christ being a literal man and being physically raised from the dead.

20/ II Timothy 2: 9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.

This is to encourage Timothy. He says, I suffer trouble as an evil doer, but that really means malefactor or criminal offense. Anywhere you went in the Roman Empire it was a criminal offense to believe the teaching of Paul. You would suffer the same fate that he was suffering. But then he makes a marvelous statement. Even though I am bound, the Word of God is not bound. 

21/ Verse 10 Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Here he says, I endure all things for the elect’s sake. That they may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory, and don’t misunderstand this verse. All believers have salvation by grace, eternal life. But not all believers have salvation with eternal glory, which means age-abiding glory, and we want you to see that it will be your privilege not just to have salvation, but to have salvation with age-abiding glory, and this is connected with suffering and reigning. 

Verse 12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

AMEN

Ref: 12/09/1975 / 422 - WHICH BELIEVER WILL REIGN WITH CHRIST / 09/18/2021

 

A FRIEND ON THE BENCH

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen window

 

353-1 A FRIEND ON THE BENCH

May 15, 1977 

Pastor Henry F. Kulp

 

Colossians 1: 16 - 19 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

In this portion of Scripture Paul is showing that Christ is Lord of Creation. He has no rival in the creative order. Notice, HE IS PRE-EMINENT IN THE UNIVERSE. Notice the last part of verse 16. The ALL THINGS were created by Him and for Him. And that should read, The all things stand created, not by Him, but through Him.

SO IT IS Dee-a-plus the genitive, and it should be through Him. Then instead of being for Him, ICE-plus the accusative and this should be, for the use of Him, or for the purpose of Him. You can see His pre-eminence in the universe. Everywhere you go, you can stamp “Created by Jesus Christ, and for the use of Christ, for the purpose of Christ.”

1/ It is important how you use the world; the things that are in this world, and if you use them to glorify the Lord, yourself or man, or anyone else.

2/ Verse 17 And He is before all things. Actually, in the Greek that should be, AND HE KEEPS ON BEING BEFORE ALL. All what? All creatures. He is before all creatures. This has a reference to the eternity of Jesus Christ. He is before all. He is eternal.

3/ Then we read, and by Him all things consist. The word, consist, SOON-AS-STAME- ME—it means to hold together. To continue in the status quo. It stands in contrast to Kuh-Teed-Zoe. The verb for to create. Here it doesn’t mean to create, but it refers to preservation, rather than creation. So He Who creates, preserves. So it means that Jesus Christ holds all things in the universe together in perfect harmony. It is He that keeps the heavenly bodies going and holds them in their places and traveling on their courses. CONSIST means to continue to exist.

4/ We must remember that Jesus Christ is the member of the Godhead Who preserves and sustains the universe. Remember when He was the Babe in the cradle, He was also God, and holding the universe together. We must also keep in mind, while He was on the Cross, He was also God and holding the universe together. He is the preserver and sustainer of it all. People may take His Name in vain, deny Him His deity, but all the time their very existence depends on Him.

5/ The so-called scientific laws are really not scientific laws at all. They are divine laws, rather than scientific laws. Science has no way of enforcing them. Science cannot guarantee that they will always continue as they are today. There is no guarantee even for tomorrow.

Hebrews 1: 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high:

Hebrews tells us, BY THE WORD OF HIS POWER, JESUS CHRIST HOLDS THE UNIVERSE TOGETHER. So Jesus Christ guarantees these laws. That is, for the time being. It is by His faithfulness that they operate for now. That is why, when we look at the word, faith, we see subjective faith.

II Timothy 2: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Jesus Christ is faithful.

Romans 3: 3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?

What if some did not believe? Did their unbelief make the faith of God without effect? Of course, not. The fact that the sun will come up tomorrow morning and the world will continue as it is right now, proves that the unsaved have not changed the faithfulness of God in this point.

Also look at II Timothy 2: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

6/ But even though science may say, we think those laws are fixed laws and they are going to continue down through the years, they are wrong. Because a change is going to take place.

7/ II Peter 3: 10 - 12 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

It might be well for me to say, were it not for the faithfulness of Jesus Christ in holding all things together, keeping them existing together, this whole universe would blow up.

Even if it were only for a split second, he must be faithful constantly and continually. If it were not for Jesus Christ and His faithfulness, our space program would be a failure. Were it not for Jesus Christ and his faithfulness in this universe, we would have never put a man on the face of the moon. For scientists have used God’s fixed divine laws, and used them to get a man there. We would never have been able to send a probe toward Mars or Venus, where it not for Jesus Christ and His faithfulness in this ministry to divine laws.

8/ In other words we could say, and we do it in reverence. Jesus Christ is the glue that holds the universe together.

9/ A day is literally coming when the universe will stop being in existence. Jesus Christ will no longer hold things together.

II Peter 3: 10, 11 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,

In the 11th verse He says, Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved. The word, dissolved, in the Greek is an interesting word. It is used in Luke 3: 16 John answered, saying unto them all, I indeed baptize you with water; but one mightier than I cometh, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire:

Here where John Baptist said, One mightier than I cometh, whose lachet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose—to untie. So he uses the word here, to unloose or untie a shoe as he speaks of the universe becoming untied or unloosed. So the earth will become untied.

10/ We know now what happens when elements are broken from their state of consistency. In this present day we are more prepared to understand this chapter and Colossians 1, than in any age before us.

We call this the Space Age, and we know when we dissolve or split the atom, we have an atom bomb that gives us a terrible explosion, and what took place at Hirshimo, and Negasaki is but a minor picture of what is going to happen in II Peter 3: 10, 11 When God unties this universe.

Then we can look at Revelations 21: 1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

Atom Bomb Isaiah 66: 22 For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the Lord, so shall your seed and your name remain.

11/ Don’t worry about anyone pushing a panic button. Moscow, or Washington will not destroy the world. It will not be destroyed but by Jesus Christ. No one is going to start an atomic war before the world is evangelized.

Verse 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.

Head—One body—First raised from the dead. He is the head of the Body, the Church—no earthly head—the head is in Heaven.

Acts 7: 38 This is he, that was in the church in the wilderness with the angel which spake to him in the mount Sina, and with our fathers: who received the lively oracles to give unto us:

Hebrews 2: 12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Psalm 22: 22 I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.

I Timothy 3: 15, 16 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

Jeremiah 32: 37, 38 Behold, I will gather them out of all countries, whither I have driven them in mine anger, and in my fury, and in great wrath; and I will bring them again unto this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely: And they shall be my people, and I will be their God:

Hebrews 10: 7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

AMEN

Ref: 05/15/1977 /  353-1 A FRIEND ON THE BENCH / 09/18/2021

SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT

Photo by B Smith from the patio

 

261-1 SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT 

November 23, 1975

Henry F Kulp 

 

II Timothy 2: 11 - 13  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Here we have a marvelous portion of Scripture. These three verses are considered by scholars to be poem or hymn, and they believe it was sung in early assemblies. And as we study it you will see that we do have something to sing about. 

1/ This is a very important point that I do want to drive home at the beginning of this message. We have told you that there are principles that are true in every dispensation, and here we have a point that abides in every dispensation. Those who know doctrine and apply it to their lives will be singing believers. 

2/ Isaiah 12: 2  Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.

Here we have the prophet saying, God is my salvation, my strength, and my song. What a trinity! First of all, God is his salvation. He would have no relationship to God were he not saved. You will notice, God is salvation, religion makes the individual his own salvation. But without salvation he would be nothing. Secondly, he says, God is his strength. That is day by day need to live for the Lord. Then thirdly, he says, God is his song. 

3/ That is something extra that God gives those who mean business with Him. No one can say that joy is essential to being saved. One can be a believer without a song. Indeed, many of God’s children are quite cheerless, many of them are morbid, so having a song in your heart is something else. It is an added ingredient. 

4/ Psalms 40: 2, 3 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

Here we have a delightful, but a spiritual autobiography. 

(1)  He brought me up also out of the horrible pit, out of the miry clay—that is the essential thing. 

(2) He established my goings—that is an everyday thing. 

(3) He put a new song in my mouth—the extra thing and more. Not essential, but great to have. 

5/  Then most surprisingly we are told, many shall see it. Right away you say, that can’t be right—that is a faulty translation. It should be, many shall hear it—but no, the original says, many shall see it—it is not a mistake, A VISIBLE RESULT. One who has a song to sing from his heart shows it in his outward appearance. His outward appearance is more than the sound he makes. 

6/ Ephesians 5: 18, 19 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

In Paul’s epistles the first result of being a spirit-filled believer is to be a singing believer. Let me show you that Paul abided by his instructions. He didn’t tell you and me to do something that he didn’t do. 

7/ Acts 16: 21- 25 And teach customs, which are not lawful for us to receive, neither to observe, being Romans. And the multitude rose up together against them: and the magistrates rent off their clothes, and commanded to beat them. And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailor to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Here, Paul sore and stiff from the beating he received in a foul and dirty dungeon, is filled with the spirit and he sings. He had something to sing about even though circumstances were against him. He was in a foul and filthy dungeon, but it didn’t get him down. He had that something extra that both Isaiah and the Psalmist talked about, and so will you if you recognize the truth in II Timothy 2: 11 - 13.  It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

8/ Now let us look at this song, and see a very important fact. In Verse 10 God speaks of salvation with eternal, or abiding glory. And every believer is assured of salvation, but not every believer is assured of salvation with age abiding glory. This is the key to the hymn in Verse 11 - 13.

9/ There are two distinct lines of doctrine in this hymn. Verse 11 If we be dead with Him, this is a question of life. Secondly, there is the question of reigning.

10/ Living with Christ does not depend on the faithfulness of the saint, but the faithfulness of the Lord Jesus Christ when He died on the cross. This is the central teaching of Romans. It should read, WE DIED TOGETHER WITH HIM.

11/ Romans  6: 3, 4 Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Notice those who have been baptized into Christ were baptized into His death, this could not be water because that is impossible. For let us compare it with Galatians 3: 27 Here we read, For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. So if you do not have this baptism, you have not put on Christ, and it is ridiculous to think that water would perform this act. 

12/ WE SHALL LIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM. This death is not the end, it the beginning. 

13/ Verse 12  If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:

Now we come to, if we suffer, we shall also reign with Him, if we deny Him, He also will deny us. The pronoun, we, in both instances shows that believers do this. This is for the believers, but all believers will not suffer. Some believers will deny Him. Remember, II Timothy 1: 8 - 12 - 16 Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God; Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel: Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:

Here are believers who are ashamed of the Lord’s testimony and of Paul. They refuse to be Pauline because it cost something, and when they do this, He will deny them. It does not mean a loss of salvation. 

14/ Verse 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.

Here is a verse that shows us it does not mean you lose your salvation. If we believe not, and this should be, if we are faithless which is better than if we believe not, in other words, will not take a stand for this truth, He remains faithful. He will not disown them, He will not reward them, but they will have life—they are still saved. 

15/ Notice the last four words of Verse 13. He cannot deny Himself, and the Greek would be, for to deny Himself, He is not able. What does that mean? We are part of Him, we have union with Him, we are members of His body, and to cast us out means He would deny Himself, which He cannot do. This is one of the greatest verses in the Bible for eternal security. What He has in mind in these verses is rewards. You can lose rewards, you cannot lose your salvation. 

16/ Let’s go back to the Kingdom to see what we mean. 

Last week we used Luke 19: 17 - 19 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

We need to be clear that He is talking about the Kingdom and not the Church the Body of Christ, Verse 11 and there are three groups in this parable. And as they heard these things, he added and spake a parable, because he was nigh to Jerusalem, and because they thought that the kingdom of God should immediately appear.

-The citizens portray the nation Israel in a certain period of time, during the earthly ministry and the early period of Acts. 

-Then the servants, they are servants of God and it is very clear, for they are His servants, and He told them to occupy till I come. Luke 19: 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

-The first two servants were faithful and were rewarded. But in Verses 22 - 24,  And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow: Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury? And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath ten pounds.

Here we have the wicked servant. Remember, he is a servant. Salvation is not in view here—rewards are. And the Lord took the pound from him and gave it to him that had 10 pounds. Then in Verse 26 He gives the principle. Everyone that has shall be given, and everyone that hath not, that which he hath that which he hath shall be given away from him—a loss of reward. 

17/ Verse 27 But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me.

Here we have the Lord’s enemies, which would keep Him from reigning, and He says slay them before me. These are not saved. These are not servants but enemies. 

18/ I Corinthians 3: 10 - 14 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.

Here to be rewarded, one must build on the foundation of Jesus Christ, but a foundation of Jesus Christ laid by Paul. If you are not Pauline you will not be rewarded. Notice, Verse 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

19/ I Corinthians 9: 27 But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.

And here he becomes a castaway and the castaway does not mean to loose salvation, but to be disapproved, unrewarded, and when we go back to the 24 and 25 verses we see he is talking about rewards. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.

20/  Ruling with Christ

Ephesians 2: 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

Here we have a chair, a seat of authority in the Heavens.

21/ As Israel will rule and reign on the earth for the Lord, and be missionaries for the Lord, (Revelations and the 144,000) we will reign in the Heavens and be missionaries to the celestial beings. 

Isaiah 61: 5, 6 And strangers shall stand and feed your flocks, and the sons of the alien shall be your plowmen and your vinedressers. But ye shall be named the Priests of the Lord: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.

But we will be ministers to the celestial beings, they cannot understand grace, they cannot comprehend it. They are watching us now, and unable to understand grace, and we will explain it to them. 

I Corinthians 4: 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

Ephesians 3: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

AMEN

Ref: 11/23/1975 / 261-1 SOMETHING TO SING ABOUT / 09/13/2021

HOW SATAN OPPOSES THE TRUTH

Photo by B Smith from the kitchen window

 

29 - HOW SATAN OPPOSES THE TRUTH

June 3, 1962

 Henry F. Kulp

 

I Timothy 4: 1 - 5 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.

Paul tells young Timothy that the Holy Spirit teaches expressly. Here is something that is to be emphasized, something that is to be known. And what is it? That in the latter times, some shall depart from the faith. That word, depart, is our word apostatize. It means that in the church there will grow up those who will apostatize, depart, turn away from the faith, as it is in Jesus Christ.

1/ This is not talking about the world, because the world is at enmity with God. This is talking about the professing church of Jesus Christ, and the day is upon us. Men have turned from the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have substituted religion. Religion that constitutes good works, man trying to make himself acceptable to God. And every religion on the face of the earth is guilty of this act.

2/ What will cause this condition in the professing church? Men will give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of demons. In other words, they will fall in with the program of the devil. The devil is not omnipresent—he can’t be everywhere—and so he has demons to do his work throughout the world. And these demons will cause men within the professing church of Jesus Christ to embrace their doctrines—their teaching of demons. Now what do demons teach?

3/ They teach—be good, do good things, but reject the blood of Jesus Christ, Reject that Jesus Christ is the only way to be saved.

4/ Now let us look at how Satan works—he himself or his demons through men.

Acts 13: 6, 7 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God.

Here we have Paul and Barnabas going to the other end of Cyprus and there was Paphos—apparently the seat of the government of the island, and there was a certain sorcerer—a false prophet, a Jew by the name of Bar-Jesus. Here was a Jew who had gone among the Gentiles, pretending to be a marvelous, wonder-worker—and of course making a prophet. He took the name, Bar-Jesus. The word, Bar, means son—and his

name really means son of Jesus. He had undoubtedly to hear, made the lame walk, and so He came to these folks and he said, I am the son of Jesus, and I am able to work miracles even as He did. And then he came to the counselor of the country Sergius Paul —or Sargent Paul. He was evidently the governor of this island—a Gentile, But Sgt. Paul, the Gentile was a prudent man, and he proved it by calling for Barnabas and Saul and desiring to hear the word of God. But Elymas or Bar-Jesus, the son of Jesus, immediately saw that he would lose his grip on this Gentile if the truth were preached to him. He would be shown up to be exactly what he was—a false individual. He knew his influence over Sargent Paul would be gone. So he understood Paul and Barnabas, seeking to turn the deputy, this man Paul, away from faith.

Verse 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.

5/ But Paul full of the Holy Ghost, set his eyes upon this wicked man and said, O full of all subtility and mischief, thou child of the devil. It is slightly different then the word, child, the original—it is son. He is son of the devil. In other words, he is doing the devil’s work here, he is doing the devil’s bidding and trying to turn this deputy away from faith. And he says, wilt thou cease to provoke the right ways of the Lord. Here is the key —this man who was the son of the devil was trying to pervert the right ways of the Lord. He was religious—he was teaching this man, Paul, religion, but not the truth concerning Jesus Christ. He was perverting the right ways of God. This is ever the devil’s program. He is the angel of righteousness. They tell men and women, to do good deeds, be religious, but don’t embrace Jesus Christ and His shed blood.

6/ But let us just show you a portion of the old Scripture that shows you the folly of depending upon religion, of demons teaching Isaiah 19: 1 The burden of Egypt. Behold, the Lord rideth upon a swift cloud, and shall come into Egypt: and the idols of Egypt shall be moved at his presence, and the heart of Egypt shall melt in the midst of it.

Here the prophet Isaiah is speaking of the Egyptians and their god. He has been called a master of satire. And so he characterized the Egyptians and their god. He uses the word, idols—and in the original language that means “good-for-nothing,” and in Job 19: 4 it is translated “no value”. So the Scripture should read—the good-for-nothings of Egypt shall be staggering—reeling—at His presence. In other words, the folly, the vanity of depending upon these evil demons and their teaching.

7/ It is well for us to recognize that God is not going to permit this condition to go on and one of these days He is going to come back and judge all those who have fallen for demon teaching, all who have propagated the demon’s doctrine.

Numbers 33: 4 For the Egyptians buried all their firstborn, which the Lord had smitten among them: upon their gods also the Lord executed judgments.

It would be well for us to just take a moment and study Numbers 33: 4 when God has a contest with Moses and Pharaoh, this was not God bringing judgements down upon the

Egyptians, but rather He was bringing judgements down upon the gods of the Egyptians. They were a very religious people, they had followed the doctrine of demons and they had many gods. Their gods, of course, were demons, and when God brought judgement down upon the demons, He naturally had to bring it upon the Egyptians—for notice it in Numbers 33: 4—for the Egyptians buried their first-born which the Lord had smitten among them upon their gods also the Lord executed judgement. He brought judgement down upon them. That is why it is well for us to recognize that we must judge and weed out in our assemblies those who do not believe the truth. We cannot permit them to continue on.

8/ Now the next thing we want to see is this—these men who followed the seducing spirits and teaching doctrines of demons, they through hypocrisy of men speak lies. They know they are not telling the truth—they have their conscience seared with the hot iron—branded with a hot iron as it were. In other words, they have no conscience left. It is a bad thing to trust the conscience unless it is under the direction of the Holy Spirit. These men haven’t even any conscience left any more. These men never believe the doctrines which they propagate themselves, but there is always money in it—there are always those who will follow them and pay tremendous prices to be part of their movement.

9/ Then in Verse 3 Paul just uses two illustrations of some of the things that they would teach. First of all, forbidding to marry, and then to abstain from food. Again you see what is behind all this. These folks are endeavoring to make themselves righteous by not doing certain things. Under the law, there was a prohibition upon certain foods, but that is not true today. We are not under law, but under grace.

10/ You will notice that everything is to be received with thanksgiving. God wants us to be thankful for what we have. If there is one thing that marks this age, it is the age of thanklessness. Notice in verse 4 that every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving. The giving of thanks before the meal seems to have been the practice. Our Lord blessed the loaves—Matthew 14: 19 And then Paul gives thanks for the meal on the ship.

Acts 27: 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

We should always be thankful, but I believe that just giving thanks before the meal is not enough. We should always do that. But certainly we should go beyond that. We should be thankful in our hearts for all that God has given us.

11/ Then in verse 7 But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.

Timothy is exhorted to refuse profane and old wives fables. Of course, that means the word myth, or rumor—in other words it is tradition—we are warned against tradition. The demons come and mainly bring with them the word, tradition—things that men have

dreamed up under the guidance of demons. In those days, many made their living by going from market place to market place, and giving lectures on folk-lure or myths or traditions, and these are the things that were embraced in the church, and so Timothy is told to exercise thyself rather onto godliness. And you have the word, exercise in Verse 7 and 8. In Verse 7 it says exercise thyself unto godliness, in verse 8 for bodily exercise profiteth little. The word, exercise, is the word from which we get our word, gymnasium or gymnastic, and it means—exercise. Paul is not saying that to exercise is wrong and there is no profit—it is just a little profit compared to exercising Godliness. Physical exercise has a limited benefit, but exercise unto godliness has eternal benefit.

12/ We are living in a day when we have this physical culture that is so important. I believe a sound body is a good thing, but when a Christian becomes so involved in bodily exercise in sports that he doesn’t have time to really exercise in godliness—it infringes upon his godliness, then, he is in trouble. The thought is, of course, your physical body will die, and it will go to the grave. Does it matter whether you live 50 or 70 years if in 50 or 70 years you do not glorify the Lord Jesus Christ? What difference does it make for a Christian to live to be 80 years old, when in that time he has done very little for the Lord Jesus Christ? He has been taking care of his body so he would live along time. Paul did not live to be what we would call an old man in our time—but he certainly accomplished a lot for the Lord Jesus.

13/ A fit body is a wonderful thing. But a fit soul is far more important.

14/ Our president is calling for a physical fitness program because many of our young folks are not physically fit, and certainly this is a good program—I am not against it. But our country in order to stand against our enemies has to be more than fit physically. We have to be mentally fit for the next thing, but the most important thing is that our nation be spiritually fit. Not fed upon a lot of trash and fables—upon religion, but belief in the Lord Jesus Christ. If our churches were strong in preaching spiritual truths, we would not have to worry about communism—it could never overthrow us, but because we are weak spiritually certainly our physical program will be of little benefit. O, that the leaders of our nation would recognize this truth.

AMEN

Ref: 06/03/1962/ 29 - HOW SATAN OPPOSES THE TRUTH / 09/08/2021