Book of Life:

Revelation 17:8

8     “The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to come up out of the abyss and go to destruction. And those who dwell on the earth, whose name has not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, will wonder when they see the beast, that he was and is not and will come.

     

            This verse says that our names were written in the book of life from the foundation of the world. We’re not going to debate predestination; that is, God decided who would get saved and who wouldn’t with us not having a free will to choose or refuse. We will just say that God knew from before the foundation of the world who it was that would accept His Son as Savior. So He wrote down the names from the beginning. He wasn’t waiting for us to get good enough and then write down our names. You can’t. That’s why it took the blood of the spotless Lamb of God, Jesus, to save us. He was confident that we would accept Jesus as our Savior; so He wrote down our names.     

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I knew that I wanted you from the beginning. I wanted you so much that I wrote your name in My book of life. It was because I knew you would love Me and want to be with Me forever.”           

            5. My name was written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. Therefore, I am confident that one day I will be with Him.

Eternal Life:

            He promised:

John 3:15-16

15     so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.

     16     “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

     

1 John 2:25

25     This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.

     

            God made a promise to us … eternal life. What does it mean when someone promises us something? It means that we can count on them to not take it back – to do all that they can to make it happen. Since it is God that made us the promise, we can be assured that it will happen. When we believe in His Son Jesus, we will not perish. Isn’t that great? He didn’t say that we had to get good enough. We don’t have to do a bunch of good works. What we have to do is believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, if we believe in Him, we should be doing good works … but not to obtain eternal life. We should have a holy lifestyle … but not to obtain eternal life. How do we know He will give us eternal life? Since God is not a man that He should lie (in fact He cannot lie), we can trust Him to keep His word.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “I have promised this to you, My child. There is nothing that I would desire more than to have you with Me forever. In My love for you, I sent My Son that He might die for you so that you might live forever.”

            4. I have eternal life, which God promised me long ago.

Gifts and calling:

Romans 11:29

29     for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

     

            God is not going to change His mind and say, “Oops, look what they did. I shouldn’t have called him/her. I guess I better take it back.”  Salvation’s not based on our merits … on what we’ve done for Him, or how good we have behaved. It’s all based on His choice by His grace through the blood of Jesus on the cross. The same goes for the gifts He gives us. We don’t have to hold our breath hoping He won’t reconsider His calling of us or His giving gifts to us.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “When I called you, it wasn’t for just a lifetime. It was forever. I will never change My mind about you. I want you to be with Me and to know Me from now on throughout eternity.”

            3. God has called me, and He will never change His mind. He has given me gifts, and He will never take them back.

Chapter 1

Salvation

            The first area we want to look at in conjunction with our destiny is that of salvation. Were we destined to be saved or was it some “luck of the draw”? What was necessary for us to become saved? Can we be certain it won’t be taken away from us? Is it just while we’re here on earth, or is it forever? What was our part, and what part was destined to happen no matter what?

We are Called/Chosen:

            Brought near:

Ephesians 2:13

13     But now in Christ Jesus you who formerly were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

     

            Before we accept Christ as our Savior, we are all far off from God. Whether we are “good” as far as others were concerned or “bad”, it doesn’t matter. We all need Jesus. After I asked Jesus to come in and take control of my life, I called a friend in another state to tell her that I had become a Christian. She said, “I thought you already were.” Even though to her I was near to God, in reality, I was as far away as someone that you would consider to be the worst sinner in the world.

            We all need God in our lives regardless of our past. Even though Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, he still considered himself the chief of all sinners. All his life, he did his best to obey the Law. It wasn’t good enough. He still needed the personal relationship with Christ.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            “My children, I have chosen you from before the beginning of time. I knew you before the world began. I saw what would be in your heart; how that you would have a desire to know Me. I drew you unto Me and brought you into My family.”

            2. I am no longer far off from God, because I have been brought near to Him through the blood of Jesus.

Ours is the Kingdom of God:

Luke 6:20-21

20 And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say, “Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.

21 “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

            Many Christians throughout the world are economically poor. The percentage in America is much less than elsewhere. However, this is talking about being humble in your own eyes. Your destiny is the Kingdom of God, which has no lack. If you are hungering for His righteousness, you shall be satisfied. If you weep now (not just over things that have gone wrong in your life, but also those things that have gone wrong spiritually in the world), you shall laugh. It is our destiny.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are not poor in Me. In this world, you may be poor; but in My Kingdom you are wealthy. You will have good success as long as you walk in My Word. You shall be known as an overcoming generation as long as you obey My commandments. I have chosen this time for the end of all battles. There shall no longer be crying, dying, or pain. You are the chosen generation to bring in My Kingdom into this world. Show forth My power and My holiness. No one can overcome you as long as you obey My Word. There is power in no one else that can compare to Mine. You are powerful, as long as you walk in Me and My Word abides in You. It is your destiny.”

            101. My destiny is the Kingdom of God; satisfaction from hunger after His righteousness; and laughter in the Spirit.

            This concludes the third volume about our destiny in Christ. These are things of which we are assured are ours. Even if this is the only volume you’ve read, you can see that we have a tremendous destiny. You can also agree that most Christians are not walking in their destiny. Perhaps you are not, either. There is no shame in it; but there is no reason to remain walking in less than the full measure to which you are destined.

            Don’t keep your destiny to yourself. You are to show forth all that is yours in order to bring others into the Kingdom of God. Then they too can discover and experience their destiny in Christ.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is no destiny for you, but what you make of what I have determined for you. There is no hope outside of all that I have done for you. You are the determining factor in your destiny. You can have all that I have given you or you can have nothing. It is up to you. Your destiny is before you.”

Next week we go back to volume 1 - Your Destiny

Greater than John the Baptist:

Matthew 11:11

11 “Truly I say to you, among those born of women there has not arisen anyone greater than John the Baptist! Yet the one who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

Luke 7:28

28 “I say to you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet he who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.”

            Are you in the Kingdom? Then you are greater than John the Baptist! That’s a pretty amazing statement. It is your destiny. Jesus wasn’t putting down John. However, John wasn’t in the Kingdom. He was still operating under the Old Covenant. We are operating under the New, which has even better promises. We are born again and have the Holy Spirit permanently within. John wasn’t and didn’t. He was filled with the Spirit while still in His mother’s womb, but it’s not the same has having the Spirit indwelling us. Even Jesus said we’d do even greater works than He, so why wouldn’t we be greater than John the Baptist? Besides, who says you’re the least?

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not think of yourselves as little, My children. In My Kingdom, you are great; for I have chosen you for greatness. There is none greater than those in My Kingdom. I have chosen gladly for you to receive My Kingdom. It is a Kingdom of joy. It is a Kingdom of peace. And it is a Kingdom of love. There is no greater joy than to walk in My Kingdom in My Spirit. There is no greater freedom than to do so. You are a chosen generation; one that is chosen to bring in My Kingdom into this realm. The devil has chosen this generation to be his greatest ally in the fight against Me; but it cannot succeed. He will fail; for I am infallible. You are My chosen instruments to bring about the end of His Kingdom in this realm. You can overcome all in his Kingdom when you rely on My Spirit empowered by My Word.”

            100. I am in the Kingdom of God. Therefore, I am greater than even John the Baptist!

Crown of righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:8

8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

            Have you loved His appearing? Then you are destined to receive a crown of righteousness. So, don’t say that you just want to slip in the back door of Heaven and that you’re not going to receive anything. This says you are. We all are going to receive it one day. Of course we’ll cast them at His feet; but we are destined to receive it.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are My reward, and I am yours. You are overcomers and as such deserve the best reward. My reward to you is to be with Me for all eternity. Outside are those who rejected Me. They did not reject you. They rejected Me; for I am the only Way to Heaven. I am the only Way to eternal Life. Without Me, there is no future. Your future is sealed in Me; for I am the future. There is no other future outside of Me. You have loved Me, and I have loved you. There is no greater reward than to be with those you love.”

            99. There is laid up for me a crown of righteousness because I have loved His appearing.

Glorified:

Romans 8:29-30

29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

            We all know that He will be glorified, but what about us? This says that we will be glorified. Actually, it says in the past tense … we were glorified. Through Jesus we were glorified when He was.

            Now these verses are used to support the doctrine of predestination; that is, what happens was predetermined by God in the ancient past so that we have no choice but to believe. That goes against the doctrine of free choice. Those of the free choice persuasion say that because God knew we would believe, He predestined what would happen … calling, justification, conforming to His image, and glorification.

            We’re not here to promote either doctrine. Both seem to be true in different Scriptures. What matters is that these things are our destiny. They are all in the past. In God’s eyes they have already happened in Christ. Whether we feel like it or act like it, it’s our destiny. Since that’s true, we should be living like it and not like some slime worms that are going to crawl into the back doors of Heaven. When people look at us, they should see Jesus in action. He by Himself could never have physically traveled throughout the world throughout all time to bring people into the Kingdom. Through us, though, He can.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are light in Me, My children. You are My special people. You are My chosen ones. I chose you before the world was. You were ever on My mind before the first atom existed. You are My creation perfect. You are My special creation. There has never been any greater creation than you. You were special to Me before time existed. There has never been a moment when you were not important to Me. You were created for Me, and you are to show forth My glory. There will never be a time when you are not special to Me; when you are not on My mind. There is no second choice. You are it. There is only you, and no other for Me.”

            98. I am glorified through Christ Jesus. Therefore, I will walk throughout my life showing forth His glory.

Others:

            Under grace, not law:

Romans 6:11-14

11 Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts,

13 and do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

14 For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

            Consider yourselves to be dead to sin. What does that mean? It means to act like it; to act like sin has no power or persuasion over you. It can’t tempt you to misbehave. But this verse says even more. Not only are we to act like we’re dead to sin and don’t want to succumb to it; but also we are to act like we’re alive to God in Christ Jesus. We are to walk ever aware of His guidance in our lives. We’re to be ready to do His bidding at a moment’s notice.

            We are not supposed to let sin reign in our lives. It isn’t lord over us … God is. We shouldn’t let its desires control our lives. As the verse says … we should not present the members of our body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness. Sin is playing a song. It wants our selves as its instruments. It hopes that the world will be drawn to its melody. We should however be instruments of God’s righteousness; playing a symphony to the world to draw it after Him and His righteousness. We are no longer dead in our sins. We are alive from the dead, and our members are His instruments to be played to the world. Sin is not our master. We are willing servants of the Most High God serving in His grace.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are alive, My children, in Me. I am your Way. I am your Truth. I am your Life. There is salvation in no one else; for I have been designated by God to be the only way to reach Him. It is not through what you do or accomplish for Me. It is through My blood and My sacrifice. There is no other way to Him but through Me. You are My gift to Him. I have given Him the perfect gift. It came through My blood and My sacrifice. He is My all, and He is your all. There is no other way to come into the Kingdom, but through Me. That is the way of grace. You can’t earn it. You can’t buy it. It is a free gift from the Father through Me. There is Life in no one else but Me. Advance in My grace and you will advance in My Father’s Kingdom.”

            97. I am not under law but under grace. I am dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. I will no longer serve sin, but rather serve God in His righteousness.

Enemy:

            Keeps us from the evil one:

           

John 17:15

15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

            Some versions of the Bible translate this as keep us from evil. He didn’t promise a rose garden. There will be evil in our paths. However, this should have been translated as to keep us from the evil one … the devil. He would have had to taken us out of the world in order for us to be kept entirely from evil. If we just don’t have to face the devil, we’ll be all right. It may not be easy, but we will overcome. As I mentioned in an earlier volume, the André Crouch song says, “If I’d never had a problem, I’d never know that God could solve them.” Now don’t blame God for the problems, but do thank Him for the solutions. It is through Him that we can prevail.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is nothing to fear, My children. Nothing and no one can harm you as long as you stay in My Word. You cannot be overcome; rather, you are overcomers. There is nothing that can overpower you when you walk in My power. My power consists of doing what I have commanded you. You will overcome as you walk in My Spirit in My Word. There is nothing that can persuade you to fall if you trust in Me and My Word. You will never fall. You will never fail if you trust Me to control your life. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is Life in no one else. There is success in no one else; for I am the only Way to eternal Life. There is nothing and no one who can prevent you from inheriting My eternal Life. You are in control of your destiny. Obey My commandments and you will succeed in life.”

            96. The Father keeps me from the evil one by placing a hedge about me. No evil can trespass His boundaries.

Chapter 11

Various

            Here are more verses concerning our destiny. These are things that are destined to take place in our lives. They cover different areas, but they are all important. By now we should be catching hold of the fact that we are special and that we have a special destiny ahead. We should live like it and not like the people of the world who have a bad destiny.

Light:

            Sons of light:

1 Thessalonians 5:5

5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

           

            Jesus was called the light of the world. We are His brothers and sisters and have the same Father, so why shouldn’t we be called sons of light and sons of day? Because we are of the light and of the day, we should walk as children of the light and day. We should not be ashamed of our thoughts or actions. They should be a light to those around us to bring them to Christ.

            Those who are of the darkness do not want their deeds exposed. This is happening a lot today in politics. Politicians said or did things in secret that are now being revealed. Unfortunately, it’s also happening to a lot of people who were leaders of Christianity. When people do wrong things and they are not immediately caught, they tend to get bolder and bolder in their wrong doings. What might have been a minor offence will sooner or later turn into a major one.

            We should live our lives as if we expected the entire world to see and hear our every word and deed. Then we would have nothing to be ashamed of.

           

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is no darkness in you, My children; for you are the light of the world. The world is in darkness, but you are in the light. Walk as children of the light; of the day; not of the night. For there is a great darkness coming upon the world, but fear not; for you have overcome the world and it lies in the power of the evil one. But you are not of the evil one; for you are of Me and therefore are of the light. This is the light that will guide all men unto Me, if they will allow it to. But you are to not hide your light under the bushel basket; but are to place it in the window of your soul so that others may see and come in unto Me.”

            95. I am a child of the light and of the day. I will walk as if all my actions were being viewed by the entire world. I will say, do, and think only those things that bring glory to my Lord and Savior.

No longer any curse:

Revelation 22:3-5

3 There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him;

4 they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.

5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.

            The earth was cursed because of Adam. Those who didn’t obey the Law were under a curse. Jesus became a curse for us that we no longer would have to be under a curse. We’re going to be in the presence of the Father and His Son, the Lamb. We will see His face and have His name on our foreheads. We are most definitely His. It is our destiny. God Himself will be our light. We will never have to walk in darkness again, but will walk in the newness of His Light.

            What does that last line say … they will reign forever and ever? That’s a long time and a great destiny. Isn’t that worth walking in the light of His Word according to His Spirit who indwells us for a comparatively short time?

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are Mine, little Ones. You have My name stamped upon you. I have sealed you in My Spirit, and you are Mine. The world will know that you are Mine, and the enemy will know that you are Mine. I did not do this carelessly. I desired to make you Mine, and I made sure that you would become My own. You know Me, because My Spirit is within you. You shall know of Me that what I say will be; for I take what the Father gives Me, and I give it unto you. You are Mine, if you do what I tell you. There is peace in no one else. Abide in My love, and you will overcome the world.”

            94. I am no longer under a curse. One day I will be with the Father and the Son and will reign with them forever.

            There is no doubt about it. Jesus is coming again and we will be with Him forever. It is our destiny. It’s not our goal. We are definitely going to be with Him. It’s a done deal. It’s just a matter of when. We are to occupy until He comes. We are not supposed to get complacent. We should be a light to those around us so that they too can come into His Kingdom.

            Remember that the Bible says that mockers will come saying, “Where is His coming? Ever since the fathers died people have been saying Jesus is coming again, and He still hasn’t. Why do you still insist He is coming?” Why, because He said He would and Jesus would never lie.

Springs of the water of life:

Revelation 21:6

6 Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost.

            Are you thirsty? I’m not talking about physical thirst. This is the same water that Jesus talked about to the Samaritan woman. It is the Living Water that flows from within. People are big on bottled water. If people twenty years ago were told that one day people would pay as much as they do for bottled water, they would have rolled on the floor laughing. It was unheard of to have to pay anything for water. People carrying bottles of it wherever they go - no way man? But it’s true.

            We have Living Water “bottled up” inside of us. We’re to share that Water with the world so that they too might have life everlasting. This water doesn’t cost us anything, but it cost Him everything.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is no one else but Me. I AM the I AM. Walk in Me, and you will overcome the world. I was from the beginning, and I will be at the end. There is comfort in no one else. In Me, you have peace. In Me, you have joy. In Me, you shall overcome. Drink of the Water of Life that I give you. There is life in no one else. In Me you have life everlasting and shall endure to the end with Me.”

            93. I am drinking from the water of life without cost to me. I will share that water with others that they too may drink and live.

Results:

            Behold His glory:

John 17:24

24 “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

            Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is. Why? He wants us to see His glory which the Father gave to Him. The priests were not able to stand and minister in the temple because of the glory of God. This is the same glory that we will see in Him. Of course we won’t have this mortal body that would perish in the presence of Almighty God. If Jesus wants us to see His glory, His glory we shall see. It’s a done deal. It is our destiny. Some Christians are not sure they’re going to Heaven. Jesus says we are. There is no doubt about it. It is our destiny!  

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are Mine, little ones. You are My crown and My glory. As I have received from the Father, so I give unto you. You shall know My glory, as I have know My Father’s glory. There is no other glory outside of Him. He is My glory, and He will be your glory. Therein is My glory fulfilled in that you walk in My glory. There is glory in no one else. Abide in My glory, and you shall have your desires met. Mine is the Kingdom, and the Power, and the Glory. These are yours too, when you  walk in My Word.”

            92. One day I will be with Jesus where He is and will behold His glory which the Father gave to Him.

Dead will be raised imperishable:

1 Corinthians 15:51-53

51 Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,

52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.

53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality.

            All of us have experience buying fruit and then having it spoil. That’s why fruit is in the category called perishables. Our bodies are the same way. They will eventually perish; not so our Heavenly ones. They are imperishable. They have an (eternal) Lifetime Guarantee backed by the Maker.

            Some of us will sleep, but others will remain alive until Jesus returns. Then we all will be changed from this perishable body to the immortal one. That is great news, and we’re all looking forward to that Day. However, some Christians are too strongly longing for that Day and are ignoring the here and now. We are to occupy until He returns; whether in our lifetime or not.

            It won’t be a long process. The caterpillar will become a butterfly instantaneously. There will be a trumpet sound. Then the dead will be raised. Lastly, the living will be changed. They’ll drop off this earth suit and put on the imperishable Heavenly one. Then … we’re outta here.

           

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "It is almost time, My children. Soon you will hear the trumpet blow. It is your signal to come be with Me. You are victorious in Me. There is no way around it. You are champions when you are in Me. Then will be the time of the end of all things on earth. Then will be the time of the Kingdom of God on earth. There shall be neither night nor day; for My light shall shine forth in My Kingdom on earth. There is no way around it. The end is near for all things that are not of God. The time is near for the end of all things carnal. It is the time for all things ungodly. It is the time for you to shine forth as lights to the world. They will come to the light as a moth does. You are to be lights to the world, so that they will come unto Me and avoid the end of the things of the world.”

            91. One day, at the last trumpet, I will be changed. My mortality will drop off and my immortality will be put on. Then I will rise to meet Jesus in the air to be with Him forever.

Will bear the image of the heavenly:

1 Corinthians 15:49

49 Just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we will also bear the image of the heavenly.

            Well, for some of us, this earthy is getting kind of yucky. It’s certainly not getting any younger no matter how much goop we put on it or in it. We may not look as old as we are, but it doesn’t matter how many “paint jobs” we put on this old car, it’s still not getting any newer.

            The good news is that when we leave this place we won’t have to take it with us! We get a brand new model that will never get old or wear out. We will bear the image of the Heavenly … just like Jesus. Remember that when He returns, we will be just like Him! That is something to look forward to.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You shall be like Me, My children; for I have chosen you for this purpose. People shall see Me when they see you. You are to be My image, as I am the Father’s image. You will show forth My glory, as I have shown forth His glory. You are the light of the world, and I have not chosen you to put you under a peck measure but to put you on a lamp stand that all may see My light in you. You are to shine forth My glory and My holiness unto the world that it may know that I have come unto them.”

            90. When He returns, I will bear the image of the Heavenly … never to grow old or wear out again.

Our Bodies:

            Many dwelling places:

John 14:2-3

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.

3 “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

            Are these dwelling places the mansions of the King James, or perhaps our glorified bodies? We won’t need any mansions then; but that’s o.k. if this is what it means. What’s important is that Jesus went there to prepare a place for us. If He said it, we can count on it. He also said He would come again to receive us to Himself. Why … so that we could be with Him where He is forever.

            At the moment I am writing this, there is a crisis in the housing market. Homes have shot way up in price. People are having trouble buying a home … any home; not just their dream home. But we don’t have to worry about not having a place to live when we leave this place. We have one reserved in Heaven with our names on it!

            Lift up your eyes! Your redemption is nearer than when you started reading this book. How long? It’s not for us to worry. Stay ready to go at a moment’s notice; but be prepared to occupy till He does come.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I have not left you alone, My children. I have not forgotten you. I have made it My priority to keep you in My power … that I may demonstrate My glory in My people. You are My special ones, and I delight in your presence. I have hand selected your dwelling place for all eternity. It is not a one size fits all kind of dwelling place. It is one especially made with you as an individual in mind. You are My special ones, and I have a special place for you. You are the light of the world, and that light comes through My glory in you. You are to light the path for those around you; so that they too will come unto Me. You are My special ones, and I delight in you.”

            89. Jesus will return to take me to my final dwelling place which He has prepared just for me!

Will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep:

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.

15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.

            Paul was writing to the Thessalonians to comfort them. They were concerned that if there loved ones died before Jesus returned that there would be no resurrection hope for them … that they would be dead forever. Paul was assuring them that indeed there was great hope for them. They would rise again. In fact, the dead would go before the living.

            It seems in verse 17 as if Paul was expecting to be one of those still alive when Jesus returns. Whether we are still alive or not, there will be no one left behind of His people. Remember, we’re not debating exactly when in reference to the Tribulation that this will occur. We just know that it will; and we will.

            What a Great Promise and what a Great Hope we that are Christians have. We do not yet see it happening, but one day it will. We will hear His shout, whether alive or dead and we will rise to meet Him in the air.

            Got your ears on, good buddy?

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You need not fear, My children. I will not leave you alone. I will not leave you stranded. You are not going to have to face the world alone. I will come back for you. I will come back for all My children, whether they are alive or dead. There is no other way for Me but to bring back My own when I come. I will bring you into My Kingdom at the end. You will be with Me in My Kingdom. We will reign together in My Kingdom. We are victorious together. You are My special people, and we will rule and reign together.”

            88. When Jesus returns, I will hear His shout whether I’m alive or dead and will rise to meet Him in the air.

Chapter 10

Second Coming

            There are many people in the world that do not know that Jesus the Christ has already come the first time. They are still looking for a savior. But Jesus is coming a second time. For the Christian, that is great news, but for the rest of the world it will be a time for great tribulation.

            Jesus is coming to bring judgment to the unbelievers, but to take His own to be with Him forever. It is our destiny. Heaven is not our goal. It is our destiny. But we should not take that destiny for granted. We should become the best we can be and do the most we can do to bring others into His Kingdom.

Process:

            Dead shall live:

John 5:25

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

            He who has ears to hear among the dead will hear the Son when He shouts. They will then come to life again. Jesus said that if we die, we shall live again. That is a physical death. We won’t ever die spiritually though. We will never experience the second death which is eternal separation from God. Tune up your hearing. The Son will soon be shouting in triumph.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "I am coming, My children. Do not despair! At the right time; the right moment I will come, and I will bring judgment upon the unbeliever. I will bring judgment upon those that do not recognize Me as being their God. I will bring swift vengeance upon those that disparage My name and that say things about Me that are not true. You will not be among those that are judged, when you walk in My Word. My Word is true, and My Spirit is Truth. There is no other way to get to Heaven outside of Me. I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. There is no other way to avoid judgment outside of coming to the Father through Me. I am the way into His Kingdom. There is no other way outside of Me. I have brought you into that Kingdom, and you shall shine brightly before all men. Do not despair. I am coming quickly. Do not lose patience at My delay. I will come at just the right time for you, My little children.”

            87. If I die before He returns, I will hear the voice of the Son of God from the grave when He does return and will live again.

Other:

            Fellow-citizens of God’s household:

Ephesians 2:19

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,

            We are fellow citizens with all the other believers. We are not alone, and we are not excluded. We are together. We are also of God’s household. We are family. We are one. Do not look down on other believers just because they belong to a different local church. They are a part of us, and we are a part of them - so that others may believe in Him.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "There is no other family but Mine. That is the family to which you belong. It is a glorious family and shall prevail in this life and in the next. You are of this family and shall overcome together. You are not of the family of this world, but are of Mine. It is My pleasure to make you members of My family. It is My pleasure to give you the Kingdom. You have the keys to My Kingdom in your hands. Look to them to overcome the world. What is of Mine, overcomes the world. You are of Mine, and you shall overcome the world.”

            86. I am a fellow citizen with all the saints and am a member of God’s household.

            Yes, it is our destiny to be one with other believers. Most Christians, though, live in a divided community. If others do not believe exactly like we do, we exclude them from our fellowship. We are destined to be one that those around us will desire to come into the Kingdom of God. Then we will all experience the true destiny He has for us.

Thy glory I’ve given them that they may be one: 

John 17:22

22 “The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one;           

            It’s also the glory. This is another key ingredient to help make us one. We need this to help overcome our human frailties. We want to be the chief. The others can be with us, but we should be in control. God wants the unity of the Holy Spirit to be maintained. It takes the glory to achieve that. In the presence of His glory, nothing of a sinful nature may exist. He removes it far from us in the midst of His glory. Again, this is to bring others into His Kingdom.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are in My glory, My children. You are experiencing it even now in this life. You shall overcome through My glory; for My glory is in you and you shall overcome through it. You are not of this world, My children. You are of the world and the age that is to come. Nothing shall overcome it, and nothing shall overcome you as you walk in My Word and rely on My Spirit. You are of My household and shall show forth My glory as My Son did.”

            85. I have received of His glory that I may be one with my fellow believers.

Unity:

            Keep them in Thy name

John 17:11

11 “I am no longer in the world; and yet they themselves are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are.

John 17:21

21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

            What a powerful Name … the Name of Jesus! It is powerful enough to keep (guard) us. Because we are in the world (but not of it), we need to be kept. We cannot venture out alone unprotected. The reason Jesus said to keep us is so that we may be one even as the Father and the Son are One. It wasn’t just for the disciples. It was for us too. Jesus said in another verse that it was for all who heard their word and believed on Him.

            And why would He want us to be one? It is so that the world would believe that the Father sent Him to die for their sins. Unity is such a powerful thing that it will bring people to God. We think it’s our great preaching. But it is the love for one another and our unity that will bring people to Him. Those things are so rare that people will come from miles around to experience it in a local church.

            We will also be in Them (Father and Son). How this can possibly happen is a mystery; however, it is true. We are in Them and they are in us. Because we have God Almighty dwelling within us, what kind of people should we be in our behavior? What kinds of things should we expect to accomplish for God because of this?

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Again, you are safe, My children. There is nothing of the devil that can harm you. There is nothing in this creation that can overcome you; for you have My name, and everything that has My name has My power and nothing can overcome My name or My power. You are safe in Me and in My name. We are one, and nothing can overcome us together.”

            84. The Father is keeping me in Jesus’ Name so that I may be in Him and in the Father and that the world may believe in Him.

The Church:

            Church of the first-born:

Hebrews 12:23

23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,

            We are members of the Church of the first-born. There is only one Church; not many like we have today. Jesus was the first to be born from the dead. We will follow in the future. That is our destiny. We’re not destined to fly with the vultures. We’re destined to fly with the eagles.

            Notice the reference about the spirits of the righteous made perfect. When we die, that isn’t it. Our spirits still live in Him and with Him. It also says made perfect. We shall be made perfect in Him. We may not look like it now, but we will be one day.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are ever in My thoughts. You are ever in My heart. I want only the best for you. I have planned only the best for you; but you cannot experience it without surrendering yourself to Me. That is the only way to overcome in this life. You will succeed. You will rise to the top. You will be better than those around you, as you allow Me to operate in your life; to control the circumstances that face you. If you try to control them, you will not succeed in the end. You may prevail for a while, but in the end, you will fail. You are not alone in this fight. There are many here and there that will come to your aid as you walk in My Word. That is the reason I allow things to come upon you … is so that you can prevail in My strength; in My guidance; with the help of all those that are Mine.”

            83. I am one of those who is a member of the church of the firstborn. One day I will be made perfect.

What happens to one happens to all:

               

1 Corinthians 12:26

26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.

            Too many times if someone gets blessed, others get jealous. And if something bad happens to that person, they “secretly” rejoice. God says, “That’s not My way. My way is just the opposite. Remember that the other Christian is one with you. So, when that person gets blessed, it’s like you’re getting blessed. When that person gets hurt, it is like you’re getting hurt.” They are family to us. We’re supposed to be very supportive of our family. We’re to rejoice at their blessings and cry at their pain.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "Do not rejoice when your brother or sister has problems. Do not turn your back on them; for they are precious in My sight and so should be in yours. You are all one people, and what happens to one of you is what happens to all of you. If one is hurt, you all are hurt. If one is ill, you all are ill. If one is dying, you all are dying; for you are one in My Spirit. What one feels the other feels. What one experiences, the other experiences. There is not one body of one kind and another body of another kind. You are all alike in Me. Rejoice with your brother and sister when they rejoice, and weep with them when they weep. Thus, all will know that you are Mine when you rejoice and weep together.”

            82. When you suffer, I hurt. When you are blessed, I rejoice.

Chapter 9

All Together

            We are not alone in this life. We have each other. We are to show to the world that God is in this Christianity thing by the fact that we are united. We show that by our love for one another.

            In one Interlinear Greek New Testament that I have, it translates the Greek of Acts 2:1 as … they were all together together (King James … all together with one accord in one place). In other words … they had it all together. They stayed “all together” for a while before humanity slipped into the Church. Of course by “staying together”, they didn’t go into all the world. God wanted both. He wanted them to be united, but He didn’t want them to get “satisfied” with the status quo. He wanted them to disperse and bring people outside of Jerusalem and Israel into His Kingdom.

Body:

            One of everything:

Ephesians 4:4-6

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as also you were called in one hope of your calling;

5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

6 one God and Father of all who is over all and through all and in all.

            One is the theme of these verses. We came into the Kingdom in only one way through the one God, and we’re to stay that way. God didn’t make a bunch of little bodies (man did). He made us all to be one. If someone is different or believes differently than we do, we tend to exclude them from our group. Christians can be just as vicious with their tongues as animals can with their teeth to those not their own. Being one with each other is so unusual to the world that Christians being that way will attract people into the Kingdom.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are one, My children. There is not one of this kind and another of that kind. There is only one kind … My children. You are to love one another as brothers and sisters; for you are one body … one people … one kindred. You shall not look down on your brother or sister as not being worthy to be your brother or sister. You are to look upon them with favor; for they are just as much Mine as you are. You are not to treat them differently because they are different from you. Who said you were better than they; who said you were more favored. You are all alike in My Book. You shall all be judged alike. You are one and we are one together.”

            81. I am one with you and with the One Father in one way forever.

Passed out of death into life:

               

John 5:24

24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

            We have heard the Word and have believed the Father who sent Jesus. Therefore, we have eternal life and do not come into judgment. This is the final Judgment. Believers are judged daily, but unbelievers are judged one time at the End. It won’t be pleasant and it will be permanent. We, however, will never face that Judgment. We began our eternal life the moment we believed. We experience it here and now; not just when we get to Heaven.

If you could hear God speak to you, I believe this is what He would say:

            "You are free from the power of sin and death as you walk in My Word. This is My Kingdom … that you walk in the power of My Word. Then you are free from the power of sin and death; and nothing shall harm you if you are diligent to walk in My Word. The Kingdom consists of this … that you walk in My Word and so prove to be My disciples. You are My disciples if you walk in My Word. Then are you truly free indeed. You shall overcome all obstacles if you walk in My Word. There is power in My Word, and you shall walk in power as you walk in My Word. The Kingdom of God truly is righteousness peace, and joy in My Holy Spirit.”

            80. I have heard His Word and believed in Him. Therefore, I have eternal life now and will not come into judgment. I have passed out of death into life.

            It may not be pleasant to think about, but we are accountable to God for what we do and think. We may be able to get away with things in our jobs, but not with Him. He’s not going to let us off the hook. It’s our destiny. It may not be the kind you’d like to think is yours, but it is. However, it’s for our own good, as all discipline is for good. This is to show forth to the world what God expects from His people. He wants only the best for the best … and that’s us.