Your Truth and The Truth by Brother Duke Hansen

         Everyone makes a big deal these days about being God's chosen, but don't really notice exactly how God wants you to choose him. A surface reading of the book of Job is that the book's overall theme is about patience when the true themes of the book are much deeper. One of the themes is of faith regardless of your situation. The true purpose of the Bible is to show you the truth on many things and subjects, while also confronting your own personal truths as the lies that they are. When you sew faith into personal truth, your preventing and hindering growth in your relationship with the Lord, shortening the potential blessings God has for you.

        We are going to begin reading this morning from the book of 1 Peter chapter 4. Blessings in life are not materials, it is the knowledge in stewardship and responsibilities of those materials. If we don't allow God to withhold things, to put us in any trials of life, we won't have that spirit man molded and shaped, the impurities of this flesh are mortified and you grow in sanctification.

        12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you:

        We have a personal truth that if we are following the rules and commandments in this book, we are somehow protected from trials. In this case, we are similar to the rich young ruler in Matthew 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18.

        13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad with exceeding joy.

        Things suffered int he flesh are treasures in heaven. If you are not partaking in God's suffering you are not partaking in his blessings. Be glad with exceeding joy when God's glory is revealed. The reason that some of you are so good at your job is because you throw yourself in to what provides you money.

        14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glorying of God rests upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

        15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

        16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. 

        If you are doing bad and see those in the world do good in life, you still need to give God the glory. No matter how much it hurts in the flesh. 

        17 For the time is come that judgement must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?

        God is in charge of time because he is outside of time. You need to be born again in order to join the church. Peter isn't addressing the world at large in his letter, it is the church. There is a time coming where Jesus will judge the church. The question to ask yourself today is are you confident in your walk this morning with Jesus as so close you are considered by him as righteous? 

        18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and sinner appear?

        19 Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.

        God created not only the world but also mankind. Today we have angels in righteousness who are with you and fight for you as you continue your walk. God only asks us to remain humble and obedient to him in our relationship.

        Turn your Bible to the book of Revelation chapter 19. There is a lot of content in this chapter John writes concerning the end of time and the judgement. We will start at verse 11 of chapter 19.

        11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

        12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.

        Who is the figure sitting on that white horse? It's Jesus. The visions in the book of Revelation are complex and complicated for the carnal mind to wrap around and comprehend. However, there are some truths which we can understand. In verse 2 there is a reference to a great whore. John was using that analogy for the Roman Empire in the writing but if you look critically at the world and nations today, what is the one country which rivals the Roman Empire? It is America. So in as much as the writing of Revelation was about that particular time frame, it applies still today in our time. There are too many similarities that you cannot deny. Can you truly grasp mentally just how close the end is happening? John was using what he had known and what was around him to describe things that were to come. No one knows the time when the end is happening. Jesus himself said this in Matthew 24.  We should know we are standing on the threshold of the end.

        One thing we need to be aware of is that God is sovereign still to this day. That means that God has the right to exercise his power over his creation. It doesn't matter if the economy rises or fails, or if leaders are elected or fall. None of what our minds perceive as markers for good will extend our time on earth. There is no Hezekiah that prays to prolong our time on earth. This is why it is so important that we be prepared. The time in which we are living there are similarities and patterns with the past of recorded history, but there are also marked differences. You today are in charge of your truth and more importantly if you believe and follow the truth which is in the Bible. You need to be centered on the path and in the truth given the seriousness of the time that we are in at this moment. In closing, is there a difference in what you tell a friend as opposed to an acquaintance? There should be. With us, God considers us to be as friends. We have the opportunity to correct ourselves, but God may come bearing the belt of truth. Give God the glory regardless where you are in life. Are you ready for the end?