Go Forward A Few Imperatives

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Short Summary
The discourse emphasizes the importance of moving forward in faith and obedience following the example of Moses and the Israelites, underscoring God’s active role and love in guiding and redeeming His people. It encourages believers to cultivate Christlike character through love, endurance, and practical application of biblical principles despite trials and discouragement, highlighting that faithful perseverance will lead to ultimate reward and unity with God. The speaker urges continual dedication to living out the teachings received, embracing challenges as opportunities for spiritual growth, and maintaining hope in God’s plan of salvation.

Long Summary
Detailed Summary of the Discourse: “Go Forward / Go Forth”

Introduction and Context
– The speaker expresses gratitude for the opportunity to be with the brethren again, acknowledging partial physical absence but participation via Zoom.
– Highlights the numerous heartfelt testimonies during the convention that were deeply moving.
– Sets the theme for the closing remarks: imperatives for continuing a successful spiritual journey after the convention, titled “Go forward” or “Go forth.”

Key Biblical Text: Exodus 14:15
– Emphasizes God’s direct command to Moses: “Why criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.”
– This command underscores God’s intimate relationship with Moses and the importance of active faith—action coupled with trust.
– The phrase symbolizes faith in God’s promises even when the path appears impossible.
– The speaker relates this to the spiritual journey of believers today, comparing natural Israel’s deliverance from Egypt to spiritual Israel’s calling to sonship with God.

Majesty and Eternal Nature of God (Psalm 90:1-2)
– Quotes Psalm 90:1-2 describing God as eternal: “from everlasting to everlasting.”
– Reflects on the mystery of God’s existence without beginning or end, beyond human comprehension.
– Affirms God’s creation of intelligent beings was out of love, not loneliness.
– God’s agape love is exemplified by the giving of His Son as a ransom for mankind’s redemption.

Jesus Christ’s Sacrificial Love
– References Jesus’ obedience and endurance of the cross, His sitting at the right hand of God.
– Notes Jesus shared the same agape love as the Father, willingly sacrificing for sinners.
– Revelation 13:8 cited: “the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world,” highlighting God’s foreknowledge and love in preparing redemption before man’s creation.
– Discusses the unimaginable love of God witnessing Jesus’ suffering.

The Christian Life as a Battle (Revelation 14:13)
– Quote: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord… they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them.”
– The speaker affirms belief in the resurrection and transformation of faithful believers.
– Acknowledges the struggles, doubts, and discouragement some have experienced due to delays and unfulfilled expectations, including prophetic dates.
– Encourages perseverance despite challenges, emphasizing the importance of zeal and faithfulness.

Unity and Fellowship
– Appreciates the gathering of diverse brethren from various locations, sharing experiences and victories.
– Looks forward to future conventions and the importance of continuing forward in faith.

Imperatives for Going Forward
– Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice… which is your reasonable service.”
– Calls for full commitment—body, mind, talents, and resources—to God.
– Luke 14:27: “Whosoever doth not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.”
– Highlights the cost of discipleship and readiness to endure hardships.
– 2 Timothy 3:12: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
– Persecution is expected, not optional.
– Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you… for great is your reward.”
– Encourages rejoicing even amidst persecution.
– 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: Christians are living epistles, known and read by others.
– John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”
– 2 Peter 1:7: Growth in godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (love).
– Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.”
– Distinguishes between love and liking; calls for true agape love.

Agape Love (1 Corinthians 13:1-7)
– Without love, knowledge, generosity, or even martyrdom profits nothing.
– Love is long-suffering, kind, not envious, not puffed up, courteous, unselfish, not easily provoked, and enduring.
– Calls for self-examination on the manifestation of love in daily life.
– The goal is to reach the “mark of perfect love” and to stand firm in faith (cf. “having done all, stand”).

Transformation and Sanctification
– The purpose of receiving truth is transformation into Christlike character through the Holy Spirit.
– Philippians 4:8-9: Think on things true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtuous, and praiseworthy; and importantly, “do” these things.
– John 13:17: “Happy are ye if ye do them.”
– Trials and chastening are part of God’s discipline to develop spiritual fruit (Hebrews 12:7-8,11).
– John 15:1-2: God as husbandman prunes believers to bear more fruit.

Urgency of the Work
– John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is yet day.”
– Work is urgent, as “the night cometh, when no man can work.”
– The body of Christ must engage in the work of spreading the gospel while the opportunity remains.

Encouragement and Hope
– Believers are Spirit-begotten children richly blessed through fellowship and truth.
– The faithful no longer sleep in death but are changed instantly at Christ’s return.
– The ultimate goal is holiness and becoming part of the Bride of Christ.
– Colossians 3:2: Set affections on things above, not on earthly things.
– 1 Corinthians 9:26-27: Run the race with discipline and self-control to avoid being disqualified.

Conclusion and Exhortation
– Encourages all to be doers of the word, not hearers only.
– Calls for renewed zeal, faithfulness, love, and practical application of lessons learned.
– Ends with a solemn “Amen” and the exhortation: “Go forth.”

—

Key Bible Verses Mentioned:

– Exodus 14:15: “Why criest thou unto me? Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward.”
– Psalm 90:1-2: “Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations…”
– Revelation 13:8: “The Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”
– Revelation 14:13: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord…”
– Romans 12:1: “Present your bodies a living sacrifice…”
– Luke 14:27: “Whosoever doth not bear his cross…”
– 2 Timothy 3:12: “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
– Matthew 5:11-12: “Blessed are ye when men shall revile you…”
– 2 Corinthians 3:2-3: “Ye are our epistle, known and read of men.”
– John 13:35: “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples…”
– 2 Peter 1:7: “Godliness, brotherly kindness, charity.”
– Matthew 5:44: “Love your enemies…”
– 1 Corinthians 13:1-7: Description of agape love.
– Philippians 4:8-9: “Whatsoever things are true… if there be any virtue… think on these things.”
– John 13:17: “Happy are ye if ye do them.”
– John 15:1-2: “I am the true vine…”
– Hebrews 12:7-8,11: Chastening as discipline.
– John 9:4: “I must work the works of him that sent me…”
– Colossians 3:2: “Set your affection on things above…”
– 1 Corinthians 9:26-27: Discipline in running the race.

—

Overall Message:
The discourse encourages believers to move forward with faith and action, embodying God’s love, enduring trials, and living holy lives as living sacrifices to God. It emphasizes the urgency of the spiritual work, the necessity of agape love, and the hope of resurrection and reward for faithful endurance. The exhortation to be doers of the word and to maintain zeal and love as evidence of true discipleship is central. The speaker closes with a call to practical application and steadfastness in the Christian race.

Transcript

So, needless to say, dear brethren, it has been a blessing for me to be with you once again, and as I had indicated, although I was not present with you physically for the entire session, I did catch on Saturday and Sunday via Zoom, what the proceedings were, and I appreciated what I saw and heard with others who were also online, you know, among the things, and it’s hard to describe what touched your heart most and not minimizing anything, but I have to say that there were so, so many heartfelt testimonies that really touched me movingly, and so, as we prepare to close this wonderful week of convention, my comments will touch upon what seem to be to me requirements for our continued successful sojourn as we depart from this convention. Hence, we have entitled our remarks. Go forward or go forth, whichever translation you want.

Few imperatives, and for an opening text, we’re going to relate the words from Exodus 14, verse 15. Exodus 14, verse 15, and this is what it says, and the Lord said unto Moses, why criest thou unto me?

Speak unto the children of Israel that they go forward. You know, this phrase to me indicates a direct communication from God to Moses, and it underscores their intimate relationship. In fact, it lasted from his birth until he died at the age of 120, and they say his eyes were not dimmed at that point in time, so he was in close connection with his heavenly Father. This divine guidance was critical.

It was crucial for the Israelites to journey out of Egyptian bondage, emphasizing God’s active role in their deliverance. It highlights the moment of crisis at the Red Sea where their faith was being tested. The question implies that action, rather than solely continued prayer alone, was needed, and that, I believe, reflects a biblical principle that faith often requires stepping forward in trust. This forward movement is symbolic, I would suggest, of faith in God’s promises, paralleling other instances where faith was required, even though the path seemed impossible.

We’re not going to spend most of our time, however, discussing what occurred in Israel’s delivery from Egyptian bondage back in the day under the leadership of God’s servant Moses. But rather consider that we ourselves, we have been called to sonship, just as the heavenly Father’s precious promises apply to natural Israel. If found faithful, they would receive blessings incomparable. So how much more would it be the case for ourselves, spiritual Israel, those of us who have been invited to be a part of his divine family?

You know, there’s so much overlapping in the services, and I was listening earlier today, and you will know what I’m about to say. But first and foremost, we’re reminded about the majesty of the Heavenly Father of God, who, According to Psalms 90, verses 1 and 2, Psalms 90, verses 1 and two, described as follows, Lord, thou has been the dwelling place, our dwelling place, in all generations before the mountains were brought forth or ever Thou hast formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God, and I was staggering as I saw the dialogue, thinking about, how do you describe someone from everlasting to everlasting? Yes, we can all say we can go to a position that there’s an eternity, future, it’ll never end, that I can wrap my head around. But the concept that everlasting past has no beginning.

I join all of you in saying it’s beyond my pay grade. Absolutely, and so, when I reflect upon that particular passage, I am struck by the realization that since our Heavenly Father has been in existence since eternity passed, he did not create intelligent beings simply because he was lonely.

There was nobody there. How. How far back is that? But rather, as an evidence of his unfathomable love, he did not need us. He did not need anyone.

God’s agape love provided for our redemption in the giving of His Son to die on our behalf and the ransom price which mankind needed. How. How could anyone have greater love than this? And of course, we are by no means minimizing the magnificent love of our beloved head and Master, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who obediently endured the cross, despising the shame, and we would say he.

We don’t have to say. The Scriptures tell us that he sat down on the right hand of His Father. But we suggest, too, that our Lord Jesus had the same agape love that prompted him to willingly and obediently give his all to pay the penalty for the sinner. This was the same love which the Heavenly Father manifested, the same type of love which we, as joint heirs of our beloved head, are called upon to develop and maintain. You know, Revelations 13:8, Revelation 13:8 reminds us about the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world.

And this also exemplifies again the Father’s godly love, because in his foreknowledge, he could see how man’s exercise of free will in the Garden of Eden would lead to disobedience, sin, and ultimately, not a conscious, eternal burning, as our dear brother Obi said. Conscious burning forever and ever and ever.

Can’t fathom that at all. But rather, in his infinite wisdom and love, he prepared a plan to redeem mankind. Oh. Prior to Adam’s creation before, as we said, the foundation of the world.

If, as humans, if we can suffer in seeing our loved ones in pain, even. But for a brief moment, think about what kind of love must have prompted the Heavenly Father to look at his beloved Son, who was always obedient, always faithful. He was the joy of his heart. To see him painfully suffer on that cross. He was not stoic.

He’s not an unfeeling Heavenly Father. What kind of love does that Father have beyond our ability to grasp, we can only imagine, and so, brethren, we would remind ourselves that each one of us and those we know who are running this race, we are engaged daily in a great battle for life, having been called in the one hope, and it is your desire, it is my desire to be found, faithful, to be more than an overcomer. You know, and we know that eventually, no matter how long or how short our earthly sojourn is, it eventually will come to an end.

And if we have been obedient, loyal, we have the great hope of being united with our return, Lord in glory, as well as all the faithful ones throughout this age. For we read this in Revelation 14:13, Revelation 14:13, and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth. Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors and their works do follow them. I believe that this means that the sleeping saints.

I accept that the sleeping saints who died prior to 1878 have been resurrected, and more than that, that faithful consecrated believers who have died since that time no longer sleep in death, but experience a change to the divine nature and, as the Scriptures say, a twinkling of an eye after the demise. Let me digress for a moment and mention that some of you may have experienced a variety of challenges which impact upon our full appreciation in this text from Revelation. I know you have. Some of you have shared it from the front in your testimony, some in private fellowship.

And our desire is, when, Lord? How long? How long? And so we would suggest that Number one, because you know what is interesting? And I tell this story because I grew up in a truth family.

My father received the truth in 1923.

And I just want to digress and say he was never in the Society. He came from the Anglican Church. He was born in the British West Indies, and he got a hold of volume five. Some brethren saw him walking down the road and he said, draw an heir.

And so he walked over there and they gave him a fifth volume, and he went home and I don’t know how long it took him, but he read that fifth volume from COVID to cover.

He was one of 10 children. Eight of them went into the Society. My favorite aunt was the only other one who embraced the truth, and so the two of them escaped the scourge of the Society and teaching those things that, such as, you know. Well, since Adam was a willful sinner, he can’t come back.

Denial of a ransom. But at any rate, my point is that, you know, we should not allow seeming delays, and brethren, I tell the brethren that I never dreamed that I would grow up to be a great grandfather. Almost five times, I thought, because back then, back in the day, I thought that, well, the kingdom is coming, and so I’m going to walk up the highway of holiness with everybody.

There’ll be no opportunity for me, and so I guess my offspring that are in the audience with me, they’re third generation Bible students, so that’s how it is. But you know, sometimes we think about, we reminisce and we think about those saints of old that we knew during our formative years in the truth, and we think about how zealous they were, and dates were set forth that have not yet materialized, and you know what happens with dates.

As one brother used to say, they all have pits. But beyond that, the fact that dates have not materialized as it was thought to be, some perhaps have lost a zeal for the truth because they said, you know what? They said it’s going to happen. This date didn’t happen. This date didn’t happen.

This date, it didn’t happen, and so they said, you know what? Maybe we got it wrong, and so what has happened sometimes is that perhaps controversies among the fellowship or within the fellowship may have led to doubts and discouragement. You know, maybe I’m not, maybe I ought to give it up.

Maybe this, what they call is a little flock. Maybe we got it wrong. A changing world exists today where former values no longer seem to be relevant and the diminishing number of those who appreciate the truth message, at least in this country, and I always say in this country, because there are other places in the world where it is raging, and they are so hungry for the truth. Not only are they hungry for the truth, they get it.

They understand what sacrifice, they understand what consecration is all about. So it brings to the fore the mind what is it that we should really be doing today. That’s just a digression coming to general. I know for me it was exhilarating and must have been for so Many of you like an oasis because we don’t normally see such a diverse group of brethren in one setting. You’ve come from different locations, different countries, different parts, different states.

And yet we all have received experienced trials, and we’ve recounted some of the victories that we’ve had, and this is one of the many, many benefits of coming together, and although we will be traveling to Johnstown next year, the prospect, if the Lord allows, will return here two years from now. So all those things are in God’s will, and so we’re going to think about the blessings that we’ve received, the experiences that we’ve had, and the prospect that no matter what you got out of this convention, you need to go forward.

What are you going to do after this evening? Well, some basic scriptures that come to my mind, and they’ve been used repeatedly. Romans 12:1, Romans 12:1. I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present and continue to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service, or some translations say, your rational act of worship. The apostle exhorts us to fulfill our commitment to do what we have promised to do when we began our sojourn, however long or however short in the past, along the narrow way, if indeed we have fully presented our bodies, including our thoughts, words, deeds, acts, life time, talents, financial means are all.

When our high priest Jesus presents us to the Father, we will have received his merit, and then our sacrifice has become acceptable to God, and, you know, I was just thinking what a wonderful. What a wonderful experience that was for those of us to see two brethren enter the narrow way, and although we were not there physically, it was a new experience for me because generally I come to the General Convention Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday.

So I’ve missed, for a little while, some of the baptismal services. I gotta tell you, for the first few years, the very first time I came to the General Convention and some of you were there before me, the very first time, I was so excited, I sat through every single Service. This Ms. A1.

So as you get older, sometimes you got to miss one. You gotta take a break. But that’s what happens. So then over a period of time, for different reasons, we’ve come, usually about half the Convention. Another scripture, Luke 14:27.

Luke 14:27, familiar text, and whosoever did not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So our Lord took a stand, separate from the existing sects and social parties, which resulted in anger and hatred, and his ultimate crucifixion from the hands of his enemies. We may not literally be nailed to the cross like our Savior was, but Paul mentions what we should expect 2nd Timothy 3:12 2nd Timothy 3:12 yea, and all all that live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

It’s not optional. It shall number three another one. If we are victorious in our endeavors, the reward is beyond our comprehension. But we are told in Scripture that there is going to be a great, great reward for us. Matthew 5:11 and 12 Matthew 5:11 and 12 Blessed are ye when men shall revile you and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.

Rejoice and be exceeding glad, for great is your reward for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. So I got to ask the question of myself, and you could ask of yourself. I mean, do you really feel blessed when you’re being persecuted? When you re up being reviled and evil spoken, you say, oh joy, I love it, I love it.

Or is it possible that our lives have been such that we have never caused it persecution? That’s a question. If you have no problems, that’s a problem.

2nd Corinthians 3:2 and 3 2nd Corinthians 2:3 3 Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of men for as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not in tablets of stone, but in fleshly tables of the heart. This means as we go forward, go forth from this convention renewed, reinvigorated, refreshed, we should expect pardon me to an even greater degree for those who know us, who come in contact with us, an increased zeal of fervency of spirit in our lives because of what the Master said, as recorded in John 13 John 13:35. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.

Peter also had some cogent counsel, as penned in 2nd Peter 17, 2nd Peter 17 regarding the demonstration of love towards all as we go forth from this convention. It reads, and to godliness, brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, charity or love. This would prompt us in doing good to all as we have opportunity, and to fulfill the spirit of Matthew 5:44 Matthew 5:44 but I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.

Didn’t Say, like your enemies. By the way, it said love. It’s a difference. I mean, if somebody’s going to beat me over the head with a baseball bat, I’m not going to. I’m not going to like that person too much.

Okay? So there’s a difference between love and light. In fact, I’m not going to spend too much time with somebody who’s coming after me with a baseball bat. I don’t like you. Okay?

So to assess to what degree we have reached this standard, we might think about how often, how often do you really pray for those who despitefully use you? Oh, you know, there’s so much in First Corinthians, chapter 13 that addresses the concept of agape love. In summarizing Paul’s words in First Corinthians 13:1 3, he indicates that without fruitage, which would emerge as a result of the indwelling spirit of love in the heart, great knowledge, great understanding, a generous spirit which would allow us to bestow our goods upon the poor to those who have need, or if we should have experienced martyrdom, that in and of itself, if we do not have agape love, it would profit us nothing.

First Corinthians 13:47. First Corinthians 13:47 tells us that agape is long suffering. It is kind. I like again, I was thinking about that dialogue this morning. Got to be kind, not mean spirited.

You got to be kind. Those are qualities that anybody can appreciate, and it also tells us that it envies not. It’s not puffed up, it’s courteous, it’s unselfish, it is not evenly provoked. It thinketh, though evil, you know, evil surmising is endemic.

I mean, so often we see something and, you know, we talk about, did you see what that person did? We had a lesson about judging most recently, and we make judgments. Sometimes we make, we surmise evil. We ought not do that.

So if we’re looking about the development of agape love, there is work. There’s work that many of us have to do, and of course it does not rejoice in iniquity. It beareth all things, it believeth all things, and it hopeth all things, and endureth to the end all things, and so as we evaluate ourselves to be certain, we want to be sure that these qualities are ever increasing in our hearts.

If these things, these qualities, these manifestations of love are true of us, then we can certainly rejoice because we will have reached the mark of perfect love. Now, you know, Jesus was always at the mark at Jordan, he was at the mark. So when do we get to the mark of perfect love? Does it. Do we get to the mark of perfect love a second before we die?

No, we don’t. Why? How do we know that? The Scriptures say having done all stand, you got to stand. So you can’t say, well I’m going to get there someday but not now.

No, and that’s what the Holy Spirit does, and so we are. We will be tested to see our patient endurance, our remaining at that mark. You know brethren, we have been considering our privilege of being gathered together here in the state of Washington after having come to a knowledge and appreciation of the truth.

And the ultimate object of having received the truth is not merely to have an intellectual understanding and to be able to spout out words, but to assist us in that transformation process, and we all need to be transferred, transformed through the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit so that we can indeed develop a Christlike character, and if it were not possible, we would not have scriptures telling us that that is what is required, that is among the imperatives, and so may we give diligence to these matters so that we can indeed demonstrate our love for God, his principles of righteousness, and ultimately share in that wonderful prospect of reconciling his humanity back to God as mankind is restored to the perfection that was lost in Eden. For another text, let us consider Philippians 4, 8, 9.

Finally brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things that are of good report, if there be any virtue, if there be any praise, if think of these things and those things which we have learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God of peace be with you. So we’re not going to attempt to analyze these verses at all because we just reference them as a means of saying farewell to each one of us as we reflect upon Paul’s counsel to the Philippine brethren and by extension as to what our mindset should be on a daily basis, and in verse 9 I would emphasize the word do do because there were many profitable lessons presented during this convention. But practicing by doing them is what counts.

And of course we think, and I’m taking it out of context because there’s so many scriptures that, that come to the mind. But I was thinking about John 13:17, John 13:17. These are the words of Jesus on his last night where he washed his disciples feet. He says, if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them. I’m sure that none of us would say that we have no trials troubles difficulties.

But we could also pose the question, why did the Lord overrule that they be brought to our attention? And more than that, when we depart for home, when we go forward, what lessons have we gotten out of the trials? We can testify about them. They’re painful, they’re hurtful, they drag us down, they give us discouragement. A few of the answers might be, well, trials are the means by which the graces of the Spirit might be developed.

John 15:1 and 2. John 15:1 and 2. I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit, he taketh away, and every branch that beareth fruit, he purcheth it, that it may bring forth more good fruit.

So they help to purge our dross.

Let me give another scripture. Hebrews 12, 7, 8 and 11. Hebrews 12, 7,8 and 11. If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons. For what son is he whom the Father chasteneth not?

But if he be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then ye are bastards and not sons, and yes, no chastening, for the present seemeth to be joyous. It’s grievous. It is grievous. I don’t have to tell you that we should develop the fruit and the graces of the Spirit because God’s word requires these to be obtained in all to become part of the bride.

We’ve been inspired to give our lives away in consecration because we have come to appreciate God’s magnificent plan of salvation that offers an opportunity for all the world to be reconciled back to God.

You know, one of the texts that we discuss periodically, and it goes back to prophecy because sometimes, again I mentioned about dates, we have certain expectations that you know well this should have happened by now. We go and we get Old Testament scriptures and we put them up and try to make it fit the way we want it. One of the texts we discuss from time to time is John 9:4, which says, I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is yet day, the night cometh, where no man can work, and of course, this passage applied to our Lord when he was in the flesh, no question about it, but various translations give the thought of we, we must work the works, and that would certainly include all of the body of Christ.

Bearing in mind that eventually there will come a time when there will be no more briefing done as at present, no more coming into the fold. Let me conclude as Spirit begotten children of God. We have been richly blessed by this convention to have encouraged others to do the things which will merit the Heavenly Father’s approval. We are living at a time when the Lord has returned and the faithful saints no longer sleep, but they have experienced their resurrection change already, and we anticipate that if we’re faithful, the twinkling of eyes that quickly.

That quickly, yes, you will die, but you’ll be changed. How quick is that? We considered many, many things. We’ve heard many wonderful truths to refresh our minds, because we need repetition over and over again to strengthen our faith in God’s marvelous plan of salvation. For all we have discussed the reasons we need to develop the fruit and graces of Spirit primarily because they are required as aids to promote holiness, without which none of us will be able to see God to be part of the Bride of Christ.

We noted that we are living very, very close to the culmination of the Church’s sojourn here, and yet there are still opportunities to be engaged in sharing the good news to all who may have a hearing ear. Colossians 3:2 Colossians 3:2 as the sanctified, we are reminded to set our affections and the things that are above, rather than those that are here on earth. The Apostle Paul’s somber assessment the matter is expressed in 1st Corinthians 9:26, 27 1st Corinthians 9:26,27. I therefore so run not as uncertainly so fight I not as one that beateth the air, but I keep my body under and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. Finally, as we go forth each day in our desire to be pleasing to our Heavenly Father, let us resolve to make a continual reality in our lives, that indeed we may be doers of the word, and not merely hear us.

Amen. Go forth.

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