Pastor Gordon continues unpacking the rich understanding introduced in the previous show entitled "Sex and Property", explaining how permitting those two instincts to run wild, without limits, brought creation to ruin and forced God to kill the whole world. The property instinct and the sexual instinct must remain balanced by God's law or else they become destructive. After the world-wide flood, Noah's great grandchildren had incentive to honor the importance of dominion in line with God's law. They knew what Christians uphold today: wealth, prosperity, and power must be tempered by the warning, "Thou shalt not steal" and "Thou shalt not covet." Sex and fatherhood must be tempered by the warning, "Thou shalt not commit adultery" and "Thou shalt not covet." Abraham came into great wealth, prosperity and power by guarding his life through honesty and integrity in the stewardship of his property instinct. He was the polar opposite of a thief - he was a tither. Yet he was unable to have children. The promise of blessing upon mankind's sexual instinct (created in Genesis 1:28) was unprecedented, so the inability of Abraham and Sarah to participate in it (barrenness) was equally staggering. Despite the fact that the misuse of the sexual instinct could bring a curse beyond comprehension, Sarah's barrenness enticed the couple into sin. Abraham's adulterous act with his mistress, Hagar, resulted in world-wide terrorism still haunting us to this very day. Yet Abraham finally found forgiveness and redemption by putting the principles of John 3:16 in action upside-down, and his willingness to give God his only son born from Sarah became the catalyst of our covenant through Jesus Christ, today. Said another way, "For Abraham so loved God he gave his only son" and "For God so loved the world He gave His only son." Abraham left dysfunctional dominion behind and by finally submitting both his sexual and property instincts, returned to the divine dominion God originally commanded in the Garden of Eden. Are you walking in the kingdom dominion of Christ or dysfunctional dominion of Adam and Eve? Are you a once-born child of Adam or a twice-born child of God? Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus!

The foundation of Biblical economic theory is appropriately discovered in the book of Genesis. (The word "genesis" is translated "beginnings" in English). In this lesson, Pastor Gordon expounds upon the fascinating duel components that form the basis for Biblical economic theory - the sexual instinct, and the property instinct. Learn how handling the two issues of sexuality and property rights, to this very day, effect the success or doom of all nations. These two instincts (sexual instinct and property instinct) are central to the divine concept of man's obligation to obediently "take dominion, and subdue the earth"(see Genesis 1:28). While learning timeless gems uncovered from Pastor Gordon's efforts to mine-out precious, ancient truths from the Bible, you may also inadvertently learn how to destroy any modern nation without ever firing a single bullet, much less, dropping a bomb. This teaching is essential in light of the purpose of the true church across the world. Only the church has been authorized by the Creator to hold the power and authority to both define and limit the two dimensions of sexuality and property. Without the church, every nation is on a collision course to self-destruct by casting off the restraints placed upon both sex and property, through God's law. Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus!

The same surgeons who perform amputations after a limb is determined to be of no further use (other than bringing death to its owner), are the same skilled physicians, who, at other times, perform acts that bring healing and restoration to their patients. It is always much preferred to save and heal a limb than to amputate it and discard it.

There are approximately twenty six prominent places in the Bible where God warns people that they can and will be "cut-off" (amputated) from both their physical and spiritual inheritance should they break their covenant with Him. This warning continued into the New Testament as John the Baptist paved the way for Jesus' public ministry, shouting that the Messiah was coming soon after him, and, among other promises, that the Messiah would burn disobedient men with "fire unquenchable" (see Luke 3:17). Not long afterward, Jesus continued this exact same warning of amputation (that had been first most prominently initiated almost 1600 years earlier, in Exodus 12:15), to all individual persons, declaring: "I am the vine, and you are the branches. The one who remains in Me, and I in him, will bear much fruit. For apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers. Such branches are gathered up, thrown into the fire, and burned." (See John 15:5-7.) That same message marches forward well into our own personal presents and futures. Will you choose to be amputated from His grace, or will you choose to be repaired by His grace? This is the question, and the choice is ours. Paul plainly states that the Church is for the repairing of the saints (Ephesians 4:12-14). If one does not regularly attend, one cannot be spiritually repaired. Worse, by rejecting the corporate gathering of the saints, one self-amputates from the Body of Christ. On that final day when Christ "gathers up" and throws "into the fire" those whose proverbial branches were pruned from the Vine, His judgment will simply be a continuance of what amputees first chose of their own volition. He will keep His promises. But mankind will recall that they chose to cut themselves off from Him - to NOT abide in Him - thus, they were unable to be grafted back into Him (the Vine). Having remained separated from His life-giving sap for far too long, they will be discovered long dead, worthy only of the flames. God loves you and wants to repair you. Will you cooperate or self-amputate?

When we were children, we would attend the local carnival for fun, food and entertainment. Remember entering that funny mirror area in exchange for a ticket or two? It was fun because the mirrors did not accurately reflect what we knew we actually looked like. It was hilarious to view ourselves in a deliberately distorted way. It was supposed to be a joke. Well, the modern church world is apparently filled with adults who resent seeing an accurate reflection of their true spiritual condition. (Too frightening?) They actually WANT someone to distort their true image and make them look better than they really are, and the modern church has turned itself into a spiritual carnival of fun, food and entertainment. But when eternal lives hang in the balance, it isn't funny anymore. Enjoy listening, as Pastor Gordon explains how the Bible calls itself a "mirror" that enables us to correct ourselves by the grace of God, and find out the three things necessary in order to get more grace in a time of need!

Outside (extra) the church (ecclesiam) there is no (nulla) salvation (salus). Let's talk about cathedrals, temples, churches, and architecture for a little bit. Today, in Iraq, like in the book of Acts, churches have been driven underground into houses and caves. In many cases, Christians have been forced to flee their churches and homes, running from the wrath of militant Islam. But in America there is a movement that meets in homes for an entirely different reason...they don't want to submit to Biblical authority! Find out more about why this is a dangerous trend you should avoid at all costs, in this hard-hitting, fiery, stirring, prophetic, and passionate sermon! What was the first lesson that Saul of Tarsus had to learn before God could use him at all? The same lesson you have to learn.

"Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne" declares the psalmist (89:14). The writer of 1 Timothy 6 reminds finite men that the brightness of His seated glory makes it very difficult for such mortals to dare approach His Majesty's universal throne of grace. Isaiah the prophet was commissioned inside this radiant throne room. He described the experience as fearful to behold for both mortals and immortals. Isaiah was overwhelmed with his own personal impurity and asked for angelic help to burn his lips, cleansing them from their impurities with a hot coal (6:6-7). The same Seraphim (who also required tongs to touch such a hot coal) are also described by Isaiah as needing to shield their own faces with two of their six wings (6:2) so as to dim the inexplicable radiance of Father God seated upon it. Despite all the splendor and trembling properly caused within His thundering throne room, the writer of Hebrews tells every Christian that he should boldly enter this place to obtain mercy and grace in a time of need. What is one to do who has read all these things about such a spectacle as the throne room of God Almighty? The moderns can often be heard suggesting that a believer need merely kick open the doors and waltz in with confidence, but do they tell a half-truth? If they do, then Pastor Gordon gives the whole in this exciting message. Do you fear God? Do you need to obtain mercy? Do you need to find grace? Do you have a time of need? Then you need this sermon in your heart and mind.

The Bible describes the collection of true disciples of Christ on Earth as "the Body of Christ." It further describes the flow of divine saving grace as having a sideways circulation from person to person within the body. Moreover, the same Scriptures that tell us we were all "saved by grace" also expressly states that we were "saved by the blood of the Lamb." As blood is to the life of a human body, grace is to the ongoing eternal life flowing in the Body of Christ. As the human heart beats 100,000 times per day, it turns out that the heart beat of God beats once every 7 days. Was there something prophetic hiding inside the Levitical law (17:11) when Moses wrote: "For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls."?

If you were consigned to live out your life over the next six months without the ability to see your own reflection under any circumstances, would the quality of your social life improve or degrade? Have you ever considered the unseen appearance of your spiritual self? What about the corresponding struggle that results between you and Christ's church when you do not look into your own spiritual mirror and properly respond to the reflection staring back at you? We can deduce three things from the Bible: 1) We need to enter into the high throne room of our Creator God in order to obtain mercy in troubled times. 2) The Bible is the only spiritual mirror offered to humankind that enables him to see his accurate reflection. 3) If we do not respond to the mirror God gave us, we will not be granted access to His throne room.

There is a reason that Jesus asked "Who touched me?" amidst a pressing crowd. The disciples were perplexed knowing that so many were crowding around him. "I felt virtue leave me!" said the Lord. Grace was flowing sideways into one person amidst the large crowd. There was a woman who reached out and snatched some healing. This woman of faith found Jesus amidst a pressing mass of people. Understanding the pathway and direction of God's power in every Christian's life is very important. Realizing that each of us were uniquely designed to function in a particular place and position within God's church - His crowd - is essential for our success. We still find Jesus in the crowd. Jesus is waiting to bless you, and you'll find Him in the group, too. You'll specifically find Him standing with His church every Sunday morning. "Wherever a group of you are gathered together in my name, there will I be in the midst of you," said Jesus in Matthew 18:20. From that hour to this, grace is flowing sideways through His delegated authorities of the church.

Grace flows sideways! Understanding the pathway and direction of God's power in every Christian's life is very important. Realizing that each of us were uniquely designed to function in a particular place and position within God's church is essential. Apostle Paul shared that the relationship between a husband and wife revealed a mystery concerning the working of God's church. Peter said a husband and wife were co-heirs together of the grace of life. The power to create life is held by a man and woman within the marriage covenant in order that a person might be born the first time. The power of eternal life is held by and through the church - the body of Christ - in order that a person might be born again - a second time.