Outfitting the Saints

Whether people believe that heaven and hell are real or not, does not change the truth. God has told us in His word that heaven and hell are real places, final destinies for saved and the unsaved. We will examine this briefly again this morning.

We have been preaching through a series on "Essential Truth". This is the last of the essential, foundational, non-negotiable truths that we believe. They find their root in the Word of God, as an anchor for our faith!

From these truths we continue to build our faith upon!

1. Essential Truth About the Lord our God

2. Essential Truth About the Word of God

3. Essential Truth About Man

4. Essential Truth About the Devil

5. Essential Truth About Heaven and Hell

In the world today, very few people believe that the devil exists, however there are more people that believe the devil exists than believe that God exists! According to a survey done in 2009, there are about 40 percent of church goers that believe there is a devil!

I might be able to understand why those who do not attend church would not believe the devil exists, but for church goers, it is baffling. All that a person must do is to read the Bible to see that the devil is real.

Some people today believe that we are advancing to a better form of society that will eventually lead to a utopian or heaven like existence. They make note of the advancements or progress in societies, technology, global communications, and so on. Their concept of man is that we were neandrathals, not able to form a cognitive thought and now we are the product of an evolutionary process. Boy, are they blinded by the world around them. It is interesting that man would rather believe the creation, than the Creator!

This morning let’s look at what the Word of God tells us about man and his purpose, condition and destiny.

Last week we examined the Word of God. The absolute, unchangeable word of God. Before that we said that believing in God is of primary importance. It makes a difference between Almighty God and an imposter. Believing what His word tells us about Himself is deep and wide. We should be plummeting the depths of God and beholding the vast greatness of Who He is.

The Bible is the Book, or more correctly the Books, the Sacred Writings of God to man. In it, God has revealed Himself to us; He has told us what is truth and how to practice it in our lives.

This great God we have, gave us an instruction manual, the Bible. It has 66 books which make up a single revelation of God (39 in the OT; 27 in the NT). It was penned by about 40 writers over a period of several centuries in three different languages; Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek. The Bibles we have today are translations from these original texts.

Listen to be reminded about the Bible.

As the years pass by, we see that referring to God in our society has become muddied. There are those who have made their gods from that which comes from man's creation, or they have made the word god, a by word or swear word. Sadly, it is because people do not know God and maybe even His people do not know Him as they should. So, it is good for us to stop and listen to reminders or refreshers about our God.

In preaching I am called to speak the truth of His Word, sometimes reminding His people over again about the simple, profound truths that we hold dear. This morning, we are going to do just that.

How will you react when the nation’s monetary system collapses? Remember 1929.

How will you respond when another nation takes over our country? Who will you go to if your house and possessions are confiscated? Remember Germany 1933.

Who will be your strength when loved ones are plucked from you? September 11, 2001.

We find ourselves today in the midst of calamity. Calamity comes and it strikes at the heart of a people who least expect it. If our faith has been exercised and been oiled by the Word of God, then we will be ready for whatever comes.