1 John 5:1-21 "The Blessed Assurance of Salvation"
"Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God"? 
The Certainty of God's Witness
"This is He who came by water and blood — Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth.  For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one". If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. 

Confidence and Compassion in Prayer
"Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death". 

Knowing the True — Rejecting the False
"We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols". Amen.

Bible Study: Outline of 1 John Chapter 5

The “Blessed Assurance” of “Salvation”

I.              The “New Birth” (Salvation):          “Proven 3 Ways”                   (verses 1-5)

A.   Proven “inwardly” by personal belief in faith (vs.1, vs. 10, vs. 13))

Whoever believes that Jesus is “The Christ” (Messiah) is “born” of God, that is, they have been “born again.” This means the person placed their “saving” faith in Jesus being God manifested in human flesh and in being God, the belief that HE is the “only” one who has the power to save them. As a child of God, they not only love God, but they love Christ the Son. “Saving faith” is trusting in Jesus Christ alone and in the finished work HE did while nailed to the cross on Calvary for the redemption of man and the forgiveness of our sin.

B.   Proven “ on an “Outgoing” basis:  By allowing God to love through us:  By allowing the Word (the Holy Spirit of God) to be made flesh (alive) in us, live in us and work through us and so others can behold the glory of the Lord on us, in us, and working through us.

Important:    Everyone that operates their lives in the love of God and shows that love toward their fellow man is further evidence that they have been “born again”. Based in 1 John 4:7-11(last week’s bible study) the Apostle John said:  We are “obligated” to love our fellow man with the same love that God shows toward us. It’s also important for us to know that we are incapable of doing this by ourselves because it’s beyond the “human nature” of the “Natural Man.” 1 Corinthians 2:14: “But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. The only way this is possible, (to love our fellow man God’s way) we must submit ourselves totally to God and let HIM love our fellow man through us.

C.   Proven “Outwardly”: (In our walk and in our talk) In 1 John 2:29, John said: Everyone who does righteousness (who makes it a living practice to do right at all times) is born again. 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (creation): old things (old habits and ways) are passed away and all things are become new”.

D.   The evidence of being “born again”                                                (vs. 2-5)

1.    We love God and keep His commandments. (vs.2)
2.    We remember that God’s commandments are not grievous. (vs.3)
3.    By being ‘born again, we have overcome the world. (Satan and the world system) We are                more than  “conquerors” through Jesus Christ in faith. We defeat Satan, the old man (who we        used to be) and the power of Sin (the world’s system) in our concrete belief that Jesus is the            Christ and the Son of God.             (vs.4-5)

II.               The “Witness”              “Concerning Jesus Christ”             (verses 6-9)

A.   The Holy Spirit: Jesus came by “water” and “blood” and Heaven          (vs. 6)

By “Water” means by “water baptism”. Jesus in Matthew 3:13-16 came down to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. After convincing John to baptize him Jesus came up out of the water…the heavens opened up and he saw the Spirit of God descend from heaven like a dove and light upon Him. And a voice of heaven saying:  “THIS IS MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I’M WELL PLEASED”!   His baptism with water was an emblem of the purity of his own character, and of the nature of his religion.

B.   By “blood” means the voluntary shedding of His blood for the redemption of man and the forgiveness of sin. This was in accordance with all that the Jewish prophets had written concerning him. Here John says that the Spirit witnesses this; that he came not by water only-being baptized, and baptizing men in his own name that they might be his followers and disciples; but by blood also-by his sacrificial death, without which the world could not be saved

C.   From Heaven: It’s recorded that 3 bear witness: God the Father, Jesus (the WORD) and The Holy                                       Spirit.          (vs. 7)

1.   God the Father bore witness to Jesus Christ –His begotten Son.(Matthew 3:16)

2.  Jesus Christ bore witness to the Father: If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father. 
     (John 14:9)

3.     The Holy Spirit bearing witness of both God the Father and Jesus (God the Son)

D.   From Earth: It’s recorded that 3 bear witness: the Holy Spirit, the water (Jesus’ baptism) and                               the blood (Jesus shed blood on Calvary) (vs.8)

1.    The Holy Spirit:  Christ was ENDOWED by the Holy Spirit. The prediction was the “Messiah”                                         would  be. (Isaiah 11:2 and chapter 61:1) (Luke 4:18) John 3:34.

                      a.     The Holy Spirit bore witness to his Messiahship, after his ascension, by                                             descending, according to his promise,n his apostles, and by                                                               accompanying the message which they delivered with saving power to                                             thousands in Jerusalem, Acts 2.

                      b.    He still bears the same testimony on every revival of religion, and in the                                          conversion of every individual who becomes a Christian, convincing them                                        that Jesus is the Son of God. (John                 16:14-1)

                      c.     He does it in the hearts of all true Christians, for "no man can say that Jesus is                                 Lord but by the Holy Ghost.

2.   The Water: Jesus’ baptism both identified Him as the Messiah and signaled the beginning of                             His earthly ministry work.

3.   The Blood: The shedding of His blood also signified that He was the Son of God and revealed                            these  things also:

                    a.  The shedding of His blood showed that he really did die,-that his work for our                                                 redemption was completed.

                    b.   The shedding of this blood-the darkened sun, the earthquake, the rending of the                                veil of the temple-showed in a manner that convinced even the                                                        Roman centurion that he was the Son of God.

                    c.   The shedding of Jesus’ blood "atonement" was made for sin. Only Jesus could do                              this.This act was ordained before the foundation of the world. (Revelation 13:8)                                All three of these examples (emblems) agree that Jesus is the Son of God.                                         (vs.8)

                    d.  If we receive (accept) the witness of men, the witness of God is greater because                              God testifies of His son.   (vs. 9)

III.                     Fact: You Can be Saved and Know It                      (verses 10-12)

A.             The Fact of Eternal life:                                                              (vs.10)

1.     Whoever believes on the Son of God (Jesus)   
God has witnessed that whosoever believes in his Son shall be saved, and have everlasting life; and shall have the witness of it in himself, the Holy Spirit bearing witness with his spirit that he is a child of God. That person will know, and feel his sin has been forgiven, and have the testimony of this fact in the heart from the Holy Spirit.

2.     Whoever doesn’t believe God makes Him out to be a liar. (God never lies)

3.    The “record” is: God has given us eternal life through Jesus Christ. (vs.11) John 1:4: “ In Him                                      was” life” and the “life” was the “light” of men.”

4.    Whoever has the Son has eternal life and whoever doesn’t have the Son does not. (vs.12)

B.             The knowledge of Eternal Life                                 (verses 13-16)

1.   John wrote these things that we may know we have eternal life and that we may believe in the       name of Jesus Christ.                     (vs.13)
2.   We have “this” confidence : If we ask anything according to His (God’s) will, He hears us.                                                                   (vs.14)
3.   If we know He (God) hears us, whatever we ask (according to His will) we already have the             thing we ask of Him. (In due season)  (vs. 15)
4.   Concerning a brother: (fellow believer)      “Conditions for intercession” (vs.16)

a.  If you catch them in the act, you are to intercede by praying for them and call them out in love        that they may see the error of their ways and sin no more if that sin is not unto death. Yet you          must understand that Romans 6:23a still applies “the wages of sin is death”…. Don’t be                     deceived…You will reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7)

Note: We pray in “intercession” that the “sinning” saint will see the gravity of their behavior and the grief they’re causing God the Father, Jesus our Savior, Lord, and who sits as our High Priest at this time and the Holy Spirit who lives on the inside. . ALL THREE HAVE BEEN GREIVED  because you have turn your body (the temple of the Holy Spirit) from a house of prayer to a den of thieves (demons) who through your sin is stealing, killing and ultimately trying to destroy your witness, testimony and your human life.  We pray that God would look beyond their fault and see their real need. We pray they desire to change, (7 Chronicles 7:14) and be delivered from the wrath of God which will sure come if they don’t change their evil ways. God will give you over to a reprobate mind and allow the sin to destroy your body but not your soul, that is, if you truly were saved but fell from grace.

b.   There is a sin that is unto death-(blasphemous against the power and abilities of the Holy Spirit for one and other grievous acts that causes God to allow death in that situation) It’s a  sin such a character that throws the offender beyond the reach of God’s mercy, and which God will not pardoned. (Mark 3:28-29.) The apostle John didn't reveal say what that sin was; or how they may know what it is; or even in any case where they could determine that "sin" had been committed. He simply said there is such a sin. 

There are 2 “sins” that are widely known:

1.   Living your life and denying that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and the Savior of the World. (         the way to salvation)

2.   Giving Satan credit for “anything,” especially miracles that can only be done by Jesus (God)           through the WORD and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 12:24,27; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15, 18-19)

c.   All unrighteousness is sin. There is a sin that is not unto death.  (vs.17)

Commentary:(Taken from Barnes Note Commentary)

And he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death] "That is, God shall give life, and he shall be saved from the eternal death to which he was exposed. This, it is said, would be given to HIM who offers the prayer; that is, his prayer would be the means of saving the offending brother. What a motive is this to prayer! How faithful and constant should we be in pleading for our fellow-sinners, that we may be instrumental in saving their souls! What joy will await those in heaven who shall see there many who were rescued from ruin in answer to their prayers".

IV.                     Knowing the Truth- Rejecting “The Lie”                                   (verses 18-21)

A.             What we know:                   “about being born again”                (vs. 18)

1.     Whoever is born (born again) does not sin (that is practice sin).

2.     The person that has been born again keeps themselves. That is, they will put forth their best effort to avoid sin, realizing that without the help of God, it is not possible. With God all things are possible.

3.     Every effort of Satan regardless of the attack will not be successful against the child of God.

B.             What we know :                 “concerning the world”                             (vs.19)

1.     We are of God, that is, we are Christians.

2.     The whole world, that is, everybody who lives in this regardless of race, color, creed, sexual orientation, or national origin that are unsaved, living in idolatry, and every sin of every kind “lieth” in wickedness. That is they are under the influence (under the power) of the “wicked one” (Satan) and the lives they live and many of the things they do are “demonically” induced.

C.            What we know:                  “concerning Christ”                        (vs.20)

1.     That Jesus Christ is the WORD of God and has already come. (based on John Chapter 1)

2.     Christ has given us an “understanding.” That is, Christ has so instructed us that we do understand the           great truths concerning salvation. God, and His government.

3.     That we may know HIM. (the Way, the Truth, and the Life)

4.     That we are “in” Him. That is, we are “united in Him, belong to Him and are His friends.

Conclusion:          Little Children “Keep yourselves from Idols”             (vs. 21)


Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie

Bible Study Outline: 1 John Chapter 4:1-21

“LOVE”: The Differentiation Between God’s Servants and False Teachers”

I.  Warning: Beloved, don’t believe every spirit!(teacher. Minister, Pastor) try the spirits to see if            they are God’s because many false prophets are gone out into the world. (society and the                world’s system (s)                                                                                                   (verse 1)

     A.  Do not be forward to believe every teacher to be a man sent of God. As in those early times           every teacher professed to be inspired by the Spirit of God, because all the prophets had                 some thus accredited, the term spirit was used to express the man who pretended to be                   and teach under the Spirit's influence. Remember what Apostle Paul said in 1Timothy 4:1-9.           And remember what Jesus   said in Matthew 7:15-20, and what the Apostle John says in                   1 John 4:1-6

     B.   Try the spirits (test the teacher, Minister, Pastor) to see if they are God’s messengers: Test                 them. Ask question concerning their teachings. See if they give you Bible based answers                 that focus on the “correct” teachings of Christ.

   Important:    Study for yourself and pray that God will give you proper interpretation                                            concerning his Word.

II.    Identifying Falsehoods and False Teachers:” Erroneous Doctrines”      (verses 2-6)

        A.  Every teacher that confesses that Jesus Christ was born of human by the Holy Ghost                        through the “virgin” Mary is a teacher “sent” from God (vs. 2)

        B.   Every teacher that declares that Jesus Christ did not come in “human form” or                                 acknowledging his human birth but denying the “virgin birth” or teach that Jesus Christ                   was a “mere” man and not divine, or that Jesus Christ is really Michael the Archangel. Is                  a false teacher and possesses the  spirit of Antichrist. (vs. 3)

        C.  The spirit of Antichrist is already in the world. Jesus told us he would come because he                   was already active since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. (vs. 3)

        D.  YOU are of God (true believers) because you have overcome them because greater is he                 that is in you, (Holy Spirit) than he (Satan/Antichrist/demons) that is in the world. (vs. 4)

        E.   False teachers have an erroneous attitude concerning the world. They are of the world,                   so they speak about the “things” of the world: (secular humanism) (lust of the flesh and                   eyes, and the pride of life) and the world(secular humanist)  hears them (vs.5)

        F.   We (true believers) are of God. Anyone who knows God (the saved) or wish to know Him                 hears us.Those who don’t know Him (the unsaved) don’t hear us. This is how we know                     the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. *(Whether anyone will                     hear the Word of God or not) Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the WORD OF GOD.                 (vs.6)

III.             Knowing God Through Love    “John 3:16”                              (verses 7-11)

             1.   Love one another:            Because……                                               (vs. 7)
                    a.  Love is of God.
                    b.  Everyone who loves is “born” of God and knows HIM.

            2.     Everyone who doesn’t love…..                                                   (vs.8)
                   a.  Doesn’t know God.
                    b.  God is Love.

             3.   God’s Love manifested toward us by sending Jesus Christ (His only begotten son that                         we might live through HIM.                            (vs.9)

Note: Jesus died that we might have eternal life through the merits of his sacrifice. The "measure" of that love, then, which was manifested in the gift of a Savior, is to be found in the following:

                 a)  the worth of the soul;
                 b)  its exposure to eternal death;
                c)  the greatness of the gift;
                 d)  the greatness of his sorrows for us; and,
                  e)  the immortal blessedness and joy to which he will raise us.

              4. Here is the highest expression of love: not that we love God but God loved us and sent                     Jesus Christ to be a propitiation for us. God so loved us, even commended His love                         toward us in while we were still sinners Christ died for us. We are saved by grace.                           (Ephesians 2:8-9) we were given “unmerited” favor. (vs. 10)

Note: the best name given to describe what ‘propitiation means is “covering”.

The name was given to that cover of the ark, (the mercy seat) because it was the place from which God declared his self reconciled to his people. On the Day of Atonement in the Old Testament, they offered a bullock on the altar and sprinkle the blood of the offering on the mercy seat (Leviticus 16:15-16) to atone for Israel’s sin thus representing that God was being reconciled to His people. In like manner, when Jesus offered His blood, His blood atoned man of his sin and those who accepted Jesus “atoning  sacrifice  of Himself have been ( as far as God and Jesus  is concerned) have been reconciled to God and according to Romans 8:1, there is now no condemnation to them which are in ‘Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

             5.  If God so loved us, then, we should love one another, with the same measure    and                          type (agape) of love.                       (vs.11)

IV.        Seeing God Through Love                                                      ( verses 12- 16)

            1.   No one has seen God at any time                        (vs. 12)
    (We have seen HIM  in some form or fashion that God allowed that we would not have to die on      the spot because we met God face to face or in a veiled.

           2.     If we love one another,                                       (vs. 13)

                a.   God abides in us and  

                 b.  His love is perfected in us.

          3.     How we can know we abide in HIM:                  (vs. 14)

                 a.   He abides in us.

                 b.   He has given us the Holy Spirit.

                 c.  We have seen and testified that God has sent Jesus as Savior (Messiah) into the                                        world.        

                  d.  To Reiterate:

                       1.  Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in                                 God                                        (vs. 15)

                        2.  And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and                              he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (vs. 16)

V.        The “Consummation” of Love                                                    (verses 17-19)

           1.      Love is perfected among us in this: God's Indwelling                                       (vs. 17)

By God dwelling in us, and we in him; having cast out totally the carnal mind that was enmity against Him, and filled our whole heart with the Spirit of Love and purity. As a result, love is made perfect. When God’s love fill our hearts  “Agape” love is complete in all degrees of love (Agape (Godly), eros, (romance) phillios, (emotional feelings toward friends) and storge (love toward others within the family) it is all in all; and all in every power, passion, and faculty of the soul.

          a. That we may have boldness in the day of judgment That is Freedom of speech and liberty in access, ‎seeing in the person of our Judge him who has died for us, regenerated our hearts, and who himself fills them . God who is  Pure, holy, and loving; so are we (through Christ)  in this world; being saved from our sins, and made like to himself in righteousness and true holiness. Of TRUTH: No man can contemplate the day of judgment with any comfort or satisfaction EXCEPT ON THIS GROUND:  that the blood of Christ hath cleansed him from all sin; and that he is kept by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation. This will give him boldness in the day of judgment. This means that when the believer (the saved) die, we will stand at the Judgment seat of Christ to be judged; Not for salvation sake , but for judgment of works and to find out what God has laid up for them that love Him.

          b.    There is no fear in love. Perfect Love cast out all fear because…(vs. 18)

                  1.  Fear involves torment.

                   2.  The person that walks (lives their life in fear) is not made perfect in love.

           c.    We love Him because He first loved us.                            (vs. 19)

Note:  The man who feels that he loves God with all his heart can never dread him as his Judge. As he is now made a partaker of his Spirit, and carries a sense of the divine approbation in his conscience, he has nothing of that fear that produces terror or brings torment. The perfect love, that fullness of love, which he has received, casts out fear and removes all terror relative to this Day of Judgment.

VI.            Love Reiterated     “Obedience By Faith”                         (verse 20-21)

         A.  If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his                       brother whom he has seen, how can* he love God whom he has not seen? (Vs. 20)

This, and many other parts of this letter, seems levelled against the Jews, who pretended much love to God while they hated the Gentiles; and even some of them who were brought into the Christian church brought this leaven with them. It required a miracle to redeem Peter's mind from the influence of this principle.

         B. And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.                     (vs.21)

 Final Note:  If a person does not love his brother, it is a proof that the love of God is not in him; and if he doesn’t have the love of God, he cannot love God, for God can be loved only through the influence of his own love.  The person who hates his fellow man does not love God. The person who hates God doesn’t have the love of God in him, and is incapable of loving either God nor man. 


Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie

2 Chronicles 7:14: God’s Response to “Prayer” and A “Dedicated” Life

Introduction: 
In the second chapter in the second Book of Chronicles, according to King Solomon, it was time to build the temple that his father King David desired to build in honor of Yahweh.In a conversation he had with King Hiram of Syria, Solomon said: This temple will be a place that honors God's name. It will be a place where we will burn incense and sweet spices before Him. (Here, Solomon is talking about worship.) It will be a place where all the offering God required to honor His name will be done… It will be a place of “historic” celebration; a place that allowed the people to celebrate the required 3 major feast in dedication to Yahweh. 

Feasts:
The "Feast of Passover" (This feast commemorates the time when the death angel came through Egypt the night before the Exodus and passed over all of Egypt; and where he saw the lamb's blood on the door post on every Hebrew household he spared the first born son of the house). (Here, Solomon is talking about taking communion in remembrance of redemption)…

The "feast of Weeks"  (Here, Solomon is talking about Pentecost)…Pentecost for them was the time when God gave them HIS Law and Covenant… up on Mount Sinai…when Moses came down from the mountain with the 2 tablets that contained the 10 commandments. (God empowered them through His Law and Covenant)  

The Feast of Tabernacles (This commemorates the time when God stopped Israel from 40 years of wandering wilderness) living in “shifting” tents because of their rebellion and unbelief, and after the parent generation dies, the children are finally allowed them to go into the “land of promise”… a new home of their own….. 

The Relevance Of These Feasts to the Modern Church?

These 3 feasts have a true "salvation" relationship spiritually to the modern church. We have a historic reason to give God the highest praise and totally dedicate our lives to HIM through prayer and dedication. 

First of all, the church celebrates the Passover, but we celebrate Passover (Communion) because Jesus Christ (the paschal lamb….the lamb slain before the foundation of the world...the Lamb of God who came to take away the sin of the world) fulfilled God's requirement for man’s redemption be allowing His blood to be shed …HIS body to be bruised...for the remission of our sin…on the cross at Calvary. So "spiritually" where God's sees the blood applied to the heart of a repentant/ redeemed sinner, that person is immediately spared from the "penalty" of sin which is eternal death and permanent separation from Jehovah. That’s "salvation" from the “penalty of sin….

Second, the church also celebrates Pentecost, which means 50..not because God was giving new laws, but God gave us His Holy Spirit. The disciples tarried in Jerusalem until the Day of  Pentecost had fully come…On that day in the upper room, they heard the sound of a rushing…mighty wind… and  the Holy Ghost came in the upper room and filled 120 waiting people who were there with one accord…with Holy Ghost power…HE lit on each one of them like cloven tongues of fire and cause them to speak in another language, as the Spirit gave utterance. NOT ONLY THAT, such a way… that everybody that heard Peter…heard the gospel in their own language…and 3,000 souls got saved….Not only that, we are now saved and sealed with the Holy Ghost…God has given us the power to be sanctified….That's salvation from the power of sin…

Third….in a real sense, the church celebrates the Feast of Tabernacles… After Israel wandered 40 years in the wilderness and the parent generation died, God accomplished His purpose, stopped their wandering and gave them a new home, a permanent residence they could call their own. In like manner, there will come a day when we come to the end of this journey. That day , when we will "quit" the busy walk of life on this earth ; sometimes up, sometimes down, sometimes almost leveled to the ground…When we no longer have to walk through this valley of the shadow of death…Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5 "when this earthly house of this tabernacle (our physical bodies) will be dissolved (pass away) and when that happens, God has given us another building; a permanent residence, a house of God not made with earthly hands….eternal in the heavens". When we move out from this earthly body and move to our better home means we will then be saved from the presence of sin. On that day…it will be just like Job said in Job 3:17: "The wicked will cease from troubling and all of us who are weary will be a rest"!….

About King David's Dream:

As you know… David would have built this temple himself …if he could have… but God told him… I’m honored you had it in your heart to build a magnificent temple it in MY honor… and in MY name…nevertheless… I can’t, permit you to build it… because David, you are a warrior and a king during war time… you got too much blood on your hands…. God said however, because of your pure motive for wanting to do something like this…I will honor your desire to have it built…I’ll let your son build it for MY name…

Point of Emphasis:

My brothers and sisters…It goes to show you that there are times we want to do great things for the Lord…and the reason we desire to do it is because it in our heart… and we want to show Him ….that we love Him like that… yet God will not allow us to do what we desire to…. even for HIM…because of mitigating circumstances in our life’s status and duty station…. Sometimes… our assignment from heaven won’t allow us to do what we want….but God won’t deny what we want….we just can’t do it ourselves…fortunate on one hand… but unfortunate on another…. But aren’t you glad we serve a great, loving, fair, prayer answering, merciful God who will still honor our desires and move on the heart of family members …or a friend…or a church to fulfill your deepest sincere desire for others…even for God.   

Building a Temple:

They began to build the temple…They started 4 years and 2 days in Solomon’s reign. It was built on Mount Moriah,  located in in Jerusalem. It was built exactly as the plans called for…and everything was put in its proper place…and when it was done…the Bible said Solomon brought the “dedicated things” of David and put them in the treasuries of the temple. 


"Every church should have some “dedicated things”…and “dedicated people” set aside to be counted on as “treasures” in the house of God"…

When you get to Chapter 5, you see where Solomon assembled the elders, the heads of the 12 tribes… so they might bring the Ark of the Covenant up from Zion…the city of David…to Jerusalem to be place in its resting place in the new temple…The Bible said in verse 5 the “sanctified” priest…(the ones who “detoxed” themselves from the iniquity of a sinful life; those who refused to corrupt the office of the ministry and dedicated themselves to a holy life and to holy work) brought up the ark, the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy furnishings that were in the tabernacle. They brought the Ark and put it in its place in the “inner” sanctuary, the Most Holy Place…the Holies of Holies……They placed the Ark directly under the out stretched wings of the Cherubim…

When that was done…the “sanctified” priests came out of the Most Holy Place, and then…the “singing” Levites….relatives of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun …along with their sons and brethren stood at the east end of the altar…clothed in white linen…with cymbals….stringed instruments…and 120 trumpet playing priests … and it came to pass when the musicians and the singers were as one…

Note this: When they were on one accord….when they were on the same page…when they got rid of their hidden agendas and yielded to one Lord…one faith..and one baptism…one people….with one purpose to make one unified sound of praise and thankgiving…to the Lord…. who brought them out of the darkness of  bondage and gave them a worship place…and a nation of their own….they lifted up their voices…they sounded their trumpets and gave God praise: You want to know what they said? For the Lord is good…His mercy endures forever….and when they did thet The temple filled up with God’s glory cloud…so much so…the priest could minister because of the cloud…the cloud was full of the glory of the Lord…

Another Point of Emphasis:

1. You  haven’t had a real worship experience until you have been filled with the Holy Spirit. When there was so much Holy Ghost power in the house of God that the preacher could preach…the choirs couldn’t sing…the deacons and mothers couldn’t pray….Don’t you wish that you could come to church and feel the holy presence of our Holy God without fighting through the drama of people text messaging in the church…without note passing…without people wanting to pass rumors…murmuring and whispering about things that ain’t got nothing to do with worship?…

2.  When we come to HIS house… God wants to deliver  somebody who desperately needs a breakthrough …. God’s wants to heal a sin-sick soul….God wants to heal a sick body…God wants to fill us with his power… In the service…The church ought to be the p[lace where we can get healing …help and hope…The song writer said when all of God’s children get together….what a time….what a time!…I dare you to get o one accord….I dare you to let go and let God have his way…I dare you top give God all the honor….all the glory…and all the praise…preachers couldn’t preach…the choirs couldn’t sing…the ushers couldn’t usher because the house was full of the Holy Ghost…all we could do is lift up holy hands and cry halleluiah….praise the Lord…He’s worthy…

Solomon's Testimony: The Temple: "God's Exalted House"

And after that there ought to be a great testimony…In Chapter 6, Solomon said: The Lord did just what he said he would do…He said that He would dwell in a dark cloud but He would build you an “exalted” house….And that’s how we are to see this earthly tabernacle…I’m talking about the physical church. When we come to this “exalted” house… we need to pull off "every shoe"…the shoe of indifference…the shoe of jealousy….the shoe of procrastination… the adulterated shoes… the drug infested shoes… the drunken alcoholic shoes….every shoe and every weight of sin that thus so easily beset us and remember that the ground that you now stand on is HOLY Ground!

Our Physical Body: The Temple of The Holy Ghost: "God's Exalted House"

But as I think about it further, we ought to see our physical body the same way…After all, every child of God that has been saved and washed in the blood of the lamb and sealed with the Holy Ghost are now "temples" of the Holy Ghost… This body, this  earthy tabernacle is to be presented as a “living sacrifice”…wholly…that’s completely…and acceptable unto God because that is our reasonable service….and the vessel …that’s you and your body….must not conform to the ungodliness of this world ….we must be transformed….first by the renewing of our minds….that we may prove that which is good….and acceptable… that perfect will of God…

Solomon's Prayer of Dedication:

Solomon testifies, then turned around standing before  the congregation Solomon said:    Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, who has fulfilled with His hands what He verbally said to my father David when HE said:, Since the day that I brought My people out of the land of Egypt, I haven’t chosen any city from any tribe of Israel in which to build a house, “ a stationary tabernacle” that My name might be there, As a matter of fact:  I hadn’t chosen any man to be a ruler over you, MY people  Israel.  I have chosen Jerusalem… that My name may be there, and I have chose David to be over My people Israel…So God fulfilled HIS Word…..and I have now fulfilled my father’s position as the next king in line… …I just as king built the temple for the Lord God of Israel…I just put the Ark in the temple in the holies of Holies which is the covenant….the contract… between God and His people…

In Conclusion: God's Response to Prayer and Dedication:

When you read the rest of the 6th Chapter of 2 Chronicles,you will see where Solomon got down on his knees…and gave a dedcation prayer… In that prayer he acknowledged the sovereignty of almighty God …I heard Solomon say: there’s no one on earth like you…In that prayer he acknowledged the need for God to look upon the temple built in His name…and to hear the cry of his people. When your people don’t do right please forgive them. When you punish them because of their sin and they call upon your holy name…please Lord forgive them and restore them in your good grace…when the  heavens are shut up and there is no rain because we have sin…and they pray  toward this temple and confess your name …forgive their sin…If that complete prayer was to be prayed in the modern church in a short form, that same prayer would sound like this:

Our father…Who art in Heaven…Hallowed be Thy name….Thy kingdom come…thy will be done…. On earth as it is in Heaven…Give us this day… our daily bread…Forgive our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us …Lead us not into temptation…but deliver us… from evil..For Thine is the kingdom … the power… and the glory forever and ever Amen…

Well what was God’s response to their pray and dedication…

First of all….When the glory of God showed up in the temple….God let them know that he was with them….When the lightning be there was power in the house… loving power…healing power…Holy Ghost power….Power to walk right; power to pray right; power to live right; power to shout right; God's power was in the house. God answer was the flashing lightning and roaring thunder and a lit up sky. The sky lit up in the power of God and his Shekinnah glory.. filled the house again…God caused them to have 7 more days of praise and worship; 7 more days of sacrifice and prayer...

Finally, after the 7 days were up, After the 7 day were up…

The Lord  appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: "I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice.  When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments,  then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, 'You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.' 

"But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.

And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, 'Why has the Lord  done thus to this land and this house?' Then they will answer, 'Because they forsook the Lord  God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.'"


Final Message:
God is looking for people who will pray and dedicate themselves to the call of Holy work. Jesus said; If any man will come unto me, deny yourselves, take up the cross and follow me". When you give yourself fully to the Lord, He will bless you above measure. He will never leave you, nor ever forsake you. Come boldly before the Lord and tell Him: I am thine O Lord, I have heard Thy voice and it told Thy Love to me. How I long to rise in the arms of faith and be closer drawn to thee. Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord to the cross where thy has died. Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy Precious bleeding side. Consecrate me now to Thy service Lord by the power of grace divine. Let my soul look up, with a steadfast hope and my will be lost in thine. Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to the cross where Thy has died, Draw me nearer, nearer blessed Lord, to Thy Precious Bleeding side. May the Lord bless each and everyone who reads this message in Jesus name...Amen!


Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie

Bible Outline on 1 John Chapter 2

“The Key to Knowing Christ”  and  Guidance from Living in Sin"

I.       John’s Purpose of Writing This Epistle:                                     (verses 1-2)

A. John wrote to prevent the people from Sin (violating God’s Law)         (vs. 1)

This is the real purpose of all of scripture.  John wrote this letter as a guidance out of sin. John didn’t want the people to ruin their lives because of sin, and live their lives in a miserable and unholy state. John desired to lead them towards a “holy” life in Jesus Christ because that is what God desires of everybody. God said that it is His wish that nobody perishes because of sin, but everybody would live a life of repentance To Sin is to miss the mark set by God’s precepts, principles and promises. He reminded them of what he wrote in John Chapter 1.    

B. And if any sin, we have an advocate- (paraclete) with God (Jehovah) the Father-(Jesus Christ)

1.       If a believer falls into sin, after salvation because of ignorance, yielding to temptation, weakness or failing to watch, there’s still hope for you and you can still be restored in the good graces of God by acknowledging that act of sin and discontinue that sinful act. This does not give a frère reign to sin anytime we want but actually acts as a deterent to living a sinful life

2.       Remember:  We still have Jesus sitting in heaven on the right hand of the Father interceding in our behalf. Jesus died for our offences, and rose again for our “justification”; and there he makes intercession for us. He is the righteous; he who suffered, the JUST for the unjust, that he might bring us to God. Do not, therefore, despair, but have immediate recourse to God through him.

C. Concerning Jesus:           “Ultimate Sacrifice”                                      (vs. 2)

1.   He’s our “propitiation” which means our “atoning sacrifice” the ultimately sacrifice that God made for the redemption of man’s reconciliation to a Holy and Righteous God. (Jehovah or Yahweh)

2.       He died for everybody. (John 3:16-17)

II.      How to know if We are “HIS”             “The Only Way”             (verses 3-6)

A.   We must keep HIS Commandments-                                         (vs. 3)

1.     Love the Lord with “all” that’s within us (mind, heart, might etc…)

2.     Love our neighbor as ourselves.

3.     We are “liars” and the truth is not in us if we claim to love God but don’t keep HIS commandments.

4.     God’s love is “perfected” in us if we keep HIS commandments. That is, we mature in the faith continually by the presence of God’s love within us.

5.     If we claim to have an “intimate” (ongoing- and on-growing) relationship with God, we must live the same way Jesus lived when he was on earth.

B.     Writing “nothing” New   “An Old Commandment”                  (verses 7-11)

1.     You knew this commandment from day 1.

2.     Love is always implied in every message you heard. (vs. 7)

3.     On the ‘other hand, it’s new, perhaps because “darkness is out of the way” and “True” Light is blazing its way through. (vs. 8)

4.     Anyone who claims to live in the light of God and hates their brother or sister is “still” in the dark. (vs. 9)

5.     Anyone who claims to live in the light of God and loves his brother and sister “dwells” in God’s light and does not block the light from others.(not a  hindrance) (vs.10)

6.     Those who hate- are still in the dark, they stumble in the dark, don’t even know which way is up, and are blinded by the darkness. (vs. 11)

III.     Concerning:  Loving The World                                                (verses 12-17)

A.   Reminder: To the “children:  Your sins (past sins) are forgiven in Jesus name and because you confessed His name.[ Christ is now your advocate in heaven.]  They were disciples of Christ, not of very long standing in the church, nor of much experience, but who had known the Father; i.e. persons who had been made sons: God had sent the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, whereby they cried Abba, Father!         (vs. 12)

B.   Reminder: To the “Fathers: John wrote to them because they “knew” the way! ” You have come to know Christ. . You now recognize Him, understand about Him, and are aware of Him.[ Some of the older members had seen Jesus in the flesh ( physically on earth) and well established in the faith and in the truth of the gospel]. They saw Jesus, the Savior who was made flesh and dwell among them.                              (verses.13-14)

C.   Reminder: To the Young men: John wrote to them because he said they were strong. You have become “victorious” over the “wicked one” (Satan)  These ‘youth” were confirmed disciples of Christ; persons who were well-grounded in the truth, had been thoroughly exercised in the Christian warfare. God’s WORD truly abided in them. They were no longer agitated by doubts and fears. John is saying: “You have triumphed over the passions which prevail in early life; you have combated the allurements of vice, ambition, covetousness, and sensuality; and you have shown a strength of character and of piety that promotes “good” religion.

D.   Reminder: to the younger children:    The most recent converts, and particularly those among young men and women who, from their youth, simplicity, open-heartedness and affectionate attachment to God and his cause, were peculiarly dear to this aged apostle of Jesus Christ. These are represented as having their sins forgiven them on account of his name, that is, for the sake of Jesus, or on account of his merit or worthiness. You have come to know Christ.

Message:    Don’t fall in love with the World:   The “Lust” and “Pride” that constitutes how this world operates.                       (verses 15-17)

John’s talking about the “lust” of the flesh, the “lust’ of the eyes and the “pride” of this life. We are not to love the things which are sought “merely” to pamper the appetite, to please the eye, or to promote pride in living. These are the objects sought by the people of the world; these are not the objects to be sought by the Christian.  

The Message Bible puts it in plain perspective: “Don't love the world's ways. Don't love the world's goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world is based on: wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important …and none of these things has anything to do with the Father”.  King Solomon summed this world’s way up this way: All is vanity and vexation of the spirit.

Possessing a strong desire for the “things” of this world is “fleshy”(Carnal )in thinking and  in concept, and sensual in nature, having an obsession over them  can actually isolate you from God. 
Remember: This world and all its “possessions” and “obsessions” one day will be gone. (This world and the things people lust after will pass away!)  But whoever does what God wants done by us is “set” (abides) for all eternity. (Abides forever)

IV.     The Last Days         “End Times Approaching”    (verses 18- 26)

A.   Evidence: (How do we know?)        The “Antichrist” is coming!   (vs. 18)

1.   There are many “antichrist already in this world and showing up everywhere.

2.    In our lifetime, we have had several people who made the claim that they were the Messiah          the world has been waiting on.

3.    Conversely, there are many world religious leaders that claim that Jesus Christ was not the              Messiah, or that the Messiah has not come yet.

Note: John understood by the word all those that denied that Jesus is the Messiah, or that the Messiah has come in the flesh. If they held that Jesus was a deceiver, and that he was not the Christ, or if they maintained that, though Christ had come, he had not come in the flesh, that is, with a proper human nature. This showed that such persons had the “spirit of antichrist”. They arrayed themselves against him, and held doctrines which were in fact in entire opposition to the Son of God.  This is the spirit of Gnosticism.

What Did Jesus say what we should be aware of and look for as the Rapture of the Church and the 2nd Coming of Christ nears? (Matthew 25:5, 24)

1. Many will come forth and openly declare that they are the “true” Christ (Messiah)

2.  An “apostate” spirit will infiltrate the church early (read 2 Thessalonians 2:17)  through a leader     or a series of leaders that will attempt to lead the “Institution” church toward error. ( We can           see this already) This leader or leaders will have the spirit of Antichrist, but for an appointed           time will be hindered or restrained by God. (We see an shift in how church operate and in the         “message” that’s being preached in many pulpits already: Having a form of godliness but                denying the power of Christ as well as his “Messiahship”)

3.   Ultimately, there will come that day when the ”Man of Sin” will be revealed after a great                 falling away from the true faith in the Gospel (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4, and 8-10) he will embody         and promote an apostate message teaching against Jesus and all he stands for.

4.   In the mean time, many “isms” and “skisms” will creep boldly in the modern Church and many       will oppose the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Bible in general, preferring  to promote                 doctrines of devils and man-made godless philosophies.

B.             Apostasy:                            Falling Away From The Faith                   (vs. 19)

1.   They went out from us- they left the church because they were never really fully committed to the cause of Christ.

2.   They were not of us- They were never really Christians (converted) (Matthew 7:23)

3.   If they were truly with us- they never would have left. If they are true Christians, they will                 continue in the church, or will never fall away. The statement is so made also as to teach that         if any "do" fall away from the church, the fact is full proof that they never had any religion, for         if they had had they would have remained steadfast in the church. (steadfast, unmovable,               always abounding in the work of the Lord)

4.   But they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. God in His             providence allowed this to happen:

(a) "In order" that it might be both seen and known that they were imposters and not “true                     Christians”, that their real character might be developed.

(b) To purify the church from their evil influence-compare the notes at John 15:2;

(c) To exonerate the church from being responsible for their conduct, or the ‘evil fallout on account      of it; Remember what we bind as the church,  God binds from heaven… what we lose as the          church, God will lose from heaven.

(d) To allow their real character to develop, so they might see for themselves that they were not          “true Christians.

(e) So they will not only be seen and known as apostates, but that their opinions and conduct              might have less influence than in would have  if they were still connected with the church;

(f) So they might understand their own” true” character, and no longer live  a lie and under the           “delusive opinion” that they were Christians and were safe, but by seeing themselves in their          “true light”, they might be brought to repentance and be reconciled unto God.

5. But You Do Belong. You are “annointed” by the “Holy One’ and you know it.    (vs. 20)

This verse did not mean they knew all things pertaining to history, to science, to literature, and to the arts, but in meant that, under the influences of the Holy Spirit, they had been made so thoroughly acquainted with the truths and duties of the Christian religion, that they might be regarded as “safe” from the danger or “fatal error”. The same may be said of all true Christians now, that they are so taught by the Spirit of God, that they have a practical acquaintance with what religion is, and with what it requires, and are secure from falling into fatal error.

6. I wrote to confirm the truth you already know and to remind you that the truth doesn’t lie.         (vs. 21)

V.          Question: Who’s Lying Here?                                            (verses 22- 23)

 1.   The person who denies that Jesus is the “Divine Christ”


 2.   This is what makes an “antichrist”: Denying God the Father (Jehovah)  and denying God the             Son (Jesus).

 3.   Nobody who denies Jesus- the Son has any part with the God the Father (Jehovah).                           (vs. 23)


4.   Affirming Jesus means you embrace Jehovah God as well. (vs.23)

VI.     The Original Gospel Message                                                 (verses 24-27)

1.       Stay with the True Gospel You Heard                    (vs. 24)

2.       Let the Gospel sink in your life.                             

3.       If what you heard in the beginning (the Gospel) lives deeply within you, you will live your              life deeply (fully committed) in both the Son and the Father.                                                   

4.       Jesus Christ promised eternal life.                            (vs.25)

VII.       Warning Letter:               “About The Deceivers”                       (verses 26-27)

1.     They are no match for the  “WORD” (Gospel)(The “Anointing”) you will be able to stand firm           in the faith and their false teachings will not shake your faith.

2.     You don’t need any of their “so-called teachings!” The truth abides within you because the             Holy Spirit is your guide into all things concerning yourself and Jesus Christ.

3.     Christ’s “Anointing” teaches you everything you need to know about yourself and Christ (John         14:13-14) uncontaminated by a single lie.

4.     Live deeply in what you have been taught by living a consecrated life in Jesus Christ.


Conclusion: 
Live Deeply in Christ

 And now, children, stay with Christ. Live deeply in Christ. Then we'll be ready for him when he appears, ready to receive him with open arms, with no cause for red-faced guilt or lame excuses when he arrives. 
Once you're convinced that he is right and righteous, you'll recognize that all who practice righteousness are God's true children. 

Rev. Dr. William Edward Boddie