reetings, holy children of God, in the wonderful name of our lord and saviour Jesus, the Christ. The sermon subject for today is:

HERE IS A VERSE OF SCRIPTURE TO MEDITATE ON. PRV:27:5: OPEN REBUKE IS BETTER THAN SECRET LOVE. IF YOU LOVE GOD TELL HIM, IF YOU LOVE YOUR WIFE, AND CHILDREN, TELL THEM; IF YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, TELL THEM. WHAT IS LOVE? HERE ARE SYNONYMS FOR THE WORD "LOVE", AFFECTION, FONDNESS, DEVOTION. THE BIBLE GIVES A DEFINITION OF " LOVE" SAYING GOD IS LOVE. 1JN:4:8: HE THAT LOVETH NOT KNOWETH NOT GOD; FOR GOD IS LOVE. BEFORE GOD COMES TO DWELL WITHIN THE ELECT OF GOD, WE CANNOT LOVE. FOR THE CARNAL MIND, THE MIND OF SENSE, AND REASON WITHOUT THE HOLY GHOST; IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE LAWS OF GOD. WHEN THE HOLY GHOST COMES TO DWELL WITHIN THE ELECT, HIS PRESENTS FILLS US WITH LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE. BY THESE FRUITS MEN SHALL KNOW THAT GOD DWELLS WITHIN US. GAL:5:22: BUT THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE, JOY, PEACE, LONGSUFFERING, GENTLENESS, GOODNESS, FAITH, 23. MEEKNESS, TEMPERANCE: AGAINST SUCH THERE IS NO LAW. WHEN WE, THE ELECT OF GOD, RECEIVE THE HOLY GHOST WE CAN TRULY LOVE. CHARITY IS CHRISTIAN LOVE. (HERE IS THE WAY OF LOVE.) 1COR:13:4: CHARITY SUFFERETH LONG, AND IS KIND; CHARITY ENVIETH NOT; CHARITY VAUNTETH NOT ITSELF, IS NOT PUFFED UP, 5. DOTH NOT BEHAVE ITSELF UNSEEMLY, SEEKETH NOT HER OWN, IS NOT EASILY PROVOKED, THINKETH NO EVIL; 6. REJOICETH NOT IN INIQUITY, BUT REJOICETH IN THE TRUTH; 7. BEARETH ALL THINGS, BELIEVETH ALL THINGS, HOPETH ALL THINGS, ENDURETH ALL THINGS. 8. CHARITY NEVER FAILETH THESE ARE SAME VERSES OF SCRIPTURE IN THE AMPLIFIED BIBLE. 1COR:13:4 LOVE ENDURES LONG AND IS PATIENT AND KIND; LOVE NEVER IS ENVIOUS NOR BOILS OVER WITH JEALOUSY, IS NOT BOASTFUL OR VAINGLORIOUS, DOES NOT DISPLAY ITSELF HAUGHTILY. 5. IT IS NOT CONCEITED (ARROGANT AND INFLATED WITH PRIDE); IT IS NOT RUDE (UNMANNERLY) AND DOES NOT ACT UNBECOMINGLY. LOVE (GOD'S LOVE IN US) DOES NOT INSIST ON ITS OWN RIGHTS OR ITS OWN WAY, FOR IT IS NOT SELF-SEEKING; IT IS NOT TOUCHY OR FRETFUL OR RESENTFUL; IT TAKES NO ACCOUNT OF THE EVIL DONE TO IT [IT PAYS NO ATTENTION TO A SUFFERED WRONG]. 6. IT DOES NOT REJOICE AT INJUSTICE AND UNRIGHTEOUSNESS, BUT REJOICES WHEN RIGHT AND TRUTH PREVAIL. 7. LOVE BEARS UP UNDER ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING THAT COMES, IS EVER READY TO BELIEVE THE BEST OF EVERY PERSON, ITS HOPES ARE FADELESS UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IT ENDURES EVERYTHING [WITHOUT WEAKENING]. 8. LOVE NEVER FAILS [NEVER FADES OUT OR BECOMES OBSOLETE OR COMES TO AN END]. IS A MAN OF ANY VALUE IN THE EYES OF GOD WITHOUT LOVE? 1COR:13:1: THOUGH I SPEAK WITH THE TONGUES OF MEN AND OF ANGELS, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY, I AM BECOME AS SOUNDING BRASS, OR A TINKLING CYMBAL. 1COR:13:2: AND THOUGH I HAVE THE GIFT OF PROPHECY, AND UNDERSTAND ALL MYSTERIES, AND ALL KNOWLEDGE; AND THOUGH I HAVE ALL FAITH, SO THAT I COULD REMOVE MOUNTAINS, AND HAVE NOT CHARITY, I AM NOTHING. WHEN GOD SPEAKS HIS WORDS BECOME LAW. THIS IS THE FIRST, AND THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT. MT:22:35: THEN ONE OF THEM, WHICH WAS A LAWYER, ASKED HIM A QUESTION, TEMPTING HIM, AND SAYING, 36. MASTER, WHICH IS THE GREAT COMMANDMENT IN THE LAW? 37. JESUS SAID UNTO HIM, THOU SHALT LOVE THE LORD THY GOD WITH ALL THY HEART, AND WITH ALL THY SOUL, AND WITH ALL THY MIND. 38. THIS IS THE FIRST AND GREAT COMMANDMENT. 39. AND THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO IT, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. 40. ON THESE TWO COMMANDMENTS HANG ALL THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS. WE, THE ELECT OF GOD, LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR HEART, SOUL, MIND, AND STRENGTH, FOR HE FIRST LOVED US. BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, GOD KNEW US ELECTED, SELECTED, HAND PICKED US TO BE HIS VERY OWN, AND PREDESTINED US TO BE ADOPTED INTO HIS FAMILY OF FAITH. EPH:1:3: BLESSED BE THE GOD AND FATHER OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, WHO HATH BLESSED US WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS IN HEAVENLY PLACES IN CHRIST: 4. ACCORDING AS HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD, THAT WE SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLAME BEFORE HIM IN LOVE: 5. HAVING PREDESTINATED US UNTO THE ADOPTION OF CHILDREN BY JESUS CHRIST TO HIMSELF, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD PLEASURE OF HIS WILL, GOD IS OUR FATHER, OUR ONLY FATHER. MT:23:9: AND CALL NO MAN YOUR FATHER UPON THE EARTH: FOR ONE IS YOUR FATHER, WHICH IS IN HEAVEN. GOD, THE GOD AND FATHER OF JESUS CHRIST, IS MY GOD, MY CREATOR, MY KING, MY LORD, HE IS MY FRIEND. IT IS MY GOD THAT MAKES RICH, IT IS GOD THAT MAKES POOR, IT IS GOD THAT KILLS AND IT IS GOD THAT MAKES ALIVE. SPEAKING OF GOD'S ELECT, IT WAS GOD THAT WATCHED OVER US AS WE CAME DOWN THROUGH THE LOINS OF OUR ANCESTORS, IT WAS HE THAT PLACED US ON NOAH'S ARK, AND WHILE OTHERS WERE DROWNING; WE FLOATED SAFETY ACROSS THE FLOOD. IT WAS GOD THAT SET US DOWN IN THIS GREAT NATION WERE WE HAVE SUCH FREEDOM, FREEDOM OF WORSHIP, FREEDOM OF SPEECH, FREEDOM OF ASSEMBLY, FREEDOM OF PRESS, FREEDOM TO TRAVEL, AND MANY MORE FREEDOMS. IT IS GOD THAT GIVES US GOOD FOOD TO EAT, NICE CLOTHES TO WEAR, FINE HOMES, GOOD TRANSPORTATION, AND MANY MORE THINGS THAT MAKE LIFE PLEASANT. GOD IS OUR PHYSICIAN WHEN WE ARE SICK JMS:5:14: IS ANY SICK AMONG YOU? LET HIM CALL FOR THE ELDERS OF THE CHURCH; AND LET THEM PRAY OVER HIM, ANOINTING HIM WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD: 15. AND THE PRAYER OF FAITH SHALL SAVE THE SICK, AND THE LORD SHALL RAISE HIM UP; AND IF HE HAVE COMMITTED SINS, THEY SHALL BE FORGIVEN HIM. AND WHEN WE ARE IN TROUBLE IT IS GOD THAT IS OUR ADVOCATE, OUR COUNCILOR AT LAW. MK:13:11. BUT WHEN THEY SHALL LEAD YOU, AND DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT BEFOREHAND WHAT YE SHALL SPEAK, NEITHER DO YE PREMEDITATE: BUT WHATSOEVER SHALL BE GIVEN YOU IN THAT HOUR, THAT SPEAK YE: FOR IT IS NOT YE THAT SPEAK, BUT THE HOLY GHOST. AND WHEN WE ARE FEELING DISCOURAGED IT IS GOD THAT CHEERS US UP WITH PROMISES SUCH AS THIS. LK:12:32: FEAR NOT, LITTLE FLOCK; FOR IT IS YOUR FATHER'S GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM. WE ARE TO LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR AS OURSELVES LK:12:31: AND THE SECOND IS LIKE, NAMELY THIS, THOU SHALT LOVE THY NEIGHBOUR AS THYSELF. THERE IS NONE OTHER COMMANDMENT GREATER THAN THESE. WHO IS OUR NEIGHBOUR? OUR NEIGHBOUR IS THE PERSON THAT HELPS US IN TIME OF NEED. LK:10:29: BUT HE, WILLING TO JUSTIFY HIMSELF, SAID UNTO JESUS, AND WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR? 30. AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID, A CERTAIN MAN WENT DOWN FROM JERUSALEM TO JERICHO, AND FELL AMONG THIEVES, WHICH STRIPPED HIM OF HIS RAIMENT, AND WOUNDED HIM, AND DEPARTED, LEAVING HIM HALF DEAD. 31. AND BY CHANCE THERE CAME DOWN A CERTAIN PRIEST THAT WAY: AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. 32. AND LIKEWISE A LEVITE, WHEN HE WAS AT THE PLACE, CAME AND LOOKED ON HIM, AND PASSED BY ON THE OTHER SIDE. 33. BUT A CERTAIN SAMARITAN, AS HE JOURNEYED, CAME WHERE HE WAS: AND WHEN HE SAW HIM, HE HAD COMPASSION ON HIM, 34. AND WENT TO HIM, AND BOUND UP HIS WOUNDS, POURING IN OIL AND WINE, AND SET HIM ON HIS OWN BEAST, AND BROUGHT HIM TO AN INN, AND TOOK CARE OF HIM. 35. AND ON THE MORROW WHEN HE DEPARTED, HE TOOK OUT TWO PENCE, AND GAVE THEM TO THE HOST, AND SAID UNTO HIM, TAKE CARE OF HIM; AND WHATSOEVER THOU SPENDEST MORE, WHEN I COME AGAIN, I WILL REPAY THEE. 36. WHICH NOW OF THESE THREE, THINKEST THOU, WAS NEIGHBOUR UNTO HIM THAT FELL AMONG THE THIEVES? 37. AND HE SAID, HE THAT SHEWED MERCY ON HIM. THEN SAID JESUS UNTO HIM, GO, AND DO THOU LIKEWISE. I BELIEVE LOVE IS TREMENDOUSLY IMPORTANT TO EVERY MAN, WOMAN, AND CHILD. ONE DAY I WAS WALKING DOWN THE HALL IN A JAIL, AND I HEARD A YOUNG BLACK MAN CRYING. SOMEONE HAD HIT HIM IN THE HEAD WITH A HAMMER. SOMEONE HAD PLACED A BANDAGE ON HIS WOUND; WHEN I ASKED HIM WHY HE WAS CRYING, " HE SAID, " NO ONE LOVES ME." THE THOUGHT THAT NO ONE LOVED HIM HURT HIM WORSE THAN HIS WOUNDED HEAD. BEFORE A CHILD IS BORN; BEFORE THEY HAVE DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL. GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION; LOVES HIS CHILDREN, BUT HATES THE CHILDREN OF SATAN. FOR EXAMPLE JACOB AND ESAU WERE TWINS BEFORE THEY WERE BORN GOD SAID, JACOB I LOVE, BUT ESAU I HATE. ROM:9:10: AND NOT ONLY THIS; BUT WHEN REBECCA ALSO HAD CONCEIVED BY ONE, EVEN BY OUR FATHER ISAAC; 11. (FOR THE CHILDREN BEING NOT YET BORN, NEITHER HAVING DONE ANY GOOD OR EVIL, THAT THE PURPOSE OF GOD ACCORDING TO ELECTION MIGHT STAND, NOT OF WORKS, BUT OF HIM THAT CALLETH;) 12. IT WAS SAID UNTO HER, THE ELDER SHALL SERVE THE YOUNGER. 13. AS IT IS WRITTEN, JACOB HAVE I LOVED, BUT ESAU HAVE I HATED. 14. WHAT SHALL WE SAY THEN? IS THERE UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WITH GOD? GOD FORBID. 15. FOR HE SAITH TO MOSES, I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I WILL HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I WILL HAVE COMPASSION. 16. SO THEN IT IS NOT OF HIM THAT WILLETH, NOR OF HIM THAT RUNNETH, BUT OF GOD THAT SHEWETH MERCY. HUSBANDS ARE COMMANDED TO LOVE THEIR WIVES. EPH:5:22: WIVES, SUBMIT YOURSELVES UNTO YOUR OWN HUSBANDS, AS UNTO THE LORD. 23. FOR THE HUSBAND IS THE HEAD OF THE WIFE, EVEN AS CHRIST IS THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH: AND HE IS THE SAVIOUR OF THE BODY. 24. THEREFORE AS THE CHURCH IS SUBJECT UNTO CHRIST, SO LET THE WIVES BE TO THEIR OWN HUSBANDS IN EVERY THING. 25. HUSBANDS, LOVE YOUR WIVES, EVEN AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED THE CHURCH, AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR IT; 26. THAT HE MIGHT SANCTIFY AND CLEANSE IT WITH THE WASHING OF WATER BY THE WORD, 27. THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT IT TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH, NOT HAVING SPOT, OR WRINKLE, OR ANY SUCH THING; BUT THAT IT SHOULD BE HOLY AND WITHOUT BLEMISH. 28. SO OUGHT MEN TO LOVE THEIR WIVES AS THEIR OWN BODIES. HE THAT LOVETH HIS WIFE LOVETH HIMSELF.29. FOR NO MAN EVER YET HATED HIS OWN FLESH; BUT NOURISHETH AND CHERISHETH IT, EVEN AS THE LORD THE CHURCH: HOW ARE MEN TO LOVE THEIR WIVES? PRV:5:19: LET HER BE AS THE LOVING HIND, (DEER) AND PLEASANT ROE; LET HER BREASTS SATISFY THEE AT ALL TIMES; AND BE THOU RAVISHED ALWAYS WITH HER LOVE. BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST, IF YOU WANT YOUR SPOUSE'S LOVE ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. 1THES:5:22: ABSTAIN FROM ALL APPEARANCE OF EVIL. DO THINGS THAT WILL BUILD YOUR SPOUSE'S TRUST IN YOU. AVOID BEING ALONE WITH MEMBERS OF THE OPPOSITE SEX. THE HOLY SCRIPTURES SAYS, THAT THE WIFE WHOSE HUSBAND TRUST IN HER; HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBES. PRV:31:10: WHO CAN FIND A VIRTUOUS WOMAN? FOR HER PRICE IS FAR ABOVE RUBIES. 11. THE HEART OF HER HUSBAND DOTH SAFELY TRUST IN HER, SO THAT HE SHALL HAVE NO NEED OF SPOIL. TRUST ONCE IT IS BROKEN IS LIKE THE EGG HUMPTY DUMPTY. THE NURSERY RHYME. HUMPTY DUMPTY SIT ON A WALL, HUMPTY DUMPTY HAD A GREAT FALL; ALL THE KINGS HORSES, AND ALL THE KINGS MEN COULD NOT PUT HUMPTY DUMPTY TOGETHER AGAIN. IF YOU DO THINGS THAT MAKE YOUR SPOUSE JEALOUS IT PROBABLY WILL NOT PRODUCE THE RESULTS THAT YOU WANT. YOU CAN IDENTIFY THE SPIRIT FILLED CHRISTIAN BRETHREN; FOR WE LOVE ONE ANOTHER. ST JOHN 13:35 BY THIS SHALL ALL MEN KNOW THAT YE ARE MY DISCIPLES, IF YE HAVE LOVE ONE TO ANOTHER. YOU KNOW WHEN YOU ARE IN CHURCH, AND YOU LOOK UP AND DOWN THE IDLES, AND KNOW IN YOUR HEART THAT YOU LOVE YOUR BROTHERS, AND SISTERS IN CHRIST; KNOW ASSUREDLY THAT YOU HAVE PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE BECAUSE YOU LOVE THE BRETHREN. NO ONE CAN EVER LOVE YOU MORE THAN GOD THE FATHER. MEDITATE ON THIS VERSE OF SCRIPTURE, (ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A PARENT). JN:3:16: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD, THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. NO PERSON CAN LOVE YOU MORE THAN JESUS JN:15:13: GREATER LOVE HATH NO MAN THAN THIS, THAT A MAN LAY DOWN HIS LIFE FOR HIS FRIENDS. IN THIS PRESENT WORLD THERE ARE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND CHILDREN OF SATAN. IN THE PARABLE OF THE WHEAT, AND THE TARES, THE WHEAT ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD, AND THE TARES ARE THE CHILDREN OF SATAN. WHEN JESUS RETURNS FOR HIS BRIDE THE CHURCH, THE FIRST TO BE GATHERED ARE THE TARES. THEY SHALL BE GATHERED AND BURNED. MT:13:30: LET BOTH GROW TOGETHER UNTIL THE HARVEST: AND IN THE TIME OF HARVEST I WILL SAY TO THE REAPERS, GATHER YE TOGETHER FIRST THE TARES, AND BIND THEM IN BUNDLES TO BURN THEM: BUT GATHER THE WHEAT INTO MY BARN. WHEN A CHILD IS BORN INTO THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF THE ORIGINAL SIN OF ADAM; THE CHILD IS ALIVE PHYSICALLY, BUT DEAD SPIRITUALLY. 1COR:15:22: FOR AS IN ADAM ALL DIE, EVEN SO IN CHRIST SHALL ALL BE MADE ALIVE. THE INNER MAN THE SOUL DIED. FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS MANKIND WAS WITHOUT LOVE EXCEPT FOR SPECIAL PEOPLE FOR EXAMPLE JOB, NOAH, SOME PROPHETS, AND SOME KINGS. 1SM:16:13: THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL, AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETHREN: AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME UPON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. SO SAMUEL ROSE UP, AND WENT TO RAMAH. JESUS CHRIST ON CALVARY'S CROSS PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR ATONEMENT, AND WE WERE RECONCILED UNTO GOD THE FATHER. AFTER THE LIFE, DEATH, BURIAL, AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD, AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST; JESUS CAME TO HIS DISCIPLES AND BREATHED ON THEM, AND SAID RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST. THIS WAS THE RECONCILIATION OF GOD AND MAN. THIS WAS PROBABLY THE GREATEST HAPPENING SINCE CREATION. JN:20:21: THEN SAID JESUS TO THEM AGAIN, PEACE BE UNTO YOU: AS MY FATHER HATH SENT ME, EVEN SO SEND I YOU. JN:20:22: AND WHEN HE HAD SAID THIS, HE BREATHED ON THEM, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, RECEIVE YE THE HOLY GHOST: JN:20:23: WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE REMIT, THEY ARE REMITTED UNTO THEM; AND WHOSE SOEVER SINS YE RETAIN, THEY ARE RETAINED. WE, THE ELECT OF GOD, PROVE THAT WE LOVE GOD BY KEEPING HIS COMMANDMENTS, AND HIS COMMANDMENTS ARE NOT GRIEVOUS. JN:14:15: IF YE LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS. BELOVED OF GOD, AVOID DEBT. ROM:13:8: OWE NO MAN ANY THING, BUT TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER: FOR HE THAT LOVETH ANOTHER HATH FULFILLED THE LAW. MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU, AND YOUR FAMILY WITH GOOD HEALTH, HAPPINESS, IN THIS LIFE, AND IN THE WORLD TO COME ETERNAL LIFE.