(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.) Amen, so Revelation chapter 14 keeps up in there and Revelation chapter 14 Will be coming back to that and go ahead and turn back to Revelation chapter 7 I want to talk this morning a little bit about the hundred and forty four thousand The Bible sermon is the example of the hundred forty four thousand I think there's some things that we can learn about these unique individuals in the book of Revelation the hundred and forty four thousand that we can apply to our own lives and I kind of so I just want to take a look at them this morning and see what we can get out of it But whenever we deal with this This group of people 144,000 you kind of have to you can't really touch on the subject without the spelling This false doctrine that's out there. That's taught by Jehovah Witnesses in particular that 144,000 are this elite group of believers that they're the only people that get to go to heaven that's kind of teaching That's out there So I kind of have to touch on that beginning the sermon towards the end of the majority of the sermon I just kind of want to spend making application about some of the attributes of these 140,000 men that we can apply to our own lives But the first thing we have to get here is the timing or the context of where these men are in prophecy What point do they show up now if we were to read the whole you know scripture and get it in context You would see that they show up after the 60s after the sixth deal and prior to the seventh seal So you have the first, you know, seven seals and then you have the Trump's and the vials. Those are two distinct parts of the timeline in Revelation and 144,000 they show up here in Scripture in between that sixth and seventh seal just before God begins to pour out his wrath So it says there in verse 3 of Revelation chapter 7 in verse 1 Well, let's just begin in verse 1 excuse me It says and after these things I saw four angels standing in the four corners of the earth holding the four winds of the earth That the wind should not blow on the earth nor on any seed or on any tree And I saw another angel ascending from the east Having the seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voice the four angels To whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea saying hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees Till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads I heard the number of them which were sealed that were sealed and hundred and forty four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel So we got to see there look there in verse 3 where it says saying The angel tells them to hurt not the earth neither the sea nor the trees until we have sealed the servants of our God In their foreheads now, this is what happens this hurting of the earth and of the trees and of the seas That's what happens after the seventh seal is open and we know chapter 6 is you know the the opening of the sixth seal now Here we are chapter 7 where he says don't hurt the earth don't hurt the seas don't hurt the trees which is what takes place After the fact that when the seventh seal is open and the seven trumps of God begin to sound it says there in Revelation chapter 8 Verse 1 and when he opened the seventh seal there was silence in heaven about the space of half an hour And I saw the angel the seven angels which stood before God into them were given trumpets Right. So we see the 144,000 and then we see that seventh seal being open and the seven angels giving the seven trumpets and the seven vials of the wrath of God now We could further prove this if we look there in Revelation chapter 7 or excuse me level of Revelation chapter 8 Beginning of verse 6 and the seven angels which had up the seven trumpets prepared to sound the first angel sounded And what happened there? It says towards the end and the third part of the trees was burnt up and on the green grass Look at verse 8 the second angel sounded look towards the end there the part of the sea became blood and Then it says there in verse 10 and the third angel sounded and there at the end of verse 11 and the third part of the Waters became work more wood and many men died of the waters because they were made bitter So we see it's the perfect sequence there. They say don't hurt The sea or the trees or the earth until we seal the seven of our servants the 144,000 the foreheads They do that and then the vials get poured out And what's the first things that get hurt the earth the sea and the trees so that's the timing of it right there That's when they show up in scriptures between that six and seven seal Now what we really want to deal with more than so than the timing is the identity of the 144,000 Who are these men? Who are these people that have such a unique? place in Scripture and It's Karen available. No, she can just have a give me some more. Yeah, perfect. He's a minor here Those what I need before I even have something so What's more important than that is the identity 144,000 who are they? Well, it's really clear who they are I mean, there's really no mystery about it. It's you know, it's not God that's made a confusing subject It's man that likes to you know Muddy these waters and make this hard to understand and try to confuse people about this the Bible is really clear about who these people are And it's clear about who they are Now we agree Here that it is not as if it is not symbolic. You'll hear some people say well 144,000 It's just symbolic of all believers. It's just representative of the whole church and they're just taking a very figurative interpretation of who the 144,000 are just like it's like to say that John in Chapter 4 being called up into heaven is this is the is the picture of the church being rapture He wants us he was caught up in the spirit, you know, and his body remained on the earth where the rapture is You know the whole body and the spirit of the body being cut up it together So that you know, that's kind of a lot of ways people interpret that is they'll say what's about it But we don't we don't believe that we believe this is a literal 144,000 men and the Bible's real clear real clear about this And you know real quick to make that point and but sort of the JW's the Jehovah Witnesses if you ever knock on their door I know we knocked on the door A month or two back and the lady she brought up 144,000 and without me even saying she's like and those are lit That's a literal number You know She's they make up they're very quick to med let you know because they get criticized a lot for this doctrine and they should because they're They're completely wrong about it So we agree with the Jehovah Witnesses that this is a literal group. Okay, we'll give them that we'll throw them a bone Okay, this is a literal group of men numbering 144,000 however, that's about that's all we agree with about them in regards to this We strongly disagree with Jehovah Witnesses as to the identity of though who those literal 144,000 people are so the Jehovah Witnesses what they teach erroneously is that 144,000 are an elite group of faithful believers and if you would turn over to keep something revelation Turn over first Peter chapter 1 first Peter chapter 1 They think that they'll tell you that it is a big group of people elite group of believers who make it into heaven Now I'm gonna read to you from their article I didn't print it off this time, you know I don't want to you know waste the limited ink that I had anyway but it says if you were to go to JW dot org and go to the and go to The go to the article entitled who go to heaven Now, you know, I sound like, you know kind of stupid saying it that way that's how it's written on there who go to heaven So they didn't think I'm gonna say it like that because that's the title on their website Goes to heaven, but it says who go to heaven So if I want to get you to the right source on your article, you have to look up who go to heaven Okay, not who goes to heaven. So That's not a knock on them. You know, we all make typos Hopefully we get it before we publish it on the web But it says here in that article entitled who go to heaven on JW dot org God selects a limited number of face faithful Christians who after their death will be resurrected to life in heaven Once they have been chosen, so it's not enough to God just choose you first. You have to be chosen by God, right? and once they have been chosen, they must continue to maintain a Christian standard of faith and And conduct in order not to be disqualified from receiving their heavenly inheritance So they're literally teaching here, you know according to their doctrine one must first be chosen by God Then maintain a standard of faith and conduct in order to enter into heaven and they cite 1st Peter chapter 1 Where I had to turn this is their proof text. It says 1st Peter chapter 1 verse 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away Reserved in heaven for you. So there you go. It's crystal clear that God chooses people right and that they must maintain the standard of Faith and practice in order to be worthy of that calling now You know anyone who just reads over that doesn't walk away with that interpretation. You know, someone has to tell you that That's why they just put the reference there. They don't actually quote the scripture in it, you know expound upon it in these articles They'll just make their statement whatever false doctrine they want to teach and then just quote they'll just put the reference in there Hoping that you won't actually take the time to go and read it happen, you know and actually read for yourself what it's saying Now we do want to break this down. If they did quote the scripture. Let's break it down a little bit Let's break down 1st Peter chapter 1 First of all, it says there in verse 4 that we come to an inheritance in heaven Okay that we are come to an inheritance in heaven now, how do we get to that inheritance in heaven? It says that in verse 3 it says by having been begotten Right born again. That's how you come to the inheritance not by having a standard of Christian conduct That's not what the scriptures teaching here That we come to the inheritance in heaven by having been begotten by the resurrection of Jesus Christ That's how I'm going to heaven. That's how I'm going to get there is because I've been Born again by putting my faith and the death girl resurrection of Jesus Christ and it's not because God chose me It's not going to be because you know I've lived a certain standard of Christian conduct in my life that I've been good enough in order to earn my way to heaven That's not how I'm getting there and anybody who believes that they're going to work their way into heaven by their own good works It's going to split hell wide open. Amen people that teach this doctrine are teaching a false gospel They're teaching you they have to work your way in heaven It says there furthermore in verse 4 that that inheritance is reserved in heaven for you. It's not burned It's reserved now think about this, you know, have you ever reserved anything we ever reserved a seat somewhere Here, you know you ever reserved call the head to a maybe a nicer restaurant say hey, I'm going to show up At a certain time and I expect this many seats to be waiting for me and they'll say well, yeah No problem. We'll just make sure you you know that when you get here You've been you've been behaving and we'll see if we talk to somebody and if you've had a good day Maybe we'll let you sit down. That's not how reservations work Now you think about a guy who buys season tickets to some sporting event. I mean, he's guaranteed a seat. He's guaranteed Expecting when he walks into that arena or stadium that he's going to be able to go to a section and find a seat because he Paid money. It's reserved for him. You know, he doesn't show up there and they're they're asking the way. No, I haven't been paying your taxes Really to work. You know, you've been reading your Bible, you know, have you been a good boy? All right, then we'll let you have these seats that are reserved That's how reservations work and the Bible says that these seats in heaven our place our inheritance in heaven is Reserved for us by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It's not earned. It's not something that we have to wonder about It's something that we know is there In fact, if you would turn over Ephesians chapter 2 Ephesians chapter 2 our inheritance is reserved in him In fact the Bible Talks about our seat in heaven being so sure it speaks of it as if we're already there It talks about as if we're already sitting in heaven It's so it works We can have such confidence and be so sure of the fact that our reservation is there in heaven Our heavenly seat is there the Bible talks about as if we're already there look here in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 4 But God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us Even when we were dead in sins hath quickened us together with Christ by grace Are you saved and have raised us up together and made us sit that's past tense He has already made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus So again, who is it? How do is it that we get to this inheritance? Well, it's God who loves us when we when he had quickened us when we were dead in sins He already quickened us. It wasn't what we did It's what he did and had raised us up together. And what does he do? He makes us sit He's the one that makes us sit He doesn't just say well there might be a seat for you He says he has made us to sit together in heavenly places with Christ Jesus And why why does God make it so easy? Why does God say make it so easy that he does all the work to get us there and reserves that seat in heaven for us And makes us to sit in heavenly places. Why is it that he Extends such mercy towards us. We'll look at verse 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his Rich of hit the riches of his grace and his kindness toward us through Jesus Christ I mean, that's the purpose of it that when we get to heaven and we're seated there We will all know that the only reason we got there was because of the riches of his grace Not our own merits not our own works. Not what we have done now because like the JW's I think they're gonna you know earn their way in there that they're gonna somehow live a life That's worthy enough and pleasing enough to God in order to go to heaven We'll understand that it was by the resurrection of Christ that it was by the riches of his grace and that it was by his Goodness that we're there and we'll know that how for how long through the through all the ages to come That's what we'll be will be like God will be Show and tell for God for the ages to come to say this is an example of my the riches of my mercy My grace and my goodness. I have made these sinners these who were dead in their sins I quicken them and set them together with me in heaven for all eternity Would I should have had to keep something there first Peter chapter 1 it all day But if you would go back to 1st Peter chapter 1 this article if you notice They they reference 1st Peter 1 verses 3 & 4 they conveniently leave off verse 5 This verse 5 it's kind of a kind of Throws it right back in their face Lewis it says here. How do you get how is it that you okay? Okay, the reservations there We have the the seat in heaven We know how we are we sure that it's going to always be there for us We'll look at verse 5 1st Peter 1 who are kept by the power of God through faith of the salvation See, it's God that keeps us. We don't have to burn our way there Yeah We have to wonder whether or not we're ever gonna make it whether or not we're gonna be good up good enough to make it The Bible says that we are kept by the power of God through faith It's God that's going to keep us there, you know, and if this weren't the case if it somehow, you know This promise weren't true. Then Jesus is a liar If what the Jehovah's Witnesses are teaching here, then Jesus is a liar because Jesus said in John 14 Let not your heart be troubled you believe in God I believe also in me in my father's house or many mansions if it were not so I would have told you I Go to prepare a place for you And if I go prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also and whether I go You know in the way, you know, Jesus promised that he's going to come again and receive us that we might be where he is That's the promise of God So if with the Jehovah's Witnesses our teaching is true Then we have to earn our way there then we're not sure that it's there that only a select group of people get to go There the 144,000 will then Jesus is a liar and we know that God cannot lie And we also know that Jesus is God another problem that the JW's you have is that doctrine there Now who are again, what is the point of the server we're talking about 144,000 We're working our way through this kind of debunking this false doctrine of who they are who they aren't And we do believe that they are a very particular group of people. There are a literal 144,000 men Well, who are they they are a distinct group of Old Testament Israelites? They are Old Testament Israelites who got saved in the Old Testament The same way everybody else has ever gotten saved by faith through grace by putting their faith in God By believing in the promise of God That's how you get saved and not of their own righteousness just like it was said of Abraham that he believed up God and was counted unto him for righteousness The same way everyone's ever gotten saved throughout all of I we don't believe in dispensations here All right We don't believe that they had to work their way into heaven the Old Testament That they are saved the way of mankind has always been saved and that's through faith So we believe that these hundred point four thousand are actually I mean you have to think about it people are gay because we again We don't believe in this doctrine that You know that the Old Testament Saints went to a place called Abraham's bosom the nice side of hell You know where it's a little cooler and in our whipping or holding cell until they are allowed into heaven You know for that we don't believe that We believe that they wouldn't be you know to be absent from the bodies to be present with the Lord that has always been the case Yes So think about it if all these Old Testament Israelites who are saved are dying like everyone, right? They're gonna go to heaven too. So it really it makes perfect sense You can see how this false doctrine of dispensationalism just throws off everything I mean if you believe this false doctrine of dispensationalism you have a hard time maybe explaining these Old Testament They'll they'll sit here and tell you that these 144,000 are Jews that are presently living on the earth and we're going to deal with that here in a minute But we believe that the 144,000 are a distinct group of Old Testament Israelites who are saved by faith And the Bible is real clear about that if you go back to Revelation chapter 7, I mean it's it's crystal clear It's plain. It's right out there. That's the nose on your face. It's as plain as the nose on your face It's right there on the surface It says right here in verse 4 of Revelation 7 and I heard the number of them which were sealed and there were sealed 144,000 of all the tribes of the children of Israel That's who it is. They're the children of the tribes of Israel. They're not they're not you know Chris they wouldn't say that they're just Gentiles. You wouldn't say that they're believing Greeks or anything like that It says that they are the children of the tribes of Israel Now so the question then becomes do any of the tribe of these tribes exist today? The answer is no No, you have to remember the people even make the argument. Well, there might be a few tribes that can still identify themselves you know and and I highly skeptical of that that they're even then that that the the tribes have been so Dispersed and so intermingled with the heathen and other nations that no one can say that they are of a pure bloodline Going back, you know nearly seven thousand years I mean You know at least four thousand you're going back that far thousands of years and saying that they've kept this just pure bloodline all the way down through the ages Highly skeptical and especially when the fact the Bible tells us that God scattered them into all nations And that God has you know, even in the Old Testament we see you know The vast majority of those tribes the northern kingdoms just being intermingled with the heathen immediately and becoming what's known as the Samaritans So, you know Judah Benjamin and the Levites I mean those were really the only ones that you might be able to say maybe with a glimmer of possibility Just a shred of possibility that maintained their identity. Just those three after the kingdom was divided And that's where you get the term Jews, right just being fair from the southern kingdom of Judah That's where you that's where that term comes from Jews does not apply to all 12 tribes That's why I use the term Israelites. That is what refers to all 12 tribes the sons of Israel And again versus we won't read it for sake of time at Revelation chapter 7 verses 5 through 8 Not only does it say that they're the children the tribes of Israel goes on and lists every tribe that they're from It lists the 12 tribes I mean could it be any clear that these are the Old Testament Saints from the tribe from the children of Israel? So if the Bible is real clear about that, I don't think I really need to expound that I don't you know If you're struggling with that see me after the service and we'll read it a little slower for you and you can get that But it's real clear the Bible is saying that the children of the tribes of Israel now what I really the point of the sermon though is this this morning is as the title said the Example of the old of the 144,000 the example 144,000 see I think there's certain attributes that we can we can We can look at of these 144,000 and apply to our own lives because here's the thing with this 144,000 You know, I think sometimes and that's why these false doctrines kind of come up that that you know It's it's really special and unique to be a part of them and it is you know That's something to be coveted almost that it's something that we should you know as Jehovah's Witnesses would teach you It's something you should strive after it should be something that you try to attain unto but you know So we can kind of get this attitude or this idea that the 144,000 are this elite group or that are you know? That they're better than everybody else. Well, it's just that they're they have a unique purpose You know in the end times and God has just used them in a unique way I don't think he's trying to lift them up and exalt them and say that they're any better than anybody else And we look at their attributes In fact, we will see that we share many things in common with them already And that there are things that we could learn from them that we should be have in common with them Now one of the first things You know if you would turn over to Revelation chapter 14 where we started So, you know the point is you know, we will not be of this number, you know, if you mark it down I don't care how good of a Christian you are. You will never be a part of the 144,000 You know, so give up on that dream, you know set a new goal it's not gonna happen It's just not gonna happen But but here's the thing we can have and already do in some ways the same attributes as this 144,000 I mean if you just have to be one of the few the proud 144,000 I got good news for you. Well, I got bad news and good news bad news is you can't you know? I don't care how long you spend in the in the Jewish boot camp or whatever like that. It's not gonna happen You're going to have to but the good news is is that you can have some of the attributes of them Now it says here in Revelation chapter 14 verse 1. Let's kind of break this down here. It says I looked and behold a Lamb stood on the Mount Sion and with him in hundred and forty four thousand Having their father's throat a name written their foreheads. So again, what are some of the attributes of them? One of the first things that we can see here in verse in verse 1 is that they stood with the lamb They stood with the lamb when John looked up and saw these 144,000. Where were they? They were standing with the lamb and who was the land when it was Jesus He is the land that slain from the foundation of the world So that's something that we should have in common with these people that we are willing to stand with Jesus Who are willing to stand and be identified as a Christian that we'd be willing to stand and be identified As one who believes in Jesus Christ and who believes the Bible and that's becoming more and more important today and more and more difficult to do without suffering consequences because As we live in a world that becomes more hostile to the towards the things of God more hostile the Christianity that we live We're going to that making that stand is going to cost us more and more I mean if you've read the book of Revelation, you know, it gets to a point where it actually starts to cost people their head yeah, literally and You know So that's something that's an attribute that we should strive to have in our lives now that we would stand with Jesus They would not be ashamed of him Now I'm not going to say that's easy all the time. I'm not you know in America. We've got it pretty good so far I mean we have people that get upset, you know They call the church and they complain about us even knocking on their door and putting flyers and they're we're littering You know We ignore their no soliciting signs knock on their door and we upset them and disturb their perfect and peaceful life You know in suburbia Look, you know, I think I you know, that's not much of a stand to take quite frankly I don't think that we're really you know, that's we're not going to go down in Fox's books That were book of martyrs over that, you know, he ignored every no soliciting He knocked on his knuckles I bled from these knuckles for Christ, you know knocking on those doors, right? This is not gonna happen. It's pretty but you know some people that that right that one It's sad to say but something as simple as that can just be You know, especially if they're newer to soul winning they'll go all the no soliciting sign. Oh, no, we're gonna do it I know it was like that for me at first I was actually nervous about it. Like how are they gonna react now? I look at him and I go I can't wait to see how they react I really can't and now and now they're even in some of the neighborhoods up in Phoenix now They're getting the ones where it's not just like, you know, you have a little narrow ones as no So now they have ones that they're it's like it's like a warning sign. It's like black and white I'm surprised there isn't like a little like picture of a stick man like one yelling at the other But it says, you know, no soliciting. This includes religious blah blah blah It is like list everything that they don't want anything to do it You know now they used to have the ones that are real decorative that kind of make a joke out of it We found Jesus we on a vacuum unless you have cookies go away Unless you're selling cookies, we're not interested. I'll knock those two now. It's just like a placard like don't feed the Bears You know the Buffalo or heat don't get out of the car And go to Yellowstone It's like that no soliciting and I wouldn't I did I saw that the other day was and it was on a gate like wasn't Even near the door. It's like zip ties around it You can tell the guy went out there took the time to go down to Home Depot It's hardware wherever get the zip ties get the sign pay for it. Come home put that thing on there Then I come along Oh, I'm gonna trigger this guy I go through the door. Hey, we're from faith-born Baptist Church. I'm polite about it. He just looks at me. Did you see the sign? Yes, sir, I thought But I'm just saying you know Like is that is that the consequences that we fear of having upset somebody with an else listening sign? They might leave a they might leave a nasty voicemail on the church the church's Google voice You know that You know only one or two people might go through every once a week and actually listen to people And once we see all the expletives in the text, we just delete it and don't listen anyway, so anyway There will be consequences for standing with Jesus though I'm not saying that you know living for God and living for Christ is not without consequences And that we shouldn't but we shouldn't allow that to stand up to stop us from living for Jesus We should be willing to be like 144,000 and stand with Jesus no matter what whether it's easy or hard Jesus said I also I say unto you whosoever shall confess me before men Him shall the Son of Man also confess before the angels of God But he that denies me before men shall be denied before the angels of God You know, I you know, you could say they that applies to salvation I personally that he's actually talking about people who they're receiving rewards in heaven You know, they're going to be denied others will be confessed others will be denied in heaven You're not going to get that phrase. You're not going to get that reward And here's the thing about standing with Jesus. There is no neutral ground some people will say well You know, I really just don't want to get involved but Christians, you know, I'm just I'm not against Jesus But you know, I'm not going to be seen standing with you. You know, I don't want to be I don't want to take that Stand I just don't want to I want to I want to be part of that fight But Jesus said in Luke 11 he that is not with me is against me So if you're not standing with Jesus and I you know, I don't know how to explain it to you how that works That's what Jesus said though, and he said that if you are not with him you are against him that there's no middle ground You know, you can't it's not you know, if you're in a civil war You can't put on the the blue coat and the gray pants and just stand in the middle It's not even hope not to not get shot on the battlefield. You know, you have to choose a side And he said goes on it says he that gather it not with me scatter it, you know So if you're not gathering with them, you're actually it's not that you're not doing anything You're actually scattering and I don't know how to explain that, you know That's probably a another sermon could do we could write about that and expound that more but we should be willing to stand with Jesus like these 144,000 And if we do that if you would keep some revelation 14 will be the rest of the morning to go back to revelation chapter 1 if we decide to stand for Jesus Let me tell you something might be hard. It might be difficult. We might have to suffer some persecution You know more and more than just the nasty phone call more than just the rude person in the door We might actually have to cost us something, you know more than just family being upset with us more than just friends You know looking at us cross-eyed because they can hope they think that we're weird now or something Okay, it might actually cost us something But if it does cost you something if it comes to the point where it cost you being in prison It cost you being exiled it cost you something in your life. Well, you'll be in good company You know if you stand with Jesus, you're in good company. Look here revelation chapter 1 verse 9 I John will also and your brother and companion in tribulation John knew something about tribulation didn't he goes on it says in the kingdom of patience of Jesus Christ Was in the aisle called Patmos now, he wasn't on vacation He didn't go on a cruise and end up on Patmos inside to write a letter. He was exiled Patmos It was a place where they would send people to go and die He was the aisle that's called Patmos for the Word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ He was willing to stand on Jesus to the point where it cost him to be exiled to be cast out and to be put away from everybody else Maybe we would all want to be noticed as John John had that great title the disciple who Jesus loved Yeah, now I'm not saying Jesus doesn't love love you But I mean there's there's Jesus loves you and then there's like, you know, you're one of his close companions I mean John at the Last Supper was leaning upon Jesus press that he was right there with Jesus. He was close to him and We would all want we would all want that for ourselves I would hope but I'll be willing to go as far as John did so I'll be willing to stand to the point where it would cost us something. That's what it's going to take We'll go ahead and move on here again. What are some of the attributes of the 144,000 that we can learn from? It says here in verse 1 that they Were they stood on the Mount Zion with the lamb in the 144,000 having their father's name written in their foreheads So that's another Great attribute that we should and could have in company in common with them Having the father's name written their foreheads. Well, you know symbolically we could say that's kind of like having God on your mind You know having God on your mind meditating upon the Word of God thinking Letting them putting the Word of God and the things of God fill your mind Does that let that be upon your mind? That's an attribute that we should have in our lives like these hundred forty four thousand We should meditate upon the Word of God I'll read for you from Psalms chapter 119 go to Colossians chapter 3 people in Revelation 14 go to Colossians 3 Bible says in Psalm 119 I have seen all the end of perfection, but that commandment is exceeding broad Oh, how I love thy law. It is my meditation all the day I think we say that like the psalmist that we love God's Word that we love the law We have a lot of Christians so-called today that they want to dismiss the law. Oh, that's the Old Testament. That's just the law The law of God is perfect A lot of good a lot of perfect converting the soul law of the Lord is good And he said I love the law. That's an exclamation point in that verse. It is my meditation all the day Can we say that that we meditate upon the law of God the words of God the commandments of God? all the day We should Thou will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me. We all want peace But do we stay our mind on God? Should we say like 144,000 that he is on our minds that we have his name written in our foreheads Look at Colossians chapter 3 let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom Teaching and admonishing one another in songs and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord So there again letting the Word of God dwell on the Word of Christ the Word of God Dwell in you richly let it be on your mind and in your heart and on your tongue That's the action that we can have now what's great about Colossians 3 is not only to show us that attribute of having the Word of God in your mind, but also our next attribute which is If you look there it towards the end it says Verse chapter in Colossians 3 verse 16 let the Word of God Christ dwell in you richly with all wisdom Teaching and admonishing one another in songs and hymns and spiritual songs So it's not just having the Word of God on you But there's actually an outpouring there's something that comes out of you as well That Word of God dwells in you stays in there But there's also something that comes out of your mouth and your lips, and what is it? Songs hymns spiritual songs singing with grace in your heart unto the Lord And it says that we are to teach and admonish one another in Psalms You know so it's not just you know in your heart, and it stays there We're also to admonish one another with these songs I mean isn't that a blessing to us when we you know I know there's certain Times I like to go listen to people singing you know singing the the heads of the faith Singing the songs sometimes when I'm in church up in Phoenix You know I'll always try to participate but sometimes every now and then I like to just listen I like just to listen to hear God's people and just listen to it it blesses my heart But if we all just kept it in our heart the singing well, then I would have that You know we wouldn't be able to admonish one another But it leads us to our next attribute there in Revelation 14 verse 3 it says and they saw as it were a new song before the throne And before the four beasts of the elders so they were ones that sang these man-made these hundred forty four thousand That's an attribute that we can and should have are being people that sing people that are willing to sing out You know and that's that's a that's a commandment from God in fact It is the number one command for God there is the one that's repeated the most out of all all the commandments of God to Praise God to praise the Lord The Bible says in Psalm 149 praise thee the Lord Sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the congregation of saints It says in Psalm 149 again It says a new song in the congregation of the Saints you know we should be singing through the congregation It says here of these four hundred forty four thousand that they sang Before the throne didn't it it says they sang before the beasts and the elders now It doesn't mean that they were taking their turn It means that they were in front of them seeing before them that they were able to see them singing And that's the same attitude we should have when we should come into church To be people that are willing to sing out before others and not just you know mumble through You know him that's right. They say well. I'm due to the faith. I don't I don't know these songs These are all new to me perfect. It says right there sing of the Lord a new song Right so these are all new to you So you can you can still keep that commandment you can sing under the Lord a new song in the congregation of saints Now we have just as much reason to saying as they did don't they I mean they're standing with the lamb They're up in heaven. I mean obviously they're singing because they want to it's in their heart But let me tell you something we have just as much reason as the hundred forty four thousand to sing The Bible says I will sing unto the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me I mean can we not say that about ourselves that God has dealt publicly with us, and I couldn't help yesterday I was on my way home, and it was I was in Arizona. It was a nice breezy 80 degrees. I had the window down Everything was in bloom. You know there's all these beautiful flowers blooming around me. It smelled nice I was going home to my beautiful wife and children I walk in and there's there's a chicken homemade chicken pot pie in the oven the place smells great tastes great I mean I had to stop and think we go man. God has been thoughtful of me You know I'm not living in some you know shack with a dirt floor. You know flip it over rocks and even bugs You know I'm not I'm not scrounging for my meal I've got a felt very bountifully mean you know if you're living in the United States You could probably say that about yourself, and that's a reason to sing isn't it I will sing of the Lord Why because he had built down to flee with me? Psalm 95 says oh come let us sing and Lord let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation I mean if you've been saved today That's a reason to sing we have just as much reason to sing as these men goes on and says there in Revelation chapter 14 that they were it says in verse 2 No, no Just started verse 2 and I heard a voice from heaven and voice of many waters and the voice of a great thunder And I heard the voice of harpers Harping with their hearts and they sung a new song as was the song before the throne and for the beasts the elders and no Man can learn that song with 144,000 which were redeemed from the earth now Are we don't we have that common with them are we not also redeemed from the earth? The God not also redeemed us in Christ of course he did so here's another attribute that you know everyone wants them They think this is some elite group that they would love you know the JW's want to go so far to teach false doctrine about It you know, but we see here that we have so many that it's already in common with these people And one of them is that we are redeemed in Christ Bibles is in Galatians 3 that Christ half redeemed us from the curse of law being made a curse for us as it is written So you know Christ has already redeemed us. We we could be just we are just the same as they redeem from the earth I'm running out of time here, so I'm just going to move along here, but What's another one of these attributes? It says that they were deemed for the earth look at verse 4 these which were they are they which were not Defiled women for they are virgins these are they which follow the lamb whithersoever they go they follow the land I mean is that not something we should have in common with these people And this is something that we should have in common with 144,000. This is an attribute This is an example of them that from them that we need to learn you see following the lamb following Christ That's what makes the disciple a disciple That's really what it means to be a disciple to follow somebody to put yourself under their teaching and to learn from them So that's something that we need to do now I won't turn you back to Revelation 7, but it's it's interesting there It says that they were not to hurt the earth and the sea of the trees I'm telling they've sealed what what did they call 144,000 revelation 7 they call them the servants of our God Yeah, so these these elite man these the special group of people these very unique people in Scripture What are they well? They're servants it says that they are the servants of our God That's what we need to be if we want to be You know having actually have something in common with these men We need to follow God we need to be his servants Now let me say this if that was easy everyone would do it If that was easy everybody would do it. I mean it's not exactly a packed house in here You know we're not exactly busting at the seams Because there's a lot of other places where you can go and someone will just tell you that you know God doesn't expect much from you You know that that you know following Christ is just you know to be it to be a follower of Christ Just means to have a warm fuzzy feeling in your heart and to go to church once a week And you know you don't have to worry about read the book, or you know do anything else besides that just go And you know let me lift your hands the errands way back and forth and enjoy the the fog and the purple lights Just repeat you know holy holy holy holy holy just you know in new world to whatever it is they sing there I can't remember Emotional just get you going son, and that's it and you're a disciple. You're a follower of the land You're just you're just one of God's servants You know a servant is somebody who actually goes out and serves I actually put some sweat into it put some effort and some toil into what they're doing You know it requires something from you. It's not easy to always be a servant The Bible says in Mark 10 and then Jesus beholding him loved you're talking about the rich young ruler He said unto him one thing thou lackest go thy way So what so what so ever thou has to give to the poor and thou shall have treasure in heaven and come Take up that cross and follow me Well that sounds like a little much to take up that cross and follow him that sounds like work That sounds like following Christ it means being a servant He said in Luke 9 he said to them all if any man any man will come after me let him deny himself And take up his cross daily and follow me for whosoever will save his life shall lose it But whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it for my sake the same shall save it See so it actually cost you something to follow Christ to be a follower of Lamb to be a servant of God You know there's a cross that you have to bear. There's work. There's effort that goes into it And people like to fool themselves into thinking they're following when in fact. They're not they want to say well I'm a servant. I'm a disciple. I follow Christ they want to trick themselves They want somebody to get up and tell them oh, yeah, sweet precious thing You know you're doing everything that God wants you to do when in fact. They're not doing anything They're not taking any stance. They're not living by the book. They don't have any standards in their life They're not serving God. They're not going out and doing anything for Christ whatsoever and one way we can kind of You know test this whether or not we are following God is we can ask ourselves one simple question are we winning souls Are we trying to win souls be it the souls of our children the souls of the lost that are out in the world? Our family our friends are we trying to get them to Christ because the Bible said Jesus said if you follow me I will make you fishers of men Then if you follow me you will be a fisher of men if you're following Christ I mean that is the work of Christ that is what we are put here to do To fish for the souls of men they go out and catch men not literally right, but to get them safe Yeah, that's what it's talking about there Jesus said if you continue in my word, then are you my disciples you know if we're if we're following the book We're trying to live for God For trying to do the things that the Bible tells us to do and we're winning souls Then we know that we are the servants of God and that we are following the lamb just as these 144,000 Now what are the last attributes I'm going to look at here is the fact that it says there towards the end It says here towards the end Let me just get get to that spot there Look at verse five And in their mouth was found no dial That's an attribute We should definitely have and that's actually probably one that might take a little bit more work than the others That might be one that we have to kind of watch and look out for And you know guile isn't just you know It's not just saying that you know they don't say dirty words. You know it's it's it's actually guile is a lot worse than that guile is something You know the first time we see it as an exodus. I'll just read to you It says here in Exodus 21, and if a man lie not in wait But God deliver God deliver him into his hand that I will appoint a place whether he shall flee So he's talking about if a man kills another man right what happens when that happens But if you get you know when another person kills another person he says and if a man lie not in wait meaning He's not standing there. You know it's not premeditated. It's something that just happened. It's a crime of passion It was an accident Then he says I will appoint a place whether he shall flee so that the avenger of blood doesn't come and shed his blood And goes on and says in verse 14, but if if a man come presumptuously Premeditated presumptuous presuming to do this thing right Upon his neighbor to slay him with what with guile it says to slay him with guile Thou shalt take him from my altar that he may die So guile is a pretty strong word and when it says that in his mouth was found no guile I mean it's an element of premeditated murder. That's what the Bible is teaching us here. That's that's how how guile plays a part The Bible says in Psalm 32 Blessed is the man unto the Lord of puteth not iniquity and in whose spirit there is no guile So guile is not something we want to have in our heart or in our in our in our minds or in our spirit And what is guile guile is just cutting this it's being very sly. It's being trickery. You know very good. It's trickery It's trying to trick somebody you know like hey come on over and here have a have a glass of this you know or I'll tell you there's rat poison in it. You know it's premeditated murder That's kind of thing they're tricking people and getting into a place where they can do harm to them That's what the guile is he's saying that there's no guile in their mouth They're not using their mouth to try and hurt people and to and to trick them And really you know the being without guile You know it's great that God praises these men for that, but it has its own merits here on the earth You know it says in Psalm 34 What man is he that desireth life and loveth many days that he may say good You know every man would go up right everyone would say yeah, I desire life. You know I love many. I love many days And I want to see some good while I'm here You know that that's that's what they would want Well it says here keep thy tongue from evil and thy lips from speaking guile You know if that's what you want for your life to see many days and to and to have that which is good in your life Well, then you need to keep your tongue from evil and from speaking guile It says to part from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it See guile in Scripture is something that's often associated with speech It's something that is often associated with the words that are coming out of people's mouths go ahead turn over to 1st Peter chapter 3 1st Peter chapter 3 You're going to 1st Peter 3. I'm going to read to you from 1st Peter chapter 2 it says where for laying aside all malice What is malice I mean, that's you know doing somebody harm. You know going out of your way. That's like maliciousness You know you're not just it wasn't an accident. You're actually going out of your way to inflict harm on somebody where for lay aside all malice and all guile and Hypocrisies and enemies and eat and all evil speaking And as newborn babes desire the silver for the word that you may grow thereby So we see here again that guile something that's being associated with what's coming out of your mouth something That's it's being spoken look at 1st. Peter chapter 3 verse 8 It says finally be of all of one mind having compassion one of another Love as brethren be pitiful be courteous not rendering evil for evil or railing for a railing But contrary wise blessing knowing that you are there unto calm They should inherit a blessing for he that will love life and see good days That's not familiar Let him refrain his tongue from evil and that his lips speak no guile, and that's all 32 right there again Let him askew evil and do good let him seek peace and ensue it So we see that that's an attribute that we are command to have in Scripture And it's one of the many attributes that the 144,000 have you know there's a lot of attributes that they have that we could have Like them you know what were some of them you know that we were our lips would speak no guile You know and that we would stand with the land that we'd be willing to stand with God We'd be followers of the land and that we'd be willing to go out and serve God and be servants of his And really the 144,000 they set the example how do they how did they get to such a special place? You know how is it? How is it that this morning that they are set as an example to us as something that we should be like? That we should have these same attributes as them where they set the example by following the example Which is Christ Christ is the ultimate example? What does it say about him that in his mouth was found no guile, so it's an attribute Not only that they have but it's one that Christ has so the 144,000 They aren't just this like elite superior group of people That you know somehow are just separate from us and that we have nothing in common with and that They're just going to get a special treatment and that they're better than us they're actually yes, they're a special group They're a limited number of people literally, and they're a very unique group that in the fact that they come from the Old Testament But they have the same attributes that we do already That we are redeemed from the earth that our lips should speak no guile, and that we should you know Have the have all these same attributes as them So we should follow their example so that we can be like the ultimate example, which is Christ. Let's go ahead and pray