Last Will and Testament
of our Lord Jesus Christ

     Maybe the reason we don't understand is because we have earthly and fleshly minds.^{3 Romans 8:5-7 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.} The people of the earth, what do they leave? They leave things. They leave boats, cars, houses, clothes, furniture. All of us understand what those things are don't we? You can see them, taste them, feel them. But Jesus didn't have any of those things. He had something else. He had something we can't see. He had something that was more real, more everlasting. That car? It will eventually fizzle out. It will end up in a junk pile. That house? It won't last very long. It will decay, it will be leveled to the ground. Those clothes? Ah, they tear and eventually we throw them away. The furniture? It becomes dingy, stinky, moth-eaten. We have to take it to the dump some day.^{4 Matthew 6:19-20 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal."}

     Jesus has something to give all of us, something that never perishes, never wears out - THE KINGDOM.^{5 Luke 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom."} Oh yes, you say, "The Kingdom is coming, it will be here someday, maybe a million years from now." I tell you - no. I tell you that Jesus has already given His Last Will and Testament. It was given at the Lord's Supper. It was His Last Supper before His death.^{6 Luke 22:15 Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."} You see, He had a Kingdom. He brought it with Him. He received it of His Father. And He was to pass it on to those who will inherit the Kingdom.

     Now who was the first to receive this Kingdom? Those who stood by Him in His trials and tribulations.^{7 Luke 22:28 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials."} It was the twelve apostles, and they received it at His Last Supper. He read His Will and He handed the Kingdom over to them.^{8 Luke 22:29 "And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me."} It's recorded in the scriptures^{9 Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us, it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.} - at Luke, Chapter 22. Read it. He hands the Kingdom over to the twelve. And what do they do? They argue about how they're going to divide the Kingdom up amongst themselves. Who is going to be the highest?^{10 Luke 22:24 Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest.} Who is going to be this? Who is going to be that? It was quite a heated discussion - you should have been there. This wasn't just a simple meal. These people were arguing over their inheritance!

     Jesus corrected them. He said, "This Kingdom is not like the Kingdoms of the world, don't you understand? My Kingdom is not of this world!^{11 John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here."} This Kingdom is different. You are not to be like the Gentiles. You are not to lord it over one another. I want you to do exactly the opposite. For those who desire to be the highest, I want you to serve. I want you to be servants of all.^{12 Luke 22:25-27 And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves."} That is how My Kingdom works. There is no other way. I've already taught you all you need to know about the Kingdom of Heaven. Have you forgotten my Sermon on the Mountain?^{13 Matthew Chapters 5, 6 and 7.} I gave you instruction - not on the ways of the old kingdoms of the world - but on the Way of our Kingdom. This Kingdom is different from all the other kingdoms. The Kingdom is a looking glass. Look at the world and it will tell you how our Kingdom runs, because we are on the other side of the looking glass. The world runs their kingdoms by hate. We run ours by love. They run theirs by oaths.^{14 Matthew 5:33-34 "Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.' But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God's throne."} We run ours by 'Yeas' and 'Nays.'"^{15 Matthew 5:37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one."}

     The Last Will and Testament of the Lord Jesus Christ was handed over to the twelve at the Lord's Supper. He gave it to them, He made them aware. It is documented. He was the first born of many.^{16 Romans 8:29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.} He received the Kingdom from the Father and He passed it on to His followers. Not to just anybody, but only to those who stand in trial and tribulation^{17 Luke 22:28-29 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me."} - to those who stand until the end - they shall receive the Kingdom. The Kingdom is ours. It is our inheritance.^{18 Hebrews 12:28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.}

The Kingdom's competition

     The Kingdom has been here the entire time - it occurred 2,000 years ago. But Satan has been given leave to sift us all like wheat,^{19 Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat."} to convince us that we are not His offspring, that we have no inheritance, or the inheritance is not yet available. Satan will do anything to cause us to leave our inheritance.^{20 Hebrews 12:16-17 lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. For you know that afterward, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.} Satan doesn't want us to have that Kingdom. If you had the Kingdom of Heaven, why would you want Satan's Kingdom? Why would you want all the Principalities that he controls? Why would you want Satan's kingdoms - they're all perishable.^{21 Colossians 2:20-22 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations; "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men?} They all come of naught, they all come to death.^{22 Isaiah 14:12,16-17 "How you are fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How you are cut down to the ground, You who weakened the nations!" "Those who see you will gaze at you, And consider you, saying: 'Is this the man who made the earth tremble, Who shook kingdoms, Who made the world as a wilderness And destroyed its cities, Who did not open the house of his prisoners?'"} But the Kingdom of Heaven is everlasting.^{23 Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.}

     Nothing will last as long as the Kingdom of Heaven. The Government rests upon His shoulders.^{24 Isaiah 9:6-7 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.} And His shoulders alone. All those other governments are in subjection to our King, also.^{25 Hebrews 2:8 "You have put all things in subjection under his feet." For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.} They'll never admit it. They'll throw tantrums and they'll throw you in prison. They'll do everything they can, but just remember - they're jealous. Satan is highly jealous of the Kingdom of Heaven. Competition! He doesn't want competition. He wants to destroy all of his competition! Satan will do anything and everything possible to deceive you. He will even try to deceive the very elect.^{26 Matthew 24:24 "For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect."} He will even deceive those who call themselves pastors, ministers and priests. He will try to deceive those who are shepherds of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is important! Satan isn't going to just deceive you as a small person. He must go to the higher powers, he must go to those who are shepherds over the flock. The ones who are going to be under the greatest persecution, the greatest temptations, are those who are shepherds over the flock. If Satan can control one pastor, then Satan can cause the shepherd to lead the sheep where he wants them.²⁷ Acts 20:28-30 "Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves."

     What about today? Who is Satan? What are our conflicts? Who is sifting us like wheat? What about the nations of the world? The first thing I ask is, "What about this country? What about the nations that are in America? How about those that go by the name of 'States' and 'United States'? Do these nations believe that Jesus Christ is the Head of all authority and all power? Do they exalt Him? Do we find the face of Jesus on the money? Do we find Jesus in the schools? Can we pray to Him in the schools? Do we find Jesus being exalted above all other lords - anywhere? Or is it only a pretense.^{28 Luke 20:47 "who devour widows' houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation."} Is it in name only?

     "Oh, you can have your religion over there. But you're still subservient to our State. Oh yes, you can go to that building on Saturday or Sunday and practice singing for choir on Wednesday or Thursday. But you make sure it is only four hours a week. And you make sure that pastor, when he does any acts involving marriage or death, that he does it in the name of the State. We don't want it done in the name of Jesus. We don't know who He is!"^{29 John 9:28-29 Then they reviled him and said, "You are His disciple, but we are Moses' disciples. We know that God spoke to Moses; as for this fellow, we do not know where He is from."}

     You see the States and the United States do not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh^{30 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.} and that He is the Head of the Kingdom of Heaven.^{31 John 19:15 But they cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar!"} They can't acknowledge it because these governments are 180 degrees out of phase with what Jesus commanded. If they did acknowledge that Jesus was the Lord, they would have to depart from iniquity, they would have to quit doing their evil acts, they would have to quit throwing people in prison, they would have to quit fining them, they would have to unlock the doors - they would have to let everybody out. But that they will not do.^{32 Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people robbed and plundered; All of them are snared in holes, And they are hidden in prison houses; They are for prey, and no one delivers; For plunder, and no one says, "Restore!"}

     Either Jesus is right, or they are right. For if people understand this message, understand that they are the offspring of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs - then the competition has no position.³³ Romans 8:16-17 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs; heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. They will be the footstool of Our Lord Jesus Christ.^{34 Hebrews 10:12-13 But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.} That is something they cannot tolerate. They are jealous of our liberty. They will have to acknowledge that if they were truly working for the Lord Jesus Christ, they would be servants - servants of us all. They would be doing things for us, not demanding things out of us. They wouldn't be demanding that we perform for them. They are to be our servants. But are those who work in the positions of State government our servants? How long has it been since they were servants? Now they are lords and if we don't do as they tell us, they will imprison us and fine us and do heinous acts against us - they will sift us like wheat.

     But what does Jesus say? The ones who stand until the end will be saved.^{35 Mark 13:13 "And you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But he who endures to the end shall be saved."} Not those who give up, not those who say, "The Kingdom's never coming," or, "The Kingdom isn't here, and the apostles didn't receive the Kingdom at the Lord's Supper." Those aren't the ones; they shall lose the Kingdom - they shall perish. But those who stand until the end will receive the Kingdom.

Don't be deceived out of your inheritance

     What am I doing? I'm giving you instruction. I'm telling you, the Kingdom of Heaven is here, it is now. It is our inheritance. Read the scriptures. Read chapter 22 of Luke. He gave the Kingdom of Heaven to His apostles, it was His Last Will and Testament. He was going to His cross, He was going to die. When you die, you better have your Will made out, and that's what He did at the Last Supper. He made out His Will. And what was in His Will? The Kingdom of Heaven. Don't let anyone deceive you out of your inheritance.^{36 Genesis 27:35-36 But he said, "Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing." And Esau said, "Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has supplanted me these two times. He took away my birthright, and now look, he has taken away my blessing!" And he said, "Have you not reserved a blessing for me?"}

     Remember our founding fathers.^{37 Luke 22:14-15 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer."} Remember what they have done, remember the lives they laid down so that we can have the Kingdom. The Last Supper. He talked about His Body, He talked about His Blood. He said these things must happen. His Body must be broken, His Blood must be spilled. If they were not, then He wouldn't die, and there would be no inheritance. But He loved us so much He had His Body broken and His Blood spilt to establish the Kingdom of Heaven - He died so that we can have the inheritance.^{38 Luke 22:19-20 And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you."} If He didn't die, we cannot inherit. He had to die. A kernel of wheat must fall to the ground and die in order to produce much fruit.^{39 John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."} We are His offspring. He died, and yet He lives. He was raised up again, and He was raised up in us.^{40 Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.}

     Where two or more are gathered in His name, He is amongst us.^{41 Matthew 18:20 "For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them."} He is with us. He is the Head of the Kingdom of Heaven - the greatest nation on earth. The only nation on earth as it is in Heaven. Hallowed be Thy name.^{42 Matthew 6:9-10 "In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."}

     He is the only One, no other King has done as our King has done. No other King birthed a nation with His life. For what is the indication of a true Shepherd? The true Guide, the one who owns the flock? He shall lay His life down for His flock, that is the True Shepherd and that He has done.^{43 John 10:15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep."} Who are the false shepherds, the false kings, the false priests, the false governors, the false presidents? - Those who flee when trouble comes.^{44 John 10:12 "But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them."} How many of these people of the world do you know who will lay their lives down? I know of none except the Lord Jesus Christ - and it is documented. It is a gift from God, it is recorded, His Last Will and Testament is recorded. That is the cornerstone that the world rejected.

     In the parable of the wicked husbandmen,^{45 Luke 20:9-16 Then He began to tell the people this parable: "A certain man planted a vineyard, leased it to vinedressers, and went into a far country for a long time. Now at vintage-time he sent a servant to the vinedressers, that they might give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the vinedressers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Again he sent another servant; and they beat him also, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. And again he sent a third; and they wounded him also and cast him out. Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them? He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!"} Jesus is referring to the kingdoms of the world. What does the world do? They come in and say, "Oh, we can secure your liberty, we'll take care of you."^{46 Galatians 2:4 And this occurred because of false brethren secretly brought in (who came in by stealth to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage).} They take hold of the vineyard and claim it. After a hundred years pass, maybe two hundred years, what do they do? They perceive that vineyard as their own. "You there - you can have some grapes. You over there - you can't." "You want to visit our high retreat areas in the wilderness? You're a visitor now. No, this wilderness does not belong to God anymore, anyone who comes in is a visitor and you have to ask permission from us." "These highways? We're not stewards over the highways, we own the highways. You want to use them? You have to obtain a license from us." "That deer over there, - it belongs to the State. You want it? You have to obtain a license from us."

     They claim to be the owners of the vineyard - they have forgotten who the Lord is. And when they become very wicked, they even kill the Son of the vineyard.^{47 Luke 20:13-15 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What shall I do? I will send my beloved son. Probably they will respect him when they see him.' But when the vinedressers saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, 'This is the heir. Come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours.' So they cast him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore what will the owner of the vineyard do to them?"} The parable goes on to say that these wicked husbandmen shall be utterly destroyed, and new husbandmen shall be put in their place.^{48 Luke 20:16 "He will come and destroy those vinedressers and give the vineyard to others." And when they heard it they said, "Certainly not!"}

     The Lord Jesus Christ has given us a Kingdom. That Kingdom is going to be reestablished once again - it's just a matter of time. And it will be God's doing.^{49 Matthew 21:42-43 Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord's doing, And it is marvelous in our eyes'? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it."} These people perceive the Kingdom as their own, and that they can hand it out to whomever they want to. But in the final hour they shall be burned and the wheat shall be put in the barn.^{50 Matthew 13:30 "'Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'"}

     So stand. Be prepared.^{51 Matthew 26:41 "Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."} Wait on the Lord.^{52 Isaiah 40:31 But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint.} Be careful not to be deceived. Don't be convinced that the Kingdom isn't here. Or the Kingdom is some future point. It is our inheritance, it has been given to us - it has happened. It happened at the Lord's Supper.^{53 Luke 22:28-29 "But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me."} He made out His Will. He gave it to the disciples. It has been passed on from generation to generation - an everlasting government.

     Remember Satan will sift you like wheat. He'll try to convince you in any way he can that the Kingdom isn't here and that you cannot be a citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven. "While you're here on earth your citizenship is in the world! You're in our territory, you're in our State and you have to abide by what we say. This court has jurisdiction because you are a resident of this State."

     No. They may have jurisdiction over those who belong to the kingdoms of the world, but they have no authority over the Kingdom of Heaven.⁵⁴ Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have rejected the Kingdom! They have rejected the Cornerstone!^{55 Luke 20:17-20 Then He looked at them and said, "What then is this that is written: 'The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone'? Whoever falls on that stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder." And the chief priests and the scribes that very hour sought to lay hands on Him, but they feared the people; for they knew He had spoken this parable against them. So they watched Him, and sent spies who pretended to be righteous, that they might seize on His words, in order to deliver Him to the power and the authority of the governor.} They have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ! All the evidence is there.^{56 1 Corinthians 2:8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.} The world hates our Lord.^{57 John 15:18 "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you."} The world absolutely detests the Lord Jesus Christ! They deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh! They deny that we are His flesh!^{58 Ephesians 5:30 For we are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones.} Therefore they are the Antichrist, period.^{59 1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.} Don't let the swine move you off the mark. Remember, they will drag you before their synagogues, they will do anything they can to make you answer to them.^{60 Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter."} Answer to why you did not obey their decrees - as if their decrees were anything.^{61 Colossians 2:20-23 Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations; "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using; according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.}

     They make laws and laws, making you into criminals according to the way they think. "Look, you broke our law!" They designed those laws for Christians. They make you out to be outlaws and bandits.^{62 James 2:5-7 Listen, my beloved brethren: Has God not chosen the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? But you have dishonored the poor man. Do not the rich oppress you and drag you into the courts? Do they not blaspheme that noble name by which you are called?} They make you out to be vicious, vile people, because you don't obey "the laws of the land." We're not subject to the laws of the land! We're subject to the Kingdom of Heaven. We are the Heavenly Government. The Kingdom of Heaven, it is here, it is now - it is supposed to be instituted in churches.

Pastors are deceived

     But the churches have left, they have become harlots, they are no longer working for the Lord Jesus Christ. In name they say, "We work for Jesus!" But take a look at their fruit.^{63 Matthew 7:16-20 "You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them."} Look who they really seek out for their permission to exist. They're all incorporated in the State, they're not incorporated in Jesus. And the pastors - they've been deceived. As one of our Church members puts it, "These pastors are pimps!" They go out of their way to have us commit adultery with the world. They turn us into prostitutes. They are supposed to be helping us, saving us, keeping us from the world, keeping us in the hands of the Lord Jesus Christ, keeping us in the Kingdom of Heaven - yet they have actually become pimps. They've handed us over to the world.^{64 Jeremiah 23:14 Also I have seen a horrible thing in the prophets of Jerusalem: They commit adultery and walk in lies; They also strengthen the hands of evildoers, So that no one turns back from his wickedness. All of them are like Sodom to Me, And her inhabitants like Gomorrah.}

     Return, depart from iniquity. Leave these pastors who are no longer barking. A dog never barks at his own master, and these pastors are not barking at Satan.^{65 Isaiah 56:10-11 His watchmen are blind, They are all ignorant; They are all dumb dogs, They cannot bark; Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yes, they are greedy dogs Which never have enough. And they are shepherds Who cannot understand; They all look to their own way, Every one for his own gain, From his own territory.} Ask a preacher, "Where's Satan? When do I know when he's around? When do I know I'm supposed to flee from these strangers?" How many pastors do you know who bark? "WOOF! WOOF!" They don't bark! Again, a dog never barks at his own master.^{66 Matthew 6:24 "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon."} Therefore they are one with their master. They are harlots, they're pimps. The churches are not the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ. They only name our Lord with their tongues, but their hearts are far from Him.^{67 Matthew 15:8 "'These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.'"} They are full of iniquity.

     But you say these people are "good" in these churches. They're "nice" people, they do good things, they live righteous lives. But I pose a question. You have two houses. They're both good houses, well-constructed houses, beautiful houses, furnished well. But one of them was built on sand and the other one on rock. It is immaterial how the house was constructed, it is immaterial how well it was furnished, because the one on sand will fall when the storms come, but the one that was built on the rock will stand.^{68 Matthew 7:22-27 "Many will say to Me in that day, 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!' Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall."} The storms will beat against it and it will remain. Storms! That's important. We cannot tell by looking whether it is of God or not.^{69 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."} It is by the storms, the fire, the sifting that we find out. Peter was a good example, "Lord, I'll follow you anywhere. I'll follow you to prison and to death!"^{70 Matthew 26:35 Peter said to Him, "Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You!" And so said all the disciples.} Jesus said to Peter, "You don't know what you're talking about! You will deny me three times."^{71 Matthew 26:34 Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you that this night, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times."} Peter hadn't gone through the fire. He hadn't been sifted yet. But the Lord was going to allow him to be sifted, and when he overcame and was refined, then Peter was to pass on everlasting life to future generations.^{72 Luke 22:31- 32 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."} That is what we have today.^{73 Matthew 16:18-19 "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."}

Stand for His Kingdom

     Be prepared to go through the fire, Satan has been allowed to sift you. If you put your hands to that plow, don't let go, don't look back! The Kingdom isn't yours if you do.^{74 Luke 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."} Hang on to that plow. There will be two at the millstone, one taken the other one left. Two in the field, one taken the other one left. Two in the same bed, one taken the other one left.^{75 Matthew 24:40-42 "Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming."} You can't tell by its cover what's inside. It has to be sifted. It has to be refined.^{76 Malachi 3:2-3 "But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire And like launderer's soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD An offering in righteousness."} Then you find out what's there, it is the Lord's way. Produce fruit unto the Lord,^{77 Matthew 3:8 "Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance."} lest He come up and say, "Wither and die."^{78 Matthew 21:19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, "Let no fruit grow on you ever again." Immediately the fig tree withered away.} Be prepared, put on the whole armor of God.^{79 Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.} Stand for His Kingdom! Don't let go. The Kingdom is yours, it is your inheritance.^{80 Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.} The Kingdom of Heaven, it is a gift, by His grace and His grace alone. You didn't have to work for it, it was His gift.^{81 Ephesians 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.} At the Last Supper Jesus Christ handed over the Kingdom. He handed it over to the disciples, it was His free gift. He said:

      Continue in the Lord Jesus Christ. Don't let go of the Kingdom. It is yours, it does not belong to Satan. We are the offspring. Jesus Christ and the disciples around the table are our founding fathers. They are the ones we follow. Jesus Christ is the Way, the Light, the Door, the Key. Keep your eyes on Jesus.^{82 Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.} Remember His broken body and the blood that was spilt, so that you can have the Kingdom of Heaven.^{83 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, "Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me." In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."} Follow His example, obey His commands. His burdens are light.^{84 Matthew 11:29-30 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."}

Closing Prayer

     Thank You for the Kingdom of Heaven that You handed over to Jesus Christ your Son, so that He may hand it over to us. Jesus is our mediator. Through Him we're able to find You and Your Kingdom. Thank You for the Scriptures that remind us that the Kingdom of Heaven is Your Government and that it was meant for us,^{85 Daniel 7:27 'Then the kingdom and dominion, And the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, Shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High. His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, And all dominions shall serve and obey Him.'} and because You love us, You have given us something that is not grievous. There are many governments out there - there are many gods.^{86 1 Corinthians 8:5-6 For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.} There are many kings and potentates and magistrates. There are many of them, they abound all over. Yet You showed us ways in which we can locate the only one and true King and Magistrate and Prince of all time.^{87 1 John 5:19- 20 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.} We know that You are the only Lawgiver, the only Judge and it is only You that we need to satisfy.^{88 Isaiah 33:22 (For the LORD is our Judge, The LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us).} Thank You for the instructions and the reminder to love You and only You, with everything that we have, to love You even with our life. And that which pleases You is to do to others as we would want done to ourselves, and that is not grievous.^{89 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.} And obeying these two primary commands, we may enter the Kingdom of Heaven.^{90 Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said to him, " 'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets."} Thank You for the Last Supper where You allowed Your Son to make His Last Will and Testament and allowed Your only Son to go to the Cross, to be buried and raised and to multiply in us. Thank You. Hallelujah. Glory, glory to Your Son and all the prophets and all those who have stood by and expounded the Kingdom.^{91 Luke 24:44-49 Then He said to them, "These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me." And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high."} In Your Son's name we pray. Amen.

Postscript

World Crowned Jesus King

     At the Last Supper Jesus gave His Last Will and Testament. He offered the Kingdom of Heaven to the apostles and to anyone who will obey His commands - who will give their entire allegiance to Him. But there's one more part. Jesus must die. There is no inheritance unless He dies.⁹² Hebrews 9:15-17 And for this reason He is the Mediator of the new covenant, by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions under the first covenant, that those who are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance. For where there is a testament, there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. For a testament is in force after men are dead, since it has no power at all while the testator lives. He must go to the Cross.

     Now Peter, not understanding these principles wanted to bar his Lord from going to the Cross. "I will not let this be so!" And Jesus rebuked Him^{93 Matthew 16:21-23 From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!" But He turned and said to Peter, "Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men."} saying, "No, this must be. I have to do it. A kernel of wheat must fall to the ground and die and bear much fruit." Jesus was the kernel of wheat. He needed to fall to the ground and die so that He could produce much fruit.^{94 John 12:24 "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain."} His Will was made known at the Last Supper. He read it to them. "It is yours." But He must first die.

     We've all known that the world never received Christ. They never acknowledged Him. He came for His own and they received Him not.^{95 John 1:10-11 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him.} They rejected the cornerstone.^{96 Acts 4:11 "This is the 'stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.'"}

     Jesus did a very interesting thing that no king has ever done. He went for His coronation, to be crowned King. And who placed the crown upon His head? It wasn't His apostles. It wasn't His friends. It wasn't His mother. It wasn't His nephews and cousins. It was none other than His enemies. The Pharisees, the Scribes and the Romans, both the State and the church, crowned our King, "The King of the Jews." One of His apostles, one called Judas, one of His very own, handed Him over to the enemy.^{97 Luke 22:47-48 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?"} He took up no sword and rebuked Peter for taking up the sword of the world.^{98 John 18:10-11 Then Simon Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant's name was Malchus. So Jesus said to Peter, "Put your sword into the sheath. Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?"} He allowed them to take Him to His coronation, so that we can have the Last Will and Testament.⁹⁹ John 18:12 Then the detachment of troops and the captain and the officers of the Jews arrested Jesus and bound Him.

     The apostles were outraged. "What's going on here?" They were scared. Peter wanted to follow, but Jesus said he wouldn't be able to, in fact he would deny Him three times.^{100 Mark 14:71-72 Then he began to curse and swear, "I do not know this Man of whom you speak!" A second time the rooster crowed. Then Peter called to mind the word that Jesus had said to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times." And when he thought about it, he wept.} From the world's perspective they thought, "We've got Him! He's in our hands, let's crucify Him!" But no, Jesus had it planned from the beginning, they were doing His will.^{101 Matthew 26:55-56 In that hour Jesus said to the multitudes, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? I sat daily with you, teaching in the temple, and you did not seize Me. But all this was done that the Scriptures of the prophets might be fulfilled." Then all the disciples forsook Him and fled.} They hated Him so much!^{102 John 15:24-25 "If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, 'They hated Me without a cause.'"} And they didn't know they were doing His will. They were going to kill the Son of God and it was the will of God.^{103 Acts 2:23 "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death."} And yet they thought it was of their own doings.^{104 John 11:49-51 And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, "You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation.} But they took Him.^{105 Mark 14:46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.} They scourged Him.^{106 John 19:1 So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.} They beat Him.^{107 Mark 14:65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, "Prophesy!" And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.} They gave Him stripes.^{108 Isaiah 53:5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed.} They crowned Him!¹⁰⁹ John 19:2-3 And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they struck Him with their hands.

     At the Last Supper Jesus made a statement, "I will not taste from the fruit of the vine again until I'm in My Kingdom."^{110 Luke 22:18 "for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes."} That's a clue! He is going to bring in His Kingdom, by His death, and not until He drinks from the fruit of the vine will His Kingdom be established. The Enemy, the World, the Pharisees, the Romans, the Centurions took Our Lord, because they hated Him, and set upon Him the highest authority that can ever be offered. They made a crown of thorns for Him. They put Him in a purple Robe.^{111 Matthew 27:28-29 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"} They made a sign,

"King Of The Jews"

     They acknowledged Our King! This is Our King, and they crowned Him. They placed Him up on a flagpole, raised the banner high to where everyone could see Him, and they crucified Him.^{112 Matthew 27:35-37 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots." Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him: THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.} There is Our Lord, hours away from finishing what He started. Near the last moments He cries out, "I thirst!" - And the world, thinking that they were cute and full of trickery and joking and sarcasm and cruelty, dipped into the fruit of the vine. It was sour and they were humored by it - it is also known as vinegar. And so they took a rag and dipped it into the vinegar and put it on the end of a stick and raised it up to Him so that He could drink. And He drank. And He said:

"It Is Finished!"

He gave up the ghost. At that very moment, the inheritance became ours.^{113 John 19:28-30 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, "I thirst!" Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.} He drank of the fruit of the vine and the Kingdom came. He died, and dying, He lives - in three days He was raised up.^{114 Luke 24:45-46 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures. Then He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day."}

     The world acknowledged our King. They crowned Him. We do not have to establish the Kingdom ourselves. Jesus Christ established the Kingdom for us. Because they hated Him and did all those awful things to Him, they acknowledged that He is King. They acknowledged the Lord Jesus Christ as the King of the Kingdom of Heaven.

     They crowned, and crucified and put to death a King.^{115 Acts 2:36 "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."} The Son of God. The inheritance of a King is now made available to us. We are His offspring. We are the ones who give one hundred percent of our allegiance and loyalty to the Son of God. By obeying His commands, by giving our allegiance and loyalty to the Son of God, then we inherit the King's inheritance. This inheritance is not like any other inheritance that has ever been given before or ever offered.^{116 1 Peter 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you.} We're not talking about an inheritance that Joe Blow down the road has. We're talking about an inheritance of eternal life.^{117 Psalms 37:18 The LORD knows the days of the upright, And their inheritance shall be forever.} We're talking about an inheritance that no one else has ever offered in all of history.^{118 Colossians 1:12-13 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.} This is the ultimate of inheritances. We are His offspring. It is recorded in the New Testament. The next time you're challenged, show them the Last Will and Testament. It's right there recorded in the Bible, preserved so that you do not have to establish the Kingdom yourself. The victory is His, and by being His, the Victory is ours. ^{119 John 17:10 "And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them."} Let no one talk you out of your inheritance. Remain loyal, true and faithful. You are the offspring of a King.¹²⁰ Luke 22:14-30 When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, "With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, "Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me." Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. But behold, the hand of My betrayer is with Me on the table. And truly the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!" Then they began to question among themselves, which of them it was who would do this thing. Now there was also a dispute among them, as to which of them should be considered the greatest. And He said to them, "The kings of the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and those who exercise authority over them are called 'benefactors.' But not so among you; on the contrary, he who is greatest among you, let him be as the younger, and he who governs as he who serves. For who is greater, he who sits at the table, or he who serves? Is it not he who sits at the table? Yet I am among you as the One who serves. But you are those who have continued with Me in My trials. And I bestow upon you a kingdom, just as My Father bestowed one upon Me, that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel."