The Three Dimensional Christian Life

[0:00] Thank you for choosing to listen to today's message by Rev. Dr. David Entry. We know you will be blessed as you seek and serve God. We believe that this message will stir up a desire for more of God even as you listen.

[0:13] Be blessed. The three-dimensional Christian life. Three-dimensional Christian life. The Christian life is lived in three dimensions.

[0:25] Or the tripod, the tripod of the Christian walk, of the church life. Is you cannot live the church life effectively if one of them is not in place.

[0:36] Just one. Let alone two. Or all the three. So for us to be able to live the Christian life. The Christian life. The structure of the Christian life is constructed with these elements.

[0:49] The structure of the Christian life. The life that we have received from God. Watch this. This is so important. The Christian life is not from that life that makes a person a Christian.

[1:00] It's not from within. It's not from you. It's not from yourself. It's not from myself. Whatever makes me a Christian is not from myself. It is from outside of myself.

[1:12] It is from God. It is. So as I believe in God, I receive what God is. See, what God is. Let me put it this way. What God is, is infused into me as I believe him.

[1:26] So as you put your faith in God, what he is, is infused into. It's his divinity. Or his divine nature is infused into you. That is what makes you a Christian.

[1:37] So whatever makes you, that life, eternal life, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life or have eternal life. That is it for this life, for God has revealed, 1 John chapter 5 verse 11 and 12.

[1:52] It says that for this life is in his son, Jesus Christ. This life, God has given us eternal life. And this life is in his son, Jesus Christ. So as you believe, as we believe in Jesus Christ, we receive this life.

[2:07] And that life we receive is what is called the Christian life. Actually, how does it come? We believe in Jesus Christ and then the life becomes a seed in us.

[2:18] So we said, you remember the last teaching I was talking about 1 John chapter 3 verse 8 and 9, which talks about whoever is born of God, sinnet not.

[2:29] For his seed abides in him. Or he cannot sin because the seed of God is inside him. That seed of God is what generates and produces the life of God.

[2:42] That seed of God. So when you put your faith in Christ, it terminates the power of the enemy inside your life, inside you, within you. And terminates the seed of God's life inside you.

[2:54] So the truth is, when you are Christian, the life of God, which is called Zoe in the Greek, Zoe, the life of God is growing in you, is spreading in you.

[3:05] And you have to give it an expression. That's why you can't live the Christian life from your mind. You live the Christian life from your spirit man. So you turn to your spirit and out of your spirit, draw the life of Christ out and live it.

[3:20] You live the Christian life. So you can't live it if your spirit man is malnourished. But it's three-dimensional. So this life we have received, it is constructed or the structure of this life is constructed with three key elements.

[3:38] And that's what I want us to discuss today. In Colossians chapter 1 verse 4, it says, Since I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and of the love which ye have to all the saints, for the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of truth of the gospel.

[4:07] Let me read it again. Since we heard of your faith, that's one, your faith, since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and of your love which ye have to all the saints.

[4:26] So faith, love, and the verse 5 says that for the hope which is laid up before you. So hope, faith, love, and hope.

[4:38] Faith, love, and hope. The three dimensions of a Christian life. Faith, love, and hope. When you study the scriptures very carefully, you always see it's everywhere.

[4:51] Because you can't live the Christian life without any of this. And that's what I'm going to take my time to explore one after the other. And I hope it will be a blessing to somebody.

[5:03] In the book of 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. Easy to remember. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13.

[5:14] It says, For by... For... Sorry. I was reading. Chapter 12. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. It says that, And now abides faith, hope, love, or charity.

[5:28] Okay, James says charity. All right. New King James. 1 Corinthians chapter... 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13.

[5:40] Thank you, Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians chapter 13 verse 13. Now abides faith, hope, and love. These three. And the greatest of these is love.

[5:52] Abides. What abides? Christian life. Now abides faith, hope, and love. Faith, hope, and love. The tripod of the Christian life. The life we have received.

[6:03] For it to be developed. And for us to live it effectively on earth. We need these three... These three pillars.

[6:15] All right. The tripod of the Christian life. Or the... It makes the Christianity a three... A three-dimensional life. The three... Three-dimensional Christian life.

[6:27] Or three-dimensional church life. Is the same. Your Christian life is supposed to be a church life. When we talk about the church, I'm not talking about church services.

[6:38] I'm talking about the body of Christ. I'm talking about church as in the people of God. The redeemed community of God. I'm talking about that. As it's also... There's another word for it.

[6:49] It's the kingdom. The kingdom. All right. So the kingdom life. Kingdom life. Church life. Christian life. The same. So...

[7:00] And the kingdom life is three-dimensional. The church life is three-dimensional. The Christian life is three-dimensional. Or you can put it this way. You can add one more.

[7:11] Your spiritual work. Your spiritual work. And so... Without any of these pillars... Or stance of the tripod... You cannot live the Christian life.

[7:23] And you have severe problems. All right. So... In our last teaching, I spoke about the signs of a genuine Christian. So what show... Are you... How do you know if you're a real Christian?

[7:33] The signs. And I gave you the faith and love. And... You know... Love for Christ. Hatred for sin. And faith in the revelation of God's word.

[7:45] Of faith in Jesus Christ. And love for his word. You know... These are fundamental. And here... I'm talking about the key... Three... Three...

[7:55] Key elements... That make you be able to live the Christian life effectively. Or the church life effectively. Because it's three-dimensional. It's so important. So... Now abide faith, hope, and love.

[8:08] 1 Thessalonians... 1 Thessalonians chapter... 3... Chapter 1... Let's look at chapter 1 verse 3...

[8:18] And then we go... Oh... So 1 Thessalonians chapter 1... Verse 3 says that... Remembering without ceasing...

[8:28] Your work of faith... Labor of love... So... And labor... And labor of love... And patience of hope... In... Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ... In the sight of God...

[8:39] And our Father. So... Your... Your work of faith... Labor of love... Interesting. Labor... And work... Work has to do with business.

[8:50] Things that you are doing... That depict faith. That... So faith is work. I'll talk a bit more about that. Faith is work. Faith must have work. So...

[9:00] Your work of faith... Your labor... Labor means... Intense working... Labor means to do something... Or be practicing something... Or engaging...

[9:10] And engagement with... Toil... And troubles... And... Difficulties. So labor... The labor... That's why love... Love is labor.

[9:23] I mean... Let's even talk about... Just forgiving someone... Who has really hurt you... Who they don't care. Who doesn't care. He's hurt you... And he doesn't care. She's hurt you...

[9:33] And she doesn't... And he's hurting you... And she's hurting you... And he doesn't care. Labor of love. Labor of love. One of these days... Your ex will come to church... And become born again. The one you hate most...

[9:43] Your former husband... Or your former wife... Or your ex... She's going to come to church... And be very... You can't say... Hey... Because I don't like you... You can't come to church... But when you are genuinely born again...

[9:54] You will... You will love people... That are lovable. Naturally... You can't... Somebody you can't love. But in Christ... We can love... I'll go into that in a minute. So...

[10:05] Our labor of love... And our... Our labor of... Remembering... Your work of faith... Your labor of love... And the patience of hope...

[10:16] It takes time... Hope... It waits patiently... So patience... Of hope... And then... Interesting... This is... The letter to...

[10:26] The Thessalonians... See how he starts... He starts by... Commending their faith... Their faith... Love and hope... Let's see how... When he was about to finish... First Thessalonians...

[10:37] The first letter... Chapter 5... He says... Chapter 5... Verse 8... It says that... But let us... Who are of the day... Be sober... Putting on the breastplates... Of faith and love...

[10:49] Hmm... Putting on the breastplate... Of faith and love... And for an helmet... The hope of salvation... So... Breastplates and helmets... They are...

[10:59] Elements of warfare... Breastplates and helmets... Are elements of warfare... Warfare... And he says that... You're... Now... Initially... He was commending them...

[11:10] For their faith... But now he's telling them... You have to put on... The breastplate of faith and love... And the helmet... Of hope... Helmet to protect your mindset... Your... Your... Your...

[11:20] Your mindsets... Your... Thinking... Your mind... You know... Helmet... You need to protect it... Faith... And love... To protect your heart... Protect your inner...

[11:30] Your inner core... Protect your heart... You know... So... It says that... You have to now... These are... These are... Breastplate and helmets... Are like... Combat...

[11:42] Combat... Items... So... It's talking... It's... It's describing... Warfare... You have to fight... So... I like your faith... I'm happy to hear about your work of faith...

[11:52] I'm happy to hear about your labor of love... And happy to hear about your patience of hope... However... After a while... What I want to tell you is... You keep... You have to fight...

[12:02] Keep in it... And fight it through... Because... Without any of these... You won't be able to... Build your Christian life... Effectively... And your reward... Is at stake... Now... Let's...

[12:13] Take them... One after the other... I will not take too much... I don't intend to take too much time... On the hope... Faith... And... I'll just speak a bit more on the hope... So... Faith... Faith is so important...

[12:24] 1 Thessalonians... Chapter 1... Faith is... You know... What it takes... To receive... From God... The life of God... So...

[12:34] Christian life... Church life... Begins... With faith... And it's... Sustained... With faith... Towards God... It begins... With faith...

[12:45] And it is sustained... The foundation... Of your Christian work... Is faith... Faith begins it... And becomes the foundation... Of your Christian work... That's why the Bible says... The just...

[12:55] Shall live by faith... 1 Thessalonians... Chapter 1... Verse 8... 1 Thessalonians... Chapter 1... Verse 8... It says... For from you... Sounded out... The word of the Lord...

[13:05] Not only in Macedonia... And in Achaia... But also... In every place... Your faith... Towards God... Your faith... Towards God... Is spread...

[13:16] Abroad... So that we... Don't have... We have... So... So that we need... Not... To speak... Anything... Your faith... Towards God... Is spread... Abroad...

[13:26] People... Your faith... Is actually becoming... A tool of evangelism... Your faith... People are hearing... About your faith... That is why... Ephesians... Chapter 1... Verse 40... It says... When I heard...

[13:37] About your faith... In the Lord Jesus Christ... And your love for the saints... Your faith... See... It's always fundamental... Your faith... In the Lord Jesus Christ... And your love... For the saints... In Colossians... Chapter 1...

[13:47] Verse... 4... That's... I think we just read it... 4... Talking about... Your faith... In the Lord... Your love for the saints... Verse 5... Your hope... And then... It talks about...

[13:57] Holding... Hope... You know... So... Your faith... In the Lord Jesus Christ... It says... When I heard about... Ephesians 1... 14... When I heard about... Your faith...

[14:08] We hear... It says that people... Your faith... Is becoming like... An altitude... It says... Your faith... Towards God... Is spread abroad... Your faith... Towards God...

[14:18] Is spread abroad... Romans... Chapter 1... Verse 8... That's 1 Thessalonians... 1... 8... Let's look at... Romans... 1... 8... Romans... 1... 8...

[14:29] Says that... First... I thank my God... Through Jesus Christ... For you all... That your faith... Is spoken...

[14:39] Of throughout... The whole world... Your faith... Why? You can't be a Christian... And without faith... So... Your faith... Is spoken about... Your faith... Is so fundamental...

[14:50] And people who know you... They know your faith... And he said... This your faith... You have in the Lord Jesus Christ... Is spoken... Throughout the whole... World... Verse 12... Says that... That is...

[15:01] That I may be comforted... Together with... You... By the mutual faith... Both of you... And me... Mutual faith... Christianity has to do with faith...

[15:13] Verse 17... It says that... For therein... The righteousness of God... Is revealed... From faith... To faith... As it is written... The just shall live by faith...

[15:23] The righteousness of God... Is revealed... From faith... To faith... So you can see... The centrality of faith... In what we call... Christian life... Faith...

[15:34] Faith... Towards God... In Romans chapter 3... Verse 22... And verse 26... Romans 3... 22... And verse 26...

[15:44] Even the righteousness of God... Which is by faith... Of Jesus Christ... So you cannot be... A Christian... Without faith... In Jesus...

[15:54] The righteousness of God... Which is by faith... Of Jesus Christ... Unto... And upon... All them that believe... For there is no difference... Whether you are a male... Or female...

[16:05] Whether you are a black... You are black... Or white... Or Asian... Or black... Or white... Or red... Or yellow... Or if there is blue... There is no difference... Whether you are... Slave...

[16:15] Or free... There is no difference... There is no difference... Whether you are employed... Or unemployed... employed, there's no difference. Whether you are old or you are young, there's no difference.

[16:28] Bible says there's no difference. It's faith that undergates all. Faith is a leveler. When we come to Christ, we all start at the same level because we begin with faith. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 2, looking unto Jesus, what? The pioneer, the author, the initiator, the captain, the author, and the finisher of our faith. So our faith starts with Christ and it finishes with Christ.

[16:53] When we begin, we hear God's word. God's word brings the ability to believe. And once we believe in Christ Jesus, we receive the life of God by which we live the Christian life, which is three-dimensional. So faith starts, it begins in faith and is the foundation of our Christian life.

[17:16] In the book of Galatians chapter 2 verse 16, Galatians chapter 2, I just want to just go through the scriptures a little bit and let's indulge in scriptures. It's a good thing.

[17:32] Galatians chapter 2 verse 16, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus, it even calls it the faith of Jesus. So the faith by which we are saved is not so much our making, but it's the faith that Jesus grants us, right? So it's as it were, we, even though it's like our faith, it is our faith expressing the faith of Jesus that starts within us. Philippians chapter 2 verse 13, it is God who is our work in you both to do and to will.

[18:02] So anything we can do towards God is actually God who enables us. We are saved by grace through faith. Ephesians 2 verse 8, for by grace are you saved through faith, right? And not of yourself, lest any man should boast. So it says that we are justified here. It says we are justified, Galatians chapter 2 verse 16 again, knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith of Jesus Christ, even having believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith of Christ and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. In Galatians 2.20, I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me and the life that I, the life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me, by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So I live by faith. We live by faith. We start by faith and we live by faith. Faith is the foundation of our Christian work. Galatians 3.22 says, but the scriptures has concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. So no one is exempted.

[19:38] All scriptures has concluded all under sin, that it is the faith of Jesus Christ that saves every one of us. So as you come into Christ and by, in fact, that, that, that, that scripture, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, John 3.16, that whosoever believes in him, that scripture, the word, Greek word translated, believes in, the Greek word translated in, is actually accurately rendered into. So we believe into him. For whosoever believes into him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

[20:13] Hallelujah. So we believe into Jesus Christ. Thank you, Lord Jesus. We are the people of faith. We are the believers. I'm glad I belong to Jesus. I'm glad I am a believer. I'm glad you are a believer. If you have believed into him and we walk by faith and not by sight. Hallelujah. Second Corinthians 5.7, 7. We walk by faith. We start by faith, walk by faith, stand by faith. Hallelujah. And we, we keep the faith to the end. So it is a walk of faith. Can I show you a bit more about faith in Ephesians chapter one verse, Ephesians chapter one verse, um, 14. I read, I mentioned it earlier on. Therefore, when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I do not cease to make mention of you in my prayers. And, um, it's, um, it's, it's, it's, it's all throughout the scriptures. Ephesians chapter six, verse 23, peace be, peace be to the brethren and, and love with faith from God, the father and the Lord Jesus

[21:26] Christ. Faith, faith, faith, faith, faith, faith, faith. Let me just add one, one or two more scriptures on this, our walk of faith in the book of Colossians or in the book, sorry, in the book of first Thessalonians that where we started from chapter two, verse, verse, um, sorry, chapter three, verse two, verse five, verse six, verse seven, verse 10. First Thessalonians chapter three, verse two says that, and send Timotaios, our brother and minister of God and our fellow, uh, fellow, uh, fellow laborer in the gospel of gospel of Christ to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith. It's just as presupposed that if you are in Christ, you must have faith.

[22:20] So we send him to establish you or comfort you concerning your faith. Verse five, for this cause, when I could no longer bear, I sent to know your faith. I'm interested in knowing because we continue by faith to know your faith. Verse six, but now when Timotaios, Timotaios came from you unto us and brought us good news or good tidings, which is good news of your faith. When he came back, he came to think about your faith. I sent him to know about your faith and he came to tell us about your faith because this whole thing is about faith from first to last. Uh, according to the NIV in Romans chapter one, verse 17 is for the righteousness of God is there in the righteousness of God is really revealed from, uh, by faith from first to last. This whole thing is faith from first to last faith from first to last. In Jesus said, from faith to faith, from faith to faith. Hallelujah. Praise the Lord.

[23:19] I like, I like to talk about faith. Verse 10, second, first Thessalonians three, verse 10, night and day prayed exceedingly that we might see your faith and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. We want to see your faith so we can perfect or bring to fruition or, um, mature it, beef up what is lacking in your faith. We want to see your faith face to help what is lacking in your faith. Hallelujah. That is what the pastor is there for. So that Bible says we are in, in, in the book of Corinthians that for we are helpers, I think two 24. So second Corinthians, we are helpers of your faith. We are helpers of your faith for by faith. We stand. We are helpers of your faith. Hallelujah. Praise God. In second, first Thessalonians chapter five, verse eight, this brings the tripod. The tripod appears here again. I mentioned earlier on, but let us who are of, yeah, but let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love for unhermit the hope of salvation. Second Thessalonians chapter one, verse three. You would like this one. Second Thessalonians chapter one, verse three. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly. Hallelujah. And your charity, which is your love, your love of every one of you and the love of every one of you, uh, uh, towards each other abound. So your faith grows exceedingly. I like what he said. When your faith is growing, your love will also abound towards people. One of the things, signs to show that you are not working in faith is when you are growing cold in love. In Galatians five, six is a faith works by love.

[25:16] So the, the, a sign that your faith is not growing. Maybe you're some believing God for this. I'm believing God. You also have to check your love. If there's anything called lavometer, love, then what to measure your love, lavometer or lavometer, affectionometer to just measure your love.

[25:34] If your love is not growing, it's a sign that you are dwindling in faith because faith grow exceedingly. You will also abound in love. Hallelujah. He says that, um, it is of grace that it might be by faith.

[25:49] Galatians, sorry, Romans chapter four, verse 12. So this whole thing starts and thrives in faith. In first Timothy chapter one, verse 14, it says that, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ was exceeding, exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Jesus Christ. The grace or the grace of our Lord Jesus, it was exceeding abundant with faith and love, which is in Jesus Christ. You can't do it without faith. And let me just add one last scripture. I just, there are so many scriptures I can show you, but let me just add in James chapter two, verse 22, one last scripture on faith. Then I'll move on to love. James, James, James, James 2, 22, James 2, 22 says that seest thou, seest thou how faith wroth with his work and by works was faith made perfect. Faith is a Christian thing. The Christian know, is faith. So as I said, we begin by faith. Okay. So faith is the beginning of our Christian life. And then faith is the foundation of our Christian life. Actually, Hebrews chapter four, chapter six, it talks about the foundation of repentance from dead works. Hebrews chapter six, and I think verse one and two, repentance from dead works and faith towards God, faith towards God, faith towards God.

[27:24] Hallelujah. So our faith towards God is one major pillar of an effective Christian work. But I've actually hinted it as I was talking. The second one is love. I've said it a few times. And when I saw your, your faith increasing and you are bound in love, love is so fundamental, it's just fundamental to Christianity. Love for what? Not only love for the others, but first of all, as I taught in the previous teaching, it starts with love for Christ. Love for Christ. Bible says in first Corinthians chapter 16, verse 22, that he who loves, let him who does not love Lord Jesus Christ, I think I should read it.

[28:17] Anathema, Anathema is just trying to say anyone who does not love the Lord Jesus Christ is cursed. Yes, that's how, pastor, how can you say that? Sorry, I didn't say that. It's the Bible we said that.

[28:30] If any man loves not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema, which means cursed. Let him be Anathema. Then he said Maranatha. Maranatha means Lord come, come Lord, come Lord. So it's a nice, it's a nice scripture.

[28:44] If any man loves not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema. Maranatha. Maranatha means come, Lord Jesus Christ. And so as, back to what I was saying, love, love is we are love for Christ Jesus.

[29:05] In first Peter chapter one, verse eight, whom having not seen you love, it starts with our love. In first John chapter four, verse 19, it talks about, it's not that we started, but he first loved us.

[29:18] He loved us first and then gave us the ability because of his love. So the love of which we love him is a love according to Romans 5, 5, that is shared abroad in our hearts by the spirit of God.

[29:29] So we love him with the love he loved us. Behold, first John 3, 1, behold what manner of love the father has given to us that we should be called the sons of God. If you are genuine Christian, number one, your affection is directed towards Jesus Christ. In Matthew chapter 10, verse 37, it says that anyone who does not, who loves mother and father more than me is not worthy of me.

[29:57] This is a serious one. Then he said, if you love mother and father or father and mother more than me, you are not worthy of me. If you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of me. That's Jesus. That's from Jesus. Are you a believer? You see, if you're a believer, you don't struggle to believe in what, accept what Jesus says. Believe. That's what it means to be a believer.

[30:15] I've accepted what Jesus say to be my, the foundation for my living, the foundation for my life, whether it's convenience, whether it's nice, whether it's not nice. Even if I don't fully understand it, I accept that what Jesus says is a foundation for my life. That is what it means to be a Christian.

[30:33] That is what it means to, I believe in Jesus. And then you begin to live the life by faith. So, as I said, it's our love towards Jesus, but you can't say you have love for Jesus. If you actually love Jesus, it shows in these ways. One, it shows in your love for his word. If you love God's word, you will actually, it's a sign that you love God. Love God's word. When you, you, you have any opportunity to receive the word. How do you know your love is growing cold? When your love for God's word is growing down, it means that your love for Christ is going, growing cold. In Psalm 90, 119 verse 97, Oh, how love I thy law. It is my meditation all day. How I love thy law. Oh, how, Oh, how his delight is in the verse, Psalm 1 verse 2, his delight is in the law of the Lord.

[31:26] And in this law does he meditate day and night. Job said, I've, how I've loved thy law, thy word, thy law, more than my necessary food. I've loved it more than my necessary food.

[31:38] In Job chapter 23 verse 12. And Jesus said in Mark chapter 12, verse 28 to 30, particularly there, it says that, what's the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart, your, all your mind before your soul, all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

[31:52] In Matthew 22, 20, 37 and 38, he said, upon all these hang the law and the prophet, love for God. In first, second Timothy chapter one, he talks about the end of the, I think there's five or so, the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart, a sincere heart. So the end, the commandment is love out of a few, faith, unfaint faith and love out of a pure heart. And let me read it since I've already quoted it. Um, when I called to remembrance the faith, uh, so it's first Timothy, it's good. I checked it. First Timothy chapter one, verse five says that now the end of the commandment is love out of a pure heart and of a good conscience. So it's love out of a pure heart and a good conscience. So we love the Lord. Jesus asked Peter in Matthew chapter, sorry, John chapter 21, verse 15 to 17, Simon, Simon, do you love me more than these things? So it's love.

[32:52] So if you actually love Jesus Christ, it's first of all for his word. In John chapter, um, eight verse 47, it says that you, you don't love my word because you don't, you don't belong to God.

[33:04] But if you belong to, it is love for God. If you love God, you will love his word. If you love me, you will obey my commandment. John chapter 14, 23. If you love me, you will keep my commandments. So if you love God, it's first of all, it was his, his channeled, it's expressed towards his word.

[33:19] And then two, towards his work. For God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love. You see that labor we spoke about in the first Thessalonians three, one, three, the labor of love has appeared again.

[33:32] Hebrews chapter six, verse 10, for God is not unrighteous to forget your labor of love, which you showed towards him in that you ministered to the saints. Okay. So your love to hit for his work, your love, we are called to build his work. Okay. So our love for his work is our love for, for, for, for Christ. Your love for Christ. You can't say I love Christ, but it doesn't show your love for his word. It doesn't show your love for the church or the work of God. You're, you, you, you protect the work of God. You do anything at all. Sometimes you are very upset by something, but you know, if I do this, it's, it will affect the work of God. So I won't, I won't, let me just protect the work of God. That shows that you are a maturing Christian and you are doing well in your Christian life. So the, the, your love for God or your love for Christ will always manifest or will be displayed and demonstrated is, is demonstrably evident in your love for the church, love for his work. You can't love God and not love his work. First Corinthians chapter eight, verse one says that now touching the things, first Corinthians chapter eight, verse one, uh, it says that, um, now touching, uh, touching things offered unto idol. We know that we all have knowledge, knowledge puffs up, but charity edifies. I think, let me check how the

[35:03] NIV put it for this. I would like to read it from the NIV. Let me see how the first Corinthians chapter eight, verse one. Now about food sacrifice to idols. We, uh, we know that we all possess knowledge, knowledge, but, uh, but knowledge puffs up whilst love builds up. If you love God, you build up his work. So love builds up, it builds you up and it builds his work up.

[35:33] It builds the church up. So love towards the Christians as you saw throughout. So your love for his work. So your love for the word, your love for his word, his word, not for my one, your love for Christ shows your love for his word, your love for his work and your love for his redeemed. Those who have been called, you love them. He said, therefore, when I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love towards the saints, this, so when we talk about love, it's love for God or love for Christ, which is evidenced in our love for his work, our love for his, his word, his work and his redeemed is very important. So one, faith towards God. Two, love towards others.

[36:21] Three, hope for his return. These three things. So hoping, hope for the return of Christ, hope for the second coming.

[36:33] In Colossians chapter one, let's look at Colossians again. Colossians chapter one. Colossians chapter one, verse five. Colossians one, five says that for the hope, we read the verse four earlier on, since we heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your love and, and of the love, which ye have towards all the saints, not only some of the saints, not only those who have money, but all the saints, your love towards all the saints for the hope, which is laid up for you in heaven.

[37:22] You are doing all these things because you see, hope is what consummates our Christian work or makes it complete. Our Christian life, our Christian work, the Christian living, the church life without hope, you'll be struggling.

[37:38] He who has this hope in himself, what's the hope? The second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. When we see, we shall be like him. First John chapter three, verse three. He who has this hope in himself, purifies himself and the wicked one touches him not or purifies himself even as he is pure.

[37:54] So he who has this hope. So hope, verse five, again, Colossians one, five for the hope, which is laid up for us in heaven. Where of he, where of he had before in a word of truth, the gospel.

[38:10] So our hope, verse 23, Colossians one, excuse me, Colossians one, 23 says that if you continue in the faith grounded, continuing in the faith, that's interesting. If you continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, continue in the faith, but don't move away from the hope of the gospel because they all work hand in hand.

[38:39] So faith, we begin and faith is the beginning and the foundation of our, of our work Christian. This life we have received from God, the construction of this life in our physical, on earth, it's, it's, it's, it's, faith is the beginning and the foundation. Love is what gives us the progress and it gives us the opportunity to actually enjoy God and enjoy one another.

[39:09] All right. And construct their life meaningfully. And then hope is what seals, what consummates, what, uh, maturates. All right. Uh, what brings it into maturation or maturity or the, the other perfect, it faith, uh, hope perfects and finishes this life.

[39:32] Without hope you will, you will, um, you won't go to, you'll be able to go to the end. Verse 27 of Colossians chapter one said to whom God would make known what is the riches of, of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

[39:51] It's very important to understand that, uh, Christ in us is the hope of our glory. Hallelujah. And I want to finish on this hope by just giving you, um, four areas.

[40:04] Okay. The Christian hope, four areas, the Christian hope is connected to all. Let me read something in Ephesians. Then I'll, I'll talk about that. Ephesians chapter one, verse 18. Let me read from verse 17. I hope you don't mind. I love the word of God.

[40:23] I pray for verse 16 talks about, I cease not to make mention of you in my prayers, that God, the father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the God, the father of glory. Sorry, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of glory may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation, the knowledge of him, verse 18, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened, that ye may know what is the hope of his calling.

[40:46] That is, I'm praying that you will know that what is the hope of his calling, that God will grant you the spirit of revelation, knowledge in the revelation and wisdom and the knowledge of him, that your, the eyes of your understanding, inner eyes being enlightened.

[40:58] So you will know what are you supposed to know? First, you know, the hope of his calling, the hope of his calling. What is the hope of his calling? The hope of his calling, I want to use four points to explain it.

[41:10] Number one, the hope of his calling is the hope, is Christ, as I just read Colossians 1, 27. Christ himself, Christ himself is our hope. Christ, he himself is our hope.

[41:24] He's the hope of the Christian. You have Christ, you have hope. All right. So number one, Christ himself and the salvation that he will bring when he returns.

[41:37] That's where our hope is. Our hope is in Christ. He himself is our hope. And the salvation, when he's coming, he's bringing hope, salvation with him. Salvation from what? You know, salvation is in three aspects.

[41:51] Number one, spirits. So we have been saved. That's in our spirit. Number two, we are being saved. That is in our soul. Every human being is spirit, soul, and body, according to Colossians 1 Thessalonians 5, 23.

[42:04] Spirit, soul, and body. So we have been saved in our spirits. That's why your spirit is perfect. When you are born again, your spirit, man, is perfect. As perfect as you could ever be. And it doesn't get any perfect.

[42:16] It's perfect. But we begin to transform. We get transformed in our soul. It works spread from our spirit into our soul. So we are being transformed in our soul.

[42:26] And it shows in our works and our bodies. Now watch this. It says that, what was I even reading? 1 Peter chapter, yeah, I remember.

[42:41] 1 Peter chapter 1. Okay. 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 7. I didn't quote it earlier. Verse 5.

[42:51] So what I'm trying to say is that we are saved three areas, three stages. Our spirits are saved. Our soul is being saved. And our bodies shall be saved. We shall be saved from all this pain, sicknesses, confusion, or sicknesses, tiredness, weakness.

[43:06] After we die and go. When we are relieved, our body, I will show you, is saved from this burden. So hope. When we talk about salvation, watch this. Verse 5.

[43:17] 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 5. Who are cared by the power of God through faith unto the salvation ready to be revealed in the last day. So there's a certain type of salvation that will be revealed in the last day.

[43:28] And that hope is in Christ and the salvation that will be revealed. Look at verse 9. Receiving the end of your faith, the salvation of your souls. So there's salvation coming. So as we walk with Christ, our hope is the salvation.

[43:41] Salvation that will be revealed at the end and the salvation of our souls. So number one, hope of the believer is we hope in Christ. Okay. Christ himself is our hope. And then number one.

[43:52] Christ himself is our hope. Christ and the salvation that he will bring when he returns. Number two is our hope of being transferred from the earthly and physical realm into the heavenly and spiritual realm.

[44:06] A time is coming when this earthly body will be put aside. And we shall, in fact, Philippians chapter 3. Philippians chapter 3, verse 21. It's such a beautiful scripture.

[44:19] Philippians chapter 3, verse 21 says that, talking about Christ. Who shall change our vile bodies? This vile. This body is vile. That's why we have to always wash.

[44:29] That's why we always have to wash. We always have to use the restroom. We always have to eat. We always have to rest. Because it's like every time. That's why we are all locked down.

[44:40] Because coronavirus. Coronavirus is in town and we have to leave town. Because this body is vile. That sickness can attack the body by washness. It says that Christ shall change our vile bodies that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body.

[44:58] According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. So he shall change these vile bodies to be fashioned into his glorious body. When he resurrected from the dead, he could walk through walls, walk through doors.

[45:12] He just went up to heaven. That glorious body. So there are Christian hope. We look forward to his coming. When our earthly vile bodies shall be transformed into his.

[45:26] Our physical and earthly bodies. Our physical and earthly life shall be transformed into the heavenly and spiritual sphere in glorification.

[45:36] So in Romans chapter 8 verse 23. Let's read it. It's very interesting. I hope. And not only that, but ourselves also.

[45:49] Not only that, but ourselves also. Which have the first fruits of the spirit. Even we ourselves grown within ourselves, waiting for the adoption to which the redemption of our bodies.

[46:03] We are waiting for the redemption of our bodies. For we are saved by hope. But hope that is not seen is not hope. For what a man sees or see it, why does he yet hope for?

[46:16] But if we hope for that which, for that we see not, then we, then do we with patience wait for it. So I wait, we are waiting for the coming of Christ when our bodies shall be changed.

[46:31] In verse 30, verse 30 says that moreover, him whom he predestined, they also, them he also called. And whom he called, them also he justified.

[46:42] Whom he justified, them also he glorified. So that is our hope, Christian hope. We are looking forward to the day when Christ will appear. Our bodies will be changed and we shall be glorified with him. And then the third aspect of our Christian hope is the fact that we are going to reign, enjoy, or reign in enjoyment with Christ.

[47:03] Okay. We are going to reign in enjoyment with Christ when it comes to reign. In Revelation chapter 10, in Revelation chapter 5, sorry, chapter 5, verse 10, it says that, and has made us, yeah, verse 9 talks about, he has redeemed us from all nations, all tongues, all people.

[47:21] Everyone is included if you can believe in Christ. Your background, your race does not matter. All nations and all peoples and all tongues. Your language doesn't matter. All nations. This is what is proper, united nations, all nations.

[47:33] He has redeemed us from all nations that, and has made us unto our God, kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. When it comes, we shall reign.

[47:44] This is our hope. We are looking forward to it. That's what Jehovah's Witnesses has hijacked, have hijacked. And they say, when we shall be on this earth and everything will go and the meat shall reign on this earth.

[47:54] Yeah. There is going to be a reigning aspect of the second coming of Christ. It's called the millennial reign for a thousand years. That is when you, he said, enter into the joy of your Lord.

[48:06] That joy of thy Lord is when he comes and he's reigning. He said, we shall reign with him. I saw throne, and they sat on the throne. Other thrones and others sat on it and reigning with Christ.

[48:18] We shall reign with him. That's why he said, we shall receive a crown of glory. He's coming with a reward, and that reward is to reign with him. And those who will not pay the price to work, they are Christians, but not working properly.

[48:30] Whilst we are reigning, they will be in outer darkness. And they are looking at us. Oh, God. Oh, gosh. Now there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. According to Matthew 25, I think 29 and 30, there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth in outer darkness.

[48:44] So, as I said earlier when I was teaching the other time, the servants who were set cast him into outer darkness, and the one who Jesus said, well done, that good and faithful servant. Matthew 25, verse 21, verse 23, verse 29.

[48:56] All of them, they have the same status. So, that means they belong to him. They were his servant. So, what was the difference? It's their work, their labor. One, he was lazy and weak. He didn't serve God and he didn't do the work of Christ.

[49:08] So, he says that cast him into outer darkness. But those who did he said, enter into the joy of your Lord. Millennial reign. We shall reign with him. And so, as we serve him, we look forward. Our hope is the hope of the second coming of Christ wherein we shall reign with Christ.

[49:22] We shall reign with Christ. 2 Timothy, let me just quickly. 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 18. I pray somebody is receiving something. Today, I came to speak to my Christian brother and my Christian sister.

[49:35] Fight a good fight of faith. 2 Timothy, chapter 4, verse 18. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom.

[49:46] To whom be glory forever and ever. He said he will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom. The early church and pure Christianity looks forward to the coming of the heavenly kingdom.

[49:58] We look forward to that. Our hope is not built here. The Bible says that if only in this life we have hope, we are of all men most miserable. 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verse 16, 17, and 18.

[50:10] Somewhere there. He said, if only in this world we have hope, then we are of all men, over verse 19 potentially, we are of all men most miserable. Our hope goes beyond the veil.

[50:20] In Hebrews, chapter 6, verse 18. That by two immutable things, in which it is impossible, impossible, impossible for God to lie. We might have strong consolation.

[50:33] Who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. We have fled for refuge to lay hold on the hope that is set before us.

[50:46] So we know God cannot lie and we lay hold of the hope. We lay hold of the hope that is set before us. Watch this verse 19. Thank you, Jesus. Which hope, this hope, which hope we have as an anchor and as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, which enters, which enters within the veil where with the foreigners Christ has gathered.

[51:09] So our hope is not here. It enters where Christ is seated. But it says this hope is an anchor for the soul, sure and steadfast. We go through it so we can have consolation.

[51:22] Those of us who have fled to lay hold of this hope that is set before us. There's a hope set before us. Let's lay hold of the hope. You can't be a Christian without hope. Lay hold of the hope and live the Christian life fully to the end.

[51:35] And so the third implication or the third way our hope is in Christ. The first one is Christ himself is our hope. And when he's returning with the salvation that he's come with, that's the hope.

[51:47] The second one is the hope where we are expecting. The second one, yeah, our bodies to be transferred or transformed. At least now we become heavenly.

[51:59] And the third one is the millennial or the reigning enjoyment that we are going to have with Christ when it comes to reign. And the last hope of the believer is when everything is now done and then all the Christians have gathered before the Father.

[52:15] And we are in the new heaven and the new earth in the new Jerusalem and join God. Bible says, Revelations 21 from verse 1 to 7 and Revelation chapter 22, verse 1 to 5.

[52:26] It talks about there will be no more pain. There will be no more sickness. That is, that's the final. Now, when we are now together, the tabernacle of God is with men. Christ himself is there. Bible says the Lamb, the Lord and the Lamb are the light.

[52:39] There's no need of moon, no need of sun. It's a beautiful city and a beautiful place to be in. That is after the millennial reign. Then those who have suffered in outer darkness can join all of us.

[52:51] And then we go and rejoice in the Lord. That is the Christian hope. Christianity, the Christian life, the kingdom life, the church life is three-dimensional. You cannot leave one and leave the, you cannot leave one and, or you cannot leave one out.

[53:06] Or leave one or two and leave the other one. We have to leave it in its full dimension, the three dimension. Faith, love and hope.

[53:18] Faith, love and hope. If these things are bound in us and we grow in them, there's no way we can miss any great, and the great blessing, the goodness from God. In Jesus' name, amen.

[53:28] We thank God for using his servant, Reverend Dr. David Andrew, to share this awesome word. If this message has blessed you in any way, please spread the word by sharing it and send us an email to amen at karis.org.

[53:42] Remember to stay connected with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Twitter for regular updates on what God is doing here at Karis Ministries. Stay blessed. Amen.

[53:53] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.