Let the Spirit Make You Like Jesus

So, continuing with our theme on how to be ready for Christ's return, the important thing is not to understand the theory, but to be actually ready. I was saying how if we come to the Lord, our conscience becomes alive when we are born again. And then our conscience should become more and more sensitive.

But that doesn't happen automatically. We've got to read the word of God under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. I find many people read the word of God, but it is an academic knowledge of scripture.

And they can pride themselves in their knowledge of the Bible. Jesus knew the Bible and the Pharisees knew the Bible. Jesus fasted, the Pharisees fasted.

The Pharisees prayed, Jesus prayed. The Pharisees went regularly to the synagogue, Jesus went regularly to the synagogue. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection.

Jesus believed in the resurrection. Then what was the difference that the Pharisees were all going to hell? What is it that made the difference? Jesus knew the father. It wasn't just praying, fasting, studying the Bible, going to meetings.

So even today you find that difference between believers. There are many believers who know the Bible and are engaged in a lot of Christian activity. But they don't know Jesus personally.

Jesus is not an intimate friend. They don't have an inner devotion to Christ. So you have to be careful that you don't fall into the category of the Pharisees.

See, as I said, you read the Bible, pray, fast, go to meetings, witness, come for conferences like this, and still you can be a Pharisee. There's a little booklet of mine called 50 Marks of Pharisees. It's a small little pocket book that you can put in your pocket.

I think it may be on the book stall. Pick up a copy of it and read it many times. So that you can be saved from becoming a Pharisee and becoming like Christ instead.

So one way you can test it is by seeing how do you read the scriptures. See, Jesus said to the Pharisees, from John 5 39, he's telling the Pharisees, you search the scriptures because you think eternal life is there. There are so many people among believers who think eternal life is in the Bible.

No, the Bible is only a printed book. It's God's word, but the Old Testament that the Pharisees studied was also God's word. And if you want to know how blind you can be after studying God's word, just think of this.

Jesus pointed out once to two disciples who were walking with him to Emmaus, who were walking to Emmaus after the resurrection. I want to show you how he taught the scriptures. Just see this.

In Luke 24, Jesus was walking on the road to Emmaus. And it says in verse 13 that was seven miles away or about 11 kilometers. How long does it take to walk 11 kilometers? Maybe two, three hours.

So Jesus was walking three hours with these two disciples. And what did he teach them in those three hours? Verse 27, beginning with Moses and all the prophets, that means from Genesis to Malachi. Verse 27, he explained to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

He said for example, you go to Genesis, you read there about the seed of the woman, which will crush the serpent's head. And Jesus said that refers to me. And then in Exodus, you read about the Passover lamb.

That's me. And then Leviticus, you read about the sin offering. That's me.

And the Lord of numbers is the serpent lifted up in the wilderness that took away the snake bite. That's me. And all through the scriptures, Joshua was a picture of Christ who would lead us into defeat the giants in Canaan.

Or Isaiah 53, the suffering servant, that's me he said. Or Malachi, the son of righteousness will arise. That's me.

So all the scriptures he referred to himself. The Pharisees read the same scriptures, Genesis to Malachi. And when they saw Jesus, you know what they said? This is Beelzebul, the prince of devils.

You see how people can read the scriptures and get a completely opposite understanding. Because their heart is not right. That's why you have thousands of denominations today, all holding the Bible, but preaching different things.

Because they go to the letter of the word. And they can be as wrong as the Pharisees were. There was a Roman soldier who never read the Bible, who looked at Jesus and said, this is the son of God on the cross.

So you see, it's not just study that makes you understand the Lord. The people who study the Bible most, kill Jesus. And a man like Pilate, who never studied, he didn't want to kill him.

So what is the difference? I'll turn back to John chapter 5, the verse we read just now. You search the scriptures because you think eternal life is there. Eternal life is not there.

Verse 40, you're not willing to come to me, who can give you this eternal life. So what do we learn from there? The Bible is not our destination. It is the way to our destination.

It is the only way to our destination. The destination is Jesus. So if you read the Bible and you don't come in touch with Jesus, you're stuck on the road.

Think of it like this. Some of you traveled from some distance to come here. But if you started admiring the road and got stuck on the road, you won't be here now.

That is how some people are studying the Bible. So many clever things. This is one clever thing here and this is one clever thing here.

And they preach about it also. That's like admiring the buildings and the trees on the way here. You won't reach here.

There are thousands of believers like this. Their knowledge is not about Jesus. It's about the Bible.

Particularly those who go to Bible schools. I thank God I never went to a Bible school in my life. All the men of God who have blessed me in my 55 years as a believer are people who have never been to a Bible school.

Because a Bible school will only tell you what's written here. The Pharisees were all Bible scholars. They were blind to see Jesus.

Peter, who had never been to a Bible school, he said, you're not believable. You're the Christ, the son of the living God. Jesus said, you're blessed because your cleverness did not reveal this to you.

My father in heaven revealed it. Some of us who are a little clever, we think we can understand the Bible better. Actually, being clever is a handicap.

You won't be able to understand the Bible better. Matthew chapter 11, verse 25. Very important verse.

Jesus said, he was praying. He says, father, I praise you that you've hidden all these things from the clever and intelligent people. He doesn't say, oh, it is how sad these intelligent people can't understand.

He said, hallelujah, intelligent people can't understand. Great. Can you say that? Praise God, all the clever, intelligent people cannot understand the Bible.

If you can't say that, you're not following Jesus. He said it. And you won't understand it yourself.

So then you have to say, Lord, what to do if I'm unfortunate enough to be born intelligent and clever? I'm not a stupid person. I think I've got a little bit of intelligence. And I said this, Lord, what should I do? I'm not a stupid person.

I'm clever, intelligent. How will I understand the Bible now? The Lord said, be like a babe. He will reveal them to babes, it says here.

Then I understood whether you're intelligent or not intelligent. In the world, it makes a lot of difference. In all technical professions, only intelligent people can go ahead.

Even businessmen, only intelligent, clever people can do business well. In the world, to progress, you need to be clever and intelligent. But when you come to scripture, it's not cleverness and intelligence.

It's to be like a babe. If you're stupid, be like a babe. If you're intelligent, be like a babe.

Both can be like babes. What does it mean to be like a babe? I'm trying to tell you how to understand the scriptures. Jesus once took up a baby and said, learn humility from a baby.

What is the one thing that babies have which clever, intelligent people don't have? Humility. There's nothing as humble as a little newborn baby. You see a one month old baby lying in the cradle.

It has got zero pride. It's not thinking how good looking I am and how people are admiring me. Nothing.

You want to understand the Bible? Come with humility. That is the number one requirement to understand the scriptures. Otherwise, you'll be a clever, arguing person, arguing this verse, that verse, the other verse.

You think you'll be right, but you'll be as wrong as a Pharisee. This is the main reason for all the fights and quarrels about doctrine and scriptures. What's the second thing about a babe? Which older people don't have.

That is simple trust in his father. Sometimes we think our cleverness tells us something, but we can be wrong. You see a little child knows nothing, a three year old child.

But he trusts his father. My father will not deceive me. So what I can't understand, I just trust him.

So what are the two requirements for going astray when you read the Bible? Trust in your cleverness and your intelligence. Then you'll go astray. Your cleverness and your intelligence, you'll go astray.

Instead of that, come to the Lord with humility and faith. You will understand the Bible better than anybody else. And if you have not understood many parts of scripture, it's because you lack these two qualities.

Humility and faith. And the one who is humble and trusting is the one who will always be right in an interpretation of scripture. If two people are arguing about a particular verse or doctrine in scripture, who is likely to be right? Not the clever person.

The one who has humility and faith. There's a story of two boys standing in a garden. They were brothers.

The 12 year old was talking to his 5 year old younger brother. He said, see the sun was there in the east in the morning, now it is here in the west in the evening. It has moved.

The 5 year old said, you remember what daddy told us? The sun does not move. It's the earth under our feet that is turning. We think the sun is moving, it's not moving.

And the older boy said, I didn't feel the earth moving under my feet. Earth was quite stationary. But I saw the sun moving.

I believe what I see. The 5 year old said, I believe daddy. Who was right? The clever 12 year old or the trusting 5 year old.

I think of that when I see clever people trying to interpret scripture. I've met many people like that. They argue with me about this verse and that verse and the other verse.

I see they have no trust and no humility. So I say, I stop the discussion. I say, because the more we discuss, we will get into arguments.

And I want to be your friend. I say, let's talk about something on which we are united. Let's talk about cricket.

Forget the bible. We talk about the Indian cricket team which should win in the match and all that. Then we are agreed.

I never argue with a clever man. Because it's like trying to prove to a blind man that this microphone is black. How can I convince him? He says it's white.

Please remember this. Cleverness will make you blind. Humility will open your eyes.

Simple trust in your father will open your eyes. The Pharisees had a lot of cleverness and intelligence. They had no humility.

They had no faith. So turn back to John 5. He says, you search the scriptures, but you don't come to me, verse 40. So I want to ask you, when you study the bible, maybe some of you have the habit of reading every day, the bible.

Good. But do you end with the bible or do you end with Jesus? Whether you read the bible five minutes or half an hour, do you reach your destination, Jesus, or do you get stuck in the way? Do you admire the road and the buildings and the trees or do you come to your destination? I want to tell you a simple thing which will change the way you read the bible. This is the written word.

Jesus is the word made flesh. We read in John 1.14, the word became flesh. Who is that word? The word was God, it says in John 1.1. The word became flesh.

In the old testament, the word was just a written word. Nobody could become spiritual. Then God sent his son and the word became flesh.

So when I read the word of God, it must lead me to the word which has become flesh. Then I have reached my destination. I must see Jesus in the word.

Let me turn you to another verse, 2 Corinthians 3. 2 Corinthians 3 and verse 18. Today there is a lot of confusion concerning the ministry of the Holy Spirit. But this verse makes it so clear what the ministry of the Holy Spirit is.

Basically, the ministry of the Holy Spirit is two-fold. Here we see two types of ministry of the Holy Spirit. Here, the word of God is shown on the door of the mirror.

The word of God is also written in the book of James, that it is like a mirror. When a person looks at the word of God, it is like looking into a mirror. So in the old testament, the law was like a mirror that showed them what's wrong with them.

You look at a mirror in the bathroom and you see spots of dirt on your face. You look at a mirror in the bathroom and you see spots of dirt on your face. The law is like that.

It shows them sin in their life, from the written word of God. But now, in the new covenant, when we look into the mirror, we don't see our sin first. It says in a mirror we see the glory of Jesus.

So when you read the word of God in this new covenant spirit, the Holy Spirit shows you Jesus in the word of God. You don't just see the written word, you see the word made flesh. And when you see the glory of the Lord, the same thing will happen to you when Isaiah saw the glory of the Lord in Isaiah chapter 6. In chapter 6 of Isaiah.

If you read that chapter, you know what happened. In Isaiah chapter 5, when you get some time, read it sometime. In Isaiah chapter 5, he was going around preaching.

Woe unto these people who are always buying property and swindling poor people. Woe unto those people who are getting drunk all the time. Woe unto those people who are proud.

He was cursing them. That you're like this, you're like this. He was finding fault with all of them.

Then he saw the glory of God. And he said, oh, woe unto me. He saw his own need.

In chapter 5, he was seeing the need of all the sinners around him. But when he saw the glory of the Lord, he saw his own sin. He did not see his sin first, he saw the glory of the Lord.

That is the way we must see our sin. Not by looking inside like the psychologists say and see our sin inside us. Not by looking inside like the psychologists say and see our sin inside us.

We look at Jesus. The word made flesh. Then I see my own need.

Then I feel convicted. That is the number one ministry of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3.18 He will show you the glory of the Lord in the scriptures.

No, we first see the glory. We behold the glory of the Lord in a mirror. Second, he changes us into that likeness from glory to glory.

That is the second ministry of the Holy Spirit. If I only saw the glory of Jesus, I will get discouraged because I am so much unlike him. But here is the encouraging thing.

The Holy Spirit says, do you see the glory of Jesus there? The Holy Spirit asks you, have you seen the glory? Yes Lord. Do you see how unlike you are compared to that? I will make you like that. That encourages me.

So don't get confused about the ministry of the Holy Spirit. All of the Holy Spirit's ministry is in two things. To show you the glory of Jesus, the word made flesh.

And then to change me into that likeness. I cannot make myself like Jesus. I can imitate it.

But it will be like a painted fire. There is a painting of a fire here. From a distance, you may think it's a real fire.

Think of a good photograph of a fire. Put it up here. People think it's a real fire.

But there's no light. And there's no heat. And that is an imitation.

So if you try to make yourself like Jesus, it will be a painted fire. You will improve yourself and you think you have become like Jesus. That's what they tried to do in the Old Testament.

To try and keep the law and they always failed. That old system called the Old Covenant, God has abolished it. Because he says that doesn't work.

Then why did God give it? To show people it doesn't work. Now you can trust me that I will change you into the likeness of Christ. And that is why it's so important to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I believe in being filled with the Holy Spirit. I believe in being anointed with the Holy Spirit. Otherwise, I can't be like Jesus and I can't serve like Jesus.

The Holy Spirit wants to make me like Jesus in my life and my ministry. So let me explain again very simply. The moment you are born again, the Bible says you are born of the Holy Spirit.

You cannot be born without the Holy Spirit's working. See, it's very clear in Romans 8 verse 9. Romans 8 verse 9. It's such a clear verse. The last part.

If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not even belong to him. The Spirit of Christ is the Holy Spirit. If the Holy Spirit is not living in you, you are not even born again.

I want to make this very simple to you because there's so much confusion about the ministry of the Holy Spirit today. I found the answer by looking at the Word made flesh. If you look at only the Word of God here, you'll get a lot of confusion about the ministry of the Holy Spirit.

There are groups that say tongues is of the devil, speaking in tongues. There are others who say unless you speak in tongues, you're not even born again. I say both are wrong.

Let's look at Jesus. There is the answer. And what was the ministry of the Holy Spirit in Jesus? First of all, he was born of the Spirit.

No, he, Jesus. He was born, the Holy Spirit came on Mary and he was born. That is our first step.

We must be born again or born of the Holy Spirit. And that is according to Romans 8, 9, the Holy Spirit comes in. So, when a person says, Lord Jesus, come into my heart, if really Christ has come in, see a lot of people say that and I don't know, they're not sincere, nothing happens.

But when a person sincerely says it, Christ comes in. That means the Holy Spirit comes in. Jesus Christ is in heaven.

How does he come into your heart? Only through the Holy Spirit. Because the second person of the Trinity is in heaven. Only the Holy Spirit is here.

When you say, Lord Jesus, come into my heart, the Holy Spirit comes in. Otherwise, you're not born again. So, that is the first step.

If you don't have the Spirit of God in you, you don't belong to him. If you don't have the Spirit of Christ within you, you don't belong to him. In the Acts of the Apostles, you never read anybody telling people, ask Jesus to come into your heart.

They said it in a different way. Because they were all Jews those days. Believe in Jesus Christ and receive the Holy Spirit.

Today, we combine the two and say, receive Jesus Christ. That's the same thing. Because in a Hindu country like ours, or in many non-Christians, whether it's China or Japan, you tell people, receive the Spirit.

There are so many spirits. In Buddhism and other religions, there are many spirits. And that is why we have to say, receive the Lord Jesus Christ.

But when you say that, it's the Holy Spirit who comes in. I want to say to every one of you who are really born again, you don't have to have any doubt that the Holy Spirit came into your heart. Just go to Romans 8-9, you get the answer.

But in Jesus' life, he was not only born of the Spirit, all his life he was filled with the Holy Spirit. Not once. He was filled with the Spirit as a 12-year-old, he was filled with the Spirit as a 30-year-old.

Every day he was filled with the Spirit. That's the second thing I need to learn from the Word made flesh. I must be filled with the Spirit every day.

And what is sometimes called the baptism in the Holy Spirit. See, baptism is a Greek word which means immersion. There are two ways to get immersed.

One is you get inside a river or a tank, you'll be immersed. And that is how we baptize people in water. That's called water baptism.

The other way to get baptized is stand under a mighty waterfall. Some big river flowing over a cliff, you stand under it, you're immersed or baptized in that water. So, the Holy Spirit is pictured in the Bible like a river falling down on earth from the throne of God.

Read that in Revelation 22, a river flowing from the throne of God. And when it fell on the earth on the day of Pentecost, these 120 people got drenched in that Spirit. So, we need to be filled or baptized in the Holy Spirit.

And that gives us the ability to live the Christian life. So, Jesus was born of the Spirit. Secondly, he was filled with the Spirit continuously.

Then third, on the day of Pentecost, when he was 30 years old, he was anointed with the Spirit. What did the anointing of the Spirit do for him? He didn't become more holy when he was 31 than he was when he was 29. When he was 25, he was holy.

When he was 32, he was holy. What did this anointing of the Spirit do? It gave him supernatural abilities to serve his father. He could preach powerfully when he was 30.

Which he could not do when he was 25. He could cast out demons now, which he didn't do before. He could do miracles, which he couldn't do before.

So, think of these three ministries of the Holy Spirit in Jesus' life. Born of the Spirit, that's how he was born. Continuously filled with the Spirit so that he could live a holy life.

Anointed with the Spirit towards the end of his life for a supernatural ministry. So, we need that too. Instead of getting confused about all these things about the Holy Spirit in the written word, the written word and the Holy Spirit, remember Jesus told the Pharisees, you search the scriptures because you think the answer is there.

The answer is not there. Come to me. There you'll get the answer.

I was also confused many times trying to figure out in the different verses, what is the ministry of the Holy Spirit? Because I was stuck here in the written word. Going here, going here, this verse, that verse, the other verse. And then you have the brethren people saying one thing and the Pentecostal people saying something else.

But they're all looking here. But Jesus said come to me. So when I went to Jesus, through the word of God, this is the pathway, I came to Jesus and I saw he was born of the spirit, filled with the spirit, anointed with the spirit.

I was born of the spirit when I was 19 years old. Holy spirit came in and I was born again. I didn't know about the doctrine.

I said Lord Jesus, come into my heart and forgive my sins. I did not pray to the Holy Spirit, I said Lord Jesus, come. But the one who came was the Holy Spirit, the spirit of Christ.

I was not filled with the spirit. I need to be filled with the spirit to live an overcoming life. I also needed the anointing of the spirit to be able to serve.

Now what I've discovered as I've observed people, there are some people anointed with the spirit. They've sought for the anointing, they got it. But many of them don't seem to live a godly life.

They wanted the gifts of the spirit and they got it. But they did not seek to be continuously filled with the spirit. And I believe they are finally lost, because they stand before the Lord and say, Lord we did miracles in your name.

How can you do a miracle in the name of Jesus without being anointed with the spirit, impossible. How are such people lost? How does Jesus say to people anointed with the spirit, get away from me? Because they were living in sin. Can people anointed with the spirit live in sin? I have seen numerous pastors who are definitely supernaturally anointed to preach the word while living in sin.

See so many people you watch on television. You think they are all living holy lives? Their love for money proves they are not holy. Their eagerness to get money from poor people for themselves shows they are not serving God, they are serving money.

But their supernatural abilities they have, sure. They are the ones to whom the Lord will say, depart from me you lovers of money, you who live in sin. If you don't understand that today, you will sit there watching that television and say, wow, what a man of God.

Why? Because you were reading the scriptures, you didn't go to Jesus. I teach people in my church, you must compare every preacher with Jesus Christ. Don't just be taken up that he is casting out demons and doing miracles.

Because some of those people Jesus said he will send away to hell in the final day. Now you know here in Bombay, television, Christian television, so many people are doing all types of things on Christian television. How many of you really believe that some of them are going to hell? You don't believe it, right? You think I am preaching some strange teaching.

Heaven and earth will pass away, Jesus words will not pass away. There are people who will come to Jesus in that day and say, Lord, we did miracles in your name. We cast out demons in your name.

We prophesied in your name. Jesus will say, depart from me. That's the first time Jesus spoke about that day.

So how shall we prepare ourselves for the coming of the Lord? Let me show you Matthew chapter 24. In Matthew 24, the disciples asked Jesus, what will be the sign of your coming? Matthew 24 and verse 3. What will be the sign of your coming? Many of you have read that many times. Without looking there, can you tell me what is the first answer? Many people think of famines, earthquakes, wars.

And rumors of wars. That all he said later in verse 7. What is the first thing he said? See that nobody deceives you, verse 4. Deception. Again, 11.

Many false prophets will arise. Verse 24. Many false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.

On television. Deception. And he said, verse 25.

I have told you in advance. I warned you. That is the number one sign of the last days.

That's the first thing he said and he repeated it more than once. And we see plenty of it today. But there's another gospel which is being preached also today.

Verse 14. He is talking about the last days. The gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world.

And then, as a witness, and then the end will come. Not the gospel of signs and wonders. Many of you, I know, are being deceived by that.

Read verse 24 and see the possibility of deception. Even the elect may be deceived. What is the gospel that is the real gospel that is being preached? The gospel of the kingdom of God.

What is the kingdom of God? And what is the gospel of the kingdom of God? Don't take my words for it. Read what the Holy Spirit says in Romans 14. Romans 14 in your Bible.

And verse 17. Romans 14, 17. It tells us what the kingdom of God is.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. This is the gospel of the kingdom. Jesus said it will be preached in all the world before the end comes.

So, let's put both these together. What we read in Matthew 24. In the last days, there will be a lot of deception with false signs and wonders.

False wonders. A lot of it. And then at the same time, there is a gospel of righteousness that is going to be preached all over the world.

That means a gospel of freedom from sin. A gospel of a holy life. And a gospel of peace.

That is the second thing. Righteousness, peace and joy. A gospel of peace is perfect peace with God without any condemnation.

With absolute conviction that my sins are all forgiven and blotted out. No doubt about it. Because we are sure the blood of Jesus has cleansed me thoroughly.

There is no memory of my past sin. And then, peace in the heart. Freedom from anxiety and worry and fear.

That is the gospel of peace. And peace with God. Peace inwardly.

Freedom from anxiety. And peace with other people. That we completely stop fighting with others.

This is the gospel of a three-fold peace. With God. Inwardly.

And peace with all men. Not fellowship with all men because many people don't want to have fellowship with us. We are not talking about fellowship.

Peace. I can have peace with my unconverted neighbor without having any fellowship with him. Peace means he comes to fight with me and I don't fight.

See, if you refuse to fight, there can be no fight. You know that? Husbands and wives, if one person refuses to fight, there is no fight. You need two hands to make a noise.

If husband and one of them refuses to fight, there is no noise. Why is there a fight in your home? Because both want to fight. If either one will say, I will not fight, there is no more fight.

Can anybody fight all by himself without anybody else? Impossible. So remember this simple principle. If your partner wants to fight, you refuse to fight.

There will be peace in your home. And if both refuse to fight, then you have something even better than peace. You have fellowship.

If you don't have fellowship, peace is at least the second best. So that's the gospel of peace that we preach. And the third is joy in the Holy Spirit.

That means no complaining. No murmuring. No grumbling.

What a gospel this is. Righteousness, peace, and joy. All through the power of the Holy Spirit, not by our own ability.

That is the kingdom of God. How many churches do you hear preaching all this? You tell me, how much do you hear about all this on the internet? Very, very few people. But because of the internet, it is being preached all over the world today.

Jesus said, this gospel of the kingdom will be preached around the world as a witness. So that is how we are going to be ready for the coming of the Lord. By responding to this gospel.

Through the scriptures, we come to Jesus. One more verse before I close. 1 John and chapter 3. Here it is talking about the coming of the Lord.

And maybe we can start in chapter 2 and verse 28. And read up to chapter 3 verse 3. It is talking about the coming of the Lord. How to be ready for the coming of the Lord? It is talking to believers.

Little children. This is 95 year old John speaking to believers. When Jesus appears.

There will be two groups of believers. Listen to this. Everybody here.

There will be two groups among you when Jesus comes. It is not Protestantism. It is not Catholic or Protestant.

It is not Pentecostal or non-Pentecostal. There is another type of division here. Those who have boldness to meet him when he comes.

And those who are ashamed and shrink away from him when he comes. You see those two categories here in verse 28. That means when the Lord comes.

And say hey Lord I am ready to meet you. Because they have kept their conscience clear all the time. Others will shrink away.

Because they are not ready. You remember what Jesus said in Luke's gospel. Let me show you that in relation to his second coming.

Luke's gospel. And chapter 17. And verse 31.

Verse 30. It shall be just the same on the day when the Son of Man is revealed. Verse 30.

In that day. When Jesus comes. On that day.

Two things he says. The one who is on the house top should not go down to the house to take his goods. That means he should not have to say hey Lord some of my things are here.

I want to be attached to them. He is detached from his earthly goods. And in another place he said.

If you are in the field you should not have to go back to your house. That means say Lord don't come yet. I had a fight with my wife this morning.

I haven't settled it. So let me go back home and settle that before you come. Today it's not the field it's the office.

Maybe you went to the office after having a fight with your wife. Yes in those days it was the field. But today it could be the office.

You are in the office. And you didn't settle it. And the Lord comes.

And the Lord comes and you are not ready. So there are two groups that will be there when the Lord comes. One who says Lord I am ready.

Because they are always ready. They always keep their conscience clear. If they hurt somebody they apologize immediately.

They apologize to their wife before going to the office. So they are ready to meet the Lord even if the Lord comes when they are there. And the others shrink away from shame.

One John chapter 3. It says here. When verse 2 says When Jesus appears we will be like him. Because we will see him.

There are two things that are going to happen when Christ comes. It says here. One I will see him.

Second I will be like him. Many people only think of one. I will see him.

But the more important part is I will be like him. It says here in verse 3. Everyone. That includes you.

If you want to be in this everyone. Who has the hope of Christ coming. Let me ask you.

All of you sitting here. Do you have the hope of the second coming of Christ? I think all of you will say yes. Please wait.

Let me finish. Then give me an answer. It says if you have this hope.

You will be purifying yourself all the time. Until you become like Jesus. Are you purifying yourself? Are you a little holier this year compared to last year? Have you got a little more victory over your anger this year than last year? Have you got a little more victory over your dirty thoughts than you had last year? Last year some people you did not forgive.

Now have you forgiven everybody? Have you become a little more detached from earthly goods this year? Or with a higher income that you are getting in your office. Are you more entrenched in earthly goods? Then you are not purifying yourself. Then according to verse 3. Do not have the hope of the second coming of Christ.

Don't fool yourself. There are two things that are going to happen when he comes. We will see him and we will be like him.

If you have the hope of being like him. Today you will purify yourself. So that you can be ready for his coming.

That is how we are ready for his coming. You know what Jesus said further in Luke 17. After saying that you must be ready to go wherever you are.

Wherever you are in the field or the office you must be ready to go. He said remember Lot's wife. Verse 32.

It is a picture of Lot and his wife going out of Sodom. It is a picture of our going up to meet the Lord away from the earth. And this is the same picture that we are going to see.

We will be picked up in the coming of Lord Jesus Christ. But see Lot's wife was left behind. So he said remember that this should not happen to you.

Why? As she was leaving the city, she turned her head back and saw. She said Lord my sari is left here. Lord said stay there then.

And he is saying that in relation to his second coming. I want to ask you. Are you purifying yourself? You can use all the good earthly things God gives you.

Whether you have one car or some of you may need two cars in your house. It is okay. Nothing wrong in what you have.

But if you are attached to any of them. You won't be ready to go. Lot was ready to leave everything and go.

Lot's wife was not ready to leave everything and go. As long as we are here. As long as they were in Sodom.

Lot and his wife both enjoyed everything. In Sodom. But when the time to go Lord said yeah I am leaving everything.

I am not interested. So what I learned from that is. If I have an attachment to something on this earth.

It means more to me than Jesus Christ. I am not ready for his coming. May God help us.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father. As we bow before you.

Please help us to take these things seriously. Because they concern our eternal destiny. We pray in Jesus name.

Amen. Thank you.