If we are to invade our land of promise we must be strong and of good courage. The timid, the fearful, the double-minded will get nowhere with God. Keep in mind that Christ whom you serve has all authority and power in Heaven and on the earth. You are safe in Him.

Another extremely important aspect of entering our inheritance is that of adhering closely to the written Word of God.

At one time the Baptists were famous for being people of the Book. When Pentecost came with all its wonderful experiences we became experience oriented instead of Bible oriented. We need to get back to the Bible.

We have built on the sure foundation of the blood of Jesus and His bodily resurrection a superstructure of mythology.

For example, we are still talking about mansions in Heaven. There is no Bible basis for our going to mansions in Heaven. The term "mansion" employed by the King James translation in John, Chapter Fourteen means abiding place. In context it is referring to the fact that the Christian Church, being the fullness of Christ, is a many-roomed house of God. The emphasis is on the Father's house not on our mansions.

We may understand that Jesus was not referring to building houses for us in Paradise but the weight of tradition persists. It is a practical issue. It makes a difference in how we think of our experience in Christ whether we picture ourselves going to Heaven to live in a mansion or allow Christ to prepare the way so we can become a living stone in the eternal temple of God.

In the fifth chapter of Second Corinthians Paul spoke of his desire to be clothed with his house from Heaven, not to go to his house in Heaven.

People, it matters that we do not turn from the Bible to the right or left!

Again, the Bible does not speak of Heaven being our eternal dwelling place. The Bible, Old Testament and New, speaks of the kingdom that is coming to the earth. The Christian Church is that kingdom. The Church is the holy city, the new Jerusalem, the Lamb's wife.

If Jesus is on the earth ruling from Jerusalem, and I think most fundamental scholars believe this is what will take place, then we would not want to be forced to remain in the spirit realm with the angels.

It makes a great difference whether we believe Heaven is the land of promise or the earth and its people are our inheritance, our land of promise. If we view Heaven as our inheritance then we are waiting to die so we can go to live in Heaven in never-never land. If we view the earth and its peoples as our inheritance then we begin to press into the Kingdom today. We enter the Kingdom of God only as we overcome worldliness, lust, and self- will.

We are teaching today that Divine grace is an alternative to righteousness. Yet the Apostle Paul stated on more than one occasion that if we continue in sin we will not inherit the Kingdom of God. But we go on preaching and teaching that by God's grace we are going to go to Heaven when we die. This is mythology, not the Scripture, and it has a direct effect on how the believers live.

We say we believe the Bible! We do not believe the Bible. We believe our unscriptural traditions.

We are teaching that Jesus is coming to carry His waiting Bride to Heaven. This is not scriptural. Nowhere in the Scriptures does it state that Jesus is coming to carry His Church to Heaven. Nowhere! Nowhere!

Preacher, are you going to keep on preaching that which is found only in our traditions? If you are you will never make your way prosperous before the Lord. He will not bless a teaching that is not found in the Scriptures.

The purpose of the Lord's return is to drive wickedness from the earth and set up His righteous kingdom. The victorious saints will rise to meet Him in the air so they may return with Him and rule the nations with a rod of iron. This is what the Bible teaches.

To be continued.