What is Man

"What is man, that thou art mindful of him? And the son of man, that thou visitest him?" (Psalms 8:4)

That is a very good question to ask at a Men's Conference. What is man that God would be mindful of him and who is he that God would consider him? God thought enough of man to make him in his own image; not in the image of a horse. That is why man must burn forever in the pit of hell; because God selected him out of all of His creation, yet man does not obey. I do not buy what people say about man being evolution from an ape. Some folks may look strange and act indifferently, but notwithstanding, man was made in God's image. Instead of man's being exalted and carried away with himself, he should remember how blessed he is that God selected him.

The Psalmist asked the question— "What is man, that thou art mindful of him?…" (See Psalms 8:4)

God considered man so greatly until he gave up His life by shedding His blood that man might be redeemed back to the holy estate.

"For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith." (Romans 12:3)

In other words, do not be carried away by your own greatness, because the skinworms have no discrimination between the pauper and the millionaire once they are both dead. The skinworms do not ask are you American, Russian, Chinese, or English. Death and hell do not question from whence you came. Death receives all.

"And as it is appointed unto men once to die. But after this the judgement:" (Hebrews 9:27)

Hell receives everyone who fails to obey God's Word.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened:…" (Revelation 20:12)

You cannot brag about your life span because "Man that is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble." (Job 14:1) Even id you live for many years, it is a very short span when compared to infinity—although you may live to be one hundred and five. Therefore, how should you order your life and how should you conduct your existence? You must live each day with a purpose—walking upright and godly. You must do something that will be profitable to your soul rather than being overly concerned with that which satisfies your flesh.

"For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?" (Mark 8:36) 

What is man? Have you ever asked yourself that question? Youth is vanity and vexation of the spirit. So is riotous living, because it soon fades away. Your handsomeness will soon turn into wrinkles, your curly locks into a bald head and your spry limbs into slow and limping steps. Then what will you be? Your virility will fail you. Women will turn aside when you approach them. For as the years go by, you will be unable to attract them. Eventually you are going to get so old and ugly until your money will not purchase true love nor true companionship. So what is man? You better prepare yourself for eternal life; and not that only, but for the destruction that is to come. You have to set principles to govern your life even in your youth. Because you isolate yourself from your friends with your arrogance and conceit, you are going to find yourself old, separated and lonely without a hand to help or an eye to pity.

"And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those thing which were written in the books, according to their works." (Revelation 20:12)

It does not matter what kind of job you have—if you are educated or uneducated. Neither does it matter if you are descendants of Alexander the Great, for he too must stand before God. Nero, whom they say played on his harp or fiddle while Rome burned, will be there and so will Herod, that awful one who scorned the King of all the world. Pontius Pilate, that Roman governor who washed his hands of the matter when they were to kill the Lord God of heaven and earth, will be there. Caesar, who commissioned him to be over that part of the world, will be there—both Julius and Augustus Caesar will be there. They say that the nation of Rome was founded by twins, Romulus and Remus. If this is true; they will be there, though I think this is mythology. Hitler and Mussolini and those they killed and baked in the ovens will be there. The soldiers who have fought on the battlefields, little girls and boys, old men and women, maids and young men will be there. The well dressed and poorly dressed, the will spoken and poorly spoken, rich and poor alike are going to stand before God. There may be both racial and social inequalities as you walk upon this earth, but in that day there will be an equalizing portion. No one's status, appearance, economics, or race will have preeminence as you stand before God.

"…Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither:…" (See Job 1:21).

You are going to stand uncovered before God to be judged according to your sin; and deeds done in your body. So what is man that he should be so proud of himself? He could not create himself nor could he go beyond God who made him. If God says live, you live or if He says die, then you will die.

If God says sleep; you must sleep and if he says awake, there is no barbiturate strong enough to put you to sleep. "For in Him we live , and move, and have our beginning;…" (Acts 17:28). It is most presumptuous of any man to feel that he knows more than God and thereby create his own religious doctrine. What is man that he would 'accept Christ as your personal savior', when the Bible says: "…Except a man be born of water and of the Sporot, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." (See John 3:5).

If man says accept Christ right where you are without telling you the right thing to do to be saved, then he must go to hell. What is man that he would dare to say you should be baptized using the titles Father, Son and Holy Ghost when Jesus Christ, who is God Almighty, gave Peter the keys to the kingdom. Peter was moved by the Holy Ghost when he told the people what they must do to be saved.

"Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)

What is carnal man that he can teach some other doctrine when Jesus Christ who was both God and man said "…All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." (Matthew 28:18).

Someone else testified of Him and said "That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:10 & 11)

So what is man that he is going to go beyond the scriptures and try to circumvent this when it was told to the people that the greatest commandment was "…Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:" (See Mark 12:29).

Are you going to say that the Lord our God is three and the Bible says one Lord? But what is man? He has breath, but God can take it. God knows every hair on your head and has numbered your days. He knows when you stand up and when you sit down. You will find out one day when you stand before Him that He will know every deed you have committed and everything you have said. God is going to judge every idle word. You cannot hide from Him because the scripture says "And the sea gave up the dead which were in it;…" (See Revelation 20:13, Eph. 4:5, Psalms 139:7).

Let the fish of the sea eat your flesh and your remains float throughout the centuries in the waters and be carried among the seaweed and the rocks, but God sees where everyone is. One day He is going to call for the sea to give up the dead that is in it that He might judge this thing called man—this creature whom He created in His own image, yet man has done eternally wicked. God has given him a chance to live forever and he rejected the opportunity. The sea will not be able to hold you. If you have decapitated and have come to powder, you are still going to be judged.

Jezebel will be there even though the dogs consumed her flesh and excreted her as dung in the field. They found nothing but her skull and the palm of her hands, but she is going to be there to be judged by God Almighty. (See II Kings, 9th chapter)

"And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death." (Revelation 20:13&14)

These are the ones who were not baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ and did not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, neither continued steadfastly in the Apostle's doctrine.

"And whosoever was not found written on the book of life was cast into the lake of fire." (Revelation 20:15)

When you are a wise man, you do not panic the first time of trouble. You set yourself and look into a situation. If you are in charge of an auxiliary or a church, you must learn to be unprejudiced. You cannot show favoritism to your family, because the people will resent it. You must let your feelings be unbiased when dealing with a matter and be wise in your judgment. If you would give your time over to meditation and the Holy Ghost, then you would be led by the Spirit of God. You must have patience and learn to bridle your tongue.

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (II Timothy 1:13)

Anytime you can discipline your tongue; you have really become an educated person, then you are being a man. But what is man?

When you speak, make sure your words are sound.

"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:8).

The Bible says "Blessed are the peace makers:…" (Matthew 5:9).

If someone disobeys the Word or goes contrary to my instructions, then you must admonish them to be careful. You should not even bid them God's speed.

Remember that God does not need you, you need Him. He only needs you when you want to give yourself to Him. God wants someone to worship Him, but only when they are willing.

"Draw nigh unto God, and he will draw night unto you…" (See James 4:8).

I feel the same way. I am glad for people and very thankful as long as they humble themselves and want to serve the Lord and are cooperative. But if they ever get exalted, I am the most independent individual that ever walked the face of this earth. For I know this; if you be saved at all, you must come by our gospel.

You may wonder who am I. It is not who I think I am, for what is man? I am what and whom God has made me. God sets His preacher above the kings and rulers to tear down and to build up. So what is man that I should be mindful of him?

Ride high as the eagles and set your nest in the cleft of the rocks, but God is going to pull you down and show you that all flesh is grass—that without Him you can do nothing. So again we ask the question and ask it to yourself:

What is man that thou are mindful of him?

May the Lord bless you and keep you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ who is God Almighty. Amen.

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise..." (II Peter 3:10)

Let us be reminded lest we forget the purpose of it all; the reason we have made sacrifices, and why we continue to make sacrifices and to deny ourselves: because we still believe that "The Day of the Lord" will come!

This second epistle, beloved, I write unto you... Peter was writing this second epistle because people always need to be reminded about something that is spiritual. People never forget something that is natural or carnal.

"This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance; That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of tthe Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts," (II Peter 3: 1-3)

There will be some that will trouble you and would pervert the gospel of Jesus Christ. There will be many things that shall rise up, but you must hold the confidence that Jesus Christ promised and declared: that "… upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." (Matthew 16:18) I do not care how hell seems to be pounding against the doors or if it looks as if the Church is going to tumble over —God's Word is sure.

We told you previously that evil seducers shall wax worse. We do not look for times to get any better; they are going to get worse. You had better prepare yourselves before they come. Only those who are sincere, those who have completely surrendered and have their minds made up, will be able to stand in that time of trouble.

There are some that say "Where is the promise of His coming? We have heard about His coming." They look on it as being some fictitious story. In this time of great learning when they are ever learning, but never coming into the knowledge of the Truth (scientific experiments). When you tell them that God is coming to destroy the whole earth, they look on you as if you are superstitious— as if you are mad. But, nevertheless, THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME. And how is it coming? Will there be a notice in your local paper? On your radio? Or on your TV screen? No announcement! You will be at your job doing your work—"one" will be taken and "the other" left: for in a moment…There will be no time to confer one with the other. :He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still and he that is holy, let him be holy still." (Revelation 22:11) No time for repentance! No time to make a decision for Christ! It will be an instantaneous, a spontaneous action: the day of the Lord.

Someone may ask, "Is this referring to twenty-four hours?" No! It refers to a very long period: a period that shall precede it. This period shall start off with a time of trouble as Daniel talked about in Daniel 12:1. "…and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time; and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." Jesus records it also in Matthew 24:21 to let us know that there has never been a time like this, and indeed, it shall become more intense. "For then shall be a great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

During this time of trouble, the Church shall be caught away. Then that "wicked one" that "man of sin" recorded in Thessalonians is going to have his full sway. (See II Thessalonians 2:2-9) The daily sacrifice will have been taken away; the prayers of the saints (the ones who are baptized in water in the name or Jesus Christ and have continued steadfastly in the faith). They have not gone out to seek some other way to appease what they want to do, or what they think is right. They have stayed in the holy place. They have not gone out and founded a church, themselves, and then try to put Bishop Johnson's name on it as Founder. The Bible says, "…all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:…" (Revelation 21:8)

Those who are baptized in water in the name of Jesus Christ, and have the Holy Ghost speaking in other tongues and have continued steadfastly, are going to be with the Lord in the mid-air. Those who are "just baptized" will NOT be there! And let me make that perfectly clear. I thought that would wake you up. THOSE WHO ARE JUST BAPTIZED WILL NOT BE IN THE BRIDAL FEAST WHEN WE ARE UP THERE WITH THE LORD. This is an exclusive feast; this is an exclusive affair. The only ones that are invited must be born again of both the water and the Spirit. Nobody else can come. One tried to come in who was not right and was asked, "How cometh thou?" How are you coming in here and you do not have your wedding garment on? Not dressed right. You better make sure you are dressed right or you will not be able to come in. "…when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment: And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. Then said the king to his servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (Matthew 22:11-13)

Blessed and holy is he that has part in the first resurrection. However, the Lord is going to be merciful and he is going to judge those that are righteous. He is not going to judge holy folks. Anytime you are to be judged, you are not going to make it. You should judge yourself when you are holy because you are to have the job to be judges with the Lord. As princes and rulers, you are going to reign with Him. All the righteous dead, the old testament saints—those who came through great tribulation. Those who are baptized in Jesus name and do not have the Holy Ghost, but have done everything they know is right to do (tarried every day and every night, all the time continuously). They are coming with the righteous dead because they are only righteous; they are not holy, yet. That will be after the battle of Armageddon.

After this time, there will be the great war between the holy and the unholy forces, and the lord shall come back on the earth and destroy all the wicked with the brightness of His coming. Then will be a time. The righteous shall come on later.

"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? And whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me. These are they which came out of great tribulation,…" (Revelation 7:9, 13 & 14) This is a part of this long day, but the revenge has not ended yet.

During the time in tribulation there shall be great suffering and the waters shall be turned to blood. They shall be smittened by the sun and by sores which will not heal. They shall bite their tongues for pain, They shall be smittened with blindness and other things: From this darkness shall come the various beasts that shall be pestilence, and the other things that shall come upon them. And yet, with all this, they shall not repent; They have taken the mark of the beast and have worshipped his image.

But, the day of the Lord will come and during the time of the Millennium reign which shall follow tribulation. Tribulation is in between the "End" of the dispensation of grace and "just before" the Millennium reign. For grace shall end, oh yes, it shall. They are going to seek Him, but they will not find Him. They shall call, but He shall not answer. Why is it? Because "grace" has ended. The mercy door will be closed. There was a cry in the street saying, "Behold the bridegroom cometh," and you did not go in. Knock on the door—too late.

A thousand years are finished when Satan shall be loosed for a short season. He is going to gather together these wicked folks. Still with all of this, with all the experience, with all the Word—They shall not change. You know there is a wickedness that will not change.

"And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;" (Revelation 19:17) A great feast: the dead that die in the war between the righteous and the unrighteous forces. "That ye may eat the flesh of kings…"(Revelation 19:18) Rulers are going to die; great men are going to die, poor men. People that no one knows their name, but those who were there when they were born. Obscure, but his faith will be the same as one who is known the world over, if he is wicked.

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh (Revelation 19:19-21) The Sword proceeded out of His mouth—the sword of the Word. All God has to do is to speak it. If He says "Live," you live. If He says "die," you die.

"And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand. And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years, And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed for a little season. And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had nor worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark…" (Revelation 20:1-4) You know the Bible is written in a way that you have to know it all to understand it. One would think that the fire was already burning from the 20th verse on, because it says, "They were cast into the lake." But actually the fire will not start until after the thousand years is over. Satan is going to be bound: he cannot be cast into the fire until after he is loosed a season. He will be held intact during the thousand year reign when a holy people shall live on this earth. They shall be born holy as God intended for it to be in the Garden of Eden. God's purpose is going to be worked out—His original purpose, because Satan will not be here to tempt. "And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison. (Revelation 20:7) (Also see Revelation 20:8-15)Do not be deceived: for the "Day of the Lord" will come. It is going to last forever and ever. There will be no more returning. You shall be lying in hell calling for mercy—mercy ended. PREPARE YOURSELF!

"But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up." (II Peter 3:10)

May the Lord bless you, and count you worthy to escape the fires of hell in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.