The most lavish gift that can be bestowed upon a person in this world is the gift of the holy ghost. For when a person receives the gift of the Holy Ghost, the inward man the soul comes to life. That which is born of flesh is flesh, but that which is born of spirit is spirit. St. John 3:l there was a man of the Pharisees, name Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2. The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him. 3. Jesus answered and said unto him, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 4. Nicodemus saith unto him, how can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? 5. Jesus answered, verily, verily, i say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6. That which is born of flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. Saints of God, when the holy ghost comes to dwell within a man, the kingdom of God comes to dwell within the man. For what is the kingdom of God? The bible, the written word of God defines what the kingdom of God is. Listen as I read from Romans: for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace, and joy in the holy ghost. Beloved of God, when the holy ghost comes to dwell within a man, the greatest teacher this world has ever known comes to dwell within that man and it is not necessary that any man teach him, for the anointing that a person receives from the holy ghost will teach him, the scriptures, and bring him into all truth. I John 2:27 but the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you and ye need not that any man teach you: but the same anointing teacheth you all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. Brothers and sisters in Christ, when the holy ghost comes to dwell within a man, power comes to dwell within that person. The power to preach, or teacher, or witness, or whatever the lord may call you to do. When the holy ghost comes to dwell within a person, the power comes to live a sin free life. Acts l:6 when they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? And he said unto them, it is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the father hath put in his own power. 8. But ye shall receive power, after that the holy ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all judaea, and in samaria and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Now concerning living the sin free life. L john 3:2 beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him: for we shall see him as he is. 3. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. 4. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law. 5. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins: and in him is no sin. 6. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him. 7. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. 8. He that committeth sin is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil. 9. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin: for his seed remaineth in him : and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. Children of light, let me make this very clear, we have all sinned, and come short of the glory of God, but we do not continue in sin after our conversion. All mankind was in adam at the time he transgressed the commandment of God, and because of our physical union with him sin was imputed unto all mankind. Romans 5: wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin: and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned: and now concerning the fact that we do not continue in sin after our conversion. Romans 6:l what shall we say then ? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? 2. God forbid, how shall we that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? 3. Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? 4. Therefore we are buried with him in baptizm into his death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. 5. For if we have been planted to gather in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection. Saints of God when the holy ghost comes to dwell in a child of God we have the power to wage war against satan, why ? For greater is he that is in us, then he that is in the world. L john 4:4 ye are of God little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5. They are of the world : therefore speak they of the world, and true world heareth them. 6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us : he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved of God, when you hear the false prophets preach false doctrine it is so easy to be a nice person, and say nothing. But the false prophet is like the judas goat that leads the sheep to the slaughter. You must decide are you going to be a good soldier in the army of God, and please God: or are you going to please man. For it is certain that you cannot please both. When you place your hand to the armour of God, the first piece that you are commanded to put on is truth. Listen carefully, when you tell men the truth, do you think they are going to love you? You shall be hated of all men. St. Matthew : behold, i send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20. For it is not ye that speak, but the spirit of your father which speaketh in you. 2l. And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. 22 and ye shall be hated of all men for my names sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. 23. But when they persecute you in this city flee ye into an other : for verily i say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the cities of israel, till the son of man be come. Beloved of God, be a living example of the Christ like life, study the scriptures, especially the new testament, for it is by the new testament that we shall be judged. I preach against football, but i have noticed that the winning teams are usually the lest penalized: and i know they must study the rules. Let me continue with these scriptures. 2 timothy 2:5 and if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned , except he strive lawfully. Ll timothy 4:7 ( apostle paul records) i have fought a good fight , i have finished my course, i have kept the faith: 8. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Beloved of God, the apostle paul has said these words "i have fought a good fight, i have kept the faith: who has the apostle paul fought against? He has fought not against flesh and blood, for we as Christian soldiers are at peace with all mankind. The apostle paul has fought against principalities, against powers, against spiritual wickedness in high places. How do we fight against spiritual wickedness? By using the armour of God. Ephesians 6: finally, my brethren, be strong in the lord, and in the power of his might, ll. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand,. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness. And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. About all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God: brothers and sisters in Christ, the first piece of armour that we as Christian soldiers are commanded to put on is truth. As roots are important to a tree, so are these three elements important to the Christian soldier: truth, honour, and fidelity. If a tree is going to bear much fruit it must have strong roots. If a Christian is going to wage war against spiritual wickedness men must be able to believe what he says. The Christian soldier must be a person of fidelity, faithful to keep his word, a man faithful to do as commanded. How does the soldier in the army of God fight against spiritual wickedness: with truth. When the false prophet, as the judas goat, attempts to lead the lambs of God to the slaughter, we as children of God are commanded to let our light shine. Christian soldier, you can identify the false prophet, for all men will speak well of him. St. Matthew 5:ll blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad for great is your reward in heaven : for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Beloved of God, let me give you my definition of truth. Truth is a word, or words that agree with final reality. There is only one light that guides my feet in spiritual matters, and that is the holy scriptures, the written word of God, the king james translation. For i believe that the bible is true from cover to cover. And i believe that it will agree with final reality. Truth is the strongest weapon that we as children of God have. Men have a tendency to believe every thing that is in print is true, but there are many false prophets, and children of the devil writing today. Sunday school books teach a certain propaganda, some of the things they say are true, but not all. If your goal in life is to fight the good fight, to finish your course, to keep the faith, and receive a crown of righteousness. Study the holy scriptures, especially the new testament. For it is by the new testament that we the children of God shall inherit. These words are recored in the book of hosea. Hosea 4:6 my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. And these words are recorded in ll timothy 2:5 and if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.