Many of God's children are not aware that we, the children of God are in a war with satan the devil. And for this reason, I come to inform the babes, in Christ, of the war: and to encourage the soldiers in Christ, to wage war with all their might against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Have you forgotten this commandment. St. Matthew 28:l9 go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. 20. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Beloved of God, it is getting late in the year. Have you gone to other nations? How many have you baptized? and how many have you laid hands on that have received the Holy Ghost? it is of no use to write me the answer but it is of great value to examine one's self. Listen carefully, have you taught the children of God to observe all things whatsoever that God has commanded. Listen as I repeat this commandment. St. Matthew 28:20 teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Multitudes of men, preachers: speak more of money than they do our lord, and saviour Jesus the Christ. Multitudes of men, preachers: are enemies of our God, the lord Jesus Christ. How do we the ministers of the lord Jesus Christ fight against spirit wickedness in high places? We use the armor of God: the truth, the holy scriptures, which is the word of God. There are people that say brother mathis why don't you preach in the churches? I am never invited to preach, and when I am invited to preach I had better preach all that I want the saints to know; for I will not be invited to preach a second time. For if I am invited to preach in a Baptist church. I may choose as my text these verses of scripture. St. John 3:l there was a man of the pharisees, named 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 the flesh is flesh: and that which is born of the spirit is spirit. 7. Marvel not that I said unto thee, ye must be born again. Beloved of God, baptist believe that all a person has to do to be saved is believe. If that doctrine was true even devils could be saved for they believe and tremble. James 2:l9 thou believest that there is one God: thou does well: the devils also believe, and tremble. Holy children the men that preach this doctrine "faith plus nothing equals salvation" are enemies of Christ. They would lead the children of God into the fires of hell. For except a man is born of water, baptized and of the spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. What does the water of your baptizm do? It washes away your sins, and brings you into the promise that you shall receive the Holy Ghost, listen carefully as I read these verses of scripture. Acts 2:37 (in these verses of scripture the apostle peter has just preached, the life, the death, the resurrection of Jesus Christ. When those men that had crucified Christ, came into the knowledge that they had crucified the son of God they came to peter and said "men, and brethren what shall we do.") act 2:37 now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto peter and the rest of the apostles, men and brethren what shall we do? 38. 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. 39. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are far off, even as many as the lord our God shall call. Brothers and sisters in Christ, if your love ones have not been baptized into Christ, they are still in their sins. If one of your love ones have died unbaptized, it is lawful, according to God's laws, for you to be baptized for that person. When this verse of scripture was uttered, the apostle Paul was speaking of the resurrection. 1 Corinthians l5:29 else what shall they do which are baptized for the dead, if the dead rise not at all? Why are they then baptized for the dead. Beloved of God, if you will repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, for the for the remission of sin, the water of your baptizm will wash away your previous sins, and you shall receive the gift, the most precious gift this world has ever known, the gift of the Holy Ghost. But on the other hand if your are not baptized properly, you shall not receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Let me give you an example of what I am telling you. The apostle Paul when he was at Ephesus: came upon some of the disciples of John, the Baptist. The disciples of John, had not been baptized in the name of Jesus : neither had they received the gift of the Holy Ghost. Reading from acts l9:l and it came to pass, that, while Appollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coast came to ephesus. And finding certain disciples. 2. He said unto them, have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3. And he said unto them, unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, unto John's baptism. 4. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is on Christ Jesus. 5. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the lord Jesus. 6. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them, and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7. And all the men were about twelve. Listen carefully saints of God, did the disciples of John speak with tongues before they were baptized in the name of Jesus Christ? no, why not? Because the inward man the soul was not alive. When a man speaks in the unknown tongue, it is the inward man the soul that speaks. Do all speak with tongues, I am of the opinion that they do not. Why not for one thing, when the Holy Ghost comes he brings a gift, it might be faith, or the gift of knowledge, or the gift of healing. 1 Corinthians l2:7 but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8. For to one is given by the spirit the word of wisdom: to another the word of knowledge by the same spirit: 9. To another faith by the same spirit: to another the gift of healing by the same spirit l0. To another the working of miracles: to another prophecy: to another discerning of spirits: to another divers kinds of tongues: to another the interpretation of tongues: ll. But all these worketh that one and the self same spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will. Saints of God, another reason that I do not believe that all of God's children speak in the unknown tongue is because of these scriptures recorded in the book of, l Corinthians l2:28 and God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers. After that miracles, then the gifts of healing, helps, governments, diversities of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30. Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 3l. But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. Listen carefully, children of God, are all Christians apostles? no. Are all Christians prophets? no. Are all Christians teachers? no. Do all of Gods children, have the gift of miracles? no. Have all of God's children the gift of healing ? no. Do all speak with tongues ? no. Do all have the gift of interpretation? no. But we as children of God are to covet, the best gifts. How do most people receive the gift of the Holy Ghost? When a person is baptized in the name of the father, and in the name of the son, Jesus the Christ, and in the name of the Holy Ghost. They come into the promise that they will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then when men of God, or a man of God, within whom the spirit of God lives comes and lays his hands upon the baptized man, the baptized man receives the Holy Ghost by faith. The world cannot receive the Holy Ghost, because they cannot see him. St. John l4:l5 if ye love me, keep my commandments. L6. And I will pray the father, and he shall give you another comforter, that he may abide with you for ever: l7. Even the spirit of truth: whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him : for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. Now concerning the laying on of hands, that a person may receive the Holy Ghost, example at Paul's conversion. Acts 9:l7 and ananias went his way, and entered into the house : and putting his hands on him said, brother saul, the lord even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. L8. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized. Saints of God, you must receive the Holy Ghost: for when you do the inward man the soul comes to life. This outward body of flesh, and blood shall perish, but the inward man the soul never dies for it is renewed every day. 2 Corinthians 4:l6 for which cause we faint not: but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. When children of God receive the Holy Ghost, the Holy Ghost gives us the power to live above sin. Acts l: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. When the Holy Ghost comes to live with God's children they have the power to preach or teach, or witnesses, or whatsoever the lord calls them to do, but the most wonderful power is to keep the commandments of God. L John 3:9 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. Think on this saints of God, why did Jesus Christ come into the world, and allow men to curcify him? What was the purpose? it was that God, and man may be reconciled. After his death, burial, and resurrection he came to his disciples and breathed on them, and said "receive ye the Holy Ghost" this was reconciliation of God, and man. St. John 3:2l then said Jesus to them again peace be unto you: as my father hath sent me even so send I you. 22. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, receive ye the Holy Ghost. 23. Whosoever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them, and whosoever sins ye retain, they are retained. Saints of God, it is wonderful to be alive physically, and spiritually.