Our 2-part study with Psalm 2 entitled “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance” is available here.

This study points us to how God alone can give us dominion over sin, and how He uses chastening grace and faith to teach us to live Godly lives so that we fear him and not the heathen within or without (Tit 2:12). Perfect love takes time to form within us, but when our Father gives us this increase we learn through that gift that perfect love has no fear and that God’s love is so precious and great that it gives us the ability to present our bodies a living sacrifice and lay them down for each other which is our reasonable service (Rom 12:1-2).

Tit 2:12  Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Rom 12:1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Rom 12:2  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

There is a promise of deliverance which is certain, accompanied by faith which must be proved in the fire if it is going to become the precious trial of our faith which faith will enable us to go through the much tribulation that God gives us so we can lay up store or have that extra oil which is the gift that God will give to those who are predestined to endure unto the end (Php 4:13 , Mat 24:13 , Rev 3:18). All boasting will be excluded by the law of faith and the world will learn one day of the living sacrifice that we were predestined to become by the grace and faith of God (Eph 2:8)

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Mat 24:13  But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.

Rev 3:18  I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Mat 25:4  But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. [Rev 3:18]

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

We simply can’t take credit for any part of that process of buying of oil, as it is Christ who is working in us both to will and to do of His good pleasure (Php 2:13 , Rom 2:4) and it is so very comforting to know that it is God’s good pleasure to lead his people unto judgement and spiritual completion which comes about as a result of the purifying process that He is in the midst of from start to finish (Luk 12:32 , Dan 3:25). Christ being in the midst of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, in the fiery furnace gives us the perfect rendering of this precious process that God is working in the life of His first fruits through Jesus Christ who is the author and finisher of that faith which must be tried (Heb 12:2).

Php 2:13  For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Rom 2:4  Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?

Luk 12:32  Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Dan 3:25  He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.

Heb 12:2  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The webinars, mp3 recordings and study notes this 2-part study can be viewed here.