Oxford Bible Church - Living in the Last Days (audio)

We become like the One we worship, for it is a surrender. Our highest calling is to worship God, in intimate spirit to Spirit communion. We love God by our (1) worship, and (2) works. Worship adds to us value (holiness), as God fills us with His life, activating our souls. Our true life flows out of our worship.

“Seek your HAPPINESS in the Lord, and He will give you your hearts desire" (Psalm 37:4). God has no needs, but He does have a strong desire for you, for intimacy with you! Our love and worship gives Him great pleasure! Don't deprive God of your love, for Jesus died so that God might receive your love

A great picture of our Covenant with God through Christ is the story of Mephibosheth. Saul's family is a type of mankind in Adam. David (a type of God) made a covenant with Jonathan, Saul’s son (a type of Christ). As Mephiboshesh (a type of us) was in Jonathan he qualified to receive David's covenant love.

Unity is a state of harmony or peace created by love. Unity (between us and God and with others) is the key to multiplication of power and effectiveness. What we can achieve together is far greater than from working alone. The multiplication factor (up to x100) depends on the degree of unity (Mark 4:20).

The essence of love is spiritual, coming from God's Presence in us, for God is love, and love is of God, and the fruit of the Spirit is love. Love exists in 4 dimensions - the length, height, depth and width. We must (1) receive His love into our heart by faith, so we are filled with His love (Ephesians 3:14-19), then (2) release His love by our words and actions.

Derek shares God's vision and purpose for sex and why it is sacred. God gave us a strong sex drive, so we can form a deep intimate union with one person of the opposite sex within the covenant of marriage. But since sex is sacred, when we misuse it for selfish ends, we are defiled and feel shame.

Psalm 40 is a Messianic Prophecy describing Jesus as He was about to step through the Door from Heaven to earth (Hebrews 10:4-10). When He dedicated Himself to God as His bondservant to do His will, God opened His ears to hear and anointed Him to do His will. We see how this applies to us (Romans 12:1-8).

This video completes our series on Revelation, by teaching the Epilogue (22:6-21), which emphasises these things will shortly and suddenly take place when Jesus comes in the Rapture (the Morning Star), and ends by declaring God's Word is now complete, warning us strongly against adding to it or taking from it.

Revelation 21-22 is the climax of the Bible describing the Eternal State of the just, showing God will fulfil all His plans and purposes, and glorify His redeemed People (Bride), and dwell with and in us for all eternity. We will see His face, know Him, be like Him, serve Him and reign with Him forever in glory.

Revelation 20 describes the devil and all who submit to him being cast into the Lake of Fire, for their everlasting punishment. Every knee must bow to Christ, so the Fire will restrain them from all sinning. By way of contrast, Revelation 21-22 describes the Eternal State of the Bride in the New Jerusalem.