The last days are what we are living in, we do not have another generation to be able to say this is the last generation coming up. No, it is already here. The scripture tells us, concerning the fig tree and the trees of the field, Luke 21, how it would be. We are here, to recognize the time we are living in, and the obligation we have toward the Word of God is a great picture in this day and hour we live ln. It is so wonderful to know that God, from the foundation of the world, has recorded our names in the book of life. He has put them there to say, no one can erase them. They may take your life, but they cannot erase your name. Jesus expressed it in a way, that was more important than our lives here. The preachers of this hour think that time is going on, that we are not at the climax, but we are. When it says this generation, in the book of Psalms it said that a generation is seventy years, and if by strength, it could be four score. So when we come to 2018, that is a seventy year period of time when the generation is over. Jesus said that generation will not pass until all those things be fulfilled. We are getting mighty close to the end of a generation. If that generation will not pass away, we know that we cannot measure time by seventy years or by eighty years. If by strength it goes to eighty years, then that is not long. 1948 was a mark in history, God began to count time. If we do the same, we will dismiss a lot of the goings on of this hour of man’s plans. I read the scripture from Mark 11 about forgiving. Bro. Steve made a point last Sunday night that I had never really thought of, I had read it, but I had not thought of it in that way. He said when you go to put your money in the box back here and you feel you have something against someone else, don’t put it in until you get it all straightened out. That is an urgent thing. We live in an hour of urgency. I do not say that trying to scare anyone into salvation, because that would not work. I know preachers used to do that, but that is not God’s way. In some of those old camp meetings, that was a scare tactic. They wanted to see somebody saved so bad, they would talk to them, if you don’t get saved, something may happen to your child, or you may not make it home. They would have a big boo-hooing crowd of people. Then, if something did not happen in a few days, their scare salvation was forgotten. I remember when they would almost go back and twist peoples arms to get them to come to the altar. I had a cousin, not married, maybe seventeen or eighteen years old, they kept going to her during a revival meeting when I was growing up. Finally she went, her excuse later on was, I went to get them off my back. I have seen churches full of people, boys would come to see girls and so on, when the altar call was made, almost half of the congregation would go outside, because they knew they were going to be hounded. I remember Bro. Bud preaching years ago, and talking about the hands of the Holy Ghost, which if the Holy Ghost does not get on you, then that is what he meant. If the Holy Ghost does not persuade you, you have just made a commitment to please someone. If that is all it amounts to, there is no salvation involved. Peter, in his Epistle, talks about a woman, and tells her not to try to push or persuade your husband, but to live before him in a way that may turn him to God. I believe in that, because I believe that was predestinated for Peter, or anyone else to have said that. I know I am drifting somewhat from my subject, but I want all of us to look at ourselves, and that is including me. Is my life worthy of the gift God has given me? If not, I want to get right, and get my life to where the gift will be used for His glory. Only He, is worthy, but we can fit into the category of being right with God. That is determination. The saying is, nobody is perfect. That is not what the Bible says. There is an old song, I am just a sinner saved by grace. You are not a sinner after you come into the family of God. You are saved from sin, not saved in sin. Of course, that gets a lot of applause because it makes people feel good; but if you look at 1st John you are going to see a different story there, how God can make us to elevate up to the realm of living in the Spirit. It says, if you live in the Spirit, then walk in the Spirit. This is my desire. This is safety. They are always talking about a safety net. This is our safety net, to live in the Spirit, and walk in the Spirit. Then it says we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Otherwise, take it to the next level, if we do not walk in the Spirit, we will fulfill the lusts of the flesh. The thing about it is, we cannot live this sanctified life by ourselves. When you bring it down to where we walk, it is the gift of God. We have been given a free gift. This is the best gift there is, because it far exceeds the nine gifts, to have the gift of the Spirit, which is the gift of life. Let us return to the 12th chapter of 1st Corinthians. I think we stopped in the 25th verse, that says this,That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another. And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it.Let us continue. Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, (He is not separating this from the rest of the gifts as yet. This was around 59 A.D. when the Church, the last day Church at this time, would only be around five years old, I am talking about the Gentile Bride. A.D. 53 or 54 is when Paul said, behold I turn to the Gentiles, seeing you have no desire for eternal life.) notice, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, (The other two offices are not mentioned as yet, because the Church is gradually going up in its level. It did not get there immediately. It was really 64 A.D. before Paul put all five of the ministries together. He then brings them together as gifts. He is not telling them here, what they are to do.) after that miracles, then gifts of healings, in (what he has already mentioned before) helps, governments, diversities of tongues. There are people that are walking in the gift that God gave them, without really even knowing it. It has become automatic to them, and they do not even know. I do not want to point out anything, but I see it working. When we begin to talk about the gifts, we immediately go to the vocal gifts. But there are integral gifts in the body we are unaware of, because it says here, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, there are brothers and sisters that have entered into a position in the body of Christ without realizing it. Helps can be things that people do to make it better for someone else. I know when I think of that, there are the musicians, then gifts of singing. There are people that are gifted singers. Let us just use these gifts for the glory of God. God gave them a voice for singing. Let us always make sure with this gift, that there is not something in our lives that is going on to keep us from getting our life onto that same level as that gift. We have brothers that play an instrument up here, but if they have to, they can play any of them. That is a gift. If you expect me to get any music out of this thing, you just as well go on home, because you will anyway if I try. I was not a singer, I would not carry a tune. I can carry a tune a little bit now, I had led singing a few times when Bro. Creech would be gone. In 1977, he said, it is yours. Talk about somebody being scared. I did not only have to push myself, I had to push my voice. I did not have that gift like some do. Do you think that is not a help? Do you think also, that what some of these brothers do here, I am talking about the deacons, trustees and all they take care of, do you think that is not government? We depend a lot upon that part that is not as showy as some other parts, but we depend upon it. I thank of our brothers and sisters that work out here in the fellowship hall where we feed our Convention guests. Of course this may seem little to someone else, but to take charge of something and do it right, without asking for anything in return is appreciated. We have brothers that do things around this church house, that I do not even know when they do it. They have not been hired to do it, but they do it. Then there are others, all you have to do is ask. I am not blind to these things. I want to see that one that God has put the gift of miracles in their life, I want to see that work. It is the same Spirit in that man, that is in the one that fulfills the helps, and the governments. It is the same Spirit. You have never heard it explained like that, have you? You thought you were just a wheel that was flat on one side, just scooting along. God does not have any flat tires, or worn out vessels. We are getting into the gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues, that Spirit within you will cause you to do something that is on your level. Now we are the body of Christ, not next year, not down the road, not when perfection comes, but now! Just your presence here, means something, because Paul speaks about that, seeing the evil day come, let us see that we forsake not the assembling of ourselves together. If we neglect gathering together of ourselves when we have the opportunity to be here, when it comes time for us to stand before the judgment seat of Christ, what are we going to say when we come up a little short? Is He going to say half well-done? I am not trying to judge anyone by my own judgment, but I am looking at the Word of God. We have young brothers and sisters here that are going to be here whenever the doors are open, and I say, you are opening up yourself to something better by doing that. There are people that have obligations and I know that. Obligations are one thing, excuses are another thing. You see the excuses Jesus mentioned, one said I am getting married. That is when you really ought to be in church for sure. We have had brothers and sisters that got married at the end of a service. Do you think they were trying to get away from being at church? One was even at the end of a convention. I am not talking about taking a vacation; but just to miss because you would rather do something else, that is inexcusable. It says here, Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all teachers? are all workers of miracles? Have all the gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But covet earnestly the best gifts: (He said gifts, which will go to different people, and some may have more than one, but you are not going to have all nine; and what you do have is for the body of Christ. Covet earnestly the best gift, that would be the best gift suited to your responsibility.) and yet show I unto you a more excellent way. Let us look at what he is talking about. Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have no charity (love), I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. {plain Just a jiggler. When I went to school, the teacher would go to the window and ring the bell. I knew what that was for. It was time to come in: recess was over. She did not ring it except for a certain reason, otherwise you would never know when to come back in. Let me say this, when the apostle was talking about charity here, this is something that far exceeds any gift. It is the love of God inside of us that we cannot manufacture. Make-believers do not have it. That love is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost: it is not the love of a father or mother for their children, it is the love that God places in the body for His people, and that is the way it is all brought together, and is all in sync, by that love that God has shed abroad in our hearts. Listen, he is still dealing with the gifts, but he is telling the important thing to make the gift.