Seal of God God uses symbology in the Bible to allow us to understand spiritual meanings and relate His Word

to our everyday lives. Seals have been used since the beginning of time. Kings and heads of households have utilized seals to mark their property for centuries. The seal was to indicate ownership. Often times, scrolls made of papyrus were sealed with moist clay which then dried to indicate ownership and authenticity. Many of you are sealed. You have the seal of God. Let's open our Bibles and learn more about this seal. I CORINTHIANS 9:1 Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? Paul saw Jesus Christ on the road to Damascus. Jesus struck him down. I CORINTHIANS 9:2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord. Those that would hear the truth and believe became Paul's seal, or proof that what he was teaching was authentic. I CORINTHIANS 9:3-5 Mine answer to them that do examine me is this; 4 Have we not power to eat and to drink? $ Have we not power to lead about a sister a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? Paul is standing up for his rights. The subject at the end of Chapter 8 was eating meat that had been sacrificed to an idol. Paul is saying that barring offending someone there is nothing wrong with eating that meat, if it is clean and properly prepared. As Paul, you have the power and authority as long as you do not offend those with tender ears. Let's look at another seal. II CORINTHIANS 1:19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, Who was preached among you by us, even by me and Silvanus and Timotheus, was not yea and nay, but in Him was yea. The preaching of Paul and those with him was divinely approved, The preaching was as Jesus Christ instructed, not what some man might say. II CORINTHIANS 1:20 For all the promises of God in Him are yea, and in Him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. The promises of God are all positive. Do you claim them? Those that don't know the promises and claim them won't receive them. II CORINTHIANS 1:21-22 Now He Which stablished us with you in Christ, and hath anointed us, is God; ^ Who hath also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts. The word earnest in verse 22 is a legal term. You might think of it as earnest money one is required to pay, when they have decided to buy a house. Paul is saying the price has already been paid for those that are sealed. The promises are guaranteed. II CORINTHIANS 1:23-24 Moreover I call God for a record upon my soul, that to spare you I came not as yet unto Corinth. M Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand. No one has dominion over your faith. Your faith is yours and yours alone. Paul is telling the Corinthians that he doesn't want to have to come unto Corinth, but you had better get your act together. We are going to turn to Ephesians as we continue our study. The Book of Ephesians is written on multi-levels. It is particularly addressed to the saints that were chosen before the foundations of this earth age (Eph. 1:4). Expand your minds, and consider both elect and free will.

EPHESIANS 1:11 In Whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him Who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will: His counsel is His Word. Have you studied His counsel? Do you have a destiny? Think about it. EPHESIANS 1:12-13 That we should be to the praise of His glory, who first trusted in Christ. ^ In Whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in Whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, The seal of God begins with receiving of the Holy Spirit, whether elect or free will. You may think of the seal of God as the Holy Spirit. EPHESIANS 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory. There is that word again. The seal of God is our guarantee of the inheritance. EPHESIANS 1:15-16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, 16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; The seal of God is the Holy Spirit. This is very important, beloved. When spurious messiah appears, there is one seal that keeps Satan away from you. It is important for you to understand the seal of God. Let's turn to Chapter4. The elect must be careful. Some might say, "Well, if I was justified in the first earth age, I could do just about anything I want and get away with it." You are in danger, if that is your attitude. EPHESIANS 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Be a comfort to others, don't upset them. EPHESIANS 4:30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. The Holy Spirit is always with those that are sealed. It grieves Him, when we act improperly. Don't disappoint the Holy Spirit. Yes, we all fall short at times. Do all that you are able to prevent disappointing Him. EPHESIANS 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: il And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. This is especially good advice for family relationships. You know, there are times to win arguments, and there arc times when it is best to lose arguments. There are times when it is best to zip you lips. I am talking about those arguments that really don't amount to a hill of beans. You are a bigger person than to argue over things that amount to nothing. How do you think the Holy Spirit of God within you feels, when you allow Satan to get your number over petty arguments? The seal of God may be seen in your actions. Let's turn to the Book of the seven seals. You won't be able to understand the seal of God without understanding the seven seals. We will pick it up with the seventh seal being opened. REVELATION 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. The four winds are spirits. God will utilize these four spirits to shake the earth at the end of this dispensation. They are currently being held back. Why? God tells us something must happen first. REVELATION 7:2-3 And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, 3 Saying,

"Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads." What is in your forehead? Your brain is in your forehead. God's servants must be sealed with the truth in their minds before the four winds will be released. Those of you that are a part of this ministry have work to do. What about the Old Testament. We are going to turn to Haggai. Haggai was a prophet that was upset because the people were supposed to be building the new temple of God, and all they were doing was building their own houses. HAGGAI 2:20-21 Ana again the word of the LORD came unto Haggai in the four and twentieth day of the month, saying, -21 "Speak to Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, saying, 'I will shake the heavens and the earth: There is only one time that God will again shake the heavens and the earth, and that is at the very end (Heb. 12). God's tribulation begins at this point. Zerbubbabel means "born in babel or confusion". We are all born in confusion, until we learn God's truth through His Word. Once you have that truth, you become a child of God. HAGGAI 2:22 And I will overthrow the throne of kingdoms, and I will destroy the strength of the kingdoms of the heathen; and I will overthrow the chariots, and those that ride in them: and the horses and their riders shall come down, every one by the sword of his brother The throne of kingdoms will be overthrown because there will be One Lord of lords, and King of kings. HAGGAI 2:23 In that day, saith the LORD of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, My servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the LORD, and will make thee as a signet: for I have chosen thee, saith the LORD of hosts.' Don't overlook the clue, "In that day". Does anyone care to guess what a signet is? A signet is a seal. The same seal that implants the Holy Spirit and God's truth in the forehead of those that love and serve Him. Let's turn to Zechariah. ZECHARIAH 3:8 Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, thou, and thy fellows that sit before thee: for they are men wondered at: for behold, I will being forth My Servant the BRANCH. You should all know the "BRANCH" is Messiah. When does Messiah return? At the seventh trump. Keep up with the chronological time. It is important for you to know what He will do just prior to the end. ZECHARIAH 3:9 For behold the stone that I have laid before Joshua; upon one stone shall be seven eyes: behold, I will engrave the graving thereof, saith the LORD of hosts, and I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day. The seven eyes are the seven thousand with eyes to see in Romans 1 1 . The word engrave means a signet. God Himself will utilize His signet to seal His servants. Man is not able to utilize this signet. Only God, through the Holy Spirit, has the power to seal His servants. I encourage each of you to read Zechariah Chapter 4 as a home study. Keep up with the symbolism as you do, and you will realize this chapter has to do with the two witnesses. Why is it important for you to have God's seal? Let's turn to Revelation. We'll pick it up with the coming of antichrist and his locust army. REVELATION 9:4 And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. The seal of God protects you from antichrist and his locust army. Only the two witnesses will be harmed. The seal is the Holy Spirit within you. The seal is your protector. Remember, the seal of God is available to both the elect and those with free will; however, God expects more of the elect. Make Him proud. In His Service, Arnold Murray