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Brothers and Sisters,

The series for 2005 has never been posted on the forum, so these will be completely new for the vast majority of our readers. I don't have the complete series, but I do have quite a few that I will post.

~Daily Inspirational ~ "RENEWING YOUR MIND" JANUARY 3, 2005


"RENEWING YOUR MIND"

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2.)  If the strongholds in your mind are the result of conditioning, then you can be reconditioned by the renewing of your mine.  Anything that has been learn can be unlearned.  Certainly this is the major path of renewal in the New Testament.  Through the teaching of God's Word, Bible study and personal discipleship, you stop being conformed to this world and experience the transformation of the renewing of your mine (Romans 12:2.)

If your past experiences were spiritually or emotionally devastating, then counseling and Christ-centered support groups will help the transformation.  Since some of the strongholds are thoughts raised up against the knowledge of God (2 Cor. 10:5), learning to know God as a loving Father and yourself as His accepted child is your starting place.

But you're not just up against the world and the flesh. You're also up against the devil who is scheming to fill your mind with thoughts which are opposed to God's plan for you.

Notice how Paul uses the word for thoughts (noema) in 2 Cor. in relation to Satan's activity.  We've already seen it in 2 Cor 10:5." We are taking every thought (noema) captive to the obedience to Christ."  Why do these thoughts need to be taken captive?  Because they may be the enemy's.

In 2 Cor. 3:14 and 4:4, Paul reveals that Satan is responsible for our spiritual hardness and blindness when we were unbelievers:  "But their minds (noema) were hardened...  The god of this world has blinded the minds (noema) of the unbelieving." In 2 Cor. 11:3 and 2:11, Paul states that Satan actively  plots to defeat  and divide  believers: I am afraid, lest as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds (noema) should be led astray from the simplicity and purity of  devotion to Christ...  We are not ignorant of his (Satan's) schemes (noema)."

If Satan can place his thoughts in your mind - and he can - it isn't much more of a trick for him to make you think it's your thought. That's the deception.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, I renounce and refuse any thoughts which are raised up against the knowledge of God.

By B. Anderson

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THANKSGIVING LIVING" JANUARY 5, 2005


THANKSGIVING LIVING

"No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for
you  who belong to Christ Jesus." i Thes. 5:18 (TLB)

We all know how a Thanksgiving turkey fills our stomachs. How does thanksgiving living fill our lives? What does thanksgiving do to us? To understand the result of thanksgiving you need only look as far as the objects of thanksgiving. What we're thankful for becomes the faith focus of our lives. If we're not thankful at all we end up living a faith without focus. Thanksgiving has the power to bring God's perspective and focus to our everyday lives!

When I thank God for his blessings it impacts my attitudes. We all know what it's like to be around the person who thinks the world "owes them something."  That kind of thinking fills a person with ingratitude and bitterness. What about the person who recognizes through thanksgiving the wonderful truth that God has "given them everything." That's the person with the truly magnetic personality.  The attraction is in their attitude of continuous joy. You cannot find that attitude in our world apart from thanksgiving.

When I thank God for his Character it impacts my character! Thankful people become holy people. As you thank God for His patience you develop endurance. As you thank Him for his unfailing love you'll grow an ability to love even the unloveliest....to love even in the worst of times. As you thank Him for His grace you develop a giving attitude. Praise not only pleases God, it changes us!

When I thank God for His Son it gives me a new sense of security and victory.  The results of the gift of Jesus Christ our Savior are staggering, truly "indescribable." Thankfulness is the proclamation of our trust in the truth that Jesus loved us and gave His life for us. When your faith focus becomes Jesus Christ then your life focus becomes victory!

Pastor H. Petersen

~Daily Inspirational ~ "BORN TO GROW" JANUARY 6, 2005


"BORN TO GROW"

"Feed the flock of God which is among you" (1 Peter 5:2).

It should grieve us to realize how many abandoned babes in Christ there are -- -- spiritual orphans.  In these days of spiritual dearth there is an ever increasing need for the ministry of nurturing new believers, that they may be "rooted and built up in Him, and established" (Colossians 2:7.)  "The greatest proof of your love for Christ is that you care for those who belong to Him; 'if you love Me, feed my sheep'".  -- -- J. B. S.

"Let us not feel that our task is done with the rebirth of a soul.  The great burden of the Christian ministry should be that Christ may be formed in men, and that they, in turn, may be living witnesses to others.  Notice Peter's words: 'But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people.  But for what purpose has all this been accomplished?  He goes on to say '... that ye should show forth the praises of Him who have called you out of the darkness into His marvelous light' (1 Peter 2:9). 'But ye are.....   that ye should.'  We believe in Christ's power and desire to win  others, but for want?  The whole purpose of salvation is that men and women may grow in the deeper stable characteristics of the Christian life -- that they might be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ" --  G.D.

The Christian life is not merely a converted life nor even a concentrated life, but it is the Christ-life.  It is the consuming desire of the Lord Jesus to reincarnate Himself in the believer."  --R.P.

"Neither as being Lord over God's heritage, but being en samples to the flock" (1 Peter 5:3).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "DOCTRINAL - EXPERIENTIAL" JANUARY 7, 2005


"DOCTRINAL - EXPERIENTIAL"

"Ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you" (Rom. 6:17).

The only true, consistent, and Christ-honoring experience is that which emerges from a clear-cut faith in the explicit facts of the Word.  Sound doctrine is the one basis for a mature walk and effective service.  "Thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of a good doctrine" (1 Tim. 4:6).

"We must remember that our death to sin was once for all accomplished at the Cross.  There the believer shared the death of the Lord Jesus; for when he became a believer, the life he received was life in Christ, that is, life out of death, resurrection life, 'newness of life'; and the relation to sin and the law which Christ had, became those of the believer!  Our experience of it all is simply the entering by faith into what has already happened at the Cross."

"God now commands each of us to reckon ourselves as having died with Christ to sin -- and therefore as now dead  unto into sin; and as having risen with Christ, and therefore now alive to God (Rom. 6:11).  Now it is always on the basis of what God has done that He asks us to reckon, to appropriate.  God makes the facts, and tells us to take the attitude that befits these facts; and when we obey, He increasingly works our experiential victory in and through us." -- W. R.N.

"Give attendance...  To doctrine" (1Tim. 4:13).

~Daily Inspirational ~ "SUBSTITUTE -- REPRESENTATIVE" JANUARY 8, 2005



"SUBSTITUTE -- REPRESENTATIVE"

"Crucified with Him" (Roman 6:6)

Often when a believer finally sees his identification with the Lord Jesus in His death and resurrection, as set forth in Romans Six, he will then seek to experience it by self-effort.  The net result: Romans Seven!

"As our Substitute He went to the Cross alone, without us, to pay the penalty of our sins; as our Representative He took us with Him to the Cross, and there, in the sight of God, we all died together with the Lord Jesus.  We may be forgiven because He died in our stead; we may be delivered because we died with Him."

"God's way of deliverance for us, a race of hopeless  incurable's, is to put us away in the Cross of His Son, and then to make a new beginning by recreating us in union with Him, the Risen, Living One.  It is the Holy Spirit who will make these great facts real and true in our experience as we depend upon Him; and so the plague of our hearts will be stayed, and we shall go on to be conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus Christ."-- J.C.M.

"The Holy Spirit so unites us to Christ that Christian experience becomes a reproduction in us of the essential facts of Christ's fourfold revelation.  He died unto sin: with Him we died (Gal. 2:20). He arose: with Him we are risen (Col. 3:1). He is in heaven: our life is hid with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).  He will appear again: with Him we shall appear in glory (Col. 3:4)." --N.BH.

"Risen with Christ" (Col. 3:1).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "RESPONSIBILITY" JANUARY 9, 2005


"RESPONSIBILITY"

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace" (John 16:33).

There are far too many irresponsible believers.  At the same time, there are far too many over-responsible believers who are seeking to carry out the Lord's responsibilities.  Our primary concern is to trust Him, and rest in Him, while "it is  God who confirms that makes us steadfast and establishes us..... in Christ" (2 Cor. 1:21, Amp).

"The good fight is the flight of faith.  Nothing is easier than to step out of faith into feeling, or sight.  But then it is failure, and no longer a fight of faith.  When we abide in the Lord Jesus,  the force of the assault is borne by Him.  He takes the strain and the burden; whilst the believer passes into His triumphs, and is kept in perfect peace through it all."

"The believer then understands the meaning of Asa's words:    'Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power...  Oh Lord, Thou art our  God; let not man prevail against Thee..' (2 Chron.14:11.)  Against us?  No; against thee!  Why?  Because the battle is the Lord's!  How often we have looked at the battle as ours, and have asked that man shall not prevail against us.  But perhaps you are not wholly on the Lord's side; and this may be the secret of your failure.  If you want continuous victory, you must be on the side of Him who knows no defeat.  The question is not whether the Lord is on your side, but whether you or on the Lord's side."-- E. H.

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusteth in Thee" (Isa.  26:3).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IMITATING IS IMITATION" JANUARY 10, 2005


"IMITATING IS IMITATION"

"For  to me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21)

Once we learn the truth of our union with the Lord Jesus, and of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, any attempt to imitate Christ will be seen for what it is: unscriptural, and futile.

"Our Father is going to teach us, mainly through personal failure, that the life we live is the life of our Lord Jesus alone.  The Christian life is not our living a life like Christ, or our trying to be Christ-like, nor is it Christ giving us the power to live a life like His; but it is Christ Himself living His own life through us; 'no longer I, but Christ.'"

The end of Christ's incarnation, death and resurrection was to prepare and form an holy nature and frame for us in Himself, to be communicated to us by union and fellowship with Him; and not to be able to produce to ourselves the first originals of such an holy nature by our only endeavors."

"The believer's true education is in the growth of Christ within.  The Church's real ministry is not multitudinous public services, so-called, but the forming of the Lord Jesus Christ in the lives of His people; the reproduction of Christ; epistles made alive by the Holy Spirit, to be seen and read of all men." --C.A.F.

"There is no answer to infidelity like the life of the Lord Jesus displayed through the Christian.  Nothing puts the madness of the infidel, and folly of the superstitious more to shame and silence than the humble, quiet, devoted walk of a thorough -- going, heavenly-minded, and divinely-taught believer."

"But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you" (2 Thess. 3:3).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IN-BORN MINISTRY" JANUARY 12, 2005



"IN-BORN MINISTRY"

"It is not you who chose Me, but it is I who chose you and appointed you that you might go and be fruitful" (John 15:16, Wey.).

We must be born into our ministry, our service; and it must be born in us.  Thus it will be a sharing of life, through which others will be born and will "grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18).

"Our Father will never put work or service in the place of character; and, if we do that, eternity will reveal that, however much we may have done, we are very small amongst the inhabitants of the Land, whose stature will be measured by 'the measure of Christ.'  It would be well if all who contemplated or are engaged in the work of God were governed by this one absolute final law: that, both as to themselves and as to those amongst whom they minister, the ultimate test is -- not how much work is done, but how much of Christ is present, or results from the sharing." --T.A.S.

"The Gospel can never be fully preached by the eloquence of the evangelist; it finds its true authority only in the lives of those it has laid hold of.  We live in a day when it is easy to evade the Cross worked out in our lives, and in which we are apt to place our confidence in modern methods and techniques of evangelism.  But lacking the solid evidence of godly living and devotion to the Lord Himself, these will become 'a fanfare of  trumpets or the crashing of cymbals--nothing more' (1 Cor. 13: 1)."--J.C.M.

"Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servants whom I have chosen" (Isa. 43:10).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "REST OF SANCTIFICATION" JANUARY 23, 2005



"REST OF SANCTIFICATION"

"According as His divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of H  Him that hath called us to glory and virtue" (2 Peter 1:3)

It is necessary for our Father to utilize very firm means in order to separate us from the ingrained idea that sanctification is produced by our work, plus His help.


"A superficial acquaintance with God's plan leads to the view that while justification is God's work, by faith in Christ, sanctification is our work, to be performed under the influence of the gratitude we feel for the deliverance we have experienced, and by the aid of the Holy Spirit.  But the earnest Christian soon finds how little gratitude can supply the power.  When he thinks more prayer will bring it, he finds that, indispensable as prayer it is not enough.  Often the believer struggles hopelessly for years, until he listens to the teaching of the Spirit, as He glorifies Christ again, and reveals Christ, our Sanctification, to be appropriated by faith alone." --A.M.

"Look not upon the life of holiness as a strain and an effort, but as the natural out growth of the life of Christ within you.  And let ever again a quiet, hopeful, gladsome faith hold itself assured that all you need for a holy life will most assuredly be given you out of the holiness of the Lord Jesus.  Thus will you understand and prove what it is to abide in Christ our sanctification"-- A. M.

"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine  nature" (2 Pete 1:4).
By M.  Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "BENCH, OR ARENA"? JANUARY 24, 2005


"BENCH, OR ARENA"?

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator" ( 1 Peter 4:19).

Initially, all we are able to trust God for is our justification.  During this, stage we are usually satisfied to remain spectators in the battle of life.  Later, when we know Him better and are thereby able to trust Him more fully, we become willing to let our Father take us down into the arena and make us participators. "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier" ( 2 Timothy 2:4).

If you would know victory you must have conflict; it is ridiculous to talk about having a victorious life when you have never been in conflict.  You must be prepared to enter the arena with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and He will give you lessons day by day.  No one can enjoy freedom without paying the price, even in the ordinary values of life.  If you would know what it is to triumph, you must certainly pass through tribulation.  If you want  patience, then it is tribulation; if you want victory there must be conflict."

"Does Paul regret the thorn in the flesh that drew forth words that have comforted countless millions?  Do the men for whom the winds were contrary wish they had been spared the storm that brought their Lord to them, walking on the sea, and caused Him to speak that immortal 'It is I: be not afraid'?"

"The  things which happened unto  me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" ( Phil. 1:12)
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "The Day of Reckoning" JANUARY 30, 2005


The Day of Reckoning

Scripture Reading:

"But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to every man according to his deeds." -- Romans 2:5,6

Few would disagree that we live in a cruel world where sin besets us on every hand.  Who will ever forget the senseless terrorist attack on the World Trade Center where 3,000 souls perished.  Such atrocities oftentimes bring cries of protest as to why God doesn't do something with those who commit such hideous sins?  To keep things in prospective, according to Proverbs 6:17 the sins of pride and lying, of which we all are guilty, are even a greater abomination in the sight of God than hands that shed innocent blood.  The reason for this is because they are sins that fuel these types of brutalities.

GOD'S GRACE

"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto Himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (II Cor. 5:19).

During the age of grace God has reconciled Himself to His enemies and is not imputing their trespasses unto them.  This could not be said of those who lived under the Law for God did at times impute their sins to them with catastrophic results.  When the Children of Israel committed the sin of idolatry 3,000 souls fell by the edge of the sword in judgment (Ex. 32:15-28).  The sin of disobedience committed by Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire resulted in their death by fire (Lev. 10:1,2).  The sin of murmuring brought severe consequences when Miriam was plagued with leprosy.  Aaron, her brother was quick to beseech the Lord to "lay not the sin upon us, wherein we have done foolishly" (Num. 12:1-15).  Little did Korah, Dathan and  Abiram realize that when they committed the sin of rebellion the earth would open up and swallow them and their families (Num. 16:28-34).  These are but a few samples of sins imputed to those who dared to trespass against God.

Today under grace, God is not imputing (to put to one's charge) the world's sins unto them, but rather is giving every man, everywhere, an opportunity to be saved.  To help our understanding of this truth let us say that a bank gives you an unlimited line of credit.  As a display of grace the banker tells you that there will be no payments, interest or service charges imputed (that would be grace), but will require full payment on the account at the end of 25 years.

Recklessly, you go on a spending spree running the account into the hundreds of millions of dollars.  Suddenly, you are confronted with the reality that you have mounted a debt that you will never be able to repay in this lifetime or the next.  As the day of reckoning approaches you work and work to satisfy the debt, but to no avail. About that time someone you have never met offers to pay the entire debt on your behalf, all you must do is believe that he is able and willing to pay the amount owed.  What will you response be to such a gracious offer -- belief or unbelief?  While God is not imputing sins at this hour the unsaved are accountable for those trespasses if they reject Christ's vicarious work on their behalf.

They who continue in unbelief are storing up sins, which will one day condemn them at the Great White Throne Judgment, yet to come.  Those who are behind the murder of defenseless citizens may think they have evaded the arm of justice, but they are sadly mistaken!  The angels of  God are recording all of these evil deeds.  When they stand before the righteous Judge at the end of time, the books will be opened and every man will be judged according to his works (Rev. 20:1-15).  Their sins  that have reached to heaven will plunge them into the depths of torment.  They shall not escape the justice of God!

But isn't God a God of love, surely He would never condemn anyone to hell?  Yes, "God is love!"  He loved the world so deeply that He sent His only begotten Son to this earth to die for our sins -- there is no greater demonstration of love than for a man to lay down his life for his friends.  But God is also holy and righteous and when it comes to the matter of sin His justice must, without exception, be satisfied. Always remember, any infraction against God's infinite holiness requires an infinite penalty.

Those who reject God's gracious offer of reconciliation, refusing to receive His provision of salvation, will be found in their sins.  God will be left with no other recourse, other than to confine the unbelieving to a destiny of eternal torment.  If you end up in the Lake of Fire, unsaved friend, you will have no one to blame, but YOURSELF!  God sent His Son to save you.  Christ died for your sins, was buried and rose again.  The gospel has been preached, and you have been warned!  Now the matter rests with you -- BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED! (Acts 16:31).

Heed these words of St. Paul before it is too late: "Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you... by which also ye are saved." "For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures; "And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures" (I Cor. 15:1-4).

By Pastor Paul M. Sadler,

~Daily Inspirational ~ "WHAT REALLY MATTERS" JANUARY 31, 2005


WHAT REALLY MATTERS

Who would ever have thought that a mouse could force a modern airline to transfer 42 passengers from one big jet airliner to another and give the pilot and crew a sixteen-hour vacation?

Well, it happened in London recently. One of the "between flight" cleaners spotted a mouse on the New York-bound jet and reported it to his superiors, with the result that the 42 passengers were transferred to a plane leaving some hours later.

The British Overseas Airways Corporation said that they were doing this to de-infest and fumigate the plane. But --all this: de-infest and fumigate the giant plane because of one little mouse? or even a few little mice?

Well, maybe, but do you know what I think? I think they foresaw panic aboard if some of the passengers should see that little mouse while they were in flight. Women don’t exactly like mice and it wouldn’t be good to have them standing up on seats or rushing for exits at 30,000 feet altitude!

Isn’t it odd! They say a little mouse can scare a big elephant, and it isn’t too different with the human race. Comparatively little things tend to frighten us, while too often we hardly notice great dangers.

The fact that "it is appointed unto men once to die," and that this can happen when least expected; the fact that after this life there will be no further opportunity to prepare for eternity; the fact that a just and holy God must judge sin (Heb. 9:27): these are the really important matters that so many people overlook in their mad scramble to enjoy life.

Let’s get down to earth and be sensible and face the question our Lord asked in Matt. 16:26: "For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?" Let’s stop living for this life as if it were never to end and for the next as if it were never to begin.

The Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary to pay the penalty for our sins (I Cor. 15:3) so that we might be saved and sure of heaven. Why not trust in Him and receive "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ " THE POWER OF GODLINESS " FEBRUARY 1, 2005


THE POWER OF GODLINESS

God would have us live as His own sacred possession, separate from this world-system, but godliness is out of style these days. Religious leaders in ever greater number are telling us that to win the world we must become part of it and to win the people of the world we must fellowship with them in the things they do and the places to which they go. But the believer cannot impress the world by conforming to it. And even if he could this approach would still be contrary to the Will of God, for His Word exhorts us: "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" (Rom. 12:2).

It is true godliness, consistent separation to God from this world, which most deeply impresses the lost to whom we bear witness.

True godliness exerts enormous spiritual power. It causes men to toil and sacrifice, yea to suffer and die for Christ and for others. It exerts a profound influence upon those with whom it comes into contact. A truly godly believer will win the respect of other believers and by his example encourage them to live godly lives, while at the same time his godliness will convict the lost, so that they will either be angered or will turn to Christ for salvation.

This is why II Tim. 3:12 says: "Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution." Carnal Christians do not like to think about the word "all" in this passage, but it is there and stands as a rebuke to their lack of consecration to God. They have "a form of godliness" but deny "the power thereof" (II Timothy 3:5).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE PROMISE GOD MADE TO HIMSELF" FEBRUARY 2, 2005


THE PROMISE GOD MADE TO HIMSELF

"In hope of eternal life, which God, who can-not lie, promised before the world [or, "ages"] began" (Tit. 1:2).

"The Cretians are always liars" (Ver. 12). "God... cannot lie" (Ver. 2). What a contrast! And how reassuring to know that our salvation depends upon the Word of God, who cannot lie! Our opening passage, above, however, states that God made this promise "before the world [or, "ages"] began." How can this be? There is no indication that He made this promise to the angels, and there was no one else to whom He could have made it -- except Himself, and this is exactly the truth of the matter. Have we not all made earnest promises to ourselves?

Before God ever made one promise to any man, He promised Himself that He would provide salvation and all the riches of His grace for sinners through Calvary’s finished work, and the promises later made to men were but progressive revelations of a firm purpose He had already made in His own heart of love. Paul, the apostle of "the mystery," refers to this blessed fact again  and again in his epistles:

"But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery... the hidden...WHICH GOD HATH ORDAINED BEFORE THE WORLD UNTO OUR GLORY" (I Cor. 2:7).

"According as HE HATH CHOSEN US IN HIM [CHRIST] BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD..." (Eph. 1:4).

"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" (Eph. 1:11).

"Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to HIS OWN PURPOSE AND [HIS OWN] GRACE, WHICH WAS GIVEN US IN CHRIST JESUS BEFORE THE WORLD BEGAN" (II Tim. 1:9).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE NEW NATURE IN THE BELIEVER" FEBRUARY 3, 2005


THE NEW NATURE IN THE BELIEVER

It has been well said that if there is anything good in any man it is because it was put there by God. And something good -- a new, sinless nature -- has been imparted by God to every believer.

While there is still within us "that which is begotten of the flesh," there is also "that which is begotten of the Spirit," and just as the one is totally depraved and "cannot please God," so the other is absolutely perfect and always pleases Him.

Adam was originally created in the image and likeness of God, but he fell into sin and later "begat a son IN HIS OWN LIKENESS, AFTER HIS IMAGE" (Gen. 5:3). It could not be otherwise. Fallen Adam could generate and beget only fallen, sinful offspring, whom even the Law could not change. But "what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God, sending His own Son IN THE LIKENESS OF SINFUL FLESH, and for sin," accomplished, "that the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:3,4).

As Adam was made in the likeness of God, but fell, so Christ was made in the likeness of sinful flesh, to redeem us from the fall, that by grace, through the operation of the Spirit, a new creation might be brought into being, a "new man... renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Col. 3:10) a "new man, which, after God is created in righteousness and true holiness" (Eph. 4:24).

Referring to this "new man," John says:

"Whosoever is born [begotten] of God doth not commit sin, for his seed remaineth in him: and HE CANNOT SIN, BECAUSE HE IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD" (I John 3:9).

"WE KNOW THAT WHOSOEVER IS BORN [BEGOTTEN] OF GOD SINNETH NOT..." (I John 5:18).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH" FEBRUARY 4, 2005


"THE JUDGE OF ALL THE EARTH"

Two Thousand Years ago a certain Man, innocent of all wrongdoing, was taken into custody by the authorities, given a trial in which He was charged of crimes He had not committed, and even when "no fault" could be found in Him, He was condemned to the cruelest death that man could invent.

Now it should not be supposed that simply because these Two Thousand Years have passed that this terrible miscarriage of justice will not be avenged in the Highest Court! Nor should it be supposed that everyone who has had a part in this travesty will escape the judgment of this Court!

You may think you know nothing, at all,about this event. But you are still guilty of His blood, and it behooves you, now, to cry unto Him, "the Judge of all the earth", for mercy and grace, in, what cannot be otherwise, your impending and eternal doom!

His name is Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, who, in the greatest of love and grace, paid our debt of sin, Himself, on the Cross of Calvary.

Though He was crucified at the hands of wicked men, Jews and Gentiles are guilty of His death. But more, it was your sins, your lifestyle, that nailed Him to the Cross, so you are not innocent in this matter, but guilty as charged. Yet because He not only was innocent of all wrongdoing, but righteous in all that He did, the grave could not hold Him. Death had no claim upon Him. Consequently, by His own Almighty power He arose from the dead; and alive forever more, He is seeking for all those who had a part in His crucifixion.

Now it seems to me that the wisest thing that any man could do under such circumstances is to plead for mercy from this Court of Justice. Because this Man, whom you have crucified (your sins also nailed Him to the cross), is alive, and He is coming again to take vengeance upon all mankind.

Jesus Christ is The Judge of All the Earth!
BY RUSSELL S. MILLER

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER" FEBRUARY 5, 2005


"THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER TODAY"

Grace and faith are the characteristic features of the present dispensation. Not only is salvation now declared to be by grace, through faith, but the Spirit also operates in the believer by grace, through faith. He does not take possession of us and cause us to do what is right, but dwells within each believer (I Cor. 6:19) to provide needed guidance and the strength to withstand temptation, and we may avail ourselves of this provision by faith.

The Spirit, Who first imparted life to us will also impart strength to withstand temptation and overcome sin. In our inability to even pray as we ought, "the Spirit... helpeth our infirmities" and "maketh intercession for us" (Rom. 8:26). In our weakness we are " strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16) and God even stoops to "quicken [our] mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in us" (Rom. 8:11).

"THEREFORE, BRETHREN, WE ARE DEBTORS, NOT TO THE FLESH, TO LIVE AFTER THE FLESH" (Ver. 12).

The implication from the above passage is that though sorely tempted we are debtors to the Spirit who dwells within and provides overcoming power.

The question, in times of temptation, is generally whether we truly desire to overcome, for we may overcome in any given case by grace, through faith. In the present dispensation it is not true that it is not possible for the believer to sin, but it is blessedly true that in any situation it is possible for him not to sin, for the Spirit is always there to help.

By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "DOES MISERY LOVE COMPANY?" FEBRUARY 6, 2005


"DOES MISERY LOVE COMPANY?"

We have all heard the statement: "Misery loves company."  It is true that when one is sick or in trouble he does not feel quite so sorry for himself when he realizes that others are as unfortunate, and perhaps more so, than he.

However, some have used this phrase:  "Misery loves company," in speaking lightly of hell.  Perhaps you have heard someone say:  "Well, if I go to hell, at least I’ll have lots of company."  This is true, but the company the lost will have when cast out of God’s presence will hardly afford them comfort.

The Bible story of the rich man and Lazarus brings this fact out with great force.  The rich man, you will remember, "fared sumptuously every day," while Lazarus "was laid at his gate, full of sores, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table."

In the process of time both died, and the rich man, having felt no need of salvation, suddenly was made to experience God’s wrath upon sin, for the sacred record says: "In hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments" (Luke 16:23).  From his place of torment the rich man saw Lazarus with Abraham "afar off," but this surely afforded little comfort, while we do read that "Lazarus was comforted."  The rich man, then, still with haughty superiority, asked Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers, "lest they come into this place of torment."  He did not wish his brothers to join him in hell.  "Misery" among those cast out of God’s presence, then, does not "love company."

The story is brought to a close as Abraham refuses the rich man’s request, explaining that   if his brothers would not hear the Word of God "neither will they be persuaded though one rose from the dead" (Luke 16:31).

The way to avoid the lot of the rich man, then, is to believe the Word of God, particularly that part of the Word which tells how Christ died for our sins that we might be justified by grace through faith.  Don’t be deceived by the old adage: "Misery loves company."  Receive Christ as your Savior today.  "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).

~Daily Inspirational ~ "NOT PRUNING, BUT DEATH" FEBRUARY 7, 2005


NOT PRUNING, BUT DEATH

"For the death which He died He became, once for all, dead in relation to sin; but by the life which He now lives He is alive in relation to God" (Rom. 6:10, Wey.).

When we speak to suppress self in one area, it will express itself in another.  If we attempt to prune the branches of the old life, we find that its root has thereby been strengthened.  The one answer to this enemy, both God's and ours, is a daily crucifixion of the Cross.

"Romans Six is one of the most blessed portions of the New Testament, teaching us that 'our old man,' our old nature that is in us, was actually crucified with Him, so that now we need no longer be in bondage to sin.  But remember it is only as the Holy Spirit makes Christ's death a reality within us, that we shall know, not by force of argument or conviction, but in the reality of the power of an endless life, that we are in very deed dead to sin." -- A.M.

"Not by a stringent 'cutting off' of the exterior things, nor by seeking a mental apprehension of 'death with Christ' in the conscious life, but by a simple reckoning upon His death as yours -- shall you experience in the inner depths  of your life, servant of God, the divine spiritual reality that 'Christ in you' is in truth your very life of nature and continually 'making to die' its inclinations and habits."

"In the same way you also must regard yourselves as dead in relation to sin, but as alive in relation to God, because you are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 6:11, Wey.).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "NOT INFLUENCE, BUT LIFE" FEBRUARY 8, 2005



"NOT INFLUENCE, BUT LIFE"

"For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free" (Romans 8:22).

The more fully the Lord Jesus controls within, the less we will be influenced by externals.  The more we are affected by externals, the less freedom He will have within.

"The Lord Jesus' miracles did not have a character-changing effect upon the people who saw them or participated in them.  They were but for a testimony to who He was.  With all His miracles, in the end the principle of unbelief has not been rooted out of a single individual!  Though they saw all that He did, the deep-rooted unbelief was untouched.  The amazing thing -- even with the disciples themselves -- was that they were still capable of deep-seated unbelief.  'O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe...'  'He upbraided them with their unbelief...'  With all they saw, it did not touch character, it did not touch their nature."-- T.A-S.

"As in the apostolic days so now the desire exists for the manifestations of the Spirit in marvelous ways; But a life sober, righteous, holy, lived in the hope of the glory to come, is the more excellent way of the Spirit's manifestation and undeniable proof of His indwelling.  The prayer should not be so much for this or that gift, or this or that results, as for Christ Himself to be made manifest to us and through us. The Apostle who was most filled with the Spirit sums all up in that one great word, "For me to live is Christ,"-- W.F.E.

"It is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth  in me" (Gal. 2:20)
By M.Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "Christ Is All" FEBRUARY 9, 2005


"Christ Is All"

Christ is the key to the puzzle of this world. May God give us to be anything or nothing, so that the Lord Jesus may be everything.The magnet always turns towards the pole; the needle always trembles a little when the storm and tempest roar, but its direction changes not; the needle of the Christian heart always points toward Christ.  The only thing which can be truly blessing to our brethren, so precious because they belong to Him, is that which we reproduce of Him. . . .  If He is the life, all which that life does has Him for its end and object..

Everything relates to Him: we do not eat without Him (how can we when He is our very life?), we do not drink without Him; what we say, what we do, is said and done in the name of the Lord Jesus.

The most eminent Christian is one of whom no one has ever heard speak, some poor labourer or servant, whose all is Christ, and who does all for HIS eye, and His alone. Jesus is the fountain of all blessedness, sent to poor, weak, wretched sinners, that they may have abundance of comfort, of peace and of enjoyment.

No trial can touch a person who has Christ for his all. He may have lost this or lost that; but if he has Christ he has that which he cannot lose.  It is not the quantity we do that makes spirituality, but the measure of presenting Christ: that is the value of our service, in a world where there is nothing of God.

It is not always in the correction of the failures which come before us that sources of unhappiness are heaped; they disappear when souls are nourished upon the riches which are in Christ. We must think of this; we must, while ourselves feeding upon Christ , and He gives us to feed on Him without stint , cause other to breathe a new atmosphere, where Christ is.  He has purchased a “peculiar people, zealous of good work.” He has brought you to Himself, to have your whole heart wrapped up in His interests, your thoughts, your actions, everything for Him. . . Are we living enough out of the world (not merely out of its pleasures but its cares) and enough with Christ for Him to have a large place in the daily thoughts of our hearts? . . ., Have we the consciousness from the time we get up in the morning till we go to bed at night, that our hearts are with Christ, . . .  a consciousness that He is in us, and we identified with Him?

John Nelson Darby
(1800-1888)

~Daily Inspirational ~ "LIGHT AND SHADOW" FEBRUARY 10, 2005



"LIGHT AND SHADOW"

Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now I have kept Thy  Word" (Ps. 119:67)

The head -- knowledge of Spirit -- taught study becomes the heart -- knowledge of Spirit -- led life, via Rom. 8:28 and 29.  How good it is to have a sovereign Father controlling all.

You'll find that no one learns truth easily.  He who built on the rock was not secure merely because he built on the rock; but he also digged deep.  What springs up quickly has no root.  The more you understand the nature and scope of the Word, the more will you see the demand it makes on you and how unreserved must be your subjection to it; while as you are subject to it; while as you are subject to it, you learn the blessedness and virtues of it.

The true value of anything is known only when it is wanted.  For this reason bright days must be succeeded by dark ones.  In the dreary and desolate hour to nature, we begin to know the value of the truth communicated to us in the bright day.  The learning is at one time, and the proving at another.  In fact, we ought to be prepared for the dark hour;  so that, though  it be dark, there is something so blessed, so suited, pouring its comfort and  sustenance  on our souls, that, after all, the dark and dreary hour becomes a more really festive time to the heart, because of the virtues of the truth  now made known, than the time of its reception, which was so happy and exhilarating."  -- -- J. B.S.

"That the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while...  stablish, strength, settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).

~Daily Inspirational ~ "YOU DO NEED HIM" FEBRUARY 12, 2005


"YOU DO NEED HIM"

I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father but by Me" (John 14:6).

These are the words of the Lord Jesus. In writing about them years ago, the late Pastor J. C. O’Hair said:

"A Person is our Savior and our salvation. A Person is our Life-giver and our life. A Person is our Redeemer and redemption. A Person is our righteousness and holiness. A Person is our peace and our hope. That Person is the Lord Jesus Christ, ’the Man Christ Jesus,’ the ’one Mediator between God and men.’ By His blood we have been brought nigh to God.

"We need nothing more than Christ; nothing less will suffice or avail. To add any religion whatsoever to Christ Himself is to displease God. In Christ dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. In Christ are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. God was in  Christ reconciling the world unto Himself. The believer is in Christ. The believer is accepted in Christ; complete in Christ; without condemnation in Christ; the righteousness of God in Christ. The believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in Christ. Christ is the superlative need of the world. He is all that you need, but you do need Him. You must have Him, or be lost forever."

How wonderful to know that He offers Himself and all the merits of His redemptive work to sinners everywhere, no matter what their past. "The law entered that the offence might abound," says St. Paul, "but where sin abounded, grace did much more abound... that grace might reign" (Rom. 5:20,21). Paul himself was a living example of this truth, for he was the chief of sinners, saved by grace through faith in Christ.
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE" FEBRUARY 13, 2005


"THE UNCERTAINTIES OF LIFE"

Are you prepared to meet the Lord? Have you trusted Christ as your Saviour? Or will you meet Him as your Judge?

September 11, 2001: The news reports that terrorists had attacked the World Trade Center, and demolished it, in New York City, and attacks on other government buildings in Washington, and elsewhere, shocked the nation and the world.

Such unbelievably horrifying news should certainly awaken America! It is our prayer that the entire world will be awakened spiritually to real faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (This could have happened to your city, your place of business, and your office!) Have you been troubled by the uncertainties of life? Death comes to all, whether in the city or quaint little towns. Death is but a breath away, a heartbeat, and we have all broken God’s Laws, ignored His righteous standards, and have gone our own way. In short, as we read in Paul’s letter to the Romans:

"FOR ALL HAVE SINNED, AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD" (Rom.3:23). And..., "THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH; BUT THE GIFT OF GOD IS ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD" (Rom.6:23).

In the midst of all of life’s uncertainties there is one constant, The Love of God. "BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET
SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom.5:8).

God’s great love continues to delay His judgment upon the wickedness of man’s sin (Acts 17:31). And for now, He extends, "Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom.1:2).

Individually, by faith in Christ, "WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7). If you will simply believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, God will save you, and then, when this life ends, you will be forever in Heaven with the Christ of glory.

God has made the plan of salvation very simple. When the jailor at Philippi asked Paul and Silas, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts  16:30), the Apostle Paul replied:

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts16:31).

By Russell S. Miller

~Daily Inspirational ~ "FIVE WAYS YOU HAVE PROBLEMS?" FEBRUARY 15, 2005



"FIVE WAYS YOU HAVE PROBLEMS?"

I found this to be true to life and many situations that may be occurring now in each of your lives.  I found it helpful and I hope you, too will enjoy.

For those of you who wonder why you have problems and you say, "Why me"...There Are 5 Ways God Uses Problems.

1. God uses problems to DIRECT you. Sometimes God must light a fire under you to get you moving. Problems often point us in a new direction and motivate us to change. Is God trying to get your attention?

2. God uses problems to INSPECT you. People are like tea bags...if you want to know what's inside them, just drop them into hot water! Has God tested your faith with a problem? What do your problems reveal about you?

3. God uses problems to CORRECT you. Some lessons we learn only through pain and failure. It's likely that as a child your parents told you not to touch a hot stove.  But you probably learned by being burned. Sometimes we only learn the value of something...health, money, a relationship... by losing it.

4. God uses problems to PROTECT you. A problem can be a blessing in disguise if it prevents you from being harmed by something more serious. Last year a friend was fired for refusing to do something unethical that his boss had asked him to do. His unemployment was a problem - but it saved him from being convicted and sent to prison a year later when management's actions were eventually discovered.

5.  God uses problems to PERFECT you. Problems, when responded to correctly, are character builders. God is far more interested in your character than your comfort. Your relationship to God and your character are the only two things you're going to take with you into eternity. God uses problems to direct, inspect, correct, protect and perfect us.  No matter what you're going through, Count It All JOY, for Our God is truly an Awesome God.
Be Blessed and continue to be a Blessing!

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE NOBLE BEREANS" FEBRUARY 16, 2005



"THE NOBLE BEREANS"

Many Christian groups and organizations call themselves Bereans, but it is surprising how few people know what a true Berean is.

The 17th chapter of Acts relates how Paul called upon his kinsmen at Thessalonica and for three sabbath days "reasoned with them out of the Scriptures," trying to show them that Jesus was the Christ.

Steeped in their own religion, however, the majority were unwilling even to consider the truths Paul proclaimed. Indeed, they resented the fact that some did believe and, in their bigotry, "set all the city on an uproar." Finally Paul’s life was in such peril that the Christians there sent him away by night to Berea, a town about forty miles away.

At Berea Paul again sought out his "kinsmen according to the flesh" -- and what a different reception! Here is what the record says:

"THESE WERE MORE NOBLE THAN THOSE IN THESSALONICA, IN THAT THEY RECEIVED THE WORD WITH ALL READINESS OF MIND, AND SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAILY, WHETHER THOSE THINGS WERE SO" (Acts 17:11).

These people did not immediately close their eyes to further light. On the contrary, they gave Paul an interested hearing, listening with open minds to what he had to say. But they were not gullible either for, having listened to Paul, they subjected his word to God’s Word, searching the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were so. For this God called them "noble." They were the true spiritual aristocracy of their day.

We should all be Bereans, spiritually big enough to listen with open minds to the teachings of men, and then big enough too to subject their teachings to the Word of God, the Bible, to see for ourselves whether these things are so. Our Lord said: "Search the Scriptures... for... they... testify of Me" (John 5:39). As we do this we will find eternal life -- and more -- in Christ.

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "ENEMIES OF GOD AND WORSHIPERS OF SATAN" FEB. 17 2005



"ENEMIES OF GOD AND WORSHIPERS OF OF SATAN"

"...we were enemies..." (Rom. 5:10).

"...the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not..." (II Cor. 4:4).  Many religious but unsaved people will not accept the fact that they are enemies of God, and fail to understand why the Bible should insist that they are. The trouble is that, not knowing God, they have conjured up in their minds a "god" of their own, a "god" who says: "Be good and do good, and I will accept you." This "god," of course, they revere and may even worship. Certainly they are not at enmity against him.

But the God who says that they are sinners, worthy of everlasting judgment; that their only hope of salvation lies in the One who poured out His life’s blood to pay the penalty for their sins -- this God, the God of the Bible, they cannot abide. Let one of His servants tell them what He says about them and they are insulted. When this God, the true God, refuses to accept their "good" works or their "righteous" conduct they react like Cain, of whom we read: "And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell" (Gen. 4:5). They simply will not bow to this God, and their attitude betrays their enmity against Him.

But why will they not turn away from their self-righteousness and trust in Christ, who died for their sins? Simply because they worship Satan, "the god of this age," who "hath blinded the minds of those who believe not." Worship Satan? This too is hard for the unregenerate man to believe about himself. As he has his own conception of God, he also has his own conception of Satan -- a wrong one.

Unbelievers do not know that the real Satan, the Satan of the Bible, has a vast wardrobe and, in this dispensation of grace, doubtless appears most often as "an angel of light" with "ministers of righteousness" (II Cor. 11:14,15). This Satan they do indeed worship. They adore him, and try to live by his precepts, convinced that the way to salvation is to do and be good.

By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PARDON vs. JUSTIFICATION" FEB. 18, 2005



"PARDON vs. JUSTIFICATION"

Did you read, a few years ago , about the man, named Zimmerman, who spent nearly twenty-five years in prison for a murder which, it is now clear, he never committed! The mistake was discovered two years ago, and he was released, of course, but only after spending almost a quarter of a century in prison for a crime he did not commit!

This was a grim mistake, but even at that, it must be wonderful in such a case, to be free -- and to have people actually sympathize with you! Yet, after two years of liberty, Zimmerman says he still feels a bit numb. Waking up mornings he still imagines he hears the harsh sound of the prison bell, and looking about he still thinks he sees bars on the windows.

Things could be worse, though: Suppose he were guilty of the crime, merely pardoned and released. Then everyone would be saying: "There goes that murderer. They pardoned him. Don’t get too friendly with him." The stigma would always remain - as long as he lived.

Let us thank God that believers in Christ are not merely pardoned.  Rom. 3:24 declares that we are "justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Christ died for our sins and satisfied the just claims of the Law, and more: through the Holy Spirit He revolutionizes our lives and makes new creations out of us, for "If any man be in Christ," says II Cor. 5:17, "he is a new creation." "For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:8-10).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE LAW AND THE WRATH OF GOD" FEB. 19, 2005


THE LAW AND THE WRATH OF GOD

Romans 4:15 clearly states that "the law worketh wrath," but so many people, it seems, do not wish to see this. Even some clergymen tell us that God gave the Law to help us to be good, when God Himself says the very opposite; that it was given to show us that we are bad and need a Savior. "The law worketh wrath." Every criminal knows this and every sinner should know it, for the Bible has much to say on the subject. Rom. 3:19,20 declares that the Law was given "that every mouth may be stopped, and that all the world may be brought in guilty before God," and this passage goes on to say: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight; for by the law is the knowledge of sin."

II Cor. 3:7,9 calls the Law "the ministration of condemnation" and "the ministration of death." Gal. 3:10 says that those who are "of the works of the law," i.e., who seek to make themselves acceptable to God by keeping the Law, "are under a curse," because the Law can only condemn them.

Those who approach God, expecting eternal life in return for "good works" are offering Him their terms -- which He will never accept. God will not sell justification to those already under condemnation for sin. But He does offer sinners complete justification by grace because: "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written; cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree" (Gal. 3:13).

Thank God, those who trust in Christ,"having redemption, through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7), "being justified, freely by His [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "How to Have Boldness" FEB. 21, 2005



"How to Have Boldness"

Scripture Reading:

"And [pray] for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak." -- Ephesians 6:19,20

In our modern day there is a great demand for instant success.  We read frequently of how many have risen to fame and fortune practically overnight.  Seldom, however, do we hear of the hours of labor, practice, sacrifice and discipline it took to build that career.  Most times we only hear and see the end result.  Many have been deceived and disillusioned to think that they can have fame and fortune with little or no effort.

In these days in which we live, the world seems to have a powerful influence over the lives of many believers.  For this reason many members of the Body of Christ are looking for that book, conference or seminar that will be a shortcut to spiritual maturity.   When it comes to our spiritual lives and having boldness of faith we want instant results with little or no effort put into it.   As a Pastor, I would have to say that to have boldness in the faith as the Apostle says, there must be three key ingredients.

Time: Just as physical growth takes years, spiritual growth also takes time.  As we come to spiritual maturity we become more and more confident to speak out for the Lord.  It takes time to learn that we have to take our eyes off of ourselves which causes us to be reluctant to speak because of the fear of men.

Discipline: It takes discipline to sit down with the Word of God and study to acquire a knowledge of the Scriptures.  We don't mean just reading the Bible devotionally.  It is said that we retain only about 20 percent of what we read.  But, if we read and study, we retain about 60 percent when comparing Scripture with Scripture.  The better equipped you are in the Word of God the more comfortable you will be to share the truth, rightly divided.

Consistency: If we are to gain the respect of others in order to more effectively minister the gospel, we must be consistent with the truth. Don't sound an uncertain trumpet, be able to substantiate what you teach with the Blessed Book.  Not only should we speak the truth in love consistently, we must also live the truth.  Our lives are the only Bibles some men see.  That's why the Apostle Paul warns us to put "away lying, [and] speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another" (Eph. 4:25).  True boldness in the faith does not come naturally, it is  something we grow into as we increase in the knowledge of Him Who has called us into the glorious light.

By Pastor Paul M. Sadler,

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PAST HISTORY" FEB. 22, 2005



PAST HISTORY

"For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him" (2 Cor. 5:21).

The Lord Jesus was in our place of death and judgment; we are in His place of life and glory.

Romans Seven describes the experience of the believer who has been shown by the law principle the terrible consequences of his position in Adam.  Romans Eight describes the experience of the believer who knows what it is to be "in Christ," and who is being made free experientially from "the law of sin and death" by "the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus."

"It is of immense importance for every Christian to know that 'our old man' has been fully judged and ended before God.  Not changed or forgiven, but utterly condemned in the death of the Lord Jesus.  'God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin and in the flesh' (Romans 8:3).  Where sin brought us, love brought the Lord Jesus -- even to death; and His death is the end before God of all that we were as children of Adam -- men in the flesh.

"On the other hand, we have life in One who is risen from the dead.  We did belong to the race of which Adam was head; but the death of Christ is, in God's reckoning, the termination of our history in Adam.  A new Head has been provided for us, and we have been transferred by divine grace from Adam to Christ." -- C. A. C.

"He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves; but unto Him" (2 Cor. 5:15)

By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "COST OF LEADERSHIP" FEB. 23, 2005


"COST OF LEADERSHIP"

"Love suffereth long, and is kind" (1 Cor. 13:4)

The price of leadership remains high and hard; it may be cheap and easy for the dictator, for the hireling, but never for the shepherd.  The dictator dominates; the hireling flee; but the good shepherd loves his sheep ad is loved by them.  He lays down his life for the sheep.  True spiritual leadership  involves this principal: "Deaths working in me works life in you" (2 Cor.4:12, Cony.).

"It is the quality of leaders that they can bear to be sat on, absorb shocks, act as a buffer,  bear being much plagued.  Moses put up with the complaints and the waywardness and revolt of the people.  He pursued a steady course, enduring as seeing Him who is invisible.  The wear and the tear and the continual friction and trials which come to the servants of God are a great test of character."-- F. M.

"Bridge the gaps!  A bridge means something - generally a life laid down.  The very simplest bridge, a plank thrown across a stream, was once part of the tree standing erect, sapping life from the earth, and beautifying all the area around it.  Now it is dead, but perhaps saves other lives; anyway it helps to make others useful, and its content to push others on, unnoticed, unthanked. 'Seekest thou great things for thyself?  seek them not,' just be a bridge.  It is so simple.  See that others are placed on the right track with God through the Lord Jesus.  When they get there, they will not thank you, will never look back probably at the bridge; but the Great Architect will know and love and care."-- E.W.

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 2:5).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE WORD OF TRUTH" FEBRUARY 25, 2005


THE WORD OF TRUTH

In Eph. 1:13 the Apostle Paul declares that men are saved and sealed by hearing and believing "the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation." This declaration is substantiated by many other passages of Scripture. Our Lord said: "He that heareth... and believeth... hath everlasting life" (John 5:24). This at a time when sacrifices and baptism were still required for the remission of sins. Even then men had to hear and believe to be saved, for "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). Now, however, salvation is received by hearing and believing alone. Works for salvation are not merely unnecessary; they are forbidden.

Today salvation is "to him that worketh not, BUT believeth" (Rom. 4:5). "For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST" (Eph.2:8,9).

God has changed His dealings with men from time to time down through the ages, teaching one lesson at a time. This is why it is so important to note the dispensational distinctions in Scripture, "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

Once the works of the Law were required for salvation: "But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested" (Rom. 3:21) and men are saved solely by faith in Christ, "being justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24). We are saved, then, as we hear and believe what Paul calls, "the Word of truth, the gospel of your salvation" (Eph. 1:13), and we are established in the faith as we obey II Tim.2:15: "rightly dividing the Word of truth."

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "ABOUNDING GRACE" FEBRUARY 26, 2005


"ABOUNDING GRACE"

In the Word of God following the statement in Romans 5:20, "Where sin abounded grace did much more abound," this question is asked: "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?"

"Christ died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died for them and rose again" (II Cor. 5:15). "For in that Christ died, He died unto sin once; but in that He liveth, He liveth unto God" (Rom. 6:10).

"Christ died for our sins." If Christ, by the grace of God, tasted death for every man, then by that same grace of God every believer is dead unto sin. Very few of God's people have fully appreciated, or even appropriated, the blessed truth of identification that is, the glorious fact that the redeemed sinner is identified with Christ in death, burial, and resurrection.  He has been baptized (identified) into the death of Christ; and by the same Divine baptism he has been raised to walk in newness of life He is also seated with Christ where Christ is, far above principality, power, and dominion (Eph.1:20 and 2:6).

It is very interesting to study the 4 "much more's" in the fifth chapter of Romans, and learn that God's grace is altogether sufficient for every, task, every test, every trial, every temptation, every tribulation, and every thorn of every believer.  What a wonderful statement we have in II Corinthians 9:8, "God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency, in all things, may abound to every good work."

Surely this super-abounding, inexhaustible grace, this ample provision for all things, leaves all believers without excuse. When the child of God blunders and fails, stumbles and falls, it is not because of any shortage of Divine grace. This marvelous provision for the believer's spiritual life of victory is definitely stated in Titus 2:11 to 13, which we quote: "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation  hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this  present world; looking for that blessed hope, and  the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ."

And when that blessed hope is realized, believers shall be saved from the very presence of sin. They shall then appear with Christ in glory and come into a new realization of that eternity of  grace expressed in Ephesians 2:7; "In the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."

~Daily Inspirational ~ "EFFORTLESS GRACE" MARCH 2, 2005


"EFFORTLESS GRACE"

"God...  called me by His grace, to reveal His Son in me" (GAL. 1:15,16.)

Just think!  Our Father has placed us in eternal and living union with His Son, that He, not we, may "be."  Moreover, He has placed His Holy Spirit eternally within us that He, not we, may "do."  Further, He has given us the necessary faith and Scripture that we may rest in this wonderful reality, trusting Him "to will and  to do of His good pleasure."  This is a far cry from futile struggle and frustrating self-effort!

"Christians in the main groan and strive and struggle largely on the basis of human effort where the grace of God, through acknowledged, is scarcely operative -- only to come to grief.  Even at their best, they find the purpose of the Lord Jesus remains an I ideal infinitely beyond their reach.  The trouble lies in the fact that they are proceeding on the wrong basis."

"God does not expect them, as a result of their only endeavors, to be like the Lord Jesus.  He expects them to realize the utter impossibility of such a thing (as in Romans Seven, where Paul comes to the end of himself).  He expects them to know the Lord Jesus as their very life, disowning any other.  He expects them to realize their position of absolute oneness with Christ, for He 'as blessed them with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places and Christ' ( Eph. 1:3)" -- F.J.H.

"Be strengthened in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
(2 Timothy to 2:1, ASV.)
By M.Staford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "RISEN FARE" MARCH 3, 2005


"RISEN FARE"

"He humbled thee, and suffered thee to hunger, and fed thee with manna" (Deut. 8:3)

The wilderness wanderers were maintained by manna, but those in Canaan flourished on "the old corn of the land."  The carnal Christian exists on the milk of the Word, while the hungry-hearted believer feeds and matures on the meat of the Word.

"The old corn of Canaan typifies what the risen and ascended Lord ministers directly to us now by the Holy Spirit.  Those who appropriate their position in Christ feed no longer merely on the manna, which represents Christ as supporting our life while we yet 'know Him not' as regards any intimate fellowship."

"If positional truth, rather than the duties of the attainment, were taught first to the saints, much more satisfactory results would follow the ministry of many Christian workers. We should note most carefully that Israel was brought into Canaan, all uncircumcised and unworthy as they were, before they were asked to take the circumcision, separated position as the people of God, or enter upon their warfare."

So we, as believers, have been already brought by Jesus Christ our Head, in His death and resurrection, into the 'heavenly places', and to us have been given 'all things that pertain unto life and godliness (2 Peter 13).   And it is always on the ground of where we already are, and what we already are, and what we already have, that the Holy Spirit shows us our blessed privileges and responsibilities of 'the calling wherewith we are called'" --W.R.N.

"And the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land."  (Joshua 5:12)
By M. Sanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "BOLDNESS TODAY" MARCH 4, 2005


"BOLDNESS TODAY"

Some may suppose that it would require little boldness today to proclaim grace in all its purity. Who is ever persecuted now, at least in free, enlightened lands, for preaching Gods grace? Ah, but do not be deceived. Satan was no less active in his opposition to the truth when Constantine exalted the professing Church to prominence than when his predecessors persecuted the Church and sent its members to death by fire and sword. Indeed, the devil was doubtless more successful in Constantine's day than he had been when persecution raged.

Does any believer in the Word of God suppose that Satan has relented in his opposition to the truth today, just because men, at least in this land, are not burned at the stake or thrown to the lions? Do not be misled. Satan's enmity against God and against His Word continues undiminished. His hatred of "the gospel of the grace of God," is as bitter, and his opposition to it as determined as it ever was. But well does he know that the constant discouragements connected with being in the minority often succeed in silencing those who would stand against physical persecution.

Today Satan uses the new evangelicalism with its highly-organized, highly-financed campaigns -- and its woeful lack of doctrinal and dispensational teaching of the Word -- to neutralize the saints. Multitudes are attracted to these neo-evangelical extravaganzas, at which the participants are for the most part performers, and those who stand for the truth often feel very small as compared to the vast unthinking majority. But let us never forget that God uses "things that are not" to accomplish His work (See I Cor. 1:26-29).

Let us, who know and love the truth, then, determine by Gods grace that nothing shall make us unfaithful to our glorious commission; that, whatever the cost, we shall faithfully and boldly proclaim to others the unadulterated gospel of the grace of God, "the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery."

By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "EVERY-MAN EVANGELISM" MARCH 5, 2005


"EVERY-MAN EVANGELISM"

"Do the work of an evangelist." Paul’s Spirit-inspired injunction in II Tim. 4:5 applies indirectly to every believer in Christ. Are not our pastors simply leaders in the work of the Lord? Shall the congregation sit idly by as the pastor alone does "the work of an evangelist?" God forbid! The pastor is rather to be an example to his flock to go and do likewise.

How well this writer recalls the days of the so-called Darby-Scofield movement when multitudes all over the country thronged to hear Bible teachers like Gaebelein, Gray, Gregg, Ottman, Chafer and Newell. These able men of God expounded the Word as the "blessed hope" of the Lord’s return was being recovered. But these Bible teachers were evangelists too, in the truest sense of the word, and their evangelism was contagious.

In those days almost all premillenarians, including the young people, carried New Testaments in their pockets wherever they went. Why? They hoped and prayed for opportunities to testify to others about God’s plan of salvation through Christ and they wanted to show them the way from Scripture. In those days if a Christian failed to have a New Testament with him he was apt to be reproved with the words: "What! a soldier without a sword?" By contrast few believers carry New Testaments about with them today, and they certainly don’t carry Bibles!

Some are telling us today that this brand of fundamentalism is out of date and ineffective in these fast-changing times. We reply that all of us ought to get back to this brand of fundamentalism, this earnest effort to personally win souls to Christ by showing them God’s plan of salvation from the Scriptures.

God help his people in general and each spiritual leader in particular, to "do the work of an evangelist."

By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "That Precious Deposit" MARCH 10, 2005


That Precious Deposit - Page 1

Scripture


"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us." 2 Corinthians 4:7

The story is told of how a wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art.  They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael.  They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.  When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war.  He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier.  The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.  About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door.  A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.  He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life.  He saved many lives that day, and he  was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died instantly.  He often talked about you, and your love for art."

The young man held out his package.  "I know this isn't very much, I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this."  The father opened the package.  It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man.  He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.  The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears.  He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture.  "Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me. It's a gift."  The father hung the portrait over his mantle.  Every time visitors came to his home he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the great works of art he had collected.

The man died a few months later.  Shortly thereafter, there was to be a great auction of his paintings.  Many influential people gathered,  excited over seeing the great paintings and having the opportunity to purchase one for their collection.  On the platform sat the painting of the son.  The auctioneer pounded his gavel.  "We will start the bidding with this picture of the son.  Who will bid for this picture?" There was silence.  Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, "We want to see the famous paintings.  Skip this one."  But the auctioneer persisted.  "Will someone bid for this painting?  Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"  Another voice shouted angrily.  "We didn't come to see this painting.  We came to see the Van Goghs, the Rembrandts.  Get on with the real bids!"  But still the auctioneer continued.  "The son!  The son!  Who'll take the son?"

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room.  It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son.  "I'll give $10 for the painting."  Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.  "We have $10, who will bid $20?"  "Give it to him for $10.  Let's see the masters."  The crowd was becoming angry.  They didn't want the picture of the son.  They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.  The auctioneer pounded the gavel.  "Going once, going twice, SOLD for $10!"  A man sitting on the second row shouted, "Now let's get on with the collection."

The auctioneer laid down his gavel.  "I'm sorry, the auction is over."   "What about the paintings?"  "I am sorry.  When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time.  Only the painting of the son would be auctioned.  Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.  The man who took the son gets every thing!"

God gave His Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel Cross.  Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, "The Son, the Son, who'll take the Son?"  Because, you see, whoever takes the Son inherits everything!

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~Daily Inspirational ~ " That Precious Deposit" MARCH 10, 2005


That Precious Deposit - Page 2

EARTHEN VESSELS

In biblical times earthen vessels were clay pots that had been thoroughly baked in an oven.  They were fraught with imperfections, which meant that no two were exactly alike.  Archaeologists have discovered that those who lived during that period secretly buried their treasures in clay pots for safekeeping.  As we shall see, the master illustrator uses this facet of everyday life to illustrate a grand spiritual truth.

Those who have taken the Son are heirs, joint-heirs with Him.  As members of the Body of Christ, we are partakers of His glory, His  power, and His reign.  In short, we are the recipients of the wealth of heaven!  While the believing Gentiles will partake of the blessings of the kingdom, they were never promised to be heirs.  In the kingdom, heirship is a question of nationality.  In the present dispensation of Grace, heirship is based upon relationship.  We are one in Him.  Therefore, we have come into possession of what rightfully belongs to Him, and will share it mutually with Him for eternity (Rom. 8:17 cf. Eph. 3:6).

Today when men want to safeguard their riches they place them in vaults made of steel and concrete.  But God's ways are not man's ways. God has deposited the riches of His grace in earthen vessels.  We need not wait until we arrive in heaven to learn what we presently possess in Christ.  We have this treasure, that is, the gospel of the grace of God in earthen vessels.  Those who have been saved by grace are blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies.  But what we positionally enjoy in Christ must become a practical reality in the Christian experience if we ever hope to maintain a godly testimony among men.  For example, we are forgiven in Christ, but grace teaches us that we are to forgive others even as Christ has forgiven us.

But why would God place these unspeakable riches in such an unsecure place?  We are unworthy sinners, weak and frail, who have the sentence of death within us.  Perhaps the hymn-writer, Robert Robinson, has expressed it best, "Prone to wander, Lord I feel it,  prone to leave the God I love."  The answer to the question is found in the latter part of our passage.  "That the excellency [exceeding greatness] of the power may be of God, and not of us."  While others usually think more highly of us than they should, essentially it is the power of God working through us that produces results in the Lord's work.

Many years ago I was invited to minister the gospel at a Bible camp in the Rocky Mountains.  On the last evening, I spoke on "The Danger of Falling Into the Hands of An Angry God."  Earlier that day I hadn't been feeling well, due to altitude sickness.  In addition to being exhausted that night, I was short of breath.  At ten thousand feet it doesn't take much to get winded.  I now understand why it took Moses so long to return from Mount Sinai with the tablets of stone.  He undoubtedly had to keep stopping on his way down to catch his breath!  As I arose to speak that evening I thought to myself, this is going to be an absolute disaster.  It was, or at least I thought it was, until I learned two months later that an entire family was saved that night. Brethren, the gospel is the "power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" (Rom 1:16).

By Paul M. Sadler,

~Daily Inspirational ~ SAVED BY LIFE MARCH 11, 2005


“SAVED BY LIFE” - Page 1

  So much talk on "getting" saved..which is good sounding however, the real problem is NOT that we need to be saved, but that we need "LIFE"..Sure it is great to know one day we can be spared from the "wrath" that will be unleashed on this world such has never been and never will be again, or that we won't go to hell. However what the real issue for us is that we need "LIFE" not just to have for eternity, but to have as a source of strength to draw from NOW!

   From the fall of man forward we have desperately seeking ways to establish ways to be saved. From come get our sins forgiven through alter calls, to confessional booths, followed up with so acts or rituals to be cleansed to reassure the saved state. It goes on and on. Why do we do these things? What is it we are trying to save ourselves from? Can we save ourselves? Why is it when you talk with saved people they really seem lost? Perhaps the following can shed some light on some of these questions.

Roman 5:12 "Therefore just as through one man (Adam) sin entered the world (we are all born physically alive, but spiritually dead) and death through sin and so death spread to all men because all sinned."

1 Cor 15: 22 " For as in Adam all die (not physically only), so also in Christ all will be made alive."

We all inherited the death sentence. This is what we need to be saved from. This is in not because of what we do, although what we do proves our state of condition. We are all born spiritually dead. Jesus Christ the redeemer continued to hammer to mankind while visiting this earth the state of our condition. He constantly was magnifying the Law to those around to show our condition does not rest in how we behave but it is in us! Looking outwardly at ourselves or others can lead to a false sense of security to this inner state of being. Someone could look really good outside, having developed some commendable habits such as giving a tithe. This however does nothing for the inner state or condition for which we need to be saved from.

Matthew 5: 27-28 "You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery" (This is a behavior we can restrain.) But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart (inner condition)." There is something deeper in man that needs to dealt with other then just restraining our behavior. Christ was showing that it is not our behavior that we should rest in, but our heart is where we should focus. We have a spiritual condition the bible calls death. We are all guilty and have this condition, and unless we recognize it and do something about it we will remain that way FOREVER.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death (spiritual death), but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

God through the person of Jesus Christ wants to offer us as a gift and that is eternal life. That will take care of our current condition of death.

John 5:21 "For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them eternal life, even so the Son also gives (a gift can't earn it) to whom He wishes.

All through God's Word our condition of spiritually dead people is revealed, It is hard for us to believe that we are dead, since we are alive physically. But the reality is we are dead in our hearts, they need restoration or life, spirit life injected into them. The real issue is not that I got saved although important, but that I have Life. Look how Nicodemus pondered this in

John 3:9 "Nicodemus said to Him, "How can these things be?" He could not figure out how we could be alive and yet dead. Read the whole account.

John 3:4: Nicodemus said to Him, "How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born can he?" Being alive physically he could not understand the reality that the inner man was in a state of spiritual death.

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~Daily Inspirational ~ SAVED BY LIFE MARCH 11, 2005


“SAVED BY LIFE” - Page 2

John 3: 15-16 "So that whoever believes will in Him have eternal Life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal Life.  We need to come to grips on what we need to be saved from, which is spiritual death. When we come to terms with this reality we are prepared to accept what the Father did through His Son and receive the "LIFE" that is freely given to us. Once we are ready for this we then can receive the resurrected "LIFE" of Our Lord Jesus Christ within us. When we receive Christ there is no more doubts about what we received because we have His resurrected "LIFE" and there is no worry about being lost, or resaved again. It is a done deal.

John 6: 39-40 "This is the will of Him who sent Me, That of all that He has given Me I lose nothing, (this includes every believer) But raise it up on the last day. For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day." Did you every question God's will for you? If you did two times it is stated what it is, and that is that Christ will loose nothing and He wants you to have Eternal Life.

Receiving this gift, "LIFE" Christ's own life does simply believe nothing else. No rituals, no barriers, no behavior modifications. Just simple belief in what God did for us in and through His Son. He died, was buried, and rose again so He could be freely offered in total completeness to those who receive Him. God truly wants to save each and every one of us, He could save me today from a car accident, or financial calamity for example, but this would do no good for my security in my tomorrow's or my eternity. What He really wants to give is "LIFE."

John 3:16 " For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish, but have eternal life." Those who believe and receive the Son never have to worry again what they need to be saved from. "Christ in You" will then be your all and all and will be with you every step of every way of your life until you meet Him face to face. We have an AWESOME GOD!  Enjoy Him today!


By Thomas Nitz

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE CROSS, THEN CONSECRATION" MARCH 12, 2005


"THE CROSS, THEN CONSECRATION"

"The carnal mind is enmity against God: For it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be" (Romans 8:7).

The Cross is the altar upon which God sacrificed His Son.  It is upon this same Cross (take up your Cross "daily"), this same altar (the place of death), that I am to be concentrated to God as "a new creation" (2 Cor. 5:17).  This eventuates in my intelligently yielding myself to Him as one who is "alive from the dead" (Romans 6:13).

"God asks us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him (Romans 12:1).  Until we have done this, there is nothing else we can do.  But notice that this exhortation comes after Romans Six.  There is a reason for this order -- crucifixion comes before consecration.  Uncrucified self refuses to be consecrated (to say nothing of God's refusing to accept it).  That is why so many people with all sincerity walk down the aisles again and again, consecrating uncrucified self to God."  -- H.D.

"We must learn to know Him and to love Him.  Then we will not have to struggle to move into consecration.  The heart will lead the into it.  A lover never thinks about giving himself to a loved one.  He cannot do otherwise.  He loves to do it.  Is there not here a key to consecration?  Why do we not yield?  Because we do not love.  Why do we have to fight the battle and vow and groan and struggle?  Because we do not know Him."

"That I may know Him...  and the fellowship of His sufferings" (Phil. 3:10).

By M. Sanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "How To Have A Good Relationship" MARCH 13, 2005


"How To Have A Good Relationship"

Good relationships are built on individual responsibility. We cannot rely on how we are being treated by others, good or bad, as a basis for how we respond to others. What we rely on is our position in Christ. Who we are in him positionally as opposed to where we are in time and space.

Christ was responsible, faithful, to do the will of his father independent of the nature of his relationship with the twelve, the lost, the saved or even his father. Remember he endured the wrath of God against him for sinners who hated him. He endured the emotional travail of his Father turning his back on him. He could do this because he knew some things. He knew who he was. He knew what he was doing. And he had absolute confidence in the Word Of God.

Paul, our pattern, endured the loss of all things including the love and support of those of “the faith” and yet he could say at the end of his life… I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. He could do this because he knew who he was in Christ. He knew what he was doing in Christ and he had absolute confidence in the Word Of God.

Our relationships cannot be built upon the shifting sands of emotion, circumstance, expectation of others or wishful thinking. Our relationships with others, spousal, parental, professional or spiritual will only work properly as we are properly oriented in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. He is not only the savior of our souls but of our life also. Galatians 2:20-21

Therefore, we must know who we are. We must then respond to the circumstances and relationships of life from that position. It is a learning process but it is more than just a learning process.

There is a warfare going on internally within the believer. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. There is a warfare going on externally around the believer as well. These wars are designed to distract, ensnare, discourage and captivate the believer. If the enemy cannot stop the message then the messenger must be stopped.

We are more than equal to the task at hand as long as we operate from a proper power base. This power base is knowledge and wisdom. Wisdom being the application of knowledge. The knowledge of the Holy, for that is what the saints are, is based in a belief system that simply says “For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”  Learn who you are “in Christ. Believe who you are “in Christ”. Be who you are “in Christ.”

By Pastor Doug Dodd

~Daily Inspirational ~ "DEEPENED CHANNELS" MARCH 14, 2005


"DEEPENED CHANNELS"

"God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor. 1:9)

We want fellowship with the Lord Jesus in His peace and joy, and naturally fear and seek to avoid suffering.  However, it is in the fellowship of His sufferings that we partake of His peace and joy.

"The Lord has a wonderful way of bringing us into the fellowship of His sufferings, even when everything outside looks prosperous.  Sometimes the most apparently prosperous lives have the deepest suffering at the back of them. The Lord must one way or another teach us fellowship with suffering, or we cannot be of much use. We dwell much upon the side of being filled with joy, but let us not forget there are broken hearts all around us, and if we are to be channels of divine comfort to them, we must learn something of the fellowship of His sufferings in our own experience."

"We shall err if we think that life in the Sanctuary, hidden with Christ in God, means freedom from suffering, sorrow, and trial. Rather will the soul be strengthened inwardly to be trusted more and more with the 'fellowship of His sufferings, becoming conformed unto His death' (Phil. 3:10)."

"Our Father can advance His children into conformity to the image of His Son, more by suffering in one day, then in many years of ease from trial."

"See how we call those who thus endured happy!  You have heard how patiently Job endured and have seen how the Lord finally blessed him, because the Lord is tenderhearted and merciful" ( James 5:11, Wms.).

By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "UNDER THE LAW OR IN CHRIST?" MARCH 15, 2005


"UNDER THE LAW OR IN CHRIST?"

READ ROMANS 5:12 TO 21.

In Romans 8:2 to 4 we read of the three great laws of the Bible:

1. The law of sin and death. 2. The law given at Sinai. 3. The law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.

Let us read Romans 5:18 - II Corinthians 3: 9 and John 3:18: "Therefore as by the offence of one (Adam) judgment came upon all men to CONDEMNATION; even so by the righteousness of one (Christ) the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life." "For if the ministration of CONDEMNATION be glory much more doth the ministration of righteousness exceed in glory." "He that believeth on Him (Christ) is not condemned: but he that believeth not is CONDEMNED already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Here we learn that the people to whom Peter preached on the day of Pentecost were thrice condemned. 1. They were condemned in Adam. 2. They were condemned by the Ten Commandments. 3. They were condemned because they rejected Jesus Christ as Saviour.

In and by and through Adam the whole world is ruined and guilty before God, condemned, unrighteous. Alienated and dead in trespasses and sins. There is no hope for the worst or the best person who remains in Adam. By Adam sin entered death entered - death passed upon all men. (Romans 5:12). By Adam "the entrance of sin." The law entered by Moses that the offence that entered by Adam might abound (Romans 5:20). By the deeds of the law no flesh can be justified in God's sight. By the law (Moses) "the knowledge of sin." (Romans 3:19 and 20).

The law was Israel's schoolmaster to bring them to Christ that they might be justified by faith: and justified, they were no longer under the schoolmaster (the law). (Galatians 3:24 and 25). Members of Christ's Body are under grace; not under the law. (Romans 6:14).

Now hear the good news in Christ Jesus: "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfill led in us. who walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4). "That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:21). "Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man (Christ) is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things. from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses." (Acts 13:38 and 39). Dwell on this blessed and glorious good news. The heathen to whom Paul preached were not under the law before they were saved by grace, and certainly not thereafter. (I Corinthians 9:20 to 25).

1. By Adam is the entrance of sin.  2. By Moses is the knowledge of sin. 3. By Christ Jesus is the forgiveness of sin.

Upon the human race, sin and death reign by Adam and Moses, the law of sin and death and the law of the Ten Commandments, the ministration of death. ordained unto death. (II Corinthians 3:7 and Romans 7:10).

But there is no condemnation to them who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), because of the efficacy, value and power of the law of life in Christ Jesus, in accordance with Romans 8:3 - John 10:17 and 18 and 28 - and II Timothy I:10.

'For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did: by the which we draw nigh unto God." (Hebrews 7:19). "What the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh". Christ did do. (Romans 8:3). "Now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ." (Ephesians 2:13). Which is better "in Christ" or "under the law"? (Romans 6:14)

By JCO

~Daily Inspirational ~THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION Part One MARCH 16 2005


THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION
Part One

Of course you know that once upon a time a man by the name of Jonah spent three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish. “Then Jonah prayed unto the Lord his God out of the fish’s belly.” “Salvation is of the Lord.” Jonah 2:1 and 10. Jonah was sure that no one but almighty God could save him from his awful predicament. “Salvation is of the Lord.”

The whole world today is full of trouble and sorrow. All men everywhere should agree with Paul’s statement or question, “hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?” O, that every human being would cry out with Jonah, “salvation is of the Lord.” Today how true are the words uttered more than nineteen hundred years ago, “a man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven.” John 3:27. Every man on this earth should lift up his head to heaven and thank God for the truth of Romans 6:23, “the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” But he should do more than thank God. He should, by simple faith, receive that free gift by receiving the Lord Jesus as his own individual, personal Saviour. Hear the wonderful words of that Saviour, “And this is life eternal, that they might know Thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, Whom Thou hast sent.” John 17:3.

Perhaps you have heard the testimony of the simple but wise lad after he had heard a gospel message on John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoso, ever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” The lad thus summed it up: “God said it; Christ did it; I believe it; that settles it.”

We have undoubtedly been greatly impressed with the statement in Titus 1:2; “In hope of eternal life, which God that cannot lie, promised before the world began.” God cannot lie. Eternal life is God’s free gift for receivers. And of course with this profound and glorious Divine truth we link the good news of II Timothy 1:9 and 10: “God, Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began; but is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and incorruptibility to light through the gospel.”

God calls sinners to trust and rest in Christ’s perfect work.

“For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, The Man Christ Jesus Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” I Timothy 2:3 to 6.

Has any servant of the Lord testified this saving message to you? Perhaps you have heard it many times, but you have ignored or repudiated it. This is very good news for all men, women and children. As an ambassador of the Lord Jesus Christ, may I beseech you, persuade you, plead with you to hear this all-important truth, to consider it seriously and diligently, and to believe it for yourself even unto the saving of your precious soul? Surely it is one thing to know that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary to be the Saviour of the world; but it is quite a different thing for you to know that He is your personal Saviour. Salvation is very personal. Are you saved? Will you believe this Divine truth, a message from the holy God in heaven to unholy, ungodly sinners on earth: “by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath be, foreordained that we should walk in them?” Ephesians 2:8 to 10. And note this blessed truth in the same chapter: “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” Ephesians 2:13.---J.C.O.

Continued March 17

~Daily Inspirational ~THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION Part Two MARCH 17 2005


THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION - Part Two

Almost every person will say, “I am a sinner.” But so few are sufficiently exercised concerning their precarious spiritual state to say, “I am a lost sinner.” God’s Word plainly states that no unrighteous man shall inherit the kingdom of God. The same Word plainly declares, “There is none righteous, no not one.” But over against this sad news God’s Word declares some good news for sinners; for God’s Word tells plainly how an unrighteous, lost sinner can be saved and become righteous.

We learn, in I Corinthians 1:30, that Jesus Christ is the believing sinner’s righteousness, holiness and redemption. We learn, in Ephesians 2:14, that Jesus Christ is the believer’s peace. We learn, in I Timothy 1:1, that Jesus Christ is the believer’s hope. We learn, in Colossians 3:3 and 4, that Jesus Christ is the believer’s life. We learn, in Colossians 2:10, that the believer is complete in Christ. We learn, in Ephesians 1:3, that the believer is blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. We read, in Acts 13:39, that believers are justified from all things through Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. How wonderful to stand in the presence of the Holy God with all our sins pardoned, forever put away, and as though we had never committed one sin! This is good news; the gospel. This is the grace of God. This is what the precious shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ does for the guilty, condemned sinner when that sinner, by simple faith, receives the Lord Jesus Christ as his own personal Saviour.

In II Corinthians 5:21 we read that God made Jesus Christ, on the cross, to be sin for us; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him. We read, in Romans 4:4 and 5, that ungodly sinners can be justified by faith without working for salvation. Believers should abound in good works after they are saved by grace through faith in the good work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. “With the heart man believeth unto righteousness.” Romans 10:9 and 10.

If righteousness could be gained by works or religion, then Christ died in vain. Galatians 2:21. For many centuries man, under the law, was a miserable failure. Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. Romans 10:4. Last night I heard a very interesting conversation between two well-dressed, intelligent-looking men. Among other remarks, one said to the other, “I really believe religion is a good thing for a man, if he doesn’t get too much of it.” The other replied, “Not for me. Morality is a splendid thing; but I balk when it comes to religion.” Of course, the question that came to my mind was, “just how much religion is too much, or how much is too little, or how much is just right?” Then of course, my heart went out in sympathy and pity to both of them, a little bit more for the man who was satisfied with his own morality. He should read Isaiah 64:6 and Ezekiel 33:13 and Romans 3:19 and Romans 8:8 and Romans 4:4 and Romans 7:18 to 24. In these Scriptures we learn how utterly futile are man’s best endeavors and religious labors to even help to save him. When a lost sinner turns to religion, instead of to Christ, for pardon and salvation, he is twice dead, plucked up by the roots, and then he needs to be saved from religion as well as from sin. In Romans 3:24 to 26 we read that because of the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus Christ, Who was both God and man, God can be both just and merciful in His dealings with the believing sinner. He can be just and the justifier of the believer, and can declare him righteous without a cause, by His grace. God is a great Giver. Man is a poor receiver. Man is incurably religious, and Satan is accused of the crime of deceiving the whole world. He deceives the religious, unsaved man, causing him to believe that if he needs Christ at all, it is as a helper and a teacher, but not as the Saviour. Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice on the cross is man’s one and only hope. If we are to reach God’s heaven, we must come to God in God’s way, by Christ and Calvary.

It is well for every saved person to become identified with some group of believers and assemble regularly for worship and hear the Word of God expounded, but no one is saved by “joining the church.” Salvation is of the Lord; and by grace; the gift of God. Before God will accept a person’s work, that person must first be the workmanship of God. Ephesians 2:10.

Continued March 18

~Daily Inspirational THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION Part 3 MARCH 18, 2005



THE KNOWLEDGE AND JOY OF SALVATION - Part Three

Hear these two wonderful verses of Scripture:

“These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW that ye have eternal life.” I John 5:13.

“Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13.

How sad to know that many conscientious, sincere religious people feel satisfied and secure, although they are headed for a Christless and hopeless eternity, because they have never been regenerated by faith in the crucified and resurrected Christ. Christ, by His own blood, entered once into heaven, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:12. It was this Christ Who said, “marvel not that I said unto you, ye must be born again.” John 3:3 to 7.

It is likewise sad to know that there are many fearful saved people, who have not the assurance of their salvation. They are trusting in the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, but they doubt and fear because of the wrong interpretation of some Scripture or because they think they have to supplement the perfect work of Christ, or because they are depending upon their feelings. No person and no thing can ever separate the believer from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:38 and 39. Every believer should be careful to maintain good works and should know that Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. Titus 3:14 and 2:14. But no believer should trust in himself for salvation, but in the glorified Christ, Who is able to save unto the uttermost all who come unto God, through Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them. Hebrews 7:25.

God cannot lie. God will have all men to be saved. God’s Word says, “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.” “These things have I written unto you that believe on the Name of the Son of God, that ye may KNOW.” God wants every believer to KNOW. “KNOW that he has eternal life.” That is why it is so important to know that we are living in God’s “grace” dispensation; that believers are saved by grace, and not by religion, nor by any mixture of religion with Christ and grace. If you are a believer, do not discredit or dishonor God by doubting. Endeavor each day, by God’s grace and power, to walk worthy of the calling wherewith you are called, and thus be, have as becometh saints. But keep in mind the truth that you are not saved by behaving. You are saved by believing. Then you are to behave, because you believe. So far as the adults on this earth are concerned, there are just two classes, “dead sinners” and “living saints.” When the dead sinner believes the gospel of grace he passes out of death into life and becomes a living saint.

If your trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ and you are relying upon Him and His redemptive work, say from your heart, with the lad, “God said it: Christ did it: I believe it: that settles it.”

Now, concerning the joy of salvation, let us think of the five F’s of salvation; The Fact; the Faith; the Fruit; the Feeling; the Future. The great fact is, that Jesus Christ, the God-man, obtained eternal redemption for us. This salvation is appropriated by faith. “By grace are ye saved, through faith.” The end of your faith is the salvation. of your soul. I Peter 1:9 to 12. Christ said, “herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit.” John 15:8. Christians or saints are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus, unto good works which God before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10. Believers are told to rejoice because their names are written in heaven. They are to be filled with all joy and peace in believing. Then think of the glorious future, when Christ shall appear, we are going to appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:3 and 4. So shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:17 and 18. Surely believers have a glorious future; eternal bliss and eternal glory, with the eternal Lord. Believers are to be rewarded for their labor of love. Believers are to receive crowns. Their labor in the Lord is not in vain. I Corinthians 15:58 and I Corinthians 3:11 to 16. Surely we have a wonderful and glorious future. Note Ephesians 2:7; “That in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace, in His kindness toward us, through Christ Jesus.”

While we are waiting for God’s Son to come for us we are told to “rejoice in the Lord always . . . and the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4 to 7.

So we are to be filled with all joy and peace. How? In believing. Who is to fill us? The God of hope. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit Who is given unto us. Romans 5:1 to 5. By this indwelling Holy Spirit we are to abound in hope. We have a hope laid up in heaven. We are looking for that blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Titus 2:13. He is our hope. He is our peace. We are to experience eternal joy, because we are in Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour

Surely you have decided that you will receive God’s free gift, eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

By J.C.O.

~Daily Inspirational ~ "CALVARY AND PENTECOST" MARCH 19, 2005


"CALVARY AND PENTECOST"

"But now that you have been set free from the tyranny of Sin, and have become the bond-servants of God, you have your reward in being made holy" (Romans 6:22, Wey.).

When the believer truly sees Calvary he says, "There, through the work of the Cross, I died with the Lord Jesus unto sin." When the believer truly sees Pentecost he says, "There, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit, I was baptized into the  Lord Jesus."  Here are the two mighty pillars of our freedom from the power and domination of sin.

"The believer is to rejoice in a double blessing of Calvary and Pentecost.  He is freed from condemnation because of the Blood shed, and he is set free from the law of sin and death by the indwelling Spirit that he received when he came to the Lord Jesus.  It is not only that there is no condemnation, but there is liberty.

"'The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death' (Romans 8:2).  '...hath made  me free...' Let me walk in it; let me enjoy it, and I am.  I am not struggling to get free; I have been set free in the Spirit, and I am bidden to stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ has made me free (Gal. 5:1). I am not struggling for victory; I am standing in victory.  I have not to struggle to get out of the horrible pit.  He lifted me out; set my feet on the Rock and established my goings; and He bids me, 'Stand fast in the victory that I have gained for you.'  Believe and rejoice in it, and you will know what it is to be free,"-- G. G.

"Walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit" (Rom. 8:4).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PATTERN OF MERCY" MARCH 20, 2005


"PATTERN OF MERCY"

"That He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had afore prepared unto glory" (Rom. 9:23).

Mercifully, day by day, He unfolds before our startled eyes the evil depths of the self-life.  It is thus we come to know Him as the "God who is rich in mercy," and ourselves as "vessels of mercy."

"Today sinful men, not angels, are entrusted with the preaching of the Gospel, and before they can be used of God must first of all have plumbed the depths of their own sinfulness, and have, therefore, discovered the heights and glories of God's long-suffering.  In this way they can become a pattern of His mercy, by means of which He can demonstrate His grace to others."--J. C. M.

"The power effectively to present Christ as Lord, is by means of revelation deep within us, bringing into being an unshakable knowledge of His authority and might, and making us content to accept our weakness and nothingness in order that we may see the pleasure of the Lord prosper in His hand (Isaiah 53:10)."-- J. C. M.

"The more useful anyone is, the more he requires to be brought to an of himself, and to find that his all is in the Lord Jesus.  We find some of His servants deeply chastened at first, in order to prepare them for a useful course; and some after a useful period are brought low and afflicted in order that they might learn how truly in fully our Father is sovereign." --J. B.S.

"From Me is thy  fruit found " (Hosea 14:8)
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "COOPERATIVE LIVING" MARCH 21, 2005


"COOPERATIVE LIVING"

"Put away, as concerning your former manner of life, the old man" (Eph. 4:22).

"Positionally, in the finished work of the Cross and resurrection, we have been cut off from the old man through death, and have been born into the new Man by the new birth.  Ye have put off the old man ... and have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him" (Colossians 3:9,10).  Experientially, day by day, our part is to choose against the old ("put off") in favor of the new ("put on"), thus allowing the Holy Spirit freedom to apply the finished work of the Cross (Rom. 6:11).  "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ liveth in me" (Galatians 2:20, ASV).

"The flesh need not be an ugly form of life, indeed it can be apparently very nice, but it is alien to this new life in the Spirit.  It belongs to another race; it is not the life of the Lord Jesus Christ.  So we are told that the Holy Spirit is in open conflict against the self-life" (Galatians 5:17).

It is equally true that the flesh lusts (strives) against the Spirit, but He is well able to take up the challenge.  He will not quietly accept this rival to the rule of Christ, so He stands with His great weapon of the Cross, to render inoperative everything which is a menace as to the life of Christ in us.  He calls us to cooperate with Him in this manner matter by reckoning, for only so can the excellency of Christ be manifested in the believer."  -- H. F.

"Put on the new man" (Eph. 4:24 ).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "RESURRECTION POWER" MARCH 26, 2005

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IN" MARCH 27, 2005


"IN" - Page 1

What a big - little word 'in' is! It is a word of inclusion, acceptance, of safety, and of involvement.  It is also a word of location: we live IN Seattle; we live IN the U.S.A.

The Word of God employs this little preposition to express profound truths.  Especially in this true regarding the believer in this present dispensation of the Grace of God. Several things are said about this.

The believer is 'IN CHRIST JESUS'.  Nearly every epistle of Paul, the Apostle, begins with the statement, 'to the saints IN Christ Jesus' (Phil. 1:1). Every truly saved person is 'in Christ Jesus'.  He can be nowhere else!  True, in the physical, he is 'in the flesh' as long as he lives on this earth; but in relation to his spirit, he is vitally and eternally 'IN Christ Jesus'. He was put into Christ not by works or rituals of any sort. God the Holy Spirit baptized him into Christ the moment he believed.  As such, he is now' accepted in the beloved' (Eph. 1:6). He is 'in the sphere of the beloved', to put it more accurately.





No wonder the Apostle could victoriously declare: 'There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus', and nothing 'shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus my Lord' (Romans 8:1-39).

The believer is 'IN GOD'. 'For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ, IN God' (Col. 3:3). To the saints who lived in Thessalonica Paul wrote: '..to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ' ( II Thes. 1:1). What a fantastic truth!!  Because Jesus Christ is God's eternal Son, and because He is 'one' with His Father (John 10:30), all who are truly 'in Christ' are also 'in God the Father! That is security! indeed - eternal security!  It is far more secure than money or jewels locked up in the largest, strongest, well-constructed vault in any bank known to man. Satan, man, or any other creation cannot reach into God and pluck you out!  Blessed assurance!

The believer is 'IN THE SPIRIT'. This Paul declares in Romans 8:9: "However you are not in the flesh (the fallen Adamic nature) but in the spirit if indeed the spirit of God dwells in you.' This would seem to be sheer presumption had not God said this! But praise be to God, it is so!  We are IN the Spirit. Now it is up to us to learn to 'walk in the spirit' (Gal. 5:16)!

Are you on the 'in' today --'in Christ', 'in God the Father',
'in the Spirit'? If not, then call on the Lord by faith and trust Him now to accept you 'in the Beloved'.

Grace, Peace, and Love,
Pastor Paul Hume
(To be continued)

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IN" MARCH 28, 2005


"IN" - Page 2

Continued from 3/27/05

On Mach 27, we began to look at the truth packed into the little word 'IN' as used in the New Testament.  We observed how the true believer (the Christian) is 'in Christ Jesus,' 'in God the Father,' and 'in the Spirit.' He is vitally joined to all three members of the blessed Godhead by the baptism of the Holy Spirit (Romans 6:3-5; 1 Corinthians 12:13, Ephesians 4:5). We now want to carry this blessed subject a little further and note some more truths therein. The believer is 'IN THE FAITH,' Paul the Apostle warned the professing Christians who lived in Corinth. 'Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!' ( II Cor. 13:5, NAS). Note the phrase: 'in the faith.' To Titus, Paul wrote: 'Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God's elect.' (1:1). Paul also declared, 'There is.....one Lord, one faith, one baptism...'(Eph 4:5).  What does Paul mean? Is this 'Protestant faith'? Is it 'the Catholic faith'? Is it 'the Presbyterian faith,' etc? NO. It is the spiritual persuasion of heart that God gives to everyone who is truly saved, resting upon the body of Truth in the Bible, especially through Paul's epistles This faith comes from above. It is 'the faith of the Son of God' (Gal. 2:20). And every truly born-again person shares in that God-given faith.  He is 'in the faith.' Are you?

The believer is 'IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF FAITH.' Paul speaks twice of this: '....those who are of the household of faith' (Gal. 6:10), and '...... fellow-citizens with the saints, and are of God's household' (Eph. 2:19). Now a household involves a family. The word in Greek means 'kindred.' This means brothers and sisters and parents. In this case, the Word of God makes it clear that God the Father is the head of this household, 'the first-born among many brethren' (Romans 8:29). All who are 'in Christ Jesus' in this economy of the grace of God are 'adopted' sons and daughters (see Ephesians 1:5-6 and II Corinthians 6:18). How blessed it really is to realize this great truth: 'I am, by the grace of God, a member of God's household; and all of us who are truly saved are one big family!' Do you look upon others who know the Lord as your brothers and sisters?

The believer is 'IN THE TRUTH.' 'What is truth?' (John 18:38.) 'I am the Way the Truth, and the Life,' declared the Lord Jesus 'But you did not learn Christ in this way, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus' (Eph. 4:20-21). Thus John the Apostle could write to believers: 'I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth' (III John 4). Before we were regenerated by the Spirit of God (whom our Lord called 'the spirit of truth' (John 14:17), we were all part of 'the lie' - under the power of Satan (I John 5:19, Col. 1:13). Now 'we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life' (I John 5:20). As  result, we must practice walking in the truth, 'speaking the truth in love,' and telling the truth. All phoniness and hypocrisy and lying is wrong! It has no place in the Christian life!  Why? Because we are 'in the truth.' Are you? Do you live truthfully?  You CAN by the grace of God!

Pastor Paul Hume

(To be continued)

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IN" Part Three MARCH 29, 2005


"IN" - Page 3

Continued from 3/28/05

What a 'big - little' word we have found 'IN' to be in the Word of God. We look back to the Lord's words through Moses to captive Israel in Exodus 6:6-8: '...I will bring you OUT from under the burdens of the Egyptians...then I will take you for my people, and I will be our God...and I will bring you IN unto the land....(Note how Jehovah purposed to bring His chosen people out in order to bring them in. OUT of bondage and IN to blessing with battles involved, however.

This is similar to what God does when He saves individuals today. He marvelously takes them; out of death, into life; out of sin, into His righteousness, out of Satan's power, into the Kingdom of His beloved Son; out of darkness, into His light; out of enmity, into His love; out of being alienated, into His adopted family; out of unbelief, into true faith!  No wonder we can sing:

'Out of my bondage, sorrow and night,
Into Thy freedom, gladness and light,
Jesus, I come to Thee.
Out of my sickness into Thy heath,
Out of my want and into Thy wealth
Out of my sin and into Thyself,
Jesus, I come to Thee.'

Let us meditate together more on this being 'brought in.' We have seen how the believer is 'in Christ,' ' in God the Father,' 'in the Spirit.' 'in the faith,' 'in the household of faith,' and 'in the truth.' No let us note another reality the true believer in Christ has been brought in to.

The believer is 'IN THE LIGHT.' In the words of the commission of the risen Lord to Paul the Apostle, we read: '.. I am sending you to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light' (Acts 26:18). On this account, Paul reminds us: 'For you were formally darkness, but now are you light in the Lord; walk as children of light' (Eph. 5:8). What is 'darkness', and what is 'light'? Darkness, as referred to in the Scriptures, when it is used morally or spiritually, speaks of Satan's power, the devastating effects of sin, and ignorance of God and His Truth. Thus all people--religious or not---are 'darkness' as well as 'IN darkness' before they become saved. Even the most skilled, sanguine, 'sharp' people are 'in the dark' as far as God goes. But when the Holy Spirit carries out His pre-salvation work in the heart, and then the sinner receives the Lord Jesus Christ into his heart by God-given faith, the 'light comes on' in his heart. For God, Who said, 'Light shall shine out of darkness,' is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor. 4:6, N.A.S.). This is also why the Apostle John could testify, 'And we know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding...' (1 John 5:20). 'God is light,' declares John, and every true Christian has been brought into that Light. Now we are to 'walk in the light, as He is in the light' in order to experience daily 'fellowship with one another'---with our Father as well as each other.

Dear Reader, are you 'in the Light' today? If not, come in to God's Light today by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ, and then start walking day by day in that 'marvelous light.'

Grace, Peace and Love,
Pastor Paul Hume

(To be continued)

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IN" Part Four MARCH 30, 2005


"IN" - Page 4

Continued from March 29

This 'big - little' word is one of inclusion, location and relationship. Our beloved sons and daughters are IN our families because they are 'of ' us through birth or adoption. So in the spiritual sense 'But by His doing you, are IN Christ Jesus,' wrote Paul to the people in Corinth whom he called 'my beloved children.' They were 'in union with Christ Jesus', and therefore were 'in the household of God,' 'in the faith,' 'in the beloved,' etc.

THE BELIEVER IS 'IN THE HEAVENLIES'.

Five times in his great Ephesians Epistle, Paul speaks of the 'heavenly places'. Actually the word 'places' is misleading. The word is an adjective, and it therefore describes something. It could better be translated 'the above heavens', or 'the super-heavens'.  Another translation suggests 'among the celestials'. At any rate, 'the heavenlies' are seen in Ephesians as being the area where the believer in Christ is seated, blessed, and has his conflict with the powers of darkness (see Eph. 1:3, 2:6, 6:12). Paul also wrote to the believers in Philippi that 'our citizenship is in heaven' (3:20). The saints of God in Christ are seen in this dispensation of the sovereign grace of God not as being merely 'on earth.' They are seen as being 'WITH Him in the heavenlies  in Christ Jesus' (Eph. 2:6). This is why Paul tells us to look at ourselves as being 'dead and our life is hidden with Christ IN God.... Therefore mortify your members which are upon the earth (Col. 3:3-5). In spirit, we are in the above-heavens; in the flesh, we are upon the earth. Oh, to be more Christ-minded so that we will be more earthly good!

THE BELIEVER IS IN THE LOVE OF GOD.

Because he has been 'accepted IN the beloved,' he is ensphered in the mighty, great love of God. This is why in even extenuating  experiences Paul could cry out, '.....nor any created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord' (Rom. 8:39). We are deeply enveloped in this divine love, and nothing -- no, nothing in heaven, earth or under the earth -- shall ever extract us from that love. Praise His holy Name! Now we are enjoined to 'walk in love' (Eph. 5:2). John speaks of our 'dwelling in love,' and thereby 'dwelling in God' ( 1 John 4:16). Oh, to be more saturated with His love! Then we'll love others 'as Christ also loved us, and gave Himself for us' (Eph. 5:2). But the Holy Spirit is the key to that love, isn't He? (Meditate on Ephesians 3:16-19 and Romans 5:5.)

THE BELIEVER IS IN THE TEMPLE!

What temple? The coming earthly temple which will be built in Jerusalem? No, the temple --- sanctuary, holy place, inner shrine -- which the Lord is building now!  Paul states: 'So then you are .....of God's household, having been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the cornerstone, IN WHOM the whole building, being fitted together is growing into a holy temple in the Lord; IN WHOM you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit' (Eph. 2:19,20-22). Think of it! We who use to be enemies of God are now parts of His holy place! We are part of His 'holy of holies' where He dwells! This is the highest calling God has granted to any people of any dispensation. We who comprise 'the church which is His body' have that signal honor! Let us bow down and worship Him and give ourselves to Him to use for His glory more than ever in 2005!

Grace, Peace and Love,
Pastor Paul Hume

~Daily Inspirational ~ "MINDING YOUR MIND" MARCH 31, 2005


"MINDING YOUR MIND"

'Mind over matter' -- -- have you heard that phrase before?  In the past one years several religious and metaphysical groups have arisen based on that statement.  And it is greatly true!  There is definite power in the mind over our material bodies.  We can think ourselves sick! Many illnesses or mentally stimulated and are rightly described as being 'psychosomatic.'

About eight centuries before our Lord was born, the prophet Micah wrote of the strange power of the human mind: 'Woe to those was scheme iniquity, who work out evil on their beds!  When the morning comes, they do it, for it is in the power of their hands' (Micah 2:1) Note the strong relation between 'scheming' and the later doing!

No wonder the Spirit of God has a lot to say about our minds and our daily. thought-life.  It would be rewarding for you to take your Bible and a good concordance (such as Young's) and trace out what the New Testament states about the mind.  The mind of the unregenerate is mentioned, and the mind and thought - life of the regenerate is clearly delineated.

Paul reminds us that in our unsaved state we were 'formerly alienated and hostile in mind, in engaged in evil deeds' (Col. 1:21).  He speaks of those who have 'a reprobate mind' ( Romans 1:28).  He warns that a defied mind may produce a stained conscience: 'To the pure, all things are our pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind in their conscience are defiled' (Titus 1:15).

But when an individual is saved the mind takes on a new function.  It becomes the center of action for either Satan or the Holy Spirit. Thus Paul speaks of those who 'set their minds on the things of the Spirit' (Romans 8:5).  It is interesting also how Paul confessed that with his mind he served the law of God (Rom. 7:25).  No wonder Paul urges on every believer in Christ to 'be getting renewed in the spirit of your mind' (Eph. 4: 23).

There is a real battle here!  The newly saved person receives a 'new spirit, but he does not automatically receive a new mine.  He is to 'let this mind be in (him), which was also in Christ Jesus' (Phil. 2:5). Satan doesn't want this at  all!  Hence he will see  to it your mind is on anything and everything imaginable (sinful things as well as good things) but not on the Lord, His Word, or 'the things of the Spirit.'

Can we understand, then, what Paul meant when he spoke of the necessity of 'bringing captive every thought to the obedience of Christ' (2 Cor. 10:5?  God has given us in Christ the ability to overcome evil, rebellious, foolish and ungodly thoughts.  Indeed, he has given each of us 'the spirit...of a sound mine' (2 Tim. 1:7).

How is your thought - life today?  Is it God-honoring and Christ-centered, or would you be mortally ashamed for anyone to know your thoughts -- even in the church service -- today?  May we cry to God for renewed minds!
Pastor Paul Hume

~Daily Inspirational ~ Christ "IN" us APRIL 1, 2005


Christ "IN" us

Lessons of what the Lord is teaching me, on what God is working out in the person of Jesus Christ "IN" me. As I become available for Him to do "HIS" ministry through me. Amazing things happen...learning this reality of Christ "IN" us is a difficult lesson to learn..For years I thought I could walk for the Lord or walk His life following His footsteps only to find out that I fail miserably...He is the only one that can live the Christian life and this is the message that should be given and received..once that becomes a reality...the LIFE of the Lord "IN" us will never extinguish...May Our Lord bless us and those we share HIM with as discovery of this reality becomes more and more real in the GRACE WALK...

Gal 5:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; and it no longer I who lives; but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live in the flesh I live by the faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me."

Christ "IN" us the greatest mystery ever revealed...

Col 1:26 " ....The mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations, but has now been manifested to His saints; to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ In YOU, the hope of glory."

 What a wonderful God and Lord we have that they would even consider a way to come and abide in their creation..Praise His wonderful name... Legalism only binds us up...Life the Lord's life in "US" is really what brings lasting freedom. When we have successfully failed in trying to walk the walk of our Lord, is when real success can take root in our lives....Christ "IN" us the real Christian walk..May He continue to shine through us as we rest in these truths. To Him be the Glory and Honor.

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE HAND OF GOD" APRIL 2, 2005


"THE HAND OF GOD"

"For this is thankworthy, if a man for conscience toward God the endure grief, suffering wrongfully.  For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently?  but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, you take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (1 Peter 2:19, 20).

When self reacts correctly in a difficult situation, it can only result in the sin of self-righteousness.  In order for Christ's righteousness to be manifested, the Holy Spirit must hold self inoperative by means of the Cross.

"Accustom yourself in everything that happens, to recognize the hand of the Father.  Before you fix your thoughts on the person who did it, first be still and remember, God allows me to come into this trouble to see if I shall glorify Him in it.  This trial, be it the greatest or least, is allowed by God, and His will concerning me.  Let me first recognize and submit to God's will in it.  Then in the rest of soul which this gives, I shall receive wisdom to know how to behave in it.  With my eyes turned from man to God, suffering wrong is not as hard as it seems."

"The Lord Jesus knew that His Father would care for His rights and honor.  But he who lives in the visible, wants his honor to be vindicated at once here below.  He who lives in the eternal, and as seeing the Invisible, is satisfied to leave  the vindication of his rights and honor in God's hands; he knows that they are safe with Him.  Giving one's all unto God's keeping rest and peace."-- A. M.

"When He suffered, He.....  committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously one" (1 Peter 2:23).
--M.Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "WHAT IS A CHURCH"? APRIL 5, 2005


"WHAT IS A CHURCH"?

It is strange but true that most people -- even the great majority of religious people -- do not know what a church is. Ask the average man what a church is, and he’s apt to reply:

"Well, anybody knows that! A church is a building where people go to worship God." But this is not correct. The word translated church, in our Bibles, simply means assembly. A church is not a building, but the assembly that meets in the building. Technically, a church is not even a religious gathering, for the same word is used in Acts 19:32 of a riotous mob which had assembled at Ephesus, and this verse says that this assembly was confused and that "the greater part knew not wherefore they were come together." Perhaps this could apply to many a church today, but the point is that a church is not a building but an assembly of people.

The church of which the Bible has most to say is "the Church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood" (Acts 20:28), and St. Paul calls the church of this present dispensation, "the Body of Christ," or "the Church which is His Body" (I Cor. 12:27; Eph. 1:22,23). Men cannot join this Church by water baptism or any other religious rite, but only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. With regard to believers in Christ St. Paul declares:

"By one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body" (I Cor. 12:13). And in Rom 12:5 the Apostle says that "ye, being many, are one body in Christ."

Many sincere people have had their names on local church rolls for many years before learning this great truth-- that the true Church of God is not a building, but the assembly of those who trust in Christ as their Savior.

Doubtless, people in and out of many of the religious organizations we call churches belong to this one great Bible Church, while others, with all their religious profession, do not. The question is: Have we sincerely trusted in Christ as the Savior who died for our sins?
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "ARE YOU READY"? APRIL 3, 2005



"ARE YOU READY"?

I wonder what finally became of Molotov? Most of us know only that he was expelled from the Communist Party and was later recalled to Moscow to answer for what Kruschev, of all people, called "barbarous crimes"! Molotov, "the hammer," was active in the Communist Revolution since 15 years of age. A close friend of Stalin, he served Soviet Russia variously as Secretary of the Central Committee, Premier of USSR, its Foreign Minister and its Representative to the UN.

But in 1957 Kruschev, jealous of Stalin’s popularity, dismissed Molotov from the Presidium and sent him away as ambassador to ’Outer Mongolia’. Now disgraced along with his old friend Stalin, this once popular hero of the Soviets was discarded by the system he championed. Pathetic, but he deserved it.

Contrast this with the Apostle Paul. He had been great, prospering in his religion above many of his equals, being "more exceedingly zealous" of the traditions of his fathers (Gal. 1:14). But he gave all this up and counted it loss for "the excellency of the knowledge of Christ." Serving Christ amid unceasing persecution, he said:

"But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24).

Yes, and in his last recorded words before Nero beheaded him, Paul said:

"I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown..." (II Tim. 4:6-8).

What a triumphant way to go! And you, my friend, can go that way too -- if you can say with Paul, "I am ready." "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved"
(Acts 16:31).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO STORIES" APRIL 6, 2005


"DON’T PAY ATTENTION TO STORIES"

"Neither give heed to fables..." (1 Tim. 1:4)

As the present-day English reader comes upon the word "fables" in the Authorized Version, he is apt to think of Aesop’s Fables, but these were illustrations, while the original word muthois means simply stories, including stories of imagined incidents or events.

There are two types of stories that have exerted an amazing influence upon twentieth century Christendom.  One is the novel, the other the promotional story.

In considering the above passage, this writer examined the contents of the popular Christian periodicals coming to his desk and was astonished to find how many of them were largely filled with fiction and with stories written to promote projects or viewpoints  The Apostle says about such stories that they raise questions but do not answer them, for stories really prove nothing.  This is also true of many Christian films.

Many Christian novels have indeed exerted a savory influence upon their readers -- when they have been founded upon Scriptural truths and principles. Obviously, however, an author can make his novel "prove" exactly what he wishes to prove, for the novel involves us in a world of make-believe.  Thus a novel can be dangerous to Christian faith and practice.

The promotional story holds, perhaps, an even more prominent place in our popular Christian magazines.  No one can object to factual reports of what God has wrought, but too many of these stories are nothing more than promotional efforts.  Many of these "success stories" are so successful that thoughtful readers question their validity and are apt to lay them aside without even finishing them. Less discerning readers, however, are often deeply moved
by them.

We are well aware that our objections are not popular, but we are not trying to be popular;  we are trying to help sincere Christians find their way back, step by step, to renewed spiritual power.  This power has been too long frittered away by substituting the will of man for the Word of God.

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW" APRIL 8, 2005


GRACE TODAY AND TOMORROW

Paul learned what thousands upon thousands of God’s saints have learned from his day to ours: that it is often more blessed to experience God’s grace in suffering than to enjoy deliverance from suffering, for in the former case we lean the harder and pray the more, and so are drawn closer to Him. Moreover, we find that His strength is made perfect in weakness and that when we are weak, then are we strong (II Cor. 12:9,10).

But even better things are in store for God’s people:

Some day, "in the ages to come," God will display to all the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace." How will He do this? "In His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph. 2:7).

Dear reader, have you accepted the grace of God in Christ Jesus? Do you believe that He loves you and that He "came into the world" to bear all the blame and shame and punishment that was your due, so that you might be "justified freely by His grace" (Rom. 3:24)?

If not, will you take Him at His Word now and come to know the truth of II Cor. 4:15:

"For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." Whatever your past; however great or many your sins, take God at His Word. Believe that He loves you in spite of all. Believe that He has already provided the payment for your sins in Christ:

"In whom we have redemption. through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "The Gift Of God" APRIL 9, 2005



"The Gift Of God"

Men have given many gifts to each other down through the ages, but in James 1:17 we read that "every good gift and every perfect gift is from above," and comes to us from God. The greatest of these gifts is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and the redemption He has purchased for us.

In speaking to the sinner-woman at Sychar’s well, our Lord drew a picture, contrasting the barrenness of her own life with the refreshing joy of salvation, saying:

"If thou knewest THE GIFT OF GOD, and who it is that saith to thee, Give Me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of Him, and He would have given thee living water... Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again, but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst..." (John 4:10-14).

By nature we are all sinners, but by the grace of God we all may be saved.

"For the wages of sin is death, but THE GIFT OF GOD is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 6:23).

"For by grace are ye saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is THE GIFT OF GOD: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9).

Thus St. Paul speaks of "the gift of the grace of God" (Eph.3:7) and constantly emphasizes the fact that salvation is a free gift. But a gift is not possessed until it is accepted. Thus the Apostle, in Rom. 5:17, refers to those who "RECEIVE abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness."

Those who receive Christ and the salvation He has wrought for them, find it natural to exclaim with Paul- "THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!" (II Cor. 9:15).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "TWO THINGS WE KNOW" APRIL 10, 2005


"TWO THINGS WE KNOW"

In Romans 8 St. Paul points to two great truths which every true believer knows. The first (Verses 22.23) he knows by experience; the second (Verse 28) he knows by faith.

Rom. 8:22,23: "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption,to wit, the redemption of our body."

The words "until now," in this passage, are significant, for our Lord came to earth healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, making the blind to see, the deaf to hear and the lame to leap for joy. But He was rejected by sinful men and nailed to a cross.

After His resurrection and ascension His persecutors were given another chance, however, as Peter called upon them to repent so that "the times of refreshing" might still "come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19,20). But again the King and His blessed kingdom were rejected so that, in the words of Paul, the whole creation continues to groan and travail in pain "together until now."

But in this passage the Apostle points out that even God’s children are not exempt from this suffering, for the most sincere believer, the most consecrated saint, must still partake of the sufferings and sorrows of the world while he waits for "the redemption of our body," when "we shall all be changed" (I Cor. 15:51).

But while every believer knows about suffering and sorrow by experience, there is something else he knows by faith. Verse 28 speaks of this:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose."The true Christian is not a mere optimist; he is a believer in God’s Word, and God has much to say about how He is working all out for the good of His own. We have room here to quote but two passages:

II Cor. 4:17: "For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."

Rom. 8:18: "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
By C R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "TRUE EVANGELISM" APRIL 11, 2005


"TRUE EVANGELISM"

In St. Paul’s mighty Epistle to the Romans he declares "the gospel [good news] of God... concerning His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord" (Rom. 1:1-3).

The good news which Paul proclaimed was essentially about Christ. He was always talking about Christ. His epistles were filled with Christ. In his message Christ was everything.

This is in striking contrast to much of modern evangelism, which is not Christ-centered, but man-centered. Dr. A. W. Tozer, shortly before his death, wrote:

"The flaw in current evangelism lies in its humanistic approach... It is frankly fascinated by the great, noisy, aggressive world with its big names, its hero worship, its wealth and pageantry... This gross misapprehension of the truth is back of much... of our present evangelical activity...

"This concept of Christianity is a radical error, and because it touches the souls of men it is a dangerous, even deadly, error... It is little more than a weak humanism allied with weak Christianity to give it ecclesiastical respectability... Invariably it begins with man and his needs and then looks around for God, while true Christianity reveals God as searching for man to deliver him from his ambitions."

Tozer was right in this. God’s good news for the world is about Christ and His power and love in defeating Satan, overcoming death, nailing the Law to His cross and paying for man the just penalty for sin, so that all who believe might be justified This is why Paul’s gospel is called in Scripture "the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24) and "the gospel of the glory of Christ" (II Cor. 4:4).

To enter experientially into the truth of this good news is the greatest blessing one can possibly enjoy.

By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE VALUE OF HARD PLACES" APRIL 12, 2005


"THE VALUE OF HARD PLACES" - Part 1 of 3

Trials are valuable in revealing to us ourselves and showing us our insufficiencies and failures.  They are God's is great blasting processes in the work of spiritual excavation, which is necessary for the work of building up the life and character.  We never know what graces the qualities we possess until the test comes, and then the faith and courage  that glowed with such a flame in the moment of enthusiasm and inspiration finds its true level, and the soul is thrown back in its nothingness and  helplessness upon Christ alone, to find in Him its all in all.

This was the meaning of Jacob's trials, to bring him to the end of self.  This was the purpose of Job's afflictions, to slay his self-righteous confidence.  This was the blessing that came from Peter's fall,  that it broke his pride and self-sufficiency  and sent him forth to lean upon his Lord and find his strength outside himself in Christ alone.  This is why the Lord still tries you,  to convince you thoroughly  that your estimate of your own strength is utterly false and exaggerated and to bring you to that place where it will be truly "Not I, but Christ liveth in me"
(Gal. 2:20).

Trials Make Christ Real

Trials make Christ real, just as real as the trouble is.  They are God's heavenly messengers to communicate His grace and blessing to our souls and make them stand out in relief in our lives, so everybody can see it and feel it.

God cuts and burns His messages into human lives until Christ becomes to us as real as the tears we have shed, the fears  under which we have trembled, the sorrows that were ready to overwhelm us, and the difficulties which rose like mountains before us, so that the sweetest memories of our lives are the hard places which have become stepping stones and monuments of divine and heavenly things.

Trials are Occasions for Victory

Trials win for us eternal crowns. They become occasions  for victory and rewards which will never pass away.  When history is forgotten and the records of  time are obliterated, when the solar system has vanished  away, and new heavens and new earth are sweeping in the orbits of immensity, the eternal results of these trials will shine in our lives as we share with God Himself the new heavens and the new earth, and the glories of the coming age for which all things are now preparing.

Beloved, shall we seek to profit from our sorrows?  Shall we win a crown?  Shall we get out of the things that are happening to us today all that Christ has for us?  Shall we be "more than conquerors through him that loved us"? (Rom. 8:37).  And shall we endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ?  If so, we shall some day hear Him say to us: Well done, thou good and faithful servant;...enter Thu into the joy of the Lord."

Trials Teach us to Know  the Resources of God

Trials help us, to know the resources of God.  It is only in difficult circumstances that we learn to know His all -- sufficiency.  Israel at the Red Sea must first stand still and behold the salvation of God   (Ex  14:10-14).  So He tells them that the reason He led  them through the wilderness, and  exposed them to a situation where there were no natural supplies of any kind, was to teach them that He was adequate for every need, and that "man shall not live by bread  alone, but by every word that proceedeth  out of the mouth  of God"   (Matt. 4:4).  God becomes real to us up to the measure of our sense of need He meets.  So every difficult situation is just a vessel for Him to fill  and an occasion for Him to show Himself in His infinite wisdom, power, and grace.  The Apostle tells us  that he was exposed to every sort of difficulty in order that the power of Christ might rest upon him according to his needs, and therefore he welcomed each new situation as another occasion for Him to say "My grace is sufficient for The" (2 Cor. 12:7-10).

==========================See Part Two

"THE VALUE OF HARD PLACES" - Part 2 of 3

Beloved, are we thus proving and finding Him equal to all the conditions of our lives and glorying in being able to tell the world that our God shall supply all our need according to His riches and glory by Christ Jesus?

Trials Teach us Faith

Trials teach us faith.  Trial is the fruitful soil of trust.  Difficulties are the divine incentives which demand and develop our confidence in the divine faithfulness and love.  The eagle can only teach her young to fly by tearing up her nest and hurdling them out in mid-air,  where, thrown upon their own resources, they must either fly or fall.  Then it is that they must learn the undeveloped power in their little pinions, and as a strike out upon the air in desperate struggles, they find the secret of a new life and gradually learn to beat their way through the pathless firmament and fly upon the wings of the wind and in the face of the sun.

So God teaches His children to use the wings of faith by stirring up their nests, taking away their props, and flinging them out often-times into an abyss of helplessness, where they must either sink or learn to trust and throw themselves upon the seeming void, to find that God is there beneath them like the supporting weighing of the eagle stretches for beneath her pain and struggling brood.

It is so easy for us to lean upon the things that we can see, and feel that it is an entirely new experience for us to stand alone and walk with the unseen.  God as Peter walked upon his sea.  But it is the lesson we must learn if our souls are ever to dwell in God's eternal calm where faith must be our only sense, and God be our all in all.

Very gently does He suit the test to our feeble strength and lead us on as we are able for more and more.  And we thus trusting Him in life's hard places and growing strong as we endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ?

Trials Teach us to Pray

Trials teach us to pray and constrain us to be much alone with God.  They drove  Jacob to his knees at the fords of  Jabbok (Gen. 32:23-30).  They taught the Psalmist to find "the secret place of the most High" (Ps 91).  They made the life of Paul one ceaseless dependence  upon the presence of his Lord,  and they have inspired as well as sustained the divine communion  which we have learned to prove as the supreme  resource and solution of our lives.

It is very humbling that it should be true that God must press His children to His breast by suffering and need,  but it is, alas, too often the case that ease and comfort lead us to, at least, a partial independence of Him, and our most spiritual seasons and the times that have brought  God most near  to us  have been the times of which we could say, "Thou hast known my soul in adversities."

Trials Teach us to Love

Trials teach us to love, and when God wants to soften and refine our spirit and  answer our prayers for patience and love,  He has to let the discipline of ill-treatment, injustice, and often the severest wrong compel us to go to Him for the love that "beareth  all things," that "endureth  all things" (1 Cor.13:7.)  Of course, we find out first that we have not the love adequate for the test, and as the Holy Spirit convicts us of our sins, He leads us to the source of strength;  then as we gradually learn the humbling lesson, He leads us on from day-to-day in deeper testing and sweeter refining until we can thank Him for the fire that brought us more of His Spirit's grace and His own overcoming love.

========================See Part Three

"THE VALUE OF HARD PLACES" - Part 3 of 3

Trials Teach us Patience

Trials teach us patience.  It is a thorough school to learn to endure, and patience is the crowning grace of the Christian life.   When it has its perfect work, then we become "perfect and  entire, wanting nothing" (James 1:4).  Often therefore the crowning lesson of the spiritual life is learned in the school of  suffering.

Trials Teach us Courage

Trials teach us courage.   They take away the fear of suffering, the dread of pain, as we experienced God's sustaining grace in enable us to put on His strength and courage and rise above the power of fear until we welcome the conflict and stand with scars of the conflict and victory as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.

Trials Make us  Patterns

Trials make us patterns and object lessons for the help of others and for the  glory of God, showing to the world what Christ can do for  His children, and what Christ-filled  lives can accomplish when others fail.  God wants us to be living epistles of Christ (2 Cor. 3:3) unto the world,  to angles and to men,  showing to them in our example that Christ can keep in every situation, and that the power of His grace is practical, supernatural, and adapted  to every human life.

Trials Fit us to Help Others

Trials fit  us to help others by the lessons we have learned in our own experience. ( 2 Cor. 1:3,4)  The callous  and immature heart is little qualified to comfort, counsel, and bless a suffering world.  God has to burn in us first what we are to give out to other fellows.  The painful ordeal of a real experience qualifies us to comfort, strengthen, and encourage the souls to whom He has to send us, and to whom we can say, "I have been there, and I can tell you from the depths of my own experience that 'my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by  Christ Jesus'" (Phil. 4:19).

Author unknown

~Daily Inspirational ~ "HELP IN TIME OF NEED" APRIL 14, 2005


"HELP IN TIME OF NEED"

Our Chicago papers, recently, carried two interesting front page items; one about Timothy Nolan, a Chicago policeman who pleaded in vain for help while he battled two toughs. Sixty people stood about, watching him fight for his life, but not one of them helped him or even bothered to call another policeman. They just stood and watched.

The other item was about a twelve-year-old girl, named Susan Benedict, who had come from Clinton, Wisconsin, to visit Chicago. As Susan sat in the Greyhound Bus Station at Clark and Randolph, a thief grabbed her purse and ran.

Perhaps it was because she was a sweet, defenseless twelve-year-old, but in any case, about a dozen people who witnessed the incident, followed the thief until one got a policeman, who caught the thief and returned the purse to the little girl.

It is a very frightening thing not to be able to find help when it is desperately needed -- and just as wonderful to have help when it is needed.

Thank God, He is always ready to help us in our deepest need -- the salvation of our souls. Are you afraid that your many sins have placed you in a position beyond help -- that you have sinned too greatly for God to forgive you? Then listen to Eph. 1:7, where the Apostle Paul says, by divine inspiration:

"We have redemption through [Christ’s] blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE."

Rom. 5:20,21 will give further encouragement along this line:

"...WHERE SIN ABOUNDED, GRACE DID MUCH MORE ABOUND, THAT AS SIN HATH REIGNED UNTO DEATH, EVEN SO MIGHT GRACE REIGN, through righteousness, unto eternal life, by Jesus Christ our Lord."

Paul knew this by experience, for he was the leader of the world’s rebellion against Christ, but he was saved in one moment by the grace of God. This is why he says: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief" (1 Tim. 1:15).

If God saved the "chief of sinners," He is surely willing to save you, "for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" (Rom. 10:13).
By C R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "Enemies of the Cross" APRIL 15, 2005


"Enemies of the Cross"

Scripture Reading:

"For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things." -- Philippians 3:18, 19

During the Apostle Paul's visits to Europe he had frequently warned the Philippians about those who were nothing more than deceivers. It is apparent that the problem in the assembly had greatly intensified for Paul writes, "I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping."  These men are labeled by the apostle as "the enemies of the Cross of Christ."  They may have appeared outwardly religious but in reality they were ungodly, self-seeking, arrogant, sensual men who were destitute of faith.

There are three indictments that are handed down against these workers of iniquity: First, in the order of enumeration is the statement, "whose end is destruction."  Surely this cannot be said of the saved.  On the other hand the unsaved will experience everlasting destruction as foretold in II Thess.1:7-9.  Secondly, notice the object of their worship.  Were they worshiping the true and living God?  No! their god was their belly -- sensuality, which produced the insatiable desire to satisfy the appetites of the flesh.  Thirdly, we are told they set their affections solely on worldly things such as: philosophy, intellectualism, power, popularity, fortune, etc.

Little wonder Paul calls them enemies of the Cross, "they had a form of godliness, but denied the power thereof."  These emissaries of Satan had no desire to understand the preaching of the Cross, whereby they could be justified from all things.  Things haven't changed very much, today these imposters brazenly substitute the gospel message with the doctrine of positive thinking, which has led many to a false sense of security in thinking that they are right with God.  Sad to say, that even some believers have fallen under the spell of this insidious teaching.  Sir Walter Scott said of those who are given to deception:

"Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive."

Thankfully, even though the gospel is sometimes hindered, it continues to be the "power of God unto salvation."  Beware of the enemies of the Cross, they are among us even at this hour.
By Paul M. Sadler,

~Daily Inspirational ~ "GOD'S REVELATION OF HIMSELF" APRIL 16, 2005


"GOD’S REVELATION OF HIMSELF"

Romans 1:18-20 declares that God has revealed Himself to man in creation. Not that we can learn His plan of salvation from creation -- far from it. But the creation: the glory of its star-studded heavens, the beauty of its flowers and sunsets, the sun and rain and crops to supply us with food, and the unchangeable laws of nature, all show forth, not only the existence of God, but His power, His love, His justice, so that man is a responsible being and, as Verse 20 says, "without excuse" for the deplorable condition in which he finds himself.

A believer, talking with an atheistic evolutionist one day, took out his watch, looked at it and put it back into his pocket, saying: "I have a wonderful watch; it keeps perfect time; never misses a second."

"What make is it?" the atheist asked. "Oh, no make," answered the Christian. "Well, who manufactured it?" "Oh, nobody; it just put itself together somehow."

"Nonsense," said the atheist, "A watch can’t just come into existence. Somebody had to design it and somebody had to manufacture it."

"True," said the Christian, "yet you expect me to believe that this universe, with its billions of stars and planets, all working together in perfect order, just came about by itself; that it had no Designer, no Creator and no one who keeps it running? Isn’t that nonsense?"

No wonder Paul says that the godless are "without excuse," including even the vast majority of "religious" people, who salve their consciences by giving a small part of each week or each day to the performance of some religious rite but keep God out of their businesses, their politics, their social relationships -- their hearts.

But thank God, as He has revealed His power and glory in creation, He has revealed His mercy and grace, His plan of salvation, in the Bible, where we read how "Christ died for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3), so that we might have "redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:7).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "DIRECTED PRAYER" APRIL 17, 2005


"DIRECTED PRAYER"

"Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is" (Eph. 5:17).

Prayer to God must come from God.  There can be no prayer in the full assurance of faith apart from the known will of God in the matter. "The God of our fathers hath chosen thee, that thou shouldest know His will" (Acts 22:14).

"I do not think that a petition that misses the mind God will ever be answered (1 John 5:14).  Personally, I feel the need of trusting Him to lead me in prayer as well as in other matters.  I find it well to preface prayer not only by meditation but by the definite request that I may be directed into the channels of prayer to which the Holy Spirit is beckoning me (Rom 8:26,27)." -- J.O.F.

"When we once have the deep, calm assurance oh His will in the matter, we put in our claim, just as a child before his father. A simple request and nothing more. No crying, no beseeching, no wrestling. No second asking either." -J.O.F.

"The Lord may see it needful, for the trial (development) of faith, to seem for a season not to regard our supplications; yet, if we patiently and believingly continue to wait upon Him, it will be manifest in His own time, and way, that we did not call upon Him in vain." -- G. M.

"My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" ( PS. 62:5).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "Fulfilled And Filled Full" APRIL 18, 2005


"Fulfilled And Filled Full"
by Charles Wages

"That you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God." (Col.4:12).

Man never finishes anything!  Only God can bring something or someone to completeness or a "full end." That fact certainly leaves "man"out of creation and the "new" creation.  In other words, "man" had nothing to do with the creation of the heavens and earth (Gen. 1:1), or with salvation (the "new creation") (2 Cor 5:17).

Because of the "riches of His Grace," we have been forgiven. We have been completely forgiven of all our sins. Colossians 2:13 reads,

"And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses:"

Previous to being redeemed or "forgiven all sins" we were considered "dead" according to God's laws and standards. However, God has "quickened" (made alive) us together with Christ.

He has "fulfilled" the law (Rom. 8:2) Romans 10:4 tells us that "Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth." This means that our Lord has fulfilled every demand of the law (Old Testament). The believing sinner has been declared righteous through the redemption that is in Jesus     Christ   (Rom. 3:24).

What God begins He is able to finish! In the very beginning God intended for His creation to be perfect and that is exactly what it was. The garden of Eden was a perfect place. There were no sins, no struggles, no suffering.  A perfect  environment  for  perfect people. Did the entrance of sin through the Devil abrogate, destroy, and deter God's ultimate plan for His original creation? The answer is no. In His own time we will see His plan completed. In 2 Peter 3:13, we read,

"Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness."

Just like the first perfect "man," Adam, became imperfect through sin, the whole of God's creation has felt the detrimental effect. Yet, God's great plan was to bring the perfect "man," Christ, into the world to make "new" all who would believe in Him. This perfect man, the man Christ Jesus, by His perfect sacrifice for sin make all who believe in Him to  be  "new creations"  ( 2 Cor.  5:17-19).

From the human standpoint, it appears as if God's great plan for humankind and His physical creation has been dealt a death blow. Man surmises "God started something He can't finish!" What about the salvation He freely bestows upon all who believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ? Remember, God never begins anything He can't bring to completion, fulfillment, fruition, or "end." Please read Colossians 2:10 and then Philippians 1:6.

"And ye are complete in Him which is the head of all principality and power."

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

Our first parents, Adam and Eve, inherited a perfect or complete environment unspoiled by sin and degradation. Their failure, in yielding to Satan's temptation,  did  not  mean God's great plan failed. God sees the end from the beginning and the ultimate or completion of His plan and purpose (Rom. 8:28).
Difficult for our finite minds to comprehend? Yes, but not difficult for God  In fact, if we believe God's Word, it becomes understandable. However, we may never fully understand while  on earth, but we can believe it!  A conscientious, careful reading of Romans 8:28-29 will do wonders in opening the eyes of our understanding and allow us to praise Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. What privilege, what hope, what encouragement to know we have been saved to serve the Awesome, Almighty God. He is able and will finish all that He begins! We can say what the apostle Paul said of his trust in God.

"For the which cause also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day."

~Daily Inspirational ~ "GOD CENTRAL" APRIL 30, 2005


"GOD CENTRAL"

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is the foundation book of  Christian theology.  It brings us face to face with facts we ought to know and must know to be saved. In the 16th and 17th verses of the first chapter the Apostle declares that he is proud of the gospel because therein the "righteousness," or rightness, of God is revealed. God had to deal righteously with sin before He could offer salvation to sinners. Sin is not merely an affliction; it is moral wrong and kindles the wrath of a just and holy God. The wrath of God is too little discussed by modern evangelists and preachers. They like to talk about the love and mercy of God, as though He were a Grand Old Man with a tolerant attitude toward sin. But such never fully appreciate His love and mercy because they do not understand His infinite wrath against sin.

Much evangelism today has become sort of a "try God" gimmick. The pleasures of the world don’t satisfy? Try God. You can’t shake off some terrible bondage? Try God. When all else fails try God! But this humanistic approach is foreign to Scripture. God, His holiness, His wrath against sin and His love in providing salvation -- these are central in Scripture rather than man, his condition and his needs. We are not to look upon God as our servant, who will help us in time of need, but as the Holy One whose justice we have offended, but who in infinite grace, paid for our sins Himself so that we might be redeemed. This is why the Epistle to the Romans begins its mighty argument with almost three chapters on the subject of sin. Then follows the good news of God’s grace in settling the sin question so that we might be "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

And thus the same inspired writer declares in Eph. 2:2-4 that we were "the children of disobedience," and therefore "the children of wrath," but then goes on to show how "God, who is rich in mercy" and "great" in "love," saves believers by grace, giving them eternal life in Christ, who died for our sins
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "LIGHT AND DARKNESS, AND THE LOVE OF GOD" MAY 1, 2005


"LIGHT AND DARKNESS, AND THE LOVE OF GOD"

"Giving thanks unto the Father, Which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son..." (Col.1:12-14).

When Adam and Eve partook of the fruit of "the tree of [the] knowledge of good and evil"(Gen.2:9) they fell into sin themselves, and plunged the whole human race into sin (Rom.5:12). Having been warned, "for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die" (Gen.2:17) they were disobedient, and so, we are no longer perfect, but sinful, and in need of the Saviour. While it may take 70 or 80 years, from the moment we are born, we begin to die, and "dying thou shalt die". Consequently mankind, that's all of us, was blinded by the devil's lie, and as such, walks in darkness.

"In whom the god of this world [Satan] HATH BLINDED THE MINDS OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, lest the LIGHT of the GLORIOUS gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should SHINE unto them" (IICor.4:4). If a man is dying, and you have the means to help him, would you let him die? So God, Himself, places a "very high value" upon us all. We are of "eternal worth" to Him. He sent His "Eternal Son" to pay for our sins, Himself, at the extreme cost of His own life's blood (Rom.8:31-34; Eph.1:7) that we may now, by faith in Christ, walk in the Light of His Word. Why else would God have sent His "only begotten Son" into this sin cursed world to die on a cruel cross for our sins? Therefore God will not, and cannot, accept your "good" works in substitute of Christ's "finished work of redemption" on Calvary's cross.

It's not "good works", then, but rather a matter of whether or not we believe God's Word. It is what Christ did on the cross that God accepts (Rom.3:25), and as we accept Christs redemptive work on our behalf (Eph. 2:8,9), God "accepts" us (Eph.1:6). Do we believe the truth of the Word of God or the devil's lie? God loves us, each and every one of us, with an everlasting, an eternal, love. How MUCH He loves us:

"BUT GOD COMMENDETH HIS LOVE TOWARD US, IN THAT, WHILE WE WERE YET SINNERS, CHRIST DIED FOR US" (Rom.5:8). "BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).
By Russell S. Miller

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE CHRISTIAN'S PRAYER LIFE" MAY 2, 2005


"THE CHRISTIAN’S PRAYER LIFE"

Prayer to God manifestly must hold great importance to those who would be truly spiritual. While God’s Word to us is always to have first place in our lives, prayer must certainly have second place; indeed, we must even study God’s Word with prayer for understanding and willingness to obey.

The Scriptures everywhere exhort God’s people to pray, and in the Epistles of Paul we find greater cause, greater reason and greater incentive than ever to pray -- to pray "always," "in everything," "without ceasing." The example of our Lord and of His apostles -- particularly Paul -- is a call to prayer. Every need, every anxiety, every heartache is a call to prayer. Every temptation, every defeat -- yes, and every victory is a call to prayer

Yet, merely praying, or even spending much time in prayer, is not in itself evidence of true spirituality. Many carnal Christians, still "babes in Christ," and even many unsaved people, spend much time in prayer. But the truly spiritual believer will join the Apostle Paul in saying:  "I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also" (I Cor. 14:15). "With the spirit": earnestly, fervently, pouring out to God my adoration, my supplications and my thanks. And "with the understanding also": intelligently, with a clear grasp of what the Scriptures, rightly divided, say about God’s will and His provisions for my prayer life in this present dispensation of grace.

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "THE FRUIT OF GRACE" MAY 5, 2005


"THE FRUIT OF GRACE"

When John the Baptist and the Lord Jesus Christ appeared on earth, God’s people had been under the law of Moses for fifteen hundred years. Little wonder John and his Master looked for fruit among them.

When the hypocritical religious leaders came to join John’s growing audience and asked to be baptized, John called them a "generation of vipers" and bade them "bring forth... fruits meet for repentance" (Matt. 3:7,8). True repentance, with fruit to prove it, was the basic requirement of the kingdom John proclaimed. This is evident from his declaration:

"And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire" (Matt. 3:10).

Our Lord appeared, proclaiming the same message as John, and also sought for fruit among His people (Matt. 7:16-20; 21:33-43). We know, however, that John the Baptist was beheaded and Christ crucified. The fruit produced under the Law was meager indeed. Even after the resurrection of Christ the majority of His people refused to repent and failed to bring forth the required fruit.

But what the Law requires grace provides. It was at this time that God raised up the Apostle Paul, whose "preaching of the cross" showed that Christ had not died an untimely death, but in infinite love had come into the world to die for sinners so that they might be saved by grace,through faith (Eph. 2:8,9). Paul’s message was called "the gospel [good news] of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24), and where the Law had failed to bring forth fruit, grace brought it forth abundantly.

God’s grace in Christ, when accepted in true faith, always brings forth good fruit. Thus Paul wrote to the Colossians that his good news was going forth into all the world, adding: "and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you since... ye knew the grace of God in truth" (Col. 1:5,6 cf. Rom. 6:21,22).

Accept God’s message of grace, trust in Christ as your Savior and He will help you to produce the fruit.

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "JUSTIFIED FREELY" MAY 6, 2005


"JUSTIFIED FREELY"

"Being justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).

It is wonderful to know that we sinners are not justified by praying, or paying, or saying, or sighing, or crying, or doing anything.  We are justified freely, by the grace of God. But this passage from Romans will mean more to us when we learn how the word rendered "freely" here is translated elsewhere in the Bible. The same expression is found in John 15:25, where our Lord, quoting from the Psalms, said: "They hated me without a cause." Why did men hate Him? He went about doing nothing but good: healing the sick, giving the blind their sight, causing the lame to leap for joy, preaching good news to the poor and deliverance to those who were bound. There was no good reason for crying, "Away with Him!" and "Crucify Him!" They hated Him "without a cause."

But in the same way we might ask: "Why should He die for sinners? Why should He pay for their sins? He had done nothing wrong." Ah, it was in love that He deliberately gave Himself into the hands of sinful men, that He, the sinless One, might pay for their sins. He did not die His own death, for death is "the wages of sin." He died our death, paying for our sins. So, as men hated Him "without a cause" (except their own sinful condition), so Christ has "Justified" believers "without a cause" (except His own divine love).

And so it is that we can now proclaim the glorious news that God has sent us to tell all mankind, that His righteousness is conferred "upon all those who believe," and that believers are "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PERFECT PROVISION" MAY 9, 2005


"PERFECT PROVISION"

"For when for a time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God, and are become such as have need of milk and not of solid food."  (Heb. 5:12).

It is a great comfort, during our growing up in the Lord Jesus, to know that He is our perfect provision, and that He provides the perfect processing.

"When then queen bee lays an egg, there is deposited in the cell with it the food on which the larva is to feed during its development. Similarly, when the Father placed us "in Christ," He also made provision in Him for our whole life.  Christ is made unto us wisdom to enable us to walk aright in a perplexing world, righteousness to replace our sinfulness, sanctification to impart the growth we so greatly need, and redemption of the body to consummate the whole."

"As with the seed that is buried once for all, but then disintegrates through a gradual process that sets free the new life, even so does the Father deal with our old man by delivering it to death with the Lord Jesus once for all, and then bringing about its mortification in detail through the circumstances of life, until the power of the flesh has lost its hold."-L.T.

"Our Father is faithful and wise as well as a gracious and patient Teacher.  He will not permit us to pass curiously over our lessons.  Sometimes, perhaps, we think we have mastered a lesson, and we attempt to move on to another; but our wise Teacher knows better, and He sees the need of deeper ploughing. He will not have us mere theorists or smatterers: He will keep us, if need be, year after year at our scales until we learn to sing." --C.H.M.

"Solid food belongeth to them that are, even those our full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil." (Heb. 5:14)

By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "The Ministry of Comfort" MAY 10, 2005


"The Ministry of Comfort"

Scripture Reading:
"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort." -- II Corinthians 1:3

Since the entrance of sin into the world, the way of man has been anything but easy.  Job seemed to have his finger on the pulse of the matter when he wrote, "... man is born unto trouble, as the sparks fly upward."  It is interesting though, that when calamity strikes, men are quick to blame God, or to ask why He allows such occurrences in their lives.  But shall we blame God for what man has brought upon himself?  God forbid!  Man is a product of his own folly.

"Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Rom. 5:12). Some claim that if they had been back in the garden everything would have been different.  I certainly have no reason to doubt them.  In all probability, they would have pushed Adam aside to reach the forbidden fruit before he did! You see, God saw the entire human race in Adam, as only He could do.  So when Adam stretched forth his hand  to partake of the forbidden fruit, each of us were reaching for it as well -- we are his posterity, thus we share in his guilt. God could have condemned the whole human race to the Lake of Fire and have been perfectly justified in so doing.  Thankfully, we did not receive what  we justly deserved, for "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to  anger, and plenteous in mercy" (Psa. 103:8).

HOW GOD COMFORTS US

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we   ourselves are comforted of God" (II Cor. 1:4).

Here, of course, the Apostle refers to believers.  Our heavenly Father  knows that we are frail creatures of dust, overwhelmed with sorrow, sickness and even death; not to mention the spiritual upheavals that come our way.  Always sympathetic to our plight, He walks with us every step of life's journey comforting us in all our tribulations. The tribulation cited here by the Apostle Paul is not a reference to the Tribulation Period known as The Time of Jacob's Trouble.  Paul is speaking of the personal tribulations he had encountered due to spiritual conflicts and poor health.  Personal trials come in all  forms: criticism, rejection, financial setbacks, sickness, bereavement, etc.

When sorrow overwhelms us like an ocean tide the Lord in His goodness is always present to comfort us in our time of need.  But exactly how does God comfort us in the dispensation of Grace?  We know for instance that the heavens are silent and that neither the Lord nor any of His angelic host visibly appear to minister to the saints today.  During the administration of Grace the Lord, first of all, comforts us through His Word.

For example, some years ago death took my great-grandmother.  She always held a very special place in my heart and even to this day I get choked up sometimes when I think of her.  My sense of loss would  be difficult to bear except for the consolation I have received from the Word of God.  The Lord has shown me that I need not sorrow as others who have no hope.  Some day soon the trump will sound and the dead in Christ will be raised.  Then we will be caught up together with all those departed loved ones who were saved, and so shall we ever be with the Lord!  Little wonder Paul says, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words."

Another way the Lord comforts us is by bringing someone into our lives at just the right moment to encourage us in those times of despair. Surely we have a precedent for this in the life of Paul himself.  The intensity of the spiritual warfare at Ephesus and Macedonia had taken its toll on the Apostle, both physically and spiritually.

"Nevertheless God, that comforteth those that are cast down, comforted us by the coming of Titus" (II Cor. 7:5-7).  The arrival of Titus was a direct result of Divine intervention to not only encourage Paul, but also that he might lend assistance in the work.

Finally, God does not comfort us to make us comfortable, but rather that we might comfort others.  It has been given to us to carry on a ministry of encouragement to those who are in any trouble.  Think of it, having already been the recipients of God's consolation, He uses us to put our arm around that dear Christian friend who is perhaps facing his first surgery and tell him, "we too had this same surgery a few years ago and the Lord saw us through it."  With hope we can face any thing.  That's why God has revealed to us the Blessed Hope that one day soon we shall be with Him.  Truly He is the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.  AMEN!

By Paul M. Sadler,

~Daily Inspirational ~ "AFFLICTED AND COMFORTED" MAY 14, 2005


"AFFLICTED AND COMFORTED"

"The Father of mercies,  and the God of all comfort" (2 Cor.1:3)

Affliction provides opportunity for us to learn more of our Father in His mercy, as well as providing a deeper understanding of what others may be called upon to go through.

"Many saints have been happy to assert that they would not have missed for anything the exercises of prolonged illness and suffering!  They have thereby learned the grace and sympathy of the Lord Jesus, and they have been the subjects of so much tender interest and consideration flowing from the spiritual affections of His saints, that they have been conscious of infinite gain and enrichment.

"And surely the development and exercise of such affection as these, eternal in their nature, though called into activity by circumstances connected with conditions of weakness and trial, is a greater triumph of divine love and power than restoring the sick ones to health.  It is a real loss for the attention of believers to be turned from the spiritual dealings of the Lord Jesus with His own, and from all that is the moral result of those dealings, to be consecrated upon the thought of bodily healing and self-centered experiences."-- C.A.C.

"There is a great difference between going to the Lord Jesus in our troubles, as to the best Physician and Friend, and knowing Him as the One who loves me best, the Bridegroom.  In the former we turn to Him when anything is the matter; but in the latter, if we are true to it, we could never leave Him." --J.B.S.

"Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them who are in any trouble, by the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted of God" (2 Cor. 1:4).

By M.Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PERMANENT POSITION" MAY 15, 2005


"PERMANENT POSITION"

"Alive unto God in Jesus Christ, our Lord" (Rom. 6:11)

Until the believer's faith is firmly established in the fact of his position in the risen Lord Jesus, he will not be able to rest in Him during the process of his position becoming his condition.  One must be sure of the Source before he can trust for the growth.

"The standing of the believer is settled, perfect, eternal.  His state is imperfect and fluctuating.  He is partaker of the new life which cannot sin; but he bears about within him the old flesh which can do nothing else but sin.  Now his standing is in the new and not the old.  He is not in the flesh, but in the Spirit (Rom. 8:9).  He is not under law, but under grace.  This is his perfect and unalterable position; his sins are gone before God; his person is accepted by God -- all complete in the Lord Jesus Christ.

"His practical condition can never touch his position.  It can very seriously affect his fellowship, his worship, his testimony, his usefulness, his spiritual enjoyment, the glory of the Lord Jesus as involved in his practical career.  These are grace consequences in the  estimation of every sensitive conscience and well -- regulated mind; but the position of the true believer remains intact and unalterable.  The feeblest member of the family of God has this place of security, and is perfect in Christ.  To deny this is to remove the true basis of self-judgment and practical growth." --C.H.M.

"We are spiritually both in the wilderness and in Canaan; we are partakers on earth of the heavenly calling, we are seated in Christ in the heavenly places.  The enjoyment of the favors of the Father to us, in the heavenly places in Christ, enhances the sense of His favors to us in the wilderness."--H.F.W.

"We are identified in union with Him who stands as really for us in the glory of the heavens as once for us He hung upon the cross."

"For me to live is Christ" (Phil. 1:21)

By M.Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "IS REVIVAL POSSIBLE?" MAY 20, 2005


"IS REVIVAL POSSIBLE?"

We have received responses from several friends who conclude from such passages as II Tim. 3:1-13 that there cannot possibly be a revival before the Lord comes for His own.

We have never concurred in this view. Verses 2-7 of this passage describe the condition of the ungodly about us. These have "a form of godliness" but not the reality and it is these who will "wax worse and worse" (Vers. 5,13). "From such" the Spirit exhorts us to "turn away" (Ver. 5).

But why, in the midst of these "perilous times" should the Church not be strong and united? The Word of God often shines brightest when the days are darkest.

It is true that our Lord said about the coming "tribulation," that "because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold" (Matt. 24:12), but this was a prediction concerning a particular situation, and while similar causes often produce similar effects, this is not always so. Not infrequently the wickedness of the world has driven saints to their knees and to the Word, with blessed results. True spiritual revival takes place in the blood-bought Church of God not in the wicked world about it. That which is dead cannot be revived but that which has life can and should be. We know of no Scripture that should deter us from praying for a true spiritual awakening among God’s people. Indeed we must be careful lest we cease praying and toiling for a revival on the grounds that "times are getting worse and worse and there’s not going to be, a revival."

It seems to us that one of the surest ways to grow spiritually indifferent ourselves is to conclude that God will not grant us a spiritual awakening no matter what we do.
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ "BOLD BELIEF " MAY 21, 2005


"BOLD BELIEF"

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the Holiest by the Blood of Jesus" (Heb.10:19).

We enter our Father's presence when we believe He has already positioned us there in His Son.

"The Lord Jesus' work on the Cross gave us present entrance into the Holiest of All.  What removed our sins rent the veil; and those who believe are positioned in the innermost sanctuary even now.  Boldness to enter there on any pretension of our love or holiness, of nature or even divine  ordinance, would be shameless presumption.  In Hebrews Ten it is calmly claimed for believers, who are exhorted in the strongest terms to approach by faith the Father's presence without a doubt or a cloud, now.

"Boldness to enter the Father's presence is due to the shed Blood of the Saviour.  Only unbelief hinders.  It is a new and living way which He dedicated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh; we honor Him by abiding their in the fullest confidence that pleases the Father.  Being born of the Father and we are abidingly His children.  As such we have the right to take our place before Him. It is our privilege to think of ourselves according to what we are as being one spirit with the Lord Jesus; and this is ever maintained by Him.

"What we are by grace, as in Him before the Father, is unchangeable, and our interests are in His hands. Beloved, do our failures, our sins, in anywise alter what He is there before the face of our Father?  What He is there is  what we are, not of course in ourselves, but as being in the Lord Jesus who is our life."-C.A.C.

"There are two basic things that the believer has to learn. One is, you are not to have the man here and the place where he is; the other is, you do have another Man, and the place were He is."

"By a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us" (Heb.10:20).
By M. Stanford

~Daily Inspirational ~ "PAUL S LETTER TO THE ROMANS" MAY 22, 2005


"PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS"

One of the most enlightening books of the Bible, and indeed of all literature, is St. Paul’s great Epistle to the Romans.

Paul was by nature and training a logician, perhaps the greatest logician of all time, and in this case his words were Spirit-inspired, so that we have in his Epistle to the Romans a powerful logical argument about God and man, condemnation and justification. It is wonderful thus to have God’s plan of salvation explained for us. This is all too lacking in modern evangelism.

The doctrinal argument of Romans begins with a demonstration of the moral depravity of man. It says, even to the self-righteous: "Thou art inexcusable..." (2:1).

The Apostle then goes on to show that the Law was given, not to help men to be good, but "that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God" (3:19). The conclusion: "Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin" (3:20).

The Apostle presses his argument further by showing how the Lord Jesus Christ gave Himself as a satisfaction for sin that we might be "justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:24). His conclusion again:

"Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith, without [apart from] the deeds of the law" (3:28). "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (5:1).

Next he shows how those who trust in Christ are "baptized into Christ" (6:3), made one with Him by faith. The final conclusion: "There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus" (8:1).

And the Apostle closes the doctrinal part of this great epistle by exclaiming:
"Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" (8:33,35).

Our advice to those who have questions about salvation: Study Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, thoughtfully and
prayerfully.
By C.R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ ~THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY~ MAY 2005


~THE MOST IMPORTANT HOUR OF HISTORY~

The most important hour of all history was the hour when the Lord Jesus Christ died on Calvary’s cross for the sins of mankind. Often, in Scripture, the hour of our Lord’s death is called simply "the hour ," "My hour ," or "His hour." To fulfill prophecy He could not have died one hour earlier, or one later: Until that hour arrived His enemies were somehow restrained from doing Him bodily harm, so that we read in John 7:30:

    "Then they sought to take Him: but no man laid hands on Him, because HIS HOUR WAS NOT YET COME" (See also John 8:20). This hour was to be for Him a time of unspeakable agony and shame. Referring to this, He said to Andrew and
Philip:

    "Now is my soul troubled; and what shall I say? Father save Me from this hour? But FOR THIS CAUSE CAME I UNTO THIS HOUR" (John 12:27).

He had come to die for the sins of the world and would not now turn away from the sufferings involved. But this hour of suffering and shame was also an hour of glory, for there the Son of God paid a debt which would have sunk a world to hell. This is why, at this same time, in the very shadow of the cross, He said:

    "THE HOUR IS COME THAT THE SON OF MAN SHOULD BE GLORIFIED. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit" (John 12:23,24. See also John 17:1,2).

Little wonder we read in John 3:35,36:

    "The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand. HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON HATH EVER-LASTING LIFE: AND HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT THE SON SHALL NOT SEE LIFE, BUT THE WRATH OF GOD ABIDETH ON HIM."
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ ~THE LIVING GOD~ - MAY 29, 2005


~THE LIVING GOD~

"My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God" (Psa. 42:2). The recent "God is dead" theory had little true comfort or satisfaction for men in trouble or sorrow.

For years we supposed that the term "the living God," in the above passage, had reference to God’s power to help, in contrast to the impotence of dead heathen idols. A careful examination of the context, however, leads us to believe that it has rather to do with His ability to respond. The gods of the heathen, by contrast, were like children’s dolls; they could not even change their countenance or respond in any way.

"The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.

"They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see
not;

"They have ears, but they hear not, neither is there any breath in their mouths" (Psa. 135:15-17).

But the true God is a living God. He does see, hear and respond. The Psalmist, in Psalm 42, compares himself to a stag, panting with thirst. It is sometimes supposed that the scene is one of a stag pursued in the chase, but the passage says nothing of this. Palestine is a dry land and entirely part from being hunted down, a deer might well pant for streams of running water.

Be this as it may, the stag, in this passage, is not seeking for help; he is thirsting for refreshment, and so did the Psalmist long for the refreshment of fellowship with God, the living God. How wonderful it is that we may know the living God through faith in Christ! This is why the Apostle Paul declares in Heb. 10:19:

"Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus... a new and living way, which He hath consecrated for us through the veil, that is to say, His flesh. "

By His death at Calvary our Lord tore away the veil that kept us from entering into God’s presence, and now in response to our need He says:

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb. 4:16). Yes, God is a living God!
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ ~THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT~ MAY 30, 2005


~THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT~

"The Sword of the Spirit... is the Word of God" (Eph. 6: 17). Of all the spiritual armor which believers are told to "put on" in Eph. 6:11-18, there is only one offensive weapon. This is "the Sword of the Spirit... the Word of God."

The Bible is called "the Sword of the Spirit," because the Spirit of God is its Author. It is called "the Sword of the Spirit" because, thus written by God who knows all, it can cut deeply. This makes it, for the believer, a formidable weapon against Satan and the forces of evil. We are told in Heb. 4:12,13:

"The Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do."

As David said long ago:

"O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me.
"Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising; Thou understandest
my thought afar off" (Psa. 139:1,2).

It is because God knows and understands us so thoroughly that His Word can sometimes cut us so deeply. How wise, then, to bow before that Blessed Book, acknowledge its condemnation of sin and trust the Savior it presents! And, having done this, how wise to "put on the whole armor of God" in our stand against Satan and sin, not forgetting to "take... the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God"!
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ ~GLORIOUS PROSPECT~ JUNE 1, 2005


~GLORIOUS PROSPECT~

To the true Christian one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible is Eph. 2:7, where we read of God’s purpose, "That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus." This passage appears the more wonderful when viewed in the light of its context.

Verses 2-6 tell how we were all once the "children of disobedience," and therefore "by nature the children of wrath,even as others." But then we read those wonderful words of hope, "But God."

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love wherewith He loved us..."  And the next verses tell how He has taken believers in Christ from the lowest position of condemnation and wrath and given them the highest place of favor and blessing in Christ at His own right hand in the heavenlies.

The simplest, humblest believer in Christ has been given this position in the heavenlies, for God no longer sees him in himself, but in Christ, who died for his sins. This is why St. Paul so often writes about "those who are in Christ Jesus."

It is for the believer now to occupy this exalted position, to appropriate by faith the "all spiritual blessings" which  are his in Christ (See Eph. 1:3). Like Paul, he may be lifted by grace, through faith, above the troubles and sorrows of "this present evil age" and enjoy his position and blessings in the heavenlies in Christ. And even this is not all, for looking far ahead to the future the Apostle, by divine revelation, goes on to say (in Eph. 2:7) that God has done this all for us, "that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus."
By C. R Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~ ~GOD'S ANSWER TO UNBELIEF~ June 2, 2005


~GOD’S ANSWER TO UNBELIEF~

The resurrection of Christ is God’s answer to unbelief. The changed attitudes of His followers who saw Him alive after His crucifixion and the revolution in the life of Paul, who saw Him "last of all," rank high among the "many  infallible proofs" of His resurrection. Cowards were made bold, doubters believed, the sorrowing were made glad, the pitiless persecutor became His devoted follower. The broken Roman seal, the empty tomb, the failure of the enemies  of Christ to produce the dead body and a hundred other facts add their testimony in confirmation of the fact that the Lord Jesus Christ has been "declared to be the Son of God with power... by the resurrection from the dead" (Rom. 1:4).

The resurrection of Christ assures us that His payment for sin is all-sufficient and complete, for "when He had by Himself purged our sins [He] sat down on the right hand of  the Majesty on high" (Heb. 1:3). "For by one offering He hath perfected forever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14).

Next, the resurrection of Christ gives us a living Savior. Comparing the Old Testament priests with Christ, Heb. 7:23-25 says:

   "And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this Man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them."

The resurrection of Christ is also the pledge of the believer’s resurrection in glory. In I Pet. 1:3 the Apostle Peter breaks out in a doxology:

   "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope, by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

And our Lord Himself said what no other could possibly say: "I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Finally, the resurrection of Christ is a warning to the world of judgment to come:

   "Because [God] hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that Man whom He hath ordained: whereof He hath given assurance unto all men, in that He hath raised Him from the dead" (Acts 17:31).

  "Now is the accepted time" (ll Cor. 6:2). "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved" (Acts 16:31).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational ~THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE~ June 9, 2005


~THE POWER OF THE GOSPEL OF GRACE~

"...the gospel... is come unto you, as it is in all the world, and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth" (Col. 1:5,6).

How wonderful to see the gospel of the grace of God do its work! Paul had never even seen the Colossians. He had only sent missionaries to them from Ephesus with the good news of the grace of God, but this had produced amazing results.

Wherever the gospel of the grace of God is preached in its purity it produces results. No one hearing that message can go away the same. Either he will consider it utter foolishness and be hardened by it, or he will see its vital importance and be softened by it. Ultimately he will either be eternally condemned, or eternally saved and justified by his response to that message.

"The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, but unto us which are saved it is the power of God" (I Cor. 1:18). "Christ crucified... unto them which are called... the power of God and the wisdom of God" (I Cor. 1:23,24). "The power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 1:16).

Mark well: it is "the gospel of the grace of God," the "preaching of the cross," that produces such results. The law of Moses never did, "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh," God sent His Son to accomplish for us (Rom. 8:3,4). This is why Paul proclaimed, at Antioch of Pisidia:

"Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this Man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins; and by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses" (Acts 13:38,39).

God’s message to us is a message of love, proclaiming to even the vilest sinner that he may be "justified freely by [God’s] grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24).
By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? June 10, 2005


“Forgiven or Not?” - Part 1 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

The other night while having dinner with some very good friends, the subject of confessing our sins to be forgiven came up. It startled me to wonder how this subject became so misunderstood in the Christian family. It also showed me how paralyzing a topic like this could be to an individual’s life. To help better understand this topic we need to go to the source of truth and not our traditions to get a better handle on this all-important topic. We will accomplish this through the pages of the Bible and will look to no other source for truth.

Do we need to have forgiveness?  If we need to have forgiveness, how do we get it? Once we have forgiveness, how do we maintain it? Is forgiveness a one-time act, or do we need to keep begging for something that was already given? This topic is a serious subject and needs to be looked into soberly because it can and will affect ones relationship with their God and also on how one relates to others. This is the heart and core of the Gospel as God gave it to Paul.

Do we need forgiveness? The Bible declares Romans3: 23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” All have sinned not, just a few but all. So if we all have sinned what is the verdict for this sin? What is the consequence? Romans 6:23 “ For the wages (what we earned) of sin is death…” Death seems pretty final to me, but what kind of death are we talking about here. If we go back to the Garden of Eden and when God gave instructions to the first humans that ever lived. He declared Gen 2:17 “ but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (living independently from God) you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you shall surely die.” If one reads the story further we draw the conclusion that they did eat from the tree of good and evil and therefore died, but how can this be because as we read further we see they continued to live and have children. What died from them was what God put into them and that is the spiritual life that was imparted. Adam and Eve had been given God’s Spirit as part of their make-up along with the human spirit and body. However when they took of the tree of good and evil the spirit God’s life, which is spirit, departed from them, they died spiritually. This is why God declared in Gen 3:22 “ The Lord God said. “ Behold, the man has become like one of Us, knowing good and evil: and now, he might stretch out his hand, and take also from the tree of life, and eat, and live forever,” Mans decision was to go it alone without God and become an independent creature and from that time forward we all have received this nature from our father Adam which is dead. It is something we all inherit from birth. Romans 5:12  “ Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all have sinned.” Mankind as a whole has this issue that has to be dealt with and it is death. We need Life. We as a whole do not think we are that bad or dead, and in need for life. From the Garden of Eden forward God has been revealing to man their need to be dependent upon Him for Life. He gave the Law to convict us, not for us to keep. This is a hard one for us to accept, however if we are going to believe the Bible as our source for truth this is what it says. Our hearts are so blinded to this dead nature within us that in God’s love He gave the Law to convict, to convince, to help us see, the need for life. God did not give the Law to make us try to live a better life. If so the Jewish race should be the most prominent of all races since the Law came through them. The Law was given to help us see that we are all sinners and have earned death. We really do have a serious issue to deal with and that is the deadness that lies within. Romans 3:19-20 “ Now we know that whatever the Law says, (when we view our life in lieu of God’s Law) it speaks to those who are under the Law so that every mouth may be closed (convicted) and all the world may become accountable to God: because by the works of the Law (trying to keep the Law) no flesh will be justified in His sight: for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin.” The known Christian world has taken what God has given (the Law) and has tried to make it a standard of living rather then for what the purpose the Law was intended for. The Law was designed to convict us of the deadness within; it renders the verdict of guilty.  Thereby if we are convicted of the deadness within, we will surely come to the conclusion that we are hopeless in this quest for life and in need of forgiveness. However, God in His Love provided a way to bridge the gap. To take sinful man and make us right with Him. Thereby, giving us a way to receive forgiveness and have Life restored. This will take us to our next topic on how we receive the forgiveness that he provided.

Now that the Law has done its work in revealing to us that we are sinners deserving of death, how do we receive the forgiveness that was provided. Do we keep short accounts with God? Do we try now to keep the Law? Do we give more at church? Just what is it we have to do to receive and even maintain this forgiveness that we all need? Does a just God even expect us to maintain this forgiveness through confession? Let’s open the Bible and see what God has to say about this subject. Look for part 2 on How we receive God’s forgiveness.

~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? Part 2 June 11, 2005


“Forgiven or Not” - Part 2 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

As we saw from the previous article we all are in need to be restored and forgiven. The Bible declares us all dead and worthy of the death sentence. Thankfully! We have a God of Love that had a plan to make us right with Him and to provide life to us so we can live eternally with Him. Acts 2:23 “ this Man (Jesus) delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.”  So let’s unfold the plan that God had predetermined that would provide what we as dead humans could not provide.

How do we receive the forgiveness of God?  The Bible declares Hebrews 9:22 “ And according to the Law, one may almost say, all things are cleansed with blood, and without the shedding there is no forgiveness.” The Bible is very clear that there would have to have blood shed (or life given) for the forgiveness of sin. How would a just God bridge the gap between sinful man and a Holy God?  How was a way going to be provided that would take care of this for all and render us a forgiven people?

The solution is found only in the pages of the Bible. John 1:29 “ The next day he (John the Baptist) saw Jesus coming to him and said, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” Two very important declarations were made in that one scripture. One “the Lamb of God,” this was God’s way of dealing with the sin issue, for without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. If we take note through the pages of the Old Testament the Jews had their sacrificial system daily taking care of the forgiveness issue because of sin. God was introducing a sacrifice (the Lamb of God, Jesus) that would take care of the sin issue once and for all. This leads us to the other declaration made, “who takes away the sin of the world.” What did we just read? Who takes away the sin of the world. What does this mean to take it away, and if it is taken away why do we focus on it so much? Jesus Christ was and is the only one that lived a perfect life as a human and being God Himself He is the only sacrifice that can totally remove what has caused this great separation (spiritual death) between God and His creation. His shed Blood would be the FINAL sacrifice that would once and for all deal with man’s sin and provide a way for man to be restored to the way we were originally designed. When Jesus became the sacrifice that would satisfy a Holy God and He bore the world’s sin on the cross at Calvary He was able to shout out in His final breath John19: 30 “…….He said , “It is finished!….” He took care of the sin issue and the consequences of that which was death. His death satisfied, took the place of yours and mine. God was now satisfied. He could now remove all the daily sacrifices that would bring temporary forgiveness’ to a lost people. God dealt with the sin issue at the cross, once and for all. Hebrews 10: 15-18 “ The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this, First He says: “ This is the covenant I will make with them after that time, says the Lord, I will put My laws (the two commands Jesus left us, Love God and thy neighbor) in their hearts, and write them on their minds. ‘ then He adds: “ their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more,” And where these have been (past tense) forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin. Did we notice Have been Forgiven? Christ took care of the sin issue at the cross, that is where God accepted His sacrifice and where God Placed forgiveness on the whole world. Hebrews 9:15 “For this reason Christ is the mediator of a new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that He has died as a ransom to set free from the sins committed under the first covenant. The sin issue has been dealt with, forgiveness has been provided. Romans 6:10 “ For the death that He died, he died to sin (hear it comes) once and for all: but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Yes, the sin issue and forgiveness has been dealt with.

How do we receive it? It is received in His life, by what He provided for us. We receive the provision “IN “ Him. Once we come to the conclusion we are sinners worthy of death, and that a life had to be given. We can only come up with two conclusions. One, that I can give my life to satisfy the just sentence or I could place my faith “IN” what God provided to deal with my sin issue once and for all and receive the forgiveness that He so generously gave. 2 Cor. 5:21 “ God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that IN Him we might become the righteousness of God. Jesus became yours and mine sin substitute, He dealt with yours and mine sin issue at the cross, once and for all. He declared, “It is finished.” We Just have to appropriate His sacrifice by Faith, once we do that we can boldly walk in confidence in Psalms 103:10-12 “ he has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities, For as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving kindness toward those who fear Him. As far as the east is from the west so far He removed our transgressions from us.” Jesus’ sacrifice His shed blood dealt with sin forever, why do we not want to believe this and place our faith in what God has done to remove this from His eyes, never to deal with it again. Why do we keep bringing our sins before Him when He does not even see them anymore? Remember shed blood is what brings forgiveness. Do we really think Jesus is going to keep shedding His blood over and over for us every time we sin? Hebrews 9:24-26 “ For Christ did not enter a holy place made with hands, a mere copy of the true one, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us, (God accepted His sacrifice in place of ours) nor was it that He would offer Himself often, (or again and again) as the high priest enters the holy place year by year with blood that is not his own. Otherwise, he would have needed to suffer often, since the foundation of the world; but now once at the consummation (end) of the ages He has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” This is one of the key points in the glorious gospel of Grace. The fact Jesus died to take away sin, to put it away, to remove it from God’s eyes. Done at the Cross - of Calvary. Yes, Jesus died was buried, and rose again on yours and mine behalf. Hopefully, we attempted to see from God’s word how we can by faith enter into what was provide by the predetermined plan from the foundation of the world. How God was going to solve the sin issue and provide forgiveness to a race of people that are born spiritual dead . In the final article to follow we will see how God will provide man with the means to maintain the forgiveness that He provided at the Cross of Calvary. Lets rest in what He has accomplished for us and give thanks for all He has done for us!

~Daily Inspirational~ Forgiven or Not? Conclusion June 12, 2005


“Forgiven or Not” - Part 3 of 3
by Thomas Nitz

As we draw our conclusion on the subject of forgiveness, let’s go over the two points briefly that we already examined. The first topic we covered was man’s need for forgiveness. We have seen from Adams fatal decision forward all of humanity has been born dead (spiritually). Following are three scriptural truths to finalize our conclusion on the condition of humanity.  Romans 5: 12 “ Therefore just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.”   Romans 3: 23 “ For all have sinned.” Romans 6:23 “ for the wages of sin is death.”  So we are all guilty and in need of forgiveness, and that forgiveness comes ONLY by the shedding of blood. Hebrews 9:22 “ …and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

We then set out to discover that God had a predetermined plan to provide a means to supply us with the sacrifice that would settle this issue once and for all. That of course we discovered was the sacrifice of the Son of God taking on the form of a human.  John 3:16 “ For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son,…” Hebrews 10:12 “ but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God.” Hebrews 10:17-18 “ And their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” Now where there is FORGIVENESS of these things, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin.” When God accepted the sacrifice of His Son, he was satisfied He knew justice was served.

So how do we maintain the forgiveness once we understand it from His point of view? Do we continue to confess to get forgiven as 1 John1: 9 states, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” When we read that scripture it tends to contradict what we just discovered in numerous other scriptures. We just read, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”  We just read in the Bible that God was satisfied with this once and for all sacrifice for sin and that the blood of Jesus is what brought forgiveness. Why would He require us now to set out to get forgiveness through confession? God basically looks and sees two groups of people, (1) believer, and (2) unbelievers. If, we examine this scripture closely in light of all the other scriptures we read, we will discover that a believer would already have come to the conclusion that they were a sinner. Believers do not walk around thinking they have no flesh or sin to deal with. Believers know where sin had it’s final confrontation and verdict and who’s life satisfied the death penalty. This was written to confront a group of people that believed man did not have a sin nature. So the Apostle John addressed the topic on this.1John 1:8 “ If we say we have no sin we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.” As we discovered in the previous writings man does have a sin nature and in need of forgiveness and that was provided by the blood of the Lamb (Jesus). So if at anytime one comes to understand that they are in need of this, they are to confess their sin and God being as faithful and righteous as He is will impute what Christ did on their behalf and forgive their sin, and cleanse them from ALL unrighteousness. Do not forget for one to be declared righteous in God’s sight one has to take on the righteousness of Christ. In order for this to happen one has to be cleansed and totally forgiven, and as we seen this could only be done by Jesus Christ blood. 1John 1:9 could read as follows “ If we confess our sins (agree with God concerning our sin natures, dead), He is faithful and just “to have forgiven” our sins and “to have cleansed” us from ALL unrighteousness. This scripture once researched reveals that in the original Greek some of the terms are a past tense action that has taken place. An example of this is to forgive should be rendered to have forgiven. God forgave when He accepted the blood of His Son. When we put the whole story together on forgiveness it paints a beautiful picture of what God did through Jesus Christ on yours and mine behalf.

This leads to the finality of what was accomplished on the Cross of Calvary and what is required of us to maintain the forgiveness that was already provided. It can be summed up in this scripture. Colossians 2:6 “ Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him.”  We walk by faith knowing now there is Romans 8:1 “ no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Preoccupation with sin does not have to rule us, besides how could we remember all the sin that we do in a day to confess it anyway? When we get caught up in confession, we take part in the salvation process and God will have no part of this. How much confession is good enough anyway, when will one know if they confessed enough to receive the forgiveness? There is truly no rest - believing confessing brings forgiveness. Only the Blood of Christ brought forgiveness, once and for all. He is not going to die over and over again for sin. We just need to accept in faith what he already provided and thank Him for what He has done. If we do not accept the Finality of the Cross, then what good was it, what real freedom did it bring? The cross settled what sin ushered in for humanity and that is spiritual death. When we sin we don’t receive punishment for the sin, the penalty is death and Christ death took care of it. This then prepares us to receive the righteousness and life of Our Lord Jesus Christ provided through the resurrection.

When we receive eternal life provided by the resurrection it is the Lord's very Life we receive which is ETERNAL, we can never loose it and the reason for it is because he took care of the death issue which would be the result to us every time we sin. He paid the price death for all, and gave His life to all who believe so they would never have to worry about that issue again, death. It truly is a dead issue. We no longer have to be occupied with sin; we can now focus on LIFE and that is Eternal Life provided in and through Our Lord. We now have a relationship.

We can now live out of the grace of God that will motivate every true believer to come to know the one whom paid the price and who is now willing to take up residence in the same, thus bringing about a personal relationship that will result in new LIFE. What an awesome God! He really has taken care of it all. Death and Life all we have to do is trust Him and rest from our works, from confession, to beating ourselves up. He loves and accepts because of His nature not because of what we do. Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

We know we have ETERNAL LIFE...because we have received ETERNAL FORGIVENESS

~Daily Inspirational~ ~THE BIBLE A CONFUSING BOOK?~ June 13, 2005


~THE BIBLE A CONFUSING BOOK?~

We ran across an article recently, entitled: "Yes, the Bible is a Confusing Book."

The article did not even attempt to dispel this "confusion," or in any way help its readers to understand the Bible. It did not suggest even one basic rule of interpretation. Nor did it explain why the Lord Jesus Christ and the apostles constantly exhorted men to study the Bible. The Bible is indeed a very large Book, so that the greatest of us will never understand it all. Moreover, it is God’s Book and must necessarily contain much that is "hard to understand." But this makes it the greater challenge to the believing heart to seek divine aid in exploring its depths and the greater joy when precious stones are brought up
from this exhaustless mine.

God does not reward lazy and indifferent Christians with light from His Word, but confusion invariably vanishes as we prayerfully obey His command:

"Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH" (II Tim. 2:15).

In studying the Bible there are basic distinctions to be observed; e.g., between the twelve apostles and Paul, the apostle for this age; between the "gospel of the kingdom" and the gospel for our day: the "gospel of the grace of God," etc., but meantime there are many passages of Scripture so plain and simple that a child can understand them and no theologian can explain them away. For example, in John 3:35,36, we read:

"The Father loveth the Son, and HATH GIVEN ALL THINGS INTO HIS HAND.

"HE THAT BELIEVETH ON THE SON hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him."

At the other end from the spiritual poverty experienced by those who deem the Bible "a confusing Book," we have what St. Paul, by divine inspiration, calls "all [the] riches of the full assurance of understanding" (Col. 2:2).

By C. R. Stam

~Daily Inspirational~ ~INEXCUSABLE~ June 14, 2005


~INEXCUSABLE~

The second chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Romans is a dark, sad passage, but it opens the door to the richest blessing the human heart can contain: salvation by grace.

The opening words: "Therefore thou art inexcusable," are blunt indeed, but God exposes our sinful condition only so as to save us from it.

This is where most philosophies and the Bible clash head on. Most philosophies close their eyes to the sinful nature of man. They argue, generally, that man is inherently good, while overwhelming evidence bears witness that he is inherently bad. Therefore human philosophy offers no salvation from sin and its just penalty. Only the Bible does this with its "gospel [good news] of the grace of God."

In Paul’s day the Greek philosophers condemned the uncivilized pagans for their open immorality and wickedness. But while preaching virtue these moralizers themselves practiced vice, and God said: "Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things" (Rom. 2:1).

It is the same today. Multitudes of self-righteous people are outwardly cultured and moral, but they forget that God looks upon the heart and sees hate as murder, jealousy as theft and the lustful look as adultery. He considers, not  what we do, outwardly, but what we desire to do or wish we dared to do. He sees the desires and motives of the heart.

But thank God, "Christ died for sinners" -- guilty sinners, and all who come to God by faith in Christ are "justified freely by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 3:24). "Inexcusable," or "justified freely by His grace," through faith in the Christ who died for our sins? Which will it be?

By C. R. Stam