|
21
on: June 22, 2018, 05:28:05 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
"Looking unto Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2
Only three words, but in these three words is the whole secret of spiritual life.
Look unto Jesus in the Scriptures—to learn there . . .
what He is,
what He has done,
what He gives,
what He desires.
Looking unto Jesus in the Scriptures, we find . . .
in His character, our pattern;
in His teachings, our instruction;
in His precepts, our law;
in His promises, our support;
in His person and in His work, a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.
"You study the scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same scriptures that testify about Me!" John 5:39
Looking unto Jesus, crucified—to find in His shed blood our ransom, our pardon, our peace.
Looking unto Jesus, risen—to find in Him the righteousness which alone makes us righteous, and permits us, all unworthy as we are, to draw near with boldness, in His Name, to Him Who is His Father and our Father, His God and our God.
Looking unto Jesus, glorified—to find in Him our Heavenly Advocate completing by His intercession—the work inspired by His loving-kindness for our salvation (1 John 2:1); Who even now is appearing for us before the face of God (Hebrews 9:24), the kingly Priest, the spotless Victim, continually bearing the iniquity of our holy things (Exodus 28:38.).
Looking unto Jesus, revealed by the Holy Spirit—to find in constant communion with Him—the cleansing of our sin-stained hearts, the illumination of our darkened spirits, the transformation of our rebel wills; enabled by Him to triumph over all attacks of the world and of the evil one, resisting their violence by Jesus our Strength, and overcoming their subtlety by Jesus our Wisdom; upheld by the sympathy of Jesus, Who was spared no temptation, and by the help of Jesus, Who yielded to none.
Looking unto Jesus—Who gives repentance as well as forgiveness of sins (Acts 5:31) because He gives us the grace to recognize, to lament, to confess, and to forsake our transgressions.
Looking unto Jesus—to receive from Him the task and the cross for each day, with the grace which is sufficient to carry the cross and to accomplish the task; the grace that enables us to be patient with His patience, active with His activity, loving with His love; never asking "What am I able for?" but rather: "What is He not able for?" and waiting for His strength which is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Looking unto Jesus—to go forth from ourselves and to forget ourselves—so that our darkness may flee away before the brightness of His face; so that our joys may be holy, and our sorrow restrained; that He may cast us down, and that He may raise us up; that He may afflict us, and that He may comfort us; that He may despoil us, and that He may enrich us; that He may teach us to pray, and that He may answer our prayers; that while leaving us in the world, He may separate us from it, our life being hidden with Him in God, and our behavior bearing witness to Him before men.
Looking unto Jesus—Who, having returned to the Father's house, is engaged in preparing a place there for us; so that this joyful prospect may make us live in hope, and prepare us to die in peace, when the day shall come for us to meet this last enemy, whom He has overcome for us, whom we shall overcome through Him—so that what was once the king of terrors is today the harbinger of eternal happiness!
Looking unto Jesus—Whose certain return, at an uncertain time, is from age to age the expectation and the hope of the faithful Church, who is encouraged in her patience, watchfulness and joy by the thought that the Savior is at hand (Philippians 4:4-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Looking unto Jesus—"The Author and the Finisher of our faith." That is to say—He Who is its pattern and its source, even as He is its object; and Who from the first step even to the last, marches at the head of the believers; so that by Him our faith may be inspired, encouraged, sustained, and led on to its supreme consummation (Hebrews 12:2).
Looking unto Jesus—and at nothing else, as our text at the same time directs us to fix our gaze upon Him, and to turn it away from everything else.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at ourselves, our thoughts, our reasonings, our imaginings, our inclinations, our wishes, our plans.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at the world, its customs, its example, its rules, its judgments.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at Satan, though he seeks to terrify us by his fury, or to entice us by his flatteries. Oh! from how many useless questions we would save ourselves, from how many disturbing scruples, from how much loss of time, dangerous dallyings with evil, waste of energy, empty dreams, bitter disappointments, sorrowful struggles, and distressing falls—by looking steadily unto Jesus, and by following Him wherever He may lead us. Then we shall be too much occupied with not losing sight of the path which He marks out for us, to waste even a glance on those paths in which He does not think it suitable to lead us.
Looking unto Jesus—and not at our creeds, no matter how evangelical they may be. The faith which saves, which sanctifies, and which comforts, is not giving assent to the doctrine of salvation—it is being united to the person of the Savior. "It is not enough," said one, "to know about Jesus Christ—it is necessary to have Jesus Christ." No one truly knows Him, if he does not first possess Him. According to the profound saying of the beloved disciple, it is in the Life there is Light, and it is in Jesus there is Life (John 1:4).
Looking unto Jesus—and not at our meditations and our prayers, our pious conversations and our profitable reading, the holy meetings that we attend, nor even to our taking part in the supper of the Lord. Let us faithfully use all these means of grace, but without confusing them with grace itself; and without turning our gaze away from Him Who alone makes them effectual, when, by their means, He reveals Himself to us.
Looking unto Jesus—and not to our position in the Christian Church, to the family to which we belong, to our baptism, to the education which we have received, to the doctrine which we profess, to the opinion which others have formed of our piety, or to the opinion which we have formed of it ourselves. Some of those who have prophesied in the Name of the Lord Jesus will one day hear Him say: "I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!" (Matthew 7:22, 23). But He will confess before His Father and before His angels, even the most humble of those who have looked unto Him alone for salvation.
Looking unto Jesus—and not to our brethren, not even to the best among them and the best beloved. In following a man—we run the risk of losing our way. In following Jesus—we are sure of never losing our way. Besides, in putting a man between Jesus and ourselves, it will come to pass that insensibly the man will increase, and Jesus will decrease; and soon we no longer know how to find Jesus when we cannot find the man, and if he fails us, all fails. |
|
|
22
on: June 22, 2018, 05:26:10 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription
For Questions Or Comments: berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________
The Purpose Of The Law
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight…”
(Rom. 3:20).
It is strange that so many sincere people can so misunderstand God’s written Word as to suppose that He gave the Law “to help us to be good” or “as a rule of life.” The Law was not given to help us to be good, but rather to show us that we are sinners and need a Savior. Rom. 3:22,23 says that “there is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” How foolish, then, to look to the Law for help. Though the Law provides for just trial it does not help the criminal; it condemns him. Thus the Bible teaches that the Law was given:
“That every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may be brought in guilty before God” (Rom. 3:19).
“For by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).
“The law entered that the offense might abound” (Rom. 5:20).
“That sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful” (Rom. 7:13).
“It was added because of transgressions” (Gal. 3:19).
This leads us to St. Paul’s great conclusion:
“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His sight” (Rom. 3:20).
This makes sense, for doing a few “good” things cannot right the wrongs we have done. Good is what we should do, hence we should not expect to be rewarded for it.
But, thank God, “Christ died for our sins” (I Cor. 15:3) and “by Him all who believe are justified” (Acts 13:39).
“Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law” (Rom. 3:28.).
“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31). |
|
|
23
on: June 22, 2018, 05:25:01 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription
For Questions Or Comments: berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________
Open Doors
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam
“I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” (Rev. 3:8.).
This prophecy concerning the church at Philadelphia doubtless looks forward to a future day, but who can deny that it contains a lesson for our day?
When, in our walk through life, God sets before us open doors of opportunity, He clearly intends us to enter them. The only way to avoid entering an open door set before us would be to deliberately sidestep the opportunity. Alas, how prone we are to do this! Indeed, we often pray God for open doors when He has already set them before us and all about us.
Examine the record of Paul’s ministry and see how he thanked God for open doors (Acts 14:27; I Cor. 16:9), grasping such opportunities as God set before him on every hand. He did not pull strings or ask his friends to use their influence to gain more comfortable or better-paying positions. He faithfully entered whatever doors God set before him. His best known requests for prayer for open doors came from Rome, where a prison door had closed behind him. Should not this put us to shame!
May God convict us of the inconsistency of praying for open doors while failing to enter the many open doors He has set before us! May He forgive us for ever being selective about working for Him! May He give us the grace to take advantage of whatever opportunities present themselves to us, “buying up the time because the days are evil.” |
|
|
24
on: June 22, 2018, 05:23:59 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
_______________________________________________
Two Minutes With The Bible
From The Berean Bible Society
Free Email Subscription
For Questions Or Comments: berean@execpc.com
_______________________________________________
Is Paul Addressing Believers or Unbelievers?
by Pastor Paul M. Sadler
“I’m confused! In Philippians 3:17-20, is Paul addressing believers or unbelievers?”
“17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example.
“18 (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:
“19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things)
“20 For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven….”
Paul is addressing both groups! In verse 17 the apostle begins by encouraging those at Philippi who were saved to follow his teachings and manner of life. Notice, however, that he digresses in verses 18 and 19 to add a parenthetical thought. The reason the apostle pauses momentarily here is to point out that there were many who claimed to be Christians, probably for some type of personal gain, but he clearly exposes them to be enemies of the Cross of Christ. They lived to satisfy the desires of the flesh. Their god was food, and drink, and sex, as they gloried in their shame. They were consumed with earthly possessions, which blinded them to their need of the Savior. As a result, their “end is destruction!” Surely this could not be said of the believer. After Paul completes the parenthesis, he resumes with his initial train of thought, confirming our heavenly hope with the saints at Philippi, “For our citizenship is in heaven….” |
|
|
25
on: June 22, 2018, 05:21:25 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
http://www.gracegems.org/19/literature.htm
___________________________________________ There is no sweeter pillow than providence!
(Charles Spurgeon, "Israel at the Red Sea")
How sweet is providence to a child of God, when he can reflect upon it!
He can look out into this world, and say, "However great my troubles, they are not so great as my Father's power. However difficult may be my circumstances, yet all things are working together for my good."
He who holds up yonder unpillared arch of the starry heavens--can also support my soul without a single apparent prop.
He who guides the stars in the well-ordered courses, even when they seem to move in hazy dances--surely He can overrule my trials in such a way that out of confusion He will bring order; and from seeming evil, produce lasting good.
He who bridles the storm, and puts the bit in the mouth of the tempest--surely He can restrain my trial, and keep my sorrows in subjection.
I need not fear . . .
while the lightnings are in His hands,
and the thunders sleep within His lips;
while the oceans gurgle from His fist,
and the clouds are in the hollow of His hands;
while the rivers are turned by His foot,
and while He digs the channels of the sea.
Surely, He whose might gives wings to the angels, can furnish a worm with strength.
Surely, He who guides a cherub, will not be overcome by the trials of a speck like myself.
He who makes the most ponderous orb roll in dignity, and keeps its predestined orbit--can make a little atom like myself move in my proper course, and conduct me as He pleases.
Christian! there is no sweeter pillow than providence! And when providence seems adverse, believe it still, and lay it under your head. For depend upon it--there is comfort in its bosom.
There is hope for you, child of God! The great trouble which is to come in your way in your pilgrimage, is planned by divine love--the same love which shall interpose as your protector. |
|
|
26
on: June 22, 2018, 05:20:17 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
http://www.gracegems.org/19/literature.htm
___________________________________________ Should it be according to your mind?
(James Smith, "Important Questions!" 1858.)
"Should it be according to your mind?" Job 34:33
We are prone to be fretful, to complain of the dispensations of Divine Providence, and to reflect harshly upon the Lord's dealings with us.
We want our own way.
We wish to carve for ourselves.
We would be treated as God's favorites.
We want our ease, and prosperity, and pleasure, consulted in all things. And if this does not appear to be done--if our wills are crossed, if our schemes are frustrated, if our purposes are broken off--then we stumble, think ourselves badly treated, and look for everybody to sympathize with us.
Under these circumstances, God comes to us--as we sit among our broken cisterns, surrounded by our dethroned idols--and puts this question to us: "Should it be according to your mind?"
Are you wiser than God?
Are you kinder than God?
Are you holier than God?
Are you more just than God?
Are you better informed than God?
May not your mind be dark, or selfish, or foolish?
Should it then be according to your mind?
Should you reign--or God?
Remember that . . .
God acts in the highest wisdom,
His motives are grace and justice,
and all His purposes are worthy of Himself.
The least the Christian can do is to submit--and to prefer God's perfect wisdom, ways, and works--to his own. Seeing God has so arranged all events, that all things must work together for the good of His people--they, at least, should daily say, "Father, may Your will be done!"
O my soul, seek grace from God, not only to submit and be resigned to the dispensations of Divine Providence--but to acquiesce in them, and be pleased with the whole of them! Your good is consulted--your best interests are secured. Soon, very soon, it will be seen that infinite wisdom and mercy, grace and goodness, have marked out every step of your road!
"Jesus replied: You do not understand what I am now doing--but someday you will." John 13:7 |
|
|
27
on: June 22, 2018, 05:19:06 PM
|
|
Started by nChrist - Last post by nChrist
|
__________________________________________
From Grace Gems:
Very Old - But Beautiful and Timeless Treasures.
Everything is FREE and Public Domain.
http://www.gracegems.org/19/literature.htm
___________________________________________ Look unto Jesus in the Scriptures
(Theodore Monod, "Looking Unto Jesus!" 1874)
"Looking unto Jesus!" Hebrews 12:2
Only three words, but in these three words is the whole secret of spiritual life.
Look unto Jesus in the Scriptures, to learn there . . .
who He is,
what He has done,
what He gives,
what He desires.
Looking unto Jesus in the Scriptures, we find . . .
in His character--our pattern;
in His teachings--our instruction;
in His precepts--our law;
in His promises--our support;
in His person and in His work--a full satisfaction provided for every need of our souls.
"You study the Scriptures thoroughly because you think in them you possess eternal life, and it is these same Scriptures that testify about Me!" John 5:39
Oh! the bitter pain and sorrow,
That a time could ever be,
When I proudly said to Jesus,
"All for self--and none for Thee!"
Yet He found me; I beheld Him,
Bleeding on the accursed tree;
And my wistful heart said faintly,
"Some for self--and some for Thee."
Day by day His tender mercy,
Healing, helping, full and free,
Brought me lower, while I whispered,
"Less for self--and more for Thee."
Higher than the highest heavens,
Deeper than the deepest sea;
Lord, Thy love at last has conquered,
"None for self--and all for Thee!" |
|
|
28
on: June 22, 2018, 09:17:36 AM
|
|
Started by Soldier4Christ - Last post by Soldier4Christ
|
|
In a Moment
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)
This is one of the greatest promises in the Bible, assuring us that “we” (i.e., all believers, whether dead or living when Christ returns) shall suddenly be changed, with our dead or dying bodies instantly transformed into incorruptible, immortal bodies, which can never die again.
This great change, when it finally occurs, will take place “in a moment.” The Greek here is en atomo, “in an atom of time.” This word, implying the smallest entity conceivable by the Greeks, is used only this one time in the New Testament. It is further described by “the twinkling of an eye,” where “twinkling” is the Greek rhipe, also used only this once. Evidently there is nothing else in this present world comparable in rapidity to this miraculous change that will be called forth when “the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).
The great shout (probably uttered by Christ Himself as at the tomb of Lazarus) will instantly create new bodies for both dead and living believers. “The dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
Our new bodies will be like Christ’s resurrection body. He “shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself” (Philippians 3:21).
Christ is able thus to create new bodies for us in a moment, just as when He created all things in the beginning: “He spake, and it was done” (Psalm 33:9). HMM
|
|
|
29
on: June 21, 2018, 08:45:40 AM
|
|
Started by Soldier4Christ - Last post by Soldier4Christ
|
|
He That Is Spiritual
“But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.” (1 Corinthians 2:15)
The word rendered “spiritual” is the Greek word pneumatikos, from which theologians have coined the term “pneumatology,” the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. Thus, a “spiritual” person is one who is not only born again spiritually through faith in Christ and the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, but also tries diligently to follow the leading of the indwelling Spirit and to understand and obey the precepts of the Bible inspired by Him.
A spiritual person will have “the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16), able to judge all things by spiritual standards and biblical revelation. He or she will “walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit,” knowing that “to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Romans 8:4, 6). As such, spiritual believers prayerfully make decisions seeking God’s will; they are “led by the Spirit of God” (Romans 8:14). And since they “walk in the Spirit,” they “shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
They will often and repeatedly be “filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18) for Christian service. Furthermore, they will manifest “the fruit of the Spirit” in their lives and personalities—that is, “love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance” (Galatians 5:22-23).
Yet, while “he that is spiritual” is thereby able to discern and evaluate all things by such divine standards, he will find himself often misunderstood by unsaved relatives and acquaintances, for “the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: . . . because they are spiritually discerned” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Nevertheless, “he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:8). HMM
|
|
|
30
on: June 20, 2018, 09:16:58 AM
|
|
Started by Soldier4Christ - Last post by Soldier4Christ
|
|
Things We Ought to Do
“Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.” (Matthew 23:23)
This sharp rebuke by Jesus to the legalists of His day should also be taken seriously by us today. Although we are saved by grace alone, there are many things we ought to do, not as a matter of credit toward salvation, but as gratitude for our salvation. Surely judgment, mercy, and faithfulness are high on such a list.
Other “oughts” of the born-again Christian life would include the following incomplete listing:
1. Prayer: “Men ought always to pray, and not to faint” (Luke 18:1).
2. Obedience to God as Priority: “We ought to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29).
3. Working and Sharing: “So labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive” (Acts 20:35).
4. Gracious in Speech: “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man” (Colossians 4:6).
5. Walking with God: “As ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1).
6. Heeding God’s Word: “We ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Hebrews 2:1).
7. Sanctified Behavior: “What manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11).
HMM
|
|
|
