Two Minutes With The Bible

[Brother Love]

THE HOLY SPIRIT AND THE BELIEVER TODAY

By Cornelius R. Stam

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 pos-
session of us and cause us to do what is right, but dwells  
within each believer (I Cor. 6:19) to provide needed guid-
ance 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 wheth-
er 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.


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[Brother Love]

GLORIOUS DELIVERANCE

By Cornelius R. Stam

In I Thes. 1:10, the Apostle Paul, by divine inspiration,
assures believers that the Lord Jesus Christ has "delivered
us from the wrath to come." He refers, of course, to deliv-
erance from the penalty of sin. But in other passages he
declares that we are also delivered from the power of sin.
In Col. 1:12,13, for example, he gives thanks to God "Who
hath delivered us from the power of darkness and hath
translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."

This deliverance, and the glory of our heavenly position
and blessings in Christ, we may enjoy experientially now,
by grace. Rom. 6:14 says: "For sin shall not have dominion
over you, for ye are not under the law but under grace." This
does not mean that it is not possible for the believer to sin,
but rather that it is possible, in any situation, not to sin.
Thus the same passage in Romans goes on to say that we
should not yield ourselves as servants to sin, but to God,
who, in grace has broken sin's power over us.

Finally, the believer in Christ will one day be delivered
even from the presence of sin, for at our Lord's coming for us
"we shall all be changed" (I Cor. 15:51). Believers should
long for Christ's coming for them, not merely because these
bodies of humiliation will then be glorified, but because
from that moment on they shall never again be tempted or
defiled by sin. What a change that will be!

In II Cor. 1:10 the Apostle includes all three tenses of the
believer's deliverance. Here he tells how God has "delivered
us from so great a death, and doth deliver, in whom we
trust that He will yet deliver us." This is why he could write
to the Philippians about his confidence that "He who hath
begun a good work in you will perform [complete] it until the
day of Jesus Christ" (Phil. 1:6).

Some may not feel the need of deliverance now, but we all
need deliverance from sin and its results. If you have not
yet experienced this deliverance, why not place your trust
in Christ who died to "deliver us from the wrath to come."


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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

Mailing Address:
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[Brother Love]

ONE IS ENOUGH


By Cornelius R. Stam


As a young man appeared in court, the judge thundered
at him: "What’s the reason your father is not here? He
should have been here two weeks ago."

The young man responded: "Your honor, there are seven-
teen reasons why my father is not here."

"What are they?" roared the judge.

The lad replied: "The first is that my father died a little
more than two weeks ago."

"Well," conceded the judge, "I don’t think we’ll need to
hear the other sixteen reasons!"

This brief interchange may well illustrate a principle
involving the twelve apostles and Paul.

There has been much debate over whether or not Paul
was God’s choice for Judas’ place as one of the twelve. Many
hold that the eleven acted in the flesh and were out of the
will of God in appointing Matthias as one of their number
to replace Judas. Paul, they say, was obviously God’s choice
for this position. But many unanswerable arguments have
been advanced from Scripture to prove that this is not so
and that, indeed, Paul could not have qualified as one of the
twelve.

Some of these arguments are: The twelfth apostle had to
be chosen before the kingdom could be offered at Pentecost;
the eleven acted only after many days of united prayer; the
candidate had to be one who had followed with Christ all
through His earthly ministry (Matt. 19:28); Paul did not
even see Christ until after His ascension; he was not even
saved at the time; he persecuted the (Pentecostal) Church
and laid it waste considerably after the choice of Judas’
successor had become necessary. Finally, Acts 1:26 says
that Matthias "was numbered with the eleven," and Acts
2:4 adds: "They were all filled with the Holy Ghost."

Any one of the above arguments would suffice to vindi-
cate the action of the eleven and silence their critics. But
this is particularly so of the last one. What further discus-
sion need there be when God’s Word says that Matthias
"was numbered with the eleven... and they were all filled
with the Holy Ghost"?


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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

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[Brother Love]

DOES MISERY LOVE COMPANY?

By Cornelius R. Stam

We have all heard the statement: "Misery loves com-
pany."  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 com-
pany," in speaking lightly of hell.  Perhaps you have heard
someone say:  "Well, if I go to hell, at least Ill have lots of
company."  This is true, but the company the lost will have
when cast out of Gods 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 mans table."

In the process of time both died, and the rich man, having
felt no need of salvation, suddenly was made to experience
Gods 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 Abra-
ham "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 Gods presence, then, does not "love company."

The story is brought to a close as Abraham refuses the
rich mans 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 be-
lieve 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.  Dont 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).


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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

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[Saved_4ever]

"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.

Hmmm I've never thought that's what the saying meant at all.  Nor anyone else I have talked to.  I thought that statment meant that when someone is "miserable" they want everyone else to be miserable with them.  That's what I and everyone I've talked to has taken it to mean.  

I suppose it could mean more though?  Oh and BTW every miserable person I've known wants everyone else to be there right with them.

[Brother Love]

"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.

Hmmm I've never thought that's what the saying meant at all.  Nor anyone else I have talked to.  I thought that statment meant that when someone is "miserable" they want everyone else to be miserable with them.  That's what I and everyone I've talked to has taken it to mean.  

I suppose it could mean more though?  Oh and BTW every miserable person I've known wants everyone else to be there right with them.

Welcome back Bro


 

[Brother Love]

HEALING, THEN AND NOW

By Cornelius R. Stam

"And there came a leper to Him, beseeching Him, and kneeling down to Him, and saying unto Him, If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean"(Mark 1:40).

It is interesting to observe exactly what the leper did and
did not say to our Lord in the above passage. He did not
say: "If You could, You would," even though more and
greater miracles would unquestionably have enhanced our
Lords fame. He rather said: "If You will, You can" - "If
Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean."
       
The people of our Lords day did not question the gen-
uineness of His miracles. No one suggested that the in-
firmities He dealt with might be psychosomatic in nature,
that they were probably either real healings of imaginary
infirmities or imaginary healings of real infirmities. They
could not raise these objections, for the evidences of the
supernatural character of His healings were too over-
whelming to admit of this. Everywhere He went healing
the sick or casting out demons, the people "wondered and
were amazed," and spread "His fame" abroad from city to
city. At Capernaum:

"All they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto Him, and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them" (Luke 4:40).
       
How different it is with the "healers" of our day and with
their claims! Entirely apart from the objections of those
who question these "healings" on Scriptural grounds, it is a
simple fact that great numbers of people among the general
populace question the validity of both the "healers" and
their "healing miracles."

Meantime, as one has said, the death rate remains "one
apiece." There always comes that last time, when the "heal-
ing" doesnt work and the patient dies. This is why all mod-
ern "healers" leave behind them a long, sad trail of disil-
lusionment and shaken faith.


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Two Minutes With The Bible By Pastor Stam

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P.O. Box 756
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[Brother Love]

DON’T TELL HIM A THING

By Cornelius R. Stam

Many years ago the writer’s father, then a city mission-
ary, received a telephone call from a prominent liberal
clergyman.

"Peter," said the clergyman, "I’ve got a young man here in
the outer office who seems to be in great distress. He says
he feels he’s so great a sinner that he’s overstepped the line
and God won’t forgive him. Now you’ve had a lot of ex-
perience with such people. What shall I tell him?" The
clergyman didn’t even know how to help a troubled soul.

"Don’t tell him a thing; I’ll be right over ," said dad, and
he left immediately to deal with the young man himself.

Dad knew very well what was the matter with this young
lad. The Holy Spirit had convicted him of his sin (John
16:. The lad had come to see himself as he really was -- as
God saw him, and sees any unsaved person, no matter how
religious.

No person ever comes to see his need of a Savior until he
has first come to see himself as a condemned sinner before
God. And it is only when we come to see ourselves as we
are in the sight of a holy God that there is hope of salva-
tion.

The self-righteous do not see their need of a Savior. What
would He save them from? What have they done that is so
wrong? This is the way their reasoning goes.

It is only when we begin to appreciate the holiness and
righteousness of God that it dawns upon us that our condi-
tion is hopeless without a Savior.

Strange, is it not, that so many people have pictures
hanging on their walls of our Lord crowned with thorns or
hanging on a cross, yet do not really know Him as a Savior,
their own Savior.

But when we have been convicted of our sin and our
hopeless condition before God, we are ready to take in the
words spoken by Paul to the trembling jailor at Philippi:
"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved"
(Acts 16:31).


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[Brother Love]

THE SON OF A VIRGIN


By Cornelius R. Stam

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child" (Matt. 1:23).

Mary was highly honored that she should be chosen to be
the virgin mother of Messiah. This was a distinction for
which every Jewish woman had hoped and prayed.

But -- now that she had heard the glad news from the
angel Gabriel, she was to find herself in the most embar-
rassing position of an unmarried maiden with child. Little
wonder that Mary hastened to the hill country to visit Elis-
abeth, the mother-to-be of miraculously-born John, later
called John the Baptist. Who, in such a case, would better
understand, or be better fitted to give sympathetic advice to
Mary?

Mary remained with Elisabeth for about three months, or
until the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:36,56), but now
the real test lay ahead, for she must return to her home in
Nazareth to face her relatives and acquaintances -- and
Joseph, her lover. What would they say? And above all,
what would he say? How could they be expected to believe
her story? An angel had appeared to her, indeed!

In the record of Joseph’s reactions we are given light as to
the extreme embarrassment in which Mary now found her-
self. Consider Joseph’s position. Mary was his "espoused
wife." Why had she gone away -- and stayed so long? And
now, what is this? She is found with child -- not by him. Her
explanation, if indeed she offered it to him, must have
seemed most unsatisfactory. He could have charged her
with adultery and had her stoned, but "being a just [Lit.,
"fair-minded"] man" he "was minded to put her away priv-
ily" (Matt. 1:19).

But "while he thought on these things," with a heavy
heart, "the angel of the Lord appeared unto him" and Jo-
seph learned the truth; that she was indeed to be the hon-
ored mother of the Messiah of Israel, the Redeemer of sin-
ners.

It was because our Lord was the Son of God, born into the
world by a virgin and not partaking of Adam’s sinful na-
ture, that He could go to Calvary and pay the full penalty
for our sins. He "suffered for sins, the Just for the unjust,
that He might bring us to God" (I Pet. 3:18).


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[Brother Love]

The Teaching of Self-Esteem

By Paul M. Sadler, President

Scripture Reading:
"Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince [refute] the gainsayers."
-- Titus 1:9

Satan never rests in his insatiable desire to corrupt the Word of God.  A case in point is the present-day teaching of self-love, self-esteem and self-worth.  The influence of this unsound doctrine has nearly permeated every strata of Christendom, including the Grace Movement.  Like the beat of a drum, this theme is heard almost constantly from the pulpits of America and frequently appears on the pages of Christian literature.  Beware when you hear or read: "It is important to feel good about yourself," "Learn to love yourself," "Probe your innermost self to understand why you think and feel as you do," "God sent His son to die for you because you are of great value."

On the surface these phrases may seem commendable, but in reality they are diametrically opposed to the Scriptures.  The above has been weighed in the balance and found to be wanting.  For example: "The heart [innermost self] is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?" (Jer. 17:9).  Paul concurred when he said, "For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh, [old nature or self]) dwelleth no good thing" (Rom. 7:18).  The old man (self) is at enmity against God.  He hates God and the things of God and left to himself he will not seek God.  The Scriptures, from beginning to end, speak with a unified voice that the old nature is rotten to the core (See Rom. 3:9-18).

Consequently, our old man (self) has been crucified with Christ.  Paul made reference to this when he wrote to the Galatians, "I am crucified with Christ [i.e. his old man]: nevertheless I live [Paul's new nature]; yet NOT I [self], but Christ liveth in me."  We are to put off the old nature and put on the new, which is created in holiness and righteousness (Eph. 4:22-24).  It is futile to improve one's self-image, especially since God abhors any attempt to do so.  Rather, we are to conform ourselves to the image of His dear Son.  Thus, those of the household of faith are to live accordingly:

"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let us esteem other better than themselves.  Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.  Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:3-5).

Self takes great pleasure in acclaim, indulgence, approval and praise.  It glories in all these things.  But are we not robbing God when self is esteemed more highly than His glory?  "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which ye have of God, AND YE ARE NOT YOUR OWN?  For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Cor. 6:19,20).

Shall we permit the "love of one's self" doctrine to overshadow the love of God in Christ Jesus?  God forbid!  May God help us to stand against this insidious teaching that essentially robs God of the glory that is rightfully due Him.

[Brother Love]

A JEALOUS GOD


By Cornelius R. Stam

We heartily thank God for every politician, athlete, actor
or even criminal who comes to know Christ as Savior.  But
conversion alone does not qualify one for a place of prom-
inence in Christian service.  This, especially in Pauls epis-
tles, is reserved for mature believers, wholly separated to
God and established in the truth (See especially II Tim.
2:21).

When hearts beat faster  because of the presence of some
glamorous personality on the Christian platform; when
such personalities receive adulation which belongs rather
to the Christ who died for them, God is dishonored and
displeased.

True, the motive in procuring such "crowd-getters" may
have been to reach greater numbers for Christ, just as some
of our spiritual leaders become yoked together with apos-
tate unbelievers in evangelistic endeavors in order to reach
souls for Christ, but the end does not justify the means.  It
is never right to do wrong to accomplish some good end.

Have we forgotten that Gods Word says: "I the Lord thy
God am a jealous God" (Ex 20:5) and "I will not give My  
glory unto another" (Isa 48:11)?  True we quote here from
the Ten Commandments, but remember, Paul in his epis-
tles quotes all the Ten Commandments except one (re the
sabbath).  The covenant of the Law has been done away but
not the moral law itself, and God is the only Being who has
legitimate and urgent reason to be jealous of His glory.  
Christian leaders are playing a dangerous game when they
give glory due to God alone to prominent personalities so as
to swell their audiences.

It is time for the Church to realize that salvation is the
work of God and that true and lasting results will follow
only when we conduct His work in His way.


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[Brother Love]

"THE DISPENSATION OF THE GRACE OF GOD"

By Russell S. Miller

"For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:"How that by revelation He made known unto me the Mystery..." (Eph.3:1-3).

While it is blessedly true that only God’s grace could "cover" the nakedness of Adam and Eve (Gen.3:21), "find" Noah (Gen.6:, "count" Abraham "righteous" (Rom. 4:3), and "bless" David (Rom. 4:6), it is equally true that not one of these Old Testament saints lived in "the dispensation of the grace of God" (Eph.3:1-3).

Our opponents have failed to comprehend that works in addition to God’s grace were required in the Old Testament. Under the Mosaic system, the sacrificial lamb was required to make "atonement" for their souls (Lev.17:11). After the crucifixion of Christ, at
Pentecost, when Peter called upon his nation to repent, works were still required "for the remission of sins". Read it for yourself in Acts 2:38.

In Galatians 3:23-25, we learn why! "Faith" had not yet "come"; they
were still under a "schoolmaster", because the dispensation of the grace of God had not yet been given.

Not until Paul do we find faith alone, apart from works, as the sole requirement for salvation today. Redemption was, of course, purchased with the shed blood of our Lord Jesus Christ on Calvary’s cross, but the revelation of the all sufficiency of Christ’s sacrifice and finished work is made known through Paul alone. This is why Paul is the first to declare what was actually accomplished on our behalf by Jesus Christ at Calvary:

"Being justified FREELY BY HIS GRACE through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: "Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS that are past, through the forbearance of God; "To declare, I say, AT THIS TIME His righteousness: that He might be just, and the Justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom.3:24-26).

Thus, the "revelation" of Jesus Christ to Paul explains how God could "forbear" with man’s rebellion and sin in Old Testament times. He had a far better Sacrifice in mind all the while:

"For by one offering [Jesus Christ] hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14).

"IN WHOM WE HAVE REDEMPTION THROUGH HIS BLOOD, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE" (Eph.1:7).

"BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED..." (Acts 16:31).

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[Shammu]

BUMP

[Brother Love]

FACING UP TO FACTS

By Cornelius R. Stam

Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Chapters 1 and 2, present a
dark picture of the human race, but acknowledge the facts
they record and you have taken the first step to salvation.
By nature we shrink from facing up to our sins, but we are
better off if we do.
         
If a man has early indications of cancer, and his physi-
cian keeps the truth from him, the patient will die of can-
cer. A good and wise physician will say: "You have cancer
and we should do something about it without delay."
         
Thus God, in His Word, tells us frankly about our sinful
condition, but only to save us from it.
         
This is where most philosophies and the Bible clash head
on. Most philosophies close their eyes to man’s sinful na-
ture. They presume that man is good by nature, when over-
whelming evidence bears witness that he is sinful by na-
ture. Thus human philosophies offer no salvation from sin
and its just penalty. Only "the gospel of the grace of God"
does that.
         
The Bible says of the whole human race: "All have sin-
ned" (Rom. 3:23), and to each individual: "Thou art inex-
cusable" (Rom. 2:1). But the same Bible says: "Christ died
for our sins" (I Cor. 15:3), and "We have redemption through
His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of
His grace" (Eph. 1:7).
         
Trust in Christ for salvation and you will have accepted
God’s great message to the world. Then, as you consider
that great Book, the Bible, you will say with Fawcett:
         
                      "It shows to man his wand’ring ways
                           And where his feet have trod;
                       But brings to view the matchless grace
                                Of a forgiving God."


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[Brother Love]

OUR WEAKNESS AND GOD’S POWER

By Cornelius R. Stam

When our Lord was on earth He healed great numbers of
sick and diseased people. The believers at Pentecost also
healed many in the name of Jesus, offering to Israel His
return from heaven upon condition of their repentance
(Acts 3:19-21).

All those who were healed, however, finally succumbed to
physical infirmity or disease again and died after all. This
was because the Lord Jesus was rejected as King, not only
in His incarnation but also in His resurrection. Rom.
8:22,23 declares the result as we see it in our own day:

"...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 [that is], the redemption of our body."

But Christians in "this present evil age" often need phys-
ical infirmity to draw them closer to God in prayer and
faith. Paul himself said:

"...there was given to me a thorn in the flesh... lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And He said unto me: My grace is sufficient for thee, for My strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:7-9).

The Apostle’s response to this shows how well he under-
stood that suffering and weakness are an important part of
Christian discipline.

"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me... I take pleasure in infirmities...for when I am weak, then am I strong" (II Cor. 12:9,10).

"For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish,yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a for more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (II Cor. 4:16,17).


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