GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

Distressing Times
by Steve McVey

I remember a few years ago standing on the border at the DMZ between South and North Korea. At the time, it was said that the most tense environment on the planet was that very spot. Signs warned us to stay in our car because landmines were sprinkled all along the side of the road driving toward the border. Soldiers stood there on the borderline at rapt attention, staring each other down with hatred in their eyes.

In some ways, I feel like the whole globe senses that kind of tension these days. The antagonism that exists between nations of the world and the growing ability for global destruction through nuclear power looms over us. The worldwide economic crisis has already impacted almost every one of us. Chances are very likely that if you aren't losing your job or your house, you know somebody who is. I don't remember a period in my lifetime when the world seemed more volatile. If you are confident about what the world will look like in five years, you're way out ahead of me because I can't begin to imagine.

What is the answer during these distressing times? It all comes back down to the foundational truth in the first four words of the Bible. "In the beginning God" says Genesis 1:1. The word "God" in the verse is the Hebrew name Elohiym. The word is plural and means, "rulers, judges, divine ones." The word points to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

During these difficult days, remember that there is an Eternal Godhead who has joined Himself to us to guide us through the challenging affairs of this world. All of my life I've heard preachers tell how things would get worse before the end and now that things are getting much worse, many of these same Christians act horrified by world events, as if they can't understand what is happening or why it is happening.

The answer is clear: It is happening because our Sovereign God is working out all things to complete His unfolding plan for the ages. There is a God who oversees every detail of this world. Things don't randomly happen. The same God who was "in the beginning" is the Ever-Present Ruler of all things even now. He is the Alpha (the beginning) and the Omega (the end) and everything in between.

It's normal to feel pain and express grief in distressing times, but in the midst of our feelings we can hold onto our God by faith. Not only does He have global events under control, but He also has the details of your life under control. Your job; your mortgage; your retirement account; your health; your future is all in His control. So trust Him even though you can't see what's ahead.

In the beginning, God. In the end, God. In the meantime, God. If our God is loving as we have always professed Him to be (and He is) and if He is all-powerful as we have always professed Him to be (and He is), then we can cling to Him now, knowing that whatever might happen in our world, our country, our family, or our individual life is okay. Not a sparrow falls to the ground without His supervision. So you can be sure that you have nothing to fear.

Feelings rise and fall, based on external stimuli. Faith remains steadfast, based on the eternal goodness of power of the One who holds us in His hand. So, when you're scared, look to Him. When you're confused, look to Him. When life makes no sense and you don't know what to do, look to Him. He will see us through.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE FIRST CAUSE
By Miles Stanford



"A man's goings are established of Jehovah; and he delighteth in His way" (Psalms 37:23, ASV).

Throughout time and eternity the God of circumstances has every situation planned for our good, and for His glory (Romans 8 :28, 29). That is all that should matter to us. "Surely the wrath of man shall praise Thee." "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God" (Psalms 76:10; II Corinthians 4:15).

"What the other person said or did to you was undoubtedly wrong and cannot be justified. Nor did he do it at God's direction; but God permitted him to do it for some wise reason which will yet prove to have been abundantly worthwhile for you. By the time that action reached you it had become the will of God for you, since to a yielded believer there are no second causes.

"He believes the Psalmist's declaration that every step of his life's pathway has been ordered by the Lord. No trial or affliction can reach you who are abiding in Him, without His permission. You can, therefore, be confident in every circumstance of life, however baffling, that it has been permitted in your own best interest by the wisest and most loving of fathers, who knows our 'load-limit' (I Corinthians 10:13)."-0.S.

"All that we pass through is that we may get a fresh view of the Lord Jesus, or a deepening of a former one; but often we are so occupied with ourselves and the circumstances, that we fail to 'behold the glory of the Lord.' " - C.T.

"If the external plannings of men or Satan further God's plans, they succeed; if not, they come to nothing," - J.N.D.

"Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholdeth him with His hand" (Psalms 37:24).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

Are you a Sinner or a Saint?
By Andy Knight


Are you a sinner? I didn't ask if you sinned. I asked if you were a sinner. What's the difference?

"Sinner" is a noun. It's a label. It's an identity. It's something you are. "Sinned" is a verb. It's an action. It's a behavior. It's something you do. Am I just splitting hairs? Why does it matter?

If you've never come to a point in your life when you believed that Jesus Christ is God, that he died on the cross, and rose again, and if you've never trusted in that faith as your salvation, then the answer is yes. You are a sinner. However, if you have believed and trusted in Christ, then please understand that the Bible no longer refers to you as a sinner. It refers to you as a saint. Say to yourself, "I am Saint ________!" (And fill in the blank with your name.)

If you haven’t figured it out, people live according to the way they see themselves. If they see themselves as a lousy rotten sinner, unacceptable to God, that’s exactly how they will live. On the other hand, if they see themselves as having a righteous, holy heart that longs to trust God, then that’s exactly how they will live.

And that changes everything! When I understood this, the Christian life began to make more sense. I understood my new identity. It's not that I didn't sin, but the reason I felt miserable after I sinned was because I was acting like someone I wasn’t.

As a Christ follower, you are a redeemed, chosen, and holy saint. I may have never met you, but if you're my brother in Christ, I know your heart. You desire to serve Christ not because you have to, but because you understand God's grace and you now want to. ”

As Malcom Smith told the audience last weekend at the AELM conference, "We need to go the mirror and take a jolly good look at ourselves and remember who we are." You're not a sinner. You are a saint. You are His beloved!

By the way, I enjoyed meeting some of you at the conference last weekend in Taccoa, GA, and I'll be writing more about what I learned in the near future.

Grace and Peace, Andy

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

GRACE, AND HOW THIS AFFECTS US
by C. R. Stam

    Ask the average believer what the Bible word "grace" means, and he will doubtless reply, "unmerited favor".

Actually, however, grace is much more than this.

Subjectively, it is that loving attitude, or disposition, on God's part, from which all His kindness toward us flows.

Objectively, it is all the kindness that flows from His love toward us.

Thus we read in Ephesians 2:2-6 that we were "the children of disobedience" and therefore "by nature the children of wrath, even as others".

"But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus."

Note: This passage begins with those who were "children of disobedience" and "children of wrath" and, saving them "by grace," gives them a position in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus!

God's grace to us as sinners was great indeed, for:

"In [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS [God's] GRACE."

But now, having given us a position <>in His beloved Son, God's grace goes out to us in still greater measure.

Ephesians 1:6 declares that God has "made us accepted [Lit., ‘engraced us'] in the Beloved".

Beholding us in Christ, God loves us and delights in us more than any father ever delighted in his son, or any grandfather in that precious grandchild.

Thus, while in Ephesians l:7 we read that we have "redemption...the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace", in Ephesians 2:7 we see these riches of grace increased to us "exceedingly", now that we occupy a position "in the Beloved":

"That in the ages to come He might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACE..."

How?

"...in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus"!

What a prospect! Through the ages of eternity God will lavish His loving kindness upon us to demonstrate to all the universe "the exceeding riches of His grace"!

"What a prospect, child of glory,
  Doth the future hold in store!
By the wildest flights of fancy
  Thou couldst never ask for more.
Heir of God; joint heir forever
  With His own beloved Son
God could not to you have promised
  More of bliss than He has done!"

-Author Unknown

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE PEACE OF GOD
by C. R. Stam



"Peace with God" is one thing; "the peace of God" is another. To enjoy the latter, we must first experience the former, for the peace of God, ruling in our hearts, is the result of "peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ."

St. Paul declared by divine inspiration that "[Christ] was delivered for our offenses and was raised again for our justification" and that "therefore, being justified by faith," we, who once were at enmity with God, may enjoy "peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" (Rom. 4:25; 5:1). The result of "peace with God" is "the peace of God," the peace that He gives to His own amid all the troubles of life. This is why the Apostle wrote to the Roman Christians:

"Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing" (Rom. 15:13).

While only those who are at peace with God can -- and should know "the peace of God," it does not follow, however, that all those who are at peace with God necessarily enjoy "the peace of God." Believers can enjoy "the peace of God" only as they practice Phil. 4:6:

"BE CAREFUL [ANXIOUS] FOR NOTHING; BUT IN EVERYTHING, BY PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, WITH THANKSGIVING, LET YOUR REQUESTS BE MADE KNOWN UNTO GOD."

As we follow these instructions the promise which follows will certainly be fulfilled.

"THE PEACE OF GOD, WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS" (Ver. 7).

As believers in Christ "we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose" (Rom. 8:28 ). Therefore we should not be constantly overwhelmed and defeated by the adversities of life, but should heed the exhortation; "Let the peace of God rule in your hearts" (Col. 3:15).

"NOW THE LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF GIVE YOU PEACE ALWAYS BY ALL MEANS" (II Thes. 3:16).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

The Ministry of Comfort
by Paul M. Sadler,


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!

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST
By Pastor M. Duncan



Scripture Reading: I Thessalonians 5:18

In I Thessalonians chapter five, Paul outlines several activities that God expects of the saints. It is God's will that the saints "esteem" very highly those men of God who labour among them (Vers. 12-13). They are to "see that none render evil for evil unto any man" (Ver. 15). The saints are to "rejoice ever-more" and "pray without ceasing" (Vers. 16-17). They are not to "quench" the Spirit (Ver. 19) and are to "abstain from all appearance of evil" (Ver. 22). All this activity, Paul says, "is the WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS" (Ver. 18 ).

The point Paul is making by this statement is that EVERYTHING God expects in the life of the saints can ONLY be carried out by the POWER of Christ through the new nature which the saint received at the moment of salvation. Not only is salvation the GIFT OF GOD, but the where-with-all to do that which God expects is also a GIFT OF GOD. Everything the saint IS or EVER WILL BE comes from Christ. We see this by what Paul says in Philippians 4:13. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." We today can only do the will of God as Christ also strengthens us.

Many saints today make the same error in their thinking as the Galatians did in Paul's day and we need to be reproved just as sternly as Paul rebuked the Galatians in Galatians 3:3. "Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" Can we today be saved through faith in Christ's death for our sins and then take off in the strength of the flesh to accomplish God's will for our Christian life? Surely not! Our only strength is "IN CHRIST" and God's will is that we do all things through HIM Who strengthens
us.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

THE ETERNAL PURPOSE IN CHRIST
By Donald Weffald



Scripture Reading: Ephesians 3:11

"Who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:9b-11).

Here we are told by the Apostle Paul that the Church is part of the "eternal purpose" of God. Although the Church is subject of the "mystery" that had been "hid in God (Ephesians 3:9) and "in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men" (Eph. 3:5), it definitely was not after thought. It is part of the grand plan "purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:11). Purposed in the Greek is poieo and means "to do (Lat. ago), i.e. to follow some method in expressing by deeds the feelings and thoughts of the mind" (Thayer). God had it in mind all along. God always  does things with a purpose.

The Church is now making known the "manifold wisdom of God" to "the principalities and powers in heavenly places" (Ephesians 3:10). This is the Godward side of the wonderful  truth of the dispensation of the mystery. What God is do now through the Church is displaying His wonderful wisdom to the angelic beings. And look at what He has done through Christ! He has taken ruined sinners and made them saints (Ephesians I:1). "In whom (Christ) also we (the Church) have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Ephesians 1:11).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

SELFLESS SERVICE
By Miles Stanford



"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).

It is easy to just "let George do it," but it is so unrewarding. There is a Christ-honoring ministry of being and sharing awaiting each believer, and the secret is to let Christ do it!

"Our Father has a different line of things for everyone, and each of us has been sent into this world for some special mission. It is not a question whether it is great or small; it may be only a flower to shed fragrance, though this is really the greatest of all.

"There is no higher service than moral influence, 'thy whole body ... full of light'; and this, of all the highest moral order, is within the compass of all. 'Christ shall be magnified in my body whether by life or by death' (Phil. 1:20) ."-J.B.S.

"A mark of the true servant is that he is consciously nothing. John could speak of himself as only a 'voice,' and a greater than John was consciously 'less than the least of all saints.' The moment we think ourselves to be anything, we are out of the servant's true position and spirit. There is a beautiful contrast between John's account of himself, and the Lord's description of him (John 1:22-27; Luke 7:26-28 ). The more worthy we are of the Lord's commendation, the less do we think of ourselves." - CA.C

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus upon a foundation of good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2.10). (Rotherham)

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A LIFE DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Part 1 of 4
By Joel McGarvey



During the 60's and 70's, many wandered in search for the meaning of life. They asked themselves questions such as, "Who am I?" and, "Why am I here?" Unfortunately, many sought the answers to these questions in drugs and alcohol, thus never discovering their purpose. The modern-day religious search is not in the negative elements of the past. We know that lasting answers cannot be found in the mind-altering effects of drugs and alcohol. We are older and wiser than we were thirty and forty years ago. And so today we turn to the emotions and intellect of the present.

The religious community has been absorbed of late, whether individually or as a corporate body, seeking to find its purpose. A whole industry has sprung up around this notion of discovering the purpose of one's life or church. Books, notebooks, posters and trinkets geared to this journey of discovery can be found in most religious bookstores.

But must the church spend thousands of dollars buying books to discover its purpose in life? Is a forty-day odyssey of discovery really necessary? Or can the purpose of life for each individual child of God, as well as the corporate body, be found in a much simpler fashion?

In the spiritual realm, using the measurement of God's Word, can we, should we, trust the writings and schemes of man that are based primarily on human reasoning and logic? True, we all use a degree of these each day to guide us in many of the decisions we must make. A little common sense and a little logic can go a long way in helping us find solutions to daily questions. But in the scheme of eternity, in the overall plan of God for our lives, should we rely upon anything limited by its very nature? Or is there a far greater source of direction available to the child of God?

What is the source that every child of God should rely upon? And what is our purpose in life? What should the driving purpose be in the life of each individual who has put his faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ? What should the purpose be in driving each child of God and the Church?

The first word in our name, Bible, reveals the source we turn to and seek to follow here at Bible Doctrines to Live By. It is to the Bible alone that we must turn to find God's direction for our lives. The Bible is the Word of God, not only in name but in fact. The Apostle Paul wrote, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God" ( 2 Tim. 3:16). The three words, "inspiration of God," are actually one word in the Greek - theopneustos - and literally means "the breath of God" or "God breathed." Thus, when we use the term, "the Word of God," to speak of the Bible, we are literally declaring that the Bible is the very Word of God. As such, then, the Scriptures are the only absolute source of direction available to mankind. All else is merely thoughts of man and naturally flawed by the very limited thought process available to man. As wise as man may believe he is, he is still far from the mind of God. Note how Isaiah compared the thoughts of man to those of God: "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isa. 55:7-9). The Apostle Paul wrote, concerning the so-called wisdom of this world, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?" (1 Cor. 1:20). The brilliance of man is seen as mere foolishness when held in comparison to the mind of God.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A LIFE DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Part 2 of 4
By Joel McGarvey



The problem with the world and especially the Church today is its attempt to address the issues of the day from a purely humanistic point of view and not the Word of God. Within the Church there is a growing tendency toward this humanistic approach rather than a purely Biblical one. Even well-intentioned saints gain more of their direction in life from their neighbors, fellow workers and television than they do the Word of God. Oprah and Dr. Phil are top-rated television programs known for the advice and counsel freely dispensed. The advice may sound good and logical, but if it isn't based squarely upon the Word of God, its value is extremely limited, if not worthless.

In my years as a pastor I can't begin to count how many times I was told in the course of a counseling setting that actions taken were okay because it made one feel good. "It can't be wrong if I feel good; can it?" "Everyone is doing it." "I (he/she) deserve(s) it." I found that the greatest source of advice sought after and followed (even by believers) was from fellow workers, not the Scriptures nor even the counsel of Biblically-based saints of God. The sad thing is that often the party involved would admit that it may be contrary to Scripture but they were going to press forward anyway because they felt good.

Friends, if the Word of God is not our only source of direction, then our compass will never point true. Any source apart from Scripture is man's thoughts and those will change with every blowing wind. If we are truly to find our purpose in life, our direction, then we would do well to spend time in the Word and in prayer, seeking the Lord's direction for our life and not the thinking of man.

So what does the Word hold out as our purpose in life? From the very creation, man's purpose has been to glorify and give praise to our Heavenly Father. "For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (1 Cor. 6:20). "Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God" (Phil. 1:11). "If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to Whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen" (1 Pet. 4:11).

Our very lives, the way we conduct ourselves (in private and public), is to bring honor and glory to the Father. How important is it that our lives and lips are united as one? The Scriptures have as much or more to say about the conduct or walk, as it does the work of the believer. Even in this present Age of Grace there are many instructions - commands given to the saints of God in how they are to live in this world.

- Glorify the Word -

So the first "purpose" of the saints is to glorify God through their lives and in their worship of Him. This may run counter to what has been the driving force in the lives of many - generally referred to as the "American dream." From the time a child is old enough to walk, he is encouraged to strive for success in the world which is measured by the size of one's possessions and the amount of money in the bank. But this is not our purpose; this is not the reason we were created. We were created to bring glory to the Father and serve Him with our whole heart and mind. I may add that this mentality is what, I believe, is being used by Satan to keep men and women out of the ministry. Sons and daughters are encouraged to choose a profession and seek a college education with dollars in view. It is said that this is true success. The ministry is not encouraged, and is often discouraged, because of the smaller wages involved. Obviously a forty-hour work week is to be preferred over the 24/7/365 of the pastor or missionary. This is not to imply that well-paying professions are out of the will of God, for that is not necessarily the case. But to choose wealth over ministry certainly is a choice that is not glorifying God.

Then beyond the worship, glory and praise come those daily deeds that are outlined for us in Scripture in order to provide us with yet another daily driving purpose. It is in these that we find purpose and meaning to our lives. To discover these, let us take a simple journey through some of Paul's writings and gather a list of things that we are instructed to carry out.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A LIFE DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Part 3 of 4
By Joel McGarvey


- Study the Word -

There is no better place to begin than 2 Timothy 2:15, where the Apostle instructs us to study the Word of God. We begin here, for without a proper foundation gained through the study of God's Word, a proper walk and work would be empty and useless, if not impossible. One must spend time daily in the Scriptures if he is to be truly approved of God. In a parallel passage, the Apostle prayed for the saints at Philippi that they might "approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ" (Phil. 1:10). Again, it was the Apostle's desire that the saints be grounded in the Word of God and especially the Word rightly divided. But in his letter to the Colossae church, Paul wrote directly concerning the place of the Word in relation to man's so-called wisdom. "Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ" (Col. 2:7-8 ). Here "the faith" (one's Biblical belief system) is placed in contrast to human reason and tradition. In fact, the reader will notice the caution given against all that is not after or according to Christ or His Word.

- Preach the Word -

If the child of God is going to find his purpose for life, it can only be done as he seeks to study the Word of God. All else is merely the so-called wisdom of man and is flawed at best.

But what do we do with the Scripture after studying it and growing in knowledge? The answer to this can be gained by examining the words of Paul to the saints at Ephesus. The Apostle Paul wrote to the Church of Ephesus and told them that the risen Christ had given certain gifts to the Church. (It is not our intent to discuss the details of these gifts and their functions down through history.) In Ephesians 4:11-12, Paul wrote that the gifts were given for the purpose of perfecting, or educating/training, the saints "for the work of the ministry." (We wrote of this "professional" mentality in a previous article so we will not spend a lot of time addressing it here. But contrary to popular opinion, the work of the ministry belongs to the saints of God and not just to a band of professionals/pastors.) This work of the ministry involves all areas of the believer's life, and in every case it includes the application of the Word of God. It includes the obvious areas such as the various teaching ministries in and through the local church, giving of one's finances, visiting the sick, encouraging the saints, and praying and caring for one another (Rom. 12:4-21; 1 Cor. 12:12-25). Certainly the work of the ministry extends to the saints of God, our earthly spiritual family. To this end, the saints are instructed to reach out in love to those who are hurting, to rejoice with those that rejoice and grieve with those that grieve. This is not to the exclusion of correction or discipline when that is called for. The failure to discipline is not an act of grace, but rather of hatred (Prov. 13:24), as well as a disregard of Scripture (Rom. 16:17; 1 Cor. 5:1-7, 11-13; 2 Thess. 3:6,14; 1 Tim. 5:20; Titus 1:13). The work of the ministry is wide and varied and belongs to all of the saints of God. It always amuses me that that most of those who criticize the pastor for not visiting enough don't visit at all unless it is a very close relative or friend.

Paul's words to Timothy, "Preach the Word" (2 Tim. 4:2), form an excellent foundation for what we are to be doing on a day-to-day basis as part of the work of the ministry. We are to take the Word that we have studied and live it out and share it with others. This forms what I believe to be the very heart of our purpose, for it comes from the very heart of our Heavenly Father. Keep this in mind when it's used in conjunction with Paul's instruction to the saints of Ephesus. There the work of the ministry was to be carried out for the edifying (building up or expanding) of the Body of Christ. This enlarging is the increasing or expanding of the Body through soul winning. In other words, the saints of God are called upon to be soul winners - to be sharing the saving Gospel of the Grace of God with a lost and dying world.

Consider Paul's words to the saints at Corinth when he spoke of the ministry that had been given to them. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. And all things are of God, Who hath reconciled us to Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 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. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 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. 5:17-21). It will be noticed that he stated they had been given the "ministry of reconciliation," and then he explained what it was by telling them what the Father had done through the Son at Calvary. This was the work of Christ on behalf of the lost: paying the price of sin. To the Romans, Paul called that work of Christ our "propitiation," the full satisfying of the Father's righteousness through the finished work of the Son. Then to the Corinthian saints, Paul stated that to them had been given the "word of reconciliation." You see, friends, we have been given an awesome task to share Christ with a lost world, a world that is headed for the Lake of Fire.

Once again the point is driven home that this ministry belongs to everyone who names the name of Christ as Savior. Someone may point to the Church and ask, "Who is the minister of the Church?" Some may respond by pointing to the Pastor, but this would not be totally accurate. He is the Pastor, but every child of God is to be a minister (servant) of God. Every saved individual has been given the ministry of reconciliation and is, therefore, a minister. As a minister of God, an ambassador of reconciliation, every child of God is to preach the Word.

Again to Timothy, the Apostle wrote, "Be instant in season, out of season" (2 Tim. 4:2). The Apostle Peter would give similar instructions to the saints when he wrote, "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15). The idea is a prepared people ready at all times to tell others of the hope they have and how they received it. Peter stated that this readiness sanctified the Lord in their hearts. By this he meant that through their ready willingness, they were consecrating or setting the Lord apart in their daily living. Paul urged the same thing when he gave the instruction to make Christ preeminent (Col. 1:18 ). As we set Christ apart, or make Him preeminent in our lives, we are, first of all, glorifying Him above all else, and secondly, serving him wholeheartedly (Col. 3:17,23).

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

A LIFE DRIVEN BY PURPOSE
Part 4 of 4
By Joel McGarvey

- Live the Word -

Another related instruction would again be found in Paul's words to the saints at Colossae: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man" (Col. 4:5-6). Here conduct and words are to come together as one, and in a spiritual wisdom, be lived out before those who know not Christ ("are without"). This term is used to designate all those who are without Christ. In the Old Testament it is often used to designate those who were unclean or outside of Israel (outside the camp) (see Lev. 13:46; 14:40; Num. 5:3-4; Deut. 23:12; Josh. 6:23). Certainly this wisdom is the knowledge gained from the study of the Word of God. Our intent is not to speak of the believer's conduct in this article, but, suffice it to say, godly conduct and faithful soul winning go hand-in-hand.

Much more could be listed regarding the purpose that is driving the life of the Church, the Body of Christ, individually as well as corporately. One thing is obvious in all that has been presented here: our purpose is Christ, to share the glorious Gospel of the Grace of God with a lost and dying world.

It is not necessary to spend days in an odyssey of discovery. All that is necessary is to get into the Word of God, read it, study it and put it into practice. This is the purpose the Lord has given to each and every saint. This is what is to be driving the life of the believer. A search or desire for anything else is purely an attempt to satisfy the flesh rather than seeking to please the Spirit.

The purpose-driven life is a life lived in the Spirit, for the glory of the Father, sharing the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Gospel of the Grace of God with others. It is only as we fulfill this service through our lives that our lives will truly be purpose driven.

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

COMPLETE IN CHRIST
Part 1 of 4
by William B. Hallman


Colossians 2:8-10 - "Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of The Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the Head of all principality and power."


THE GREATEST DISCOVERY that any human being can make is the discovery of the ALL-SUFFICIENCY OF CHRIST, and the utter worthlessness of man without Him. Christ is all, and in Him we have all. Without Him we are nothing, absolutely nothing. It makes no difference how many times we multiply ciphers: they will be devoid of all magnitude or quality until we place some digit before them. But, once a digit is placed before them, they take on meaning, value, significance.

"CHRIST IS ALL" is the covering principle of this Book of Colossians. Look at the following verses: "That in all things He might have the preeminence" (1:18 ); "In Him should all fulness dwell" (1:19); "In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge" (2:3); "In Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (2:9); "In Him, which is the Head of all principality and power" (2:10); "Christ is all and in all" (3:11).

I am sure we all can sing with Charles Wesley, "Thou, 0 Christ, art all I want, more than all in Thee I find."

Browning wrote, "I say, the acknowledgment of God in Christ, accepted by that reason, solves for thee all questions in the earth and out of it, and has so far advanced thee to be wise." And it was Bishop Moule who said, "No surer test according to Scripture can be applied to anything claiming to be Christian teaching. Where does it put Jesus Christ? What does it make of Jesus Christ? Is He something in it, or is He all?"

This Epistle of Colossians is a positive presentation of the antidote to every form of heresy. Epaphras had come to Paul at Rome with the news that a real danger of false teaching had beset the church at Colosse. This new heresy called Gnosticism was a combination of Judaic Ritualism and Oriental Mysticism (see 2:16-18 ). These Colossians were asked to accept something in addition to Christ. They taught that Christ was not sufficient, not unique. They taught an additional philosophy (v. 8 ), an additional astrology (v. 8 ), "elements of the world" having to do with stars and planets), an additional circumcision (v. 11), additional ascetic rules and regulations (vss. 16, 20-23), and additional worship of angels (v. 18 ).

When anyone says that we are to be saved or kept by the Law, they have never understood the phrase, "COMPLETE IN HIM." "For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth" (Rom. 10:4). When anyone suggests that we can add to our salvation by doing something, they have never understood the phrase, "COMPLETE IN CHRIST." "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God" (Eph. 2:8 ). When anyone suggests that water baptism in any form is necessary for salvation, or as a testimony to one's faith or the door to the church, they do not understand the phrase, "COMPLETE IN HIM." "For we are Buried with Him in baptism" (Col. 2:12). When we are told that we must keep the Sabbath, we know men do not understand the COMPLETENESS we have in Christ. "The Sabbath days which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ" (Col. 2:16-17).

The word translated ''fulness'' in 2:9 is in the Greek the word pleroma, and the word "complete" in 2:10 is the word pepleromenoi. This latter is a perfect passive participle of the word pleroo. The word means to "make full, to fill up, to fill to the full, to diffuse throughout, complete, nothing wanting." So the great word in this Epistle, both with reference to Christ, is this word pleroma or pleroo. This fulness is worked into the very structure and language of the Epistle. (See 1:9; 1:19; 1:24; 1:25; 2:2; 2:9, 2:10; 4:12; 4:17.)

Not only in Colossians, but in the whole Bible we have tributes to Jesus Christ. He is seen in every promise, parable, prophecy, type, poem, narrative, allegory, and symbol. He is likened to the sun, the stars, the shepherd, the lamb, the lion, the door, the cornerstone, the foundation, the bread, and the wine. Everything about Him is superlative. He is the "Lord of Lords," "the King of Kings," "the fairest among ten thousand."

Nothing can go beyond completeness. You can add nothing to it. You might as well try to purge a sunbeam, or purify the whiteness of the newly fallen snow as to add to that which is already perfect. And it is not only true that "all fulness dwells in Him," but also that we are "COMPLETE IN HIM."

[nChrist]

______________________________________
From Grace And The Truth Ministries
Please share this Inspirational with others.
Free Email Subscription
_______________________________________

COMPLETE IN CHRIST
Part 2 of 4
by William B. Hallman



One day Michelangelo went into the studio of the young painter Raphael, and, finding him gone, left without leaving his name. But before he went, he took a piece of chalk and wrote on the canvas of the poor and meager design of Raphael a bold and sweeping line with the word "amplius" (wider). When Raphael returned and saw this, he knew immediately who had been there and done this. He thus changed his style. So our Lord points to His fulness and our narrowness and emptiness, and challenges us to partake of His fulness - His pleroma.

It is the privilege of every person to recognize their completeness in Christ. This can be done first,

BY RECOGNIZING CHRIST'S FULNESS

"For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily" (Col. 2:9)
Alford paraphrases this verse, "For in Him all the complete perfection essential to the Godhead abides corporeally, substantially, and really, and not in the manner of shadows."

CHRIST'S FULNESS is resident in His Person ("in Him" -en auto). This phrase is given the emphatic position in the verse, and draws our attention first to the One Who has the FULNESS. The Holy Spirit wants us to see Him, even before we see HIS FULNESS. This is important.

We must also recognize the Permanence of this FULNESS in the word "dwelleth" - katoikei. This word means "to settle down, to be at home." Deity is at home in Christ, and dwells so in a permanent way.

There is also the Plentitude of this FULNESS as seen in the words, "all the fulness of the Godhead" - pan to pleroma tes Theotetos. To make this matter exceedingly clear, the Apostle use the word "pan" (all), emphasizing that the FULNESS is complete. There is no portion of the plentitude that is not present. Paul is pointing out further by the use of the word Theotetos (Godhead) that not mere quality of God resides in Christ, as seen in Romans 1:20 by the use of the word Theiotes, but the absolute essence of God dwells in Christ. CHRIST IS NOT MERELY LIKE GOD, THAT IS DIVINE, BUT HE IS THEOS - GOD. This was Paul's declaration against the Gnostics before Athanasius had to oppose Arius (who said that the Son is not of the same substance as the Father, but was created as an agent for creating the world).

IN THIS FULNESS OF CHRIST we also recognize the place in the word "bodily" - somatikos. This is an adverb modifying the verb "dwell," pointing to the manner. It means "bodily/' or "in bodily manifestation." This does not mean a mystical dwelling, nor a mere spiritual dwelling, nor a limited bodily dwelling. It does mean an eternal bodily dwelling. There can be only one tenable explanation, and that is that Christ was and is God. All the fulness dwelt in Him before the incarnation, during the incarnation, and continues so permanently. Since "in Christ" the plentitude dwells permanently, and bodily, there is the manifestation that gives the lie to all forms of Gnosticism, which perverts the truth about the person of Christ.

If the foregoing exposition is true, and it is, then certain things follow in logical sequence.

CHRIST IS HEAD OF ALL CREATION. "For by Him were all things created, ... all things were created by Him, and for Him" (Col. 1:16-17). In creation, Christ is preeminent. Every form and kind of matter, simple and complex, were created by Him. The atom and the star, the sun and the cloud, every grade of life from the worm to the angel, every order of intellect and being around and above us, the splendors of Heaven and the nearer phenomena of the earth are the product of the first-born of all creation. Three prepositions are used in relation to Christ as Creator - en, dia, and eis, - "in Him," "'through Him," and ''for Him." Christ is the source, the means and the end of all creation. He is also the conserver of all- "by Him all things consist" (Col. 1:17). He impresses upon creation its unity and solidarity, making it a cosmos instead of a chaos. He feeds the sun with fuel and the sparrow with corn. He guides the planets in their courses, and keeps the heart beating in man. He cares for the tiniest insect that makes the coral and the mightiest leviathan which plows the deep. He guides the seraph and the cherub in their inter-spacial missions. The helm of the universe is in His hands that  were nailed to Calvary for you and me. Everywhere we behold His footprints; out of every storm and solitude we hear His voice across the darkness saying, "It is I, be not afraid."