GRACE AND THE TRUTH - DAILY INSPIRATION

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY & SOUL WINNING

Scripture Reading: 1 Cor. 9:16-23; 2 Cor. 5:14-6:2

Much of the time, sad to say, when a person treats the subject of the sovereignty of God, the truth concerning genuine soul winning is either left out or ruled out. On the other hand, oftentimes those who major on soul winning almost totally circumventor rule out the sovereignty of God. Again, as in any Divine truth, there needs to be balance and proportion. The Old Testament declares--long before this present Dispensation of the preaching of the Grace of God---"He that winneth souls is wise" (Prov. 11:30). The word "winneth" is actually a military word denoting taking captive the enemy. In the Gospels we hear our Lord telling His disciples: "Come ye after, Me, and I will make you to become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). His intent was that as these disciples had been used to catching fish, now they were to learn how to "catch men alive" for Christ. Paul brings out the same truth when he states: "that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life." (Phil. 2:15-16). The idea here is that just as the blackness of the night is punctuated by the shining forth of the heavenly luminaries, so the darkness of this present evil age under the power of darkness is to be punctuated by believers holding out to the members of their generation the Life-giving light of the Gospel of the glory of the blessed God (see 2 Cor. 4:4-6 and I Tim. 1:11).

Where does soul winning, then, fit in the plan of God? If God sovereignly has elected a certain number unto Life in Christ, and if God is the One who must woo them, draw them, convict them, and then regenerate them, where does witnessing and leading people to Christ fit in? God has ordained that through "the foolishness of preaching (lit. the thing preached ---that is, the preaching of the word of the cross) to save them that believe." This "preaching" is not only that which the God-called pastor or Evangelist or Missionary does. It is the giving forth by word of mouth the truth of the Gospel so that those who hunger after salvation might be saved.

By Pastor P. Hume

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GOD'S PLAN AND SOUL WINNING

Scripture Reading: Eph. 2: 1-3;3:6-9

The truth which God desires for "all" to see today is "what is the dispensation (or, economy) of the mystery (secret)" (Eph. 3:9). The heart of this mystery is stated in Ephesians 3:6 "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs and of the same body (joint-body), and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel." Did you notice that last phrase? It is by means of the gospel (Paul's Gospel: "my gospel") that sinners are to share in the promise of God in Christ! What is this "promise?" It is "the promise of Life which is in Christ Jesus" (2 Tim. 1:1). The earnest of this promise is the impartation of the New Man and the indwelling Holy Spirit (see Eph. 1:13-14). We see then, that the present purpose of God in forming the "one new man," and building " an holy temple (sanctuary) in the, Lord," and bringing about the completion) of "the church" which is His body" all hinges upon "the gospel."

Our "great commission"--- binding upon preachers and people alike--is to proclaim "Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery." This is to be done on a public preaching basis, but especially is it to be done on a person-to-person basis. In other words, you as well as I are responsible to deliberately, under the leadership of the blessed "Lord of the harvest"--the Holy Spirit ---seek to win precious children, young people, and adults to the Lord Jesus Christ.

'"Not called!' did you say? 'Not heard the call,' I think you should say. God has been calling loudly ever since He spoke your sins forgiven---if you are forgiven at all--entreating and beseeching you to be His ambassador. Put your ear down to the Bible and hear Him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go and stand by the gates of Hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, Whose mercy you have professed to have received ... and tell Him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstance, in this march to publish His mercy to the world." (Gen. William Booth)

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND MY CIRCUMSTANCES

Scripture Reading: Psa. 91; Phil. 4:11-13

"Milk from contented cows" has been the famous slogan of the Carnation Milk Co. But what about contentment in your life? Notice how Paul confessed that he had to "learn" this "secret" of how to be content in all situations of life!

The word he uses for "content" and "contentment" is a Greek word meaning "to be possessed of sufficient strength" and thus to be "sufficient in one's self." This is not the self-sufficiency and complacency of the flesh and the world. It is one of the virtues which God alone can infuse into the personality of His redeemed ones. It comes from above: "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.," Better translated, this verse reads: "I am equal to all anythings in the One who infuseth me with strength." Bless the Lord! So whether I am in trying and tough circumstances, or whether I am in easy and pleasant circumstances, I can do all that God expects of me How? "Through Christ which strengtheneth me."

Madam Guyon, after ten years spent in a dungeon far below the surface of the ground, lit only by a candle, at meal-time, wrote these words which bear out this blessed truth:

"A little bird I am,
Shut from the fields of air;
Yet in my cage I sit and sing
To Him who placed me there:
Well pleased a prisoner to be,
Because, my God, it pleases Thee.
Ah! it is good to soar
These bolts and bars above
To Him whose purpose I adore,
Whose Providence I love:
And in Thy mighty will to find
The joy, the freedom of the mind."

This is not an easy lesson for any of US to learn! Yet we can learn it when we take the sovereign God, our Savior, into view. And remember today: "He giveth MORE grace" (James 4:6). Praise the Lord!

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DEAD WORKS
by C. R. Stam



Twice in Paul's epistles he refers to "dead works". In Hebrews 6:1 he writes about "repentance from dead works", while in Hebrews 9:14 he declares that the blood of Christ avails to "purge the conscience from dead works to serve the living God".

Mark well, these references are not to wicked works but to dead works. These "dead works" are the so-called "good works" (whether moral or ceremonial) which men did — and still do — to make themselves acceptable to God. They are "dead" because they are not the product of regeneration or spiritual life, but the mere attempt on the part of unregenerate sinners to justify themselves before God.

Paul himself, once zealously religious, but wholly unsaved, had to repudiate his "dead works" and count them "loss" to find salvation in Christ, through whom alone he could produce good works which God could accept. (See Philippians 3:4-9).

This is why he later declared by divine inspiration: "For by grace are ye saved, through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast, for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works..." (Ephesians 2:8-10).

"Dead works" are not only unacceptable to God, but an evil substitute for the faith He desires, "for without faith it is impossible to please God" (Hebrews 11:6). But "he that believeth on the Son of God hath life" and this life is bound to bear fruit — the good works with which God is truly pleased.

The difference between the "good works" of the unregenerate man and the "good works" of a true believer, then, is that the former are "dead works" while the latter are the precious fruit of life possessed.

No man can please God while he denies the truth of His Word or rejects His Son, so graciously given to die on the cross as our Saviour. To try to win His favor by "good works" while rejecting Christ is like sending a gift to a man whose beloved son you spurn and despise.

"The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hands. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. And he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him" (John 3:35,36).

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND PRAYER
By Pastor Paul Hume

Scripture Reading: Romans 8:26-27; Philippians 4:6-7; 1 John 5:14- 15

"Prayer changes things." You have heard this motto all your life perhaps. Does it? You reply, "Why, of course, I've seen prayer change things." Indeed, prayer does change things, but it doesn't alway -----even when asked according to the Word of God and in much earnest sincerity. Why? Because God is sovereign, and He answers prayer "according to His will"

"The possibilities and necessity of prayer, its power and results, are manifested in arresting and changing the purposes of God and in relieving the stroke of His power." This statement was made years ago in a periodical called "The Christian Worker." Do you think that your prayers and mine, or even all the prayers of all the true saints the world over together can change the purposes of God? Nay! Nay! What God has purposed, that He will perform! Yet God has purposed that His saints pray not to change His purposes but to bring His purposes about! In other words, God moves on His people to pray to the end that certain things may take place: e.g., the out-break of genuine spiritual revival. History records several such. Saints prayed and prayed. Finally God sent the long-awaited "showers of blessing." Saints were refreshed and sinners were added to Christ by the hundreds. How did it come about? Through prayer. Yes, but behind that was the sovereign pleasure of God to send such reviving at that time.

Why pray? We should do so regularly and constantly ("Pray without ceasing"  1 Thessalonians 5:17) in order to be totally dependent upon the Lord instead of upon ourselves and our maneuverings. We should pray so that we might be brought to the position of worship (an almost unheard of thing except for our so-called Sunday morning "Worship Services" which are really preaching services) and honoring Him who is "God over all, blessed forever." Again, we should pray because it has been ordained as one of the means of our growth in God's grace. Prayer is also a means for the exercising of our faith. Furthermore, prayer has been given so that we may share with our Father in Heaven those things we have need of as well as the needs of others. Therefore, pray, pray, and pray!

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THE PRECIOUSNESS OF GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY
Scripture Reading: Isa. 40:12-31; Rom. 11:33-12:3

Oftentimes we hear people make the remark: "The first part of such and such an Epistle is the doctrinal section, and the last part is the practical section." Yes, many of Paul's Epistles are so constructed (take Romans and Ephesians as examples) But this statement implies that doctrine is not practical! Such is certainly not the case, at least where the Word of God is concerned! All Scripture is doctrine in the true sense of the word. Doctrine means "teaching." All true doctrine, or teaching from the Scriptures IS practical!

This appertains to this blessed doctrine concerning the Person of God (including each member of the blessed Godhead). We have sought to lay emphasis on the sovereignty of God. Indeed it is precious to those who are able to "bear" it (John 16:13). Why?

"The doctrine of God's sovereignty then is no mere metaphysical dogma which is devoid of practical value, but is one that is calculated to produce a powerful effect upon Christian character and the daily walk. The doctrine of God's sovereignty lies at the foundation of Christian theology, and in importance is perhaps second only to the Divine Inspiration of the Scriptures. It is the center of gravity in the system of Christian truth--the sun around which all the lesser orbs are grouped. It is the golden milestone to which every highway of knowledge leads and from which they all radiate. It is the cord upon which all other doctrines are strung like so many pearls holding them in place, and giving them unity. It is the plumbline by which every creed needs to be measured, the balance in which every human dogma must be weighed. It is designed as the sheet-anchor for our souls amid the storms of life." (A. W. Pink)

Once we come to realize the sovereignty of God, the Holy Spirit will cause us to bow low before our blessed Savior-God and not only confess "My God, how great thou art!" but also say, "Take my life, and let it be, consecrated, LORD TO THEE!" Amen!

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THE HAND OF GOD
By M. Stanford



"For this is thank worthy, if a man  for Conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable with God" (I Pet. 2:19, 20).

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

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

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

"When He suffered, He. . . committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously" (I Pet. 2:23).

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A Good Morning To You


God's power today is revealed in a remarkable way--not through awesome outward demonstrations but by the quiet working of the Spirit of God within us.

The tremendous power which God used to raise our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead is also available to use who believe (Eph 1:19,20; Phil 3:10) This vast reservoir of resurrection power, when appropriated by faith, works for the good of man as well as the glory of God.

Dear Christian are you frustrated and discouraged in your service for Him? Do your loved ones and friends seem to treat you more cruelly as you seek to be faithful to Christ? Paul also suffered for righteousness sake, not only among the unconverted but even among those in the family of God. To the foolish Galatians he inquired, "Am I therefore become your enemy, because I tell you the truth? The carnally minded saints at Corinth were challenging his apostleship but he responded in grace saying, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved (Galatians 4:16; II Cor 12:15). You just keep praying for them and "be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me (Paul) His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God" (II Tim 1:8 ).

My unsaved friend, is God seeking to draw you to Himself through His love and grace? Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts for the Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. The gospel of grace is simple and plain. God loved you. Christ died for you and rose again. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. May God lead you to trust Him for His name's sake. Then you may join with all the saints in grateful worship and service. "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18 ).

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THE DAY OF ITCHING EARS
by C. R. Stam



For the professing Church the day of theological controversy has passed. Ecumenism is now the word on every tongue. Church leaders appear to have become convinced that the stifling confusion in the Church can be overcome only by all of us getting together, minimizing our differences and emphasizing those doctrines on which we all agree. As a result some of the most important doctrines of Scripture are neither denied nor affirmed; they are ignored. But little matter, for the objective now is not to be true to the written Word of God, but to see to it that the Church is "strong" and commands the world's respect.

Ecumenism, sad to say, has made significant inroads among evangelical believers too. All too seldom do men of God stand up to defend by the Scriptures the truths they believe and proclaim. Theological debate has given place to the dialogue, in which two individuals or groups sit down together to discuss their differences and see if there is not some basis for agreement. This appears generous and objective but too often convictions are compromised and the truth watered down by such undertakings, with the result that the Spirit's power is sacrificed for numerical strength.

No man of God can speak in the power of the Spirit when he places anything before the Word and Will of God. Nor can the Church ever be truly united and strong unless she puts God's Word and Will first and takes her place in the world as Christ's embassy on alien territory (See II Cor.5:20).

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The Grace of God
By Bill Root


Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men"

Grace not only saves the sinner, but also keeps the saved sinner for eternity! There are so many deluded, misguided, souls today who think that God's Grace is sufficient to save them, but that after salvation, God leaves it up to them to keep themselves saved! If only they could see that if God loved us enough in our ungodly sinful state before salvation, to save us by His Grace, how much more He must love us after we have accepted His Son as our personal Saviour! The same Grace that saved us is the Grace that keeps us saved after we believe.

THE MESSAGE OF GRACE

First, notice--- "Grace, " So many times we hear of people who ask for justice. If we got justice from God, if we got what we deserved, we would be in Hell! Any and everything we get apart from the Lake of Fire is Grace! This is our message to a world lost and steeped in sin. Yes, God's Grace is available and sufficient for the worst, most guilty, lost sinner! Romans 5:20 states that " ... where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound." What profound love! Never in all the annals of history was love better expressed than on Calvary's cross. There as His murderers stood gloating in unholy glee, the voice of Christ from the cross was heard: "Father, forgive them; they know not what they do!" Truly, "where sin abounded, Grace did much more abound." What wonderful freedom is expressed in Romans 6:14: "Ye are not under the law, but under Grace."

THE ORIGIN OF GRACE

Secondly, notice the origin of this grace... "of God. . .." Not of the church, not of self, but.. . of God. Paul says in Romans 15:15, ''Nevertheless, brethren, I have written you the more boldly, as putting you in mind, because of the Grace that is given me of God." It's wonderful to know that this Grace is of God, for we know that having its origin with Him, it will never be changed. Remember that Romans 11:29 says, "The Gifts and calling of God are without repentance."

THE PURPOSE OF GRACE

Thirdly, let us notice the purpose of this grace, ".. .bringeth salvation " God originated, displayed, and offered His grace with one purpose in mind; and that was: "to bring Salvation!" Notice especially Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by Grace are ye Saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. "

I do trust that if anyone reading this article has not yet accepted this grace of God that you will "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ" TODAY, and pass from death to life by simply resting upon His finished work! Apart from the grace of God, there is no hope! This old world is, as it were, a keg of dynamite, with the fuse getting shorter all the time. All of us who know God's purpose in Grace should get busy and help many more unsaved to accept this Salvation that only grace can bring.

THE SCOPE OF GRACE

Lastly, I would call your attention to the scope of this Grace, ".. .all men.. .." Yes, there is not a person on the face of the earth for whom the Grace of God is "unavailable!" Notice in connection with this thought, 1 Timothy 2:4 ". . . God our Saviour; Who will have ALL MEN to be saved..." and Romans 3:21,22 "But now the Righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the Prophets; even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto ALL, and UPON all them that believe: for there is no difference."

Though the righteousness of God is unto all, it is only upon those that believe! So God, "who would have all men to be saved," leaves it up to us to carry out His purpose in Grace in bringing Salvation to those who will trust His Grace as expressed in Christ on the Cross.

So, in concluding, let's sum up what we have learned, Our message is Grace! Its origin is of God! Its purpose is to bring Salvation! And finally, its scope is all Men! Have you availed yourself of this Grace! If not, will you do it now?

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GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY AND TEMPTATION
By Paul Hume



Scripture Reading: James 1:12-17; 1 Corinthians 10:12-13

Why are we tempted? Why doesn't God so arrange things so that there will be no temptations, or few, at least, to do wrong. James tells us clearly all through the first chapter of his brief Epistle. We learn from James 1:2-4 that God orders certain trials to come into our lives to the end that we may be "fully developed and perfectly equipped, without any defects" (William Trans.). But then in verses 13-15 James speaks of that inward enticement to do evil. This "temptation" comes not from God--though it operates under His sovereign good pleasure even as does Satan and all evil. This "temptation" comes from within. It is the Evil One--the tempter--drawing us, through our evil nature, to do those things which are contrary to the revealed will of God.

Dr. Charles Ryrie "in his excellent book, Balancing the Christian Life (by all means obtain a copy: published by Moody Press, costs $3.95) states several things about why God allows us to be harassed by various temptations during life. He states: "But as with all temptations, a test which God designed to teach us something may be failed and the lesson lost. In that case, the only solution is to confess the sin, pick oneself up again, learn the lesson of the weakness of the flesh, and lean harder on the power of God. But, you. say, are not the risks so great that God would do better to eliminate temptations from our lives? The answer is no, for testing is the route to approval and growth in our Christian lives. Proving requires testing; growth is faster in the face of opposition; great results involve great risks. Testings are God's way of offering us opportunities for approval and growth; they are the way of Satan's defeat. Which way we go depends largely on us." (P. 138.)

So when you are tested by the Lord through various persons who cross your path or various circumstances you pass through, or whether you're tempted by Satan through your fallen nature to think or do some evil, remember this.  It is a test God has meant for you to pass. He has given us His Word that He will not "allow you to be tempted above that you are able." He has also given His Son as our Helper (Hebrews 2:18 ).

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Part One of Five
BY RICHARD JORDAN




   The first word of Romans 5 is "therefore." It has often been said that "therefore" is always "there for a purpose." This occurrence is no exception, for it opens the door from the past into the wonderful present and glorious future given to us in Christ.

   "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:"
   "By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Rom. 5:1,2).

   Notice the formula: "being ... we have." It is because of who we are in Christ that we possess wonderful assets. In Christ we have a new identity, a new standing which has provided us a whole sheaf of spiritual blessings: justification, peace with God, access into grace, the hope of the glory of God--to mention just a few. To demonstrate that these blessings are more than theological rhetoric with no impact on the daily details of our lives, Paul goes on to declare:

   "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
   "And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
   "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us" (vs.3-5).

Because we have been given eternal life we look forward even now to its glories--we "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." But this is not simply "pie in the sky by-and-by." No. We have eternal life as a present possession--we do not have to wait until we die to obtain it. It is a present reality in our lives and enables us to ''glory in tribulations also." In other words, the life we have in Christ is also adequate for the "nasty now-and.now."

   In Christ we have been made part of a total victory program. We are "more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8:37) and are made to always "triumph in Christ" (II Cor. 2:14). This is the reality of our new standing in Christ. Yet too often we look about us and wonder if this victory program has really penetrated our lives; has it reached as far as us?

   We need to understand that the victory program of which members of the Body of Christ are a part is not the Pentecostal program of time past. Our program is not the deliverance program God gave the nation Israel in the past nor is it the program He will have for Israel when Christ comes back to restore His authority over this planet through the kingdom promised to that favored nation.

In that long-awaited kingdom, God will deliver His chosen people from their enemies and establish them in their land. Jerusalem will be "the city of the great King" (Matt. 5:35) and the whole "creation itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God" (Rom. 8:21).

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Part Two of Five
BY RICHARD JORDAN




   The deliverance awaiting Israel--and, through her, the world---in her kingdom is not the same ministry and victory that God has for members of the Body of Christ. If we do not rightly divide the Word of truth at this point, we are going to be brought into despair. God's Word is going to become a burden rather than the blessing it is designed to be. It is going to actually become destructive rather than constructive in our lives because we are trying to claim promises and blessings God never made to us. The old adage, "all the promises in the Book are mine," is simply not true. To base our lives on such an unscriptural viewpoint is not only wrong; it is absolutely dangerous. Not one of us--nor all of us together--is, or ever will be, able to force Almighty God to do something He has not promised us He will do. To claim promises made to others is to invite discouragement and disaster into our lives.

   Take a test for yourself: look at Gal. 5:22,23, where Paul lists the "fruit of the Spirit" in the dispensation of grace. The life that comes from the Spirit of God produces fruit in the believer. Paul lists those nine fruit--love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Notice that there is no "deliverance" in the list. There is no "I will deliver you from your problems;" no "I will perform a miracle and you will have no more difficulties in your life." There is none of this In fact, there is just the opposite.

   One of the Spirit's fruit is longsuffering--the capacity to endure, to "suffer-long." In the present dispensation God makes no promise to miraculously eliminate our problems. There is no promise that He will manipulate circumstances so things will be easier for us. Rather, His promise is that we will be "strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man" (Eph. 3:16) and thus enabled to cope with any extremity of life. Patience and endurance are hallmarks of the Spirit's empowering under grace. Col. 1:11 puts it this way:

   "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness."

   It is not "strengthened with might unto signs, wonders and mighty deliverances." We could quote verses all day long about the delivering power of God and how He promised to do things for Israel in her program. But what God promises members of the Body of Christ is quite different. Our promises are just as real, just as dynamic, just as victorious--they are just different.

   When we take verses out of the Bible that are not directed to us, that are not about us; when we begin to read someone else's mail and claim someone else's promises, do we not commit spiritual larceny? The better course--the proper course--would simply be to take what God has given to us in Christ and let that be what is real in our lives.

   Now when Paul says we can "glory in tribulation also " it is because we know some things .. "knowing that tribulation worketh patience." Tribulations--the troubles, pressures and difficulties that come our way--are actually productive in our lives. As we have "access by faith into this grace wherein we stand," the problems of life become productive .. rather than destructive--by providing a context for our spiritual growth and maturity in the application of grace to the details of life. Thus these spiritual qualities become active realities in our lives as we face problems by faith in God's provisions for us in Christ.

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Part Three of Five
BY RICHARD JORDAN

THE TRUE SOURCE OF TROUBLE

   It is important to understand where tribulations come from and why they find their way into our lives. The problem can be a seeming blessing or an apparent threat. Whatever the difficulty--pain or prosperity, poverty or abundance, whether we "abase or abound."-- we must learn to respond properly. If we are to do so, understanding their true source is essential.

   There are basically three sources from which troubles arise. We need to be clear about these things so as to be in the "know" in this important area of life. First, however, we need to establish a basic truth:

   "THERE HATH NO TEMPTATION TAKEN YOU BUT SUCH AS IS COMMON TO MAN ... " (1 Corinthians 10:13).

   Think about this. No trouble comes into our lives except that which is "common to man." Thus we know something: there are no "special testings" from God going on in our lives. God has not singled us out for some special trial (or punishment) in order to teach us lessons which we would not learn unless He inflicted those things on us.

   While the idea of "special testing" is often used to make believers feel "special" to God in the midst of trials, the Bible is very clear that this is simply not correct. We are very special to God and that fact has been abundantly demonstrated in tangible terms at Calvary. Reread Rom. 5:8 and see where it is that God demonstrated His great love for us. He points to the cross of Christ--not to our troubles--as proof of His love and care for us.

   When we consider the problems we face, we must remember that God says what is happening in our lives is the common lot of all mankind. What is happening has happened (and no doubt is happening) to countless others.

   One other point: We have all experienced the phenomenon of trouble causing things to look really big in our perception. When we are having a wonderful time, time passes quickly. On the other hand, if we are having problems, time seems to pass ever so slowly. Trouble has the effect of magnifying events and making things seem large--thus making our perception of them go in slow motion.

   This can be an advantage. If we have sound doctrine in our heart, that doctrine gets magnified too! So if we put in our heart an understanding of trouble's source and how we have been equipped to deal with it in a way that builds us up, then that knowledge is also enhanced when trouble comes. Thus what human viewpoint sees as destructive turns into something that becomes productive. Then,

   "... OUR LIGHT AFFLICTION, WHICH IS BUT FOR A MOMENT, WORKETH FOR US A FAR MORE EXCEEDING AND ETERNAL WEIGHT OF GLORY" (2 Corinthians 4:17).

   With this in mind, lets look briefly at the three sources of trouble in our lives.

[nChrist]

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WHEN TROUBLE COMES
Part Four of Five
BY RICHARD JORDAN


A FALLEN CREATION


   Romans 8: 19·22 gives an insight into something that by our own experience "we know" to be accurate:

   "For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.
   "For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope.
   "Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.
   "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

   The history of creation can be set forth in three parts: first, God said it was good. Then, because of the fall of man, He cursed it and it has been groaning ever since. One day it will be glorious, having been delivered from the bondage of corruption by the return of Jesus Christ. We currently live in the groaning stage.

   We know by experience that "the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now." And what of the claim made by some that believers are exempt from this common lot of creation? Paul answers in the next verse of Romans 8:

   "And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body" (Romans 8:23).

   Far from being exempt from the "pain and travail" of life in a fallen creation, we "which have the frrstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves." And what are we waiting for? A deliverance from pain and suffering when we claim it aright? A healing program available if only we believe enough? No! We have something far better. You see, the healing program for our "vile bodies" is "the adoption" --the "redemption of our body." It is at the Rapture that the healing program for the Body of Christ will be accomplished. It is then that our Savior:

   " ... 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).

   At present we live in a fallen creation, a creation cursed by sin. This explains why, as the hymn writer says, "change and decay all about I see." The reason there is decay and death in the world is because there is sin in the world. The world is held in "the bondage of corruption" because of Adam's sin (Romans 8:20, Genesis 3: 17-19). This is the reason there are calamities and unexplained horrors about us.

   There are many things that are going to happen simply because we live in a world cursed by the corruption of sin. Because of this fact and based on Romans 8:22,23, we can make a prediction: If the Lord tarries, we are going to get sick, suffer pain and eventually die. Why? Because God does not love us or have our best interest at heart? Far from it. Rather this is the common lot of all creation "until" Christ returns to deliver creation into His Kingdom glory.

   Notice Paul's explanation that this groaning is "until now." The time when "sorrow and sighing shall flee away" and creation will be delivered into "the glorious liberty of the children of God" is the kingdom reign of Christ (e.g., Isa. 35). In order for the present dispensation of grace to be extended, He must postpone that day of deliverance.

   Thus we continue to live in a sin-cursed world, not because God does not love us but because His dispensational purposes are being carried out. Because He continues to extend His grace to a needy world, we are going to have problems and ultimately be overtaken by sickness and death. But that grace has transformed our infirmities in to "light afflictions " which "work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory."